Back on Feb. 27th, I wrote about General Jackson being shot at Chancellorsville by men commanded by Major. John Decatur Barry. here's a followup on the story.
He was born in Wilmington, NC, on June 21, 1839 and went to the University of North Carolina. He enlisted at the outbreak of the war in Co. I, 18th NC and in April 1862, was elected captain of his company and later wounded at the Battle of Frayser's Farm.
After Antietam, he was promoted to major, and it was he who gave the order for his men to fire at what they thought to be Union cavalry at Chancellorsville, but ended up being General Stonewall Jackson and his staff. Jackson lost his arm and later died from complications of the wound.
Even so, Barry was promoted to colonel and commanded the 18th NC at Pickett's Charge July 3, 1863. The 18th also participated in the Overland Campaign. When Gen. Lane was wounded at Cold Harbor, June 2, 1864, Barry was promoted to brigadier general, but was wounded bu a sniper at Deep Bottom, resulting in the loss of two fingers. The generalship was rescinded with the wound and Lane's return to action, and Barry was given a command of a department in North Carolina.
He only survived the war by two years. With his heath in bad shape because of the war, Barry edited a Wilmington newspaper before dying at age 27 in 1867. Friends said he died of a broken heart for having given the order to fire at Jackson. He is buried at Wilmington's Oakdale Cemetery.
I'll have to look up his grave the next time I'm there. Many of Fort Fisher's defenders, including Gen. Whiting, are buried there.
A Hard War for Everyone Concerned. --Old B-Runner
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
