Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 4.djvu/345

tory. General Lee wrote to President Davis: "I am very glad of General Hoke s promotion, though sorry to lose him, unless he can be sent to me with a division. Now, Petersburg and Richmond being threatened by Butler, he was called to that field, and joining Beauregard May 10th, was put in command of the six brigades sent for ward to Drewry’s bluff. Upon the further organization of the hastily-collected army he had charge of one of the three divisions, the front line being composed of his division and Ransom s. In the battle of May 16th he handled his command with resolution and judgment, one of his brigades, Hagood’s, capturing five pieces of artillery. At Cold Harbor he held one of the most important parts of the Confederate line with his division, repelling repeated furious assaults, and again before Petersburg fought in the battles of June. From the Petersburg trenches he moved in December with his division to Wilmington to confront Butler, who was frightened away from Fort Fisher by part of his command. After the landing of the second expedition under Terry, he advanced his two brigades and drove in the enemy’s pickets, and according to the accounts of the Federal officers, might have relieved Fort Fisher had he not been ordered back by General Bragg. He subsequently opposed the advance of Cox from New Bern. On March 8th, while wading a swamp, his column was suddenly met by a fire from the enemy, when he displayed his presence of mind by ordering his officers to "make all the men cheer. By his coolness, what might have been a disaster to his own division was converted into a defeat of the enemy. Moving on Bragg’s right flank he vigorously assailed the enemy on the 10th, and on the 19th, in the battle of Bentonville, his division sustained gallantly and hurled back the heaviest attack of the Federals. On the 20th, Sherman s whole army being up, the attacks were renewed, mainly on Hoke s division, but were repulsed on every occasion. His services and those of