During the first week after taking our position on the line, Magruder, with his divisions of eight brigades, was posted high up on the Chickahominy, nearly north of Richmond.  McLaws, commanding Kershaw’s, Cobb’s, Semmes’, and Barksdale’s Brigades, was on the left, the first being South Carolinians, the next two Georgians, and the last Mississippians.  General D.R.  Jones, with his own, Toombs’, G.T.  Anderson’s, and perhaps one other Brigade, constituted the right of the corps.  The army was divided in wings.  Huger, the senior Major General, commander on the right, next the James River, with Longstreet next; but before the great battle Magruder was given the centre and Longstreet the left with his divisions, and the two Hills’, A.P. and D.H.  But after the coming of Jackson A.P.  Hill’s, called the “Light Brigade,” was placed under the command of the Valley chieftain.

While up on the Chickahominy, the enemy were continually watching our movements from lines of balloons floating high up in the air, anchored in place by stout ropes.  They created quite a mystic and superstitious feeling among some of the most credulous.  One night while a member of Company C, Third South Carolina, was on picket among some tangled brushwood on the crest of the hill overlooking the river, he created quite a stir by seeing a strange light in his front, just beyond the stream.  He called for the officer of the guard with all his might and main.  When the officer made his appearance with a strong reinforcement, he demanded the reason of the untimely call.  With fear and trembling he pointed to the brilliant light and said: 

“Don’t you see ’em yonder?  They are putting up a balloon.”

“No,” said the officer, “that’s nothing but a star,” which it really was.

“Star, hell!  I tell you it’s a balloon.  Are the Yankees smart enough to catch the stars?” It is enough to say the man carried the name of “balloon” during the rest of his service.

A Federal battery was stationed immediately in our front, beyond the river, supported by infantry.  Some one in authority suggested the idea of crossing over at night, break through the tangled morass on the other side, and capture the outfit by a sudden dash.  The day before the Third South Carolina Regiment was formed in line and a call made for volunteers to undertake this hazardous enterprise.  Only one hundred soldiers were required, and that number was easily obtained, a great number being officers.  At least twenty-five Lieutenants and Captains had volunteered.  The detachment was put under Captain Foster as chief of the storming party, and the next day was occupied in drilling the men and putting them in shape for the undertaking.  We were formed in line about dark near the time and place allotted, and all were in high glee in anticipation of the novel assault.  But just as all were ready, orders came countermanding the first order.  So the officers and men returned to their quarters.  Some appeared