D. H. Hill, Jr., Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 4, North Carolina
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

[198] ‘About the same time,’ says Moore, ‘bold and fearless James Dearing succeeded Beverly Robertson in command of the Second North Carolina brigade.’ After this memorable campaign in the North, Lee's army took position along the Rapidan.

During the invasion of Pennsylvania, Gen. D. H. Hill, commanding the department of North Carolina, was temporarily assigned to the defenses around Richmond. The troops under his command took part in some minor engagements during this time. On the 26th of June, Colonel Spear, with a cavalry force numbering 1,050 men,¹ moved from the White House to destroy the bridge over the South Anna river. The bridge was defended by 125 men, commanded by Lieut.-Col. T. L. Hargrove, of the Forty-fourth North Carolina regiment. Colonel Spear says of Colonel Hargrove's battle, ‘He held the bridge manfully for over an hour, when by a stratagem he found me in his rear and his entire force captured.’ Colonel Hargrove had 7 men killed and 13 wounded.

An expedition under General Getty was sent by the Federals to destroy the bridges over the South Anna and tear up the railroads in that vicinity. At the point in danger, Cooke's North Carolina brigade met the Federals and repulsed them successfully. General Cooke states in his official report: ‘The principal point of attack was the railroad bridge, where they were met by companies of Col. E. D. Hall's and William MacRae's regiments under Maj. A. C. McAlister, who repulsed them repeatedly in handsome style. Col. John A. Baker's regiment [Third North Carolina cavalry] occupied the right of our line and behaved very well.’

A raiding party under Gen. E. E. Potter, in July, inflicted much damage on some of the towns in eastern North Carolina. At Rocky Mount this force destroyed the bridge over Tar river, and also mills, depots, factories, and large quantities of flour and 800 bales