At McDowell we formed a reunion with the rest of our forces, who in
their flight made a long detour, passing through a portion of Maryland
adjoining that part of West Virginia. The following evening we had dress
parade and the Adjutant's report of those who were missing. The writer
does not remember the entire casualties of that affair, but found that
his little squad of twenty-one were all present or accounted for.
My friend, Eagle, from whom we hired teams to carry us to Laurel Hill
was present and he came to shake hands with me while we were in line; he
was glad to see me. A general order to disband the regiment for ten days
was read, in order to enable the men to seek the needed rest. Mr. Eagle
came to me at once, saying, "I take care of you and your friends, the
twenty-one that I hauled to Laurel Hill, at my house. It shall not cost
you a cent", a most generous and acceptable offer. I called for my
Davisboro fellows, and followed Mr. Eagle to his home, where he
entertained us in a most substantial manner. He was a man well-to-do, an
old bachelor. The household consisted of himself and two spinster
sisters, all between forty and fifty years of age; and a worthy mother
in the seventies, also a brother who was a harmless lune, roving at will
and coming home when he pleased, a very inoffensive creature; his name
was Chris. The mother, although for years in that country, still could
not talk the English language. Untiringly and seemingly in the best of
mood, they performed their duties in preparing meals for that hungry
army. Chris got kinder mystified to see so many strangers in the house.
He walked about the premises all day, saying, "Whoo-p-e-ee Soldiers
fighting against the war", and no matter what you asked him, his reply
was, "Whoo-o-p-e-ee, Soldiers fighting against the war-ha-ha-ha-ha!"
At the expiration of the ten days leave, we bade our host good-bye. We
wanted to remunerate him, at least in part, for all of his trouble in
our behalf, but he would not receive the least remuneration, saying, "I
am sorry I could not have done more." We rendezvoused in the town, but a
great many were missing on account of sickness, the measles of a very
virulent nature having broken out among the men, and many succumbed from
the disease. We were ordered back to Monterey and went into camp. The
measles still continued to be prevalent and two of my Davisboro comrades
died of it, viz., John Lewis and Noah Turner, two as clever boys as ever
were born. I felt very sad over the occurrence. Their bodies were sent
home and they were buried at New Hope Church.
General R. E. Lee, rode up one day, and we were ordered in line for
inspection, he was riding a dapple gray horse. He looked every inch a
soldier. His countenance had a very paternal and kind expression. He was
clean shaven, with the exception of a heavy iron gray mustache. He
complimented us for our soldiery bearing. He told Captain Jones that he
never saw a finer set of men. We camped at Monterey for a month. During
all this time, when the people at home became aware of our disaster,
they at once went to work to make up uniforms and other kinds of wearing
apparels. Every woman that could ply a needle exerted herself, and
before we left Monterey for Green Brier, Major Newman, who always a
useful and patriotic citizen, made his appearance among the boys, with
the product of the patriotic women of Washington County. Every man was
remembered munificently, and it is due to the good women of the county
that we were all comfortably shod and clothed to meet the rigorous
climate of a winter season in that wild region.