66 Nortu Carotina Troops, 1861-’65.

tempt to advance, but as often was death spread in their
ranks, and they were repulsed. Like a hail shower their
minie balls fell around us while shell and shot hurtled over
us going wide from their mark, and placing our reserve force,
portions of the Thirty-first and Eighth, half a mile in our
rear, in more danger than ourselves. Not a cheek blanched
among us with fear, and as I watched most particularly my
own gallant boys, not a trembling hand or faltering eye could
I see.

Nor was it different with the ‘‘Hatteras Avengers,” (Com-
pany I), who fought with the spirit and determination of
brave men, under a brave leader, and a braver man than Cap-
tain Knight no men ever fought under. His voice was heard
at all times cheering his men, and his example, with that of
his First Lieutenant, S. J. Latham, inspired all with courage.
After about two hours, our skirmishers being hard pressed by
overwhelming numbers, were gradually falling back fighting
most gallantly, when the lamented Wise fell. His men bore
him off and I saw them no more. The enemy pushed regi-
ment after regiment into the swamp on either side to flank us,
but they were for a long time driven back. For over three
hours the numbers above mentioned kept at bay at least 10,000
of the enemy (as acknowledged by themselves), and when at
last we were flanked, as a Major of one of the regiments who
did it, told me, they crossed that miry swamp on a bridge of
dead men.* Only three men of ours were killed at the redoubt,
one of them the brave Seldon, who fell near me, shot through
the head. He, Captain Schermerhorn and Lieutenant Kin-
ney (all of Wise’s Legion), had command of our three guns.
Captain Schermerhorn, who has been fighting ever since he
was old enough, and has five balls now in his body, had
charge of Company B detachment and complimented them
very highly, particularly James Flowers, who, he said,
though much exposed, fought with the firm courage and un-
flinching coolness of a veteran. A compliment from such a
man is worth something. But all did well, and their country

* General Burnside’s Official Report shows his loss was 5 officers

= = men killed ; 10 officers and 204 men wounded. 13 missing, total
.—Ep.

 

THe Fart or Roanoke Isuanp. 67

ought to be proud of them. Probably had others been in
their places, the same might be said justly, but this is certain,
the “O. K. Boys,” of Anson County, and the “Hatteras
Avengers,” of Martin County, fought four hours and twenty
minutes, and only retreated when the whole Yankee force
was close upon them, and the field officers had left our bat-
tery. In ten minutes more the enemy would have sur-
rounded us and cut us to pieces. Just before the retreat, re-
inforcements arrived, swelling our numbers to probably four
hundred men, who did but little good. The retreat was con-
ducted in good order, no guns were thrown away, as has been
stated, and our whole force, except a few stragglers, pro-
ceeded slowly up the road expecting every minute to hear the
order to “Fall in” for another fight, than which no order
could have been more welcome. But this came not, and they
went sullenly and silently to our old encampment, where
about an hour after our arrival, we saw the white flag borne
by us to meet the enemy. The surrender of all the forces on
the island was made and a strong Federal guard placed
around us. The victorious army treated us with kindness,
particularly General Foster and the officers of the Eighth
and Fifty-first New York, the Pennsylvania, New Jersey
and Twenty-first Massachusetts Regiments. We were de-
prived of all small arms, upon a promise of having them re-
turned whenever we were exchanged, which promise was only
partially complied with on our release. We had the morti-
fication of seeing many of the articles prepared for the use of
our sick and wounded by the kind women of Anson, seized
by the rascally Zouaves, but as soon as complaint was made
to General Reno, he promptly ordered any man trespassing

thus to be placed in irons.
Our beautiful flag was gallantly borne away from the bat-

tlefield by Corporal H. M. May, but to our great regret was
taken by the enemy after the surrender, and by Dr. Cutler,
Surgeon of the Twenty-first Massachusetts Regiment, was
sent as a present to the Governor of that State, a brother-in-
law of my informant. Jt was never disgraced, and bore
many marks in the shape of bullet holes. We remained on
the Island much crowded and closely guarded, until the