Col. William B. Creasman

Since our program this month is on the life of Col. William B. Creasman of the 29th North Carolina Troops, we thought we would continue our look at the life of the Toe River Valley’s high ranking Confederate soldiers. As you might remember, Lt. Col. Samuel Silver of the 58th NCT was our first soldier we examined.

William Burton CREASMAN was born in 1825 in North Carolina, probably in that part of Buncombe County which today is Yancey County. Creasman married 6 April 1848 Joyce Caroline WHEELER, daughter of John WHEELER and Rhoda RAY. They would have eleven children. In 1857, William Creasman was one of the men who helped retrieve Dr. Elisha Mitchell’s body off the mountain after he had fallen to his death. In June and July 1861, Creasman recruited what became known as Company B, 29th North Carolina Troops. He was elected captain on July 3, 1861. Creasman was promoted to major on June 26, 1862; lieutenant colonel, March 16, 1863; and on September 8, 1863, to colonel of the 29th North Carolina Troops. It is believed that Creasman spent a fair deal of time on courts-martial duty in Asheville in 1864. He resigned on or about December 29, 1864, for unknown reasons. Prior to the war, he was a farmer and cabinet maker. After the war, he moved to Buncombe County, where he died on July 9, 1869. His last child, Alice Burton Creasman, was not born until November of that year. Creasman is buried in the Bethel Baptist Church in Buncombe County.

One of Creasman’s great, great, grandsons will be speaking at our meeting on Tuesday, April 20, 2010, at our regular meeting. Everyone is invited to attend.

Stone for Robert A. Rumples

Members of Camp 1946 recently joined with members of the Zebulon Baird Vance Camp 15 out of Asheville to place a stone for Robert A. Rumples of the 29th North Carolina Troops. Rumples is buried in the Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery.

According to the Troop books, Rumples resided in Yancey County where he enlisted at the age of 28 on July 3, 1861. He was mustered in as a private in Company B, 29th North Carolina Troops. Rumples was promoted to sergeant on May 2, 1862, and was reduced back to the rank of private prior to March 31, 1864. He was last reported on the records of his company on December 19, 1864 (the records of the 29th NCT are woefully incomplete).

Rumples was the brother-in-law to another Yancey County Confederate: William B. Creasman, who served as colonel of the 29th North Carolina from September 18, 1863 to December 29, 1864. Creasman is buried just a few feet from Rumples.

Check out our flickr account for a few more photos.

29th NCT at the battle of Allatoona, GA

There were approximately 514 men from the Toe River Valley who served in the 29th North Carolina Troops. One of their major efforts during the war was at the battle of Allatoona, Georgia, in October 1864. There is currently an effort underway to erect a monument to the 29th NCT and its sister regiment, the 39th NCT, on the Allatoona battlefield. Below is the after action report of the 29th NCT’s commander, Maj. Ezekiel H. Hampton.

Report of Major Ezekiel H. Hampton, Twenty Ninth North Carolina Infantry, Ector’s brigade.
Headquarters Twenty Ninth North Carolina Infantry Regiment Tuscumbia, Ala., November 1, 1864

Sir: My regiment was formed on the left of Young’s brigade on the 5th of October, at 9 a.m., ready for the action at Allatoona. At 10 a.m. we were ordered forward upon the enemy. My regiment moved forward as a unit through the timber, which was very thick. The enemy were meanwhile pouring a heavy fire into our ranks. My regiment had to advance through the forest farther than the other regiments of the brigade, and not being able to see the brigade got separated from and in advance of the brigade. Upon arriving to where the timber was all felled I saw my regiment was separated from the other regiments, and being exposed to heavy fire from the enemy, and supposing the remainder of the brigade to be in advance, I ordered my regiment forward at the double quick to within forty feet of the enemy’s outer works, where I halted, ordered the men to lie down, rest and load. After resting from three to five minutes, I ordered my regiment forward. The order was promptly obeyed. They moved into the enemy’s works, where they had a hand to hand encounter with sword, bayonet, butt of muskets, rocks, &c., killing a good many and capturing 25 or 30 prisoners and the enemy’s entrenchments; thence the regiment moved forward to within twenty yards of the foe’s last and strong fort, where they remained contending with the enemy until with drawn by order of Major General French, when they fell back in good order.

I took 138 aggregate into action and came out minus 12 killed and 39 wounded, and 3 missing.

All honor is due my regiment, both officers and men, for their promptness in obedience to orders and their gallantry on the field. And although every man did his duty, I must speak of the conduct of Sgt. John Rich. Lieutenant Alexander, and Sgt W.J. Parker. Sergeant Rich was carrying the colors in front of the regiment crying "come ahead boy’s" when he was severely wounded and fell. The colors were scarcely to the ground before they were hoisted by Lieutenant E.B. Alexander, commanding Company C. He threw them to the breeze saying "come on, my brave boy’s!" but he did not get more than fifteen paces before he was killed. Sergeant Parker of Company F, took up the colors and again threw them to the breeze, and carried them to and planted them on the enemy’s inner works. Here he was severely wounded in the face. He then took up the flag, captured a fine horse, and came out with flag, horse, and his first Lieutenant, who was severely wounded in the leg.

Very respectfully submitted by your obedient servant, E.H. Hampton Major, Commanding Twenty-ninth North Carolina Regiment.

Field and Staff Major Ezekiel H. Hampton was from the Jacks Creek Section of Yancey County. He had previously served as Captain of Company G. Appointed Major on August 15, 1864, to rank from March 16, 1863.

Color Sgt. John R. Rich: Born in Buncombe County where he resided prior to enlisting at age 19, August 6, 1861. Mustered in as Color Sergeant. Appointed Ensign (1st Lieutenant ) on October 28, 1864 to rank from September 24, 1864. Took the oath of Allegiance at Waynesville on May 1, 1865

Company A Cherokee County
Pvt. James M. Brown - Captured 10/5/ 1864
Pvt. James A. Payne - Captured 10/5/1864

Company B Yancey County
Pvt. William A. Cody - NC pension records indicate he was wounded 10/4/1864

Company C Buncombe County
1st. Lt. Erasmus B. Alexander - Killed in action at Altoona, GA on 10/5/1864
Pvt. William J. Gudger - NC pension records indicate he was wounded at Altoona, GA on 10/5/1864

Company D Madison County
No men reported killed or wounded at Altoona, GA on 10/5/1864

Company E Haywood County
Pvt. Aseph W. Allison - Mortally wounded 10/5/1864
Pvt. Rueben Beasley - Last reported in the records of this company on 10/3/1864

Company F Jackson County
Capt. James L. Conley - Killed in action 10/5/1864
Sgt. William J. Parker - Wounded at Altoona, GA on 10/5/1864

Company G Yancey County
Pvt. Robert Edwards - NC widows pension states he was killed in action at Altoona, GA on 10/5/1864
Pvt. John B. Heath - Captured 10/5/1864

Company H Buncombe County
Pvt. Calvin Robinson - Captured 10/5/1864

Company I Mitchell County
Pvt. Emmanuel M. Rose - NC pension application indicates he was wounded in the right thigh at Altoona, GA in October 1864
Pvt. William Young - NC pension records indicate he was wounded in the right arm 10/5/1864

Company K Yancey County
Sgt. Newton A. McIntosh - Wounded in the right arm and breast 10/5/1864
Pvt. Albert McIntosh – captured.