After stopping a few days in Richmond, we were carried on to Manassas and Bull Run, then to Fairfax, where we joined the other regiments.  The Third Regiment camped first at Mitchell’s Ford, remained at that point for a week or ten days, and from thence moved to the outpost just beyond Fairfax Court House.  The Eighth and Second camped for a while at Germantown, and soon the whole brigade was between Fairfax and Bull Run.

* * * * *

CHAPTER IV

Camp at Fairfax—­Bonham’s Staff—­Biography of General Bonham—­Retreat to Bull Run.  Battle of the 18th.

General Bonham had gathered around him, as staff officers, a galaxy of gentlemen as cultured, talented, and patriotic as South Carolina could produce, and as gallant as ever followed a general upon the battlefield; all of whom won promotion and distinction as the war progressed in the different branches of service.

Colonel Samuel Melton, one of the staff, writing in a pleasant mood, thirty-five years afterwards, says:  “That with universal acclamation it may be said, that the retinue gathered around the General of the old First Brigade was a gorgeous one.  I am proud of it ‘until yet.’”

This staff of General Bonham’s was the one allowed by the State service, and the appointments were made under State laws.  However, all followed him into the Confederate service, and, with a few exceptions, remained until after the battle of Manassas, serving without pay.  The Confederate Government was much more modest in its appointment of staff officers, and only allowed a Brigadier General three or four members as his personal staff.

The following is a list of officers who followed General Bonham to Virginia, or joined him soon after his arrival: 

    W.C.  Morayne, Assistant Adjutant General, with rank of
    Colonel.

    W.D.  Simpson, Inspector General. 
    A.P.  Aldrich, Quartermaster General. 
    R.B.  Boylston, Commissary General. 
    J.N.  Lipscomb, Paymaster General.

Aides, with rank of Major:  S.W.  Melton, B.F.  Withers, T.J.  Davis, E.S.  Hammond, S. Warren Nelson, Samuel Tompkins, W.P.  Butler, M.B.  Lipscomb.

Colonel S. McGowan, Volunteer Aide.

Dr. Reeves, of Virginia, was Brigade Surgeon.

Colonels Morayne and Boylston remained only a few weeks.  Captain George W. Say, an officer of the Confederate staff, succeeded Colonel Morayne, and remained a short while, when he was promoted and sent elsewhere.  Colonel Lipscomb became the regular aide, with rank of First Lieutenant.

When Captain Say left, S.W.  Melton was put in his place as Assistant Adjutant General, without appointment or without pay, and discharged the duties of that office until August, when he left on sick leave.  When he returned he was appointed Major and Assistant Adjutant General, and assigned to duty upon the staff of Major General G.W.  Smith, commanding Second Corps of the Army of the Potomac.  In 1863 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and assigned to duty in the war department.