In these great defensive battles General Martin and his brigade displayed a courage, fortitude, endurance, and discipline unsurpassed by any. They held every position assigned them and fought with great coolness and enthusiasm, and when Beauregard retired to his new line they marched in perfect order, and after a few days occupied the salient in front of Hare's house, called by the enemy Fort Steadman—our salient being called Colquitt's, as his brigade held it jointly with ours. Before the siege had progressed very far General Martin showed physical weakness under the severe strain and exposure, and was relieved of command and assigned to command the District of Western North Carolina, with headquarters at Asheville. Later he applied to the Secretary of War, through me, for my transfer to his staff at Asheville. But I decided to remain with the brigade and share its fortunes for good or ill. Malarial fevers, diarrhea, scurvy, and other diseases, hard guard duty every night for every man and casualties from shot and shell, soon thinned the ranks of our brigade, although Colquitt shared our hardships, relieving us three days in each week. This life in the trenches was awful—beyond description. The lines were nearer together than elsewhere, and the sharpshooters never ceased firing, while the mortar shells rained down upon us incessantly day and night. Finally, at the ‘headquarters’ of the brigade—a hole in our embankment—I was left the only staff officer, and the brigade was commanded by one of
