The REVENGE of a Senseless Beating

Via Bobby Edwards

 Walters Family Cemetery
 Located on Culver Rd. (SR-1531) near Blanch NC on a farm known as North Bend. 
 See: Caswell County Cemetery Census.
  
Walters, Thomas Coleman (b. 11 Aug 1845 - d. 10 Dec 1864). Son of Joel Brown and Catherine Coleman Walters. Killed in Civil War. Messenger in Company C 3rd NC Cavalry CSA.

Tom "Robbie" Walters: The REVENGE of a Senseless Beating, This photo of a Young 3rd North Carolina Trooper, who fell from his horse in an ambush, and captured by the enemy was beaten to death with their Gun Butts.

The "Waterbury Scouts" of Company H or Humphrey Troop of the 3rd North Carolina, numbering 15 good men, saw the mutilated body of young Walters (Waters) and Took Revenge on the Retreating Yanks to Petersburg. An extract of the 1st North Carolina Records, from Raleigh, North Carolina - mention of this account.
REVENGE: (Apple Jack Raid - Warren's Attack on Weldon Railroad, Dec 10-12th, 1864:

"As it was, our Division of Cavalry pressed them very hard, all that afternoon and the next day, harassing them to the utmost, frequently throwing a ambuscade one which made us a little more wary after that.

That night after dark when the enemy halted for a rest, Captain Hardy of the 3rd North Carolina Cavalry, was ordered to charge with his company. They had left the road unobstructed, but concealed a force in the pine thickets, on both side of the road and met Captain Hardy's charge with a withering volley. Captain Hardy with admirable presence of mind kept going and realized that their lines could not extend far from the road, quickly doubled back and passing around their left flank, and was back with the Regiment in less than half an hour.

(Note: about a dozen members of the 3rd North Carolina were emptied from their saddles. My ancestor participated in this charge, and was part of the Co K that was ambushed in Capt. Hardy's [Harding]. If the Cold December weather had not caused so many guns not to fire, I might not be here.)

Tom Water (Walter), one of his best men, if there was any best, where all were so good, was seen to fall from his horse at the enemy's fire. That ended all pursuit for the night. We were in the saddle againg next morning as soon as it was light and soon upon poor Tom Waters's remains, lying in the the road. Although he fell from his horse, mortally wounded, they had beaten his poor head beyond all semblance to humanity with the butts of their muskets. I saw it myself. We avenged him well, that day.

General Barringer kept a corps of scouts, fifteen men commanded by Sergeant Waterbury, 16 in all, operating inside of Grant's lines, who frequently sent in valuable information. They wore their Confederate Uniforms to protect themselves against the fate of spies in case of capture. A short time before the Belfield raid, one of their number fell in the hands of the enemy and it was reported that they had killed him after he surrendered. His fifteen surviving comrades mutually swore an oath of vengeance and this was their first opportunity. The enemy in their advance upon Belfield made heavy force marches.

It was a foot race between them and our cavalry, which would get there first, in which our horses won by a margin of less than an hour. They commenced their retreat, already worn down with fatigue and we gave them scant opportunities for rest. We were pressing against their Infantry through out the entire pursuit. Many of them fell down by the roadside, collapsed from fatigue. Our scouts marched in advance of the vanguard and under their oath of vengence, spared not one of them. One of the scouts told me afterwards, that the 15 of them killed 229 during the last day of pursuit.

Footnote: The Capt. Harding (Hardy) that led the Company ambushed was a neighbor of my ancestor, Pvt. Lacy Edwards. My Grand Father, My Father, My Brother, My Nephew, and and my Great Nephew - their middle name: "Harding"