Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-08-25

AOAS .
ally known as Hanover Court House,
HEAD Gas. 41H BRIe. LIT Drv's,
July 20, 1862.
General Order, No. 6.
The General, commanding the Brigade,
having been authorized to have inscribed
on the battle flags of his Regiments the
names Of actions in which they have par
participated, avails himself of the oppor-
tunity to refer to some Of those actions.
At Newbsrn, besides a feet of cunbosts
you fought $4,000 of the best troops in
the Federal service, having reserves of
1000 men. You numbered less thar f.
600, not ten of whom, officers and men,
had ever been IN BATH before. After an
uninterrupted fire of four hours-which
has NOS beeen exceeded in severity by any
you have since heard-(exeept for one hour
at Gaines Mill and after you had infic-
ted on the enemy a loss of not less than
half your own number in killed and woun-
ded-you made good your retreat out of a
peninsula in which be had confidently
boasted that be. wousfa capture you as he
would chickens in a coop
At Slash Church you encountered tho
division Of Gen. Porter, and a part Of the
division of Gen. Sedgwick, nunbering at
least 10000, and including 5000 United
States regulars.
You, with the two other regiments tenn
porarily acting with you, numbered about
1000. Yon repulsed the eneny's attack.
and boldly advancing attacked him with
such vigor that, after a six hours combat,
you withdrew in perfect order, to avoid
being surrounded during the night-the
enemy not daring to follow you beyond
the field Of battle.
Your Commander might have justified
himself in retiring. before such superior
forces, both at Newbetn and Slash Church;
but when on assuming a command he re-
solved never to retreat before any hostile
force without fighting it, he did not place
too high an estimate on the valor sad dis
cipline of the brave men it is his pride to
command.
La the late brilliant operations before
Richmond you were the first Brigade to
cross the Chickahominy :; you were the
first to encounter the enemy, and you were
the first to start him on that retreat in
which the able combinations Of our Gen
erals-in-Chief allowed him to take no rest
until he found shelter under the guns of
his shipping. You captsrsd from him a
flag before any other troops had crossed
the Chickahominy.
At Mechanicsyil!e you were under a
heavy FIRE Oh Thursday evening, the 25th
and Friday norningy which you had no
opportunity to return.
At Gaines Mil you opened the fight,
and continued in it until the enemy had
been driven from every part of the field.
On Monday, at Frazier's farm, you were
again Ia the heart of the engagement, from
It's opening to it's close, driving tho enemy
before you fer a great distance, and cap
turing a battery.
| On Tuesday, at Malvern Hill, you were
again under & terrific fire, which you had
no opportunity to resura.
Though rarely able to turn out 5000
4 men for duty, yon have in six pitched bat,
ties and several skirmishes, lost 1850 il
killed and wounded.
OthVe Colonies two have been killed in
> battle, I'VE wounded, and one taken pris
: oner Oy an overwhelming force.
Whilst making this bloody bat brilliant
. record for your Brigade, you have been, a.
/ soldiers effreedom should always be, mod
1 est, accomplishing, and rsgardful of wha
e IS due to others.
: Your ranks have been thinned by tn,
4 casualties Of war, but be hot discouraged
In a few days they will be filled by re
crults, and yours will be the proud task 9
teaching them to maintain the reputation
e You have achieved.
The Regiments of the Brigade are re