Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 25.djvu/347

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armed m i>-es in front, was so jubilant, that < inn ral MacRae, with his usual quiet humor, remarked : " Oldham thinks he is at a ball in Petersburg."

The Federal loss in this battle was between six and seven hundred killed and wounded, and 2, 150 prisoners, 3, 100 stands of small arms, twelve stands of colors, nine yuns and < ai>son>. The Confederate loss was small, and fell principally upon Lane's brigade; it did not exceed 500 in killed and wounded. The casualties in the 44th regi- ment were trifling, as well as other regiments of the brigade, as Hancock's men in its front fired wildly above the mark, being badly demoralized by the fire of the Confederate artillery, under cover of which MacRae's men advanced to the assault.

James Forrest, who carried the colors of the regiment, became famous for his chivalrous devotion to the flag, and his gallantry upon every field.

On the night of the 22nd of August, 1864, the regiment returned with MacRae's Brigade to its position on the line of entrenchments at Petersburg, held by General Lee's right, and continued to per- form the routine of duties incident to such a life until the 2yth day of October, 1864.

BURGESS' MILL.

The enemy having forced back our cavalry, and penetrated to a point on our right known as Burgess' Mill, on the 2jth of October, 1864, General MacRae was ordered to attack, with the understanding that he should be promptly reinforced by one or more brigades. Reconnoitering the enemy's position, he pointed out at once the weak part of their line to several officers who were with him and or- dered his brigade to the assault. It bore down everything in its front, capturing a battery of artillery, and dividing the corps which it had assailed. The Federal commander, seeing that MacRae was not supported, closed in upon his flanks and attacked with great vigor. Undismayed by the large force which surrounded him, and unwilling to surrender the prize of victory already within his grasp, MacRae formed a portion of his command obliquely to his main line of battle, driving back the foe at every point, whilst the deafening shouts and obstinate fighting of his brigade showed their entire con- fidence in their commander, although every man of them knew their situation to be.critical, and their loss had already been great. Await- ing reinforcements, which long since ought to have been with him, he held his vantage ground at all hazards, and against enormous