Reilly earned the nickname "Old Tarantula." Despite being in many battles in several wars, he was wounded only one time during the Mexican War.
After Gettysburg, he was promoted from sergeant to major, owing to his great storehouse of artillery knowledge. He hadn't been promoted before because he wasn't on the Army of Northern Virginia's command pipeline. He wasn't rich, wasn't a Virginian and he wasn't a West Pointer.
He was sent to Fort Fisher where that knowledge came into great use by Colonel Lamb.
Confederate Navy Captain Robert T. Chapman was in command of Battery Buchanan at the final day of Fort Fisher on January 15, 1865. He was drunk and abandoned his position, taking the boat that could have transported the wounded Gen. Whiting and Col. Lamb to safety.
Chapman, of course, escaped capture and later guarded Jefferson Davis in the flight from Richmond in April.
More to Come. --Old B-Runner
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