350 Nort Caroiina Troops, 1861-’65.

General Palmer, U. S. A., is left in quiet possession of New
Bern; for the morning finds us on a forced march for old
Virginia again. General Benjamin Franklin Butler is com-
ing up the south side of the James river via Bermuda Hun-
dreds, with 30,000 men to attack Petersburg. If possible,
we must get there first. General R. F. Hoke, in a recent let-
ter, says: “Your mention of what was intended at New Bern
is correct and I had no doubt of its success. The recall was
one of the greatest disappointments I ever had.”

8 May. Reach Kinston at 8 a. m. and via Goldsboro pro-
ceed to Weldon.

9 May. Off for Petersburg by rail as far as Jarratt’s Sta-
tion. Here Kautz’s Federal cavalry have dashed in and cut
the line of railway. March thence along the track to Stony
creek, about twenty miles, that night. The weird hooting
of the great owls in the swamps was almost human in its in-
tonations and called forth comments, half in earnest and half
in raillery, here and there along the line, such as: “That is
a bad sign, boys; hard times in old Virginia, and worse
a’coming.”’

10 May. At Stony creek we take the trains that have
come out to meet us, and are soon in Petersburg. Stack arms
on Poplar Lawn. The generous hospitality of Judge Lyon,
Wm. R. Johnson, and other citizens is pleasantly remem-
bered. Hear that the place has been held till our arrival by
the single brigade of Johnson Hagood’s South Carolinians.
Lieutenant-General D. H. Hill, too earnest to be long quiet,
is occupying the anomalous position of volunteer Aid-de-
Camp to General Beauregard, commanding at Petersburg,
pending a dispute with the President as to an assignment
proper to his rank. (This quarrel seems to have resulted in
a failure to present his appointment to the Congress for con-
firmation.) He was noted for a disposition “to feeel the en-
emy ;” and on such occasions his feelings were very rough.
Our coup de main of 2 July, 1863, at Crump’s farm below
Richmond, he had just repeated here with more terrible odds,
against General Butler’s advancing column. With this
handful of men, he had met him near Chester and made such
a desperate assault as to put him on the defensive to await