On 24 March, 1862, the regiment was ingaged at the great battle of Winchester where General Banks was badly defeated with great loss of men, arms and commissary stores. Just previous to the battle, the regiment marched all night, lying down just before dawn in the cold dew, to rest, but not to sleep. The sun rose fair and bright on the field, soon to become crimson with the blood of the bravest hearts. Shortly after sun up we were ordered to storm the enemy's position, simultaneously with the command on our left. With a wild cheer the regiment moved swiftly towards the enemy's line behind stone walls, and was met by a most terrific fire of infantry and grape shot. The regiment moved right on to the stone wall, from which the enemy were pouring forth a perfect storm of canister and minie balls from right and left--cross-firing upon us. But the glorious, old regiment with a valor that stands unrivaled, swept eveything before it. The day was won with the most exalted courage and desperate charge and a gallant defense. The enemy was completely routed, with great slaughter and driven beyond the Potomac.

 

A FIELD OF CARNAGE

 

The writer was severly wounded and left on the field, and the sight which there presented itself can never be forgotten. Around stood several pieces of artillery deserted by the enemy. Many Federals and Confederates lay dead, wounded and dying around me. Colonel Kirkland while waving his sword and cheering on his men was shot through the thigh, but did not leave, the field. Lieutenant-Colonel Pepper lay mortally wounded, but still cheering his men on to victory. My heart still bleeds when I think of our revered Captain J. C. Hedgecock, who was mortally wounded, pierced by half dozen balls or more. A braver or truer man than this young lawyer was never sent to the field of battle. He and the gallant Pepper sleep in the cemetery at Winchester, with many of their brave comrades. Peace to their ashes. Company A had one officer killed and eight wounded. The loss of the other companies of the regiment was proportionately great. I am unable to give the exact number.

 

EIGHT BALLS IN HIS BODY

 

Never were men more mangled or pierced with so many balls. The Confederate and Federal medical staffs were especially interested in Captain John W. Beard, Company F, who was pierced with eight minie balls--several passing through the bowels--yet recovery was complete and he served through the entire war; he now lives, a prosperous merchant, in the state of Kansas. This conflict, its duration considered, and the number engaged, equals or surpasses the bloodiest battles of the war. And yet, an eminent biographer in describing the movements of General Jackson's Corps, makes but one allusion to the North Carolina troops in these few words: "Here the Twenty-First North Carolina Regiment lost heavily." When at the same time the Memorial Association of Winchester, Va., said that cemetery contained graves of more soldiers from North Carolina than from any other State, a fact which might be said of almost every burying ground in Virginia. Therefore, I hope I will be pardoned for going into detail in describing this battle.