Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-11-20

CAMP FISHER, NEAR MEADOW BLUFF, VA.,)
$50 miles West OF Richmond,
November 9Th, 1861.
MR. HOLDEN: Knowing the great anxiety which
is felt by many of the people Of North arvlna re-
spectng the l4th regiment will endeavor, amid
many unavoidable Interruptions to give true state
ment of our condition, believing that the truth,
though sad indeed, will fall far short Of the reports
in circulation.
lost by death sixty men, instead Of go reported
Of these nine died in North DINA. One was
murdered there while absent from the regiment
Another was killed at Big Sewell Mountain by mis-
take while on picket guard. Then fifty-eight men
have died BY disease out of eight hundred and thir-
teen which is about one in fifteen. We have lost
also two officers out of hrty-nine, which is one in
twenty. This is large mortality but our regiment
has not suffered more than Others Indeed doubt
i we have suffered as much as the Gcorgians and
Mississippians brigaded with U.s.
We naturally inquire are the Southerners an i'm
beetle race that they die thus like sheep with the
rot or have the commanders of these regiments
managed badly? BY no means! but we have vio-
lated great sanitary principle. We have changed
climate and modes Of living too suddenly, and this
with other accidental causes has produced these
appalling results. In confirmation Of the views ex-
pressed by Dr. Brown, in his letter to the Secretary
Of War, written after his resignation, will give
you brief history Of our regiment and narrative
Of the campaign.
The regiment was organized at Garysburg N. c.,
on the 18th Of July last 1t was composed Of three
companies from Johnston county, two from Person,
one from Franklin, one from Cumberland, one from
kcbeson, one from Onslow. and one from Beaufort
This last company, account of sickness, was de-
tached before we left North Carolina, and only nine
companies marched to Virginia. We we're DELAYED
until the 18th of August in consequence of the diff
fculty in obtaining clothing and camp equipage-
At that time most Of the companies had been eight
weeks exposed to the malaria of the Roanoke
swamps. About half the men were enfeebled BY
measles mumps, and pneumonia. Some fiaty-six
were left with of the surgeons of the regiment
At Weldon and about the same number of GONZALES
cents were sent home to recruit their strength the
remainder proceeded to Richmond 1t commenced
raining on US at Petersburg, and We pitched our
tents in Richmond in storm In consequence of
this exposure several men just out of measles sicke.
Cd and were left behind when left that city after
stay OF two days. We proceeded to this place,
ieaving SICK men at every point we stopped at.
our SUBSEQUENT arduous service has been in an un-
conseha' climate during an unusually rainy season,
and It Is hardly an exaggsra,on to say that we have
not a. any a'ne' until quite recently, passed more
than three days without rain, and we have been
exposed to many Of them. I add, by way of appen.
dix, . few brief extracts from my diary thew NAV
be Of service to Lieut. Maury hereafter in his mete
geological Investigations
Our first advance from this place to Anderson
beyond Big Sewell, Sept llth,) was forced marcel
OF about twenty three miles, a part of the time i,
the rain, to reinforce Gen. Floyd ut Gauey but W
we were unfortunately about thirty.six hours to
late, as he had repulsed the enemy and then falle
back. While we were ON Big Sewell working par
ties were engaged for:ifying a part of the time H
Me ram: Our march from that place back to thI
Sept l7th was in the night Itcommencetira rain
ing soon after we started and rained upon us mos
OF the night and for about three hours of the tim
very nard Inc roads were exceedingly muddy
and We reached camp next morning greatly exhaus
CO. Inc consequence was rapid increase of on
SICK Inst; and when we marched back To Biz Sewe
to rescue Gen. Wise (Sept 24th,) was compelle
to leave behind in camp more than 100 sicr mar
Viewers crdsred to march without baggage ~ tar !,
and while there from the night Of the Gath Sent :,
Oct 18th, 10 we're exposed for part Of the tim
To- the weather without tents II rained upon
while We had no sheltsr except such rs we CON
hastily erect in the woods, for three days At fir
We we're short Of provisions, having carried only
GAYS supply in our haversacks. We had Meth
nes % sn,sksy 70 stimulate as, and part Of 4
us wv ram was so violent as to extineuish o.
W. s"a tnls tooi raw cold mountain climai
""e" our tents arrived We could obtai,, no stra
pesee lntnem, and uRtil the men could splt che.
s Iogs and boor their tents. thew silent on the ba
ground. During this time the men were conata,
exposed erecting breast.works. and stand;,
-! -. - sent'nes or a. pickets The latter am
a., os 70 Us Danger, is very unpleasant a.
rort. \. NJ, rs allowed Having spoken Of bres,
nso,r ~ "' Eve you some idea Of our lahors VIII
"'''F~ you that the works erected by our br;os