Amaziah Price was born and raised in Notia Township, Cherokee County,

North Carolina. Amaziah was 5' 10" with dark complexion, black hair and

hazel eyes.

He enlisted on June 18, 1861 into the Confederacy for a bounty of $15.00.

He was a member of company A, 19th Regiment N. C. Troops (2nd Regiment N.

C. Cavalry). This company known as the "Cherokee Rangers" was composed

mainly of residents from Cherokee County. On June 19, 1861 the company

assembled at Valley Town and left for Ashville on June 20. Arriving at

Ashville on June 25, the company was quartered at Camp Woodfin and

assigned to the regiment. The company trained at Camp Woodfin until Oct.

27, 1861, when it left Ashville for New Bern. After a 12 day stopover in

Raleigh to be issued equipment and horses, the company arrived in New Bern

on Nov. 19. They joined three other companies of the regiment encamped at

the Fairgrounds on the outskirts of town.

The second did not have the same thorough military training that the First

N. C. Cavalry and other regiments had. In addition, its first commander,

Col. Spruill was made Colonel for political reasons and had little

military training. Their first major confrontation with the Federals

occurred in March 1862 at Gillett's Farm, Jones County when the regiment

attempted to storm the Federal Infantry in the farm house. The plan of

attack was poor ant the execution poorer such that the regiment panicked

and scattered. General Ransom recommended disbanding and retaining the

regiment. He was overruled, however and the regiment remained intact.

Since that battle, the 2nd Cavalry received nothing but praise and became

known as the "Two Horse" Regiment. General W.H.F. Lee, the division

commander, commented. "My sleep is less disturbed when the gallant "Two

Horse" is in my front."

For the next six months, the regiment was assigned to picket or

scouting duty. This duty usually resulted in contact with the enemy and

contact usually meant a skirmish. It was not until Sept. 1862, that the

regiment was fully armed and equipped for the first time and not until

Nov. 10, 1862 that the regiment officially became a part of the Army of

Northern Virginia. On that day, the regiment was assigned to General

W.H.F. Lee's Brigade Cavalry Corps, General J.E.B. Stuart commanding.

Apparently, the leadership of Stuart ignited the regiment into far greater

deeds than expected for a regiment of its size. General Stuart charged and

routed armies much larger than his own and the 2nd N.C. became known for

the same.

On June 16, 1863, the regiment moved with the division under General

Stuart in the second Gettysburg Campaign (see map). The 2nd N.C. was part

of the group assigned to attack a wagon train consisting of 173 wagons.

They chased the wagons to within 3 or 4 miles of Washington before

capturing them. The closeness of Rebel troops caused panic in Washington

and riots in New York City and resulted in General Grant eventually

assuming command of the Union forces . The 2nd N.C. then continued to

Hanover, Pa. where it lost nearly half of its men in battle.

After Grant assumed Command of the Army of the Potomac, the 2nd N.C.

Cavalry was assigned duty to harass him and report his movements. This

they did with admirable skill according to the official reports until they

were removed to fight under General Wade Hampton during July of 1864 along

with the 1st North Carolina Cavalry.

Under General Hampton, they fought many battles at Fussells Mill,

Whites Tavern and White Oak Swamp. White Oak Swamp was very damaging to

the regiment. The cavalry was successful but the infantry failed to hold

their line and the battle was lost. Amaziah Price for reasons unknown, was

AWOL during these battles. However, it was common for the men to leave

battle for a time if other matters concerned them at home.

Amaziah returned to the regiment in time to participate in the Hampton

Beef Steak Raid. The regiment along with other regiments were sent to

capture 2,486 cattle in order to replenish the Confederate supplies. Of

this number, only 18 cattle escaped. The 2nd N.C. was assigned to retreat

with the cattle. They repulsed several charges by the Federalists and were

repulsed several times such that by night time, the darkness was welcome

by both sides as an opportunity to break the conflict.

Following this, the Cavalry was stationed to protect the Petersburg

and Weldon Railroad. They were involved in battles at Jones Farm in

September and at Boisseau's Farm, Gravely Run and Hargrover House in

October. In the Boydton Plank Road Battle on Oct 27-28, Amaziah Price was

captured in a skirmish at Wilson's Farm (see map) and taken to City Point,

Va. on Oct. 31, 1864. He was then transferred to the Prisoner of war Camp

at Point Lookout Maryland where he stayed until he signed an Oath of

Allegiance after the war on June 16, 1865.