“Major James was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain W.G.  Rice, as senior Captain, made Major, while Lieutenant J.M.  Townsend was raised to the grade of Captain in place of Major Rice.

“In April, 1862, a reorganization was ordered, and the troops enlisted in the Confederate States’ service.  Both Colonel James and Major Rice were elected to their former positions, with the following company commanders: 

   “J.M.  Townsend—­Captain Company A.
    O.A.  Watson—­Captain Company B.
    William Huggins—­Captain Company C.
    G.M.  Gunnels—­Captain Company D.
    W.H.  Fowler—­Captain Company E.
    D.B.  Miller—­Captain Company F.
    B.M.  Whitener—­Captain Company G.

“Early in June the battalion was ordered to James’ Island, arriving there two days before the battle of Secessionville, but not participating in it.  A short while afterwards it was ordered to Richmond, and there remained until the great forward movement of General Lee’s, which resulted in the Second Manassas Battle and the invasion of Maryland.  The battalion was now brigaded with Philip’s Georgia Legion, Fiftieth and Fifty-first Georgia, and Fifteenth South Carolina Regiments, and commanded by Brigadier General Drayton.  The battalion was under fire at Waterloo Bridge and at Thoroughfare Gap, and the brigade held the extreme right of Lee’s Army at the Second Manassas Battle, but was not seriously engaged.  The topography of the country was such that while the incessant roar of artillery could be distinctly heard during the day, no infantry could be heard, and the extreme right did not hear of the result of the great battle until General Robert Toombs marched by and shouted to his fellow Georgians:  ‘Another great and glorious Bull Run.’  After repeated marches and counter-marches during the day, night put an end to the bloody struggle, and the troops lay down to rest.  A perfect tornado of shot and shell tore through the woods all around us until deep darkness fell and the enemy withdrew, leaving the entire field to the Confederates.”

After resting for nearly a week at Frederick City, Md., the battalion, with the Fifteenth South Carolina and the Georgians of Drayton’s Brigade, was ordered to re-enforce General D.H.  Hill, who was guarding Lee’s rear at Crompton’s Gap, in South Mountain.  Here the South Carolinians were for the first time thoroughly baptized with fire and blood, and in which the gallant Colonel James lost his life.  Of this battle Colonel Rice says: 

“Late in the evening of September 14th the brigade reached the battlefield and deployed in an old disused road that crossed the mountain some four hundred yards to the right of the turn-pike.  No enemy in sight.  Failing to drive D.H.  Hill from their front, the Federals made a detour and approached him by the flank.  Two hundred yards from the road mentioned above was a belt of woods saddling the mountain, and at this point running parallel with the road.  General