NortH Carorina Troops, 1861-’65.

RETREAT TO VIRGINIA.

July 11 we formed line of battle at Hagerstown, where we
remained until the 13th. We had frequent skirmishes with
the enemy, but no actual engagement. On the night of the
13th we left Hagerstown. It was very dark and rainy, and
we fared worse, if possible, than we did on the retreat from
Gettysburg on the night of the 4th. By command of Major-
General Heth, who was temporarily in command of the Light
Division, Lane’s Brigade formed the rear guard at Falling
Waters on the 14th, and it alone held the bridge, though re-
peatedly attacked, until every man had crossed. It then
slowly retired, in perfect order, vigorously shelled by the en-
emy. General Heth was charmed with the gallant bearing
of the brigade. He said to General Lane: “In covering the
retreat you have done nobly. I expected your whole brigade
would be killed, wounded or captured.” General Pettigrew—
the Sir Philip Sidney of the South—was killed at Falling
Waters.

After crossing the Potomac the brigade encamped near
Culpepper Court House for some days, and then moved to
Orange Court House, and did picket duty at Morton’s Ford
until Stuart’s fight at Jack’s Shop on 22 September. We
were then ordered to Liberty Mills as a support to Stuart’s
Cavalry, but when we reached that place the fight was over.
General Stuart had defeated the enemy. We went into win-
ter quarters at Liberty Mills and did picket duty beyond the
mills, and on the Stanardsville road.

General Pender died of the wound which he received at
Gettysburg. General Lee pays him the highest compliment
in his power when he says: ‘“We would have succeeded” (at
Gettysburg) “had Pender lived.” Shortly after Pender’s
death Wilcox was assigned to the command of the “Light
Division.” While in camp at Liberty Mills a great many
furloughs were granted, and every effort was made to lighten
the burdens of the men who, at so great a sacrifice, had so
gallantly upheld the honor of our arms.

During the winter we made a very trying march through
snow and mud to Madison Court House. Our object was

Tuirty-THIRD REGIMENT. 569

to catch some Federal cavalry raiders, but we had poor suc-
cess.

In October the Federal commander, General Meade,
moved towards Washington along the Orange & Alexandria
Railroad—apparently unwilling to fight General Lee on the
Rappahannock. At the unfortunate battle of Bristoe Sta-
tion, 14 October, Lane’s Brigade formed line of battle, with
bullets whistling all about them, but did not engage the en-
emy, though expecting every moment to be ordered to the
fighting line. Darkness seems to have put an end to the un-
equal conflict. Our brigade helped to tear up the railroad,
and we did the work thoroughly. October 25th we encamped
at Brandy Station, and remained there several days. No-
vember 7th Hoke’s (Colonel Godwin) and Hay’s Brigades
suffered heavily while doing picket duty near Rappahannock
Station. They were completely surrounded and most of
them were captured. The next morning, 8 November, the
brigade fell back, formed line of battle near Culpepper Court
House, and repulsed the enemy’s cavalry charge, sustaining
but little loss. On the 9th we went back to our old camp at
Liberty Mills.

MINE RUN.

At Mine Run, 2 December, we were drawn up in line of
battle, preparatory to a night attack, but at daybreak we dis-
covered there was no enemy to fight. During the night he
had quietly decamped. The weather was intensely cold, no
fires were allowed, and the men suffered no little in the
trenches and on the skirmish line. At the battle of the Wil-
derness, 5 and 6 May, 1864, the brigade greatly distinguished
itself. It was ordered to the fighting line about 5 p. m. (5
May) when our troops in front, fighting Hancock, a skillful
and determined officer, could hardly hold their ground. Col-
onel Venable, of General Lee’s staff, said to Colonel Palmer,
of A. P. Hill’s Corps, “Thank God, I will go back and tell
General Lee that Lane has just gone in and will hold his
ground until other troops arrive tonight.” Lane did hold
his ground, and actually drove back the enemy, greatly supe-
rior in numbers, a short distance at the point of the bayonet.