I failed to mention that before the reorganization of the regiment for
the war Johnson Hagood had been promoted to Brigadier General and was in
command on James Island; and I also failed to say that James Hagood, a
Citadel boy of about 17½ years, and a brother of the General, had come
over to James Island and joined Company C, Capt. B. B. Kirkland, as a
private. We were taken over to Charleston and encamped on the Citadel
Green, preparatory to leaving for Virginia. Just after getting over to
Charleston I was taken with "low country fever," and was sent up to the
hospital in Augusta, Ga. Old Dr. Ford was in charge of the hospital,
which was the old Eagle and Phoenix Hotel. I was up there about three
weeks when I heard that the regiment had left Charleston for Virginia. I
immediately went to Dr. Ford and asked for a discharge from the hospital
and transportation to Richmond, where I hoped to overtake them. He tried
to dissuade me from leaving, and offered me a permanent place under him,
but I did not go into service to hang up in hospitals, consequently, I
declined and got my discharge and transportation and took the first
train going North. I was alone--had never been out of the State, except
to Augusta--a mere kid of a boy. I can tell you, I felt mighty lonesome.
Besides, I was afraid that the regiment would get so far ahead of me
that I would not overtake them before they got to the fighting ground. I
felt that if the regiment did get in a fight without me I would forever
be disgraced, no matter the reason. Fortunately, just before reaching
Richmond I ran up on Dr. Martin Bellinger, our surgeon, who had been
looking after some sick before leaving Charleston, and who, too, had got
behind. We got to Richmond about four days after the regiment had left
for Manassas. Dr. Bellinger's horse was there, but I had to take it
a-foot and alone, except some stragglers, like myself, none of whom,
however, did I know, as they were not from our regiment. Dr. Bellinger,
in Richmond, took me to the Spotswood Hotel and gave me dinner, after
which we both left to overtake our men. It was just outside the city
when the doctor rode away from me. I felt that I was deserted by
everybody and disgraced if I let the regiment get into a fight before I
reached them. I traveled that night until about midnight, when I lay
down by the roadside and slept till sunrise. I again pulled out and kept
on the go. By this time the rations that I had slipped into my haversack
at the Spotswood were gone. I did not know how I would get something to
eat from then on. In passing by a pasture I saw four or five sheep. I
loaded my musket, took deliberate aim at one not more than twenty steps
off, fired and _missed_. I shot at this old fellow not less than five
times and gave it up in disgust. That evening, just before sundown, I
ran across a large, fat hog. I know it could not have weighed less than
three hundred pounds. I was hungry good by this time, and I was
determined to have meat. I loaded up and first fire _brought her down_.
I then skinned and cut off a ham, and going perhaps a mile further, I
stopped for the night at a spring by the roadside. The balance of the
hog I left where she fell; but as I had passed so many stragglers I know
she did not spoil, for they, like myself, were hungry. I feasted that
night on broiled ham--no salt, no bread, _but it was good_. This ham
lasted me until I overtook the wagon train, which was about six miles in
rear of the regiment, or, I may say now, the army. I overtook these
wagons in camp about twelve o'clock at night and I stopped to camp. I
was very much surprised to be awakened perhaps an hour before day by the
firing of cannon and small arms ahead. I could not remain longer. I got
up and headed for the front. Not being experienced in warfare at that
time, I had no idea that the firing on the front was exceeding three
miles at most, but when I came to travel it I found that after I had
gone at least six miles I had only reached the location of the field
hospital. Here again I ran upon Dr. Bellinger, he having very little
help, and with a desire to care for me, as he saw that I was about
broken down, he ordered me to remain to assist with the wounded, who had
begun to come in. I protested, but he held firm and I was soon at work.
The duty demanded of me by Dr. Bellinger was to assist in the
examinations and amputations, and many a poor fellow did I hold while
his leg or arm was taken off. I was shocked at the number of our
regiment brought back killed and wounded. Men whom I had only a few
weeks before left in Charleston in the best of health and spirits, some
dead, others wounded. I could hardly realize such carnage. Over half of
the regiment was killed and wounded. I remained with Dr. Bellinger until
the wounded were all disposed of, when he let me go. I overtook the
regiment just after they crossed the Potomac River into Maryland. Our
regiment left Charleston and went into the Manassas fight with Thos. J.
Glover, of Orangeburg, Colonel; Wm. H. Duncan, of Barnwell,
Lieutenant-Colonel; Daniel H. Livingston, of Orangeburg, Major; Wm. J.
Wood, of Steel Creek, Adjutant; Mortimer Glover, of Orangeburg,
Sergeant-Major; Captain Warren B. Flowers, of Baldoc, Quartermaster; (I
cannot recollect now who was the Commissary); Dr. Martin Bellinger, of
Four Mile, Surgeon; Dr. Wm. S. Stoney, of Allendale, Assistant Surgeon.
The Company Commanders were: Company A, Capt. Isaac Bamberg, Bamberg;
Company B, Capt. ---- Wannamaker, Orangeburg; Company C, Capt. B. B.
Kirkland, Buford's Bridge; Company D, Capt. Robt. L. Crawford, Marion;
Company E, Capt. Jno. H. Thompson, Upper Three Runs; Company F, Capt. T.
D. Gwinn, Greenville; Company G, Capt. J. G. Grimes, Bamberg; Company H,
Capt. John C. Winsmith, Spartanburg; Company I, Capt. Jas. H. Stafford,
Marion; Company K, Capt. ---- Knotts, Orangeburg. The lieutenants of
the companies I cannot recollect. Gus Hagood, of Barnwell, was color
bearer. This is about the manner our regiment was officered on reaching
Lee's army, and was assigned to Hood's Texas Brigade. We went into the
Second Manassas about fourteen hundred strong. It seemed to me that every
minute there was some poor fellow brought back. Col. Glover was killed
outright. Maj. Livingston wounded slightly; Adjutant Wood wounded; Capt.
Bamberg, of Company A, wounded; Capt. Wannamaker, Company B, wounded;
Capt. Kirkland, Company C, wounded; Capt. Crawford, Company D, wounded;
Capt. Thompson, Company E, killed; Capt. Gwinn, Company F, wounded;
Capt. Grimes, Company G, wounded; Capt. Winsmith, Company H, wounded;
Capt. Stafford, Company I, wounded; Capt. Knotts, Company K, wounded.
Besides these nearly all the lieutenants were either killed or wounded
and about one-half, at least, of the regiment. You will therefore see
that our regiment suffered very heavily. Our colors, _they say_, went
down seven times. First, Gus Hagood was shot through the body, and Dr.
Bellinger passed a silk handkerchief entirely through his body, taking
hold of each end and wiping out the blood. He got well, but was never
fit for service again. As Hagood fell with the colors, Gus Eaves, from
Bamberg, one of the color guards, rushed to them and raised them aloft.
In a few minutes his right arm was torn to splinters. Immediately they
were seized by another, and this was continued until the eighth man
bore them through. The fight continued from early morning till night,
when the army camped on the battlefield, ready to renew next morning;
but next morning the enemy had disappeared. We had been driving them all
day. Our regiment made charge after charge, and at one time during the
day in making a charge and in passing over some wounded Yankees, one
inquired, "What regiment is that?" and on being told "the First S. C.
V.," he said, "You all are the d----st fools I ever saw; you have been
whipped all day."
Nothing being in our front next day to hinder us, we arranged--each
company--for its senior officers to command, in a great many instances,
non-commissioned officers taking command, and we went on a chase into
Maryland. Lieut.-Col. Duncan assumed command of the regiment and Maj.
Livingston, who was only slightly hurt, returned to us just as we
crossed the Potomac River. The first place I recollect after getting
into Maryland was Frederick City. As we passed through the town
everybody was out to see us; streets crammed, doors and windows full;
some cheering and waving Confederate flags; others jeering us and waving
United States flags. We went through the town in a "hurrah" and let them
know that we knew we had just given the Yankee army a good licking at
Manassas and were ready for them again. Just after crossing into
Maryland Lieut.-Col. Duncan, who was commanding our regiment since the
killing of Col. Glover at Manassas, was taken sick and went back into
an ambulance, but did not leave us entirely until we again crossed the
Potomac back into Virginia, when he got a sick furlough and went home to
Barnwell. This left the command of the regiment to Maj. Livingston. I
was then Orderly for the colonel, which required me to be at regimental
headquarters and around the regimental commander at all times and to
extend his private orders and commands. In this position I was not
required to carry a gun, and it was well for me that I was so exempted,
for I could never have made the marching had I been loaded down. Before
crossing into Maryland the entire army were ordered to leave all their
baggage, and on this trip we had nothing but a haversack, canteen and a
blanket or oil cloth, besides the accoutrements--gun, cartridge box and
scabbard. You will see from this that we were prepared for _quick
marching_.