Blood and Water and Mercy

Levi Herman, my great-grandfather, appears in the Civil War Roster books as Levi Harmon. He also appears on the Federal census with the same name. But when you look at the locations in Catawba County, North Carolina, where he lived, his family’s names, etc. you know you have the right man. Levi was born to Daniel J. and Sarah Tritt Herman in 1840. We think his birthplace probably was in the Gaston County area. At the time of enlistment Levi was found to be a tailor. While living in Mecklenburg County, Levi enlisted as a Confederate private in Company H, 11th N.C. Infantry Regiment (the “Bethel Regiment”) on March 14, 1862. He was 22 years old. Levi was captured on Oct. 27, 1864 at Burgess’ Mill, but survived the war and came home. There is a handwritten memoir by Levi’s granddaughter, Vergie Herman, that tells of a day she and Levi were sitting on the front porch talking about the war. Levi recalled that “there was a small creek & soldiers on both sides of the creek. Levi took their cups to fill them, but worked hard to get clean water that was not bloody!”