136 Nortu Carotina Troops, 1861-’65. Pa. 1 July the two armies again _ iter = Gettysburg. On this day as regiment reese net fae very decided victory over the enemy, driving = es Se. seek Gettysburg. On the rower ra! we made an assault on the enemy’s fortified line an 2 - = In the general history which will go down cone er : ns : course nothing more than a brief and cursory re TE om or will be made, to the service of any eal —— Bedi it is due this gallant brigade (then Hoke’s) as a “0 bi who lived not to see the clouds and darkness of other mde to refer briefly to the glorious services of as brave = se : men as the sun ever shone upon. I will in wie ste e : fe attempt to show how those indomitable eager = a themselves amid the wild carnage of that Berieners e . rs impressions of the writer, of that memorable day as PEI picture of mere fancy, but one of actual experience. Me : = I still hear, through the long vista of years, the acre “I : = those awful accents of battle. After a lapse of t vit 4 cp : years, I recall not without emotion, the incidents of = me tle which occurred on that second day at Gettysburg, an while life lasts, will cherish my remembrance of the mag nificent courage displayed by our command. THE ASSAULT ON CEMETERY HEIGHTS. After lying all day under a July sun, suffering beng st tense heat, and continually annoyed by the enemy’s : ae shooters from the heights, from sheer desperation, we a with delight the order to again meet the veteran foe, Mages less of his advantage in numbers and position. — Really, ne enemy’s artillery, reopening at the going down of the sun, : like music upon our ears. At the time the assault was ret “ the enemy had massed heavily in our front, and placec a teries in the rear of his own lines, which were used with fear- ful effect against us, firing over the heads of his own per The ground we had to pass over was ascending, but the —_ advanced in double quick time, and with a cheer — — the rifle pits in advance of the enemy’s main line a ins 8, killing and capturing a few of them—the greater part taking Armies, that Private Oliver P. Rood Twenty-First. Ream ENT. 137 refuge behind the main line of breastworks. ing was desperate, but like an unbroke column rushed on, facing a con‘inual stream of fire. After charging almost to the enemy’s line, we were compelled to fall back, but only a short distance. The column reformed and charged again, but failed to dislodge the enemy. The bri- gade held its ground with unyielding determination—ever keeping afloat our flag to battle and breeze. Here the fight- n wave, our maddened SLAUGHTER OF COLOR BEARERS. Four out of five of the color-bearers flag, went down to a heroic death. went down it was taken up and fl enemy, holding of horror. who dared hold up that As often as the flag aunted in the face of the an impregnable position. The hour was one Amid the incessant roar of cannon, the din of musketry, and the glare of bursting shells making the d ness intermittent—adding awfulness to the scene—the hoarse shouts of friend and foe, the piteous cries of wounded and dying, one could well imagine, (if it were proper to say it), that “war is hell.” Further effort being useless, we were ordered to fall back a short distance under cover. To re- main was certain capture, to retreat was almost certain death. Few, except the wounded and dead, were left behind. Here, these brave North Carolinians “stood, few and faint, but fearless still.” The enemy did not follow or show any disposition to leave their defences. ark- LOSS OF OFFICERS AND MEN. Our loss in officers and men was great. All the field offi- cers of the Twenty-first were killed and wounded except Col- onel W. W. Kirkland, who was after this fight, promoted to Brigadier-General. Here the lamented Colonel Avery, commanding the brigade, laid down his noble life on the altar of his country’s freedom. Lieutenant-Colonel Ran- kin was badly wounded and left in the hands of the enemy, where he remained a prisoner throughout the war. It is re- corded in Vol. 125, Official Records Union and Confederate was awarded Isaac FE.