Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/175

 The Wee Nee Volunteers of Wttliamsburg District. 169

turous and brave young officer, was detailed as adjutant. He filled the place as perfectly and satisfactorily as Lesesne had done.

The St. Matthew's Rifles (Company F), Captain Martin A. Sellers, were posted behind the flank wall on the outside of the fort, after the company which had occupied that dangerous post had been dis- patched to Cummins Point. While the events just narrated were transpiring inside of the fort, First Sergeant Carson of that company was killed. Company F was one of the best companies of the regi- ment. It was composed of men worthy of being commanded by the great captains of history (as indeed were many of the men of the other companies of the regiment). Sergeant Carson was one of the best non-commissioned officers in the service. He would have done himself credit in a much higher position, and. had he been spared, would certainly have attained a rank more suited to his abilities. His comrades, with their bayonets, dug a grave in the sand behind the flank wall and buried him there. The booming of the enemy's guns and bursting of shells were his funeral salute. Truly he was buried with the honors of war !

A courier arrived from Cummins Point with the information that the last detachment had embarked. I next sent off Companies A, C and K. Colonel L. M. Keitt and his staff left about this time. I had now with me inside the fort Company I onlv. Our suspense was very great. Every slack in the enemy's fire caused our hopes of escape to sink. The next shot was welcomed as the harbinger of success. We knew then that our movements were not dis- covered. Company I had been filling all the posts made vacant by the withdrawal of the others. Any unsteadiness on the part of the men would certainly have been most disastrous in its consequences. They behaved with great coolness and nerve during the whole time they were under my immediate observation, and it would be impossible to use words of commendation to which they were not entitled. Both they and the men of Company F, in the most trying position ever filled by soldiers (covering a retreat with the full knowl- edge that if pursued they must be overwhelmed by superior num- bers), behaved with a courage that never was surpassed by the veterans of any army.

A messenger at length came with intelligence that the last detach- ment sent was off and the boats again ready. I led out Company I in perfect order, and was joined at the sally-port by Captain Sellers with Company F. Lieutenant F. B. Brown and ten men of Com- pany I were detailed to report to Captain Huguenin. That officer,