142 NortH CaRoLina TRUOPS, 1861-65.

We bivouacked without baggage, tents or rations, 2
did not arrive until 10 a. m. next day. This = our firs
experience (often later repeated) in camping without sup-
aes the arrival of our wagon train the boys were soon ive
ecoking and putting up shelter, the mountain side soon being
covered with our white tents, making a most semeaesee”
scene, where before was a wilderness of lofty sugar ee =
lynn, with undergrowth as high as your head, rhod en pe
and May apple, blackberries in abundance, then per ectly
green. (1 August). We found snow birds building nests,
hatching and rearing their young—something we had never
before seen. At Valley Mountain we were joined by two
Tennessee Brigades, Generals Anderson and Donaldson and
two Virginia Regiments. The Fourteenth Georgia and our
regiment were brigaded with the last under Colonel William
Gilham, of Virginia. A squadron of cavalry, under com-
mand of W. H. F. Lee, and two batteries of artillery were
added to the force, and an Irish battalion under Colonel
Mumford, from: Lynchburg. There was also a company of
Baltimoreans, under command of Captain Clate Clark, and
General William Loring coming up took immediate com-
mand of the force. General Robert E. Lee also came, he
being in command of that department.

SICKNESS AND DEATH.

Very soon after reaching Valley Mountain, it commenced
raining, and it being a rich loam and limestone soil, the roads
became almost impassable, the whole earth seemed full of
water with springs bubbling up in our tents. The measles
broke out in camp, and transportation being short, the moun-
tain was converted into a sick camp. Typhoid fever made
its appearance, and one morning there was more than 500
sick reported in the regiment. The men began to die, and
soon Valley Mountain had a large graveyard. Charles Green,
Company G, was the first man we lost, dying 26 August.
H. C. Green, of same company, in attempting to cross Valley
river after a rain when swollen into a torrent, was drowned,
his body being washed down into the Yankee lines where it

SIXTEENTH REGIMENT. 143

was found and buried by a citizen whose name was Ford.
About this time death began to get in his work, many men
dying from the exposure and the hard duty they were com-
pelled to undergo, the rains continuing through August and
Sepiember, causing a great deal of sickness and many deaths.
The bones of many of the brave boys of the Sixteenth still
tie buried ali along the road from Valley Mountain to Staun-
ton.

Early in September blackberries began to ripen, and the
men were sent out on the mountain to gather them, a most ac-
ceptable service, and furnishing a splendid diet which was an
agreeable change and did us much good. Blackberry pies
and pudding with maple sugar or molasses were our favorite
bill of fare, lasting until we left the mountain 1 October.
Our camp was on top of the mountain, the dividing line be-
tween Pocahontas and Randolph, until 20 September, when
General Lee ordered a forward movement down the road to-
ward the enemy, and our first camp was made just outside
our former picket lines. Next morning at an early hour we
were again on the advance, and soon struck the Federal picket,
and we had our first experience in fighting.

OUR FIRST SKIRMISH.

We were at it all day, and only made five miles march,
passing the grave of our comrade, Henry Green, who was
drowned a month before. Just after halting, Companies E
and G were ordered on picket in the mountains. Misunder-
standing the orders, Captain Kirksey, who was leading, was
marching us directly into the lines of the enemy, when we met
Colonel Gilham, who told him there must be a mistake, and
ordered him to stop where we were, as we were nearly on the
pickets of the enemy. Galloping to headquarters, Colonel
Gilham soon sent a courier ordering our return, another de-
tachment was sent in our stead, and much relieved we re
turned to camp. On our way out in passing the sharpshoot-
ers of the Irish battalion, we saw the first dead Federal sol-
dier. He had given his life in the performance of his duty,
and perhaps was then and there forgotten forever.

We hoped to have a good night’s rest, but the most fearful