426 NortH Carotina Troops, 1861-’65.

North Carolina, in April, 1861, and having been trained in
a military school (Virginia Collegiate Institute) and com-
mandant of cadets, was a strict disciplinarian, and was not
re-elected at the reorganization in 1862, being absent serving
as president of a general court-martial. Upon the personal
suggestion of General Lee, he was assigned to staff duty by Ad-
Jutant-General J. G. Martin, and subsequently was appointed
military assistant engineer, and served on topographical duty
with Captain J. S. Grant in Eastern North Carolina and Cap-
tain B. L. Blackford on the Rapidan, Rappahannock, Poto-
mac, North Anna, ete. Transferred by the Engineer Depart-
ment to topographical service on the Cape Fear, at the request
of Captain Winder, he was commissioned as Second Lieuten-
ant of Company A, Second Engineer Troops and took com-
mand of the company in camp at Wrightsville, the other of-
ficers being on detailed service.

The duties of the company were severe, and covered much
territory. They included the oversight and progress of many
works, including seven batteries on the river, from Sugar Loaf
to the city, , the redoubts near Wilmington, dams, military
bridges and military roads up the coast; also the work shops,
the “Army Navy Yard,” as the establishment for building
torpedo-boats was called; (these were never fully completed,
awaiting machinery which failed to arrive) ; the preparation
of maps and plans, and the construction of pontoons. The
latter were fortunately finished in time for the retreat of the
forces.

So constantly were the engineer officers in the saddle for
this varied service, that they were furnished with two horses
each, by the department.

The company was composed of many veteran troops, de-
tailed, of the highest efficiency, besides others who had vol-
unteered. There were, however, a few inefficient and ill-
disciplined men, transferred in violation of the spirit of the
order, and probably to dispose of them. Lieutenant Denson
drilled the company as infantry, and in skirmish drill, but it
was necessary to detail Sergeants and Corporals Frequently

with small parties to provide for the many demands upon this
single company.

Corps or ENGINEERS. 427

As the war proceeded, the necessity for adopting every
means of the military art to spare the diminishing number of
troops forced itself upon those in command. General Lee
availed himself of every engineering device throughout the
long and bloody campaign down to Cold Harbor and Peters-
burg. He fully anticipated Grant’s desperate efforts, as
shown by his correspondence with Colonel A. L. Rives, in
charge of the Engineer Bureau while General Gilmer was
in the South, and said: “JI shall want all the assistance I can
get.” He asked that besides his First Engineers, C. S. A.
(ten companies under Colonel T. M. R. Talcott), that six
companies of pioneers be added, and a force of engineer of-
ficers for the general staff, with a Brigadier-General of En-
gineers, suggesting General M. L. Smith, or Colonel W. H.
Stevens, or General G. W. Custis Lee. He writes: “It is
necessary that the Engineer Corps of this army be reorgan-
ized and increased commensurate with the wants of the ser-
vice. The engineer officers of the army have done well, but
their numbers are inadequate to the duties.”

This was true; the responsibility was great, the service
continuous and often severe, and promotion scarcely existed.

The enemy moved up the Cape Fear river in February, his
main attack developing on the west side, but with overpower-
ing numbers upon both. General R. F. Hoke having fallen
back from Sugar Loaf, the engineer troops joined his immedi-
ate command, and threw up a temporary line five and a half
miles long aeross the peninsula, terminating on the right flank
at Battery Campbell, and an unfinished work, then in charge
of Lieutenant Denson, who added also a water battery for one
naval gun, screened from observation, and served by a fine
crew of naval officers and men from the Chickamauga or Tal-
lahassee, then in port shut up after Fisher fell. The fire
here was effective, and although the fleet of thirteen gun-
boats and a monitor, took part in the engagement, they did
not attempt to run by, and take either command in the rear,
but contented themselves with heavy shelling, the most of
the projectiles passing over our heads.

Several days skirmishing progressed with an occasional
demonstration against our temporary lines which were a