Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-08-09
For the Standard.

Mr. EDrToR:-I have at last obtained my own
consent to trouble you with article Of army news,
knowing that before this reaches you, the State cleo
tons will be over, and the heavy pressure on your
fearless and patriotic columns will have ceased
Permit me to say, that nobly have you done your
duty to your country, in the late campaign fear
lcssly and with unsurpassed ability, have you ex-
posed corruption, selishness, and mean countrywide
stroying partyism in thigh places" You have
placed mark as hideous and as lasting as that Of
Cain, upon the brow of more than one dcmagogue
who las heretofore deceived honest men to their
hurt. You have earned the hatred Of hundreds of
selfish unpatriotic spoilsmcn, who will follow you
through life with bitter curses, because Of the prey
you have taken from between their teeth. And you
have excited the admiration and won the affections
of tens of thousands Of patriotic citizens and brave
soldiers They will treasure up your name and
your deeds, because you have spoken out for the
people against power. You have defended the sa-
crednesS of private right against the nsolent and
wanton tyranny Of supercilious officials. You
have pleaded for law, order, and constitutional lib
ery, in the midst Of rcvolution and against the in
sane rage Of nen, who, in their fury, would have
torn down every barrier, obliterated every land
mark, and destroyed every guarantee which the
wisdom of ages has established securities for the
liberties of the people. But l promised that this
article should consist Of news from the army: And
first let pay tribute, more than due, to one Of
the nobleSt, braveSt soldiers that fell in the late
bloody but glorious battles before Richmond, Miles
NJ. Cowles, Of ladkn county, n. C., Adjutant OF
the 3Sth regt N c. troops lie fell mortally wound
ed at the battle Of Mechanicsve on the evening Of
Thursday, the Goth Of June last in desperate
charge which the 3Sth made on one of the enemys
batteries supported by heavy Of infantry, in
which it lost onehalf of its number, killed and
wounded, in about fifteen minutes OF time. was
an eye witness of the noble gaantry Of Adjutant
Cowles, during that DIR, adful charge; aud as We
ll.,ln fhn
enemy's battery, only about two hundred yards dis
tant, through a storm of bombs solid shot, grape,
anu canister. and MIME balls, never surpassed in
fury on any battle. field and whilst the wounded
and the killed falling every side, "thick as
grain before the reapers sickle" could distinguish
his manly form through the smoke Of battle, tdr in
front Of erery one else and could hear his clarion
voice amid the of artillery and musketry, cheer
ing on the brave men who pressed after him. Still
he was untouched, as if by miracle; until retreat
ordered when, in utter disregard Of his person.
al safety, he rushed to small portion Of our men
who had taken shelter in clump Of trees on our
extreme right and who, it seems, had not heard
the command to retreat and were remaining behind.
lie went from tree to tree, admonishing the men to
retreat; and whilst thus molly engaged in endeavOr-
ing to the men from falling into the hands Of
the enemy prisoners, he received flesh wound
in the thigh, which afterwards proved fatal to him.
| met him a few minutes afterwards at the place
where the regiment reformed, still in reach OF
the enemyS nccSsant fire Of artillery. lie was as
siSting in raying the men, apparently unconscious
of his wound | told him he must go to the rear,
he replied he could not. leave me; and when ! re-
peaed that he must 60 he took INC by the hand, and
whilst the tears down his cheek, he said, 81
want to stay with you until the battle is over"
never saw him afterwards. He died few days at
forwards in Richmond whittier he had gone during
the night of Thursday. A purer, nober, drawer
spirit than his passed from thus to the spirit
world; and Liberty herself never made more pre-
ciOus sacrifice than when she gave his young heart
to death for her cause.
Mr.. Cowles was young man, about twenty-five
years of age, lawyer Of splendid attainments, with
a brilliant prospect before him as exalted in his
private walk as he glorious in his public career
and in his death Those who knew him best, loved
him most In him, his State and country have lost
a bright Jewell and the SSth regiment soldier
whose place cannot be filled. know that the grief
of his aged and venerable parents and his brothers
and sisters is too deep for consolation and too sa-
cred for the intcrmeGdling Of stranger. But let
them remember that their and brother died as
none but heroes die, in the noblest cause that
ever claimed the lives of patriots; and that his
blood mingling with that Of thousands OF North
Cardinals brayest and best beloved, and with the
crimson streams that flowed there so freely from
every State in the Confederacy, will render the wales
of the Chickahominy, halOwed ground, the Mecca oil
nations heart, where her pilgrims will ever throng,
and her historians ever go, to gather the brightest
pages Of her story.
Mr. Editor | had intended in this article, to de-
scribe the late battles before Richmond, and to set
forth the glorious share which North-Carolina had
in them, and to speak of the army and its dongs IN
general but speaking OF my noble friend, Mr..
Cowles, has already led me beyond the just limits
of communication. Perhaps | may hereafter give
you some of the items above alluded to-
One VINO Was THERE
Yadkinvc, N. c., August 1st 1862.