of Burgess' mill, halting on the north side of Hatcher's run. These brigades had moved under direction of General Heth. The march was toilsome and fatiguing, the night excessively dark, and the road muddy from heavy rain then falling in torrents. Artillery was heard in direction of Petersburg, at times intermingled with small arms. On the lines at various points the dark clouds were made visible occasionally by rockets sent up from the two lines. Early the next morning—30th—these brigades were moved across the run and placed in line to the right of the road and at right angles to it, along a line partially entrenched. Skirmishers that had covered their front, whence they had moved, remained; they were thus weakened by about 150 men each. McCrae's brigade to the left of McGowan's, and Bushrod Johnson's divison, or a part of it, on his (McGowan's) right. In this new position the line of skirmishers became involved in a brisk fire as soon as posted; Scale's brigade, of my division, was moved from the right of the Petersburg lines to Burgess' mill, and occupied a line on both sides of the road. General Lee was early in the morning present on this part of the lines. These troops, save Scale's, were moved or extended farther to the right, their line being nearly parallel with the general direction of Hatcher's run. It rained very hard all day and most of the night. Late in the afternoon the Thirteenth and Thirty-eighth North Carolina regiments, of Scale's brigade, under command of Colonel Ashford, of the latter, were ordered forward to dislodge the enemy from a piece of woods close in front. This involved a sharp fight. The enemy were driven out with a loss of quite a number of prisoners. The Hon. Thomas Conley,[1] member of the English Parliament, and my guest at the time, was present with General Lee.
- ↑ This genial and warm-hearted stranger was in our midst during the last days of the defence of Richmond and Petersburg. I had met him in Raleigh, North Carolina, a few weeks before, and on the eve of returning to the army. Gov. Vance introduced us, and requested me to look after him. He had run the blockade on the Owl, destined for Wilmington. On coming within easy-range of Fort Fisher, the Confederate flag was not seen, but in its place waved
