Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-06-04
WAR NEWS.
TN ILeT.
N. q. T.

Fight at Hanorer-Brarery Of our Troops-.Secerc
loss Of 6raUe North Cdrolinians.
In our last, gave brief account of the fight at
Hanover G. H., Va, between McCle!an'S forces and
portion of Gen. Branch's brigade. Fears were ex-
pressed with regard to the safety of our men. The
following seemingly moderate, truthful and reliable
account, is evidently from the pen OF a participant
and North Carolinian. We are not surprised
but we regret deeply that our judgment and
predictions in regard to this officer have been
so fully verified, and that it falls so heavily up
on some of the best troops raised by North Carolina
Gen. Branch's brigade was picked one. We have
no better commanders of regiments than Campbell,
Lee, Lane, Cowan and others of that brigade, and
the officers and men Of the several companies are
among our est soldiers. We trust that the rumors
in regard to the losses Of the brigade may turn out
to have been greatly exaggerated. But we shall
comments upon the article in question.
The Late Fight at HanoUer.
Richmond, Virginia, May 80, 1862.
To the Editor of the Ekdminer
| give you an exact account OF the fight at Le-
banon Church, in Hanover county, on the 9th, and
hope you will let the people know something of that
severe and unequal cCntsSt
About III, A. NJ, a captain of the Virginia caval-
nv informed Colonel Charles c. Lee, of the Thirty
seventh North Carolina troops that the enemy was
advancing but that he believed it to be mere ma
raudiEg party which might be captured by prompt
action. General Branch was at his headquarters,
more than mile distant and as no time could be
lost Colonel Lee at once sent three of his companies
under Lieutenant Colonel Barber to meet them, and
notified General Branch of the same. Colonel Lee
soon ascertalned that the enemy was advancing in
considerable force; he, therefore, sent forward the
remainder of his regiment and placed it in line of
battle across the road and sent back for Captain
Latham's artillery to reply to battery which had
opened upon his regiment. He also asked Colonel
Wade of the Twelfth North Carolina troops, to
place his regiment in the woods on the right to
prevent flank movement; he theu deployed CON-
pany. A, of the Thirty seventh as skirmishers, to
protect the left flank.
Captain Latham with two guns of his battery,
came6orward and replied vigorously for short tine
until a she'll was thrown into his caisson, which
caused it to explode killing two men and two horses
and woundng seven men. Our guns now ceased to
fire while moving back the disabled section. Com
pany F, of the Thirty-seventh, now opened fire
with Enfield rifles upon the advance of the enemy
and put him to flight, killing lieutenant and two
of his men. The enemy now retired from view,
having engaged us for two hours. General Branch
about this time came upon the field, and ordered the
Eighteenth and Thirty-seventh forward to support
Colonel Lane Twenty North Carolina troops
which had been sent early in the morning to sup
port two companies of the Thirty seventh on picket
some four miles distant. These two regiments CON-
menced to advance in charge of Colonel Lee, the
respective regiments being commanded by Colonel
Cowan, of the Eighteenth, and LeutenantColonel
Barber, of the Thirty. Colonel. Lee soon
aScertained that the enemy had planted battery Of
artillery on a hill in front of him, with strong
infantry support This was reported to General
Branch General Branch ordered Colonel Lee to