Point and a soldier of some distinction in the Mexican War, was assigned to the command of our brigade. His appearance was not military or striking in any particular. He had rather a sleepy look, and was a very unimposing figure on horseback. He was a strict disciplinarian, and immediately went to work to prepare his brigade for the great work before it. For a couple of months we were marched and counter-marched, with no other ostensible purpose than to prove our metal and endurance.

In June, 1861, our regiment was sent to Berkeley county, and established a camp opposite Williamsport, known as Camp Lee and especially noted as the scene of the incarceration of Comrade Flagg for the trivial offence of shooting at a squirrel which appeared on a tree within the camp. His imprisonment seemed to us then a terrible outrage on the rights and liberties of a freeman and an insult to the honor and dignity of a soldier, and served somewhat to dampen the ardor and enthusiasm of our patriotism. We were then, however, novices in military life and discipline, and knew little of what the future had in store for us.

While in this camp, the Ordinance of Secession was voted on, and we juniors, although bearing arms and ready to battle for our State, were not permitted to cast our votes in settling this momentous question. This denial of the right of franchise to soldiers in the field was also esteemed an outrage far worse than taxation without representation.

In the latter part of June, the other regiments of our brigade joined our regiment and the brigade went into camp just south of Hainesville, near which place a portion of the Fifth regiment, on the 2d of July, had a little skirmish with Patterson's advance. Our regiment, though under artillery fire, can hardly be said to have smelt powder.

On July 4th, General Johnston, who was in command of the Army of the Shenandoah, joined us at Darkesville with his whole command, and his little army was drawn up in line of battle to confront Patterson, who was then in posses

sion of Martinsburg. This offer of battle was not accepted by Patterson, and after remaining in this position several days our army retired to Winchester, and preparations were hastily made to join Beauregard at Manassas, though our destination was not disclosed until we were well on our way.

On the 18th, our brigade marched to Berry's Ferry, waded the Shenandoah, then up to the shoulders of the men, and reached Piedmont next morning, where we took the cars and arrived at Manassas on the evening of the 19th. At Piedmont, when the train pulled up, and orders were given to board, there was one coach a little superior to the others (which were principally box-cars and gondolas), and the Botts Greys seeing it, were soon snugly seated within; when to our surprise, Sandy Pendleton, then on General Johnston's staff, entered and ordered us to vacate, saying that was the officers' coach. The boys, saying they were as good as the officers, refused to vacate, and after some idle threats Pendleton disappeared, and the coach was retained.

On the 20th, our brigade went into line in front of McDowell, near Mitchell's Ford, on Bull Run, close to the battle-field of the 18th.

On the morning of the 21st, the brigade was ordered to the left of our army to reinforce our troops then engaged with McDowell's advance. We moved into line southeast of the Henry house, on a little crest, in front of a pine thicket. The battle was then raging and the Confederates were retiring. As the dead and wounded were carried past, we realized for the first time the horrors of battle.

Company C, commanded by Captain Nelson, was on the left of our regiment, the Botts Greys, Company G, was next in line to Company C, and as the men in the companies fell into line according to size, my place was on the extreme left of Company G, next to Tom Burnett, our fourth corporal, and adjoining the right of Company C. Captain Nelson was at the right of his company, and near him were the Randolphs, Grubbs, Cooke, and others of large stature. On the

left of Company C was the Thirty-third regiment of our brigade, the Fourth, Fifth, and Twenty-seventh being on the right.

The enemy's artillery shelled us in this position for an hour or more, doing little damage. During this cannonade I remember General Beauregard riding in our front and the rousing cheer we gave him. Sam Wright broke ranks, ran forward and shook his hand. This was our first view of Beauregard, and his appearance is still indelibly impressed on my mind. About 2 P. M. I heard small-arms on our left, and turning in that direction, saw the Thirty-third regiment engaging the enemy. I recollect their first volley and how unfavorably it affected me. It was apparently made with guns raised at an angle of forty-five degrees, and I was fully assured that their bullets would not hit the Yankees, unless they were nearer heaven than they were generally located by our people. To my great astonishment and admiration, however, I soon saw these same men gallantly charging a battery in their front, and my spirits rose. Our men clamored to go forward to assist them, but our officers refused permission, and the golden opportunity was accordingly lost. The Thirty-third took the battery, but not being reinforced, was forced to fall back in some disorder, which resulted in leaving the left of our regiment exposed to an enfilading fire, and the enemy soon took advantage of the situation. and opened on Companies C and G at short range. Under this galling fire, with some of our officers shouting to the men, "don't fire; they are friends," our men were somewhat confused, but soon realizing the true situation, briskly returned the enemy's fire with telling effect. I have since. that time been in many engagements, yet have never seen men act as coolly and boldly under such disadvantageous circumstances as our men did on that occasion. Companies. C and G, though suffering heavily, were unflinching and holding their own against largely superior numbers when the order was given to fall back and form a new line. This

was done, no doubt, to present a front to the foe now outflanking us. It was, however, an unfortunate move. Few men can retire calmly under a galling fire, and the execution of this order resulted in stampeding some good soldiers, but the large majority re-formed and again advanced, and our right at the same time moving forward, the enemy was pressed back and soon in flight. The forward movement of our brigade, sustained by the attack of a portion of Gen. Kirby Smith's command, produced this favorable result. We had now received our baptism of fire and the brigade was christened by the dying words of General Bee, "Stonewall," a name which it bore through the four years' conflict and handed down to posterity untarnished.

The victory was decisive. General Scott wired McClellan: "After fairly beating the enemy and taking three of his batteries, a panic seized McDowell's army and it is in full retreat on the Potomac. A most unaccountable transformation into a mob of a finely appointed and admirably led army." B. S. Alexander, a captain of engineers, wired General Scott:

"General McDowell's army in full retreat through Centreville. The day is lost. Save Washington and the remnant of this army. General McDowell is doing all he can to cover the retreat. Colonel Miles is forming for that purpose. He was in reserve at Centreville. The routed troops will not re-form."

The report of General McDowell, then at Fairfax Courthouse, on his retreat, says:

"The men having thrown away their haversacks in battle and left them behind, they are without food; have eaten nothing since breakfast. We are without artillery ammunition. The larger part of the men are a confused mob, entirely demoralized. It was the opinion of all the commanders that no stand could be made this side of the Potomac. We will, however, make the attempt at Fairfax Courthouse.