Probably the worst time you could collect this tree. Unless you have a place to store it over the winter that doesn't freeze, this is probably a dead tree. I have found that collected Carpinus Caroliniana (It's really Carolina Hornbeam ,but has an extremely large distribution in the eastern U.S.), are very vulnerable to freezing in first couple of years out of the ground.
sorry, that's just the way it works.. Additionally, all the fuel the tree needs to begin regrowth in the spring is mostly left behind in the roots you cut off when collecting it. These are usually collected in early March in Va. and N.C.