The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-03-11
How the 23rd Passed the Winter Of
1S62.3-Hard Times Followed by De-
lightul Quarters Near Charleston.
BY A SPHOTT GUARD

HneQ Tie SorO lelL SulpeppeH VIC G"o "
ride on platform cars, which was by no
means comfortable. About half way between
Culpepper and Gordonsville we were caught
in heavy snow storm, and being so much
exposed we suffered very much from the in
tense and bitter cold Our torture IN this
biting cold, as it may be truthtully called,
was prolonged and increased by the locomo.
tive drawing the train Of cars becoming IN
some way out Of fix, which caused delay
of several hours. We tried to make tires,
but with very poor success: everything be.
ing wet and everything in shape OF tuel
scarce. After long time Of banning,
hammering, wrenching, and twisting the
old iron horse was pronounced better, and
after good feed Of wood and fire and 8
good supply Of water, we started again on
our way to Gordonsville. We were IN the
snow for several days, for the snow had fall.
en- to the depth Of seven or eight inches on
the level. The sun made its appearance the
next day, and though our surroundings
were disagreeable in many ways, yet with
all this the bright rays of the welcome sun
made our surroundings in other ways beau
tiful and agreeable. After few days rest
at Tarboro Evans's Brigade was ordered to
Kinston to defend the place from an appre.
hended attack of the Federals, then at and
in possession of New Burn.
TIE BATTLE OF K1NsToN.
On reaching Kinston the brigade was sta
toned in the near vicinity for about three
or four weeks. About the end Of. that time,
which was some time in December, the
Federals advanced to take Kinston. The
battle of Kinsron followed. After pretty
sharp and spirited engagement the FEEDER
ais were repulsed, and thinking now little
prudence the better part of valor, they re-
treated to New Berne. After this attempt
do not think the Federals ever again tried
to capture Kinston. The 23rd bore its share
of the brunt in this affair, and had several
killed and wounded. Among the killed Of
the 23rd was the Adjutant Of the Regiment.
Evanss Brigade remained at Klnston till
about February 1st. About this time the
order was to leaTe for Wilmington. 1t was
believed that the Federals had abandoned
the desire to possess Kinston, and were 60
ing to attempt the capture of Wilmington.
The FeGerals had made it q practice after
getting several thrashings through the sum
mer to sneak along some pant of the coast
and capture some unprotected point or
place by way of comfort to their dispi:ited
and hacked troops, and no doubt at this
time there was something Of this kind nee
essary, for the year 1862 had closed gloomily
to the Yankees and the arms of the delecta-
BILE Union. The capture of Wilmington at
that time w~uld have been of great impor-
lance to the Federals It was equally i'm.
portant to the Coniederates to prevent the
Federals from doing so. Wilmington was
port in which the Confederates received q
good deal ID the way of guns, blankets,
Shoes, &C., through blockade runners from
European powers, and for this as well as
many other reasons, it had to be guarded
and closely watched.
PLEASURES OF CAMP LIFE.
On reaching Wilmington the brigade was
ordered to locate o camp about fourteen
miles northeast of Wilmington. on the
road leading from Wilmington to Eew Berne
After reaching this place we received on,
tents, OF part Of them. The tents had
been left in Virginia when we left on the
march for Manassas, and had never caught
up with US till this time. Now things began
tc be o little more agreeable than for months
Duty was not very hard: cc.up and picket
duty was abou, ali. Active military opera
tons had about ceased il every quarter, and
the troops on both sides were now enjoying
winter quarters" We had to do picket
duty now by regiments, only leaving few
at camp to take care of things, or as some
of the boys used to jestingly remark, "keep
house." 1t was about uine miles from camp
to our point of picket duty. The distance
was great, and having to foot it, We would
stay two or three days at time. at this
place were several salt works, for it was a
place on the coast called Topsail Sound.
These salt works had to be guarded in Or
der to keep the Federals from landing in
barses and destroying them. Salt at that
time, as many of your readers will remem-
Der, was scarce and Of great value.
SHOOTING AT DUCKS WITH OLD MUskETs.
At Topsail Sound we enjoyed the duty
very much. Between this point and the
ocean were several creeks winding about
through the marsh. About two miles dis
tant was on island, where many would 60
to shoot ducks and to have sport generally.
We could reach this island through the
creeks. At the salt works were several
boats. These boats we would take and
make the trip to and from the island. This
island was not very large Eor very small
one; as the fellow says it was "betwixt and
between" This island was on the ocean,
and near the shore on the ocean side and in
the creeks running in its rear were the duck
haunts. On reaching the island we would
divide and 90 in several directions, and in
the course Of short while one would sup
pose that war had broken loose on the is
land. We had no guns, only our smooth
bore musketS, and our shot consisted only
of ounce musket balls, and that bling the
case there were not many ducks killed, but
a great deal of powder and ball thrown
away, and no doubt many ducks had their
lives scared nearly out of them. We could
use but one charge at q time in our muskets,
and it took mighty good shooting to kill a
duck with one of them, unless accidental.
To have used double charges to have more
killing power in the shape of balls would
have been dangerous, for there was as much
danger in one Of those old Confederate mus
kets overloaded behind as there was before
it. About now times were bully with US;
too much so to last long. 1t was not long
before we had to bid farewell to this kind
of fun and move again.
CO. AT BATTERY PALMER.
The next move brought US back eight
miles nearer to Wilmington. This camp
was about in the same direction from Will
mington (north-east) We remained here
about three weeks, when We moved again,
this time within two miles of Wilmington.
The 23rd remained near Wilmington until
the latter part of April. The brigade was
then ordered to South Carolina. Our desti-
nation was the grand old 'city by the sea. y
We reached Charleston about the first of
May, and remained a few days around and
near that city. Companies and F were
now detached from the regiment and sent
to points on Stono River. The point Co. F
was sent to I do not now remember. Co. I
was sent to Johns Island Ferry, to battery
of heavy artillery. The battery was known
as Battery Palmer, not far from the Charles
ton and Savannah Railroad, about nine
miles from Charleston. It had not been