320 NortH CaRo.Lina Troops, 1861-65.

that might be offered in the name of “the good Old North
State,” as a privilege.

CHECKING FOSTER’S RAID.

5 November, Martin’s command, consisting of the Seven-
teenth, Twenty-sixth, Forty-second, Fifty-sixth and Sixty-
first North Carolina Regiments, Walker’s squadron of cavalry
and two or three batteries of artillery, set out for Hamilton.
Within six miles of that place the enemy was reported be-
tween us and Tarboro. Countermarched to within three
miles of Cross Roads Church. Just at nightfall Crawford’s
company of the Forty-second Regiment encountered the en-
emy’s cavalry, losing none, and the enemy, according to pris-
oners captured on the 6th, suffering a loss of sixteen killed

and wounded. Six of their dead were left on the field. Slept

in line of battle expecting a general attack at daybreak.

6 November, the enemy retreated, and we pursued through
a drenching rain; bivouacked in six miles of the terminus of
the railroad from Tarboro.

7, November, it snowed through the day and into the night;
Marched to the railroad terminus. At this point Gensel
Martin organized three brigades of the six regiments, the
Forty-fourth North Carolina Troops having joined a on
the 5th; Colonel Faison commanding a brigade composed of
the Seventeenth, under Lieutenant-Colonel Lamb, and the
Fifty-sixth under Lieutenant-Colonel Luke. The Forty-
seventh North Carolina Regiment, Colonel Sion H. Rogers
came in on the 9th.

11 November, Faison’s Brigade reached Hamilton. It is
evident now that the campaign is ended, and the enemy
frightened from his attempt on Tarboro, has returned to
Washington, N. ©. Their raid was under command of Gen-
eral Foster, late a superintendent of the United States Mili-
tary Academy at West Point while Colonel Faison was a
Cadet there. The utterly wanton destruction of household
and other private property left in their trail has not inspired
their pursuers with any respect for their soldierly qualities.
It is estimated that they have carried off 3,000 laborers
(slaves) from Martin and adjoining counties—a more legiti-

Firty-SixtH REGIMENT. BZE

mate prize, as without such wasting of the sinews of war,
the struggle may be prolonged indefinitely.

SERVICE ON THE BLACKWATER.

15 November, the Fifty-sixth Regiment takes up line of
march for Franklin, Va., and crosses the Roanoke at Hill’s
Ferry, a mile from Palmyra. 16 November, through Bertie
county by Woodville, bivouacked in a mile of Rockville, mak-
ing nineteen miles. 17 November, reached Murfreesboro,
about twenty-two miles. 18 November, marched through the
town; reception and escort by Colonel Wheeler’s Cavalry.
Reached Monroe, Va., a ferry on the Nottoway river, eigh-
teen miles. 19 November, crossed the Nottoway, passed
through Franklin, six miles beyond, and went into camp.
Line of defense includes this point with old South Quay and
Cherry Grove. Heavy intrenchments thrown up along this
line,—a week’s work. General Roger A. Pryor, with a por-
tion of Pettigrew’s Brigade, is in command at Franklin, Gen-
eral Pettigrew’s headquarters being at Petersburg.

8 December, a detachment of the Fifty-sixth, with another
from the Forty-second North Carolina State. Troops, have
rebuilt the bridge over the Blackwater at J oyner’s Store. A
gunboat on the river was fired into by a portion of Company
I, under Lieutenant Sweezy. 9 December, detachments re-
turned from Joyner’s Store, bivouacked near the Fifty-see-
ond North Carolina Troops, who had been with us at Wil-
mington last Summer. 10 December, rejoined the regiment
in camp, expecting an advance of the enemy by morning.
Lieutenant Fatherly, of Company C, had fired into a patrol
gunboat at the junction of Nottoway and Blackwater rivers.
11 December, Colonel Faison, with six companies, reported to
General Pryor at Franklin, leaving four with Colonel Luke
at New South Quay. General Pryor made a foraging expedi-
tion across the river through Carrsville and Windsor, return-
ing on the 28th without loss, and having taken one prisoner.

While on the Blackwater we were thrown with the Elev-
enth North Carolina Troops, now under Colonel Collett Ley-
enthorpe, who had been a Captain in the Eritish army. To
this regiment the Fifty-sixth would concede the palm for

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