The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1863-01-21
~lSs

morning al 4 o'cloek the .. long roll" WA
lbeat, and our division moved off to the bat.
tie field. distant three miles, at quck time.
Pender's brigade leading the division, and
the old 18th leading the brigade. We took
position on the front line Of battle, conb,i.
ltuting the right wing ofthc army.
AS the men moved on the field their
countenances esinced determination and
coniidencei their success, but at the .am.
time their faces wore a cast Of soemnity
that showed they appreciated the circum.
stances of the occ asion.
The 18th regiment was drawn up on the
front line of battle, Friday and Saturday,
supporting battery each day. On Friday
there was no fighting, except skirmishing
in front In the morning we witnessed a
pretty cavalry skirmish. which excited the
interest &c the bays; and in the evening 1
very lively artillery duel closed the exer.
cises of the day. When night drew her
!. sable curtains around US. and closed from
view the long battle line &C the enemy, We
retired behind the hill and kn,led up fires
by which To sleep, and prepare for ii.
morrow. After taking cold snack IRON
their haversacks, those that had blankets
wrapped themselves up and laid down to
rest; while those who were not so blessed,
had to stretch themselves upon the bare
,4,os,m 81 !. mother earth" with the canobs
of the heavens Tor a covering, which vas
rather a cold bed considering how WIN,
,hr appeared next mofning. The mrn lad
dawn to rest on the baltlr. field - compos,
. ed IS il they were ~ camp. notwIihstand.
ing they were in sight Of two hundred
thousand armed enemies, with hundreds i
gun. pointing Al them, which mishl Al anI
minute let slip the dogs IS war upoa
their devoted heads Bv ten o'clock At
: might. every man had surrendered himself
into the arms of Morpheus. and all nature
was silent a. il sleeping.
/, Morning Game, the ground was irozea
: and .hite with frn.i. and thick mist hung
/. heavily on the horizon. The mrn we're
} aroused and called 10 arms. hbnu, nine
o'clock the sun could be seen barstin.
through the dense folds OF log that enssl
op-d us, anil q loud basming 10 the ,li,isncs.
) d scrrsming mise near W, and crashing
= OF timhers ~ our rear. announced the CON
lmsncrment Of the battle. l,hr men were
ordered 70 lie dosn 10 prsteci them as muck
Ias passlble from the inlernsl missiles that.
filled the air above them, snd pl0Ned the
earth in front. beneath and around them.
For hunrs nur devoted ranks were raked
i with shell, shrapneA. solid shot and minnie
!. balls, which threatened to all eominon
4 ruin. At one time the day was quite gloomy;
!; 1.-THE sun became obscured. the earth scene!
4 to real beneath the tremendous and inee
SAINT roar 81 artillery. and the air w, wild
!, Nv vocal With screaming md bursting shel's.
5 kissing mlnnies. the shrirks Of the wounded
1 dyiag. Lanes Brigade gave way, horses
: dashed wildl, acruss the ffeld with desert
" ed Guns and csnnons Gen. Gregg vas
!. Killed. Gen. Fender wounded. his I'D Dc.
: camp killed. aud The ranks becoming fear.
!. fully decimated. The enemy's heas,, ,e"
/. siyr columns extending FAR in the distance.
E were pressing vigorously oar lines. u vas
i : co,nbinatioa uf the abose incidents 'Oe,
. curing IN quick succession. that made y
4 the most fearfully Wild scene Of the day.
n But order was sonn restored, and the enc
7 Inv made TO recoil IL horror upon his hrsl
i position. The battle ragged furiously al
: DAY until night. when the firing ceased o.
). most rntrely. The esemy isIled 10 ever
I, sttemp: 70 eject asinsle dislo,lgmen' Of OF
q troops. or gain . single foot Of ground
n After burying our dead We laid dO"n .
|, rest. expecting to renew the contest ssaH
I, on tile morrow but the morrow csme ana
e passed without scarcely the firing Of gan !
5, 80 me liext day passed and vet the hghs
to wa, not renewed. Then the news CAM
u tina, the enemy had sksdaddlrd. which tc"s
Il the m,n by surprise. aud our corps con
Ii mander. Gen. slonewall Jackson. cans
!. d.shing aloag the lines a. soon as the news
IN va. circulated. and the air runs with ~
% applause. Every body was IN hns humot !
Is but few sad faces could be seen. and these
:, we're men who had lost brother OF some
q near friend in the battle.
,e Daring the battle the l3th regiment vi'
i. 9 rpnsed to The .esercst eannonsdlng. Gep
q. -. Ia agar - Nnerieucpl auH thf