Joshua Overton, Private, Company G, 47th North Carolina Infantry (N.C.T.)

Author's Note: Joshua Overton was my great-great-great uncle by marriage.

The husband of Elizabeth Ann Turner (born July 22, 1841; died March 7, 1911; daughter of James Patrick Henry Turner and Margaret Elizabeth Hunt Turner, sister of Lysander Turner), Joshua Overton served as a private in Company C, Mallet’s Battalion (Camp Guard) before being transferred to Company G of the 47th North Carolina Infantry (Lysander Turner's company and regiment), on or about June 15, 1864. Joshua was wounded at Reams Station, Virginia, on or about August 25, 1864. Captured at or near Burgess Mill, Virginia, on October 27, 1864, he was imprisoned at Point Lookout, Maryland on October 31, 1864 and was released on June 3, 1865, after taking the Oath of Allegiance.

John H. Thorp, the Captain of Company A of the 47th North Carolina Infantry described the engagements at Reams Station and Burgess Mill:

REAMS STATION.

On 25 August MacRae's, with Lane's and Cooke's Brigades distinguished themselves in the battle of Reams Station.  Hancock had fortified this place and other Southern troops had failed to dislodge him, when these North Carolinians were assigned the honor of doing so.  MacRae pointed out to his men how they could approach under the protection of an old field of pines, and we imagine the heretofore triumphant Federals must have smiled as they beheld the small force advancing against them, and intended to withhold their fire until we should reach a point from which we might be unable to escape.   Suddenly MacRae ordered: "Don't fire a gun, but dash for the enemy."  The dash was made and behold the assault is successful. The result is several flags and cannon, a large number killed and wounded and 2,100 prisoners.  A Federal officer, as he sat a surprised prisoner, remarked to one of our officers: "Lieutenant, your men fight well; that was a magnificent charge."  The loss in the Forty-seventh was heavy, and it included an over proportion of our very best men.  This was notably so in Company A.  Men who seemed to have possessed charmed lives; who struck so quick, and were so cool and daring to pass the danger line, were struck down almost in a body.  Many of them returned after recovery, but the regiment was notably weakened after this.

On 30 September General Heth attacked two corps of Federals trying to extend to our right, near the Pegram house, and captured quite a number of prisoners.  On 1 and 2 October the effort to extend continued and we continued to resist it; but after several days doggedly fighting and putting in fresh troops, they succeeded and fortified themselves.  It was Grant's way, a continual extending his left with fresh troops and making his line impregnable with the spade and cannon.

BURGESS MILL.

On the 27th the enemy again felt for our right flank, and at Burgess' Mill General MacRae's Brigade assaulted them, repulsing the full length of his line of battle, taking a battery of artillery and passing far to the front, discovered that the enemy were closing from both his flanks the gap he had just made. MacRae was on foot leading his command, and pointing to the perilous situation, asked them to follow him out, which they gallantly did by cutting their way out.  Our loss here was very heavy in killed and wounded, but none were taken prisoners. Hill's Corps took a great number of prisoners.  MacRae complained bitterly about his superiors in command allowing him to be cut to pieces when it could have been prevented.

Records indicating the date and place of Joshua’s capture contradict Thorp’s statement that “…none were taken prisoners...”   and Thorp was likely referring to the losses of Company A rather than those of the entire regiment.  Following the War, Joshua and Elizabeth had four children: Fred F. Overton, Zebulon Vance Overton, Graham Overton, and Henry Overton.