History of Lane's North Carolina Brigade.
By General James H. Lane.
Campaign 1863.
Winter Quarters at Moss Neck.
Throughout the winter our brigade was chiefly engaged in doing picket duty on the Rappahannock. When the roads became impassable it was ordered to assist in corduroying the same. Some of this work was done during and just after the snow storms of that year. The snow had to be removed before the logs could be laid; and at night, as the men were not able to return to their quarters on account of the distance, their sufferings were intense.
In the Spring, when the enemy renewed their demonstrations at Fredericksburg, we were ordered up and occupied the second line of works near Hamilton's Crossing; but we soon left this point to take part in the ever memorable
Battle of Chancellorsville.
"Camp Gregg," May 11th, 1863.
Captain,—On the morning of the 1st of May, my brigade moved from its position in the second line near Hamilton's Crossing, along the plank road in the direction of Chancellorsville, and that night formed line of battle, with skirmishers thrown forward to the right of the road, about a mile and a half from the latter place. Next morning, after the artillery fight on our right, it was marched to the plank road above Chancellorsville, by the way of Welford's Iron Forge, and then ordered to move down the road by the flank, while the three lines of battle advanced. After it was ascertained that the enemy were rapidly falling back, it pushed forward with the artillery beyond the third and second lines to within a short distance of the first. Here General A. P. Hill ordered me (at dark) to deploy one regiment as skirmishers across the road, to form line of battle in rear with the rest of the brigade, and to push vigorously forward in other words we were ordered to make a night attack and capture the enemy's batteries, if possible. Just then the enemy opened a terrific fire, which was responded to by our batteries. As soon as this was over, I deployed the Thirty-third North Carolina troops forward as skirmishers, and formed line of battle to the
