The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-07-15
For the H-estern Democrat.
48TH N. G. REGIMENT.
PETERSBURG, VA, July 18th,

columns and the attention of the pubic to any
matters belonging to the 18th Regt. \. q. Troops,
bat there are some matters connected with the
Reat. in the battle of the -25th June, near Seven
Pines, that ought to be noticed and correctly
stated
! ~Ihe Richmond Dispatch has giyen pretty fair
outline of the fight on that day, and has done no
more than simple justice to the gaantry of the
4Sth n. C. He has fallen into the error of mis-
numtng the gallant Colonel who commands that
Regiment, and this might be mistaken as an
error in the number of the Regiment instead OF
an in the of its commander. 1t as
stated in the Dispatch of the 9th June that the
| 18th n. G. Regt. was commanded by Col Rut-
. ledge. Now, Col Rutledge commanded the 18th
! N. G. Regt, and did not participate to any great
extent in the battles fought on the 25th. No
! doubt they behaved gallantly, as all n. Caro-
| linians do and have done in the lines before Rich
mond during the month Of June and July. If
any name stands foremost in the unflinchiny gal
lantry Of it's sons, it is North Carolina. They
have been sterny tried in the furnace and have
come out pure gold. The lists of their killed and
wounded the ''lrophies captured breaches mount
cd armies conquered Kingdoms won,' show this
fact 1t is well, therefore to correct the of
the Dispatch in the name Of the commander Of
the 4Sth \. g. Regt. 1t was not Col. RuHcdye,
but it was Col. II. {. Hi, of Iredell county, n.
c., graduate of West Point and man whose
unfang courage has been tried often heretofore
on Of our most glorious battle-felds, and
among the rest on the plains Of Manassas on the
21st July last, when he acted a gallant part in
Gen. Kirby Smiths Brigade, whose ,opportunc
arrival turned the doubtful fortunes of that
glorious day in favor Of the South.
There is another fact that should be known in
relation to the 18th n. G. Regt., in the battle Of
the Goth June, and that is, that when the advance
Was made upon the enemy, the Regt numbered
only 4S0 men-Co A, commanded by Capt. I. l..
Wyatt, being out on picket duty, not pres
ent in the fight, but up about its close.
These 4S0 men marched through an open field
upon three Regiments at least Of the Yankees
who were sheltered behind cover Of thick woods
and fences, and were not sustained by any other
Regt. for ten fifteen minutes. They
marched boldly right up to the enemy's lines,
withs TODD most CALLING AID murderous fire from
an unseen enemy, only by gmpses
through the fences and woods They lost in
killed and wounded 105, men, nearly one fourth of
their whole number, leaving IS dead on the field
and 81 wounded, some 8 Of whom have since
died, others have had their arms or legs amputa-
ted and some are still in a dangerous condition
from their wounds. 1t was by merciful Provi-
dence that they were rescued from utter annihila-
ton. They exposed on both wings to a
terrible front and flank fire, before which they
partially gave way, but rallied, ard with the
assistance of the gallant 4th Georgia and lst
Louisiana Regis, drove the enemy pell nell
through the woods with terrible destruction
That would have been the fate of the 48th Regt.
would have been probematical if the 4th Georgia
had not nobly dashed forward like young lions
upon their prey and driven back the Yankees like
a timid herd and prevented them from turning
our left flank. Capt. \. a. Hill commanded our
left company, and out of Sc men taken into
action, lost killed, 6 have since died, and 20
wounded, losing 81 out Of the Sc men engaged.
Major i. r. Huske received serious wound in
the foot, but kept the field until the close of the
fight Acting Adjt Anderson, I'd Lieut. of Go.
D, received a wound in the leg. Capt. Clegg, of
Co. d, Capt. Walker, of Co. G, and Capt. Michael
of Co. H, each received dangerous and severe
wounds, and also several of the commissioned and
non commissioned officers, Of the latter of
whom have since died, among whom [ regret to
have to mention the name of the gallant and
heroic Sergt. James Ncsbit of Capt. Wilson's Co.
A noblcr and one more esteemed did not
suffer in the Regiment. lie was wounded in both
thighs and through the shoulder. Our dead were
all buried in Richmond and our wounded are
generally there and we'll cared for. /
1t would be unjust to omit in this description
of the fight, the name OF the intrepid and gallant
II. NJ. Miller, of Raleigh, n. &. He had been !
acting Adjutant for some time in the Regi |
ment, where he was universal favoEite, but had |
goac home and returned only day or two before |
the battle. He did not belong to the Regiment, |
but acted as Lieutenant in one Of the companies, !
part Of whose officers were sick When some |
confusion and hesitation exhibited by the color /
bearer in advancing with the colors, and the 1t
Col about to bear them forward himself, 1t |
H. NJ. Miller asked permission to carry the colors
which was granted, and he bore them heroically /
in front up to the very lines Of the enemy, and
upon the order of Col. Hill and to induce the
enemy to come out of cover, he planted them some :.
ten PAGES in front of our lines, and told the Col.
that if he wished it, he would stand by the colprs
himse When the Fl ght was near closing. Mr.
Miller heard a wounded Yankee, just before him,
crying for water and forward aud gave him his
canteen, and whilst engaged in this generous act
of mercy was fired upon by some Yankee and
came being killed. The Regiment feel
Justly proud of him and the country and his
parents should know of bis gallantry.
The Northern papers say Mcclellan was on that
part of, the field on that day and had Division
under Gen. Hooker in position there on that day
These were scattered along an extended line, and
were met in other parts BY the 4th and 22d
eorgia and 1st Louisiana and the 49th Fir-
ginia, soon after first attack commenced.
The 18th Virginia came up about the close OF
the action, but were very slightly engaged
There other engagements through the day
between the Georgia and Louisiana Regiments,
and perhaps the 49th Virginia. and the enemy;
and also after night between Col. Yanee's 26th,