About the 1st of July we were ordered to Virginia, and were in camp below Richmond at Malvern Hill. After remaining here for some two weeks the regiment was ordered to Gordonsville. We were conveyed on the cars, and on the way several officers from South Carolina accompanied us, among them Col. Means, Col. Marshall and Col. Moore. Col. Gadberry remarked that he had a presentiment that he would be killed in the first battle he got into and asked Col. Marshall what he should do. Marshall replied: "Do your duty and trust in your God". This remark was made by Col. Gadberry, not because he was wanting in courage or to shirk duty, for he deserves to be ranked with a Hobson or a Dewey.

When Beast Butler issued his infamous order in New Orleans, characterizing the ladies of that city as "common street walkers", he consulted with some of his friends as to the propriety of his making his way into New Orleans and shooting Butler down on sight and sacrificing his own life in vindication of the honor of the women of the South. He was anxious to put his purpose into execution, but was persuaded by hi friends not to undertake it. There was not a braver man in Confederate service than Col. James M. Gadberry. He no doubt had, in some way, unknown to mortals, been apprized of the fate that awaited him.

We remained in camp at Gordonsville for several days when the order came to prepare three days' rations and march in the direction of Rappahannock Station. We were hurried off and left the flour and raw meat in the old field and bade adieu to our tents for the remainder of the war. We were soon up with Genl. T.J. Jackson's corps which left us and went up the south bank of the Rappahannock, while our command in Genl. Longstreet's corps went directly to the railroad crossing on the river to make a feint at crossing and hold the Federal forces under Genls. McDowell and Pope, while Jackson with his forces crossed the river at Raccoon Ford and passed through Thoroughfare Gap and got possession of Manassas Junction in rear of the Federal Army. 

While we were exposed to a heavy artillery fire at Rappahannock Station where we could offer but little resistance, having but one battery of artillery commanded by Capt. Boyce, several of the brigade were severely wounded, among them Lieut. Monroe of the artillery, shot through both thighs, flesh wound. We then followed in the footsteps of Jackson's forces as Genl. Pope had hurled his forces against them and was pressing them severely, When Genl. Longstreet's corps came to his assistance.

We encountered the enemy on the evening of the 28th of August 1862 and I think our regiment had but one man killed in a charge we made after dark. The next day we were under constant fire, but on the 30th was the great charge made in which our command lost in killed and wounded just one half of the number taken into the fight. Our gallant Col. Gadberry was killed, which fulfilled the presentiment he had expressed some days before. Among the killed was Capt. Hames, Capt. Tucker, Sergt. Major Dawkins Rogers and a number of others. We were in Genl. Evans' Brigade, supporting Hood's Brigade of Texans. They almost completely annihilated a brigade of New York Zouaves; then our brigade was ordered to charge a battery on an eminence near the Henry House, and marching to the front in line of battle and somewhat confused by having to pass through a thicket of scrubby pines, each wing passing the centre and doubling up the column, which caused such slaughter. They succeeded in capturing the battery and firing it upon the enemy; the enemy retreated and the next day under a flag of truce the dead were buried.