536 NortaH Carotina Troops, 1861-’65.

was permanently placed in command of the brigade, re-
lieving Colonel Zachary. Kirkland had commanded a bri-
gade in Heth’s Division, but was disabled by a wound at
Bristoe Station, and General William McRae took his place
as Brigadier. When Kirkland got well he came to us.
He made no change in the staff, except to bring an Aide-
de-Camp, Lieutenant Albert Stoddard, of Savannah, a rela-
tive of Kirkland’s wife, who was a niece of Lieutenant-Gen-
eral W. J. Hardee. He was very courteous and agreeable at
all times, and he became greatly attached to his brigade.

NORTH OF. THE JAMES.

In September our division was relieved from guarding the
hard lines they had held, and moved out of the trenches.
During the fall and winter of 1864 we were attached to Long-
street’s Corps in the works on the north side of the James near
Chafin’s Bluff. There we built winter quarters and had
some rest. QOlingman’s Brigade and Colquitt’s were in the
attack on Fort Harrison made by General Lee to recover that

strong position, without success, but we were not engaged.
We marched under Longstreet around Grant’s right flank on
the Darbytown and Charles City roads and had some fight-
ing, but not very severe.

General Lee gave orders that the earthworks should be
strengthened and the camp carefully policed. He rode along
the line almost daily. One day he halted on our line and
sent for General Kirkland. I rode up with the latter to meet
our chief. He asked Kirkland for some couriers and sent
for the other Generals of the corps. When they came he
pointed to cur camp and works and said: ‘Gentlemen, this
is the only brigade that has obeyed my instructions. J wish
you to make your camp and line conform to this one. Gen-
eral Kirkland, I am glad to see the condition of your com-
mand.” Kirkland, flushed with pride, thanked General Lee
for the compliment to his brigade, but added that its high
state of efficiency was due to its former commander, General
Martin, and he had only tried to maintain the command as he
found it. A manly statement from a gallant soldier! Gen-
eral Lee replied: ‘General Martin is one to whom North

 

THe Marrin-KirKLAND BRIGADE. 537

Carolina owes a debt she will never pay.” I told this to
General Martin after the war, and the old General said he
would like to have that saying recorded. It was said in my
hearing, and made me proud also. General Lee was fond of
General Martin, but I believe President Davis was not, owing
to a difference in the old army.

During its eight months’ service in Virginia, this brigade,
under Martin and xirkland, in the armies of Beauregard
and Lee, was as effective, as brave, laborious and faithful as
any brigade in the army, and its losses from casualties and
disease were very heavy. Almost continuously under fire,
it never failed in attack, and was never driven from its posi-
tion by the enemy. This testimony is cheerfully given by
one who was never absent a single day from its front line,
having never been disabled by wound or sickness, and is proud
to have shared all its hardships, exposure and dangers.

Our division commanders were Whiting, D. H. Hill and
Hoke; corps commanders, Lieutenant-Generals R. H. An-
derson and Longstreet.

General D. H. Hill impressed me as a zealous, unselfish
patriot and great soldier, who knew not fear and shrank from
no duty. His Christian faith was unbounded. He could
always be found at the most dangerous place in the line, doing
what he could to encourage and also protect the men.

Hoke, as a division commander, was the peer of any in the
army. Conspicuous for his bravery, coolness and good judg-
ment, the youngest Major-General in the army, his rapid pro-
motion from the grade of lieutenant was due alone to his gal-
lant and meritorious conduct and fitness to command.

Hoke had many able officers and men under him who have
been distinguished in public life since the war. Jarvis, of
Clingman’s Brigade; Colquitt, of Georgia, and Hagood, of
South Carolina, were Governors of their respective States at
the same time. One of his gallant young staff officers, Cap-
tain S. B. Alexander (taken from the Forty-second North
Carolina Troops), has honorably represented his county in the
Legislature and his district in Congress, and at the same ses-
sion of the latter Lieutenant W. A. B. Branch, one of Hoke’s
aides, son of the hero L. O’B. Branch, was his colleague.