The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-05-20

NORTH CARoLINIANs IN THE BATTLE OF
| ENTHUSIASTICALLY North Carolina soldiers
have no trumpeters in Virginia to sound their
praise like other troops, but it is certainly not be-
cause they are less deserving or less courageous.
! When the first accounts of battle appear, you
see no mention made of North Carolina compa ny
or regiment, but when the smoke clears away and
praise is exhausted on the Virginia, South Carroll
ma and Mississippi or Texas troops, the facts show
North Carolinians are behind none in daring deeds
| and hard fighting. AT the battle of Williamsburg
week before last, it appears that North Carolinians
sustained the bruHt Of the fight and behaved as
gallantly as any troops ever did. The Ellis Art-
lery Company, commanded by Capt. Manly of
Raleigh kept whole Division Of the enemy at
bay for time and dealt them destructive
blow. The 9Th and 23d North Carolina Regi-
ments, the first commanded by Col. McRae, the
latter by Col. Hoke, in the fight and behaved
wel-especially is the 5th spoken of now in eulo-
CYSTIC terms. The Richmond Wing, in notice
of the battle, says
'Earlys brigade was ordered by Major General
Hill to charge battery on the enemy S right wing
posted in strong redoubt and supported by
brigade Of infantry and reserve Of cavalry. The
Regiments at the time under the command of Gen
Early, were the oath and 33d Virginia and the
9TH and 23d North Carolina Owing to the diff
Guilty of getting through the woods only two of
these Regiments, the 24th Virginia and 9TH N.
Carolina were engaged in the charge. These were
led BY Gen. Early, who received severe and
one slight wound and whose horse was shot thro'
the head-but both rider and horse bore up nobly
and both are in fair way of recovery. The two
regiments succeeded in driving the enemy from
their position but the havoc in their ranks was so
great that they were ordered by Gen. Hill to re-
tire. An idea may be formed Of the intrepedity
of these gallant reg iments, and the hot work in
which they were engaged, from the fact that,
though unltedly numbering only about 100 men,
they sustained loss of over 400. The North
Carolina regiment that went into the fight num-
bered 4l0, came out with only l25. OF % COM
missioned officers 10 were killed and I wounded
There have beeL no heavier casualties in the whole
than this noble regiment sustained Lieut.
Col Badham was either killed or fell into the
hands of the enemy badly wounded Captains
Rrookfeld, Mullins, West and Garrett were killed.
Captains Jones and Lee were wounded. Colonel
Ncllae in the thickcst of the fight and nobly
sustained the character for valor which be ha.
heretofore borne. Lieut. Col Badham and Major
Sinclair conducted themselves heroically- the
latter's horse being killed under him. Indeed ALL
officers and men, illustrated the character of the
Ola North State for the steadest and truest cour-
age"
The above does nothing more than justice TO
the brave soldiers of the 5th Regiment, though it
did not appear in the Richmond Whiy until more
than week after the battle. We learn that the
Regiment rushed to the charge through open
field, which probably accounts for the great loss.