Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 29.djvu/262

 246 Southern Historical Society Papers.

Baltimore City Guard Battalion, one of the best known military commands in the United States, and after four years' drilling and instruction he was well fitted for the duties of a soldier and an officer in field service. His company, with others, having been sent to Harper's Ferry, Va., to aid in subduing John Brown's murderous raid, in October, 1859, they closed upon the United States Marines who battered down the door of Brown's "Fort" and rushed in, Goldsborough and another of his company were the first militiamen to enter with the marines.

In May, 1861, Goldsborough, in his thirtieth year, enlisted as a private in Captain E. R. Dorsey's company in the First Maryland Infantry. In June following he was elected captain of Company ' 'A' ' to succeed Captain Bradley T. Johnson, promoted to Major, serving thus until the muster out of the regiment, August 17, 1862, partici- pating in both the campaigns in the Valley of Virginia, i. <?., in 1861 under General Joseph E. Johnston, and in 1862 under Stonewall Jackson; also in the First Manassas battle and campaign in 1861 and in the Seven Days Battles below Richmond, in June and July, 1862. Near Front Royal, Va., during the battle on May 23d, 1862, he had the singular privilege of capturing his brother Charles and sending him to the rear with the other prisoners. The fight was 'between First Maryland Confederate and First Maryland Federal, and the latter was badly defeated, most of them were captured, although out- numbering their antagonist nearly three to one. So much for the genuine article versus the spurious.

Stonewall Jackson on his march to Pope's rear at Manassas, in August, 1862, placed Colonel Bradley T. Johnson in command of Jones' brigade in the Stonewall division (General Jones being dis- abled.) Colonel Johnson put Captain Goldsborough in command of the 48th Virginia Regiment (the ranking officer present for duty being a captain) and made Captain G. W. Booth his brigade-adju- tant. Booth was a typical young officer and had been adjutant of the First Maryland. At Second Manassas this brigade, reduced to about 800 effectives, for nearly two days fought desperately and heroically at the railroad cut against Fitz John Porter's Corps, holding its ground to the end, repulsing many attacks in heavy force and often making counter charges. It was truthfully said that the air was thick with leaden hail. When physical endurance and cartridges alike were nearly exhausted, Captain Booth providentially discovered General Fender's brigade moving to the firing, when that gallant officer promptly reinforced Colonel Johnson's decimated but invinci-