76 Norta Carouina Troops, 1861-’65.

ed of both sides. Early on the morning of the 6th, the bat-
tle was renewed with increased vigor by the enemy who had
received reinforcements during the night, and it was not long
before the heavier weight of the Union attack began to slowly
press back the decimated Confederate line. Matters were
assuming a serious aspect when Longstreet’s Corps, fresh
from the west, with Lee at its head, trotted through the
weakened line and forming under fire, soon had the ‘enemy
checked, driving him back to his original position. The
writer had the pleasure of witnessing this glorious seene—the
most soul-inspiring sight the imagination can conceive, and
one never to be forgotten.

The night of the 6th the list of casualties was hastily made
up—possibly not accurate—as follows: Forty-sixth North
Carolina, killed 39, wounded 251, total 290, out of an effec-
tive strength of 540 men. The following were instantly
killed: Captain N. N. Fleming, of Company B; Lieutenant
George Horah, of Company B; Lieutenant J. A. B. Blue, of
Company H; Lieutenant T. S. Troy, of Couey
G. Wounded: Colonel W. L. Saunders, Captain A. T.
Bost, of Company K; Lieutenant F. M. Wishart, of Com-
pany A; Lieutenant T. G. Jenkins, of Company C.

After the 6th, Grant’s famous left flank movement began;
the Forty-sixth on the front line almost daily until Aap
mattox.

On 10 May, the regiment was again engaged at Spottsyl-
vania Court House, where Cooke’s Brigade made a most bril-
liant and successful charge on the enemy’s batteries—loss not
heavy, except in Company C, (Captain S. W. Jones) who lost
ages it cia wounded. Officers wounded : Captain

. W. Jones, of Com ipa
ay selon pany ©; Lieutenant Routh, of Com-

Again on 12 May was the Forty-sixth engaged—- i
slightly. From the 12th to 19th, the _ naa a Git
tinuously in line, confronting the enemy—with small fons
fa ees lateral movement of both armies eceight

em near Mechaniesville, on 28 May, bei sries of ski
recount r= , on 28 May, being a series of skir-

On 2 and 3 June the entire brigade did some handsome

Face accoelsettoaete aetonnctshcirmeam

a

 

Forty-SixtH REGIMENT. 77
work near Mechanicsville, receiving the highest encomiums
from the Richmond Examiner which was said to have praise
only for Virginians.

From 3 to 12 June, the Forty-sixth well entrenched, con-
fronted the enemy at very close quarters—so close that con-
versation could be carried on between the opposing forces.

12 June; the sidelong movement was resumed. 15 June
the regiment was engaged in White Oak Swamp for some
hours—losing about twenty-five men. Here it was that
Lieutenant Robert A. Small, of Company G, met his death.
Few nobler spirits “passed over the river” during those ter-
rible years than that of Lieutenant Small—a Christian and
one of nature’s noblemen.

18 June the command crossed the James river, above
Drewry’s Bluff, and occupied a position near Petersburg, in
the entrenchments.

The line of march of the regiment, from the beginning of
the campaign, was as follows: Along the Fredericksburg
turnpike to “The Wilderness”—thence to Spottsylvania
Court House, Hanover Junction via Brooke turnpike to new
Mechanicsville—thence via “Nine Mile Road,” Williams-
burg road, Charles City road, Darbytown road, River road,
across Drewry’s Bluff pontoon bridge to the Richmond and
Petersburg turnpike, thence to Petersburg—a path marked
at almost every step with blood.

From 19 June to 22 August, the regiment occupied various
positions on the front lines near Petersburg, being moved
hither and thither as emergency required.

22 August the Forty-sixth took part in a brilliant affair,
on the extreme right of the lines, on the Weldon Railway,
driving from their works two lines of the enemy, but was
checked in its mad rush at the third line by a withering fire
of grape and canister—under which a number of gallant
spirits sank to rise no more, among others Captain L. Bran-
son, Company F, shot through the body by a grape shot.

25 August, one of the most desperate actions of the year
was fought at Reams Station, mainly by Cooke’s and Kirk-
land’s Brigades. The enemy was strongly fortified with a
quantity of artillery. Two brigades of Wilcox’s Division had