Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-04-16
from the Halsborsagb Rssseasr.1 20.
CAxr or 1syH Rsslxfsr n. CT !,

+ Lenoir County, Narch 99sh, 1859. !.
I. Ma HAST: Various unfxYorable reports having
been spread through tho State concerning the be.
hayiour Of the 18th North: Carolina Troops Ca Cav.
airy In the battle near Ncwbern on thS 14th inst,
! deem it duty I own to the men compounded on
that day to pronounce oil such reports ~ regards
them false. Capt Turner was absent having been
detailed to purchase horses for the company, And
thus the command devolved upon me as next In rank
AboutS o'clock p H. on Thursday the 18th Com.
panles A. (Oapt. Hayes) and K. {" Orange Cayal-
fy by order Of General Branch, were dismounted,
aMa ordered to report to Colonel Vance ia6th n C
Inc reason assigned for dsmounting u.s. was that we
M;sss armed with iong-range guns, Co. A. having
.sses,ppi rifles, and Co. K Halls carbine. We
were placed by Col. Vance on the extreme right
W.. WIN capt. McRaes independent company Of infan.
~. ,,! srcton Of Captain Brem's battery under
.nS ~ "Na nl vas also posted here that night,
anu 20. E. 18TH N. CT. captain Thomas ne.t
morning On Friday the l4th instant INV comnanv
WIS removed ABOUT fifty yards to the left. on the
.Sn' VI Tue zota regiment, by Lieut. Col. Burewiu,
Who commanded the right wing of tbo oetb ID Al,
detached companies on its right About h,,snsst
seven the engagement commenced half q mile or
mo 70 our left. About II o'clock sent private
H. hhew to have the horses moved from the place
wheie We mad lett them, about milo to our left the
Gay oeiore, and to place them in our rear About
~ O'CLOCK saw Lieut.. Colonel Burgwin approach
ing Win the wing Of the Goth. met him and ask.
co ior orders. lie said we were outfanked on the
1eit' ana must retreat. l returned to my company,
oonuuIseu " 20 the road about so yards to our right
posing hhew had brought them to this point: but
not morse was to be found They had been ridden
on before khew reached them, some say by the mi.
hta diners, by men with uniforms don't know
who rode them; buS the men came off on foot with
me, and we found tho horses in Kinston ON our ar
/ rival there On Sunday morning.
Not beng able to find our horses ordered a
halt, and placed my men with Lieut. COL Burgwin's
command We retreated towards Newbern but on
arriving in the old field near COL Lees camp, We
discovered both the railroad and county road bridge
10 &c on tre We then turned to the left, and
reaching Biice's creek in Mr. Henry Bryans planta.
ton, were delayed some time in crossing not being
able to lind the boats. A negro belonging to Mr.
o. toy, found them for u.s. and we succeeded IN
getting over all the men, about seven hundred, by
sunset. Across the creek we joined Colonel Vance
with the rest OF the 26th and Lieut. COL Hoke with
portion OF the 33d. We retreated by way Of
Trenton to kinston, where we arrived Sunday morn
ing the 18th inst, Col. Vance being in command Of
| all ths troops as senior officer Lieut.. Col. Bur.
gwin deserves much praise for the manner in which
ne conducted the retreat from the fortcation to the
creek, suppressing everything like panic and show.
ing himself to be soldier and commander capable
OF leading his fellow soldiers under any circum.
stances. Lieut. John P Lockhart was the only
commissioned officer with me. lie behaved we'll,
and assisted me in keeping the together, remain:
inS behind with those who not able to keep up
with the main body in the retreat Lieut.. j. V.
Moore was sick at home, and. Corporal James R.
Harris acted as 81 Lieut.. Our company was not in
the engagement at all, though among the last to
leave the field If opportunity had offered think
our friends would not have been ashamed of thu
Orange Cavalry. Private JEFF Teasley one Of ou1
wagoners. saved most Of the officers baggage though
ordered several times by officer to cut his mules
out and leave the wagon lie refused to do so, say
ing, that "mules, wagner and wagon generally
went together The men lost every thing, ant
have received nothing yet except what our friends
in Orange and the Soldiers Aid Society" at Hills
borough have sent them for which they will pleas
accept our grateful thanks.
Very respectfully.
| WM A. GRAHAM, Jr,
LIST Lieut.. Comd'g Co. X. ~ N G.. T.