As I left off, we proceeded to the Camp College Green at Columbia, South Carolina, where we remained for a week drilling. I had been for two years a pupil at the Kings Mountain Military Academy, and being well drilled I was kept busily employed in assisting to drill the company. This being our first camping ground, and being then something new, we had our fun, sitting around the camp fires, cracking jokes and telling tales.
I will now proceed to give, as well as I can recollect from memory, the different incidents that occurred to myself and Regiment during my connection with the Southern Army, a period of 12 months. My Company left Yorkville1 on the 27th day of November, 1861, and proceeded from there by railroad to Camp of Instruction at Columbia, on the College Grounds. The Company to which I belonged was called The Carolina Rifles, commanded at the time by my uncle, Captain William B. Wilson, having for lieutenants 1st Lieutenant J.W.
The 30th of August dawned and ushered in a glorious day for our young Confederacy, one that will ever be remembered in the annals of history, and one whose fame shall never pass into oblivion. As the day dawned, cannon after cannon boomed forth their iron hail, and the increased firing showed plainly the fierceness of the battle. Regiment after regiment advanced to the contest. We lay for over half a day listening and watching the contest, and still nor orders for us to advance. But a length the order came.
On Wednesday evening, August 27th, we arrived in the neighborhood of Manassas. On arriving at the little station of Gainesville we were drawn into line of battle after double quick, but crossing only a short distance farther bivouacked for the night. On Thursday, the day following, we lay still listening to our picket’s stray shots and to the occasional booming of big guns. On Friday we arose considerably refreshed and marched up in reach of the enemy shells that now commenced falling thick and fast.
Roll of Company, of which S. Cosmo Lowry was a member - May 7th, 1864
Samuel Cosmo Lowry was killed July 30th, 1864 at Petersburg, Virginia during the Battle of the Crater.1 The engagement that followed the explosion lasted all day and Sam fell four or five hours after the mine was sprung while leading and spurring his men to action. He was acting Captain, his higher officers having been either killed or wounded at the time.
To return. Now commenced a series of the hardest marches on record. We took up line of march from Gordonsville and marched in the direction of Orange courthouse. We travelled the entire day until night usurped the rule of day, the men groaning under their knapsacks, and toiling along with feeble steps. At night we were asleep as soon as touched the ground. I, fortunately, left my knapsack behind with Jesse, and had only my blanket to carry. This I twisted and strung over my shoulders like a Scottish plaid. Being the easiest way of carrying it.
By the way, I forgot an expedition, or rather, a skirmish we had, at Malvern Hill while at Camp Mary, and I will relate it here, before proceeding to our more difficult labors. While in camp at Laurel Hill our pickets below Malvern Hill reported the Yankees advancing, and we were marched out to meet them and oppose their farther progress, but the Yankee, after driving in our pickets, stopped at Malvern Hill and established themselves there, which was about seven miles form our encampment.
We remained here for two weeks, and threw up a line of breastworks that will remain for centuries as a memorial of our handiwork. At the end of this time, we received orders to break up camp and report at Richmond. Now it was that our hardest suffering began. In accordance with our orders we broke camp and marched to Richmond. Here I met with a considerable misfortune. My boy, Jesse, took sick and I was compelled to leave him behind a short time. When we reported at Richmond we were ordered to the depot on the Gordonville Road.
We were lying in camp at Camp Simon No. 2 when we received orders to get ready to leave for Virginia. A soldier’s baggage, like his money, is always scarce, and we were not long in packing. All extra baggage was discarded, and boxes, baskets, tin pans, etc. were left strewn over the camp grounds. A train of cars soon came for us, and one car only being allowed to a company, we were necessarily crowded and warm, it being the last of June. We go to Charleston about four in the evening, and were compelled to remain there until nine at night, for want of means of transportation to carry us.