358 Norta Carotina Troops, 1861-’65.

rifle or the sound of a bullet. No more ammunition was
wasted in such mimiery of war.

3 June, 1864. Grant, at 5 a. m., renews the assault at
Cold Harbor, pressing up to our works in solid columns. But
the contest is over in sixty minutes, and they are repulsed
with a loss of 12,737 (as per official report), many of these
being negroes. An advance is again ordered by him at 8 a.
m., but his men refuse to move. He had doubtless hoped to
make these assaults the culmination of his “Wilderness Cam-
paign.” The former Adjutant of the Fifty-sixth, now Assist-
ant Adjutant General of Lane’s North Carolina Brigade, was
the bearer of General Leee’s reply to General Grant’s proposi-
tion that both parties might bury their dead and attend to
their wounded. General Lee, having none uncared for, de-
clined this, and only yielded when General Grant formally
asked to be allowed to care for his own.

4 June. Ransom’s Brigade, Colonel H. M. Rutledge com-
manding, proceeds to Bottom’s bridge on the Chickahominy,
below Richmond, and reports to Major-General Robert Ran-
som. Colonel Rutledge is taken sick and sent to the hospital
and the command of the Brigade goes to Colonel Paul F. Fai-
son, of the Fifty-sixth, Lieutenant-Colonel Luke command-
ing the regiment.

5 June. The Forty-ninth and Fifty-sixth are posted near
the railroad bridge.

7 June. Company K, Captain F. R. Alexander, and
Company D, Captain R. D. Graham on picket line near the
stream. Our friends, the enemy, make a proposition to us,
the Dutch Captain declaring, “I would like to keep de beace-
aple as far as bossiple.” We agree that long range isolated
sharpshooting shall not be indulged in. They were Penn-
sylvania dismounted cavalry.

9 June. Brigade marched to Chaffin’s farm, and oceu-
pied the winter quarters at Fort Harrison. The rest is very
much enjoyed, and a number of us visit friends belonging to
the Confederate fleet in the James.

13 June. In touching distance of our baggage to-day for
the first time since we crossed the State line—over a month
since. Such is war.

Firry-SixtH REGIMENT.

INVESTMENT OF PETERSBURG BEGUN.

15 June. Crossing the James on a pontoon bridge at
Drewry’s Bluff, we marched all night to Petersburg. e
16 June. The Fifty-sixth is detached at Pocahontas
Bridge, and held in readiness to ere a iris hess
ding the Alabama Brigade, if ca or, at
rca The rest of the Brigade under Colonel Faison re-
orts to General Beauregard on the line of intrenchments to
‘ie east of Petersburg, and south of the Appomattox es
The head of Grant’s army is now on the 7 ° 2
i ity Point. Petersburg 1s evi-
James and advancing from City eters :
jecti i Hoke’s Division has here
dently the new objective point.
sik heir first assault, and after a very or ae
i i line near Jordan ;
tired from a section of the outer
Bexisegtid with this reinforcement, ere a con’ aur
a j sas
d re-establishes the original line. is is
of the Appomattox, and out near the Baxter road. a
Captain John C. Pegram, our efficient Adjutant-General,
4 e .

was mortally wounded while placing the Brigade in position.

i 1 Fifty-sixth North Carolina, being
rig te boon Be arolina returning from

‘oined by the Forty-ninth North Ci
Apion just named, where the brigade had been pend
gaged, and well handled, under Colonel Faison, moves out to

Swift Creek, and uniting with Gracie’s Brigade, the aay
advances under that gallant officer, driving age 2 eS
Bermuda Hundreds and establishing a junction ig h gon
ett’s Division coming down from Richmond. se eI a
had torn up the Richmond & Petersburg Railroad at the po
f crossing the turnpike. : ,
: Having thus put Butler back into his onsen Pi —
i ivision, the line now confronting him
cork over to Pickett’s Division,
again being the same that was eh ee - Loa oe :
i i the defeat of Butler at Ware :
army immediately after ae eyes ony
, had compellec
Church 20 May. The emergency all 2
, : tion to mee
i bandon for the time this posit
oe i int, posting Gracie at Swift
ant’s advance from City Point, p g
ak to check Butler in any attempt to enter Petersburg

rth side of the Appomattox.
oe ca Morning finds us crossing the Appomattox