428 North Caroptna Troops, 1861-’65.

mere show of defence, except at the stout river batteries.
The noble troops comprising Hoke’s Division at the time
have been described in earlier sketches in these volumes.

After the first day’s fighting, Captain Hawks being ill, ob-
tained sick leave, and was in the hospital at Greensboro the
rest of the campaign. Finally on 22 February, the enemy
having reached the bank of the river opposite Wilmington,
after engagements at Fort Anderson, Town Creek, where
a gallant stand was made by our troops at the bridge, at
Brunswick river and Eagle Island, the evacuation was or-
dered by General Bragg and General Hoke proceeded to exe-
cute it with soldierly care.

Some works were blown up and stores burned under orders,
but the troops never marched with more good order and quiet
courage than when they filed through the city, with a section
of light artillery at the end of each street facing the water
while the masses of blue crowded nearer and nearer the me
posite bank of the river. Every other officer superior in
rank having been disabled, or absent (Captain Winder had
gone to his dying father, General Winder, shortly before this
movement), the engineer train was under the command of
Lieutenant Denson.

The company of infantry reserves detailed to fire the
bridge at the city, did not burn it in time, and the enemy put-
ting out the flames, so rapid was the pursuit, followed the
army to the Northeast river, thirteen miles distant. The
rear guard had frequent encounters, taking up the marzh
again, after driving back the enemy. The railroad bridge
was burned, and the dismounted cavalry held the enemy tn
check until the troops were passed over on the pontoons which
had been built and laid by the engineer troops.

he writer was ordered to cut the pontoon, which was done,
as the enemy reached the bank, with but slight loss to us, and
the bridge swung by a hawser from under the feet of des pur-
suers. The enemy had the advantage of occupying works
built oayiiad to command the road through the renp toward
ped ie while we were unprotected after evacuating and

Lieutenant Denson had been ordered to destroy the pon-

Corps oF ENGINEERS. 429

toon after the crossing of the army, and proceeded to do this,
by knocking out the bottoms of the boats, it being impractica-
ble to burn the water-soaked pine. This was effected under
the plunging fire of the enemy, part of which was armed with
new repeating arms; the engineers were supported by regi-
ments on the right and left of the corduroy road through
which our forces had defiled, and formed line of battle to
sleep upon their arms on the higher ground in the rear. The
firing continued several hours, from twilight until nine or
later, at intervals. But the enemy fired too high, the stream
being not very wide, and our loss was small, their shots pass-
ing over.

General Hoke ordered a reconnoissance to see if Terry’s
troops had pontoons with them for immediate pursuit, and
his gallant aid, Lieutenant George L. Washington, accom-
panied the writer upon the river during their fire, where
having perceived no signs of preparations for launching pon-
toons. we returned to the shore and reported, at headquarters.
The General kindly offered his own horse to the writer for
this expedition, as his had been temporarily lost, his halter
having been cut by a shot while the rider was on foot at the
pontoon.

Long before daylight, the troops were put on the march,
and the woods fired behind. At Burgaw, Captain Winder
rejoined us and the company was detached to march to Eliza-
bethtown, and obstruct the Cape Fear, at that point. Who-
ever has seen that river in a freshet, will understand the futil-
ity of that undertaking, so far as complete obstruction goes;
but we understood that it was deemed important to convey
the impression to Wilmington to prevent the ascent of gun-
boats (for the water was very high), until General Johnston’s
army was safely through Fayetteville.

Much showy work was done of tree cutting, raft-building,
ete., until we learned by private source that the object was
acomplished. Rapidly burning the engineer steamer Flora
McDonald, which had been lying at Elizabethtown, we made
a forced march to Smithfield, appearing to the surprise of all,
and taken by Hampton’s Artillery for the enemy at one time.

Captain Winder was detailed at headquarters and Lieu-