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Collection : RAMSEUR, STEPHEN D., PAPERS
Lincoln County
1855-1920
Physical Description: 50 items; letters, diplomas, orders, certificates,
biographical sketches, newspaper clippings, and poems.
Acquisition: Biennial Report. 1930-1932. and 1932-1934. Presented by
Miss Mary D. Ramseur, Winston-Salem (30 items). October 10. 1935.
Gift of Mrs. F. H. Whitaker, Davidson, N. C. (20 items).
Description: Stephen Dodson Ramseur was bom at Lincolnton on May 31,
1837. He entered Davidson College in 1853, but withdrew two years later
to accept an appointment to the United States Military Academy. Upon
graduating in I860 he was commissioned a brevet second lieutenant of
artillery, U. S. Army, but resigned in April, 1861, to enter the service
of the Confederacy. After serving as a first lieutenant and captain of
artillery, he was promoted major of the 49th Regiment, N.C.T. , and in
April, 1862, he was elected colonel of that unit. He participated in
the Seven Days1 campaign (1862), and was seriously wounded at Malvern
Hill (1862). In November, 1862, Ramseur was promoted brigadier general.
He fought with distinction at Chancellorsville (1863), Gettysburg (1863),
the Wilderness (1864), and Spotsylvania (1864), and was wounded in the first
and last of these battles. He was promoted major general in June, 1864,
and thereafter participated in Jubal A. Early's Shenandoah Valley campaign.
At Cedar Creek (1864) he was wounded and captured. He died the following
day (Get. 20) in Winchester, Virginia.
Items in this collection of particular significance or interest in¬
clude the following: Ramseur 's appointment to the United States Military
Academy (1855); his diploma from the United States Military Academy (i860);
his appointment (signed by Abraham Lincoln) as a second lieutenant of
artillery, U. S. Army (Feb. 1, 186l); a report from Colonel James W. Wil¬
son, 49th Regiment, N.C.T. . on the establishment of a regimental shoe
manufactury (Nov. 16, n.d.); letters from Major R. R. Hutchinson de¬
scribing the wounding, capture, and death of Ramseur (Oct. 20} Nov. 2,
1864); a biographical sketch of Ramseur by William R. Cox (May 10, 1891);
