396 NortH Caronina Troops, 1861-’65.

us no choice but to continue the contest to a final issue, for
the people of the Confederacy must be but little known to
him who supposes it possible they would ever consent to pur-
chase at the cost of degradation and slavery permission to
live in a country garrisoned by their own negroes and gov-
erned by officers sent by their conqueror to rule over them.”

For data relating to much of the battle of Hare’s Hill and
subsequent events the writer is indebted to survivors of Com-
panies D, F, H, I and K, the statement of Mr. C. P. Tanner,
well known as one of the bravest men in Company I, being
the most exact. The regiment was engaged skirmishing
through the 27th and 28th of March and worked all night
of the 27th constructing breastworks beyond the pond on
Hatcher’s Run at Battery 45. With about an hour’s rest,
they marched back into line of battle on the night of the 28th
and were skirmishing and maneuvering all day of the 29th,
the enemy several times dashing against their line only to be
promptly driven back. This was in the vicinity of Burgess’
Mill, on Hatcher’s Run. All day of the 30th they awaited
an attack at Five Forks.

BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS.

As Grant now resumed his left flank movement, to gain
the only roads by which Lee could hope to effect a junction
with Joseph E. Johnston, retreating before Sherman in
North Carolina—the Southside Railroad from Petersburg,
and the Lynchburg from Richmond intersecting at Burke-
ville Junction,—Lee had sent out this detachment four miles
to his right to meet Sheridan at Five Forks on his ad-
vance from Dinwiddie Court House, a few miles southeast.
The road from Dinwiddie Court House trending northwest
towards Petersburg, comes into two others, the White Oak
running east and west, and the Ford road north and south, at
the point of intersection ; hence the name of Five Forks. At
sunset on 30 March, General. Pickett with Corse’s, Terry’s
and Stuart’s Brigades of his own, and Ransom’s and Wal-
lace’s of B. R. Johnson’s Division under General Ransom,
took position in line of battle and awaited the assault. The
enemy not coming within range, they, next day, 31 March,

Firry-SixtaH REGIMENT. 397

moved upon him, took one line of battle, and drove Sheridan’s
advance back to the Court House that afternoon, where night
ended the battle, in which the cavalry divisions of Rosser, W.
H. F. Lee and Fitzhugh Lee also participated under the lat-
ter. The Fifty-sixth, under Colonel Luke, was with the bri-
gade under Colonel Rutledge, in the left wing of this column,
and after crossing a creek under fire, charged the right flank
of the enemy, and compelled the retreat of the whole line,
after their left had been steadily resisting Pickett’s right
lower down the creek.
Early next morning, 1 April, the detachment, occupying
this exposed position, fell back nearly to the White Oak road
in time to check the movement of Warren’s Fifth Corps
against their left rear. While Rosser was sent off to guard
the wagon train, W. H. F. Lee was posted to the right and
Mumford to the left of Pickett; but there was the gap of four
miles between them and the right of Lee’s lines. Ransom’s
Brigade was immediately to the right of Mumford. Mum
ford was at 4 p. m. overwhelmed and Ransom’s left flank
and rear hotly assailed, while the demonstrations against W.
H. F. Lee were not so strong, and by a counter-charge were

repulsed.
But Pickett’s whole command was soon enveloped from

front, left, and rear, and his right seriously threatened. For
some time the unequal contest was gallantly maintained.
The Fifty-sixth, fighting the enemy on the front and rear,
repulsed five distinct charges. Captain Sterling H. Gee, our
Assistant Adjutant-General, was killed at the point so stub-
bornly held by this regiment. No officer had a better record,
and he was the happy bridegroom of only a week. He was
succeeded by Adjutant Robert B. Peebles, of the Thirty-fifth
North Carolina Troops, well known for bravery and efficiency
throughout the command, and who had risen from the ranks
in Company E of the Fifty-sixth. Pickett’s loss is 4,000
men, 13 stands of colors and 6 guns, over half of his forlorn
hope.

In this battle the Fifty-sixth Regiment maintained its
record for courage and discipline. True to that, it could not
retire without orders. After little rest for a week, these last