160 Norrnu Carotmva Troops, 1861-65.

to report, leaving me to hold the fort. General Pender sent
me about thirty men, with orders to form a line on the left of
the Virginians and to stay there until morning. Everything
was quiet during the night, and about 9 a. m. I was sent or-
ders to hold on about an hour and then withdraw quietly and
join him at the side of the mountain. About this time we
got up a lively skirmish with the enemy’s pickets in front, but
held our ground until time to leave, when we drew off gradu-
ally, and after a hot and hard march over the battlefield we
reached the mountain almost exhausted with heat and hunger.
On going out the night before I found a bag of ground coffee,
sugar, cakes and other nice things left by the enemy in their
hasty retreat, and sent it back to be taken care of, and on
reaching headquarters I called for breakfast, which was soon
furnished with coffee, crackers, mutton chops, Irish pota-
toes, ete.

After an hour or so rest, we again marched back on the
battlefield and maneuvered around on it all day Sunday.
General Pope says that General Jackson sent in a flag of truce
asking for the privilége of burying his dead, but as we passed
over the field after 10 o’clock and saw no dead or wounded
except Federals, and as we had possession of the field until
Monday night, I think this must be one of General Pope’s
many mistakes. I know that he sent one, and General Ewell
says that while the armistice was in existence, General Early
took a detachment from his brigade and gathered up six
wagon loads of arms. All day Monday we maneuvered on
the field and offered him battle, but he refused to accept the
gage.

On Monday night we built up camp fires as if we were
going to spend the night, but about midnight we fell into line
and marched in the direction of Orange Court House, and
passing that place next day went into camp near the Brick
Church on the railroad, where we remained until 18 August,
when we broke camp and moved forward on the Manassas
campaign. We stopped two days on the Crenshaw Farm.
On the 20th we moved again, crossing the Rapidan at Som-
merville Ford, and passed Stephensburg, camping near Bran-
dy Station.

SIXTEENTH REGIMENT. 161

On the 21st we moved up the Rappahannock, crossing
Hazel river at a mill, and moved in the direction of Warren-
ton Springs, where we spent Sunday under a heavy shelling,
having several men wounded. About 4 p. m. Longstreet’s
Corps relieved us, and we marched back about one mile to
Jefferson and cooked three days’ rations, and on Monday
morning started on our long march to Manassas, passing
through Orleans and stopping that night a short time to rest
near Salem. On Tuesday we passed through Thoroughfare
Gap; marching all day and all night we reached Bristoe Sta-
tion at sunrise on Wednesday morning, 27th. Following the
railroad, about 9 a. m. we reached Manassas, where we found
a brigade of New Jersey troops to oppose our progress. Pen-
der’s Brigade was halted for a short time behind a hill on
which there were some works, forts that the writer assisted in
building in November, 1861. Captain Crenshaw was or-
dered to put his guns there and open on the enemy as they ap-
proached from the direction of the bridge on Bull Run, and
soon had them in full retreat. We were then ordered to ad-
vance, and passing by a large house that was used as a hospi-
tal, the writer was ordered to stop Company G and take charge
of the place, while the brigade followed on. We found in the
yard and around the hospital a good many wounded and dead
Federals and 4 lot of sick in the hospital in the care of two
Philadelphia surgeons, and after having the wounded brought
in and put in charge of the surgeons, we had the dead buried.
We were very highly complimented and thanked by the doe-
tors for our care and protection of their hospital and prop-
erty.

DESTRUCTION OF STORES.

7

We found all the depots and storehouses full of army sup-
plies of all kinds; quartermaster, company and hospital stores
of every description that could be desired, and you may be as-
sured that we feasted that day after starving for three. About
sunset the brigade returned, after having quite a severe en-
gagement at the bridge across Bull Run. On reporting to
General Pender, I was ordered to join my regiment, which I
found near by, and going to my “room” I retired as I then

11