286 NortH Caroxtina Troops, 1861-’65.

in, we were again on the move, the Twenty-fourth Regi-
ment occupying the left of the line from that of the previous
day. About 9 o’clock Ransom’s Brigade, in command of
Colonel Rutledge, of the Twenty-fifth Regiment, was ordered
to retake a portion of our works that had been captured the
day before. Lieutenant-Colonel Harris led the Twenty-
fourth to the charge. The route over which we had to pass

was about 500 yards.
The timber had been cut and felled in the direction from

which we had to make the advance. At the word forward, we
made our way as best we could, losing our men at every step.
Reaching the works occupied by the gnemy, the conflict be-
came fearful, the breastwork only dividing the two lines. At
this moment the Twenty-fourth Regiment had one hundred or
more of her already thin ranks stricken down, and for the
first time in her history had to fall back in disorder. On
reaching the point from which we first started, Colonel Har-
ris reformed the regiment for a second charge. Captain
Lane, Company E, on getting his men together, found that
he had but two men left. The writer was one of the two. Ad-
dressing General Beauregard, who was present, in tears, told
him that he had lost all of his men but two, pointing to my-
self and Creech. Beauregard said to Lane: “Captain, you
have done enough; take those two men and act as rear guard
and recruit your company.” But when Harris ordered the
second charge, Lane ordered us to fall in and we did so. But
on reaching the works the Yankees had fled, leaving their
dead and wounded behind.

This was a heart-rending scene. The dead and wounded
were lying in every conceivable condition, and cries for help
went up all around. It is enough that we should say, that
none could look on and not weep, unless he possessed a heart
as unsusceptible as stone, or that he were a soldier. Butler
retreated to Bermuda Hundred. Beauregard followed.
About the first of June, we had a heavy skirmish fight at Ber-
muda Hundred, and the fighting was kept up from day to
day for several days. On one occasion Company E was sent
to reinforce Company H on the skirmish line. Soon the
whole regiment was sent and drove the enemy back. Reach-

Twenty-FourtH REGIMENT. 287

ing a road, Colonel Harris gave the order to lie down, and
just here happened a little incident that we will mentiun for
the fun of the thing. When the order came to lie down, the
writer crossed over the road and took a position behind a
forked oak, and began firing at the Yankee colors about one
hundred yards off. Soon we were joined by Tom Toler, who
also began to fire soon after. Looking around we saw that
the regiment was going. . Calling to Tom to let’s go, he said,
“No, we are going up.” .

We shook hands and parted and on reaching the regiment,
I told the boys Tom was gone up; that he was a prisoner, but
in a few moments up came Tom, out of breath, puffing and
blowing, and said the next time he offered himself to the

Yanks, they would be sure to have him. The boys gave a

loud yell at Tom’s expense.

18 June below Richmond, near Bottom’s Bridge, doing
picket duty on a creek. This was as bad picket duty
as we ever did, the two lines being divided by the stream and
not more than forty yards apart. All that was necessary for
the exchange of shots was to show yourself or shake a bush.

21 June, left Chaffin’s Bluff and went to Petersburg, fight-
ing every day. On reaching the city, we were hastened for-
ward to reinforce some militia that had withstood the Yan-
kee forces around Petersburg up to this time, and had been
driven to our last line of works. Soon after our arrival, the
enemy charged our regiment in heavy column. We let them
come sufficiently near, when we mowed them down so fear-
fully that hundreds threw down their guns and surrendered.

At night the firing was kept up on both sides. Just before
day the enemy broke Johnson’s (Tennessee) Brigade and
came in our rear before we knew it. The result was that all
of the Twenty-fourth that were asleep were captured, being
over one hundred. It was now day and the remainder of the
Twenty-fourth fell back to a new position, and were ordered
to build new works and support Miller’s battery. We worked
during the day with our hands and bayonets, and by night we
had a strong work. At night Colonel Faison, in command of
the brigade, ordered us to move to the left, and soon after to
take back a portion of the works that Wise’s Virginia Brigade