Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-06-09
The Late Fight at Hanover.
RICHMOND. Va. Nav 80, 1876

RICHMOND, Va, May 80, 1862.
To the Editor Of the Examiner i
give you an exact account of the fight at
Lebanon Church, in Hanover county, on
the 9th, and hope you will let the people
know something of that severe and unequal
contest.
About liz, A. NJ, a captain of the Va.
cavalry informed Col. Charles G. Lee, of
the Thirty. seventh North Carolina troops,
that the enemy was advancing, but that he
believed it to be a mere marauding party,
which might be captured by prompt &C
ton. General Branch was at his head
quarters, more than a mile distant, and, as
no time could be lost, Colonel Lee at once
sent three of his companies, under Lieu
tenant Colonel Barber, to meet them, and
notified General Branch of the same. Col.
Lee soon ascertained that the enemy was
advancing in considerable force he, there
fore, sent forward the remainder of his
regiment, and placed it in line of battle
across the road, and sent back for Captain
Latham's artillery to reply to a battery
which had opened upon his regiment. He
also asked Colonel Wade, OF the Twelfth
North Carolina troops, to place his regi-
ment in the woods on the right to prevent
a flank movement be then deployed
company A, of the Thirty-seventh, as
skirmishers, to protect the flank.
Capt. Latham, with two guns of his bat
terry, came forward and replied vigorously
for a short time, until a shell was thrown
into his casion, which caused it to explode,
killing two men and two horses and woun-
ding seven men. Our guns now ceased to
fire while moving back the disabled sec
+;o- Tonpary Y. ofth h Th;rtu-saventh-
now opened fire with Enfield rifles upon
the advance Of the enemy and put him to
fight, killing a lieutenant and two of his
men. The enemy now retired from view,
having engaged US for two hours. General
Branch about this time came upon the
field, and ordered the Eighteenth and
Thirty-seventh forward to support Colonel
Lanes Tw~enty-eighth North Carolina
troops, which had been sent early in the
morning to support two companies OF the
Thirty-seventh, on picket some four miles
distant. These two regiments commenced
to advance in charge of Colonel Lee, the
respective regiments being commanded by
Colonel Cowan, of the Eighteenth, anc
Lieut.. Col Barber, of the Thirty seventh
Colonel Lee soon ascertaincd that the enc
nv had planted a battery of artillery on
hill in front Of him, with a strong infantry
support. This was reported to Genera
Branch. General Branch ordered Colone
Lee to charge the battery with the Eigh
teenth and Thirty-seventh. Colonel Lee
sent to the general asking him to cause
Latham to engage the battery and to sent
up other infantry support for the Elgh-
teen.h and twenty-seventh.
The Eighteenth and Thirty seventh com
mepced the charge--the Eighteenth sweep
ing gallantly through an open field in th'
face of a terrible fire with good effect. a
the same time the Thirty-scventh advan.
ced with rapidity and steadiness throu; b
dense forest, in which the undergrowt
was so thick that a man could not be see
more than thirty steps. The Thirty-sev
enth rushed forward with enthusiasm uu
til it encountered the Yankees, who wer
concealed behind logs trees, and in the Gu
of a roadway, which was bordered bv
fence of cedar brush. Here the enemy ha
every advantage of position, while his force
was vastly superior but Colonel Lees me
stood like veterans. Officers and me
stood az firm as rocks within fifteen
twenty PAGES of the Yankee line. Wolfe
after volley of grape from their canuc
and of Minnie balls from their infantl
moved down our men, still the thirty Sc
enth moved forward, driving the eneu
before it. Unable to stand the well-c
rected fire of the Eighteenth and Thirt
seventh, the enemy fed from his batter
leaving his flag on the field. While the
two regiments were fighting as only bra
men can fight, and were driving from
position an enemy of six regiments of
fantry and one battery of artillery, stran
to say no assistance was sent to the
though General Branch had at his side
battery of artillery and four regiments
infantry. At last, when no longer able
stand alone against such heavy odds, :
two regiments fell back, stubbornly cont
ting the ground as they retired. They h
fought long, especially the Thirty-seveni
which had been under fire for nearly
hours. Their loss was very heavy. 7
Thirty-seventh had only seven compan.