212 Nort Caroxrina Troops, 1861-’65.

Governor Vance expressing his high appreciation of their
services. From his letter I make this extract:

“Hrapguarters Army Norruprn VIRGINIA,
“August 29, 1864.
“His Excellency Z. B. Vance,
Governor of North Carolina, Raleigh:

“T have frequently been called upon to mention the services
of North Carolina soldiers in this army, but their gallantry
and conduct were never more deserving of admiration than in
the engagement at Reams Station on the 25th ultimo.

“The brigades of Generals Cooke, MacRae and Lane, the
last under the temporary command of General Conner, ad-
vanced through a thick abatis of felled trees, under a heavy
fire of musketry and artillery, and carried the enemy’s works
with a steady courage that elicited the warm commendation
of their corps and division commanders, and the admiration
of the army.

“On the same occasion the brigade of General Barringer
bore a conspicuous part in the operations of the cavalry,
which were no less distinguished for boldness and efficiency
than those of the infantry.

“Tf the men who remain in North Carolina share the spirit
of those they have sent to the field, as I doubt not they do, her
defence may securely be trusted to their hands.

“T am, with great respect,
“Your obedient servant,
R. E. Lez,
“General.”

The regiments from North Carolina engaged in this battle
‘again illustrated those high qualities which will perpetuate
the name and fame of the Confederate soldier in the years
te come. Unshaken by the fall of Vicksburg and the disaster
at Gettysburg, undismayed amidst the general gloom which
was settling upon the fortunes of the South, they exhibited
the same enthusiasm and valor which had marked their con-
duct upon every field where they stood for the honor, glory

and renown of their State.
Cuar tes M. SrepMan.

Greensporo, N. C.,
25 August, 1901.

 

“THE THIN GRAY LINE OF TAR
HEELS.”

WINCHESTER, 19 SEPVTEMBER, 16864.

By BRIGADIER-GENERAL BRADLEY T. JOHNSON.

In September, 1864, Early’s army was lying about Win-
chester. We had been through Maryland, and terrified
Washington into fits, and had gotten safely back into Vir-
ginia, with thousands of horses, cattle, medical stores and
hundreds of wagon loads of edibles of every kind. I had a
eavalry brigade of wild, southwestern Virginia horsemen, as
brave and as undisciplined as the Virginia Rangers Colonel
Washington surrendered at Fort Necessity, or Andrews
fought Cornstalk with at Point Pleasant. I was bivouacked ;
we had no tents. About three miles north of Winchester, on
the Valley pike, and picketed from the Valley pike to the
Berryville pike, running east from Winchester, General Rob-
ert D. Johnston, of North Carolina, had a brigade of from
800 to 1,000 muskets on the Berryville pike, on the top of the
ridge running across the road. My pickets were a mile in
advance of his in Ash Hollow. Sheridan, with 45,000 in-
fantry and 10,000 cavalry, lay eight to fifteen miles beyond
our picket lines, from Berryville and Ripon to Charlestown
and Halltown, in Clarke and Jefferson Counties, Va. Now,
every morning the Yankee cavalry would rush my pickets in
on Johnston’s posts. He would stop them until I got up,
and then I’d drive the Yankees back and re-establish my orig-
inal picket posts. This done, I would send my command
back to camp.

I had about eight hundred mounted men, and I would ride
up to Bob Johnston’s headquarters, which was a wagon under
a tree, one camp stool and a frying pan sizzing with bacon,
and a pot of rye coffee and sorghum. I’d get my breakfast.
But after a week of this proceeding it either became monoto-
nous or my appetite showed no signs of weakening. I don’t