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666 Norra Carorina Troops, 1861-’65.

about faced and made a straight line for Knoxville, and Col-
onel Palmer took his little band, including the Sixty-fourth,
back to North Carolina. We did not exactly run, but were
like the Indian said when asked if he had ever run from a
white man. He said, “No, but I walked mighty fast down a
branch one time.” So Colonel Palmer made good his escape
that time from about three thousand cavalrymen.

Our headquarters were at Marshall when the word came
that Kirk was on Shelton Laurel with his men. Colonel Pal-
mer, always ready, took the most of the command and made a
raid for Shelton Laurel in the eastern part of Madison Coun-
ty, leaving Lieutenant-Colonel McDowell in command of the
rest at Marshall, but telling him if he desired to do so, he
could take what troops were left in camp and go over on Big
Laurel and probably capture some that might attempt to es-
cape that way from Kirk’s command. Lieutenant-Colonel
McDowell gathered up about sixty men, including the citi-
zens who were always ready for any emergency. We made
ready for a two day’s scout. I had only about twenty men
of the Sixty-fourth for this raid. We made a forced march
and about 3:30 p. m., the enemy began to bushwhack us and
had several shots that evening.. We camped that night in a
little valley between three hills. In the meantime we had
learned that Kirk’s whole command was there, so we naturally
expected a fight next morning and we got it. I was acting
as officer of the day, pickets were put on the tops of the three
hills and I was instructed to go around before day and move
the pickets just under the brow of the hills so they would be
able to get the first shot. At the proper time the pickets
were properly placed and just as day began to dawn the firing
commenced. In a short time we were on top of one of the
hills which was the most available point. Kirk’s command
was not in a body, but were in every direction and had good
long range rifles. We were not as well armed as they were,
but the boys put in good time. Just at the foot of the hill
there was a little group gathered that was pouring shot into
us and we were over-shooting them. Lieutenant-Colonel Me-
Dowell came to me and wanted me to move them, so we of
the Sixty-fourth, with a down-hill start, made a charge and

Srxry-FourtH REeIMent. 667

when about half way, and when we got in one hundred and
fifty yards of the enemy they took to the woods, which were
about fifty yards further. We had but little time, but gave
them a few shots while they were falling back. When we
reached the foot of the hill we found a good place to stay for
a while, having good protection behind some large stumps
which had protected them from our fire. The enemy had all
the advantage, having the woods on all sides. While in that
place they began to cross fire, so neither side of our works gave
us protection. We lost there one man killed, Hyram Gilbert,
a young man and a good soldier. He was shot in the breast
and died almost instantly. Sergeant Robert Lee, of the Six-
ty-second Regiment, who fell in with the Sixty-fourth in the
charge, was slightly wounded, struck with a spent ball which
would have proved fatal if it had been in full force. We
then had to climb the hill back to the command under heavy
fire from all directions except in our lines. When we had
gotten back we found Lieutenant-Colonel McDowell shot
through the arm and the men out of ammunition. The next
thing was to get out, which we did very nicely by making a
charge both ways. When they ran we marched out, having a
long trip up a mountain. The enemy fired many shots, but
we being out of ammunition, had to take it quietly. How-
over, we lost only two killed and four wounded, and returned
to Marshall. In April, 1864, the fragment of the regiment
left was at Marshall, N. C., and commanded by Captain B.
T. Morris.

Soon after this the Sixty-fourth was ordered to Flat Rock,
in Henderson County, to break up the bands of robbers and
those who were plundering the county. It was no uncom-
mon thing for them to rob a house and sometimes kill the
owner. There were living in and around Flat Rock many
Southerners who spent the ‘summer in this delightful climate.
These bands seemed to have a desire specially to rob those
Southern people, so that when we arrived and made our head-
quarters at the “Farmer” hotel, a great many families
brought their furniture and other valuables and put them in
the hotel for safety. We remained at this place about six
months, and during that time made many scouts in the coun-