546 NortH Caro.ina Troops, 1861~’65.

ishly did this and we started towards the rear, or away from
danger, as we thought. Suddenly we came upon a Federal
regiment in line of battle. My captors made signals not to
shoot and seemed delighted to find friends. I turned my
mare and ran off in the opposite direction, both spurs in her
flanks. A volley from their skirmishers passed me without
harm and I made excellent time through briers and thickets
and over a very wide ditch, and most happily emerged into an
open field directly in front of Colquitt’s Georgia Brigade.
They met me with cheers and laughter, seeing how I was run-
ning, and I rejoined my brigade, which had been rallied and
reformed into line. Our troops were withdrawn by Hoke
and fell back to Kinston. Lieutenant Stoddard was cap-
tured, with some men from the Sixty-sixth, and some of our
wounded also became prisoners. Our loss was quite’ heavy,
but the spirit of the brigade was not broken.

T have heard that Hoke censured Kirkland for making the
disastrous charge on the 10th, but did not hear of it at the
time. If Wooten spoke the truth Hoke should have heeded
his advice and moved further to the right. Then we should
have turned the enemy and had a complete victory. Kirk-
land did not know of the existence of the strong breastworks
when he charged his men through the woods. I am sure I
did not until we came within a very short distance of them.
It may be true that Kirkland should have moved slowly until
he ascertained the true situation and then reported it to Hoke.
I have never seen Lieutenant Stoddard nor Major Johnson
since. Our courier was also captured riding my black horse,
which I had loaned him that day—a brave and dashing fel-
low, George Tonnoftski, now living in Raleigh.

Major Johnson was taken North, grew worse and worse
with consumption, and died soon after his release, at his home
near Woodville, Perquimans County, N. ©. His conduct
in that fight of the 10th was most daring and knightly.
Mounted on a large gray, he was last seen with hat in hand
trying to lead the Forty-second over the works. Johnson
was a fine lawyer, Christian gentleman, thorough soldier and
unselfish patriot.

The day was rather a disastrous one for our brigade staff.

 

Tur Martin-KirKianp Brigape. 547

A few days before our gallant and noble Ordnance Officer,
Lieutenant Theodore Hassell, was killed in an artillery duel
between the two armies on the 6th or 7th. First Lieutenant
George W. Grimes, of Company G, Seventeenth North Caro-
lina Troops, one of the best officers in our command, was
severely wounded and captured, and still carries the bullet in
his body, suffering great pain therefrom.

BENTONVILLE. ,

The enemy moved up from New Bern, Terry’s command
came up from Wilmington, and Sherman’s great army was
coming via Fayetteville. Bragg, with all the odds and ends,
and Hoke’s and Hill’s commands, joined General J oseph E.
Johnston at Smithfield, under whom the remnants of our
Southern armies were being concentrated. Soon after this
followed the great battle of Bentonville, in which General
Johnston displayed his great ability and his soldiers une-
qualed valor, fortitude and heroism. The history of this bat-
tle must always be interesting to the student of our war—
showing how the Southerners fought when under the most
adverse circumstances and when the Cause was almost en-
tirely lost. General Johnston’s narrative and an article pub-
lished in the Century war papers by General Wade Hampton
descriptive of this battle will repay perusal. Kirkland’s Bri-
gade is especially mentioned with high praise.

The army bivouacked the night before the battle, 18 March,
1865, without fires, on the wet ground, to prevent the enemy
from learning the movement. The next morning Colquitt,
Clingman and Hagood were placed in the line under Bragg,
with the brigade of North Carolina Junior Reserves on the
extreme left and Kirkland’s Brigade in reserve, a short dis-
tance behind the Juniors. Soon the battle began with the
fierce onslaught under Hardee and D. H. Hill on the right,
driving the enemy before them. But the Federals assailed
our left with vigor and General Johnston ordered Kirkland’s
Brigade to relieve the Juniors on the front line. Our entire
division held its ground and repulsed the enemy, but unfor-
tunately General Bragg became uneasy and called upon John-
ston for help, and McLaw’s command was withdrawn from