Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-06-03
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For the Standard.

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For the Standard.
n. Enrroa:-As many Of your readers nave
r.i.t;..s and friends in the S7th N. y. troops
nv not be uninterestng to give them through your
rolEmns short notice Of the part it performer IN
the recent battles. Breaking up our winter cup
on fifteen minutes notice, and leaving oeh'nu US
car load or two of used up articles, VIC iiaienea
s-av near five hundred strong and the same even
inc took posion in rear Of the heights near frede
ricksburg. Early the next morning, with one axe
and one shade to the company we set to work ana
nrenared ourselves with staunch breastworks. on
The same evening, we enjoyed brisk shelilng lrom
the enemies batteries At first the whizzng mes
senpers came at long Intervals and the famous eA-
preston "nobody hurt woald move pleasantly
along the line; but as they c'ne nearer ana rapu,
". the BOYS adopted the better part OF Va.os' anu
lsv close in their entrenchme s. Early next morn pr
;nr We were on the march tow ards Chanceiiorsve,
and in the evening on arriving near !eis
flank, our advanced troops attacked and drove the
enemy some miles. At night We formed line OF
battle under some Smelling, and here one OF our Of.
fcers was wounded. The regiment rested In line Oh
battle through the night and before sleeping nlsn
ed its rations. On the following morning, Saeur'
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 flanked Hooker's right Immediately on
arriving, our troops in 'front.' D. IT, Hhrs alv'sui
and Others began the attack. Mean~hne tne oa.
tie had been progressing in Hookers froht anu ous
troops there were beginning to wonder what could
have become of Gen. Jackson The great hero was
then riding constantly along our lines amidst chee,s
that must have represented our numbers as myriaas
to the enemy Soon his columns were huried ike
an avalanche against foes, and as the hrst roar
of cannon and musketry reached our men IN roh'
from their far left, some of the officers exclaimed
"Thank God we ROW know where jackson IS. An!
bows. our guns will now have a chance to COOL -
Aud so it proved, for unless the enemy can change
his front and mass his troops and artillery on MS
centre, sure destruction awaitsh army. ana now
We have chased in their right flank for several miles,
the woods and fields are strewn with their dead ana
wounded, many, many thousands of rifles, KNAPP
sacks and oil cloths are not scattered but literally
beaped together or all sides. Aadersons men IN
our front, and Hills men on the enemys right have
united and such cheering as can be uttered only 0y
the sons of victory swells over all other uproar o.
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 alol: with steady hands,
formed into line Of battle with great promptness and
spirit Here our Major, whose bravery the regi-
ment honors, was wounded, and good 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 begun would Immediately have
resulted in the complete overthrow of the Yankee
army The enemy had been chased out of four
lines of entertainments and now We were upon ht'
last with bis troops defeated and disgraced. 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.' Cen
jackson and A. P. Hill advanced with their stalls 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 our
front proved to be Yankees and our men were not
aware that our Generals we're 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 SUM-
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 on for one hum
bred yards We reached an eminence and here re-
II
in our 'front.' commencing to fire we bore steadily on
until within abont one hundred yards Of the enc
my's batteries here our Col mel, of whose bravery
and GOODNESS too much cannot he said, was wounded
and had to be taken off the ID; the regiment not
faltering, bore steadily on, bat as pressure came
from the right it obliqued 20 tie left and over the
pankroad on which its left had ested at the begin.
ming of the action Still advancing and firing de-
hberateiy, itsoon mounted the enemy's breastworks
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 enfiiads
fire Of musket and cannon VS. were, when exhaus
ted and out of ammunition, forced to give back
but the work had mostly been done, the enemy hst
been forced to yield, and his strong position lev
minutes afterwards fell into our hands But nov
that the rageof battle is over, how sad our heart
are when we recall the of that dreadful hour
The batteries in front numbered thirty pieces sunl
in pits; the enemy were behind breastworks full,
five feet high, and yet we drove them. Oh! hoss
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. statement of our loss is due to the public
but the heart is too sad for comment. The list o
officers is one killed, eighteen wounded; of non
commissioned officers and men thirty five killed
one hundred and seventy-fve wounded and eigh
missing. making about one half Of the turtle
movements Of the regiment, need scarcely speak
was held in front for parts of several days after
wards and did much fatiguing duty. All our troop
as far as know, did well; but hereafter, as tb
traveller papses on the roadside near Chancellors
vile, and views with wonder the shattered fores
tress, let him bear in mind that on Sunday the 3r
day Of May, 1862 North Carolinians passed throug
the enemy's fire over that ground, and on over hi
entrenchmehts, and whatever be his nationality. h
must e1claim-" Well may Carolina be proud Of he
sons. EVE WITNrcc
For the Standard.
CAMP NEAR THE OLD o. 8. FoRp, Val
NJ May 9, 1858.