After holding our ground and showing our enemy that we were not beaten
at Sharpsburg, we left the battlefield in broad daylight and leisurely
took our way to the Potomac and recrossed into Virginia. We stopped over
at Martinsburg and then went on, and went into camp at the Big Spring,
near Winchester, where we remained for three or four weeks. Here our
baggage came to us and it was refreshing to get into clean clothes once
more. While here a good many of our sick and slightly wounded returned
to us, among whom was Maj. Livingston, who relieved Sergt.-Major Hagood
in commanding the regiment. Nothing unusual occurred during our stay at
the Big Spring, only that it was a good country to forage in and we
usually had enough to eat and sometimes some apple jack to wash it down.
After we had been at the Big Spring for several weeks, and the army had
increased considerably, we were taken on a forced march and carried to
Culpeper Court House. Here we remained for several weeks, again getting
in more men who had recovered from wounds and sickness.
At this place Sergt.-Major Jas. Hagood was made adjutant. While
remaining over here we had drills and dress parade every day and
rested up pretty well. One day I got a pass to go over to Culpeper
and took it up to brigade headquarters to have it countersigned. When
Adjutant-General R. M. Simms saw my name he asked me if I knew Seth
Mixson, of Barnwell, and when I said "He is my brother," Gen. Jenkins
asked where he was. I told him on the coast. Gen. Jenkins then told me
to write him. If he would accept he would have him appointed colonel of
our regiment. You can imagine I was very much elated at this and wrote
him immediately. In a short time I received a reply saying, "Tell Micah
Jenkins I am quartermaster-sergeant of a cavalry regiment on the coast
and would not give it for a major-general in Lee's army." I was
completely disgusted with the answer and never delivered it to Gen.
Jenkins.
It was here that Col. Coward took command of the Fifth South Carolina. I
recollect how game he looked. He had the regiment formed for dress
parade. He was dressed in a brand new suit, polished high top boots,
shining spurs and bright sword. He did not weigh over one hundred and
twenty pounds, but he looked game. He had the orders read appointing him
colonel, and then he told the men that he was now their colonel and
would be respected as such; he would not tell them to go only as he led
them. When he got through his talk the Fifth knew they had a colonel,
and after-events proved it, for from then on the Fifth was one of the
best regiments in our brigade. Before leaving here Lieut.-Col. Duncan
was promoted to colonel and Maj. Livingston to lieutenant-colonel. After
some three weeks' stay here we were hurried over to Fredericksburg,
reaching there in time to meet Hooker's advance. Upon reaching
Fredericksburg our brigade was held in reserve for a time--in fact, for
the entire day. About sundown we were moved up and relieved some troops
that had been engaged, and we fought then nearly all night and the next
day, until Hooker fell back across the river, leaving us in possession
of the battlefield. After the enemy had recrossed the river we were
taken to woods just off of the field, where we remained in position,
ready for an attack at any moment, should they make an advance. We did
not move back to these woods till about dark, consequently, during the
afternoon we and the enemy were very near together, with the
Rappahannock River only between us, but no fighting going on. Just
before sundown the Yankee band came down to the river bank and commenced
to play. Very soon our bands were on the bank on our side. The Yankee
band would play the popular airs of theirs amid much yelling and
cheering; our bands would do the same with the same result. Towards the
wind-up the Yankee band struck up "Yankee Doodle." Cheers were immense.
When they stopped our band struck up "Dixie," and everything went wild.
When they finished this, both bands, with one accord and simultaneously,
struck up "Home, Sweet Home." There was not a sound from anywhere until
the tune was finished and it then seemed as if everybody had gone crazy.
I never saw anything to compare with it. Both sides were cheering,
jumping up and throwing up hats and doing everything which tended to
show enthusiasm. This lasted for at least a half hour. I do believe that
had we not had the river between us that the two armies would have gone
together and settled the war right there and then. I saw old
weather-beaten men, naked, barefooted, hungry, dirty and worn out, with
tears streaming down their cheeks; men who were not afraid to leave
their homes, their wives, their families, their _all_; but men with
hearts, who could not restrain the tears when it was so vividly brought
to them. Their hearts were touched then, but they were yet men who were
willing to do or die.
As before said, the army was taken back to the shelter of the woods, off
the field of carnage, for the night. Company E of our regiment was left
on the river bank to watch the movement of the enemy. I was left with
them to carry any message to the colonel during the night, should the
emergency arise. Some time, about two o'clock, there was considerable
commotion in the camp of the enemy. Capt. Wood ordered me to report to
the colonel that he thought they were preparing to make an advance. It
was nearly a mile back to our line, raining and dark. I had to go across
this battlefield alone, but there was no escape. I took a direct course.
There was no woods on my way. You nor no one can imagine how trying it
was. One second I would stumble over a dead man or horse, next would
step on some poor wounded fellow, who would either curse me or beg
piteously for water or help; next run on a wounded horse and run the
risk of being kicked to death. _It was fearful_; but after a time I
reached the woods and delivered my message. The colonel instructed me to
return and keep him informed. I told him, and begged him not to send me
back before daylight--_I could not go_; it was _too much for me_. He
took pity on me and allowed me to remain till daylight. I do believe
that had he insisted on my returning that night that I would have died
before making the trip.
There was no advance made by the enemy, but they moved off and went into
winter quarters. This was the winter of 1862, and our first in Virginia;
besides, it was a remarkably cold winter. They gave us little A tents,
allowing six to a tent. We cut down trees and built up a pole house
about three feet high, and pitched our tent on top of this, and when we
had completed a chimney and had daubed the cracks with clay we had a
very comfortable residence. Our great trouble was getting in wood; but
we would take turn about to get in a day's supply. We fared very well,
taking everything into consideration. There was a very heavy snow storm;
snow fell about waist deep over the whole country. One morning a few men
commenced to snow ball. These were added to until the whole army was
engaged. Brigadier-generals took command of their brigades; colonels of
their regiments; captains of their companies. It was a regular planned
battle and was fought all day. Sometimes one would take the camp of
another and plunder it of blankets, rations, cooking utensils and
whatever else there was. It was the biggest snow ball fight on record. I
did not engage in the fight, but took a hand in plundering a camp
whenever we got into one. I had rations for several days after this
affair--rations taken from the fellows' dinner out of their camps.
While here this winter we had a good many changes. Col. Duncan resigned
and F. W. Kilpatrick, of Pendleton, was made colonel. Capt. Knotts, of
Company K, resigned, and Jim Hagood was made captain of his company. S.
B. Clowney, of Fairfield, was made adjutant. O. D. Wilson, of Allendale,
was made sergeant-major, and other changes in company officers which I
do not recall, except that P. H. Wood, of Steel Creek, was made captain
of Company E. We remained in winter quarters until the severe winter was
over, and when we had recruited so that our regiment and brigade had
gotten to be quite respectable in size. When we broke winter quarters we
were carried down on the Blackwater River, in the neighborhood of
Suffolk. I think Jenkins' Brigade was the only force carried down.
Our brigade was pretty badly scattered down here and had to cover a big
space. The regiments were camped some four miles apart. After remaining
here on the Blackwater for some little time the brigade was
consolidated, and we were moved down to Suffolk. Here we were in daily
communication with the enemy and our picket lines were only a short
distance apart. While here we were one day asked for volunteers to go
down and charge the gun boats. The volunteers were soon procured, but we
wondered how infantry could charge gun boats. However, we went, and when
we got in good range they opened on us with shells about the size of
flour barrel heads. We did not make much out of charging gun boats. We
had several engagements with the enemy while in this section, holding
back any advance they prepared to make and guarding Richmond from this
direction. While here the Chancellorsville fight came off and it was
here that we heard of the killing of Stonewall Jackson. The
Chancellorsville fight was the only fight of any note that we had missed
since we reached Virginia.
We remained down in this country until the spring had advanced and
summer was about on us, when we were taken up to Petersburg and camped
outside of the town and did police duty in the town. We were given new
uniforms while here and fixed up in pretty good shape. Again we were
fortunate, for while we were remaining here Lee made his advance into
Pennsylvania and the great battle of Gettysburg was fought and we lost.
Just after this battle when Lee saw Jenkins he said to him, "Jenkins, if
I had had your brigade at Gettysburg I would have won." This was high
praise, but then we deserved it and it did not detract from any that
were there. It was not long before we heard that Longstreet's corps was
to go West and we got orders to pack up and move. We were loaded on
freight trains in and on top of freight boxes at Petersburg, our brigade
being the last of Longstreet's corps to leave.