156 NortH Carotina Troops, 1861-’65.

so mountainous, and on the crest of a ridge the enemy had a
strong line of entrenchments heavily manned. General J stor
son and staff were sitting on their horses near my regiment's
position, watching the effect of the bombardment. A battery
of artillery on our right, I think it was Little Lattimore’s,
that was playing on the enemy’s line, limbered and galloped
to the front, took a new position on a hill in two or three
hundred yards of the enemy and fired as rapidly as I ever
saw artillery handled in my life. It was, in fact, an ar-
tillery charge. Presently we saw Jackson turn to his cour-
iers and speak a few words to them and immediately they
went galloping off to the different divisions. Our hearts
trembled. We knew the orders those couriers were carrying.
It was the order for a general and simultaneous charge all
along the line. The bristling line of bayonets behind strong
fortifications, was a dangerous thing to approach and we
knew that many of us would fall before we could hope to
seale its ramparts and beat back its defenders. But while
we were bracing our nerves in solemn dread for the deadly
encounter, a thing occurred that sent a thrill of joy to every
heart. On the enemy’s works, in plain view, was unfurled
and fluttered out in the breeze, the white flag of peace. The
enemy had surrendered. Cheer after cheer rent the air. We
had now accomplished the object of our recent campaign and
supposed we would go into camp and have a rest, but to our
surprise, three days’ rations were issued with orders to cook
them and be ready to march by 2 o’clock. Jackson did not
even take time to receive the surrender, but left that honor to
A. P. Hill, and when the sun went down on that victorious
day we were many miles away retracing our steps over the
same route we had come. We had been on a forced march
for some days and in line of battle all the night previous, fre-
quently shifting from one position to another, so that but lit-
tle sleep or rest could be obtained and now we had to march
all night, hastening to join Lee, who was in danger of being
attacked by the united armies of McClellan.

Two or three miles from the ford, near a small town ealled
Sharpsburg, we found the army in line of battle with the
sharpshooters of the two armies popping away at each other.

Twenty-First REGIMENT. 157

I soon found my regiment in line, taking what rest and sleep
they could, while awaiting the attack of the enemy. During
the remainder of the day there was very little fighting, both
armies maneuvering for position. That night we slept on
our arms in line of battle. We were so exhausted, not having
camped for three or four days and nights previous, that as
soon as we could get still we were asleep, depending on the
sharpshooters in front to apprise us of the approach of the
enemy. Next morning we repulsed an assault by the enemy
in heavy force. After waiting for some time and seeing
no disposition on the part of the enemy to make a fur-
ther advance upon us, who rather seemed to enjoy standing
there and shooting at us while we lay still and took it with-
out molesting them, we concluded to take part in the play.
We had a decided advantage of position, in that we were
lying flat behind a fence and could not be seen, while they
stood upright in the open ground and could be seen from
their feet up, giving us their full length at which we could
take deliberate and careful aim. The distance between us
was about 300 yards, which is close and easy range for the
good Enfield rifles with which we were now armed. When
the “Ready” came, every man lying flat on his stomach, with
the muzzle of his gun through the crack of the fence, took
careful aim and when the order “Fire” rang out on the air,
a sheet of flame shot out from the fence up and down its
entire length, and a line of bullets on the wings of lightning
sped over the bosom of the field on their hurried mission of
death. When the smoke lifted, which it quickly did, it could
be plainly seen that the line, so dark and full when our
fingers pressed the triggers, was now full of long, open gaps,
and staggering under the shock of the fire.

Then came the order “Forward, charge!””? Over the fence
we sprang and raising the yell, as the enemy called it, went
at them with all speed.

In this charge the Color-Sergeant, whose name was Ryer-
son, I think, did a heroic thing. Iam sorry I cannot be pos-
itive about his name, as he was a member of another com-
pany. He ran ahead of the advancing line to within 100
yards of the enemy’s line of battle (which had been rein-