Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-03-22
Hatteras, Roauoke I,laua and Newbern.

these names sad memorials in the history of the Old
North State. The last named has long been cele-
brated as the home Of Stanly and Castor, whose
memories still precious in the State and as once
the pleasant old town famous for its intelligence,
refinement aHdhospitalty, and for the beauty and
loneliness Of its women. The history of Roanoke
Island belonged to the days Of Barlow aud Hakluyt,
while Hatterss was but the synonyme Of breakers, /
and storms, and shipwrecks., ..s ..
But sad change has come over them, and hence
forth for time at least they are to be remembered
as the scenes of the first three battles upon North
Carolina soil in this war; in which Yankee numbers
triumPhed over our brave but small and badly
equipped troops. 1
Partial and false statements in reference to one
of these battles by our braggadoco neighbors, have
in some minds damaged the vaor and the gallantry
of North Cardinals sons, which has caused tinge
of shame to mantle the checks CT even some Of our
own people, at the mention of their names From
present indications, North, Carolinians themselves
are about to trumpet their own shame, by counte-
nancing the false and frivolous rumors aAoat which
come from the battlefield near Newborn.
Now We undertake to say, and we believe we can
demonstrate, that in either case the charge of cow
ardice against North Carolinians is not only unbound
ed, but is made by witless persons who either have
no regard for truth who are grossly ignorant of
what true courage is The idea seems to prevail
among branlcss upstairs crazy dealiStS, who take
care not to risk their worthless carcascs in the
fight at all, that man who goes into battle, what
may be the lack of discipline or arms, mum.
bers on his side, or the thorough equipment and
discipline and orerpow ering force of his enemy, if
he does not remain with his face to the foe until he
and his fellow soldiers are chopped into mince-meat,
is a coward Common sense will brand the
holder of such views as barbarian or a fool.
The government which takes up the challenge to
battle with another, is bound by every principle Of
justice and right to provide for the support, the
arming, equipment and supply of its troops to the
utmost of its ability-to furnish intelligent, brave
and skillfu eadcrs-to secure to It's forces all the
aids of science in tactics engineering and strategy
possblc-to provide ample Notifications and other
dofenceS and as well as the means of transportation
for a necessary retreat for advance No one
will deny this We admit that when government
docs this, its troops bound to face the enemy
to the death so long their commanders, supposing
them to DC humane and skillful men, may demand
it. But what if government fails in all or many
of these particulars to do its duty? What then ?
Is every man to be randed coward because he
does not rush into the thckest of the fight with all
these odds against him, and, prompted by brute
age and demon hate immediate himself and his coun-
try, that phrenzed minds may call him brave man?
Surely, surely not
Now every body knows, who has taken the pains
to enquire into the facts that if at Hatteras or Roam
Ike Island tharp he cntnhianca IF coward.
ice exhibited by any soldier or ofiicer-and we know
OF no inStance--it must have been the result Of a
deep,seated conviction in their minds for weeks be-
fore those battles that to hold those positions was
moral impossibility, because of the manifest neg
ect of the government TO provide suitable and
efficient force to do it And yet the fact that the
country expected them to fight and the dread of be-
ing prisoners, did make them fight. Men of sense
an1 true courage who fight, must fight for some
valuable object and they must feel that the attain
ment of that object is at least within the range Of
possibility. Men do not fight for death. Death is
a serious, awful matter, and he who fights in order
to find it, is fool The attempts to fix cowardice
upon our men at Hatteras or Roanoke Island have
signally failed.
And such we hope will be the result of the feverish
and officers in the late battle below Newbern. In
competency and unhtncss in some Of the officers to
do their duty, may, and ought to be shown Bad
engineering and bad generalShip patent in that
affair to every WIN looks into . but that the
Commanding General or his aids, or any OF the off,
GERS or men acted with marked cowardice, as has
been whispered about, will not believe, unless
clearly proven. All did not exhibit great vaor per-
haps, because they were not in positions condi-
ton to have their courage fully tested but
that better fighting has not been done during
this war, than done by the regiments of Coils.
Vance, Campbell and Avery, and others Their
gallantry put fully to the test and they main
taincd it herocaly, as is shown by the heavy loss
of the enemy. Our small force compared with the
enemy the ndefensble character of the breatsworks
the gap left open in them at the railroad, and the
blundcr of placing militia to defend the most
exposed position, may well account, without calling
in question any mans courage, for the early route
of good portion of our forces
Pc, ISr, -0ur hxy