Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-04-26
18TH REGIMENT SECOND CAVALRY.


TIE sKIRMIsH AT GILLETT's, BELOW TRENTON.
If what the Standard said about the skiIlnish has
drawn forth the following article which We copy
from the HillsbOro' Recorder, we are glad of it
Never has it been difficult before to get at the
facts of so small affair. The writer, however,
does us injustice. Our remarks which reflected on
ly upon those who were bame-worthy, if indeed any
were, were based upon the proposition, that the ru-
mOrs were true; and we said enough to indicate our
disbelief of them, and to vindicate the regiment
against censure, which could in any event. only at
tach to few members OF it. We are glad to be able
to give the facts from undoubted sources The art!-
Gle says:
" This Regiment lately known as SpruilIs, and so
long treated as the step-chd OF the State in being
detained in camp or moved from place to place Kit
trers. Hartford, Edenton, Newbern, unarIned un-
h0rSed and neglected IN such a manner as was well
calculated to morty their PRIDE the men especially
when they saw another Regiment of the same arm
of the service, petted and supplied early day
with every appointment desired, seems to be sIngu-
larly unfortunate in the put in circulation
respecting their operation against the enemy, and
the adoption of these rumorS truth by the public
press. One company of this Regiment is the Orange
Cavalry in which a natural interest is felt in this
community. After the battle below Newbern. it
widely reported, that this Regiment had fled
inglOriouSly and created panic among the other
troops. 1t turned out upon the publication this
paper Of the letter of Lieutenant Graham then COM
handing the Orange Cavalry, that though not under
the lire Of the enemy, this company and that of
Capt Hayes of the same Regiment, remained in
position diSmouned on the field of battle, until all
the other troops except the Regiments of Vance and
Avery, and all the high officers, had not only re-
treated across Trent river but burnt the two bridges
win IN m ka thair hast
they could up the gh bank of the river and
Brces creek. And to add their difficulties their
horses had mysteriOusly disappeared from the rear
where they had been tied but were found with the
rallied army on their arrival at Kinston two days
afterwards. Who rode them Is secret to this day.
The Raleigh Register and Standard in their last two
issues indulge in reflections upon this Regiment
without discrimination in relation to the Skin
mish at the plantation of Mr.. Gilett where Lieut.
enant Colonel Robinson wounded, in which they
seem to revive the old story to the affair New
BERN and conceive its truth to be put beyond caVil
by the behaviour of the Regiment in the rencounter
at Gilletts advising the Lieutenant Colonel to
horse those who behaved so ingloriously when they
next 60 into battle. Before such language as this
is applied to men who daily perilling their lives
for their country, the facts 10 warrant it should he
well established. The frequency of falSehoods re-
specting of the war, is sufficient to put all
their guard against disparagng rumors as to the
little opportunity for defence against street TESTERS
railroad travellers the statements of the press and
the articles of war present great impedlmentS to
freedom Of discussion by them if they had more
The statement made the foundation for these re-
hectIons is in substance this. That Lieutenant
Colonel Robinson with this Regiment made an attack
on the evening at the house Of Gilett-that the
enemy had determined to surrender, and the officer
in command in the act of delivering up his
sword when all our troops except fifty men, became
panic=stricken and fled, upon which the enemy re-
newed the fight, wounded and captured Col. Robin
son, and killed others of his party. As we learn the
facts they are in effect as follows Lieutenant Col
onel Robinson on the evening Of Sunday the 18th
inst, was on scouting expedition, with the COM
panes of Captains Strange, Bryan, Thomas and
Turner; being informed by negro of Mr. Thomas
Gilett that party of the enemy were at the house
of his master, the road from Trenton to Morehead
City, and had tied him, the negro escaping. The
situation cf the house was descrbed-the number
of the party supposed to be $780, and it was deter
mined to attack them.
The assault was made at midnight The house
about fifty yards from the great road from which
led lane with ditch either side between it and
the fence, to palings surrounding the yard. The
Yankee sentinel shot down at the mouth of the
lane. Our whole force advanced on horseback by
way of the lane. Capt Bryans company, who were
ia 'front.' charged up the palngs, and fired until
their ammunition was expended. Capt. Stranges
company, next in order, who had orders to throw
down the fence of the lane and enter the field to the
left after some confusion and delay, from the num-
Der of horses pressing in the space executed
the order and proceeded to the rear of the house.
Capt. Thomass company, which was under the
charge of Sergeant, next followed, but seemed to
have no distinct ORDERS filling up the lane and pre-
venting the access of Capt. Turner's company, who
were to throw down the fence and enter the field on
the right of the lane. The first and second Lieu
tenants of this company and few others, pressed
through that before hem cleared the ditch and fence
on this side and entered the field. Capt Turner,
was afterwards ascertaned, had been wounded by
shot near the mouth of the lane and disabled
About thirty men followed Capt Strange, with whom
was 1t Col. Robinson. Capt Strange afterwards
returned to our forces from she right side Of the
house, but without the 1t Colonel. From the time
of the first advance of our troops, the enemy had
kept up severe fire from all the windows of the
house, and from behind the palings of the yard
Our men bore this fire with steadiness but after the
ammunition of those in front had been exhausted it
seeming impossible to beat the enemy from their
position by men on horseback, an order was given
by Of the superior officers retreat, and the
column retreated 1t Col Robinson did not return
to his command and is believed to have been wound
ed and captured behind the house. Our loss be-
sides Col Robinson one man killed and ten
wounded, and eleven horses. Seven OF the enemy
were seen to be shot down. and more believed to
have been struck with our shot The men of Orange
who got chance for a shot at the enemy, all be-
haved well-Sergeant Harris, Corpl Holmes, Pri-
Yates H. Bolden j. Boden, A. Cole, Butler Lock-
hart s. Walker had the side of his head skinned
by ball, Strayhorn had the stock of his gun shot
off and several were thrown from their horses
This statement justhes no imputaton upon any part
of our forces such has been freely INDUCED in by
railroad travellers and others for several days past
The miscarriage of the enterprise, if it could have
been successful at all, was obviously from mistake
in the plan of attack in not dsmounting the whole
command, or large part of it, which was armed
with guns, and advancing foot in separate detach.
ments under cover of the out buildings and 'enclo-
surea