A Civil War Biography
Collett Leventhorpe
Leventhorpe was born 15 May 1815 in Exmouth, England. He attended
Winchester college and at 17 was commissioned an ensign in the 14
Regiment of Foot. In 1842 he resigned his commission and emigrated
to the US, settling in North Carolina and became involved in various
business enterprises.
When North Carolina became part of the Confederacy Leventhorpe
offered his military services. He became colonel of the 34th North
Carolina in November 1861 then was elevated to brigade command when
the 34th was brigaded. On 2 April 1862 he was elected colonel of the
11th North Carolina and again was elevated to brigade command. He
commanded the District of Wilmington then was sent with his brigade
to Blackwater where he remained until December. In January 1863 he
fought at White Hall, North Carolina then from late March until mid
April took part in the siege of Washington, North Carolina,
repulsing an enemy attack at Blout's Mill on 9 April. Leventhorpe
and his regiment were then sent to join the Army of Northern
Virginia and fought at Gettysburg attached to Pettigrew's brigade in
Heth's division. Leventhorpe, severely wounded on the first day, did
not take part with his regiment the attack on the Union center on 3
July but the regiment performed well. He was captured during the
retreat from Gettysburg and held at Point Lookout, Maryland for
nearly 9 months. Upon his return he accepted a commission as
brigadier general of North Carolina troops and cleared the enemy
from the Roanoke River area of his home state and defended the
Weldon railroad, a major communications line. He was commissioned a
brigadier general in the Confederate army in February 1865 but
refused the appointment. He spent the remainder of the war with
Joseph Johnston's forces surrendering with them.
Following the war Leventhorpe pursued various business
opportunities. He made several trips to England and resided for a
time in New York before returning to Wilkes County, North Carolina
where he died on 1 December 1889.
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