saa a ara = her

US aS eS aS ma

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

550 NortH Carotina Troops, 1861-65.

Twenty-eighth, Thirty-third, Eighteenth and Seventh. Four
of the regiments, Thirty-seventh, Twenty-eighth, Thirty-third
and Highteenth, moved briskly forward through a tangled un-
dergrowth, in perfect order, as on dress parade, and com-
pletely routed the enemy. The Seventh by some means be-
came detachd from the brigade, and did not advance with
the other regiments. While moving to the front we met the
celebrated Stonewall Brigade, retreating in some confusion—
General Branch says, “fleeing as fast as they could”—closely
followed by the enemy. Our brigade coolly opened ranks to
allow the fugitives to pass, then closing up in compact line
pressed gallantly on, in nowise disturbed by the terror-
stricken cries of the runaways, or by the fire of the enemy in
front. The enemy had already flanked General Taliaferro’s
Brigade which was on our right, and which had fallen back
in considerable disorder.

General Branch says: “My brigade poured volley after
volley into the enemy who broke and fled _precipi-
tately through the woods and across the field.” The
Federal cavalry now made a gallant charge upon Tal-
iaferro’s Brigade, which had partially rallied after
Branch had driven the enemy from their flank, but the com-
bined fire of Taliaferro in front and Branch on the flank,
broke up the column, and sent it flying back to the rear. Gen-
eneral Branch wrote: “My officers and men behaved finely.
Such was their steadiness that I was able to preserve my line
unbroken throughout the day.” There can be no doubt what-
ever that this victory was mainly due to the courage, firm-
ness and endurance of Branch’s Brigade. The Stonewall
Brigade and Taliferro’s were simply broken in pieces, and
the enemy, with loud and confident cheers, was driving them
pell-mell before him. ‘At this critical moment,” says Gen-
eral Jackson, “Branch’s Brigade met the Federal forces,
flushed with temporary triumph, and drove them back with
terrible slaughter through the woods.” General A. P. Hill
says: “Winder’s (Stonewall’s) Brigade, immediately in
front of Branch, being hard pressed, broke, and many fugi-
tives came back. Branch was immediately ordered forward,
and passing through the broken brigade, checked the pur-

anja ei i aN

etl ete nn