450 NortH CaRoLiInA Troops, 1861~’65.

terrible cannonading around us, but with little damage—
none to the Fifty-eighth North Carolina. Very soon after
this we captured a battery of artillery on a round eminence
in a corn field, and greatly hoped to get to guard them, but by
the time we had exchanged a few chews of tobacco, we were
ordered away. For the balance of the day, with the rest of
the brigade, we were held in reserve.

At about 7 o’clock Sunday morning, the 20th, the two
flanking companies, A and B, commanded by Captains Bailey
and Toby, of the Fifty-eighth North Carolina Volunteers, to-
gether with five companies from the other regiments, were
put under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Kirby, of the
Fifty-eighth, and ordered in the direction of Alexander’s
bridge across the west prong of Chicamauga river as skir-
mishers to feel the strength of the enemy in that direction.

We proceeded about one and a fourth miles when we came
to an open field lying along the Chicamauga river some three
fourths of a mile in length and about the same in breadth.
When we had gone nearly half way down through the field,
we could see fortifications all up and down the river the full
length of the field and about twenty-five yards from the river
bank.

Notwithstanding we knew that the enemy was behind the
breastworks, we had to advance to feel his strength. So we
slowly advanced until we came to the fortifications of fence
rails leaning from our advance in the direction of the river
to where the enemy had fallen back to and under the bank
of the river to draw us over, then to fire on us as we would
have to retreat over the fortifications just passed. As soon as
the line of skirmishers had passed over the fortifications, the
enemy fired from their ranks, three or four men deep, a most
galling and enfilading fire into our ranks. We had now as-
certained by sad and painful experience what we had been
sent out to do.

We were then obliged to retreat through the rail fortifi-
cation upon the woods and across the old fields of broom
straw waving in the melancholy wind, and over a number of
our most loved comrades left dead on the field. One of
them, Thos. G. Tipton, had just saved the writer’s life.

Firry-E1gHtaH REGIMENT. 451

The battle was raging furiously all the day long from end
to end of the field and for five or six miles up and down the
river of death (Chicamauga). Charge after charge was made
by the Confederate and Federal lines, each in turn, while
the shells from the opposing batteries lumbered and burst
over our heads. At about 3:30 p. m. we regained our regi-
ment.

The Fifty-eighth North Carolina Vounteers, the Sixty-
third Virginia and the Fifth Kentucky, in order named,
moved to the front and formed in line of battle, the left rest-
ing on the Chattanooga road. The enemy occupied a range
of ridges, from which they had repulsed no less than seven as-
saults made by our troops.

The approach to these ridges was along spurs and where
ridges intersected ridges and through intervening depres-
sions or hollows, all more or less wooded, but more open and
exposed opposite the right of thé brigade. One of the as-
saults had been male by General Anderson’s brigade. Before
we could reach him in such a way as to successfully relieve,

he had been repulsed.
The line being again formed, the Fifty-eighth North Car-

olina, which was on the right, moved with steadiness through
this comparatively open space till the extreme right arrived
within ten or twelve feet of the enemy. The line of the bri-
gade formed with the line of the enemy an angle of perhaps
83 to 24 degrees, the right of the Fifty-eighth being at the
angle.

After exchanging fire with the enemy for about one and
three-fourth of an hour, we attempted to dislodge him by as-
sault, and for this purpose the Fifty-eighth North Carolina
was transferred from the right to the left of the line, and
moved forward, swinging somewhat to the right. When we
arrived at the base of the hill, the enemy was heard to cry:
“We surrender! We surrender!”

Coloned John H. Kelly, Eighth Arkansas Regiment, was
in command of the brigade. He immediately stepped to the
front, two horses having been shot from under him within the
past few minutes, and called upon the officer who seemed to