440 NortH Carorttna Troops, 1861-’65.

and complaints of suffering. from exposure to the weather
were rarely heard. The question of rations gave them more
concern. All of this applies also to the field and company
officers, who were equally exposed with the private soldiers.

In the transfer of the brigade to the East, the horses of the
field and staff officers were left with the wagon trains in
Mississippi, and only rejoined the command, then near
Smithfield, about the first of April—all officers, the General
and one or two members of his staff excepted, marching
through South Carolina, and to and from Bentonville on foot.
Wading the broad Catawba in February did not dampen or
cool the ardor of the men, and no officer of the regiment dis-
graced himself by attempting to shun the swift, icy current.

A portion of the Army of Tennessee in detached commands
arrived, and on 18 March, 1865, General Johnston made a
forced march to Bentonville, where a concentration was ef-
fected with Hardee’s Corps from Charleston, Hoke’s Division
and other troops from Eastern North Carolina. The pres-
ence of General Johnston again in command of veteran troops
inspired the fullest confidence in the small army, which en-
gaged in the battles of the succeeding day in fine spirits.
The Fifty-eighth, in this, its last battle, numbered about 300
effectives. The brigade (Palmer’s) was selected as the direct-
ing column for the Army of Tennessee in the assault on the
enemy’s line. The charge was made with great spirit and
dash, and the enemy entrenched and with a high fence built
in their front, gave way before inflicting great loss on their
assailants. In the pursuit which followed, two pieces of
artillery, limbering with all haste to the rear, were captured
and driven back into our lines with their teams complete.
In running down and taking the guns some of the artillery-
men were shot while on the chests, and the old pine field was
strewn with blankets, provisions and plunder of all sorts
thrown away by the flying foe.

The rapid pursuit over fences and a deep ravine so scatter-
ed the attacking column that a halt was made to reform—
this a half a mile or more beyond the entrenchments charged,
and there was not an enemy in sight nor a gun nearby being
fired. Before the line was completely adjusted the reserves

Firry-E1gHtH REGIMENT. 441

came up in splendid order. Pettus’ Brigade before in sup-
port of Palmer now took the advance, and in a short time
struck the enemy reinforced in a new position. Our lines
having become too short for the circle so extended by pushing
back the enemy, most of the regiments of Palmer’s Brigade
were promptly moved up to fill the gaps in the front line,
which was now in the thick pine woods.

The Fifty-eighth North Carolina on the left of the brigade,
under the direction of a staff officer, was moved up in sup-
port of and close to the front line, here facing south, and
at the time hotly engaged. Firing was also going on on the
right, extending partly to the rear, but not so near, and a bat-
tery of artillery kept up a most aggravating enfilade fire
over the regiment, which would have made the position ex-
tremely uncomfortable if the gunners had slightly depressed
their pieces. As it was, very little could be seen for the
smoke which filled the woods, and the ground gently rising
toward the battery, their shells for an hour flew almost harm-
lessly through the timber some ten feet or more overhead, and
most of them burst in rear. The incident following will
give some idea of the situation. The brigadier, very shortly
after the regiment had reached the spot, rode up and asked,
“Which is the right of your regiment?” A strange question
from such a source at such a time the writer thought, but
surprise was turned into amazement when the reply was
quickly followed by the command: “Major, countermarch
your regiment.” It seemed just a little unnecessary to re-
mind him that the regiment was already facing the enemy,
who was close at hand, and being heard to that effect in a
most convincing sort of way. The Major, however, did pre-
sume to say as much, only to hear, “Yes, I know, but I want
you to look after these fellows over here,” pointing over his
shoulder to our rear and right. The regiment was accord-
ingly countermarched, halted on the spot and fronted—this
time facing north, or opposite to the direction we had just
before faced—dressed on a line of guides a little oblique to
the original line and the men ordered to lie down for shel-
ter; General Palmer the meanwhile quietly seated on his
horse apparently unconscious that anything unusual was