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750 NortH Carona Troops, 1861~’65.

sons told us we would have no trouble to capture the city.
The truth is, as developed since, the Federal authorities had
no idea of our numbers until after Lew Wallace’s defeat at
Monocacy two days before. Up to two hours before his re-
pulse he had sent vainglorious dispatches to Secretary Stan-
ton as to how he was going to thrash out “Mosby and
his crowd.” After that repulse, however, when Baltimore
and Washington were both at our mercy, they became really
alarmed—Governor Curtin, of Pennsylvania; Governor Dix,
of New York; President Lincoln, Secretary Stanton, Pres-
ident Garrett, of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and others,
became frantic.

Our men were much displeased at the tardiness of General
Early, who has been severely criticised, both North and
South, but notwithstanding all the criticisms of those times,
General Early had a warm friend in General Lee, who re-
fused to remove him. In the afternoon of 12 July our army
slowly began a retreat towards the Virginia line, taking im-
mense supplies of horses, cattle, mules and commissary stores.
On the 13th we marched to Poolsville, Md. On the 14th we
crossed the Potomac, back into Virginia, still unmolested by
the boastful foe who was going to “gobble up” the whole of us.

Thus ended one of the most remarkable “raids” of the
war. General Early deserved much credit for its success,
even without the capture of Washington City. On 15 July
we rested near the historic battlefield of Leesburg and Ball’s
Bluff. While here the enemy tried a little “bluff game”
upon us, but our regimental sharpshooters and others, under
the gallant Captain Robert Conley, drove them into the river
at Snicker’s Ferry. I am sorry that I cannot recall the
names of our twenty sharpshooters. Privates Thomas Love
and Kimsey Collins are all whom I can now name. They
were all splendid fellows. Collins is a well-to-do merchant of
Bryson City, N. C., and was last year commander of the
Western North Carolina Veterans.

From 16 to 24 July we leisurely moved back, to and up the
Valley, passing Berryville, Newton, Millwood, Middletown,
to Strasburg, several days in line of battle.

 

Srxty-Ninto REGIMENT. 761

IN THE VALLEY OF VIRGINIA.

On the 24th the enemy, 16,000 strong, under Cook, Averill
and Mulligan, pressing us pretty strong, we turned upon
them, our division (Wharton’s) making the flank movement
and routing them, “horse, foot and dragoons,” drove them
“‘pell-mell” through Kernstown and Winchester. General
Mulligan was killed in front of the Sixty-ninth, or mortally
wounded, and died a few hours afterwards in the tent of Gen-
eral Rodes. He probably would not have been killed but for
the persistency of his color guard in waving a flag over his
prostrate form. As we made our movements by the right
flank, it threw us—in advancing upon the enemy—touching
elbows with the “Old Stonewall Brigade” on our left, and
when known to our men, a shout rent the air. The fruit of
this victory was the capturing of 1,200 or 1,500 prisoners,
and several stands of arms, wagons, cannon, etc. Generals
Breckinridge, Wharton and Col. Tom Smith, our Corps,
division and brigade leaders, and Colonel Love, Major Me-
Kamy and all company officers and men did well and were
conspicuous for gallantry.

On 25, 26 and 27 July, we again went down the valley to
and along the Opequon.

On 1 August our cavalry went over into Maryland, where
we again took a ten days’ tramp from Shepherdstown around
to Williamsport, ete. On 8, 9 and 10 August we fell back
from Darksville, Berryville and Bunker Hill, to Strasburg, as
the enemy was largely reinforced and led by Sheridan, who
gave us battle every day. Their cavalry was daring, but
their infantry were not of much force, made up of city scum

and foreign mercenaries.
KERNSTOWN.

On 18 August we gave the enemy battle at Kernstown and
again drove them two miles north of Winchester. Our regi-
ment led in this assault upon and capture of the fort, north-
west of the town. General John C. Breckinridge, our corps
commander on foot, and wearing a linen duster, was along
leading the charge, which continued till after dark, and we
became separated from the line on the east of Valley pike and