Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-06-02
gprai- qf)rskIq StauaurA,
For the Standard.

For the Standard.
Mr.. EDITOR AS many Of your readers nave
rsiatives and friends in the 37th N. O. troops, it
NAV not be unnteresting to give them through your
columns short notice of the part it performed IN
the recent battles. Breaking up our winter camp
on fifteen minutes notice, and leaving behind us
car load or two of Sssed up articles, we marcheu
away near five hundred strong, and the same even
ing took position in rear of the heights near Freue
ricksburg. Early the next morning. with one axe
and one spade to the. company we set TO Work anu
prepared ourselves with staunch breastworks. Oh
the same evening, we enjoyed Disk snelihs lIou'
the enemies batteries. At first the whIzzlng mes
sengers came at long Intervals, ana the laIaOus
preston "nobody hurt would move pleasantly
along the line: but as they nearer and RAPID.
w. the boys adopted the better part OF yalor, ana
Law close in their entertainments. Early next morn
ing we were on the march towards ChanceIors7iile,
and in the evening arriving near the enemys lef6
flank, our advanced troops attacked and drove the
enemy some miles At night We formed line of
battle under some shelli1g, and here of our Of
fcers was wounded The regiment rested in line OF
battle through the night and before sleeping finish
ed its rations. On the following morning, Satur-
day. at near eight o'clock, we were again put in
rapid march and under great fatigue and some
hunger, executed the movement which so hand
somely fauked HookeT's right Immediately on
arriving, troops 10 front ID. FL. Hills division
and others, began the attack Meanwhile the bat
tie had been progressing in Rockers 'front.' and our
troops there were beginning to wonder what could
have become of Gen Jackson. The great hero was
then riding constantly along our lines amidst cheers
that must have represented our numbers as myriads
20 the enemy. Soon his columns were hurled like
an avalanche against our foes and as the first roar
of cannon and muSketry reached our men in front
from their tar left some of the officers exclaimed
So Thank Ged We ROW know where jackson is. Ali
boys, our guns will now have chance to COOL
Aud so it proved, for unless the enemy can change
his front and his troops and artillery on his
centre sure destruction awaits his army. And now
have chased in their right flank for several miles,
the woods and fields strewn with their dead and
wounded, many, many thousands of rifles, KNAPP
sacks and oil cloths are not scattered but literally
heaped together or all Sides Anderson's men in
our 'front.' and Hills men on the enemy's right have
united, and such cheering as can be uttered only by
the sons of victory swes over all other uproar of
the battle field. We now draw near the enemy's
stronges: pOsition-rendered doubly so by his con-
tracted lines. Burning shells, shrek and scream,
through the heavens in all directions, the shouts of
wounded men and the fastening roll of artillery
wagons added to the terror and grandeur of that
hour but amidst it ALL the glorious 37th with her
battle crowned flag borne alofs with steady hands,
formed into line of battle with great prompneSs and
spirit Here our Major, whose bravery the regi-
ment honorS, was wounded and agood many men
were disabled. And now if we could have had one
hour of daylight for it was already eight o'clock,
the work so well begin would Immediately have
resulted in the complete overthrow of the Yankee
army. The enemy had been chased out of four
lines OF e9trenchmentS, and now We were upon his
last with his troops defeated and dsgraced 1t was
the intention to continue the attack at all hazards,
but it was at this critical period that large body
Of troops being observed moving in our front Gen.
jackson and A. 2. Hill advanced with their stats to
ascertain their character Owing to the uneasiness
OF troops at night firing commenced when it should
not have taken place. and although the troops in
front proved to be Yankees and our men were not
aware that our Generals were in the 'front.' it is
difficult to ascertain whether it was the enemy or
our own men who wounded Jackson.
The Yankees soon afterward made feeble attack
on our right but were easily repulsed and towards
midnight We lay down on our arms and slept Next
morning dawned lovely Sabbath. Soon after sun
rise we passed over the Yankee breastworks, which
we had appropriated for ourselves the previous
night and word was passed along that we were
about to charge battery; marching for one hun
dred yards We reached an eminence and here re-
ceiVed the enemy's fire some three hundred yards
IN our front, commencing to fire we bore steadily on
until within -abont one hundred Yards of the enc
mys batteries; here our Colonel, of whose bravery
and GOODNESS too much cannot be said was wounded
and had to be taken of the field the regiment not
falterng, bore steadily OF, but as pressure came
IRON the right 1t obquea 20 the Left aud over the
Pankroad which its left had rested at the begin
ming of the action. Still advancing and firing de-
liberately, itsoon mounted the enemys breastwUrks
behind which many of the miserable Yankees were
still crouched trembling for their lives as we boun-
ded over, out they bounced and took to the rear
In this way We took many prisoners.
After crossing the first line we began the advance
on their second, but from the effects of an enfade
tire OF mhsket aud cannon, We were, when exhaus-
ted and out of ammunition, forced to give back
but the work had mostly been done, the enemy had
been forced to yield, and his strong position few
minutes afterwards fell into our hands, But NOW
that the rage of battle over, how sadour hearts
are when we recall the OF that dreadful hour
The batteries in front numbered thirty pieces sunk
in pits the enemy wcle behind breastGorks fully
five feet high, and yet We drove them. Oh! how
proud should our dear old State be of such sons
sons who oppose their living breasts to fiery foods,
and move on their bleeding ranks to shouts of vic
tory A statement of our loss is due to the public,
but the heart is too sad for comment. The list of
officers is enc killed, eighteen wounded; of non.
commissioned officers and men thirty five. killed
one hundred and seyenty-five wounded and eight
missing, making about one half Of the further
movements of the regiment need scarcely speak
1t was held in front for parts of several days after
wards and did much faGguing duty. All our troops
as far as know, did we'll; but hereafter, as the
traveller pauses on the roadside near Chanceors-
Tille and views with wonder the shattered forest
tress, let him bear in mind that on Sunday the 9rd
day of May, 1863 North Carolinians passed through
the enemys fire over that ground, and on over his
entrenchments, and whatever be his nationality he
must excaim-" Well may Carolina be proud of her
sons. EYE WITNESS
For the Standard.
CAMP NEAR THE OLD U. s. FoRD, VA,
Nav O. 1863