502 NortH Carotina Troops, 1861-’65.

The next day this brigade was in reserve at the battle of
Malvern Hill, and lay just behind the attacking line, receiv-
ing the shot and shell that passed over them. We then re-

turned to camp at Drewry’s Bluff.
About 7 July, 1862, our brigade was moved to Merchant

Hope Church, below Petersburg, and on the morning of 11
and 12 July the Twenty-seventh North Carolina and the

Second Georgia Battalion, under the command of Colonel
Cooke, were secreted on the bank of James river, at Fort
Powhatan, and fired on the transports and other vessels pass-
ing up the river to McClellan’s camp at Harrison’s Landing.
Each day, as soon as the gun-boats would run down and be-
gin shelling, we would retire to our camp, some five miles
from the river. After two days of this, McClellan threw a
strong force over to our side of the river and we retired to
Petersburg.

We rested near Petersburg, Va., until, in the latter part
of July or the first part of August, we formed a part of the
support of the artillery that shelled McClellan’s camp at Har-
rison’s Landing. 26 August, 1862, we left Petersburg and
a day or two after were at Rapidan Station, Va.

1 September, 1862, (this brigade having been put in a
division with Robert Ransom’s North Carolina Brigade and
Brigadier-General J. G. Walker, our, Brigadier, given com-
mand of the division), we started on the Maryland campaign
as the rear guard of Lee’s army. Upon Walker’s assuming
command of the division, Colonel Van H. Manning, of the
Third Arkansas (a native North Carolinian, having been
born in Martin County), beeame commander of the brigade.
We took little part in the operations in Northern Virginia
until 12 September, 1862, when the Twenty-seventh North
Carolina and Thirtieth Virginia captured Loudon Heights
at Harper’s Ferry, and the Forty-sixth North Carolina took,
and held, the road around the foot of the mountain along
the Potomac. At the capture of Harper’s Ferry the Forty-
eighth North Carolina held a position on the side of the moun-
tain, just over the town.

After the surrender of Harper’s Ferry, we were moved
rapidly by way of Charlestown, Halltown, and Shepherds-

CooKk’s BRIGADE. 503

town, to Sharpsburg, Maryland, arriving there on the after-
noon of 16 September, 1862.

17 September, 1862, shortly after daylight, we found our-
selves on the extreme right of the Confederate lines. About.
8:30 o’clock we were ordered double-quick to the left center.

When we reached a point near the Dunkard Church, the
Twenty-seventh North Carolina (Colonel Cooke), and the
Third Arkansas (Captain Reedy, commanding), were or-
dered “by the right flank, double-quick,” and sent immedi-
ately into the fight, while the other regiments of our brigade
and Ransom’s Brigade moved further to the left.

This gave Cooke a little command—two regiments—and
they fought all the balance of the day under him.

History tells how well these two regiments performed their
duty. Lee, Jackson and Longstreet, all mention them, and
their action that day was what made John R. Cooke a Briga-
dier. They held their line for two hours without a cartridge.

After Sharpsburg we moved by easy stages via Martins-
burg, Winchester, ete., to Culpepper, Va.

In November, 1862, General Walker was promoted to
Major-General and ordered to the Trans-Mississippi Depart-
ment. Upon the promotion of Walker, Cooke (though the
junior Colonel of the brigade), was made Brigadier-General
on account of the action of his command at Sharpsburg.
General Robert Ransom succeeded General Walker in com-
mand of the Division.

General Walker had as his staff Lieutenant —. —. Galt,
A. D. C.; Major E. M. Braxton, Quartermaster: Major John
S. Hays, Commissary ; Lieutenant —. —. Wright, Ordnance
Officer, and an Adjutant-General whose name I cannot recall.

When Colonel Manning became commander of the brigade
he appointed his Adjutant, H. A. Butler (who was a native
“Tar Heel,” having been born in Granville County, N. C.)
as Adjutant-General. Walker took with him only his Ad-
jutant-General and Aide-de-Camp. So, Cooke found him-
self with a staff, not of his own selection, and not one of
whom came from a North Carolina regiment. The only
appointment left for him was that of Aide-de-Camp. This
he gave to Hugh Patton, of Virginia, a personal friend.