448 NortH CaroLtina Troops, 1861-’65.

Their itineracy from Johnson City, Tenn., was as fol-
lows:

First to Bean’s Station, Tenn. ; thence to Cumberland Gap
at which place we were at the evacuation of the Fodarais:
From the above place we followed the Federals to near Per-
ryville, Kentucky, where we joined General Bragg. Shortly
after we returned to Tennessee with the army. After this
we were stationed for a short time in the winter of 1862 at
Big Creek Gap, Clinton, London, and still later at Chatta-
nooga, Tenn.; and were in Chattanooga at the evacuation of
General Bragg’s army in the direction of Chicamauga, Ga.

Tn February and March, 1863, the regiment was stationed
at Big Creek Gap, Tenn. In April, 1863, the Fifty-eighth
and Sixty-fourth North Carolina, together with the Fifty-
fifth Georgia and a battery of artillery composed a brigade at
Clinton, Tenn., commanded by Colonel John B. Palmer. On
31 July, 1863, this same brigade under General J. W. Fra-
zer, was at Bell’s Bridge, Tenn.

The writer had been ordered to Richmond for supplies for
the Fifty-eighth North Carolina, consequently does not know
all of the moves of the army before the important battle of
Chicamauga. Leaving the main army at Chattanooga, Tenn.,
he was cut off from his return by way of East Tennessee by
the Federal army having taken possession of the State. So
he had to return through North and South Carolina, and
found his command at LaFayette 18 September, 1863.

It was here that General Bragg called his army around
him, telling them how he had retreated from Chattanooga,
and how often he had offered the enemy battle, and that they
had always failed to make the attack, and now had retired be-
fore him at all points. ‘We shall now turn on the enemy in
the direction of Chattanooga, where in the providence of God
we will lead the army to victory, and some to death.”

The long dusty columns were drawn up, ready to march.
The clothes of many of the men were in rags, and their feet
bare ; but their faces were bright and their bayonets glitter-
ing.

Orders had been issued that the men were not to cheer, for
fear of attracting the enemy’s attention, and the troops as

Firry-E1autH REGIMENT. 449

they passed before their generals, only took off their ragged
old hats and waved them around their heads. This silent

greeting seemed to touch the great generals greatly.

The long shadows made by the declining sun that evening
I shall never forget. I will here state that the Fifty-eighth
North Carolina Regiment Volunteers belonged to Kelley’s
Brigade, Preston’s Division, Buckner’s Corps.

CHICAMAUGA.

As we approached the creek from LaFayette, the enemy
was discovered in a large corn field on the opposite side. Our
regiment, the Fifty-eighth North Carolina, together with
the balance of the brigade, was put in position immediately
in front of the enemy, and the division formed in line of bat-
tle to the left. A brisk skirmish was kept up until after
dark, in which a portion of General Gracie’s Brigade was
engaged. We, the Fifty-eighth North Carolina, bivouacked
that night in front on the battlefield (corn field) and without
fire.

On the morning of the 19th, at a very early hour, just as
soon as you could distinguish the blue from the gray, the
whole army was put in position as far as we could see.

Our brigade was formed at the upper side of a wheat field,
forty yards below the fence and woods that ran parallel with
our division. After remaining in line about forty-five min-
utes the command was given: “Unfurl your banners.” At
this moment the sun broke forth, dispelling the fog, and as
our banners floated out on the breeze the Federals, our enemy,
General Boynton’s command (with whom I am now ac-
quainted), commenced playing “Yankee Doodle” and to
move out eastward on an almost parallel line with ours. Al-
most immediately we were ordered to march in a parallel
direction, the enemy inclining to the right and to the left.

Thirty years, one month and four days after this move,
General Boynton, of the Federal. army, told me that he im-
mediately dispatched to Lee afid Gordon’s mills for twenty-
two pieces of artillery, to be turned on us at once.

Whether it was twenty-two or thirty-two there was soon a

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