Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-08-07

Sterman's Battery taken and silcaced By
the 9th Regiment Of North Carolina State
Troops,
THE REGIMENT ALI DAY IN the BATTLE AND
THEN IN Tue cHAsEl
After several days of painful anxiety in re-
gard to our Nortl Carolina Troops, we are
glad to be able d relieve that anxiety, by
the following authentic account received on
Saturday eveninglast from brave officer of
the late Col. Fishers Regiment. It will be
seen that no Regi inent on the closely contes-
ted field of Bull Enn did better service than
the brave 9th Regiment Of State Troops.
Many will be sAad " read Capt Yorli's
letter giving an ecasalIrt af the wounded in.
his company. Their Preservation is proYi-
dental. Our correspondent says:
BATTLE OF MANASSAS.
The battle commenced in the morning
with heavy cannonadins on the right and
centre, both sides mainhining their positions.
The dull booming of tie cannon was dis
tinctly heard by us as We were disembark-
ing from the cars, and as soon as that was
done our Regiment was formed and moved
off in quick time, Notwithstanding our weary
march from Winchester and though tired
and apparently exhausted yet the terrible
cannonading in the centre and on the right,
nerved every arm, frightened every eye,
and quickened every step. On we went
through the dust that rose in clouds, until
We reached point when we filed to the
left to spring, where our canteens were
filled with fresh water by companies. and as
each company received its water, were march
ed to the shade, AID allowed to lie down and
rest. After the watering operation was fin-
ished We proceeded and were halted under
cover of a hill in rear of one of our bate
ries, and ordered .SEl4@sSass rest, and i'm
meoiately we loaaed and laid our weary
limbs upon the grass and many fell into
doze Notwithstanding the battle was raging
around US; but men who had not slept for
three nights On forced march, could sleep
any where. This was about o'clock, and
the cannonading became more intense, dense
clouds of smoke rose from the opposite hills,
the earth shook with the awful thunder,
and continued to wax hotter and hotter,
when almost simultaneously the men cried
out, $ Col. Fisher we're ready" He replied
II know that" Suddenly his clear voice
rang out Attention." when every man
sprung with new life to his place in ranks,
shouldered his musket, and at the command
!" Forward march, we moved briskly up the
hill and formed a line of battle in rear of
one of our batteries, where we could see dis
tinctly the columns of smoke rising up from
the enemies batteries on the opposite hills
while the balls were whistling around US
Suddenly we shifted position further to the
left n Es @ yQad raaRng bg thick Over
slug from rifed cannon passed through our
ranks, but there was no wayering, but intent
on the attack, you read on every brow the
stern resolve to conquer or die. Here we
stood resting on our arms with the woun-
ded lying around US, and ever and anon
some one would breathe his last; when again
rang the clarion voice, and led by our gal
liant Colonel we filed through the dense tan
gled underground, and sped onward until we
struck a ravine which ed directly up to
Sherman's battery, and we're halted with the
two right flank companies under Capts.
Freeland and York, within forty yards of the
guns and regiment of the u. S. Armory
supporting them, when the. command of fire
was given, when we sileneed the battery at
the first fire. Capts. Kirkland and Avery
led their men around the point of woods
and charged the battery and drove every man
from the pieces. About this time, some officer
cried out to cease firing, that we were firing
into our oTn nel.
Exposed to a rakins Gre ss5;- tthbr. .~rnsngr
oTueced us to retrea5 which was done in
, some disorder, owing to the cry that we
were firing into friends. And it was here
that the gallant Col. Fisher fell in front OF
: the battery, leading his men to the charge.
He was shot through the head with ball.
r May he rest in the soldiers heaven; for a
nobler, braver, more gallant man never led q
: column to victory His Orderly brought his
S remains to the junction, and placed them ir
< neat coffin, and Capt. York made all ne
e cessary arrangements, and sent the body or
|, to North Carolina, that it might sleep in tn
r soil that gave him birth, and in whose de-
J, fence he offered up his life.
= That portion of the Regiment rallied b,
a the gallant Lightfoot and Webb, pitched int
h the hottest of the tight, and Joined in tn
e final charge, when the enemy were put to
$, precipita.e flight, and joined in the pursui
sr for several miles No more gallant spirit
e. strobe over that field, than,Lt Col. Lightfoo
+ and Maj Webb The reminder of the reg
= iment, under different Officers, fell in wit
other regiments and fought to the last. n
regiment behaved with more bravery an
/ gallantry than the North Carolina 9th Il
ia fantry, on that memorable field. Led u
s, into the hottest of the fight, within a fe
yards of battery that was raking our arm,
m they delivered their fire with the deadlie
de precision. Our loss was about go killed an
as wounded. Among the officers, our gallaI
er Col. Fisher fell early in the attack. Lieu
ey Col. Lightfoot was wounded in the calf of tt
IN leg, but never stopped although on foot, ;
re were all our fe!d-otficers. Capt Avery WI
ny shot in the reg, but Ike brave man as he
ire never left the field. 1t. w P. Mangum wi
ers severely wounded in the left side The RI
ITS port that Maj. Webb was killed is untru
vn though exposed to most terrible fire, he G
ere capped uninjured.
~ WHO TOOK sHEIaIANs BATTERY
Several regiments Calm the honor Of
led lencing and taking this battery. 1t aoas t
at Zen by the 9th Infantry N G. State Irool
m The regiment as have stated, was led
within 40 yards of it, and their fire sienc
it, and Col. Lightfoot Mai. Webb, Cap
sh- Kirkland, Avery and Lieuts. Avery and NJ:
SITS, gum, marched right up to il with their MI
ent and passed beyond it, and received galli
wn, fire from the left, when they were order
7m- to cease firing and fall back. Maj. We
;ed was resting on one of the pieces, facing
lgh fire, and our men retreated in good order,
non the while delivering their fire.
of
About sunset, the enemy were charged
the our army, and put in disorder, and ran
t is turkeys, pursued by our infantry, cass
for and artillery, for several miles, until da
ness stopped them. Our Regiment wa