Uncle Billy May - Courtesy of Michael May. William Henry May, was my Grandfather’s oldest brother, and was assigned to and fought with the 47th Regiment, North Carolina Troops, Company D, during the war of Southern Secession. My Grandfather Robert Lee May was born in 1863 and was named after General Robert E. Lee. William Henry May was wounded in the Battle of Bristo Station, VA and it is documented at the North Carolina Department of Archives and History and that he was placed on his regiment’s Roll of Honor, for his actions during the battle. He was later captured at Petersburg, VA near the end of the war. He was released from prison at Point Lookout, MD and returned home to Castalia, NC, around the first of June 1865. Robert Lee May (my grandfather) who had been born during his absence. Records show that he grew three inches during the war. Dock T. May, my Father, remembered hearing from other family members that Uncle Billy’s Mother did not recognize him when he returned, maybe due to a new beard since later pictures show him with a full beard. Also Dock May told me that his family built a large fire, burned the clothes that he was wearing and celebrated his return and that all of their neighbors came and joined the celebration. The May family is proud of Uncle Billy’s accomplishments. He was a brave man that honored his duty to his country as a soldier in the Confederate States of America’s army. He joined his country’s army with a group of local friends and they called themselves the “Castalia Invincibles.” He is buried near Castalia, NC in the Old Belford Methodist Church Cemetery and his tombstone is clearly marked. The church is no longer there.
Private George T. Harper, Company G, first served in the 15th Regt., then the 32nd Regt. and volunteered again under the 47th Regiment, North Carolina Troops. He is buried in Gupton, North Carolina.
Private Dionysius Jackson, Company E, was wounded at Gettysburg. He was reported sick in September of 1864 and died in Richmond, Virginia on 17 November 1864 and is buried at Hollywood Cemetery.
Private Wiley Glen, Company E, enlisted on 4 October 1863 and served as part of Kirkland's Brigade on 15 April 1864. He reported as sick on 29 April 1864 at Jackson Hospital in Richmond and transferred 3 September 1864 to Forrestville, North Carolina. On 15 December 1864 he appears on the Invalid Corps register.
The name of Corporal Henry W. House, Company C, was entered on the Confederate Roll of Honor as authorized by the act of Congress approved October 13, 1862, for the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates of the armies of the Confederate States who were conspicuous for courage and good conduct on the field of battle. The names of all those reported as worthy of this distinction were inscribed on a Roll of Honor, preserved in the office of the Adjutant and Inspector General for reference in all future time and read at the head of every regiment in the service of the Confederate States at the first dress-parade after its receipt, and published in at least one newspaper in each State.
The following is a church announcement of the passing of Henry W. House:
RECORD OF LIFE AND DEATH OF HENRY W. HOUSE
Henry W. House died at his residence in Wake County, N.C. at 8:30 o'clock p.m. February 20, 1909, in the 75th year of his age having been born July 16, 1834. For several weeks he suffered much from a complication of diseases involving kidneys, liver and heart.
On the 14th of January, 1866, he was happily married to Miss Nancy E. Matthews of which union there were eleven children; Annie Patrick and Claudius Compton, who died at the respective age of five and nine years, Dewitt H., James Walter, Lonnie Haywood, Edward P., I. Otho, Mrs. Mary Etta Layton, Mrs. Leona Stephens, Mrs. Eva Fergerson, and Miss L. Ola, with their mother survive him.
Brother House volunteered in the Confederate Army in the fall of 1861, was a brave soldier, and answered to every roll call until the shot of the enemy fractured both bones of his left leg in a skirmish at Bristoe Station, VA. in October, 1863, inflicting a wound from which he never fully recovered. From 3 p.m. until sometime in the night, when a soldier in blue ministered to him, he lay without attention. From the shoulders of a dying comrade nearby the Federal soldier cut the knapsack to give a more comfortable position and when the comrade died, took a blanket from the sack and wrapped Brother House in it. Early the following morning the Federalist came again, gave water, refilled House's canteen and said, "I must leave now but your own men will find and care for you." They found him at 11 a.m. and removed him to a hospital.
Brother House was converted before the Civil War, while quite young, under the ministry of Rev. John W. Tinner, joined the M.E. Church South and became one of the charter members of the present Pleasant Grove Church, Millbrook circuit, and was at the time of his death a worthy member of the same. He was a warm, trustworthy, friend, as this writer can attest, was a kind husband and affectionate father and a good neighbor. His church and his community will miss him.
Notwithstanding the inclement weather a long precession of vehicles, filled with grief stricken relatives and friends followed his remains to the church and cemetery. His bereaved widow and children have sympathy of the writer, who feels that he has lost one of the best friends of his circuit. Geo. T. Simmons (Minister)
Henry W. House
Shown below is the 44. caliber Colt Army revolver and belt buckle worn by 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin Wesley Justice of Company E, 47th North Carolina Troops.
Private James David Richardson, Company E, enlisted on April 11, 1862. He was killed in action on March 31, 1865 at Petersburg, Virginia.
Private Presley James Phillips, Company B, was wounded at Battle of Gettysburg on July 1, 1863 and killed at Shady Grove Church, Virginia, June 2, 1864 during the Battle of Cold Harbor. He is buried as an unknown in Oakwood Cemetery at Richmond, Virginia.
Private Gideon Phillips, Company B, (the son of Presley James Phillips) was wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg on July 1, 1863. He surrendered at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. Gideon Phillips died in 1928 and is buried in the Forestville Baptist Church Cemetery in Wake County, North Carolina.
Private Leven Phillips, Company B, (a brother of Gideon Phillips) was wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg on July 1, 1863. He lived out a natural life and in buried in Pilot, North Carolina.
Sergeant Richmond Phillips, Company B, (another brother of Gideon Phillips) was wounded and captured at Battle of Gettysburg, July 1 1863. After being paroled, he was captured at Petersburg, Virginia on April 2, 1865 and died of disease as a POW in New York on June 28, 1865. He is buried at Cypress Hills National Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.
Private Alpheus G. Sharp, Company K, suffered a minor hand wound on July 3, 1863 during the Pickett/Trimble/Pettigrew charge at the Battle of Gettysburg. He suffered a more serious gunshot wound to the right thigh at the Battle of Weldon Railroad on August 21, 1864. Private Sharp was in hospital until March of 1865, at which time he was given a medical discharge. He was later paroled in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Private Michael R. Sharp, Company K, was captured during the Pickett/Trimble/Pettigrew charge at Gettysburg on July 3, 1863. He was a POW at Fort Delaware and died of measles in October of 1863. Private Sharp was buried at Finn’s Point National Cemetery.
Private Patterson Boon, Company K, surrendered at Appomattox Court House, Virginia on April 9, 1865.
Private Philemon H. Boon, Company K, was wounded on June 2, 1864 at Cold Harbor, Virginia and lost his thumb. He served as a teamster driving the cooking wagon.
The following is a short history dictated by Sidney Mitchell to one of his grandchildren just prior to his death in Februry of 1916. His brother William and two brothers-in-law also served in Company H. Captain Sidney Mitchell is buried at Green Hill Cemetery in Greensboro, North Carolina. "My company was company H, 47th Regiment, Pettigrew’s Brigade, Heth’s Division, A.P. Hill’s Corps. In 1862 our brigade was in Eastern N.C. and around Petersburg, Va. In 1863 we were transferred to Lee’s Army in Northern Virginia; in a short time we went to Gettysburg, Pa. That was the first battle of any consequence that I was in. Soon after our return, we stopped at Orange Court House and remained there until the spring of ’64. The First Battle of the Wilderness (when) we were fighting nearly all summer more or less, until we got to Richmond and Petersburg, Va. until the close of the war. I was captured the 3rd of April, 1865 and was sent to Johnson’s Island on Lake Erie. Was there when President Lincoln was assassinated. I was released from there the 22nd of May; arrived at home the 27th of May, 1865. It is impossible for me to give the details as they occurred."
