1863) |
About 2 o'clock an attack had been made upon the enemy by a part of General A.P. Hill's command, which was driven back with loss, after which the North Carolina Brigades of Lane, Cooke and MacRae were ordered up, taking position in the enemy's front. Advancing steadily and rapidly under the fire of Pegram's guns, we captured the whole line, not, however, before the enemy were driven off in a hand-to-hand encounter in the works, in which in a few instances clubbed rifles were used. In this fight our losses were necessarily heavy. We captured seven strands of colors, 2,000 prisoners and nine pieces of artillery. (See General Lee's letter to the Secretary of War, 26 August, 1864.) The enemy having been driven from the railroad, fell back to Petersburg. |
1864 to 27 OCT |
On reaching the city we were placed in line, the right of our brigade resting on the Petersburg & Weldon Railroad. Here we were engaged in throwing up a new line of works in front of those at that time occupied. At this employment we continued until 16 September, when we were moved to a point about half a mile south of the Boydton plank road, and about three miles southwest of the city, where we were employed in constructing rifle-pits until the 20th. On this day we were moved about one mile further south of the Boydton road and engaged in constructing works of a more elaborate character until the 29th, when we were ordered to Petersburg to supply the places in the line of troops who had been sent north of the James. We reached the city on the same day and awaited orders. On the 30th we were ordered to counter-march and take position on the right of the line. During the time we had been withdrawn, the enemy advanced and had taken a portion of the rifle pits and a heavy earthwork (Fort MacRae) which we had constructed and held on the Squirrel Level road. Attempting to move thence in the direction of the Boydton plank road, he was met by Heth's Division, and after a sharp and spirited attack, was driven back on his lines. MacRae's Brigade now took position in the line further to the right and was engaged daily in throwing up earthworks and drilling until the morning of 27 October. |
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