General Gordon’s troops left camp earlier than did Kershaw’s, beginning their winding march at single file around the mountain side, over the great promontory, down in the plain below, through brush and undergrowth, along dull trails, catching and pulling themselves along by the bushes and vines that covered the rough borders and ledges of the mountain.  Sometime after midnight Kershaw moved out across the turn-pike in the direction of the river, the Second South Carolina in front, under Captain McCulcheon; then the Third, under Major Todd; then the Eighth, Twentieth, Fifteenth, and the Seventh.  The James’ or Third Battalion having some months before been organized into brigade sharpshooters, adding two companies to it, preceded the brigade, and was to charge the fords and capture the pickets.  When near the river the brigade was halted, and scouting parties sent ahead to see how the land lay.  A picked body moved cautiously along in front, and when all was in readiness, a charge was made—­a flash, a report or two, and the enemy’s out post at this point was ours.  As we were feeling our way along the dull road that led to this ford, one poor fellow, who had been foremost in the assault on the pickets, was carried by us on a litter.  Nothing but a low, deep groan was heard, which told too plainly that his last battle had been fought.  The river crossed, the brigade continued in columns of fours, moving rapidly forward that all would be in readiness by the time Gordon’s guns opened to announce that he was in position and ready.

Now our line of battle was formed, and never before or since was the brigade called in action with so few officers.  Not a Colonel, nothing higher than a Major, in the entire brigade, the brigade itself being commanded by a staff officer, who had never so much as commanded a company before.  At the close of the day there were but few officers in the command of the rank of Captain even.

Just at the beginning of dawn we heard the guns of Gordon belching forth far to our right.  The cannon corps of the enemy roused up from their slumbers and met the attack with grape and cannister, but Gordon was too close upon them, the assault so sudden, that the troops gave way.  Nearer and nearer came the roll of battle as each succeeding brigade was put in action.  We were moving forward in double-quick to reach the line of the enemy’s breastworks by the time the brigade on our right became engaged.  Now the thunder of their guns is upon us; the brigade on our right plunges through the thicket and throw themselves upon the abattis in front of the works and pick their way over them.  All of our brigade was not in line, as a part was cut off by an angle in Cedar Creek, but the Second and Third charged through an open field in front of the enemy’s line.  As we emerged from a thicket into the open we could see the enemy in great commotion, but soon the works were filled with half-dressed troops and they opened a galling fire upon us.  The distance was too