140 Norra Carotina Troops, 1861-65.

We remained at Monterey for ten days, and a few days
after we reached there we were aroused in the night by the
long roll being sounded, and Colonel Lee tearing through
camp yelling at the top of his voice, “Rouse up, men, fall in,
the enemy is upon you!” Everything was in confusion for
a time, but order soon prevailed, the men were up, dressed
with all their accoutrements on, the companies formed and
marched to the parade ground. After waiting and listening
for the enemy a short time, it being very dark 80 we could
see nothing, we heard Colonel Lee’s voice in front: Well,
men, I am glad to say if there is no other enemy present,
we have at least conquered one enemy—that is the enemy
sleep,” and complimenting us for promptness, he said it was
just five minutes from the time the alarm was sounded till
the regiment was formed. ‘Captains, have your rolls called
and report all men not in line.”

You can imagine what a relief it was when we found it
was a false alarm, and we then understood what was meant
at the camp on the mountain when the Orderly was told to
form company and march down to the road. You can guess
that we would have made a poor fight, as the men did not have
a round of ammunition in their boxes. All that was left of
Garnett’s men had been gathered in, and re-shod and clothed
as well as could be done, General H. R. Jackson, of Georgia,
taking command. 2

After ten days’ stay at Monterey, the Sixteenth Regiment
was ordered forward, taking a westerly direction, and after
three days’ march arrived at Huntersville, Pocahontas Coun-
ty. One of our camps will long be remembered by our survi-
vors as one of the most eligible camping places they had ever
met. A sugar maple orchard on a clear stream of cold water,
whose banks were fringed with spear mint, induced our com-
pany commander to suggest that here was the water, here is
the mint; if anyone can furnish the sugar (“here it is” said
‘the writer) and some one-the spirits, we’ll have the best mint
julep you ever tasted. At this juncture our best forager, W-
T. Wilkins, made his appearance, and had secured the brandy,
and then and there, in the fence corner by the stream, and out
of sight of our strict disciplinarian, Colonel Lee, there was 4

SIXTEENTH REGIMENT. 141

jolly time over the jolly, jolly grog such as makes the mouth
of an old soldier water to think of.

Leaving Huntersville next day, we crossed Greenbrier river
on a fine bridge, camping three miles beyond at Edray, where
we spent ten days picketing ten miles distant in the direction
of Cheat Mountain, at Clover Lick. The, first detachment
going without rations, the Lieutenant in command sent to the
proprietor, Mr. Warrick, who was then looking after his
stock, to know if he could get supplies of food for the eem-
mand. He replied that he did not stay there himself, only
had an old man there to look after and take care of the stock,
but if the men could milk, there were fifty cows in the
meadow, 500 sheep in the pasture, and we could supply our-
selves with milk and lamb, while the old man furnished us a
quantity of buckwheat flour, from all which we had a most
royal teast, sweetened with maple sugar which we found in
abundance.

While camped at Edray we were aroused by a terrible
commotion; the sentinels on post commenced hollowing and
kept it up all night—that Generals Beauregard and John-
ston had fought the Yankees .at Manassas—killing 20,000
and capturing twice as many more. Washington would be
taken in another day and the war would end! Alas, how
badly were we mistaken.

Remaining at Edray ten days, we broke camp on 30 July,
going west, crossed a high mountain, marched till dark and
camped in a cow pasture, and early next day reached Big
Spring and went into camp. Thinking to spend some time,
wagons were unloaded, tents pitched, and everything made
ready for camp, but alas for the hope of rest for a soldier.
At 3 p. m., a courier dashed into camp with the report thai
Captain Camp, Company K (who had been sent to establish
a post on Valley Mountain), was then fighting a large Lody
of Yankees, and needed reinforcements at once. We were
ordered to fall in, leaving our baggage train, and push for-
ward to his relief. We marched forward over the fine moun-
tain turnpike, reached the top of the mountain at dark,

found Captain Camp, but no fight and no Yankees, and per-
haps none in twenty miles,