Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-06-05
nh. E,rnt 81 Hanover Court HOuse.

Being ordered to Join General Ewel our men had
marched over rocky and muddy roads until they reach
ed the foot of the Blue Ridge when they received new
orders to report at Hanover Court House. which they
did, encamping there for night. Hearing the enc
my was in the neighbourhocd and was trying to cut
them of from Richmond, they Branchs brigade march
ed up the road about four miles, determining ii the
enemys forces was not too large, to give him battle
60 on the morning of the 27h the 18th Regiment (Co
Lane's) with two pieces of artillery, started on scout
ing expedition Not long after his departure the enemy
was represented to be in considerable force about mile
from our camp. A section of Lathams artillery was
sent cut to meet Them when artillery duel commenced
which lasted about half an hour, Latham driving the
enemy from their position They fell back about half
mile and secured advantageous position On the top
of hil in an oTen field with skirt Of woods in The
rear General Branch hearing this, ordered the 18th
and 9th Regiments to advance cautiously upon them.
The position of the 18th just at the foot of the hill
upon the top of which the enemy posted, so they
we're in front of their batteries and line of battle. The
9th was on the lett The order given to the regi
ment to charge up lie hill on thSbattery. The 18th
started boldly when about halfway to the battery they
found it to be supported by six regiments of infantry
Colonel Cowan then ordered the regiment to fall back
to the woods, but before leaving they deEV-
cred whitening fire into the enemy. 1t was
at this time that we lost most of our men,
the enemy pouring in voleys of canister and mus
kerry which thinned our ranks considerably The regi
ment then fell back to the woods rallied and fought them
necessarily for two hours holding its position and drv
ing the enemy from bis position to the woods The
only other regiment which participated the 9th,
which opened fire after the 18th had retreaed to the
woods Our artillery could render very little assistance,
they could get position from which they could ope-
rate to advantage. 1t thus after fighting for two
hours and having the whole brunt Of the battle to fall
upon the two regiments already named, 8th and 37th
that General Branch gave the order to fall back to Ash
land five miles distant, which about the only thing
left for him TO do to save his whole brigade from
capture, as the enemy was fighting two regi-
ments with one brigade, while he held two more
brigades in reserve. Our troops retreated slowly to
Ashland over the worst conceivable roads, The loss of
the 18th in killed. wounded and missing our correspond
ent states at about $50. The loss of the 37th is not
given as not being known to our correspondent. We
know that Of both regiments engaged and tie pub
lie generally find fault with General Branch for not
sending some of the regiments he held in to the
assistance Of those so holly engaged and severely
handled. There would appear to be some ground for
this censure, but it would be unjust to condemn with
out fuller understanding of all the circumstances OF
the case The Federal statement that our loss amount
ed to a thousand is greatly exaggerated Even sup
posing the loss Of the 9th to equal exceed that of
the I8th which we do not think it did, our whole loss
was not certainly over five hundred all told.
Another letter before US says that the 18th Regi-
ent when it found itself in presence of battery sup
ported by six or seven Yankee regiments was ordered
to file right into the woods which 400 yards dis
tant, during which retreat the regiment suffered terri
bly, being in the open field where the Yankees had full
sweep with their rifles When our got in the woods
the enemys batteries commenced sheling while their
Infantry kept pouring in perfect hail storm from their
rifles. Advancing under cover of the woods the 18th
got within musket range of the enemy and then
poured into them continuous fire of musketry for two
hours, the enemy always returning it. We being in the
woods were sheltered good deal by the trees and were
able to drive the enemy from the open field Thus the
regiment was under the fire of six or seven Yankee Re
gments for hours The eighteenth carried $40 men in
to action and lost in killed. wounded and missing 1885,
being about half Of the whole loss of the brigade.
About shutdown the retreat was ordered, the 18th re-
gment covering the retreat Of the Brigade, which
maTCnCu away IN SOOu OrQeF Inc rereated
on to Ashland that night with the exception of the
28th which was thought to be cut off, I'VE almost
certain that Col. Lanes regiment is safe-JoURNAL.
Our troops left Ashland the next day at O'Clock for
Richmond. They had hardly left Ashland when the
Yankee cavalry rode into town and fred into our hos
pital, taking prisoners what wounded men were left
there. They tried to cut off the retreat at the cross
roads, ten miles from Richmond, but our people arrived
there first and were reinforced by Andersop's arc
LoDg8treets brigades our artillery there placed il
position Of battle AS soon as the enemy found We
were reinforced, they Immediately retreated.
This letter does not speak of the 9th. 1t mentions
the affair between the 28th and New York Regiment
1t very difficult indeed to get at accurate Details ant
the most intelligent letters from camp differ even sbou
what would to be simple facts, for the tina
those Immediately engaged have limited sphere of vi
sion.
On Saturday evening and all day yesterday the pee
pie Of town in state Of the utmost suspens
and most earnest excitement.
A great battle opened about noon on Saturday nea
Richmond, between the right wing of army and tn
lett wing of the Federal forces and continued with tt
greatest fury until night put end to the conflict
On yesterday, Sunday morning, the battle was resume
and would appear to have been general engagement