Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/652

606 he then marched toward Petersburg with the Eighth deployed as skirmishers, until he struck the enemy, and after a hot fight, drove the Federals across Beauregard's lines to their own. This very important duty was so brilliantly performed as to elicit the enthusiastic praise of General Lee. During subsequent movements in the long siege, Hunton's brigade became separated from its division. On the last of March, 1865, he was ordered with his own and two other small brigades to hold the White Oak road on the left of Five Forks, where Pickett and Fitz Lee confronted Sheridan's cavalry. His line had hardly been formed when a division of Warren's infantry corps advanced and was immediately attacked by Hunton and driven back to Gravelly run. With reinforcements the Federals were able to push Hunton back to the fortified lines, but the delay that had been caused greatly embarrassed Sheridan and led to Warren's unjust suspension from command. Two days later the retreat began, and Hunton's brigade marched with Wise's brigade, and Fitz Lee's cavalry in the rear. On this mournful march it was a continual conflict with the enemy's rapid advance. On one occasion in crossing a bridge. General Hunton found it necessary to form his brigade to meet the enemy from all sides while the cavalry and other troops crossed over, which he did with wonderful skill and courage. Next day he united his command with Pickett's division, and though sick, he remained with his men. At Sailor's creek the division recaptured Huger's artillery and repulsed the assaults of Custer. General Hunton soon comprehended that these charges were to prevent his retreat until the Federal infantry could surround him, but his superior officers were unable to meet the movement. The gallant men fought to the last, and many broke their muskets rather than surrender them, but were soon overpowered. Only eight men of Hunton's old regiment escaped. General Hunton was now suffering severely with physical illness, and was kindly cared for by the gallant Custer at his headquarters. He was thence carried to Petersburg, passed through Washington a few hours before the assassination of President Lincoln, and remained in prison at Fort Warren, where he was kindly treated and won the admiration of his guards, until the latter part of July. During the war his home, at Brentsville, had been destroyed, and his wife