478 Nort Carorina Troops, 1861-65.

ground for a few minutes, when away to the left it was seen a
charge was being made upon the cedar grove that was then
giving the most destructive fire, when the command “Up,
left oblique, double-quick, charge!” was given and the com-
pany soon reached and formed on this attacking force, which
proved a part of our own brigade, containing some of our com-
panies that had passed around to the left of the obstacles,
breaking the line and then had come forward. Of these
were Company E, commanded by Lieutenant Hyatt; Com-
pany H, commanded by Captain Huff, and Company K, com-
manded by Captain West, other companies of the regiment
being engaged further up the line.

The Federals were in strong force in the cedars and were
well protected by uplifting ledges of limestone rock and the
larger cedars, but the charging Confederates had reached a
point that there was less danger, possibly, in going forward
than remaining standing, or than in retreating. Having
just crossed the open field and reached the edge of the cedars,
to stop short was to be shot down, having no protection what-
ever, and to retreat over the open, exposed ground even worse,
for in this they would receive the fire not only from the small
arms, but make themselves targets for the heavily masked
batteries on an eminence near the river.

To go forward seemed the only alternative and to this the
Federals offered a stubborn resistance, encouraged by having
repelled former charges to dislodge them. They fought with
a heroism only excelled by the advancing Confederates. At
a critical moment in the struggle, when the lines were see-
sawing and it seemed questionable which was to prove the
victor, General Preston, with the gallantry of a true Ken-
tuckian, seized the colors of one of his regiments and, sink-
ing deep his spurs into the sides of his noble horse, cried out,
in tones sounding above the roar and crash of the battle, “Fol-
low me, my brave men!”

The act and the words were electrical, and, with a shout
that will go down the ages as the “southern rebel yell,” the
men sprang forward as if but freshly reinforced, and the
Federals were forced to fall back, though in justice to them it
must be said, foot by foot, contending most stubbornly over

 

SIXTIETH REGIMENT. 479

every inch of the ground. They were, however, finally
forced to give up the stronghold, and the “boys in gray” slept
that memorable night in the cedars, upon the bloody ground,
in the midst of heaps upon heaps of dead men. It was ac-
tually “a sleep with the dead,” for they were in arm’s length
that night of almost every man. The horror of it was not felt
in its ghastly hideousness until the morning dawned, when
the fatigue and excitement incident to the battle had worn
away. Ever to be remembered will be that morning of 1
January, 1863, by the participants in that battle.

Just at the moment of General Preston’s seizing the flag
the Federal batteries, as if to counteract his move, sent crash-
ing into the ranks a most terrific fire of grape and canister,
taking off the head of one of the general’s staff officers and
killing and wounding many others of the brave band that
surrounded him. Here Lieutenant-Colonel Harry Deaver,
of the Sixtieth, was dashed to the ground by his frantic horse
and so stunned that Captain Ray, in front of whose command
the accident occurred, sent Merritt Stevens, a stalwart man,
to carry him from the field. Colonel Deaver, brave, gallant
fellow, was never after able to do a day’s service, having been
an invalid really for months before the battle.

At nightfall the tragic scene described had a respite, at
least as to the small arms; the artillery never holding up
during the night. At the order to “halt, cease firing, lie
down,” General Preston slowly rode down the line, having
something commendatory to say to each command. On reach-
ing the Sixtieth he asked: “What command?’ On being
answered, “A portion of the Sixtieth North Carolina,” he
said: “This is your first battle of any consequence, I be-
lieve. Indeed you Tar Heels have done well. I must say
you advanced further than I intended you should, but I
thought I would see how far you would go. Now, a little
later, if any of you see fit to venture out and gather up aban-
doned guns, I will make honorable mention of it. It will be
attended with some danger and I thus make it voluntary.
Now, take your rest as best you can, but whatever you do,
build no fires and make no noise which will indicate your posi-