244 Norra Carorina Troops, 1861-’65.

turesome officer and for a moment staggered the oncoming

host.
But what availed a few hundred against 20,000. The bri-

gade after one of the bloodiest combats of the war and with
heavy loss, was forced backward fighting desperately as it
went. Other troops soon came up, striking the invaders on
both flanks. The brigade reformed and renewed the battle.
General R. D. Johnston seized the flag of the Twenty-third
and ordered a charge. The brigade rushed forward carrying
the position in their front, Johnston falling wounded as he
planted the flag on their works. The struggle continued with
the utmost fury till night. On the 14th Lee withdrew to a
line of works constructed across the base of the salient. Our
regiment, though small, contained many a gallant spirit and
many heroic deeds were done on that dark and dismal morn.
E. S. (Scip.) Hart, the flag bearer of the Twenty-third, was
especially brave; again and again rushing forward with the
colors, which were never for a moment lowered except when
Seip was felled by a clubbed musket in the hands of a stal-
wart Yankee. Among the captured on that terrible day
was Captain A. D. Cole, Company A. It was Captain Cole’s
fate, along with Lieutenants Coggin and Bullock, to form
three of the six hundred officers which the Federals placed un-
der the Confederate fire at Charleston for several weeks in
1864, and to endure the horrible tortures inflicted on them by
starvation at Port Royal a little later. The minute stint of
spoiled meal—a gill a day—and pickle on which they sub-
sisted for forty days ended by killing Lieutenant Coggin
and bringing Captain Cole to death’s door and keeping him
there for agonizing months and even years. This too, crown-
ing three years of gallant service in the field. To few, if any,
of all the sons of the South was it given to endure more and
suffer more in her defense than did this gallant officer.
THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON.
After the Bloody Angle fight our brigade was engaged in

Twenty-THIRD REGIMENT. 245

mand. Leaving camp near Cold Harbor at 3 a. m. 18 June
1864; we went with the corps now commanded by Early,
on the Valley campaign. Marching to the railroad at Char-
lottesville we took cars for Lynchburg, on which Hunter was
rapidly advancing. We arrived just in the nick of time to
save the town. Passing at double quick through the streets.
within twenty minutes after leaving the cars we were skir-
mishing with Hunter’s advance guard.

Lieutenant Crowder, the same officer whose suggestion to
General Ramseur at Gettysburg proved of so much value, and
a brave and efficient officer, was severely wounded that night
whole posting the picket lines.

Skirmishing at Liberty and driving Hunter across to Salem
and westward into the mountains, Early wheeled suddenly up
the valley.

There was a little loitering to see what Hunter would do,
during which the army making a detour crossed the Natural
bridge and rested there a few hours, which detour to see the
bridge was put to a vote of the men and carried by a
small majority. Leg-weariness is a great stifler to curiosity.
However, pretty soon the race up the valley begun. Staun-
ton was reached 27 June. Pressing rapidly forward we
reached Harper’s Ferry on 4 July. Our advance had been
so rapid and unexpected that we here surprised and broke up
a Fourth of July celebration, our advance guard eating with
appetites whetted by hard marching, the feast not intended
for us. As the enemy held the heights beyond the river and
commanded the approaches to Harper’s Ferry with artillery,
only the skirmish line went into the town, except a few ven-
turesome officers who galloped down that night, fired on in
every moonlit stretch by the Federal guns. Crossing the
Potomac a few miles above, our forces for a few days made
feints here and there to confuse the enemy as to our designs.

But, finally, we dashed off for Washington. On 9 July
we met Lew Wallace at Monocacy Junction, near Frederick,

$63.0 iT AM a oa SSE aa

aa ek lS clits ti oe eS

eI

Maryland, who gave battle to bar our way to the Federal
Capital. Resisting our advance through the town, Wallace

made a determined stand at Monocacy river.
While Gordon’s Division crossed the river and struck

the battle of the 19th. Colonel C. ©. Blacknall, commis-
sioned Colonel 15 August, 1863, had been exchanged in May,
and after commanding a brigade at Petersburg for several
weeks, joined his regiment about 1 June and assumed com-

ee

|

|

| |

i =