454 NortH Carorina Troops, 1861-’65.

and nights, obtained neither rest nor refreshments, and
moving on the 5th on the Richmond & Danville Railroad, we
found at Jetersville the enemy’s cavalry, and learned of the
approaching infantry, and the general advance of his army
towards Burkeville. This deprived us of the use of the rail-
road, and rendered it impracticable to procure from Danville
the supplies ordered to meet us at this point of our march.
Nothing could be procured from the adjacent country, and
our route was therefore changed to Farmville, where supplies
were ordered to meet us. This change threw the troops over
the road pursued by the artillery and wagon trains, which
were muddy, cut into ruts, and occupying the line of mareh
impeded and embarrassed our movements. After succes-
sive attacks, Anderson’s and Ewell’s Corps were captured or
dispersed.”

During the day, Gordon’s Corps, embracing Grimes’ Divis-,
ion, together with Fitz Lee’s cavalry, bore the brunt of the
assault of the enemy, checked his advance, delayed the ad-
vance from Amelia Springs, guarded the wagon trains, re-
sisted combined assaults and ultimately repulsed them. In
this retreat, the Division was conspicuous for its steadiness,
its courage, its resolute resistance to all assaults from the
victorious and exultant foe, who though often punished for
temerity, continued to renew their attacks.

Grimes’ Division was in the rear of the Corps, when Ord’s
Division began its attack at daylight, and made stubborn re-
sistance to the repeated assaults which were made throughout
the day. Our retreat was conducted in the following man-
ner. One brigade would be formed across the line of re-
treat, while another brigade was formed in its rear. The
front brigade resisted attack as long as it could safely do so
without capture, when it fell back and retired behind the
troops in its rear. In the latter part of the day, we hurried
forward our wagon trains and such artillery as was not en-
gaged, and the greater part of our troops, for the enemy was
massing heavily in our rear and upon our flanks. About 5
o'clock p. m., Evans’ Georgians were resisting the enemy in
the front, while my brigade was placed across the road less
than a mile from Sailor’s Creek, which crossed the line of our