Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-06-26

Stewart rushed back and in spite of the presence of
foe ten times his superior in numbers resumed, in
the most heroic manner possession of his entrench
ments fresh howitzer was carried across, and
placed in the battery, and Captain Avery, of Co. G.
was directed to defend it at all hazards We were
now as secure as at the beginning of the fight and
as yet had no man killed The enemy finding
himself foiled on our right flank next made his final
demonstration on our left. A strong column, sup
posed to consist OF volunteers from different regi-
ments and under command Of Capt. Winthrop, Aid
de-Camp to Gen. Butler crossed over the creek,
and appeared at the angle on our left Those in
advance had put on distinctive badge of white
band around the cap and they cried out repeatedly
don't fire." This ruse was practced to enable
the whole column to get the creek and form in
good order They now began to cheer most Justify,
thinking that our work was open at the gorge and
that they could get in by sudden rush. Compa-
MES B. and C., however dispelled the illusion,
by cool, deliberate, and well-drected fire. Col.
Magruder sent over portions of G.. c. and II. COM
panies of my regiment to our support. And now
began as cool firing on our side as ever was wit
messed The three field officers of the regiment were
present, and but few shot were fired without their
permission, the men repeatedly saying, May l
fire !" 81 think | can bring him." They all were
in high glee, and seemed to enjoy it as much as
boys do notwithstanding. Capt Winthrop, while
most calamity urging on his men, was shot through
precipitation So far as my observation extended,
he was the only one of the enemy who exhibited
even an approximation to courage, during the day.
The fight at the angle lasted but twenty minutes.
1t completely discouraged the enemy, and he made
no further effort at assault The houses in front,
which bad served as hiding place for the enemy,
were now fired by shell from howitzer, and the
out-houses and palings were all in blaze. As all
shelter was now taken from him, the enemy called
in his troops and started back for Hampton. As he
had left sharp shooters behind him in the woods on
our left, the dragons could not advance until Capt
Hoke of company K. LIST N. G. Volunteers had thor
oughly explored them When he gave the ASST
rance of the wood being clear, Capt Douthitt with
some 100 dragons pursued. The enemy in his
haste threw away hundreds of canteens haveTsacks,
overcoats, &C.; even the dead were thrown out of
the wagons. The pursuit soon became chase, and
for the third time, the enemy the over the
New Market course. The bridge was torn up be-
hind him, and our dragons returned to camp.
There were not quite 800 of my Regiment en-
gagged in the fight and not one half of them drew
trigger during the fight. All remained manfully at
the posts assigned, and not man in the regiment
behaved badly. The companies not engaged were
as much exposed and rendered equal services with
those participating in the fight They deserve
equally the thanks of the country In fact it is the
most trying ordeal to which soldiers can be subject
ed, to receive fire which their orders forbid them
to return. Had single company left its post, our
works would have been exposed And the constan-
cy and discipline OF the unengaged companies can
not be too highly commended.
A detachment of fifteen Cadets from the n. G.
Military Institute, defended the howitzer under
Lieut. Hudnal, and acted with great GOODNESS and
determination. cannot speak in too high terms of
my two field officers, 1t Col. Lee and Maj. Lane.
Their services have been of the highest Importance,
since taking the field, to the present moment My
~. l.. \
Poteat, Adjutant and 1t. j. w. Ratchford, Aid
both of them Cadets of the N. G. Military Institute
at Charlotte. The latter received a confusion in
the forehead, from grape shot, which nearly cost
him his life
Capt Bridgers, Company A., 1t Owens CON-
handing, Company B. Capt Ross, company g.,
Capt Ashe, Company D., Capt. Mcdowell, Compa-
pany G. Capt Huske, Company H. Ii. Whitaker,
commanding, Company j., and Capt Hoke, Compa-
ny h, displayed great GOODNESS, judgment and eff
cheney. 1t Gregory is highly spoken of by Maj.
Lane for sodierly bearing on the Sth. Its. Cook
and McKethan, Company H., crossed over under
heavy fire. to the assistance of the troops attacked
on the left-so, also, did Lieut. Cohen, Comp G.
1t. Hoke has shown great zeal, energy and judg-
ment an engineer officer, various occasions
Corporal George Williams, Company A, Privates
Henry L. Wyatt Thomas Fallan, John Thorpe, Co.
A. volunteered to burn the house which concealed
the enemy. They behaved with great gaantry-
Wyatt was killed. and the other three recalled
Sergeant Thos. j. Stewart company A, and pri-
vate William Mcdowell company A., reconnoitered
the position of the enemy and went far in advance
of our troops. Private J. W. Potts, of company B.,
is specially mentioned by his company commander.
So are G. L. Watt company c.; W. II. McDade,
company D.; Sergeant j. NJ Young Corporal Jno.
DingIer, privates q. H. A. Adams R. V. Gudger,
G. W. Worley, John c. Weight 7. I. Little, j. F.
Jenkins, company c.; R. W. Stedman, NJ. c. Dye,
H. c. Benton j. B. Smith, company F. =; G. W.
Buham, James c. McRae, company H.
CASUALTIES.
Private Henry L. Wyatt company K, MORALLY
wounded; Lieut.. j. W. Ratchford, confusion; pr-
Yates Council Rogers, and Chas. Williams company
A, wounded severely S. Patterson, company D.,
slightly wounded; William White company K,
slightly wounded Peter Poteat company g., slight
ly wounded.
speaking in the higest terms of admiration of the
Howitzer Battalion and its most accomplished CON-
mander Maj. Randolph. He has no superior as an
artlerst in any country, and his men displayed the
utmost skill and coolness The left Howitzer under
Lieut. Hudnell being nearest my works, came IN
der my special notice. The names of those at are
as follows:
Lieut.. Hudnell, commander wounded; Serg. S. B.
Hughes, S. H. Pendleton, R. B. Peasants W. NJ Cald-
WELL G. W. Hobson, VIM. Mccarthy, H. c. Shook,
wounded; L. W. Tmberlake, Geo. P. Hughes, Jno
Werth, wounded; d. B. Clark.
Permit me in conclusion to pay we'll deserved
compliment to the first Regiment n. c. Volunteers
Their patience under trial, perseverance under toll
and courage under fire have seldom been surpassed
by veteran troops. After working night and day,
sometimes without tents and cooking utensils a
murmur has never escaped them to my knowledge.
They have done large portion of the work on the
intrenchments at Yorktown as we'll as those at
Bethel. Had all the Regiments in the field worked
with the spirit there would not be an assaila-
bic point in Virginia. After the battle they shook
hands afectonatey with the spades calling them
clever fellows and good friends The men are n1uen-
ced by high moral and religious sentiments and their
conduct has furnished another example of the great
truth that he who fears God will ever do his duty
to his country