^577 5 77 He Daniel, XX Diaify <>V b^flie^^ marches a»inder marchiog orders, proceeding rapidly in the direction of the firing. We were halted at o o'clock within about 2'mile3 of the left of the raging battle, to prevent the enemy crossing the bridge and flanking us on the left. Here Kershaw's Brigade lay within full hearing of the terrible conflict, until about sundown, when news arrived that our left wing was hard pressed. We were ordered forward at a double-quick, arriving on the edge of the battle field at dusk, when the fighting ceased for that day. We were moved up directly in front of the enemy, and ordered to sleep on our arms. I lay down on my blanket, committing my soul and body to God, think- ing of the loved ones far away and of the fierce scenes the coming holy Sabbath's sun would usher forth. Amid these solemn thoughts, sleep overpowers the weary soldier. The next thing I know we are aroused up about midnight, and are soon back opposite the bridge we had left. I learned this was done to still prevent a flank movement of the enemy. Sunday morning, June 1st, at about 8 o'clock, the battle again began and was very heavy for some two hours. But for coming back to guard the bridge the 7th would have been engaged. The firing became farther and farther off, by which we knew the enemy were giving way. The battle of the 31st and 1st, called by the Confederates ''Seven Pines," but by the Yankees "Fair Oaks/' again evinced the superior valor of the Southerners over Yankees. We drove them some two miles with great slaughter, and then returned back to our original lines, leaving the enemy ditching in the swamps through which we had driven him. The 7th Regiment remained at Smith's farm, opposite the bridge, for a week. The enemy were building two bridges about 400 yards apart. We could have prevented them from working at them, but were not ordered to do so. They were in full range of our batteries. But Uie sequel proves our leaders acted wisely, as these bridges were of great use to our troops in crossing over to attack the builders. During our stay here it rained almost incessantly. On June 12th, we were relieved and retired to Camp lleserve, 4 miles of Richmond. Here we remained till the seven days fight before Richmond began. On the 25th June, the 4th Louisiana and 3d Geor- gia Regiments attacked Sickles' Brigade, which had been tj||3wn for- ward to extend the parallel sieges, by which the famoiJP.ditcher, McClellan, was going to take Richmond. Those two regiments drove Sickles' tour regiments back into the entrenchments. On 26th, we were ordered on picket to support a Louisiana Regiment About 2 o'clock, P. M., while lying in front of the enemy's picket, near the railroad, we heard the heavy booming cannon on the enemy s extreme right, showing that the great struggle had commenced. Lee, with the two Hills, Lougstreet and Jackson were leading their invincible troops against McClellan's strong breastworks. On that night when news arrived that the first line of entrenchments had been carried by our troops, cheer after cheer ran throughout the various regiments of Magruder's Army Corps, still on the south of the Chickahominy, lying in front of the enemy's centre. Our Brigade, in McLaws' Division, were under Magruder. Opposite McClellan's left wing was Huger's Army Corps. On the 27th, our Regiment was ordered forward with a Mississippi Regiment to "feer^ of the enemy. In fact the 7th, 8th and 3d regiments of Kershaw's Brigade were manoeuvering in front of the enemy most of the day. We were in range of their shells, which were flying most of the day. Late in the day the 7th and 8th Regiments were ordered to drive in the enemy's pickets in front of their advance entrenchments; immediately before this they had cut the timber for '3 or 400 yards ; their pickets were stationed in a dense thicket. Lieut. Col. Bland, with Companies A and F as skir- mishers, preceded us. He had not proceeded far before encountering the enemy, a brisk skirmish followed. Col. Aiken ordered the regi- ment forward ; the enemy's pickets fast disappeared through the thicket, and took refuge behind their batteries, which opened a most terrific cannonade of shells, grape and canister upon the thicket. We lay down, and these death dealing missiles at first passed high over us, but at every discharge they got our'range nearer and nearer. It seems miraculous how any escaped; the tops of the huckleberry bushes were riddled by grape shot as they whizzed over our heads; a shell splintered a tree right at several of our company, sending the splinters in our faces. Soon the Mississippi Regiment to our left attracted their atten- tion, and we retired, with the loss of one killed and seven wounded. This was the first time the 7th Regiment had lost a man in battle. During this day our troops on the enemy's right threw themselves upon him with resistless fury, and drove him from his last strong line of en- trenchments around Gaines' Mill. His broken and confused masses retreated in the direction of York River, but findinj^ our forces in his rear, turned and crossed the Chickahominy in the rear of their own centre, and then turned across to seek refuge under their gunboats in James River. During the 28th, the left wing of our army rested, while the centre was still skirmishing with the centre of the enemy. Early on the mornin^of the 29th it was ascertained that the centre and left of the enemy fj^re following their shattered right wing in their flight towards the gunboats. W^e were immediately in pursuit. Soon passing their powerful advanced entrenchments, we saw large fires burning many things they could not carry; our skirmishers were soon engaged with their rear, and from their next stronghold, about half a mile froni the first, they threw many shells at us. But soon they were routed out of that, and thus it continued all day. AVe continued pursuing over a succession of vast lines of entrenchments and through acres of camps, tents left standing. Hearing a loud explosion, I saw a vast pyramid of stuoke rising towards tjhe heavens. This was a vast pile of ammu- nition they had blown up. Late in the evening they made a bold stand at Savage Station on the railroad. Kemper's artillery, righi in rear of our regiment, drew the enemy's artillery fire heavily on us for some 'time. We were ordered to advance through a dense thicket along the left of the Williamsburg road. They were strongly posted along the farther edge of this thicket, and unfortunately we started with a shouc, which enabled them to direct their fire on us, for it is a rule with the Yankees to commence firing at long range, and if possible to keep at long range. We did not fire till we got in sight of them and in this thicket we were close on them. Their line was in such a position that the left of our Kegiment encountered them before the right. On this account the two right Coj^ipanies, *' M^^ and " A,^' became partially separated from the Regiment and advanced on the enemy to the right. W'e got within thirty steps before we could see them, when we poured in volleys with great efi"ect. Just as we emerged from the thicket, I saw a Yankee, who immediately threw dowi his gun, and getting on his all fuurs, passed with the rapidity of a quadruped over an open t;pace to a thicket opposite. Just as he entered it, I fireH a ball and three buckshot at him. If I did not kill him, he was badly frightened, Another Yankee, seeing us so close, concluded it would be safer to run into our ranks than to retreat, threw down his gun and came dashing into our lines. Lieut. A. P. Bouknight collared him ; crying out, *' I'm a prisoner, let me go to the rear,^^ he pulled loose and made for the rear faster than a double-quick. Th.3 balls were coming too thick for him. The Regiment was ordered back, as it was then growing dark, and laying on our arms in a drenching rain during the night, we arose next morning and found the enemy gone, leaving his numerous dead and wounded. Eight were wounded in Company M, and about l08 killed and wounded in the Regiment. On the 30th, we were ordered back to cross over to reinforce our troops sent down to the James to intercept the enemy before he reached the gunboats. We traveled all day, and late in the evening came in hearing of the guns of the battle of VVhite Oak Swamp. The fight lasted till 10 o'clock at night. We marched nearly all night and arrived on the battle field at daylight, July 1st. The enemy retreated during the night a few miles to Malvern Hill, a powerful strong position, where he made his last desperate stand to secure his retreat to the gunboats'. It is an elevated ridge with extensive slopes, bouuded by thickets and swamps in such a mannerthat we could not make a flank movement on it. On the sides o£ this hill the ene- my's infantry were massed, and numerous batteries crowned the entire summit. We attempted to bring up our batteries on the sides of these slopes to play upon them, but their guns being all in position, would concentrate on our guns and force them to retire. Thus, after trying most of the day and failing to effect anything with our artillery, our leaders concluded late in the evening to storm the hill. Most of the day shells were passing over and around our Kegiment. At 5, P. M., musketry opened fiercely, by soutc Brigades sent in advance of us. Our Brigade was soon ordered to advance. At this time the balls and shells were falling thick around us, and the nearer we approached the line of battle the thicker they came. We advanced through a dense pine thicket, and almost every tree seemed torn to pieces as the solid shot and shells came crushing along. The enemy not having artillery to contend with, turned loose all their artillery on our infantry, while their infantry poured in continuous volleys from the various lines encir- cling that hill. Meanwhile our troops were driving back line after line of the enemy towards the crest of the hill, leaving heaps of the slain marking each line. Our Brigade advanced through the thicket on the left of a large field, passing over two other Brigades as we ad- vanced. One of the Brigades was retreating in- disorder. Gen. Kershaw ordered ours to lie down, and let them pass out over us. But we jeered them so, that they lay down in front of us, when we rose up and passed over them. Some of their officers were making desperate efflBrts to rally them. We pressed forward to the edge of the woods, and there found one Brigade lying in a road which had formed a kind of a breastwork by wearing away the earth about 18 inches. With this alone to shield us, we lay down just in rear of that Brigade, ordered not to fire as we had other lines in front. This proved a mistake, as this was our advanced line in this part of the field. We lay here for some time exposed to the most fearful and destructive fire. The enemy's infantry were not over 100 yards, though rather obscured from view by weeds and briers. A perfect tempest of minie balls, grape shot and shells were rained upon us. Every tree round where we lay still testifies to the severity of the fire, from the great number of scars, from the ground to the heighf of 30 feet. At this crisis Gen. Kershaw was about to order a charge on the vast masses of the enemy, but having received orders when we were sent in to supjmrt other Brigades in advance, he declined advancing further. But to lay there would be too destructive, therefore we were ordered to fall back to a ravine. It was now growing late, and soon darkness closed in upon the dreadful scene. The musketry gradually ceased, but the night was illuminated by the lurid flashes of artillery, sending the blazing shells flying through the thicket. During the battle the gunboats in James River cooperated, throwing immense shells at us, many of them fully three feet long. I saw some on the field 6 weeks after^rds. But these gunboats did as much damage to their own troops as ours, and were signaled by the enemy to quit firing, they being 3 miles off. I must say this was a badly managed battle so far as our Brigade and the one in front of us was concerned, but not the fault of Gen. Kershaw. Had we risen up and poured in volleys 9 when nearest the enemy wo would have decimated their ranks, but we lost many noble fellows without tirino^ a gun. Company M lost but (5ne, wonderful to tell, the lamented J. R. Bouknight, 1st Lieutenant. The 7th Regiment lost killed and \found%d. Taking advantage of the night; the enemy reached the coveted gunboats, again leaving his dead and wounded. Thus McClellan, who came with a great flourish and boastful threats with a mighty host to take Richmond, has built a Napoleonic reputation among the Yankees, because he saved the greater part of his army, his own despatches showing that he beat his army to them 3 days. Our 13rigade camped near the battle field for a^week. During this time we heard of several thousand Enfield rifles being left by the enemy a few miles below us on the bank of the James. The Colonel left it to the choice of the companies of the 7th to go down and ex- change their muskets for rifles. Company M alone went. But Col. Nance of the 3d took down his entire Regiment. The enemy seems to have thrown away these guns in their eagerness to get aboard their shipping, which shows what a state of demoralization existed among them. ^ July 9th, we marched back to Camp Reserve, near Richmond. Here we remained, with nothing occurring to interrupt ordinary camp duty until 5th August, when we moved a few miles to Mrs. Christian's farm, where we enjoyed the luxury of bathing during those hot days in the cooling waters of the Chickahominy. No vandal soldier was now there, as a short time back, on the opposite shore, to dispute our right to this healthful exercise. I have seen its waters literally swarming with men as far as I could see. While here, the report came that the 'enemy were again advancing. ^Ye started to meet him, and arrived nearly at Malvern Hill when the advance of the enemy was contradicted. We bivouacked on the ground for the night, and next day returned to camp. August 10th, we moved camp to Chafin's Blufi*, 10 miles off". At this time the 7th Regiment was recruited with 235 conscripts, propor- tioned among the companies. On the 17th, moved 6 miles farther, and from this place McLaws' Division made a reconnoisance in fferce to confirm the suspicions of our leaders, that McClellan was stealing off to reinforce Pope. AVe found them gone. But the sagacity of our leaders had penetrated this '^ change of base," and already all our army except Holmes', D. H. Hill's and McLaws' Divisions had gorie to re- inforce Jackson, who was opposing Pope. Holmes' Division was left to guard Richmond. Hill's and McLaws' Divisions left to join the army of the Potomac, which was then between the Rapidan and Rappahannock Rivers. Nothing worthy of note occurred, but hard marching, till we arrived at Warrenton Springs on the 31st, when we heard the glorious news of the great victory of the second battle of Manassas, fought on the 29th and 30th of August. The magnificent 10 hotel at the Springs was burnt by the enemy as they were forced back in a severe skirmish, in which they contested the crossing of the Rap- pahannock by Longstreet's Corps. When the victory was officiall;f announced to us, new ht"eand animation filled our weary columns, which had been pressed on by forced maiches from Kichmond for several days to reinforce Gen. Lee before the decisive battle. Although ours and D. H. Hill's Divisions failed to reach, yet an overruling Providence crowued the Confederates with victory, verifying His word: " Boasting goeth before a fall,'' for Pope in a lyins; boast, proclaimed to his army that '' the rebels always showed him their backs.'' On this occasion the rebels had a fine view of his army's , backs, but did not enjoy the pleasure of seeing even his back. ' On the 2d of September, we passed over the portion of the battle field fought on the 29th ult. Hundreds of the enemy's dead lay uu- buried, presenting an awful spectacle, mostly much swollen and become as black as negroes. The stench was dreadful from the dead horses and men. A deep railroad cut, for which both parties were contending, showed the fierceness of the conflict from the great number of dead * Yankees in it and around it. Jackson's Corps were masters of the cut at night. Oar Division hastened'through these ofi'ensive scenes, cross- ing Bull Run at Sudley's Ford. On 8d, we went to Leesburg, passing near by the battle field of Ox Hill, fought on the 1st, by Gregg's Brigade, We remained at Leesburg two days. On the t)th, we left for Maryland, marching about 10 miles fco a ford; we waded the Potomac River. Some soldiers stripped naked, but the great mass stripped only their pants and drawers, while others ^^ rolled up their breeches." These latter got them wet, as the water came up higher than they could roll them. The river here was about 400 yard^ wide, having two small islands In Maryland we met some friends and some foes. Sometimes an old man with all his daughters would come out to the road, smile upon us, and wave handkerchiefs. Others would close their doors, and we could see them making wry faces from the windows up stairs. As we passed a house of this kind, one of our bojs hal- looed out, '' You been wanting us in the Union long time, you got us now.'' J On the 8th, we crossed the Monoeacy River and camped near Frederick City. We remained there till the 10th, blowing up the iron bridge of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad over the river. As we passed ^through Frederick City, great demonstrations were made by friends and foes — some ladies were bringing pails of water to quench the thirst of the soldiers — some milk — some bread — some waved hand- kerchiefs and Confederate flags, while others waved Union flags from windows and held their noses as we passed — some crying, while our bands were playing and the troops cheering. In passing through this exciting scene, a Georgia Major, inspired in part by the occasion, and in part by liquor, was riding along our lines speaking. He was call- ing the attention of the citizens to '' the grand invincible army of the 11 South ;" in passing our Brigade, he said, " I'm a Greorgian, but I give to South Carolina the honor of beginning this struggle for liberty/' Vie gave him a cheer and he passed on. After passing the city we took the Hagerstown road and traveled that to J^'iddleton. There McLaws' and part of Anderson's Division took the left for the purpose of gaining the rear of Harper's Ferry, while the rest of our army con- tinned up the Hagerstown road. .At the towns we pa'^sed in this sec- tion, the Union sentiment seemed greatly to predominate. Women, with Yankee effrontery from their windows, would make remarks of ridicule, but were always badly cut by a soldiej's wit. One asked why our soldiers were so dirty and ragged. She was answered, " Our mammas always taught us to put on our worst clothes when we go to kill hogs." Another wanted to know why so many of us were bare- footed. She was answered : " We wore out our shoes running after the Yankees." But I must say in justice to M^vland, we have some warm friends, even in thase Union Counties through which we passed. An old man was seen to pull off his shoes and give them to one of our barefooted soldiers, and ride off in his socks. Our march on the 11th brought us within 6 miles of Harper's Ferry to Pleasant Valley, which lays between two parallel ridges, or properly moun- tains from their height, one of which we crossed to-day, when lovely scenery began to burst upon our vision. As we descended into the val- ley we saw a company of the enemy's videttes on the top of the oppo- site mountain. A few shell were thrown at them and they disappeared. We encamped for the night near the village of Brownsville, reclining in the lap of the mountains. Here the people generally sympathized with our cause, giving us liberally of whatever they could spare, for in our rapid marches and scanty means of transportation, our commis- saries could not furnish us sufficient subsistence. We lived princi- pally on roasting ears and fruit, of which the slopes of Maryland produced abundance. On the morning of the 12th we again advanced, detaching Con pany M and Company A of the 7th, and one from the 3d Regiment, and two from Barksdale's Brigade as skirmishers, we ascended to the top of Elk Bidge, Kershaw's Brigade winding itself up the mountain in rear of the skirmishers, while Barksdale's advanced along the left side of the mountain. As the advanced skirmishers gained the top, they were fired upon by the enemy's pickets, who im- mediately fled. We advanced along the mountain as near the crest as possible. Soon we came upon another picket post, driving them in. Soon the dim path we were following disappeared amid the rocks and precipices. Slowly and cautiously our skirmishers, stretched across the mountain, advanced among the rocks. So difficult and intricate was the passage along the mountain that Company A got lost and did not reach us till we camped at night. After a while we came upon a third picket post, which we drove in with a volley. We had not gone far from here before we came upon the enemy in large numbers, 12 • strongly posted behind a high ledge of rocks, accessible only by a narrow defile, and that was very rugged, and along it they had formed an abattis of felled trees. We arrived before this late in the evening. They kept up a random firing at our skirmishers till night. Our com- pany was posted on the right wing. Here we lay on our arms, hungry and thirsty, for we had not found a drop of water all day, while the Brigade encamped a short distance in our rear. At Harper's Ferry, which lay at the foot of the mountain, we could now see their numer- ous tents spread over Bolivar Heights, and hear the continuous long roll of many drums. At daylight on the 13th skirmishing again commenced. About 7 o'clock the skirmishers were ordered back, when we found the 7th drawn up in line of battle, about to attack the enemy. Col. Aiken ordered our company to the rear to rest, as we had been skirmishing 24 hours without fogl^ water or sleep. The 3d Regiment supported the-7th, and the 2d supported the 3d, while the 8th advanced on the right of the ledge, the height of which prevented this Regiment from flanking the enemy at this point. The 7th opened the fight by ad- vancing over these obstacles against the enemy, concealed and protected by natural and artificial covarings. The Regiment pressed right on over rocks and trees and brush in the face of a destructive fire. In less than an hour they had stormed the stronghold and routed the enemy, who fled about half a mile to another position stronger than this. Here they had a regular fort of logs, extending across the top of the mountain. Our troops advanced against this place in the same order they attacked the other, the 7th in front with the 8th on the right. The 7th had stormed the first place, without the supports being ordered forward, and now it boldly advanced. The enemy had cut down the timber ih front of their fort for some distance. Over this our troops rushed, pouring volleys into the enemy, who were sending a murderous fire into their ranks. Soon the 3d Regiment was ordered to relieve the 7th, which lay down to let the 3d pass over, and advanced, making a splendid charge. At the same time the Mississippi Brigade was coming up on the enemy's left, protected by a high clilF. Notwith- standing their strong position, they could not stand the idea of close quarters, and precipitately fled down the mountain to Harper's Ferry. As near as we could learn there were about 3,000 of them. This was about 11 o'clock, A. M. The 7th Regiment lost 113 men killed and wounded, the 3d and 8th not so many, the 2d lost none. Our killed (which exceeded the enemy's from their w:ll guarded positions) were buried in the lofty cemetery of Maryland Heights, where they sealed their devotion to Southern freedom, by pouring out their life's blood upon our country's altars. May these fallen heroes have also ofl"ered up chris- tian lives, and have been translated from this, the loveliest of earthly scenes open to view, to fairer scenes on high. The scenery, viewed from these heights, is the grandest and love- 13 liest I ever beheld. The mountain seems to have been cleft asunder by the Potomac, the towering cliffs hanging threateningly over each bank. On the Virginia side called the Loudoun Heights. The Shen- andoah River empties its waters into the Potomac at the base of the mountain, just before it rushes through the vast chasm. Harper's Ferry lies between these rivers at their junction. From the heights over the town, far to the north-west, the Alleghany Mountains, rising like clouds in the distance, are seen. The Sheaandoah, winding along its broad fertile valley, and the Potomac is seen for 20 miles cutting in two a succession of parallel mountains, all the intervening valleys visible in one panoramic view from Maryland Heights. With some large rifle siege guns, the enemy began to throw shells at us, some passing over the heights, falling near our wagon trains in the valley. But this was soon stopped, as Jackson appeared in front of Harper's Ferry about 2 o'clock, P. M., when they directed their artillery against hira. He had preceded us up the Hagerstown road which we left at Middleton in order to get in the rear of the Ferry, while he pushed on, crossing the Potomac above at Williamsport, ap- peared in front. From the heights, we could see the artillery of Jack- son engaged with the enemy on Bolivar Heights. This fight continued at intervals till night. On Sunday, 14tlf, about 11 o'clock, Jackson began firing from Loudoun Heights, and by 2, P. M., we had got our guns on Maryland Heights, and opened, and thus Harper's Ferry was encircled by artillery, which rained an incessant shower of shells down upon the devoted town. Large passes of their infantry were seen continually shifting their positions. Thus the scene went on till night. While the siege of the town was thus progressing in our front, we were admonished by the continuous deep roar of guns in our rear, that bloody scenes were there also disturbing the peace of this holy Sabbath day. McClellan with 200,000 troops fresh from Washington City, was pressing upon our rear, attempting to relieve Harper's Ferry. With 25 or 30,000, as near as we could learn, he pursued McLaws' Division with two Brigades of Anderson's, operating in rear of the Ferry. Gens. Howell Cobb's and Semmes' Brigades were sent to guard the pass through which we came over the mountain, 6 miles back. An- derson's two Brigades guarded the gap below us through which the river and railroad passes, while Barksdale's and Kershaw's Brigades held Maryland Heights. Thus it will be seen that our entire force was six Brigades, while in front of us was the Potomac River with no point of crossing but Harper's Ferry, and that defended by 12,000 of the enemy; on each side of us almost impassable mountains lay, while in our rear was pressing an army of three times ours in numbers. The remainder of McClellan's army advanced up the Hagerstown road, where J). H. Hill and Longstreet made a stand, as this road crosses the mountain at Boonsboro. Here a bloody battle was fought some 12 miles from us, at the same time that the enemy were pressing their 14 overwiielming numbers against Cobb's and Semmes' Brigades, 6 miles in our rear. Their numbers allowed them to flank our troops, and es- pecially Cobb's troops were driven back in groat disorder. The enemy succeeded in possessing the pass the night of the 14th. ( Early on Monday, 15th, all our batteries opened with redoubled fury on Harper's Ferry. At daylight Barksdale's and Kershaw's Brigades were ordered down to the valley, as we expected the enemy, now having the pass, to attack us in rear. As we marched back, stretching our line of battle across the valley, sternness was depicted on every counte- nance, for we all appreciated our critical position, and determined to stain that beautiful valley with the blood of heroes before surrendering to the hated enemy. About 9 o'clock. Gen. Kershaw, riding in front, cried out ''attention battalion/' every man springing to his feet, ex- pecting to advance; but instead of that, he said "the enemy have raised a white flag over Harper's Ferry, and Jackson is now marching in to take possession of the town/^ Such a spontaneous burst of cheers and yells broke forth, echoing througjsi the mountain glens, which no doubt produced a salutary efi'ect on the enemy, for we re- mained there all day unmolested, while our trains passed over the bridge at the ferry safely into Virginia. Thus it will be seen what an important part the 7th S. Gi Regiment took in the capture of Harper's Ferry. Yet I have seen newspaper reports that Jackson captured it with the loss of but three men, when the 7th alone lost 113, which I believe was near double the loss of any other, but the 3d had more killed dead. Had not the heights in the rear been taken, the place would have been impregnable. During the night of the 15th we crossed over the enemy's pontoon bridge at Harper's Ferry, sleeping but a short time during the night ; we marched some two miles beyond town, stopping here for the commis- sary wagons, on the morning of the Itith, for we had got 'nothing to eat since a few morsels hastily eaten the morning before. Here we lay listening at the battle's roar of Crampton's Gap, beyond the Poto- mac, where the numerous vandal hosts were pressing upon Longstreet. During the day vast quantities of army stores, captured at Harper's Ferry, guns, wagons, &c., passed by us, while the neighboring farmers carried home by droves the negroes the Yankees had stolen, and were busy employed in reclaiming stolen property of all descriptions, recap- tured from the enemy. Late in the evening our commissary wagons arrived, which produced joy throughout the Regiment. But alas ! how often is a soldier's expectation thwarted. Before we had time to '' draw rations" the order ran down the lines " fall in 7th Regiment," and with hungry stomachs we were soon on the march. Taking the right, speculation ran high as to where we were going. But the heavy guns over the Potomac admonished us that we were going back into Maryland. At 10, P. M., we lay aown to be aroused again at 1 o'clock. At daylight on Wednesday, 17th, we were again fording the river at 15 Sheparclstown. We were now pushed on towards Sbarpsburcr, some 3 miles distant. We could now distinctly see the burstio": shells and clouds of smoke which told of the fearful struggle into which we were rapidly hastcniog. Arriving witliln a mile of the battle ground, we were halted, and stacked arms. About 9 o'clock wo were ordered forward. Soon the shells were flying fast and thick about us. The nearer we approached the line of battle the faster we went, and the last half mile at double-quick. Our knapsacks were now thrown off as we run, making our route look more like a retreat than an advance. We met Hood's Brigade, that had withstood the shock of battle since daylight, retiring. As we were being placed in line of battle, Hood rode up to us and said, '^ If I had received these troops this feorning this thing would have been over." We were now on the left wing of our army, where the enemy had been, and were still, making des- perate efforts to force us back and turn our centre. Had he done this, from the nature of our position, our army would have been in a critical situation. Kershaw's JJrigade occupied the right of the division — the 2d and 3d llegiments in front — the 8th and 7th in the rear and a little to the right. Our line of battle extended along a ravine and the edge of some woods, which were some 800 yards wide, and extending in length some distance. The 7th and 8th Regiments were a little to the riuht of these woods, and had just got into position when an officer came galloping back, saying, *'The enemy are advancing.'^ The ar- rival of McLaws' Division was timely, and saved the left wing of our army from being driven back upon the centre. Although that wing was being forced back by overwhelming numbers, the slain of the enemy attested the stubborness of the resistance. But the enemy now advancing in heavy columns of fresh troops, expected to sweep Jack- son's wearied and reduced veterans before them. They did not know that our division had arrived. Gen. Kershaw had just placed the 2d and od Kegiments in posiaou in our front. The enemy came within 75 yards of these befoie they could see them, and were received with such a volley that thinned their ranks and stopped their advance ; these volleys were now rolling along our entire line. 'Soon the long dark lines of the enemy were seen staggering back, broken and confused. At this moment the 7th and 8th were ordered to advance. The routed enemy were flying through the woods, while we were pouring volleys into their retreating lines. Soon we had driven them entirely through the woods, over a fence, into a field, to the lop of a hill. By this time they were so thoroughly disorganized that every one .seemed to be running his best, and fast disappeared in a large corn field in front. By the" time we reached the top of the hill they had gotten out of the way of their batteries placed some 2 or 300 yards down the slope. No sooner did we gain the top of the hi 1, than they opened a most mur- derous fire of grape and shells from batteries on our right, front and left. Of all the cannonading I ever experienced, this was the most 16 destructive. It seemed almost whole lines would melt away at once — still the cry was ''onward men, onward/* A portion of us had nearly reached the batteries in front — killed and driven oif most of the gunners. But at this juncture we discovered that we could not hold these batteries. We had no supports, while the enemy had new lines in their rear, while we were enfiladed by their batteries on the right and left. We now fell back to our first line, the 7th Regiment having lost 169 killed and wounded, being half the men carried into action. Company "ivl'' lost 17 of 29 carried into action. The other llegi- ments of the Brigade also sufi"ered severely. In falling back I met Col. Aiken coming out of the battle. To- gether l^Jith several others, we took refuge behind a pile of cut wood in the woods, to determine where to rally the Regiment, as a hurricane of balls were now passing through the forest. Having decided upon a ravine in the edge of the woods, each of us started out to inform those we met where the new line would be formed. We had proceeded but a short distance, before the Colonel was shot tljrough the body, falling on the field, but I did not know it (as we had separated) until late in the evening. He has since recovered. Our Major was killed on the hill, where mi*ny of our noble officers and men reposed in the cold embrace of death. But the enemy's loss far exceeded ours. I almost agree with a newspaper correspondent, who said, " In a piece of woods through which McLaws' Division fought, you could walk on the enemy's dead for 3 acres." The piles of their slain exceeded anything I ever saw, while btit few of our men were killed, till we rose the hill in front of the batteries. Our batteries were of little service to us on the left. Had the ground admitted of their advance as we made our grand charge, the right of the enemy would have been swept from the field. As it was they made no more advances on our left, but kept up a furious shelling the rest of the day. It was now about 12 o'clock, and failing to break through our left, the enemy now turned to our centre. Here the contest was short, as they were soon repulsed. Next they assailed our right about 2 o'clock, where the cootest raged till darkness put an end to the awful strife. During the evening I occupied a posi- tion to see the fight on the right. The enemy were repulsed here as at the centre and left, with great slaughter. The morning of the 18th broke with profound silence upon the two exhausted armies in front of each other, and the sun scattered his bright rays over the vast heaps of the skin. Hardly a gun broke the solemn silence of the day. During this morning, for the first time since the morning of the 15th, we drew rations. Thus it will be seen that for 3 days without food and scarcely any sleep, we had patiently endured the terrible ordeal through which the love of country and liberty had called us. Gen. Lee's army, reduced by hard marches and sickness to about 40,000, fought the battle of Sharpsburg against the fearful odds of 160,000, repulsed the advance 17 of the enemy at all points, held the battle field 24 hnurs, and retired the night after, safely over the river into Virginia, carrying everything away with him, but a part of his disabled wounded. Taking all the circumstances in consideration, truly the Providence of the Almighty was nowhere more strongly manifested in our behalf than in this battle. The Regiment encamped in the neighborhood of Winchester. On the 20th, the enemy threw a few Regiments across the river. A part of Jackson's Corps captured and killed most of those, after which the experiment of crossing the Potomac in the face of our army was abandoned by the enemy. Here the Regiment remained without any- thing of interest occurring till the 31st of October. While here, Lieut. Col. Bland, who was wounded at the battle of Savage Station, returned and took command. J. S. Hard, being senior captain, was promoted to Majir by the death of Major White. On 3 1st October, the Regiment left for Culpeper, where it arrived after 4 daj-s of hard marching. There it remained till the IStli of November, when it left for Fredericksburg, arriving there on tho 20th. Our division was the first j|f the army that reached here. Nothing of much interest occurred till the stirring events of the bombardment of the city, which occurred December 11th, and was held during the day by Barksdale's Brigade. At night they evacuated the place. The enemy were busy crossing the river and occupying the place, preparing for the great battle of the 13th. The place was badly mutilated by the bombardment, tfce houses generally perforated by shot and shell, yet the heroic Mississippians held the place, under this terrible fire, all day. At night they fell back to the base of the hills which border the plain of the city. They were relieved by Cobb's Brigade, which, taking position behind a stone fence, bravely withstood the fierce as- saults of the enemy, whose great object seemed the possession of the hill just in rear of Cobb, lor this commanded most of the other heights immediately in front of the city. In this battle, which resulted so gloriously to us and disastrously to the enemy, the 7th Regiment bore an important part. (I was not in this battle, being ofl^ sick, and give facts not as seen, but as I learn them from ethers engaged,) Ker- shaw's Brigade occupied Lee's Hill just in rear of a redoubt, on which was placed a heavy rifle gun commanding a railroad cut leading out of town. Gens. Lee, and Longstreet, and Stewart stood by this gun all day directing its firing, which cut lanes through the terror-stricken enemy. Late in the evening, with Lee and Longstreet on each side, it burst, hurting no one. Early on the morning of the 13th the Brigade was carried to the foot of this hill, where they remained throwing up breastworks, till 1 o'clock, when it was ordered to the hill, at whose base T. K. R. Cobb's Brigade was. This was over a half mile from Lee's Hill, to the left and nearer the town. They passed under a heavy fire of the enemy's artillery while proceeding to this position. Stopping 18 in rear of a large brick house, which crowns the summit of the hill, they lost several men, being exposed to the shells and the enfilading fire of the infantry up a ravine on the right. They were soon ordered to the front of the house, when the advancing masses of the enemy were in full view in the plain below. The 3d Regiment was on the hill to the left of the 7th, the 2d and 8th h^.d gone down to the foot of the hill in rear of Cobb's mea, the 15th and od Battalion (James') which were transferred to our Brigade, were on the right, but not en- gaged, though the 15th was considerably exposed. The 7th was some- what protected by a natural depression in the ground, behind which they lay and fired. This depression protected the men from the front, but it sloped ofi" into a ravine on the right, up which the enemy's sharpshooters greatly annoyed the Regiment. Thus posted, the 7th shot over Cobb's men, raining their balls upon the ranks of the enemy, who were hurling column after column against the position, to be shattered and driven back in confusion under a blufl" near the edge of the city. Thus the battle raged, till darkness put an end to the dread- ful carnage. That night, Kershaw's Brigade, with the exception of the od, which had suffered dreadfully, relieved Cobb's, which had held the stone wall at the foot of the hill since the night of the 11th. Kershaw remained here till the morning of the 16th, when it was ascertained that the enemy had recrossed the river, leaving the plains literally covered with his dead — a just retribution upon the plundering thieves, who largely exercised their propensities while they occupied the city. Thus the grand Federal army of the Potomac, with Burn- side, the fourth valiant leader, in its fourth *' on to Richmond " met its fourth disastrous defeat. May God, who gave us the victory and who is the judge in our cause, continue to crown our efforts with success. The loss of the 7th Regiment was 65 killed and wounded. From the best information we could obtain, the enemy fought 48 regiments in front of the stone wall and the hill in rear of it, while we had in actual engagement at those points 3 brigades, viz : Cobb's, Kershaw's and a North Carolina Brigade, or a portion of it — about 12 regiments. A part of the time our batteries on the hill were firing, but the princi- pal work was done by the infantry. The citizens of Fredericksburg said that late in the evening, Mea- gher's Irish Brigade passed through the city going into the fight. They were greatly applauded and cheered as they went by the masses of skulking Yankees along the streets, saying, •' Here goes the rebel batteries, in 10 minutes the Irish Brigade will have them hills." Meagher made them a fiery war speech, at which they lustily huzzaed, telling them that all who had tried had failed, but he knew they could take them. The Irish, half drunk with liquor, flattered by the cow- ardly Yankees, and elated by the harangue af their leader, no doubt thought as they entered the plain, that they would see the '^rebels" running. It must be said in credit of their valor, or liquor possibly. 19 that a few of tliem came nearer than any others to our biitteries, sotod lay within 50 yards of our lines at the foot of the hill. The citizens say that about an hour after they passed through with such boastful threats, about 30 of them came running back, and the pontoon bridges were cut to stop them at the river. Out of the whole brigade only about 200 escaped unhurt. Their liquor had led them "into the ^'slaughter pen.'' May theirs be the fate of all +he beastly, drunken, thievish foreigners who pollute our Southern soil in company with their employers, the Yankees. \ '" m ^"^k m 'v ''■■'^A^ ^ ^ ^W. K -m m ^577 .5- UBKAHVO.CONGIS 000S3H7b575