506 NortH Caroxina Troops, 1861-65.

Kirkland’s North Carolina Brigade, on our left, the only
other troops sent in with us, lost 560 in the same charge.

There were two whole divisions of A. P. Hill’s Corps just
in our rear, and yet not a single company or regiment was
sent to our aid.

Cooke was severely wounded in this battle and Colonel E.
D. Hall, Forty-sixth North Carolina, became commander of
the brigade.

In the latter part of November, 1863, we were moved to
Mine Run, Va., and took part in all the movements at that
place, though our loss was but slight. About 3 December,
1863, we returned to our picketing along the Rapidan and
Robertson rivers.

About December, 1863, or January, 1864, after we had
moved back to Rapidan Station, Va., Colonel Hall resigned
and Colonel Wm. McRae (Fifteenth North Carolina) be-
came commander of the brigade. Colonel McRae appointed
Lieutenant B. T. Hart, of the Fifteenth North Carolina, as
Acting Inspector-General. We had not had so far as I recol-
lect, an Inspector-General prior to this time, though other
brigades had.

Early in 1864 Lieutenant R. Walker Anderson was as-
signed to this brigade as Ordnance Officer. He was a North
Carolinian and had been A. D. ©. on the staff of his brother,
General George B. Anderson.

About the first of February, 1864, we were relieved from
picket duty along the Rapidan and went into winter quar-
ters near Orange Court House, Va. Onur stay there was but
short, for 7 February we were ordered to Olark’s Mountain,
on the Rapidan, to meet a reported advance of the enemy.
This advance was not made and, after spending a day and
night on this errand, we returned to our cosy winter quarters.

We were not allowed a long rest, however, for on 4 March,
1864, we, with the rest of A. P. Hill’s Corps, were ordered,
in haste, to Madison Court House to intercept a column of
the enemy who had moved in that direction.

The weather was terribly cold and that may have helped
in changing the ideas of the enemy, for, on reaching Madison
Court House we found that they had turned back and were

CooKEr’s BRIGADE. 507

again on the other side of Robertson river, and we returned
to our quarters.

Cooke, having recovered from his wound, returned to duty
about the middle of April, 1864.

23 April, 1864, he appointed Lieutenant J. A. Graham,
Company G, Twenty-seventh North Carolina, Captain and,
Inspector-General of the brigade.

This appointment was not confirmed, as the authorities at
Richmond on 28 May, 1864, issued an order that “no Inspec-
tor-General would be allowed to Brigades.” Yet, at this
very time, every brigade in the Army of Northern Virginia
had an Inspector-General, except Cooke’s North Carolina.
On 4 May, 1864, our rest was broken and we started on the
memorable campaign of 1864.

On 5 May, 1864, Cooke’s Brigade, being the leading bri-
gade of our Corps, struck the Federal army at the intersec-
tion of the Plank road, along which we were moving, and the
Brock road, by which they were passing—and the battle of
the Wilderness began. In the fight of this afternoon, our
loss was severe, being 1,080 out of about 1,800 carried in.
Among our killed was Lieutenant R. W. Anderson, Brigade
Ordnance Officer. That night our lines were withdrawn, or
moved back, about a mile, or a mile and a half. On the
morning of 6 May, Grant attacked us in force and had broken
the troops on both sides of us, when Longstreet’s Corps ar-
rived and saved the day.

From this time to the end of the summer this brigade was
engaged taking part in most of the principal battles and in
many small affairs and skirmishes.

I regret that I am unable to give a list of all of our engage-
ments during this campaign, as I was wounded at the Wilder-
ness, 5 May, and have been unable to get a list of all the fights
in which the brigade took part. (Even the Official Records
of the Union and Confederate Armies give very meagre ac-
counts of the operations on either side during that summer. )
There was no time for officers to make up official reports of
battles. I know, however, that Cooke’s Brigade was engaged
at Spottsylvania Court House, Tottapotamy river, Pole
Green Church, Second Cold Harbor, Weldon Railroad (or