The Robesonian., 1917-09-20
MEMORIES OF THE CIVIL WAR
The Battle of Sharpsburg
(Rv SNYDER)

(By SNYDER)
Written for The Robesonian.
About this time in September, 55
wears ago, I was a unit in the bat
tie Of Sharpsburgh. After the sew
en-days' fight around Richmond the
24th N. C. was sent to reinforce Gen.
Lee in his Maryland campaign. .,
how the years dim ones recollec-
tions of the past! I remember we
waded the Potomac singing "Mary-
land, My Maryland''. After some
time we crossed it again at place
called the Point Of Rocks and hurried
to the reduction of Harper's Ferry.
At the crossing of Point of Rocks,
after a long march, We were all
wearied and tired, and in crossing |
stepped in hole and lost my gun.
didn't look for it much, for | was
tired and didn't care much if l did
+ lose it, when up steps one Of those
busybodies who are never hungry OF
tired and insisted that he could find
it, which he finally did; and if l had
had the power l would have made
him carry it the balance Of the
march.
There was fine orchard at Point
= of Rocks and we Jared well during
the night. Next morning We took
up our line of march for Harper S
Ferry. In crossing the Shenandoah
river, We found a considerable diff
ference of temperature fom that of
the Potomac.
On the road to the Ferry I thought
it Was the most beautiful country |
l. i RI g
camping in the vicinity Of the ferry
as we foraged in the neighborhood
, I'd never, with the exception of our
home girls, met with as lovely Set;
and l there resolved that when this
! cruel war was over ard l wanted a
wife, I intended coming to this Sec
tion to try my luck in the matrimon-
ial market.
Now crossing the Potomac for the
third time, we bent our way to the
field of Sharpsburgh. At a spring
when 1 went for water, met GU
rious kind Of fellow who belonged
j to the 24th Virginia regiment, who
! insisted that neither of us would be
in the next days battle, because
might search history and there was
never known Oath regiment to be
in a battle. 1 never knew how the
oath Virginia behaved themselves
that day, but I know that we were
in it knee deep.
Early next morning we were align
ed for battle, at some distance from
the village, yet it was past moor
time before we heard any noise O.
the battle by the hilly construction
of the country. At a double quicl
we started for the fray. A fellow
joined US on the march and he was
just spelling for a fight, cursing thu
Yankees for all he was worth, bu
at the first booming of a shell, ht
took for the woods. In the confus
ion of the fray We soon lost sight O.
him.
We were ordered to charge a bat
terry at double quick, and we wer.
only protected from their fire bv a,
intervening hill, behind which wv
crouched, but the noise Of those soli
shot entering that hill sounds in m,
ears to this day. After while W.
got clear of that battery and tool
them in the rear. We charged III
to fence behind which the enem,
| We're posted, and soon dislodge
them.
= We are often asked if we thin
that We killed any Yankees durin
the war. That's hard to tell. A
we charged up to the fence the Yank
broke and ran. I was on our ez
treme right, and as l thrust my gu
thru the fence, saw a fellow leis
uIrely trotting off, SO I put my gu
through a crack of the fence an
took a deliberate aim, and as tn
gun fired he dropped his musket an
! got a new move on himself. That
all | know about it.
Then a battery began to she'll u
we fell down in the ravine. In tn
shelling, one of our company we
struck by a piece of a she'll an
ted, two days afterwards. Tn
wound up our participation in tn;
nattle. We remained on the fie
the next day, and withdrew aero,