658 NortH Carotina Troops, 1861-’65.

would take place. Our brigade consisted of three regiments.
The Sixth, commanded by myself; the Fifty-fourth, com-
manded by Colonel Murchison; and the Fifty-seventh, com-
manded by Lieutenant-Colonel Jones, and the whole under
Colonel Godwin.* On 7 November we were surprised at
‘an order to fall in immediately under arms. The wind at
the time was blowing very hard, and the weather was quite
cool. We did not for a moment dream that anything of a
serious nature confronted us, as it was not the first time we
had been called out. A hasty packing of baggage was all the
preparations we made. Most of us had clothing, but at the
time few of us had our good clothing on. I was fortunate
enough to have my overcoat on. After falling in we moved
to Rappahannock Station, a short description of which will be
necessary.

It should be more properly called Rappahannock Bridge,
as the position is where the railroad bridge crosses the river.
The bridge being destroyed, a pontoon bridge about two hun-
dred yards above where the railroad bridge crossed was
thrown over the river, and it was the only means we had of
crossing and recrossing the river. A small distance below
the bridge was adam. The river could not be forded above
or below. On the south side, to the right of the railroad, the
ground was a little broken,-the advantage of ground being on
the north to the left of the railroad. The ground suddenly
arose, thus forming a cone on which was constructed a fort,
the key to the position. Further to the left of the river was
a ridge, making a very strong defensible position. On the
north side we had formed a line of rifle pits in a circular form
capable of holding two brigades. On the right nearly oppo-
site the railroad bridge, was a battery of four guns. I forgot
to mention that there were four guns mounted in the fort.
The Louisiana Brigade, under General Hays, was doing
picket duty at the time in the rifle pits. At the command we
moved forward at double-quick time, exhausting our men
very much. As we neared the river the sound of artillery

*The other regiment of the brigade, the Twenty-first was tem-
roa in North Caroline on detached service. Its Brigadier-General,

F. Hoke, was home wounded.—Eb.

Prison Lire ar JonHnson’s ISLAND. 659

firing boomed upon our ears, and we knew that the work of
death had commenced. We were halted for a few moments
behind a cover, and the field officers were ordered to dis-
mount. The brigade was ordered to cross the river. We
pushed forward at double-quick, the enemy at the time shell-
ing the bridge fearfully. As soon as my foot touched the
bridge a man in front of me was shot through the mouth
with grape shot. No one could stop to give him attention
at the time, as our safety depended upon our getting over rap-
idly. The Louisiana brigade was occupying more than its
usual front, lengthening out in order to cover as much of the
works as possible. Our brigade was thrown in the pits, in
many instances the men becoming mixed up with other regi-
ments. This, perhaps, was the cause of our misfortune.
Colonel Godwin walked with me nearly the length of the
whole line, the enemy keeping up a furious fusillade all the
time. We found it impossible to get the men in their proper
places. The Louisiana troops would positively refuse to give
way to the North Carolina boys and vice versa with the other
boys. The rifle pits although built by the engineers, were
made to conform to the ground. They could be enfiladed
and troops could be moved to within two hundred yards of the
foe without being seen. Three regiments of the Louisiana
brigade were on the extreme right, the other troops occupying
the balance of the works, to the river. The fire from the en-
emy’s artillery was severe. They not only silenced our guns
but shelled every portion of the small space occupied by our
troops. I forgot to mention that General Hays, being the
Senior officer, was in command. General Early, with two
brigades as reserves, was on the south side. The enemy at
the same time, covered our whole front with a heavy line of
skirmishers, and as they had equally as good cover as our-
selves it was worth a man’s life to show his head above the
parapet. This state of things continued until nearly dark,
each regiment expecting the attack to be made in its front,
was prepared for it. About this time, heavy volleys were
heard to the right, and as no orders came along the line we
supposed the enemy had been driven back and that all was
going well. TI was surprised when one of my Captains ran