Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-03-19

and being in the rear of the entertainments is not
supposed to have been in the hottest Of the fight
though We have heard illusions made to the gall
lantry Of his men, and of some of the officers.
Coils. oampbeIrs, vance's and Avery's regiments
exhibited great gallantry and courage At an early
stage Col Vance was surrounded by the enemy
At this juncture, we are told his voice was heard
above the roar, "Stand firm, my men-I am with
you for victory or DEATH" Col Avery discovering
his position, it is said, calamity and heroically
rushed to his assistance, when both regiments be-
came fercely engaged with the enemy. The strug-
gle must have been a severe one, but we are as
sured that both of those regiments and Col. Camp
bells cut through the surrounding hosts, and have
made good their retreat to Kinston. The loss OF
those two regiments fear severe yet the state
ments are so contradictory, not able to give
satisfactory account We grieved to record
the reported death of Col Avery, Lieut. Col. Hoke
and Maj. Carmichael 1t is reported alse that Capt
Rand's company from this County, in COL Vance's
regiment, suffered severed, there several re-
ported deaths in that company-but we are still in
hope all these statements but rumors. If it be
! true that Col Avery, 1t Col Eoke, and Maj. Car
michael are among the slain the State and country
suffer great loss. They were brave spirits and
| valuable officers .
We learn that Col. Lees Col. Sloan's, Col. Sin
clars regiments and the militia made good their
treat FROM the field, the Railroad bridge to
! Newbern. The hour of Gen. Branch's arrival with
! his staff at Newbern we have not learned but we
understand he ordered the burning of the turpen-
tine, cotton, the gunboats building; the Railroad
IL Hill,
Yances, and Avery's regiments, we learn, were cut
off from Newbern by the burning of the bridge,
and they were compelled to retreat up the south
side of Trent. We state these things as we have
| heard them.
! One Of the most unaccountable things in the
whole matter, is the failure the part of the Com
handing General to notify the deenceless inhabt-
ants of Newborn to leave on Tuesday evening when
the Yankee vessels first appeared. But lulled to
rest as many of them WERE no warning was given
until Friday morning when the retreating troops
rushed through the town without stopping to warn
them of approaching danger. Hundreds of de-
fenceless respectable females left there,
while others too fearful of the consequences of re-
manning, started on loot or by any means they
could get off carrying their helpless children along
| with them.
The Yankees did not attempt to pass fort until
they found our forces had been routed About
midday, or perhaps late as one o'clock, they
came up without hindrance. After all the talk and
CANNON about sawyers and Instructions in the river
below Newbern, and of forts, and torpedoes &C.,
that would blow the YANKEES up, after the rout Of
our little army they came right along, just in the
track ,rhich had strangely been LEFT open for our
oun uessels, without encountering single obstruc.
ton. At once they commenced Smelling the town.
What damage was done by that we have not learn.
ed 1t is also charged that they shelled the cars
with women and children in them We understand
the square on which stood the old Washington Ho-
tel, near the Court House. all consumed, ex-
cept the mansion of the late John Stanly, then oc
cuped by Mr. Harrison This We learn was done
by citizens the military by order of Gen. Branch
The enemy it is said after taking possession, arrest
| ed the progress of the fire in the town. and also
; prevented the entire destruction of the Railroad
! bridge.
Col Sinclair it is said, determined to make
stand this side of Newborn but the general current
of the military forces pressed on out of harms way
and did not stop until they reached Kinston, 81
UlileS dOONe NEW OcIt, Oh INeT lneTe, IL l.
said, Gen. Branch has determined to make a stand
but it is hoped superior military eye will be pac
ed there to convince him of the utterly Utopian char
acter of such a scheme unless the river is efectu
ally blockaded below and the Railroad bridges de-
/ stroyed. In that case the enemy cannot harm him.
or he the enemy, except at long taw.
The disaster is most sad one. We have looked
for it. with the certainty of an already demonstrated
truth, and shall always expect such results Just sc
long as the government places the defence of thi:
! State in the hands Of political gamesters military
! superannuate;i or nincompoops who cannot or viii
not do their duty. That fine old town Newbern
once the pride of the State, is gone! Fort Macon
Beaufort, Morchead and Carolina Cities are perfect
" at the command of the enemy while the Viii
mington and Weldon Road is within his grasp and
the way to Raleigh open to him. Our losses or tina
Of the enemy are not known 1t is believed that We
have not lost more than 800 men in killed, wounded
and missing. Our tents, artillery, equip9ge many
of our cavalry horses, and commssary stores, We
suppose were deserted, and are in possession O
the enemy. We learn that portions of all the regi
ments had reported at KinstOn. The government
: was sending renforcements rapidly to Gen. Branch
supposng that he could at least hold out a day Of
two; but the job was over in two hours, so far a.
the defence was concerned, and the Commanding
General and staff were looking for safer quarters
How much damage we have done the enemy, VI
have had no means of knowing. The belief is, tina
number were killed and wounded, and one pris
oner taken who claims to be an officer
P. S. We learn that Col Vance, with about five
hundred of his men, is at Knston Capt. Oscar
Rand, of this County, it is said, was killed Will,
fighting nobly at the head of his company. Il,
killed two of the enemy after he had been sho
down. Some thirty or forty of his men are mis-
sing-among them Fabius and Hamilton Whitaker