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

Raleigh entirely with wall composer " GO. %: ~
stone and TIMBER four feet thick ana ok ees
A few days after the retreat of the enemy, nay.ns
very large sick list and no chance for nght Up.
piled to Gen. Lee for leave to fall back 70 Inns
which was granted congratulate myseli una. .n -
14th regiment is spoken of in the highest Terms "
praise for its soldcrly, orderly, manly anu
planning bearing by that brave anu ;.,,,as ,hs
soldier who adds to other suPerlause Virtues, w
well deserved epithet Of Christian genueh'a, nan
b;gbest nraise While on Sewel, Lieut. Col. Ven
ahje was disnatcheu by Gen. Floyd to Blue Sulphur
Snr;,os m Establish hospital there; in the per-
farmance of which duty he has displayed great en-
erpv and business capacity, and not only our regl
ment. but also Georgans and Virginians are much
| indebted to him. Without supplies or appliances
for such an establishment. and without money 70
buy them he has prepared an asylum for about 400
poor fellows, who are reasonably comfortable, and
are, almost without exception recovering Dr.
Brown resigned account of i'll health, and left us
on the 31st ult. Drs. Wilson and Duffy have both
been quite sick with the prevailing fever, but the
latter is now able to attend to his duties at Blue
Sulphur Springs. am under many obligations to
Drs Bradsher and Jordan of Person county, for vol
untary attendance on the sick. have already said,
that my opinion to the of the great amount
of sickness IN this regiment, fully comedies with
that of Dr. Brown 1t was undoubtedly our long
stay on the Roanoke, with the sickness there, AMI
the fatigue and exposure here, and the sudden and
great change from the low country to the mountains
that developed the disease and gave mallgnty to ii.
have observed that persons leaving the low coun-
try after July and going to the upper country suffer
greatly from bilious diseases; and the most mais-
nant cases of fever have ever seen Of that
type. So well was the danger and impolicy OF a
change Of climate known to our ancestors, who after
all, though "od fogyish in Of their notions,
had large amount of sound practical common
sense, that on the old statute books there is law
prohibiting the driving OF cattle from one section to
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, over-eating 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 want ofstlmuants and Of proper clothing have
largely contributed to this sad result. apprehend
that 1t will he found that the 9th regiment Of North
Carolina volunteers, though stationed III the same
region of country, have not suffered severely as
the 18th regiment as they went from the Western
portion of the State and were not saturated With
malaria Hereafter regiments should he formed OF
men from the section OF country, and then re-
gard should be had to the nativity and residence Of
troops in posting them. Those from the low cOun-
try should he sent to the coast those living in
the piedmont and mountains, US country should be
sent to such sections of country this and as far
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 be
examined by surgeon to that he is ablebodied
and sound. | greatly admire the patriotism and
valor Of those who are intirn and weakly, but yet
are willing to brave the hardships as well as the
dangers OF soldiers life; but it is pth unwse and
cruel to permit them to throw away their lives and
to cucumber the army they do when they enter
it and shortly thereafter become sick Volunteers,
you will remember are not examined by surgeon
as enlisted men are. Had my men passed before
the surgeon, fully neffth OF those who have died
would have been rejected, and would now IN 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 be compelled to wear
thick flannel shirt next his skin, then with stout
pair of shoes and substantial overcoat, with large
cape it to turn the rain he is with the usual uni
FORM prepared for the field. Had my regiment been
thus supplied, as l 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
vantages Of the North Carolina Hospital at that
place; and entertain strong hopes that my request
will be granted without delay. Our sick, with the
exception Oh iouT OF i've, are Improving, anu we ex-
pect early next spring to take the field renewed
and regenerated" in health and spirits to roll like
wave of destruction the foe. Itis not our wish
to leave Virgin until we have driven the last in
vader from her soil, unless it be to march into Ken
lucky Maryland, or to carry the war into the enc
my's country. We are "few and faint, but fearless
still"
send you extract from a Federal paper, by
which you will see that "stormy Sewell" was no,
paradise to the enemy. Another account, which
could not procure, states that they "rottediout,
and that when they retreated, they were compelled
to leave large amount of property in consequence
of having to use their wagons to carry off their sick
am satisfied that they numbered fully l5.O00.-
They were encamped on every level spot from Sew
ell back to Locust Lane, distance of upwards o
eight miles. They erred in estimating numbe
at lS,OOO. We indeed had eighteen regiments
which if full would have made that number, but W
did not have single full regiment. We could no
at any time have shown more than 10, 900 men.
Respectfully yours,
WILLIAM j. CLARKE,
Col. Cong. l4th Reg't N. e. Vols.
MEADOW BLUFF Va, Oct 80, 1861.
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