on their arms under the guns of the enemy; and tion with that of Colonel (now General) Thomas, the next morning we turned to the left, and pro- was thrown out on the south side of the Manasceeded up the river, crossing Hazel River at Well-sas Junction as the rear guard, and formed in line ford, and that night reached a point about opposite to the Fauquier White Sulphur Springs. Here we also found the enemy, who, having burnt the bridge, was again opposing the our passage.

On Sunday, the twenty-fourth, the brigade was moved into position on the Rappahannock Hills, near the house of Dr. Scott, to support our artillery, which was engaged with that of the enemy across the stream. There the men were subjected to a severe cannonading for four hours, and suffered a small loss of five wounded. At the dawn of day, Monday morning, the twenty-sixth, the regiments were turned out as ordered, with the utmost promptitude, without knapsacks; and again wheeling to the left, we marched rapidly several miles up the river, crossed the Rappahannock, (Hedgeman's River,) without opposition, at Hinson's Mill, and made a forced march of twentyfour miles that day, up the Salem Valley, to Cob

bler's Mountain.

of battle, facing the enemy, who had, during the evening, been fighting General Ewell near Bristoe's Station. Standing under arms here, we had a fine view of the magnificent conflagration caused by the burning of sutlers' and commissary stores, together with about a hundred cars on the railroad, freighted with every article necessary for the outfit of a great army, all of which was set on fire about midnight and consumed.

About two o'clock in the morning of Thursday, the twenty-eighth, we silently retired from our picket lines in front of the enemy, and by the light of the smouldering ruins, followed the division across Bull Run, at Blackburn's Ford, to Centreville. Here we rested a short time, and thence turned back toward Bull Run, and moving by the Warrenton turnpike, crossed the run again near the Stone Bridge. At this critical moment, the enemy, falling back from the Rappahannock, (caused doubtless by our flank movement,) On the twenty-seventh, we continued the march were coming down the turnpike from Warrenton, without wagons or baggage of any kind, turning meeting us. Soon after crossing the run, we to the right at Salem, through Thoroughfare Gap, turned to the right, leaving the turnpike, and afin the Bull Run Mountain, and slept at night in ter going up the river a short distance, changed rear of our artillery, in the road near Bristoe's front, and were drawn up, in battle array, along Station, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. the line of the unfinished independent railroad The next morning we reached Manassas Junction, track, facing the turnpike, along which the enemy where the enemy, attempting to recapture it, (said was moying. Brisk firing was heard upon our to be General Taylor's New Jersey brigade from right, and about dark the brigade was hurried to Alexandria,) were scattered, with considerable the scene of action, and ordered to report to Genloss, and driven by our forces across Bull Run, eral Ewell, who was directing the engagement. toward Centreville. In the afternoon of that Arrived on the field after dark, finding General day, the brigade returned from pursuit to the Ewell badly wounded. Soon after the firing ceased. junction, where three days' rations were issued We slept upon our arms near Ewell's battle-field, from the vast supply of captured stores, and the and the next morning, at early dawn, returned men, for a few hours, rested and regaled them- near the position first taken up by us the evening selves upon delicacies unknown to our commis- before, and were placed in line of battle on the exsariat, which they were in good condition to treme left of the whole command, near Catharpin enjoy, having eaten nothing for several days ex- Run. We occupied a small, rocky, wooded knoll, cept roasting ears, taken, by order, from the corn- having a railroad excavation bending around the fields near the road, and what was given by the east and north fronts, and a cleared field on the generous citizens of the Salem Valley to the sol-north-west. This position was slightly in advance diers as they hurried along in their rapid march. of the general line, and besides being on the exI have thus thought proper to state, somewhat treme left, was considered important, because of in detail, the incidents of this bold flank move- the Sudley Ford road, which it commanded. Our ment by which we crossed the Rappahannock, line made an obtuse angle, pointing toward the turned the right of the enemy, got entirely into enemy, one side of which ran nearly parallel with his rear, and cut off all his communications, seem-the railroad cut, and the other along the fence ingly without his knowledge, and certainly without serious opposition from him.

bordering the cleared field before spoken of.
Within these contracted limits was the little
tongue of woodland which we occupied, and which
we were directed to hold at all hazards. On this
spot, barely large enough to hold the brigade, we
stood and fought, with intervals of cessation, from
eight o'clock in the morning until dark.
We re-
pulsed many successive charges, (I believe seven,)
the enemy constantly throwing fresh columns
upon us, and persisting in his effort to carry the
point with the utmost obstinancy. During the
different struggles of the day, the regiments were
relieved and shifted as occasion required. The
space covered by the brigade was so small, and
the distance between the regiments so inconsid-

REBELLION RECORD, 1864.

eral Thomas's brigade, (believed to be the Fortyninth Georgia,) and such parts of cur brigade as were near the point, drove them back across the railroad cut with great slaughter. The opposing forces at one time delivered their volleys into each other at the distance of ten paces.

ous effort for the position was made from all the About three o'clock P. M. another most vigorpoints held by the enemy, whose fire now formed a semicircle of flame and smoke, extending at least half round the devoted hill. time they now came through the corner of the open field which has been so often referred to, For the first and pressed heavily on Orr's rifles, which at this moment occupied the fence. Colonel J. Foster Marshall and Lieutenant-Colonel D. A. Ledbetter, together with many other gallant officers and soldiers of this regiment, fell here; but the obstinate enemy was again repulsed at all points, and driven

erable, that I would not be able, if it were neces- woods to the field on the north-west, thus for a sary, to state all the movements which were made. moment cutting off and isolating our brigade; but I can only advert to the positions of the respective it was only for a moment. The Fourteenth regiregiments at one or two important junctures dur-ment South Carolina volunteers, which at the ing the day. In the morning the regiments of the time was in reserve, was promptly wheeled into brigade were posted as follows: The Thirteenth the gap, and assisted by the left regiment of GenSouth Carolina volunteers (Colonel Edwards) on the right; to his left, the First South Carolina volunteers, (Lieutenant-Colonel McCready;) to his left, the Twelfth South Carolina volunteers, (Colonel Barnes ;) to his left, the Fourteenth South Carolina volunteers, (Colonel McGowan,) the latter regiment being thrown back along the fence bordering the field above referred to, and Orr's regiment of rifles (Colonel Marshall) behind the centre, in reserve. General Gregg and his staff and all the field officers were on foot. The fight was commenced by us. From the noise which came from the woods across the railroad, and the constant firing of the skirmishers, we knew that we were in the presence of the enemy, and General Gregg sent out Lieutenant-Colonel McCready, with his regiment, to ascertain his location and number. He had gone but a short distance into the woods beyond the railroad cut, when he fell upon a large column of the enemy and returned. General Gregg, hav-beyond the railroad. From the long-continued ing thus discovered them, directed the First and struggle, the ammunition of the men was all exTwelfth regiments to advance and "drive back pended; but the resolution of General Gregg to the enemy." These regiments commenced the hold the position was unchanged. When Majoradvance together, but as the enemy threatened to General Hill, commanding, sent to inquire whethflank the line on both the right and left, they soon er he could hold out, he replied, modestly, he separated. The First, in order to protect its thought he could, adding, as if casually, that threatened right, inclined to the right, and hand-"his ammunition was about expended, but he still somely drove the enemy up the railroad. Colonel had the bayonet." It was now four o'clock P. M., Edwards (the Thirteenth) supported Lieutenant- and there was no abatement in the fury of the Colonel McCready in the movement, and gallantly assaults, when the brigades of Generals Branch held his exposed position on the right, near the and Early, having been sent to our assistance, railroad, for the greater part of the day. The came in most opportunely and gallantly. After Twelfth being pressed by a heavy column on its these reënforcements had arrived and passed to left flank, Colonel Barnes changed front to the left, the front, General Gregg collected the remnant and charging in the most spirited manner, drove of his regiments, and, placing them in line behind the enemy down the railroad, breaking and rout- the troops now engaged, gave them instructions ing them as often as they attempted to make a to lie down, and, if our friends were overpowered stand. When we had driven off the enemy and and had to fall back over them, to wait until the was returning, Colonel Barnes was joined by Col-enemy was very near, then rise and drive them onel Marshall, who had been sent to his assist- back at the point of the bayonet. The men all ance, and the two regiments again charged and lay down as instructed, resolved, as the last redrove a heavy body massing near the railroad. All sort, to try the virtue of the cold steel; but, the regiments at this time were recalled by an happily, the necessity did not arise. The enemy order not to advance, and in so doing bring on a were finally driven back at all points, and night general engagement, but to hold the position and closed upon us, occupying the identical spot which act on the defensive. These dashing charges in we were ordered to hold in the morning. We advance were entirely successful, and at twelve slept on the field of battle, and remained in poM. our front was cleared of the enemy; but they sition all the next day, whilst the great battle of soon began to close around us again. It happened the second Manassas was progressing on our that there was an interval of about a hundred and right. The enemy made several attempts to adseventy-five yards between our right and the left vance, but the admirable practice of Captain Mcof General Thomas's brigade. Opposite to this Intosh's battery kept them beyond musket range, interval the railroad cut was very deep, and the scattering them with shot and shell every time enemy, getting into the cut at some point beyond, they moved forward. Some few men were woundcrawled, unobserved, down the excavation to a ed by shell, but we were not very actively engaged point opposite this interval, and, in very heavy on that day. force, made a sudden rush to enter this gap. The attack from that quarter was unexpected, and for a short time seemed likely to succeed. The assailants succeeded in getting nearly across the point of

bloody day for the brigade. It may be allowed
Friday, the twenty-ninth, was the glorious but
for us to claim that, by holding the left steady on
Friday, we contributed something to the success

of the great battle on Saturday. The distinguished Brigadier-General who commanded, and who was present everywhere during the day, and exerting himself to the utmost, was himself spared, only to fall upon another victorious field, (Fredericksburg;) but many of our noblest and best officers and men fell there. The aggregate of the killed and wounded of the brigade in this battle was six hundred and thirteen, (613.)

All the field officers were either killed or wounded, except two. Among those who gloriously yielded up their lives on the battle-field are the following officers: Colonel J. Foster Marshall and Lieutenant-Colonel D. A. Ledbetter, Captain M. M. Norton and Lieutenant W. C. Davis, of Orr's rifles; Captain C. D. Barksdale and Lieutenant John M. Munro, of the First South Carolina volunteers; Lieutenants J. A. May and Hunnicutt, of the Twelfth; Captain A. K. Smith and Adjutant W. D. Goggins, of the Thirteenth South Carolina volunteers.

Major B. T. Brockman, Thirteenth South Carolina volunteers.

Colonel S. McGowan, Fourteenth South Carolina volunteers.

Lieutenant-Colonel E. McCready, First South Carolina volunteers.

OX HILL.

Being wounded at Manassas, I was not with the brigade in the campaign into Maryland which followed, and therefore this report must be short and unsatisfactory. The brigade remained upon the battle-field of Manassas until Sunday, the thirty-first of August, when they moved in pursuit of the enemy. Crossing Bull Run at Sudley Ford and reaching Pleasant Valley that night, the next day, September first, they moved toward Fairfax Court-House, and late in the evening, near Ox Hill, suddenly came in contact with the enemy, who was already in position on the right Among the wounded were the following offi- and front, covering his line of retreat from Cencers: Lieutenant Cothran, of Orr's rifles; Lieu- treville to Fairfax Court-House. Whilst on the tenant-Colonel McCready, of the First South march, the skirmishers suddenly commenced firCarolina volunteers; Lieutenant-Colonel McCor-ing, and the brigade quickly formed in line of kle, Captain Bookter, Captain Grist, and Lieuten- battle, under a heavy fire. The Thirteenth and ants Dunlop, Sharpe, Bingham, Dornin, Gwinn, Fourteenth South Carolina volunteers were postWhite, Thode, Hankle, and Rollins, of the Twelfth ed in front, the Twelfth South Carolina volunSouth Carolina volunteers; Colonel Edwards, teers supporting the Fourteenth, and Orr's rifles Lieutenant-Colonel Farron, Major Brockman, supporting the Thirteenth, and the First South Captain R. L. Boudon, Captain P. A. Eichelberger, Captain J. W. Meetze, and Lieutenants Copeland, Crooker, Grice, Thorn, and Felloes, of the Thirteenth South Carolina volunteers; Colonel McGowan, Captain Stuckey, Captain Brown, and Lieutenants Robertson, Carter, and Allen, of the Fourteenth South Carolina volunteers.

Carolina volunteers in reserve. In this order, with loaded muskets and fixed bayonets, they were immediately pushed upon the enemy south of the turnpike. They advanced rapidly to a fence. The Twelfth was thrown out on the left of the Fourteenth to lengthen the line, and the rifles were also thrown forward. After a short, but very brisk and severe contest, they drove the enemy back. A cold and drenching thunder shower swept over the field during the engagement, and rendered many of the guns unfit for use. The enemy withdrew, and we slept upon the field. The brigade went into action unexpectedly, but behaved extremely well. For the time they were engaged, and the small numbers present, their loss was heavy, being in the aggregate one hundred and four killed and wounded, including some valuable officers. Among the killed were Lieutenant W. C. Leppard, of the Thirteenth, and Adjutant W. C. Buckannon, of the Twelfth; and among the wounded were Captain A. P. West and Lieutenant E. T. Youngblood, of the Fourteenth, and Robert Junkins, of Orr's rifles. No field officers killed or wounded.

CAPTURE OF HARPER'S FERRY.

leading regiment, was thrown out to hold a posi tion on the extreme right, being the point of our The brigade left Ox Hill on the third of Sep- line nearest the Potomac. The enemy, checked tember, and, marching through Dranesville and in his flank movement, never got so far to our Leesburg, crossed the Potomac into Maryland at right, and consequently that regiment was not White's Ford on the fifth. They rested at Mo-actively engaged. The First South Carolina volnocacy Junction, near Frederick City, until the unteers, Colonel Hamilton, the Twelfth, Colonel tenth, when, in order to perform their part in the Barnes, and Thirteenth, Colonel Edwards, formed investment and capture of Harper's Ferry, they in line of battle, were directed to enter the field commenced a forced march, and, making a large to the left of the Fourteenth, and drive back the circuit by way of Boonsboro', Williamsport, and enemy. This line advanced to the top of a hill, Martinsburg, reached the vicinity of Harper's in a cornfield, and there engaged the enemy, who Ferry, from the Virginia side, on the thirteenth. appeared advancing in force upon the opposite Sunday, the fourteenth, the brigade moved down hill, and held a fence in the ravine between the the Winchester Railroad, on the left bank of the hills. They checked at once the advance of the Shenandoah, and were engaged during the night, enemy. Colonel Edwards, on the left, took up a until two o'clock the next morning, in getting strong position behind a stone fence, and held it. into position on the plateau between the Shenan- Colonel Barnes advanced down the hill, and, with doah and Bolivar Heights, the latter place being a charge, gallantly drove the enemy from the held by a strong force of the enemy. Here morn- fence in front. He was, however, in a few moing dawned upon the command, ready to storm ments, flanked by a large body on the right, and the heights. The view was magnificent, present- had to retire his regiment a short distance up ing such a spectacle as is rarely seen. At early the hill, the enemy immediately re-occupying the dawn the batteries of McIntosh and Davidson fence. Colonel Barnes soon returned to the atopened upon the left of our position, and soon after other batteries commenced firing upon the enemy from the Loudoun Heights, beyond the Shenandoah. When everything was ready for the assault, a white flag was seen displayed by the enemy as evidence of surrender, and, at half a past seven o'clock on the morning of the fifteenth September, Major-General A. P. Hill entered the captured works. At nine o'clock the brigade was marched up to the heights, and employed in guarding prisoners, arms, &c. We sustained no loss in these brilliant operations.

SHARPSBURG.

At Harper's Ferry, during the sixteenth, heavy cannonading on the Maryland side was distinctly heard, and on Wednesday we made a forced march up the river, crossed the river at Boteler's Ford, a short distance below Shepherdstown, and arrived on the field of Sharpsburg in the afternoon, about two miles from the Potomac, reaching the actual presence of the enemy at forty minutes past three o'clock P. M., which was not a moment too soon for the fortunes of the day. The general line of our army seemed to be in front of the town of Sharpsburg, facing the east, with its right flank stretching toward the Potomac. The enemy were in front, along the line of the Antietam River. We came upon the field on the extreme right of our line, perhaps two miles from the Potomac. It was seen at once that a large force of the enemy (said to be Burnside's division) were in the act of sweeping down the Antietam, and around our right, with the object manifestly of cutting off our army from the Potomac. The light division came from the proper direction, and at the right moment, to meet this column, and drive it back across the Antietam. Gregg's brigade was placed in position on the right. The Fourteenth South Carolina volunteers, Lieutenant-Colonel Simpson, being the

tack, and, upon the same ground, charged with his fine regiment three times, and the last time drove them from the fence, and up the hill beyond, with great slaughter.

In the mean time, Colonel Hamilton, feeling heavy pressure upon his right, obliqued his regiment in that direction, and gallantly drove them, clearing the front, and at the same time covering the right of Colonel Barnes. A heavy body now appeared on the right of Colonel Hamilton, and Captain Perrin, commanding Orr's rifles, was sent out to sweep the field in that direction. He led his regiment up a hill, discovered the enemy in the hollow beyond, dispersed them at once, and held the position, which was somewhat in advance of the general line. Thus the columns, which were enveloping the right of our army, were driven back at all points, and, at the last mo ment, Sharpsburg made a victory for the Confederate arms.

The brigade held its position on the field all night, the next day, and until three o'clock in the morning of Friday, the nineteenth, when they joined the division, and moved toward Boteler's Ford, on the Potomac, which was crossed without losing a man. In the critical operation of crossing the river in the face of so large a force, the light division, General A. P. Hill, was the rear guard, and Gregg's brigade was in rear of the division. Two companies of the Fourteenth South Carolina volunteers, under the command of Captain Brown, were thrown out by Lieutenant-Colonel Simpson as skirmishers, in a cornfield, about a mile from the river, thus covering the passage of the army. About nine o'clock A. M., whilst the light division was crossing, Captain Brown's small detachment was attacked by cavalry; but, dispersing them by a single volley, they succeeded in reaching the river, and crossing in safety.

The fighting at Sharpsburg was severe, and the loss considerable, being in the aggregate one han

of shells all day, and at dark returned to bivouac. The loss of the brigade was sixty-three killed and wounded, mostly in the Fourteenth. Among the killed being the brave, generous, and efficient Captain James H. Dunlap, of Laurens, South Carolina, who was blown to pieces by a shell; and among the wounded was Lieutenant D. H. Hamilton, Jr., Adjutant of the First South Carolina volunteers.

dred and sixty-five. Among the killed were Colonel Dixon Barnes, Captain F. A. Erwin, and Lieutenant Blackman, of the Twelfth South Carolina volunteers, and Lieutenant J. A. McIntyre, of the First South Carolina volunteers. Among the wounded were Captain M. P. Parker, of the First South Carolina volunteers; Captain J. L. Miller, Captain H. C. Davis, Lieutenant R. M. Kerr, and Captain J. M. Perrin, commanding Orr's rifles; W. J. Stone On Sunday, the second November, occurred and S. G. Roseborough, of the Twelfth South the affair at Castleman's Ford, near Snicker's Carolina volunteers, and Lieutenants J. M. Gap. Gregg's and Thomas's brigades, accompaWheeler and W. L. Leitzer, of the Thirteenth. nied by a battery of artillery, were thrown forWhere all did their duty well, it may not be un- ward as a sort of picket, to secure that ford pardonable to declare that, in this battle, the against any effort General McClellan (who was palm was borne off by the intrepid Colonel reported to be at Snickersville in force) might Barnes, who nobly fell whilst leading the invinci- make to pass the mountain there. Gregg's brible Twelfth in their last victorious charge. Colo-gade took position, and, under light fire of artilnel Barnes was as amiable and generous in peacelery, awaited the approach of the enemy, who never as he was gallant and irresistible in war. Having reached our side of the ford. In this affair the large wealth and high position at home, he left brigade lost three wounded, one mortally. all to fall at the head of his beloved regiment, gallantly struggling for the independence of his country.

After crossing the river into Virginia, and marching about five miles, the brigade spent the night, and was ordered back next morning, the twentieth, to Boteler's Ford, near Shepherdstown, to drive back the enemy, who was reported to be crossing at that point. General Gregg formed line of battle, Orr's rifles deployed as skirmishers in front, and advanced in splendid style. The batteries of the enemy, on the Maryland side, poured upon them a terrible fire of grape, round shot, and shell. Their practice was remarkably fine, bursting shells in the ranks at every discharge. The Fourteenth South Carolina volunteers, Lieutenant-Colonel Simpson, from the nature of the ground over which it passed, was particularly exposed. When the artillery made gaps in their ranks, they closed up like veterans, and marched on without confusion, or in the least losing distance. The rifles went down near to the river, and drove the enemy the water, most of them being either killed or drowned. The brigade lay under a terrible fire * Two missing.

into

The brigade remained in bivouac, at different places in the lower valley, until Saturday, the twenty-second November, when they moved, with the light division, from Jordan's Spring, on the Opequon, near Winchester. Marching up the Winchester and Staunton turnpike, we turned to the left at New Market, passed the Blue Ridge at Milam's Gap, then covered with snow, and on the twenty-seventh left the beautiful valley of Virginia. Passing by Madison and Orange, we reached the Massaponax Hill, near Fredericksburg, on Wednesday, the third of December, having made a march of one hundred and seventy-five miles in twelve days. Again regretting much the many imperfections of this hasty sketch of operations which must be historical, I have the honor to be,