280 Nortu Caroxina Troops, 1861-65.

tachment reached Gatesville about the first of March. From
Gatesville on to South Mills, which place had previously been
burned by the enemy. At this place the Yankee cavalry was
stationed, and on our approach a running fight ensued up the
Dismal Swamp Canal. We followed up the canal for several
miles, driving the enemy before us, until we reached the only
house we had seen since we had left the burnt town. Here
we halted, and at night Major Love placed the detachment
in ambush, and awaited results. Soon after, the enemy was
heard moving in our direction down the canal; and had it not
been for the impatience of the detachment highest up the
canal, who fired too soon, we must have had a nice time of it.
This, of course, spoiled the whole trick, and the Yankees
whirled about and made a hasty retreat up the canal—not
however, without léaving several dead and wounded.

It was now snowing, and the night was intensely cold, and
we without fire or blankets. Major Love called to order and
returned down the canal, breaking the dikes behind him—
reaching South Mills in the early morning, where we re-
mained that day. The following night we set out on a march
of about thirty miles and went into camp; remaining here for
a day or two, or until the regiment*joined us. From this
place, the Twenty-fourth set out for Suffolk, Va., which place
was in possession of a regiment of negro cavalry. Moving on
during the day, we camped within seven miles of the place. At
3 o’clock in the morning we resumed the march, General Ran-
som with the brigade having joined us the night before.
Moving on in the darkness, we came in contact with what we
supposed the enemy drawn up in line of battle at the fork of
the road. Ransom ordered Colonel Clarke to form the Twen-
ty-fourth in line and advance as near as possible without fore-
ing a fight to observe, if possible, if it was the enemy or Col-
onel Tom Kennedy’s cavalry that was supposed to have been
captured a day or two before. It proved to be Kennedy,
which was found out when it was light enough so that we
could see their gray uniforms. ach party sprung their guns
many times that morning, and had one gun been discharged,
there would have been a dreadful slaughter among friends.
After the parties were known to each other, Kennedy took the

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