Newbern weekly progress., 1862-12-06
ne.1r...I.n = 1:sa. 8, 4. rxessae.

1 nss.ss..,Isu z 60. = =. nzessae.
Headouarf<,s 5f1 N. g. Repinaenk.
Near Strausburg, -, Nor. q. 1862.
ravvnxoR - have this day rendered 70 ths
4 Adiutant General of the Goufs derate states
i she res;enation of my commission received
j from the Governor Of North Carolina 6 GoI'
i onel 81 The 9th Regiment Of her State Troops
am constrained 70 do SO because, consls
fcnfly with my sense of dignity and self
respect, can no longer serve the government
Iof the Confederate States s
i i have now been in the service about nine
teen nloaths With the exception OF about
twenty-five days ssck, have never been ab
sent frem the post of duty. have served
/ under several commanders, and have never IN
ta single instance, encountered reproof. Ny
Idayision commander Major General Hill, en-.
dorses my resignation in substance-.I have
j three times recommended Col. McRae for pro.
motion North Carolina has furnished more
troops and has fewer general officers than any
other State / approve Col. McRae,s resigna-
ton believing that his selfrespect require il. )"
lieut. General Longstreet and Brig Gems.
Early and Rhodes, under all OF whom have
lserved, and all of whom are familiar with my
conduct, have recommended me in terms oi
compliment, of which am justly proud and
II
division who does not freely concede to me .
claim to promotion. My regiment has endured
hardshi s-suffered privations, performed la
bors, executed marches-been exposed to peril
and rendered service equal to any. Its actual
loss in single engagement. while obcysng i'm
mediate orders, is not surpassed, proportions
ately. Wherever It has encampcd IL has been
remarked Tor its orderly and honest deport-
ment. Il has constantly received the approval
Of general officers for its promptness and
fidelity in responding to every call. The pub
lie journals of the enemy's country the diaries
OF prominent officers found on battle fields,
and private letters ofother distinguished ficsrs
Of the army of the enemy, addressed to eticers
of my regiment, have contributed valuable tes-
timony to its brave and gallant conduct in the
fight.
So long as it retained the material element,
which I had the honor to form and train, it
never faltered / claim in some degree, the
rejection of the instre it has shed upon the
State. Much Of the time I have been in the
service, have commanded the brigade. This
was the case in all the hard trials of the retreat
from Mauassas--in the exposed service in the
trenches at Yorktown; and in that retreat; in
the battles in Maryland and since that period.
At the battle Of South Mountain, this brigade,
though isolated from all support, numbering
scarce thousand, opposed by force OF six
teen regiments. having all the advantages of
position, held tho enemy in check for four
hours; the fire Of one regiment, the 23d kill
| ing the commanding General, Reno; that of
another, the Goth, killing the enemy's cannon
eers and compelling the abandenment of his
guns whilst s. third, .he 18th, under Lieut..
Col Rufhn, thrice cut its way through the
enemy's lines with desperate determination.
Gen. Hill, learn applauds that fight as one
of the best of the war.
Yet, on several occasions, I have been COM
officers who had not and have not yet seen
battle. Shortly after the battle of Seven
Pines" State brigades were organized. Gen.
erals Pender and Anderson were promoted and
assigned to North Carolina brigades. while the
brigade in which | was senior Colonel, was
assigned to the command of General Garland
Of Virginia. reirained from resigning then,
because of the impending conflicts around
Richmond, yielding to the earnest solicitation
of both Generals Hill and Garland.
Since that time, Gen. Garland has made the
most favorable mention of my conduct in the
feld, and Gen. Hill has renewed the recon-
mendation for my promotion. The appoint
ment of Brigadier to this command has just
been announced in the person of COL Alfred
IYerson, of Georgia, who, since bis entering
on active service last summer, has been my
junior in the brigade, and for the last two
months under my command. i could not cons
sent that junior officer in my own command
SHOULD be promoted TO command me, when no
allegation is made of my unflness or un-
worthiness. sz
But severe as is the trespass upon the indi-
vidual pride of North Carolina officers who
haze lately been obliged to submit to the pro-
motion, in seseralk instances, of citizens OF
other States, to the command of brigades ex.
clusiyely North Carolnian, the slur upon the
State is broader, and demands the resentment
of her sons in. the only mode they can manifest |
it. In the spirit of an earnest protest against |
this injustice, individual and to my State, |
resign my commission.
do not wish, however, to be idle so long as
the footsteps Of the invader press our soil. 4fl
your Excellency can make my services avail |
able ias any capacity hoaoeuer saJordi iantc they
are freely tendered-in any service which will
not subject me to renewal of wrong.
have felt bound to communicate TO you, /
Governor, the reasons which have impelled me /
to surrender commission | especially cher |
ished because of the magnanimity accompany
ing its bestowment by your predecessor Gov. |
Ellis In order to be just to myself, have
been obliged to dwell more upon the subject
than my inclinatIons would prompt. I shall /
very shortly file in the Ad1t Generals Office. /
q complete narrative of the part borne by the /
9th in the events of the war, together with q /
list of its officers and men, the fate Of those
dead, and the whereabouts of the survivors.
/ have the honor to be, Governor,
Your ob't serv't,
d. *. McRAE, Col. 9Th n g.
His Excellency, q B. VANCE,.
<-----.-
6 TMoTHY TITcoMB,n alias Doctor Holland.
of the Springfield Republican, il down upor,1
the sour kind Of deacoas be likes whole