Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-03-26
Hatteras, Roanoke Island and Newbern.

Hatteras, Roanoke Island and Nswbern.
Inc events of the past seven months have made
these names sad memo lis in the history Of the Old
North Stata The last named has long been cele-
GRATED as the home Of Stanly and Castor, whose
memories are still precious in the State, and a. once
the pleasant old town famous for its intelligence,
refinement, andhospitality, and for the beauty and
lovel'ness Of its women. The history Of Roanoke
Island belonged to the days of Barlow aid Hakluyt,
while Hatteras was but the synonyme Of breakers,
and storms, and shipwrecks.
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
trumphed over our brave but small and badly
equipped troops
Partial and false statements in reference to one
OF these battles by braggadocio neighbors have
in some minds damaged the valor and the galantry
Of North Cardinals sons, which has caused tnge
Of shame to mantle the cheeks Of 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 battle field near Ncwbern
Now We undertake to say, and we believe can
demonstrate, that in either case, the charge of cow
ardce against North Carolinians is not only unbound
ed, but is made by witless persons who either have
no regard Tor truth or who grossly ignorant of
what true courage is The idea seems to prevail
among branless upstarts crazy dealsts, who take
care not to risk their worthless carcases in the
fight at ALL that man who goes into battle, what
NAV be the lack of discipline or arms, or mum:
bers on his side, or the thorough equipment and
discipline and overpowering force of his enemy, if
he does not remain with bis face to the foe until he
and his fellow soldiers chopped into mince-meat,
is q coward. Common sense will brand the
holder of such views rs 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 ablity-to furnish intelligent, brave
and skillful leaders-to to its forces all the
aids Of science in tactics, engineering and strategy
! possible-to provide ample Notifications and other
dofences and we'll the means of transportation
for necessary retreats for an advance. No one
will deny this. We admit that when government
does this, its troops are bound to face the enemy
to the death so long their commanders, supposing
them to be humane and skillfu men, may demand
it. But what if government fails in all or many
Of these particulars to do its duty? What then !?
Is every to be tranded coward, because he
does not rush into the thickest of the fight with all
these sagainst him, and prompted by brute cour.
age and demon hate, immediate himself and his coun-
try, that phrenzied 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 Roam.
oke Island there the semblance of coward
ice exhibited by any soldier or ofcer-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 impossbility, because of the manifest neg
lect 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
and 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
serious, awful matter, and he who fights in order
to find it. is fool The attempts to fix cowardce
upon our men at Hatteras or Roanoke Island have
signay failed.
And such We hope will be the result of the feverish
attempts ofsome to cast odum upon ofthe troops
and officers in the late battle below Newbern. In
competency and un6tness in some of the officers te
do their duty, may, and ought to be shown. Bad
engineering and bad generalship are patent in thai
affair to every one who looks into it 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, we will not believe unless
clearly proven All did not exhibit great valor, per
haps, because they were not in positions or condi
ton to have their courage fully tested but we art
sure that better fighting has not been done during
this war, than was done by the regiments of Co.'s
Vance, Campbell and Avery, and others. Theil
gallantry was put fully to the test and they main
tanned it heroicaliy, as is shown by the heavy LOST
of the enemy. Our small force compared with tn.
enemy, the indefensbe character of the breasworks
the gap left open in them at the railroad and thu
blunder of placing raw militia to defend the mos
exposed position may we'll account without calling
in question any mans courage, for the early rout,
of goQd portion of our Forces
f Too LArE.-The State and the Confederacy hav,
spent at least 100000 already in futile attempts
to defend the Eastern coast Ct North Carolina. Il
that sum had been expended last June, in building
four ironclad vessels suitable to the waters on ou
coast, all our disasters might have been prevented
except perhaps the one at Hatteras, and our port
: kept open at least partially, if no: entirely.
Levi N Scott Esq, of Greensboro, has been ap
pointed Receiver by Judge Biggs under the Seques
featio ri for tho Counties nip