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Chapter 8: battles of Chancellorsville, Thoroughfare Gap and Gettysburg.--wounded at Gettysburg and ordered home.
At midnight, May 2, we were ordered to fall in, and marched to the banks of the
Rappahannock, where a pontoon was again being thrown across.
It looked like the 11th of December over again.
The officers were called together and ordered to select twenty-five men from the regiment, who would volunteer for whatever duty they might be called upon to perform.
One officer was to go with them, and before the words had fully dropped from the lips of
Colonel Devereaux Lieut. Johnnie Ferris said, “Please let me be that officer, colonel,” and he was accepted.
We found it hard to get twenty-five men because
all wanted to go, and while the call was for volunteers we had to select them.
At daylight it was found that the enemy had left the city.
Our volunteers crossed, and were on the other side to welcome us when we came over.
We were the first in the city, but soon met
General Sedgwick's division marching in from the left, having crossed below us. We found that
Sedgwick was to storm the heights and we were to support him.
General Hooker, with the rest of the Army of the Potomac, had marched up the river and engaged the enemy at
Chancellorsville, and we were to hold this city.
In column by regiments
General Sedgwick advanced up the hill.
We saw the white
