a2 Nortua Carouina Troops, 1861-’65.

not supported, closed in upon his flanks and attacked with
great vigor. Undismayed by the large force which sur-
rounded him, and unwilling to surrender the prize of victory
already within his grasp, MacRae formed a portion of his
command obliquely to his main line of battle, driving back
the foe at every point, whilst the deafening shouts and obsti-
nate fighting of his brigade showed their entire confidence in
their commander, although every man of them knew their
situation to be critical, and their loss had already been great.
Awaiting reinforcements, which long since ought to have
been with him, he held his vantage ground at all hazards, and
against enormous odds. No help came whilst his men toiled,
bled and died. Approaching night told him that the safety
of his brigade demanded that he return to his original posi-
tion. Facing his men about, they cut their way through a
new line of battle which had partially formed in their rear.
In this encounter the Forty-fourth North Carolina bore a
brilliant part; it drove the Federal line, everywhere in its
front, steadily to the rear. Lieutenant R. W. Stedman, of
Company A, with less than fifty men, charged and captured
a battery of artillery which was supported by a considerable
force of infantry. This battery was disabled and left, as it
was impossible to bring it off the field when the regiment was
ordered to return to the position it occupied at the commence-
ment of the fight. The affair at Burgess’ Mill was marred
by the misunderstanding of his orders by an officer of high
rank, by which he failed to reinforce General MacRae, as
instructed, causing a heavy loss to his brigade.

From Burgess’ Mill the regiment again returned to its old
position in the entrenchments at Petersburg. On 2 April,
1865, the Confederate lines having been pierced and broken
through, the regiment, under orders, commenced its retreat
towards Amelia Court House, which place it reached on 4
April. Its line of march was marked by constant and bloody
engagements with the Federal troops, who followed in close
pursuit, but who were entirely unable to produce the slight-
est demoralization or panic. At Southerland’s Station the
fight was severe. On the night of the 5th it left Amelia
Court House and reached Appomattox on the morning of the

Forty-FourtH REGIMENT. 33

9th, where, together with the bleeding remnants of the army
of Northern Virginia, it stacked its arms and its career was
ended.

The esprit de corps of the regiment was of the very highest
order. Neither disease, famine, nor scenes of horror well
calculated to freeze the hearts of the bravest, ever conquered
its iron spirit. The small remnant who survived the trials
of the retreat from Petersburg, and who left a trail of blood
along their weary march from its abandoned trenches to Ap-
pomattox Court House, were as eager and ready for the fray
on that last memorable day, as when, with full ranks and
abundant support, they drove the Federal troops before them
in headlong flight on other fields. This spirit especially
manifested itself in the love of the regiment for its flag,
which was guarded by all its members with chivalrous devo-
tion, and which was never lost or captured on any field. The
first flag was carried from the commencement of its cam-
paign until about 1 January, 1865, when a new one was
presented in its stead, for the reason that so much of the old
flag had been shot away that it could not be distinctly seen by
other regiments during brigade drills, and as the Forty-fourth
was always made the central regiment, upon which the oth-
ers of the brigade dressed in line of battle, as well as on pa-

rade, a new flag had become a necessity.

The new battle flag was carried by Color-Sergeant George
Barbee, of Company G, until the night of 1 April, 1865,
when crossing the Appomattox, he wrapped a stone in it and
dropped it in the river, saying to his comrades about him:
“No enemy can ever have a flag of the Forty-fourth North
Carolina Regiment.” The wonderful power which the high
order of esprit de corps exerted for good amongst the officers
and men, is illustrated by an incident which is worthy to be
recorded amidst the feats of heroes.

A private by the name of Tilman, in the regiment, had on
several occasions attracted General MacRae’s favorable at-
tention and, at his request, was attached to the color-guard.
Tilman’s name was also honorably mentioned in the orders
of the day from brigade headquarters.

3