See SS a eS

Pee ney, yaaa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

560 Norta Carotina Troops, 1861-65.

did not know who they were. The cry of Yankee cavalry
was raised, and the Eighteenth fired, in obedience to orders,
and General Jackson fell mortally wounded. It was a erush-
ing blow. Our sun had set—the glory of the centuries. Jack-
son was a giant of giants—a soldier of Napoleonic genius for
war.

Dr. McGuire tells us that at Malvern Hill when a portion
of our army was beaten, and to some extent demoralized, Hill,
Ewell and Early came to tell him they could make no resist-
ance if McClellan attacked them in the morning. “It was
difficult to wake General Jackson, as he was exhausted and
very sound asleep. I tried it myself, and after many efforts
partly succeeded. When he was made to understand what
was wanted, he said, ‘McClellan and his army will be gone
by daylight,’ and went to sleep again. The generals thought
him mad, but the prediction was true.” Jackson’s mind
leaped like lightning to an infallible conclusion. That was
the perfection of genius.

When Jackson and Hill were wounded, the night attack
of course was given up, and another disposition was made of
the troops in front. The Eighteenth and Twenty-eighth
were withdrawn from the left of the road, and the left wing
of the Thirty-third was withdrawn as skirmishers. The
right of the brigade was thrown back about midnight, and the
order from right to left was, Twenty-eighth, Eighteenth
Thirty-third, Seventh, Thirty-seventh. A little after mid-
night, Sickles, with two strong lines, attacked our right with
spirit and vigor. The Eighteenth, Twenty-eighth and left
wing of the Thirty-third repulsed him handsomely. In a
short time Sickles renewed the attack, but was again driven
back with great slaughter. On Sunday, 3 May, the brigade
charged the enemy in their intrenchments, and completely
routed them, though they were vastly superior in numbers.
Some of the troops passed over the breastworks, and took sev-
eral prisoners.. But the works could not be held, for the en-
emy had twenty-nine pieces of artillery near the Chancellor
House which at once opened a terrific fire of shell, grape and
canister, and it was not possible for flesh and blood to stand
the withering, concentrated fire of these Federal batteries.

Turrty-THIRD REGIMENT. 561

Besides, our support failed us, our right was turned, and
fresh troops were advancing against us. Under these cir-
cumstances, Colonel Avery, in obedience to instructions, or-
dered a retreat. We reformed a little in our rear, refilled
our cartridge boxes and moved into the woods to the left of
the plank road in order to support General Colquitt, whose
ammunition had almost given out. We remained in line all
night, with heavy skirmishing in front. General Lane says:
“Never have I seen men fight more gallantly, and bear
fatigue and hardships more cheerfully. I shall always feel
proud of the noble bearing of my brigade in the battle of
Chancellorsville, the bloodiest in which it has ever taken part,
when the Thirty-third discharged its duties so well as skir-
mishers and with the Eighteenth and Twenty-eighth gal-
lantly repulsed two night attacks made by vastly superior
numbers, and when the Seventh and Thirty-seventh vied with
each other as to who should first drive the Federals from
their works.” js

General Heth, who commanded the Light Division after
A. P. Hill was wounded, says: ‘Lane’s Brigade, supported
by McGowan’s Brigade, and, (“ostensibly”) by the Fortieth
and Forty-seventh Virginia Regiments, advanced and charged
the enemy, who was supported by twenty-nine pieces of ar-
tillery. I cannot conceive of any body of men ever being
subjected to a more galling fire than this force. The brig-
ades of Lane, McGowan and a portion of Heth’s (Colonel
Brockenborough commanding) notwithstanding, drove the en-
emy from their works, and held them for some time; but
were finally compelled to fall back.” Captain Saunders in
his official report as commander of the regiment—Colonel
Avery being wounded—makes honorable mention of Lieu-
tenant Priee, of Company B, and Lieutenant Farrow, of
Company H. He also states that the conscripts fought very
heroically, side by side with the old veterans. Major Mayhew,
of the Thirty-third, was mortally wounded in the third day’s
charge. His death, which occurred a few days afterward,
was a heavy blow to our regiment. He was a brave and skill-
ful officer, and was greatly beloved by the regiment. He was
originally Captain of Company F, Hyde County, which was

36