Fe ete Het rt emma: AI ne ee RE

 

 

 

 

380 NortH CaroLIna Troops, 1861-65.

for a march.” Such still was the grim determination in Lee’s
army.

24 September. Beauregard informs us that the enemy are
going to open a terrific shelling upon our position, and we
must “lie low.” This was awaited for some time; but James
W. James, going out too soon, was pierced through the chest
by a shrapnel shell back at the wagon yard on the west side
of Petersburg. He survived this frightful wound until that
night. He was a brave and faithful soldier.

About the middle of August, between the Crater and Col-
quitt’s salient, we exploded a mine under a portion of the en-
emy’s line. I think there were no casualties in the Fifty—
sixth—again under Captain Harrill. In fact, it amounted
to nothing beyond an object lesson.

26 September. B. H. McKee, and 1 October J. F. Brown
and Jesse Clark, were wounded in the trenches—all first-
class men. It is hoped that some account may yet be had
of the casualties of each of the companies of this regiment
through the war and a more detailed sketch of their particu-
lar experiences. There was a considerable list of casualties
among officers and men that I did not note, and cannot now
obtain.

1 November. Thus the time wore on, with many inci-
dents, however, that cannot be recalled. At the division in-
spection now made, the regiment is complimented on its fine
military appearance and the general condition of arms and
accoutrements. As much could not be said of clothing, for
none were indebted to the Quartermaster for an overdraft,
and no requisition had been honored for some time.

INSPECTION BY GENERAL LEE.

But the event of this period is an inspection by General
Lee in person. He is neatly attired in regulation gray, but
without the general’s white buff coat collar and cuffs. A turn-
down collar, of the same material as the gray cloth coat, bears
three stars; but there is no gold wreath around them, nor a
particle of gold lace upon the sleeves, where from cuff to el-
bow a full dress uniform would have given him four parallel
cords through many a twist and turn forming the hiero-

Firty-SixtH REGIMENT. 381

glyphic chevron interpreted to be the initials C. S. A. With
the modest suggestion of rank on the collar, he might have
been mistaken for a Colonel in his best fatigue suit, if the
triplicate arrangement in the two rows of buttons upon the
breast. were overlooked. His hat is a soft black felt; but in
the summer he had been seen along the lines with a white
straw. Hair and full beard are both short. Complexion
is of a healthy, ruddy hue, indicating a temperate life. He
is six feet high and well proportioned. There is a fearless
look of self-possession without a trace of arrogance, while the
bright, intellectual, sincere, even sympathetic expression of
the eye inspires a feeling of confidence and comradeship in
which one forgets to note its color. Such is Lee in the zenith
of his fame, age 57, in November, 1864. At the outbreak of
the war the Confederate Congress had created five officers with
the rank of full General. These were appointed in this suc-
cession: Samuel Cooper, who continued through the war as
Adjutant-General, having just resigned the same position in
the United States Army. Albert Sidney Johnston, killed in
the battle of Shiloh; Robert E. Lee; Joseph E. Johnston ; and
P. G. T. Beauregard. Braxton Bragg and Kirby Smith
were subsequently given the same rank. Around Lee as
around no other, clung the hearts of the soldiers in the field
and of the people at home. The Congress voiced the unani-
mous demand when it raised him to the rank-of General-in-
Chief. This made the second vacancy in the rank of Gen-
eral, filled as above noted. His General Order No. 1, as
Commander-in-Chief, was issued 9 February, 1865.

An incident illustrating General Lee’s thoughtfulness of
others, occurred just after his passing to the right of the
Fifty-sixth. At the exposed point, before noted in Colquitt’s
salient, he got up and leisurely examined the change in the
line that had been reported to him, against the entreating pro-
test. of General Gracie, of Alabama, then holding that point,
who informed him that more than one man had already been
picked off there by sharpshooters. Finally looking around
and seeing that he had not been allowed to make this exam-
ination alone, he said: “General Gracie, I think you ought