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^*^.°/''!"  University  Library 
t   577  .4.Hl4 

"^iJ^MiiiiNiiiiiifiiiiif'i*  ^^'  °'  secession. 
3    1924  026  470   991 


iltt)ata.  93'cm  ^ork 

THE  JAMES  VERNER  SCAIFE 

COLLECTION 

CIVIL  WAR  LITERATURE 


THE   GIFT  OF 

JAMES  VERNER  SCAIFE 

CLASS   OF    1889 

1919 


Cornell  University 
Library 


The  original  of  tiiis  book  is  in 
tine  Cornell  University  Library. 

There  are  no  known  copyright  restrictions  in 
the  United  States  on  the  use  of  the  text. 


http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924026470991 


HISTORY 


OF 


KERSHAW'S  BRIGADE, 


WITH 


COMPLETE   ROLL  OF  COMPANIES, 

BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES, 

INCIDENTS,  ANECDOTES,  ETC. 


BY 


D.  AUGUSTUS  DICKERT. 


INTRODUCTION  BY 

ASSOCIATE  JUSTICE  Y.  J.  POPE. 


NEWBERRY,  S.  C. 

Elbert  H.  Aull  Company. 

1899. 


A.^'E^idi, 


Kntered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1899, 

By  ElyBKRT  H.  AULI^  CO., 

In  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress, 

At  Washington,  D.  C. 


To  the  soldiers  of  tl^e  old  pirst  Brigade  (I^ershaw's), 
of  the  pirst  Division  of  the  pirst  Corps  of  the  flrmy  of 
I>lorthern  Virginia,  this  work  is  affectionately  dedicated, 
r?ot  as  a  testimor;)ial  of  their  worth,  nor  as  a  memorial  of 
tl^eir  services,  for  tl^is  is  begor;id  humai?  pen ;  but  as  a 
sligl^t  tribute  to  their  trials,  their  er;)durance,  their  logaltg, 
and  their  courage  during  the  four  gears  in  wl^ich  tlpe 
author  had  the  hor;)or  to  call  them, 

COMt^flDE. 


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  Regi- 
ment 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  com- 
mands; 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  apolo- 
gist 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  Com- 
pany H  of  the  Third  South  Carolina  Regiment  of  Infantry,  are  confident 
that  he  possesses  all  the  quality  essential  to  this  work.  He  was  a  splen- 
did 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  in- 
sisted upon,  and  that  was  that  this  should  be  solely  a  work  of  love. 
Captain  Dickert  has  devoted  years  to  the  gathering  together  of  the  mate- 
rials 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.  POPB. 
Newberry,  S.  C,  August  7,  1899. 


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  instruc- 
tion of  youth  was  spent  by  many  of  us,  from  '6i  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  sub- 
jected 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  Mclutyre,  of  the  Eighth;  Captain  D.  J.  Griffith  and 
Private  Charles  Blair,  of  the  Fifteenth;  Colonel  Rice  and  Captain  Jen- 
nings, 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  convic- 
tions of  its  merit,  and  with  his  sole  conviction  that  the  old  comrades 
would  sustain  the  efforts  of  the  author.  Furthermore,  he  has  under- 
taken it  on  his,  own  responsibility,  without  one  dollar  in  sight — a  recom- 
pence  for  time,  material,  and  labor  being  one  of  the  remotest  possi- 
bilities. 

D.  AUGUSTUS  DICKERT. 

Newberry,  S.  C,  August  15,  1899. 


CHAPTER  I 

SECESSION. 
Its  Causes  and  Results. 

The  secession  bell  rang  out  in  vSouth  Carolina  on  tbe  20th  of 
December,  i860,  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.  L,ike  th(e  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  guaran- 
teed to  the  State  by  the  fconstitution,  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.  Inci- 
dentally it  may  have  been,  but  the  real  cause  was  far  removed 
from  the  institution  of  slavery.     That  institution  existed  at 


10  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  grad- 
ually 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  Carribbean  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  lauds. 

A  party  sprang  up  at  the  North  inimical  to  the  South;  at  first 
onl3'  a  speck  upon  the  horizon,  a  single  sail  in  a  vast  ocean;  but 
it  grew  and  spread  like  contagion.  They  were  first  called  agi- 
tators, 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  wa.s  surely  doing  in 
His  own  wise  way.  At  first  the  South  did  not  look  with  any 
misgivings  upon  the  fanatics.  But  when  Governors  of  North- 
ern 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  Gover- 
nors 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" 


HISTORY  OF    KKRSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  11 

— called  at  the  South  the  "black  Republicans" — had  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  i860  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  con- 
sequences." This  party  had  spies  all  over  the  Southern 
States,  and  these  emisaries  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  "butch- 
ery of  the  sleeping  and  innocent  whites  was  the  road  to  free- 
dom." 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  butch- 
eries 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  Ivincoln  and  Hamlin.  The  South  now  had  no  alterna- 
tive. 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 
seiede  a7id 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  con- 
structions were  put  upon  this  constitution — the  South  not 
viewing  this  compact  with  that  fiery  zeal,  or  fanatical  adula- 
tion,  as  they  did  at  the  North.     The  South  looked  upon  it 


12  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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 
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, 
i860,  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  partj^  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  programrne  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  seces- 
sion, "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  loot  somewhere,  that  had  a  direct 
bearing  on  their  long  looked  for  Messiah — "Freedom."  Vigi- 
lance committees  sprung  up  all  over  the  South,  to  watch  par- 
ties 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 


HISTORY  OF  Kershaw's  brigade.  13 

the  lapels  of  the  coats  worn  by  those  ia  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, 
i860,  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  deliber- 
ate, representative,  and  talented  that  had  ever  assembled  in 
the  vState  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  harrangued  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,  ban- 
ners 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  dissolu- 
tion. 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  ,'ihare  with  them  their  great- 
ness, 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 


14  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

ancestors.  Not  as  contorted  and  misconstrued  by  dema- 
gogueism  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  enchant- 
ing 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  itiipou  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  "l/ookout"  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  Apalachian  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 
freedem  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 


HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADR.  15 

who  were  now  in  charge  of  the  governiiient — where  onr  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  meas- 
ures 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 

ENROLMENT  OF  TROOPS. 

Troops  Gathered  at  Charleston — First  Service 
as  a  Volunteer. 

The  Legislature,  immediately  after  the  passage  of  the  ordi- 
nance of  secession,  authorized  the  Governor  to  organize  ten 
regiments  of  infantry  for  State  service.  Some  of  these  regi- 
ments were  enlisted  for  twelve  months,  while  Gregg's,  the  First, 
was  for  six,  or,  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  regi- 
ment 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  "mus- 
tering," as  it  was  called.     To  the  militia  was  intrusted  the 


16  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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 
turnout  of  the  people,  both  ladies  and  gentlemen,  not  con- 
nected 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  inspir- 
ing strains  of  the  fifes,  and  horns  of  the  rural  bands. 

From  each  battalion  a  company  was  formed  for  State  ser- 
vice. 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  ques- 
tionable 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.  Maxcy  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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  17 

commissioned  by  the  Governor.  College  professors  formed 
companies  of  their  classes,  and  hurried  off  to  Charleston.  Com- 
panies of  town  and  city  volunteers  offered  their  .services  to  the 
Governor — all  for  six  months,  or  until  the  fall  of  Sumter. 

On  the  gth  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  rein- 
forcing 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  or 
volunteers  made,  Companies  were  easily  formed  and  officers 
elected.  Usually  in  selecting  the  material  for  officers,  prefer- 
ence 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  coili- 
mencement  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  mem- 
ber, 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  compatiy  made  up  from 
the  Thirty-ninth  Battalion  of  State  militia,  and  which  after- 
wards 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  Ander- 
son out  of  his  den."  Nothing  on  the  train  could  be  heard 
but  war,  war — "taking  of  Sumter,"  "Old  Anderson,"  and 
2 


18  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

"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, ray  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  Inspect (ir  General.  The  headquarters  of 
Governor  Pickens  and  staff  were  in  the  rooms  of  the  Charles- 
ton Hotel,  and  to  that  place  I  immediately  hied  and  presented 
myself  before  those  "August  dignitaries,"  and  asked  permis- 
sion 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  Char- 
leston 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 
islands.  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  wa.s  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  ques- 
tion. 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 


HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  19 

of  the  North  came  to  Gharleston  to  treat  for  peace,  but  they 
demanded  peace  without  any  concessions,  peace  with  submis- 
sion, 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:  "L,et 
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  lauding,  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,  deraaud- 
ing  "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  com- 
pany. 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  countermarching; 
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  a.nd  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  South- 
erner, whose  mind  had  been  fierd  by  Southern  sentiment  and 
literature  of  the  day,  by  reading  the  stories  of  heroes  and  sol- 


20  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

diers  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  wor- 
shipers." 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  Moliiio  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  posi- 
tion. 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  finst  plank  all  right,  and  the  second,  but  when  I  under- 
took 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  morti- 
fied me  to  death  to  think  I  was  not  man  enough  to  fill  a  sol- 
dier'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  perspi- 
ration dripped  from  my  brow,  and  towards  night  the  blood 
began  to  show  at  the  root  of  my  fingers.     Cut  I  was  not  by 


HISTORY    OF    KRRSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  21 

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  Mont- 
gomery 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 


22  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAw'S    BRIGADE. 

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  abilitj'  by  the  sol- 
diers.    The  State  oflScers  and  troops  obeyed  him  cheerfully, 
and  had  implicit   faith   in  his  military  skill.     As  he  was  des- 
tined 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    i8th,    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  Phillip  the  IV,   surnamed  the  "Fair."     He 
then  married  Mademorselle  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  Fraijce. 
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  sixteenhe  entered  West 
Point  as  a  cadet,  and  graduated   July   ist,  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  Super- 
intendent 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  Con- 
federate 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 


HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  23 

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  merci- 
less 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  Sulli- 
van's Island.  This  was  under  command  of  its  inventor  and 
builder.  It  consisted  of  very  heavy  timbers;  its  .oof  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  princi- 
ple; 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  com- 
panies of  Colonel  Gregg's  Regiment,  and  other  regiments  that 
had  artillery  companies  attached. 

On  the  8th  of  April  a  mes.sage  was  received  at  Montgomery 
to  the  effect  that  a  fleet  w  as  then  en  route  to  reinforce  Sumter, 
"peaceably  if  they  could,  but  forcibly  if  necessary." 


24  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

General  Beauregard  was  instructed  to  demand  the  immedi- 
ate 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  Beau- 
regard had  everything  ia  readiness,  only  waiting  the  result  of 
the  negotiations  for  the  surrender  or  evacuation,   to  give  the 
command  to  fire.     The  night    of  the    nth  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  per- 
vaded 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  b)'  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  guiiners  stood  with  lanyards  in 
their  hands.     Men  peered  through  the  darkness  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Sumter,  as  looking  for  some  invisible  object.     At  half 
past  four  Captain  James,    from   Fort  Johnston ,   pulled  his  lan- 
yard; 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  ex- 
ploded 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  glim- 
mering 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 


HISTORY    OF    KEKSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  25 

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,  how- 
ever, 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  ans\zvered  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  pre- 
concerted 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 
fort  was  on  fire. ' '  Shots  now  rain  upon  the  walls  of  the  burn- 
ing fort  with  greater  fury  than  ever.     The  flag  was  seen  to 


26  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  watchfers.  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  garri.son  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  guage  of  battle?  No.  The  ships  falter  and  stop. 
They  cast  anchor  and  remain  a  passive  spectator  to  the  excit- 
ing scenes  going  on,  without  offering  aid  to  their  friends  or 
battle  to  their 'enemies. 

General  Beauregard,  with  that  chivalrous  spirit  that  charac- 
terized all  true  Southerners,  when  he  saw  the  dense  curling 
smoke  and  the  flames  that  now  began  to  leap  and  lick  the  top- 
most walls  of  the  fort,  sent  three  of  his  aids  to  Major  Ander- 
son, 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  mirac- 
ulous 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.  Ashe 
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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  27 

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,  out  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  ofiicers  and  troops  and  all  per- 
sonal 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  con- 
duct at  the  time,  and  his  meritorious  career  during  the  exis- 
tence 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  disposi- 
tion 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  col- 
lege, Wigfall  challenged  the  elder  Brooks  to  a  duel.  Brooks, 
from  his  age  and  infirmities;  refused.     According  to  the  rules 


28  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

of  the  code  duello,  Wigfall  posted  Brooks  at  Edgefield  Court 
House,  and  guarded  the  fatal  notice  during  the  da}'  with  a 
loaded  pistol.  A  relative  of  Brooks,  a  feeble,  retiring,  and  un- 
assuming 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  pis- 
tol 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  acceoted  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  kiadled 
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  of  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  Rufiin,  a  venerable  octogenarian 


HISTORY  OF  Kershaw's  brigade.  29 

from  Virginia,  who  at  the  secession  of  South  Carolina  came 
to  this  State  and  offered  his  services  as  a  volunteer.  He  had 
atpne  time  been  a  citizen  of  South  Carolina,  connected  with  a 
geblogical  survej',  and  had  written  several  works  on  the  re- 
sources 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  e5^es  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 
np  with  a  bow  of  ribbon  that  streamed  down  his  back,  his  cap 
placed  upon  his  knee.bearing  the  monogram  "P.  G. ,"  the  em- 
blem 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.  I,ee,  on  General 
Beauregard's  staff  (afterwards  a  I,ieutenant  General  of  the 
Confederate  Army).  Captain  James'  claim  appears  to  be 
more  valid  than  that  of  General  Rufiin  from  the  fact  that  it  is 
positively  known  that  James'  company  was  on  duty  at  Fort  John- 
ston, 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  conclu- 
sive, as  at  that  time  discipline  was,  to  a  certain  extent,  not 
strictly  enforced,  and  many  independent  volunteers  belonged 
to  the  army  ovef  whom  there  was  very  little,  if  any  control. 
So  General  Rufiin  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 


30  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

frenzy  of  excitement — not  even  in  the  days  of  Indian  insurrec- 
tions 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  fol- 
lowing their  daily  vocations.  Extra  trains-  were  put  in  mo- 
tion; 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  pri- 
vate, and  he  in  turn  rode  with  all  the  speed  his  horse,  loosed 
/rom  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  dis- 
tricts received  the  stirring  notice.  Men  left  their  plows  stand- 
ing 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  Mon- 
day'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  re- 
gret, 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  defen.se  of  the  beloved  Southland. 


HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADR.  31 

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.  1,.  Bonham 
had  been  appointed  Major  General  of  State  troops  and  called 
his  brigades  together.  Colonel  Gregg  was  already  in  Charles- 
ton 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  Kighth,  formed  their  regiments  by  gathering  the  dif- 
ferent 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  Wil- 
liams 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  memor- 
able events  and  to  rejoice  generall}'.  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  boa.sted  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  rai'k  and  file  of  the  North,  being  of  a  foreign,  or  a  mixture 
of  foreign  blood,  w'ould  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  afflu- 
ence and  wealth  having  made  them  effeminate;  a  nation  of 
w'eaklings,  who  could  not  stand  the  fatigues  and  hardships  of 
a  campaign.  Neither  understood  the  other,  overrating  them- 
selves and  underrating  the  strength  of  their  antagonists. 
When  Lincoln  first  called  for  50,000  troops  and  several  mil- 
lions of  dollars  for  equipment  and  conduct  of  the  war,  the 
South  would  ask  in  derision,  "Where  would   he  get  them?" 


32  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  feel- 
ings 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  irretrievabl5'  dishonored  and 
disgraced,  that  the  disruption  of  the  Union  was  a  death  knell 
to  Republican  institutions  and  personal  liberty.  That  the  lib- 
erty 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  sis- 
ter 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  neu- 
tral. But  President  Lincoln  soon  dispelled  all  doubt  and  un- 
certainty by  his  proclamation,  calling  upon  all  States  then  re- 
maining 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 
b)e  assembled,  the  States  joined  the  Confederacy  and  began 
levying  troops  to  resist  invasion.  Tennessee  followed  Vir- 
ginia, then  Arkansas,  the  Old  North  State  being  the  last  of 
the  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States  to  cross  the  Rubicon  into  the 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  33 

' '  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  ofhis  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  Wil- 
liams," in  honor  of  their  Colonel.  That  in  Columbia  was  called 
"Camp  Rufifin,"  in  honor  of  General  Ruffin.  It  was  custom- 
ary to  give  all  the  different  camps  a  name  during  the  first  year's 
service,  generally  in  honor  of  .some  favorite  officer  or  states- 
man. 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  Co- 
lumbia and  joined  the  company  I  had  before  enlisted  in.  I 
■had  two  older  brothers  there,  and  I  was  given  a  place  as  Sec- 
ond 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,  fol- 
lowed 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  Sur- 
geon, 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 

3 


34  HISTORY    OF     KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

the  men  under  militarj'  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  beeu  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  lo  feet 
square,  with  a  separate  fly  on  top — one  of  these  b.ing  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."  After- 
wards a  few  undertook  to  raise  companies  in  this  manner,  z.  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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  35 

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  elec- 
tion, candidates  in  the  meantime  having  offered  their  services 
to  fill  the  respective  places  of  Colonel,  I^ieutenant  Colonel, 
and  Major.  After  the  elections  thus  held,  the  returns  would 
be  sent  up  to  the  Adjutant  and  Inspector  General's  oflice  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  clemencj'.  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  commandded  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  uuder — 

Captain  Ferryman,  of  Abbeville  County,  (formerly  of  the 
Seventh  Regiment). 

Captain  Cuthbert,  Charleston. 

Captain  Rhett,  Charleston. 

Captain  Haile,  Kershaw. 


36  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

Captain  McManus,  I,ancaster. 

Captain  Hoke,  Greenville. 

These  were  among  the  first  soldiers  from  the  "Palmetto 
^tate"  to  go  to  Virginia,  and  the  regiment  when  fullj-  organ- 
ized stood  as  follows: 

J.  B.  Kershaw,  Colonel,  of  Camden. 

E.  P.  Jones,  Lieutenant  Colonel. 

Ered  Gaillard,  Major. 

A.  D.  Goodwin,  Adjutant. 

•Company  A — W.  H.  Cas.son,  Richland. 

Company  B — A.  D.  Hoke,  Greenville. 

Company  C — William  Wallace,  Richland. 

Company  D — T.  S.  Richard.son. 

Company  E — ^Jolin  D.  Kennedy,  Kershaw. 

Company  F — W.  W.  Perry  man,  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.  Villepigue. 

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  ].  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 
IOC.  The  Ei;.:hth  and  Third  made  no  changes  in  their  com- 
panies or  officers  from  their  first  enlistment  in  the  State  service 
until  their  second  enlistment  in  1862,  only  as  occasioned  by 
i-esignations  or  the  casualties  of  war.  The  two  regiments  re- 
mained as  first  organized,  with  few  exceptions. 

The  Tliird  stood,  when  ready  for  transportation  to  Virginia 
the  7th  of  June,  as  follows: 

James  H.  Williams,  Colonel,  Newberry. 


HISTORY   OF    KRKSHAw'S   BRIGADE.  37 

B.  B.  Foster,  l,ieutenant  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-jMaffett,  Newberry. 

Company  D— T.  B.  Furgerson,  Spartanburg  and  Union. 

Company  E — James  D.  Nance,  Newberry. 

Company  F — T.  Walker,  Newberry  and  Laurens. 

Company  G— :^.  P.  Todd,  Laurens. 

Company  H  — D.  Nunamaker,  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.  May  field. 

SEVENTH   SOUTH   CAROLINA   REGIMENT. 

Colonel,  Thomas  G.  Bacon. 

The  following  companies  were  from  Abbeville; 

Company  A,  Captain  W.  W.  Ferryman. 

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  Ferryman  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  i6th  of  April. 
In  about  two  weeks  it  was  ordered  to  Edgefield  District  at  a 


38  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  ofl&cers:  Colonel,  Thomas 
G.  Bacon,  of  Edgefield  District;  Lieutenant  Colonel,  Robert 
A.  Fair,  of  Abbeville;  Major,  Emmet  Seibels,  of  Edgefield; 
Adjutant,  D.  Wyatt  Aiken,  of  Abbeville.  All  the  staff  offi- 
cers 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,  Com- 
missary; 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  Assist- 
ant Surgeon.  A.  C.  Stallworth,  Sergeant  Major,  left  for  Vir- 
ginia 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.  Ca,sh;  Lieutenant  Colonel,  John  W.  Hen- 
egan;  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,  Chrsterfield. 

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. 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  39 

After  remaining  in  Charleston  until  the  4th  of  May  it  was 
moved  to  Florence.  On  the  ist  of  June  the  regiment  re-en- 
listed for  Confederate  service.  They  were  ordered  to  Rich- 
mond 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  Gerraantown,  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 — hap- 
pened as  the  troops  were  returning  from  their  ten  days'  fur- 
lough 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  scat- 
tered promiscuously  around  in  the  cars;  trunks,  valises,  carpet 
bags,  and  boxes  of  all  conceivable  dimensions,  holding  the  be- 
longings of  several  neighborhoods  of  boys;  spirits  flowed  with- 
out and  within;  congenial  friends  in  a  congenial  cause;  con- 
genial topics  made  a  congenial  whole.  When  just  below  Lit- 
tleton, 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,  pre- 
vented 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  an j  thing  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 


40  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  ot  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  ^Iso,  while 
those  in  the  rear  cars,  as  they  saw  along  the  sides  of  the  rail- 
road 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  mak- 
ing 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 


HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  41 

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,  un- 
tied 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  common- 
wealth, 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  "Fer- 
giney."  The  circtis  tioops  and  negro  comedians,  in  their  an- 
nual 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  laud,  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  ser- 
vice 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 
depo.sit.  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  South  Carolina  was  trans- 
ported byway  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  wo- 
men 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 


42  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  sum- 
mer 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.  Tele- 
grams 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  bad  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  hardi- 
hood to  counsel  submission  or  inactivity.  Differences  there 
may  have  been  and  were  as  to  methods,  but  to  Secession,  none. 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  43 

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  con- 
test came,  the  history  of  the  times  gives  contradictions  suf- 
ficient 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  re- 
sponsibility  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  Regi- 
ment.  James  I^.  Orr ,  one  of  the  original  Secessionists  snd  a  mem- 
ber of  Congress,  raised  the  first  regiment  of  rifles.     The  son  of 
Governor  Gist,  the  last  Executive  of  South  Carolnia  just  prev- 
ious to  Secession,   fell  while  leading  his  regiment,  the  Fif- 
teenth, of  our  brigade,  in  the  assault  at  Fort  Loudon,  at  Knox- 
ville.     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  en- 
tered 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 


44  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE., 

that  were  mutual  and  will  ever  surround  the  Confederate  sol- 
dier, 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  Fair- 
fax and  Bull  Run. 


CHAPTER  IV 

Camp  at  Fairfax—Bonham's  Staflf—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  pleas- 
ant mood,  thirty-five  years  afterwards,  says;  "That  with  uni- 
versal 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  ser- 
vice, 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. 


HISTORY  OK  Kershaw's  brigade.  45 

The  following  is  a  list  of  ofiBcerS  who  followed  General  Bon- 
ham  to  Virginia,  or  joined  him  soon  after  his  arrival: 

W.  C.  Morayne,  Assistant  Adjutant  General,  with  rank  of 
Colonel. 

The  following  with  rank  of  Ueutenant  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  Adji:tant  General,  without  appointment  or  with- 
out pay,  and  discharged  the  duties  of  that  ofiSce  until  August, 
when  he  left  on  sick  leave.  When  he  returned  he  was  ap- 
pointed Major  and  Assistant  Adjutant  General,  and  assigned 
to  duty  upon  the  staff  of  Major  General  G.  W.  Smith,  com- 
manding 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  Bonhani's  staff,  where  he  re- 
mained 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  Caro- 
lina 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 


46  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

(McGowan's)  in  the  Confederate  Army.  Colonel  Simpson 
served  in  the  Confederate  Congress  after  his  retirement  from 
the  arm}'. 

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  in- 
fantry was  posted  on  that  side  of  the  Blue  Ridge.  Cavalry 
was  still  in  advance,  and  under  the  leadership  of  the  indefati- 
gable 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  I,ee. 
It  is  a  rather  picturesque  country;  not  so  beautiful  and  product- 
ive, however,  as  the  Shenandoah  and  L,uray  Valleys.  The 
Seventh,  Eighth,  and  Second  Regiments  were  encamped  sev- 
eral miles  distant,  but  all  in  the  hearing  of  one  another's  drums. 
Our  main  duties  outside  of  our  regular  drills  consisted  in  pick- 
eting 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,  wher- 
ever the  road  led  through  wooded  lands,  large  trees,  chest- 
nut, hickory,  oak,  and  pine,  were  cut  pell  mell,  creating  a  per- 
fect abattis  acro.ss  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;  where- 
as, 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  regi>:;ent  would  go  out  about  two  miles  in  the  direction  of 
Washington  Falls  church  or  Annandale  to  do  picTiet  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 


HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADR.  47 

duties  were  to  ride  through  the  couutry  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  informa- 
tion for  the  Confederate  Generals.  It  was  here  that  the  noted 
Miss  Bell  Boyd  made  herself  famous  by  her  daring  rides,  her 
many  escapades  and  hairbreadth  escapes,  her  bold  acts  of 
cro.ssing  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  en- 
emy. 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  re- 
volvers 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  Farley,  of  South  Caro- 
lina, another  bold  scout,  was  invaluable  to  General  Stuart  aud 
General  Bonham.  ■  It  was  he  that  John  Esten  Cooke  immortal- 
ized in  "Surry  of  Eagle's  Nest"  aud  was  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Chancellorsville.     He  was  a  native  of  I^aurens  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 


48  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

you  unawares.  This  feeling  was  heightened,  especially  in  my 
company,  by  an  amusing  incident  that  happened  while  on 
picket  duty  on  the  Annaudale  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  bad  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  Arm}'.  That  there  was 
a  good  deal  of  "squeamish ness"  felt  at  the  idea  of  being  cap- 
tured, 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  im- 
passable barricades  of  the  roads,  seemed  to  render  it  impossi- 
ble 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  iu 
the  thicket  on  the  right  came  "bang-bang,"  and  a  hail  of  bul- 
lets 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 


HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  49 

up  the   road,  some  down.     OflBcers  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  sem- 
blance 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  seeingour  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  sur- 
rounding, 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  hot 
the  battle  of  Bull  Run  come  in  its  heels  so  soon,  this   incident 
Would  no  doubt   have  ever  remained  to .  those  who  were  en- 
gaged 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  dutv  after  this 
incident  was  much  more  stringent.     Two  men  were  made  to 
stand  on  post  all  night,  without  relief,  only  such  as  they  gave 
4 


50  history'  of    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  an- 
swer was  given,  they  were  allowed  to  pass.  If  not,  to  remain 
standing,  and  an  officer  of  the  giiard  called.  At  night  they 
were  to  call  "half"  three  times,  arid  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  inter- 
section 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  sufficientl}'  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,  wuen  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  ap- 
proaching. "'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  ap- 
proaching. "When  the  third  "halt"  was  given  it 'was  accom- 
panied 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 


HISTORY   OF    KBRSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  51 

old  innocent  porker  were  glad  enough  to  seek  the  quietude  of 
their  quarters  to  escape  the  jests  of  their  cdnlrades. 

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  suificient  to  defeat  quite  an  army,  or 
at  least  keep  them  at  bay.  General  Botiham  had  his  head- 
quarters at  Fairfax  Court  House,  but  rode  out  daily  to  exam- 
ine 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  com- 
manding appearance,  his  noble  bearing,  and  soldierly  mein 
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  en- 
deared himself  to  his  officers,  and  while  he  was  a  good  discipli- 
narian 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  nea/  Red  Bank  in  that  part  of  Edgefield  District 
now  included  in  Saluda  County,  South  Carolina,  on  the  25th 
day  of  December,  181 3.  His  father.  Captain  James  Bonham, 
who  had  coriie  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  thi.s  State  in  the  District  of  Colleton,  and  there  mar- 
ried. After  the  death  of  his  wife,  he  moved  to  Edgefield  Dis- 
trict, and  there  married  Sophie  Smith,  who  was  the  mother  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Jacob 
Sinith  and  his  wife,    Sallie  Butler,   who  was  a  sister  of  that 


52  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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  Ser- 
geant of  the  company.  During  the  progre.ss  of  the  war  in 
J'lorida,  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  prac- 
tice of  his  profession.  In  1844  he  was  elected  to  the  I/egisla- 
ture.  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  I^ieutenant  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,  I^ieu- 
tenant  Winfield  Scott  Hancock,  afterwards  a  distinguished 
Major  General  of  the  Federal  Army  in  the  late  war.  After 
the  ce.ssation  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  Edge-, 
field,  Bainwell,  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 


HISTORY   OF    KRRSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  53 

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  Gen- 
eral. 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  Confed- 
eracy to  take  command  of  the  operations  around  Charleston. 
On  the  permanent  organization  of  the  Confederate  Govern- 
ment, 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,  com- 
manded 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  com- 
mand. With  this  brigade  he  went  to  Virginia,  and  they  were 
the  first  troops  other  than  Virginia  troops  that  landed  in  Rich- 
mond for  its  defense.  With  them  he  took  part  in  the  opera- 
tions 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  there- 
after 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. 


54  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  pdgefield  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  Legisla- 
ture in  1866,  just  preceding  Reconstruction,  but  with  the  com- 
ing of  that  political  era  he,  in  common  with  all  the  white  men 
of  the  State,  was  debarred  from  further  Darticipation  in  public 
affairs.  In  the  movement  known  as,  the  T^ax-payers  Conven- 
tion, which  had  for  its  object  the  relief  cf  the.  people  from 
Republican  oppression  arid  cprruptipu,  he  took  part  as  one  of 
the  delegates  sent  by  this  convention  to  Washington  to  lay  be- 
fore President  Grant  the  condition  of  the  people  of  the  "Pros- 
trate State."  He  took  an  active  interest  and  part  in  the  polit- 
ical 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  inarried  on  November  13th,  1845,  Ann 
Patience,  a  daughter  of  Nathan  L.  Griffia,  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  cpmpanies  on  the  border.  Some  of  the  com- 
Jjany.  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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  55 

courage,  cut  the  Gprdian  knpt.,by  taking  those  with  him  of 
Southern  sentiment,  like  iaimself,  and  on  one  datk  night  he 
pulled  out  from  Alexandria  with  his  cannon  aiid  horses  and 
made  his  way  South  to  join  the  Southern  Army.  That  was 
the  last  time  auj;  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  Sou|;h  Carolina  and  remain  with  their  families  the 
lepgth  of  theiir  leave  of  absence.  Many  availed  themselves  of 
these  kind  invitations,  and  spent  a  pleasant  month  in  the  hos- 
pitable homes  of  this  State.  The  ladies  of  South  Carolina, 
appreciating  their  isolated  condition  aiid  forced  separation 
from  their  homes,  with  no  kind  mother  or  sister  with  oppor- 
tunities 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.  Nevei-  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 
enemj',  or  when  the  battle  was  raging  loud  and  furious. 

,  On  the  morning  of  the  i6th  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  over- 
whelmed 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  hor- 
rors 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  fac- 
ulties,- ever  faced  death  in  battle  without  some  feeling  of  dread 


56  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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  de- 
pended 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  sur- 
prise the  advance  at  Fairfax  Court  House  and  cut  off  their  re- 
treat. Already  a  column  was  being  hurried  along  the  Ger- 
mantown  road,  that  intersected  the  main  road  four  miles  in 
our  rear  at  the  little  hamlet  of  Germantown.  But  soon  Gen- 
eral Bonham  had  his  forces,  according  to  preconcerted  ar- 
rangements, 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  be- 
came a  by-word  in  our  brigade,  so  much  so,  that  when  any- 
thing was  wanted  to  be  done  with  speed  the  order  was  always 
accompanied  with,  "Hurry  up,  men,  they  are  firing  on  our 
rear. ' '  The  negro  sei  vants,  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  hur- 
ried 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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  57 

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  occu- 
pied some  earthworks  on  the  right.  These  had  been  erected 
by  former  troops,  who  had  encamped  there  before  us.  Gen- 
eral Beauregard  had  divided  his  troops  into  six  brigades,  put- 
ting 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,  slug- 
gish 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 
bluflf — 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,  Buell  with  his  brigade 
and  a  battery  of  twelve-pounders  was  posted  at  Union  Mills. 
Mcl<ean's  Ford  was  guarded  by  D.  R.  Jones'  brigade,  with  two 
brass  six-pounders.  I^ongstreet  with  two  six-pounders,  and 
Bonham  with  two  batteries  of  artillery  and  a  squadron  of  cav- 
alry, guarded  the  fords  at  Blackburn's  and  Mitchell's  respec- 
tively. 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  nth  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  bat- 
tle. 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  i8th  opened  bright  and  sunny.     To  our 


58  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  i8th,  McDowell  pushed  his  leading 
division  forward  at  Blackburn's  Ford,  where  two  oldcomrades, 
but  now  facing  each  other  as  foes,  General  Tyler  and  General 
lyongstreet,  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 
lyongsteet'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  ele- 
vated position  gave  the  enemy  great  advantage,  and  at  one 
time  General  Longstreet  had  to  call  up  his  re.serves,  -but  the 
advantageous  assault  was  speedilj'  repulsed  as  soon  as  the 
Southern  troopsbecame  more  calm  and  better  accustomed  to 
the  fire  and  tension  of  the  battlefield.  Several  assaults  were 
made,  one  immediately  after  the  other,  but  each  tiine  Southern 
valor  overcame  Northern  discipline.  From  our  position  at 
Mitchell's  Ford,  we  could  bear  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  fanaous  "Rebel 
yell."     The  Confederates  finding'themselves  victorious  in  this 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  59 

their  first  engagement,  gave  vent  to  thpir  feelings  by  uttering 
such  a.  j'ell  as  suited  e^ch  individual  bpst,  iorming  for  all  time 
the  famous  "Rebel  Yell."  lyongstreet  withdrew  his  forces  to 
the  east  side,  but  g.  cojitinual  fusilade  of  artjllery  was  kept  up 
until  night.  Some  of  our  soldiers  visited  the  .  battlefield  that 
night  ar^d  next  day,  and  brought  in  many  trophies  and  memen- 
toes 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  i8th,  the  enemy  seemed  to  make  little, 
and  called  ijt  a  "demonstration"  at  which  General  Tyler  ex- 
ceeded 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  John- 
ston 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  un- 
dertaking of  re:enforcing'  Beauregard.  Some  of  his  troops  he 
placed  upon  the  cars  at  Piedmont,  and  sped  along  o'er  moun- 
tains and  glens  with  lightning  speed,  while  the  others  on  foot 
came  oyer  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  disposi- 
tion of  hjs  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  inci- 


60  HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

dent  of  the  Federal  march,  to  show  the  brutal  cowardice  and 
baseness  of  the  Federals  in  making  war  upon  the  non-com- 
batants— women  and  children — and  also  the  unyielding  spirit 
and  inflexible  courage  of  our  Southern  people.  Those  dispo- 
sitions 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  Jan. 
Confederate  flags  waved  from  many  housetops  along  the  bor- 
der, 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  en- 
tering 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.  En- 
raged 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  de^th  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 


HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  61 

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  un- 
molested 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 
everj'  right  and  liberty  sacred  to  the  people.  He  had  i.'ssued 
some  degrading  order,  which  the  citizens  were  bound  in  pain 
of  death  to  obey.  One  brave  man,  Mumford,  refused,  pre- 
ferring 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  cofHn,  and  in  the  public  square  was  hanged 
like  a  feign. 

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  I,ongstreet  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 
diflerence  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  over- 
whelming force  with  stubborn  resistance  and  a  reckless  cour- 


62  HISTORY    OF    KEESHXw'S    BRIGADE. 

age.  The  enemy  from  the  opposite  side  of  the  Run  was  send- 
ing 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  batter}'  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.  Hamp- 
ton, 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  Heintzelmau  coming  from  Sudley's  Ford.  This 
united  the  three  divisions  of  the  enemy,  and  they  made  a 
vigorous  and  pressing  assault  upon  the  demoralized  Confeder- 
ates. 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  t'hunder-l'ike 
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  pla:teaus,'  to  be 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADR.  63 

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.  Av^ain 
and  again  was  the  house  taken  and  lost,  retaken  arid  lost  again; 
the  men,  seeking  cover,  rushed  up  around  and  into  it,  only  to 
be  driven  away  by  the  .Htorm  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  sol- 
diers 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  inevita- 
ble. 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  ttie 
pre.ssure  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.  Bun  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  cais,sori  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 


64  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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, 
Ricket's  and  GrifSn'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,  Pen- 
dleton'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  I^egion,  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  stento- 
rian 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  under- 
foot 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  precipi- 
tous banks  of  the  Run,  the  terror-stricken  soldiers  pushed 
over  and  out  in  the  woods  and  the  fields   on   the  other  side. 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  65 

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,  I^ongstreet,  and  Jones, 
who  were  holding  the  lower  fords,  to  cross  over  and  strike  the 
flying  fugitives  in  the  rear  near  Centerville.  Colonels  Wil; 
liams  and  Bacon,  with  their  regiments,  led  by  General  Bon- 
ham, 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  thou- 
sands. Pots  and  camp  kettles  hnng  over  fires,  and  from  within 
came  the  savory  smell  of  "ricla  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,  cap- 
tured 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  tor- 
mentor. 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  Aboli- 
5 


66  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADB. 

tiouist,  took  pity  and  showed   his  sympathj'  by   telling    the 
men  to  turn  him  loose,  and  not  to  interfere  with  non-combat- 
ants.    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   artil- 
lery that   had   been   ordered   to    take   part   in  the  infantry's 
pursuit    were   just    preparing   to  open  fire    upon  the    fleeing 
enemy,  when  by  soma   unaccountable  order,  the  pursuit  was 
ordered  to  bs  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   atillery,  there   was   not  an 
organiz  ition  between  our  army  and  Washington   City.     All 
night  long  the  roads  through  Centerville,  and  the  next  day  all 
leading  through  Fairfax,   Falls   Church,    and  Anaudale  were 
one  continual  throng  of  fleeing  fugitives.     Guns  and  accoutre- 
ments, 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  unbri- 
dled 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  arras 
30,888,  but  3,000  of  Swell'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. 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  67 

There  being  no  enemy  in  our  front  and  little  danger  of  sur- 
prise, the  soldiers  were  allovped  to  roam  at  will  over  the  battle- 
field 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 
tiance,  and  with  silence  and  meditation  never  witm-ssed  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  Manas- 
sas. Pa.ssing  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  car- 
nage was  on  the  plateau  of  the  Lewis  house.  Here  the  Vir- 
ginians 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  des- 
perate. 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  lengLU  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 


68  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  distin- 
guished from  the  other,  for  the  ghouls  ot  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  Hamp- 
ton was  the  Eighth  and  Second  South  Carolina  under  Ker- 
shaw. 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  Batter j'^,  and 
the  havoc  was  frightful.  Six  beautiful  horses,  all  well  capari- 
soned 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  com- 
mand and  his  horse,  the  noble  animal  lying  as  he  had  died  in 
the  beautiful  poise  he  must  have  bisen  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  bat- 
tlefield. 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  con- 
ceivable place  that  seemed  to  offer  shelter,  lay  the  dead.  What 
a  shudder  thrills  the  whole  frame  when  you  stand  and  contem- 
plate the  gruesome  faces  of  the  battle's  dead.  In  every  pos- 
ture and  all  positions,  with  every  conceivable  shade  of  counte- 
nance, the  glaring,  glassy  eyes  meet  you.  Some  lay  as  they 
fell,  stretched  full  length  on  the  ground;  others  .show  a  des- 
perate struggle  for  the  last  few  remaining  breaths.     There  lay 


HISTORY    OF    KRRSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  69 

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  battle- 
field, 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  Carolin- 
ian, Bee,  had  fallen,  while  rallying  his  men  for  the  final  as- 
sault, and  also  the  brave  Georgian',  Colonel  Bartow,  in  a  like 
endeavor. 

We  came  to  the  Henry  house,  on  the  opposite  plateau  from 
the  I/ewis  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  miunie  balls,  while  great 
openings  were  torn  in  the  side  and  roofs  by  the  shells  shatter- 
ing 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  uten- 
sils. 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 


70  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

day  with  sight  seers  and  curious  questioners.  Ou  the  other 
3ide  of  the  room  were  some  wounded  soldiers,  carried  in  to  be 
shielded  from  the  rays  of  the  Jul 5-  sun,  while  all  without  laj' 
in  heaps  the  mangled  dead.  The  exceeding  tension  of  excite- 
ment, fright,  untold  fear,  that  had  been  drawn  around  them 
during  the  continuous  struggle  of  the  day  before,  had  ren- 
dered 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  re- 
volting 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  Rich- 
mond and  were  working  night  and  day  relieving  the  suffering 
and  moving  the  wounded  away.  Cars  were  run  at  short  inter- 
vals 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  illus- 
trious 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  suflScient  in  the  way  to  rest 
on  their  spoils.  The  President,  who  was  in  council  with 
them,  after  due  consideration  was  convinced  of  the  impracti- 
cability of  a  forward  movement.  In  the  first  place,  no  prepa- 
ration had  been  made  for  such  an  event;  that  the  spoils  were 
so  out  of  proportion  to  their  most  sanguine  expectations;   that 


HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  71 

the  transportation  for  the  troops  had  to  be  employed  in  its  re- 
moval; that  no  thought  of  a  forward  movement  or  invasion 
had  ever  been  contemplated;  so  there  were  no  plans  or  speci- 
fications at  hand.  Then  again,  the  dead  and  wounded  of  both 
armies  had  to  be  attended  to,  which  crippled  our  medical  de- 
partment so  as  to  render  it  powerless  should  another  engage- 
ment 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  delus'ion  to  their  breast,  a  delusion  that  eventually 
shattered  the  foundation  of  our  government  and  betrayed  the 
confidence  of  the  troops,  "foreign  intervention."  They  rea- 
soned that  a  great  victory  by  the  South  would  cause  our  gov- 
ernment 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  Fac- 
tion," "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  ener- 
gies 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  ear- 
nest, "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  re- 


72  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

sorted  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.  I^arge 
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  after- 
wards took  up  camp  at  Vienna,  a  small  station  on  the  Balti- 
more 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  road- 
bed 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  o^  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  hun- 
dred men  for  all  purposes.     General  Beauregard,   now  second 


HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  73 

in  command,  and  directly  in  command  of  the  First  Arm}' 
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.  Gen- 
eral 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  Gen- 
erals, nor  corps,  by  Lieutenant  Generals,  but  the  two  comman- 
ders divided  nominally  the  army  into  two  corps,  each  com- 
manded by  a  full  General — Brigadier  General  Beauregard  hav- 
ing been  raised  to  the  rank  of  full  General  the  day  after  his 
signal  victory  at  Manassas  by  President  Davis. 

In  the  Confederate  Army  the  grades  of  the  Generals  were 
different  to  those  in  the  United  States  Army.  A  brigade  con- 
sisted 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  lyieutenant  General,  aud  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  comman- 
der is  absent,  and  in  case  of  absence,  either  temporary  or  per- 
manent, of  the  Commander-in-Chief  of  an  army,  the  ranking 
Lieutenant  General  takes  command  until  a  full  General  re- 
lieves him.  In  no  case  can  an  officer  of  inferior  rank  com- 
mand one  of  superior  rank.  Rank  gives  command  whether 
ordered  or  not.  In  au};^  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. 


74  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  awa}'.  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  spec- 
tacle. 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,"  "sai- 
lors," "longshoremen,"  "cut  throats,"  and  "gutter  smpe,s." 
They  knew  no  subordination  and  defied  law  and  military  disci- 
pline. 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  th^m  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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  75 

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  with- 
out 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  regi- 
ment 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  unex- 
pected 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 
is  something  peculiar  about  the  soldier's  idea  of  duty,  the 
effects  of  military  training,  and  the  stern  obedience  to  orders. 


76  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

The  first  lesson  he  learns  is  obedience,  and  the  longer  in  ser- 
vice the  more  convinced  he  is  of  its  necessity.  While  he  may 
break  ranks,  pass  guards,  rob  roosts,  or  pilfer  fruits  and  vege- 
tables himself,  yet  put  a  gun  in  his  hand,  place  him  on  duty, 
order  him  to  guard  or  protect  men  or  property,  and  his  integ- 
rit}'  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  ques- 
tioned 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  re- 
turned 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  v&stige  of  hog  remained.  Stuck  against  the  side  of  the 
wall  was  a  piece  of  paper,  on  which  was  written:    "No  mercy 


HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  77 

for  the  hog  rogue."  Such  swearing,  such  stamping  and  beat- 
ing the  air  with  our  fists,  in  imitation  of  the  punishment  that 
would  be  given  the  treacherous  rascals  if  present;  the  atmos- 
phere 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  crest- 
fallen, we  returned  to  camp,  but  dared  not  tell  of  our  misfor- 
tune, 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  appropri- 
ated 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  L,ongstreet  at  Fairfax 
Court  House.  The  troops  were  all  in  easy  distance,  and  a 
gigantic  plan  of  General  Beauregard,  with  the  doubtful  approval 
ot  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,  ma-sterly.  In  the 
end  it  may  have  proven  the  better  policy  to  have  remained  on 
the  defensive.  But  the  quick,  impulsive  temperament  of  Beau- 
regard was  ever  on  the  alert  for  some  bold  stroke  or  sudden 
attack  upon  the  enemy's  weaker  points.  His  idea  coincided 
with   Lougstreet's  in  this  particular,   that  the  North,    Ken- 


78  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

tucky,  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 
c:illed  President  Davis  to  Fairfax  Court  House  to  enter  a  con- 
ference 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  arm}'  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 
Ciid  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  mili- 
tary re.straint  and  discipline.  It  is  well  known  that  private 
broils  or  feuds  of  any  kind  are  strictly  forbidden  by  army  regu- 
latidns.  The  French  manner  of  settling  disputes  or  vindicating 
personal  honor  according  to  cede  duello  was  not  countenanced 


HISTORY   OF    KERS"4W'S    BRIGADR.  79 

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  ch6sen;  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  exact- 
ness, 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  orna- 
mented 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  com  uand  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, Jand  a  true  South  Carolinian   of 


80  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

the  old  stock  would  make  any  sacrifice,  give  or  take  life,  to 
uphold  his  name  unsullied  or  the  honor  of  his  family  untar- 
nished. 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  sat- 
isfaction 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  be- 
fore Major  Seibles  was  sufiBciently  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  gal- 
lant 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  Ivouisiana  Tigers  and  that  of  the  Colonel  of  a  Virginia 
regiment  of  cavalry.  The  troops  now  so  long  inactive,  noth- 
ing 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  dis- 
tinguished 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,  bat  who  had  seen  war  in 
almost  every  clime  under  the  sun.  There  was  Turner  AvShby, 
his  eyes  flashing  fire  from  under  his  shaggy  eyebrows,  his 
long   black   beard   and   flowing    locks,    looking    more   like  a 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  81 

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  lyouisianan  rent  the  air  with  their 
yells,  hats  went  into  the  air,  while  the  friends  of  the  Vir-.-inian 
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  Com- 
mencement 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  g. eat  crowd  surround  him, 
questioning,  swearing,  and  jeering,  but  the  Captain  sat  as 
silent,  unmovable,  and  inattentive  as  a  statue,  pointing  to  the 
broken  rein.  It  had  been  cut  with  a  knife.  The  Captain  and 
6 


82  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

his  friends  claimed  that  the  friends  of  the  Virginian  had, 
unnoticed  by  hitn,  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  hap- 
pened, 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  pro- 
vi:=ions,  water,  etc.,  and  to  be  nearer  the  wooded  .section  of  the 
country.  The  water  had  been  scarce  at  Flint  Hill,  a  long  dis- 
tance 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  uow  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  re- 
ceived. The  teamsters  actiug  as  hucksters,  brought  in  a  lot 
of  delicacies  to  sell  on  their  own  account — chickens,  turkeys, 
and  vegetables,  and  not  uufrequently  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  con^ables"  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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  83 

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  din- 
ner 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  iettle,  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'Jl  be  d — d  if  you  haven't  bought  a 
goo.se  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  I^ongstreet  fought  on  the 
iSthofJuly.  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  be- 
tween 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 


84  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

poles,  with  space  between  the  two  walls  of  five  or  six  inches.. 
This  was  filled  with  soft  earth  or  mud,  packed  tightlj',  then  a 
blazing  fire  started,  the  inner  wall  burned  out,  and  the  diit 
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  to- 
gether. 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  amuse- 
ment. 

The  long  inactivity  made  men  naturally  think  and  dream  of 
home.     The  soldiers  had  left  home  quite   suddenly,   and  in 


HISTORY   OF    KRRSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  85 

many  cases  with  little  preparation,  but' the  continual  talk  of 
■  "peace  in  the  spring,"  and  the  daily  vaporing  of  the  press 
about  Eugland  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  ofiBcers  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  the}'  had  seen,  all  exoected  places  as  generals.  President 
Davis  being  a  West  Pointer  him.self,  had  great  partiality  for 
graduates  of  that  institution.  It  was  his  weakness,  this  favor- 
itism 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  resent- 
ment 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,  McL,aws,  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  Lougstreet 
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  Con- 
gress, 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.  Al- 
though 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  natue  by  which   it  was  mostly  known,  and  under  whose 


86  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW  S    BRIGADE. 

leadership  the  troops  did  such  deeds  of  prowess,  endured  so 
many  hardships,  fought  so  man}'  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  sub- 
ject 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.      After- 
wards 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  sen- 
timents on  the  part  of  the  boys.     He   was  sent   at  the  age  of 
fifteen  to  the  Cokesbury  Conference  school,  in  Abbeville  Dis- 
trict, 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  re- 
turned to  Camden  and  entered  as  a  student  in  the  law  oflSce  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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  87 

health,  the  war  being  over,  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law  in 
Camden.  But  it  was  not  long  before  his  services  were  de- 
manded in  the  State  Legislature,  which  he  entered  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  lower  house  in  1852.  From  this  time  on  until  the 
opening  of  hostilities  in  the  war  between  the  States,  he  prac- 
ticed 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  ofBce  of  Colonel  of  the  -  militia  regiment  com- 
posed 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  Sec- 
ond South  Carolina  Volunteers,  proceeded  to  Richmond, 
tlience  to  Manassas. 

From  this  time  until  1864  it  is  unnecessary  to  trace  his  per- 
sonal 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  as- 
signed to  the  command  of  a  division,  of  which  his  brigade 
formed  a  part.  His, was  the  First  Brigade  of  the  First  Divis- 
ion 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  cap- 
tured at  the  battle  of  Sailor's  Creek,  April  6th,  1865.  In 
this  disastrous  battle  Lieutenant  Ewell,  Major  Generals 
Kershaw  and  Custis  Lee,  Brigadier  Generals  D.  M.  DuBose, 
Semmes,  Hunter,  and  Corse,  arid  Commodores  Hunter  and 
Tucker,  of  the  Confederate  States'  Navy,  ranking  on  shore 
duty  as  Brigadiers,  were  captured,  together  with  their  respect- 
ive commands,  almost  to  a  man,  after  a  desperate  and  sanguin- 
ary struggle  against  immense  odds.      Those  ofiScers  were  all 


»8  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW  S   BRIGADE,. 

seat  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  laige  and  lucra- 
tive 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  poli- 
tics, 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  sum- 
moned 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  Cir- 
cuit, a  position  which  he  held  with  distinguished  honor  for 
sixteen  years,  rendering  it  to  Judge  Erne.st  Gary  in  June,  1893, 
on  which  occasion  there  was  tendered  him  a  farewell  probably 
unique  in  the  judicial  history  of  the  State,  by  eminent  repre- 
sentatives 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  pro- 
fession. 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  inci- 
dent 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.  Till- 
man 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,  en- 
dorsed the  nomination  and  made  an  appropriation  for  the  work. 
To  this  he  gave  himself  during  the  two  succeeding  months, 
collecting  data,  and  even  preparing  in  part  the  proposed  intro- 


HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  89 

ductiou.  But  growing  infirmities  compelled  him  to  lay  it 
down,  and  in  the  latter  part  of  March,  1894,  he  became  alarm- 
ingly 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  1 2th,  just  before  midnight,  he  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  mon- 
ument 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  hos- 
pital 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  al- 
most impa.ssable — 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  be- 
come scarce,  and  had  to  be  carried  on  the  men's  shoulders  the 
distance  of  a  mile,  the  wagons  being  engaged  in  hauling  sup- 
plies and  the  enormous  private  baggage  sent  to  the  soldiers  from 
home.     I  remember  once  on  my  return  from  home  on  a  short 


90  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S   BKIGADE. 

furlough,  I  had  under  my  charge  one  whole  carload  of  boxes 
for  mj'  company  alone.  Towards  night  every  soldier  would 
go  out  to  the  nearest  woodland,  which  was  usually  a  mile  dis- 
tant, 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  thirt}'  days'  leave  of  absence  to 
all  individuals  and  companies  that  would  re-enlist  for  the  re- 
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.  Lieu- 
tenant 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 
daj's'  furlough.  A  great  many  companies  volunteered  in  a 
body,  not  knowing  at  the  time  that  the  Con.script  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  Gen- 
eral Johnston  to  Richmond,  to  confer  with  him  upon  the  prac- 
ticability 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  commi.ssary 
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 


HISTORY  OF    KKRSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  91 

in  Richmond,  away  from  the  seat  of  war,  had  a  continual  pre- 
dilection 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  Gen- 
eral Johnston,  the  world  would  perhaps  never  have  heard  of 
the  daring  feats  of  "Stonewall  Jackson."  He  asked  to  be  re- 
turned to  the  professorship  at  the  Military  Institute,  but  Gen- 
eral Johnston  held  his  letter  up  and  appealed  to  Jackson's 
patriotism  and  the  cause  for  which  all  were  fighting,  to  recon- 
sider 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  facil- 
itate the  movement,  our  wagon  trains  moving  out  in  the  morn- 
ing 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,  pri- 
vate 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  much  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  every- 
where. 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 


92  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  illumi- 
nated the  country  for  miles  around.  Manassas  was  on  fire! 
Some  of  the  buildings  had  caught  fire  by  accident  or  careless- 
ness of  the  soldejrs,  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  establish- 
ment 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  b3^  its  many  memories, 
and  when  the  word  went  along  the  line,  "Manassas  is  burn- 
ing," it  put  a  melancholy  feeling  upon  all.  Some  of  the  hap- 
piest 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  Wash- 
ington 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,  over- 
coats, 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 


HISTORY  OF  Kershaw's  brigade.  93 

for  the  night.  Sometimes  it  would  be  midnight  before  the 
last  of  the  stragglers  came  up.  We  crossed  the  Rappahan- 
nock on  the  railroad  bridge,  which  had  been  laid  with  plank 
to  accommodate  the  passage  of  wagon  trains,  on  the  nth  and 
remained  until  the  19th.  Up  to  this  time  it  was  not  fully 
understood  by  the  authorities  in  Richmond  which  route  Mc- 
Clellan  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  Cali- 
fornia 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  Rich- 
mond 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  freez- 
ing. 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 


94  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  broil- 
ing. 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  in- 
stead 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  over- 
board." A  line  was  thrown  Jim,  and  after  a  pull  he  was 
landed  on  shore,  more  dead  than  alive. 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADR.  95 

"How  long  were  you  in  the  water,  Jim?"  someone  asked. 

"Hell!  more  dan  free  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  York- 
town,  if  a  few  old  tumbled  down  houses  and  a  row  of  wooden 
wharfs  could  be  called  a  town.  The  country  around  York- 
town  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  comfort- 
able place  to  stand  upon.  Fires  were  built,  and  around  these 
men  wonld  stand  during  the  day,  and  a  pretense  of  sleep  dur- 
ing the  night.  But  the  soldiers  were  far  from  being  despond- 
ent; 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  our- 
selves, 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  tlirown  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  h^r  up,"  "get  into  it,"  "^lot  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  aud  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." 


96  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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,  bo3'S,  she's  all  right;  no  poison 
thar,  and  she  didn't  come  from  them  thar  gun  floats  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  barrelnow  raged  fast  and  furious; 
spirits  flowed  without  and  within;  cups,  canteens,  hats,  and  caps 
were  soused  in  the  tempting  fluid,  and  aill  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  con- 
tagion, and  in  a  few  minutes  hundreds  of  men  were  strug- 
gling 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  there- 
after 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  be- 
fore 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  ad- 
vance, 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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  97 

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  ip."  Back  over  the 
same  sloppy,  muddy,  and  deep-rutted  road  we  marched,  re- 
tracing 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,  L,ong- 
street,  Johnston,  and  the  Secretary  of  War,  to  determine  upon 
the  point  at  which  our  forces  were  to  concentrate  and  give 
MeClellan  battle.  Johnston  favored  Richmond  as  the  most 
easy  of  concentration;  thereto  gather  all  the  forces  available 
in  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  and  South  Carolina  around  Rich- 
mond, and  as  the  enemy  approached  fall  upon  and  crush  him. 
G.  W.  Smith  coincided  with  Johnston.  lyougstreet  favored 
reinforcing  Jackson  in  the  Valley,  drive  the  enemy  out,  cross 
the  Potomac,  and  threaten  Washington,  and  force  MeClellan 
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 
^tep.     At  Williamsburg,  the  evening  of  the  4th  of  May,  John- 


08  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

ston  was  forced  to  turn  and  fight.  Breastworks  and  redoubts 
had  beqii  built  somerailes  ip  front. ofthe. town,  and  it  was  here 
intended  to  give  battle.  The,  heavy  ,down.-pour  of  raiu  pre- 
vented Anderson,  who.  was.  holding  the  rear  and,  protecting 
, the  wagon  train.s,  from  moving., and   the  enemy,  began  press- 

,ipg  him  hard. 

Kershaw  and  the  other  brigades  had  passed  through  Wil- 
liamsburg 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  cjuick.  As  we  pa.ssed  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  b^en  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  clear- 
ing. The  Second  and  Eighth  South  Carolina  Regiments  were 
ordered  to  occup5'  the  ,  forts  and  brea.stworks  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 
le!t,  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,  Lpngstreet.  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  consider- 
able fight,  but  being  mostly  behind  brea.stvvorks  their  casualties 
were  light.  The  enemy  withdrew  at  nightfall,  and  after 
remaining  on  the  field  for  s.)me  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,  irr,ooo  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, 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  99 

October  4th,  1813.  He  was  of  Welsh  descent,  his  ancestors 
rairaigrating  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,  yvon 
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,  arid  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  c(alled  into  service,  they-  were  commanded  for 
the  time  by.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Foster,  of  Spartanburg.  He 
joined  the  Regiment  at  "Lightwood  Knot  Springs,"  the  ist  of 
May. .  He  commandeH  the  Third  during  the  term  of  its  first 
enhstment,  and  carried  it  through  the  first  twelve  months' 
campaign  in  Virginia. 

At  the  reorganization  of  the  regiment,  the  men  composing  it 
being  almost  wholly  yoiing  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. 


100  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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  under- 
stood 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  I,egislature  of  this  State  before  Reconstruction,  as  well  as 
a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention  of-  Arkansas 
in  1874. 

LIKUTENANT    COLONEL  FOSTER,  OF  THE    THIRD    SOUTH    CARO- 
LINA VOLUNTEERS. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  C.  B.  Foster,  of  the  Third  South  Caro- 
lina Regiment,  was  born  in  Spartanburg  County,  South  Caro- 
lina, 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  lyCgislature  before  the  war,  and 
represented  Spartanburg  County  in  the  Secession  Convention, 
along  with  Simpson  Bobo,  Dr.  J.  H.  Carli-sle,  and  others.  After 
the  Convention  adjourned  he  returned  to  his  home  in  Spartan- 
burg and  immediatejy  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 
Voluntters.  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  Foster 
■served  until  some  time  after  the  battle  of  First  Mana,ssas,  hav- 
ing 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 


HISTORY   OF    KRRSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  101 

country.  One,  Captain  Perrin  Foster,  also  of  the  Third  Regi- 
ment, 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 
Thfimas  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    CARO- 
LINA  VOLUNTEERS. 

Thomas  Glascock  Bacon  was  born  in  Edgefield  Village  of 
English  ancestry  ou  the  24th  of  June,  181 2.  He  was  the 
youngest  son  of  Major  Edmund  Bacon,  the  eloquent' and  dis- 
tinguished 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  Briga- 
dier 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  rudi- 
ments 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 


102  HISTORY    OF    KEKSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  de- 
velopment 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  sev- 
eral oflSces  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  regi- 
ment 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  need- 
ing 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,  affec- 
tionate 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 


HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  103 

and  impartial  to  the  oificers  and  men  under  his"  commatid, 
pleasant  and  sociable  towards  his  equals' in  rank,  obedient  and 
courteous  to  his  s'upeiriorS,  few  raeii  lived  or  died  with  so'mUclh 
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. 

EUerbe  Boggan  Crawford  Cash  was  born  near  Wadesboiro, 
Anson  County,  North  Carolina,  on  July  ist;  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,  Wionsborp,  S.  C.,.  and  South 
Carolina  College.  He  read  law  under  Genefal  Blakeney,  at 
Cheraw,  S.  C,  and  practiced  in  partnership  a  short  while  with 
Alexander  Mclver,  Esq.,  the  Solicitor  of  the  Eastern  Ciircu'it, 
and  father  of  Chief  Justice  Henry  Mclver,  of  South  Carolina. 
But  his  mother  owning  a  large  landed  estate,  and  several  hun- 
dred 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  hiscoiisin,  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  th6 
Eighth  South  Carolina  Regiment.  At  the  reorganization  he 
did  not  offer  for  re-election,  but  came  home  aud  was  inade 
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'  fami- 
lies, or  sold  it  in  Confederate  money  at  ante  bellum  prices. 
After  the  war  all  notes,  claims,  and  mortgages  he  held  on  es-' 
tates  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. 


104  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

After  the  war  he  continued  to  tarm.  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  challeged 
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  in- 
spired the  respect  and  admiration  of  his  fellowmen. 


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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  105 

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 
efiFect  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  instruc- 
tion. So  b}'  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  oppor- 
tunity to  enter  the  army.  In  fact,  there  were  companies  and 
regiments  already  organized  and  officered,  only  awaitmg  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  work- 
ing in  the  fields  and  factories  to  furnish  them  clothes,  provis- 


106  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

ions,  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  eutef  the  service  either  as 
a  fighter  or  a  worker',  and  our  wisest  men  thought  it  the  betteir 
policy  to  allow  the  young  men  the  glory  upon  the  field,  while 
the  old  men  served  at  home.     On  the   13th   of  May  all  com- 
panies 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  offi- 
cers 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   vete- 
rans.    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  feel- 
ings of  personal  freedom,  dreaded  discipline  and  restraint,  nat- 
urally turned  to  those  men  for  officers    most  conducive  to  their 
will  and  wishes.     But  twelve  months'   service   in   trying  ca  ;i- 
paigns  ma:de  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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  107 

to  the  old  oflBcers,  for  truer,  more  patriotic,  nor  a  braver  set  of 
men  ever  drew  a  blade  than  those  who  constituted  the  old  bri- 
gade 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  confi- 
dence 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  ia  actual  service,  could 
possibly  be  as  acceptable  as  those  chosen  after  a  year  of  ser- 
vice, 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.  Villipigne. 

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  elec- 
tions 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.  Gail- 
lard, 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. 


108  HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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.  I,.  Leap- 
hart,   M.   M.  Maddrey. 

Company  B— A.  D.  Hoke,  Wm.  PuUiam,  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.  Perryman,  W.  C.  China,  G.  Mc- 
Dowell. 

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  ofiBcers  remained  in  the  end.  Many 
Captains  of  a  low  rank  went  all  the  way  to  Colonels  of  regi- 
ments, and  Third  Lieutenants  rose  by  promotion  to  Captains. 
This  shows  the  terrible  mortality  among  the  officers.  None  of 
the  first  field  oflBcers  but  what  had  been  killed  or  incapacitated 
for  service  by  wounds  at  the  close  of  the  war. 

THIRD  SOUTH  CAROWNA  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  Compa- 
ny E,  made  Adjutant. 

G.  W.  Shell,  Laurens,  Quartermaster. 

J.  N.  Martin  and  R.  N.  Lowrance,  Commissary. 


HISTORY  OF  Kershaw's  brigade.  109 

Ed.  Hicks,  of  Laurens,  Sergeant  Major. 

All  staff  officers  are  appointed  or  recommended  for  appoint- 
ment by  the  Colonel  of  the  regiment.  The  offices  of  Regi- 
mental Quartermaster  and  Commissary,  the  encumbents 
heretofore  ranking  as  Captains,  were  abolished  during  the  year, 
having  one  Quartermaster  and  one  Commissary  for  the  bri- 
gade, 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-enlist- 
ment. 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  fol- 
lows, 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  im- 
mediately after  the  election  and  others  in  the  battle  that  fol- 
lowed 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  David- 
son's Orderly  Sergeant.  It  seems  the  position  of  Orderly  Ser- 
geant was  quite  favorable  to  promotion,  for  nearly  all  the 
Orderlies  during  the  first  twelve  months  were  made  either  Cap- 
tains or  Lieutenants. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Garlington  being  killed  at  Savage  Sta- 
tion, Major  Rutherford  was  promoted  to  that  position,  while 
Captain  Maffett  was  made  Major  and  Lieutenant  Herbert  Cap-- 
tain  in  his  stead  of  Company  C. 


110  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

Captain  Hance,  of  Company  A,  being  killed  at  Fredericks- 
burg, 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  Lieuten- 
ant Wm.  Deal  made  Captain  and  commanded  At  the  surren- 
der. 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  andresigned,  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  Sanford  was  killed  at  Savage  Station;  then  Lieutenant 
L-  P.  Foster,  son  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Foster,  was  pro- 
moted 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  Chicka- 
mauga. 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,  therely  preventing  pro- 
motions in  one  of  the  most  gallant  companies  in  Kexshaw'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  Cap- 
tains, 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. 


HISTORY   OF     KERSHAW'S    BRIGADR.  Ill 

It  will  be  seen  that  at  the  reorganization  the  Third  Regiment 
made  quite  a  new  deal,  and  almost. a  clean  swegp  of  old  officers 
— and  with  few  exceptions  the '  officers  fr^nj  Colonel  to  the 
Lieutenants  of  least  rank  were  young  m,en.  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  regi- 
ment at  the  time,  but  little  known  outside  of  immediate  sur- 
roundings— 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  Ten- 
nessee, 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  t.he  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. 
Commis.sary — A.  F.  Townsend. 
Company  A — Stuart  Harrison. 


112  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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  reorganiza- 
tion, giving  the  different  changes  of  regimental  and  company 
commanders,  as  well  as  the  commanders  of  the  regiment  dur- 
ing battle: 

Colonel  Aiken  commanded  at  Savage  Station,  Malyern  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  bat- 
tery, the  farthest  advance  of  the  day.  Captain  Hard  had  com- 
mand 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  Sta- 
tion, 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  com- 
mand 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. 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  113 

Company  E  was  divided  into  two  companies,  E  and  M. 
Company  H  took  the  place  of  Eland's,  which  became  Company 
A. 

Captain  Stuart  Harrison,  Company  A,  resigned,  being 
elected  Clerk  of  Court  of  Edgefield,  and  I^ieutenant  Gus  Bart 
was  made  Captain. 

John  Carwile,  First  Lieutenant  of  Company  A,  acted  as 
Adjutant  after  the  death  of  Adjutant  Childs,  and  also  on  Gen- 
eral Kershaw's  staff. 

Lieutenant  James  Townsend  became  Captain  of  Company  B 
after  the  promotion  of  Huggins  to  Lieutenant  Colonel. 

After  Captain  Hard's  promotion  Jan'ves  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  Mary- 
land heights.  Lieutenant  Jno.  W.  Kemp  was  made  Captain 
and  killed  at  the  Wilderness. 

Captain  J.  L.  Burris,  of  Company  K,  was  wounded  at  Antie- 
tam  and  resigned.  First  Lieutenant  J.  L-  Talbert  having 
been  killed  at  Mar^'land  Height's  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.  Litchfied,  of  Company  I,  was  killed  at  Mary- 
land Heights,  and  First  Lieutenant  Litchfield  was  made 
Captain. 

First  Lieutenant  P.  Boukuight  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. 

8 


114  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADK. 

Company  D— Robt.  P.  Miller,  Chesterfield. 

Companj'  E — M.  E.  Keith,  Darlington. 

Company  F— T.  E.  Howie,  Darlington. 

Company  G — C.  P.  Townsend,   Marlboro. 

Company  H— Duncan  Mclntyre,  Marion. 

Company  I— A.  T.  Harllee,  Marion. 

Company  K — Frank  Manning,  Marlboro. 

Company  L — Thomas  E.  Stackhouse,  Marion. 

Company  M— Thomas  E.  Howie,  Darlington. 

Company  L  was  a  new  company,  and  T.  E.  Stackhouse  was 
made  Captain;  also  A.  T.  Harllee  was  made  Captain  of  Com- 
pany I.     Company  M  was  also  a  new  company. 


After  the  reorganization  the  Generals'  staffs  were  reduced 
to  more  republican  simplicity.  General  Kershaw  was  con- 
tented 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  OSicer. 

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,  hut  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  ma}'  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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  115 

was  much  to  animate  their  feelings  a^d  stimulate  their  cour- 
age. The  older  men  had  retired  and  left  the  field  to  the  lead- 
ership 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  coun- 
try'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  maich  or  the  snflFering  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,  wealthy 
education,  and  a  long  line  of  illustrious  ancestors,  all  to  stimu- 
late them  to  deecjs  of  prowess  and  unparalleled  heroism? 
Such  were  the  men  to  make  the  name  of  South  Carolina  glori- 
ous,  and  that  of  "Kershaw"  immortah  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  merk 
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  decad- 
ence; 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 


116  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

the  Federal  Corps  become  separated  in  their  marches,  to  con- 
centrate his  forces,  turn  and  crush  him  at  one  blow.  The 
low,  swampy,  and  wooded  condition  of  the  country  from  York- 
town  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  iu 
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  concen- 
trated with  his  own  before  Richmond.  But  the  authorities  at 
Richmond  thought  otherwise.  It  is  true  Jackson  had  been 
worsted  at  Kernstowa  by  Shields,  but  his  masterly  movements 
against  Banks,  Fremont,  Siegle,  and  others,  gave  him  such 
prestige  as  to  make  his  name  almost  indispensible  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 
2oth  of  May,  Johnston  heard  of  two  of  the  Federal  Corps, 
Keyes'  and  Heintzleman's,  being  on  the  south  side  of  the 
Cuickahominy,  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, 
ihe  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,  Longstrect  on  the  Wil- 
liamsburg Road,  immediately  in  front  of  the  enemy;  Hiigeron 
the  James;  Magruder,  of  which  was  Kershaw's  Brigade  (in  a 
division  under  Mclyaws),  stretched  along  the  Chickahominy 
above  New  Bridge. 

All  these  troops  were  to  concentrate  near  Seven  Pines  and 


HISTORY   OF    KRKSHAw'S    BRIGADE.  ]  17 

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,  G2neral  [ohnston 
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  Rail- 
road). G.  W.  Smith  was  to  occupy  the  Nine  Mile  Road, 
running  parallel  with  Longstreet's  front  and  extending  to  the 
river,  near  New  Bridge,  oii  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  lyongstreet  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  lyongstreet's 
left  as  it  uncovered  at  White  Oak  Swamp,  or  to  join  his  forces 
with  lyongstreet'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  exces- 
sive 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-enforce- 
ment 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 


118  HISTORY  OF  Kershaw's  brigade. 

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  mis- 
understanding in  regard  to  his  and  Longstreet's  seniority. 
Still  Huger  waived  his  rank  reluctantly  and  allowed  Long- 
street  and  Hill  to  still  press  the  enemy  back  to  his  second  line 
of  entrenchments.  From  where  we  lay,  inactive  and  idle,  the 
steady  roil  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  BrigadeJ  of  South  Carolinians  came  up,  and 
three  regiments,  led  by  Colonel  Jenkins,  made  a  flank  move- 
ment, and  by  a  desperate  assault,  took  the  redoubt  on  the  left, 
with  six  pieces  of  artiller3^  When  Rhodes'  North  Carolina 
Brigade  got  sufiBciently  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  mas- 
ters 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  mak- 
ing 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  rush- 
ing 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  entrench- 
ments were  all  taken,  the  enemy  had  no  other  alternative  but 
to  fall  back  in  the  deuse  forest  and  undergrowth,  giving  them 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  119 

shelter  until  night,  with  her  sable  curtains,  hid  friend  and  foe 
alike.  Just  as  the  last  charge  had  been  made,  General  John- 
ston, riding  out  in  an  opening,  was  first  struck  by  a  fragment 
of'shell,  thereb.v  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  sta- 
tionary for  the  night,  and  next  morning,  they  were  returned 
to  their  original  quarters.  Kershaw  and  the  other  Brigadiers 
of  the  divifsion  did  not  become  engaged,  as  they  were  awaiting 
upon  a  contingency  that  did  not  arise.  It  is  true,  the  enemj' 
were  driven  from  thier  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  tangi- 
ble 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  pre- 
senting 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  Confed- 
erate forces  with  those  at  Gaines'  Mills  or  Second  Manassas. 
But,  as  it  was,  it  must  be  counted  as  one  of  the  fruitless  vic- 
tories 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  com- 
mencement of  the  war,  he  was  considered  as  one  of  our  most 
brilliant  ofiBcers,  and  stood  head  and  shoulders  above  some  of 
his  cotemporaries  in  the  estimation  of  our  leaders  and  the  De- 
partment at  Richmond.  But  his  actions  and  conduct  on  sev- 
eral momentous  occasions  will  leave  to  posterity  the  necessity 
of  voting  him  a  failure;  while  others  of  his  day,  with  no  train- 
ing 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. 


120  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

but  for  the  splendid  achievement  of  their  new  commander,  R. 
E.  Lee,  with  the  troops  drilled  and  disciplined  by  his  pre- 
decessor, 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  ist,  1862. 
He  did  not  come  with  any  prestige  of  great  victory  to  recom- 
mend him  to  the  troops,  but  his  bold  face,  manly  features,  dis- 
tinguished 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  ~Al 
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. 

On  the  12th  of  June  General  Stuart  started  on  his  remark- 
able ride  around  the  army  of  McClellan,  and  gained  for  him- 
self 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  out- 
posts, overturning  wagon  trains,  and  destroying  everything 
with  fire  and  sword.  He  rides  boldly  across  the  enemy's  line 
of  communicators,  coming  up  at  nighfall  at  the  Chickahominy, 
with  the  whole  of  McClellan's  army  between  him  aud  Rich- 
mond. 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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  121 

putting  the  enemy  to  rout  Stuart  and  his  men  regaled  them- 
selves on  these  tempting  viands,  Stuart  himself  drinking  a 
"bumper  of  choice  old  Burgundy,"  sending  word  to  nis 
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  tempo- 
rary 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.  Ivight  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  Chickahominj',  nearly  north  of  Richmond. 
Mclyaws,  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  Mississippi- 
ans.  General  p.  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,  commanded  on  the  right,  next  the 
James  River,  with  Longstreet  next;  but  before  the  great  battle 
Magruder  was  given  the  centre  and  I,ongstreet  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  Bri- 
gade," 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, 


122  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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?  Thej'  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  ser- 
vice. 

A  Federal  battery  was  stationed  immediately  in  our  front, 
beyond  the  river,  supported  b}'  infantry.  Some  one  in  author- 
ity 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  sol- 
diers 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  Regi- 
ment would  never  get  anything.  That  he  had  been  naked 
and  barefooted  for  two  months,  and  when  a  chance  was  ofiered 
to  clothe  and  shoe  himself  some  d — n  fool  had  to  countermand 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  123 

the  order."  Ere  manj'  days  bis  ambition  and  lust  for  a  fight 
were  filled  to  overflowing. 

The  various  grades  and  rabks  of  the  Generals  kept  us  contin- 
ually 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  appea.ed  from  the  preparations  made,  perma- 
nently 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  Ivieutenants 
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  move- 
ment 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  defenting  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.     Jack- 


124  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

son  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  tlje  defense  of  the  north  side  of  the 
Chickahominy,  and  had  erected  formidable  lines  of  breast- 
works along  Beaver  Dam  Creek,  already  strong  and  unap- 
proachable from  its  natural  formations.  Jackson  was  to  have 
encountered  Potter  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  num- 
bers 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  engag- 
ing 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  Gaines'  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  ouslaught 


HISTORY   OP    KERSHAw's   BRIGADE.  125 

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  his- 
tory 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.  Jack- 
son, 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  crown- 
ing 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  L,ight  Di- 
vision under  A.  P.  Hill  would  drive  the  enemy  from  his  posi- 
tion, 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  sizzed  through  the  air  or  plowed  their  way 
through  the  ranks  of  the  battling  masses.     Charges  were  met 


126  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

by  charges,  and  the  terrible  "Rebel  Yell"  couldbe  heard  above 
tht  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  Con- 
federates 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  Napolean's  favorite  tactics.  He  called  up  his 
cavalry,  and  threatened  the  weakened  ranks  of  the  Confeder- 
ates 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  Armj'. 

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  Hamil- 
ton, 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  Chickahoniiny  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  Chickahomiuy  the  night 
after  his  defeat.  His  step  was,  no  doubt,  occasioned  by  the 
fact  that  lyce  had  sent  Stuart  with  his  cavalry  and  Swell's 
Division  of  Infantry  down  the  north  side  of  the  Chickahomiuy 
and  destroyed  McClellan's  line  of  communication  between  his 
army  and  the  York  River.  However,  the  Confederate  com- 
mander was  equally  as  anxious  to  cut  him  off  from  the  James 
as  the  York.     He  aimed  to   force  him  to  battle  between  the 


HISTORY   OF     KERSHAW'S    BRIGADR.  127 

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  Chicka- 
hominy. 

Od  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  Rich- 
mond 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.  Jack- 
.son,  D.  H.  Hill,  and  .VTagruder  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  country,  grown  up  in  great  forests,  with 
now  and  then  a  cultivated  field.  The  forests  were  overrun 
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  com- 
pany in  the  beginning  of  battle  is  always  deployed  at  such 
distance  between  each  soldier  as  to  cover  the  front  of  the  regi- 
ment, while  in  line  of  battle  the  regiments  being  from  ten  to 


128  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

£fty  yards  apart.     In  this  way  we  marched  all  day,  sometimes 
in  line  of  battle,  at  others  by  the  roads  in  colunins.     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  b}'  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.     Jack- 
son 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  re- 
doubts, 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  reriiaining  as 
reserve,  while  the  Division  of  D.  R.  Jones,   which  had  been 


HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  129 

moving  down  on  the  left  side  of  the  railroad,  soon  became 
engaged.  The  enemy  fought  with  great  energy  and  vigor, 
while  the  Ccufederates  pressed  them  hard.  Much  was  at 
stake,  and  night  was  near.  Sumner  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  uot  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  stagger- 
ing 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  Gen- 
eral 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  rak- 
ing fire.  Nor  was  the  railroad  battery  idle,  for  I  could  see  the 
great  black,  grim  monster  pufiing  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  speed- 
ily reformed  and  again  pUt  in  motion.  Jones,  too,  was  forced  by 
overwhelming  numbers  to  give  back,  but  Jackson  coming  up  gave 
him  renewedj^ponfidence,  and  a  final  advance  was  made  along  the 
whole  line,  'fi'he  battle  was  kept  up  with  varying  success  until 
after  night,  v%en  Sumner  withdrew  over  White  Oak  Swamp. 


130  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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,  pon- 
toons, 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  bayo- 
nets of  his  victorious  troops.  At  three  o'clock  A.  M.  Long- 
street  and-  A.  P.  Hill  moved  down  the  Darby  town  road,  leaving 
Jackson,  D.  ,  H.  Hill,  arid  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   McCtill,    who 
had  been  fighting  Longstreet  so  desperately  all  day,    was  cap- 
tured  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  in- 
censed, 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 


HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  131 

hand  in  friendly  recognition  of  past  associations,  thus  to 
smooth  and  soften  the' humiliation  of  his  foe's  present  condi- 
tion!    Insult — was  it? 

When  Bob  Toombs,  at  the  head  of  his  brigade,  was  sweep- 
ing 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  promis- 
ing to  perform  some  last  sad  rites  after  his  death.  When  the 
battle  was  ended  for  the  day,  the  great  fiery  Secessionist  has- 
tened to  return  to  the  wounded  enemy.  But  too  late;  his  spirit 
had  flown,  aud  nothing  was  now  left  to  Toombs  but  to  fulfill 
the  promises  he  made  to  his  dying  foe.  He  had  his  body  car- 
ried 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  com- 
pany 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 
1  found  the  warm  blood,   that  filled   my  inner  garments  and 


132  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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  bring- 
ing upon  us  the  concentrated  fire  of  the  enemy.     As  I  sat  upon 
the  fallen  trunk  of  a  tree  my  brother  made  a  hasty  examina- 
tion of  my  wound.     All  this  while  I  was  fully  convinced  I  was 
near  death's  door.      He  pronounced  my  wound  at  first  as  fatalj 
a  bit  of  very   unpleajsant  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  feel- 
ings— I   was   scared!     As  Goldsmith  once  said,    "When  you 
think  you  are  about  to  die,  this  world  looks  might)'  tempting 
and  pretty."     Everything  in   my   front   took  on   the   hue   of 
dark  green,  a  pleasant  sensation  came  ov'er  m;,  and  I   had   the 
strangest  feeling  ever  experienced  in  my  life.     I  thought  sure 
1  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  sur- 
geons 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  untertook  this   ser- 
vice voluntarily  oftentimes  depleted  the  ranks   more  than  the 
lo.ss  iu  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,  who.se  duty  it  was  to  follow  close  in  rear  of  the 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  133 

line  of  battle  with  their  "stretchers"  and  take  off  the  dis- 
abled. 

I  will  never  forget  the  scene  that  met  my  e.\es  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  ofE 
at  the  shoulder  or  elbow,  legs  broken,  fingers,  toes,  or  foot 
shot  away;  some  hobbling  along  on  inverted  muskets  or 
crutches,  but  the  great  ma.ss  were  stretched  at  full  length 
upon  the  ground,  uttering  low,  deep,  and  piteous  moans,  that 
told  of  the  great  sufferings,  or  a  life  pas.sing  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  amotig  all  this  deluge  of  blood,  mangled  bodies,  and 
the  groans  of  the  wounded  and  dying,  our  ears  were  contin- 
ually 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  set- 
thng  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- 


134  HISTORY  OF  Kershaw's  brigade. 

rending  to  those  even  of  the  stoutest  nerves! — once  seen,  is 
indelibly  impressed  iipori  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  hos- 
pital, or  the  calls  and  cries  of  those  left  upon  the  battlefield. 
Oh,  such  a  night,  the  night  after  the  battle!  The  very  remem- 
brance 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  ofi"  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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  135 

length,)  between  his  army  and  L,ee'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  tnain  to  inter- 
cept him  on  the  other  side.  After  sume  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 
strongl}-  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  lyongstreet  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  Irom  the  field.  The  soldiers  who  had  done  such  deeds 
of  daring  as  to  win  everlasiing  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  unleached,  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 


136  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW-'S   BRIGADE. 

make  one  last  desperate  effort  to  save  his  army  from  destruc- 
tion 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  and  by  Turkey  Creek.  On  the  northern  emi- 
nence McClellan  planted  eighty  pieces  of  heavy  ordnance, 
and  en  the  eastern,  field  batteries  in  great  numbers.  I^ee 
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  emi- 
nence, 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,  Armistead's 
Virginia  Brigade,  occupying  the  most  advanced  aud^  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  attack- 
ing 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.  Ker- 
shaw following  the  lead  of  the  brigade  on  his  left,  gave  orders, 
"Forward,  charge!"  Down  the  incline,  across  the  wide  ex- 
panse, 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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  137 

rising  high  in  the  air,  then  curling  in  a  beautiful  how  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  blufE  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  discon- 
nected 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  Chicka- 
hominy  to  the  James,  his  army  defeated  and  demoralized 
beyond  months  of  recuperation.  L,ee  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  de- 
fenses 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  cour- 
age 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 


138  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  scotch- 
ing at  Gaines'  Mill  the  great  serpent  that  was  siarrounding  the 
Capital  with  bristling  ba)'onets,  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,  I,ee  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  tomorrow— that  it 
perhaps  might  be  yet  more  sanguinary  than  any  of  the  others. 
Our  ranks,  already  badly  worn  by  the  desperate  conflicts  at 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  139 

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  fiown,"  and  instead  of  battle  lines  and  brist- 
ling steel  fronts  we  found  nothing  but  deserted  camps  and  evi- 
dences of  a  hasty  flight.  In  a  few  days  we  were  removed  fur- 
ther 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  Confed- 
erate 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.  Meu  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  overl^ee,"  his  "bloody  repulses  of  Jackson,"  and  "suc- 
cessful 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. 


140  HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

as  a  fact,  before  the  dispatch  bad  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  divis- 
ions, headed  by  Lee  in  person,  was  ordered  to  re-enforce  Jack- 
son, 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  Con- 
federate Army,  his  scouts  intercepted  an  order  written  by  Gen- 
eral lyCe  to  his  cavalry  leader,  giving  details  of  his  intended 
advance  and  attack.  Pope,  being  thus  apprised,  hurriedly  re- 
crossed  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  Jack- 
sou  on  his  famous  march  around  the  enemy's  rear.  Pulling 
up  at  night,  Jackson  marched  to  the  left,  crossed  the  Rappa- 
hannock 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  quanti- 
ties 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  Carolin- 
ians, 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 


HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW' S   BRIGADE.  141 

accomplished  by  Lee  during  the  war,  with  the  possible  excep- 
tion 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,  try- 
ing to  intercept  Jackson's  imaginary  retreat.  It  seems  as  if 
the  one  single  idea  impressed  itself  upon  the  Federal  com- 
mander, 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  enbankment 
on  the  plains  of  Manas.sas,  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  dem- 
onstration 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  scence  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  cool- 
ne.ss,  and  soldierly  behavior  of  Sykes  and  his  regulars  at  Stone 
Bridge,   the  rout  of  the  Federal  Army  at  Second  Manassas 


142  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

would  have  been  but  little  less  complete  than  on  the  fatal  daj^ 
just  a  little  more  than  one  year  before. 

At  Ox  Hill,  ist  September,  Pope  had  to  adopt  the  tactics  of 
McClellan  at  Malvern  Hill,  face  about  and  fight  for  the  safety 
of  hi.s  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  &■  national  reputation 
for  his  enterprising  warfare  in  Calafornia  and  Mexico  during 
the  troublesome  times  of  the  Mexican  War,  and  it  was  with  un- 
feigned sorrow  and  regret  the  two  armies  heard  of  the  sad  death 
of  this  veteran  hero. 

During  the  time  that  all  the.se  stirring  events  were  taking 
place  and  just  before  Magruder,  with  McLaw's  and  Walker's 
divisions,  was  either  quietly  lying  in  front  of  Richmond  watch- 
ing the  array  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  vas  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  concentrat- 
ing his  army  north  of  the  Rappahannock.  About  the  middle 
of  August  McLaws,  with  Kershaw's,  Sumner's,  Cobb's,  and 
Bark.sdale'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.  PL,  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  ihey 
were  ever  expecting  to  hear  of  some  new  achievement  or  bril- 
liant victory  by  this  strange,  silent,  and  mysterious  man.     The 


HISTORY   OF     KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  143 

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,  Geor- 
gians, and  Mlssissippians  was  swinging  along  with  an  elastic 
step  between  Orange  C.  H.  and  Mana.ssas. 

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  sus- 
tenance 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  Septem- 
ber, 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  in- 
stance 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  notrils  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 


144  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  battlefied  is  the  absence  of  the 
carrion  crow  or  buzzard — it  matters  little  as  to  the  uumber  of 
dead  soldiers  or  horses,  no  vultures  ever  venture  near^t 
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  EuU  Run  and  out  towards 
Washington  Mcl,aws  followed  with  hasty  step  the  track  of 
I,ongstreet  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  Armj-  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  Mrryland,"  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, 
lyongstreet,  and  the  two  Hills  were  proud  to  feel  the  elbow 
touch  of  such  chivalrous  spirits  a?  McL,aws,  Kershaw,  Hamp- 
ton, and  others  in  the  conflicts   that  were  soon  to  take  place. 


HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  145 

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  throiagh 
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  Moun- 
tain, and  Jackson's  right  hand,  the  brave  Ewell,  lost  his  leg  at 
Manassas. 

The  army  went  into  camp  around  Frederick  City,  Md. 
PVom  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  pur- 
pose; that  it  was  not  as  a  conqueror,  or  an  enemy,  but  to  de- 
mand 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  stand- 
ard 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 
hi.s  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  anx- 
ious 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  pas- 
sive .spectators  and  disinterested  witnesses  to  tbe,  great  evolu- 
tions now  taking  place.  What  the  people  felt  on  the  '  'eastern 
10 


146  HISTORY    OF     KERSHAW'S    BRIGADK. 

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  con- 
ducted with  kid  gloves  on." 

Whiie  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  pro- 
pose 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  piecipitous  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, 
find  this  appeared  impossible   from   a   Tnilitary  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   mountaini  and   the   Potomac,    runs   northwards, 
while  the  western  ridge,  called  Elk  Mountain,  starts  from   the 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  147 

bluff  called  Maryland  Heights,  overlooking  the  town  of  Har- 
per'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  Martins- 
burg,  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  over- 
looking Harper's  Ferry  from  below,  the  Shenandoah  being 
between  his  army  and  the  latter  place.  On  the  nth  McL,aws 
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  moun- 
tain passes  and  ridges  on  the  north.  Kershaw,  it  will  be  seen, 
was  given  the  most  difficult  position  of  passage  and  more  for- 
midable to  attack  than  any  of  the  other  routes  of  approach. 
Some  time  after  Jackson  and  Walker  had  left  on  their  long 
march,  McLaws  followed.  lyongstreet  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,  aud  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  fiftj' 
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.  Mc-Laws,  as  Commander-in-Chief,  with  some  of  the 
other  brigades,  marched  by  the  road  at  the  hash  of  the  moun- 
tain below  Wright,  while  Cobb  was  to  keep  abreast  of  Ker- 
shaw 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  aud  the  troops  under 
McLaws. 


148  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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  i2th  the  men  had  to  pull  themselves  up  precipi- 
tous 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  upon  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  for- 
tifications. 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  fight- 
in  j  was  short  but  very  severe.  The  Third  did  not  lose  any 
fie'.d  officers,  but  the  line  suffered  considerably.  The  Third 
lust  .some  of  her  most  promising  officers.  Of  the  Seventh, 
Ci-iptain  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 
Henegan.  The  enemy  was  posted  behind  works,  constructed 
the  same  as  th(5se  assaulted  by  the  Third  and  Seventh,  of  cliffs 
of  rocks,  trunks  of  trees,  covered  by  an  abattis.  The  regi- 
ments 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 


HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  149 

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  Henegan,  he 
being  near  at  hand,  to  take  the  colors.  Snatching  them  from 
under  Captain  Harllee,  Colonel  Henegan  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 
lend,  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  sev- 
eral pieces  of  small  cannondrawn  up,  mostly  by  hand,  and  placed 
in  such  position  as  to  sweep  the  garrison  below.  Some  of  Jack- 
son's troops  early  in  the  night  began  climbing  around  the  steep 
cliffs  that  overlook  the  Shenandoah,  and  by  daylight  took  pos- 
session 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 


150  HISTORY  OF  Kershaw's  brigade. 

had  been  just  traversed,  to  find  D.  H.  Hill  and  I^ongstreet  in  a 
hand-to-hand  combat,  defending  the  routes  on  South  Moun- 
tain that  led  down  on  us  by  the  mountain  crests.  The  next 
day  orders  for  stcrming  the  works  by  the  troops  beyond  the 
river  were  given.  Mclyaws  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  Jack- 
son's infantry  was  pushed  to  the  front  and  captured  the  works 
there.  Soon  thereafter  the  white  flag  was  waving  over  Har- 
per's Ferry,  "the  citadel  had  fallen."  In  the  capitulation 
eleven  thousand  prisoners,  seventy-two  piieces  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  deli- 
cacies, provisions,  and  "drinkables"  constituting  a  part  of  the 
spoils  taken,  while  Kershrw's  and  all  of  McLaw'sand  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  bj'  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  1 6th  we  descended  the  mountain,  crossed  the  Poto- 
mac, 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 


HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  151 

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  dura- 
tion, and  its  casualties.  After  three  days  of  incessant  march- 
ing and  fighting  over  mountain  heights,  rugged  gorges, 
wading  rivers— all  on  the  shortest  of  rations,  many  of  the  mea 
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  cros.sed  the  Potomac  the  Department  at  Wash- 
ington, as  well  as  the  whole  North,  was  thrown  into  conster- 
laation,  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.  General  Curtis,  of  Penn- 
sylvania, 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  Mary- 
land, 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  sur- 
rounding country,  just  the  same  as  down  in  Virginia.      The 


152  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

negroes  foraged  for  their  masters  wherever  they,  went,  and  ia 
times  of  short  rations  the)'  were  quite  an  adjunct  to  the  Com- 
missary Department,  gathering  chickens,  butter,  flour,  etc. 
Even  now,  when  so  near  the  Free  States,  with  nothing  to  pre- 
vent 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  man)'  of  the  soldiers — captured  by  for- 
aging parties  or  left  broken  down  along  the  roadside.  It  is  a 
fact,  though,  that  during  the  whole  war  the  negroes  were  as 
piuch  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  wav- 
ing 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  demonstrat- 
ive. 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  pri- 
vates 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 


HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  153 

and  a  fine  breakfast  spread.     Now  the  Captain   was  overflow- 
ing in  good  hiuuor  and  spirits,  and  being  naturally  generous- 
hearted,  invited  the  Colonial  and  I^ieuteaant   Colonel  Ruther- 
ford, 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 — 1  don't  you  come  on  with  the  bis- 
cuits, 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  tookeu  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  de-sire  to  make  a 
confession.     "Did  you  ever  know  who  stole  your  biscuits  that 
night  at  Frederick  City?"     "No."      "Well,  I  and  Bud  Wil- 
son— "     But  Captain  Nance  never  allowed  John   Mathis  to 


154  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

finish,  for  as  the  light  of  that  far-ofif  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  for- 
give you;  go  home  and  don't  trj'  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  I,ee  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  battle- 
ground chosen  was  in  a  bend  of  the  Potomac,  I/Ce'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  awav  to  our  left  and  front,  where  Hooker  was  endeav- 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  155 

oring  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  par- 
allel with  a  body  of  woods,  near  the  Duuker  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  Ken- 
nedy, 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  wa.s  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  con- 
fused 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  bri- 
gade 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 


156  HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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  triendly  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  banuers,  the  officers  march- 
ing 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  Barks- 
dale  to  retire  in  great  disorder.  The  enemy's  troops  were 
being  hurried  ever  the  creek  and  forming  in  our  front.  Ker- 
shaw 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  overwhelm- 
ing 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.  Farley,  killed  at  the  Rappa- 
hannock, came  to  visit  his  brother,  L,ieutenant  Farley,  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. 


HISTORY  OF  Kershaw's  brigade.  157 

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  negoti- 
ations 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  easil5' 
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  cross- 
ing 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  Har- 
per'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  btaggered,  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   McL,aw's    troops,   jaded    and 


158  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

fagged  by  the  forced  inarches  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.  Mclyaws  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  advan- 
tage 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  lo.ss  and  gain  were  about  equal. 
It  is  true  Lee  lost  thou.sands  of  good  and  brave  troops  whose 
places  could  scarcely  be  filled;  yet  he  inflicted  such  punish- 
ment upon  the  enemy  that  it  took  him  months  to  recuperate. 
The  moral  effect  was  against  us  and  in  favor  of  the  enemj' 
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  vic- 
tories 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  Gen- 
erals 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  pos- 
sible to  meet  men  upon  the  field  equal  in  courage  and  endur- 
ance to  themselves.  But  it  also  proved  to  what  point  of  for- 
bearance 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  Con- 
federate 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 


HISTORY   OF     KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  159 

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  regi- 
ment lost  in  the  two  battles  of  Maryland  Heights  and  Sharps- 
burg,  two  hundred  and  fifty-three  out  of  four  hundred  and 
forty-six. 

General  McClellan,  in  his  testimony  before  the  War  Investi- 
gating 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."  Deduct- 
ing the  cavalry  division  not  in  action  of  fo'.ir  thousand  three 
hundred  and  twenty,  gives  McClellan  eighty-two  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  forty-four,  infantr}'  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  L,ee's  force,  and  we  have  of  infantry,  artillery, 
and  cavalry,  thirty-three  thousand.      Jackson  only  had  four 


160  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

thousand  on  the  left  until  the  arrival  of  A.  P.  Hill,  and  with- 
stood 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  ambu- 
lances, 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,  Long- 
street  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  I,ee  to  nearly  one-half  their  real 
strength,  taking  those  on  detached  service  into  consideration 
also.  But  these  had  all  come  tip  and  joined  their  ranks  as  we 
began  crossing  the  Potomac.  None  wished  to  be  left  behind; 
€ven  men  ,so  badly  wounded  that  at  home  they  would  be  con- 
fined 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  hunhred  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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  161 

ammunitiou  to  replenish  that  spent  in  battle,  and  horses  and 
wagons  enough  to  fully  equip  the  whole  array,  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 
L^e  was  forced  by  circuriistances  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  Antifctam  as  a  victory,  and  the 
world  accepted  it  as  siich.  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  liis  position,  then  it  is  considered 
a  victorj'  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 
Aiitietam,  andlMcClellan  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  aay,  then  deliberately  with- 
drew. What  better  evidence  is  wanting  to  prove  Lee  not 
defeated.     McClellah  claimed  no  more  than  a  drawn  fight. 

On  the  19th  the  eneniy  began  pressing  our  rear  near  Shep- 
ard-stown,  and'  A.  F.  Hill  was  ordered  to  return  and  drive 
them  oiff.  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  Commissar}'  and  Quar- 
11 


162  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADlt. 

terraaster'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  transpor- 
tation for  the  whole  arm}'.  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  da}-,  through  sunshine  and  rain, 
that  the  men  who  were  in  the  battle  ranks  could  be  fed  and 
clothed.  They  had  no  re.st.  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  Quarterma.ster 
must  provide  for  the  sustenance  of  the  army.-  Kershaw's  Bri- 
gade was  doubly  bles.sed  in  the  persons  of  Captain,  afterwards 
Major  W.  D.  Peck  and  Captain  Shell,  of  the  Quartermaster 
Department,  and  Captain  R.  N.  Lowraace,  and  Lieutenant 
J.  X.  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  pop- 
ularity was  universal  His  greatest  .service  was  in  the  Quar- 
termaster's Department,  but. he  served  for  awhile  in  the  ranks 
in  Captain  W'm.  Wallace's  Company,  Second  Regiment,  as 
Orderly  Sergeant  -served  in  that  capacity  at  the  bombardment 
of  Fort  Sumter  and  the  first  battle  of  Manassas.  On  the  death 
of  Quartermaster  W.  S.  Wood,  Colonel  Ker.shaw  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  res- 
ignation of  Major  McLaws,  Division  Quartermaster,  he  was 
made  Division  Quartermaster  in  hisstead,  and  held  this  position 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  163 

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 
diflFerent  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  com- 
manding 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  inere  fact  of  Captain  G.  W.  Shell  being  appointed  to  such 
a  responsible  position  as  Quartermaster  by  so  strict  a  discipli- 
narian as  Colbnel  Nance  is  a  sufficient  guarantee  of  his  quali- 
fications. 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  iq  the  army  was  abolished 
and  put  in  charge  of  a  non-commissioned  officer.  Appreciat- 
ing his  great  services  while  serving  his  regiment,  the  officials 
were  loath  to  dispense  with  his  sei-vices,  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  wauts  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, 


164  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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.  WVATT  AIKEN,  OF  THE  SEVENTH. 

As  Colonel  Aiken  s^w  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  ofiScer's  service  in  the  Brigade,  but  ia 
this  case  I  riiake  an  exception. 

Colonel  Aiken  was  born  in  Winnsboro,  Fairfield  County, 
S.  C,  March  17th,  1828.  He  graduated  at  the  South  Caro- 
lina College  in  the  class  of  1849.  Was  professor  at  Mt.  Zion 
College  for  two  years,  and  married  Miss  Mattie  Gaillard  ia 
1852,  settliiig  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  count5'  in  1858.  Was  fond  of  agriculture, 
and  was  editor  of  various  periodicals  devoted  to  that  and  kin- 
dred pursuits. 

In  i86r  he  volunteered  as  a  private  in  the  Seventh  South 
Carolina  Volunteers,  and  was  appointed  Adjutant  of  that  regi- 
ment. 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  "com- 
mandant of  the  post"  at  Macon,  Ga.  This  position  he  held 
for  one  year,  and  then  discharged  from  the  army  as  beiug 
unfit  for  further  service. 

After  the  war  he  was  selected  for  three  terms  to  the  State 


HISTORY    OF     KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  165 

Legislature.  He  was  "Master  of  State  Grange  Patrons  of 
Husbandry,"  and  was  twice  President  of  the  'State  Agricul- 
tural and  Mechanical  Society  of  South  Carolina."  He  was 
chosen  Democratic  standard  bearer  for  Congress  in  the  memo- 
rable campaign  of  1876,  and  continually  re-elected  thereafter 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  April  6th,  188.7. 

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  Reconstruc- 
tion. 


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-commis.sioned  ofiicers  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  Garlingtou,  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  re- 
turned, and  large  bodies  of  men  had  come  in  from  the  con- 
script camps  since  the  reorganization.     The  Seventh  Regiment 


166  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW' S   BRIGADE, 

had  lost  heavier,  in  ofiBcers  and  men,  than  any  of  the  regi- 
ments. Colonel  Aiken  was  wounded  at  Sharpsburg,  and  never 
returned  only  for  a  short  time,  but  the  regiment  was  com- 
manded by  Lieutenant  Colonel  Bland  until  the  resignation  of 
Colonel  Aiken,  except  when  the  former  was  himself  disabled 
bj'  wounds. 

Camp  guards  were  kept  up  around  the  brigade,  and  regi- 
mental 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  conva- 
lescent 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  corp.K ;  the  Department  of  Richmond  having  created  the 
rank  of  Lieutenant  General,  raised  Longstreet  and  Jaekson  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  Armj'  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 


HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  167 

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  i8th  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  sta- 
tionary, awaiting  developments.  Jackson  had  not  yet  crossed 
the  Blue  Ridge,  and  General  L,ee  was  only  waiting  and  watch- 
ing the  move  of  Burnsides  before  concentrating  his  army  ^t 
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 


168  HISTORY   OF     KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

such  fun!  The  water  being  about  three  feet  deep,  we  could 
easily  see  the  rocks  and  sands  in  the  bottom.  The  raen  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  back- 
wards  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  per- 
fectly still,  he  only  said:   "I  wish  the  d — n  car  would  go  on  or 
standstill,  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  us  usual, 
quick  to  place  the  blame,  said:   "If  I  knew  the  d — n  man  who 
pu,shed  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  yon  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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  109 

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  aud  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  tatto  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  impene- 
trable forest  of  scrubby  oaks  and  tangled  vines.  The  hou.se 
was  a  large,  old-fashioned  hotel,  situated  on  a  cleared  plateau, 
a  piaza  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  Fredericks- 
burg, 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 


170  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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. 

Companj'  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,  Williamsl-'urg. 

Company  H — Captain  Farr,  Union. 

Company  I — Captain  Koon,  Lexington. 

Company  K — Captain  Bird,  

(These  names  are  given  from  the  best  information  obtain- 
able 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  ofiicers: 

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  after- 
noon 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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  171 

it  not  been  for  the  courage  and  quick  perception  of  Colonel 
DeSaussure   in   manoeuvering  them    into   a   place   of  safety. 
After  the  battle  the  regiment  lay  for  some  time  about  Hardees- 
ville  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  Rich- 
mond as  a  part  of  a  division  commanded  by  Brigadier  General 
D.  R.  Jones,  in  the  corps  commanded  by  Ivongstreet.      When 
I/Ce  began  his  march  northward  they  broke  camp  on  the    13th 
of  August,  and  followed  the  lead  of  Longstreet  to  Gordons- 
ville,  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  sol- 
diers in  au   additional  baptism  of  blood.      However,    as  yet 
considered    raw    and    undisciplined    troops,    they    conducted 
themselves  on  each  of  these  trying  occasions  like  trained  sol- 
diers.    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   ser- 
vice 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  con- 
stellation 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  as.signed  to 
the  brigade  of  General  J.  B.  Kershaw,    and  began  its  service 
in  that  organization  on  the  heights  of  Fredericksburg. 

thp:  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 


172  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

fell  at  South  Mountain,  Md. ,)  up  to  the  time  of  joining  the 
brigade : 

"On  the  fall  of  Hilton  Head  and  the  occupation  of  Port 
Roj'al  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.  Lieu- 
tenant 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 — Captairi  G.  M.  Gunnels. 

"All  of  Laurens  County,  the  organization  being  effected  at 
Camp  Hampton,  near  Columbia,  November,  1861,  and  where 
Major  James  assumeid  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  Cap- 
tain W.  G.  Rice,  as  senior  Captain,  made  Major,  while  Lieu- 
tenant J.  M.  Townsend  was  raised  to  the  grade  of  Captain  in 
place  of  Major  Rice. 

"In  April,  1862,  areorganization  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. 


HISTORY  OF  Kershaw's  brigade.  173 

"B.  M.  Whitener — Captain  Company  G. 

"Early  in  June  the  battalion  was  ordered  to  Jarfies'  Island, 
iarriving  there  two  days  before  the  battle  of  Secessionville,  but 
not  participating  iii  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  Maua.ssas  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  cbinmancled  by  Brigadier  General  Drayton. 
The  battalion  was  under  fire  at  Waterloo  Bridge  and  at 
Thoroiighfare  Gap,  and  the  brigade  held  the  extreme  right  of 
Lee's  Army  at  the  Second  Manassas  Battle,  but  was  riot  seri- 
ously 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  Gen- 
eral Robert  Toombs  inarched  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  Draj'ton'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  trnie  thoroiighly  baptized  with  fire  and  blOod,  and  in 
which  the  gallant  Colonel  Jones  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 
thie  mountain  some  four  hundred  yards  to  the  right  of  the 
turnpike.  No  enemy  in  sight.  Failing  to  drive  D.  H.  Hill 
from  their  front,  the  Fed'^rals  made  a  detour  and'  approached 
him  by  the  flank.  Two  hundred  yards '  from  the  road  men- 
tioned above  was  a  belt  of  woods  saddling  the  mountain,  and 
at  this  point  running  parallel  with  the  road.     General  Drayton, 


174  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

not  seeing  the  enenij',  ordered  forward  Captain  Miller's 
Conipan}'  as  skirmishers  to  ascertain  their  whereabouts. 
Captain  Miller  had  advanced  but  a  short  distance  when  he 
met  the  enemj'  in  force.  General  Drayton  ordered  the  com- 
mand to  forward  and  drive  thein  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  onlj'  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  successfullj'  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  unten- 
able 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  fifing  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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  175 

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  Dray- 
ton himself,  as  he  was  .soon  afterwards  relieved  of  his  com- 
mand." 

It  has  been  the  aim  of  the  writer  of  this  History  not  to  criti- 
cize, condemn,  nor  make  any  comments  upon  the  inotives  or 
acts  of  any  of  the  officers  whom  he  should  have  cause  to  men- 
tion, and  he  somewhat  reluctantly  gives  space  to  Colonel  Rice's 
stricture  of  General  Drayton.  It  is  difficult  for  officers  in  sub- 
altern position  to  understand  all  that  their  superiors  do  and  do 
not.  The  Generals,  from  their  positions,  can  see  differently 
from  tho.se  in  the  line  amid  the  smoke  of  battle,  and  they  often 
give  commands  hard  to  comprehend  from  minor  offiters'  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  Sharp.sburg  or  Antietam,  the  little  remnant 
of  the  battalion  was  again  engaged.  On  I^ee's  return  to  Vir- 
ginia, and  during  the  last  days  of  November  or  early  in  De- 
cember, the  Third  Battalion  and  the  Fifteenth  Regiment  were 
transferred  to  Kerstiaw's  Brigade,  and  from  thence  on  it  will 
be  treated  as  a  part  of  the  old  First  Brigade.  At  Fredericks- 
burg, 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  rail- 
road, consequently  did  not  suffer  as  great  a  loss  as  the  other 
regiments  of  the  brigade. 

COLONEI,   GEORGE   S.    J.AMES, 

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  regain  it  by  moving  to  Columbia  and 
engaging  in  mercantile  pursuits.  This  he  followed  with  suc- 
cess.    Colonel  George  S.   James  received  his  early  education 


176  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

in  the  academies  of  the  up-country.  While  yet  a  youth  some 
seventeen  years  of  age,  war  with  Mexico  was  declare4,  and 
his  patriotic  and  chivalric  spirit  sent  him  at  once  to  the  ranks 
of  the  Palmetto  Regiment,  and  he  shared  the  triumphs  and  for- 
tunes 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  wander- 
ing away  to  the  far  distant  West,  seeking  adventure  or  conge- 
nial 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  separa- 
tion and  perhaps  war  inevitable,  resigned  his  commission,  and 
hastened  to  offer  his  sword  to  his  native  State.  He  com- 
manded a  battery  at  Fort  Johnson,  on  James'  Island,  and 
shared  with  General  RuflSn  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  Regi- 
ment and  Third  Battalion  Join  Brigade. 

A  portion  of  the  Federal  Army  had  preceded  Lee,  reaching 
the  heights  opposite  Fredericksburg  two  days  before  the 
iirrival  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 


HISTORY   OF    KEKSHAW'S    BRIGABE.  177 

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  Fred- 
ericksburg 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 
ri(4|es  running  parallel  to  and  near  the  river,  and  built  a  great 
chzln  of  forts  along  "Stafford  Heights,"  opposite  Fredericks- 
burg.' In  these  forts  he  mounted  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
seven  guns,  forty  being  siege  pieces  brought  down  from  Wash- 
ington 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  South- 
ern side,  still  L,ee  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  nth,  at  3  o'clock,  when  all  was  still 
and  the  soldiers  fast  asleep,  they  Were  rudely  aroused  from 
12 


178  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADK. 

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  oflai- 
nous  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,  distinct  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  order-i,  companies  have  that  same  rivalry  to  be 
firi3t  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  immedi- 
ately 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  Mississippiaus,  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  L,ee  advising  the  citi- 
zens 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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  179 

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 
pf  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  sick- 
ening sight  to  see  these  helpless  and  inoffensive  people  hurry- 
ing 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  lyOngstreet'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  McL,aws'  from  his  left  across  Deep  Run  Valley  and  along 
the  ridge  to  Lee's  Hill,  where  Pickett  was  posted;  Hood  ex- 
tending 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.  Ker- 
shaw's Brigade,  with  the  Third  South  Carolina  on  the  left, 
was  resting  on  the  ridge  running  at  right  angles  to  the  Tele- 
graph 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  occu- 
pied the  front  line,  with  a  heavy  battery  of  fourteen,  guns  on 
his  right,  supported  by  Archer's  Brigade;  then  Lane's  and 
Pender's    in  front,    with   Gregg's  and  Thomas'    in  reserve. 


180  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

Behind  the  lyight  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  Cross- 
ing. 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  Ham- 
ilton'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  caution.sly  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  cros.sing. 

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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  181 

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  delay- 
ing the  enemj''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  land- 
ing. The  space  between  was  soon  a  seething  mass  of  human- 
ity, 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, 
artiller}',  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 
Hnes,  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  drag- 
ging 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 


182  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

and  dangling  at  their  sides,  came  at  a  canter,  all  seeming  anx- 
ious to  get  over  and  meet  the  death  and  desolation  awaiting 
them.  lyong  trains  of  ordnance  wagons,  with  their  black  oil- 
cloth covering,  the  supply  trains  and  quartermaster  depart- 
ments all  following  in  the  wake  of  their  division  or  corps  head- 
quarters, 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  bj'  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, 
especiallj'  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  blow- 
ing. 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  enem}',  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  corn- 
stalks 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 


HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  183 

that  objects  could  not  be  distinguished  twenty  paces.  How- 
ever, the  least  noise  could  be  heard  at  a  great  distance. 
Activity  in  the  Federal  camp  was  noticed  early  in  the  morn- 
ing. OfEcers  could  be  heard  giving  commands,  wagons  and 
artillery  moving  to  positions.  At  half  past  ten  the  fog  sud- 
denly lifted,  and  away  to  our  right  and  near  the  river  great 
columns  of  men  were  moving,  marching  and  counter-march- 
ing. 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  Lougstreet'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  hun- 
dred 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  engagedin  a  heavy 
battle  for  nearly  an  hour,  when  suddenly  in  our  front  tens  of 


184  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  fied  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 
L,ee's  position,  "Mayree's  Hill,"  in  front  of.  which  was  the 
stone  wall.  He  ordered  the  two  regiments  of  North  Caroli- 
nians 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  gu-n 
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  6t  the  incline,  the  Third  Regiment  was  turned  to 
the  left  and  up  a  by-road  to  the  plateau  in  rear  of  the  "Mayree 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  185 

Mansion."  The  hoiase  tops  in  the  city  were  lined  with  sharp- 
shooters, and  from  windows  and  doors  and  from  behind  houses 
the  deadly  missiles  from  the  globe-sighted  rifles  made  sad 
havoc  in  our  ranks. 

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  sharp-shooters,  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  lead- 
ing into  the  city.  We  had  scarcely  gotten  in  position  before 
Nance,  Rutherford,  and  MafEett,  the  three  field  ofiicers,  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  I^ieutenant  Colonel 
Bland,  with  the  Seventh,  Colonel  Henegan,  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  Caiplina,  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  manouvering  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  strong- 
hold 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  Hercu- 
lean. 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 


186  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

shot  and  shell  plunging  through  their  ranks  from  the  hills 
above,  the  two  siege  guns  on  I,ee's  Hill  now  in  beautiful  play, 
the  brass  pieces  of  the  Washington  Artillery  firing  with  grape 
and  shrapnell — 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  sharp-shooters  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  diver- 
sion 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  Wash- 
ington 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  inde- 
pendence, 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  abate- 
ment 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  L,ee'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  oSicers  and  men.  The  brave, 
chivalric  Cobb,  of  Georgia,   had  fallen.     Of  the  Third  South 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  187 

Carolina,  Colonel  Nance,  I^ieutenant  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.  Cap- 
tain Summer,  met  a  similar  fate;  then  Captain  Foster.  Captain 
Nance,  the  junior  Captain  in  the  regiment,  retained  the  com- 
mand 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  Regi- 
ment gave  it  great  advantage  over  the  advancing  column. 
From  a  piaza  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  mus- 
ketry far  to  the  right,  we  knew  Jack.son  was  engaged  in  a 
mighty  struggle.  From  the  early  mornixig's  opening  the 
noise  of  his  battle  had  been  gradually  bearing  to  the  rear. 
He  was  being  driven  from  position  to  position,  and  was  meet- 
ing with  defeat  and  possiblj'  disaster.  From  thp  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 


188  HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE, 

fact  some  thought  them  their  friends),  in  this  confusion  of 
troops  a  retreat  was  ordered  to  the  second  line.  In  this  sur- 
prise and  disorder  South  Carolina  lost  one  of  her  most  gifted 
sons,  and  the  South  a  brave  and  accomplished  ofiScer,  Briga- 
dier General  Maxcy  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.  Can- 
non 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  ad- 
vancing. The  Washington  Artillery,  from  New  Orleans,  occu- 
pying 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  dur- 
ing the  last  charge  had  been  using  that  of  their  dead  and 
wounded.  Calls  were  made  on  all  sides  for  "more  ammuni- 
tion," 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 


HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  189 

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  thier  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  ihe. 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  bej'ond  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 


190  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  prepara- 
tion 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  baj'onet. 

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  ofBcer  made 
the  entire  length  of  the  line,  exhorting,  entreating,  and  urg- 
ing 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  in- 
stances 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  exer- 
tions alone. 

With  a  firm  and  elastic  step  this  long,  .swaying  line  of  Irish- 
men moved  to  the  assault  with  as  much  indifiFerence  appar- 
ently 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  mechauical  m'eans;  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  flash- 
ing in  the  gleam  of  the  fading  sunlight,  urging  on  their  men 
to  still  greater  deeds  of  prowess,  and  by  their  individual  cour- 
age 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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  191 

equalled  by  the  famous  ride  of  the  "Six  Hundred  at  Hohen- 
linden,"  and  the  "Charge  of  the  JLight  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  finall}'  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  rr arching  to  enter  this  maelstrom  of  carnage 
were  entreated  and  praj'ed  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,  anx- 
ious 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  protect- 
ing wall.s  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  arouud  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 


192  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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  recollec- 
tions ! 

Burnsides  had  on  the  field  one  hundred  and  thirty-two  thou- 
sand and  seventeen  men;  of  these  one  hundred  and  sixteen 
thousand  six  hundred  and  eighty-three" were  in  line  of  battle. 
I/ee  had  upon  the  field  and  ready  for  action  sixty- nine  thou- 
sand three  hundred  and  ninety-one  infantry  and  artillery,  and 
about  five  thousand  cavalry.  Burnsides  had  three  hundred 
and  seventy  pieces  of  field  artillery  and  fort}'  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.  L,ee'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 
lar.i^e  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  Six- 
teenth Georgia,  Colonel  Bryan;  the  Eighteenth  Georgia,  Lieu- 
tenant 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  Caro- 
lina, Colonel  Kennedy;  the  Third  South  Carolina,  Colonel 
Nance,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Rutherford,  Major  Maffett,  Cap- 
tains Summer,  Hance,  Foster,  and  Nance;  the  Seventh  South 
Carolina,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Bland;  the  Eighth  South  Caro- 
lina, Colonel  Henegan  and  Major  Stackhouse;   the  Fifteenth 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  193 

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  sup- 
port 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.  When- 
ever one  of  our  soldiers  attempted  to  relieve  the  enem}'  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 
1 6th  was  given  up  et;itirely  to  the  bufial  of  the  dead.  In  the 
long  line  of  pits,  dug  as  protection  for  the  enemy  while  pre- 
paring for  a  charge,  these  putrefying  bodies  were  thrown  head- 
long, 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  oerhaps  for  all 
time,  sleep  the  "blue  and  the  gray,"  while  the  flag  so  disas- 
troiisly  beaten  on  that  day  now  floats  iu  triumph  aver  all. 

It  must  be  said  to  the  credit  of  General  Burnsides,  that  the 
responsibility  for  this  disastrous  battle  shopld  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  again.st  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  I^ee," 
and  the  result  was  to  have  been  expected. 


13 


194  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 


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  san- 
guinary 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. 


HISTORY   OF    KBRSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  195 

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  Ken- 
tucky Rifles,  where  the  former  lost  two  officers  killed  and  nine 
wounded,  fourteen  privatas  killed  and  seventy -five  wounded; 
the  latter  lost  six  officers  wounded  and  none  killed,  nine  pri- 
vates killed  and  sixty-four  wounded.  When  it  is  remembered 
that  the  Third  Regiment  in  the  battle  with  about  three  hun- 
dred 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  artillerj' 
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  re- 
turns 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  be- 


196  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

tween  a  quarter  and  half  mile  through  a  plain,  where  his 
army  could  be  enfiladed  by  the  guns  of  Longstreet-  and  Jack- 
son, 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  Siid  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  dis- 
tress 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  bod}' 
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 
daied  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 


HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  197 

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  mas- 
ter 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  premoni- 
tion of  their  coming  death,  has  been  proven  on  many  occa- 
sions. Not  that  I  say  all  soldiers  foretell  their  end  by  some 
kind  of  secret  monster,  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  inspec- 
tion. When  we  were  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle  at  Fredericks- 
burg 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  banter- 
ing 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  plainl}"^ 
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, 


198  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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  si  mply  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  b}'  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 
of&cers  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  con- 
victions, 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  bis  compan- 
ions 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  Kuoxville,  the  morning 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  199 

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:  "Cap- 
tain, I  will  be  killed  to-day.  I  have  some  money  in  my 
pocket  which  I  want  you  to  take  and  also  to  draw  my  foXir 
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  con- 
tinual 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,  com- 
ing 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  them- 
selves. But  as  the  soldier  is  nothing  more  than  a  small  frac- 
tion 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. 


200  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  al- 
most 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  scho(31boy  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, 
teel  his  life  ebbing  away,  perfectly  calm  and  without  concern, 
and  give  his  dying  messages  with  the  compo.sure  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  Regi- 
ment, 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  Com- 
pany 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  sy.stems  are  con- 
structed.    And  I  might  add,  too,  an  instance  of  a  member  of 
my  company  at  the  third  day  of  the  battle  of  Gettysburg, 
laying  under  the  heavy  cannonading  while  Pickett  was  mak- 
ing his  famous  charge,  and  most  of  the  men  asleep,  this  ma^ 


HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  201 

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,    1 862. 

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  selfishne.ss 
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  anj'  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.     There- 


202  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

fore,  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  "An- 
thony 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  Fredericks- 
burg in  the  winter  of  1862,  I  had  learned  that  at  night  one  of 
the  quartermasters  of  Mcl,aws'  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  Vi. - 
ginia  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  Quarter- 
master 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  there- 
fore 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  inter- 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  203 

esting.  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  NEdRO  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  hon- 
orable 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  lyce's  Hill,  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  to 
Mayree's  House,  near  but  to  the  right  of  the  sunken  road  pro- 
tected 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  Com- 
pajiy  C,  of  that  regiment,  and  one  of  the  results  was  that 
I/ieutenant  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,  I^ee  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,  slahting-roof  tents,   occupied  by  six  or  eight 


204  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  arm}'  had  no  wagons  or  teams  to  haul  their 
fire  wood,  but  each  had  to  carry  his  share  of  the  wood  re- 
quired 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  I<anding  Grant  was  over- 
whelmingly 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  militarj"- 
geniuses,  with  oveiybne  hundred  ahdriixteenTEousand  m"^B*>as 
-a-gainst  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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  205 

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  bat- 
tle 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;  bought  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  cred- 
itable 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  Array  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,  espe- 
cially 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,  w-on,  and 
Jost;    sometimes  company  agaiast    company,    then    regiment 


206  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  rfln 
of  my  life  was  when  Kershaw's  Brigade,  under  Colonel  Ruth- 
erford, of  the  Third,  challenged  and  fought  Cobb's  Georgians. 
Colonel  Rutherford  was  a  great  lover  of  the  sport,  and  wher- 
ever 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;  oflBcers  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.  Of&cers  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.  Wh.en  the  Geor- 
gians were  within  one  hundred  feet  the  order  was  given  to 
"fire."  Then  shower  after  shower  of  the  the  fleecy  balls 
filled  the  air.  Cheer  after  cheer  went  up  from  the  a-ssaulters 
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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  207 

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  be- 
tween 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 
menage,  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  pursurer  blowing  on  my  neck.  I  heard,  as  I  lay  pant- 
ing, 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." 


208  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

Campaign  of  1863 — Battle  of  Chaneellorsville. 

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  re.iment  was 
thro^^  out  as  sharp-shooters  or^  skirmishers,    under  Captain 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  209 

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  dur- 
ing 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  lo  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  stafE  officers  pa.ssing,  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  Fri- 
day, 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  com- 
parative safety  and  no  enemy  in  sight,  while  to  join  our  com- 
mands would  add  largely  to  the  chances  of  getting  in  battle. 
I  am  sorry  to  say  a  majority  of  the  officers  were  of  that  opin- 
ion, 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  3'ou  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  indi- 
14 


210  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

cations  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,  cross- 
ing then  at  fords  opposite  and  above  the  Chancellor's  Hou.se. 
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  ofiBcers,  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  minuie  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  oflBcers,  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  baltle;  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.  A.nother  Cap- 
tain 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- 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW',S   BRIGADE.  211 

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  be- 
tween 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  refu- 
gees, 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 
m  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  au  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  onl}'  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  experi- 
enced veteran  never  refuses  that. 

At  daylight  a  battery  some  two  hundred  yards  in  our  front 
opened  a  furious  fire  upon  us,  the  shells  coming  uncomfort- 
ably 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  aloug  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 


212  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

over  the  plank  road,  Kershaw  being  soiiie  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 
anil)  in  the  face  of  the  enemy,"  a  movement  that   has  cau,sed 
many  arn)ies,  before,  destruction  and  the  downfall  of  its  com- 
mander.     But  notliing  succeeds  like  success.      The  great  dis- 
parity 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  manoeuvre  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,  Ander- 
son's,   and   Early's   Divisions   were   to  hold    him   in  check  in 
front.      Pickett's  Divi  ion  had,  before  this   time,  been   sent  to 
Wilmington,    N.    C. ,    while   Ransom's   Division,    with  Barks- 
dale's  Mississippi  Brigade,  of  McLaws'  Di\-ision,  were  to  keep 
watch  of  the  enemy  at  Fredericksburg.     The  Federal  General, 
Stouetnan,  with  his  cavalry,  was  then   on   his  famous   but  dis- 
astrous raid  to  Richmond.     Jackson  commenced   his    march 
early  in  the  morning,  and  kept  it   up  all  day,   turning  back 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  213 

towards  the  rear  of  the  enemy  when  suflSciently  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  cannonad- 
ing 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  dis- 
organized 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.  B3'  some  strange  intuition  peculiar  to  the  soldier, 
and  his  ability  to  gather  news,  the  word  that  Jackson  had 


214  HISTORY   OP    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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  ter- 
rible 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;  ofBcers 
shouted  at  the  top  of  their  voices,  to  make  themselves  heard; 
cannon  roared  and  shells  burst  continuously.  We  knew  noth- 
ing, could  see  nothing,  hedged  in  by  the  matted  mass  of 
tries.  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  in- 
congruous— below  raged,  thunder,  shout,  shriek,  slaughter-^ 
above  soft,  silent,  smiling  moonlight,  peace!" 

The  next  morning  A.  P.  Hill  was  moving  early,  but  was 
himself  -vyounded,  and  General  Jeb.  Stuart,  of  the  cavalry, 
took  command.  The  fighting  of  Jackson's  Corps  to-day  sur- 
passed 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  con- 
stant fire  with  his  skirmishers.  An  advance  upon  the  Chan- 
cellor'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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  215 

move  was  next. ' '  All  felt  that  it  was  to  be  no  retreat,  and  as 
we  faileH  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,  pri- 
vate 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  sharp-shooters  killed  him  instantly. 

A  singular  and  touching  incident  of  this  family  is  here  re- 
corded. 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  babj'  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 


216  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE,/ 

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  (Mc- 
Gowan'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  some- 
what 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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  217 

our  front,  and  men  were  ordered  to  prepare  breastworks.  Our 
soldiers,  like  the  beaver,  by  this  time  had  become  accu.stomed 
to  burrow  in  the  ground  as  soon  as  a  '  halt"  was  made.  A 
shovel  and  a  spade  were  carried  at  all  times  by  each  companj' 
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  whp  never  allowed 
the  comic  side  of  any  transaction  to  pass  him,  to  say:  "Cap- 
tain, 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  an}' 
circumstance  in  his  life  out  of  the  usual  order.  Hardly  had 
we  taken  possession  of  the  turn-pike  road  and  began  fortify- 
ing, than  the  sound  of  shells  down  the  river  was  heard,  and 
we  were  hurriedly  marched  down  the  road.  Mcl^aws'  and 
Anderson'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  Barks- 
dale's  Mississippi  Brigade,  and  was  making  his  way  rapidly 
upon  I,ee's  rear. 

This  Battle  of  Chancellorsville  certainly  had  its  many  sides, 
with  its  rapid  marching,  changing  of  positions,  and  general- 
ship 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  I^ee  and  Stuart  in  rear  of  Hooker.  No  one  can  fore- 
tell 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  chess-board  of  battle. 
Anderson,  with  his  division,  being  on  our  right,  led  the  ad- 
vance down  the  road  to  meet  Sedgwick.  We  passed  great 
parks   of  wagons  (ordnance  and  commissary)    on  either  side 


218  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  en- 
countered 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  sweep- 
ing 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  E)ighth,  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  of&cered,  both  in  courage  and  ability,  was 
in  the  Confederate  service  than  the  "bloody  Seventh."  But  it 
was  the  unfavorable  nature  of  the  ground,  the  diflSculties  expe- 
rienced in  forming  a  line,  and  the  crowding  and  lapping  of  the 
men  that  caused  the  confusion. 

Soon  after  our  line  of  battle  v^as  formed  and  Kershaw  await- 
ing 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  com- 
panies 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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  219 

the  enemy,  a  desperate  charge  was  made  upon  us.  The  can- 
nonading 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  thor- 
oughly   beaten,    disheartened,   and   disorganized.     Met    and 


220  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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-fiv'e 
thousand,  while  those  of  Lee's  were  ten  thousand  two  hundred 
and  eighty-one.  But  the  Confederates  counted  it  a  dear  vic- 
tory in  the  loss  of  the  intrepid  but  silent  Stonewall  Jackson. 
There  was  a  magic  in  his  name  that  gave  enthusiasm  and  con- 
fidence 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  prayied 
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  Mc- 
Clellan  at  Mechanicsville,  and  began  those  series  of  battles  and 
victories  that  terminated  with  the  "Ivittle  Giant"  being 
hemmed  in  at  Drur3''s  Bluff  and  Malvern  Hill.  While  Pope, 
the  "Braggart,''  was  sweeping  the  fields  before  him  in  North- 
ern 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. 


HISTORY  OF  Kershaw's  brigade.  221 


CHAPTER  XVII 

From  Chancellorsville  to  Gettysburg — Camp, 
March,  and  Battle. 

Again  w£  are  in  our  old  quarters.  Details  were  sent  out 
every  day  to  gather  up  the  broken  and  captured  guus,  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  suffi- 
ciency for  his  own  wants,  he  would  either  sell  to  his  com- 
rades 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  purcha.se  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  oflBce  was  abolished  on  our 
next  campaign. 


222  HISTORY    OF     KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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-eighl  thousand.  It  is  astonish- 
ing what  a  very  slight  wound  will  cause  a  soldier  to  seek  a 
furlough.  He  naturally  thinks  that  after  the  marches,  dan- 
ger, 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 i  "only  a  thirty  days',"  or  "got  this  time  a  sixty  daj's';" 
while  with  an  arm  or  foot  off  he  would  say,  "I  got  my  dis- 
charge" 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. 

Genera]  Kershaw,  on  his  promotion  to  Brigadier,  surrounded 
himself  with  a  staff  of  young  men  of  unequalled  ability,  tire- 
less, 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  alvj'ays  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  bul- 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  223 

lets  following  like  hail  from  a  summer  clond,  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  situa- 
tion in  times  of  battle.  But  the  fatal  volley  that  laid  the 
lamented  Jenkins  low,  and  unhorsed  Longstreet  at  the  Wilder- 
ness, 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  u)ost  impor- 
tant 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  dur- 
ing battle  to  give  orders)  than  most  of  the  ofiicers,  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,  ap- 
pointed 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  remain- 
der of  the  service,  or  until  the  latter  was  placed  upon  the 
brigade  staff.  Colonel  Hennegan  made  Lieutenant  Colin  M. 
Weatherly,  of  Bennettsville,  S.  C.  Adjutant  of  the  Eighth. 
All  were  young  men  of  splendid  physique,  energetic,  courte- 
ous, and  brave.  They  had  the  love  and  confidence  of  the 
entire  command.  W.  C.  Hariss,  Adjutant  of  the  Third  Bat- 
talion, 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  them.selves  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 


224  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

an  indispensable  arm  of  the  service.  The  cavalry  of  the  West 
were  considered  more  as  raiders  than  fighters,  but  our  dis- 
mounted cavalry  was  depended  upon  with  almost  as  much  con- 
fidence 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  successfull5'  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  prevaile'dt*.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  brave.st  of  soldiers,  they  held  to 
the  Union,  and  looked  with  suspicion  upon  the  heresy  of 
Secession.  The  same  can  be  said  of  South  Carolina,  Tennes- 
see, 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 


HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  225 

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  We.st  Virginia  and  the 'mountainous 
regions  of  the  South  took  iw  the  war  was  neither  surprising  to 
nor  resented  by  the  people  of  the  Confederacy. 

By  the  middle  of  June  L,ee  began  to  turn  his  eyes  again  to 
the  tempting  fields  of  grain  and  army  supp'ies  of  Pennsylvania 
and  Maryland.  The  Valley  had  been  laid  waste.  West  Vir- 
ginia given  up,  the  Soinh  was  how  put  to  her  utmost  resources  ■ 
to  furnish  supplies  for  her  vast  armies.  All  heavy  baggage 
was  sent  to  the  rear,  and  I,?e's  tro  )p3  b;gi!i  m  )ving  by  vari- 
ous routes  up  and  across  the  river  in  thi  direction  of  Cnlpepper 
Court  House.  But  before  the  march  began,  General  Lee  re- 
newed the  whole  of  Longstreet's  Corps,  and  the  sight  of  this 
mignificent  body  of  troops  wasboth  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  cer- 
tain salutes.  The  Presideiit  has,  I  think,  twputy-one  guns,  while 
the  Commander-in-Chief  has  thirteen,  and  so  on.  Wofford's 
Georgia  regiment  was  on  the  right,  tnra  Birkdiles's  Missis- 
sippi, Kershaw's  South  Carolina  and  Cobb's  G;orgia  consti- 
tuted McLaws'  division.  The  c,ilnai;is  wheeled  by  companies. 
into  line  and  took  up  the  niirch  of  raviejv.  The  binds  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 
Siuimonds,  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, 
«iakes  fine  music  on  the  stillness  of  tlie  night,  when  soldiers 
are  preparing  for  their  night's  rest,  but  nothing  gives  the  sol- 
dier on  the  march  more  spirit  than  the  fife  and  drum.  When 
a  company  nears  the  reviewing  officer  they  give  the  salute  by 
briugiug  their  pieces  from  "right  shoulder"  to  '.'carry,"  while 


126  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADM. 

€)h  the  march,  and  from  "carry"  to  "present  arms"  when  sta- 
tionary. The  officers  raise  the  hilt  of  the  sword,  grasped 
firmly  in  the  right  hand,  till  the  hilt  is  opposite'  the  chin,  the 
Jjoint  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 
teviewiug  oflEicer  has  passed  a'oout  eighteen  paces. 

The  army  had  been  placed  under  three  Lieutenant  Generalst 
iLongstreet,  with  McL,aw's,  Hood's  and  Pickett's  first  corps; 
Oeneial  Ewell,  with  Early's,  Rhodes'  and  Trimble's  consti- 
tuting the  2d;  while  General  A.  P.  Hill  commanded  Anderson's, 
Heath's  and  Pendar's,  the  3d.  Colonel  James  D.  Nance  com- 
Jnanded  the  3d  South  Caroliiia,  Colonel  John  D.  Kennedy  the 
sd,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Bland  the  7th,  Colonel  Henegau  the 
8th, -Colonel  Dessausure  the  15th,  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  W.  C 
G.  Rice  the  3d  battallion,  which  had  now  been  recruited  by 
one  man  from  each  company  in  the  brigade,  forming  two  new 
companies,  and  formed  a  battallion  of  sharpshooters  and  skir- 
mishers. 

The  great  army  was  now  ready  for  the  ever  memorable  sec- 
ond invasion  of  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania,  which  culminated 
In  Gettysburg.  The  army  was  never  before  nor  afterwards 
under  betteer  discipline  nor  in  better  fighting  tritia. 

I  will  say  here,  that  Colonel  Aiken  soon  joined  the  brigade, 
and  look  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 
4lh.  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  fit  Fredericksburg  to  watch  the 
movements  of  the  eneqiy.  After  some  delay,  the  enemy 
thi-eateuing  a  crossing,  the  3d  corps  follO\jved  the  other  troops, 
all  congregating  near  Culpepper  Court  House.  Reaching  the 
Blue  Ridge  mountains  at  Ashby's  Gap  on  the  i2tli  of  June,  at 
the  western  base  of  which  runs  the  Shenandoah,  we  forded  the 
jitream,  it  being  somewhat  swollen,  so  much  so,  indeed,  that 
men  had  to  link  hands  as  a  protection.  The  water  came  lip 
under  the  armpits,  and  four  men  marched  abreast,  holding 
each  other  by  the  hands.  Some  caught  hold  of  horses  belong- 
ing to  officers  of  the  regimental  staff.     In  this  way  we  crossed 


HISTORY   OF    KBRSHAW'S   BRIGADE .  227 

ever,  and  took  up  camp  in  the  woods  beyond.  The  wagon 
trains  were  in  advance,  and  the  march  was  slow  and  much  im- 
peded. Very  few  ot  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  thor- 
oughly 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  *bnr  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  or- 
ders stating  we  were  on  our  way  to  Hagerstowu,  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  be- 
lieve, was  the  most  beloved.  His  position  kept  him'  in  close 
contact  with  the  ofiicers  and  men,  and  all  had  the  utmost  con- 
fidence in  his  honor  and  integrity  and  none  doubted  his  impar- 
tiality. He  had  to  keep  the  li.-t  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 
indispeusable  to  the  3d  South  Carolina  regiment.     The  trusty 


228  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

old  horse,  like  bis  master,  survived  the  war  and  did  good  ser- 
vice after  its  close. 

The  next  da}',  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  bf  palings  or 
fences  along  the, ijiArijh.  ,  SQuies.;rMile-iu  front  iwe  struck  the 
Staunton  and  Winchester  turnpike,  and  at  regular  intervals  the 
troops'werelialted  for.  a-few-miiiates'  rest.  Occasionally  ihe 
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  mile.S  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 
bad  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.  an4t' 
often  canteens  filled  with   jaire  old  "Mduntain  Corn"  or  "Ap- 
ple Jack."     How  men,  after   au'  all-day's   Straggling  msrch, 
wb'ich  is  far  more  tiresome  than-  au   ordinary  walk,  could  go' 
from  ten  to^fifteen  miles  over  the  niount'ains  at  night  in  search 
of  something  to  eat  or  drink;  is  more' than  I  could  understand. 

In  a  day  or'twowe  heard  the' neiivs  of 'Ewell  capturing 
Milroy  at  Winchester,  with'500  prisoners,  and  on  the 'way  a' 
part  of-  their  troops  passed  'us  ill  high  glee  ou  their  way  to  Rich-' 
mond  -prison.  I  always  noticed  that  the 'Federals,  ou  their 
marchto  Richmond,  were  generally  in  better  spirits  when  being' 
escortedby  Confederates  than  when  commanded  by  their  own 
ofiB-cers  with  the  Confederates  between-them  and  the  Southern 
Capital.  ■   ■ 

Ou  thefiftb  day  of  our  march  we  passed  through  Winches- 
ter, 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  Gould  discover  Union  sentiment  taking  the  place  of  tb#t  of 


HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  229 

the  South.  Those  who  ever  sj'mpathized  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  olayed  "Mary- 
land, 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  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  unequelled,  had  crossed 
the  Potomac  in  sight  of  the  .spires  of  Washington,  almost  under 
its  very  guus,  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  Con- 
federate prisqn  or  a  hasty  gibbet  stared  Staunton  in  the  face, 
and  he  was  sending  telegrams  like  lightning  over  the  land. 
Lincoln  w*as  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  con- 
tinually 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  Long- 
street,  both  moving  on  to  Chambersburg,  and  there  remained 
until  the  27th. 


230  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAw'S   BRIGADB. 

General  Lee  had  issued  an  address  to  the  people  of  Mary- 
land 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  L,ee  not  to  fight  an  aggressive  bat- 
tle in  the  enemy's  country,  but  to  draw  the  army  of  the  North 
away  from  his  lines  of  communities,  and  fight  him  on  the  defen- 
sive at  favorable  points. 

Ewell  had  been  sent  on  towards  Carlisle  and  York,  both 
those  places  being  probably  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  aud  Christian  abhorrence.  When  the  front  of  the  col- 
umn came  to  the  line  dividing  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland,  it 
was  met  bj'  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  ac- 
cordance with  their  faith,  a  perfect  abhorrence  to  war  and 
bloodshed,  they  returned  to  their  homes  perfectly  satisfied.  It 
is  needless  to  say  the  cornmander  of  Lee's  2d  corps  paid  little 
heed  to  the  command  of  the  pious  Quakers. 

After  remaining  neur  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  Chambers- 
burg to  guard  our  trains. 

On  the  2gth  the  troops  in  advance  began  gradually  to  con- 
centrate in  the  direction  of  Cashtown,  some  eight  or  tea 
miles  west  of  Gettysburg.  Ewell  was  bearing  down  from  Car- 
lisle, A.  P.  Hill  was  moving  east,  while  Longstreet  was  moved- 
up  to  Greenwood. 


HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  23J 

On  the  first  of  July  A.  P.  Hill  had  met  the  enemy  near  Get- 
tysburg, and  fought  the  first  day's  battle  of  that  name,  driving^ 
the  enemy  back  and  through  that  city,  part  of  his  lines  occu« 
pying  the  streets  of  Gettysburg  and  extending  north  and 
around  the  city.  The  distance  intervening  and  the  mountain- 
ous 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  heara 
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  cav-  ■ 
airy  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  sun-down,  June  ist,  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  Ganeral  J.  E-  John- 
ston's brigade  of  Early's  division,  that  had  been  left  at  Cham* 
bersburg,  together  with  all  of  Ewell's  wagon  trains-  This  de- 
layed our  march  until  it  w  as  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  with- 
out 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.  Heie  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  tor  Gregg's  old  brigade.  We  heard  with  delight  and 
animation  of  the  grand  conduct  of  the  banner  brigade  of  South 


232  HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

Carolina,  "Gregg's"  or  McGowan's,  and  listened  with  no  little 
pride  to  the  report  of  their  desperite  struggle  through  the 
streets  of  Gettysburg,  and  to  learn  that  the  flag  in  the  hands  of 
a  meryber  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.  I,.  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  un- 
derstood 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  compan- 
ion, my  next  Color  Captain,  John  W.  Watts,  who  was  just 
ahead  of  me  and  marching  under  the  same  difficulties  as  my- 
self. 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  ambu- 
lance 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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  233 

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  ruiles  from  Gettysburg. 


CHAPTER  XVIIL 

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  Longstneet  had  with 
him  only  two  divisions  of  his  corps,  with  four  Sg^Sats  to  a 
divi-sion.  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  Ho- 
henlinden. 

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  Gettys- 
burg 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  concen- 
trating 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. 


234  HISTORY   OF    KEKSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

There  was  a  kind  of  intuition,  an  apparent  settled  fact,  among 
the  soldiers  of  Longstreet's  corps,  that  after  all  the  other  troops 
bad  made  their  long  marches,  tugged  at  the  flanks  of  the  enemy, 
threatened  his  rear,  and  all  the  display  of  strategy  and  general- 
ship had  been  exhausted  in  the  dislodgenient  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  soliditj-  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  equals 
in  ancient  or  modern  times,  in  endurance  and  courage,  had 
measured  strength  with  the  enemy.  This  I  give,  not  as  a  per- 
sonal view,  Dut  as  the  feelings,  the  confidence  and  pardonable 
pride  of  the  troops  of  the  ist  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  ac- 
cordingly 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 
irom  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'g. 


HISTORY   OF    KBRSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  235 

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  opportu- 
nity as  yet  to  view  the  strongholds  of  the  enemy  on  the  oppo- 
site 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. 

lyongstreet  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 
sympathj'  that  spoke  more  eloquently  than  words  an  exhibi- 
tion of  brotherly  love  never  before  witnessed  in  the  ist  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  ene- 
my's country. 

About  now  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  col- 
umn 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 


236  HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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  through- 
out 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  v.-ould  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  Mississip- 
pjans  on  his  left,  Woiford  and  SeffiSfer  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  bat- 
tle by  the  assault  on  Round  Top.  The  country  on  our  right, 
through  whii  h  Hood  had  to  manoeuvre,  was  very  much  broken 
and  thickly  studded  with  trees  and  mountain  undergrowth, 
which  delayed  that  General  in  getting  in  battle  line.  Ander- 
son's Georgians,  with  Hood's  old  Texas  Brigade  under  Rob- 
ertsoJi,  was  on  Mcl,aws'  immediate  right,  next  to  Kershaw. 
Ivaw'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  L,ong- 
srreet  as  he  advanced  to  the  assault;  however,  most  of  them 
were  drawn  into  the  vortex  of  battle  before  the  close  of  the  day. 


HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW' S   BRIGADE.  237 

In  Kershaw's  Brigade,  the  2d  under  Colonel  John  D.  Kennedy 
and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Frank  Gilliarl,  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.  Heneg'an,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Hood 
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  often  guns  was  immediately  in  our  rear, 
in  a  grove  of  oaks,  and  drew  on  us  a  heavy  fire  when  the  ar- 
tillery 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  morn- 
ing in  a  desultory  battle  far  to  our  left  and  beyond  the  town, 
but  had  now  quieted  down.  A  blue  puff  of  smoke,  a  deafen- 
ing 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  Robert.son,  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  Di- 
visions, 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 


238  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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 
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.  Semms" 
Georgians  soon  moved  up  on  our  right  and  between  Kershaw 
and  Hood's  left,  but  its  brave  commander  fell  mortally  wound- 
ed at  the  very  commencement  of  the  attack.  Kershaw  ad- 
vanced 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  froo  behind  boulders  and  trees  in  a  grove 
we  were  nearmg,  or  at  the  commoners  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.  Semms,  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  gen- 
eral along  the  whole  Hue  on  both  sides.     The  Fifteenth   Regi'' 


HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  239 

raent  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  practically  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  gal- 
lant old  brigade  pushed  towards  the  Round  Top,  driving  all  be- 
fore 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 
Mclver,  and  others."  The  move  to  the  right  was  to  let  Wof- 
ford  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 '  Gene- 
ral 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.  Barks- 
dale 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  hill-side.     But  the  Mississip- 


240  HISTORY   OS'    KEESHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

pians  held  on  like  grim  death  till  Wofford,  with  his  Georgians, 
who  was  m(.ving  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  vvaj', and  scamper  np  the  hill-side.  But 
Meade;  by  this  time,  had  the  bulk  of  his  army  around  and  in' 
rear  of  the  Round  Top,  and  fresh  troops  were  continuall3'  be- 
ing 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^  becai^ie,  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'  tlijis  position  and  was  ter- 
rific- 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  ■vyithout  intermission  till  night  threw  her  sable 
curtains  over  the  scene  of  icarnage-  and  bloodshed  and-put  aa 
end  to  the  .strife.',  Wofl:ord,  and  Barksdale  had  none -to  rein- 
force them  at  the  gorge,  and  had  to  fijsht  it  out. single-handed-! 
and  alone,  while  the  Regulars,  w'iththeir  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  w,ere  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  souie  of  its  officers.  Dr.  Salmond,  the  Brigade' Sur- 
geon, came  early  upon  the  field  and  directed  in  person-  the- 
movements  of  his  assistants  in  their  work  of  gathering  up  the 
wounded,  i  "The  dead  were  left  to  take  care  o£  the  dead" 
until  next  daj'. 

When  the  'brigade  was  near  the  woodland  in  its-  advance,  a 
most  deadly  fire  was  directed  towards  the  center  of  the  3d  botji 


HISTORY   OP    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  2(41 

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 
"lyower  the  colors,  down  with  the  flag."  Sergaut  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  tho  word  went  up  and  down  the  line  "Shoot  that  offi.- 
cer,  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   bla«er 
away,  and  the  connoneers  scattered  to  cover  in  the  rear.     This; 
officer  finding  himself  deserted  by  his  men,  waved  his  swordi 
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  sad 
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  I^ee  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  I<ee 
by  doubling  him  back  on  the  Patomac,  or  that  I^ee  would  un- 
dertake 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 
today,  still  there  was  no  despondency,   no  lack  of  ardor,    or 


242  HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADK. 

morale,  each  and  every  soldier  feeling,  while  he  had  done  his 
best  the  day  before,  still  he  was  equal  to  that  before  him  for 
today. 

In  the  First  Corps  all  was  still  and  quiet,  scarcely  a  shot 
from  either  side,  a  picket  shot  occasionally  was  the  only  re- 
minder that  the  enemy  was  near. 

Away  to  our  left,  and  beyond  the  city,  the  Federals  had  as- 
saulted Ewell's  lines,  and  a  considerable  battle  was  raging  from 
daylight  till  lo  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  threaVirginia  Brigades,  Garnett's, 
Kemper's,  and  Armstead's,  (fKfetettbeing  left  in  Virginia) 
iand  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  corti- 
bat,  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  I,ee, 
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  re- 
lieve 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,  Ker- 
shaw, in  the  battle  before  little  "Round  Top,"    Semms  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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  243 

thirds  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  without  any  support  what- 
ever. See  now  how  Pickett  was  braced  and  supported.  Cem- 
etery 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.  I,ongstreet  moved  McLaws  up  near  to  the  right 
of  the  assaulting  columns  in  two  lines,  Semms  and  Wofford 
in  the  front  and  Barksdale  and  Kershaw  in  the  rear  lines  as 
support.  I  continue  to  retain  the  names  of  the  Brigade  Com- 
manders to  designate  the  troops,  although  Barksdale  and 
Semms  had  fallen  the  day  before. 

Kemper  and  Garnett  were  on  the  i-ight  of  the  assaultin  g 
column,  with  Armstead  as  support,  all  Virginians  and  ot 
Pickett's  Division.  Wilcox,  with  his  Alabama  Brigade  was  to 
move  some  distance  in  rear  of  Pickett's  right  to  take  any  ad- 
vantage 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,  Brockenboro's,  Virginia,  and  Davis'  Brigade, 
composed  of  three  Mississippi  Regiments  and  one  North  Caro- 
lina, with  Scales'  and  Lanes'  North  Carolina  Brigade  in  support. 
Hood  and  Mclyaws  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  artillerj'  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. 

Everyman,  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 


244  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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  l,ee  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 
gxin,  mingling  in  the  smoke  of  the  first,  and  salvos  rolled  ta 
the  left  and  repeating  themselves  along  the  ridges  the  enem3''& 
fine  metal  spreading  its  fire  to  the  converging  lines  of  the  Con- 
federates, 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  organ- 
ized confusion.  The  Confederates  had  the  benefit  of  cour- 
verging  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  amunition,  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  can- 
nonade, Pickett  sprang  to  the  assault.  Kemper  and  Garnett 
advanced  over  the  crest,  closely  followed  by  Armstead.  Wil- 
cox, with  his  Alabamians,  took  up  the  step  and  marched  a 
short  distance  in  rear  of  the  right.  The  Alabamians,  Tennes- 
seeans.  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  ofE.  The  bat- 
teries 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  f 


HMTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  245 

The  men  marched  with  firm  step,  with  banners  flying,  the 
thunder  of  our  guns  in  rear  roaringand  echoing  to  cheer  them 
on,  while  those  of  the  enemy  were  sweeping  wind  rows  through 
their  ranks.  Mclyaws  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  ad- 
vance. 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  jvhole  line.  Men  who  were 
spectators  of  this  carnage,  held  their  breath  in  horror,  while 
others  turned  away  from  the  sickening  scene,  in  pitying  si- 
lence. 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  Gib- 
bon being  borne  from  the  field  more  dead  than  alive.  At  last 
the  expected  crash  came,  when  infantry  met  infantry.  Pickett's 
Tight  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  bat- 
talions were  being  momentarily  ordered  to  the  front.  The 
■enemy  now  moved  out  against  Pickett's  right,  but  Semms  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  csnnon'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 


246  HISTORY  OF  Kershaw's  brigade. 

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,  ilying,  and,  demora- 
lized 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  hun- 
dreds, 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  work- 
ing their  guns  as  never  lieforfe.  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  twink- 
ling 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  over- 
head, with  little  or  no  effect  upon  the  slumberers,  only  a  cry- 
of  pain  as  one  and  another  received  a  wound  or  a  death  sho.L 
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  scat- 
tered 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  honses  .suufied  the  blood  aud  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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  247 

when  he  saw  the  wave  of  Pickett's  recede  he  gave  the  com- 
mand to  "(.harge,"  and  his  five  hundred  troopers  came  thun- 
dering down  upon  our  detachments  on  the  extreme  right.  Bnt 
Farn.sworth  had  to  ride  over  and  between  the  Fourth,  Four- 
teenth, 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  re- 
peated summons  to  surrender,  fell,  pierced  with  five  wounds, 
and  died  in  a  few  moments.  His  troopers  w-ho  had  escaped 
death  or  capture  fled  to  the  gorges  and  passes  of  the  moun- 
tains through  which  they  had  so  recently  ridden  in  high  ex- 
pectation. 

The  enemy,  as  well  as  the  Confederates,  had  lost  heavily  in 
general  ofi&cers.  Hancock  had  fallen  from  his  horse,  shot 
throujih  the  side  with  a  minnie  ball,  disabling  him  for  a  long 
time.  General  Dan  Sickles,  afterwards  military  Governor  of 
South  Gflrolina,  lost  a  leg.  General  Willard  was  killed.  Gen- 
erals 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  para- 
doxical as  it  may  appear,  he  is  warm-hearted,  sympathetic, 
and  gen^ous  spirited  and  his  mind  often  reverts  to  home,  kin- 
dred, and  friends,  when  least  expected.  His  love  and  sympa- 
thy for  his  fellow-soldier  is  proverbial  in  the  army.  In  the  lull 
i)f  battle,  or  c^  its  pve,  men  with  bold  hearts  and  strong  nerves 
Jook  each  other  in  the  face  with  grim  reliance.  With  set  teeth 
andnerves  strung  to  extreme  tension,  the  thoughts  of  the  sol- 
dier often  wander  to  his  distant  home.  The  panorama  of  his- 
whole  life  passes  before  him  in  vivid  colors.  His  fisrt  thoughts 
are  of  the  great  beyond — all  soldiers,  whatever  their  beliefs  or 
dogmas,  think  of  thjs.  It  is  natural,  it  is  right,  it  is  just  ta 
himself.  If  ^  sees  in  his  imagination  the  aged  father  or  mother 
or  the  wife  and  little  ones  with  outstretched  arms  awaiting  the 
coming  6'f'ti'im  who  perhaps  will  never  come.  These  are  some 
of  the  sensations  and  feelings  of  a  soldier  on  the  eve  of,  or  in 
battle,  or  fit  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  itfto  battle  without  fear,"  he  simply  tells  "what  George 
Washington  never  told."     It  is  human,  and  "self-preservaticm 


2-^  HISTORY   OF     KEESHA-W'S    BRICJADB. 

ist  the  first  law  of  nature.."  JSTo  one  wants  to  die.  Of  course 
a«afcition,  love  of.  glory,  the  plaudits  of  your  coni-ades  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 
tor  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 
oi  the  enemy. 

Historians  of  all  time  will  admit  the  fact  that  at  Gettysburg 
WHS  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  res- 
pite 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  tie  must 
loftve  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 
nv     systematic    work,    time     being    too    precious,    and   the 


HISTORY   OF    KfiKSHAW's   BRIGADE.  2.40 

dead  are  buried  where  they  fell.  Where  the  battle 
was  fierce  and  furious,  and  the  dead  lay  thick,  they  were 
buried  in  groups.  Sometimes  frieudlj'  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  wound- 
ed 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,  ami  the 
yellow  flag  flies  as  much  protection  as  the  white.  A  guard  is 
placed  around  the  hospitals  to  prevent  those  who  may  con- 
valesce while  there  from  escaping,  but  notwithstanding  this 
vigilance  many  made  their  eiscape  and  came  south,  as  the  sol- 
diers had  a  horror  of  the  Federal  prison  pen.  Ambulances 
and  empty  wagons  were  loaded  to  their  full  capacity  with  th« 
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,  Get- 
tysburg on  May  31st,  75,000,  including  Pickett's  Division. 
The  Federals  had  100,000  ready  and  equipped  for  action,  di- 
vided in  seven  army  corps,  under  General  Doubleday  com- 
manding First  Corps,  General  Hancock  Second  Corps,  Gene- 
ral Sickles  Third  Corps,  General  Sykes  Fifth  Corps,  General 
Sedgwick  Sixth  Corps,  General  Howard  Eleventh  Corps,  Gen- 
eral Sloeum  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  Coloiiel  Dessausure  and  Major 
McL,eod,. killed  in  action,  and  of  Doctor  Salmond,  Brigade  Sur- 
geon. As  the  latter  acted  so  gallantly,  and  showed  such  gen- 
erous impulses  during  and  after  the  engagement,  I  think  it  a 
fitting  moment  to  give  here  a  brief  sketch  of  his  life. 


250  HISTORY   Olf    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

COLONEL  WILLIAM  DAVIE  DESSAUSURE  OF  THE  THIRTEENTH. 

Colonel  Dessausure  was  certainly  the  Bayard  of  South  Caro-_ 
lina,  having  served  during  his  entire  manhood,  with  little  .ex- 
ception, amid  the  exciting,  bustling  scenes  of  army  life.  He 
was  a  hero  ol  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  fol- 
lowing: 

"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,  ob- 
servant, far-seeing,  quick,  decided,  of  iron  will,  inspiring  confi- 
dence 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  judg- 
ment, and  seemed  never  to  be  at  a  loss  what  to  do  in  emergen- 
cies. He  exposed  himself  with  reckless  courage,  but  protected 
his  men  with  untiring  concern  aud  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 
i2th,  1819,  was  reared  and  educated  there,  graduated  at  the 
South  Carolina  College,  and  studied  law  in  the  office  of  his 
father,  Hon.  Wm.  F.  Dessausure.  He  raised  a  company  iu 
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  as.signed  to  General 
(then  Colonel)  Joseph  E.  Johnston's  Regiment  in  the  United 
States  Army,  and  served  on  the  Plains  until  the  Civil  war  com- 
menced, when  he  resigned,  returned  to  his  native  State  and 
organized  the  Fifteenth  Regiment,  and  was  assigned  to  Dray- 
ton'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  Ker- 
shaw. 


HISTORY  OF    KKRSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  251* 

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  sur- 
vived 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  Mclyeod.  He  graduated  from 
the  South  Carolina  College  about  1853,  and  for  some  tim£  en- 
gaged 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  Ker- 
shaw'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  cour- 
age, 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,  Mal- 
vern 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- 
tweuty  pieces  of  artillery,  in  the  celebrated  peach  orchard, 
where  in  a  few  minutes  the  Eighth  Regiment,  being  on  the  lef , 
of  the  Brigade,  without  suppoit,  assailed  in  front  and  flankt 
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. 


'252  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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.  Re- 
ceived 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.  Villipigne,  Commissary;  A.  D.  Goodwyn,  Ad- 
jutant. 

At  the  reorganization  of  the  Brigade,  Dr.  Salmond  was  pro- 
moted to  Brigade  Surgeon  and  was  in  all  of  the  battles  in  Vir- 
ginia. He  went  with  General  Kershaw  •  to  Tennessee  and 
came  home  when  General  Kershaw  went  back  to  Virginia, 
owing  to  ill  health  in  the  spring  ot  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  'Xost  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  profonndest  respect. 
And  I  beg  space  in  your  valuable  columns  to  relate  an  inci- 
dent in  connection  with  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  which,  I 
•think,  will  equal  the  one  between  General  Hagood  and  the 
iEederal  ofBcer,  Daley. 

In  that  memorable  battle,  whilst  we  were  charging  a  bat- 
tery 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.  L,eitner  of  our   town    was 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAw'S   BRIGADE.  253^ 

shot  in  the  midst  of  this  deadly  shower  at  the  head  of  his  com- 
pauy.  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.  Salmoud,  then  Brigade  Surgeon 
of  Kershaw's  Brigade,  learning  that  his  friend  Captain  L,eitner 
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  cour- 
age 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. 

lyCt  me  relate  an  instance  that  fell  under  my  immediate  ob- 
servation. An  officer  had  lost  his  bodyservant  in  May,  1863, 
when  he  mentioned  the  fact  to  someof  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  re- 
ferred to  and  they  assured  me  that  they  would  De  glad  if  I 
would  take  the  servant  off  their  hands.  The  result  was  the  ser- 
vant came  to  me  and  I  hired  him.  Soon  afterwards  we  began 
the  march  to  the  Valley  of  Virginia,  then  to  Maryland  and 


"254  HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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  some- 
thing 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 
3'ou  and  the  Yankees."  He  dashed  o£E  in  a  run.  When  I 
reached  the  Potomac  River  I  found  William  there  with  my  horse. 
The  Yankees  were  about  to  attac  k  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  Po- 
tomac 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  fur- 
lough 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  run- 
away 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 
Tan  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  ex- 
periences 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  w  hen  the  war  first  broke  out  he 
left  Newberry  College  to  enlist  as  a  private  in  Company  E  of  the 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  255 

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  ex- 
plain why  he  was  called  to  act  as  Orderly  at  Regimental  Head- 
quarters when  J.  E.  Brown  gave  up  that  position  for  that  ot 
courier  with  General  I/ongstreet  early  in  the  year  1863.  Just  be- 
fore the  Third  Regiment  went  into  action  at  Gettysburg,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  while  preparing  for  that  event,  it  became  neces- 
sary, under  general  orders,  that  the  field  and  stafi"  of  the  regi- 
ment 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  ofiBcer  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  de- 
nied, but  so  persistent  was  he  in  his  request  that  the  Adj  utant, 
who  was  very  fond  of  him,  said:  "Well  Tom,  for  this  one 
time  5 ou  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,  wound- 
ed, 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.  I<ee  has  been 
severely  criticised  for  fighting  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  especial- 
ly 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  suc- 
cesses and  achievements  of  a  General,  not  by  his  motives  or 
intentions.     Battles,  however,  are  in  a  great  measure  but  series 


256  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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  tri- 
umphs 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 
litle  Round  Top  before  seen  by  Warren  and  gained  Meade's 
rear — suppose  these,  and  many  other  things,  and  then  re- 
flect what  momentous  results  depended  upon  such  trivial  cir- 
cumstances, aud  we  will  then  fail  to  criticise  I,ee.  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,  l,ongstreet  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  lyce,  not  knowing  what  moment  the  wily 
Cenfederate  Chieftain  might  turn  and  trike  him  a  blow  he  would 
not  be  able  to  receive.  The  rain  fell  in  torrents,  night  and 
da}'.  The  roads  were  soon  greatly  cut  up,  which  in  a  meas- 
ure was  to  I^ee's  advantage,  preventing  the  enemy  from  fol- 
lowing 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  Wil- 
liamsport. Near  Funkstown  we  had  some  excitement  by  be- 
ing called  upon  to  help  some  of  Stuart's  Cavalry,  who  were  be- 
ing 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 


HISTORY  OP    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  257 

much  swollen  from  the  continuous  rains  to  ford,  and  the  enemy- 
haying  destroyed  the  bridge  at  Falling  Waters  we  were  com- 
pelled to  entrench  ourselves  and  defend  our  numerous  trains  of 
wagons  and  artillery  until  a  bridge  could  be  built.  In  the  en- 
closure of  several  miles  the  whole  of  Lee's  army,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  some  of  his  cavalry,  were  packed.  Here  I^ee  must 
have  been  in  the  most  critical  condition  of  the  war,  outside  of 
Appomattox.  Behind  him  was  the  raging  Potomac,  with  a 
continual  downpour  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  ord- 
nance 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  ih,  lyce  would  have  had  to  fight  his 
way  out.  I,umber  was  difficult  to  obtain,  so  some  houses 
were  demolished,  and  such  planks  as  could  be  used  in  the  con- 
struction 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  imagina- 
tion, 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  com- 
ing?' "  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 
17 


258  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

a  lyieutenant  in  Jim  George's  company,  said:  ''Bos'S,  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  passintr  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 
bottorxless.  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  march- 
ing) 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 
eeastern  hills,  we  came  in  sight  of  the  rude  pontoon  bridge* 
lined  from  one  end  to  the  other  with  hurrying  wagons  and 
iartillery — 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  draw- 


HISfORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  25S 

Ing  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  pass  the  moving  troops. 

General  Pettigrew  had  the  post  of  rear  guard.  He,  with  his 
brave  troops,  beat  back  the  charge  after  charge  of  Kirkpat- 
rick'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^ 
thiis  saving  their  lives;  but  this  would  have  endangered  Lee's 
army,  so  they  fought  and  died  like  men.  The  roar  of  their 
powitzers  and  the  rattle  of  their  musketry  were  like  the  blasts 
of  the  horn  of  Roland  when  ca.lling  Charlemagne  to  his  aid 
along  the  mointain  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  enemj-.  The  others  were  taken  pris- 
oners, with  the  exceptioa  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  l,ee  dis- 
covered the  enemy's  design  of  occupying  the  mountain  passes 
Along  the  Blue  Ridge  to  our  left,  no  time  was  lost.  We  has- 
tened along  through  Martinburg  and  Winchester,  across  the- 
Shennandoah  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 
«ot  so  amusing  to  the  particioants  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  pf  the  Third  South  Carolina,  not 


260  HISTORY   OP    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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  afibrded,  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." 

A.nd  so  on  down  to  Company  K.  All  admitted  that  their 
inen  had  taken  rails  and  had  not  put  them  back,  except  Cap- 
tain 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  "diso- 
bedience to  orders,"  was  enough  to  make  one  think  he  had 
•  "deserted  his  colors  in  the  face  of  the  enem}^,"  or  lost  a  battle 
through  his  cowardice.  "Now,  gentlemen,  let  this  never 
occur  again.  For  the  present  j'ou  will  deliver  your  swords  to 
Adjutant  Pope,  turn  your  companies  over  to  your  next  of&cer 
in  command,  and  march  in  rear  of  the  regimeut  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  exhonor- 
ated,  but  the  other  nine  Captains  had  to  march  in  rear  of  the 
regiment  during  tl;e  day,  subject  to  the  jeers'  and  ridicule  of 
all  the  troops  that  passed,  as  well  as- the  negro  cooks.     "Great 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  261 

Scott,  what  a  company  of  officers!"  "Where  are  your  men?" 
"Has  there  been  a  stampede?"  "Got  furloughs?"  "Lost  j^onr 
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  trom  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,  cre^p  it,  or  go  around  it,  but  death  is  your  por- 
tion 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  fur- 
loughs, as  it  was  evident  neither  side  would  begin  active  opera- 
tions 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  dreamc 
— ^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. 


262  HISTORY  OF  Kershaw's  brigade. 


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  wit- 
ness our  manoeuvers,  especially  did  the  ladies  grai  e  the  occa- 
sions 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  L,ee  and  L,ongstreet  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  rein- 
force General  Bragg  with  all  the  available  troops  of  the  East 
(Lee  standing  on  the  defensive),  crush  Rosecrans,  and,  if  pos- 
sible, 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,  thu9 
putting  the  enemy  on  the  defensive  and .  regaining  lost  terri- 
tory. 

It  should  be  remembered  that  our  last  stronghold  on  the 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  263 

Mississippi,  Vicksburg,  had  capitulated  about  the  time  of  the 
disastrous  battle  of  Gettysburg,  with  thirty  thousand  prison- 
ers. 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  L,ongstreet  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,  there- 
fore, forced  to  take  the  circuitous  route  by  way  of  the  two 
Carolinas  and  Georgia.  There  were  two  roads  open  to  trans- 
portation, 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  i6th  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  McL,aws,  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. 

Ivong  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  further- 
more 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  np  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  ^  the  trains  sped  through  the 


264  HISTORY  OF    KfiRSHA-w'S   BRIGADS. 

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,  trom  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  sta- 
tion 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  hand- 
kerchiefs; 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  Vir- 
ginia'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,  punc- 
tual 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  qf  Septem,-^ 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  265 

ber,  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  moun- 
tain 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  expedi- 
tion. 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 


266  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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  Moun- 
tain"— 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  slugglish  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 
bis  three  divisions,  Stewart's,  Hindman's,  and  Preston's,  and 
had  joined  General  Bragg  some  time  before  our  arrival,  mak- 
ing General  Bragg's  organized  army  forty-three  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  sixty-six  strong.  He  was  further  rein- 
forced by  eleven  thousand  five  hundred  from  General  Jo.seph 
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  i8th  and  igth  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  com- 
mander 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  (l/ouisiana)  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 


HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  267 

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  sem- 
blance of  subsistence  transportation  barely  sufficient  lo  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 
BS  with  plenty  of  corn  meal  from  the  surrounding  country. 

The  sun,  on  the  morning  of  the  20th,  rose  in  unusual  splen- 
dor, 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  magnifi- 
cence. 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  compan'y,  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  com- 
menced 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  regula- 
tions, 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: — 


268  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

"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." 

Ivongstreet's  troops  had  recentl)'  been  newly  uniformed,  con- 
sisting 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  gar- 
ments— 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  home-made  jeans  of  their 
Western  brethren. 

General  Bragg  had  divided  his  army  into  two  wings — the 
right  commanded  by  Lieutenant  General  I,eonidas  Polk  (a 
Bishop  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  afterwards  killed  in  the  bat- 
tles 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  ex- 
trenfe  right  of  the  infantry,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant 
General  D.  H.  Hill,  with  Cheatham's  Division  of  Polk's  Corps 
to  the  left  and  rear  of  Cleburn  as  support,  with  General  Walk- 
er's Corps  acting  as  reserve.  Two  divisions  of  Forrest's 
Cavalry,  one  dismounted,  were  on  the  right  ot  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  Chickamaiiga  Creek, 
the  right  thrown  well  forward  towards  the  foot  hills  of  Mission 
Ridge. 

In  the  alignment  of  the  two  wings  it  was  found  that  Long- 
street's  right  overlapped  Polk'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  Bush- 


HISTORY  OF  Kershaw's  brigade.  269 

rod  Johnson  and  Stewart  for  Hood  to  place  his  three  brigades 
on  the  firing  line. 

lyongstreet  having  no  artillery,  he  was  forced  to  engage  all 
of  the  thirty  pieces  of  Buckner's.  In  front  of  I^ongstreet  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,  aUd  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  subjuga- 
tion, 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  Gen- 
eral 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  Bran- 
nan'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  Chicka- 
mauga  at  Crawfish  Springs.  The  enemy's  artillery,  consist- 
ing 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  manoeuver 


270  HISTORY   OP    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADB. 

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  mxjch  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.  Jen- 
nings; 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  pictur- 
esque valley  nestling  down  among  the  spurs  cf  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  sum- 
mer. 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  confidentj 
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  ior  a  moment,  with  any 
hope  of  triumph,  before  that  mighty  machine  qf  armed  force- 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  271 

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  Longstreets  extreme  left  being 
tlie  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  earth- 
works and  log  obstructions,  with  field  batteries  at  every 
salient,  or  scattered  along  the  front  Hues  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  i8th  and  19th  indicated  his  plan  of  opera- 
tions. 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 
ddges  in  our  front  were  one  blaze  of  fire  as  the  infantry  began 
their  movements  for  attack,  and  the  smoke  from  the  enemj''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  Ken- 
tuckian  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,  Gen- 
eral 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 


272  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIOADE. 

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  Ividdell's,  of  Walker's  Corps,  went  to  the  relief  of  Breck- 
enridge. 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  Ividdell'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  hav- 
ing succeeded  in  checking  the  advance  of  Gist  and  I^iddell,  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  I,ee's  old  com- 
mander 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  I^ongstreet's  subalterns, 
directly  and  not  through  the  Lieutenant  General's  head- 
quarters, 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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  273 

flank,  and  asked  for  support  in  that  quarter.  I^ongstreet  now 
•ordered  up  the  gallant  Texan,  General  Hood,  with  his  three 
brigades,  with  Kershaw's  and  Humphre}'S  in  close  support. 
Hood  unmercifully  assailed  the  column  in  his  front,  but  was  as 
unmercifully  slaughte'ed,  himself  falling  desperately  wounded. 
Benning's  Brigade  was  thrown  in  confusion,  but  at  this  junc- 
ture 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  iu 
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  entrench- 
ments. Kershaw  marched  in  rear  of  the  brigade,  giving  com- 
mands in  that  clear,  metalic  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  breast- 
works 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  hi.s  extreme  left  in  disorder,  the  brigade 
being  seriously  rattled.  But  Twiggs'  Brigade,  from  Preston's 
pivotal  Division,  came  to  the  succor  of  Manigault  and  suc- 
ceeded in  restoring  the  line,  and  the  advance  continued. 
Kershaw  had  advanced  to  within  forty  paces  of  the  enemj's 
line,  and  it  seemed  for  a  time  that  his  troops  would  be  annihi- 
lated. Colonel  Bland,  then  Major  Hood,  commanding  the 
18 


■274  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  ofEcers 
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  tem- 
porary breastwork  of  the  torn  down  fence  and  posted  them- 
selves 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- 
graj'  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,  Ker- 
shaw 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  nc*iced  the  Twen- 
tieth 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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  2JP& 

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.  Be- 
fore 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  ammuni- 
tion was  being  gradually  exhausted  and  no  relief  in  sight. 
Hmdman  (Johnson  on  the  left)  had  driven  the  enemy  back  oa 
Snodgrass  Hill,  where  Granger's  reservc-s  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  defleclion  of  the  ra&k 
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  ba^'onets,  was 
seen  coming  down  the  slope  in  our  rear.  It  was  General 
Oracie,  with  his  Alabama  Brigade  of  Preston's  Division,  com- 
ing to  reinforce  our  broken  ranks  and  push  the  battle  forward. 
This  gallant  brigade  was  one  tho\isand  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  ttat 
were  holding  Snodgrass  Hill,  and  made  an  aggressive  attibk 
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  nfew 
line. 


2(6  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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 
Div'ision  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  direc- 
tion 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-evid'jnt  fact  to  all  the  ofScers,  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  over- 
throw. He  knew,  too,  that  the  latter  part  of  the  battle,  while 
brief  and  desperate,  the  luried  cloud  of  battle  settling  all 
around  his  dead  and  dying,  a  spectre  had  even  then  arisen  as 
from  the  earth,  and  pointing  his  bonj'  fingers  at  the  field  of 
carnage,  whispering  in  his  ear  that  dreaded  word,  "I,ost!" 

As  night  closed  in  upon  the  bloody  scenes  of  the  day,  the 
Federal  Armj-,  that  in  the  morning  had  stood  proud  and  defi- 
ant along  the  crests  and  gorges  of  the  mountain  ridges,  was 
now  a  struggling  mass  of  beaten  and  fleeing  fugatives,  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  L,ongstreet,  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  differ- 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  277 

ent  ending  to  the  campaign,  if  not  in  final,  resvilts   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  de- 
manded 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  '.ools  that  were  at  hand. 
Many  pathetic  pectacles  were  witnessed  of  brothei:  burying 
brother.  My  brother  and  five  other  members  of  the  com- 
pany 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  Ferry- 
man. 

Bragg,  out  of  a  total  of  fifty-nine  thou.sand  two  hundred  and 
forty-two,  lost  seventeen  thousand  eight  hundred.  Rosecran's 
total  was  sixty  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-seven  (ex- 
clusive of  the  losses  on  the  i8th  and  19th).  His  loss  on  the 
2oth  was  sixteen  thousand  five  hundred  and  fifty.  The  greater 
loss  of  the  Confederates  can  be  accounted  for  when  it  is  re- 
membered that  they  were  the  assaulting  party — the  enemy's 
superior  position,  formidable  entrenchments,  and  greatmr 
amount  of  artillery. 

The  Battle  of  Chickamauga  was  one  of  the  most  sanguinary 


278  HISTORY   OF    KEltSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

of-  the  war,  when  the  number  of  troops  engaged  and  the  time 
in  actual  combat  are  taken  iiito  consideration.  In  the  matter 
of  losses  it  stands  as  the  fifth  greatest  battle  of  the  war.  His- 
tory 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  us  high  as  sixty-eight  per  cent.  When  it  :s  remem- 
bered 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  with- 
out a  field  officer.  lyieuteuant  ColonU  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  Bat- 
talion. 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  wpund  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  Regi- 
ment met  an  irreparable  loss  in  the  death  of  Lieutenant  Colo- 
nel Hoole.  No  ofticer  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  o£&(  ers  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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  279 

killed  or  wounded  here  made  a  death  and  disabled  roll,  from 
the  eflFects  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  indellible  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  enetr.y's 
breastworks,  ni}'  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  masrs.  A  sud- 
den 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  unex- 
pectedly. A  Sergeant  in  my  company,  T.  C.  Nunamaker, 
received  a  fearful  wound  in  the  abdomen.  Catching  ni}'  hand 
while  falling,  he  begged  to  be  carried  oflf.  "Oh  !  for  God's 
sake,  don't  leave  me  here  to  bleed  to  death  or  have  my  life 
tratnpled  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  con- 
cern to  the  bleeding  soldiers.  Before  bui:  lines  (vere  properl5' 
adjusted,  the  gallant  Sergeant  was  beyond  the  aid  of  anyone. 
He  had  died  from  internal  hemorrhage;  The  searchers  of  the 
battlefied,  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  assist- 


280  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

ance,  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  morn- 
ing 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  wns  a  principle,  and  as  dear  to  the  poor- 
est of  the  poor  as  to  him  who  counted  his  broad  acres  by  the 
thousands  and  his  slaves  hy  the  hundreds.  Of  such  mettle 
were  made  the  soldiers  of  ih_-  South — unyielding,  unconquer- 
able, 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  com- 
parisons 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,  w-as  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,  after- 
wards the  Colonel  of  the  Eighth,  during  this  battle.  I  cannot 
vouch  for  its  truthfulness,  but  give  it  as  it  was  givei.  to  me  by 
Captain  Harllee,  of  the  same  regiment.  The  Eighth  was  being 
particularly  hard-pressed,  and  had  it  not  been  for  the  unflinch- 
ing stoicism  of  the  officers  and  the  valor  of  the  men,  the  ranks- 
uot  yet  recruited  from  the  results  of  the  battle  at  Gettysburg, 
the  little  band  would  have  been  forced  to  yield.  Major  Stack- 
house  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,. 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  281 

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  lorm  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  scam- 
pered back  behind  the  ridge. 

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  ofl5cers  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,  lyieu- 
tenant  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 


282  HISTORY   OF    KKRSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

Seventh.  I  do  not  think  he  ever  received  his  commission  as 
full  Colonel,  but  commanded  the  regiment  as  Lieutenant  Colo- 
nel, 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  fault- 
less— 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  lit- 
tle circumstance  that  occurred  after  the  battle  of  Chancellors- 
ville  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  banlc 
he  was  met  by  ofiicers  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 
Bland's  stars,  and  said,  "I  can't  understand  your  Confederate 
ranks;  some  officers  have  bars  and  some  stars.  I  see  j'ou  have 
two  stars;  are  you  a  Brigadi'erGeneral?'.' 

"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  Chancellors- 
ville."     Then  all  hands  laughed. 

COLONEL  ELBERT  BLAND,  SEVENTH  REGIMENT. 

Elbert  Bland  was  born  in  Edgefield  County,  S.  C,  and  at- 
tended the  common  schools  until  earlj'  manhood,  when  choos- 
ing medicine  as  a  profession,  he  atteiided  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 


HISTORY   OF    KKRSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  283 

graduation,  war  broke  out  between  the  States  and  Mexico, 
and  he  was  offered  and  accepted  the  position  of  Assistant  Sur- 
geon of  the  Pahnetto  Regiment,  Colonel  P.  M.  Butler  com- 
manding. 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  GriflFiu,  a  daughter  of  Hon.  N.  L-  GrifBn,  of  Edge- 
field. 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  Sur- 
geon 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  servic(2!\vas  seen  duruig  the  first 
year  of  the  war,  still  sufBcient  evidencJe  was  given  of  Bland's 
ability  as  a  commander  of  the  men,  and  upon  the  reorganiza- 
tion of  the  regiment,  Capiaiti;-' BlaJiid  was  elected  Lieutenant 
Colonel.-'  From  thife-stime  untirS'e-pteniber -^oth,  1S63,  his  for- 
tunes were  thCi.se  of  the  Seventh  Regiment"'  He  was  couspicu^ 
ous  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  ihe  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 


284  HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

bosom,  which  was  done,  and  there  they  sleep.     May  they  rest 
in  peace. 

I,IEUTENANT   COLONEI,   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  George- 
town, 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  mar- 
ried 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  comple- 
tion of  the  academic  course,  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  he  taught 
school  for  twelve  j'ears,  after  which  he  followed  the  occupa- 
tion 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  admis- 
sion of  Kansas  as  a  State,  he  went  out  there  to  oppose  the 
Abolitionists.  He  m£(rried  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  ot  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,  i86i,  and  after  remaining  a  short 
while,  returned  as  far  as  Florence,  where  they  were  mustered 
in  as  Company  A,  Eighth  S.  C.  V. 

The  Eigth  Regiment  left  Florence  for  Virginia  June  2d, 
1 86 1.     At   the  expiration  of  the  period  of  enlistment,  the 


HISTORY  OF  Kershaw's  brigade.  285 

regiment  was  reorgauized,   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  lyieutenant  Colonel,  and  afterwards  Colonel 
of  the  Eighth,  I  will  take  this  opportunity  of  giving  the  read- 
ers a  very  brief  .sketch  of  the  life  of  this  sterling  farmer, 
patriot,  soldier,  and  statesman,  who,  I  am  glad  to  say,  sur- 
vived 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  countr}'  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  qual- 
ities, 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  extmplar  of  all  that  was  progressive 
and  enobling. 

In  April,  1861,  Colonel  Stackhouse  was  among  ^he  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  Col- 
onel, 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 


290  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

cause  men  to  take  on  that  same  unflinching  courage,  iiidom- 
inable  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  confi- 
dence and  a  willingness  to  follow  where  he  led. 

He  represented  his  county  for  three  terms  in  the  State  Leg- 
islature, 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  Con- 
grees,  and  died  while  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties  at  Wash- 
ington. 


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  be- 
fore. Ou  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  en- 
gagements between  our  advanced  skirmish  lines  and  the  rear 
guard  of  the  eneui}'  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 
placp  some  of  our  troops  were  posted  to  avoid  the  shells,  the 
enemy  having  an  exact  range  of  this  position.     They  began 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  287 

throwing  shells  right  and  left  and  bursting  them  just  over  our 
heads,  the  fragments  flj'ing  in  every  direction.  At  every  dis- 
charge, and  before  the  shell  reached  us,  the  men  would  cling 
to  the  sides  of  the  slooping  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!  Ambu- 
lance 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  forti- 
fications 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  dwelliug  in  a 
grove,  just  in  frout  of  Chattanooga,  and  something  over  a  mile 
distant  from  the  city,  but  in  plain  view.  We  had  very  pleas- 
ant 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  after- 
wards, 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  imag- 
ines 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 


288  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

married  to  one  of  the  fairest  flowers  in  the  Palmetto  State,  a 
perfect  queen  among  beauties — cultured,  vivacious,  and  be- 
longing 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  "hu- 
man 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  commis- 
sary, 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  corre- 
sponded, and  it  was  through  this  channel  that  the  train  was 
laid  to  blow  up  Jones  while  said  Jones  was  in  the  piazza  en- 
gaged 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  sud- 
den 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  paral- 
yzed. 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." 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  289 

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  Maffet,  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  Maffet  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  per- 
19 


290  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

fectly  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  aud 
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  load- 
ing 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  indig- 
nantly 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  blus- 
terer, 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  indi- 
vidual, but  his  comrades  only  laughed  at  his  idiosyncrasies, 


HISTORY  OP    KERSHAW'S  BRIGADE.  291 

knowing  him  as  they  did  as  being  one  of  the  best  and  most 
harmless  soldiers  in  the  arm}'.  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  sol- 
diers, 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  authorita- 
tive 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  vic- 
tim to  his  own  swagger  and  an  innocent  jest  of  his  compan- 
ions. 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  mys- 
tery 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 


292  HISTORY    OF    KEKSHAW'S    EKKJADE. 

well  ;"  but  this  is  still  a  mooted  question,  and  I   have  known 
some  of  the  soldiers  of  the  Souih   to  gi>.e  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,  buscuit,  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,  biat  it  was  in  the  soldier's  vocabulary,  now  obso- 
lete. 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  bet- 
ter, 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  out.side  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  puni.shment.     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. "     OfiBcers  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  wi'l,''  so  there  you  were. 
Most  of  the  soldiers  took  the  opportunity  of  visiting  Look- 
out Mountain  and  feasting  their  eyes  upon  the  finest  scenery  of 
the  South.     While  they  had  crossed  and  recrossed  the  Blue 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  293 

Ridge  and  the  many  ranges  of  lesser  note  in  Virginia,  Mary- 
land, and  Pennsylvania — had  gazed  with  wonder  and  admira- 
tion at  the  windings  of  the  Potomac  and  Shenandoah  from  the 
Heights  of  Maryland  overlooking  Harper's  Ferry — yet  all 
the.se  were  nothing  as  compared  to  the  view  from  Lookout 
Mountain.  Standing  on  its  bruw,  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,  sur- 
rounded by  lovely  little  villas  and  summer  houses,  the.se  all 
hurriedly  deserted  by  the  necessities  of  war — the  furniture  and 
fixtures  left  all  in  place  as  the  owner.^  took  thair  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  moun- 
tain 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  ar.d  historic  place 
passed  up  this  road  wa}',  but  there  was  another  route  — just  a 
foot-path — Ujj  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  fout-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  "lauds  of  the  .sky." 


394  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

The  scenery  in  and  around  Chattanooga  and  Lookout  Moun- 
tain 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  sun- 
sets, its  gorgeous  coloring  of  the  leaves  and  bushes  away  to 
the  right  on  Missionary  Ridge,  the  magnificent  purple  dra- 
peries 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  Buruside'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 
histoiical  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  danger- 
ous 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  move- 
ments, but  on  occasions  when  the  enemy  in  front  are  more 
numerous  and  commanded  by  the  most  able  and  astute  Gen- 
erals 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  cajitured  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  obev. 


HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  295 

On  the  9th  ot  October  President  Davis  came  out  to  Chatta- 
nooga to  give  matters  his  personal  attention  and  seek,  if  possi- 
ble, 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  I^ieu- 
tenant  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  command- 
ers, 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  com- 
mand of  Polk'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  ofBcers  and 
troops  demurred  at  this,  and  public  opinion  was  so  outspoken, 
that  Mr.  Davis  was  forced  to  abandon  the  idea.  It  was,  there- 
fore, given  to  Hardee.  For  some  offense  given  by  Major 
Genaral  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  L,ongstreet's 
wing,  also  came  under  the  ban  of  official  displeasure  and  was 
given  an  indefinite  leave  of  ab.sence.  There  was  wrangling, 
too,  among  the  Brigadiers  in  Hood's  Division,  Jenkins,  I/aw, 
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  Gettys- 
burg. 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  difi5- 
culty  with  General  Longstreet,  which  afterwards  resulted  in  a 
call  for  a  court-martial.  The  advanced  ideas  and  undisguised 
views  of  Longstreet  himself  were  considered  with  suspicion  by 
both  the  President  and  the  General  commanding  the  army, 


296  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  vinuicated,  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  armj'. 

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  onr  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  misunder- 
standing or  disobedience  of  orders,  this  movement  on  the  part 
of  the  Confederates  miscarried,  and  was  abandoned;  not,  how- 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  297 

ever,  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  I^ongstreet  to  begin,  and  on  the  5th  and  6th  the 
greater  part  of  his  army  was  embarked  oq  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. 

I/Ongstreet's  command  consisted  of  Kershaw's  (South  Caro- 
lina), Bryan's  and  Wofford's  (Georgia),  and  Humphreys' 
(Mississippi)  Brigades,  under  Major  General  Mclyaws;  Ander- 
son'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  Chick- 
amauga,  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  unde.take  the 
impossible — the  defeat  of  an  overwhelming  army,  behind 
brea.stworks,  in  the  heart  of  its  own  country. 

The  movement  of  Longstreet  to  East  Tennessee  and  Hood 
through  Middle  Tenne.ssee  was  but  the  commencement  of  a 
series  of  blunders  on  the  part  of  our  war  department  that  cul- 
minated 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 


298  HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

and  one  hundred  pieces  of  artillery,  and  this  was  the  army 
I/Ongstreet  was  expected  to  capture  or  destro}'. 

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  Tennes- 
see, and  Meade  was  sending  reinforcements  from  the  Kast,  all 
to  swell  the  defeated  ranks  of  Rosecrans.  With  the  knowl- 
edge 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  pro- 
gressive campaign. 

Both  governments  were  greatly  displeased  with  the  results 
of  the  battle  of  Chickamauga — the  Federals  at  their  army  fail- 
ing to  come  up  to  their  expectations  and  gaining  a  victory, 
instead  of  a  disastrous  defeat;  the  Confederates  at  their  com- 
manders 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  Crittendeu,  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  Washing- 
ton, 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  com- 
mand of  his  battalion. 

After  a  stay  of  a  week  in  the  beautiful  Valley  of  Sweet- 
water, we  were  moved  to  lyondon,  the  railroad  crossing  of  the 
Tennessee  River,  the  railroad  bridge  having  been  burned  by 
the  enemy.  The  country  in  East  Tennessee  was  greatly  di- 
vided in  sentiment,  some  for  the  Union  cause  and  some  for  the 
Confederate  cau.se.  Rumors  of  outrages  and  doings  of  desper- 
adoes 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,  aii 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  299 

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  disorber,  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,  in- 
visible. Just  then  a  train  of  passenger  cars,  containing  Gen- 
eral Mclvaws,  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  almo.st  triiraculous  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  get- 
ting 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  London,  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  London  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 


300  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

detachment  of  Jenkins'  South  Carolina  Brigade,  under  tire 
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  pf  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  ot 
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  vic- 
torious. 

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. 
I/ongstreet  remained  near  the  river  constructing  .some  defen- 
sive 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  skir- 
mishers 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  com- 
manding General  to  take  possession  of  these  passes  and  tiirn 
the  enemy's  flank,  or  to  move  around  the  heiid  of  the  moun- 
tain, where  the,  two  roads  followed  by  the  armies  came  to- 
gether 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  fio-ht 


HISTORY,  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  801 

took  place,  the   Federals  retreating  through  the  mountain  gap 
to  the  east  side. 

Jenkins  kept  up  his  advance  (not  following  the  enemy,  how- 
ever, over  the  mountain),  with  Alexander's  Battalion  of 
Artillery,  while  McLaws  followed  closely,  with  I,eydon's  Bat- 
tery 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  ot  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.  Jen- 
kins followed  close  on  the  heels  of  the  retreating  army,  occa- 
sionally 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  neces- 
sary 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 


302  HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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  bag- 
gage 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.  McL,aws  was  on 
the  left  wing  and  Jenkins  on  the  right. 

Preparation  for  a  general  engagement  was  made.  Mcl,aws 
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  direc- 
tion— failed  to  come  upon  the  enemy's  flank,  night  was  upon 
us,  and  it  must  be  remembered  that  all  these  movements  took 
tim.e,  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  ofiBcers  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  com- 
panions for  the  wealth  of  the  Indies,  nor  would  he  have  unnec- 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  303 

essarily  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  differ- 
ences between  the  corps  commander  and  General  I^aw  at  times, 
and  with  one  of  his  division  commanders,  all  during  our  West- 
ern 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  court-martial  ordered.  The 
old  General,  in  several  places  in  his  memoirs,  makes  un- 
complimentary remarks  and  insinuations  against  some  of  his 
old  compatriots  in  arms,  but  these  should  not  be  taken  seri- 
ously. 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  Souths— political 
upheavals,  whereby  one  party  was  as  bitter  against  the  other 
as  during  the  mighty  struggle  of  the  North  again.st  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  I/ongstreet,  Mahone,  and  a  few  others,  who 
joined  him  on  the  one  side,  and  the  whole  army  of  "Codfed- 
erate  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. 


304  HISTORY  OF  Kershaw's  brigade. 


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. 
lyongstreet  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  dismoui.ted 
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  Caro- 
lina 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  L,ieutenant,  who  was  stand- 
ing near  him,  to  report  his  condition  to  General  Kershaw  and 
ask  for  instruction.  This  was  a  hazardous  undertaking  in  the 
extreme,  but  lyieutenant  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 


HISTORY   OP    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  305 

bullets  flew  around  him  in  every  direction — over  his  head, 
under  his  feet,  before,  and  behind — until  at  last  the  fatal  mes- 
senger 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  invest- 
ment of  the  city  on  the  west  side  of  the  Holston  or  Tennessee 
River.  To  advance  Mcl^aws'  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  rail- 
road, 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  di,slodge  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  a];oj)nd  Knoxville.  The  skir- 
mishers 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 
20 


306  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

right,  did  not  advance  over  the  hill.  I  returned  to  my  origi- 
nal position  where  I  found  them.  Soon  afterwards  the  skir- 
mish 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  .skir- 
mishers to  lie  down,  but  as  soon  as  the  regiment  was  abreast 
of  me  1  advanced  and  drove  the  enemy  again  across  the  creek. 
On  hearing  firing  on  the  west  of  the  hill,  I  closed  up  my  skir- 
mishers and  advance^,  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  pre- 
vented 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  grati- 
fied 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  thejplain  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  unusuall}'  unfortunate 
in  their^positions,  owing  to  the  strength  of  the  works  in  their 
front.  The  Fifteenth  got,  in  some  way,  hedged  in  between 
the  roadjand  river,  and  could  make  little  progress  in  the  face 
of  the  many  obstacles  that  confronted  them.  Their  j'oung 
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 


HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S  BRIGADE.  307 

assailants  and  the  assailed.  At  this  juncture  another  gallant 
act  was  performed  by  Captain  Winthrop,  of  Alexander's  Bat- 
tery. 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  wit- 
nessed by  the  soldiers  that  followed  the  flag  of  Kershaw , 
McLaws,  and  lyongstreet. 

Colonel  Rice,  of  the  Battalion,  was  so  seriously  wounded 
that  he  never  returned  to  active  duty  in  the  field.  Maj.or 
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  mortjing  of  the  igth  of  November  the  enemy  had  retired 
within  the  walls  of  Knoxville,  and  the  investment  of  the  city 
completed.  During  the  nights  our  sharpshooters  were  ad- 
vanced 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  ther 
opposite  side  of  us.     A  pontoon  bridge  was  laid  across  the- 
river  below  the  city,  and  lyaw,  with  two  brigades  of  Jenkins' 
Division  and  a  battery  of  our  best  artillery,  crossed  the  Hoi" 
ston  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.     I<ongstreet  had  between  fifteen  and  seventeen  thou- 


308  HISTOKY    OF     KEKPHA-tt-'S    BKIGADE. 

sand,  after  some   reiiiforcenients   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  anaies,  each  wurkiiig  in  plain  \-ie\v  of  the  other,  with- 
out any  disposition  to  disturb  tiie  operati^ins  of  either  by 
shelling  from  the  forts  in  our  front  or  liom  oiir  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  resist- 
ance— 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  necessitj'  "comes  the  tug  of  war." 

On  the  2  2(3,  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  b  dy  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  the,m,  and  did  not  return 
until  the  26th,  having  frightened  the  enemy  away  in  the  mean- 
time. The  officers  of  McLaws'  assaulting  column  protested 
against  the  night  attack,  preferring  daylight  for  such  impor- 
tant work,  which  in  the  end  was  granted. 

The  night  of  the  24th  the  enemy  made  a  sally,  attacking 
Woflord's  front;  but  was  soon  repulsed  and  driven  back  within 
his  lines.  Longstreet  now  awaited  the  reinforcement  that  was 
approaching  with  all  speed.  Jones'  Bragade  of  Cavalry,  from 
Southwest  Virginia,  came  up  on  the  28th,  while  Bushrod 
Johnston,  with  his  own  Brigaide  of  Tennessee.  Infantry  and 
Grade's  Brigade  of  Alabamians,  was  near  at  hand  and  moving 
with  all  haste.  The  infantry  and  artillery  promised  from  Vir- 
ginia 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  disas- 
trous 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  cf>mmemfce  the 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  309 

attack  on  Fort  Sanders  at  early  dawn  on  the  29th  by  the  bri- 
gades of  McLaws.  Fort  Sanders,  the  key  to  Burnside's  posi- 
tion, was  a  forinidable  fortress,  coveriuja^  several  acres  of 
ground,  built  by  the  Confederates  when  in  possession  of  Knox- 
ville,  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  leet.  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  entrenciiments.  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  L,ongstreet  had  marshalled 
his  forces  for  the  combat,  while  the  troops  in  Fort  Sanders 
slept  all  unconscious  of  the  near  appi caching  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,  I'.ntil  the  water  was  in  places  waist  deep. 
But  the  men  floundered  through  the  water  to  the  opiiosite  side 
and  stood  shi\-ering  in  their  wet  garments,  while  the  cool 
air  of  the  Novem'ier  moruing  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  Mis- 
sissippians,  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 


310  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

by  the  other  two  brigades  then  present  of  Jenkins'.  The 
battle  was  to  focus  aronnd  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  entrench- 
ment, 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  col- 
umn 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  b5'  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  mo- 
ment, the  slow  and  steady  steps  of  the  "forlorn  hope"  could 
be  seen  marching  towards  the  deaih  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  cannon- 
eers a  telling  fire,  and  as  the  enemy's  infantry  in  the  fort  rose 
above  the  parapets  to  delivei  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 


HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  311 

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  compan- 
ions. 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  wait- 
ing 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  Caro- 
linians and  Benning's  Georgians  on  the  left  would  have  been 
beyond  the  range  of  conjecture.  Just  at  this  supreme  moment 
Major  Goggans,  of  Mclyaws'  staff,  who  had  oeen  at  the  fort 
and  took' in  the  worst  phases  of  the  situation,  rode  to  General 
Ivongstreet  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  lyongstreet  bitterly  regret- 
ted 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  L,ongstreet  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  dur- 


312  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

ing  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  train- 
ing, or  tactical  knowledge;  nor  the  soldiers  in  courage,  daring, 
and  self-denials.  None  of  these  were  lacking,  for  the  ofBcers 
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  com- 
manders 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  fail- 
ing, he  returned  to  his  home,  and  in  Januarj',  1855,  entered 
the  Mt.  Zion  College,  at  Winnsboro,  Fairfield  County,  taught 
by  Hon.  J.  W.  Hudson,  and  .spent  one  j'ear  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, sus- 
pended for  six  months. 

When  the  first  alarm  of  war  was  sounded.  Major  Gist  re- 
sponded promptly,  with  the  same  chivalric  spirit  that  was  sO' 
characteristic  of  his  whole  life.  He  joined,  as  a  private. 
Captain  Gadberry's  Company,  from  tjnion,  and  left  for  Char- 
leston 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  ex- 
pired. A  vacancy  occurring,  Colonel  Gregg  appointed  him  his 
Sergeant  Major. 

After  the  fall  ot  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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  313 

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  DeSanssure,  then  was  promoted  to 
Major.  There  being  no  of&cer  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  appreci- 
ated his  worth.  He  was  kind  and  aifectionate  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  respon- 
sibility of  leadership,  placed  himself  where  danger  was  great- 
est, 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  famiiy 
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  Cokes- 
bury.  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 


314  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

Laurens  County,  near  Waterloo,  where  we  find  him  sur- 
rounded 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  I,aurens 
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  lyieutenant  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  exacth-  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  exerci.-ing  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  (vide  sketch  of  battalion). 

Returning  from  an  enjoyable  leave  of  absence,  he  found  his 
command  at  Chambersburg,  Pa.  Three  days  later  he  com- 
manded 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  daj's 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  315 

afterwards  he  was  given  ore  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  thdusands  were  tempted  like  Zobel,  but  turned 
away  with  scorn  and  contempt.  But  Julius  Zobel  was  an  ex- 
ception 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  volun- 
teers 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,  geni- 
ality, 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  com- 
panion. "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 


316  HISTORY   OF     KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  1  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  rein- 
forcements 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  sufiBcient  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 


HISTORY   OF    KHRSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  317 

thiu  teut  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,  com- 
pletely cut  off  from  railroad  connection  with  the  outside  world. 
Did  the  men  murmur  or  complain?  Not  a  hit  of  it.  Had 
they  grown  disheartened  and  demoralized  by  their  defeat  at 
Knoxville,  or  had  they  lost  their  old-time  confidence  in  them- 
selves and  their  General  ?  On  the  contrary,  as  difficulties  and 
dangers  gathered  around  their  old  chieftain,  they  clung  to 
hmi,  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  sufifer  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  Pennsyl- 
vania, 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  uncom- 
plaining 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  forti- 
fications 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 


318  HISTORY    OF    KBiRSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  le,ft  were  well  under  way,  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  divis- 
ion and  some  artillery  on  his  long  march  from  Virginia  to  rein- 
force Ivongstreet,  but  too  late  to  be  of  any  material  service  to 
the  commanding  General.  Bragg' s  orders  had  been  impera- 
tive, "to  assault  Knoxville  and  not  to  await  the  reinforce- 
ment." 

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  London,  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  impres- 
sion of  the  troops  that  they  would  remain  here  for  a  length  of 
tirhe,  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  Knox- 
ville 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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  319 

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  Rodgers- 
ville,  an  incident  that  will  ever  remain  fresh  in  the  memory  Of 
all  of  the  old  First  Division  who  witnessed  it.  It  is  with  feel- 
ings 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  f.itiguing  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  sur- 
rounding objects  appear  like  moving,  grotesque  phantoms. 
The  heavens  above  were  all  bedecked  with  shimmering  stars, 
pouring  down  upon  the  sleeping  Valley  of  the  Holstdn  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  sop,  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  ignominous  death  at  the 
stake.  Ah  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  regi- 
ments from  North  Georgia  or  Tennessee,  and  in  an  ill-fated 


320  HISTORY  OF  Kershaw's  brigade. 

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  sen- 
tence 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  vi.sion  can  comtemplate  nor  morLal  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  inwardlj'  and 
was  keenly  conscious  of  the  fact  that  he  had  been  caught  upon 
the  crest  of  a  great  wave  of  aestiny,  soon  to  be  swept  away  by 
its  receding  force  to  darkness,  despair,  death.  "Fate  had 
played  him  falsel}'. ' ' 

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  victori- 
ous 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  surround- 
ings adapted  to  the  end  in  view,  that  it  seemed  as  if  nature 
had  anticipated  the  purpo.ses  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. 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  321 

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  ot  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 
Tude  stake  had  been  driven  in  the  ground.  To  this  he  boldly 
walked,  calmly  kneeling  in  front,  allowing  himself  to  be  ban- 
daged and  pinioned  thereto.  The  guards  had  formed  in  double 
ranks,  fifteen  paces  in  front,  his  faithful  son  standing  some  dis" 
tance  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  morn- 
ing; 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  Burn- 
side's  failure  to  either  crush  I^ongstreet  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 
21 


322  HISTORY   OF    EliESHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

succeeded  will  be  related  further  on.  In  obedience  to  the 
department's  special  orders,  General  lyongstreet  had,  several 
days  previous,  sent  Wheeler's  Cavalry  back  to  General  John- 
ston, 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  with- 
drawal to  Dalton,  and  his  subsequent  relinquishment  of  com- 
mand 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 
Bastern  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  lyongstreet  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  por- 
tion 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  in- 
credible 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." 


HISTORY   OF    KEKSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  323 

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  artiller}'- 
opened  a  furious  fusilade  upon  the  troops,  coming  down  the 
road  with  their  rifled  guns  and  field  mortars.  Bushrod  John- 
ston 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  over- 
head. The  enemy  must  have  had  presage  of  our  position,  for 
they  began  throwing  Shells  up  in  the  air  from  their  6iortars 
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  clifl".-  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  tb  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,  "Ivook  out !  Look  out !  There  comes 
a  shell."  Lower  and  lower  it  came,  all  feeling  their  hopeless- 
ness 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  indiffer- 
ent, 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 


324  HISTORY    OF     KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

direct!}'  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  ns  are  prepared  to  say  whether  this  was  mere 
chance,  or  that  the  bo'.t  was  guided  and  directed  by  an  invisible 
hand? 

Bushrod  Jolmston  had  formed  on  the  left  of  the  road;  Ker- 
shaw marching  over  the  crest  of  the  hill  in  our  front,  and  put- 
ting 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  divi.sion 
and  Jei. kins'  two  brigades.  The  cannonading  of  the  enemy 
was  especialh-  severe  during  our  halt,  and  (General  Kershaw 
had  to  frequently  shift  his  regiments  to  avoid  the  terrific  force 
of  the  enemy's  sliells.  It  was  not  the  intention  of  the  com- 
manding 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  g^ neral,  advance  was  made. 
One  of  Kershaw's  regiments  was  climbing  along  the  mountain 
side,  endeavoring  to  gain  the  enemy's  left,  and  as  our  skir- 
mishers 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  artil- 
lery was  now  brought  up  and  put  in  action,  our  infantry  con- 
tinuing to  press  forward,  sometimes  at  double-quick. 

We  passed  over  the  enemy's  entrenchments  without  firing  a 
gun.  Night  having  set  in,  and  General  lyongstreet  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  misunder- 
standing of  orders,  the  commander  of  the  cavalry  withdrew 
from  the  mountain  passes,  and  the  enemy  taking  advantage  of 


HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  325 

this  outlet  so  unexpectedly  offered,  made  his  escape  under  cover 
of  darkness.  Here  we  had  another  truthful  verification  of  tTie 
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  com- 
manding 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  hand.'--.  A  blinding 
sleet  was  falling,  covering  the  rope  continually  with  a  sheet  of 
ice,  almost  freezing  the  hands  of  the  thinly  clad  and  birefooted 
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  L,ongstreet  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  luxune*,  we  were  not  quite  happy. 
Tattered  blankets,  gnrments,  shoes  (the  later  going  —some 
gone)  opened  ways  on  all  sides  for  piercing  winter  bhsts. 
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  tem- 
porar}'  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  com- 


326  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

fort  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  be- 
come unbearable  under  his  thread-bare  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 
ofi"  like  ourselves — their  husbands  and  brothers  being  either  in 
the  Northern  or  Southern  Army — seemed  determined  on  hav- 
ing a  good  time  also.  Dancing  parties  were  frequent,  and  the 
ladies  of  Southern  sympathies  gave  the  ofiicers  and  soldiers 
royal  dinners. 

In  this  connection,  I  will  relate  an  anecdote  told  on  our 
gallant  Tieutenant  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  difiicult  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 
B  bevy  of  pretty  girls  lived.     After  an  acquaintance  of  some- 


HisfORY  OF  Kershaw's  brigade.  327 

time,  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 
Ws  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  ofi  to  bed  that  night,  the  married 
lady  said  to  him: 

"Colonel,  lay  your  pants  on  the  chair  at  your  room  door  to- 
night, 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, 
Tvas  just  as  unwilling  to  turn  his  back  to  snow-balls,  who  hap- 
pened 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  whis- 
tled 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  Nollachackey, 
and  while  we  suffered  from  cold,  we  generally  had  provisions 
sufiScient  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  march- 
ing up  on  the  right  banks  of  the  French  Broad  to  near  Dan- 
dridge.  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  Mcl/aws'  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 


328  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

Mcl^aws  bj'  the  commanding  General,  he  was  relieved  of  hi& 
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  ofiEicers  and  men,  still  he  was  wanting  in  those 
elements  to  make  a  successful  General  of  volunteer  troops — 
dash,  discipline,  and  promptness  in  action. 

General  L,ongstreet  had  bent  all  his  energies  to  the  repair- 
ing of  the  railroad  through  East  Tennesse  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  difEculty  occurred  between  Lieutenant  A  and 
Private  B,  of  the  Third,  both  good  friends,  and  no  better  sol- 
diers were  ever  upon  a  battlefield.  These  are  not  the  initials 
of  their  names,  but  will  answer  the  purpose  at  band,  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  ofiBcer  the  penalty  is 
either  death  or  long  imprisonment  with  ball  and  chain  attach- 
ments. 

Now  it  appeared  to  the  officers  who  composed  the  court- 
martial,  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  (Liutenant  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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  329 

much  as  the  men  who  were  parties  to  the  combat  themselves. 
Now  it  read  something  like  this — time,  dress  parade: 

"Whereas,  lyieutenant  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  I/ieutenant  A,  without  cause  or  provo- 
cation, therefore  both  are  equally  guilty  of  a  crime  and  misde- 
meanor, 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-enlist- 
ment. 

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  out- 
side, 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  insti- 
tute, 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  tjver-run  for  years  by  both  armies, 
some  men  could  find  provisions  and  delicacies,  and  were  never 


B30  HISTORY   OF    EERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

known  to  be  without  "one  drink  left"  in  their  canteens  for  a 
needy  comrade,  who  had  the  proper  credentials,  the  Confed- 
erate "shin-plaster."  These  foragers  had  the  instinct  (or 
acqui.ed  it)  and  the  gifts  gf  a  "knight  of  the  road"  of  worm- 
ing out  of  the  good  house-wife  little  dainties,  cold  meats,  and 
stale  bread,  and  ;f  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  sufEer  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  Quixotte.  I,  as  com- 
mandant 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,  hower  gallantl}'  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  compromi.se  mat- 
ters and  allow  chivalry  to  take,  for  the  time  being,  the  place 
of  duty,  I  agreed  to  ferry  her  over  my.self.  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. 


HISTORY  OF  Kershaw's  brigade.  331 

Once  or  twice  she  cast  disdainful  glances  at  my  feeble  and 
emaciate^  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  pass-ports,  my 
friends  and  myself  were  at  the  old  farm  house  early.  My 
companions  were  Colonel  Rutherford,  Dr.  James  Evans,  Lieu- 
tenant Hugh  Farley,  Captains  Nance,  Gary,  and  Watts,  with 
Adjutant  Pope  as  our  chaperone.  Words  fail  me  here  in  giv- 
ing a  description  of  the  dinner,  as  well  as  of  the  handsome 
young  ladies  that  our  young  hostess  had  invited  from  the  sur- 
rounding country  to  help  us  celebrate. 

Now  will  any  reader  of  this  question  the  fact  that  Long- 
street's  men  suffered  any  great  hardships,  i.'solated  as  they  were 
from  the  outside  world  ?  This  is  but  a  sample  of  our  suffer- 
ings. 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-bide  mocca- 
sins? 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  terra  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 


332  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

years  were  compelled  to  bear  arms.  This  had  been  extended 
first  to  forty  and  then  to  forty-five  and  during  Grant's  mem- 
orable 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  "I,ee  had  robbed  the  cradle 
and  the  grave."  Our  re-enlistment  was  only  a  form,  no 
change  in  ofiicers  or  organization.  Some  few  failed  to  volun- 
tarily 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  firont. 
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  quoto,  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  wa;s  a  short  leave  of  absence  to  replace  a  wornout 
horse  that  had  fallen  by  the  wayside.  Their  ranks  of  fur- 
loughed 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  con- 
tempt 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  con- 
script law;  one  particularly  was  where  all  the  men  in  a  neigh- 
borhood had  gone  or  was  ordered  to  the  front,  one  old  man  to 
five  plantations,  on  which  were  slaves,  was  exempted  to  look 


HISTORY   OF     KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  333 

after  said  farms,  manage  the  negroes,  and  collect  the  govern- 
ment 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,  generall}'  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  I^ieutenant  was  left  to  the 
choice  of  the  men,  in  pursuance  to  the  old  Democratic  princi- 
ple, "government  by  the  will  of  the  people."  Non-commis- 
sioned 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  cam- 
paigns. The  Seventh,  Fifteenth,  and  Third  Battalion  were 
without  field  officers.  Captain  Huggins  was  placed  in  com- 
mand of  the  Seventh,  and  Captain  Whiter,  the  Thifd  Battal- 
ion. 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  L,exing- 
ton,  claimed  it  b}'  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  ser- 
vice— 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  Lieuten- 
ant in  the  United  States  Army  should  not  be  given  a  commis- 
sion over  a  Captain,  or  a  Captain,  ever  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 


334  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

oiEcer.  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  sub- 
ject 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  ambu- 
lance. Then  Lewie's  patriotism  was  greater  than  his  aiiibi_ 
tion,  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  Colo- 
nel, 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  Sclioijl,  at  West  Point, 
but  afler  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  pmlession  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.  Alter  the  fall  of  Sum- 
ter, his  company,  with  several  others,  dishanded 

Returning  home,  he  organized  a  companv  for  the  Confeder- 
ate service,  was  elected  Captain,  and  joineu  the  Fifteenth 
Regiment,  then  forming  in  Columbia  under  Colonel  De- 
Saussure.  He  was  in  all  the  battles  ot  the  Maryland  cam- 
paign, in  the  brigade  under  General  DrHyttm,  -nd  in  all  the 
great  battles  with  Kershaw's  Brigade.  In  the  winter  of  1863 
he  was  made  Colonel  of  the  Fifteenth,  ^nd  served  with  his 
regiment  until  the  surrender.  On  sever.il  occasions  he  was 
in  command  of  the  brigade,  as  senior  Colore  i  present.  He 
was  in  command  at  Cold  Harbor  after  the  death  of  Colonel 
Keitt.  Colonel  Davis  wa^  one  among  tne  best  tacticians  in 
the  command;  had  a  soldierly  appearance— tall,  well-devel- 
oped, a  commanding  voice,  and  an  all  round  gi.ud  officer. 

He  returned  home  after  the  war  and  began  the  practice  ot 
medicine,  and  continues  it  to  the  present. 


HISTORY  OP  Kershaw's  brigade.  335 

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'  Com- 
pany, and  was  made  Orderly  Sergeant.  He  served  with  that 
company,  under  Colonel  Gregg,  in  the  campaign  against  Sum- 
ter. His  company  did  not  disband  when  the  fort  fell,  but  fol- 
lowed Gregg  to  Virginia.  At  the  expiration  of  their  term  of 
enlistment  he  returned  to  Lexington  County,  raised  a  com- 
pany, and  joined  the  Fifteenth.  He  was  in  most  of  the, battles, 
in  which  that  regiment  was  engaged.  Was  promoted  to  Lieu- 
tenant 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 
reconstructioti.     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  tailed  to  materialize.  General  Longstreet  had  ordered  a 
pontoon  bridge  from  Richmond,  and  had  determined  upon  a 
decent  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 
curps,  take  command  in  person,  and  to  drive  Longstreet 
"beyond  the  confines  of  East  Tennessee."  The  enemy's 
civalry  was  thrown  forward,  and  part  of  Longstreet's  com- 
mand having  been  ordered  East,  the  movement  was  aban- 
<l()ne(i;  ilu  ircleinency  of  the  weather,   if  ^no  Other  cause,  was 


336  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

sufficient  to  delay  operations.  Foster  being  greatly  rein- 
forced, and  I^ongstreet's  forces  reduced  by  a  part  of  his  cav- 
alry 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  moun- 
tain 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  Confeder- 
ate 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  Tennes- 
see," etc. 


CHAPTER  XXVIH 

In    Camp    on    the    Holston,    East   Tennessee. 
Return  to  Virginia. 

While  Longstreet's  Corps  had  done  some  of  the  most  stub- 
born 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  vic- 
tories were  not  what  the  country  or  General  Longstreet  ex- 
pected. To  merely  hold  our  own,  in  the  face  of  such  over- 
whelming numbers,  while  great  armies  were  springing  up  all 
over  the  North,  was  not  the  true  policy  of  the  South,  as  Gen- 
eral Longstreet  saw  and  felt  it.  We  should  go  foiward  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  foothold,  otherwise  the 
South  would  slowly  but  surely  crumble  away.  So  much  had 
been  expected  of  Longstreet' s  Corps  in  East  Tennessee,  and  so 


HISTORY    OF    KBRSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  337 

little  lasting  advantage  gained,  that  bickering  among  the 
oflBcers  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  un- 
daunted 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  great- 
est endurance  on  marches  and  in  the  camp. 

General  Law,  who  cornmanded  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  (yvhile  in  .camp  around 
Lookout  Mountain),  he  would  -not.  recognize  them,  unless 
written,  and  then,  only  under ^prqtest.  He  was  relieved  by 
General  Gregg. 

General  McLaws  was  relieved  of  his  command  from  a  want 
22 


338  HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

of  confidence  iji  jGeneral  Lpngstreet,  an4.inpre  especially^ foF 
his  inactivity  and,  tardiness. at,  the  a5sa.ults  on  Fprt  ganders,  at 
Knoxville.  .  On  ordinary  occasionSi ;  General,  .MpLaws  was 
active  and  vigilant  enough— hi?  courage  could  not  ,he  dpubted.. 
He  and  the  troop?  under  him  .had  adde(J  .largely  to  ,  the  pame 
and  fame  of  the  Army  of  Northen  Virginia,  .  Jle  had  oncers 
and  men  under  him  who.wer^  the,"flovver,Qf  qhiyalriy'?  of  the 
South,  and  were  really  the  "Old  Guard''  of  ^I^ee's  Army. 
McLaws  was  a  graduate  of  West  Point, .and  had  seen  service 
in  Mexico  and  on  the  plains  of  the  ,West. ,  But  General  Mc- 
Laws vyas  not  the  man  for  the,  times— not  the  man  to  command 
such  troops  as  he  had— r was  not.  the  officer  to  lead  in,  an  active, 
vigorous  campaign,  where  all  depended.opalertness  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,  harships,  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  Con- 
federacy. 

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  com- 
mand 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  manceuvering,  planning, 
and  fighting  battles  by  rules  or  conducting  campaigns  by  fol- 
lowing 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  divis- 


HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  339 

ion  took  on  new  life.  While  the  brigade  was  .lo.ath  to  give 
him  up,  still  they  were  proud  of  their  little. "Brigadier,"  who 
had  yet  to  carve  out  a  name  for  hitriself  on,  tlje  pill,ars  of  fame, 
and  write  his  achievements  high  up  pn  the  pages  of  ^  Jiistory  in 
the  campaign  that  was  soon  to  begin. 

It  seems  from  cotemporaneous  history  that  ;  President  Davis 
was  baiting  between  two  opinions,  either,  to  have  L,ongstreet 
retire  by  way  of  the  mountains  and  relieve  the  pressure,  against 
Johnston,  now  in  command  of  Bragg's  Army,  or  to  iinite  with 
I<ee  and  defend  the  approaches  to  Richmond., 

A  counsel  of  war  was  held  in  Richmond  between  the  Presi- 
dent, 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  be^n 
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  arm}'  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 


340  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  Confed- 
eracy could  have  been  averted.  However,  the  President  and 
his  cabinet  decided  to  coii.tiuue  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  loth  of  April,  1864,  we  were  ordered  to  strike 
tents  and  prepare  to  move  on  Bristol,  from  thence  to  be  trans- 
ported 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  Chickajuaiigaand 
East  Tennessee.  We  stopped  for  several  days  at  S^ncellorV 
=^^&.  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    com- 
mander, General  R.  E.  Lee.     Everything  po.'^sible  that  could 
add  to  our  looks  and  appearances  was  done  to  make  an  accept- 
able display  before  our  commander  in  chief.     Guns  were  burn- 
ished and  rubbed  up,  cartridg'e   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  sol- 
diers.    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  1:he  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  enthusiasrn  by  his  old  troops  on  his  appearance-. 
If  he  had  had  any  doubts  before  as  to  the  loyalty  of  his  troops. 


HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  341 

this  ojd  "Rebel  yejl"  must  have  soon  dispelled  them.  After 
taking  his  position  near  the  centre  of  the  columns,  the  com- 
mand 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  think- 
ing 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  disci- 
pline— 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  purpo.se  for  which  we  were 
brought  back  to  Virginia,  and  how  well  Longstreet's  Corps 
sustained  its  name  and  reputation  the  Wilderness  and  Spott- 
sylvania  soon  showed.  Our  ranks  had  been  largely  recruited 
by  the  return  of  furloughed  men,  and  young  men  attaining 
eighteeh  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  pre.seut  camp  about 
the  last  week  of  April,  having  rested  several  days  at  Char- 
lottsville. 

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  Gen- 
eral Ewell,  with  seventeen  thousand  and  niaety-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 


342  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

had  taken  up  his  headquarters  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
giving  the  directioii  of  this  army  hi^  personal  attention,  retain- 
ing,'  howevel'^  Ge'n'&rkl  George  S.  Meade  as  its  immediate 
commander^' 

Grant  had  divided  his  army  into  three  corps— Sedond,  under 
Major  General  W.  SJ  Hancock;'  Fifth,  Major  General  G.  K. 
Warren;  Sixth,  Majoi:  General  John  Sedgwick — all  in  camp 
hear  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  (I'enera'l  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  Gen- 
eral Fields.  The  division  had  been  led  through  the  East 
Tennessee  campaign  by  General  Jenkins,  of  South  Carolina. 
Also  a  part  of  a  divisidri  under  Geiieral  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  hun- 
dred and  ninefy-oue  liiore  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  combatfed  Grant  for  almost  a  year  with- 
out a  rest  of  a  week  from  battle  somewhere  along  his  lines. 
Lee  had  no  reinforcernerits  to  Call  up,  and  no  recruits  to 
strengthen  his  ranks,  while  Grant  had  at  his  call  an  army  of 
two  million  to  draw  froth  at  Will,  and  always  had  at  his  imme- 
diate disposal  as  many  troops  as  he  could  handle  in  one  field. 
He  not  only  outnumbered  Le.fe,  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 


HISTORY    OF    KKRSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  343 

foreign  to  the  "History  of  Kershaw's  Brigade,"  still  I  give 
them  as  matters  of  general  history,  that  the  reader  may  bet- 
ter understand  the  herculean  undertaking  that  confronted 
I/ongstreet  when  he  joined  his  forces  with  those  of  Lee's. 
And  as  thi^,  w4s  to  "be  the  deciding  canipaign  of  the  war,  it 
will  be  better  understood  by  giving  the  strength  and  environ- 
ment of  each;  array.  .The  Second,  South  Gajrolina  Regiment 
was  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Colonel  Gaillard;  the  Third, 
by  Cblbnel  Jas.  D.  Nance;  the  Seventh,  by  Ceiptaih  Jerry  Gog- 
gans;  the  "Eighth,  by  Colonel  Henagan;  the-  Fifteenth,  by 
Colonel  J.  B.  Davis;  the  Third  Battalion,  by  Captain  Whiter. 
The  brigade  wks  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  cbmmatider  of  a  regiment  or  brigade^reraained. 
The  two  military  giants  of  the  nineteenth  century  were  about 
tb  face  each  othei',  and  put  to  the  test  the  talents,  tactics,  and 
courage  of  their  respective  antagonists.'  Both  hald  Deen  suc- 
cessful'beyond  alii  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,  w^ith  ah  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  \Jvonddr.  Lee 
stood  like  a  lion  iU  thepath — his  capital 'behirtd  him,  his  army 
at  ba5^-^while  Grant,  with  equal  pugnacity,  sought  to  crush 
'  him  by  sheer  force  of  overwhelming  numbers. 


344  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 


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  th$  tururpike, 
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.  For- 
agers coming  in  the  night  before  reported  heavy  firing  in  the 
direction  of  the  Rapidan,  which  proved  to  be  the  cavalry  en- 
gagement 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  com- 
fort 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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S  BRIGADE.  345 

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  en- 
deavor 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,  Fif- 
teenth, Third  Battalion,  and  Eighth  on  extreme  right,  the 
brigade  marching  left  in  front. 

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  Ivongstreet's 
Corps  always  marched  with  three  days'  rations  in  their  haver- 
sacks, with  enough  cooking  utensils  on  their  backs  to  meet 
immediate  wants.  So  they  were  never  thfown  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  b,eiUg  detached  to  fill  up. 
The  Mississippians,  under  Humphreys,  had  already  left  the 
plank  road  in  our  rear,  and  so  had  Wofford,  with,  his  Geor- 


346  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

gians,  and  were  making  their  way  as  best  they  could  through 
this  tkhgled  mbrass 'of  the  ^A^ildei■ness,'  to'forth  linedf  battl6'on 
Kershaw's  ri^Hf.  "The'task  was  difiSciilt  in  the  ektreme,  but 
the'men  were  'eq'ualto  the-btcasibh. '  Bryan's  Gebrgia  Brigade 
filed  off  to  the  right,  in  rear;  ds  reserves'.' 

The  line  had  'not  yet  formed  before  a  perfect  hail  of  bullets 
came  flyiUg  overhead  arid  thSrbugh  '  Ouri'anks.'but  not  a  man 
moved,  only  to  allbw' the  sta'm^ede'd  troops  of  Heath's  and 
Wilcox's  to  pass  to  the  rear.  It  Seems  that  these  troops  had 
fought  the  day  before',  a'nd'lay  upon  the  "b'attlefield  with  the 
impression  thdt  they  Would  be  relieved  before  day.  They  had 
not  rfefbrrbed  their  lines,  nor  replenished  their  atflmunition 
boxes,  nor  made  any  preteiition  towards  protecting  their  front 
by  any  kind  of  work^.  The  enemy,  whO'had  likewise  occu- 
pied 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  oWers,  or  upon  the  strong 
presumption  that  Lotig-street  would  be  up  before. the  hour  of 
cotnbat.  Hancock  had'  ordered  his  advance  at  sunrise,  and 
after  a  feeble  defense  by  Heath's  and  Wilcox's  skirmish  line, 
the  enemy  blirst  Upon  th'e  unsuspecting  Confederates,  while 
some  were  cooking  a  hasty  meal,  others  still  asleep— all  unpre- 
pared for  this  thiitiderbolf  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,  fey  bid  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  frbnt  of  his' 'ti-ob'ps  at  the  Wilderness.  It 
seemed  an  inspiratibu  to  every  man  in  line,  especially  his  old 
brigade,  Whb  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  Iherri.  The  columns  were  not  yet  in 
proper  order,'  but  the '  ne'edS'  so  pressing  to  eheck  the  advance 
of  the  enemy,  that  a  forward  movement  was  ordered,  and  the 
lines  fbrmed'uf)  as  the  trobps  matched. 

The  second  moved  forward  ori  the  left  of  the  plank  road,  in 
support  ol  a  battety  stationed  there,  and  which  was  drawing  a 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  .       347 

tremendous  fire  upon  the  troops  on  both  sides  of  the  road. 
Down  the' gfentle  slope  ^the' brigade  marched,' over  and' under 
the  tangled  shrubber^  'and 'dvi^arf  sapplirgs;  While'  a' 'T^ithering 
fire  was'being  pblired  into  theni  by' as  yet  an  utiseen'en^'my. 
Men  fell  here 'arid  "there, '  officers  iifging  on  their'  commands 
and  brdering  them'  to'  ''hold  their" fir^l"'  '\A7heti  near  the 
lower  end  of  the  declivity,  'the  shodk  came. '  Just  in  frOat  of 
us,  and  riot  forty'  yards  awaj',  lay' the  eriemV.  The  long  line 
of  blue  could  be  seen  urider  the' ascending  sriioke  of  thousands 
of  rifles;  the  red  flashes  of  their  guns  seemed  to  blaze  iri  our 
very  faces.  Now  the  battle  was  on  in  eafrifest;  The  roar  of 
Kershaw's  guns  mingled  with  those  of  the  enemy.  lyOngstreet 
had  met  his  old  antagonist  of  Round,  Top,  Hancock,  the  North- 
eirn  hero,  of  Gettysburg.  The  roar  of  tbe  small  arms,  min- 
gled with  the  thunder  of  '  the  cannori'  that  Longstreet  had 
brought  forward,  echoed  and  re-echoed  up  a''nd  down  the  little 
valley,  but  nevei:  to'die  away,  for  new  troops  were  being  put 
rapidly  in  actiori  to  the  right  and  left  of  us.  M'en  rolled  and 
writhed  in  theif  last  death  struggle;  woundecl  men  groped 
their  way  to  the  rear,  being  blinded  by'  the  stifling  smoke. 
All  commands  we're  drowned  iri  this  terrible  din  of  battle — the 
earth  and  elements  shook  and  trembled  with  the  deadly  shock 
of  combat.  Regiments  were  left  without  commanders;  compa- 
nies, without  ofiEcers.  The  gallant  Colonel  Gaillard,  of  the 
Second,  had  fallen.  The  intrepid  young  tolonel  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  tattle  rolled  on.  It  seemed  for  sl  time  as  if  the 
whole  Federal  Army  was  upon  us — so  thick  arid  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  Herinom."  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 
artiiies  stood  at  extreme  tension,  arid  the  cord  must  soon  snap 
one  way  or  the  other,  or  it  seemed  as  all  would  be  annihilated. 
I/Ongstreet  seeing  the  desperate  struggle  in  Which   Kershaw 


348  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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.  Anderson'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  manceuver  the  enemy  gradually  withdrew 
from  our  front,  and  Kershaw's  Brigade  was  relieved  by  Brat- 
ton's  South  Carolina  Brigade.  I  quote  here  from  Colonel 
Wallace,  of  the  Second. 

"Kershaw's  Division  formed  line  in  the  midst  of  this  confu- 
sion, 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  groimd, 
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  dis- 
covered 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.  Gen- 
eral Bratton  witnessed  the  conduct  of  the  regiment  on  this 
occasion  and  spoke  of  it  ip  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  cfeme.  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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  349 

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  Gen- 
eral, fell  mortally  wounded.  Thus  being  left  without  a  com- 
mander, his  whole  division  gave  wayy  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  regi- 
ments, gaining  the  plank  road  in  advance  of  the  other  portion 
of  the  flanking  column,  and  seeing  Wadsworth  givjng  such 
steady  battle  to  Fields,  rushed  over  and  beyond  the  road  and 
assailed  his  right,  which  soon  gave  way.  Generals  L,ongstreet, 
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  com- 
ing up  at  this  moment,  and  seeing  through  the  dense  smoke 
what  they  corisidered  an  advancing  foe,  fired  upon  the  return- 
ing regiment  just  as  General  Longstreet  and  party  rode  be- 
tween. 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  pur- 
suit of  the  flying  enemy,  partly  by  the  fall  of  the  corps  com- 
mander and  the  frightful  loss  in  brigade  and  regimental  com- 
manders, to  say  nothing  of  the  of&cers  of  the  line.  Captain 
Doby  was  one  of  the  most  dashing,  fearless,  and  accomplished 
officers  that  South  Carolina  had  furnished  during  the  war. 
The  entre  brigade  had  witnessed  his  undatinted  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' thrcttigh  safely  the  storms  upon  storms  of  the 
enemy's.battres,  that  it  made  it  doubly  Sad  to  think'of  his 
dying  at  the  hands  of  h-is  ■ttiistaken  friends.'  On  'this  same 
plank  road;  only  a'fewmiles'distant.  General  Jackson' lost  his 
life  one  year  before,  under  similar  circumstances,  and  at  the 


350  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

hands  of  the  sapie  troops.  Had  it  not  beep  for  the  qoplness  of 
General  Kershaw,  in  riding,  oi;it  to  where,  h^  heard  Jenkins' 
rifles  clicking  tp  retijrn  the  fire,  and  called  out,  '-Friends,"  it 
would  be  difltt.cult  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  I,ee  and 
impending  disaster  at  this  critical  moment,  and  stemming  the 
tide  of  battle  singlehanded  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  Ivong- 
street  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 
Mclyaws'  (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  linfes.  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!     Th«  brigade  sustained  a  heavy 


HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  351 

loss,  beginning  with  many  patient.,  .gallant  spirits  ,in  .the  ranks, 
and  culminating  in  Nance,  G^illard,.  and  Dob}'.," 

No  further  pursuit  being  mad,e,  by  Kershaw's  Brigade  dur-. 
ing  the  day,  it  was  allowed,  to  ^e^t-  a,fter  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  io.Qking ., 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  ar^  scenes  too  sickening  for  sensi^ 
tive  eyes  and  ears.  Here  you  see  men,  with  leg  shattered, 
pulling  themselves  to  the  rea.'  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  them- 
selves; 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  Ijfe  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 
sadest  sights  I  almost  ever  witnessed.  A  soldier  from  Com- 
pany 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'Ieg,  he  began 
to  tighten  by  twisting  the  stick  around.  Bat  too  late;  life  had 
fled,  leaving  both  hands  clasping  the  stick,  kis  «y«s  glassy  and 
fixed. 


352  HISTORY   OP    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADK. 

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  hos- 
pital tents,  over  which  the  yellow  flag  floated.  The  surgeons 
and  assistant  surgeons  never  get  their  meed  of  praise  in  sum- 
ming 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  hos- 
pital. 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  North- 
ern 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,  clamy  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  npt,  who  stakes  his  all, 

■  Up'on  the  right,  aad  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 


HISTORY   OV    KERSHAW* SBRIGABE.  853 

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. 

COtONEI,  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 
eoUected^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  mus- 
ketry, 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  loth,  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  New- 
berry. .  •  . 
23 


354  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

"When  the  State  seceded  from  the  Union,  Dedember,  i860,, 
and  volunteers  for  her  defense  were  called  for,  he  *as  unani- 
mously 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  regi- 
ment in  the  various  battles  around  Richmond,  June  and  July,. 
1862,  Second  Manassas,  Maryland  Heights,  Sharpsburg,. 
Fredericksburg  (where  he  was  severely  wounded),  Gettys- 
burg, 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  confi- 
dence 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  spleuded  qualities  and 
achievements  in  battle  and  in  council  were  noted  and  appreci- 
ated, as  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  at  the  time  of  his  death  a 
commission  of  Brigadier  General  had  beet,  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  G-aillard  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. 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  355 

the  State,  he  paved  the  way  and  prepared  the  people  for  the 
great  struggle  soon  to, take  place,  stimulating  them  to  an  en- 
thusiasm 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  war-like  passions  he  had 
aroused,  when  the  titne  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  Pine- 
ville,  in  the  present  County  of  Berkeley.  In  his  early  child- 
hood 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  iVcaderay,  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  rela- 
tives 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  indiflFerent  success,  he  returned 
to  this  State  once  more,  making  his  home  with  his  uncle,  in 
Winnsboro.  In  1853  (or  thereabout )  he  became  the  proprie- 
tor 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  Lieu- 
tenant, and  became  a  member  of  the  renowned  Second  Regi- 
ment. 

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. 


; HISTORY   OK'.KB.KSffli'W'iS  "BSIGAEIE. 

:  Golonel-  GaiUard  was  a  descendant  of  .a'Ejren'efaHitigtietiot 
emigrant,  who,  with  tnany  others,  settled  MthiS'Stafearfterthe 
Revocation  of  the  Edict  of  Nantes,  in  1685-. 


CHAPTER  XXX 

Brock's  Cross  Road  and  SpottSylvania  to  North 

Anna. 

Having  been  wounded  in  the  l^st  assault,  I  insert  here 
Adjutant  Y.  J.  Pope's  description  of  the  operations  of  Ker- 
shaw'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  I,ong- 
street's  Corps  in  the  place  oi  Pickett's,  now  on  detached  ser- 
vice. Colonel  Hennegan,  of  the  Eighth,  commanded  the 
brigade  as  senior  Colonel. 

NORTH    ANNA   PIVER,    VIRGINIA.' 

How  many  times,  as  soldiers,  have   v\e  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  Wilder- 
ness,   Brock's  Road,   and  Spottsylvania — .stop  a  minute-  and 
think  of  these  battles — don't  5 on  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  hynins  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 


HISTORY   OF     KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  357 

all  of  a  suddfen  we  hear  the  roll  of  rriusketry.  The  armies  are  ■ 
at  work;  General  Lee  has  riddeh  tip  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.  Preseritly,  our  four  companies  came  up; 
so  gallantly  they  looked  as  they  came.  Promptly  filling  up 
the  broketi'  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 
plftfckfed  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  coltimn,  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  conies  the  peerless  chieftain,  Lee,  and  he  orders  the  pur- 
suing columns  to  halt.  A  line  of  hastily  constructed  field- 
works  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  bafSed!  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  with- 
out 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  for- 
ward as  if  by  magic.  We  occupy  the  rail  piles  in  timfe  to  see 
a  column,  a  gallant  column,  moving   towards'  us,  about  sixty 


358  HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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  oflF,  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  nth  of  May,  a  staff'  officer  stole  quieily 
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  wtnt  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  kin- 
dled into  a  blaze,  making  himself  a  cup  of  coffee.  He  spoke  to 
the  soldier,  saying: 

"Who  is  that?" 


HISTORY   OF    KBHSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  359 

The  soldier  replied,  not  recognizing  the  Colonel's  voice: 
■*  'Who  in  the  h — 1  are  you?' ' 

The  Colonel  said:  'I Don't  you  know  the  Yankees  are  be- 
tween 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 
lyce. 

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  pro- 
tect the  bridge  across  the  river  frpm  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  anj'- 
thing  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  riyer  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 
light  and  center,  but  this  attack  we  repulsed.  Again  the 
same  points  were  assailed,  with  alike  result.     Then  the  attack 


360  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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. ' '  Where- 
upon, 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 I 
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  lit- 
ter." The  laugh  was  turned.  All  this,  however,  ^as  :i-a 
perfect  good  humor. 


HISTORY  OF    KBRSHAW'S   BRIGADK.  361' 

It-hfts'been  shown  how'  Kershaw's  South  Garelina  Brigade 
closed  the  breach  in  Lee's  Army  on  the  6th  of  May,  and 
turned  disaster  into  a  glorious  victory,  atid  iasthe  12th  of  May, 
at  "Bloody  Angle,"  near  Spottsylvania  Court  house,  will  go 
dowd  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  por- 
tion 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    MCGO WAN'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  ap- 
peared 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,  ex- 
cept the  Twelfth  Regiment,  which  was  the  right  of  the  bri- 
gade. 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  \vorkSi     About  the  time  we 


362  HISTORY  OF  Kershaw's  brigade. 

readied  the  inner  lines,  General  McGowan  was  wounded  by  a 
iminie  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  com- 
mand 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  Hue.  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  sur- 
face 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  knap- 
sacks, guns,  and  accourtrements,  with  ammunition  boxes, 
were  scattered  all  around.  In  the  rear  disabled  caissons  stood 
and  limbers  of  guns.  The  rain  poured  heavily,  and  an  inces- 
sant 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 
laised  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  Fed- 
'crals  were  only  separated  by  the  works,  and  the  latter  not  a 
few  times  reached  their  guns  over  and  fired  right  down  upon 
ithe  heads  of  the  former.  So  continued  the  painfully  unvary- 
ing battle  for  more  ihan  two  hours.  At  the  end  of  that  time  a 
Tumor  arose  that  the  enemy  was  desirous  to  come  in  and  sur- 
render. Colonel  Brown  gives  the  following  in  his  oflficial 
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  o65cer  answered  that 


HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S"  BRIGADE.  363 

he  was  waiting  'out  surrender — that  we  had  raised  a  white 
flag,  whereupon  he  had  caased  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  ou  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  relax- 
ation of  the  firing.  An  ensign  of  a  Federal  regiment  came 
right  up  to  us  during  the  "peace  negotiations"  and  demanded 
our  surrender.  lyieutenant  Carlisle,  of  the  Thirteenth  Regi- 
ment, 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  ques- 
tion 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  crim- 
son, the  corpses  grew  more  numerous.  Every  tree  about  us, 
for  thirty  feet  from  the  ground,  was  barked  by  balls,     Just 


364  HISTORY   OF-   KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

before  night  a  tree  six  or  eight  inches  in  diameter,  just  behind f 
the  works,  was  cut  down  by, the  bullets  of  the  enemy.  We' 
noticed  at  the  same  time  a  large  oak  hacked  and  torn  in  siich  a  ■ 
manner  never  before  seen.  Some  predicted  its  fall  before  morn- 
ing, but  the  most  of  us  considered  that  out  of  the  question. 
But  about  10  o'clock  it  did  fall  forward  on  our  works,  wound- 
ing some  rnen  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  noislessly  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  Caro- 
linians, 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  i8th.  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  Stuaft  could  be 
heard  on  the  flank  or  front,  and  universal  sadness  was  thrown 
around  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,*  as  well  as  the  whole 


HISTORY   OP    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  365 

South,  by  his  death.  It  was  conceded  by  the  Novth,  as  well 
as  the  South,  that  Stuart  was  the  finest  type  of  cavalry 
leader  in  either  army.  lyongstreet  badly  wounded,  Stuart 
and  Jenkins  dead,  certainly  gave  the  prospects  of  the  cam- 
paign just  opening  anything  but  an  assuring  outlook. 

TWENTIETH   SOUTH   CAROLINA   REGIMENT. 

About  this  time  our  brigade  was  reinforced  by  the  Twenti- 
eth 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,"  I^awrence  M.  Keitt.  It 
was  quite  an  acceptable  acquisition  to  our  brigade,  since  our 
ranks  had  been  depleted  by  near  one  thousand  since  the  5th 
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  indulgei!  in  at  their  expense  by  Ker- 
shaw's "web  feet."  From  their  enormous  strength  in  num- 
bers, 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  Nine- 
teenth, Holcomb  Legion,  and  other  regiments.  The  compa- 
nies composing  the  Twentieth  assembled  at  the  ra-:e  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— I/.  M.  Keitt. 

Lieutenant  Colonel — O.  M.  Dansler. 

Major — S.  M.  Boykin. 

Adjutant — ^John  Wilson. 

Q_uartermaster — John  P.  Kinard. 

Commissary —  Brock. 

Surgeon — Dr.  Salley. 

Assistant  Surgeon — Dr.  Barton. 

Chaplain— Rev.  W.  W.  Duncan. 
,  ■  Company  A,  Anderson  and  Pickens — Captain  Partlow^ 


366  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE, 

Company  B,  Orangeburg — Captain  McMichael. 

Company  C,  lycxington — 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  lyexington — Captain  Ruff. 

Conipany  I,  Orangeburg  and  Lexington — Captain  Gunter, 

Company  K,  Lexington — Captain  Harmon. 

Captain  Jno.  P.  Kinard,  of  Company  F,  was  made  Quarter- 
master, 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  of&cers 
were  of  the  name  of  Gunter,  and  it  is  needless  to  add  that  it 
was  called  the  Gunter  Compan'y. 

Colonel  Keitt,  acting  as  Brigadier  General  while  in  Charles- 
ton, the  entire  management  of  the  regiment  was  left  to  Lieu- 
tenant Colonel  Dansler.  He  was  a  fine  ofiBcer,  a  good  tacti- 
cian, and  thorough  disciplinarian.  A  courteous  gentleman, 
kind  and  sociable  to  all,  he  was  greatly  beloved  by  oflBcers  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  Bat- 
tery Marshall,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Island,  to  assist  in  the 
management  of  the  siege  guns  at  that  point. 

On  the  7  th  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 
Fede.al  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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  367 

badly  crippled,  drawing  off  after  dark.  In  December  eight 
companies  were  moved  over  to  Mt.  Pleasant  and  two  to  Kin- 
loch's  Landing. 

During  the  memorable  siege  of  Morris'  Island,  the  Twen- 
tieth 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  df  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-posses- 
sion 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.  For- 
tunately the  waters  here  were  shallow  enough  for  the  men  to 
toucli  bottom  and  wade  out,  some  to  Fort  Johnson,  some  to 
Fort  Sumter,  while  others  remained  in  the  shallows  until  re- 
lieved by  small  boats  from  shore.  The  regiment  lost  sixteen 
men,  either  killed  or  drowned. 

On  the  i6th  or  i8th  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 


370  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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  oak- 
land,  studded  with  undergrowth,  crowding  and  swaying  iu 
irregular  lines,  the  enemy's  skirmi.'^hers  pounding  away  at  us 
as  we  advanced.  Colonel  Keitt  was  a  fine  target  for  the  sharp- 
shooters, and  fell  before  the  troops  reached  the  timber,  a 
martyr  to  the  inexorable  laws  of  the  army  rank.  Into  the- 
dark  recessess  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  disorgan- 
ized ranks  could  not  cope  with  them.  Some  of  the  regimental 
officers  seeing  the  disadvantage  at  which  our  troops  were  fight- 
ing, 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  molesta- 
tion than  the  whizzing  of  the  energy'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,  saj's: 

"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  in- 
formed 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 


HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  371 

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  con- 
sisted 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  eflEcient 
officers.  Captain  Ralph  Elliott,  a  brother  of  General  Stephen 
Elliott.  He  was  a  brave  soldier  and  a  most  estimable  gentle- 
man." 

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  ist  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 — Lieutenal  Coloiiel  S.  M.  Boykin. 

Third  Battalion — Captain  Whitener. 

Brigade  Commander — Colonel  James  Henagan. 

Grant  stretched  his  lines  across  our  front  and  began  ap- 
proaching our  works  with  his  formidable  parallels.  He  would 
erect  one  line  of  breastworks,  then  uuder  cover  of  night,  an- 
other 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  danger- 
ously near  one's  head — if  he  escaped  it  at  all.     The  service  in 


,372  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S  -BKIOADE. 

th^  pits  here  for  two  weeks  was  the,  most  ienormoiis  and  fatfgn- 
ing  of  any  in  the  service — four  men  being  in-a  pitfor  twenty- 
four  hours  in  the  broiling  sun  during  the  day,  without  any 
protection  whatever,  and  the  oit  was  so  small  that  one  conld 
neither  sit  erect  nor  lie  down. 

Earlj'  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  culinin-Jtion  of  his  plan  to  break 
through  Ler'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  mus- 
ketry began  to  roll  along  in   a  regular  wave,  coming  nearer 
and  nearer  £1.=;   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 
gre  It  difficulty   in  restraining  the  men  from  opening  fire  too 
SDon.      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  gall- 
ing fire  into  the  tangled   mass  of  advancing  and  retreating 
troops.     The  double  column,  like  the  first,  came  with  ashout,-- 
a  huzzah,  and  a  charge.     But  our  men   had  by  this  time  re- 
loaded their  pieces,  and  were  only  too  eager  awaiting  the  com- 
mand "fire."     But  when  it  did  come  the  result  was  telling — 
men  falling  ou  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  rak- 


HISTORY    OF     KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  373 

ing  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  de.sperate  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  necessitv  of  rising 
above  the  works  to  fire,  rendered  our  breastworks  of  little  real 
advantage;  conside.ing,  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  Dvision  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,  un- 
fortunate beings  plied  with  liquor  until  all  their  sensibilities 
were  so  deadened  that  death  had  no  horrors.  Grnnt  nmst 
have  learned  early  in  the  day  the  impo.ssibility  of  breaking 
I/ce's  line  by  direct  charge,  for  by  twelve  o'clock  the  filing 
ceased. 

This  last  assault  of  Grant's  thoroughly  convinced  the  hero 
of  Vicksburg  and  Missionary  Ridge  of  tlie  impo.ssibility  of 
breaking  L/ce's,  lines  by  direct  advances.  He  could  not  sur- 
prise him  at  any  point,  or  cdtch  him  off  his  guard,  for  Lee 
knew  every  foot  of  the  ground  too  well,  having  fought  all  over 
it  for  two  j-ears.  It  was  estimated  and  confirmed  aftewards  by 
official  reports,  that  Grant  had  lost  sixty  thousmd  n^en  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  wis- 
dom of  the  plan. 


374  HISTORY  OF    KERSHA-W'S   BRIGADE. 

The  two  regiments  on  the  left  of  the  brigade  did  not  suffer 
so  greatly  as  the  others,  being  protected  somewhat  by  the  tim- 
ber 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  I^awrence  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  Winns- 
boro,  Fairfield  County,  where  he  spent  one  year  in  preparation 
for  the  South  Carolina  College,  which  he  entered  in  his  four- 
teenth year,  graduating  third  in  his  class.  He  read  law  in 
Attorney  General  Bailey's  office  in  Charleston,  S.  C,  and  was 
adnjitted  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  I,ower  House  of  Congress  in 
1853.  He  served  in  that  body  until  December,  i860,  when  he 
resigned  his  seat  and  returned  to  South  Carolina  on  the  eve  of 
the  secession  of  his  State  from  the  UViion.  He  was  a  leading 
Secessionist  and  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Secession  Con- 
vention. That  body  after  passing  the  Ordinance  of  Secession 
elected  him  a  delegate  to  the  Provisional  Congress  of  the  Con- 
federate 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  Caro- 
lina Volunteers  and  went  into  the  Confederate  Army.  His 
command  was  ordered  to  Charleston.  He  served  with  hi§  com- 
mand 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  dur- 
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  Beaurfe- 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAw'S   BRIGADK.  375 

gard  in  his  report  to  the  War  Department  said  it  was  one  of 
the  greatest  retreats  in  tlje- annals  of  warfare. 

The  latter  part  of  May,  .1864,  he  left  Charleston  with  his 
•command  and  joined  General  I^ee's  Army  thirteen  miles  from 
Richmond.  He  carried  about  sixteen  hundred  men  in  his  reg- 
iment 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  ot 
the  enemy  he  was  shot  through  the  liver  and  fell  mortally 
Tvounded.  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 
Tiead  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  stilness  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  Gov- 
•ernment  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  toaster  hand  at  foraging   upon 


376  HISTORY   OF    KEKSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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  still- 
ness 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  Pay  singer,  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  posi- 
tion. The  bullet  struck  Paysinger  in  the  thigh  and  ranging 
upwards  lodged  in  his  hip,  causing  him  to  be  a  cripple  for  sev- 
eral 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  great- 
ly annoyed  by  the  shells  thrown  by  mortars  or  cannon  mounted 
as  such,  which  were  continually  bursting  overhead  or  drop- 
ping 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  diill  thud,  and  one  of  our 
men  lay  dead.  It  is  astonishing  how  apt  soldiers  are  in  avoid- 
ing danger  or  warding  it  off,  and  what  obstacles  they  can  over- 
come, 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  rab- 
bits 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  worn-out  shovels.  At  some  of  these  angles 
the  passer-by  would  be  exposed,  and  in  going  from  one  open- 
ing to  another,  only  taking  the  fraction  of  a  second  to  accom- 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW' S   BRIGADE.  377 

plish,  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  dan- 
gerous 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  blan- 
ket 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  riflles  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  memor- 
able 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 


"378  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

with  Grant's  advance  on  the  Rapidan  an  army  of  thirty  thous- 
and 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.  Beauaegard  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  L,ee  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  tg  I^ee  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  ob- 
ligations 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  Gen- 
eral 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  chey  had  not  been  overshadowed  by  the  mag- 
nitude 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  Chickahoiuiny,  pre- 
vented 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  de- 
serve 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  credi- 
ble to  believe  with  what  small  force  the  plucky  little  Creole 
held  back  such  an  overwhelming  army. 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  379 

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  artil- 
lery, 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  tbe 
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  andJPetersburg  but  Beauregard's  two  thousand 
men  of  all  arms.  fKant'^— Gavairy  and  one  division  of  negro 
troops,  under  HinKST'Bad  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  push- 
ing on  to  Petersburg.  Wright  (Sixth)  and  Burnside  (Ninth) 
crossed  by  way  of  Jones'  Bridge  and  the  James  and  Appomat- 
tox 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  i6th.  Beauregard  being  thus  reinforced, 
had  ten  thousand  troops  of  all  arms  on  the  morning  of  the 
i6th,  with  which  to  face  Meade's  Army,  consisting  of  Han- 
cock'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  advan- 
tage. 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  advan- 
tage, with  the  exception  of  one  division  before  alluded  to.    Lee 


380  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

was  still  north  of  the  James  with  his  entire  army,  and  unde- 
cided 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  over- 
whelming 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  grad- 
ually 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  rauks,  these  gray-beards 
and  half-grown  boys,  for  three  days,  and  to  their  credit  be  it 
said,  ''they  weatheied  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  wavinjj  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  waj?  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  Geaeral   Wise,   taking 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  381 

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  Ivongstreet,  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,  nbw  manned  by  a  thin  skirmish  line,  and  seemed  deter- 
mined 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  thous- 
and under  General  Beauregard,  making  a  total  of  twenty 
thousand,  successfully  combatted  Grant's  whole  army,  esti- 
mated by  the  Federals  themselves  as  being  ninety  thousand. 
These  are  some  figures  that  might  well  be  taken  in  considera- 


382  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

tion  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  Imes  farther  to  the^ 
left,  lengthening  our  lines  and  thereby  weakening  them.     On 
the  2 1  St  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  ma- 
noeuver,  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  thous- 
and prisoners  and  a  battery  or  two  of  artillery.      The  enemy 
continued  to  give  way  until  they  came   upon  their  strong  en- 
trenched 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  Rich- 
mond, 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  Fed- 
eral Army,  (a  true,  thorough  gentleman,  and  as  brave  as  the 
bravest,  and  one  whom  the  South  in  after  years  had  the  pleas- 
ure 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,    Han- 
cock 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  de- 
pended was  that  by  Danville,  Va.     This  was  a  military  road 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  38? 

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  junc- 
tion 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  con- 
fidence 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  re- 
verses might  prolong  the  struggle,  but  to  change  the  ultimate 
results,  never.     And  at  the  North  there  were  loud  and  wide- 
spread 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  Appo- 
mattox.    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  re- 


384  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

suit  of  their  toil  of  a  lifetime,  going  to  feed  this  army  of  over 
two  millions  of  men,  to  pa}'  the  bounties  of  thousands  of  mer- 
cenaries of  the  old  countries  and  the  unwilling  freedmen  sol- 
diers 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  theSpartan  injunction,  bade  them  "come 
home  with  your  shield,  or  on  it."  The  fathers,  like  the  Scot- 
tish Chieftain,  if  he  lost  his  first  born,  would  put  forward  his 
next,  and  say,  "Another  one  for  Hector."  Their  store- 
houses, 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  achieve- 
ments, 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  grand- 
mothers, 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  handstand  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  re- 
straint were  laid  aside,  and  no  such  thing  as  stranger  known. 
iThe  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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  385 

were  to  be  passed,  or  along  the  sidewalks  in  cities,  the  ladies 
set  the  bread  to  baking  and  would  stand  for  hours  in  the  door- 
way 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  contin- 
ually 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  en- 
dured. The  North  had  fouUd  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  exchajige  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 
25 


386  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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  South- 
land? 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  mSn  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.  Impar- 
tial history  will  thus  record  the  verdict. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII 

In  the  Trenches  Around  Petersburg. 

As  soon  as  General  I^ee's  Army  was  all   up  and  his  lines- 
established,  we  began  to  fortify  in  earnest.     The  breastworks 
t  hat  were  built  now  were  of  a  different  order  to  the  temporary 
o  nes  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 
r  avine  cutting  it  in  bwo.     Field  pieces  were  mounted  at  inter- 
vals along  the  line  with  the  infantry,  every  angle  covered  by 
one  or   more   cannon.     The   enems'^    commenced   shelling   us- 
from  mortars  from  the  very  beginning  of  oar  work,  and  kept 
itup  night    and  day  as  lohg  as  we  remained  in  the  trenches. 
The  day  after    Kershaw  took  position  Grant  began  pressing  our 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  387 

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  batterj'  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  2 ist  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  con- 
tinual dropping  of  shells  in  our  works  or  behind  them.  We 
could  hear  the  report  of  the  mortars,  and  by  watching  over- 
head we  could  see  the  shell  descending,  and  no  one  could  tell 
exactly  where  it  was  going  to  strike  and  no  chance  for  dodg- 
ing. As  every  old  soldier  knows,  card  playing  was  the 
national  vice,  if  vice  it  could  be  called,  and  almost  all  partici- 
pated 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  loui^  in 
suspense,  for  the  shell  dropped  right  upon  the  oilcloth  on 
which  they  had  been  playing.  There  it  lay  sizzing  and  splut- 
tering 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  t,he  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 


388  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

plainly  an5'  object  above  our  works,  we  could  not  see  them. 
A  head  uncautiously  raised  above  the  line,  would  be  sure  to 
get  a  bullit  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  adven- 
ture, 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  Charles- 
ton, soon  became  accustomed  to  the  shelling,  and  as  long  as 
one  did  not  drop  ia  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  sur- 
rounding 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 


HISTORY   OF    KEllSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  389 

and  fearless  men  they  were.  They  paid  no  heed  to  the 
screaming,  shrieking,  bursting  shells  all  around,  but  battled 
bravely  to  save  the  cit)'.  After  the  burning  of  several  con- 
tiguous buildings,  the  flames  were  gotten  under  control,  and 
eventiially  the  fire  was  extinguished.  I  have  seen  many  bat- 
tles, but  never  more  heroism  displayed  than  by  the  old  citi- 
zens and  boys  that  night  in  Peter.sburg.  The  soldiers  were 
not  allowed  to  leave  their  camp,  and  all  the  citizens  of  military 
age  were  aw'ay  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  >vas 
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. 


390  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

which  had  to  be  done  every  few  paces,  Colonel  Rutherford 
and  myself  were  reconnoiteting  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  under- 
growth, 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  pecul- 
iar frying  noise  made  in  going  through  the  air  and  their  enor- 
mous size  caused  the  troops  to  give  them  the  name  of  "camp 
kettles."  They  passed  through  our  earthworks  like  going 
hrough  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" 


HISTORY  OF  Kershaw's  brigade.  391 

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  Ches- 
ter 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  tun- 
neling 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  Ker- 
shaw'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  Tay- 
lor'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  coun- 
ter-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.),  Grade's  (Ala.),  and  Elliott's  (S.  C.)  Bri- 
gades. 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  con- 
venient places  to  bear  upon  the  line  and  the  place  of  explo- 
sion. 

On  the  morning  of  the  30th  qi  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  holocaust 


392  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

of  human  beings,  were  massed  lyedlie's,  Potter's,  Wilcox's,  an^ 
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  imme- 
diate command  of  Major  General  Ord.  On  the  left  of  Burn- 
side,  Warren  concentrated  ten  thousand  men,  while  the  Eigh- 
teenth Corps,  with  that  many  more,  were  in  the  rear  to  aid 
and  support  the  movement — the  whole  being  forty-three  thou- 
sand 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  lead- 
ing 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.  Immediateiy  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  Armjr  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  inta 
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 
lyieutensnt  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  junc- 
tion of  the  main  and  the  laterals.  The  fuse  had  ceased  to- 
burn.  Hurriedly  they  pass  along  to  the  other  barrels.  Ex- 
pecting 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 
fetwrn  of  the  brave  men  who  had  thus  placed  their  lives  im 


HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADK.  395 

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.  MeMASTER. 

In  order  to  understand  an  account  of  the  battle  of  the  "Cra- 
ter," 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  Pe- 
gram's  Virginia  Battery  had  four  guns  arranged  in  a  half  cir- 
cle on  the  top  of  the  hill,  and  was  separated  from  the  Eigh- 
teenth 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  be- 
hind 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  pe- 
culiar circumstances.  Beauregard  had  been  driven  from  the 
original  lines  made  for  the  defense  of  Petersburg,  and  appre- 
hensive 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  Han- 
cock's troops  at  dark  on  the  third  day's  fighting,  and  our  men 


394  HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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  :he  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  head- 
quarters 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  won- 
der 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  months'  summer  residence. 

About  ten  days  after  the  battle,  and  while  I  was  acting  Brig- 
adier 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  re- 
quest. 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  ot  my  quarters,  and  I  pointed  it  out  to  him.  He  re- 
plied, in  language  not  altogether  suitable  for  a  Sunday  School 
teacher,  that  he  would  desert  before  he  would  submit  to  such 
hardships. 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  395 

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  thirt5  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  hun- 
dred 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  I,ieu- 
tenant  of  Company  E-  without  hat  or  coat  or  shoes  ran  for  dear 
life  way  down  into  Ransom's  trenches.  When  he  came  to  con- 
sciousness 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  L,edlie'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  L,edlie's  left.  Then  Potter's  Corps  followed  by 
flanks  and  was  ordered  to  the  right  of  I^edlie'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 


396  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE^. 

the  Twenty-second,  and  Captain  R.  E.  White,  with  the  Twen- 
t5'-third  Regiment,  had  a  hot  time  in  repelling  the  enemy. 

Adjutant  Sims  and  Captain  Floyd,  of  the  Eighteenth  Regi- 
ment, 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  sofne  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  Batter}',  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. 

GENERAI.  STEPHEN  EI,I,IOTT. 

General  Stephen  Elliott,  the  hero  of  Fort  Sumter,  a  fine 
gentleman  and  a  superb  officer,  came  up  soon  after  the  explo- 
sion. He  was  dressed  in  a  new  uniform,  and  looked  like  a 
game  cock.  He  surveyed  the  scene  for  a  few  minutes;  he  dis- 
appeared 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  counterscrape.  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  im- 
mediately pulled  down  into  the  ditch,  and  with  the  utmost 
coolness,  and  no  exhibition  of  pain  turned  the  command  oveir 
to  me,  the  next  ranking  officer.  Colonels  Benbow  and  Wallace 
were  both  absent  on  furlough. 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  397 

I  immediately  ordered  John  Phillips,  a  brave  soldier  of  Com- 
pany I,  to  go  around  the  "Crater"  to  inform  the  commanding 
ofiBcer  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,  Com- 
panies 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  advace  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. 

RLWOTT'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  recov- 
ered the  lost  space.  About  this  time  they  shot  Colonel  Wright, 


398  HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

leading  the  Thirteenth  Minnesota  regiment,  and  then  the 
Federals  slacked  their  ejEForts  and  bore  to  their  right,  and  mul- 
titudes 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  offi- 
cer was  directed  over  and  over  again  to  rush  to  the  crest  of 
the  hill. 

SEVENTEENTfl  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,  amd 
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  assail- 
ants, 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.  I,ieutenant  Samuel  L,owry,  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  lyieutenant  W.  G.  Stevenson  been  present 
the  result  would  have  been  differept-  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  cap- 
ture the  enemy.  He  feasted  well  while  the  other  soldiers  fed 
on  parched  corn,  and  surrendered  at  Appomattox  with  his 
haversack  filled  with  provisions. 


HISTORY   OP    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  399 

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  lyee's  Army.  lyieutenant 
C.  Pratt,  a  fine  officer  not  more  than  twenty-five  years  old, 
was  killed.  The  command  devolved  on  Sergeant  T.  J.  I^a- 
Motte.  G  and  H  had  two  each;  I,  three;  K,  five;  and  B,  one; 
F,  five. 

The  Federals  had  the  advantage  over  the  Seventeenth  be- 
cause 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  va- 
cant 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  immedi- 
ately 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  ofiicer  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  mus- 
ketry, the  cannonading  had  closed;  it  was  after  7  o'clock,  and 


400  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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 
I,amotte  on  one  knee  on  the  ground,  and  asked  what  be  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 
€ach  other  over  the  bank.  As  an  Irishman  threw  over  a  lump 
of  clay  I  heard  him  saj',  "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. ID  A.  M.  Ferrero's  four  thousand  three  hundred  ne- 
groes rushed  over  and  reached  the  right  flank  of  the  Seven- 
teenth. This  horde  of  barbarians  added  greatly  to  the  thous- 
ands 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  ofE  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.  Gen- 
eral 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.  lyieutenant  Coloi.el 
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  as- 
sented, 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 


HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADK.  401 

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  min- 
utes 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  ofificers  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  Geoi-gians.  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  preci- 
pitated the  charge. 

The  noble  old  Roman,  Colonel  Weisinger,  cried  out  "For- 
ward !' '  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  Con- 
federate 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 
26 


402  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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  Cliugman'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  I^ieutenant  Colonel  Culp,  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  Culp,  Colonel  Smith  and  lyieutenant  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  Faut  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  gro'up  of  men  reciting  inci- 
dents.    The  Adjutant  overheard  Free  say  he  had  gone  into  aa 


HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  403 

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  defec- 
tive and  said,  "What  did  you  say,  Joe?"  "I  said  Lord  have 
mercy  on  me !  and  keep  them  damned  niggers  from  killiag 
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  verv  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  dutj'  in  Petersburg  at  the  time  of  the  explosion,  and 
could  not  get  back  until  he  reported  to  me  at  Elliott's  head- 
quarters. I  made  some  extracts  from  his  letter  recently  re- 
ceived: "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  us  very  distinctly,  and  that  he  rendered  very  efficient 
service  after  we  got  to  the  "Crater"  in  ferreting  outbidden 
Federals,  who  had  taken  shelter  there,  and  who,  for  the  most 
part,  seemed  very  loath  to  leave  their  hiding  places.  I  feel 
quite  confident  that  Capt.  Crawford  was  also  there,  but  there 


404  HISTORY    OF    KHRSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

is  nothing  that  I  can  recall  at  this  late  day  to  fasten. the  fapt 
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  appjy 
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  "Cra- 
ter," for  I  am  sure  that  our  regiment,  small  as  it  was,  covered 
the  "Crater,"  and  when  I  reached  the  old  line  with  my  com- 
mand we  found  ourselves  in  the  very  midst  of  the  old  fort, 
which,  I  may  say,  had  been  blown  to  atoms  in  the  early  morn- 
ing.    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  pris- 
oners 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  hun- 
dred 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  a^l  these 


HISTORY    OF    KERSHAw's    BRIGADE.  405 

guns,  except  the  Davenport  Battery.  General  Hunt  said  he 
expected  a  company  of  infantry  would  take  us  in  fifteen  min- 
utes after  Pegram's  Battery  was  gone.  But  the  Wright  Bat- 
tery 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  shell's  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 
over  all  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  re- 
connoitre."    This  was  before  Mahone  came  up. 

The  most  interesting  of  our  guns  were  the  two  coehorns  of 
Major  John  C.  Ha.skell,  because  all  of  his  j;hells  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  de- 
pression 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  sug- 
gestion, 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." 


406  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW' S   BRIGADE. 

Lieutenant  Bowley,  a  Federal  officer,  says:  "A  mortar  bat- 
tery 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  dis- 
tinguished phj'sician  of  Lexington,  Ky.,  came  to  me  at  El- 
liott'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  hun- 
dreds 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   BI<UNDER    IN    BEAUREGARD'S    BOOK. 

Mr.  Barnard,  in  his  interesting  article  on  the  "Crater,"  crit- 
icises a  remarkable  paragraph  in  Colonel  Roman's  work,  "bas- 
ing his  statements  made  by  General  Bushrod  Johnson  and 
Colonel  McMaster."  The  only  objection  to  my  statement  was 
I  said  Mahone's  charge  was  at  lo  o'clock  a.  m. 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  407 

The  paragraph  is  as  follows: 

"Such  was  the  situation.  The  Federals  unable  to  advance 
and  fearing  to  retreat,  when,  at  lo  o'clock,  General  Mahone 
arrived  with  a  part  of  his  men,  who  had  laid  down  in  the  shal- 
low ravine  to  the  rear  of  Elliott's  salient  held  by  the  forces 
under  Colonel  Smith,  there  to  await  the  •  remainder  of  the  Di- 
vision, 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, Jwhich  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  Ma- 
hone'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  Fed- 
erals. Many  of  the  latter,  white  and  black,  abandoned  the 
breach  and  fled  under  a  scourging  flank  fire  of  Wise's  Bri- 
gade. ' ' 

This  is  confusion  worse  confounded.  It  is  diSicult  to  find  a 
paragraph  coniaining  so  many  blunders  as  the  report  of  Gene- 
ral 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  Caro- 
lina 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  state- 
ment is  unintelligible. 

TIME  OF  mahone's  CHARGE. 

I  dislike  to  differ  with  Mr.  Bernard,  who  has  been  so  courte- 
ous to  me,  and  with  my  friend,  Colonel  Venable,  for  we  liter- 
ally carried  muskets  side  by  side  as  privates  in  dear  old  Captain 
Casson's  company,  the  Governor's  Guards,  in  Colonel  Ker- 
shaw'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 


408  HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

the  rain}'  night  which  followed  the  battle  we  sheltered  our- 
selves under  the  same  oilcloth.  But  I  can't  help  thinking  of 
these  gentlemen  as  being  like  all  Virginians,  which  is  illus- 
trated 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  jWas  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  mov- 
ing 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  5'ards  down  this  covered  way  and 
gulch,  one  by  one,  occassionally  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 
Mahoue  *  *  *  But  one  oflBcer  of  the  division  spoke  with  cer- 
tainty. Colonel  McMaster,  Seventeenth  South  Carolina  Volun- 
teers. 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:  "Accord- 
ing 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  kebellion,"  page  528.  He  is  badly  mistaken.. ,  General, 
Burnside  says:  "The  enemy  regaine^ti  a  portion  of  his  line  on 
the  right.     This  was  about  8.45'A.'  M.J'but  not  all  the  colored 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  409 

troops  retired.  Some  held  pits  from  behind  which  they  had 
advanced  severely  checking  the  enemy  until  they  were  nearly 
all  killed." 

"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  Con- 
federate line  were  mere  rifles  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  beeri  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  insub- 
ordination I  would  say  that  the  latter  remark  was  unoffice:^ 
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'$ 
Une  at  9.15. 

Now  this  must  have  been  before  Mahone.  came  up,  for  there 
is  no  allusion  to  a  charge  by  any  Fedei'al  Geheral  at  the  court 
of  inquiry.     With  the  8.30  charge  made  at  the  hollow,  there 


410  HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADB. 

■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  receiv- 
ing 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  Ma- 
hone'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  ap- 
proximates 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 


HISTORY   OP    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  411 

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  GrifEen  and  myself 
were  together  at  that  time.  The  order  to  retire  we  had  en- 
dorsed 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' '  with- 
out 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  "Cra- 
ter," 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  with- 
draw a  greater  portion  of  our  troops,  and,  in  fact,  everyone 
that  could  get  away.  While  we  were  in  waiting  for  the  ap- 
proach of  that  endorsement  and  the  opening  of  the  fire,  this 
assaulting  column  ot  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 


412  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S'  BRIGADE. 

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 
fift}'  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  hun- 
dred men,  and  with  the  co-operation  of  Wright's  Battery  and 
Davenport's  Battery,  and  a  few  men  of  Wise's  Brigade,  re- 
sisted 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  Ethiopeans. 


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  spruug,  or  possibly  two 
evenings  before,  ColOnel  David  Fleming,  in  command  of  the 
Twenty-second    South    Carolina    Regiment — I    don't    know 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  413 

whether  by  command  of  General  Stephen  Elliott  or  not — 
ordered  me  to  move  my  compan}',  Company  B,  Twentj'- 
secoijd  South  Carolina,  into  the  rear  line,  immediately  in  rear 
of  Pegram's  four  guns.  I  had  in  mj'  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,  conse- 
quently 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   TERRIEI,E   SATURDAY    MORNING. 

On  that  terrible  Saturday  morning,  July  30,  1864,  before 
day  had  yet  dawned,  after  the  enemy  had  massed  a  large  num- 
ber 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.  Huijdreds  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. 


414  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

I^ake,  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." 


HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S  BRIGADK.  41^ 

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  Con-, 
federate  troops. 

Elliott's  Brigade  in  the  day's  fight  lost  two  hundred  and 
seventy-eight  oflScers  and  men.  Major  General  B.  R.  John- 
son'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  Con- 
federates would  succeed  in  recapturing  the  "Crater."  We  had 
to  cross  a  plain  five  Jiundred  and  ten  feet  wide  that  was  beings 


416  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

raked  by  rifle  balls,  cannon  shot  and  shell,  grape  and  canister. 
l{  was  not  a  very  inviting  place  to  go,  but  still  not  a  great  deal 
worse  thaii  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  head- 
quarters.'    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  h^ve  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  L,ee  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  re- 
lieved of  his  command  in  the  field  and  placed  in  the  command 
of  Henrico  County.  This  embraced  Richmond  and  its  defen- 
sive, the  inner  lines,  which  were  guarded  and  manned  by  re- 
serves and  State  troops.  General  Early,  now  a  lyieutenant 
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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  417 

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  vigi- 
lant, and  under  a  superior  he  was  second  to  none  as  a  com- 
mander. 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  suc- 
cesses 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  pene- 
trated the  confines  of  Washington  itself.  It  was  said  at  the 
time,  by  both  Northern  and  Southern  military  critics,  that  had 
he  not  wavered  or  faultered  at  the  critical  moment,  he  could 
have  easily  captured  the  city.  No  doubt  his  orders  were  dif- 
ferent— that  only  a  demonstration  was  intended — and  had  he 
attempted  to  exceed  his  orders  and  failed,  he  would  have  re- 
ceived 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  ofi^ered.  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  Shen- 
andoah. How  strange  to  the  troops  of  the  far  South  to  see 
27 


418  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  Charles- 
ton. 

On  Bearing  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 
iis.  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  direc- 
tion 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  de- 
fense, undertook  to  surprise  them.  With  a  body  of  cavalry, 
concealed  by  the  forest  in  their  front,  they  made  their  way^ 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  419 

ider  cover  of  a  ravine,  until  within  a  short  distance  of  the 
isuspecting  pickets.  Then,  with  a  shout  and  a  volley,  they 
shed  upon  the  line  and  over  it,  capturing  nearly  all,  made 
eir  way  to  the  rear,  and  there  captured  I^ieutenant  Colonel 
affett  and  many  of  his  reserves. 

Commotion  struck  our  camp.  Drums  beat,  men  called  to 
ms,  line  of  battle  formed,  and  an  advance  at  double-auick 
IS  made  through  the  old  field,  in  the  direction  of  our  unf or- 
nate friends.  But  all  too  late.  The  surprise  had  beefi  com- 
;te  and  the  captured  prisoners  had  been  hurried  to  the  rear. 
)lonel  Maifett's  horse,  which  was  grazing  near  the  scene  of 
e  skirmish,  galloped  through  the  enemy's  disorganized  lines, 
me  trying  to  head  him  off,  others  to  capture  him,  but  h  e 
Hoped  defiantly  on  to  camp.  The  enemy  amused  themselves 
'  throwing  a  few  shells  into  our  lines. 

The  horse  of  Colonel  Maffett  was  carried  home  by  his  faith- 
1  body  servant,  Harry,  where  both  lived  to  a  ripe  old  age. 
3t  so  with  the  unfortunate  master.  Reared  in  the  lap  of 
xury,  being  an  only  son  of  a  wealthy  father  and  accustomed 
all  the  ease  and  comforts  that  wealth  and  affluence  could 
VQ,  he  could  not  endure  the  rigor  and  hardships  of  a  North  - 
a  prison,  his  genial  spirits  gave  way,  his  constitution  and 
alth  fouled  him,  and  after  many  months  of  incarceration  he 
;d  of  brain  fever.  But  through  it  all  he  bore  himself  like  a 
le  son  of  the  South.  He  never  complained,  nor  was  his 
Dud  spirit  broken  by  imprisonment,  but  it  chafed  under  con- 
ement  and  forced  obedience  to  prison  rule  and  discipline . 
le  Confederacy  lost  no  more  patriotic,  more  self-sacrificing 
dier  than  Lieutenant  Colonel  Robert  Clayton  Maffett. 
On  the  27th  we  marched  to  Princeton,  and  remained  until 
;  31st,  picketing  on  the  Opequan  River,  then  returned  to 
arlestown.  On  the  da}'  before,  the  Third  Regiment  went 
t  on  the  Opequan,  being  in  hearing  of  the  church  bells  and 
sight  of  the  spires  of  Washington.  What  an  anomaly!  The 
derals  besieging  the  Confederate  capital,  and  the  Confed- 
ites  in  sight  of  Washington. 

Prom  CharleStown  we  were  moved  back  to  Winchester  and 
nt  into  camp  for  a  few. days.  So  far  Early's  demonstration 
i  been  a  failure.  Either  to  capture  Washington  or  weaken 
ant,  for  day  in  and  day  out,  he  kept  pegging  away  at  Pe- 
sburg  and  the  approaches  to  it  and   Richmond.     These 


420  r  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

seemed  to  be  J;he  objective  points,  and  whicbeyentually  cauised' 
the  downfall  of,the  twp, places.      The  eiigmy  in   out  front  had 
moved  up'to  Berryville.ra  small  hamlet  about  eight  mites  froiiin] 
Winchester,  and  on;  the  30th   of   September  we  were' orderedf^ 
out  to  attack  the  plan.     The  Federals  had  fortified  acnoss'  the' 
turnpike  and  had  batteries  pfecedjat  every  com raandiiiig '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'  bayo- 
nets, were  anything  but  objects  to  tempt  the   men  as'  they  ad- 
vanced 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 
shqt  being  fired,  the  enemy  all  the  while  giving  us  volley  afteir 
volley.     The  men  began  to  clamor  for  a  charge,  so  much  so 
that  when  we  were  about  half  way  through  the  old  field  thfe 
command  came  "charge."     Then  a  yell  and  a  rush,  each  man 
carrying  his  gun  inthe  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  Regif-: 
ments.     Just  before  we  reached  the  worksthe  enemy  fled  to  a 
grqve  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.     Thei 
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  deinoralized 
troops  to  return  to  the  ranks,  which  was  accomplished  without 
much:  delay. 

The  enemy  in  front  begafi  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  geta'betteir  view.  The 
enemy  rallied  and  began  potiring  a  heavy-fire  into'  the  bold 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  421 

irits  who  had  advanced  (beyond  the  lines,  wounding  quite  a 
Lniber.  General  jKershaw,  with  a  brigade  of  the  division, 
Dssedover  the  turn-pike  and  began  a  counter-move  on  the 
emy's  right,  which  caused  such  panic,  that  in  a  few  minutes 
eir  whole  line  withdrew  .beyond  the  little  town.  -Acting 
ssistant.  General  Pope,  on  the  brigade  staff,  received  a  pain- 
1  wound  in  the  cheek,  but  outside  of  a  sprinkling  throughout 
e  brigade  of  wounded,  our  loss  was  slight. 
That  night  the  enemy  was  reinforced,  and  about  9  o'clock 
xt  day  there  was  a  general  advance.  The  enemy  had 
langed  his  direction,  and  now  was  approaching  parallel  to 
e  turn-pike.  I  was  in  command  of  the  brigade  skirmishers 
iring  the  night,  posted  in  a  large  old  field  on  left  of  the  turn- 
ke.  Just  as  a  detail,  commanded  by  an  officer  of  the  Twen- 
;th,  came  to  relieve  me,  the  enemy  was  seen  advancing 
rough  a  forest  beyond  the  old  field.  The  officer,  not  being 
miliar  with  the  skirmish  tactics,  and  never  being  on  a  skir- 
ish  line  during  action  before,  asked  me  to  retain  the  cora- 
and  and  also  my  line  of  skirmishers  and  conduct  the  retreat, 
lich  1  did.  The  brigade  at  that  time  was  on  the  retreat,  and 
is  double  skirmish  line  covered  and  protected  the  rear.  If 
ere  is  any  sport  or  amusement  at  all  in  battle,  it  is  while  on 
irmish  line,  when  the  enemy  is  pressing  you.  On  a  skir- 
ish  line,  usually,  the  men  are  posted  about  ten  paces  apart; 
d  several  hundred  yards  in  front  of  the  main  line  of  battle, 
receive  or  give  the  first  shock  of  battle.  In  our  case  the 
le  was  doubled,  making  it  very  strong,  as  strong,  in  fact,  as 
me  of  the  lines  of  General  Lee's  at  that  time  holding  Peters- 
irg.  When  the  enemy's  skirmishers  struck  the  opening  our 
lejopened  upon  them,  driving  them  helter-skelter  back  into  the 
3ods.  I  ordered  an  advance,  as  the  orders  were  to  hold  the 
emy  in  check  as  long  as  possible  to  give  our  main  line  and 
igon  train  time  to  get  out  of  the  way.  We  kept  up  the  fire 
we  advanced,  until  we  came  upon  the  enemy  posted  behind 
;es;  then,  in  our  turn,  gave  way  into  the  opening.  Then 
B  enemy  advanced,  so  forward  and  backward  the  two  Imes 
vanced  and  receded,  until  by  the  support  of  the  enemy's 
le  of  battle  we  were  driven  across  the  turn-pike,  where  we 
sembled  and  .followed  in  rear  of  the  brigade.  There  is  noth- 
J  in  this  world  that  is  more  exciting,  more  nerve  stirring  to 
ioldier,  than   to  participate  in   a  battle  line  of  skirmishers, 


422  HISTORY  OF  Kershaw's  brigade. 

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  en- 
gagement 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  com- 
mand of  lyaws'  Brigade,  and  about  the  6th  or  7th  of  September 
reached  us  and  relieved  Colonel  Henagau,  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  Berry- 
ville  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  regi- 
ment, with  Colonel  Henagan,  except  two  companies  com- 
manded 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  gallani  portion  of  their  comrades.  Colonel 
Henagan,  like  Colonel  Maffett,  sank  under  the  ill  treatment 
and  neglect  in  a  Northern  prison  and  died  there. 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  423 

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  Mclnnis.  His  father  was  a  Scotch-Irishman.  His 
mother  Scotch.  Was  educated  at  Academy  in  Bennettsville 
and  Parnassus.  Was  elected  SheriflF  of  Marlboro  County  in 
October,  1852,  and  went  into  ofiBce  February,  1853.  In  i860 
was  elected  to  the  Legislature.  Was  re-elected  to  the  Legisla- 
ture 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  or- 
dered. 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  gener- 
ous 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  respon- 
sibility 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. 


424  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  ot  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  ot 
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  appear- 
ance, 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 


HISTORY  OF  Kershaw's  brigade.  425 

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  pbrtion  of  the  Regi- 
ment 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  Regi- 
ment. 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  ofiBcers  were  enjoying  a  nice  supper  here  comes  an 
order  to  call  in  the  companies  on  picket  and  to  follow  the  Reg- 
iment 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  turnpike.  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  borrow,  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 


426  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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  dis- 
tant 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  com- 
manding, 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  iu  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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  427 

pushed  aside  by  stragglers,  and  received  uniform  kindness  and 
consideration  from  all.  The  negro  was  conscious  of  this  con- 
sideration, 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,  obey- 
ing 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  mas- 
ter. 

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  ofBcers  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  occu- 
pied 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  ser- 
vants 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. 


428  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

There  was  as  much  cast  among  the  negroes,  in  fact  more, 
as  among  the  soldiers.  In  times  pf  peace  and  at  home,  t]ie 
negro  based  his  claims  pf  cast  uppn  the  wealth  pf  his  master. 
But  in  the  army,  rank  of  his  master  overshadowed  wealth. 
The  servant  pf  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  wor- 
shiper. He  gloried  in  his  master's  fame,  and  while  it  might 
often  be  different,  in  point  of  facts,  still  to  the  negro  his  mas- 
ter 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  Charles- 
town  an  officer's  cook  wandered  too  far  away  in  the  wrong 
direction  and  ran  up  on  the  Federal  pickets.  Jack  had  cap- 
tured some  old  cast-off  clothes,  some  garden  greens  and  an  old 
dominicker  rooster.  Not  having  the  remotest  idea  of  the  top- 
ography 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  concili- 
ate 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  thoroughlj'  aroused  Federal. 

"Why  dem  Yankees,  ob  course — dem  dat  cotched  Mars 
Clayt." 

The  Federal  admitted  thej^  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,  say- 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 


d.^ 


ing,  "Boss;  ders  a  rooster,  but  here  is  me,"  then  with  the 
speed  of  a  startled  deer  Jack  "hit  the  wind,"  to  use  a  vulgar- 
ism 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  planta- 
tion. 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  regi- 
ments was  sent  home,  and  his  place  as  cook  was  filled  by  Uncle 
Cage,  a  venerable  looking  old  negro,  who  held  the  distin- 
guished post  of  "exhorter"  in  the  neighborhood.  His  "sis- 
ter'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 — " 


430  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

"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  De- 
partment, and  occasionally  a  paroxyism  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  ist  of  September,  1864,  an  order  came 
from  brigade  headquarters,  for  me  to  enter  upon  the  responsi- 
bilities 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  ques- 
tion. 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 


HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  431 

I  afternoon.  "Do  you  not  know  that  all  papers  are  con- 
ered  at  nine  o'clock  A.  M?"     In  future,  and  as  long  as  I 

in  command  of  the  Brigade,  I  want  it  understood  that 
der  no  considerations  and  circumstances,  I  wish  papers  to  be 
ned,  brought  to  me  before  or  after  nine  o'clock  A.  M.  The 
;es  of  the  officers  composing  the  delegation,  when  the  news 
s  brought  to  them,  plainly  expressed  their  disgust;  they 
t,  at  the  idea,  that  no  grief,  however  great,  would  be  con- 
lered  by  the  self-exalted  Chief;  except  as  the  clock  struck 
ae  in  the  morning. 

Circumstances  and  occurrences  of  this  kind  were  so  rare  and 
ceptional,  that  I  record  the  facts  given  by  Judge  Pope,  to 
pose  an  exception  to  the  general  rule  of  gentlemanly  deport- 
;nt  of  one  officer  to  another,  so  universal  throughout  the 
my.  The  kindness,  sympathy  and  respect  that  superiors 
owed  to  subalterns  and  privates  became  almost  a  proverb, 
hile  in  a  reminiscent  mood,  I  will  give  a  story  of  two  young 
icers  as  given  by  the  writer  of  the  above.  He  claims  to  have 
en  an  eye  witness  and  fully  competent  to  give  a  true  recital. 

is  needless  to  say  that  the  writer  of  these  memoirs  was  one 

the  participants,  and  as  to  the  story  itself,  he  has  only  a 
int  recollection,  but  the  sequel  which  he  will  give  is  vivid 
lOUgh,  even  after  the  lapse  of  a  third  of  a  century.  Judge 
)pe  writes,  "It  is  needless  to  say  that  the  Third  South  Caro- 
la  Regiment  had  a  half-score  or  more  young  officers,  whose 
nduct  in  battle  had  something  to  do  with  giving  prestige  to 
e  regiment,  whose  jolly  good  nature,  their  almost  unparallel 
ciprocal  love  of  officers  and  men,  helped  to  give  tone  and 
cognition  to  it,  their  buoyancy  of  spirits,  their  respect  for 
periors  and  kindness  and  indulgence  to  their  inferiors, 
deared  them  to  all — the  whole  command  seemed  to  embibe 

their  spirit  of  fun,  mischief  and  frolic. "  Captains  L.  W. 
iry,  John  W.  Watts,  John  K.  Nance,  Lieutenants  Farley 
d  Wofford,  Adjutant  Pope  and  others,  whom  it  may  be 
proper  to  mention  here,  (and  I  hope  I  will  not  be  considered 
otistical  or  self  praise,  to  include  myself) ,  were  a  gay  set. 
leir  temperatures  and  habits,  in  some  instances,  were  as  wide 
the  poles,  but  there  was  a  kind  of  affinity,  a  congeniality  of 
rits  between  them,  that  they  were  more  like  brothers  in 
ility  than  brothers  in  arms,  and  all  might  be  considered  a 
hip  of  the  old  block. "     Nor  would  our  dearly  beloved,  kind, 


432'  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

generous  hearted  Colonel  Rutherford,  when  ofifduty,  feel  him- 
self 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  I,ong- 
street's  soldiers  were  orde.ed  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,  espe- 
cially 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  pre- 
sented. 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  Quixotte 
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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  433 

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  rufiiansr 

"  'Oh,  come  out  of  that  coat,'  replied  the  jolly  couple. 

"  'Rip,  rip,'  went  the  coat;  'biff,  biff,'  went  the  non-com- 
battant'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 
Ivieu'enant  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 
28 


434  HISTORY  OF  Kershaw's  brigade. 

of  the  "coat-tail"  was  slightly  wounded,  and  was  sent  to 
I^ynchburg  to  the  hospital,  formerly  a  Catholic  college,  if  I 
am  not  mistaken.  After  being  there  for  a  time,  with  my 
wounded  bi'other  officers  (this  was  a  hospital  for  officers  alone) 
I  became  sufl&ciently  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  chaparone. 
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  ex- 
pected help  from  mj'  old  Tennesseean.  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  mo- 
ment before  pulled  down  over  my  eyes. 

"Hey,  my  fine  young  man,  I  think  I  know  5'ou.  Are'nt 
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  t.he  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,  pending  the  man  reeling  across  the  room, 
the  blood  squirting  and  splattering,  he  said: 

"Gfsntlemen,  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." 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  435 

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 
agreeble  and  his  services  so  acceptable.  It  gave  me  a  confi- 
dfence  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  Goliah  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  frolid.  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, 
inarching  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, 
^he  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  tjie 
road  engineers  did  one  thing  that  should  immortalize  them, 
that  is  in  going  around  hills  instead  of  over  them,  as  in  our 


436  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

State.  Thone  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  gth.  our  ears  were  greeted  with  the  distant  roar  of  artil- 
lery, which  proved  to  be  our  artillery  firing  at  a  scouting  party 
of  United  States  cavalry.  Ou  through  Cylpepper  we  marched, 
to  within  one  mile  of  Rapidan  Station,  our  starting  point  of 
near  two  months  oefore.  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 
ofiicers,  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  theu  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  discom- 
fiture 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  raorniug  of  the  24th  we  re- 
ceived the  orders  to  return  to  the  relief  of  Early,  and  at  day- 
light, 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  ^nd  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. 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  437 

This  report  had  been  made  over  and  over  again,  until  it 
became  threadbare;  but  a  cavalry  ofiBcer  thought  it  a  feather 
in  his  cap  to  report  his  defeat  or  repulse  b}',  "We  met  their  in- 
fantry." 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  depen- 
dent mood,  bul  soon  their  spirits  revived  at  the  sight  of  Ker- 
shaw's Division.  We  moved  forward  in  the  direction  of  Har- 
risonburg, 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  Waynsboro. 
Reaching  there  next  day,  the  enemy's  cavalry  scattered  when 
our  troops  came  in  sight.  We  began,  on  October  ist,  moving 
in  the  direction  of  the  turn-pike,  leading  from  Winchester  to 
Staunton,  striking  near  Harrisonburg  on  the  6th. 

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.  An  1  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." 

We  began  the  forward  movement  down  the  Valley  on  the 
7th,  the  enemy  slowly  giving  way  as  we  advanced.  We 
passed  through  those  picturesque  Httle  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  remem- 
bered 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 


438  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

was  received  during  these  two  months,  and  seldom  a  paper 
ever  made  its  appearance ,;,in,Gampi,,,  "W[e,  ,9nly^  knewiithati  Isee- 
was  holding  his  own.     We  reached  and  passed  through  Straus- 
burg  on  the   13th,     In   the  afternoon  of  this  , (Jay,. j^.while  we 
were  on  the  march,  but  at  the  tjm,e  layipg  ,bjr  thg  side  of  the 
turn-pike,  the  enemy  tried  tp-  capture  some  ot  our  artillery. 
We  had  heard  firing  all  day  in' our  front,  but  thought  this  the 
effects  of  the  enerny'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  com- 
mand, 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  them- 
selves 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  pres- 
ence 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  inexperi- 
enced in  the  handling  of  so  large  a  number  of  men.  Major 
James  Goggans,  of  the  division  staff,  was  ordered  to  its  com- 
.  maud.     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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  439 

good  Staff  officer,  a  graduate  of  West  Point,  but  he  was  too  old 
and  inexperienced  to  command  troops  of  such  vigor  ahd  enthu- 
siasm as  the  South  Carolinians  who  composed  Kershaw's 
Brigade. 

We  remained  a  short  time  oil  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  patri- 
otic 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  somethne  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  Wil- 
derness, 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  Colonol  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  Fredericks- 
burg (i2th  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,  Berry ville,  and  Strausburg. 


440  HISTORY  OP    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

He  was  a  delight  to  his  friends,  by  reason  of  his  rare  intelli- 
gence, warm  heart,  and  generous  impulses;  to  his  family, 
because  he  was  always  so  considerate  of  them,  so  affectionate, 
and  so  brimfuU  of  courtesy;  but  to  his  enemies  (and  he  never 
made  any  except  among  the  viceous) ,  he  was  uncompromis- 
ingly ^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. 

GENERAI,  JAMES   CONNOR. 

General  James  Connor,  .son  of  the  late  Henry  Connor,  was 
born  in  Charleston,  S.  C. ,  ist  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,  i860.  Was  on 
the  committee  with  Judge  Magrath  and  W.  F.  Colcock,  charged 
to  urge  the  Legislature  to  call  a  convention  of  the  people  to 


HISTORY  OP    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  441 

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,  i86i,  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'  Bii- 
gades.  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,  Mechanicksville,  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,  re-sigued  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  noble-hearted,  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 


442  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  tuown  as  the  Dutch  Fork,  a  set- 
tlement of  German  emigrants,  lying  a  few  miles  west  of  Poma- 
ria.  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  at- 
tended 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  farm- 
ing, 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  com- 
manded 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  h  s  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  Octo- 
ber, 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  fore- 
fathers fought,  in  the  midst  of  his  kinsmen  and  friends.     Ham 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  443 

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.  AuU,  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  moun- 
tain 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  mess- 
mates. 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  regi- 
ment 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 


444  HISTORY  X)F    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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  particu- 
lar 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  depre- 
dating upon  his  pig  pen,  chicken  roast,  or  milk  house.  It  was 
astonishing  what  a  change  in  the  morals  of  men  army  life 
occesioned.  Someone  has  said,  "A  rogue  in  the  army,  a 
rogue  at  home;"  but  this  I  deny.  Sometimes  that  same 
devilish,  school-boy  spirit  that  actuates  the  truant  to  filch 
fruit  or  melons  from  orchards  of  others,  while  he  had  abun- 
dance at  home,  caused  the  soldier  oftentimes  to  make  "raids," 
as  they  called  these  nocturnal  visits  to  the  farm  houses  out- 
lying the  army's  track.  I  have  known  men  who  at  home  was 
as  honorable,  honest,  upright,  and  who  would  scorn  a  dishon- 
est act,  turn  out  to  be  veteran  foragers,  and  rob  and  steal  any- 
thing 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  I/uray  Val- 
ley, 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  difBculty  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 


HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  445 

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 
centeen  filled  with  the  choicest  brandy.  Whiskey  sold  for 
$1.00  per  drink,  so  their  four  jars  of  brandy  added  something 
to  their  mouth's  pay.  As  a  Captain  of  a  company,  I  could 
not  give  leave  of  absence,  nor  could  I  excuse  ^ny  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  b}'  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  onlj'  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  Tennes- 
see, 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  i8th  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  fenemy  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 


446  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  bot- 
tom 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  mors  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  tickness  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  be- 
tween. 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  Ker- 
shaw'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  aloUg  by  the  bushes  ahd 
vines  that  covered  the  rough  bordei's  and  ledges  of  the  moun- 
tain. Sometime  after  midnight  Kershaw  moved  out  across 'the 
turn-pike  in  the  direction  of  the  river,  the  Second  South'  Caro- 
lina in  front,   under  Captain   McCulcheon;  then  the  Third, 


HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  447 

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 
Httpr.  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  iu  columns  of  fours,  moving 
rapidly  forward  that  all  would  be  in  readiness  bj  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  wa 
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  ofE  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  com- 


448  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

motion,  but  soon  the  works  were  filled  with  half-dressed  troops 
and  they  opened  a  galling  fire  upon  us.  The  distance  was  too 
^reat'  in  this  open  space  to  take  the  works  by  a  regular  ad- 
-vance  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  im- 
possibility 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  re- 
load. 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  enem}'  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 
3.  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  own- 
ers. 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  disor- 


HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADS.  449 

ganized  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'a  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  giab  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  ad- 
vanced 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  sut- 
tler's tents  and  were  fairly  laden  down  with  such  articles  as 
they  could  find  readiest  sale  for.  I  saw  one  man  with  a  stack 
29 


450  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  possi- 
ble, a  general  forward  movement  was  made,  the  enemy  mak- 
ing 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  expe- 
rienced— 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  Fi-sher's  Hill,  mounts  his  black 
charger,  and  with  none  to  accompany  him  but  an  orderly,  he 
begins  his  famous  ride  from  Winchester.  lybuder  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,  roll- 
ing sound  of  the  infantry,  accompanied  by  the  dreaded  Rebel 
yell.     He  knew  his  troops  were  retreating  from  the  sound  he 


HISTORY  OP    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  451 

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  how  approaching  the  cornfield 
and  woods  in  which  our  pickets  and  skirmisliers  lay,  all  un- 
conscious 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,  kill- 
ing 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,  ad- 
vancing 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  stam- 
pede now.  None  halted  to  listen  to  orders  or  commands. 
I/ike  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.  Adju- 
tant Pope,  who  was  upon  the  staff  of  our  brigade  commander, 
met  the  fleeing  troops  and  made  a  masterly  effort  to  stem  the 


4S2  HISTORY-  or   EBRSHAW^a-  DRI««««. 

tide  by  gefcti-flg,  s»me  of  the  trcxJps  in-  lirie.  Araurtd-  hiiA  wafe 
formed-a  nucleus,  and  the  litfe  begaW  to  lengthen  on  eittre* 
side,  unt^il  \^e  hdd-  a  very  fair  battle  line  when'  the  eneiny 
reached  tlie-  brow  of  the  hill  we  had-  just  passed  We  met 
them  with  a  stnniiiiigvoMej',  that  caused  the  line  to-' reel  atad 
stagger  back  over  the  crest.  Our  lin&s  were  growing  stronger 
each  moment.  Pope  wa.s  bending  ^11  his  energies  to  make 
Kershaw's  Brigade  solid,  and  was  in  a  fair  way  to  sutceeds 
The  troops  that  had  passed,  seeing  a.  stand  being  made,  re- 
turned, and  kept  up  the  fire.  It  was  now  hoped  that  the 
other  portion  of  the  line  would  act  likewise  and  come  to  our 
assi-stance,  and  we  furthfer  knew  that  each  moment  we  delayeid 
the  enemy  would  allow  that  much  time  for  our  wagon  train 
and  artillery  to  escape.  But  just  as  all  felt  that  we  were  hold- 
ing 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  caunister  would  sweep  the  field.  There  were  no 
tliickets,  no  lavine.s,  no  fences  to  shield  or  protect  us.  Every- 
thing seemed  to  have  been  swept  from  off  the  face  of  the  earth, 
witli  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  stddd  deserted  amba? 
lances,  wagons,  and  packs  of  artillery  mules  and  horses,  tan- 
gled and  still  hitched,  rearing  and  kicking-lifce  mad,  using  all 
their  strength  to  unloosen  themselves  from  the  matted  niaste  of 


HiaCOHY  OF    tiSRSBjAJW'S  BKHSABB.  468 

vehicles, animals,. and  mep,  for  ithe  stook  had  caugbt  up  the 
spirit  of  the  .panic,  aad  were  aager  to  keep  up  the  race.  A.s 
by  ^tuition,  the  flying. soldiers  felt  that  tlie  road^vay  would  be 
blocked  at  thcbcidge  over  Cedar  Creek,  so  they  crossed  the 
tusn-'pike  and  bore  to  the  left  in  order  to  reach  the  fordsabove. 
As  I  reached  the  pifee,  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  plac- 
ing batteries,  the  infantry  in  squads  and  singly  blazing  away 
asTapidly  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  l)el:iiid  you,  rebound,  go  over  your  head, 
strike  again,  then  onward,  much  like  the  bounding  of  rubber 
balls.  One  ball,  I  remember,  came  whtzzin.-  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 
tile  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  tlie  roadway  to  fall  and 
surrender.  About  one  hundred  and  fifty  of  the  Third  Regi- 
ment had  kept  close  at  my  heeis  (or  I  had  kept  near  their 
front,  I  can't  .say  which  is  the  correct  explanation),  with  a 
goodly  number  of  Georgians  and  Missis.sippians,  who  had 
taken  refuge  in  a  thicket  for  a  moment's  breathing  spejl, 
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  sobering  our  men,  curs- 
ing, commanding,  and  yelling,  that  we  halted  for  a  moment  to 


454  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  coipmand  oame.: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 
I,ee  and  Johnston  had  surrendered.  When  we  reached  the 
river  it  was  :undefcided  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  alterna- 
tive 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  con- 
fusion as  the  privates  in  the  ranks.  For  days  the  men  re- 
counted their  experiences,  their  dangers,  their  hair-breadth 
escapes,  the  exciting  chase  during  that  memorable  rout  in  the 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  455 

irning  and  the  stampede  in  the  evening,  and  all  had  to 
igh.  Some  few  took  to  the  mountains  and  roamed  for  days 
fore  finding  an  opportunity  to  return;  others  lay  in  thickets 
along  the  river  banks,  waiting  until  all  was  still  and  quiet, 
;n  seek  some  crossing.  Hundreds  crowded  near  the  stone 
dge  (the  Federal  pickets  were  posted  some  yards  distance), 
A  took  advantage  of  the  darkness  to  cross  over  under  the 
ry  nose  of -the  enemy.  One  man  'of  the  Fifteenth  came  face 
face,  with  on?  of  the  videttes,  when  a  hand  to  hand  encoun- 
■  took  place — a-,  fight  in  the  dark  to  the  very  death — but 
lers  coming  to  the  relief  of  their  comrade  beat  the  Confeder- 
:  to  insensibility  and  left  him  for  dead.  Yet  he  crawled  to 
rer  and  lay  concealed  for  a  day  and  night,  then  rejoined  his 
fiment  in, a  sickening  pligbt.- 

A.  man  in  my  company,  Frank  Boozer,  was  struck  by  a 
mcing  bullet  on  the  scalp  and.  fell,  as  was  thought,  dead, 
lere  he  lay,  while  hundreds  and  hundreds  trampled  over 
n,  and  it  was  near  day  when  he  gained  consciousness  and 
ide  his  way  for  the  mountain  to  the  right.  There  he  wan- 
red  along  its  sides,  through  its  glens  and  gorges,  now  dodg- 
r  a  farm  house  or  concealing  himself  in  some  litile  cave, 
til  the  enemy  passed,  for  it  was  known  that  the  mountains 
d  hills  on  either  side  were  scoured  for  the  fugitives. 
Captain  Vance,  of  the  Second,  with  a  friend,  Myer  Moses, 
d  captured  a  horse,  and  they  were  making  their  way 
rough  the  thickets,  Moses  in  front,  with  Vance  in  rear,  the 
rkness  almost  of  midnight  on  them.  They  came  upon  a 
lad  of  Federal  pickets.  They  saw  their  plight  in  a  moment, 
t  Moses  was  keen-witted  and  sharp-tongued,  and  pretended 
it  he  was  a  Yankee,  and  demanded  their  surrender.  When 
d  that  they  were  Federals,  he  seemed  overjoyed,  and  urged 
;m  to  "come  on  and  let's  catch  all  those  d — n  Rebels.'' 
t  when  they  asked  him  a  few  questions  he  gave  himself 
ay.  He  was  asked: 
'What  command  do  you  belong  to?" 

'Eighty-seventh  New  York,"  Moses  answered,  without 
sitation. 

'What  brigade?"  "What  division?"  etc.  "We  have  no 
:h  commands  in  this  army.     Dismount,    you  are  our  pris- 

tTS." 

But  Captain  Vance  was  gone,  for  at  the  very  outset  of  the 


456  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

parley  -he  slid  off  behind  and  quietly  made  his  escage.  In 
such  emergendes  it  was  no  part -of  valor  to  "stand -by  yqnr 
friend,"  for  in  that  case  both  were  lost,  while  otherwise  one 
was  saved. 

What  was  the  cause  of  our  panic,  or  who  was  toblame,  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  occa- 
sion 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  neigh- 
bor, 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  ser- 
vice, not  being  parolled  until  after  the  surrender.  The  Twen- 
tieth 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  with  greater  reluctance  than  Adju- 
tant Pope. 

ADJUTANT    YOUNG  JOHN   POPE. 

Y.  J.  Pope  was  born  in  the  town  of  Newberry,  S.  C,  on  the 
loth  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  grad-. 
uated  in  August,  i860.  After  studying  law  under  his  uncle,. 
Chief  Justice  O'Neall,  he  entered  the  Confederate  Army  on 
April  13th,  i86r,  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  com- 
pany. In  May,  1862,  he  was  made  Adjutant  of  the  Third 
South  Carolina  Regiment,  and  as  such  participated  in  the  bat- 


HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  457 

ties  of  Sawage  Station,  Malvern  sHill,  Maryland  Heights, 
Sbarpsburgj  lEirst  Fredericksburg  i(, where  he  was  slightly 
wounded),  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg  (where  he  received 
three  wounds),  Chickama.uga  (where  he  was  severely 
wounded).  Wilderness,  Brock's  Road  and  other  battles  around 
Spottsylvania  Court  House,  North  Anna  River  Bridge,  Second 
Cold  Harbor,  Berry ville  (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  mi nnie.  bullet. 

Since  the  war  he  has  been  elected  Mayor  of  his  native  town 
at  five  elections.  He  was  elected  by  the  I/Cgiblature  District 
Judge  of  Newberry,  in  December,  1865,  ^.nd  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  IvCgislature 
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,  i'896,  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,  Mar3^ 
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  sol- 
dier and  a  splendid  officer.     He  was  what  is  called  in  common 


458  HISTORY  OF    KERSHA-W'S   BRIGADE. 

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  bril- 
liant success  and  planning  and  scheming  future  glories,  and 
after  having  captured  a  great  number  of  Federal  soldiers,  to- 
gether 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  imag- 
ined 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  sharpshootiug  for 
the  brigade.  This  explanation  is  necessary  in  order  that  the 
reader  may  better  understand  mj'  position  and  place  when 
captured. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  of  this  exciting  day  General  I^hil 
Sheridan  succeeded  in  rallying  his. routed  columns  and  led  the 
attack  on  our  line.  Our  skirmish  line  was  in  excellent  condi- 
tion. 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  ral- 
lied 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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  459 

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  alterna- 
tive. 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  de- 
manded my  sword  that  I  would  rather  give  him  my  right  arm. 
He  preferred  the  sword  and  got  one — I  had  two,  having  cap- 
tured 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  emo- 
tions were  too  intense  for  utterance.  I  was  a  disarmed,  help- 
less prisoner  of  war.  My  feelings  can  better  be  described  by 
relating  an  incident  which  occurred  later  on.  After  L,ee'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." 


460  HIS5CQRY  OF   ,KERSHA,W'S  3HIGADE. 

'.'(Wish  you  were  a  womaQ!  Great  ScQtts,  John,  are  you 
gone  crazy?  A  -brave  soldier  iHke  you  wishing  to  ^be  a 
womanl" 

"Now,  Jim,  I'll  tell  you  the  truth;  if  I  .were  a  woman  I 
could  jugt  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  Sheri- 
dan'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  Sheri- 
dan's roll  call.  It  looked  like  Kershaw's  whole  Brigade  was 
there,  though  there  were  many  Georgians  among  us.  Sheri- 
dan then  inspected  the  prisoners,  and  at  his  personal  instance 
— -shame  be  it  said  to  his  memorj — 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  cavalrj'  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 


HISTORY   OF    EE!RSHA"W'S   BHIGA'BE.  461 

foolisHly  ran  in  the  dark,  and'  rati  right  squarely  agtiinst  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,  notwithstand- 
_  ing  their  rigid  search.  I  had  a  five-dollar  greenback  note  in- 
side 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  them- 
selves 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  trinklets  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  esconced  inside  my  sock  at  the  bottom 
of  my  foot.  Here  ofiScers  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 


462  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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.  2 

The  heavy  prison  gates  closed  around  with  a  dull  sepulchra 
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  sem- 
blance 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  sub- 
jected 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  "incommu- 
nicado," 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  acquaint- 
ance,   friend,    or   relative  in   Baltimore,   New  York,  or  other 


HISTORY   OP    KERSHAW'S   BRIGAUK.  463 

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  sympathiz- 
ing men  and  women  of  the  North,  kept  many  of  us  furnished 
with  money  and  clothing.  The  money  itself  we  were  not  per- 
mitted 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  peices.  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  escaoe.  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  ("sheep- 
skins" 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  pro- 
hibited by  the  prison  regulations.  He  had  only  to  go  to  head- 
quarters 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 


464  HISTORY   op'    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

were  games  for  "sheepskin^"' — 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  arid  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  in- 
dulge 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  ofl&cials, 
that  the  sanitary  and  hygienic  arrangements  were  as  near  per- 
fect as  man  could  well  make  them.  These  officials  Were  ex- 
ceedingly 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  fur- 
nished, 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  per- 
formed by  "galvanized  Yankees."  A  "galvanized  Yankee" 
was  a  Confederate  prisoner  who  had  "s^wallowed  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  contemptiole  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  mo,st  difficult,  as  well  as  unpleasant, 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  465 

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  cir- 
cumstances and  conditions;  but  the  reader  will  more  fully 
understand  the  situation  when  this  insufiBciency  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  look- 
ing, 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  L,incoln  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  Anderson- 
ville,  Ga. 

This  inhuman  condition  of  affairs  was  absolutely  brought 
about  by  the  United  States  Government  itself  bj'  positively 
refusing  time  and  again  an  exchange  of  prisoners,  and  it  can 
not  escape  the  just  odium  and  stigma  of  the  inhuman  treat- 
ment, the  untold  sufiering,  and"  agonies  of  both  the  Confeder- 
ate 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 
30 


466  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  hand- 
writing, 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  exam- 
ined 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  pris- 
oner 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  cljid.  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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  467 

■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,  starv- 
ing prisoners  to  relieve.     God  bless  her  descendants! 

When  General  L,ee  surrendered  we  refused  to  believe  it, 
notwithstanding  the  prison  was  flooded  with  various  news- 
papers announcing  the  fact,  and  the  nearby  cities  were  illumi- 
nated, 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  T^ee  would  be  forced  to  surrender.  A  few 
days  later  we  were  all  ordered  into  line,  and  oflBcially  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  understand- 
ing, that  we  would  never  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  as  long  as 
one  Confederate  ofiicer  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  igth  day  of  June,  1865,  the  last  ba*ch  of 
ofccers  in  prison  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  United 
States  Government,  bade  farewell  to  Fort  Delaware,  and  in- 
scribed on  its  walls,  on  its  fences,  in  books,  and  divisions  the 
French  quotation,  "Font  est  perdeu  I'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  iCrawling  university  of  lice; 
\yhen  yy;retches  immb^rlgss  to  ease,  Jheii;  pa,ins, 


468  HISTORY   OF     KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  defraj-. 
Not  scolding  wife,  nor  inquisition's  worse; 
Thou'rt  ev'rv  mischief  crammed  into  one  curse.'' 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

Leave  the  Valley  for  the  Last  Time — October 
20th  to  December  31st,  1864. 

The  retreat  froru  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  fa- 
mous retreat  of  Xenophon.  while  of  greater  duration  and  under 
different  Lircumstances,  still  it  did  not  equal  that  of  Early  dur- 
ing the  same  length  of  time.  From  midnight  of  the  i8th  the 
troops  were  in  line,  crossing  the  river  some  miles  in  the  dis- 
tance before  daylight,  storms  and  take.s  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  array)  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  of- 
ficer. A  great  number  had  abandoned  their  arms  and  accou- 
trements, 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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  409 

ing  but  a  few  jaded  horses,  their  cannons  and  caissous  left 
le  general  upheaval  and  wreck  at  the  Stone  Bridge,  or  on 
ield  of  battle;  Quartermasters,  with  their  teamsters  riding 
ading  their  horses,  their  wagons  abandoned  or  over  run  by 
rs  in  the  mad  rush  to  escape  across  the  bridge  before  it 
blocked.  Along  the  road  loose  horses  roamed  at  will, 
e  the  sides  of  the  pike  were  strewn  with  discarded  blankets, 
flies,  oilcloths  and  clothing,  the  men  being  forced  to  free 
iselves  of  all  surplus  incumbrances  in  order  to  keep  up 
the  moving  mass.  At  one  place  we  passed  General  Early, 
3g  on  his  horse  by  the  roadside,  viewing  the  motley  crowd 
passed  by.  He  looked  sour  and  haggard.  You  could  see 
he  expression  of  his  face  the  great  weight  upon  his  mind, 
leep  disappointment,  his  unspoken  disappointment.  What 
yesterday  a  proud,  well-disciplined  army  that  had  accom- 
led  during  the  first  part  of  the  day  all,  or  more,  that  evea 
nost  sanguine  General  could  have  expected — crossed  rivers, 
ed  themselves  over  the  liiountains,  ussaulted  and  surprised 
nemy  who  lay  in  feeling  security  behind  almost  impregna- 
'ortifications,  routed  and  driven  them  from  the  field,  cap- 
ig  almost  the  whole  camp  equipage  with  twenty  field 
;s — now  before  him  poured,  the  sauje  victorious  army, 
en,  stampeded,  without  order  or  discipline,  all  the  fruits  of 
)ry  and  his  own  camp  equipage  gone,  his  wngon  trains 
idoned,  the  men  without  arms,  his  canuoneers  without  cnn- 
•y  and  every  color  trailing  in  the  dust.  And  what  caused 
The  sudden  change  from  v  ctory  to  defeat.  It  was  not 
want  of  Generalship,  for  General  Early  had  wi.sely  planned, 
as  not  for  lack  of  courage  of  the  troops,  for  that  morning 
had  displayed  valor  and  over  come  obstacles  which 
Id  have  baffled  and  dismayed  less  bold  spirits.  Was  it  for 
superior  gallantry  of  the  enemy's  troops  or  the  superior 
sralship  of  their  adversary  ?  The  latter  was  awry,  and  the 
er  had  been  routed  from  their  entrenchments  by  the  bayo- 
)f  the  Confederates.  Sheridan  did  not  even  hope  to  stop 
victorious  march,  only  to  check  it  sufiiciently  to  enable 
to  save  the  remnant  of  his  army.  A  feeble  advance,  a 
c  strikes  our  army,  and  all  is  lost,  while  no  individual, 
;r,  brigade,  or  regiment  could  be  held  responsible.  It 
/s  that  once  a  panic  strikes  an  army  all  discipline  is  lost, 
nothing  but  time  will  restore  it.     For  nearly  one  hundred 


470  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

years  historians  have  been  framing  reasons  and  causes  of  Na- 
poleon'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  dif- 
ferently than  when  one  of  a  great  number.  The  "loss  of  a 
head"  is  contageous.  One  will  commit  a  foolish  act,  and  oth- 
ers will  follow,  but  cannot-tell  why.  Otherwise  quiet  and  un- 
obtrusive men,  when  influenced  by  the  frenzy  of  an  excited 
mob,  win  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  fol- 
lowed. 

The  stampede  ot  Early  was  uncalled  for,  unnecssary,  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  re- 
markably 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  si- 
lence. 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-sacri- 
ficing, 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  suf- 
fer 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 
top  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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  471 

regiments  and  assigned  to  campitig  grounds,  as  well  as  the  dis- 
organized state  of  tte  array  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  trdops  retuained  in  camp  until  the  last  of  October,  then 
began  their  march  to  rejoin  lyee.  The  campaign  of .  Early  in 
the  Valley  had  been  a  failure,  if  measured  by  the  fruits  of  vic- 
tory. 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  Rich- 
mond 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  bay- 
ing 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  occu- 
pied during  the  war.  They  consisted  of  log  huts  twelve  by 
fourteen,  thoroughly  chinked  with  mud  and  straw,  some  cov- 
ered 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  out- 
side, 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 


472  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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  com- 
pleted, 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  frienrls  would 
come  in  to  cheer  aud  comfort  them.  Then,  too,  the  block- 
aders  at  Wilmington  and  Charleston  would  escape  the  Argus 
eyes  of  the  fleet  and  bring  in  a  cargo  of  shoes,  cloth,  sugar, 
cofiee,  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  iuto  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  green- 
backs. 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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  473 

Y  not  have  openl)'  countenanced  their  traffic,  still  it  was 
ught  they  "winked"  at  it.  I  do  know  there  were  a  lot  of 
's  in  Richmond  who  could  go  in  and  out  of  our  lines  at 
I.  Sometimes  they  were  caught,  first  by  one  army  and 
Q  by  another,  and  their  goods  or  money  confiscated,  still 
y  kept  up  their  blockade  running.  I  was  informed  by  one 
jeneral  Gary's  staff  officers  since  the  war,  that  while  they 
e  doing  outpost  duty  on  the  lower  James,  Jews  came  in 
ly  with  passports  from  the  authorities  at  Richmond,  author- 
ig  them  to  pass  the  lines.  On  many  occasions  they  claimed 
y  were  robbed  by  our  pickets.  Once  this  officer  allowed 
I  Jews  to  pass  out  of  the  lines,  with  orders  to  pass  the 
kets,  but  soon  they  returned,  saying  they  were  robbed, 
leral  Gary,  who  could  not  tolerate  such  treachery,  had  the 
a  called  up  and  the  Jews  pointed  out  the  men  who  had 
ndered  them.  But  the  men  stoutly  denied  the  charge,  and 
h  supported  the  other  in  his  denials,  until  a  search  was 
ered,  but  nothing  was  found.  They  cursed  the  "lieing 
r"  and  threatened  that  the  next  time  they  attemipted  to  pass 
y  would  leave  them  in  the  woods  with  "key  holes  through 
m."  "While  at  the  same  time,"  continued  the  officer,  "I 
[  so  was  General  Gary  satisfied  these  same  men  had  robbed 
m." 

Ve  were  now  again  under  our  old  commander,  L,ieutenant 
aeral  Longstreet.  He  had  recently  returned  to  the  army, 
valescent  from  his  severe  wound  at  the  Wilderness,  and 
>  placed  in  command  of  the  north  side.  Scarcely  had  he 
jmed  command,  and  prior  to  our  arrival,  before  he  was  at- 
sed.by  General  Butler,  with  twenty  thousand  men.  He 
eated  him,  sustaining  little  loss,  with  Fields'  and  Hokes' 
isions,  and  Gary's  Cavalry.  Butler  lost  between  one 
usand  two  hundred  and  one  thousand  five  hundred  men. 
;  year  was  slowly  drawing  to  a  closed  with  little  percepti- 
advantage  to  the  South.     It  is  true   that  Grant,  the  idol. 

ideal  of  the  North,  had  thrown  his  legions  against  the 
;rans  of  Lee  with  a  recklessness  never  before  experienced, 

with  a  loss  almost  irreparable,  still  the  prospects  of  the 
ifederacy  were  anything  but  encouraging.  Yet  the  child- 
;  faith  and  confidence  of  the  Confederate  privates  in  their 
se  and  in  their  superiors,  that  disaster  and  defeat  never 
ibled  them  nor  caused  them  worry  or  uneasiness.     General 


474  HISTORY  OF  Kershaw's  brigade. 

Hood  had  gone  on  his  wild  goose  chase  through  Middle  Ten- 
nessee, had  met  with  defeat  and  ruin  at  F'ranklin  and  Nash- 
ville; Sherman  was  on  his  unresisted  march  through  Georgia, 
laying  waste  fields,  devastating  homes  with  a  vandalism  un- 
known 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  Lougstreet,  Hill,  Ewell,  and 
Early.  At  Chickamauga,  Chattanooga,  East  Tennessee,  Wil- 
derness, or  wherever  the  plumes  of  their  chieftains  waved  or 
their  swords  flashed  amid  ihe  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  Ker- 
shaw fail  or  falter,  and  only  then  to  follow  in  the  wake  of 
others  who  had  vielded. 


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  Wil- 
derness. 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  (t 
am  not  positive  on  this  point).     Captain  Rogers  was  also  one 


HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  475 

of  the  senior  Captains,  and  I  think  he,  too,  acted  for  a  part  of 
the  time  as  one  of  the  field  oflScers. 

The  Third  Battalion  was  commanded  by  one  of  the  Cap- 
tains 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  Cubnel  of  the 
Seventh,  and  Major  Goggans  having  resigned  soon  after  the 
Wilderness  battle,  Captain  Thomas  Huggius  was  rai.sed  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  bat- 
tle, 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  na- 
ture, his  indulgent  disposition  caused  him  to  be  rather  lax  in 
discipline.  There  was  quite  a  contrast  in  the  rigidity  of  Gen- 
eral 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  look- 
ing officers  in  the  army.  I  fear  little  contradiction  when  I  say 
General  Kennedy  and  Major  W.  D.  Ptck,  of  the  Quartermas- 
ter Department,  were  two  of  the  finest  looking  men  that  South 


476  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  Caro- 
lina, 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  sol- 
dier in  the  Revolution.  His  father  was  born  in  Scotland,  hav- 
ing 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  fif- 
teen, entered  the  South  Carolina  College  at  Columbia.  He 
entered  the  law  ofBce  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  Colo- 
nel J.  B.  Kershaw.  In  1862  he  was  made  Colonel  of  the  Sec- 
ond 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  Kennedj'  was 
six  times  wounded,  and  fifteen  times  was  hit  by  spent  balls. 
At  the  close  of  the  war  he  resumed  bis  practice  of  law  at  Cam- 
den, 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  vState  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  I^egislature, 
and  was  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Privileges  and  Elec- 
tions. 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 


HISTORY   OP    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  477 

two  years.  As  a  member  of  the  National  Democratic  Conven- 
tion in  1876,  he  cast  his  vote  for  Tilden  and  Hendricks,  and  in 
1884  was  Piesidential  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  Ad- 
visory 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  Repre- 
sentative 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  In- 
fantry, of  which  J.  B.  Kershaw  was  Captain;  elected  First 
Lieutenant  in  i860.  Upon  the  secession  of  South  Carolina, 
December  20th,  i860.  Captain  Kershaw  was  elected  Colonel  of 
the  Second  South  Carolina  Volunteers,  and  Lieutenant  Ken- 
nedy was  chosen  Captain  of  the  Camden  Volunteers,  a  com- 
pany composed  of  members  of  the  Camden  Light  Infantry  and 
those  who  united  with  them  for  service  in  the  field.  This  com- 
pany 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  VoUmteers  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  un- 
til 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  Sec- 
ond Manassas,  and  was  also  in  battle  Of  Chickamauga,  battles 
around  Knoxville,  Averysboro,  and  Bentonville,  and  surren- 
dered at  Greensboro  April  27th,  1865.     General  Kennedy  was 


478  HISTORY   OF     KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

in  every  battle  in  which  his  command  was  engaged,  and  was 
wounded  six  times  and  struck  fifteen  times.  He  died  in  Cam- 
den, 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  theSputh 
Carolina),  read  law,  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession a  year  or  two  before  the  beginning  of  hostilities.  At 
the  first  call  by  the  State  for  twelve  months'  volunteers.  Colo- 
nel Todd  enlisted  in  the  ''Laurens  Briars,"  afterwards  Com- 
pany G,  Third  South  Carolina  Regiment,  and  was  elected 
Captain.  He  took  his  company  with  him  into  the  Confederate 
service,  and  at  the  reorganization  iu  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  se- 
verely wounded.     He  surrendered  at  Greensboro,  N.  C. 

After  the  war  he  again  took  up  the  practice  of  law  and  con- 
tinued 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  Wil- 
liam 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.  hia  fellow-men,"  and  was  never  so 
happy  as  when  surrounded  by  vjoUy  companions  and  spirits 
like  his  own.     He  was  a  great  lov6r  of  outdoor  sports,  ,and,  no 


HISTORY   OP    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  479 

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  Cap- 
tain. 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 
driUground  in  the  regiment,  and  had  few  equals  as  vSUch  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.  Ruther- 
ford. 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. 

COIvONEL   WILLIAM   WALLACE. 

Colonel    William    Wallace,  of  the   Second   South  Carolina 

I' , 

Regiment,  was  undoubtedly  the  Murat  of  the  Old  First  Bri- 
gade. 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  dement  or  at  ease  than  amidst  the  booming  cannon,  the 
roar  of  musketry,  or  the  whirl  of  comljat.  Colonel  Wallace 
was  a  soldier  borti  and  a  leader  of  men.     He  depended  not  so 


480  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADK. 

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  bril- 
liant, 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  i6th,  1824,  and  was  graduated  at  the  South  Caro- 
lina 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  Cap- 
tain 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  bat- 
tle of  Bentonville. 

He  had  the  honor  of  participating  in  the  capture  of  For* 
Sumter  and  the  battles  of  Blackburn's  Ford,  First  Manassas, 
Williamsburg,  vSavage  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,  ir 
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  enemj 
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  met 
all  told.     So  rapid  was  the  assault  that  the  color  bearer  of  ths 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  481 

Fqrty-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  Gettys- 
burg. 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  iSgr  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  post- 
master of  Columbia  by  President  Cleveland. 

By  his  marriage,  in  1848,  to  Victoria  C,  daughter  of  Dr. 
John  McLeraore,  of  Florida,  Colonel  Wallace  has  five  children 
living,  Andrew,  William,  Bruce,  Edward  Barton,  and  Marga- 
ret. After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  he  married,  in  1876, 
Mrs.  Fannie  C.  Mobley,  nee  Means. 

CAPTAIN  JOHN   HAMPDKN    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  reorganiza- 
tion of  the  regiment  he  declined  re-election,  and  served  for  a 
short  time  as  Aid-de-Camp  on  General  Kershaw's  staflF.  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  Bat- 
tery 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  recover}^  from  his 
wounds  he  returned  to  his  command,  but  was  soon  detached, 
31 


482  HISTORY   OF    KBRSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  Savan- 
nah (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  re- 
turned to  its  command. 

Captain  Brooks  was  born  at  Edgefield  Court  House  and  was 
educated  at  Mt.  Zion,  Winusboro,  and  the  South  Carolina  Col- 
lege. His  father.  Colonel  Whitfield  Brooks,  was  an  ardent 
nuUifier,  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 
Pre.ston  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  Caro- 
lina 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  Aboli- 
tion and  Free  State  forces,  under  old  John  Brown  and  Colonel 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  483 

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  I,ieutenant 
Governor  and  a  member  of  the  Secession  Couvention.  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  pro- 
ceed to  Washington  and  endeavor  to  treat  with  the  authorities 
should  arrive,  which  he  did,  and  was  appointed  their  Secre- 
tary. The  Commission  consisted  of  Senator  Robert  W.  Barn- 
well, General  James  H.  Adams,  and  Honorable  James  I,.  Orr. 
After  many  fruitless  efforts,  they  finally  got  an  audience  with 
President  Buchanan,  who  refused  to  treat  with  thera  in  any 
manner  whatever,  and  Mr.  Harllee  was  directed  to  proceed  at 
once  to  Charleston,  the  bearer  of  dispatches  from  the  Commis- 
sioners 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  Com- 
pany I,  Eighth  South  Carolina  Re^^iment,  and  fought  through 
the  battles  of  Bull  Run  and  Manassas  with  a  musket.  General 
Bonham,  in  command  of  the  brigade,  detailed  him  for  scouting 
dutj'  in  and  near  Alexandria  and  Washington,  and  he  had 
many  thrilling  adventures  and  narrow  escapes  in  the  discharge 
of  those  duties.  In  October,  1861,  I^ieutenant  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  Cap- 
tain of  his  company,  which  he  commanded  to  the  surrender. 


484  HISTORY   OF    KSRSHANY'S,  BRIGAJOK. , 

lie  was  seyeralj times  severely  wounded,  ^nd _; bears  upon  his 
person  visible^  evidences  of  the  battle:sca;re(i  veteraui;  He 
was  regarded  by  all,  his  comrades  as  a  daring  a,nd  intrepid 
ofiBcer. 

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  Regi- 
ment, 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  Lieu- 
tenant of  that  corapnny,  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, 
n.arried,  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  Mclntyre,  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  Fresh- 
man 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  ist,  i860. 

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  compauy  was  ordered  to  Charleston  on  fall  of  Fort  Sum- 


HISTORY  OF  'Kershaw's  brigJaCe.  -485 

ter,  Where  it  feniained  until  tlie  laist  of  May,  when  it  was 
ordered  to  Florence,  S.  C. ,  Where,  about  the  ist  of  June,  it 
was  mustered  into  Confederate  service  by  General  Geo.  Evans, 
and  immediately  ordered  to  Virginia  to  form  a  part  of  Bon- 
ham's  Brigade. 

Captain  Mclntyre  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  skir- 
mishes and  battles,  Williamsburg,  battles  around  Richmond, 
Va. ,  Maryland  Heights,  Sharpsburg,  Fredericksburg,  Chan-  , 
'Cellorsville,  Wilderness,  Spottsylvauia  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  Regi- 
ment at  the  battle  of  Ream's  Station,  and  when  tht  Second, 
Eighth,  and  Third  Battalion,  under  the  command  of  the  gal- 
lant Colonel  Gaillard,  of  the  Second,  made  a  daring  and  suc- 
cessful 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  Mclntyre  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 
StrasDurg,  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  posse.ssed  of  an  affectionate 
nature,  with  a  deep  sympathy  for  his  fellow-men  and  a  patri- 
otism which  could  only  terminate  with  his  own  life.  His 
father.  Dr.  Thomas  B.  Rutherford,  was  a  graud.son  of  Colonel 
Robert  Rutherford,  of  Revolutionary  fame,  and  his  mother, 
Mrs.  Ivaura  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  plan- 


486  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

tation  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  fond- 
ness 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  deter- 
mined effort  to  master  all  the  branches  of  study  in  an  incredi- 
ble 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  rebel- 
lion, he  left  college.  Afterwards  he  regretted  his  step.  Not 
content  with  the  advantages  he  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  5'oung  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  Regi- 
ment 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  i6tliof  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  ofBcer  that  he  recommended  him  for  promo- 
tion to  Brigadier  General.     When  this  gallant  oflScer  fell  in 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.    .  487 

the  front  of  his  regiment,  therd  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  regi- 
ment." Kate  is  now  the  wife  of  the  Honorable  George  John- 
stone. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX 

Peace  Conferenee-r-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  tbey  began  to  look  with  alarm  on  the  specta- 
cle of  these  two  brothers — brothers  in  blood,  in  aims,  ambi- 
tion, and  future  expectations,  only  an  imaginary  line  separat- 
ing 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  extermi- 


488  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

nation  of  American  manhood.  The  best  and  bravest  of  the 
North  had  fallen  in  the  e^rly  years  of  the  war, 'while  the'bWk 
of  the  army  now  was  composed  of  the  lowest  type  of  foreigners, 
-who  had  been  tempted  to  our  shores  by  the  large  bounties  paid 
b5'  the  Union  Government.  Taking  their-  cue  from  th4ir 
native  comrades  in  arms,  they  now  tried  to  outdo  thetn  in 
vandaliziug,  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  coun- 
try'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,  sol- 
diers, 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  ihe  mouth  of  the  Potomac. 
President  lyincoln  and  Secretary  of  State  William  H.  Seward, 
on  the  part  of  the  North,  and  Vice-President  Stephens,  Hon- 
orable R.  T.  M.  Hunter,  and  Judge  Campbell,  on  the  part  of 
the  South,  attended.  L,iucoln  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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW' S   BRIGADE.  4^9 

Longstreet.  He  wished  that  General  to  use  his  influence 
Wit'K  GCtleral'Lei^  anfl' the  officers' of  the  army  to  meet  General 
fertant,  and  with  their  wives '  mingling  with  the  wives  of  ttie 
ftfspectiVe  Generals,  talk  iJver  the  matter  in  a  friendly  manner, 
ifad  see  if  some  plan'  could  not  be  friamed  whereby  peace  could 
tie  secured  hbriori'ble  to  all  parties.  All  had  had  glory  enough 
and  blood  sufficient  had  he'en  ished  to  gratify  the  most  savage 
and  iauatical.  These  officers  or  the  most  of  them  had  been 
bid  school-mates  at  West  Point,  had  been  brother  ofiScers  in 
the  old  army,  their  wives  had  mingled  in  pleasant,  social  inter- 
tiourse  at  the  army  posts,  and  they  could  aid  as  only  women 
can  aid,  in  a  friendly  way,  to  bring  back  an  era  of  good  feel- 
ings. General  Ord  further  intimated  that  President  Lincoln 
would  not  turn  a  deaf  ear  to  a  reasonable  proposition  for  com- 
pensation for  the  slaves.  General  Longstreet  accepted  the 
overtures  with  good  grace,  but  with  a  dignity  fitting  his  posi- 
tion. 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 
itturued  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  bim  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 
efibrts  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 


490  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADK. 

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  sarcifice  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  Sec- 
retary 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  disor- 
ganized 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  Beaure- 
gard and  Johnston.  The  forts  along  the  coast  in  great  numr 
bers  were  abendoned,  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 


HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  '     491 

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,  oflScers  of  the  depart- 
ment, 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  sol- 
diers to  remain  in  the  city  over  night.  And  it  must  be  re- 
membered, too,  that  the  hotnes  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  return- 
ing home,  unless  clandestinely.  In  that  case  they  ran  the 
risk  of  being  shot  by  some  bush-whacker  or  "stay  outs,"  who 
avoided  the  conscript  officer  ou  one  side  and  recruiting  officer 
on  the  other.  In  these  border  States  there  was  a  perpetual 
feud  between  these  bush-whackers  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  sup- 
per, 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  tiollars  additional  for  each  drink.  Under  such  cir- 
cumstances the  ladies  of  South  Carolina,  by  private  contribu- 
tions 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, 


492    ■  HISTORY  OF,   K-ERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

and  under  clothing,  from  the  cloth  spun,  woven,  and  made  up 
, by  the  ladies  at.liQme,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  donciby 
negro  servants,  all  the  other  was  done  by  tthe  ladies  them- 
selves. Too  much  praise  cannot  be  given  to  Colonel  McMas- 
ter 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  emer- 
gency. The  officers  of  the  army,  whenever  able,  were  required 
to  pay  a  nominal  sum  for  lodging.  Better  beds  and  conveni- 
ences were  furnished  them,  but  if  they  were  willing  to  take 
private's  "fare,"  they  paid  private's  "fee,"  which  was  gratui- 
tous. As  a  general  rule,  however,  the  officers  kept  apart 
from  the  men,  for  the  officer  who  pushed  himself  in  the  pri- 
vate'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  dainty 
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  chuncks  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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  493 

the ''quarter.''  Broaches  were  reeled'  intb  "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  "fiUiUg."  B3'  an  ingeni- 
ous 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  homspuns  of  every  kind  were  turned  put  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  hopie  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  pro- 
visions, 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 
M'ere  invariably  captured  from  the  enemy.  Think  of  going 
through  an  army  of  sixty  or  seventy  thousand  men,  all  com- 
iortably  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  co-operation 
nice,  fine  salt  was  made.  Farmers,  too,  that  had  the  old-time 
"smoke"  or  meat  houses  with  dirt  floors,  dug  up  the  earth  in 


494  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  sufiBcient  to  feed 
the  troops.  There  were  no  skulking  spirits  among  the  people. 
The5'  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  per- 
formed with  remarkable  willingness,  uutil,  perhaps,  some  Fed- 
eral 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 
youngerj^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. 


HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  495 


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  ignisfatuus  and  a  delu- 
sion, 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  Gibralter  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  Moul- 
trie, at  the  Charleston  Harbor,  continued  to  hold  out  for  a 
while  longer.  The  year  before  the  "Alabama,"  an  iron-clad 
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  suc- 
cessful march  to  the  sea.  At  Savannah  he  was  met  by  a 
formidable  fleet  of  irou-clads  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  fol- 
lowed, 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  sufl&ce 
this  great   emancipator.     To   this  the  South  could   not  nor 


HISTORY   OF     KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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  anfl  seventy  thousand  prisoners,  as  against  two  hun- 
dred and  twent3'-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  boldiers  in  North- 
ern prisons  took  quite  another  army  from  the  service.  In  ad- 
dition to  the  difficulty  of  supplying  our  own  army  and  people 
with  the  necessities  of  life,  we  were  put  to  the  strain  of  feed- 
ing 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  suf- 
ferings of  these  unfortunates  confined  in  the  prison  pens  in  the 
North  aud  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  sufferiug  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  en- 
treaties, this  being  a  war  measure,  and  no  suffer, ng  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,  shock- 
ing 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  iii'surrection  and  a  bloody  socJial  war  breakout 
should  tbe  prisoners  be  released  at  the  prison  pens.  Under  all 
the  varying  circumstances  the  South  was  still  i)usily  engaged 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  497 

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  Flor- 
ence, 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  L,iby  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  vs^hich  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  collision  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'  fur- 
lough was  given  as  an  acknowledgment  of  his  faithful  observ- 
ance of  orders.  On  more  occasions  than  one  the  prisoners  in 
their  attempt  to  draw  inexperienced  guards  into  a  conversa- 
tion, and  perhaps  offer  a  bribe,  met  their  death  instantly.  In- 
side 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  sufierings 
and  death  of  these  unfortunate  people^a  sacrifice  to  what 
their  government  called  a  "military  necessity."  Our  prison- 
32 


498  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADK. 

ers  were  scattered  iu  like  manner  at  Camp  Chase,  in  Ohio; 
Fort  Johnston,  in  Lake  Michigan;  Fort  Delaware,  in  the  Dela- 
ware River;  and  many  other  places,  subject  to  greater  suffer- 
ings 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  over- 
joyed. 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  pardon- 
able pride,  too,  that  their  organization,  let  it  be  company, 
regiment,  brigade,  or  even  division  or  corps,  is  superior  to  any 
other  like  organization  iu  bravery,  discipline,  or  any  soldierly 
attainments".  Troops  of  different  States  claim  superiority  over 
those  of  their  sister  States,  while  the  same  rivalry  exists  be- 
tween 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  Confederac5',  and  a  logical  conclusion 
would  he  "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  Sbuth.     It  would  appear  from  read- 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  499 

ing  cotemporary  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,  tooy  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  bewil- 
dered 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  waj'  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  bad  Sher- 
man'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  ap- 
proached, to  reinforce  General  Hardee  with  all  these  State 
troops  and  reserves,  under  General  Cobb,  which  num- 
bered 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  mat- 


500  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW' S    BRIGADE. 

ters,  as  in  others,  too  much  must  not  be  taken  for  granted, 
and  where  great  events  hinge  on  so  manj'  minor  details,  it  is 
not  suprising  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 
statistics,  refused  to  permit  the  State  troops  to  leave  the  bor- 
ders 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  Gfeorgia  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  Savan- 
nah— the  smoke  of  the  burning  homesteads,  the  wreck  and 
ruin  of  their  sister  State — left  little  hope  of  lienency  or  mercy 
at  the  bauds  of  the  enemy,  while  all  their  strength  and  depend- 
ence in  the  way  of  manhood  were  eitlier  in  the  trenches  with 
L,ee  or  with  the  reserves  along  the  borders  of  the  State.  Com- 
panies were  formed  everywhere  of  boys  and  old  men  to  help 
beat  back  the  mighty  annaconda  that  was  now  menacing  with 
its  coils  our  comnion  country.  These  were  quite  unique 
organizations,  the  State  troops  of  the  South.  The  grand- 
fathers 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  sla- 
very. The  enemy  was  ready  and  willing  to  excite  these 
otherwise  harmless,  peaceful,  and  contented  negroes  to  insur- 
rection and  wholesale  butchery.  But  be  it  said  to  the  everlast- 
ing credit  and  honor  of  the  brave  women  of  the  South,  that 
they  never  uttered  a  reproach,  a  murmur,  or  a  regret  at  the 


HISTORY   OP    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  501 

conditions  in  which  circumstances  had  placed  them.  But 
the  negro,  faithful  to  his  instincts,  remained  true,  and  out- 
side of  an  occasional  outburst  of  enthusiasm  at  their  newly 
found  freedom,  continuel  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  clus- 
tered 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  in- 
stance 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  wfre  given  not  to  allow  any  of  the  troops  to 
leave  or  stop  over,  however  near  their  homes  they  pas.sed,  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  cimpaign  and  the 
close  investiture  of  Richmond  by  Grant— the  still  closer  block- 
ade 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  dnst  and  mud  of  the  val- 
ley aud  the  trenches  around  Richmond.  Our  few  brief  months 
in  winter  quarters  had  nut  added  much,  if  any,  to  our  ap- 
■  pearance.  By  some  "underground"  road.  Captain  Jno.  K. 
Nance,  of  the  Third,  had  procured  a  sj'ick  and  span  new  uni- 
lorm,  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  occa- 


502  HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

sions,  when  other  soldiers  were  only  in  their  '  'fighting  gar- 
ments," 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  tele- 
graphed  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   oflBcers  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  honey- 
moon 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  favor- 
ite 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  knap-sack  and 
the  knap-sack  under  his  head,  while  he  slept  the  sleep  of  the 
just  in  the  far  corner  of  the  box  car.     When  we  reached  Char- 
lotte Captain  Nance  concluded  to  rig  himself  out,  as  this  was 
to  be  our  last  place  of  stoppage  until  Columbia  was  reached, 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  503 

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 — knap-sacks 
thrown  aside,  guns  and  accourtrements  dashed  in  every  direc- 
tion— the  knap-sack  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  im- 
press 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,  haver-sacks  once  again  thrown 
aside,  knap-sacks  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  ej'es  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  scoun- 
drel steal  my  clotes,  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  con- 
science 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 


504  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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  citizen.s  had  left  the  city,  and  allthat 
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  ;ill  the  little 
stores  and  shops  were  in  full  blast,  the  same  as  if  the  "Swamp 
Angle"  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  per- 
formed in  one  of  the  palatial  residences  in  the  cily,  the  room 
filled  with  happy  guests,  a  shell  came  crashing  into  the  apart- 
ment, 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. 

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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  505 

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  civil- 
ians 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  conuonading  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  fainous  by 
jts  heroic  defense  of  Charleston  in  the  days  of  the  Revolution, 
and  by  Jasper  leaping  the  sides  of- the  fort  and  replenishing 
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  exam- 
ple— 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  pre- 
vent the  soldier  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  sol- 
diers, on  the  Verbal  permission  of  their  Captains,  were  taking 
in  the  cit)'.  L,eaving  their  arms  at  camp,  they  were  caught 
"hors  de  combat,"  as  it  were,  and  locked  up  in  the  city  guard- 
house over  night.  The  next  morning  I  went  to  look  for  my 
absentees,  and  away  up  in  the  top  story  of  the  lower  station 
hou-se  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  congre- 
gate 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. 


506  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

There  were  two  young  Captains  in  the  Third,  who,  both 
together,  would  only  make  one  good  man,  physically.  So 
small  in  statue  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  huiuoredly  and  told  the  officers  he  was  their  friend  and 
did  uot  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  iu  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  mis- 
taken 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  but  all  over,  like  a  bladder  being  blown  up." 

They  found  out  afterwards  that  the,  Jew  was  a  professional 


HISTORY  OP    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  507 

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  planta- 
tion 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  comodity  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  Charles- 
ton and  Savannah  Railroad. 


CHAPTER  XLl 

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  Mclyaws  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 


508  HISTORY   OF    KERSHA-W'S    BRIGADB. 

being  few  occupations  that  the  old  West  Pointerb  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  re- 
serves. 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  confi- 
dent 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  enlist- 
ment of  the  slaves.  It  must  be  understood  that  at  this  time 
Lee  had  all  he  conld  do  to  hold  his  own  against  Grant,  grow- 
ing weaker  and  weaker  as  the  days  rolled  by  ,  while  Grant  was 
being  reinforced  from  all  over  the  United  States.  I,ee  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  Fed- 
eral 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  Array  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  authori- 
ties, 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  pro.spective 
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 


HISTORY  OP    KBRSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  509 

letter,  the  people  did  uot  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  efifective  and  present. 
We  can  easily  keep  in  the  field  an  effective  force  of  two  hun- 
dred 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  forego- 
ing facts  could  hope  for  ultimate  results,  is  hard  to  compre- 
hend 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  fortifica- 
tions possible,  withdraw  all  the  troops  from  Charleston,  Wil- 
mington, and  in  the  other  cities,  put  in  all  the  State  troops 
that  were  available  from  the  three  States,  push  forward  as 
many  veterans  as  I^ee  could  temporarily  spare  from  the 
trenches,  barely,  leaving  a  skirmish  line  behind  the  works 
around  Richmond  and  Petersburg,  then  as  Sherman  ap- 
proached, 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  impossi- 
ble; while  the  railroads  in  his  rear  being  all  destroyed,  his 
means  of  supplies  would  be  cut  off,  and  nothing  left  but  re- 
treat. Then,  in  that  event,  the  whole  of  Beauregard's  troops 
to  be  rushed  on  to  Lee,  and  with  the  combined  arm}'  assault 
the  left  flank  of  Grant  and  drive  him  back  on  the  James. 
That  the  soldiers  in  the  ranks  and  the  subaltern  oflBcers  felt 
that  some  kind  of  movement  like  this  was  contemplated,  there 
•can  be  no  doubt.     It  was  this  feeling  that  gave  them  the  con- 


510  HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

fidence  in  the  face  of  overwhelming  numbers,  and  nerved  them 
to  greater  efforts  in  time  of  battle.  It  was  this  sense  of  confi- 
dence the  soldiers  had  in  the  heads  of  departments  and  in  the 
commanding  Generals  that  gave  the  inspiration  to  the  breaten 
array  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  stoi- 
cism 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  indure  the  insults  of  the  Fed- 
eral 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  anj'  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  John- 
ston, with  fifty  or  sixty  thousand  of  the  best  troops  in  the  ser- 
vice, 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  con- 
tinually 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  mak- 
ing 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  Empei^r  for  reinforcements,  "Where 
does  he  expect  me  to  get  theffl?  ■  Make  them?"     It  seems  that 


HISTORY   OP    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  511 

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 
stashes  in  the  direction  of  Branchville.  It  was  not  conclusively 
known  whether  Shermtin,  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  Sher- 
man," "Call  on  the  Governors,"  "Bring out  the  militia,"  etc. 

Sherman's  columns  of  advance  consisted  of  four  great 
parolled  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.  I^ogau,  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  cav- 
alry, 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  Array — 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. 


512  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

It  must  not  be  forgotton  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  cav- 
alry, now  reduced  to  a  mere  skeleton  organization,  was  hover- 
ing around  the  enemy's  flanks  and  in  front  between  Branch- 
ville  and  Augusta. 

Just  prior  to  the  evacuation  of  Columbia,  .General  Beaure- 
gard applied  to  the  war  department  for  the  promotion  of  Gen- 
eral 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  recruit- 
ing 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  ofiBcer  for 
the  post.  Furthermore,  Wheeler's  Cavalry  had  become  thor- 
oughly demoralized  and  undisciplined.  From  their  long,  con- 
tinual 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. 


HISTORY    OF    JCEKSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  513 


CHAPTER  XUI 

March  Through  South  Carolina,  February  and 
Inarch,  1865. 

When  Sherman  put  this' mighty  machine  of  war  in  motion j 
Kershaw's  Brigade  was  hurried  back  to' Charleston  and  uf)  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  streaiiis  iii  their 
rear  but  by  bridges,  it  can  be  seen  that  the  cutting'  of  one 
bridge  alone  might  be  fatal  to  the  airmy.  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  frorii  the  Edisto 
back  to  Charleston,  and  iip  the  iSTortheastern  Railroad  to  St. 
Stephen's,  on  the  Santee.  It  was  feared'a  raiding  party  fi-om 
Georgetown  would  come  up  the  Santee  and  cut '  the  bridge, 
thereby  isolating  the  army  Hardee  had  in'  Charleston  aind 
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  tJridge  over 
the  Congare'e.  '  '  '  '  "        ■■•''■'>! 

On  the  15th  of  February  the  advance  column  of'the  Twenti- 
eth Corps  came  in  sight  of  Columbia.  AH  the  bridges  leading 
thereto  were  burned  and  the  Southern  troo'ps  witdrawii  to  the 
eastern  side.  Frank  Blair's  Corps  left  the '  road  leading  to 
Columbia  at  Hopkin's,  and  kept  a  direct'  line  for'Ca'mden. 
Another  corps,  the  Fiftieenth,  crossed  the  Broid  at'CoIurnbia, 
while  the  Fourteenth  and  Twentieth  we're  to'cross  at  Fresh - 
ley's  and  Alston.  Orders  had  been' given  to  evali'iiatfe  Charles- 
ton, and  all  the  troops  under  General  McLdwS',"at  Fouir'  Hole 
Swamp,  and  along  the  coast  were  to  rendezvous  at  St.  Ste- 
phen's, on  the  Santee,  and  either  make  a  ju'ncti'o'n  with  the 
Western  Army  at  Chester,  S.  C,  or  if  not' possible,  to  continue 
to  Chesterfield  or  Cheraw.  The  plan  of  tlie  campaign  was  now 
33 


514  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADK, 

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  reliev- 
ing lyce. 

On  the  morning  of  the  i6th  of  February  the  enemy,  with- 
out any  warning  whatever,  began  shelling  the  city  of  Colum- 
bia, filled  with  women  and  children.  Now  it  must  be  remem- 
bered 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  Ma5'or  of  the  city  met  an  oflBcer 
of  the  Federal  Army  under  a  flag  of  truce  and  tendered  him 
the  surrender  of  the  city,  and  claimed  protection- for  its  inhabi- 
tants.    This  was  promised. 

All  during  the  day  thousands  of  the  enemy  poured  into 
the  city,  General  vSherman  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  Co- 
lumbia 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  ven- 
geance, were  too  pretentious  for  the  people  to  misunderstand 
or  to  expect  mercy.  These  signs,  threats,  and  mutterings 
were  but  the  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  hurry- 
ing 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  trutli.  Now 
another  alarm,  awother  fire  bell  mingles  its  sound  with  the 
general  chferus  of  discord,  shouts  of  the  soldiery,  the  fright- 
ened cries  of  the  people — yells  of  the  drunken  troops  all  a 
seathing,  maddening  turbulance  in  the  crowded  streets.     A 


HISTORY   OP    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  515 

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.  Th?  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  frcim  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 — uone  toi  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  origi- 
nated 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  in- 
toxicated 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  background  of  that 
part  of  the  city  not  yet  in  flames.  The  Federal  officers,  in- 
stead of  offering  assistance  or  a  helping  hand  to  the  ruined  and 
distressed  people,  added  insult  to  injury  by  joining  in  with  the 
private  soldiers  io  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  de- 
vouring 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  iVmain  for  days  and  some  for  weeks,  almost  on  the 


516  HISTORY   OF    KKKSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

verge  of  starvation.  The  Federal  commandeij,  through  the 
boundless  dictates  of  his  sympatlietic  heart,  after  destroying 
all  that  fire  and  rapine  could  reach,  left  the  starving  thousarids 
a  Few  rations  each  of  the  plunder  he  had  robbed  of  the  punt- 
ers in  the  country. 

No  vehicles  n  n  horses  were  left  in  the  city's  limits — the 
bridges  burned  that  lea^  across  the  river  to  the  west.  To  the 
east,  Blair's  Corps  was  laying  waste  everything  in  their  path- 
way, while  above  and  below  the  city,  for  a  dista,nce  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  mucli  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  3 ml  the  negroes  flocked  to  the  deserted  camps  to 
gather  up  the  crumbs  left  by  the  soldiers  or  the  grains  tram- 
pled 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  sava,ge  Turk.     L,adies  were  forced  to 
disclo-e.  at  tlie  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  or   medicinal  wines  of  the 
plarters'  wives.     But  be  it  known   to  their  immortal  honor, 
that  it  was  only  on  the  mo.st   rare  occa-sious  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  where- 
abouts 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,   j'ou  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  oat  if  there  were 
any  watches,  silver  plate,  or  money  belonging  to  the   house- 
hold; if  so,  they  would,  by  a  system  of  inquisition,  attempt  to 
force  the  women  to  give  it  up,  but  in  vain. 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  517 

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  pres- 
ence 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  them- 
selves 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  unsu.specting 
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  home- 
stead, 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 


518  HISTORY  OP    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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  country  and  darkened  the  sky  overhead, 
while  at  nii;-ht  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  v\  rapped  around  trees  and 
telegraph  posts — these  last  through  pure  wontonness,  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  Ridge  way, 
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  Divis- 
ion 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  Branch ville,  it  is  too  late  now." 

On  the  night  of  the  17th  and  tnorniug  of  the  i8th  Charles- 
ton was  evacuated.  Before  the  commencement  of  the  retire- 
ment, 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  McL,aws:  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  trrops  in  Christ  Church   Parish  to  go 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  519 

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. 
Mclyaws  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  direc- 
tion 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  Winns- 
boro.  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  f^r  in  th^  interior  for  any  length  of  time,  but  was 
marching  to  meet  the  fleet  that  had  left  him  at  Savannah  and 
the  troops  under  Scfiofield,,  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  lyaiicaster,  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  com- 
mand there,  retreated  to  Goldsboro. 

How.  in  the  face  of  all  these  facts,  could  it  be  possif^le  for 
Generals  to  deceive  themselves  or  to  deceive  others,  or  how 
President  Davis  could  have  such  delusive  hopes,  is  now  impos- 
sible 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  protection  of  forming  a  junc- 
tion with  Beauregard.     President  Davis  wrote  on  that  day: 

"General  Beauregard:  I  have  directed  General  J.  E.  John- 
ston to  assume  command  of  the  Southern  Army  and  assign 
5'ou  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  exausted  beyond  the  hope 
of  recuperation,  still  "You  will  beat  Sherman  back!"  the  Pres- 
ident writes.     I  for  one  cannot  see  how  a  General  could  receive 


520  I^ISTpSY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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  circum; 
stances  and  conditions  were  given  to  him  in  detail — said,  "The 
struggle  could  be  still  carried  on  to  a  successful  issue  by  bring- 
ing out  all  our  latest  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  suflFer  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  num- 
bers, 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  ad- 
vance 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  jliying  at  Lincolnton,  N.  C,  was  called  from  his 
retirement  and  placed  in  command  of  all  the  troops  in  North 
and   South  Carolina  and  riporcria, Althmiorh   ttiP  orm^?  oroc 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  -,  521 

nothing  more  thsin  detachments,  and  widely  separated, and 
greatly  disorganized  when  he  reached  them,  still  they  hailed  . 
with  delight  the  appointment  of  their  former  faithful  old  com- 
mander. His  one  great  aim  was, the  convergence  of  the  vari- 
ous armies  to  one  point  in  front  of  the.  enemy  and  strike  a  blow 
at  either  one  or  more,  of  his  columns,  either  at  Paj'etteville  or 
at  th^  crossing  of  the  Cape  Fear  River.  Hardee  had  been 
racing  with  Sherman  to  reach  Cheraw  and  cross  the  PeeDee 
before  Qhermfin  could  come  up.  He  only  accomplished  this 
afteV  many  forced  marches  by  "the  skjn  of  his  teeth,"  to  use  a 
homely  expression.  He  crossed  the  PeeDee  ohe  day  ahead  of 
the  enemy,  burning  the  bridge  behind  him,  after  moving  all 
the  stones  that  were  possible.  The  right  wing,  under  General 
Howard,  crossed  the  Pee  Dee  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  com- 
mand, numbering  in  all  about  two  thousand,  attacked  three 
divisions  under  General  Cox,  at  Kinjston,  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  jirisoners.  Again,  near  Rockin- 
ham,  the  same  officer  put  the  enemy  to  rout.  General  Kil- 
patrick  had  taken  up  camp  on  the  road  leading  to  Fayetteville, 
and  commanding  that  road  which  was  necessary  for  the  con- 
centration of  our  troops.  In  the  night  General  Hampton, 
after  thoroughly  reconnoitering  the.  position,  surrounded  the 
camp  of  Kilpatrick,  and  at  daybreak,  on  the  loth,  fell  like  a 
huricane  upon  the  sleeping  enemy.  The  wildest  confusion 
prevailed;  friend  could  not  be  di.stinguished  from  foe.  Shoot- 
ing and  saber  slashing  were  heard  in  every  direction,  while 
such  of  the  enemv^whrLrrmlH  m minted  their  horses  and  rode  at 


522  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW,'S  BRIGADB. 

break-neck  speed,  leaving  their  camp  and  camp  equippage, 
their  artillery  and  wagon  trains.  The  enemy  was  so  laden 
w'th  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  vic- 
tory, 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  num- 
ber 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  L,ee,  as  well  as  a  part  of  Har- 
dee's, to  concentrate  at  Smitlifield.  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  he  seen  even  a  short  dis- 
tance 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  Smithlield  and 
to  an  elevation. 

General  Johnston  having  learned  that  the  enemy  was  march- 
ing in  the  direction  of  Glodsboro,  instead  of  Raleigh,  and  that 
the  right  wing  was  a  day's  advance  of  the  left,  ordered  a  con- 
centration of  his  troops  near  the  little  hamlet  of  Bentonvill<=, 
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  perforance,  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  Gen- 


HISTORY   OP    KERSHAW'S    BRIOADK.  523 

eral  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 
19th,  and  on  reaching  Bentonville  we   now,  for  the  first  time, 
came  up  with   all   the   other  troops   of  the   army.     Hoke's 
Division  lead  ofif  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,  mov- 
ing 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  de- 
moralized.    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   manoeuvering,  Mcl^aw'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  armv,  com- 
posed 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  be- 
hind 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  car- 
ried everything  before  them;  the  enemy  in  double  columns  and 


524  HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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  con- 
siderable gap  between  our  extreme  left  and  the  main  body  of 
cavalry,  and  this  break  the  writer  commanded  with  a  heavy 
line  of  skirmishers.  I,ate  in  the  day  the  enemy  made  a  spir- 
ited attack  upon  us,  so  much  so  that  General  McLaws  sent 
two  companies  of  boys,  formerly  of  Fixer'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  regi- 
ment 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  sharp- 
shooters. 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  skirmish- 
ers, 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,  notwithstandino-  Hip  hopes 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  525 

of  our  Generals,  the  determination  of  the  troops,  and  the 
prayers  of  the  people,  was  fast  sinking  in  the  west.  The  glo- 
rious rising  on  the  plains  of  Manassas  had  gone  down  among 
the  pine  barriers  of  North  Carolina.  The  last  stroke  had  been 
givpn,  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  crushed.-  The  tattered 
battle  flags  waved  as  triumphantly  over  the  heads  of  the  shat- 
tered ranks  of  the  battle-scared  veterans  here  in  the  pine  bar- 
riers 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 
swolen  stream.  The  Federal  Army  had  thirty-five  thousand 
engaged  on  the  19th  and  sevent}'  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  los.ses  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  Golds- 
boro,  there  uniting  with  General  Schofield.  It  was  the  inten- 
tion of  General  lyce  that  as  soon  as  General  Sherman  had 
approached  near  enough,  to  abandon  the  trenches  at  Peters- 
burg, and,  with  the  combined  armies,  turn  and  fall  upon  his 
front,  flank,  and  rear. 


526  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 


CHAPTER  XLIII 

From  Smithfield  to  Greensboro — The  Surren- 
der. 

The  army  took  up  quarters  for  a  while  around  Smithfield. 
The  troops  were  as  jollj'  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  surround- 
ing 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  de- 
scription— stood  at  the  head  of  the  track  and  champed  their 
bits  with  eagerness,  impatient  to  get  away.  Confederate 
money  by  the  handfuls  changed  owners  ever5'  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,  Gen- 
eral 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  horse- 
back, 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  suffer- 
ings in  camp  and  upoq  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  bis 
great  reluctance  to  leave  us;  how  he  had  watched  with  sym- 
pathy and  affection  our  wanderings,  our  battles,  and  our  vic- 
tories, and  then  envokihg  Heaven's  blessings  upon  us,  he  said 
in  pathetic  tones,  "Comrades,  I  bid  you  an  affectionate  fare- 
well," and  rode  away. 

While  in  camp  here  there  was  a  feeble  attempt  made  to  reor- 


HISTORY   OP    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  527 

ganize  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  esc^aped  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  find- 
ing 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  magnifi- 
cent 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  Nortli 
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  these  horrors  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  cdrn,  with  a 
morsel  of  meat  dr  molasses.  A  great  number  of  negro  troops 
als6  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  Caro- 
lina and  upper  South  Caroliha,  coming  across  the  country  from 
East  Tennessee,  laying  waste  everything  in  its  track.  General 
Sherman  had  concentrated  his  whole  army  at  Goldsboro,  and 


528  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

was  lying  idle  in  catnp,  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  ffom  Newbern  with  twenty -six  thousand  three  hundred  and 
ninety-two  and  constituted  the  center,  besides  five  thbuband  six 
hundred  and  fifty-nine  cavalry,  uilder  Kilpatrick,  and  ninety- 
one  pieces  of  artillery.  General  Johnston  had  encamped  his 
army  between  two  roads,  one  leading  to  Raleigh,  the  other  to 
Wi-ldon.  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  difiant,  the  troops  williiig  to 
stand  by  them  to  the  last. 

On  the  loth  of  April  President  Davis  and  a  part  of  his 
cabinet  left  Danville  on  his  way  to  Greensboro.  Bven  at  this 
late  day  President  Davis  was  urging  the  concentration  of  the 
troops  under  General  Walker,  the  scattered  troops  at  Salis- 
bury 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;  Breckin- 
ridge, Secretary  of  War,  and  General  Johnston.  The  army 
had  been  falling  back  daily  through  Raleigh,  and  was  now  en- 
camped 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.  Gen- 
eral Johnston  urged  in  his  and  General  Beauregard's  name  its 
utter  impracticability,  and  informed  the  JPresident  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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  529 

which  they  could  gain  through  the  Federal  authorities,  and 
besought  Mr.  Davis  to  open  negotiatioas  looking  to  peace-i- 
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  Hamp- 
ton, 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  i6th,  agreeing 
to  a  cessation  of  hostilities  until  further  notice.  General  Sher- 
man 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  caijip  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^  ofiBcers,  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 
34 


530  HISTORY  OP    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

mounted  their  horses  and  rode  away.  General  Sherman  sent 
guards  to  all  fords  and  bridges  to  examine  all  the  paroles  of 
the  troops  6f  Lee  now  swarming  through  the  countryl' 

General  Johnston  met  General  Sherman  at  Durham,  on  ttie 
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  Gen- 
eral Breckinridge  was  unofRcially  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  :u  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  cpnsummater  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  con- 
soled then;  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  fort5'-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  cotnmunication  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 


5ai 

arms,  were  given,  paroles,  aad  slowly  turned  away  and  cdva,- 
menced  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.  A.11  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  ot  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  awsy 
from  the  confines  of  the  army,  they  took  by-ways  and  cross 
country  roads,  avoiding  as  much  as  po.ssible  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  Geor- 
gia. 

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  patriot- 
ism, 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  cher- 
ished 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  lyondon.  You  comb^t- 
ted  the  march  of  Sherman  from  the  Saltkahatchie  to  the  cloge, 
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  heri- 
tage of  valor  left  to  posterity  as  a  memorial  of  Southern  inan- 
hood  to  the  Southern  cause  will  be  cherished  by  your  descend- 
ants for  all  time,  and  when  new  generations  come  on  and  read 
the  histories  of  the  great  Civil  War,  and  recall  to  their  mij^ds 


532  HtsT^oRY  OF   ke;rshaw's  brigade. 

the  fortitude,  the  chivalry,  and  the  glories  of  the  troops  en- 
gaged, Etershaw's  Brigade  will  liave-a_bEight  page  in  the  book 
■of  their  remembrance. 


CHAPTER  XLIV 

Retrospect. 

It  would  be  suppostd  Hhat  the  writer,  who  had  fought  by 
the  sHe  of  nearlj' all.  and  who  had  visited  battlefields  where 
troops  from  every  State  had  fallen,  could  form  an  idea  of 
"Whi^h  were  tin-  'oest  troops  from  the  South?"  The  South 
has  fnrnisbeii  a  type  of  tli^  true,  soldier  that  will  last  as  a  copy 
foi  all'  tiiiif.  She  iiad  few  regulars,  and  her  volunteer  troops 
were  bniugbt  into  service  without,  preparation  or  without  the 
knowledge  of  tactical  drill,  but  in  stoicism,  heroism,  and  mar- 
tyrdom they  excelled  the  world 

I  give  in  these  pages  a  brief  synopsis  of  the  characteristics 
of  the  uoops  froth  different  States,  and  vvhile  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, 
"Whicli  were  the  best  troops  from  the  South?"  there  would  be 
■as  many  answers  and  as  much  differences  of  opinions  as  there 
were  States  ih  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 
o'wh  coalpany  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,  vere  as  good 
'di'  better  than  any  who  ever  before  faced!  an  enem}'  upon  a 
Tjattlefield,  there  really  are  no  "best." 

■,  But  soldiers  from  different  States,  all  of  the  same  nationalit3' 
•and  of  the  same  lineage,  from  habits,  temperaments.,  and  envi- 
ronments, had  different  characteristics  upon  the  field  pf  b.at-. 
tie.     From  an  impartial  standpoint,  I  give  my  opinion  thus: 

The  Virginians  were  the  cayaliers  of  the  South,  high-toned, 
high-bred,  each  individual  soldier  inspired  by  that  lofty  idea  of 


HISOTRY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  533 

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  glorj'  of  their  common- 
wealth. 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  insti- 
tutions of  learning,  were  better  educated  than  the  mass  of  sol- 
diers 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  Con- 
federacy. 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  jocu- 
lar remark,  common  during  the  war,  that  the  reason  ihe  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  inspira- 
tions of  some  of  their  French  Huguenot  ancestors  and  the 
indomitable  courage  of  their  Scotch  and  German  forefathers  of 
the  Revolution.  They  were  impulsive,  impetifous,  and  reck- 
lessly 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  po.ssibly  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 


534  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

obatacles  they  could  not  surmount,  no  position  they  would  not 
assail.  Enthusiasm  and  self-confidence  were  the  fort.ot  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  South- 
land. 

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  breast- 
work .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  wiir 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  ^vas  it,"  asked  the  civilian,  "if  you  were  so 
supe;rior  in  every  essential  to  the  Rebels,  that  you  got  such  an 
everlasting  licking  around  Richmond?"  "Licking,  h — 1," 
said  the  wounded  Major,  "who  could  fight  such  people?  In- 
dians! Worse  than  an  Appache.  Just  as  we  would  get  in 
line  of  battle  and  ready  for  an  advance,  a  little  Georgia  Colo- 
hel,  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  whirl-wind — 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,  im- 
petuous, 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 


HISTORY  OF  Kershaw's  brigade.  535 

from  childHodd;  they  ^ade  strong,  hardy,  brave  soldiers.  In- 
different 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  Sara- 
cens of  the.^outh;  while  nothing  could  stand  before  the  broad 
scimeterb  of  tlie  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  .statue,  the}'  were  the  best  marchers  in  the  army.  Uke 
their  ancestors  in  the  days  of  the  "Merry  Monard,"  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  9,11  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  pf  the  land,  were  gallant,  chivalrous, 
-  and  gentlemanly  soldiers.  Descendants  of  bold  and  adventur- 
ous 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  obsliiiacy  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 
briui-ful  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  Chickaniauga  is 
distinguished  by  showing  the  greatest  per  cent,  of  killed  and 
wounded  in  battle  that  has  ever  been  recorded,  the  charge  of 
the  Liglit  Brigade  not   excepted,    being   over  forty-nine  per 

cent.  .     1  .. 

What  is  said  of  the  'fetinesseeans  is  equally   true  of  the 

A'rlcansans.     Of  a  common  stock  and  ancestry,  they,  inherited 

ail  the  virtues  and  courage  of  their  forefathers.     The  Con- 


536  HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADK. 

federacy  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  tfie  South.  They  joined 
the  fortunes  of  the  Soutli  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  lus- 
tre 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  wer?  These  are 
que.stions  which  will  perhaps  be  often  asked,  but  never  an- 
swered. 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  Johnstoui 
had  them  turned  over  to  the  Federal  authorities  for  safe  keep- 
ing. Consequently,  the  Confederate  rolls  on  file  in  Washing- 
ton 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  esti- 
mated. 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 i- 


HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  537 

and  more  than,  titty  thousand.  Union  dead  never  accounted  for. 
<A.  great  number  of  tliese  fell  by  the  wayside  during  "Sher- 
man'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  Wash- 
ington, given  by  States, -are  wry  unsatisfactory  and  necessa- 
rily 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  31O59 

Texas i;348  1,241  1,260 

Arkansas 2,165  91S  3)872 

Tennessee  2,115  874  3,425 

Regulars 1,007  -iSS  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  \\  ashington.  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  Caro- 
lina, 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  ..  2,38a 

Fort  Donelson 466       Missionary  Ridge,  .   .     381 


Ci^O 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 


Pea  Ridge 360 

Shilbii  1, 7*23 

Seven  Pines ■ .     980 

Seven  Days  Battles      .    .       .  3,286 

Second  Manassas i,55,3 

Sharpsburg 1,512 

Corinth 1,206 

Pefryville        .'       .    .  510 

Fredericksburg         .    .        .    .     596 

Murfreesboro i,794 

Chancellorsville    ...       .      1,665 

Champion  Hill 380 

Vicksburg  Siege 875 


Sabine  Cross  ^bads 350 

Wilderness 1,6^0 

Atlanta  Campaign 3,147 

Spottsylvania  ....  1,310 

Drury's  Bluff     .......     355 

Cold  Harbor      .    .    .    .    .    .    .     960 

Atlanta,  July  22,  1864  1,500 

Winchester     .    .    .  '      .  .     286 

Cedar  Creek 339 

Franklin  .  ...  1,750 

Nashville        ...  .    .     360 

BentonvilTe 289 

Five  Forks 350 


There  were  many  other  battles,  some  of  greater  magnitude 
than  the  above,  which  are  not  here  given.  There  are  gen- 
erally five  wounded  to  one  killed,  and  nearly  one-third  of  the 
wounded  die  of  their  wounds,  thus  a  pretty  fair  estimate  of  tjie 
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  I/ongstreet,  who  should  be  considered  a  judge, 
says  that  there  were  more  men  killed  and  wounded  on  the  bat- 
tlefield at  Sharpsburg  (or  Antietam),  for  the  length  of  the  en- 
gagement 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  seven ty-.si;x; 
Confederate  prisoners  died,  tabulated  as  follows: 

PrIi-DNS.  No.  Deaths. 

Alton,  111.  1,613 

Camp  Butler,  III 816 

Camp  Chase.  Ohio  .  .  .  2,108 
Camp  Douglass,  111  .  .  3  750 
Camp  Horton,  Ind  ,  1,765 

Camp  Randall,  Wis.  137 

Chester,  Penu  ...  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 


Prisons.                     No.  Deaths. 

Hart's  Is.,  N.  Y.   Harl-ior    230 

Johnson  s  Island,  Ohio 

.     270 

Knoxville,  Te;na  .    . 

138 

Little  Rock,  Ark 

220 

Nashville,  Teun.      .    . 

-■     561 

New  Orleans,  La  .    . 

•     329 

Point  Lookout,  Md 

3,44'6 

Richmond,  Va  .    .    .    . 

175 

Rock  Island',  111    . 

■  1,922 

St.  Louis,  Mo.       .    . 

■     589 

Ship  Island,  Miss.   .   . 

.     162 

Washington,  DC... 

•     457 

HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  539 

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,  any- 
one who  will  carefully  examine  the  records  of  the  great  con- 
flicts 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  hazzard  of  war,  not  all  in  actual  battle  alone, 
but  by  wounds  and  diseases  incident  to  a  soldier's  life,  in  addi- 
tion 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  na- 
tional 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  mil- 
lion dollars,  and  lost  seven  hundred  thousand  soldiers.  It 
cost  England,  France,  and  Russia,  in  the  crimson  war  of  little 
more  than  a  year's  duration,  one  billion  five  hundred  million 
dollars,  and  five  hundred  thousand  lives  lost  by  the  four  com- 
bined 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 


540  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

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  prop- 
erty, outside  of  the  slaves,  is  simply  appalling.  The  approxi- 
mate 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  sufiBcient  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  subver- 
sion 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  Constitiltion. 

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  va.st  armies  of  the  dead,  commencing  the  task  immediately 
after  the  war,  and  interred  them  in  her  vast  national  ceme- 
teries. 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  scat- 
tered 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  monu- 
ment would  suffice  for  all  the  army  of  the  dead,  and  an  appro- 
priate inscription  would  be  a  slight  paraphrase  of  old  Simoni- 
des  on  the  shaft  e.ected  to  the  memory  of  the  heroes  of 
Thermopylae — 


HISTORY  OF    KBRSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  541 

"Go,  Stranger,  and  to  Southland  tell 
That  here,  obeying  her  behest,  we  fell." 

The  names  of  the  great  majority  have  already  been  forgot- 
ten, only  within  a  circumscribed  circle  are  t^ey  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  magnifi- 
cent "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  bat- 
tles 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 


542  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

in  the  dust  of  shame  and  defeat,  now  all  to  mark  this  historic 
battle  ground  is  a  broken  slab  or  column,  erected  to  individ- 
uals, 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  Chick- 
amauga,  where  the  flash  of  cannon  lit  up  the  valley  and  plain 
below,  where  swept  the  armies  oif  the  blue  and  the  gray  in 
alternate  victory  and  defeat,  where  the  battle-cry  of  the  victo- 
rious 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  contend- 
ing 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  coun- 
try, 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  re- 
spective 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.  Today 
there  stands  a  monument  crowned  with  laurels  and  immor- 
telles, erected  by  the  State  to  the  fallen  sons  of  the  "Dark 
and  Bloody  Ground,"  who  died  facing  each  other,  one  wear- 
ing the  blue,  the  other  the  gray,  and  on  its  sides  are  inscribed: 
"As  we  are  united  in  life,  and  they  in  death,  let  one  monu- 
ment perpetuate  their  deeds,  and  one  people,  forgetful  of  all 
aspirations,  fprever  hold  in  grateful  remembrance  all  the  glo- 
ries 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 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  543 

converging  lines  commenced.  Two  conflicting  civilizations 
c^me  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;  thfe  other,  upon  the  literal  construction 
of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  that  "all  men  are  created 
free  and  equal,"  and  the  supremacy  of  the  general  govern- 
ment 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  su- 
premacy 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  cher- 
ished 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  mighti- 
est men  of  war.  Legions  were  mustered,  mairtialed,  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,  Jack- 
sons,  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 


544  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAVS/'S    BRIGADE. 

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  favor- 
ably w4th  that  of  the  "Madman  of  the  North,"  the  Great 
Frederick,  or  even  to  that  of  the  military  prodig)'  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  lyodi, 
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  Water- 
loo, 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  proces- 
sion before  the  Emperor,  and  are  dispersed  with  'Franca'  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  mar- 
tyred 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  'Reconcilia- 
tion' as  a  pass  word." 


HISTORY   OF    KHRSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  545 


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  Con- 
federate 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  Histo- 
rian 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  irregu- 
larities aud  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  Cap- 
tains and  Lieutenants  in  the.se  rolls  marked  as  non-commis- 
sioned oflBcers.  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  REGI- 
MENT. 

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  :  Villipugue,  J.  J. 
Surgeon:  Salmond,  F. 
Assistant  Surgeons  :  Nott,  J.  H.,  Maxwell,  A. 

Chaplains  :  McGruder,  A.  I.,  Smith, . 

35 


546  HISTORY    OF     KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

COMPANY  "A." 

Captains  :  Casson,  W.  H.,  Shelton,  M.  A.,  Gaillard,  F.,  Leaphart,  S., 
L.,  Maddy,  M.  M.  First  Lieutenant  :  Shuler,  P.  H.  B.  Second  Lieu- 
tenants: 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,  Jomer,  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.,  Dwigh't, 
W.  M.,  Emlyn,  H.  N.,  Field,  G.  R..  Forde,  Edwin,  Griffin,  J.  W., 
Gasaue,  W.,  Gibson,  J.,  Graham,  J.,  Graham,  Th'os.,  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,  .x.  P.,  Leaphart,  J.  E.,  Landrum,  L.  M.,  Magillan,  C,  McGee, 
Alex.,  McFie,  Joseph.  Mathews.  Jno..  McDonald,  D.  J.,  McCarter,  W. 
E.,  McCuUy,  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.  T.,  Roberts,  I.  D..  Roberts.  J.  F..  Radcliff, 
L.  J..  Rentiers,  J.  G.,  Roach,  W.  J..  Rose,  J.  C,  Rulland.  C.  L.,  Randolph, 
W.  J.,  ReiUy,  W.  L.,  Stubbs,  W.  G.,  Stubbs,  J.  D.,  Starling,  W.  D.,  Star- 
ling. R..  Starling,  Jno.,  Smith,  B.,  Smith,  Richard.  Stokes,  E.  R..  Thurs- 
ton. J.,  Taylor,  H.,  Vaughn,  B.,  Williams,  Jno.,  Winchester,  J.  M.,  Win- 
chester, J. 

COMPANY  "B." 

Captains:  Hoke,  A.  D.,  PuUiam,  R.  C,  Cagle,  J.  W.  First  Lieu- 
tenants :  Isaacs,  A.,  Holland,  Wm.  Second  Lieutenants  :  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.,  Sud- 
with,  Peter  F.,  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.,  Car- 
son, Joseph  M.,  Carson.  John,  Carson,  C.  H.,  Carpenter,  S.  J.,  Carpen- 
ter, 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.  P.,  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.,  Good- 
lett,  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, 'E.,  Moore,  L'eftris  M.,  Moore,  John,  Moore,  J. 
T.,  Mills,  J.,  Payne,  J.,  Parkiris,  G.  W.,  Parkins,  J.  D.,  Pickett,  J,  H., 


HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW's    BRIGADE.  54-7 

Pripe,  J..M.,  Poore,  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.  1,.,  West,  R.  W., 
WiSnant,  W.  F.,  Wisnant,  Alex.,  Whitmire,  Wm.,  Walton,  D.  S.,  Wil- 
liams, G.  W.,  Watson,  P.  D.,  Watson,  W.  W.,  Watkins,  Lynn,  Yeargin, 

COMPANY  "C." 

Captains:  Wallace,  Wm.,  Lorick,  S.,  Vinson,  A.  P.  First  Lieu- 
tenants: Wood,  W.  S.,  Bell,  J.  C,  Peck,  W.  D.,  Wallace,  E.,  You- 
mans,  O.  J.,  Scott,  J.  T.,  McGregor,  W.  C,  Stenhouse,  E.  SERGEANTS : 
Myers,  Jno.  A.,  Howie,  Wm.,  Radcliff,  L.  J.,  Beck,  Chas,  T.,  Shand,  R. 
W.,  Clarkson,  J.  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,  Ihomas,  Busard,  Sam.,  Boyle,  J.  C, 
Brown,  S.,  Brice,  Robert,  Campbell,  James,  Campbell,  J.  M.,  Copeland, 

J.,  Cook,  F.,  Chestnut, ,  Chambers,  E.  R.,  Cupps,  C.  M.,  Douglass, 

Jno.,  Dougherty,  J.,  Dickens,  H.  C,  Davis,  R.  A.,  Flaherty,  M.,  Free- 
man, Wm.,  Glaze,  Jno.,  Garner,  Wm.,  Goodwin,  E.  M.,  Gruber,  Jno., 
Gruber,  S.,  Goins,  Henry,  Gunnell,  J.  S.,  Gunnel,  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,  t>.,  Mc- 
Pherson,  W.,  McPherson,  Jno.,  McGregor,  P.  C,  Murrell,  W.  S.,  Med- 
lin, P.,  Perry,  J.,  Perry,  C,  Palmer,  W.  R.,  Pearson,  Robt.,  Poag,  R.  F., 
Ramsay,  J.,  Robertson,  F.  L..  Ransom,  Wm.,  Scarborough,  Wm.,  Scott, 
J.  R.,  Sheely,  W.  C,  Sharp,  G.  W.,  Stubblefield,  W.  H.,  Tate,  L  O.,  Vin- 
son, Wm.,  Wailes,  R.,  Wilson,  K.,  Walker,  C.  A.,  Williamson,  W.  L, 
Woolen,  James,  Zesterfelt,  F. 

COMPANY  "D.'' 

Captains  :  Richardson,  Jno.  S.,  Bartlett,  L.  W.,  Graham,  I.  D.  First 
Lieutenants:  Wilder,  J.  D.,  Wilder,  W.  W.,  Jacob.,  1.  Second  Lieu- 
tenants: Durant,  T.  M.,  Pelot,  W.  L.,  Rembert,  L.  M.  Third  Lieu- 
tenants :  Nettles,  J.  H.,  Gardner,  H.  W.  Sergeants  :  Gayle,  L  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.  L  S.,  Bradford,  J.  F.,  Brogdon,  J.  D.,  Brogdon,  T. 
M  Brown,  F.  H.,  Brown,  H.  J.,  Browning,  T.  S..  Brumby,  G.  S.,  Bran- 
son. W.  E.,  Brunson,  W.  J.,  Ballard,  W.  R.,  Blight,  J.,  Burkett,  I.  L., 
Burkett,  T.  H.,  Brunson,  L  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.  F.,  Flowers.  T. 
E  Felder  W.  E.,  Fowler,  A.,  Freman,  I.  H.,  Gallagher,  P.  B.,  Garden, 
H.  R.,  Green,  H.  D.,  Graham,  J.  A.,  Gibson,  H.,  Grooms,  A.,  HayiKS- 
worth,  J.  H.,  Haynsworth,  M.  E.,  Hodge,  L  B.,  Hodge,  W.  T.,  Hqlttr- 
day,  D.  J.,  Holladay,  T.  J.,  Huggins,  W.  H.,  Ives,  J.  E.,  Jenkms  W.  W, 
Jackson,  J.  H.,  Jones,  C.  H.,  Jones,  E.  C,  Jones,  P.  H.,  Kavanagh,  T.  pi^ 
Kelly,  H.  T.,  Kinney,  Jno.,  Lesesne,  J.  I.,  London,  Peter,  Lyham,  T.  Mi, 


&48  IIISTOKY    OF     KKKSHAW'S    RKIGADE. 

Lucas,  A.  P.,  Mellett,  J.  Y.,  McLaurin,  J.  C,  MeNeal,  W.  M.,  Moses,  M. 
B.,  McKagan,  G.  P.,  Moses,  H.  C,  Moses,  Perry,  Moses,  Perry,  Mul- 
drow.  I.  R.,  Myers,  R.  C,  Norton,  J.  J.,  Newman,  S.  L,  O'Neil,  W.  J., 
Prv.  J.  C,  Pool.  W.  M.,  Patterson,  J.  S.,  Ramsay,  W.  M.,  Redford,  J.  B., 
Richardson,  G.  Rhame,  J.  F.  Ross  D.  J..  Rodders,  I.,  Shaw,  J.  H.,  Scott, 
J.,  Sledge,  W.  A.,  Smith,  F.  H.,  Smith,  T.  J., Thompson,  W.  T.,  Trouble- 
field,  A.  D.,  Troublefield.  T,  J..  Troublefield.  W.  B.,  Vaughn,  F.  O., 
Watts.  W.  D.,  Wheeler,  C.  O.,  W'lson,  C.  A.,  Wilson,  T.  D.,  Witler,  O., 
Wedekind,  H.,  Wilder,  Saml..  Wilder,  J..  Frazer.  J.  B.,  Gilbert,  J.  C.  T., 
Kirkland,  J.  G„  INTcCoy,  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.  LiButenants  :  Dun- 
lop,  Josp.  D.,  Sill,  E.  E.,  Drakeford,  Jos.  J.,  DePass,  W.  J.,  McKain, 
Jno.  J.,  Riddle,  James  M.  Sergeants:  Button,  W.  C,  Pegues,  R.  H., 
Hodgson,  H.  F.,  McKalgen,  H.  G.,  Ryan,  D.  R.,  Gerald,  R.  L.,  Nettles, 
Hiram.  Corporals  :  Niles,  A.,  Eoswell,  J.  P.,  Perry,  J.  A.,  Honnet,,  B., 
Devine,  F.  G.,  Gard-ner,  E.,  Polk,  J.  W. 

Privates:  Allen,  W.  R.,  Ancrura,  Thos.  J.,  Sr.,  Arrants,  J.  H.,  Ar- 
rants,  W.  T..  Arrants,  R.  H.,  Arrants,  J.  R.,  Barnes,  J.  B.,  Barnes,  S. 
Y.,  Brown.  Johri,  Brown,  Jas.  R.,  Ba^m.  Marcus,  Buchanan.  W,  L., 
Baker,  M.,  Peaver,  Jno.  R.,  Barrett,  E.,  ~"  ■ --i-irton,  J.,  Burchfield,  E.  C, 
Bowen,  A.,  Bowen,  W.,  Baer,  B.  M.,  Boykin,  i-;.,  Campell,  Alex.,  Cook, 
M.,  Cook,  J.,  Cook,  John,  Cook,  Joseph,  Croft,  J.,  Coker,  R.,  Crump,  T. 
M.,  Cns-ck.  P  .  Cunningham,  J.  S.,  Cooper.  J.  C,  Cooper,  J.  D.,  Cren- 
shaw,- 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.,  Ful- 
lerton.  G.  F...  Ford,  A.,  Gardner,  T.  B.,  Gibson,  H.  B.,  Graham.  D.,  Gra- 
ham. J.  T.,  Goens,  E..  Howell,  M.,  Haile,  J.  S.,  Harrison,  B.,  Heath,  B. 
D.,  Hinson.  J.  E..  Jeffers,  L.,  links.  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,  L,  Miller,  J.  A.,  McCo'wn,  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.,  Proctof,  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.,  Smkll,  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,  J.  M.,  Wood,  J.  Mc,  Wood,  Jno., 
Wood,  Pinckney,  Wells,  D.  E.,  Wright,  W.  H. 

COMPANY  "F." 

Captains:  Ferryman,  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.i,  Blake,  A.  W.,  Burrell,  W.  J.,  Butler,  Jno.,  Brooks,  Stanmore, 
Boozer,  S.  P.,  Boozer,  William,  Behson,  Thos.,'Brownlee;,  J.  A.,  Barratt, 
Jno.  G.,  Bell,  Wm.  S.,  Bell,  Wm.  F„  Carr,  Jno.  L.,  Chaney,  Willis, 
Chaney,  J.  S-,  Chaney,  R:  E.,  Chaney,  Ransom,  Cheatham,  J.  T.,  Cheat- 


HISTOKV    OF     KKKSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  549 

ham,  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.,  Hutch- 
ison, Soule,  Hutchison,  Jno.  W.,  Hutchison,  R.  P.,  Henderson,  W.  E., 
Hunter,  W.  C,  Henderson,  J.  T.,  Ingraham,  M.  S.,  Jackson,  C.,  John- 
son, 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.,  Meri- 
wether, W.  N.,  Moreen,  Jno.  A.,  Milford,  J.  T.,  Marshall,  G.  W.,  Mc- 
Kellar,  L.  W.,  McKellar,  G.  W.,  McKellar,  J.  R.,  McCord,  D.  W.,  Mc- 
Neill, 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.,  Rey- 
nolds, 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.  F.,  Ross,  Wiley,  Reed,  J.  S.,  Saddler,  i  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.,  Youhge,  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.,  Ben- 
ton, F.  J.,  Cauthen,  A.  J.  Corporai,s  :  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.,  Bow- 
ers, 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.,  Chaney,  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.,  Deas.  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..  Gra- 
ham, J.,  Gaskin,  D.,  Gaskin,  J.,  Hall,  J.  D.,  Holly,  J..  Howie.  E.  P., 
Howie,  S.  D.,  Hough,  N.,  Hough,  J.,  Hough,  W.  P.,  Haile,  G.  W..  Hun- 
ter W  J.,  Johnson,  W.,  Johnson,  W.  M.,  Johnson,  A.  A.,  Knight,  J.  A., 
Knox  W  L.,  Kelly,  M.  P.,  Kirbv,  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,  P.,  Murchison,  J.  J.,  McLure, 
J  "McDowell,  J.  E.  C,  McKay,  H.  C„  Mahaffy,  O.  C,  Mason,  T.  E.,Mc- 
Mahan  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.,  Par- 
ker 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  Suees  Wm.,  Sutton,  E.,  Small,  A.  J.,  Trantham,  W.  D.,  Tuesdel, 
W'  J  Tuesdel  B.,  Tuesdel,  W.  M.,  Tuesdel,  H.,  Tuesdel,  J.  T.,  West, 
J  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. 


550  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE; 

COMPANY  "H." 

,  Captains  :  McManus,  A.,  Clyburn,  B.  R.  LiEuwiNAN'fs :  Perry,  A. 
M-.;  Welsh,  S.  J.,  Brasington,  G.  C,  Reeves,  T.  J.,  Hirison;  M.  R.  Ser- 
geants: Perry,  J.  P.,  Gardener,  S.  C.Kennitag'ton,  W.  R.,  Williaiiis,  D. 
A'.,  McKay,  Dr.  J.  F.,  Ingram,  I.  N.,  Moody,  J.  J.,  Love,  M.  C,  SoWellsi 
W.  S.  CoRPORAi,s :  Baker,  A.  J.,  Small,  J.  M.,  Johnson,  G;  D.,  Johnson, 
D.  G.,  Small,  J.  M.,  Douglass,  S.  A..  Kelly,  B.  L.,  Cook,  J.  C,  McHsr- 
toii,  W.,  Williams,  T.  E.,  Hilton,  R.  F.,  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.,  Funder- 
burk,  J.  C.,  Faulkenberry,  J.  T.,  Gardener,  C.  L.,  Gardener,  S.,  Garde- 
ner, 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.,  Ken- 
nitigton,  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.,  Wil- 
liams, D.  A.,  Williams,  J.  F.,  Williams,  W.  J.,  Wilson,  G.  B.,  Wright, 
W.,  Williams,  A.  M.,  Witherspoori,  J.  B. 

COMPANY  "L" 

Captains  :  Cuthbert,  G.  B.,  Elliott,  R.  E.,  Fishburn,  Robt.  Lieuten- 
ants :  Holmes,  C,  R.,  Brownfield.  T.  S.,  Webb,  L.  S.,  Robinson,  S., 
Darby,  W.  J.,  Brailsford,  A.  M.,  Bissell,  W.  S.,  Daniel,  W.  L.  Ser- 
geants :  Wright,  J.  E.,  Lalane,  G.  M.,  Hanahan,  H.  D.  Corporai,s  : 
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.L,  Brailford,  D.  W.,  Bris- 
bane, V/.,  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.,  DeCava- 
dene,  F.,  Dupont,  A.,  Elliott.  W.  S.,  Fludd,  W.  R.,  Farman,  C.  M.,  Gads- 
den, 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.  R.,  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, 
Q.,  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.,  San- 
ders, A.  C,  Sanders,  J.  p.,  Shipman.  B.  M.,  Screven,  R.  H.,  Seabi'ook,  J. 
C.,  Scott,  M.  O,.  Shoolbred,  J.,  Shoolbred,  R.  G.,  Tmith.  G.  McB., 
Stocker,  T.  M.,  Strobhart.,  Jamfes.  Thompson.  T..  S.,  THlinshast,  E,  Ui 
Trapier,  E.  S.,  Walker,  W-  A.,  Walker.  W.  J.,  Wescoat,  W.  P..  WeS- 
C8»t,  T.  M.,  Wickenbel-g,  A.  V.,  Zfealy,  J.  E. 


HISTOkY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BKIGADK.  5i3l 

COMPANY  "K." 

Captains  :Rhett,  A.  B.,  Moorer,  J.  F.,  Webb,  J.,  Dutart,  J.  E.  Lieu- 
tenants: 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.,  Fer- 
riera,  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.,  AUgood,  J.  F.,  Ackison,  R.  W.,  AUgood, 
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.,  Bal- 
lentine,  J.  C,  Byard,  D.  E.,  Bartlett,  S.  C,  Bartlett,  F.  C,  E^ag,  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.  F., 
Dinkle,  J.,  Dorum,  W.  D.,  Doran,  J.,  Douglass,  C.  M.,  Day,  M.,  Duncan, 
W.  M.,  Estill,  W.,  Elle,  A.,  Tarrell,  J.  F.,  Ferria,  F.  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.,  Hrmt,  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.,  McKen- 
sie.  A.,  McLure.  A.,  Meyers,  A.  C,  Murphy,  M.,  Martin.  W.,  McGellom, 
B.,  Martin,  A.,  Moorer,  R,  A..  Mitchel,  D.  PL,  Mitchel,  F.  G,  Mus^rove, 
W.  W.,  Martin,  J.,  Neill,  R.  T.,  Noll,  C,  Nicklus,  J.,  Nevek,  R.  F.,  Ne- 
smith,  E.  C,  Nix.,  J.  B.,  O'Neill,  J.,  Oppenhimer,  E.H.,Oppenheimer,  H. 
H.,  Piatt,  W.  W.,  Philipps,  L.  R.,  Prace,  A.,  Purse,  E.,  Purse,  W.  G, 
Page,  J.  J.,  Phunkett,  J.,  Pearson.  J.  H.,  Payne,  J.  F.,  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.  F.,  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., 
Wilkin's,  J.  R.,  Wilkins,  T.  K.,  Willis,  J.  V.,  Watts,  W.  D.,  Williams,  T. 
A.,  Weeks,  T.  S.,  WoUey,  A.,  Wolly.  H.  A.,  WiUiman,  W.  H.,  Yates,  M. 
J.,'Youngblood,  J.,  Zimmerman,  U.  A.,  Zeigler,  J.  B.  E. 

ROLL  OF  THIRD  SOUTH  CAROLINA  VOLUNTEER  REGI- 
MENT. 

Pield  and  Staff. 
Colonels  :  Williams,  James  H.,  Nance,  James  D.,  Rutherford,  W.  D., 

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. 


552  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

Sergeant  Majors  :  Williarasv  J.  W.,  Simpson,  O.  A.,  Garlington^ 
J.  D. 

Quartermasters:  McGowan,  Jno.  G.  (Captain),  Shell,  G.  W.  (Cap- 
tain). 

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.,  Hol- 
lingsworth,  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,  Ander- 
son, 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.,  Harri- 
son, 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.  F.,  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.,  Robert- 
son, 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.,  Tribbk,  M.  P.,  Tribble,  J.  C.  C,  Tobin,  Thos.  A., 
Todd,  S.  F.,  Vance,  S.  F.,  Vaughan,  Jno.,  Winebrenner,  George,  Wil- 
liams, 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,  Thpmas  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.  F.,  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. 


HISOTRY    OF     KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  553 

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.,  Daven- 
port, 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.  F.,  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.  £,  Livingston,  H., 
Livmgston,  E.,  Longshore,  E.  C,  Longshore,  A.  J.,  McKettrick,  J.  W., 
Middleton,  J.  H.,  Moates,  J.  L.,  Moates,  P.,  Montgomery,  G.  B.,  Mc- 
Ellunny,  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:  Mofifett, 

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, 
o.  o. 

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.,  Car- 
michael,  J.  D.,  Counts,  W.  F.,  Cromer,  A.  B.,  Crosson.  H.  S.  N.,  Cros- 
son,  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,  T,  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.,  NeiU,  J.  Calvin,  Neill, 
J.  Spencer,  Nelson,  J.  G.,  Paysinsyer.  H.  M.,  Paysinger,  T.  M.,  Pugh, 
Wm..  Pugh.  H.,  Quattlebaum,  L  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.  Sam'l,  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,  H;ivric, 


i)54  HISTORY   OF    EBRSHAW'S    BRIGAUM- 

COMPANY  "D." 

Captain-s  :  Fefgerson,  Thos.  B.,  Walker,  F.  N.  Lieutenants  :  Bobo, 
Y.  J.,  Abernathy,  C.  P.,  Moore,  J.  P.,  Floyd,  N.  P.,  Ray,  P.  John, 
Walker,  J'.  Heftryi  Allen,  Wade,  Gordon,  F.  M.,  Bobo,  Hiram.  Ser- 
geants :  Campell,  Levi,  AUen^  Garland,  Floyd.  Chance,  M.,  Ray,  Hosea, 
Roy,  Robt.  Y.j  Dueker,  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.,  Bardine,  T.  C,  Barrett,  J,  Brown- 
ing, Hosea,  Carson,  John,  CathcarL  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.  F.,  Farrow,  A.  T.,, Finger,  Mark,  Graham, 
Isaac,  Graham,  J.  F.,  Gentry,  J.  W.,  Gentry,  E.,  Huckaby,  P.,  Hill,B.M., 

HoUis,  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,  Mur- 
ray, 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,  Sex- 
ton, 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.,  Willip.ms,  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.  Lieu- 
tenants :  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  :  Pooe,  Y.  J,,  Lake,  T,  H., 
Boyd,  C,  P,,  Chapman,  S,  B,,  Ruff,  Jno,  S,,  Kingore,  A,  J,,  Buzzard,  B. 
S,,  Reid,  H,  B,,  Hood,  Wm.,  Duncan,  T,  S.,  Rutherford,  W,  D,,  Pay- 
singer,  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  :  Abram?,  J.  N,,  Abrams  J,  K,,  Abrams,  C,  R,,  Atchison, 
S.  L.,  Atkins,  R.  W.,  Assman,  H,  M„  Brantly,  H,,  Bernhart,  H,  C, 
Blatts,  W.  H.,  Bell,  Jno.  F.,  Bruce,  J.  D.,  Boazman,  W.  W.,  Boazman, 
Grant,  Bramlett,  A.  W,,  Boozer,  D.  C,  Boozer,  E.  P.,  Boyd,  M.  P., 
Burgess,  C.  H.,  Brown.  T,  C,  Brown,  J,  E.,  Blackbvirn,  James,  Bailey, 
A.  Wm.,  Butler,  J.  C,  Canedy,  A.  B.,  Clend,  M.  P.,  Caldwell,  J.  E.,  Col- 
lins, A.  B.,  ClaiDp,  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.,  HiUer,  S.  J.,  Hiller,  G.  ,E., 
Haltin,  Wm.,  Haltin,  R.,  Johnson,  J.  A.,  Johnson,  W.,  Kelly,  L  J.,  Keom, 
G.,  Keney,  G.,  Keitler,  J.  N.,  Lindpey,  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.,  Metts,  W.,  Metts,  McD.,  Metts.  W.  G., 
Murtishaw,  S.  W.,  Nance,  A.  D.,  O'Dell,  L  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.  PL,  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..  Taf- 
rant,  W.  T.,  Tribble,  J.  R.,  Turnipseed,  J.  O.,  Wheeler,  D.  B.,  Wright, 


HISTORY   OF    KKRSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  S65 

J.  M.,  Witt,  M.  H.,  Wilson,  T.  R.,  Wils6n,  C,  Wood,  S.  J  Wingard 
!?;.:§■'  Wideman,  S.,  WilSon,  J.  W.,  Willifrghath,  W.  P.,  W^jr  T  w' 
Wilhngham, ,  Zoblel,  J.,  Hornsby,  J.  0:,  tlarris,  J.  Y. 

COMPANY  "F." 

Captain  :  Walker,  T.  LiUutenants  :  McGowan,  H  L  Williams  J 
G.,  Loaman,  S.  Sergeants  :  East,  I.  H.  L.,  Hill,  T.  C  Neil  W  W  " 
Bailpy,  W.  P.,  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  T 
Bfyson,  J.  E.,  Byson,  J.  A.,  Burrill,  B.,  Burrill,  W.,  Byson,  J.  G  Bose- 
rtian,  L.  J.,  Bale,  A.,  Cannon,  J.  h-,  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., 
Dobbms,  J.,  Franklin,  H.  G.,  Franklin,  J.  N.,  Franklin,  N.,  Feats,  J., 
Fowler,  P.  O.,  Puller,  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.,  Undsay,  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.,  Mc- 
Williams,  L,  Mauldin,  J.,  Monroe,  W.  E.,  Monroe,  J.  W.,  Morgan,  J. 
C,  Moore,  I-L,~  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.,  Pirverii,  J.  H:.,  Pierce,  C.  E.,  Pills,  J., 
Pi-opes,  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,  Wat- 
son, S. 

COMPANY  "G." 

Captain  :  Todd,  R.  P.  Lieutenants  :  Burnside,  A.  W.,  Barksdale, 
J.  A.;  Watts,  J.  W.  Sergeants:  Wright,  A.  Y.,  Garlington,  J.  D., 
Winn,  W.  C,  Sanford,  B.  W.,  Farley,  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.  PL,  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.  F.,  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.,  Hel- 
lams,  J.  T.,  Hellams,  R.  V.,  Hellams,  W.  R.,  Hellaras,  R.  T.  Hellams, 
W.  H.,  Henderson,  T.  Y.,  Henry,  I.  F.,  H:enry,  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.,  Maddbx,  J., 
Madden,  W.  B.,  Motes,  S.  C,  Oweris,  H.  Y.,  Owens,  W.  C,  Owens,  M. 
S.,  Owens,  S.  D.,  Owens,  J.,  O'Gwalt,  W.  D.,  Paysinger,  T.,  Power,  J. 
D'  Pdole  F.  F.,  Robertson,  R.,  Rodgfers,  A.  M.,  Roland,  A.,  Starms,  T. 
a','  S&lisorii  W.  W.,  Sirtipsoii,  A.,  SimpBoil,  S.,  Stoddard,  D.  P.,  Stod- 


556  HISTORY    OF     KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

dard,  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.,  Thackstpn,  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  :  Nunnaijiaker,  P.,  Summer,  J.  C,  Swygert,  G.  A.,  Dickert, 
D.  A.  Lieutenants:  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,- X-  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.,  Cor- 
ley,  F.,  Dawkins,  J.  D.,  Dickert,  J.  O.,  Dickert,  B.  F.,  Dickert,  C.  P., 
Dominick,  H.,  Dreher,  D.  J.,  Dreher,  J.,  Derrick,  A.,  EUisor,  C.  G.,  EUi- 
sor,  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.,  Liv- 
ingstone, 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.  P.,  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,  L.,  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,  J.,  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.  LiEtTTENANTs :  Harris,  N.  S.,  West,  S.  L.,  Byrd,  W.  B.,  Belk,  W. 
B.,  Duckett,  T.  J.  Sergeants:  Henry,  D.  L.,  Williams,  E.,  McLang- 
ston,  G.,  Byrd,  A.  B.,  Copeland,  D.  T.,  Berkley,  T.,  Adair,  J.  W.  Cor- 
porals :  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..  Hol- 
land, W.,  Hewett,  F.  M.,  Hemkapeeler,  C,  Hipps,  R.,  Hipos,  C.  M.. 
Hirter,  M.,  Huskey,  W.,  Henry,  J.  E.,  Huckabee,  J.,  Jones,  A.,  Jones,  R. 


HISTORY   OF    KKRSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  557 

F.,  James,  Z.,  Johnson,  R.  C,  Jacks,  I.,  King,  A.  A.,  Langston,  J.  T., 
Lyles,  P.,  McKelvy,  J.,  Maddox,  W.  C,  Mclnown,  M.  M.,  Meeks,  T  , 
Mars.  N.,  McDowell,  J.  T.  B.,  McMakin,  G.,  Merton,  G.,  Newman,  T. 
&.,  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.,  Temple- 
ton,  H.,  Templeton,  J.,  Talleson,  J.,  Talleson,  J.,  lodd,  N.  C,  Todd,  S. 
A.,  Thaxton,  Z.  A.,  Willard,  J„  Young,  G.  R.,  Zeigler, . 

COMPANY  "K." 

Captains:  Kennedy,  B.,  Lanford,  S.  M.,  Foster,  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.,  Season,  B.  S.,  Beason,  B.,  Bishop,  J.  W., 
Beard,  J.  C,  Brewton,  L,  Brice,  D.,  Birch,  F.  C,  Bearden,  W.  S.,  Bar- 
nett,  W.  H.,  Bearden,  G.,  Cook,  N.,  Cunningham,  H.  W.,  Chunmey,  G. 
W.,  Chunmey,  J.,  Drnmmond,  R.  A.,  Elmore,  J.  H.,  Faster,  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.  T.,  Mattox,  P.,  Mayes,  S.  S.,  Mayes,  D.  W.,  Mayes, 
W.  J.,  Meadows,  T.  M.,  Meadows,  T.  S.,  McAbee,  W.,  McAbee,  J.,  Mc- 
Donald, 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.  P., 
Roebuck,  J.,  Roebuck,  W.,  Sammonds,  G.,  Shackleford,  J.  L.,  Strib- 
blan,  A.  C,  Stribland,  S.,  Stribland,  J.,  Shands,  B.  A.,  Shands,  S.,  Stal- 
lions, 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  REGI- 
MENT. 

Pield  and  Staff. 

CoEONEts :  Bacon,  T.  G,  Aiken,  D.  W.,  Bland,  Elbert. 
Lieutenant  Colonel:  Fair,  R.  A. 
Majors  :  Seibels,  E.,  Hard,  J.  S. 
Adjutant  :  Sill,  T.  M. 

8UARTERMASTER :    Lovelace,  B.  F. 
OMMissARY  Sergeant:  Smith,  Fred. 

Surgeons  :  Dozier, ,  Spence,  W.  F.,  Horton,  O.  R. 

Assistant  Surgeons:    Carlisle,  R.  C,  Stallworth,  A. 
Chaplain  :  Carlisle,  J.  M. 


558  HiSTaR;Y   OJP     KERSHAW'S    B-^jIGADE. 

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.  Cobporals  :  Cogturn,  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.,  Els- 
man,  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.,  Mims,  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.,  Whit- 
lock,  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.,  Town- 
send,  J.  A.'  Lieutenants:  Clinkscales,  E.  B.,  Townsend,  L  F., 
Hodges,  J.  P.,  Klugh,  P.  D.,  Hodges,  J.  R.,  Callahan,  S.  W.,  Hodges, 
W.  C.  C.  Sergeants  :  McGee,  J.  S.,  Riley,  W.,  Agnew,  J.  A.,  Hender- 
son, 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,  H.  H.,  Ashley,  W.  S.,  Allen,  A.,  Bowles, 
L  W.,  Bowie,  H.  W.,  Bowie,  E.  B.,  Bowen,  S.  M.,  Bowen,  J.  O.,  Bar- 
more,  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.,  Carpen- 
ter, T.  J.,  Cromer,  A.  P.,  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.,  Hemp- 
hill, 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,  Sjmpson,  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.,  Wil- 
liamson, J.  A.,  Williams,  J.  F.,  Williams,  G.,  Young,  J.  V.,  Young,  L.  J., 
Young,  I.  B.,  Young,  J.  C. 


HISTORY  OF    KEiRSHAW'S   BRIGADB.  559 

COMPANY  ",Q." 

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,  L  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,  L  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, 
CorroU,  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„  GiUebeau,  J.  C,  Gillebeau,  P.  D., 
Hill,  J.  W.,  H:arris,  S.  N.,  Holloway,  J.  L.,  Harrison,  J„  Knox,  S.,  Ken- 
nedy, J.  M.,  Kennedy,  W.  P.,  Link,  J.  J.,  Link,  S.  C,  Link,  W.  T.,  Lyon, 
J.  E.,  Lyon,  L.  W.,  Leak,  T.  N..  Lvon,  R.  N.,  Lands,  W.,  Ligon,  T.  C, 
Lamonds,  J.  P.  A.,  LeRoy,  J.  N.,  Martin,  G.  W.,  Martin,  P.  C,  McKet- 
trick,  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.  PL,  Shoe- 
maker, A.  M.,  Scott,  C,  Tennant,  G.  C,  Tennant,  P.,  Turnage,  J..  Tray- 
lor,  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.  F..  Carlisle,  R.  H.,  Prince,  H.  M.,  Cunning- 
ham, 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.,  Huck- 
abee,  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.  P.,  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. 


■560  HISTORY    OF     KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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.  Cor- 
j>ORAi,s :  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.,  Dougalss,  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, 
TVIc.  Lieutenants:  jfennings,  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:  Ste- 
vens, 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.,  Bag- 
well, L.  B.,  Brwer,  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.;  Mad- 
dox,  J.,  Maddox,  M.,  Medlock,  B..  Maddox,  B.,  McKee.  G.  W.,  Myers, 
W.,  McGee,  J.  W,  McKenzie,  W.,  Mathews,  M.,  Mathis,  M.,  McKen- 
nie,  M.,  McGee,  J.,  New,  J.,  New,  E.,  New,  J.,  Overstreet,  J.,  Price,  J. 
D.,  Piatt,  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.,  Tay- 
lor, 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.  SERGEAiNTS :  Youngblood,  R.  S.,  Calbreath,  H.  C,  GriJifen,  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.  P., 
Boulware,  J.  S.,  Branson,  T.  N.,  Brooks,  J.  S.,  Brooks,  L.,  Bryan,  A.  M., 
£ryan,  R.  C,  Burkhalter,  M.  R.,  Burnett,  J.  L.,  Burnett,  H.,  Clark,  G., 


HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  561 

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.,  Poosher,  B.,  Pell,  J.,  Gasperson, 
J.  B.,  Gentry,  J.  W.,  Grant,  J.  W.  D.,  Gragary,  J.,  Griffeth,  A.  B.,  Grif- 
felh,  M.  A.,  Haltiwanger,  G.,  Hamilton,  G.  W.,  Hamilton,  J.  P.,  Har- 
grove, A.,  Hardy,  M.,  Heard,  Wm.,  Holloway,  D.  P.,  Holloway,  R.  C, 
HoUmgsworth,  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,  P.,  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.,  Stal- 
worth,  A.  C,  Steadman,  J.  C,  Steadman,  H.,  Steifle,  H.  C,  Stevens,  B. 
T..  Stevens,  R.,  Tompkins,  J.,  Townsend,  P.  A.,  Turner,  R.  P.,  Turner, 
G.  W.,  Turner,  S.,  Turner,  G.,  Turner,  Wm.,  Walker,  E.  P.,  Walton, 

,  Wallington,  W.  J.,  Wheelerj  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.,  Young- 
blood,  Wm. 

COMPANY  "H." 

Captains:  Goggans,  J.  E.  Lieutenants:  Bouknight,  J.  R.,  Mc- 
Celvey,  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.  P.,  Jennings,  G. 

Privates  :  Barnes,  H.,  Bedenbaugh,  J.  T.,  Bedenbaugh,  L.,  Beden- 
baugh,  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,  L,  Leppard,  G.,  Leppard,  J.,  Liv- 
ingstone, P.,  Matthews,  E.,  Miller,  J.  Merchant,  T.,  Mitchell,  M.,  Mar- 
tin, G.,  Padgett,  E.,  Parmer,  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.,  Middle- 
ton,  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.  P.,  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.  P.     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. 
36 


562  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

Privates  :  Adams,  B.  O.,  Blake,  J.  E.,  Carthledge,  T.  A.,  Grafton,  T. 
M.,  Coleman,  W.  L.,  Coleman,  G.  R.,  Culbreth,  J.,  Deal,  A.,  Devore,  .C. 
L,.,  Franks,  J.  A.,  Hammonds,  G.  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.  L,  Stalmaker,  J.  R.,  Stalmaker,  J.  W.,  Tim- 
merman,  G,  H.,  Williams,  J.  R.,  Wood,  W.  B.,  Yeldell,  W.  H. 

COMPANY  "L." 

Captains:  White,  W.  C,  Litchfield,  J.  L.,  Litchfield,  G.  S.  Lieuten- 
ants :  Beaty,  T.  W.,  Petman,  S.,  Cooper,  T.  B.,  Newton,  K.  M.,  Gris- 
sett,  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.,  Dnssenberry,  J.  H.,  Dussenberry,  N.  G.,  Edge,  D.  M., 
Edge,  W,  Faulk,  G„  Floyd,  W.,  Faulk,  L.,  Faulk,  J.  L.,  Foreland,  N., 
Fund,  G.,  Gratteiy,  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.,  John- 
son, J.  J.,  James, ,  Jenningham,  D.,  King,  J.  J.,  King,  J,  D.,  King,  G. 

W.,  Lilly,  D.,  Murry,  J.  T.,  Mnrry,  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  REGI- 
MENT, 

Field  and  Staff. 

C0EONE1.S :  Cash,  E,  B,  C„  Henagan,  Jno,  W,,  Stackhouse,  E,  T. 

Lieutenant 'Colonels  :  Hoole,  A,,  McLeod, '-. 

Adjutants:  Lucas,  Thomas  E,,  Ingliss,  Wm,  C,  MuUins,  W,  S., 
Weatherly,  C,  M, 

Quartermasters  :  McClenigan,  Jno,,  Henagan,  J,  M.,  Hunagan,  J. 
M, 

Commissaries:  Cawley,  J.  H,,  Griffen,  E,  M, 

Surgeon's  :  Wallace,  W.  D„  David.  W,  J„  Pearce,  J,  F,,  Coit,  D, 

Assistant  Surgeons  :  Dunlop,  R,  J„  Dudley,  T,  E,,  Murdock,  Byron, 
Henson,  J,  B.,  Mclver,  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.,  Parmer,  S,  P,,  Branch.  B,,  Morris,  J,  B, 

Privates:  Reddick,  W,  H,,  Bryant,  James,  J,,  Boone,  L,  F,,  Black- 
burn, Wa:de,  Bradshaw,  J,,  Beck,  W,  D,,  Bass,  Jesse,  Blackman,  John, 
Bradstraw,  M,,  Beasley,  O,,  Barns,  Robt,  Carter,  W.  R.,  Cox,  B.  F., 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADK.  563 

Clemens,  J.,  Dennis,  Thomas  A.,  Ervin,  J.  R.,  Flowers,  C,  Florence,  T- 

g..  Farmer,  G.  B.,  Garrison,  J.,  Gorman,  C,  Goodson,  J.,  Gudgen,  J.  I. 
.,  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.,  Sever- 
ance, 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." 

Capt^ains:  Hough,  M.  J.,  Powell.  R.  T.  LiEUTitNANTs:  Parker.  G. 
A.,  Thurman,  M.  T.,  Turnage,  P.  A.,  Sellers,  D.,  Johnson,  C.  B.,  Hough, 
J.  M.,  Moore,  P.  A.,  White,  J.  P.,  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.  F.,  Brown,  V.  F.,  Brown,  D., 
Boon,  E.,  Boon,  C,  Boon,  A.,  Beaver,  M..  Brock,, C,  Boon,  W.  B.,  Cas- 
sadlay,  A.  J.,  Courtney,  O.,  Courtney,  J..  Courtney,  J.  P.,  Cross.  H., 
Cross,  P.,  Chapman,  A.,  Davis,  P.,  Deas,  T.  A..  Driir^ers,  J..  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.  F.,  Lewis.  T.  H., 
McBride,  J.  A.,  McPriest,  P.,  Massey,  B.  F.,  McKey,  D.  A.,  McCVany, 
D.  A.,  Melton.  J.,  Melton,  A.,  Melton,  W.,  Moore,  H.,  McDuffie.  J..  Mc- 
Lean, J.  W.,  McLean,  D.  A.,  McNair, ,  McManus,  R.,  McNair,  N. 

C,  Nelson,  M.,  Nelson,  H.,  Price,  H.,  Poison,  J.,  Rivers,  F.,  Rogers, 
P.,  Sellers,  J.  D.,  Sellers,  W.  B.,  Sellers,  W.  R.,  Sellers,  H.  T.,  Sillivan, 
T.,  Sillivan,  S.,  Sweatt.  W..  Sweatt,  S.,  Stricklen.  H.,  Teed,  T.  B..  Tar- 
nage,  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.,  Mclver,  D.  W.,  Evans,  R.  E.,  Hurst.  L.  Sergeants: 
Strather,  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.,  Mclver,  H.  Corporals:  Malloy,  C.  A.,  Godfrey,  W.  R., 
Callens,  J.,  Sellers,  S. 

Privates  :  Adams,  W.,  Adams,  J.,  Bevil,  J.,  Buchanan,  J.  A.,  Brad- 
dock,  R.,  Clark,  J.,  Cadien,  B.  F.,  Coker,  H.,  Coker,  M.,  Chapman,  W. 
G.,  Chapman,  A.  G.,  Craig,  J.,  Crawford,  F.  D.,  Campbell,  D.  A.,  De- 
Lorne,  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.,  Mclver,  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. 


t64  HIbTOKV    Ol-'     KKKSHAW'S    BRIGADK. 

C,  Powell,  A.  H.  C,  Poston,  H.  C,  Poston,  W.,  Purvis,  W.,  Purvis,  L. 
b.,  Poston,  }..  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  : 
telakeney,  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.,  Wash,  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., 
Grain,  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.,  Kibble,  J.,  Lowery,  J.,  Lowery,  W.,  Love,  J.  J.,  Mangum,  J.  C.,  Man- 
gum,  W.  P.,  Myers,  J.,  Miller,  J.  T.,  McMillan,  T.  E.,  McMair,  D.  D., 
McManus,  M.  B.,  McLauchlin,  D.  A.,  C  ver,  J.  T.,  Ogburn,  L.,  Philips, 
E.,  Philips,  A.,  Philips,  C,  Plyler,  A.,  Pa.c  ;^.,  Rollins,  B.  P.,  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.,  Garter,  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.,  L  T., 
Howall.  W.  H.,  Hollan,  J.  S.,  HoUan,  S.  S.,  Hamphury,  S.  S.,  -Ham- 
phury,  R.  F.,  Hane,  H.  W.,  Hane,  A.  J.,  Hane,  H.  A.  W.,  Hane,  W., 
Hatchell,  L',  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.,  Mc- 
Coy, 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.  P.,  Nettles,  G.  T.,  Nettles,  R.  C, 
■JSTorwood,  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.,  Single- 
itary,  C,  Smoot,  W.  B.,  Smoot,  W.  L.,  Snipes,  M.,  Timmons,  W.  H., 


HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  565 

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.,  Wad- 
ford,  N.,  Wadford,  G.  W.,  Winburn,  S.,  Young,  W.  W. 

COMPANY  "F." 

Captains  :  Evans,  W.  H.,  Howie,  T.  E.,  Mclver,  J.  K.,  Bass,  J.  E. 
Lieutenants  :  Mclver,  J.  J.,  Kelly  H.,  James,  W.  E.,  Ferguson,  J.  W., 
Griffin,  P.  E.,  Griffin,  E.  M.,  Rhodes,  J.  T.,  James,  R.  E.,  (Joker,  W.  C, 
Smoot,  J.,  Rhodes,  W.  B.,  Williai^is,  J.  A.,  Williams,  A.  L.,  Howie,  J. 
F.,  Evans,  C.  D.,  Bearly,  J.  M.,  Wilson,  I.  D.,  Carter,  W.  P.  Corpo- 
rals :  Parrott,  A.  W.,  Hearon,  G.  W.,  Bruce,  C.  A.,  Harroll,  L.  B.,  Par- 
rott,  Bl  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.,  By'rd,  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.  ly.,  Galloway,  M.,  Galloway,  G.  W.,  GuUege,  A.,  Gul- 
lege,  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.,  Kellv,  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.,  Out- 
law, 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."  i 

Captain  :  Harrington,  J.  W.  Lieutenants  :  Townsend,  C.  F.,  Par- 
ker, John,  Weatherh'  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.,  BuUard.  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.  L  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,  1.  A.  L.,  Jackson,  Enos,  Johnson, 
N.  D,,  Johnson,  H.  L,  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.,  Mc- 
Irmis,  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.,  Wil- 
liams, David,  Wright,  D.  G.,  Wright,  F.  E.,  Wright,  G.  W.,  Webster, 
H   D.    Webster,  T.  M.,  Webster,  H.,  Sutherland,  T.  A. 


566  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE,. 

COMPANY  "H." 

Captains:  Singletary,  B.  L.,  Mclntire,  Duncan.  Lieutenants: 
Myers,  M.  G.,  Brunson,  J.  B.,  Culpepper,  George,  McPherson,  P.  1^., 
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,  Earthy,  E., 
Bellflower,  H.,  Bragton,  J.  J.,  Bailey,  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,  Flow- 
ers, 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,  Ben- 
jamin, 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,  Rod- 
gers,  M.,  Roy,  A.,  Steohenson,  A.,  Stone,  F.  F.,  Williams,  H.,  Williams, 
Thomas,  Williams,  R.  L.,  WiUiams,  S.  B.,  Weatherford,  W.  S., 
Weatherford,  Benjamin,  Gregg,  S.  J.,  Gregg,  S.  E.,  Howard,  Tillman, 
Powers,  Jonas. 

COMPANY  "L" 

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,  Rob- 
bins,  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,  Gimter,  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.,   Crqwey,   R.   C, 

Crowley,  William,  Cape,  Thomas,  Curtin, ,  Clark,  J.,  IDrake,  Ansel, 

Davis,  C,  Driggers,  R.  S.,  iDupre,  Thomas  J.,  Edens,  Joseph,  Edens,  T. 


HISTORY  OF  Kershaw's  brigade.  567 

H.,  English,  William,  Emanuel,  J.  M.,  Easterling,  Lewis,  Easterling, 
David,  Freeman,  I,.  D.,  Freeman,  Benjamin,  Fletcher,  W.  R.,  Greggard, 
J.  W.,  Graham,  E.,  Groomes,  F,,  Gunter,  John,  Hargrove,  James,  Har- 
grove, D.  T.,  Harvel,  Tristam,  Hathcoclc,  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,  Bethca,  H.  P.,  Bridgeman,  A.  P.,  Byrd,  H.  G., 
Carmichael,  A.,  Carmichael,  D.  C,  Nottingham,  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, 
IVtcLaurin,  D.,  Morgan,  W.  C,  McGill,  David,  Owens,  S.  L,  Page,  D. 
N.,Page,  D.  P.,  Rogers,  Thompson,  Rogers,  John  P.,  Rogers,  William 
D.,  Rogers,  E.  B.,  Rogers,  L.  B.,  Sarris,  John,  Turner,  John  C,  Turber- 
Ville,  Calvin,  Waters,  John  W.,  Watson,  John  R.,  Watson,  Quinn,  Wat- 
son, Lindsay. 

COMPANY  "M." 

Captains:  Howie,  Thomas  E.,  Coker,  William  C.  Lieutenants: 
Howie,  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,  McKen- 
zie,  W.  W.,  Harrell,  L.  W.,  Mozingo,  E.,  Howie,  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, 
Gai'nev  Isaiah,  Gainey,  Peter,  Gulledge,  Alex.,  Goodson,  Robert,  Halli- 
burton 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.  Wil- 
liam H    Mathews,  William,  Mozingo,  William,  Morrell.  Peter,  North- 

cdat Norwood,  James,  Peebjes,  W.  D.,  Peebles,  Robert,  Privett,  J. 

Hainilton,'  Privett,  J.  Henry,  Privett,  John  H.,  Parrbtt  Pmkney  Par- 
rcftt  Beni  M  Plunlmer,  William,  Rhodes,  John  J.,  Rhodes,  John  B., 
Skinner,  Benj.,  Smith,  J.  S.  M.,  Smith,  Bryant,  Suggs,  A.  T.,  Suggs,  R. 
Rtish  Thomas,  J.  M.,  Williams,  David,  Wright,  Jonathan,  Wr  ght, 
Thomas  t  Wright,  J.  B.  C,  Wilson,  Peter,  Wilson.  Joseph.  Woodman, 
A. -'Edward,  .Smith,  Alex..  Matuse,  William,  Colvin,  John,  Dixon, 
Jahies,  Bass,  J.  t'. 


568  HISTORY    OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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.,  McCuIlum,  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.,  Cath- 
cart,  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,  Assraan,  W.  J.,  Asbury,  W.  E.,  Ander- 
son, 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,  Joeseph.  Kaigler,  I.  A.,  Killian,  Jno.  H.,  Keenan, 
Roland  A.,  Levin,  G.  W.,  Ledingham,  W.  J.,  Lesher,  Wm.,  Lumsden,  J. 

L.,  McCamraori,  G.,  McCammon,  ,  Morgan,  Isaac  C,   McGorvan, 

Jno.,  McKenzie,  Frank  L.,  McCoy,  John  M.,  Milling,  James,  Orchard,. 
Henrv  Pearson,  A.  W.,  Price,  J.  R.,  Puryear,  R.  T.,  Poppe,  Julius,  Par- 
ker, 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,  Raw- 
ley,  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.,  Hasel- 
wood,  Hosea,  Bailey,  W.  P.  H.,  Bobo,  Barham,  Williams,  J.  H.  Cor- 
porals :  Hughes,  J.  A.,  Lowe,  M.  V.,  Lancaster,  W.  A.,  Young,  X.  H., 
Williams,  Gordon. 

Privates:  Abernathy,  John^  Anderson,  Thomas,  Barrett,  T.  Lyles,. 
Barrett,  Alonzo,  Barnett,  W.  Franklin,  Bethany,  Jesse,  Briggs,  B.  Frank- 
lin, Bogan,  Isaac  C,  Bogan,  P.  P.,  Boram,  W.  H..  Bobo,  Jason,  Canaday^ 


HISOTRY   OF     KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  56^ 

C,  Canaday,  David,  St.,  Canaday,  David,  Jr.,  Clefton,  Wesley,  Dillard,. 
Wm;,  Eubanks,  Shelton,  Eubanks,  Charner,  Foster,  W.  A.,  Poster,  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.,  Hasel- 
wood.  A,.  Haselwood,  Thomas,  Huges,  Thomas  H.,  Huges,  E.,  Hol- 
comb,  Wallace,  Jennings,  Elias,  Kelly,  I,  H.,  Lamb,  Marion,  Lamb,. 
Robert,  Lamb,  John,  Lamb,  David,  Lamb,  Elijah,  Lancaster.  F.  M.,  Lan- 
caster, 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,  L  M.,  Sum- 
ner, F.  S.,  Sumner,  John,  Sumner,  Mattison,  Templeton,  Jno.  A.,  Wal- 
drip,  W.  M.,  West,  B.  E.,  West,  W.  McD.,  West,  Jno.  P.,  West,  Isaac 
T.,  West,  C.  P.,  West,  E.  L,  West,  W.  C,  Whitton,  John,  Willard,  Benj., 
Willard,  William,  Wilbanks,  P.,  Wilbanks,  T.,  Whitmore,  J.  F.,  Whit- 
more,  E.  H.,  Whitmore,  Thomas.  Whitehead,  James,  Whitehead,  Ste- 
phen, 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.,  Pulmer,  W.  W.,  Spence,  S.,  Jumper,  J.  B., 
Shealey,  Lewis.  Sergeants:  Kyzer,  S.  W.,  Lewie,  E.  W.,  Derrick,  H. 
1".,  Sanders,  W.  F.,  Lammack,  J.  S.,  Leaphart,  F.  E.,  Jumper,  J.  W., 
Butler,  J.  W.,  Derrick,  D.  S.,  Anderson,  F.  S.,  Hare,  J.iW.,  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,  L  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.  P., 
Derrick,  A.  E.,  Derrick,  W.  T.,  Derrick,  Oliver,  Pridell,  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.,  Hite,  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,  Laurmack, 
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, 
OswolJ  Wilson,  Oswold,  James,  O^wold,  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,  Rysmger,  Noah,  Rysmger,  Geo.  D., 
Rysinger  Wesley,  Rawl,  L.,  Rawl,  Christian.  Rawl,  O.  D.,  Rawl,  Frank- 
lin. Sanford,  Wade,  Sanford,  S.,  Salther,  H.,  Snelgrove,  M.,  Lybrand, 
Wm  Sease  M.  T.,  Shull,  John,  Seay,  Danl.,  Shirey,  L  P.,  Snyder,  John, 
Sheaiv,  Albert,  Shealy,  E.  H.,  Shealy,  Littleton,  Shealy,  Wiley,  Shealy, 
Henry,  Shealy,  A.,  Shealy,  P.  W.,  Smith,  Henry  A.,  Swygert,  E  Tay- 
lor   Ruben    Taylor,  T.  L.,  Taylor,  David,  Vansant,  Addison,  Warren, 

T.  i. 

COMPANY  "D." 

Captain-  Warren,  Thomas  J.  Lieutenants:  Davis,  James  M., 
Lvles  Tames  V.,  Schrock,  1.  A.  Sergeants:  Burns,  O.  R,  tjomers, 
Adolphus,  Huckabee,  J.  J.,  Davis,   J.    J.,    Fisher,    C.    A.    Corporals: 


570  HISTORY   OP    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

Springer,  Rudolph,  Stewman,.P.  A.  H.,  Wolf,  Eugene,  Young,  Jno.  W., 
Crosby,  Geo.' 

Privates  :  Amnions,  H.,  Brannon,  John,  Brannon,  Wm.,  Sr.,  Bran- 
non,  Wm.,  Jr.,  Brannon,  David,  Bradley,  John,  Brown,  Wm.,  Corbitt,  Jv 
C,  Corbitt,  H.  F.,  Copell,  W.  H.,  Copell,  J.  B.,  Copell,  S.  B.,  Creighton, 
E.  E:,  Creighton,  H.  h.  Collier,  F.  J.,  Evins,  John,  Evain,  Samuel,  Fulg-* 
hurn,  James,  Falkuberry,  John,  Ford,  E.  J.,  Fletcher,  David  G.,  Gardner;' 
Lewis,  Gai-dner,  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,  Jdrdan,  W.  H.,  Jor- 
dan, D.,  Kirkley,  D.  C,  Kemp,  Tira,  Kemp,  Warren,  Kelly,  B.  P.,  Kirby, 
A.,  Kirby,  J.  W.,  Munn,  A.  J.,  Mclnnis,  N.  M.,  Mattox,  James,  Mattox, 
Isaac  S.,  Mattox,  Sam.,  Mattox,  Geo.  W.,  McLeod,  N.  A.,  Moneyham, ; 
John,  Marsh,  Gates,  Marsh,  James,  Marsh,  John,  McCuUum,  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.,  Tur- 
ner, 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.  Lieuten- 
ants :  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.,  Greg-g,  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,  L  N,, 
Morris,  T.  S..  Martin,  R.  L.,  Murphv,  W.  E.,  Murphy,  S.  A.,  Murnhy,  E. 
E.,  Murphy,  Jno,  R,,  Moorehead,  W,  J.,  McCormack,  Hugh,  McConnell, 
W.  H.,  McClure,  John,  McDowell,  Alex.,  McCrorey.  James,  Neil,  T-  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.,  Rxhardson,  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,  L  T. 

COMPANY  "P." 

Captains:  Boyd,  C.  W,,  Jeflferies,  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., 
Lipscortib,  Smith,  Shippey,  Dexter,'  Wilkins,  W.  D.,  Jones,  B.  F.,  Mc- 
RoWn;  G.  W.    CoR-poRAES :  Shears,'  G,    S.,'  Morgan,    George,    Balue, 


HISTOKY    OF    JiKKSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  571 

Thomas,  Mays,  Jno.,  Littlejohn,  I.  H.,  Reavs,  Z.,  Vinson,  Richard,  Jones, 

Privates  :  Alston,  M.  K.,  Bailey,  T.  J.,  Berbage,  D.  B.,  Blanton,  Am- 
brose, 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.,  Powlen  B.  E.,  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,  Ham- 
let, Jones,  James,  Teter,  S.  A.,  Jones,  S.,  Kirby,  Wm.  D.,  Knox,  James, 
Kendnck,  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,  L  H.,  Pearson,  L  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,  L  L.,  Ward,  L  N.,  Wilkins,  R.  S.,  Wilkins,  T.  T.,  Ward,  W. 

COMPANY  "G." 

Captains  :  Chandler,  J.  B.,  McCutcheon,  J.  Lieutenants  :  Hasel- 
den,  W.  M.,  Barron,  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,  L  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.  L.  Cox.  J.  R., 
Cox,  J.  T.,  Cox,  L  G.,  Cockfield,  J.  C,  Christman,  G.  W.,  Cribb,  C, 
Cribb.  D.  W.,  Donahoe,  A.  W.,  Eaddy,  L  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.,  Gra- 
ham, J.  McC.  Graham,  W.  L.,  Gurganus,  J.  E.,  Hanna,  G.  W..  Hanna, 
R.,  Hanna,  J.  F.,  Haselden,  S.  B.,  Haseldcn,  A.  J.,  Haselden,  J.,  Hasel- 

den,  J.  R.,  Haselden,  W.  B.,  Haselden,  J..  Hudson.  J.,  Hughes,  , 

James  J  A.,  June,  T.  G.,  June.  A.,  Johnson,  E.  H..  Kinder,  H.  H.,  Lam- 
bert  B.  F.,  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,  H.  A..  Ponncv,  J.  A„  Ponncv,  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.,  Thomoson.  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.  Ser- 
geants ■  Savage,  J.,  Greer,  F.,  Barley,  J.,  Smith,  H.  Corporalss  Fair, 
G.,  Coleman,  B.  C,  Morgan,  D.  V.     „     .j.     ,.      ...     „.         .,.     t. 

Privates:  Adams,  A.  R.,  Adams,  B.,  Adis,  J.,  Adis,  Wm.,  Adis,  R., 
Alverson,  W.  G.,  Bentley,  John,  Bentley,  James,  Burgess,  F.,  Burgess, 
R    Beveli  W    Bevell,  W.  H.  H.,  Bends,  L.,  Barnes,  M.,  Conner,  W.  F., 


572  HISTORY   OF     KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

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.,  How- 
ell, W.,  Howell,  S.  J.,  Hames,  E.,  Hames,  J.,  Haney,  J.,  Haney,  F.,  Hum- 
phries, 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,  Simp- 
son, 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,  Rich- 
ard, Leverett,  J. 

COMPANY  "I." 

Captains  :  Koon,  J.  H.,  Derrick,  J.  A.  Lieutenants  :  Frick,  R.  W., 
Derrick,  F.  W.,  Lake,  J.  T.,  Fulmer,  H.,  Monts,  F.  W.,  Davis,  R.,  Wes- 
singer,  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. 
Corporals  :  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. 
L,  Amick,  L.  J.,  Amick,  J.  L,  Bickley,  J.  H.,  Bickley,  D.  W.,  Bickley,  J. 
A.,  Bickley,  J.  L,  Busby,  W.  T.,  Boland,  S.  B.,  Ballentine,  W.  P.,  Ballen- 
tine, J.  W.,  Coogler,  D.,  Crout,  J.,  DeHart,  D.,  DeHart,  J.,  Derrick,  D. 
L,  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.,  Prick, 
I.  N.,  Griffith,  A.,  Ham.  D.,  Hodge,  A.,  Holman,  W.  W.,  Jacobs,  J.  E., 
Keisler,  J.  J.,  Koon,  G.  F,.,  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.  F., 
Perkins,  W.  S.,  Risk,  W.  I.,  Risk,  J,  A.,  Sutton.  J.,  Shealy,  N.  F.,  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.,  Wig- 
gers, A.,  Wiggers,  J.  D. 

COMPANY  "K." 

Captain:  Bird,  H.  J.  Lieutenants':  Rodgers,  W.  M.,  White,  A., 
Taggert,  W.  H.,  Smith,  W.  A.,  McCaslan,  W.  M.,  Henderson,  O.  Ser- 
geants :  Dean,  B.  A.,  Smith,  S.  B.,  Jennings,  J.  C,  Freeland,  S.  E., 
McBride,  S.  S.,  McBride,  J.  B.,  Calvin,  A.  P.  Corporals  :  Deason  A., 
Ballard,  F.  S.,  McCaine,  J.  K.,  Hendrix,  M.  P.,  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.  P.,  Crawford,  J.  R.,  Cothran,  J.  M.,  Crestian,  J.  T., 
Covm,  O.  W.,  Cook,  S.,  Curry,  W.  L.,  Dean,  P.,  Devore,  S.,  Devore  T 
S.,  Devore,  J.  W.,  Doollittle,  J.  E.,  DooUittle,  S.,  Ennis,  J.  O.,  Ennis  G. 
W.,  Ennis,  T.  W.,  Elam,  J.,  Evans,  J.,  Freeland,  J.  P.,  Frith,  T.  Gard- 
ner, W.  T.,  Gardner,  A.  H.,  Glansier,  P.,  Griffin,  E.,  Hamilton,  W   M 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  573 

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.,  Shan- 
non, W.  N.,  Scott,  W.  D.,  Shover,  W.,  Steadman,  J.,  Sheppard,  L., 
Towles,  E.,  Tompkins,  S.,  Tompkins,  W.,  Timmerman,  P.,  Taggart,  P., 
Vaughn,  J.,  Vaughn,  D.,  Weeks,  C,  Whitton,  C,  Walker,  B.  G.,  Walker, 
C.,  Whatley,  E.,  Weeks,  S-,  Weems,  J.  T.,  New,  S.,  Smith,  W.  H.,  Rob- 
ertson, J.  S.,  Davis,  W.  M.,  Reynolds,  J.  M.,  Crawford,  J.  W.,  Vaughn, 
W. 

ROLL  OF  THIRD  BATTALION  (JAMES). 

Pield  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.,  Andeirson,  A.  W.,  Anderson,  A.  T.,  An- 
derson, J.  B.,  Burns,  W.,  Busby.  J.  S.,  Calhoun,  J.,  Calhoun,  J.  W., 
Chaney,  T.,  Chaney,  J.  R.,  Craddock,  J.  R.,  Cannon,  B.,  Clarc^,  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,  El- 
more, G.,  Fooshe,  J.  A.,  Fooshe,  J.  D.,  Foose,  J.  C,  Fmley,  J.  H  >  God- 
-dard,  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,  HazeLRampv,  J.  M  Red- 
den, 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. 


574  HISTORY    OF     KKKSHAW'S    BRIGADK. 

R.,  Cox,  M.,  Sims,  h.  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.  h., 
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.,  Dan- 
iel, 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.,  HoUingsworth,  R.  S.,Hollings- 
worth,  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.,-Winne- 
brenner,  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.  Lieuten- 
ants :  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.,tBolt,  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.,  Culbert- 
son, J,  R.,  Culbertson,  J.  M.,  Culbertson,  J.  H.,  Cheshire,  L.  H.,  Che- 
shire, C,  Cannon,  W.  N.,  Cannon,  R.,  Duvall,  J.  H.,  Dugnall,  W., 
EUedge,  J.  P.,  Fuller,  I.  M.,  Godfrey,  L,  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,  Prank, 
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.,  Shu- 
mate, H.,  Sullivan,  H.,  Stevens,  J.  P.,  Terry,  B.  F.,  Taylor,  H.  P.,  Tay- 
lor, 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.,  Arm- 
strong, D.  Corporals:  Shell,  J.  H.,  Allison,  J.,  Ramage,  P.,  Simmons, 
W., 

Privates:  Adams,  J.,  Adams,  Robert,  Armstrong,  S.,  Atwood,  M., 
Abrams,  G.  W.,  Babb,  William,  Babb,  Doc,  Babb,  J.,  Belle,  L.  G.,  Bar- 
ger,  H.  M.,  Boyd,  E.,  Boyd,  D.  W.,  Bailey,  A.  P.,  Brownlcy,  J.  R.,  Bur- 
dette,  G.  W.,  Bishop,  W.,  Bishop,  J.  W.,  Bailey,  M.  S.,  Bishop,  J.  C, 
Blalock,  R.,  Chappell,  W.,  Chambers,  J.  B.,  Cunningham,  M.  C.,  Cun- 
ningham, R.  A.,  Curry,  L.,  Cason,  M.  J.,  Crisp,  A.,  Duncan,  R.,  Epps, 


HISTORY    OF     KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  575 

W.,  Eutrican,  W.  M.,  Evans,  W.  R.,  Garlington,  C,  Gunnels,  W.^  Gra- 
ham, A.,  HoUingsworth,  J.  I.,  Hollingsworth,  A.  C,  Hellams,  W.,  Hell- 
ams,  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, 
Shock-ley,  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, 
Allen.  LiEUTKNANTS:  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.,  Culbert- 
son,  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.,  Rid- 
dle, M.,  Riddle,  N.,  Riddle.  W.,  Robertson,  J.  R..  Ropp,  H..  Spelts.  R., 
Stuart,  B.,  Stuart,  J.,  Stuart,  John.  Stuart,  Joseph,  Stuart,  Robt.,  Sum- 
erel,  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,  P.  H.,  Kirkland,  R.  S., 
Diseker  J.  H.,  Keough,  P.  H.,  DeLoria,  A.  Corporaes  :  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,  WW  Lever, 
Geo.,  Marsh,  Edward.  McCauley,  J.  B.,  Mdes,  E.  H.,  Miot  C.  H  Moye, 
T  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^^,  S.ll,  T.,  Saunders,  J. 
W.,  Senn,  Dedrick,  Schultz,  W.  C  Smith  TN  C  Smith,  Sol., 
Spriggs  H.  V.  L..  Stokes,  E.  R.,  Jr.,  Turner.  W.  T  Taylor  Wm.  Tay- 
lor Jno.,  Thrift,  Robt.,  Tradewell  F.  A.,  White.  E.  C,  Wh^e,  Q.A., 
Williamson,  T.,  Williamson,  D.  W,  Wardlaw  W.  H.  Aughtry,  Jno., 
Davis  Andrew,  Elkins.  James,  Elkms,  Spence,  Hammond,  E.,  Lee,  John, 
Sealy,' Wm.,  Wooten,  Danl.    . 


S76  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE. 

COMPANY  "G." 

Captains:  Irby,  A.  P.,  Whitner,  B.  M.  LiButenanTs  :  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.  R,  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.  P.,  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.,  GibsMi, 
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.  P.,  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,  Rob- 
inson, James,  Robinson,  W.  W.,  Robinson,  I.  Y.,  Robinson,  S.  N.,  Rob- 
inson, 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  OP  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  :  Pripp,  C.  A.,  Barton,  D.  R. 

Chaplains  :  Meynardie,  E.  J.,  Duncan,  Y.  W. 

Sergeant  Majors  :  Quattlebaum,  T.  A.,  Quattlebaum,  E.  R. 

Quartermaster  Sergeants  :  Barton,  T.  P.,  Wannamaker,  P.  W. 

Commissary  Sergeant  :  Solomons,  J.  T. 

Ordnance  Sergeant  :  Phillips,  T.  H. 

COMPANY  "A." 

Captains  :  Partlow,  Jno.  M.,  Woodin,  C.  H.  A.,  Lee,  Jno;  Lieuten- 
ants :  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,  Bur- 
rell.  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.,  EUenburg,  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., 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  577 

Lyda,  Jno.,  Owens,  Riley,  Partlow,  Pickens,  Patterson,  Wesley,  Powell, 
Ashley,  Randolph,  S.  H.,  'Reid,  Samuel,  Reid,  Massey,  Reid,  Tames  M., 
Rochester,  W.  T.,  Richie,  D.  L.,  Sanders,  Elijah,  Smith,  Ezekiel,  Smith, 
D.  W.  S.,  Teague,  Wm.,  Teague,  Isaac,  Turner,  Pickens,  Vinson,  D., 
Vmson,  Jno.,  Ward,  Nathaniel,  Woodsin,  C.  H.  A.,  Wilson,  Mack. 

COMPANY  "B." 

Captain:  McMichael,  P.-  A.  Lieutenants:  Barton,  B.  H.,  Whet- 
stone, N.  C,  Cox,  J.  R.    Sergeants  :  Inabinet,  D.  J.,  Way,  A.  H.,  Myers, 

D.  D.,  McCorquodale,  ,  Donald,  J.  A.     Corporals  ;  Shuler,  T.  W., 

Murphy,  J.  C,  Grambling,  A.  M.,  Buyck,  P.  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,  h.  P.,  Cook, 
J.  M.,  Cox,  A.  M.,  Crum,  J.  W.,  Crum,  A.  F.,  Culalasieur,  N.  W.,  Dantz- 
ler,  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.,  Fri- 
day, 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.,  Hunker- 
pieler,  T.  N.,  Hunkerpella,  L.,  Jackson,  J.  P.,  Jackson,  J.  C,  Joyner,  D. 
F.,  Judy,  H.,  Judy,  H.  I.,  Keiser,  W.  J.,  Reiser,  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,  j. 
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:  Huff- 
man, 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,  L  A.,  Williamson,  W:,  Addy,  T.  M.  G.,  Ballentine, 
S.,  Haltiwanger,  D.  K,  Smith,  S.  L. 

Privates  :  Arnick,  T.  W.,  Arnick,  L  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.,  Bouk- 
night,  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.,  Curaelander,  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., 


^78  HISTORY  OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

H'Jller,'S.B.,:Hiller,  S.,  HiJler.J.  A.,  Hykr,  J.  B.,  Hutit.N.,  Hameter,  G., 
X^cplDS,  W.  A.,  Jacobs,  j;,  Kibjer,  A.,  ICoon,  W.  W.,Koon,  J.,P.,  JCpon,  J. 
L,.,'Keit,t,  J.  D.,  Lorick,  J.'  D.,  Lownian,;J.  P.,  IvQwnian,  S.  Q.,  LowiriMi, 
■p.  G.,  Lowmap,  J. 'S.,i<owJTian,  P.  E., ,  Lybrand,  B.  C,  IvOng,  D.  E., 
Long)  W.  W.,  Mayer,  G.  W.,  Metts,  G.  S.,  Metis,  G.  S.,  Metts,  J.  F., 
Metts,  M.  S.,  Metts,  E.  C,  Metts,  J.  C,  Metts,  R.  A.,  Metts,  jf.  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., 
Nuiinamaiker,  A.-S.,  Nunnamaker,  J.  H.,  Nunnamaker,  P.,  Nunnamaker, 
W.  A.,  Revel,.;.  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.,  Sum- 
mer, 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.,  Wes- 
singer,  J.,  Wessinger,  J.  D.,  Weed,  C.  A.,  Weed,  J.  C,  Youngenener,  J., 
Leaphart,  L. 

COMPANY  "D." 

Cam!ain:  Donnelly,  R.  V.  Lieutenants:  Livingston,  B.,  Jefifcoat, 
N.  P.,  Inabenat,  T.  Sergeants:  Jeffcoat,  H.  W.,  Jeffcoat,  J.,  Red- 
morn,  L,  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,  L,  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.,  Jefcoat,  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.,  Poimd,  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.,  Reld,  W.  H.,  Rucker,  R.,  Rucker, 
W.,  Redman,  A.,  Redmond,  F.,  Robitison,  L.,  Robinson,  J.  T.,  Starns,  J., 
Seanght,  J.,  Stabler,  M..  Stabler,  H.,  Tyler,  L.,  Wacor,  W.  L.,  William- 
son, W.,  Williamson,  E.,  Williamson,  T.,  Williamson,  D.  R.,  William- 
son, 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, 
Kmg,  J.  A.,  Mattison,  J.  F.  Sergeants  :  Copeland,  J.  J.,  Clinlcscales, 
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,  Bancuni,  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,  Bigbv,  J..  A.,  Coker,  J. 
J.,  Cummmgs,  C.  C,  Callahan,  J.  P.,  Cowan,  W.  M.,  Cumniings   H'  A 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  579 

Callahan,  J.  R.,  Callahan,  D.  P.,  Coleman,  Robert,  Fox,  P.  J.,  Cobb,  M. 
a:,.  Ci'dsbetry,  A.,  Cox;  Mac,  Diver,  B.  P.,  Dunlap,  W.  P.,  Drennan,  §:* 
A.  Davis,  A.  M.,  Dalrymple,  J.,  Drake,  E.  H.,  Elgin,  H.,  Flower,  J.  Y-., 
Fielas,  Stephen,  Fields,  T.,  Freeman,  W.  G.,  Gambrell,  y.  V.,  Gillespie, 
a;,  Gilkei'sonj  W.  D.,  Gilkerson,  J.  A.,  Gantt,  E.  S.,  Grubb,  C.  C.  Gaatt- 
brdl,'P.  M;,  Gambrell,  E.  H.,  Greer,  J.  W.,  Greer,  George,  Hawkins,' It-- 
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,  Tho- 
mas, 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.,  teopard,  H.  B.,  Lathan,  J.,  Lusk,  J.  P.,  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^  G.  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.  P.,  Robinson,  Isaac,  Robinson,  Jesse,  Robin- 
son, 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.,  S^' 
lors,  W.  P.,  Saylors,  W.,  Stone,  A.  H„  Stone,  J.  B.,  Shaw,  H.  W.,  Shaw, 
J.  C,  Shirley,  F.  P.,  Shirley,  J.  J.,  Shirley,  J.  M.,,  Smith,  J.  N.,  Smith,  C, 
Saddler,  William,  Southerland,  W.  P.,  Simpson,  J.  D.,  Seawright,  Johnf, 
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.,  William*,  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,  King'smore,  E.  R.,  Cannon,  W.  S.  Sergeants:  Reid.  S.  W.,. 
Buzzard,  B.  Mj,  Epting,  J.  N.,  Graham,  P.  D.,  Goree,  W.  O.  C6«- 
PORALS :  Richie,  C.  M.,  Dickert,  Jesse  C,  Rikard,  Frank  D. 

Privates  :  nbi-ams,  Z.  P.,  Abrams,  S.  S.,  Abrams,  Daniel,  Baker,  M., 
Barrett,  B.,  Brodks,  H.  J.,  Boozer,  Tim,  Boozer,  Henry,  Brown,  M.  L,.^ 
Beard,  S.  P.,  Buzzard,  O.  H.,  Buzzard,  Jeff,  Buzzard,  W.  P.,  Buzzard, 
Williatii,  Bowles,  W.  H.,  Barre,  S.  C,  Bedenbaugh,  W.  P.,  Cady,  P.  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  P.,  IDenson,  George.  Dickert, 
Wm.  T.,  Dickert,  Marion,  Dunwoody,  S.  H.,  Davis,  John  D.,  Dominick, 
L.  P.,  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.jN., 
Gatint,  Jeff.,  Henson,  H.  O.,  Hough,  Andrew  J.,  Houseal,  Johrf  I., 
Hentz,  Julius  D.,  Hawkins,  George,  Herbert,  Sullivan,  Jones,  J.  E.y 
Jones,  Lewis,  Kibler,  Adam,  Kibler,  D.  W.  T.,  Kissick,  J.  W.,  Koon,  W. 
F.,  Kinard,  Miner,  Kinard,  N.,  Lane,  J.  C,  Livingston,  J.  C,  LiVingstcin,' 
Robert  J.,  Livingston,  Ham,  Lindsay,  James,  Martin,  Cline,  McGiU., 
Archie,  McCullough,  H.  S.,  McCullough,  W.  P.,  Miller,  J.  P.,  MillCT,' 
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.,  Settler,  -W.  A.,  Sloan,  John  P.,  Stone, 


C80  in-^.i.KV    Ol'     KKKSHAW'S    ISRIGAOH. 

J.-sWilliam,  Stone,  Henry.  Suber,  D.-  E„.,Stew5urt,  Jvohn.C,  Stewart,  S.  P., 
Sihg-'ley,  G.  M.,  Sin'+fey,'!'.  H.',  Beaenfeaugh.  Pinlc.,  Cook,  C.  J.,  Cowan, 
E.,  Sligh,  Munroe,  Soencer,  M.,  Thomas,  Ed.,  Thrift,  John,  Watts,  W. 
PeGk.'Wedeman,,  J.  D;.  Wedeman-,  Silas,  Wheeler,  J.  P.,  Wifliams.  Rob- 
ert H.,  Wilcox,  W,'  Pi,  .Wicker  I^ang.,  Wicker,  D,,  Wicker,  D.  R., 
Wicker,  T.  V..  Wicker.  "Belt.;  Willingham,,  P.  W.,  Wilson,  J.  S.,  Wilson, 
J.  C,  Wilsoh,  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,  P.  D.,  Boy- 
kin,'  J.  J.,  Boykin,  S.  B.,  Hancock,  W.  J.,  Jones,  G.  W.,  Madison,  K., 
Mathis,  J.  R.,  McEachern,  J.  R.  Corporals  :  McEachern,  W.  D.,  Alien, 
J.  C,  Andrews,  ,0.  T.,  Barfield,-  R.E.,  Mathis,  J.  V.,  Eachefn,  W.  C, 
Smith:-T.  W.  B.  ■  . 

Privates  :  Atkinson,  William,  Atkinson,  Wash.,  Andrews,  E.,  Boykin, 
Williarn,  Roykin,  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:,  Bradlev.  William,  Croft,  William,  Croft,  Wesly,  Cannon,  G.,  Cor- 
bitt,.J.  A.,  Collins,  Alex.,  Caughman,  Joe.  Corbitt,  J.-,  N.,  Dorety,  x..  G., 
Durilop,  Samuel,  Dorety,  William.  Do-  '"'  Mannirig,  Dorety,  Henry, 
Dorety,  Thomas,  Dorety,  Laton.  Druggus,  ?■'  D..  Dixon.  Benj.,  Davis, 
G.  P.  "Vy.,  Davis,  Joel,  Davis,  J.  D.,  Davis,  Lucas,  Davis,  Oflfel,  Davis,  C. 
R.,\Dea',  E..  Duncan,  George,  Daniels.  Wes.,  Daniels,  Alf.,  Genobles,  " 
Rufus,  GaUkrd.  Rufus,  Gaillard,  W.  P.,  Hawkins,  Wash.,  Harmon, 
James,  Hatfield.  Renj.,  Hatfield.  William.  Hatfield.  Caleb,  Hatfield, 
CharlVs,'  Hatfield,  W;esly,  Hancock,  E.  J..  Hancpck,  T.  D..  Hancock,  G. 

W..   Hai>'kin<:.  John.'  Huggins.   Wilie.   Hutchens,  ,   Hyott,   JameS, 

.Jeffers.  Daniel.  Jeffers,  H.  J..  Joijes.  R.  L..  Jones,  C.  L.,  Jones.  Henry, 

Jones.  M..  Jones.  Francis,  Jeffers,  John,  Kirby.  ,  Lee.  John,  Lee, 

Wni?rn,  Lucas.  T.  B..  Lucas.  M.  B..  McCaskill.  Robert,  Mathis.  Wil- 
li?.m.  Mathis.  G.  M.,  Mathis.  E.  B...  Mathis.  S.,  Mathis,  Alex.,  .Murph, 
Henry,  Moseley,  William,  Moseley,  George,  Myers,  T.  S.,  Myers,  P.  A., 
McK.en-ie.  L.  A.,  Moonyham.  Steohen.  McCutcheon,  John,  Marsh,  J., 

McCa.skill.  ,  Neighbors,  H.,   Neighbors.   David,  Neighbors,  Isaac, 

Neighbors.  Thom.as.  Nichols,  W.  A.,  Otts.  James.  Partin,  William,  Par^ 
tin.  J.  W..  Rhame.  Thomas,  Rodgers.  J.  D.,  Rodgers,  Latson,  Rodgers, 
Manning,  Smith.  J.  W'.,  SmUh.  Tally,  Scott,  Fleming,  Scott,  Benjamin, 
Svfan.  C.  E.,  Solomon'!.. T.  J.,  Solesby,  — — ,  Stokes.  J.  L.,  Shiver,  John. 

Sexious,  ,  Tuninel,  .  Tensley.  Thomas.  Tidwell.  Adison.  Tid- 

well.  William,  Vassar.  E.  A..  Vicks,- William.  Whites,' Henrv.  Watson, 
J.  T.,  White,  John,  Weldnn,  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,  Jeflf., 
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., 
DeVote.  Thomas.  Fry.  J.  R,  Fry.  Tyler,  Pry,  Thomas  A..  Gable,  God- 
frey, Gable,  E.  E.,  Gregory,  Franklin,  Gregory,  John  G.  A.,  Hook,  M. 


HISOTRY    OF     KERSHAW'S    BRIGADE.  581 

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,  Llrfah,  Sharp,  P.  M.,  Sharp,  Lew^ie, 
Sharp,  Barney,  Sharp,  J.  D.,  Sharp,  Jacob,  Sharp,  Reuben,  Sharp,  Cal- 
vin, Sharp,  R.,  Sharp,  D.  J.,  Sharp,  Emanuel,  Sharp,  Felix,  Senn,  R.  N., 
Senn,  W.  B.,  Senn,  Jacob,  Stuart,  Robert,  ShuU,  ri.  W.,  ShuU,  D-.  E., 
ShuU,  R.  W.,  Shull,  PI.  M.,  ShuU,  John  W.,  Roof,  L.,  ShuU,  John, 
Shull,  D.  P.,  Shull,  M.  A.,  ShuU,  J.  E.,  Smith,  T.  C,  Sox,  E.  G.,  Sox, 
C.  S.,  Sox,  J.  E.,  Sox,  D.  M.,  Sox,  Jesse,  Sightler,  WUliam  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,  Ziniri,  Gunter,  Emanuel,  Jones,  John,  Gunter, 
Levi,  Gunter,  Elliott,  Gunter,  W.  C,  Wise,  John  W.  Corporals  :  Gun- 
ter, Mitchell,  Abels,  Pierce,  Garrin,  Robert. 

Privates  :  Abies,  Burk,  Altman,  James,  Altman,  Rufus,  Altman, 
Ruben,  Bennett,  Tyler,  Baggant,  Freeman,  Baggant,  E.  F.,  Brogdan, 
Jesse,  Brogdan,  M.,  Brogdan,  William,  Bryant,  Mark,  Burnett,  BrazU, 
Burnett,  D.  P.,  Burnett,  Willis,  Burgess,  Felix,  Burgess,  J.  S.,  BrasweU, 
George,  Baltiziger,  A.,  Blackwell,  James,  Burgess,  N.  J.,  Christmas,  S. 
B.,  Creed,  B.  O.,  Cook,  Chesley,  Cook,  Wyatt,  Courtney,  Young,  Court- 
ney, 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,  Mar- 
shall, Gunter,  M.  B.,  Gunter,  Stancil,  Gunter,  V.  A.,  Gunter,  W.  H., 
Gunter,  WiUiam,  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,  Garr 
vin,  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,  Watsop, 
Jackson,  J.  M.,  Jackson,  J.  P.,  Jones,  Ezekiel,  Kenhedy,  William,  Keii- 
nedy,  Alex.,  Kirkling,  E.  S.,  Kirkling,  G.  W.,  Kirkling,  Tillman,  Kirk- 
land Hiram,  Kneece,  Jacob,  Kennedy,  Matthew,  Kirkland,  J.  P.,  Mixori, 
D.,  Nobles,  Ed.,  Pool,  Elzy,  Pool,  J.,  Pool,  Tillman,  Pool,  Elvin,  Pod, 
John,  Price,  T.,  Rawls,  Theodore,  Rich,  W.  B.,  Richardson,  Harrison, 
Richardson,  W.  B.,  Richardson,  G.  W.,.  Rich,  John,  Sawyer,  J.  D.,  Saw- 
yer, P.  S.,  Sanders,  John,  Sanders,  E.,  Starnes,  Ezekiel,  Startis,  Wesly, 
Starns,  Randy,  Starns,  John,  Starns,  Joshua,  Storey,  Wesly,  Shelly., 
Melyin,  Smith,  I.  B.,  Ward,  A.  G-,  VVard,  John,  Williams,  G.  W.,  Wilr 
liams,  Hiram,  Williams,  Rowland,  WiUiiftis  John,  Williams,  R.  F..  WU- 
liams,  J.  M.,  Wells,  WUliam,  Wells,  Thomas. 


582  HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE. 

COMPANY  "K." 

Captain:  Harman,  W.  P.  M.  Lieutenants:  Haiti wonger,,  S.  A., 
Harmon,  T.  S.,  Harmon,  M.  H.,  Seay,  H.,  Harmon,  F.  ].,  I^eaphart,  J. 
4'.;,, Harmon,  M.  D.  Sergeants:  Sease,  J.  R.  W.,  Quattlebaum,  T.  A. 
OoEPORALS :  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.,  Caughmaii,  J.  T., 
Ciughman  L.  W.,  Caughman,  N.  S.,  Caughman,  H.  J.  W.,  Crout,.!,., 
C^out,  J.  T.,  Crout,  W.,  Crout,  W.,  Corley,  E.  L.,  Corley,  L.  W.,  Corley, 
S-'A.,  Corley,  W.,  Corley,  W.  A.,  Calk,  W.,  Cook,  W.  I.,  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.,  Har- 
mon, J.  W.,  Harmon,  J.  A.,  Hartwell,  J.  J.,  Heyman,  O.,  Hallman,  M. 
L^,'Hallman,  S.  T.,  Hallman,  E.  R.,  Hallman,  A.  J.,  Hallman,  E.,  Hole- 
man,  D.,  Hays,  J.  W.  P.,  Hays,  A.  W.  N.,  Hays,  A.  D.  J.,  Hendrix,  G. 
81;  Hendrix,  H.  J.,  Hendrix,  J.  E.,  Hendrix,  J.  S.,  Hendrix,' S.  N., 
Hefidrix,  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,  L,  Price,, L.,  Ouattlebaum,  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, 
L,;,SteeI,  Z.,  Taylor,  G.  W.,  Taylor,  J.  W.,  Taylor.  E.,  Taylor.  W.  C, 
Taylor,  Z.,  Taylor,  H..  Taylor,  H.  W„  Taylor.  J.  W.,  Taylor,  J.,  Win- 
gard, J.  S.,  Wingard,  T.  J.,  Wingard,  S.,  Wingard,  G,  W.,  Wingard,  M., 
Wiggins,  S.  J. 

COMPANY  "L." 

iCAPTAiNS:  Sparks,  A.  D.,  Bolton,  C.  P.  Lieutenants:  Peterkin,  J. 
A>i  Kinney,  W.  F.,  Moore,  A.  E.  SeegEants  :  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., 
Eristow,  R.  N..  Anderson,  T.  F.,  Rethea,  J.  W.,  Buzhart,  J.  T.,  Bu- 
qhanan,  J.  A.,  Calder.  W.,  Carter.  W.,  Berry,  D.  h'.,  Carrigan,  W.  A., 
Clark,  R.,  Cope,  E.,  Cottingham.  J.,  Cowan,  W.  T.,  Coxe,  R.  A.,  Croley, 
fi.j  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., 
Fftwler,  W.  D.,  Frasier.  C,  Frasier,  W.,  Goss,  H.  L.,  Grice.  E..  Grice,  J., 
Gme.  .T.  S.,  Graham..  W..  Grfiham,  Windsor,  Graham,  W.,  Havse,  Dji 
HefiTsey,  G.  R.,  Holeman,  E.,  Heneganr  A."B.,  Henegan,  S.  A.,  Hubbard, 
J.;.G.,  Hodges,  T.  C,  Hodges,  W.  L.,  Graham,  J.  J.,  Ivy.  L.,  Jackson,  J.; 
J^kson,,  A..  Jackson.  O,.,  Kendall.  R.  A..  Lemaster.  B.  B..  Lioscomb.  E., 
Lipscomb..  W.  R..  Man.tifng,  E..  Mannine;,,  T.  R..,  Moodvi  G  W..  McCast 
l^ilLK..  McCall.  D,.  McCorraie.- A,.  McCall,  C.  S..  MoCall,  T.  D.i  McCall, 
L;a.,  McCall,  P.  R.-,.M?Kee.  J.  A..  McGee,  Ai.  McLeod,  M,.  McAHster, 
.Ifr.McAlister,  C:  M'imford.  ,W  .  Parham.  L.H..  Parham,  H..  Parham, 
H;  A.,  Parham,  W.  H..  Miles,,  G.  W,  Pols.Qn,  C,  Pplson,  J.,  Parish,  J... 
Parish,  H.,  Pearson,  M.,  Pearson,  P.,  Rascoe,  W.,  McLane,  G,  McDan- 


HISTORY   OF    KERSHAW'S   BRIGADE.  583 

iel,  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.,  Lamp- 
ley,  J.,  Gay,  J.,  Snead,  L.  P.,  Johns,  P.  M.,  Burlington,  H.,  Stanton,  J., 
Littlejohn,  J.,  Murchison,  R.,  Berry,  P.,  Ivy,  W.  H.,  Hamer,  J.,  Bethea, 
W.  H.,  McLeod,  B.  P.,  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.j  Moore,  B.  F.,  Moore,  T.,  Reese,  J.,  Reese,  John,  Cot- 
tingham,  A.,  Cottingham,  J.,  Crabb,  H.  B.,  Leggett,  A.,  Calhoun,  J.  C, 
Calhoun,  H.,  Sparks,  B.  M. 


INDEX. 


Page. 

Agitators  at  the  North lo- 

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  ot •    •    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    .'.... loi 

Bragg,  General  Braxton,  Army  of      266 

Bland,  Colonel  Elbert,  sketch  of 282 

Bentonville,  battle  of  .    .  52o> 

Brigades  of  Longstreet 297 

Brooks,  Captain  J.  H.,  sketch  of 4^1 

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 i°4 

Civil  and  Mexican  Wars  compared ....  194 

Columbia,  burning  of  5I4 

Chancellorsville,  battle  of 208 

Charleston,  Evacuation  of 5i8' 

Connor,  General  James,  sketch  of •    ■  444 

Cedar  Creek,  battle  of 447 

Cedar  Creek,  stampede  at •  452 

Carmichael,  Captain  W.  D.,  sketch  of  ...    • 484 

Chickamauga,  battle  of ....    , •   ■ -271 

Chattanooga,  encamped  around ■    i         "  ■  289 

Council  of  War  between  President  Davis  and  Generals 339 

Coal  Harbor,  battle  of. 372^ 


2  INDEX. 

Page. 

Coal  Harbor  to  Petersburg 375 

"Crater,"  battle  of 393 

Dr.  Saussure,  Colonel,  sketch  of 25° 

Duel  between  Seebles  and  Bland - .    ■    79 

Deserter,  shooting  of 3I9 

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 

Evaus,  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,  I,ieuteuant  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  Buruside    .  ...  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  Mechanicsvllle .   .   .117 

Harper's  Ferry,  taking  of ,    .    .    ,    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    ,148 

Hancock,  at  the  Wilderness .   .   , .....    .    .  346 

Hienagan,  Colonel,  sketch  of 423 


INDEX.  3 

uv  .  ,  Page. 

Hpole,  I,ieutenant  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  Chancellprsville 212 

Jenkins,  General  M. ,  at  Seven  Pines .    .  118 

Jenkins,  General  M.,  death  of 349 

James,  Colonel  G.  S.,  sketch  of 175 

5;emper,  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 .    .    .    1    .    .  441 

Kennedy,  General  J.  D.,  sketch  of     .   , 476 

KnoxviUe,  Tenu.,  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.,  recrossesthe  Potomac 160 

Lee,  General  R.  E.,  position  of  Army   ... 342 

Lieutenant  Generals,  appointment  of 226 

Longstreet,  strength  of  Army  in  East  Tennessee  ..........  297 

I/jngstreet,  at  the  Wilderness 348 

Ludicrous  scene,  oiBScers  in  arrest 259 

iookout  Mountain,  scenery  of 292 

Loss,  in  principle  battles  of , 537 

Loss,  in  Northern  Prisons 538 

^,aw,  General,  Courtmartialed 337 

:^/ewie,  Colonel,  sketch  of .   .335 

.Morris'  Island,  occupation  of .   .    23 

Mjpgruder,  General  J.  B ,  •,  •   ■ 9^ 

McClellan,  in  command  of  Union  Army  .   . 157 


4  INDEX. 

Page. 

McClellan,  removal  of ^    ;    .  i56 

McCall,  General  U.  S.  A.,  captured    .    .       . •    ■    ■  13° 

McLaws,  General,  follows  Lee •  I43 

McLaws,  General,  relieved  of  command 327 

Manassas,  second  battle  of 141 

Militia  called  out 49^ 

Maffett,  Lieutenant  Colonel  R.  C,  sketch  of 424 

McGowan's  Brigade,  charge  of       3^1 

McGowan's  Brigade,  at  Chancellorsville 214 

Malvern  Hill,  battle  of 136 

Mclntyre,  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 

Peade,  talk  of .85 

Pope,  Adjutant  Y.  J.,  sketch  of  . 228 

Prisoner,  how  it  feels  to  be  a  1 458 

Potomac,  crossing  at  Williamsport 229 

Peace  Conference 468 

President  visit  General  Bragg .    .  295 

Reorganizations  of  Regiments 107 

Reinlistments  of  Troops  .  164 

Review  of  Longtreets  Corps,  by  Lee 340 

Rice,  Colonel  W.  G.,  sketch  of 313 

Retrospect 532 

Secession  Convention  . 12 

Secession,  causes  of  .    .  .    .    i i 

"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    .  ; »6 

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 


INDEX.  5 

Pagb. 

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 

Zoble,  Julius,  sketch  of .  .  315 

Zoar  Church,  battle  of    .    .  259 


ERRATA. 


It  is  with  regret,  that  the  Author  and  Publishers  acknow- 
ledge, 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  pro- 
gress, 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  is,  read  "Ewell"  for  "Buell." 
Page  87,  line  34,  Insert  "General"  between  "I/ieutenant" 
and  "Ewell." 

Page  91,  line  29,  read  "mush"  for  "much." 
Page  no,  line  18,  read  "Langford"  for  "Sanford." 
Page  120,  line  36,  read  "communications"    for    "communi- 
cators. ' ' 

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  '73,  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  "lioon"  for  "now." 

Page  236,  line  24,  read  "Semmes"  for  "Sumner." 

Page  237,  line    7,  read  "Hool"  for  "Hood." 


2  ERRATA. 

Page  238,  line  26,  read  "cannoneers"  for  "comoners." 
Page  239,  line    4,  read  "partially"  for  "practically." 
Page  241.     After  7th  line  one  entire   section  ommitted,   re- 
lating to  Federal  officer  of  Artillery. 

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"  lor  "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   "Chancellors- 
ville." 

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    6,  read  "statutes"  for  "statistics." 
Page  502,  line  13,  read  "immaculate"  for  "immoculate." 
^~~Page  504,  line    i,  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,  Hne  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."