188 Nort Carorina Troops, 1861-65.

the plunder left by them in their hurry to get off. We fol-
lowed about eight miles on the Wilderness road, when we met
Generals Lee, Stuart, and others. General Lee said: “Well,
boys, you may go back to camp.”

We gave three cheers for General Lee, and started home
again, reaching Orange about 12 M. the next day, and went
into camp the next day near the old place. A few days after
our return Captain Erwin was retired from the service on ac-
count of wounds received at Fredericksburg, and left for
home promising that he would call on my friend, Andrew An-
tone, as he passed through Richmond and get the pound of
candy I had won from him and give it to two young lady
friends of mine, but I find it has not been paid yet, and I still
demand the $25 worth of candy.

In General Meade’s examination before a Congressional
Committee on Conduct of the War, he was asked why he did
not fight Lee at Mine Run. He replied that the weather was
so cold that his sentinels froze to death on post.

WINTER oF 1863-’64.

We reached our old camp near Orange about noon, 3 De-
cember. The men marched like cavalry, all so anxious to get
back to the old grounds. The weather moderated after we
got back, and for two weeks we had fine, pleasant weather,
but just before Christmas it began to snow and sleet, and we
then had very cold weather for some time. The day before
Christmas I had accepted an invitation to visit some friends
in Lane’s Brigade about four miles up the river near Liberty

-Mills, to take Christmas dinner, they having possessed them-
selves of a fine gobbler and other Christmas goods, but just
after tattoo the long roll was sounded and orders were issued
to pack up and be ready to march at a moment’s warning and
let no one leave camp until further orders, so all our caleula-
tions for Christmas were spoiled. We were kept in suspense
for three days, and as nothing further happened, the men be-
gan to feel at ease. We found out afterwards that the order
was only intended to keep the men in camp during Christ-

mas, fearing that they would go off, get drunk and do mis-
chief—but such is war.

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SIXTEENTH REGIMENT. 189

We remained quietly doing picket duty during the next
month, having one or two little cavalry dashes, at Barnett’s
Ford until 1 February, 1864, when the enemy made a feint to
cross in the afternoon. Our brigade was marched down to
the ford and kept the breastworks until after dark, when they
were ordered back to camp and to cook rations and be ready
to return at 4 o’clock. Promptly on time we were again in
the trenches, and at dawn of day the artillery on both sides
opened and kept up a heavy fire for about an hour, the in-
fantry having a little fight across the river with their cav-
alry—if they had infantry we saw none of it.. They soon re-
tired and we were left alone. Troops were coming in all day
to our relief, but as there was no further demonstration on the
part of the enemy all again became quiet, the troops returned
to their camps and the usual routine of duty was taken up.

Just at this time the writer was granted a thirty days’ leave
of absence, and drawing from the Quartermaster $500 Con-
federate money, I started for Richmond and home. Some
time before I had sent to R. M. Robinson, of Charlotte, three
and one-half yards of cloth furnished by North Carolina for
$25. On reaching Charlotte I found the clothes ready and
paid Robinson $150 for making and trimmings, and on my
return to Orange I had $10 left, which I gave for a pound of
soda and went to camp without a cent, showing that it cost six
months’ pay to go home, pay for a suit of clothes and one
pound of soda.

During March and April we had only one little affair at
the Ford with cavalry and artillery, our cavalry being on the
north side of the river. Standing on the hills on the south
side we could see the charging and counter charges, first one
on the run, then the other. We had a few men wounded at
the river by shell. Quite an amusing incident oceurred at
the Ford with some women who were crossing on foot while
the shells were falling and bursting in and around the Ford,
but for fear of making some one blush I will not relate this
story. The Yankees were soon driven off and all was quiet
again for some time.

About 25 A'pril we had quite a snow storm, the ground
being covered several inches. In a day or so the sun came