322 NortH Carorina Troops, 1861-’65.

superiority in the manual of arms, while for excellence in
tactics, military bearing and discipline, it yielded to noné.
Colonel Faison was fresh from West Point, and the officers
had chosen him with a full appreciation of the importance of
these essentials. Of our service along the Blackwater the
writer heard General Pryor say: “Colonel Faison was always
on time with his regiment.”

The regiment was also fortunate in the assignment of its
Quartermaster, Commissary and Surgeons, Captains Bower
and Hallyburton being efficient men of affairs, while Drs.
Thomas, Ladd, DeRosset and Cox stood high in their profes-
sion. Dr. DeRosset had taken a foreign course, and ‘was an
accomplished French and German scholar.

EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

4 January, 1863, off with Pettigrew’s Brigade for Rocky
Mount, N. C., reaching that point about dark. 17 January,
on to Goldsboro, and camped within a short distance of
Cooke’s Brigade, Daniel’s being on the other side of the town.

An advance of the enemy is anticipated from the coast.
20 January, went into bivouae near Pettigrew’s Brigade,
two miles east of Magnolia Station. 21 January, bivouacked
near the academy east of Kenansville, and reported to Gen-
eral Robert Ransom, and thus became a part of that brigade.

22 February, off for Wilmington, and at Camp Lamb until
24 February, when we marched out to Old Topsail Sound.
9 March, General Ransom followed with the Twenty-fifth,
Thirty-fifth and Forty-ninth Regiments.

23 March, Captain John W. Graham, Company D, de-
tailed to relieve Adjutant Hale as Judge Advocate,
since early in January, of court-martial, sitting in Wilming-
ton. Lieut. R. D. Graham has been acting Adjutant in the
absence of Lieutenant Hale. Brigade remaining here
about ten days, and passing through Goldsboro, where a
short halt was made, reached Kinston 1 April.

17 April, marched out of camp, east of the premises of
George Washington, and proceeding across the river, ex-
pected to go down the Dover road some eighteen miles to re-
inforce the Firty-ninth North Carolina, which had engaged

Firry-S1xtH REGIMENT. 323

the enemy at Sandy Ridge. Learning of their withdrawal,
bivouacked on the south side of the river. 19 April, march
to Wise’s Fork, and offer battle; but the enemy withdrew, and
we returned to camp at Kinston.

24 April, the Fifty-sixth is on picket duty east of Wise’s
Fork, below Kinston. Companies H and K, under Captain
F. R. Alexander, hold the Neuse river road; E, G and I, un-
der Captain L. Harrill, the Dover road at Gum Swamp, while
A, B, D and F, under Major H. F. Schenk, were posted on
the Upper Trent road at Noble’s Farm. Company A was
held in reserve.

FIRST GUM SWAMP.

28 April, the enemy driving in the picket line, attack Com-
panies. E, G and I about 3 p. m. Their line shows four flags,
indicating as many regiments, say 1,600 men, in the front
line, while our total is 180 men, with earthworks proving
rather a death-trap than a defence. The slight elevation of
the railroad embankment, four or five feet, as it emerges east-
ward from the swamp, had been utilized to face the enemy ad-
vancing on our left flank. This faced north, while a breast-
work of equal length, say 150 yards, facing east, starting at.
a right angle from this improvised line, extended around
southward and then westward into the same swamp.

Thus the enemy, advancing to the crest of the elevated
ground on the south, overlooking the railroad embankment,
could count our men aligned along it. ’ In this unequal con-
test the detachment of three companies under Captain Har-
rill held their position for two hours, when they were joined
by the Colonel, who, after continuing the fight stubbornly on
this and the second line occupied on the west side of the
swamp, over three hours, at the approach of night, finding the
enemy in sufficient numbers to surround his men, withdrew
them. Citizens in their rear report the enemy’s loss at 10
killed and 18 wounded. Our loss was one officer and three
men killed. This officer is Lieutenant Jarvis B. Lutterloh, of
Fayetteville, commanding Company E. His genial spirit
and gallant behavior had made him a favorite throughout the
regiment. The men killed were N. T. McNeill, of Harnett ;