Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-07-08
ISLANDERS REFUTED.

Crayona OF narper's Magazine, fell in with IN
North Carolina, (whether Of choice or necessity we
know notD but when in the July No. of that work
there appears an outrageous SANDER the Revolu-
tionary men of North. Carolina with corresponding
exaltation of his everlasting Virginia, we urged
friend, who was nothing 10th, to use the materials
scion of the F. F. VS.. The result will be found
below. If Stedman, and Capt Dugald Stewart and
Col. Tarleton, and Browns History of the Highland
clans, and tradition in Guilford county, are to he
relied on, the stories of Virginia writers the
hand, and of South Carolina writers on the other,
are gross SANDERS and should be secuted out of
history, however they may find place in that re-
ceptable of nooels-Harper's Magazine.
Fayetteville Observer.
NORTH CAROLINA ILLUSTRATED
By Porte Croyon, Of Harper's Magazine, or the
Battle: fields Of North Carolina decorated North
Carolina uill;fed and Virginia calor magniied,
by Porte Crayon, Virginian.
MEssRs. E. j. HALE & SoN,-Gentlemen SO
long as Porte Crayon of Harper's Magazine, confn-
ed his genius to caricature of the State in general
and deneaton of low life such as He specially
met with, his efforts merited and received silence
and contempt. Nor would we have felt at liberty
notice his attempted sneers at Canovas Statue of
Washington, and praise of Houdon's Statue of the
same great Chief his picture from Turner's AL
manac of the Capitol of the State, or the pictures
copied from Lossng's Field Book Of the Revolution,
illustrative Vi SdTOlna-auu yet uOl Ohc Vi
them presents North Carolina face, except that of
a caricatured North Carolina woman. These things
could and would have laughed at But when he
visits the North. Carolina Battlefield of Guilford
Court House-the first battlefield at the South on
which CORVALLIS met with even nominal defeat-a
battle from which dates reaction i'll favor OF Amer
lean Liberty that resulted in the defeat of Rawdon
at the South, and Clinton at the North and in six
months after it was fought led to the surrender of
CORVALLIS at Yorktown and the establishment of
peace between the Colonies and Britain-when such
an one visits such a battlefield, and charges North
Carolina Militia with rank unmitigated cowardice,
and magnfes the valor of Virgin:as raw recruits,
at the expense Of TRUTH justice to the dead demands
that the SANDER should not pass unrefuted in
Harpers North Carolina Illustrated" compiled
from the best authorities"
Porte Crayon says,
Greene's force was posted on wooded hill,
drawn up in three lines, the two first composed of
militia and the third of his Continentals consisting
of four regiments from Virginia and Maryland.
No sooner had the British column deployed and
commenced marching to the attack than the militia
forming the left of the front line seized with
panic, and fed, before man of them had been
either killed or wounded. Many of them did not
discharge their guns but left them loaded,
sticking between the rails of the fence behind which
they posted. In vain did their officers attempt
to rally this terror-strcken herd; in vain did Lee
threaten to fall upon them with his Dragons, and
cut them to pieces The panic complete and
final. The gap thus ANONYMOUSLY left imme-
diately seized by the enemy, giving him powerful
advantage at the commencement of the onset, and
throwing the thanking legion out of combination
ginning did not give the enemy the speedy triumph
it seemed to promise. The Virginia militia fought
with extraordinary courage and obstinacy, and did
every thing that raw troops could do against the
highly disciplined and indomitable valor of their
adversaries.
-
lions The rolling of drums, the startling bugle
CALL the voice of command break the silence of the
budding forest. There, swarming in the thicket,
the edge of the woods and behind the protect
ing fences, the unskilful militia valiant in pot
houses but unreliable in the field hearkenng, with
fainting hearts, to the mingled threats and encour
agement of their leaders, ready to fire and away
at the first burst of battle.
Maneuvring ON either flank are the snorting
squadrons of Washington mi Lee, whose flashing
sabres have already tasted blood. In the distance
the serried lines of the grim Continentals,
of reliable mettle, who can hear the battle go
ing on around them and bide their time who un-
moved and scornfu see the panic stricken herds of
friends fly past them, and then rush calamity to
meet the bayonets of their enemies.
" Hank! the rolling of the English drums Like
an electric shock it shakes the thousands that stand
expectant upon the embattled hill Now the towards
cheek blanches, with impotent and trembling
haste he fumbes his musket lock- Now the warm
blood rushes to the brow Of the brave, and with
iercer eagerness he grasps his sword hilt. The
head of the advancing column is already in sight.
The suns rays glance upon their FURNISHED arms
" The American lines arc broken, and the tide of
rolls until intrepid ASSISTANTS meet, in the
Continental line, foes more worthy Of their steel
"'Thc which for space did fall
Now, trcbly laundering, swell ed the gale"
Then, then Virginia, it was a joy, that even de-
feat and disaster not blight to that naughty
hotfa of C,uardS Avinv wild 6iSordnr from
wood while thy fiery horsemen, with hoof and sabre,
tramp!ed them in the dust"
The author has not had the manness to state
what is well known-that it was the North Carroll
m1 militia that was stationed in the front line. He
simply calls them militia, and doubtless hopes to es-
cape censure by pleading his delicate forbearance
call them by name. Be that as it may, and let his
motives be what they were we proceed to vindicate
the truth of history and enter denial to the charge
that the North Carolina militia acted cowardy in the
battle of Guilford Court House
The British forces consisted of the &c German Reg
iment," "7lst or Frazers Highlander" 33d Reg
iment," I'd Battalion of Guards, German Yagers,
and Cavalry In all about 25O0 men-regiments
that had been mustered into service by the gallant
Wolfe and on every battle field in the American
Revolution had acquired distinction and fame.
Greene's army consisted of Huger's brigade of
Virginia Continentals, 49, Virginia Militia, 1893,
North Carolina Militia 1860, Maryland and Della
ware Brigade $50, Lees Legion 80, Lees Dragons
70, WaShngton's Dragons st. Cavalry l6l, and
Continental Regulars AGO. In all 4243 men. Or
stated thus,
Virginisns 2s75-more than one half.
North Caronians 1O60-less than one fourth.
Maryland and Delaware 63O-about one seventh.
U. S. Contnentas l49O-more than one fourth.
The Virginia. Maryland Delaware, and Continen-
tails the Legion, Dragons, and Cavalry, had all
more or less service, and were differed by vet
eran commanders-commanders whose reputation
Ind been earned on many well-contested battle
field, and whose command their men were accus-
toned to hear end obey.
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