Today, we remember Yadkin County native Miles Melmouth Cowles, Adjutant of the 38th North Carolina Troops, who died on this date, 163 years ago.
As Cowles’ full life story could fill numerous pages, this installment will focus only on his wounding and the subsequent days leading up to his death.
Arriving in Richmond in the late spring of 1862, the 38th North Carolina was a relatively “green” regiment. That soon changed, none more so when they marched off on June 26 into what would become the start of the Seven Days’ Battles around Richmond. For regimental Adjutant Miles M. Cowles though, this was not his first test. A seasoned veteran at the mere age of 27, Cowles had served previously as a First Lieutenant with the “Yadkin Grey Eagles,” comprising Company B of the 11th North Carolina Volunteers (later designated the 21st NC Troops) from its organization in April of 1861 well through the Manassas campaign.
Now, Cowles was on the field & staff of the regiment as its chief administrative officer, and spent the months leading prior to assisting with drill and training his young volunteers. Going into the fight though he knew his men were ready for their baptism by fire. Likewise, he and his fellow officers felt a certain security under the watchful eyes of Brigadier General and fellow Tar Heel, William Dorsey Pender, along with their division commander, Major General A.P. Hill.
Describing the start of the battle that would take on many names, to include “Mechanicsville,” “Beaver Dam Creek,” and “Ellerson’s Mill,” then Captain (later Lt. Colonel) George W. Flowers wrote:
“The division crossed Meadow Bridge on June 26th… As soon as the 38th NC Regiment had gotten a little beyond Mechanicsville it was saluted with heavy shelling. A line of battle was formed and the march continued until the order was given to charge the battery that was throwing the deadly missiles. The heat was intense and the double-quick march exhausting, but the charge was kept up over the open field until the regiment reached the summit of the last elevation when a farm house, yard, and garden broke the line somewhat. The Yankee batteries were upon the summit of the opposite hill with their supporting infantry in their entrenchments, and the old field pines in front cut down and piled across the stumps which were left about three (3) feet high, forming an almost impassable barrier. The 38th NC Regiment, alone and unsupported, charged down the hill, the long line of infantry playing upon it with a cross fire. On the soldiers charged, in the face of the fatal volleys, until the obstacles were reached, when the whole line stopped and began returning the fire under every disadvantage. The men were falling rapidly and it was soon seen that to take the works was impossible.”
Picking up from here on the account of Lt. Colonel Robert F. Armfield of the 38th:
“I was an eye witness of the noble gallantry of Adjutant Cowles during that dreadful charge; and as we rushed furiously down the hill-side fronting the enemy’s battery, only about two hundred yards distant, through a storm of bombs, solid shot, grape and canister, and Minie balls, never surpassed in fury on any battlefield, and whilst the wounded and the killed were falling on every side ‘thick as grain before the reapers sick,’ I could distinguish his manly form through the smoke of battle, far in front of everyone else, and I could hear his clarion voice amid the roar of artillery and musketry, cheering on the brave men who pressed after him. Still he was untouched, as if by a miracle; until a retreat was ordered, when, in utter disregard of his personal safety, he rushed to a small portion of our men who had taken shelter in a clump of trees on our extreme right, and who, it seems had not heard the command to retreat, and were remaining behind. He went from tree to tree, admonishing the men to retreat; and whilst thus nobly engaged in endeavoring to save the men from falling into the hands of the enemy as prisoners, he received a flesh wound in the thigh… I met him a few minutes afterwards at the place where the regiment was reformed, still in reach of the enemy’s incessant fire of artillery. He was assisting in rallying the men, apparently unconscious of his wound. I told him he must go to the rear, he replied he could not leave me; and when I repeated that he must go, he took me by the hand, and whilst the tears ran down his cheek, he said, ‘I want to stay with you until the battle is over.’ I never saw him afterwards.”
Adjutant Cowles remained with his men until they had reached safety, under cover of darkness. Though adamant in his refusal to have his wound dressed or leave the field until the battle was over, he finally heeded his commander’s call. Mounting his horse, Cowles rode the several miles back into Richmond, arriving early in the morning of the 27th. He was initially received and treated at the “Kent Hospital” (formerly warehouse of Kent, Paine & Co.), but transferred to a private residence on June 30th.
Sadly, it was said “he never rallied from the shock caused by the loss of blood.” Word was sent out immediately to his family in North Carolina warning of his grave condition. His older brother Andrew C. Cowles, a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives, arrived from Raleigh in just a few days. Another brother, William Henry Harrison Cowles, serving as Captain of Company A of the 1st North Carolina Cavalry, and a nephew Calvin Benham (also of the 1st NC Cavalry), were granted furloughs and joined him soon thereafter.
Adjutant Cowles lingered for days, with his family keeping watch around the clock, ever holding on hope of his survival. A letter to their father on July 8th reported, “Miles, poor Miles, has suffered ten thousand deaths, but today our kind and accomplished Surgeon Dr. Chambliss thinks his symptoms are slightly better,” though warning, “You must prepare yourself for the worst at any time.”
His life was not to be spared though, and at 6:50 PM on July 9th, 1862, Miles Melmouth Cowles breathed his last, his nephew noting, “Miles bore himself gallantly.”
The news of his passing spread quickly to his comrades, with an outpouring of condolences coming in the wake.
Brigadier General William Dorsey Pender stated in his report of the battle that Adjutant Cowles, “nobly maintained his position until after dark,” and in another account that, “he had never seen anyone behave with more distinguished bravery.”
Colonel William J. Hoke wrote: “The heroic gallantry of Adj. M.M. Cowles… in every duty he was called upon to fulfill on the battlefield. During the entire charge he was in front of the regiment nobly urging on the men, and when ordered to retreat, he was the last to leave the field.”
Lt. Colonel Robert F. Armfield: “A purer, nobler, braver spirit than his, never passed from this to the spirit world; and Liberty herself never made a more precious sacrifice, than when she gave his young heart to death for her cause.”
From his nephew Calvin Cowles Benham: “He was generous, kind & noble. And his life has been fully given in defense of his home… Like others he gives himself a martyr to his country. Oh may God bless him…”
After his passing, the body of Adjutant Cowles – accompanied by his brothers and nephew – took the final trip home to Hamptonville, Yadkin County, North Carolina. He was buried at the Flat Rock Baptist Church Cemetery.
A six month old daughter survived him.
Image: 1/6th plate melainotype (tintype) taken by photographer Esley Hunt in Raleigh, circa September 1861. This image composes part of the Cowles Family Collection, courtesy of Fred D. Taylor.
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