(Robertson's / Gordon's / Barringer's Brigade)

Henry Evans Avent was born in Chatham Co., NC in 1829, where he resided as a farmer and enlisted in the 5th NC Cavalry on July 8, 1862 for the duration of the war. He was mustered in as Private and appointed 1^st Sgt. on November 14, 1862. His name appears as Sgt. on company muster rolls after August, 1863, and he was present or accounted for through the end of the War. He participated in the battles of Brandy Station (where his horse was killed), the Gettysburg Campaign (Battles of Aldie, Upperville, Middleburg, the "Buckland Races", and others), the Wilderness Campaign, the battle of Haw's Shop and battles relating to the siege of Petersburg (Globe Tavern, 2^nd Reams Station, Weldon RR, Wade Hampton's Beefsteak Raid). 

One of the final battles fought by Lee's Army of Northern Virginia was that of Five Forks, VA, which was fought April 1st, 1865. The 5^th NC Cavalry held the Confederate right flank at Five Forks until the Confederate line collapsed and the entire Army fell back. The next day, Barringer's Brigade was ordered by Gen. Fitzhugh Lee to serve as the rear guard of the rear guard of the Army of Northern VA, and ordered not to surrender under any circumstances. 

Their battered brigade held off a Division of Union cavalry under Union Gen. George Armstrong Custer at Namozine Church (located just west of Five Forks) long enough for the Army of Northern Virginia to make its escape.

Gen. Barringer later wrote:

"Soon the enemy appeared in force, with shouts of triumph and trumpets blowing...I ordered the whole [force] to fall back and skirmish in retreat. The 5th [North Carolina Cavalry] Regiment, which was dismounted, fought with...obstinacy and seemed slow to give up the contest. Before it retired under further orders, the enemy had gained the main road of retreat. I then moved this regiment by marching through forests and byways,..."

The brigade was chewed up in the process, and the few soldiers from the 5^th Cavalry who were not killed or captured, including Henry Avent, tried to make their way on foot to rejoin the army, but the surrender occurred before they were able to. Those who remained from the regiment were at Pannell's Bridge, on the Staunton River (25 or so miles south of Lynchburg, VA),  when they got word of Lee's surrender at Appomattox. They then made their way to Danville, VA, and disbanded. Since they lost their horses at Namozine Church, Henry would have had to make his way home to Chatham Co. on foot. 

Union soldiers under Gen. William Tecumsuh Sherman,  having completed their infamous "March to the Sea", were occupying the area around Avent Ferry for some time before and after the surrender, and when Henry made it back to Chatham Co. he was captured by soldiers of the 14th Corps, Army of the Cumberland. There is a reference in Claude Moore's book, "The Avents and their Kin of Avent Ferry" to the parole he received at that time, which read as follows:

I, Henry Evans Avent, Sergeant, Company G 5th NC Cavalry Regt. of the so-called Confederate States Army, captured at Avent's Ferry NC, solemnly swear before Almighty God, sovereign Judge, that I will not bear arms against the United States government, nor help, aid or assist, directly or indirectly, any person or persons in making war against same, until regularly exchanged.

H. E. Avent

(grandfather Henry's handwriting)

Sworn and Subscribed, 

Avent's Ferry, NC

April 1865

Herman J. Craft

Provost Marshal

Ind. Div. 14 A.C.  

Claude Moore did not specify who added the notation "...grandfather Henry's handwriting". "Ind. Div. 14 A.C." is an abbreviation of "Independent Division, 14th Corps, Army of the Cumberland" which was a part of Sherman's army and was occupying the Avent Ferry area at this time.

Battles Fought by the 5th NC Cavalry

Battle at Plymouth, North Carolina on 10 December 1862
Battle at White Hall, North Carolina on 16 December 1862
Battle at Jones County, North Carolina on 07 March 1863
Battle at Piney Green, Onslow County on 08 March 1863
Battle at Piney Greene, Onslow County, North Carolina on 08 March 1863
Battle at Craven County, North Carolina on 18 April 1863
Battle at Bertie County, North Carolina on 30 April 1863
Battle at Carteret County, North Carolina on 04 May 1863
Battle at Smith's Mills, North Carolina on 04 May 1863

The 5th NC Cavalry was called up from NC by order of Gen. Lee in May, 1863, and ordered to join the Army of Northern VA, then in camp in Culpeper Co., VA. Within days of their arrival in VA, the regiment was involved in the Battle of Brandy Station, said by many to be the largest cavalry battle of the War.

First Battle of Brandy Station, VA

Battle at Beverly Ford, Virginia on 09 June 1863
Battle at Brandy Station, Virginia on 09 June 1863
Battle at Kelly's Ford, Virginia on 09 June 1863

Gettysburg Campaign
Battle at Middleburg, Virginia on 17 June 1863
Battle at Middleburg, Virginia on 18 June 1863
Battle at Middleburg, Virginia on 19 June 1863
Battle at Upperville, Virginia on 19 June 1863
Battle at Middleburg, Virginia on 21 June 1863
Battle at Upperville, Virginia on 21 June 1863
Battle at Upperville, Virginia on 22 June 1863
Battle at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania on 03 July 1863
Battle at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on 03 July 1863
Battle at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on 04 July 1863
Battle at Fairfield, Pennsylvania on 05 July 1863
Battle at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on 05 July 1863
Battle at Cashtown, Pennsylvania on 06 July 1863
Battle at Hagerstown, Maryland on 06 July 1863
Battle at Williamsport, Maryland on 07 July 1863
Battle at Hagerstown, Maryland on 08 July 1863
Battle at Hagerstown, Maryland on 09 July 1863
Battle at Hagerstown, Maryland on 10 July 1863
Battle at Ashby's Gap, Virginia on 12 July 1863
Battle at Goods Mills, Maryland on 12 July 1863
Battle at Hagerstown, Maryland on 12 July 1863
Battle at Hagerstown, Maryland on 13 July 1863
Battle at Hagerstown, Maryland on 14 July 1863
Battle at Middleburg, Virginia on 17 July 1863
Battle at Ashby's Gap, Virginia on 20 July 1863
Battle at Ashby's Gap, Virginia on 21 July 1863
Battle at Hosp, Jordan Springs, Virginia on 26 July 1863
Battle at Winchester, Virginia on 30 July 1863

The Mine Run Campaign
Battle at Jack's Shop, Virginia on 22 September 1863
Battle at Madison Court House, Virginia on 22 September 1863
Battle at Brandy Station, Virginia on 23 September 1863
Battle at Madison County Court House, Virginia on 23 September 1863
Battle at Brandy Station, Virginia on 11 October 1863 (Henry's horse was killed in this skirmish)
Battle at Bristoe Station, Virginia on 11 October 1863
Battle at Auburn Mills, Virginia on 14 October 1863
Battle at Auburn, Virginia on 14 October 1863
Battle at Catletts Station, Virginia on 14 October 1863
Battle at Bristoe Station, Virginia on 15 October 1863
Battle at Stevensburg, Virginia on 08 November 1863
Battle at Mine Run, Virginia on 01 December 1863
Battle at Mine Run, Virginia on 03 December 1863

The Wilderness Campaign

Battle at Wilderness, Virginia on 06 May 1864

Battle at Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia on 07 May 1864
Battle at White Hall, Virginia on 07 May 1864
Battle at Wilderness, Virginia on 07 May 1864

The Yellow Tavern Campaign

Battle at Beaver Dam, Virginia on 11 May 1864
Battle at Goodall's Tavern, Virginia on 11 May 1864
Battle at Ground Squirrel Church, Virginia on 11 May 1864
Battle at Brooks Church, Virginia on 12 May 1864

Battle at Kennon's Landing, Virginia on 24 May 1864
Battle at Wilson's Landing, Virginia on 25 May 1864
Battle at Hanover, Virginia on 27 May 1864
Battle at Hanover Court House, Virginia on 31 May 1864

The Cold Harbor Campaign
Battle on 01 June 1864
Battle at Ashland, Virginia on 01 June 1864
Battle on 03 June 1864
Battle at Hanover Court House, Virginia on 03 June 1864
Battle at Haws' Shop, Virginia on 03 June 1864
Battle at Locust Grove, Virginia on 03 June 1864
Battle on 06 June 1864

The Siege of Petersburg
Battle at Black And Whites, Virginia on 23 June 1864
Battle at Petersburg, Virginia on 15 July 1864
Battle at Black And Whites, Virginia on 31 July 1864
Battle at Weldon Railroad, Virginia on 21 August 1864
Battle at Reams' Station, Virginia on 23 August 1864
Battle at Petersburg, Virginia on 25 August 1864
Battle at Reams' Station, Virginia on 25 August 1864
Battle at Petersburg, Virginia on 27 August 1864
Battle at Petersburg, Virginia on 10 September 1864
Battle at Petersburg, Virginia on 08 November 1864
Battle at Stony Creek, Virginia on 01 December 1864
Battle at Dinwiddie Court House, Virginia on 30 March 1865
Battle at Chamberlain Run, Virginia on 31 March 1865
Battle at Dinwiddie Court House, Virginia on 31 March 1865
Battle at Dinwiddie Court House, Virginia on 01 April 1865
Battle at Five Forks, Virginia on 01 April 1865
Battle at Namozine Church, Virginia on 03 April 1865

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