534 NortH Carouiina Troops, 1861-’65.

to charge; General Stuart thought best not to charge, but
finally yielded to Colonel Evans’ wishes and allowed him
to make the charge. This charge stopped the Federal ad-
vance, but at quite a loss to us. Colonel Evans was mortally
wounded and captured, two men and several horses killed and
quite a number wounded. Adjutant Morehead had many
holes in his clothing and several skin wounds, but nothing
serious. Sergeant Henry Hobson, of Company H, a very
gallant soldier, was wounded in many places and his clothes
riddled. He was captured, but as exchanges were rapid in
those days, he soon returned to us but little the worse for his
hurts. The enemy made no further advance and the brigade
rested that night at Ashby’s Gap. For most of the men it was
the first experience of the real hardships of war and it was
somewhat demoralizing. More men went to Company Q
than were wounded and killed. At Ashby’s Gap Lieutenant-
Colonel Gordon, of the Ninth North Carolina (First Cavalry)
took command of the regiment by direction of General Stuart.
Gordon gained our confidence and respect at once, and the
longer he remained with us the more the feeling grew. Gor-
don was every inch a soldier and his previous experience in
Virginia campaigns enabled him to give us many points about
taking care of ourselves and horses which were of great value
to us.
TO GETTYSBURG AND BACK.

We advanced next morning over the ground fought over
and found no Yankees. Dead horses, head stones to graves
and cavalry equipments alone remained to tell of the deadly
struggles. It was a beautiful section of country and during
the few days we remained in it the inhabitants were very
kind to us. Major McClellan, of Stuart’s staff, and Colonel
John S. Mosby, of partisan fame, both agree that General
Robertson was ordered by Stuart to cross the Potomac east of
Lee’s army and marching between him and the enemy keep
Lee well advised of their movements. A squadron captain
can not know his Brigadier’s orders. He can and does know
that we followed the main turnpike previously marched over
by the infantry and saw no enemy, heard no hostile shots fired

Stxty-Tarrp REGImMent. 535

and (which was far worse) we found no forage for man or
beast. The infantry had cleaned up things as they went. We
reached the vicinity of Gettysburg a short while before the
last and fatal charge by Lee. We halted, dismounted and
were resting when the cannonade began. It was very furious,
but very brief. At its close we were mounted and moved to-
wards the front. Many of us thought that the victory was
ours and the cavalry ordered up to pursue. In a few moments
the head of the column turned to the right and rear, and in less
than an hour we were skirmishing for a position to protect
the lines of retreat. The skirmish was a success, but the
question of supper was not so easily solved. No rations had
been issued since leaving Ashby’s Gap. No foraging was
possible in the track of the main army, so we were hungry,
such a hunger as civilized man in times of peace never knows.
Fortunately for the horses wheat was just ripe and was very
fine. They could soon fill themselves. Cherries, raspberries
and wheat were our only dependence. One night a squad was
bivouacked at a mountain spring and spring house. In the
spring house were jars of buttermilk, honey and apple mar-
malade. We ate more or less abundantly. Let any physi-
cian of good standing think of the mixture—cherries, rasp-
berries, wheat, honey, milk, apple marmalade. Strange to
say very few got on the sick list. Skirmishing went on more
or less every day while we remained north of the Potomac
with few casualties. We were the last of the Confederate
army to cross the Potomac, doing so by a horse-path ford, on
a narrow, winding ledge of rock. The river was flushed by
the Gettysburg rains and very deep. Even on the ledge of
rock a very slight variation put you at once in swimming
water. Several men and horses got off the ledge and swam
a little, but no one was drowned. For the next several
months after our return to Virginia, no fighting took place.
Gordon was recalled to the Ninth North Carolina, his ranking
officer having been wounded and disabled. This left the reg-
iment in charge of the ranking Captains, Shaw and Gallo-
way. Soon after our return we learned of the death of Colo-
nel Peter. G. Evans. The officers met and passed suitable res-
olutions of respect to his memory and Captain Galloway was