272 NortH Carorina Troops, 1861-’65.

Company G—Captain, A. A. McIver, Robeson County.

Company H—Captain, Jas. ©. Bailey, Person County.

Company I—Captain, Ira T. Woodall, Johnston County.

Company K—Captain, David W. Spivey, Franklin
County.

Having thus organized, we were now “in for the war.”
The regiment left North Carolina for Virginia just before
and in time for the seven days’ fight below Richmond. We
had passed the first year of the war in marching and watch-
ing the enemy, and many of the boys were fearful that the
war would close without giving them a chance at the Yankees,
but the time had now come when such fears were no longer to
be entertained, for it was on 25 June, 1862, that the Twenty-
fourth Regiment was led into its first engagement at White
Oak Swamp, below Richmond.

In this fight Company E, of the Twenty-fourth, was
thrown forw raat as skirmishers, and while deploying William
Scott, of this company, was killed. This was the first man
iilled ; in the Twenty-fourth Regiment by a Yankee bullet. In
this fight we began to see war as a reality. We held the line
that had been occupied by the Tenth Louisiana Regiment in
the morning part of the day, they having been badly cut to
pieces. At sunset the Twenty-fourth was ordered to take a
Yankee battery that had been shelling us during that after-
noon, not more than 150 yards in front, but while we were
forming in the hedgerow, the Yankees began falling back.

Soon after dark, the Twenty-fourth Regiment was relieved
by Colonel Zeb Vance’s Regiment, the Twenty-sixth Norih
Carolina, and sent back immediately in the rear to rest for
the night. However, we were not out of danger, for during
tlte night Vance’s men got up a fuss with the enemy, and
Yankee bullets came thick and fast among us.

Next morning, 26 June, the Twenty-fourth Regiment
was ordered to re-ocecupy the same position of the even-
ing before. On reaching this post, Colonel Vance came up
to Colonel Clarke and asked him if he was ready. Clarke an-

swered him yes. Whereupon Vance said: “Very well then,
Colonel. I will open the ball, and the baby shall be born.”

Twenty-FourtH REGIMENT. 273

In a few minutes he turned and walked off in the direc-
tion of his command, whistling as jovial as a boy going to
mill.

Reaching his command he gave the order to charge, but the
Yankees did as the evening before—they limbered up and
got further. This was the first time the writer ever saw
Colonel Vance, and this little incident made an impression
that Vance would do to tie to, no matter where you placed him,
and we never had cause to change that opinion. Later in the
day, the Twenty-fourth Regiment was ordered to the right
of the Confederate lines, and later to the extreme right.
About dark an order passed down the line to fall back in good
order. This order proved to be a false order, but was not so
understood by Captain Lane, who was on the extreme right
of the regiment, until he was lost in a thick marsh or swamp,
where we had to remain during the night in water almost knee
deep. We could hear the enemy as they were moving near
us on our right. We could hear the clanking of their armor,
and did not know what moment they might discover our iso-
lated condition, Company E being cut off from the regiment.

To the writer, this was perhaps the most miserable night
of the war. Captain Lane, however, at dawn of day, found
his way back to the regiment, and Company E resumed her
place in line. The regiment was then ordered to drive the
enemy from an oak thicket in front, which was done in ad-
mirable style.

We quietly remained on this line the remainder of the day.

The 28th was passed quietly by us on this line. The 29th
was quiet also. ae

The 30th, moved to the left and did some skirmishing.

1 July, McClellan’s retreat from Richmond was dis-
covered. Lee’s pursuit commenced. The Twenty-fourth
Regiment had previously been assigned to General Robert
Ransom’s Brigade, and Ransom’s brigade was among the ad-
vance troops, the Twenty-fourth Regiment at the head of the
column. Reaching the fork of the road near Frazier’s farm,
we found General Lee and Staff on horseback. General Lee
remarked to Colonel Clarke that we were an hour too late, that

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