800 North Carottna Troops, 1861-’65.

Federals back over the works, thus re-establishing the
broken lines. Two charges were made by the Federals, but
repulsed. Warren’s Corps (Federal) about this time ar-
rived, increasing the enemy’s force very largely. As yet
General Beauregard had sent no relief to the Confederates,
and this was indeed a trying condition of affairs. But the
thorough discipline and unwavering courage of the men were
almost unconquerable.

General Beauregard’s engineers had selected a shorter and
better line of defense of the city (Petersburg), as the Con-
federate force was not sufficient to hold the old and longer
line. The picket line was put under the command of Major T.
J. Brown, who was instructed to hold the old line of defense
until the army could take position in the new line in front of
the city. This he did, the move beginning about midnight
and being completed at daybreak, when the picket line was
withdrawn. As they fell back, they were constantly skir
mishing with the enemy. During the morning the Federals
attacked in solid columns, about 100 yards apart, advancing
in the open field. The Confederates had only one line of bat-
tle to withstand their repeated attacks. The Forty-second
held a high position on the brow of a hill alongside of the ar-
tillery and received the constant fire of the enemy’s artillery
and infantry. At this time their loss was quite heavy.

Very fortunately General Longstreet’s Corps came up to
the relief of the Confederates, reducing the great odds against
them.

General Grant, defeated in his attempts to capture Peters-
burg by fighting, began to starve out the Confederates by
his overwhelming numbers of troops. The hardships through
which the men had to pass were far greater and more dis-
astrous than the battles they had fought. It was simply
awful.

The Confederate line of battle was enfiladed on the flank
by a direct fire of the enemy. Shells were falling all around
constantly. The troops were on picket duty or defending
the breastworks every night. There was no shelter from
heat or cold, except an oilcloth stretched on four upright
sticks. The graveyard was in the rear and the dead were

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