Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 4.djvu/60

42 was joined by Col. Rush Hawkins with his brigade, then stationed on Roanoke island. Hawkins says that his forces numbered 2,000 men. General Reno’s whole command, including four pieces of artillery, numbered fully 3,000 men. This force was landed from transports at Elizabeth City, and at once marched toward the locks. Near South Mills it encountered Col. A. R. Wright, commanding the Third Georgia regiment (585 strong), some drafted North Carolina militia, Gillett’s company of Southampton cavalry, and McComas battery of four pieces. Wright’s total force seems to have numbered about 750 men. Of these, he sent three companies and the militia a mile to the rear to hold an important crossing. Stationing his artillery in the road and supporting it with his little force, which General Huger says was not over 400 men, Wright pluckily waited for the attack of the enemy. In spite of a long march, Reno, who had no idea of the small number of his foe, attacked promptly, but for three hours made no impression on Wright s force, sheltered cleverly by the artillery and a strip of woods. At last McComas, who had fought his guns manfully, was killed, and Colonel Wright fell back a mile to his supports. General Reno did not attempt to follow, and that night at 10 o’clock left his dead and wounded behind and made a forced march to his boats. The losses on both sides were as follows: Confederate, killed, 6; wounded, 19. Federal, killed, 13; wounded, 92. —