172 Nortu Carorina Troops, 1861-65.

We could occasionally see a Yankee cavalryman across the
xiver through the snow, and the boys were continuously talk-
ing to them and joking with them. The snow continued fall-
ing and by the time we were relieved next day at 10 o’clock
and started back, we found it nearly three feet deep and the
hardest walking I ever had. The weather soon turned warm
and we had a lot of fun, fishing in the Rappahannock and a
mill pond at Moss: Neck church.

General Jackson had his headquarters near our camp in an
office in the yard of Colonel Corbin, on whose place we were
camped, but as he claimed to be one of the F. F. V’s., and was
inclined to get full sometimes, and then would try to be very
loving with the general, he soon moved out in the direction of
Hamilton’s Crossing and we saw no more of him for some
time.

We spent March and April drilling and getting ready for
the summer campaign, which we expected would open soon,
as we had heard “Fighting Joe” Hooker had been made com-
mander of the Federals, and of course we expected some hard
work. About 28 April, a detail of men with two wagons was
sent from the Brigade to Port Royal with seines to catch shad
for the camp. The Sixteenth was on picket that night, and
of course were anticipating a fine time eating fish, but like
many others on many other occasions we were again to be
disappointed. Just at daybreak we heard the pickets firing
at Fredericksburg, and Fighting Joe had commenced his “On
to Richmond” to find a strong “Stonewall” in his way. Very
soon a courier came with orders to go back to camp at once,
which we did, finding all in confusion, wagons loading and
everybody preparing for a move. Soon the order came to
“fall in,” and just as we were marching out of camp the two
wagons sent out returned with two full loads of shad. They
were thrown out in the middle of the street, and many of the

boys as they passed took one in their hands with the hope that

they might get a chance to cook them that night for supper,
which T know some did.

CHANCELLORSVIILE,

Passing Fredericksburg Friday morning, 1 May, we came

SIXTEENTH REGIMENT. is

to Chancellorsville, where we found Hooker already estab-
lished and ready for the fray, but poor fellow, he was doomed
to the same fate as some of Jackson’s pets. All day we lay
in his front with artillery and musketry firing, but with lit-
tle effect on either side that we could see.

On Saturday, 2 May, Jackson’s Corps was put in motion
and marching a westerly course in the direction of Spottsylva-
nia Court House until we had passed Hooker’s right flank,
we then turned squarely to the right and crossing the road
were completely in Hooker’s rear, leaving Lee in his front.
Just about sunset the grand move was made by Pender on the
right, near the Chancellor house, where we found the Yan-
kees busily preparing supper, and being uninvited and un-
looked for guests we caused quite a commotion, but made our-
selves at home all the same. There never was such a surprise
party anywhere. They knew nothing of our presence until
we poured a volley into them and they broke, every man for
himself and Jackson for the hindmost. The boys were sorry
they could not stop to take supper, at least to take a cup of
coffee, as there were large pots of the genuine on the fires,
quantities of bread, ham and all kinds of good things to eat
and the cooks all gone. But the orders were “forward.” It
was then getting dark, and with the flash of small arms in
every direction, the bursting of flying shells in the air and the
old Chancellor house in a blaze, the scene was grand and more
than sublime. In the confusion of battle we could scarce tell
friend from foe. Just then a halt was ordered to rectify and
straighten out the lines, ete., and General Pender was or-
dered to send a regiment to General Stuart. Calling to
Major Gordon, of the Thirty-fourth, he ordered him to go’
with General Stuart, but Gordon began to complain that his
men were very tired and needed rest. Pender then said,
‘Well, sir, Colonel McElroy will go—his men are tired, too—
Colonel McElroy, take your regiment and go with General
Stuart.” We started at once and followed Stuart without
knowing where we were going, but had not gone far when a
courier came up and told General Stuart that General Jack-
son had been wounded, and he was wanted to take command.
He then ordered Colonel McElroy to go on to the United