296 Nortu CARoLIna Troops, 1861-65.

‘derstood volunteer soldiers and realized that four-fifths of the
men in ranks were as careful of their personal honor, and as
anxious for the success of the cause as he, he would have

been one of the greatest generals in Lee’s army, was the opin-
ion of some, and is still the opinion of the writer. After Mal-
vern Hill the regiment went into camp for a time at Drewry’s
Bluff. It was here, in consequence of the exposure just gone
through, that army sickness first made its telling effect on the
regiment, the loss by death from sickness being eighty-one.
About this time the Twenty-sixth Regiment was taken out of
our brigade and later the Fifty-sixth Regiment was assigned
us in its place.

The regiment, with the brigade, was attached to Walker’s
Division in the Maryland campaign, and at Harper’s Ferry
was placed to guard Loudon Heights to prevent the escape of
the enemy. When it was first made known to the men
by General Lee’s order that the army was to cross the Poto-
mac there was a considerable murmur of disappointment in

ranks. The men said they had volunteered to resist invasion -

and not to invade, some did not believe it right to invade
Northern territory, others thought that the same cause that
brought the Southern army to the front would increase the
Northern army, still others thought the war should be car-
ried into the North; thus the men thought, talked and disa-
greed. This was the first dissension among the men of the
regiment, but all were united in their confidence and love
for Lee. ~

At Sharpsburg the regiment was put into action near the
extreme left of Lee’s line. Our troops were retreating in
- front of a determined charge of the enemy, the men passed
through the retreating troops, raised the yell, and charged
with a determination that drove the enemy from the field
to cover of his heavy works.

Camping equipments had been left behind at Richmond,
and frequently on the march the men had to resort to ram-
rods for baking purposes and forked sticks for the roast;
blankets and change of clothing had been left at Sharpsburg,
and when the men recrossed the Potomac they were without
blankets and bare of clothing, this was late in September and

cei leet A NAS