680 NortH Caroxina Troops, 1861-65.

teenth North Carolina, Colonel McElroy. The Thirteenth
North Carolina, Colonel A. M. Scales, was attached in the
winter. Pender’s Brigade formed the Sixth of the “Light
Division” commanded by General A. P. Hill. The division
crossed Meadow bridge 26 June, and it was seen from scat-
tered portfolios and other luxuries to which the Southern
soldier was a stranger, that the Yankee picket at that place
had fled with great precipitation. As soon as the Thirty-
eighth had gotten a little beyond Mechanicsville it was saluted
with heavy shelling. A line of battle was formed and the
march continued until the order was given to charge the bat-
tery that was throwing the deadly missiles. The heat was
intense, and the double-quick march exhausting, but the
charge was kept up over the open field until the regiment
reached the summit of the last elevation when a farm house,
yard and garden broke the line somewhat. The Yankee bat-
teries were upon the summit of the opposite hill with their
supporting infantry in their intrenchments, and the old field
pines in front cut down and piled across the stumps which
were left about three feet high, forming an almost impassable
barrier. The Thirty-eighth, alone and unsupported, charged
down the hill, the long line of infantry playing upon it with a
cross fire. On the soldiers charged, in the face of the fatal vol-
leys, until the obstacles were reached, when the whole line
stopped and began returning the fire under every disadvantage.
The men were falling rapidly and it was soon seen that to take
the works was impossible. Captain Thornburg and Adju-
tant Cowles were in front, urging the men forward. The re-
treat was ordered but the noise was so deafening nothing
could be heard. Major Andrews reached Captain Thorn-
burg and Adjutant Cowles and gave them the orders to re-
treat, after which the word was passed along the line and
the retreat up the hill was begun. The enemy continuing
their deadly firing. It was about sunset when the regiment
reached safely the rear. General Pender in his report says:
“TI at once changed the direction of two of my regiments so
as to bring them to the right of the artillery, and succeeded
in getting in 150 or 200 yards of it before we were opened
upon, but when they did open upon us it was destructive, and

Tuirty-EigntH REGIMENT. 681

the obstacles so great in front, the creek and the mill dam,
that after the Thirty-eighth North Carolina had reached these
obstacles, and in less than 100 yards of the enemy’s rifle pits,
they had to fall back. This regiment here advanced boldly
and maintained its ground well.” * * *

I should state, while relating the incidents of this day’s
battle, that Colonel Hoke, Thirty-eighth North Carolina, was
wounded, and had to leave the field. The Adjutant of the
Thirty-eighth was also wounded, but nobly maintained his
post until after dark.

Lieutenant-Colonel Armfield took command as soon as Col-
onel Hoke was wounded, which was soon after getting under
fire. Adjutant Miles M. Cowles received a wound from
which he soon died, the regiment losing one of its bravest
officers. Lieutenant Covington, Company E, and Lieutenant
Darden, Company D, were killed, and Lieutenants Dan F.
Roseman, Company F, and Angus Shaw, Company H, were
severely wounded.

In Company G, Captain Flowers and Lieutenant Harring-
ton were severely wounded, and out of 32 men in the com-
pany at the opening of the engagement, 27 were either killed
or wounded. About 420 men belonging to the regiment were
engaged in the fight, the others being on picket. The loss
was 152 in killed and wounded.

Colonel Hoke in his report speaks in highest terms of the
conduct of Captain B. H. Sumner, A. ©. S., Sergeant Major
D. M. McIntyre, John Young, an attache to the regiment,
and Edward Goldsmith, a Drill Master. The Color Bearer,
John O. Waters, was severely wounded, but remained bravely
at the head of the regiment and bore his colors through the
fight, returning them safely. During the night the troops
were collected as well as possible, and it was late before the
Thirty-eighth was gotten together, when the worn-out soldiers
slept on their arms. At early dawn the march was begun,
the regiment passing over the spot where so many men were
lost the evening before. The enemy fled and the Confeder-
ates marched through the deserted camp. General Hill in
his report says: “It was a costly and useless sacrifice, for
early the next morning our troops crossed the mil] pond and