168 Nortu Carotina Troops, 1861-65.

butter and sometimes whole hogs, sorghum, and a very palat-
able extract of cane seed or corn juice, adding much to the
regulation ration, Chiefs of Divisions and Brigades were
very lenient, allowing much latitude to the diversions and
amusement of the veterans.

LEAVING THE VALLEY.

With the advance of General McClellan on 26 October,
crossing the Potomac at Harper’s Ferry and moving east
of the Blue Ridge into Virginia, General Lee promptly
broke camp and moving in parallel lines confronted him at
every point. Jackson was left in the Valley and our
forces moved toward the Shenandoah, camping near Berry-
ville, with cavalry picket in the direction of Charleston, Har-
per’s Ferry and Snicker’s Gap. Stuart’s maim body of cav-
alry had gone through Snicker’s and Ashby’s Gap, and as Mc-
Clellan moved south he hung on his flank, moving towards the
Rappahannock, leaving the Gaps open to the Federals. A
large body made their appearance, drove in our pickets from
the top of the mountain and approached the river, where we
hurriedly double-quicked to meet them, the Sixteenth hold-
ing the ford. Two Federal regiments soon made their ap-
pearance in the open field beyond the river in musket range,
but a few rounds of shell from Crenshaw’s Battery on the
hill behind us completely demoralized them, and they hur-
riedly sought shelter in the woods, leaving quite a number
lying on the field. A field officer raised a white flag, rode
directly down in front and asked us not to fire on them while
they removed their wounded, and no further demonstration
was made.

The Sixteenth Regiment was on an open sward not more
than two rods from the river bank, and lying flat on the
ground were prepared to give the enemy a hot reception, but
did not get a chance to fire a gun. One casualty only, from
carelessness or excitement on the part of a member of Com-
pany G, which resulted in badly wounding a comrade, J. R.
De Priest, in the knee, causing the loss by amputation of his
leg. The Federals retired across the mountain, followed by
our cavalry, and our troops retired to their camps. Burn-

SrxTEENTH REGIMENT. 169

side had moved to Fredericksburg, finding General Lee on
the south bank of the Rappahannock, and about the first of
December General Jackson quietly moved the main part of
his corps up the valley, crossing the Blue Ridge at a gap near
New Market, thence to Orange Court House. In crossing
the mountain, from the top could be seen the long lines of the
infantry with their bristling bayonets gleaming in the sun-
shine, and on the Alleghany Mountains across the valley a
heavy storm of snow was falling. The artillery and wagon
trains could be seen for miles, and from the course of the
roads the whole army seemed to be manceuvering as if on
parade. Reaching Fredericksburg, or Hamilton’s Crossing,
about 8 December, we rested a day or two, had new clothing
and shoes sent from North Carolina issued to the men, and
were then ready for the fray we knew would soon come.

FREDERICKSBURG.

On the 12th we were marched by the crossing, and here
General Jackson, with that famous new suit, passed our bri-
gade without recognition, save to a few who knew him too well
to be deceived. Our brigade was assigned a position adjoin-
ing General Longstreet’s Corps, in the open field opposite the
center, commanded by Hooker, camping in the edge of the
woods. At sunset a detail was ordered on the picket line,
relieving Colonel McDowell. It was a bitter cold night, the
lines running across the open field from Hazel Run on our
left to Hamilton’s Crossing, a bare open field without rock or
brush save the cedars which skirted the road leading into our
lines from Fredericksburg. A pistol shot by a scared picket
caused a rally by fours to the rear just as we were relieving
the old picket. Waiting for a few moments for the expected
advance. the line was soon re-established. In a short time
Major Cole, with a detachment, came to the line and passed
through to set fire to some buildings which had sheltered
sharpshooters that evening, and obstructed the fire of our ar-
tillery. This was successfully accomplished without acci-
dent. At daylight our picket was relieved and went back to
camp for breakfast. As the fog raised on Saturday, 13 De-
cember, the columns of Franklin and Hooker were seen ad-