192 Norra Carotina Troops, 1861-’65.

miles from the Junction. The three companies left at
Garysburg under Major Christie, broke camp there on 5
August, and after a few days delay in Richmond wait-
ing for transportation, rejoined us here. or several weeks
encamped at this place, the regiment suffered exceedingly
from the diseases which then, and even now, seem unescapa-
ble by the unseasoned soldier. By the surgeon’s statement,
the sick call at one time numbered 240, 57 of the cases being
typhoid fever. The mortality was large.

After spending several weeks here our first march was
made to Camp Ellis, five miles distant, where we remained six
weeks. Near here, at Sangster’s Cross Roads, our first picket
duty was performed. A little later at Mason’s Hill the
whole regiment went on its first picket. 17 September
we pitched camp and began a long stay at Union Mills. Near
here, on Bull Run, we built log huts and went into winter
quarters in December, where we remained with only such
changes in position as the exigencies of the situation in out-
post and picket duty required. This gave us an opportunity
to enjoy the boundless hospitality of the people of this part
of Virginia, upon whom the iron hand of the war was soon
to fall with such crushing weight.

Meantime the regiment had been brigaded with the Fifth
North Carolina “State Troops,” Colonel Duncan K. McRae;
the Twentieth Georgia, Colonel Smith; the Twenty-fourth
Virginia, Colonel Jubal A. Early; and the Thirty-eighth
Virginia, Colonel Jubal Earles. Colonel Early being the
ranking officer, he was placed in command, and subsequently
commissioned Brigadier-General. General Earl Van Dorn
commanded the division, General Beauregard the corps, Gen-
eral Joseph E. Johnston the army. The army was then known
as the Army of the Potomace—later upon the abandonment
of that line of defense, as the Army of Northern Virginia.
Tn the fall and winter of 1861, many changes took place in
the Line Officers of the regiment.

The winter was a severe and trying one. After January
1, 1862, snow, hail, sleet or rain fell almost every day. Fre
quently all fell the same day. War doffed her holiday mask
worn during the tramping from camp to camp, and from

TWENTy-THIRD REGIMENT. 1938

picket to picket post in the splendid weather of the past Au-
tumn. Such duties now imposed hardships of a serious and
often dangerous nature. Not yet hardened to endure all
things, as in time they were, the men suffered intensely from
exposure. Great was the mortality from pneumonia, typhoid
fever and other diseases.

THE RETREAT FROM MANASSAS,

The early spring of 1862 found the Confederate army
along Bull Run and north of that stream, less than 50,000
strong. The Federal hosts under McClellan, confronted it
over 100,000 strong. Before the opening of Spring rendered
military operations feasible on a large scale, General John-
ston decided to withdraw from his exposed position to a
stronger line south of the Rappahannock. There he would
also be in better position to meet and check any advance of

the enemy whether direct or circuitous, as subsequently

proved.

The beginning of the retrograde movement found the regi-
ment on picket duty at Burke’s Station, on the Orange and
Alexandria Railroad, and in close proximity to the enemy
who were encamped in the neighborhood of Alexandria and
Springfield. The old camp on Bull Run was abandoned
8 March. We moved out at daylight, throwing away
tents and camp equipage; sum total of the first day’s
march one and a half miles, progress being checked by con-
fusion of orders. Early was now acting as Major-General,
in command of the Fourth division.

Not until sunset of the 9th, did the grand column move
again, reaching Manassas Junction that night. The last we
saw of the famous stone bridge across Bull Run, it was in
flames. Strictly speaking, stone bridge was a misnomer, all
but the abutments being of wood. An immense amount of
property was destroyed as the necessity of change of base
to the Peninsula was now anticipated. A very carnival, re-
strained to some extent by the military discipline, reigned
that night at the junction. The soldiers got rich with plur-
der. Depots of supplies and the express office were fired.

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