The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Wayne County Hero To Gettysburg and Back-- Part 2: Battle of Gettysburg

Spring 1863 found Sgt. Francis Alexander Simmons and the 43rd at Kinston defending against Union forces at New Bern and along the coast.

They were fired upon by artillery at Washington, NC before returning to Kinston and receiving orders togo to Fredericksburg, Virginia where it was assigned to Rhodes' Division. Ewells' 2nd Corps Army of Northern Virginia and proceeded through Brandy Station , Berryville, Martinsburg, Williamsport, Hagerstown, Chambersburg and Carlisle before arriving at the small town named Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on July 1, 1863.

He was injured at the battle and wrote a letter to his sister Ermaline, only saying that he was wounded in the right arm and that Co. A went into the battle with 63 men and lost about half.  Four were killed and the rest wounded or taken prisoners.

--Old Secesh

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