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

This gallant officer fell mortally wounded in the
bloody battle Of Sharpsourg, on the 17th Septem-
ber 1862. He was in command Of the 4th regi-
ment N. @. State Troops at this sanguinary fight
No part Of the army during this terrible battle was
more exposed than Gen. G! B. Anderson's brigade,
to which Capt Marsh's regiment belonged. The
cool courage and calm selfpossession displayed by
Capt Marsh, at all times during this evenfal day,
won for him the confidence apd admiration of his
veteran regiment What It suffered in this unequal
contest may be learned from the significant fact
that every commissioned officer presentwas killed
or wounded. - .- ."@- - so
The history Of the past year has been rich in the
display Of individual instances of anostentatious,
heroism, and the example of Capt. Marsh is con.
spicuous among those who have lived worthily and
died nobly IN the service of the.C Confederacy. H.
was member of the Legislature Of North Car
olina when Lincoln declared war on the seeded
States. He promptly raised company Of Solun
teers, and soon after the passage Of the ten reg.
ment bill, joined the regiment Of Col. George B.
Anderson. ..-r.
His strong sense of duty to the country, and to
the brave men under his command impe'led him to
remain in the service, although he had long been III
feeble health, and was not physically able to under
60 the exposure of active campaigning.
Up to the date Of MIR. Lincoln's proclamation he
was a steadfast supporter Of the old Union, but
when this infamous measure began the war, no man
met the issue with more promptness and zeal. He
was then filling his second term in the Legislature,
and his constituents felt pardonabe pride in tho
position which his ability, industry and high honor
attained in that body. His popularity at home was
the result0f these Qualities and not the mere tran.
sient applause which expert demagoguism some-
times wins from the people. -
No act, or vote, or speech Of his, ever contribu-
ted to the downfall of that magnificent government
the old Union So long as its Constitution was
fairly construed and its domestic affairs admins.
tered mpartially and in good faith so long did Capt
Marsh as citizen and legislator, yield willing
obedience to Its authority. But when the strong
bulwa-ks of the Constitution melted like frost-worE
before the fiery breath of anaticism, and the great
mass of the Northern people turned aside from the
plain and well beaten highways appointed by the
law, to pursue the twill o the wisp" Of phi]an-
thropy, in violation of rights, be conformed. his
conduct to the altered condition of the Country and
was among the first to take up arms in defence CT
those rights.
: A few years before the war broke out, he quit
the practice Of law and devoted his entire time and
attention to agriculture He embarked extensively
IN the drainage and reclamation of swamp lands in
the lower part Of Beaufort county, and had met
with most gratifying success He was among the
pioneers of this enterprise in Beaufort county,
which was rapidly converting dresry and impene.
trable swamps into beautiful and fertile farms, and
changing these malarious and poverty. stricken
wastes into healthy and wealth producing districts
In his death the army has lost brave and skill
full officer, and his county m enterprising public
spirited and valuable eitizen prompt and fearless in
the discharge of every duty. D. M G.