208 Nort Carona. Troops, 1861-’65.

from Hampton. The Confederate force actually present at
Reams Station consisted of Cooke’s and Ma¢Rae’s Brigades,
of Heth’s Division; Lane’s, Seales’ and McGowan’s Brigades,
of Wilcox’s Division; Anderson’s Brigade of Longstreet’s
Corps; two brigades of Mahone’s Divisicn; Butler’s avd
W. H. F. Lee’s Divisions of Cavalry and a portion of
Pegram’s Battalion of artillery. General Hampton, com-
manding cavalry, marched at daylight on the morning of
the 25th, and drove the Federal cavalry before him at all
points. Both of his divisions united at Malone’s Crossing,
about two and a half miles from Reams Station, having
moved against the enemy by different routes. Here Hamp-
ton was attacked by a portion of Hancock’s infantry, when he
dismounted his entire force and a spirited fight was in pro-
gress when the columns of A. P. Hill appeared in sight, with
the purpose of attacking Hancock’s force from the front.
Hancock’s infantry, who were expecting an attack from Hill,
had entrenched themselves strongly on the west side of the
railroad and a short distance from it. Hill ordered the first
assault about 2 o’clock in the afternoon. The assaulting
column consisted of Anderson’s Georgia Brigade and Scales’
North Carolina Brigade. These two brigades, after a severe
conflict in which both fought well, were repulsed. The sec-
ond assault was made about 5 o’clock in the afternoon by the
three North Carolina Brigades of Lane, Cooke, and Macfae,
from left to right, in the order named. These troops had
become famous throughout the entire army for their fighting
qualities. How could it be otherwise with such brigade com-
manders? On this day General Conner, of South Carolina,
was commanding Lane’s Brigade, as General Lane had been
severely wounded at Cold Harbor.

In front of Lane and Cooke the enemy had felled trees,
sharpening the limbs and making it very difficult to get
through them. MacRae had an open field between him and
the enemy’s breastworks, and for this reason, as the other two
brigades would be necessarily retarded by the abatis, which
was exceedingly formidable where Lane’s men had to pass,
they were ordered to advance somewhat sooner that MacRae’s
men. MacRae’s line of battle was in the edge of a pine thick-

Reams STATION. 209

et about three hundred yards from the breastworks to be as-
saulted. Walking along the line MacRae told the men.that he
knew they would go over the works, and that he wished them
to do so without firing a gun. “All right, General, we will go
there,” was the answer which came from all. The men were
in high spirits, jesting and laughing, and ready to move on
an instant’s notice. In the meanwhile Lane’s and Cooke’s

‘Brigades advancing were received by a heavy fire of

both musketry and artillery. As the fire became more vio-
lent, especially in front of Lane, MacRae, prompted by that
great and magnanimous spirit which ever characterized him,
and realizing that the crisis of the conflict was at hand, said
to Captain Louis G. Young, his Adjutant-General, “I shall
wait no longer for orders. Lane is drawing the entire fire of
the enemy; give the order to advance at once.” Hitherto his
brigade had received but slight attention from the enemy, the
greater portion of their fire having been directed against
Lane’s and Cooke’s Brigades. But warned of the danger
which threatened them, by the loud cheers frem MacRae’s Bri-
gade, as it emerged from its covering of pines and advanced
to the assault, they opened a tremendous fire of small arms,
with a converging fire of artillery along MacRae’s whole front.
t was allin vain. MacRae’s men in a line almost as straight
and unbroken as they presented when on parade, without
firing a gun, threw themselves forward at a double-quick,
and mounting the entrenchments, precipitated themselves
among the enemy’s infantry on the other side, who seemed to
be dazed by the vehemence of the attack, and made a very fee-
ble resistance after their works were reached. Lane’s and
Cooke’s men, stimulated by the shouts of MacRae’s Brigade
on their right, redoubled their exertions and advancing with
great rapidity through the fallen timber, were close under
the works when MacRae struck them. In fact, portions of
the three brigades crossed the embankment together, and the
glory of the victory belongs equally to them all. Nor were
our cavalry idle spectators of the fight. As soon as it was
evident to General Hampton that Hill’s infantry had com-
menced the second assault with the three North Carolina

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