252 NortH CARoLina Troops, 1861-’65.

that the Yankees were advancing with a heavy force of in-
fantry, artillery and cavalry, up the Berryville road. John-
ston and I were responsible for keeping Sheridan out of
Winchester and protecting the Confederate line of retreat and
communication up the valley. In two minutes the command
was mounted and moving at a trot across the open fields to
the Berryville road and to Johnston’s assistance. ‘There was
not a fence, nor a tree, nor a bush to obscure view. We could
see the crest of a hill, covered with a cloud of cavalry and in
front of them—500 yards in front—was a thin grey line
moving off in retreat, solidly and in perfect coolness and self-
possession. * * A regiment of cavalry would deploy into
line and their bugle would sound the “charge” and they’d
swoop down on the “thin grey line of North Carolina.” The
instant the Yankee bugles sounded, North Carolina (John-
ston’s Brigade) would halt, face by the rear rank, wait until
the horses got within 100 yards and then fire as deliberately
and coolly as if firing volleys on brigade drill. The cavalry
would break and scamper back and North Carolina would
“about face” and continue her march in retreat as solemnly
and with as much dignity as if marching in review. But we
got there just in time—that is to engage cavalry with cavalry,
and held Sheridan in check until Johnston had got back to the
rest of the infantry and formed in line at right angles to the
Pike east of Winchester.”

Johnston reached his supports, though with loss, and from
then till 10 o’clock Ramseur’s weak division of 1,700 men,
unaided except by Lomax’s and Jackson’s cavalry, held the
foe at bay. Bend this line perforce must, under the onset
of Sheridan’s immense force, but break it did not. At 10
Rodes’ division came up and a little later Gordon’s. And
all through that splendid autumnal day the battle held. His-
tory calls it the battle of Winchester. Locally it is known as
the battle of Hackwood from the Hackwood farm on which it
was fought.

Before noon the Federals were, by a bold assault, driven
back in disorder. But it had been at fearful cost. Rodes
and many other gallant officers had fallen, and the Confeder-
ate forces were too worn out by marching and fighting and too

Twenty-THIRD REGIMENT. 253

weakened by losses to take full advantage of Sheridan’s dis-
comfiture. And a little later a fresh corps were hurled
against our necessarily long and attenuated line. Thus, as
morning wore to evening, continued the strife. By strenuous
and desperate fighting Sheridan’s hosts were held at bay in
front.

But troops thus beset could not be expected to bear un-
moved an attack in the rear. When late in the day two divis-
ions of Federal cavalry drove in the weak force guarding the
Martinsburg road and pressed forward to the outskirts of
Winchester in the rear of our left, Early’s line wavered,
broke, and the army were driven back. General Early dis-
tinctly says that our division, Ramseur’s, fell back on the
right in good order, taking position to keep in line with the
other troops. Indeed those movements must have been ef-
fected with great steadiness for the division was taken for
the left wing of the enemy advancing to envelope the Confed-
erate right on which lay the line of retreat and the report
came near causing a panic at another part of the line.

Night approached and the Confederate line crumbled un-
der repeated assaults in front and flank. General Early in
his memoirs, says: “(Nothing was now left for us but to re-
tire through Winchester, and Ramseur’s division, which
maintained its organization, was moved from the east of the
town to the south side of it, and put in position, forming the
basis for a new line, while the other troops moved back
through the town. * * When the new line was formed
the enemy’s advance was cheeked until nightfall and we re-
tired to Newton without serious molestation.

The exact doings of the Twenty-third on that hard
foughten field have not been recorded. All that is known 1s
that it stood firmly, fighting manfully among Ramseur’s

1,700 heroes.
Lomax had held the enemy’s cavalry on the Front Royal

road in check and a feeble attempt at pursuit was repulsed by
Ramseur near Kernstown. The army retreated that night to
Newton. At daylight we moved to Fisher’s Hill without mo-

lestation.
Colonel Blacknall being too painfully wounded for hasty