This is a typed version of a hand written article that William Hawthorne Gantt wrote while he was serving during the civil war.
Three Years of The Civil War
by
William H. Gantt
I was born the 11th day of January, 1844. I was 18 years old when
I joined the navy. I belonged to Co. E. Second S.C. Rifles, Jenkens Brigade, Longstreet Corps. I volunteered the 17th
day of March 1862. I first went to Adams, Run, S.C. and stayed there until June. We were ordered from there to Richmond
Virginia. We arrived there the evening of May 30th, the day before the Seven Pines Battle (Fair Oaks Battle) We camped
on one of the main roads leading from Richmond to the battlefield, but took no part in the battle. In the afternoon after the
battle, they used all their ambulances and pressed in all their vehicles and conveyances they could get in the city of Richmond and
brough all the wounded and dying into the city.
We were on duty there until the battle of Gaines Mill, which
was on the 25th. We took part in this battle late in the afternoon and marched down the line and on the day of July 1st. we
charged the enemy at at Marvin Hill, captured their works where we made the charge. We stayed in and around Richmond until we
took up the march for 2nd battle of Manassas (August 29-30) which we too part in. Our Colonel Moore was killed and several others.
From there we took up our march for Maryland. I gave out at Winchester and was sent back to Staunton. Va.
My command returned in November and I joined them again at Fredericksburg and on the 13th of December the Battle of Fredricksburg
was fought. We were on the extreme right of Lee's army, but took no part in the battle, but were in sight and saw the fight
going on. We camped in the battlefield until February. Jenkins Brigade took up march from Fredricksburg to Blackwater,
one hundred and seventy two hundred miles and stayed at Blackwater until the last of June.through the first of July. We had
several skirmishes with them while there. From there we boarded the train and came back to Petersburg and from there we went
to Columbia, S.C., to Augusta, Ga., to Atlanta, Ga. and on to Dalton and we arrived there in time to take part