584 NortH Carotina Troops, 1861-’65.

from the field. In this fight the Thirty-fourth Regiment
sustained a terrible loss. Among the killed I recall from
memory were Lieutenants Parks and Cowan, of Company D,
and Shotwell, of Company C, all brave young men. Lieuten-
ant Parks on reaching the battery, laying his hand upon a
gun, remarked, “This is my cannon,” and was killed in-
stantly.

The Thirty-fourth was not actively engaged in the battle
of Malvern Hill on 1 July, but was under heavy artillery
fire for several hours.

After these battles we camped below Richmond for several
weeks, after which time we were ordered to Gordons-
ville where we were placed under the command of Gen-
eral Stonewall Jackson, who on 9 August, 1862—-a
very hot day—marched out to Cedar Run, where General
Pope was in waiting. Pender’s Brigade was on the extreme
left and drove the enemy from his position with compara-
tively small loss to the Confederates. After dark, the brig-
ades still being in line of battle in an open field, a mounted
Federal rode up within a few steps of our line and inquired
what troops we were. An officer stepped forward to receive
him, and approaching nearer, the Federal fired at him with
his pistol. He wheeled and putting spurs to his horse dashed
away. .From three to five hundred shots were fired at the
fleeing Yankee, but to no effect, so far as we could see. I
mention this incident to show that the Northern army had
some brave men and the Confederates some poor marksmen,
especially when shooting by starlight.

The next movement of the regiment was with Jackson on
his famous “flank” movement. Subsisting almost entirely
on green corn, we reached Manassas Junction 27 August, and
were engaged in driving the enemy across Bull Run, after
which we had a grand feast from the abundant supply cap-
tured at Manassas Junction. After a few hours’ needed rest
we marched back to Manassas Plains, and were engaged al-
most continuously on 29 and 30 August in resisting the as-
saults of the enemy, and we were in the last charge that swept
the enemy from the field late Saturday afternoon. The last

Turrty-FourtH REGIMENT. 585

fighting done at Second Manassas was by Pender’s Brigade,
after dark near the field hospital of the Federals.

At the battle of Ox Hill, 1 September, 1862, this regiment
suffered severe loss. The battle was fought during a pouring
rain. Among the lost, Colonel R. H. Riddick and Lieuten-
ant-Colonel Eli H. Miller fell mortally wounded. Both were
brave and efficient officers. Their loss to the regiment was
irreparable. Colonel Riddick had been in the Mexican war
and was a fine disciplinarian.

The next day we took up our march to Maryland, and
crossing the Potomac at Leesburg, Va., rested a few days at
Frederick City, proceeded from there to Williamsport, re-
crossed the Potomac on the night of 14 September and drove
the enemy into their works on Bolivar Heights, in front of
Harper’s Ferry, thereby enabling the Confederate artillery,
undercover of darkness, to be placed in a position which caused
the enemy to surrender early on the morning of 15 September.
We took 11,500 prisoners and 76 pieces of artillery. The
Thirty-fourth was placed in charge of the pontoon bridge and
was entrusted with the counting and discharging of the pris-
oners, after conducting them to the Maryland side of the
river. We then moved by rapid march to Sharpsburg and
reached that point in time to take part in the last fighting
done by the right of Lee’s army. The regiment at this time,
owing to hard marching and exhausting fighting, was a mere
skeleton. In the battle of Sharpsburg there were but four
commissioned officers in the whole regiment. One of these,
Lieutenant Bassinger, was killed.

On 20 September our regiment assisted in driving back
the Federal force which followed General Lee into Virginia,
killing many of them at Shepherdstown, who were attempting
to recross the river on a dam.

After this the regiment was allowed rest and for the first
ame in six weeks to change their clothing, not having seen
vur wagon train with baggage since leaving Orange Court
House. Nothing worthy of note occurred until November,
when the regiment marched with Jackson’s corps to Freder-
icksburg. It was actively engaged in the great battle of
Fredericksburg 13 December, 1862, where it is said 12,000