Lenoir County, NC - Interview with GEORGE WASHINGTON RHODES

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Interview with GEORGE WASHINGTON RHODES
"Carolina and the Southern Cross"  by Mrs. L. V. ARCHBELL
January number-p. 5-7

Transcribed by Sloan Mason
(Ms. ARCHBELL was from Kinston, Lenoir Co., N.C. where this magazine was 
published)

A Story of Two Heroes
Told in Correspondence

Kinston, N.C., January 2, 1914

General William Ruffin Cox,

My Dear General Cox;

The enclosed story was taken from the lips of a Confederate soldier who would 
not consent for me to publish it unless you could remember the incident.

It is characteristic of the average Confederate veteran that he never brags. 
In fact, I find him too modest.

This George W. RHODES is an illiterate night-watchman. I have known him from 
my childhood as a genial, honest, unassuming Christian, in whose word every 
one believed. I did not know that he was a hero, but I doubt if the fello could 
have told a more thrilling story and in so simple a manner. I wish it were 
possible for me to show up the Confederate Soldier as he really was. There are 
so many of these old veterans who have nothing to bear witness to them except 
their scars. They have a holy horror of taking credit to themselves. They 
could not fill leading places because, many of them could not read and write, 
but they made it possible for our leading men to gain the heights, and I do 
hope that you may be able to recall the name of George RHODES and the flags, 
as easily as he recalls the bravery of General COX.

I have a plan to honor these simple unassuming old veterans and I am trying 
to collect all these little stories that concern them individually.

It was this man who led in the soldiers' prayer meeting when LEE and his 
staff joined them at Mine Run, I think.

I am sending you under separate cover a copy of the U. D. C. official organ 
of North Carolina, in which is an account of the Confederate Ram Neuse, 
armored at Kinston, and I hope you will enjoy it.
Very Sincerely,
Lillie V. ARCHBELL, Editor


Penelo Plantation
North Carolina
January 7, 1914
Dear Mrs. ARCHBELL,

You esteemed favor of recent date enclosing the statement of Private RHODES 
of Company "G" 2nd North Carolina (my) Regiment, which he declines to allow 
to be given to the public before submission to my endorsement together with 
your very interesting comments, are before me.

In reply I beg to say that after the lapse of more than fifty years after 
the close of the four years of resistance to the invasion of our home and 
violation of our firesides, it is but natural that I should be unable to 
recall all the incidents in the battle referred to, which at the time were 
indelibly impressed upon the mind and since cherished in his memory.

Suffice it to say that I remember that RHODES was a modest, brave and fearless 
soldier, who in camp and in field was ever prompt in the discharge of every 
duty required of him. I can only recall his handing me the captured flag and 
my directing him with others, during the fierce and relentless battle then 
raging to take the battery which was then decimating our ranks, as I passed on 
to other points of the line.

Therefore, I see no good reason to delay the publication of his statement, 
together with your every appropriate comments.

There are other thrilling deeds performed by my private soldiers on which it 
would be pleasing for me to dwell, should the occasion require it. When 
amidst the fire of a doubtful battle where friends and kindred are falling on 
every side, and victory trembling in the balance, the sensation produced by 
the overthrow of the enemy surpasses human description. The excitement of a 
fox chase when Reynard can be seen with his tongue hanging out, bounds in 
full cry, and hunters yelling their excitement reckless of ditches and fences, 
and endeavoring to be in at the death; it but an imperfect picture of the 
scene during the achievement of victory.

The North Carolinians, while fighting far away from home, were unfortunate in 
having no field correspondents to tell their deeds of valor. The Editor of 
the ablest paper in our State Capital from disappointment to say the least, 
if not hostility, had little sympathy with our struggles; so much so that when 
a Georgia Regiment, aware of this fact, was pressing through Raleigh it was 
with difficulty restrained from destroying the press. It was therefore but 
natural that many of our distinguished achievements should be passed over with 
but slight comment.

As one example I mention that when at the disastrous battle of Sailor's Creek 
a few days before our capulation at Appomattox, at a critical moment I managed 
to bring my command to the front in good order, so much so as to attract the 
attention of our peerless leader. He raised his hat with godly courtesy, 
exclaiming, "God bless old North Carolina." Though this was a guerdon to be 
treasured by any man, and was generally known in the army, yet on returning 
home I never mentioned it until Governor VANCE in a speech at the Capitol 
having heard of the fact, referred to it in his public address.

To the fair daughters of the Southland is reserved the high honor of 
perpetuating and handing down to the rising generation the note-worthy 
achievements of their ancestors. Be that as it may.

"On Fame's eternal camping ground their silent tents are spread. While honor 
guards with solemn round; the bivouae of the dead."
I have the honor to be,
Very Truly yours,
Wm. Ruffin COX

(In the name of the U. D. C. Division the Editor thanks General COX for this 
letter. He has set a worthy example of helpfulness. Every remaining soldier 
of the 2nd Regiment is honored by it.)


Told by George RHODES
2nd Regiment, Company G.

"After BOYKIN was shot I picked up the flag and turned to hand it to the flag 
Sergeant, New't JONES." He said, "You carry it George, I can't. I'm Captain, 
Lieutenant and Sergeant. All the rest are gone." I kept the flag.

General COX rode up behind me and said, "RHODES, never stop until you stick 
that flag on the battery now firing at us."

"I got to the battery after a while with the flag. I was leaning on one of 
the pieces with the flag in my hand when I was shot here," he said, baring 
his right wrist and showing a terrible scar. "But before I got to the battery 
I captured a U. S. flag. General COX rode up and asked for it. As he rode off 
with it the Yankees turned the batteries on him. This was a brave and daring 
deed of General COX, and it saved some of our men that day. When we got to 
the battery they had spiked three guns. We captured the other three and turned 
them on the Yankees. New't JONES took our flag after I was shot, and finding 
that he was about to be captured he tore the flag from the staff, concealed 
it in his bosom, and jumping into Cedar Creek, he got to the other side and 
escaped capture."

(We have other reminiscences by this veteran that we shall publish)



Sketch of Confederate Veteran George RHODES
By Mrs. L. V. ARCHBELL


"If you would like to collect some very interesting war data of the sixties, 
interview the man who has just passed the window," said a gentleman to me.
The man referred to was a familiar figure in Kinston. He had brought up a 
family here and some how I always associated him with the Baptist Church. He 
was always there if any one else went. I had never thought of him as a hero, 
but as a very earnest father who desired above all things that his sons and 
grandsons should do right.

Collecting Confederate data was my business at the time and I asked Mr. George 
RHODES to call at my house when he had leisure. His first question was, "What 
do you want of me?" I answered, "I want to know if you were one of the men who 
carried Stonewall JACKSON from the front after he was shot at Chancellorville?" 

He said, "No, I was not; but I was near enough to touch those who did carry 
him off and I was in the battle."  O, for a pen to write that battle just as 
the Confederate soldiers experienced it! It would impress the reader that war 
is a mighty power for destruction whether it takes place at one period or 
another. The quiet simplicity of the old soldier who told his story was proof 
enough of his veracity, but he suddenly stopped to say, "Are you writing down 
what I am saying?" "Yes," I answered, "I want to print it."

"Well, I wish you would ask General COX about it. If he cannot remember what 
I tell you I would rather not have it printed. Somebody might say it was not 
true."

I wrote to General COX, and he not only remembered and corroborated George 
RHODE'S story, but he remembered Private RHODES, Company G, 2nd N.C. Regiment, 
as a modest brave, and fearless soldier, who in camp or field, was ever prompt 
in the discharge of every duty required of him. What more could be said of any 
soldier by his commanding officer?

At the Battle of Sailor's Creek a few days before the surrender at Appomattox, 
George RHODES was one of the soldiers of COX'S command when General Robert E. 
LEE in grateful acknowledgement of their service raised his hat and exclaimed, 
"God Bless old North Carolina."

At Mine Run, after a hard day, a few weary Confederates built a little fire 
and gathered around it to pray. George RHODES was leading this little prayer 
meeting, when General LEE and his staff rode by and joined the group with 
uncovered heads. A bomb from the enemy exploded just above the fire and they 
had to cover it or remain a target. They sacrificed the campfire.

At Sharpsburg (Antietam) the ensign was shot and the Confederate Flag went 
down. George RHODES picked it up and handed it to a comrade who refused to 
take it because he was acting as Captain, Lieutenant and Sergeant; those 
officers having been killed. General COX seeing RHODES with the flag told him 
to stick it on the enemy's battery that was pouring shells into the 
Confederates. RHODES started for the battery, fighting every step of the way.
 
He captured a flag from the enemy. General COX relieved him of the captured 
flag and drew the fire of the enemy to himself. When George RHODES reached the 
battery three of the guns were spiked, but the Confederates captured the other 
three and turned them on the foe. Leaning on a field piece with the flag, 
RHODES was badly shot on the hand and the awful scar has remained with him a 
witness always for the dangers he had passed through. 

I asked this hero of the Confederacy what he considered his most trying 
experience during the war and he said, "The fear that my comrades might, think 
that I had deserted."

"You know that there were a great many desertions on both sides. Every body 
knew that the end was near. The two armies faced each other, one gathering 
more strength every day while the other held on only for honors sake."

"One night I went out to forage between the lines. I dared not stand up, so I 
groped on all fours feeling my way in the dark. Suddenly a hand was laid on my 
shoulder and a voice said, "You are my prisoner." I was caught and I dared not 
make a noise. I agreed to go with my captor and I soon discovered that he had 
lost his way. I had a keen sense of direction and I saw that I could lead him 
unconsciously toward our lines, which I deliberately contrived to do. When we 
were near enough I suddenly seized my captor and said you are my prisoner, come 
quietly or I will wring your neck." The Yankee realized that I had trapped him 
and he said, "I will go with you on condition that you will let me crow three 
times when we reach your men. I promised my comrades that I would crow if I was
captured." I let him crow, and I must say he could beat a barnyard. After a 
while we heard the hoot of an owl. It was repeated three times and the prisoner 
said that his friends knew he was caught.

"I was so proud of my capture that I tried the game over. That time I became a 
prisoner in truth. I was accused of being a spy, tried, condemned, and sentenced 
to be hung at sunrise, General heard of the sentence and ordered a reprieve until 
he could question me. I often wonder if he took the trouble to spare me because 
he knew that the surrender was about to take place."

"I was taken before GRANT and he asked me questions, that I did not think my 
superior officers could have answered. He ordered me to tell the truth. I told 
him I was not a spy but I was willing to die for my cause. If he released me, I 
would go back and fight and would probably be killed anyhow. Some one handed 
GRANT a paper. He read it and told the guard to keep me near, he was not done 
with me, and would call me at any time. So I was kept so near that when the two 
armies faced each other at LEE'S surrender I stood quite near to General GRANT 
and had the humiliating thought that my own friends might think I was there from 
preference."

I asked, "Did Robert E. LEE hand his sword to GRANT?"

"No," said Mr. RHODES. "He did not touch his sword."

This is only a part of the story of George RHODES, born April 12, 1838 and died 
August 8, 1919. He was the grandfather of the RHODES boys whose record is worthy 
of a hero of the Confederacy.

(No further records have been found at this date. If you have any, please let me 
know.)

(Note: George Washington RHODES was born in Jones Co., to Rev. James J. RHODES 
and Winifred NOBLES-he lived in Kinston, Lenoir County, for many years after the 
war.)

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This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by
Sloan S. Mason <SloMas7@aol.com>
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