Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-02-02

WhOlO uubN ~ 10 SbS opo au0 R.OL OuS
story of North Carolina courage and self.
sacrifice in the " imminent deadly breach. -
r Raleigh Standard.
CAMP NEAR FREDE RIcKsBURe, Va.
j.. December 10, '62.
SR IL think it nothing but just ard
proper that regular reports from brigade
commanders of North Carolina troops
should be made to you, in order that JUS
tice may be melted ont to those regiments
and brigades who are entrusted with the
honor and reputation of the good old
State, and have so successfully borne her
flag in the thickest of the fight, and as l
have had the responsibility, on two occa-
sions. to take command of this brigade in
the heat OF pitched battles, (Sharpsburg
and fredericksburg owing to the disabling
of the commanders Of the brigade early
in the action l feel that tac responsible
ty devolvcs upon me.
This brigade, commanded by Gen. j.
r. Cook, as gallant an officer as ever liv-
ed, consists at present OF the 46tli, 18th,
9th and 4Sth regiments Of North Caro-
lima troops.
On the morning of the 18th inst the
brigade was ordered to the front, In con-
%nection with Gen. Ransom's brigade, and
all, under his command, took position on
Willis Hill, directly opposite Fredericks-
burg, and well on the left of our lines. We
remained in line of battle until IL o'clock
of Saturday, the 18th, when we were Or
dered forward, at which time the battle
was raging furiously. Willis Hill over
looks the valley of the Rappshannock, in
which Fredericksburg is situated, being
about fourth of a mile distant. On the
crest, four batteries had been erected AT
the foot Of the hill, Gen. Cobb, with his
brigade, under cover of a long stone fence,
was holly engaged with the enemy, who
were making a desperate attempt to storm
the position. The Georgians fought gal
lantly and against terrible odds. The en-
envy had succeeded in forcing their way up
TO within forty yards of the fence, when.
Cooks brigade reached the crest of the
hill, and in face of a deadly fire of artillery
and small arms, drove them back with
great loss. Our men were falling fast, for
we were within two hundred and fifty
wards of twenty-five or thirty thousand
Of the enemy but no men ever fought
better or with NOR, enthusiasm. Not
man faltered. The 46th and 37th were
ordered down the hill to support Genera
Cobb behind the stone fence, where the
remained all day, and suffered but little
after arriving there. the 4Sth, unde
Lieut.. Col. Walkup, and the 18th, undc
Col. McRae, remained on the hill and suf
fered severely. North Carolina can boas
of no drawer men than the commanders o
those two regiments on that day. ST.
different times afterwards did the enemy
with his heavy columns, attempt to driv
us from our position, but at each attemp
was he thrown back with immense loss
leaving the field literally black with thei
dead aud wounded. During the afternoo
we were reinforced by the 25th n. G
Lieut.. Col. Brysoc commanding, and on
orher regiment of Gen. Rausam's brigad
further on our left, and g~allantly did the
do their duty. Shortly after, Gen. Kel
shaw, with a South Carolina brigad
came to our assistance. The troops | ha,
enumerated composed all of our forces e'
gagged on the left that day, as far as | al
aware of. l am satisfied we did not ha,
uVe LuOuSdlu, anu VIC uANC IL OSiC
ed that we had both GenPs. Hooker ar
Sumner to contend with. The enemy lie
at least one thousand dead on the field
our front, and the wounded must ha,
been three or four times as many !; '
killing and woundiug as many men as '
had TO fight them with. / am sorry
saw that the loss of the brigade was qui
heavy, VIZ: four hundred and eighty-sev'
out Of about thirteen hundred. Our Gre
was severely wounded early in the actiO
but am glad to state that he is rapid
convalescing. At nine o'clock that MIG
the brigade was relieved, and ordered
the rear to replenish their aanmuniti'
they having fired sixty rounds, and to h
themselves in readiness for the renewal
the fight the next day.
Where all did their duty so well, i
impossible to single ost any one man
praise above another.
have the honor to be
Very respectfully
Your Didn't serv't,
ga s# sNG n n HATJ Col