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250 Nort Carona Troops, 1861-’65.

point known as Burgess’ Mills, about six miles southwest of
Petersburg, MacRae’s Brigade, together with other troops,
was sent to their support. Finding the enemy in heavy force
on the west side of Hatcher’s Run, and south of the plank
road, we crossed the run some distance below, and
immediately after crossing advanced our corps of
sharpshooters, who at once encountered the enemy’s skir-
mish line, which was rapidly forced back upon the Federal
line of battle. In the meantime our line of battle had been
formed. With a yell we charged the enemy’s lines, which
were broken by the impetuosity of our attack, and were
driven rapidly before us. Having driven the enemy for
nearly a mile, and finding no support advancing to our assist-
ance, the enemy being in great number on both our right and
left flank, General MacRae was forced to call a halt and fall
back on our lines. In this engagement the loss of officers and
men was heavy. Among the former was Lieutenant James
W. Huske, of Company B, Fifty-second Regiment, who fell,
pierced through the body with a minie ball while gallantly
leading the left wing of the regiment in this charge. He had
on this occasion, as on all others, behaved with conspicuous
gallantry. He died upon the field, and in his death the regi-
ment lost one of its most valuable officers, and his company @
kind and considerate friend. Fighting until nearly dark our
lines were drawn back and reformed, where we awaited an ex-
pected attack, but apparently the enemy had been sufficiently
punished, as they withdrew under cover of night, leaving
their killed and wounded on the field. A Major-General
said in the hearing of this writer, next morning, that he
counted 286 dead and 145 so severely wounded as to be un-
able to help themselves.

On the 29th MacRae’s Brigade returned to the lines near
Hart’s house, whence it had been taken, and was employed
in changing our lines, building a new line of works and tear-
ing down the old ones. At this point we erected cabins and
went into winter quarters. Occupied in working on fortifica-

tions, drilling and the ordinary camp duties, we were not
9 December, 1864, when the

called upon to move until
e er

brigade started upon a tramp in pursuit of a party of th

Firty-Srconp Rreiment. 251

« :
sap agae se a an effort to destroy the Petersburg &
ilroad. e did not get a fight, b
ful in driving them ba ithin t oo ataaunat
ck within their own li f i
we returned to our camp, reaching i eae
: ; ing it on the 14th. From this
ate until 5 February, 1865, we remained in our aie

quarters, doing picket dut illi
? : y, drillin d :
other duty as is incident to canny life. ae

HATCHER’S RUN.

ee the 5th MacRae’s Brigade, accompanied by other
Ps, aby out to intercept a column of the enemy moving
= Dries iti in the direction of the South Side Rail-
a - . ad reached a point near Armstrong’s Mill, on
the lett bank of Hatcher’s Run. F: inding the enemy stron, 1
> we made a demonstration against them ties!
™ antes with some loss. We were withdrawn after dark
— “ ne ‘ our quarters. On the 7th we were ordered
esi oy at daylight expecting to attack the enemy, but on
gg fy = heavy sleet and snowstorm, did not move.
ke ght of 31 March we were moved to the right and oe-
ae a position in our lines on the right of the Boydton
ne oo beyond Hatcher’s Run, which we held until the
a : 2 spel when we began our retreat by a road leading
sage id to Southerland Station, closely pursued by
a Sh ae eaching Southerland Station on the morning
us 7 ns hee so closely pressed as to find it necessary to
sleet ik erefore selected a position on the brow of a
a in _ open field and rapidly fortified our line, as
_ could, with bayonets used to break the earth, and
sit Her means as were at command. Before we had suce-
‘ae e - doing any considerable work the enemy charged our
sa ie : is advance was met with a well-delivered and telling
: Pied ess ‘te rifles (we had no artillery) and they were
pea ue eh heavy loss. A second attack with strength-
ia rin W . made and again they retreated with greater
saughe a and much heavier column was hurled against
— e band; and, after fighting with great desperation,
eing flanked on our left, we were driven from our lines and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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