616 Norru Carorina Troops, 1861-’65.

with my own flesh and blood, as all of our relatives lived in
the South, but I followed the dictates of my own convictions
and went, and ever since have been proud of having done my
Cr ah Fok

Keep the spurs, Colonel, with my blessing, but I hope the
occasion may never come for you to use them so vigorously
that you will think yourself criminally guilty of cruelty to
animals, as I have, many times. Pardon me, if I have de-
ployed my skirmish line of thought on untenable ground, in
this my disconnected answer to your tersely written commu-
nication of 22 August. With assurances of my highest re-
gard and sincere desire for mutual and perpetual good feel-
ing and friendly relations, I am very respectfully yours,

Joun B. Carts.

P. S. —I shall be more than glad to meet you at Gettys-
burg as indicated in your favor, my health permitting.

C.

The ill health of General Callis prevented his meeting Col-

onel Kenan at Gettysburg as proposed, and he died in the
year 1897.

PLANNERS: DAT ene Al: THE
CRATER, 30 JULY, 1864.

By CAPT. H. G. FLANNER, Company F, 138TH N. C. Barraion,

I claim that the battery commanded by me and composed
entirely of North Carolinians is entitled to the credit of pre-
venting the Federal army from entering Petersburg on the
morning of the springing of the mine. The facts are these:
The mine was sprung about daylight of 29 July (30 July.
Ep.), and was immediately followed by the capture and oc-
cupation of our line of breastworks by the enemy. They re-
mained in the works until 8 o’clock before making prepara-
tions for the advance. About that time they reformed line
of battle and began advancing towards the city. Flanner’s
Battery was posted in the main road near the Gee House,
about two hundred yards in rear of the Confederate breast-

‘works, immediately in rear of the mine, forming what might

be considered a second line, but entirely without infantry
support. Immediately upon the advance of the enemy we
opened on them with shell and canister, and they soon sought
shelter in their trenches. In a few minutes they again
formed and commenced advancing. Again we opened on
them with our six guns. The enemy pressed steadily for-
ward, when our guns were doubled charged with canister, and
a deadly fire was poured into their ranks. Their lines were
then broken,, and they fled to the works and there remained
till our infantry composed of the brigades of Mahone, Girar-
dy and Sanders, all under the command of Mahone, arrived,
and were placed in position preparatory to making the final
charge which resulted in the recapture of the works about 2
o’elock in the day.

The fire of the enemy, from nearly one hundred guns, was
concentrated upon my company for two hours; but amid this
terrible rain of deadly missiles these brave North Caroli-