Reflections of Seth Andrews

This writing is a segment from an article written by J. L. McRae of Mt. Gilead for two of his nieces. J. L. and Seth were neighbors in Montgomery County before the Civil War. The article is dated December, 1931 and contains "sketches of days gone by many years ago" to quote J.L. McRae. The article was provided to my Mother by Mr. W.T. Campbell.

Seth Andrews, a dear friend of mine, born in the same year, raised neighbor boys, went to the war together, a brave soldier.

In May at Cold Harbour near Richmond, we had a hot scrap with the Yanks. We soon gained the field. Seth Andrews, my dear old friend, was by my side. I heard the ball when it crashed through his canteen. He dropped his gun and said, "Oh Lord!". I said "Seth, are you badly hurt?". "Yes", said he, "my bowels are shot out, no time for me to stop." The battle was lively for a while. As soon as the battle was over, I was put on scout and sharpshooter duty. Pursuing the enemy that evening, night came on, and we in a pine thicket, and the Yankee scouts were about 75 yards in front of me. We were behind trees for protection. We could not have lived there two minutes. There were two behind the tree against me. Late in the evening when we would get glimpse of each other, we would fire. Before sundown, one of them dropped his gun, made a frightful holler, and ran. He must have had a sudden attack of jawache. The other one ceased firing at me in about one hour. In the night our orderly Sergeant came out to the Sharpshooters with orders to get out at once, that the Yanks were maneuvering to surround us. I said, "But I am going on the battle field not far behind and hunt Seth Andrews. He was mortally wounded, from his actions. He said "You had better look out for yourself or the Yankees will get you". I said, "I am going to get him from the field if wounded, and if dead, I am going to try and bury him". I looked for him, but failed to find him. I hurried on and found Lane's Brigade about three miles from there, standing around camp fires, got in there where some of my company were. I asked, "Boys, who all are missing?". They began to tell me. "Seth Andrews, dear boy, is on the field badly wounded or dead. I failed to find him." He was at a fire not far from me, and heard me. He came hurriedly to me, and said, "No, by golly, Mac. They near killed me." Removing some of his clothing, he showed me a red mark across his stomach. He said, "That ball burnt like a red hot iron". Said he thought he was shot through the bowels and the water pouring from the canteen he thought was his bowels. He went cooped over, he said, to hold them in and live as long as he could. Dear old comrade. He passed away several years ago in Wolf Pit Township, Richmond County, N.C. I never had the pleasure of being with him but little after the war. He married. The three brothers of them, Tom, Seth and Sie. Sie was the first man killed in our Company E, 28th Regiment, N. C. Troops. Sie was killed at the Battle of Seven Pines near Richmond. Tom was killed at Manassas, a grape shot hit him in the stomach, killed him instantly, and never broke the skin. He, too, was a dear, brave boy.

Seth's brothers, Sie and Tom that J. L. McRae referred to were Cyrus P. and Thomas S. Andrews. Seth was captured towards the end of the war and was released after taking the Oath of Allegiance.
I can't imagine the pain Seth's Mother and Father suffered at the loss of two dear sons to war.