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diff --git a/old/13124.txt b/old/13124.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a4f6716 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/13124.txt @@ -0,0 +1,24330 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, History of Kershaw's Brigade, by D. Augustus +Dickert + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: History of Kershaw's Brigade + +Author: D. Augustus Dickert + +Release Date: August 6, 2004 [eBook #13124] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF KERSHAW'S BRIGADE*** + + +E-text prepared by Ted Garvin, Bill Hershey, and Project Gutenberg +Distributed Proofreaders + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 13124-h.htm or 13124-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/1/3/1/2/13124/13124-h/13124-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/1/3/1/2/13124/13124-h.zip) + + The spelling inconsistencies of the original have been preserved + in this e-text. + + + + + +HISTORY OF KERSHAW'S BRIGADE + +With Complete Roll of Companies, Biographical Sketches, Incidents, +Anecdotes, etc. + +by + +D. AUGUSTUS DICKERT + + + + + + + +[Illustration: LT. COL. AXALLA JOHN HOOLE Eighth South Carolina +Volunteer Regiment Kershaw's Brigade October 12, 1822-September 20, +1863] + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +For three reasons, one purely personal (as you will soon see), I am +pleased to play even a small part in the reprinting of D. Augustus +Dickert's The History of Kershaw's Brigade ... an undertaking in my +judgment long, long, overdue. + +First, it is a very rare and valuable book. Privately published by +Dickert's friend and neighbor, Elbert H. Aull, owner-editor of the +small-town weekly Newberry (S.C.) Herald and News, almost all of +the copies were shortly after water-logged in storage and destroyed. +Meantime, only a few copies had been distributed, mostly to veterans +and to libraries within the state. Small wonder, then, that +Kershaw's Brigade ... so long out-of-print, is among the scarcest of +Confederate War books--a point underscored by the fact that no copy has +been listed in American Book Prices Current in fifty years. Only one +sale of the book is recorded in John Mebane's Books Relating to +the Civil War (1963), an ex-library copy which sold for $150. More +recently, another copy, oddly described as "library indicia, extremely +rare," was offered for sale by second-hand dealer for $200. Under +these circumstances it is difficult to determine why, amidst the +ever-increasing interest in the irrepressible conflict, this unique +book has had to wait seventy-five years to make its reappearance on +the American historical scene. + +My second reason is that, in company with other devotees of the +Confederacy, I consider Kershaw's Brigade ... one of the best +eye-witness accounts of its kind, complete, trustworthy, and intensely +interesting. Beginning with the secession of South Carolina on +December 20, 1860, Dickert describes in detail the formation, +organization, and myriad military activities of his brigade until its +surrender at Durham, N.C., April 28, 1865. During these four years +and four months, as he slowly rose in rank from private to captain, +Dickert leaves precious little untold. In his own earthy fashion he +tells of the merging of the Second, Third, Seventh, Eighth, Fifteenth, +and Twentieth regiments and the Third Battalion of South Carolina +Volunteer Infantry into a brigade under the command of General Joseph +Brevard Kershaw, McLaws' division, Longstreet's corps, Lee's Army of +Northern Virginia. First Manassas was the brigade's, baptism of +fire. Seven Pines, the Seven Days, Second Manassas, Harper's Ferry, +Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg followed. +And when the enemy began knocking at the back door of the Confederacy +in late 1863, it was Longstreet's corps that Lee rushed to the aid of +Bragg's faltering Army of Tennessee. After the victory at Chickamauga +and a winter in Tennessee, the corps was recalled to Virginia--and +to the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and the +Shenandoah Valley. Then, once again, as Sherman's mighty machine +rolled relentlessly over Georgia and into South Carolina in 1865, +Kershaw's Brigade was transferred "back home," as Dickert proudly put +it, "to fight the invader on our own native soil." + +But Kershaw's Brigade ... is much more than a recounting of military +movements and the ordeals of battles. It is at once a panorama of the +agonies and the ecstacies of cold-steel war. Few such narratives are +so replete with quiet, meditative asides, bold delineations of daily +life in camp and on the march, descriptions of places and peoples, +and--by no means least--the raucous, all relieving humor of the common +soldier who resolutely makes merry to-day because to-morrow he may +die. Thus, to young Dickert did the routine of the military become +alternately matters grave or gay. Everything was grist for his mill: +the sight of a pretty girl waving at his passing troop train, the +roasting of a stolen pig over a campfire, the joy of finding a keg +of red-eye which had somehow fallen--no one knew how--from a +supply wagon; or, on another and quite different day, the saddening +afterthoughts of a letter from home, the stink of bloated, rotting +horses, their stiffened legs pointed skyward, the acrid taste of +gun-powder smoke, the frightening whine (or thud) of an unseen +sharpshooter's bullet, and the twisted, shoeless, hatless body of +yesterday's friend or foe. + +E. Merton Coulter, in his Travels in the Confederate States: A +Bibliography (1948), called Dickert's "a well-written narrative, +notably concerned with the atmosphere of army life," adding that +"there is no reason to believe that he embellished the story beyond +the general outlines of established truth." Douglas S. Freeman +considered Kershaw's Brigade ... a reliable source for both his R.E. +Lee (1934-1935) and Lee's Lieutenants ... (1942-1944), and Allen +Nevins et al., in their Civil War Books: A Critical Bibliography +(1967), described it as "a full, thick account of a famous South +Carolina brigade," alive with "personal experiences of campaigns in +both East and West." + +With these comments I agree. The book is indeed intimate, vigorous, +truthful, and forever fresh. But, as I stated earlier, there is +a third and personal reason why I am proud to have a hand in the +republication of Kershaw's Brigade.... My grandfather, Axalla John +Hoole, formerly captain of the Darlington (S.C.) Riflemen, was +lieutenant colonel of its Eighth Regiment and in that capacity fought +from First Manassas until he was killed in the Battle of Chickamauga, +September 20, 1863. (His photograph is inserted in this edition and +Dickert's tributes to him are on pages 278, 284-285.) + +Two days before his death Hoole pencilled his last letter to his wife. +Previously unpublished, it frankly mirrors the esprit de corps of +the men of Kershaw's Brigade on the eve of battle. En route from +Petersburg to Chickamauga by train, the men of the Eighth Regiment +passed through Florence, just ten miles from their homes in +Darlington. Upon arrival at Dalton, Ga. on September 18 Hoole wrote +"Dear Betsy": + +I don't know how long we will remain here, so I am hurrying to write +you a few lines, with the sheet of paper on my knee to let you know +that I am as well as could be expected under [the] circumstances.... I +feel pretty well. I heard yesterday that [General W.S.] Rosecrans had +fallen back, so there is no telling how far we may have to march or +how long it will take before we have a battle here.... Oh, my dear +wife, what a trial it was to me to pass so near you and not see you, +but it had to be. About 40 of our Regt. stopped, and I am sorry to +inform you that all of Company A, except the officers, were left at +Florence. That company did worse than any other.... But I know with +some it was too hard a trial to pass. There were some, however, who +left, who had seen their families in less than a month.... + +We left our horses at Petersburg to follow us on. I left Joe [his +servant] in charge of mine, and I don't know when they will come up. +I feel the need of Joe and the horse, as I can't carry my baggage, and +fare badly in the eating line. [We] took our two days rations and +went to a house last night to have it cooked, but I can't eat it. The +biscuits are made with soda and no salt and you can smell the soda +ten steps.... If I can't buy something to eat for the next two days, I +must starve.... I made out to buy something occasionally on the way to +keep body and soul together.... I must close, as I may not be able +to get this in the mail before we have to leave here.... Kiss my dear +little ones for me, tell all the Negroes howdy for me.... Write as +soon as you get this. Direct it to me at Dalton, as I expect this will +be our post office for the present. Do my dear wife don't fret about +me. Your ever loving Husband.... + +D. Augustus Dickert, the author of Kershaw's Brigade ... was born on +a farm near Broad River, Lexington County, S.C., in August, 1844, +the son of A.G. and Margaret (Dickinson) Dickert, both from nearby +Fairfield County. In June, 1861, at age seventeen, he enlisted as a +private in Company H, Third Regiment, South Carolina Volunteers, made +up of men mostly from Fairfield, Lexington, and Newberry counties. +Wounded four times (at Savage Station, Fredericksburg, the Wilderness, +and Knoxville), he was gradually promoted to captain and during the +latter part of the war, according to his friend Aull, "he was in +command of his regiment acting as colonel without ever receiving his +commission as such." + +After the war Colonel Dickert, as he was best known, returned to his +farm, and took an active part in community life, including leadership +in the local Ku Klux Klan. Meantime, he read widely to improve his +education--as a boy he had attended a country school for only a +few months--and by middle-age had become "better educated than many +college graduates." Well versed in history, astronomy, and literature, +he turned to writing as an avocation, producing numerous stories which +were published in the Herald and News and several magazines. One of +his stories, A Dance with Death, considered by his contemporaries "one +of the most thrilling narratives," was based on true experiences +which earned him the reputation of being a "stranger to danger and +absolutely fearless." His Kershaw's Brigade ... was written, as +he announced, at the request of the local chapter of the United +Confederate Veterans and published by Aull "without one dollar in +sight--a recompense for time, material, and labor being one of the +remotest possibilities." + +Dickert was married twice. By his first wife, Katie Cromer of +Fairfield County, he had four children, Roland, Claude, Alma, and +Gussie; and by his second, Mrs. Alice Coleman, also of Fairfield, one +child, Lucile, now Mrs. A.C. Mobley of Denmark, S.C. + +Dickert died suddenly at his home of a heart attack on October 4, +1917, aged seventy-three, and was buried in Newberry's Rosemont +Cemetery. + +University of Alabama + +W. Stanley Hoole + + * * * * * + +In preparing this preface I have enjoyed the assistance of Mrs. Lucile +Dickert Mobley, Dickert's only surviving child; Mrs. A.S. Wells, +a niece, of 1120 West 46 St., Minneapolis, Minn.; Mrs. Kathleen S. +Fesperman, librarian of Newberry College; Inabinett, librarian, South +Caroliniana Library, University of South Carolina, and his student +aide, Miss Laura Rickenbacker; and Robert J. and Mary E. Younger, +owners of the Morningside Bookshop, Dayton, Ohio. Besides the letter +(which I own) and the books mentioned in the text I have also used The +Dictionary of American Biography, X, 359-360 (New York, 1933); Battles +and Leaders of the Civil War, ed. by Robert U. Johnson and Clarence +C. Buell, III, 331-338 (New York, 1884-1888); James Longstreet, From +Manassas to Appomattox ... (Philadelphia, 1896); The Photographic +History of the Civil War, ed. by Francis T. Miller, II, III, X, passim +(New York, 1911); W.A. Brunson, Glimpses of Old Darlington (Columbia, +1910); and Elbert H. Aull, "D. Augustus Dickert" in the Newberry +Herald and News, Oct. 5, 1917. + + * * * * * + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +More than thirty-four years have passed away since the soldiers who +composed the Second South Carolina Regiment of Infantry, the Third +South Carolina Regiment of Infantry, the Eighth South Carolina +Regiment of Infantry, the Fifteenth South Carolina Regiment of +Infantry, the Twentieth South Carolina Regiment of Infantry, and the +Third South Carolina Battalion of Infantry, which commands made up +Kershaw's Brigade, laid down their arms; and yet, until a short +time ago, no hand has been raised to perpetuate its history. This +is singular, when it is remembered how largely the soldiers of this +historic brigade contributed to win for the State of South Carolina +the glory rightfully hers, by reason of the splendid heroism of her +sons in the war between the States, from the year 1861 to that of +1865. If another generation had been allowed to pass, it is greatly +feared that the power to supply the historian with the information +requisite to this work would have passed away forever. + +The work which assumes to perpetuate the history of Kershaw's Brigade +should not be a skeleton, consisting of an enumeration of the battles, +skirmishes, and marches which were participated in--with the names of +the commanding officers. What is needed is not a skeleton, but a body +with all its members, so to speak. It should be stated who they were, +the purposes which animated these men in becoming soldiers, how they +lived in camp and on the march, how they fought, how they died and +where, with incidents of bravery in battle, and of fun in camp. +No laurels must be taken from the brow of brave comrades in other +commands; but the rights of the soldiers of Kershaw's Brigade must +be jealously upheld--everyone of these rights. To do this work, will +require that the writer of this history shall have been identified +with this command during its existence--he must have been a soldier. +Again, he must be a man who acts up to his convictions; no toady +nor any apologist is desired. If he was a Confederate soldier from +principle, say so, and apologize to no one for the fact. If he loved +his State and the Southland and wished their independence, say so, and +"forget not the field where they perished." Lastly, he ought to have +the ability to tell the story well. + +The friends of Captain D. Augustus Dickert, who commanded Company H of +the Third South Carolina Regiment of Infantry, are confident that he +possesses all the quality essential to this work. He was a splendid +soldier--brave in battle, clear-headed always, and of that equilibrium +of temperament that during camp life, amid the toil of the march, and +in battle the necessity for discipline was recognized and enforced +with justice and impartiality. He was and is a patriot. His pen is +graceful, yet strong. When he yielded to the importunities of +his comrades that he would write this history, there was only one +condition that he insisted upon, and that was that this should be +solely a work of love. Captain Dickert has devoted years to the +gathering together of the materials for this history. Hence, the +readers are now prepared to expect a success. Maybe it will be said +this is the finest history of the war! + +Y.J. POPE. Newberry, S.C., August 7, 1899. + +History of Kershaw's Brigade. By D. Augustus Dickert. (9x5-3/4, pp. +583. Illus.) Elbert H. Aull Company, Newberry, S.C. + + * * * * * + + +The name of Kershaw's Brigade of South Carolinians is familiar to all +who wore the gray and saw hard fighting on the fields of Virginia, in +the swamps of Carolina and the mountains of Tennessee. This was "the +First Brigade of the First Division of the First Corps of the Army of +Northern Virginia," and many of its members volunteered for service +before the first gun was fired at the Star of the West, while its +ragged regimental remnants laid down their arms at Greensboro not +till the 2d of May, 1865, nearly a month after the fateful day of +Appomattox. Its history is a history of the war, for, as will he seen, +there were few pitched battles in the East that did not call forth its +valor. + +The author of the book is D. Augustus Dickert, who, at the age of +15, ran away to fight and surrendered as captain in the Third South +Carolina Volunteers. He was a gallant soldier all through, and he has +written a good book, for the broader lines of history are interwoven +with many slight anecdotes and incidents that illustrate the temper of +the times and impart to the narrative a local coloring. The following +is a good example of its style: "The writer was preparing to enter +school in an adjoining county. But when on my way to school I boarded +a train filled with enthusiasts, some tardy soldiers on their way to +join their companions and others to see, and, if need be, to take old +Anderson out of his den. Nothing could be heard on the train but war +'taking of Sumter,' 'old Anderson' and 'Star of the West.' Everyone +was in high glee. Palmetto cockades, brass buttons, uniforms and gaudy +epaulettes were seen in every direction. This was more than a youthful +vision could withstand, so I directed myself toward the seat of war +instead of schools." Although somewhat theatric, this is an accurate +presentation of those early days. + +The chief merit of Captain Dickert's book is that it presents the gay +and bright, as well as the grave side of the Confederate soldier's +experience. It is full of anecdote and incident and repartee. Such +quips and jests kept the heart light and the blood warm beneath many a +tattered coat. + +The student of history may wish a more elaborate sketch. But the +average man who wishes to snatch a moment for recreation will be +repaid as he takes up this sketch. There are some faults of style and +some of typography; but, all in all, this is a hearty, cheery, clean +book. It extenuates some things, maybe; but it sets down naught in +malice. As a local history it is an interesting contribution to the +chronicle of the period. R. MEANS DAVIS. S.C. College. 10-31-01 + + +CAPT D. AUGUSTUS DICKERT. Company H 3d S.C. Regiment. + + * * * * * + + + +AUTHOR'S ANNOUNCEMENT. + +Comrades: Years ago I was asked by the members of a local camp (James +D. Nance Camp, United Confederate Veterans, Newberry, S.C.,) of +Veterans to write a history of Kershaw's "Old First Brigade in the +Civil War," in order that the part taken by you in that memorable +struggle might be transmitted to posterity through the instrumentality +of a proud and loving participant in all the events that went to make +up the life of an organization second to none, that has ever stood +face to face with an invading foe upon the face of earth. + +This request was not based upon a supposition of superior educational +qualifications on my part, for the parties who made it know that my +school days ended at twelve, and that the time usually devoted to +instruction of youth was spent by many of us, from '61 to '65, on the +northern side of Richmond. Consequently, to the love that I treasure +in my heart for the "Old First" is due whatever of distinction attaches +to the position of recorder of actions which prove the worth and +heroism of each constituent part of the brigade. In accepting this +trust I shall repress all desire for rhetorical display. I will not +even attempt to do that justice, which is beyond the power of mortals; +but shall simply try to be your faithful chronicler or recorder of +facts as they appeared to me and others, who have so kindly assisted +me in the compilation of these records, and shall confine myself to +the effort to attain my highest ambition--absolute correctness. It is +true that inaccuracies may have crept in; but these will be found +to be mostly among proper names--due in a great measure to the +illegibility of the manuscripts furnished me by correspondents. Again, +apparent errors will be explained, when it is recalled to your minds +that no two men see the same circumstance from the same standpoint. +Honest differences will appear, no matter how trivial the facts are +upon which they are based. + +I have endeavored to be fair and just, and in so doing have laid aside +a soldier's pardonable pride in his own regiment, and have accorded +"honor to whom honor was due." Despite all that maybe alleged to +the contrary, ours was not a "War of the Roses," of brother against +brother, struggling for supremacy; but partook more of the nature of +the inhuman contest in the Netherlands, waged by the unscrupulous and +crafty Duke of Alva at the instance Philip (the Good!), or rather +like that in which the rich and fruitful Province of the Palatine was +subjected to fire and rapine under the mailed hand of that monster of +iniquity--Turenne. + +How well the men of Kershaw's Brigade acted their part, how proudly +they faced the foe, how grandly they fought, how nobly they died, I +shall attempt not to depict; and yet-- + + Could heart and brain and hand and pen + But bring to earth and life again + The scenes of old, + Then all the world might know and see; + Your deeds on scrolls of fame would be + Inscribed in gold + +I am indebted to many of the old comrades for their assistance, most +notably Judge Y.J. Pope, of the Third South Carolina; Colonel Wm. +Wallace, of the Second; Captain L.A. Waller, for the Seventh; Captains +Malloy, Harllee, and McIntyre, of the Eighth; Captain D.J. Griffith +and Private Charles Blair, of the Fifteenth; Colonel Rice and Captain +Jennings, of the Third Battalion, and many others of the Twentieth. +But should this volume prove of interest to any of the "Old Brigade," +and should there be any virtue in it, remember it belongs to Y.J. +Pope. Thrice have I laid down my pen, after meeting with so many +rebuffs; but as often taken it up after the earnest solicitation of +the former Adjutant of the Third, who it was that urged me on to its +completion. + +To the publisher, E.H. Aull, too much praise cannot be given. He has +undertaken the publication of this work on his individual convictions +of its merit, and with his sole conviction that the old comrades would +sustain the efforts of the author. Furthermore, he has undertaken it +on his own responsibility, without one dollar in sight--a recompence +for time, material, and labor being one of the remotest possibilities. + +D. AUGUSTUS DICKERT. + +Newberry, S.C., August 15, 1899. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER I + +SECESSION. + +Its Causes and Results. + + +The secession bell rang out in South Carolina on the 20th of December, +1860, not to summon the men to arms, nor to prepare the State for war. +There was no conquest that the State wished to make, no foe on her +border, no enemy to punish. Like the liberty bell of the revolution +that electrified the colonies from North to South, the bell of +secession put the people of the State in a frenzy from the mountains +to the sea. It announced to the world that South Carolina would be +free--that her people had thrown off the yoke of the Union that bound +the States together in an unholy alliance. For years the North had +been making encroachments upon the South; the general government +grasping, with a greedy hand, those rights and prerogatives, which +belonged to the States alone, with a recklessness only equalled by +Great Britain towards the colonies; began absorbing all of the rights +guaranteed to the State by the constitution, and tending towards a +strong and centralized government. They had made assaults upon our +institutions, torn away the barriers that protected our sovereignty. +So reckless and daring had become these assaults, that on more than +one occasion the States of the South threatened dissolution of the +Union. But with such master minds as Clay, Webster, and Calhoun in +the councils of the nation, the calamity was averted for the time. The +North had broken compact after compact, promises after promises, until +South Carolina determined to act upon those rights she had retained +for herself in the formation of the Union, and which the general +government guaranteed to all, and withdrew when that Union no longer +served the purposes for which it was formed. + +Slavery, it has been said, was the cause of the war. Incidentally it +may have been, but the real cause was far removed from the institution +of slavery. That institution existed at the formation of the Union, or +compact. It had existed for several hundred years, and in every State; +the federation was fully cognizant of the fact when the agreement of +the Union was reached. They promised not to disturb it, and allow +each State to control it as it seemed best. Slavery was gradually but +surely dying out. Along the border States it scarcely existed at all, +and the mighty hand of an All-wise Ruler could be plainly seen in the +gradual emancipation of all the slaves on the continent. It had begun +in the New England States then. In the Caribbean Sea and South America +emancipation had been gradually closing in upon the small compass of +the Southern States, and that by peaceful measures, and of its own +volition; so much so that it would have eventually died out, could not +be denied by any who would look that far into the future, and judge +that future by the past. The South looked with alarm and horror at a +wholesale emancipation, when they viewed its havoc and destruction +in Hayti and St. Domingo, where once existed beautiful homes and +luxuriant fields, happy families and general progress; all this +wealth, happiness, and prosperity had been swept away from those +islands as by a deadly blight. Ruin, squalor, and beggary now stalks +through those once fair lands. + +A party sprang up at the North inimical to the South; at first only a +speck upon the horizon, a single sail in a vast ocean; but it grew and +spread like contagion. They were first called agitators, and consisted +of a few fanatics, both women and men, whose avowed object was +emancipation--to do by human hands that which an All-wise Providence +was surely doing in His own wise way. At first the South did not look +with any misgivings upon the fanatics. But when Governors of Northern +States, leading statesmen in the councils of the nation; announced +this as their creed and guide, then the South began to consider +seriously the subject of secession. Seven Governors and their +legislatures at the North had declared, by acts regularly passed and +ratified, their determination "not to allow the laws of the land to be +administered or carried out in their States." They made preparation to +nullify the laws of Congress and the constitution. That party, +which was first called "Agitators," but now took the name +of "Republicans"--called at the South the "black Republicans"--grown to +such proportions that they put in the field candidates for President +and Vice-President of the United States. Numbers increased with each +succeeding campaign. In the campaign of 1860 they put Abraham Lincoln +and Hannibal Hamlin forward as their standard bearers, and whose +avowed purpose was the "the liberation of the slaves, regardless of +the consequences." This party had spies all over the Southern States, +and these emissaries incited insurrection, taught the slaves "that by +rising at night and murdering their old masters and their families, +they would be doing God's will;" that "it was a duty they owed to +their children;" this "butchery of the sleeping and innocent whites +was the road to freedom." In Virginia they sent down armed bands of +whites, roused the negroes at night, placed guns, pikes, and arms of +every kind in the hands of the poor, deluded creatures, and in that +one night they butchered, in cold blood, the families of some of the +best men in the State. These cold blooded butcheries would have done +credit to the most cruel and blood thirsty of the primeval savages of +the forest. These deeds were heralded all over the North as "acts of +God, done by the hands of men." The leader of this diabolical plan and +his compeers were sainted by their followers and admirers, and praises +sung over him all over the North, as if over the death of saints. By +a stupendous blunder the people of the South, and the friends of the +Union generally, allowed this party to elect Lincoln and Hamlin. The +South now had no alternative. Now she must either remain in a Union, +where our institutions were to be dragged down; where the laws were +to be obeyed in one section, but not in another; where existed open +resistance to laws in one State and quiet obedience in another; where +servile insurrections were being threatened continuously; where the +slaves were aided and abetted by whites at the North in the butcheries +of their families; or secede and fight. These were the alternatives +on the one part, or a severance from the Union and its consequences +on the other. From the very formation of the government, two +constructions were put upon this constitution--the South not viewing +this compact with that fiery zeal, or fanatical adulation, as they +did at the North. The South looked upon it more as a confederation +of States for mutual protection in times of danger, and a general +advancement of those interests where the whole were concerned. Then, +again, the vast accumulation of wealth in the Southern States, +caused by the overshadowing of all other commodities of +commerce--cotton--created a jealousy at the North that nothing but +the prostration of the South, the shattering of her commerce, the +destruction of her homes, and the freedom of her slaves, could answer. +The wealth of the South had become a proverb The "Wealthy Southern +Planter" had become an eyesore to the North, and to humble her haughty +pride, as the North saw it, was to free her slaves. As one of the +first statesmen of the South has truly said, "The seeds of the +Civil War were sown fifty years before they were born who fought her +battles." + +A convention was called to meet in Columbia, in December, 1860, to +frame a new constitution, and to take such steps as were best suited +to meet the new order of things that would be brought about by this +fanatical party soon to be at the head of the government. Feeling ran +high--people were excited--everywhere the voice of the people was for +secession. The women of the South, who would naturally be the first +sufferers if the programme of the "Agitators" were carried out, were +loud in their cries for separation. Some few people were in favor of +the South moving in a body, and a feeble opposition ticket for the +delegates to the convention was put in the field. These were called +"Co-operationists," i.e., in favor of secession, but to await a union +with the other Southern States. These were dubbed by the most fiery +zealots of secession, "Submissionists" in derision. The negroes, too, +scented freedom from afar. The old cooks, mammas, house servants, and +negro eavesdroppers gathered enough of "freedom of slaves," "war," +"secession," to cause the negroes to think that a great measure was +on foot somewhere, that had a direct bearing on their long looked for +Messiah--"Freedom." Vigilance committees sprung up all over the South, +to watch parties of Northern sentiment, or sympathy, and exercise a +more guarded scrutiny over the acts of the negroes. Companies were +organized in towns and cities, who styled themselves "Minute Men," and +rosettes, or the letters "M.M.," adorned the lapels of the coats worn +by those in favor of secession. The convention met in Columbia, but +for some local cause it was removed to Charleston. After careful +deliberation, a new constitution was framed and the ordinance of +secession was passed without a dissenting voice, on the 20th of +December, 1860, setting forth the State's grievances and acting upon +her rights, declaring South Carolina's connection with the Union at +an end. It has been truly said, that this body of men who passed the +ordinance of secession was one of the most deliberate, representative, +and talented that had ever assembled in the State of South Carolina. +When the news flashed over the wires the people were in a frenzy of +delight and excitement--bells tolled, cannons boomed, great parades +took place, and orators from street corners and hotel balconies +harangued the people. The ladies wore palmetto upon their hats or +dresses, and showed by every way possible their earnestness in the +great drama that was soon to be enacted upon the stage events. Drums +beat, men marched through the streets, banners waved and dipped, +ladies from the windows and from the housetops waved handkerchiefs or +flags to the enthusiastic throng moving below. The bells from historic +old St. Michael's, in Charleston, were never so musical to the ears of +the people as when they pealed out the chimes that told of secession. +The war was on. + +Still with all this enthusiasm, the sober-headed, patriotic element +of the South regretted the necessity of this dissolution. They, too, +loved the Union their ancestors had helped to make--they loved the +name, the glory, and the prestige won by their forefathers upon the +bloody field of the revolution. While they did not view this Union as +indispensable to their existence, they loved and reverenced the flag +of their country. As a people, they loved the North; as a nation, +they gloried in her past and future possibilities. The dust of their +ancestors mingled in imperishable fame with those of the North. In the +peaceful "Godsacre" or on the fields of carnage they were ever willing +to share with them their greatness, and equally enjoyed those of +their own, but denied to them the rights to infringe upon the South's +possessions or rights of statehood. We all loved the Union, but we +loved it as it was formed and made a compact by the blood of our +ancestors. Not as contorted and misconstrued by demagogueism and +fanaticism. We almost deified the flag of the Union, under whose folds +it was made immortal by the Huguenots, the Roundheads, the Cavaliers, +and men of every faith and conviction in the crowning days of the +revolution. The deeds of her great men, the history of the past, were +an equal heritage of all--we felt bound together by natural bonds +equal to the ties of blood or kindred. We loved her towering +mountains, her rolling prairies, her fertile fields, her enchanting +scenery, her institutions, her literature and arts, all; all were +equally the South's as well as the North's. Not for one moment would +the South pluck a rose from the flowery wreath of our goddess of +liberty and place it upon the brow of our Southland alone. The +Mississippi, rising among the hills and lakes of the far North, +flowing through the fertile valleys of the South, was to all our +"Mother Nile." The great Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada chained our +Western border together from Oregon to the Rio Grande. The Cumberland, +the Allegheny, and the Blue Ridge, lifting their heads up from among +the verdant fields of Vermont, stretching southward, until from their +southern summit at "Lookout" could be viewed the borderland of +the gulf. In the sceneries of these mountains, their legends and +traditions, they were to all the people of the Union what Olympus was +to the ancients. Where the Olympus was the haunts, the wooing places +of the gods of the ancient Greeks, the Appalachian was the reveling +grounds for the muses of song and story of the North and South +alike. And while the glories of the virtues of Greece and Rome, the +birthplace of republicanism and liberty, may have slept for centuries, +or died out entirely, that spirit of national liberty and personal +freedom was transplanted to the shores of the New World, and nowhere +was the spirit of freedom more cherished and fostered than in the +bright and sunny lands of the South. The flickering torch of freedom, +borne by those sturdy sons of the old world to the new, nowhere took +such strong and rapid growth as did that planted by the Huguenots on +the soil of South Carolina. Is it any wonder, then, that a people +with such high ideals, such lofty spirits, such love of freedom, would +tamely submit to a Union where such ideals and spirits were so lightly +considered as by those who were now in charge of the government--where +our women and children were to be at the mercies of a brutal race, +with all of their passions aroused for rapine and bloodshed; where we +would be continually threatened or subjected to a racial war, one of +supremacy; where promises were made to be broken, pledges given to be +ignored; where laws made for all were to be binding only on those who +chose to obey? Such were some of the conditions that confronted South +Carolina and her sister States at this time, and forced them into +measures that brought about the most stupendous civil war in modern or +ancient times. + +To sum up: It was not love for the Union, but jealousy of the South's +wealth. It was not a spirit of humanity towards the slaves, but a +hatred of the South, her chivalry, her honor, and her integrity. A +quality wanting in the one is always hated in that of the other. + + * * * * * + + + +CHAPTER II + +ENROLLMENT OF TROOPS. + +Troops Gathered at Charleston--First Service as a Volunteer. + + +The Legislature, immediately after the passage of the ordinance +of secession, authorized the Governor to organize ten regiments of +infantry for State service. Some of these regiments were enlisted for +twelve months, while Gregg's, the First, was for six, of, as it was +understood at the time, its main duties were the taking of Sumter. +The first regiments so formed were: First, Gregg's; Second, Kershaw's; +Third, Williams'; Fourth, Sloan's; Fifth, Jenkins'; Sixth, Rion's; +Seventh, Bacon's: Eighth, Cash's; Ninth, Blanding's; besides a +regiment of regulars and some artillery and cavalry companies. There +existed a nominal militia in the State, and numbered by battalions +and regiments. These met every three months by companies and made some +feeble attempts at drilling, or "mustering," as it was called. To the +militia was intrusted the care of internal police of the State. Each +company was divided into squads, with a captain, whose duties were to +do the policing of the neighborhood, called "patrolling." They would +patrol the country during Sundays, and occasionally at nights, to +prevent illegal assemblies of negroes, and also to prevent them from +being at large without permission of their masters. But this system +had dwindled down to a farce, and was only engaged in by some of the +youngsters, more in a spirit of fun and frolic than to keep order +in the neighborhood. The real duties of the militia of the State +consisted of an annual battalion and regimental parade, called +"battalion muster" and "general muster." This occasioned a lively +turn-out of the people, both ladies and gentlemen, not connected with +the troops, to witness the display of officers' uniforms, and bright +caparisoned steeds, the stately tread of the "muster men," listen to +the rattle of the drums and inspiring strains of the fifes, and horns +of the rural bands. + +From each battalion a company was formed for State service. These +companies elected their captains and field officers, the general +officers being appointed by the Governor. Immediately after the call +of the Governor for troops, a great military spirit swept the country, +volunteer companies sprang up like magic all over the land, each +anxious to enter the service of the State and share the honor of going +to war. Up to this time, few thought, there would be a conflict. Major +Anderson, U.S.A., then on garrison duty at Fort Moultrie, heard of the +secession of the State, and (whether by orders or his own volition, is +not known and immaterial,) left Fort Moultrie, after spiking the guns +and destroying the carriages; took possession of Fort Sumter. The +State government looked with some apprehension upon this questionable +act of Maj. Anderson's. Fort Sumter stood upon grounds of the State, +ceded to the United States for purposes of defence. South Carolina +now claimed the property, and made demands upon Maj. Anderson and the +government at Washington for its restoration. This was refused. + +Ten companies, under Col. Maxey Gregg, were called to Charleston +for the purpose of retaking this fort by force of arms, if peaceful +methods failed. These companies were raised mostly in towns and +cities by officers who had been commissioned by the Governor. College +professors formed companies of their classes, and hurried off to +Charleston. Companies of town and city volunteers offered their +services to the Governor--all for six months, or until the fall of +Sumter. + +On the 9th of January, 1861, the State was thrown into a greater +paroxism of excitement by the "Star of the West," a Northern vessel, +being fired on in the bay of Charleston by State troops. This steamer, +laden with supplies for Sumter, had entered the channel with the +evident intention of reinforcing Anderson, when the Citadel guards, +under Captain Stevens, fired several shots across her bow, then +she turned about and sped away to the sea. In the meantime the old +battalions of militia had been called out at their respective "muster +grounds," patriotic speeches made, and a call for volunteers made. +Companies were easily formed and officers elected. Usually in +selecting the material for officers, preference was given to soldiers +of the Mexican war, graduates of the military schools and the old +militia of officers. These companies met weekly, and were put through +a course of instructions in the old Macomb's tactics. In this way +the ten regiments were formed, but not called together until the +commencement of the bombardment of Sumter, with the exception of those +troops enlisted for six months, now under Gregg at Charleston, and a +few volunteer companies of cavalry and artillery. + +The writer was preparing to enter school in a neighboring county when +the first wave of patriotism struck him. Captain Walker's Company, +from Newberry, of which I was a member, had been ordered to Charleston +with Gregg, and was stationed at Morris' Island before I could get +off. Two of my brothers and myself had joined the company made, +up from the Thirty-ninth Battalion of State militia, and which +afterwards formed a part of the Third S.C. Volunteers (Colonel +Williams). But at that time, to a young mind like mine, the war looked +too remote for me to wait for this company to go, so when on my way to +school I boarded a train filled with enthusiasts, some tardy soldiers +on their way to join their companies, and others to see, and if need +be, "take old Anderson out of his den." Nothing on the train could be +heard but war, war--"taking of Sumter," "Old Anderson," and "Star +of the West." Everyone was in a high glee--palmetto cockades, brass +buttons, uniforms, and gaudy epaulettes were seen in every direction. +This was more than a youthful vision could withstand, so I directed my +steps towards the seat of war instead of school. By this time the city +of Charleston may be said to have been in a state of siege--none could +leave the islands or lands without a permit from the Governor or the +Adjutant and Inspector General. The headquarters of Governor Pickens +and staff were in the rooms of the Charleston Hotel, and to that +place I immediately hied and presented myself before those "August +dignitaries," and asked permission to join my company on Morris' +Island, but was refused. First, on account of not having a permit of +leave of absence from my captain; secondly, on account of my youth (I +then being on the rise of 15); and thirdly, having no permission from +my parents. What a contrast with later years, when boys of that age +were pressed into service. The city of Charleston was ablaze with +excitement, flags waved from the house tops, the heavy tread of +the embryo soldiers could be heard in the streets, the corridors of +hotels, and in all the public places. The beautiful park on the water +front, called the "Battery," was thronged with people of every age and +sex, straining their eyes or looking through glasses out at Sumter, +whose bristling front was surmounted with cannon, her flags waving +defiance. Small boats and steamers dotted the waters of the bay. +Ordnance and ammunition were being hurried to the island. The one +continual talk was "Anderson," "Fort Sumter," and "war." While +there was no spirit of bravado, or of courting of war, there was no +disposition to shirk it. A strict guard was kept at all the wharves, +or boat landings, to prevent any espionage on our movements or works. +It will be well to say here, that no moment from the day of secession +to the day the first gun was fired at Sumter, had been allowed to pass +without overtures being made to the government at Washington for a +peaceful solution of the momentous question. Every effort that tact +or diplomacy could invent was resorted to, to have an amicable +adjustment. Commissioners had been sent to Washington, asking, urging, +and almost begging to be allowed to leave the Union, now odious to +the people of the State, without bloodshed. Commissioners of the North +came to Charleston to treat for peace, but they demanded peace without +any concessions, peace with submission, peace with all the chances of +a servile war. Some few leaders at the North were willing to allow +us the right, while none denied it. The leading journal at the +North said: "Let the erring sisters depart in peace." But all of our +overtures were rejected by the administration at Washington, and +a policy of evasion, or dilly-dallying, was kept up by those in +authority at the North. All the while active preparations were going +on to coerce the State by force of arms. During this time other States +seceded and joined South Carolina, and formed the "Confederate States +of America," with Jefferson Davis as President, with the capital at +Montgomery, Ala. + +Being determined to reach my company, I boarded a steamer, bound for +Morris' Island, intending, if possible, to avoid the guard. In this I +was foiled. But after making several futile attempts, I fell in with +an officer of the First South Carolina Regiment, who promised to pilot +me over. On reaching the landing, at Cummings Point, I was to follow +his lead, as he had a passport, but in going down the gang plank we +were met by soldiers with crossed bayonets, demanding "passports." The +officer, true to his word, passed me over, but then my trouble +began. When I reached the shore I lost my sponsor, and began to make +inquiries for my company. When it was discovered that there was a +stranger in the camp without a passport, a corporal of the guards +was called, I was placed under arrest, sent to the guardhouse, and +remained in durance vile until Captain Walker came to release me. When +I joined my company I found a few of my old school-mates, the others +were strangers. Everything that met my eyes reminded me of war. +Sentinels patrolled the beach; drums beat; soldiers marching and +counter-marching; great cannons being drawn along the beach, hundreds +of men pulling them by long ropes, or drawn by mule teams. Across the +bay we could see on Sullivan's Island men and soldiers building and +digging out foundations for forts. Morris' Island was lined from the +lower point to the light house, with batteries of heavy guns. To the +youthful eye of a Southerner, whose mind had been fired by Southern +sentiment and literature of the day, by reading the stories of heroes +and soldiers in our old "Southern Reader," of the thrilling romances +of Marion and his men, by William Gilmore Simms, this sight of war was +enough to dazzle and startle to an enthusiasm that scarcely knew any +bounds. The South were "hero worshipers." The stories of Washington +and Putnam, of Valley Forge, of Trenton, of Bunker Hill, and Lexington +never grew old, while men, women, and children never tired of reading +of the storming of Mexico, the siege of Vera Cruz, the daring of the +Southern troops at Molino del Rey. + +My first duty as a soldier, I will never forget. I went with a detail +to Steven's Iron Battery to build embrasures for the forts there. This +was done by filling cotton bags the size of 50 pound flour sacks with +sand, placing them one upon the top of the other at the opening where +the mouths of cannons projected, to prevent the loose earth from +falling down and filling in the openings. The sand was first put upon +common wheel-barrows and rolled up single planks in a zig-zag way to +the top of the fort, then placed in the sacks and laid in position. My +turn came to use a barrow, while a comrade used the shovel for filling +up. I had never worked a wheel-barrow in my life, and like most of my +companions, had done but little work of any kind. But up I went the +narrow zig-zag gangway, with a heavy loaded barrow of loose sand. I +made the first plank all right, and the second, but when I undertook +to reach the third plank on the angles, and about fifteen feet from +the ground, my barrow rolled off, and down came sand, barrow, +and myself to the ground below. I could have cried with shame and +mortification, for my misfortune created much merriment for the good +natured workers. But it mortified me to death to think I was not man +enough to fill a soldier's place. My good coworker and brother soldier +exchanged the shovel for the barrow with me, and then began the first +day's work I had ever done of that kind. Hour after hour passed, and +I used the shovel with a will. It looked as if night would never +come. At times I thought I would have to sink to the earth from pure +exhaustion, but my pride and youthful patriotism, animated by the acts +of others, urged me on. Great blisters formed and bursted in my hand, +beads of perspiration dripped from my brow, and towards night the +blood began to show at the root of my fingers. But I was not by +myself; there were many others as tender as myself. Young men with +wealthy parents, school and college boys, clerks and men of leisure, +some who had never done a lick of manual labor in their lives, and +would not have used a spade or shovel for any consideration, would +have scoffed at the idea of doing the laborious work of men, were +now toiling away with the farmer boys, the overseers' sons, the +mechanics--all with a will--and filled with enthusiasm that nothing +short of the most disinterested patriotism could have endured. There +were men in companies raised in Columbia, Charleston, and other towns, +who were as ignorant and as much strangers to manual labor as though +they had been infants, toiling away with pick and shovel with as much +glee as if they had been reared upon the farm or had been laborers in +a mine. + +Over about midway in the harbor stood grim old Sumter, from whose +parapets giant guns frowned down upon us; while around the battlements +the sentinels walked to and fro upon their beats. All this preparation +and labor were to reduce the fort or prevent a reinforcement. +Supplies had been cut off, only so much allowed as was needed for the +garrison's daily consumption. With drill every two hours, guard +duty, and working details, the soldiers had little time for rest +or reflection. Bands of music enlivened the men while on drill, +and cheered them while at work by martial and inspiring strains of +"Lorena," "The Prairie Flower," "Dixie," and other Southern airs. +Pickets walked the beach, every thirty paces, night and day; none +were allowed to pass without a countersign or a permit. During the day +small fishing smacks, their white sails bobbing up and down over +the waves, dotted the bay; some going out over the bar at night with +rockets and signals to watch for strangers coming from the seaward. +Days and nights passed without cessation of active operations--all +waiting anxiously the orders from Montgomery to reduce the fort. + +General G.T. Beauregard, a citizen of Louisiana, resident of New +Orleans, a veteran of the Mexican War, and a recent officer in the +United States Engineering Corps, was appointed Brigadier General and +placed in command of all the forces around Charleston. A great many +troops from other States, which had also seceded and joined the +Confederacy, had come to South Carolina to aid in the capture of +Sumter. General Beauregard was a great favorite with all the people, +and the greatest confidence felt in his skill and ability by the +soldiers. The State officers and troops obeyed him cheerfully, and had +implicit faith in his military skill. As he was destined to play an +important part in the great role of war that was soon to follow, I +will give here a short sketch of his life. General G.T. Beauregard was +born near the city of New Orleans, May 18th, 1818. His first ancestors +were from Wales, but engaging in an insurrection, they were forced to +flee from their country, and sought an asylum in France. In the last +of the thirteenth century one of them became attached to the Court of +Philip the IV, surnamed the "Fair." He then married Mademoiselle de +Lafayette, maid of honor to the sister of Philip. When Edward, King of +England, married the sister of Philip, he followed with his wife the +fortunes of the English King, and became a member at the Court of St. +James. He was afterwards assigned to a British post on the continent. +And again this family of the early Beauregards, then called Toutant +Beauregard, became citizens of France. Jacques Beauregard came +to Louisiana from France with a colony sent out by Louis XIV. The +grandson of this Jacques is the present Gustav Toutant Beauregard. +At the early age of eleven years he was taken to New York and placed +under a private tutor, an exile from France, and who had fled the +Empire on the downfall of Napoleon. At sixteen he entered West Point +as a cadet, and graduated July 1st, 1838, being second in a class +of forty-five. He entered the service of the United States as Second +Lieutenant of Engineers. He served with distinction through the +Mexican War, under Major General Scott, in the engineer corps. For +gallant and meritorious conduct he was twice promoted--first to the +Captaincy and then to the position of Major. For a short time he was +Superintendent of the West Point Military Academy, but owing to the +stirring events just preceding the late war, he resigned on the first +of March, 1861. He entered the service of the Confederate States; was +appointed Brigadier General and assigned to the post of Charleston. +Soon after the fall of Sumter he was made full General, and assigned +to a command on the Potomac, and with J.E. Johnston fought the +memorable battle of Bull Run. He was second in command at Shiloh with +A.S. Johnston, then the "Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and +Florida." With J.E. Johnston he commanded the last remnant of a once +grand army that surrendered at Greensboro, N.C. He returned to his old +home in New Orleans at the close of the war, to find it ruined, his +fortune wrecked, his wife dead, and his country at the feet of a +merciless foe. He took no further part in military or political +affairs, and passed away gently and peacefully at a ripe old age, +loved and admired by his many friends, and respected by his enemies. +Such, in brief, was the life of the man who came to control the +destinies of South Carolina at this most critical moment of her +history. + +On March 6th he placed Morris' Island under the immediate command of +Brigadier General James Simonds, while the batteries were under the +command of Lieutenant Colonel W.G. DeSaussure. Sullivan's Island was +under the command of General R.G.M. Dunovant, and the batteries of +this island were under Lieutenant Colonel Ripley. Captain Calhoun +commanded at Fort Moultrie, and Captain Thomas at Fort Johnston. A +floating battery had been constructed by Captain Hamilton, and moved +out to the western extremity of Sullivan's Island. This was under +command of its inventor and builder. It consisted of very heavy +timbers; its roof overlaid with railroad iron in a slanting position, +through which trap doors had been cut for the cannon to project. +The Stevens' Battery, as it was called, was constructed on the same +principle; was built at Cummings' Point, on Morris' Island, and +commanded by Captain Stevens, of the Citadel Academy. It was feared +at this time that the concussion caused by the heavy shells and solid +shots striking the iron would cause death to those underneath, or so +stun them as to render them unfit for further service; but both these +batteries did excellent service in the coming bombardment. Batteries +along the water fronts of the islands were manned by the volunteer +companies of Colonel Gregg's Regiment, and other regiments that had +artillery companies attached. + +On the 8th of April a message was received at Montgomery to the effect +that a fleet was then en route to reinforce Sumter, "peaceably if they +could, but forcibly if necessary." + +General Beauregard was instructed to demand the immediate evacuation +of the fort; Anderson failing to comply with this demand, he was to +proceed to reduce it. The demand was made upon Major Anderson, and was +refused. General Beauregard had everything in readiness, only waiting +the result of the negotiations for the surrender or evacuation, to +give the command to fire. The night of the 11th was one of great +excitement. It was known for a certainty that on to-morrow the long +looked for battle was to take place. Diplomacy had done its work, now +powder and ball must do what diplomacy had failed to accomplish. +All working details had been called in, tools put aside, the heating +furnaces fired, shells and red-hot solid shot piled in close proximity +to the cannon and mortars. All the troops were under arms during the +night, and a double picket line stretched along the beach, and while +all seemed to be life and animation, a death-like stillness pervaded +the air. There was some apprehension lest the fleet might come in +during the night, land an army on Morris' Island in small boats, and +take the forts by surprise. Men watched with breathless interest the +hands on the dials as they slowly moved around to the hour of four, +the time set to open the fire. At that hour gunners stood with +lanyards in their hands. Men peered through the darkness in the +direction of Sumter, as looking for some invisible object. At half +past four Captain James, from Fort Johnston, pulled his lanyard; the +great mortar belched forth, a bright flash, and the shell went curving +over in a kind of semi-circle, the lit fuse trailing behind, showing +a glimmering light, like the wings of a fire fly, bursting over the +silent old Sumter. This was the signal gun that unchained the great +bull-dogs of war around the whole circle of forts. Scarcely had +the sound of the first gun died away, ere the dull report from Fort +Moultrie came rumbling over the waters, like an echo, and another +shell exploded over the deserted parade ground of the doomed fort. +Scarcely had the fragments of this shell been scattered before General +Stevens jerked the lanyard at the railroad battery, and over the water +gracefully sped the lighted shell, its glimmering fuse lighting its +course as it, too, sped on in its mission of destruction. Along the +water fronts, and from all the forts, now a perfect sheet of flame +flashed out, a deafening roar, a rumbling deadening sound, and the war +was on. The men as a whole were alive to their work; shot after +shot was fired. Now a red-hot solid shot, now a shell, goes capering +through the air like a shower of meteors on a frolic. The city was +aroused. Men, women, and children rush to the housetops, or crowd each +other along the water front of the battery. + +But Sumter remained silent, grim, defiant. All there seemed to be in +peaceful, quiet slumber, while the solid shot battered against her +walls, or the shells burst over their heads and in the court yard +below. Round after round is fired. The gunners began to weary of their +attempt to arouse the sleeping foe. Is the lion so far back in his +lair as not to feel the prods of his tormentors? or is his apathy +or contempt too great to be aroused from his slumber by such feeble +blows? The grey streaks of morning came coursing from the east, and +still the lion is not angry, or is loath to take up the struggle +before he has had his morning meal. At seven o'clock, however, if +there had been any real anxiety to rouse his temper, it was appeased. +The stars and stripes ran up the flag staff, and from out the walls of +the grim old stronghold burst a wreath of smoke--then a report, and +a shot comes whizzing through the air, strikes the iron battery, +and ricochets over in the sand banks. He then pays his respects to +Moultrie. From the casements and barbette guns issue a flame and +smoke, while the air is filled with flying shot. The battle is general +and grand. Men spring upon ramparts and shout defiance at Sumter, +to be answered by the crashing of shot against the walls of their +bomb-proof forts. All day long the battle rages without intermission +or material advantages to either side. As night approached, the fire +slackened in all direction, and at dark Sumter ceased to return +our fire at all. By a preconcerted arrangement, the fire from our +batteries and forts kept up at fifteen-minute intervals only. The next +morning the firing began with the same vigor and determination as the +day before. Sumter, too, was not slow in showing her metal and paid +particular attention to Moultrie. Early in the forenoon the smoke +began to rise from within the walls of Sumter; "the tort was on fire." +Shots now rain upon the walls of the burning fort with greater fury +than ever. The flag was seen to waver, then slowly bend over the +staff and fall. A shout of triumph rent the air from the thousands of +spectators on the islands and the mainland. Flags and handkerchiefs +waved from the hands of excited throngs in the city, as tokens of +approval of eager watchers. Soldiers mount the ramparts and shout in +exultation, throwing their caps in the air. Away to the seaward the +whitened sails of the Federal fleet were seen moving up towards +the bar. Anxiety and expectation are now on tip-toe. Will the fleet +attempt the succor of their struggling comrades? Will they dare to run +the gauntlet of the heavy dahlgreen guns that line the channel sides? +From the burning fort the garrison was fighting for their existence. +Through the fiery element and hail of shot and shell they see the near +approach of the long expected relief. Will the fleet accept the gauge +of battle? No. The ships falter and stop. They cast anchor and remain +a passive spectator to the exciting scenes going on, without offering +aid to their friends or battle to their enemies. + +General Beauregard, with that chivalrous spirit that characterized all +true Southerners, when he saw the dense curling smoke and the flames +that now began to leap and lick the topmost walls of the fort, sent +three of his aids to Major Anderson, offering aid and assistance in +case of distress. But the brave commander, too proud to receive aid +from a generous foe when his friends are at hand yet too cowardly to +come to the rescue, politely refused the offer. But soon thereafter +the white flag was waving from the parapets of Fort Sumter. Anderson +had surrendered; the battle was over; a victory won by the gallant +troops of the South, and one of the most miraculous instances of a +bloodless victory, was the first battle fought and won. Thousands of +shots given and taken, and no one hurt on either side. + +A remarkable instance of Southern magnanimity was that of W.T. +Wigfall, a volunteer aide to General Beauregard. As he stood watching +the progress of the battle from Cummings' Point and saw the great +volume of black smoke curling and twisting in the air--the storm of +shot and shell plunging into the doomed walls of the fort, and the +white flag flying from its burning parapets--his generous, noble, and +sympathetic heart was fired to a pitch that brooked no consideration, +"a brave foe in distress" is to him a friend in need. Before +orders could be given to cease firing, or permission granted by the +commanding general, he leaped into a small boat, and with a single +companion rowed away to the burning fortress, shells shrieking over +his head, the waves rocking his frail little craft like a shell in +a vast ocean, but the undaunted spirit of the great man overcame all +obstacles and danger, and reached the fort in safety. Here a hasty +consultation was had. Anderson agreed to capitulate and Wigfall +hastened to so inform General Beauregard. + +It was agreed that Major Anderson should leave the fort--not as a +prisoner of war, but as a brave foe, who had done all in human power +to sustain the dignity of his country and the honor of his flag. He +was allowed to salute his flag, by firing a number of guns, and with +his officers and troops and all personal belongings placed upon a +transport, was carried out to the fleet. + +The only melancholy event of the memorable bombardment was the sudden +death of one of the soldiers of the garrison, caused by the premature +explosion of a shell while firing the salute to the flag. + +The prominence given to Wigfall's exertion, and erratic conduct at +the time, and his meritorious career during the existence of the +Confederacy, prompt me to give a short sketch of this meteoric +character. He was born in Edgefield County along in the first quarter +of the century of good old South Carolina stock, and educated in +the common schools and in South Carolina College. His large means, +inherited from a long line of wealthy ancestors, afforded him +opportunities to enjoy life at his pleasure. He was full of that +fiery zeal for honor, hot headed and impulsive. His hasty and stubborn +nature caused him many enemies; yet his charitable disposition +and generous impulses gave him many friends. He could brook no +differences; he was intolerant, proud of his many qualities, gifted, +and brave to rashness. In early life he had differences with Whitfield +Brooks, the father of Preston S. Brooks, Congressman from South +Carolina, but at that time a student of South Carolina College. While +the son was in college, Wigfall challenged the elder Brooks to a duel. +Brooks, from his age and infirmities, refused. According to the rules +of the code duello, Wigfall posted Brooks at Edgefield Court House, +and guarded the fatal notice during the day with a loaded pistol. +A relative of Brooks, a feeble, retiring, and unassuming young man, +braved the vengeance of Wigfall, and tore the degrading challenge from +the court house door in spite of the warning and threats of the Knight +of the Code. A pistol shot rang out, and the young champion of Brooks +fell dead at his feet. Preston Brooks, hearing of the indignity placed +upon his father, the death of his kinsman and defender of his family +honor, now entered the list, and challenged the slayer of his father's +protector. Wigfall accepted the challenge with eagerness, for now +the hot Southern blood was thoroughly aroused, and party feelings had +sprung up and ran high. The gauge of battle was to be settled at Sand +Bar Ferry, on the Savannah River near Augusta, Ga., the noted duelling +ground of the high tempered sons of Georgia and the Carolinas. It was +fought with dueling pistols of the old school, and at the first fire +Brooks was severely wounded. Wigfall had kindled a feeling against +himself in the State that his sensitive nature could not endure. He +left for the rising and new born State of Texas. Years rolled by, and +the next meeting of those fiery antagonists was at the Capital of the +United States--Brooks in Congress, and Wigfall in the Senate. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER III + +Reorganization or the Troops--Volunteers for Confederate Service--Call +from Virginia. Troops Leave the State. + +INCIDENTS ON THE WAY. + + +There was much discussion at the time as to who really fired the first +gun at Sumter. Great importance was attached to the episode, and +as there were different opinions, and it was never satisfactorily +settled, it is not expected that any new light can be thrown on it at +this late day. It was first said to have been General Edmond Ruffin, +a venerable octogenarian from Virginia, who at the secession of South +Carolina came to this State and offered his services as a volunteer. +He had at one time been a citizen of South Carolina, connected with a +geological survey, and had written several works on the resources and +possibilities of the State, which created quite an interest at that +day and time. He was one of the noblest types of elderly men it has +ever been my fortune to look upon. He could not be called venerable, +but picturesque. His hair hung in long silvery locks, tied in a queue +in the fashions of the past centuries. His height was very near six +feet, slender and straight as an Indian brave, and his piercing black +eyes seemed to flash fire and impressed one as being able to look into +your very soul. He joined the "Palmetto Guards," donned the uniform +of that company, and his pictures were sold all over the entire South, +taken, as they were, in the habiliments of a soldier. These showed +him in an easy pose, his rifle between his knees, coat adorned with +palmetto buttons closely buttoned up to his chin, his hair combed +straight from his brow and tied up with a bow of ribbon that streamed +down his back, his cap placed upon his knee bearing the monogram +"P.G.," the emblem of his company, worked in with palmetto. + +The other aspirant for the honor of firing the first gun was Captain +George S. James, afterwards the Colonel of James' Battalion, or "Third +Battalion," as it was known in Kershaw's Brigade. It has been said +that this honor was granted him, at his special request, by Captain +Stephen D. Lee, on General Beauregard's staff (afterwards a Lieutenant +General of the Confederate Army). Captain James' claim appears to +be more valid than that of General Ruffin from the fact that it is +positively known that James' company was on duty at Fort Johnston, on +James' Island, while the Palmetto Guards, of which General Ruffin was +a member, was at the railroad battery on Morris Island. However, this +should not be taken as conclusive, as at that time discipline was, +to a certain extent, not strictly enforced, and many independent +volunteers belonged to the army over whom there was very little, if +any control. So General Ruffin may have been at Fort Johnston while +his company was at Cummings Point. However, little interest is +attached to this incident after the lapse of so many years. + +Perhaps never in the history of a State was there such a frenzy of +excitement--not even in the days of Indian insurrections or the raids +of the bloody Tarleton--as when the news flashed over the country that +Sumter was being bombarded, and a call was made for all the volunteers +to assemble in Charleston. There were not the facilities in those days +as now for the spreading of news, there being but few telegraph lines +in the State. Notwithstanding this, every method possible was put into +practice for gathering in the troops. There were no assemblages +of troops outside of Charleston. Men were following their daily +vocations. Extra trains were put in motion; couriers dashed with +rapid speed across the country. Private means, as well as public, were +resorted to to arouse the men and bring them to the front. Officers +warned the private, and he in turn rode with all the speed his horse, +loosed from the plow, could command, to arouse his comrades. It was +on Saturday when word was first sent out, but it was late the next +day (Sunday) before men in the remote rural districts received the +stirring notice. Men left their plows standing in the field, not to +return under four years, and many of them never. Carpenters came down +from the unfinished roof, or left their bench with work half finished. +The student who had left his school on the Friday before never recited +his Monday's lesson. The country doctor left his patients to the care +of the good housewife. Many people had gone to church and in places +the bells were still tolling, calling the worshippers together to +listen to the good and faithful teachings of the Bible, but the sermon +was never delivered or listened to. Hasty preparations were made +everywhere. The loyal wives soon had the husband's clothes in the +homemade knapsack; the mother buckled on the girdle of her son, while +the gray haired father was burning with impatience, only sorrowing +that he, too, could not go. Never before in the history of the world, +not even in Carthage or Sparta, was there ever such a spontaneous +outburst of patriotic feeling; never such a cheerful and willing +answer to the call of a mother country. Not a regret, not a tear; +no murmuring or reproaches--not one single complaint. Never did the +faithful Scott give with better grace his sons for the defense of +his beloved chief, "Eric," than did the fathers and mothers of South +Carolina give their sons for the defense of the beloved Southland. + +The soldiers gathered at the railroad stations, and as the trains +that had been sent to the farthest limits of the State came along, the +troops boarded them and hurried along to Charleston, then the seat +of war. General M.L. Bonham had been appointed Major General of State +troops and called his brigades together. Colonel Gregg was already in +Charleston with the First Regiment. Col. Joseph B. Kershaw with the +Second, Colonel James H. Williams with the Third, Colonel Thomas Bacon +with the Seventh, and Colonel E.B.C. Cash with the Eighth, formed +their regiments by gathering the different companies along at the +various railroad stations. The Second, Seventh, and Eighth came on +to Charleston, reaching there while the bombardment was still in +progress, but not early enough to take active part in the battle. +Colonel Williams with the Third, for want of transportation, was +stopped in Columbia, and took up quarters in the Fair Grounds. The +other regiments went into camp in the suburbs of Charleston and on the +islands. After the surrender of Sumter the troops on the islands and +mainland returned to their old quarters to talk upon the incidents +of the battle, write home of the memorable events and to rejoice +generally. Almost as many rumors were now afloat as there were men in +the army. It was the generally conceded opinion of all that the +war was at an end. A great many of the Southern leaders boasted of +"drinking all the blood that would be shed in the war." The whole +truth of the entire matter was, both sections underrated each other. +The South, proud and haughty, looked with disdain upon the courage of +the North; considered the people cowardly, and not being familiar with +firearms would be poor soldiers; that the rank and file of the North, +being of a foreign, or a mixture of foreign blood, would not remain +loyal to the Union, as the leaders thought, and would not fight. While +the North looked upon the South as a set of aristocratic blusterers, +their affluence and wealth having made them effeminate; a nation +of weaklings, who could not stand the fatigues and hardships of a +campaign. Neither understood the other, overrating themselves and +underrating the strength of their antagonists. When Lincoln first +called for 50,000 troops and several millions of dollars for equipment +and conduct of the war, the South would ask in derision, "Where would +he get them?" When the South would talk of resistance, the North would +ask, "Where are her soldiers?" "The rich planters' sons cannot fight." +"The poor man will not do battle for the negroes of the rich." "The +South has no arms, no money, no credit." So each mistook the strength, +motives, spirits, and sentiments that actuated the other. A great +change came over the feelings of the North after the fall of Sumter. +They considered that their flag had been insulted, their country +dishonored. Where there had been differences before at the North, +there was harmony now. The conservative press of that section was +now defiant and called for war; party differences were healed and the +Democratic party of the North that had always affiliated in national +affairs with the South, was now bitter against their erring sisters, +and cried loudly for "Union or coercion." The common people of the +North were taught to believe that the Nation had been irretrievably +dishonored and disgraced, that the disruption of the Union was a +death knell to Republican institutions and personal liberty. That the +liberty and independence that their ancestors had won by their blood +in the Revolution was now to be scattered to the four winds of heaven +by a few fanatical slave holders at the South. But up to this time the +question of slavery had not been brought into controversy on either +side. It was not discussed and was only an after thought, a military +necessity. + +Virginia, three days after the fall of Sumter, joined her sister +State. This act of the old commonwealth was hailed in the Gulf States +with great rejoicing. Bells tolled and cannon boomed and men hurrahed. +Until now it was not certain what stand would be taken by the Border +States. They did not wish to leave the Union; neither would they be +a party to a war upon their seceding sisters. They promised to +be neutral. But President Lincoln soon dispelled all doubt and +uncertainty by his proclamation, calling upon all States then +remaining in the Union to furnish their quota of troops. They were +then forced to take sides for or against and were not long in reaching +a conclusion. As soon as conventions could be assembled, the States +joined the Confederacy and began levying troops to resist invasion. +Tennessee followed Virginia, then Arkansas, the Old North State being +the last of the Atlantic and Gulf States to cross the Rubicon into the +"plains of Southern independence." The troops that had been called for +six months were now disbanded, and those who had enlisted for +twelve months for State service were called upon to volunteer in +the Confederate Army for the unexpired time. They volunteered almost +without a dissenting voice. Having left their homes so hurriedly, +they were granted a furlough of a week or ten days to return to their +families and put their houses in order. They then returned and went +into a camp of instruction. + +General Bonham had not gotten all of his regiments together up to this +time. The Second, Seventh, and Eighth were around Charleston, while +the Third was at Lightwood Knot Spring, four miles from Columbia. This +camp was called "Camp Williams," in honor of their Colonel. That in +Columbia was called "Camp Ruffin," in honor of General Ruffin. It +was customary to give all the different camps a name during the +first year's service, generally in honor of some favorite officer or +statesman. Colonel Gregg's regiment remained on Morris Island until +early in May, when it was sent to Norfolk, Va., to take charge of the +large amount of government property there, now very valuable to the +South. + +At the reorganization of the First Regiment I came to Columbia and +joined the company I had before enlisted in. I had two older brothers +there, and I was given a place as Second Sergeant in the company. + +At the secession of South Carolina, Colonel Williams was in Arkansas, +where he had large estates, but on being notified of his election, he +joined his regiment while at Lightwood Knot Springs. He was met at +the railroad by his troops with great demonstrations of joy and pride. +Stalwart men hoisted him upon their shoulders and carried him through +the camp, followed by a throng of shouting and delighted soldiers. +The regiment had been commanded up to that time by Lieutenant Colonel +Foster, of Spartanburg, with James M. Baxter as Major, D.R. Rutherford +as Adjutant, Dr. D.E. Ewart Surgeon, John McGowan Quartermaster. + +Cadets were sent from the Citadel as drill masters to all the +regiments, and for six hours daily the ears were greeted with +"hep-hep" to designate the "left" foot "down" while on the drill. It +took great patience, determination, and toil to bring the men under +military discipline. Fresh from the fields, shops, and schools they +had been accustomed to the freedom of home life, and with all their +patriotism, it took time to break into the harness of military +restraint and discipline these lovers of personal freedom. Many +amusing incidents occurred while breaking these "wild colts," but +all took it good humoredly, and the best of feelings existed between +officers and men. Some few, however, were nettled by the restraint and +forced obedience to those whom they had heretofore been accustomed +to look upon as equals, but now suddenly made superiors. The great +majority entered upon the duties of camp life with rare good will. All +were waiting patiently the call to Virginia. Here I will give a short +description of the regiments and their officers up to the time that +all were brought together as a brigade. After that time we will treat +them as a whole. + +The regiments were uniformed by private donations, each neighborhood +uniforming the company raised in its bounds. The tents were large +and old fashioned--about 8 x 10 feet square, with a separate fly on +top--one of these being allowed to every six or seven men. They were +pitched in rows, about fifty feet apart, the front of one company +facing the rear of the other. About the first of June all the +regiments, except the Second, were ordered to Manassas, Va. The +regiments were formed by companies from battalions of the militia from +various counties, one company usually being formed from a battalion. +These companies were organized into regiments, very much as at +present, and like the old anti-bellum militia. At times some +ambitious citizen would undertake to raise a volunteer company outside +of those raised from battalions, and generally these were called +"crack companies." Afterwards a few undertook to raise companies in +this manner, i.e., selecting the officers first, and then proceeding +to select the men, refusing such as would not make acceptable +soldiers, thus forming exclusive organizations. These were mostly +formed in towns and cities. At other times old volunteer companies, +as they were called, of the militia would enlist in a body, with such +recruits as were wanted to fill up the number. In the old militia +service almost all the towns and cities had these companies as a kind +of city organization, and they would be handsomely uniformed, well +equipped, and in many cases were almost equal to regular soldiers. +Columbia had at least three of these companies in our brigade--the +Governor's Guards, Richland Rifles, and one more, I think, but on this +point am not positive. Charleston had two or more, the Palmetto Guards +and others; Greenville, the Butler Guards; Newberry, the Quitman +Rifles; while the other counties, Abbeville, Anderson, Edgefield, +Williamsburg, Darlington, Sumter, and almost all the counties +represented in our brigade had one of these city volunteer companies. +When all the companies called for had been organized, they were +notified to what regiment they had been assigned, or what companies +were to constitute a regiment, and were ordered to hold an election +for field officers. Each company would hold its election, candidates +in the meantime having offered their services to fill the respective +places of Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel, and Major. After the elections +thus held, the returns would be sent up to the Adjutant and Inspector +General's office and there tabulated, and the result declared. The +candidates for field officers were generally Mexican War Veterans, or +some popular citizen, whom the old men thought "would take care of +the boys." At first the qualification of a commander, be it Colonel +or Captain, mostly required was clemency. His rules of discipline, +bravery, or military ability were not so much taken into +consideration. + + * * * * * + + +SECOND SOUTH CAROLINA REGIMENT. + +Early in May or the last of April four companies of the Second +Regiment, under Colonel Kershaw, volunteered for Confederate service, +and were sent at once to Virginia. These companies were commanded by-- + + Captain John D. Kennedy, Kershaw County. Captain W.H. Casson, + Richland County. Captain William Wallace, Richland County. + Captain John Richardson, Sumter County. + +They were afterwards joined by companies under-- + + Captain Ferryman, of Abbeville County, (formerly of the + Seventh Regiment). Captain Cuthbert, Charleston. Captain + Rhett, Charleston. Captain Haile, Kershaw. Captain McManus, + Lancaster. Captain Hoke, Greenville. + +These were among the first soldiers from the "Palmetto State" to go to +Virginia, and the regiment when fully organized stood as follows: + + J.B. Kershaw, Colonel, of Camden. E.P. Jones, Lieutenant + Colonel. Fred Gaillard, Major. A.D. Goodwin, Adjutant. + + Company A--W.H. Casson, Richland. Company B--A.D. Hoke, + Greenville. Company C--William Wallace, Richland. Company + D--T.S. Richardson. Company E--John D. Kennedy, Kershaw. + Company F--W.W.Perryman, Anderson. Company G--I. Haile, + Kershaw. Company H--H. McManus, Lancaster. Company I--G.B. + Cuthbert, Charleston. Company K--R. Rhett, Charleston. + Surgeon--Dr. F. Salmond, Kershaw. Quartermaster--W.S. + Wood, Columbia. Commissary--J.J. Villipigue. Chaplain--A.J. + McGruder. + + * * * * * + + +THIRD SOUTH CAROLINA REGIMENT. + +The Third Regiment had originally twelve companies enlisted for State +service, but in transferring to Confederate Army only ten were allowed +by the army regulations. Two companies were left out, viz.: Captain +J.C.S. Brown's, from Newberry, and Captain Mat. Jones', from Laurens. +The privates, however, enlisted in the other companies as a general +rule, for the companies were allowed a maximum number of 100. The +Eighth and Third made no changes in their companies or officers +from their first enlistment in the State service until their second +enlistment in 1862, only as occasioned by resignations or the +casualties of war. The two regiments remained as first organized, with +few exceptions. + +The Third stood, when ready for transportation to Virginia, the 7th of +June, as follows: + + James H. Williams, Colonel, Newberry. B.B. Foster, Lieutenant + Colonel, Spartanburg. James M. Baxter, Major, Newberry. W.D. + Rutherford, Adjutant, Newberry. + + Company A--B. Conway Garlington, Laurens. Company B--S. Newton + Davidson, Newberry. Company C--R.C. Maffett, Newberry. Company + D--T.B. Furgerson, Spartanburg and Union. Company E--James D. + Nance, Newberry. Company F--T. Walker, Newberry and Laurens. + Company G--R.P. Todd, Laurens. Company H--D. Nunnamaker, + Lexington. Company I--Smith L. Jones, Laurens. Company + K--Benj. Kennedy, Spartanburg. Surgeon--Dr. D.E. + Ewart, Newberry. Quartermaster--John McGowan, Laurens. + Commissary--Sergeant J.N. Martin, Newberry. Chaplain--Rev. + Mayfield. + + * * * * * + + +SEVENTH SOUTH CAROLINA REGIMENT. Colonel, Thomas G. Bacon. + +The following companies were from Abbeville: + + Company A, Captain W.W. Perryman. Company B, Captain G.M. + Mattison. Company C, Captain P.H. Bradley. Company D, Captain + S.J. Hester. + +The following companies were from Edgefield: + + Company E, Captain D. Dendy. Company F, Captain John S. Hard. + Company G, Captain J. Hampden Brooks. Company H, Captain + Elbert Bland. Company I, Captain W.E. Prescott. Company K, + Captain Bart Talbert. + +Captain Perryman with his company, the "Secession Guards," volunteered +for the Confederate service before the other companies, and left for +Virginia on April 28th and joined the Second South Carolina Regiment. +Captain Bland took his place with his company in the regiment as +Company A. + +The companies of the Seventh came together as a regiment at the +Schutzenplatz, near Charleston, on the 16th of April. In about +two weeks it was ordered to Edgefield District at a place called +Montmorenci, in Aiken County. While here a company came from Edgefield +County near Trenton, under Captain Coleman, and joined the regiment. +But this company failed to enlist. + +The Seventh Regiment elected as officers: Colonel, Thomas G. Bacon, of +Edgefield District; lieutenant Colonel, Robert A. Fair, of Abbeville; +Major, Emmet Seibles, of Edgefield; Adjutant, D. Wyatt Aiken, of +Abbeville. All the staff officers were appointed by the Colonels until +the transfer to the Confederate service; then the medical department +was made a separate branch, and the Surgeons and Assistant Surgeons +were appointed by the Department. Colonel Bacon appointed on +his staff: B.F. Lovelass, Quartermaster; Fred Smith, Commissary; +afterwards A.F. Townsend. + +Surgeon Joseph W. Hearst resigned, and A.R. Drogie was made Surgeon +in his stead, with Dr. G.H. Waddell as Assistant Surgeon. A.C. +Stallworth, Sergeant Major, left for Virginia about the first of June +and joined the Second a few days afterwards. + + * * * * * + + +EIGHTH SOUTH CAROLINA REGIMENT. + +The Eighth Regiment was organized early in the year 1861, but the +companies were not called together until the 14th day of April, +arriving in Charleston in the afternoon of that day, just after the +fall of Fort Sumter. It was composed of ten companies, as follows: +Three from Chesterfield, two from Marion, two from Marlborough, and +three from Darlington, with Colonel, E.B.C. Cash; Lieutenant Colonel, +John W. Henagan; Major, Thomas E. Lucas; Adjutant, C.B. Weatherly. + +Companies first taken to Virginia: + + Company A--A.I. Hoole, Darlington. + Company B--M.I. Hough, Chesterfield. + Company C--Wm. H. Coit, Chesterfield. + Company D--John S. Miller, Chesterfield. + Company E--W.E. Jay, Darlington. + Company F--W.H. Evans, Darlington. + Company G--John W. Harrington, Marlboro. + Company H--R.L. Singletary, Marion. + Company I--T.E. Stackhouse, Marion. + Company K--D. McD. McLeod, Marlboro. + +After remaining in Charleston until the 4th of May it was moved to +Florence. On the 1st of June the regiment re-enlisted for Confederate +service. They were ordered to Richmond and arrived there on June 4th, +and left on the 15th to join the Second then at Bull Run. On the 22nd +of June they went into camp at Germantown, near Fairfax Court House, +where all the regiments were soon joined together as Bonhams' Brigade. + +The first real exciting incident connected with the Third South +Carolina Regiment--the first panic and stampede--happened as the +troops were returning from their ten days' furlough to their camp +of instruction, near Columbia, just after their enlistment in the +Confederate service. I record this occurrence to show what little +incidents, and those of such little moment, are calculated to stampede +an army, and to what foolish lengths men will go when excited. The +train was rattling along at a good speed, something like ten or +fifteen miles an hour, just above Columbia; a long string of box +cars loaded with soldiers; the baggage of the troops scattered +promiscuously around in the cars; trunks, valises, carpet bags, and +boxes of all conceivable dimensions, holding the belongings of several +neighborhoods of boys; spirits flowed without and within; congenial +friends in a congenial cause; congenial topics made a congenial whole. +When just below Littleton, with long stretches of lowlands on one side +and the river on the other, the curling streaks of a little grey smoke +made its appearance from under one of the forward cars. At first the +merry good humor and enlivening effects of some amusing jest, the +occasional round of a friendly bottle, prevented the men from noticing +this danger signal of fire. However, a little later on this continuing +and increasing volume of smoke caused an alarm to be given. Men ran to +the doors on either side, shouted and called, waved hats, hands, and +handkerchiefs, at the same time pointing at the smoke below. There +being no communication between the cars, those in front and rear had +to be guided by the wild gesticulations of those in the smoking car. +The engineer did not notice anything amiss, and sat placidly upon his +high seat, watching the fast receding rails as they flashed under and +out of sight beneath the ponderous driving-wheels of the engine. At +last someone in the forward car, not accustomed to, but familiar with +the dangers of a railroad car by the wild rumors given currency in his +rural district of railroad wrecks, made a desperate leap from the car. +This was followed by another, now equally excited. Those in the front +cars, clutching to the sides of the doors, craned their necks as +far as possible outward, but could see nothing but leaping men. They +fearing a catastrophe of some kind, leaped also, while those in the +rear cars, as they saw along the sides of the railroad track men +leaping, rolling, and tumbling on the ground, took it for granted +that a desperate calamity had happened to a forward car. No time for +questions, no time for meditation. The soldier's only care was to +watch for a soft place to make his desperate leap, and in many cases +there was little choice. Men leaped wildly in the air, some with their +heels up, others falling on their heads and backs, some rolling over +in a mad scramble to clear themselves from the threatening danger. +The engineer not being aware of anything wrong with the train, glided +serenely along, unconscious of the pandemonium, in the rear. But when +all had about left the train, and the great driving-wheels began to +spin around like mad, from the lightening of the load, the master of +the throttle looked to the rear. There lay stretched prone upon the +ground, or limping on one foot, or rolling over in the dirt, some +bareheaded and coatless, boxes and trunks scattered as in an awful +collision, upwards of one thousand men along the railroad track. Many +of the men thinking, no doubt, the train hopelessly lost, or serious +danger imminent, threw their baggage out before making the dangerous +leap. At last the train was stopped and brought back to the scene of +desolation. It terminated like the bombardment of Fort Sumter--"no one +hurt," and all occasioned by a hot-box that could have been cooled in +a very few minutes. Much swearing and good-humored jesting were now +engaged in. Such is the result of the want of presence of mind. A wave +of the hat at the proper moment as a signal to the engineer to +stop, and all would have been well. It was told once of a young lady +crossing a railroad track in front of a fast approaching train, that +her shoe got fastened in the frog where the two rails join. She began +to struggle, then to scream, and then fainted. A crowd rushed up, some +grasping the lady's body attempted to pull her loose by force; others +shouted to the train to stop; some called for crow-bars to take up +the iron. At last one man pushed through the crowd, untied the lady's +shoe, and she was loose. Presence of mind, and not force, did it. + +Remaining in camp a few days, orders came to move, and cars were +gotten in readiness and baggage packed preparatory to the trip to +Virginia. To many, especially those reared in the back districts, and +who, before their brief army life, had never been farther from +their homes than their county seat, the trip to the old "Mother of +Presidents," the grand old commonwealth, was quite a journey indeed. +The old negroes, who had been brought South during the early days of +the century, called the old State "Virginy" and mixing it with local +dialect, in some parts had got the name so changed that it was called +"Ferginey." The circus troops and negro comedians, in their annual +trips through the Southern States, had songs already so catchy to our +people, on account of their pathos and melody, of Old Virginia, +that now it almost appeared as though we were going to our old home. +Virginia had been endeared to us and closely connected with the +people of South Carolina by many links, not the least being its many +sentimental songs of that romantic land, and the stories of her great +men. + +The baggage of the common soldier at this stage of the war would +have thrown an ordinary quartermaster of latter day service into +an epileptic fit, it was so ponderous in size and enormous in +quantities--a perfect household outfit. A few days before this the +soldier had received his first two months' pay, all in new crisp +bank notes, fresh from the State banks or banks of deposit. It can +be easily imagined that there were lively times for the butcher, the +baker and candlestick maker, with all this money afloat. The Third +South Carolina was transported by way of Wilmington and Weldon, N.C. +Had there ever existed any doubts in the country as to the feelings +of the people of the South before this in regard to Secession, it was +entirely dispelled by the enthusiastic cheers and good will of the +people along the road. The conduct of the men and women through South +Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia, showed one long and continued +ovation along the line of travel, looking like a general holiday. As +the cars sped along through the fields, the little hamlets and towns, +people of every kind, size, and complexion rushed to the railroad and +gave us welcome and Godspeed. Hats went into the air as we passed, +handkerchiefs fluttered, flags waved in the gentle summer breeze from +almost every housetop. The ladies and old men pressed to the side of +the cars when we halted, to shake the hands of the brave soldier boys, +and gave them blessings, hope and encouragement. The ladies vied +with the men in doing homage to the soldiers of the Palmetto State. +Telegrams had been sent on asking of our coming, the hour of our +passage through the little towns, and inviting us to stop and enjoy +their hospitality and partake of refreshments. In those places where a +stop was permitted, long tables were spread in some neighboring grove +or park, bending under the weight of their bounties, laden down with +everything tempting to the soldier's appetite. The purest and best of +the women mingled freely with the troops, and by every device known to +the fair sex showed their sympathy and encouragement in the cause we +had espoused. At Wilmington, N.C., we crossed the Cape Fear River on a +little river steamer, the roads not being connected with a bridge. +At Petersburg and Richmond we had to march through portions of those +cities in going from one depot to another, union sheds, not being in +vogue at that time, and on our entry into these cities the population +turned out en masse to welcome and extend to us their greeting. Every +private house stood open to the soldiers and the greatest good will +was everywhere manifested. + +Much has been said in after years, since misfortune and ruin overtook +the South, since the sad reverses of the army and the overthrow of +our principles, about leaders plunging the nation into a bloody +and uncalled for war. This, is all the height of folly. No man +or combination of men could have stayed or avoided war. No human +persuasion or earthly power could have stayed the great wave of +revolution that had struck the land; and while, like a storm widening +and gathering strength and fury as it goes, to have attempted it would +have been but to court ruin and destruction. Few men living in +that period of our country's history would have had the boldness or +hardihood to counsel submission or inactivity. Differences there may +have been and were as to methods, but to Secession, none. The voices +of the women of the land were alone enough to have forced the measures +upon the men in some shape or other. Then, as to the leaders being +"shirkers" when the actual contest came, the history of the times +gives contradictions sufficient without examples. Where the duties +of the service called, they willingly obeyed. All could not fill +departments or sit in the councils of the nation, but none shirked +the responsibility the conditions called them to. Where fathers filled +easy places their sons were in the ranks, and many of our leaders of +Secession headed troops in the field. General Bonham, our Brigadier, +had just resigned his seat in the United States Congress; so had +L.M. Keitt, who fell at Cold Harbor at the head of our brigade, while +Colonel of the Twentieth Regiment. James L. Orr, one of the original +Secessionists and a member of Congress, raised the first regiment of +rifles. The son of Governor Gist, the last Executive of South Carolina +just previous to Secession, fell while leading his regiment, +the Fifteenth, of our brigade, in the assault at Fort Loudon, at +Knoxville. Scarcely was there a member of the convention that passed +the Ordinance of Secession who had not a son or near kinsman in the +ranks of the army. They showed by their deeds the truth and honesty +of their convictions. They had trusted the North until trusting had +ceased to be a virtue. They wished peace, but feared not war. All this +idle talk, so common since the war, of a "rich man's war and a poor +man's fight" is the merest twaddle and vilely untrue. + +The men of the South had risked their all upon the cast, and were +willing to abide by the hazard of the die. All the great men of South +Carolina were for Secession, and they nobly entered the field. The +Hamptons, Butlers, Haskells, Draytons, Bonhams, all readily grasped +the sword or musket. The fire-eaters, like Bob Toombs, of Georgia, +and Wigfall, of Texas, led brigades, and were as fiery upon the +battlefield as they had been upon the floor of the United States +Senate. So with all the leaders of Secession, without exception; they +contributed their lives, their services, and their wealth to the cause +they had advocated and loved so well. I make this departure here to +correct an opinion or belief, originated and propagated by the envious +few who did not rise to distinction in the war, or who were too young +to participate in its glories--those glories that were mutual and will +ever surround the Confederate soldier, regardless of rank. + +After stopping a few days in Richmond, we were carried on to Manassas +and Bull Run, then to Fairfax, where we joined the other regiments. +The Third Regiment camped first at Mitchell's Ford, remained at that +point for a week or ten days, and from thence moved to the outpost +just beyond Fairfax Court House. The Eighth and Second camped for a +while at Germantown, and soon the whole brigade was between Fairfax +and Bull Run. + + * * * * * + + + +CHAPTER IV + +Camp at Fairfax--Bonham's Staff--Biography of General Bonham--Retreat +to Bull Run. Battle of the 18th. + + +General Bonham had gathered around him, as staff officers, a galaxy of +gentlemen as cultured, talented, and patriotic as South Carolina +could produce, and as gallant as ever followed a general upon the +battlefield; all of whom won promotion and distinction as the war +progressed in the different branches of service. + +Colonel Samuel Melton, one of the staff, writing in a pleasant mood, +thirty-five years afterwards, says: "That with universal acclamation +it may be said, that the retinue gathered around the General of the +old First Brigade was a gorgeous one. I am proud of it 'until yet.'" + +This staff of General Bonham's was the one allowed by the State +service, and the appointments were made under State laws. However, all +followed him into the Confederate service, and, with a few exceptions, +remained until after the battle of Manassas, serving without pay. +The Confederate Government was much more modest in its appointment +of staff officers, and only allowed a Brigadier General three or four +members as his personal staff. + +The following is a list of officers who followed General Bonham to +Virginia, or joined him soon after his arrival: + + W.C. Morayne, Assistant Adjutant General, with rank of + Colonel. + + W.D. Simpson, Inspector General. + A.P. Aldrich, Quartermaster General. + R.B. Boylston, Commissary General. + J.N. Lipscomb, Paymaster General. + +Aides, with rank of Major: S.W. Melton, B.F. Withers, T.J. Davis, +E.S. Hammond, S. Warren Nelson, Samuel Tompkins, W.P. Butler, M.B. +Lipscomb. + +Colonel S. McGowan, Volunteer Aide. + +Dr. Reeves, of Virginia, was Brigade Surgeon. + +Colonels Morayne and Boylston remained only a few weeks. Captain +George W. Say, an officer of the Confederate staff, succeeded Colonel +Morayne, and remained a short while, when he was promoted and sent +elsewhere. Colonel Lipscomb became the regular aide, with rank of +First Lieutenant. + +When Captain Say left, S.W. Melton was put in his place as Assistant +Adjutant General, without appointment or without pay, and discharged +the duties of that office until August, when he left on sick leave. +When he returned he was appointed Major and Assistant Adjutant +General, and assigned to duty upon the staff of Major General G.W. +Smith, commanding Second Corps of the Army of the Potomac. In 1863 +he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and assigned to duty in the war +department. + +William F. Nance, of Newberry, was appointed Captain and Assistant +Adjutant General, and in September, 1861, was assigned to duty +upon General Bonham's staff, where he remained until the General's +resignation. In 1864 Nance was on duty in Charleston, where he +remained on staff duty until the end. + +S. McGowan and W.D. Simpson returned to South Carolina after the +battle of Manassas, and assisted in raising the Fourteenth South +Carolina Regiment of Volunteers, of which the former was elected +Lieutenant Colonel and the latter Major. Colonel McGowan became +Colonel of the regiment, and afterwards Brigadier of one of the most +famous brigades (McGowan's) in the Confederate Army. Colonel Simpson +served in the Confederate Congress after his retirement from the army. + +All the others of the staff filled prominent positions, either +as commanding or staff officers, or serving in the departments in +Richmond. I have no data at hand to give sketches of their individual +services. + +Fairfax Court House was the extreme limit at which the infantry was +posted on that side of the Blue Ridge. Cavalry was still in advance, +and under the leadership of the indefatigable Stuart scouting the +whole front between the Confederate and Federal armies. The Third +South Carolina was encamped about a mile north of the little old +fashioned hamlet, the county seat of the county of that name. In this +section of the State lived the ancestors of most of the illustrious +families of Virginia, Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and Lee. +It is a rather picturesque country; not so beautiful and productive, +however, as the Shenandoah and Luray Valleys. The Seventh, Eighth, and +Second Regiments were encamped several miles distant, but all in the +hearing of one another's drums. Our main duties outside of our regular +drills consisted in picketing the highways and blockading all roads by +felling the timber across for more than a hundred yards on either side +of the roads. Large details armed with axes were sent out to blockade +the thoroughfares leading to Washington and points across the Potomac. +For miles out, in all directions, wherever the road led through wooded +lands, large trees, chestnut, hickory, oak, and pine, were cut pell +mell, creating a perfect abattis across the road--so much so as to +cause our troops in their verdant ignorance to think it almost an +impossibility for such obstructions to be cleared away in many days; +whereas, as a fact, the pioneer corps of the Federal Army cleared it +away as fast as the army marched, not causing as much as one hour's +halt. Every morning at nine o'clock one company from a regiment would +go out about two miles in the direction of Washington Falls church or +Annandale to do picket duty, and remain until nine o'clock next +day, when it would be relieved by another company. The "Black Horse +Cavalry," an old organization of Virginia, said to have remained +intact since the Revolution, did vidette duty still beyond the +infantry. Their duties were to ride through the country in every +direction, and on every road and by-way to give warning of +approaching danger to the infantry. These were bold riders in those +days, some daring to ride even within view of the spires and domes of +Washington itself. On our outposts we could plainly hear the sound +of the drums of the Federalists in their preparation for the "on to +Richmond" move. General Bonham had also some fearless scouts at this +time. Even some of the boldest of the women dared to cross the Potomac +in search of information for the Confederate Generals. It was here +that the noted Miss Bell Boyd made herself famous by her daring rides, +her many escapades and hair-breadth escapes, her bold acts of crossing +the Potomac sometimes disguised and at other times not, even entering +the City of Washington itself. In this way she gathered much valuable +information for the Confederate Generals, and kept them posted on the +movements of the enemy. She was one of the best horsewomen of that +day; a fine specimen of womanhood, and as fearless and brave as +a stout hearted cavalier. She generally carried a brace of Colt's +revolvers around her waist, and was daring enough to meet any foe who +was so bold as to cross her path. Bell Boyd was one of the many noble +Virginia women who staked and dared all for the cause of the South. +William Parley, of South Carolina, another bold scout, was invaluable +to General Stuart and General Bonham. It was he that John Esten Cooke +immortalized in "Surry of Eagle's Nest" and was killed at the battle +of Chancellorsville. He was a native of Laurens County. + +The duties of picketing were the first features of our army life that +looked really like war. The soldiers had become accustomed to guard +duty, but to be placed out on picket or vidette posts alone, or in +company with a comrade, to stand all day and during the dead hours of +the night, expecting some lurking foe every moment to shoot you in +the back, or from behind some bush to shoot your head off, was quite +another matter. As a guard, we watched over our friends; as a picket, +we watched for our foe. For a long time, being no nearer the enemy +than the hearing of their drums, the soldiers had grown somewhat +careless. But there was an uncanny feeling in standing alone in the +still hours of the night, in a strange country, watching, waiting +for an enemy to crawl up and shoot you unawares. This feeling was +heightened, especially in my company, by an amusing incident that +happened while on picket duty on the Annandale road. Up to this +time there had been no prisoners captured on either side, and it was +uncertain as to what would be the fate of any who would fall in the +enemy's hands. As we were considered traitors and rebels, the penalty +for that crime was, as we all knew, death. The Northern press had kept +up quite a howl, picturing the long rows of traitors that would be +hung side by side as soon as they had captured the Confederate Army. +That there was a good deal of "squeamishness" felt at the idea of +being captured, cannot be doubted. So videttes were stationed several +hundred yards down the road with a picket post of four men, between +the outside sentinels and the company, as reserve. A large pine +thicket was to our right, while on the left was an old field with here +and there a few wild cherry trees. The cherries being ripe, some of +the men had gone up in the trees to treat themselves to this luscious +little fruit. The other part of the company lay indolently about, +sheltering themselves as best they could from the rays of the hot July +sun, under the trees. Some lay on the tops of fences, and in corners, +while not a few, with coats and vests off, enjoyed a heated game of +"old sledge." All felt a perfect security, for with the pickets in +front, the cavalry scouring the country, and the almost impassable +barricades of the roads, seemed to render it impossible for an enemy +to approach unobserved. The guns leaned carelessly against the fence +or lay on the ground, trappings, etc., scattered promiscuously around. +Not a dream of danger; no thought of a foe. While the men were thus +pleasantly engaged, and the officers taking an afternoon nap, from out +in the thicket on the right came "bang-bang," and a hail of bullets +came whizzing over our heads. What a scramble! What an excitement! +What terror depicted on the men's faces! Had a shower of meteors +fallen in our midst, had a volcano burst from the top of the Blue +Ridge, or had a thunder bolt fell at our feet out of the clear blue +sky, the consternation could not have been greater. Excitement, +demoralization, and panic ensued. Men tumbled off the fences, guns +were reached for, haversacks and canteens hastily grabbed, and, as +usual in such panics, no one could get hold of his own. Some started +up the road, some down. Officers thus summarily aroused were equally +demoralized. Some gave one order, some another. "Pandemonium reigned +supreme." Those in the cherry trees came down, nor did the "cherry +pickers" stand on the order of their coming. The whole Yankee army was +thought to be over the hills. At last the officer commanding got the +men halted some little distance up the road; a semblance of a line +formed, men cocked their guns and peered anxiously through the cracks +of the rail fence, expecting to see an enemy behind every tree. A +great giant, a sergeant from the mountain section, who stood six feet, +three inches in his stockings, and as brave as he was big, his face +flushed with excitement, his whole frame trembling with emotion, in +his shirt sleeves and bareheaded, rushed to the middle of the road, +braced himself, as waiting for some desperate shock, and stood like +Horatio Cockles at the Bridge, waving his gun in the air, calling out +in defiant and stentorian voice, "Come on, I'll fight all of you; I'll +fight old Lincoln from here to the sea." Such a laugh as was set up +afterwards, at his expense! The amusing part of it was the parties who +fired the shots at the time the stampeding was going on with us, +were running for dear life's sake across the fields, worse scared, if +possible, than we ourselves. They were three of a scouting party, who +had eluded our pickets, and seeing our good, easy, and indifferent +condition, took it into their heads to have a little amusement at +our expense. But the sound of their guns in the quiet surrounding, no +doubt excited the Yankees as much as it did the Confederates. This was +an adventure not long in reaching home, for to be shot at by a real +live Yankee was an event in every one's life at the time not soon to +be forgotten. But it was so magnified, that by the time it reached +home, had not the battle of Bull Run come in its heels so soon, this +incident would no doubt have ever remained to those who were engaged +in it as one of the battles of the war. The only casualty was a +hole shot through a hat. I write this little incident to show the +difference in raw and seasoned troops. One year later such an incident +would not have disturbed those men any more than the buzzing of a bee. +Picket duty after this incident was much more stringent. Two men were +made to stand on post all night, without relief, only such as they +gave each other. Half of the company's reserve were kept awake all +night. Orders were given that the utmost silence should prevail, the +men were not even to speak above a whisper, and on the approach of +anyone they were to be hailed with the command, "Halt, who comes +there?" If a satisfactory answer was given, they were allowed to pass. +If not, to remain standing, and an officer of the guard called. At +night they were to call "halt" three times, and if no answer, they +were to fire and retreat to the reserve. + +One night, shortly after this, one of the companies from Spartanburg +had been sent out about three miles to the intersection of a country +road leading off to the left. Down this country road, or lane, were +two pickets. They concealed themselves during the day in the fence +corners, but at night they crawled over into a piece of timber land, +and crouched down behind a large oak. The shooting incident of a few +days before made the two pickets feel somewhat tender at thus being +alone in the forest, when at any moment an enemy might creep upon +them sufficiently near as to shoot them in the dark. Everything was +as quiet as the grave. The stars, peeping faintly out from behind the +clouds, midnight came, and each began to nod, when a twig breaks some +distance in front, then another, then the rustling of dry leaves. +Their hearts leap to their throats and beat like sledge hammers. One +whispers to the other, "Whist, some one is coming." They strain their +ears to better catch the sound. Surely enough they hear the leaves +rustling as if some one is approaching. "Click," "click," the two +hammers of their trusty rifles spring back, fingers upon the triggers, +while nearer the invisible comes. "Halt," rang out in the midnight +air; "halt," once more, but still the steady tread keeps approaching. +When the third "halt" was given it was accompanied by the crack of +their rifles. A deafening report and frightful squeal, as an old +female porker went charging through the underbrush like mad. The crack +of the rifles alarmed the sleeping companions in reserve, who rushed +to arms and awaited the attack. But after much good humored badgering +of the two frightened sentinels, "peace reigned once more at Warsaw" +till the break of day. The company returned next morning to camp, but +the two sentinels who had fired on the old innocent porker were glad +enough to seek the quietude of their quarters to escape the jests of +their comrades. + +A simple system of breastworks was thrown up just beyond our camp at +Fairfax on a little eminence to the right of the road. This we thought +sufficient to defeat quite an army, or at least keep them at bay. +General Bonham had his headquarters at Fairfax Court House, but rode +out daily to examine the work done on the entrenchments, or inspect +the picket and outposts. General Bonham was one of the finest looking +officers in the entire army. His tall, graceful figure, his commanding +appearance, his noble bearing, and soldierly mien were all qualities +to excite the confidence and admiration of his troops. He wore a +broad-brimmed hat, with a waving plume floating out behind, and sat +his horse as knightly as Charles the Bold, or Henry of Navarre. His +soldiers were proud of him, and loved to do him homage. He endeared +himself to his officers, and while he was a good disciplinarian as far +as the volunteer service required, he did not treat his officers with +that air of superiority, nor exact that rigid military courtesy that +is required in the regular army. I will here give a short sketch of +his life for the benefit of his old comrades in arms. + + * * * * * + + +MILLEDGE LUKE BONHAM + +Was born near Red Bank in that part of Edgefield District now included +in Saluda County, South Carolina, on the 25th day of December, 1813. +His father, Captain James Bonham, who had come from Virginia to South +Carolina about the close of the last century, was the son of Major +Absalom Bonham, who was a native of Maryland, but who enlisted for the +war of the Revolution in a New Jersey regiment, and became a Major of +the line on the establishment of that State. After the Revolution he +moved to Virginia. Captain James Bonham was himself at the siege of +Yorktown as a lad of fifteen, in a company whose captain was only +twenty years old. He first settled in this State in the District of +Colleton, and there married. After the death of his wife, he moved to +Edgefield District, and there married Sophie Smith, who was the mother +of the subject of this sketch. She was the daughter of Jacob Smith and +his wife, Sallie Butler, who was a sister of that Captain James Butler +who was the forefather of the illustrious family of that name in +this State, and who with his young son, also named James, was cruelly +massacred along with others at Cloud's Creek, in Edgefield District, +by "Bloody Bill" Cunningham. + +Milledge L. Bonham received his early education in the "old field" +schools of the neighborhood, and his academic training under +instructors at Abbeville and Edgefield. He entered the South Carolina +College and graduated with second honor in 1834. Soon thereafter the +Seminole or Florida war broke out, and he volunteered in the company +from Edgefield, commanded by Captain James Jones, and was Orderly +Sergeant of the company. During the progress of the war in Florida, +he was appointed by General Bull, who commanded the South Carolina +Brigade, to be Brigade Major, a position which corresponds with what +is now known in military circles as Adjutant General of Brigade. + +Returning from the war, he resumed the study of law and was +admitted to the Bar and settled at Edgefield for the practice of his +profession. In 1844 he was elected to the Legislature. He always took +an ardent interest in the militia, and was first Brigadier General +and afterwards Major General of militia. When the war with Mexico was +declared, he was appointed lieutenant Colonel of the Twelfth United +States Infantry, one of the new regiments added to the army for that +war. With his regiment he went to Mexico and served with distinction +throughout the war, being promoted to Colonel of the regiment, and +having, by the way, for his Adjutant, Lieutenant Winfield Scott +Hancock, afterwards a distinguished Major General of the Federal Army +in the late war. After the cessation of hostilities, Colonel Bonham +was retained in Mexico as Military Governor of one of the provinces +for about a year. Being then honorably discharged, he returned to +Edgefield and resumed the practice of law. In 1848 he was elected +Solicitor of the Southern Circuit, composed of Edgefield, Barnwell, +Orangeburg, Colleton, and Beaufort Districts. The Bars of the various +Districts composing this Circuit counted among their members many of +the ablest and most distinguished lawyers of the State, and hence +it required the possession and industrious use of talents of no mean +order to sustain one's self as prosecuting officer against such an +array of ability. But General Bonham continued to hold the office +until 1856, when, upon the death of Hon. Preston S. Brooks, he was +elected to succeed that eminent gentleman in Congress, and again in +1858 was elected for the full term. Those were the stirring times +preceding the bursting of the cloud of civil war, and the debates in +Congress were hot and spicy. In all these he took his full part. When +South Carolina seceded from the Union, he promptly resigned his seat +in Congress, and was appointed by Governor Pickens Commander-in-Chief +of all the forces of South Carolina with the rank of Major General. In +this capacity, and waiving all question of rank and precedence, at the +request of Governor Pickens, he served on the coast on Morris' Island +with General Beauregard, who had been sent there by the Provisional +Government of the Confederacy to take command of the operations +around Charleston. On the permanent organization of the Confederate +Government, General Bonham was appointed by President Davis a +Brigadier General in the Army of the Confederate States. His brigade +consisted of four South Carolina regiments, commanded respectively by +Colonels Kershaw, Williams, Cash, and Bacon, and General Bonham used +to love to say that no finer body of men were ever assembled together +in one command. With this brigade he went to Virginia, and they were +the first troops other than Virginia troops that landed in Richmond +for its defense. With them he took part in the operations around +Fairfax, Vienna, Centerville, and the first battle of Manassas. + +Afterwards, in consequence of a disagreement with the Department of +War, he resigned from the army. Soon thereafter he was elected to the +Confederate Congress, in which body he served until he was elected +Governor of this State in December, 1862. It was a trying time to fill +that office, and President Davis, in letters, bears witness to the +fact that no one of the Governors of the South gave him more efficient +aid and support than did Governor Bonham. At the expiration of his +term of office, in January, 1865, he was appointed to the command of +a brigade of cavalry, and at once set to work to organize it, but the +surrender of Johnston's army put an end to the war. + +Returning from the war broken in fortune, as were all of his people, +he remained for a year or more on his plantation on Saluda River, in +Edgefield County. He then moved to Edgefield Court House, again to +take up his practice, so often interrupted by calls to arms. He was +elected to the Legislature in 1866, just preceding Reconstruction, but +with the coming of that political era he, in common with all the white +men of the State, was debarred from further participation in public +affairs. In the movement known as the Tax-payers Convention, which had +for its object the relief of the people from Republican oppression +and corruption, he took part as one of the delegates sent by this +convention to Washington to lay before President Grant the condition +of the people of the "Prostrate State." He took an active interest and +part in the political revolution of 1876 and warmly advocated what was +known as "the straightout policy" and the nomination of Wade Hampton +as Governor. + +In 1878 Governor Simpson appointed him the first Railroad Commissioner +under the Act just passed, and subsequently when the number of the +Commissioners was increased to three, he was elected Chairman of the +Commission, in which position he continued until his death, on the +27th day of August, 1890. He died suddenly from the rupture of a blood +vessel while on a visit to Haywood White Sulphur Springs, N.C. + +General Bonham married on November 13th, 1845, Ann Patience, a +daughter of Nathan L. Griffin, Esq., a prominent lawyer of Edgefield. +She survived him four years, and of their union there are living eight +children. + +Attached to Bonham's Brigade was Kemper's Battery of light artillery, +commanded by Captain Dell Kemper. This company was from Alexandria, +Va., just over the Potomac from Washington. This organization was part +of the old State militia, known as volunteer companies, and had been +in existence as such for many years. It being in such close proximity +to Washington, the sentiment of the company was divided, like all +companies on the border. Some of the company were in favor of joining +the Union Army, while others wished to go with the State. Much +discussion took place at this time among the members as to which side +they would join, but Captain Kemper, with a great display of coolness +and courage, cut the Gordian knot by taking those with him of Southern +sentiment, like himself, and on one dark night he pulled out from +Alexandria with his cannon and horses and made his way South to join +the Southern Army. That was the last time any of that gallant band +ever saw their native city for more than four years, and many of the +poor fellows looked upon it that night for the last time. Between them +and the South Carolinians sprang up a warm attachment that continued +during the war. They remained with us as a part of the brigade for +nearly two years, or until the artillery was made a separate branch of +the service. While in winter quarters, when many troops were granted +furloughs, those men having no home to which they could visit like +the others, were invited by members of the brigade to visit their own +homes in South Carolina and remain with their families the length +of their leave of absence. Many availed themselves of these kind +invitations, and spent a pleasant month in the hospitable homes of +this State. The ladies of South Carolina, appreciating their isolated +condition and forced separation from their homes, with no kind mother +or sister with opportunities to cheer them with their delicate favors, +made them all a handsome uniform and outfit of underwear, and sent to +them as a Christmas gift. Never during the long years of the struggle +did the hearts of South Carolinians fail to respond to those of the +brave Virginians, when they heard the sound of Kemper's guns belching +forth death and destruction to the enemy, or when the battle was +raging loud and furious. + +On the morning of the 16th of July, when all was still and quiet in +camp, a puff of blue smoke from a hill about three miles off, followed +by the roar of a cannon, the hissing noise of a shell overhead, its +loud report, was the first intimation the troops had that the enemy +had commenced the advance, it is needless to say excitement and +consternation overwhelmed the camp. While all were expecting and +anxiously awaiting it, still the idea of being now in the face of a +real live enemy, on the eve of a great battle, where death and horrors +of war, such as all had heard of but never realized, came upon them +with no little feelings of dread and emotion. No man living, nor any +who ever lived, retaining his natural faculties, ever faced death +in battle without some feeling of dread or superstitious awe. The +soldiers knew, too, the eyes of the world were upon them, that they +were to make the history for their generation. Tents were hurriedly +struck, baggage rolled and thrown into wagons, with which the excited +teamsters were not long in getting into the pike road. Drums beat +the assembly, troops formed in line and took position behind +the breastwork; while the artillery galloped up to the front and +unlimbered, ready for action. The enemy threw twenty-pound shells +repeatedly over the camp, that did no further damage than add to the +consternation of the already excited teamsters, who seemed to think +the safety of the army depended on their getting out of the way. It +was an exciting scene to see four-horse teams galloping down the pike +at break-neck speed, urged forward by the frantic drivers. + +It was the intention of McDowell, the Federal Chief, to surprise the +advance at Fairfax Court House and cut off their retreat. Already a +column was being hurried along the Germantown road, that intersected +the main road four miles in our rear at the little hamlet of +Germantown. But soon General Bonham had his forces, according to +preconcerted arrangements, following the retreating trains along the +pike towards Bull Run. Men overloaded with baggage, weighted down with +excitement, went at a double quick down the road, panting and sweating +in the noonday sun, while one of the field officers in the rear +accelerated the pace by a continual shouting, "Hurry up, men, they +are firing on our rear." This command was repeated so often and +persistently that it became a by-word in our brigade, so much so that +when anything was wanted to be done with speed the order was always +accompanied with, "Hurry up, men, they are firing on our rear." The +negro servants, evincing no disposition to be left behind, rushed +along with the wagon train like men beset. While we were on the +double-quick, some one noticed a small Confederate flag floating +lazily in the breeze from a tall pine pole that some soldier had put +up at his tent, but by the hurried departure neglected to take down. +Its owner could not entertain the idea of leaving this piece of +bunting as a trophy for the enemy, so risking the chance of capture, +he ran back, cut the staff, and returned almost out of breath to his +company with the coveted flag. We were none too precipitate in our +movement, for as we were passing through Germantown we could see the +long rows of glistening bayonets of the enemy crowning the hills to +our right. We stopped in Centerville until midnight, then resumed the +march, reaching Bull Run at Mitchell's Ford as the sun was just rising +above the hill tops. + +Colonel Kershaw and Colonel Cash were filing down the east bank to the +left, while Colonels Williams and Bacon occupied some earthworks on +the right. These had been erected by former troops, who had encamped +there before us. General Beauregard had divided his troops into six +brigades, putting regiments of the same State together, as far as +possible, Bonham's being First Brigade. Beauregard was determined to +make Bull Run his line of defense. This is a slow, sluggish stream, +only fordable at certain points, its banks steep and rather rocky with +a rough plateau reaching back from either side. The western being the +more elevated, gave the enemy the advantage in artillery practice. +In fact, the banks on the western side at some points came up to the +stream in a bluff--especially so at Blackburn's Ford. In the rear and +in the direction of the railroad was the now famous Manassas Plains. +The Confederate line extended five miles, from Union Mills Ford +to Stone Bridge. At the latter place was General Evans, of South +Carolina, with two regiments and four pieces of artillery. On the +extreme right, Ewell with his brigade and a battery of twelve-pounders +was posted at Union Mills. McLean's Ford was guarded by D.R. +Jones' brigade, with two brass six-pounders. Longstreet with two +six-pounders, and Bonham with two batteries of artillery and a +squadron of cavalry, guarded the fords at Blackburn's and Mitchell's +respectively. Early's Brigade acted as reserve on the right. In rear +of the other fords was Cooke's Brigade and one battery. The entire +force on the roll on July 11th consisted of 27 pieces of light +artillery and 534 men; cavalry, 1425; foot artillery, 265; infantry, +16,150--18,401, comprising the grand total of all arms of General +Beauregard one week before the first battle. Now it must be understood +that this includes the sick, guards, and those on outpost duty. +McDowell had 37,300 of mostly seasoned troops. + +The morning of the 18th opened bright and sunny. To our rear was all +bustle and commotion, and it looked like a vast camp of wagon trains. +From the surrounding country all wagons had been called in from the +foraging expeditions laden with provisions. Herds of cattle were +corralled to secure the troops fresh beef, while the little fires +scattered over the vast plains showed that the cooking details were +not idle. General Beauregard had his headquarters on the hill in our +rear. + +At eight o'clock on the 18th, McDowell pushed his leading division +forward at Blackburn's Ford, where two old comrades, but now facing +each other as foes, General Tyler and General Longstreet, were to +measure strength and generalship. The Washington Artillery, under +Captain Richardson, of New Orleans, a famous battery throughout the +war, which claims the distinction of firing the first gun at Bull Run +and the last at Appomattox, was with Longstreet to aid him with their +brass six-pounders. + +The enemy advanced over the plain and up to the very bluff overlooking +the stream, and a very short distance from where Longstreet's force +lay, but the Washington Artillery had been raking the field all the +while, from an eminence in the rear, while the infantry now began to +fire in earnest. The elevated position gave the enemy great advantage, +and at one time General Longstreet had to call up his reserves, but +the advantageous assault was speedily repulsed as soon as the Southern +troops became more calm and better accustomed to the fire and tension +of the battlefield. Several assaults were made, one immediately after +the other, but each time Southern valor overcame Northern discipline. +From our position at Mitchell's Ford, we could hear the fierce, +continual roll of the infantry fire, mingled with the deafening +thunder of the cannon. Bonham was under a continual shelling from long +range, by twenty pounders, some reaching as far in the rear as the +wagon yard. After the fourth repulse, and Longstreet had his reserves +well in hand, he felt himself strong enough to take the initiative. +Plunging through the marshes and lagoons that bordered the stream, the +troops crossed over and up the bluff, but when on the heights they met +another advance of the enemy, who were soon sent scampering from the +field. Then was first heard the famous "Rebel yell." The Confederates +finding themselves victorious in this their first engagement, +gave vent to their feelings by uttering such a yell as suited each +individual best, forming for all time the famous "Rebel Yell." +Longstreet withdrew his forces to the east side, but a continual +fusilade of artillery was kept up until night. Some of our soldiers +visited the battlefield that night and next day, and brought in +many trophies and mementoes of the day's fight, such as blankets, +oilcloths, canteens, guns, etc. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER V + +The Battle of Manassas--Rout of the Enemy. Visit to the Battlefield. + + +Of the battle of the 18th, the enemy seemed to make little, and called +it a "demonstration" at which General Tyler exceeded his orders, and +pushed his troops too far. However, the Confederates were very well +satisfied with the contest where the first blood was drawn. General +Johnston, who at this time was up in the Shenandoah Valley, near +Winchester, was asked by General Beauregard to come to his relief. He +was confronted himself by General Patterson, an able Federal General, +with a largely superior army. This General Johnston had assurance to +believe was preparing to advance, and his own danger great. Still by +a strategem, he succeeded in quietly withdrawing his troops, and began +the hazardous undertaking of re-enforcing Beauregard. Some of his +troops he placed upon the cars at Piedmont, and sped along o'er +mountains and glens with lightning speed, while the others on foot +came over and through the torturous mountain passes without halt or +rest, bending all their energies to meet Beauregard upon the plains of +Manassas. Couriers came on foaming steeds, their bloody sides showing +the impress of the riders' spurs, bringing the glad tidings to the +Army of the Potomac that succor was near. Beauregard was busy with +the disposition of his troops, preparing to give battle, while the +soldiers worked with a will erecting some hasty breastworks. + +At this point I will digress for the moment to relate an incident of +the Federal march, to show the brutal cowardice and baseness of +the Federals in making war upon the non-combatants--women and +children--and also the unyielding spirit and inflexible courage of +our Southern people. Those dispositions were manifested on both sides +throughout the whole war. It is unnecessary to say that feeling ran +high on the border, as elsewhere, and everyone was anxious to display +his colors in order to show to the world how his feelings ran. +Confederate flags waved from many housetops along the border, and +on the morning the Federals crossed the Potomac from Washington to +Alexandria, many little pieces of bunting, displaying stars and bars, +floated from the houses in that old sleeping city of Alexandria. +Among that number was a violent Secessionist named Jackson. Colonel +Ellsworth, commanding the New York Zouaves, the advance guard, ordered +all flags with Confederate devices to be torn down by force. The +soldiers thus engaged in the debasing acts of entering private +dwellings, insulting the inmates with the vilest epithets, ruthlessly +tore down the hated emblems of the South everywhere. When they came to +Jackson's house they met the fiery defender of his home on the landing +of the stairs, rifle in hand, who with determined air informed the +Federal soldiers that whoever lowered his flag would meet instant +death. Staggered and dazed by such a determined spirit, they lost no +time in reporting the fact to Colonel Ellsworth. Enraged beyond all +control by this cool impudence, Ellsworth rushed to Jackson's house, +followed by a squad of soldiers. On reaching the landing he, too, met +Jackson with his eyes flashing fire and determination, his whole +frame trembling with the emotion he felt, his rifle cocked and to his +shoulder, boldly declaring, "Whoever tears down that flag, dies in his +tracks." Ellsworth and party thought this threat could not be real, +and only Southern braggadocio. Brushing past the determined hero, +Ellsworth snatched the hated flag from its fastening, but at that +instant he fell dead at the feet of his adversary. The report of +Jackson's rifle told too plainly that he had kept his word. The +soldiers who had followed and witnessed the death of their commander, +riddled the body of the Southern martyr with bullets, and not +satisfied with his death, mutilated his body beyond recognition. Thus +fell the first martyr to Southern principles. The South never showed +this disposition of hatred on any occasion, for in after years while +marching through Pennsylvania Union flags floated unmolested from +housetops, over towns, and cities. The soldiers only laughed and +ridiculed the stars and stripes. The South feared no display of +sentiment, neither did they insult women and non-combatants. + +A like occurrence happened in New Orleans a few years later, where +General Butler commanded, and gained the unenviable sobriquet of +"Beast" by his war upon the women and those not engaged in the +struggle, and by trampling upon every right and liberty sacred to the +people. He had issued some degrading order, which the citizens were +bound in pain of death to obey. One brave man, Mumford, refused, +preferring death to obeying this humiliating order. For this he was +torn from the embrace of his devoted family, and, in sight of his wife +and children, placed in a wagon, forced to ride upon his own coffin, +and in the public square was hanged like a felon. + +General Johnston, with a portion of his troops, reached the field on +the 20th, and his forces were placed in rear of those of Beauregard +as reserves. On the night of the 20th, both opposing generals, by a +strange coincidence, had formed plans of the battle for the next day, +and both plans were identical. Beauregard determined to advance his +right by echelon of brigades, commencing with Ewell at Union Mills, +then Jones and Longstreet were to cross Bull Run, with Bonham as a +pivot, and attack McDowell in flank and rear. This was the identical +plan conceived and carried out by the enemy, but with little success, +as events afterwards showed. The only difference was McDowell got his +blow in first by pushing his advance columns forward up the Warrenton +Road on our left, in the direction of the Stone Bridge. He attacked +General Evans, who had the Fourth South Carolina and Wheat's Battalion +of Louisiana Tigers, on guard at this point, with great energy and +zeal. But under cover of a dense forest, he moved his main body of +troops still higher up the Run, crossed at Sudley's Ford, and came +down on Evans' rear. Fighting "Shanks Evans," as he was afterwards +called, met this overwhelming force with stubborn resistance and a +reckless courage. The enemy from the opposite side of the Run was +sending in a continued shower of shot and shell, which threatened +the annihilation of the two little six-pounders and the handful of +infantry that Evans had. But support soon reached him, the Brigade of +Bee's coming up; still he was pressed back beyond a small stream in +his rear. Bee, with his own and Bartow's Brigade, with a battery of +artillery, were all soon engaged, but the whole column was forced back +in the valley below. Jackson came upon the crest of the hill in their +rear at this juncture, and on this column the demoralized troops were +ordered to rally. It was here Jackson gained the name of "Stonewall," +for Bee, to animate and reassure his own men, pointed to Jackson and +said: "Look at Jackson, he stands like a stonewall." But the gallant +South Carolinian who gave the illustrious chieftain the famous name of +"Stonewall" did not live long enough to see the name applied, for in +a short time he fell, pierced through with a shot, which proved fatal. +Hampton, with his Legion, came like a whirlwind upon the field, and +formed on the right, other batteries were brought into play, still the +enemy pressed forward. Stone Bridge being uncovered, Tyler crossed his +troops over, and joined those of Hunter and Heintzelman coming from +Sudley's Ford. This united the three divisions of the enemy, and +they made a vigorous and pressing assault upon the demoralized +Confederates. The roar of the cannon became continuous, the earth +trembled from this storm of battle, sulphurous smoke obscures the sky, +the air vibrates with shrieking shot and shell, men rush madly to +the charge. Our small six-pounders against their twelve and +twenty-pounders, manned by the best artillerists at the North, was +quite an uneven combat. Johnston and Beauregard had now come upon the +field and aided in giving order and confidence to the troops now badly +disorganized by the fury of the charge. The battle raged in all +its fierceness; the infantry and artillery, by their roaring and +thunder-like tone, gave one the impression of a continued, protracted +electrical storm, and to those at a distance it sounded like "worlds +at war." On the plateau between the Lewis House and the Henry House +the battle raged fast and furious with all the varying fortunes of +battle. Now victorious--now defeated--the enemy advances over hill, +across plateaus, to be met with stubborn resistance first, then driven +flying from the field. Around the Henry House the battle was desperate +and hand to hand. Here the Louisiana Battalion, under Major Wheat, +immortalized itself by the fury of its assault. Again and again was +the house taken and lost, retaken and lost again; the men, seeking +cover, rushed up around and into it, only to be driven away by the +storm of shot and shell sent hurling through it. Now our troops would +be dislodged, but rallying they rushed again to the assault and retook +it. Twelve o'clock came, and the battle was far from being decided. +Bartow fell, then Bee. The wounded and dead lay strewn over the entire +field from the Henry House to the bridge. Away to the left is seen the +glitter of advancing bayonets, with flags waving, and the steady tread +of long lines of soldiers marching through the open field. They are +first thought to be the enemy, seeking to turn our left. Officers and +men turned pale at the sight of the unexpected foe. Couriers were sent +to Longstreet and Bonham to prepare to cover the retreat, for the +day was now thought to be lost, and a retreat inevitable. The troops +proved to be friends. Elzeys and Kirby Smith on the way from the +Valley to Manassas, hearing the firing of the guns, left the cars and +hurried to the scene of action. Cheer after cheer now rent the air, +for relief was now at hand. They were put in on the left, but soon +General Kirby Smith fell wounded, and had to be borne from the field. +Other reinforcements were on the way to relieve the pressure that was +convincing to the generals commanding, even, that the troops could not +long endure. The Second and Eighth South Carolina Regiments, under +the command of Colonels Kershaw and Cash, were taken from the line at +Mitchell's Ford and hurried forward. When all the forces, were gotten +well in hand, a general forward movement was made. But the enemy met +it with a determined front. The shrieking and bursting of shells shook +the very earth, while the constant roll of the infantry sounded like +continual peals of heavy thunder. Here and there an explosion, like a +volcanic eruption, told of a caisson being blown up by the bursting of +a shell. The enemy graped the field right and left, and had a decided +advantage in the forenoon when their long range twenty-pounders played +havoc with our advancing and retreating columns, while our small four +and six-pounders could not reach their batteries. But in the after +part of the day, when the contending forces were nearer together, +Rickett's and Griffin's Batteries, the most celebrated at that time +in the Northern Army, could not stand the precision and impetuosity +of Kemper's, the Washington, Stannard's, Pendleton's, and Pelham's +Batteries as they graped the field. The Second and Eighth South +Carolina coming up at a double quick, joined Hampton's Legion, with +Early, Cox, and the troops from the Valley just in time to be of +eminent service at a critical moment. The clear clarion voice +of Kershaw gave the command, "Forward!" and when repeated in the +stentorian voice of Cash, the men knew what was expected of them, +answered the call, and leaped to the front with a will. The enemy +could no longer withstand the desperate onslaught of the Confederate +Volunteers, and McDowell now began to interest himself with the +doubtful problem of withdrawing his troops at this critical juncture. +With the rugged banks of the deep, sluggish stream in his rear, and +only a few places it could be crossed, with a long sheet of flame +blazing out from the compact lines of the Confederates into the faces +of his men, his position was perilous in the extreme. His troops must +have been of like opinion, for the ranks began to waver, then break +away, and soon they found themselves in full retreat. Kershaw, Cash, +and Hampton pressed them hard towards Stone Bridge. A retreat at first +now became a panic, then a rout. Men threw away their baggage, then +their guns, all in a mad rush to put the stream between themselves +and the dreaded "gray-backs." Cannon were abandoned, men mounted the +horses and fled in wild disorder, trampling underfoot those who came +between them and safety, while others limbered up their pieces +and went at headlong speed, only to be upset or tangled in an +unrecognizable mass on Stone Bridge. The South Carolinians pressed +them to the very crossing, capturing prisoners and guns; among the +latter was the enemy's celebrated "Long Tom." All semblance of order +was now cast aside, each trying to leave his less fortunate neighbor +in the rear. Plunging headlong down the precipitous banks of the Run, +the terror-stricken soldiers pushed over and out in the woods and +the fields on the other side. The shells of our rifle and parrot guns +accelerated their speed, and added to their demoralization by hissing +and shrieking above their heads and bursting in the tree tops. Orders +were sent to Generals Bonham, Longstreet, and Jones, who were holding +the lower fords, to cross over and strike the flying fugitives in +the rear near Centerville. Colonels Williams and Bacon, with their +regiments, led by General Bonham, in person, crossed the stream at a +double quick, and began the pursuit of the stampeded troops. When we +reached the camps of the enemy, where they had bivouaced the night +before, the scene beggared description. On either side of the road +were piled as high as one could reach baggages of every description, +which the men had discarded before going into action. Blankets rolled +up, oilcloths, overcoats, tents, all of the very best material, piled +up by the hundreds and thousands. Pots and camp kettles hung over +fires, and from within came the savory smell of "rich viands with +rare condiments," being prepared to appease the keen appetite of the +battle-worn veterans after the day's victory. Great quarters of fresh +beef hung temptingly from the limbs of the trees, wagons filled with +arms and accoutrements, provisions, and army supplies, with not a few +well-laden with all the delicacies, tid-bits, and rarest old wines +that Washington could afford, to assuage the thirst of officers and +the men of note. Many of the high dignitaries and officials from the +Capitol had come out to witness the fight from afar, and enjoy the +exciting scene of battle. They were now fleeing through the woods +like men demented, or crouched behind trees, perfectly paralyzed with +uncertainty and fright. One old citizen of the North, captured by the +boys, gave much merriment by the antics he cut, being frightened out +of his wits with the thought of being summarily dealt with by the +soldiers. Some would punch him in the back with their bayonets, then +another would give him a thrust as he turned to ask quarters of the +first tormentor. The crisis was reached, however, when one of the +soldiers, in a spirit of mischief, called for a rope to hang him; +he thought himself lost, and through his tears he begged for mercy, +pleaded for compassion, and promised atonement. General Bonham riding +up at this juncture of the soldiers' sport, and seeing the abject fear +of the old Northern Abolitionist, took pity and showed his sympathy +by telling the men to turn him loose, and not to interfere with +non-combatants. He was told to run now, and if he kept the gait he +started with through the woods, not many hours elapsed before +he placed the placid waters of the Potomac between him and the +blood-thirsty Rebels. Strict orders were given to "stay in ranks," but +the sight of so much valuable plunder, and actual necessaries to the +soldiers, was too much for the poorly provided Confederates; and not +a few plucked from the pile a blanket, overcoat, canteen, or other +article that his wants dictated. A joke the boys had on a major was +that while riding along the line, waving his sword, giving orders not +to molest the baggage, and crying out, "Stay in ranks, men, stay in +ranks," then in an undertone he would call to his servant, "Get me +another blanket, Harvy." The artillery that had been ordered to take +part in the infantry's pursuit were just preparing to open fire upon +the fleeing enemy, when by some unaccountable order, the pursuit was +ordered to be abandoned. Had not this uncalled for order come at this +juncture, it is not hard to conceive the results. The greater portion +of the Federal Army would have been captured, for with the exception +of General Sykes' Brigade of regulars and a battery of regular +artillery, there was not an organization between our army and +Washington City. All night long the roads through Centerville, and the +next day all leading through Fairfax, Falls Church, and Anandale were +one continual throng of fleeing fugitives. Guns and accoutrements, +camp equipage, and ordnance strewed the sides of the road for miles; +wagons, ambulances, cannon, and caissons had been abandoned, and +terror-stricken animals galloped unbridled through the woods and +fields. The great herds of cattle, now free from their keepers, went +bellowing through the forest, seeking shelter in some secluded swamp. + +At night, we were all very reluctantly ordered back to our old camp +to talk, rejoice, and dream of the wonderful victory. Beauregard +and Johnston had in this engagement of all arms 30,888, but 3,000 of +Ewell's and part of Bonham's Brigade were not on the field on that +day. The enemy had 50,000 and 117 cannon. Confederate loss in killed +and wounded, 1,485. Federal loss in killed, wounded, and captured, +4,500. There being no enemy in our front and little danger of +surprise, the soldiers were allowed to roam at will over the +battlefield the next few days. Almost the entire army availed +themselves of this their first opportunity of visiting a real +battlefield and witnessing the real horrors and carnage of which they +had often read and seen pictures but had never seen in reality. + +Who is it that has ever looked upon a battlefield and could forget the +sickening scene, or obliterate from his mind the memory of its dreaded +sight? It was recorded of the great Napoleon, by one of his most +intimate friends and historians, that after every great battle the +first thing he did the next day was to ride over the field, where lay +the dead and wounded, and when he would come to those points where the +battle had been desperate and the dead lay thickest, he would sit as +in a trance, and with silence and meditation never witnessed on other +occasions, view the ghastly corpses as they lay strewn over the field. +The field of carnage had a fascinating power over him he could not +resist, and on which his eyes delighted to feast. With a comrade +I went to visit the field of Manassas. Passing over the uneven and +partly wooded country, we witnessed all the effect of the enemy's +rifled guns. Trees were cut down, great holes dug in the ground where +shells had exploded, broken wagons, upset ambulances, wounded and dead +horses lining the whole way. The first real scene of carnage was on +the plateau of the Lewis house. Here the Virginians lying behind the +crest of the hill as the enemy emerged from the woods on the other +side, gave them such a volley as to cause a momentary repulse, but +only to renew their attack with renewed vigor. The battle here was +desperate. Major Wheat with his Louisianians fought around the Henry +house with a ferocity hardly equalled by any troops during the war. +Their peculiar uniform, large flowing trousers with blue and white +stripes coming only to the knees, colored stockings, and a loose +bodice, made quite a picturesque appearance and a good target for the +enemy. These lay around the house and in front in almost arm's length +of each other. This position had been taken and lost twice during the +day. Beyond the house and down the declivity on the other side, the +enemy's dead told how destructive and deadly had been the Confederate +fire. On the other plateau where Jackson had formed and where Bee and +Bartow fell, the scene was sickening. There lay friend and foe face +to face in the cold embrace of death. Only by the caps could one be +distinguished from the other, for the ghouls of the battlefield had +already been there to strip, rob, and plunder. Beyond the ravine to +the left is where Hampton and his Legion fought, as well as the troops +of Kirby Smith and Elzey, of Johnston's army, who had come upon the +scene just in time to turn the tide of battle from defeat to victory. +On the right of Hampton was the Eighth and Second South Carolina under +Kershaw. From the Lewis house to the Stone Bridge the dead lay in +every direction. The enemy in their precipitate flight gave the +Confederates ample opportunity to slay at will. The effects of +artillery here were dreadful. Rickett's Battery, the best in the +North, had pushed their guns far in advance of the infantry, and swept +the field with grape and canister. Here was a caisson blown up by +a shell from Kemper's Battery, and the havoc was frightful. Six +beautiful horses, all well caparisoned and still attached to the +caisson, all stretched as they had fallen, without so much as a +struggle. The drivers lay by the side of the horses, one poor fellow +underneath and badly mutilated. To one side and near by lay the +officer in command and his horse, the noble animal lying as he had +died in the beautiful poise he must have been in when the fatal shot +struck him. His hind legs straightened as if in the act of rearing, +his forefeet in the air, one before the other, the whole looking more +like a dismantled statue than the result of a battlefield. Fragments +of shells, broken guns, knapsacks, and baggage were scattered over +the plains. Details were busy gathering up the wounded and burying the +dead. But from the looks of the field the task seemed difficult. In +the little clusters of bushes, behind trees, in gullies, and in every +conceivable place that seemed to offer shelter, lay the dead. What +a shudder thrills the whole frame when you stand and contemplate +the gruesome faces of the battle's dead. In every posture and all +positions, with every conceivable shade of countenance, the glaring, +glassy eyes meet you. Some lay as they fell, stretched full length +on the ground; others show a desperate struggle for the last few +remaining breaths. There lay the beardless youth with a pleasant smile +yet lingering on his face as though waiting for the maternal kiss; the +cold stern features of the middle aged as he lay grasping his trusty +rifle, some drawn up in a perfect knot of agony, others their faces +prone upon the earth, all dead, dead. Great pools of blood here and +there had saturated the earth, the victim perhaps crawling to a nearby +shelter or some little glen, hoping to gain a mouthful of water to +cool his parched lips, or perhaps some friendly hand had carried him +away to a hospital. Few of our troops had been molested by the body +snatchers of the battlefield, but the enemy had almost invariably been +stripped of his outer clothing. On the incline of the far side of a +little hill spots were pointed out where the gallant South Carolinian, +Bee, had fallen, while rallying his men for the final assault, and +also the brave Georgian, Colonel Bartow, in a like endeavor. + +We came to the Henry house, on the opposite plateau from the Lewis +house, the former at this time almost as noted as the little log hut +at Waterloo that stood half a century before as a landmark to the fall +of Napoleon. They were common, old fashioned frame houses, occupied +by some poor people on this frightful day. The battle came with such +suddeness and unexpectancy, the unfortunate inmates could not get +away, and there throughout the bloody day these three Henry women had +endured all the dread, excitement, and dangers of a great battle, and +forced to remain between the opposing armies. The house was perfectly +riddled with minnie balls, while great openings were torn in the side +and roofs by the shells shattering through. There was no escape or +place of safety. They stretched themselves at full length upon the +floor, calmly awaiting death, while a perfect storm of shot and shell +raged without and within. As we went in the house two women sat around +the few mouldering embers that had answered the purpose of cooking +a hasty meal. It was a single room house, with two beds, some cheap +furniture, and a few cooking utensils. These were torn into fragments. +In one corner lay the dead sister, who had been shot the day before, +with a sheet thrown over to shield her from the gaze of the curious. +The two sisters were eating a morsel unconcernedly, unconscious of the +surroundings, while the house was crowded during the day with sight +seers and curious questioners. On the other side of the room were some +wounded soldiers, carried in to be shielded from the rays of the July +sun, while all without lay in heaps the mangled dead. The exceeding +tension of excitement, fright, untold fear, that had been drawn around +them during the continuous struggle of the day before, had rendered +those women callous and indifferent to all surrounding appearance; +but their haggard faces told but too plainly their mental anguish and +bodily suffering of yesterday. The eyes tire of the sickening scene, +and the mind turns from this revolting field of blood, and we return +heartstricken to our camp. The poor crippled and deserted horses limp +over the field nibbling a little bunch of grass left green in places +after the day of mad galloping of horses. Everywhere we saw friends +hunting friends. Relief corps had come up from Richmond and were +working night and day relieving the suffering and moving the wounded +away. Cars were run at short intervals from Manassas, carrying the +disabled to Warrentown, Orange Court House, Culpepper, and Richmond. +President Davis had come up just after the battle had gone in our +favor, and the soldiers were delighted to get a glimpse at our +illustrious chieftain. It was needless to say Beauregard's star was +still in the ascendant. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER VI + +Vienna--Flint Hill--Duel Sports--July to October. + + +Much discussion has taken place since the rout at Manassas as to +reasons for not following up the victory so gloriously won, and for +not pushing on to Washington at once. It is enough to say the two +commanders at the time and on the field saw difficulties and dangers +sufficient in the way to rest on their spoils. The President, who was +in council with them, after due consideration was convinced of +the impracticability of a forward movement. In the first place, no +preparation had been made for such an event; that the spoils were +so out of proportion to their most sanguine expectations; that the +transportation for the troops had to be employed in its removal; +that no thought of a forward movement or invasion had ever been +contemplated; so there were no plans or specifications at hand. Then +again, the dead and wounded of both armies had to be attended to, +which crippled our medical department so as to render it powerless +should another engagement take place. And again, a large portion of +our people thought this total defeat of the enemy at the very outset +of the war would render the design of coercion by force of arms +impracticable. The South was conservative, and did not wish to inflame +the minds of the people of the Union by entering their territory or +destroying their capital. Knowing there was a large party at the +North opposed to the war, some of our leaders had reason to think +this shattering of their first grand army would so strengthen their +feelings and party that the whole North would call for peace. They +further hugged that fatal delusion to their breast, a delusion that +eventually shattered the foundation of our government and betrayed the +confidence of the troops, "foreign intervention." They reasoned that a +great victory by the South would cause our government to be recognized +by the foreign powers and the South given a footing as a distinct, +separate, and independent nation among all other great nations of +the earth. That the South would no longer be looked upon as an +"Insurrectionary Faction," "Erring Sisters," or "Rebellious Children." +Our ports had been ordered closed by the North, and an imaginary +blockade, a nominal fleet, stood out in front of our harbors. Our +people thought the world's desire for the South's cotton would so +influence the commercial and laboring people of Europe that the powers +would force the North to declare her blockade off. Such were some of +the feelings and hopes of a large body of our troops, as well as +the citizens of the country at large. But it all was a fallacy, a +delusion, an ignis fatuus. The North was aroused to double her former +fury, her energies renewed and strengthened, tensions drawn, her +ardor largely increased, her feelings doubly embittered, and the +whole spirit of the North on fire. Now the cry was in earnest, "On to +Richmond," "Down with the rebellion," "Peace and unity." The Northern +press was in a perfect blaze, the men wild with excitement, and every +art and device was resorted to to arouse the people to arms. The +stain of defeat must now be wiped out; a stigma had been put upon the +nation, her flag disgraced, her people dishonored. Large bounties were +offered for volunteers, and the recruiting was earnest and energetic. +Lincoln called for 300,000 more troops, and the same question was +asked at the South, "Where will he get them and how pay them?" + +We were moved out near Centerville, and a few days afterwards took up +camp at Vienna, a small station on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. +The day after our arrival all of the troops, with the exception of the +ordinary detail, were put to work tearing up the railroad track. It +being Sunday, loud complaints were made against this desecration of +the Lord's Day, but we were told there was no difference in days in +times of war. The railroad was a good one and well built on a roadbed +of gravel and chips of granite, with solid heart pine or chestnut +ties, laid with "T" rails. The cross-ties were piled in heaps, on +these were laid the rails, and all set on fire; then for miles and +miles up and down the road the crackling flames, the black smoke +twining around the trees and curling upward, shrouded the whole earth +with a canopy of black and blue, and told of the destruction that +was going on. Here the troops suffered as seldom during the war for +provisions, especially breadstuff. Loud murmurings were heard on all +sides against the commissary department, and the commissary complained +of the Quartermaster for not furnishing transportation. The troops on +one occasion here had to go three days and at hard work without one +mouthful of bread, except what little they could buy or beg of the +citizens of the thinly settled country. Meat was plentiful, but no +bread, and any one who has ever felt the tortures of bread hunger may +imagine the sufferings of the men. For want of bread the meats became +nauseating and repulsive. The whole fault lay in having too many +bosses and red tape in the Department at Richmond. By order of these +officials, all commissary supplies, even gathered in sight of the +camps, had to be first sent to Richmond and issued out only on +requisitions to the head of the departments. The railroad facilities +were bad, irregular, and blocked, while our wagons and teams were +limited to one for each one hundred men for all purposes. General +Beauregard, now second in command, and directly in command of the +First Army Corps of the Army of the Potomac, of which our brigade +formed a part, wishing to concentrate his troops, ordered all to +Flint Hill, three miles west of Fairfax Court House. General Johnston, +Commander-in-Chief, directed the movements of the whole army, but more +directly the Second Army Corps, or the Army of the Shenandoah. The +army up to this time had not been put into divisions, commanded +by Major Generals, nor corps, by Lieutenant Generals, but the two +commanders divided nominally the army into two corps, each commanded +by a full General--Brigadier General Beauregard having been raised to +the rank of full General the day after his signal victory at Manassas +by President Davis. + +[Illustration: Brig. Gen. James Connor Adjt.] + +[Illustration: Y.J. Pope, Acting Asst. Adjt. Genl. of +Kershaw's Brigade] + +[Illustration: Brig. Gen. John D. Kennedy.] + +[Illustration: Dr. Thos. W. Salmond Surgeon of Kershaw's Brigade.] + +In the Confederate Army the grades of the Generals were different to +those in the United States Army. A brigade consisted of a number of +regiments joined together as one body and commanded by a Brigadier +General, the lowest in rank. Four, more or less, brigades constituted +a division, commanded by a Major General. Three or four divisions +constituted a corps, commanded by a Lieutenant General, and a separate +army, as two or more corps, was commanded by a General, the highest +in rank. Their rank is the same, but the Seniors are those whose +commissions had been granted first, and take precedence where two are +together. So it is with all officers in the army--age is not taken +into consideration, but the date of commission. Where a brigade, +from any cause, temporarily loses its commander, the Colonel with the +oldest commission takes the command; where a division loses its Major +General, the Senior Brigadier in that division immediately assumes +command; and the same way in the corps and the army. The Major General +takes command of the corps where its commander is absent, and in case +of absence, either temporary or permanent, of the Commander-in-Chief +of an army, the ranking Lieutenant General takes command until a +full General relieves him. In no case can an officer of inferior rank +command one of superior rank. Rank gives command whether ordered +or not. In any case of absence, whether in battle, march, or camp, +whenever an officer finds himself Senior in his organization, he is +commander and so held without further orders. + +The soldiers had rather a good time at Flint Hill, doing a little +drilling and occasional picket duty out in the direction of Munson and +Mason Hill. The Commanding General wished to advance his pickets +to Munson Hill, a few miles from Washington, and to do this it was +necessary to dislodge the enemy, who had possession there. The +Second Regiment, under Colonel Kershaw, was sent out, and after a +considerable brush he succeeded in driving the enemy away. After this +one regiment at a time was sent out to do picket duty. When our South +Carolina regiments would go out orders were given to be quiet, and +during our stay at Mason and Munson Hill the utmost secrecy prevailed, +but when Wheat's Louisiana Battalion had to relieve a regiment we +could hear the beating of their drums, the loud shouts of the men on +their way out, and all would rush to the side of the road to see the +"tigers" pass. Down the road they would come, banners waving, the +swinging step of the men keeping time to the shrill notes of the fife +and the rattle of the drums. Their large flowing pants, their gaudy +striped long hose, made quite an imposing spectacle. This was a noted +band of men for a time, but their brave commander, Wheat, and almost +all of his men, were killed in the battles that followed around +Richmond. Major Wheat had been in the Turkish Army when that nation +was at war with Russia, and in several other foreign wars, as well as +the Mexican War. When his State seceded he returned to Louisiana +and raised a battalion of the hardest set of men in New Orleans. +The soldiers called them "wharf rats," "sailors," "longshoremen," +"cutthroats," and "gutter snipes." They knew no subordination and +defied law and military discipline. While in camp here several of them +were shot at the stake. Major Wheat had asked to be allowed to manage +his men as he saw best, and had a law unto himself. For some mutiny +and insubordination he had several of them shot. Afterwards, when the +soldiers heard a volley fired, the word would go out, "Wheat is having +another tiger shot." + +The fields were green with the great waving corn, just in roasting +ears, and it was a sight to see hundreds of men in these fields early +in the morning plucking the fine ears for breakfast. In most cases the +owners had abandoned their fields and homes, taking what was movable +to other places in Virginia. What was left the soldiers were at +liberty to "slay and eat." At first it was determined to protect the +stock, but the soldiers agreed that what the Southern soldiers left +the enemy would be sure to take. I remember the first theft I was +engaged in during the war. I say "first" advisedly. Now soldiers +have different views as to rights of property to that of the average +citizen. What he finds that will add to his comfort or welfare, or his +wants dictate, or a liability of the property falling into the hands +of the enemy, he takes without compunction or disposition to rob--and +more often he robs in a spirit of mischief. A few fine hogs had been +left to roam at will through the fields by the refugee farmers, and +orders were given not to kill or molest them, to eat as much corn +as we wished, but to spare the hogs. When the regiments were sent on +pickets, a detail was left in camp as guard, also to watch around the +fields to prevent trespass. While our regiment was on its three days' +picket, I was left as one of the detail to guard the camp. Some one +reported a fine hog in the yard of a house some distance away. It was +agreed to kill it, divide it up, and have a rare treat for the weary +pickets when they returned. How to kill it without attracting the +attention of the other guards was a question of importance, because +the report of a rifle and the proverbial squeal of a hog would be sure +to bring down upon us the guard. One of the men had a pistol, still +we were afraid to trust this. A cellar door stood temptingly open. +We tried to drive the hog into it, but with a hog's perverseness it +refused to be driven, and after rushing around the yard several times +with no results, it was decided to shoot it. The man claimed to be a +good shot, and declared that no hog would squeal after being shot by +him, but, as Burns says, "The best laid plans of mice and men aft' +gang a glee." So with us. After shooting, the porker cut desperate +antics, and set up a frightful noise, but the unexpected always +happens, and the hog took refuge in the cellar, or rather the basement +of the dwelling, to our great relief. We were proceeding finely, +skinning away, the only method the soldiers had of cleaning a hog, +when to our astonishment and dismay, in walked the much dreaded guard. +Now there something peculiar about the soldier's idea of duty, the +effects of military training, and the stern obedience to orders. The +first lesson he learns is obedience, and the longer in service the +more convinced he is of its necessity. While he may break ranks, pass +guards, rob roosts, or pilfer fruits and vegetables himself, yet put a +gun in his hand, place him on duty, order him to guard or protect +men or property, and his integrity in that respect is as unyielding, +inflexible, and stern as if his life depended upon his faithful +performance. The Roman soldiers' obedience to orders made them +immortal, and their nation the greatest on earth. But to resume the +thread of my story. When the guard came in we thought ourselves lost. +To be punished for hog stealing, and it published at home, was more +than our patriotism could stand. The guard questioned us about the +killing, said it was against orders to fire a gun within range of +camp, and furthermore against orders to molest private property. We +tried to convince the guard that it was contraband, that the owners +had left it, and to crown the argument, insisted that if we did not +take the hog the Yankees would. This was the argument always last +resorted to to ease conscience and evade the law. In this case, +strange to say, it had its effect. After some parleying, it was agreed +to share the booty equally between the guard and ourselves. They +helped us cut brush and cover it nicely, and after tattoo all were to +return and divide up. We did not know the guards personally, but knew +their command. And so we returned to the camp to await the return of +our pickets and night. It was soon noised in camp that there was +a fine fat porker to be distributed after tattoo, and no little +eagerness and inquisitiveness were manifested, as all wished a piece. +Armed with a crocus-sack, we returned to the house; all was dark and +still. We whistled the signal, but no answer. It was repeated, but +still no reply. The guard had not come. Sitting down on the door step, +we began our long wait. Moments passed into minutes, minutes into +hours, until at last we began to have some forebodings and misgivings. +Had we been betrayed? Would we be reported and our tents searched next +day? Hardly; a soldier could not be so treacherous. We entered the +cellar and began to fumble around without results, a match was struck, +and to our unspeakable dismay not a vestige of hog remained. Stuck +against the side of the wall was a piece of paper, on which was +written: "No mercy for the hog rogue." Such swearing, such stamping +and beating the air with our fists, in imitation of the punishment +that would be given the treacherous rascals if present; the atmosphere +was perfectly sulphurous with the venom spit out against the foul +party. Here was a true verification of the old adage, "Set a rogue +to catch a rogue." Dejected and crestfallen, we returned to camp, +but dared not tell of our misfortune, for fear of the jeers of our +comrades. + +Measles and jaundice began to scourge the camp; the green corn, it was +said, did the army more damage than the enemy did in battle. Wagons +and ambulances went out daily loaded with the sick; the hospitals +were being crowded in Richmond and other cities; hotels, colleges, and +churches were appropriated for hospital service, and the good people +of Virginia can never be forgotten, nor amply rewarded for the +self-sacrifices and aid rendered to the sick soldiers. Private houses +were thrown open to the sick when their homes were far distant, or +where they could not reach it. The soldier was never too dirty or +ragged to be received into palatial homes; all found a ready welcome +and the best attention. + +Generals Johnston and Beauregard had now concentrated all their forces +in supporting distance around Fairfax Court House, and were preparing +for a movement across the Potomac. Bonham's Brigade was at Flint Hill, +Cox's at Centerville, Jones's at Germantown, Hampton and Early on the +Occoquon, the Louisiana Brigade at Bull Run, and Longstreet at Fairfax +Court House. The troops were all in easy distance, and a gigantic plan +of General Beauregard, with the doubtful approval of General Johnston +and others, was for a formidable invasion of the North. General +Johnston evinced that same disposition in military tactics that he +followed during the war, "a purely defensive war." In none of his +campaigns did he exhibit any desire to take advantage of the enemy by +bold moves; his one idea seemed to be "defensive," and in that he was +a genius--in retreat, his was a mastermind; in defense, masterly. In +the end it may have proven the better policy to have remained on the +defensive. But the quick, impulsive temperament of Beauregard was ever +on the alert for some bold stroke or sudden attack upon the +enemy's weaker points. His idea coincided with Longstreet's in this +particular, that the North, Kentucky, Tennessee, or Maryland should +be the theatre of war and the battleground of the Confederacy. General +Lee, according to the ideas of one of his most trusted lieutenants, +was more in accordance with the views of General Johnston, that is, +"the South should fight a defensive war"--and it was only when in the +immediate presence of the enemy, or when he observed a weak point +in his opponent, or a strategic move, that he could not resist the +temptation to strike a blow. In several of his great battles it is +reported of Lee that he intended to await the attack of the enemy, but +could not control his impatience when the enemy began to press him; +then all the fire of his warlike nature came to the surface, and he +sprang upon his adversary with the ferocity of a wild beast. But Lee +in battle was not the Lee in camp. + +The middle of summer the two commanding Generals called President +Davis to Fairfax Court House to enter a conference in regard to the +projected invasion. The plans were all carefully laid before him. +First a demonstration was to be made above Washington; then with the +whole army cross below, strike Washington on the east, crush the enemy +in their camps, march through Maryland, hoist the standard of revolt +in that State, make a call for all Southern sympathizers to flock to +their banners, and to overawe the North by this sudden onslaught. But +President Davis turned a deaf ear to all such overtures; pleaded the +want of transportation and the necessary equipment for invasion. It +was the feeling of the South even at this late day that much could yet +be done by diplomacy and mild measures; that a great body of the North +could be won over by fears of a prolonged war; and the South did not +wish to exasperate the more conservative element by any overt act. We +all naturally looked for peace; we fully expected the war would end +during the fall and winter, and it was not too much to say that many +of our leaders hugged this delusion to their breast. + +While in camp here an incident occurred which showed that the men +had not yet fully recognized the importance of military restraint and +discipline. It is well known that private broils or feuds of any +kind are strictly forbidden by army regulations. The French manner +of settling disputes or vindicating personal honor according to code +duello was not countenanced by our military laws; still the hot +blood and fiery temper of the proud South Carolinians could brook +no restraint at this time when an affront was given or his honor +assailed. Captain Elbert Bland, of Edgefield, and Major Emett Seibles, +both of the Seventh Regiment, were engaged in a friendly game of +chess, a difference arose, then a dispute, hot words, and at last +insult given that could not be recalled nor allowed to pass unnoticed. +Challenge is offered and accepted, seconds appointed, pistols chosen; +distance, twenty paces; time, sunrise next morning on a hillside near +the outskirts of the camp. Early next morning a lone ambulance is seen +moving out of camp, followed by two surgeons, then the principals with +their seconds at a respectful distance. On reaching the spot chosen +lots were cast for choice of stations. This fell to Captain Bland. +The distance was measured with mechanical exactness, dueling pistols +produced, each second loading that of his principal. The regular +dueling pistol is a costly affair and of the very finest material. +Long slim rifle barrel with hammer underneath, the stock finely +chiseled and elaborately ornamented with silver or gold; the whole +about ten inches in length and carrying a bullet of 22 calibre. The +seconds took their places at an equal distance from each other and +midway between the principals. Captain Bland takes his position at +the west end of the field, and Major Seibles the east. Both stood +confronting each other, not fierce nor glaring like two men roused in +passion, or that either wished the blood of the other, but bold, calm, +and defiant; an insult to be wiped out and honor to be sustained. They +turned, facing the rear, hands down, with pistols in the right. +The seconds call out in calm, deliberate tones: "Gentlemen, are +you ready?" Then, "Ready, aim, fire!" "One, two, three, stop." The +shooting must take place between the words "fire" and "stop," or +during the count of one, two, three. If the principal fires before or +after this command it is murder, and he is at once shot down by the +second of his opponent. Or if in any case the principals fail to +respond at the hour set, the second promptly takes his place. But no +danger of such possibilities where two such men as Major Seibles and +Captain Bland are interested. There was a matter at issue dearer than +country, wife or child. It was honor, and a true South Carolinian of +the old stock would make any sacrifice, give or take life, to uphold +his name unsullied or the honor of his family untarnished. As the word +fire was given the opponents wheeled and two pistol shots rang out +on the stillness of the morning. Captain Bland stands still erect, +commanding and motionless as a statue. Major Seibles remains steady +for a moment, then sways a little to the left, staggers and falls +into the arms of his second and surgeon. A hasty examination is made. +"Blood," calls out the second of Major Seibles. A nod of satisfaction +is given and acknowledged by both seconds. Captain Bland retires on +the arm of his friend, while the Major, now bleeding profusely from +a wound in the chest, is lifted in the ambulance and carried to +his tent. It was many months before Major Seibles was sufficiently +recovered from his wound to return to duty. The matter was kept quiet +and no action taken. Major Seibles died the following year, while the +gallant Bland was killed at Chickamauga while leading as Colonel the +Seventh Regiment in battle. + +While at Flint Hill, another stirring scene took place of quite a +different nature. In front of the Third Regiment was a beautiful +stretch of road, and this was selected as a course for a race to be +run between the horse of Captain Mitchell of the Louisiana Tigers and +that of the Colonel of a Virginia regiment of cavalry. The troops now +so long inactive, nothing to break the monotony between drills, guard +duty, and picketing, waited with no little anxiety the coming of the +day that was to test the metal of the little grey from the Pelican +State and the sorrel from the Old Dominion. Word had gone out among +all the troopers that a race was up, and all lovers of the sport came +in groups, companies, and regiments to the place of rendezvous. Men +seemed to come from everywhere, captains, colonels, and even generals +graced the occasion with their presence. Never before in our army +had so many distinguished individuals congregated for so trivial an +occasion. There was Wheat, fat, clean shaven, and jolly, his every +feature indicating the man he was--bold as a lion, fearless, full of +life and frolic as a school boy, but who had seen war in almost every +clime under the sun. There was Turner Ashby, his eyes flashing fire +from under his shaggy eyebrows, his long black beard and flowing +locks, looking more like a brigand than one of the most daring +cavaliers of the Confederate Army. Fitzhugh Lee, too, was there, with +colonels, majors, and captains without number. Nothing seemed farther +from the horizon of these jolly men than thoughts of the triumphs of +war. Captain Mitchell's horse was more on the pony order than a racer, +but it was said by those who knew that on more occasions than one +the pony had thrown dirt into the eyes of the fastest horse in the +Crescent City, and the Louisianans were betting on him to a man. The +wiry sorrel was equally a favorite with the Virginians, while the +South Carolinians were divided between the two. After a great amount +of jockeying, usual on such occasions, judges were appointed, distance +measured, horses and riders in their places, and hundreds of men +stretched along the side of the road to witness the heated race. +No little amount of Confederate money had been put upon the race, +although it was understood to be merely a friendly one, and for +amusement only. When the drum sounded, the two horses almost leaped +into the air, and sped away like the wind, "little grey" shooting +away from her larger adversary like a bullet, and came flying down the +track like a streak, about a length ahead of the Virginia horse. The +favorites on the Louisianan rent the air with their yells, hats went +into the air, while the friends of the Virginian shouted like mad to +the rider: "Let him out, let him out." When the distance was about +half run he was "let out;" the rowels went into the side and the whip +came down upon the flanks of the thoroughly aroused racer, and the +Virginian began forging to the front, gaining at every leap. Now he is +neck and neck, spur and whip are used without stint, he goes ahead and +is leaving the "grey" far in the rear; Captain Mitchell is leaning +far over on the withers of the faithful little pony, never sparing +the whip for a moment, but all could see that he was running a losing +race. When about the commencement of the last quarter the "grey" +leaves the track, and off to the right he plunges through the trees, +dashing headlong by the groups of men, till at last the Captain brings +him up with one rein broken. A great crowd surround him, questioning, +swearing, and jeering, but the Captain sat as silent, immovable, and +inattentive as a statue, pointing to the broken rein. It had been cut +with a knife. The Captain and his friends claimed that the friends of +the Virginian had, unnoticed by him, cut the leather to a bare thread, +while the friends of the other party, with equal persistency, charged +the Captain with cutting it himself. That when he saw the race lost, +he reached over and cut the rein about six inches from the bit, thus +throwing the horse out of the track and saving its credit, if not the +money. No one ever knew how it happened, but that there had been a +trick played and foul means employed were evident. A great many had +lost their money, and their curses were loud and deep, while the +winners went away as merry as "marriage bells." + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER VII + +Winter Quarters at Bull Run. + + +Sometime in October the brigade was withdrawn to the vicinity of +Centerville for better facilities in the way of provisions, water, +etc., and to be nearer the wooded section of the country. The water +had been scarce at Flint Hill, a long distance from camp, and of +inferior quality. The health of the troops was considerably impaired, +a great many having been sent to the hospitals, or to their homes. The +sickness was attributed, in a large measure, to the quality of green +corn and fresh meat, salt being an object now with the Confederacy, +and was issued in limited quantities. We fared sumptuously while at +our camp near Centerville. Our wagon train going weekly up towards +Warrenton and the mountains, returning laden with flour, meat, and the +finest beef we had ever received. The teamsters acting as hucksters, +brought in a lot of delicacies to sell on their own account--chickens, +turkeys, and vegetables, and not unfrequently a keg of "Mountain Dew" +would be packed in the wagon with the army supplies, and sold by the +wagoners at an enormous profit. There being no revenue officers or +"dispensary constables" in those days, whiskey could be handled with +impunity, and not a little found its way into camp. The citizens, too, +had an eye single to their own welfare, and would bring in loads of +all kinds of country produce. Sometimes a wagon would drive into camp +loaded with dressed chickens and turkeys to the number of one hundred +or more. A large old-fashioned wagon-sheet would be spread over the +bottom and side of the wagon body, and filled with as much as two +horses could pull. I never knew until then how far a man's prejudice +could overcome him. Our mess had concluded to treat itself to a turkey +dinner on Christmas. Our boss of the mess was instructed to purchase a +turkey of the next wagon that came in. Sure enough, the day came and a +fine fat turkey bought, already dressed, and boiling away in the camp +kettle, while all hands stood around and drank in the delightful aroma +from turkey and condiments that so temptingly escaped from under the +kettle lid. When all was ready, the feast spread, and the cook was in +the act of sinking his fork into the breast of the rich brown turkey, +some one said in the greatest astonishment: "Well, George Stuck, I'll +be d----d if you haven't bought a goose instead of a turkey, look at +its short legs." There was a go, our money gone, appetites whetted, +and for a goose! Well up to that time and even now I cannot eat goose. +A dispute arose, some said it was a goose, others held out with equal +persistency that it was a turkey, and I not having discretion enough +to judge by the color of the flesh, and so overcome by my prejudice, +did not taste it, and a madder man was not often found. To this day I +have never been convinced whether it was a turkey or a goose, but am +rather inclined to give the benefit of the doubt to the goose. + +We did not get into our regular winter quarters until after the first +of January, 1862. These were established on the south Banks of Bull +Run, near Blackburn's Ford, the place of the first battle of the name, +where Longstreet fought on the 18th of July. Large details were sent +out from camp every day to build foundations for these quarters. This +was done by cutting pine poles or logs the right length of our +tents, build up three or four feet, and over this pen the tent to be +stretched. They were generally about ten feet square, but a man could +only stand erect in the middle. The cracks between the logs were +clinked with mud, a chimney built out of poles split in half and +notched up in the ends of the log parts of the tent. An inside wall +was made of plank or small round poles, with space between the two +walls of five or six inches. This was filled with soft earth or mud, +packed tightly, then a blazing fire started, the inner wall burned +out, and the dirt baked hard and solid as a brick. In this way we +had very good chimneys and comfortable quarters. From six to eight +occupied one tent, and generally all the inmates messed together. +Forks were driven into the ground, on which were placed strong and +substantial cross-pieces, then round pipe poles, about the size of +a man's arm, laid over all and thickly strewn with pine needles, on +which the blankets are laid. There you have the winter quarters for +the Southern soldiers the first year of the war. + +But some of the men did not like so primitive an order of architecture +and built huts entirely out of logs, and displayed as much originality +as you would find in more pretentious cities. These were covered over +with poles, on which straw and sand were tightly packed, enough so +as to make them water-tight. Some would give names to their quarters, +marked in large letters above their doors in charcoal, taxing their +minds to give ingenious and unique names, such as "Uncle Tom's Cabin," +"The House that Jack Built," "Park Row," "Devil's Inn," etc. To +while away the long nights and cold days, the men had recourse to the +soldier's game, "cards." Few ever played for the money that was in it, +but more for an amusement and pastime. While almost all played cards, +there were very few who could be considered gamblers, or who would +take their comrades' money, if they even won it. There would be +stakes played for, it is true, on the "credit system" generally, to be +evened-up on pay-day. But when that time came around such good feeling +existed that "poker debts," as they were called, were seldom ever +thought of, and the game would continue with its varying successes +without ever a thought of liquidation. You might often see a good old +Methodist or a strict Presbyterian earnestly engaged in a "five cent +antie" game, but never take his friend's money, even if honestly won. +Something had to be done to pass away the time, and card-playing was +considered an innocent amusement. + +The long inactivity made men naturally think and dream of home. The +soldiers had left home quite suddenly, and in many cases with little +preparation, but the continual talk of "peace in the spring," and the +daily vaporing of the press about England or France recognizing the +South's belligerency--and the opening of her ports--buoyed up the +spirits of the soldiers, and fanned the flame of hope. A great many +of the old army officers of the United States, hailing from the South, +had resigned their commissions on the Secession of the States, and +tendered their services to the Confederacy. Of course it mattered not +what was their former rank, or what service, if any they had seen, +all expected places as generals. President Davis being a West Pointer +himself, had great partiality for graduates of that institution. +It was his weakness, this favoritism for West Pointers; and the +persistency with which he appointed them above and over the generals +of the volunteers, gave dissatisfaction. These appointments caused +such resentment and dissatisfaction that some of our very best +generals resigned their commissions, refusing to serve under men of no +experience and doubtful qualifications. Longstreet, Van Dorn, McLaws, +G.W. Smith, and a host of others, who had been captains and majors in +the United States Army, were here or in Richmond waiting for some high +grade, without first winning their spurs upon the field. McLaws, a +Major in the regular army, was made a Major General, and Longstreet +had been appointed over General Bonham, the latter having seen varied +service in Mexico, commanding a regiment of regulars, doing staff +duty, and Military Governor of one of the provinces after the war. +At such injustice as this, gave General Bonham reason to resign his +command and return to South Carolina, where he soon afterwards was +elected to Congress, and later elected Governor of the State. This +left the command to Colonel Kershaw as senior Colonel, but he was +soon thereafter made Brigadier General. While the troops felt safe +and confident under Kershaw, they parted with General Bonham with +unfeigned reluctance and regret. Although none blamed him for the +steps taken, for all felt keenly the injustice done, still they wished +him to remain and lead them to victory, and share the glory they felt +sure was in store for all connected with the old First Brigade. + +In future we will call the brigade by the name of Kershaw, the name by +which it was mostly known, and under whose leadership the troops +did such deeds of prowess, endured so many hardships, fought so many +battles, and gained so many victories, as to shed a halo around the +heads of all who marched with him and fought under the banner of +Joseph B. Kershaw. Here I will give a brief biography of General +Kershaw. + + * * * * * + + +JOSEPH BREVARD KERSHAW + +Was born January 5th, 1822, at Camden, S.C. He was a son of John +Kershaw and Harriet DuBose, his wife. Both of the families of Kershaws +and DuBoses were represented by more than one member, either in the +Continentals or the State troops, during the War of the Revolution, +Joseph Kershaw, the most prominent of them, and the grandfather of +the subject of this sketch, having lost his fortune in his efforts +to maintain the patriot cause. John Kershaw died when his son, Joseph +Brevard, was a child of seven years of age. He attended first a "dame +school" in his native town. Afterwards he attended a school taught +by a rigid disciplinarian, a Mr. Hatfield, who is still remembered by +some of the pupils for his vigorous application of the rod on frequent +occasions, with apparent enjoyment on his part, but with quite other +sentiments on the part of the boys. He was sent at the age of fifteen +to the Cokesbury Conference school, in Abbeville District, as it was +then known, where he remained for only a brief time. Leaving this +school, after a short sojourn at home, he went to Charleston, S.C., +where he became a clerk in a dry goods house. This life not being +congenial to him, he returned to Camden and entered as a student in +the law office of the late John M. DeSaussure, Esq., from which, at +the age of twenty-one, he was admitted to the Bar. He soon afterwards +formed a copartnership with James Pope Dickinson, who was subsequently +killed at the battle of Cherubusco, in the war with Mexico, gallantly +leading the charge of the Palmetto Regiment. Both partners went to the +Mexican War, young Kershaw as First Lieutenant of the Camden company, +known as the DeKalb Rifle Guards. Struck down by fever contracted +while in the service, he returned home a physical wreck, to be +tenderly nursed back to health by his wife, Lucretia Douglass, whom +he had married in 1844. Upon the recovery of his health, the war being +over, he resumed the practice of law in Camden. But it was not long +before his services were demanded in the State Legislature, which +he entered as a member of the lower house in 1852. From this time on +until the opening of hostilities in the war between the States, he +practiced his profession with eminent success, and served also in the +Legislature several terms, being handsomely re-elected when he stood +for the place. He took a deep interest in the struggle then impending, +and was a member of the Secession Convention from his native district. +As it became more and more evident that there would be war, he ran +for and was elected to the office of Colonel of the militia regiment +composed of companies from Kershaw and adjacent districts, which, +early in 1861, by command of Governor Pickens, he mobilized and led to +Charleston and thence to Morris' Island, where the regiment remained +until it volunteered and was called to go to Virginia to enter the +service of the Confederacy. Several of the companies then in his +regiment consented to go. These were supplemented by other companies +which offered their services, and the new regiment, now known as the +Second South Carolina Volunteers, proceeded to Richmond, thence to +Manassas. + +From this time until 1864 it is unnecessary to trace his personal +history in this place, because the history of the brigade, to the +command of which he was elected at the reorganization in 1862, and of +its commander cannot be separated. In May, 1864, he was promoted to +the rank of Major General and assigned to the command of a division, +of which his brigade formed a part. His was the First Brigade of the +First Division of the First Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia. On +the retreat from Richmond his division, with other troops, numbering +in all about 6,000 men, was surrounded and captured at the battle of +Sailor's Creek, April 6th, 1865. In this disastrous battle Lieutenant +General Ewell, Major Generals Kershaw and Custis Lee, Brigadier +Generals D.M. DuBose, Semmes, Hunter, and Corse, and Commodores Hunter +and Tucker, of the Confederate States' Navy, ranking on shore duty as +Brigadiers, were captured, together with their respective commands, +almost to a man, after a desperate and sanguinary struggle against +immense odds. Those officers were all sent to Fort Warren, Boston +Harbor, where they remained in prison until some time in August, 1865, +when they were allowed to return to their respective homes. + +General Kershaw resumed the profession of law in Camden immediately +upon his return, and enjoyed a large and lucrative practice for many +years, until called to serve his State as Circuit Judge in 1877, when +the government was wrested from the hands of the Republicans. He took +an active part in politics, having been elected to the State Senate in +the fall of 1865. He ran for Congress from his district in 1874, but +was counted out, as it was believed, at the election. He was also +summoned to Columbia by Governor Hampton after his election in 1876, +and rendered important service in securing the peaceable outcome of +that most trying struggle. Upon the convening of the Legislature, he +was at once elected Judge of the Fifth Circuit, a position which he +held with distinguished honor for sixteen years, rendering it to Judge +Ernest Gary in June, 1893, on which occasion there was tendered him +a farewell probably unique in the judicial history of the State, +by eminent representatives of the Bar of his Circuit. With impaired +health, but with unwavering faith and carefulness that no adversity +diminished, he once more returned to the practice of his profession. +It was a gallant effort in the face of tremendous odds, but the +splendid health that he had enjoyed for many years had been undermined +slowly and insidiously by disease incident to a life that had ever +borne the burdens of others, and that had spent itself freely and +unselfishly for his country and his fellowman, and it was evident to +all that his days were numbered. Devoted friends, the names of many +of whom are unknown to me, offered him pecuniary help at this trying +juncture, and these the writer would wish to hold, as he would have +wished, "in everlasting remembrance." In his message to the General +Assembly that year, 1893, Governor B.R. Tillman proposed him as the +proper person to collect the records of the services of South +Carolina soldiers in the Civil War, and to prepare suitable historical +introduction to the volume. The Legislature promptly, and I believe +unanimously, endorsed the nomination and made an appropriation for +the work. To this he gave himself during the two succeeding mouths, +collecting data, and even preparing in part the proposed introduction. +But growing infirmities compelled him to lay it down, and in the +latter part of March, 1894, he became alarmingly ill. All was done for +his relief that the most competent skill and gentle care could do, but +to no avail, and in the night of April 12th, just before midnight, be +breathed his last. Among his last words to his son were these, spoken +when he was perfectly conscious of what was before him: "My son, I +have no doubts and no fears." On the occasion of his funeral there +was a general outpouring of people from the town and vicinity for many +miles, who sincerely mourned the departure of their friend. The State +was represented by the Governor and seven members of his official +family. On the modest monument that marks his last resting place is +inscribed his name and the date of his birth and death. On the base +the legend runs: "I have fought a good fight; I have kept the faith." + +It may prove of interest to the surviving members of the old brigade +to know that after the fight of Sailor's Creek, when General Kershaw +and his companions were being taken back to Petersburg and thence to +City Point to be shipped North, he spent a night at a farm house, +then occupied as a field hospital and as quarters by the surgeons and +attendants. They were South Carolinians, and were anxious to hear all +about the fight. In telling of it the pride and love which he reposed +in the old brigade received a wistful testimonial. It was then +confronting Sherman somewhere in North Carolina. Its old commander +said in a voice vibrant with feeling: "If I had only had my old +brigade with me I believe we could have held these fellows in check +until night gave us the opportunity to withdraw." + +The roads in every direction near the army had become almost +impassable--mud knee deep in the middle and ruts cut to the hubs on +either side. The roads leading to Manassas were literally strewn with +the carcasses of horses, some even sunk out of sight in the slough and +mud. It would remind one of the passage of Napoleon across the Arabian +desert, so graphically described by historians. The firewood had +become scarce, and had to be carried on the men's shoulders the +distance of a mile, the wagons being engaged in hauling supplies +and the enormous private baggage sent to the soldiers from home. I +remember once on my return from home on a short furlough, I had under +my charge one whole carload of boxes for my company alone. Towards +night every soldier would go out to the nearest woodland, which was +usually a mile distant, cut a stick of wood the size he could easily +carry, and bring into camp, this to do the night and next day. The +weather being so severe, fires had to be kept up all during the night. +Some constructed little boats and boated the wood across the stream, +Bull Run, and a time they generally had of it, with the boat upsetting +the men and the wood floundering and rolling about in the water, and +it freezing cold. + +The Department granted a thirty days' leave of absence to all +individuals and companies that would re-enlist for the remaining two +years or the war. Many officers were granted commissions to raise +companies of cavalry and artillery out of the infantry commands, whose +time was soon to expire. Lieutenant T.J. Lipscomb, of Company B, Third +South Carolina Regiment, was given a commission as Captain, and he, +with others, raised a company of cavalry and was given a thirty days' +furlough. A great many companies volunteered in a body, not knowing +at the time that the Conscript Act soon to be enacted would retain in +service all between certain ages in the army, even after their time +had expired. + +About the middle of February President Davis called General Johnston +to Richmond to confer with him upon the practicability of withdrawing +the army to the south banks of the Rappahannock. It was generally +understood at the time, and largely the impression since, that the +army was withdrawn in consequence of McClellan's movements on the +Peninsula. But such was not the case. This withdrawal was determined +on long before it was known for certain that McClellan would adopt the +Peninsula as his base of operations. The middle of February began the +removal of the ordnance and commissary stores by railroad to the south +of the rivers in our rear. These had been accumulated at Manassas out +of all proportion to the needs of the army, and against the wishes of +the commanding General. There seemed to be a want of harmony between +the army officers and the officers of the Department in Richmond. This +difference of feelings was kept up throughout the war, greatly to the +embarassment at times of the Generals in the field, and often a great +sacrifice to the service. The officials in Richmond, away from the +seat of war, had a continual predilection to meddle with the internal +affairs of the army. This meddling caused Jackson, who became +immortal in after years, to tender his resignation, and but for the +interference of General Johnston, the world would perhaps never have +heard of the daring feats of "Stonewall Jackson." He asked to be +returned to the professorship at the Military Institute, but General +Johnston held his letter up and appealed to Jackson's patriotism and +the cause for which all were fighting, to reconsider his action and to +overlook this officious intermeddling and remain at his post. This he +did under protest. + +Our brigade, and, in fact, all regiments and brigades, had been put +in different commands at different times to suit the caprice of +the President or whims of the Department, and now we were Early's +Division. + +On the night of the 9th of March we broke up quarters at Bull Run and +commenced our long and tiresome march for the Rappahannock. We were +ordered by different routes to facilitate the movement, our wagon +trains moving out in the morning along the dirt road and near the +railroad. All baggage that the soldiers could not carry had been sent +to the rear days before, and the greater part destroyed in the great +wreck and conflagration that followed at Manassas on its evacuation. +In passing through Manassas the stores, filled to the very tops with +commissary stores, sutler's goods, clothing, shoes, private boxes, and +whiskey, were thrown open for the soldiers to help themselves. What a +feast for the troops! There seemed everything at hand to tempt him to +eat, drink, or wear, but it was a verification of the adage, "When +it rains mush you have no spoon." We had no way of transporting these +goods, now piled high on every hand, but to carry them on our backs, +and we were already overloaded for a march of any distance. Whiskey +flowed like water. Barrels were knocked open and canteens filled. +Kegs, jugs, and bottles seemed to be everywhere. One stalwart man of +my company shouldered a ten gallon keg and proposed to hold on to it +as long as possible, and it is a fact that a few men carried this +keg by reliefs all night and next day. This was the case in other +companies. When, we got out of the town and on the railroad, the men +were completely overloaded. All night we marched along the railroad +at a slow, steady gait, but all order and discipline were abandoned. +About midnight we saw in our rear great sheets of flame shooting up +from the burning buildings, that illuminated the country for miles +around. Manassas was on fire! Some of the buildings had caught fire +by accident or carelessness of the soldiers, for the firing was not to +begin until next day, after the withdrawal of the cavalry. The +people in the surrounding country had been invited to come in and get +whatever they wished, but I doubt if any came in time to save +much from the burning mass. A great meat curing establishment at +Thoroughfare Gap, that contained millions of pounds of beef and pork, +was also destroyed. We could hear the bursting of bombs as the flames +reached the magazines, as well as the explosion of thousands of small +arm cartridges. The whole sounded like the raging of a great battle. +Manassas had become endeared to the soldiers by its many memories, +and when the word went along the line, "Manassas is burning," it put a +melancholy feeling upon all. Some of the happiest recollections of the +soldiers that composed Kershaw's Brigade as well as all of Johnston's +Army, were centred around Manassas. It was here they had experienced +their first sensations of the soldier, Manassas was the field of their +first victory, and there they had spent their first winter. It seemed +to connect the soldiers of the Confederacy with those of Washington +at Valley Forge and Trenton, the winter quarters of the army of the +patriots. It gave the recollection of rest, a contrast with the many +marches, the hard fought battles, trials, and hardships. + +The next day it began to rain, and a continual down-pour continued for +days and nights. Blankets were taken from knapsacks to cover over the +men as they marched, but they soon filled with water, and had to be +thrown aside. Both sides of the railroad were strewn with blankets, +shawls, overcoats, and clothing of every description, the men finding +it impossible to bear up under such loads. The slippery ground and the +unevenness of the railroad track made marching very disagreeable to +soldiers unaccustomed to it. Some took the dirt road, while others +kept the railroad track, and in this way all organizations were lost +sight of, but at night they collected together in regiments, joined +the wagon trains, and bivouaced for the night. Sometimes it would be +midnight before the last of the stragglers came up. We crossed the +Rappahannock on the railroad bridge, which had been laid with plank +to accommodate the passage of wagon trains, on the 11th and remained +until the 19th. Up to this time it was not fully understood by the +authorities in Richmond which route McClellan would take to reach +Richmond, whether by way of Fredericksburg or Yorktown, but now scouts +reported large transports, laden with soldiers, being shipped down the +Potomac to the mouth of the James and York Rivers. This left no doubt +in the minds of the authorities that the Peninsula was to be the +base of operations. We continued our march on the 19th, crossed the +Rapidan, and encamped around Orange Court House. + +Beauregard, whom the soldiers loved dearly, and in whom they had every +confidence as a leader, was transferred to the West, to join General +A.S. Johnston, who had come from California and was organizing an army +in Southern Tennessee. + +Magruder, commanding at Yorktown, reporting large bodies disembarking +in his front, Kershaw's Brigade, with several others, were placed upon +cars and hurried on through Richmond to his support, leaving the +other portion of the army to continue the march on foot, or on cars, +wherever met. At Richmond we were put on board small sail boats and +passed down the James River for the seat of war. This was a novel mode +of transportation for most of the soldiers on board. It was a most +bitter day and night. A cold east wind blowing from the sea, with a +mist of sleet, the cold on the deck of the little vessel became almost +unbearable. About two hundred were placed on board of each, and it +being so cold we were forced to go below in the "hold," leaving only a +little trap door of four feet square as our only means of ventilation. +Down in the hold, where these two hundred men were packed like +sardines in a box, caused us to almost suffocate, while to remain on +deck five minutes would be to court death by freezing. Thus one would +go up the little ladder, stick his head through the door a moment for +a breath of fresh air, then drop back and allow another the pleasure +of a fresh breathing spell. So we alternated between freezing and +smothering all the way, a distance of one hundred and fifty miles +or more. I had read of the tortures of the "middle passage" and the +packing of the slave ships, but I do not think it could have exceeded +our condition. + +Now it must be remembered that for the most of the time on our march +we were separated from our wagon trains that had our tents, cooking +utensils, and other baggage. Many novel arrangements were resorted to +for cooking. The flour was kneaded into dough on an oil cloth spread +upon the ground, the dough pulled into thin cakes, pinned to boards or +barrel heads by little twigs or wooden pegs, placed before the fire, +and baked into very fair bread. Who would think of baking bread on a +ram-rod? But it was often done. Long slices of dough would be rolled +around the iron ram-rods, then held over the fire, turning it over +continually to prevent burning, and in this way we made excellent +bread, but by a tedious process. It is needless to say the meats were +cooked by broiling. We parched corn when flour was scarce, and +often guards had to be placed over the stock at feed time to prevent +soldiers from robbing the horses of their corn. + +At midnight the captain of the sloop notified us that we were now at +our place of disembarkation, and we began to scramble up the ladder, +a small lamp hanging near by and out on deck. The wooden wharfs were +even with the deck, so we had no difficulty in stepping from one to +the other. But the night was pitch dark, and our only mode of keeping +direction was taken from the footsteps of the soldiers on the wharf +and in front. Here we came very near losing one of our best soldiers. +Jim George was an erratic, or some said "half witted" fellow, but was +nevertheless a good soldier, and more will be said of him in future +In going out of the hold on deck he became what is called in common +parlance "wrong shipped," and instead of passing to the right, as the +others did, he took the left, and in a moment he was floundering about +in the cold black waves of the river below. The wind was shrieking, +howling, and blowing--a perfect storm--so no one could hear his call +for help. He struck out manfully and paddled wildly about in the +chilly water, until fortunately a passing sailor, with the natural +instinct of his calling, scented a "man overboard." A line was thrown +Jim, and after a pull he was landed on shore, more dead than alive. + +"How long were you in the water, Jim?" someone asked. + +"Hell! more dan t'ree hours," was the laconic and good-natured reply. + +Had we lost Jim here, the regiment would have lost a treat in after +years, as time will show. + +We went into camp a mile or so from the historic old Yorktown, if a +few old tumbled down houses and a row of wooden wharfs could be +called a town. The country around Yorktown was low and swampy, and the +continual rains made the woods and fields a perfect marsh, not a dry +foot of land to pitch a tent on, if we had had tents, and scarcely a +comfortable place to stand upon. Fires were built, and around these +men would stand during the day, and a pretense of sleep during the +night. But the soldiers were far from being despondent; although some +cursed our luck, others laughed and joked the growlers. The next day +great numbers visited Yorktown through curiosity, and watched the +Federal Fleet anchored off Old Point Comfort. Here happened a "wind +fall" I could never account for. While walking along the beach with +some comrades, we came upon a group of soldiers, who, like ourselves, +were out sight-seeing. They appeared to be somewhat excited by the way +they were gesticulating. When we came up, we found a barrel, supposed +to be filled with whiskey, had been washed ashore. Some were swearing +by all that was good and bad, that "it was a trick of the d----n +Yankees on the fleet," who had poisoned the whiskey and thrown it +overboard to catch the "Johnny Rebs." The crowd gathered, and with it +the discussion and differences grew. Some swore they would not drink +a drop of it for all the world, while others were shouting, "Open her +up," "get into it," "not so much talking, but more drinking." But who +was "to bell the cat?" Who would drink first? No one seemed to care +for the first drink, but all were willing enough, if somebody else +would just "try it." It was the first and only time I ever saw +whiskey go begging among a lot of soldiers. At last a long, lank, +lantern-jawed son of the "pitch and turpentine State" walked up and +said: + +"Burst her open and give me a drink, a man might as well die from a +good fill of whiskey as to camp in this God-forsaken swamp and die of +fever; I've got a chill now." + +The barrel was opened. The "tar heel" took a long, a steady, and +strong pull from a tin cup; then holding it to a comrade, he said: +"Go for it, boys, she's all right; no poison thar, and she didn't come +from them thar gun boats either. Yankees ain't such fools as to throw +away truck like that. No, boys, that 'ar liquor just dropped from +Heaven." The battle around the whiskey barrel now raged fast and +furious; spirits flowed without and within; cups, canteens, hats, and +caps were soused in the tempting fluid, and all drank with a relish. +Unfortunately, many had left their canteens in camp, but after getting +a drink they scurried away for that jewel of the soldier, the canteen. +The news of the find spread like contagion, and in a few minutes +hundreds of men were struggling around the barrel of "poison." Where +it came from was never known, but it is supposed to have been dropped +by accident from a Federal man-of-war. As the soldiers said, "All +gifts thankfully received and no questions asked." + +General J. Bankhead Magruder was in command of the Peninsula at the +time of our arrival, and had established his lines behind the Warwick +River, a sluggish stream rising near Yorktown and flowing southward +to the James. Along this river light entrenchments had been thrown up. +The river had been dammed in places to overflow the lowlands, and +at these dams redoubts had been built and defended by our heaviest +artillery. + +In a few days all our division was in line, and soon thereafter +was joined by Longstreet's, D.H. Hill's, and G.W. Smith's, with the +cavalry under Stuart. General Johnston was Commander-in-Chief. +We remained in camp around Yorktown about two weeks, when General +Johnston decided to abandon this line of defense for one nearer +Richmond. One of the worst marches our brigade ever had was the night +before we evacuated our lines along the Warwick. Remember the troops +had no intention of a retreat, for they were going down the river +towards the enemy. It was to make a feint, however, to appear as if +Johnston was making a general advance, thus to enable the wagon +trains and artillery to get out of the way of the retreating army, and +Kershaw was to cover this retreat. + +At dark we began our march through long ponds and pools of water, and +mud up to the knees, in the direction opposite Gloucester Point, and +near a point opposite to the enemy's fleet of gunboats. Through mud +and water we floundered and fell, the night being dark. Mile after +mile we marched at a snail's gait until we came to a large opening, +surrounded by a rail fence. This was about midnight. Here we were +ordered to build great fires of the rails near by. This was done, and +soon the heavens were lit up by this great stretch of roaring fires. +Some had spread their blankets and lay down for a good sleep, while +others sat around the good, warm, crackling blaze, wondering what +next. Scarcely had we all became quiet than orders came to "fall in." +Back over the same sloppy, muddy, and deep-rutted road we marched, +retracing the steps made only an hour before, reaching our old camp +at daylight, but we were not allowed to stop or rest. The retreat had +begun. Magruder, with the other of his forces, was far on the road +towards Williamsburg, and we had to fall in his rear and follow his +footsteps over roads, now simply impassable to any but foot soldiers. +We kept up the march until we had left Yorktown ten miles in our rear, +after marching a distance of nearly thirty miles, and all night and +day. A council of war had been held at Richmond, at which were present +President Davis, Generals Lee, Smith, Longstreet, Johnston, and the +Secretary of War, to determine upon the point at which our forces were +to concentrate and give McClellan battle. Johnston favored Richmond +as the most easy of concentration; thereto gather all the forces +available in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina around +Richmond, and as the enemy approached fall upon and crush him. G.W. +Smith coincided with Johnston. Longstreet favored reinforcing Jackson +in the Valley, drive the enemy out, cross the Potomac, and threaten +Washington, and force McClellan to look after his Capitol. The others +favored Yorktown and the Peninsula as the point of concentration. +But General Johnston found his position untenable, as the enemy could +easily flank his right and left with his fleet. + +On May 3rd began the long, toilsome march up the York River and the +James. The enemy hovered on our rear and picked up our stragglers, and +forced the rear guard at every step. At Williamsburg, the evening of +the 4th of May, Johnston was forced to turn and fight. Breastworks and +redoubts had been built some miles in front of the town, and it was +here intended to give battle. The heavy down-pour of rain prevented +Anderson, who was holding the rear and protecting the wagon trains, +from moving, and the enemy began pressing him hard. + +Kershaw and the other brigades had passed through Williamsburg when +the fight began, but the continual roar of the cannon told of a battle +in earnest going on in the rear and our troops hotly engaged. Kershaw +and Simms, of our Division, were ordered back at double quick. As we +passed through the town the citizens were greatly excited, the piazzas +and balconies being filled with ladies and old men, who urged the men +on with all the power and eloquence at their command. The woods had +been felled for some distance in front of the earthworks and forts, +and as we neared the former we could see the enemy's skirmishers +pushing out of the woods in the clearing. The Second and Eighth South +Carolina Regiments were ordered to occupy the forts and breastworks +beyond Fort Magruder, and they had a perfect race to reach them before +the enemy did. The battle was raging in all fierceness on the left, +as well as in our front. More troops were put in action on both sides, +and it seemed as if we were going to have the great battle there. D.R. +Jones, Longstreet, and McLaws were more or less engaged along their +whole lines. The Third Regiment did not have an opportunity to fire +a gun that day, nor either the Seventh, but the other two had +a considerable fight, but being mostly behind breastworks their +casualties were light. The enemy withdrew at nightfall, and after +remaining on the field for some hours, our army took up the line of +march towards Richmond. It has been computed that McClellan had with +him on the Peninsula, outside of his marines, 111,000 men of all arms. + +As the term of first enlistment has expired, I will give a brief +sketch of some of the field officers who led the regiments during the +first twelve months of the war. + + * * * * * + + +COLONEL JAMES H. WILLIAMS, OF THE THIRD SOUTH CAROLINA VOLUNTEERS. + +Colonel James H. Williams, the commander of the Third South Carolina +Regiment, was born in Newberry County, October 4th, 1813. He was of +Welsh descent, his ancestors immigrating to this country with Lord +Baltimore. He was English by his maternal grandmother. The grandfather +of Colonel Williams was a Revolutionary soldier, and was killed at +the battle of Ninety-Six. The father of the subject of this sketch was +also a soldier, and held the office of Captain in the war of 1812. + +Colonel Williams, it would seem, inherited his love for the military +service from his ancestors, and in early life joined a company of +Nullifiers, in 1831. He also served in the Florida War. His ardor in +military matters was such he gave little time for other attainments; +he had no high school or college education. When only twenty-four +years old he was elected Major of the Thirty-eighth Regiment of State +Militia, and in 1843 took the Captaincy of the McDuffie Artillery, a +crack volunteer company of Newberry. In 1846 he organized a company +for the Mexican War, and was mustered into service in 1847 as Company +L. Palmetto Regiment. He was in all the battles of that war, and, +with the Palmetto Regiment, won distinction on every field. After his +return from Mexico he was elected Brigadier General and then Major +General of State Militia. He served as Mayor of his town, Commissioner +in Equity, and in the State Legislature. + +Before the breaking out of the Civil War, he had acquired some +large estates in the West, and was there attending to some business +connected therewith when South Carolina seceded. The companies that +were to compose the Third Regiment elected him their Colonel, but +in his absence, when the troops were called into service, they were +commanded for the time by Lieutenant Colonel Foster, of Spartanburg. +He joined the Regiment at "Lightwood Knot Springs," the 1st of May. +He commanded the Third during the term of its first enlistment, and +carried it through the first twelve months' campaign in Virginia. + +At the reorganization of the regiment, the men composing it being +almost wholly young men, desired new blood at the head of the +volunteer service, and elected Captain James D. Nance in his stead. +After his return to the State, he was placed at the head of the Fourth +and Ninth Regiments of State Troops, and served as such until the +close. + +After the war, he returned to Arkansas and continued his planting +operations until the time of his death, August 21st, 1892. He was a +member of the Constitutional Convention of that State in 1874. + +Colonel Williams was a born soldier, considerate of and kind to +his men. He was cool and fearless to a fault. He understood tactics +thoroughly, but was wanting in those elements of discipline--its +sternness and rigidity that was required to govern troops in actual +war. His age counted against him as a strict disciplinarian, but not +as a soldier. He was elected to the Legislature of this State before +Reconstruction, as well as a member of the Constitutional Convention +of Arkansas in 1874. + + * * * * * + + +LIEUTENANT COLONEL FOSTER. OF THE THIRD SOUTH CAROLINA VOLUNTEERS. + +Lieutenant Colonel C.B. Foster, of the Third South Carolina Regiment, +was born in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, at the old Foster +homestead, near Cedar Springs, in 1817. His father was Anthony Foster, +a native of Virginia. Colonel Foster was a member of the Legislature +before the war, and represented Spartanburg County in the Secession +Convention, along with Simpson Bobo, Dr. J.H. Carlisle, and others. +After the Convention adjourned he returned to his home in Spartanburg +and immediately began drilling a company for the war. He was elected +Captain of the Blackstock Company, which was Company K, in the Third +Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers. The Blackstock Company reported +for duty as soon as volunteers were called for, and went immediately +to the camp of instruction at Lightwood Knot Springs. Colonel Foster +was elected Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment. After spending about +three months at the camp of instruction, the Third Regiment was +ordered to Virginia. Colonel Footer served until some time after the +battle of First Manassas, having participated in that campaign. He +remained in Virginia until the fall of 1861, when he was ordered to go +home by the surgeon, his health having completely given way. It took +long nursing to get him on his feet again. He was devoted to the +Confederate cause, and was always willing and ready to help in any way +its advancement. He gave two sons to his country. One, Captain Perrin +Foster, also of the Third Regiment, was killed at Fredericksburg +leading his command. His other son, James Anthony Foster, gave up +his life in the front of his command during the frightful charge on +Maryland Heights. He was a member of Company K, of the Third Regiment. + +Colonel Foster was considered a wealthy man before the war, but when +it ended he was left penniless. At that time he lived near Glenn +Springs, Spartanburg County. In 1867 he moved to Union County and +merchandised until 1884. He was also County Treasurer for a long time. +He died on June 9th. 1897, at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. +Benjamin Kennedy, at Jonesville, Union County. In early life Colonel +Foster married Miss Mary Ann Perrin, a sister of Colonel Thomas +C. Perrin, of Abbeville. She died in 1886. Three daughters survive +Colonel Foster, Mrs. I.G. McKissick, Mrs. Benjamin Kennedy, and Mrs. +J.A. Thompson. Colonel Foster was one of God's noblemen. He was true +to his friends, his family, and his country. He never flinched from +danger nor from his duty. He was faithful at all times and under all +circumstances to the best principles of the Anglo-Saxon race. + + * * * * * + + +COLONEL THOMAS G. BACON, OF THE SEVENTH SOUTH CAROLINA VOLUNTEERS. + +Thomas Glascock Bacon was born in Edgefield Village of English +ancestry on the 24th of June, 1812. He was the youngest son of Major +Edmund Bacon, the eloquent and distinguished member of the Edgefield +Bar, and author of the humorous "Georgia Scenes," written under the +nom de plume of Ned Brace. Colonel Bacon's mother was a sister of +Brigadier General Thomas F. Glascock, of Georgia, a gallant and +distinguished officer of the Revolutionary War, and after whom Colonel +Bacon was named. He received the early rudiments of education at the +Edgefield Academy, and when at the proper age he was sent for his +classical education to the Pendleton English and Classical Institute, +under the tutilage of that profound scholar and educator, Prof. S.M. +Shuford. Colonel Bacon was fond of the classics, and had acquired rare +literary attainments, and had he cultivated his tastes in that line +assiduously, he no doubt would have become the foremost scholar of the +State, if not the South. He was passionately fond of manly sports and +out-door exercise. He was a devotee of the turf, and this disposition +led him early in life to the development of fast horses and a breeder +of blooded stock. He was a turfman of the old school, and there were +but few courses in the South that had not tested the mettle of his +stock. But like his brother in arms, Colonel Cash, of the Eighth, and +brother turfman, he became disgusted with the thievery and trickery of +later day sports and quit the turf, still owning at his death some +of the most noted racers of the times, Granger Lynchburg, John Payne, +Glengary, Father Ryan, Ned Brace, and others of lesser note. + +He paid much attention to military matters, and held several offices +in the State militia before the war. He, with his friend and superior, +General M.L. Bonham, enlisted in the "Blues" and served in the +Palmetto Regiment in the war with the Seminoles. At the breaking out +of the Civil War he, with Elbert Bland, afterwards Colonel of the +Seventh, organized the first company from Edgefield, and was elected +Captain. The companies assigned to the Seventh Regiment unanimously +elected him the Colonel, and in that capacity he led his regiment to +Virginia, being among the first regiments from the State to reach the +seat of war. He was at the battle of Manassas, and participated in +the Peninsular campaign. At the reorganization of the regiment at the +expiration of the term of enlistment, his failing health forced him +to decline a re-election as Colonel. Returning home, and the State +needing the services of trained soldiers to command the State troops, +notwithstanding his failing health, he cheerfully accepted the command +of the Seventh Regiment State troops. In 1863 he was elected to the +State Senate. He died at his home, Pine Pond, in Edgefield County, +September 25th, 1876, leaving a widow, but no children. + +Strong in his friendship and earnest in his affection, but with a +peaceable and forgiving temperament, pure in his motives, charitable +in all things, generous to the needy, affectionate to his friends and +relatives, chivalric and honorable in every relation of life, brave in +action, and with that fortitude under adverse circumstances that makes +heroes of men, just and impartial to the officers and men under his +command, pleasant and sociable towards his equals in rank, obedient +and courteous to his superiors, few men lived or died with so much +respect and admiration, genuine friendship, and love from all as +Colonel Thomas G. Bacon, of the Seventh South Carolina Volunteers. + + * * * * * + + +COLONEL E.B.C. CASH, OF THE EIGHTH SOUTH CAROLINA VOLUNTEERS. + +Ellerbe Boggan Crawford Cash was born near Wadesboro, Anson County, +North Carolina, on July 1st, 1823. His father was Boggan Cash, a +Colonel in militia of that State, merchant, and member of Legislature. +His mother was Miss Elizabeth Ellerbe, of Chesterfield County, S.C. +He was the only child. His father died when he was near two years old, +and his mother returned to her father's, in South Carolina. He was +educated at Mt. Zion Institute, Winnsboro, S.C., and South Carolina +College. He read law under General Blakeney, at Cheraw, S.C., and +practiced in partnership a short while with Alexander McIver, Esq., +the Solicitor of the Eastern Circuit, and father of Chief Justice +Henry McIver, of South Carolina. But his mother owning a large landed +estate, and several hundred negroes, he soon retired from the Bar to +look after her affairs, and devoted himself to planting and raising +fine horses and cattle. He married in 1847 his cousin, Miss Allan +Ellerbe, of Kershaw, S.C. He was elected to the Legislature from his +County, Chesterfield. He was elected Colonel, Brigadier General, and +Major General of State militia. + +When the war commenced he was one of the Major Generals of the State. +He volunteered and was elected Colonel of the Eighth South Carolina +Regiment. At the reorganization he did not offer for re-election, but +came home and was made Colonel in State troops. He was kind to the +poor the whole war, and gave away during the war over 50,000 bushels +of corn and large quantities of other provisions to soldiers' +families, or sold it in Confederate money at ante bellum prices. After +the war all notes, claims, and mortgages he held on estates of old +soldiers he cancelled and made a present of them to their families. +In one case the amount he gave a widow, who had a family and small +children, was over $5,000, her husband having been killed in his +regiment. + +After the war he continued to farm. In 1876 he took an active part in +redeeming the State, and contributed his time, advice, and services, +and a great deal of money. In 1881 he fought a duel with Colonel Wm. +M. Shannon, in which he killed Colonel Shannon. Colonel Cash was the +challenged party. His wife died in May, 1880. Colonel Cash died +March 10, 1888, and was buried in the family burying ground at his +residence, Cash's Depot, S.C. + +Colonel Cash was a man of strong character, fearless, brave, generous +and true, a good friend and patriot. He made no religious profession. +He was charitable to the extreme, and was the soul of honor, and while +he had many enemies, being a fearless man and a good hater, he +had such qualities as inspired the respect and admiration of his +fellow-men. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER VIII + +Reorganized--"New Officers"--Battle. + + +On the 13th of April the term for which the twelve months' troops had +enlisted was now soon to expire, the great number which had not +re-enlisted were looking forward with longing anticipation for orders +to disband and return to their homes. On the 14th, their obligations +being at an end, officers and men were making rapid preparation to +depart for home--not to quit the service, however, but more to enjoy a +short leave of absence with their families, and to join other branches +of the services, more especially cavalry. Some of the companies had +actually left, and were a mile or two from camp when orders came to +return. The Conscript Act had been passed, making it obligatory on +all, between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five, to enter or remain +in the army. The men took their sudden return in good humor, for +really it was only the married men, who had left their families so +unprepared twelve months before, who cared to return home; for some +of the young men, who were under the conscript age, refused to leave. +Those who had to return received a lot of good-natured badgering at +their sudden return to the army. "Hello, boys, when did you get back? +What's the news at home?" "How did you find all?" were some of the +soothing jeers the "returned sinners" had to endure; and as so great +a number had expressed a desire to join the cavalry, not a few +were asked: "Did you bring your horses with you?" But all was soon +forgotten, for in a few days a reorganization was ordered to take +place, and new officers elected. + +The Conscript Act was condemned in unmeasured terms in many places at +the South, but its necessity and expediency was never doubted. To have +allowed so great a number to absent themselves from the army at this +time, in the face of an overwhelming enemy, and that enemy advancing +upon our Capitol, was more than the morale of the army would admit. +Not altogether would the absence of the soldiers themselves effect the +army, but in the breaking up of organizations, for in some companies +all had re-enlisted, while in others one-half, and in many cases +none. New regiments would have had to be formed out of the re-enlisted +companies, and new companies out of the large number of recruits, now +in camps of instruction. So by keeping up the old organizations, and +filling up the ranks by the conscripts at home, the army would be +greatly benefited. + +In some countries, to be called a conscript or drafted man was +considered a stigma, but not so in the South. There is little doubt, +had a call been made for volunteers, any number could have been had at +a moment's notice, for there were hundreds and thousands at the South +only awaiting an opportunity to enter the army. In fact, there were +companies and regiments already organized and officered, only awaiting +arms by the government, but these organizations were all raw men, +and at this time it was believed to fill up the old companies with +recruits, thus putting seasoned troops side by side with raw ones, +would enhance the efficiency of the army, retain its discipline, and +esprit de corps. + +Then, again, the farms had to be managed, the slaves kept in +subjection, and the army fed, and the older men were better qualified +for this service than the young. In reality, all were in the service +of the country, for while the younger men were fighting in the ranks, +the older ones were working in the fields and factories to furnish +them clothes, provisions, and munitions of war. Our government had no +means at home, no ships on the ocean, little credit abroad, and our +ports all blockaded. So all had to enter the service either as a +fighter or a worker, and our wisest men thought it the better policy +to allow the young men the glory upon the field, while the old men +served at home. On the 13th of May all companies were allowed to elect +their officers, both company and regimental, and enter the service +for two more years. As I said in the commencement of this work, at +the breaking out of the war men generally selected as officers the old +militia officers for company officers and veterans of the Mexican +War for field officers. General Bonham had been a Colonel in Mexico. +Williams, of the Third, had led a company from Newberry to that +far-off land. Kershaw went as First Lieutenant. Cash, of the Eighth, +was a Major General of the militia at the breaking out of the war. +The greatest number of the first Colonels of regiments under the first +call were Mexican veterans. Another qualification that was considered +at the first organization was popularity--gentle, clever, and +kind-hearted. The qualification of courage or as a disciplinarian was +seldom thought of; for a man to be wanting in the first could not +be thought possible. Our men, who had known the proud feelings of +personal freedom, dreaded discipline and restraint, naturally turned +to those men for officers most conducive to their will and wishes. But +twelve months' service in trying campaigns made quite a change. What +they had once looked upon with dread and misgiving they now saw as +a necessity. Strict discipline was the better for both men and +the service. A greater number of the older officers, feeling their +services could be better utilized at home than in the army, and also +having done their duty and share by setting the example by enlistment +and serving twelve months, relinquished these offices to the younger +men and returned home. The younger, too, saw the advisability of +infusing in the organizations young blood--men more of their own age +and temperament--the stern necessity of military discipline, a closer +attendance to tactics and drills, better regulations, and above all, +courage. The organizations selected such men as in their opinions +would better subserve the interests of the service, and who had the +requisites for leadership. This is said with no disparagement to the +old officers, for truer, more patriotic, nor a braver set of men ever +drew a blade than those who constituted the old brigade during its +first organization. In fact, some who had served during the first +twelve months as officers, when they discovered their deficiency, or +that the men had more confidence in others, after a short respite at +home, returned and joined their old companies as privates. Was there +ever greater patriotism and unselfishness and less ostentation shown +as in the example of these men! It was but natural that men selected +almost at random, and in many instances unacquainted with a majority +of the men at enlistment unusual to military life, or the requirements +of an officer in actual service, could possibly be as acceptable as +those chosen after a year of service, and in close compact with the +men. + +SECOND REGIMENT. The Second Regiment chose as officers-- + + Colonel--Jno. D. Kennedy. + Lieutenant Colonel--A.S. Goodwin. + Major--Frank Gaillard. + Adjutant--E.E. Sill. + Quartermaster--W.D. Peck. + Commissary--J.J. Villipigue. + Chief Surgeon--Dr. F. Salmond. + Chaplains--Revs. McGruder and Smith. + +I give below a list of the Captains, as well as the field officers, +of the Second Regiment during the war. There were many changes from +Lieutenants to Captains, and subsequent elections from the ranks to +Lieutenants, caused by the casualties of war, but space forbids, +and want of the facts prevents me from giving more than the company +commanders and the field officers. + +Colonels--J.B. Kershaw, E.P. Jones, Jno. D. Kennedy, and Wm. Wallace. + +Lieutenant Colonels--E.P. Jones, A.D. Goodwin, F. Gaillard, Wm. +Wallace, and J.D. Graham. + +Majors--A.D. Goodwin, W.H. Casson, F. Gaillard, Wm. Wallace, I.D. +Graham, B.F. Clyburn, G.L. Leaphart. + +Adjutants--A.D. Goodwin, E.E. Sill, and A. McNeil. + +Surgeons and Assistant Surgeons--J.A. Maxwell and J.H. Nott. + +Some of them went from Captains and Majors through all the grades to +Colonel. The following are the Captains, some elected at the first +organization, some at the reorganization, and others rose by promotion +from Lieutenant: + +Company A--W.H. Casson, M.A. Shelton, G.L. Leaphart, M.M. Maddrey. + +Company B--A.D. Hoke, Wm. Pulliam, W. Powell, J. Caigle. + +Company C--Wm. Wallace, S. Lorick, J.T. Scott, A.P. Winson. + +Company D--J.S. Richardson, J.D. Graham, W. Wilder. + +Company E--John D. Kennedy, elected Colonel, Z. Leitner, J. +Crackeford. + +Company F--W.W. Ferryman, W.C. China, G. McDowell. + +Company G--J. Hail, J. Friesdale, J.P. Cunningham. + +Company H--H. McManus, D. Clyburn. + +Company I--G.B. Cuthbreath, Ralph Elliott, R. Fishburn, B.F. Barlow. + +Company K--R. Rhett, J. Moorer, K.D. Webb, J.D. Dutart,--Burton, G.T. +Haltiwanger. + +Many changes took place by death and resignation. Scarcely any of the +field officers remained in the end. Many Captains of a low rank went +all the way to Colonels of regiments, and Third Lieutenants rose by +promotion to Captains. This shows the terrible mortality among the +officers. None of the first field officers but what had been killed or +incapacitated for service by wounds at the close of the war. + + * * * * * + + +THIRD SOUTH CAROLINA REGIMENT. + +James D. Nance, of Newberry, Captain of Company E, elected Colonel. + +Conway Garlington, of Laurens, Captain of Company A, elected +Lieutenant Colonel. + +W.D. Rutherford, of Newberry, formerly Adjutant, made Major. + +Y.J. Pope, Newberry, formerly Orderly Sergeant of Company E, made +Adjutant. + +G.W. Shell, Laurens, Quartermaster. + +J.N. Martin and R.N. Lowrance, Commissary. + +Ed. Hicks, of Laurens, Sergeant Major. + +All staff officers are appointed or recommended for appointment by the +Colonel of the regiment. The offices of Regimental Quartermaster +and Commissary, the encumbents heretofore ranking as Captains, were +abolished during the year, having one Quartermaster and one Commissary +for the brigade, the regiments having only Sergeants to act as such. +I will state here that some of the companies from each regiment had +reorganized and elected officers before the time of re-enlistment. +This is one reason why rank was not accorded in the regular order. In +the Third Regiment, Company E, Captain J.D. Nance, and perhaps several +others, had reorganized, taken their thirty days' furlough, and had +returned before the general order to reorganize and remain for two +more years or the war. The new organizations stood in the Third as +follows, by Captains: + + Company A--Willie Hance, Laurens. + Company B--N. Davidson, Newberry. + Company C--R.C. Maffett, Newberry. + Company D--N.F. Walker, Spartanburg. + Company E--J.K.G. Nance--Newberry. + Company F--P. Williams, Laurens. + Company G--R.P. Todd--Laurens. + Company H--John C. Summer, Lexington. + Company I--D.M.H. Langston, Laurens. + Company K--S.M. Langford, Spartanburg. + +Many changes took place in this regiment, some almost immediately +after the election and others in the battle that followed in a few +weeks. + +Captain Davidson died in two weeks after his election from disease, +and was succeeded by Lieutenant Thomas W. Gary, who had during the +first twelve months been Captain Davidson's Orderly Sergeant. It seems +the position of Orderly Sergeant was quite favorable to promotion, +for nearly all the Orderlies during the first twelve months were made +either Captains or Lieutenants. + +Lieutenant Colonel Garlington being killed at Savage Station, Major +Rutherford was promoted to that position, while Captain Maffett was +made Major and Lieutenant Herbert Captain in his stead of Company C. + +Captain Hance, of Company A, being killed at Fredericksburg, First +Lieutenant Robert Richardson became Captain. + +Lieutenant R.H. Wright became Captain of Company E after the promotion +of Nance to Major in the latter part of the service. + +Captain Williams, of Company F, was killed, and Lieutenant Wm. Deal +made Captain and commanded at the surrender. There may have been other +Captains of this company, but no data at hand. + +John W. Watts became Captain of Company G after the promotion of +Captain Todd to Major and Lieutenant Colonel. + +Captain Summer being killed at Fredericksburg, Lieutenant G.S. Swygert +became Captain, was disabled and resigned, and D.A. Dickert became +Captain and commanded to the end. + +Captain Langston, of Company I, being killed, Lieutenant Jarred +Johnston became Captain, disabled at Chickamauga. + +Company K was especially unfortunate in her commanders. Captain +Langford was killed at Savage Station; then Lieutenant L.P. Foster, +son of Lieutenant Colonel Foster, was promoted to Captain and killed +at Fredericksburg. Then W.H. Young was made Captain and killed at +Gettysburg. Then J.H. Cunningham became Captain and was killed at +Chickamauga. J.P. Roebuck was promoted and soon after taken prisoner. +First Lieutenant John W. Wofford commanded the company till the +surrender, and after the war became State Senator from Spartanburg. + +Captain N.F. Walker was permanently disabled at Savage Station, +returned home, was appointed in the conscript bureau, and never +returned to active duty. He still retained his rank and office as +Captain of Company D, thereby preventing promotions in one of the most +gallant companies in Kershaw's Brigade. + +It was at the battle of Fredericksburg that the regiment lost so +many officers, especially Captains, that caused the greatest changes. +Captains Hance, Foster, Summer, with nearly a dozen Lieutenants, were +killed there, making three new Captains, and a lot of new Lieutenants. +It was by the death of Captain Summer that I received the rank of +Captain, having been a Lieutenant up to that time. From December, +1862, to the end I commanded the company, with scarcely a change. It +will be seen that at the reorganization the Third Regiment made quite +a new deal, and almost a clean sweep of old officers--and with few +exceptions the officers from Colonel to the Lieutenants of least +rank were young men. I doubt very much if there was a regiment in the +service that had such a proportion of young men for officers. + +I will here relate an incident connected with the name of Captain +Hance's family, that was spoken of freely in the regiment at the time, +but little known outside of immediate surroundings--not about +Captain Hance, however, but the name and connection that the incident +recalled, that was often related by the old chroniclers of Laurens. +Andrew Johnson, who was at the time I speak United States Senator from +Tennessee, and was on the ticket with Lincoln, for Vice-President of +the United States in his second race against McClellan, was elected, +and afterwards became President. As the story goes, and it is vouched +for as facts, Andrew Johnson in his younger days had a tailoring +establishment at Laurens, and while there paid court to the mother of +Captain Hance. So smitten was he with her charms and graces, he paid +her special attention, and asked for her hand in marriage. Young +Johnson was fine looking, in fact handsome, energetic, prosperous, and +well-to-do young man, with no vices that were common to the young men +of that day, but the great disparity in the social standing of the +two caused his rejection. The family of Hance was too exclusive at the +time to consent to a connection with the plebeian Johnson, yet +that plebeian rose at last to the highest office in the gift of the +American people, through the force of his own endowments. + + * * * * * + + +SEVENTH SOUTH CAROLINA REGIMENT. + +The Seventh Regiment was reorganized by electing-- + + Colonel--D. Wyatt Aiken, Abbeville. + Lieutenant Colonel--Elbert Bland, Edgefield. + Major--W.C. White, Edgefield. + Adjutant--Thomas M. Childs. Sergeant + Major--Amos C. Stalworth. + Quartermaster--B.F. Lovelace. + Commissary--A.F. Townsend. + + Company A--Stuart Harrison. + Company B--Thomas Huggins. + Company C--W.E. Cothran. + Company D--Warren H. Allen. + Company E--James Mitchell. + Company F--John S. Hard. + Company G--W.C. Clark. + Company H--H.W. Addison. + Company I--Benj. Roper. + Company K--Jno. L. Burris. + Company L--J.L. Litchfield. + Company M--Jerry Goggans. + +I am indebted to Captain A.C. Waller, of Greenwood, for the following +brief summary of the Seventh after reorganization, giving the +different changes of regimental and company commanders, as well as the +commanders of the regiment during battle: + +Colonel Aiken commanded at Savage Station, Malvern Hill, and Antietam, +till wounded at Gettysburg, after which he was ordered elsewhere. + +Lieutenant Colonel Bland commanded at Fredericksburg, +Chancellorsville, and Chickamauga; killed in latter battle. + +Major White commanded at Antietam after the wounding of Aiken, and +until he was himself killed at the enemy's battery, the farthest +advance of the day. Captain Hard had command at the close. Captain +Hard also led for a short while at Chickamauga after the death of +Bland, and fell at the head of his regiment on top of Pea Ridge. + +Captain Goggans was in command at Knoxville, Bean Station, and the +Wilderness, until wounded. + +Captain James Mitchell led the regiment in the charge at Cold Harbor, +and was in command at Spottsylvania. + +Lieutenant Colonel Maffett, of the Third, was placed in command of +the Seventh during the Valley campaign under Early in 1864, and led +at Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek the 13th and 19th of September. Was +captured in October. + +Lieutenant Colonel Huggins commanded from October till the surrender, +and at the battle of Averysboro and Bentonville. + +Captain Goggans was promoted to Major after the battle of the +Wilderness, but resigned. + +Company E was divided into two companies, E and M. Company H took the +place of Bland's, which became Company A. + +Captain Stuart Harrison, Company A, resigned, being elected Clerk of +Court of Edgefield, and Lieutenant Gus Bart was made Captain. + +John Carwile, First Lieutenant of Company A, acted as Adjutant after +the death of Adjutant Childs, and also on General Kershaw's staff. + +Lieutenant James Townsend became Captain of Company B after the +promotion of Huggins to Lieutenant Colonel. + +After Captain Hard's promotion James Rearden was made Captain of +Company E and was killed at Wilderness, and Lieutenant C.K. Henderson +became Captain. + +Captain Wm. E. Clark, Company G, was killed at Maryland heights. +Lieutenant Jno. W. Kemp was made Captain and killed at the Wilderness. + +Captain J.L. Burris, of Company K, was wounded at Antietam and +resigned. First Lieutenant J.L. Talbert having been killed at Maryland +Heights a few days before, Second Lieutenant Giles M. Berry became +Captain; he resigned, and Lieutenant West A. Cheatham was made Captain +by promotion. + +Captain J.L. Litchfield, of Company I, was killed at Maryland Heights, +and First Lieutenant Litchfield was made Captain. + +First Lieutenant P. Bouknight became Captain of Company M after the +promotion of Captain Goggans. + + * * * * * + + +EIGHTH SOUTH CAROLINA REGIMENT. + +The Eighth South Carolina Regiment was reorganized by electing-- + + Colonel--Jno. W. Henagan, Marlboro. + Lieutenant Colonel--A.J. Hoole, Darlington. + Major--McD. McLeod, Marlboro. + Adjutant--C.M. Weatherly, Darlington. + Surgeon--Dr. Pearce. + Assistant Surgeon--Dr. Maxy. + + Company A--John H. Muldrow, Darlington. + Company B--Richard T. Powell, Chesterfield. + Company C--Thomas E. Powe, Chesterfield. + Company D--Robt. P. Miller, Chesterfield. + Company E--M.E. Keith, Darlington. + Company F--T.E. Howle, Darlington. + Company G--C.P. Townsend, Marlboro. + Company H--Duncan McIntyre, Marion. + Company I--A.T. Harllee, Marion. + Company K--Frank Manning, Marlboro. + Company L--Thomas E. Stackhouse, Marion. + Company M--Thomas E. Howle, Darlington. + +Company L was a new company, and T.E. Stackhouse was made Captain; +also A.T. Harllee was made Captain of Company I. Company M was also a +new company. + +After the reorganization the Generals' staffs were reduced to more +republican simplicity. General Kershaw was contented with-- + + Captain C.R. Holmes--Assistant Adjutant General. + Lieutenant W.M. Dwight--Adjutant and Inspector General. + Lieutenant D.A. Doby--Aide de Camp. + Lieutenant Jno. Myers--Ordnance Officer. + Major W.D. Peck--Quartermaster. + Major Kennedy--Commissary. + +With a few privates for clerical service. General Kershaw had two +fine-looking, noble lads as couriers, neither grown to manhood, but +brave enough to follow their chief in the thickest of battle, or carry +his orders through storms of battles, W.M. Crumby, of Georgia, and +DeSaussure Burrows. The latter lost his life at Cedar Creek. + +As I have thus shown the regiments and brigade in their second +organization, under the name it is known, "Kershaw's," and as all were +so closely connected and identified, I will continue to treat them +as a whole. The same camps, marches, battles, scenes, and experiences +were alike to all, so the history of one is the history of all. South +Carolina may have had, and I have no doubt did have, as good troops +in the field, as ably commanded as this brigade, but for undaunted +courage, loyalty to their leaders and the cause, for self-denials +and sacrifices, united spirits, and unflinching daring in the face of +death, the world has never produced their superiors. There was much to +animate their feelings and stimulate their courage. The older men had +retired and left the field to the leadership of the young. Men were +here, too, by circumstances of birth, education, and environment that +could scarcely ever expect to occupy more than a secondary place in +their country's history, who were destined to inferior stations in +life, both social and political,--the prestige of wealth and a long +family being denied them--still upon the battlefield they were any +man's equal. On the march or the suffering in camp, they were the +peers of the noblest, and when facing death or experiencing its pangs +they knew no superiors. Such being the feelings and sentiments of +those born in the humbler stations of life, what must have been the +goal of those already fortune's favorites, with a high or aristocratic +birth, wealth, education, and a long line of illustrious ancestors, +all to stimulate them to deeds of prowess and unparalleled heroism? +Such were the men to make the name of South Carolina glorious, and +that of "Kershaw" immortal. How many of these noble souls died that +their country might be free? the name of her people great? In the +former they lost, as the ends for which they fought and died were +never consummated. To-day, after nearly a half century has passed, +when we look around among the young and see the decadence of chivalry +and noble aspirations, the decline of homage to women, want +of integrity to men, want of truth and honor, individually and +politically, are we not inclined, at times, to think those men died +in vain? We gained the shadow; have we the substance? We gained an +unparalleled prestige for courage, but are the people to-day better +morally, socially, and politically? Let the world answer. The days of +knight-errantry had their decadence; may not the days of the South's +chivalry have theirs? + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER IX + +Battle of Seven Pines--Seven Days' Fight Around Richmond. + + +It was the intention of General Johnston to fall back slowly before +McClellan, drawing him away from his base, then when the Federal Corps +become separated in their marches, to concentrate his forces, turn and +crush him at one blow. The low, swampy, and wooded condition of the +country from Yorktown up the Peninsula would not admit of the handling +of the troops, nor was there any place for artillery practice to be +effective. Now that he had his forces all on the South side of +the Chickahominy, and the lands more rolling and firm, he began to +contemplate a change in his tactics. Ewell, with several detached +regiments under Whiting, had been sent in the Valley to re-enforce +that fiery meteor, Stonewall Jackson, who was flying through the +Shenandoah Valley and the gorges of the Blue Ridge like a cyclone, and +General Johnston wished Jackson to so crush his enemy that his +troops could be concentrated with his own before Richmond. But the +authorities at Richmond thought otherwise. It is true Jackson had been +worsted at Kernstown by Shields, but his masterly movements against +Banks, Fremont, Siegle, and others, gave him such prestige as to +make his name almost indispensable to our army. McDowell, with forty +thousand men, lay at Fredericksburg, with nothing in his front but +a few squadrons of cavalry and some infantry regiments. Johnston was +thus apprehensive that he might undertake to come down upon his flanks +and re-enforce "Little Mc." or the "Young Napoleon," as the commander +of the Federal Army was now called. On the 20th of May, Johnston heard +of two of the Federal Corps, Keyes' and Heintzleman's, being on the +south side of the Chickahominy, while the others were scattered +along the north banks at the different crossings. McClellan had his +headquarters six miles away, towards the Pamunkey River. This was +considered a good opportunity to strike, and had there been no +miscarriages of plan, nor refusals to obey orders, and, instead, +harmony and mutual understanding prevailed, the South might have +gained one of its greatest victories, and had a different ending +to the campaign entirely. G.W. Smith lay to the north of Richmond; +Longstreet on the Williamsburg Road, immediately in front of the +enemy; Huger on the James; Magruder, of which was Kershaw's Brigade +(in a division under McLaws), stretched along the Chickahominy above +New Bridge. + +All these troops were to concentrate near Seven Pines and there fall +upon the enemy's two corps, and beat them before succor could be +rendered. No Lieutenant Generals had as yet been appointed, senior +Major Generals generally commanding two divisions. The night before +the attack, General Johnston called his generals together and gave +them such instructions and orders as were necessary, and divided his +army for the day's battle into two wings, G.W. Smith to command +the left and Longstreet the right; the right wing to make the first +assault (it being on the south side of the York River Railroad). +G.W. Smith was to occupy the Nine Mile Road, running parallel with +Longstreet's front and extending to the river, near New Bridge, on the +Chickahominy. He was to watch the movements of the enemy on the other +side, and prevent Sumner, whose corps were near the New Bridge, from +crossing, and to follow up the fight as Longstreet and D.H. Hill +progressed. Magruder, with his own and McLaws' Division, supported +Smith, and was to act as emergencies required. Kershaw was now under +McLaws. Huger was to march up on the Charles City Road and put in on +Longstreet's left as it uncovered at White Oak Swamp, or to join his +forces with Longstreet's and the two drive the enemy back from the +railroad. Keyes' Federal Corps lay along the railroad to Fair Oaks; +then Heintzleman's turned abruptly at a right angle in front of +G.W. Smith. The whole was admirably planned, and what seemed to make +success doubly sure, a very heavy rain had fallen that night, May +30th, accompanied by excessive peals of thunder and livid flashes of +lightning, and the whole face of the country was flooded with water. +The river was overflowing its banks, bridges washed away or inundated +by the rapidly swelling stream, all going to make re-enforcement by +McClellan from the north side out of the question. But the +entire movement seemed to be one continual routine of blunders, +misunderstandings, and perverseness; a continual wrangling among the +senior Major Generals. The enemy had thrown up two lines of heavy +earthworks for infantry and redoubts for the artillery, one near Fair +Oaks, the other one-half mile in the rear. Longstreet and D.H. Hill +assaulted the works with great vigor on the morning of the 31st of +May, and drove the enemy from his first entrenched camp. But it seems +G.W. Smith did not press to the front, as was expected, but understood +his orders to remain and guard the crossing of the river. Huger lost +his way and did not come up until the opportunity to grasp the key to +the situation was lost, and then it was discovered there was a mistake +or misunderstanding in regard to his and Longstreet's seniority. Still +Huger waived his rank reluctantly and allowed Longstreet and Hill to +still press the enemy back to his second line of entrenchments. From +where we lay, inactive and idle, the steady roll of the musketry +was grand and exciting. There was little opportunity for ability and +little used, only by the enemy in their forts. + +Several ineffectual attempts were made to storm these forts, and +to dislodge the enemy at the point of the bayonet. Finally R.H. +Anderson's Brigade of South Carolinians came up, and three regiments, +led by Colonel Jenkins, made a flank movement, and by a desperate +assault, took the redoubt on the left, with six pieces of artillery. +When Rhodes' North Carolina Brigade got sufficiently through the +tangle and undergrowth and near the opening as to see their way clear, +they raised a yell, and with a mad rush, they took the fort with +a bound. They were now within the strong fortress on the left and +masters of the situation. Colonel Jenkins was highly complimented by +the commanding General for his skill, and the energy and courage of +his men. The enemy worked their guns faithfully and swept the ranks of +Rhodes and Anderson with grape and canister, but Southern valor here, +as elsewhere, overcame Northern discipline. Many of the enemy fell +dead within the fort, while endeavoring to spike their guns. + +Sumner, from the north side of the Chickahominy, was making frantic +efforts to cross the stream and come to the relief of sorely pressed +comrades. The bridges were two feet or more under water, swaying and +creaking as if anxious to follow the rushing waters below. It is +said the Federal General, Butler, called afterwards "Beast," covered +himself with glory by rushing at the head of his troops, in and +through the water, and succeeded in getting enough men on the bridge +to hold it down, while the others crossed over. But the reinforcements +came too late to aid their hard pressed friends. After the +entrenchments were all taken, the enemy had no other alternative but +to fall back in the dense forest and undergrowth, giving them shelter +until night, with her sable curtains, hid friend and foe alike. Just +as the last charge had been made, General Johnston, riding out in an +opening, was first struck by a fragment of shell, thereby disabling +him for further duty upon the field for a long time. The command of +the army now fell upon General G.W. Smith, who ordered the troops to +remain stationary for the night, and next morning, they were returned +to their original quarters. Kershaw and the other Brigadiers of +the division did not become engaged, as they were awaiting upon a +contingency that did not arise. It is true, the enemy were driven from +their strongly fortified position, and for more than a mile to the +rear, still the fruits of the victory were swallowed up in the loss +of so many good men, with no tangible or lasting results. From all the +facts known at the time, and those developed since, it is the opinion +that upon G.W. Smith rested the blame for the loss of the day. Had +he been as active or energetic as the other Major Generals, or had +he assumed responsibility, and taken advantage of events presenting +themselves during the battle, that could not be known beforehand, nor +counted in the plan of the battle, the day at Seven Pines might have +loomed up on the side of the Confederate forces with those at Gaines' +Mills or Second Manassas. But, as it was, it must be counted as one of +the fruitless victories of the war. + +General Smith left the army next day, never to return to active +service. Here was a commentary on the question of the made soldier or +the soldier born. At West Point General Smith stood almost at the very +head of his class; at the commencement of the war, he was considered +as one of our most brilliant officers, and stood head and shoulders +above some of his cotemporaries in the estimation of our leaders and +the Department at Richmond. But his actions and conduct on several +momentous occasions will leave to posterity the necessity of +voting him a failure; while others of his day, with no training nor +experience in the science of war, have astonished the world with their +achievements and soldierly conduct. The soldiers were sorrowful and +sad when they learned of the fate of their beloved Commander-in-Chief. +They had learned to love him as a father; he had their entire +confidence. They were fearful at the time lest his place could +never be filled; and, but for the splendid achievement of their new +commander, R.E. Lee, with the troops drilled and disciplined by his +predecessor, and who fought the battles on the plans laid down by +him, it is doubtful whether their confidence could have ever been +transferred to another. + +General Lee took command the next day, June the 1st, 1862. He did +not come with any prestige of great victory to recommend him to the +troops, but his bold face, manly features, distinguished bearing, soon +inspired a considerable degree of confidence and esteem, to be soon +permanently welded by the glorious victories won from the Chickahominy +to the James. He called all his Lieutenants around him in a few days +and had a friendly talk. He told none his plans--he left that to be +surmised--but he gained the confidence of his Generals at once. + +The troops were set to work fortifying their lines from the James +to the Chickahominy, and up the latter stream to near Meadow Bridge. +Engineer corps were established, and large details from each regiment, +almost one-third of the number, were put to work under the engineers +strengthening their camps on scientific principles. The troops thought +they were to do their fighting behind these works, but strange to say, +out of the hundred of fortifications built by Kershaw's men during the +war, not one ever fired a gun from behind them. + +[Illustration: Col. William Wallace, 2d S.C. Regiment. (Page 479)] + +[Illustration: Col. Jno. W. Henagan, 8th S.C. Regiment, (Page 423)] + +[Illustration: Lieut. Col. A.J. Hoole, 8th S.C. Regiment. +(Page 284.)] + +[Illustration: John M. Kinard, Acting Lieut. Col. 20 S.C. Reg. +(Page 441.)] + +On the 12th of June General Stuart started on his remarkable ride +around the army of McClellan, and gained for himself the name of +"Prince of Raiders." Starting out in the morning as if going away to +our left at a leisurely gait, he rode as far as Hanover Court House. +Before daylight next morning his troopers sprang into their saddles +and swept down the country between the Chickahominy and the Pamunkey +Rivers like a thunderbolt, capturing pickets, driving in outposts, +overturning wagon trains, and destroying everything with fire and +sword. He rides boldly across the enemy's line of communications, +coming up at nightfall at the Chickahominy, with the whole of +McClellan's army between him and Richmond. In this ride he came in +contact with his old regiment in the United States Army, capturing +its wagon trains, one laden with the finest delicacies and choicest +of wines. After putting the enemy to rout Stuart and his men regaled +themselves on these tempting viands, Stuart himself drinking a "bumper +of choice old Burgundy," sending word to his former comrades that he +"was sorry they did not stay and join him, but as it was, he would +drink their health in their absence." Finding the bridges destroyed, +he built a temporary one, over which the men walked and swam their +horses, holding on to the bridles. When all were safely over Stuart +sped like a whirlwind towards the James, leaving the enemy staring +wildly in mute astonishment at the very audacity of his daring. That +night he returned to his camps, having made in thirty-six hours the +entire circuit of the Federal Army. Stuart was a rare character. +Light hearted, merry, and good natured, he was the very idol of his +cavaliers. His boldness, dash, and erratic mode of warfare made him a +dreaded foe and dangerous enemy. One moment he was in their camps, on +the plains, shouting and slashing, and before the frightened sleepers +could be brought to the realization of their situation, he was far +over the foothills of the Blue Ridge or across the swift waters of the +Rappahannock. + +During the first week after taking our position on the line, Magruder, +with his divisions of eight brigades, was posted high up on the +Chickahominy, nearly north of Richmond. McLaws, commanding Kershaw's, +Cobb's, Semmes', and Barksdale's Brigades, was on the left, the +first being South Carolinians, the next two Georgians, and the last +Mississippians. General D.R. Jones, with his own, Toombs', G.T. +Anderson's, and perhaps one other Brigade, constituted the right of +the corps. The army was divided in wings. Huger, the senior Major +General, commander on the right, next the James River, with Longstreet +next; but before the great battle Magruder was given the centre and +Longstreet the left with his divisions, and the two Hills', A.P. and +D.H. But after the coming of Jackson A.P. Hill's, called the "Light +Brigade," was placed under the command of the Valley chieftain. + +While up on the Chickahominy, the enemy were continually watching our +movements from lines of balloons floating high up in the air, anchored +in place by stout ropes. They created quite a mystic and superstitious +feeling among some of the most credulous. One night while a member +of Company C, Third South Carolina, was on picket among some tangled +brushwood on the crest of the hill overlooking the river, he created +quite a stir by seeing a strange light in his front, just beyond the +stream. He called for the officer of the guard with all his might +and main. When the officer made his appearance with a strong +reinforcement, he demanded the reason of the untimely call. With fear +and trembling he pointed to the brilliant light and said: + +"Don't you see 'em yonder? They are putting up a balloon." + +"No," said the officer, "that's nothing but a star," which it really +was. + +"Star, hell! I tell you it's a balloon. Are the Yankees smart enough +to catch the stars?" It is enough to say the man carried the name of +"balloon" during the rest of his service. + +A Federal battery was stationed immediately in our front, beyond the +river, supported by infantry. Some one in authority suggested the idea +of crossing over at night, break through the tangled morass on the +other side, and capture the outfit by a sudden dash. The day before +the Third South Carolina Regiment was formed in line and a call +made for volunteers to undertake this hazardous enterprise. Only one +hundred soldiers were required, and that number was easily obtained, +a great number being officers. At least twenty-five Lieutenants and +Captains had volunteered. The detachment was put under Captain Foster +as chief of the storming party, and the next day was occupied in +drilling the men and putting them in shape for the undertaking. We +were formed in line about dark near the time and place allotted, and +all were in high glee in anticipation of the novel assault. But just +as all were ready, orders came countermanding the first order. So +the officers and men returned to their quarters. Some appeared well +satisfied at the turn of events, especially those who had volunteered +more for the honor attached than the good to be performed. Others, +however, were disappointed. An old man from Laurens was indignant. He +said "the Third Regiment would never get anything. That he had been +naked and barefooted for two months, and when a chance was offered +to clothe and shoe himself some d----n fool had to countermand the +order." Ere many days his ambition and lust for a fight were filled to +overflowing. + +The various grades and ranks of the Generals kept us continually +moving from left to right, Generals being sometimes like a balky +horse--will not pull out of his right place. We were stationed, as +it appeared from the preparations made, permanently just in front of +Richmond, or a little to the left of that place and the Williamsburg +road, and began to fortify in earnest. About the middle of June +Lee and his Lieutenants were planning that great campaign whereby +McClellan was to be overthrown and his army sent flying back to +Washington. Generals plan the moves of men like players their pieces +upon the chess board--a demonstration here, a feint there, now a great +battle, then a reconnoissance--without ever thinking of or considering +the lives lost, the orphans made, the disconsolate widows, and broken +homes that these moves make. They talk of attacks, of pressing or +crushing, of long marches, the streams or obstacles encountered, as if +it were only the movement of some vast machinery, where the slipping +of a cog or the breaking of a wheel will cause the machine to +stop. The General views in his mind his successes, his marches, his +strategy, without ever thinking of the dead men that will mark his +pathway, the victorious fields made glorious by the groans of the +dying, or the blackened corpses of the dead. The most Christian and +humane soldier, however, plans his battles without ever a thought of +the consequences to his faithful followers. + +On the 25th of June, orders came to be prepared to move at a moment's +notice. This left no doubt in the minds of the men that stirring +times were ahead. It had been whispered in camp that Jackson, the +"ubiquitous," was on his way from the Valley to help Lee in his work +of defeating McClellan. + +About 4 o'clock, on the 26th of June, as the men lay lolling around +in camp, the ominous sound of a cannon was heard away to our left and +rear. Soon another and another, their dull rumbling roar telling too +plainly the battle was about to begin. Men hasten hither and thither, +gathering their effects, expecting every moment to be ordered away. +Soon the roar of musketry filled the air; the regular and continual +baying of the cannon beat time to the steady roll of small arms. +Jackson had come down from the Valley, and was sweeping over the +country away to our left like an avalanche. Fitz John Porter, one of +the most accomplished soldiers in the Northern Army, was entrusted +with the defense of the north side of the Chickahominy, and had +erected formidable lines of breastworks along Beaver Dam Creek, +already strong and unapproachable from its natural formations. Jackson +was to have encountered Porter on the extreme right flank of the Union +Army at an early hour in the day, and as soon as A.P. Hill heard the +sound of his guns, he was to cross over on our left at Meadow Bridge +and sweep down the river on Jackson's right. But after waiting for +the opening of Jackson's guns until after 3 o'clock, without any +information that he was on the field, Hill crossed over the river and +attacked Porter in his strong position at Mechanicsville. His task +was to beat back the enemy until the bridges below were uncovered, +allowing re-enforcement to reach him. Jackson being unavoidably +delayed, A.P. Hill assailed the whole right wing of the Federal Army, +single-handed and alone, he only having five brigades, one being +left some miles above on the river, but the brigade that was left +was making rapid strides to join the fighting column. The strong +earthworks, filled with fighting infantry and heavy field artillery in +the forts, were too much for this light column, but undaunted by the +weight of numbers and strength of arms, Hill threw himself headlong +upon the entrenched positions with rare courage and determination. +There were South Carolinians with him who were now engaging in their +maiden effort, and were winning imperishable fame by their deeds of +valor. Gregg, with the old First South Carolina Regiment of Veterans, +with four new organizations, the Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and +Orr's Rifles, went recklessly into the fray, and struck right and left +with the courage and confidence of veteran troops. D.H. Hill, late +in the evening, crossed over and placed himself on the right of those +already engaged. The battle of Games' Mill was one continual slaughter +on the side of the Confederates. The enemy being behind their +protections, their loss was comparatively slight. The fight was kept +up till 9 o'clock at night, with little material advantage to either, +with his own and only a portion of Jackson's troops up. But the +desperate onslaught of the day convinced Porter that he could not hold +his ground against another such assault, so he fell back to a much +stronger position around Gaines' Mill. + +The next day, the 27th, will be remembered as long as history records +the events of our Civil War as one of the most bloody and determined +of any of the great battles of the war for the men engaged. For +desperate and reckless charges, for brave and steady resistance, it +stands second to none. Jackson, Ewell, Whiting, and D.H. Hill moved +their divisions by daylight, aroused the enemy's right, intending to +reach his rear, but at Cold Harbor they met the enemy in strong force. +D.H. Hill attacked immediately, while A.P. Hill, who had been left +in Porter's front, marched through the deserted camp, over his +fortifications, and at Gaines' Mill, he met Porter posted on an +eminence beyond the stream. This was only passable at few places, but +Hill pushed his men over under a galling fire of musketry, while the +enemy swept the plain and valley below with shell and grape from +their batteries crowning the height beyond. A.P. Hill formed his lines +beyond the stream, and advanced with a steady step and a bold front to +the assault. Charge after charge was made, only to be met and repulsed +with a courage equal to that of the Confederates. Hill did not know +then that he was fighting the bulk of the Fifth Corps, for he heard +the constant roll of Jackson and D.H. Hill's guns away to his left; +Jackson thinking the Light Division under A.P. Hill would drive the +enemy from his position, withdrew from Cold Harbor and sought to +intercept the retreating foe in concealing his men for some hours on +the line of retreat. But as the day wore on, and no diminution of the +firing, at the point where A.P. Hill and his adversary had so long +kept up, Jackson and D.H. Hill undertook to relieve him. Longstreet, +too, near nightfall, who had been held in reserve all day, now broke +from his place of inaction and rushed into the fray like an uncaged +lion, and placed himself between A.P. Hill and the river. For a few +moments the earth trembled with the tread of struggling thousands, and +the dreadful recoil of the heavy batteries that lined the crest of the +hill from right to left. The air was filled with the shrieking shells +as they sizzled through the air or plowed their way through the ranks +of the battling masses. Charges were met by charges, and the terrible +"Rebel Yell" could be heard above the din and roar of battle, as the +Confederates swept over field or through the forest, either to capture +a battery or to force a line of infantry back by the point of the +bayonet. While the battle was yet trembling in the balance, the +Confederates making frantic efforts to pierce the enemy's lines, +and they, with equal courage and persistency, determined on holding, +Pickett and Anderson, of Longstreet's Division, and Hood and Whiting, +of Jackson's, threw their strength and weight to the aid of Hill's +depleted ranks. The enemy could stand no longer. The line is broken +at one point, then another, and as the Confederates closed in on them +from all sides, they break in disorder and leave the field. It looked +at one time as if there would be a rout, but Porter in this emergency, +put in practice one of Napoleon's favorite tactics. He called up his +cavalry, and threatened the weakened ranks of the Confederates with a +formidable front of his best troopers. These could not be of service +in the weight of battle, but protected the broken columns and fleeing +fugitives of Porter's Army. + +South Carolina will be ever proud of the men whom she had on that +memorable field who consecrated the earth at Gaines' Mill with +their blood, as well as of such leaders as Gregg, McGowan, McCrady, +Marshall, Simpson, Haskell, and Hamilton, and hosts of others, who +have ever shed lustre and glory equal to those of any of the thousands +who have made the Palmetto State renowned the world over. + +McClellan was now in sore straits. He could not weaken his lines on +the south side of the Chickahominy to re-enforce Fitz John Porter, +for fear Magruder, Holmes, and Huger, who were watching his every +movements in their front, should fall upon the line thus weakened and +cut his army in twain. The next day McClellan commenced his retreat +towards the James, having put his army over the Chickahominy the night +after his defeat. His step was, no doubt, occasioned by the fact that +Lee had sent Stuart with his cavalry and Ewell's Division of Infantry +down the north side of the Chickahominy and destroyed McClellan's line +of communication between his army and the York River. However, the +Confederate commander was equally as anxious to cut him off from the +James as the York. He aimed to force him to battle between the +two rivers, and there, cut off from his fleet, he would be utterly +destroyed. Lee only wished McClellan to remain in his present position +until he could reach the James with a part of his own troops, now on +the north side of the Chickahominy. + +On the evening of the 27th, Magruder made a feint with Kershaw's and +some other brigades of this division, near Alens, as the troops in +his front showed a disposition to retire. A line of battle was formed, +skirmishers thrown out, and an advance ordered. Our skirmishers had +not penetrated far into the thicket before they were met by a volley +from the enemy's line of battle. The balls whistled over our heads +and through the tops of the scrubby oaks, like a fall of hail. It put +chills to creeping up our backs, the first time we had ever been under +a musketry fire. For a moment we were thrown into a perfect fever of +excitement and confusion. The opening in the rear looked temptingly +inviting in comparison to the wooded grounds in front, from whence +came the volley of bullets. Here the Third South Carolina lost her +first soldier in battle, Dr. William Thompson, of the medical staff, +who had followed too close on the heels of the fighting column in his +anxiety to be near the battle. + +Early in the morning of the 28th, Lee put the columns of Longstreet +and A.P. Hill in motion in the direction of Richmond around our rear. +After their meeting with Holmes and Huger on our extreme right, they +were to press down the James River and prevent McClellan from reaching +it. Jackson, D.H. Hill, and Magruder were to follow the retreating +army. We left our quarters early in the day, and soon found ourselves +in the enemy's deserted camp. + +The country between the James and the Chickahominy is a very flat, +swampy county, grown up in great forests, with now and then a +cultivated field. The forests were over-run with a tangled mass of +undergrowth. It was impossible for the army to keep up with the enemy +while in line of battle. So sending our skirmishers ahead the army +followed the roads in columns of fours. In each regiment the right +or left company in the beginning of battle is always deployed at such +distance between each soldier as to cover the front of the regiment, +while in line of battle the regiments being from ten to fifty yards +apart. In this way we marched all day, sometimes in line of battle, at +others by the roads in columns. A great siege cannon had been erected +on a platform car and pushed abreast of us along the railroad by an +engine, and gave out thundering evidences of its presence by shelling +the woods in our front. This was one of the most novel batteries of +the war, a siege gun going in battle on board of cars. Near night at +Savage Station Sumner and Franklin, of the Federal Army, who had been +retreating all day, turned to give battle. Jackson was pressing on +our left, and it became necessary that Sumner should hold Magruder in +check until the army and trains of the Federals that were passing +in his rear should cross White Oak Swamp to a place of safety. Our +brigade was lying in a little declivity between two rises in the +ground; that in our front, and more than one hundred yards distance, +was thickly studded with briars, creepers, and underbrush with a +sparse growth of heavy timber. We had passed numerous redoubts, where +the field batteries of the enemy would occupy and shell our ranks +while the infantry continued the retreat. Our brigade skirmishers, +under command of Major Rutherford, had been halted in this thicket +while the line of battle was resting. But hardly had the skirmishers +been ordered forward than the enemy's line of battle, upon which they +had come, poured a galling fire into them, the bullets whistling over +our heads causing a momentary panic among the skirmishers, a part +retreating to the main line. A battery of six guns stationed in a +fort in our front, opened upon us with shell and grape. Being in the +valley, between the two hills, the bullets rattled over our heads +doing no damage, but threw us into some excitement. The Third being +near the center of the brigade, General Kershaw, in person, was +immediately in our rear on foot. As soon as the bullets had passed +over he called out in a loud, clear tone the single word "charge." The +troops bounded to the front with a yell, and made for the forest in +front, while the batteries graped us as we rushed through the tangled +morass. The topography of the country was such that our artillery +could get no position to reply, but the heavy railroad siege gun made +the welkin ring with its deafening reports. Semmes and Barksdale put +in on our right; Cobb remaining as reserve, while the Division of D.R. +Jones, which had been moving down on the left side of the railroad, +soon became engaged. The enemy fought with great energy and vigor, +while the Confederates pressed them hard. Much was at stake, and night +was near. Stunner was fighting for the safety of the long trains of +artillery and wagons seeking cover in his rear, as well as for the +very life of the army itself. Soon after the first fire the settling +smoke and dense shrubbery made the woods almost as dark as night in +our front, but the long line of fire flashing from the enemy's guns +revealed their position. The men became woefully tangled and +disorganized, and in some places losing the organizations entirely, +but under all these difficulties they steadily pressed to the front. +When near the outer edge of the thicket, we could see the enemy lying +down in some young growth of pines, with their batteries in the fort. +The graping was simply dreadful, cutting and breaking through the +bushes and striking against trees. I had not gone far into the thicket +before I was struck by a minnie ball in the chest, which sent me +reeling to the ground momentarily unconscious. Our men lost all +semblance of a line, being scattered over a space of perhaps 50 yards, +and those in front were in as much danger from friend as from foe. +While I lay in a semi-unconscious state, I received another bullet in +my thigh which I had every reason to believe came from some one in the +rear. But I roused myself, and staggering to my feet made my way as +well as I could out of the thicket. When I reached the place from +whence we had first made the charge, our drummer was beating the +assembly or long roll with all his might, and men collecting around +General Kershaw and Colonel Nance. Here I first learned of the repulse. +The balls were still flying overhead, but some of our batteries had +got in position and were giving the enemy a raking fire. Nor was the +railroad battery idle, for I could see the great black, grim monster +puffing out heaps of gray smoke, then the red flash, then the report, +sending the engine and car back along the track with a fearful recoil. +The lines were speedily reformed and again put in motion. Jones, too, +was forced by overwhelming numbers to give back, but Jackson coming up +gave him renewed confidence, and a final advance was made along the +whole line. The battle was kept up with varying success until after +night, when Sumner withdrew over White Oak Swamp. + +On the morning of the 30th, McClellan, like a quarry driven to bay, +drew up his forces on the south side of White Oak Swamp and awaited +the next shock of battle. Behind him were his trains of heavy siege +guns, his army wagons, pontoons, and ordnance trains, all in bog and +slush, seeking safety under the sheltering wings of his gunboats and +ironclads on the James. Lee met him at every point with bristling +bayonets of his victorious troops. At three o'clock A.M. Longstreet +and A.P. Hill moved down the Darbytown road, leaving Jackson, D.H. +Hill, and Magruder to press McClellan's retreating forces in the +rear. Huger, with the two former, was to come down the James River and +attack in the flank. Magruder, with his corps, was sent early in the +day on a wild goose chase to support Longstreet's right, but by being +led by guides who did not understand the roads or plan of battle, +Magruder took the wrong road and did not get up in time to join in +the battle of Frazier's Farm. Jackson for some cause did not press +the rear, as anticipated, neither did Huger come in time, leaving the +brunt of the battle on the shoulders of A.P. Hill and Longstreet. The +battle was but a repetition of that of Gaines' Mill, the troops of +Hill and Longstreet gaining imperishable glory by their stubborn and +resistless attacks, lasting till nine o'clock at night, when the enemy +finally withdrew. + +Two incidents of these battles are worthy of record, showing the +different dispositions of the people of the North and South. At +night the division commanded by General McCall, who had been fighting +Longstreet so desperately all day, was captured and brought to +Longstreet's headquarters. General McCall had been Captain of a +company in the United States Army, in which Longstreet had been a +Lieutenant. When General Longstreet saw his old comrade brought to him +as a prisoner of war, he sought to lighten the weight of his feelings +as much as circumstances would admit. He dismounted, pulled his +gloves, and offered his hand in true knightly fashion to his fallen +foe. But his Federal antagonist, becoming incensed, drew himself up +haughtily and waved Longstreet away, saying, "Excuse me, sir, I can +stand defeat but not insult." Insult indeed! to shake the hand of +one of the most illustrious chieftains of the century, one who had +tendered the hand in friendly recognition of past associations, thus +to smooth and soften the humiliation of his foe's present condition! +Insult--was it? + +When Bob Toombs, at the head of his brigade, was sweeping through the +tangled underbrush at Savage Station, under a terrific hail of bullets +from the retreating enemy, he was hailed by a fallen enemy, who had +braced himself against a tree: + +"Hello, Bob Toombs! Hello, Bob Toombs! Don't you know your old friend +Webster?" + +Dismounting, Toombs went to the son of his old friend but political +adversary, Daniel Webster, one of the great trio at Washington of +twenty years before, and found his life slowly ebbing away. +Toombs rendered him all the assistance in his power--placed him in +comfortable position that he might die at ease--and hastened on to +rejoin his command, after promising to perform some last sad rites +after his death. When the battle was ended for the day, the great +fiery Secessionist hastened to return to the wounded enemy. But too +late; his spirit had flown, and nothing was now left to Toombs but to +fulfill the promises he made to his dying foe. He had his body carried +through the lines that night under a flag of truce and delivered +with the messages left to his friends. He had known young Webster at +Washington when his illustrious father was at the zenith of his power +and fame. The son and the great Southern States' Rights champion had +become fast friends as the latter was just entering on his glorious +career. + +Our brigade lost heavily in the battle of Savage Station both in +officers and men. Lieutenant Colonel Garlington, of the Third, was +killed, and so was Captain Langford and several Lieutenants. Colonel +Bland, of the Seventh, was wounded and disabled for a long time. The +casualties in the battle of Savage Station caused changes in officers +in almost every company in the brigade. + +When I came to consciousness after being wounded the first thing that +met my ears was the roar of musketry and the boom of cannon, with the +continual swish, swash of the grape and canister striking the trees +and ground. I placed my hand in my bosom, where I felt a dull, +deadening sensation. There I found the warm blood, that filled my +inner garments and now trickled down my side as I endeavored to stand +upright. I had been shot through the left lung, and as I felt the +great gaping wound in my chest, the blood gushing and spluttering out +at every breath, I began to realize my situation. I tried to get off +the field the best I could, the bullet in my leg not troubling me +much, and as yet, I felt strong enough to walk. My brother, who was a +surgeon, and served three years in the hospitals in Richmond, but now +in the ranks, came to my aid and led me to the rear. We stopped near +the railroad battery, which was belching away, the report of the great +gun bringing upon us the concentrated fire of the enemy. As I sat upon +the fallen trunk of a tree my brother made a hasty examination of my +wound. All this while I was fully convinced I was near death's door. +He pronounced my wound at first as fatal, a bit of very unpleasant +information, but after probing my wound with his finger he gave me the +flattering assurance that unless I bled to death quite soon my chances +might be good! Gentle reader, were you ever, as you thought, at +death's door, when the grim monster was facing you, when life looked +indeed a very brief span? If so, you can understand my feelings--I was +scared! As Goldsmith once said, "When you think you are about to die, +this world looks mighty tempting and pretty." Everything in my front +took on the hue of dark green, a pleasant sensation came over me, and +I had the strangest feeling ever experienced in my life. I thought +sure I was dying then and there and fell from the log in a death-like +swoon. But I soon revived, having only fainted from loss of blood, and +my brother insisted on my going back up the railroad to a farmhouse +we had passed, and where our surgeons had established a hospital. The +long stretch of wood we had to travel was lined with the wounded, each +wounded soldier with two or three friends helping him off the field. +We had no "litter bearers" or regular detail to care for the wounded +at this time, and the friends who undertook this service voluntarily +oftentimes depleted the ranks more than the loss in battle. Hundreds +in this way absented themselves for a few days taking care of the +wounded. But all this was changed soon afterwards. Regular details +were made from each regiment, consisting of a non-commissioned +officer and five privates, whose duty it was to follow close in +rear of the line of battle with their "stretchers" and take off the +disabled. + +I will never forget the scene that met my eyes as I neared the house +where the wounded had been gathered. There the torn and mangled lay, +shot in every conceivable part of the body or limbs--some with wounds +in the head, arms torn off at the shoulder or elbow, legs broken, +fingers, toes, or foot shot away; some hobbling along on inverted +muskets or crutches, but the great mass were stretched at full length +upon the ground, uttering low, deep, and piteous moans, that told of +the great sufferings, or a life passing away. The main hall of the +deserted farm house, as well as the rooms, were filled to overflowing +with those most seriously wounded. The stifling stench of blood was +sickening in the extreme. The front and back yards, the fence corners, +and even the out-buildings were filled with the dead and dying. +Surgeons and their assistants were hurrying to and fro, relieving the +distress as far as their limited means would allow, making such hasty +examinations as time permitted. Here they would stop to probe a wound, +there to set a broken limb, bind a wound, stop the flow of blood, or +tie an artery. + +But among all this deluge of blood, mangled bodies, and the groans of +the wounded and dying, our ears were continually greeted by the awful, +everlasting rattle of the musketry, the roar of the field batteries, +and the booming, shaking, and trembling of the siege guns from friend +and foe. + +The peculiar odor of human blood, mingling with the settling smoke of +the near by battlefield, became so oppressive I could not remain in +the house. My brother helped me into the yard, but in passing out I +fell, fainting for the third time; my loss of blood had been so great +I could stand only with difficulty. I thought the end was near now for +a certainty, and was frightened accordingly. But still I nerved myself +with all the will power I possessed, and was placed on an oil cloth +under the spreading branches of an elm. From the front a continual +stream of wounded kept coming in till late at night. Some were carried +on shoulders of friends, others leaning their weight upon them and +dragging their bodies along, while the slightly wounded were left to +care for themselves. Oh, the horrors of the battlefield! So cruel, +so sickening, so heart-rending to those even of the stoutest +nerves!--once seen, is indelibly impressed upon your mind forever. + +The firing ceased about 9 o'clock, and all became still as death, save +the groaning of the wounded soldiers in the hospital, or the calls and +cries of those left upon the battlefield. Oh, such a night, the night +after the battle! The very remembrance of it is a vivid picture of +Dante's "Inferno." To lie during the long and anxious watches of the +night, surrounded by such scenes of suffering and woe, to continually +hear the groans of the wounded, the whispered consultations of the +surgeons over the case of some poor boy who was soon to be robbed of +a leg or arm, the air filled with stifled groans, or the wild shout +of some poor soldier, who, now delirious with pain, his voice sounding +like the wail of a lost soul--all this, and more--and thinking your +soul, too, is about to shake off its mortal coil and take its flight +with the thousands that have just gone, are going, and the many more +to follow before the rising of the next sun--all this is too much for +a feeble pen like mine to portray. + +The troops lay on the battlefield all night under arms. Here and there +a soldier, singly or perhaps in twos, were scouring through the dense +thicket or isolated places, seeking lost friends and comrades, whose +names were unanswered to at the roll call, and who were not among the +wounded and dead at the hospital. The pale moon looked down in sombre +silence upon the ghastly upturned faces of the dead that lay strewn +along the battle line. The next day was a true version of the lines-- + + "Under the sod, + under the clay, + Here lies the blue, there the grey." + +for the blue and grey fell in great wind rows that day, and were +buried side by side. + +The Confederates being repulsed in the first charge, returned to the +attack, broke the Federal lines in pieces, and by 9 o'clock they had +fled the field, leaving all the fruits of victory in the hands of the +Confederates. + +No rest for the beaten enemy, no sleep for the hunted prey. McClellan +was moving heaven and earth during the whole night to place "White Oak +Swamp" (a tangled, swampy wilderness, of a half mile in width and six +or eight miles in length,) between his army and Lee's. By morning he +had the greater portion of his army and supply trains over, but had +left several divisions on the north side of the swamp to guard the +crossings. Jackson and Magruder began pressing him early on the 30th +in his rear, while Longstreet, A.P. Hill, and others were marching +with might and main to intercept him on the other side. After some +desultory firing, Jackson found McClellan's rear guard too strong to +assail, by direct assault, so his divisions, with Magruder's, were +ordered around to join forces with Hill and Longstreet. The swamp +was impassable, except at the few crossings, and they were strongly +guarded, so they were considered not practicable of direct assault. +But in the long winding roads that intervened between the two wings, +Magruder and Jackson on the north and Longstreet and A.P. Hill on +the south, Magruder was misled by taking the wrong road (the whole +Peninsula being a veritable wilderness), and marched away from the +field instead of towards it, and did not reach Longstreet during the +day. But at 3 o'clock Longstreet, not hearing either Jackson's or +Magruder's guns, as per agreement, and restless of the delays of the +other portions of the army, feeling the danger of longer inactivity, +boldly marched in and attacked the enemy in his front. + +Here was Frazier's Farm, and here was fought as stubbornly contested +battle, considering the numbers engaged, as any during the campaign. +Near nightfall, after Longstreet had nearly exhausted the strength +of his troops by hard fighting, A.P. Hill, ever watchful and on the +alert, threw the weight of his columns on the depleted ranks of the +enemy, and forced them from the field. The soldiers who had done such +deeds of daring as to win everlasting renown at Gaines' Mill and Cold +Harbor, did not fail their fearless commander at Frazier's Farm. When +the signal for battle was given, they leaped to the front, like +dogs unleashed, and sprang upon their old enemies, Porter, McCall, +Heintzelman, Hooker, and Kearny. Here again the steady fire and +discipline of the Federals had to yield to the impetuosity and valor +of Southern troops. Hill and Longstreet swept the field, capturing +several hundred prisoners, a whole battery of artillery, horses, and +men. + +McClellan brought up his beaten army on Malvern Hill, to make one last +desperate effort to save his army from destruction or annihilation. +This is a place of great natural defenses. Situated one mile from +the James River, it rises suddenly on all sides from the surrounding +marshy lowlands to several hundred feet in height, and environed on +three sides by branches and by Turkey Creek. On the northern eminence +McClellan planted eighty pieces of heavy ordnance, and on the eastern, +field batteries in great numbers. Lee placed his troops in mass on the +extreme east of the position occupied by the enemy, intending to park +the greater number of his heaviest batteries against the northern +front of the eminence, where McClellan had his artillery pointing to +the east, and where the Confederates massed to sweep the field as Lee +advanced his infantry. The object of Lee was to concentrate all his +artillery on the flank of McClellan's artillery, then by an enfilade +fire from his own, he could destroy that of his enemy, and advance his +infantry through the broad sweep of lowlands, separating the forces, +without subjecting them to the severe cannonading. He gave orders +that as soon as the enemy's batteries were demolished or silenced, +Armstead's Virginia Brigade, occupying the most advanced and favorable +position for observation, was to advance to the assault, with a +yell and a hurrah, as a signal for the advance of all the attacking +columns. But the condition of the ground was such that the officers +who were to put the cannon in position got only a few heavy pieces +in play, and these were soon knocked in pieces by the numbers of +the enemy's siege guns and rifled field pieces. Some of the brigade +commanders, thinking the signal for combat had been given, rushed at +the hill in front with ear piercing yells without further orders. They +were mown down like grain before the sickle by the fierce artillery +fire and the enemy's infantry on the crest of the hill. Kershaw +following the lead of the brigade on his left, gave orders, "Forward, +charge!" Down the incline, across the wide expanse, they rushed with +a yell, their bayonets bristling and glittering in the sunlight, while +the shells rained like hail stones through their ranks from the cannon +crested hill in front. The gunboats and ironclad monitors in the James +opened a fearful fusilade from their monster guns and huge mortars, +the great three-hundred-pound shells from the latter rising high in +the air, then curling in a beautiful bow to fall among the troops, +with a crash and explosion that shook the ground like the trembling +of the earth around a volcano. The whole face of the bluff front was +veiled by the white smoke of the one hundred belching cannon, the +flashing of the guns forming a perfect rain of fire around the sides +of the hill. It was too far to fire and too dense and tangled to +charge with any degree of progress or order, so, in broken and +disconnected ranks, Kershaw had to advance and endure this storm of +shot and shell, that by the time he reached the line of the enemy's +infantry, his ranks were too much broken to offer a very formidable +front. From the enemy's fortified position their deadly fire caused +our already thinned ranks to melt like snow before the sun's warm +rays. The result was a complete repulse along the whole line. But +McClellan was only too glad to be allowed a breathing spell from his +seven days of continual defeat, and availed himself of the opportunity +of this respite to pull off his army under the protecting wings of his +ironclad fleet. + +The Confederates had won a glorious victory during the first six days. +The enemy had been driven from the Chickahominy to the James, his army +defeated and demoralized beyond months of recuperation. Lee and his +followers should be satisfied. But had none of his orders miscarried, +and all of his Lieutenants fulfilled what he had expected of them, +yet greater results might have been accomplished--not too much to say +McClellan's Army would have been entirely destroyed or captured, for +had he been kept away from the natural defenses of Malvern Hill and +forced to fight in the open field, his destruction would have followed +beyond the cavil of a doubt. The Southern soldiers were as eager +and as fresh on the last day as on the first, but a land army has a +superstitious dread of one sheltered by gunboats and ironclads. + +All the troops engaged in the Seven Days' Battle did extremely well, +and won imperishable fame by their deeds of valor and prowess. Their +commanders in the field were matchless, and showed military talents +of high order, the courage of their troops invincible, and to +particularize would be unjust. But truth will say, in after years, +when impartial hands will record the events, and give blame where +blame belongs, and justice where justice is due, that in this great +Seven Days' Conflict, where so much heroism was displayed on both +sides, individually and collectively, that to A.P. Hill and the brave +men under him belongs the honor of first scotching at Gaines' Mill +the great serpent that was surrounding the Capital with bristling +bayonets, and were in at the breaking of its back at Frazier's Farm. + +It was due to the daring and intrepidity of Hill's Light Division at +Gaines' Mill, more than to any other, that made it possible for the +stirring events and unprecedented results that followed. + +Among the greater Generals, Lee was simply matchless and superb; +Jackson, a mystic meteor or firey comet; Longstreet and the two +Hills, the "Wild Huns" of the South, masterful in tactics, cyclones in +battle. Huger, Magruder, and Holmes were rather slow, but the courage +and endurance of their troops made up for the shortcomings of their +commanders. + +Among the lesser lights will stand Gregg, Jenkins, and Kershaw, of +South Carolina, as foremost among the galaxy of immortal heroes who +gave the battles around Richmond their place as "unparalleled in +history." + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER X + +The March to Maryland--Second Manassas. Capture of Harper's +Ferry--Sharpsburg. + + +The enemy lay quietly in his camps at Harrison's Landing for a few +days, but to cover his meditated removal down the James, he advanced a +large part of his army as far as Malvern Hill on the day of the 5th +of August as if to press Lee back. Kershaw, with the rest of McLaw's +Division, together with Jones and Longstreet, were sent to meet them. +The troops were all placed in position by nightfall, bivouaced for the +night on the field, and slept on their arms to guard against any night +attack. The soldiers thought of to-morrow--that it perhaps might be +yet more sanguinary than any of the others. Our ranks, already badly +worn by the desperate conflicts at Savage Station, Frazier's Farm, +Cold Harbor, etc., still showed a bold front for the coming day. Early +in the morning the troops were put in motion, skirmishers thrown out, +and all preparations for battle made, but to the surprise and +relief of all, the "bird had flown," and instead of battle lines +and bristling steel fronts we found nothing but deserted camps and +evidences of a hasty flight. In a few days we were removed further +back towards Richmond and sought camp on higher ground, to better +guard against the ravages of disease and to be further removed from +the enemy. The troops now had the pleasure of a month's rest, our only +duties being guard and advance picket every ten or twelve days. + +While McClellan had been pushing his army up on the Peninsula the +Federals were actively engaged in organizing a second army in the +vicinity of Manassas and Fredericksburg under General John Pope, to +operate against Richmond by the flank. General Pope from his infamous +orders greatly incensed the people of the South, and from his vain +boasting gained for himself the sobriquet of "Pope the Braggart." He +ordered every citizen within his lines or living near them to either +take the oath of allegiance to the United States or to be driven +out of the country as an enemy of the Union. No one was to have any +communication with his friends within the Confederate lines, either +by letter or otherwise, on the penalty of being shot as a spy and his +property confiscated. Hundreds of homes were broken up by the order. +Men and women were driven South, or placed in Federal prisons, there +to linger for years, perhaps, with their homes abandoned to the +malicious desecration of a merciless enemy, all for no other charges +than their refusal to be a traitor to their principles and an enemy +to their country. Pope boasted of "seeing nothing of the enemy but +his back," and that "he had no headquarters but in the saddle." He was +continually sending dispatches to his chief, General Halleck, who had +been appointed Commander-in-Chief of all the Federal forces in the +field, of the "victories gained over Lee," his "bloody repulses of +Jackson," and "successful advances," and "the Confederates on the +run," etc., etc., while the very opposites were the facts. On one +occasion he telegraphed to Washington that he had defeated Lee, that +the Confederate leader was in full retreat to Richmond, when, as a +fact, before the dispatch had reached its destination his own army +was overwhelmed, and with Pope at its head, flying the field in every +direction, seeking safety under the guns at Washington. It is little +wonder he bore the name he had so deservedly won by his manifestoes, +"Pope the Braggart." + +About the middle of July Jackson, with Ewell and A.P. Hill, was sent +up to the Rapidan to look after Pope and his wonderful army, which had +begun to be re-enforced by troops from the James. On the 9th of August +Jackson came up with a part of Pope's army at Cedar Mountain, and a +fierce battle was fought, very favorable to the Confederate side. +A month after Jackson had left Richmond, Longstreet, with three +divisions, headed by Lee in person, was ordered to re-enforce Jackson, +and began the offensive. While the Federal commander was lying +securely in his camp, between the Rappahannock and the Rapidan, +unconscious of the near approach of the Confederate Army, his scouts +intercepted an order written by General Lee to his cavalry leader, +giving details of his intended advance and attack. Pope, being thus +apprised, hurriedly recrossed the Rappahannock and concentrated his +forces behind that stream. Lee followed his movements closely, and +while watching in front, with a portion of his army, he started +Jackson on his famous march around the enemy's rear. Pulling up at +night, Jackson marched to the left, crossed the Rappahannock on +the 25th, and by the night of the 26th he had reached the railroad +immediately in Pope's rear, capturing trains of cars, prisoners, etc. +On learning that large quantities of provisions and munitions of war +were stored at Manassas Junction, feebly guarded, General Trimble, +with a small number of brave Alabamians, Georgians, and North +Carolinians, not five hundred all told, volunteered to march still +further to that point, a distance of some miles, notwithstanding they +had marched with Jackson thirty miles during the day, and capture the +place. This was done in good time, defeating a brigade doing guard +duty, and capturing a large number of prisoners, one entire battery of +artillery, and untold quantities of provisions. Jackson now appeared +to retreat, but only withdrew in order to give Longstreet time to +come up, which he was doing hard upon Jackson's track, but more than +twenty-four hours behind. This was one of the most hazardous feats +accomplished by Lee during the war, with the possible exception of +Chancellorsville, "dividing his army in the face of superior numbers," +a movement denounced by all successful Generals and scientists of +war. But Lee attempted this on more occasions than one, and always +successfully. + +Jackson concealed his forces among the hills of Bull Run, giving time +for Longstreet, who was fighting his way through Thoroughfare Gap +at the very point of the bayonet, to come up, while Pope was racing +around the plains of Manassas, trying to intercept Jackson's imaginary +retreat. It seems as if the one single idea impressed itself upon the +Federal commander, and that was that Jackson was trying to get away +from him. But before many days Pope found the wily "Stonewall," and +when in his embrace endeavoring to hold him, Pope found himself in the +predicament of the man who had essayed to wrestle with a bear. When +the man had downed his antagonist he had to call lustily for friends. +So Pope had to call for help to turn Jackson loose--to pull him loose. +On the 29th the forces of Pope, the "Braggart," came upon those of +Jackson hidden behind a railroad embankment on the plains of Manassas, +and a stubborn battle ensued, which lasted until late at night. +Longstreet came upon the field, but took no further part in the battle +than a heavy demonstration on the right to relieve the pressure from +Jackson. Longstreet's left, however, turned the tide of battle. Lee +turned some prisoners loose at night that had been captured during the +day, leaving the impression on their minds that he was beating a hasty +retreat. Reporting to their chief that night, the prisoners confirmed +the opinion that Pope was fooled in believing all day, that "Lee was +in full retreat," trying to avoid a battle. Pope sent flaming messages +to that effect to the authorities at Washington, and so anxious was +he lest his prey should escape, he gave orders for his troops to be +in motion early in the morning. On the 30th was fought the decisive +battle of Second Manassas, and the plains above Bull Run were +again the scene of a glorious Confederate victory, by Lee almost +annihilating the army of John Pope, "the Braggart." Had it not been +for the steady discipline, extraordinary coolness, and soldierly +behavior of Sykes and his regulars at Stone Bridge, the rout of +the Federal Army at Second Manassas would have been but little less +complete than on the fatal day just a little more than one year +before. + +At Ox Hill, 1st September, Pope had to adopt the tactics of McClellan +at Malvern Hill, face about and fight for the safety of his great +ordnance and supply trains, and to allow his army a safe passage +over the Potomac. At Ox Hill, the enemy under Stephens and Kearny, +displayed extraordinary tenacity and courage, these two division +commanders throwing their columns headlong upon those of Jackson +without a thought of the danger and risks such rash acts incurred. +Both were killed in the battle. Phil. Kearney had gained a national +reputation for his enterprising warfare in California and Mexico +during the troublesome times of the Mexican War, and it was with +unfeigned sorrow and regret the two armies heard of the sad death of +this veteran hero. + +During the time that all these stirring events were taking place and +just before Magruder, with McLaw's and Walker's divisions, was either +quietly lying in front of Richmond watching the army of McClellan +dwindle away, leaving by transports down the James and up the Potomac, +or was marching at a killing gait to overtake their comrades under Lee +to share with them their trials, their battles and their victories in +Maryland. Lee could not leave the Capital with all his force so long +as there was a semblance of an army threatening it. + +As soon as it was discovered that Manassas was to be the real battle +ground of the campaign, and Washington instead of Richmond the +objective point, Lee lost no time in concentrating his army north of +the Rappahannock. About the middle of August McLaws, with Kershaw's, +Semmes's, Cobb's, and Barksdale's Brigades, with two brigades +under Walker and the Hampton Legion Cavalry, turned their footsteps +Northward, and bent all their energies to reach the scene of action +before the culminating events above mentioned. + +At Orange C.H., on the 26th, we hastened our march, as news began to +reach us of Jackson's extraordinary movements and the excitement in +the Federal Army, occasioned by their ludicrous hunt for the "lost +Confederate." Jackson's name had reached its meridian in the minds +of the troops, and they were ever expecting to hear of some new +achievement or brilliant victory by this strange, silent, and +mysterious man. The very mystery of his movements, his unexplainable +absence and sudden reappearance at unexpected points, his audacity +in the face of the enemy, his seeming recklessness, gave unbounded +confidence to the army. The men began to feel safe at the very idea of +his disappearance and absence. While the thunder of his guns and +those of Longstreet's were sounding along the valleys of Bull Run, and +reverberating down to the Potomac or up to Washington, McLaws with his +South Carolinians, Georgians, and Mississippians was swinging along +with an elastic step between Orange C.H. and Manassas. + +McClellan himself had already reached Alexandria with the last of +his troops, but by the acts of the ubiquitous Jackson his lines of +communication were cut and the Federal commander had to grope his way +in the dark for fear of running foul of his erratic enemy. + +When we began nearing Manassas, we learned of the awful effect of the +two preceding days' battle by meeting the wounded. They came singly +and in groups, men marching with arms in slings, heads bandaged, or +hopping along on improvised crutches, while the wagons and ambulances +were laden with the severely wounded. In that barren country no +hospital could be established, for it was as destitute of sustenance +as the arid plains of the Arabian Desert when the great Napoleon +undertook to cross it with his beaten army. All, with the exception of +water; we had plenty of that. Passing over a part of the battlefield +about the 5th of September, the harrowing sights that were met with +were in places too sickening to admit of description. The enemy's +dead, in many places, had been left unburied, it being a veritable +instance of "leaving the dead to bury the dead." Horses in a rapid +state of decomposition literally covered the field. The air was so +impregnated with the foul stench arising from the plains where the +battle had raged fiercest, that the troops were forced to close their +nostrils while passing. Here and there lay a dead enemy overlooked in +the night of the general burial, stripped of his outer clothing, +his blackened features and glassy eyes staring upturned to the hot +September sun, while our soldiers hurried past, leaving them unburied +and unnoticed. Some lay in the beaten track of our wagon trains, and +had been run over ruthlessly by the teamsters, they not having +the time, if the inclination, to remove them. The hot sun made +decomposition rapid, and the dead that had fallen on the steep incline +their heads had left the body and rolled several paces away. All the +dead had become as black as Africans, the hot rays of the sun changing +the features quite prematurely. In the opening where the Washington +Battalion of Artillery from New Orleans had played such havoc on the +30th with the enemy's retreating columns, it resembled some great +railroad wreck--cannon and broken caissons piled in great heaps; +horses lying swollen and stiff, some harnessed, others not; broken +rammers, smashed wheels, dismounted pieces told of the desperate +struggle that had taken place. One of the strange features of a +battlefield is the absence of the carrion crow or buzzard--it matters +little as to the number of dead soldiers or horses, no vultures ever +venture near--it being a fact that a buzzard was never seen in that +part of Virginia during the war. + +All was still, save the rumble of the wagon trains and the steady +tread of the soldiers. Across Bull Run and out towards Washington +McLaws followed with hasty step the track of Longstreet and Jackson. + +On the 5th or 6th we rejoined at last, after a two months' separation +from the other portion of the army. Lee was now preparing to invade +Maryland and other States North, as the course of events dictated. +Pope's Army had joined that of McClellan, and the authorities at +Washington had to call on the latter to "save their Capital." When the +troops began the crossing of the now classic Potomac, a name on every +tongue since the commencement of hostilities, their enthusiasm knew +no bounds. Bands played "Maryland, My Maryland," men sang and cheered, +hats filled the air, flags waved, and shouts from fifty thousand +throats reverberated up and down the banks of the river, to be echoed +back from the mountains and die away among the hills and highlands +of Maryland. Men stopped midway in the stream and sang loudly the +cheering strains of Randall's, "Maryland, My Maryland." We were +overjoyed at rejoining the army, and the troops of Jackson, +Longstreet, and the two Hills were proud to feel the elbow touch of +such chivalrous spirits as McLaws, Kershaw, Hampton, and others in the +conflicts that were soon to take place. Never before had an occurrence +so excited and enlivened the spirits of the troops as the crossing +of the Potomac into the land of our sister, Maryland. It is said the +Crusaders, after months of toil, marching, and fighting, on their +way through the plains of Asia Minor, wept when they saw the towering +spires of Jerusalem, the Holy City, in the distance; and if ever Lee's +troops could have wept for joy, it was at the crossing of the Potomac. +But we paid dearly for this pleasure in the death of so many thousands +of brave men and the loss of so many valuable officers. General Winder +fell at Cedar Mountain, and Jackson's right hand, the brave Ewell, +lost his leg at Manassas. + +The army went into camp around Frederick City, Md. From here, on the +8th, Lee issued his celebrated address to the people of Maryland, and +to those of the North generally, telling them of his entry into their +country, its cause and purpose; that it was not as a conqueror, or an +enemy, but to demand and enforce a peace between the two countries. +He clothed his language in the most conservative and entreating terms, +professing friendship for those who would assist him, and protection +to life and the property of all. He enjoined the people, without +regard to past differences, to flock to his standard and aid in the +defeat of the party and people who were now drenching the country in +blood and putting in mourning the people of two nations. The young men +he asked to join his ranks as soldiers of a just and honorable cause. +Of the old he asked their sympathies and prayers. To the President of +the Confederate States he also wrote a letter, proposing to him +that he should head his armies, and, as the chieftain of the nation, +propose a peace to the authorities at Washington from the very +threshold of their Capital. But both failed of the desired effect. The +people of the South had been led to believe that Maryland was anxious +to cast her destinies with those of her sister States, that all her +sympathies were with the people of the South, and that her young men +were anxious and only awaiting the opportunity to join the ranks as +soldiers under Lee. But these ideas and promises were all delusions, +for the people we saw along the route remained passive spectators and +disinterested witnesses to the great evolutions now taking place. What +the people felt on the "eastern shore" is not known; but the acts of +those between the Potomac and Pennsylvania above Washington indicated +but little sympathy with the Southern cause; and what enlistments were +made lacked the proportions needed to swell Lee's army to its desired +limits. Lee promised protection and he gave it. The soldiers to a man +seemed to feel the importance of obeying the orders to respect and +protect the person and property of those with whom we came in contact. +It was said of this, as well as other campaigns in the North, that "it +was conducted with kid gloves on." + +While lying at Frederick City, Lee conceived the bold and perilous +project of again dividing his army in the face of his enemy, and that +enemy McClellan. Swinging back with a part of his army, he captured +the stronghold of Harper's Ferry, with its 11,000 defenders, while +with the other he held McClellan at bay in front. The undertaking was +dangerous in the extreme, and with a leader less bold and Lieutenants +less prompt and skillful, its final consummation would have been more +than problematical. But Lee was the one to propose his subalterns to +act. Harper's Ferry, on the Virginia side of the Potomac, where that +river is intersected by the Shenandoah, both cutting their way through +the cliffs and crags of the Blue Ridge, was the seat of the United +States Arsenal, and had immense stores of arms and ammunition, as well +as army supplies of every description. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad +and the canal cross the mountains here on the Maryland side, both +hugging the precipitous side of the mountain and at the very edge of +the water. The approaches to the place were few, and they so defended +that capture seemed impossible, unless the heights surrounding could +be obtained, and this appeared impossible from a military point of +view. On the south side are the Loudon and Bolivar Heights. On the +other side the mountains divide into two distinct ranges and gradually +bear away from each other until they reach a distance of three miles +from crest to crest. Between the two mountains is the beautiful and +picturesque Pleasant Valley. The eastern ridge, called South Mountain, +commencing from the rugged cliff at Rivertoria, a little hamlet +nestled down between the mountains and the Potomac, runs northwards, +while the western ridge, called Elk Mountain, starts from the bluff +called Maryland Heights, overlooking the town of Harper's Ferry, and +runs nearly parallel to the other. Jackson passed on up the river with +his division, Ewell's, and A.P. Hill's, recrossed the Potomac into +Virginia, captured Martinsburg, where a number of prisoners and +great supplies were taken, and came up and took possession of Bolivar +Heights, above Harper's Ferry. Walker's Division marched back across +the Potomac and took possession of Loudon Heights, a neck of high land +between the Shenandoah and Potomac overlooking Harper's Ferry from +below, the Shenandoah being between his army and the latter place. +On the 11th McLaws moved out of Frederick City, strengthened by the +brigades of Wilcox, Featherstone, and Pryor, making seven brigades +that were to undertake the capture of the stronghold by the mountain +passes and ridges on the north. Kershaw, it will be seen, was given +the most difficult position of passage and more formidable to attack +than any of the other routes of approach. Some time after Jackson and +Walker had left on their long march, McLaws followed. Longstreet and +other portions of the army and wagon trains kept the straight road +towards Hagerstown, while Kershaw and the rest of the troops under +McLaws took the road leading southwest, on through the town of +Burkettville, and camped at the foothills of the mountain, on the east +side. Next morning Kershaw, commanding his own brigade and that of +Barksdale, took the lead, passed over South Mountain, through Pleasant +Valley, and to Elk Ridge, three miles distance, thence along the top +of Elk Ridge by a dull cattle path. The width of the crest was not +more than fifty yards in places, and along this Kershaw had to move in +line of battle, Barksdale's Brigade in reserve. Wright's Brigade moved +along a similar path on the crest of South Mountain, he taking with +him two mountain howitzers, drawn by one horse each. McLaws, as +Commander-in-Chief, with some of the other brigades, marched by the +road at the base of the mountain below Wright, while Cobb was to keep +abreast of Kershaw and Barksdale at the base of Elk Ridge. Over +such obstacles as were encountered and the difficulties and dangers +separating the different troops, a line of battle never before made +headway as did those of Kershaw and the troops under McLaws. + +We met the enemy's skirmishers soon after turning to the left on Elk +Ridge, and all along the whole distance of five miles we were more +or less harassed by them. During the march of the 12th the men had to +pull themselves up precipitous inclines by the twigs and undergrowth +that lined the mountain side, or hold themselves in position by the +trees in front. At night we bivouaced on the mountain. We could see +the fires all along the mountain side and gorges through Pleasant +Valley and up on South Mountain, where the troops of Wright had camped +opposite. Early next morning as we advanced we again met the enemy's +skirmishers, and had to be continually driving them back. Away to the +south and beyond the Potomac we could hear the sound of Jackson's guns +as he was beating his way up to meet us. By noon we encountered the +enemy's breastworks, built of great stones and logs, in front of which +was an abattis of felled timber and brushwood. The Third, under Nance, +and the Seventh, under Aiken, were ordered to the charge on the right. +Having no artillery up, it was with great difficulty we approached +the fortifications. Men had to cling to bushes while they loaded and +fired. But with their usual gallantry they came down to their work. +Through the tangled undergrowth, through the abattis, and over the +breastworks they leaped with a yell. The fighting was short but +very severe. The Third did not lose any field officers, but the line +suffered considerably. The Third lost some of her most promising +officers. Of the Seventh, Captain Litchfield, of Company L, Captain +Wm. Clark, of Company G, and lieutenant J.L. Talbert fell dead, and +many others wounded. + +The Second and Eighth had climbed the mountains, and advanced on +Harper's Ferry from the east. The Second was commanded by Colonel +Kennedy and the Eighth by Colonel Henagan. The enemy was posted +behind works, constructed the same as those assaulted by the Third and +Seventh, of cliffs of rocks, trunks of trees, covered by an abattis. +The regiments advanced in splendid style, and through the tangled +underbrush and over boulders they rushed for the enemy's works. +Colonel Kennedy was wounded in the early part of the engagement, but +did not leave the field. The Second lost some gallant line officers. +When the order was given to charge the color bearer of the Eighth, +Sergeant Strother, of Chesterfield, a tall, handsome man of six +feet three in height, carrying the beautiful banner presented to the +regiment by the ladies of Pee Dee, fell dead within thirty yards of +the enemy's works. All the color guard were either killed or wounded. +Captain A.T. Harllee, commanding one of the color companies, seeing +the flag fall, seized it and waving it aloft, called to the men to +forward and take the breastworks. He, too, fell desperately wounded, +shot through both thighs with a minnie ball. He then called to Colonel +Henagan, he being near at hand, to take the colors. Snatching them +from under Captain Harllee, Colonel Henagan shouted to the men to +follow him, but had not gone far before he fell dangerously wounded. +Some of the men lifted up their fallen Colonel and started to the +rear; but just at this moment his regiment began to waver and break to +the rear. The gallant Colonel seeing this ordered his men to put him +down, and commanded in a loud, clear voice, "About face! Charge and +take the works," which order was obeyed with promptness, and soon +the flags of Kershaw's Regiments waved in triumph over the enemy's +deserted works. + +Walker had occupied Loudon Heights, on the Virginia side, and all +were waiting now for Jackson to finish the work assigned to him and to +occupy Bolivar Heights, thus finishing the cordon around the luckless +garrison. The enemy's cavalry under the cover of the darkness crossed +the river, hugged its banks close, and escaped. During the night a +road was cut to the top of Maryland Heights by our engineer corps and +several pieces of small cannon drawn up, mostly by hand, and placed in +such position as to sweep the garrison below. Some of Jackson's +troops early in the night began climbing around the steep cliffs +that overlook the Shenandoah, and by daylight took possession of +the heights opposite to those occupied by Walker's Division. But +all during the day, while we were awaiting the signal of Jackson's +approach, we heard continually the deep, dull sound of cannonading +in our rear. Peal after peal from heavy guns that fairly shook the +mountain side told too plainly a desperate struggle was going on in +the passes that protected our rear. General McLaws, taking Cobb's +Georgia Brigade and some cavalry, hurried back over the rugged +by-paths that had been just traversed, to find D.H. Hill and +Longstreet in a hand-to-hand combat, defending the routes on South +Mountain that led down on us by the mountain crests. The next day +orders for storming the works by the troops beyond the river were +given. McLaws and Walker had secured their position, and now were in +readiness to assist Jackson. All the batteries were opened on Bolivar +Heights, and from the three sides the artillery duel raged furiously +for a time, while Jackson's infantry was pushed to the front and +captured the works there. Soon thereafter the white flag was waving +over Harper's Ferry, "the citadel had fallen." In the capitulation +eleven thousand prisoners, seventy-two pieces of artillery, twelve +thousand stands of small arms, horses, wagons, munitions, and supplies +in abundance passed into the hands of the Confederates. Jackson's +troops fairly swam in the delicacies, provisions, and "drinkables" +constituting a part of the spoils taken, while Kershaw's and all of +McLaw's and Walker's troops, who had done the hardest of the fighting, +got none. Our men complained bitterly of this seeming injustice. +It took all day to finish the capitulation, paroling prisoners, and +dividing out the supplies; but we had but little time to rest, for +Lee's Army was now in a critical condition. McClellan, having by +accident captured Lee's orders specifying the routes to be taken by +all the troops after the fall of Harper's Ferry, knew exactly where +and when to strike. The Southern Army was at this time woefully +divided, a part being between the Potomac and the Shenandoah, Jackson +with three divisions across the Potomac in Virginia, McLaws with his +own and a part of Anderson's Division on the heights of Maryland, with +the enemy five miles in his rear at Crompton Pass cutting him off from +retreat in that direction. Lee, with the rest of his army and reserve +trains, was near Hagerstown. + +On the 16th we descended the mountain, crossed the Potomac, fell in +the rear of Jackson's moving army, and marched up the Potomac some +distance, recrossed into Maryland, on our hunt for Lee and his army. +The sun poured down its blistering rays with intense fierceness upon +the already fatigued and fagged soldiers, while the dust along the +pikes, that wound over and around the numerous hills, was almost +stifling. We bivouaced for the night on the roadside, ten miles from +Antietam Creek, where Lee was at the time concentrating his army, and +where on the next day was to be fought the most stubbornly contested +and bloody battle of modern times, if we take in consideration the +number of troops engaged, its duration, and its casualties. After +three days of incessant marching and fighting over mountain heights, +rugged gorges, wading rivers--all on the shortest of rations, many +of the men were content to fall upon the bare ground and snatch a few +moments of rest without the time and trouble of a supper. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XI + +Sharpsburg or Antietam--Return to Virginia. + + +When Lee crossed the Potomac the Department at Washington, as well +as the whole North, was thrown into consternation, and the wildest +excitement prevailed, especially in Maryland and Pennsylvania. "Where +was Lee?" "Where was he going?" were some of the questions that +flitted over the wires to McClellan from Washington, Philadelphia, +and Baltimore. But the personage about whose movements and whereabouts +seemed to excite more anxiety and superstitious dread than any or +all of Lee's Lieutenants was Jackson. The North regarded him as some +mythical monster, acting in reality the parts assigned to fiction. But +after it was learned that Lee had turned the head of his columns to +the westward, their fears were somewhat allayed. Governor Curtis, of +Pennsylvania, almost took spasms at the thought of the dreaded rebels +invading his domain, and called upon the militia "to turn out and +resist the invader." In less than three weeks after the battle of +Manassas, the North, or more correctly, New York, Pennsylvania, New +Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, had out 250,000 State troops behind +the Susquehanna River. + +The great horde of negro cooks and servants that usually followed the +army were allowed to roam at will over the surrounding country, just +the same as down in Virginia. The negroes foraged for their masters +wherever they went, and in times of short rations they were quite +an adjunct to the Commissary Department, gathering chickens, butter, +flour, etc. Even now, when so near the Free States, with nothing +to prevent them from making their escape, the negroes showed no +disposition to take advantage of their situation and conditions, their +owners giving themselves no concern whatever for their safety. On more +occasions than one their masters told them to go whenever they wished, +that they would exercise no authority over them whatever, but I do not +believe a single negro left of his own accord. Some few were lost, +of course, but they were lost like many of the soldiers--captured by +foraging parties or left broken down along the roadside. It is a fact, +though, that during the whole war the negroes were as much afraid of +the "Yankee" as the white soldier, and dreaded capture more. + +It might be supposed that we fared sumptuously, being in an enemy's +country at fruit and harvest time, with great waving fields of corn, +trees bending under loads of choice ripe fruits, but such was far from +being the case. Not an apple, peach, or plum was allowed to be taken +without payment, or at the owner's consent. Fields, orchards, and +farmhouses were strictly guarded against depredations. The citizens as +a whole looked at us askance, rather passive than demonstrative. The +young did not flock to our standards as was expected, and the old men +looked on more in wonder than in pleasure, and opened their granaries +with willingness, but not with cheerfulness. They accepted the +Confederate money offered as pay for meals or provisions more as a +respect to an overpowering foe than as a compensation for their wares. +A good joke in this campaign was had at the expense of Captain Nance, +of the Third. It must be remembered that the privates played many +practical jokes upon their officers in camps, when at other times +and on other occasions such would be no joke at all, but a bit of +downright rascality and meanness--but in the army such was called +fun. A nice chicken, but too old to fry, so it must be stewed. As the +wagons were not up, cooking utensils were scarce--about one oven to +twenty-five men. Captain Nance ordered Jess to bake the biscuit at +night and put away till morning, when the chicken would be cooked and +a fine breakfast spread. Now the Captain was overflowing in good humor +and spirits, and being naturally generous-hearted, invited the +Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel Rutherford, the latter his prospective +brother-in-law, down to take breakfast with him. The biscuits were +all baked nicely and piled high up on an old tin plate and put in the +Captain's tent at his head for safe keeping during the night. Early +next morning the fowl was "jumping in the pan," as the boys would say, +while the Captain made merry with the others over their discomfiture +at seeing him and his guests eating "chicken and flour bread," while +they would be "chewing crackers." All things must come to an end, of +course; so the chicken was at last "cooked to a turn," the Colonel +and the future brother-in-law are seated expectantly upon the ground +waiting the breakfast call. The Captain was assisting Jess in putting +on the finishing touches to the tempting meal, as well as doing the +honors to his distinguished guests. When all was ready he ordered Jess +to bring out the biscuits. After an unusual long wait, as it may have +appeared to Captain Nance under the condition of his appetite and the +presence of his superiors, he called out, "Why in the thunder don't +you bring out the biscuits, Jess?" Still blankets were overturned and +turned again, knapsacks moved for the fourth or fifth time, yet Jess +hunted faithfully in that little four by six tent for the plate of +biscuits. "Why in the h----l don't you come on with the biscuits, +Jess?" with a pronounced accent on the word "Jess." Meanwhile Jess +poked his black, shaggy head through the tent door, the white of his +eyes depicting the anguish of his mind, his voice the despair he felt, +answered: "Well, Marse John, before God Almighty, ef somebody ain't +tooken stole dem bisket." Tableaux!! Twenty-five years afterwards at a +big revival meeting at Bethel Church, in Newberry County, a great many +"hard cases," as they were called, were greatly impressed with the +sermons, and one especially seemed on the point of "getting religion," +as it is called. But he seemed to be burdened with a great weight. +At the end of the service he took out Captain Nance and expressed +a desire to make a confession. "Did you ever know who stole your +biscuits that night at Frederick City?" "No." "Well, I and Bud +Wilson--" But Captain Nance never allowed John Mathis to finish, for +as the light of that far-off truth dawned upon him and seemed to +bring back the recollection of that nice brown chicken and the missing +biscuits he said: "No, I'll never forgive you; go home and don't try +for religion any longer, for a crime as heinous as yours is beyond +forgiveness. Oh, such depravity!" It appears since that two of his +most intimate friends had robbed him just for the fun they would have +over his disappointment in the morning and the chagrin the Captain +would experience, but the biscuits were too tempting to keep. + +On the morning of the 17th we were yet ten miles from Sharpsburg, +where Lee had drawn up his army around that little hamlet and along +Antietam Creek, to meet the shock of battle that McClellan was +preparing to give. The battleground chosen was in a bend of the +Potomac, Lee's left resting on the river above and around to the front +to near the point where the Antietam enters the Potomac on the right. +The little sluggish stream between the two armies, running at the base +of the heights around and beyond Sharpsburg, was not fordable for some +distance above the Potomac, and only crossed by stone bridges at the +public roads. Up near Lee's left it could be crossed without bridges. +The Confederate Army now lay in a small compass in this bend of the +river, the Federal Army extending in his front from the river above +to the Antietam below, just above its junction with the Potomac. That +stream rolled in a deep, strong current in the rear of Lee. + +Even before the sun had spread its rays over the heights of this +quaint old Quaker town sufficient to distinguish objects a few feet +away, the guns were booming along the crossings of Antietam. With a +hurried breakfast Kershaw took up the line of march along the dusty +roads in the direction of the firing, which had begun by daylight +and continued to rage incessantly during the day and till after dark, +making this the most bloody battle for the men engaged fought during +the century. In its casualties--the actual dead upon the field and +the wounded--for the time of action, it exceeded all others before +or since. When we neared General Lee's headquarters, some distance in +rear of the town, D.H. Hill and part of Jackson's forces were already +in the doubtful toils of a raging conflict away to our left and front, +where Hooker was endeavoring to break Lee's left or press it back upon +the river. Barksdale's Brigade, of our division, was in front, and +when near the battlefield formed in line of battle. Kershaw formed his +lines with the Third, Colonel Nance, in front, nearly parallel with a +body of woods, near the Dunker Church, and left of the road leading to +it, the enemy being about five hundred yards in our front. The other +regiments were formed in line on our left as they came up, Colonel +Aiken, of the Seventh, Lieutenant Colonel Hoole, of the Eighth, and +Colonel Kennedy, of the Second, in the order named, Barksdale moving +in action before our last regiment came fairly in line. Sumner, of the +Federal Army, was pushing his forces of the Second Army Corps forward +at this point of the line in columns of brigades, having crossed the +Antietam at the fords above. Sedgwick, of his leading division, had +already formed in line of battle awaiting our assault. One of the +Georgia Brigades of the division formed on Kershaw's left, while the +other acted as reserve, and a general advance was ordered against +the troops in the woods. The battle was in full blast now along the +greater part of the line. General Longstreet, speaking of the time +Kershaw came in action, says: "The fire spread along both lines from +left to right, across the Antietam, and back again, and the thunder +of the big guns became continuous and increased to a mighty volume. To +this was presently added the sharper rattle of musketry, and the surge +of mingling sound sweeping up and down the field was multiplied and +confused by the reverberations from the rocks and hills. And in the +great tumult of sound, which shook the air and seemed to shatter the +cliffs and ledges above the Antietam, bodies of the facing foes were +pushed forward to closer work, and soon added the clash of steel to +the thunderous crash of cannon shot. Under this storm, now Kershaw +advanced his men. Through the open, on through the woods, with a solid +step these brave men went, while the battery on their left swept their +ranks with grape and canister." In the woods the brigade was moved to +the left to evade this storm of shot and shell. The Mississippians on +the left were now reforming their broken ranks. Colonel Aiken, of the +Seventh, had fallen badly wounded in the first charge, and the command +was given to Captain White. This was the first battle in a fair field +in which the new commanders of the regiments had had an opportunity to +show their mettle and ability, and well did they sustain themselves. +Savage Station and Maryland Heights were so crowded with underbrush +and vision so obscured that they were almost battles in the dark. +Colonel Kennedy, of the Second, and Lieutenant Colonel Hoole, of +the Eighth, were handling their men in splendid style, the Seventh +changing its commander three times while in battle. Colonel Nance +changed his front in the lull of battle, and moved under the friendly +cover of a hill, on which was posted the battery that had been graping +the field so desperately during the first advance. The brigade had +now passed through the field of waving corn, over the rail fence, and +driven Sedgwick from his position. Barksdale, who had been staggered +by the first impact, was now moving up in beautiful harmony; the +steady, elastic step of his men, the waving banners, the officers +marching in the rear, their bright blades glittering in the sunlight, +made a most imposing spectacle. Up the slope, among the straggling +oaks, they bent their steps, while the grape, shell, and canister +thinned their ranks to such an extent that when the enemy's infantry +was met, their galling fire forced Barksdale to retire in great +disorder. The enemy's troops were being hurried ever the creek and +forming in our front. Kershaw moved forward in line with those on the +right to meet them, and swept everything from his front. The enemy +had been massing along the whole line, and when Kershaw reached the +farthest limit of the open field he was met by overwhelming numbers. +Now the fight waged hot and fierce, but the line on the right having +retired left the right flank of the Third Regiment entirely exposed +both to the fire of the artillery and infantry, forcing the brigade to +retire to its former ground, leaving, however, the second commander of +the Seventh dead upon the field. It was here the famous scout and aide +to General Stuart, Captain W.D. Parley, killed at the Rappahannock, +came to visit his brother, Lieutenant Parley, of the Third. He was +made doubly famous by the fiction of Captain Estine Cooke. + +McClellan was now growing desperate, his lines making no headway +either on the left or centre. His forces were held at bay on our right +across the Antietam, having failed to force a crossing at the bridges. +Jackson and Hill, on the left, were being sorely pressed by the corps +of Mansfield and Hooker, but still doggedly held their ground. Jackson +had left the division of A.P. Hill at Harper's Ferry to settle the +negotiations of surrender, and had but a comparative weak force to +meet this overwhelming number of two army corps. Again and again the +Confederate ranks were broken, but as often reformed. Stuart stood on +the extreme left, with his body of cavalry, but the condition of the +field was such as to prevent him from doing little more service than +holding the flanks. General Toombs, with his Georgia Brigade, and +some detached troops, with two batteries, held the lower fords all day +against the whole of Burnside's corps, notwithstanding the imperative +orders of his chief "to cross and strike the Confederates in the +rear." Assaults by whole divisions were repeatedly made against the +small force west of the stream, but were easily repulsed by Toombs +and his Georgians. In all probability these unsuccessful attacks would +have continued during the day, had not the Federals found a crossing, +unknown to the Confederate Generals, between the bridges. When the +crossing was found the whole slope on the western side of the stream +was soon a perfect sheet of blue. So sure were they of victory that +they called upon the Confederates to "throw down their arms and +surrender." This was only answered by a volley and a charge with the +bayonet point. But there was a factor in the day's battle not yet +taken account of, and which was soon to come upon the field like a +whirlwind and change the course of events. A.P. Hill, who had been +left at Harper's Ferry, was speeding towards the bloody field with all +the speed his tired troops could make. Gregg, Branch, and Archer, of +Hill's Division, were thrown into the combat at this most critical +moment, after the enemy had forced a crossing at all points and were +pushing Lee backwards towards the Potomac. Short and decisive was +the work. An advance of the whole right was made. The enemy first +staggered, then reeled, and at last pressed off the field. The +batteries lost in the early part of the day were retaken, and the +enemy was glad to find shelter under his heavy guns on the other side +of the Antietam. But the battle on the left was not so favorable. +Jackson's, D.H. Hill's, and McLaw's troops, jaded and fagged by the +forced marches in the morning, their ranks woefully thinned by the +day's continuous fighting, their ammunition sadly exhausted, could do +no more than hold their ground for the remainder of the day. The enemy +now being re-enforced by Porter's Corps, his batteries enfilading our +ranks. McLaws was forced to move Kershaw and the troops on his right +to the left and rear, nearly parallel to the line first formed during +the day. There had been no material advantage on either side. On +the right the enemy had crossed the Antietam, it is true, but to a +position no better than the night before. Our left and centre were +bent back in somewhat more acute angle than on the morning, but to an +equally good position. Not many prisoners were taken on either side in +proportion to the magnitude of the battle. The enemy's loss in killed +and wounded was a little more than ours, but so far as the day's +battle goes, the loss and gain were about equal. It is true Lee lost +thousands of good and brave troops whose places could scarcely be +filled; yet he inflicted such punishment upon the enemy that it took +him months to recuperate. The moral effect was against us and in favor +of the enemy It had a decided bearing upon the coming elections at the +North, and a corresponding depression upon the people at the South. +The Southern Army, from its many successive victories in the past, had +taught themselves to believe that they were simply invincible upon the +field of battle, and the people of the South looked upon the strategy +and military skill of Lee and Jackson as being far beyond the cope of +any Generals the North could produce. But this battle taught the South +a great lesson in many ways. It demonstrated the fact that it was +possible to be matched in generalship, it was possible to meet men +upon the field equal in courage and endurance to themselves. But +it also proved to what point of forbearance and self-sacrifice the +Southern soldier could go when the necessity arose, and how faithful +and obedient they would remain to their leaders under the severest of +tests. The Confederate soldier had been proven beyond cavil the equal +in every respect to that of any on the globe. After fighting all day, +without food and with little water, they had to remain on the field +of battle, tired and hungry, until details returned to the wagons and +cooked their rations. It may be easily imagined that both armies were +glad enough to fall upon the ground and rest after such a day of blood +and carnage, with the smoke, dust, and weltering heat of the day. +Before the sound of the last gun had died away in the distance one +hundred thousand men were stretched upon the ground fast asleep, +while near a third of that number were sleeping their last sleep +or suffering from the effects of fearful wounds. The ghouls of the +battlefield are now at their wanton work. Stealthily and cautiously +they creep and grope about in the dark to hunt the body of an enemy, +or even a comrade, and strip or rob him of his little all. Prayers, +groans, and curses mingle, but the robber of the battlefield continues +his work. Friends seek lost comrades here and there, a brother looks, +perhaps, in vain for a brother. + +The loss in some of our regiments was appalling, especially the +Seventh. Two regimental commanders, of that command had fallen, +Colonel Aiken and Captain White, leaving Captain Hard, one of the +junior Captains, in command. The regiment lost in the two battles of +Maryland Heights and Sharpsburg, two hundred and fifty-three out of +four hundred and forty-six. + +General McClellan, in his testimony before the War Investigating +Committee, says: "We fought pretty close upon one hundred thousand +men. Our forces were, total in action, eighty-seven thousand one +hundred and sixty-four." Deducting the cavalry division not in action +of four thousand three hundred and twenty, gives McClellan eighty-two +thousand eight hundred and forty-four, infantry and artillery. + +General Lee says in his report: "The battle was fought by less than +forty thousand men of all arms on our side." The actual numbers were: + + Jackson, including A.P. Hill ...... 10,000 + Longstreet ........................ 12,000 + D.H. Hill and Walker ............... 7,000 + Cavalry ............................ 8,000 + ______ + 37,000 + +Deduct four thousand cavalry on detached service and not on the field +from Lee's force, and we have of infantry, artillery, and cavalry, +thirty-three thousand. Jackson only had four thousand on the left +until the arrival of A.P. Hill, and withstood the assaults of forty +thousand till noon; when re-enforced by Hill he pressed the enemy from +the field. + +The next day was employed in burying the dead and gathering up the +wounded. Those who could travel were started off across the Potomac on +foot, in wagons and ambulances, on the long one hundred miles march to +the nearest railroad station, while those whose wounds would not admit +of their removal were gathered in houses in the town and surgeons +detailed to remain and treat them. On the morning of the 19th some +hours before day the rumbling of the wagon trains told of our march +backward. We crossed the Potomac, Longstreet leading, and Jackson +bringing up the rear. A great many that had been broken down by the +rapid marches and the sun's burning rays from the time of our crossing +into Maryland till now, were not up at the battle of the 17th, thus +weakening the ranks of Lee to nearly one-half their real strength, +taking those on detached service into consideration also. But these +had all come up and joined their ranks as we began crossing the +Potomac. None wished to be left behind; even men so badly wounded that +at home they would be confined to their beds marched one hundred miles +in the killing heat. Hundreds of men with their arms amputated left +the operating table to take up their long march. Some shot through the +head, body, or limbs preferred to place the Potomac between themselves +and the enemy. + +Lee entered Maryland with sixty-one thousand men all told, counting +Quartermaster and Commissary Departments, the teamsters, and those in +the Medical and Engineer Department. Lee lost thirteen thousand +six hundred and eighty-seven men killed and wounded on the field +of battle, and several thousand in capture and broken down by the +wayside, most of the latter, however, reporting for duty in a few +days. + +McClellan had of actual soldiers in the lines of battle and reserve +eighty-seven thousand one hundred and sixty-four, his losses in battle +being twelve thousand four hundred and ten, making his casualties one +thousand two hundred and seventy-seven less than Lee's. The prisoners +and cannon captured in action were about equal during the twelve days +north of the Potomac, while at Harper's Ferry Lee captured sufficient +ammunition to replenish that spent in battle, and horses and wagons +enough to fully equip the whole army, thousands of improved small +arms, seventy-two cannon and caissons, and eleven thousand prisoners. +While the loss of prisoners, ammunition, horses, ordnance, etc., did +not materially cripple the North, our losses in prisoners and killed +and wounded could hardly be replaced at that time. So in summing up +the results it is doubtful whether or not the South gained any lasting +benefit from the campaign beyond the Potomac. But Lee was forced by +circumstances after the enemy's disaster at Manassas to follow up his +victories and be guided by the course of events, and in that direction +they lead. McClellan offered the gauge of battle; Lee was bound to +accept. The North claimed Sharpsburg or Antietam as a victory, and the +world accepted it as such. This gave Lincoln the opportunity he had +long waited for to write his famous Emancipation Proclamation. It was +not promulgated, however, till the first of January following. Among +military critics this battle would be given to Lee, even while the +campaign is voted a failure. It is an axiom in war that when one army +stands upon the defensive and is attacked by the other, if the latter +fails to force the former from his position, then it is considered a +victory for the army standing on the defensive. (See Lee at Gettysburg +and Burnsides at Fredericksburg.) While Lee was the invader, he stood +on the defensive at Sharpsburg or Antietam, and McClellan did no more +than press his left and centre back. Lee held his battle line firmly, +slept on the field, buried his dead the next day, then deliberately +withdrew. What better evidence is wanting to prove Lee not defeated. +McClellan claimed no more than a drawn fight. + +On the 19th the enemy began pressing our rear near Sheperdstown, +and A.P. Hill was ordered to return and drive them off. A fierce and +sanguinary battle took place at Bateler's Ford, between two portions +of the armies, A.P. Hill gaining a complete victory, driving the enemy +beyond the river. The army fell back to Martinsburg and rested a few +days. Afterwards they were encamped at Winchester, where they remained +until the opening of the next campaign. + +Before closing the account of the First Maryland campaign, I wish +to say a word in regard to the Commissary and Quartermaster's +Departments. Much ridicule, and sometimes abuse, has been heaped upon +the heads of those who composed the two Departments. I must say, in +all justice, that much of this was ill timed and ill advised. It +must be remembered that to the men who constituted these Departments +belonged the duty of feeding, clothing, and furnishing the +transportation for the whole army. Often without means or ways, they +had to invent them. In an enemy's country, surrounded by many dangers, +in a hostile and treacherous community, and mostly unprotected except +by those of their own force, they had to toil night and day, through +sunshine and rain, that the men who were in the battle ranks could be +fed and clothed. They had no rest. When the men were hungry they must +be fed; when others slept they had to be on the alert. When sick or +unable to travel a means of transportation must be furnished. The +Commissary and the Quartermaster must provide for the sustenance +of the army. Kershaw's Brigade was doubly blessed in the persons +of Captain, afterwards Major W.D. Peck and Captain Shell, of the +Quartermaster Department, and Captain R.N. Lowrance, and Lieutenant +J.N. Martin, of the Commissary. The troops never wanted or suffered +while it was in the power of those officers to supply them. + +Major Peck was a remarkable man in many respects. He certainly could +be called one of nature's noblemen. Besides being a perfect high-toned +gentleman of the old school, he was One of the most efficient officers +in the army, and his popularity was universal His greatest service +was in the Quartermaster's Department, but he served for awhile in the +ranks in Captain Wm. Wallace's Company, Second Regiment, as Orderly +Sergeant--served in that capacity at the bombardment of Fort Sumpter +and the first battle of Manassas. On the death of Quartermaster W.S. +Wood, Colonel Kershaw appointed him his Regimental Quartermaster to +fill the place made vacant by Captain Wood, in July, 1861, with the +rank of Captain. When Kershaw was made Brigadier General, on the +resignation of General Bonham, he had him promoted to Brigade +Quartermaster with the rank of Major. On the resignation of Major +McLaws, Division Quartermaster, he was made Division Quartermaster in +his stead, and held this position during the war. He received his last +appointment only one month before his illustrious chief, J.B. Kershaw, +was made Major General. It seems a strange coincidence in the rise of +these two men, who entered the service together--each took different +arms, but rose in parallel grades to the highest position in the +division. Major Peck was seldom absent from duty, and a complaint +against him was never heard. He was a bold, gallant officer, and +when in the discharge of his duties he laid aside every other +consideration. Major Peck had a very striking appearance, tall, erect, +and dignified, and upon horseback he was a perfect cavalier. It +might be truly said he was one of the handsomest men in the army. His +commanding appearance attracted attention wherever he went, and he +was often taken for a general officer. For cordiality, generosity, and +unselfishness he was almost without a rival. It required no effort +on his part to display the elegance of his character--his gentlemanly +qualities and deportment were as natural to him as it is for the +"sparks to fly upward." He was born in Columbia April 4th, 1833, and +died there April 25th, 1870. + +The mere fact of Captain G.W. Shell being appointed to such a +responsible position as Quartermaster by so strict a disciplinarian as +Colonel Nance is a sufficient guarantee of his qualifications. Captain +Shell entered the army as a private in the "State Guards," from +Laurens, served one year as such, then as Regimental Quartermaster +with rank of Captain for a part of two years. Then that office in the +army was abolished and put in charge of a non-commissioned officer. +Appreciating his great services while serving his regiment, the +officials were loath to dispense with his services, and gave him +a position in the brigade department and then in the division as +assistant to Major Peck, retaining his rank. All that has been said of +Major Peck can be truly said of Captain Shell. He was an exceptional +executive officer, kind and courteous to those under his orders, +obedient and respectful to his superiors. He was ever vigilant and +watchful of the wants of the troops, and while in the abandoned +sections of Virginia, as well as in Maryland and Pennsylvania, +he displayed the greatest activity in gathering supplies for the +soldiers. He was universally loved and admired. He was of the same age +of Captain Peck, born and reared in Laurens County, where he returned +after the close of the war and still resides, enjoying all the +comforts emanating from a well spent life. For several terms he filled +the office of Clerk of the Court of his native county, and served two +terms in the United States Congress. He was the leading spirit in the +great reform movement that overspread the State several years ago, in +which Ben Tillman was made Governor, and South Carolina's brightest +light, both political and military, General Wade Hampton, was retired +to private life. + + * * * * * + + +COLONEL D. WYATT AIKEN, OF THE SEVENTH. + +As Colonel Aiken saw but little more service with the First Brigade, +I will here give a short sketch of his life. I have made it a rule in +this work, as far as practicable, to give a sketch at the end of +the officer's service in the Brigade, but in this case I make an +exception. + +Colonel Aiken was born in Winnsboro, Fairfield County, S.C., March +17th, 1828. He graduated at the South Carolina College in the class +of 1849. Was professor at Mt. Zion College for two years, and married +Miss Mattie Gaillard in 1852, settling at "Bellevue" Farm, near +Winnsboro. He became county editor of Winnsboro News and Herald, and +was married the second time to Miss Smith, of Abbeville, and removed +to that county in 1858. Was fond of agriculture, and was editor of +various periodicals devoted to that and kindred pursuits. + +In 1861 he volunteered as a private in the Seventh South Carolina +Volunteers, and was appointed Adjutant of that regiment. At the +reorganization of the regiment in 1862 he was elected Colonel to +succeed Colonel Bacon, who declined re-election. At Sharpsburg he +received a wound in the body, which for a long time was feared to be +fatal. He, however, returned in June, 1863, and commanded his regiment +in the Gettysburg battle, after which he was deemed unable for further +active service in the field, and was appointed "commandant of the +post" at Macon, Ga. This position he held for one year, and then +discharged from the army as being unfit for further service. + +After the war he was selected for three terms to the State +Legislature. He was "Master of State Grange Patrons of Husbandry," and +was twice President of the "State Agricultural and Mechanical Society +of South Carolina." He was chosen Democratic standard bearer for +Congress in the memorable campaign of 1876, and continually re-elected +thereafter until his death, which occurred on April 6th, 1887. + +Colonel Aiken was also one of nature's noblemen, bold, fearless, and +incorruptible. He did as much, or perhaps more, than any of the many +great and loyal men of that day to release South Carolina from the +coils of the Republican ring that ruled the State during the dark days +of Reconstruction. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XII + +From Winchester to Fredericksburg. + + +The brigade remained in camp in a beautiful grove, about four miles +beyond Winchester, until the last of October. Here the regiments were +thoroughly organized and put in good shape for the next campaign. Many +officers and non-commissioned officers had been killed, or totally +disabled in the various battles, and their places had to be filled by +election and promotion. All officers, from Colonel down, went up +by regular grades, leaving nothing but the Third Lieutenants to be +elected. The non-commissioned officers generally went up by promotion +also, where competent, or the Captains either promoted them by regular +grade or left the selection to the men of the company. We had lost +no field officer killed, except Lieutenant Colonel Garlington, of the +Third, and Major Rutherford was promoted to that position, and Captain +R.C. Maffett made Major. Several Lieutenants in all the regiments were +made Captains, and many new Lieutenants were chosen from the ranks, so +much so that the rolls of the various companies were very materially +changed, since the reorganization in April last. Many of the wounded +had returned, and large bodies of men had come in from the conscript +camps since the reorganization. The Seventh Regiment had lost heavier, +in officers and men, than any of the regiments. Colonel Aiken was +wounded at Sharpsburg, and never returned only for a short time, +but the regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Bland until +the resignation of Colonel Aiken, except when the former was himself +disabled by wounds. + +Camp guards were kept up around the brigade, and regimental pickets, +some two or three miles distant, about every two weeks. We had company +and regimental drills about four times per week, and, in fact, we +drilled almost every day, now that we were not on the actual march. +The turn-pike road from Winchester to Staunton, ninety miles, for +weeks was perfectly lined with soldiers returning at the expiration +of their furloughs, or discharged from hospital, and our convalescent +sick and wounded from the Maryland campaign going homeward. + +On the 27th or 28th of October orders came to move. Longstreet took +the lead, with McLaws' and Anderson's Divisions in front. General Lee +had divided his army into two corps; the Department of Richmond having +created the rank of Lieutenant General, raised Longstreet and Jackson +to that grade in Lee's Army. Longstreet's Corps consisted of McLaws' +Division, composed of Kershaw's, Barksdale's, Cobb's, and Semmes' +Brigades, and Anderson's, Hood's, Pickett's, and Ransom's Divisions. +Jackson's Corps consisted of D.H. Hill's, A.P. Hill's, Ewell's, and +Taliaferro's Divisions. We marched by way of Chester Gap over the Blue +Ridge, and came into camp near Culpepper on the 9th of November. +The enemy had crossed the Potomac and was moving southward, by easy +stages, on the east side of the mountain. + +On the 5th of October General McClellan was removed from the command +of the Army of the Potomac and Major General Burnsides, a corps +commander, was made Commander-in-Chief in his stead. This change was +universally regretted by both armies, for the Northern Army had great +confidence in the little "Giant," while no officer in the Union Army +was ever held in higher esteem by the Southern soldiers than little +"Mack," as General McClellan was called. They admired him for his +unsurpassed courage, generalship, and his kind and gentlemanly +deportment, quite in contrast to the majority of Union commanders. + +General Burnsides, who had succeeded McClellan, now divided his army +by corps in three grand divisions--General Sumner, commanding the +Right Grand Division, composed of the Second and Ninth Corps; General +Hooker, the center, with the Third and Fifth Corps; and General +Franklin, the left, with the First and Sixth Corps. So both armies +had undergone considerable changes, and were now moving along on +converging lines towards a meeting point to test the mettle of the new +commanders and organizations. + +We remained in camp around Culpepper until the morning of the 18th +of November, when the march was resumed, by McLaws taking the road +leading to Fredericksburg, headed by General Longstreet in person, and +another division south along the line of the railroad in the direction +of the North Anna River, the other divisions of the corps remaining +stationary, awaiting developments. Jackson had not yet crossed the +Blue Ridge, and General Lee was only waiting and watching the move of +Burnsides before concentrating his army at any particular place. It +was unknown at this time whether the Federal commander would take the +route by way of Fredericksburg, or follow in a straight course and +make the North Anna his base of operations. The cavalry, making a +demonstration against the enemy's outposts, found the Union Army had +left and gone in the direction of Fredericksburg. Then Lee began the +concentration of his army by calling Jackson on the east side of the +Blue Ridge and Longstreet down on the south side of the Rappahannock. +We crossed the north fork of the Rappahannock at a rocky ford, two +miles above the junction of the Rapidan and just below the railroad +bridge, on a cold, blustery day, the water blue and cold as ice +itself, coming from the mountain springs of the Blue Ridge, not many +miles away. Some of the men took off their shoes and outer garments, +while others plunged in just as they marched from the road. Men +yelled, cursed, and laughed. Some climbed upon the rocks to allow +their feet and legs to warm up in the sun's rays, others held up one +foot for awhile, then the other, to allow the air to strike their +naked shins and warm them. Oh! it was dreadfully cold, but such fun! +The water being about three feet deep, we could easily see the rocks +and sands in the bottom. The men who had pulled off their shoes and +clothing suffered severely. + +There was a man in my company who was as brave and as good a soldier +as ever lived, but beyond question the most awkward man in the army. +His comrades called him "mucus," as some one said that was the Latin +for "calf." This man would fall down any time and anywhere. Standing +in the road or resting on his rifle, he would fall--fall while +marching, or standing in his tent. I saw him climb on top of a box car +and then fall without the least provocation backwards into a ten-foot +ditch. But in all his falling he was never known to hurt himself, but +invariably blamed somebody for his fall. When he fell from the car, +and it standing perfectly still, he only said: "I wish the d----n car +would go on or stand still, one or the other." The road leading to +the river makes a bend here, and between the bend and river bank an +abutment of logs, filled in with stone to the height of fifteen +feet, was built to prevent the water from encroaching upon the land. +"Mucus," for no cause whatever that anyone could learn, quit the ranks +and walked out on this abutment and along down its side, keeping +near the edge of the water, but fifteen feet above, when, to the +unaccountability of all, he fell headlong down into the river. The +water at this point was not more than three or four feet deep, but +deep enough to drench him from head to foot. He rose up, and as usual, +quick to place the blame, said: "If I knew the d----n man who pushed +me off in the water, I'd put a ball in him." No one had been in twenty +feet of him. All the consolation he got was "how deep was the +water, 'Mucus'?" "Was the water cold?" But awkward as he was, he was +quick-witted and good at repartee. He answered the question "how deep +was the water?" "Deep enough to drown a d----n fool, if you don't +believe it, go down like I did and try it." + +When we reached the other side we were told "no use to put on your +shoes or clothing, another river one mile ahead," the Rapidan here +joining the Rappahannock. Those who had partly disrobed put their +clothing under their arms, shoes in their hands, and went hurrying +along after the column in advance. These men, with their bare limbs, +resembled the Scotch Highlanders in the British Army, but their +modesty was put to the test; when about half-way to the other stream +they passed a large, old-fashioned Virginia residence, with balconies +above and below, and these filled with ladies of the surrounding +country, visitors to see the soldiers pass. It was an amusing sight no +less to the ladies of the house than to the men, to witness this long +line of soldiers rushing by with their coat-tails beating a tattoo +on their naked nether limbs. The other stream was not so wide, but +equally as cold and deep. + +General Kershaw, sitting on his horse at this point, amusing himself +at the soldiers' plight, undertook to encourage and soothe their +ruffled feelings by giving words of cheer. "Go ahead, boys," remarked +the General, "and don't mind this; when I was in Mexico--" "But, +General, it wasn't so cold in Mexico, nor did they fight war in +winter, and a horse's legs are not so tender as a man's bare shins," +were some of the answers given, and all took a merry laugh and went +scudding away. + +Passing over, we entered the famous Wilderness, soon to be made +renowned by the clash of arms, where Lee and Hooker met and shook +the surrounding country with the thunder of their guns a few months +afterwards, and where Grant made the "echoes ring" and reverberate +on the 5th and 6th of May, the year following. We found, too, the +"Chancellor House," this lone, large, dismal-looking building standing +alone in this Wilderness and surrounded on all sides by an almost +impenetrable forest of scrubby oaks and tangled vines. The house was +a large, old-fashioned hotel, situated on a cleared plateau, a +piazza above and below, reaching around on three sides. It was called +"Chancellorsville," but where the "ville" came in, or for what the +structure was ever built, I am unable to tell. This place occupied +a prominent place in the picture of the Battle of Chancellorsville, +being for a time the headquarters of General Hooker, and around which +the greater part of his cannon were placed. We took up camp in rear of +Fredericksburg, about two miles south of the city. + +While here we received into our brigade the Fifteenth South Carolina +Regiment, commanded by Colonel DeSaussure, and the Third Battalion, +composed of eight companies and commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Rice. +As these are new additions, it will be necessary to give a brief +sketch of their organization and movements prior to their connection +with Kershaw's Brigade. + +Soon after the battle of Bull Run or First Manassas, the Richmond +Government made a call upon the different States for a new levy to +meet the call of President Lincoln for three hundred thousand more +troops to put down the Rebellion. The companies that were to compose +the Fifteenth Regiment assembled at the old camping ground at +Lightwood Knot Spring, three miles above Columbia. They were: + + Company A----Captain Brown, Richland. + Company B----Captain Gist, Union. + Company C----Captain Lewie, Lexington. + Company D----Captain Warren, Kershaw. + Company E----Captain Davis, Fairfield. + Company F----Captain Boyd, Union. + Company G----Captain McKitchen, Williamsburg. + Company H----Captain Farr, Union. + Company I----Captain Koon, Lexington. + Company K----Captain Bird, ---- + +(These names are given from the best information obtainable and may +not be exactly correct, but as the fortunes of war soon made radical +changes it is of little moment at this late date.) These companies +elected for their field officers: + + Colonel----Wm. DeSaussure. + Lieutenant Colonel----Joseph Gist. + Major ---- + +The regiment remained in camp undergoing a thorough course of +instruction until Hilton Head, on the coast of South Carolina, was +threatened; then the Fifteenth was ordered in the field and hurried to +that place, reaching it on the afternoon of the day before the battle +of that name. The Fifteenth, with the Third Battalion and other State +troops, was placed under the command of Brigadier General Drayton, +also of South Carolina, and put in position. The next day, by some +indiscretion of General Drayton, or so supposed at that time, the +Fifteenth was placed in such position as to be greatly exposed to the +heavy fire from the war vessels in the harbor. This caused the loss of +some thirty or forty in killed and wounded. The slaughter would have +been much greater had it not been for the courage and quick perception +of Colonel DeSaussure in maneuvering them into a place of safety. +After the battle the regiment lay for some time about Hardeesville and +Bluffton doing guard and picket duty, still keeping up their course +of daily drills. They were then sent to James Island, and were held in +reserve at the battle of Secessionville. After the great Seven Days' +Battles around Richmond it and the Third Battalion were ordered to +Virginia and placed with a regiment from Alabama and one from Georgia +in a brigade under General Drayton. They went into camp below Richmond +as a part of a division commanded by Brigadier General D.R. Jones, in +the corps commanded by Longstreet. When Lee began his march northward +they broke camp on the 13th of August, and followed the lead of +Longstreet to Gordonsville, and from thence on to Maryland. They were +on the field during the bloody battle of Second Manassas, but not +actually engaged, being held in the reserve line on the extreme right. +At South Mountain they received their first baptism of fire in a +battle with infantry. On the memorable 17th of September at Sharpsburg +they were confirmed as veteran soldiers in an additional baptism of +blood. However, as yet considered raw and undisciplined troops, they +conducted themselves on each of these trying occasions like trained +soldiers. Colonel DeSaussure was one of the most gallant and efficient +officers that South Carolina ever produced. He was a Mexican War +veteran and a born soldier. His attainments were such as fitted him +for much higher position in the service than he had yet acquired. Had +not the fortunes of war laid him low not many miles distant one year +later, he would have shown, no doubt, as one of the brightest stars in +the constellation of great Generals that South Carolina ever produced. +After the return to Virginia Drayton's Brigade was broken up, and the +Fifteenth and Third Battalion were assigned to the brigade of General +J.B. Kershaw, and began its service in that organization on the +heights of Fredericksburg. + + * * * * * + + +THE THIRD BATTALION. + +I am indebted to Colonel W.G. Rice for a brief sketch of the Third +Battalion, or as it was more generally known in the army, "James' +Battalion," after its first commander, (who fell at South Mountain, +Md.,) up to the time of joining the brigade: + +"On the fall of Hilton Head and the occupation of Port Royal by the +enemy, the Governor of South Carolina issued a call for volunteers for +State service. Among the companies offering their services were four +from Laurens County. Lieutenant Geo. S. James having resigned from +the United States Army, and being personally known to several of the +officers of said four companies, they united in forming a battalion +and electing him Major. The companies became known thereafter as: + + "Company A--Captain W.G. Rice. + Company B--Captain J.G. Williams. + Company C--Captain J.M. Shumate. + Company D--Captain G.M. Gunnels. + +"All of Laurens County, the organization being effected at Camp +Hampton, near Columbia, November, 1861, and where Major James assumed +command. In December the battalion was ordered to Charleston, and +from thence to White Point, near the coast. Here the battalion +was strengthened by three more companies, making it now a compound +battalion and entitled to a Lieutenant Colonel and Major. The +additional companies were: + + "Company E, from Laurens--Captain M.M. Hunter. + Company F, from Richland--Captain D.B. Miller. + Company G, from Fairfield--Captain A.P. Irby. + +"Major James was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain W.G. +Rice, as senior Captain, made Major, while Lieutenant J.M. Townsend +was raised to the grade of Captain in place of Major Rice. + +"In April, 1862, a reorganization was ordered, and the troops enlisted +in the Confederate States' service. Both Colonel James and Major Rice +were elected to their former positions, with the following company +commanders: + + "J.M. Townsend--Captain Company A. + O.A. Watson--Captain Company B. + William Huggins--Captain Company C. + G.M. Gunnels--Captain Company D. + W.H. Fowler--Captain Company E. + D.B. Miller--Captain Company F. + B.M. Whitener--Captain Company G. + +"Early in June the battalion was ordered to James' Island, arriving +there two days before the battle of Secessionville, but not +participating in it. A short while afterwards it was ordered to +Richmond, and there remained until the great forward movement of +General Lee's, which resulted in the Second Manassas Battle and the +invasion of Maryland. The battalion was now brigaded with Philip's +Georgia Legion, Fiftieth and Fifty-first Georgia, and Fifteenth South +Carolina Regiments, and commanded by Brigadier General Drayton. The +battalion was under fire at Waterloo Bridge and at Thoroughfare Gap, +and the brigade held the extreme right of Lee's Army at the Second +Manassas Battle, but was not seriously engaged. The topography of the +country was such that while the incessant roar of artillery could be +distinctly heard during the day, no infantry could be heard, and the +extreme right did not hear of the result of the great battle until +General Robert Toombs marched by and shouted to his fellow Georgians: +'Another great and glorious Bull Run.' After repeated marches and +counter-marches during the day, night put an end to the bloody +struggle, and the troops lay down to rest. A perfect tornado of shot +and shell tore through the woods all around us until deep darkness +fell and the enemy withdrew, leaving the entire field to the +Confederates." + +After resting for nearly a week at Frederick City, Md., the battalion, +with the Fifteenth South Carolina and the Georgians of Drayton's +Brigade, was ordered to re-enforce General D.H. Hill, who was guarding +Lee's rear at Crompton's Gap, in South Mountain. Here the South +Carolinians were for the first time thoroughly baptized with fire and +blood, and in which the gallant Colonel James lost his life. Of this +battle Colonel Rice says: + +"Late in the evening of September 14th the brigade reached the +battlefield and deployed in an old disused road that crossed the +mountain some four hundred yards to the right of the turn-pike. No +enemy in sight. Failing to drive D.H. Hill from their front, the +Federals made a detour and approached him by the flank. Two hundred +yards from the road mentioned above was a belt of woods saddling the +mountain, and at this point running parallel with the road. General +Drayton, not seeing the enemy, ordered forward Captain Miller's +Company as skirmishers to ascertain their whereabouts. Captain Miller +had advanced but a short distance when he met the enemy in force. +General Drayton ordered the command to forward and drive them from the +woods. In the execution of this order some confusion arose, and a part +of the brigade gave way, leaving the battalion in a very peculiar and +isolated condition. There was a low rock fence running at right angles +to the battle line, and behind this the battalion sought to protect +itself, but it seemed and was in reality a deathtrap, for it presented +its right flank to the enemy. It thus became only a question of a very +short time when it must either leave the field or surrender. Right +nobly did this little band of heroes hold their ground against +overwhelming numbers, and their front was never successfully +approached; but as both flanks were so mercilessly assailed, a short +time was sufficient to almost annihilate them. Colonel James was twice +admonished by his second in command of his untenable position, and +that death or surrender was inevitable if he persisted in holding +his ground, but without avail. The true soldier that he was preferred +death to yielding. Just as night approached and firing began to cease, +Colonel James was pierced through the breast with a minnie ball, from +the effects of which he soon died." + +Colonel Rice was dangerously wounded and left on the field for dead. +But recovering consciousness, he found himself within the enemy's +lines, that portion of his command nearest him having been withdrawn +some distance in the rectifying of the lines. Colonel Rice escaped +capture by crawling in a deep wash in the road, and was rescued by +some skirmishers who were advancing to establish a new line. Colonel +Rice gives this information in a foot-note: "The road in which the +brigade was stationed was as all roads crossing hills, much washed and +worn down, thus giving the troops therein stationed the advantage +of first class breastworks. I do not know that the Fifteenth +South Carolina and the other portion of the brigade were thus +sheltered--have heard indeed that all were not--but within my vision +the position was most admirable, now almost impregnable with good +troops to defend it. To leave such a position was suicidal, especially +when we were ordered to march through open ground and attack the +enemy, sheltered behind trees and rocks. This is my estimate at least, +and the result proved most disastrous to the brigade and General +Drayton himself, as he was soon afterwards relieved of his command." + +It has been the aim of the writer of this History not to criticize, +condemn, nor make any comments upon the motives or acts of any of +the officers whom he should have cause to mention, and he somewhat +reluctantly gives space to Colonel Rice's stricture of General +Drayton. It is difficult for officers in subaltern position to +understand all that their superiors do and do not. The Generals, from +their positions, can see differently from those in the line amid the +smoke of battle, and they often give commands hard to comprehend from +minor officers' point of view. General Drayton was an accomplished +and gallant officer, and while he might have been rash and reckless at +South Mountain, still it is hard to conceive his being relieved of his +command through the charge of "rashness," especially when his brigade +held up successfully for so long a time one of the most stubborn +battles of the war. + +At the Battle of Sharpsburg or Antietam, the little remnant of the +battalion was again engaged. On Lee's return to Virginia, and during +the last days of November or early in December, the Third Battalion +and the Fifteenth Regiment were transferred to Kershaw's Brigade, and +from thence on it will be treated as a part of the old First Brigade. +At Fredericksburg, on the day of the great battle, the battalion held +the railroad cut running from near the city to the right of Mayree's +Hill, and was well protected by a bluff and the railroad, consequently +did not suffer as great a loss as the other regiments of the brigade. + + * * * * * + + +COLONEL GEORGE S. JAMES. + +The first commander of the Third Battalion, and who fell at South +Mountain, was born in Laurens County, in 1829. He was the second son +of John S. James, a prominent lawyer of Laurens, who, meeting with +misfortune and losing a handsome fortune, attempted to retain it +by moving to Columbia and engaging in mercantile pursuits. This he +followed with success. Colonel George S. James received his early +education in the academies of the up-country. While yet a youth +some seventeen years of age, war with Mexico was declared, and his +patriotic and chivalric spirit sent him at once to the ranks of the +Palmetto Regiment, and he shared the triumphs and fortunes of that +command to the close of the war. + +After his return to his native State, he entered the South Carolina +College, along with many others, who in after years made their State +and themselves immortal by their fiery zeal in the War of Secession. +At the college young James was a great favorite of all who knew him +best, and while not a close student of text-books, he was an extensive +reader, always delighting his friends with wit and humor. The student +life, however, failed to satisfy his adventurous spirit, and wandering +away to the far distant West, seeking adventure or congenial pursuits, +he received a commission of Lieutenant in the United States Army. + +The storm cloud of war, so long hovering over the land, was now about +to burst, and Lieutenant James seeing separation and perhaps war +inevitable, resigned his commission, and hastened to offer his sword +to his native State. He commanded a battery at Fort Johnson, on James' +Island, and shared with General Ruffin the honor of firing the first +gun at Fort Sumter, a shot that was to electrify the world and put in +motion two of the grandest and mightiest armies of all times. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XIII + +Battle of Fredericksburg--The Fifteenth Regiment and Third Battalion +Join Brigade. + + +A portion of the Federal Army had preceded Lee, reaching the heights +opposite Fredericksburg two days before the arrival of Kershaw's +Brigade and the other parts of the division. The Federals had been met +by a small body of Confederates doing outpost duty there and held at +bay till the coming of Longstreet with his five divisions. General +Lee was not long in determining the route Burnsides had selected +and hurried Jackson on, and placed him some miles to our right, near +Hamilton's Crossing, on the Richmond and Fredericksburg Railroad. +When Burnsides became aware of the mighty obstacle of Lee's battalions +between him and his goal, the deep, sluggish river separating the +two armies, he realized the trouble that lay in his path. He began +fortifying the ridges running parallel to and near the river, and +built a great chain of forts along "Stafford Heights," opposite +Fredericksburg. In these forts he mounted one hundred and thirty-seven +guns, forty being siege pieces brought down from Washington by +way of the Potomac and Acquia Creek, and lined the entire range of +hills with his heaviest and long-distanced field batteries. These +forts and batteries commanded the river and plain beyond, as well as +every height and elevation on the Southern side. The range of hills on +the opposite side were much higher and more commanding than those on +the Southern side, still Lee began fortifying Taylor's, Mayree's, and +Lee's Heights, and all the intervening hills also, by building forts +and heavy redoubts, with protected embrasures on the flanks. Between +these hills and along their crests the infantry threw up light +earthworks. It could not be said that ours was a fortified position in +any sense, only through natural barriers. There is a plain of a half +to a mile in width between the river and the range to the South, +commencing at Taylor's Hill, half a mile above the city, and widening +as it diverges from the river below, terminating in a broken plateau +down near Hamilton's Crossing. The highlands on the opposite side come +rather precipitous to the water's edge. Along the banks, on either +side, were rifle pits, in which were kept from three to five pickets, +and on our side a brigade was stationed night and day in the city as +a support to the videttes guarding the river front. These pickets were +directed to prevent a crossing at all hazards until the troops at camp +in the rear were all in position in front of Fredericksburg. Stuart, +with the body of his cavalry, guarded the river and country on our +right below Jackson, while Hampton kept a lookout at the crossings +above on the left of Longstreet. + +On the morning of the 11th, at 3 o'clock, when all was still and the +soldiers fast asleep, they were rudely aroused from their slumbers +by the deep boom of a cannon away to the front and across the river. +Scarcely had the sound of the first gun died away than another report +thundered out on the stillness of that December night, its echo +reverberating from hill to hill and down along the river side. These +sounds were too ominous to be mistaken; they were the signal guns that +were to put in motion these two mighty armies. "Fall in" was the word +given, and repeated from hill to hill and camp to camp. Drums beat the +long roll at every camp, while far below and above the blast of the +bugle called the troopers to "boots and saddle." Couriers dashed +headlong in the sombre darkness from one General's headquarters to +another's. Adjutants' and Colonels' orderlies were rushing from +tent to tent, arousing the officers and men to arms, and giving +instructions for the move. + +I can remember well the sharp, distant voice of Adjutant Y.J. Pope on +that morning, coming down the line of the officers' tents and calling +out to each as he came opposite: "Captain ----, get your company ready +to move at once." + +Under such orders, companies have that same rivalry to be first on the +parade ground as exists among fire companies in towns and cities when +the fire bell rings. We were all soon in line and marching with a +hasty step in the direction of the breastworks above the city, Kershaw +taking position immediately to the right of the Telegraph Road. This +is a public highway leading into the city, curving in a semi-circle +around Mayree Hill on the left. From this road the hill rises on the +west and north in a regular bluff--a stone wall of five feet in height +bordering either side of the road. "Deep Run," a small ravine, runs +between the hill on which Kershaw was stationed and that of Mayree's. +Daylight was yet some hours off when we took position, but we could +hear the rattle of the guns of Barksdale's Mississippians, whose turn +it was to be on picket in the city, driving off the enemy's pontoon +corps and bridge builders. + +The city was almost deserted, General Lee advising the citizens to +leave their homes as soon as it became apparent that a battle would be +fought here. Still a few, loath to leave their all to the ravages +of an army, decided to remain and trust to fate. But soon after the +firing along the river began, we saw groups of women and children and +a few old men in the glim twilight of the morning rushing along the +roads out from the city as fast as their feeble limbs and tender feet +could carry them, hunting a safe retreat in the backwoods until the +cloud of war broke or passed over. Some Were, carrying babes in their +arms, others dragging little children along by the hands, with a few +articles of bedding or wearing apparel under their arms or thrown over +their shoulders. The old men tottered along in the rear, giving words +of comfort and cheer to the excited and frightened women and little +ones. It was a sickening sight to see these helpless and inoffensive +people hurrying away from the dangers of battle in the chilly morning +of December, seeking some safe haunt in the backwoods, yet they bore +it all without murmur or complaint. + +Anderson's Division of Longstreet's Corps rested on the river on the +extreme left, at Taylor's Hill; then Ransom's along the crest of the +ridge between Taylor's and Mayree's, and McLaws' from his left across +Deep Run Valley and along the ridge to Lee's Hill, where Pickett was +posted; Hood extending from Pickett's right, touching the left of +the troops of Jackson's Corps. Three of Cobb's regiments and one from +North Carolina were posted behind the stone wall lining the sunken +road, while two of Cooke's North Carolina regiments were on the crest +of Mayree's Hill overlooking Cobb. Kershaw's Brigade, with the Third +South Carolina on the left, was resting on the ridge running at right +angles to the Telegraph Road, the left resting on the road, the +Second South Carolina next, and so on to the left of Semmes' Brigade. +Barksdale being in the city on picket, was relieved and placed in +reserve. + +As soon as the signal guns gave evidence of an impending battle, +D.H. Hill, who had been sent on detached service down the river, was +recalled and placed in line with the other portion of Jackson's Corps. +Jackson had his entire force closely massed in the woodland around +Hamilton's Crossing and along the Richmond and Fredericksburg +Railroad, one mile from the river. The Light Division of A.P. Hill +occupied the front line, with a heavy battery of fourteen guns on +his right, supported by Archer's Brigade; then Lane's and Fender's in +front, with Gregg's and Thomas' in reserve. Behind the Light Division +lay Early on the right, Taliaferro on the left, with D.H. Hill in rear +of all along the Mine Road, the right of these divisions resting on +Hamilton's Crossing. Hood occupied the valley between Lee's Hill and +the highland around Hamilton's Crossing; Pickett on the ridge between +Hood and McLaws; Stuart's Cavalry ran at right angles to the infantry +line from Hamilton's Crossing to the river, hemming the Federal Army +in the plain between Hamilton's Crossing and Taylor's Hill above the +city, a space three miles long by one wide. + +Before day the enemy's pontoon corps came cautiously to the river and +began operations at laying down the bridge, but the pickets in the +rifle pits kept them off for a time by their steady fire. The manner +of putting down army bridges is much more simple and rapid than the +old country mode of building. Large boats are loaded on long-coupled +wagons, the boats filled with plank for flooring and cross beams, with +a large iron ring in the rear end of each boat, through which a stout +rope is to run, holding them at equal distance when in the water. +When all is ready the boats are launched at equal distance so that the +beams can reach, then pushed out in the stream, and floated around in +a semi-circle, until the opposite bank is reached, the rope fastened +to trees on either bank, cross pieces are laid, the flooring put down, +and the bridge is ready for crossing. + +After making several ineffectual attempts in placing the bridge, the +destructive fire of Barksdale's Riflemen forcing them back, the enemy +attempted the bold project of filling the boats with armed soldiers, +pushing out in the stream, and fighting their way across, under cover +of their artillery fire. While the dense fog was yet hanging heavily +over the waters, one hundred and forty guns, many siege pieces, were +opened upon the deserted city and the men along the water front. The +roar from the cannon-crowned battlements shook the very earth. +Above and below us seemed to vibrate as from the effects of a mighty +upheaval, while the shot and shell came whizzing and shrieking +overhead, looking like a shower of falling meteors. For more than an +hour did this seething volcano vomit iron like hail upon the city and +the men in the rifle pits, the shells and shot from the siege guns +tearing through the houses and plunging along the streets, and +ricocheting to the hills above. Not a house nor room nor chimney +escaped destruction. Walls were perforated, plastering and ceiling +fell, chimneys tottering or spreading over yards and out into the +streets. Not a place of safety, save the cellars and wells, and in +the former some were forced to take refuge. Yet through all this, the +brave Mississippians stood and bravely fought the bridge builders, +beating them back till orders were given to retire. They had +accomplished the purpose of delaying the enemy's crossing until our +troops were in position. The Federals now hurried over in swarms, by +thousands and tens of thousands, and made their way down the river, +stationing a strong cordon of guards around the point of landing. The +space between was soon a seething mass of humanity, the houses and +streets crowded to overflowing. A second bridge was laid a mile below +at the mouth of Deep Run, and here a continuous stream of all +arms were soon pouring over. General Kershaw rode along our lines, +encouraging the men, urging them to stand steadfast, assuring them +that there was to be neither an advance nor retreat, that we were but +to hold our ground, and one of the greatest victories of the war would +be gained. How prophetic his words! All during the day and night the +deep rumbling sound of the long wagon trains, artillery, and cavalry +could be heard crossing the pontoon bridges above and below. + +The next morning, the 12th, as the fog lifted, Stafford Heights and +the inclines above the river were one field of blue. Great lines +of infantry, with waving banners, their bright guns and bayonets +glittering in the sunlight, all slowly marching down the steep +inclines between the heights and the river on over the bridges, then +down the river side at a double-quick to join their comrades of the +night before. These long, swaying lines, surging in and out among +the jutting of the hillsides beyond, down to the river, over and down +among the trees and bushes near the water, resembled some monster +serpent dragging its "weary length along." Light batteries of +artillery came dashing at break-neck speed down the hillsides, their +horses rearing and plunging as if wishing to take the river at a +leap. Cavalry, too, with their heavy-bodied Norman horses, their spurs +digging the flanks, sabres bright and glistening and dangling at their +sides, came at a canter, all seeming anxious to get over and meet the +death and desolation awaiting them. Long trains of ordnance +wagons, with their black oilcloth covering, the supply trains and +quartermaster departments all following in the wake of their division +or corps headquarters, escorts, and trains. All spread out over the +hills and in the gorges lay men by the thousands, awaiting their turn +to move. Not a shot nor shell to mar or disturb "the even tenor of +their way." Bands of music enlivened the scene by their inspiring +strains, and when some national air, or specially martial piece, +would be struck up, shouts and yells rended the air for miles, to be +answered by counter yells from the throats of fifty thousand "Johnny +Rebs," as the Southern soldiers were called. The Confederate bands +were not idle, for as soon as a Federal band would cease playing, some +of the Southern bands would take up the refrain, and as the notes, +especially Dixie, would be wafted over the water and hills, the "blue +coats" would shout, sing, and dance--hats and caps went up, flags +waved in the breeze--so delighted were they at the sight and sound of +Dixie. The whole presented more the spectacle of a holiday procession, +or a gala day, rather than the prelude to the most sanguinary battle +of modern times. + +The night following was cold, and a biting wind was blowing. Only a +few days before a heavy snow had fallen, and in some places it still +remained banked up in shaded corners. To those who had to stand picket +out in the plain between the armies the cold was fearful. The enemy +had no fires outside of the city, and their sufferings from cold must +have been severe. My company, from the Third, as well as one from +each of the other regiments, were on picket duty, posted in an open +cornfield in the plain close to the enemy, near enough, in fact, to +hear voices in either camp--with no fire, and not allowed to speak +above a whisper. The night became so intensely cold just before day +that the men gathered cornstalks and kindled little fires along the +beat, and at early dawn we were withdrawn. + +All knew full well, as the day preceding had passed without any +demonstrations, only maneuvering, this day, the 13th, would be a day +of battle. A heavy fog, as usual, rose from the river and settled +along the plains and hillsides, so much so that objects could not be +distinguished twenty paces. However, the least noise could be heard +at a great distance. Activity in the Federal camp was noticed early +in the morning. Officers could be heard giving commands, wagons and +artillery moving to positions. At half past ten the fog suddenly +lifted, and away to our right and near the river great columns of men +were moving, marching and counter-marching. These were in front of +A.P. Hill, of Jackson's Corps. In front of us and in the town all +was still and quiet as a city of the dead. The great siege guns from +beyond the river on Stafford Heights opened the battle by a dozen or +more shells screaming through the tree tops and falling in Jackson's +camp. From every fort soon afterwards a white puff of smoke could be +seen, then a vivid flash and a deafening report, telling us that the +enemy was ready and waiting. From the many field batteries between +Jackson and the river the smoke curled up around the tree tops, and +shell went crashing through the timbers. Our batteries along the front +of Longstreet's Corps opened their long-ranged guns on the redoubts +beyond the river, and our two siege guns on Lee's Hill, just brought +up from Richmond, paid special attention to the columns moving to the +assault of A.P. Hill. For one hour the earth and air seemed to tremble +and shake beneath the shock of three hundred guns, and the bursting +of thousands of shells overhead, before and behind us, looked like +bursting stars on a frolic. The activity suddenly ceases in front +of Hill, and the enemy's infantry lines move to the front. First the +skirmishers meet, and their regular firing tells the two armies that +they are near together. Then the skirmish fire gives way to the deep, +sullen roar of the line of battle. From our position, some three +hundred yards in rear and to the right of Mayree's Hill, we could see +the Union columns moving down the river, our batteries raking them +with shot and shell. In crossing an old unfinished railroad cut the +two siege guns played upon the flank with fearful effect. Huddling +down behind the walls of the cut to avoid the fire in front, the +batteries from Mayree's and in the fields to the right enfiladed the +position, the men rushing hither and thither and falling in heaps +from the deadly fire in front and flank. Jackson has been engaged in +a heavy battle for nearly an hour, when suddenly in our front tens +of thousands of "blue coats" seemed to spring up out of the earth and +make for our lines. Near one-half of the army had concealed themselves +in the city and along the river banks, close to the water's edge. The +foliage of the trees and the declivity of the ground having hidden +them thus far from view. From out of the streets and from behind walls +and houses men poured, as if by some magical process or super-human +agency, and formed lines of battle behind a little rise in the ground, +near the canal. But in a few moments they emerged from their second +place of protection and bore down upon the stone wall, behind which +stood Cobb's Georgians and a Regiment of North Carolinians. When +midway between the canal and stone fence, they met an obstruction--a +plank fence--but this did not delay them long. It was soon dashed to +the ground and out of their way, but their men were falling at +every step from Cobb's infantry fire and grape and canister from the +Washington Artillery of New Orleans on the hill. They never neared the +wall nor did they take more time than to fire a volley or two before +they fled the field. This retreating column of Franklin's met that of +Hancock's, formed, and on its way to try issues with the troops behind +the stone wall, Longstreet now saw what had never been considered +before--that Burnsides was determined to possess himself of the key to +Lee's position, "Mayree's Hill," in front of which was the stone wall. +He ordered the two regiments of North Carolinians that were posted on +the crest of the hill down behind the stone wall, to the left of Cobb +and Kershaw, to reinforce the position with his brigade. + +The Third Regiment being ordered to the top of Mayree's Hill, Colonel +Nance, at the head of his regiment, entered the Telegraph Road, and +down this the men rushed, followed by the Second, led by Colonel +Kennedy, under one of the heaviest shellings the troops ever +experienced. This two hundred yards' stretch of road was in full view +and range of the heavy gun batteries on Stafford Heights, and as the +men scattered out along and down the road, the shells passed, plowing +in the road, bursting overhead, or striking the earth and ricocheting +to the hills far in the rear. On reaching the ravine, at the lower +end of the incline, the Third Regiment was turned to the left and up a +by-road to the plateau in rear of the "Mayree Mansion." The house tops +in the city were lined with sharpshooters, and from windows and doors +and from behind houses the deadly missiles from the globe-sighted +rifles made sad havoc in our ranks. + +[Illustration: Col. William Drayton Rutherford, 3d S.C. Regiment.(Page +485.)] + +[Illustration: Col. E. T Stackhouse, 8th S.C. Regiment. (Page 285.)] + +[Illustration: Col. D. Wyatt Aiken, 7th S.C. Regiment. (Page 100.)] + +[Illustration: Lieut. Col. B.B. Foster, 3d S.C. Regiment. (Page 164.)] + +When the Third reached the top of the plateau it was in column of +fours, and Colonel Nance formed line of battle by changing "front +forward on first company." This pretty piece of tactics was executed +while under the galling fire from the artillery and sharpshooters, but +was as perfect as on dress parade. The regiment lined up, the right +resting on the house and extending along a dull road to the next +street leading into the city. We had scarcely gotten in position +before Nance, Rutherford, and Maffett, the three field officers, had +fallen. Colonel Kennedy, with the Second, passed over the left of the +plateau and down the street on our left, and at right angles with our +line, being in a position to give a sweeping fire to the flank of the +columns of assault against the stone fence. From the preparation and +determination made to break through the line here, Kershaw ordered +Lieutenant Colonel Bland, with the Seventh, Colonel Henagan, with the +Eighth, and Colonel DeSaussure, with the Fifteenth, to double-up with +Cobb's men, and to hold their position "at the sacrifice of every man +of their commands." + +All of the different regiments, with the exception of the Third South +Carolina, had good protection in the way of stone walls, this being +the sole occasion that any of Kershaw's troops had been protected +by breastworks of any kind during the whole war. The Second was in a +sunken road leading to the city, walled on either side with +granite, the earth on the outside being leveled up with the top. The +maneuvering into position had taken place while Hancock was making the +first assault upon the wall defended by Cobb. Howard was now preparing +to make the doubtful attempt at taking the stronghold with the point +of the bayonet, and without firing a gun. But with such men as the +Georgians, South Carolinians, and North Carolinians in their front, +the task proved too Herculean. Howard moved to the battle in beautiful +style, their line almost solid and straight, their step in perfect +unison with the long, moving columns, their guns carried at a trail, +and the stars and stripes floating proudly above their heads. The shot +and shell plunging through their ranks from the hills above, the two +siege guns on Lee's Hill now in beautiful play, the brass pieces of +the Washington Artillery firing with grape and shrapnel--but all this +made no break nor halt in that long line of blue. The double column +behind the stone wall and the Third South Carolina on the crest of the +Hill met them in front with a cool and steady fire, while the Second +South Carolina directed its attention to the flank. But the boldest +and stoutest hearts could not withstand this withering blast of +bullets and shells without returning the fire. The enemy opened +upon us a terrific fire, both from the columns in front and from the +sharpshooters in the housetops in the city. After giving us battle +as long as human endurance could bear the ordeal, they, like their +companions before them, fled in confusion. + +Before making the direct attack, Howard attempted a diversion by +endeavoring to turn Cobb's left. Passing out into the plain above +the city, he was met by some of Cooke's North Carolinians, and there +around the sacred tomb of Mary Washington was a hand to hand encounter +between some New York and Massachusetts troops and those from the Pine +Tree State. Sons of the same ancestry, sons of sires who fought +with the "Father of his Country" in the struggle for the nation's +independence, now fighting above the grave of the mother for its +dissolution! Thrice were the Confederates driven from the position, +but as often retaken, and at last held at the point of the bayonet by +the hardy sons of North Carolina. + +The battle, grand and awful in its sublimity, raged from the morning's +opening till two o'clock, without the least abatement along the whole +line. From the extreme right to our left at Taylor's Hill was a sea +of fire. But Mayree's Hill was the center, around which all the other +battles revolved. It was the key to Lee's position, and this had +become the boon of contention. It was in the taking of Mayree's Hill +and the defeat of the troops defending it that the North was pouring +out its river of blood. Both commanders were still preparing to stake +their all upon this hazard of the die--the discipline of the North +against the valor of the South. + +Our loss was heavy, both in officers and men. The brave, chivalric +Cobb, of Georgia, had fallen. Of the Third South Carolina, Colonel +Nance, Lieutenant Colonel Rutherford, and Major Maffett had all been +severely wounded in the early part of the engagement. Captain Hance, +while commanding, fell pierced through the heart. Then the next in +command, Captain Summer, met a similar fate; then Captain Foster. +Captain Nance, the junior Captain in the regiment, retained the +command during the continuance of the fight, although painfully +wounded. The dead of the Third Regiment lay in heaps, like hogs in +a slaughter pen. The position of the Second Regiment gave it great +advantage over the advancing column. From a piazza in rear of the +sunken road, Colonel Kennedy posted himself, getting a better view, +and to better direct the firing Lieutenant Colonel William Wallace +remained with the men in the road, and as the column of assault +reached the proper range, he ordered a telling fire on the enemy's +flank. Men in the road would load the guns for those near the wall, +thus keeping up a continual fire, and as the enemy scattered over the +plain in their retreat, then was the opportunity for the Second and +Third, from their elevated positions and better view, to give them +such deadly parting salutes. The smoke in front of the stone wall +became so dense that the troops behind it could only fire at the +flashing of the enemy's guns. From the Third's position, it was more +dangerous for its wounded to leave the field than remain on the battle +line, the broad, level plateau in rear almost making it suicidal to +raise even as high as a stooping posture. + +From the constant, steady, and uninterrupted roll of musketry far to +the right, we knew Jackson was engaged in a mighty struggle. From the +early morning's opening the noise of his battle had been gradually +bearing to the rear. He was being driven from position to position, +and was meeting with defeat and possibly disaster. From the direction +of his fire our situation was anything but assuring. + +General Meade, of the Federal Army, had made the first morning attack +upon the Light Brigade, under A.P. Hill, throwing that column in +confusion and driving it back upon the second line. These troops were +not expecting the advance, and some had their guns stacked. The heavy +fog obscured the Federal lines until they were almost within pistol +shot. When it was discovered that an enemy was in their front (in +fact some thought them their friends), in this confusion of troops a +retreat was ordered to the second line. In this surprise and disorder +South Carolina lost one of her most gifted sons, and the South a brave +and accomplished officer, Brigadier General Maxey Gregg. + +General Hood, on Hill's left, failing to move in time to give him the +support expected, the whole of Jackson's Corps was forced to retire. +But the tide at length begins to turn. Meade is driven from the field. +Division after division was rushed to the front to meet and check +Jackson's steady advance. Cannon now boom as never before heard, even +the clear ringing of Pelham's little howitzers, of Stuart's Cavalry, +could be heard above the thunder of the big guns, telling us that +Stuart was putting his horse artillery in the balance. His brave +artillery leader was raking the enemy's flank as they fell back on +the river. In our front new troops were being marshalled and put in +readiness to swell the human holocaust before the fatal wall. + +Franklin, Hancock, and Howard had made unsuccessful attempts upon this +position, leaving their wounded and dead lying in heaps and wind rows +from the old railroad cut to the suburbs. Now Sturgis, of the Ninth +Corps, was steadily advancing. The Washington Artillery, from New +Orleans, occupying the most conspicuous and favorable position on the +right of the "Mayree House," had exhausted their shot and shell. +The infantry in the road and behind the wall, Cobb's and part of +Kershaw's, were nearly out of ammunition, and during the last charge +had been using that of their dead and wounded. Calls were made on all +sides for "more ammunition," both from the artillery and infantry. +Orders and details had been sent to the ordnance trains to bring +supplies to the front. But the orders had miscarried, or the trains +were too far distant, for up to three o'clock no sign of replenishment +was in sight. The hearts of the exhausted men began to fail them--the +batteries silent, the infantry short of ammunition, while a long line +of blue was making rapid strides towards us in front. + +But now all hearts were made glad by the sudden rush of Alexander's +Battery coming to the relief of the Washington Artillery. Down the +Telegraph Road the battery came, their horses rearing and plunging, +drivers burying the points of their spurs deep into the flanks of the +foaming steeds; riders in front bending low upon the saddle bows to +escape the shells that now filled the air, or plowing up the earth +beneath the horses hoofs; the men on the caissons clinging with a +death-like grip to retain their seats, the great heavy wheels spinning +around like mad and bounding high in the air; while the officers +riding at the side of this charging column of artillerists, shouted at +the top of their voices, giving directions to the leaders. Down this +open and exposed stretch of road, up over the plateau, then wheel to +the right, they make a rush through the gauntlet that separates them +from the fort in which stood the Washington Artillery. Over the +dead and dying the horses leap and plunge, dragging the cannon and +ammunition chests--they enter the fort at a gallop. Swinging into +line, their brass pieces are now belching forth grape and canister +into the ranks of the advancing columns. All this takes place in less +time than it takes to record it. The bold dash and beautiful piece +of evolution so excite the admiration of all who witnessed it, that a +yell went up that drowns for a time the heavy baying of the siege guns +on Stafford Heights. + +About this time Jackson seems to have reached his limit of retreat, +and was now forging steadily to the front, regaining every inch of the +lost ground of the morning. The Federal Commander-in-Chief, seeing the +stubborn resistance he is met with in front of the city, and Jackson's +gray lines pressing his left back upon the river, began to feel the +hopelessness of his battle, and sent orders to Franklin to attack +Jackson with his entire force. Hooker was to reinforce Sumner on the +right, the latter to take the stone wall and the heights beyond before +night. Sturgis had met the fate of those who had assaulted before him. +Now Getty and Griffin were making frantic efforts to reach the wall. +Griffin had his men concealed and protected in the wet, marshy bed of +the old canal. He now undertook to accomplish that which Howard had +attempted in the morning, and failed--the feat of taking the stone +walls with empty guns. + +In this column of assault was the famous Meager's Irish Brigade, of +New York,--all Irishmen, but undoubtedly the finest body of troops in +the Federal Army. When the signal for advance was given, from out of +their hiding places they sprang--from the canal, the bushes on +the river bank, the side streets in the city, one compact row of +glittering bayonets came--in long battle lines. General Kershaw, +seeing the preparation made for this final and overwhelming assault +upon our jaded troops, sent Captain Doby, of his staff, along our +lines with orders to hold our position at all hazards, even at the +point of the bayonet. + +As the rifle balls from the housetops and shells from the batteries +along the river banks sang their peculiar death notes overhead and +around us, this brave and fearless officer made the entire length +of the line, exhorting, entreating, and urging the men to redoubled +efforts. How Captain Doby escaped death is little less than +miraculous. + +The casualties of battle among the officers and the doubling up +process of the men behind the wall caused all order of organization +to be lost sight of, and each man loaded and fired as he saw best. The +men in the road, even the wounded, crowded out from the wall by force +of number, loaded the guns for the more fortunate who had places, and +in many instances three and four men loaded the guns for one, passing +them to those who were firing from the top of the stone fence. +Each seemed to fight on his own responsibility, and with the same +determined spirit to hold the wall and the heights above. Each felt as +if the safety of the army depended upon his exertions alone. + +With a firm and elastic step this long, swaying line of Irishmen moved +to the assault with as much indifference apparently to their fate +as "sheep going to the shambles." Not a shot was fired from this +advancing column, while the shells from our batteries cut swath after +swath through their ranks, only to be closed again as if by some +mechanical means; colors fall, but rise and float again, men bounding +forward and eagerly grasping the fallen staff, indifferent of the fate +that awaited them. Officers are in front, with drawn swords flashing +in the gleam of the fading sunlight, urging on their men to still +greater deeds of prowess, and by their individual courage set examples +in heroism never before witnessed on this continent. The assault upon +Mayree's Hill by the Irish Brigade and their compatriots will go down +in history as only equalled by the famous ride of the "Six Hundred at +Hohenlinden," and the "Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava." They +forge their way forward over the heap of dead and dying that now strew +the plain, nearer to the deadly wall than any of the troops before +them. It began to look for the moment as if their undaunted courage +would succeed, but the courage of the defenders of Mayree's Hill +seemed to increase in ardour and determination in proportion to that +of the enemy. The smoke and flame of their battle is now less than one +hundred paces from the wall, but the odds are against them, and they, +too, had to finally yield to the inevitable and leave the field in +great disorder. + +From both sides hopes and prayers had gone up that this charge would +prove the last attempt to break our lines. But Humphries met the +shattered columns with a fresh advance. Those who were marching to +enter this maelstrom of carnage were entreated and prayed to by all of +those who had just returned from the sickening scene not to enter this +death trap, and begged them not to throw away their lives in the vain +attempt to accomplish the impossible. But Humphries, anxious of +glory for himself and men, urged on by the imperative orders from +his Commander-in-Chief, soon had his men on the march to the "bloody +wall." But as the sun dropped behind the hills in our rear, the scene +that presented itself in the fading gloom of that December day was +a plain filled with the dead and dying--a living stream of flying +fugitives seeking shelter from the storm of shot and shell by plunging +over the precipitous banks of the river, or along the streets and +protecting walls of the city buildings. + +Jackson had pressed all in his front back to the water's edge, while +his batteries, with those of Stuart's, were still throwing shells into +the huddled, panic-stricken, and now thoroughly vanquished army of the +enemy. + +That night the Federal Commander-in-Chief sat in his tent alone, and +around him the groans of the wounded and the agonizing wails of the +dying greet his ear--the gentle wind singing a requiem to his dead. He +nursed alone the bitter consciousness of the total defeat of his army, +now a scattered mass--a skeleton of its former greatness--while the +flower of the Northern chivalry lie sleeping the sleep of death on the +hills and plains round about. His country and posterity would charge +him with all the responsibility of defeat, and he felt that his brief +command of the once grand and mighty Army of the Potomac was now at an +end. Sore and bitter recollections! + +Burnsides had on the field one hundred and thirty-two thousand and +seventeen men; of these one hundred and sixteen thousand six hundred +and eighty-three were in line of battle. Lee had upon the field and +ready for action sixty-nine thousand three hundred and ninety-one +infantry and artillery, and about five thousand cavalry. Burnsides had +three hundred and seventy pieces of field artillery and forty siege +guns mounted on Stafford's Heights. Lee had three hundred and twelve +pieces of field and heavy artillery, with two siege guns, both +exploding, one in the early part of the day. + +The enemy's loss was twelve thousand six hundred and fifty-three, of +which at least eight thousand fell in front of the stone wall. It +has been computed by returns made since that in the seven different +charges there were engaged at least twenty-five thousand infantry +alone in the assaults against the stone wall, defended by not more +than four thousand men, exclusive of artillery. Lee's entire loss +was five thousand three hundred and twenty-two killed, wounded, and +missing; and one of the strangest features of this great battle, one +in which so many men of all arms were engaged, the enormous loss of +life on both sides, and the close proximity of such a large body of +cavalry, the returns of the battle only give thirteen wounded and none +killed of the entire cavalry force on the Confederate side. + +The men who held the stone wall and Mayree's Hill were three regiments +of Cooke's North Carolina Brigade; the Sixteenth Georgia, Colonel +Bryan; the Eighteenth Georgia, Lieutenant Colonel Ruff; the +Twenty-fourth Georgia, Colonel McMillan; the Cobb Legion and Philip +Legion, Colonel Cook, of General T.R.R. Cobb's Brigade; the Second +South Carolina, Colonel Kennedy; the Third South Carolina, Colonel +Nance, Lieutenant Colonel Rutherford, Major Maffett, Captains Summer, +Hance, Foster, and Nance; the Seventh South Carolina, Lieutenant +Colonel Bland; the Eighth South Carolina, Colonel Henagan and Major +Stackhouse; the Fifteenth South Carolina, Colonel DeSaussure; the +Third Battalion, Major Rice, of Kershaw's Brigade; the Washington +Battery, of New Orleans, and Alexander's Battery, from Virginia. +The brigades from Hood's and Pickett's Divisions, Jenkins, of South +Carolina, being from the latter, were sent to the support of McLaws, +at Mayree's Hill, and only acted as reserve and not engaged. + +The next day, as if by mutual consent, was a day of rest. The wounded +were gathered in as far as we were able to reach them. The enemy's +wounded lay within one hundred yards of the stone wall for two days +and nights, and their piteous calls for help and water were simply +heart-rending. Whenever one of our soldiers attempted to relieve +the enemy lying close under our wall, he would be fired upon by the +pickets and guards in the house tops. + +On the night of the 15th, the Federal Army, like strolling Arabs, +"folded their tents and silently stole away." The 16th was given up +entirely to the burial of the dead. In the long line of pits, dug +as protection for the enemy while preparing for a charge, these +putrefying bodies were thrown headlong, pell mell, like the filling of +blind ditches with timbers. One Confederate would get between the legs +of the dead enemy, take a foot in either hand, then two others would +each grasp an arm, and drag at a run the remains of the dead enemy +and heave it over in the pit. In this way these pits or ditches were +filled almost to a level of the surface, a little dirt thrown over +them, there to remain until the great United States Government removed +them to the beautiful park around Mayree's Heights. There to this day, +and perhaps for all time, sleep the "blue and the gray," while the +flag so disastrously beaten on that day now floats in triumph over +all. + +It must be said to the credit of General Burnsides, that the +responsibility for this disastrous battle should not rest upon his +shoulders. He felt his incapacity for handling so great a body +of troops. Again and again he wrote the authorities in Washington +protesting against the command being given him. "I am unable to handle +so great an army." He wrote his chief, but in vain. The fiat had gone +forth, "Go and crush Lee," and the result was to have been expected. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XIV + +Incidents of the Battle--Comparisons With Other Engagements. + + +The Battle of Fredericksburg was not the most desperate nor bloody of +the war, nor was it so fruitful of events as others in its bearing +on future results. Really neither side gained nor lost any great +advantage; nor was the battle any more to the Confederate side than a +great victory barren of ulterior results; the loss to the Federals no +more than the loss of a number of men and the lowering of the morale +among the troops. Within a day or two both armies occupied the same +positions as before the battle. Not wishing to attempt any invidious +comparisons or reflections upon troops in wars of other periods, but +for the information of those who are not conversant with the magnitude +of the Civil War, as compared with the Revolution and Mexican War, +I will here give a few statistics. The reader then can draw his own +conclusions as to the sanguinary effects and extent of some of our +battles. Of course the different kinds of weapons used in the late +war--their deadly effect, long range, better mode of firing--will have +to be considered in comparison to the old. + +As the Revolutionary War was more of a guerilla than actual war, I +will speak more directly of the Mexican War. It will be noticed the +difference in the killed to the wounded was far out of proportion in +favor of the latter. This I attribute to the smallness of the gun's +calibre, and in many instances buck-shot were used in connection with +larger balls by the soldiers of the old wars, while the Mexicans used +swords and lances, as well as pistols. During the three days' battle +at Molino del Rey, Chapultepec, and the storming of the City of +Mexico, considered the most bloody and sanguinary of that war, the +four divisions of Scott's Army, of two thousand each, lost as follows: +Pillow lost one officer killed and fourteen wounded, twenty-one +privates killed and ninety-seven wounded. Worth lost two officers +killed and nine wounded, twenty-three privates killed and ninety-five +wounded. Quitman lost four officers killed and thirty wounded, +thirty-seven privates killed and two hundred and thirty-seven +wounded. Smith's Brigade, with Quitman, lost ten officers wounded +and none killed, twenty-four privates killed and one hundred and +twenty-six wounded. Twigg's Division lost three officers killed and +twelve wounded, fifteen privates killed and seventy-seven wounded. +This, with some few missing, making a grand total loss, out of Scott's +Army of nine to ten thousand men, of between six hundred and fifty and +seven hundred killed, wounded, and missing--a number that Kershaw's +Brigade alone frequently lost in three or four hours. + +The heaviest casualties in the three days' battle of Mexico in +regiments were in the Palmetto Regiment and the Kentucky Rifles, +where the former lost two officers killed and nine wounded, fourteen +privates killed and seventy-five wounded; the latter lost six officers +wounded and none killed, nine privates killed and sixty-four wounded. +When it is remembered that the Third Regiment in the battle with +about three hundred and fifty and four hundred men in line lost six +regimental commanders killed and wounded, not less than three times +that number of other officers killed and wounded, and more than one +hundred and fifty men killed and wounded, some idea can be had of its +bloody crisis and deadly struggle, in which our troops were engaged, +in comparison to the patriots in Mexico. + +But considering the close proximity of the troops engaged at +Fredericksburg, the narrow compass in which they were massed, the +number of elevated positions suitable for artillery on either +side, and the number of troops on the field, the wonder is why +the casualties were not even greater than the reports make them. +Burnsides, from the nature of the ground, could not handle more than +half his army, as by official returns not more than fifty thousand +were in line of battle and in actual combat. There were only two +points at which he could extend his line, and if at one he found a +"Scylla," he was equally sure to find a "Charybdis" at the other. +On his left flank Jackson's whole corps was massed, at Hamilton's +Crossing; at his right was the stone wall and Mayree's Hill. To meet +Hood and Pickett he would have had to advance between a quarter and +half mile through a plain, where his army could be enfiladed by the +guns of Longstreet and Jackson, and in front by the batteries of +Hood and Pickett. It seems from reports since come to light that +the authorities at Washington apprehended more danger in Burnsides +crossing the river than in the battle that was to follow. Lincoln in +giving him orders as to his movements instructed his Secretary of War, +Stanton, to write Burnsides to be very careful in the crossing, to +guard his flanks well, and not allow Lee to fall upon one part that +had crossed and crush it before the other part could come to the +rescue; nor allow that wing of the army yet remaining on the Northern +side to be attacked and destroyed while the other had crossed to the +Southern side. It is said Stanton wrote the order couched in the +best of English, and phrased in elegant terms the instructions above, +telling him to guard his flanks, etc., then read the order to Lincoln +for his approval. Taking up the pen, the President endorsed it, and +wrote underneath, in his own hand: "In crossing the river don't allow +yourself to be caught in the fix of a cow, hurried by dogs, in jumping +a fence, get hung in the middle, so that she can't either use her +horns in front, nor her heels behind." + +Many incidents of courage and pathos could be written of this, as +well as many other battles, but one that I think the crowning act of +courage and sympathy for an enemy in distress is due was that of a +Georgian behind the wall. In one of the first charges made during the +day a Federal had fallen, and to protect himself as much as possible +from the bullets of his enemies, he had by sheer force of will pulled +his body along until he had neared the wall. Then he failed through +pure exhaustion. From loss of blood and the exposure of the sun's +rays, he called loudly for water. "Oh, somebody bring me a drink of +water!--water! water!!" was the piteous appeals heard by those behind +the stone wall. To go to his rescue was to court certain death, as +the housetops to the left were lined with sharpshooters, ready to fire +upon anyone showing his head above the wall. But one brave soldier +from Georgia dared all, and during the lull in the firing leaped the +walls, rushed to the wounded soldier, and raising his head in his +arms, gave him a drink of water, then made his way back and over the +wall amid a hail of bullets knocking the dirt up all around him. + +The soldier, like the sailor, is proverbial for his superstition. But +at times certain incidents or coincidents take place in the life +of the soldier that are inexplainable, to say the least. Now it is +certain that every soldier going into battle has some dread of death. +It is the nature of man to dread that long lost sleep at any time and +in any place. He knows that death is a master of all, and all must +yield to its inexorable summons, and that summons is more likely +to come in battle than on ordinary occasions. That at certain times +soldiers do have a premonition of their coming death, has been proven +on many occasions. Not that I say all soldiers foretell their end +by some kind of secret monitor, but that some do, or seem to do so. +Captain Summer, of my company, was an unusually good-humored and +lively man, and while he was not what could be called profane, yet he +had little predilection toward piety or the Church. In other battles +he advanced to the front as light-hearted and free from care as if +going on drill or inspection. When we were drawn up in line of battle +at Fredericksburg the first morning an order came for the Captain. +He was not present, and on enquiry, I was told that he had gone to +a cluster of bushes in the rear. Thinking the order might be of +importance, I hastened to the place, and there I found Captain Summer +on his knees in prayer. I rallied him about his "sudden piety," and +in a jesting manner accused him of "weakening." "After rising from his +kneeling posture, I saw he was calm, pale, and serious--so different +from his former moods in going into battle. I began teasing him in a +bantering way about being a coward." "No," said he, "I am no coward, +and will show I have as much nerve, if not more, than most men in the +army, for all have doubts of death, but I have none. I will be killed +in this battle. I feel it as plainly as I feel I am living, but I am +no coward, and shall go in this battle and fight with the same spirit +that I have always shown." This was true. He acted bravely, and for +the few moments that he commanded the regiment he exhibited all the +daring a brave man could, but he fell shot through the brains with a +minnie ball. He had given me messages to his young wife, to whom he +had been married only about two months, before entering the services, +as to the disposition of his effects, as well as his body after death. + +Another instance was that of Lieutenant Hill, of Company G, Third +South Carolina Regiment. The day before the battle he asked permission +to return to camp that night, a distance perhaps of three miles. With +a companion he returned to the camp, procured water, bathed himself, +and changed his under-clothing. On being asked by his companion why +he wished to walk three miles at night to simply bathe and change his +clothing, with perfect unconcern he replied: "In the coming battle I +feel that I will be killed, and such being the case, I could not bear +the idea of dying and being buried in soiled clothes." He fell dead +at the first volley. Was there ever such courage as this--to feel +that death was so certain and that it could be prevented by absenting +themselves from battle, but allowed their pride, patriotism, and moral +courage to carry them on to sure death? + +In the case of a private in Company C, Third Regiment, it was +different. He did not have the moral courage to resist the "secret +monitor," that silent whisperer of death. He had always asserted +that he would be killed in the first battle, and so strong was this +conviction upon him, that he failed to keep in line of battle on +another occasion, and had been censured by his officers for +cowardice. In this battle he was ordered in charge of a Sergeant, with +instructions that he be carried in battle at the point of the bayonet. +However, it required no force to make him keep his place in line, +still he continued true to his convictions, that his death was +certain. He went willingly, if not cheerfully, in line. As the column +was moving to take position on Mayree's Hill, he gave instructions +to his companions as he advanced what messages should be sent to +his wife, and while giving those instructions and before the command +reached its position he fell pierced through the heart. + +Another instance that came under my own observation, that which some +chose to call "presentiment," was of a member in my company in East +Tennessee. He was an exceptionally good soldier and the very picture +of an ideal hero, tall, erect, and physically well developed, over six +feet in height, and always stood in the front rank at the head of the +company. While Longstreet was moving upon Knoxville, the morning +he crossed the Tennessee River before dawn and before there was any +indication of a battle, this man said to me, with as much coolness and +composure, as if on an ordinary subject, without a falter in his tone +or any emotion whatever: "Captain, I will be killed to-day. I have, +some money in my pocket which I want you to take and also to draw my +four months' wages now due, and send by some trusty man to my wife. +Tell her also--" but here I stopped him, told him it was childish to +entertain such nonsense, to be a man as his conduct had so often +in the past shown him to be. I joked and laughed at him, and in a +good-natured way told him the East Tennessee climate gave him that +disease known among soldiers as "crawfishing." This I did to withdraw +his mind from this gloomy brooding. We had no real battle, but a +continual skirmish with the enemy, with stray shots throughout the +day. As we were moving along in line of battle, I heard that peculiar +buzzing noise of a bullet, as if in ricochet, coming in our direction, +but high in the air. As it neared the column it seemed to lower +and come with a more hissing sound. It struck the man square in the +breast, then reeling out of ranks he made a few strides towards where +I was marching, his pocket-book in hand, and fell dead at my feet +without a word or groan. He was the only man killed during the day in +the brigade, and not even then on the firing line. Of course all will +say these are only "coincidences," but be what they may, I give them +as facts coming under my own eyes, and facts of the same nature came +to the knowledge of hundreds and thousands of soldiers during every +campaign, which none endeavor to explain, other than the facts +themselves. But as the soldier is nothing more than a small fraction +of the whole of a great machine, so much happens that he cannot fathom +nor explain, that it naturally makes a great number of soldiers, +like the sailor, somewhat superstitious. But when we speak of moral +courage, where is there a courage more sublime than the soldier +marching, as he thinks, to his certain death, while all his comrades +are taking their chances at the hazard of war? + +There are many unaccountable incidents and coincidents in a soldier's +experience. Then, again, how differently men enter battle and how +differently they act when wounded. Some men, on the eve of battle, the +most trying time in a soldier's life, will stand calm and impassive, +awaiting the command, "forward," while his next neighbor will tremble +and shake, as with a great chill, praying, meditating, and almost in +despair, awaiting the orders to advance. Then when in the heat of the +conflict both men seem metamorphosed. The former, almost frightened +out of his wits, loses his head and is just as apt to fire backwards +as forwards; while the latter seems to have lost all fear, reckless +of his life, and fights like a hero. I have known men who at home were +perfect cowards, whom a schoolboy could run away with a walking cane, +become fearless and brave as lions in battle; while on the other +hand men who were called "game cocks" at home and great "crossroads +bullies," were abject cowards in battle. As to being wounded, some men +will look on a mortal wound, feel his life ebbing away, perfectly calm +and without concern, and give his dying messages with the composure +of an every day occurrence; while others, if the tip of the finger is +touched, or his shin-bone grazed, will "yell like a hyena or holler +like a loon," and raise such a rumpus as to alarm the whole army. I +saw a man running out of battle once (an officer) at such a gait as +only fright could give, and when I asked him if he was wounded, he +replied, "Yes, my leg is broken in two places," when, as a matter of +fact, he had only a slight flesh wound. These incidents the reader +may think merely fiction, but they are real facts. A man in Company E, +Third South Carolina Regiment, having a minnie ball lodged between the +two bones of his arm, made such a racket when the surgeons undertook +to push it out, that they had to turn him loose; while a private in +Company G, of the same regiment, being shot in the chest, when the +surgeon was probing for the ball with his finger, looked on with +unconcern, only remarking, "Make the hole a little larger, doctor, and +put your whole hand in it." In a few days he was dead. I could give +the names of all these parties, but for obvious reasons omit them. I +merely single out these cases to show how differently men's nervous +systems are constructed. And I might add, too, an instance of a member +of my company at the third day of the battle of Gettysburg. Lying +under the heavy cannonading while Pickett was making his famous +charge, and most of the men asleep, this man had his foot in the fork +of a little bush, to better rest himself. In this position a shot +struck him above the ankle; he looked at the wound a moment, then +said: "Boys, I'll be ---- if that ain't a thirty days' furlough." Next +day his foot had to be amputated, and to this day he wears a cork. +Such is the difference in soldiers, and you cannot judge them by +outward appearance. + +I here insert a few paragraphs from the pen of Adjutant Y.J. Pope, of +the Third, to show that there was mirth in the camps, notwithstanding +the cold and hardships: + + * * * * * + + +PLAYING "ANTHONY OVER" AT HEADQUARTERS ON THE SEVENTH OF DECEMBER, +1862. + +There was one thing that always attracted my attention during the war +and that was the warm fellowship which existed amongst the soldiers. +If a man got a trunk or box laden with good things from home, there +was no selfishness about it; the comrades were expected and did share +in the feast. While out on picket on the banks of the Rappahannock +River, when we were told that another regiment had come to relieve +ours, at the same time we were told that Colonel Rutherford had come +back to us; he had been absent since September, and we were all very +anxious to see him, for he was a charming fellow--whole-souled, witty, +and always an addition to any party. We knew, too, that he would +bring something good to eat from home. My feathers fell, though, when +Colonel Nance said to me, "Go yourself and see that every company is +relieved from picket duty, and bring them to the regiment." I knew +what this meant. It was at night, the ground was covered with snow, +and the companies would take a long time to march back to camp. A +soldier is made to obey orders, whether pleasant or unpleasant, so +I rode at the head of the battalion; I was chilled through; my ears +felt--well I rubbed a little feeling into them. At last we reached +camp. Before I did so I could hear the merry laughter of the group +about our regimental headquarter fire. Rutherford greeted me with the +utmost cordiality, and had my supper served, having had the servants +to keep it hot. But I could not forget my having to ride three miles +at the head of the four companies, and how cold I had got in doing so. +Therefore, I was in a bad humor, and refusing to join the merry group +around the fire, went to bed at once. About twelve o'clock that night +I heard the voices in the game of "Anthony over," and was obliged to +laugh. Of course the merry cup had circulated. We lived in a Sibley +tent that had a cap to fit over the top. And that night, as it was +very cold, it had been determined to put the cap on the tent. So the +merry-makers formed themselves into two groups, and pitched the cap +to the top, and when it failed to lodge the other side would try its +hand. One side would call out, "Anthony," to which call the other +party would reply, "over." Then the first crowd would sing out, "Here +she comes," throwing the cap with the uttering of those words. The +peals of laughter from both sides, when the effort to lodge the cap +would fail and the teasing of each side, made me laugh whether +I wished to do so or not. After awhile it lodged alright, then +"good-nights" were exchanged, and then to bed. + +I need not add that on the next day all was good humor at +headquarters, and in six days afterwards Colonel Nance, Colonel +Rutherford, and Major Maffett were all painfully wounded in battle. + + * * * * * + + +IN DECEMBER, 1862. + +While Longstreet's troops occupied the City of Fredericksburg in the +winter of 1862, I had learned that at night one of the quartermasters +of McLaws' Division was in the habit of going across to an island in +the Rappahannock River, just above the city, to obtain hay and corn, +and to come down to the main incentive, that there was a very charming +old Virginia family who lived there, and that a bright-eyed daughter +was of that family. I set about getting a sight of this "Island +enchantress," and at last Captain Franks, who was Quartermaster of the +Seventeenth Regiment of Barksdale's Brigade, agreed to take me with +him one night. Here I was, the Adjutant of a Regiment, going over to +an island without leave, with the enemy in strong force just across +the river, and therefore liable to be captured. Nevertheless, the hope +of a peep at bright eyes has got many a man into dangerous ventures, +and my case was not different from the rest. So I went. I saw the fair +maid. She was not only beautiful, but very interesting. After it +was all over prudence whispered to me not to tempt my fate +again--especially as a fair lady in another State would have had a +right to except to such conduct on my part. I never regretted my visit +to the island, though! + + * * * * * + + +AN ACT OF HEROIC FIDELITY OF A NEGRO SLAVE IN THE WAR. + +In looking back at the incidents of the War Between the States, it is +with great pleasure that an incident highly honorable to the African +slave race is recalled. + +It was on the 13th of December, 1862, when the Third South Carolina +Regiment of Infantry was ordered from the position at the foot of +Lee's Hill, at Fredericksburg, Va., to Mayree's House, near but to the +right of the sunken road protected by the rock fence, that in going +down the Telegraph Road the regiment was for a time exposed to the +fire of the Federal batteries on the Stafford Heights. A shell from +those batteries was so accurately directed that it burst near +by Company C, of that regiment, and one of the results was that +Lieutenant James Spencer Piester, of that company, was instantly +killed. His body lay in that road and his faithful body servant, +Simpson Piester, went to the body of his master and tenderly taking +it into his arms, bore it to the rear, so that it might be sent to his +relatives in Newberry, South Carolina. Anyone who had occasion to go +upon the Telegraph Road in that day must appreciate the courage and +fidelity involved in the act performed by Simpson Piester. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XV + +Reminiscences. + + +After the smoke of the great battle had cleared away and the enemy +settled permanently in their old quarters north of the Rappahannock, +Lee moved his army some miles south of Fredericksburg, on the wooded +highlands, and prepared for winter quarters. This was not a very +laborious undertaking, nor of long duration, for all that was +necessary was to pitch our old wornout, slanting-roof tents, occupied +by six or eight men each. The troops had become too well acquainted +with the uncertainty of their duration in camp to go into any very +laborious or elaborate preparations. Kershaw had a very desirable +location among the wooded hills, but this was soon denuded of every +vestige of fuel of every kind, for it must be understood the army had +no wagons or teams to haul their fire wood, but each had to carry his +share of the wood required for the daily use, and often a mile or mile +and a half distant. At the close of the year the Eastern Army found +itself in quite easy circumstances and well pleased with the year's +campaign, but the fruits of our victory were more in brilliant +achievements than material results. + +In the Western Army it was not so successful. On the first of the year +General Albert Sidney Johnston had his army at Bowling Green, Ky. But +disaster after disaster befell him, until two states were lost to the +Confederacy, as well as that great commander himself, who fell at the +moment of victory on the fatal field of Shiloh. Commencing with +the fall of Fort Henry on the Tennessee, then Fort Donaldson on the +Cumberland, which necessitated the evacuation of the lines of defense +at Bowling Green, and the withdrawal of the army from Kentucky. At +Pittsburg Landing Grant was overwhelmingly defeated by the army under +Beauregard, but by the division of the army under the two Confederate +leaders, and the overpowering numbers of the enemy under some of the +greatest Generals in the Union Army, Beauregard was forced to withdraw +to Shiloh. Here the two combined armies of Beauregard and Johnston +attacked the Union Army under Grant, Sherman, Buell, Lew Wallace, and +other military geniuses, with over one hundred and sixteen thousand +men, as against an army of forty-eight thousand Confederates. After +one of the most stubborn, as well as bloodiest battles of the war, the +Confederates gained a complete victory on the first day, but through +a combined train of circumstances, they were forced to withdraw the +second. After other battles, with varied results, the end of the year +found the Western Army in Northern Mississippi and Southern Tennessee. + +The Eastern Army, on the other hand, had hurled the enemy from +the very gates of the Capital of the Confederacy, after seven days +fighting, doubling it up in an indefinable mass, and had driven +it northward in haste; on the plains of Manassas it was overtaken, +beaten, and almost annihilated, only failing in a repetition of the +same, ending as the first battle of that name and place; by the same +causes, viz., Sykes' Regulars, the enemy pushed across the Potomac, +putting the Capitol, as well as the whole North, in a perfect state of +panic; the Confederates entered the enemy's own country, capturing one +of their strongholds, with eleven thousand prisoners and munitions +of war, enough to equip an army; fought one of the most sanguinary +battles of modern times almost within sight of the Capitol itself, if +not to a successful finish to a very creditable draw; returned South, +unmolested, with its prisoners and untold booty; fought the great +battle of Fredericksburg, with the results just enumerated. Could +Napoleon, Frederick the Great, or the "Madman of the North" have done +better with the forces at hand and against an enemy with odds of two +and three to one? So Lee's Army had nothing of which to complain, only +the loss of so many great and chivalrous comrades. + +We had little picketing to do, once perhaps a month, then in the +deserted houses of Fredericksburg. Guard duty around camp was +abolished for the winter; so was drilling, only on nice, warm days; +the latter, however, was rarely seen during that season. The troops +abandoned themselves to base ball, snow fights, writing letters, and +receiving as guests in their camps friends and relatives, who never +failed to bring with them great boxes of the good things from home, +as well as clothing and shoes for the needy soldiers. Furloughs were +granted in limited numbers. Recruits and now the thoroughly healed of +the wounded from the many engagements flocked to our ranks, making all +put on a cheerful face. + +That winter in Virginia was one of the most severe known in many +years, but the soldiers had become accustomed to the cold of the +North, and rather liked it than otherwise, especially when snow fell +to the depth of twelve to sixteen inches, and remained for two or +three weeks. So the reader can see that the soldier's life has its +sunny side, as well as its dark. The troops delight in "snow balling," +and revelled in the sport for days at a time. Many hard battles +were fought, won, and lost; sometimes company against company, then +regiment against regiment, and sometimes brigades would be pitted +against rival brigades. When the South Carolinians were against the +Georgians, or the two Georgia brigades against Kershaw's and the +Mississippi brigades, then the blows would fall fast and furious. +The fiercest fight and the hardest run of my life was when Kershaw's +Brigade, under Colonel Rutherford, of the Third, challenged and fought +Cobb's Georgians. Colonel Rutherford was a great lover of the sport, +and wherever a contest was going on he would be sure to take a hand. +On the day alluded to Colonel Rutherford martialed his men by +the beating of drums and the bugle's blast; officers headed their +companies, regiments formed, with flags flying, then when all was +ready the troops were marched to the brow of a hill, or rather half +way down the hill, and formed line of battle, there to await the +coming of the Georgians. They were at that moment advancing across the +plain that separated the two camps. The men built great pyramids +of snow balls in their rear, and awaited the assault of the fast +approaching enemy. Officers cheered the men and urged them to stand +fast and uphold the "honor of their State," while the officers on the +other side besought their men to sweep all before them off the field. + +The men stood trembling with cold and emotion, and the officers with +fear, for the officer who was luckless enough as to fall into the +hands of a set of "snow revelers," found to his sorrow that his bed +was not one of roses. When the Georgians were within one hundred feet +the order was given to "fire." Then shower after shower of the fleecy +balls filled the air. Cheer after cheer went up from the assaulters +and the assaultant--now pressed back by the flying balls, then to the +assault again. Officers shouted to the men, and they answered with a +"yell." When some, more bold than the rest, ventured too near, he was +caught and dragged through the lines, while his comrades made frantic +efforts to rescue him. The poor prisoner, now safely behind the lines, +his fate problematical, as down in the snow he was pulled, now on his +face, next on his back, then swung round and round by his heels--all +the while snow being pushed down his back or in his bosom, his eyes, +ears, and hair thoroughly filled with the "beautiful snow." After a +fifteen minutes' struggle, our lines gave way. The fierce looks of a +tall, muscular, wild-eyed Georgian, who stood directly in my front, +seemed to have singled me out for sacrifice. The stampede began. I +tried to lead the command in the rout by placing myself in the front +of the boldest and stoutest squad in the ranks, all the while shouting +to the men to "turn boys turn." But they continued to charge to the +rear, and in the nearest cut to our camp, then a mile off, I saw +the only chance to save myself from the clutches of that wild-eyed +Georgian was in continual and rapid flight. The idea of a boy +seventeen years old, and never yet tipped the beam at one hundred, in +the grasp of that monster, as he now began to look to me, gave me the +horrors. One by one the men began to pass me, and while the distance +between us and the camp grew less at each step, yet the distance +between me and my pursuer grew less as we proceeded in our mad race. +The broad expanse that lay between the men and camp was one flying, +surging mass, while the earth, or rather the snow, all around was +filled with men who had fallen or been overtaken, and now in the last +throes of a desperate snow battle. I dared not look behind, but kept +bravely on. My breath grew fast and thick, and the camp seemed a +perfect mirage, now near at hand then far in the distance. The men +who had not yet fallen in the hands of the reckless Georgians had +distanced me, and the only energy that kept me to the race was the +hope that some mishap might befall the wild-eyed man in my rear, +otherwise I was gone. No one would have the temerity to tackle the +giant in his rage. But all things must come to an end, and my race +ended by falling in my tent, more dead than alive, just as I felt +the warm breath of my pursuer blowing on my neck. I heard, as I lay +panting, the wild-eyed man say, "I would rather have caught that +d----n little Captain than to have killed the biggest man in the +Yankee Army." + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XVI + +Campaign of 1863--Battle of Chancellorsville. + + +On the morning of April 29th the soldiers were aroused from their +slumbers by the beating of the long roll. What an ominous sound is +the long roll to the soldier wrapped in his blanket and enjoying the +sweets of sleep. It is like a fire bell at night. It denotes battle. +It tells the soldier the enemy is moving; it means haste and active +preparation. A battle is imminent. The soldiers thus roused, as if +from their long sleep since Fredericksburg, feel in a touchous mood. +The frightful scenes of Fredericksburg and Mayree's Hill rise up +before them as a spectre. Soldiers rush out of their tents, asking +questions and making suppositions. Others are busily engaged folding +blankets, tearing down tents, and making preparations to move; +companies formed into regiments and regiments into brigades. The +distant boom of cannon beyond the Rappahannock tells us that the enemy +is to cross the river again and try conclusions with the soldiers of +Lee. All expected a bloody engagement, for the Federal Army had been +greatly recruited, under excellent discipline, and headed by Fighting +Joe Hooker. He was one of the best officers in that army, and he +himself had boasted that his was the "finest army that had ever been +organized upon the planet." It numbered one hundred and thirty-one +thousand men of all arms, while Lee had barely sixty thousand. We +moved rapidly in the direction of Fredericksburg. I never saw Kershaw +look so well. Riding his iron-gray at the head of his columns, one +could not but be impressed with his soldierly appearance. He seemed a +veritable knight of old. Leading his brigade above the city, he took +position in the old entrenchments. + +Before reaching the battle line, the enemy had already placed pontoons +near the old place of landing, crossed over a portion of their army, +and was now picketing on the south side of the river. One company from +each regiment was thrown out as sharpshooters or skirmishers, under +Captain Goggans, of the Seventh, and deployed in the valley below, +where we could watch the enemy. My company was of the number. Nothing +was done during the day but a continual change of positions. We +remained on the skirmish line during the night without fire or without +any relief, expecting an advance next morning, or to be relieved at +least. The sun was obscured by the densest fog the following morning I +had almost ever witnessed. When it cleared up, about 10 o'clock, what +was our astonishment?--to find no enemy in our front, nor friends in +our rear. There were, however, some Federals opposite and below the +city, but they belonged to another division. We could hear occasional +cannonading some miles up the Rappahannock. By some staff officers +passing, we ascertained that Hooker had withdrawn during the night in +our front, recrossed the river at Ely's and Raccoon fords, or some of +the fords opposite the Wilderness. This was on Friday, May the first. +After a consultation with the officers of our detachment, it was +agreed to evacuate our position and join our regiments wherever we +could find them. We had no rations, and this was one of the incentives +to move. But had the men been supplied with provisions, and the matter +left to them alone, I doubt very much whether they would have chosen +to leave the ground now occupied, as we were in comparative safety and +no enemy in sight, while to join our commands would add largely to +the chances of getting in battle. I am sorry to say a majority of +the officers were of that opinion, too. Some brought to bear one of +Napoleon's maxims I had heard when a boy, "When a soldier is in doubt +where to go, always go to the place you hear the heaviest firing," and +we could indistinctly hear occasional booming of cannon high up +the river, indicating that a part of the army at least was in that +direction. + +So we moved back and over the breastworks, on to the plank road +leading to Orange Court House. Making our way, keeping together as a +battalion, up that road in the direction of the Wilderness, near noon +we could hear the deep bay of cannon, now distant and indistinct, then +again more rapidly and quite distinguishable, showing plainly that Lee +was having a running fight. Later in the day we passed dead horses and +a few dead and wounded soldiers. On every hand were indications of the +effects of shot and shell. Trees were shattered along the road +side, fences torn down and rude breastworks made here and there, +the evidence of heavy skirmishing in our front. Lee was pressing the +advance guard that had crossed at one of the lower fords back on the +main army, crossing then at fords opposite and above the Chancellor's +House. Near sundown the firing was conspicuously heavy, especially +the artillery. The men of most of the companies evinced a desire to +frequently rest, and in every way delay our march as much as possible. +Some of the officers, too, joined with the men and offered objections +to rushing headlong into battle without orders. I knew that our +brigade was somewhere in our front, and from the firing I was +thoroughly convinced a battle was imminent, and in that case our duty +called us to our command. Not through any cowardice, however, did the +men hesitate, for all this fiction written about men's eagerness for +battle, their ungovernable desire to throw themselves upon the enemy, +their great love of hearing the bursting of shells over their heads, +the whizzing of minnie balls through their ranks is all very well for +romance and on paper, but a soldier left free to himself, unless +he seeks notoriety or honors, will not often rush voluntarily into +battle, and if he can escape it honorably, he will do it nine times +out of ten. There are times, however, when officers, whose keen sense +of duty and honorable appreciation of the position they occupy, +will lead their commands into battle unauthorized, when they see the +necessity, but a private who owes no obedience nor allegiance only to +his superiors, and has no responsibility, seldom ever goes voluntarily +into battle; if so, once is enough. + +Under these circumstances, as the sun was near setting, we learned +from some wounded soldier that Kershaw was moving in line of battle +to the left of the plank road. Another Captain and myself deserted our +companions and made our way to our regiments with our companies. As we +came upon it, it was just moving out from a thicket into an open field +under a heavy skirmish fire and a fierce fire from a battery in our +front. We marched at a double-quick to rejoin the regiment, and the +proudest moments of my life, and the sweetest words to hear, was as +the other portion of the regiment saw us coming they gave a cheer of +welcome and shouted, "Hurrah! for the Dutch; the Dutch has come; +make way to the left for the Dutch," and such terms of gladness and +welcome, that I thought, even while the "Dutch" and its youthful +commander were but a mere speck of the great army, still some had +missed us, and I was glad to feel the touch of their elbow on the +right and left when a battle was in progress. + +Companies in the army, like school boys, almost all have "nick-names." +Mine was called the "Dutch" from the fact of its having been raised in +that section of the country between Saluda River and the Broad, known +as "Dutch Fork." A century or more before, this country, just above +Columbia and in the fork of the two rivers, was settled by German +refugees, hence the name "Dutch Fork." + +After joining the regiment, we only advanced a little further and +halted for the night, sleeping with guns in arms, lest a night attack +might find the troops illy prepared were the guns in stack. We were +so near the enemy that fires were not allowed, and none permitted to +speak above a whisper. Two men from each company were detailed to go +to the rear and cook rations. It is not an easy task for two men, who +had been marching and fighting all day, to be up all night cooking +three meals each for thirty or forty men, having to gather their own +fuel, and often going half mile for water. A whole day's ration is +always cooked at one time on marches, as night is the only time +for cooking. The decrees of an order for a detail are inexorable. A +soldier must take it as it comes, for none ever know but what the next +duties may be even worse than the present. As a general rule, soldiers +rarely ever grumble at any detail on the eve of an engagement, for +sometimes it excuses them from a battle, and the old experienced +veteran never refuses that. + +At daylight a battery some two hundred yards in our front opened a +furious fire upon us, the shells coming uncomfortably near our heads. +If there were any infantry between the battery and our troops, they +must have laid low to escape the shots over their heads. But after a +few rounds they limbered up and scampered away. We moved slowly along +with heavy skirmishing in our front all the morning of the second. +When near the Chancellor's House, we formed line of battle in a kind +of semi-circle, our right resting on the river and extending over the +plank road, Kershaw being some distance to the left of this road, +the Fifteenth Regiment occupying the right. Here we remained for +the remainder of the day. We heard the word coming up the line, "No +cheering, no cheering." In a few moments General Lee came riding along +the lines, going to the left. He had with him quite a number of his +staff and one or two couriers. He looked straight to the front and +thoughtful, noticing none of the soldiers who rushed to the line to +see him pass. He no doubt was then forming the masterful move, and +one, too, in opposition to all rules or order of military science +or strategy, "the division of his army in the face of the enemy," +a movement that has caused many armies, before, destruction and the +downfall of its commander. But nothing succeeds like success. The +great disparity in numbers was so great that Lee could only watch +and hope for some mistake or blunder of his adversary, or by some +extraordinary strategic manoeuver on his own part, gain the advantage +by which his opponent would be ruined. Hooker had one hundred and +thirty thousand men, while Lee had only sixty thousand. With +this number it seemed an easy task for Hooker to threaten Lee +at Fredericksburg, then fall upon him with his entire force at +Chancellorsville and crush him before Lee could extricate himself from +the meshes that were surrounding him, and retreat to Richmond. The +dense Wilderness seemed providential for the movement upon which Lee +had now determined to stake the fate of his army and the fortunes of +the Confederacy. Its heavy, thick undergrowth entirely obstructed +the view and hid the movements to be made. Jackson, with Rhodes, +Colston's, and A.P. Hill's Divisions, were to make a detour around +the enemy's right, march by dull roads and bridle paths through +the tangled forest, and fall upon the enemy's rear, while McLaws, +Anderson's, and Early's Divisions were to hold him in check in front. +Pickett's Division had, before this time, been sent to Wilmington, +N.C., while Ransom's Division, with Barksdale's Mississippi +Brigade, of McLaws' Division, were to keep watch of the enemy at +Fredericksburg. The Federal General, Stoneman, with his cavalry, was +then on his famous but disastrous raid to Richmond. Jackson commenced +his march early in the morning, and kept it up all day, turning back +towards the rear of the enemy when sufficiently distant that his +movement could not be detected. By marching eighteen or twenty miles +he was then within three miles of his starting point. But Hooker's +Army stood between him and Lee. Near night Jackson struck the enemy a +terrific blow, near the plank road, just opposite to where we lay, and +the cannonading was simply deafening. The shots fired from some of the +rifled guns of Jackson passed far overhead of the enemy and fell in +our rear. Hooker, bewildered and lost in the meshes of the Wilderness, +had formed his divisions in line of battle in echelon, and moved out +from the river. Great gaps would intervene between the division in +front and the one in rear. Little did he think an enemy was marching +rapidly for his rear, another watching every movement in front, and +those enemies, Jackson and Lee, unknown to Hooker, his flank stood +exposed and the distance between the columns gave an ordinary enemy an +advantage seldom offered by an astute General, but to such an enemy as +Jackson it was more than he had hoped or even dared to expect. As he +sat watching the broken columns of the enemy struggling through +the dense undergrowth, the favorable moment came. Seizing it with +promptness and daring, so characteristic of the man, he, like Napoleon +at Austerlitz, when he saw the Russians passing by his front with +their flanks exposed, rushed upon them like a wild beast upon +its prey, turning the exposed column back upon its rear. Colston, +commanding Jackson's old Division, led the attack, followed by A.P. +Hill. Rhodes then fell like an avalanche upon the unexpectant and +now thoroughly disorganized divisions of the retreating enemy. Volley +after volley was poured into the seething mass of advancing and +receding columns. Not much use could be made of artillery at close +range, so that arm of the service was mainly occupied in shelling +their trains and the woods in rear. Until late in the night did the +battle rage in all its fury. Darkness only added to its intensity, +and the fire was kept up until a shot through mistake lay the great +Chieftain, Stonewall Jackson, low. General A.P. Hill now took command +of the corps, and every preparation was made for the desperate +onslaught of to-morrow. By some strange intuition peculiar to the +soldier, and his ability to gather news, the word that Jackson had +fallen burst through the camp like an explosion, and cast a gloom of +sorrow over all. + +As our brother South Carolinians, of McGowan's Brigade, were on the +opposite side of us, and in the heat of the fray, while we remained +idle, I take the liberty of quoting from "Caldwell's History" of that +brigade a description of the terrible scenes being enacted on that +memorable night in the Wilderness in which Jackson fell: + +"Now it is night. The moon a day or two past full, rose in cloudless +sky and lighted our way. We were fronted, and then advanced on the +right of the road into a thick growth of pines. Soon a firing of +small arms sprang up before us, and directly afterwards the enemy's +artillery opened furiously, bearing upon us. The scene was terrible. +Volley after volley of musketry was poured by the Confederate line +in front of us upon the enemy. The enemy replied with equal rapidity; +cheer, wild and fierce, rang over the whole woods; officers shouted at +the top of their voices, to make themselves heard; cannon roared and +shells burst continuously. We knew nothing, could see nothing, hedged +in by the matted mass of trees. Night engagements are always dreadful, +but this was the worst I ever knew. To see your danger is bad enough, +but to hear shells whizzing and bursting over you, to hear shrapnell +and iron fragments slapping the trees and cracking off limbs, and not +know from whence death comes to you, is trying beyond all things. And +here it looked so incongruous--below raged, thunder, shout, shriek, +slaughter--above soft, silent, smiling moonlight, peace!" + +The next morning A.P. Hill was moving early, but was himself wounded, +and General Jeb. Stuart, of the cavalry, took command. The fighting of +Jackson's Corps to-day surpassed that of the night before, and +after overcoming almost insurmountable obstacles, they succeeded in +dislodging Hooker from his well fortified position. + +Kershaw remained in his line of battle, keeping up a constant fire +with his skirmishers. An advance upon the Chancellor's House was +momentarily expected. The long delay between the commencement of +Jackson's movement until we heard the thunder of his guns immediately +in our front and in rear of the enemy, was taken up in conjecturing, +"what move was next." All felt that it was to be no retreat, and as we +failed to advance, the mystery of our inactivity was more confounding. + +Early next morning, however, the battle began in earnest. Hooker had +occupied the night in straightening out his lines and establishing a +basis of battle, with the hope of retrieving the blunder of the day +before. Stuart (or rather A.P. Hill, until wounded,) began pressing +him from the very start. We could hear the wild yells of our troops as +line after line of Hooker's were reformed, to be brushed away by the +heroism of the Southern troops. Our skirmishers began their desultory +firing of the day before. The battle seemed to near us as it +progressed, and the opening around Chancellor's House appeared to be +alive with the enemy's artillery. About two o'clock our lines were +ordered forward, and we made our way through the tangled morass, in +direction of our skirmish line. Here one of the bravest men in our +regiment was killed, private John Davis, of the "Quitman Rifles." He +was reckless beyond all reason. He loved danger for danger's sake. +Stepping behind a tree to load (he was on skirmish line) he would +pass out from this cover in plain view, take deliberate aim, and fire. +Again and again he was entreated and urged by his comrades to shield +himself, but in vain. A bullet from the enemy's sharpshooters killed +him instantly. + +A singular and touching incident of this family is here recorded. +Davis had an only brother, who was equally as brave as John and +younger, James, the two being the only children of an aged but wealthy +couple, of Newberry County. After the death of John, his mother +exerted herself and hired a substitute for her baby boy, and came on +in a week after the battle for the body of her oldest son and to take +James home with her, as the only hope and solace of the declining +years of this aged father and mother. Much against his will and +wishes, but by mother's entreaties and friends' solicitations, the +young man consented to accompany his mother home. But fate seemed to +follow them here and play them false, for in less than two weeks this +brave, bright, and promising boy lay dead from a malignant disease. + +As our brigade was moving through the thicket in the interval between +our main line and the skirmishers, and under a heavy fire, we came +upon a lone stranger sitting quietly upon a log. At first he was +thought an enemy, who in the denseness of the undergrowth had passed +our lines on a tour of observation. He was closely questioned, and it +turned out to be Rev. Boushell, a methodist minister belonging to +one of McGowan's South Carolina regiments, who became lost from his +command in the great flank movement of Jackson (McGowan's Brigade +belonged to Jackson's Corps), and said he came down "to see how the +battle was going and to lend aid and comfort to any wounded soldier +should he chance to find one in need of his services." + +The batteries in our front were now raking the matted brush all around +and overhead, and their infantry soon became aware of our presence, +and they, too, began pouring volleys into our advancing column. The +ranks became confused, for in this wilderness we could not see twenty +paces in front. Still we moved forward with such order as was under +the conditions permissible. When near the turn-pike road General +Kershaw gave the command to "charge." The Fifteenth raised the yell; +then the Third dashed forward; the Seventh was somewhat late on +account of the almost impassable condition of the ground, but still it +and the Third Battalion, with the Second on the left, made a mad +rush for the public road, and entered it soon after the Fifteenth and +Third. A perfect sea of fire was in our faces from the many cannon +parked around the Chancellor House and graping in all directions but +the rear. Lee on the one side and Stuart on the other had closed upon +the enemy, their wings joining just in front of the house. Some of the +pieces of the enemy's artillery were not more than fifty yards in +our front, and the discharges seemed to blaze fire in our very ranks. +Infantry, too, was there massed all over the yard, and in rear of this +one vast, mingling, moving body of humanity, dead horses lay in all +directions, while the dead and wounded soldiers lay heaped and strewn +with the living. But a few volleys from our troops in the road soon +silenced all opposition from the infantry, while cannoneers were +hitching up their horses to fly away. Some were trying to drag away +their caissons and light pieces by hand, while thousands of "blue +coats," with and without arms, were running for cover to the rear. In +less than twenty minutes the firing ceased in our front, and men +were ordered to prepare breastworks. Our soldiers, like the beaver in +water, by this time had become accustomed to burrow in the ground as +soon as a "halt" was made. A shovel and a spade were carried at all +times by each company to guard against emergencies. The bursting of a +shell near my company caused a fragment to strike one of my own men on +the shoulder. He claimed to be desperately wounded, and wished to go +to the hospital. I examined him hastily to see if I could give him any +assistance. He claimed his shoulder was broken. Just then the order +was given to "commence to fortify." "G.," the wounded man, was the +first to grasp the shovel, and threw dirt with an energy that caused +my Orderly Sergeant, a brave and faithful soldier, but who never +allowed the comic side of any transaction to pass him, to say: +"Captain, look at the 'wild pigeon;' see how he scratches dirt." +All soldiers carried a "nick-name," a name given by some physical +disability or some error he had made, or from any circumstance in his +life out of the usual order. Hardly had we taken possession of the +turn-pike road and began fortifying, than the sound of shells down the +river was heard, and we were hurriedly marched down the road. McLaws' +and Andersen's Divisions were doubled-quicked down the turn-pike +road and away from the battle to meet Sedgwick, who had crossed the +Rappahannock at Fredericksburg, stormed Mayree's Heights, routed and +captured the most of Barksdale's Mississippi Brigade, and was making +his way rapidly upon Lee's rear. + +This Battle of Chancellorsville certainly had its many sides, with its +rapid marching, changing of positions, and generalship of the highest +order. On the day before Jackson had gone around the right flank of +Hooker and fell upon his rear, while to-day we had the novel spectacle +of Sedgwick in the rear of Lee and Stuart in rear of Hooker. No one +can foretell the result of the battle, had Hooker held his position +until Sedgwick came up. But Lee's great mind ran quick and fast. He +knew the country and was well posted by his scouts of every move and +turn of the enemy on the chessboard of battle. Anderson, with his +division, being on our right, led the advance down the road to meet +Sedgwick. We passed great parks of wagons (ordnance and commissary) +on either side of the road. Here and there were the field infirmaries +where their wounded were being attended to and where all the surplus +baggage had been stacked before the battle. + +On reaching Zoar Church, some five miles in rear, we encountered +Sedgwick's advance line of skirmishers, and a heavy fusilade began. +Anderson formed line of battle on extreme right, and on right of plank +road, with the purpose of sweeping round on the enemy's left. McLaws +formed on left of the corps, his extreme left reaching out toward the +river and across the road; Kershaw being immediately on right of the +road, with the Second resting on it, then the Fifteenth, the Third +Battalion, the Eighth, the Third, and the Seventh on the right. On +the left of the road leading to Fredericksburg was a large open +field extending to the bluff near the river; on the right was a dense +thicket of pines and undergrowth. In this we had to form. The Seventh +experienced some trouble in getting into line, and many camp rumors +were afloat a few days afterwards of an uncomplimentary nature of the +Seventh's action. But this was all false, for no more gallant +regiment nor better officered, both in courage and ability, was in +the Confederate service than the "Bloody Seventh." But it was the +unfavorable nature of the ground, the difficulties experienced in +forming a line, and the crowding and lapping of the men that caused +the confusion. + +Soon after our line of battle was formed and Kershaw awaiting orders +from McLaws to advance, a line of support came up in our rear, and +mistaking us for the enemy, commenced firing upon us. Handkerchiefs +went up, calls of "friends," "friends," but still the firing +continued. One Colonel seeing the danger--the enemy just in front, and +our friends firing on us in the rear--called out, "Who will volunteer +to carry our colors back to our friends in rear?" Up sprang the +handsome and gallant young Sergeant, Copeland, of the "Clinton +Divers," (one of the most magnificent and finest looking companies in +his service, having at its enlistment forty men over six feet tall), +and said, "Colonel, send me." Grasping the colors in his hand, he +carried them, waving and jesticulating in a friendly manner, until he +convinced the troops that they were friends in their front. + +While thus waiting for Anderson to swing around the left of the enemy, +a desperate charge was made upon us. The cannonading was exceedingly +heavy and accurate. Great trees all around fell, snapped in twain by +the shell and solid shot, and many men were killed and wounded by the +falling timber. Trees, a foot in diameter, snapped in two like pipe +stems, and fell upon the men. It was growing dark before Anderson +could get in position, and during that time the troops never +experienced a heavier shelling. It was enough to make the stoutest +hearts quake. One of my very bravest men, one who had never failed +before, called to me as I passed, "Captain, if I am not here when the +roll is called, you may know where I am. I don't believe I can stand +this." But he did, and like the man he was, withstood it. Another, a +young recruit, and under his first fire, almost became insane, jumping +upon me and begging "for God's sake" let him go to the rear. I could +not stand this piteous appeal, and knowing he could not be of any +service to us in that condition, told him "to go." It is needless to +say he obeyed my orders. Dr. Evans, our surgeon, told me afterwards +that he came to his quarters and remained three days, perfectly crazy. + +At last the order came after night to advance. In a semi-circle we +swept through the thicket; turning, we came into the road, and over +it into the opening in front. The enemy was pushed back into the +breastworks on the bluff at the river. These breastworks had been +built by our troops during the Fredericksburg battle, and afterwards +to guard and protect Raccoon and Ely's fords, just in rear. As night +was upon us, and the enemy huddled before us at the ford, we were +halted and lay on the field all night. This was the ending of the +battle of Chancellorsville. + +Next morning the sun was perfectly hidden by a heavy fog, so much so +that one could not see a man twenty yards distant. Skirmishers were +thrown out and our advance made to the river, but nothing was found +on this side of the river but the wounded and the discarded rifles and +munitions of war. The wounded lay in all directions, calling for help +and heaping curses upon their friends, who had abandoned them in their +distress. Guns, tent flies, and cartridge boxes were packed up by the +wagon loads. Hooker's Army was thoroughly beaten, disheartened, and +disorganized. Met and defeated at every turn and move, they were only +too glad to place themselves across the river and under the protection +of their siege guns on Stafford's Heights. Hooker's losses were never +correctly given, but roughly computed at twenty-five thousand, while +those of Lee's were ten thousand two hundred and eighty-one. But the +Confederates counted it a dear victory in the loss of the intrepid +but silent Stonewall Jackson. There was a magic in his name that gave +enthusiasm and confidence to the whole army. To the enemy his name was +a terror and himself an apparition. He had frightened and beaten Banks +out of the Shennandoah Valley, had routed Fremont, and so entangled +and out-generaled Seigle that he was glad to put the Potomac between +himself and this silent, mysterious, and indefatigable chieftain, who +oftened prayed before battle and fought with a Bible in one hand and +a sword in the other. He came like a whirlwind upon the flank of +McClellan at Mechanicsville, and began those series of battles and +victories that terminated with the "Little Giant" being hemmed in +at Drury's Bluff and Malvern Hill. While Pope, the "Braggart," was +sweeping the fields before him in Northern Virginia, and whose boast +was he "saw only the enemy's back," and his "headquarters were in +the saddle," Jackson appeared before him like a lion in his path. +He swings around Pope's right, over the mountains, back through +Thoroughfare Gap; he sweeps through the country like a comet through +space, and falls on Pope's rear on the plains of Manassas, and sent +him flying across the Potomac like McDowell was beaten two years +before. While pursuing the enemy across the river and into Maryland, +he turns suddenly, recrosses the river, and stands before Harper's +Ferry, and captures that stronghold with scarcely a struggle. All this +was enough to give him the sobriquet of the "Silent Man," the man of +"mystery," and it is not too much to say that Jackson to the South +was worth ten thousand soldiers, while the terror of his name wrought +consternation in the ranks of the enemy. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XVII + +From Chancellorsville to Gettysburg--Camp, March, and Battle. + + +Again we are in our old quarters. Details were sent out every day to +gather up the broken and captured guns, to be shipped to Richmond for +repairs. The soldiers had gathered a great amount of camp supplies, +such as oil cloths, tents, blankets, etc. When a soldier captured +more than a sufficiency for his own wants, he would either sell to his +comrades or to the brigade sutler. This was a unique personage with +the soldiers. He kept for sale such articles as the soldier mostly +needed, and always made great profits on his goods. Being excused from +military duty, he could come and go at will. But the great danger +was of his being captured or his tent raided by his own men, the risk +therefore being so great that he had to ask exorbitant prices for +his goods. He kept crackers, cards, oysters and sardines, paper and +envelopes, etc., and often a bottle; would purchase all the plunder +brought him and peddle the same to citizens in the rear. After the +battle of Chancellorsville a member of Company D, from Spartanburg, +took the sutler an oil cloth to buy. After the trade was effected, the +sutler was seen to throw the cloth behind a box in the tent. Gathering +some of his friends, to keep the man of trade engaged in front, the +oil cloth man would go in the rear, raise the tent, extract the oil +cloth, take it around, and sell it again. Paying over the money, the +sutler would throw the cloth behind the box, and continue his trade +with those in front. Another would go behind the tent, get the cloth, +bring it to the front, throw it upon the counter, and demand his +dollar. This was kept up till everyone had sold the oil cloth once, +and sometimes twice, but at last the old sutler began to think oil +cloths were coming in too regularly, so he looked behind the box, and +behold he had been buying the same oil cloth all night. The office was +abolished on our next campaign. + +Lee began putting his army in splendid trim. All furloughs were +discontinued and drills (six per week) were now begun. To an outsider +this seemed nonsensical and an useless burden upon the soldiers, but +to a soldier nothing is more requisite to the discipline and morale of +an army than regular drills, and the army given a good share of what +is called "red tape." By the last of May, or the first of June, Lee +had recruited his army, by the non-extension of all furloughs and +the return of the slightly wounded, to sixty-eight thousand. It is +astonishing what a very slight wound will cause a soldier to seek +a furlough. He naturally thinks that after the marches, danger, and +dread of battle, a little blood drawn entitles him to at least a +thirty days' furlough. It became a custom in the army for a man to +compute the length of his furlough by the extent of his wound. The +very least was thirty days, so when a soldier was asked the nature of +his wound he would reply, "only a thirty days'," or "got this time +a sixty days;" while with an arm or foot off he would say, "I got my +discharge" at such battle. + +On the 27th of June Hooker was superseded by General Geo. B. Meade, +and he bent all his energies to the discipline of his great army. + +General Kershaw, on his promotion to Brigadier, surrounded himself +with a staff of young men of unequalled ability, tireless, watchful, +and brave to a fault. Captain C.R. Holmes, as Assistant Adjutant +General, was promoted to that position from one of the Charleston +companies. I fear no contradiction when I say he was one of the very +best staff officers in the army, and had he been in line of promotion +his merits would have demanded recognition and a much higher position +given him. Captain W.M. Dwight, as Adjutant and Inspector General, was +also an officer of rare attainments. Cool and collected in battle, +his presence always gave encouragement and confidence to the men under +fire. He was captured at the Wilderness the 6th of May, 1864. Captain +D.A. Doby was Kershaw's Aide-de-Camp, or personal aid, and a braver, +more daring, and reckless soldier I never saw. Wherever the battle +raged fiercest, Captain Doby was sure to be in the storm center. +Riding along the line where shells were plowing up great furrows, or +the air filled with flying fragments, and bullets following like hail +from a summer cloud, Doby would give words of cheer and encouragement +to the men. It seemed at times that he lived a charmed life, so +perilous was his situation in times of battle. But the fatal volley +that laid the lamented Jenkins low, and unhorsed Longstreet at the +Wilderness, gave Doby his last long furlough, felling from his horse +dead at the feet of his illustrious chieftain. Lieutenant John Myers +was Brigade Ordnance officer, but his duties did not call him to the +firing line, thus he was debarred from sharing with his companions +their triumphs, their dangers, and their glories, the halo that will +ever surround those who followed the plume of the knightly Kershaw. + +The Colonels of the different regiments were also fortunate in +their selection of Adjutants. This is one of the most important and +responsible offices in the regimental organization. The duties are +manifold, and often thankless and unappreciated. He shares more +dangers (having to go from point to point during battle to give +orders) than most of the officers, still he is cut off, by army +regulation, from promotion, the ambition and goal of all officers. +Colonel Kennedy, of the Second, appointed as his Adjutant E.E. Sill, +of Camden, while Colonel Nance, of the Third, gave the position to his +former Orderly Sergeant, Y.J. Pope, of Newberry. Colonel Aiken, of +the Seventh, appointed as Adjutant Thomas M. Childs, who was killed at +Sharpsburg. Colonel Elbert Bland then had Lieutenant John R. Carwile, +of Edgefield, to fill the position during the remainder of the +service, or until the latter was placed upon the brigade staff. +Colonel Henagan made Lieutenant Colin M. Weatherly, of Bennettsville, +S.C., Adjutant of the Eighth. All were young men of splendid physique, +energetic, courteous, and brave. They had the love and confidence of +the entire command. W.C. Hariss, Adjutant of the Third Battalion, was +from Laurens. Of the Fifteenth, both were good officers, but as they +were not with the brigade all the while, I am not able to do them +justice. + +The troops of Lee were now at the zenith of their perfection and +glory. They looked upon themselves as invincible, and that no General +the North could put in the field could match our Lee. The cavalry of +Stuart and Hampton had done some remarkably good fighting, and they +were now looked upon as an indispensable arm of the service. The +cavalry of the West were considered more as raiders than fighters, +but our dismounted cavalry was depended upon with almost as much +confidence as our infantry. This was new tactics of Lee's, never +before practiced in any army of the world. In other times, where the +cavalry could not charge and strike with their sabres, they remained +simply spectators. But Lee, in time of battle, dismounted them, and +they, with their long-ranged carbines, did good and effective service. + +Grant had been foiled and defeated at Vicksburg. At Holly Springs, +Chickasaw Bayou, Yazo Pass, and Millikin's Bend he had been +successfully met and defeated. The people of West Virginia, that +mountainous region of the old commonwealth, had ever been loyal to the +Union, and now formed a new State and was admitted into the Union on +the 20th of April, 1863, under the name of "West Virginia." Here it +is well to notice a strange condition of facts that prevailed over the +whole South, and that is the loyalty to the Union of all mountainous +regions. In the mountains of North Carolina, where men are noted for +their hardihood and courage, and who, once in the field, made the very +best and bravest of soldiers, they held to the Union, and looked with +suspicion upon the heresy of Secession. The same can be said of South +Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. These men would often go +into hiding in the caves and gorges of the mountains, and defy all the +tact and strategy of the conscript officers for months, and sometimes +for years. It was not for want of courage, for they had that +in abundance, but born and reared in an atmosphere of personal +independence, they felt as free as the mountains they inhabited, and +they scorned a law that forced them to do that which was repugnant to +their ideas of personal liberty. Living in the dark recesses of the +mountains, far from the changing sentiments of their more enlightened +neighbors of the lowland, they drank in, as by inspiration with their +mother's milk, a loyalty to the general government as it had come down +to them from the days of their forefathers of the Revolution. As to +the question of slavery, they had neither kith nor kin in interest or +sentiment with that institution. As to State's rights, as long as +they were allowed to roam at will over the mountain sides, distill the +product of their valleys and mountain patches, and live undisturbed +in their glens and mountain homes, they looked upon any changes that +would effect their surroundings as innovations to be resisted to the +death. So the part that West Virginia and the mountainous regions of +the South took in the war was neither surprising to nor resented by +the people of the Confederacy. + +By the middle of June Lee began to turn his eyes again to the tempting +fields of grain and army supplies of Pennsylvania and Maryland. The +Valley had been laid waste, West Virginia given up, the South was now +put to her utmost resources to furnish supplies for her vast armies. +All heavy baggage was sent to the rear, and Lee's troops began +moving by various routes up and across the river in the direction of +Culpepper Court House. But before the march began, General Lee renewed +the whole of Longstreet's Corps, and the sight of this magnificent +body of troops was both inspiring and encouraging. The corps was +formed in two columns, in a very large and level old field. The +artillery was formed on the right, and as General Lee with his staff +rode into the opening thirteen guns were fired as a salute to the +Chief. Certain officers have certain salutes. The President has, I +think, twenty-one guns, while the Commander-in-Chief has thirteen, and +so on. Wofford's Georgia regiment was on the right, then Barksdale's +Mississippi, Kershaw's South Carolina and Cobb's Georgia constituted +McLaws' division. The column wheeled by companies into line and took +up the march of review. The bands headed each brigade, and played +National airs as the troops marched by. + +Barksdale had a magnificent brass band, while Kershaw had only a fife +corps headed by that prince of players, Sam Simmonds, who could get +more real music out of a fife or flute than some musicians could out +of a whole band. The music of the fife and drum, while it may not be +so accomplished, gives out more inspiring strains for the marching +soldier than any brass band. The cornet, with its accompanying pieces, +makes fine music on the stillness of the night, when soldiers are +preparing for their night's rest, but nothing gives the soldier on +the march more spirit than the fife and drum. When a company nears the +reviewing officer they give the salute by bringing their pieces from +"right shoulder" to "carry," while on the march, and from "carry" to +"present arms" when stationary. The officers raise the hilt of the +sword, grasped firmly in the right hand, till the hilt is opposite the +chin, the point of the blade extending outward about eighteen inches +from the eyes, then, with a quick movement, to the side, the point +downward and forward, and kept in this position till the reviewing +officer has passed about eighteen paces. + +The army had been placed under three Lieutenant Generals: Longstreet, +with McLaw's, Hoole's and Pickett's first corps; General Ewell, with +Early's, Rhodes' and Trimble's constituting the 2d; while General A.P. +Hill commanded Anderson's, Heath's and Pendar's, the 3d. Colonel James +D. Nance commanded the 3d South Carolina, Colonel John D. Kennedy the +2d, Lieutenant Colonel Bland the 7th, Colonel Henagan the 8th. +Colonel Dessausure the 15th, and Lieutenant Colonel W.C.G. Rice the 3d +battalion, which had now been recruited by one man from each company +in the brigade, forming two new companies, and formed a battalion of +sharpshooters and skirmishers. + +The great army was now ready for the ever memorable second invasion +of Maryland and Pennsylvania, which culminated in Gettysburg. The army +was never before nor afterwards under better discipline nor in better +fighting trim. + +I will say here, that Colonel Aiken soon joined the brigade and took +command of his regiment until after the great battle, and then retired +permanently from active service. + +On the 3d of June McLaws led off, Hood following on the 4th. Pickett +followed Hood. On the 4th and 5th Ewell broke camp and followed in +the wake of Longstreet. A.P. Hill, with 3d corps, was left at +Fredericksburg to watch the movements of the enemy. After some delay, +the enemy threatening a crossing, the 3d corps followed the other +troops, all congregating near Culpepper Court House. Reaching the Blue +Ridge mountains at Ashby's Gap on the 12th of June, at the western +base of which runs the Shenandoah, we forded the stream, it being +somewhat swollen, so much so, indeed, that men had to link hands as a +protection. The water came up under the armpits, and four men marched +abreast, holding each other by the hands. Some caught hold of horses +belonging to officers of the regimental staff. In this way we crossed +over, and took up camp in the woods beyond. The wagon trains were in +advance, and the march was slow and much impeded. Very few of the +men had divested themselves of their clothing in crossing, and +consequently when we went into quarters it was a very wet army. The +soldiers had built fires and were rinsing out their clothes, when an +order came to "fall in ranks at once." The men hastily drew on their +now thoroughly wet clothes, with all haste got into line and took up +the march back towards the river. A rumor was started "the cavalry was +pressing our rear." Kershaw's Brigade was marched back over the river, +much to their disgust, and posted on the right and left of the road +on top of the mountain. Here we were stationed all night, and being +on the watch for the enemy, no fires were allowed. Towards day a +cold mountain wind set in, and the troops suffered no little from the +chilly wind and wet clothing. At sun-up we were marched for the third +time across the river, and prepared our meals for the morning in the +quarters of the evening before. Up to this time no intimation was +given us of our destination, but while preparing our breakfast +Adjutant Pope came around with orders stating we were on our way to +Hagerstown, Md. At first some seemed to regard this as a joke, but as +Adjutant Pope was so noted for his truthfulness and lack of jesting in +business matters, we were compelled to take the matter seriously. Of +all the officers in the 3d South Carolina, Adjutant Pope, I believe, +was the most beloved. His position kept him in close contact with the +officers and men, and all had the utmost confidence in his honor and +integrity and none doubted his impartiality. He had to keep the list +of companies, to do picket duty, and detail, and he was never accused +of showing preferment to any company. He was kind and courteous to +all, and while he mingled and caroused with the men, he never forgot +his dignity nor the respect due to his superiors. Whenever a favor was +wanted, or a "friend at court" desired, he never failed to relieve and +assist the poorest private the same as the highest officer. While a +strict disciplinarian, he was indulgent to almost a fault, and was +often seen to dismount and walk with the troops and allow some tired +or sick soldier to ride his horse. Adjutant Pope and old "Doc," +the name of his horse, were indispensable to the 3d South Carolina +regiment. The trusty old horse, like his master, survived the war and +did good service after its close. + +The next day, the 13th, we took up our march in earnest. No straggling +under any circumstances was allowed. The greatest respect was to +be paid to all property, no pilfering of hen roosts, no robbery of +orchards nor burning of palings or fences along the march. Some miles +in front we struck the Staunton and Winchester turn-pike, and at +regular intervals the troops were halted for a few minutes' rest. +Occasionally the bands struck up a march and the soldiers were ordered +into line and to take up the step. + +So away down the valley we marched with banners flying, bands playing +and the soldiers with a swinging step. Our march was regulated +to about eighteen miles a day. But with all the orders and strict +discipline, a great many of the soldiers who were given the name of +"Foragers" could leave camp at night and often cross the mountain into +the Luray valley, a valley, strictly speaking, laden with "milk and +honey." It had never suffered the ravages of the Shenandoah, and there +everything enticing to the appetite of the soldier was found. Before +day the forager would return with butter, bread, and often canteens +filled with pure old "Mountain Corn" or "Apple Jack." How men, after +an all day's straggling march, which is far more tiresome than an +ordinary walk, could go from ten to fifteen miles over the mountains +at night in search of something to eat or drink, is more than I could +understand. + +In a day or two we heard the news of Ewell capturing Milroy at +Winchester, with 500 prisoners, and on the way a part of their troops +passed us in high glee on their way to Richmond prison. I always +noticed that the Federals, on their march to Richmond, were generally +in better spirits when being escorted by Confederates than when +commanded by their own officers with the Confederates between them and +the Southern Capital. + +On the fifth day of our march we passed through Winchester, with A.P. +Hill marching parallel to us, some eight or ten miles to our right. +Ewell had pushed on to the Potomac, and was turning Washington wild +and frantic at the sight of the "Rebels" so close to their capital. +As we neared the border we could discover Union sentiment taking the +place of that of the South. Those who ever sympathized with us had to +be very cautious and circumspect. Now and then we would see a window +slowly raise in a house by the roadside, or on a hill in the +distance, and the feeble flutter of a white handkerchief told of their +Confederate proclivities. Generally the doors of all dwellings in +the extreme northern portion of Virginia, and in Maryland and +Pennsylvania, were mostly closed. + +On the morning of the 25th of June we crossed the Potomac at +Williamsport. Here was shouting and yelling. Hats went into the air, +flags dipped and swayed, the bands played "Maryland, My Maryland," +while the men sang "All Quiet on the Potomac To-night." We were now +in the enemy's country, and scarcely a shot was fired. We had +lost Stuart. "Where was he?" "Stewart has left us." These and like +expressions were heard on all sides. That bold and audacious cavalier, +in a sudden fit of adventure, or hardihood unequalled, had crossed the +Potomac in sight of the spires of Washington, almost under its very +guns, and had frightened the authorities out of their wits. Every +citizen that could possibly get out of the place was grabbing his +valuables and fleeing the city on every train. The Cabinet officers +were running hither and thither, not able to form a sensible or +rational idea. Had it been possible to have evacuated the city, that +would have been done. A Confederate prison or a hasty gibbet stared +Staunton in the face, and he was sending telegrams like lightning +over the land. Lincoln was the only one who seemingly had not lost his +head. But Stuart pushed on toward York and Carlisle, while Ewell had +carried fear and trembling to Philadelphia and Baltimore. Mead was +marching with the energy of despair to head off Lee and his victorious +troops. Longstreet halted at Chambersburg and awaited developments. +The troops lived in clover. The best of everything generally was given +freely and willingly to them. Great herds of the finest and fattest +beeves were continually being gathered together. Our broken down +artillery horses and wagon mules were replaced by Pennsylvania's +best. But in all, duly paid for in Confederate notes given by our +Commissaries and Quartermasters. + +At Hagerstown, Hill's troops came up with those of Longstreet, both +moving on to Chambersburg, and there remained until the 27th. + +General Lee had issued an address to the people of Maryland setting +forth the reasons and causes of his army invading their country, +offering peace and protection, and calling upon them to repair to his +standard and throw off the tyranny and oppression that were bearing +them down. He claimed to come, not as a conqueror, nor as one in +pursuit of conquest, but as a liberator. But the people seemed to be +in a state of lethargy, and to take little interest in the contest +one way or the other. Guards were placed at all homes where such +protection was asked for, and their fields of grain and orchards, as +well as their domestic possessions, were sacredly guarded. + +It was the general plan of Lee not to fight an aggressive battle in +the enemy's country, but to draw the army of the North away from his +lines of communities, and fight him on the defensive at favorable +points. + +Ewell had been sent on towards Carlisle and York, both those places +being promptly delivered to the Confederates by the civil authorities. + +In passing through Pennsylvania, many curious characters were found +among the quaint old Quaker settlers, who viewed the army of Lee +not with "fear" or "trembling," but more in wonder and Christian +abhorrence. When the front of the column came to the line dividing +Pennsylvania and Maryland, it was met by a delegation of those +rigorously righteous old Quakers who, stepping in the middle of the +road, commanded, as in the name of God, "So far thou canst go, but +no farther." After performing this seemingly command of God, and +in accordance with their faith, a perfect abhorrence to war and +bloodshed, they returned to their homes perfectly satisfied. It is +needless to say the commander of Lee's 2d corps paid little heed to +the command of the pious Quakers. + +After remaining near Chambersburg Kershaw, with the other portion of +the division, marched on to a little hamlet called Greenwood, leaving +a part of Pickett's division at Chambersburg to guard our trains. + +On the 29th the troops in advance began gradually to concentrate in +the direction of Cashtown, some eight or ten miles west of Gettysburg. +Ewell was bearing down from Carlisle, A.P. Hill was moving east, while +Longstreet was moved up to Greenwood. + +On the first of July A.P. Hill had met the enemy near Gettysburg, and +fought the first day's battle of that name, driving the enemy back +and through that city, part of his lines occupying the streets of +Gettysburg and extending north and around the city. The distance +intervening and the mountainous condition of the country prevented +us from hearing the roar of the guns, and little did any of us think, +while enjoying the rest in our tents, one portion of our army was in +the throes of a desperate battle. Up to this time not a word had been +heard from Stuart and his cavalry, and this seriously disturbed +the mind of our great commander. The positions of the enemy, moving +against our rear and flank, necessitated a battle or a withdrawal, +and to fight a great battle without the aid of cavalry simply seemed +preposterous. General Stuart has been greatly censured for his conduct +during these stirring times, just on the eve of this, the greatest +battle fought in modern times. + +Near sundown, June 1st, we got orders to move along a dull road over +hills, mountains and valleys. We marched with elastic step, every +one feeling the time had come for active work. Early on our march we +encountered General J.E. Johnston's brigade of Early's division, that +had been left at Chambersburg, together with all of Ewell's wagon +trains. This delayed our march until it was thought all were well out +of the way. But before midnight it was overtaken again, and then the +march became slow and tedious. To walk two or three steps, and then +halt for that length of time, was anything but restful and assuring +to troops who had marched all night without sleep or rest. About three +o'clock at night, when we had reached the summit of an eminence, we +saw in the plain before us a great sea of white tents, silent and +still, with here and there a groan, or a surgeon passing from one tent +to another relieving the pain of some poor mortal who had fallen in +battle on the morning of the day before. We had come upon the field +hospital of Hill, where he had his wounded of the day before encamped. +Here we first heard of the fight in which so many brave men had +fallen, without any decided results. As we had friends and relatives +in A.P. Hill's corps, all began to make inquiries for Gregg's old +brigade. We heard with delight and animation of the grand conduct +of the banner brigade of South Carolina, "Gregg's" or McGowan's, +and listened with no little pride to the report of their desperate +struggle through the streets of Gettysburg, and to learn that the flag +in the hands of a member of a Palmetto regiment first waved over the +city. I heard here of the desperate wounding of an old friend and +school-mate, Lieutenant W.L. Leitsey, and left the ranks long enough +to hunt him up in one of the many tents to the left. I found him +severely wounded, so much so that I never met him afterwards. While +marching along at a "snail's gait" among the wagons and artillery +trains, with a long row of tents to the left, tired and worn out and +so dark that you could not distinguish objects a few feet distant, a +lone man was standing by the road side viewing, as well as he could in +the dark, the passing troops. The slowness of our march enabled me to +have a few words of conversation with him. At its end, and just as I +was passing him, I heard, or thought I heard him say, "I have a drink +in here," pointing to a tent, "if you feel like it." Reader, you may +have heard of angel's voices in times of great distress, but if ever +an angel spoke, it was at that particular moment, and to me. I was so +tired, sleepy and worn out I could scarcely stand, and a drink would +certainly be invigorating, but for fear I had not heard or understood +him clearly I had him to repeat it. In fact, so timely was it that I +felt as if I could have listened all night, so much like the voice +of a syren was it at that moment. I said "Yes! Yes!!" But just then +I thought of my friend and companion, my next Color Captain, John +W. Watts, who was just ahead of me and marching under the same +difficulties as myself. I told the man I had a friend in front who +wanted a drink worse than I did. He answered "there is enough for +two," and we went in. It was Egyptian darkness, but we found a jug and +tin cup on the table, and helped ourselves. It may have been that in +the darkness we helped ourselves too bountifully, for that morning +Watts found himself in an ambulance going to the rear. Overcome by +weariness and the potion swallowed in the dark perhaps, he lay down by +the roadside to snatch a few moments sleep, and was picked up by the +driver of the ambulance as one desperately wounded, and the driver was +playing the Good Samaritan. Just before we went into action that day, +I saw coming through an old field my lost friend, and right royally +glad was I to see him, for I was always glad when I had Watts on my +right of the colors. Our brigade lay down by the roadside to rest and +recuperate for a few hours, near Willoughby's Run, four miles from +Gettysburg. + +[Illustration: R.C. Carlisle Major and Surgeon, 7th S.C. Regiment] + +[Illustration: Capt. J. A, Mitchell, Co. E, 7th S.C. Regiment.] + +[Illustration: Capt. D.J. Griffith, Co. C, 15th S.C. Regiment] + +[Illustration: Capt. Andrew T. Harllee, Co. I, 8th S.C. Regiment.] + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +Battle of Gettysburg--July 2d. + + +When the troops were aroused from their slumbers on that beautiful +clear morning of the 2d of July, the sun had long since shot its rays +over the quaint old, now historic, town of Gettysburg, sleeping down +among the hills and spurs of the Blue Ridge. After an all-night's +march, and a hard day's work before them, the troops were allowed all +the rest and repose possible. I will here state that Longstreet had +with him only two divisions of his corps, with four brigades to a +division. Pickett was left near Chambersburg to protect the numerous +supply trains. Jenkins' South Carolina brigade of his division had +been left in Virginia to guard the mountain passes against a possible +cavalry raid, and thus had not the opportunity of sharing with the +other South Carolinians in the glories that will forever cluster +around Gettysburg. They would, too, had they been present, have +enjoyed and deserved the halo that will for all time surround the +"charge of Pickett," a charge that will go down in history with +Balaclava and Hohenlinden. + +A.P. Hill, aided by part of Ewell's corps, had fought a winning fight +the day before, and had driven the enemy from the field through the +streets of the sleepy old town of Gettysburg to the high ground on +the east. But this was only the advance guard of General Meade, thrown +forward to gain time in order to bring up his main army. He was now +concentrating it with all haste, and forming in rear of the rugged +ridge running south of Gettysburg and culminating in the promontories +at the Round Top. Behind this ridge was soon to assemble an army, if +not the largest, yet the grandest, best disciplined, best equipped of +all time, with an incentive to do successful battle as seldom falls to +the lot of an army, and on its success or defeat depended the fate of +two nations. + +There was a kind of intuition, an apparent settled fact, among the +soldiers of Longstreet's corps, that after all the other troops had +made their long marches, tugged at the flanks of the enemy, threatened +his rear, and all the display of strategy and generalship had been +exhausted in the dislodgement of the foe, and all these failed, then +when the hard, stubborn, decisive blow was to be struck, the troops of +the first corps were called upon to strike it. Longstreet had informed +Lee at the outset, "My corps is as solid as a rock--a great rock. I +will strike the blow, and win, if the other troops gather the fruits +of victory." How confident the old "War Horse," as General Lee called +him, was in the solidity and courage of his troops. Little did he know +when he made the assertion that so soon his seventeen thousand men +were to be pitted against the whole army of the Potomac. Still, no +battle was ever considered decisive until Longstreet, with his +cool, steady head, his heart of steel and troops who acknowledged no +superior, or scarcely equal, in ancient or modern times, in endurance +and courage, had measured strength with the enemy. This I give, not +as a personal view, but as the feelings, the confidence and pardonable +pride of the troops of the 1st corps. + +As A.P. Hill and Ewell had had their bout the day before, it was a +foregone conclusion that Longstreet's time to measure strength was +near at hand, and the men braced themselves accordingly for the +ordeal. + +A ridge running parallel with that behind which the enemy stood, but +not near so precipitous or rugged, and about a mile distant, with a +gentle decline towards the base of the opposite ridge, was to be +the base of the battle ground of the day. This plain or gentle slope +between the two armies, a mile in extent, was mostly open fields +covered with grain or other crops, with here and there a farm house, +orchard and garden. It seems from reports since made that Lee had not +matured his plan of battle until late in the forenoon. He called +a council of war of his principal Lieutenant to discuss plans and +feasibilities. It was a long time undecided whether Ewell should lead +the battle on the right, or allow Longstreet to throw his whole corps +on the Round Top and break away these strongholds, the very citadel +to Meade's whole line. The latter was agreed upon, much against the +judgment of General Longstreet but Lee's orders were imperative, +and obeyed with alacrity. At ten o'clock the movement began for the +formation of the columns of assault. Along and in rear of the ridge +we marched at a slow and halting gait. The Washington artillery had +preceded us, and soon afterwards Alexander's battery passed to select +positions. We marched and countermarched, first to the right, then to +the left. As we thus marched we had little opportunity as yet to view +the strongholds of the enemy on the opposite ridge, nor the incline +between, which was soon to be strewn with the dead and dying. +Occasionally a General would ride to the crest and take a survey of +the surroundings. No cannon had yet been fired on either side, and +everything was quiet and still save the tread of the thousands in +motion, as if preparing for a great review. + +Longstreet passed us once or twice, but he had his eyes cast to the +ground, as if in a deep study, his mind disturbed, and had more the +look of gloom than I had ever noticed before. Well might the great +chieftain look cast down with the weight of this great responsibility +resting upon him. There seemed to be an air of heaviness hanging +around all. The soldiers trod with a firm but seeming heavy tread. Not +that there was any want of confidence or doubt of ultimate success, +but each felt within himself that this was to be the decisive battle +of the war, and as a consequence it would be stubborn and bloody. +Soldiers looked in the faces of their fellow-soldiers with a silent +sympathy that spoke more eloquently than words an exhibition of +brotherly love never before witnessed in the 1st corps. They felt +a sympathy for those whom they knew, before the setting of the sun, +would feel touch of the elbow for the last time, and who must fall +upon this distant field and in an enemy's country. + +About noon we were moved over the crest and halted behind a stone wall +that ran parallel to a county road, our center being near a gateway +in the wall. As soon as the halt was made the soldiers fell down, and +soon the most of them were fast asleep. While here, it was necessary +for some troops of Hill's to pass over up and through the gate. The +head of the column was lead by a doughty General clad in a brilliant +new uniform, a crimson sash encircling his waist, its deep, heavy +hanging down to his sword scabbard, while great golden curls hung in +maiden ringlets to his very shoulders. His movement was superb and he +sat his horse in true Knightly manner. On the whole, such a turn-out +was a sight seldom witnessed by the staid soldiers of the First Corps. +As he was passing a man in Company D, 3d South Carolina, roused up +from his broken sleep, saw for the first time the soldier wonder with +the long curls. He called out to him, not knowing he was an officer of +such rank, "Say, Mister, come right down out of that hair," a foolish +and unnecessary expression that was common throughout the army when +anything unusual hove in sight. + +This hail roused all the ire in the flashy General, he became as +"mad as a March hare," and wheeling his horse, dashed up to where the +challenge appeared to have come from and demanded in an angry tone, +"Who was that spoke? Who commands this company?" And as no reply was +given he turned away, saying, "D----d if I only knew who it was +that insulted me, I would put a ball in him." But as he rode off the +soldier gave him a Parthian shot by calling after him, "Say, Mister, +don't get so mad about it, I thought you were some d----n wagon +master." + +Slowly again our column began moving to the right. The center of the +division was halted in front of little Round Top. Kershaw was then on +the right, Barksdale with his Mississippians on his left, Wofford and +Semmes with their Georgians in rear as support. Everything was quiet +in our front, as if the enemy had put his house in order and awaited +our coming. Kershaw took position behind a tumbled down wall to await +Hood's movements on our right, and who was to open the battle by the +assault on Round Top. The country on our right, through which Hood had +to manoeuver, was very much broken and thickly studded with trees and +mountain undergrowth, which delayed that General in getting in battle +line. Anderson's Georgians, with Hood's old Texas Brigade under +Robertson, was on McLaws' immediate right, next to Kershaw. Law's +Alabama Brigade was on the extreme right, and made the first advance. +On McLaws' left was Wilcox, of General "Tige" Anderson's Division of +the 3d Corps, with Posey and other troops to his left, these to act +more as a brace to Longstreet as he advanced to the assault; however, +most of them were drawn into the vortex of battle before the close of +the day. In Kershaw's Brigade, the 2d under Colonel John D. Kennedy +and Lieutenant Colonel Frank Gilliard, the 15th under Colonel W.D. +Dessausure and Major Wm. Gist, the 3d under Colonel James D. Nance +and Major R.C. Maffett, the 7th under Colonel D. Wyatt Aiken and +Lieutenant Colonel Elbert Bland, the 3d Battallion under Lieutenant +Colonel W.G. Rice, the 8th under Colonel John W. Henagan, Lieutenant +Colonel Hool and Major McLeod, went into battle in the order named, as +far as I remember. Major Wm. Wallace of the 2d commanded the brigade +skirmish line or sharpshooters, now some distance in our front. A +battery of ten guns was immediately in our rear, in a grove of oaks, +and drew on us a heavy fire when the artillery duel began. All troops +in line, the batteries in position, nothing was wanting but the signal +gun to put these mighty forces in motion. Ewell had been engaged +during the morning in a desultory battle far to our left and beyond +the town, but had now quieted down. A blue puff of smoke, a deafening +report from one of the guns of the Washington Artillery of New +Orleans, followed in quick succession by others, gave the signal to +both armies--the battle was now on. + +It was the plan of action for Hood to move forward first and engage +the enemy, and when once the combat was well under way on the right, +McLaws to press his columns to the front. Law, with his Alabamians, +was closing around the southern base of greater Round Top, while +Robertson, with his three Texas regiments and one Arkansas, and +Anderson with his Georgians, were pushing their way through thickets +and over boulders to the front base of the Round Tops and the gorges +between the two. We could easily determine their progress by the +"rebel yell" as it rang out in triumph along the mountain sides. + +The battery in our rear was drawing a fearful fire upon us, as we lay +behind the stone fence, and all were but too anxious to be ordered +forward. Barksdale, on our left, moved out first, just in front of the +famous Peach Orchard. A heavy battery was posted there, supported by +McCandless' and Willard's Divisions, and began raking Barksdale from +the start. The brave old Mississippian, who was so soon to lose +his life, asked permission to charge and take the battery, but was +refused. Kershaw next gave the command, "forward," and the men sprang +to their work with a will and determination and spread their steps to +the right and left as they advanced. Kershaw was on foot, prepared to +follow the line of battle immediately in rear, looking cool, composed +and grand, his steel-gray eyes flashing the fire he felt in his soul. + +The shelling from the enemy on the ridge in front had, up to this +time, been mostly confined to replying to our batteries, but as soon +as this long array of bristling bayonets moved over the crest and +burst out suddenly in the open, in full view of the cannon-crowned +battlements, all guns were turned upon us. The shelling from Round +Top was terrific enough to make the stoutest hearts quake, while the +battery down at the base of the ridge, in the orchard, was raking +Barksdale and Kershaw right and left with grape and shrapnell. Semmes' +Georgians soon moved up on our right and between Kershaw and Hood's +left, but its brave commander fell mortally wounded at the very +commencement of the attack. Kershaw advanced directly against little +Round Top, the strongest point in the enemy's line, and defended by +Ayer's Regulars, the best disciplined and most stubborn fighters in +the Federal army. The battery in the orchard began grapeing Kershaw's +left as soon as it came in range, the right being protected by a +depression in the ground over which they marched. Not a gun was +allowed to be fired either at sharpshooters that were firing on our +front from behind boulders and trees in a grove we were nearing, or +at the cannoneers who were raking our flank on the left. Men fell here +and there from the deadly minnie-balls, while great gaps or swaths +were swept away in our ranks by shells from the batteries on the +hills, or by the destructive grape and canister from the orchard. On +marched the determined men across this open expanse, closing together +as their comrades fell out. Barksdale had fallen, but his troops were +still moving to the front and over the battery that was making such +havoc in their ranks. Semmes, too, had fallen, but his Georgians never +wavered nor faltered, but moved like a huge machine in the face of +these myriads of death-dealing missiles. Just as we entered the woods +the infantry opened upon us a withering fire, especially from up +the gorge that ran in the direction of Round Top. Firing now became +general along the whole line on both sides. The Fifteenth Regiment +met a heavy obstruction, a mock-orange hedge, and it was just after +passing this obstacle that Colonel Dessausure fell. The center of the +Third Regiment and some parts of the other regiments, were partially +protected by boulders and large trees, but the greater part fought +in the open field or in sparsely timbered groves of small trees. The +fight now waged fast and furious. + +Captain Malloy writes thus of the 8th: "We occupied the extreme left +of the brigade, just fronting the celebrated 'Peach Orchard.' The +order was given. We began the fatal charge, and soon had driven the +enemy from their guns in the orchard, when a command was given to +'move to the right,' which fatal order was obeyed under a terrible +fire, this leaving the 'Peach Orchard' partly uncovered. The enemy +soon rallied to their guns and turned them on the flank of our +brigade. Amid a storm of shot and shell from flank and front, our +gallant old brigade pushed towards the Round Top, driving all before +them, till night put an end to the awful slaughter. The regiment went +in action with 215 in ranks, and lost more than half its number. We +lost many gallant officers, among whom were Major McLeod, Captain +Thomas E. Powe, Captain John McIver, and others." The move to the +right was to let Wofford in between Barksdale and Kershaw. + +Barksdale was pressing up the gorge that lay between little Round +Top and the ridge, was making successful battle and in all likelihood +would have succeeded had it not been for General Warren. General +Meade's Chief Engineer being on the ground and seeing the danger, +grasped the situation at once, called up all the available force and +lined the stone walls that led along the gorge with infantry. Brigade +after brigade of Federal infantry was now rushed to this citadel, +while the crown of little Round Top was literally covered with +artillery. Ayer's Regulars were found to be a stubborn set by +Kershaw's troops. The Federal volunteers on our right and left gave +way to Southern valor, but the regulars stood firm, protected as they +were by the great boulders along their lines. Barksdale had passed +beyond us as the enemy's line bent backward at this point, and was +receiving the whole shock of battle in his front, while a terrific +fire was coming from down the gorge and from behind hedges on the +hillside. But the Mississippians held on like grim death till Wofford, +with his Georgians, who was moving in majestic style across the open +field in the rear, came to his support. + +General Wofford was a splendid officer, and equally as hard a fighter. +He advanced his brigade through the deadly hail of bullets and took +position on Bardsdale's right and Kershaw's left, and soon the roar +of his guns were mingling with those of their comrades. The whole +division was now in action. The enemy began to give way and scamper up +the hillside. But Meade, by this time, had the bulk of his army around +and in rear of the Round Top, and fresh troops were continually being +rushed in to take the places of or reinforce those already in action. +Hood's whole force was now also engaged, as well as a part of A.P. +Hill's on our left. The smoke became so dense, the noise of small arms +and the tumult raised by the "Rebel Yell," so great that the voices of +officers attempting to give commands were hushed in the pandemonium. +Along to the right of the 3d, especially up the little ravine, the +fire was concentrated on those who held this position and was terrific +beyond description, forcing a part of the line back to the stone +house. This fearful shock of battle was kept up along the whole line +without intermission till night threw her sable curtains over the +scene of carnage and bloodshed and put an end to the strife. Wofford +and Barksdale had none to reinforce them at the gorge, and had to +fight it out single-handed and alone, while the Regulars, with +their backs to the base of little Round Top, protected by natural +formations, were too strong to be dislodged by Kershaw. As soon as the +firing ceased the troops were withdrawn to near our position of the +forenoon. + +The work of gathering up the wounded lasted till late at night. +Our loss in regimental and line officers was very great. Scarcely a +regiment but what had lost one of its staff, nor a company some of its +officers. Dr. Salmond, the Brigade Surgeon, came early upon the field +and directed in person the movements of his assistants in their work +of gathering up the wounded. "The dead were left to take care of the +dead" until next day. + +When the brigade was near the woodland in its advance, a most deadly +fire was directed towards the center of the 3d both by the battery to +our left, and sharpshooting in the front. It was thought by some that +it was our flag that was drawing the fire, four color guards having +gone down, some one called out "Lower the colors, down with the flag." +Sergeant Lamb, color bearer, waved the flag aloft, and moving to the +front where all could see, called out in loud tones, "This flag never +goes down until I am down." + +Then the word went up and down the line "Shoot that officer, down him, +shoot him," but still he continued to give those commands, "Ready, +aim, fire," and the grape shot would come plunging into our very +faces. The sharpshooters, who had joined our ranks, as we advanced, +now commenced to blaze away, and the cannoneers scattered to cover in +the rear. This officer finding himself deserted by his men, waved his +sword defiantly over his head and walked away as deliberately as on +dress parade, while the sharpshooters were plowing up the dirt all +around him, but all failed to bring him down. We bivouaced during the +night just in rear of the battle ground. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XIX + +Gettysburg Continued--Pickett's Charge. + + +The next morning, July the 3rd, the sun rose bright and clear. Rations +were brought to the men by details, who, after marching and fighting +all day, had to hunt up the supply train, draw rations and cook for +their companies for the next day--certainly a heavy burden on two men, +the usual detail from each company. + +No one could conjecture what the next move would be, but the army felt +a certainty that Lee would not yield to a drawn battle without, at +least, another attempt to break Meade's front. Either the enemy would +attempt to take an advantage of our yesterday's repulse and endeavor +to break our lines, crush Lee by doubling him back on the Potomac, +or that Lee would undertake the accomplishment of the work of the day +before. After the heavy battle of yesterday and the all night's march +preceding, the soldiers felt little like renewing the fight of to-day, +still there was no despondency, no lack of ardor, or morale, each +and every soldier feeling, while he had done his best the day before, +still he was equal to that before him for to-day. + +In the First Corps all was still and quiet, scarcely a shot from +either side, a picket shot occasionally was the only reminder that the +enemy was near. + +Away to our left, and beyond the city, the Federals had assaulted +Ewell's lines, and a considerable battle was raging from daylight till +10 o'clock. + +The enemy were endeavoring to regain some of the trenches they had +lost two days before. + +General Pickett, who had been left at Chambersburg, had now come up +with his three Virginia Brigades, Garnett's, Kemper's, and Armstead's, +(Jenkins being left in Virginia) and was putting them in position for +his famous charge. + +While this has no real connection with the work in hand, still, since +the "Charge of Pickett," has gone in song and story, as the most +gallant, dashing, and bloody of modern times, I am tempted here to +digress somewhat, and give, as far as I am able, an impartial account +of this memorable combat, being an eye witness. While Pickett led +the storming party, in person, still the planning and details were +entrusted to another head, namely, General Longstreet. In justice to +him I will say he was opposed to this useless sacrifice of life and +limb. In his memoirs he tells how he pleaded with Lee, to relieve him +from the responsibility of command, and when the carnage was at its +zenith, riding through the hail from three hundred cannons and shells +bursting under and over him, the Old Chieftain says, "I raised my eyes +heavenward and prayed that one of these shots might lay me low and +relieve me from this awful responsibility." While I would, by no word, +or intimation detract one iota from the justly earned fame of the +great Virginian, nor the brave men under him, still it is but equal +justice to remember and record that there were other Generals and +troops from other States as justly meritorious and deserving of honor +as participants in the great charge, as Pickett and his Virginians. +On the day before, Kershaw, in the battle before little "Round Top," +Semmes to the right, Wofford and Barksdale in front of the peach +orchard and up the deadly gorge around Little Round Top to say nothing +of Hood at Round Top, charged and held in close battle, two thirds +of the Army of the Potomac, without any support whatever. See now how +Pickett was braced and supported. Cemetery Ridge was a long ridge +of considerable elevation, on which, and behind it the enemy was +marshalled in mass; opposite this ridge was another of less eminence, +and one mile, or near so, distant, behind which the Confederates were +concentrating for the assault. Longstreet moved McLaws up near to the +right of the assaulting columns in two lines, Semmes and Wofford in +the front and Barksdale and Kershaw in the rear lines as support. I +continue to retain the names of the Brigade Commanders to designate +the troops, although Barksdale and Semmes had fallen the day before. + +Kemper and Garnett were on the right of the assaulting column, with +Armstead as support, all Virginians and of Pickett's Division. +Wilcox, with his Alabama Brigade was to move some distance in rear of +Pickett's right to take any advantage of the break in the line, and +to protect Pickett's flank. On the left of Pickett, and on the line of +attack was Heath's Division, commanded by General Pettigrew, composed +of Archer's Brigade, of Alabama and Tennesseeans, Pettigrew's, North +Carolina, Brockenborro's, Virginia, and Davis' Brigade, composed of +three Mississippi Regiments and one North Carolina, with Scales' and +Lanes' North Carolina Brigade in support. Hood and McLaws guarding +the right and A.P. Hill the left. I repeat it, was there ever an +assaulting column better braced or supported? + +General Alexander had charge of the artillery at this point, and the +gunners along the whole line were standing to their pieces, ready to +draw the lanyards that were to set the opposite hills ablaze with shot +and shell, the moment the signal was given. + +Every man, I dare say, in both armies held his breath in anxious +and feverish suspense, awaiting the awful crash. The enemy had been +apprised of the Confederate movements, and were prepared for the +shock. + +When all was ready the signal gun was fired, and almost simultaneously +one hundred and fifty guns belched forth upon the enemy's works, which +challenge was readily accepted by Meade's cannoneers, and two hundred +shrieking shells made answer to the Confederate's salute. Round after +round were fired in rapid succession from both sides, the air above +seemed filled with shrieking, screaming, bursting shells. For a time +it looked as if the Heavens above had opened her vaults of thunder +bolts, and was letting them fall in showers upon the heads of mortals +below. Some would burst overhead, while others would go whizzing over +us and explode far in the rear. It was the intention of Lee to so +silence the enemy's batteries that the assaulting column would be rid +of this dangerous annoyance. Longstreet says of the opening of the +battle: "The signal guns broke the silence, the blaze of the second +gun, mingling in the smoke of the first, and salvos rolled to the +left and repeating themselves along the ridges the enemy's fine +metal spreading its fire to the converging lines of the Confederates, +plowing the trembling ground, plunging through the line of batteries +and clouding the heavy air. Two or three hundred guns seemed proud of +their undivided honors of organized confusion. The Confederates had +the benefit of converging fire into the enemy's massed position, +but the superior metal of the enemy neutralized the advantages of +position. The brave and steady work progressed." + +After almost exhausting his ammunition, General Alexander sent a +message to General Pickett, "If you are coming, come at once, or I +cannot give you proper support. Ammunition nearly exhausted; eighteen +guns yet firing from the cemetery." This speaks volumes for our +artillerist, who had silenced over one hundred and fifty guns, only +eighteen yet in action, but these eighteen directly in front of +Pickett. Under this deadly cannonade, Pickett sprang to the assault. +Kemper and Garnett advanced over the crest, closely followed by +Armstead. Wilcox, with his Alabamians, took up the step and marched +a short distance in rear of the right. The Alabamians, Tennesseeans, +North Carolinians, and Virginians under Pettigrew lined up on +Pickett's left, followed by Trimble, with his two North Carolina +Brigades and the columns were off. The batteries on the ridges in +front now turned all their attention to this dreaded column of gray, +as soon as they had passed over the crest that up to this time had +concealed them. To the enemy even this grand moving body of the best +material in the world must have looked imposing as it passed in solid +phalanx over this broad expanse without scarcely a bush or tree to +screen it. And what must have been the feelings of the troops that +were to receive this mighty shock of battle? The men marched with firm +step, with banners flying, the thunder of our guns in rear roaring and +echoing to cheer them on, while those of the enemy were sweeping wind +rows through their ranks. McLaws was moved up nearer the enemy's +lines to be ready to reap the benefit of the least signs of success. +Brockenborro and Davis were keeping an easy step with Kemper and +Garnett, but their ranks were being thinned at every advance. Great +gaps were mown out by the bursting of shells while the grape and +canister caused the soldiers to drop by ones, twos and sections along +the whole line. Men who were spectators of this carnage, held their +breath in horror, while others turned away from the sickening scene, +in pitying silence. General Trimble was ordered to close up and fill +the depleted ranks, which was done in splendid style, and on the +assaulting columns sped. + +Trimble had fallen, Garnett was killed, with Kemper and Gibbon being +borne from the field more dead than alive. At last the expected crash +came, when infantry met infantry. Pickett's right strikes Hancock's +center, then a dull, sullen roar told too well that Greek had met +Greek. Next came Davis, then Brockenborro, followed on the left by +Archer's and Pettigrew's Brigade, and soon all was engulfed in the +smoke of battle and lost to sight. Such a struggle could not last +long for the tension was too great. The Confederates had driven in the +first line, but Meade's whole army was near, and fresh battalions +were being momentarily ordered to the front. The enemy now moved out +against Pickett's right, but Semmes and Wofford of McLaws' Division +were there to repulse them. + +For some cause, no one could or ever will explain, Pickett's Brigades +wavered at a critical moment, halted, hesitated, then the battle +was lost. Now began a scene that is as unpleasant to record as it +is sickening to contemplate. When Pickett saw his ruin, he ordered a +retreat and then for a mile or more these brave men, who had dared +to march up to the cannon's mouth with twenty thousand infantry lying +alongside, had to race across this long distance with Meade's united +artillery playing upon them, while the twenty thousand rifles were +firing upon their rear as they ran. + +Pettigrew's Division, which was clinging close to the battle, saw the +disaster that had befallen the gallant Virginians, then in turn +they, too, fled the field and doubling up on Lane and Scales, North +Carolinians, made "confusion worse confounded." This flying mass +of humanity only added another target for the enemy's guns and an +additional number to the death roll. + +Alexander's batteries, both of position, and the line now turned loose +with redoubled energy on those of the enemy's to relieve, as far as +possible, our defeated, flying, and demoralized troops. For a few +moments (which seemed like days to the defeated) it looked as if all +nature's power and strength were turned into one mighty upheaval; +Vessuvius, Etna, and Popocatepetl were emptying their mighty torrents +upon the heads of the unfortunate Confederates. Men fell by the +hundreds, officers ceased to rally them until the cover of the ridge +was reached. The hills in front were ablaze from the flashes of near +two hundred guns, while the smoke from almost as many on our lines +slowly lifted from the ridge behind us, showing one continued sheet of +flames, the cannoneers working their guns as never before. The earth +seemed to vibrate and tremble under the recoil of these hundreds of +guns, while the air overhead was filled with flying shells. Not +a twinkling of the eye intervened between the passing of shots or +shells. The men who were not actively engaged became numbed and a +dull heavy sleep overcame them as they lay under this mighty unnatural +storm, shells falling short came plowing through the ground, or +bursting prematurely overhead, with little or no effect upon the +slumberers, only a cry of pain as one and another received a wound or +a death shot from the flying fragments. The charge of Pickett is over, +the day is lost, and men fall prone upon the earth to catch breath +and think of the dreadful ordeal just passed and of the many hundreds +lying between them and the enemy's line bleeding, dying without hope +or succor. + +Farnsworth, of Kilpatrick's Cavalry, had been watching the fray from +our extreme right, where Hood had stationed scattered troops to watch +his flank, and when the Union General saw through the mountain gorges +and passes the destruction of Pickett he thought his time for action +had come. The battle-scarred war horses snuffed the blood and smoke +of battle from afar, and champed their bits in anxious impatience. +The troopers looked down the line and met the stern faces of their +comrades adjusting themselves to their saddles and awaiting the signal +for the charge. Farnsworth awaits no orders, and when he saw the wave +of Pickett's recede he gave the command to "Charge," and his five +hundred troopers came thundering down upon our detachments on the +extreme right. But Farnsworth had to ride over and between the Fourth, +Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Alabama Regiments, the Eleventh Georgia and +the First Texas, and it is needless to add, his ride was a rough and +disastrous one. Farnsworth, after repeated summons to surrender, fell, +pierced with five wounds, and died in a few moments. His troopers +who had escaped death or capture fled to the gorges and passes of +the mountains through which they had so recently ridden in high +expectation. + +The enemy, as well as the Confederates, had lost heavily in general +officers. Hancock had fallen from his horse, shot through the side +with a minnie ball, disabling him for a long time. General Dan +Sickles, afterwards military Governor of South Carolina, lost a leg. +General Willard was killed. Generals Newton, Gibbon, Reynolds, Barlow +were either killed or wounded, with many other officers of note in the +Federal Army. + +The soldier is not the cold unfeeling, immovable animal that some +people seem to think he is. On the contrary, and paradoxical as it may +appear, he is warm-hearted, sympathetic, and generous spirited and his +mind often reverts to home, kindred, and friends, when least expected. +His love and sympathy for his fellow-soldier is proverbial in the +army. In the lull, of battle, or on its eve, men with bold hearts and +strong nerves look each other in the face with grim reliance. With +set teeth and nerve's strung to extreme tension, the thoughts of the +soldier often wander to his distant home. The panorama of his whole +life passes before him in vivid colors. His first thoughts are of the +great beyond--all soldiers, whatever their beliefs or dogmas, think +of this. It is natural, it is right, it is just to himself. He sees in +his imagination the aged father or mother or the wife and little ones +with outstretched arms awaiting the coming of him who perhaps will +never come. These are some of the sensations and feelings of a soldier +on the eve of, or in battle, or at its close. It is no use denying it, +all soldiers feel as other people do, and when a soldier tells as a +fact that he "went into battle without fear," he simply tells "what +George Washington never told." It is human, and "self-preservation +is the first law of nature." No one wants to die. Of course ambition, +love of glory, the plaudits of your comrades and countrymen, will +cause many a blade to flash where otherwise it would not. But every +soldier who reads this will say that this is honest and the whole +truth. I am writing a truthful history of the past and honesty forces +me to this confession. "All men are cowards" in the face of death. +Pride, ambition, a keen sense of duty, will make differences +outwardly, but the heart is a coward still when death stares the +possessor in the face. Men throw away their lives for their country's +sake, or for honor or duty like a cast off garment and laugh at death, +but this is only a sentiment, for all men want to live. I write so +much to controvert the rot written in history and fiction of soldiers +anxious to rush headlong into eternity on the bayonets of the enemy. + +Historians of all time will admit the fact that at Gettysburg was +fought a battle, not a skirmish, but it was not what Northern writers +like to call it, "Lee's Waterloo." The Wilderness, Spottsylvania, and +Petersburg were yet to come. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XX + +Gettysburg--Fourth Day--Incidents of the Battle--Sketch of Dessausure, +McLeod, and Salmonds. + + +A flag of truce now waves over both armies, granting a respite to bury +the dead and care for the wounded. The burial of the dead killed in +battle is the most trying of all duties of the soldier. Not that he +objects to paying these last sad rites to his fallen comrades, but it +is the manner in which he must leave them with his last farewell. + +A detail from each company is formed into a squad, and armed with +spades or shovels they search the field for the dead. When found a +shallow pit is dug, just deep enough to cover the body, the blanket is +taken from around the person, his body being wrapped therein, laid +in the pit, and sufficient dirt thrown upon it to protect it from the +vultures. There is no systematic work, time being too precious, and +the dead are buried where they fell. Where the battle was fierce and +furious, and the dead lay thick, they were buried in groups. Sometimes +friendly hands cut the name and the company of the deceased upon the +flap of a cartridge box, nail it to a piece of board and place at, the +head, but this was soon knocked down, and at the end of a short time +all traces of the dead are obliterated. + +The wounded were gathered in the various farm houses, and in the city +of Gettysburg. Those who were too badly wounded to be moved were left +in charge of Surgeons, detailed by the Medical Directors to remain +with the wounded. Surgeons in the discharge of their duties are never +made prisoners, and the yellow flag flies as much protection as the +white. A guard is placed around the hospitals to prevent those who +may convalesce while there from escaping, but notwithstanding this +vigilance many made their escape and came south, as the soldiers had +a horror of the Federal prison pen. Ambulances and empty wagons were +loaded to their full capacity with the wounded, unable to walk, +while hundreds with arms off, or otherwise wounded as not to prevent +locomotion, "hit the dust," as the soldiers used to say, on their long +march of one hundred and fifty miles to Staunton, Va. + +The Confederate forces numbered in the battles around Gettysburg +on May 31st, 75,000, including Pickett's Division. The Federals had +100,000 ready and equipped for action, divided in seven army corps, +under General Doubleday commanding First Corps, General Hancock Second +Corps, General Sickles Third Corps, General Sykes Fifth Corps, General +Sedgwick Sixth Corps, General Howard Eleventh Corps, General Slocum +Twelfth Corps, and three divisions of cavalry under Pleasanton. The +Confederate losses were: Longstreet, 7,539; Ewell, 5,973; A.P. Hill, +6,735; Cavalry under Stuart, 1,426; in all 21,643. Enemy's loss, +23,049. + +I herewith give sketches of Colonel Dessausure and Major McLeod, +killed in action, and of Doctor Salmond, Brigade Surgeon. As the +latter acted so gallantly, and showed such generous impulses during +and after the engagement, I think it a fitting moment to give here a +brief sketch of his life. + + * * * * * + + +COLONEL WILLIAM DAVIE DESSAUSURE OF THE THIRTEENTH. + +Colonel Dessausure was certainly the Bayard of South Carolina, having +served during his entire manhood, with little exception, amid the +exciting, bustling scenes of army life. He was a hero of both the +Mexican and Civil wars, and served in the Old Army for many years on +the great Western Plains. A friend of his, an officer in his command +who was very close to the Colonel, writes me a letter, of which I +extract the following: + +"In my judgment, he was the superior of Kershaw's fine set of +Colonels, having, from nature, those rare qualities that go to make up +the successful war commander, being reticent, observant, far-seeing, +quick, decided, of iron will, inspiring confidence in his leadership, +cheerful, self-possessed, unaffected by danger, and delighting like +a game cock in battle. He was singularly truth loving and truth +speaking, and you could rely with confidence on the accuracy of his +every statement. He understood men, was clear sighted, quick and +sound of judgment, and seemed never to be at a loss what to do in +emergencies. He exposed himself with reckless courage, but protected +his men with untiring concern and skill. He was rather a small man, +physically, but his appearance and bearing were extremely martial, and +had a stentorian voice that could be heard above the din of battle." + +Colonel Dessausure was born in Columbia, S.C., December 12th, 1819, +was reared and educated there, graduated at the South Carolina +College, and studied law in the office of his father, Hon. Win. F. +Dessausure. He raised a company in Columbia for the Mexican war, and +served through that war as Captain of Company H, Palmetto Regiment. +After that he was commissioned Captain of Cavalry, and assigned to +General (then Colonel) Joseph K. Johnston's Regiment in the United +States Army, and served on the Plains until the Civil war commenced, +when he resigned, returned to his native State and organized the +Fifteenth Regiment, and was assigned to Drayton's Brigade, then on the +coast. + +After the Seven Days' Battle around Richmond he went with his +Regiment, as a part of Drayton's Brigade, in the first Maryland +campaign. On Lee's return to Virginia, just before the Fredericksburg +battle, his regiment was assigned to Kershaw. + +The papers promoting him to the rank of Brigadier General were in the +hands of the Secretary of War at the time he was killed. He was buried +in a private cemetery near Breane's Tavern, in Pennsylvania, and his +body removed to the family burying ground after the war. + +He was married to Miss Ravenel of Charleston, who survived him some +years. + + * * * * * + + +DONALD MCDIARMID MCLEOD + +Was descended from Scotch ancestors who immigrated to this country +about 1775 and settled in Marlboro District, near Hunt's Bluff, on Big +Pee Dee River. He was son of Daniel McLeod and Catherine Evans McLeod. +He graduated from the South Carolina College about 1853, and for some +time engaged in teaching school in his native county; then married +Miss Margaret C. Alford and engaged in planting near where he was +born. He was then quietly leading a happy and contented life when +South Carolina seceded. When the toscin of war sounded he raised the +first company of volunteers in Marlboro and was elected Captain of it. +This company, with another from Marlboro organized about the same time +under Captain J.W. Hamington, formed part of the Eighth Regiment, of +Kershaw's Brigade. Capt. McLeod was of commanding presence, being +six feet four inches tall, erect, active, and alert, beloved by his +company, and when the test came proved himself worthy of their love +and confidence. On the field of battle his gallantry was conspicuous, +and he exhibited undaunted courage, and was faithful to every trust. + +At the reorganization of the Regiment he was elected Major and +served as such through the battles of Savage Station, Malvern Hill, +Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. In the +last named he was killed while gallantly leading the Regiment in the +desperate charge on the enemy's twenty pieces of artillery, in the +celebrated peach orchard, where in a few minutes the Eighth Regiment, +being on the left of the Brigade, without support, assailed in front +and flanked, lost one hundred and eleven of the one hundred and +seventy who were engaged in the battle. Of this number twenty-eight +were killed and buried on the field of battle. Notwithstanding this +slaughter the Old Eighth never faltered, but with the other regiments +drove the enemy from the field, pursuing them upon the rugged slopes +of Round Top Hill. Thus ended the life of one of the noblest and most +devoted of Carolina's sons. + + * * * * * + + +DR. T.W. SALMOND + +Was born in Camden, S.C., on 31st of August, 1825. Received his +diploma from the Medical College, in Charleston, S.C., in 1849. +Practiced medicine in Camden till the war came on. Married first, +Miss Mary Whitaker, afterwards Miss Isabel Scota Whitaker. He had +two daughters, one by each marriage. When the troops were ordered to +Charleston, he left with General Kershaw as Surgeon of his regiment. +General Kershaw was Colonel of the Second South Carolina Regiment. His +regiment was at the bombardment of Sumter. His staff consisted of +Dr. T.W. Salmond, Surgeon; Fraser, Quarter-Master; J.I. Villipigue, +Commissary; A.D. Goodwyn, Adjutant. + +At the reorganization of the Brigade, Dr. Salmond was promoted to +Brigade Surgeon and was in all of the battles in Virginia. He went +with General Kershaw to Tennessee and came home when General Kershaw +went back to Virginia, owing to ill health in the spring of 1864. + +He resumed his practice after the war and continued till his death, +August 31st, 1869. + +I give below a short sketch concerning the Brigade Surgeon, copied +from a local paper, as showing the kind of metal of which Dr. Salmond +was made: + +To the Editor of The Kershaw Gazette: + +I never look upon a maimed soldier of the "Lost Cause," who fought +manfully for the cause which he deemed to be right, without being +drawn towards him with I may say brotherly love, commingled with +the profoundest respect. And I beg space in your valuable columns to +relate an incident in connection with the battle of Gettysburg, which, +I think, will equal the one between General Hagood and the Federal +officer, Daley. + +In that memorable battle, whilst we were charging a battery of sixteen +pieces of artillery, when great gaps were being made in the lines by +the rapid discharge of grape and canister, when the very grass beneath +our feet was being cut to pieces by these missiles of death, and it +looked as if mortal men could not possibly live there; Capt. W.Z. +Leitner of our town was shot in the midst of this deadly shower at the +head of his company. When his comrades were about to remove him from +the field he said, "Men I am ruined but never give up the battle. I +was shot down at the head of my company, and I would to God that I +was there yet." He refused to let them carry him off the field. Dr. +Salmond, then Brigade Surgeon of Kershaw's Brigade, learning that his +friend Captain Leitner was seriously wounded, abandoned his post at +the infirmary, mounted his horse and went to the field where Captain +Leitner lay, amid the storm of lead and iron, regardless of the +dangers which encompassed him on every hand. He placed Captain Leitner +on his horse, and brought him off the field. The writer of this was +wounded severely in this charge, and while he was making his way as +best he could to the rear, he met the Brigade Surgeon on his mission +of mercy to his fallen friend, ordering those to the front who were +not wounded, as he went along. Brave man, he is now dead. Peace to his +ashes. As long as I live, I shall cherish his memory and think of this +circumstance. + +A Member of the Old Brigade. + +Taken from Kershaw Gazette of February 26, 1880. + +Judge Pope gives me several instances of devotion and courage during +the Gettysburg campaign, which I take pleasure in inserting. + + * * * * * + + +"DID THE NEGROES WISH FREEDOM?" + +I have listened to much which has been said and written as to the +aspiration of the negroes for freedom while they were slaves, but much +that I saw myself makes me doubt that this aspiration was general. + +Let me relate an instance that fell under my immediate observation. An +officer had lost his bodyservant in May, 1863, when he mentioned the +fact to some of the gentlemen of the and regiment, the reply was made: +"There is a mess in Company A or I of the Third Regiment who have an +excellent free negro boy in their employment, but they must give him +up and no doubt you can get him." I saw the soldiers they referred +to and they assured me that they would be glad if I would take the +servant off their hands. The result was the servant came to me and +I hired him. Soon afterwards we began the march to the Valley of +Virginia, then to Maryland and Pennsylvania. The servant took care of +my horse, amongst his other duties. Having been wounded at Gettysburg +and placed in a wagon to be transported to Virginia this boy would +ride the horse near by the wagon, procuring water and something to +eat. As the caravan of wagons laden with wounded soldiers was drawing +near to Hagerstown, Maryland, a flurry was discovered and we were told +the Yankees were capturing our train. At this time the servant came +up and asked me what he should do. I replied, "Put the Potomac River +between you and the Yankees." He dashed off in a run. When I reached +the Potomac River I found William there with my horse. The Yankees +were about to attack us there. I was to be found across the river. I +said to William, "What can you do?" He replied that he was going to +swim the horse across the Potomac River, but said he himself could not +swim. I saw him plunge into the river and swim across. The soldiers +who were with me were sent from Winchester to Staunton, Virginia. +While in Staunton, I was assured that I would receive a furlough at +Richmond, Virginia, so William was asked if he wished to accompany +me to South Carolina. This seemed to delight him. Before leaving +Staunton, the boy was arrested as a runaway slave, being owned by +a widow lady in Abbeville County. The servant admitted to me, when +arrested, that he was a slave. A message was sent to his mistress how +he had behaved while in my employment--especially how he had fled from +the Yankees in Pennsylvania and Maryland. This was the last time +I ever saw him. Surely a desire for freedom did not operate very +seriously in this case, when the slave actually ran from it. + +In parting I may add that, left to themselves negroes are very +kind-hearted, and even now I recall with lively pleasure the many +kindnesses while I was wounded, from this servant, who was a slave. + + * * * * * + + +HE WOULD FIGHT. + +Why is it that memory takes us away back into our past experiences +without as much saying, "With your leave, sir"? Thirty-six years ago +I knew a fine fellow just about eighteen years old and to-day he comes +back to us so distinctly! He was a native of Newberry and when the +war first broke out he left Newberry College to enlist as a private +in Company E of the Third South Carolina Infantry. With his fine +qualities of head and heart, it was natural that he should become a +general favorite--witty, very ready, and always kind. His was a brave +heart, too. Still he was rather girlish in appearance, for physically +he was not strong. This latter condition may explain why he was called +to act as Orderly at Regimental Headquarters when J.E. Brown gave up +that position for that of courier with General Longstreet early in +the year 1863. Just before the Third Regiment went into action at +Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and while preparing for that event, it +became necessary, under general orders, that the field and staff +of the regiment should dismount. It was the habit during battles to +commit the horses to the control of the Regimental Orderly. On this +occasion the Adjutant said to young Sligh: "Now, Tom, get behind some +hill and the moment we call you, bring up the horses; time is often +of importance." To the Adjutant's surprise Sligh burst into tears and +besought that officer not to require him to stay behind, but on the +contrary, to allow him to join his company and go into battle. At +first this was denied, but so persistent was he in his request that +the Adjutant, who was very fond of him, said: "Well Tom, for this one +time you may go, but don't ask it again." Away he went with a smile +instead of a tear. Poor fellow! The Orderly, Thomas W. Sligh, was +killed in that battle while assisting to drive back General Sickles +from the "Peach Orchard" on the 2d day of July, 1863. + + * * * * * + + +RETURN TO VIRGINIA. + +At daylight on the morning of the 5th the remnant of that once grand +army turned its face southward. I say remnant, for with the loss +of near one-third its number in killed, wounded, and prisoners the +pride, prestige of victory, the feelings of invincibility, were lost +to the remainder, and the army was in rather ill condition when it +took up the retreat. Lee has been severely criticised for fighting the +battle of Gettysburg, especially the last charge of Pickett; but there +are circumstances of minor import sometimes that surround a commander +which force him to undertake or attempt that which his better judgment +might dictate as a false step. The world judges by results the +successes and achievements of a General, not by his motives or +intentions. Battles, however, are in a great measure but series +of accidents at best. Some unforeseen event or circumstance in the +battles of Napoleon might have changed some of his most brilliant +victories to utter defeats and his grandest triumphs into disastrous +routs. Had not General Warren seen the open gap at little Round Top, +and had it been possible for Federal troops to fill it up, or that +Hancock had been one hour later, or that our troops had pushed through +the gorge of little Round Top before seen by Warren and gained Meade's +rear--suppose these, and many other things, and then reflect what +momentous results depended upon such trivial circumstances, and we +will then fail to criticise Lee. His chances were as good as Meade's. +The combination of so many little circumstances, and the absence of +his cavalry, all conduced to our defeat. + +Hill took the lead, Longstreet followed, while Ewell brought up the +rear. Our wagon trains had gone on, some of them the day before, +towards Williamsport. Kilpatrick made a dash and captured and +destroyed a goodly number of them, but the teamsters, non-combatants +and the wounded succeeded in driving them off after some little +damage. + +Along down the mountain sides, through gorges and over hills, the +army slowly made its way. No haste, no confusion. The enemy's cavalry +harassed over rear, but did little more. Meade had had too severe a +lesson to hover dangerously close on the heels of Lee, not knowing +what moment the wily Confederate Chieftain might turn and strike him a +blow he would not be able to receive. The rain fell in torrents, night +and day. The roads were soon greatly cut up, which in a measure was to +Lee's advantage, preventing the enemy from following him too closely, +it being almost impossible to follow with his artillery and wagons +after our trains had passed. We passed through Fairfield and +Hagerstown and on to Williamsport. Near Funkstown we had some +excitement by being called upon to help some of Stuart's Cavalry, who +were being hard pressed at Antietam Creek. + +After remaining in line of battle for several hours, on a rocky +hillside, near the crossing of a sluggish stream, and our pickets +exchanging a few shots with those of the enemy, we continued our +march. On the night of the 6th and day of the 7th our army took up a +line of battle in a kind of semi-circle, from Williamsport to Falling +Waters. The Potomac was too much swollen from the continuous rains to +ford, and the enemy having destroyed the bridge at Falling Waters we +were compelled to entrench ourselves and defend our numerous trains of +wagons and artillery until a bridge could be built. In the enclosure +of several miles the whole of Lee's army, with the exception of some +of his cavalry, were packed. Here Lee must have been in the most +critical condition of the war, outside of Appomattox. Behind him was +the raging Potomac, with a continual down-pour of rain, in front was +the entire Federal army. There were but few heights from which to +plant our batteries, and had the enemy pressed sufficiently near to +have reached our vast camp with shells, our whole trains of ordnance +would have been at his mercy. We had no bread stuff of consequence in +the wagons, and only few beef cattle in the enclosure. For two days +our bread supply had been cut off. Now had such conditions continued +for several days longer, and a regular siege set in, Lee would have +had to fight his way out. Lumber was difficult to obtain, so some +houses were demolished, and such planks as could be used in the +construction of boats were utilized, and a pontoon bridge was soon +under way. + +In this dilemma and strait an accident in the way of a "wind fall" (or +I might more appropriately say, "bread fall") came to our regiment's +relief. Jim George, a rather eccentric and "short-witted fellow," of +Company C, while plundering around in some old out-buildings in our +rear, conceived the idea to investigate a straw stack, or an old house +filled with straw. After burrowing for some time away down in the +tightly packed straw, his comrades heard his voice as he faintly +called that he had struck "ile." Bounding out from beneath the +straw stack, he came rushing into camp with the news of his find. He +informed the Colonel that he had discovered a lot of flour in barrels +hidden beneath the straw. The news was too good to be true, and +knowing Jim's fund of imagination, few lent ear to the story, and most +of the men shook their heads credulously. "What would a man want +to put flour down in a straw stack for when no one knew of 'Lee's +coming?'" and, moreover, "if they did, they did not know at which +point he would cross." Many were the views expressed for and against +the idea of investigating further, until "Old Uncle" Joe Culbreath, a +veteran of the Mexican War, and a lieutenant in Jim George's company, +said: "Boys, war is a trying thing; it puts people to thinking, and +these d----n Yankees are the sharpest rascals in the world. No doubt +they heard of our coming, and fearing a raid on their smoke houses, +they did not do like us Southern people would have done--waited until +the flour was gone before we thought of saving it--so this old +fellow, no doubt, put his flour there for safety." That settled it. +"Investigate" was the word, and away went a crowd. The straw was soon +torn away, and there, snugly hidden, were eight or ten barrels of +flour. The Colonel ordered an equal division among the regiment, +giving Jim an extra portion for himself. + +By the 13th the bridge was completed, and the waters had so far +subsided that the river was fordable in places. An hour after dark we +took up the line of march, and from our camp to the river, a distance +of one mile or less, beat anything in the way of marching that human +nature ever experienced. The dust that had accumulated by the armies +passing over on their march to Gettysburg was now a perfect bog, while +the horses and vehicles sinking in the soft earth made the road appear +bottomless. We would march two or three steps, then halt for a moment +or two; then a few steps more, and again the few minutes' wait. The +men had to keep their hands on the backs of their file leaders to tell +when to move and when to halt. The night being so dark and rainy, we +could not see farther than "the noses on our faces," while at every +step we went nearly up to our knees in slash and mud. Men would stand +and sleep--would march (if this could be called marching) and sleep. +The soldiers could not fall out of ranks for fear of being hopelessly +lost, as troops of different corps and divisions would at times be +mingled together. Thus we would be for one hour moving the distance +of a hundred paces, and any soldier who has ever had to undergo such +marching, can well understand its laboriousness. At daybreak we +could see in the gloomy twilight our former camp, almost in hollering +distance. Just as the sun began to peep up from over the eastern +hills, we came in sight of the rude pontoon bridge, lined from one end +to the other with hurrying wagons and artillery--the troops at opened +ranks on either side. If it had been fatiguing on the troops, what +must it have been on the poor horses and mules that had fasted for +days and now drawing great trains, with roads almost bottomless? It +was with a mingled feeling of delight and relief that the soldiers +reached the Virginia side of the river--but not a murmur or harsh word +for our beloved commander--all felt that he had done what was best for +our country, and it was more in sorrow and sympathy that we beheld his +bowed head and grief-stricken face as he rode at times past the moving +troops. + +General Pettigrew had the post of rear guard. He, with his brave +troops, beat back the charge after charge of Kirkpatrick's Cavalry as +they attempted to destroy our rear forces. It was a trying time to +the retreating soldiers, who had passed over the river to hear their +comrades fighting, single-handed and alone, for our safety and their +very existence, without any hope of aid or succor. They knew they +were left to be lost, and could have easily laid down their arms and +surrendered, thus saving their lives; but this would have endangered +Lee's army, so they fought and died like men. The roar of their +howitzers and the rattle of their musketry were like the blasts of the +horn of Roland when calling Charlemagne to his aid along the mountain +pass of Roncesvalles, but, unlike the latter, we could not answer +our comrades' call, and had only to leave them alone to "die in their +glory." The brave Pettigrew fell while heading his troops in a charge +to beat back some of the furious onslaughts of the enemy. The others +were taken prisoners, with the exception of a few who made their +escape by plunging in the stream and swimming across. + +At first our march was by easy stages, but when Lee discovered the +enemy's design of occupying the mountain passes along the Blue Ridge +to our left, no time was lost. We hastened along through Martinsburg +and Winchester, across the Shenandoah to Chester Gap, on the Blue +Ridge. We camped at night on the top of the mountain. + +Here an amusing, as well as ludicrous, scene was enacted, but not so +amusing to the participants however. Orders had been given when on +the eve of our entrance into Maryland, that "no private property of +whatever description should be molested." As the fields in places were +enclosed by rail fences, it was strictly against orders to disturb any +of the fences. This order had been religiously obeyed all the +while, until this night on the top of the Blue Ridge. A shambling, +tumble-down rail fence was near the camp of the Third South Carolina, +not around any field, however, but apparently to prevent stock from +passing on the western side of the mountain. At night while the troops +lay in the open air, without any protection whatever, only what the +scrawny trees afforded, a light rain came up. Some of the men ran to +get a few rails to make a hurried bivouac, while others who had gotten +somewhat damp by the rain took a few to build a fire. As the regiment +was formed in line next morning, ready for the march, Adjutant Pope +came around for company commanders to report to Colonel Nance's +headquarters. Thinking this was only to receive some instructions as +to the line of march, nothing was thought of it until met by those +cold, penetrating, steel-gray eyes of Colonel Nance. Then all began +to wonder "what was up." He commenced to ask, after repeating the +instructions as to private property, whose men had taken the rails. He +commenced with Captain Richardson, of Company A. + +"Did your men take any rails?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Did you have them put back?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Captain Gary, did your men use any rails?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Did you have them replaced?" + +"No, sir." + +And so on down to Company K. All admitted that their men had taken +rails and had not put them back, except Captain Richardson. Then such +a lecture as those nine company commanders received was seldom heard. +To have heard Colonel Nance dilate upon the enormity of the crime +of "disobedience to orders," was enough to make one think he had +"deserted his colors in the face of the enemy," or lost a battle +through his cowardice. "Now, gentlemen, let this never occur again. +For the present you will deliver your swords to Adjutant Pope, turn +your companies over to your next officer in command, and march in rear +of the regiment until further orders." Had a thunder bolt fallen, or +a three hundred-pound Columbiad exploded in our midst, no greater +consternation would they have caused. Captain Richardson was +exhonorated, but the other nine Captains had to march in rear of the +regiment during the day, subject to the jeers and ridicule of all the +troops that passed, as well as the negro cooks. "Great Scott, what +a company of officers!" "Where are your men?" "Has there been a +stampede?" "Got furloughs?" "Lost your swords in a fight?" were some +of the pleasantries we were forced to hear and endure. Captain Nance, +of Company G, had a negro cook, who undertook the command of the +officers and as the word from the front would come down the line to +"halt" or "forward" or "rest," he would very gravely repeat it, much +to the merriment of the troops next in front and those in our rear. +Near night, however, we got into a brush with the enemy, who were +forcing their way down along the eastern side of the mountain, and +Adjutant Pope came with our swords and orders to relieve us from +arrest. Lieutenant Dan Maffett had not taken the matter in such good +humor, and on taking command of his company, gave this laconic order, +"Ya hoo!" (That was the name given to Company C.) "If you ever touch +another rail during the whole continuance of the war, G----d d----n +you, I'll have you shot at the stake." + +"How are we to get over a fence," inquired someone. + +"Jump it, creep it, or go around it, but death is your portion, if you +ever touch a rail again." + +On the 13th of August the whole army was encamped on the south side of +the Rapidan. We were commencing to settle down for several months of +rest and enjoy a season of furloughs, as it was evident neither side +would begin active operations until the armies were recruited up +and the wounded returned for duty. This would take at least several +months. But, alas! for our expectations--a blast to our fondest +dreams--heavy fighting and hard marching was in store for our corps. +Bragg was being slowly driven out of Tennessee and needed help; the +"Bull Dog of the Confederacy" was the one most likely to stay the +advancing tide of Rosecrans' Army. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XXI + +Transferred to Georgia--Scenes Along the Route. + + +While in camp great stress was laid on drills. The brigade drill +was the most important. Every day at 3 o'clock the whole brigade was +marched to a large old field, and all the evolutions of the brigade +drill were gone through with. Crowds of citizens from the surrounding +country came to witness our maneuvers, especially did the ladies grace +the occasions with their presence. The troops were in the very best of +spirits--no murmurs nor complaints. Clothing and provision boxes began +coming in from home. A grand corps review took place soon after our +encampment was established, in which Generals Lee and Longstreet +reviewed the troops. + +All expected a good, long rest after their many marches and bloody +battles in Maryland and Pennsylvania, but we were soon to be called +upon for work in other fields. General Bragg had been driven out of +Tennessee to the confines of Georgia, and it seemed that, without +succor from the Army of the East to aid in fighting their battles, and +to add to the morale of the Western Army, Bragg would soon be forced +through Georgia. It had long been the prevailing opinion of General +Longstreet that the most strategic movement for the South was to +reinforce General Bragg with all the available troops of the East (Lee +standing on the defensive), crush Rosecrans, and, if possible, +drive him back and across the Ohio. With this end in view, General +Longstreet wrote, in August, to General Lee, as well as to the +Secretary of War, giving these opinions as being the only solution to +the question of checking the continual advance of Rosecrans--renewing +the morale of the Western Army and reviving the waning spirits of the +Confederacy, thus putting the enemy on the defensive and regaining +lost territory. + +It should be remembered that our last stronghold on the Mississippi, +Vicksburg, had capitulated about the time of the disastrous battle of +Gettysburg, with thirty thousand prisoners. That great waterway was +opened to the enemy's gun boats and transports, thus cutting the +South, with a part of her army, in twain. + +This suggestion of General Longstreet was accepted, so far as sending +him, with a part of his corps, to Georgia, by his receiving orders +early in September to prepare his troops for transportation. + +The most direct route by railroad to Chattanooga, through Southwest +Virginia and East Tennessee, had for some time been in the hands +of the enemy at Knoxville. We were, therefore, forced to take the +circuitous route by way of the two Carolinas and Georgia. There +were two roads open to transportation, one by Wilmington and one by +Charlotte, N.C., as far as Augusta, Ga., but from thence on there was +but a single line, and as such our transit was greatly impeded. + +On the morning of the 15th or 16th of September Kershaw's Brigade was +put aboard the trains at White Oak Station, and commenced the long +ride to North Georgia. Hood's Division was already on the way. +Jenkins' (S.C.) Brigade had been assigned to that division, but it and +one of the other of Hood's brigades failed to reach the battleground +in time to participate in the glories of that event. General McLaws, +also, with two of his brigades, Bryan's and Wofford' (Georgians), +missed the fight, the former awaiting the movements of his last +troops, as well as that of the artillery. + +Long trains of box cars had been ordered up from Richmond and the +troops were loaded by one company being put inside and the next on +top, so one-half of the corps made the long four days' journey on +the top of box cars. The cars on all railroads in which troops were +transported were little more than skeleton cars; the weather being +warm, the troops cut all but the frame work loose with knives and +axes. They furthermore wished to see outside and witness the fine +country and delightful scenery that lay along the route; nor could +those Inside bear the idea of being shut up in a box car while their +comrades on top were cheering and yelling themselves hoarse at the +waving of handkerchiefs and flags in the hands of the pretty women and +the hats thrown in the air by the old men and boys along the roadside +as the trains sped through the towns, villages, and hamlets of the +Carolinas and Georgia, No, no; the exuberant spirits of the Southern +soldier were too great to allow him to hear yelling going on and not +yell himself. He yelled at everything he saw, from an ox-cart to +a pretty woman, a downfall of a luckless cavalryman to a charge in +battle. + +The news of our coming had preceded us, and at every station and +road-crossing the people of the surrounding country, without regard +to sex or age, crowded to see us pass, and gave us their blessings and +God speed as we swept by with lightning speed. Our whole trip was one +grand ovation. Old men slapped their hands in praise, boys threw up +their hats in joy, while the ladies fanned the breeze with their flags +and handkerchiefs; yet many a mother dropped a silent tear or felt a +heart-ache as she saw her long absent soldier boy flying pass without +a word or a kiss. + +At the towns which we were forced to stop for a short time great +tables were stretched, filled with the bounties of the land, while the +fairest and the best women on earth stood by and ministered to every +wish or want. Was there ever a purer devotion, a more passionate +patriotism, a more sincere loyalty, than that displayed by the women +of the South towards the soldier boys and the cause for which they +fought? Was there ever elsewhere on earth such women? Will there +ever again exist circumstances and conditions that will require such +heroism, fortitude, and suffering? Perhaps so, perhaps not. + +In passing through Richmond we left behind us two very efficient +officers on a very pleasant mission, Dr. James Evans, Surgeon of the +Third, who was to be married to one of Virginia's fair daughters, and +Captain T.W. Gary, of same regiment, who was to act as best man. Dr. +Evans was a native South Carolinian and a brother of Brigadier +General N.G. Evans, of Manassas fame. While still a young man, he was +considered one of the finest surgeons and practitioners in the army. +He was kind and considerate to his patients, punctual and faithful in +his duties, and withal a dignified, refined gentleman. Such confidence +had the soldiers in his skill and competency, that none felt uneasy +when their lives or limbs, were left to his careful handling. Both +officers rejoined us in a few days. + +We reached Ringold on the evening of the 19th of September, and +marched during the night in the direction of the day's battlefield. +About midnight we crossed over the sluggish stream of Chickamauga, +at Alexander's Bridge, and bivouaced near Hood's Division, already +encamped. Chickamauga! how little known of before, but what memories +its name is to awaken for centuries afterwards! What a death struggle +was to take place along its borders between the blue and the gray, +where brother was to meet brother--where the soldiers of the South +were to meet their kinsmen of the Northwest! In the long, long ago, +before the days of fiction and romance of the white man in the New +World, in the golden days of legend of the forest dwellers, when the +red man chanted the glorious deeds of his ancestors during his death +song to the ears of his children, this touching story has come down +from generation to generation, until it reached the ears of their +destroyers, the pale faces of to-day: + +Away in the dim distant past a tribe of Indians, driven from their +ancestral hunting grounds in the far North, came South and pitched +their wigwams along the banks of the "river of the great bend," the +Tennessee. They prospered, multiplied, and expanded, until their tents +covered the mountain sides and plains below. The braves of the hill +men hunted and sported with their brethren of the valley. Their +children fished, hunted, played, fought, and gamboled in mimic warfare +as brothers along the sparkling streamlets that rise in the mountain +ridges, their sparkling waters leaping and jumping through the gorges +and glens and flowing away to the "great river." All was peace and +happiness; the tomahawk of war had long since been buried, and the +pipe of peace smoked around their camp fires after every successful +hunting expedition. But dissentions arose--distrust and embittered +feelings took the place of brotherly love. The men of the mountains +became arrayed against their brethren of the plains, and they in +turn became the sworn enemies of the dwellers of the cliffs. The war +hatchet was dug up and the pipe of peace no longer passed in brotherly +love at the council meeting. Their bodies were decked in the paint +of war, and the once peaceful and happy people forsook their hunting +grounds and entered upon, the war path. + +Early on an autumn day, when the mountains and valleys were clothed in +golden yellow, the warriors of the dissenting factions met along +the banks of the little stream, and across its turbid waters waged a +bitter battle from early morn until the "sun was dipping behind the +palisades of Look-Out Mountain"--no quarters given and none asked. It +was a war of extermination. The blood of friend and foe mingled in the +stream until its waters were said to be red with the life-blood of the +struggling combatants. At the close of the fierce combat the few that +survived made a peace and covenant, and then and there declared that +for all time the sluggish stream should be called Chickamauga, the +"river of blood." Such is the legend of the great battleground and the +river from whence it takes its name. + +General Buckner had come down from East Tennessee with his three +divisions, Stewart's, Hindman's, and Preston's, and had joined General +Bragg some time before our arrival, making General Bragg's organized +army forty-three thousand eight hundred and sixty-six strong. He was +further reinforced by eleven thousand five hundred from General Joseph +E. Johnston's army in Mississippi and five thousand under General +Longstreet, making a total of sixty thousand three hundred and +thirty-six, less casualties of the 18th and 19th of one thousand one +hundred and twenty-four; so as to numbers on the morning of the 20th, +Bragg had of all arms fifty-nine thousand two hundred and forty-two; +while the Federal commander claimed only sixty thousand three hundred +and sixty six, but at least five thousand more on detached duty +and non-combatants, such as surgeons, commissaries, quartermasters, +teamsters, guards, etc. Bragg's rolls covered all men in his army. +Rosecrans was far superior in artillery and cavalry, as all of the +batteries belonging to Longstreet's corps, or that were to attend him +in the campaign of the West, were far back in South Carolina, making +what speed possible on the clumsy and cumbersome railroads of that +day. So it was with Wofford's and Bryan's Brigades, of McLaw's +Division, Jenkins' and one of Hood's, as well as all of the +subsistence and ordnance trains. The artillery assigned to General +Longstreet by General Lee consisted of Ashland's and Bedford's +(Virginia), Brooks' (South Carolina), and Madison's (Louisiana) +batteries of light artillery, and two Virginia batteries of position, +all under the command of Colonel Alexander. + +As for transportation, the soldiers carried all they possessed on +their backs, with four days of cooked rations all the time. Generally +one or two pieces of light utensils were carried by each company, in +which all the bread and meat were cooked during the night. + +Our quartermasters gathered up what they could of teams and wagons +from the refuse of Bragg's trains to make a semblance of subsistence +transportation barely sufficient to gather in the supplies. It was +here that the abilities of our chiefs of quartermaster and commissary +departments were tested to the utmost. Captains Peck and Shell, of +our brigade, showed themselves equal to the occasion, and Captain +Lowrance, of the Subsistence Department, could always be able to +furnish us with plenty of corn meal from the surrounding country. + +The sun, on the morning of the 20th, rose in unusual splendor, and +cast its rays and shadows in sparkling brilliancy over the mountains +and plains of North Georgia. The leaves of the trees and shrubbery, in +their golden garb of yellow, shown out bright and beautiful in their +early autumnal dress--quite in contrast with the bloody scenes to be +enacted before the close of day. My older brother, a private in my +company, spoke warmly of the beautiful Indian summer morning and the +sublime scenery round about, and wondered if all of us would ever see +the golden orb of day rise again in its magnificence. Little did he +think that even then the hour hand on the dial plate of destiny was +pointing to the minute of "high noon," when fate was to take him by +the hand and lead him away. It was his turn in the detail to go to the +rear during the night to cook rations for the company, and had he done +so, he would have missed the battle, as the details did not return in +time to become participants in the engagement that commenced early +in the morning. He had asked permission to exchange duties with a +comrade, as he wished to be near me should a battle ensue during the +time. Contrary to regulations, I granted the request. Now the +question naturally arises, had he gone on his regular duties would the +circumstances have been different? The soldier is generally a believer +in the doctrine of predestination in the abstract, and it is well he +is so, for otherwise many soldiers would run away from battle. But +as it is, he consoles himself with the theories of the old doggerel +quartet, which reads something like this:-- + + "He who fights and runs away, + May live to fight another day; + But he who is in battle slain, + Will ne'er live to fight again." + +Longstreet's troops had recently been newly uniformed, consisting of +a dark-blue round jacket, closely fitting, with light-blue trousers, +which made a line of Confederates resemble that of the enemy, the only +difference being the "cut" of the garments--the Federals wearing a +loose blouse instead of a tight-fitting jacket. The uniforms of +the Eastern troops made quite a contrast with the tattered and torn +homemade jeans of their Western brethren. + +General Bragg had divided his army into two wings--the right commanded +by Lieutenant General Leonidas Polk (a Bishop of the M.E. Church, +and afterwards killed in the battles around Atlanta.) and the left +commanded by that grand chieftain (Lee's "Old War Horse" and commander +of his right), Lieutenant General James Longstreet. Under his +guidance were Preston's Division on extreme left, Hindman's next, +with Stewart's on extreme right of left wing, all of Major General +Buckner's corps. Between Hindman and Stewart was Bushrod Johnson's new +formed division. In reserve were Hood's three brigades, with Kershaw's +and Humphries', all under Major General Hood, standing near the center +and in rear of the wing. + +The right wing stood as follows: General Pat Cleburn's Division on +right of Stewart, with Breckenridge's on the extreme right of the +infantry, under the command of Lieutenant General D.H. Hill, with +Cheatham's Division of Folk's Corps to the left and rear of Cleburn as +support, with General Walker's Corps acting as reserve. Two +divisions of Forrest's Cavalry, one dismounted, were on the right +of Breckenridge, to guard that flank, while far out to the left of +Longstreet were two brigades of Wheeler's Cavalry. The extreme left of +the army, Preston's Division, rested on Chickamauga Creek, the right +thrown well forward towards the foot hills of Mission Ridge. + +In the alignment of the two wings it was found that Longstreet's right +overlapped Folk's left, and fully one-half mile in front, so it became +necessary to bend Stewart's Division back to join to Cleburn's left, +thereby leaving space between Bushrod Johnson and Stewart for Hood to +place his three brigades on the firing line. + +Longstreet having no artillery, he was forced to engage all of the +thirty pieces of Buckner's. In front of Longstreet lay a part of the +Twentieth Corps, Davis' and Sheridan's Divisions, under Major General +McCook, and part of the Twenty-first Corps, under the command of +General Walker. On our right, facing Polk, was the distinguished Union +General, George H. Thomas, with four divisions of his own corps, the +Fourteenth, Johnson's Division of the Twentieth, and Van Cleve's of +the Twenty-first Corps. + +General Thomas was a native Virginian, but being an officer in the +United States Army at the time of the secession of his State, he +preferred to remain and follow the flag of subjugation, rather than, +like the most of his brother officers of Southern birth, enter into +the service of his native land and battle for justice, liberty, and +States Rights. He and General Hunt, of South Carolina, who so ably +commanded the artillery of General Meade at Gettysburg, were two of +the most illustrious of Southern renegades. + +In the center of Rosecrans' Army were two divisions, Woods' and +Palmer's, under Major General Crittenden, posted along the eastern +slope of Mission Ridge, with orders to support either or both wings of +the army, as occasions demanded. + +General Gordon Granger, with three brigades of infantry and one +division of cavalry, guarded the Union left and rear and the gaps +leading to Chattanooga, and was to act as general reserve for the +army and lay well back and to the left of Brannan's Division that was +supporting the front line of General Thomas. + +The bulk of the Union cavalry, under General Mitchell, was two miles +distant on our left, guarding the ford over Chickamauga at Crawfish +Springs. The enemy's artillery, consisting of two hundred and +forty-six pieces, was posted along the ridges in our front, giving +exceptional positions to shell and grape an advancing column. + +Bragg had only two hundred pieces, but as his battle line occupied +lower ground than that of the enemy, there was little opportunity to +do effective work with his cannon. + +The ground was well adapted by nature for a battlefield, and as the +attacking party always has the advantage of maneuver and assault in +an open field, each commander was anxious to get his blow in first. So +had not Bragg commenced the battle as early as he did, we would most +assuredly have had the whole Federal Army upon our hands before the +day was much older. Kershaw's Brigade, commanded by General Kershaw, +stood from right to left in the following order: Fifteenth Regiment +on the right, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Gist; Second +Regiment, Colonel James D. Kennedy; Third, Colonel James D. Nance; +Third Battalion, by Captain Robert H. Jennings; Eighth, Colonel John +W. Henagan; Seventh, Colonel Elbert Bland. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XXII + +The Battle of Chickamauga. + + +As I have already said, this was a lovely country--a picturesque +valley nestling down among the spurs of the mountain, with the now +classic Chickamauga winding its serpentine way along with a sluggish +flow. It was also a lovely day; nature was at her best, with the +fields and woods autumn tinged--the whole country rimmed in the golden +hue of the Southern summer. The battling ground chosen, or rather say +selected by fate, on which the fierce passions of men were to decide +the fortunes of armies and the destiny of a nation, was rolling, +undulating, with fields of growing grain or brown stubble, broken by +woods and ravines, while in our front rose the blue tinted sides of +Mission Ridge. + +Both commanders were early in the saddle, their armies more evenly +matched in numbers and able Lieutenants than ever before, each willing +and anxious to try conclusions with the other--both confident of +success and watchful of the mistakes and blunders of their opponent, +ready to take advantage of the least opportunity that in any way would +lead to success. The armies on either side were equally determined and +confident, feeling their invincibility and the superiority of their +respective commanders. Those of the North felt that it was impossible +for the beaten Confederates to stand for a moment, with any hope +of triumph, before that mighty machine of armed force that had been +successfully rolling from the Ohio to the confines of Georgia. On the +other hand, the Army of Tennessee felt that, with the aid from Joe +Johnston, with Buckner, and the flower of Lee's Army to strengthen +their ranks, no army on earth could stay them on the battlefield. + +The plan of battle was to swing the whole army forward in a wheel, +Preston's Division on Longstreet's extreme left being the pivot, the +right wing to break the enemy's lines and uncover the McFarland and +Rossville Gaps, thus capturing the enemy's lines of communication to +Chattanooga. + +The Union Army was well protected by two lines of earthworks and log +obstructions, with field batteries at every salient, or scattered +along the front lines at every elevation, supported by the pieces of +position on the ridges in rear. + +The Confederate commander made no secret of his plan of battle, for it +had been formulated three days before, and his manoeuvers on the 18th +and 19th indicated his plan of operations. Early in the morning Bragg +saluted his adversary with thirty pieces of artillery from his right +wing, and the Federal Commander was not slow in acknowledging the +salutation. The thunder of these guns echoed along the mountain sides +and up and down the valleys with thrilling effect. Soon the ridges in +our front were one blaze of fire as the infantry began their movements +for attack, and the smoke from the enemy's guns was a signal for our +batteries along the whole line. + +The attack on the right was not as prompt as the commander in chief +had expected, so he rode in that direction and gave positive orders +for the battle to begin. General D.H. Hill now ordered up that paladin +of State craft, the gallant Kentuckian and opponent of Lincoln for the +Presidency, General John C. Breckenridge, and put him to the assault +on the enemy's extreme left. But one of his brigade commanders being +killed early in the engagement, and the other brigades becoming +somewhat disorganized by the tangled underbrush, they made but little +headway against the enemy's works. Then the fighting Irishman, the +Wild Hun of the South, General Pat Cleburn, came in with his division +on Breckenridge's left, and with whoop and yell he fell with reckless +ferocity upon the enemy's entrenchments. The four-gun battery of the +Washington (Louisiana) Artillery following the column of Assault, +contended successfully with the superior metal of the three batteries +of the enemy. The attack was so stubborn and relentless that the enemy +was forced back on his second line, and caused General Thomas to call +up Negley's Division from his reserves to support his left against +the furious assaults of Breckenridge and Cleburn. But after somewhat +expending their strength in the first charge against the enemy's +works, and Federal reinforcements of infantry and artillery coming up, +both Confederate divisions were gradually being forced back to their +original positions. Deshler's Brigade, under that prince of Southern +statesmen, Roger Q. Mills, supported by a part of Cheatham's Division, +took up Cleburn's battle, while the division under General States R. +Gist (of South Carolina), with Liddell's, of Walker's Corps, went to +the relief of Breckenridge. Gist's old Brigade (South Carolina) struck +the angle of the enemy's breastworks, and received a galling fire +from enfilading lines. But the other brigades of Gist's coming up +and Liddell's Division pushing its way through the shattered and +disorganized ranks of Breckenridge, they made successful advance, +pressing the enemy back and beyond the Chattanooga Road. + +Thomas was again reduced to the necessity of calling for +reinforcements, and so important was it thought that this ground +should be held, that the Union commander promised support, even to the +extent of the whole army, if necessary. + +But eleven o'clock had come and no material advantage had been +gained on the right. The reinforcements of Thomas having succeeded in +checking the advance of Gist and Liddell, the Old WarHorse on the left +became impatient, and sent word to Bragg, "My troops can break the +lines, if you care to have them broken." What sublime confidence +did Lee's old commander of the First Corps have in the powers of his +faithful troops! But General Bragg, it seems, against all military +rules or precedent, and in violation of the first principles of army +ethics, had already sent orders to Longstreet's subalterns, directly +and not through the Lieutenant General's headquarters, as it should +have been done, to commence the attack. General Stewart, with his +division of Longstreet's right, was at that moment making successful +battle against the left of the Twentieth and right of Twenty-first +Corps. This attack so near to Thomas' right, caused that astute +commander to begin to be as apprehensive of his right as he had been +of his left flank, and asked for support in that quarter. Longstreet +now ordered up the gallant Texan, General Hood, with his three +brigades, with Kershaw's and Humphreys in close support. Hood +unmercifully assailed the column in his front, but was as unmercifully +slaughtered, himself falling desperately wounded. Benning's Brigade +was thrown in confusion, but at this juncture Kershaw and Humphreys +moved their brigades upon the firing line end commenced the advance. +In front of these two brigades was a broad expanse of cultivated +ground, now in stubble. Beyond this field was a wooded declivity +rising still farther away to a ridge called Pea Ridge, on which the +enemy was posted. Our columns were under a terrific fire of shells as +they advanced through the open field, and as they neared the timbered +ridge they were met by a galling tempest of grape and canister. The +woods and underbrush shielded the enemy from view. + +Law now commanding Hood's Division, reformed his lines and assaulted +and took the enemy's first lines of entrenchments. Kershaw marched +in rear of the brigade, giving commands in that clear, metallic sound +that inspired confidence in his troops. At the foot of the declivity, +or where the ground begun to rise towards the enemy's lines, was a +rail fence, and at this obstruction and clearing of it away, Kershaw +met a galling fire from the Federal sharpshooters, but not a gun had +been fired as yet by our brigade. But Humphreys was in it hot and +heavy. As we began our advance up the gentle slope, the enemy poured +volley after volley into us from its line of battle posted behind the +log breastworks. Now the battle with us raged in earnest. + +Bushrod Johnson entered the lists with his division, and routed the +enemy in his front, taking the first line of breastworks without much +difficulty. Hindman's Division followed Johnson, but his left and rear +was assailed by a formidable force of mounted infantry which threw +Manigault's (South Carolina) Brigade on his extreme left in disorder, +the brigade being seriously rattled. But Twigg's Brigade, from +Preston's pivotal Division, came to the succor of Manigault and +succeeded in restoring the line, and the advance continued. Kershaw +had advanced to within forty paces of the enemy's line, and it seemed +for a time that his troops would be annihilated. Colonel Bland, then +Major Hard, commanding the Seventh, were killed. Lieutenant Colonel +Hoole, of the Eighth, was killed. Colonel Gist, commanding the +Fifteenth, and Captain Jennings, commanding the Third Battalion, +were dangerously wounded, while many others of the line officers had +fallen, and men were being mown down like grain before a sickle. + +General Kershaw ordered his men to fall back to the little ravine a +hundred paces in rear, and here they made a temporary breastwork of +the torn down fence and posted themselves behind it. They had not long +to wait before a long line of blue was seen advancing from the crest +of the hill. The enemy, no doubt, took our backward movement as a +retreat, and advanced with a confident mien, all unconscious of our +presence behind the rail obstruction. Kershaw, with his steel-gray +eyes glancing up and down his lines, and then at the advancing line of +blue, gave the command repeatedly to "Hold your fire." When within a +very short distance of our column the startling command rang out above +the din of battle on our right and left, "Fire!" Then a deafening +volley rolled out along the whole line. The enemy halted and wavered, +their men falling in groups, then fled to their entrenchments, Kershaw +closely pursuing. + +From the firing of the first gun away to the right the battle +became one of extreme bitterness, the Federals standing with unusual +gallantry by their guns in the vain hope that as the day wore on they +could successfully withstand, if not entirely repel, the desperate +assaults of Bragg until night would give them cover to withdraw. + +The left wing was successful, and had driven the Federal lines back +at right angles on Thomas' right. The Federal General, Gordon Granger, +rests his title to fame by the bold movement he now made. Thomas +was holding Polk in steady battle on our right, when General Granger +noticed the Twentieth Corps was being forced back, and the firing +becoming dangerously near in the Federal's rear. General Granger, +without any orders whatever, left his position in rear of Thomas and +marched to the rescue of McCook, now seeking shelter along the slopes +of Mission Ridge, but too late to retrieve losses--only soon enough to +save the Federal Army from rout and total disaster. + +But the turning point came when Longstreet ordered up a battalion of +heavy field pieces, near the angle made by the bending back of the +enemy's right, and began infilading the lines of Thomas, as well +as Crittenden's and McCook's. Before this tornado of shot and shell +nothing could stand. But with extraordinary tenacity of Thomas and the +valor of his men he held his own for a while longer. + +Kershaw was clinging to his enemy like grim death from eleven o'clock +until late in the evening--his men worn and fagged, hungry and almost +dying of thirst, while the ammunition was being gradually exhausted +and no relief in sight. Hindman (Johnson on the left) had driven the +enemy back on Snodgrass Hill, where Granger's reserves were aiding +them in making the last grand struggle. Snodgrass Hill was thought to +be the key to the situation on our left, as was Horse Shoe Bend on the +right, but both were rough and hard keys to handle. Kershaw had driven +all before him from the first line of works, and only a weak fire was +coming from the second line. All that was needed now to complete the +advance was a concentrated push along the whole line, but the density +of the smoke settling in the woods, the roar of battle drowning all +commands, and the exhaustion and deflection of the rank and file made +this move impossible. + +But just before the sun began dipping behind the mountains on our +left, a long line of gray, with glittering bayonets, was seen coming +down the slope in our rear. It was General Grade, with his Alabama +Brigade of Preston's Division, coming to reinforce our broken ranks +and push the battle forward. This gallant brigade was one thousand one +hundred strong and it was said this was their first baptism of fire +and blood. General Gracie was a fine specimen of physical manhood +and a finished looking officer, and rode at the head of his column. +Reaching Kershaw, he dismounted, placed the reins of his horse over +his arm, and ordered his men to the battle. The enemy could not +withstand the onslaught of these fresh troops, and gave way, pursued +down the little dell in rear by the Alabamians. The broken lines +formed on the reserves that were holding Snodgrass Hill, and made an +aggressive attack upon Gracie, forcing him back on the opposite hill. + +Twigg's Brigade, of the same division, came in on the left and gave +him such support as to enable him to hold his new line. + +The fire of Longstreet's batteries from the angle down Thomas' +lines, forced that General to begin withdrawing his troops from their +entrenchments, preparatory to retreat. This movement being noticed by +the commanding General, Liddell's Division on the extreme right was +again ordered to the attack, but with no better success than in the +morning. The enemy had for some time been withdrawing his trains and +broken ranks through the gaps of the mountain in the direction +of Chattanooga, leaving nothing in front of the left wing but the +reserves of Granger and those of Crittenden. These held their ground +gallantly around Snodgrass Hill, but it was a self-evident fact to all +the officers, as well as the troops, that the battle was irretrievably +lost, and they were only fighting for time, the time that retreat +could be safely made under cover of darkness. But before the sun was +fairly set, that great army was in full retreat. But long before this +it was known to the brilliant Union commander that fate had played +him false--that destiny was pointing to his everlasting overthrow. +He knew, too, that the latter part of the battle, while brief and +desperate, the lurid cloud of battle settling all around his dead and +dying, a spectre had even then arisen as from the earth, and pointing +his bony fingers at the field of carnage, whispering in his ear that +dreaded word, "Lost!" + +As night closed in upon the bloody scenes of the day, the Federal +Army, that in the morning had stood proud and defiant along the crests +and gorges of the mountain ridges, was now a struggling mass of +beaten and fleeing fugitives, or groups groping their way through the +darkness towards the passes that led to Chattanooga. + +Of all the great Captains of that day, Longstreet was the guiding +genius of Chickamauga. It was his masterful mind that rose equal to +the emergency, grasped and directed the storm of battle. It was by the +unparalleled courage of the troops of Hood, Humphreys, and Kershaw, +and the temporary command under Longstreet, throwing themselves +athwart the path of the great colossus of the North, that checked +him and drove him back over the mountains to the strongholds around +Chattanooga. And it is no violent assumption to say that had the +troops on the right under Polk supported the battle with as fiery zeal +as those on the left under Longstreet, the Union Army would have been +utterly destroyed and a possible different ending to the campaign, if +not in final, results might have been confidently expected. + +The work of the soldier was not done with the coming of night. The +woods along the slopes where the battle had raged fiercest had caught +fire and the flames were nearing the wounded and the dead. Their calls +and piteous wails demanded immediate assistance. Soldiers in groups +and by ones and twos scoured the battlefield in front and rear, +gathering up first the wounded then the dead. The former were removed +to the field infirmaries, the latter to the new city to be built for +them--the city of the dead. The builders were already at work on +their last dwelling places, scooping out shallow graves with bayonets, +knives, and such tools that were at hand. Many pathetic spectacles +were witnessed of brother burying brother. My brother and five other +members of the company were laid side by side, wrapped only in their +blankets, in the manner of the Red Men in the legend who fought and +died here in the long, long ago. Here we left them "in all their +glory" amid the sacred stillness that now reigned over the once stormy +battlefield, where but a short while before the tread of struggling +legions, the thunder of cannon, and the roar of infantry mingled in +systematic confusion. But now the awful silence and quietude that +pervades the field after battle--where lay the dreamless sleepers of +friend and foe, victor and vanquished, the blue and the gray, with +none to sing their requiems--nothing heard save the plaintive notes of +the night bird or the faint murmurs of grief of the comrades who are +placing the sleepers in their shallow beds! But what is death to the +soldier? It is the passing of a comrade perhaps one day or hour in +advance to the river with the Pole Ferryman. + +Bragg, out of a total of fifty-nine thousand two hundred and +forty-two, lost seventeen thousand eight hundred. Rosecran's total was +sixty thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven (exclusive of the losses +on the 18th and 19th). His loss on the 20th was sixteen thousand +five hundred and fifty. The greater loss of the Confederates can be +accounted for when it is remembered that they were the assaulting +party--the enemy's superior position, formidable entrenchments, and +greater amount of artillery. + +The Battle of Chickamauga was one of the most sanguinary of the war, +when the number of troops engaged and the time in actual combat are +taken into consideration. In the matter of losses it stands as the +fifth greatest battle of the war. History gives no authentic record of +greater casualties in battle in the different organizations, many +of the regiments losing from fifty to fifty-seven per cent, of their +numbers, while some reached as high as sixty-eight per cent. When it's +remembered that usually one is killed out right to every five that +are wounded, some idea of the dreadful mortality on the field can be +formed. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +Notes of the Battle--Pathetic Scenes--Sketches of Officers. + + +The Seventh Regiment was particularly unfortunate in the loss of her +brilliant officers. Colonel Bland and Lieutenant Colonel Hood +both being killed, that regiment was left without a field officer. +Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Gist, of the Fifteenth, being permanently +disabled, and Major William Gist being soon afterwards killed, the +Fifteenth was almost in the same condition of the Seventh. So also was +the Third Battalion. Captain Robert Jennings, commanding the battalion +as senior Captain, lost his arm here, and was permanently retired, +leaving Captain Whitner in command. Major Dan Miller had received +a disabling wound in some of the former battles and never returned. +Colonel Rice returning soon after this battle, he likewise received a +wound from which he never sufficiently recovered for active service, +so the Third Battalion was thereafter commanded by a Captain, Captain +Whitner commanding until his death one year later. The Eighth Regiment +met an irreparable loss in the death of Lieutenant Colonel Hoole. No +officer in the brigade had a more soldierly bearing, high attainments, +and knightly qualities than Colonel Hoole, and not only the regiment, +but the whole brigade felt his loss. He was one of those officers +whose fine appearance caused men to stop and look at him twice before +passing. The many fine officers, Captains as well as Lieutenants, that +were killed or wounded here made a death and disabled roll, from the +effects of which the brigade never fully recovered. Then the whole +army mourned the supposed death of the gallant and dashing Texan, +General Hood, but he lived to yet write his name in indelible letters +on the roll-of fame among the many officers of distinction in the Army +of Tennessee. + +In our first general advance in the morning, as the regiment reached +the brow of the hill, just before striking the enemy's breastworks, +my company and the other color company, being crowded together by +the pressure of the flanks on either side, became for the moment +a tangled, disorganized mass. A sudden discharge of grape from the +enemy's batteries, as well as from their sharpshooters posted behind +trees, threw us in greater confusion, and many men were shot down +unexpectedly. A Sergeant in my company, T.C. Nunnamaker, received +a fearful wound in the abdomen. Catching my hand while falling, he +begged to be carried off. "Oh! for God's sake, don't leave me here to +bleed to death or have my life trampled out! Do have me carried off!" +But the laws of war are inexorable, and none could leave the ranks to +care for the wounded, and those whose duty it was to attend to such +matters were unfortunately too often far in the rear, seeking places +of safety for themselves, to give much thought or concern to the +bleeding soldiers. Before our lines were properly adjusted, the +gallant Sergeant was beyond the aid of anyone. He had died from +internal hemorrhage. The searchers of the battlefield, those gatherers +of the wounded and dead, witness many novel and pathetic scenes. + +Louis Spillers, a private in my company, a poor, quiet, and unassuming +fellow, who had left a wife and little children at home when he donned +the uniform of gray, had his thigh broken, just to the left of where +the Sergeant fell. Spillers was as "brave as the bravest," and made no +noise when he received the fatal wound. As the command swept forward +down the little dell, he was of course left behind. Dragging himself +along to the shade of a small tree, he sought shelter behind its +trunk, protecting his person as well as he could from the bullets of +the enemy posted on the ridge in front, and waited developments. When +the litter-bearers found him late at night, he was leaning against the +tree, calmly puffing away at his clay pipe. When asked why he did not +call for assistance, he replied: "Oh, no; I thought my turn would come +after awhile to be cared for, so I just concluded to quietly wait and +try and smoke away some of my misery." Before morning he was dead. One +might ask the question. What did such men of the South have to fight +for--no negroes, no property, not even a home that they could call +their own? What was it that caused them to make such sacrifices--to +even give their lives to the cause? It was a principle, and as dear to +the poorest of the poor as to him who counted his broad acres by the +thousands and his slaves by the hundreds. Of such mettle were made the +soldiers of the South--unyielding, unconquerable, invincible! + +An old man in Captain Watts' Company, from Laurens, Uncle Johny Owens, +a veteran of the Florida War, and one who gave much merriment to the +soldiers by his frequent comparisons of war, "fighting Indians" and +the one "fighting Yankees," was found on the slope, just in front of +the enemy's breastworks, leaning against a tree, resting on his left +knee, his loaded rifle across the other. In his right hand, between +his forefinger and thumb, in the act of being placed upon the nipple +of the gun, was a percussion cap. His frame was rigid, cold, and +stiff, while his glossy eyes seemed to be peering in the front as +looking for a lurking foe. He was stone dead, a bullet having pierced +his heart, not leaving the least sign of the twitching of a muscle +to tell of the shock he had received. He had fought his last battle, +fired his last gun, and was now waiting for the last great drum-beat. + +A story is told at the expense of Major Stackhouse, afterwards the +Colonel of the Eighth, during this battle. I cannot vouch for its +truthfulness, but give it as it was given to me by Captain Harllee, of +the same regiment. The Eighth was being particularly hard-pressed, and +had it not been for the unflinching stoicism of the officers and the +valor of the men, the ranks not yet recruited from the results of the +battle at Gettysburg, the little band would have been forced to yield. +Major Stackhouse was in command of the right wing of the regiment, +and all who knew the old farmer soldier knew him to be one of the most +stubborn fighters in the army, and at the same time a "Methodist of +the Methodists." He was moreover a pure Christian gentleman and a +churchman of the straightest sect. There was no cant superstitions or +affectation in his make-up, and what he said he meant. It was doubtful +if he ever had an evil thought, and while his manners might have been +at times blunt, he was always sincere and his language chosen and +chaste, with the possible exception during battle. The time of which I +speak, the enemy was making a furious assault on the right wing of the +Eighth, and as the Major would gently rise to his knees and see the +enemy so stubbornly contesting the ground, he would call out to the +men, "There they are, boys, give them hell!" Then in an under tone he +would say, "May God, forgive me for that!" Still the Yankees did not +yield, and again and again he shouted louder and louder, "Boys, give +it to them; give them hell!" with his usual undertone, "May God, +forgive me for that," etc. But they began closing on the right and +the center, and his left was about to give way; the old soldier could +stand it no longer. Springing to his feet, his tall form towering +above all around him, he shouted at the top of his voice, "Give them +hell; give them hell, I tell you, boys; give them hell, G---- souls" +The Eighth must have given them what was wanting, or they received it +from somewhere, for after this outburst they scampered back behind the +ridge. + +[Illustration: Lieut. James N. Martin, Co. E., 36 S.C. Regiment.] + +[Illustration: Maj. Wm. D. Peck, Quarter Master of Kershaw's Division. +(Page 162.)] + +[Illustration: Col. James D. Nance, 3d S.C. Regiment. (Page 353.)] + +[Illustration: David E. Ewart, Major and Surgeon, 3d S.C. Regiment.] + +Years after this, while Major Stackhouse was in Congress, and much +discussion going on about the old Bible version of hell and the new +version hades, some of his colleagues twitted the Major about the +matter and asked him whether he was wanting the Eighth to give the +Union soldiers the new version, or the old. With a twinkle in his +eye, the Major answered "Well, boys, on all ordinary occasions the new +version will answer the purposes, but to drive a wagon out of a stall +or the Yankees from your front, the old version is the best." + +Major Hard, who was killed here, was one of the finest officers in the +brigade and the youngest, at that time, of all the field officers. +He was handsome, brilliant, and brave. He was one of the original +officers of the Seventh; was re-elected at the reorganization in May, +1862, and rose, by promotion, to Major, and at the resignation of +Colonel Aiken would have been, according to seniority, Lieutenant +Colonel. Whether he ever received this rank or not, I cannot remember. +I regret my inability to get a sketch of his life. + +But the Rupert of the brigade was Colonel Bland, of the Seventh. I +do not think he ever received his commission as full Colonel, but +commanded the regiment as Lieutenant Colonel, with few exceptions, +from the battle of Sharpsburg until his death. Colonel Aiken received +a wound at Sharpsburg from which he never fully recovered until after +the war. Colonel Aiken was a moulder of the minds of men; could hold +them together and guide them as few men could in Kershaw's Brigade, +but Bland was the ideal soldier and a fighter "par excellence." He had +the gift of inspiring in his men that lofty courage that he himself +possessed. His form was faultless--tall, erect, and well developed, +his eyes penetrating rather than piercing, his voice strong and +commanding. His was a noble, generous soul, cool and brave almost to +rashness. He was idolized by his troops and beloved as a comrade and +commander. Under the guise of apparent sternness, there was a gentle +flow of humor. To illustrate this, I will relate a little circumstance +that occurred after the battle of Chancellorsville to show the +direction his humor at times took. Colonel Bland was a bearer of +orders to General Hooker across the Rappahannock, under a flag of +truce. At the opposite bank he was met by officers and a crowd of +curious onlookers, who plied the Colonel with irrelevant questions. On +his coat collar he wore the two stars of his rank, Lieutenant Colonel. +One of the young Federal officers made some remark about Eland's +stars, and said, "I can't understand your Confederate ranks; some +officers have bars and some stars. I see you have two stars; are you a +Brigadier General?" + +"No, sir," said Bland, straightening himself up to his full height; +"but I ought to be. If I was in your army I would have been a Major +General, and in command of your army." Then with a merry chuckle +added, "Perhaps then you would not have gotten such a d---n bad +whipping at Chancellorsville." Then all hands laughed. + + * * * * * + + +COLONEL ELBERT BLAND, SEVENTH REGIMENT. + +Elbert Bland was born in Edgefield County, S.C., and attended the +common schools until early manhood, when choosing medicine as a +profession, he attended the Medical College of New York, where he +graduated with distinction. Ardently ambitious, he remained +sometime after graduation, in order to perfect himself in his chosen +profession. Shortly after his graduation, war broke out between the +States and Mexico, and he was offered and accepted the position +of Assistant Surgeon of the Palmetto Regiment, Colonel P.M. Butler +commanding. By this fortunate occurrence he was enabled to greatly +enlarge his knowledge of surgery. At the close of the war he came +home, well equipped for the future. Shortly after his return from the +war he was happily married to Miss Rebecca Griffin, a daughter of Hon. +N.L. Griffin, of Edgefield. Settling in his native county, he entered +at once into a lucrative practice, and at the beginning of the late +war was enjoying one of the largest country practices in the State. +When the mutterings of war began he was one of the first to show signs +of activity, and when Gregg's Regiment went to the coast in defense +of his native State, he was appointed Surgeon of that Regiment. +Having had some experience already as a Surgeon in the Mexican War, +he determined to enter the more active service, and in connection +with Thos. G. Bacon, raised the Ninety-Six Riflemen, which afterwards +formed part of the Seventh South Carolina Regiment. Bacon was elected +Captain and Bland First Lieutenant. Upon organizing the regiment, +Bacon was elected Colonel of the regiment and Bland was to be Captain. + +Whilst very little active service was seen during the first year of +the war, still sufficient evidence was given of Eland's ability as +a commander of the men, and upon the reorganization of the regiment, +Captain Bland was elected Lieutenant Colonel. From this time until +September 20th, 1863, his fortunes were those of the Seventh Regiment. +He was conspicuous on nearly every battlefield in Virginia, and was +twice wounded--at Savage Station, seriously in the arm, from which +he never recovered, and painfully in the thigh at Gettysburg. At the +sanguinary battle of Chickamauga, on September 20th, 1863, whilst +in command of his regiment, and in the moment of victory, he fell +mortally wounded, living only about two hours. + +No knightlier soul than his ever flashed a sabre in the cause he +loved so well, and like Marshall Nay, he was one of the bravest of the +brave. He sleeps quietly in the little cemetery of his native town, +and a few years ago, upon the death-bed of his wife, her request was +that his grave and coffin should be opened at her death, and that she +should be placed upon his bosom, which was done, and there they sleep. +May they rest in peace. + + * * * * * + + +LIEUTENANT COLONEL HOOLE, EIGHTH REGIMENT. + +Axalla John Hoole was of English decent, his grandfather, Joseph +Hoole, having emigrated from York, England, about the close of the +Revolutionary War, and settled at Georgetown, S.C. + +James C. Hoole, the father of A.J. Hoole, was a soldier of the war of +1812. He removed to Darlington District and married Elizabeth Stanley, +by whom he had five children, the third being the subject of this +sketch. + +Axalla John Hoole was born near Darlington Court House, S.C., October +12th, 1822. His father died when he was quite small, leaving a large +family and but little property, but his mother was a woman of great +energy, and succeeded in giving him as good an education as could +be obtained at St. John's Academy, Darlington Court House. Upon the +completion of the academic course, at the age of eighteen, he taught +school for twelve years, after which he followed the occupation of +farming. + +While a young man he joined the Darlington Riflemen, and after serving +in various capacities, he was elected Captain about 1854 or 1855. +He was an enthusiastic advocate of States Rights, and during the +excitement attending the admission of Kansas as a State, he went out +there to oppose the Abolitionists. He married Elizabeth G. Brunson, +March 20th, 1856, and left the same day for Kansas. Taking an active +part in Kansas politics and the "Kansas War," he was elected Probate +Judge of Douglas County by the pro-slavery party, under the regime of +Governor Walker. + +He returned to Darlington December 5th, 1857, and shortly afterwards +was re-elected Captain of the Darlington Riflemen. At a meeting of +the Riflemen, held in April, 1861, on the Academy green, he called for +volunteers, and every man in the company volunteered, except one. The +company went to Charleston April 15th, 1861, and after remaining a +short while, returned as far as Florence, where they were mustered in +as Company A, Eighth S.C.V. + +The Eighth Regiment left Florence for Virginia June 2d, 1861. At the +expiration of the period of enlistment, the regiment was reorganized, +and Captain Hoole was elected Lieutenant Colonel, in which capacity +he served until he was killed at the battle of Chickamauga, September +20th, 1863. He was buried at the Brunson graveyard, near Darlington. + + * * * * * + + +COLONEL E.T. STACKHOUSE, EIGHTH REGIMENT. + +As I have made some mention of Major Stackhouse, he being promoted to +Lieutenant Colonel, and afterwards Colonel of the Eighth, I will take +this opportunity of giving the readers a very brief sketch of the life +of this sterling farmer, patriot, soldier, and statesman, who, I am +glad to say, survived the war for many years. + +Colonel E.T. Stackhouse was born in Marion County, of this State, the +27th of March, 1824, and died in the City of Washington, D.C., June +14th, 1892. He was educated in the country schools, having never +enjoyed the advantages of a collegiate course. He married Miss Anna +Fore, who preceded him to the grave by only a few months. Seven +children was the result of this union. In youth and early manhood +Colonel Stackhouse was noted for his strict integrity and sterling +qualities, his love of truth and right being his predominating trait. +As he grew in manhood he grew in moral worth--the better known, the +more beloved. + +His chosen occupation was that of farming, and he was ever proud +of the distinction of being called one of the "horny-handed sons of +toil." In the neighborhood in which he was born and bred he was an +exemplar of all that was progressive and enobling. + +In April, 1861, Colonel Stackhouse was among the very first to answer +the call of his country, and entered the service as Captain in the +Eighth South Carolina Regiment. By the casualties of war, he was +promoted to Major, Lieutenant Colonel, and Colonel, and led the old +Eighth, the regiment he loved so well, in some of the most sanguinary +engagements of the war. All that Colonel Stackhouse was in civil life +he was that, and more if possible, in the life of a soldier. In battle +he was calm, collected, and brave; in camp or on the march he +was sociable, moral--a Christian gentleman. As a tactician and +disciplinarian, Colonel Stackhouse could not be called an exemplar +soldier, as viewed in the light of the regular army; but as an officer +of volunteers he had those elements in him to cause men to take on +that same unflinching courage, indominable spirit, and bold daring +that actuated him in danger and battle. He had not that sternness of +command nor niceties nor notion of superiority that made machines of +men, but he had that peculiar faculty of endowing his soldiers with +confidence and a willingness to follow where he led. + +He represented his county for three terms in the State Legislature, +and was President of the State Alliance. He was among the first to +advocate college agricultural training for the youth of the land, and +was largely instrumental in the establishment of Clemson College, and +became one of its first trustees. + +He was elected, without opposition, to the Fifty-first Congress, and +died while in the discharge of his duties at Washington. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +In Front of Chattanooga. + + +Early on the morning of the 22d we were ordered forward towards +Chattanooga, the right wing having gone the day before. On nearing the +city, we were shelled by batteries posted on the heights along the way +and from the breastworks and forts around the city. It was during one +of the heavy engagements between our advanced skirmish lines and the +rear guard of the enemy that one of the negro cooks, by some means, +got lost between the lines, and as a heavy firing began, bullets +flying by him in every direction, he rushed towards the rear, and +raising his hands in an entreating position, cried out, "Stop, white +folks, stop! In the name of God Almighty, stop and argy!" + +In moving along, near the city we came to a great sink in the ground, +caused by nature's upheaval at some remote period, covering an acre +or two of space. It seemed to have been a feeding place for hogs from +time immemorial, for corn cobs covered the earth for a foot or more +in depth. In this place some of our troops were posted to avoid the +shells, the enemy having an exact range of this position. They began +throwing shells right and left and bursting them just over our heads, +the fragments flying in every direction. At every discharge, and +before the shell reached us, the men would cling to the sides of +the sloping sink, or burrow deeper in the cobs, until they had their +bodies almost covered. A little man of my company, while a good +soldier, had a perfect aversion to cannon shot, and as a shell would +burst just overhead, his body was seen to scringe, tremble, and go +still deeper among the cobs. Some mischievous comrade took advantage +of his position, seized a good sound cob, then just as a shell bursted +overhead, the trembling little fellow all flattened out, he struck +him a stunning blow on the back. Such a yell as he set up was scarcely +ever heard. Throwing the cobs in every direction, he cried out, "Oh! +I am killed; I am killed! Ambulance corps! Ambulance corps!" But the +laugh of the men soon convinced him his wound was more imaginary than +real so he turned over and commenced to burrow again like a mole. + +Rosecrans having withdrawn his entire force within the fortifications +around Chattanooga, our troops were placed in camp, surrounding the +enemy in a semi-circle, and began to fortify. Kershaw's Brigade +was stationed around a large dwelling in a grove, just in front of +Chattanooga, and something over a mile distant from the city, but +in plain view. We had very pleasant quarters in the large grove +surrounding the house, and, in fact, some took possession of the +porches and outhouses. This, I think, is the point Grant stormed a few +months afterwards, and broke through the lines of Bragg. We had +built very substantial breastworks, and our troops would have thought +themselves safe and secure against the charge of Grant's whole army +behind such works. + +If those who are unfamiliar with the life of the soldier imagines it +is one long funeral procession, without any breaks of humor, they +are away off from the real facts. The soldier is much the same as the +schoolboy. He must have some vent through which the ebullition of good +feelings can blow off, else the machinery bursts. + +While encamped around this house, a cruel joke was played upon +Captain--well we will call him Jones; that was not his name, however, +but near enough to it to answer our purpose. Now this Captain Jones, +as we call him, was engaged to be married to one of the +fairest flowers in the Palmetto State, a perfect queen among +beauties--cultured, vivacious, and belonging to one of the oldest +families in that Commonwealth of Blue Bloods. The many moves and +changes during the last month or two considerably interrupted our +communications and mail facilities, and Jones had not received the +expected letters. He became restless, petulant, and cross, and to +use the homely phrase, "he was all torn up." Instead of the "human +sympathy" and the "one touch of nature," making the whole world akin, +that philosophers and sentimentalists talk about, it should be +"one sight of man's misery"--makes the whole world "wish him more +miserable." It was through such feelings that induced Captain I.N. +Martin, our commissary, with Mack Blair and others, to enter into a +conspiracy to torture Jones with all he could stand. Blair had a +lady cousin living near the home of Jones' fiancee, with whom he +corresponded, and it was through this channel that the train was +laid to blow up Jones while said Jones was in the piazza engaged in +a deeply interesting game of chess. Martin was to be in the piazza +watching the game, when Blair was to enter reading a letter. Then +something like the following colloquy took place: + +"Well, Mack, what is the news from home?" + +"Nothing very interesting," replies Blair. Then, as a sudden +recollection strikes him, "Oh, yes, there is to be a big wedding at +Old Dr. Blanks." + +"You don't say so?" (The game of chess stands still.) "And who is to +be married, pray?" innocently enquires Martin. + +"Why it will surprise you as much as it did me, I suppose, and I would +not believe it, only Cousin Sallie says she is to be bride's maid." +(Jones ceases to play and listens intently.) "It is nobody else than +Mr. ---- and Miss 'Blank.'" + +Now, this Miss "Blank" is Jones' intended. Jones is paralyzed. His +face turns livid, then pale, now green! He is motionless, his eyes +staring vacantly on the chessboard. Then with a mighty exertion Jones +kicked the board aside and sprang to his feet. Shaking his trembling +finger in the face of Blair, his whole frame convulsed with emotion, +his very soul on fire, he hissed between his teeth: "That's an +infernal lie, I don't care whose Cousin Sallie wrote it." + +Jones was nearly crazed for the balance of the day. He whistled and +sang strange melodies while walking aimlessly about. He read and +re-read the many love missives received long ago. Some he tore into +fragments; others he carefully replaced in his knapsack. + +But those evil geniuses were still at work for further torture, or at +least to gloat over Jones' misery. It was arranged to formally bury +him, allegorically. At night, while Jones was asleep, or trying to +sleep on the piazza, a procession was formed, headed by Major Maffett, +who was to act as the priest, and I must say he acted the part like a +cardinal. We had a little rehearsal of the part each was to play, and +those who "couldn't hold in" from laughing were ruled out, for it was +expected that Jones would cut some frightful antics as the ceremony +proceeded. I was not allowed to accompany the procession, as it was +decided I could not "hold in," and under no condition was there to be +a laugh or even a smile; but I took up position behind the balusters +and watched events as the shadows were cast before. Major Maffett was +dressed in a long dark overcoat, to represent the priestly gown, with +a miter on his head, carrying Hardee's Tactics, from which to read the +burial service. All had in their hands a bayonet, from which burned a +tallow candle, in place of tapers. The procession marched up the steps +in single file, all bearing themselves with the greatest solemnity and +sombre dignity, followed by the sexton, with a frying-pan as a shovel, +and took their places around the supposed corpse. Maffett began the +duties by alluding to that part of the service where "it is allotted +that all men shall die," etc., waving his hand in due form to the +sexton as he repeated the words, "Earth to earth and dust to dust," +the sexton following the motions with the frying pan. + +I must say, in all truthfulness, that in all my life I never saw a +graver or more solemn set of faces than those of the would-be mourning +procession. Captain Wright appeared as if he was looking into his own +grave, and the others appeared equally as sorrowful. Major Maffett +gave out in clear, distinct tones the familiar lines of-- + + "Solemn strikes + the funeral chime, + Notes of our departing time." + +Well, such grotesque antics as Jones did cut up was perfectly +dreadful. He laughed, he mimicked the priest, kicked at the mourners, +and once tried to grab the tactics. The Major and his assistants +pitched the tune on a high key. Captain Wright braced it with loud, +strong bass, while Martin and Sim Pratt came in on the home stretch +with tenor and alto that shook the rafters in the house. Then all +dispersed as silently and sorrowfully as they had come. + +In a few days Jones got a letter setting all things straight. Martin +and Blair confessed their conspiracy against his peace of mind, +and matters progressed favorably thereafter between Jones and Miss +"Blank," but Jones confessed afterwards that he carried for a long +time "bad, wicked blood in his heart." + +But soldiers have their tragedies as well as their comedies in camp. +It was here we lost our old friend, Jim George, the shallow-pated +wit--the man who found us the flour on the Potomac, and who floundered +about in the river "for three hours," as he said, on that bitter cold +night at Yorktown. It was also told of Jim, that during the first +battle he was loading and shooting at the wounded enemy for all his +gun was worth, and when remonstrated with by his Captain, Chesley +Herbert, telling Jim he "should not kill them," Jim indignantly asked, +"What in the hell did we come to the war for, if not to kill Yankees?" +But this, I think, is only a joke at Jim's expense. Nevertheless, he +was a good solider, of the harmless kind, and a good, jolly fellow +withal, taking it as a pleasure to do a friend a kindness. + +As I have said, however, Jim was a great boaster and blusterer, +glorying in the marvelous and dangerous. Had he lived in the heroic +age, I have no doubt he would have regaled the ears of his listeners +with blood curdling stories of his battles with giants, his fights +with dragons and winged serpents. He claimed to possess a charm. He +wore an amulet around his neck to protect him against the "bullets of +lead, of copper, or of brass" of his enemies, through which, he said, +nothing could penetrate but the mystic "balls of silver," the same +with which "witch rabbits" are killed. He would fill his pockets, +after battle, with spent and battered bullets, and exhibit them as +specimens of his art in the catching of bullets on "the fly." + +He professed to be a very dangerous and blood-thirsty individual, but +his comrades only laughed at his idiosyncrasies, knowing him as they +did as being one of the best and most harmless soldiers in the army. +He often boasted, "No Yankee will ever kill me, but our own men will," +his companions little dreaming how prophetic his words would prove. + +One night while Jim, in company with some companions, were on a +"foraging expedition," they came to a farm house on Missionary Ridge +and ordered supper. A cavalryman was there, also, waiting to be +served. A negro servant attending to the table gave some real or +imaginary affront, and the soldiers, in a spirit of jest, pretended +as if they were going to take the negro out and flog him. Now Jim, as +well as the cavalryman, thought the midnight revelers were in earnest, +and Jim was in high glee at the prospect of a little adventure. But +nothing was further from the thoughts of the soldiers than doing harm +to the negro. When they had him in the yard the cavalryman came on the +porch, and in an authoritative manner, ordered the negro turned loose. + +This was a time Jim thought that he could get in some of his bullying, +so going up on the steps where the cavalryman stood, jesticulating +with his finger, said, "When we get through with the negro we will +give you some of the same." + +In an instant the strange soldier's pistol was whipped out--a flash, +a report, and Jim George fell dead at his feet, a victim to his own +swagger and an innocent jest of his companions. So dumbfounded were +the innocent "foragers," that they allowed the cavalryman to ride away +unmolested and unquestioned. + +The bones of the unfortunate Jim lie buried on the top of Missionary +Ridge, and the name of his slayer remains a mystery to this day. + +While in Tennessee our diet was somewhat changed. In the East, flour, +with beef and bacon, was issued to the troops; but here we got nothing +but corn meal, with a little beef and half ration of bacon. The troops +were required to keep four days' rations cooked on hand all the time. +Of the meal we made "cart wheels," "dog heads," "ash cakes," and +last, but not least, we had "cush." Now corn bread is not a very great +delicacy at best, but when four days' old, and green with mold, it is +anything but palatable. But the soldiers got around this in the way +"cush" was manipulated. Now it has been said "if you want soldiers +to fight well, you must feed them well;" but this is still a mooted +question, and I have known some of the soldiers of the South to give +pretty strong battle when rather underfed than overfed. + +For the benefit of those Spanish-American soldiers of the late war, +who had nothing to vary their diet of ham and eggs, steak, pork, and +potatoes, biscuits, light bread, coffee, and iced teas, but only such +light goods as canned tomatoes, green corn, beans, salmon, and fresh +fish, I will tell them how to make "cush." You will not find this +word in the dictionaries of the day, but it was in the soldier's +vocabulary, now obsolete. Chip up bacon in fine particles, place in an +oven and fry to a crisp. Fill the oven one-third or one-half full +of branch water, then take the stale corn bread, the more moldy the +better, rub into fine crumbs, mix and bring the whole to a boil, +gently stirring with a forked stick. When cold, eat with fingers and +to prevent waste or to avoid carrying it on the march, eat the four +days' rations at one sitting. This dish will aid in getting clear +of all gestion of meat, and prevent bread from getting old. A pot of +"cush" is a dish "fit for a king," and men who will not fight on it +would not fight if penned. + +The forest and farms around abounded in sheep and hogs. In fact, +Tennessee and North Georgia were not the worst places in the South in +which to live through a campaign. We had strict orders to protect all +private property and molest nothing outside of camp requirements, but +the men would forage at night, bring in a sheep or hog, divide up, and +by the immutable law of camps it was always proper to hang a choice +piece of mutton or pork at the door of the officers' tent. This helped +to soothe the conscience of the men and pave the way to immunity +from punishment. The stereotyped orders were issued every night for +"Captains to keep their men in camp," but the orders were as often +disregarded as obeyed. It was one of those cases where orders are more +regarded "in the breach than in the observance." Officers winked +at it, if not actually countenancing the practice, of "foraging for +something to eat." Then again the old argument presented itself, "If +we don't take it the Yankees will," so there you were. + +Most of the soldiers took the opportunity of visiting Lookout Mountain +and feasting their eyes upon the finest scenery of the South. While +they had crossed and recrossed the Blue Ridge and the many ranges of +lesser note in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania--had gazed with +wonder and admiration at the windings of the Potomac and Shenandoah +from the Heights of Maryland overlooking Harper's Ferry--yet all these +were nothing as compared to the view from Lookout Mountain. Standing +on its brow, we could see the beautiful blue waters of the Tennessee +flowing apparently at our feet, but in reality a mile or two distant. +Beyond lay the city of Chattanooga, nestling down in the bend of the +river, while away in the distance occasional glimpses of the stream +could be had as it wound in and out around the hills and mountains +that lined its either side, until the great river looked no larger +than a mountain brooklet. From the highest peak of Lookout Mountain we +catch faint streaks of far away Alabama; on the right, North Carolina; +to the north, Tennessee; and to the south and east were Georgia and +our own dear South Carolina. From this place many of our soldiers cast +the last lingering look at the land they loved so well. On the plateau +of the mountain was a beautiful lake of several acres in extent, +surrounded by lovely little villas and summer houses, these all +hurriedly deserted by the necessities of war--the furniture and +fixtures left all in place as the owners took their hastened +departure. In one house we visited was left a handsome piano, on which +those who could perform gave the soldiers delightful music. + +There was a roadway winding around the base of the mountain and +gradually up its slopes to the plateau above, where wagons and other +vehicles passed to the top. Most of the soldiers who wished to visit +this beautiful and historic place passed up this road way, but there +was another route--just a foot-path--up its precipitous sides, which +had to be climbed hundreds of feet, perpendicularly, by means of +ladders fastened to its sides. After going up one ladder, say fifty +or seventy-five feet, we would come to a little offset in the mountain +side, just wide enough to get a foot-hold, before taking another +ladder. Some of the boldest climbers took this route to reach the +summit, but after climbing the first ladder and looking back towards +the gorge below, I concluded it was safer and more pleasant to take +the "longer way round." It certainly takes a man of stout heart and +strong nerves to climb those ladders up to the "lands of the sky." + +The scenery in and around Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain is grand, +far beyond pen picturing. The surroundings had a kind of buoyancy even +to the spirits of the badly clad and badly fed soldiers, which caused +their stale bread and "cush" to be eaten with a relish. The mountain +homes seemed veritable "castles in the air." Looking from the top +of Lookout Mountain--its position, its surroundings, its natural +fortresses--this would have made an old Feudal lord die of envy. +Autumn is now at hand, with its glorious sunsets, its gorgeous +coloring of the leaves and bushes away to the right on Missionary +Ridge, the magnificent purple draperies along the river sides that +rise and fall to our right and left, its blue waters dwindling away +until they meet the deeper blue of the sky--are all beautiful beyond +description. Lovely though this scenery may be in autumn, and its +deeper coloring of green in the summer, how dazzled must be the looker +on in beholding it in its tender, blushing mantle of spring? + +For quite a time rumors came of Burnside's advance through East +Tennessee and of Longstreet's detachment from the army to meet him. +The troops were kept in constant expectation, with the regulation +"four days" cooked rations on hand. It is not our purpose to criticise +the acts of Generals, or the schemes and plans of the Southern +Government, but future historical critics will not differ as to the +ultimate results of the East Tennessee move. That Longstreet's advance +to East Tennessee was without results, if not totally disastrous, all +will agree. To divide an army in the face of an enemy, is dangerous +at best, and, with few exceptions, has been avoided by Generals and +commanders of all time. Lee could afford it, because he was LEE and +had a JACKSON to execute the movements, but on occasions when the +enemy in front are more numerous and commanded by the most able and +astute Generals of the time, the movement is hazardous in the extreme. +Lee and his Lieutenants had already "robbed the cradle and the grave" +to replenish their ranks, and what real benefit would accrue to the +South had Longstreet captured the whole of Burnside's Army, when the +North had many armies to replace it? The critics of the future will +judge the movement as ill-timed and fraught with little good and much +ill to the Confederacy. However, it was so ordered, and no alternate +was left the officers and soldiers but to obey. + +On the 9th of October President Davis came out to Chattanooga to +give matters his personal attention and seek, if possible, some +"scape-grace" upon which to saddle the blame for not reaping greater +fruits of the battle, and to vindicate the conduct of his commander in +chief. + +General Bragg had already preferred charges against Lieutenant General +Polk, commander of the right wing of the army, for his tardiness in +opening the battle of the 20th, and General Hindman was relieved of +the command of his division for alleged misconduct prior to that +time. Many changes were proposed and made in the corps and division +commanders, as well as plans discussed for the future operations of +the army. All agreed that it should be aggressive. + +Major General Cheatham was temporarily placed in command of Folk's +Corps after the downfall of that General, and he himself soon +afterwards superseded by lieutenant General Hardee. President Davis +had thought of placing Pemberton, who had capitulated to Grant at +Vicksburg, but who had been exchanged, in command of the corps; but +the officers and troops demurred at this, and public opinion was so +outspoken, that Mr. Davis was forced to abandon the idea. It was, +therefore, given to Hardee. For some offense given by Major General +D.H. Hill, who commanded the right of the right wing on the 20th, +he was relieved of his command and his connection with the Army of +Tennessee. Major General Buckner, commanding the divisions on the left +of Longstreet's wing, also came under the ban of official displeasure +and was given an indefinite leave of absence. There was wrangling, +too, among the Brigadiers in Hood's Division, Jenkins, Law, and +Robertson. Jenkins being a new addition to the division, was senior +officer, and commanded the division in Hood's absence by virtue of +his rank. Law had been in the division since its formation, and after +Hood's disabilities from wounds, commanded very acceptably the balance +of the days at Gettysburg. For this and other meritorious conduct, +he thought the command should be given to him as senior in point of +service with the division. Robertson had some personal difficulty +with General Longstreet, which afterwards resulted in a call for a +courtmartial. The advanced ideas and undisguised views of Longstreet +himself were considered with suspicion by both the President and the +General commanding the army, and had it not been for the high prestige +and his brilliant achievements in the East, the unbounded love and +devotion of his troops, the loyalty and confidence of General Lee in +the high military ability of the old War Horse, his commander of the +First Corps, in all probability his official head would have fallen +in the basket. But President Davis was strong in his prejudices and +convictions, and as usual, tenacious in his friendship and confidence +towards his favorites. Bragg, in President Davis' estimation at +least, was vindicated, but at the expense of his subalterns, and was, +therefore, retained in command in the face of overwhelming discontent +among the Generals and the pressing demands of public opinion for his +recall from the command of the army. + +General Lee in the meantime had sought to relieve the pressure against +Bragg as much as possible by making a demonstration in force against +Meade, forcing the Federal Army back behind Bull Run, thereby +preventing a further reinforcement of Rosecrans from the Army of the +Potomac. + +I digress thus far from the thread of my story, that the reader may +better understand the conditions confronting our army--the morale, and +esprit de corps of the officers and troops composing it. + +On the 19th of October General Rosecrans was superseded by Major +General George B. Thomas, in command of the Union Army, with Grant, +who was rapidly climbing to the zenith of this renown, marching to his +relief as commander of the department. + +A considerable commotion was caused in camp about the last of October +by the news of a large body of Union soldiers making a demonstration +against our left flank and rear. It seems that a body of troops had +embarked on board pontoon and flat boats in Chattanooga, and during +the night had floated eight miles down the river and there were +joined by a similar body marching over land on the north side. This +formidable array was crossed over to the south side and moved in the +direction of our rear and our line of communication under cover of the +hills and mountain ridges. Jenkins' and McLaw's Divisions were ordered +to intercept them and drive them off. A night attack was ordered, but +by some misunderstanding or disobedience of orders, this movement +on the part of the Confederates miscarried, and was abandoned; not, +however, until General Bratton, of Jenkins' old Brigade, came up and +attacked the rear guard with such vigor that the enemy was glad enough +to get away, leaving their wounded and dead upon the field. No further +movements were made against the army until after our removal to East +Tennessee. + +About the first of November orders were issued for the transfer of +Longstreet to begin, and on the 5th and 6th the greater part of his +army was embarked on hastily constructed trains at Tyner's Station, +some five or six miles out on the E.T. & K.R.R. The horses, artillery, +and wagon trains took the dirt road to Sweetwater, in the Sweetwater +Valley, one of the most fertile regions in East Tennessee. + +Longstreet's command consisted of Kershaw's (South Carolina), Bryan's +and Wofford's (Georgia), and Humphreys' (Mississippi) Brigades, under +Major General McLaws; Anderson's (Georgia), Jenkins' (South Carolina), +Law's (Alabama), Robertson's (Arkansas and Texas), and Benning's +(Georgia) Brigades, under Brigadier General M. Jenkins, commanding +division; two batteries of artillery, under General Alexander; and +four brigades of cavalry, under Major General Wheeler. + +General Hood had been so desperately wounded at Chickamauga, that +it was thought he could never return to the army; but he had won a +glorious name, the prestige of which the war department thought of too +much value to be lost, but to be used afterwards so disastrously in +the campaign through Middle Tennessee. General Hood was, no doubt, +an able, resolute, and indefatigable commander, although meteoric, +something on the order of Charles, the "Madman of the North;" but +his experience did not warrant the department in placing him in the +command of an expedition to undertake the impossible--the defeat of +an overwhelming army, behind breastworks, in the heart of its own +country. + +The movement of Longstreet to East Tennessee and Hood through Middle +Tennessee was but the commencement of a series of blunders on the +part of our war department that culminated eventually in the South's +downfall. But it is not our province to speculate in the rosy fields +of "might-have-been," but to record facts. + +General Longstreet had of all arms fifteen thousand men, including +teamsters, guards, medical and ambulance corps. General Burnside +had an army of twenty-five thousand men and one hundred pieces of +artillery, and this was the army Longstreet was expected to capture or +destroy. + +General Grant was marching from Mississippi with a large portion +of his victorious troops of the Vicksburg campaign to reinforce +Rosecrans, Sherman coming down through Tennessee, and Meade was +sending reinforcements from the East, all to swell the defeated ranks +of Rosecrans. With the knowledge of all these facts, the department +was preparing to further reduce the forces of Bragg by sending +Longstreet up in East Tennessee, with soldiers badly clad, worse +equipped, and with the poorest apology of camp equipage, for an active +and progressive campaign. + +Both governments were greatly displeased with the results of the +battle of Chickamauga--the Federals at their army failing to come up +to their expectations and gaining a victory, instead of a disastrous +defeat; the Confederates at their commanders in not following up their +success and reaping greater results. Under such circumstances, +there must be some one on whom to place the blame. General Rosecrans +censured General McCook and General Crittenden, commanders of the +Twentieth and Twenty-first Corps, and these two able soldiers were +relieved of their commands, while General Rosecrans himself was +severely censured by the department in Washington, and soon afterwards +relieved of his command. + +The regiments of the brigade were now all short of field officers--the +Seventh and Battalion with none, and the Eighth and Fifteenth in +charge of Majors. However, Colonel W.G. Rice joined us on the way to +East Tennessee and took command of his battalion. + +After a stay of a week in the beautiful Valley of Sweetwater, we were +moved to Loudon, the railroad crossing of the Tennessee River, the +railroad bridge having been burned by the enemy. The country in East +Tennessee was greatly divided in sentiment, some for the Union cause +and some for the Confederate cause. Rumors of outrages and doings of +desperadoes were rife, and the soldiers were somewhat dubious in going +far into the country, for fear of running up against bushwhackers, of +which the country was said to be full. + +While one train with the Third was being pulled over the East +Tennessee Railroad towards Sweetwater by a strange engineer over a +track long unused, and cars out of repair, an occurrence took +place which might have ended more seriously than it did under the +circumstances. The train, composed of box cars, one company inside and +one on top, was running along at a good, lively rate. A stampede took +place among the troops on top, who began jumping right and left down a +steep embankment and running with all their speed to the woods in the +distance. It was just after daylight, and those inside the cars not +knowing what the trouble was, and a great many on the top being roused +from their slumbers and seeing the others leaping in great disorder, +and hearing the word "bushwhackers" being called out, threw their +blankets aside and jumped likewise. Soon the cars were almost +empty, those above and within all thinking danger was somewhere, but +invisible. Just then a train of passenger cars, containing General +McLaws, General Kershaw, their staffs, and others, rounded the cut in +our rear, and was running at break-neck speed into the freight train +in front. Those in the passenger cars seeing those from the train +in front running for dear life's sake for the woods, began to climb +through windows and off of the platforms, the engineers and firemen on +both trains leaping like the men. So we had the spectacle of one train +running into another and neither under control, although the levers +had been reversed. In a moment the rear train plunged into the front +one, piling up three or four cars on their ends. Fortunately, only one +or two were hurt by jumping and none by the collision. It seems almost +miraculous to think of two car loads of soldiers jumping from trains +at full speed and on a high embankment and a great many from top, and +so few getting hurt. + +General Longstreet's plan of campaign was to move up the east side +of the Holston, or, as it is now called, the Tennessee River, pass +through Marysville, cross the river in the vicinity of Knoxville with +his infantry, the cavalry to take possession of the heights above and +opposite the city, thus cutting off the retreat of the Federals in +front of Loudon, and capture the garrison in the city of Knoxville. +But he had no trains to move his pontoon bridge, nor horses to pull +it. So he was forced to make a virtue of necessity and cross the river +just above the little hamlet of Loudon in the face of the enemy. On +the night of the 12th the boats and bridge equipment were carried to +the river, the boats launched and manned by a detachment of Jenkins' +South Carolina Brigade, under the command of the gallant Captain +Foster. This small band of men pushed their boats across the river +under a heavy fire of the enemy's pickets, succeeded in driving off +the enemy, and took possession of the opposite side. The boats were +soon joined together and the bridge laid. The troops then began to +cross rapidly and push their way out far in advance. By morning the +greater part of the army was on the west side of the river. + +General Wheeler, with his cavalry, started simultaneously with the +infantry, but on the east side, with the view of taking possession +of the heights around Knoxville, which he partly accomplished after +several severe engagements with the Union cavalry, in which the young +Confederate cavalier came off victorious. + +The next morning after our crossing the enemy showed some disposition +to attack our lines, but did no more than drive in our skirmishers, +and then began to fall slowly back. Longstreet remained near the river +constructing some defensive earthworks to protect the bridge, and to +allow the supply train, which had been out on a foraging expedition, +time to come up. By his not making as rapid advance as was expected, +the enemy again, on the 14th, returned to feel our lines and to learn +the whereabouts of his foe. + +On the morning of the 15th, just at daylight, we took up our line of +march through a blinding mist or fog, our skirmishers not being able +to see an object fifty paces in front. Our line of advance was along +the dirt road, on the west side of the little mountain range, a spur +of the clinch, while the main body of the enemy kept close to the +railroad, on the east side, and between the mountain range and the +river, traversing a narrow valley, which gave him strong positions for +defensive battle. The mountain was crossed in several places by dull +roads and bridle paths, and it was the intention of the commanding +General to take possession of these passes and turn the enemy's +flank, or to move around the head of the mountain, where the two roads +followed by the armies came together on converging lines, then to +either close him in between the mountain and the river and give +battle, or fall upon his rear and crush him. Some few miles out +Jenkins' skirmishers came upon those of the enemy and a running fight +took place, the Federals retreating through the mountain gap to the +east side. + +Jenkins kept up his advance (not following the enemy, however, over +the mountain), with Alexander's Battalion of Artillery, while McLaws +followed closely, with Leydon's Battery as a support. Thus the march +was continued all day, taking up camp at night far in advance of +the enemy on the other side o: the mountain. Jenkins was ordered at +midnight, with a part of his command, to take possession of a gap in +the mountain, and at daylight throw himself across the line of the +enemy's retreat. But for some unforeseen circumstance, or treachery +or ignorance in Jenkins' guide, he failed in his undertaking, and the +enemy passed in safety during the night beyond our lines to a place of +comparative security. + +Early next morning the army was in motion, but instead of an enemy in +our front we found a park of eighty wagons, well laden with supplies +of provisions, camp equipage, tools, etc., deserted by the retreating +column. The horses had been cut loose, still this capture was a very +serviceable acquisition to the outfit of the army, especially +in entrenching tools. Jenkins followed close on the heels of the +retreating army, occasionally coming to a severe brush with the +enemy's rear guard, using every exertion to force Burnside to battle +until McLaws, with Hart's Brigade of Cavalry, could reach Cambell's +Station, the point where the two converging roads meet. McLaws marched +nearly all day in full line of battle, Kershaw being on the left of +the main thoroughfare and under a continual skirmish fire. But all too +late. The wily foe had escaped the net once more and passed over and +beyond the road crossing, and formed line of battle on high ground in +rear. Longstreet still had hopes of striking the enemy a crushing +blow before reaching Knoxville, and all he desired and all that was +necessary to that end was that he should stand and give battle. The +attitude of the Union Army looked favorable towards the consummation +of the Confederate leader's plan. Our troops had been marching all +the forenoon in one long line of battle, near a mile in length, +over ditches, gullies, and fences; through briars, brambles, and +undergrowth; then again through wide expanse of cultivated fields, +all the while under a galling fire from the enemy's batteries and +sharpshooters, and they felt somewhat jaded and worn out when they +came upon their bristling bayonets, ready for combat. A great number +of our men were barefooted, some with shoes partly worn out, clothes +ragged and torn, not an overcoat or extra garment among the line +officers or men throughout the army, as all surplus baggage had +been left in Virginia. But when the battle was about to show up the +soldiers were on hand, ready and willing as of old, to plunge headlong +into the fray. McLaws was on the left wing and Jenkins on the right. + +Preparation for a general engagement was made. McLaws was ordered +to throw forward, Wofford on his extreme left, supported by cavalry, +while Jenkins was to send two of his brigades, under General Law, far +to the right, on the flank and rear of the enemy's left. Law was first +to make the attack on the enemy's flank, then the columns in front +were to advance and make direct assault. But the "best laid plans +of mice and men oft' gang aglee." Law missed his line of +direction--failed to come upon the enemy's flank, night was upon us, +and it must be remembered that all these movements took time, thus +giving the Union Army an opportunity, under the sable curtains of +night, to "fold their tents and gently steal away." + +General Longstreet, in his book written nearly thirty years after the +occurrence of Cambell's Station, severely criticises General Law, who +commanded the two flanking brigades, and in withering and scathing +terms directly charges him with the loss of a great victory. He quotes +one of his staff officers as saying that it was the common camp +rumor that General Law had made the remark "that he could have made +a successful attack, but that Jenkins would have reaped the credit +of it, hence he delayed until the enemy got out of the way." This is +unjust and ungenerous to a gallant and faithful officer, one, too, +who had, by his many and heavy blows in battle, added largely to +the immortal fame of Longstreet himself. That there was a laudable +ambition and rivalry among all officers and men in the Confederate +Army, there can be no question--an ambition to outstrip all others +in heroic actions, noble deeds, and self-sacrificing, but jealously +never. As for treachery, as General Longstreet clearly intimates in +the case of General Law, why the poorest, ragged, starved, or maimed +soldier in the South would not have sold his country or companions for +the wealth of the Indies, nor would he have unnecessarily sacrificed +a life of a comrade for the greatest place on this continent, or the +fairest crown of Europe. It must be remembered in this connection +that there were personal differences between the corps commander and +General Law at times, and with one of his division commanders, all +during our Western campaign. That General Law was obstinate, petulant, +and chafed under restraint, is true, but this is only natural in a +volunteer army, and must be expected. And had General Longstreet, so +rigid a disciplinarian as he was, but a breath of suspicion at the +time of disobedience, lack of courage, or unfaithfulness in his +subaltern, General Law would have been put under immediate arrest, +and a courtmartial ordered. The old General, in several places in his +memoirs, makes uncomplimentary remarks and insinuations against +some of his old compatriots in arms, but these should not be taken +seriously. It will be remembered by all the old Confederates in this +connection that during the period just succeeding the war mighty +social convulsions took place in the South--political upheavals, +whereby one party was as bitter against the other as during the mighty +struggle of the North against the South, and that General Longstreet, +unfortunately for his name as a civilian, aligned himself along with +the party whom the whites of the South acknowledged as antagonistic +to their welfare and interest. This roused the ire of all his old army +associates, and many of his former friends now began to hurl poisoned +and fiery shafts at the old "War Horse" of the South, and no place so +vulnerable as his army record. This, of course, was resented by +him, and a deadly feud of long standing sprang up between Generals +Longstreet, Mahone, and a few others, who joined him on the one side, +and the whole army of "Codfederate Brigadiers" on the other. This +accounts, in a large measure, for many of Longstreet's strictures +upon the conduct of officers of the army, and, no doubt, a mere +after thought or the weird imaginations of an old and disappointed +politico-persecuted man. + +No, No! The officers and men of the Confederate Army were patriots +of diamond purity, and all would have willingly died a martyr's death +that the Confederacy might live. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XXV + +Around Knoxville--The Siege and Storming of Fort Sanders. + + +After the fiasco at Cambell's Station, the enemy retired behind his +entrenched position in the suburbs of Knoxville. Longstreet followed +rapidly, with McLaws in front, in line of battle, but all hopes of +encountering the enemy before he reached his fortified position around +the city had vanished. We reached the rolling hillsides just outside +of the city limits about noon on the 17th, and found the enemy's +dismounted cavalry, acting as sharpshooters, posted on the heights in +front and between the railroad and the river, well protected by rail +piles along the crest of the hill. + +Colonel Nance was ordered with the Third South Carolina Regiment to +dislodge those on the hill, near the railroad, by marching over and +beyond the road and taking them in flank, which was successfully done +by making a sudden dash from a piece of woodland over an open field +and gaining the embankment of the railroad immediately on the right +flank of the enemy's sharpshooters. But scarcely had the Third got +in position than it found itself assailed on its left and rear by an +unseen enemy concealed in the woods. Here Colonel Nance was forced +to sacrifice one of his most gallant officers, Lieutenant Allen, of +Company D. Seeing his critical and untenable position, he ordered +the Lieutenant, who was standing near him, to report his condition +to General Kershaw and ask for instruction. This was a hazardous +undertaking in the extreme, but lieutenant Allen undertook it with +rare courage and promptness. Back across the open field he sped, while +the whole fire of the sharpshooters was directed towards him instead +of to our troops behind the embankment. All saw and felt that the +brave officer was lost as soon as he got beyond the cover of the +railroad, and turned their heads from the sickening scene. But Allen +did not hesitate or falter, but kept on to the fulfilment of his +desperate mission, while hundreds of bullets flew around him in every +direction--over his head, under his feet, before, and behind--until +at last the fatal messenger laid him low, a heroic martyr to the stern +duties of war. Colonel Nance seeing the hopelessness of his attack, +ordered a retreat. Then the whole regiment had to run the same +gauntlet in which young Allen lost his life. Away across the open corn +field the troops fled in one wild pell mell, every man for Himself, +while the bullets hummed and whistled through our scattered ranks, but +luckily only a few were shot. Jenkins' Division came up late in the +day and took position on McLaws' left, then with the cavalry commenced +the investment of the city on the west side of the Holston or +Tennessee River. To advance McLaws' lines to a favorable position, +it was first necessary to dislodge the sharpshooters on the hill tops +between the river and the railroad. General Kershaw was ordered +to take the works in front by direct assault. The Third was on the +extreme left of the brigade, next to the railroad, while the Second, +Seventh, Eighth, and Third Battalion were in the center, with the +Fifteenth, under Major Gist, between the dirt road on which we had +traveled and the river on extreme right. The Third had to assault the +same troops and position that they had failed to dislodge some hours +before. + +Major William Wallace was in command of the skirmishers. The heavy +siege pieces at Fort Sanders had been hammering away at us all day, +as well as the many field batteries that bristled along the epaulments +around Knoxville. The skirmishers were ordered forward, the battle +line to closely follow; but as Colonel Wallace was in front and could +see the whole field, I will allow him to give his version of the +engagement. + +"We were stationed on a high hill," says Colonel Wallace, "west of +said town, which descended gradually some two hundred yards, then rose +to a smaller hill nearer to Knoxville. Between these two hills was +a smooth valley, the middle of which was distinctly marked by a line +running north and south by different crops which had been planted +on opposite sides of it. Brigade skirmishers were ordered to advance +towards Knoxville and drive in the enemy's pickets. I was in command +of the left wing, and drove the enemy from my front, across the creek, +which was beyond the smaller hill. On reaching the creek and finding +our skirmishers on my right, did not advance over the hill. I returned +to my original position where I found them. Soon afterwards the +skirmish line was again ordered forward to the line in the valley +above described, and to lie down. Just then I heard a yell behind me +and saw the Third South Carolina advancing rapidly towards the smaller +hill. I did not order my skirmishers to lie down, but as soon as the +regiment was abreast of me I advanced and drove the enemy again across +the creek. On hearing firing on the west of the hill, I closed up my +skirmishers and advanced south towards the crest of the hill. I found +a regiment of Union sharpshooters lying behind a breastwork of rails +and firing on the Third, which was within forty yards of them. As +soon as the enemy saw us on their flank, they threw up their hands and +surrendered. The Third had lost forty men up to this time." + +Colonel Wallace tells also of how a Federal soldier, who had +surrendered, was in the act of shooting him, but was prevented from +doing so by the muzzle of a rifle being thrust in his face by a +member of Company E.W.W. Riser, afterwards Sheriff of Newberry County. +Colonel Nance was much gratified at the able assistance rendered him +by Colonel Wallace, and made special and favorable mention of him in +his report. + +The Second, Seventh, Eighth, and Third Battalion swept across the +plain like a hurricane, driving everything before them right in the +teeth of the deadly fire of Fort Sanders, but the Third and Fifteenth +Regiments were unusually unfortunate in their positions, owing to the +strength of the works in their front. The Fifteenth got, in some way, +hedged in between the road and river, and could make little progress +in the face of the many obstacles that confronted them. Their young +commander, Major William Gist, son of ex-Governor Gist, becoming +somewhat nettled at the progress his troops were making, threw aside +all prudence and care, recklessly dashed in front of his column, +determined to ride at its head in the assault that was coming, but +fell dead at the very moment of victory. How many hundreds, nay +thousands, of brave and useful officers and men of the South wantonly +threw away their lives in the attempt to rouse their companions to +extra exertions and greater deeds of valor. + +The Third fought for a few moments almost muzzle to muzzle, with +nothing but a few rails, hastily piled, between assailants and the +assailed. At this juncture another gallant act was performed by +Captain Winthrop, of Alexander's Battery. Sitting on his horse in +our rear, watching the battle as it ebbed and flowed, and seeing +the deadly throes in which the Third was writhing, only a few feet +separating them from the enemy, by some sudden impulse or emotion put +spurs to his horse and dashed headlong through our ranks, over +the breastworks, and fell desperately wounded in the ranks of the +Federals, just as their lines gave way or surrendered. This was only +one of the many heroic and nerve-straining acts witnessed by the +soldiers that followed the flag of Kershaw, McLaws, and Longstreet. + +Colonel Rice, of the Battalion, was so seriously wounded that he +never returned to active duty in the field. Major Miller, in a former +battle, had been permanently disabled, but no other field promotions +were ever made, so the gallant little Battalion was commanded in +future by senior Captains. + +By morning of the 19th of November the enemy had retired within the +walls of Knoxville, and the investment of the city completed. During +the nights our sharpshooters were advanced a little distance at a time +until they were under the very walls of the city, and there entrenched +themselves in rifle pits. The troops began building works to protect +against attacks, and laying parallels, so that every few nights we +advanced a little nearer the city. + +Jenkins, with three brigades and a part of the cavalry, stretched +around the city on the north and to the river on the opposite side +of us. A pontoon bridge was laid across the river below the city, and +Law, with two brigades of Jenkins' Division and a battery of our +best artillery, crossed the Holston River and took possession of +some heights that were thought to command the city on the south side. +Burnside had also some strong works on the south of the Holston, +strongly guarded by infantry, dismounted cavalry, and some of their +best rifled pieces of artillery. This force was just opposite the +city, having easy access thereto by a military bridge and a pontoon +bridge. Burnside had twelve thousand regular troops in his outer +trenches, several thousand recent volunteers from Tennessee in his +inner lines, with fifty-one pieces of artillery in place, ready +for action, in Knoxville alone. Longstreet had between fifteen and +seventeen thousand, after some reinforcements had reached him, and +three battalions of artillery, inclusive of the horse artillery. + +Night and day the work of entrenchment went bravely on in both armies, +each working in plain view of the other; without any disposition to +disturb the operations of either by shelling from the forts in our +front or from our works in the rear. Each commander seemed willing +and disposed to give his opponent an open field and a fair fight. +No advantage was asked and none taken on either side, and the coming +contest appeared to be one between the hot blood of the South +in assault and the dogged determination of the North in +resistance--valor, impetuosity, dash, impulsive courage against cool, +calculating, determined resistance. Greeks of the South were preparing +to meet Greeks of the North--the passionate Ionian was about to +measure swords with the stern Dorian, then of a necessity "comes the +tug of war." + +On the 22d, McLaws reporting as being ready for the assault, he was +ordered to prepare for it on the night of the 23d. But a report coming +to the commanding General that a large body of the enemy's cavalry +was moving upon our rear from near Kinston, General Wheeler, with his +troopers, was detached from the army to look after them, and did +not return until the 26th, having frightened the enemy away in the +meantime. The officers of McLaws' assaulting column protested against +the night attack, preferring daylight for such important work, which +in the end was granted. + +The night of the 24th the enemy made a sally, attacking Wofford's +front; but was soon repulsed and driven back within his lines. +Longstreet now awaited the reinforcement that was approaching with all +speed. Jones' Brigade of Cavalry, from Southwest Virginia, came up on +the 28th, while Bushrod Johnston, with his own Brigade of Tennessee +Infantry and Gracie's Brigade of Alabamians, was near at hand and +moving with all haste. The infantry and artillery promised from +Virginia were more than one hundred miles away, and could not reach us +in time to take part in the pending attack. General Bragg, commanding +the Army of Tennessee after his disastrous defeat at Missionary Ridge, +in front of Chattanooga, was at the head of the war department, and +ordered Longstreet to assault Knoxville at once. + +Orders were given and preparations made to commence the attack on +Fort Sanders at early dawn on the 29th by the brigades of McLaws. Fort +Sanders, the key to Burnside's position, was a formidable fortress, +covering several acres of ground, built by the Confederates when in +possession of Knoxville, and called by them "Fort London," but named +"Fort Sanders" by the Federals, in honor of the brave commander who +fell in wresting it from the Confederates. The enemy had greatly +strengthened it after Longstreet's advent in East Tennessee. It was +surrounded by a deep and wide moat, from the bottom of which to the +top of the fort was from eighteen to twenty feet. In front of the moat +for several hundred yards was felled timber, which formed an almost +impassable abattis, while wire netting was stretched from stump to +stump and around the fort. The creek that ran between our lines and +the enemy's had been dammed in several places, forcing the water back +to the depth of four to five feet. The fort was lined on three sides +with the heaviest of field and siege pieces, and crowded to its utmost +capacity with infantry. This fort was on an acute angle of the line of +entrenchments. From the right and left ran the outer or first line of +breastworks, manned by infantry, and at every salient position cannons +were mounted, completely encircling the entire city. + +In the early gray of the morning Longstreet had marshalled his forces +for the combat, while the troops in Fort Sanders slept all unconscious +of the near approaching storm cloud, which was to burst over their +heads. The artillery was all in position, the gunners standing by +their guns, lanyard in hand, awaiting the final order to begin the +attack. The armies were separated by a long, shallow vale--that to +our left, in front of Jenkins, was pierced by a small stream, but +obstructed by dams at intervals, until the water was in places waist +deep. But the men floundered through the water to the opposite side +and stood shivering in their wet garments, while the cool air of the +November morning chilled their whole frames. All along the whole line +the men stood silent and motionless, awaiting the sound of the signal +gun. + +Wofford, with his Georgians, and Humphrey, with his Mississippians, +were to lead the forlorn hope in the assault on Fort Sanders, +supported by Bryan's (Georgia) Brigade and one regiment of +Mississippians. Kershaw stood to the right of the fort and Anderson, +of Jenkins' Division, on the left, supported by the other two brigades +then present of Jenkins'. The battle was to focus around the fort +until that was taken or silenced, then Kershaw was to storm the works +on the right, carry them, charge the second line of entrenchment, in +which were posted the reserves and recent Tennessee recruits. Jenkins, +with Anderson's Brigade on his right and next to McLaws, was to act as +a brace to the assaulting column until the fort was taken, then by a +sudden dash take the entrenchments to the left of the fort, wheel and +sweep the line towards the north, and clear the way for Jenkins' other +brigades. + +The expectant calm before the great storm was now at hand. The men +stood silent, grim, and determined, awaiting the coming crash! +The crash came with the thunder of the signal gun from Alexander's +Battery. Longstreet then saluted his enemy with the roar of twenty +guns, the shells shrieking and crashing in and around Fort Sanders. +Burnside answered the salutation with a welcome of fifty guns from the +fort and angles along the entrenchments. Salvos after salvos sounded +deep and loud from the cannon's mouth, and echoed and re-echoed up and +down the valleys of the Holston. After the early morning compliments +had continued ten or fifteen minutes, the infantry began to make ready +for the bloody fray. Wofford commenced the advance on the northwest +angle of the fort, Humphrey the South. Not a yell was to be given, +not a gun to be fired, save only those by the sharpshooters. The dread +fortress was to be taken by cold steel alone. Not a gun was loaded in +the three brigades. As the mist of the morning and the smoke of the +enemy's guns lifted for a moment the slow and steady steps of the +"forlorn hope" could be seen marching towards the death trap--over +fallen trees and spreading branches, through the cold waters of the +creek, the brave men marched in the face of the belching cannon, +raking the field right and left. Our sharpshooters gave the cannoneers +a telling fire, and as the enemy's infantry in the fort rose above the +parapets to deliver their volley, they were met by volleys from our +sharpshooters in the pits, now in rear of the assaulting columns, and +firing over their heads. When near the fort the troops found yet a +more serious obstruction in the way of stout wires stretched across +their line of approach. This, however, was overcome and passed, and +the assailants soon found themselves on the crest of the twelve foot +abyss that surrounded Fort Sanders. Some jumped into the moat and +began climbing up upon the shoulders of their companions. The enemy +threw hand bombs over the wall to burst in the ditch. Still the men +struggled to reach the top, some succeeding only to fall in the fort. +Scaling ladders were now called for, but none were at hand. Anderson +had moved up on Wofford's left, but finding the fort yet uncovered, +instead of charging the entrenchment, as ordered, he changed his +direction towards the fort, and soon his brigade was tangled in wild +confusion with those of Worfford and Humphrey, gazing at the helpless +mass of struggling humanity in the great gulf below. + +Kershaw's men stood at extreme tension watching and waiting the result +of the struggle around the fort. Never perhaps were their nerves so +strung up as the few moments they awaited in suspense the success or +reverse of the assaulting column, bending every effort to catch the +first command of "forward." All but a handful of the enemy had left +the fort, and victory here seemed assured, and in that event the +result of Kershaw's onslaught on the right and Jenkins' South +Carolinians and Benning's Georgians on the left would have been beyond +the range of conjecture. Just at this supreme moment Major Goggans, of +McLaws' staff, who had been at the fort and took in the worst phases +of the situation, rode to General Longstreet and reported the +fortress impregnable without axes and scaling ladders. Under this +misapprehension, General Longstreet gave the fatal order for the +assaulting columns to retire, and all the support back to their +entrenchments. Thus was one of the most glorious victories of the +war lost by the ill judgment of one man. General Longstreet bitterly +regretted giving this order so hastily, but pleads in extinuation his +utmost confidence in Major Goggans, his class-mate at West Point. + +In the twenty minutes of the assault Longstreet lost in his three +brigades, Wofford's, Humphrey's, and Anderson's, eight hundred and +twenty-two; Burnside, six hundred and seventy-three. During the +campaign Longstreet lost twelve hundred and ninety-six. During the +campaign Burnside lost fourteen hundred and eighty-one. + +Kershaw's Brigade lost many gallant officers and men during the +sanguinary struggles around Knoxville, and it must be confessed in +sorrow and regret, all to no purpose. Not that the commanding general +was wanting in ability, military training, or tactical knowledge; nor +the soldiers in courage, daring, and self-denials. None of these +were lacking, for the officers and men of the line performed deeds of +prowess that have never been excelled by any soldiers on the planet, +while in skill or fearlessness the regimental brigade and division +commanders were equal to Ney, Murat, St. Cyr, or any of the host of +great commanders of the Napoleonic era. But in the first place +the Confederate forces were too weak, poorly equipped in all those +essentials that are so requisite to an invading army. + + * * * * * + + +MAJOR WILLIAM M. GIST. + +Major William M. Gist was a son of Governor W.H. Gist, the Governor +just preceding Secession, and Mrs. Mary E. Gist; born in Union County +in 1840. He was educated in the common schools of Union and York +Counties and by private tutors, until January, 1854. He then went to +school at Glenn Springs to Rev. C.S. Beard for six months. His health +failing, he returned to his home, and in January, 1855, entered the +Mt. Zion College, at Winnsboro, Fairfield County, taught by Hon. J.W. +Hudson, and spent one year at that institution. He next entered the +South Carolina College, in January, 1856, and graduated in the class +of '59. The class which Major Gist was in at the time, the Junior, did +not participate in the great "college rebellion" of March 28th, 1858. +Through that rebellion one hundred and eleven of the students were +suspended for six months. + +When the first alarm of war was sounded, Major Gist responded +promptly, with the same chivalric spirit that was so characteristic of +his whole life. He joined, as a private, Captain Gadberry's Company, +from Union, and left for Charleston on January 12, 1861, the company +forming a part of Colonel Maxey Gregg's First Six Months' Volunteers, +and remained with the command until their term of service expired. A +vacancy occurring, Colonel Gregg appointed him his Sergeant Major. + +After the fall of Sumter a part of Colonel Gregg's Regiment was +disbanded, and Major Gist returned to Union and began at once +organizing a company for the Confederate States Army. He was elected +Captain of the company and was joined to the Fifteenth Regiment, then +collecting at camp near Columbia for drill and instruction. He served +as Captain until the death of Colonel DeSaussure, then was promoted to +Major. There being no officer senior to him, his way was open to the +Colonelcy of his regiment at the time of his death. + +Major Gist was a young man of rare qualities--open, frank, generous, +and brave. He commanded the respect and esteem of all. Just +verging into mature manhood as the toscin of war sounded, he had no +opportunity to display his great qualities as a civilian, but as a +soldier he was all that the most exacting could desire. He was +beloved by his men, and they appreciated his worth. He was kind and +affectionate to all, and showed favoritism or privileges to none. +It was through that ungovernable impulse that permeates the body and +flows through the hot Southern blood that he so recklessly threw his +life away, leading his men to the charge. In a moment of hesitancy +among his troops, he felt the supreme responsibility of Leadership, +placed himself where danger was greatest, bullets falling thick and +fast; thus by the inspiration of his own individual courage, he hoped +to carry his men with him to success, or to meet a fate like his own. + + * * * * * + + +LIEUTENANT COLONEL W.G. RICE. + +Lieutenant Colonel W.G. Rice was born in Union County, S.C., on +December 9th, 1831. He was the fourth son of R.S. Rice and Agnes B. +Rice, nee Morgan, and resided in the upper portion of the county, near +Broad River. His family removed to the lower section of the county, +near Goshen Hill, when the son was ten years old, and he attended the +schools of the surrounding country until fourteen years of age, when +he was sent to the Methodist Conference School, at Cokesbury. He +remained a pupil here until October, 1848, then he entered the South +Carolina College, graduating from that institution with the class of +'51. He engaged in planting for one year at his original home, then +began the study of law in the office of Judge T.N. Dawkins, but did +not prosecute the study to graduation. + +In March following he married Miss Sarah E. Sims, of Broad River, of +which union eleven children were born, seven of whom are living. The +year of his marriage he moved to Laurens County, near Waterloo, where +we find him surrounded by "peace and plenty" until the outbreak of the +Civil War. In October, 1861, he raised a volunteer company, and later, +together with three other companies from Laurens County, formed +a battalion, and tendered the command to George S. James, who had +resigned from the United States Army. Major James assumed command at +Camp Hampton in December. During the early months of 1862 three other +companies united with the battalion, and Major James was promoted to +Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain W.G. Rice being senior Captain, was +made Major. + +During the month of April following, a reorganization took place, +and Lieutenant Colonel James and Major Rice were re-elected to their +former positions by exactly the same vote. Major Rice being detailed +on court martial on James' Island, did not accompany his battalion to +Virginia, but joined it soon thereafter, near Richmond. + +The battalion marched with the brigade (Drayton's) from Gordonsville +to second battle of Manassas, but was not actively engaged. At the +battle of Crompton's Gap, Md., Colonel Rice was severely wounded, +Colonel James killed, and the battalion almost torn to pieces. +Colonel Rice was left for dead upon the field, and when he gained +consciousness he was within the enemy's line, and only by exercising +the greatest caution, he regained the Confederate camp. By Colonel +Rice's prudence at this battle in ordering a retreat to a more +sheltered position, the battalion was saved from utter destruction, +but suffering himself almost a fatal wound. He was sent across the +Potomac, and next day to Shepherdstown. Returning from leave of +absence occasioned by the desperate nature of his wound, he found that +he had been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and that his battalion and +the Fifteenth Regiment made a part of Kershaw's Brigade, this being +in December, 1862. Colonel Rice led his command through the battles +of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville without incident of special +interest (wide sketch of battalion). + +Returning from an enjoyable leave of absence, he found his command at +Chambersburg, Pa. Three days later he commanded the battalion at the +bloody battle of Gettysburg. Again Colonel Rice is absent on sick +leave, and regains the army just as Longstreet was crossing the +Holston. Four days afterwards he was given one company from each of +the five regiments to reinforce his battalion, and ordered to feel for +and drive the enemy from the position which they held. This proved +to be a fortified camp and the enemy in strong line of battle. In the +engagement that followed, Colonel Rice was again so severely wounded +as to render him unfit for service thereafter. + +After this he returned home to the prosecution of his life-work, +farming. He removed to Abbeville, now Greenwood County, December, +1869, where he may now be found, as he says, "in the enjoyment of a +reasonable degree of health and strength, surrounded by friends and +relatives." + + * * * * * + + +JULIUS ZOBEL. + +To show with what devotion and fidelity the private soldier of the +Southland served the cause he espoused, I will relate as an example +the act of Julius Zobel, who fell so dangerously wounded before +Knoxville. This is not an isolated case, for hundreds and thousands +were tempted like Zobel, but turned away with scorn and contempt. But +Julius Zobel was an exception in that he was not a native born, but +a blue-eyed, fair-haired son of the "Fatherland." He had not been +in this "Land of the free and home of the brave" long enough to +comprehend all its blessings, he being under twenty-one years of age, +and not yet naturalized. He was a mechanic in the railroad shops, near +Newberry, when the first call for volunteers was made. He laid aside +his tools and promptly joined Company E (Captain Nance), of the Third +South Carolina, called "Quitman Rifles." + +He had a smooth, pleasant face, a good eye, and the yellow hair of his +countrymen. His nature was all sunshine, geniality, and many a joke +he practiced upon his comrades, taking all in good humor those passed +upon him. One day, as a comrade had been "indulging" too freely, +another accosted him with-- + +"Turn away your head, your breath is awful. What is the matter with +you?" + +Zobel, in his broad German brogue, answered for his companion. "Led +'em alone, dare been nodden to madder mid Mattis, only somding crawled +in him and died." + +He lost his leg at Knoxville and fell in the enemy's hands after +Longstreet withdrew, and was sent North with the other wounded. While +in the loathsome prison pen, enduring all the sufferings, hardships, +and horrors of the Federal "Bastile," he was visited by the German +Consul, and on learning that he had not been naturalized, the Consul +offered him his liberty if he would take the oath of allegiance to the +North. + +Zobel flashed up as with a powder burst, and spoke like the true +soldier that he was. "What! Desert my comrades; betray the country I +have sworn to defend; leave the flag under whose folds I have lost +all but life? No, no! Let me die a thousand deaths in this hell hole +first!" + +He is living to-day in Columbia, an expert mechanic in the service of +the Southern Railroad, earning an honest living by the sweat of his +brow, with a clear conscience, a faithful heart, and surrounded by a +devoted family. + +That the campaign against Knoxville was a failure, cannot be wondered +at under the circumstances. In the first place Longstreet's forces +were too weak--the two thousand reinforcements to come from Virginia +dwindled down to a few regiments of cavalry and a battery or two. The +men were badly furnished and equipped--a great number being barefoot +and thinly clad. Hundreds would gather at the slaughter pens daily +and cut from the warm beef hides strips large enough to make into +moccasins, and thus shod, marched miles upon miles in the blinding +snow and sleet. All overcoats and heavy clothing had been left in +Virginia, and it is a fact too well known to be denied among the +soldiers of the South that baggage once left or sent to the rear never +came to the front again. + +Longstreet did not have the support he had the right to expect from +his superiors and those in authority at Richmond. He had barely +sufficient transportation to convey the actual necessaries of camp +equippage, and this had to be used daily in gathering supplies +from the surrounding country for man and beast. He had no tools for +entrenching purposes, only such as he captured from the enemy, and +expected to cross deep and unfordable rivers without a pontoon train. +With the dead of winter now upon him, his troops had no shelter to +protect them from the biting winds of the mountains or the blinding +snow storms from overhead save only much-worn blankets and thin tent +flys five by six feet square, one to the man. This was the condition +in which the commanding General found himself and troops, in a strange +and hostile country, completely cut off from railroad connection with +the outside world. Did the men murmur or complain? Not a bit of +it. Had they grown disheartened and demoralized by their defeat at +Knoxville, or had they lost their old-time confidence in themselves +and their General? On the contrary, as difficulties and dangers +gathered around their old chieftain, they clung to him, if possible, +with greater tenacity and a more determined zeal. It seemed as if +every soldier in the old First Corps was proud of the opportunity +to suffer for his country--never a groan or pang, but that he felt +compensated with the thought that he was doing his all in the service +of his country--and to suffer for his native land, his home, and +family, was a duty and a pleasure. + +The soldiers of the whole South had long since learned by experience +on the fields of Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, along the +valleys of Kentucky, the mountains and gorges of Tennessee, and the +swamps of the Mississippi, that war was only "civilized barbarism," +and to endure uncomplaining was the highest attributes of a soldier. +Civilization during the long centuries yet to come may witness, +perhaps, as brave, unselfish, unyielding, and patriotic bands of +heroes as those who constituted the Confederate Army, but God in His +wisdom has never yet created their equals, and, perhaps, never will +create their superiors. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +The Siege of Knoxville Raised--Battle of Bean Station--Winter +Quarters. + + +On the night of the 4th of December preparations were made to raise +the siege around Knoxville and vacate the fortifications built around +the city after a fortnight's stay in the trenches. The wagons had +begun moving the day before, with part of the artillery, and early in +the night the troops north and west of the city took up the line of +march towards Rutledge, followed by McLaws on the right. + +Kershaw being on the extreme right of the army and next to the river +on the South, could not move until the troops on the left were well +underway, thus leaving us in position until near midnight. Lieutenant +Colonel Rutherford commanded the rear guard of skirmishers, deployed +several hundred yards on either side of the road. Our march was +extremely fatiguing, the roads being muddy and badly cut up by the +trains in our front. The weather was cold and bleaky; the night so +dark that the troops could scarcely see their way, but all night long +they floundered through the mud and slough--over passes and along +narrow defiles, between the mountain and the river to their right--the +troops trudged along, the greater portion of whom were thinly clad, +some with shoes badly worn, others with none. Two brigades of cavalry +were left near the city until daylight to watch the movements of the +enemy. The next day we met General Ranson with his infantry division +and some artillery on his long march from Virginia to reinforce +Longstreet, but too late to be of any material service to the +commanding General. Bragg's orders had been imperative, "to assault +Knoxville and not to await the reinforcement." + +Burnside did not attempt to follow us closely, as he was rather +skeptical about leaving his strong positions around Knoxville with the +chances of meeting Longstreet in open field. But strong Federal forces +were on a rapid march to relieve the pressure against Knoxville--one +column from the West and ten thousand men under Sherman were coming up +from Chattanooga, and were now at Loudon, on the Tennessee. + +Longstreet continued the march to Rodgersville, some fifty or sixty +miles northeast of Knoxville, on the west bank of the Holston, and +here rested for several days. It was the impression of the troops that +they would remain here for a length of time, and they began +building winter quarters. But Burnside feeling the brace of strong +reinforcements nearing him, moved out from Knoxville a large +detachment in our rear to near Bean Station (or Cross Roads), the one +leading from Knoxville by way of Rutledge, the other from the eastern +side of the Holston and over the mountain on the western side at +Bean's Gap. Longstreet determined to retrace his steps, strike +Burnside a stunning blow, and, if possible, to capture his advance +forces at Bean Station. + +Here I will digress a few moments from my narrative to relate an +incident that took place while encamped near Rodgersville, an incident +that will ever remain fresh in the memory of all of the old First +Division who witnessed it. It is with feelings of sorrow at this +distant day to even recall it to mind, and it is with pain that I +record it. But as I have undertaken to give a faithful and true story +of the army life of the First Brigade, this harrowing scene becomes a +part of its history. It was near the middle of the month. The sun had +long since dropped out of sight behind the blue peaks of the distant +Cumberland. All is still in camp; the soldiers, after their many +hardships and fatiguing marches, rest, and soon all in sound slumber. +Even the very voices of nature seemed hushed and frozen in the gloomy +silence of the night. All is quiet, save in one lonely tent, apart +some distance from the rest, before which walks a silent sentinel, +as if he, too, feels the chilling effects of the sombre stillness. +Murmurings soft and low in the one lighted tent are all that break +the oppressive death-like silence. In the back ground the great forest +trees of the mountain stand mute and motionless, not even a nod of +their stately heads to a passing breeze, while far away to the south +could be seen an occasional picket fire, making the surrounding +objects appear like moving, grotesque phantoms. The heavens above were +all bedecked with shimmering stars, pouring down upon the sleeping +Valley of the Holston a cold and trembling light. + +In the lonely tent sits a soldier, who is spending his last night on +earth; by his side sits his little son, who has come far away over +the mountains to spend the last moments with his father and see him +die--not to die like a soldier wishes for death, but as a felon and +outcast, the ignominious death at the stake. An occasional sob escapes +the lips of the lad, but no sigh or tears of grief from the condemned. +He is holding converse with his Maker, for to His throne alone must +he now appeal for pardon. Hope on earth had gone. He had no friend at +court, no one to plead his cause before those who had power to order +a reprieve. He must die. The doomed man was an ignorant mountaineer, +belonging to one of the regiments from North Georgia or Tennessee, and +in an ill-fated moment he allowed his longings for home to overcome +his sense of duty, and deserted his colors--fled to his mountain home +and sought to shelter himself near his wife and little ones in the +dark recesses and gorges thereabout. He was followed, caught, +returned to his command, courtmartialed, and sentenced to death--time, +to-morrow. + +During the days and nights that passed since the dread sentence had +been read to him, he lay upon his rude couch in the guard tent all +indifferent to his environments, and on the march he moved along with +the guard in silence, gazing abstractedly at the blue vaults of heaven +or the star-strewn, limitless space. That far away future now to him +so near--that future which no vision can contemplate nor mortal +mind comprehend--is soon to be unfolded. Little heed was paid to the +comforting words of his sympathetic comrades in arms, who bid him +hope, for the condemned man felt inwardly and was keenly conscious +of the fact that he had been caught upon the crest of a great wave +of destiny, soon to be swept away by its receding force to darkness, +despair, death. "Fate had played him falsely." + +To witness death, to see the torn and mangled remains of friends and +comrades, are but incidents in the life of a soldier. While all +dread it, few fear it. Yet it is upon the field of battle that it +is expected--amid the din and smoke, the shouts of his comrades, the +rattle of musketry, and the cannon's roar. There is the soldier's +glory, his haven, his expected end; and of all deaths, that upon the +battlefield, surrounded by victorious companions and waving banners, +the triumphant shouts of comrades, is the least painful. + +The grounds selected for the carrying out of the court's sentence were +on a broad plateau, gently sloping towards the center on three sides. +So well were the grounds and surroundings adapted to the end in view, +that it seemed as if nature had anticipated the purposes of man. + +By 9 o'clock the troops of the division were in motion, all under +the command of Colonel James D. Nance, of the Third South Carolina, +marching for the field of death. Kershaw's Brigade took the lead, and +formed on the left of the hollow square. Wofford's on the right, with +Bryan's doubling on the two, while Humphrey's closed the space at the +west end of the square. + +A detail of thirty men were made to do the firing, fifteen guns +being loaded with powder and ball, the others with powder alone, this +arrangement being made, perhaps, with a view to ease the qualms of +conscience, should any of the guards have scruples of shedding the +blood of a former comrade in arms. None could know positively who held +the death-dealing guns. An opening was made at the lower end and the +first platoon of guards entered with arms reversed, then the band +playing the "Dead March," followed by the condemned and his son, the +second platoon bringing up the rear. The cortege marched around the +whole front of the lined-up troops, keeping step to the slow and +dismal sounds of the "Dead March." The prisoner walked with the firm +and steady step of a Sagamore, or an Indian brave marching and singing +his death chants, to the place of his execution. His son was equally +as courageous and self-possessed, not a tremor or faltering in either. +At times the father and son would speak in low, soft tones to each +other, giving and receiving, perhaps, the last messages, the last +farewells on earth, the soldier-outcast being now under the very +shadow of death. + +After making the entire circuit of the square, the condemned was +conducted to the open space at the eastern side, where a rude stake +had been driven in the ground. To this he boldly walked, calmly +kneeling in front, allowing himself to be bandaged and pinioned +thereto. The guards had formed in double ranks, fifteen paces in +front, his faithful son standing some distance to his right, calm, +unmoved, and defiant, even in the face of all the terrors going on +before him. The officer in charge gives the command, "ready," thirty +hammers spring back; "aim," the pieces rise to the shoulders; then, +and then only, the tension broke, and the unfortunate man, instead of +the officer, cried out in a loud, metallic voice, "fire." The report +of the thirty rifles rang out On the stillness of the morning; the man +at the stake gives a convulsive shudder, his head tails listlessly on +his breast, blood gushes out in streams, and in a moment all is still. +The deserter has escaped. + +The authorities at Washington had grown tired of Burnside's failure +to either crush Longstreet or drive him out of East Tennessee, and had +sent General Foster to relieve him, the latter General bringing with +him the standing orders, "Crush or drive out Longstreet." How well +General Foster succeeded will be related further on. In obedience to +the department's special orders, General Longstreet had, several +days previous, sent Wheeler's Cavalry back to General Johnston, now +commanding Bragg's Army. Our troops had heard the confirmation of the +report of General Bragg's desperate battle at Missionary Ridge--his +disastrous defeat his withdrawal to Dalton, and his subsequent +relinquishment of command of the Army of Tennessee. This had no effect +upon our troops, no more so than the news of the fall of Vicksburg +just after Lee's bloody repulse at Gettysburg. The soldiers of +the eastern Army had unbounded confidence in themselves and their +commander, and felt that so long as they stood together they were +invincible. + +The enemy had fortified a position at Bean's Station, in a narrow +valley between the Holston River and the Clinch Mountains, the valley +being about two miles in breadth. This force Longstreet determined +to capture, and his plans were admirably adapted to bring about the +result. To the right of the enemy was the river; to their left, a +rugged mountain spur; passable at only a few points. Part of our +cavalry was to pass down the western side of the mountain, close the +gaps in rear, the infantry to engage the enemy in front until the +other portion of the cavalry could move down the east bank of the +river, cross over, and get in the enemy's rear, thus cutting off all +retreat. This part of the Valley of the Holston had been pretty well +ravaged to supply the Federal Army, and our troops, with never +more than a day's rations on hand at a time, had to be put on short +rations, until our subsistence trains could gather in a supply and the +neighborhood mills could grind a few days' rations ahead. Old soldiers +know what "short rations" mean--next to no rations at all. + +General Longstreet says of the morale of his army at this time: "The +men were brave, steady, patient. Occasionally they called pretty +loudly for parched corn, but always in a bright, merry mood. There +was never a time we did not have corn enough, and plenty of wood with +which to keep us warm and parch our corn. At this distance it seems +as almost incredible that we got along as we did, but all were then +so healthy and strong that we did not feel severely our really +great hardship. Our serious trouble was in the matter of shoes and +clothing." + +Early on the morning of the 14th the troops were put in motion and +marched rapidly down the almost impassable thoroughfare. Bushrod +Johnston's Division being in the front, followed by McLaws'--Kershaw's +Brigade in the lead. Part of Jenkins' Division was acting as escort +for supply trains in the surrounding country, and that Division did +not join the army for several days. Late in the day of the 15th we +came in sight of the enemy's breastworks. The Federal artillery opened +a furious fusilade upon the troops, coming down the road with their +rifled guns and field mortars. Bushrod Johnston had filed to the left +of the road and gotten out of range, but the screaming shells kept up +a continual whiz through the ranks of Kershaw. The men hurried along +the road to seek shelter under a bluff in our front, along the base +of which ran a small streamlet. The greater portion of the brigade was +here huddled together in a jam, to avoid the shells flying overhead. +The enemy must have had presage of our position, for they began +throwing shells up in the air from their mortars and dropping them +down upon us, but most fell beyond, while a great many exploded in +the air. We could see the shells on their downward flight, and the men +pushed still closer together and nearer the cliff. Here the soldier +witnessed one of those incidents so often seen in army life that makes +him feel that at times his life is protected by a hand of some hidden, +unseen power. His escape from death so often appears miraculous that +the soldier feels from first to last that he is but "in the hollow of +His hand," and learns to trust all to chance and Providence. + +As a shell from a mortar came tumbling over and over, just above the +heads of this mass of humanity, a shout went up from those farther +back, "Look out! Look out! There comes a shell." Lower and lower +it came, all feeling their hopelessness of escape, should the shell +explode in their midst. Some tried to push backwards; others, forward, +while a great many crowded around and under an ambulance, to which +was hitched an old broken down horse, standing perfectly still and +indifferent, and all oblivious to his surroundings. The men gritted +their teeth, shrugged their shoulders, and waited in death-like +suspense the falling of the fatal messenger--that peculiar, whirling, +hissing sound growing nearer and more distinct every second. But +instead of falling among the men, it fell directly upon the head +of the old horse, severing it almost from the body, but failed to +explode. The jam was so great that some had difficulty in clearing +themselves from the falling horse. Who of us are prepared to say +whether this was mere chance, or that the bolt was guided and directed +by an invisible hand? + +Bushrod Johnston had formed on the left of the road; Kershaw marching +over the crest of the hill in our front, and putting his brigade in +line of battle on a broad plateau and along the foot hills of the +mountains on the right. Here the troops were halted, to wait the +coming up of the rest of the division and Jenkins' two brigades. The +cannonading of the enemy was especially severe during our halt, and +General Kershaw had to frequently shift his regiments to avoid the +terrific force of the enemy's shells. It was not the intention of +the commanding General to bring on a general engagement here until he +heard from his cavalry beyond the river and those to the west of the +mountain. The cavalry had been sent to cut off retreat and close the +mountain passes, and the infantry was to press moderately in front, in +order to hold the enemy in position. + +Just before sunset, however, a general advance was made. One of +Kershaw's regiments was climbing along the mountain side, endeavoring +to gain the enemy's left, and as our skirmishers became hotly engaged, +the movements of the regiment on the side of the mountain were +discovered, and the enemy began to retire. Now orders were given to +press them hard. The rattle of Bushrod Johnston's rifles on our +left told of a pretty stiff fight he was having. As the long row of +bristling bayonets of Kershaw's men debouched upon the plain in front +of the enemy's works, nothing could be seen but one mass of blue, +making way to the rear in great confusion. Our artillery was now +brought up and put in action, our infantry continuing to press +forward, sometimes at double-quick. + +We passed over the enemy's entrenchments without firing a gun. Night +having set in, and General Longstreet hearing from his cavalry that +all in the enemy's rear was safe, ordered a halt for the night, +thinking the game would keep until morning. During the night, however, +by some misunderstanding of orders, the commander of the cavalry +withdrew from the mountain passes, and the enemy taking advantage of +this outlet so unexpectedly offered, made his escape under cover of +darkness. Here we had another truthful verification of the oft' quoted +aphorism of Burns, about "the best laid plans of mice and men." + +This last attempt of Longstreet to bring the enemy to an engagement +outside of Knoxville proving abortive, the commanding General +determined to close the campaign for the season, and to put his troops +in as comfortable winter quarters as possible. This was found on the +right or east bank of the Holston, near Morristown and the little +hamlet of Russellville. The brigade crossed the Holston about the 17th +of December, in a little flat boat, holding about two companies at a +time, the boat being put backwards and forwards by means of a stout +rope, the men pulling with their hands. A blinding sleet was falling, +covering the rope continually with a sheet of ice, almost freezing +the hands of the thinly clad and barefooted soldiers. But there was no +murmuring nor complaint--all were as jolly and good-natured as if on +a picnic excursion. Hardship had become a pleasure and sufferings, +patriotism. There were no sickness, no straggling, nor feelings of +self-constraint. + +General Longstreet speaks thus of his army after he had established +his camps and the subsistence trains began to forage in the rich +valleys of the French Broad and Chucky Rivers and along the banks of +Mossy Creek: + + "With all the plentitude of provisions, and many things, + which, at the time, seemed luxuries, we were not quite happy. + Tattered blankets, garments, shoes (the later going--some + gone) opened ways on all sides for piercing winter blasts. + There were some hand looms in the country from which we + occasionally picked up a piece of cloth, and here and there we + received other comforts--some from kind, some from unwilling + hands, which could nevertheless spare them. For shoes, we were + obliged to resort to raw-hides, from beef cattle, as temporary + protection from the frozen ground. Then we found soldiers who + could tan the hides of our beeves, some who could make shoes, + some who could make shoe pegs, some who could make shoe lasts, + so that it came about that the hides passed rapidly from the + beeves to the feet of the soldiers in the form of comfortable + shoes." + +We took up very comfortable quarters, in the way that comfort goes +with a soldier--cut off from the outside world. Only a few officers +had the old army fly tents; the soldiers were each supplied, or rather +had supplied themselves upon the battlefield of the enemy with small +tent flies, about five by six feet, so arranged with buttons and +button holes that two being buttoned together and stretched over a +pole would make the sides or roof and the third would close the end, +making a tent about six feet long, five feet wide, and four feet high, +in which three or four men could sleep very comfortably. In the bitter +weather great roaring fires were built in front during the night, and +to which the soldier, by long habit, or a kind of intuition, would +stretch his feet, when the cold would become unbearable under his +threadbare blanket. + +But notwithstanding all these disadvantages, the men of Kershaw's +Brigade were bent on having a good time in East Tennessee. They +foraged during the day for apples, chickens, butter, or whatever they +could find to eat. Some of sporting proclivities would purchase a lot +of chicken roosters and then fight, regiment against regiment, and +seemed to enjoy as much seeing a fight between a shanghai and a +dunghill, as a match between gaved Spanish games. + +Many formed the acquaintance of ladies in the surrounding country, +and they, too, Union as well as Southern, being cut off like +ourselves--their husbands and brothers being either in the Northern or +Southern Army--seemed determined on having a good time also. Dancing +parties were frequent, and the ladies of Southern sympathies gave the +officers and soldiers royal dinners. + +In this connection, I will relate an anecdote told on our gallant +Lieutenant Colonel Rutherford, of the Third, by a friend of his. + +When the Third South Carolina Regiment of Infantry was in East +Tennessee, in the month of January, 1864, not only did the soldiers +find it difficult to get enough to eat, but their supply of shoes and +clothing ran pretty low. Those who had extra pants or jackets helped +their needy friends. Lieutenant Colonel Rutherford had turned over his +extra pair of pants to some one, which left him the pair he wore each +day as his only stock on hand in the pants line. Heavy snows fell. The +regiment was encamped very near a pleasant residence, where a bevy of +pretty girls lived. After an acquaintance of sometime, a snow-balling +was indulged in. It was observed that Colonel Rutherford used his +every endeavor to constantly face the girls, who were pelting him +pretty liberally on all sides. After awhile he slipped up and fell, +but in his fall his face was downward, when lo! the girls discovered +that he had a hole in his pants. Too good-natured to appear to see his +predicament, no notice was seemingly taken of his misfortune; but as +the officers were about going off to bed that night, the married lady +said to him: + +"Colonel, lay your pants on the chair at your room door tonight, and +you will find them there again in the morning. We hope you won't mind +a patch." + +The Colonel, who was always so gallant in actual battle, and could not +bear to turn his back to the Federal soldiers, was just as unwilling +to turn his back to snow-balls, who happened to be Confederate lasses, +and the reason therefor, although never told, was discovered by them. + +The weather had gotten down to two degrees below zero, the ground +frozen as hard as brick-bats, and the winds whistled gaily through our +tattered tents, our teeth beating tattoo and our limbs shivering from +the effects of our scanty clothing and shoes. But our wagons were +gathering in supplies from the rich valleys of the French Broad and +the Nolachucky, and while we suffered from cold, we generally had +provisions sufficient for our want. By the middle of January we had +to temporarily break up camp to meet the enemy, who had left Knoxville +with the greater part of the army, and was marching up on the right +banks of the French Broad to near Dandridge. General Foster seeing the +penalty put upon General Burnside for not driving out Longstreet from +East Tennessee, the former undertook to accomplish in this bitter +weather what the latter had failed to do in comparative good season. +Our cavalry, with Jenkins' Division, headed direct towards the moving +column of the enemy, while McLaws' Division marched in the direction +of Strawberry Plains, with a view to cutting off the enemy and forcing +him to battle in an open field. But General Granger, in command of +the Federal column, was too glad to cross the French Broad and beat a +hasty retreat to Knoxville. We returned to our old camps, and waited, +like Micawber, "for something to turn up." + +By some disagreement or want of confidence in General McLaws by +the commanding General, he was relieved of his command, and General +Kershaw being the senior Brigadier General of the division, was placed +in command. What the differences were between General Longstreet and +his Major General were never exactly understood by the soldiers. While +General McLaws may have been a brave soldier and was well beloved by +officers and men, still he was wanting in those elements to make +a successful General of volunteer troops--dash, discipline, and +promptness in action. + +General Longstreet had bent all his energies to the repairing of the +railroad through East Tennessee and Virginia, and as soon as this +was accomplished, a limited number of soldiers were furloughed for +twenty-one days. A large lot of shoes and clothing was sent us from +Richmond, and this helped to make camp life more enjoyable. Not all +the men by any means could be spared by furlough even for this brief +period, for we had an active and vigilant foe in our front. Most of +the men drew their furloughs by lot, those who had been from home the +longest taking their chances by drawing from a hat, "furlough" or "no +furlough." + +While in winter quarters, during the spasm of chicken fighting, a +difficulty occurred between Lieutenant A and Private B, of the +Third, both good friends, and no better soldiers were ever upon a +battlefield. These are not the initials of their names, but +will answer the purpose at hand, and that purpose is to show the +far-reaching results of the courtmartial that followed, and a decision +reached under difficulties, that the most learned jurist might feel +proud of. + +I will say for the benefit of those not learned in the law of army +regulations, that for an officer to strike a private he is cashiered, +and for a private to strike an officer the penalty is either death or +long imprisonment with ball and chain attachments. + +Now it appeared to the officers who composed the courtmartial, Captain +Herbert, Lieutenant Garlington, and the writer of this (all parties of +the Third), that Lieutenant A had knocked Private B down. The officer +appeared in his own defense, and gave in extenuation of his crime, +that Private B had hit his (Lieutenant A's) chicken a stunning blow +on the head while they were "petting" them between rounds. Now that +decision of the courtmartial astonished our Colonel as much as the men +who were parties to the combat themselves. Now it read something like +this--time, dress parade: + +"Whereas, Lieutenant A, of Company ----, Third South Carolina, did +strike Private B, of same company and regiment, with his fist in the +face, that he should receive the severest of punishment; but, whereas, +Private B did strike the game chicken in the hands of Lieutenant A, +without cause or provocation, therefore both are equally guilty of +a crime and misdemeanor, and should be privately reprimanded by the +Colonel commanding." + +Such a laugh as was set up, notwithstanding the grave countenance of +the Colonel, was never heard on ordinary occasions. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +In Winter Quarters, 1863 and 1864--Re-enlistment. + + +Christmas came as usual to the soldiers as to the rest of the world, +and if Longstreet's men did not have as "merry and happy" a Christmas +as those at home, and in the armies outside, they had at least a +cheerful one. Hid away in the dark and mysterious recesses of the +houses of many old Unionists, was yet a plentitude of "moon-shine," +and this the soldiers drew out, either by stealth or the eloquent +pleadings of a faded Confederate bill. Poultry abounded in the far +away sections of the country, not yet ravaged by either army, which it +was a pleasure to those fixtures of the army called "foragers" to hunt +up. The brotherhood of "foragers" was a peculiar institute, and some +men take as naturally to it as the duck to water. They have an eye +to business, as well as pleasure, and the life of a "forager" becomes +almost an art. They have a peculiar talent, developed by long practice +of nosing out, hunting up, and running to quarry anything in the way +of "eatables or drinkables." During the most stringent times in a +country that had been over-run for years by both armies, some men +could find provisions and delicacies, and were never known to be +without "one drink left" in their canteens for a needy comrade, who +had the proper credentials, the Confederate "shin-plaster." These +foragers had the instinct (or acquired it) and the gifts of a "knight +of the road" of worming out of the good housewife little dainties, +cold meats, and stale bread, and if there was one drop of the "oh be +joyful" in the house, these men of peculiar intellect would be sure to +get it. So with such an acquisition to the army, and in such a country +as East Tennessee, the soldiers did not suffer on that cold Christmas +day. Bright and cheerful fires burned before every tent, over which +hung a turkey, a chicken, or a choice slice of Tennessee pork, or, +perhaps, better still, a big, fat sausage, with which the smoke-houses +along the valleys of the French Broad were filled. + +It was my misfortune, or rather good fortune, to be doing picket duty +on the Holston on that day. Here I had an adventure rather out of the +regular order in a soldier's life, one more suited to the character +of Don Quixote. I, as commandant of the post, had strict orders not +to allow anyone to cross the river, as "beyond the Alps lie Italy," +beyond the Holston lay the enemy. But soldiers, like other men, have +their trials. While on duty here a buxom, bouncing, rosy cheeked +mountain lass came up, with a sack of corn on her shoulder, and +demanded the boat in order that she might cross over to a mill and +exchange her corn for meal. This, of course, I had to reluctantly +deny, however gallantly disposed I might otherwise have been. The lass +asked me, with some feeling of scorn, "Is the boat yours?" to which I +was forced to answer in the negative. She protested that she would not +go back and get a permit or pass from anyone on earth; that the boat +was not mine, and she had as much right to its use as anyone, and that +no one should prevent her from getting bread for her family, and +that "you have no business here at best," arguments that were hard to +controvert in the face of a firey young "diamond in the rough." So to +compromise matters and allow chivalry to take, for the time being, the +place of duty, I agreed to ferry her over myself. She placed her corn +in the middle of the little boat, planting herself erect in the prow; +I took the stern. The weather was freezing cold, the wind strong, and +the waves rolled high, the little boat rocking to and fro, while I +battled with the strong current of the river. Once or twice she cast +disdainful glances at my feeble and emaciated form, but at last, in +a melting tone, she said: "If you can't put the boat over, get up and +give me the oar." This taunt made me strong, and the buxom mountain +girl was soon at the mill. While awaiting the coming of the old +miller, I concluded to take a stroll over the hill in search of +further adventure. There I found, at a nice old-fashioned farm house, +a bevy of the prettiest young ladies it had been my pleasure to meet +in a long while--buoyant, vivacious, cultured, and loyal to the core. +They did not wait very long to tell me that they were "Rebels to the +bone." They invited me and any of my friends that I chose to come over +the next day and take dinner with them, an invitation I was not loath +nor slow to accept. My mountain acquaintance was rowed back over the +Holston in due season, without any of the parting scenes that fiction +delight in, and the next day, armed with passports, my friends and +myself were at the old farm house early. My companions were Colonel +Rutherford, Dr. James Evans, Lieutenant Hugh Farley, Captains Nance, +Cary, and Watts, with Adjutant Pope as our chaperone. Words fail me +here in giving a description of the dinner, as well as of the handsome +young ladies that our young hostess had invited from the surrounding +country to help us celebrate. + +Now will any reader of this question the fact that Longstreet's men +suffered any great hardships, isolated as they were from the outside +world? This is but a sample of our sufferings. We had night parties +at the houses of the high and the low, dinners in season and out of +season, and not an enemy outside of the walls of Knoxville. Did we +feel the cold? Did the frozen ground cut our feet through our raw-hide +moccasins? Did any of the soldiers long for home or the opening of the +next campaign? Bah! + +It was during our stay in winter quarters, March, 1864, that the +term of our second enlistment expired. The troops had volunteered +for twelve months at the commencement of the war; this expiring just +before the seven days' battle around Richmond, a re-enlistment and +reorganization was ordered in the spring of 1862 for two more years, +making the term of Kershaw's Brigade equal with other troops that had +enlisted for "three years or the war." By an Act of Congress, in +1862, all men between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five years were +compelled to bear arms. This had been extended first to forty and then +to forty-five and during Grant's memorable campaign against Richmond, +the ages ran from sixteen to fifty-five, though those between sixteen +and eighteen and those between fifty and fifty-five were to be used +only in State service. This brought out the expression of Grant to +the authorities in Washington, that "Lee had robbed the cradle and the +grave." Our re-enlistment was only a form, no change in officers or +organization. Some few failed to voluntarily re-enlist, not with any +view to quit the army, but some had grown weary of the hard marches of +the infantry service and wished to join the cavalry. However, when the +morning came for re-enlistment the troops were called out in line of +regiments and a call made by the Colonel to all who were willing to +enlist for the war to step two paces to the front. All, with the very +fewest exceptions, stepped proudly to the front. Of course, none were +permitted to leave his company for the cavalry, as that branch of +the service was yet filled to its full quota, its ranks had in no +discernable degree been depleted by the casualties of war. It seemed +that fortune favored our troopers, for battle as they would, none were +scarcely ever wounded, and a less number killed. Infantry soldiers +were furloughed, through wounds, by the thousands, and artillerymen by +the hundreds, after every great battle, but the cavalryman was denied +this luxury, and his only hope in a furlough was a short leave of +absence to replace a wornout horse that had fallen by the wayside. +Their ranks of furloughed men in this line were usually quite full. + +As for returning to their homes, no soldier, however humble his +station, either in the army or socially at home, would have dared +to leave the service had a discharge been offered him. A man in good +health and with stout limbs preferred facing bullets and even death, +rather than bracing the scorn and contempt the women of the South had +for the man who failed his country when his services were needed. No +man, however brave, would have had the hardihood to meet his wife or +mother unless "with his shield or on it" in this hour of his country's +need. There were some few exemptions in the conscript law; one +particularly was where all the men in a neighborhood had gone or was +ordered to the front, one old man to five plantations, on which were +slaves, was exempted to look after said farms, manage the negroes, and +collect the government taxes or tithes. These tithes were one-tenth of +all that was raised on a plantation--cotton, corn, oats, peas, wheat, +potatoes, sorghum, etc.--to be delivered to a government agent, +generally a disabled soldier, and by him forwarded to the army. + +During the winter most of the vacancies in company and field officers +were filled by promotion, according to rank. In most cases, the office +of Third Lieutenant was left to the choice of the men, in pursuance to +the old Democratic principle, "government by the will of the people." +Non-commissioned officers usually went up by seniority, where +competent, the same as the commissioned officers. + +All these vacancies were occasioned by the casualties of war during +the Pennsylvania, Chickamauga, and Knoxville campaigns. The Seventh, +Fifteenth, and Third Battalion were without field officers. Captain +Huggins was placed in command of the Seventh, and Captain Whiter, the +Third Battalion. No promotions could be made in the latter, as Major +Miller and Colonel Rice had not resigned, although both were disabled +for active service in consequence of wounds. + +There was considerable wrangling in the Fifteenth over the promotion +to the Colonelcy. Captain F.S. Lewie, of Lexington, claimed it by +seniority of rank, being senior Captain in the regiment. Captain +J.B. Davis, of Fairfield, claimed it under an Act of the Confederate +Congress in regard to the rank of old United States officers entering +the Confederate service--that the officers of the old army should hold +their grade and rank in the Confederate Army, the same as before +their joining the South, irrespective of the date of these commissions +issued by the war department. Or, in other words, a Lieutenant in the +United States Army should not be given a commission over a Captain, or +a Captain, over a Major, Lieutenant Colonel, or Colonel, etc., in the +Southern Army. As all the old army officers entering the service of +the South at different periods, and all wanted a Generalship, so this +mode of ranking was adopted, as promising greater harmony and better +results. Captain Davis had been a Captain in the State service, having +commanded a company in Gregg's six months' troops around Charleston. +And, furthermore, Davis was a West Pointer--a good disciplinarian, +brave, resolute, and an all round good officer. Still Lewie was his +peer in every respect, with the exception of early military training. +Both were graduates of medical colleges--well educated, cultured, and +both high-toned gentlemen of the "Old School." But Lewie was +subject to serious attacks of a certain disease, which frequently +incapacitated him for duty, and on marches he was often unable to +walk, and had to be hauled for days in the ambulance. Then Lewie's +patriotism was greater than his ambition, and he was willing to +serve in any position for the good of the service and for the sake of +harmony. Captain Lewie thus voluntarily yielded his just claims to the +Colonelcy to Captain Davis, and accepted the position of Lieutenant +Colonel, places both filled to the end. + + * * * * * + + +COLONEL J.B. DAVIS. + +Colonel J.B. Davis was born in Fairfield County, of Scotch-Irish +decent, about the year 1835. He received his early education in the +schools of the country, at Mount Zion Academy, at Winnsboro, in same +county. Afterwards he was admitted to the United States Military +School, at West Point, but after remaining for two years, resigned and +commenced the study of medicine. He graduated some years before the +war, and entered upon the practice of his profession in the western +part of the county. He was elected Captain of the first company raised +in Fairfield, and served in Gregg's first six mouths' volunteers +in Charleston. After the fall of Sumter, his company, with several +others, disbanded. + +Returning home, he organized a company for the Confederate service, +was elected Captain, and joined the Fifteenth Regiment, then forming +in Columbia under Colonel DeSaussure. He was in all the battles of the +Maryland campaign, in the brigade under General Drayton, and in all +the great battles with Kershaw's Brigade. In the winter of 1863 he was +made Colonel of the Fifteenth, and served with his regiment until the +surrender. On several occasions he was in command of the brigade, as +senior Colonel present. He was in command at Cold Harbor after +the death of Colonel Keitt. Colonel Davis was one among the best +tacticians in the command; had a soldierly appearance--tall, +well-developed, a commanding voice, and an all round good officer. + +He returned home after the war and began the practice of medicine, and +continues it to the present. + + * * * * * + + +COLONEL F.S. LEWIE. + +Colonel F.S. Lewie was born in Lexington County, in 1830, and received +his early training there. He attended the High School at Monticello, +in Fairfield County. He taught school for awhile, then began the study +of medicine. He attended the "College of Physicians and Surgeons" +in Paris, France, for two years, returning a short while before the +breaking out of hostilities between the North and South. + +At the outbreak of the war he joined Captain Gibbs' Company, and was +made Orderly Sergeant. He served with that company, under Colonel +Gregg, in the campaign against Sumter. His company did not disband +when the fort fell, but followed Gregg to Virginia. At the expiration +of their term of enlistment he returned to Lexington County, raised +a company, and joined the Fifteenth. He was in most of the battles in +which that regiment was engaged. Was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, +and in 1864 was elected to the State Senate from Lexington. He refused +to leave his regiment, and did not accept the honor conferred upon +him by the people of his county. While with his regiment in South +Carolina, early in the spring of 1865, he was granted a few days' +furlough to visit his home, at which smallpox had broken out, but was +captured by Sherman's raiders before reaching home. He was parolled in +North Carolina. + +He was elected to the Legislature in 1866, serving until +reconstruction. He died in 1877. + +There was never a Major appointed afterwards in the Fifteenth. + +About the last of January we had another little battle scare, but it +failed to materialize. General Longstreet had ordered a pontoon bridge +from Richmond, and had determined upon a descent upon Knoxville. But +the authorities at Washington having learned of our preparation to +make another advance, ordered General Thomas to reinforce General +Foster with his corps, take command in person, and to drive Longstreet +"beyond the confines of East Tennessee." The enemy's cavalry was +thrown forward, and part of Longstreet's command having been ordered +East, the movement was abandoned; the inclemency of the weather, if no +other cause, was sufficient to delay operations. Foster being greatly +reinforced, and Longstreet's forces reduced by a part of his cavalry +going to join Johnston in Georgia, and a brigade of infantry ordered +to reinforce Lee, the commanding General determined to retire higher +up the Holston, behind a mountain chain, near Bull's Gap. + +On the 22d of February we quit our winter quarters, and took up our +march towards Bull's Gap, and after a few days of severe marching we +were again snugly encamped behind a spur of the mountain, jutting out +from the Holston and on to the Nolachucky River. A vote of thanks from +the Confederate States Congress was here read to the troops: + +"Thanking Lieutenant General James Longstreet and the officers and men +of his command for their patriotic services and brilliant achievements +in the present war, sharing as they have the arduous fatigues and +privations of many campaigns in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, +Georgia, and Tennessee," etc. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +In Camp on the Holston, East Tennessee. Return to Virginia. + + +While Longstreet's Corps had done some of the most stubborn fighting, +and the results, as far as victories in battle were concerned, were +all that could be expected, still it seemed, from some faults of the +Generals commanding departments, or the war department in Richmond, +that the fruits of such victories were not what the country or General +Longstreet expected. To merely hold our own, in the face of such +overwhelming numbers, while great armies were springing up all over +the North, was not the true policy of the South, as General Longstreet +saw and felt it. We should go forward and gain every inch of ground +lost in the last campaign, make all that was possible out of our +partial successes, drive the enemy out of our country wherever he had +a foot-hold, otherwise the South would slowly but surely crumble away. +So much had been expected of Longstreet's Corps in East Tennessee, and +so little lasting advantage gained, that bickering among the officers +began. Brigadier Generals were jealous of Major Generals, and even +some became jealous or dissatisfied with General Longstreet himself. +Crimination and recrimination were indulged in, censures and charges +were made and denied, and on the whole the army began to be in rather +a bad plight for the campaign just commencing. Had it not been for +the unparalleled patriotism and devotion to their cause, the undaunted +courage of the rank and file of the army, little results could have +been expected. But as soon as the war cry was heard and the officers +and men had sniffed the fumes of the coming battle, all jealousies and +animosities were thrown aside, and each and every one vied with the +other as to who could show the greatest prowess in battle, could +withstand the greatest endurance on marches and in the camp. + +General Law, who commanded an Alabama Brigade, had been arrested and +courtmartialed for failing to support General Jenkins at a critical +moment, when Burnside was about to be entrapped, just before reaching +Knoxville. It was claimed by his superiors that had Law closed up the +gaps, as he had been ordered, a great victory would have been gained, +but it was rumored that Law said "he knew this well enough, and could +have routed the enemy, but Jenkins would have had the credit," so that +he sacrificed his men, endangered the army, and lost an opportunity +for brilliant achievements through jealousy of a brother officer. Much +correspondence ensued between General Longstreet and President +Davis, and as usual with the latter, he interfered, and had not the +Wilderness campaign commenced so soon, serious trouble would have been +the result between General Lee and General Longstreet on one side, and +President Davis and the war department on the other. But General +Law never returned to our army, and left with any but an ennobling +reputation. + +General Robertson, commanding Hood's old Texas Brigade, was arrested +for indulging in mutinous conversation with his subaltern officers, +claiming, it was said, that should General Longstreet give him certain +orders (while in camp around Lookout Mountain), he would not recognize +them, unless written, and then only under protest. He was relieved by +General Gregg. + +General McLaws was relieved of his command from a want of confidence +in General Longstreet, and more especially for his inactivity and +tardiness at the assaults on Fort Sanders, at Knoxville. On ordinary +occasions, General McLaws was active and vigilant enough--his courage +could not be doubted. He and the troops under him had added largely +to the name and fame of the Army of Northern Virginia. He had officers +and men under him who were the "flower of chivalry" of the South, and +were really the "Old Guard" of Lee's Army. McLaws was a graduate of +West Point, and had seen service in Mexico and on the plains of the +West. But General McLaws was not the man for the times--not the man +to command such troops as he had--was not the officer to lead in an +active, vigorous campaign, where all depended on alertness and dash. +He was too cautious, and as such, too slow. The two Georgia brigades, +a Mississippi brigade, and a South Carolina brigade, composed mostly +of the first volunteers from their respective States, needed as a +commander a hotspur like our own J.B. Kershaw. While the army watched +with sorrow and regret the departure of our old and faithful General, +one who had been with us through so many scenes of trials, hardships, +and bloodshed, whose name had been so identified with that of our own +as to be almost a part of it, still none could deny that the change +was better for the service and the Confederacy. + +One great trouble with the organization of our army was that too many +old and incompetent officers of the old regular army commanded it. +And the one idea that seemed to haunt the President was that none but +those who had passed through the great corridors and halls of West +Point could command armies or men--that civilians without military +training were unfit for the work at hand--furthermore, he had +favorites, that no failures or want of confidence by the men could +shake his faith in as to ability and Generalship. What the army needed +was young blood--no old army fossils to command the hot-blooded, +dashing, enthusiastic volunteers, who could do more in their +impetuosity with the bayonet in a few moments than in days and months +of manoeuvering, planning, and fighting battles by rules or conducting +campaigns by following the precedent of great commanders, but now +obsolete. + +When the gallant Joe Kershaw took the command and began to feel his +way for his Major General's spurs, the division took on new life. +While the brigade was loath to give him up, still they were proud of +their little "Brigadier," who had yet to carve out a name for himself +on the pillars of fame, and write his achievements high up on the +pages of history in the campaign that was soon to begin. + +It seems from contemporaneous history that President Davis was baiting +between two opinions, either to have Longstreet retire by way of the +mountains and relieve the pressure against Johnston, now in command +of Bragg's Army, or to unite with Lee and defend the approaches to +Richmond. + +A counsel of war was held in Richmond between the President, General +Bragg as the military advisor of his Excellency, General Lee, and +General Longstreet, to form some plan by which Grant might be checked +or foiled in the general grand advance he was preparing to make along +the whole line. The Federal armies of Mississippi and Alabama had +concentrated in front of General Johnston and were gradually pressing +him back into Georgia. + +Grant had been made commander in chief of all the armies of the North, +with headquarters with General Meade, in front of Lee, and he +was bending all his energies, his strategies, and boldness in his +preparations to strike Lee a fatal blow. + +At this juncture Longstreet came forward with a plan--bold in its +conception; still bolder in its execution, had it been adopted--that +might have changed the face, if not the fate, of the Confederacy. +It was to strip all the forts and garrisons in South Carolina and +Georgia, form an army of twenty-five thousand men, place them under +Beauregard at Charleston, board the train for Greenville, S.C.; then +by the overland route through the mountain passes of North Carolina, +and by way of Aberdeen, Va.; then to make his way for Kentucky; +Longstreet to follow in Beauregard's wake or between him and +the Federal Army, and by a shorter line, join Beauregard at some +convenient point in Kentucky; Johnston to flank Sherman and march +by way of Middle Tennessee, the whole to avoid battle until a grand +junction was formed by all the armies, somewhere near the Ohio River; +then along the Louisville Railroad, the sole route of transportation +of supplies for the Federal Army, fight a great battle, and, if +victorious, penetrate into Ohio, thereby withdrawing Sherman from his +intended "march to the sea," relieving Lee by weakening Grant, as +that General would be forced to succor the armies forming to meet +Beauregard. + +This, to an observer at this late hour, seems to have been the only +practical plan by which the downfall of the Confederacy could have +been averted. However, the President and his cabinet decided to +continue the old tactics of dodging from place to place, meeting the +hard, stubborn blows of the enemy, only waiting the time, when the +South, by mere attrition, would wear itself out. + +About the 10th of April, 1864, we were ordered to strike tents and +prepare to move on Bristol, from thence to be transported to Virginia. +All felt as if we were returning to our old home, to the brothers we +had left after the bloody Gettysburg campaign, to fight our way back +by way of Chickamauga and East Tennessee. We stopped for several days +at Charlottesville, and here had the pleasure of visiting the home of +the great Jefferson. From thence, down to near Gordonsville. + +The 29th of April, 1864, was a gala day for the troops of Longstreet's +Corps, at camp near Gordonsville. They were to be reviewed and +inspected by their old and beloved commander, General R.E. Lee. +Everything possible that could add to our looks and appearances was +done to make an acceptable display before our commander in chief. Guns +were burnished and rubbed up, cartridge boxes and belts polished, +and the brass buttons and buckles made to look as bright as new. Our +clothes were patched and brushed up, so far as was in our power, boots +and shoes greased, the tattered and torn old hats were given here and +there "a lick and a promise," and on the whole I must say we presented +not a bad-looking body of soldiers. Out a mile or two was a very large +old field, of perhaps one hundred acres or more, in which we formed +in double columns. The artillery stationed on the flank fired thirteen +guns, the salute to the commander in chief, and as the old warrior +rode out into the opening, shouts went up that fairly shook the earth. +Hats and caps flew high in the air, flags dipped and waved to and fro, +while the drums and fifes struck up "Hail to the Chief." General Lee +lifted his hat modestly from his head in recognition of the honor done +him, and we know the old commander's heart swelled with emotion at +this outburst of enthusiasm by his old troops on his appearance. If +he had had any doubts before as to the loyalty of his troops, this old +"Rebel yell" must have soon dispelled them. After taking his position +near the centre of the columns, the command was broken in columns of +companies and marched by him, each giving a salute as it passed. +It took several hours to pass in review, Kershaw leading with his +division, Jenkins following. The line was again formed, when General +Lee and staff, with Longstreet and his staff, rode around the troops +and gave them critical inspection. No doubt Lee was then thinking +of the bloody day that was soon to come, and how well these brave, +battle-scarred veterans would sustain the proud prestige they had won. + +Returning to our camp, we were put under regular discipline--drilling, +surgeon's call-guards, etc. We were being put in active fighting trim +and the troops closely kept in camp. All were now expecting every +moment the summons to the battlefield. None doubted the purpose for +which we were brought back to Virginia, and how well Longstreet's +Corps sustained its name and reputation the Wilderness and +Spottsylvania soon showed. Our ranks had been largely recruited by the +return of furloughed men, and young men attaining eighteen years of +age. After several months of comparative rest in our quarters in East +Tennessee, nothing but one week of strict camp discipline was required +to put us in the best of fighting order. We had arrived at our present +camp about the last week of April, having rested several days at +Charlottesville. + +General Lee's Army was a day's, or more, march to the north and east +of us, on the west bank of the Rapidan River. It was composed of the +Second Corps, under Lieutenant General Ewell, with seventeen thousand +and ninety-three men; Third Corps, under Lieutenant General +A.P. Hill, with twenty-two thousand one hundred and ninety-nine; +unattached commands, one thousand one hundred and twenty-five; +cavalry, eight thousand seven hundred and twenty-seven; artillery, +four thousand eight hundred and fifty-four; while Longstreet had about +ten thousand; putting the entire strength of Lee's Army, of all arms, +at sixty-three thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight. + +General Grant had, as heretofore mentioned, been made commander +in chief of all the Union armies, while General Lee held the +same position in the Confederate service. Grant had taken up his +headquarters with the Army of the Potomac, giving the direction of +this army his personal attention, retaining, however, General George +S. Meade as its immediate commander. + +Grant had divided his army into three corps--Second, under Major +General W.S. Hancock; Fifth, Major General G.K. Warren; Sixth, Major +General John Sedgwick--all in camp near Culpepper Court House, while a +separate corps, under Major General A.E. Burnside, was stationed near +the railroad crossing on the Rappahannock River. + +Lee's Army was divided as follows: Rodes', Johnston's, and Early's +Divisions, under Lieutenant General Ewell, Second Corps; R.H. +Anderson's, Heath's, and Wilcox's Divisions, under Lieutenant General +A.P. Hill, Third Corps. + +Longstreet had no Major Generals under him as yet. He had two +divisions, McLaws' old Division, under Brigadier General Kershaw, and +Hood's, commanded by Brigadier General Fields. The division had been +led through the East Tennessee campaign by General Jenkins, of South +Carolina. Also a part of a division under General Bushrod Johnston, of +the Army of the West. + +Grant had in actual numbers of all arms, equipped and ready for +battle, one hundred and sixteen thousand eight hundred and eighty-six +men. He had forty-nine thousand one hundred and ninety-one more +infantry and artillery than Lee and three thousand six hundred and +ninety-seven more cavalry. He had but a fraction less than double +the forces of the latter. With this disparity of numbers, and growing +greater every day, Lee successfully combatted Grant for almost a year +without a rest of a week from battle somewhere along his lines. Lee +had no reinforcements to call up, and no recruits to strengthen his +ranks, while Grant had at his call an army of two million to draw from +at will, and always had at his immediate disposal as many troops as he +could handle in one field. He not only outnumbered Lee, but he was far +better equipped in arms, subsistence, transportation, and cavalry +and artillery horses. He had in his medical, subsistence, and +quartermaster departments alone nineteen thousand one hundred and +eighty-three, independent of his one hundred and sixteen thousand +eight hundred and eighty-six, ready for the field, which he called +non-combattants. While these figures and facts are foreign to the +"History of Kershaw's Brigade," still I give them as matters of +general history, that the reader may better understand the herculean +undertaking that confronted Longstreet when he joined his forces with +those of Lee's. And as this was to be the deciding campaign of +the war, it will be better understood by giving the strength and +environment of each army. The Second South Carolina Regiment was +commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Gaillard; the Third, by Colonel +Jas. D, Nance; the Seventh, by Captain Jerry Goggans; the Eighth, +by Colonel Henagan; the Fifteenth, by Colonel J.B. Davis; the Third +Battalion, by Captain Whiter. The brigade was commanded by Colonel +J.D. Kennedy, as senior Colonel. + +Thus stood the command on the morning of the 4th of May, but by the +shock of battle two days later all was changed. Scarcely a commander +of a regiment or brigade remained. The two military giants of the +nineteenth century were about to face each other, and put to the test +the talents, tactics, and courage of their respective antagonists. +Both had been successful beyond all precedent, and both considered +themselves invincible in the field. Grant had tact and tenacity, with +an overwhelming army behind him. Lee had talent, impetuosity, and +boldness, with an army of patriots at his command, who had never known +defeat; and considered themselves superior in courage and endurance +to any body of men on earth. Well might the clash of arms in the +Wilderness of these mighty giants cause the civilized world to watch +and wonder. Lee stood like a lion in the path--his capital behind him, +his army at bay--while Grant, with equal pugnacity, sought to crush +him by sheer force of overwhelming numbers. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +Battle of the Wilderness. + + +At midnight, on the 3rd of May, Grant put this mighty force of his in +motion--the greatest body of men moving to combat that had ever been +assembled on the continent. On the 4th his army crossed the Rapidan, +at Germania and Ely's Fords, and began moving out towards the +turn-pike, leading from Orange Court House by way of the Wilderness to +Fredericksburg. + +On the 5th Ewell had a smart engagement on the turn-pike, while +Heath's and Wilcox's Divisions, of Hill's Corps, had met successfully +a heavy force under Hancock, on the plank road--two roads running +parallel and about one mile distant. Both armies closed the battle at +night fall, each holding his own field. However, the enemy +strongly entrenched in front, while Hill's troops, from some cause +unexplainable, failed to take this precaution, and; had it not been +for the timely arrival of Longstreet at a critical moment, might have +been fatal to Lee's Army. + +On the morning of the 5th we had orders to march. Foragers coming +in the night before reported heavy firing in the direction of the +Rapidan, which proved to be the cavalry engagement checking Grant +at the river fords. All felt after these reports, and our orders to +march, that the campaign had opened. All day we marched along unused +roads--through fields and thickets, taking every near cut possible. +Scarcely stopping for a moment to even rest, we found ourselves, at 5 +o'clock in the evening, twenty-eight miles from our starting point. +Men were too tired and worn out to pitch tents, and hearing the orders +"to be ready to move at midnight," the troops stretched themselves +upon the ground to get such comfort and rest as was possible. Promptly +at midnight we began to move again, and such a march, and under such +conditions, was never before experienced by the troops. Along blind +roads, overgrown by underbrush, through fields that had lain fallow +for years, now studded with bushes and briars, and the night being +exceedingly dark, the men floundered and fell as they marched. But +the needs were too urgent to be slack in the march now, so the men +struggled with nature in their endeavor to keep in ranks. Sometimes +the head of the column would lose its way, and during the time it was +hunting its way back to the lost bridle path, was about the only rest +we got. The men were already worn out by their forced march of the day +before, and now they had to exert all their strength to its utmost to +keep up. About daylight we struck the plank road leading from Orange +Court House to Fredericksburg, and into this we turned and marched +down with a swinging step. Kershaw's Brigade was leading, followed by +Humphreys' and Wofford's, with Bryan bringing up the rear. The Second +South Carolina was in front, then the Third, Seventh, Fifteenth, Third +Battalion, and Eighth on extreme right, the brigade marching left in +front. + +[Illustration: Capt. Chesley W. Herbert, Co. C, 3d S.C. Regiment.] + +[Illustration: Capt. Theodore F. Malloy, Co. C, 8th S.C. Regiment.] + +[Illustration: Capt. John W. Wofford, Co. K, 3d S.C. Regiment.] + +[Illustration: Capt. John Hampden Brooks, Co. G, 7th S.C. Regiment.] + +After marching some two miles or more down the plank road at a rapid +gait, passing Hill's field infirmary, where the wounded of the day +before were being cared for, we heard a sharp firing in our immediate +front. Longstreet's artillery was far in the rear, floundering along +through the blind roads as the infantry had done the night before. Our +wagons and subsistence supplies had not been since dawn of the 5th, +although this made little difference to the men, as Longstreet's Corps +always marched with three days' rations in their haversacks, with +enough cooking utensils on their backs to meet immediate Wants. So +they were never thrown off their base for want of food. The cartridge +boxes were filled with forty rounds, with twenty more in their +pockets, and all ready for the fray. + +As soon as the musketry firing was heard, we hastened our steps, and +as we reached the brow of a small elevation in the ground, orders were +given to deploy across the road. Colonel Gaillard, with the Second, +formed on the left of the road, while the Third, under Colonel Nance; +formed on the right, with the other regiments taking their places on +the right of the Third in their order of march. Field's Division Was +forming rapidly on the left of the plank road, but as yet did not +reach it, thus the Second was for the time being detached to fill up. +The Mississippians, under Humphreys, had already left the plank road +in our rear, and so had Wofford, with his Georgians, and were making +their way as best they could through this tangled morass of the +Wilderness, to form line of battle on Kershaw's right. The task was +difficult in the extreme, but the men were equal to the occasion, +Bryan's Georgia Brigade filed off to the right, in rear, as reserves. + +The line had not yet formed before a perfect hail of bullets came +flying overhead and through our ranks, but not a man moved, only to +allow the stampeded troops of Heath's and Wilcox's to pass to the +rear. It seems that these troops had fought the day before, and lay +upon the battlefield with the impression that they would be relieved +before day. They had not reformed their lines, nor replenished their +ammunition boxes, nor made any pretention towards protecting their +front by any kind of works. The enemy, who had likewise occupied their +ground of the day before, had reformed their lines, strengthened their +position by breastworks--all this within two hundred yards of the +unsuspecting Confederates. This fault lay in a misunderstanding of +orders, or upon the strong presumption that Longstreet would be up +before the hour of combat. Hancock had ordered his advance at sunrise, +and after a feeble defense by Heath's and Wilcox's skirmish line, +the enemy burst upon the unsuspecting Confederates, while some were +cooking a hasty meal, others still asleep--all unprepared for this +thunderbolt that fell in their midst. While forming his lines of +battle, and while bullets were flying all around, General Kershaw came +dashing down in front of his column, his eyes flashing fire, sitting +his horse like a centaur--that superb style as Joe Kershaw only +could--and said in passing us, "Now, my old brigade. I expect you to +do your duty." In all my long experience, in war and peace, I never +saw such a picture as Kershaw and his war-horse made in riding down +in front of his troops at the Wilderness. It seemed an inspiration to +every man in line, especially his old brigade, who knew too well that +their conduct to-day would either win or lose him his Major General's +spurs, and right royally did he gain them. The columns were not yet +in proper order, but the needs so pressing to check the advance of the +enemy, that a forward movement was ordered, and the lines formed up as +the troops marched. + +The second moved forward on the left of the plank road, in support +of a battery stationed there, and which was drawing a tremendous fire +upon the troops on both sides of the road. Down the gentle slope +the brigade marched, over and under the tangled shrubbery and dwarf +sapplings, while a withering fire was being poured into them by as yet +an unseen enemy. Men fell here and there, officers urging ion their +commands and ordering them to "hold their fire." When near the lower +end of the declivity, the shock came. Just in front of us, and not +forty yards away, lay the enemy. The long line of blue could be seen +under the ascending smoke of thousands of rifles; the red flashes of +their guns seemed to blaze in our very faces. Now the battle was on in +earnest. The roar of Kershaw's guns mingled with those of the enemy. +Longstreet had met his old antagonist of Round Top, Hancock, the +Northern hero, of Gettysburg. The roar of the small arms, mingled with +the thunder of the cannon that Longstreet had brought forward, echoed +and re-echoed up and down the little valley, but never to die away, +for new troops were being put rapidly in action to the right and left +of us. Men rolled and writhed in their last death struggle; wounded +men groped their way to the rear, being blinded by the stifling smoke. +All commands were drowned in this terrible din of battle--the earth +and elements shook and trembled with the deadly shock of combat. +Regiments were left without commanders; companies, without officers. +The gallant Colonel Gaillard, of the Second, had fallen. The intrepid +young Colonel of the Third, J.D. Nance, had already died in the lead +of his regiment. The commander of the Seventh, Captain Goggans, was +wounded. Colonel John D. Kennedy, commanding the brigade, had left the +field, disabled from further service for the day. + +Still the battle rolled on. It seemed for a time as if the whole +Federal Army was upon us--so thick and fast came the death-dealing +missiles. Our ranks were being decimated by the wounded and the dead, +the little valley in the Wilderness becoming a veritable "Valley +of Hennom." The enemy held their position with a tenacity, born of +desperation, while the confederates pressed them with that old-time +Southern vigor and valor that no amount of courage could withstand. +Both armies stood at extreme tension, and the cord must soon snap one +way or the other, or it seemed as all would be annihilated, Longstreet +seeing the desperate struggle in which Kershaw and Humphreys, on the +right, and Hood's old Texans, on the left, were now engaged, sought to +relieve the pressure by a flank movement with such troops as he had at +his disposal. R.H. Andersen's Division, of Hill's Corps had reported +to him during the time Kershaw was in such deadly throes of battle. +Four brigades, Wofford's, of Kershaw's, and G.T. Anderson's, Mahone's, +and Davis', of Anderson's Division, were ordered around on our right, +to strike the left of Hancock But during this manoeuver the enemy +gradually withdrew from our front, and Kershaw's Brigade was relieved +by Bratton's South Carolina Brigade. I quote here from Colonel +Wallace, of the Second. + +"Kershaw's Division formed line in the midst of this confusion, like +cool and well-trained veterans as they were, checked the enemy, and +soon drove them back. The Second Regiment was on the left of the plank +road, near a battery of artillery, and although completely flanked +at one time by the giving away of the troops on the right, gallantly +stood their ground, though suffering terribly; they and the battery, +keeping up a well-directed fire, to the right oblique, until the +enemy gave way. General Lee now appeared on our left, leading Hood's +Texas Brigade. We joined our brigade on the right of the plank road, +and again advanced to the attack. + +"We were relieved by Jenkins' Brigade, under command of that able and +efficient officer, General Bratton, and ordered to the rear and rest. +We had scarcely thrown ourselves upon the ground, when General Bratton +requested that a regiment be sent him to fill a gap in the lines, +which the enemy had discovered and were preparing to break through. +I was ordered to take the Second Regiment and report to him. A staff +officer showed me the gap, when I double quicked to it, just in time, +as the enemy were within forty yards of it. As we reached the point we +poured a well-directed volley into them, killing a large number, and +putting the rest to flight. General Bratton witnessed the conduct of +the regiment on this occasion and spoke of it in the highest terms." + +But, meanwhile, Longstreet's flanking columns were steadily making +their way around the enemy's left. At ten o'clock the final crash +came. Like an avalanche from a mountain side, Wofford, Mahone, +Anderson, and Davis rushed upon the enemy's exposed flank, doubling up +Hancock's left upon his center, putting all to flight and confusion. +In vain did the Federal commander try to bring order out of confusion, +but at this critical moment Wadsworth, his leading Division General, +fell mortally wounded. Thus being left without a commander, his whole +division gave way, having, with Stephen's Division, been holding +Fields in desperate battle. The whole of Hancock's troops to the right +of the plank road was swept across it by the sudden onslaught of the +flanking column, only to be impeded by the meeting and mixing with +Wadsworth's and Stephen's retreating divisions. + +At this moment a sad and most regretable occurrence took place, that, +in a measure, somewhat nullified the fruits of one of the greatest +victories of the war. One of Mahone's regiments, gaining the plank +road in advance of the other portion of the flanking column, and +seeing Wadsworth giving such steady battle to Fields, rushed over and +beyond the road and assailed his right, which soon gave way. Generals +Longstreet, Kershaw, and Jenkins, with their staffs, came riding down +the plank road, just as the Virginia Regiment beyond the road was +returning to join its brigade. The other regiments coming up at this +moment, and seeing through the dense smoke what they considered an +advancing foe, fired upon the returning regiment just as General +Longstreet and party rode between. General Jenkins fell dead, +Longstreet badly wounded. Captain Doby, of Kershaw's staff, also was +killed, together with several couriers killed and wounded. + +This unfortunate occurrence put a check to a vigorous pursuit of +the flying enemy, partly by the fall of the corps commander and the +frightful loss in brigade and regimental commanders, to say nothing +of the officers of the line. Captain Doby was one of the most dashing, +fearless, and accomplished officers that South Carolina had furnished +during the war. The entire brigade had witnessed his undaunted valor +on so many battlefields, especially at Mayree's Hill and Zoar Church, +that it was with the greatest sorrow they heard of his death. Captain +Doby had seemed to live a charmed life while riding through safely the +storms upon storms of the enemy's battles, that it made it doubly sad +to think of his dying at the hands of his mistaken friends. On this +same plank road, only a few miles distant, General Jackson lost his +life one year before, under similar circumstances, and at the hands of +the same troops. Had it not been for the coolness of General Kershaw +in riding out to where he heard Jenkins' rifles clicking to return the +fire, and called out, "Friends," it would be difficult to tell, what +might have been the result. + +To show the light in which the actions of Kershaw's Brigade were held +in thus throwing itself between Lee and impending disaster at this +critical moment, and stemming the tide of battle single-handed and +alone, until his lines were formed, I will quote an extract from an +unprejudiced and impartial eye witness, Captain J.F.J. Caldwell, +who in his "History of McGowan's Brigade" pays this glowing but +just tribute to Kershaw and his men. In speaking of the surprise and +confusion in which a part of Hill's Corps was thrown, be says: + +"We were now informed that Longstreet was near at hand, with +twenty-five thousand fresh men. This was good matter to rally on. We +were marched to the plank road by special order of General Hill; but +just as we were crossing it, we received orders to return to the left. +We saw General Longstreet riding down the road towards us, followed +by his column of troops. The firing of the enemy, of late rather +scattering, now became fierce and incessant, and we could hear a +reply to it from outside. Kershaw's South Carolina Brigade, of McLaws' +(afterwards Kershaw's) Division, had met them. The fire on both sides +of the road increased to a continuous roar. Kershaw's Brigade was +extended across the road, and received the grand charge of the +Federals. Members of that Brigade have told me that the enemy rushed +upon them at the double-quick, huzzahing loudly. The woods were filled +with Confederate fugatives. Three brigades of Wilcox's Division and +all of Heath's were driven more or less rapidly, crowding together +in hopeless disorder, and only to be wondered at when any of them +attempted to make a stand. Yet Kershaw's Brigade bore themselves with +illustrious gallantry. Some of the regiments had not only to deploy +under fire, but when they were formed, to force their way through +crowds of flying men, and re-established their lines. They met Grant's +legions, opened a cool and murderous fire upon them, and continued +it so steadily and resolutely, that the latter were compelled to give +back. Here I honestly believe the Army of Northern Virginia was saved! +The brigade sustained a heavy loss, beginning with many patient, +gallant spirits in the ranks and culminating in Nance, Gaillard, and +Doby." + +No further pursuit being made by Kershaw's Brigade during the day, it +was allowed to rest after its day and night march and the bloody and +trying ordeal of the morning. Friends were hunting out friends among +the dead and wounded. The litter-bearers were looking after those too +badly wounded to make their way to the rear. + +Dr. Salmond had established his brigade hospital near where the battle +had begun in the morning, and to this haven of the wounded those who +were able to walk were making their way. In the rear of a battlefield +are scenes to sickening for sensitive eyes and ears. Here you see men, +with leg shattered, pulling themselves to the rear by the strength of +their arms alone, or exerting themselves to the utmost to get to some +place where they will be partially sheltered from the hail of bullets +falling all around; men, with arms swinging helplessly by their sides, +aiding some comrade worse crippled than themselves; others on the +ground appealing for help, but are forced to remain on the field amid +all the carnage going on around them, helpless and almost hopeless, +until the battle is over, and, if still alive, await their turn from +the litter-bearers. The bravest and best men dread to die, and +the halo that surrounds death upon the battlefield is but scant +consolation to the wounded soldier, and he clings to life with that +same tenacity after he has fallen, as the man of the world in "piping +times of peace." + +Just in rear of where Colonel Nance fell, I saw one of the saddest +sights I almost ever witnessed. A soldier from Company C, Third South +Carolina, a young soldier just verging into manhood, had been shot in +the first advance, the bullet severing the great artery of the thigh. +The young man seeing his danger of bleeding to death before succor +could possibly reach him, had struggled behind a small sapling. +Bracing himself against it, he undertook deliberative measures for +saving his life. Tying a handkerchief above the wound, placing a small +stone underneath and just over the artery, and putting a stick between +the handkerchief and his leg, he began to tighten by twisting the +stick around. But too late; life had fled, leaving both hands clasping +the stick, his eyes glassy and fixed. + +The next day was devoted to the burying of the dead and gathering +such rest as was possible. It was my misfortune to be wounded near +the close of the engagement, in a few feet of where lay the lamented +Colonel Nance. The regiment in some way became doubled up somewhat on +the center, perhaps in giving way for the Second to come in, and here +lay the dead in greater numbers than it was ever my fortune to see, +not even before the stone wall at Fredericksburg. + +In rear of this the surgeons had stretched their great hospital +tents, over which the yellow flag floated. The surgeons and assistant +surgeons never get their meed of praise in summing up the "news of the +battle." The latter follow close upon the line of battle and give such +temporary relief to the bleeding soldiers as will enable them to +reach the field hospital. The yellow flag does not always protect the +surgeons and their assistants, as shells scream and burst overhead as +the tide of battle rolls backward and forward. Not a moment of rest or +sleep do these faithful servants of the army get until every wound is +dressed and the hundred of arms and legs amputated, with that skill +and caution for which the army surgeons are so proverbially noted. +With the same dispatch are those, who are able to be moved, bundled +off to some city hospital in the rear. + +In a large fly-tent, near the roadside, lay dying the Northern +millionaire, General Wadsworth. The Confederates had been as careful +of his wants and respectful to his station as if he had been one of +their own Generals. I went in to look at the General who could command +more ready gold than the Confederate States had in its treasury. +His hat had been placed over his face, and as I raised it, his heavy +breathing, his eyes closed, his cold, clammy face showed that the end +was near. There lay dying the multi-millionaire in an enemy's country, +not a friend near to hear his last farewell or soothe his last moments +by a friendly touch on the pallid brow. Still he, like all soldiers on +either side, died for what he thought was right. + + "He fails not, who stakes his all, + Upon the right, and dares to fall; + What, though the living bless or blame For him, + the long success of fame." + +Hospital trains had been run up to the nearest railroad station in the +rear, bringing those ministering angels of mercy the "Citizens' Relief +Corps," composed of the best matrons and maidens of Richmond, led by +the old men of the city. They brought crutches by the hundreds and +bandages by the bolt. Every delicacy that the, South afforded these +noble dames of Virginia had at the disposal of the wounded soldiers. +How many thousands of Confederate soldiers have cause to bless these +noble women of Virginia. They were the spartan mothers and sisters of +the South. + + * * * * * + + +COLONEL JAMES D. NANCE. + +I do not think I would be accused of being partial in saying that +Colonel Nance was the best all round soldier in Kershaw's Brigade, +none excepted. I have no allusion to the man, but the soldier alone. +Neither do I refer to qualities of courage, for all were brave, but +to efficiency. First to recommend him was his military education and +training. He was a thorough tactician and disciplinarian, and was only +equaled in this respect by General Connor. In battle he was ever cool +and collected--he was vigilant, aggressive, and brave. Never for a +moment was he thrown off his base or lost his head under the most +trying emergencies. His evolution in changing the front of his +regiment from columns of fours to a line of battle on Mayree's Hill, +under a galling fire from artillery and musketry, won the admiration +of all who witnessed it. Socially, he had the manners of a +woman--quiet, unassuming, tender of heart, and of refined feelings. +On duty--the march or in battle--he was strict and exacting, almost +to sternness. He never sought comfort or the welfare of himself--the +interest, the safety, the well being of his men seemed to be his +ruling aim and ambition. + +I append a short sketch of Colonel Nance taken from Dr. Barksdale's +book, "Eminent and Representative Men of the Carolinas:" + + "Colonel James Drayton Nance, the subject of this sketch, Was + born in Newberry, S.C., October 10th, 1837, and was the son + of Drayton and Lucy (Williams) Nance. He received his school + education at Newberry, and was graduated from the Citadel + Military Academy, at Charleston. In 1859 he was admitted to + the bar and began the practice of law at Newberry. + + "When the State seceded from the Union, December, 1860, and + volunteers for her defense were called for, he was unanimously + elected Captain of 'The Quitman Rifles,' an infantry company + formed at Newberry, and afterwards incorporated into the Third + Regiment, South Carolina Volunteers. With his company he was + mustered into the Confederate service at Columbia in April, + 1861, and was in command of the company at the first battle of + Manassas and in the Peninsula campaign in Virginia. + + "On May 16th, 1862, upon the reorganization of the Third + Regiment, he was chosen its Colonel, a position which he + filled until his death. As Colonel, he commanded the regiment + in the various battles around Richmond, June and July, 1862, + Second Manassas, Maryland Heights, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg + (where he was severely wounded), Gettysburg, Chickamauga, + Knoxville, and the Wilderness, where on the 6th of May, + 1864, he was instantly killed. His body was brought home and + interred at Newberry with fitting honors. He was a brave, + brilliant young officer, possessing the confidence and high + regard of his command in an extraordinary degree, and had he + lived, would have risen to higher rank and honor. His valuable + services and splended qualities and achievements in battle + and in council were noted and appreciated, as evidenced by the + fact that at the time of his death a commission of Brigadier + General had been, decided upon as his just due for meritorious + conduct. + + "At the age of seventeen he professed religion and united + with the Baptist Church at Newberry, and from that time to his + death was distinguished for his Christian consistency." + + * * * * * + + +LIEUTENANT COLONEL FRANKLIN GAILLARD. + +Lieutenant Colonel Franklin Gaillard is not known to fame by his +military record alone, but was known and admired all over the State +as the writer of the fiery editorials in the "Carolinian," a paper +published in Columbia during the days just preceding Secession, and +noted for its ardent State Rights sentiment. These eloquent, forcible, +and fearless discussions of the questions of the day by young Gaillard +was a potent factor in shaping the course of public sentiment and +rousing the people to duty and action, from the Mountains to the Sea. +Through the columns of this paper, then the leading one in the State, +he paved the way and prepared the people for the great struggle soon +to take place, stimulating them to an enthusiasm almost boundless. + +He was in after years as fearless and bold with the sword as he +had been with the pen. He was not the man to turn his back upon his +countrymen, whose warlike passions he had aroused, when the time for +action came. He led them to the fray--a paladin with the pen, a Bayard +with the sword. He was an accomplished gentleman, a brave soldier, a +trusted and impartial officer, a peer of any in Kershaw's Brigade. + +Colonel Gaillard was born in 1829, in the village of Pineville, in the +present County of Berkeley. In his early childhood his father, +Thomas Gaillard, removed to Alabama. But not long thereafter Franklin +returned to this State, to the home of his uncle, David Gaillard, +of Fairfield County. Here he attended the Mount Zion Academy, in +Winnsboro under the distinguished administration of J.W. Hudson. In +the fall of 1846 he entered the South Carolina College, and graduated +with honor in the class of 1849, being valedictorian of the class. +Shortly after graduation, in company with friends and relatives from +this State and Alabama, he went to California in search of the "yellow +metal," the find of which, at that time, was electrifying the young +men throughout the States. + +After two or three years of indifferent success, he returned to this +State once more, making his home with his uncle, in Winnsboro. In 1853 +(or thereabout) he became the proprietor of the "Winnsboro Register," +and continued to conduct this journal, as editor and proprietor, until +1857, when he was called to Columbia as editor of the "Carolinian," +then owned by Dr. Robert W. Gibbes, of Richland, and was filling that +position at the time of the call to arms, in 1861, when he entered +the service in Captain Casson's Company, as a Lieutenant, and became a +member of the renowned Second Regiment. + +In March, 1853, he was married to Miss Catherine C. Porcher, of +Charleston, but this union was terminated in a few years by the death +of the wife. Colonel Gaillard left two children, one son and one +daughter, who still survive, the son a distinguished physician, of +Texas, and the daughter the wife of Preston S. Brooks, son of the +famous statesman of that name, now of Tennessee. + +Colonel Gaillard was a descendant of a French Huguenot emigrant, who, +with many others, settled in this State after the Revocation of the +Edict of Nantes, in 1685. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XXX + +Brock's Cross Road and Spottsylvania to North Anna. + + +Having been wounded in the last assault, I insert here Adjutant Y.J. +Pope's description of the operations of Kershaw's Brigade from the +Wilderness to North Anna River, covering a period of perhaps two weeks +of incessant fighting. The corps had been put under the command of +Major General R.H. Anderson, known throughout the army as "Fighting +Dick Anderson." His division had been assigned to Longstreet's Corps +in the place of Pickett's, now on detached service. Colonel Henagan, +of the Eighth, commanded the brigade as senior Colonel. + + * * * * * + + +NORTH ANNA FIVER, VIRGINIA. + +How many times, as soldiers, have we crossed this stream, and little +did we imagine in crossing that on its banks we would be called upon +to meet the enemy. "Man proposes, but God disposes." In may, +1864, after the battles of the Wilderness, Brock's Road, and +Spottsylvania--stop a minute and think of these battles--don't you +recall how, on that midnight of the 5th day of May, 1864, the order +came, "Form your regiments," and then the order came to march? Through +the woods we went. The stars shown so brightly. The hooting of the +owls was our only music. The young Colonel at the head of his regiment +would sing, in his quiet way, snatches of the hymns he had heard the +village choir sing so often and so sweetly, and then "Hear me Norma." +His mind was clear; he had made up his determination to face the day +of battle, with a calm confidence in the power of the God he trusted +and in the wisdom of His decrees. The Adjutant rode silently by his +side. At length daylight appears. We have at last struck in our march +the plank road. The sun begins to rise, when all of a sudden we hear +the roll of musketry. The armies are at work. General Lee has ridden +up the plank road with his First Lieutenant, the tried, brave old +soldier, Longstreet. + +Nance has fallen, pierced by five balls, but we knew it not. Every +hand is full. Presently, our four companies came up, so gallantly they +looked as they came. Promptly filling up the broken line, we now move +forward once more, never to fall back. We have Nance's body. The wild +flowers around about him look so beautiful and sweet, and some of them +are plucked by his friend to send to his sister, Mrs. Baxter. + +But go back to the fight. It rages wildly all around. Presently, +a crash comes from the right. It is Longstreet at the head of the +flanking column, and then Hancock is swept from the field in front. +Joy is upon us. Hastily Longstreet rides to the front. Then a volley +and he falls, not dead, but so shattered that it will be months before +we see him again. Then comes the peerless chieftain, Lee, and he +orders the pursuing columns to halt. A line of hastily constructed +fieldworks arise. A shout--such a shout rolls from right to left +of Lee's lines. It has a meaning, and that meaning is that Grant's +advance is baffled! But the Federal commander is not to be shut off. +If he cannot advance one way, he will another. Hence, the parallel +lines are started--the farther he stretches to our right, we must +stretch also. + +So now comes the affair at Brock's Road, on the 8th of May. 1864. As +before remarked, Grant commenced his attempt at a flank movement, by +means of an extension of his columns parallel to ours, hoping to meet +some opening through which he might pour a torrent of armed men. Early +in the morning of the 8th of May, 1864, we are aroused and begin our +march. Soon we see an old Virginia gentleman, bareheaded and without +his shoes, riding in haste towards us. He reports that our cavalry are +holding the enemy back on Brock's Road, but that the Federal infantry +are seen to be forming for the attack, and, of course, our cavalry +cannot stand such a pressure. General Kershaw orders us forward +in double-quick. Still we are not then. Then it was that a gallant +cavalryman rushes to us and said, "Run for our rail piles; the Federal +infantry will reach them first, if you don't run." Our men sprang +forward as if by magic. We occupy the rail piles in time to see a +column, a gallant column, moving towards us, about sixty yards away. +Fire, deadening fire, is poured into that column by our men. A gallant +Federal officer rides just in rear, directing the movement. "Pick that +officer off of his horse," is the command given to two or three of our +cool marksmen. He falls. The column staggers and then falls back. Once +more they come to time. We are better prepared for them. + +Right here let me state a funny occurrence. Sim Price observed old +man John Duckett, in the excitement, shooting his rifle high over the +heads of the Yankees. This was too much for Sim Price, and he said, +"Good God, John Duckett, are you shooting at the moon?" + +Here is the gallant J.E.B. Stuart, Lieutenant General, commanding the +cavalry of the Army of Northern Virginia, with hat off, waiving it in +an enthusiastic cheering of the gallant men of the old Third. Well he +may, for the line they held on that day was that adopted by General +Lee for the famous Spottsylvania battle. + +Just prior to the battle of Spottsylvania Court House, which was +fought on the 12th of May, 1864, sharpshooters were posted in trees in +the woods, and kept up a pretty constant fusilade when any head showed +itself. It is recalled that when Major R.P. Todd returned to our +command an officer, eager to hear from his home in South Carolina, +entered a little fly-tent with Todd, and presently one of these +sharpshooters put a ball through this tent, between the heads of the +two. Maybe they didn't move quickly. Here it was, that lest a night +attack might be made, one-third of the men were kept in the trenches +all the time, day and night. One of these nights, possibly the 11th of +May, a staff officer stole quietly where the Colonel and Adjutant were +lying and whispered, "It is thought that the enemy have gotten betwixt +our out posts and the breastworks and intend to make a night attack. +So awaken the soldiers and put every man in the trenches." The Colonel +went to one end of the line and the Adjutant to the other, and soon +had our trenches manned. The Colonel was observed full of laughter, +and when questioned, stated that on going to the left wing of the +regiment to awaken the men, he came across a soldier with some small +branches kindled into a blaze, making himself a cup of coffee. He +spoke to the soldier, saying: + +"Who is that?" + +The soldier replied, not recognizing the Colonel's voice: "Who in the +h----l are you?" + +The Colonel said: "Don't you know the Yankees are between the pickets +and the breastworks, and will soon attack our whole line?" + +He reported the man at these words, saying: "The Jesus Christ, +Colonel!" rolling as he spoke, and he never stopped rolling until he +fell into the pit at the works. Never was a revolution in sentiment +and action more quickly wrought than on this occasion with this +soldier. + +It is needless to speak of the battle of Spottsylvania Court House, +except to remark that here our comrades of McGowan's Brigade showed +of what stuff they were made, and by their gallantry and stubborn +fighting, saved the day for General Lee. + +Soon after this battle General Grant, though baffled by its result, +renewed his effort to reach Richmond. By a rapid march, General Lee +was before Grant's columns at the North Anna River. Here we hoped the +enemy would attack us. On the South side of this river, on the road +leading to Hanover Junction, good heavy works had been completed, +while a fort of inferior proportions on the North side was intended to +protect the bridge across the river from raiding parties of the enemy. +To our surprise, when the part of our army that was designed to cross +the river at this point, had crossed over, the Third Regiment, James' +Battalion, and the Seventh Regiment were left behind about this fort. +We had no idea that anything serious was intended; but after awhile +it leaked out that General Lee needed some time to complete a line of +works from one point of the river to another on the same stream, on +the South side, and that it was intended that the bare handful of men +with us were intended to hold the approach to the bridge in face of +the tens of thousands of Grant's Army in our front. Trying to realize +the task assigned us, positions were assigned the different forces +with us. It was seen that the Seventh Regiment, when stretched to the +left of the fort, could not occupy, even by a thin line, the territory +near them. We were promised the co-operation of artillery just on the +other side of the river. Presently the attack opened on the right +and center, but this attack we repulsed. Again the same points were +assailed, with a like result. Then the attack was made on our left, +and although the Seventh Regiment did its whole duty, gradually our +left was seen to give way. This emboldened the enemy to press our +right and center again, but they were firm. It was manifest now that +the enemy would soon be in our rear, and as the sun was sinking to +rest in the West, we made a bold dash to cross the river in our rear, +bringing down upon us the enemy's artillery fire of shot and shell, +as well as musketry. It looked hard to tell which way across the river +was best--whether by way of the bridge, or to wade across. It was said +our Lieutenant Colonel, who was on foot when reaching the opposite +bank, and finding his boots full of water, said to a soldier: "Tom, +give me your hand." "No, no, Major," was the reply; "this is no time +for giving hands." The ascent of the long bill on the South side +was made under the heavy fire of the enemy. When at its height, a +stuttering soldier proposed to a comrade to lay down and let him get +behind him. Of course the proposition was declined without thanks. +When we reformed at the top of the hill, there was quite a fund of +jokes told. Amongst others, the one last stated, Tom Paysinger said: +"Nels., if I had been there, I would have killed myself laughing." +Whereupon, the stutterer said: "T-T-Tom Paysinger, I saw a heap of men +down there, but not one that laughed." + +War has its humorous as well as its serious side, and many a joke was +cracked in battle, or if not mentioned then, the joke was told soon +afterwards. It is recalled just here that in this battle an officer, +who had escaped being wounded up to that time, was painfully wounded. +When being borne on the way to the rear on a stretcher, he was heard +to exclaim: "Oh! that I had been a good man. Oh! that I had listened +to my mother." When he returned to the army, many a laugh was had at +his expense when these expressions would be reported. But the officer +got even with one of his tormentors, who was one of the bearers of the +litter upon which the officer was borne away, for while this young man +was at his best in imitating the words and tone of the wounded man, +he was suddenly arrested by the words: "Yes, I remember when a shell +burst pretty close you forgot me, and dropped your end of the litter." +The laugh was turned. All this, however, was in perfect good humor. + +It has been shown how Kershaw's South Carolina Brigade closed the +breach in Lee's Army on the 6th of May, and turned disaster into a +glorious victory, and as the 12th of May, at "Bloody Angle," near +Spottsylvania Court house, will go down in history as one among the +most memorable battles of all time, I wish to show how another gallant +South Carolina Brigade (McGowan's) withstood the shock of the greater +portion of Grant's Army, and saved Lee's Army from disaster during +the greater part of one day. This account is also taken from +Captain Caldwell's "History of McGowan's Brigade." Being an active +participant, he is well qualified to give a truthful version, and I +give in his own language his graphic description of the battle of the +"Bloody Angle." + + * * * * * + + +HISTORY OF MCGOWAN'S BRIGADE. + +Reaching the summit of an open hill, where stood a little old house, +and its surrounding naked orchard, we were fronted and ordered forward +on the left of the road.... Now we entered the battle. There were two +lines of works before us; the first or inner line, from a hundred and +fifty to two hundred yards in front of us; the second or outer line, +perhaps a hundred yards beyond it, and parallel to it. There were +troops in the outer line, but in the inner one only what appeared to +be masses without organization. The enemy were firing in front of the +extreme right of the brigade, and their balls came obliquely down our +line; but we could not discover, on account of the woods about the +point of firing, under what circumstances the battle was held. There +was a good deal of doubt as to how far we were to go, or in what +direction.... The truth is, the road by which we had come was not +at all straight, which made the right of the line front much farther +north than the rest, and the fire was too hot for us to wait for +the long loose column to close up, so as to make an entirely orderly +advance. More than this, there was a death struggle ahead, which must +be met instantly. We advanced at a double-quick, cheering loudly, and +entered the inner works. Whether by order or tacit understanding, we +halted here, except the Twelfth Regiment, which was the right of the +brigade. That moved at once to the outer line, and threw itself with +its wanted impetuosity into the heart of the battle.... The brigade +advanced upon the works. About the time we reached the inner lines, +General McGowan was wounded by a minnie ball in the arm, and forced +to quit the field. Colonel Brockman, senior Colonel present, was +also wounded, and Colonel Brown, of the Fourteenth Regiment, assumed +command then or a little later. The four regiments, the First, +Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Rifles (the Twelfth had passed on to the +outer line), closed up and arranged their lines. Soon the order was +given to advance to the outer line. We did so with a cheer and a +double-quick, plunging through mud knee deep and getting in as best we +could. Here, however, lay Harris' Mississippi Brigade. We were ordered +to close to the right. We moved by the flank, up the works, under the +fatally accurate firing of the enemy, and ranged ourselves along +the entrenchments. The sight we encountered was not calculated to +encourage us The trenches dug on the inner side were almost filled +with water. Dead men lay on the surface of the ground and in the pools +of water. The wounded bled, stretched, and groaned, or huddled in +every attitude of pain. The water was crimson with blood. Abandoned +knapsacks, guns, and accoutrements, with ammunition boxes, were +scattered all around. In the rear disabled caissons stood and limbers +of guns. The rain poured heavily, and an incessant fire was kept upon +us from front and flank. The enemy still held the works on the right +of the angle, and fired across the traverses. Nor were these foes +easily seen. They barely raised their heads above the logs at the +moment of firing. It was plainly a question of bravery and endurance +now. + +We entered upon the task with all our might. Some fired at the line +lying in our front on the edge of the ridge before described; others +kept down the enemy lodged in the traverses on the right. At one or +two places Confederates and Federals were only separated by the works, +and the latter not a few times reached their guns over and fired +right down upon the heads of the former. So continued the painfully +unvarying battle for more than two hours. At the end of that time +a rumor arose that the enemy was desirous to come in and surrender. +Colonel Brown gives the following in his official report: "About two +o'clock P.M. the firing ceased along the line, and I observed the +enemy, standing up in our front, their colors flying and arms pointing +upwards. I called to them to lay down their arms and come in. An +officer answered that he was waiting our surrender--that we had raised +a white flag, whereupon he had ceased firing. I replied, 'I command +here,' and if any flag had been raised it was without authority, and +unless he came in, firing would be resumed. He begged a conference, +which was granted, and a subordinate officer advanced near the +breastwork and informed me that a white flag was flying on my right. +He was informed that unless his commander surrendered, the firing +would be continued. He started back to his lines, and failing to +exhibit his flag of truce, was shot down midway between the lines, +which was not more than twenty yards at this point. The firing again +commenced with unabating fury." ... The firing was astonishingly +accurate all along the line. No man could raise his shoulders above +the works without danger of immediate death. Some of the enemy lay +against our works in front. I saw several of them jump over and +surrender during the relaxation of the firing. An ensign of a Federal +regiment came right up to us during the "peace negotiations" and +demanded our surrender. Lieutenant Carlisle, of the Thirteenth +Regiment, replied that we would not surrender. Then the ensign +insisted, as he had come under a false impression, he should be +allowed to return to his command. Lieutenant Carlisle, pleased with +his composure, consented. But as he went away a man from another part +of the line shot him through the face, and he came and jumped over +to us. This was the place to test individual courage. Some ordinarily +good soldiers did next to nothing, while others excelled themselves. +The question became pretty plainly, whether one was willing to meet +death, not merely to run the chances of it. There was no further +cessation of fire, after the pause before described. Every now and +then a regular volley would be hurled at us from what we supposed a +fresh line of Federals, but it would gradually tone down to the slow, +particular, fatal firing of the siege. The prisoners who ran into us +now and then informed us that Grant's whole energies were directed +against this point. They represented the wood on the other side as +filled with dead, wounded fighters, and skulkers. We were told that +if we would hold the place till dark, we would be relieved. Dark came, +but no relief. The water became a deeper crimson, the corpses grew +more numerous. Every tree about us, for thirty feet from the ground, +was barked by balls. Just before night a tree six or eight inches in +diameter, just behind the works, was cut down by the bullets of the +enemy. We noticed at the same time a large oak hacked and torn in such +a manner never before seen. Some predicted its fall before morning, +but the most of us considered that out of the question. But about +10 o'clock it did fall forward on our works, wounding some men and +startling a great many more. An officer, who afterwards measured this +tree, informed me that it was twenty-two inches in diameter. This was +entirely the work of rifle balls. Midnight came, still no relief; no +cessation of the firing. Numbers of the troops sank, overpowered, into +the muddy trenches and slept soundly. The rain continued. Just before +daylight we were ordered, in a whisper, which was passed along the +line, to slowly and noiselessly retire from the works.... Day dawned, +and the evacuation was complete. + +Thus ended one of the most stubbornly contested battles of the war, +if not of the century. The whole army, from one end to the other, sung +the praises of the gallant South Carolinians, who, by their deeds of +valor, made immortal the "Bloody Angle." + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +From North Anna to Cold Harbor--Joined by the Twentieth South +Carolina. + + +It was while entrenched south of North Anna that our troops heard of +the death of our great cavalry leader, General J.E.B. Stuart, who fell +mortally wounded at Yellow Tavern, on May the 18th. If the death of +Jackson was a blow to the army and the South, the death of Stuart was +equally so. He was the Murat of the Southern Army, equally admired and +beloved by the infantry as the cavalry. The body of the army always +felt safe when the bugle of Stuart could be heard on the flank or +front, and universal sadness was thrown around the Army of Northern +Virginia, as well as the whole South, by his death. It was conceded +by the North, as well as the South, that Stuart was the finest type +of cavalry leader in either army, Longstreet badly wounded, Stuart +and Jenkins dead, certainly gave the prospects of the campaign just +opening anything but an assuring outlook. + + * * * * * + + +TWENTIETH SOUTH CAROLINA REGIMENT. + +About this time our brigade was reinforced by the Twentieth South +Carolina Regiment, one of the finest bodies of men that South Carolina +had furnished during the war. It was between one thousand and one +thousand two hundred strong, led by the "silver-tongued orator," +Lawrence M. Keitt. It was quite an acceptable acquisition to our +brigade, since our ranks had been depleted by near one thousand since +the 6th of May. They were as healthy, well clad, and well fed body of +troops as anybody would wish to see, and much good-humored badgering +was indulged in at their expense by Kershaw's "web feet." From their +enormous strength in numbers, in comparison to our "corporal guards" +of companies, the old soldiers called them "The Twentieth Army Corps." +I here give a short sketch of the regiment prior to its connection +with the brigade. + +The Twentieth Regiment was organized under the call for twelve +thousand additional troops from South Carolina, in 1862, along with +the Seventeenth, Eighteenth, and Nineteenth, Holcomb Legion, and other +regiments. The companies composing the Twentieth assembled at the race +course, in Charleston, S.C., in the fall of 1862. The companies had +already organized in the respective counties, and elected officers, +and after assembling in Charleston and organizing the regiment, +elected the following field officers: + + Colonel----L.M. Keitt. + Lieutenant Colonel----O.M. Dansler. + Major----S.M. Boykin. + Adjutant----John Wilson. + Quartermaster----John P. Kinard. + Commissary----Brock. + Surgeon----Dr. Salley. + Assistant Surgeon----Dr. Barton. + Chaplain----Rev. W.W. Duncan. + + Company A, Anderson and Pickens----Captain Partlow. + Company B, Orangeburg----Captain McMichael. + Company C, Lexington----Captain Leaphart. + Company D, Orangeburg----Captain Danley. + Company E, Laurens----Captain Cowen. + Company F, Newberry----Captain Kinard. + Company G, Sumter----Captain Moseley. + Company H, Orangeburg and Lexington----Captain Ruff. + Company I, Orangeburg and Lexington----Captain Gunter. + Company K, Lexington----Captain Harmon. + +Captain Jno. P. Kinard, of Company F, was made Quartermaster, and +First Lieutenant Jno. M. Kinard was promoted to Captain. + +A singularity of one of the companies, I, was that it had twenty-eight +members by the name of Gunter. The Captain and all three Lieutenants +and seven non-commissioned officers were of the name of Gunter, and it +is needless to add that it was called the Gunter Company. + +Colonel Keitt, acting as Brigadier General while in Charleston, the +entire management of the regiment was left to Lieutenant Colonel +Dansler. He was a fine officer, a good tactician, and thorough +disciplinarian. A courteous gentleman, kind and sociable to all, he +was greatly beloved by officers and men, and it was with feelings of +universal regret the regiment was forced to give him up, he having +resigned in the spring of 1864, to accept the position of Colonel of +the Twenty-Second Regiment. + +The regiment remained at the race course for several months, for drill +and instruction. In February, 1863, they were moved to the west end of +James' Island, near Secessionville, for guard and picket duty. After +this, they were transferred to Sullivan's Island, and quartered in the +old Moultrie House and cottages adjacent. Four companies were ordered +to Battery Marshall, on the east side of the Island, to assist in the +management of the siege guns at that point. + +On the 7th of May the Federal gunboats crossed the bar and made an +attack upon Forts Sumter, Moultrie, and the batteries on Morris' +Island. Here the regiment was subjected to a heavy cannonading +from the three hundred pounders from the Federal ironclads. Colonel +Dansler, however, moved the regiment to the east, in the sandhills, +thus avoiding the direct fire of the enemy. One of the ironclads was +sunk and others badly crippled, drawing off after dark. In December +eight companies were moved over to Mt. Pleasant and two to Kinloch's +Landing. + +During the memorable siege of Morris' Island, the Twentieth did its +turn at picketing on that island, going over after dark in a steamer +and returning before day. + +On the night of the 30th July, 1863, while the regiment was returning +from Morris' Island, the tide being low, the steamer Sumter, on which +the regiment was being transported, was forced to take the main ocean +channel. It was the duty of those on garrison duty at Fort Sumter +to signal Moultrie and the shore batteries of the movements of the +transport steamer. For some cause or other Sumter failed to give the +signals, and Moultrie being aware that there was a steamer in the +harbor and no signals up, opened upon the ill-fated steamer with all +her guns, thinking it one of the enemy's ironclads. This was a signal +for the shore batteries to open their guns, and in a few moments +shells came crashing through the decks and cabins of the crowded +steamer from all sides. This created a panic among the troops, and had +it not been for the self-possession and coolness of the captain of +the steamer, the loss of life would have been appalling. The captain +turned his boat and beached it as soon as possible, not, however, +before the men began leaping over the sides of the vessel in one grand +pell-mell. The dark waves of unknown death were below them, while the +shells shrieked and burst through the steamer. There was but little +choice for the panic stricken men. Fortunately the waters here were +shallow enough for the men to touch bottom and wade out, some to Fort +Johnson, some to Fort Sumter, while others remained in the shallows +until relieved by small boats from shore. The regiment lost sixteen +men, either killed or drowned. + +On the 16th or 18th of May, 1864, the regiment was ordered to +Virginia, and reached Richmond about the twenty-second, and was +ordered to join Kershaw's Brigade, reaching it about the 28th of May, +near South Anna River. + +After the resignation of Lieutenant Colonel Dansler, Major Boykin +was promoted to that position, and Captain Partlow made Major. By +the death of Colonel Keitt, Boykin and Partlow were raised in regular +grade, and Captain McMichael made Major. Lieutenant Colonel Partlow +was wounded at Deep Bottom soon after this, and did Hot return to duty +until near the close of the war. Colonel Boykin and Major McMichael +were both captured at Cedar Creek, and neither returned until after +peace was declared. The regiment was commanded during the remainder of +the service, with short exceptions, by Captain Leaphart. + +Colonel Keitt being senior Colonel now in the brigade, was placed in +command. It was unfortunate for Colonel Keitt and his command, being +transferred to our army just at the moment it was in one of the most +active and vigorous campaigns of the war. The men were ill-prepared to +meet the requirements expected of soldiers, to undergo forced marches +in the burning heat of summer, to accustom themselves so suddenly to +the scant and badly-prepared food, night pickets in the open, in face +of the enemy, and all the hardships incident to a soldier's life in +the field. These troops had seen but little of real service, having +only done garrison duty around Charleston, quartered in barracks or +good tents, while now they had to take the field, with no advantage of +the veterans, in the way of supplies and in accommodations, and with +none of their experience and strength of endurance. They had all the +courage of the veteran troops, but lacked acclimation. Their company +discipline was well enough, and had excellent company and field +officers, but were sadly deficient in regimental and brigade drill. It +is doubtful if either their commander or any of their field officers +had ever been in brigade drill or executed a maneuver in a larger body +than a regiment. Like all new troops in the field, they had overloaded +themselves with baggage, and being thus overloaded, straggling was +universal in the regiment, until they became endured to the fatigues +and hardships of the march. Had they come out two or three months +earlier, and taken on the ways and customs of the soldier in the +field, it would have been much better. Still they deserve the +highest degree of praise for their self-denials, their endurance, and +fortitude in the march and in battle. The necessity of the occasion +caused them to learn rapidly the intricacies in the life of the +veteran, and their action in battle in a few days after their arrival, +stamped them as a gallant body of men. + +On the night of the 31st of May orders came to prepare to march. Grant +had withdrawn from our front, and was still rolling along on Lee's +right. Both armies were now moving in the direction of Cold Harbor, +where McClellan, two years before, had tried to stay the flight of +his troops and to check the victorious march of Jackson, Hill, and +Longstreet. Now Grant was tempting fate by moving his beaten troops +to this ill-fated field, there to try conclusions with McClellan's old +antagonist. + +The Federals were moving with rapid gait to this strategic point, but +Lee having the inner line, was first on the field. It must be borne in +mind that since the 4th of May the army had been idle scarcely a day. +From that day to the 1st of June it had been one continual battle. If +the infantry was not engaged, it was the artillery that kept hammering +away, while Stuart's Cavalry hovered around the flanks and rear of the +enemy, ready at a moment to swoop like an eagle upon his prey. We +were continually under arms, either on a forced march night and day, +checking the enemy here, baffling him there, driving back his advance +lines, or assaulting his skirmishers. At night the sound of the +enemy's drums mingled with that of our own, while the crack of the +rifles in the sharpshooters' pits was almost continuous. Early on the +morning of June 1st Kershaw's Brigade was aroused and put on the march +at a rapid pace in a southeasterly direction. + +When nearing the old battlefield of Cold Harbor the men began to snuff +the scent of battle. Cartridge boxes were examined, guns unslung, and +bayonets fixed, while the ranks were being rapidly closed up. After +some delay and confusion, a line of battle was formed along an old +roadway. Colonel Keitt had never before handled such a body of troops +in the open field, and his pressing orders to find the enemy only +added perplexity to his other difficulties. Every man in ranks knew +that he was being led by one of the most gifted and gallant men in the +South, but every old soldier felt and saw at a glance his +inexperience and want of self-control. Colonel Keitt showed no want of +aggressiveness and boldness, but he was preparing for battle like in +the days of Alva or Turenne, and to cut his way through like a storm +center. + +As soon as the line was formed the order of advance was given, with +never so much as a skirmish line in front. Keitt led his men like +a knight of old--mounted upon his superb iron-gray, and looked the +embodiment of the true chevalier that he was. Never before in our +experience had the brigade been led in deliberate battle by its +commander on horseback, and it was perhaps Colonel Keitt's want of +experience that induced him to take this fatal step. Across a large +old field the brigade swept towards a densely timbered piece of +oakland, studded with undergrowth, crowding and swaying in irregular +lines, the enemy's skirmishers pounding away at us as we advanced. +Colonel Keitt was a fine target for the sharpshooters, and fell before +the troops reached the timber, a martyr to the inexorable laws of the +army rank. Into the dark recesses of the woods the troops plunged, +creeping and crowding their way through the tangled mass of +undergrowth, groups seeking shelter behind the larger trees, while the +firing was going on from both sides. The enemy meeting our advance in +a solid regular column, our broken and disorganized ranks could +not cope with them. Some of the regimental officers seeing the +disadvantage at which our troops were fighting, ordered a withdrawal +to the old roadway in our rear. The dense smoke settling in the woods, +shielded our retreat and we returned to our starting point without +further molestation than the whizzing of the enemy's bullets overhead. +The lines were reformed, and Colonel Davis, of the Fifteenth, assumed +command (or perhaps Colonel Henagan). + +Colonel William Wallace, of the Second, in speaking of this affair, +says: + +"Our brigade, under the command of the lamented Colonel Keitt, was +sent out to reconnoitre, and came upon the enemy in large force, +strongly entrenched. Keitt was killed, and the brigade suffered +severely. A few skirmishers thrown out would have accomplished the +object of a reconnoissance, and would have saved the loss of many +brave men. Our troops finding the enemy entrenched, fell back and +began to fortify. Soon our line was established, and the usual +skirmishing and sharpshooting commenced. That same evening, being on +the extreme left of Kershaw's Division, I received orders to hasten +with the Second Regiment to General Kershaw's headquarters. I found +the General in a good deal of excitement. He informed me that our +lines had been broken on the right of his division, and directed me +to hasten there, and if I found a regiment of the enemy flanking his +position, to charge them. I hurried to the point indicated, found that +our troops to the extent of a brigade and a half had been, driven +from their works, and the enemy in possession of them. I determined +to charge, however, and succeeded in driving them from their +position, with but little loss. Our regiment numbered one hundred and +twenty-seven men. The enemy driven out consisted of the Forty-eighth +and One Hundred and Twelfth New York. We captured the colors of the +Forty-eighth, took some prisoners, and killed many while making +their escape from the trenches. We lost in this charge one of our +most efficient officers, Captain Ralph Elliott, a brother of +General Stephen Elliott. He was a brave soldier and a most estimable +gentleman." + +Our lines were formed at right angles to that on which we had fought +that day, and the soldiers were ordered to fortify. The Second and +Third on the left were on an incline leading to a ravine in front of a +thicket; the Fifteenth and Twentieth, on the right of the Third, were +on the brow of a plateau; in front was the broad old field, through +which we had marched to the first advance; the Third Battalion, +Eighth, and Seventh, on extreme right, were on the plateau and fronted +by a thicket of tall pines. + +As nearly all regimental commanders had been killed since the 6th of +May, I will give them as they existed on the 1st of June, three weeks +later: + + Second--Major Wm. Wallace. + Third--Lieutenant Colonel W.D. Rutherford. + Seventh--Captain James Mitchel. + Eighth--Major E.S. Stackhouse. + Twentieth--Lieutenant Colonel S.M. Boykin. + Third Battalion--Captain Whitener. + Brigade Commander--Colonel James Henagan. + +Grant stretched his lines across our front and began approaching +our works with his formidable parallels. He would erect one line of +breastworks, then under cover of night, another a hundred or two yards +nearer us; thus by the third of June our lines were not one hundred +yards apart in places. Our pickets and those of the enemy were between +the lines down in their pits, with some brush in front to shield them +while on the look out. The least shadow or moving of the branches +would be sure to bring a rifle ball singing dangerously near one's +head--if he escaped it at all. The service in the pits here for two +weeks was the most enormous and fatiguing of any in the service--four +men being in a pit for twenty-four hours in the broiling sun during +the day, without any protection whatever, and the pit was so small +that one could neither sit erect nor lie down. + +Early on the morning of the 3rd of June, just three days after our +fiasco at Cold Harbor, Grant moved his forces for the assault. This +was to be the culmination of his plan to break through Lee's lines or +to change his plans of campaign and settle down to a regular siege. +Away to our right the battle commenced. Heavy shelling on both sides. +Then the musketry began to roll along in a regular wave, coming nearer +and nearer as new columns moved to the assault. Now it reaches our +front, and the enemy moves steadily upon our works. The cheering on +our right told of the repulse by our forces, and had a discouraging +effect upon the Federal troops moving against us. As soon as their +skirmish line made its appearance, followed by three lines of battle, +our pickets in front of us were relieved, but many fell before gaining +our breastworks, and those who were not killed had to lie during the +day between the most murderous fire in the history of the war, and sad +to say, few survived. When near us the first line came with a rush at +charge bayonets, and our officers had great difficulty in restraining +the men from opening fire too soon. But when close enough, the word +"fire" was given, and the men behind the works raised deliberately, +resting their guns upon the works, and fired volley after volley into +the rushing but disorganized ranks of the enemy. The first line reeled +and attempted to fly the field, but were met by the next column, which +halted the retreating troops with the bayonet, butts of guns, and +officers' sword, until the greater number were turned to the second +assault. All this while our sharpshooters and men behind our works +were pouring a galling fire into the tangled mass of advancing and +retreating troops. The double column, like the first, came with a +shout, a huzzah, and a charge. But our men had by this time reloaded +their pieces, and were only too eager awaiting the command "fire." But +when it did come the result was telling--men falling on top of men, +rear rank pushing forward the first rank, only to be swept away like +chaff. Our batteries on the hills in rear and those mounted on our +infantry line were raking the field, the former with shell and solid +shot, the latter with grape and canister. Smoke settling on the ground, +soon rendered objects in front scarcely visible, but the steady flashing +of the enemy's guns and the hail of bullets over our heads and against +our works told plainly enough that the enemy were standing to their +work with desperate courage, or were held in hand with a powerful grasp +of discipline. The third line of assault had now mingled with the first +two, and all lying stretched upon the ground and hidden by the dense +smoke, caused the greater number of our bullets to fly over their +heads. Our elevated position and the necessity of rising above the +works to fire, rendered our breastworks of little real advantage; +considering, too, the disparity of numbers, then three lines against +our one, and a very weak line at that. The loud Rebel yell heard far +to our right told us to be of good cheer, they were holding their own, +and repulsing every assault. The conflict in front of Breckenridge's +Division was the bloodiest, with the possible exception of that of +Mayree's Hill, in front of Fredericksburg, and the "Bloody Angle," of +any during the war. Negro troops were huddled together and forced to +the charge by white troops--the poor, deluded, unfortunate beings +plied with liquor until all their sensibilities were so deadened that +death had no horrors. Grant must have learned early in the day the +impossibility of breaking Lee's line by direct charge, for by twelve +o'clock the firing ceased. + +This last assault of Grant's thoroughly convinced the hero of +Vicksburg and Missionary Ridge of the impossibility of breaking Lee's +lines by direct advances. He could not surprise him at any point, or +catch him off his guard, for Lee knew every foot of the ground too +well, having fought all over if for two years. It was estimated and +confirmed afterwards by official reports, that Grant had lost sixty +thousand men from his crossing of the Rapidan to the end of the 3rd of +June, just thirty days--more men than Lee had in the commencement of +the campaign. Grant had become wiser the more familiar he became with +Lee and his veterans, and now began to put in new tactics--that of +stretching out his lines so as to weaken Lee's, and let attrition do +the work that shells, balls, and the bayonet had failed to accomplish. +The end showed the wisdom of the plan. + +The two regiments on the left of the brigade did not suffer so greatly +as the others, being protected somewhat by the timber and underbrush +in their front. The enemy's dead lay in our front unburied until +Grant's further move to the right, then it became our duty to perform +those rites. + + * * * * * + + +COLONEL LAWRENCE MASSILLON KEITT. + +Colonel Lawrence Massillon Keitt was the second son of George and Mary +Magdalene Wannamaker Keitt. He was born on the 4th day of October, +1824, in St. Matthews Parish, Orangeburg District, S.C. He received +his early education at Asbury Academy, a flourishing institution near +the place of his birth. + +In his thirteenth year he entered Mt. Zion College at Winnsboro, +Fairfield County, where he spent one year in preparation for the South +Carolina College, which he entered in his fourteenth year, graduating +third in his class. He read law in Attorney General Bailey's office +in Charleston, S.C., and was admitted to the bar as soon as he was of +legal age. He opened a law office at Orangeburg, the county seat. + +At the first vacancy he was elected a member to the Lower House of +the General Assembly of the State, in which body he served until his +election to the Lower House of Congress in 1853. He served in that +body until December, 1860, when he resigned his seat and returned +to South Carolina on the eve of the secession of his State from the +Union. He was a leading Secessionist and was elected a member of +the Secession Convention. That body after passing the Ordinance of +Secession elected him a delegate to the Provisional Congress of the +Confederate States, which met at Montgomery, Ala. He was a very +active member. On the adjournment of the Provisional Government of +the Confederate States he returned to South Carolina and raised the +Twentieth Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers and went into the +Confederate Army. His command was ordered to Charleston. He served +with his command on James' Island, Sullivan's Island, Morris' Island, +and in Charleston in all the important engagements. He was in command +of Morris' Island twenty-seven days and nights during its awful +bombardment. When ordered to evacuate the island he did so, bringing +off everything without the loss of a man. He was the last person +to leave the island. General Beauregard in his report to the War +Department said it was one of the greatest retreats in the annals of +warfare. + +The latter part of May, 1864, he left Charleston with his command and +joined General Lee's Army thirteen miles from Richmond. He carried +about sixteen hundred men in his regiment to Virginia. It was called +the "Twentieth Army Corps." He was assigned to Kershaw's Brigade and +put in command of the brigade. On the first day of June, 1864, while +leading the brigade, mounted on a grey horse, against a powerful force +of the enemy he was shot through the liver and fell mortally wounded. +He died on the 2d of June, 1864. By his request his remains were +brought to South Carolina and laid by the side of his father in +the graveyard at Tabernacle Church. Thus passed away one of South +Carolina's brightest jewels. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +From Cold Harbor to Petersburg. + + +The field in the front at Cold Harbor where those deadly assaults +had been made beggars description. Men lay in places like hogs in a +pen--some side by side, across each other, some two deep, while others +with their legs lying across the head and body of their dead comrades. +Calls all night long could be heard coming from the wounded and dying, +and one could not sleep for the sickening sound "W--a--t--e--r" ever +sounding and echoing in his ears. Ever and anon a heart-rending wail +as coming from some lost spirit disturbed the hushed stillness of the +night. There were always incentives for some of the bolder spirits, +whose love of adventure or love of gain impelled them, to visit the +battlefield before the burial detail had reached it, as many crisp +five-dollar greenbacks or even hundred-dollar interest-bearing United +States bonds could be found in the pockets of the fallen Federal +either as a part of his wages or the proceeds of his bounty. The +Federal Government was very lavish in giving recruits this bounty as +an inducement to fill the depleted ranks of "Grant the Butcher." Tom +Paysinger, of the Third, who had been detailed as a scout to General +Longstreet, was a master hand at foraging upon the battlefield. +Whether to gain information or to replenish his purse is not known, +but be that as it may, the night after the battle he crept quietly +through our lines and in the stillness and darkness he made his way +among the dead and wounded, searching the pockets of those he found. +He came upon one who was lying face downward and whom he took to be +beyond the pale of resistance, and proceeded to rifle his pockets. +After gathering a few trifles he began crawling on his hands and +knees towards another victim. When about ten steps distant the wounded +Federal, for such it proved to be, raised himself on his elbow, +grasped the gun that was lying beside him, but unknown to Paysinger, +and called out, "You d----n grave robber, take that," and bang! went +a shot at his retreating form. He then quietly resumed his recumbent +position. The bullet struck Paysinger in the thigh and ranging upwards +lodged in his hip, causing him to be a cripple for several long +months. It is needless to say Paysinger left the field. He said +afterwards he "would have turned and cut the rascal's throat, but he +was afraid he was only 'possuming' and might brain him with the butt +of his gun." + +We remained in our position for several days and were greatly annoyed +by the shells thrown by mortars or cannon mounted as such, which +were continually bursting overhead or dropping in our works. The +sharpshooters with globe-sighted rifles would watch through the brush +in front of their rifle pits and as soon as a head was thoughtlessly +raised either from our pits, which were now not more than fifty yards +apart, or our breastwork, "crack!" went a rifle, a dull thud, and +one of our men lay dead. It is astonishing how apt soldiers are +in avoiding danger or warding it off, and what obstacles they can +overcome, what work they can accomplish and with so few and ill +assortment of tools when the necessity arises. To guard against the +shells that were continually dropping in our midst or outside of +our works, the soldiers began burrowing like rabbits in rear of our +earthworks and building covered ways from their breastwork to the +ground below. In a few days men could go the length of a regiment +without being exposed in the least, crawling along the tunnels all +dug with bayonets, knives, and a few wornout shovels. At some of these +angles the passer-by would be exposed, and in going from one opening +to another, only taking the fraction of a second to accomplish, a +bullet would come whizzing from some unseen source, either to the +right or left. As soon as one of these openings under a covered +way would be darkened by some one passing, away a bullet would come +singing in the aperture, generally striking the soldier passing +through. So annoying and dangerous had the practice become of shooting +in our works from an unseen source that a detail of ten or twenty men +was sent out under Lieutenant D.J. Griffith, of the Fifteenth, to +see if the concealed enemy might not be located and an end put to +the annoyance. Griffith and his men crept along cautiously in the +underbrush, while some of our men would wave a blanket across the +exposed places in the breastwork to draw the Federal fire, while +Griffith and his detail kept a sharp lookout. It was not long before +they discovered the hidden "Yank" perched in the top of a tall gum +tree, his rifle resting in the fork of a limb. Griffith got as close +as he well could without danger of being detected by some one under +the tree. When all was ready they sighted their rifles at the fellow +up the tree and waited his next fire. When it did come I expect +that Yankee and his comrades below were the worst surprised of any +throughout the war; for no sooner had his gun flashed than ten rifles +rang out in answer and the fellow fell headlong to the ground, a +distance of fifty feet or more. Beating the air with his hands and +feet, grasping at everything within sight or reach, his body rolling +and tumbling among the limbs of the tree, his head at times up, at +others down, till at last he strikes the earth, and with a terrible +rebound in the soft spongy needles Mr. "Yank" lies still, while +Griffith and his men take to their heels. It was not known positively +whether he was killed or not, but one thing Lieutenant Griffith and +his men were sure of--one Yankee, at least, had been given a long ride +in midair. + +After Grant's repulse at Cold Harbor he gave up all hopes of reaching +Richmond by direct assault and began his memorable change of base. +Crossing the James River at night he undertook the capture of +Petersburg by surprise. It appears from contemporaneous history that +owing to some inexcusable blunders on our part Grant came very near +accomplishing his designs. + +To better understand the campaign around Petersburg it is necessary to +take the reader back a little way. Simultaneous with Grant's advance +on the Rapidan an army of thirty thousand under the Union General +B.F. Butler was making its way up the James River and threatening +Petersburg. It was well known that Richmond would be no longer tenable +should the latter place fall. Beauregard was commanding all of North +Carolina and Virginia on the south side of the James River, but his +forces were so small and so widely scattered that they promised little +protection. When Lee and his veterans were holding back Grant and the +Union Army at the Wilderness, Brocks Cross Roads, and Spottsylvania +C.H., Beauregard with a handful of veterans and a few State troops was +"bottling up Butler" on the James. What Kershaw had been to Lee at the +Wilderness, McGowan at Spottsylvania, General Hagood was to General +Beauregard on the south side around Petersburg. General Beauregard +does not hesitate to acknowledge what obligations he was under to the +brave General Hagood and his gallant band of South Carolinians at the +most critical moments during the campaign, and it is unquestioned that +had not General Hagood come up at this opportune moment, Petersburg +would have fallen a year before it did. + +General Beauregard fought some splendid battles on the south side, and +if they had not been overshadowed by the magnitude of Lee's from the +Wilderness to the James, they would have ranked in all probability +as among the greatest of the war. But from one cause and then another +during the whole campaign Beauregard was robbed of his legitimate +fruits of battle. + +The low, swampy nature of the country below Richmond, especially +between the James and the Chickahominy, prevented Lee's scouts from +detecting the movements of Grant's Army for some days after the +movement began. Grant had established his headquarters at Wilcox's +Landing, on the James, and had all his forces in motion on the south +of the river by the 13th of June, while Lee was yet north of the +Chickahominy. + +General Beauregard and the gallant troops under him deserve the +highest praise for their conduct in successfully giving Butler battle, +while Petersburg was in such imminent peril, and Lee still miles and +miles away. It is scarcely credible to believe with what small force +the plucky little Creole held back such an overwhelming army. + +When Grant made his first crossing of the James and began the movement +against Petersburg, General Beauregard had only Wise's Brigade of +infantry, twenty-two pieces of artillery, two regiments of cavalry +under General Bearing, and a few regiments of local militia. + +Grant had ordered the Eighteenth Corps (Smith's) by way of the White +House to Bermuda Hundreds, and this corps had crossed the narrow neck +of land between the James and the Appomattox, crossing the latter +river on a pontoon bridge, and was at the moment firing on Petersburg +with a force under his command of twenty-two thousand, with nothing +between General Smith and Petersburg but Beauregard's two thousand men +of all arms. Kant's Cavalry and one division of negro troops, under +Hinks, had joined their forces with Smith after coming to the south +side. Hancock's and Warren's Corps crossed the Chickahominy at Long +Bridge and the James at Wilcox's Landing, and with Grant at the head, +all were pushing on to Petersburg. Wright (Sixth) and Burnside (Ninth) +crossed by way of Jones' Bridge and the James and Appomattox on +pontoon bridges, pushing their way rapidly, as the nature of the +ground permitted, in the direction of Petersburg. Beauregard in the +meantime had been reinforced by his own troops, they having been +transferred temporarily to Lee, at Spottsylvania Court House. + +Hoke's Division reached Petersburg at twelve o'clock, on the 15th of +June. Hagood's Brigade, of that division, being transported by rail +from the little town of Chester, reached the city about night. Bushrod +Johnson's Brigade was ordered up from Bermuda on the 16th. Beauregard +being thus reinforced, had ten thousand troops of all arms on the +morning of the 16th, with which to face Meade's Army, consisting +of Hancock's, Smith's, and Burnside's Corps, aggregating sixty-six +thousand men. Meade made desperate and continuous efforts to break +through this weak line of gray, but without effect Only one division +of Federals gained any permanent advantage. Warren, with four +divisions, now reinforced Meade, bringing the Federal Army up to +ninety thousand, with no help for Beauregard yet in sight. From noon +until late at night of the 17th the force of this entire column +was hurled against the Confederate lines, without any appreciable +advantage, with the exception of one division before alluded to. Lee +was still north of the James with his entire army, and undecided as +to Grant's future movements. He was yet in doubt whether Grant had +designs directly against the Capital, or was endeavoring to cut his +communications by the capture of Petersburg. Beauregard had kept +General Lee and the war department thoroughly advised of his peril +and of the overwhelming numbers in his front, but it was not until +midnight of the 17th that the Confederate commander determined to +change his base and cross to the south side of the James. It was at +that hour that Kershaw's Brigade received its orders to move at once. +For the last few days the army had been gradually working its way +towards the James River, and was now encamped near Rice's Station. +From the manner in which we were urged forward, it was evident that +our troops somewhere were in imminent peril. The march started as a +forced one, but before daylight it had gotten almost to a run. All the +regiments stood the great strain without flinching, with the exception +of the Twentieth. The "Old Twentieth Army Corps," as that regiment was +now called, could not stand what the old veterans did, and fell by the +way side. It was not for want of patriotism or courage, but simply a +want of seasoning. Fully half of the "Corps" fell out. When we reached +Petersburg, about sunrise, we found only Wise's Brigade and several +regiments of old men and boys, hastily gotten together to defend their +city, until the regulars came up. They had been fighting in the ranks, +these gray-beards and half-grown boys, for three days, and to their +credit be it said, "they weathered the storm" like their kinsmen in +Wise's Brigade, and showed as much courage and endurance as the best +of veterans. On the streets were ladies of every walk in life, some +waving banners and handkerchiefs, some clapping their hands and giving +words of cheer as the soldiers came by with their swinging step, their +clothes looking as if they had just swum the river. Were the ladies +refugeeing--getting out of harm's way? Not a bit of it. They looked +equally as determined and defiant as their brothers and fathers in +ranks--each and all seemed to envy the soldier his rifle. If Richmond +had become famous through the courage and loyalty of her daughters, +Petersburg was equally entitled to share the glories of her older +sister, Richmond. + +Kershaw's Brigade relieved that of General Wise, taking position on +extreme right, resting its right on the Jerusalem plank road, and +extending towards the left over the hill and across open fields. Wise +had some hastily constructed works, with rifle pits in front. These +later had to be relieved under a heavy fire from the enemy's battle +line. As the other brigades of the division came up, they took +position on the left. Fields' Division and R.H. Anderson's, now of +this corps, did not come up for some hours yet. General Anderson, in +the absence of General Longstreet, commanded the corps as senior Major +General. Before our division lines were properly adjusted, Warren's +whole corps made a mad rush upon the works, now manned by a +thin skirmish line, and seemed determined to drive us from our +entrenchments by sheer weight of numbers. But Kershaw displayed no +inclination to yield, until the other portions of our corps came +upon the field. After some hours of stubborn fighting, and failing +to dislodge us, the enemy withdrew to strengthen and straighten their +lines and bring them more in harmony with ours. About four o'clock in +the afternoon Meade organized a strong column of assault, composed of +the Second, Fifth, and the Ninth Army Corps, and commanded in person, +holding one corps in reserve. The artillery of the four corps was put +in position, and a destructive fire was opened upon us by fifty pieces +of the best field artillery. The infantry then commenced the storming +of our works, but Field's Division had come up and was on the line. +General Lee had given strength to our position by his presence, coming +upon the field about eleven o'clock, and gave personal direction +to the movements of the troops. The battle raged furiously until +nightfall, but with no better results on the enemy's side than had +attended him for the last three days--a total repulse at every point. +By noon the next day Lee's whole force south of the James was within +the entrenched lines of the city, and all felt perfectly safe and +secure. Our casualties were light in comparison to the fighting +done during the day, but the enemy was not only defeated, but badly +demoralized. + +Kershaw and Fields, of Lee's Army, with ten thousand under General +Beauregard, making a total of twenty thousand, successfully combatted +Grant's whole army, estimated by the Federals themselves as being +ninety thousand. These are some figures that might well be taken +in consideration when deeds of prowess and Southern valor are being +summed up. + +Grant seemed determined to completely invest Petersburg on the south +side by continually pushing his lines farther to the left, lengthening +our lines and thereby weakening them. On the 21st of June the Second +and Sixth Corps of the Federal Army moved on to the west of the +Jerusalem plank road, while the Fifth was to take up position on the +east side. In the manoeuver, or by some misunderstanding, the Fifth +Corps became separated from those of the other divisions, thereby +leaving a gap of about a division intervening. General Lee seeing +this opportunity to strike the enemy a blow, and as A.P. Hill was then +coming up, he ordered him to push his force forward and attack the +enemy in flank. Moving his troops forward with that despatch that ever +attended the Third Corps of our army, it struck the enemy a stunning +blow in the flank and rear, driving them back in great disorder, +capturing several thousand prisoners and a battery or two of +artillery. The enemy continued to give way until they came upon their +strong entrenched position; then Hill retired and took his place on +the line. Again Grant started his cavalry out on raids to capture and +destroy the railroads leading into Petersburg and Richmond, the route +by which the entire army of Lee had to look for supplies. But at +Reams' Station Hampton met the larger body of the enemy's cavalry and +after a hard fought battle, in which he utterly routed the enemy, he +captured his entire wagon train and all his artillery. A short time +after this Grant sent Hancock, one of the ablest Generals in the +Federal Army, (a true, thorough gentleman, and as brave as the +bravest, and one whom the South in after years had the pleasure of +showing its gratitude and admiration for those qualities so rare in +many of the Federal commanders, by voting for him for President of +the United States) with a large body of cavalry to destroy the Weldon +Road at all hazard and to so possess it that its use to our army +would be at an end. After another hard battle, in which the enemy +lost five thousand men, Hancock succeeded in his mission and captured +and retained the road. The only link now between the capital and +the other sections of the South on which the subsistence of the army +depended was that by Danville, Va. This was a military road completed +by the government in anticipation of those very events that had now +transpired. Another road on which the government was bending all its +energies to complete, but failed for want of time, was a road running +from Columbia to Augusta, Ga. This was to be one of the main arteries +of the South in case Charleston should fail to hold out and the +junction of the roads at Branchville fall in the hands of the enemy. +Our lines of transportation, already somewhat circumscribed, were +beginning to grow less and less. Only one road leading South by way +of Danville, and should the road to Augusta, Ga., via Columbia and +Branchville, be cut the South or the Armies of the West and that of +the East would be isolated. As gloomy as our situation looked, there +was no want of confidence in the officers and the troops. The rank and +file of the South had never considered a condition of failure. They +felt their cause to be sacred, that they were fighting for rights and +principles for which all brave people will make every sacrifice to +maintain, that the bravery of a people like that which the South had +shown to the world, the spirits that animated them, the undaunted +courage by which the greatest battles had been fought and +victories gained against unprecedented numbers, all this under such +circumstances and under such leadership--the South could not fail. +Momentary losses, temporary reverses might prolong the struggle, but +to change the ultimate results, never. And at the North there +were loud and widespread murmurings, no longer confined to the +anti-abolitionist and pro slavery party, but it came from statesmen +the highest in the land, it came from the fathers and mothers whose +sons had fallen like autumn leaves from the Rapidan to the Appomattox. +The cries and wails of the thousands of orphans went up to high Heaven +pleading for those fathers who had left them to fill the unsatiate +maw of cruel, relentless war. The tears of thousands and thousands +of widows throughout the length and breadth of the Union fell like +scalding waters upon the souls of the men who were responsible for +this holocaust. Their voices and murmuring, though like Rachael's +"weeping for her children and would not be comforted," all this to +appease the Moloch of war and to gratify the ambition of fanatics. +The people, too, of the North, who had to bear all this burden, were +sorely pressed and afflicted at seeing their hard earned treasures or +hoarded wealth, the fruits of their labor, the result of their toil +of a lifetime, going to feed this army of over two millions of men, to +pay the bounties of thousands of mercenaries of the old countries and +the unwilling freedmen soldiers of the South. All this only to humble +a proud people and rob them of their inherent rights, bequeathed +to them by the ancestry of the North and South. How was it with +the South? Not a tear, not a murmur. The mothers, with that Spartan +spirit, buckled on the armor of their sons with pride and courage, and +with the Spartan injunction, bade them "come home with your shield, or +on it." The fathers, like the Scottish Chieftain, if he lost his first +born, would put forward his next, and say, "Another one for Hector." +Their storehouses, their barns, and graneries were thrown open, +and with lavish hands bade the soldiers come and take--come and buy +without money and without price. Even the poor docile slave, for whom +some would pretend these billions of treasure were given and oceans of +blood spilled, toiled on in peace and contentment, willing to make +any and every sacrifice, and toil day and night, for the interest and +advancement of his master's welfare. He was as proud of his master's +achievements, of our victories, and was even as willing to throw his +body in this bloody vortex as if the cause had been his own. The women +of the South, from the old and bending grandmothers, who sat in the +corner, with their needles flying steady and fast, to the aristocratic +and pampered daughter of wealth, toiled early and toiled late with +hands and bodies that never before knew or felt the effects of +work--all this that the soldier in the trenches might be clothed and +fed--not alone for members of their families, but for the soldiers +all, especially those who were strangers among us--those who had left +their homes beyond the Potomac and the Tennessee. The good housewife +stripped her household to send blankets and bedding to the needy +soldiers. The wheel and loom could be heard in almost every household +from the early morn until late at night going to give not comforts, +but necessities of life, to the boys in the trenches. All ranks were +leveled, and the South was as one band of brothers and sisters. All +formality and restraint were laid aside, and no such thing as stranger +known. The doors were thrown open to the soldiers wherever and +whenever they chose to enter; the board was always spread, and a ready +welcome extended. On the march, when homes were to be passed, or along +the sidewalks in cities, the ladies set the bread to baking and would +stand for hours in the doorway or at some convenient window to cut and +hand out slice after slice to the hungry soldiers as long as a loaf +was left or a soldier found. + +With such a people to contend, with such heroes to face in the field, +was it any wonder that the North began to despair of ever conquering +the South? There was but one way by which the Northern leaders saw +possible to defeat such a nation of "hereditary madmen in war." It was +by continually wearing them away by attrition. Every man killed in the +South was one man nearer the end. It mattered not what the cost might +be--if two or a dozen soldiers fell, if a dozen households were put in +mourning, and widows and orphans were made by the score--the sacrifice +must be made and endured. The North had found in Grant a fit weapon +by which to give the blow--a man who could calmly see the slaughter +of thousands to gain an end, if by so doing the end in view could be +expedited. The absence of all feelings of humanity, the coolness +and indifference with which he looked upon his dead, his calmness +in viewing the slaughter as it was going on, gained for him the +appellation of "Grant, the Butcher." Grant saw, too, the odds and +obstacles with which he had to contend and overcome when he wrote +these memorable words, "Lee has robbed the cradle and the grave." Not +odds in numbers and materials, but in courage, in endurance, in the +sublime sacrifice the South was making in men and treasure. Scarcely +an able-bodied man in the South--nay, not one who could be of +service--who was not either in the trenches, in the ranks of the +soldiers, or working in some manner for the service. All from sixteen +to fifty were now in actual service, while all between fourteen and +sixteen and from fifty to sixty were guarding forts, railroads, or +Federal prisoners. These prisoners had been scattered all over the +South, and began to be unwieldy. The Federals under the policy of +beating the South by depleting their ranks without battle in the field +had long since refused the exchange of prisoners. They had, by offers +of enticing bounties, called from the shores of the Old Country +thousands of poor emigrants, who would enlist merely for the money +there was in it. Thousands and thousands of prisoners captured could +not speak a word of English. They had whole brigades of Irish and +Dutch, while the Swedes, Poles, Austrians, as well as Italians, were +scattered in the ranks throughout the army. In the capturing of a +batch of prisoners, to a stranger who would question them, it would +seem more like we were fighting the armies of Europe than our kinsmen +of the North. In fact, I believe if the real truth of it was known, +the greater part of the Federal Army in the closing days of the +Confederacy was either foreigners or sons of foreigners. + +Were there ever before such people as those of the Southland? Were +there ever such patriotic fathers, such Christian mothers, such brave +and heroic sons and daughters? Does it look possible at this late day +that a cause so just and righteous could fail, with such men and women +to defend it? It is enough to cause the skeptic to smile at the faith +of those who believe in God's interference in human affairs and in the +efficacy of prayers. The cause of the South was just and right, and +no brave men would have submitted without first staking their all upon +the issue of cruel, bloody war. Impartial history will thus record the +verdict. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +In the Trenches Around Petersburg. + + +As soon as General Lee's Army was all up and his lines established, we +began to fortify in earnest. The breastworks that were built now were +of a different order to the temporary ones in the Wilderness and at +Cold Harbor. As it was known now that a regular siege had begun, our +breastworks were built proportionately strong. Our lines were moved to +the left to allow a battery to occupy the brow of a hill on our right, +Kershaw's Brigade occupying both slopes of the hills, a ravine cutting +it in two. Field pieces were mounted at intervals along the line with +the infantry, every angle covered by one or more cannon. The enemy +commenced shelling us from mortars from the very beginning of our +work, and kept it up night and day as long as we remained in the +trenches. The day after Kershaw took position Grant began pressing our +picket line and running his parallels nearer and nearer our works. It +was said that Grant won his laurels in the West with picks and shovels +instead of rifles and cannon, but here it looked as if he intended +to use both to an advantage. As soon as he had his lines located, he +opened a fusilade upon Petersburg, throwing shells into the city from +his long-ranged guns, without intermission. It was in the immediate +front of the right of the brigade and the battery on the hill that +the enemy's mine was laid that occasioned the "Battle of the Crater" +a month afterwards. Before we had finished our works, several night +assaults were made upon us, notably the one up the ravine that +separated the Second and Third on the night of the 21st of June. It +was easily repulsed, however, with little loss on our side, the enemy +firing too high. What annoyed the soldiers more than anything else was +the continual dropping of shells in our works or behind them. We could +hear the report of the mortars, and by watching overhead we could see +the shell descending, and no one could tell exactly where it was going +to strike and no chance for dodging. As every old soldier knows, card +playing was the national vice, if vice it could be called, and almost +all participated in it, but mostly for amusement, as the soldiers +scarcely ever had money to hazard at cards. While a quartet was +indulging in this pastime in the trenches, some one yelled, "Lookout, +there comes a shell!" Looking up the disciples of the "Ten Spots" saw +a shell coming down right over their heads. Nothing could be done but +to stretch themselves at full length and await developments. They were +not long in suspense, for the shell dropped right upon the oilcloth on +which they had been playing. There it lay sizzling and spluttering as +the fuse burned lower and lower, the men holding their breath all the +while, the other troops scattering right and left. The thing could not +last; the tension broke, when one of the card-players seized the shell +in his hands and threw it out of the works; just before exploding. It +was the belief in the brigade that those men did not play cards again +for more than thirty days. + +Another annoyance was the enemy's sharpshooters, armed with +globe-sighted rifles. These guns had a telescope on top of the barrel, +and objects at a distance could be distinctly seen. Brush screened +their rifle pits, and while they could see plainly any object above +our works, we could not see them. A head uncautiously raised above the +line, would be sure to get a bullet in or near it. + +About one hundred yards in our rear, up the ravine, was a good +spring of water. The men could reach this in safety by going down the +breastworks in a stooping posture, then up the ravine to the spring. +A recruit in the Second Regiment had gone to this spring and was +returning. When about twenty paces from the works he undertook, +through a spirit of adventure; or to save a few steps, to run +diagonally across the field to his regiment. It was his last. When +about midway he was caught by a bullet from the enemy's picket, and +only lived long enough to call out, "Oh, mother!" Many lost their +lives here by recklessness or want of caution. + +After remaining in the trenches about two weeks, Kershaw's Brigade was +relieved by a part of Hoke's Division and retired to some vacant lots +in the city in good supporting distance of the front line. We were +not out of reach of the shells by any means; they kept up a continual +screaming overhead, bursting in the city. The soldiers got passes +to visit the town on little shopping excursions, notwithstanding +the continual bursting of the shells in the city. The citizens of +Petersburg, white and black, women and children, like the citizens of +Charleston, soon became accustomed to the shelling, and as long as one +did not drop in their immediate vicinity, little attention was paid to +it. One night after a furious bombardment the cry was heard, "The city +is on fire; the city is on fire." A lurid glare shot up out of the +very heart of the city, casting a dim light over the buildings and the +camps near about. Fire bells began ringing, and the old men rushing +like mad to fight the fire. As soon as the enemy discovered that the +city was on fire, they concentrated all their efforts to the burning +buildings. Shells came shrieking from every elevated position on the +enemy's lines, and fell like "showers of meteors on a frolic." Higher +and higher the flames rose until great molten-like tongues seemed to +lick the very clouds. The old men mounted the ladder like boys, and +soon the tops of the surrounding buildings were lined with determined +spirits, and the battle against the flames began in earnest. We could +see their forms against the dark back-ground, running hither and +thither, fighting with all the power and energy of the brave and +fearless men they were. They paid no heed to the screaming, shrieking, +bursting shells all around, but battled bravely to save the city. +After the burning of several contiguous buildings, the flames were +gotten under control, and eventually the fire was extinguished. I have +seen many battles, but never more heroism displayed than by the old +citizens and boys that night in Petersburg. The soldiers were not +allowed to leave their camp, and all the citizens of military age +were away in the army, so the old men and boys had to fight this fire +single-handed and alone, and amid a perfect storm of shot and shell. + +Grant had been daily reinforced by recruits and forces from the West. +Butler had received a large reinforcement from Banks, on the lower +Mississippi, and was gradually working his way up to Richmond. A great +number of these troops, to judge from the prisoners we captured, +were foreigners; many could not speak a word of English. Kershaw was +ordered to reinforce the troops on the north side, and on the 13th of +July we crossed the James on a pontoon bridge, near Chaffin's Bluff, +after an all night's march over brush, briars, through field and bog, +and took position on a high ridge running out from the river. In front +of us was a vast swamp of heavy timber and underbrush, called Deep +Bottom. Beyond Deep Bottom the enemy had approached and entrenched, +being supported by gun boats in the James. This position it was +determined to surprise and take by assault. Early at night the brigade +was moved out in this swamp, along a dull road that ran along its +edge, and advanced in the direction of the enemy. No attempt of +assault, was ever more dreaded or looked on with such apprehension, +save, perhaps, our charge on the works at Knoxville, than this night +charge at Deep Bottom. When near the enemy's position, we formed line +of battle, while it was so dark in the dense woods that an object ten +feet away could not be distinguished. We had to take and give commands +in whispers, for fear the enemy would discover our presence. We moved +forward gradually, a few steps at a time, each step a little nearer +the enemy, who lay asleep behind their works. We had advanced, +perhaps, two hundred yards, and as yet had encountered none of the +enemy's pickets or videttes, showing how securely they felt in regard +to a night attack. While halting to adjust our lines, which had to +be done every few paces, Colonel Rutherford and myself were +reconnoitering in front, and discovered a white object a few feet +away. The men saw it, too, and thought it a sheep. The Colonel +advanced and gave it a slight jab with his sword. In a moment a white +blanket was thrown off, and there lay, as nicely coiled up as little +pigs, two of the Yankee sentinels. They threw up their hands in a +dazed kind of way, and to our whispered threats and uplifted +swords, uttered some unintelligible jargon. We soon saw they did +not understand a word of English. So it was we captured almost +their entire picket line, composed of foreigners of Banks' Army, of +Louisiana. Just then, on our right, whether from friend or foe, I +never learned, several discharges of rifles alarmed both armies. It +was too late then to practice secrecy, so the command "charge" was +given. With a tremendous yell, we dashed through the tangled, matted +mass of undergrowth, on towards the enemy's line. Aroused thus +suddenly from their sleep, they made no other resistance than to fire +a few shots over our head, leaving the breastworks in haste. Some lay +still, others ran a few rods in the rear, and remained until captured, +while the greater part scampered away towards their gun boats. + +Colonel Henagan, of the Eighth, being in command of the brigade, +ordered breastworks to be thrown up on the opposite side of an old +road, in which the enemy lay and which they had partly fortified. The +next day, about 3 o'clock, the enemy opened upon us a heavy fusilade +with their siege mortars and guns from their gun boats and ironclads +in the James. These were three hundred-pounders, guns we had never +before been accustomed to. Great trees a foot and a half in diameter +were snapped off like pipe-stems. The peculiar frying noise made in +going through the air and their enormous size caused the troops +to give them the name of "camp kettles." They passed through our +earthworks like going through mole hills. The enemy advanced in line +of battle, and a considerable battle ensued, but we were holding our +own, when some watchers that Colonel Henagan had ordered in the tops +of tall trees to watch the progress of the enemy, gave the warning +that a large body of cavalry was advancing around our left and was +gaining our rear. Colonel Henagan gave the command "retreat," but the +great "camp kettles" coming with such rapidity and regularity, our +retreat through this wilderness of shrubbery and tangled undergrowth +would have ended in a rout had not our retreat been impeded by this +swamp morass. We reached the fortification, however, on the bluff, the +enemy being well satisfied with our evacuation of the position so near +their camp. + +The brigade, with the exception of marching and counter-marching, +relieving other troops and being relieved, did no further service than +occupying the lines until the 6th of August. The brigade boarded the +train on that day at Chester for destination at that time unknown. + +About the first of July the enemy, commanded by General Burnside, +undertook to blow up a portion of our lines by tunneling under the +works at a convenient point suitable for assault, and attempted to +take our troops by surprise. The point selected was that portion of +the line first held by Kershaw's Brigade, near Cemetery Hill, and in +front of Taylor's Creek, near Petersburg. The continual night assaults +on us at that point and the steady advance of their lines were to gain +as much distance as possible. From the base of the hill at Taylor's +Creek they began digging a tunnel one hundred and seventy yards long, +and at its terminus were two laterals, dug in a concave towards our +works, of thirty-seven feet each. In these laterals were placed eight +hundred pounds of powder, with fuse by which all could be exploded at +once. + +General Beauregard, who commanded at this point, had been apprised of +this undertaking, and at first had sunk counter-mines. But this was +abandoned, and preparations were made to meet the emergency with arms. +At this point and near the "Crater," as it was afterwards called, +were stationed Colquit's (Ga.), Gracie's (Ala.), and Elliott's (S.C.) +Brigades. Elliott's was posted immediately over it with Pegram's +Battery. Rear lines had been established by which the troops could +take cover, and reinforcements kept under arms night and day, so that +when the explosion did take place, it would find the Confederates +prepared. Batteries were placed at convenient places to bear upon the +line and the place of explosion. + +On the morning of the 30th of July, everything being in readiness, +the fuse was placed, and at 3.30 o'clock the light was applied. Before +this terrible "Crater," soon to be a hollocu of human beings, +were massed Ledlie's, Potter's, Wilcox's, and Ferrero's Divisions, +supported by Ames'. In the front was Ferrero's Division of negro +troops, drunk and reeling from the effects of liquor furnished them by +the wagon loads. This body of twenty-three thousand men were all under +the immediate command of Major General Ord. On the left of Burnside, +Warren concentrated ten thousand men, while the Eighteenth Corps, with +that many more, were in the rear to aid and support the movement--the +whole being forty-three thousand men, with eight thousand pounds +of gun-powder to first spring the mine. General Sheridan, with his +cavalry, was to make a demonstration in our front and against the +roads leading to Petersburg. Hancock, too, was to take a part, if all +things proved successful--fifty thousand men were to make a bold dash +for the capture of the city. Immediately over the mine was Elliott's +Brigade, consisting of the Seventeenth, Twenty-sixth, Twenty-third, +Twenty-second, and Eighteenth South Carolina Regiments. At 3.30 +o'clock the fuse was lighted, and while the Confederates, all +unconscious of the impending danger, lay asleep, this grand +aggregation of men of Grant's Army waited with bated breath and +anxious eye the fearful explosion that eight thousand pounds of +powder, under a great hill, were to make. Time went on, seconds into +minutes. The nerves of the assaulters were, no doubt, at extreme +tension. Four o'clock came, still all was still and silent. The +Federal commanders held their watches in hand and watched the tiny +steel hands tick the seconds away. The streaks of day came peeping up +over the hills and cast shadows high overhead. The fuse had failed! A +call was made for a volunteer to go down into the mine and relight the +fuse. A Lieutenant and Sergeant bravely step forward and offered to +undertake the perilous mission. They reach the mouth of the tunnel +and peer in. All was dark, silent, sombre, and still. Along they grope +their way with a small lantern in their hands. They reach the barrel +of powder placed at the junction of the main and the laterals. The +fuse had ceased to burn. Hurriedly they pass along to the other +barrels. Expecting every moment to be brown into space, they find all +as the first, out. The thousands massed near the entrance and along +Taylor's Creek, watched with fevered excitement the return of the +brave men who had thus placed their lives in such jeopardy for a cause +they, perhaps, felt no interest. Quickly they placed new fuse, lit +them, and quickly left the gruesome pit. Scarcely had they reached +a place of safety than an explosion like a volcano shook the earth, +while the country round about was lit up with a great flash. The earth +trembled and swayed--great heaps of earth went flying in the air, +carrying with it men, guns, and ammunition. Cannon and carriages were +scattered in every direction, while the sleeping men were thrown high +in the air. + +But here I will allow Colonel F.W. McMaster, an eye witness, who +commanded Elliott's Brigade after the fall of that General, to tell +the story of the "Battle of the Crater" in his own words. I copy +his account, by permission, from an article published in one of the +newspapers of the State. + +BY COLONEL F.W. McMASTER. + +In order to understand an account of the battle of the "Crater," a +short sketch of our fortifications should be given. + +Elliott's Brigade extended from a little branch that separated it +from Ransom's Brigade on the north, ran three hundred and fifty yards, +joining Wise's Brigade on the south. Captain Pegram's Virginia Battery +had four guns arranged in a half circle on the top of the hill, and +was separated from the Eighteenth and Twenty-second South Carolina +Regiments by a bank called trench cavalier. + +The Federal lines ran parallel to the Confederate. The nearest point +of Pegram's Battery to the Federal lines was eighty yards; the rest +of the lines was about two hundred yards apart. The line called gorge +line was immediately behind the battery, and was the general passage +for the troops. The embankment called trench cavalier was immediately +in rear of the artillery and was constructed for the infantry in case +the battery should be taken by a successful assault. + +The general line for the infantry, which has been spoken of as +a wonderful feat of engineering, was constructed under peculiar +circumstances. Beauregard had been driven from the original lines made +for the defense of Petersburg, and apprehensive that the enemy, which +numbered ten to one, would get into the city, directed his engineer, +Colonel Harris, to stake a new line. This place was reached by General +Hancock's troops at dark on the third day's fighting, and our men were +ordered to make a breastwork. Fortifications without spades or shovels +was rather a difficult feat to perform, but our noble soldiers went +to work with bayonets and tin cups, and in one night threw up a bank +three feet high--high enough to cause Hancock to delay his attack. +In the next ten days' time the ditches were enlarged until they were +eight feet high and eight feet wide, with a banquette of eighteen +inches high from which the soldiers could shoot over the breastwork. + +Five or six traverses were built perpendicularly from the main trench +to the rear, so as to protect Pegram's guns from the enfilading fire +of the big guns on the Federal lines a mile to the north. Besides +these traverses there were narrow ditches five or six feet deep which +led to the sinks. + +The only safe way to Petersburg, a mile off, was to go down to the +spring branch which passed under our lines at the foot of the hill, +then go to the left through the covered way to Petersburg, or to +take the covered way which was half way down the hill to Elliott's +headquarters. + +At this point a ravine or more properly a swale ran up the hill +parallel to our breastworks. It was near Elliott's headquarters where +Mahone's troops went in from the covered way and formed in battle +array. + +The soldiers slept in the main trench. At times of heavy rains the +lower part of the trench ran a foot deep in water. The officers slept +in burrows dug in the sides of the rear ditches. There were traverses, +narrow ditches, cross ditches and a few mounds over officers' dens, +so that there is no wonder that one of the Federal officers said the +quarters reminded him of the catacombs of Rome. + +An ordinary mortal would not select such a place for a three mouths' +summer residence. + +About ten days after the battle, and while I was acting Brigadier +General and occupying General Elliott's headquarters, a distinguished +Major General visited me and requested me to go over the lines with +him. I gladly complied with the request. He asked me where the men +rested at night. I pointed out the floor of the ditch. He said, "But +where do the officers sleep?" We happened then to be in the narrow +ditch in front of my quarters, and I pointed it out to him. He +replied, in language not altogether suitable for a Sunday School +teacher, that he would desert before he would submit to such +hardships. + + * * * * * + + +THE "CRATER." + +The explosion took place at 4.45 A.M. The "Crater" made by eight +thousand pounds of gun powder was one hundred and thirty-five feet +long, ninety-seven feet broad and thirty feet deep. Two hundred and +seventy-eight men were buried in the debris--Eighteenth Regiment, +eighty-two; Twenty-second, one hundred and seventy, and Pegram's +Battery, twenty-two men. + +To add to the terror of the scene the enemy with one hundred and +sixty-four cannon and mortars began a bombardment much greater than +Fort Sumter or battery were ever subjected to. Elliott's Brigade near +the "Crater" was panic stricken, and more than one hundred men of the +Eighteenth Regiment covered with dirt rushed down. Two or three noble +soldiers asked me for muskets. Some climbed the counterscarpe and +made their way for Petersburg. Numbers of the Seventeenth joined the +procession. I saw one soldier scratching at the counterscape of the +ditch like a scared cat. A staunch Lieutenant of Company E. without +hat or coat or shoes ran for dear life way down into Ransom's +trenches. When he came to consciousness he cried out, "What! old Morse +running!" and immediately returned to his place in line. + +The same consternation existed in the Federal line. As they saw the +masses descending they broke ranks, and it took a few minutes to +restore order. + + * * * * * + + +FEDERAL CHARGE. + +About fifteen minutes after the explosion General Ledlie's Corps +advanced in line. The cheval-de-frise was destroyed for fifty yards. +Soon after General Wilcox's Corps came in line and bore to Ledlie's +left. Then Potter's Corps followed by flanks and was ordered to the +right of Ledlie's troops. + +The pall of smoke was so great that we could not see the enemy until +they were in a few feet of our works, and a lively fusillade was +opened by the Seventeenth Regiment on the north side of the "Crater." +I saw Starling Hutto, of Company H, a boy of sixteen, on the top of +the breastworks, firing his musket at the enemy a few yards off with +the coolness of a veteran. As soon as I reached him I dragged him down +by his coat tail and ordered him to shoot from the banquette. On +the south of the "Crater" a few men under Major Shield, of the +Twenty-second, and Captain R.E. White, with the Twenty-third Regiment, +had a hot time in repelling the enemy. + +Adjutant Sims and Captain Floyd, of the Eighteenth Regiment, with +about thirty men, were cut off in the gorge line. They held the line +for a few minutes. Adjutant Sims was killed and Captain Floyd and his +men fell back into some of the cross ditches and took their chances +with the Seventeenth. + +It was half an hour before the Federals filled the "Crater," the gorge +line and a small space of the northern part of the works not injured +by the explosion. All this time the Federals rarely shot a gun on the +north of the "Crater." + +Major J.C. Coit, who commanded Wright's Battery and Pegram's battery, +had come up to look after the condition of the latter. He concluded +that two officers and twenty men were destroyed. Subsequently he +discovered that one man had gone to the spring before the explosion, +that four men were saved by a casemate and captured. + +Colonel Coit says he took twenty-five minutes to come from his +quarters and go to Wright's Battery, and thinks it was the first gun +shot on the Federal side. Testimony taken in the court of inquiry +indicate the time at 5.30 A.M. + + * * * * * + + +GENERAL STEPHEN ELLIOTT. + +General Stephen Elliott, the hero of Fort Sumter, a fine gentleman and +a superb officer, came up soon after the explosion. He was dressed in +a new uniform, and looked like a game cock. He surveyed the scene for +a few minutes; he disappeared and in a short time he came up to me +accompanied by Colonel A.R. Smith, of the Twenty-sixth, with a few +men, who were working their way through the crowd. He said to me: +"Colonel, I'm going to charge those Yankees out of the 'Crater'; you +follow Smith with your regiment." + +He immediately climbed the counter scrape. The gallant Smith followed, +and about half a dozen men followed. And in less than five minutes he +was shot from the "Crater" through his shoulder. I believe it was the +first ball shot that day from the northern side of the "Crater." +He was immediately pulled down into the ditch, and with the utmost +coolness, and no exhibition of pain turned the command over to me, the +next ranking officer. Colonels Benbow and Wallace were both absent on +furlough. + +I immediately ordered John Phillips, a brave soldier of Company I, to +go around the "Crater" to inform the commanding officer of the serious +wounding of General Elliott, and to inquire as to the condition of the +brigade on the south side. Major Shield replied that Colonel Fleming +and Adjutant Quattlebaum, with more than half the Twenty-second, +were buried up, but with the remainder of his men and with the +Twenty-third, under Captain White, and a part of Wise's Brigade we had +driven the Yankees back, and intended to keep them back. + +Being satisfied that the object of the mine was to make a gap in +our line by which General Meade could rush his troops to the rear, I +ordered Colonel Smith to take his Regiment, and Captain Crawford with +three of my largest Companies, Companies K, E and B, containing nearly +as many men as Smith's, to proceed by Elliott's headquarters up the +ravine to a place immediately in rear of the "Crater"--to make the men +lie down--and if the enemy attempted to rush down to resist them to +the last extremity. This was near 6 o'clock A.M., and the enemy had +not made any advance on the North side of the "Crater." + +By this time the "Crater" was packed with men. I counted fourteen +beautiful banners. I saw four or five officers waiving swords and +pointing towards Petersburg, and I supposed they were preparing for a +charge to the crest of the hill. + + * * * * * + + +ELLIOTT'S BRIGADE. + +The line and strength of the Brigade from left to right was as +follows: + + Twenty-sixth Regiment, two hundred and fifty men; + Seventeenth, four hundred; + Eighteenth, three hundred and fifty; + Twenty-second, three hundred; + Twenty-third, two hundred. + +In all one thousand and five hundred men, a full estimate. + + * * * * * + + +BENBOW'S REGIMENT. + +The first severe attack of the enemy was on the South of the "Crater," +which was defended by a part of the Twenty-second under Major Shedd, +and Benbow's Twenty-third under Captain White. The enemy attacked with +fury. Our men fought nobly, but were driven down their ditch. Wise's +Brigade then joined in, and our men rushed back and recovered the +lost space. About this time they shot Colonel Wright, leading the +Thirteenth Minnesota regiment, and then the Federals slacked their +efforts and bore to their right, and multitudes of them climbed the +"Crater" and went to the rear of it and filled the gorge line and +every vacant space on the North side. No serious aggressive attack +was made on the Twenty-third Regiment during the rest of the day. The +principal reason I suppose was the direct line to Cemetery Hill was +through the Seventeenth Regiment. Every Federal officer was directed +over and over again to rush to the crest of the hill. + + * * * * * + + +SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT. + +The Federals being checked on the South of the "Crater" charged +Company A, the extreme right Company, next to the "Crater." Captain +W.H. Edwards was absent sick, and a few of the men were covered with +dirt by the explosion and were consequently demoralized. Private +Hoke was ordered to surrender--declared he never would surrender to a +Yankee. He clubbed his musket and knocked down four of his assailants, +and was bayoneted. There were five men killed in Company A. Company +F was the next attacked, and private John Caldwell shot one man and +brained two with the butt of his musket. Lieutenant Samuel Lowry, a +fine young man of twenty years, and four privates were killed. Company +D surrendered in a traverse, and twenty-seven men were killed. Had the +splendid Lieutenant W.G. Stevenson been present the result would have +been different. Fourteen out of twenty-seven of these men died in +prison of scurvy at Elmira, N.Y. Private J.S. Hogan, of Company D, +leaped the traverse. He joined in Mahone's charge, and after the fight +was sickened by the carnage; went to the spring to revive himself, +then went into the charge under General Sanders. After the battle he +procured enough coffee and sugar to last him a month. This young rebel +seemed to have a furor for fighting and robbing Yankees. At the battle +of Fort Steadman he manned a cannon which was turned on the enemy, and +in the retreat from Petersburg he was in every battle. He was always +on the picket line, by choice, where he could kill, wound or capture +the enemy. He feasted well while the other soldiers fed on parched +corn, and surrendered at Appomattox with his haversack filled with +provisions. + +Company C, the next Company, had fourteen men killed. Its Captain, +William Dunovant, was only eighteen years of age, and as fine a +Captain as was in Lee's Army. lieutenant C. Pratt, a fine officer not +more than twenty-five years old, was killed. The command devolved on +Sergeant T.J. LaMotte. G and H had two each; I, three; K, five; and B, +one; F, five. + +The Federals had the advantage over the Seventeenth because there were +some elevated points near the "Crater" they could shoot from. After +being driven down about fifty yards there was an angle in the ditch, +and Sergeant LaMotte built a barricade, which stopped the advance. +A good part of the fighting was done by two men on each side at a +time--the rest being cut off from view. + + * * * * * + + +LOOKING AFTER SMITH'S MEN. + +About 6:30 I went down a narrow ditch to see if Smith and his men +were properly located to keep the enemy from going down to the ravine +before I got back. I saw there was a vacant space in our trench. I +hustled in and saw two muskets poked around an angle, as I got in +the muskets were fired and harmlessly imbedded the balls in the +breastworks. I immediately concluded that it was not very safe for the +commander being on the extreme right of his men and went lower down. +In a short time I again went in a ditch a little lower down the hill, +anxious about the weak point on our line. I was smoking a pipe with a +long tie-tie stem. As I returned I observed a rush down the line. As +I got in the ditch the bowl of the pipe was knocked off. A big brawny +fellow cried out, "Hold on men! the Colonel can't fight without his +pipe!" He wheeled around, stopped the men until he picked up the bowl +and restored it to me. I wish I knew the name of this kind-hearted old +soldier. + +The principal fighting was done by the head of the column. A few game +fellows attempted to cross the breastworks. A Captain Sims and a negro +officer were bayoneted close together on our breastworks, but hundreds +of the enemy for hours stuck like glue to our outer bank. + + * * * * * + + +A LONG AND LAZY FIGHT. + +The sun was oppressively hot. There was very little musketry, the +cannonading had closed; it was after 7 o'clock, and the soldiers on +both sides, as there was not much shooting going on, seemed to resort +to devices to pass the time. I saw Captain Steele throwing bayonets +over a traverse. I saw Lamotte on one knee on the ground, and asked +what he was doing. He whispered, "I'm trying to get the drop on a +fellow on the other side." They would throw clods of clay at each +other over the bank. As an Irishman threw over a lump of clay I +heard him say, "Tak thart, Johnny." We all wished that Beauregard had +supplied us with hand grenades, for the battle had simmered down to a +little row in the trenches. + + * * * * * + + +THE BATTLE THAT CONQUERED MEADE. + +At 8.10 A.M. Ferrero's four thousand three hundred negroes rushed +over and reached the right flank of the Seventeenth. This horde of +barbarians added greatly to the thousands of white men that packed +themselves to the safe side of the breastworks. Thousands rushed down +the hill side. Ransom's Twenty-sixth and Twenty-fifth Regiments were +crazy to get hold of the negroes. "Niggers" had been scarce around +there during the morning, now they were packed in an acre of ground +and in close range. The firing was great all down the hill side, but +when it got down to the branch the musketry was terrific, and Wright's +Battery two hundred yards off poured in its shells. About half past +8 o'clock, at the height of the battle, there was a landslide amongst +the negroes. Colonel Carr says two thousand negroes rushed back and +lifted him from his feet and swept him to the rear. General Delavan +Bates, who was shot through the face, said at that time that Ransom's +Brigade was reported to occupy those lines. + +When the battle was at its highest the Seventeenth was forced down +its line about thirty yards. Lieutenant Colonel Fleming, of Ransom's +Forty-ninth Regiment, came up to me and pointed out a good place to +build another barricade. I requested him to build it with his own men, +as mine were almost exhausted by the labors of the day. He cheerfully +assented, stepped on a banquette to get around me, and was shot in the +neck and dropped at my feet. + +At this moment of time an aide of General Bushrod Johnson told me +that the General requested me to come out to Elliott's headquarters. I +immediately proceeded to the place, and General Mahone came up. I was +introduced to him, and suggested to him when his men came in to form +them on Smith's men who were lying down in the ravine. A few minutes +afterwards, by order of General Johnson, Captain Steele brought out +the remnant of the Seventeenth Regiment, and they marched in the +ravine back of Mahone's men. + + * * * * * + + +MAHONE'S CHARGE. + +By this time General Mahone's Brigade of Virginians, eight hundred men +strong, was coming in one by one, and were formed a few steps to the +left and a little in advance of Smith's and Crawford's men. I was +standing with General Johnson, close to Elliott's headquarters, and +could see everything that transpired in the ravine. It took Mahone so +long to arrange his men I was apprehensive that the enemy would make a +charge before he was ready. A few Federal officers began to climb out +of the main ditch until they numbered perhaps twenty-five men. General +Mahone was on the extreme right it seemed to me busy with some men--I +have heard since they were some Georgians. Captain Girardey had gone +to Colonel Weisinger, who was worried with the delay, and told him +General Mahone was anxious to take some of the Georgians with him. But +the threatening attitude of the enemy precipitated the charge. + +The noble old Roman, Colonel Weisinger, cried out "Forward!" and eight +hundred brave Virginians sprung to their feet and rushed two hundred +yards up the hill. It had not the precision of a West Point drill, but +it exhibited the pluck of Grecians at Thermopylae. The men disappeared +irregularly as they reached the numerous ditches that led to the main +ditch until all were hid from view. The firing was not very great for +the bayonet and butt of the muskets did more damage than the barrel. +If any one desires a graphic description of a hand to hand fight I beg +him to read the graphic detailed account given by Mr. Bernard in his +"War Talks of Confederate Veterans." + +In a few minutes the enemy in the ditches up to fifty yards of the +"Crater" were killed or captured. The whole battlefield of three acres +of ground became suddenly quiet comparatively. + +Mahone in an hour's time sent in the Georgia Brigade, under General +Wright. There was such a heavy fire from the "Crater" the brigade was +forced to oblique to the left and banked on Mahone's men. In a few +minutes after they landed at the foot of the "Crater" in their second +charge. + +Sanders' Alabama Brigade came up at this time. Besides his Alabamians +were Elliott's Brigade and Clingman's Sixty-first North Carolina. +The charge was made about one o'clock P.M., and the Federal artillery +poured all its fire on the "Crater" for some minutes, slaughtering +many of their own men. At this charge Lieutenant Colonel Gulp, who was +absent at the explosion, being a member of a courtmartial, came up and +took charge of the Seventeenth in the ravine, where Captain Steele had +them. In the charge of the "Crater" under Sanders were Colonel +Gulp, Colonel Smith and Lieutenant Colonel J.H. Hudson with the +Twenty-sixth, and a large number of privates, especially from the +Seventeenth Regiment, which also had a good many in Mahone's charge. + +A good many of the Twenty-third joined in the charge, and Private W.H. +Dunlap, Company C, Twenty-third Regiment, now of Columbia, was the +first man who got in the "Crater" on the south side. + +While the men were piled up around the "Crater" Adjutant Fant heard +some Alabama soldiers picking out the fine banners within, and he was +lucky to get two of them. He laid them down, and in a minute they were +spirited away. + +A little incident recited by Honorable George Clark Sanders, Adjutant +General, illustrates how true politeness smoothes the wrinkled brow of +war. He says that he saw a fine looking Federal officer making his +way out of the "Crater" with much pain, using two reversed muskets for +crutches, seeing one leg was shot off. He said I'm very sorry to +see you in so much pain. The soldier replied the pain occurred at +Spottsylvania a year ago. This is a wooden leg shot off to-day--then +gave his name as General Bartlett, but Colonel Sanders kindly helped +him out. + +The horrors of war are sometimes relieved with incidents which amuse +us. Adjutant Fant tells an amusing incident of Joe Free, a member of +Company B. The Adjutant had gone In the afternoon to the wagon yard +to be refreshed after the labors of the day. There was a group of men +reciting incidents. The Adjutant overheard Free say He had gone into +an officer's den for a few minutes to shade his head from the heat of +the sun, as he was suffering from an intense headache, and as he began +to creep out he saw the trench full of negroes. He dodged back again. +Joe says he was scared almost to death, and that he "prayed until +great drops of sweat poured down my face." The Adjutant knew that his +education was defective and said, "What did you say, Joe?" "I said +Lord have mercy on me! and keep them damned niggers from killing me!" + +It was an earnest and effective prayer, for Mahone's men in an hour +afterwards released him. + +In a recent letter received from Captain E.A. Crawford, he says the +enemy formed three times to charge, but we gave them a well directed +volley each time and sent them into the rear line in our trench. When +Mahone came in and formed my three companies charged with him. +Colonel Smith told me they charged four times. Cusack Moore, a very +intelligent private of Company K, said they charged five times. After +the charge Captain Crawford requested General Mahone to give him +permission to report to his regiment, and he ordered him to report to +General Sanders, and he joined in that charge with his men. Company +K had fifty-three men, Captain Cherry; Company E, forty, and Captain +Burley, Company B, twenty-five; in all, one hundred and eighteen men. + +Lieutenant Colonel Culp was a member of a military court doing duty in +Petersburg at the time of the explosion, and could not get back until +he reported to me at Elliott's headquarters. I made some extracts from +his letter recently received: "I recollect well that in the charge +(the final one) which we made that model soldier and Christian +gentleman, Sergeant Williams, of Company K, was killed, and that one +of the Crowders, of Company B, was killed in elbow touch of me after +we got into the works. These casualties, I think, well established the +fact that Companies K and B were with me in the charge, and, as far +as I know now, at least a portion of all the companies were with me. +I recollect that poor Fant was with as very distinctly, and that +he rendered very efficient service after we got to the 'Crater' in +ferreting out hidden Federals, who had taken shelter there, and who, +for the most part, seemed very loath to leave their biding places. I +feel quite confident that Capt. Crawford was also there, but there is +nothing that I can recall at this late day to fasten the fact of his +presence on my mind, except that he was always ready for duty, however +perilous it might be, and I am sure his company was there, in part at +least. So, too, this will apply to all of the officers of our regiment +whose duty it was to be there on that occasion, and who were not +unavoidably kept away. In the charge that we made we were to be +supported by the Sixty-first North Carolina. They were on our left, +and I suppose entered the works entirely to the left of the 'Crater,' +for I am sure that our regiment, small as it was, covered the +'Crater,' and when I reached the old line with my command we found +ourselves in the very midst of the old fort, which, I may say, had +been blown to atoms in the early morning. When we arrived the Federals +began, in some instances, to surrender to us voluntarily, others, as +before intimated, had to be pulled out of their hiding places. And +with these prisoners we captured quite a number of colors, probably +as many as a dozen, certainly not less than eight or ten. I was so +occupied in trying to clear the trenches of the enemy that I gave no +attention to these colors after they fell into the hands of our men, +and afterwards learned, to my sorrow, that they had fallen into hands +which were not entitled to them. Suffice it to say that few, if any +of them, could be found. After perfect quiet had been restored, and we +were thus robbed of these significant trophies of our triumph at which +we felt quite a keen disappointment, it is pleasing to me to say that +I think that every man of our regiment who was present acted his part +nobly in the performance of the hazardous duty assigned us on that +memorable occasion. You gave me the order to make the final charge +already referred to." + + * * * * * + + +THE ARTILLERY. + +The Confederates only had twenty-six cannon, and only three of them +were conspicuous. The Federals had one hundred and sixty-four cannon +and mortars. They fired five thousand and seventy-five rounds. They +had only one man killed and two wounded. + +General Hunt and others spoke slightingly of our guns, with two +exceptions, Wright's Battery and Davenport's, which is mentioned +as the two-gun battery. General Hunt the day before had accurately +prepared to silence all these guns, except the Davenport Battery. +General Hunt said he expected a company of infantry would take us +in fifteen minutes after Pegram's Battery was gone. But the Wright +Battery was a complete surprise. It was constructed just behind +Ransom's Brigade, about one hundred yards. General Hunt never could +locate the place, and shot at short range above five hundred shells +doing no damage, but honeycombing the surrounding ground. + +Wright's Battery was in five hundred yards of the "Crater," and +Colonel Coit informed me he shot about six hundred rounds of shell and +shrapnel at short range. + +In my opinion it did more damage than all our guns put together. Its +concealed location gave it a great advantage overall other guns. + +Davidson's Battery had only one gun, which only could shoot in one +line. But it created more anxiety amongst the enemy than any other. +The infantry officers constantly alluded to its destructive power, +and they dug a trench to guard against its fire. Major Hampton Gibbes +commanded it until he was wounded, and then Captain D.N. Walker for +the rest of the day did his duty nobly, and no doubt killed many +Federals. General Warren was ordered to capture this gun about 8.30, +but at 8.45 he was ordered to do nothing "but reconnoitre." This was +before Mahone came up. + +The most interesting of our guns were the two coehorns of Major John +C. Haskell, because all of his shells were emptied into the "Crater," +which was packed with men. General Mahone says: "In the meantime +Colonel Haskell, a brilliant officer of our artillery, hunting a place +where he could strike a blow at our adversary, presented himself for +any service which I could advise. There were two coehorn mortars in +the depression already referred to, and I suggested to him that he +could serve them. I would have them taken up to the outside of the +'Crater,' at which place he could employ himself until one o'clock, +as perhaps no such opportunity had ever occurred or would be likely +to occur for effective employment of these little implements of war. +Colonel Haskell adopted the suggestion, and the mortars being removed +to a ditch within a few feet of the 'Crater,' they were quickly at +work emptying their contents upon the crowded mass of men in this +horrible pit." + +Lieutenant Bowley, a Federal officer, says: "A mortar battery also +opened on us. After a few shots they got our range so well that the +shells fell directly among us. Many of them did not explode at all, +but a few burst directly over us and cut the men down cruelly." +He also speaks of a few Indians from Michigan. "Some of them were +mortally wounded, and, drawing their blouses over their faces, they +chanted a death song and died--four of them in a group." + + * * * * * + + +A FEAST AFTER A FAMINE. + +About 3 o'clock p.m. absolute quietness prevailed over the battlefield +where the carnage of war rioted a few hours before. My Orderly, M.C. +Heath, a boy of sixteen, who now is a distinguished physician of +Lexington, Ky., came to me at Elliott's headquarters and told me +that the Lieutenant Colonel and Adjutant sent their compliments and +requested me to come to dinner at my den in the trench. I went, and +had to step over the dead bodies--all negroes. A narrow ditch led to a +plaza six feet square, where a half dozen men, in fine weather, could +sit on campstools. On the breastworks hung a dead negro. In the ditch +I had to step over another dead negro. As I got to my plaza I saw two +more negroes badly wounded in a cell two feet deeper than the plaza +where I slept. One of the negroes was resting his bloody head on a +fine copy of Paley's philosophy, which I came across in my wanderings. +Heath's big basket was well stored with good viands, and we ate with +the ferocity of starving men, regaling ourselves with the incidents +of battle, without any expressions of sorrow for our friends, Colonel +David Fleming and Adjutant Quattlebaum, who a few yards above were +entombed in our old sleeping place in the "Crater" which we occupied +as our quarters until they succeeded us ten days before, or any +lamentations for the hundreds of dead and dying on the hillside +around. + +The joy of the glorious victory drowned out all sentiments of grief +for a season, and it seemed a weird holiday. + + * * * * * + + +A BLUNDER IN BEAUREGARD'S BOOK. + +Mr. Barnard, in his interesting article on the "Crater," criticises a +remarkable paragraph in Colonel Roman's work, "basing his statements +made by General Bushrod Johnson and Colonel McMaster." The only +objection to my statement was I said Mahone's charge was at 10 o'clock +a.m. + +The paragraph is as follows: + + "Such was the situation. The Federals unable to advance + and fearing to retreat, when, at 10 o'clock, General Mahone + arrived with a part of his men, who had laid down in the + shallow ravine to the rear of Elliott's salient held by the + forces under Colonel Smith, there to await the remainder + of the Division, but a movement having occurred among the + Federals, which seemed to menace an advance, General Mahone + then forwarded his Brigade with the Sixty-first North + Carolina, of Hoke's Division, which had now also come up. + The Twenty-fifth and Forty-ninth North Carolina, and the + Seventeenth South Carolina, all under Smith, which were formed + on Mahone's left, likewise formed in the 'Crater' movement, + and three-fourths of the gorge line was carried with that + part of the trench on the left of the 'Crater' occupied by the + Federals. Many of the latter, white and black, abandoned + the breach and fled under a scourging flank fire of Wise's + Brigade." + +This is confusion worse confounded. It is difficult to find a +paragraph containing so many blunders as the report of General Johnson +to Colonel Roman. + +The Sixty-first North Carolina of Hoke's Brigade was not present +during the day, except at Sander's charge two hours afterwards. The +Twenty-fifth and Forty-ninth North Carolina were not present at all, +but remained in their trench on the front line. + +Smith's men on the extreme right did not as a body go into Mahone's +charge. Captain Crawford with one hundred and eighteen men did charge +with Mahone. In fact he commanded his own men separate from Smith, +although he was close by. + +Colonel Roman's account taken from General Johnson's statement is +unintelligible. + + * * * * * + + +TIME OF MAHONE'S CHARGE. + +I dislike to differ with Mr. Bernard, who has been so courteous to me, +and with my friend, Colonel Venable, for we literally carried muskets +side by side as privates in dear old Captain Casson's company, the +Governor's Guards, in Colonel Kershaw's Regiment, at the first battle +of Manassas, and I shot thirteen times at Ellsworth's Zouaves. Venable +was knocked down with a spent ball and I only had a bloody mouth. And +the rainy night which followed the battle we sheltered ourselves under +the same oilcloth. But I can't help thinking of these gentlemen as +being like all Virginians, which is illustrated by a remark of a great +Massachusetts man, old John Adams, in answering some opponent, said: +"Virginians are all fine fellows. The only objection I have to you is, +in Virginia every goose is a swan." + +Colonel Venable says: "I am confident the charge of the Virginians was +made before 9 o'clock a.m." Mr. Bernard says, in speaking of the time: +"Mahone's Brigade left the plank road and took to the covered way." +"It is now half-past 8 o'clock." In a note he says: "probably between +8.15 and 8.30." "At the angle where the enemy could see a moving +column with ease the men were ordered to run quickly by, one man at a +time, which was done for the double purpose of concealing the approach +of a body of troops and of lessening the danger of passing rifle balls +at these points." + +It took Mahone's Brigade, above eight hundred men, to walk at least +five hundred yards down this covered way and gulch, one by one, +occasionally interrupted by wounded men going to the rear, at least +twenty minutes. At a very low estimate it took them half an hour to +form in the ravine, to listen to two short speeches, and the parley +between Weisinger and Girardey. With the most liberal allowance this +will bring the charge at 9.15 A.M., but it took more time than that. + +Captain Whitner investigated the time of the charge in less than a +month after the battle. I extract the following, page 795, 40th "War +of Rebellion:" "There is a great diversity of opinion as to the time +the first charge was made by General Mahone * * * But one officer of +the division spoke with certainty, Colonel McMaster, Seventeenth South +Carolina Volunteers. His written statement is enclosed." Unluckily the +paper was "not found." But there is no doubt I repeatedly said it was +about ten o'clock A.M. + +General Mahone took no note of the time, but says: "According to +the records the charge must have been before nine o'clock. General +Burnside in his report fixes the time of the charge and recapture of +our works at 8.45 A.M." 40th "War of Rebellion," page 528. He is badly +mistaken. General Burnside says: "The enemy regained a portion of his +line on the right. This was about 8.45 A.M., but not all the colored +troops retired. Some held pits from behind which they had advanced +severely checking the enemy until they were nearly all killed." + +[Illustration: James Evans, Major and Surgeon, 3d S.C. Regiment.] + +[Illustration: Capt. D.A. Dickert, Co. H, 3d S.C. Regiment. (Age 15 +years when he first entered service.)] + +[Illustration: Capt. L.P. Foster, Co. K, 3d S.C. Regiment.] + +[Illustration: J.E. Tuesdale, Co. G, 2d S.C. Regiment.] + +"At 9.15 I received, with regret, a peremptory order from the General +commanding to withdraw my troops from the enemy's lines." + +Now this battle indicated as at 8:45 was a continuation, of the one +that many officers said was about half-past eight o'clock. And both +Mahone and Mr. Bernard were mistaken in stating that the great firing +and retreat of soldiers was the result of the Virginian's charge, +whereas at this time Mahone's Brigade was at the Jerusalem plank road. +Moreover, when Mahone did come up his eight hundred men could not +create one-fourth of the reverberation of the Seventeenth Regiment, +Ransom's Brigade, and the thousands of the enemy. Besides Mahone's +men's fighting was confined to the ditches, and they used mostly the +butts and bayonets instead of the barrels of their muskets. No it +was the fire of Elliott's men, Ransom's men, the torrent of shells +of Wright's Battery and the enemy, Ord's men, and the four thousand +negroes, all of them in an area of one hundred yards. The part of the +line spoken of by Generals Delavan Bates and Turner and others as +the Confederate line were mere rifle pits which the Confederates held +until they had perfected the main line, and then gave up the pits. +They were in the hollow, where the branch passes through to the +breastworks. + +Now the tumultuous outburst of musketry, Federal and Confederate, and +the landslide of the Federals, was beyond doubt before I went out to +Elliott's headquarters on the order of General Johnson. + +For two hours before this Meade had been urging Burnside to rush to +the crest of the hill until General B. was irritated beyond measure, +and replied to a dispatch: "Were it not insubordination I would say +that the latter remark was unofficer like and ungentlemanly." Before +this time Grant, Meade and Ord had given up hope. They had agreed +to withdraw, hence the positive order to withdraw my troops from the +enemy's line at 9.15. + +Now this must have been before Mahone came up, for there is no +allusion to a charge by any Federal General at the court of inquiry. +With the 8.30 charge made at the hollow, there was a synchronous +movement made by General Warren on the south of the "Crater," but at +8.45 he was informed that it was intended alone for a reconnoissance +of the two-gun battery. + +At 9.15 General Warren sends dispatch: "Just before receiving your +dispatch to assault the battery on the left of the 'Crater' occupied +by General Burnside the enemy drove his troops out of the place and I +think now hold it. I can find no one who for certainty knows, or seems +willing to admit, but I think I saw a Rebel flag in it just now, and +shots coming from it this way. I am, therefore, if this (be) true no +more able to take this battery now than I was this time yesterday. All +our advantages are lost." + +The advantages certainly were not lost on account of Mahone's men, but +on account of the losses two hundred yards down the hill, of which he +had doubtless been advised. He saw what he thought was a "Rebel +flag," but for a half an hour he had heard of the terrific castigation +inflicted on the Federals down the hill. + +But here is something from the court of inquiry that approximates the +time of Mahone's charge. + +General Griffen, of Potter's Ninth Corps, in reply to the question +by the court: "When the troops retired from the 'Crater' was it +compulsory from the enemy's operations, or by orders from your +commanders?" Answer. "Partly both. We retired because we had orders. +At the same time a column of troops came up to attack the 'Crater,' +and we retired instead of stopping to fight. This force of the enemy +came out of a ravine, and we did not see them till they appeared on +the rising ground." + +"What was the force that came out to attack you? The force that was +exposed in the open?" Answer, "five or six hundred soldiers were all +that we could see. I did not see either the right or left of the line. +I saw the center of the line as it appeared to me. It was a good line +of battle. Probably if we had not been under orders to evacuate we +should have fought them, and tried to hold our position, but according +to the orders we withdrew." + +General Hartranft, of Ninth Corps, says in answer to the question +"Driven out?" "They were driven out the same time, the same time I had +passed the word to retire. It was a simultaneous thing. When they saw +the assaulting column within probably one hundred feet of the works I +passed the word as well as it could be passed for everybody to retire. +And I left myself at that time. General Griffen and myself were +together at that time. The order to retire we had endorsed to the +effect that we thought we could not withdraw the troops that were +there on account of the enfilading fire over the ground between our +rifle pits and the 'Crater' without losing a great portion of them, +that ground being enfiladed with artillery and infantry fire. They +had at that time brought their infantry down along their pits on both +sides of the 'Crater,' so that their sharpshooters had good range, and +were in good position. Accordingly we requested that our lines should +open with artillery and infantry, bearing on the right and left of +the 'Crater,' under which fire we would be able to withdraw a greater +portion of our troops, and, in fact, everyone that could get away. +While we were in waiting for the approach of that endorsement and the +opening of the fire, this assaulting column of the enemy came up and +we concluded--General Griffin and myself--that there was no use in +holding it any longer, and so we retired." + +This proves beyond doubt that Mahone's charge was after 9.15. It +probably took Burnside some minutes to receive this order and some +minutes for him and Griffin to send it down the line, and to send +orders to the artillery to open on their flanks to protect them. This +would bring Mahone's charge to 9.30 or 9.45. + + * * * * * + + +SMITH AND CRAWFORD SAVE PETERSBURG. + +I ordered Smith to take his regiment, the Twenty-sixth, and Crawford +with Companies K, E, and B, to lie down in the ravine. Every General +was ordered to charge to the crest. Had the enemy gotten beyond +Smith's line fifty yards they could have marched in the covered way to +Petersburg; not a cannon or a gun intervened. General Potter says +his men charged two hundred yards beyond the "Crater," when they +were driven back. Colonel Thomas said he led a charge which was not +successful; he went three or four hundred yards and was driven back. +General Griffin says he went about two hundred yards and was driven +back. Colonel Russell says he went about fifty yards towards Cemetery +Hill and "was driven back by two to four hundred infantry, which rose +up from a little ravine and charged us." Some officer said he went +five hundred yards beyond the "Crater." There was the greatest +confusion about distances. General Russell is about right when he said +he went about fifty yards behind the "Crater." When they talk of two +or three hundred yards they must mean outside the breastworks towards +Ransom's Brigade. + +From the character of our breastworks, or rather our cross ditches, it +was impracticable to charge down the rear of our breastworks. The only +chance of reaching Petersburg was through the "Crater" to the rear. +Smith and Crawford, whose combined commands did not exceed two hundred +and fifty men, forced them back. Had either Potter, Russell, Thomas, +or Griffin charged down one hundred yards farther than they did, the +great victory would have been won, and Beauregard and Lee would have +been deprived of the great honor of being victors of the great battle +of the "Crater." + + * * * * * + + +ELLIOTT'S BRIGADE. + +After the explosion, with less than one thousand two hundred men, and +with the co-operation of Wright's Battery and Davenport's Battery, and +a few men of Wise's Brigade, resisted nine thousand of the enemy from +five to eight o'clock. Then four thousand five hundred blacks rushed +over, and the Forty-ninth and Twenty-fifth North Carolina, Elliott's +Brigade, welcomed them to hospitable graves at 9 o'clock A.M. + +At about 9.30 A.M. old Virginia--that never tires in good works--with +eight hundred heroes rushed into the trench of the Seventeenth and +slaughtered hundreds of whites and blacks, with decided preference for +the Ethiopians. + +Captain Geo. B. Lake, of Company B, Twenty-second South Carolina, who +was himself buried beneath the debris, and afterwards captured, gives +a graphic description of his experience and the scenes around the +famous "Crater." He says in a newspaper article: + +BY CAPTAIN GEORGE B. LAKE. + +The evening before the mine was sprung, or possibly two evenings +before, Colonel David Fleming, in command of the Twenty-second South +Carolina Regiment--I don't know whether by command of General +Stephen Elliott or not--ordered me to move my company, Company B, +Twenty-second South Carolina, into the rear line, immediately in rear +of Pegram's four guns. I had in my company one officer, Lieutenant +W.J. Lake, of Newberry, S.C., and thirty-four enlisted men. This rear +line was so constructed that I could fire over Pegram's men on the +attacking enemy. + +The enemy in our front had two lines of works. He had more men in his +line nearest our works than we had in his front. From this nearest +line he tunnelled to and under Pegram's salient, and deposited in a +magazine prepared for it not less than four tons of powder, some of +their officers say it was six tons. We knew the enemy were mining, and +we sunk a shaft on each side of the four-gun battery, ten feet or more +deep, and then extended the tunnel some distance to our front. We were +on a high hill, however, and the enemy five hundred and ten feet in +our front, where they began their work, consequently their mine was +far under the shaft we sunk. At night when everything was still, we +could hear the enemy's miners at work. While war means kill, the idea +of being blown into eternity without any warning was anything but +pleasant. + + * * * * * + + +THAT TERRIBLE SATURDAY MORNING. + +On that terrible Saturday morning, July 30, 1864, before day had yet +dawned, after the enemy had massed a large number of troops in front +of our guns, the fuse which was to ignite the mine was fired. The +enemy waited fully an hour, but there was one explanation, the fuse +had gone out. A brave Federal officer, whose name I do not know, +volunteered to enter the tunnel and fire it again, which he did. + +A minute later there was a report which was heard for miles, and the +earth trembled for miles around. A "Crater" one hundred and thirty +feet long, ninety-seven feet in breadth, and thirty feet deep, was +blown out. Of the brave artillery company, twenty-two officers and +men were killed and wounded, most of them killed. Hundreds of tons of +earth were thrown back on the rear line, in which my command was. + + * * * * * + + +A WHOLE COMPANY BURIED. + +Here was the greatest loss suffered by any command on either side +in the war, myself, my only Lieutenant, W.J. Lake, and thirty-four +enlisted men were all buried, and of that little band thirty-one were +killed. Lieutenant Lake and myself and three enlisted men were taken +out of the ground two hours after the explosion by some brave New +Yorkers. These men worked like beavers, a portion of the time under +perpetual fire. + + * * * * * + + +BURIED THIRTY FEET DEEP. + +Colonel Dave Fleming and his Adjutant, Dick Quattlebaum, were also in +the rear line, only a few feet to my left, and were buried thirty +feet deep; their bodies are still there. I do not know how many of +the Federal troops stormed the works, but I do know the Confederates +captured from them nineteen flags. The attacking columns were composed +of white men and negroes; sober men and men who were drunk; brave men +and cowards. + +One of the latter was an officer high in command. I have lost his +name, if I ever knew it. He asked me how many lines of works we had +between the "Crater" and Petersburg, when I replied, "Three." He asked +me if they were all manned. I said, "Yes." He then said, "Don't you +know that I know you are telling a d----d lie?" I said to him. "Don't +you know that I am not going to give you information that will be of +any service to you?" He then threatened to have me shot, and I believe +but that for the interference of a Federal officer he would have done +so. + + * * * * * + + +DEATH TO ADVANCE AND DEATH TO RETREAT. + +I had just seen several of our officers and men killed with bayonets +after they had surrendered, when the enemy, who had gone through the +"Crater" towards Petersburg, had been repulsed, and fell back in +the "Crater" for protection. There was not room in the "Crater" for +another man. It was death to go forward or death to retreat to their +own lines. It is said there were three thousand Yankees in and around +the "Crater," besides those in portions of our works adjacent thereto. + +Then the Coshorn mortars of the brave Major Haskell and other +commanders of batteries turned loose their shells on the "Crater." The +firing was rapid and accurate. Some of these mortars were brought up +as near as fifty yards to the "Crater." Such a scene has never before +nor never will be witnessed again. The Yankees at the same time +were using one hundred and forty pieces of cannon against our works +occupied by Confederate troops. + +Elliott's Brigade in the day's fight lost two hundred and +seventy-eight officers and men. Major General B.R. Johnson's Division, +Elliott's Brigade included, lost in the day, nine hundred and +thirty-two officers and men. This was the most of the Confederate +loss. + + * * * * * + + +FEDERAL TOTAL LOSS OVER FIVE THOUSAND. + +While the enemy acknowledged a loss of from five to six thousand +men--and that I am sure is far below their real loss--I make another +quotation from Major General B.R. Johnson's official report: + +"It is believed that for each buried companion they have taken a +tenfold vengeance on the enemy, and have taught them a lesson that +will be remembered as long as the history of our wrongs and this great +revolution endures." + +Virginians, Georgians, North Carolinians, South Carolinians and others +who may have fought at the "Crater," none of you have the right to +claim deeds of more conspicuous daring over your Confederate brethren +engaged that day. Every man acted well his part. + +What about the four cannons blown up? you ask. One piece fell about +half way between the opposing armies, another fell in front of our +lines, not so near, however, to the enemy, a third was thrown from the +carriage and was standing on end, half buried in the ground inside the +"Crater," the fourth was still attached to the carriage, but turned +bottom side up, the wheels in the air, and turned against our own men +when the enemy captured it. That day, however, they all fell into the +hands of the Confederates, except the one thrown so near the enemy's +works, and in time we regained that also. + + * * * * * + + +CAPTAIN LAKE A PRISONER. + +Before the fighting was over the Yankee officer who could curse a +prisoner so gallantly ordered two soldiers to take charge and carry me +to their lines, no doubt believing that the Confederates would succeed +in recapturing the "Crater." We had to cross a plain five hundred and +ten feet wide that was being raked by rifle balls, cannon shot and +shell, grape and canister. It was not a very inviting place to go, but +still not a great deal worse than Haskell's mortar shells that were +raining in the center. I had the pleasure of seeing one of my guards +die. The other conducted me safely to General Patrick's headquarters. +Patrick was the Yankee provost marshall. + +When I was placed under guard near his quarters he sent a staff +officer to the front to learn the result of the battle. + +After a short absence he galloped up to General Patrick and yelled out +"We have whipped them!" + +Patrick said: "I want no foolishness, sir!" + +The staff officer then said: "General, if you want the truth, they +have whipped us like hell." + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +Leaves the Trenches in the Shenandoah Valley. + + +To relieve the tension that oppressed both Richmond and Petersburg, +General Lee determined to dispatch a force to the Valley to drive the +enemy therefrom, to guard against a flank movement around the north +and west of Richmond, and to threaten Washington with an invasion of +the North. The Second Corps of the army was ordered Northwest. General +Ewell being too enfeebled by age and wounds, had been relieved of his +command in the field and placed in the command of Henrico County. +This embraced Richmond and its defensive, the inner lines, which were +guarded and manned by reserves and State troops. General Early, now +a lieutenant General, was placed in command of the expedition. Why +or what the particular reason a corps commander was thus placed in +command of a department and a separate army, when there were full +Generals occupying inferior positions, was never known. Unless we take +it that Early was a Virginian, better informed on the typography of +the country, and being better acquainted with her leading citizens, +that he would find in them greater aid and assistance than would a +stranger. The department had hopes of an uprising in the "Pan Handle" +of Maryland in recruits from all over the States. The prestige of +Early's name might bring them out. Early was a brave and skillful +General. Being a graduate of West Point, he was well versed in the +tactical arts of war; was watchful and vigilant, and under a superior +he was second to none as a commander. But his Valley campaign--whether +from failures of the troops or subaltern officers, I cannot say--but +results show that it was a failure. There could be no fault found +with his plans, nor the rapidity of his movements, for his partial +successes show what might have been accomplished if faithfully carried +out. Still, on the whole, his campaign in the Valley was detrimental, +rather than beneficial, to our cause. Early had already made a dash +through the Valley and pushed his lines beyond the Potomac, while his +cavalry had even penetrated the confines of Washington itself. It was +said at the time, by both Northern and Southern military critics, that +had he not wavered or faltered at the critical moment, he could have +easily captured the city. No doubt his orders were different--that +only a demonstration was intended--and had he attempted to exceed his +orders and failed, he would have received and deserved the censure of +the authorities. The bane of the South's civic government was that the +Executive and his military advisors kept the commanders of armies too +much under their own leading strings, and not allowing them enough +latitude to be governed by circumstances--to ride in on the flow tide +of success when an opportunity offered. But the greatest achievements, +the greatest of victories, that history records are where Generals +broke away from all precedent and took advantage of the success of the +hour, that could not have been foreseen nor anticipated by those who +were at a distance. Be that as it may, Early had gone his length, and +now, the last of July, was retreating up the Valley. + +Kershaw, with his division, was ordered to join him, and on the 6th of +August the troops embarked at Chester Station and were transported to +Mitchel Station, on the Richmond and Mannassas Railroad, not far from +Culpepper. On the 12th the troops marched by Flint Hill, crossed the +Blue Ridge, and camped near the ancient little hamlet of Front Royal. +The next day we were moved about one mile distant to a large spring, +near the banks of the beautiful and now classic Shenandoah. How +strange to the troops of the far South to see this large river running +in the opposite direction from all our accustomed ideas of the flow +of rivers--that water seeks its level and will therefore run South, or +towards the coast. But here the stream rises in the south and runs +due north towards the Potomac. After long and fatiguing marches, the +soldiers here enjoyed a luxury long since denied them on account of +their never ceasing activity. The delight of a bath, and in the pure, +clear waters of the Shenandoah, was a luxury indeed. On the 17th of +August the march was again resumed, and we reached Winchester, Va., on +the next day. Remaining two days near the old city which had become so +dear to the hearts of all the old soldiers through the hospitality and +kindness of her truly loyal people, and being the place, too, of much +of our enjoyment and pleasure while camping near it two years before, +we left on the 21st, going in the direction of Charleston. + +On nearing the latter place we found the enemy in force, and had to +push our way forward by heavy skirmishing. When within two miles +of Charlestown, we halted and went into camp, and threw our pickets +beyond the town on the north. On the 25th we moved through the city +and took the Harper Ferry Road, two miles beyond. Here we took up +camp, and were in close proximity to the enemy, who lay in camp near +us. A heavy skirmish line was thrown out about half a mile in our +front. Lieutenant Colonel Maffett of the Third, but commanding +the Seventh, was deployed in a large old field as support. We were +encamped in line of battle in a beautiful grove overlooking and in +full view of our skirmishers. + +The enemy seemed to display little activity. Now and then a solitary +horseman could be seen galloping away in the direction of his camp. + +The want of alertness on the part of the enemy threw our pickets off +their guard. Colonel Maffett was lounging under the shade of a tree in +the rear of the skirmish line, with a few of the reserves, while those +on the picket line lay at convenient distances, some with their coats +off, others lying under the shade of trees or in the corners of a +fence, all unconscious of an approaching enemy. The Federals had +surveyed the field, and seeing our pickets so lax, and in such bad +order for defense, undertook to surprise them. With a body of cavalry, +concealed by the forest in their front, they made their way, under +cover of a ravine, until within a short distance of the unsuspecting +pickets. Then, with a shout and a volley, they dashed upon the line +and over it, capturing nearly all, made their way to the rear, and +there captured lieutenant Colonel Maffett and many of his reserves. + +Commotion struck our camp. Drums beat, men called to arms, line of +battle formed, and an advance at double-quick was made through the old +field, in the direction of our unfortunate friends. But all too late. +The surprise had been complete and the captured prisoners had been +hurried to the rear. Colonel Maffett's horse, which was grazing near +the scene of the skirmish, galloped through the enemy's disorganized +lines, some trying to head him off, others to capture him, but he +galloped defiantly on to camp. The enemy amused themselves by throwing +a few shells into our lines. + +The horse of Colonel Maffett was carried home by his faithful body +servant, Harry, where both lived to a ripe old age. Not so with the +unfortunate master. Reared in the lap of luxury, being an only son +of a wealthy father and accustomed to all the ease and comforts that +wealth and affluence could give, he could not endure the rigor and +hardships of a Northern prison, his genial spirits gave way, +his constitution and health fouled him, and after many months of +incarceration he died of brain fever. But through it all he bore +himself like a true son of the South. He never complained, nor was his +proud spirit broken by imprisonment, but it chafed under confinement +and forced obedience to prison rule and discipline. The Confederacy +lost no more patriotic, more self-sacrificing soldier than Lieutenant +Colonel Robert Clayton Maffett. + +On the 27th we marched to Princeton, and remained until the 31st, +picketing on the Opequan River, then returned to Charlestown. On +the day before, the Third Regiment went out on the Opequan, being in +hearing of the church bells and in sight of the spires of Washington. +What an anomaly! The Federals besieging the Confederate capital, and +the Confederates in sight of Washington. + +From Charlestown we were moved back to Winchester and went into camp +for a few days. So far Early's demonstration had been a failure. +Either to capture Washington or weaken Grant, for day in and day +out, he kept pegging away at Petersburg and the approaches to it +and Richmond. These seemed to be the objective points, and which +eventually caused the downfall of the two places. The enemy in our +front had moved up to Berryville, a small hamlet about eight miles +from Winchester, and on the 30th of September we were ordered out to +attack the plan. The Federals had fortified across the turn-pike +and had batteries placed at every commanding point. In front of this +fortification was a large old field, through which we had to advance. +The Brigade was formed in line of battle in some timber at the edge +of the opening and ordered forward. The frowning redoubts lined with +cannon and their formidable breastwork, behind which bristled the +bright bayonets, were anything but objects to tempt the men as they +advanced to the charge. As soon as we entered the opening the shells +came plunging through our ranks, or digging up the earth in front. But +the Brigade marched in good order, not a shot being fired, the enemy +all the while giving us volley after volley. The men began to clamor +for a charge, so much so that when we were about half way through the +old field the command came "charge." Then a yell and a rush, each man +carrying his gun in the most convenient position, and doing all in +his power to reach the work first. The angle in front of the Third was +nearer than the line in front of the other Regiments. Just before we +reached the works the enemy fled to a grove in rear under an incline +and began firing on our troops, who had now reached the work and began +to fire from the opposite side. The firing in this way became general +all along the line. The Artillery had withdrawn to the heights in rear +and opened upon us a tremendous fire at short range. The enemy could +be seen from our elevated position moving around our right through a +thicket of pines, and some one called out to the troops immediately +on the right of the Third Regiment, "The enemy are flanking us." This +caused a momentary panic, and some of the Brigade left the captured +work and began running to the rear. Colonel Rutherford ordered some +of his officers to go down the line and get the demoralized troops to +return to the ranks, which was accomplished without much delay. + +The enemy in front began slackening their fire, which caused some of +the men to leap over the works and advance to the brow of a hill +just in front of us to get a better view. The enemy rallied and began +pouring a heavy fire into the bold spirits who had advanced beyond the +lines, wounding quite a number. General Kershaw, with a brigade of the +division, crossed over the turn-pike and began a counter-move on the +enemy's right, which caused such panic, that in a few minutes their +whole line withdrew beyond the little town. Acting Assistant Adjutant +General Pope, on the brigade staff, received a painful wound in the +cheek, but outside of a sprinkling throughout the brigade of wounded, +our loss was slight. + +That night the enemy was reinforced, and about 9 o'clock next day +there was a general advance. The enemy had changed his direction, and +now was approaching parallel to the turn-pike. I was in command of the +brigade skirmishers during the night, posted in a large old field on +left of the turn-pike. Just as a detail, commanded by an officer +of the Twentieth, came to relieve me, the enemy was seen advancing +through a forest beyond the old field. The officer, not being familiar +with the skirmish tactics, and never being on a skirmish line during +action before, asked me to retain the command and also my line of +skirmishers and conduct the retreat, which I did. The brigade at that +time was on the retreat, and this double skirmish line covered and +protected the rear. If there is any sport or amusement at all in +battle, it is while on skirmish line, when the enemy is pressing you. +On a skirmish line, usually, the men are posted about ten paces apart +and several hundred yards in front of the main line of battle, to +receive or give the first shock of battle. In our case the line was +doubled, making it very strong, as strong, in fact, as some of the +lines of General Lee's at that time holding Petersburg. When the +enemy's skirmishers struck the opening our line opened upon them, +driving them helter-skelter back into the woods. I ordered an advance, +as the orders were to hold the enemy in check as long as possible to +give our main line and wagon train time to get out of the way. We kept +up the fire as we advanced, until we came upon the enemy posted behind +trees; then, in our turn, gave way into the opening. Then the enemy +advanced, so forward and backward the two lines advanced and receded, +until by the support of the enemy's line of battle we were driven +across the turn-pike, where we assembled and followed in rear of the +brigade. There is nothing in this world that is more exciting, more +nerve stirring to a soldier, than to participate in a battle line of +skirmishers, when you have a fair field and open fight. There it +takes nerve and pluck, however, it is allowed each skirmisher to take +whatever protection he can in the way of tree or stump. Then on the +advance you do not know when to expect an enemy to spring from behind +a tree, stump, or bush, take aim and fire. It resembles somewhat the +order of Indian warfare, for on a skirmish line "all is fair in war." + +We returned without further molestation to the vicinity of Winchester, +the enemy not feeling disposed to press us. It was never understood +whose fault it was that a general engagement did not take place, for +Early had marched and began the attack, and pressed the enemy from his +first line of works, then the next day the enemy showed a bold front +and was making every demonstration as if to attack us. + +General Kershaw having been promoted to Major General, General James +Connor was sent to command the brigade. He was formerly Colonel of +the Twenty-second North Carolina Regiment, promoted to Brigadier, and +commanded McGowan's Brigade after the battle of Spottsylvania Court +House. After the return of General McGowan, he was assigned to the +command of Laws' Brigade, and about the 6th or 7th of September +reached us and relieved Colonel Henagan, of the Eighth, who had +so faithfully led the old First Brigade since the battle of the +Wilderness. + +While in camp near Winchester, the Eighth Regiment, under Colonel +Henagan, was sent out on picket on the Berryville road. In the morning +before day General Sheridan, with a large force of cavalry, made +a cautious advance and captured the videttes of the Eighth, which +Colonel Henagan had posted in front, and passing between the regiment +and the brigade, made a sudden dash upon their rear, capturing all of +the regiment, with Colonel Henagan, except two companies commanded by +the gallant Captain T.F. Malloy. These two companies had been thrown +out on the right, and by tact and a bold front Captain Malloy saved +these two companies and brought them safely into camp. The whole +brigade mourned the loss of this gallant portion of their comrades. +Colonel Henagan, like Colonel Maffett, sank under the ill treatment +and neglect in a Northern prison and died there. + + * * * * * + + +COL. J.W. HENAGAN. + +Col. J.W. Henagan was born November 22nd, 1822, in Marlboro County, +S.C., Was the son of E.L. Henagan and wife, Ann McInnis. His father +was a Scotch-Irishman. His mother Scotch. Was educated at Academy in +Bennettsville and Parnassus. Was elected Sheriff of Marlboro County +in October, 1852, and went into office February, 1853. In 1860 was +elected to the Legislature. Was re-elected to the Legislature in 1863. + +Prior to the war was prominent in militia service, serving +consecutively as Captain, Colonel and Brigadier General. In March, +1861, volunteered, and in April became Lieutenant Colonel of Eighth +Regiment South Carolina Volunteers and went with the Regiment to +Virginia. Was in battle of Bull Run or First Manassas. In 1862 he +became by election Colonel of the Eighth South Carolina Volunteers and +served in that capacity until his capture near Winchester in the fall +of 1864 when he was sent a prisoner to Johnson's Island, Ohio. Here he +died a prisoner of war, April 22, 1865. + +No Regiment of the Confederacy saw harder service or was engaged in +more battles than the Eighth South Carolina of Kershaw's Brigade +and no officer of that Brigade bore himself with more conspicuous +gallantry than Colonel Henagan. He was always at his post and ready to +go forward when so ordered. There was little or no fear in him to move +into battle, and he was always sure, during the thickest of the fight, +cheering on his men to victory. + +Colonel Henagan, as a citizen of the County, was as generous as brave. +His purse was open to the needs of the poor. Did not know how or could +not refuse the appeals to charity. He was the eldest son of a large +family. When about twenty years old his father died and left on his +shoulders the responsibility of maintaining and educating several +younger brothers and sisters. He never swerved from this duty, but +like the man that he was, did his work nobly. He was a dutiful son, +a kind brother, a friend to all. He knew no deception, had no respect +for the sycophant. Loved his country. A friend to be relied on. Was +a farmer by profession. A good politician. Was a very quiet man, but +always expressed his views firmly and candidly when called upon. + + * * * * * + + +COLONEL ROBERT CLAYTON MAFFETT. + +Colonel Robert Clayton Maffett was born in Newberry County, about +the year 1836. Was the only son of Captain James Maffett, long time a +member of the General Assembly of South Carolina. At the breaking out +of the war Colonel Maffett was Colonel of the Thirty-ninth Regiment of +State Militia. From this regiment two companies were formed in answer +to the first call for volunteers. One of these companies elected +him Captain, which afterwards became Company C, Third South Carolina +Regiment. His company was one of the few that reorganized before the +expiration of the term of the first twelve months' enlistment, and +again elected Colonel Maffett as its Captain. After a thirty days' +furlough, just before the seven days' battle, he returned with his +company and became senior Captain in command. He soon became Major +by the death of Lieutenant Colonel Garlington, Major Rutherford being +promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. After the death of Colonel Nance, 6th +of May, he became Lieutenant Colonel. He participated in nearly all +the great battles in which the regiment was engaged, and was often in +command. He was several times wounded, but not severely. At the time +of his capture he was in command of the Seventh Regiment. Colonel +Maffett was conspicuous for his fine soldierly appearance, being a +perfect type of an ideal soldier. + +He was loved and admired by the men as few officers of his station +were. In camp he was the perfect gentleman, kind and indulgent to his +men, and in battle he was cool, collected, and gallant. He died in +prison only a short while before the close of the war, leaving a wife +and one daughter of tender age. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XXXV + +Reminiscences of the Valley. + + +Y.J. Pope, Adjutant of the Third South Carolina, but then acting as +Assistant Adjutant General on General Connor's Staff, gives me here +a very ludicrous and amusing account of a "Fox hunt in the valley." +A hunt without the hounds or without the fox. No man in Kershaw's +Brigade was a greater lover of sport or amusement of any kind than +Adjutant Pope. In all our big snow "festivals," where hundreds would +engage in the contest of snow-balling, Adjutant Pope always took a +leading part. It was this spirit of sport and his mingling with the +common soldier, while off duty, that endeared Pope so much to the +troop. With his sword and sash he could act the martinet, but when +those were laid aside Adjutant Pope was one of the "boys," and engaged +a "boat" with them as much as any one in the "Cross Anchors," a +company noted for its love of fun. + +Says, Adjutant Pope, now a staid Judge on the Supreme Court Bench. + +"The Third South Carolina Infantry had been placed on pickets in front +of Early in September, 1864. The point at which picket were posted +were at two fords on the Opequan River, Captain Dickert, with his +company, was posted at some distance from the place where the other +portion of the Regiment was posted to cover one of the fords. I can +see now the work laid cut for Captain Dickert, ought to have been +assigned to the Cavalry for a company of Infantry, say a half mile +from the Regiment, might have been surrounded too quickly for the +company to be retired or to receive assistance from the Regiment. +Well, as it was, no harm came of it for the company held the ford +unassailable. A company of the Regiment was placed at a ford on the +highway as it crossed the river. While a few officers were enjoying a +nice supper here comes an order to call in the companies on picket and +to follow the Regiment with all possible speed towards Winchester, +to which latter place the army of Early had already gone. Guides were +sent to us, and our Regiment had marched by country road until +we struck the turn-pike. The march was necessarily rapid lest the +Regiment might be assailed by overwhelming numbers of the enemy. The +soldiers did not fancy this rapid marching. + +"To our surprise and horror, after we had reached the turn-pike +road, and several miles from our destination, the soldiers set up an +imitation of barking, just as if a lot of hounds in close pursuit of a +fresh jumped fox. Now any one at all familiar with the characteristic +of the soldier know imitation is his weak point, one yell, all yell, +one sing, all sing, if one is merry, all are merry. We were near the +enemy, and the Colonel knew the necessity of silence, and caution +Colonel Rutherford was, of course indignant at this outburst of good +humor in the dark watches of the night, and the enemy at our heels +or flank. He sent back orders by me (Pope) to pass down the lines +and order silence. But 'bow-wow,' 'bow,' 'bow-wow,' 'yelp, yelp,' and +every conceivable imitation of the fox hound rent the air. One company +on receiving the orders to stop this barking would cease, but others +would take it up. 'Bow-wow,' 'toot,' 'toot,' 'yah-oon,' 'yah-oon,' +dogs barking, men hollowing, some blowing through their hands to +imitate the winding of the huntman's horn. 'Stop this noise,' 'cease +your barking,' 'silence,' still the chase continued. 'Go it, Lead,' +'catch him, Frail,' 'Old Drive close to him,' 'hurah Brink,' 'talk to +him old boys.' The valley fairly rung, with this chase. Officers even +could not refrain from joining in the encouragement to the excited +dogs as the noise would rise and swell and echoe through the distant +mountain gorges to reverberate up and down the valley--at last wore +out by their ceaseless barking and yelling, the noise finally died +out, much to the satisfaction of the Colonel commanding, myself and +the officers who were trying to stop it. As mortified as I was at my +inability to execute the orders of Colonel Rutherford, still I never +laughed so much in my life at this ebullition of good feelings of the +men, after all their toils and trials, especially as I would hear some +one in the line call out as if in the last throes of exhaustion, 'Go +on old dog,' 'now you are on him,' 'talk to him, old Ranger.' What +the Yankees thought of this fox chase at night in the valley, or what +their intentions might have been is not known, but they would have +been mighty fools to have tackled a lot of old 'Confeds' out on a lark +at night." + +The negro cooks of the army were a class unique in many ways. While +he was a slave, he had far more freedom than his master, in fact had +liberties that his master's master did not possess. It was the first +time in the South's history that a negro could roam at will, far +and wide, without a pass. He could ride his dead master's horse from +Virginia to Louisiana without molestation. On the march the country +was his, and so long as he was not in the way of moving bodies of +troops, the highways were open to him. He was never jostled or pushed +aside by stragglers, and received uniform kindness and consideration +from all. The negro was conscious of this consideration, and never +took advantage of his peculiar station to intrude upon any of the +rights or prerogatives exclusively the soldier's. He could go to the +rear when danger threatened, or to the front when it was over. No +negro ever deserted, and the fewest number ever captured. His master +might fall upon the field, or in the hands of the enemy, but the +servant was always safe. While the negro had no predilection for war +in its realities, and was conspicuous by his absence during the raging +of the battles, still he was among the first upon the field when it +was over, looking after the dead and wounded. At the field hospitals +and infirmaries, he was indispensable, obeying all, serving all, +without question or complaint. His first solicitude after battle +was of his master's fate--if dead, he sought him upon the field; if +wounded, he was soon at his side. No mother could nurse a child with +greater tenderness and devotion than the dark-skinned son of the South +did his master. + +At the breaking out of the war almost every mess had a negro cook, +one of the mess furnishing the cook, the others paying a proportional +share for hire; but as the stringency of the Subsistence Department +began to grow oppressive, as the war wore on, many of these negroes +were sent home. There was no provision made by the department for his +keep, except among the officers of the higher grade; so the mess had +to share their rations with the cook, or depend upon his ability as a +"forager." In the later years of the war the country occupied by the +armies became so devastated that little was left for the "forager." +Among the officers, it was different. They were allowed two rations +(only in times of scarcity they had to take the privates' fare). This +they were required to pay for at pay day, and hence could afford to +keep a servant. Be it said to the credit of the soldiers of the South, +and to their servants as well, that during my four years and more of +service I never heard of, even during times of the greatest scarcity, +a mess denying the cook an equal share of the scanty supply, or a +servant ever found stealing a soldier's rations. There was a mutual +feeling of kindness and honesty between the two. If all the noble, +generous and loyal acts of the negroes of the army could be recorded, +it would fill no insignificant volume. + +There was as much cast among the negroes, in fact more, as among the +soldiers. In times of peace and at home, the negro based his claims +of cast upon the wealth of his master. But in the army, rank of his +master overshadowed wealth. The servant of a Brigadier felt royal as +compared to that of a Colonel, and the servant of a Colonel, or even +a Major, was far ahead, in superiority and importance, to those +belonging to the privates and line officers. The negro is naturally +a hero worshiper. He gloried in his master's fame, and while it might +often be different, in point of facts, still to the negro his master +was "the bravest of the brave." + +As great "foragers" as they were, they never ventured far in front +while on the advance, nor lingered too dangerously in the rear on the +retreat. They hated the "Yankee" and had a fear of capture. One day +while we were camped near Charlestown an officer's cook wandered too +far away in the wrong direction and ran up on the Federal pickets. +Jack had captured some old cast-off clothes, some garden greens and an +old dominicker rooster. Not having the remotest idea of the topography +of the country, he very naturally walked into the enemy's pickets. +He was halted, brought in and questioned. The Federals felt proud of +their capture, and sought to conciliate Jack with honeyed words and +great promises. But Jack would have none of it. + +"Well, look er here," said Jack, looking suspiciously around at the +soldiers; "who you people be, nohow?" + +"We are Federal soldiers," answered the picket. + +"Well, well, is you dem?" + +"Dem who?" asked the now thoroughly aroused Federal. + +"Why dem Yankees, ob course--dem dat cotched Mars Clayt." + +The Federal admitted they were "Yankees," but that now Jack had no +master, that he was free. + +"Is dat so?" Then scratching his head musingly, Jack said at last, "I +don know 'bout dat--what you gwine do wid me, anyhow; what yer want?" + +He was told that he must go as a prisoner to headquarters first, and +then dealt with as contrabands of war. + +"Great God Almighty! white folks, don't talk dat er way." The negro +had now become thoroughly frightened, and with a sudden impulse +he threw the chicken at the soldier's feet, saying, "Boss, ders a +rooster, but here is me," then with the speed of a startled deer Jack +"hit the wind," to use a vulgarism of the army. + +"Halt! halt!"--bang, whiz, came from the sentinel, the whole picket +force at Jack's heels. But the faithful negro for the time excelled +himself in running, and left the Federals far behind. He came in camp +puffing, snorting, and blowing like a porpoise. "Great God Almighty! +good people, talk er 'bout patter-rollers, day ain't in it. If dis +nigger didn't run ter night, den don't talk." Then Jack recounted his +night's experience, much to the amusement of the listening soldiers. + +Occasionally a negro who had served a year or two with his young +master in the army, would be sent home for another field of +usefulness, and his place taken by one from the plantation. While a +negro is a great coward, he glories in the pomp and glitter of war, +when others do the fighting. He loves to tell of the dangers (not +sufferings) undergone, the blood and carnage, but above all, how the +cannon roared round and about him. + +A young negro belonging to an officer in one of the regiments was +sent home, and his place as cook was filled by Uncle Cage, a venerable +looking old negro, who held the distinguished post of "exhorter" in +the neighborhood. His "sister's chile" had filled Uncle Cage's head +with stories of war--of the bloodshed on the battlefield, the roar +of cannon, and the screaming of shells over that haven of the negro +cooks, the wagon yards--but to all the blood and thunder stories of +his "sister's chile" Uncle Cage only shook his head and chuckled, "Dey +may kill me, but dey can't skeer dis nigger." Among the other stories +he had listened to was that of a negro having his head shot off by +a cannon ball. Sometime after Uncle Cage's installation as cook the +enemy made a demonstration as if to advance. A few shells came over +our camp, one bursting in the neighborhood of Uncle Cage, while he was +preparing the morning meal for his mess. + +Some of the negroes and more prudent non-combattants began to hunt +for the wagon yard, but Uncle Cage remained at his post. He was just +saying: + +"Dese yer young niggers ain't no account; dey's skeered of dere own +shad--" + +"Boom, boom," a report, and a shell explodes right over his head, +throwing fragments all around. + +Uncle Cage made for the rear, calling out as he ran, "Oh, dem cussed +Yankees! You want er kill er nudder nigger, don't you?" Seeing the men +laughing as he passed by in such haste, he yelled back defiantly, "You +can laff, if you want to, but ole mars ain't got no niggers to fling +away." + +"Red tape" prevailed to an alarming extent in the War Department, and +occasionally a paroxysm of this disease would break out among some of +the officers of the army, especially among the staff, "West Pointers," +or officers of temporary high command--Adjutant Pope gives his +experience, with one of those afflicted functionaries, "Where as +Adjutant of the Third South Carolina," says he, I had remained as such +from May, 1862, till about the 1st of September, 1864, an order came +from brigade headquarters, for me to enter upon the responsibilities +of acting Assistant Adjutant General of Kershaw's Brigade. When +General Connor was disabled soon after, and the Senior Colonel of the +brigade, present for duty, the gallant William D. Rutherford, received +his death-wound, General Kershaw, commanding division, sent the +Assistant Adjutant General of the division, (a staff officer), Major +James M. Goggans, to command the brigade. About the 17th of October +there came a delegation to brigade headquarters, to learn, if +possible, whether there could be obtained a leave of absence for +a soldier, whose wife was dead, leaving a family of children to be +provided for. + +I was a sympathetic man, and appreciated the sad condition of the poor +soldier, who had left his all to serve his country, and now had at +home, a house full of motherless children. I said "wait till I see +the brigade commander," and went to Major Goggans, relating the +circumstances, and was assured of his approval of the application +for leave of absence in question. This news, the spokesman of the +delegation, gladly carried back to the anxiously awaiting group. Soon +papers were brought to headquarters, signed by all the officers below. +When the papers were carried by me to the brigade commander for his +approval, it raised a storm, so to speak, in the breast of the newly +appointed, but temporary Chieftain. "Why do you bring me this paper +to sign this time of day?" it being in the afternoon. "Do you not know +that all papers are considered at nine o'clock A.M.?" In future, and +as long as I am in command of the Brigade, I want it understood that +under no considerations and circumstances, I wish papers to be signed, +brought to me before or after nine o'clock A.M. The faces of the +officers composing the delegation, when the news was brought to them, +plainly expressed their disgust; they felt, at the idea, that no +grief, however great, would be considered by the self-exalted Chief; +except as the clock struck nine in the morning. + +Circumstances and occurrences of this kind were so rare and +exceptional, that I record the facts given by Judge Pope, to expose an +exception to the general rule of gentlemanly deportment of one officer +to another, so universal throughout the army. The kindness, sympathy +and respect that superiors showed to subalterns and privates became +almost a proverb. While in a reminiscent mood, I will give a story of +two young officers as given by the writer of the above. He claims to +have been an eye witness and fully competent to give a true recital. +It is needless to say that the writer of these memoirs was one of +the participants, and as to the story itself, he has only a faint +recollection, but the sequel which he will give is vivid enough, even +after the lapse of a third of a century. Judge Pope writes, "It +is needless to say that the Third South Carolina Regiment had a +half-score or more young officers, whose conduct in battle had +something to do with giving prestige to the regiment, whose jolly good +nature, their almost unparallel reciprocal love of officers and men, +helped to give tone and recognition to it, their buoyancy of spirits, +their respect for superiors and kindness and indulgence to their +inferiors, endeared them to all--the whole command seemed to embibe of +their spirit of fun, mischief and frolic." Captains L.W. Gary, John +W. Watts, John K. Nance, Lieutenants Farley and Wofford, Adjutant Pope +and others, whom it may be improper to mention here, (and I hope I +will not be considered egotistical or self praise, to include myself), +were a gay set. Their temperatures and habits, in some instances, were +as wide as the poles, but there was a kind of affinity, a congeniality +of spirits between them, that they were more like brothers in reality +than brothers in arms, and all might be considered a "chip of the old +block." Nor would our dearly beloved, kind, generous hearted Colonel +Rutherford, when off duty, feel himself too much exalted to take a +"spin with the boys" when occasions and circumstances admitted. Many, +many have been the jolly carousals these jolly knights enjoyed while +passing through some town or city. The confinement and restrictions of +camp life induced them, when off duty and in some city, to long for a +"loosening of the bit" and an ebullition of their youthful spirits. + +Judge Pope, continuing, says: "In the spring of 1864 Longstreet's +soldiers were ordered from East Tennessee, to join Lee in Virginia, +and it follows that there was joy in the camp among the soldiers, +for who does not love Virginia? In route the command was halted +in Lynchburg, and what was more natural for the fun-loving, jovial +members of the old brigade, after being isolated so long, cut off +from civilization as it seemed to them, shut up in the gorges of the +mountains, than to long for a breath of fresh air--to wish for the +society and enjoy the hospitality of the fair ladies of old Virginia, +especially the quaint old city of Lynchburg. With such feelings, two +handsome and gallant Captains of the Third Regiment applied for and +obtained leave of absence for the day. I will call this jolly couple +John and Gus. To say that these two young Captains--one of the right +and the other of the left color company--were birds rare, would scarce +express it. They were both in their 'teens,' and small of statue +withal. They were two of the youngest, as well as the smallest, +officers in the brigade. Notwithstanding their age and build, they +would not hesitate to take a 'bout' with the strongest and the +largest. As one would say to the other, 'When your wind fails you, I +will leg him.' Now, these two knights, out on a lark and lookout for +adventure, did not hesitate to shie their castors in the ring and +cross lances the first opportunity presented. No doubt, after being a +while with the famous Sancho Panza at the wine skins, they could +see as many objects, changed through enchantment, as the Master Dan +Quixote did, and demanded a challenge from them. In walking up a side +street in the city, they, as by enchantment, saw walking just in front +of them, a burly, stout built man, dressed out in the finest broad +cloth coat. What a sight for a soldier to see! a broad cloth coat!" +and he a young man of the army age. Ye gods was it possible. Did their +eyes deceive them, or had they forgotten this was a Sabbath day, and +the city guard was accustomed to wear his Sunday clothes. There were +a set of semi-soldiers in some cities known as "city guards," whose +duties consisted of examining soldier's furloughs and passes in cities +and on trains. Their soft places and fine clothes were poison to the +regular soldiers, and between whom, a friendly and good natured feud +existed. There was another set that was an abomination to both, the +gambler, who, by money or false papers, exempted themselves. Richmond +was their city of refuge, but now and then one would venture out into +a neighboring town. + +"'Come out of that coat; can't wear that in the city to-day,' was the +first salutation the jolly knights gave the fine dressed devotee of +the blue cloth. + +"'What, do you wish to insult me?' indignantly replied the man, +turning and glaring at the two officers with the ferocity of a tiger. + +"'Oh, no,' says John, 'we want that coat;' and instinctively the young +Captains lay hands upon the garment that gave so much offense. + +"'Hands off me, you cowardly young ruffians!' + +"'Oh, come out of that coat,' replied the jolly couple. + +"'Rip, rip,' went the coat; 'biff, biff,' went the non-combattant's +fist. Right and left he struck from the shoulders, to be replied to +with equal energy by the fists of the young men. + +"'Rip, rip,' goes the coat, 'bang, biff,' goes the fists. Down in the +street, over in the gutter, kicks and blows, still 'rip, rip,' goes +the coat. + +"'Help!' cries the non-combatant. + +"'Yes,' cries Gus, 'help with the coat John.' + +"The noise gathered the crowd. With the crowd came Lieutenant H.L. +Farley. The burly frame of Farley soon separated the fighters. The +gambler seeing his hopelessness in the face of so much odds, rose to +his feet, and made a dash for liberty, leaving in the hands of each of +the boys a tail of the much prized coat, all 'tattered and torn.' The +gambler made quite a ludicrous picture, streaking it through town with +his coat-tails off." + +This is Pope's story, but I will here tell the sequel which was not +near so amusing to me. + +Sometime afterwards, the writer and participant in the fray of the +"coat-tail" was slightly wounded, and was sent to Lynchburg to the +hospital, formerly a Catholic college, if I am not mistaken. After +being there for a time with my wounded brother officers (this was a +hospital for officers alone) I became sufficiently convalescent to +feel like a stroll through the city. I felt a little tender, lest I +might meet unexpectedly my unknown antagonist and erstwhile hostile +enemy; but one night I accepted the invitation of a tall, robust-built +Captain from Tennessee (a room-mate, and also convalescent from a +slight wound) to take a stroll. Being quite small, friendless, and +alone, I did not object to this herculean chaperone. After tiring of +the stroll, we sauntered into a soldier's cheap restaurant and called +for plates. While we were waiting the pleasure of "mine host," the +tread of footsteps and merry laughter of a crowd of jolly roisters met +our ears, and in walked some soldiers in the garb of "city police," +and with the crowd was my man of the "long coat-tail." My heart sank +into the bottom of my boots, my speech failed me, and I sat stupified, +staring into space. Should he recognize me, then what? My thought ran +quick and fast. I never once expected help from my old Tennessean. +As we were only "transient" acquaintances, I did not think of the +brotherhood of the soldier in this emergency. The man of the "long +coat" approached our table and raised my hat, which, either by habit +or force of circumstances, I will not say, I had the moment before +pulled down over my eyes. + +"Hey, my fine young man, I think I know you. Aren't you the chap that +torn my coat sometime ago? Answer me, sir," giving me a vigorous shake +on the shoulder. "You are the very d----n young ruffian that did it, +and I am going to give you such a thrashing as you will not forget." + +I have never yet fully decided what answer I was going to +make--whether I was going to say yes, and ask his pardon, with the +risk of a thrashing, or deny it--for just at that moment the "tall +sycamore of the Holston" reached out with his fist and dealt my +assailant a blow sufficient to have felled an ox of the Sweetwater. +Sending the man reeling across the room, the blood squirting and +splattering, he said: + +"Gentlemen, I came here with this boy, and whoever whips him has first +got to walk my log, and that is what few people can do." + +The old "sycamore" from Tennessee looked to me at that precious moment +as tall as a church steeple, and fully as large around. In all my +whole life never was a man's presence so agreeable and his services so +acceptable. It gave me a confidence in myself I never felt before nor +since. His manly features and giant-like powers acted like inspiration +upon me, and I felt for the time like a Goliath myself, and rose to +my feet to join in the fray. But my good deliverer pushed me back and +said: + +"Stand aside, young man, I have tickets for both in here," and +with that he began to wield his mighty blows first here and then +there--first one and then another went staggering across the room, +until the crowd gathered outside and put an end to the frolic. No +explanations were given and none asked. Taking me by the arm, the big +Captain led me away, saying, after we had gone some little distance: + +"Young man, that was a narrow escape you made, and it was lucky I was +on hand." + +He spoke with so much candor and logic, that I did not have the heart +nor disposition to doubt or contradict it. + +I would be willing to qualify before a grand jury to my dying day that +I had had a close call. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + +Leaves the Valley--Return to Early--Second Valley Campaign. + + +On the 15th of September we began our return to Lee, marching about +six miles south of Middleton. The next day we took up the march again +to within fifteen miles of Luray Court House, then to within eleven +miles of Sperryville, on the turn-pike, between the two points. +Virginia or that part of it is blessed for her good roads on the main +thoroughfares. The road from Staunton to the Potomac is one of the +finest in America, being laid with cobble stones the entire length, +upwards of one hundred and twenty-five miles. Then the road engineers +did one thing that should immortalize them, that is in going around +hills instead of over them, as in our State. Those engineers of old +worked on the theory that the distance around a hill was no greater +than over it, and much better for travel. + +Over the Blue Ridge at Thornton Gap and to within five miles of +Woodville, reaching Culpepper at three o'clock P.M., the 9th. Our ears +were greeted with the distant roar of artillery, which proved to be +our artillery firing at a scouting party of United States cavalry. On +through Culpepper we marched, to within one mile of Rapidan Station, +our starting point of near two months before. And what a fruitless +march--over the mountains, dusty roads, through briars and thickets, +and heat almost unbearable--fighting and skirmishing, with nightly +picketing, over rivers and mountain sides, losing officers, and many, +too, being field officers captured. While in camp here we heard of +Early's disaster in the Valley, which cast a damper over all the +troops. It seems that as soon as Sheridan heard of our detachment from +Early's command he planned and perfected a surprise, defeating him in +the action that followed, and was then driving him out of the Valley. +Could we have been stopped at this point and returned to Early, which +we had to do later, it would have saved the division many miles of +marching, and perhaps further discomfiture of Early and his men. But +reports had to be made to the war department. + +Orders came for our return while we were continuing our march to +Gordonsville, which place we reached on the 23rd of September, at 4 +o'clock, having been on the continuous march for exactly fifty days. +On the morning of the 24th we received the orders to return to the +relief of Early, and at daylight, in a blinding rain, we commenced to +retrace our steps, consoling ourselves with the motto, "Do your +duty, therein all honor lies," passing through Barboursville and +Standardville, a neat little village nestled among the hills, and +crossed the mountain at Swift Run Gap. We camped about one mile of the +delightful Shenandoah, which, by crossing and recrossing its clear, +blue-tinged waters and camping on its banks so often, had become near +and dear to all of us, and nothing was more delightful than to take +a plunge beneath its waters. But most often we had to take the water +with clothes and shoes on in the dead of winter, still the name of the +Shenandoah had become classic to our ears. + +The situation of Early had become so critical, the orders so +imperative to join him as soon as possible, that we took up the march +next morning at a forced speed, going twelve miles before a halt, a +feat never before excelled by any body of troops during the war. +When within two miles of Port Republic, a little beyond its two roads +leading off from that place, one to Brown's Gap, we encountered the +enemy's cavalry. Here they made an attack upon our brigade, but were +repulsed at first fire from the infantry rifles. There was one +thing demonstrated during this war, that whatever might have been +accomplished in days of old, the cavalry on either side could not +stand the fire of the infantry. And it seemed that they had a kind +of intuition of the fact whenever the infantry was in their front. +Nothing better as an excuse did a cavalry commander wish, when met +with a repulse, than to report, "We were driving them along nicely +until we came upon the enemy's infantry, then we had to give way." + +This report had been made over and over again, until it became +threadbare; but a cavalry officer thought it a feather in his cap to +report his defeat or repulse by, "We met their infantry." We made a +junction with Early near Brown's Gap, on the 26th, and camped at night +with orders to be prepared to march at daylight. The troops of Early's +were in a despondent mood, but soon their spirits revived at the +sight of Kershaw's Division. We moved forward in the direction of +Harrisonburg, our duty being to guard the two roads leading thereto. +Early sent the other part of the army to the left and forward of us, +and in this order we marched on to Waynesboro. Reaching there next +day, the enemy's cavalry scattered when our troops came in sight. +We began, on October 1st, moving in the direction of the turn-pike, +leading from Winchester to Staunton, striking near Harrisonburg on the +6th. + +We began the forward movement down the Valley on the 7th, the enemy +slowly giving way as we advanced. We passed through those picturesque +little cities of the Valley, Harrisonburg, New Market, and Woodstock, +marching a day or two and then remaining in camp that length of +time to give rest to the troops, after their long march. It must be +remembered we had been two months cut off from the outside world--no +railroad nearer than Staunton, the men being often short of rations +and barefooted and badly clad; scarcely any mail was received during +these two months, and seldom a paper ever made its appearance in +camp. We only knew that Lee was holding his own. We reached and passed +through Strausburg on the 13th. In the afternoon of this day, while +we were on the march, but at the time laying by the side of the +turn-pike, the enemy tried to capture some of our artillery. We had +heard firing all day in our front, but thought this the effects of the +enemy's sullen withdrawal. While resting by the road side, the enemy +made a spirited attack upon the troops in front. We were hurriedly +rushed forward, put in line of battle, advanced through an uneven +piece of ground, and met the enemy posted behind a hill in front. They +opened upon us at close range, killing and wounding quite a number, +but as soon as our brigade made the first fire, they fled to a brick +wall, running at an angle from the turn-pike. General Connor fell at +the first fire, badly wounded in the knee, from the effects of which +he lost his leg, and never returned, only to bid his brigade farewell +in the pine regions of North Carolina. Colonel Rutherford being next +in command, advanced the troops to the top of the hill and halted. In +going out in front to reconnoitre in the direction of the stone wall, +a party of the enemy, who had concealed themselves behind it, rose +and fired, mortally wounding the gallant and much beloved Colonel. A +charge was made, and the enemy fled to a thicket of pine timber and +made their escape. This was a bloody little battle for the brigade, +and some of its loss was irreparable. We halted after driving the +enemy away, and at night withdrew to Fisher's Hill and camped for +the night. Fisher's Hill is a kind of bluff reaching out from the +Massanutten Mountain on our right; at its base ran Cedar Creek. It +is a place of great natural strength. In the presence of some of his +friends Colonel Rutherford passed away that night, at one o'clock, and +his remains were carried to his home by Captain Jno. K. Nance. General +Connor had his leg amputated. The brigade was without a field officer +of higher grade than Major, and such officer being too inexperienced +in the handling of so large a number of men, Major James Goggans, +of the division staff, was ordered to its command. While some staff +officers may be as competent to handle troops in the field as the +commanders themselves, still in our case it was a lamentable failure. +Major Goggans was a good staff officer, a graduate of West Point, but +he was too old and inexperienced to command troops of such vigor and +enthusiasm as the South Carolinians who composed Kershaw's Brigade. + +We remained a short time on Fisher's Hill, throwing up some slight +fortifications. Kershaw's Brigade was encamped in a piece of woods on +the left of the turn-pike as you go north. + + * * * * * + + +COLONEL WILLIAM DRAYTON RUTHERFORD. + +Colonel William Drayton Rutherford was the son of Dr. Thomas B. +Rutherford and Mrs. Laura Adams Rutherford, his wife. He was born on +the 21st of September, 1837, in Newberry District, South Carolina. +By his father he was a descendant of Virginians, as well as of that +sturdy and patriotic stock of Germans who settled what was known as +the "Fork." By his mother he was a descendant of the New England Adams +family--what a splendid boy and man he was! He was educated in the +best schools in our State, and spent sometime abroad. At the sound of +arms he volunteered and was made Adjutant of the Third South Carolina +Infantry. At the reorganization of the regiment, in May, 1862, he +was elected Major of his regiment. When Lieutenant Colonel B. Conway +Garlington was killed at Savage Station, June 29th, 1862, Rutherford +became Lieutenant Colonel of his regiment. When Colonel James D. Nance +fell in the battle of the Wilderness, on the 6th day of May, 1864, he +became Colonel of the Third South Carolina Regiment. He was a gallant +officer and fell in the front of his regiment at Strausburg, Va., on +the 13th of October, 1864. + +He married the beautiful and accomplished Miss Sallie H. Fair, only +daughter of Colonel Simeon Fair, in March, 1862, and the only child +of this union was "the daughter of the regiment," Kate Stewart +Rutherford, who is now Mrs. George Johnstone. + +Colonel Rutherford was in the battles of First Manassas, Williamsburg, +Savage Station, Malvern Hill, First Fredericksburg (12th December, +1862, where he was badly wounded), Knoxville, Wilderness, Brock's Road +(and other battles about Spottsylvania), North Anna Bridge, Second +Cold Harbor, Deep Bottom, Berryville, and Strausburg. + +He was a delight to his friends, by reason of his fare intelligence, +warm heart, and generous impulses; to his family, because he was +always so considerate of them, so affectionate, and so brimful of +courtesy; but to his enemies (and he never made any except among the +vicious), he was uncompromisingly fierce. + +I will state here that General James Connor had been in command of +the brigade for about two or three months, Colonel Kennedy, the senior +officer of the brigade, being absent on account of wounds received at +the Wilderness. There is no question but what General Connor was one +of the best officers that South Carolina furnished during the war. But +he was not liked by the officers of the line or the men. He was +too rigid in his discipline for volunteers. The soldiers had become +accustomed to the ways and customs of Kershaw and the officers +under him, so the stringent measures General Connor took to prevent +straggling and foraging or any minor misdemeanor was not calculated to +gain the love of the men. All, however, had the utmost confidence +in his courage and ability, and were willing to follow where he led. +Still he was not our own Joseph Kershaw. Below I give a short sketch +of his life. + + * * * * * + + +GENERAL JAMES CONNOR. + +General James Connor, son of the late Henry Connor, was born in +Charleston, S.C., 1st of September, 1829. Graduated at the South +Carolina College, 1849, same class with D. Wyatt Aiken, Theo G. +Barker, C.H. Simonton, and W.H. Wallace (Judge). Read law with J.L. +Pettigrew. Admitted to the bar in 1852. Practiced in Charleston. +Appointed United States District Attorney for South Carolina in +1856, Hon. A.G. Magrath then District Judge. As District Attorney, +prosecuted Captain Carrie, of the "Wanderer," who had brought a +cargo of Africans to the State; also prosecuted T.J. Mackey for +participation in Walker's filibustering expedition. Always justified +the expectations of his friends in their high opinion of his talents +and marked ability in all contingencies. Resigned as District Attorney +in December, 1860. Was on the committee with Judge Magrath and W.F. +Colcock, charged to urge the Legislature to call a convention of the +people to consider the necessity of immediate Secession, and upon the +passage of the Secession Ordinance, prepared for active service in the +army. But upon the formation of the Confederate States Government +he was appointed Confederate States of America District Attorney for +South Carolina, but declined. Went into the service as Captain of +the Montgomery Guards, and in May, 1861, was chosen Captain of the +Washington Light Infantry, Hampton Legion. In July, 1861, he became +Major, and in June, 1863, was appointed Colonel of the Twenty-second +North Carolina Volunteers. Being disabled for field duty, temporarily, +was detailed as one of the judges of the military court of the +Second Army Corps. With rank of Colonel, June, 1864, was commissioned +Brigadier General, and by assignment commanded McGowan's and Laws' +Brigades. Subsequently, as Acting Major General, commanded McGowan's, +Laws', and Bushrod Johnson's Brigades. On return of McGowan to duty, +was assigned permanently to command of Kershaw's Brigade. + +He engaged in the following battles: Fort Sumter, First Manassas, +Yorktown, New Stone Point, West Point, Seven Pines, Mechanicsville, +Chancellorsville, Riddle's Shop, Darby's Farm, Fossil's Mill, +Petersburg, Jerusalem, Plank Road, Reams' Station, Winchester, Port +Republic, and Cedar Run. Severely wounded in leg at Mechanicsville and +again at Cedar Run, October 12th, 1864. Leg amputated. + +Returning to Charleston after the war, he resumed law practice with +W.D. Portier. Was counsel for the South Carolina Railway. In 1878 +was Receiver of the Georgia and Carolina Railway. Was candidate +for Lieutenant Governor in 1870. Elected Attorney General in 1876, +resigned in 1877. Was at one time since the war M.W.G.M. of the Grand +Lodge of Masons in this State. + +One of the most distinguished looking and fearless officers of the +Twentieth South Carolina Regiment was killed here, Captain John M. +Kinard. Captain Kinard was one of the finest line officers in the +command--a good disciplinarian and tactician, and a noblehearted, +kind-hearted gentleman of the "Old School." He was rather of a +taciturn bend, and a man of great modesty, but it took only a glimpse +at the man to tell of what mould and mettle he was made. I give a +short sketch of his life. + + * * * * * + + +CAPTAIN JOHN MARTIN KINARD. + +Captain John Martin Kinard was born July 5, 1833, in the section +of Newberry County known as the Dutch Fork, a settlement of German +emigrants, lying a few miles west of Pomaria. In 1838 his father, +General Henry H. Kinard, was elected Sheriff of Newberry County, +and moved with his family to the court house town of Newberry. Here +Captain Kinard attended school until he was about seventeen years +old, when he went to Winnsboro, S.C., to attend the famous Mount Zion +Academy. He entered South Carolina College in 1852, but left before +finishing his college course to engage in farming, a calling for which +he had had a passionate longing from his boyhood days. Having married +Mary Alabama, the daughter of Dr. P.B. Ruff, he settled on his +grandfather's plantation now known as Kinards. While living here his +wife died, and a few years afterwards he married Lavinia Elizabeth, +the daughter of Dr. William Rook. + +When the State called her sons to her defense, he answered promptly, +and enlisted as First Lieutenant in a company commanded by his uncle, +John P. Kinard. His company was a part of the Twentieth Regiment, +Colonel Lawrence Keitt, and was known as Company F. During the first +years of the war he was engaged with his company in the defense of +Charleston Harbor, rising to the rank of Captain on the resignation of +his uncle. + +While serving with his regiment in Virginia, to which place it had +been moved in 1864, Captain Kinard came home on furlough. Very soon, +however, he set out for the front again, and was detailed for duty +in the trenches around Richmond. While engaged here he made repeated +efforts to be restored to his old company, and joined them with a glad +heart in October, 1864. On the 13th of October, a few days after his +return, he warned his faithful negro body-guard, Ham Nance, to keep +near, as he expected some hot fighting soon. And it came. The next +day the enemy was met near Strausburg, and Captain Kinard fell, with a +bullet in his heart. He died the death of the happy warrior, fighting +as our Anglo-Saxon forefathers fought, in the midst of his kinsmen +and friends. Ham Nance bore his body from the field, and never left it +until he returned it to his home in Newberry. + +Captain Kinard left three children. By his first wife, a daughter, +Alice, now the wife of Elbert H. Aull, Esq.; by his second wife, two +sons, John M. Kinard, Commandant of the John M. Kinard Camp, Sons of +Veterans, and James P. Kinard. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + +Battle of Cedar Creek or Fisher's Hill, 19th October, 1864. + + +After the retreat of the enemy across Cedar Creek, on the 13th, the +brigade returned to Fisher's Hill, and encamped in a beautiful grove. +It was now expected that we would have a long, sweet rest--a rest so +much needed and devoutly wished for, after two months of incessant +marching and fighting. The foragers now struck out right and left +over the mountains on either side to hunt up all the little delicacies +these mountain homes so abounded in--good fresh butter-milk, golden +butter--the like can be found nowhere else in the South save in +the valleys of Virginia--apple butter, fruits of all kinds, and +occasionally these foragers would run upon a keg of good old mountain +corn, apple jack, or peach brandy--a "nectar fitting for the gods," +when steeped in bright, yellow honey. These men were called "foragers" +from their habit of going through the country, while the army was on +the march or in camp, buying up little necessaries and "wet goods," +and bringing them into camp to sell or share with their messmates. It +mattered not how long the march, how tired they were, when we halted +for the night's camp, while others would drop, exhausted, too tired +to even put up their tents or cook a supper, these foragers would +overcome every obstacle, climb mountains, and wade rivers in search +of something to eat or drink, and be back in camp before day. In every +regiment and in almost every company you could find these foragers, +who were great stragglers, dropping in the rear or flanking to the +right or left among the farm houses in search of honey, butter, bread, +or liquors of some kind. Some of these foragers in the brigade were +never known to be without whiskey during the whole war. Where, how, or +when they got it was as a sealed book to the others. These foragers, +too, when out on one of their raids, were never very particular +whether the owner of the meat or spring house, or even the cellar, was +present or not, should they suspicion or learn from outside parties +that these places contained that for which they were looking. If at +night, they would not disturb the old man, but while some would watch, +others would be depredating upon his pig pen, chicken roost, or milk +house. It was astonishing what a change in the morals of men army life +occasioned. Someone has said, "A rogue in the army, a rogue at home;" +but this I deny. Sometimes that same devilish, schoolboy spirit that +actuates the truant to filch fruit or melons from orchards of others, +while he had abundance at home, caused the soldier oftentimes to make +"raids," as they called these nocturnal visits to the farm houses +outlying the army's track. I have known men who at home was as +honorable, honest, upright, and who would scorn a dishonest act, turn +out to be veteran foragers, and rob and steal anything they could get +their hands on from the citizens, friend or foe alike. They become +to look upon all as "fish for a soldier's net." I remember the first +night on Fisher's Hill, after fighting and marching all day, two of +my men crossed over the Massanutton Mountain and down in the Luray +Valley, a distance of ten miles or more, and came back before day +with as unique a load of plunder as I ever saw. While in some of the +mountain gorges they came upon a "spring house" a few hundred feet +from the little cabin, nestled and hid in one of those impenetrable +caves, where the owner, no doubt, thought himself safe from all the +outside world. They had little difficulty in gaining an entrance, but +all was dark, so kneeling down and examining the trough they found +jars of pure sweet milk, with the rich, yellow cream swimming on top. +This, of course, they could not carry, so they drank their fill. While +searching around for anything else that was portable, they found a lot +of butter in a churn, and to their astonishment, a ten-gallon keg +of peach brandy. Now they were in the plight of the man who "when it +rained mush had no spoon." They had only their canteens, but there was +no funnel to pour through. But the mother of invention, as usual, came +to their assistance. They poured out the milk in the jars, filled two +for each, and returned over the mountain with a jar of brandy under +each arm. The next morning I found, to my surprise, hanging to the +pole of my tent, my canteen filled with the choicest brandy. Whiskey +sold for $1.00 per drink, so their four jars of brandy added something +to their month's pay. As a Captain of a company, I could not give +leave of absence, nor could I excuse any who left camp against orders +or without permission. So I had it understood that should any of my +men wish to undertake a foraging expedition, not to ask my permission, +but go; and if they did not get caught by outside guards, I would +not report nor punish them, but if they got caught, not to expect any +favors or mercy at my hands. While I never countenanced nor upheld +foraging, unless it was done legitimately and the articles paid for, +still when a choice piece of mutton or pork, a mess tin of honey, or +canteen of brandy was hanging on my rifle pole in the morning, I only +did what I enjoined on the men, "say nothing and ask no question." And +so it was with nearly all the Captains in the army. And be it said to +the credit of the Southern troops, pilfering or thieving was almost an +unknown act while camping in our own country. It was only done in +the mountains of Virginia or East Tennessee, where the citizens were +generally our enemies, and who were willing to give aid and comfort +to the Federals, while to the Southern troops they often denied the +smallest favors, and refused to take our money. + +On the night of the 18th of October we received orders to prepare for +marching at midnight. No drums were to be beaten, nor noise of any +kind made. From this we knew an advance was to be made, as Gordon's +Division had orders to march soon after nightfall. The most profound +secrecy, the absence of all noise, from rattling of canteens or tin +cups, were enjoined upon the men. They were to noiselessly make their +way over the spur of the Massanutton Mountain, which here butted out +in a bold promontory, dividing the Shennandoah and the Luray Valleys, +and strike the enemy in the flank away to our right. The other +divisions were to be in readiness to attack as the roll of battle +reached their front or right. The enemy was posted on an almost +impregnable position on the bluff overlooking Cedar Creek, while in +their rear was a vast plateau of several miles in extent. The enemy's +breastworks were built of strong timbers, with earth thrown against +them, with a deep trench on the inside, being deeper from the bottom +of the trench to the top of the works than the heights of the soldiers +when standing. Thus a step of three or four feet was built for the +troops to stand on and fire. The breastworks wound in and out with the +creek, some places jutting out almost to the very brink; at others, +several hundred yards in the rear; a level piece of bottom land +intervening. This ridge and plateau were some fifty feet or more above +the level of the creek, and gave elegant position for batteries. In +front of this breastwork, and from forty to fifty feet in breadth, was +an abattis constructed of pine trees, the needles stripped, the limbs +cut and pointed five to ten feet from the trunks. These were packed +and stacked side by side and on top of each other, being almost +impossible for a single man even to pick his way through, and next to +impossible for a line of battle to cross over. All along the entire +length of the fortifications were built great redoubts of earthwork in +the form of squares, the earth being of sufficient thickness to turn +any of our cannon balls, while all around was a ditch from twelve to +fifteen feet deep--only one opening in the rear large enough to admit +the teams drawing the batteries. Field pieces were posted at each +angle, the infantry, when needed, filled the space between. These +forts were built about two hundred yards apart, others being built +in front of the main line. This I believe was the most completely +fortified position by nature, as well as by hand, of any line occupied +during the war, and had the troops not been taken by surprise and +stood their ground, a regiment strung out could have kept an army at +bay. + +General Gordon's troops left camp earlier than did Kershaw's, +beginning their winding march at single file around the mountain side, +over the great promontory, down in the plain below, through brush and +undergrowth, along dull trails, catching and pulling themselves along +by the bushes and vines that covered the rough borders and ledges of +the mountain. Sometime after midnight Kershaw moved out across the +turn-pike in the direction of the river, the Second South Carolina +in front, under Captain McCulcheon; then the Third, under Major Todd; +then the Eighth, Twentieth, Fifteenth, and the Seventh. The James' or +Third Battalion having some months before been organized into brigade +sharpshooters, adding two companies to it, preceded the brigade, and +was to charge the fords and capture the pickets. When near the river +the brigade was halted, and scouting parties sent ahead to see how the +land lay. A picked body moved cautiously along in front, and when all +was in readiness, a charge was made--a flash, a report or two, and the +enemy's out post at this point was ours. As we were feeling our way +along the dull road that led to this ford, one poor fellow, who had +been foremost in the assault on the pickets, was carried by us on +a litter. Nothing but a low, deep groan was heard, which told too +plainly that his last battle had been fought. The river crossed, the +brigade continued in columns of fours, moving rapidly forward that +all would be in readiness by the time Gordon's guns opened to announce +that he was in position and ready. + +Now our line of battle was formed, and never before or since was the +brigade called in action with so few officers. Not a Colonel, nothing +higher than a Major, in the entire brigade, the brigade itself being +commanded by a staff officer, who had never so much as commanded a +company before. At the close of the day there were but few officers in +the command of the rank of Captain even. + +Just at the beginning of dawn we heard the guns of Gordon belching +forth far to our right. The cannon corps of the enemy roused up from +their slumbers and met the attack with grape and cannister, but Gordon +was too close upon them, the assault so sudden, that the troops gave +way. Nearer and nearer came the roll of battle as each succeeding +brigade was put in action. We were moving forward in double-quick to +reach the line of the enemy's breastworks by the time the brigade on +our right became engaged. Now the thunder of their guns is upon +us; the brigade on our right plunges through the thicket and throw +themselves upon the abattis in front of the works and pick their way +over them. All of our brigade was not in line, as a part was cut off +by an angle in Cedar Creek, but the Second and Third charged through +an open field in front of the enemy's line. As we emerged from a +thicket into the open we could see the enemy in great commotion, but +soon the works were filled with half-dressed troops and they opened a +galling fire upon us. The distance was too great in this open space +to take the works by a regular advance in line of battle, so the men +began to call for orders to "charge." Whether the order was given or +not, the troops with one impulse sprang forward. When in a small swale +or depression in the ground, near the center of the field, the abattis +was discovered in front of the works. Seeing the impossibility to make +their way through it under such a fire, the troops halted and returned +the fire. Those behind the works would raise their bare heads above +the trenches, fire away, regardless of aim or direction, then fall +to the bottom to reload. This did not continue long, for all down the +line from our extreme right the line gave way, and was pushed back +to the rear and towards our left, our troops mounting their works and +following them as they fled in wild disorder. "Over the works, cross +over," was the command now given, and we closed in with a dash to the +abattis--over it and down in the trenches--before the enemy realized +their position. Such a sight as met our eyes as we mounted their works +was not often seen. For a mile or more in every direction towards the +rear was a vast plain or broken plateau, with not a tree or shrub +in sight. Tents whitened the field from one end to the other for a +hundred paces in rear of the line, while the country behind was one +living sea of men and horses--all fleeing for life and safety. Men, +shoeless and hatless, went flying like mad to the rear, some with +and some without their guns. Here was a deserted battery, the horses +unhitched from the guns; the caissons were going like the wind, +the drivers laying the lash all the while. Cannoneers mounted the +unhitched horses barebacked, and were straining every nerve to keep +apace with caissons in front. Here and there loose horses galloped at +will, some bridleless, others with traces whipping their flanks to a +foam. Such confusion, such a panic, was never witnessed before by the +troops. Our cannoneers got their guns in position, and enlivened +the scene by throwing shell, grape, and cannister into the flying +fugitives. Some of the captured guns were turned and opened upon the +former owners. Down to our left we could see men leaving the trenches, +while others huddled close up to the side of the wall, displaying a +white flag. Our ranks soon became almost as much disorganized as those +of the enemy. The smoking breakfast, just ready for the table, stood +temptingly inviting, while the opened tents displayed a scene almost +enchanting to the eyes of the Southern soldier, in the way of costly +blankets, overcoats, dress uniforms, hats, caps, boots, and shoes all +thrown in wild confusion over the face of the earth. Now and then a +suttler's tent displayed all the luxuries and dainties a soldier's +heart could wish for. All this fabulous wealth of provisions and +clothing looked to the half-fed, half-clothed Confederates like the +wealth of the Indies. The soldiers broke over all order and discipline +for a moment or two and helped themselves. But their wants were few, +or at least that of which they could carry, so they grab a slice of +bacon, a piece of bread, a blanket, or an overcoat, and were soon in +line again following up the enemy. There was no attempt of alignment +until we had left the breastworks, then a partial line of battle was +formed and the pursuit taken up. Major Todd, of the Third, having +received a wound just as we crossed the works, the command of the +regiment devolved on the writer. The angle of the creek cutting off +that portion of the brigade that was in rear, left the Second and +Third detached, nor could we see or hear of a brigade commander. The +troops on our right had advanced several hundred yards, moving at +right angle to us, and were engaging the enemy, a portion that had +made a stand on the crest of a hill, around an old farm house. +Not knowing what to do or where to go, and no orders, I accepted +Napoleon's advice to the lost soldier, "When a soldier is lost and +does not know where to go, always go to where you hear the heaviest +firing." So I advanced the regiment and joined it on the left of +a Georgia brigade. Before long the enemy was on the run again, our +troops pouring volley after volley into them as they fled over stone +fences, hedges, around farm houses, trying in every conceivable way +to shun the bullets of the "dreaded gray-backs." I looked in the rear. +What a sight! Here came stragglers, who looked like half the army, +laden with every imaginable kind of plunder--some with an eye to +comfort, had loaded themselves with new tent cloths, nice blankets, +overcoats, or pants, while others, who looked more to actual gain in +dollars and cents, had invaded the suttler's tents and were fairly +laden down with such articles as they could find readiest sale for. I +saw one man with a stack of wool hats on his head, one pressed in +the other, until it reached more than an arm's length above his head. +Frying-pans were enviable utensils in the army, and tin cups--these +articles would be picked up by the first who came along, to be thrown +aside when other goods more tempting would meet their sight. + +After getting the various brigades in as much order as possible, +a general forward movement was made, the enemy making only feeble +attempts at a stand, until we came upon a stone fence, or rather a +road hedged on either side by a stone fence, running parallel to our +line of battle. Here we were halted to better form our columns. But +the halt was fatal--fatal to our great victory, fatal to our army, +and who can say not fatal to our cause. Such a planned battle, such +complete success, such a total rout of the enemy was never before +experienced--all to be lost either by a fatal blunder or the greed +of the soldier for spoils. Only a small per cent comparatively was +engaged in the plundering, but enough to weaken our ranks. It was late +in the day. The sharpshooters (Third Battalion) had been thrown out +in a cornfield several hundred yards in our front. The men lay in the +road behind the stone fence without a dream of the enemy ever being +able to rally and make an advance. Some were inspecting their captured +plunder; others sound asleep, after our five miles' chase. The sun was +slowly sinking in the west. Oh, what a glorious victory! Men in +their imagination were writing letters home, telling of our brilliant +achievements--thirty pieces of artillery captured, whole wagon trains +of ordnance, from ten to twenty thousand stands of small arms, horses +and wagons, with all of Sheridan's tents and camp equippage--all was +ours, and the enemy in full retreat! + +But the scenes are soon to be shifted. Sheridan had been to +Winchester, twenty miles away. He hears the firing of guns in the +direction of Fisher's Hill, mounts his black charger, and with none +to accompany him but an orderly, he begins his famous ride from +Winchester. Louder and louder the cannon roar, faster and faster his +faithful steed leaps over the stoney pike, his rider plunging the +steel rowels into the foaming sides. Now he is near enough to hear the +deep, rolling sound of the infantry, accompanied by the dreaded Rebel +yell. He knew his troops were retreating from the sound he hears. +A few more leaps, and he comes face to face with his panic stricken +troops. The road was crowded, the woods and fields on either side +one vast swarm of fleeing fugatives. A few of the faithful were still +holding the Confederates at bay, while the mass were seeking safety +in flight. His sword springs from its scabbard, and waving it over his +head, he calls in a loud voice, "Turn, boys, turn; we are going back." +The sound of his voice was electrical. Men halt, some fall, others +turn to go back, while a few continue their mad flight. A partial line +is formed, Sheridan knowing the effect of a show of forward movement, +pushes his handful of men back to meet the others still on the run. +They fall in. Others who have passed the line in their rush, return, +and in a few moments this wild, seething, surging, panic stricken +mass had turned, and in well formed lines, were now approaching the +cornfield and woods in which our pickets and skirmishers lay, all +unconscious of the mighty change--a change the presence of one man +effected in the morale of the routed troops. They rush upon our +sharpshooters, capturing nearly the whole line, killing Captain +Whitner, the commander, and either capturing or wounding nearly all +the commissioned officers. Before we knew it, or even expected it, the +enemy was in our front, advancing in line of battle. The men hadn't +time to raise a gun before the bullets came whizzing over our heads, +or battering against the stone wall. We noticed away to our right the +lines give way. Still Kershaw's Brigade held their position, and beat +back the enemy in our front. But in the woods on our left some troops +who were stationed there, on seeing the break in the line beyond us, +gave way also. Someone raised the cry and it was caught up and hurried +along like all omens of ill luck, that "the cavalry is surrounding +us." In a moment our whole line was in one wild confusion, like +"pandemonium broke loose." If it was a rout in the morning, it was +a stampede now. None halted to listen to orders or commands. Like +a monster wave struck by the head land, it rolls back, carrying +everything before it by its own force and power, or drawing all within +its wake. Our battle line is forced from the stone fence. We passed +over one small elevation, down through a vale, and when half way up +the next incline, Adjutant Pope, who was upon the staff of our brigade +commander, met the fleeing troops and made a masterly effort to stem +the tide by getting some of the troops in line. Around him was formed +a nucleus, and the line began to lengthen on either side, until we had +a very fair battle line when the enemy reached the brow of the hill we +had just passed. We met them with a stunning volley, that caused the +line to reel and stagger back over the crest. Our lines were growing +stronger each moment. Pope was bending all his energies to make +Kershaw's Brigade solid, and was in a fair way to succeed. The troops +that had passed, seeing a stand being made, returned, and kept up the +fire. It was now hoped that the other portion of the line would act +likewise and come to our assistance, and we further knew that each +moment we delayed the enemy would allow that much time for our wagon +train and artillery to escape. But just as all felt that we were +holding our own, Adjutant Pope fell, badly wounded by a minnie ball +through the eye, which caused him to leave the field. Then seeing no +prospects of succor on our right or left, the enemy gradually passing +and getting in our rear, the last great wave rolls away, the men +break and fly, every man for himself, without officers or orders--they +scatter to the rear. The enemy kept close to our heels, just as +we were rising one hill their batteries would be placed on the one +behind, then grape and cannister would sweep the field. There were no +thickets, no ravines, no fences to shield or protect us. Everything +seemed to have been swept from off the face of the earth, with the +exception of a lone farm house here and there. Every man appeared to +be making for the stone bridge that spanned the creek at Strausburg. +But for the bold, manly stand made by Y.J. Pope, with a portion of +Kershaw's Brigade (the brigade commander was seldom seen during the +day), the entire wagon train and hundreds more of our troops would +have been lost, for at that distance we could hear wagons, cannons, +and caissons crossing the stone bridge at a mad gallop. But in the +rush some wagons interlocked and were overturned midway the bridge, +and completely blocked the only crossing for miles above and below. +Teamsters and wagoners leave their charge and rush to the rear. In +the small space of one or two hundred yards stood deserted ambulances, +wagons, and packs of artillery mules and horses, tangled and still +hitched, rearing and kicking like mad, using all their strength to +unloosen themselves from the matted mass of vehicles, animals, and +men, for the stock had caught up the spirit of the panic, and were +eager to keep up the race. As by intuition, the flying soldiers felt +that the roadway would be blocked at the bridge over Cedar Creek, so +they crossed the turn-pike and bore to the left in order to reach the +fords above. As I reached the pike, and just before entering a thicket +beyond, I glanced over my shoulder toward the rear. One glance was +enough! On the hill beyond the enemy was placing batteries, the +infantry in squads and singly blazing away as rapidly as they could +load and fire, the grape and cannister falling and rattling upon the +ground like walnuts thrown from a basket. The whole vast plain in +front and rear was dotted with men running for life's sake, while over +and among this struggling mass the bullets fell like hail. How any +escaped was a wonder to the men themselves. The solid shot and shell +came bouncing along, as the boys would laughingly say afterwards, +"like a bob-tailed dog in high oats"--striking the earth, perhaps, +just behind you, rebound, go over your head, strike again, then +onward, much like the bounding of rubber balls. One ball, I remember, +came whizzing in the rear, and I heard it strike, then rebound, to +strike again just under or so near my uplifted foot that I felt the +peculiar sensation of the concussion, rise again, and strike a man +twenty paces in my front, tearing away his thigh, and on to another, +hitting him square in the back and tearing him into pieces. I could +only shrug my shoulders, close my eyes, and pull to the rear stronger +and faster. + +The sun had now set. A squadron of the enemy's cavalry came at +headlong speed down the pike; the clatter of the horses hoofs upon +the hard-bedded stones added to the panic, and caused many who had not +reached the roadway to fall and surrender. About one hundred and fifty +of the Third Regiment had kept close at my heels (or I had kept near +their front, I can't say which is the correct explanation), with a +goodly number of Georgians and Mississippians, who had taken refuge in +a thicket for a moment's breathing spell, joining our ranks, and away +we continued our race. We commenced to bend our way gradually back +towards the stone bridge. But before we neared it sufficiently to +distinguish friend from foe, we heard the cavalry sabering our men, +cursing, commanding, and yelling, that we halted for a moment to +listen and consult. In the dim twilight we could distinguish some men +about one hundred yards in front moving to and fro. Whether they were +friends, and like ourselves, trying to escape the cavalry in turn and +creep by and over the bridge, or whether they were a skirmish line of +the enemy, we could not determine. The Captain of a Georgia regiment +(I think his name was Brooks), with four or five men, volunteered to +go forward and investigate. I heard the command "halt," and then a +parley, so I ordered the men to turn towards the river. The command +came after us to "halt, halt," but we only redoubled our speed, while +"bang, bang," roared their guns, the bullets raining thick and fast +over our head. I never saw or heard of my new found friends again, and +expect they, like many captured that day, next enjoyed freedom after +Lee and Johnston had surrendered. When we reached the river it was +undecided whether we could cross or not. So one of my men, a good +swimmer, laid off his accoutrement and undertook to test the depth. In +he plunged, and was soon out of sight in the blue waters. As he arose +he called out, "Great God! don't come in here if you don't want to be +drowned. This river has got no bottom." Our only alternative was to go +still higher and cross above the intersection of the north and south +prongs of the Shenandoah, where it was fordable. This we did, and +our ranks augmented considerable as we proceeded up the banks of the +stream, especially when we had placed the last barrier between us and +the enemy. We had representatives of every regiment in Early's Army, +I think, in our crowd, for we had no regiment, as it naturally follows +that a man lost at night, with a relentless foe at his heels, will +seek company. + +We returned each man to his old quarters, and as the night wore on +more continued to come in singly, by twos, and by the half dozens, +until by midnight the greater portion of the army, who had not been +captured or lost in battle, had found rest at their old quarters. But +such a confusion! The officers were lost from their companies--the +Colonels from their regiments, while the Generals wandered about +without staff and without commands. The officers were as much dazed +and lost in confusion as the privates in the ranks. For days the +men recounted their experiences, their dangers, their hair-breadth +escapes, the exciting chase during that memorable rout in the morning +and the stampede in the evening, and all had to laugh. Some few took +to the mountains and roamed for days before finding an opportunity to +return; others lay in thickets or along the river banks, waiting until +all was still and quiet, then seek some crossing. Hundreds crowded +near the stone bridge (the Federal pickets were posted some yards +distance), and took advantage of the darkness to cross over under the +very nose of the enemy. One man of the Fifteenth came face to face +with one of the videttes, when a hand to hand encounter took place--a +fight in the dark to the very death--but others coming to the relief +of their comrade beat the Confederate to insensibility and left him +for dead. Yet he crawled to cover and lay concealed for a day and +night, then rejoined his regiment in a sickening plight. + +A man in my company, Frank Boozer, was struck by a glancing bullet on +the scalp and fell, as was thought, dead. There he lay, while hundreds +and hundreds trampled over him, and it was near day when he gained +consciousness and made his way for the mountain to the right. There he +wandered along its sides, through its glens and gorges, now dodging a +farm house or concealing himself in some little cave, until the enemy +passed, for it was known that the mountains and hills on either side +were scoured for the fugitives. + +Captain Vance, of the Second, with a friend, Myer Moses, had captured +a horse, and they were making their way through the thickets, Moses +in front, with Vance in rear, the darkness almost of midnight on them. +They came upon a squad of Federal pickets. They saw their plight in +a moment, but Moses was keen-witted and sharp-tongued, and pretended +that he was a Yankee, and demanded their surrender. When told that +they were Federals, he seemed overjoyed, and urged them to "come on +and let's catch all those d----n Rebels." But when they asked him a +few questions he gave himself away. He was asked: + +"What command do you belong to?" + +"Eighty-seventh New York," Moses answered, without hesitation. + +"What brigade?" "What division?" etc. "We have no such commands in +this army. Dismount, you are our prisoners." + +But Captain Vance was gone, for at the very outset of the parley he +slid off behind and quietly made his escape. In such emergencies it +was no part of valor to "stand by your friend," for in that case both +were lost, while otherwise one was saved. + +What was the cause of our panic, or who was to blame, none ever +knew. The blame was always laid at "somebody else's" door. However +disastrous to our army and our cause was this stampede--the many good +men lost (killed and captured) in this senseless rout--yet I must say +in all candor, that no occasion throughout the war gave the men so +much food for fun, ridicule, and badgering as this panic. Not one +man but what could not tell something amusing or ridiculous on his +neighbor, and even on himself. The scenes of that day were the "stock +in trade" during the remainder of the war for laughter. It looked so +ridiculous, so foolish, so uncalled for to see twenty thousand men +running wildly over each other, as it were, from their shadows, for +there was nothing in our rear but a straggling line of Federals, which +one good brigade could have put to rout. + +Both Colonel Boykin and Lieutenant Colonel McMichael, of the +Twentieth, were captured and never returned to the service, not being +parolled until after the surrender. The Twentieth was commanded by +Major Leaphart until the close. + +As Adjutant Pope never returned in consequence of his wounds. I will +give a few facts as to his life. No officer in the army was parted +with greater reluctance than Adjutant Pope. + + * * * * * + + +ADJUTANT YOUNG JOHN POPE. + +Y.J. Pope was born in the town of Newberry, S.C., on the 10th of +April, 1841. Was the son of Thomas Herbert Pope and Harriett Neville +Pope, his wife. He was educated in the Male Academy, at Newberry, and +spent six years at Furman University, Greenville, S.C., from which +institution he graduated in August, 1860. After studying law under his +uncle, Chief Justice O'Neall, he entered the Confederate Army on April +13th, 1861, as First Sergeant in Company E, of Third South Carolina +Regiment of Infantry. He participated in the battles of First Manassas +and Williamsburg while in his company. In May, 1862, he was +made Adjutant of the Third South Carolina Regiment, and as such +participated in the battles of Savage Station, Malvern Hill, Maryland +Heights, Sharpsburg, First Fredericksburg (where he was slightly +wounded), Chancellorsville, Gettysburg (where he received three +wounds), Chickamauga (where he was severely wounded), Wilderness, +Brock's Road and other battles around Spottsylvania Court House, North +Anna River Bridge, Second Cold Harbor, Berryville (where he was +shot through the mouth), Strausburg, and Cedar Creek, on the 19th of +October, 1864, where he lost his left eye, which was totally destroyed +by a minnie bullet. + +Since the war he has been elected Mayor of his native town at five +elections. He was elected by the Legislature District Judge of +Newberry, in December, 1865, and served as such until June, 1868, +when Radicals abolished that office. He was elected to the House of +Representatives of his State in the year 1877, and was by the Joint +Assembly of the Legislature elected Associate Counsel for the State to +test the legality of State bonds, when more than two million dollars +were saved the State. He was elected State Senator in 1888, and served +until he was elected Attorney General of the State, in 1890. He served +in this office until the 3rd of December, 1891, when he was elected +Associate Justice of Supreme Court of the State, and on the 30th of +January, 1896, he was unanimously re-elected Associate Justice of the +Supreme Court of South Carolina. + +On the 3rd of December, 1874, he married Mrs. Sallie H.F. Rutherford. +By this union there were two daughters, Mary Butler Pope and Neville +Pope. The former died in October, 1893, and left a wound which has +never healed. + +During a part of the year 1864 Adjutant Pope served on the brigade +staff as Assistant Adjutant General, and was acting in this capacity +when he received the wound that incapacitated him from further service +in the field. + +Lieutenant U.B. Whites, formerly of my company, but later in command +of Company G, Third Battalion, writes a very entertaining sketch +of prison life, which I very willingly give space to, so that the +uninitiated may have some idea of prison life, and the pleasure of +being called "fresh fish" by the old prison "rats." Lieutenant Whites +was a gallant soldier and a splendid officer. He was what is called in +common parlance "dead game" in battle and out. He is a commercial man, +and at present a member of the South Carolina colony of Atlanta, Ga. + + * * * * * + + +HOW IT FEELS TO BE TAKEN A PRISONER OF WAR. + +After being flushed with the most signal victory of more than half +a day's fighting, and while gloating over the brilliant success and +planning and scheming future glories, and after having captured a +great number of Federal soldiers, together with a large number of +field pieces, and then in turn to be captured yourself, especially +after having boasted and affirmed oftentimes that you never would be +taken a prisoner unless sick or wounded, is exceedingly humiliating, +to say the least of it, and the feelings of such an one can better +be imagined than described. Yet such was the exact condition of +the writer on the evening of October 19th, 1864, at the battle of +Strausburg, or as it is known at the present day among the veterans, +"Early's Stampede." + +It is proper to note here that the writer was a line officer belonging +to Company H, Third Regiment South Carolina Volunteers, but several +months previous had been assigned to command a company of "picked" +men made from the various companies and regiments of the old brigade +(Kershaw's), and this company was assigned to duty in the Third +Battalion. This battalion was to do the skirmishing and sharpshooting +for the brigade. This explanation is necessary in order that the +reader may better understand my position and place when captured. + +Late in the afternoon of this exciting day General Phil Sheridan +succeeded in rallying his routed columns and led the attack on our +line. Our skirmish line was in excellent condition. We had no trouble +in effectually resisting and driving back the enemy's skirmish line. +When within short range of our rifles we opened fire, and for nearly +half an hour held them in check, while they fairly rained lead into +our ranks. The command "retreat" was given, and we retired, firing. +During the retreat brave Captain Whitener was killed. I rallied the +remnant of my company in rear of the Third South Carolina. General +Kershaw rode rapidly up to where I had rallied what few men I had left +and enquired for Captain Whitener. I replied, "He is killed, General." +He then ordered me to take what few I had and could gather and +double-quick to a point on the extreme left of his division. When +I arrived at the point designated, which was in thick woods, to +my horror I found the place literally alive with Yankees. I +had double-quicked right into the midst of the "blue bellies." +"Surrender," came in tones of thunder. I stood amazed, astonished +beyond conception. "Surrender," again came the command. There was +absolutely no alternative. There was no chance to fight and less +chance to run. My brave boys and I were prisoners of war. This was +one of the consequences of war that I had never figured upon, and was +wholly unprepared for it. I said to the officer who demanded my sword +that I would rather give him my right arm. He preferred the sword and +got one--I had two, having captured one that morning. Just then an +unusual incident occurred. + +"Hello, Lieutenant Whites, my old friend, I am glad to see you." + +I looked and recognized a Federal Sergeant, whom I had befriended +while en route with him and many other Federal prisoners from East +Tennessee to Richmond. I replied: + +"My dear fellow, I know, under the circumstances, you will excuse +me when I tell you that I am truly sorry that I cannot return the +compliment." + +I was ordered to the rear under guard of one soldier. I was turned +over to the provost guard. My other sword was demanded. Of course I +gave it up without a word. My emotions were too intense for utterance. +I was a disarmed, helpless prisoner of war. My feelings can better be +described by relating an incident which occurred later on. After Lee's +surrender, a few uncompromising, unconquered Confederates attempted to +make their way to Johnston's Army in North Carolina. The way was full +of obstacles, and one of the party, nearly overcome, sat with his +elbows on his knees and his face in his hands, when a comrade accosted +him with-- + +"Hello, John, what is the matter with you?" + +"O, I was just thinking," replied John. + +"Well, what in the world were you thinking so deeply about that you +were lost to every other environment?" + +"Well, Jim, to tell you the truth, I was thinking I wished I was a +woman." + +"Wish you were a woman! Great Scotts, John, are you gone crazy? A +brave soldier like you wishing to be a woman!" + +"Now, Jim, I'll tell you the truth; if I were a woman I could just cry +as much as I pleased, and no one would think that I was a fool." + +I felt very much like John. I wished I was a woman, so that I could +cry as much as I pleased. + +That night all the prisoners were marched to General Sheridan's +headquarters, where we went into camp without supper. Some said their +prayers, while others cursed the Yankees inaudibly, of course. Next +morning we were lined up and counted. Eleven hundred Confederates +answered at Sheridan's roll call. It looked like Kershaw's whole +Brigade was there, though there were many Georgians among us. Sheridan +then inspected the prisoners, and at his personal instance--shame be +it said to his memory--we were all robbed of our good blankets and +dirty, worn out ones given in their stead. + +After the inspection by Sheridan, we began the march (we knew not +where to) under a heavy guard--a whole regiment of infantry to guard +eleven hundred prisoners. This guard was old soldiers, who knew how +to treat a prisoner. They were kind to us. Nothing of special interest +occurred on this day. We arrived at Winchester about sundown. We got +some rations, ate supper, lay down to sleep, when we were hurriedly +aroused and ordered to "fall in line quickly," "fall in," "fall in." + +"What is the trouble?" I ventured to ask. + +"Mosby! Mosby is coming." + +The name of Mosby was a holy terror to the Federals in that part of +Virginia. Silently we prayed that Mosby might make a dash and rescue +us. All night long we vainly listened for the clatter of the hoops of +Mosby's troopers. But, alas! Mosby did not come. The rumor was false. +We took up the night march under double guard. A line of cavalry was +placed outside the already heavy infantry guard. The night was dark +and drizzly--a good night to escape, had not the guard been so heavy. +There were two infantry guards to every four prisoners, besides the +outer cavalry guard. The hope of an escape was a forlorn one, but +I made the attempt and succeeded in passing both guards, but in my +ecstacy I foolishly ran in the dark, and ran right squarely against +a plank fence with so much force as to attract the attention of +a cavalryman, who was soon at my side and escorted me back with a +"d----n you, stay in your place." Several prisoners more fortunate +than myself did succeed in making their escape in the darkness. + +The guards had kindly informed us that at Harper's Ferry we would +be searched and relieved of all valuables, and if we had a knife or +anything that we desired to retain, they would keep it for us until +after the search. This promise they sacredly kept. The search, or +robbery as I call it, was very rigid. Like vandals, they searched +every pocket and relieved us of all money, pocket-books, knives, +keys, and every other thing, except our tobacco. I beat them a little, +notwithstanding their rigid search. I had a five-dollar greenback note +inside of my sock at the bottom of my boot. This they failed to find. + +From Harper's Ferry to Baltimore, the trip was by rail at night. The +guard had now been greatly reduced, only eight to each coach. They +had got plenty of whiskey for themselves and for all who wanted it. We +were having a jolly good time. At this point, knowing that we were in +a friendly part of Maryland, I conceived the idea of making a dash for +the guns of the guard, uncoupling the rear coaches, put on the +brakes, and make our escape across the Potomac. This plan was quietly +communicated to all the prisoners in this the rear coach. All agreed +to the plan, except Lieutenant Colonel McMichael, of the Twentieth +South Carolina Regiment. He protested so strongly that the plan was +abandoned. The trip from this on to Fort Delaware was without incident +or special interest. + +On our arrival at Fort Delaware we were again subjected to a rigid +examination and search, and what few trinkets the kind guards saved +for us at Harper's Ferry, were now taken away from us. I, however, +saved my five-dollar greenback note, which was safely ensconced +inside my sock at the bottom of my foot. Here officers and privates +were separated and registered, each as to command, rank, and state. +The heavy gates swung open with a doleful noise. We marched in amid +the shouts of the old prisoners, "fresh fish," "fresh fish." I wanted +to fight right then and there. I did not want to be guyed. I wanted +sympathy, not guying. "Fresh fish" was the greeting all new arrivals +received, and I being an apt scholar, soon learned to shout "fresh +fish" as loud as a Texas cowboy. + +The heavy prison gates closed around with a dull sepulchral sound, and +prison life began in earnest, with Brigadier General Schoeff master of +ceremonies. The prison was in the shape of an oblong square, with the +"shacks" or "divisions" on the long side and at the short sides or +ends. At the other long side was built a plank fence twelve or fifteen +feet high. This fence separated the officers and privates. Near +the top of this fence was erected a three-foot walk, from which the +strictest guard was kept over both "pens" day and night. Fifteen feet +from this plank fence on either side was the "dead line." Any prisoner +crossing the "dead line" was shot without being halted. There was not +an officer shot during my eight months' sojourn there, but it was a +frequent occurrence to hear the sharp report of a guard's rifle, +and we knew that some poor, unfortunate Confederate soldier had been +murdered. The cowardly guards were always on the lookout for any +semblance of an excuse to shoot a "d----n Rebel." + +There was a rigid censorship placed over all mail matter being sent +from or received at the "pen." All letters were read before being +mailed, and all being received were subjected to the same vigilant +censorship. They were all opened and read by an official to see that +they contained nothing "contraband of war." Money was "contraband." +Only such newspapers as suited the fastidious taste of General Schoeff +were permitted to come inside the "pen." The officers and privates +were supposed to be strictly "incommunicado," but even these found +means of communication. The open, spacious courts on both sides of the +separating fence, on fair days, were always thronged with men +taking exercise. A short note--a small piece of coal was the "mail +coach"--the route was the "air line"--the note securely tied to the +piece of coal, and at an opportune moment, when the guard's face was +in a favorable direction, the "mail" passed over the "air line" into +the other pen, and vice versa. This line kept up a regular business, +but was never detected. + +A large majority of prisoners (officers) had some acquaintance, +friend, or relative in Baltimore, New York, or other Northern cities, +who would gladly furnish money or clothing to them. Provisions +were not permissible under the rules and regulations of the prison +authorities. Baltimore, especially, and New York did much toward +relieving the burdens of prison life. Such inestimable ladies as Mrs. +Mary Howard, of Baltimore, and Mrs. Anna Hoffman, of New York, deserve +an everlasting monument of eternal gratitude for the great and +good service rendered the unfortunate Confederate prisoners. These +philanthropic ladies, with hundreds of other sympathizing men and +women of the North, kept many of us furnished with money and clothing. +The money itself we were not permitted to have. In its stead the +prison officials issued the amounts of money on bits of parchment +in denominations of five cents, ten cents, twenty-five cents, fifty +cents, and one dollar pieces. This was the prison currency. The prison +name for it was "sheepskin." The prison officials would not allow us +to have the "cold cash," lest we should enter into a combination and +bribe an important guard, thereby effecting an escape. The "sheepskin" +answered every other purpose for trade. We had a suttler who was a +suttler right. He was a real, genuine, down-east Yankee. He loved +money ("sheepskins" were money to him), and he would furnish us with +anything we wanted for plenty "sheepskins." He would even furnish +whiskey "on the sly," which was positively prohibited by the prison +regulations. He had only to go to headquarters at the close of the day +and have his "sheepskins" cashed in genuine greenbacks, and he went +away happy and serene, to dream of more "sheepskins." + +The amusements and diversions of prison life are wonderful to +contemplate. They were numerous and varied. A man could find anything +to suit his inclinations. Of all the many diversions, gaming was +probably the most prominent, and stands at the head of the list. By +common consent, it seemed that a certain part of the open court was +set aside for gaming purposes. It made no difference how severe the +weather was, these gaming tables were always in full blast. A man +could amuse himself with any game at cards that he desired. There +were "farrow bank," "chuck-a-luck," "brag," "eucher," "draw poker," +"straight poker," "seven-up," "five-up," and most prominent of all, +a French game, pronounced in Fort Delaware "vang-tu-aug," meaning +twenty-one. All these were games for "sheepskins"--bets, five cents; +limit, ten cents. All were conducted on a high plane of honor. If a +dealer or player was detected in attempting anything that was unclean, +he was tried in court, convicted, and punished. + +There were courts and debating societies; classes in French, Spanish, +and Greek. There were Bible students and students in the arts +and sciences prosecuting their varied studies. The gutta-percha +ring-makers were quite numerous, and it was really astonishing to +see the quality of the work turned out, being handsomely engraved and +inlaid with silver. There were diversion and amusement for everybody +and every class of men, except croakers and grumblers. They had no +lot, parcel, or place, and such characters were not permitted to +indulge in their evil forebodings. They had to be men, and real live +men, too. The reader may desire to know whence all the books, +cards, materials, etc., came. I answer, from the Yankee suttler, for +"sheepskins." + +It must be said to the credit of the Federal prison officials, that +the sanitary and hygienic arrangements were as near perfect as man +could well make them. These officials were exceedingly jealous of +the health of the place. In fact, it was often thought they were +unnecessarily strict in enforcing their hygienic rules. Everything had +to be thoroughly clean. Cleanliness was compulsory. A laundry machine +was furnished, and a kind of laundrying was accomplished. Blankets +were required to be dusted and sunned regularly. Every few weeks +the whole army of prisoners were turned out into the cold, and there +remained until the "shacks" were thoroughly white-washed, both inside +and outside. This work was performed by "galvanized Yankees." A +"galvanized Yankee" was a Confederate prisoner who had "swallowed +the yellow pup," i.e., had taken the oath of allegiance to the United +States Government. These men were looked upon even by the Federal +officers as a contemptible set, and were required to do all kinds of +menial service. + +The water was good and plentiful. There could be no just criticism +along this line. I am constrained to believe that it was owing to +these stringent health laws that the percentage of sickness was +so very small. Of course, I can only speak of the officers in Fort +Delaware. + +The prison fare is the most difficult, as well as unpleasant, part of +prison life of which to treat. However, I will give the simple facts, +and allow the reader to draw his own conclusions as to the justice +and necessity for such treatment. To say that the fare was entirely +insufficient, is putting it mildly, and would not be more than might +be expected under similar circumstances and conditions; but the reader +will more fully understand the situation when this insufficiency is +exemplified by the facts which follow. Think of being compelled to +live on two ounces of meat and six ounces of bread per day. Yet this +was a prison ration for us towards the close of the war. This was +totally inadequate to appease hunger. Men who had no other means of +procuring something to eat were nearly starved to death. They stalked +about listlessly, gaunt looking, with sunken cheeks and glaring eyes, +which reminded one of a hungry ravenous beast. Hungry, hungry all the +time. On lying down at night, many, instead of breathing prayers of +thankfulness for bountiful supplies, would lie down invoking the most +severe curses of God upon the heads of the whole Federal contingent, +from President Lincoln down to the lowest private. Hunger makes men +desperate and reckless. The last six or eight months of the war the +fare was much worse than at any time previous. It was at this period +that the Federal administration was retaliating, as they claimed, for +the treatment their prisoners were receiving at Andersonville, Ga. + +This inhuman condition of affairs was absolutely brought about by the +United States Government itself by positively refusing time and again +an exchange of prisoners, and it can not escape the just odium and +stigma of the inhuman treatment, the untold suffering, and agonies of +both the Confederate and Union prisoners of war. + +As already observed, there were not a great number of officers who +suffered so intensely, but there were some, who, like nearly all the +privates, had no friends or acquaintances in the North to render any +assistance, and they suffered greatly. Of course, we endeavored to +relieve one another as far as we could. Often have I and others given +our entire day's ration from the mess hall to some brother officer +less fortunate than ourselves. I have seen an officer peal an apple, +throw the pealing upon the ground, and immediately an unfortunate one +would pick it up and ravenously devour it. There were a great many +wharf rats burrowing under the plank walks which traversed the open +court of the prison. These rodents are much larger than our common +barn rats, and they were eagerly sought by the starving officers. +There was a general warfare declared on the wharf rat in prison. When +these rats were taken and being prepared, the odor arising therefrom +was certainly tempting to a hungry man, and when ready they were eaten +with a keen relish. The rats did not require any of Lee's and Perin's +Worcester sauce to make them palatable, or to give them zest. This +will give the reader some idea of the straits to which some of the +Confederate officers, and nearly all the privates, in prison at Fort +Delaware were reduced to by gaunt hunger. + +I must here chronicle an event which I desire to go down in history. +After being in prison and being hungry for about two months, I +received a letter, addressed in a lady's handwriting, to "Lieut. U.B. +White, Division 28, Fort Delaware," and postmarked "Baltimore, Md." My +surprise was great, but on opening it and finding the writer's name to +be "Mrs. Mary Howard, of Lexington Avenue, Baltimore," my surprise was +unbounded. I knew no such person as Mrs. Mary Howard, and, in fact, at +that time I did not know a soul in Baltimore. I felt sure that there +must be some mistake about it. I read and re-read that letter. I +scrutinized and examined the address again and again. It was plain, +except that the final "s" in my name was wanting, which was and is, to +my mind, a very natural and correct omission. Mrs. Howard said in her +letter that she had been informed that I was a prisoner of war and +that I was in Division Twenty-eight, Fort Delaware, and that I was in +need of both money and clothing, and that if this was true she would +be glad to relieve my wants. I immediately answered that letter. I +said to Mrs. Howard that her information was only too true, which +I very much regretted. From that time my hunger was appeased and my +nakedness clad. Thirty-five years have elapsed since Mrs. Mary Howard +wrote that letter, and to-day it is as much of a mystery to me as it +was on the day I received it--by whom or by what means or device +Mrs. Howard ever found out who I was, or what my condition and +circumstances were, I will never know. She and I corresponded +regularly during the balance of my prison life, and for sometime after +the war when I returned to South Carolina, and yet that mystery was +never explained. Mrs. Mary Howard! Grand, noble, heroic, Christian +woman! "She hath done what she could." Through her agency and her +means and her efforts she not only assisted and relieved me, but +hundreds of other poor, helpless Confederate prisoners. To-day she +is reaping her sublime reward, where there are no suffering hungry, +starving prisoners to relieve. God bless her descendants! + +When General Lee surrendered we refused to believe it, notwithstanding +the prison was flooded with various newspapers announcing the fact, +and the nearby cities were illuminated, the big guns were belching +forth their terrific thunder in joy of the event. However, the truth +gradually dawned upon us, and we were forced to realize what we at +first thought impossible--that Lee would be forced to surrender. A few +days later we were all ordered into line, and officially notified +of General Lee's surrender. The futility of further resistence +was emphasized, and we were urgently requested to take the oath of +Allegiance to the United States Government. This was "a bitter pill," +"the yellow pup," to swallow, and a very few solemnly complied. The +great majority still had a forlorn hope. Generals Johnston, Kirby +Smith, Mosby, and others were still in the field, and it seemed to be +a tacit understanding, that we would never take the oath of allegiance +as long as one Confederate officer contended in the field. + +Finally, when there was no disguising the fact that General Johnston +and all others had honorably surrendered--that all was lost--on the +19th day of June, 1865, the last batch of officers in prison took the +oath of allegiance to the United States Government, bade farewell to +Fort Delaware, and inscribed on its walls, on its fences, in books, +and divisions the French quotation, "Font est perdeu l'honeur"--All is +lost but honor. + + "A prison! Heavens, I loath the hated name, + Famine's metropolis, the sink of shame, + A nauseous sepulchre, whose craving womb + Hourly inters poor mortals in its tomb; + By ev'ry plague and ev'ry ill possessed, + Ev'n purgatory itself to thee's a jest; + Emblem of hell, nursery of vice, + Thou crawling university of lice; + When wretches numberless to ease their pains, + With smoke and all delude their pensive chains. + How shall I avoid thee? or with what spell + Dissolve the enchantment of thy magic cell? + Ev'n Fox himself can't boast so many martyrs, + As yearly fall within thy wretched quarters. + Money I've none, and debts I cannot pay, + Unless my vermin, will those debts defray. + Not scolding wife, nor inquisition's worse; + Thou'rt ev'ry mischief crammed into one curse." + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII + +Leave the Valley for the Last Time--October 20th to December 31st, +1864. + + +The retreat from Fisher's Hill to New Market will never be +forgotten by those who participated therein as long as they live. To +recapitulate the movements of the last thirty-six hours and reflect +upon what had been accomplished, it seems beyond human endurance. +No retreat in history, even the famous retreat of Xenophon, while of +greater duration and under different circumstances, still it did not +equal that of Early during the same length of time. From midnight of +the 18th the troops were in line, crossing the river some miles in the +distance before daylight, storms and takes the enemy's lines by nine +o'clock, incessant fighting for five or six miles (either fighting or +on the run), then a stampede of the same distance, then back +across the river and to camp, a two hours' halt, a forced march of +thirty-five miles--making over fifty miles in all--without eating or +drinking, only as could be "caught up" on the march or run. Up the +valley this routed, disorganized rabble (it could not be called an +army) marched, every man as he saw fit, here a General at the head of +a few squads called regiments, or a Colonel or Captain with a few +men at his heels, some with colors and some without; here a Colonel +without a man, there a score or two of men without a commissioned +officer. A great number had abandoned their arms and accoutrements, +others their scanty baggage. Some regiments had lost their whole +supply trains that hauled their cooking utensils and provisions. Then +we could see artillerymen with nothing but a few jaded horses, their +cannons and caissons left in the general upheaval and wreck at the +Stone Bridge, or on the field of battle; Quartermasters, with their +teamsters riding or leading their horses, their wagons abandoned or +over run by others in the mad rush to escape across the bridge before +it was blocked. Along the road loose horses roamed at will, while the +sides of the pike were strewn with discarded blankets, tent flies, +oilcloths and clothing, the men being forced to free themselves of all +surplus incumbrances in order to keep up with the moving mass. At one +place we passed General Early, sitting on his horse by the roadside, +viewing the motley crowd as it passed by. He looked sour and haggard. +You could see by the expression of his face the great weight upon his +mind, his deep disappointment, his unspoken disappointment. What was +yesterday a proud, well-disciplined army that had accomplished during +the first part of the day all, or more, that even the most sanguine +General could have expected--crossed rivers, pulled themselves over +the mountains, assaulted and surprised an enemy who lay in feeling +security behind almost impregnable fortifications, routed and driven +them from the field, capturing almost the whole camp equipage with +twenty field pieces--now before him poured, the same victorious army, +beaten, stampeded, without order or discipline, all the fruits of +victory and his own camp equipage gone, his wagon trains abandoned, +the men without arms, his cannoneers without cannonry and every color +trailing in the dust. And what caused it? The sudden change from +victory to defeat. It was not the want of Generalship, for General +Early had wisely planned. It was not for lack of courage of the +troops, for that morning they had displayed valor and over come +obstacles which would have baffled and dismayed less bold spirits. Was +it for the superior gallantry of the enemy's troops or the superior +Generalship of their adversary? The latter was awry, and the former +had been routed from their entrenchments by the bayonet of the +Confederates. Sheridan did not even hope to stop our victorious march, +only to check it sufficiently to enable him to save the remnant of +his army. A feeble advance, a panic strikes our army, and all is +lost, while no individual, officer, brigade, or regiment could be held +responsible. It shows that once a panic strikes an army all discipline +is lost and nothing but time will restore it. For nearly one hundred +years historians have been framing reasons and causes of Napoleon's +Waterloo, but they are as far from the real cause to-day as they were +the night of the rout. It will ever remain the same sad mystery of +Early at Cedar Creek. Men are, in some respects, like the animal, and +especially in large bodies. A man, when left alone to reason and think +for himself, and be forced to depend upon his own resources, will +often act differently than when one of a great number. The "loss of +a head" is contageous. One will commit a foolish act, and others will +follow, but cannot tell why. Otherwise quiet and unobtrusive men, when +influenced by the frenzy of an excited mob, will commit violence +which in their better moments their hearts would revolt and their +consciences rebel against. A soldier in battle will leave his ranks +and fly to the rear with no other reason than that he saw others doing +the same, and followed. + +The stampede of Early was uncalled for, unnecessary, and disgraceful, +and I willingly assume my share of the blame and shame. My only title +to fame rests upon my leading the Third South Carolina Regiment in the +grandest stampede of the Southern Army, the greatest since Waterloo, +and I hope to be forgiven for saying with pardonable pride that I +led them remarkably well to the rear for a boy of eighteen. A General +could not have done better. + +We passed the little towns and villages of the Valley, the ladies +coming to their doors and looking on the retreat in silence. Were +we ashamed? Don't ask the pointed question, gentle reader, for the +soldiers felt as if they could turn and brain every Federal soldier in +the army with the butt of his rifle. But not a reproach, not a murmur +from those self-sacrificing, patriotic women of the Valley. They were +silent, but sad--their experience during the time the enemy occupied +the Valley before told them they had nothing to expect but insult and +injury, for their bold, proud Virginia blood would not suffer them to +bend the knee in silent submission. Their sons and husbands had all +given themselves to the service of their country, while rapine and the +torch had already done its work too thoroughly to fear it much now +or dread its consequences. But the presence alone of a foreign foe on +their threshold was the bitterness of gall. + +On reaching New Market, men were gathered together in regiments and +assigned to camping grounds, as well as the disorganized state of the +army would allow. All night long the stragglers kept coming in, and +did so for several days. We were suffering for something to eat more +than anything else. Rations of corn were issued, and this was parched +and eaten, or beaten up, when parched, and a decoction which the +soldiers called "coffee" was made and drunk. + +The troops remained in camp until the last of October, then began +their march to rejoin Lee. The campaign of Early in the Valley had +been a failure, if measured by the fruits of victory. If, however, to +keep the enemy from occupying the Valley, or from coming down on the +north or rear of Richmond was the object, then it had accomplished +its purpose, but at a heavy loss and a fearful sacrifice of life. +We arrived at Richmond early in November, and began building winter +quarters about seven miles from the city, on the extreme left of the +army. Everything north of the James continued quiet along our lines +for a month or more, but we could hear the deep baying of cannon +continually, away to our right, in the direction of Petersburg. + +When we had about finished our huts we were moved out of them and +further to the right, in quarters that Hoke's Division had built. +These were the most comfortable quarters we occupied during the war. +They consisted of log huts twelve by fourteen, thoroughly chinked with +mud and straw, some covered with dirt, others with split boards. We +had splendid breastworks in front of us, built up with logs on the +inside and a bank of earth from six to eight feet in depth on the +outside, a ditch of three or four feet beyond and an escarpment +inside. At salients along the line forts for the artillery were built, +but not now manned, and in front of our lines and around our forts +mines or torpedoes were sunk, which would explode by tramping on the +earth above them. + +At these mines were little sticks about three feet long stuck in the +ground with a piece of blue flannel tied to the end to attract the +attention of our pickets going out. But hundreds of white sticks, +exactly like those above the mines, were stuck into the earth every +three feet for a distance of forty feet all around, but these were +marked red instead of blue. This was so that the enemy, in case of a +charge, or spies coming in at night, could not distinguish harmless +stakes from those of the torpedo. We picketed in front and had to pass +through where these stakes were posted single file, along little paths +winding in and out among them. The men were led out and in by guides +and cautioned against touching any, for fear of mistake and being +blown up. It is needless to say these instructions were carried out to +the letter and no mistake ever made. On several occasions, even before +we had our first quarters completed, a report would come occasionally +that the enemy was approaching or quartered near our front, and out we +would go to meet them, but invariably it proved to be a false alarm or +the enemy had retired. Once in December the enemy made a demonstration +to our right, and we were called out at night to support the line +where the attack was made. After a few rounds of shelling and a few +bullets flying over our heads (no harm being done), at daylight we +returned to our camp. Our lines had been so extended that to man our +works along our front we had not more than one man to every six feet. +Still with our breastworks so complete and the protection beyond the +line, it is doubtful whether the enemy could have made much headway +against us. All the timber and debris in our front for more than one +thousand yards had been felled or cleared away. + +The ladies of Richmond had promised the soldiers a great Christmas +dinner on Christmas day, but from some cause or other our dinner did +not materialize. But the soldiers fared very well. Boxes from home +were now in order, and almost every day a box or two from kind and +loving friends would come in to cheer and comfort them. Then, too, the +blockaders at Wilmington and Charleston would escape the Argus eyes +of the fleet and bring in a cargo of shoes, cloth, sugar, coffee, etc. +Even with all our watchfulness and the vigilance of the enemy on the +James, that indefatigable and tireless Jew, with an eye to business, +would get into Richmond with loads of delicacies, and this the soldier +managed to buy with his "Confederate gray-backs." They were drawing +now at the rate of seventeen dollars per month, worth at that +time about one dollar in gold or one dollar and seventy cents in +greenbacks. The Jews in all countries and in all times seemed to fill +a peculiar sphere of usefulness. They were not much of fighters, but +they were great "getters." They would undergo any hardships or risks +for gain, and while our government may not have openly countenanced +their traffic, still it was thought they "winked" at it. I do know +there were a lot of Jews in Richmond who could go in and out of our +lines at will. Sometimes they were caught, first by one army and then +by another, and their goods or money confiscated, still they kept up +their blockade running. I was informed by one of General Gary's staff +officers since the war, that while they were doing outpost duty on the +lower James, Jews came in daily with passports from the authorities at +Richmond, authorizing them to pass the lines. On many occasions they +claimed they were robbed by our pickets. Once this officer allowed two +Jews to pass out of the lines, with orders to pass the pickets, but +soon they returned, saying they were robbed. General Gary, who could +not tolerate such treachery, had the men called up and the Jews +pointed out the men who had plundered them. But the men stoutly denied +the charge, and each supported the other in his denials, until a +search was ordered, but nothing was found. They cursed the "lieing +Jew" and threatened that the next time they attempted to pass they +would leave them in the woods with "key holes through them." "While +at the same time," continued the officer, "I and so was General Gary +satisfied these same men had robbed them." + +We were now again under our old commander, Lieutenant General +Longstreet. He had recently returned to the army, convalescent from +his severe wound at the Wilderness, and was placed in command of the +north side. Scarcely had he assumed command, and prior to our arrival, +before he was attacked by General Butler, with twenty thousand men. +He defeated him, sustaining little loss, with Fields' and Hokes' +Divisions, and Gary's Cavalry. Butler lost between one thousand two +hundred and one thousand five hundred men. The year was slowly drawing +to a close, with little perceptible advantage to the South. It is true +that Grant, the idol and ideal of the North, had thrown his legions +against the veterans of Lee with a recklessness never before +experienced, and with a loss almost irreparable, still the prospects +of the Confederacy were anything but encouraging. Yet the childlike +faith and confidence of the Confederate privates in their cause and +in their superiors, that disaster and defeat never troubled them nor +caused them worry or uneasiness. General Hood had gone on his wild +goose chase through Middle Tennessee, had met with defeat and ruin at +Franklin and Nashville; Sherman was on his unresisted march through +Georgia, laying waste fields, devastating homes with a vandalism +unknown in civilized warfare, and was now nearing the sea; while the +remnant of Hood's Army was seeking shelter and safety through the +mountains of North Georgia. Still Lee, with his torn and tattered +veterans, stood like a wall of granite before Richmond and Petersburg. +What a halo of glory should surround the heads of all who constituted +the Army of Lee or followed the fortunes of Longstreet, Hill, Ewell, +and Early. At Chickamauga, Chattanooga, East Tennessee, Wilderness, or +wherever the plumes of their chieftains waved or their swords flashed +amid the din of battle, victory had ever perched upon their banners. +It was only when away from the inspiration and prestige of Longstreet +did the troops of Kershaw fail or falter, and only then to follow in +the wake of others who had yielded. + +Owing to the casualties in battle during the last few months and the +disasters of the two Valley campaigns, many changes in the personnel +of the companies and regiments necessarily took place, once we got +fairly settled in camp. + +Brigadier General Kershaw had been made Major General in place +of General McLaws soon after the battle of the Wilderness. His +Aid-de-Camp, Lieutenant Doby, having been killed on that day, I.M. +Davis, Adjutant of the Fifteenth, was placed upon the personnel staff +of the Major General. + +Colonel John D. Kennedy, of the Second, having recovered from the +wounds received on the 6th of May, was promoted in place of General +Connor to the position of Brigadier General. + +The Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel of the Twentieth both being +captured on the 19th of October, Lieutenant Colonel F.S. Lewie, of the +Fifteenth, was assigned temporarily to the command of the Twentieth. +Captain G. Leaphart, senior Captain, was afterwards promoted to Major, +and commanded the "Twentieth Army Corps" until the close of the war. + +Lieutenant Colonel Stackhouse was made Colonel of the Eighth after the +death of Henagan, and either Captain McLucas or Captain T.F. Malloy +was promoted to Major (I am not positive on this point). Captain +Rogers was also one of the senior Captains, and I think he, too, acted +for a part of the time as one of the field officers. + +The Third Battalion was commanded by one of the Captains for the +remainder of the war, Colonel Rice and Major Miller both being +permanently disabled for field service, but still retained their rank +and office. + +There being no Colonel or Lieutenant Colonel of the Seventh, and Major +Goggans having resigned soon after the Wilderness battle, Captain +Thomas Huggins was raised to the rank of Colonel. I do not remember +whether any other field officers of this regiment were ever appointed, +but I think not. Lieutenant John R. Carwile, who had been acting +Adjutant of the Seventh for a long time, was now assigned to duty on +the brigade staff. + +Captain William Wallace was promoted to Colonel of the Second, with +Captain T.D. Graham and B F. Clyburn, Lieutenant Colonel and Major +respectively. + +Colonel Rutherford, of the Third, having been killed on the 13th +of October, and Lieutenant Colonel Maffett, captured a short while +before, Captain R.P. Todd was made Major, then raised to the rank of +Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain J.K.G. Nance, Major. + +Many new Captains and Lieutenants were made, to fill the vacancies +occasioned by the above changes and deaths in battle, but I have not +the space to mention them. + +Our last Brigadier General, J.D. Kennedy, was a very good officer, +however, his kindness of heart, his sympathetic nature, his indulgent +disposition caused him to be rather lax in discipline. There was quite +a contrast in the rigidity of General Connor's discipline and the +good, easy "go as you please" of General Kennedy. But the latter had +the entire confidence of the troops, and was dearly loved by both +officers and men. He was quite sociable, courteous, and kind to all. +The men had been in service so long, understood their duties so +well, that it was not considered a necessity to have a martinet for +a commander. General Kennedy's greatest claim to distinction was his +good looks. He certainly was one of the finest looking officers in the +army. I fear little contradiction when I say General Kennedy and Major +W.D. Peck, of the Quartermaster Department, were two of the finest +looking men that South Carolina gave to the war. I give a short sketch +of General Kennedy. + + * * * * * + + +GENERAL JOHN D. KENNEDY. + +General John D. Kennedy was born in Camden, South Carolina, January +5th, 1840, the son of Anthony M. and Sarah Doby Kennedy. His mother +was the grand-daughter of Abraham Belton, a pioneer settler of Camden +and a patriot soldier in the Revolution. His father was born in +Scotland, having emigrated to the United States about the year 1830, +at which time he settled in Kershaw County, S.C., where he married. +(He has been engaged in planting and merchandising for many years. +Two sons and two daughters were the issue of this marriage.) General +Kennedy obtained his early scholastic training in the Camden schools, +and in 1855, at the age of fifteen, entered the South Carolina College +at Columbia. He entered the law office of Major W.Z. Leitner soon +after, and was admitted to practice in January, 1861, and in April of +that year joined the Confederate Army as Captain of Company E, Second +South Carolina Regiment, under the command of Colonel J.B. Kershaw. In +1862 he was made Colonel of the Second South Carolina Regiment, and +in 1864 was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General, and held that +position to the close of the war, having surrendered with General +Johnston at Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1865. General Kennedy was +six times wounded, and fifteen times was hit by spent balls. At +the close of the war he resumed his practice of law at Camden, but +abandoned it soon after and turned his attention to farming. In 1877 +he once more returned to the bar, and has since been actively and +prominently engaged in his practice. In 1876 he was a member of the +State Democratic Executive Committee, and was its chairman in 1878. +In December, 1865, he was elected to Congress, defeating Colonel C.W. +Dudley, but did not take his seat, as he refused to take the ironclad +oath. In 1878-9 he represented his county in the Legislature, and was +Chairman of the Committee on Privileges and Elections. He was elected +Lieutenant Governor of the State in 1880, and in 1882 was a prominent +candidate for Governor, but Colonel Hugh Thompson received the +nomination over General Bratton and himself. He was elected Grand +Master of the Grand Lodge A.F.M. of South Carolina in 1881, and served +two years. As a member of the National Democratic Convention in +1876, he cast his vote for Tilden and Hendricks, and in 1884 was +Presidential Elector at large on the Democratic ticket. President +Cleveland sent him as Consul General to Shanghai, China, in 1886. +In 1890 he was Chairman of the State Advisory Committee, of the +straightout Democratic party. In early life he was married to Miss +Elizabeth Cunningham, who died in 1876. In 1882 Miss Harriet Boykin +became his wife. + +The above is taken from Cyclopaedia of Eminent and Representative Men +of the Carolinas of the Nineteenth Century. + +Notes on General Kennedy's life, furnished by one of his soldiers: + +He was born at Camden, S.C., January 5th, 1840. While in his 'teens +he became a member of the Camden Light Infantry, of which J.B. Kershaw +was Captain; elected First Lieutenant in 1860. Upon the secession +of South Carolina, December 20th, 1860, Captain Kershaw was elected +Colonel of the Second South Carolina Volunteers, and Lieutenant +Kennedy was chosen Captain of the Camden Volunteers, a company +composed of members of the Camden Light Infantry and those who united +with them for service in the field. This company became Company E, +Second South Carolina Volunteers, was ordered to Charleston April 8th, +1861, and witnessed from their position on Morris Island the siege of +Fort Sumter, April 12th, 1861. The Second Regiment formed part of the +First Brigade, commanded by General M.L. Bonham, of the Army of the +Potomac, as the Confederate Army in Northern Virginia was then called. +In the spring of 1862 the troops who had volunteered for twelve months +reorganized for the war, the Second South Carolina Volunteers being, I +believe, the first body of men in the army to do so. At reorganization +Captain Kennedy was elected Colonel, in which capacity he served until +1864, when he was promoted to the command of the brigade, which he +held until the close of the war. In 1862 the name of the army was +changed to the Army of Northern Virginia, the Federals having called +theirs the Army of the Potomac. The Second was engaged in every battle +fought by the army in Virginia, from the first Manassas to Petersburg, +except Second Manassas, and was also in battle of Chickamauga, battles +around Knoxville, Averysboro, and Bentonville, and surrendered at +Greensboro April 27th, 1865. General Kennedy was in every battle in +which his command was engaged, and was wounded six times and struck +fifteen times. He died in Camden, S.C., April 14th, 1896. + + * * * * * + + +COLONEL R.P. TODD. + +Colonel R.P. Todd was born in Laurens County, about the year 1838. +Graduated at a literary college (I think the South Carolina), read +law, and entered upon the practice of his profession a year or two +before the beginning of hostilities. At the first call by the State +for twelve months' volunteers, Colonel Todd enlisted in the "Laurens +Briars," afterwards Company G, Third South Carolina Regiment, and was +elected Captain. He took his company with him into the Confederate +service, and at the reorganization in 1862, was again elected Captain. +Was made Major in 1864 and Lieutenant Colonel in the early part of +1865. He was in most of the great battles in which the regiment was +engaged, and was several times severely wounded. He surrendered at +Greensboro, N.C. + +After the war he again took up the practice of law and continued it +until his death, which took place several years ago. He represented +his county in the Senate of the State for one term. + +Soon after the close of the war he married Miss Mary Farley, sister +of General Hugh L. Farley, formerly Adjutant and Inspector General of +South Carolina, and of Captain William Farley, one of the riders of +General Stuart, and a famous character in John Estin Cook's historical +romances. + +Colonel Todd was a good officer, gallant soldier, and loyal and kind +to his men. He was a man of brilliant attainments and one of the most +gifted and fluent speakers in the brigade. + +The writer regrets his inability to get a more enlarged sketch of this +dashing officer, talented lawyer, and perfect gentleman. + + * * * * * + + +CAPTAIN JOHN K. NANCE. + +Captain John K. Nance was one of the most jovial, fun-loving, +light-hearted souls in the Third Regiment. He was all sunshine, and +this genial, buoyant disposition seemed to be always caught up and +reflected by all who came about him. He was truly a "lover of his +fellow-men," and was never so happy as when surrounded by jolly +companions and spirits like his own. He was a great lover of out-door +sports, and no game or camp amusement was ever complete without this +rollicksome, good-natured knight of the playground. + +He was born in Laurens County, in 1839. Graduated from Due West +College and soon afterwards joined the "Quitman Rifles," Company E, of +the Third Regiment, then being organized by his kinsman, Colonel James +D. Nance. He was first Orderly Sergeant of the company, but was soon +elected Lieutenant. At the reorganization of his company, in 1862, he +was elected First Lieutenant, and on James D. Nance being made Colonel +of the Third, he was promoted to Captain. Many times during the +service he was called upon to command the regiment, and in the latter +part of 1864 or the first of 1865 he was promoted to Major. + +Captain John K. Nance was one of the best officers upon the +drillground in the regiment, and had few equals as such in the +brigade. He was a splendid disciplinarian and tactician, and could +boast of one of the finest companies in the service. His company, as +well as himself, was all that could be desired upon the battlefield. + +In 1864 he married Miss Dolly, daughter of Dr. Thomas B. Rutherford, +and sister of the lamented Colonel W.D. Rutherford. After the war he +was engaged in planting in Newberry County. He was three times elected +Auditor of the county. He was a leading spirit among the Democrats +during the days of reconstruction, and lent all energies and talents +to the great upheaval in politics in 1876 that brought about the +overflow of the negro party and gave the government to the whites of +the State. He died about 1884, leaving a widow and several children. + + * * * * * + + +COLONEL WILLIAM WALLACE. + +Colonel William Wallace, of the Second South Carolina Regiment, +was undoubtedly the Murat of the Old First Brigade. His soldierly +qualities, his dashing courage, and the prestige that surrounds his +name as a commander, especially upon the skirmish line, forcibly +recalls that impetuous prince, the Roland of Napoleon's Army. Upon the +battle line he was brave almost to rashness, and never seemed to be +more in his element or at ease than amidst the booming cannon, the +roar of musketry, or the whirl of combat. Colonel Wallace was a +soldier born and a leader of men. He depended not so much upon tactics +or discipline, but more upon the cool, stern courage that was in +himself and his men. + +His life as a soldier and civilian has been fortunate and brilliant, +in which glory and promotion followed hand in hand. A comrade gives a +few facts in his life. + +Colonel William Wallace was born in Columbia, S.C., November 16th, +1824, and was graduated at the South Carolina College in 1844. He then +studied law under Chancellor James J. Caldwell. Was admitted to the +bar in 1846, and began the practice of law at Columbia, in which +he continued, with the exception of his military service, giving +attention also to his planting interests. + +At the beginning of the Confederate War he held the rank of General +in the State Militia. At the call for troops, ordered out the +Twenty-third Regiment, State Troops, and was the first man of the +Regiment to volunteer. He was elected Captain of the "Columbia Grays," +afterwards Company C of the Second South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, +Colonel Kershaw commanding. After the reduction of Fort Sumter, with +his company and three others of the Second, he volunteered for service +in Virginia, and about a month after their arrival in Virginia the +regiment was filled up with South Carolinians. He was promoted +to Major in 1863, to Lieutenant Colonel after the battle of the +Wilderness, and to Colonel after the battle of Bentonville. + +He had the honor of participating in the capture of Fort Sumter and +the battles of Blackburn's Ford, First Manassas, Williamsburg, Savage +Station, Malvern Hill, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, +Gettysburg, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court +House, Second Cold Harbor, the defense of Petersburg until the winter +of 1864-1865, and the campaign in the Carolinas, including the battles +of Averysboro and Bentonville. + +During the desperate struggle at Second Cold Harbor, in June, 1864, +with the Second Regiment alone, he recaptured our breastworks on +Kershaw's right and Hoke's left, from which two of our brigades had +been driven. The enemy driven out consisted of the Forty-eighth and +One hundred and Twelfth New York, each numbering one thousand men, +while the Second numbered only one hundred and twenty-six men +all told. So rapid was the assault that the color bearer of the +Forty-eighth New York, with his colors, was captured and sent to +General Kershaw, who was at his proper position some distance in rear +of his division. + +During his service Colonel Wallace was twice wounded--in the foot, +at Charlestown, W. Va., and in the arm, at Gettysburg. After the +conclusion of hostilities he returned to his home and the care of +his plantation. Previous to the war he had an honorable career in +the Legislature, and immediately afterwards he was a member of the +Convention of 1865 and of the Legislature next following, and was +elected to the State Senate for four years, in 1881. From 1891 to 1894 +he was engaged in the correction of the indexes of the records of the +Secretary of State's office, and in 1894 was appointed postmaster of +Columbia by President Cleveland. + +By his marriage, in 1848, to Victoria C., daughter of Dr. John +McLemore, of Florida, Colonel Wallace has five children living, +Andrew, William, Bruce, Edward Barton, and Margaret. After the death +of his first wife he married, in 1876, Mrs. Fannie C. Mobley, nee +Means. + + * * * * * + + +CAPTAIN JOHN HAMPDEN BROOKS. + +John Hampden Brooks was Captain of Company G, Seventh South Carolina +Regiment, from its entry into State service to the end of its twelve +months' enlistment. At the reorganization of the regiment he declined +re-election, and served for a short time as Aid-de-Camp on General +Kershaw's staff. At this time, upon recommendation of Generals Kershaw +and Jos. E. Johnston, he raised another company of Partisan Rangers, +and was independent for awhile. Upon invitation, he joined Nelson's +Seventh South Carolina Battalion, Hagood's Brigade, and served with +this command (save a brief interval) to the end of the war. He was in +the first battle of Manassas and in Bentonville, the last great battle +of the war. At Battery Wagner his company was on picket duty the night +of the first assault, and it was by his order that the first gun +was fired in that memorable siege, and one of his men was the first +Confederate killed. At the battle of Drewry's Bluff, Va., Captain +Brooks was three times wounded, and lost sixty-eight out of the +seventy-five men carried into action, twenty-five being left dead upon +the field. Upon recovery from his wounds he returned to his command, +but was soon detached by request of General Beauregard and order +of General Lee, to organize a foreign battalion from the Federal +prisoners at Florence, S.C., with distinct promise of promotion. +This battalion was organized and mustered into Confederate service +at Summerville, S.C., as Brooks' Battalion, and in December, 1864, +Captain Brooks took a part of the command to Savannah (then being +invested by General Sherman) and they served a short time on the line +of defense. In consequence of bad behavior and mutiny, however, they +were soon returned to prison. Captain Brooks was now placed in command +of all unattached troops in the city of Charleston, but he became +tired of inactivity, at his own request was relieved, and upon +invitation of his old company, ignoring his promotion, he returned to +its command. + +Captain Brooks was born at Edgefield Court House and was educated +at Mt. Zion, Winnsboro, and the South Carolina College. His father, +Colonel Whitfield Brooks, was an ardent nullifier, and named his +son, John Hampden, in honor of that illustrious English patriot. +That Captain Brooks should have displayed soldierly qualities was but +natural, as these were his by inheritance. His grandfather, +Colonel Z.S. Brooks, was a Lieutenant in the patriotic army of the +Revolutionary War, and his grandmother a daughter of Captain Jas. +Butler, killed in the "Cloud's Creek massacre." His brothers, Captain +Preston S. and Whitfield B. Brooks, were members of the Palmetto +Regiment in the Mexican War; the latter mortally wounded at Cherubusco +and promoted to a Lieutenant in the Twelfth Regulars for gallantry in +action. + +Captain Brooks is the sole survivor of the first Captains of the +Seventh Regiment, and resides at Roselands, the old family homestead, +formerly in Edgefield, but now Greenwood County. + + * * * * * + + +CAPTAIN ANDREW HARLLEE. + +Captain Andrew Harllee, of Company I, Eighth South Carolina Regiment, +when a boy went with a number of the best young men of the State +to Kansas Territory, in 1856, and saw his first service with the +Missourians in the border troubles in that Territory, and took part in +several severe engagements at Lawrence, Topeka, and Ossawattonic Creek +with the Abolition and Free State forces, under old John Brown and +Colonel Jim Law; the Southern or pro-slavery forces being under +General David R. Atchison and Colonels Stingfellow and Marshall. After +remaining in Kansas a year, he returned to his home and commenced +the study of law at Marion Court House, but after a short time was +appointed to a position in the Interior Department at Washington by +the Hon. Thos. A. Hendrix, under whom he served as a clerk in a land +office while in Kansas. This position in the Interior Department he +held at the time of the secession of the State, and was the recipient +of the first dispatch in Washington announcing the withdrawal of South +Carolina from the Union, which was sent him by his uncle, General +W.W. Harllee, then Lieutenant Governor and a member of the Secession +Convention. He at once began preparations for his departure from +Washington for Charleston, but was notified from Charleston to remain +until the Commissioners appointed by the Convention to proceed to +Washington and endeavor to treat with the authorities should arrive, +which he did, and was appointed their Secretary. The Commission +consisted of Senator Robert W. Barnwell, General James H. Adams, and +Honorable James L. Orr. After many fruitless efforts, they finally got +an audience with President Buchanan, who refused to treat with them in +any manner whatever, and Mr. Harllee was directed to proceed at once +to Charleston, the bearer of dispatches from the Commissioners to the +Convention still in session, and after delivering the same he reported +to Governor Pickens for duty. The Governor appointed him Assistant +Quartermaster, with the rank of Captain, and he discharged the duties +of that office around Charleston until the fall of Fort Sumter. + +Anxious for service at the front, he resigned from the Quartermaster +Department and enlisted as a private in Company I, Eighth South +Carolina Regiment, and fought through the battles of Bull Run and +Manassas with a musket. General Bonham, in command of the brigade, +detailed him for scouting duty in and near Alexandria and Washington, +and he had many thrilling adventures and narrow escapes in the +discharge of those duties. In October, 1861, Lieutenant R.H. Rogers, +of his company, resigned, and Private Harllee was elected Second +Lieutenant in his stead. At the reorganization of the regiment and +companies, in April, 1862, he was elected Captain of his company, +which he commanded to the surrender. He was several times severely +wounded, and bears upon his person visible evidences of the +battle-scarred veteran. He was regarded by all his comrades as a +daring and intrepid officer. + +He lives upon his plantation, near Little Rock, where he was born and +reared, is a bachelor, a professional farmer, and one of the leading +citizens of his section of the State. + + * * * * * + + +CAPTAIN WILLIAM D. CARMICHAEL. + +Captain William D. Carmichael volunteered in 1861, and assisted in +raising Company I, Eighth South Carolina Regiment, and was elected +Second Lieutenant at reorganization. In April, 1862, he assisted +Captain Stackhouse in raising Company L for the same regiment, and was +elected First Lieutenant of that company, and upon the promotion of +Captain Stackhouse to Major, he was promoted Captain of Company L and +commanded it to the surrender. + +He was three times wounded, twice severely, and was one of the most +gallant and trusted officers of that gallant regiment. After the war +he settled on his plantation, near Little Rock, married, and has lived +there ever since, raising a large family of children, and is one of +the most successful farmers of that progressive section. He is one of +the foremost citizens of Marion County. + + * * * * * + + +CAPTAIN DUNCAN MCINTYRE. + +Captain Duncan McIntyre, of Company H, Eighth South Carolina Regiment, +Kershaw's Brigade, was born at Marion S.C., on August 30th, 1836. +Was prepared for college at Mount Zion Institute, at Winnsboro, S.C. +Entered Freshman Class of South Carolina College, December, 1853. + +Married Julia R., daughter of General William Evans, December, 1858. +Commenced life as a planter on the west side of Pee Dee River, in +Marion County, January 1st, 1860. + +On secession of the State, he volunteered for service in the Jeffries' +Creek Company. Was elected First Lieutenant of the company, Captain +R.G. Singletary having been elected as commander. On Governor Pickens' +first call for troops the company offered its services and was +assigned to the Eighth South Carolina Regiment, Colonel E.B.C. Cash +commanding. The company was ordered to Charleston on fall of Fort +Sumter, where it remained until the last of May, when it was ordered +to Florence, S.C., where, about the 1st of June, it was mustered into +Confederate service by General Geo. Evans, and immediately ordered to +Virginia to form a part of Bonham's Brigade. + +Captain McIntyre was with the regiment at the first battle of Manassas +or Bull Run, and with the exception of two short leaves of absence +from sickness and from wounds, was with the regiment in nearly all +of its campaigns and important skirmishes and battles, Williamsburg, +battles around Richmond, Va., Maryland Heights, Sharpsburg, +Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court +House, and all of the battles against Grant up to the investment of +Petersburg, Va. He was with the regiment and Longstreet's Corps in the +campaign in Tennessee. + +In the Tennessee campaign he commanded the Eighth Regiment at the +battle of Ream's Station, and when the Second, Eighth, and Third +Battalion, under the command of the gallant Colonel Gaillard, of the +Second, made a daring and successful attack (at night) on the picket +line of the enemy, the Eighth was on the right and first to dislodge +the enemy and occupy the pits. + +Captain McIntyre was twice wounded--first, in the chest at the battle +of Fredericksburg, Va., and second time, severely in the thigh at Deep +Bottom, Va. + + * * * * * + + +COLONEL WILLIAM DRAYTON RUTHERFORD. + +When Colonel William Drayton Rutherford fell in battle at Strasburg, +Virginia, on the 13th of October, 1864, he was but a little more than +twenty-seven years of age, having been born in Newberry, S.C., on the +23rd day of September, 1837. + +The life thus destroyed was brimful of hope, for he was gifted with +a rare intelligence, and possessed of an affectionate nature, with +a deep sympathy for his fellow men and a patriotism which could only +terminate with his own life. His father, Dr. Thomas B. Rutherford, was +a grandson of Colonel Robert Rutherford, of Revolutionary fame, and +his mother, Mrs. Laura Adams Rutherford, was a direct descendant of +the Adams family of patriots who fought for their country in the State +of Massachusetts. + +The boyhood of Colonel Rutherford was spent on the plantation of +his father, in Newberry County. Here was laid the foundation of his +splendid physical nature, and his mind as well. While not beyond the +height of five feet and ten inches, and with not an ounce of spare +flesh, physically he was all bone and muscle, and was the embodiment +of manly beauty. His early training was secured in the Male Academies +of Greenville and Newberry. At the age of sixteen years he entered +the Citadel Academy in Charleston, S.C. It was at this school he first +exhibited the remarkable power arising from his ability to concentrate +every faculty of his mind to the accomplishment of a single purpose, +for, by reason of his fondness for out door sports and reading, he +had fallen in stand amongst the lowest members of a large class, +but, conceiving that some persons thought he could do no better, by a +determined effort to master all the branches of study in an incredible +space of time he was placed among the first ten members of his class. +Military discipline was too restrictive for him, hence he left the +Citadel Academy and entered the Sophomore Class of the South Carolina +College at Columbia, S.C. In a few months after entering this college +he was advanced from the Sophomore Class to that of the Junior. +However, he never took his degree, for owing to a so-called college +rebellion, he left college. Afterwards he regretted his step. Not +content with the advantages be had already enjoyed, he went to Germany +to complete his education, but the war between the States caused him +to return to America. He espoused with heart and soul the cause of +his native State. Before going to Germany he had been admitted to +the practice of the law. Chief Justice John Belton O'Neall expressed +himself as delighted with young Rutherford's examination for the bar, +and predicted for him a brilliant career as a lawyer. + +He was made Adjutant of the Third South Carolina Regiment of Infantry, +and so thoroughly did he perform his duties as a soldier, and so +delighted were his comrades in arms with his courage and generous +nature, that he was elected, without opposition, on 16th of May, +1862, Major of his regiment, and on the 29th of June, 1862, he became +Lieutenant Colonel, and on the 6th of May, 1864, he was promoted +to the Colonelcy of his regiment. General James Connor was so much +delighted with him as an officer that he recommended him for promotion +to Brigadier General. When this gallant officer fell in the front of +his regiment, there was naught but sorrow for his untimely end. + +In March, 1862, he married the beautiful and accomplished Miss Sallie +Fair, only daughter of Colonel Simeon Fair, of Newberry. The only +child of this union was Kate Stewart Rutherford, who was known as +the "daughter of the regiment." Kate is now the wife of the Honorable +George Johnstone. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XXXIX + +Peace Conference--State Troops--Women of the South. + + +The civilized world, especially the Monarchies of Europe, which at +first viewed with satisfaction this eruption in the great Republic +across the waters, now anxiously watched them in their mad fury, +tearing to tatters the fabric of Democratic government. This +government, since its withdrawal from the Old World influence, had +grown great and strong, and was now a powerful nation--a standing +menace to their interest and power. But they began to look with alarm +on the spectacle of these two brothers--brothers in blood, in aims, +ambition, and future expectations, only an imaginary line separating +them--with glaring eyes, their hands at each others throat, neither +willing to submit or yield as long as there was a vestige of vitality +in either. Even the most considerate and thoughtful of the North began +to contemplate the wreck and ruin of their common country, and stood +aghast at the rivers of blood that had flown, the widows and orphans +made, and the treasures expended. They now began to wish for a call +to halt. This useless slaughter caused a shudder to run through every +thinking man when he contemplated of the havoc yet to come. The two +armies were getting nearer and nearer together, one adding strength +as the other grew weaker--the South getting more desperate and more +determined to sacrifice all, as they saw the ground slipping inch by +inch beneath their feet; the North becoming more confident with +each succeeding day. It began to look like a war of extermination of +American manhood. The best and bravest of the North had fallen in the +early years of the war, while the bulk of the army now was composed of +the lowest type of foreigners, who had been tempted to our shores by +the large bounties paid by the Union Government. Taking their cue +from their native comrades in arms, they now tried to outdo them in +vandalizing, having been taught that they were wreaking vengeance upon +the aristocracy and ruining the slave-holders of the South. The flower +of the South's chivalry had also fallen upon the field and in the +trenches, and now youths and old men were taking the places of +soldiers who had died in the "Bloody Angles" and the tangled +Wilderness. + +A talk of peace began once more, but the men of the South were +determined to yield nothing as long as a rifle could be raised. +Nothing but their unrestricted independence would satisfy them. The +man who could call nothing his own but what was on his back was as +much determined on his country's independence as those who were the +possessors of broad acres and scores of negroes. + +Congressman Boyce, of South Carolina, began to call for a peace +conference in the Confederate Congress. Montgomery Blair, the father +of General Frank P. Blair, then commanding a corps in Sherman's Army, +begged the North to halt and listen to reason--to stop the fratricidal +war. Generals, soldiers, statesmen, and civilians all felt that it +had gone on long enough. Some held a faint hope that peace could be +secured without further effusion of blood. A peace conference was +called at Hampton Roads, near the mouth of the Potomac. President +Lincoln and Secretary of State William H. Seward, on the part of the +North, and Vice-President Stephens, Honorable R.T.M. Hunter, and Judge +Campbell, on the part of the South, attended. Lincoln demanded an +"unconditional surrender" of the army--emancipation of the slaves +and a return to our former places in the Union. Mr. Stephens and his +colleagues knew too well the sentiment of the Southern people to even +discuss such a course. Not a soldier in ranks would have dared to +return and face the women of the South with such a peace and on such +terms as long as there was the shadow of an organized army in the +field. + +General Ord, of the Union Army, a humane and Christian gentleman, +wrote and sought an interview with General Longstreet. He wished that +General to use his influence with General Lee and the officers of the +army to meet General Grant, and with their wives mingling with the +wives of the respective Generals, talk over the matter in a friendly +manner, and see if some plan could not be framed whereby peace could +be secured honorable to all parties. All had had glory enough +and blood sufficient had been shed to gratify the most savage +and fanatical. These officers or the most of them had been old +school-mates at West Point, had been brother officers in the old army, +their wives had mingled in pleasant, social intercourse at the army +posts, and they could aid as only women can aid, in a friendly way, to +bring back an era of good feelings. General Ord further intimated +that President Lincoln would not turn a deaf ear to a reasonable +proposition for compensation for the slaves. General Longstreet +accepted the overtures with good grace, but with a dignity fitting +his position. He could not, while in the field and in the face of +the enemy, with his superior present, enter into negotiations for a +surrender of his army, or to listen to terms of peace. He returned and +counseled Lee. Urged him to meet Grant, and as commander-in-chief of +all the armies in the South, that he had a wide latitude, that the +people were looking to him to end the war, and would be satisfied with +any concessions he would recommend. That the politicians had had their +say, now let the soldiers terminate the strife which politicians had +begun. That Napoleon while in Italy, against all precedent and without +the knowledge of the civil department, had entered into negotiations +with the enemy, made peace, and while distasteful to the authorities, +they were too polite to refuse the terms. But General Lee was too much +a soldier to consider any act outside of his special prerogatives. He, +however, was pleased with the idea, and wrote General Grant, asking +an interview looking towards negotiations of peace. But General Grant, +from his high ideals of the duty and dignity of a soldier, refused, +claiming that the prerogatives of peace or war were left with the +civil, not the military arm of the service. So it all ended in smoke. + +General Lee began making preparations to make still greater efforts +and greater sacrifices. He had been hampered, as well as many others +of our great commanders, by the quixotic and blundering interference +of the authorities at Richmond, and had become accustomed to it. There +can be no question at this late day that the end, as it did come, had +long since dawned upon the great mind of Lee, and it must have been +with bitterness that he was forced to sacrifice so many brave and +patriotic men for a shadow, while the substance could never be +reached. His only duty now was to prolong the struggle and sacrifice +as few men as possible. + +General Bragg, that star of ill omen to the Confederacy, was taken out +of the War Department in Richmond and sent to Wilmington, N.C., and +that brilliant, gallant Kentuckian, General John C. Breckenridge, was +placed in his stead as Secretary of War. General Breckenridge had been +the favorite of a great portion of the Southern people in their choice +of Presidential candidates against Lincoln, and his place in the +cabinet of Mr. Davis gave hope and confidence to the entire South. + +General Lee, no doubt acting on his own good judgment, and to the +greatest delight of the army, placed General Joseph E. Johnston at the +head of the few scattered and disorganized bands that were following +on the flanks of Sherman. Some few troops that could be spared from +the trenches were to be sent to South Carolina to swell, as far as +possible, the army to oppose Sherman. + +Governor Brown had called out a great part of the Georgia State +Troops, consisting of old men and boys, to the relief of General +Hardee, who was moving in the front of Sherman, and a great many of +this number crossed over with General Hardee to the eastern side of +the Savannah, and remained faithful to the end. Governor McGrath, of +South Carolina, too, had called out every man capable of bearing arms +from fifteen to sixty, and placed them by regiments under Beauregard +and Johnston. The forts along the coast in great numbers were +abandoned, and the troops thus gathered together did excellent +service. North Carolina brought forward her reserves as the enemy +neared her border, all determined to unite in a mighty effort to drive +back this ruthless invader. + +In this imperfect history of the times of which I write, I cannot +resist at this place to render a deserved tribute to the noble +women of the South, more especially of South Carolina. It was with +difficulty that the soldiers going to the army from their homes +after the expiration of their furloughs, or going to their homes when +wounded or sick, procured a night's lodging in Richmond, for it must +be remembered that that city was already crowded with civilians, +officers of the department, surgeons of the hospitals, and officials +of every kind. The hotels and private residences were always full. +Scarcely a private house of any pretentions whatever, that did not +have some sick or wounded soldier partaking of the hospitalities of +the citizens, who could better care for the patient than could be had +in hospitals. Then, again, the entire army had to pass through the +city either going to or from home, and the railroad facilities and +the crowded conditions of both freight and passenger cars rendered it +almost obligatory on the soldiers to remain in the city over night. +And it must be remembered, too, that the homes of hundreds and +thousands of soldiers from Tennessee, Maryland, Kentucky, Mississippi, +and all from the Trans-Mississippi were in the hands of the enemy, +and the soldiers were forbidden the pleasure of returning home, unless +clandestinely. In that case they ran the risk of being shot by some +bushwhacker or "stay outs," who avoided the conscript officer on one +side and recruiting officer on the other. In these border States there +was a perpetual feud between these bushwhackers and the soldiers. It +was almost invariably the case that where these "lay outs" or "hide +outs" congregated, they sympathized with the North, otherwise they +would be in the ranks of the Confederacy. Then, again, Richmond +had been changed in a day from the capital of a commonwealth to +the capital of a nation. So it was always crowded and little or +no accommodation for the private soldier, and even if he could get +quarters at a hotel his depleted purse was in such condition that he +could not afford the expense. Nor was he willing to give a month's +wages for a night's lodging. A night's lodging cost five dollars for +supper, five for breakfast, and five for a bed, and if the soldiers +were any ways bibulously inclined and wished an "eye opener" in +the morning or a "night cap" at supper time, that was five dollars +additional for each drink. Under such circumstances the ladies +of South Carolina, by private contributions alone, rented the old +"Exchange Hotel" and furnished it from their own means or private +resources. They kept also a store room where they kept socks for +the soldiers, knit by the hands of the young ladies of the State; +blankets, shirts, and under clothing, from the cloth spun, woven, +and made up by the ladies at home and shipped to Richmond to Colonel +McMaster and a staff of the purest and best women of the land. Only +such work as washing and scrubbing was done by negro servants, all +the other was done by the ladies themselves. Too much praise cannot +be given to Colonel McMaster for his indefatigable exertions, his +tireless rounds of duty, to make the soldiers comfortable. The ladies +were never too tired, night nor day, to go to the aid of the hungry +and broken down soldiers. Hundreds and thousands were fed and lodged +without money and without price. Car loads of the little comforts and +necessities of life were shared out to the passing soldiers whenever +their wants required it. Never a day or night passed without soldiers +being entertained or clothing distributed. One night only was as long +as a soldier was allowed to enjoy their hospitality, unless in cases +of emergency. The officers of the army, whenever able, were required +to pay a nominal sum for lodging. Better beds and conveniences were +furnished them, but if they were willing to take private's "fare," +they paid private's "fee," which was gratuitous. As a general rule, +however, the officers kept apart from the men, for the officer who +pushed himself in the private's quarters was looked upon as penurious +and mean. It was only in times of the greatest necessity that a +Southern officer wished to appear thus. If the Southern soldier was +poor, he was always proud. This hotel was called the "South Carolina +Soldiers' Home," and most of the other States inside the lines had +similar institutions. In every home throughout the whole South could +be heard the old "hand spinning wheel" humming away until far in the +night, as the dusky damsel danced backwards and forwards, keeping step +to the music of her own voice and the hum of the wheel. The old women +sat in the corners and carded away with the hand-card, making great +heaps of rolls, to be laid carefully and evenly upon the floor or the +wheel. Great chunks of pine, called "lite'ood," were regularly thrown +into the great fire place until the whole scene was lit up as by an +incandescent lamp. What happiness, what bliss, and how light the toil, +when it was known that the goods woven were to warm and comfort young +"massa" in the army. The ladies of the "big house" were not idle while +these scenes of activity were going on at the "quarter." Broaches were +reeled into "hanks" of "six cuts" each, to be "sized," "warped," and +made ready for the loom. Then the little "treadle wheel" that turned +with a pedal made baskets of spools for the "filling." By an ingenious +method, known only to the regularly initiated Southern housewife, the +thread was put upon the loom, and then the music of the weaver's beam +went merrily along with its monotonous "bang," "bang," as yard after +yard of beautiful jeans, linsey, or homespuns of every kind were +turned out to clothe the soldier boys, whose government was without +the means or opportunity to furnish them. Does it look possible at +this late day that almost the entire Southern Army was clothed by +cloth carded, spun, and woven by hand, and mostly by the white ladies +of the South? + +Hats and caps were made at home from the colored jeans. Beautiful +hats were made out of straw, and so adapt had the makers become in +utilizing home commodities, that ladies' hats were made out of wheat, +oat, and rice straw. Splendid and serviceable house shoes were made +from the products of the loom, the cobbler only putting on the soles. +Good, warm, and tidy gloves were knit for the soldier from their +home-raised fleece and with a single bone from the turkey wing. While +the soldiers may have, at times, suffered for shoes and provisions, +still they were fairly well clothed by the industry and patriotism of +the women, and for blankets, the finest of beds were stripped to be +sent voluntarily to the camps and army. As for tents, we had no need +to manufacture them, for they were invariably captured from the enemy. +Think of going through an army of sixty or seventy thousand men, all +comfortably housed, and all through capture upon the battlefield. +As for cooking utensils, nothing more nor better were wanted by the +soldiers than a tin cup and frying-pan. + +Salt was an article of great scarcity in the South. Coming over from +Liverpool in ante bellum times as ballast, made it so cheap that +little attention was given to the salt industry, and most of our best +salt mines were in the hands of the enemy. But the Southern people +were equal to any emergency. Men were put along the sea coast and +erected great vats into which was put the salt sea water, and by a +system of evaporation nice, fine salt was made. Farmers, too, that had +the old-time "smoke" or meat houses with dirt floors, dug up the earth +in the house and filtered water through it, getting a dark, salty +brine, which answered exceedingly well the purpose of curing their +meats. + +All taxes, as I said before, were paid in "kind," and the tenth of all +the meat raised at home was sent to the army, and with the few cattle +they could gather, was sufficient to feed the troops. There were +no skulking spirits among the people. They gave as willingly and +cheerfully now as they did at the opening of the war. The people were +honest in their dealings with the government, and as cheerful in +their gifts to the cause as the Israelites of old in their "free will +offerings" to the Lord. There were no drones among them, no secretion +or dishonest division. The widows, with houses filled with orphans, +gave of their scanty crops and hard labor as freely as those who owned +large plantations and scores of slaves. In fact, it was noticeable +that the poorer class were more patriotic and more cheerful givers, if +such could be possible, than the wealthy class. + +Negroes were drafted to go upon the coast to work in salt mills or to +work upon the fortifications. This duty they performed with remarkable +willingness, until, perhaps, some Federal gunboat got their range and +dropped a few shells among them. Then no persuasion nor threat could +induce them to remain, and numbers of them would strike out for home +and often get lost and wander for days, half starved, through the +swamps of the lower country, being afraid to show themselves to the +whites for fear of being "taken up" and sent back. Many were the +adventures and hair-breath escapes these dusty fugitives had, and +could tell them in wonderful yarns to the younger generation at home. +It may be that the negro, under mental excitement, or stimulated with +strong drink, could be induced to show remarkable traits of bravery, +but to take him cool and away from any excitement, he is slow at +exposing himself to bodily dangers, and will never make a soldier in +the field. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XL + +Opening of 1865--Gloomy Outlook--Prison Pens--Return to South Carolina +of Kershaw's Brigade. + + +The opening of the year 1865 looked gloomy enough for the cause of +the Confederacy. The hopes of foreign intervention had long since +been looked upon as an ignis fatuus and a delusion, while our maritime +power had been swept from the seas. All the ports, with the exception +of Charleston, S.C., and Wilmington, N.C., were now in the hands of +the Federals. Fort Fisher, the Gibraltar of the South, that guarded +the inlet of Cape Fear River, was taken by land and naval forces, +under General Terry and Admiral Porter. Forts Sumter and Moultrie, at +the Charleston Harbor, continued to hold out for a while longer. The +year before the "Alabama," an ironclad of the Confederates, was +sunk off the coast of France. Then followed the "Albemarle" and the +"Florida." The ram "Tennessee" had to strike her colors on the 5th of +August, in Mobile Bay. Then all the forts that protected the bay were +either blown up or evacuated, leaving the Entrance to Mobile Bay open +to the fleet of the Federals. + +Sherman was recuperating his army around Savannah, and was preparing +a farther advance now northward after his successful march to the sea. +At Savannah he was met by a formidable fleet of ironclads and men of +war, which were to accompany him by sailing along the coast in every +direction. These were to form a junction with another army at Newburn, +N.C. + +Another matter that caused the South to despond of any other solution +of the war than the bloody end that soon followed, was the re-election +of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States. The South +felt that as long as he was at the head of the nation nothing but +an unconditional surrender of our armies and the emancipation of the +slaves would suffice this great emancipator. To this the South could +not nor would not accede as long as there were rifles in the field +and men to wield them. A great problem now presented itself to the +Confederate authorities for solution, but who could cut the Gordion +knot? The South had taken during the war two hundred and seventy +thousand prisoners, as against two hundred and twenty-two thousand +taken by the Federals, leaving in excess to the credit of the South +near fifty thousand. For a time several feeble attempts had been made +for an equitable exchange of prisoners, but this did not suit the +policy of the North. Men at the North were no object, and to guard +this great swarm of prisoners in the South it took an army out of the +field, and the great number of Southern soldiers in Northern +prisons took quite another army from the service. In addition to the +difficulty of supplying our own army and people with the necessities +of life, we were put to the strain of feeding one hundred thousand or +more of Federal prisoners. Every inducement was offered the North to +grant some cortel of exchange or some method agreed upon to alienate +the sufferings of these unfortunates confined in the prison pens in +the North and South. The North was offered the privilege of feeding +and clothing their own prisoners, to furnish medical aid and +assistance to their sick. But this was rejected in the face of the +overwhelming sentiments of the fathers, mothers, sisters, and brothers +of those who were suffering and dying like flies in the Southern pens. +Thousands and thousands of petitions were circulated, with strings of +signatures from all classes in the Union, urging Congress to come in +some way to the relief of their people. But a deaf ear was turned to +all entreaties, this being a war measure, and no suffering could be +too great when the good of the service required it. Taking it from a +military point of view, this was the better policy, shocking as it was +to humanity. + +At one time it was considered in the Confederate Congress the +propriety of turning loose and sending home as early as practicable +these thousands of prisoners, trusting alone to their honor the +observance of the parole. It was thought by the majority that the +indiscriminate mingling and mixing of these fanatical agitators with +the peaceable slaves in the country might incite insurrection and a +bloody social war break out should the prisoners be released at the +prison pens. Under all the varying circumstances the South was still +busily engaged in mobilizing these prisoners in certain quarters, to +protect them as far as possible from liberation by raiding parties. +At Andersonville, Ga., there were twenty-two thousand; at Florence, +S.C., two thousand; Salisbury, N.C., ten thousand; several hundred in +Columbia, and detached numbers scattered along at various points +on the railroads, at such places where convenient quarters could be +secured and properly guarded. Quite a large number were at Bell Isle, +on the James River, as well as at the Liby Prison, in Richmond. These +prisoners were sometimes guarded by the State militia and disabled +veterans. Those at Florence were guarded by boy companies, under +command of Colonel Williams, the former commander of the Third South +Carolina. The stockades, as the prison pens were called, consisted of +tall pine trees set into the ground some six or eight feet, standing +upright and adjoining. The space thus enclosed covered several acres +or as much more as there were prisoners or troops to guard them. The +stockade fence was about fifteen feet above the level of the ground, +with a walk way three feet from the top, on which the guards watched. +There was a "dead line" some fifteen or twenty paces from the inside +of the wall, over which no prisoner was allowed to cross, on penalty +of being shot. And to prevent any collusion between the prisoners and +the guard, none were permitted to speak to the sentinels under any +circumstances. To better carry out these orders, the soldier Who +detected a prisoner speaking to a guard and shot him, a thirty days' +furlough was given as an acknowledgment of his faithful observance of +orders. On more occasions than one the prisoners in their attempt to +draw inexperienced guards into a conversation, and perhaps offer a +bribe, met their death instantly. Inside the enclosure some of the +prisoners huddled under little tents or blankets, but the greater +number burrowed under the ground like moles or prairie dogs. Numbers +made their escape by tunnelling under the wall. + +When Sherman began his march through Georgia, the major portion at +Andersonville were removed to Salisbury, N.C., where a great national +cemetery was set apart after the war, and kept under the authority of +the war department, containing thousands of graves--monuments to the +sufferings and death of these unfortunate people--a sacrifice to what +their government called a "military necessity." Our prisoners were +scattered in like manner at Camp Chase, in Ohio; Fort Johnston, in +Lake Michigan; Fort Delaware, in the Delaware River; and many other +places, subject to greater sufferings and hardships than the Federal +prisoners in our hands. + +The Government of the South had nothing to do but accept the +conditions imposed upon the sufferers by the authorities in +Washington. + +In January, 1865, rumors were rife in camp of the transfer of some of +the South Carolina troops to their own State to help swell the +little band that was at that time fighting on the flanks and front of +Sherman. Of course it was not possible that all could be spared from +Lee, but it had become a certain fact, if judged from the rumors in +camp, that some at least were to be transferred. So when orders came +for Kershaw's Brigade to break camp and march to Richmond, all were +overjoyed. Outside of the fact that we were to be again on our +"native heath" and fight the invader on our own soil, the soldiers of +Kershaw's Brigade felt not a little complimented at being selected +as the brigade to be placed at such a post of honor. It is a settled +feeling among all troops and a pardonable pride, too, that their +organization, let it be company, regiment, brigade, or even division +or corps, is superior to any other like organization in bravery, +discipline, or any soldierly attainments. Troops of different States +claim superiority over those of their sister States, while the same +rivalry exists between organizations of the same State. So when it +was learned for a certainty that the old First Brigade was to be +transferred to South Carolina, all felt a keen pride in being thus +selected, and now stamped it as a settled fact, that which they had +always claimed, "the best troops from the State." The State furnished +the best to the Confederacy, and a logical conclusion would be +"Kershaw's Brigade was the best of the service." Thus our troops +prided themselves. Under such feelings and enthusiasm, it is little +wonder that they were anxious to meet Sherman, and had circumstances +permitted and a battle fought in South Carolina, these troops would +have come up to the expectations of their countrymen. + +But here I will state a fact that all who read history of this war +will be compelled to admit, and that is, the department at Richmond +had no settled or determined policy in regard to the actions of the +army at the South. It would appear from reading contemporary history +that Mr. Davis and his cabinet acted like Micawber, and "waited for +something to turn up." His continual intermeddling with the plans of +the Generals in the field, the dogged tenacity with which he held to +his policies, his refusals to allow commanders to formulate their own +plans of campaigns, forced upon Congress the necessity of putting one +at the head of all the armies whom the Generals, soldiers, as well as +the country at large, had entire confidence. General Lee filled this +position to the perfect satisfaction of all, still his modesty or a +morbid dislike to appear dictatorial, his timidity in the presence of +his superiors, often permitted matters to go counter to his own +views. It appears, too, that when General Sherman allowed Hood to pass +unmolested to his right, and he began tearing up the railroads in his +rear, it was a move so different to all rules of war, that it took +the authorities with surprise. Then when he began his memorable march +through the very heart of Georgia--Hood with a great army in his rear, +in his front the sea--the South stood stupified and bewildered at this +stupendous undertaking. It was thought by the army and the people that +some direful blow would be struck Sherman when he was well under way +in Georgia, and when too far from his base in the rear, and not far +enough advanced to reach the fleet that was to meet him in his front. + +How, when, or by whom this blow was to be struck, none even ventured +an opinion, but that the authorities had Sherman's overthrow in view, +all felt satisfied and convinced. But as events have shown since, it +seems that our authorities in Richmond and the commanders in the field +were as much at sea as the soldiers and people themselves. It was +the purpose of General Beauregard to collect out all the militia of +Governor Clark of Mississippi, of Governor Watts of Alabama, Governor +Brown of Georgia, and of Governor Bonham of South Carolina to the +southern part of Georgia, there, as Sherman approached, to reinforce +General Hardee with all these State troops and reserves, under General +Cobb, which numbered in all about eight thousand, and hold him in +check until Hood came upon Sherman's rear, or forced him to retire. +Of course it was expected, as a matter of fact, that Hood would +be successful against the hastily concentrated army of Thomas, and +Sherman would be forced to return for the protection of Kentucky and +Ohio. But in military matters, as in others, too much must not be +taken for granted, and where great events hinge on so many minor +details, it is not surprising that there should be miscarriages. Hood +was totally defeated and routed in Tennessee. The Governors of the +sister States, on false principles of safety and obsolete statutes, +refused to permit the State troops to leave the borders of their +respective States, leaving nothing before Sherman but the handful of +wornout veterans of Hardee and the few State troops of Georgia, to be +beaten in detail as Sherman passed through the State. The women and +children of our State were in the same frenzied condition at this time +as those of Georgia had been when the Federals commenced their march +from Atlanta. In fact, more so, for they had watched with bated breath +the march of the vandals across the Savannah--the smoke of the burning +homesteads, the wreck and ruin of their sister State--left little +hope of leniency or mercy at the hands of the enemy, while all their +strength and dependence in the way of manhood were either in the +trenches with Lee or with the reserves along the borders of the State. +Companies were formed everywhere of boys and old men to help beat back +the mighty annaconda that was now menacing with its coils our common +country. These were quite unique organizations, the State troops of +the South. The grandfathers and grandsons stood side by side in the +ranks; the fathers and sons had either fallen at the front or far away +in a distant State, fighting for the Southland. + +The people of this day and generation and those who are to come +afterwards, will never understand how was it possible for the women of +the South to remain at their homes all alone, with the helpless +little children clustering around their knees, while all that had +the semblance of manhood had gone to the front. Yet with all this, a +merciless, heartless, and vengeful foe stood at their threshold, +with the sword in one hand and the torch in the other. Not only thus +confronted, they were at the mercy of four or five millions of +negro slaves, waiting for freedom, as only a people could after two +centuries of slavery. The enemy was ready and willing to excite these +otherwise harmless, peaceful, and contented negroes to insurrection +and wholesale butchery. But be it said to the everlasting credit +and honor of the brave women of the South, that they never uttered +a reproach, a murmur, or a regret at the conditions in which +circumstances had placed them. But the negro, faithful to his +instincts, remained true, and outside of an occasional outburst of +enthusiasm at their newly found freedom, continued loyal to the end to +these old masters, and looked with as much sorrow and abhorence upon +this wanton destruction of the old homestead, around which clustered +so many bright and happy memories, as if they had been of the +same bone and the same flesh of their masters. Notwithstanding the +numberless attempts by Federal soldiers now spread over an area of +fifty miles to excite the negro to such frenzy that they might insult +and outrage the delicate sensibilities of the women of the South, +still not a single instance of such acts has been recorded. + +Such were the feelings and condition of the country when Kershaw's +Brigade, now under General Kennedy, boarded the train in Richmond, +in January, 1865. We came by way of Charlotte and landed in Columbia +about nightfall. The strictest orders were given not to allow any +of the troops to leave or stop over, however near their homes they +passed, or how long they had been absent. In fact, most of the younger +men did not relish the idea of being seen by our lovely women just +at that time, for our disastrous valley campaign and the close +investiture of Richmond by Grant--the still closer blockade of our +ports--left them almost destitute in the way of shoes and clothing. +The single railroad leading from our State to the capital had about +all it could do to haul provisions and forage for the army, so it +was difficult to get clothing from home. We were a rather ragged lot, +while the uniforms of the officers looked shabby from the dust and mud +of the valley and the trenches around Richmond. Our few brief months +in winter quarters had not added much, if any, to our appearance. +By some "underground" road, Captain Jno. K. Nance, of the Third, had +procured a spick and span new uniform, and when this dashing young +officer was clad in his Confederate gray, he stood second to none in +the army in the way of "fine looking." New officers did not always +"throw off the old and on with the new" as soon as a new uniform +was bought, but kept the new one, for a while at least, for "State +occasions." These "occasions" consisted in visiting the towns and +cities near camp or in transit from one army to another. An officer +clad in a new uniform on ordinary occasions, when other soldiers were +only in their "fighting garments," looked as much out of place as the +stranger did at the wedding feast "without the wedding garments." But +the day of our departure from Richmond Captain Nance rigged himself +out in the pomp and regulations of war, his bright new buttons +flashing in the sunlight, his crimson sash tied naughtily around his +waist, his sword dangling at his side, he looked the "beheld of all +beholders" as the troops marched with a light and steady step along +the stone-paved streets of Richmond. He had married a year or so +before the beautiful and accomplished sister of our lamented Colonel, +and had telegraphed her to meet him at Columbia on our arrival. He +dared not trust these innoculate garments to the dirty and besmeared +walls of a box car so he discarded the new on our entrance to the +train and dressed in his old as a traveling suit. All the way during +our trip he teased his brother officers and twitted them with being so +"shabbily dressed," while he would be such a "beaw ideal" in his new +uniform when he met his wife. He had never met his wife since his +honeymoon a year before, and then only with a twenty-one days' +furlough, so it can be well imagined with what anticipations he +looked forward to the meeting of his wife. He was so happy in +his expectations that all seemed to take on some of his pleasant +surroundings, and shared with him his delight in the expected meeting +of his young wife. He would look out of the car door and hail a +comrade in the next car with, "Watch me when we reach Columbia, will +you," while the comrade would send back a lot of good-natured railery. +It was an undisputed fact, that Captain Nance was a great favorite +among officers and men, and while all were giving him a friendly +badgering, everyone was glad to see him in such a happy mood. He had +given his new suit in charge of his body servant, Jess, with special +injunction to guard it with his life. Now Jess was devoted to his +master, and was as proud of him as the "squires" of old were of the +knights. Jess, to doubly secure this "cloth of gold" so dear to the +heart of his master, folded the suit nicely and put it in his knapsack +and the knapsack under his head, while he slept the sleep of the just +in the far corner of the box car. When we reached Charlotte Captain +Nance concluded to rig himself out, as this was to be our last place +of stoppage until Columbia was reached, and should his wife meet +him there, then he would be ready. So he orders water and towel, +and behind the car he began preparations for dressing, all the while +bantering the boys about his suit. + +At last he was ready to receive the treasured gray. He called out to +his man Jess, "Bring out the uniform." + +Jess goes into the car. He fumbles, he hunts--knapsacks thrown aside, +guns and accoutrements dashed in every direction--the knapsack +is found, hastily opened, and searched, but no uniform! The more +impatient and more determined to find the missing clothes, the idea +began more forcibly to impress Jess that he might have slept on the +way. So engrossed was he in the search for the missing suit, that he +failed to hear the orders from his master to-- + +"Hurry up! If you don't soon bring on that coat I'll frail you out. +You think I can wait out here naked and freeze?" + +But still the hunt goes on, haversacks once again thrown aside, +knapsacks overhauled for the third time, while beads of perspiration +begin to drop from the brow of Jess. The real facts began to dawn more +surely upon him. Then Jess spoke, or I might say gave a wail-- + +"Marse John, 'fore God in heaven, if some grand rascal ain't done +stole your clothes." His great white eyes shone out from the dark +recesses of the car like moons in a bright sky. + +Nance was speechless. Raising himself in a more erect position, he +only managed to say: "Jess, don't tell me that uniform is gone. Don't! +Go dig your grave, nigger, for if you black imp of Satan has gone to +sleep and let some scoundrel steal my clothes, then you die." + +Such a laugh, such a shout as was set up from one end of the train +to the other was never heard before or since of the "Lone Pine Tree +State." All of us thought at first, and very naturally, too, that it +was only a practical joke being played upon the Captain, and that all +would be right in the end. But not so. What became of that uniform +forever remained a mystery. If the party who committed the theft +had seen or knew the anguish of the victim for one-half hour, his +conscience would have smote him to his grave. + +But all is well that ends well. His wife failed to reach him in +time, so he wore the faded and tattered garments, as momentous of +the Valley, through all the tangled swamps and morasses of the +Saltkahatchie, the Edisto, and the Santee with as much pride as if +clothed in the finest robes of a king. + +We remained at Branchville for several days, and from thence we were +transported by rail to Charleston and took up quarters on the "Mall." +The citizens hailed us with delight and treated us with the greatest +hospitality. The greater number of the best-to-do citizens had left +the city, and all that lived on the bay and in reach of the enemies +guns had moved to safer quarters in the city or refugeed in the up +country. But every house stood open to us. Flags and handkerchiefs +waved from the windows and housetops, and all was bustle and +commotion, notwithstanding the continual booming of cannon at Sumter +and on Sullivan's Island. Every minute or two a shell would go +whizzing overhead or crashing through the brick walls of the +buildings. Soldiers were parading the streets, citizens going about +their business, while all the little stores and shops were in full +blast, the same as if the "Swamp Angel" was not sending continually +shells into the city. The people had become accustomed to it and paid +little attention to the flying shells. + +On one occasion, while a bridal ceremony was being performed in one +of the palatial residences in the city, the room filled with happy +guests, a shell came crashing into the apartment, bursting among the +happy bridal party, killing one of the principals and wounding several +of the guests. + +While I and several other officers were eating breakfast at one of the +hotels, a great noise was heard in the upper portion of the building, +giving quite a shock to all. Someone asked the colored waiter, "What +was that noise?" "Only a shell bursting in one of the upper rooms," +was the reply. + +Women and children walked leisurely to market or about their daily +vocations, the shells roaring overhead, with no more excitement or +concern than had it only been a fourth of July celebration. + +Even the negroes, usually so timid and excitable, paid but momentary +attention to the dangers. + +[Illustration: Lieut. Col. F.S. Lewie, Co. H, 8th S.C. Regiment.] + +[Illustration: Capt. Duncan McIntyre, 15th S.C. Regiment.] + +[Illustration: Robert W. Shand, Private 2d S.C. Regiment.] + +[Illustration: D.H. Crawford, First Sargeant and afterwards Lieut. 2d +S.C. Regiment.] + +The Confederates had abandoned the greater part of Morris' Island, and +great batteries had been erected on it by General Gillmore, with the +avowed purpose of burning the city. Some weeks before this he had +erected a battery in the marshes of the island and a special gun cast +that could throw shells five miles, the greatest range of a cannon in +that day. The gun was named the "Swamp Angel" and much was expected of +it, but it did no other execution than the killing of a few civilians +and destroying a few dwellings. The citizens were too brave and +patriotic to desert their homes as long as a soldier remained on the +islands or in the forts. The gallant defenders of Sumter, after a +month of the most terrific connonading the world had ever seen, were +still at their guns, while the fort itself was one mass of ruins, +the whole now being a huge pile of stone, brick, and masonry. Fort +Moultrie, made famous by its heroic defense of Charleston in the days +of the Revolution, and by Jasper leaping the sides of the fort and +replacing the flag over its ramparts, still floated the stars and +bars from its battlements. All around the water front of Charleston +bristled great guns, with ready and willing hands to man them. These +"worthy sons of noble sires," who had, by their unflinching courage, +sent back the British fleet, sinking and colors lowered, were now +ready to emulate their daring example--either to send the fleet of +Gillmore to the bottom, or die at their post. No wonder the people +of South Carolina felt so secure and determined when such soldiers +defended her borders. + +The city guards patrolled the streets of Charleston to prevent the +soldiers from leaving their camps without permits, and between these +two branches of the service a bitter feud always existed. The +first night we were in the city some of the soldiers, on the Verbal +permission of their Captains, were taking in the city. Leaving their +arms at camp, they were caught "hors de combat," as it were, and +locked up in the city guardhouse over night. The next morning I went +to look for my absentees, and away up in the top story of the lower +station house I saw them, their heads reaching out of the "ten of +diamonds" and begging to be released. After much red tape, I had them +turned out, and this incident only added to the ill will of the two +parties. After the soldiers began to congregate and recount their +grievances as they thought, they used the city guards pretty roughly +the remainder of our stay. But the most of all these differences were +in the nature of "fun," as the soldiers termed it, and only to give +spice to the soldier's life. + +There were two young Captains in the Third, who, both together, would +only make one good man, physically. So small in stature were they that +on some previous occasion they had agreed to "whip the first man they +ever met that they thought small enough to tackle." This personage +they had never as yet met, but walking down King street they entered +a little saloon kept by a Jew. The Jew could scarcely see over the +counter, so low was he, but otherwise well developed. On seeing +the little Jew, the two young officers eyed each other and said one +gleefully: + +"John, here's our man." + +"Yes, yes," said D, "You tackle him in front and I'll leg him in rear. +By all that's sacred, we can say we whipped one man, at least." + +So telling the little Jew of their agreement, and that they thought +he was the man they were looking for, ordered him out to take his +medicine like a little man. The Jew took it good humoredly and told +the officers he was their friend and did not care to fight them, etc. +But the officers persisted so, to "humor them and to show friendship +for the young men," said he would "accommodate them." At that the Jew +struck out with his right on John's jaw, hitting the ceiling with +the little officer. Then with his left he put one in the pit of D.'s +stomach, lifting him clear of the floor and dropping him across a lot +of barrels. Then John was ready by this time to receive a "header" +under the chin, piling him on top of D. The boys crawled out as he was +preparing to finish up the two in fine style, but-- + +"Hold on! hold on! young man," cried both in a breath, "we are not +mad; we are only in fun; don't strike any more." + +"All right," said the Jew, "if you are satisfied I am. Come let's have +a drink." + +So all three took a friendly sip, and as the two wiser, if not +stronger, young men left the shop, one said to the other: + +"We'll have to get a smaller man yet before we can say we whipped +anybody." + +"You are right," said the other; "I was never worse mistaken in all my +life in the size of the man, or he grew faster after he began to fight +than anything I ever saw. He stretched out all over, like a bladder +being blown up." + +They found out afterwards that the Jew was a professional boxer, and +was giving lessons to the young men of the city. + +The soldiers seemed to be getting rather demoralized by the influences +of the city, and were moved over the Ashley River and encamped about +four miles of the city, in a great pine forest, near the sea. This was +a great sight for many, for as much travelling as the troops had done +during the last four years, this was their first close quarters to the +ocean, and many had never before witnessed the great rolling waters of +the sea. Oysters were plentiful, and negroes on the plantation brought +out boat loads for the soldiers, and gave them out for a little +tobacco or a small amount of Confederate "shin-plasters." These were +about the only articles they had seen in a long time that they could +buy with a "shin-plaster" (fractional currency), as almost every other +commodity was worth from one dollar up. Great fires were built at +night, and eight or ten bushels of the sweet, juicy bivalves were +poured over the heap, to be eaten as the shells would pop by the heat. + +From this place, after a week's sojourn, we were carried by rail +to the Saltkahatchie River, at the crossing of the Charleston and +Savannah Railroad. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XLI + +On the Saltkahatchie. February, 1865. + + +When we reached our destination on the Saltkahatchie, we were met by +our old commander of Virginia and Tennessee, Major General McLaws, +from whom we had been separated for more than a year. The soldiers +were glad to see him, and met him with a rousing cheer, while the old +veteran was equally delighted to see us. It was like the meeting of +father and absent children, for General McLaws was kind and indulgent +to his men, even if not a very successful General. After being +relieved of his command in East Tennessee and succeeded by General +Kershaw, he had commanded the post at Augusta, Ga., to which place he +returned after the close of hostilities and remained until his death. +He was the greater part of the time postmaster of the city of Augusta. +There being few occupations that the old West Pointers of the South +could fill, they generally accepted any office in the gift of the +government that would insure them an honest livelihood. + +General McLaws was facing two corps of Sherman's Army at this place +with some few veterans, State troops, and reserves. Sherman had been +quiet for some time, recruiting his army with negroes from the great +plantations along the coast, and resting up his army for his march +through the State. Negroes flocked to his army by the thousands, and +were formed into regiments and brigades, officered by white men. Even +our own Generals and some of our statesmen at this time and before +were urging Congress to enlist the negroes, but the majority were +opposed to the movement. To show how confident were our leaders even +at this late day of the Confederacy, I will quote from Wm. Porcher +Miles, then in the Confederate Congress, in reply to General +Beauregard urging the enlistment of the slaves. It must be understood +that at this time Lee had all he could do to hold his own against +Grant, growing weaker and weaker as the days rolled by, while Grant +was being reinforced from all over the United States. Lee had the +solitary railroad by which to subsist his army. Sherman had laid waste +Georgia and was now on the eve of marching; through South Carolina. +The Army of the Trans-Mississippi was hopelessly cut off from the +rest of the Confederacy. The Mississippi River was impassable, to say +nothing of the Federal pickets that lined its banks and the gunboats +that patrolled its waters, so much so that one of our Generals is said +to have made the report "that if a bird was dressed up in Confederate +gray, it could not cross the Mississippi." Hood's Army was a mere +skeleton of its former self--his men, some furloughed, others returned +to their home without leave, so disheartened were they after the +disastrous defeat in Tennessee. Still all these conditions being known +and understood by the authorities, they were yet hopeful. Says Mr. +Miles in Congress: + +"I cannot bring my mind to the conviction that arming our slaves will +add to our military strength, while the prospective and inevitable +evils resulting from such measures make me shrink back from such a +step. This can be when only on the very brink of the brink of the +precipice of ruin." + +From such language from a Confederate Congressman, dark as the day +looked on February 4th, 1865, the date of the letter, the people +did not seem to feel that they were on the "brink of the precipice." +Continuing, Mr. Miles goes on in a hopeful strain: + +"But I do not estimate him [speaking of Grant] as a soldier likely +to decide the fate of battle. We have on our rolls this side of +the Mississippi four hundred and one thousand men, one hundred and +seventy-five thousand effective and present. We can easily keep in +the field an effective force of two hundred thousand. These are as +many as we can well feed and clothe, and these are sufficient to +prevent subjugation or the overrunning of our territory." + +How a man so well informed and familiar with the foregoing facts could +hope for ultimate results, is hard to comprehend by people of this day +and generation. It was the plan of General Beauregard to concentrate +all the available troops in North and South Carolina on the +Saltkahatchie, to keep Sherman at bay until Dick Taylor, with the +remnant of Hood's Army, could come up, then fall back to the Edisto, +where swamps are wide and difficult of passage, allow Sherman to cross +over two of his corps, fall upon them with all the force possible, +destroy or beat them back upon the center, then assail his flanks, +and so double him up as to make extrication next to impossible. But in +case of failure here, to retire upon Branchville or Columbia, put up +the strongest fortifications possible, withdraw all the troops from +Charleston, Wilmington, and in the other cities, put in all the State +troops that were available from the three States, push forward as +many veterans as Lee could temporarily spare from the trenches, +barely leaving a skirmish line behind the works around Richmond and +Petersburg, then as Sherman approached, fall upon him with all the +concentrated force and crush him in the very heart of the State, or +to so cripple him as to make a forward movement for a length of time +impossible; while the railroads in his rear being all destroyed, his +means of supplies would be cut off, and nothing left but retreat. +Then, in that event, the whole of Beauregard's troops to be rushed on +to Lee, and with the combined army assault, the left flank of Grant +and drive him back on the James. That the soldiers in the ranks and +the subaltern officers felt that some kind of movement like this was +contemplated, there can be no doubt. It was this feeling that gave +them the confidence in the face of overwhelming numbers, and nerved +them to greater efforts in time of battle. It was this sense of +confidence the soldiers had in the heads of departments and in the +commanding Generals that gave the inspiration to the beaten army of +Hood that induced these barefoot men to march half way across the +continent to place themselves in battle lines across the pathway +of Sherman. It was this confidence in the wisdom of our rulers, the +genius of the commanders, the stoicism of the soldiers, and above all, +the justness of our cause and the helping hand of the Omnipotent, that +influenced the women of the South to bear and endure the insults of +the Federal soldiers, and view with unconcern the ruin of their homes +and the desecration of their country. From the standpoint of the +present, this would have been the only possible plan whereby any hopes +of ultimate success were possible. But to the people of this day and +time, the accomplishment of such an undertaking with the forces and +obstacles to be overcome looks rather far-fetched, especially when we +reflect that Johnston, with fifty or sixty thousand of the best troops +in the service, had failed to check Sherman among the mountain passes +of North Georgia, or even to prevent his successful advance to the +very walls of Atlanta. That General Beauregard, with his handful of +regular troops and a contingent of boys and old men, could accomplish +what General Johnston, with a well equipped army of veterans, failed +in, was simply a blind faith in the occult influence of Providence. + +But it seems as if the department at Richmond had lost its head, and +had no settled policy. Telegrams were being continually sent to the +Generals in the field to "Crush the enemy," "You must fight a great +battle," "Either destroy him or so cripple his efforts to reach Grant, +that reinforcements would be taken from Lee's front," "Why don't you +fight?" etc. These were the encouraging messages Generals Beauregard +and Hardee were receiving, but where were the troops to accomplish +such work? Generals from every direction were calling for aid--to be +reinforced, or that the enemy was making advances, without means to +stop him. The answer to all these calls were the same, in substance +at least, as that given by Napoleon to the request of Ney of Waterloo, +when that marshal called upon the Emperor for reinforcements, "Where +does he expect me to get them? Make them?" It seems that the people, +with the exception of the privates in the field and the women and +children at home, had become panic stricken. + +On the 3rd of February General Sherman began crossing the +Saltkahatchie at places between Broxton's and Rivers' Bridges (and +above the latter), and was moving by easy stages in the direction +of Branchville. It was not conclusively known whether Sherman, on +reaching that place, would turn towards Augusta or in the direction of +Charleston, or continue his march to Columbia. President Davis having +declined the proposition of General Beauregard to evacuate all the +cities on the coast and make a stand on the Edisto, declined also a +like proposition to fight the great battle at either Branchville +or Columbia, without offering any better policy himself. The only +alternative the latter had was to keep out of Sherman's way as well as +possible and to allow him to continue laying waste the entire center +of the State. His only encouragements were dispatches from the +President to "Turn and Crash Sherman," "Call on the Governors," "Bring +out the militia," etc. + +Sherman's columns of advance consisted of four great patrolled lines, +with a corps on each. His extreme right was made up of the Seventeenth +Corps, under General Frank P. Blair, the Fifteenth next, under General +Jno. A. Logan, the two being the right wing of the army, commanded by +General Howard. The left wing, under General Slocum, consisted of the +Fourteenth Corps, on extreme left, General Jeff. C. Davis commanding; +the next, the Twentieth, under General A.S. Williams, the whole +numbering sixty thousand. The cavalry, numbering four thousand +additional, was on either flank. + +To meet this formidable array, Beauregard had under his immediate +command Hardee, with thirteen thousand seven hundred (three thousand +being State militia); around Augusta and on the march in Georgia and +upper South Carolina was the remnant of Hood's Army--Steven D. Lee, +with three thousand three hundred and fifty; Dick Cheatham, with two +thousand five hundred. + +Stewart's Corps was far back in Georgia, and too far away to give any +hopes of meeting Beauregard in this State. It consisted of Loring's +Division, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-seven; Wathals' +Division, one thousand and thirty-six; French's Division, one thousand +five hundred and nineteen. + +It must not be forgotten that the number under Hardee included the +troops in and around Charleston, and all the cities and towns in the +State where soldiers were stationed. + +General Wheeler, in command of several brigades of cavalry, now +reduced to a mere skeleton organization, was hovering around the +enemy's flanks and in front between Branchville and Augusta. + +Just prior to the evacuation of Columbia, General Beauregard applied +to the war department for the promotion of General Wade Hampton to +Lieutenant General, to take precedence over Major General Wheeler, now +in command of all the cavalry in this army. He further asked that he +be assigned to the command of the cavalry of his department, all of +which was granted. Generals Hampton and Butler were both at home at +the time, the former on furlough, the latter recruiting and mounting +his troops. These two Generals being natives of the State, and General +Hampton so familiar with the topography of the country through which +the army had to pass, General Beauregard thought him a desirable +officer for the post. Furthermore, Wheeler's Cavalry had become +thoroughly demoralized and undisciplined. From their long, continual +retreats the cavalry had become to look upon "retreat" as the regular +and national order. Acting on the principle that all which was left +in their wake of private property would be appropriated by the enemy, +they fell with ruthless hands upon whatsoever property their eyes took +a fancy to, consoling themselves with the reasoning "that if we +don't take it, the enemy will." So audacious had become the raids +of Wheeler's command that citizens had little choice between the two +evils, "Wheeler's Cavalry or the Federals." The name of "Wheeler's +men" became a reproach and a by-word, and remains so to this day with +the descendants of those who felt the scourge of these moving armies. + +These are matters that are foreign to the subject or to the "History +of Kershaw's Brigade," but as the greater part of the soldiers of +South Carolina were away during the march through their State +and ignorant of the movements of the armies, I write for their +information, and the concluding part of this work will be rather a +history of the whole army than of one brigade. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XLII + +March Through South Carolina, February and March, 1865. + + +When Sherman put this mighty machine of war in motion, Kershaw's +Brigade was hurried back to Charleston and up to George's Station, +then to the bridge on the Edisto. Raiding parties were out in every +direction, destroying bridges and railroads, and as the Southern Army +had no pontoon corps nor any methods of crossing the deep, sluggish +streams in their rear but by bridges, it can be seen that the cutting +of one bridge alone might be fatal to the army. It was discovered +early in the march that Sherman did not intend to turn to the right or +the left, but continue on a direct line, with Columbia as the center +of operations. We were removed from the Edisto back to Charleston, and +up the Northeastern Railroad to St. Stephen's, on the Santee. It was +feared a raiding party from Georgetown would come up the Santee and +cut the bridge, thereby isolating the army Hardee had in Charleston +and vicinity. Slowly Sherman "dragged his weary length along." On the +13th of February the corps of General Blair reached Kingsville and +drove our pickets away from the bridge over the Congaree. + +On the 15th of February the advance column of the Twentieth Corps came +in sight of Columbia. All the bridges leading thereto were burned and +the Southern troops withdrawn to the eastern side. Frank Blair's Corps +left the road leading to Columbia at Hopkin's, and kept a direct +line for Camden. Another corps, the Fifteenth, crossed the Broad +at Columbia, while the Fourteenth and Twentieth were to cross at +Freshley's and Alston. Orders had been given to evacuate Charleston, +and all the troops under General McLaws, at Four Hole Swamp, and along +the coast were to rendezvous at St. Stephen's, on the Santee, and +either make a junction with the Western Army at Chester, S.C., or if +not possible, to continue to Chesterfield or Cheraw. The plan of the +campaign was now to concentrate all the forces of Hood's State +Troops and Hardee's at some point in upper South Carolina or in North +Carolina, and make one more desperate stand, and by united action +crash and overthrow Sherman's Army, thereby relieving Lee. + +On the morning of the 16th of February the enemy, without any warning +whatever, began shelling the city of Columbia, filled with women and +children. Now it must be remembered that this was not for the purpose +of crossing the river, for one of Sherman's corps had already crossed +below the city and two others above. One shell passed through the +hotel in which General Beauregard was at the time, others struck the +State House, while many fell throughout the city. General Hampton +withdrew his small force of cavalry early on the morning of the 17th, +and the Mayor of the city met an officer of the Federal Army under a +flag of truce and tendered him the surrender of the city, and claimed +protection for its inhabitants. This was promised. + +All during the day thousands of the enemy poured into the city, +General Sherman entering about midday. Generals Davis' and Williams' +Corps crossed the Saluda and continued up on the western bank of Broad +River, one crossing ten, the other twenty-five miles above Columbia. +The people of Columbia had hopes of a peaceful occupation of the +city, but during the day and along towards nightfall, the threatening +attitude of the soldiers, their ominous words, threats of vengeance, +were too pretentious for the people to misunderstand or to expect +mercy. These signs, threats, and mutterings were but the prelude to +that which was to follow. + +About 9 o'clock P.M. the alarm of fire was given and the dread sound +of the fire bells, mingled with the hum and roar of ten thousand +voices and the tread of as many troops hurrying to and fro on their +cursed mission, could be heard by the now thoroughly frightened +populace. The people, with blanched countenances, set features, looked +in mute silence into the faces of each other. All knew and felt, but +dared not even to themselves to whisper, the unmistakable truth. Now +another alarm, another fire bell mingles its sound with the general +chorus of discord, shouts of the soldiery, the frightened cries of +the people--jells of the drunken troops all a scathing, maddening +turbulance in the crowded streets. A lurid glare shoots up above the +housetops, then the cracking and roaring of the dread elements told +but too plainly that the beautiful city was soon to be wrapped in +flames. The sack and pillage had begun! + +Few men being in the city, the women, with rare heroism, sought to +save some little necessities of life, only to see it struck to the +floor or snatched from their hands and scattered in the streets. Here +would be a lone woman hugging an infant to her breast, with a few +strips of clothing hanging on her arms; helpless orphans lugging +an old trunk or chest, now containing all they could call their +own--these would be snatched away, broken open, contents rifled by the +drunken soldiers, or if not valuable, trampled under foot. + +Soldiers, with axes and hammers, rushed from house to house, breaking +in doors, smashing trunks, boxes, bureaus, and robbing them of all +that was valuable, then leaving the house in flames. Helpless women, +screaming children, babes in the arms, invalids on beds, jolted and +jostled against the surging mob--none to help, none to advise--these +defenseless sufferers rushed aimlessly about, their sole purpose being +to avoid the flames and seek a place of safety. The fires originated +principally in the southern section of the city, and as the fire eat +its way up, the howling throng followed, driving the innocent and +helpless ahead. + +As the night wore on, the drunken soldiers, first made intoxicated +by the wine in private cellars or the liquors in the government +buildings, now became beastly drunk in their glee at the sight of the +destruction they had wrought. The women and children followed the dark +back-ground of that part of the city not yet in flames. The Federal +officers, instead of offering assistance or a helping hand to the +ruined and distressed people, added insult to injury by joining in +with the private soldiers in the plundering of the city, insulting the +women and adding fuel to the flame. + +All night long did the flames rage, leap, and lick the clouds as +one block of buildings after another fell--food for the devouring +elements. This drunken orgies was kept up until their craven hearts +were fully satisfied. A few squares in the north-eastern part of the +city were left, also several churches, and into these the women and +children were huddled and packed, and had to remain for days and some +for weeks, almost on the verge of starvation. The Federal commander, +through the boundless dictates of his sympathetic heart, after +destroying all that fire and rapine could reach, left the starving +thousands a few rations each of the plunder he had robbed of the +planters in the country. + +No vehicles nor horses were left in the city's limits--the bridges +burned that led across the river to the west. To the east, Blair's +Corps was laying waste everything in their pathway, while above and +below the city, for a distance of fifty miles, Sherman had swept the +country as bare as if a blight had fallen upon it. How the people +of Columbia subsisted during the time they were penned in the city +churches and the few buildings left, will ever remain a mystery, and +to none so much as the sufferers themselves. + +Grains of corn were eagerly picked up in the streets as they dropped +from the wagons, and the women and children of the lower class and the +negroes flocked to the deserted camps to gather up the crumbs left by +the soldiers or the grains trampled under foot of the horses. + +Every house in a stretch of fifty miles was entered and insults and +indignities offered the defenseless women which would have shamed +the savage Turk. Ladies were forced to disclose, at the point of the +pistol or the sabre, the hiding-place of their little valuables. Some +were forced to cook meals and wait upon the hell hounds, while they +regaled themselves upon the choice viands of medicinal wines of the +planters' wives. But be it known to their immortal honor, that it was +only on the most rare occasions that these proud dames of the South +could, either by threat or brutal treatment, be forced to yield to +their insolent demands. With the orders from the soldiers to "prepare +a meal" or "disclose the whereabouts of their money or valuables," +came the threat, "We will burn your house if you do not." But almost +invariably came the quick response, "Burn it, burn it, you cowardly +wretches, and kill me, if you wish, and all of us, but I will never +soil my hands by waiting upon a cowardly Yankee, nor tell you the +place of concealment--find it if you can." The soldiers would question +the negroes to find out if there were any watches, silver plate, or +money belonging to the household; if so, they would, by a system of +inquisition, attempt to force the women to give it up, but in vain. + +A woman, Mrs. Miller, the wife of a neighbor of mine, had her +husband's gold watch in her bosom, and refused to give it up when +demanded, even when a cocked pistol was at her head. The vandal struck +her a stunning blow with the butt end of the pistol--all in vain. +The brave heroine held to the heirloom, and stoutly resisted all +entreaties and threats. + +Two old people living near me, brother and maiden sister, named Loner, +both pass three scores, were asked to give their money. They had none. +But one of the ruffians threw a fire brand under the bed, saying: + +"I will put it out if you will tell me where you keep your money; you +have it, for I've been so informed." + +"Let it burn," answered the old women. "Do you think to frighten or +intimidate me by burning my house that I will tell what I choose to +conceal? Do you think I care so much for my house and its belongings? +No, no; you mistake the women of the South. You will never conquer her +people by making war upon defenseless women. Let the house go up in +flames, and my ashes mingle with its ashes, but I will remain true to +myself, my country, and my God." + +Soon all that was left of the once happy home was a heap of ashes. +Will God, in His wisdom, ever have cause to again create such women as +those of the Southland? Or were there ever conditions in the world's +history that required the presence of such noble martyrdom as was +displayed by the women of the South during the Civil War? + +But a Nemesis in this case, as in many others, was lurking near. Bands +of Confederates and scouts had scattered themselves on the flanks and +rear of the enemy; old men and boys and disabled veterans were lying +in wait in many thickets and out of the way places, ready to pounce +upon the unsuspecting freebooters and give to them their just deserts. +Was it any wonder that so many hundreds, nay thousands, of these Goths +failed to answer to Sherman's last roll call? Before the sun was many +hours older, after the burning of the Loner homestead, the dreaded +"bushwhackers" were on the trail of the vandals. + +For years afterwards people, from curiosity, came to look at a heap of +human bones in a thicket near, bleached by winter's rain and summer's +sun, while some of the older men, pointing to the ghostly relics, +would say, "Those are the remains of Sherman's houseburners." And such +were the scenes from the Saltkahatchie to the Cape Fear. Who were to +blame? + +Sherman now directs his march towards Winnsboro and Chester, still +in the four great parols, burning and plundering as they go. It seems +that in their march through Georgia they were only whetting their +appetites for a full gorge of vandalism in South Carolina. After their +carnival of ruin in Columbia the Federals, like the tiger, which, with +the taste of blood, grows more ravenous, they became more destructive +the more destruction they saw. Great clouds of black smoke rose up +over the whole county and darkened the sky overhead, while at night +the heavens were lit up by the glare of the burning buildings. The +railroad tracks were torn up and bridges burned, the iron being laid +across heaps of burning ties, then when at red heat, were wrapped +around trees and telegraph posts--these last through pure wantonness, +as no army was in their rear that could ever use them again. + +While that part of Sherman's Army was crossing Broad River at Alston +and Freshley's, and the other near Ridgeway, General Hampton wrote +General Beauregard to concentrate all his forces at or near the +latter place by shipping Hardee and all forces under him at once by +railroad--Stephenson's Division of Western men, now with Hampton and +all the cavalry to fall upon the Fifteenth Corps, under Blair, and +crush it before the other portions of the army could reach it. He +argued that the enemy was marching so wide apart, the country so +hilly, and the roads in Fairfield County almost impassable, that one +wing of the army could be crushed before the other could reach it. But +General Beauregard telegraphed him, "The time is past for that move. +While it could have been done at the Edisto or Branchville, it is too +late now." + +On the night of the 17th and morning of the 18th Charleston was +evacuated. Before the commencement of the retirement, orders were +given by General Beauregard to General Hardee to withdraw the troops +in the following order, but General Hardee being sick at this time, +the execution of the order devolved upon General McLaws: One brigade +of Wright's Division, in St. Paul's Parish, to move by railroad +to Monk's Corner, then march by Sandy Run to the Santee; the other +portion of Wright's Division to move by Summerville to St. Stephen's. +The troops in Christ Church Parish to go by steamer to St. Stephen's. +The troops from James' Island to move out by Ashley's Ferry and follow +the Northeastern railroad, to be followed in turn by all the troops in +the city. McLaws was to withdraw from Sherman's front at Branchville +and follow on to St. Stephen's. After all the troops were here +congregated, the line of march was taken up in the direction of +Cheraw. Away to our left we could see the clouds of smoke rise as +houses went up in flames, while forest fires swept the country far and +wide. It was not fully understood to what point Sherman was making, +until he reached Winnsboro. Here he turned the course of direction by +turning to the right, crossing the Catawba at Pea's Ferry and Rocky +Mount, the right wing under General Howard, at Pea's; the left, under +General Slocum, at Rocky Mount, all marching to form a junction again +at Cheraw. Sherman did not dare to trust himself far in the interior +for any length of time, but was marching to meet the fleet that had +left him at Savannah and the troops under Schofield, at Newbern, N.C. +This is the reason he turns his course towards the sea coast. +Raiding parties, under Kilpatrick, were sent out in the direction of +Darlington and Lancaster, burning and plundering at will. + +About this time Fort Fisher and all the works at the mouth of the Cape +Fear River fell into the hands of the enemy. Wilmington surrendered +and General Bragg, who was in command there, retreated to Goldsboro. + +How, in the face of all these facts, could it be possible for Generals +to deceive themselves or to deceive others, or how President Davis +could have such delusive hopes, is now impossible to comprehend. On +February 22nd, after the fall of Wilmington, the Army of Sherman was +on the border of North Carolina, while Hood's was straggling through +the upper part of this State, with no prospects of forming a junction +with Beauregard. President Davis wrote on that day: + +"General Beauregard: I have directed General J.E. Johnston to +assume command of the Southern Army and assign you to duty with him. +Together, I feel assured you will beat back Sherman." + +To add one man, even if a great commander, would add but little +strength to any army, already exhausted beyond the hope of +recuperation, still "You will beat Sherman back!" the President +writes. I for one cannot see how a General could receive such an order +at such time in any other spirit than ridicule. President Davis, even +after the fall of Richmond and the battle of Bettonville fought, where +Johnston tried once more to "beat back Sherman" and failed--after all +the circumstances and conditions were given to him in detail--said, +"The struggle could be still carried on to a successful issue by +bringing out all our latent resources; that we could even cross the +Mississippi River, join forces with Kirby Smith, and prolong the war +indefinitely." Was there ever such blind faith or dogged tenacity of +purpose? Did Mr. Davis and our Generals really believe there was +still a chance for a successful issue at this late day, or was it the +knowledge of the disposition of the troops whom they knew would rather +suffer death than defeat. + +It must, within all reason, have been the latter, for no great +commander cognizant of all the facts could have been so blind. +Even while the Confederate troops were overwhelmed by numbers, +communications cut on all sides, all out posts and the borders hemmed +in one small compass, some of our soldiers entered a publishing house +in Raleigh, destroyed all the type, broke the presses, and demolished +the building--all this because the editor of the paper advised the +giving up of the contest! Did the soldiers of the South believe as yet +that they were beaten? Circumstances and their surly moods say not. +Well might a commander or executive have apprehensions of his personal +safety should he counsel submission as long as there was a soldier +left to raise a rifle or draw a lanyard. I ask again was there ever +before such troops as those of the South? Will there ever be again? + +Kershaw's Brigade, now attached to Hardee's Corps, reached Cheraw +about the first of March, but the enemy's advance was at Chesterfield, +causing Hardee to continue his march by Rockinham on to Fayetteville, +N.C., near which place the two armies, that is the one under Hampton +and the other under Hardee, came together. Hardee having recovered +from his indisposition, relieved General McLaws, the latter returning +to Augusta, Ga. Kershaw's Brigade was soon after put in Wathal's +Division. + +On the 22nd of February General Jos. E. Johnston, who was then living +at Lincolnton, N.C., was called from his retirement and placed in +command of all the troops in North and South Carolina and Georgia. +Although the army was nothing more than detachments, and widely +separated and greatly disorganized when he reached them, still they +hailed with delight the appointment of their former faithful old +commander. His one great aim was the convergence of the various armies +to one point in front of the enemy and strike a blow at either one or +more of his columns, either at Fayetteville or at the crossing of the +Cape Fear River. Hardee had been racing with Sherman to reach +Cheraw and cross the PeeDee before Sherman could come up. He only +accomplished this after many forced marches by "the skin of his +teeth," to use a homely expression. He crossed the PeeDee one day +ahead of the enemy, burning the bridge behind him, after moving all +the stores that were possible. The right wing, under General Howard, +crossed the PeeDee at Cheraw, while the left, under Slocum, crossed +higher up, at Sneedsboro. Hampton was forced to make a long detour +up the PeeDee and cross at the fords along the many little islands in +that stream. + +On the 8th of March General Bragg, with Hoke's Division, reinforced +by a division under D.H. Hill, of Johnston's command, numbering in +all about two thousand, attacked three divisions under General Cox, +at Kiniston, defeating him with much loss, capturing one thousand five +hundred prisoners and three pieces of artillery. + +During the campaign our cavalry was not idle on the flanks or front +of Sherman, but on the contrary, was ever on the alert, striking the +enemy wherever possible. General Butler intercepted and defeated a +body of Federals on their way to destroy the railroad at Florence, at +or near Mount Elan. General Wheeler, also, at Homesboro, came up with +the enemy, and after a spirited brush, drove the enemy from the field, +capturing a number of prisoners. Again, near Rockinham, the same +officer put the enemy to rout. General Kilpatrick had taken up camp on +the road leading to Fayetteville, and commanding that road which was +necessary for the concentration of our troops. In the night General +Hampton, after thoroughly reconnoitering the position, surrounded +the camp of Kilpatrick, and at daybreak, on the 10th, fell like a +hurricane upon the sleeping enemy. The wildest confusion prevailed; +friend could not be distinguished from foe. Shooting and saber +slashing were heard in every direction, while such of the enemy who +could mounted their horses and rode at break-neck speed, leaving their +camp and camp equippage, their artillery and wagon trains. The enemy +was so laden with stolen booty, captured in the Carolinas and Georgia, +that this great treasure was too great a temptation to the already +demoralized cavalry. So, instead of following up their victory, they +went to gathering the spoils. Hundreds of horses were captured, but +these ran off by our troops forcing all the artillery captured to be +abandoned, after cutting the wheels to pieces. But the long train +of wagons, laden with supplies, was a good addition to our depleted +resources. A great number of the enemy were killed and wounded, with +five hundred prisoners, besides recapturing one hundred and fifty of +our own troops taken in former battles. + +General Johnston now ordered the troops of General Bragg who had come +up from Kiniston and the Western troops, under Stuart, Cheatham, and +Lee, as well as a part of Hardee's, to concentrate at Smithfield. +The bulk of Hardee's Corps, of which Kershaw's Brigade was a part, +withdrew from Cheraw in the direction of Goldsboro, and at Averysboro +the enemy came up with Hardee, and by the overpowering weight of +numbers forced the Confederates from their position. The density of +the pine forest was such, that after a few fires, the smoke settled +among the undergrowth and under the treetops in such quantity that a +foe could not be seen even a short distance away. The level condition +of the country prevented our artillery from getting in any of its +work, and a flank movement by the Federals could be so easily made, +unnoticed, that Hardee was forced to retire in the direction of +Smithfield and to an elevation. + +General Johnston having learned that the enemy was marching in the +direction of Goldsboro, instead of Raleigh, and that the right wing +was a day's advance of the left, ordered a concentration of his troops +near the little hamlet of Bentonville, situated near the junction +of the roads, one leading to Raleigh and the other to Goldsboro, and +there fall upon the one wing of the army and defeat it before the +other came up. This was not so difficult in contemplation as in +the performance, under the present condition of the troops and the +topography of the country. General Johnston was misled by the maps at +hand, finding afterwards that the Federal General, Howard, was much +nearer Bentonville than was General Hardee. But General Hampton put +General Butler's Division of Cavalry in front of this whole force, +behind some hastily constructed breastworks, and was to keep Slocum at +bay until the troops had all gotten in position. + +General Hardee began moving early on the morning of the eighth, and on +reaching Bentonville we now, for the first time, came up with all the +other troops of the army. Hoke's Division lead off to take position +and stood on both sides of a dull road leading through the thickets. +Batteries were placed on his right. Next to the artillery was posted +the Army of Tennessee, its right thrown forward. Before Hardee could +get in position the enemy attacked with the utmost vigor, so much so +that General Bragg, who was commanding in person at this point, +asked for reinforcements. General Hardee, moving by at this juncture, +ordered McLaws' Old-Division to the aid of Hoke. But the almost +impenetrable thicket prevented hasty movement, and the smoke in front, +overhead and the rear, with bullets passing over the heads of Hoke's +men, made it impossible for these unacquainted with the disposition +of the troops to know whether it was friend or foe in our front. The +troops became greatly entangled and some of the officers demoralized. +Some troops on our right, by mistaking the head of direction, began +to face one way, while Kershaw's Brigade was facing another. But after +much maneuvering, McLaw's got the troops disentangled and moved +upon the line, and after several rounds at close range, the enemy +retreated. Hardee was then ordered to charge with his wing of the +army, composed of troops under Stuart and a division under Taliaferro, +while Bragg was to follow by brigades from right to left. The firing +was now confusing, our troops advancing in different direction, and +the sound of our guns and cannon echoing and reverberating through +the dense forest, made it appear as if we were surrounded by a +simultaneous fire. But finding our way the best we could by the +whizzing of the bullets, we rushed up to the enemy's first line of +entrenchments, which they had abandoned without an effort, and took +position behind the second line of works. After firing a round or two, +the Confederates raised the old Rebel yell and went for their second +line with a rush. Here General Hardee led his men in person, charging +at their head on horseback. The troops carried everything before them; +the enemy in double columns and favorably entrenched, was glad to take +cover in the thicket in the rear. On the extreme left our troops were +less successful, being held in check by strong breastworks and a +dense thicket between the enemy and the troops of General Bragg. After +sweeping the enemy from the field, General Hardee found it necessary +to halt and reform his line and during this interval the enemy made +an unsuccessful assault upon the troops of General Stuart. After +nightfall and after all the killed and wounded had been removed from +the field, General Johnston moved the troops back to the line occupied +in the morning and threw up fortifications. Here we remained until the +21st; McLaws was detached and placed on the left of Hoke; the cavalry +deployed as skirmishers to our left. There was a considerable gap +between our extreme left and the main body of cavalry, and this break +the writer commanded with a heavy Hue of skirmishers. Late in the +day the enemy made a spirited attack upon us, so much so that General +McLaws sent two companies of boys, formerly of Fizer's Brigade of +Georgia Militia. The boys were all between sixteen and eighteen, and a +finer body of young men I never saw. He also sent a regiment of North +Carolina Militia, consisting of old men from fifty to sixty, and +as these old men were coming up on line the enemy were giving us +a rattling fire from their sharpshooters. The old men could not be +induced to come up, however. The Colonel, a Venerable old gray-beard, +riding a white horse, as soon as the bullets began to pelt the pines +in his front, leaped from his horse and took refuge behind a large +tree. I went to him and tried every inducement to get him to move up +his men on a line with us, but all he would do was to grasp me by the +hand and try to jerk me down beside him. "Lie down, young man," said +he, "or by God you'll be shot to pieces. Lie down!" The old militiaman +I saw was too old for war, and was "not built that way." But when +I returned to the skirmish line, on which were my own brigade +skirmishers, reinforced by the two boy companies, the young men were +fighting with a glee and abandon I never saw equalled. I am sorry to +record that several of these promising young men, who had left their +homes so far behind, were killed and many wounded. + +This ended the battle of Bentonville, and we might say the war. The +sun of the Confederacy, notwithstanding the hopes of our Generals, the +determination of the troops, and the prayers of the people, was fast +sinking in the west. The glorious rising on the plains of Manassas had +gone down among the pine barriers of North Carolina. The last stroke +had been given, and destiny seemed to be against us. For hundreds of +miles had the defeated troops of Hood marched barefooted and footsore +to the relief of their comrades of the East, and had now gained a +shallow victory. They had crossed three States to mingle their blood +with those of their friends who had fought with dogged resistence +every step that Sherman had made. But their spirits were not broken. +They were still ready to try conclusions with the enemy whenever our +leaders gave the signal for battle. The South could not be conquered +by defeat--to conquer it, it must be crashed. The tattered battle +flags waved as triumphantly over the heads of the shattered ranks of +the battle-scared veterans here in the pine barriers as it ever did on +the banks of the Rapidan. + +It is sad to chronicle that on this last day, in a battle of the +cavalry, in which the infantry had to take a part, the gallant son of +the brave General Hardee fell at the head of his column as the Eighth +Texas Cavalry was making a desperate charge. + +In the battle of Bentonville the Confederates had fourteen thousand +infantry and cavalry. The cavalry being mostly on the flanks, and +General Wheeler on the north side of Mill Creek, could not participate +in the battle in consequence of the swollen stream. The Federal Army +had thirty-five thousand engaged on the 19th and seventy thousand in +line on the 20th. The loss on the Confederate side was one hundred and +eighty killed, one thousand two hundred and twenty wounded, and five +hundred and fifteen missing. The enemy's losses in killed and wounded +far exceeded the Confederates, besides the Confederates captured nine +hundred prisoners. + +On the night of the 21st the army began its retreat, crossing Mill +Creek on the morning of the 22nd, just in time to see the enemy +approach the bridge as our last troops had crossed. + +On the 23rd General Sherman marched his army to Goldsboro, there +uniting with General Schofield. It was the intention of General Lee +that as soon as General Sherman had approached near enough, to abandon +the trenches at Petersburg, and, with the combined armies, turn and +fall upon his front, flank, and rear. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XLIII + +From Smithfield to Greensboro--The Surrender. + + +The army took up quarters for a while around Smithfield. The troops +were as jolly and full of life as they ever were in their lives. Horse +racing now was the order of the day. Out in a large old field, every +day thousands of soldiers and civilians, with a sprinkling of the fair +ladies of the surrounding country, would congregate to witness the +excitement of the race course. Here horses from Kentucky, Tennessee, +Georgia, and North and South Carolina tried each others mettle. +They were not the thoroughbreds of the course, but cavalry horses, +artillery horses, horses of Generals, Colonels, and the staff--horses +of all breeds and kinds, all sizes and description--stood at the head +of the track and champed their bits with eagerness, impatient to get +away. Confederate money by the handfuls changed owners every day. It +was here that Governor Zeb Vance, of North Carolina, visited us, and +was a greater favorite with the soldiers than any man in civil life. +It was here, too, our old disabled commander, General James Connor, +came to bid us an affectionate farewell. General Kennedy formed the +brigade into a hollow square to receive our old General. He entered +the square on horseback, accompanied by General Kennedy and staff. +He had come to bid us farewell, and spoke to us in feeling terms. He +recounted our many deeds of valor upon the field, our sufferings +in camp and upon the march, and especially our supreme heroism and +devotion in standing so loyally to our colors in this the dark hour of +our country's cause. He spoke of his great reluctance to leave us; +how he had watched with sympathy and affection our wanderings, our +battles, and our victories, and then envoking Heaven's blessings upon +us, he said in pathetic tones, "Comrades, I bid you an affectionate +farewell," and rode away. + +While in camp here there was a feeble attempt made to reorganize and +consolidate the brigade by putting the smaller companies together and +making one regiment out of two. As these changes took place so near +the end, the soldiers never really realizing a change had been made, +I will do no more than make a passing allusion to it, as part of this +history. The only effect these changes had was the throwing out of +some of our best and bravest officers (there not being places for +all), but as a matter of fact this was to their advantage, as they +escaped the humiliation of surrender, and returned home a few days +earlier than the rest of the army. + +After passing through South Carolina and venting its spleen on the +Secession State, the Federal Army, like a great forest fire, sweeping +over vast areas, stops of its own accord by finding nothing to feed +upon. The vandalism of the Union Army in North Carolina was confined +mostly to the burning of the great turpentine forests. They had burned +and laid waste the ancestral homes of lower South Carolina, left +in ashes the beautiful capital of the State, wrecked and ruined the +magnificent residences and plantations of the central and upper part +of the country, leaving in their wake one vast sheet of ruin and +desolation, so that when they met the pine barrens of North Carolina, +their appetites for pillage, plunder, and destruction seems to have +been glutted. + +It was the boast of the Federal commander and published with delight +in all the Northern newspapers, that "where his army went along a crow +could not pass over without taking its rations along." Then, too, this +very country was to feed and support, while in transit to their homes +almost the whole of Johnston's and the greater part of Lee's Army. All +these, in squads or singly, were fed along the way from house to house +wherever they could beg a little meal or corn, with a morsel of meat +or molasses. A great number of negro troops also passed through this +country on their way to the coast to be disbanded. But the noble women +of South Carolina never turned a hungry soldier from their doors as +long as there was a mouthful in the house to eat. + +Another terror now alarmed the people--the news of a great raid, under +Stoneman, being on its way through North Carolina and upper South +Carolina, coming across the country from East Tennessee, laying waste +everything in its track. General Sherman had concentrated his whole +army at Goldsboro, and was lying idle in camp, preparatory to his +next great move to connect with Grant. He had at his command the right +wing, under General Howard, twenty-eight thousand eight hundred +and thirty-four; its left wing, under General Slocum, twenty-eight +thousand and sixty-three. General Schofield had come up from Newbern +with twenty-six thousand three hundred and ninety-two and constituted +the center, besides five thousand six hundred and fifty-nine cavalry, +under Kilpatrick, and ninety-one pieces of artillery. General Johnston +had encamped his army between two roads, one leading to Raleigh, the +other to Weldon. The Confederate Government, after the evacuation of +Richmond, had now established its quarters at Danville, Va., awaiting +the next turn of the wheel. Lee had fallen back from Petersburg; while +Johnston, before Sherman, was awaiting the move of that General to +fall back still nearer to his illustrious chieftain. The government +and all the armies were now hedged in the smallest compass. Still our +leaders were apparently hopeful and defiant, the troops willing to +stand by them to the last. + +On the 10th of April President Davis and a part of his cabinet left +Danville on his way to Greensboro. Even at this late day President +Davis was urging the concentration of the troops under General Walker, +the scattered troops at Salisbury and Greensboro, and those under +Johnston at same place on the Yadkin, and crush Sherman, and then it +is supposed to turn on Grant. All this with less than twenty thousand +men! + +The last conference of the great men of the Confederacy met at +Greensboro, on the 13th of April, 1865. Those present were President +Davis, Messrs. Benjamin, Secretary of State; Mallory, of the Navy; +Reagin, Postmaster General; Breckinridge, Secretary of War, and +General Johnston. The army had been falling back daily through +Raleigh, and was now encamped near Greensboro. President Davis still +clung to the delusion that by pressing the conscript act and bringing +out all absentees, they could yet prolong the struggle, even if +they had to cross the Mississippi and join with Kirby Smith. General +Johnston urged in his and General Beauregard's name its utter +impracticability, and informed the President plainly and positively +that it was useless to continue the struggle--that they had as well +abandon all hope of any other issue than that which they could gain +through the Federal authorities, and besought Mr. Davis to open +negotiations looking to peace--that he was yet the executive and head +of the Confederate Government; that he was the proper one to commence +such negotiations. This Mr. Davis refused, saying the Federal +authorities would refuse to treat with him. Then General Johnston +proposed doing so in his own name. This was agreed to, and a letter +written by Mr. Mallory, he being the best penman in the group, and +signed and sent by General Johnston to General Sherman. The letter +recapitulated the results in the army in the last few days, changing +the status of the two armies and the needless amount of bloodshed and +devastation of property that the continuance of the struggle would +produce, and asked for a conference looking to an armistice in the +armies until the civil government could settle upon terms of peace. +The letter was sent to General Hampton, and by him to the Federal +commander the next day. General Sherman acknowledged the receipt of +the letter on the 14th, and it reached General Johnston on the 16th, +agreeing to a cessation of hostilities until further notice. General +Sherman expressed in his letter a great desire to spare the people of +North Carolina the devastation and destruction the passing of his army +through the State would necessitate. When it began to be noised about +in the camp that the army was about to be surrendered, the soldiers +became greatly excited. The thought of grounding their arms to an +enemy never before entered their minds, and when the news came of a +surrender the greatest apprehension and dread seized all. So different +the end to their expectation. None could even think of the future +without a shudder. Some anticipated a term in Federal prisons; others, +the higher officers, a military trial; others thought of their private +property and their arms. Even in a prison camp, where our soldiers +would be kept confined under a Federal guard, all was mystery and +uncertainty. The wives and helpless children, left in the rear to +the mercy of the negroes (now for the first time known to be free), +agitated the minds of not a few. Men began to leave the army by twos +and by squads. Guards were placed on all roads and around camps, +and the strictest orders were given against leaving the army without +leave. Cavalrymen in great numbers had mounted their horses and rode +away. General Sherman sent guards to all fords and bridges to examine +all the paroles of the troops of Lee now swarming through the country. + +General Johnston met General Sherman at Durham, on the 17th of April, +at the house of Mr. Bennett, but after a long and tedious controversy, +nothing was agreed upon. A second meeting took place at the same house +next day, at which General Breckinridge was unofficially present, +when terms of an armistice were agreed to until the department at +Washington could be beard from. President Davis had already gone South +with such of his cabinet as chose to follow him, the whole settlement +of difficulties now devolving upon General Johnston alone. + +But just as all negotiations were progressing finely the news came of +President Lincoln's assassination, throwing the whole of the Federal +Army in a frenzy of excitement. While the troops of the South may not +have given their assent to such measures, yet they rejoiced secretly; +in their hearts that the great agitator, emancipator--the cause of all +our woes--was laid low. To him and him alone all looked upon as being +the originator, schemer, and consummater of all the ills the South had +suffered. However the hearts of the Southern people may have changed +in the thirty years that have passed, or how sadly they deplored his +death, even in a decade afterwards, I but voice the sentiment of the +South at the time when I say they hated Lincoln with all the venom of +their souls, and his untimely taking off by the hands of the assassin +partly consoled them for all they had suffered. + +Orders came from General Sherman to General Johnston to the effect +that part of their agreement was rejected by the Washington Authority, +and notifying the latter that the truce would be called off in +forty-eight hours. This occasioned a third meeting between the two +commanders to make such changes that were required by the authorities. +On the 26th General Johnston sent a communication to General Sherman +requesting a meeting at same place for further conference. This was +agreed to and the meeting took place, where such terms were agreed +upon and signed as was thought to be in accordance with the wishes of +the Washington Government. Rolls were made out in duplicate of all the +officers and soldiers, and on the 2nd of May the troops marched out, +stacked their arms, were given paroles, and slowly turned away and +commenced their homeward journey. + +A military chest, containing $39,000, had been received from the +Government in Richmond and divided out among the soldiers, being $1.29 +apiece. All the Wagon and artillery horses and wagons, also, were +loaned to the soldiers and divided by lot. A few days' rations had +been issued, and with this and the clothes on their back, this remnant +at a once grand army bent their steps towards their desolate homes. It +was found advisable to move by different routs and in such numbers as +was most agreeable and convenient. Once away from the confines of the +army, they took by-ways and cross country, roads, avoiding as much as +possible the track of the late army. The troops of Kershaw's Brigade, +on reaching the borders of their State, each sought for himself the +easiest and nearest path home. The Western Army made their way, +the most of them at least, to Washington, Ga., where there was yet +railroad communication a part of the way through Georgia. + +And now, gentle reader, my task is done--my pen laid aside, after days +and days of earnest toil to give a faithful and correct account of +your daring, your endurance, your patriotism, and your fidelity to +the cause you had espoused. Your aims have been of the highest, your +performances ideal, and while you were unsuccessful, still your deeds +of daring will live in history as long as civilization lasts. While +your cherished hopes ended in a dream, still your aspirations have +been of the loftiest, and your acts will be copied by generations yet +unborn, as a fitting pattern for all brave men. You have fought in all +the great battles of the East, from the trenches of Petersburg to +the rugged heights of Round Top. Your blood mingled with that of your +comrades of the West, from Chickamauga to the storming of Fort London. +You combatted the march of Sherman from the Saltkahatchie to the +close, and stacked your arms more as conquering heroes than beaten +foes. You have nothing to regret but the results--no hope but the +continued prosperity of a reunited people. This heritage of valor left +to posterity as a memorial of Southern manhood to the Southern cause +will be cherished by your descendants for all time, and when new +generations come on and read the histories of the great Civil War, and +recall to their minds the fortitude, the chivalry, and the glories of +the troops engaged, Kershaw's Brigade will have a bright page in the +book of their remembrance. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER XLIV + +Retrospect. + + +It would be supposed that the writer, who had fought by the side of +nearly all, and who had visited battlefields where troops from every +State had fallen, could form an idea of "Which were the best troops +from the South?" The South has furnished a type of the true soldier +that will last as a copy for all time. She had few regulars, and her +volunteer troops were brought into service without preparation or +without the knowledge of tactical drill, but in stoicism, heroism, and +martyrdom they excelled the world. + +I give in these pages a brief synopsis of the characteristics of the +troops from different States, and while this is the view of the author +alone, still I feel assured that the great mass of the old soldiers +will admit its correctness. To the question, "Which were the best +troops from the South?" there would be as many answers and as much +differences of opinions as there were States in the Confederacy, or +organizations in the field, as each soldier was conscientious in his +belief that those from his own State were the best in the army, +his brigade the best in the division, his regiment the best in the +brigade, and his own company the best in the regiment. This is a +pardonable pride of the soldier, and is as it should be to make an +army great. Where all, individually and collectively, were as good +or better than any who ever before faced an enemy upon a battlefield, +there really are no "best." + +But soldiers from different States, all of the same nationality and +of the same lineage, from habits, temperaments, and environments, had +different characteristics upon the field of battle. From an impartial +standpoint, I give my opinion thus: + +The Virginians were the cavaliers of the South, high-toned, high-bred, +each individual soldier inspired by that lofty idea of loyalty of the +cavalier. They were the ideal soldiers in an open field and a fair +fight. They were the men to sweep a battle line that fronts them from +the field by their chivalrous and steady courage. Virginia, the mother +of Presidents, of great men, and noble women, the soldier of that +State felt in honor bound to sustain the name and glory of their +commonwealth. As a matter of fact, the Virginians, as a rule, with +exceptions enough to establish the rule, being one of the oldest of +the sister States, her wealth, her many old and great institutions +of learning, were better educated than the mass of soldiers from +the other States. They were soldiers from pride and patriotism, and +courageous from "general principles." In an open, fair field, and a +square and even fight, no enemy could stand before their determined +advance and steady fire. They were not the impulsive, reckless, +head-strong soldiers in a desperate charge as were those from some +other Southern States, but cool, collected, steady, and determined +under fire. They were of the same mettle and mould as their kinsmen +who stood with Wellington at Waterloo. + +The North Carolinians were the "Old Guard" of the Confederacy. They +had little enthusiasm, but were the greatest "stickers" and "stayers" +on a battle line of any troops from the South. They fought equally as +well in thicket or tangled morass as behind entrenchments. To use an +army expression, "The North Carolinians were there to stay." It was +a jocular remark, common during the war, that the reason the North +Carolina troops were so hard to drive from a position was "they had so +much tar on their heels that they could not run." They were obstinate, +tenacious, and brave. + +South Carolinians took on in a great measure the inspirations of some +of their French Huguenot ancestors and the indomitable courage of +their Scotch and German forefathers of the Revolution. They were +impulsive, impetuous, and recklessly brave in battle, and were the men +to storm breastworks and rush to the cannon's mouth at the head of a +"forlorn hope." They possibly might not stay as long in a stubbornly +contested battle as some from other States, but would often accomplish +as much in a few minutes by the mad fury of their assault as some +others would accomplish in as many hours. They were the Ironsides +of the South, and each individual felt that he had a holy mission to +fulfill. There were no obstacles they could not surmount, no position +they would not assail. Enthusiasm and self-confidence were the fort +of South Carolinians, and it was for them to raise the Rebel yell and +keep it up while the storm of battle raged fierce and furious. They +were the first to raise the banner of revolt, and right royally did +they sustain it as long as it floated over the Southland. + +What is said of the South Carolinians can be truthfully said of +Georgians. People of the same blood, and kindred in all that makes +them one, they could be with propriety one and the same people. The +Georgians would charge a breastwork or storm a battery with the +same light-heartedness as they went to their husking bees or +corn-shucking, all in a frolick. To illustrate their manner of +fighting, I will quote from a Northern journal, published just after +the seven days' battles around Richmond, a conversation between Major +D., of the ---- New York, and a civilian of the North. The Major was +boasting in a noisy manner of the courage, daring, and superiority +of the Northern soldiers over those of the South. "Well, why was it," +asked the civilian, "if you were so superior in every essential to +the Rebels, that you got such an everlasting licking around Richmond?" +"Licking, h----l," said the wounded Major, "who could fight such +people? Indians! Worse than an Apache. Just as we would get in line +of battle and ready for an advance, a little Georgia Colonel, in his +shirt sleeves and copperas breeches, would pop out into a corn field +at the head of his regiment, and shout at the top of his voice, +'Charge!' Man alive! here would come the devils like a whirlwind--over +ditches, gullies, fences, and fields, shouting, yelling, whooping, +that makes the cold chills run up your back--flash their glittering +bayonets in our very faces, and break our lines to pieces before you +could say 'boo.' Do you call that fighting? It was murder." No more +need be said of the Georgians. + +Little Florida did not have many troops in the field, but little +as she was, she was as brave as the best. Her troops, like those of +Georgia and South Carolina, were impulsive, impetuous, and rapid in +battle. They were few in numbers, but legions in the fray. + +The Alabamians and Mississippians came of pioneer stock, and like +their ancestry, were inured to hardships and dangers from childhood; +they made strong, hardy, brave soldiers. Indifferent to danger, they +were less careful of their lives than some from the older States. They +were fine marksmen; with a steady nerve and bold hearts, they won, +like Charles Martel, with their hammer-like blows. They were the +fanatical Saraceus of the South; while nothing could stand before the +broad scimeters of the former, so nothing could stand in the way of +the rifle and bayonet of the latter. + +The Louisianians were the Frenchmen of the South. Of small stature, +they were the best marchers in the army. Like their ancestors in the +days of the "Grand Monarch," and their cousins in the days of the +"Great Napoleon," they loved glory and their country. Light-hearted +and gay in camp, they were equally light-hearted and gay in battle. +Their slogan was, "Our cause and our country." The Louisianians were +grand in battle, companionable in camp, and all round soldiers in +every respect. + +The Texan, unlike the name of Texan immediately after the war, when +that country was the city of refuge for every murderer and cut-throat +of the land, were gallant, chivalrous, and gentlemanly soldiers. +Descendants of bold and adventurous spirits from every State in the +South, they were equally bold and daring in battle, and scorned the +very word of fear or danger. Hood's old Texas Brigade shared honors +with the old Stonewall Brigade in endurance, courage, and obstinacy +in action. The soldiers of Texas were tenacious, aggressive, and bold +beyond any of their brethren of the South. + +The Tennesseeans, true to the instincts of their "back woods" +progenitors, were kind-hearted, independent, and brimful of courage. +Driven from their homes and firesides by a hostile foe, they became +a "storm center" in battle. They were combative and pugnacious, and +defeat had no effect upon their order, and they were ever ready +to turn and strike a foe or charge a battery. Their courage at +Chickamauga is distinguished by showing the greatest per cent of +killed and wounded in battle that has even been recorded, the charge +of the Light Brigade not excepted, being over forty-nine per cent. + +What is said of the Tennesseeans is equally true of the Arkansans. +Of a common stock and ancestry, they inherited all the virtues and +courage of their forefathers. The Confederacy had no better soldiers +than the Arkansans--fearless, brave, and oftentimes courageous beyond +prudence. + +The border States' soldiers, Missourians, Kentuckians, and +Marylanders, were the free lance of the South. They joined the +fortunes of the South with the purest motives and fought with the +highest ideals. Under Forrest and Morgan and the other great riders of +the West, they will ever be the soldiers of story, song, and romance. +Their troops added no little lustre to the constellation of the +South's great heroes, and when the true history of the great Civil +War shall be written, they will be remembered. Indomitable in spirits, +unconquerable and unyielding in battle, they will ever stand as +monuments to the courage of the Southern Army. + + * * * * * + + +THE MAGNITUDE OF THE WAR--ITS LOSSES IN KILLED AND DIED. + +What were the Confederate losses during the war? Where are the +Confederate dead? Which State lost the most soldiers in proportion to +the number furnished the war? These are questions which will perhaps +be often asked, but never answered. It can never be known, only +approximately. The cars containing the Confederate archives were left +unguarded and unprotected at Greensboro on its way from Richmond, +until General Beauregard noticed papers from the car floating up and +down the railroad track, and had a guard placed over them and sent to +Charlotte. There was a like occurrence at this place, no protection +and no guard, until General Johnston had them turned over to the +Federal authorities for safe keeping. Consequently, the Confederate +rolls on file in Washington are quite incomplete, and the loss +impossible to ever be made good. + +The Federal authorities commenced immediately after the war to collect +their dead in suitable cemeteries, and the work of permanently marking +their graves continued systematically until the Federal loss in the +war can be very accurately estimated. There are seventy-five public +cemeteries for the burial of the Federal soldiers, in which are buried +three hundred and sixty thousand two hundred and seven; of these, +one hundred and thirty-nine thousand four hundred and ninety-six are +marked unknown. There were thirty-three thousand five hundred and +twenty negro soldiers buried in the cemeteries, and more than fifty +thousand Union dead never accounted for a great number of these fell +by the wayside during "Sherman's march to the sea;" lost by "Sherman's +rear guard," called by the Federal soldiers "Confederate bushwhackers" + +The rolls of the Confederate dead in the archives at Washington, given +by States, are very unsatisfactory and necessarily incomplete Only two +States can even approximate their loss. But as this is the record in +Washington, I give it. + + Killed. Died of Wounds. Died of Disease. + Virginia 5,328 2,519 6,947 + North Carolina 14,522 5,151 20,602 + South Carolina 9,187 3,725 4,700 + Georgia 5,553 1,716 3,702 + Florida 793 506 1,047 + Alabama 552 190 724 + Mississippi 5,807 2,651 6,807 + Louisiana 2,612 858 3,059 + Texas 1,348 1,241 1,260 + Arkansas 2,165 915 3,872 + Tennessee 2,115 874 3,425 + Regulars 1,007 468 1,040 + Border States 1,959 672 1,142 + ------------ ------------ ------------ + Totals 52,954 21,570 59,297 + +In the above it will be seen that North Carolina, which may be +considered approximately correct, lost more than any other State. +Virginia furnished as many, if not more, troops than North Carolina, +still her losses are one-third less, according to the statistics in +Washington. This is far from being correct. Alabama's dead are almost +eliminated from the rolls, while it is reasonable to suppose that +she lost as many as South Carolina, Mississippi, or Georgia. South +Carolina furnished more troops in proportion to her male white +population than any State in the South, being forty-five thousand to +August, 1862, and eight thousand reserves. It is supposed by competent +statisticians that the South lost in killed and died of wounds, +ninety-four thousand; and lost by disease, one hundred and twenty-five +thousand. + +In some of the principal battles throughout the war, there were killed +out right, not including those died of wounds-- + + First Manassas ...... 387 Gettysburg ............ 3,530 + Wilson's Creek ...... 279 Chickamauga ........... 2,380 + Fort Donelson ....... 466 Missionary Ridge ...... 381 + Pea Ridge ........... 360 Sabine Cross Roads .... 350 + Shiloh .............. 1,723 Wilderness ............ 1,630 + Seven Pines ......... 980 Atlanta Campaign ...... 3,147 + Seven Days Battles .. 3,286 Spottsylvania ......... 1,310 + Second Manassas ..... 1,553 Drury's Bluff ......... 355 + Sharpsburg .......... 1,512 Cold Harbor ........... 960 + Corinth ............. 1,200 Atlanta, July 22, 1864. 1,500 + Perryville .......... 510 Winchester ............ 286 + Fredericksburg ...... 596 Cedar Creek ........... 339 + Murfreesboro ........ 1,794 Franklin .............. 1,750 + Chancellorsville .... 1,665 Nashville ............. 360 + Champion Hill ....... 380 Bentonville ........... 289 + Vicksburg Siege ..... 875 Five Forks ............ 350 + +There were many other battles, some of greater magnitude than the +above, which are not here given. There are generally five wounded to +one killed, and nearly one-third of the wounded die of their wounds, +thus a pretty fair estimate of the various battles can be had. There +were more men killed and wounded at Gettysburg than on any field of +battle during the war, but it must be born in mind that its duration +was three days. General Longstreet, who should be considered a judge, +says that there were more men killed and wounded on the battlefield +at Sharpsburg (or Antietam), for the length of the engagement and men +engaged, than any during this century. + +The Union losses on the fields mentioned above exceeded those of the +Confederates by thirteen thousand five hundred in killed and died of +wounds. + +There were twenty-five regular prison pens at the North, at which +twenty-six thousand seven hundred and seventy-six Confederate +prisoners died, tabulated as follows: + +PRISONS. No. Deaths. + +Alton, Ill 1,613 +Camp Butler, Ill 816 +Camp Chase, Ohio 2,108 +Camp Douglass, Ill 3,750 +Camp Horton, Ind 1,765 +Camp Randall, Wis 137 +Chester, Penn 213 +David's Is., N.Y. Harbor 178 +Elmira, N.Y. 2,960 +Fort Delaware, Del 2,502 +Fort Warren, Bos'n H'b'r 13 +Frederick, Md 226 +Gettysburg, Penn 210 +Hart's Is., N.Y. Harbor 230 +Johnson's Island, Ohio 270 +Knoxville, Tenn 138 +Little Rock, Ark 220 +Nashville, Tenn 561 +New Orleans, La 329 +Point Lookout, Md 3,446 +Richmond, Va 175 +Rock Island, Ill 1,922 +St. Louis, Mo 589 +Ship Island, Miss 162 +Washington, DC 457 + +War is an expensive pastime for nations, not alone in the loss +of lives and destruction of public and private property, but the +expenditures in actual cash--gold and silver--is simply appalling. It +is claimed by close students of historical data, those who have given +the subject careful study, that forty million of human beings lose +their lives during every century by war alone. Extravagant as this +estimate may seem, anyone who will carefully examine the records of +the great conflicts of our own century will readily be convinced that +there are not as much extravagance in the claim as a cursory glance at +the figures would indicate. Europe alone loses between eighteen, and +twenty million, as estimated by the most skillful statisticians. Since +the time of the legendary Trojan War (three thousand years), it is +supposed by good authority that one billion two hundred thousand of +human, beings have lost their lives by the hazard of war, not all +in actual battle alone, but by wounds and diseases incident to a +soldier's life, in addition to those fallen upon the field. + +In the wars of Europe during the first half of this century two +million and a half of soldiers lost their lives in battle, and the +country was impoverished to the extent of six billions eight hundred +and fifty millions of dollars, while three millions of soldiers have +perished in war since 1850. England's national debt was increased +by the war of 1792 to nearly one billion and a half, and during the +Napoleonic wars to the amount of one billion six hundred thousand +dollars. + +During the last seventy years Russia has expended for war measures the +sum of one billion six hundred and seventy million dollars, and lost +seven hundred thousand soldiers. It cost England, France, and Russia, +in the Crimean war of little more than a year's duration, one billion +five hundred million dollars, and five hundred thousand lives lost by +the four combined nations engaged. + +But all this loss, in some cases lasting for years, is but a bagatelle +in comparison to the loss in men and treasure during the four years of +our Civil War. + +According to the records in Washington, the North spent, for the +equipment and support of its armies during the four years of actual +hostilities, four billion eight hundred million in money, outside of +the millions expended in the maintenance of its armies during the days +of Reconstruction, and lost four hundred and ten thousand two hundred +and fifty-seven men. The war cost the South, in actual money on a gold +basis, two billion three hundred million, to say nothing of the tax in +kind paid by the farmers of the South for the support of the army. The +destruction and loss in public and private property, outside of the +slaves, is simply appalling. The approximate loss in soldiers is +computed at two hundred and nineteen thousand. + +The actual cost of the war on both sides, in dollars and cents, and +the many millions paid to soldiers as pensions since the war, would be +a sum sufficient to have paid for all the negroes in the South several +times over, and paid the national debt and perhaps the debts of most +of the Southern States at the commencement of the war. + +This enormous loss in blood and treasure on the part of the South was +not spent in the attempts at conquest, the subversion of the Union, or +the protection of the slave property, but simply the maintenance of +a single principle--the principle of States Rights, guaranteed by the +Federal Constitution. + + * * * * * + + +THE CONFEDERATE DEAD--THE BATTLEFIELDS OF THE CIVIL WAR--THE TWO +CIVILIZATIONS. + +The North has gathered up the bones of the greater part of her vast +armies of the dead, commencing the task immediately after the war, and +interred them in her vast national cemeteries. At the head of each is +an imperishable head-stone, on which is inscribed the name of the dead +soldier, where a record has been kept, otherwise it is simply marked +"unknown." The North was the victor; she was great, powerful, and +rolling in wealth; she could do this, as was right and just. + +But where are the South's dead? Echo answers from every hill and dale, +from every home where orphan and widow weep and mourn, "Where?" +The South was the vanquished, stricken in spirits, and ruined in +possessions; her dead lie scattered along every battle ground from +Cemetery Ridge and the Round Top at Gettysburg, to the Gulf and far +beyond the Father of Waters. One inscription on the head-stones +would answer for nearly all, and marked "unknown." One monument would +suffice for all the army of the dead, and an appropriate inscription +would be a slight paraphrase of old Simonides on the shaft erected +to the memory of the heroes of Thermopylae--"Go, stranger, and to +Southland tell That here, obeying her behest, we fell." + +The names of the great majority have already been forgotten, only +within a circumscribed circle are they remembered, and even from this +they will soon have passed into oblivion. But their deeds are recorded +in the hearts of their countrymen in letters everlasting, and their +fame as brave and untarnished soldiers will be remembered as long as +civilization admires and glories in the great deeds of a great +people. Even some of the great battle grounds upon which the South +immortalized itself and made the American people great will soon be +lost to memory, and will live only in song and story. Yet there are +others which, through the magnificent tribute the North has paid to +her dead, will be remembered for all time. + +Looking backwards through the lapse of years since 1861, over some of +the great battlefields of the Civil War, we see striking contrasts. +On some, where once went carnage and death hand in hand, we now see +blooming fields of growing grain, broad acres of briar and brush, +while others, a magnificent "city of the dead." Under the shadow of +the Round Top at Gettysburg, where the earth trembled beneath the +shock of six hundred belching cannon, where trampling legions spread +themselves along the base, over crest and through the gorges of the +mountain, are now costly parks, with towering monuments--records of +the wonderful deeds of the dead giants, friend and foe. + +Around the Capital of the "Lost Cause," where once stood forts and +battlements, with frowning cannon at each salient, great rows of +bristling bayonets capping the walls of the long winding ramparts, +with men on either side standing grim and silent, equally ready and +willing to consecrate the ground with the blood of his enemy or his +own, are now level fields of grain, with here and there patches of +undergrowth and briars. Nothing now remains to conjure the passer-by +that here was once encamped two of the mightiest armies of earth, and +battles fought that astounded civilization. + +On the plains of Manassas, where on two different occasions the +opposing armies met, where the tide of battle surged and rolled back, +where the banners of the now vanquished waved in triumph from every +section of the field, the now victors fleeing in wild confusion, +beaten, routed, their colors trailing in the dust of shame and defeat, +now all to mark this historic battle ground is a broken slab or +column, erected to individuals, defaced by time and relic seekers, and +hidden among the briars and brush. + +From the crest and along the sides of Missionary Ridge, and from the +cloud-kissed top of Lookout Mountain, to Chickamauga, where the flash +of cannon lit up the valley and plain below, where swept the armies +of the blue and the gray in alternate victory and defeat, where the +battle-cry of the victorious mingled with the defiant shouts of the +vanquished, where the cold steel of bayonets met, and where brother's +gun flashed in the face of brother, where the tread of contending +armies shook the sides and gorges of the mountain passes, are now +costly granite roadways leading to God's Acre, where are buried the +dead of the then two nations, and around whose border runs the "River +of Death" of legend, Chickamauga. Over this hallowed ground floats the +flag of a reunited country, where the brother wearing the uniform of +the victor sleeps by the side of the one wearing the uniform of +the vanquished. Along the broad avenues stand lofty monuments or +delicately chiseled marble, erected by the members of the sisterhood +of States, each representing the loyalty and courage of her respective +sons, and where annually meet the representatives of the Frozen North +with those of the Sunny South, and in one grand chorus rehearse the +death chants of her fallen braves, whose heroism made the name of the +nation great. To-day there stands a monument crowned with laurels and +immortelles, erected by the State to the fallen sons of the "Dark and +Bloody Ground," who died facing each other, one wearing the blue, the +other the gray, and on its sides are inscribed: "As we are united in +life, and they in death, let one monument perpetuate their deeds, and +one people, forgetful of all aspirations, forever hold in grateful +remembrance all the glories of that terrible conflict, which made all +men free and retaining every star in the Nation's flag." + +The great conflict was unavoidable; under the conditions, it was +irresistable. It was but the accomplishment, by human agencies, the +will of the Divine. Its causes were like paths running on +converging lines, that eventually must meet and cross at the angle, +notwithstanding their distances apart or length. From the foundation +of the government these two converging lines commenced. Two +conflicting civilizations came into existence with the establishment +of the American Union--the one founded on the sovereignty of the +States and the continuance of slavery was espoused by the hot-blooded +citizens of the South; the other, upon the literal construction of +the Declaration of Independence, that "all men are created free +and equal," and the supremacy of the general government over States +Rights, and this was the slogan of the cool, calculating, but +equally brave people of the North. The converging lines commenced in +antagonism and increased in bitterness as they neared the vertex. The +vertex was 1861. At this point it was too late to make concessions. +There was no room for conciliation or compromise, then the only +recourse left is what all brave people accepts--the arbitrament of the +sword. + +The South sought her just rights by a withdrawal from the "Unholy +Alliance." The North sought to sustain the supremacy and integrity +of the Union by coercing the "Erring Sisters" with force of arms. The +South met force with force, and as a natural sequence, she staked her +all. The North grew more embittered as the combat of battles rolled +along the border and the tread of a million soldiers shook the two +nations to their centers. First, it was determined that the Union +should be preserved, even at the expense of the South's cherished +institution; then, as the contest grew fiercer and more unequaled, +that the institution itself should die with the re-establishment of +the Union. Both played for big stakes--one for her billions of slave +property, the other for the forty or more stars in her constellation. +Both put forward her mightiest men of war. Legions were mustered, +marshalled, and thrown in the field, with an earnestness and rapidity +never before witnessed in the annals of warfare. Each chose her +best Captains to lead her armies to battle, upon the issue of which +depended the fate of two nations. The Southern legions were led by +the Lees, Johnstons, Beauregards, Jacksons, Stuarts, Longstreets, +and other great Lieutenants; the North were equally fortunate in her +Grants, Shermans, Thomases, Sheridans, and Meads. In courage, ability, +and military sagacity, neither had just grounds to claim superiority +over the other. In the endurance of troops, heroism, and unselfish +devotion to their country's cause, the North and South each found +foemen worthy of their steel. Both claimed justice and the Almighty +on their side. Battles were fought, that in the magnitude of the +slaughter, in proportion to the troops engaged, has never been +equalled since the days of recorded history; Generalship displayed +that compared favorably with that of the "Madman of the North," +the Great Frederick, or even to that of the military prodigy of all +time--Napoleon himself. The result of the struggle is but another +truth of the maxim of the latter, that "The Almighty is on the side of +the greatest cannon." + +I close my labors with an extract from a speech of one of the Southern +Governors at Chickamauga at the dedication of a monument to the dead +heroes from the State. + +"A famous poem represents an imaginary midnight review of Napoleon's +Army. The skeleton of a drummer boy arises from the grave, and with +his bony fingers beats a long, loud reveille. At the sound the legions +of the dead Emperor come from their graves from every quarter where +they fell. From Paris, from Toulon, from Rivoli, from Lodi, from +Hohenlinden, from Wagram, from Austerlitz, from the cloud clapped +summit of the Alps, from the shadows of the Pyramids, from the snows +of Moscow, from Waterloo, they gather in one vast array with Ney, +McDonald, Masenna, Duroc, Kleber, Murat, Soult, and other marshals in +command. Forming, they silently pass in melancholy procession before +the Emperor, and are dispersed with 'France' as the pass word and 'St. +Helena' as the challenge. + +"Imagine the resurrection of the two great armies of the Civil War. +We see them arising from Gettysburg, from the Wilderness, from Shiloh, +from Missionary Ridge, from Stone River, from Chickamauga--yea, from +a hundred fields--and passing with their great commanders in +review before the martyred President. In their faces there is no +disappointment, no sorrow, no anguish, but they beam with light and +hope and joy. With them there is no 'St. Helena,' no 'Exile,' and they +are dispersed with 'Union' as a challenge and 'Reconciliation' as a +pass word." + + * * * * * + + +APPENDIX + + +I have in this appendix endeavored to give a complete roll of all the +members who belonged to Kershaw's Brigade. I have taken it just as it +stands in the office of the State Historian in Columbia. The work of +completing the rolls of the Confederate soldiers from this State +was first commenced by the late General, H.L. Farley and finished by +Colonel John P. Thomas, to whose courtesy I am indebted for the use +of his office and archives while completing these rolls. There may be +some inaccuracies in the spelling of names or in the names themselves, +but this could not be avoided after the lapse of so many years. Then, +again, the copy sent to the State Historian was often illegible, +causing the same names to appear different and different names to look +the same. But I have followed the records in the office in Columbia, +and am not responsible for any mistakes, omissions, or inaccuracies. + +In the list of officers there will appear some seeming irregularities +and inaccuracies, but this is accounted for by the fact that the +duplicate rolls were those taken from the companies' muster rolls when +first enlisted in the Confederate service, and little or no record +kept of promotions. Thus we will see Captains and Lieutenants in these +rolls marked as non-commissioned officers. This was occasioned by +those officers being promoted during the continuance of the war, and +no record kept of such promotions. + + * * * * * + +ROLL OF SECOND SOUTH CAROLINA VOLUNTEER REGIMENT. + +Field and Staff. COLONELS: Kershaw, J.B., Jones, E.P., Kennedy, Jno. D., +Wallace, Wm. +LIEUTENANT COLONELS: Goodwin, A.D., Gaillard, Frank, Graham, J.D. +MAJORS: Casson, W.H., Clyburn, B., Leaphart, G. +ADJUTANTS: Sill, E.C., Goodwin, A.D., McNeil, A. +ASSISTANT QUARTERMASTERS: Wood, W.S., Peck, W.D. +ASSISTANT COMMISSARY SERGEANT: Villipigue, J.J. +SURGEON: Salmond, F. +ASSISTANT SURGEONS: Nott, J.H., Maxwell, A. +CHAPLAINS: McGruder, A.I., Smith, ----. + +COMPANY "A." + +CAPTAINS: Casson, W.H., Shelton, M.A., Gaillard, F., Leaphart, S., L., +Maddy, M.M. +FIRST LIEUTENANT: Shuler, P.H.B. +SECOND LIEUTENANT: Brown, R., Myers, W.M., Eggleston, D.B. +SERGEANTS: West, W.H., Reid, J.C., Bryant, J.F., Livingston, J.B., +Cooper, G.F., Gilbert, J.G., Wells, J.F., McTurious, E.C. Joiner, B., +DuBose, J. +CORPORALS: Sulaff, W.C., Bruns, G., Newman, R., Rowan, S.W., Mack, J.M., +Goodwin, C.T. + +PRIVATES: Atta, T.M., Andre, Geo., Anderson, M.J., Anderson, Geo., +Andrews, T.P., Blackwell, Jas., Bryant, B.F., Brown, C.K., Brown, Jessie, +Baker, J.L., Burns, L., Benjamin, T., Banks, C.C., Casson, J.H., Cavis, +J.W., Canning, Thos., Clowdy, ----, Cannon, M., Calais, W.J., +Cooper, J.W., DuBose, J.B., Durin, Thos., Deckerson, Geo., Dwight, W.M., +Emlyn, H.N., Field, G.R., Forde, Edwin, Griffin, J.W., Gasoue, W., Gibson, +J., Graham, J., Graham, Thos., Glass, W.G., Hall, J.R., Hoeffir, Chas, +Hartnett, M., Hinton, S.P., Hinkle, E., Howard, W.P., Hays, A.G., Hall, +J.W., Hennies W., Holmes, C.R., Hollis, M., Hollis, Carles, Howell, O.F., +Hutchinson, B.B., Halsey, M.P., Johnson, D.B., Joiner, P.H., Kelly, Tames, +Kind, Wm., Kelly, J.G., Kindman, J.D., Loomis, H.H., Ladd, P.B., Lee, +Isom, Lindsey, S.J., Landrum, A.P., Leaphart, J.E., Landrum, L.M., +Magillan, C., McGee, Alex., McFie, Joseph, Mathews, Jno., McDonald, D.J., +McCarter, W.E., McCully, W.H., Miller, R.L., Mitchell, D., Marsh, J.A., +Murphy, Geo., Myers, John, Maw, R.E., Martin, E.R., Marsh. Thos., Martin, +Saml., Newman, J.M., Neuffer, C.E., Nott, Carles. Norton, R., Nott, W.J., +Pritchard, D., Pelfry, J., Roberts, L.D., Roberts, J.F., Radcliff, L.J., +Rentiers, J.G., Roach, W.J., Rose, J.C., Rulland, C.L., Randolph, W.J., +Reilly, W.T., Stubbs, W.G., Stubbs, J.D., Starling, W.D., Starling, R., +Starling. Jno., Smith, B., Smith, Richard. Stokes, E.R., Thurston, J., +Taylor, H., Vaughn, B., Williams. Jno., Winchester, J.M., Winchester, J. + +COMPANY "B." + +CAPTAINS: Hoke, A.D., Pulliam, R.C., Cagle, J.W. +FIRST LIEUTENANT: Isaacs, A., Holland, Wm. +SECOND LIEUTENANT: Elford, Geo.E. +SERGEANTS: Price, W.P., Watson, Wm. C., Dyer, G.B., Clyde, S.C., Pool, +R.W. Pickle, O.A., Moore, T.H.L., Stall, Thos., Sudwith. Peter P., Jones, +Jno. M., Towns, John M., Bacon, Randolph. +CORPORALS: Harris, Frank E., Jennings, Jno. A., West, L.M., Ingram, H.G., +Roberts, J.M., Shumate, W.T. + +PRIVATES: Anderson, G.T., Allen, D., Beacham, E.F., Bowen, O.E., Brown, +H.C., Bacon, A., Baldwin, Jas., Baldwin, W.W., Baldwin, E., Blakely, R.L., +Bramlett, R.H., Bramlett, Joseph, Barbary, Wm., Carson, Joseph M., Carson, +John, Carson, C.H., Carpenter, S.J., Carpenter, J.F., Cureton, A.H., +Chandler, W.G., Coxe, F., Cooper, M., Cox, J.A., Cox, Wm. F., Dyer, G.W., +Dyer, J.N., Diver, W.S., Diver, J.E., Diver, R.F., D'Oyle, C.W., Duncan, +A.S., Duncan, W.H., Duncan, J.M., Duncan, Robert, Donaldson, Thos. R., +Davis, Saml., Dauthit, S.J., Foster, A.A., Goodlett, F.M., Goodlett, L.M., +Goodlett, J.H., Goodlett, J.Y., Garmany, W.H., Grogan, T.R., Gibson, S.K., +Gibson, J., Gosett, I.P., Gibreath, W.W., Gibreath, L.P., Goldsmith, W.H., +Gwin, R.A., Harris, R.A., Hawkins, L.P., Henning, N.P., Hirch, G.W., Hill, +J.W., Hudson, W.A., Huff, P.D., Huff, P.W., Holland, D.W., Holland, A.J., +Holland, Jno., Irvin, D.P., Ingram, W.P., Jones, E.P., Jones, E.T., Jones, +B., Johnson, I.T., Kilburn, T.C., Kirkland, P., Long, W.D., Long, S.F., +Mauldin, Jas., McKay, R.W., Miller, J.P., Miller, W.S., Markley, H.C., +Markley, Jno., Markley, Charles, Morgan, W.N., Moore, F., Moore, Lewis M., +Moore, John, Moore, J.T., Mills, J., Payne, J., Parkins, G.W., Parkins, +J.D., Pickett, J.H., Price, J.M., Poole, J.W., Pool, Cartery Y., Poor, +G.B., Rowley, E.F., S., Roe, H.D., Rice, J.H., Ramsey, W.H., Smith, L.R., +Scrugg, W.L.M.A., Shumate, J.S., Shumate, R.Y.H., Shumate, L.J., +Sullivan, J.N. Smyer, M.A., Sinder, J., Salmons, J.M., Turpin, W.P., +Tracy, Fred. S., Thompson, W.D., Thornley, J.L., Turner, J.L., West, R.W., +Wisnant, W.F., Wisnant, Alex., Whitmire, Wm., Walton, D.S., Williams, +G.W., Watson, P.D., Watson, W.W., Watkins, Lynn, Yeargin, J.O. + +COMPANY "C." + +CAPTAINS: Wallace, Wm., Lorick, S., Vinson, A.P. +FIRST LIEUTENANT: Wood, W.S., Bell, J.C. Peck, W.D., Wallace, E. Youmans, +O.J., Scott, J.T., McGregor, W.C., Stenhouse, E. +SERGEANTS: Myers, Jno. A., Howie, Wm., Radcliff, L.J., Beck, Chas, J., +Shand, R.W., Clarkson, I.O.H., Bell, Jacob, Hill, Wm., Medlin, N., +Corrall. Jno., Edwards, J.G., Bell, E.H. +CORPORALS: McCullough, Jno., Owens, Peter, Garner, Thos., Robertson, +R.D., Lee, J.W.G., Osment, J.R., Davis, H., Freeman, R.G., Loomis, T.D. + +PRIVATES: Ballard, J.N., Boyer, Thomas, Busard, Sam., Boyle, J.C., Brown, +S., Brice, Robert, Campbell, James, Campbell, J.M., Copeland, J., Cook, +P., Chestnut, ----, Chambers, E.R., Cupps, C.M., Douglass, Jno., +Dougherty, J., Dickens, H.C., Davis, R.A., Flaherty, M., Freeman, Wm., +Glaze, Jno., Garner, Wm., Goodwin, E.M., Gruber, Jno., Gruber, S., Goins, +Henry, Gunnell, J.S., Gunnell, W.H., Grier, J., Heminnis, M., Hurst, J.P., +Harrison, B., Hauleely, Henry, Hendricks, Jno., Hunt, J., Hammett, H.B., +Hamilton, D., Isbell, Walter, King, W.H., Kallestrane, M.H., Lee, U., Lee, +L.W., Lee, A.J., Leach, C., Lochlier, ----, Martin, J.M., +Martin, Joel, Martin, C.B., Martin, Daniel, Martin, Saml., Manville, A.T., +Medlin, C., McPherson, S. McPherson, W., McPherson, Jno., McGregor, P.C., +Murrell, W.S., Medlin, P., Perry, J., Perry, C., Palmer, W.R., Pearson, +Robt, Poag, R.P., Ramsay, J., Robertson, F.L., Ransom, Wm., Scarborough, +Wm., Scott, J.R., Sheely, W.C., Sharp, G.W., Stubblefield, W.H., Tate, +I.O., Vinson, Wm., Wailes, R., Wilson, K., Walker, C.A., Williamson, W.I., +Woolen, James, Zesterfelt, F. + +COMPANY "D." + +CAPTAINS: Richardson, Jno. S., Bartlett, L.W., Graham, I.D. +FIRST LIEUTENANT: Wilder, J.D., Wilder, W.W., Jacob., I. +SECOND LIEUTENANT: Durant, T.M., Pelot, W.L., Rembert, L.M. +THIRD LIEUTENANT: Nettles, J.H., Gardner, H.W. +SERGEANTS: Gayle, I.P., Nettles, J.D., Hodge, J.W., Brennan, J.P., +Bowman, S.J., McQueen, W.A., Pringle, S.M. +CORPORALS: Wilson, S.T., Thompson, R.M., Gardner, A., Reams, H.M., +Miller, J.I., Cole, S.R. + +PRIVATES: Ard, J.P., Alsobrooks, J.E., Alsobrooks, Bog., Baker, W.T., +Beard, D., Beck, I.S., Bradford, J.P., Brogdon, J.D., Brogdon, T.M., +Brown, F.H., Brown, H.J., Browning, T.S., Brumby, G.S., Brunson, W.E., +Brunson, W.J., Ballard, W.R., Blight, J., Burkett, I.L., Burkett, T.H., +Brunson, I.R., Brown, S.J., Bird, J.P., Bass, S.C., Blanding, O., Britton, +J.J., Caraway, P.T., Clyburn, B., Cook, W.H., Davis J.L., DeLorme, W.M., +DeLorme, T.M., DeLorme, C., Dennis, John W., Dennis, J.M., Dennis, S.M., +Dennis, R.E., Dennis, E.E., Dougherty, J., Dalrymple, S., Eubanks, A., +Flowers, S.P., Flowers, T.E., Felder, W.E., A., Freman, I.H., Gallagher, +P.B., Garden, H.R., Green, H.D., Graham, J.A., Gibson, H., Grooms, A., +Haynsworth, J.H., Haynsworth, M.E., Hodge, I.B., Hodge, W.T., Holladay, +D.J., Holladay, T.J., Huggins, W.H., Ives, J.E., Jenkins, W.W., Jackson, +J.H., Jones, C.H., Jones, E.C., Jones, P.H., Kavanagh, T.D., Kelly, H.T., +Kinney, Jno., Lesesne, J.I., London, Peter, Lynam, T.M., Lucas, A.P., +Mellett, J.Y., McLaurin, J.C., McNeal, W.M., Moses, M.B., McKagan, G.P., +Moses, H.C., Moses, Perry, Moses, Perry, Muldrow. I.R., Myers, R.C., +Norton, J.J., Newman, S.I., O'Neil, W.J., Pry, J.C., Pool, W.M., +Patterson, J.S., Ramsay, W.M., Redford, J.B., Richardson, G. Rhame, J.F. +Ross, D.J.. Rodgers, I., Shaw, J.H., Scott, J., Sledge, W.A., Smith. F.H., +Smith, T.J., Thompson, W.T., Troublefield, A.D., Troublefield, T.J., +Troublefield. W.B., Vaughn, F.O., Watts, W.D., Wheeler. C.O., Wilson, +C.A., Wilson, T.D., Witler, O., Wedekind, H., Wilder, Saml., Wilder, J., +Frazer. J.B., Gilbert, J.C.T., Kirkland, J.G., McCoy, W.P., Myers, J.B., +Richburg, J.B., Sims, E.R., Wells, J.A., Wilson, Robt., Hartley, T.J. + +COMPANY "E." + +CAPTAINS: Kennedy, Jno. D., Leitner, Wm. S. +LIEUTENANTS: Dunlop, Josp. D., Sill, E.E., Drakeford, Jos. J., DePass, +W.J., McKain, Jno. J., Riddle, James M. +SERGEANTS: Dutton, W.C., Pegues, R.H., Hodgson, H.F., McKalgen, H.G., +Ryan, D.R., Gerald, R.L., Nettles, Hiram. +CORPORALS: Niles, A., Boswell, J.P., Perry, J.A., Honnet, B., Devine, +F.G., Gardner. E., Polk, J.W. + +PRIVATES: Allen, W.R., Ancrum, Thos. J., Sr., Arrants, J.H., Arrants, +W.T., Arrants, R.H., Arrants, J.R., Barnes, J.B., Barnes, S.Y., Brown, +John, Brown, Jas. R., Baum, Marcus, Buchanan. W.L., Baker, M., Beaver, +Jno. R., Barrett, E., Barrington, J., Burchfield, E.C., Bowen, A., Bowen, +W., Baer, B.M., Boykin, Campell, Alex., Cook, M., Cook, J., Cook, John, +Cook, Joseph, Croft, J., Coker, R., Crump, T.M., Cusick, P., Cunningham, +J.S., Cooper, J.C., Cooper, J.D., Crenshaw, W.J., Davis, J.T., DeBruhl, +----, Dunlap, E.R., Dunlap, C.J., Durant, J.A., Dawkins, W.B., +Doby, A.E., Delton, B.Z., Evans, D., Evans, G., Elkins, E.E., Francis. +Jno., Freeman, J., Freeman, M., Fullerton, G.P., Ford, A., Gardner, T.B., +Gibson, H.B., Graham. D., Graham, T.T., Goens, E., Howell, M., Haile, +J.S., Harrison, B., Heath, B.D., Hinson, J.E., Jeffers, L., Jinks, E.W., +Johnson, W.E., Kendrick, James, Kelly, B.E., Kelly, D.H., Kirkland, R.R., +Kirkley, R., King, G., Legrand, J.M., Leitner, B.F., Love, Wm., Love, +L.W., Lawrence, E.H., Middleton, D.P., Munroe, G., Munroe, J., Munroe, +Alex., Munroe, Jno., Mickie, Jno. P., Murchison, A.A., Moroh, L.C., Moore, +Levi, Maddox, Tom, McDaniel, I., Miller, J.A., McCown, J., McMillan, J., +McKain, Wm., McIntosh, T.R., Means, S.B., McRea, D., Nelson, G., Nettles, +W.N., Nettles, J.T., Nettles, J.E., Nettles, Joseph S., Pegue, C.J., +Picket, J., Pope, T.W., Prichard, D., Proctor, R.W., Pennington, R.A., +Pierson, P.J., Ryan, P.H., Rembert, T.M., Scarborough, H.G., Scarborough, +L.W., Scott, Jno., Strawbridge, B.R., Small, R.E., Smith, Jno., Stokes, +W., Smith, Geo., Smyth, J., Team, J., Tidwell, D., Turner, W., Vaughn, +Lewis, Wethersbee, J.A., Wethersbee, T.C., Waner, J.O., Watts. Wm., +Wilson, Roland, Wilson, T.R., Wilson, J.S., Winder, J.R., Witherspoon, +T.M., Wood, J. Mc., Wood, Jno., Wood, Pinckney, Wells, D.E., Wright, W.H. + +COMPANY "F." + +CAPTAINS: Perryman, W.W., McDowell, G.W., Vance, W. Cal. +LIEUTENANTS: Fouche, ----, Maxwell, J.C., McNeil, A., Parks, +J.T., Adams, J.J., Koon, S.A., Lunbecker, W.A., Appleton W.L., Connor, +G.W., Johnson, W.A. +SERGEANTS: Moore, A.W., Fuller, H.F., Smith, J.W., Bond, S. Lewis, +Brooks, Chas. E., Seaborn, ----. + +PRIVATES: Anderson, J.W., Anderson, James, Bailey, W.H., Benson, V.S., +Blake, A.W., Burrell, W.J., Butler, Jno., Brooks, Stanmore, Boozer, S.P., +Boozer, William, Benson, Thos., Brownlee, J.A., Barratt, Jno. G., Bell, +Wm. S., Bell, Wm. P., Carr, Jno. L., Chaney, Willis, Chaney, J.S., Chaney, +R.E., Chaney, Ransom, Cheatham, J.T., Cheatham, Jno., Crews, C.W., Crews, +M.A., Carter, V.C., Creswell, I.D., Creswell, P., Caldwell, G.R., Chipley, +W.W., Chipley, T.W., Cobb, C.A., Calvert, J.H., Crawford, H. Henry, +Cason, Richard, Cason, J.F., Day, M., Davis, Dr. Frank, Davis, Jno. F.H., +Deal, S.C., Douglass, W.W., Ellis, A.B., Fisher, C.D., Fouche, Jno., +Fouche, Ben., Fuller, P.M., Fennel, J.L., Gilmer, Robt. P., Gilmer, Wm., +Gillam, J.M., Griffin, V., Griffin, G.W., Grant, W.H., Grant, Jno., +Goodwin, Jno., Hancock, W.H., Harris, G.M., Heffernan, J.L., Hearst, T.J., +Hughey, J.E., Hughey, Fred. T., Hughey, N., Hodges, J.W., Harris, T., +Hutchison, Soule, Hutchison, Jno. W., Hutchison, R.F., Henderson, W.E., +Hunter, W.C., Henderson, J.T., Ingraham, M.S., Jackson, C. Johnson, F.P., +Johnson, Saml., Johnson, J.W., Johnson, D.Q., Johnson, G.W., Jones, J.R., +Johnson, J.W., Jones, C.C., Jones, Thomas, Jones, Willie, Jester, Benj., +Lomax, W.G., Lenard, V.A., Lenard, J.J., Meriwether, W.N., Moreen, Jno. +A., Milford, J.T., Marshall, G.W., McKellar, L.W., McKellar, G.W., +McKellar, J.R., McCord, D.W., McNeill, H.B., McKensie, Jno., Major, R.W., +Major, J.M., Moore, J.R., Moore, Robt., Moore, Henry, McCrary, B., Malone, +A., Malone, Jno., Partlow, Jno. E., Powers, J.W., Pinson, A., Pinson, +T.R., Pinson, Jno. V., Parks, Wm., Pelot, Dr. J.M., Rampey, G.W., Rampey, +S.D., Reynolds, B., Reynolds, A.D., Reynolds, Jno. M., Roderick, W.F., +Riley, E.C., Rykard, T.J., Riley, W.N., Rykard, L.H., Robertson, Jno., +Ross, T.M., Ross, Jno., Ross. G.P., Ross, Wiley, Reed, J.S., Saddler, +J.H., Saddler, Willis, Shadrick, W.S., Shepard, E.Y., Shepard, J.S., +Selby, E.C., Selleck, C.W., Smith. R.G., Smith, T.N., Seal, J.R., Silk, +Jas., Turner, J.S., Townsend, J.F., Turner, Ira, Teddards, D.F., Vance, J. +C., Watson, G. McB., Waller, W.W., Waller, C.A.C., Walker, W.L., Wiss, E., +Younge, J.C. + +COMPANY "G." + +CAPTAINS: Haile, C.C., Clyburn, T.J. +LIEUTENANTS: Cantley, T.R., Jones, W.J. +SERGEANTS: Cunningham, J.P., Tuesdale, J.E., Benton, F.J., Cauthen, A.J. +CORPORALS: West, W.S., Coats, D.W., Jones, B.N., Williams, R.H., Jones, +S.D., Kirkland, B.M. + +PRIVATES: Alexander, J.H.R., Baskin, J.C.J., Blackburn, B.J., Blackwell, +J.A., Boone. J., Boone. W., Boone, J.W., Bruce, J.H., Bowers, G.M., +Baskin, C.E., Baskin, R.C., Bird, W.L., Blackmon, J.E., Blackmon, W.N., +Belk. J.M., Cauthen, J.S., Coats, H.J., Coats, G.H., Copeland, W.W., +Crawford, S., Chancy, B., Clark, J.W., Croxton, J.Q., Cook, J.E., Cook, +T., Cato, A.D., Coon, S.S., Dixon, B.S., Dixon, F.L., Downs, A.J., Dixon, +G.L., Davis, D., Davis, H.G., Davis, H., Dumm, J.W., Falkinberry, J.W., +Falkinberry, W.J., Fletcher. D.G., Falkenberry, J., Fail, J., Gaftin, +J.B., Gardner. R.C., Gray, W., Graham, J., Gaskin, D., Gaskin, J., Hall, +J.D., Holly, J., Howie. F.P., Howie, S.D., Hough, N., Hough, J., Hough, +W.P., Haile, G.W., Hunter, W.J., Johnson, W., Johnson, W.M., Johnson, +A.A., Knight, J.A., Knox, W.L., Kelly, M.P., Kirby, J., Kirkland, R.R., +Knight, W.A. Love, McD. R., Mahaffy, W.W., Martin, J.S., Martin, W.H., +Marshall, W.S., Marshall, J.S., Mosely, C., Mosely, F., Murchison, J.J., +McLure, J., McDowell, J.E.C., McKay, H.C., Mahaffy, O.C., Mason, T.E., +McMahan, A. W,. Marshall. W.D., Marshall, W.H., Mason, L.R., Nelson, T.J., +Patterson, R.B., Patterson, W.W., Perry. T.J., Peach, W., Parker, B., +Phaile, J., Powers, W.T., Philipps, W.P. Redick. R., Reaver, D.R., +Robertson, L.D., Robertson, E.H., Roe, J., Ray, D., Raysor, J.C., Rasey, +B., Stover, D.G. Sheorn, Morris D., Sheorn, James, Sowell, J.A., Suggs, +Wm., Button, E., Small, A.J., Trantham, W.D., Tuesdel, W.J., Tuesdel, B., +Tuesdel, W.M., Tuesdel. H., Tuesdel, J.T., West, T.A., West, T.G., West, +S., West, W.M., Williams, Jno., Williams, J.N., Williams, C.D., +Wilkerson, J., Whitehead. S., Young, C.P., Young, G.W., Young, J.N., +Young, W.C., Young, W.J. + +COMPANY "H." + +CAPTAINS: McManus, A., Clyburn, B.R. +LIEUTENANT: Perry, A.M., Welsh, S.J., Brasington, G.C., Reeves, T.J., +Hinson, M.R. +SERGEANTS: Perry, J.F., Gardener, S.C., Kennington, W.R., Williams, D. +A., McKay, Dr. J.P., Ingram, I.N., Moody, J.J., Love, M.C., Sowells, W.S. +CORPORALS: Baker, A.J., Small, J.M., Johnson, G.D., Johnson, D.G., Small, +J.M., Douglass, S.A., Kelly, B.L., Cook, J.C., McHorton, W., Williams, +T.E., Hilton, R.P., Boiling, R.A. + +PRIVATES: Adkins, W.C., Baker, J.J.T., Baker, W., Bailey, J.D., Bailey, +Jno., Bell, W.T., Bunnett, G.W., Bowers, N.H., Bowers, W.J., Brasington, +W.M., Blackman, B., Bridges, P.H., Caston, W.J., Cato, R.E., Cauthen, +G.L., Cauthen, L.D., Craige, W.M., Cauthen, J.M., Deas, A., Ellis, G.W., +Ellis, W.W., Funderburk, W.B., Funderburk, J.C., Faulkenberry, J.T., +Gardener, C.L., Gardener, S., Gardener, W.W., Gregory, W.T., Gregory, +Willis, Harris, G.T., Harris, J.K., Harrell, D., Hilkon, T., Hinson, E., +Hinson, W.L., Horton, A.J., Hough, M.J., Horton, W.C., Horton, J.B., +Horton, J.T., Harvel, D.B., Jones, B.B., Johnson, J.D., Johnson, F.M., +Johnson, D.T., Kennington, B.R., Kennington, R.W., Kennington, G.W., +Kennington, J., Kennington, N., Kennington, R., Kennington, R., Jr., +Kennington, W.J., Kennington, S.L., Knight, E.R., Lucas, M., Lowery, +R.J., Lowery, W.W., Minor, L., Lyles, W.J., Lynn, W.T., Lathan, J.T., +Lucas, J.R., Love, V.H., McManus, W.H., McManus. C.W., McManus, W.A., +McManus, G.B., Neal, W.M., Perry, B.C., Phifer, W.T., Phillips, A., +Phillips. J., Phillips. H.S., Phillips, A.L., Reaves, T.C., Robertson, W. +U.R., Robertson, V.A., Reaves, J.J., Short, J.G., Small, J.M., Small, +W.F., Sowell, S.F., Snipes, A., Sowell, A., Sodd, W., Swetty, A.M., Woeng. +W.D., Welsh, T.J., Wilkinson, H.W., Williams, C.H., Williams, D.A., +Williams, J.F., Williams, W.J., Wilson, G.B., Wright, W., Williams, A.M., +Witherspoon, J.B. + +COMPANY "I." + +CAPTAINS: Cuthbert, G.B., Elliott, R.E., Fishburn, Robt. +LIEUTENANT: Holmes, C.R., Brownfield, T.S., Webb, L.S., Robinson, S., +Darby, W.J., Brailsford, A.M., Bissell, W.S., Daniel, W.L. +SERGEANTS: Wright, J.E., Lalane, G.M., Hanahan, H.D. +CORPORALS: Boyd, J.B., Gaillard, T.E., DeSausure, E., Duttard, J.E., +Bellinger, E.W., Mathews, O.D., Miller, R.S. + +PRIVATES: Vincent, A.M., Artes, P.F., Bedon, H.D., Bellinger, J., +Bellinger, C.C.P., Bird, J.B., Brownfield. R.I., Brailford, D.W., +Brisbane, W., Bull, C.S., Baynord, E.M., Calder, S.C., Chaplain. D.J., +Chaplain, E.A., Claney, T.D., Crawford, J.A., Cambell. J.E., Carr, J, T., +Colcock, C.J., Davis, W.C., Dwight, C.S., Dyer, G.B., DeCavadene, F., +Dupont, A., Elliott, W.S., Fludd, W.R., Farman, C.M., Gadsden, T.S., +Galliard, T.G., Girardeau, G.M., Glover, J.B., Godfrey, W., Goodwin, J.J., +Green, W.G., Hanckel, J.S., Hane, W.C., Harllee, J., Harllee, W.S., +Harllee. P., Jackson, A., Jacobs, H.R., Kerrison, C., Kerrison, E., +Larrisey, O., Lawton, W.M., Lawton, J.C., Miller, J.C., Mackey, J.J., +Mackey, W.A., Mathews, P.F., Miller. A.B., Miller, P, G., Mills, E.J., +Moses, J.L., Moses, P., Mortimer, Le. B., Munnerlyn, J.K., Mitchell, F.G., +Myers. S.C., Montgomery, ----, McCoy, H.A., McLean, M.M., +Pinckney, S.G., Palmer, J.J., Pinckney, H., Palmer, G., Palmer, K.L., +People, H.M., Pendergrass, M.G., Prentiss, O.D., Prentiss, C.B., Ruffin, +E., Ruffin, C., Raysor, J.C., Reeder, T.H., Rice, L.L., Rivers. R.H., +Rivers. W., Roumillat, A.J.A., Royal, J.P., Sanders, A.C., Sanders, J.B., +Shipman, B.M., Screven, R.H., Seabrook, J.C., Scott. M.O., Shoolbred, J., +Shoolbred, R.G., Smith, G. McB., Stocker, T.M., Strobhart, James, +Thompson. T.S., Tillinghast, E.L., Trapier, E.S., Walker, W.A., Walker, +W.J., Wescoat, W.P., Wescoat, T.M., Wickenberg, A.V., Zealy, J.E. + +COMPANY "K." + +CAPTAINS: Rhett, A.B., Moorer, J.F., Webb, J., Dutart, J.E. +LIEUTENANT: Elliott, W., Dwight, W.M., Lamotte, C.O., Edwards, D., +Bradley, T.W. +SERGEANTS: Fickling, W.W., Gilbert S.C., Webb J.J., Phillips, S.R., +Fell, T.D., Hamilton, J., Phillips, L.R., Goldsmith, A.A., Moorer, R.G., +Burrows, F.A., Williams, D.F., Wayne, R., Ferriera, F.C., O'Neill, E.F., +Simmonds, J.R. +CORPORALS: Purse, E.L., Lawson, P.A., Calvitt, W.L., Rushe, F.R., +Sheller, D.A., Sparkman, A.J., Murphy, M., Plunkett, J., O'Neill, E.F., +Heirs, G.S., Wooley A., Ackis, R.W., Autibus, G., Lord, R. + +Privates: Anderson, Wm., Allgood, J.F., Ackison, R.W., Allgood, J.L., +Adams, D.A., Appleby, C.E., Baily, J., Barrett, R., Blatz, J.B., Brum, H., +Brown, R.M., Brown. W., Brady, J., Buckner, J., Buckner, A., Buckner, +J.A., Buckner, A.H., Burrows, F.A., Bruning, H., Ballentine, J.C., Byard, +D.E., Bartlett, S.C., Bartlett, F.C., Boag, W., Braswell, T.T., Bell, +C.W., Bell, W.P., Bull, C.J., Bull, E.E., Bazile, J.E., Bishop, J.S., +Blume, C.C., Benson, J.N., Bailey, J., Bruce, J.H., Calvitt, W.T., +Campsen, B., Casey, W.T., Conway, P., Cartigan, J.M., Cole, C., Cotchett, +A.H., Creckins, A., Castills, M., Coward, R.M., Craige, W.S., Copeland, +W.J., Deagen, P., Daly, F.R., Dillon, J.P., Dinkle, J., Dorum, W.D., +Doran, J., Douglass, C.M., Day, M., Duncan, W.M., Estill, W., Elle, A., +Tarrell, J.F., Ferria, R.C., Fisher, W.S., Fant, T.R., Furt, W., Fleming, +A.H., Froysell, J.D., Gammon, J.E., Gammon, E.M., Goldsmith, A.A., Gibbs, +W.H., Grubbs, W.L., Green, W.H., Grenaker, J.A., Griffeth, A., Gruber, +J.T., Hammond, C.S., Hoys, T., Hibbard, F.C., Happoldd, D., Hoeffer, C.M., +Haganes, H.C., Harris, J., Hendricks, J.A., Hendricks, M., Hunt, H.D., +Hunt, J.H., Hunt, R., Hunter, T.T., Haigler, E.N., Haigler, W.L., Heirs, +J.A., Howard, R.P., Hough, H.J., Heirs, G., Harley, J.M., Harley, P., +Jones, G.T., Jones, D.H., Joseph, A.H., Jowers, J.P., Johnson, W.G., +Kerney, G., Kelly, J.G., Kunney, A.A., Kennedy, J., Kennedy, H.R., +Kennedy, J.A., Lavell, A.J., Lawson, T.A., Lonergan, J.D., Maher, E., +Marshall, W., McCollum, E., Meylick, F.W., Meyleick, W., McKensie, A., +McLure, A., Meyers, A.C., Murphy, M., Martin, W., McGellom, B., Martin, +A., Moorer, R.A., Mitchel, D.H., Mitchel, F.G., Musgrove, W.W., Martin, +J., Neill, R.T., Noll, C., Nicklus, J., Nevek, R.P., Nesmith, E.C., Nix., +J.B., O'Neill, J., Oppenhimer, E.H., Oppenheimer, H.H., Platt, W.W., +Philipps, L.R., Prace, A., Purse, E., Purse, W.G., Page, J.J., Phunkett, +J., Pearson. J.H., Payne, J.P., Richardson, C.O., Ryan, T.A., Randolph, +L.A., Robinson, S.L., Reentz, J.W., Righter, J.A., Reid, J.W., Reeves, +J.P., Rushe, F.D., Schmitt, T., Scott, W., Shepard, D.H., Sammonds, J.R., +Sporkman, A.J., Sellick, C.H., Street, E., Summers, E., Sutherland, J.P., +Sherer, J.R., Sandifer, J., Shuler, S.N., Spillers, W.F., Schmitt, R., +Smith, J.C., Simons, J.R., Smith, O.A.C., Thompson, M.N., Timmonds, G.C., +Turner, J.W., Taylor C.M., Turner, C., Welmer, M.W., Wallace, J.L., Walsh, +P., Wilkins, J.R., Wilkins, T.K., Willis. J.V., Watts, W.D., Williams, T. +A., Weeks, T.S., Wolley, A., Wolly, H.A., Williman, W.H., Yates, M.J., +Youngblood, J., Zimmerman, U.A., Zeigler, J.B.E. + + * * * * * + +ROLL OF THIRD SOUTH CAROLINA VOLUNTEER REGIMENT. + +Field and Staff: COLONELS: Williams, James H., Nance, James D., +Rutherford, W.D., Moffett, R.C. +LIEUTENANT COLONELS: Foster, B.B., Garlington, B.C., Todd, R.P. Majors: +Baxter, James M., Nance, J.K.G. +ADJUTANTS: Rutherford, W.D., Pope, Y.J. Sergeant +MAJORS: Williams, J.W., Simpson, O.A., Garlington, J.D. +QUARTERMASTERS: McGowan, Jno. G. (Captain), Shell, G.W. (Captain). +COMMISSARIES: Hunt, J.H. (Captain), Lowrance, R.N. (Captain). +SURGEONS: Ewart, D.E., Evans, James. +ASSISTANT SURGEONS: Dorroah, Jno. F., Drummond, ----, Brown, +Thomas. + + +COMPANY "A." + +CAPTAINS: Garlington, B.C., Hance, W.W., Richardson, R.E. +LIEUTENANTS: Gunnels, G.M., Arnold, J.W., Garlington, H.L., +Hollingsworth, J., Hudgens, W.J., Mosely, Jno. W., Shell, G.W., Shell, +Henry D., Simpson, C.A., Fleming, H.F. +SERGEANTS: Simpson, T.N., Robertson, V.B., Wilson, T.J., Teague, A.W., +Motte, Robert P., Garlington, Jno., Jr., McDowells, Newman, Griffin, W.D., +Jones, P.C., Gunnels, W.M. +CORPORALS: Mosely, R.H., Sullivan, W.P., Martin, R.J., Richardson, S.F., +West, E., Atwood, I.L., Richardson, W.M. + +PRIVATES: Anderson, D.A., Anderson, W.J., Allison, T.W., Anderson, W.Y., +Allison, W.I., Adams, Jno. S., Atwood, W.M., Ballew, J.B., Ballew, B.F., +Bass, John, Beard, W.F., Boyd, W.T., Black, W.E., Ball, J.S., Bolt, T.W., +Bolt, W.T., Bolt, Pink, Bolt, John L., Bolt, H., Bradford, W.A., Bright, +Jno. M., Beasley, B.H., Cason, W.B., Clark, J.Q.A., Campton, L.D., Crasy, +J.B., Chappell, W.T., Day, N.T., Day, John, Davenport, T.J., Donaldson, +W.M., Davis, J.J., Donnon, J.M., Evans, Wm., Elmore, ----, +Fleming, J.O.C, Finley, C.G., Finley, J.M., Finley, J.R., Franks, N.D., +Franks, C.M., Franks, T.B., Franks, J.W.W., Gray, Duff, Gary, J.D., Going, +Wm., Garrett, W.H., Garlington, S.D., Hall, J.F., Hance, Theodore, Ham, +James E., Harrison, P.M., Harrison, J.A., Hill, L.C., Hellams, D.L., +Henderson, W.H., Henderson, Lee A., Hix, E.M., Hawkins, J.B., Hix, W.P., +Hix, Willis, Hix, C.E., Hudgens, J.M., Hudgens, J.H., Hudgens, W.H., +Hudgens, J.B., Irby, G.M., Irby, A.G., Jennings, A., Jennings, R., +Jenerette, Wm., Jones, B.P., Kirk, C.E., Lovelace, J.H., Monroe, W., +Medlock, J.T., McKnight, H.W., McDowell. Baker, McCollough, J.L., Milan, +Jno. A., Milan, W.W., Milan, M.F., McAbee, A., McAbee, ----, +McAbee, ----, Metts, J.A., Miller, Harry, Neal, S.H., Nolan, +Jno., Oliver, S.A., Odell, L.M., Parks, John M., Pinson, W.V., Pinson. +W.S., Pinson, M.A., Pope, D.Y., Ramage, Frank, Robertson, Z., Robertson, +A., Rodgers, W.S., Simpson, B.C., Simpson, R.W., Simpson, J.D., Simpson, +O.F., Sullivan, M.A., Sullivan, J.M., Smith, P., Shell, Frank, Simmons, +S.P., Sharp, A.L., Speke, S.A., Teague, Thomas J., Teague, M.M., +Templeton, J.L., Templeton, P., Templeton, S.P., Templeton, W.A., Tribble, +M.P., Tribble, J.C.C., Tobin, Thos. A., Todd, S.F., Vance, S.F., Vaughan, +Jno., Winebrenner, George, Williams, Jno., Williams, W.A., Wilson, J.M., +West, S.W. West, Joseph, Wilbanks, John S., Woods, Harvey, Willis, E.R., +Young, Martin J., Young, Robert H. + +COMPANY "B." + +CAPTAINS: Davidson, Samuel N., Gary, Thomas W., Connor, Thompson. +LIEUTENANTS: Hunter, W.P., Lipscomb, T.J., Buzhardt, M.P., Davenport, +C.S., Pulley, S.W. +SERGEANTS: Summer, M.B., Reeder, J.R.C., Moffett, R.D., Clark, J.P., +Spears, L.M., Copeland, J.A., Peterson, W.G., Livingston, A.J., Smith, +J.D., Bradley, E.P., Tribble, A.K. +CORPORALS: Davis, T.M., Gary, Jno. C., Dean, Julius, Lark, Dennis, +Chalmers, Joseph H., Anderson, W.A., Wallace, W.W., Spears, A.S., Perkins, +H.S., Gibson, B.W., Workman, Robt., Stephens, P.J., Suber, Mid. + +PRIVATES: Brooks, E.A., Burton, Kay, Butler, J.C., Bishop, W.F., Bishop, +Jno., Bailey, A.W., Brown, D., Brown, J.A., Butler, E.A., Butler, J.N., +Butler, B.R., Butler, D.M., Cannon, Isaac P., Crooks, L.T., Crooks, +J.A.B., Chalmers, E.P., Craddock, D.F., Craddock, S., Chupp, J.G., Cole, +John, Campell, Jno. B., Cleland, J.P., Clark, E.G., Connor, Robt., Clamp, +D.L., Chappells, J.B., Davenport, H., Davenport, W.P., Davenport, E.W., +Dalrymple, John, Davis, A.P., Davis, D.P., Davis, J.T., Dumas, J.H., +Davenport, J.C., Floyd, Jno. S., Floyd, J.N., Gary, J.W., Gary, M.H., +Gary, C.M., Gary, Jessie, Griffin, S.B., Griffin, W.B., Grimes, W.M., +Grimes, T.A., Gibson, M., Gibson, W.W., Golding, James W., Golding, Jno. +P., Galloway, Jno., Graham, T.J., Greer, R.P., Hopkins, G.T., Harp, David, +Harmon, W.C., Harmon, H.T., Jones, J.S.B., Johnson, W., Johnson, W.R., +James, W.A., King, W.H., Keller, W.J., Lank, J.W., Lyles, I.E., +Livingston, H., Livingston, E., Longshore, E.C., Longshore, A.J., +McKettrick, J.W., Middleton, J.H., Moates, J.L., Moates, F., Montgomery, +G.B., McEllunny, R.N., Neel, J.M., Neel, T.M., Pitt. J.M., Pitt, W., Pitt, +J., Pitt, D., Pitt, A.N., Reeder, A.M., Richey, E., Robertson, S.J., Reid, +W.W., Reeder, W., Spruel, J.S., Spruel, W.F., Stewart, J.P., Senn, D.R., +Satterwhite, R.S., Scurry, J.R., Sterling, G.P., Saddler, G.W., Suber, +G.A., Suber, A., Thrift, C., Thrift, G.W., Templeton, R.W., Willinghan, +W.W., Workman, J.A., Workman, J.M., Workman, H., Workman, P., Whitman, +J.C., White, G.F., Wells, G.F., Waldrop. W.W., Williams, B. + +COMPANY "C." + +CAPTAINS: Moffett, R.C., Herbert, C.W. +LIEUTENANTS: Moffett, D.S., Wilson, Jno. C., Culbreath, Joseph, Speake, +J.L., Piester, ---- +SERGEANTS: Kibler, A.A., Moffett, T.J., Cromer, E.P., Wilson, T.R., Long, +G.F., Fellers, J.B. +CORPORALS: Young, N.H., Boozer, D.W., Fulmer, J.B., Bowers, J.S., Sites, +George, Kelly, James M., Paysinger, S.S. + +PRIVATES: Adams, W.H. Albritton, Joseph, Banks, James C. Baird, Henry, +Baughn, Henry, Bouknight, F., Blair, T.S., Blair, J.P., Boland, S.D., +Boland, James M., Boozer, C.P., Boozer, S.D., Boulware, I.H., Boyd, G.M., +Cannon, H.D., Calmes, Jno. T., Calmes, Wash., Carmichael, J.D., Counts, +W.F., Cromer, A.B., Crosson, H.S.N., Crosson, D.A., Crouch, Jacob, Crouch, +Wade, Davenport, Wm., Davenport, J.M., Davis, Jno., Duncal, J.W., +Dominick, D.W.S., Elmore, J.A., Enlow, Nathan, Ferguson, G., Fellers, +J.P., Fellers, S.H., Folk, H.S., Frost, Eli, Gallman, D.F., Gallman, Henry +G., Gallman, J.J., George, James M., George, N.B., George, L.O., Griffeth, +G.W., Gruber, I.H., Grimes, Thos., Guise, Albert, Hair, J.B., Hartman, +J.M., Hawkins, P.M., Hawkins, J.M., Hawkins, E.P., Hendricks, J.E., +Herbert, J.W., Hussa, Carwile, Halfacre, D.N., Huff, Andrew, Kelly, J.H., +Kelly, Y.S., Kelly, W.J., Kinard, Levi, Kibler, Levi, Kibler, I.M., +Kibler, J.H., Kibler, H.C., Lane, G.G., Lane, W.R., Lester, Alen, Lester, +Alfred, Lester, Charles, Long, A.J., Long, M.J., Long, L.W., Livingston, +J.M., McGraw, P.T., McGraw, B.F., McCracken, L.C., McCracken, Jno., +McNealus, Jno., Mansel, R.J., Moffett, R.D., Martin, Allen, Moon, Frank, +Morris, S., Nates, J.C., Neill, J.B., Neill, J. Calvin, Neill, J. Spencer, +Nelson, J.G., Paysinger, H.M., Paysinger, T.M., Pugh, Wm., Pugh, H., +Quattlebaum, I.E., Quattlebaum, D.B., Rankin, A.J., Rankin, G.W., Rawls, +S. Sanders, Reagen, James B., Reagen, H.W., Reagen, Jno. W., Reid, Newt., +Reid, J.P., Richardson, D., Rikard, J.A., Rikard, J.W., Kinard, L.C., +Sease, N.A., Sease, J. Luke, Shepard, Jno. R., Seigman, Jesse E., Spence, +Saml, Spence, Jno. D., Sligh, J.W., Sligh, D.P., Stillwell, J.T., +Stockman, J.Q.A., Stribbling, J.M., Stockman, Jno. C., Stuart, W., Stuart, +C.T., Sultan, R.J., Thompson, T.J., Whites, J.D., Werts, M., Whites, G.J., +Werts, Andrew, Werts, Jno. A., Wilson, Wm., Willingham, Hav. + +COMPANY "D." + +CAPTAINS: Fergerson, Thos. B., Walker, F.N. +LIEUTENANT: Bobo, Y.J., Abernathy, C.P., Moore, J.P., Floyd, N.P., Ray, +P. John, Walker, J., Henry, Allen, Wade, Gordon, F.M., Bobo, Hiram. +SERGEANTS: Campell, Levi, Allen, Garland, Floyd. Chance, M., Ray, Hosea, +Roy, Robt. Y., Ducker, H.W., Davis, M.M. +CORPORALS: Abernathy, J.D.C., Hill, T.F.C., Dillard, Geo. M., Fergerson, +Jno. W., Welburn, Robt. C. + +PRIVATES: Allen, B.R., Bobo, J.P., Sardine, T.C., Barrett, J., Browning, +Hosea, Carson, John, Cathcart, H.P., Cooper, J., Dodd, W.T., Cooper, T.M., +Fergerson, H.T., Floyd, A.F., Floyd, J.M., Farmer, W., Fergerson, E., +Franklin, Y.P., Farrow, A.T., Finger, Mark, Graham, Isaac, Graham, J.F., +Gentry, J.W., Gentry. E., Huckaby, P., Hill, B.M., Hollis, P.W., Hembree, +C.B., Andrew, ----, Jackson, Drewy, Graham, A., Kelly, Wm., +Kelly, M., Lamb, Thomas, Lamb, Robert, Lynch, W.E., Lynch, A., Lynch, +John, Lynch, B.S., Murphy, R.C., Myers, J.D., McCravy, A.F., McCravy, +R.S., McCravy, Sam., Murray, Peter, Murray, F.H., Nix, Stephen, McMillen, +Wm., Ramsay, Robt, Ramsay, P., Mullens, Wm., Pruitt, E.A., Pope, C., +Poole, Robt., Smith, Caspar, Smith, Wm., Stephens, M., Stephens, J.F., +Shands, Anthony, Shands, Frank, Stone, T.B., Stearns, A.B., Shands, Saml., +Pruitt, John, Sexton, J.W., Tinsley, J.L., Tinsley, A.R., Tinsley, J.P., +Taylor, W.B., Varner, Andrew, Varner, M.S., Varner, J.W., Vaugh, Jas., +Williams, C.M., Williams, J.D., Workman, H., Wesson, Frank, Woodbanks, +Thomas, Woodbanks, Jno., Lynch, Pink. Ray, Thos., Poole, Robt. + +COMPANY "E." + +CAPTAINS: Nance, J.D., Nance, Jno. K.G., Wright, Robt. H. +LIEUTENANT: Bailey, E.S., Moorman, Thos. S., Hair, Jno. S., Hentz, D.J., +Haltiwanger, Richard, Martin, J.N., James, B.S., Langford, P.B., Weir, +Robt. L., Cofield, Jas. E. +SERGEANTS: Pope, Y.J., Lake, T.H., Boyd, C.F., Chapman, S.B., Ruff, Jno. +S., Kingore. A.J., Buzzard, B.S., Reid, H.B., Hood, Wm., Duncan, T.S., +Rutherford, W.D., Paysinger, T.M., Thompson, W.H., Ramage, D.B., Leavell, +R.A., Horris, T.J., Glymph, L.P., Sloan, T.G., Blatts, Jno., Harris, J.R. + +PRIVATES: Abrams, J.N., Abrams, J.K., Abrams, C.R., Atchison, S.L., +Atkins, R.W., Assman, H.M., Brandy, H., Bernhart, H.C., Blatts, W.H., +Bell, Jno. F., Bruce, J.D., Boazman, W.W., Boazman, Grant, Eramlett, A.W., +Boozer, D.C., Boozer, E.P., Boyd, M.P., Burgess, C.H., Brown, T.C., Brown, +J.E., Blackburn, James, Bailey, A. Wm., Butler, J.C., Canedy, A.B., Clend, +M.P., Caldwell, J.E., Collins, A.B., Clamp, G., Cameron, J.S., Cameron, +J.P., Cromer, S.D., Davis, J.H., Davis, Jas., Davis, Jno., Derick, S.S., +Duckett. Jno. G., Duckett, J.C., Duckett, J., Duckett. G.T., Faeir, W.Y., +Fair, Robt., Faeir, G.A., Foot, M., Gary, J.N., Glasgow, L.K., Graham, +C.P., Gall man, H., Harris, M.M., Hargrove, P.H., Hiller, S.J., Hiller, +G.E., Haltin, Wm., Haltin, R., Johnson, J.A., Johnson, W., Kelly, I.J., +Keom, G., Keney, G., Keitler, J.N., Lindsey, J., Lovelace, B.H., Lake, +T.W., Lake, E.G., Lee, W., Lindsey, W.R., Marshall, J.R., Mayes, J.B., +McCrey, S.T., McCaughrin, S.T., McMillen, W.J., Miller, J.W., Mathis, +J.M., Marshal, J.L., Melts, W., Metts, McD., Metts, W.G., Murtishaw, S.W., +Nance, A.D., O'Dell, I.N., Pratt, S., Price, S., Pope, B.H., Pope, W.H., +Pope, T.H., Pope, H., Reid, J.M., Reid, W.W., Renwick, H., Ruff, J.H., +Ruff, W.W., Ruff, J.M.H., Ruff, R.S., Rodlesperger, T., Rice, J., Riser, +J.W., Riser, W.W., Riser, Joe, Ruff, M., Sligh, T.W., Sloan, E.P., Sligh, +G., Sligh, W.C., Suber, W.H., Suber, G.B., Souter, F.A., Summer, F.M., +Schumpert, B., Schumpert, P.L., Sawyer, F.A., Sultsbacer, W., Stribling, +M., Scurry, D.V., Tarrant, W.T., Tribble, J.R., Turnipseed, J.O., Wheeler, +D.B., Wright, J.M., Witt, M.H., Wilson, T.R., Wilson, C., Wood, S.J., +Wingard, H.S., Wideman, S., Wilson, J.W., Willingham, W.P., Weir T.W., +Willingham, ----, Zoblel, J., Hornsby, J.D., Harris, J.Y. + +COMPANY "F." + +CAPTAIN: Walker, T. +LIEUTENANT: McGowan, H.L., Williams, J.G., Loaman, S. +SERGEANTS: East, I.H.L., Hill, J.C., Neil, W.W., Bailey, W.F., Gray, +W.S., Madden, J., Wells, B.W. + +PRIVATES: Alston, F.V., Andrews, H.A., Andrews, T., Ballew, R., Bryson, +H.H., Byson, R., Boyd, W.M.J., Boyd, W., Bryson, H.J., Bryson, J.E., +Byson, J.A., Burrill, B., Burrill, W., Byson, J.G., Boseman, L.J., Bale, +A., Cannon, J.L., Cole, J., Conner, J.B., Coleman, O.A., Cook, M.C., +Crisp, J.T., Crim, S.J., Cannon, L.A., Dogan, W.S., Dalrymple, T.E.J., +Donald, T.P., Darnell, W.R., Davenport, W.R., Dobbins, J., Franklin, H.G., +Franklin, J.N., Franklin, N., Feets, J., Fowler, P.O., Fuller, J.C., +Fuller, J.N., Fuller, W., Furguson, J.W., Goodlett, S.P., Grant, M., +Garlington, J.D., Hollingworth, J., Hitt, H., Hitt, B., Hitt, E., Jones, +W., Johnson, H.S., Johnson, W.R., Johnson, Miller, Langey, B.P., Lindsay, +J., Lindsay, A., Lowe, W.W., Lowe, P.W., Lake, J., Lake, Y., Madden, A., +Madden, S.C., Madden, D.N., Madden, J.H., Madden, J., Martin, L., McGowan, +J.S., McDowell, W., McGee, J., McCoy, A., McClure, D., McClure, W., +McGowan, S., McWilliams, I., Mauldin, J., Monroe, W.E., Monroe, J.W., +Morgan, J.C., Moore, H., Moore, E., Moore, G., Nabors, W.A.,.Nichols, +R.M., Nichols, T.D., Nichols, J., Nelson, A., Nelson, M., Neely, W., +Nixon, W., O'Neal, J.B., Puckett, R., Pirvem, J.H., Pierce, C.E., Pills, +J., Propes, M., Reid, M., Riddle, T.R., Riddle, J.S., Sadler, G.M., +Shirley, J., Smith, T.M., Sincher, T., Sparks, S., Vance, W.A., Waldrop, +T.M., Walker, J.P., Winn, J., Wilbur, J.Q., Waldrop, E., Wilson, C., +Watson, S. + +COMPANY "G." + +CAPTAIN: Todd, R.P. +LIEUTENANT: Burnside, A.W., Barksdale, J.A., Watts, J.W. +SERGEANTS: Wright, A.Y., Garlington, J.D., Winn, W.C., Sanford, B.W., +Parley, H.L. CORPORALS: Owengs, A.S., Brownlee, D.J.G., McCarley, T.A., +Patton, M.P., Thompson, A.G.H., Templeton, D.C. + +PRIVATES: Avery, T.M., Avery, F.H., Adams, W.A., Ball, W.H., Ball, H.P., +Barksdale, A., Barksdale, T.B., Barksdale, M.S., Branks, C.B., Brooks, +L.R., Brooks, W.J., Bendle, R.T., Byrant, R.F., Blackaby J.L., Burns, +B.F., Burns, J.H., Brownlee, J.R., Brumlett, C., Childress, D., Childress, +W.A., Cook, Geo., Curry, J.A., Curry, T.R., Curry, W.L., Curry, J.P., +Crisp. J., Coleman, J.D., Chisney, W., Chisney, J.N., Chisney, N., +Chisney, R.J., Chisney, G., Craig, J., Chick, W., Coley, R.B., Dorroh, +J.A., Dorroh, J.R., Dorroh, J.W., Dial, J., Edwards, L.L., Edwards, M., +Evins, H.C., Fairbairn, E.J., Fairbairn, J.A., Fairbairn, J.D., Franks, +B.T., Franks, S., Franklin, W., Fleming, M., Fuller J., Grumbles, R.P., +Garrett, H.M., Harris, R.T., Hellams, J.T., Hellams, R.V., Hellams, W.R., +Hellams, R.T. Hellams, W.H., Henderson, T.Y., Henry, I.F., Henry, S.P., +Hill, D.S., Higgins, R.J., Higgins, R.J., Higgins, J.B., Hunter, J.P., +Hobby, J.A., Jones, E., Knight, J., Knight, R.S., Lamb, W., Lanford, J.M., +Landford, P., Lindsey, E.E., Lanford, E.L., McNeely, A.Y., Martin, J.A., +Martin, B.A., Martin, M.P., Martin, M.G., Martin, J., Martin, J.A., +Morgan, W.B., Morris, W.H., McClentock, W.A., Maddox, J., A., Simpson, +W.W., Simpson, A., Simpson, S., Stoddard, D.F., Stoddard, J.F., Stoddard, +D.C., Stoddard, A.R., Stewart, J.C., Summers, W.W., Smith, R., Shockley, +J.W., Stone, E., Shesly, E., Templeton, J.P., Thackston, E.R., Thackston, +S.R., Thompson, I.G., Thompson, W., Thompson, A.Y., Thompson, W.F., +Townsend, J., Vonodore, J., Wadell, A.J., Wadell, J.T., Wine, A.W., +Wilson, T.C., Witte, J.B.H., White, J.K., Workman, J.M., Wofford, B.H. + +COMPANY "H." + +CAPTAINS: Nunnamaker, D., Summer, J.C., Swygert, G.A., Dickert, D.A. +LIEUTENANT: Epting, J.H., Nunnamaker, S., White, U.B., Fulmer, A.P., +Huffman, J. +SERGEANTS: Hipp, A.J., Derrick, F.W., Kesler, W.A., Swindler, W.C., +Werts, A.A., Haltiwanger, J.S., Wheeler, S., Kempson, L.C. +CORPORALS: Weed, T.C., Busby, W.A., Stoudemire, J.A.W., Mayer, J.A., +Counts, W.J., Werts, W.W., Guise, A. + +PRIVATES: Adams, M., Addy, J.M., Burrett, J., Burkett, H., Boozer, L., +Boozer, B.F., Boozer, D.T., Bedenbaugh, L., Bundric, T.J., Busby, J.L., +Busby, L., Busby, W., Cannon, J.J., Caughman, L., Chapman, H.H., Chapman, +D., Chapman, B.F., Cook, J.S., Comerlander, M., Corley, F., Dawkins, J.D., +Dickert, J.O., Dickert, B.F., Dickert, C.P., Dominick, H., Dreher, D.J., +Dreher, T., Derrick, A., Ellisor, C.G., Ellisor, G.M., Ellisor, G.P., +Ellisor, J.T., Enlow, B., Epting, J., Fulmer, H.J., Fulmer, G.W., Fulmer, +J.E., Frost, E., Folk, S.H., Farr, J., Feugle, J.N., Fort, H.A., Green, +W.T., Gibson, A., Guise, N.A., Geiger. W.D., George, J., Gortman, M., +Hamiter, J.H., Haltiwanger, J.L., Haltiwanger, A.K., Hartman, S., Hobbs, +L.P., Hipp, W.W., Hipp, J.M., Hipp, J.J., Hiller, G., Jacob, W.A., Kelly, +B., Kinard, J.J., Kunkle, H.L., Koon, G.W., Long, H.M., Long, D.S., Long, +D.P., Long, G.A., Long, J.H., Long, G., Long, J., Lake, T., Lake, E.J., +Livingstone, J., Livingstone, S., Livingstone, M., Lester, G., Lever, C., +Mayer, A.B., Miller, A.B., Miller, J., Miller, L., Monts, J.W., Monts, T., +Monts, N., Monts, F., Monts. J., Martin, A., Metts, T., Nunnamaker, T.C., +Rucker, W., Russell, L.F., Rikard, L., Riser. R.E., Summer, J.G., Summer, +W., Summer, P., Summer, J.B., Summer, J.K., Summer, A.J., Stoudemire, +G.W., Stoudemire, R.T., Smith, S.H., Smith, J.A., Shealy, P.H., Schwarts, +G., Schwarts, H.C., Sease, A.M., Slice, G.N., Slice. R., Setzler, W., +Setzler, J.T., Spillers, I., Stuck, G.M., Stuck, M.C., Swetingburg, D.R., +Suber, A., Thompson, P., Wilson, H.C., Wilson, A.A., Werts, A., Werts, +W.A., Werts, J., Werts, W.A., Werts, T., Weed, W., Wheeler, L.B., +Youngener, G.W., Yonce, J., Yonce, W. + +COMPANY "I." + +CAPTAINS: Jones, B.S., Langston, D.M.H., Pitts, T.H., Johnson, J.S. +LIEUTENANTS: Harris, N.S., West, S.L., Byrd, W.B., Belk, W.B., Duckett, +T.J. +SERGEANTS: Henry, D.L., Williams, E., McLangston, G., Byrd, A.B., +Copeland, D.T., Berkley, T., Adair, J.W. +CORPORALS: Maylan, P., Blakely, M., Goodwin, R., Butler, P.M., Blakely, W. + +PRIVATES: Arnant, ----, Atrams, R., Anderson, J., Anderson, W., +Anderson. M., Byrd, G., Byrd, J.D., Beasley, G., Bell, J.L., Bell, J.E., +Blakely, E.T., Blakely, M.P., Richmond, ----, Boyce, C.B., +Brown, J., Bearden. T., Compton, E., Canady, J.W., Craige, G., Cannon, H., +Casey, C.C., Campbell, P., Dillard, G.W., Donnon, G.M., Donnon, W., Duval, +C.W., Davis, W., Ferguson, J.G., Ferguson. C.C., Foster, J.F.M., Gordon, +M., Graham, D., Hill, S., Holland, J.G., Holland, R.R., Hollingsworth, +F., Hollingsworth, J., Hanby. J.W., Harris, F., Holland, W., Hewett, F.M., +Hemkapeeler, C., Hipps, R., Hipps, C.M., Hirter, M., Huskey, W., Henry, +J.E., Huckabee, J., Jones, A., Jones, R.F., James, Z., Johnson, R.C., +Jacks, I., King, A.A., Langston, J.T., Lyles, P., McKelvy, J., Maddox, +W.C., McInown, M.M., Meeks, T., Mars, N., McDowell, J.T.B., McMakin, G., +Merton, G, Newman T.D., Neal, S.H., Owens, T., Oxner, J.T., Prather, G., +Prather, N.C., Powell, A., Powell, R.,.Potter, M., Pearson. J.P., Philson, +S.P., Philips, A.N., Ramage, J.W., Ray, W., Reynolds, M., Suber.M., Suber, +M., Stokes, T., Stokes, W., Sneed, C., Simpson, J.M., Snook W.M., Smith, +J.C., Taylor, W.J., Taylor.H.S., Templeton, A., Templeton, H., Templeton, +J., Talleson, J., Talleson, J., Todd, N.C., Todd, S.A., Thaxton, Z.A., +Willard, J., Young, G.R., Zeigler, ----. + +COMPANY "K." + +CAPTAINS: Kennedy, B., Lanford, S.M., Poster, L.P., Young, W.H., +Cunningham, J.H., Roebuck, J.P. +LIEUTENANTS: Wofford, J.W., Wofford, J.Y., Bearden, W., Layton, A.B., +Thomas, W., Smith, R.M. +SERGEANTS: Bray, D.S., Wofford, W.B., Thomas, J.A., Varner, C.P., +McArthur, J.N., Jentry, J.L. +CORPORALS: Vise, James S., Nesbitt, W.A., Smith, W.A., Davis, A.F., +James, G.W., Lanford, F.M., Pettitt, N.H., Roundtree, J.R., Smith, A.S., +West, T.H., Bass, J.B.C. + +PRIVATES: Bass, G.W., Beason, B.S., Beason, B., Bishop, J.W., Beard, +J.C., Brewton, I., Brice, D., Birch, F.C., Bearden, W.S., Barnett, W.H., +Bearden, G., Cook, N., Cunningham, H.W., Chunmey, G.W., Chunmey, J., +Drummond, R.A., Elmore, J.H., Foster, J.A., Gwinn, C.T., Gwinn, D., Gwinn, +M., Gwin, J., Harmon, T.P., Harmon, J., Harmon, W., Havener, J.P., Hyatt, +G.T., Hyatt, J., Hamby, J.H., Hill, L., Johnson, J.A., Lanham S.W.T., +Lawrence, W., Lancaster, W.H., Marco, J.J., Mattox, P., Mayes, S.S., +Mayes, D.W., Mayes, W.J., Meadows, T.M., Meadows, T.S., McAbee, W., +McAbee, J., McDonald, J.E., McArther, J., Pearson, J.W., Petty, T., Petty, +P., Pettis, B.F., Pearson, H., Roundtree, J.S., Riddle, J.M., Riddle, T., +Rogers, M., Rogers, J., Rogers, E., Rogers, W., Rogers, G., Roebuck, B.F., +Roebuck, J., Roebuck, W., Sammonds, G., Shackleford, J.L., Stribblan, +A.C., Stribland, S., Stribland, J., Shands, B.A., Shands, S., Stallions, +J., Smith, B.M., Smith, S., Smith, E.F., Smith, Robt., Smith, W.P., +Sherbutt, W.T., Sherbutt, S.Z., Sherbutt, A.T., Slater, Jno., Story, G.H., +Storey, D.G., Story, J.S., Thomas, T.S., Thomas, L.P., Thomas, W., Thomas, +M., Turner, J., Vehorn, W.J., Vaughan, L., Vaughan, J., Varner.R., +Williams, R.M., Wofford, B., Wofford, W.T., Wofford, J.H., Wofford, W.A., +West, T.J., West, G.W., West.E.M., West, H., Wingo, H.A., White, R.B., +Westmoreland, S.B., Wright, W.M., Woodruff, R., Zimmerman, T.H. + + * * * * * + +ROLL OF SEVENTH SOUTH CAROLINA VOLUNTEER REGIMENT. + +Field and Staff. +COLONELS: Bacon, T.G., Aiken, D.W., Bland, Elbert. +LIEUTENANT COLONEL: Fair, R.A. +MAJORS: Seibles, E., Hard, J.S. +ADJUTANT: Sill, T.M. +QUARTERMASTER: Lovelace, B.F. +COMMISSARY SERGEANT: Smith, Fred. +SURGEONS: Dozier, ----, Spence, W.F., Horton, O.R. +ASSISTANT SURGEONS: Carlisle, R.C., Stallworth, A. +CHAPLAIN: Carlisle, J.M. + +COMPANY "A." + +CAPTAINS: Bland, Elbert, Harrison, S. +LIEUTENANTS: Bland, J.A., Wenner, M.B. +SERGEANTS: Addison, H.W., Bert, A.W., Smiles, N.G., Connels, J.R., +Gregory, R. +CORPORALS: Cogburn, R.M., Mathis, C.A., Regan, B.G., Fair, W.B., Hill, +T.T., Butler, E.S. + +PRIVATES: Aultman, Jno., Aultman, J., Burton, T., Boatwright, B., Boyce, +W.G., Broadwets, T.A., Brown, J.J., Brown, J.C., Bryant, H.G., Barnett, +W.H., Carpenter, J., Cogburn, B.J., Cogburn, W.H., Crawford, W., Courtney, +J.G., Casar, E.H., Casar, C.G.D., Casar, J.L., Carson, H., Cushman, C.B., +Daily, R.J., Day, J.S., Davis, E.G., Day, J.S., DeLoach, J., Dunagant, J., +Easley, J., Edison, W.M., Elsman, J.E., Fair, J.E., Glover, A., Glover, +R.J., Gomillian, L., Gray, H.C., Green, J., Green, M., Hagood, J.V., +Walsenback, L., Horn, J.S., Johnson, L.S., Johnson, D.F., Johnson, D.W., +Jones, S.A., Jones, F.A., Kirksey, W.H., Legg, E.W., Littleton, L.W., +Libeschutts, M., Long. W.R., Lott, G.H., Lovelace. G.C., Miles, C.L., +Miles, A., Miles, S., Mims, R.S., Minis, W.D., Mobley, G.S., Mobley, S.C., +McDaniels, F.S., McGeires, Charley, Nichholson, J.A., Perin, J.D., Powell, +R., Prescott, H.H., Prescott, S.J., Radford, J.A., Radford, A., Raney, +D.D., Randall. F.E., Riddle, S., Robertson, J.F., Rodgers, C.E., Ryon, +S.D., Salter, G.P., Salter, J.R., Samuel, W., Smith, W.J., Smith, D.W., +Smith, F.L., Sheppard. S., Stevenson, T., Sweringer, R., Swearinger, A.S., +Snelgrove. J.F., Toney, Ed., Turner, H.R., Walker, P.E., Whitlock, W., +Whitlock, G.W., Whitman, S,. Weathelsy, L., Williams, G.D., Williams, +R.R., Williams, W.B.F., Williams. D.S., Willing. R., Willing, J., Woolsey, +J.D., Wright, W.M., Wright, J.H. + +COMPANY "B." + +CAPTAINS: Mattison, G.M., Hodges, W.L., Hudgens, T.A., Townsend, J.A. +LIEUTENANTS: Clinkscales, E.B., Townsend, I.F., Hodges, J.F., Klugh, +P.D., Hodges, J.R., Callahan, S.W., Hodges, W.C.C. +SERGEANTS: McGee, J.S., Riley, W., Agnew, J.A., Henderson, J.W., +Franklin, T., Stevenson, F.A., Rolinson, C. +CORPORALS: Norris. E.B., Sitton, J.Y., Mathis, J., McGee, A.C., Dolan, +F., Tribble, D.A., Dunn, R.H., Brown, J.N., Pruitt, F.V. + +PRIVATES: Armstrong, J.C., Armstrong, W.C., Austin, J.H., Ashley, J.S., +Anderson, J.C., Alguny, II., Ashley, W.S., Allen, A., Bowles, I.W., Bowle, +H.W., Bowle, E.B., Bowen, S.M., Bowen, J.O., Barmore, W.C., Bailey, J.M., +Brownlee, J.R., Bramyon, T.M., Bell, F.M., Bryant, H., Coleman, T.J., +Calvert, J.M., Cochran, R.M., Carpenter, T.J., Cromer, A.F., Callahan, M., +Callahan, W.N., Coleman, J.T., Clark, H.B., Cowen, J.W., Davis, S.J., +Davis, I.W., Davis, T., Davis, W.Y., Davis, J.A., Deal, M.L., Donald, +J.L., Drennan, L.O., Duncan, W.P., Duncan, J.B., Duncan, D., Ellison, S., +Graham, J.M., Graham, B.C., Graham, E.C., Griffen, J., Gilmore, J.W., +Grimes, W.B., Hemphill, R.R., Hinton, A., Hughes, H.H., Hawthorn, H.B., +Hawthorn, C, Hawthorn, L., Hodges, C.R., Harris, J.N., Harris, W.M., Kay, +W.A., Killingworth, W.P., Kirly, B., Latimer, S.N., Lindsay, A.B.C., Long, +G.W.M., Long, H.J.S., Lovelace, R., Martin, J.R., McAdams, R.V., McAdams, +W.N., McAdams, A.J., McDowell, W.N., McCown, J., McWhorter, J.R., McGee, +J.M., Moore, T., Moore, R., Moseley, W.L., Nabors, A., Owens, S., Owens, +V., Owens, W., Owens, D.B., Peeler, J.W., Pratt, T.W., Pratt, W.A., +Pruitt. J.J., Pruitt, W.A., Robinson, R.A., Strickland, W.A., Sharp, M.C., +Simpson, J.H., Stone, J.E., Stone, R.P., Seawright, J.B., Straborn, R., +Shirley, G., Seawright, R.W., Smith, R.N., Taylor, J., Timms, J.T., +Vandiver, E.W., Wakefield, J.A., Ware, W.A., Ware, R.A., Waddell, G.H., +Webb, J., Weir, W.A., Whitelock, F., Wilson, J.S., Wilson, J.L., Wilson, +John S., Williamson, J.A., Williams, J.F., Williams, G., Young, J.V., +Young, L.J., Young, I.B., Young, J.C. + +COMPANY "C." + +CAPTAINS: Bradley, P.H., Cothran, W.E., Palmer, N.H., Lyons, John. +LIEUTENANTS: Thayler, A.T., McClain, T.E., Childs, T.M., Calhoun, J.S., +Rodgers, T.A. +SERGEANTS: Hearst, J.W., Edmonds S.F., Corley, J.A., Gray, T.C., Bradley, +T.C., Quarles, T.P., Robinson, J.P., Martin, J.C., Newby, E.G., Willis, +J., Brown, J.S. +CORPORALS: Pennal, C.D., Lyon, J.F., Joy, D.W., Weed, R., Walker, W. + +PRIVATES: Adamson, J.L., Aiken, A.M., Ansley, J.A., Bosdell, I.S., +Bosdell, S.E., Boisworth, J., Bouchilson, T.M., Baker, W., Benson, W., +Bradley, W., Bradley, J.E., Bellot, J.E., Blackwell. J., Berdashaw, W.J., +Butler, W., Belcher, J.C., Bond, I.C., Burns, M., Brugh, T.J., Barksdale, +W., Barksdale, J., Barksdale, B.B., Barksdale, T.W., Banks, G.M., Banks, +W.W., Banks, C.C., Barksdale, G.T., Belcher, H.C. Corroll, V., +Chamberlain, W., Childs, T.W., Cook, W., Cook, F.L., Connor, A.P., Crose, +W.M., Cook, T.W., Childs, T.C., Calhoun, E., Davis, P., Devlin, J.A., +Devlin, W.P., Derracort, W.G., Drennan, D.H., Dowtin, D.W., Elkins, W., +Eunis, G., Edmonds, W.F., Edwards, W.W., Edmonds, T.J., Finley, J.C., +Gillebeau, J.C., Gillebeau, P.D., Hill, J.W., Harris, S.N., Holloway, +J.L., Harrison, J., Knox, S., Kennedy, J.M., Kennedy, W.P., Link, J.J., +Link, S.C., Link, W.T., Lyon, J.E., Lyon, L.W., Leak, T.N., Lyon, R.N., +Lands, W., Ligon, T.C., Lamonds, J.F.A., LeRoy, J.N., Martin, G.W., +Martin, P.C., McKettrick, J., McClinton, J., McQuerns, J.A., McKinney, +W.W., McKinney, J., McKelvey, W.H., McCaslan, G.D., Morrow, W.B., Morrow, +J.A., McClain, R., Noble, E.P., McGowan, O., New, F., Noble, J.S., +O'Neill, P., Palmer, W.O., Pennal, J.E., Paris, H., Rodgers, M.J., +Robinson, P.H., Russell, J.R., Reagan, Y.P., Seigler, J.A., Sibert, J.H., +Shoemaker, A.M., Scott, C., Tennant, G.C., Tennant, P., Turnage, J., +Traylor, A.A., Wells, W.H., Wideman, J.J., Wilson, J.L., Willis, W.W., +Willis, J.P., Wideman, C.A., Zimmerman, D.R., Zimmerman, J.H. + +COMPANY "D." + +CAPTAINS: Hester, S.J., Allen, T.W. +LIEUTENANTS: Owen, J.T., Carlisle, J.C., Power, E.P., Carlisle, R.H., +Prince, H.M., Cunningham, J.R., McGee, M.M. +SERGEANTS: Kennedy, J.T., Allen, J.B., Hester, J.J., Clark, A.D., Gibert, +J.S., McCurne, W.L., Clinkscales, L.C. +CORPORALS: Norwood, O.A., Bowen, L.M., Boyd, D., Barnes, A.J. + +PRIVATES: Alewine, J.H., Allen, J.B., Allen, S., Burress, W., Bell, J.H., +Bass, J., Black, J.P., Boyd, R.P., Brooks, R.H., Brooks, J.M., Bowen, L., +Bowen, W., Burton, R.H., Barnes, J., Barnes, W., Basken, J.F., Beaty, W., +Caldwell, E., Cowen, H.F., Cromer, H., Cunningham, J.D., Clark. A.D., +Campbell, W.H., Campbell, M.B., Calhoun, J.C., Calhoun, W.N., Carmbe, J., +Clinkscales, W.R., Davis, B.A., Danelly, J., Dunlop, W., Edwards, E.E., +Edwards, F., Freeman. H., Freeman, R.V., Fleming, W., Frisk, J., Hogan, +J., Hogan, W.A., Hall, Tuck, Hall, A., Hall, H., Harkness, W.B., Haddon, +S.P., Hill, J.A., Huckabee, J.P., Hester, J.J., Hutchinson, B.F., Hodges, +W.A., Hunter, T., Johnson, G.W., Jones, C.C., Kennedy, L.D., Kennedy, I., +Kennedy, J.T., Kay, W.A., Longbridge, W.S., Longbridge, L.L., Latimer, +W.A., McCurrie, M.C., McCurrie, W., Mauldin, A., Mauldin, H., +McDaniel, ----, Morrow, W.R., Martin, H., Melford, C., Moore, T.A., McComb, +J.F., McAdams, S.T., Newby, J.N., Norwood, O.H., Oliver, P.E., Presly, R.A., +Powell, J.W., Russell, W.H., Ritchie, W., Ritchie, J.A., Starks, J.S.H., +Sanders, J.W., Sanders, J., Shaw, J.A., Shaw, J.C., Shoemaker, A.M., +Scott, J.E., Scott, J.J., Stevenson, J.E., Speers, E.H., Taylor, E.M., +Taylor, M.T., Watts, A., Williams, B.W., Wilson, J. + +COMPANY "E." + +CAPTAINS: Denny, D., Mitchell, J. +LIEUTENANTS: Rutland, W.A., Daniel, J.M., Pinson, J., Denny, J.W. +SERGEANTS: Roach, J.C.H., Suddath, J.B., Denny, A.W., Coleman, M.W., +Mitchel, E. +CORPORALS: Powe, J., Smith, L.A., McGee, U.R., Padgett, E. + +PRIVATES: Black, H., Black, J., Black, X., Crouch, W., Crouch, T.B., +Crouch, H., Crouch, J.L., Crouch, R., Crouch, M., Crout, Q., Corley, J.M., +Corley, J., Corley, F., Cooner, W.E., Chapman, J., Cash, R.F., Denny, +G.W., Denny, J.O., Denny, J.M., Derrick, J., Dougalas, J., Douglass, W., +Etheredge, W., Etheredge, W., Etheredge, N., Etheredge, H.C. Etheredge, +G.M., Edwards, J., Geiger, J., Geiger, D., Goodwin, W., Goff, J., Hughes, +C.W., Inabinett, J., Little, W., Lott, L., Marony, A., Mitchell, P., +Mitchell, W.A., Mitchell, J., Murich, J., Merchant, J.W., McCorty. D.D.W., +McLendon, I., Parson, R., Penson, J.R., Powe, J.R., Padgett, E., +Ridlehoover, W., Rodgers, F., Ramage, J.C., Ridgell, W., Ridgels, J., +Ridgers, D., Story, ----, Smith, G.W., Smith, L.L., Smith, J.H., +Smith, W.W., Shealy, J., Sheeley. A., Sheely, A., Samples, W.E., Saulter, +J., Thompson, J., Thompson, J., Vansant, J.T., Vansant, H., Venters, W., +Watson, M.B., Watson, J.L., Watson, N., Walker, R., Whittle, W., White, +L., Yarbrough, J., Yarbrough, M. + +COMPANY "F." + +CAPTAINS: Harde, J.S., Harden, J.E., Brooks, W.D., McKibbin, Mc. +LIEUTENANTS: Jennings, T.A., Greggs, J.B., Sentell, J.L., Baker, G.W., +Wise, L.W., Hard, B.W. +SERGEANTS: Matthensy, N.O., Gullege, T., Davis, J., Howard, H.H., Cobb, R. +CORPORALS: Stevens, H.M., Rearden, W.E., Athenson, G.E., Odom, M., +Readen, R.W. + +PRIVATES: Athenson, J.L., Aulmond, J.R., Autmond, T., Arther, W.B., +Baggate, E., Beck, W., Brown, J., Brown, J., Brown, M., Bagwell, L.B., +Brewer, G.A., Brooks, G., Bland, L., Brooks, R., Cawall, W., Corten, J.A., +Cashman, R., Cash, W., Cochran, G., Corley, J., Clark, H., Donold, R., +Dickens, E., Davis, B., Duncan, J., Duncan, R., Davis, J., Duncan, B., +Ellis, W., Friday, P.A., Faulklan, T., Faulkner, W.P., Franklan, A., Fagin +P., German. W., Galledge, H., Galledge, Wm., Gissus, J., Henderson, C.R., +Hall, J.C., Hamonett. W.P., Hatcher, W., Hawistow, S., Jackson, J., +Jackson, J., Jackson, D.L., Johnson, E., Johnson, A.L., Kirksey, W.J., +Key. J.A., Lacks, W., Lispard, W., Littleton. L., Lawrence. W., Lesoard, +E., Maddox, J., Maddox, G., Maddox, J., Maddox, M., Medlock, B., Maddox, +B., McKee. G.W., Myers, W., McGee, J.W., McKenzie, W., Mathews, M., +Mathis, M., McKennie, M., McGee, J., New, J., New, E., New, J., +Overstreet, J., Price, J.D., Platt, G.W., Parker, A., Prescott, L., +Perden, G., Parker, J., Pruce, T., Radford, S., Ramsey, J.A., Ramsey, M., +Rannold, E., Sharpton, B., Smith. W., Seigler, E., Stringfield, E., +Seigler, A.S., Serger, W.B., Serger, B.F., Seitzes, J., Tarner, H., +Tollison, T.P., Taylor, J.A., Taylor, B.F., Wade, H., West, W.A., Wicker, +A., Walker, W. + +COMPANY "G." + +CAPTAINS: Brooks, J.H., Clark, W.E., Kemp, J.W., Williams, J.C. +LIEUTENANTS: Edson, J.W., King, H.C., Strothers, G.J., Strothers, R.C. +SERGEANTS: Youngblood, R.S., Calbreath, H.C., Griffen, J.W., Ouzts, M., +Rambo, J.C., Clarey, R.C., Durst, T.W., Wrighlet, J.K., Calesman, D., +Williams, C.T. + +PRIVATES: Adams, S., Adams, H.W., Actoin, J.S., Actons, W.J., Atom, R., +Attaway, S.C., Attaway, T., Bagwell, W., Boom, B.F., Boulware, J.S., +Branson, T.N., Brooks, J.S., Brooks, L., Bryan, A.M., Bryan, R.C., +Burkhalter, M.R., Burnett, J.L., Burnett, H., Clark, G., Clark, V., Clary, +W.M., Coleman, J.S., Croach. D.H., Crawford, W.A., Dees, H.C., Dogen, +H.C., Dogin, W., Dorn, D., Dorn, H., Duffy, J., Duffy, J., Edison, W.A., +Edison, L., Foosher, B., Fell, J., Gasperson, J.B., Gentry, J.W., Grant, +J.W.D, Gragary, J., Griffeth, A.B., Griffeth, M.A., Haltiwanger, G., +Hamilton, G.W., Hamilton, J.P., Hargrove, A., Hardy, M., Heard, Wm., +Holloway, D.P., Holloway, R.C., Hollingsworth, J.A., Hudson, J.W., Jay, +J., Jay, J., King, W.D., King, A.P., Koon, L., Lamb, B., May, J.A., +Mannous, W.A., Neil J.W., Neil, M.W., Odum, W.L., Ouzts, F., Ouzts, W.H., +Palmer, W.C., Procter, J.M., Quattlebaum, J.A., Reaves, G.E., Rhodes, +J.B., Reley, J.M., Roton, J., Rushton, J.M., Rushton, W.M., Rushton, W.M., +Rushton, D., Seatel, J.R., Smith, J.W., Smith, L.R., Smith, G., Stalworth, +A.C., Steadman, J.C., Steadman, H., Steifle, H.C., Stevens, B.T., Stevens, +R., Tompkins, J., Townsend, F.A., Turner, R.P., Turner, G.W., Turner, S., +Turner, G., Turner, Wm., Walker, E.P., Walton, ----, Wallington, +W.J., Wheeler, Wm., Whatley, J.P., Willingham, J., Williams, H. Williams, +P., William, T.H., William, M.P., Williams, W., Worter, L., Wright, J.H., +Wright, W.H., Youngblood, D., Youngblood, Wm. + +COMPANY "H." + +CAPTAINS: Goggans, J.E. +LIEUTENANTS: Bouknight, J.R., McCelvey, J.C., Bouknight, A.P., Huiet, H. +SERGEANTS: McDaniel, J.C., Whittle, M.A., Watson, J.H., Ruston, W. +CORPORALS: Huiet, J., Wyse, A.L., Sample, B.F., Jennings, G. + +PRIVATES: Barnes, H., Bedenbaugh, J.T., Bedenbaugh, L., Bedenbaugh, J., +Bouknight, A.S., Bouknight S.J., Bouknight, N., Buzzard, J.C., Charles, +P., Duffie, J., Duffie, P., Duncan, A., Duncan, V., Faland, ----, Gunter, +R., Goff, Z., Gibson, J., Gibson, W., Harris, W., Harris, S., Henson, D., +Henson, J., Inabinet, I., Leppard, G., Leppard, J., Livingstone, P., +Matthews, E., Miller, J. Merchant, T., Mitchell, M., Martin, G., Padgett, +E., Farmer, D.K., Rotten, J., Rushton, D., Rushton, H., Rushton, J., +Sadler, J., Sadler, W., Smith, B., Spann, W., Spann, P., Shealy, M.W., +Watson, W., Wise, J., Wise, W., Whittle, M., Wright, B.W. + +COMPANY "I." + +CAPTAIN: Prescott, W.T. +LIEUTENANTS: Nixon, J.P., Roper, B., Blocker, S.B. +SERGEANTS: Morgan, G.W., Holmes, W.J., Holmes, W.L., Brunson, R.V., +Holson, Wm. +CORPORALS: Crafton, T.M., Middleton, R.H., Mathis, J.A., Brunson, S.T., +McKee, J.S., Griffis, J.N., Parkman, S., McDaniel, J. + +PRIVATES: Anderson, E.J., Burt, A.H., Barkley, E.N., Bartley, J.W., +Brigs, A.J., Brigs, H., Brigs, J., Bussey, W.N., Bussey, J.A., Broadwater, +N.A., Broadwater, S., Brooks, R., Colloham, M., Garvett, W.A., Hammond, +C., Holmes, S., Holmes, L.E., Jennings, W., Middleton, W.E., Matthis, +W.H., Menerether, N., Morgan, E., McGee, T.W., Oham, R., Prince, J., +Prince, D., Parkman, J.P., Parkman, S., Pressley, T.N., Patterson, T.H., +Price, A.J., Parkman, N., Prescott, H.H., Shafton, J.S., Shafton, B.F., +Shanall, J., Percy, J.H., Thernman, J.W., Thernman, T.B., Thomas, T.B., +Bruse, J.W., Wood, H., Wood, J., Whitlock, ----, Whitaker, N., +Wesman, C.L., Whitlock, W. + +COMPANY "K." + +CAPTAIN: Burees, J.F. +LIEUTENANTS: Talbert, J.L., Berry, J.M., Chetham, J.W. +SERGEANTS: Culbreath, O.T., Martin, W.N., Reynolds, W.M., Lamer, L.W., +Burress, C.M. +CORPORALS: Reynolds, J.W., Shibley, L.D., White, W.G., Williams, T.R. + +PRIVATES: Adams, B.O., Blake, J.E., Carthledge, T.A., Crafton, T.M., +Coleman, W.L., Coleman, G.R., Culbreth, J., Deal, A., Devore, C.L., +Franks, J.A., Hammonds, C.T., Harrison, C.H., Henderson, J.T., Henderson, +J.E., Holmes, W.L., Holmes, H.J., Howell, H., Lamer, T.B., Lamer, O.W., +Limbecher, C.H., Lockridge, J.L., Mayson, J.H., Quarles, H.M., Reynolds, +J.C., Reynolds, E.W., Rountree, T.J., Rush, T.P., Stalmaker, G.I., +Stalmaker, J.R., Stalmaker, J.W., Timmerman, G.H., Williams, J.R., Wood, +W.B., Yeldell, W.H. + +COMPANY "L." +CAPTAINS: White, W.C., Litchfield, J.L., Litchfield, G.S. +LIEUTENANTS: Beaty, T.W., Petman, S., Cooper, T.B., Newton, K.M., +Grissett, J.D., Reves, J.W. +SERGEANTS: Waid, G.W., Nercen, J.W., Floyd, A., Johnson, J.M., Anderson, +----, Gregary, T.H., Granger, J., Prince, J.L., Rabon, D., +Johnson, C.L., Anderson, D.R. +CORPORAL: Green, S.F. + +PRIVATES: Barnhill, W.H., Barnhill. H., Cooper, L., Cooper, R., Creaven, +W.H., Creach, C., Chesnut, D.M.W., Cork, M.C., Cox, P.V., Cox, G.W., +Dussenberry, J.H., Dussenberry, N.G., Edge, D.M., Edge, W., Faulk, G., +Floyd, W., Faulk, L., Faulk, J.L., Foreland, N., Fund, G., Grattely, J., +Granger, J., Granger, W., Granger, F., Graddy, N., Graham, D., Graham, +D.N., Gore, F., Grant, J.E., Hacks, ----, Harden, A.J., Harden, +W.H., Hardwick, ----, Howell, ----, Harden, C.B., +Hamilton, W.H., Hamilton, ----, Holland, W., Jenkins, Wm., +Jewreth, ----, Jones, J., Jordan, J.T., Jordan, J., Johnson, T., Johnson, +J.J., James, ----, Jenningham, D., King, J.J., King, J.D., King, +G.W., Lilly, D., Murry, J.T., Murry, E.H., Misham, T.K., McKnot, Wm.R., +Martin, B.W., Norris, J.K., Oliver, J.M., Powell, L., Perkins, +----, Parker, A.D., Parker, H.H., Powell, F.L., Powell, J.M., +Roberts, J.T., Rhenark, J.C., Stalvey, C.M., Stalvey, J.J., Squers, J., +Smith, Wm., Savris, A., Sessions, O., Sengleton, M.J., Vaught, S., Vereen, +J.T., Watts, ----, Wade, K. + + * * * * * + +ROLL OF EIGHTH SOUTH CAROLINA VOLUNTEER REGIMENT. + +Field and Staff. COLONELS: Cash, E.B.C., Henagan, Jno. W., Stackhouse, E.T. +LIEUTENANT COLONELS: Hoole, A., McLeod, ----. +ADJUTANTS: Lucas, Thomas E., Ingliss, Wm. C., Mullins, W.S., Weatherly, +C.M. +QUARTERMASTERS: McClenigan, Jno., Henagan, J.M., Hunagan, J.M. +COMMISSARIES: Cawley, J.H., Griffen, E.M. +SURGEONS: Wallace, W.D., David. W.J., Pearce, J.F., Coit, D. +ASSISTANT SURGEONS: Dunlop, R.J., Dudley, T.E., Murdock, Byron, Henson, +J.B., McIver, Hansford, Bristow, C.D. +COMMISSARY SERGEANTS: McCown, R.A., Coker, C.W. +ORDERLY SERGEANT: Tyler, H.A. + + +COMPANY "A." + +CAPTAINS: Hoole, A.J., Muldrow, J.H., Odum, Wm., Odum, E., Rodgers, E., +Rouse, J.J., Bryant, Jas. T., Goodson, J.T., Hudson, J.E. +LIEUTENANTS: Reynolds, W.C., Gardner, E.M., Bruce, C.A., Large, James F., +Farmer, S.P., Branch. B., Morris, J.B. + +PRIVATES: Reddick, W.H., Bryant, James, J., Boone, L.P., Blackburn, Wade, +Bradshaw, J., Beck, W.D., Bass, Jesse, Blackman, John, Bradstraw, M., +Beasley, O., Barns, Robt., Carter, W.R., Cox, B.F., Clemens, J., Dennis, +Thomas A., Ervin, J.R., Flowers, C., Florence, T.D., Farmer, G.B., +Garrison, J., Gorman, C., Goodson, J., Gudgen, J.I.B., Goodson, A., Gray, +R., James, J.C., Gardner, C.D., Jordan, Wm. A., Gardner, P.T., Hill, W.M., +Hill, B., Hill, E.T., Johnson, William, Johnson, Peter, Johnson, Robert, +Langston, Jno. F., Langston, Ira D., Law, Frank, Large, N., Morrell, H., +Morrell, W.E., Morrell, Isaac, Muller, J., Maye, R.F., Neal, Jno., Neal, +J., Odom, J.S., Odom, S.J., Outlaw, James, Outlaw, John, Privett, E., +Reynolds, E.J., Reddeck, W., Reddick, A., Stokes, J.F., Stokes, A.D., +Sandesbery, J.H., Privett, W.B., Eligah, ----, Stakes, A.D., +Stokes, J.H., Sandbarry, J.H., Severence, R.E., Stewart, A.C., Stewart, +Hardey, Smith, S., Sexton, Thomas, Scott, W., Wingate, W.Z., Williams, W., +Wadford, N., Woods, S.J. + +COMPANY "B." + +CAPTAINS: Hough, M.J., Powell. R.T. +LIEUTENANTS: Parker. G.A., Thurman, M.T., Turnage, P.A., Sellers, D., +Johnson, C.B., Hough, J.M., Moore, P.A., White, J.F., Chapman, H.C., +Courtney, W.R. +SERGEANTS: Jones. J., Rivers, W.F., Douglass, W., Rivers, W.F., Douglass, +J.B., Sellers, R.C., Evans, B.F., Kite, B., Hammock. J.E. +CORPORALS: Rivers, W.B., Rashing, J.P., Sellers, P.A., Herst, L., +Campbell, J.A., Hancock, R.F.M. + +PRIVATES: Anderson, B., Adams, B.P., Brown, V.F., Brown, D., Boon, E., +Boon, C., Boon, A., Beaver, M., Brock, C., Boon, W.B., Cassadlay, A.J., +Courtney, O., Courtney, J., Courtney, J.P., Cross. H., Cross, P., Chapman, +A., Davis, F., Deas, T.A., Driggers, T., Dixon, R., Funderburk, H.W., +Funderburk, J.B., Gaskins, J.B., Horn, J.D., Horn, J.W., Harp, W.C., +Hancock, J.T., Hicks, J., Johnson, W.B., Johnson, T.B., Jordon, J.W., +Lisenly, S., Lear, B.P., Lewis, T.H., McBride, J.A., McPriest, P., Massey, +B.F., McKey, D.A., McCrany, D.A., Melton, J., Melton, A., Melton, W., +Moore, H., McDuffie. J., McLean, J.W., McLean, D.A., McNair, +----, McManus, R., McNair. N.C., Nelson, M., Nelson, H., Price, +H., Polson, J., Rivers, P., Rogers, P., Sellers, J.D., Sellers, W.B., +Sellers, W.R., Sellers, H.J., Sillivan, T., Sillivan. S., Sweatt, W., +Sweatt, S., Stricklen. H., Teed, T.B., Tarnage, D., Threatt, J.W., +Threatt, W., Threatt, T., Threatt, H., Terry, J., Timmons, W., Tadlock, +W., White, H., Whittaker, J.W., Wilkerson, J., West, J.S., McNair, N. + +COMPANY "C." + +CAPTAINS: Coit, W.H., Powe. T.E., Malloy, S.G. +LIEUTENANTS: Gillespie, G.S., McIver, D.W., Evans, R.E., Hurst, L. +SERGEANTS: Strother, J., Gayle, H.A., Crail, C.W., Crail, T.P., Stancel, +J., Smith, W.P., McCallman, J.C., White, B.S., Coit, J.T., Grimsley, S.B., +Sellers, J., McIver, H. +CORPORALS: Malloy, C.A., Godfrey, W.R., Callens, J., Sellers, S. + +PRIVATES: Adams, W., Adams, J., Bevil, J., Buchanan, J.A., Braddock, R., +Clark, J., Cadien, B.F., Coker, H., Coker, M., Chapman, W.G., Chapman, +A.G., Craig, J., Crawford, F.D., Campbell, D.A., DeLorne, T.W., Dickson, +S.G., Douglas, A., Douglas, M.A., Ellerbe, A.W., Emanuel, E., Freeman, J., +Freeman, W., Gardner, J.N., Gaskin, J.D., Goodwin, J., Grimsley, W., +Grady, J.A., Goodwin, D., Grant. H.P., Grant, H., Grant, A., Graves, S., +Hicks, W.H., Hayes, A.A., Haggins, A., Inglis, W.C., Inglas, L.S., Inglas, +P., Knight, W.W., Lang, J., Link, J.A., Lisendy, W., Linton, J.H., Lee, +H., McBride, F., McLean, J.K., McColl, W., Murphy, C.W., McIver, F.M., +Mahon, J., McDuffie, F.J., McMillan, J.D., Malloy, J.H., Murray, J.C., +McIntosh, J.W., Melton, H., Moore, H., Melton, E.H., McRa, D., Mash, +----, Melton, W., Nichols, W.P., Odom, D.P., Odom, J., Petter, +L.L., Pinchman, H.C., Powell, A.H.C., Poston, H.C., Poston, W., Purvis, +W., Purvis, L.D., Poston, J., Quick, B., Rainwaters, W.T., Richards, J.G., +Roberson, G., Spencer, S.H., Sellers, H., Smith, S.S., Sweatt, T., Stacey, +O., Spencer, T.D., Sellers W.B., Smith. T., Smith, J., Turnage, T.D., +Turner, W.W., White, D., White, J., Wright, J., Wallace, J.C. + +COMPANY "D." + +CAPTAINS: Miller, J.S., Miller. R.P., Spofferd, P.F. +LIEUTENANTS: Blakeney, H., Timmons, J.J., Baker, L.C., Kirkley, W.P., +Lowry, J.H. +SERGEANTS: Jackson, H.H., Baker, A.J., Gatlim, J.B., Jackson, A., Wesh, S. +CORPORALS: Hendrick, J.H., King, E.T., Lee, J.C., Sowell, W.H. + +PRIVATES: Adams, J.J., Carter, S.H., Carter, G.W., Calege, J., Crain, +J.A., Crowley, B.D., Crowley, T.W., Dees, T.M., Dees, W., Foster, S., +Griffith, J., Gandy, E., Gandy, W.H., Gibson, A., Handcock, J.P., +Handcock, J.J., Handcock, J.J., Handcock, J.T., Handcock, R.F., Handcock, +J.L., Hudrick, R., Hudrick, J.L., Horn, L., Horn, J., Horn, M., Horton. +G.W., Horton, S., Holly, P.W., Hough, J.T., Hough, J.E., Jordan, H.S., +Jordan, J., Jordan, A., Key, A., Key, J.A., Knight, J.H., Knight, J.R., +Knight, J.A., Knight, W.H., Knight, T.J., Knighton, J.T., Kibbie, J., +Lowery, J., Lowery, W., Love, J.J., Mangum, J.C., Mangum, W.P., Myers, J., +Miller, J.T., McMillan, T.E., McMair, D.D., McManus, M.B., McLauchlin, +D.A., Oliver, J.T., Ogburn, L., Philips, E., Philips. A., Philips, C., +Plyler, A., Pate, Rollins, B.F., Rollins, G.W., Rollins, J., Rollins, +J.C., Robinson, G., Robinson, S., Sinclair, J., Sinclair, J.A., Stricklin, +J., Stricklin, M., Stricklin, M., Small, C., Threatt, J.S., Threatt, J., +Threatt, R., Therrill, L., Terry J., Talbert, O.W., Talbert, W.S., Thratt, +J.A., Watson, M., Watson, E., Watts, J.J., Williams, B.B. + +COMPANY "E." + +CAPTAINS: Young, J.D., Joy, W.D. +LIEUTENANTS: Westhimes, H., Hewitt, T.M., Halford, J.J. +SERGEANTS: Athenson, S.R., Ward, R.H., Hollyman, M.W., Miller, T.J. +CORPORALS: Philips, J.R., Moody, E.T., Moon, W.W., Morris, T.E. + +PRIVATES: Allen, R.M., Anderson, T.J., Anderson, W.D., Alford, R.H., +Askin, J.A.J., Anderson, C., Anderson, J.F., Anderson, W.H., Anderson, +W.T., Anderson, G., Anderson, J.M., Barfield, M., Bristow, C.C., Bristow, +J.N., Barefoot, D.R., Brookington, E.S., Byrd, J.E., Carter, W.A., Carter, +G., Carter, H.M., Carter, N.S.J., Carter, H., Carter, R.M., Carter, S.B., +Coward, W., Cook, T.J., Courtney, S.J., Connor, E.J., Connor, G., +Chandler, T.A., Cone, R., Danels, E., DaBase, A.E., Doralds, M.H., +Evingston, G., Elliott, A.J., Graham, C.S., Gilchrist, J., Gee, S., +Gardner, J.D., Gardner, C., Ganniginn, D., Hill, E.F., Hill, J.J., Hill, +B., Hill, H., Hill, J., Hill, R.M., Hill., I.T., Howall. W.H., Hollan, +J.S., Hollan, S.S., Hamphury, S.S., Hamphury, R.F., Hane, H.W., Hane, +A.J., Hane, H.A.W., Hane, W., Hatchell, I., Hatchell, C.A., Hatchell, L., +Hancock, H., Hollyman, A., Halford, J.M., Hix, T., Hase, G.N., Hickson, +J.S., Jackson, T., Jones, R.M., Jordan, P.A., Kerth, J.H., Kirby, S.J., +Kirby, H., Kent, J.L., Lockhart, J.C., Lockhart, R.C., Lockhart, G.R., +Lockhart, W.J., McCoy, C.D., McCoy, T.G., McCoy, J.J., McCoy, S., McCoy, +J., McGee, J.M., McGee, W., McKnight, W., Moore, J.G., Moore, J.D., +McGill, J.F., McGill, J., Morris, M.E., Morris, H., Morris, J.L., +Matthews, W.A., McKessick, W.J., Nettles, L.F., Nettles, G.T., Nettles. +R.C., Norwood, J.E., Philips, J.R., Philips, L.A., Price, J.A., Price, +G.P., Pool A.A., Pawley, J.H., Plummer, C.H., Powers, M.J., Powers, A.D., +Powers, W., Rollins, R.D.F., Rice, D.H., Rogers, M.D., Singletary, C., +Smoot, W.B., Smoot, W.L., Snipes, M., Timmons, W.H., Timmons, W.B., +Truitt, J.E., Turner, J.C., Ward, J.W., Ward, R.H., Ward, C.E., Ward, +J.J., Witherspoon, S.B., Windham, J.R., Windham, I., Windham, J.H., +Wooten, S., Wittington, J.W., Wadford, N., Wadford, G.W., Winburn, S., +Young, W.W. + +COMPANY "F." + +CAPTAINS: Evans, W.H., Howle, T.E., McIver, J.K., Bass, J.E. +LIEUTENANTS: McIver, J.J., Kelly H., James, W.E., Ferguson, J.W., +Griffin, P.E., Griffin, E.M., Rhodes, J.T., James, R.E., Coker, W.C., +Smoot, J., Rhodes, W.B., Williams, J.A., Williams, A.L., Howle, J.F., +Evans, C.D., Bearly, J.M., Wilson, I.D., Carter, W.P. +CORPORALS: Parrott, A.W., Hearon, G.W., Bruce, C.A., Harroll, L.B., +Parrott, B.M. + +PRIVATES: Alexander, A., Atkinson, W.K., Bacot, T.W., Bass, J.C., Bass, +B., Bass, J.B., Baswell, L.T., Bozeman, B.C., Bozeman, J.W., Bozeman, +P.W., Bozeman, J., Bozeman, H., Bozeman, W., Brown, W., Byrd, D.M., +Coltins, A., Colvin, J.R., Cook, D.B., Davis, J.M., Dixon, A.P., Dixon. +J.E., Elliott, W.A., Ervin, E.M., Fraser, J.G., Fort, J.E., Flowers, J., +Garland, W.H., Galloway, A., Galloway, W.M., Galloway, W.L., Galloway, M., +Galloway, G.W., Gullege, A., Gullege, J.L., Gatlin, H., Hale, J.O., +Halliburton, J.J., Halliburton, R.J., Harrall, J.M., Harris, D.J., +Hazelton, J., Higgins, R.D., Hurst, S., Jenks, M., Jenks, G., Jordon, A., +King, T.F., Kelly, T., Lawson, J.T., Lee, J.T., Lewis, W., McCown, R., +McIntosh, J.H., McKenzie, W.W., Marco, M., Mazing, W.H., Mixon, J., +Martin, W., Nettles, R.F., Outlaw, B., Outlaw, J., Parrott, J.R., Peoples, +R.H., Price, A.J., Privett, J.H., Privett, J.H., Rhodes, J.D., Rhodes, +F.E., Rhodes, R.B., Smith, A., Smith, J.S.M., Skinner, B., Shumaker, S., +Stukey, A.F., Suggs, R.B., Stokes, R., Tallevasb, H.P., Thomas, J.M., +Thomas, R.C., Tyler, H., Thomlinson, ----, Wallace, G., Wordham, +A.E., Wilk, J., Wilson, P. + +COMPANY "G." + +CAPTAIN: Harrington, J.W. +LIEUTENANTS: Townsend, C.F., Parker, John, Weatherly, C.M. +SERGEANTS: Dudley, T.F., Lester, I.B., Murdock, John T., Odum, L., +Crosland, W.A. +CORPORALS: Easterling, Thomas, Townsend, H.E., Cook, John A., Tatum, +R.J., Gillespie, O.H., Douglas, H.J. + +PRIVATES: Adams, E., Adams, H.A., Adams, J.T., Andrews, S.D., Briston, +C.D., Briston, E.D., Bullard, Henry, Bundy, William, Butler, William, +Butler, E., Campbell, J., Caulk, D., Cook, T.A.M., Cowen, L.M., Crosland, +Samuel, Connor, R.D.T., Cooper, Wm.C., Cooper, V.H., David, E.C., David, +R.J., David, J.H., Dudley, James, Drigger, Jesse, Drigger. J.G., David, +A.I., Easterling, A.A., Easterling, R.C., Easterling, J.K., Easterling, +W.T., Easterling, Elijah, Edens, T.W., Emanuel, C.L., Fletcher, J.D., +Gibson, W.L., Grant, J.S., Graham, H.C., Gillespie, S.J., Harvel, John, +Henagen, James M., Heyward, Isham, Hinson, J.B., Hinson, P.H., Huckabee, +J.L., James, J.H., Hambrick, J., Irby, W.W., Jackson, I.A.L., Jackson, +Enos, Johnson, N.D., Johnson, H.I., Johnson, D., Laviner, G.W., Laviner, +D., Long, H.A., Lyles, J.R., Miller, J.M., Munnerlyn, C.T., Miller, Henry, +McCollum, J.H., McIntosh, N.H., McIntosh, A., McQueen, J., McIrmis, S.J., +McKenzie, A., Odum, Josiah, Odum, S.W., Odum, P.W., Parker, H., Prince, +John T., Potter, Sol., Privatt, Evander, Pearson, R.C., Roscoe, John, +Roscoe, G.W., Rowe, J.H., Roundtree, M., Skipper, J., Snead, Israel, +Stanton, Noah, Stanton, J.A., Stanton, Milton, Thomas, C.J., Thomas, J.M., +Thomas, R.D., Thornwell, C.A., Williams, David, Wright, D.G., Wright, +F.E., Wright, G.W., Webster, H.D., Webster, T.M., Webster, H., Sutherland, +T.A. + +COMPANY "H." + +CAPTAINS: Singletary, B.L., McIntire, Duncan. +LIEUTENANTS: Myers, M.G., Brunson, J.B., Culpepper, George, McPherson, +P.E., Gregg, Walter, Cooper, R.D. +SERGEANTS: Gregg, Smith A., Gregg, McF., Moore, B., Gregg, John W., +Mathews, Frank, Hughes, G.W., Godbold, D., Colston, G., Stone, W.C.P., +Armfield, A.L., McWhite, E. + +PRIVATES: Altman, J., Bartley, J.G., Barthy, Charles, Barthy, E., +Bellflower, H., Bragton, J.J., Balley, John, Broach, G.W., Cain, S.G., +Cain, K.S., Cain, J.J., Cain, R.M., Cain, Church, Cain, J. Coon, Cain, +J.H., Cox, J.T., Cooper, Brunson, Cooper, Witherspoon, Christmas, Jarrett, +Davis, J.G., Deas, Simeon, Eagerton, H., Finklen, John, Flowers, W.D., +Guy, J.H., Graham, J.M., Hampton, Thomas, Hampton, George, Hutchinson, +George, Hutchinson, W.C., Hutchinson, Samuel, Hunter, D., Harrall, E., +Harrall, N.W., Harrall, W.T., Hyman, Benjamin, Hughes, R.S., Holland, +J.S., Holland, George, Hodges, Barney, Kennedy, Alfred, Kennedy, Andrew, +Kersey, E., Lewellyn, J.B., Leach, Julius, McKissick, A.G., McKissick, M., +Myers, William, McWhite, A.A., Myers, A.A., Pearce, R.H., Prosser, +Michael, Rodgers, C., Rodgers, M., Roy, A., Stephenson, A., Stone, F.F., +Williams, H., Williams, Thomas, Williams, R.L., Williams, S.B., +Weatherford, W.S., Weatherford, Benjamin, Gregg, S.J., Gregg, S.E., +Howard, Tillman, Powers, Jonas. + +COMPANY "I." + +CAPTAINS: Stackhouse, E.T., Harllee, A.T. +LIEUTENANTS: Cook, H., B., Ross, J.N., Rodgers, R.H., Carmichael, W.D., +Stafford, D.C., Cusack, G.W. +SERGEANTS: McClenagham, H.H., Harllee, Peter S., Pearce, J.F., Ayers, +E.S., McDuffie, D.Q., Harllee, R.A., Gregg, A. Stuart, Jenkins, R.W. +CORPORALS: Woodrow, J.E., Huggins. Geo. W., Harelson, Joel, Sparkman, +Levi, Cusack, S.C., DeBarry, Edmond, Robbins, J.B., Fenaghan, James, +Rodgers, E., Carmichael, Alex., Brigman, A., Butler, J.A., Butler, Silas W. + +PRIVATES: Bigham, W.H., Bullock, Joel, Benton, Joel, Benton, G.W., Baker, +John, Cox, G.B., Cribb, Levi, Collin, E.H., Crawford, H.W., Cottingham, +Stewart, Cottingham, Thomas F., Cohen, David, Cohen, Isaac, Dove, J.W., +Dove, H.G., Ellen, E.J., Elvington, Dennis, Fryer, A.J., Freeman, Joseph, +Gaddy, R.M., Gaddy, W.D., Gregg, T.C., Harralson, M.J., Harralson, E.P., +Herring, E.B., Hinton, J.W., Jones, J., James, Robert, Loyd, Henry, +Llewellyn, B.F., Mace, James C., Meckins, P.B., Morgan, W.C., Miller, +W.H., Myers, John E., Moody, John B., Murphy, J.C., McCall, L.A., McRae, +James, Owens, D.R., Owens, S.S., Sparkman, G.R., Snipes, Michael, Smalley, +Isaiah, Turner, John C., Watson, John R., Watson, Quinn, Woodrow, W.J., +Whitner, J.N., Woodberry, W.D. + +COMPANY "K." + +CAPTAINS: McLeod, D.M.D., Manning. Frank, Rodgers, Ben. A. +LIEUTENANTS: McQueen, S.F., McLucas, John D., Hearsey, Geo. R., Rodgers, +W.T., Peterkin, J.A., Alfred, J.M.I., McQuage, J.J., Smith, J.W., Alford, +M.N., McCall, H.D., Willis, Eli, Smith, W.D., McRae, Frank, McLucas, Hugh, +McKinnon, C., Gunter, John, Calhoun, J.C., McLaurin, L.A., Edens, J.A., +McCall, C., Covington, J.T., Alford, N.A., Hargroves, David, Bruce, J.D. + +PRIVATES: Allen, E., Barrington, H., Bruce, T.R., Bundy, W.R., +Cottingham, C., Covington, E.T., Covington, J.T., Crowey, R.C., Crowley, +William, Cape, Thomas, Curtin, ----, Clark, J., Drake, Ansel, +Davis, C., Driggers, R.S., Dupre, Thomas J., Edens, Joseph, Edens, T.H., +English, William, Emanuel, J.M., Easterling, Lewis, Easterling, David, +Freeman, L.D., Freeman, Benjamin, Fletcher, W.R., Greggard, J.W., Graham, +E., Groomes, F., Gunter, John, Hargrove, James, Hargrove, D.T., Harvel, +Tristam, Hathcock, W., Hayes, J.J., Hayes, Robt. W., Hasken, John W., +Huckabee, John, Huckabee, John W., Hodges, Thomas C., Ivey, H.W., Ivey, +Levi, Jones, John C., Jones, Martin, Jacobs, Robert, Jacobs, J. Frost, +Jackson, John C., John, Daniel C., Joy, W.H., Kirby, H., McCall, C., +McCall, Alex., McCall, John T., McRae, A.D., McRae, John D., McRae, John +C., McDaniel, J.R., McLucas, A.C., McLaurin, John F., McLeod, M., +McPherson, Malcolm, McPhearson, Angus, Matherson, Hugh, Manship, John, +Rodgers, C., Rodgers, F.A., Roscoe, Daniel, Smith, W.D., Stubbs, Lucius, +Sparks, George, Sarvis, A.S., Staunton, A.A., Webster, Wm. R., Williams, +Lazarus, Woodley, Alex., Weatherly, A.W. + +COMPANY "L." + +CAPTAINS: Stackhouse, E.T., Carmichael, W.D. +LIEUTENANTS: Higgins, W.D., Clark, G.W. +SERGEANTS: Carmichael, D.D., Ayers, E.S., Rodgers, E., Manning, Eli, +Murchison, Duncan. +CORPORALS: Carmichael, Alex., Page, J.N., Roberts, J.H., Barfield, +Thompson. + +PRIVATES: Alford, Robert, H., Alford, Artemus, Alford, W. McD., Ammonds, +J.D., Ayers, D.D., Barfield, R. Tally, Barfield, M., Barfield, H., Bethea, +J. Frank, Bethea, H.P., Bridgeman, A.P., Byrd, H.G., Carmichael, A., +Carmichael, D.C., Cottingham, C., Candy, S., Clark, R. Knox, Crawley, +W.C., Coward, H., Cook, John, Harper, J.M., Herring, Samuel, Huckabee, +John, Hicks. John C., Huggens, W.E., Huggens, D., Hunt, J.E., Herring, +E.B., Irwin, I.R., Jackson, Robert, Jackson, M., Jackson, N., Lane, +Samuel, Lane, E., McPhane, D., McRae, Colin, McRae, N., McRae. Roderick, +McRae, Franklin, McGill. Colin, McLaurin, D., Morgan, W.C., McGill, David, +Owens, S.I., Page, D.N., Page, D.P., Rogers, Thompson, Rogers, John F., +Rogers, William D., Rogers, E.B., Rogers, L.B., Sarris, John, Turner, John +C., Turberville, Calvin, Waters, John W., Watson, John R., Watson, Quinn, +Watson, Lindsay. + +COMPANY "M." + +CAPTAINS: Howie, Thomas E., Coker, William C. +LIEUTENANTS: Howle, James F., Rhodes, W.B., Galloway, W.L., Smoot, J., +Galloway, George. +SERGEANTS: Brearly, James W., Halliburton, Robert, Garland, W. H, Mixon, J. +CORPORALS: Mozingo, W.H., Philips, J.C., McKenzie, W.W., Harrell, L.W., +Mozingo, E., Howle, R.F. + +PRIVATES: Alexander, H., Atkinson, Wiley, Byrd, D.M., Byrd, G.F., +Bozeman, Peter, Beasley, Burton, Beasley, Ira, Bruce, C.A., Coker, C.W., +Collins, E., Flowers, William, Galloway, Abram, Galloway, Nathan, Gainey, +Isaiah, Gainey, Peter, Gulledge, Alex., Goodson, Robert, Halliburton, +J.J., Harris, D.J., Hill, William T., Hill, William M., Hill, Nelson, +Hudson, Jesse, Hall, David, Jenks, Mark, Jenks, Thomas, Jenks, G.W., +Kirven, M.L., King, J.B., King, C.R., Lewis, Zach., McCown, J.M., McCown, +J.J., McPherson, Robert, McKissick, ----, Moore, William H., +Mathews, William, Mozingo. William, Morrell. Peter, Northcoat, +----, Norwood, James Peebles, W.D., Peebles, Robert, Privett, J. +Hamilton, Privett, J. Henry, Privett, John H., Parrott, Pinkney, Parrott, +Benj. M., Plummer,. William, Rhodes, John J., Rhodes, John B., Skinner, +Benj., Smith, J.S.M., Smith, Bryant, Suggs, A.T., Suggs, R. Rush, Thomas, +J.M., Williams, David, Wright, Jonathan, Wright, Thomas L., Wright, +J.B.C., Wilson, Peter, Wilson, Joseph, Woodman, A. Edward, Smith, Alex., +Matuse. William, Colvin, John, Dixon, James, Bass, J.C. + + * * * * * + +ROLL OF FIFTEENTH SOUTH CAROLINA VOLUNTEER REGIMENT. + +Field and Staff. COLONELS: DeSaussure, W.D., Davis, J.B. +LIEUTENANT COLONELS: Gist, J.F., Lewie, S.F. +MAJOR: Gist, Wm. M. ADJUTANT: Davis, J.M. +ASSISTANT QUARTERMASTER: Middleton, J.S. +ASSISTANT COMMISSARY SERGEANT: Kirkland, J.M. +SURGEON: James, J.A. +ASSISTANT SURGEON: Wallace, A., McCullum, H.B. +SERGEANT MAJOR: Giles, C.H. +QUARTERMASTER SERGEANT: Price, J.R. +ORDNANCE SERGEANT: Boyd, R.W. +HOSPITAL STEWARD: Maurice, R.F. + + +COMPANY "A." + +CAPTAIN: Radcliffe, Thos. W. +LIEUTENANTS: Beard, Henry, Brown, Pressley, Shields, Wm. +SERGEANTS: Black, J.E., Campbell, J.S., Cathcart, J.N., O'Neale, Richard, +Beard, T.A., Zealy, R.F. +CORPORALS: Pollock, T.M., Long, S.S., Hutchison, J.H., Bruns, J. Henry. + +PRIVATES: Anderson, W.C., Assman, W.J., Asbury, W.E., Anderson, Richard, +Brown, Ira B., Baum, M.H., Branham, R.T., Beckwith, Wm. H., Boscheen, +Charley, Blankenstine, Jacob, Bedell, Allen, Bynum, Ben, Beckwith, L.R., +Brown, Fred. J., Beck, Robt. C., Brown, J.H., Burrows, DeS., Beckham, +W.M., Bass, Toland, Crawford, D.H., Capers, Geo. R., Clarkson, E. McC., +Crawford, Daniel, Davis, John, Dougal, C.H., Dixon, S.W., Dreisden, +Julius, DeSaussure, W.D., Ehelers, Geo., Emlyn, H.N., Edwards, J.G., +Frazee, P.F., Fritz, J.A., Gibson. F.A., Gibenwrath, J.F., Grieshaber, +Fritze, Gardener, C.H., Glaze, Wm., Green, M.B., Gandy, J.H., Graham, Wm., +Geiger, J.G., Gunther, Jno., Gaither, J.W., Goodwin, G.W., Howel, D.B., +Henrick, Lewis, Hardie, J.W., Howell, O.F., Johnson, C.P., Johnson, J.R., +Isaacs, J.H., James, Joseph, Kaigler, I.A., Killian, Jno. II., Keenan, +Roland A., Levin, G.W., Ledingham, W.J., Lesher, Wm., Lumsden, J.L., +McCammon, G., McCammon, ----, Morgan, Isaac C., McGorvan, Jno., McKenzie, +Frank L., McCoy, John M., Milling, James, Orchard, Henry Pearson, A.W., +Price, J.R., Puryear, R.T., Poppe, Julius, Parker, Wm. E., Perry, G.H., +Pollock, B.C., Peixotto, S.C., Pope, F.M., Radcliffe, C.C., Reynolds, Jno. +H., Roberts, W.H., Row, Louis, Rawley, Jno., Reed, R.C., Stark, A., Smith. +J.C., Smith, Warren, Scott, John M., Stork, A., Stork, J.J., Stork, W.H., +Schnider, Henry, Scott, W.H., Schultze, George, Stewart, Edmond, Starling, +T.J., Tourney, Tim. J., Templeton, I.G., Templeton, Wm. A., Templeton, +W.L., Townsend, J.V., Veal, J.M., Wells, Jacob H., Walker, T.P., Walsh, +P.H., Wade, T.H., Wade, Geo. McD., Wallace, A., Yates, Joseph. + +COMPANY "B." + +CAPTAINS: Gist, Wm. H., Sheldon, S.H. +LIEUTENANTS: Rogers, J. Rice, Barnett, Wm. R., Huckabee, ----, +McWhirter, ----, Smith, W.M., Yarborough, P.P. +SERGEANTS: Giles, C.H., West, John I., Haselwood, Hosea, Bailey, W.P.H., +Bobo, Barham, Williams, J.H. +CORPORALS: Hughes, J.A., Lowe, M.V., Lancaster, W.A., Young, I.H., +Williams, Gordon. + +PRIVATES: Abernathy, John, Anderson, Thomas, Barrett, T. Lyles, Barrett, +Alonzo, Barnett, W. Franklin, Bethany, Jesse, Briggs, B. Franklin, Bogan, +Isaac C., Bogan, P.P., Boram, W.H., Bobo, Jason, Canaday, C., Canaday, +David, Sr., Canaday, David, Jr., Clefton, Wesley, Dillard, Wm., Eubanks, +Shelton, Eubanks, Charner, Foster, W.A., Foster, I.F., Gee, P.M., Gossett, +T.G., Goodlin, W.P., Gossett, Henry, Gist, D.C., Grass, J.C., Hembree, +Ervin, Hollingsworth, Benj., Huckabee, W.P., Huckabee, James M., Huckabee, +Philip, Huff, John, Huff, W.M., Haselwood, A., Haselwood, Thomas, Huges, +Thomas H., Huges, E., Holcomb, Wallace, Jennings, Elias, Kelly, I.H., +Lamb, Marion, Lamb, Robert, Lamb, John, Lamb, David, Lamb, Elijah, +Lancaster. F.M., Lancaster, J.B., Lawson, Lemuel, Lawson, Munro, Lawson, +J.H., Lawson, Elijah, Lawson, Charles, Lawson, Franklin, Lawson, Levi, +Myers, G.W., Powell, James W., Prickett, H.P., Pool. Wm. M., Prince, +Spencer, Prince, Franklin, Ray, Robt. F., Ray, Jeremiah, Ray, B.C., Rains, +Wm., Rook, James, Rook, Franklin, Robinson, G.M., Sparks, William, Starns, +W.A., Stone, H.C., Smith, Nimrod, Smith, Wm., Sumner, I.M., Sumner, F.S., +Sumner, John, Sumner, Mattison, Templeton, Jno. A., Waldrip, W.M., West, +B.E., West, W. McD., West, Jno. P., West, Isaac T., West, C.P., West, +E.I., West, W.C., Whitton, John, Willard, Benj., Willard, William, +Wilbanks, F., Wilbanks, T., Whitmore, J.F., Whitmore, E.H., Whitmore, +Thomas, Whitehead, James, Whitehead, Stephen, Yarborough, Hiram, Young, +George, Young, Thomas, Young, Francis W. + +COMPANY "C." + +CAPTAINS: Lewie, F.S., Lewie, J.H., Griffith, D.J. +LIEUTENANTS: Swygert, Y., Lewie, S.T., Fulmer, W.W., Spence, S., Jumper, +J.B., Shealey, Lewis. +SERGEANTS: Kyzer, S.W., Lewie, E.W., Derrick, H.F., Sanders, W.F., +Lammack, J.S., Leaphart, F.E., Jumper, J.W., Butler, J.W., Derrick, D.S., +Anderson, F.S., Hare, J.W., Heister, M.W.C., Price, H.L. +CORPORALS: Sease, D.T., Earhart, C.B.W., Black, J.W., Oswalt, F. Wade, +Huer, W.B. + +PRIVATES: Adams, I.P., Alewine, Philip, Alewine, W.W., Alewine, W.H., +Alewine, J.L., Addy, M.W., Addy, S.L., Addy, E.I., Addy, J.W., Amick, +E.R., Amick, H., Anderson, E., Anderson, J., Black, S.L., Blum, John, +Busby, Tillman, Caughman, D.S., Craps, J.W., Craps. H.H., Crout, John, +Crout, Ephraim, Crim, R.F., Derrick, A.E., Derrick, W.T., Derrick, Oliver, +Fridell, J.M., Griffith, Allen, Hyler, N.W., Hare, D.T., Hare, L.P., +Hallman, E., Hallman, W.B., Hartly, J.L., Hendrix, J.P., Hendrix, G.W., +Hite, D.W., Kite, Noah W., Holeman, D.P., Jumper, D.A., Jumper, W.T., +Jumper, H.F., Kelly, G.J., Kelly, Jasper, King, Luke, Hyzer, Henry L., +Hyzer, J.T., Hyzer, J.S., Laurinack, Samuel, Laurinack, J.J., Laurinack, +Noah, Laurinack, Paul, Long, L.W., Laurinack, E., Long, W.A., Long, J.W., +Long, W.W., Long, Jacob, Long, I.A. Mettze, J.E., Nichols, Levi. Nichols. +L.E., Nichols, Wesley, Oswold, Wilson, Oswold, James, Oswold, L.B., Oxner, +N., Price, R.E., Price, Danl., Price, Jacob, Price, G.W., Sr., Price, +D.W., Price, R.I., Plymale, W.W., Rysinger, David, Rysinger, Noah, +Rysinger, Geo. D., Rysinger, Wesley, Rawl, L., Rawl, Christian. Rawl, +O.D., Rawl, Franklin, Sanford, Wade, Sanford, S., Salther, H., Snelgrove, +M., Lybrand, Wm., Sease, M.T., Shull, John, Seay, Danl., Shirey, I.P., +Snyder, John, Shealy, Albert, Shealy, E.H., Shealy, Littleton, Shealy, +Wiley, Shealy, Henry, Shealy, A., Shealy, P.W., Smith, Henry A., Swygert, +E., Taylor, Ruben, Taylor, I.L., Taylor, David, Vansant, Addison, Warren, +T.I. + +COMPANY "D." + +CAPTAIN: Warren, Thomas J. +LIEUTENANTS: Davis, James M., Lyles, James V., Schrock, I.A. +SERGEANTS: Burns, O.B., Somers, Adolphus, Huckabee, J.J., Davis, J.J., +Fisher, C.A. +CORPORALS: Springer, Rudolph, Stewman, P.A.H., Wolf, Eugene, Young, Jno. +W., Crosby, Geo. + +PRIVATES: Ammons, H., Brannon, John, Brannon, Wm., Sr., Brannon, Wm., +Jr., Brannon, David, Bradley, John, Brown, Wm., Corbitt, J.C., Corbitt, +H.F., Copell, W.H., Copell, J.B., Copell, S.B., Creighton, E.E., +Creighton, H.L. Collier, F.J., Evins, John, Evain, Samuel, Fulghum, James, +Falkuberry, John, Ford, E.J., Fletcher, David G., Gardner, Lewis, Gardner, +James L., Graham, Wm., Griffin, Stephen, Gaymon, John B., Hays, Joseph, +Hays, E., Hayes, James, Harrall, Jim, Harrall, John, Hornsby, Joseph, +Hornsby, Samuel, Hornsby, S.W., Hough, Hollis, Hinson, John, Sr., Hinson, +John, Jr., Hunter, A.A., Hall, Russell J., Johnson, Ben F., Johnson, W.B., +Jackson, Douglas, Jordan, W.H., Jordan, D., Kirkley, D.C., Kemp, Tira, +Kemp, Warren, Kelly, B.P., Kirby, A., Kirby, J.W., Munn, A.J., McInnis, +N.M., Mattox, James, Mattox, Isaac S., Mattox, Sam., Mattox, Geo. W., +McLeod, N.A., Moneyham, John, Marsh, Gates, Marsh, James, Marsh, John, +McCullum, H.B., Minton, C., Minton, Jno. B., McGuire, Henry, Outlaw, Jno. +E., Parker, Wm. E., Parker, Redding, Parker, B.B., Richburg, J.J., Ray, +James, Scott, Hasting, Scott, Manning, Shedd, Jesse P., Smith, J.W., +Spradley, W.J., Spradley, John, Shaylor, T.S., Shaylor, C.H., Shivey, +Jos., Turner, Jno. F., Hassein, A. Von, Wilson, Joel, Wilson, Henry, +Wilson, Paul H., Williams, A.W., Williams, B. Frank, Watson, W.W., Warren, +Wm., Watts, C., Watts, Jno., Workman, W.H.R., Waddell, N.T., Ward, John, +Watts, Frank, Young, Jno. W., Yates, Saml., Yates, Willis. + +COMPANY "E." + +CAPTAINS: Davis, J.B., Dawkins, W.J., Kirkland, W.W. +LIEUTENANTS: Smart, Thomas H., Martin, Joseph B., Pearson, J.W., Hoy, +J.B., Blair, C.B. +SERGEANTS: Pettigrew, J.H., Blair, W. McD., Robinson, K.Y. +CORPORALS: Gladney, J.D., Bridges, W.A., Gladney, Samuel. + +PRIVATES: Aiken, W.B., Aiken, D.M., Bagley, J.S., Bagley, Lee, Barker, +W.J., Barker, S.C., Butner, J.J., Barrmeau, J.J., Bridges, F.C., Barber, +James, Cloxton, Wm., Cotton, W.J., Cotton, Joe, Crossland, Wm., Crossland, +A.T., Camack, Samuel. Camack, A.F., Coleman, Robt, Coleman, H.T., +Crumpton, W.C., Crumpton, T.H., Crumpton, W.S., Clarke, J.S., Crawford, +Robt., Carlisle, Jno., Dickerson, W.P., Davis, J.B. Davis, Ross, Evans, +J.W., Fenley, W.P., Fenley, D.D., Gladney, Amos, Gladney, John, Gladney, +J.F., Gladden, W.A., Gibson, T.D., Gregg, C.D., Hamilton, D.G., Hodge, +J.M., Hodge, R.B., Hodge, A.F., Hodge, J.C., Hutchinson, J.B., Hutchinson, +J.P., Hunt, C.M., John, J.A., John, James, Kirkland, W.F., Kirkland, J.M., +Lyles, I.B., Lyles, W.W., Lyles, A.C., Long, W.W., Long, J.J., Ligon, +I.N., Morris, T.S., Martin, R.L., Murphy, W.E., Murphy, S.A., Murphy, +E.E., Murphy, Jno. R., Moorehead, W.J., McCormack, Hugh, McConnell, W.H., +McClure, John, McDowell, Alex., McCrorey. James, Neil, J.H., Pettigrew, +W.T., Pettigrew. A.R., Pettigrew, D.H., Pettigrew. G.B., Poteet, +Lafayette, Price, Fletcher, Price, J.W., Parrott, R.L., Pearson, G.B., +Powell, R.M., Rabb, J.W., Richardson, J.D., Sprinkler, Hiram, Smith, D.A., +Smith. J.W., Smith, W.E., Seymore, Jno., Tidewell, B.N., Veronee, C.B., +Varnadoe, Henry, Wylie, J.T., Wylie. T.C., Wylie, Frank, Wylie, James, +Walker, Danl., Walker, Alex., Williams, G.W., Yarborough, T.J., +Yarborough, W.T., Yarborough, I.T. + +COMPANY "F." + +CAPTAINS: Boyd, C.W., Jefferies, Jno R. +LIEUTENANTS: Norris, James, Walker, S.S., Steen, Geo., Jefferies, J.D., +Hart, W.D., Wood, Moses. +SERGEANTS: Rowland, Jas. A., Boyd, R.W., Kendricks, M.S., Lipscomb, +Smith, Shippey, Dexter, Wilkins, W.D., Jones, B.F., McKown, G.W. +CORPORALS: Spears, G.S., Morgan, George, Balue, Thomas, Mays, Jno., +Littlejohn, I.H., Reavs, Z., Vinson, Richard, Jones, N.C. + +PRIVATES: Alston, M.K., Bailey, T.J., Berbage, D.B., Blanton, Ambrose, +Blanton, D.D., Brown, Wm., Burgess, Thomas, Betenbough, Joseph, +Betenbough, Jno., Blanton, N.A., Burgess, L.I., Cellars, Wm., Clary, +Herod, Clary, G.B., Clary, Singleton, Clary, Wm., Carter, E.L., Dukes, +I.C., Edge, Jno., Fowler, B.F., Fowler, Jno., Fowler, R.M., Fowler, Wm., +Fowler, Richard, Fowler, W., Farr, F.M., Goudlock, T.D., Griffin, Thomas, +Goforth, W.M., Hames, L.A., Horn, Asbury, Horn, Elias, Hughey, J.R., Horn, +Wash., James, Wash., Jefferies, Hamlet, Jones, James, Jeter, S.A., Jones, +S., Kirby, Wm. D., Knox, James, Kendrick, T.J., Knox, Morgan, Knox, +Thomas, Lee, W.A., Leonard, Wm., Littlejohn, C.T., Littlejohn, Henry, +Littlejohn, M.R., Lockhart, J.C., Lockhart, J.N., Lenoad, J.M., Lockhart, +R.M., Maberry, Saml., McCafferty, G.A., Macornsor, D.R., Mayes, L.C., +McKown, F.M., Millwood, J.C., Millwood, J.H., Millwood, Morgan, Moorhead, +J.T., Moorhead, W.G., Mosely, D.P., Moseley, W.D., Murphy, M., Murphy, +S.M., Peeler, J.R., Page, J.L., Page, R., Peeler, A.J., Peeler, D.M., +Perkinson, S., Phillips, S.G., Puckett, I.H., Pearson, I.A., Phillips, +G.M., Phillips, J.T., Phillips, T.J., Rodgers, W.N., Scott, H.W., Scott, +T.E., Scates, L., Spencer, D.N., Sprouse, W., Stroup, T.H., Sartor, T., +Shippey, M., Spencer, J., Sanders, A.J., Thompson, M.D., Wakefield, L., +Ward, I.L., Ward, I.N., Wilkins, R.S., Wilkins, T.T., Ward, W. + +COMPANY "G." + +CAPTAINS: Chandler, J.B., McCutcheon, J. +LIEUTENANTS: Haselden, W.M., Barren, B.P., Timmons. F.M., Cooper, F.E. +SERGEANTS: Fulton, T.M., Wilson, W.J., Eaddy, T., McClary, J., Gamble, +H.D., Cox, W.G., Lenerieux, F.M. +CORPORALS: Brown, J.J., Johnson, M.M., Burrows, J.T., Nesmith, J. + +PRIVATES: Autman, J.A., Altman, L.C., Abrams, I.B., Abrams, W., Ard, R., +Ard, J., Ard, F., Avant O.R., Barrimeau, B.T.L., Barrimeau, J.J., Baxley, +O., Bratcher, A., Brown, J., Brown, A.W., Brown, D.L., Bowden, H., +Buckles, H., Buckles, L., Buckles, J., Burns, J., Burrows, I.T., Burrow, +W.S., Carter, E.W., Carter, A.W., Carter, A.B., Carter, J.D., Carter, T., +Colyer, J., Cox, L., Cox, F., Cox, W.I., Cox, J.R., Cox, J.T., Cox, I.G., +Cockfield, J.C., Christman, G.W., Cribb, C., Cribb. D.W., Donahoe, A.W., +Eaddy, I.F., Eaddy, W.S., Eaddy, G.J., Eaddy, D., Ferrel, F., Flagler, +A.P., Gaskin, J.J., Gaskin, E.V., Gaskin, J.C., Gaskin, C.A., Gaskin, +A.M., Gist, G.G., Gordon, H., Graham, J. McC., Graham, W.L., Gurganus, +J.E., Hanna, G.W., Hanna, R., Hanna, J.F., Haselden, S.B., Haselden, A.J., +Haselden, J., Haselden, J.R., Haselden, W.B., Haselden, J., Hudson. J., +Hughes, ----, James, J.A., June, T.G., June, A., Johnson, E.H., +Kinder, H.H., Lambert, B.P., McDonald, ----, McAlister, W., +Marsh, J., Matthews, J.J., Matthews, W.W., Matthews, J., Maurice, R.F., +McConnell, W.S., McDaniel, J., McLellan, A.K., Miller, J., Owens, J.A., +Perkins, W.G., Paston II, A., Ponncy, J.A., Ponncy, M., Scott, A.W., +Scott, J.C., Scott, G.C., Spring, G.W., Spivey. H.E., Stone, P.T., Stone, +T.B., Tanner. T.A., Tanner, J., Thompson. S.B., Thompson, J., Tomas. J., +Tilton, H., Venters, L., Venters, J., Whitehead, N.M., Whitehead. J. + +COMPANY "H." + +CAPTAINS: Sims, W.H., Farr, W.P., Briggs, W.R., Farr, F.M. +LIEUTENANTS: Barley, J.L., Porter, J., Parr, W., Howell, M. +SERGEANTS: Savage, J., Greer, F., Barley, J., Smith, H. +CORPORALS: Fair, G., Coleman, B.C., Morgan, D.V. + +PRIVATES: Adams, A.R., Adams, B., Adis, J., Adis, Wm., Adis, R., +Alverson, W.G., Bentley, John, Bentley, James, Burgess, F., Burgess, R., +Bevell, W., Bevell, W.H.H., Bends, L., Barnes, M., Conner, W.F., Conner, +W.E., Cadd, F.R., Cadd, W.F., Chapman, J., Davis, J., Davis, P.A., Dabbs, +W., Dabbs, J., Edge, J., Farr, D., Farr, D.A.T., Farr, D., Farr, N., +Fausett, K., Fowler, J.M., Fowler, T., Fowler, G., Fowler, M., Garner, +G.W., Garner, W., Garner, C., Garner, L., Garner, J., Gault, H.C., +Gregery, A., Gregery, F., Griffin, W., Griffin, D., Hawkins, W., Howell, +W., Howell, S.J., Hames, E., Hames, J., Haney, J., Haney, F., Humphries, +A., Inman, D., Ivey, Wm., Ivey, Wiley, Ivey, R., Milwood, Frank, Milwood, +E.V., Milwood, James, Milwood, Wm., Mitchell, A., McKinney, G., Motte, +Jno., Mott, Jeff., Nance, N., Palmer, J., Palmer, E., Parr, R.T., Parr, +D., Parr, Richard, Savage, A., Sharp, C., Simpson, C., Smith, M., Smith, +W., Smith, Jno., Stears, A.D., Stears, D., Sprouse, L., Sprouse, Jno., +Sprouse, A., Tracy, J., Vaughn, K., Vaughn, A.L., Vinson, J.W., Vaudeford, +H., Vaudeford, W.M., Vaudeford, J.W., Wishard, J., Wix, James, Wix, Joel, +Worthy, C., Worthy, Richard, Leverett, J. + +COMPANY "I." + +CAPTAINS: Koon, J.H., Derrick, J.A. +LIEUTENANT: Frick, R.W., Derrick, F.W., Lake, J.T., Fulmer, H., Monts, +F.W., Davis, R., Wessinger, H.J., Lybrand, J.N., Keisler, Wade, Shealy, +W.C. +SERGEANTS: Wiggers, H.J., Frick, A.J., Lindler, S.P., Eargle, J.A., Long, +P.D., Derrick, J.F., Frick, S.J., Frick, L.A., Wessinger, W.F., Amick, H.L. +COPORALS: Fulmer, C.N.G., Wessinger, N.J., Ballentine, C., Bowers, A.J. + +Privates: Amick, J. Wesley, Amick, Joseph W., Amick, James J., Amick, +S.D.W., Amick, E.L., Amick, V.E., Amick, G.H., Amick, D.I., Amick, L.J., +Amick, J.L., Bickley, J.H., Bickley, D.W., Bickley, J.A., Bickley, J.I., +Busby, W.T., Boland, S.B., Ballentine, W.P., Ballentine, J.W., Coogler, +D., Crout, J., DeHart, D., DeHart, J., Derrick, D.I., Derrick, F., +Derrick, J.A., Dreher, G.L., Epting, D.W., Eargle, G.E., Feagle, George, +Fulmer, L.J., Fulmer, W.P., Fulmer, D.J., Frick, I.N., Griffith, A., Ham, +D., Hodge, A., Holman, W.W., Jacobs, J.E., Keisler, J.J., Koon, G.E., +Koon, J.B., Koon, H.M., Koon, S.D., Koon, S.W., Koon, W.F., Koon, J.F., +Koon, John F., Koon, Walter W., Koon, Hamilton, Koon, J.D., Koon, J.F., +Koon, H.W., Lindler, S.G., Lindler, Jacob, Lindler, John, Long G.J., +Long, J.J., Long, J.W., Long, Jno. W., Lybrand, J., Monts, G.M., Mayer, +A.G., Metz, O.P., Perkins, W.S., Risk, W.I., Risk, J.A., Sutton. J., +Shealy, N.E., Shealy, M., Shealy, G.M., Shealy, G.W., Shealy, S., Shealy, +J., Shealy, W.W., Smith, G.W., Talbert, J.W., Turner, C.B.; Wiley, E., +Wheeler, J.W., Wheeler, L.G., Wessinger, H.J., Wessinger, J.A., Wyse, +W.M., Wiggers, A., Wiggers, J.D. + +COMPANY "K." + +CAPTAIN: Bird, H.J. +LIEUTENANT: Rodgers, W.M., White, A., Taggert, W.H., Smith, W.A., +McCaslan, W.M., Henderson, O. +SERGEANTS: Dean, B.A., Smith, S.B., Jennings, J.C., Freeland, S.E., +McBride, S.S., McBride, J.B., Calvin, A.P. +COPORALS: Deason, A., Ballard, F.S., McCaine, J.K., Hendrix, M.F., +Berdeshaw, W.C., Dorn, J.J., Bird, M., Attaway, S. + +Privates: Adams, J.Q., Bearden. W., Bangham, W.W., Bell, E.B., +Bouchillon, H.M., Bouchillon, J.S., Bull, W.W., Bussey, T.J., Bird, D., +Bird, W., Brown, R., Brown, W.M., Brown, E., Brown, M., Brown, J., Bussey, +D., Bodie, J.R., Carr, N., Caldwell, J.W., Corley, J.A., Corley, C., +Collins, J.F., Crawford, J.R., Cothran, J.M., Crestian, J.T., Covin, O.W., +Cook, S., Curry, W.L., Dean, F., Devore, S., Devore, J.S., Devore, J.W., +Doollittle, J.E., Doollittle, S., Ennis, J.O., Ennis, G.W., Ennis, T.W., +Elam, J., Evans, J., Freeland, J.P., Frith, T., Gardner, W.T., Gardner, +A.H., Glansier, P., Griffin, E., Hamilton, W.M., Harrison, H.C., Harrison, +J., Hasteing, J., Harris, A., Henderson, C., Henderson, J.E., Hendrix, +H.H., Hughes, J.S., Hill, T., Horn, S., Hannon, W., Holsomback, H.H., +Hill, J., Hemphill, ----, Hardy, J., Holloway, W.J., Ivy, T., +Irvin, J., Johnson, E.C., Jeno, M., Jennings, C., King, W.M., King, T., +King, S., Lawton, F.E., Lawton, J.W., Lawton, A., Lawton, L., Ludwick, +W.C., Lukewire, H., Mathis, T.E., Mayson, R.C., Mayson, P.A., Mayson, J., +Mayson, J.C., Martin, H.D., McCain, W.J., Miner, J., Miner, W., +Merriweather, R., McKinney, J., McKelvin, G.T., Martin, A.M., McCannon, +W.R., Moore, J.D., Medlock, A., Newby, G.W., Purdy, J.H., Price, W.C., +Price, R., Price, H., Rich, J.S., Robertson, J.B., Robertson, H., Rearden, +L.D., Rodgers, P.A., Rodgers, P., Sperry, E.C., Shadrack, T.N., Shannon, +W.N., Scott, W.D., Shover, W., Steadman, J., Sheppard, L., Towles, E., +Tompkins, S., Tompkins, W., Timmerman, F., Taggart, P., Vaughn, J., +Vaughn, D., Weeks, C., Whitton, C., Walker, B.C., Walker, C., Whatley, E., +Weeks, S., Weems, J.T., New, S., Smith, W.H., Robertson, J.S., Davis, +W.M., Reynolds, J.M., Crawford, J.W., Vaughn, W. + + * * * * * + +ROLL OF THIRD BATTALION (JAMES). + +Field and Staff. LIEUTENANT COLONEL: James, G.S. +MAJOR: Rice, W.G. +COMMISSARY: Senn, R.D. +ADJUTANT: Harris, W.C. +QUARTERMASTER: James, B.S. +SERGEANT MAJOR: Ligon, G.A. +QUARTERMASTER SERGEANT: Ligon, R.B. + + +COMPANY "A." + +CAPTAINS: Rice, W.G., Townsend, J.M. +LIEUTENANTS: Anderson, J.W., Anderson, D.W., Anderson, Jno. W., +Murchison, B.K., King, A.A. +SERGEANTS: Craig, J.D.. Wilcutt, B.F., Moore, G.W., Anderson, J.J., +Calhoun, J.W., Hunter, W.S., Nickols, R.J., Anderson, J.S. +CORPORALS: Davenport, L.P., Elmore, L., Teague, L. + +PRIVATES: Anderson, P.K., Anderson, A.W., Anderson, A.T., Anderson, J.B., +Burns, W., Busby, J.S., Calhoun, J., Calhoun, J.W., Chaney, T., Chaney, +J.R., Craddock, J.R., Cannon, B., Clardy, B.S., Connor, L.D., Davis, J., +Davis, W.D., Davis, A., Davis, T., Davis, B.F., Dodson, W., Elmore, +Massalome, Elmore, J., Elmore, Maston, Elmore, G., Fooshe, J.A., Fooshe, +J.D., Foose, J.C., Finley, J.H., Goddard, J.E., Goddard, W.E., Graves, W., +Golding, J.J., Griffin, W.H., Griffin, E.W., Hines, G.W., Hill, M.S., +Hill, B.T., Hill, N., Hodges, M., Knight, J., King, R., King, J.J., Lomax, +W., Lipford, A., McGee, L.H., Martin, L., McPherson, J.M., Martin, L., +Nelson, J.M., Nelson, E., Nelson, W.A., Norman, J., Nichols, J.H., +Nichols, J., Owens, B.L., Owens, J.T., Owens, E.N., Pinson, E.M., Pinsom, +C.F., Puckett, W.H., Puckett, S.D., Puckett, K.C., Redden, Hazel, Rampy, +J.M., Redden, Harry, Saxon, P.A., Shirly, D.A., Shirley, Tully, Sims, +Thadeus, Sims, S.C., Taylor, J., Taylor, Jno., Taylor, G., Watts, W.D. + +COMPANY "B." + +CAPTAINS: Williams, J.G., Ligon, R.B., Watson, O.A., Wells, W.A., Pitts, +W.S. +LIEUTENANTS: Roberts, J.C., Fuller, A.A., Ligon, J.W., Miller, C.M., +Dunlap, R.S. SERGEANTS: Davis, J.W., Watson, J.E., Starnes, R.C., Waldrop, +R.G., Nance, W.G., Bryson, H., Wright, W.W., Dunlap, R.S., Griffin, R.S., +Grant, G.W. +CORPORALS: Milam, A.R., Cox, M., Sims, L.S., Fuller, J.C., Walker, F.M., +Jones, J.A., Nance, R.G., Fuller, W.B. + +PRIVATES: Austin, I.G., Austin, I.S., Boazman, W.M., Boazman, B.S., +Brown, T.S., Bailey, J., Butler, R.P., Boozer, J.J., Butler, W.L., Brown, +H.R., Benjamin, S.R., Bailey, M., Crawford, J.W., Coleman, T.T., Coleman, +O.A., Calhoun, T.H., Cook, W.I., Cole, W.M., Daniel, T.D., Duncan, J.G., +Dalrymple, J.H., Dendy, E.G., East, O.D., Fuller, A.S., Fuller, P.A., +Fuller, E.P., Fuller, J., Fuller, E., Finley, S.J., Goodman, B., Goodman, +B.B., Griffin, E., Harvey, J.H., Hitt, H.L., Hitt, P., Hitt, Robt., Hazel, +G., Hazel, J., Hollingsworth, R.S., Hollingsworth, A., Hughes, J.H., Hand, +W., Hacot, B.C., Irby, W.L., Kissick, F., Ligon, J.S., Ligon, G., Ligon, +J., Lindsey, D.W., Lowe, I.G., Lake, R.S., Mates, W.M., Miller, W.P., +Madden, W.C., Myres, Z.E., Milam, H.W., Milam, J.A., Milam, W., Nelson, +M.L., Nelson, J.F., Nelson, A., Nelson, J.M., Nelson, W., Nance, F.W.N., +O'Neal, J., Pitts, G.W., Pitts, F., Reed, J.Y., Reed, B., Roberts, J., +Richardson, W., Smith, M., Snow, A.J., Thompson, W., Williams, R.E., +Winnebrenner, G., Wells, W.J., Wheeler, M.A., Watts, E.C., Watts, J.G., +Waldrop, W.E. + +COMPANY "C." + +CAPTAINS: Shumate, J.J., Hudgens, W.L., Irby, G.M. +LIEUTENANTS: Woods, T.R.L., Henderson, M.W., Cooper, J.N., Fuller, H.Y., +Wadkins, H.H., Baldwin, S.B., Fuller, A.C. +SERGEANTS: Boyd, W.L., Hudgens, A.W., Donney, J., Bolt, W., Cooper, T.P. +CORPORALS: Culbertson, Y.J., Anderson, D.S., Stone, W.W. + +PRIVATES: Abereromble, J.C., Andrews, W.W., Avery, S.K., Avery, J., +Adams, J.P., Boyd, J.Y., Burton, J.J., Bolt, S., Bolt, Saml., Bolt, Jno., +Bolt, James, Bolt, Franklin, Brown, G.M., Brooks, J.P., Brooks, N.P., +Baldwin, J.E., Baldwin, D.H., Baldwin, V., Burgess, E.R., Blackwell, J.H., +Box, W.I., Cooper, H.H., Cooper, J.Y., Cooper, J.A., Cooper, D.M., +Culbertson, Y.S., Culbertson, J.B., Culbertson, M.M., Culbertson, W.P., +Culbertson, T.H., Culbertson, W.S., Culbertson, J.R., Culbertson, J.M., +Culbertson, J.H., Cheshire, L.H., Cheshire, C., Cannon, W.N., Cannon, R., +Duvall, J.H., Dugnall, W., Elledge, J.P., Fuller, I.M., Godfrey, J., +Hudgens, R., Hudgens, C., Hellams, C.C., Henderson, L., Hill, W.T., +Johnson, M., Johnson, B.F., Jenkins, J.A., Jenkins, R., Jones, B.F., +Jones, J.B., Knight, W.D., Lindley, H., Lindsey, T., Lindley, W., +Mitchell, M., Murff, M., Micham, A., Moore, L., Moore. M., Moore, Jackson, +Moore, Frank, Moats, W.C., Morgan, W., Manley, B.T., Manley, P.J., Moats, +T.A., McClellan, J.A., Malvey, P.W., Medlock, A., Nash, W.M., Nelson, +W.Y., Nelson, J.W., Nelson, F., Pitts, J.W., Pitts, J.S., Puckitt, G.W., +Puckitt, W.A., Robertson, J., Robertson, H.D., Ryley, J., Ross, A., Ross, +T., Saxton, F., Shumate, R.Y., Shumate. L.J., Shumate, H., Sullivan, H., +Stevens, J.P., Terry, B.F., Taylor, H.P., Taylor, B., Vaughn, B., Watkins, +T.J., Watkins, L., Walker, J.A. + +COMPANY "D." + +CAPTAIN: Gunnels, G.M. +LIEUTENANTS: James, B.S., Kirk, C.E., Allison, R.W. +SERGEANTS: Harris, J., Potter, B.L., Dial, D.T., Armstrong, D. +CORPORALS: Shell, J.H., Allison, J., Ramage, F., Simmons, W. + +PRIVATES: Adams, J., Adams, Robert, Armstrong, S., Atwood, M., Abrams, +G.W., Babb, William, Babb, Doc, Babb, J., Belle, L.G., Barger, H.M., Boyd, +E., Boyd, D.W., Bailey, A.P., Brownley, J.R., Burdette, G.W., Bishop, W., +Bishop, J.W., Bailey, M.S., Bishop, J.C., Blalock, R., Chappell, W., +Chambers, J.B., Cunningham, M.C., Cunningham, R.A., Curry, L., Cason, +M.J., Crisp, A., Duncan, R., Epps, W., Eutrican, W.M., Evans, W.R., +Garlington, C., Gunnels, W., Graham, A., Hollingsworth, J.I., +Hollingsworth, A.C., Hellams, W., Hellams, Y., Harmond, F.F., Harris, S., +Hatton, T.J., Hollingsworth, W., Joyce, J.C., Jones E.P., Jones, H.C., +Johnson, Dr. J.P., Kelly, F., Knight, D., Langston, Henry, Loyd, T., +Madden, D.C., Martin, J., Mason, A., May, J.P., Metts, M.B., McCawley, +Martin, McCawley, James, McKnight, W.D., Milam, W.S., Munroe, W., Neal, +A.T., Owens, J.H., Owens, L., Parks, A.R., Peas, Jno., Potter, Moses, +Price, James, Ray, J.J., Rook, S., Rowland, A., Richardson, Jno., Shell, +E.C., Shockley, J., Shockley, R., Simmonds, J., Starks, D., Spears, R.S., +Spears, G.T., Speake, J.T., Speake, J.L., Stoddard, W., Taylor, A.S., +Thomas, J.H., Tribble. E.E., Wesson, Thomas, West, S., Whitton, D.M., +Winn, C., Wolff, W.Y., Harris, W.C. + +COMPANY "E." + +CAPTAINS: Hunter, Melnott, Fowler, W.H., Ware, H., Burnside, Alien. +LIEUTENANTS: Riddle. A.J., Cooper, E., Cox, M.C., Henry, B.L., Moore, P. +SERGEANTS: Fowler, W.D., Farburn, N., Mills, J.A., Armstrong, D., Owens, M. +CORPORALS: Riddle, M., Ball, S.P. + +PRIVATES: Balle, L.G., Bramlett, C., Bramlett, H., Bramlett, J., +Bramlett, R., Brown, J., Bryant. T.T., Bryant, W., Burdett. J., Burns, J., +Burns, R., Cheek, J., Cook, W.C., Cox, S., Culbertson, B., Culbertson, M., +Farrow, T., Fleming, P., Fowler. J.R., Frank, J., Fowler, W., Garner, J., +Garrett. P., Garrett, W.A., Gillian. W., Gideons, J.L., Guinn, M., Gray, +J., Grumble, W., Hand, W., Handback, M., Handback, W., Higgins, A.H., +Holcomb, A., Holcomb, H., Holcomb, J., Holcomb, S., Holcomb, Wm., Hunt, +----, Hunt, ----, Kernell, Wm., Knight, J., Long, J., +Long, T., Martin, J.R., McNeely, J., Miller, J.D., Moore, G., Newman, B., +Newman, S., Osborn. W., Owens, A.Y., Owens, G., Owens, T., Owens, Y., +Park, J.H., Park, T., Patton, W.P., Powers. B., Powers, P., Prior, L, +Riddle, D., Riddle, F., Riddle, G., Riddle, L., Riddle, M., Riddle. N., +Riddle, W., Robertson, J.R., Ropp, H., Spelts, R., Stuart, B., Stuart, J., +Stuart, John, Stuart, Joseph, Stuart, Robt., Sumerel, M., Sumerel, T., +Sumerel, W., Switzer, L.O., Thompson, W., Todd, R.J., Garrett, J., Morgan, +S. + +COMPANY "F." + +CAPTAIN: Miller, D.B. +LIEUTENANTS: Percival, E.S., Morrison, R.S., Freidburg, Joseph. +SERGEANTS: Percival, F.H., Kirkland, R.S., Diseker, J.H., Keough, P.H., +DeLoria, A. +CORPORALS: Friday, S.D., Montgomery, G.B.W., Scott, F.J., Cathcart, W.J. + +PRIVATES: Altee, J.W., Barefoot, Sion. Bates, O.B., Baugn, Wm., Boyer, +Moses, Bull, Thomas, Burroughs, W.D., Bellinger, Wm., Cloffy, P., +Campbell, James, Cooper, Jesse, Cooper, Thomas, Curlee, John, Dennis, H., +Denkins, Saml., Flemming. A.H., Forbs, J.G., Friedman, B., Fulmer, W., +Gardner, J.H., Glaze, Jno., Glaze, Allen, Gladden, L.T., Hickson, Sam, +Howell, R.E., Jones, David, Legrand, W.W., Lever, Geo., Marsh, Edward, +McCauley, J.B., Miles, E.H., Miot, C.H., Moye, J.E., Munson, W., Moore, +Allen, Neely, Jno., Norman, Chas., North, S.R., Percival, G., Percival, +N.N., Purse, T.P., Pollock, J.L., Reiley, James, Rembert, Jno., Reaves, +Jno., Ross, Thos., Sill, T., Saunders, J.W., Senn, Dedrick, Schultz, W.C., +Smith, T.N.C., Smith, Sol., Spriggs, H.V.L., Stokes, E.R., Jr., Turner, +W.T., Taylor, Wm., Taylor, Jno., Thrift, Robt., Tradewell, F.A., White, +E.C., White, G.A., Williamson, T., Williamson, D.W., Wardlaw, W.H., +Aughtry, Jno., Davis, Andrew, Elkins, James, Elkins, Spence, Hammond, E., +Lee, John, Sealy, Wm., Wooten, Danl. + +COMPANY "G." + +CAPTAINS: Irby, A.P., Whitner, B.M. +LIEUTENANTS: Gladney, Wash, Robinson, J.S., Shedd, J.P., DesPortes, R.S., +Jennings, R.H. +SERGEANTS: Martin, D., Ashford, J.W., Gibson, H.T., Trapp, Laban, Watt, +B.F., Trapp, L.H., Mason, W.N. +CORPORALS: Beard, J.M., Robinson, Wm., Blair, A.F., Craig, T.N.A., Craig, +Wm. + +PRIVATES: Aiken, Jim, Aiken, H.G., Aiken, H.N., Aiken, Robt., Brown, U., +Brown, J.W., Brown, T.G., Brown, J.R., Blair, Thos., Blair, A.F., Boyd, +John, Boney, Jesse, Bull, Thomas, Brown, Chas., Beard, James, Brown, +Frank, Crawford, R.B., Crompton, Thomas, Carman, Sam., Carman, Jesse, +Crossland, H.J., Chandler, W., Craig, Wm., Crossland, Jasper, Carmack, +Warren, Davis, T.C., DesPortes, J.A., Douglass, C.M., Douglass, W.T., +Douglass, S.M., Flanigan, Z., Gladney, B., Gladney, W.R., Gradick, Jesse, +Gibson, H.J., Gibson, Green, Hamilton, Wm., Hogan, Pink, Hawes, Tatum, +Haigwood, Jeff., Haigwood, R.M., Hook, W.T., Hopkins. Wm., Irby, W.F., +Irby, Wm., Johns, Wm., Jennings, Robt., Lyles, B.F., McConnel, Butler, +McClure, Jno., Millings, Rus., Mann, Thos., Martin, Jno., Morgan, Wm., +Mason, W.N., Millings, J.N., Moore, Nathan, McKintry. T.B., McConnell, +A.C., McCreight. S., McCrady. M.H., Milling, Hugh, Martin, Newton, Martin, +Wm., Nelson, J.T., Paul, J.T., Porter, C., Pouge, W.C., Robinson, James, +Robinson, W.W., Robinson, I.Y., Robinson, S.N., Robinson, W.I., Ragsdale, +E.R., Rabb, Calvin, Russel, Jno., Shedd, W.H., Scott, Jesse. Tinkler, +George, Tinkler, Wm., Turkett, T.W., Trapp, U.C., Wilson, Dave, Withers, +James, Weldon, Wm., Veronce, C.B. + + * * * * * + +ROLL OF TWENTIETH SOUTH CAROLINA VOLUNTEER REGIMENT. + +Field and Staff. COLONELS: Keitt, L.M., Boykin, S.M. +LIEUTENANT COLONELS: Dantzler, O.M., McMichael, P.A. +MAJORS: Mimms, A., Partlow, J.M., Leaphart, G. +ADJUTANTS: Chisolm, R., Hane, W.C., Wilson, Jno. A. +QUARTERMASTERS: Kinard, Jno. P., Woodward, T.W. +COMMISSARY: Heriot, Jno. O. +SURGEON: Salley, A.S. +ASSISTANT SURGEONS: Fripp, C.A., Barton, D.R. +CHAPLAINS: Meynardie, E.J., Duncan, Y.W. +SERGEANT MAJORS: Quattlebaum, T.A., Quattlebaum, E.R. +QUARTERMASTER SERGEANTS: Barton, T.F., Wannamaker, F.W. +COMMISSARY SERGEANT: Solomons, J.T. +ORDNANCE SERGEANT: Phillips, T.H. + + +COMPANY "A." + +CAPTAINS: Partlow, Jno. M., Woodin, C.H.A., Lee, Jno. +LIEUTENANTS: Talley, Dyer, Williams, D.O., Norton, E.R., Siddall, Jno., +Barr, S.A. +SERGEANTS: Lusk, Newt., Wilcox, F.H., Knee, Hermon, Wilson, Mack. +CORPORALS: Ansel, Harmon, Smith, C.M., Norrell, John, Fisher, James. + +PRIVATES: Anderson, John, Appleton. Wm., Atkinson, Thomas, Burrell, +Miles, Beiman, Henry, Bracke, Henry, Bramlett, Wm., Ballinger, Wm., Babb, +----, Brace, ----, Bowlin, Thos., Brown, Lee, Butler, +Levi, Craine, Wm., Craine, Isaac, Cannon, S.C., Carpenter, Wm., Crow, +Isaac, Dawkins, ----, Darby, Thos., Ellenburg, Jno., Elrod, +----, Ellis, G., Fisher, Wm., Fisher, B.P., Heddin, J.P., +Heddin, Isaac, Heddin, D.B., Holcomb, ----, Hembree, Wm., +Handcock, Thos., Holly, James, Ivester, Anderson, Knight, Jno., Kelly, +Wm., Kelly, W.N., Lusk, Jno., Lyda, Jno., Owens, Riley, Partlow, Pickens, +Patterson, Wesley, Powell, Ashley, Randolph, S.H., Reid, Samuel, Reid, +Massey, Reid, James M., Rochester, W.T., Richie, D.L., Sanders, Elijah, +Smith, Ezekiel, Smith, D.W.S., Teague, Wm., Teague, Isaac, Turner, +Pickens, Vinson, D., Vinson, Jno., Ward, Nathaniel, Woodsin, C.H.A., +Wilson, Mack. + +COMPANY "B." + +CAPTAIN: McMichael, P.A. +LIEUTENANTS: Barton, B.H., Whetstone, N.C., Cox, J.R. +SERGEANTS: Inabinet, D.J., Way, A.H., Myers, D.D., McCorquodale, +----, Donald, J.A. +CORPORALS: Shuler, J.W., Murphy, J.C., Grambling, A.M., Buyck, F.J. + +PRIVATES: Arant, J.T., Bair, J.S., Bair, S.H., Barber, W.E., Bars, W., +Baxter, D.F., Bolin, J.E.A., Bolin, J.S., Boltin, J.H., Boltin, E.A., +Bonnet, J.D., Bonnet, W.R.E., Bozard, D.B., Bozard, J.D., Bozard, C.F., +Brantley, E.W., Brodie, J.W., Brodie, John W., Brodie, Judson, Brodie, +J.R., Buyck, J.W., Clayton, W., Collier, L.P., Cook, J.M., Cox, A.M., +Crum, J.W., Crum, A.F., Culalasieur, N.W., Dantzler, G.M., DeWhit, M., +Dixon, W., Dixon, Henry, Dukes, T.C., Elbrooks, H., Fair, G.S., Fair, +J.W., Felkel, J.R., Felkel, J.A., Friday, P.D., Grambling, F.H., +Grambling, J.H., Grey, A., Haigler, J.A., Heiner, H.W., Herron, R.R., +Holman, A.C., Horger, J.F., Houck, J.J., Houser, J.D., Hutchins, J.C., +Hutchins, J.A., Huff, G.W., Hunkerpieler, T.N., Hunkerpella, L., Jackson, +J.F., Jackson. J.C., Joyner, D.P., Judy, H., Judy, H.I., Keiser, W.J., +Keiser, F.D., Leaird, H.D., Lyles, T., Mack, J., Metts, D.G., Metts, G.W., +Metts, W.J., Murphy, H.H., Murphy, L., Murphy, H.B., Murphy, P., Noble, +S., Patrick, J., Patrick, D.W., Patrick, E., Patrick, S.P., Patrick, V.V., +Pearson, J.H., Pooser, F.N., Pooser, E.H., Rast, J.A., Rast, J.C., Rast, +J.L., Rast, T.F., Rast, J.S., Rast, G.D., McReady, E., Reay, M., Riley, +H.W., Riley, O.B., Rutlin, W.W., Rutland, A.E., Rutland, H., Seagler, +J.E., Sellars, G.D., Shuler, J.W., Smoak, R.F., Smoak. A.B., Smoak, M.T., +Smoak, G.W., Stellinger, T.W., Stellinger, F., Till, H.F., Till, T.J., +Walsh, J.J., Wannamaker, H.C., Wannamaker, F.M., Way, R.F., Way, J.D., +Wolf, W.S., Zeigler, H.H., Zimmerman, D., Bonnett, J.D., McMichael, O., +Smoak, G.W., Knights, J.D., Huff, D.W., Wethers, M.L., Kennerly, L.D.S. + +COMPANY "C." + +CAPTAINS: Leaphart, G., Haltiwanger, G.T. +LIEUTENANTS: Huffman, J.E., Eleazer. W.S., Haltiwanger, H.W. +SERGEANTS: Houseal, W.F., Metts, S.S., Eleazer, J.M., Haltiwanger, J.H., +Burkett, T. +CORPORALS: Hipps, I.A., Williamson, W., Addy, T.M.G., Ballentine, S., +Haltiwanger, D.K., Smith, S.L. + +PRIVATES: Arnick, T.W., Arnick, I.A., Arnick, W.R., Arnick, D.W., Addy, +J.B., Addison, H.T., Archart, H.M., Baker, J., Black, N.L., Black, W.E., +Bookman, S.W., Bouknight, W.J., Bouknight, J.W., Busby, L., Busby, W., +Buff, H.J., Buff. J., Bickley, H.W., Bouknight, J.M., Bundrick, J.M., +Bundrick, J.A., Bristow, J.M., Cumelander, W.N., Cumelander, A.W., Sr., +Cumelander, A.W., Jr., Cumerlander, J.S., Cumerlander, S.C., Counts, H.A., +Caughman, J.C., Coogler, J.P., Coogler, R.E., Clocus, H., Counts, H.A., +Daly, J.T., Daly, W.A., Dean, J.A., Derrick, J.H., Derrick, J.S., Derrick, +W.C., Derrick, J., Derrick, H.D., Derrick, J.D., Derrick, G.J., Derrick, +S.W., Dreher, O.A., Dreher, E.J., Eleazer, R.J., Eleazer, G.B., Epting, +D.J., Epting, J.H., Eargle, J.J., Eargle, A.D., Eargle, J.D., Eargle, +J.W., Eargle, A.D., Fulmer, W.F., Fulmer, J.F., Farr, G., Farr, B., +Freshley, G.W., Frick, E.D., Geiger, J., Geiger, D.W., Geiger, F.S., +Geiger, J., Geiger, M., Geiger, E.W., Geiger, G.M., Geiger, J.A., Geiger, +L.S., Haltiwonger, G.C., Haltiwonger, J.S., Haltiwonger, G.J., +Haltiwonger, D.J., Haltiwonger, J.E., Haltiwonger, J.J., Hiller, P.J., +Hiller, S.B., Hiller, S., Hiller, J.A., Hyler, J.B., Hunt, N., Hameter, +G., Jacobs, W.A., Jacobs, J., Kibler A., Koon, W.W., Koon, J.F., Koon, +J.L., Keitt, J.D., Lorick, J.D., Lowman, J.P., Lowman, S.G., Lowman, P.G., +Lowman, J.S., Lowman, P.E., Lybrand, B.C., Long, D.E., Long, W.W., Mayer, +G.W., Metts, G.S., Metts, G.S., Metts, J.F., Metts, M.S., Metts, E.C., +Metts, J.C., Metts, R.A., Metts, J.T., Metts S.J., Metts, C., Metts, L., +Metts, E.W., Mathias, L.S., Mathias, T.S. McCartha, R., McCartha, J., +Monts, J., Nates, J.T., Nates, J.A., Nunnamaker, A.S., Nunnamaker, J.H., +Nunnamaker, D., Nunnamaker, W.A., Revel, J.W., Shuler, P.I., Shuler, J.L., +Shuler, J.R., Stack, W., Stack, H., Sheeley, J.D., Sheeley, P.P., Sheeley, +D., Sheeley, J.J., Sheeley, J.M., Suber, W.F., Slice, J.J., Slice, J.W., +Slice, J.D., Summer, J.W., Sr., Summer, J.W., Jr., Seigler. J., Seigler, +W., Schmitz, J.D., Stone, H., Swygert, J.W., Taylor, C., Williams, W.H., +Williamson, W., Whites, E.M., Whites, A.E., Whites, S.H., Wessinger, G.S., +Wessinger, J., Wessinger, J.D., Weed, C.A., Weed, J.C., Youngenener, J., +Leaphart, L. + +COMPANY "D." + +CAPTAIN: Donnelly, R.V. +LIEUTENANTS: Livingston, B., Jeffcoat, N.P., Inabenat, T. +SERGEANTS: Jeffcoat, H.W., Jeffcoat, J., Redmorn, I., Livingston, J.S. + +PRIVATES: Axson, W.A., Axson, F.D., Bailey, G., Brown, W.F., Bonnett, P., +Cartin, E., Casson, J., Carson, R.A., Carton, W., Carton, E., Carson, +W.H., Cain, W.P., Carson, T.J., Carton, W., Cook, J.A., Cook, J.Q., Cook, +S., Crider, T.J., Crider, A., Crider, A., Crun, V.V., Crun, H., Culler, +J., Chavis, P., Chavis, J., Cubsted, J., Davis, J., Evans, A., Fogle, +P.S., Fogle, P., Fogle, J.W., Furtick, G., Furtick, W., Furtick, I., +Gantt, C., Hughes, M.L., Hughes, E., Hughes, J.W., Hughes, A., Hughes, W., +Hutts, J., Hutts, Jacob, Hooker, J.W., Hooker L.S., Hooker, J.L.G., +Hooker. J.O.A., Hooker, G., Harley, J.M., Harley, J.H., Harley, G.W., +Harley, J., Harley, T.W., Hoover, J., Inabinett, G., Jeffcoat, C.A., +Jeffcoat, J.J., Jeffcoat, E.D.A., Jeffcoat, J.W., Jernegan, L., Johnson, +P.P., Johnson, J.W., Johnson, J., Jorner, J., Jorner, H.W., King, W., +Kneese, J., Kneese, W., Livingston, G.H., Livingston, W.B., Livingston, +R., Livingston, M., Livingston, J.H., Livingston, F.D., Mennicken, J.A., +Mack, J.B., Mack, W.C., Mack, F.H., McMichael, R.V., McMichael, W., Mixon, +L., Murph, T.W., North, J.F., Ott, J.T., Oliver, T.W., Pou, J.A.R., Pou, +W.G., Pou, B.F., Pound, J., Price, P., Porter, D.A., Porter, E., Porter, +J., Porter, J.A., Phillips, J.F., Phillips, J.T., Phillips, G., Peil, W., +Reed, J., Reid, J., Reid, R., Reid, W.H., Rucker, R., Rucker, W., Redman, +A., Redmond, P., Robinson, L., Robinson, J.T., Starns, J., Searight, J., +Stabler, M., Stabler, H., Tyler, L., Wacor, W.L., Williamson, W., +Williamson, E., Williamson, T., Williamson, D.R., Williamson, G., +Williamson, W., West, W., Wise, D., Wise, J., Wise, J., Witt, W.P., +Zeigler, A., Donnely, O. + +COMPANY "E." + +CAPTAIN: Cowan, N.A. +LIEUTENANTS: Shirley, J.J., Pruitt, W.C., King, J.A., Mattison, J.F. +SERGEANTS: Copeland, J.J., Clinkscales, F., Parker, J.P., Hall, A.M., +Broom, W.J. +CORPORALS: Kay, C.M., Hanks, Luke, Shirley, N.A., Acker, W.H., Parker, R.E. + +PRIVATES: Armstrong, J.A., Ashley, J.T., Adams, A.B., Armstrong, A.S., +Ashley, John, Ashley, J.R., Ashley, J.T., Ashley, E.W., Arnold, Joel, +Anderson, T.W., Brock, R.B., Brock, J.L., Bannister, M., Brock, J.H., +Brock, W.C., Bancum, A., Bannister, Thomas, Bannister, W.L., Bannister, +J.H., Sr., Bannister, J.M., Bannister, J.H. Jr., Bannister, J.N., Broom, +J.N., Broom, A., Bagwell, Baylis, Bigby, J.A., Coker, J.J., Cummings, +C.C., Callahan, J.F., Cowan, W.M., Cummings, H.A., Callahan, J.R., +Callahan, D.P., Coleman, Robert, Fox, F.J., Cobb, M.A., Crasberry, A., +Cox, Mac, Diver, B.F., Dunlap, W.F., Drennan, S.A., Davis, A.M., +Dalrymple, J., Drake, E.H., Elgin, H., Flower, J.Y., Fields, Stephen, +Fields, T., Freeman, W.G., Gambrell, S.V., Gillespie, A., Gilkerson, W.D., +Gilkerson, J.A., Gantt, E.S., Grubb, C.C., Gambrell, P.M., Gambrell, E.H., +Greer, J.W., Greer, George, Hawkins, R.L., Hall, J.B., Haynie, S.P., +Haynie, James, Haynie, J.C., Haynie, Pink, Holliday, J., Harris, E., Hall, +W.C., Hanks, J.M., Hanks, Thomas, Harper, N., Johnson, W.G.W., King, D.P., +Kay, W.R., Kay, M.V.S., Keaton, J.J., Kay, J.L., King, J.D., King, J.D., +Jr., Kay, M.H., Kay, J.B., Kay, W.S., Leopard, H.B., Lathan, J., Lusk. +J.F., Mattison, James, Mulligan, W.H., Mann, S.H., McDavid, J.Q., Martin, +Samuel, Mann, A.K., Martin, W.A., Morgan, David, Mattison. W.H., Massey, +J.C., Massey, S.B., McLane, John, Murdock, J.T., Murdock, Stephen, McCoy, +E.W., Morrison, O.D., Mitchell, John, Mitchell, E.M., Martin, Welborn, +Neighbor, J.T., Owens, A.W., Pruitt, J.B., Pruitt, Joshua, Pruitt, E.O., +Pruitt, E.D., Pruitt, T.C., Pruitt, J.P., Pearman, W.L., Pearman, W.C., +Pearman, S.N., Pepper, E.K., Posey, R.L., Pack, J.B., Pitts, J.G., Pruitt, +B.F., Robinson, Isaac, Robinson, Jesse, Robinson, R.B., Robinson, J.A., +Robinson, J.H., Robinson, G.B., Robinson, J.M., Robinson, S.E., Robinson, +R.B.A., Recketts, William, Ragsdale, F.A., Saylors, J.N., Saylors, Isaac, +Shirley, S., Smith, William, Shaw, R.M., Shaw, C.M., Saylors, W.P., +Saddler, Isaac, Saylor, J.W., Saylors, W.P., Saylors, W., Stone, A.H., +Stone, J.B., Shaw, H.W., Shaw, J.C., Shirley. F.F., Shirley, J.J., +Shirley, J.M., Smith, J.N., Smith, C., Saddler, William, Southerland, +W.F., Simpson, J.D., Seawright, John, Seawright, J.S., Taylor, J.W., +Tucker, L.P., Tucker, W.T., Tucker, Wm. L., Todd, I.A., Tribble, L.W., +Tribble, S.M., Thurkill, ----, Vandiver, D.J., Williams, Ira, +Woods, W.J., Wilson, J.J., Woods, Robert, Wilson, R.C., Wilson, J.M., +Wilson, W.R., Wilson, W.N., Wilson, J.R., Wright, C.J., Wright, J.W., +Wright, T.T., Williamson, M., Williamson, James, Walden, J., Willingham, +A.P., Willingham, J.N., Cowan, Andrew. + +COMPANY "F." + +CAPTAINS: Kinard, John M., Kinard. Wm. M. +LIEUTENANTS: Sligh, Hilary, Kingsmore, E.R., Cannon, W.S. +SERGEANTS: Reid, S.W., Buzzard, B.M., Epting, J.N., Graham, F.D., Goree, +W.O. +CORPORALS: Richie, C.M., Dickert, Jesse C., Rikard, Frank D. + +PRIVATES: Abrams, Z.P., Abrams, S.S., Abrams, Daniel, Baker, M., Barrett, +B., Brooks, H.J., Boozer, Tim, Boozer, Henry, Brown, M.L., Beard, S.P., +Buzzard, O.H., Buzzard, Jeff, Buzzard, W.F., Buzzard, William, Bowles, +W.H., Barre, S.C., Bedenbaugh, W.P., Cady, F.N., Calmes, C. Wash., +Campell, Ed., Cannon, Geo. W., Chapman, D.N., Chapman, Henry, Counts, John +C., Counts, Adam, Counts, A.B., Cromer, John R., Cromer, Jacob L., Cromer, +Enoch, Cromer, R. Press, Collins, A.B., Crooks, John, Denson, John F., +Denson, George, Dickert, Wm. T., Dickert, Marion, Dunwoody, S.H., Davis, +John D., Dominick, L.F., Ducket, John. Epps, Wm. T., Epps, Micajah, Eady, +Wm. H., Folk, Ham H., Farrow, Wood H., Glenn, Wm. H., Glenn, John D., +Glenn, William, Glenn, Daniel, Glymph, B.J., Greer, R.P., Gary, I.N., +Gaunt, Jeff., Henson, H.O., Hough, Andrew J., Houseal, John I., Hentz, +Julius D., Hawkins, George, Herbert, Sullivan, Jones, J.E., Jones, Lewis, +Kibler, Adam, Kibler, D.W.T., Kissick, J.W., Koon, W.F., Kinard, Miner, +Kinard, N., Lane, J.C., Livingston, J.C., Livingston, Robert J., +Livingston, Ham, Lindsay, James, Martin, Cline, McGill, Archie, +McCullough, H.S., McCullough, W.P., Miller, J.F., Miller, Joseph T., +Miller, J.D., Montgomery, William, Moody. J.P. Nates, Jacob, Norris, John +E., Nichols, Andrew, Rikard, A., Rhodes, J.W., Rook. J.T., Rook, S.J., +Rook, J.W., Ropp, A.J., Rumbly, A.J., Reeder, William, Sanders, J.M., +Setzler, W.A., Sloan, John P., Stone, J. William, Stone, Henry, Suber, +D.F., Stewart, John C., Stewart, S.F., Singley, G.M., Singley, J.H., +Bedenbaugh, Pink., Cook, C.J., Cowan, E., Sligh, Munroe, Spencer, M., +Thomas, Ed., Thrift, John, Watts, W. Peck, Wedeman, J.D., Wedeman, Silas, +Wheeler, J.F., Williams, Robert, H., Wilcox, W.P., Wicker, Lang., Wicker, +D., Wicker, D.R., Wicker, T.V., Wicker, Belt., Willingham, P.W., Wilson, +J.S., Wilson, J.C., Wilson, H.C., Wilson, G., Wright, M.J., Wilcox, W.P. + +COMPANY "G." + +CAPTAINS: Boykin, S.M., Herriott, R.L., Mosely, A. +LIEUTENANTS: White, L.A., Rhame, G.S., McCaskill, K., Belvin, W.T., +Herriott, J.V. +SERGEANTS: Lafan, M.L., McLeod, William, McCaskill, F.D., Boykin, J.J., +Boykin, S.B., Hancock, W.J., Jones, G.W., Madison, K., Mathis, J.R., +McEachern, J.R. +CORPORALS: McEachern, W.D., Allen, J.C., Andrews, O.T., Barfield, R.E., +Mathis, J.V., Eachern, W.C., Smith, T.W.B. + +PRIVATES: Atkinson, William, Atkinson, Wash., Andrews, E., Boykin, +William, Boykin, Drewry, Boykin, S.L., Boykin, Elias, Boykin, M.H., +Boykin, James, Boykin, C.M., Bounds, John, Brown, I.T., Brown Joshua, +Button, C.S., Bradley, S.B., Bird, James, Baker, A., Brunson, J.I., +Bradley, William, Croft, William, Croft, Wesly, Cannon, G., Corbitt, J.A., +Collins, Alex., Caughman, Joe, Corbitt, J.N., Dorety, T.G., Dunlop, +Samuel, Dorety, William, Dorety, Manning, Dorety, Henry, Dorety, Thomas, +Dorety, Laton, Druggus, M.D., Dixon, Benj., Davis, G.P.W., Davis, Joel, +Davis, J.D., Davis, Lucas, Davis, Offel, Davis, C.R., Deas, E., Duncan, +George, Daniels, Wes., Daniels, Alf., Genobles, Rufus, Gaillard, Rufus, +Gaillard, W.F., Hawkins, Wash., Harmon, James, Hatfield, Benj., Hatfield, +William, Hatfield, Caleb, Hatfield, Charles, Hatfield, Wesly, Hancock, +E.J., Hancock, T.D., Hancock, G.W., Hawkins, John, Huggins, Willie, +Hutchens, ----, Hyott, James, Jeffers, Daniel, Jeffers, H.J., +Jones, R.L., Jones, C.L., Jones, Henry, Jones, M., Jones, Francis, +Jeffers, John, Kirby, ----, Lee, John, Lee, William, Lucas, +T.B., Lucas, M.B., McCaskill, Robert, Mathis, William, Mathis, G.M., +Mathis, E.B., Mathis, S., Mathis, Alex., Murph, Henry, Moseley, William, +Moseley, George, Myers, T.S., Myers, P.A., McKensie, L.A., Moonyham, +Stephen, McCutcheon, John, Marsh, J., McCaswill, ----, +Neighbors, H., Neighbors, David, Neighbors, Isaac, Neighbors, Thomas, +Nichols, W.A., Otts, James, Partin, William, Partin, J.W., Rhame, Thomas, +Rodgers, J.D., Rodgers, Latson, Rodgers, Manning, Smith, J.M., Smith, +Tally, Scott, Fleming, Scott, Benjamin, Syfan, C.E., Solomons, T.J., +Solesby, ----, Stokes, J.L., Shiver, John, Sexious, +----, Tuninel, ----, Tensley, Thomas, Tidwell, Adison, +Tidwell, William, Vassar, E.A., Vicks, William, Whites, Henry, Watson, +J.T., White, John, Weldon, Benjamin, Weldon, Pake, Wacton, R.C., Watts, +William, Boykin, M.S. + +COMPANY "H." + +CAPTAINS: Kinsler, Edward, Roof, S.M. +LIEUTENANTS: Hook, E.E., Hook, R.T., Hook, J.S. +SERGEANTS: Mills, Jack A., Sox, Jeff., Senn, J.E., Senn, A.D., Roof, +Henry J., Hook, J.D. +CORPORALS: Roof, D.J., Dooley, James L., Sox, H.E., Griffith, D.T., +Hutto, Britton E., Hutto, Paul P., Sphraler, J.J. + +PRIVATES: Bachman, C., Bachman, H.H., Bachman, R.H., Buff, M.W., Buff, +T.J., Buff, M.B., Blackwell, C.B., Berry, Jacob, Berry, George, Berry, +Treadway, Berry, John, Bell, John, Clark, P.P., Clark, J.D., Churchwell, +Thomas, Cook, E.E., Cook, John C., Carter, Henry A., Chaney, J.T., Dooley, +Jesse K., Dooley, Jacob E., Dooley, J.L., DeVore, Thomas, Fry, J.R., Fry, +Tyler, Fry, Thomas A., Gable, Godfrey, Gable, E.E., Gregory, Franklin, +Gregory, John G.A., Hook, M.M., Hook, Jacob, Hook, J.V., Hooks, J.G., +Herron, E., Hutto, Murphy, Hutto, F.M., Hollman, J.H., Howard, Alex., +Huckabee, Oliver, Joyner, William, Kirkland, E., Leach, R.P., Leach, +Iseman, Lybrand, D.W., Lybrand, M.H., Lybrand, J.H., Lever, Jacob, +Lecones, G.D., Miller, S.S., Miller, Thomas, Mathias, L.M., Mathias, J.B., +Mack, J.F., Mack, H.L., Monts, George, Parr, Starkey, Pool, Isaac, Pool, +Hiram, Reeves, J.C., Roof, Jesse M., Roof, Benjamin J., Roof, T.J., Roof, +J.L., Roof, J.W., Roof, T.E., Roof, Martin, Roof, Jesse, Ramick, John, +Rich, Michael, Roland, John, Sharp, Uriah, Sharp, P.M., Sharp, Lewie, +Sharp, Barney, Sharp, J.D., Sharp, Jacob, Sharp, Reuben, Sharp, Calvin, +Sharp, R., Sharp, D.J., Sharp, Emanuel, Sharp, Felix, Senn, R.N., Senn, +W.B., Senn, Jacob, Stuart, Robert, Shull, H.W., Shull, D.E., Shull, R.W., +Shull, H.M., Shull, John W., Roof, L., Shull, John, Shull, D.P., Shull, +M.A., Shull, J.E., Smith, T.C., Sox, E.G., Sox, C.S., Sox, J.E., Sox, +D.M., Sox, Jesse, Sightler, William A., Spraler, W.A., Spraler, E.C., +Spraler, F., Spires, J.H., Spires, D., Spires, Amos, Spires, J.H., Spires, +I.J., Spires, Andrew, Spires, Henry, Spires, W.A., Spires, James, Stuckey, +C.R., Stuckey, D.C., Stuckey, Wesley, Schumpert, D.P., Schumpert, N.P., +Taylor, J.F., Taylor, J.G., Taylor, James G., Taylor, B.J., Taylor, +Andrew, Wilson, George A., Wilson, Henry, Wilson, William, Wilson, David, +Williams, Sampson, Williams, T.J., Williams, T.D., Williams, F.E., Wise,. +James F., Wingard, Thomas A., Younce, George, Zenkee, William, Zenkee, +John C. + +COMPANY "I." + +CAPTAINS: Jones, J.M., Gunter, Elbert. +LIEUTENANTS: Coleman, J.E., Gunter, M., Pitts, W.W., Gunter, Leroy, +Gunter, D.B. +SERGEANTS: Jones, N.T., Gunter, Zimri, Gunter, Emanuel, Jones, John, +Gunter, Levi, Gunter, Elliott, Gunter, W.C., Wise, John W. +CORPORALS: Gunter, Mitchell, Abels, Pierce, Garrin, Robert. + +PRIVATES: Ables, Burk, Altman, James, Altman, Rufus, Altman, Ruben, +Bennett, Tyler, Baggant, Freeman, Baggant, E.F., Brogdan, Jesse, Brogdan, +M., Brogdan, William, Bryant, Mark, Burnett, Brazil, Burnett, D.P., +Burnett, Willis, Burgess, Felix, Burgess, J.S., Braswell, George, +Baltiziger, A., Blackwell, James, Burgess, N.J., Christmas, S.B., Creed, +B.O., Cook, Chesley, Cook, Wyatt, Courtney, Young, Courtney, James, +Fulmer, Adam, Fox, James H., Gunter, Drabel, Gunter, H.J., Gunter, Abel, +Gunter, A.E., Gunter, Alfred, Gunter, Balaam, Gunter, Felix, Gunter, +Joshua, Gunter, Lawson, Gunter, Macon, Gunter, Marshall, Gunter, M.B., +Gunter, Stancil, Gunter, V.A., Gunter, W.H., Gunter, William, Gunter, +W.X., Gunter, Felix M., Gantt, E.M., Gantt, M.A., Gantt, William, Gantt, +A.B., Garvin, C., Garvin, E.J., Garvin, J.C., Garvin, Larkin, Garvin, +Wesly, Garvin, W.R., Gunter, Riely, Garvin, J.A., Gunter, Elridge, Hall, +Jeremiah, Hall, Wayne, Heartly, Willis, Heartly, M., Heron, Abner, Heron, +David, Huckabee, J.F., Huckabee, John, Hydrick, Emanuel, Hydrick, John, +Hutto, W.B., Hall, J.C., Hall, J.T., Jernigan, L.W., Jones, L.C., Jones, +Gideon, Jones, J.B., Jones, John P., Jones, Stanmore, Jones, W.B., Jones, +N.B., Jones, Watson, Jackson, J.M., Jackson, J.P., Jones, Ezekiel, +Kennedy, William, Kennedy, Alex., Kirkling, E.S., Kirkling, G.W., +Kirkling, Tillman, Kirkland, Hiram, Kneece, Jacob, Kennedy, Matthew, +Kirkland, J.F., Mixon, D., Nobles, Ed., Pool, Elzy, Pool, J., Pool, +Tillman, Pool, Elvin, Pool, John, Price, T., Rawls, Theodore, Rich, W.B., +Richardson, Harrison, Richardson, W.B., Richardson, G.W., Rich, John, +Sawyer, J.D., Sawyer, P.S., Sanders, John, Sanders, E., Starnes, Ezekiel, +Starns, Wesly, Starns, Randy, Starns, John, Starns, Joshua, Storey, Wesly, +Shelly, Melvin, Smith, I.B., Ward, A.G., Ward, John, Williams, G.W., +Williams, Hiram, Williams, Rowland, Williams John, Williams, R.F., +Williams, J.M., Wells, William, Wells, Thomas. + +COMPANY "K." + +CAPTAINS: Harman, W.D.M. +LIEUTENANTS: Haltiwonger, S.A., Harmon, T.S., Harmon, M.H., Seay, H., +Harmon, F.J., Leaphart, J.E., Harmon, M.D. +SERGEANTS: Sease, J.R.W., Quattlebaum, T.A. +CORPORALS: Hendrix, J.E., Brown, S., Wingard, H., Earhart, J.W., Taylor, +M.L., Rawl, E.A., Keisler, L., Wingard, J., Shealy, L.F. + +PRIVATES: Alewine, J., Amick, J., Berry, J., Black, J.R., Blackwell, B., +Boles, S.F., Bonenberger, P., Brown, J., Busby, P., Caughman, J.T., +Caughman, L.W., Caughman, N.S., Caughman, H.J.W., Crout, L., Crout, J.T., +Crout, W., Corley, E.L., Corley, L.W., Corley, S.A., Corley, W., Corley, +W.A., Calk, W., Cook, W.L., Cook, W., Crapps, S., DeHart, A.H., Eargle, +A.L., Eargle, F.P., Eargle, G.W., Fikes, J.A., Frey, J.W., Gross, A.H., +Gregory, J., Gable, J.D., Gable, D.T., Gable, M.M., Hipps, W.S., Hite, J., +Hicks, D., Hicks, R.J.A., Harmon, P.B., Harmon, G.W., Harmon, M.B., +Harmon, G.M., Harmon, J.W., Harmon, J.A., Hartwell, J.J., Heyman, O., +Hallman, M.L., Hallman, S.T., Hallman, E.R., Hallman, A.J., Hallman, E., +Holeman, D., Hays, J.W.P., Hays, A.W.N., Hays, A.D.J., Hendrix, G.S., +Hendrix, H.J., Hendrix, J.E., Hendrix, J.S., Hendrix, S.N., Hendrix, T.A., +Hunt, J., Jackson, N.L., Jumper, H., Kyser, D., Kyser, J.I.B., Keisler, +H., Keisler, S., Keisler, C.S., Keisler, D.F., Kaminer, W.P., Kaminer, +J.M., Kaminer, J.A.W., King, E., Kistler, A.T., Kleckley, H.W., Kleckley, +D.D., Kleckley, J.T., Kleckley, S., Kleckley, J.W., Lominack, D., Long, +J.C., Long, J.A., Long, A.M., Long, J.H., Livingston, S., Lybrand, I.W., +Lucas, M.H., Lewis, T.J., Harmon, L., Lewis, G.W., Leaphart, H.H., Miller, +J., Mills, J.B., Meetze, G.A., Meetze, F.R., Mouts, S.P., Mouts, J.T., +Mouts, J., Oswald, D., Price, W., Price, E.J., Price, I., Price, L., +Quattlebaum, E.R., Rawl, B., Rawl, P.J., Rawl, J., Ranch, W.W., Ranch, +C.S., Reeder, G.W., Reeder, J.W., Rich, ----, Roof, J.N., Roof, +S.G., Roof, R., Satcher, S., Shealy, W.P., Shealy, U., Shealy, A., Shealy, +J.J.B., Shealy, W.R., Shealy, N., Shealy, J.M., Shealy, P.W., Smith, J.W., +Smith, A.J., See, J.B., See, D.E., Shirley, S.W., Snelgrove, C.P., +Snelgrove, E.E., Steel, J., Steel, Z., Taylor, G.W., Taylor, J.W., Taylor, +E., Taylor, W.C., Taylor, Z., Taylor, H., Taylor. H.W., Taylor, J.W., +Taylor, J., Wingard, J.S., Wingard, T.J., Wingard, S., Wingard, G.W., +Wingard, M., Wiggins, S.J. + +COMPANY "L." + +CAPTAINS: Sparks, A.D., Bolton, C.P. +LIEUTENANTS: Peterkin, J.A., Kinney, W.F., Moore, A.E. +SERGEANTS: Hodges, G., Emanuel, E.M., Walsh, W.W., Covington, J.T. +CORPORALS: Manning, J., Rowe, A.J., Montgomery, J., Allen, E. + +PRIVATES: Allen, J., Bridges, J.W., Bristow, J.D., Bristow, J.M., +Bristow, R.N., Anderson, T.F., Bethea, J.W., Buzhart, J.T., Buchanan, +J.A., Calder, W., Carter, W., Berry, D.F., Carrigan, W.A., Clark, R., +Cope, E., Cottingham, J., Cowan, W.T., Coxe, R.A., Croley, D., Croley, R., +Culler, C.W., David, A.L., DeBarry, E., Bridges, J.H., Bridges, S., +Dunford, A.J., English, C., English, J., Evans, T.A., Fowler, W.D., +Frasier, C., Frasier, W., Goss, H.L., Grice, E., Grice, J., Grice, T.S., +Graham, W., Graham, Windsor, Graham, W., Havse, D., Hearsey, G.R., +Holeman, E., Henegan, A.B., Henegan, S.A., Hubbard, J.G., Hodges, T.C., +Hodges, W.L., Graham, J.J., Ivy, L., Jackson, J., Jackson, A., Jackson, +O., Kendall, R.A., Lemaster, B.B., Lipscomb, E., Lipscomb, W.R., Manning, +E., Manning, J.R., Moody, G.W., McCaskill, K., McCall, D., McCormie, A., +McCall, C.S., McCall, J.D., McCall, L.H., McCall, P.R., McKee, J.A., +McGee, A., McLeod, M., McAlister, J., McAlister, C., Mumford, W., Parham, +I.H., Parham, H., Parham, H.A., Parham, W.H., Miles, G.W., Polson, C., +Polson, J., Parish, J., Parish, H., Pearson, M., Pearson, P., Rascoe, W., +McLane, G., McDaniel, J.R., McDaniel, W.W., Rodgers, H.J., Rowe, S.H., +Cope, I.T., Byrd, J., Quick, A.W., Smith, H.B., Spears, H., Sports, G., +Sports, J., Sturgis, J., Strickland, M., Stubbs, A.A., Stackhouse, W.R., +Turner, I., Truwic, C.L., Ware, G., Wetherly, E., Wilkins, J., Willoughby, +R., Willoughby, J.T., Woodle, J., Williams, S.V., Miller, P.A., Welch, H., +Welch, T., Windham, R.E., Hinds, J., Hale, R.W., Wallace, G.T., Wallace, +W., Webster, G.W., Webster, J., Wilson, M.R., Walsh, J.R., Wright, J.G., +Watson, S., Watson, W., Wicker, J., Page, W.J., Lampley, J., Gay, J., +Snead, L.P., Johns, P.M., Burlington, H., Stanton, J., Littlejohn, J., +Murchison, R., Berry, F., Ivy, W.H., Hamer, J., Bethea, W.H., McLeod, +B.F., McPearson, A., McPearson, M., Medling, J., Baggett, H., Conner, D., +Conner, W., Covington, R., Covington, E., Covington, T., Proctor, C., +Fletcher, J., Emanuel, J.M., Thomlinson, L., Thomlinson, J., Moore, B.P., +Moore, T., Reese, J., Reese, John, Cottingham, A., Cottingham, J., Crabb, +H.B., Leggett, A., Calhoun, J.C., Calhoun, H., Sparks, B.M. + + * * * * * + + +INDEX. + +Agitators at the North, 10 +Assault of General Longstreet, 117 +Army, United, 144 +Aiken, Col. D.W., sketch of, 164 +Army, Corps formed, 166 +Antietam, battle of, 154 +Adjutants of Regiments sketch, 223 +Address of General Lee, Maryland, 230 +Alexander, General Commanding Artillery, 243 +Allen, Lieutenant, death of, 304 +Beauregard, General appointed to command, 21 +Beauregard, General, sketch of, 22 +Beauregard, General, transfer of, 93 +Bonham, General M.L., resignation of, 85 +Bonham, General M.L., sketch of, 51 +Bonham, General M.L., staff of, 44 +Bull Run, battle of, 61 +Bee and Bartow, death of, 62 +Bacon, Colonel Thos. G., sketch of, 101 +Bragg, General Braxton, Army of, 266 +Bland, Colonel Elbert, sketch of, 282 +Bentonville, battle of, 520 +Brigades of Longstreet, 297 +Brooks, Captain J.H., sketch of, 481 +Bean Station, battle of, 319 +Brock Road, battle of, 356 +Bloody Angle, battle of, 361 +Berryville, battle of, 420 +Convention. Secession called, 12 +Cash, Colonel E.B.C., sketch of, 103 +Conscript Act, 104 +Civil and Mexican Wars compared, 194 +Columbia, burning of, 514 +Chancellorsville, battle of, 208 +Charleston, Evacuation of, 518 +Connor, General James, sketch of, 444 +Cedar Creek, battle of, 447 +Cedar Creek, stampede at, 452 +Carmichael, Captain W.P., sketch of, 484 +Chickamauga, battle of, 271 +Chattanooga, encamped around, 289 +Council of War between President Davis and Generals, 339 +Coal Harbor, battle of, 372 +Coal Harbor to Petersburg, 375 +"Crater," battle of, 393 +Dr. Saussure, Colonel, sketch of, 250 +Duel between Seibles and Bland, 79 +Deserter, shooting of, 319 +Davis, Colonel J.B., sketch of, 334 +Doby, Captain D.A., death of, 348 +Deep Bottom, battle of, 389 +Elliott's, General, Brigade at the "Crater", 396 +Eighth Regiment, capture of, 422 +Enrolment of Troops, 15 +Ellsworth, Colonel, killing of, 60 +Engagement of the Second and Eighth Regiments, 64 +Evacuation of Manassas, 91 +Eighth Regiment, enlistment of, 33 +Ewell, General, victory at Winchester, 228 +Evans, Dr. James, happy event, 264 +East Tennessee, Longstreet in, 297 +Firing of first gun, 29 +First assembling of regiments, 33 +Fairfax Court House, arrival and retreat, 46 +Flint Hill, encamped at, 74 +Foster, Lieutenant Colonel, sketch of, 100 +Frazer's Farm, battle of, 130 +First enlistment of troops, 33 +Fifteenth Regiment, joins brigade, 170 +Fredericksburg, battle of, 177 +Fredericksburg, Lincoln's instruction to Burnside, 196 +Federal Commanders changed, 296 +Fort Sanders, assault of, 307 +Federal Generals grades of, 73 +Gaines' Mill, battle of, 125 +Gregg, General Maxey, death of, 188 +Granger, General (U.S.), bold move of, 274 +Gaillard, Lieutenant Colonel, sketch of, 354 +Gettysburg, first day's battle, 231 +Gettysburg, second day's battle, 233 +Gettysburg, third day's battle, 241 +Gettysburg, Pickett's charge, 242 +Gracie, General, relieves Kershaw at Chickamauga, 275 +Gist, Major W.M., sketch of, 312 +George, James, death of, 290 +Grant General, Army of, 342 +Grant, General, before Petersburg, 379 +Griffith, Captain D.J., sketch of, 397 +Hill, General A.P., at Mechanicsville, 117 +Harper's Ferry, taking of, 148 +Hancock, at the Wilderness, 346 +Henagan, Colonel, sketch of, 423 +Hoole, Lieutenant Colonel, sketch of, 284 +Hampton, General, joins Beauregard, 512 +Harllee, Captain Andrew, sketch of, 483 +Johnston, General, arrival at Manassas, 61 +Johnston, General, wounding of, 119 +Johnston, General, conference with President, 90 +Jackson, General T.J., called Stonewall, 62 +Jackson, General T.J., sent to meet Pope, 140 +Jackson, General T.J., at Chancellorsville, 212 +Jenkins, General M., at Seven Pines, 118 +Jenkins, General M., death of, 349 +James, Colonel G.S., sketch of, 175 +Kemper, Captain, Battery of, 54 +Kershaw, General J.B., sketch of, 86 +Kershaw, General J.B., promoted, 85 +Kershaw, General J.B., moves to Yorktown, 93 +Kershaw, General J.B., staff of, 114 +Kershaw, General J.B., charge at Antietam, 156 +Kershaw, General J.B., made Major General, 328 +Kershaw, General J.B., reinforces Early, 418 +Kershaw, General J.B., at Chancellorsville, 215 +Kershaw, General J.B., ordered to South Carolina, 501 +Kinard, Captain, J.M., sketch of, 441 +Kennedy, General J.D., sketch of, 476 +Knoxville, Tenn., operations and battles around, 300 +Keitt, Colonel L.M., sketch of, 374 +Keitt, Colonel L.M., death of, 368 +Lincoln, A., elected President United States, 11 +Louisiana Tigers, Wheat's, 74 +Long inactivity, 84 +Lee, General R.E., in command of Army, 120 +Lee, General R.E., moves to Southside, 127 +Lee, General R.E., address of, 145 +Lee, General R.E., invasion of Maryland, 145 +Lee, General R.E., loss at Antietam, 159 +Lee, General R.E., recrosses the Potomac, 160 +Lee, General R.E., position of Army, 342 +Lieutenant Generals, appointment of, 226 +Longstreet, strength of Array in East Tennessee, 297 +Longstreet, at the Wilderness, 348 +Ludicrous scene, officers in arrest, 259 +Lookout Mountain, scenery of, 292 +Loss, in principle battles of, 537 +Loss, in Northern Prisons, 538 +Law, General, Court-martialed, 337 +Lewie, Colonel, sketch of, 335 +Morris' Island, occupation of, 23 +Magruder, General J.B., 96 +McClellan, in command of Union Army, 157 +McClellan, removal of, 166 +McCall, General U.S.A., captured, 130 +McLaws, General, follows Lee, 143 +McLaws, General, relieved of command, 327 +Manassas, second battle of, 141 +Militia called out, 496 +Maffett, Lieutenant Colonel R.C., sketch of, 424 +McGowan's Brigade, charge of, 361 +McGowan's Brigade, at Chancellorsville, 214 +Malvern Hill, battle of, 136 +McIntyre, Captain Duncan, sketch of, 217 +McLeod, Major D. McD., sketch of, 251 +Mountaineers of the South, 224 +Nance, Colonel J.D., sketch of, 353 +Nance, Captain, 478 +Old Army Officers, 85 +Ox Hill, battle of, 142 +Pope, General U.S.A., in Northern Virginia, 139 +Peck, Major W.D., sketch of, 162 +Pickets, fired on at Fairfax, 48 +Peace, talk of, 85 +Pope, Adjutant Y.J., sketch of, 228 +Prisoner, how it feels to be a, 458 +Potomac, crossing at Williamsport, 229 +Peace Conference, 468 +President visit General Bragg, 295 +Reorganizations of Regiments, 107 +Reinlistments of Troops, 164 +Review of Longstreet's Corps, by Lee, 340 +Rice, Colonel W.G., sketch of, 313 +Retrospect, 532 +Secession Convention, 12 +Secession, causes of, 1 +"Stars of the West," fired on, 17 +South, rush to arms, 30 +Surrender of, General J.E. Johnston, 530 +Sumter, Fired upon, 24 +Sumter, surrendered, 26 +Second Regiment, enlistment of, 33 +Seventh Regiment, enlistment of, 33 +Scouts, on Potomac, 47 +Strange find at Yorktown, 96 +Seven Pines, battle of, 117 +Stuart, General, raid of, 120 +Seven Days battle around Richmond, 123 +Savage Station, battle of, 129 +Shell, Captain G.W., sketch of, 163 +Salmond, Doctor T.W., sketch of, 253 +Stackhouse, Colonel E.T., sketch of, 285 +Sherman's march through South Carolina, 513 +Sherman's Army Divisions, 511 +Shenandoah Valley, 424 +Third Regiment, enlistment of, 33 +Third Battalion, sketch of, 172 +Twentieth Regiment, sketch of, 365 +Tombs, General and Colonel Webster, 131 +Todd, Colonel R.P., sketch of, 478 +Virginia, Secession of, 32 +Virginia, Lee's return to, 256 +Virginia, Lee's return to, 340 +Williamsburg, Battle of, 98 +Wigfall, General W.T., sketch of, 27 +Winter quarters at Bull Run, 82 +Winter quarters near Richmond, 471 +Wallace, Colonel Wm., sketch of, 479 +Wilderness, Battle of, 344 +War, cost of, 537 +Yorktown, Kershaw shipped to, 95 +Yorktown, retreat from, 97 +Zobel, Julius, sketch of, 315 +Zoar Church, battle of, 259 + + * * * * * + + +ERRATA. + +It is with regret, that the Author and Publishers acknowledge, so +many typographical and other errors in this work. We crave the readers +pardon and indulgence, and ask him to overlook them, as the matter was +quite unavoidable on their part. During most of the time in which the +work was in progress, the Editor was absent and could not give it his +personal supervision, as he so much desired. The Author did not have +an opportunity to read the proofs, and the first intimation he had +of errors was after the work was completed, too late to make the +corrections. Below will be found the errors that are misleading and +at variance with the Author's meaning, and the truth of history. Those +that are of minor importance, we have passed over, trusting to +the charity and indulgence of the reader to make due allowance and +changes, as will tend to make intelligent reading. + +Page 57, line 25, read "Ewell" for "Buell." + +Page 87, line 34, Insert "General" between "Lieutenant" and "Ewell." + +Page 91, line 29, read "mush" for "much." + +Page 110, line 18, read "Langford" for "Sanford." + +Page 120, line 36, read "communications" for "communicators." + +Page 125, line 10, read "around" for "aroused." + +Page 130, line 27, read "commander" for "commanded." + +Page 142, line 29, read "Semmes" for "Sumner." + +Page 157, line 22, read "Governor" for "General." + +Page 173, line 31, read "James" for "Jones." + +Page 197, line 14, read "Monitor" for "Monster." + +Page 207, line 22, read "Mirage" for "Menage." + +Page 216, line 22, read "Eighth" after word "Battalion." + +Page 217, line 2, read "in water" after "beaver." + +Page 230, line 17, read "promptly" for "probably." + +Page 233, line 12, read "brigades" for "regiments." + +Page 235, line 32, read "noon" for "now." + +Page 236, line 24, read "Semmes" for "Sumner." + +Page 237, line 7, read "Hool" for "Hood." + +Page 238, line 26, read "cannoneers" for "comoners" + +Page 239, line 4, read "partially" for "practically." + +Page 241. After 7th line one entire section omitted, relating to +Federal officer of Artillery. + +[Transcriber's Note: I was unable to find and fix the above error] + +Page 242, line 14, read "Jenkins" for "Pickett." + +Page 259, line 18, read "howitzers" for "powhitzers." + +Page 273, line 41, read "Hard" for "Hood." + +Page 277, line 30, read "pale" for "pole." + +Page 278, line 13., read "Hard" for "Hood." + +Page 298, line 31, read "Loudon" for "London." + +Page 299, line 34, read "Loudon" for "London." + +Page 337, line 33, read "enviable" for "enabling." + +Page 340, line 15, read "Charlottesville" for "Chancellorsville." + +Page 421, line 6, read "Adjutant" after "Assistant." + +Page 437, line 6, read "despondent" for "dependent." + +Page 437. First and second paragraphs should be inverted, second +commencing "The situation" should be read first, then at top of page. + +Page 453, line 40, read "sabring" for "sobering." + +Page 492, line 30, read "dusky" for "dainty." + +Page 493, line 39, read "evaporation" for "co-operation." + +Page 497, line 23, read "collusion" for "collision." + +Page 500, line 46, read "statutes" for "statistics." + +Page 502, line 13, read "immaculate" for "immoculate." + +Page 504, line 1, read "mementos" for "momentuos." + +Page 505, line 13, read "replacing" for "replenishing." + +Page 511, line 20, read "parallel" for "paroling." + +Page 518, line 4, read "parallel" for "parole." + +Page 519, line 32, read "prospects" for "protection." + +Page 520, line 7, read "latent" for "latest." + +Page 521, line 13, read "stores" for "stones." + +Page 527, line 28, read "their homes" for "these horrors." + +Page 535, line 11, read "grand" for "merry." + +Page 539, line 30, read "Crimean" for "crimson." + +Page 543, line 30, read "marshalled" for "marshall." + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF KERSHAW'S BRIGADE*** + + +******* This file should be named 13124.txt or 13124.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/1/3/1/2/13124 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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