The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-02-04
The 23rd S. c. Volunteers in Virginia
in 1852.
By 4 SpEoTT GUARD.

after the battle Of Scccssicnville (my frs
battle), I received q transfer from. Co. G
9th Regt. Gist's Brigade, S. G. Vols, thel
ct SecesSionville, to Co. I, 23rd Regt., Ev
ans's Brigade, S. c. Vols, then at Wappo'
Cut. al on James Island. Eyans's Brigad'
consisted of the 18th, 18th, 22nd, and 23rt
Regis, and the Holcombie Legion, all S. G
Volunteers.
On the 18th Of July the. brigade received
marching orders for Virginia, and aftel
some little preparation the 23rd struck tent:
and were soon in line for Charleston. We
reached Charleston about the middle of the
afternoon, and marched to the Citade.
Green, where We remained until the ne1t
evening.
On the evening of the 10Th we marched tc
the depot, reaching there about sunset
About dark we boarded the train, and after
an all nights travel in box cars reached Co.
lumbia about o'clock on the Goth. We re-
maired in Columbia until the next evening
then at about D. o'clock we left Columbia,
and our next stop was at Charlotte, n. c.,
and after drawing and cooking rations we
left for Raleigh. From Raleigh to Weldon,
thence to Petersburg. and lastly to Rich
mond. We reached Richmond Sunday ev.
enlng the 9th. On reaching Richmond we
marched to the fair grounds where we re-
mained few days, and then took up the
line of march to place known as Taylor S
Farm, about nine miles from Richmond
near the james River. We remalnefat this
point about two or three weeks.
While at this place the Federals from Har.
rison's Landing made sally and captured
Malvern Hill, about nine miles southeast
from where we were camped. AS soon as
the capture of this place was known Evans's
Brigade was ordered to recapture Malvern
Hill The 23rd was promptly in line, with
Col. II. L. Benbow commanding the regl'
ment. We left for Malvern Hill lmmedl-
ately after receiving orders to move, taking
the turn pike leading from the vicinity OF
our camp to the point needed. arriving near
Malvern quite late in the day. 1t was late
when We received orders to move, and I'M
metllately after reaching the desired locality
the 23rd was ordered to deploy as skirmlsh-
ers and move forward. Leaving the turn
pike in our rear we marched across an open
field 10 piece of woods that was not more
than two hundred yards from where the
regiment was formed as skirmishers.
FIGHT N PROSPECT.
About the time or just before we reached
the woods Gen. Evans rode down the lie In
our front and said to us: Boys, you will
find the enemy Just before you in the woods
there" pointing to the woods. AS we were
about to enter it began to be amusing. The
men were cautioned to be quietand advance
cautiously, so that when We found the enc
my we would be prepared against being
thrown in confusion by his fire, but 1t was
10 use. The boys would have their sport
ont of each otler, laughing and making fun
at each others awEwarlness. This was the
first battle for the 23rd. The Federals no
doubt thought from the fuss that Lees whole
army was coming. We moved rs fast as we
could under the circumstances, the woods
being very rough, and reached the Opposite
side of the woods at the foot OF Malvern
Hill lust about dark. While waiting for
flrtber orders we discovered that the Fed
erals had evacuated the hill, and had retired
with all speed to their gun-boats then on the
James River at Harrison's Landing. The
commotion among them could be easily
guessed by the noise they were making get
ting their artillery and wagons away. The
nearest we came to seeing Yankee was q
cartridge box and a cap, and that was about
midway between where we entered the
woods and the base of the hill on the other
side of the woods. The Federals must cer-
tainly have had advanced posts of pickets in
these woods After reaching the hill and
while while waiting for something else to
turn up dark came upon us, and dark 1t was.
AN ALL NIGHT MARCH.
While at this point and moving about in
the dark we stumbled occasionally on the
body of dead man, and the stencil was
great and sickening. Tie weather was very
warm, and it did not take decomposition
LONG to set in. The bodies whether Confed-
crates or Federals we could not tell, owing
to the darkness of the night. In all prob
ability it was the bodies of both.
After being satisfied that it was not nee
essary to remain where We were Col. Ben bow
gave the order to about face aud try and
reach the place where we entered the woods
In trying 70 make our way out OF the woods
we became bcwildered, owing to the dark
ness. The regiment became separated OF
divided into two parts, one part under Col
Benbow and the other under Lleut.-Col
Roberts. We rambled about for some time
trying to find our way out OF the woods
The part the Lieut-Col was with ] believe
in the course OF the night reached the main
road leading to CT in the direction of Har
risons Landing. Col. Benbow's part of the
regiment, the part the writer was with, die
not get out of the woods till daylight, anc
the regiment did not get together until after
sunrise. After Col Benbow's detachment
reached the other detachment at the road
already mentioned we remained there unit
about sunset, when we formed and made
our way back to our camp. We remained
few DAYS at this camp, when We again re
ceived marching orders. The order came *
march to Richmond.
On reaching Richmond we found we were
to JOIN Longstrcct's Division. then up o
Gordonsville. We reached Richmond some
time in the night as well as l remember
and the next day We took the cars for Cor
louisville, said to be ninety miles from Rich
mond. After reaching Gordonsville we re
manned there about Il day, when we set ou
to join Longstreet's Division. At this plac'
Evans Brigade got together again for tn
first time since our little fun at MalverI
llill, and afterwards continued together as
brigade. Having joined Longstreet's Di
vision at this place it was but q short time
before the whole division was in motion t.
reinforce "Stonewall" jackson who was theI
trying to catch Pope, the great gasconale o
lankeedom. Having given him drubbln|
at Cedar Run a few days before he was itch
ing to get chance at him again. Pope wa
falling back to Manassas, and jackson wa
keeping as close him as he could, trying t
force linn to make stand, but the Federal
made no stand Of much importance till the
reached Manassas. Leaving Gordonsvill
the 23rd with the rest Of the division wa
making good time, and it was thought tha
Pope would be forced to give battle, bu
that hope OF all the Yankee land vas no
ready to measure arms with the Confederate
vet