Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-11-16

Raleigh entirely witfa walb couipoeedof eArtn anu
stone and timber four feet thick and SIX ieet hgn
A few days after the retreat Of the enemy, having
very large sick list and no chance for fight sP-
uliedto for leave 20 fall back to this paees
which was granted. congratulate myself that the
l4th regiment is spoken Of in the highest terms Of
praise for rs seldierly, orderly, manly and uneoH,
planning bearing, by that brave and accomplished
soldier who adds TO other superlatiSe virtues, the
well deserved epithet of Christian gentleman mans
highest praise. While on Sewell Lieut. Col Ven
able was dispatgbeifby Gen: Floyd to Blue Sulphur
Springs TO establish hospital there; in the per-
formance of which duty he has displayed great en-,
ergy and business capacity, and not only our regi-
rnent, but also Georgans and Virginians are much
indebted to him. SMithout supplies or appliances
for such an establishment, and without money to
buy them, he has prepared an asylum for about 400
poor fellows, who are reasonably comfortable, ana
are almost without exception, recovering Dr.
Brown resigned account of i'll health, and lett US
on the 3lst ult Drs. Wilson and Duffy have both
been quite sick with the prevailing fever, but the
latter is able to attend to his duties at Blue
Sulphur Springs. am under many obligations to
Drs Bradsher and Jordan of Person county, Tor yot-
untary attendance the sick. have already SAID,
that my opinion as to the of the great amount
oil sickness in this regiment fully comedies win
that of Dr. Brown. 1t was undoubtedly our long
stay on the Roanoke, with the sickness there, ana
the fatigue ard exposure here, and the sudden and
great change from the low country to the mountains
that developed the disease and gave mlagnity to It,
have observed that persons leaving the low coun-
try after July and going to the upper country suffer
greatly IRON bilious diseases and the most nalig-
nant cases of fever have ever seen were OF that
type. So well was the danger and impollcy OF
change Of climate known to our ancestors, who after
all, though "od fogyish" in some OF their notions,
had large amount Of sound practical common
sense that on the old statute books there is law !
,,f
another in certain seasons, which was intended to
avoid disease. In support Of this opinion may
state that the companies from Johnston and the one
from Cumberland have suffered the most severely
Bad cooking, overeating while in camp without ex-
ercise disregard of the laws of health by men who
never were sick in their lives hard work, exposure
while marching and in camp want OF variety In
food Of stimuants and of proper clothing, have
lai gely contributed to this sad result apprehend
that it will be found that the 9th regiment OF North
Carolina volunteers, though stationed IN the same
region of country, have not suffered as severely as
the l4th regiment, as they went from the Western
portion of the State and were not saturated with
malaria" Hereafter regiments should be formed OF
men from the same section of country and then re
gard should DC had to the nativity and residence OF
troops in posting them Those from the low coun-
try should be sent to the coast those living IN
the piedmont and mountainous country should be
sent to such sections of country as this, and AZ lar
as practicable troops should be sent TO the region
in which they are to operate before the LIST Of July
in each year. Again, every man enrolled should he
examined by surgeon TO see that he is able bodied
and sound. ] greatly admire the PATRIOTISM and
yalJr of those who are intirm and weakly, but yet
are willing to brave the hardshipS as well as the
dangers of soldiers life; but it is both wise and
cruel to permit them to throw away their lives and
cucumber the army as they do when they enter
it and shortly thereafter become sick Volunteers,
will her nnt ny n
as enlisted men are. Had my men passed before
the surgeon, fully one fifth of those who have died
would have been rejected, and would now all pro-
liability, have been at home contributing to the sup
port OF their more robust companions in the field
Every soldier in camp should compelled to wear
thick flannel shirt next his skin, then with stout
pair of shoes and substantial overcoat with large
cape to it to the rain, he is with the usual uni
FORM prepared for the field. Had my regiment been
thus supplied as | endeaVored to have them, the
amount of sickness would have been much less
have applied to the Secretary of War, stating
the condition Of the regiment, and requesting that
we be sent into winter quarters somewhere near
Petersburg, Va, that our sick may enjoy the adj
vantaseS Of the North Carolina Hospital at that
place; and entertain strong hopes tina! my request
will be granted without delay. Our sick, with the
exception Of four five are improving and We cx-
pect early next spring TO take the field renewed
md regcnerated" in health and spirits to roll like
wave OF destruction on the foe. 1t is not our wish
to leave Virginia until we have driven the last in
vader from her SOIL unless it be to march into Ken
lucky or Maryland to carry the war into the enc
my's country. We are "fcw and faint, but fearless
still"
| send you an extract from Federal paper, by
which you viii see that stormy Sewell" was not
paradise to the enemy. Another account, which
could not procure, states that they "rotted out"
and that when they retreated, they were compelled
to leave large amount Of property in consequence
of having to their wagons carry off Their sick
| am satisfied that they numbered fully 10, 000-
They were encauped on every level spot from Sew
ell back to Locust Lane, distance Of upwards of
eight miles. They erred in estimating our number
at lS,0Ou. We indeed had eighteen regiments,
which if full would have made that number, but VIC
did not have single full regiment We could not
at any time have shown more than 10000 NEIL.
Respectfully yours, Il.
WILLIAM j. CLARKE,
Col Cong l4th Reg't n c. Vols.