Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 27.djvu/57

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Henrico Southern Guard, Hcnrico; Company H, Young Guard, city; Company I, Hanover Grays, Hanover.

Having lost its colonel (T. P. August, wounded) and major (John Stewart Walker, killed at Malvern Hill), the regiment recruited and reorganized, broke camp on August 30, 1862, near Culpeper Court- house, and started on its eventful march for the first invasion beyond the Potomac.

On August 3ist we bivouacked at Fauquier White Sulphur Springs, September ist, at Gainesville, September 2d, at Bull Run, September 3d, at Leesburg, and September 6th, we crossed the Potomac by fording the river up to our breast. September 7th, we bivouacked near Frederick City, Md., and on the loth passed through the city. Many "rebel" flags were displayed from windows and housetops. We did not see or hear of any Federal flags, nor the notorious and much-talked-of Barbara Freitchie. September nth we crossed South mountain, within six miles of Harper's Ferry, and on the 1 2th, 1 3th, and i4th, we were kept busy beating back the enemy sent to the relief of Harper's Ferry. On the isth that town surren- dered, our prizes being 12,737 men, 47 cannon, 24 mounted howitzers, large quantities of small arms, ammunition, horses, and ambulance and quartermaster's stores. The last were very much needed, as our army was much in want of shoes and underwear.

September i6th, after paroling the prisoners, we took up our march back into Virginia, with full stomachs. After a long and tedious march, we bivouacked late at night near Shepherdstown. On the 1 7th the bugle called us before day, and a forced march was begun for the Potomac, which we reached about sunrise hungry and tired, and having a cold stream to wade. The enemy's guns at Sharpsburg could be distinctly heard at that early hour, D. H. Hill, with bulldog tenacity, holding McClellan in check while Longstreet and Jackson were coming to his aid.

It took us only a few hours to reach our position under Jackson, on the extreme left of the line, and just at a time when that part of the line had commenced to give way before greatly superior numbers. In our immediate front the enemy were driven back over half a mile, after a fight of nearly two hours, and the expenditure by us of nearly every cartridge; but it was a dearly bought victory, for our little command sustained a greater loss that day than any other in the army. It went into action under the command of Captain E. M. Morrison, of Company C, the only field officer being still absent on account of wounds. The regiment was much depleted, and was also