After the battle of Winchester the regiment was marched and countermarched up and down the valley many weeks--ingaging almost daily in combats of no minor inportance, against great odds. Fought in the battles of Newtown, Harrisonburg, and Cross Keys. At the latter place it pleased Gereral Trimble to compliment Colonel Fulton and the regiment for it's gallant conduct. After this the regiment crossed over the Shenandoah river, engaged in the battle of Port Republic, and assisted in sending General Shields down the Luary Valley, completely routed and demoralized. I have given but a poor picture of the series of brilliant victories of this valley campaign, in which the Twenty-First North Carolina Regiment left on record, deeds rarely equaled, her banners covered with victories, shedding lustre and glory on North Carolina and Southern arms. General Jackson's Corps having defeated, in repeated engagements, no less than four Federal armies, sweeping down from Port Republic, fell like an avalanche on General McClellan's right. Then ensued that succession of brilliant engagements which resulted in sending the enemy under the protection of his gun-boats on the James river. In all these engagements the Twenty-First bore a conspicuous part, losing heavily; 9 August, 1862, ingaged in the sanguinary battle of Cedar Run. In this battle the Federals were badly whipped and dreven beyond the Rappahannock. In this fight, the regiment captured two pieces of artillery and several flags of the enemy.
GENERAL TRIMBLE'S SPEECH
After the fight General Trimble made a little speech complimenting the brigade, in which he said: "Comrades, I feel that I am on my way to my home in Maryland." On 18 August, 1862, at Hazel river, the regiment engaged in a short, but sanguinary battle. A charge through a thick underbrush and marshy swamp, and with great courage, drove the enemy from his temporary breastworks. This action on the part of the regiment drew forth great praise from General Trimble. Though this fight was short, our loss was by no means insignificant. We then bivouacked on the battle field, which we knew how to appreciate, having been almost continually marching and fighting for several days.
IN POPE'S REAR
The next day we received orders to prepare three days' rations, and be ready to march at a moment's warning. 20 August, 1862, engaged the enemy on the Rappahannock, crossed the river and again encountered him. 22 August, recrossed the river, took up a line of march, passing through Thoroughfare Gap near Manassas and appeared in Pope's rear, destroying several trains of cars and immense stores at Manassas. The regiment was engaged in the series of fights called the Second Manassas and Jackson's Corps withsood for two days Pope's entire army, repulsing every attack with heavy slaughter. During this fight the Twenty-First Regiment repulsed a half dozen of more of the most tremendous charges that were ever volleyed and thundered at the head of mortal man. Here we fought face to face with men filled with whiskey, determined to crush General Jackson. 30 August, engaged the enemy all day until afternoon, then General Longstreet came up when Pope's army was driven beyond Bull Run. After these engagements the regiment was hors de combat.