Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 10.
Reverend J. William Jones, Ed.

The next and last assistant Adjutant-General was Captain E. J. Hale, Jr., of Fayettville, N. C. He entered the service as a private in Company F, First North Carolina Volunteers ( “Bethel regiment” ), and was adjutant of the Fifty-Sixth North Carolina Troops when I secured his promotion. He, too, was a very intelligent, highly educated, noble-hearted, Christian gentleman. In the discharge of all office work, he was remarkably accurate, prompt and efficient; and on the field, quick, cool, bold and dashing — just the officer to inspire troops with confidence. In the Wilderness and at Spotsylvania Courthouse, he was conspicuously gallant; and at Petersburg, when our lines were broken, he mounted the works, and by his great bravery, won the outspoken admiration of all who saw him.