450 NortH Carouina Troops, 1861-65.

campaign, had returned. During that time we had only lost
thirty-five prisoners, everyone of whom were captured from
our skirmish line; not a single prisoner having been taken
from our line of battle; nor had we in that whole campaign
yielded an inch of ground to the enemy, always coming out
victorious or, at least, holding our own.

Returning soon after to our position on the left of Hatch-
er’s Run, a mile and a half below Burgess’ Mill, we put up
winter quarters and remained quiet, performing picket duty
and drilling, till 8 December, 1864, when the Second Corps
of the Federal army having started on a raid to Belfield, on
the Petersburg and Weldon Railroad, our corps was ordered
to oppose them. Leaving camp on the evening of 8 Decem-
ber we marched until about 2 o’clock a. m., when we bivou-
acked. The weather was bitter cold and that night it snowed
and sleeted, making the marching very rough. When we
came within a few miles of Belfield we found that the enemy
had retreated and we were ordered back to Jarrett’s Station
to try and intercept them. Just as we reached this point we
found the enemy’s cavalry passing. Immediately throwing
forward our artillery, under the gallant Pegram, and putting
Cooke’s Brigade in line for support, we prepared for action.
As we were in the woods the enemy did not see us and charged
upon the artillery just as it got into position; but our skir-
mishers, posted about a hundred yards in front of the artil-
lery, soon showed them that they were supported. The en-
emy were driven back without a gun being fired from the line
of battle, and as they retreated we pursued. Crossing the
railroad we pushed on for some three miles, hoping to inter-
cept their infantry who were going up the Jerusalem Plank
Road. When we reached this road we learned that they had
passed about three hours before. As it was about dark we
bivouacked for the night and next morning started on our re-
turn to camp, which we reached on the afternoon of 13 De-
cember. Our rest was not again broken into until Sunday,
5 February, 1865, when Grant, making another of his for-
ward movements, was within 600 or 800 yards of our works
before his movements were seen. Immediately the “long

 

TWENTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT. 451

roll” was beaten and we were in line in a few minutes behind
our works.

About the middle of the day Gordon’s Corps having been
brought to our side of the creek, Davis’ Mississippi Brigade,
which held a position about a mile to our left, was marched
down to our position and relieved us. We then started up
the line, Cooke’s Brigade being in the lead, and after going
a mile and a half or two miles, crossed our works and moved
to the front.

Several times, as we passed up the lines, the question
was asked, “‘What brigade is that?’ and when we answered
*“‘Cooke’s North Carolina,” the reply always came back, “Oh,
yes! you are the fellows that have got up such a reputation
for fighting. You'll get enough of it yet before you are done.
They’ll keep you in front until the enemy cuts you to pieces.”

Passing a mile or more to the front, we turned to the right
and formed line of battle. Our skirmishers being immedi-
ately thrown out were soon moved to the right to protect the
flank, which left the skirmishers of some other brigade in our
front. Soon the order to advance was given, and after going
a short distance we struck the enemy’s skirmish line. The
skirmishers in our front gave back through our line, and we
had to drive the enemy’s skirmishers with our line of battle
for more than half a mile. When we struck the enemy’s line,
posted behind a little earthwork upon a hill in a field beyond
the wood through which we had advanced, the order was given
to charge. As we started up the hill and were within sixty
yards of their works, the command, “Dress to the left,” which
had been given all the time, was repeated, and finding that
the brigade on our left did not come to time we fell back to
the edge of the woods and took position behind a fence.
Again the order to advance was given, and again starting up
the hill and getting near enough to the enemy to see their
knapsacks over the small embankment, behind which they
were lying flat, finding that our left was unsupported we were
ordered back. After a short while, the enemy making a
strong demonstration on our right flank, we were ordered to
fall back. When we reached our reserve line, about half a
mile to our rear, we halted, and soon after fresh troops were