Sunday’s Obituary~Levi Franklin Huneycutt

The Western Democrat, Charlotte, NC, April 5, 1864, Image 3 provided by North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library, Chapel Hill, NC

Fell mortally wounded while gallantly fighting at his post, on the 1^st of July 1963. At Gettysburg, Pa., L. F. Huneycutt of Union County, a member of Co. B, 26^th N. C. Regiment. A better soldier in camp could not be found, and a braver young man the world would never knew. His Colonel remarked his coolness while in the bloody conflict. He performed all his duties manfully and cheerfully, and was among the first to stand forth in defense of the South. He was 22 years of age and a son of D. J. Huneycutt.

He was shot down about thirty paces in front of his regiment, while waving the colors and tell his men to follow him, but died on the 6^th July, 1863. He requested his friend to write too his father and mother that he was willing to die, saying “ I shall go to Heaven, and I want them to meet me there.” He leaves a father and mother, brothers and sisters, and a large circle of friends to mourn their loss. May God soothe the sorrowing of his friends.

How sleep the brave who sink to rest,
By all their country’s wishes blest.           A FRIEND

Levi Franklin Huneycutt, b. about 1840 was the second born son of Demsy J. Huneycutt and Tabitha Helms. 

On 1 August 1861, Levi enlisted into Company ’B’, 26th Regiment, NC Troops.  He was Killed in Action at Gettysburg on 1 July 1863 while gallantly carrying his regimental colors.

Now we have a conflict, the obituary/memorial says he was wounded on the 1st and died on the 6th of July 1863. His military records say he was killed while carry the Regimental Colors on 1 July 1863. I’m inclined to believe the military records.

Before posting this article, I decided to take a short drive at to the City Library to see what the 19 Volume “NC Troops” had to say about Levi Franklin Huneycutt. In volume 7 on page 486 we find this entry:
NC Troops, Volume 7, page 486

HONEYCUTT, FRANKLIN L., Private
Resided in Union County where he enlisted on August 1, 1861.Present or accounted for until “shot through the head” and killed at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July 1, 1863, “while gallantly carrying the regimental colors.”

There is no doubt in my mind that Levi Franklin Huneycutt died on 1 July 1863 at the Battle for Gettysburg.


_____________________
Note: Honeycutt/Huneycutt,  spelled with both a “U” and an “O”
[1] Pvt. Levi Franklin Honeycutt obituary, The Western Democrat, Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, April 5, 1864, Image 3, http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/. provided by North Carolina at Chapel Kill Library, Chapel Hill, NC.
[2] Ancestry, "Civil War Service Records" database, Military Service Records (http://www.fold3.com/ : accessed 20 January 2017), entry for Franklin Levi Honeycutt, Private; Company 'B', 26th NC Volunteers; Confederate.
[3] Louis H. Manarin, North Carolina Troops, 1861-1865: A Roster (Raleigh, North Carolina: Office of Archives and History, 2013), Vol. 7, page 486, Franklin L. Honeycutt.
[4] 1850 Census, Union County, North Carolina, population schedule, Union County, North Carolina, Page 9B(stamped), Line 14, Dwelling 128, Family 128, Household of Dempsey J. HONEYCUTT; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : Viewed 14 November 2015); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, Roll 647.
[5] 1860 Census, Union County, North Carolina, population schedule, Union County, North Carolina, Page: 429(stamped); Line 7, Dwelling #469, Family #469, Household of D. J. HUNEYCUTT; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 14 November 2015); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M653, Roll 915.