[269] and Lieut-Colonel Goodgame the regiment. While the routed and demoralized Yankees were crossing the river, I ordered my company, and those adjoining it, to fire by rank and by command, as in ordinary manual drill, the only instance of such an event, to my knowledge, during the war. I gave the words of command, ‘front rank,’ ‘ready,’ ‘aim,’ ‘fire,’ ‘load;’ ‘rear ranks,’ ‘ready,’ etc., by consent of Col. Goodgame, and I confess I took much pleasure in it. While we were engaged burying our dead comrades, under a large tree near where they fell, Gen. Early and staff rode by, and the old hero spoke to us gently, and kindly suggested that we ‘dig the graves deep enough.’ A brave North Carolinian had somehow and somewhere come in possession of a silk hat, and had made himself conspicuous by wearing it, despite the advice and warning of his companions, and indeed of the whole division, as the men used to frequently to tell him, as he passed by, ‘to come down out of that hat,’ ‘I see your feet hanging from that stove pipe,’ etc., all of which he heard with cheerful good humor, generally making some witty reply. In walking over the battle field I was pained to see the well known tall hat, and upon nearing it, recognized the handsome, good natured face and manly form of the gallant wearer, lying cold in death. He had been shot in the head.
On July 24th we were suddenly summoned to leave our picket post for Winchester, marching very rapidly, forming line of battle near Kernstown, and moving quickly after the enemy, through Winchester, and five miles beyond, being in less than half a mile of the routed and flying Yankees almost the whole time. They, in their flight and haste to escape, burned up thirty five or forty wagons and caissons, and abandoned a few cannon. The entire movement was a very successful one. We marched fully thirty miles during the day. But, as I have said before, it seems to be impossible to catch a running Yankee. They are as fleet as race horses.
To-day, July 29 we marched to Williamsport, Md., where our cavalry crossed the Potomac and captured large quantities of commissary and quartermasters' stores.
