Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 23.djvu/140

 134 Southern Historical Society Paper*.

yards from our halting-place and unlimbered, so as to withdraw the attention of the enemy for a while. Several shots were fired at them by our one gun, and they saved us, no doubt, from some loss. As it was, our guns and wagons were got into line of march without damage, but just as the gun which had been firing was limbered up in order to join the rest 01 the battery, and as Corporal Macon (who had charge of the detachment, which had been Sergeant Paxton's, ) had mounted his horse, a solid shot from the enemy's gun struck the horse just behind the saddle, causing the gallant Corporal to dismount in a speedy and disorderly manner, but he halted the driver of the gun till he could secure the saddle and bridle of the dead horse.

The battery fell back a few miles and went into camp, and re- mained near Strasburg several days. About the 2yth it fell back as far as Rude's Hill, where it remained for the most part till about the middle of April, occasionally marching northward, and engaged in picket duty. While at Rude's Hill, we were joined, on March 28th, by John R. Hummerickhouse, Ed. H. Hyde, Robert E. Lee, Jr., Arthur Robinson, and March 3ist, by Francis T. Herndon.

About April 2oth, the battery arrived at the western entrance to Swift Run gap, at the foot of the Blue Ridge, having left the pike near Harrisonburg, and passed by McGaheysville road around the southern end of Massanutton mountain.

The weather was typical spring weather, except the sunshine. In- stead of sunshine and showers, we had snow-storms and showers, and spent several nights, without tents, sleeping on rail-piles to keep out of the mud and water. This stopping-place, or camp, near Swift's Run gap, was between the Shenandoah river and the Blue Ridge. We were in a plowed field and near an old barn, the roof of which let water through like a sieve. An old tan-house, some hundred yards from our barn, offered some shelter, but unpleasant odors.

Whilst here, the time expired for which the company had enlisted, and as the law then stood, the men supposed they could go home if so disposed. The Confederate Government had, however, taken all the State troops in hand, and whilst it would not let the men go, ordered that they should reorganize and hold elections of their com- missioned officers. On April 22d, therefore, pursuant to orders from General Jackson, the company was reorganized under conduct of Captain McLaughlin, and the number of men in the company was reduced to one hundred and fifty. The surplus of men were trans-