164 Norton Carotina Troops, 1861-’65.

about dark bivouacked near Chantilly, and continuing down
that road we soon came in contact with the rear guard of
Pope’s army, in charge of General Phil. Kearney, at Ox
Hill, and engaging them at once in a severe thunder storm we
soon put them to flight, and in this affair the brave Generals
Phil. Kearney and Stephens were killed. We also lost many
killed and wounded; the Thirty-fourth, of our brigade, lost
two gallant field officers, Colonel R. H. Riddick and Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Miller.

Leaving Ox Hill on the 3d, we passed Leesburg on the 4th
and camped near the Big Spring, and on the morning of the
5th, General Pender sent for the officers of the brigade to re-
port at his headquarters. He made them a speech, telling
them that we were now going to cross the Potomac and going
into the enemy’s country, and that they must act as officers
and gentlemen, keeping a firm hand on the men of their com:
mands, and that he would hold them responsible for their
conduct.

ACROSS THE POTOMAC.

About 10 a. m., we fell in and reached the ford at 2 p. m.,
and crossing we at once started on the way to Frederick City ;
marching until midnight, we stopped near a corn field, where
we got some green corn, roasted it and eat supper. We gath-
ered a supply for morning. We were soon on the march and
reached Frederick about 12 m., where we spent several days
near the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, blowing up iron bridges
and doing all the damage we could to publie property. The
men were not allowed to leave the camps to enter the city or
to forage on the country. The writer remembers sending up
a pass for a man to go out to get some milk for a sick man,
and it was returned: ‘Let the sick man eat a little beef.”
Leaving Frederick 10 September, we passed South Mountain,
Boonesboro and Middletown, on the third day crossing the
Potomac to Williamsport and spending the night near Fall-
ing Waters, next day entering Martinsburg, driving General
White in the direction of Harper’s Ferry, which place we
reached on the 13th. On leaving Ox Hill, for some cause
unknown to the writer, General A. P. Hill was put under ar-

Sic oP ares se
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alia ani

SIXTEENTH REGIMENT. 165

rest by General Jackson, General Branch commanding the
division. General Hill marched on foot with the rear guard
all the day through Maryland, an old white hat slouched down
over his eyes, his coat off and wearing an old flannel shirt,
looking as mad as a bull, but just before reaching Harper’s
Ferry he was released, and donning his coat and sword he
mounted his horse and dashed to the front of his troops, and
looking like a young eagle in search of his prey, he took com-
mand of his division to the delight of all his men.

CAPTURE OF HARPER'S FERRY.

It was late in the day of the 14th when Jackson had his ar-
rangements completed for the attack on the enemy. Hill’s
Division was ordered to storm the position, and moving for-
ward with a rush, Pender’s Brigade in front, they gained the
crest of the hill, the enemy retreating within their works with
little resistance. During the night the crest gained by Pender
was crowned with artillery, and all the available points within
reach were taken possession of by Colonel Crutchfield, Jack-
son’s chief of artillery.

At dawn on the 15th, Jaekson opened his artillery on Har-
per’s Ferry, and after an artillery duel of one hour the firing
ceased and Pender, with the Sixteenth in advance, commenced
to move on the place, when a white flag was seen to flutter
from the Federal works, and Harper’s Ferry had fallen. The
result of this victory was 11,000 prisoners, 13,000 stand of
small arms, 73 pieces of artillery, 200 wagons, with a large
amount of commissary and army stores of every description.

SHARPSBURG.

A. P. Hill’s Division was left to take charge of the property
and provisions captured, and Jackson left at once to join Lee
at Sharpsburg. Hill remained until all the captured prop-
erty, etc., was removed on the 16th, and on the morning of
the 17th left to join Jackson and Lee, reaching Sharpsburg
at 4 p. m., and was immediately assigned a position on the
right, just in time to meet and repulse the grand charge of
Burnside’s Corps and assist in driving them back across An-
tietam creek. In this last assault the Sixteenth and Pender’s