416 NortH Carotina Troops, 1861-’65.

even this last stronghold would have been carried. Had they
received a reinforcement of another brigade they- would un-
doubtedly have effected a permanent lodgment upon the crest
of the ridge, which they had won. But no reinforcements
came, but instead there came an order to retire, which was
effected with considerable loss, as reinforcements began to
arrive on that part of the enemy’s line. So far as the writ-
er’s knowledge extends, this was the only portion of the crest
of Cemetery Ridge that was taken and held by any portion
of the Confederate line.

DEATH OF COLONEL AVERY.

In this charge the gallant Colonel Isaac E. Avery, who
commanded Hoke’s Brigade, fell mortally wounded and the
command of the brigade devolved upon Colonel A. C. God-
win, of the Fifty-seventh Regiment. Colonel Avery fell
before reaching the foot of the hill and his fall seriously
impeded the attack, as it was not known to some parts of the
line for some little time that he had fallen. The writer sup-
poses that others will write the story of Colonel Avery’s mil-
itary life, or perhaps have done so, but I cannot forbear to say
here that he was a gallant soldier, a very efficient brigade com-
mander and had he lived, would have doubtless risen rapidly
in rank.

The Fifty-seventh took no further part in the battle of Geé-
tysburg after this attack on Cemetery Hill 2 July. It was in
the rear of the army on the march to Hagerstown and after-
wards to the Potomac river. It crossed at the ford just above
Falling Waters about 2 o’clock in the evening on the day that
General Pettigrew was killed; in fact we distinctly heard the
volley, the short struggle as the enemy’s advance struck Petti-
grew’s Brigade. After the return of the army to Virginia,
the regiment, along with the other regiments, picketed along
the line of the Rapidan river until the campaign began which
closed with the battle of Bristoe Station. In this last named
battle the Fifty-seventh Regiment was detached from the
brigade and was formed at right angles with the railroad to
protect the right flank of Johnston’s Division during the
fight. The enemy made no attack on this position and conse-

Firty-Seventao ReaGimMent. 417

quently neither this regiment nor any part of the brigade was
actively engaged.

THE FIGHT AT RAPPAHANNOCK BRIDGE.

After this battle of Bristoe Station the army was with-
drawn behind the Rappahannock river and lay at Culpepper
and on the plains of Brandy Station until 7 November. In
the meantime detachments were engaged in tearing up the
railroad for the benefit of the iron, which was much needed
in the Confederacy. In order to facilitate this work a pon-
toon bridge was kept at the point where the Orange & Alex-
andria Railroad crossed the Rappahannock, and on the north
side were some earthworks covering this bridge, and these on
7 November were occupied by Hays’ Louisiana Brigade.
On that day General Sedgwick with his corps advanced from

Manassas and threatened the Louisiana Brigade. Hoke’s

Brigade, under the command of Colonel Godwin, was sent
across the river to reinforce the Louisianians. After crossing,
the brigade was directed to move to the left and occupy some
slight trenches some three or four hundred yards off. It
had scarcely reached the position assigned when a heavy
column, composed of three lines of infantry, moved directly
upon General Hays’ position at the bridge. They met with
a warm reception, but being protected from our artillery fire,
across the river, by the nature of the ground and the breast-
works, they speedily overpowered the Louisianians, driving
them from their position and captured the works overlooking
the bridge. By this movement Hoke’s Brigade was entirely
cut off from retreat. The position occupied by it was threat-
ened by a line in its front, but the Sixth and Fifty-seventh
Regiments were formed outside of the breastworks and at-
tacked the enemy in their position at the bridge head, while
the Fifty-fourth kept the line at bay in front. In the first
charge the enemy were dislodged from a portion of the works
that they had captured, but succeeded in holding the works
commanding the bridge. The struggle here lasted with vary-
ing fortunes until nightfall, when the enemy sent forward a
large body of troops and completely enveloped the brigade
except on the side where lay the deep waters of the Rappa-

27