194 Norra Carorina Troops, 1861-’69.

reached the field we found ourselves in rear of Lane’s Bri-
gade, then desperately struggling to hold its position, and
standing some time on the high ground in rear we were in a
very uncomfortable position for a short while, but Lane find-
ing that he had support behind him, ordered a charge and
went over the works—we at once occupied and spent the day
in them, finding it much safer, though we had some men
wounded by shells and long range rifles.

After driving the enemy back behind his works, Lane came
out and going down the line in front of the court house he
went in again and had quite a hard fight, capturing a large
number of prisoners and a stand of colors. The next day just
before dark, General Lee thinking that Grant was moving
round his right, we were sent inside the line to find out what
they were doing. We marched in by the right flank, led by
Major-General Wilcox, and after reaching the pine woods, the
head of the column, soon found the Yankee sharpshooters in
strong force, several of our men being wounded by their first
fire. General Wilcox soon came back, his old white pony
pacing along like he was going to meeting. The General
always rode with a long hickory switch. As he passed us he
told us to face to the right and move just above the path and
lay down. We obeyed the order. As I lay down between the
color-bearer and another man we soon found that a Yankee
sharpshooter was using us as a mark for his rifle, the balls
passing very uncomfortably near and over us, but dark coming
on, though the firing still went on, it was not so close and
dangerous. I was very tired and soon fell asleep, but was
aroused by the men moving off. Jumping up and taking my
place in line I thought that we were going to make an assault,
but coming to a low fence we had crossed I knew we were
going out and was much relieved. We passed out through
the lines and lay down to rest near an ice house and were not
farther disturbed during the night—a very unusual occur-
rence, as assaults had been made on our lines every night.

The next day we were again marched to the front to retake
a part of the line that had been captured, and did so in a hand-
some charge, driving the enemy before us and eliciting the
praise of General Early, who was in command of the corps

 

SIXTEENTH REGIMENT. 195

ae nae eis A. P. Hill being sick.

h ‘earth in and around was covered with
dead Yankees killed in this affair. During the day we saw
the Federal General Sedgwick shot and killed by a sharp-
shooter while he was superintending the placing of a gun ie
enfilade our lines. He was more than a half ale one A
friend informs us that a beautiful monument has been pls
on the spot.

We were sent next day to the right to support General
Wright, of Georgia, while he was sent in to make a reconnois-
sance, we holding his lines while he made his move on Grant’s
works. Finding the enemy’s lines well manned he soon re-
tired, suffering some loss, and occupied his old ground, and
we were sent back to the left of the court house whos we
spent the day under heavy shelling, losing several men. We
remained in all about ten days at Spotsylvania, on the go all
the time. We could not lie down with any assurance that
we would be undisturbed for five minutes. “The last day we
were there, after being under fire of the sharpshooters and
artillery all day, we were moved from the left of the court
house down to the right and sent into the Yankee lines to see
what they were doing. The line was formed just inside of
our lines, and we moved forward over the open ground, then
through a piece of woods, and crossing over a high rail fence
we found ourselves in front of their works and were at once
fired on by sharpshooters and their artillery from outside
works, about one hundred yards in rear. Without stopping
to return the fire, we made a rush for the works and drove
them back into the second line. After holding this line for
an hour under a very heavy fire of solid shot, we were or-
deréd to march out by the flank, and going back to the road
at the court house we found the army in motion and at
once took up the line of march toward the North Anna
river. After marching several hours we halted to rest in
a piece of woods, and there for the first time in more than
two weeks we had a few hours of uninterrupted rest and
sleep. Next morning we were up early and on the march,
and soon after crossing North Anna river we struck the
Fredericksburg railroad, and following it down to Ander-