588 NortH Caro.ina Troops, 1861-’65.

vember, 1863, and suffered intensely from the freezing
weather.

At the Wilderness on 5 May, 1864, the regiment, with the
brigade, fought on the right of the plank road, holding their
position till night against a strong opposing force. Early
next morning we were surpised and driven back by an over-
whelming number of the enemy and what seemed to be an im-
minent defeat was averted by the timely arrival of General
Longstreet’s corps.

The regiment was engaged and did good service at Spott-
sylvania Court House. The loss in this battle was compara-
tively light, as most of the fighting was from behind breast-
works.

At the engagement near Hanover Junction, on 23 May,
1864, the regiment was engaged and lost severely. Three
color-bearers were shot down, but the brave band held their
position, and buried their dead and earried off the wounded.

At the Second Cold Harbor thé regiment occupied the posi-
tion on the right at Turkey Ridge. However, it was not ac-
tively engaged, but was exposed for a long time to the rapid
fire of the enemy.

On 13 June we were in the engagement at Riddle’s Shop,
and for more than a mile drove the enemy in a running fight.
The regiment took part in the battle near Petersburg on 22
June. At Reams’ Station, 25 August, Scales’ North Caro-
lina and Anderson’s Georgia Brigades made the first assault
on the enemy’s works and were repulsed with considerable
loss, the right of the line being exposed to a frightful enfilad-
ing fire of artillery and musketry; but, while feeling the
sting of defeat in our attack, with swelling hearts we wit-
nessed the gallant charge of Cook’s, MacRae’s and Lane’s
Brigades. Excepting some small skirmishing this last fight
ended the campaign of 1864, and the regiment went into win-
ter quarters at Battery No. 45, near Petersburg. During the
winter the regiment made a forced march, through rain, sleet
and snow, to Bellfield Station, on the Petersburg & Weldon
Railroad. The object of the march was to look after a raid-
ing party of Federal cavalry. On our arrival we found that
they had retired. This also was a winter of intense suffer-

Tuirty-FourtH REGIMENT. 589

ing among the soldiers. Almost destitute of provisions and
clothing, many of them deserted and crossed the line to the
enemy. On 25 March the Thirty-fourth was thrown for-
ward to support the picket line, which was about one mile in
front of the main line of works. Superior numbers forced
us to fall back to the works, losing considerably in killed,
wounded and captured.

On 1 April, 1865, the regiment with the brigade, oceupied
a position on the right, south of Hatcher’s Run. We learned
soon after daylight that the Confederate lines between us and
Petersburg had been broken. After this saddening news the
regiment repulsed a force of Federal cavalry and then re-
treated to Southerland’s Station, where a portion of Heth’s
and Wilcox’s divisions hastily constructed breastworks from a
rail fence behind which we repulsed two desperate assaults
of the enemy, killing and wounding a large number, and cap-
turing a stand of colors and many prisoners. Discovering
that we were vastly outnumbered we fell back to the Appomat-
tox river. There was no way of crossing the river except in a
small boat which was scarcely sufficient to carry the higher
officers.

The regiment marched all night and reached Amelia Court
House the next day. At this time the ranking officer was
Lieutenant-Colonel George Norment, of the Thirty-fourth
Regiment, from Mecklenburg county. Here we joined the
main atmy and General Lee provided for us the much-needed
rations. The regiment, with the brigade, protected the rear
of the army at Farmville, marching several miles in line of
battle, beating back the enemy’s cavalry, and was the last to
cross the river. As we went out from the river a heavy artil-
lery fire was poured down upon the regiment. On the morn-
ing of 9 April the brigade was moving into line near Appo-
mattox Court House, and was in range of the enemy’s mus-
ketry, when orders were passed along the line to cease firing.
All understood what it meant—the Army of Northern Vir-
ginia was to surrender. We then fell back to an open field,
near the famous apple tree.

The Confederate soldiery which had cast their fortunes
with the destiny of the South, had suffered untold and inde-