THe Martin-KIRKLAND BRIGADE. 535

PETERSBURG 15-18 gunn, 1864.

In these great defensive battles General Martin and his
brigade displayed a courage, fortitude, endurance and disci-
pline unsurpassed by any. They held every position as-
signed them and fought with great coolness and enthusiasm,
and when Beauregard retired to his new line they marched
in perfect order, and after a few days occupied the salient
in front of Hare’s house, called by the enemy Fort Stead-
man—our salient being called Colquitt’s, as his brigade held
it jointly with ours. Before the siege had progressed very
far General Martin showed physical weakness under the
severe strain and exposure and was relieved of command and
assigned to command the District of Western North Carolina
with headquarters at Asheville. Later he applied to the Sec-
retary of War through me for my transfer to his staff at Ashe-
ville. But I decided to remain with the brigade and share
its fortunes for good or ill. Malarial fever, diarrhea, scurvy
and other diseases, hard guard duty every night for every man
and casualties from shot and:shell, soon thinned the ranks of
our brigade, although Colquitt shared our hardships, reliev-
ing us three days in each week. This life in the trenches was
awful—beyond description. The lines were nearer together
there than elsewhere, and the sharp-shooters never ceased

.firing, while the mortar shells rained down upon us incessant-
ly day and night. Finally at the “headquarters” of the bri-
gade—a hole in our embankment—I was left the only staff
officer, and the brigade was commanded by one of the Junior
Captains of the Seventeenth Regiment, Captain Geo. B. Dan-
iel, of Granville County, N. C., all the field officers being
“hors du combat.” 1 sent for Major-General Hoke and told
him the hazardous situation, and he sent to command us Col-
onel Zachary, of the Twenty-seventh Georgia, of Colquitt’s
Cees ee Brigade, an amiable and very brave officer, with whom my re-
William W. Kirkland, Brigadier General. bs

. Johnson, Major, 17th Regiment, Acting Inspector-General. lations were very pleasant. TI was feeble from exposure. but
Thasdore fawelt “Litt. Co. es 17th Regiment, Acting Ordnance Officer. y pleas Pp ’

C. W. Grandy, Major, Quartermaster. did not leave the men for a single day.’ How I survived all
. H. Stoddard, 1st Lieut., and A. D. C. to General Kirkland. : : :
. this I do not know.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GENERAL KIRKLAND ASSIGNED.
In August General W. W. Kirkland, a North Carolinian,