Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-05-17
BATTLE AT WILLIAMSBURG.


burg, Va, upon the falling back of the army of the
Peninsula from Yorktown, appear to have been Sc
verey contested and attended with severe loss
Our loss is estimated at 1900 men the enemys
loss not known, but supposed to be 1000.
More than week has elapsed and yet but little
is known OF the particulars. North Carolina seems
to have borne conspicuous part in these contests,
but the facts come out slowly. The Ellis Light Ar
tery of this City, seen below, performed one of
the most splendid feas of the war, and it is under
stood that our 4th, 9Th, 18th, and ith regiments
did noby. The 9Th and 18th, were badly cut up.
The 9th, Col McRae's, suffered more severely than
any Southern regiment during the war. Several
Virginia regiments also deserve all praise. The
Richmond Dispatch says:
We are indebted to gentleman who participated
in the fight on Sunday, near Williamsburg, for the
following narrative:
SUNDAYS ENGAGEMENT
The greater part Of the forces falling back from
the Yorktown Line of defence having halted for
rest in the open ground back of Williamsburg
gave the Yankee advance an opportunity, ofcoming
up with the rear guard consisting Of Gen. Sims
Georgia and Gen. Griffths Mississippi brigades to
which was attached Manly's North. Carolina bate
~. The enemy did not appear in any force from
under their cover Of woods until our guard had
left the open ground and redoubtS, and were march
ing through Williamsburg at which time courier
brought word to Gen. McLaws that they were de-
poying in force to the right and left of Fort Nc
Gruder, (Which forces had just left untenanted
and that they had planted battery Of rifled guns
Immediately to the front of the redoubt and only
distant 700 yards The rear guard was Immediately
ordered "about, face-doube quick, march" Man.
ly's battery ordered to advance and seize Fort
McGruder before the Yankees secured it. Then
commenced race--artillery cavalry, infantry, had
to run the gauntlet" of the rifle battery fire for one
and half miles to seize work from whom the
Yankees were only distant quarter of a mile; but
Co., .. al, k-n H.
battery into action in splendid style halted and
fired five rounds to delay the enemy's advance and
give our Infantry time to come up, and then Timber
ed up his guns and made dash for the redoubt
which he succeeded in entering just in advance of
the Yankee force on the right From this point the
battery did some of the finest practice that We have
heard Of in the record Of any Of our artillery
duels," firing $50 shots IN 20 minutes dismounting
two pieces of the rifle battery killing all the horses
at two more pieces and four caisSons, of which
cavalry taking advantage made glorious charge on
the infantry and cavalry supporting the battery, and
cutting down all who yet remained and held the
ground until the officer commanding the Richmond
Howitzer Battery, Capt Mccarthy, (having detached
some Of the horses from his pieces,) galloped for
ward, and hitching on to the three captured guns
and four caSsons brough them off in the face of the
enemy, and calamity offered them to Capt Manly
the trophies gained by the fine service OF his
pieces. Thus in forty minutes our glorious fellows
four caiSSons, twelve horses, and seven prisoners
The killed and wounded of the enemy could not
have been short Of one hundred men.
Cen Johnston was present during the fight and
appeared to enjoy it exceedingly
When the rear guard was ordered to " about face"
such cheer went up from them, the good folks
Of Williamsburg will long remember.
1t is absurd to talk Of whipping men who, after
marching eighteen hours without rest or food, and
heavily packed will, at a chance of a fight drop
their knapsacks, and, with asoulstrrng cheer seize
their muSkets and a race for nearly two miles
to meet the enemy.
We take the following account from the Richmond
Wig Of Tuesday last
At the battle of williamsburg Eary's brigade
was ordered by Major General Hill to charge bat
terry on the enemy 5 right wing posted IN a strong
redoubt and supported by brigade of infantry and
a reserve of cavalry. The regiment at the time
under the command Of General Early were the oath
and 3Sth Virginia, commanded the first by Col.
Terry and the second by Lieut. Colonel Whittle,
and the 5th and 23d North Carolina, commanded the
first by Col. McRae, and the second, by Colonel
Hoke. Owing to the difficulty of getting through
the woods, only two of these regiments the oath
Virginia and the 9Th North Carolina were engaged
in the charge. These were led by Gen. Early, who
received one and one slight wound and whose
horse shot through the head-but nevertheless,
both rider and horse bore up nobly, and both
now in this city in fair way of recovery. The two
regiments succeeded in driving them from their
position but the hayock in their ranks was great
that they were ordered by Gen. Hill to retire. An
idea may be formed of the !ntrepidty Of these gal
liant regiments, and the hot work in which they
engaged, from the fact that though untedly num-
berng only about l, 100 men, they sustained loss
of over 400. The North Carolina regiment that
went into the fight numbering 40, came out with
only 1875. Of twenty-five commissioned officers ten
were killed and seven wounded There has been
no heavier casualties in the whole war than this
noble regiment sustained. The Lieutenant Colonel
Badham was either killed or fell into the hands of
the enemy badly wounded. Captains Brookfeld,
Mullins, West, and Garrett were killed. Captains
Jones and Lea were wounded The latter was left
at the hospital and fell into the hands of the enemy
Col. McRae was in the thickest of the fight and
noby sustained the character for vaor which he has
heretofore borne. Col. Badham and Major Sinclair
conducted themselves hereically-the latters horse