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574 NortH Carotina Troops, 1861-65.

ble for him to live.” I heard them say it, and it made me
mad. I said to them: “If you think I am going to die you
are very much mistaken. I have no idea of dying.”

VARIOUS ENGAGEMENTS.

On 31 May, our sharpshooters had a brisk encounter with
the enemy near Starr’s Farm, on the Totopotomy creek, and
the entire brigade was exposed to a severe fire both of in-
fantry and artillery, though not engaged in actual fighting.
We lost several men, killed and wounded. 2 June we
marched to Cold Harbor, and were placed in the second line.
In the afternoon we supported Wharton’s Brigade in its suc-
cessful assault on Turkey Ridge. Subsequently, we occupied
a position on the right, between Wharton and Thomas. The
regiment fought with its wonted gallantry. Here General
Lane was severely wounded and Colonel Barry, of the Eigh-
teenth, took charge of the brigade. The casualties in the reg-
iment from 24 May to 3 June were: Killed, 1 man}; wound-
ed, 1 man.

June 13th at Riddle’s shop, we remained in line of battle
for a considerable time, but were not seriously engaged. 22
June, at Well’s farm, three miles southeast of Petersburg,
the regiment helped to drive back the enemy, who was en-
deavoring to get possession of the Weldon Railroad. 23
June, while relieving Mahone, the brigade was exposed to a
merciless fire of musketry and artillery. It was at close
range, and very severe, but our men were so seasoned and dis-
ciplined that they never flinched.

Between the 1st and middle of July the regiment moved
to the north side of the James, and on 28 July took part in
the action at Gravelly Hill. In this engagement (Gravelly
Hill) Adjutant Spier Whitaker particularly distinguished
himself. He was complimented ‘in general orders for his gal-
lant and officer-like conduct on the field of battle. Lieutenant
Whitaker was a valuable officer clear-headed, cool and cour-
ageous. At the battle of Fussell’s Mill, on the Darbytown
road, 16 to 18 August, the brigade was conspicuous for its
steadiness and its courage. Commanded by Colonel Barber, of
the Thirty-seventh, the brigade captured from a determined

Tuirty-THiIrD REGIMENT. 575

enemy the intrenchments on the Darbytown road, from which
other troops had been routed, in the presence of General Lee.

At Reams Station, 25 August, Lane’s Brigade achieved a
signal success. About 2 p. m. a Georgia Brigade and Scales’
attacked Hancock fiercely, but they were driven back in dis-
order. About 5 o’clock, Cooke, Lane (General Conner), and
MacRae went to the front to make a second attack. The brig-
ade moved forward promptly over fallen trees, brushwood
and other obstructions, with a ringing rebel yell, and the Fed-
eral line was ours. The enemy fled in the greatest confu-
sion. An attempt to recapture the works resulted in utter
failure. The railroad was saved. General Lane, in his his-
tory of the Twenty-eighth Regiment, says ‘General Lee, in
speaking of this fight to General Lane, said that the three
North Carolina brigades, Lane’s, Cooke’s and MacRae’s,
which made the second assault, after the failure of the first
by other troops, had by their gallantry not only placed North
Carolina, but the whole Confederacy, under a debt of grati-
tude, which could never be repaid.” What praise could be
higher? General Lee wrote to Governor Vance: ‘They
(Lane, McRae and Cooke) advanced through a thick abatis of
felled trees under a heavy fire of musketry and artillery, and
carried the enemy’s works with a steady courage that elicited
the warm commendation of the corps and division command-
ers, and the admiration of the army.”

At Jones’ farm, 30 September, the brigade (General Lane
in command), was on the right of the road, and the Thirty-
third was on the right of the brigade. The enemy tried to
flank us on our right. Colonel Cowan ordered the men to lie
down at the bottom of a hill, and when the enemy got opposite
our colors, the Thirty-third rushed to the top of the hill and
poured so heavy a fire into the enemy that he quickly fled,
leaving his dead and wounded behind him.

Colonel William M* Barber, of the Thirty-seventh, was
killed 30 September. He was an officer of unusual merit
and promise.

Next day, 1 October, the Thirty-third was in the fight at
the Pegram House, and helped to drive the enemy from his
incomplete works, and held them until dark. It then re-