The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-01-19


 paign. The sensation was a new onv though, and buoyed with the recent splen- did achievements of the army before Richmond, and at Cedar Run and Ma gave way to more pleasing convictions of victory and success. 1atter destroy ing the Cumberland and Ohio Canal. the march was again resumed, and al R o'clock on the night of the 9th of Sep teInber, 1t formed a junction with Gen. eral Jackson's forces about eleven miles from Frederick City; Arriving near Frederick City next day, the command went into camp and remained until 1t was necessary to make a movement to- wards Boonsboro. to cover the flank or Ferry. At Boonsboro. or South Noun tain, the regiment played an important tAe 14th of September. The brigade had I2th and 2Gth Colonel O'NeaD. on the right and the 9th and oth on the left of deep gorge in the mountain. The enemy advanced full division against these positions. and succeeded in turn ing and compelling the regiments on the left to give hack to avoid capture The position of those on the right Of the brigade was such, however, that theso regiments could hold their position until the enemy had gotten considerably on their left flank and rear. The fight made here was a stubborn and gallant one. and the men only fell back when overpow- cred and when the enemy had gained their rear so far as to make capture cer tain to those who attempted to hold this line. No panic was visible, but splendid resistance was made throughout the whole movement to the top of the mountain. Every man seemed to feel that the situation was precarious and desper.. ate, and the ground was only relinQuished to overwhelming numbers, inch by inch. Night put an end to the contest, and about F o'clock our troops were with drawn to concentrate on a more san guinary field at Sharpsburg. The regi- ment received a handsome compliment from the brigade commander in his re- pot of the battle of South Mountain.
 Up to this time nothing had been heard from General Jackson, and the position was interesting and delicate In the ex- treme. Runners were circulated freely that General McLaws had been forced from his position at Crampton's Gap. a pC.nt of great strategc importance tc General Lees immediate command. and to General Jackson in his operations been able to occupy this gap, he. could have easily thrown a large portion of his force between Generals Lee and Jackson, and pressing the former with the main body of his army from Boons- boro made the destruction of the two divisions a matter of easy accomplish ment. To add to this gloom and dis comfiture. scouts from the direction of sheppardstown and Hagerstown reported the capture of General James Long, streets ordnance train, by a body of cavalry from Harper's Ferry, and for a time the painful question of how to get out of Maryland. was the only one dis cussed. There was one, however. who. whatever may have been his inward thoughts, showed no outward signs Of misgivings or uneasiness, and 1t was mainly due to the calm and confident look of that good and great man, that the mere handful of men, worn down from fatigue and hunger. took heart again and showed themselves ready to follow where the trusty Lee might lead. General Longstreet brought up the rear on the ret: eat from Boonsboro. The forces had been withdrawing during the night, commenced leisurely pursuit Our line of battle was formed, and the noble Lee awaited his attack. In the cess at Harper's Ferry was announced, and part of the troops engaged at that point were hurried to the support Of his portion of the army.
 The general result is too well known to need recital again. Notwithstanding our troops were broken down and haif terrible and desperate struggle. and Mcclellan was content to permit General Lee to retire quietly and unmolested [ the Virginia banks of the Potomac. Ar ter the brilliant affair of Gen. A. r. Hill at Shepardstown, Va. on which the enemy were ambushed and badly used up, the army was withdrawn 70 Bunker Hin, central position between Martinsburg, Charleston and Winches- ter, from which point the troops were sent to destroy the Balti more and Ohio and Winchester and Harpers Ferry Railroads. Marches and counter marches were constantly made, taking the cir cuitous route to Berryville, Ashbys Gap, Paris, Manassas Gap and Front Royal. and Strasburg, back to Middletown. where the division encamped until the 18th of November. While at Middletown the brigade commander paid the regi- ment the handsome compliment of ap- pointing one of it's officers temporarily to the command of one of the regiments of the brigade for drill and instruction. and afterward placing all the officers and non-commissioned officers of the brig ade under his command for that pur pose.
 The enemy commenced massing at War renton but soon after changed his base to Fredelicksburg and 1t became neces- movement. Forced marches were made from the Valley to Gordonsyille, tths distance, 10l miles, being made in less than five days, thirty miles or which was over rough and mountainous roads). and afterwards the division was ordered to Port Royal via Orange c. II. and Fredericksburg.
 the regiment, with the rest of the brig ade, was moved back to Fredericksbutg to take part in the memorable battle at that place, and occupied the third, second and first lines of battle consec- utiVelY until the enemy retreated to his side of the Rappahannock. During the latter part of April, General Hooker imagined that he had been sent by special Providence to recover the laurel of Federal arms, which his unfortunate predecessor (Burnside) had per n:tted to drop in his hands. Demonstrations were made in heavy force opposite rreder1cks- burg, and on the 30th the Regiment was formed in line once more at Hamilton crossing. That night they were moved by the left flank, up the river, destined. in a few hours, to write in letters Of blood the brightest page ill the history Of the 3d Alabama. No regiment ever passed through an engag gement with more honor and credit, or won more universal praise than it did on the End and Sd Of May. It received high compliments rom Generals Jackson, Stewart and Ram three pieces of artile-y and two stands of coiors For the length of 1t, thls campaign is pronounced by many the seyerest of the war. The loss of The reg iment in the two days engageliit1lIs, was 4 killed and 125 wounded.
 On the 4th day of June the army was put in motion for the Pennsylvania cam paign. Resting d few days near CIl- pepper Court House, where q severe cavalry enga cement was tougnb iI pushed on towards the Shenandoah Val ley crossing the Blue Ridge at Front Royal and the regiment participated with the rest of the brigade in the blum dering operations against about 1900 men at BerryVille, and on the 18th against MartinsDurg, where a few prisoners and five pieces of artillery were captured by General Jenkins's cavalry. On the 18th inst. the division crossed the POto- mac for the second sime at Williams port and moved on Elagerstown, Md, Green Castle and. amDersburg, Pa, uyt,a hall made tO give inc rest