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440 NortH Carorina Troops, 1861-’65.

place to place to meet and repel threatened attacks of the en-
emy.

During this summer we assisted in repelling an attack
made by the Federal General Getty with quite a considerable
force at the bridge over the South Anna river on the Rich-
mond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad.

We were also engaged in a severe skirmish near the
“White House,” when we, with Ransom’s North Carolina
Brigade, met “Beast Butler” and his command and checked
one of their many attempts to move “on to Richmond.”

About the first of October, 1863, we moved to Gordonsville,
Va., and on the morning of 8 October, took up the line of
march—having been reassigned to Heth’s Division—with the
Army of Northern Virginia in the attempt to cut Meade’s
army off. Passing near Salem, Va., and other towns in that
section, we reached Warrenton, Va., on the evening of 13 Oc-
tober, 1863. Leaving this place next morning we reached a
little place called Greenage about 10 o’clock a. m. Here we
found the campfires of the enemy still burning and evident
signs of their departure in haste. Throwing out our skir-
mishers some 200 yards ahead we proceeded at a rapid pace,
almost double quick, in pursuit of the foe. Guns, knap-
sacks, blankets, ete., strewn along the road showed that the
enemy was moving in rapid retreat, and prisoners sent in
every few minutes confirmed our opinion that they were flee-
ing in haste. It was almost like boys chasing a hare. Though
the march was very rapid not a straggler left the ranks of our
regiment, every man seeming in earnest and confident in the
belief that we would soon overtake and capture a portion of
the Federal army before us with their wagon train. After
moving at this rapid rate for about three hours or more we
were filed to the right and placed in line of battle on the right
of the road, Kirkland’s North Carolina Brigade taking posi-
tion on the left of the road.

Soon the command ‘Forward” was given. Advancing
some 400 or 500 yards through a dense forest we halted near
a little branch in a hollow place in some cleared ground.
The Forty-sixth North Carolina, Colonel Hall, was on the ex-
treme right of our brigade, the Fifteenth North Carolina, Col-

TWENTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT. 441

onel William McRae next, the Twenty-seventh North Caroli-
na, Colonel Gilmer, next and the Forty-eighth North Caroli-
na, Colonel Walkup, on the left, with their left resting on the
road.

We could then see about two brigades of the enemy upon
a hill a little to our left and about 600 or 800 yards in front,
while their wagon train was rapidly moving off. About this
time a heavy fire was opened by the enemy, in a pine thicket
upon our right flank. Just then a courier came from Gen-
eral Heth to General Cooke, with orders from General A. P.
Hill, our corps commander, to advance. At the same time a
courier from Colonel Hall, commanding the right regiment
of our brigade, reported that the enemy had driven in his skir-
mishers on his right flank.

General Cooke immediately sent to General Heth and told
him there was a heavy force of the enemy on his right flank
and he must have it protected before he could advance, and
at the same time directed the courier from Colonel Hall to
tell him to throw out two companies on the right and feel the
force of the enemy. Very soon a courier returned from
General Heth with orders for General Cooke to advance, and
about the same time a courier from Colonel Hall reported
that he had thrown out the two companies as ordered, who
were immediately driven in, and that the enemy were in very
heavy force on his right flank. About this time Captain John-
son, of the Engineers, of General Lee’s staff, rode up, and upon
seeing the situation, remarked to General Cooke that he would
go to General Hill for him. Very soon after he left, and be-
fore he had time to reach General Hill, a courier came direct
from General Hill to General Cooke with the order: “Gen-
eral Cooke, General Hill says advance at once.” General
Cooke replied, “Well, I will advance, and if they flank me, I
will face my men about and cut my way out, ? and immedi-
ately gave the command “Forward !”

Just then, our artillery, posted upon a high hill on our ex-
treme left, opened upon the enemy in view and they fled in
confusion. At the same time the Federals, driven up the
railroad by Early’s Corps, had arrived in our front, and they
immediately formed line behind the railroad embankment.

 

 

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sain ride incised aie Wan