Hi All,
Due to the recent listing of all the Chamblee's and Chamlee's who served
in the War between the States; I thought I might repeat in part what I was
asked to write for one of William Bryant Chamblee's granddaughter's on her
grandfather's service in the war and how I related it to family. I originally
wrote this to Celeste Chamblee Paul, who is the sister of Dr. John Sigma
Chamblee, and who was 93 at the time. I'm also going to include this in my
latest AOL newsletter, so please forgive multiple copies for those people on
that list.
William Bryant Chamblee: Service in the War between the States.
William Bryant Chamblee enlisted in the 47th North Carolina Infantry
Regiment on March 3, 1862 at Camp Magnum near Raleigh. Note: This was only a
short time after the birth of his last son by his first wife Martha Hardy
Chamblee. William Hardy Chamblee was born February 14, 1862. He originally
refused an officer�s commission taking the place Sergeant of Company B. He was
promoted to Lieutenant on May 19, 1862. Note: One of the original Lieutenants
of his company was Harvey D. Griffin, brother of Nancy Helen Griffin Joyner
his second wife. In August of 1862 the Regiment was assigned to General James
J. Pettigrew near Petersburg, Virginia. During the year 1862 it saw only light
duties while it was trained. It�s first battle was in March of 1863 when it
participated in the unsuccessful attempt to retake New Bern, North Carolina.
In June of 1863 the Pettigrew�s Brigade was assigned to the Army of Northern
Virginia under Heth�s Division of A. P. Hill�s Corps.
It�s first major battle under the Army of Northern Virginia under the
command of
General Robert E. Lee was Gettysburg. Pettigrew�s Brigade was involved in two
major portions of the battle. On the first day, July 1st 1863 it was the among
the first brigades to engage the forces under Union General Buford. The 47th
and 52nd regiment�s suffered few losses compared to the 11th and 26th
regiment in the same brigade. Pettigrew�s Brigade was held out of the next
day�s action and wasn�t used until the final day�s battle. On July 3rd it
formed the left flank of what became known as Pickett�s charge. Although he
wasn�t wounded during the battle, one of his nephew�s, William M. Chamblee
was. Note: William M. Chamblee and Augustus J. Chamblee were the son�s of his
brother Woodson, and served in Company A of the same regiment. During the
retreat of Gettsburg General Pettigrew was killed and the brigade was
reassigned. Military Service records indicate that William B. Chamblee was
"Absent on Furlough of indulgence Rosenburg. N.C. " for July-September 1863.
This muster roll was taken after the retreat of Gettysburg. Note: William
Bryant Chamblee�s first wife Martha Hardy Chamblee died July 12, 1863. The
Furlough must have been in response to this news.
He returned to his unit before missing any major engagements. His
regiment fought in several major battles afterwards including the Battle of
the Wilderness. On October 27th, 1864 at the battle of Burgess Mill, north of
Hatcher�s Run near Petersburg, the 47th regiment suffered heavy losses while
they were cut off from the rest of the brigade and had to fight their way back
to their brigade. Military Service Records indicate that William Bryant
Chamblee was wounded during this battle. Note: Rochter Portland Chamblee�s
Journal states that he was wounded in the left leg just above the ankle by a
minnie ball, and that he was forced to use crutches for the remainer of his
life.
Military Service Records indicate that he was transferred to a Hospital
outside of Richmond, where he was captured by Union forces just before the end
of the war. He was released in July 1865 after taking the Oath of Allegiance.
On December 6, 1865 he married Mrs. Nancy Helen Griffin, widow of Calvin H.
Joyner of Nash County. Both of them having lost spouses during the War Between
the States. Note:Since both William Bryant Chamblee & his second wife Nancy
Helen Griffin were my GG Grandparents, it is unlikely that I could write this
if it wasn't for the events of the War between the States. He lived until the
age of 70, when he died on October 11, 1895.
-Bob Chamblee