Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-06-04
WAR NEWS.

Fight at Hanorer-Brarery Of our Iroops-Sepere
loss Of 6rare North Carolinian&
In our last we gave brief account of the fight at
Hanover G. H., Va, between McClel!an's forces and
portion Of Gen. Branch's brigade. Fears were ex-
following seemingly moderate truthful and reliable
account is evidently from the pen of participant
and North. Carolinian. We are not surprised,
but We regret deeply that our judgment and
predictions in regard to this officer have been
so fully verified, and that it falls so heavily up
on some of the best troops raised by North Carolina.
Gen. Branch's brigade was picked one. We have
no better commanders of regiments than Campbell,
Lee Lane, Cowan and others of that brigade, and
the officers and men of the several companies are
among our est soldiers. We trust that the rumors
in regard to the losses of the brigade may turn out
to have been greatly exaggerated. But we shall
make no remark, but let the reader make his own
comments upon the article in question.
The Late Fight at Hanooer.
Richmond, Virginia, May 80, 1862.
To the Editor of the Examiner:
fglve you an exact account OF the fight at Le-
banon Church, in Hanover county, on the 9th, and
hope you will let the people know something of that
severe aud unequal CONTEST
About L !, A. M a captain Of the Virginia caval-
ny informed Colonel Charles T. Lee, of the Thirty
seventh North Carolina troops that the enemy was
advancing but that he believed it to be mere ina
raudEg party, which might be captured by prompt
action General Branch was at his headquarters
more than mile distant, and, as no time could be
lost Colonel Lee at sent three Of his companies
under Lieutenant Colonel Barber. to meet them and
notified General Branch of the same Colonel Lee
soon ascertalned that the enemy was advancing in
considerable force; he therefore, sent forward the
remainder of his regiment, and placed it in line of
battle across the road, and sent back for Captain
Lathams artillery to reply to battery which had
opened upon his regiment He also asked Colonel
Wade, Of the Twelfth North-Carona troops, to
place his regiment in the woods on the right to
prevent flank movement; he theu deployed conf
pany A, of the Thirty seventh, as skirmishers, to
protect the left flank
Captain Latham, with two guns of his battery,
forward and replied vigorously for short time,
until shell was thrown into his caisson, which
caused it to explode killing two men and two horses
and wounding seven men. Our guns now ceased to
fire while moving back the disabled section. Com
pany F, of the Thirty -seventh now opened fire
with Enfield rifles upon the advance of the enemy
and put him to flight, Killing lieutenant and two
of his men. The enemy now retired from view,
having eng&geo US Ior Two houIs: oenoi", O'@ -,
about this came upon the field, and ordered the
Eighteenth and Thirty-sesenth forward to support
Colonel Lanes Twenty eighth North Carolina troops
which had been sent early in the morning to sup
port two companies Of the Thirty seventh on picket
some four miles distant These two regiments COM
mcnced to advance in charge of Colonel Lee, the
respective regiments being commanded by Colonel
Cowan, Of the Eighteenth, and Lieutenant Colonel
Barber, Of the Thirty.seventh. Colonel. Lee soon
ascertained that the enemy bad planted battery o.
artillery on a hill in front Of him, with strong
infantry support. This was reported to Genera
Branch General Branch ordered Colonel Les Il