142 Norra Caronina Troops, 1861-’65.

was deemed useless to make the attempt, and best to hold on to
the cavalier line. Now began some of the most desperate
fighting of the war. Ransom’s Brigade was that day com-
manded by Colonel McAfee, of the Forty-ninth.
Simultaneously with the rush into the broken salient, the
enemy in three lines of battle charged our works for a half
mile on each side, only to be repulsed time and again with
fearful slaughter. Meanwhile, in the cavalier line, our
troops were clinging to the works with the tenacity of despair,
and fighting with the fury of madmen. The ‘compact,
crowded mass of Federals rendered every shot effective. Our
men aimed steadily and true; and as each rifle became too
hot to be used another gun was at work by one who took the
place of the first, or supplied him with rifles which could be
handled. From a redoubt to our left and rear Wright’s Bat-
tery opened upon the crowded, panic-stricken foe, as He
huddled together, an enfilading, plunging fire with five fiel
pieces, and two mortars, every shot and shell tearing its ee
through living flesh. Between our men and small bodies o
the enemy, who formed and tried to force their. way down our
works, several hand to hand conflicts, with bayonets locked
and rifles clubbed, occurred, which availed nothing to the
cornered enemy. When their supports on either side were
driven back it was seen that those who had filled the salient
were caught in a trap. When the fighting was hottest, but
our supreme danger had been averted, in a large measure,
by his promptness in the arrangement and disposition of his
own regiment and those men of the brave South Carolinians
who had formed with us (when driven from the salient), he,
who had so often led us with such calm, intrepid courage,
Lieutenant-Colonel John A. Flemming, was shot through the
head and instantly killed. Never was a braver knight than
he; our State had no more devoted son than Flemming ; the
South no truer soldier. Somewhat reserved in bearing,
severe to those who failed in duty, and disdaining all pre
tense and insincerity, he did not desire nor practice the arts
which seek popularity. But he was so brave, so ready, 80
steadfast and constant in all trying conjunctures, as 1 his
friendships, that his officers and men loved and respected

Forry-Ninto REGIMENT. 143

him and followed him with implicit zeal and faith. He had
said to the writer more than once that he was convinced that
he would be killed, and the last time he repeated it, soon after
some disaster to our. arms, remarked that he would have few
regrets in laying down his life, if by so doing, the freedom of
the South could be secured. From early morning till nearly
3 o’clock in the afternoon of that fateful July day, the
Twenty-fifth and Forty-ninth North Carolina and Twenty-
sixth South Carolina held our line against tremendous odds,
and until the force of the assault was spent and broken, when
Mahone’s Virginia, Wright’s Georgia and Sander’s Alabama
Brigades charged with the Twenty-fifth North Carolina and
retook the entire salient, inflicting frightful slaughter upon
the enemy. Our lines were re-established, and the Federals
were driven back at all points, losing, it was stated, more than
9,000 men, killed and wounded, besides 2,000 prisoners,
colors and small arms captured in the undertaking: And
when the victory was won, and the Forty-ninth was returning
to its former position, Captain Edwin Victor Harris, of
Company E, was shot through the neck, severing the main
artery; and with his life-blood gushing from his wound and
his mouth, realizing his mortal calamity but unable to speak,
he extended his hand in farewell to Major Davis, and then to
his devoted Lieutenant, John T. Crawford, and immediately
the spirit of Edwin Harris, so joyous, happy and bright in
this life, winged its flight to God.

Nothing occurred beyond the daily fighting, shelling and
sharpshooting, on the lines occupied by our brigade, until 21
August, when we were hastily marched to our right, and un-
der A. P. Hill attacked the enemy on the Weldon Railroad,
and after carrying two of his lines of fortifications, dislodged
him from his position. Our loss was severe, the Forty-ninth
suffering considerably. We then returned to our old place
in the trenches. On 14 December Captain ©. H. Dixon, of
Company G, was killed, and Major ©. Q. Petty, who had
been appointed Major in the place of James T. Davis, who
had succeeded Lieutenant-Colonel Flemming, and eight men,
were wounded during a fierce mortar shelling to which we
were subjected.