316 NortH CAaRroLina Troops, 1861-65.

alent to flanking us right and left. No troops were at any
time stationed along the line from the extreme left of the
Twenty-sixth Regiment to the brick kilns, a distance of over
200 yards, until Colonel Avery ordered Major Lewis with
four companies of the Thirty-third Regiment, to occupy it.
There were also no troops defending the line from the brick
kiln to where the main breastworks touched the railroad, a
distance of 200 yards or more.

“The enemy now determined to carry this part of the line
of our defence. What part the militia, who were stationed
along the main breastworks nearest the railroad, and the
Thirty-fifth Regiment, who were next to them, took in resist-
ing this attempt, I cannot say. The brick kilns and other
buildings excluded the view. These troops were certainly
near enough, and by a proper change of front could have
thrown themselves upon the enemy and overwhelmed him.

“The force attempting this point of our works, I do not be-
lieve to have been more than one regiment. (It was only the
right wing of the Twenty-first Massachusetts Regiment), and
the main resistance he encountered came from the rifle pits
occupied by Major Carmichael’s and Major Lewis’ com-
mands. The enemy was held in check for some considerable
time, but at last he succeeded and carried the railroad be-
tween the brick kilns and the main breastworks and a part
of his force passed in. They had advanced but a short dis-
tance, however, when they were met by a part of the Seventh
North Carolina Regiment and driven out at the point of the
bayonet, the Yankees leaping over the breastworks into the
ditch beyond.

“Tt was during this time that we met with a severe loss in
the death of Major Carmichael—as true a patriot and as
brave a gentleman as ever lived. His death occurred in this
manner: Colonel Avery and Major Carmichael were stand-
ing together at the corner of the traverse nearest the railroad.
They were watching the action on the left and beyond the
brick yard, when a single ball, whether aimed at the party or
not, entered the mouth of Major Carmichael as he was speak-
ing, and passed out at the back of the neck. I was standing
at his side when he fell. He died instantly. A feeling of

TwEnNTY-SIXTH REGIMENT. By

bitter grief ran through the trenches as he fell, for there was
not a man in the Twenty-sixth regiment who was not devot-
edly attached to him. During the battle, Major Carmichael
wore a small Confederate flag, perhaps three by four inches in
dimension, mounted on a staff and attached to his cap. This
may have attracted the fatal shot.” The flag had been given
the Major by a lady of New Bern, and he had promised her
he would wear it in his cap in his first battle. It was doubt-
less the cause of his being singled out by some sharpshooter.

We will now return to the left of the Confederate line be-
tween the railroad and Fort Thompson. General Branch’s
paucity of troops prevented his taking advantage of Lieuten-
ant-Colonel Haywood’s brilliant bayonet charge with the.
Seventh Regiment. The enemy were driven back, but there
were no soldiers to occupy the vacant line of defense at the
brick yard, or to take the place in the works vacated by the
retreat of the militia and the Thirty-fifth Regiment. Says
General Branch, in his report: “The whole of the militia had
abandoned their positions. Colonel Sinclair’s Regiment very
quickly followed their example. This laid open Haywood’s
right and a portion of the breastworks was left vacant. Thad
not a man with whom to occupy it, and the enemy soon passed
in a column along the railroad and through a portion of the
cut down timber in front which marched up behind the breast-
works to attack what remained of Colonel Campbell’s com-
mand.” How this was done we will explain by quoting from
Brigadier-General Parke, commanding the force supporting
Reno’s Brigade attacking the Confederate right wing.

“TLieutenant-Colonel Clark, commanding the Twenty-first
Massachusetts, meeting Colonel Rodman, of the Fourth
Rhode Island, informed him he had been in the works and
assured him of the feasibility of again taking the intrench-
ments.

“T approved of this course on the part of Colonel Rodman,
and at once ordered the Eighth Connecticut and the Fifth
Rhode Island to his support. Passing quickly by the rifle
pits which opened on us with little injury, we entered in rear
of the intrenchments and the regiments in a gallant manner
earried gun after gun, until the whole nine brass pieces on