Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-06-17
From the Fayetteville Ohserver.l
From the North.C Carolina Soldiers.
COL. J. G. s: M'DowELL.

COL. J. c. s: M'DowELL.
Among the gallant officers and men who fell in
the late battles around Fredericksburg and Chan
cellorsville, the death of none will be more deeply
depored, or his loss be more severely felt in his
regiment than is felt and deplored by the 54th N.
death has caused general gloom to hang over our
camp. His cheerful conversation among his Off
GERS is heard around the camp fires no longer
That sonorous voice that sounded with such melo-
dy amid the lannon's deafening roar, in giving
command to his column, is still in death. His last
battle has been fought and we come to drop the
soldiers tear over his grave:
Col. Mcdowell was born ip Burke county, N. c.,
on tho 9Th of February, 1881. He was the son of
Charles Mcdowell, and grandson of Col Mcdowell,
one OF the heroes Of Kings Mountain, Of Revolu
tionary memory.
Every impulse of his heart was the impulse of
patriotism. His was noble nature. He loved his
country because it was right to love her. Heacted
upon the principle that even life and all he claimed
belonged to her and her cause When North Car
DINA, in May, 1861, called for volunteers to con-
front the myrmdons of despotism sent forth by the
Yankee government, on the ignoble mission to en-
slave and destroy the liberties of free and ndepen-
dent States, the subject Of this notice was amongst
the first to obey her call. Upon the organization
of the company in which he had enrolled his name,
he was elected to a Lieutenancy under Captain
lnow OoloneD @. NJ. Avery, and fought his first
battle a. Bethel, in Virginia, in the LIST n c. Regt
under Col. D. II: Hill. AS this regiment had been
raised only for six months, upon its being dsband-
ed he was commissioned by che Governor as Cap.
tain to raise accompany for three years or the war.
This company. raised in Burke county, was identi-
hcd with the 9th egiment upon its organization
at Raleigh on the 10th of Nay, 1862, at which
time he was elected its Lieutenant Colonel Upon
the resignation of Col. j. Wimbish, in September
following, he was promoted to the command of his
regiment, which position he filled with honor to
himself usefulness to his country, and much salts
faction to the officers and men of his command
On the 18th of December, at Fredericksburg, he
led his command into battle the first time. The
writer was ny him when he received orders to quit
the trenches with his regiment and lead it to as
sault the enemy in force holding the railroad. We
had been under the fire of the enemy's shells near
ly all day. But our gallant commander never.
eVinced more GOODNESS and promptitude upon pa
rade. Never can forget the melody of his manly
voice when he called amid the booming of artillery
shoulder arms" or the alacrty with which that
order was obeyed When the regiment had passed
the wood, in which it lay, and had been deployed
in line Of battle on the plateau under heavy and
destructive fire of grape and she'll with full view
of the desperate work before them this brave off,
Ger addressed his command with the following la.
comic speech: "H there is any man in ranks who
is afraid to follow me, let him now give up to me
his gun and fall back to the rear" Every man
presented soldiers front. The charge was made.
The enemy gave way and retreated. The road was
taken. For this act of daring gallantry he received
congratulatory notes from his brigade and division
commanders under whose eyes he fought
The enemy crossed over the Rappahannock on
Wednesday morning the 29th ult From that time
until Monday evening following he was untiring in
his labors, marches, watching and fighting. In all
murmur ~ 6soan his lips. In this he was model
soldier. On Sunday, the Yankees with an over.
whe.ming force possessed themselves Of Marye's
Hill by o flank movement On the next morning.
the 4th inst, they were forced to yield it They
fell back on tho old plank road in anorthwesterly
direction to q point called Smiths or Landren's
Hill The attack on this hill was made late in the
afternoon by the divisions of Early, Anderson and
McLaws. Gen. Hokes brigade of Early's division
was ordered to charge across field of some dis
lance under heavy fire of infantry. and artillery
| upon the enemy's lines. His line of skirmishers
was scattered His first line of infantry broke snd
fled in confusion. But at this progress of our ad-
vance some confusion had ensued from the number
who had fallen from wounds and the brigade falling
under an enfiadhg fire from its left flank, order
were given for the whole line to fall back to
venient position to reform. Here it was, at this
point where was his intention to reform his regi
ment that the fatal ball pierced his temples and be
fell to rise or to command no more
He fingered until Friday evening the 9Th instant
about 8 O'clock, when he breathed his last A
drawer man or more gallant soldier trod the
field sf battle. His patriotism and devotion to his
country were prominent traits in his character
Such was the gallant soldier who laid his life upon
the altar of his countrys liberty and has added hi
name to the roll of her departed worthless. MAJ
his memory be sacred to u.s. Let us embaim it il
our hearts.
May g. 1868.