ee eon

268 Norto Carouina Troops, 1861-’65.

more all assembled in the same locality. Battery A being
posted at Smithville, Company B on Bald Head, and Com-
pany C in Fort Caswell. It had been evident for some time
to Major-General Whiting that a great movement was to be
made for the capture of Wilmington. It was the only post
of importance through which the Confederate Government
could secure foreign supplies. The immense superiority of
the naval forces of the United States had either captured or
blockaded all other Southern ports so that on Wilmington
alone hung the hope of our further continuing the long and
bloody struggle. But as the year of our Lord 1864 drew to
its close, just as the hearts of all Christendom grew glad at
the approach of the Christmas festivities, a great fleet bearing
many thousands of soldiers, appeared in the offing before Fort
Fisher and at daybreak began to bombard that great work,
while hundreds of boats were bearing the soldiers from the
ships to the land between Fisher and the intrenched camp,
four miles above at Sugar Loaf. As we had no troops at the
latter point but a small battalion under Colonel George Jack-
son, very little resistance could be made against the landing.

General Bragg having assumed command, ordered Major
Moore to report to General R. F. Hoke at Sugar Loaf. Bat-
tery B. remained on Bald Head and Company C went to
swell the garrison of Fort Fisher, where the greater part of it
was captured in the second attack 14-15 January, 1865, after
having lost heavily in defending the doomed fort. The re-
mainder of the battery under Lieutenant A. M. Darden, with
the other two batteries, all reported for duty at Fort Ander-
son 10 February, 1865. 99 Official Records Union and Con-
federate Armies, p. 1155.

After the fall of Fisher, Battery A had the honor of cover-
ing the perilous retreat to Wilmington and afterwards had
quite a lively experience in checking the Federal pursuit when
the Southern army was crossing Northeast river at the Her-
mitage. Battery B, under Captain William Badham, on the
fall of Fort Fisher and the abandonment of the lower forts,
did similar service for the troops retreating under General

Hebert.

Lieutenant J. M. Jones, at Old Town, won high mention

Tuirp BATTALION. 269

for the desperate defence he made of his post and only re
tired when further resistance became impossible. It only re-
mains to be told that Battery A once more did glorious service
at the battle of Bentonville, and along with Battery B, and
such part of Battery C as had not been carried from Fort
Fisher as prisoners of war were surrendered at Greensboro by

General J. E. Johnston.
Joun W. Moors.

PowE.isvit.z, N. C.,
26 April, 1901.