306 NortH Caronina Troops, 1861-’65. Firry-FirtH REGIMENT. 307

fire of the enemy went over our heads. On this charge three at the time, rode off to join the army of General Kirby Smith,
color bearers were shot down in succession before we captured across the Mississippi. But before he reached that army it
the artillery. The regiment was engaged in the battle of had surrendered and he went to Galveston and made that
the 12th at Spottsylvania, but as we were behind temporary ) place his home. He became the editor of the Galveston News
breastworks, and some distance to the right from the point and acquired both fame and wealth. He died at Asheville,

where Grant broke the Confederate lines, its losses on that ) N. C., a few months ago and was buried at Salem, N. C., his
day were comparatively small. . old home.

 

The regiment after this time was commanded at various

times by Captain P. M. Mull, of Company F; Captain R.
At the second battle of Cold Harbor the regiment reached ) W. Thomas, of Company K; Captain W. A. Whitted, of

the field late in the afternoon of 2 June. The Federal troops Company G; Captain B. F. Briggs, of Company A; Captain
were attempting to occupy an advanced position on our left N. W. Lillington, of Company H; and Captain John T.

for the battle of the next day. Davis’ Brigade was put in to Peden, of Company B; but Captain Whitted was in com-_
prevent this, and charged them just about sunset. We mand the greater part of the time.

checked the advance of the enemy, but it was a fearful charge. The regiment, after Cold Harbor, spent about a month on

SECOND COLD HARBOR.

 

 

The ground was unfavorable on account of a thick under- the north side of the James river, near Malvern Hill, and
growth and the loss was considerable. Colonel Belo was seri- during that time had an engagement with the enemy near
ously wounded in this charge and was never able afterwards White Oak Swamp, in which the Federals were repulsed, and
to take command of the regiment. We were engaged in the the regiment lost several men. We were afterwards trans-

battle all the next day, but we were protected by temporary ferred to the lines southeast of Petersburg, and the point oc-
breastworks, and we did not suffer as heavily as some of the cupied by the Fifty-fifth Regiment was to the right of the
regiments, but the punishment we inflicted upon the enemy point where the mine was sprung on 30 July. The part of
was fearful. the line occupied by our regiment was so near to that of the
Colonel Belo’s wound was in the arm, half way between the enemy that sharpshooting was kept up constantly between the
elbow and shoulder joint; the bone was shattered and the op- lines with casualties of almost daily occurrence. The en-
eration of re-section was performed. The loss to the regi- emy had a number of mortar guns planted just in rear of
ment was irreparable. He had been with the regiment in their lines, from which shells were discharged almost con-
all its hard-fought battles, and had the absolute confidence of stantly night and day. As some measure of protection, the
every man in the regiment. He was cool and intrepid. He men and officers of the regiment dug holes in the side of the
never lost his head in the midst of the fiercest conflict, nor hill, wpon which the line of our regiment was formed. The
failed to discover and seize the advantage of a position. He headquarters of the regiment was a hole six by nine feet
had a genius for organization, and appreciated every detail square, thus made in the side of the hill with pci ink
that contributed to the effectiveness or character of a military ing to the rear, and it was in this place that the writer, Ad-
organization. He was in North Carolina at the time of jutant of the regiment, received all orders from eS of-
General Lee’s surrender. He went to General Beauregard ficers, received and made all reports and all regimental spel
and was assigned by him to the command of a force. He was ders, and there the commanding officer and himself slept at
detached from the main body of General Johnston’s army, and night.
when the latter surrendered, instead of surrendering with it, ee See

he and Captain Lillington, of Company H, who was with him On the morning of 29 July, the Federal commander made

 

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