Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 13.djvu/208

 Official Reports of the Battle of Gettysburg. 207

Ford, which, from the swollen condition of the stream, was attended with considerable difficulty and some danger, and encamping a short distance beyond. Our regiment lost 2,370 rounds of ammunition by the fording. On Sunday, 2ist. we were put in motion at 4 P. M., and marched rapidly across the river, back to the top of the Gap, and formed into line of battle to repel a threatened attack from cavalry. In this position we remained with the other regiments of the brigade until 3 P. M. of the 22d, when we returned to our camp. On the 24th of June we took up the line of march from Berry's Ford, pass- ing through Berryville and encamping for the night at Summit Point, on the Harpers Ferry and Winchester railroad. Early the next day we were upon the march, passing through Smithfield and Martinsburg, and encamping one mile beyond the latter place. On the 26th we moved on the Williamsport road, fording the Potomac in a rain at that point, passing through Williamsport, Maryland, and encamping for the night a short distance beyond. At daylight on the 27th we were again en route, passing through Hagerstown, Mary- land, as early as 6 A. M, reached and passed through Green Cas- tle, Pennsylvania, encamping for the night five miles in rear of Cham- bersburg, Pennsylvania.

June 28th. On the march this morning at a later hour than usual, passing through and encamping just beyond the limits of the town. A portion of the 29th was spent in tearing up and burning the railroad track at that place. Leaving this point on the morning of the 3Oth of June, we entered and moved along the pike leading from Chambers- burg to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, encamping at the village of Fay- etteville. At 9 P. M. of the same day our regiment and the Seventh South Carolina were ordered off on picket duty at New Guilford, remaining until relieved next day by General Law, of Hood's di- vision. On the first day of July we took up the line of march for Gettysburg, crossing the mountain gap after nightfall and resting a few hours on the edge of the battlefield where General Hill had en- gaged the enemy that day. At an early hour on the morning of the 2d of July we were moved forward to take up position in line of battle. We moved to the right of the turnpike some distance, and when at Bream's Hotel (afterwards our hospital), on the road lead- ing from Gettysburg to Fairfield, we were countermarched nearly to the pike that we had left early in the morning, to gain the cover of a range of hills, where we again moved by the right flank to a position one and a half miles in front of the hotel above mentioned. At 3 P. M. our artillery opened upon the enemy's position, at the foot of