206 Norru Carorina Troops, 1861-’65.

so the position could not be held, and orders were given to fali
back, and we lost more men in falling back than in making
the assault. A great many lay down and were captured—
and a great many were killed—and not many got back safely
into our lines.

On the 26th Grant made a reconnoissance in our front with
a strong force, by making an attempt to cross over the ground
that had been covered by the big dam that had been washed
away a few weeks before. I suppose they were satisfied, as
they withdrew their troops after a sharp skirmish with Scales’
Brigade and other troops on the ground. The next day he
commenced moving troops to his left, and we were ordered to
march in the same direction. Just as I was packing my traps
for the move, I was notified that I was to be left with a small
party from the brigade to keep up a show of fight and take
care of the property of the brigade. My orders were to keep
these men in the works all through the day and make as big
a show and as much noise as we could with the small force
(about forty) left with me, and not to leave until the Yankees
were on the works; but I knew that if we stayed there that
long we would be like the Irishman at Bull Run. When
teased for running at that fight he replied: ‘Faith, and
thim that didn’t run is there yet.” The brigade marched
out after dark, and I was left alone with 20,000 Yankees in
front with nothing to do but walk over and take us home with
them, but they didn’t come. The pickets who had been put
on duty that morning were left and were not relieved for
three days. The Sixteenth was engaged in all the fights and
skirmishes from Petersburg to Five Forks on the 31st, where
more than half the regiment was cut off and captured, the re-
maining portion making their way with the brigade toward
Burkeville. On Friday night as I was lying in my cabin
asleep some one came and knocked, and on my enquiring
what was wanted answered that they wanted quarters for
General Cox and his brigade; that he had been sent there to
reinforce me. Of course I was glad help was at hand and
that the responsibility was to be removed from my shoulders
to that of higher authority. The next morning I found Gen-
eral W. R. Cox, of North Carolina, and his brigade on the

 

SIXTEENTH REGIMENT. 207

ground. On reporting to him and looking over the ground
with him, and having our pickets relieved, he insisted that I
should take my men out of the works in front of our camp
and take them down on the left of the Weldon Railroad. To
this move I objected, as I was acting under orders from Gen-
eral Wilcox and did not think I had any right to leave. I
told him that of course I would yield to him and would put
my men in the works between his, as his were posted at least
twenty feet apart, but he thought that would cause some con-
fusion with his men. I told him then that I had a special
duty to perform and that I would take my own men out of
the works and retire to the cabins, which I did. I have met
the General several time since, and he always jokes me about
not wanting to yield the command to him. Everything re-
mained quiet in our front during the day, but there was fight-
ing going on all day on our left about Fort Stedman with ar-
tillery. About 12 o’clock that night, 1 April, reading the
Lamp Lighter, I heard a gum fired in front and a shot came
screaming over our works, and from that time on until day-
light it was kept up making it very uncomfortable for us, but
doing no damage.

LINES BROKEN AT LAST.

At daylight Sunday, 2 April, a general advance was made
all along the line. The ground in front of us was open for
more than a mile, and we could see thousands of troops march-
ing across our front in the same direction taken by them in
their sortie a few days before, showing that they had mapped
out their course on the former occasion. There was nothing
to stop them after driving in our pickets, and crossing the
creek that had been dammed they struck Lane’s Brigade,
breaking their line and passing on to attack Fort Gregg in
rear of his line and on the hill opposite Battery 45. I stood
on 45 all day long and watched the operations. A part of
Lane’s brigade lad fallen back into it, with some Mississippi
troops and probably some others. I do not know who was in
command of the party, but I do know that they made the most
gallant fight that I ever looked at. Five times I saw the as-
saulting column form on the hill and charge, and four times

Es ener UO rae open Be BE pcs or ag oN N Fem ree er Pee oN he TORE