day we crossed the river. The Potomac ited head-quarters and learned from General Hood that Evans's brigade had been attached to our division, and as General Evans ranked General Hood, the former was in command of the whole of the new organi here is about one-fourth of a mile wide, and The cavalry and infantry crossed first; then the artillery, and last the trains. It was late before our batteries could get over. There was a small party of officers riding together. As we placed our feet on the soil of Maryland, a gentleman met us and asked us to drink with him, to the success of the invasion—inviting us, at the same time, to go home with him and take supper. He was a native of the State, and seemed delighted to see the "rebels." As we marched along the next day, a good many people came out to see us-especially ladies, who welcomed us to their State, and hoped we would drive the Yankees out. CHAPTER XXV. UPON crossing into Maryland, very stringent orders were issued against committing depredations on the property of citizens of that State. These orders were carried out in exceeding good faith, and during our whole stay there I did not see any but one case of infraction of them. Some few persons would take Confederate money for what they had to sell, but most of them demanded gold and silver, and would take nothing else. The consequence was, in a majority of cases, that our poor, half-starved soldiers had to forego the pleasure of buying any thing they needed. When one asked the price of an article, the almost invariable demand was: "What kind of money have you got?" and the expression became a by-word in the army. One day I observed a soldier marching along with a large piece of ham hanging to his bayonet. Another soldier asked him to sell him a piece, whereupon the fortunate possessor of the "bacon" inquired: "What sort of money have you got?” and walked on without further notice of the applicant-to the great amusement of the bystanders. So closely were the orders to respect private property observed, that, in this land of abundance, I have seen whole regiments march past orchards and gardens without touching a thing, and that when they were reduced to half rations of bacon, and sometimes to no rations at all: and this is the more remarkable because the inhabitants, in many places, were very uncivil and abrupt in their manners, and refused to sell for any thing but gold and silver. About noon we passed through Buckeyetown, and soon after came up with our division, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, near the Monocacy River. The engineers were making preparations to blow up the railroad bridge over that stream, and we were directed to take position on a hill overlooking it. Observing some wagons on the top of the hill, I sent a courier with an order for them to move out of the way of the artillery. Finding that the order was not obeyed, I rode up myself to see what was the matter. There was no white man with the trainonly some negro teamsters. I asked one of them to whom the wagons belonged. He replied: "La, Massa, I hardly knows myself; but I bleve dey longs to what dey calls old Mårs Pendleton's preserve artillery." Several One day we halted near a large farm-yard attempts were made, during the evening, to filled with all kinds of poultry. One of our blow up the bridge, which was a splendid men applied to the owner, desiring to puriron structure, without success. Finally, chase a chicken for a "sick soldier." The however, the preparations having been care- farmer at once replied: No; I have no fully rearranged, the mines were again chickens to sell to any such people as you.” sprung, the bridge suddenly lifted in the cen- There were a number of stragglers near, ter, and, toppling over to one side, the whole and in a very short time there was not, I structure fell, with a tremendous crash, into believe, a fowl of any kind left on the place; the river. and nobody but the owner seemed to feel After the destruction of the bridge, I vis- any great depth of sorrow at their removal. This was the only time during our stay in Maryland, that I observed the slightest infraction of General Lee's orders. In some of the towns through which we passed a few people made a display of their Union sentiments by hanging out Federal flags from the windows of their houses and singing the "Star Spangled Banner." Such displays were, however, confined exclusively to the females, and were not very frequent. During a halt in the streets of Fredericktown, quite a good looking young woman came out of a house near us with a Union flag pinned on her breast. She walked up and down the street several times, making quite a display, and evidently bent on attracting attention: but she did not elicit a single remark, and at length went off, apparently disappointed at her want of success. Every right-thinking man in the army was delighted that, in so vast a host, gathered from all parts of the Confederacy, there was no man so low and degraded as to insult a woman! In one little village through which we marched there was a number of school-girls standing at the windows waving secession flags; and as we passed one of them called out: "Hurrah for Jeff Davis!" On every hand we were told that the conduct of our men contrasted most favorably with that of the "Union troops": and if we did not succeed in gaining their active sympathy, we at least commanded their admiration and respect. of the enemy, thus placing McClellan fully in possession of all of General Lee's views and intentions, and enabling him so to dispose his force as in a great measure to frustrate them. The loss of this order was not known to General Lee until it was too late to repair the damage done by it. It was past mid-day when we reached the foot of the mountain which forms the hights of Boonesboro. Slowly we toiled up its steep ascent until we reached the highest ridge. Here a cool spring gushing from beneath some rocks by the road side invited the weary to rest, and a small party of officers dismounted near it. It was a calm, cloudless autumn evening the deep vault of heaven smiling in its bright blue above us, while far away in the western sky the the sun was calmly sinking to his rest. To the east, for miles away, the rich plains over which we had just marched were spread out before us, dotted here and there with little white hamlets which shone in beautiful contrast with the deep green that surrounded them. The fleecy smoke from distant villages floated lightly in the summer air, while away to the right the "Sugar Loaf" Mountain towered up like a giant sentinel keeping watch and ward over the valley below. Toward the west the scene was not less beautiful: broad plains girt with dim mountain peaks stretched toward the setting sun, while green pasture lands, dotted with farms and woods and cottages, lay almost at our feet. Along the side of the mountain We remained in camp at the Monocacy a and far down into the valley were vast colday or two, and then took up our line of umns of troops in motion-the sheen of the march for Hagerstown by way of Boones- setting sun from their bright bayonets markboro. Before leaving, we learned that Gen- ing their way like the track of a huge fiery eral McClellan had been reinstated in the serpent. The red banner of war floated sicommand of the Yankee army, and that he lently over this moving host, and a band in was marching with a large force against us. the distance sent up its stirring strains in It was General Lee's intention to destroy the echoes through the mountains. Who then railroad, and then fall back beyond Hagers- thought that in a few short hours the same town, for the purpose of drawing the enemy echoes would wake to the thunder of artilas far as possible away from his base of sup-lery and the din of clashing arms; that the plies, and then offering battle. To enable charging steed and the rattling car should him to do this it was necessary to occupy trample its rich verdure into gory mire; Martinsburg and reduce Harper's Ferry, so that the mountain slopes should run red as to open a line of communication with with the blood of the slain; the song of the Richmond by way of Staunton and the Val- birds should be hushed in the yells, the ley. For this purpose Jackson's corps was screams, the curses of contending hosts; detached and moved against those places, that its beauty should be gone, and in its while we continued our march through Ma- stead the ghastly corpse, the mangled dead, ryland. Unfortunately an order detailing the grinning skeleton, alone should meet the the plan of the campaign fell into the hands | eye? Yet such is war. Beauty and bright ness, and smiles, and joy, and gladness, flee away before its coming, and Death alone holds revel in its pathway! changed his plans, and it was well for the army that it was so. When orders came for us to march to Boonesboro, the men declared that they would go under no other Hood was not restored to them. General Hood immediately went among them and urged them to go. He had great difficulty in inducing them to move, and succeeded only by promising to go along with them, and, although not in command, to fight with them and die by them, if necessary. With a shout of approval the men resumed their arms and moved forward. The event proved that they had judged rightly for themselves and for the cause. On reaching camp, I learned that General Hood had been placed under arrest by Gen-general, and that they would stack arms if eral Evans during the afternoon. There was great dissatisfaction among the men at this intelligence, and some of them openly declared they would not serve under any other leader. The next morning we moved up near Hagerstown and encamped about a mile from the village. During the afternoon some two or three hundred Marylanders joined us. They were the only recruits we received, so far as I learned. The next morning a small party of us went into Hagerstown. Most of the stores were closed, and sentinels were stationed about in every direction to preserve order. Some of the party wanted to make some purchases. A friend took us through an alley into a store that was closed, where we found no difficulty in purchasing such things as we needed at reasonable prices. After we had concluded, the owner of the establishment invited us to return with him to his house and partake of some refreshments. We at first declined; bnt he insisted on it so warmly that we consented. He said that he had been desirous of offering some hospitality to our people, but that he would suffer for it if it was known to the Federal authorities. I heard of many similar instances during our stay. Some of the people also told us that when the Union troops passed through their State they would search out the Southern sympathizers, and encamp upon their lands, and destroy their stock, crops, and other property in the most wanton manner. I saw many instances of this: a solitary plantation would be literally torn to pieces, while the surrounding farms had been left untouched. General Stuart had been left east of the mountains to observe the enemy in that direction, while D. H. Hill was posted at Boonesboro to prevent those at Harper's Ferry from escaping through Pleasant Valley, and also to support Stuart, should it be necessary. McClellan's advance, up to the time we left Fredericktown, was very slow-so slow, indeed, as to justify the belief that Harper's Ferry could be reduced and the army concentrated before he could possibly come up with us. In that event, it was not General Lee's intention to have opposed his passage through South Motein, as it was desirable to engage him as far as possible from his base of supplies. In the mean time, events transpired which threatened to prevent the capture of Harper's Ferry. General McClellan being made aware of the disposition of our forces, by the copy of one of General Lee's orders falling into his hands, pushed forward rapidly to the pass in South Mountain at Boonesboro. The cavalry under Stuart fell back before him, materially impeding his advances by the gallant resistance they offered, and gaining time sufficient to bring trating the mountain at this point, he would have reached McLaws's rear and been enabled to relieve the garrison at Harper's Ferry. On our return from town, a courier in-up Longstreet to Hill's support. By peneformed me that General Hood wished to see me. I went at once to his tent, which was on the opposite side of the meadow in which we were encamped. He told me that he was about leaving the army for Winchester, The morning of the 14th of September Va., where he would remain until the charge broke bright and clear, and the holy stillupon which he was arrested could be inves-ness of that Sabbath morn was broken only tigated. A small party of officers had assembled to take leave of their favorite leader. It was not generally known, or the whole division would have gathered around him. The events of the next day, however, by the sound of the bugle as it called the soldier to his daily duties. We had just finished breakfast, and the church bells in the village were ringing out their first merry peal, when the boom of a single gun came rolling up the valley-then another, and another, in quick succession. Soon a courier dashed by at full speed, with the intelligence that the enemy were moving on D. H. Hill in heavy force, and that a fierce battle was already raging along the hights at Boonesboro. In a moment the camp was all astir. Orders came to march at once to Hill's support. In a few minutes long lines of infantry were moving from their recent bivouac to the scene of conflict, while the artillery and ordnance trains went rumbling over the rocky roads. All day long we marched as rapidly as possible through the 'heat and dust-each moment the din of battle growing louder and louder until, toward eventide, we reached a small village at the foot of the mountain pass where the gallant Hill had been maintaining his fierce, though unequal, struggle. I had been riding with General Hood for for some time, at the rear of the column, when, just as we were passing out of the village, we came up with General Lee, who had dismounted from his horse and was sitting on a fence by the road side. As soon as he saw General Hood, he called him to him, and as the column halted for a few moments, I saw them in deep and earnest conversation. A smile was resting on the face of our brave young general as the order came for us to move on. Then our aid galloped up calling out: "Artillery, to the front." The infantry opened to let us pass, and we moved up at a trot. We had reached the top of the ridge when General Hood galloped up. As he passed he called out: "I have come back to take command of my division; should you receive any orders from me, you will know what to do." A wild yell of delight from our lines greeted this announcement, and as we were now fully under fire, we were ordered to the left to support General Evans. The column had already gotten in motion, when General Longstreet rode up and asked where Hood was going. When told to the left to support General Evans, he said: "Go to General Hood and tell him to move to the right, and then come to me for instructions; and you go with him and see if any artillery can be used in that position. In a few minutes General Hood returned to the head of the column. We moved directly to the right, in front of the mountain, passing through a wood which concealed. us from the enemy. As we reached the scene of conflict, we met the remnant of Garland's brigade in full retreat. Garland had been killed, and his brigade greatly demoralized. Then we met Drayton's brigade, also in retreat. Hood ordered them to halt, and asked where they were going. The Colonel commanding the leading regiment replied: "We are moving back to reform.". The answer was: “Reform here, and move back into the fight." To enable us to reach our position, we had to oblique to the right directly over the spur of the mountain. It was exceedingly rough, and every body was compelled to dismount and lead his horse. As we descended on the other side, we found the enemy in the woods just in front of us, and so near that we could distinctly hear them talking. Our line was quickly formed, and halting a few moments, General Hood said as he rode along it: "Now, boys, when I give the order 'Forward,' I want you to advance rapidly, with arms at the right shoulder shift. Fire as soon as you come in sight of the enemy, who are just over there," pointing, as he said so, through the dense woods, "and then give them the bayonet. Now I don't want any of your little skirmishes, but just wade in and let us have a regular old he fight." This was the longest speech that he was ever known to make-I believe the only one-and it was responded to in a manner which showed that the men appreciated its cloquence. The words were hardly spoken when away went the line at a run. A rattling volley followed-a charge-a yell-and the Yankees went pell mell down the opposite hill! The position had been won, and right gallantly too, and we were ordered to halt. Our loss had been very slight, but among those who fell was Colonel McLamore, of the Fourth Alabama-a gallant and accomplished officer, whose untimely fate was a serious loss to the army. He was mortally wounded and taken from the field. I was directed by the General to ride along the line to the left and see that it was well closed up, and then take position on a hill in front and watch the enemy, giving him notice, from time to time, of their movements. As I reached that portion of the line, occupied by Anderson's brigade, it became necessary for me to halt for a few minutes in order to speak to the commanding officer. The enemy were firing very rapidly, and the men had been ordered to lie down in order to shelter them as much as possible. One of them got up and approached me, saying: "Major, I wish you would get down off that horse; you will be killed if you do not: they have been firing at all the mounted officers going this way." I was replying to him when the poor fellow was struck by a minie ball. He threw his arms up and then sank down without a groan. The point of observation designated was very exposed. The enemy occupied one side of the hill, while our troops were on the other, and stray shots from both were constantly flying past. It afforded, however, a splendid view-the fighting along the whole front being distinctly visible from it. As night came on the firing ceased, and I set off once more to rejoin General Hood. The descent from the mountain was much easier on the east than on the west side. I determined to try it in that direction, thinking it more than probable that Hood had advanced. After much labor and trouble, the road was reached along which we had marched before obliquing to the right, and pushing down it a short distance, I came to a small unplanted field. I was about crossing this, when I saw a man moving cautiously along the edge of the woods. I called out to him, when he at once approached, saying in a whisper: "Major, is that you?" "Who are you?" I asked. 66 Why don't you know me? I am one of General Hood's scouts." "Where is the General?" "Been gone more than half an hour." "What are you doing here?" "Watching the enemy. But don't speak so loud; they will hear you if you do," he continued in a whisper. "They are just over there," pointing to the other side of the field. It was so dark that I could see nothing; but a moment after, I heard a loud voice call out: "By the left flank-march." "Who is that?" I asked. "The Yankees," he replied. "Major, good-night; I'm off." And suiting his action to the words, he beat a hasty retreat to the adjacent woods. Wheeling around, I galloped up the road as fast as I could; but my progress was rather slow, as the poor beast I was riding was quite lame from the effects of a spent ball which had struck him in the shoulder during the afternoon. Scrambling over rocks and fallen timber, and frequently obliged to dismount and lead the horse over the most difficult places, I at length reached the old tavern on the top of the ridge on the Boonesboro and Fredericktown road. Here a scene of wild confusion met me. Hundreds of stragglers and slightly wounded men were pushing down the road, while a large crowd was collected around the well, almost fighting in their struggles to get water. The old tavern had been used as a temporary hospital, and long lines of ambulances were hurrying the wounded off to the rear. It was evident that we were falling back, and I pushed on to join the artillery. D. H. Hill had maintained his position with obstinate bravery for five hours, until Longstreet came up, which was about 3 P.M., and throwing his whole corps forward, continued the battle until it was so dark that we could not distinguish friend from foe. The troops had fought with great determination, and every attempt to force the pass had been repulsed with heavy loss to the Federals. | But McClellan's great superiority of numbers enabled him to turn, both flanks of the position. He had thus succeeded in gaining the summit of the mountain on our left, and was gradually forcing our men back in that direction, when darkness put an end to the contest. Although not successful in forcing the mountain passes, it was evident that without reinforcements we could not hazard a renewal of the contest in this position. Information had also been received that the enemy, in heavy force, had, during the afternoon, forced their way through Crampton's Gap, only five miles from McLaws's rear, who, with his own division and that of R. H. Anderson, was holding Maryland Hights, opposite Harper's Ferry, which had not yet been reduced, although closely invested by Stonewall Jackson. Under these circumstances it was determined to fall back to Sharpsburg, where McLaws's flank and rear could be more effectually covered, and where the army could be again concentrated with greater facility. I found our batteries parked in a field a short distance from Boonesboro; and hitching my horse, laid down under a wagon to get a few minutes' sleep before we should be ordered to move on again. I was soon awakened by some one calling my name. A staff officer was standing near. "Orders from General Longstreet for you," he said, as I got up from my bed on the ground. "You are to hold your batteries in readiness to move as soon as the infantry have passed. You will then follow, keeping prepared for |