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

sequently being commissioned as Brlga-
der General In the fall and winter OF
1861 numerous changes in the officers or
the line of the regiment had taken place,
which perhaps it is not material to note
in detail. The winter was a severe one,
and great was the mortality among the
troops from pneumonia, typhoid fever,
and other diseases. The old camps were
a bandoned on the Sth of March, go, and
at daylight the regiment moved out,
throwing away tents and camp equip
page: sum total of first days march, one
and a half miles from starting point,
progress being checked by confu-
sion of orders. Early was now
acting as Major General, in command OF
the fourth division. Not until sunset OF
the 9th, did the grand column move again,
reaching Manassas Junction that night.
An immense amount of property was de-
stroyed as the army, commanded by Cen
eral Joseph e. Johnston, was to change
base to the Peninsula. A very carnival,
restrained to some extent by the power
of military discipline, reigned that night
at the Junction. The soldiers got rich
with plumber; depots of supplies and
the express office were fired and barrels
of whiskey opened at the head, poured
their contents in streams upon the
ground A rough soldier was observed
with six canteens of whiskey around his
neck and, as if he 'wept such waste to
see," actually wading IN puddle Of the
stuff while in a ditty, tuneless but gay,
he whistled his regrets over departed
spirits.
Our army at Manassas, numbering less
than $4,000, was confronted by host OF
more than 100000. General Mcclellan.
styled through the favoring pride of his
friends 'the Little Napoleon" fell upon
the expedient Of transferring his troops
by the way Of sthe Potomac and Chesa
peake Bay to Yorktown, anticipating an
easy victory over the small army Of Ma
gruder. and then ION to Richmond by
the Peninsular route. This move ON the
part Of Mcclellan. though conducted in
great secrecy. was not long hidden from
the Eagle eye Of Johnston; hence the
retreat from Manassas, and his resolve
to reinforce Magruder and take command
of the entire force at Yorktown. With
! the other commands the regiment reach
( ed Yorktown on the Sth of April. '62,
a stop having been made on the south side
of the Rappahannock of several weeks
dura ton to await the full development of
McClellan's plans. At Yorktown the
trying duty of service in the trenches be-
gan. On the 18th, after nine days behind
the breastworks, the boys had their first
experience with cannon balls and bomb
shells. The picket line was situated be-
tween opposing batteries, three-fourths of
mile part, and more than one shell
exploded in uncomfortable proximity TO
them. When the first shot was fired di-
rect at the position occupied by the 23rd
regiment, the writer was on duty in the
rifie-pits as sergeant in command, some
200 yards in front of our breastworks
| Well is remembered the sensation pro-
duced by the first shell that famed the
cheeks Of We innocent braves who occu-
pied those rifie-pits, and particularly the
moving effect wrought upon certain
tonguetied individual whose department
now, as contrasted with previous preten-
sions, presented striking consistency
with the spirit of the ancient ballad:
"Naught to him possesses greater charms
Upon a Sunday or holiday,
Than snug chat of war and wars
| alarms
While people fight in Turkey. far away"
for, with a precipitate bound, the tongue
tied warrior made tracks for the breast
works exclaiming, in answer to remon-
strances and threats of court martial
Dam Fl come ere to be hulled out this
| way when | can't see who's a shootin
at me"-using the term hulled instead
| of shelled as synonymous, though he
hardly thought of it at the time. At a
| period little later in the service, such
conduct would have been most severely
| punished but it is not remembered il
Dam 'f' got more than a sharp repri-
mand and orders for an immediate return
to his post. If he ever afterwards finch
| ed we were not informed of it. He was
killed at Gettysburg. The term of SER
| vice at Yorktown was not all irksOme,
nor was it unmarked by occasional di-
version from the treadmill routine Of
duty About the quaint old town were
| many points OF interest that awakened
patriotic contemplation. Soldiers would,
as relaxation from duty permitted, repair
to the spot, marked by marble slab and
a half mile from the town. where Corn
wallis gave up his sword to Washington;
and, standing on the consecrated ground,
they would breathe the prayer that here
may Americas second revolution, as did
the first, have an ending-but alas, even
then, as il in derision of prophecy and
hope, there hung upon the horizon
rloud-not yet compare lively bigger than
mans hand, but which was destined to
increase, in proportions and intensity,
end ere long to burst and scatter destruc-
non and death over all the land! On
the night Of the 3rd Of May, Yorktown
WIS evacuated. Twelve miles out in the
suburbs OF the ancient town Of Williams
burg, the battle Of the 9Th Of May occur
red, rendered necessary by the too eager
pursuit Of the enemy. From a point ON
tho road several miles beyond the town,
towards Richmond, Early's brigade
n"w composed Of the 9Th and 23rd N. c..
re 24th Va. and the 2nd Florida battal-
ion-was ordered back to aid Longstreet
IN resisting the furious attack. At the
'1oment OF our reaching the field the
cody drama was going ON in full view
of the town. Much was said at the time.
md afterwards, OF the part the 23rd
regiment took in that battle. The writer
con only give facts from a personal
standpoint, as recalled by him, private
fhpD in ra u1yS conscious tnn ~ Iiohl.