Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-10-10

referred to 10 the card of Mr. Sinclair, together with
the predatory remarks of the State Journal as it may
De necessary TO proper understanding of Mr. SIS re-
marks end also as matter of justice to Col Jones
From the State Journal.
We cbetrfuly give place 10 the following letter III
any Injustice has been done the fifth Regiment by any
hoicf Of ours i was OF course uninentious" The
statement We made in au0ing TO Rev. Mr. Sinclair
Contained reflection On the regiment md in iustice
to MIR Sinclair will say that in all the conversation
We lave had With him touching the Fifth Regiment he
has invariably repeed the imputatioDs upon its
character As to other matters we have nothing to say
! Fer the State Journal.
Messrs. Editors Nothing coul have induced me to
permit My name to appear in the public press 10 refer
ence to the action Of The 5th regiment n. G. State
Troops, except TO editor al 10 recent nun
Der OF your paper--in which the 9Th regiment is done
gross !Uiustce uninentionay of course. do not re-
collect The date Of the paper hut the article referred to
Is Calling attention the advertisement for vountet
OF the chaplain OF the 18th regiment n c. State Troops
I'VE have notice OF bis resgnation) in which you say
- braTfy deyiDg CALLING shower of ieaden bail and
deah-deaug thunderbolte, feFcely beicbed forth from
dark cloud OF hostile ordnance Rev. Mr. Sinclair
las be then was) rallied three panicstrieken CON-
panies two of whom had been deserted by their
commanders and led them to the charge
the eremy which proved successful &C.. &c"
Now, sir, haVnt the slightest objection to MIR. Sin
caira getting all the credit he deserves and even more
it is not done to the prejudice of the 5th regiment
or to individuals Of The regiment the expense of
the truth of history Mr. Sinclair renuered me eff
Gent service in carrying orders from one point to
another, but he did not rally single company did
he ut any time lead one taco three companies
successful charge, or an any other Charge there
arg panac stricken companies" IN the Regiment on
the II OF July, the Regiment ana part of
At unde such fire you represent. was ordered
to send two companies the bill in front of the
mys batteres-(w were firing into our brigade)
II n Longstreets rs skirmisbers and TO follow with
the reuaIuder OF the regiment and take position pre-
paratoy 10 attacking the eneny's batteries with the
bay sent Capt. Hills division (his company and
= Capt Goidiu's out skrmshers. and followed my
self with the remaining six companies. WheD getting
neaF the batteries fired upon with grape and
: canister and round shot, losing and having
j three or tour slightly wounded then ordered to
5 bring my regiment d0wn into ravne aud await fur
Their orders | obeye1 the order and placed my reg
- imtnt in deep ragte under the hill, where it could
not be fred upon affected with the enemys batter
is, the time sending out Capt. Sinclair {bruth
OF the chaplain and brave reliable otcer with bis
company 10 ekirmsh a0d to ascertain the exatt position
q OF the batteries and their strength, &C. with lDstrUc
items report the information obtained and also
to let know when Generals Joues' and Eweli's Br
Is gades posted on right attacked the enemy in the
4 real, which 10 be tie ignal fer to attack the
n batteries in front with the bayonet. While the Regi
meut Except Sincairs company quietly resting IL
the ravlne out OF danger, and not gun being fired
them, |, knowing that something unusual was holding
" Us from making the attack (which were anx
ious to dol ard hiokng that probably Gen Longsreet'
aid might have made mistake in giving me the order
re rode up to the General, who but two three
bundrd yards distant aud asked for special orders.
od me simply to await 'urther orders | returned t
d my position and observed the hree left companies
Il ipg back the entrenchmeuts which about on
90 hundred yards from halted them, and asked whe
they going aud received the repy that the
Sc der had from the right 10 fall back to the en-
r. trenchmcnts.' [ ordered them back, which orde
was instantly obeyed by all except Captain GoddiI
~ and Lieut.. Taylor, Capt. Hill, and Lieut. Rlddic'
tier companies having returned without them
mot rallied by the chaplaip) The two latter officers
% however, soon urlei and join their companies.
= then od red to send four companies the hill q
a. skirmsaecs aud let the General know when vas read
- to attack the battery. detailed three companies
m JON Capt SiuClars already out, and directed the chap
Z" lain to 60 up the bill with these three companies an
Gad bis brother and tell him 10 take command Of them
OF He took them up the BILL (but, not under fe and
20 then announce TO Gen. Longstreet that read
to to attack the battery with the bayone Ny order the
was 10 await further Crders. While awaiting turtle
ed orders portion Of Virginia Regiment stan
re- peded and by the 5th, saying that a larg
~ torce of cavalry ard Infantry coming down tn
At raVine. immediately arranged my regiment (iou
companles, I'LL that presently to receive the enemy
of and the slightest fear evnced by shy one
~ them; and although expecting heavy force up0
x. them in instant, they tainted and laugh at h
Eirgjnians who running by them, whose officer
Ie St.rdIGg by calling them back and threa eniD
r orders to rcfake the position held IN the morBn
when the fight first commenced. ! be courier sent
Generals Jones ap1 EweIl did not reach them, hence
Le. uOt permitted to make the attack ii
"' battery which had made, would probably hay
n cost the lite of every in the Regiment. 1 hay
nd here endeayored TO give you truthful and fair
So OF tire part the 9th took in the fight We fire
g. upon by he enemy's scouts and killed several
them. The officers ard men with the exception of tw
ve three, could not have behaved better ha'
ost ing been under fire bsi0re. There officers in Il
Regiment who deserve credit for services thu
occasion than TIE Chaplain; his brother, Capt. S
ed clair deserves much more | shout not have allow,
my to appear in any paper except to do usc"
the regiment. | presume the Chaplain has not seen Il
zen article your paper be would have corrected it, III
mistake your part is unn' enonal aud feel assure
you will rake the proper correction by publishing th
ner or taking the facts herefrom and publishing them
apn [ regret extremely having to bring the
ort some OF the gentleman who dsgraced tLemsev
rth before the public, but truth and justice demand it
- Regiment alter Regiment the day of the ba
- te under heavy fire. Nothing has been said ab0
i'm it, bat the 9th understand is talked of general
when it did not run any portion Of it. VIII
the three mpanies moved to the LETT, it not und
fire and though under almost constant fire for sever
" hours, it was time under calling fire. and
es- would have stood firm if it had been. Those office
who evnced fear have been required to resign and ha
t?d gone home. gave Chaplain Sinclair letters certify
III to his efficient services. also spoke of him in r
official report. I uuaded, the Colonel and Adj
ler uant being absent at Halifax the Major extreme
nat sick at Manassas. Mr.. Sinclair volunteered his
ned vices. l accepted tEem not Lient. Col. Maj(
Of any one knows had right to do that, b
nil | sent orders from point to another by him ha
submitted this statement 10 Captains Sinclair BrOC
IDS, fields Reeves Hill and Garrett who pronounced il
g correct and just account of tie whole affair.
Respectfully, your ob't servant,
MS. J. P. JONES,
Lieut.. Col 9Th Infantry n. @. State Troops.
For the Journal
meeting of the Merchants Bankers