244 Norra Carotina TROOPS, 1861-65.

that upon an inspection of General Lee’s lines General Meade
enable, and, declining bat-

recognized the position to be impre
he night of 1 December.

tle, retired behind the Rapidan on t
Our regiment remained at this point until Thursday, 3
December, when we returned to Camp Marshall, our winter

quarters, near Orange Court House, where we remained em-

ployed in drilling and general camp duty until 3 February,

1864, on which day our regiment was ordered on picket duty

on the Rapidan river. On the 20th General Kirkland, having
ed at Bristoe Station, re

recovered from his wound receiv
turned to camp and again took command of his brigade.
During the month of March Governor Vance paid a visit

to the North Carolina troops in the Army of Northern Vir-

ginia and made addresses to the several brigades. He had an
k to Cooke’s and Kirkland’s Brigades,

but on account of the very bad weather
sure of hearing him.
3 Febru-

d the cabins and moved to an encamp*

As sickness prevailed to a great ex
made as a sanitary meas-

appointment to spea
jointly, on the 29th,
our commands were deprived of the plea
The regiment, having been in winter quarters since

ary, on 27 April vacate
ment one mile distant.
tent about this time, the change was

ure with good results.
THE WILDERNESS.

On 4 May our regiment broke camp and marched by the
urg plank road, reach-

Orange Court House and Fredericksb
ing Vidiersville, near which it rested for the night. On the

5th it continued to march in the direction of Fredericksburg,
and early in the afternoon reached a point at which the plank
road is intersected by what is known as the Brock road ; and
here General Hill, finding the enemy in his front, formed his
line of battle extending across the Plank road. About this
time the Fifty-second Regiment was ordered to retrace its
steps for the purpose of protecting our wagon train, which
was reported to be threatened by the enemy’s cavalry. Ac
cordingly, we proceeded to execute this command, and, having
gone as far as Parker’s store, about four miles to the rear,
were informed that its services were not required. Tmmedi-
ately it faced about and returned to join its brigade. In the

 

Firry-Sr
ECOND REGIMENT
: 245

meanti
ime the battle had begun, and as we approached the

lines we were
met by great numb
seeki : mbers of our me
Ing the rear for shelter and relief site and
: en were

wounded in every conceivable
dt manner—some sli
a Be pas tt et
ve? : sdema y-second moved rapi
a its 8 in the brigade, and at Sob eg e
upadels a aise over which we were fighti A
a : = dense undergrowth, and the ieieeat
4 sets ed se in many places, one hundred yards
ate plees : om the time we joined the brigade which
rae ee about 5 o'clock in the attecnaie
ay ae ee was one continuous roll of musketr
a a oe on put a stop to the battle for this
ak nc fon a night upon the ground on
me sgh nena rhe we evening, and the exhausted
rom
hea oe he aire the ground over which the battle had
oa Silat ad become very much disarranged, and in
Pare ie ; es was no connection with our troops to the
lea és ongstreet, 1t was known, was marching to re-
Si aiea geek ei was expected to be up by 12 o’clock
ee tbe te y for this reason the inexcusable blunder
ae hi ung our lines during the night of the 5th
Lo 7
ay coal aia delayed and did not reach us at the expected
vet DT ea of the 6th found us fighting under these
ape ges. The enemy having penetrated our lines
Oe Sears gaps, opened fire upon the Fifty-second Regi-
plata oh gh Finding we were flanked we began to
co oe 5 cus as we retreated. By this time the whole
= ep wee of the plank road was being forced back and
atone oS for a time was greatly endangered.
oeagahee is gallant men reached the field about this
me 485 pl y forming his line, he met the advancing lines of
ny, checked them, and in a few moments was rapidly

driving them b
gad ack upon thei oes
lishing those of ‘acpi Hill, a