Brigadier-General Ellison Capers, Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 5, South Carolina
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

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[705] spring of 1862, when he visited his family for the last time. As soldier and officer his love for his men was that of father to his children, and often, when on a march, he would give up his horse to some sick or broken-down private. On the march to Cedar mountain, in Virginia, one very dark night the camp was aroused by the false alarm that the enemy was at hand, and there was a general stampede; but Colonel Ledbetter stood his ground and called again and again till his men rallied to him. He was present in every skirmish and battle of his regiment, including the Seven Days around Richmond and the battle of Second Manassas, where he fell mortally wounded not more than an hour after he had received promotion to colonel of the regiment. He was carried from the battlefield to Frayser's farm, where he died the third day and was buried by Col. J. N. Brown, of the Fourteenth regiment. There rest his noble ashes. No braver soldier, more honorable citizen, kinder father and husband, gave his life to the lost cause. He was laid to rest with no shroud except a gray uniform, no protection but a blanket wrapped around him by his neighbor and friend, Colonel Brown. A beautiful monument, erected by his widow and children, now adorns his grave.

J. D. W. Leitner, leading planter and ginner of Jennings, S. C., was born in Richmond county in 1841, the son of D. W. and Martha P. (Lever) Leitner. His father was a farmer, and served a short time in the Confederate army toward the close of the war. At the outbreak of hostilities Mr. Leitner left his home and enlisted in a company of Kershaw's brigade and was serving with that command on the South Carolina coast during the bombardment and fall of Fort Sumter. In June, 1861, he was discharged and at once joined Company C, of the Second South Carolina cavalry. The first service of this command was at Charleston, and later in Virginia, where they were ordered just at the close of the battles around Richmond. They participated in the battle of Brandy Station, and in the Maryland campaign, after which they returned to Virginia and remained in that State until the close of 1863. Returning then to South Carolina they remained until sent to North Carolina, and were near Fort Fisher at its fall. The cavalry commands did not participate in many of the greater battles but in much