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History of Lane's North Carolina Brigade.
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accepted the situation as best he could, and pursued the even tenor of his way.

But the gallant spirit that could never bend to the enemy had to succumb to the yellow monster in 1867, at the age of twenty-six years, and his remains now rest, with the dust of many of his former comrades, in Greenwood Cemetery.

The brilliant record of Hays' brigade will show no name more fit to adorn the niche of fame than that of Lieutenant Charles Hatch Pierce.


History of Lane's North Carolina Brigade.

By Brigadier-General James H. Lane.

No. 3.

BATTLES AROUND RICHMOND (CONTINUED)—REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL HOKE.

Headquarters Thirty-third Regiment,
North Carolina Troops
, July 12, 1862.

General L. O'B. Branch, Fourth Brigade, Light Division:

Dear General—On the 25th June you called the commanding officers of your brigade together and informed them of the intended and manner of attack upon the enemy, who were on the north side of the Chickahominy, but at the same time ordered me to have my command ready to move at 5 o'clock P. M., with three days' rations. I having five companies on picket at the Crenshaw bridge, was ordered to take command at that point while the other five companies, under Major Cowan, would march with the brigade and cross the river at the Telegraph bridge and move down the river, in order to drive the enemy from their position.

My orders were that I should cross the river, with the five companies, and make an attack in rear of the enemy.

About twelve o'clock on the 26th, I heard sharp skirmishing, and drew in my pickets in order to cross, and while doing so could see that the enemy were in full retreat. While crossing the river, I received a dispatch from you, ordering me to join the command; that you were in the road immediately opposite. I joined the command, and from that point we marched to Mechanicsville, and reached that place under a most terrific fire of shot and shell.