The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-11

right to oppose Gen. Hills advance
the fire from the gun-boats in the river
at the same time being directed so as to
guard against probable approach upon
their left The first line was broken and
gave way before the daring troops Of
Hills division; but, not being properly
supported to meet the accommodating odds
against them, the position gained had
to be abandoned. Magruder's attack
upon the enemy's left was not made I'M
til near the close of the day; and, though
desperate efforts We're made at this point
to break the Federal line, no material
advantage had been gained when dark
ness closed the struggle. The brave Con-
federates had been bafhed, but not beaten.
Resting upon their arms that night, they
intended to renew the attack next morn
ing, but during the night the enemy had
stolen away, leaving the dead and
wounded on the field. They had sought
and found protection under a powerful
fleet Of gun-boats at Harrison's Landing,
and this closed the series of "Seven Days
! Battles Around Richmond" The greatest
loss sustained by the 23rd in the seven
days Of fighting, was at Malvern Hill.
According to Capt. Cole, of Co. d, the
number OF killed in this battle was about
thirty; the Roster" records the loss not
so large; the number of wounded, by
Capt. Cole, was estimated at about 75.The
number of the regiment engaged in this
closing fight was between $50 and 175,
officers and privates. Serg't Maj. W. f.
Gill. of Granville, was killed at Malvern
Hill; Capt Cole of Co. d, and Lieut.
Munday, of tx" were wounded, Adj
jutant Turner, Of Granville, was wound
e din the fight at Gaines's Mill, and Capt.
Young, of the same county, wounded at
Malvern Hill After Malvern Hill sew
eral weeks OF quiet were passed near
Richmond No further movement was
attempted by Mcclellan on the Peninsula
The next movement of the Washington
Government was to appoint John Pope,
the man who had always seen only the
backs of his enemies" to take command
Of the army. With a flourish Of
trumpets'' he began his preparations OF
threatening Richmond from the north,
which change of tactics was promptly
apprehended by General Lee. OF Jack
sons flank movement, by which he
managed to strike Pope at a point where
he least expected, and after sanguinary
conflict at Cedar Run, put him to flight,
]
many prisoners, it is unnecessary to
speak. This initiatory victory over Pope
led to active measures in Washington
to concentrate all the available Federal
force on the upper Rappahannock with
which to reinforce Pope. Meanwhile,
General Lee. leaving d. II. Hills divi-
sion behind to watch the movements Of
Mcclellan, marched on the 18th of Au
~, - HoI, zof
for Gordonsville, north of Richmond.
Hill'scommand followed in the latter part
of August, consequently reaching
/ Manassas in time only to view the green
plains strewn with the blue and gray
dead, the living Federals having fled in
confusion towards Washington. Such was
the situation which marked the result
of the three days fighting known as
Second Manassas" Maryland, My
Maryland" With what bounding hearts
did our boys climb up the opposite shores
of the Potomac, looking confidently for
the support and encouragement OF the
Maryland people,. but alas, such hopes
were doomed to disappointment!
The army rested at Frederick City,
Md, from the 9th until the 10th Of Sep
tember. The first engagement on Mary
land soil was at South Mountain Gap,
on the main road from Frederick City
| to Boonsborough, along which the Fed
eral army was directing its march. Here
| ID. II. Hills division. on the 18th success
! fully held in check the main body Of Nc
| Clelan's army thus enabling Jackson to
march to the Virginia side and capture
Harpers Ferry, while Lee was conduct
ing his troops preparatory to the coming
struggle at Sharpsburg. In the action
at South Mountain, known in Southern
history as the battle of BOonsborough,
the Twenty-Third Regiment bore a
prominent part, and it was in this fight
that General Garland-the brigade com
mander-was killed. 1t is well to recur
to the report of this battle, as furnished
by General d. II. Hill to the Century
Magazine of May, 1886, for facts and OBJ
servations. We quote:
I'm the retirement of Lees army from
Frederick to Hagerstown and Boons
borough, my division constituted the
rear-guard. 1t consisted of five brigades
| (Wise's brigade being left behind) and
after the arrival at Boonsborough, was
intrusted with guarding the wagon trains
and packs Of artillery belonging to rne'
whole army"
1t was to save Lees trains and artil-
lery that the battle was fought, and not
to prevent the advance Of Mcclellan, as
was believed in the North from an ex-
aggerated idea about the number of Con-
federates engaged. General Hill says:
my division was very small and was
embarrassed with the wagon trains and
artillery of the whole army, save such
as Jackson had taken with him.. 1t must
be remembered that the army now before
Mcclellan had been constantly marching
and fighting since the 25th Of June. 1t
had fought McClellan's army from
Richmond to the James, and then turn
ed round and fought Pope's army rein
forced by McClellan's, from
the Rapidan to the Potomac.
The order excusing bare
footed men from marching into Maryland
had sent thousands to the rear. Divisions
had become smaller than brigades were
when the fighting first began; brigades
had become smaller than regiments and