210 Norto Caronmina Troops, 1861-’65.

He was wounded in the knee and I suppose must have given
out in the night and was probably picked up next day by the
cavalry, and quite likely died in prison. After some time I
saw an old man marching ahead of me with a shawl on his
shoulder, and soon recognized old Dr. Armstrong, who had
spent the fall and winter in and around our camp, and preach-
ed to us often. He was an old Presbyterian D. D., and had
been imprisoned by General Butler when in command of Nor-
folk, and had been made to sweep the streets with a ball and
chain on his leg and under a negro guard. When I caught
up with him and asked him why he was leaving he replied ;
“T never expect to fall into the hands of General Butler again
if I can help it.” He kept up with us till we reached Appo-
mattox, and I heard some time ago that he was still alive at
his home in Norfolk. We marched all day Monday and
Monday night, and Tuesday morning, 4 April, just at day-
light recrossed the Appomattox, having to wade some distance
before reaching the bridge, and there we found the remnant
of the Sixteenth under Colonel Stowe. After resting an
hour we again took the road and reached Amelia Court House,
where we spent the night, getting a very small quantity of ra-

be]

tions, the first since leaving Petersburg. Just as we were
ready to march the next morning, Wednesday, a courier
dashed up with the news that the Yankee cavalry was raiding
our wagon train on another road, and the Sixteenth was
started at once to drive them away. We found several wagons
with their wheels cut down and others on fire, the teams all
gone, the ground strewn with officers’ trunks all broken open
and rifled of their contents. While there a gentleman came
up with a small piece of silverware that he had found. He
said they had robbed his house of everything they could carry
off, but had dropped that one piece on the road. We followed
for some distance, but the only Yankee we saw was a cavalry-
man who was so drunk that he didn’t know anything. Some
one had taken all his outer clothing off, and we left him lying
in the road as we found him. We found the brigade resting
about 11 o’clock that night, and early next morning were
again on the march in the direction of Farmville, which we

SIXTEENTH REGIMENT. Zit

reached on the morning of the 7th, where we found our wagon
train and I learned of my loss.

FARMVILLE.

On 7 May, at Farmville, we were attacked by a whole corps
of infantry and one division of cavalry, and after a sharp
fight the enemy was repulsed with heavy loss, including one
General. Here, so far as I know, the last Federal soldier was
shot by the Sixteenth. Israel Higgins, of Company G, being
on the skirmish line, shot an officer off his horse and then
crawled out to him and got the horse and brought it in, but in
doing so he was seriously wounded and had to be left in the
hospital there. After the surrender at Appomattox I was
sent to from division headquarters for his name which I gave.

Before the enemy could bring up their reinforcements we
were again met on the march in the direction of Appomattox
Cenrt House, but in the afternoon we made a stand, formed
line of battle and got ready to give the enemy a warm wel-
come. They came in sight, formed line and we expected
every moment that they would advance on us, but with the
exception of shelling us a little they did not trouble us.
After dark we again moved off and marched all night and
day of the 8th, with a short stop or so for rest, and went into
camp about two miles from the court house. The last time I
left home a little niece of mine put half a dozen ears of pop-
corn in my haversack; I still had one left, and that was my
only supper. We each got a pint of meal that night, but too
late to be baked, so carried it over.

Karly on Sunday morning, 9 April, we were aroused and
soon on the way, but for some reason unknown to us, our pro-
gress was very slow. We would march a little way, then stop
and stand for some time, then move on to be halted again,
and it being still dark we could not see what was going on
ahead. We had about 1,500 prisoners, including one General
of cavalry, and we thought may be they were delaying the
march. Just as daylight began to appear we heard picket
firing in front, and as we came nearer the firing became more
rapid until about sunrise it sounded very much like a general
engagement. About this time we came in sight of Appomat-