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Browsing named entities in D. H. Hill, Jr., Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 4, North Carolina (ed. Clement Anselm Evans). You can also browse the collection for J. W. Ratchford or search for J. W. Ratchford in all documents.

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D. H. Hill, Jr., Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 4, North Carolina (ed. Clement Anselm Evans), Chapter 4: (search)
t in addition it was to prevent the enemy on Longstreet's left from flanking him, and that the battery the brigade was to assail was not to be carried by direct assault but by getting in rear of the battery by passing through the woods to its left. This was the plan he had in view, for he says, I directed this wing (the Fifth and the Twenty-third North Carolina) to halt as soon as the stream was crossed and undergrowth penetrated, to get the whole brigade in line, and sent my adjutant, Major Ratchford, to General Early to know whether he had gotten over. We had not halted five minutes (waiting to reform the line) when I heard shouting and firing, and a voice which, above the uproar, I took to be General Early's, crying, Follow me! The advance of that part of the brigade made it necessary for Hill to direct the right wing to move rapidly forward, and I went myself in advance of it. If the batteries were to be charged across the open, the quicker the better. He adds, I regret
D. H. Hill, Jr., Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 4, North Carolina (ed. Clement Anselm Evans), Chapter 5: (search)
crossing the swamp, were sent by me, by way of my left flank, to the rear of the battery to attack the infantry supports, while Col. Alfred Iverson, of the Twentieth North Carolina, charged it in front. The battery was captured and held long enough for the two brigades (Garland's and Anderson's) to advance across the plain. The effect of our appearance, says General Garland, at this opportune moment, cheering and charging, decided the fate of the day. The enemy broke and retreated. Major Ratchford, of General Hill's staff, writes: A short time before sunset, Generals Rodes, Anderson and Garland came to the writer and asked for General Hill, he being on some other part of the line. One of them said to me: Find General Hill, and say that unless we get orders to the contrary, we will throw our whole strength against one part of the line for the purpose of breaking it. I at once hunted him up, and he approved the plan. In a few minutes a small gap was made, and the Federals ga
D. H. Hill, Jr., Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 4, North Carolina (ed. Clement Anselm Evans), Chapter 7: (search)
ourteous, just and upright, he had completely won the affection of his Carolina brigade, which followed him with the utmost loyalty and confidence. That night General Lee determined to withdraw his troops and concentrate on Sharpsburg. Maj. J. W. Ratchford, of General Hill's staff, one of the bravest of the brave, was sent in company with staff officers from General Longstreet's and General Hood's commands to give the requisite orders. So close were the contending lines, that Major RatchforMajor Ratchford says that in some places they had to approach the lines on hands and knees and give the orders in a whisper. The retirement to Sharpsburg was made in good order and covered by the cavalry, which during the Maryland campaign was kept busy. The day before the battles just described, the First North Carolina cavalry, Col. L. S. Baker, had taken part in a sharp artillery and cavalry fight at Middletown. Colonel Baker's regiment held the rear, and, General Stuart says, acted with conspicuous ga