The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-09-01

had been imposed. But the order for
the charge was not given, and about sun
set the firing had nearly ceased in our
front, and Thomas Georgia brigade Of
WilcoX'S division came in and relieved
us, and we were sent 10 the right of the
road where We rested for the night. We
had held the enemy in check. Not one
yard of our line had given away one foot
during the three hours the fearful
OnSaughts had been made upon us. but
of the 304, "a lay dead on the line where
We fought aud 1877 were wounded. The
sergeant OF the ambulance corps counted
the next day 1877 dead Federal soldiers
in front of the line.
On the 9Th day of May, early i'm the
morning before sunrise, tay Federal
forces opened the battle ON our left be-
fore we we're "a line, and while our arms
were yet stacked, and forced the troops
to the left of us, and us along with them
back upon and along the road. These
were fresh troops which Gen Grant had
moved into position during the night,
and they were attacking the troops of A.
p. Hills corps which had been fearfuly
depleted by the engagements Of the day
before. But just at this time, Long
streets corps came up and kershaw's
division relieved our division. Our reg
iment was not engaged further during
the Wilderness fight. Oar brigade com
posed part of the rear guard Of the army
on its march from the Wilderness to
Spotlsylyania, and consequently the reg
iment did not reach Spottsyyania until
the 9Th of May. We had some skirm
ishes along the march--noJhing serious.
On the afternoon of the 10th of May, our
regiment was part of the force which
made an attack upon the enemy's right
near Talley's mill. We charged and cap
tured piece of artillery and drove the
enemy across the Mattapony. The reg
iment, upon this occasion, behaved with
great gallantry, charging for half of a
mile up the hillside through an old field.
Though subjected during this charge to
a fire from both artillery and small arms,
the loss was not very great; We were
charging up hill and the fire of the enemy
went over our heads. On this charge,
three color bearers were shot down in
succession before we captured the artil-
lery. We were engaged in the fight in
| the battle of the 18th at SpOttsylvania,
but as we were behind temporary breast
works, and some distance to the right
from the point where Grant broke the
Confederate lines, our losses on that day
were comparatively small. AT the sec
ond battle of Cold Harbor, we reached
the field late in the afternoon on June
the end The Federal troops were
attempting to occupy an advanced
position on our left for the battle
of the next day. Our brigade was put
in to prevent this, and charged
them just about sunset. We checked
the advance of the enemy, but it was
| fearful charge we made. The ground
was unfavorable on account of thick
underground and the loss was consider
able. Col. Belo was seriously wounded
in this charge and was never able after
wards to take command of the regiment.
We were engaged in the battle all the next
day, but we were protected by tempo
rary breastworks, and we did not suffer
as heavily as some of the regiments, but
the punishment we inflicted upon the
enemy was fearful.
Colonel Belo's wound was in the arm,
half way between the elbow and the
shoulder joint; the bone was shattered
and the operation of re-section was per
formed. The loss to the regiment was
irreparable. He had been with the regi-
ment in all its hard-fought battles, and
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