Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-01-06

me enemy, who were in the woods beyond the field
OF corn. On passing beyond the small cluster 81
woods to the right of the CrenshaR battery, We
saw the enemy retreating in confusion before Capt
Turner's skifmishers We continued to advance
until we saw Gen. Gregg's brigade IN the woods to
our right 1t was here that learned the enemy
| were In force in the woods, and that Gen. Gregg
! had been ordered not to press them. deemed il
advisable to inform Gen. Branch of these facts and
| was ordered by him to remain where was had
three companies at the deployed as skirmishers
along the fence in front Of u.s. and connecting with
| those hrst sent out undefNCapt. Turner.
The enemy advanced in strong force upon Gen.
Gregg soon after we halted, and Gen. Branch, with
the rest OF his command, advanced to his support
The S7th first became actively engaged. The enemy
opened deadly fire upon this regiment The 18th,
under Lieut. Col. Purdie, and the 7th under Capt
McRae, went to its assistance and the enemy were
drlVen IN disorder beyond the railroad cut. The
enemy were repulsed in two subsequent attempts to
drive these regiments from their position. The
3Srd under Col Hoke also fought well in tie woods
to the left OF these regiments, and once calamity
advanced into the open field in 'front.' and drove the
enemy back in disorder. Up 10 this time, the 2Sth
had not been engaged, and, as the other regiments
were nearly out of ammunition, Gen. Branch ordered
1T to join him. intending to make 1T cover his front
The order was not delivered properly and the regi
ment went into action the left of Gen. Fields
brigade. Itadvanced boldly into the woods driving
the enemy before it, although exposed to direct
and left entlade fire, but fell back when it found
Itself alone in the woods and unsupported The
men, however rallied and reformed in the centre of
the open field and advanced second time when
the enemy were not only driven beyond the "cut,"
but entirely out of the woods. Never have wit
messed greater bravery and desperation than was
that day displayed by this brigade.
We were not actively engaged the next day, but
held our position under heavy artillery fire. and
very heavy skrmishing until late in the afternoon.
We then followed up the enemy until about 10
O'clock P. NJ, advancing in line through body of
woods nearly to large hospital in which the enemy
had left many of his wounded
Our loss in this three days battle was 80 killed,
lS5 wounded, and l missing
Ok HILL, Sept 1st, 1862
The pursuit was continued the whole Of Sunday,
and on Monday afternoon about o'clock we came
up with the enemy again at Ok Hill, near Fairfax
Z. II, on the Alexandria and Winchester Turnpike
when the engagement was Immediately opened
This brigade pressed eagerly forward through an
open field, and piece Of woods, to the edge of
another field where were, for a short time, ex-
posed to the enemys infantry fire, without being
able to return it. An attempt made to flank
US on the right and the 18th regiment was imme-
datey detached from the centre of the brigade and
ordered to the right to prevent the movement,
which it did sustaining deadly fire unsupported !
The enemy's direct advance through field of |!
corn IN which he sustained great loss nowithstand.
ing most OF our guns fired badly on account of the
heavy rain which fell during the engagement On
learning that our ammunition was nearly out Gen
Branch made known the fact, and was ordered "to
hold his position at the point Of the bayonet" We
remancd where we were until dark, when the whole
command fell back to the field in rear of the woods
The 2Sth cold, wet and hungry, was then ordered
back to the field Of battle to do picket duty for the
night without fires.
This engagement is regarded by the Brigade as
one OF our SeVerest. The enemy's infantry used
great many explosive balls.
Our loss IA killed 90 wounded and missing
HARPER's FERRY, Sept nth and 18th.
The second day after the engagement at "Ox
lllll, we marched through Lecsburg, crossed the
Potomac into Maryland the 9th, and moved in
The direction of Frederick, where we remained sew.
eral days Then re crossed the Potomac at vii.
transport, and marched on Harpers Ferry through
Nlartlnsburg The evening of the 18th, we advanced
Town the Winchester and Harpers Ferry Railroad.
The 9TH Regiment was in advance and its skirmsh-
'rs, commanded by Capt Knox, succeeded in driy-
ng the enemy's shapShooters from a high position
the railroad The remainder of the
Brigade reached this position after midnight. and
here slept upon their arms until day, when every
me was in readiness, and awaited the orders to /
dTance. After short but rapid and we'll directed
Ire from our Batteries, the enemy displayed several
'hlte liags and we marched into the place without
urther resistance
We captured several prisoners the evening of
he 18th. -
Our loss was four wounded
SHARrsBURG, Sept 18th.
We left IIarpcrs Ferry on the 18th Sent and
tier very rapid and fatiguing march recrossed
ne Potomac, and reached Sharpsburg in time to
anticipate in the fight The entire BRIGADE was
rdered to the right, and on reaching the field the
0th was detached by Gen. \. p. Hill in person,
nj sent ON the road 10 the left, leading to Sharps
urg, to repel the enemy's skirmishers who were
dvancing through a field of corn. The resi- of tho
brigade moved nearly at right angles to our line on
he enemy flank. The7th, 33rd and 37th were the
regiments principally engaged. They fought we'll
nd assisted in driving back three separate and
ls:nct columns of the enemy The 18th was NOT
ctVely engaged l was ordered about sunset to
tJoi ,ne brigade and on doing so, ascertaned that
len. Branch had been killed
1t was after sunset when assumed command or
ne Brigade. found the 9TH, 37th and 33rd noSted
ehind stone fence, and the 18th sheltered in n E,
ollow in rear l ordered the 2Sth to the left of
ne line, but the order was delivered to the 18th
men was posted on the left behind rail fence, a
ortlon OF it being broken back to guard against a
ank movement. The 2Sth was posted to the left of
le 1th, IN the opening caused by the withdrawal
lew Georgia troops. Although ANNOYED bv the
1emys sharpshooters, we held our position until
rdered TO TALL back on the right of the 18th. We
ID not cross the river until the next day. Gen.
regis, Gen. Archer's and our Brigade formed the
ar guard OF the army, and were kept in line of
little, facing the enemy, until infantry, artillery.
'Valry, wagons, and ambulances had all safely
ossed-----..- - VS. say |
Our loss in this engagement was our Brig. Gen.. L.
b. Branch, killed, 20 others killed, ~ wounded,
I'd 4 missing.
SnEPERDsTowN, Sept. goth.
On the morning of the Goth Sept, we were moved, ]
it'll the balance of the DIVISION back to the ferry
ar Sheperdstown. Soon after we had taken our
sition in line in the field of corn in rear of the
heat stacks, we were ordered to advance in the