pearance esi eras

322 Nortu Carortina Troops, 1861-65.

The battle began on my left wing about 7:30 a. m., ex-
tending towards my right by degrees, until about 8:30 a. m.,
all the troops in my command were engaged as far as the
swamp referred to.

The fight was kept up until about 12 o’clock, when infor-
mation was brought me by Captain J. J. Young, my Quar-
termaster, who barely escaped with his life in getting to me,
that the enemy in great force had turned my left by the rail-
road track at the woods and the brick yard, had pillaged my
camp, were firing in reverse on my left wing, and were sev-
eral hundred yards up the railroad between me and New
Bern. Also that all the troops were in full retreat except my
own.

Without hesitation, I gave the order to retreat. My men
jumped out of the trenches, rallied and formed in the woods
without panic or confusion, and having first sent a messenger
to Lieutenant-Colonel Burgwyn to follow with the forces on
the right, we struck across the Weathersby’s road to Bryce’s
Creek. On arriving at the creek, found only one small boat,
capable of carrying only three men. The creek here is too
deep to ford and seventy-five yards wide. Some plunged in
and swam over, and swimming over myself, I rode down to
Captain Whitford’s house on the Trent river, and through the
kindness of Mr. Kit. Foy, procured three more small boats.
Carrying one on our shoulders, we hurried up to the crossing.
In the meantime, Lieutenant-Colonel Burgwyn arrived with
the forces of the right wing in excellent condition, and as-
sisted me with the greatest coolness and efficiency in getting
the troops across, which, after four hours of hard labor, and
the greatest anxiety, we succeeded in doing. Lieutenant-Col-
onel Burgwyn saw the last man over before he entered the
boat. I regret to say that three men were drowned in crossing.

“A large Yankee force were drawn up in view of our scouts,
about one mile away, and their skirmishers appeared just as
the rear got over.”

Of the deaths of Major Carmichael and Captain Martin,
Colonel Vance thus feelingly speaks:

“Major A. B. Carmichael fell about 11 a. m. by a shot
through the head, while gallantly holding his post on the left,

Twenty-SixtH RecIMeENt. 323

under a most galling fire. A braver, nobler soldier never fell
on field of battle. Generous and open-hearted, as he was
brave and chivalrous, he was endeared to the white re ime :
Honored be his memory. Soon thereafter, Captain W P.
Martin, of Company Il, also fell, near the regimental colon
Highly respected as a man, brave and detarniied ‘ac a ~
dier, he was equally regretted by his command, and by ll
who knew him. Lieutenant Porter, of Company A, was i
left behind wounded. Captain A. N. MeMillan w s badly
wounded, but got away safely. ltt:
“Once across Bryce’s Creek, we were joined by Lieutenant-
Colonel Hoke, Thirty-third Regiment, with a portion of hi
command, and took the road for Trenton. We aL
night and day, stopping-.at no time for rest or sleep aan tha
four hours. We arrived at Kinston safely about noon oid 16

March, having marched fifty miles in about

hours.” ial:

SE es pie sia Src rp lr
ment he highest praise the spirit
of determination and power of endurance manifested by tl
troops during the hardships and sufferings of ony mse
Drenched with rain, with blistered feet, without isi ; ss “
sick and wounded, and almost naked, they toiled on hea 8
day and all the weary watches of the night without murm i.
ing, cheerfully, and with subordination, evincing most sane
oughly the high qualities in adversity which military I ve
Jearn to value even more than courage ‘on the battle field _
We close this account of the battle with one or two duet
dents. When Bryce’s Creek was reached, there was athe
confusion, and a natural eagerness to get across, as io aaa
my’s guns were heard in the distance. Many attempted to
swim across, and several were drowned before the offtoune
could restrain them. Colonel Vance, to inspire confidence
spurred his horse in the creek, the animal refusing to swir
the Colonel became unseated and weighed down with his a
coutrements, he sank from view in the dark water of th
stream and was about to be drowned, when assistance was :
dered him, and he reached the opposite side in safet 4 Liew :
tenant-Colonel Burgwyn and his college-mate, PRP E W