694 Norto Carotina Troops, 1861-’65.

surpassed. At night an attack was made against the enemy,
and they being panic-stricken by the cheering of the Confed-
erate army, a stampede was begun which led to a general
rout. The Third army corps under General Early (Hill
being unwell), left the position at the Wilderness 8 May,
1864, and engaged in the great battles of Spottsylvania Court
House when the Thirty-eighth lost several brave men. The
regiment was in the attack made by General Hill on General
Warren at Noel’s Station 23 May, and the skirmishing at
Riddle’s Shop 13 June, and on down to Petersburg which
was reached 18 June.

The following is a resolution of the Confederate Congress,

17 May, 1864:

“The Congress of the Confederate States of America do res
solve, That the thanks of Congress are eminently due, and
are hereby tendered to the Thirty-fourth and Thirty-eighth
Regiments of North Carolina Troops, for the promptness and
unanimity with which they have re-enlisted for the war.”

Colonel William J. Hoke, from wounds received in battle,
was disabled for field service and was appointed to the post
at Charlotte. Lieutenant-Colonel John Ashford was promoted
to the command of the regiment; Major Geo. W. Flowers to
be Lieutenant-Colonel, and Captain J. T. Wilson to be Major.

The regiment was engaged in the hard-fought battle at
Ream’s Station 25 August, 1864, when the divisions under
Wilcox, Mahone and Johnson attacked the enemy and cap-
tured about 2,000 prisoners. Hill attacked General Warren at

the Davis house, on the Weldon road, three miles from the |

city, 21 August, 1864, defeating him and capturing 2,700
prisoners. The regiment suffered severely in this engagement,
The command remained around Petersburg until 2 April,
1865, when the Confederate lines were pierced in three places.
A few days before the lines were broken, the Thirty-eighth
was sent out to reconnoiter, and ascertain the strength of the
enemy in our front. We found their picket line much
stronger than our line of battle, and after a severe engage
ment, we were compelled to retreat. In this engagement

Turrty-E1cutH REGIMENT. 695

Colonel Ashford was wounded, and turned over the command
to this writer, who retained it until the surrender, signing the
paroles. The Thirty-eighth was ordered out of the works and
was soon thereafter on the retreat from Petersburg. The ene-
my were pursuing the retreating troops very hard, and first
one regiment and then another was thrown out as skirmishers
to retard the enemy. A line of battle was formed and breast-
works were thrown up at Southerland’s Farm and when
the enemy made an attack they were repulsed with
heavy loss and several prisoners were captured. The enemy
turned the flank about 4 p. m., and the Southern troops were
again compelled to retreat. Cooke’s, Scales’ and MacRae’s
North Carolina Brigades and McGowan’s South Carolina
Brigade, the troops on the right of the break in the line,
formed the corps. The North Carolina Regiments, Thir-
teenth, Twenty-second, Twenty-seventh, and Forty-seventh
were thrown out to check the enemy while the other troops en-
thrown out to check the enemy while the other troops en-
deavored to cross, hoping to rejoin the main army from which
the brigades had been separated. It was found impossible
to cross and the regiments thrown out were recalled, when
the troops pursued their way up the river until about 2
o’clock at night when they rested. The march was begun at
sunrise the next morning, 3 April, and Deep Creek was
reached about 9 a. m. A halt was made to let the wagon
train get ahead for safety, and an attempt was made to throw
a temporary bridge across the creek in order to cross. The
cavalry had been in the rear guard, and about 2 o’clock they
came rushing up and reported that the enemy were pursuing.
MeGowan’s Brigade was enabled to cross the bridge, which
was not yet completed, but the other troops followed the
wagons and crossed at a ford about three miles above the
bridge. By this time the enemy were in sight, but no attack
was made. The intention was to cross the Appomattox at
Goode’s bridge, but the waters were very high and it was im-
possible to get to the bridge on account of the overflow, there-
fore the troops were marched up the river, and as night came
on went into camp at the cross roads above the bridge.