390 Norru Carorina Troops, 1861-’65.

eral Wade Hampton’s command came in from our left, among
them the Ninth North Carolina, Regiment (First Cavalry),
and passed by our line, crossed Hicks’ Run and began the ad-
vance. Our battalion, the Louisiana Zouaves and other com-
mands took up the line of march through the mud and sleet,
following after the retreating enemy about ten or twelve
miles. General Warren’s forces having succeeded in destroy-
ing the railroad for the time being, as far down as Belfield
and being met there with such resistance as to render further
advance difficult, if not impossible, were now hurrying back
to the shelter of the main body of the Federals in the neigh-
borhood of Stoney Creek. About seven miles north of Bel-
field a part of General Hill’s Corps came in upon the left in
advance of us, and a sharp engagement took place for a few
minutes. The enemy was soon in full retreat back to their
stronghold and we went into camp for the night. The expe-
riences of that day were indelibly impressed upon my mind
as one of the bitterest of my life, and never to be forgotten.
Because of very badly inflamed heels, caused by trying to
wear a pair of coarse, stubborn new shoes, drawn from the
quartermaster’s store just before leaving Wilmington, I was
unable to wear them on this march and found it more endura-
ble to march all day through the sleet and mud barefoot,
with the shoes thrown across my shoulders, than to attempt
to do so.
RETURN TO NORTH CAROLINA.

Next morning, the 11th, we were ordered back to Bel-
field and we returned to that place, going to our old camp at
the trenches which we had occupied on the 9th and morning of
the 10th. By this time the weather had somewhat moderated.
Here we got the first rations since leaving Wilmington.
Owing to the great haste with which we had been carried
away from there our supply was very meagre, so much so
that we were practically without rations for nearly three days.
It was a great relief to our hungry, chilled and worn out boys
to get where they could get a little rest and rations once more.
After resting a few hours and getting our dinner we again
boarded our train and that evening went down to Weldon and

TWENTIETH BATTALION. 391

encamped there for the night. An accident occurred that
night which resulted in the wounding of two men, both of
Company A. A stack of guns, which had been hurriedly
and carelessly stacked, fell down, by which one of them was
discharged and shot Dobson, of McDowell, through the knee,
from which he died, and Matthews, of the same county, was
painfully, but not dangerously, wounded in the leg. Next
morning, 12 December, we again boarded our train and re-
turned to our old quarters at Camp Lamb. We had done no
hard fighting but we had been exposed to the enemy’s fire for
the first time. We had gained some knowledge of soldier’s
life. We had endured fearful exposure in wind and rain and
sleet in want of blankets and food. We had from the 8th to
the 12th travelled over 400 miles by rail and spent two days
marching and a day in the trenches. This gave us our first
real insight into the life of a soldier.

FIRST ATTACK ON FORT FISITER.

Active soldier life had now begun and our rest at our old
quarters at Camp Lamb was destined to be of short duration.
On account of exposure encountered in the Belfield campaign,
some of the boys were taken sick. I was of that number and
was sent to the hospital in Wilmington. About 20 December
the battalion was ordered to break camp and move down to
Masonboro Sound, near Fort Fisher. It went into camp
there about two miles from the fort and remained there a few
days, until the attack on the fort began on the 24th, when
General Butler’s fleet appeared and opened the bombardment.
The boys were ordered out of camp and after patroling and
watching along the coast for the enemy to land, until late in
the night, went into the fort.

The next morning, Sunday (which was Christmas day),
the bombardment was renewed by the enemy’s fleet and kept
up all day. In the afternoon the enemy effected a landing.
The boys were then ordered out of the fort to the front to as-
sist in repelling any attack upon it or the field guns. They
took their position in front of the rifle pits. Some of the field
artillerymen for some reason left their guns, and by command
of Major Reilly, Lieutenant Liner, of Company C, with a por-