Sieh te ae iRe nat ennai are | | | i | 222 Norra Carotina Troops, 1861-65. to reach the crest and dominate the place. Venturing through the opening, he at once became their target and was shot down. The arrival of reinforcements late in the day enabled Hill, by desperate fighting, to hold Fox’s and Turner’s Gap till dark, as Crampton Gap, to the south, had been held. Under cover of night all three gaps were evacuated and the Confed- ate forces concentrated on Sharpsburg, whither Jackson hast- ened on the fall of Harper’s Ferry. DR. JOURDAN, ASSISTANT SURGEON. When the enemy at last succeeded in getting in on our left flank and cutting us off from the other regiments of the bri- gade, Dr. Jourdan was so near the firing line that he was not recognized as a “non-combatant,” and was deliberately shot down. He was a native of Roxboro, Caswell County, N. C.; was most highly esteemed as a gentleman and an efficient of- ficer, always kindly and considerate of the sick and wounded. On the march, when the ambulance was filled with the sick, he often gave up his horse to disabled men and marched on foot himself. The whole regiment were greatly devoted to him. THE BATTLE OF SHARPSBURG, OR ANTIETAM. Jackson captured Harper’s Ferry 15 September, and by forced marches joined Lee, with most of his forces, at Sharpsburg on the 16th. McClellan advanced and threw part of his command over the Antietam Creek that night. The battle joined at daylight of the 17th. And in that bloody Wednesday was crowded more desperate fighting and more carnage than the New World had ever seen in one day. Retreating along the Boonsboro road, we reached the field early on the morning of the 15th, with the enemy close behind us as we crossed the bridge over Antietam Creek. We at once took position along the ridge and in an open field. The Twenty-third regiment was here able to muster but few men, many being barefoot and absolutely unable to keep up in the forced marches over rough and stony roads. The brigade TweEnTy-THIRD REGIMENT. 223 which since Garland’s fall, had been under the command of Colonel McRae, of the Fifth, went into action with Colquitt’s brigade in the Confederate center, and were advancing in perfect steadiness under a heavy artillery fire from the oppo- site hills, till the unaccountable “run back” occurred. This happened as follows: The Federals advanced against us in dense lines through a corn field, which concealed the uniforms, though their flags and mounted officers could be seen plainly above the corn tassels. As the blue line became more distinct, approaching the edge of the corn field, which brought it in our range, we commenced to fire and effectively held it in check. But some of Early’s men, who had come from the corn field, begged us not to fire, saying that their men were in our front. Some one in a regiment to the right of us also shouted: “Cease firing. You are shooting your own men.” Hands were also seen waving the line back. This confused the men. The artillery fire grew constantly hotter. Several of the regiments, nearly exterminated at Williamsburg, Seven Pines and Malvern Hill, had been recruited with raw men, largely ignorant of discipline and of the machine-like duties of a sol- dier. At this the regiments on our right began to fall back, strag- gling through the woods in our rear. But we could plainly see that we were not firing on our friends, and in our front the enemy was firmly held in check, till we found that they were moving on our flank unopposed. This compelled us to re- tire, which was done in good order, considering the circum- stances. The greater part of our regiment stopped in a sunken road (the famous Bloody Lane) and joining the main line there, fought the remainder of the day. General Hill says distinctly that the Twenty-third was kept intact and moved to the sunken road. The brigade was gotten together that night and early the next morning. The 18th was spent in line of battle ready for the attack which did not come. Lieutenant-Colonel R. D. Johnston was now in command of the Twenty-third, Colonel Christie having been placed in command of Gen- eral Anderson’s brigade.