Norra Carorina Troops, 1861-65.

FORT HELL AND MORTAR BED.

Strong forts for heavy ordnance and at points most threat-
ened, especially the salients and on the cavalier lines, are
constructed and mounted. Of course this was not the work
of a day, nor a week, nor a month, but goes on steadily, one
third of the command under arms, the others working by de-
tails. Where the distance between the lines will permit, a
picket line is established and protected by rifle pits. This is
manned each night to prevent a surprise, and the skirmish-
ers withdrawn therefrom at daylight. Near the salient occu-
pied by the portion of Pegram’s Virginia Battery, on which
the centre of the Fifty-sixth Regiment rested in the battle of
18 June, the enemy have gradually dug in towards our line
until they are in speaking distance. Here at the slightest
commotion, taken as a demonstration on either side, an in-
cessant musketry fire is begun and continued through the
night. The point is called “Fort Hell.”

The field where our line crosses the Norfolk Railroad is
called “The Mortar Bed,” for a similar reason. These mis-
siles are rained upon Colquitt’s salient facing Fort Stedman
at the crest of the hill, here nearest the railway, and upon the
cavalier line immediately behind it. But the daily returns
have almost ceased to show casualties from the. mortars.
There is no difficulty in catching a sight of these shells
against a white cloud in the air after the report of the gun,
and before they have reached the altitude from which they
are to descend; but with a clear sky, the first warning of its
vicinity may be the puzzling hiss of the fuse in its descent.

27 June. Wm. Cole died of wounds received in the bat-
tle of the 18th instant. He was an exemplary citizen and
a good soldier. 4 July, James R. Miller is wounded on the
skirmish line guard duty.

22 July. Wm. J. Tinnin is mortally wounded, and dies
on the 23d. He had served faithfully as First Sergeant, and
in the difficult position of Commissary Sergeant. On this
date Thomas C. Scarlett was severely wounded.

SAPPING AND MINING.

The Army of Northern Virginia, to which Beauregard’s