Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-07-30
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1nly II, 60.

Ar
60 he without interest to those Of your read
-<gho have friends and relatives in its ranks.
The day and night of the Goth were quietly spent
in CAMP which was bivouack in pine grove, on
the Williamsburg road, near the field of battle,
known as the "Seven Pines," where our soldiers
have often proved themselves by their valor worthy
of the freedom for which they are struggling. put
this is no time for rest and VIC were soon reminded
by an order to march chat we had not been brought
here to waste the hours in idleness The signal for
"roast beef" "a lucus q non lacendo, as we least
on bacon and crackers) was soon followed ny the
stern order to " fall in" and in few minutes, VIC
were en- route to relieve three regiments VINO had
been on picket duty since the evening OF the 2otI
The left Of our line rested on the W lllamsnurg road
and the right occupied some rlfie-plts which naa
that morning beeh taken from the enemy 6y Col.
Vance's regiment. As the Colonel was retlr'ns, 70
give place for us, and had withdrawn from the shell
ter of the "pits," the enemy opened fire upon him
from the dense woods in 'front.' and wounded three
of his men. The gallant Colonel at once resumed
his position and incensed at the cowardly attack,
stepped out in front Of the lines, and waving his
cap called upon the sneakng scoundrels to come on,
that he was ready for them. The invitation was
not accepted, and a few moments afterwards his
regiment retired, and occupied the rIte-pits,
with orders to hold them at all hazards The line
We were called to Defend extended nearly or quite
a mile through deep swamps and dense thlckets-
Col. Clarke and Major Love were on the LETT, Whlie
the right was under the immediate command OF the
Lieut. Colonel, Harris. During the night, the enc
my made two sharp attacks along our entire front,
with musketry and howitzers. Our brave fellows
repulsed both with slight loss but as we afterwards
learned, inticting severe punishment upon the en-
envy. Early the next morning, the order came to
advance upon the foe and ascertain his position ana
strength. The night had been sleepless-but the
,nor r.amed IN peo tho enemy whom TINS far
they had only felt and heard. Stepping ont OF the
rife-pitS the line quietly formed, and throwing
out scouts in advance moved steadily on in open
order, and as rapidly as the dense underground
would permit Our approach was soon discovered,
and a rapid and heavy fire of musketry was opened
upon US. aided almost Immediately by shells from
the battery which had annoyed us much the night
before, throwing all their shells into very mlost
fortunately, however, doing us no harm. Stepping
forward from tree to tree, brave fellows kept on
driving the enemy before them, and forcing them
back into their entertainments, which were too
strong and too numerously defended for our small
force to attack. Having accomplished the object of
the movement efell back in good order, bringing
many trophies and three prisoners, the enemy prli-
IDENTIFY remaining in his works. In few hours we
were relieved and that night the enemy beat has
ty retreat, leaving the ground strewed with their
arms and knapsackS As soon as this retrograde
dered forward in pursuit. which was conducted as
rapidly as the distractions thrown in our way by
the retreating enemy would permit. BY about noon
Of the LIST of July, We up within striking dis
lance oil McClcllans army, whom we found engaged
by Longstreets and Magruders Divisions. Our
whole brigade (Ransoms) was immediately formed
IN the woods, the left, to repel an expected at
tack in that quarter. We could distinctly hear the
rattle of small arms, which showed that the battle
ILL.,
constantly tell near US, indicated that the enemy
were aware Of or suspected our position. Armi-
steads brigade was our right similarly situated,
and for the same purpose. In an hour or two it
moved Oft to take part in the battle, and the shouts
OF the men, and the more furious discharges of mus
kerry soon told us that they the thickest of
The light 1t was our turn ncxt-and not long af
ter, the 2fth being the right of the br gale
marched up to the edge ola deep ravine, into which
the cnemy's shells were falling thick and fast and
lying down awaited further orders. In front of this
position distant about mile, lay the enemy in
stron. force, behind heavy batteries. The interve-
ming space was open, undulating country, with
out shelter of any kind-and across this our troops
had for hours been charging in the face OF snpe-
rior force of infantry, and the best Of McClcllans
batteries, aided by the heavy guns Of the Monitor
which was lying in James River, within range Of
the field. The enemy fought desperately, well
knowing that upon the result Of that days fight de-
pended the salvation of his army. In obedience to
the stern order, THAT battery mus. DC TAKEN"
coming directly from Gen. Lee himself Col Clarke
commanded us to advance without waiting for the
rest Of the brigade, which, having farther to march,
had not yet arrived Promptly and eagerly every
man sprang to his feet, and advancing few PAGES
into the open field, halted and dressed In line of
battle, the gallant fellows led by the Colonel, who
by general orders was dismounted, dashed at
Iouhlp- ourl fho fold ,lr
the dead and dying, and regardless OF the danger
aud the fearful evidence Of it around, each man
seemed to be mindful only of the honor of the "Uld
North State committed to his care, and the sacred
cause in which he was fighting. At two-:hirJs Of
the distance the Col halted his regiment to breathe,
Tor the race, the heat and the speed were exhaust
lng-and ordered them to lie down. At this point
we were joined by the rest of the brigade, and ad
vancing within seventy five yards of the eue.ny's
position, delivered fire which prisoners taken by
our regiment declare to have been terribly dcstruc-
tive. We then charged, led by the Colonel and
shouting North Carolina !" North Carolina I"
I'LL We were so near to the battery that it seemed
ABOUT to fall into our hands-when fire of mus
kerry and grape was hurled upon us, before which
hu'nat lty could not stand. The command was
gwen to retire. and our regiment fell back in per-
iect order about hundred yards. We were not
beaten though repulscd and were eager to continue
bincd movement. such as was necessary to carry
50 strong position, was impossible. Ali that could
now he done was to bring off the command in safe
ty, an undertaking of no little difficulty, but one
which our Colonel accomplished with SO much sue
cess that the next morning all answered to their
names except those who had fallen upon the field,
or been taken by the enemy while sea, ching for
wounded friends. Our proximity to the enemy and
the length of time we remained on the field may
be judged from the fact that we carried off with us
two Of the enemys pickets whom he had thrown
out after the battle was over. Capt. William B.
Guley was killel while leading his men, and his
last words, as he fell, were Boys rm killed--but
stand by your company" Lieuts. John T. Town
send and Cornelius Page were also killed, and while
in their death We mourn the loss of three most gal
liant soldiers, we cannot but rejoice tina: our list Of
casualties is SO small.
Report of casualties In Tie a4th Rcg't North Cur
olina Troops. (Coh. w. j. Charke,) on the 25th,
27tA und 2StA Of June, and The LIST Of July, 1862.
June; 25th, near the Ssce" Pines.
Eillea-CorpI James 3 Adams, company G.;
private VIM Scott, company E.
Woundsd-Prvates Rufus Bowen, slightly,
John Wran sliohtly com Dany A: private Leon