Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-02-10
J6s Seni- Wcokiy StaqoaFo.
from the Hillsboro' Recorder.l
prxpER's BRIGADE, CAMP 18th N. Z. l.,
r.Lh,-n u De 81 1852.

prSDFR'S BRIGADE OAAP loIh AN' ". A'r
Mr. fredericksburg, Va, Dec. 81, 1862.
~, FnrroR:-Another year has passed, and still
", y;s,,ed war" with all his horrid acconpa-
s,,ts Of sorrow pain, and DEATH" confronts US,
IIvcs shade of gloom upon all of our troops
Io, will linger long after his wrinkled front
Ill have been smoothed, and his implements shall
L.vc Leon cast into plough shares and pruning
hooks. The year closes most gIorlously 10 our
- and God be praised for it; but we arc called
n 10 bemoan the loss of many pure and noble
p;;ts who have fallen in the accomplishment OF
r., Glorious results Thus 1t is while JOY relgnS
n-,me in one chamber of our hearts, sorrow sits
it,ninr in the other. But it is sorrow that noble
;niS do not repine at, but rather become elevated
E,, the contemplation of their LOSE Their blood
lO Losn noured out upon the altar of patriotism,
i;Tr,y and the dearest rights of man, and so long
- res,ire of liberty remains on earth, and sim
- JsvotGr TO chime her pGeanS, so long will their
Soo,or,eS be cherished and their deeds sung IN lm-
mortal verse Among the many that have fallen
none claim our attention in higher degree or
ovcte more warmly our sympathy than the taA OF
C,rt Eliridge Cook, of this regiment pure
n.triot brave and chvalric gentleman an intrepid
Soldier he fell while calamity leading his command,
on that bloodiest of bloody fieldS-MalVern Hill.
In every battle in which he had the honor to parti
cinate he exhibited the highest qualities of SOL
der, and by his gallantry and courage, challenged
the admiration of his superOrS, and won the conf
his sword on high, cheered them on to the combat.
"Cbarge Chester charge! On, Stanly on!
Were the last words of Aarmion
So might truly be said of this truly gallant SOL
der that his last breath was spent in rallying his
men to the charge. Tohim,
There WAS something of pride in the perous hour,
WLate'er be the shape in which death may lower,
For fame was there say who b!eeds,
And dhOuO-'s eye upon daring deeds
The body of this gallant soldier was lost in the
confusion of the day, and consequently he rests
where he fell upon the ''6eld of his glory" \
truce to the noble dead their memories are en-
Shrined in a nation heart
Since the great battle at Fredericksburg, our
army has been repoSng upon the banks Of the Rap
pahsnnock, patiently, awaiting a SECOND .9aset Of
"army OF the Potomac" has indefinitely postponed
q second onset and that We will be allowed, Jack
son willing, to remain undisturbed during the win
ter Burnside certainly met at fredericksburg the
o fatal defeat recorded in the annals of warfare
ani had he carried out his plan of advancing US,
ou Sunday, be would have suffered total annlhila-
ton, and the "army of the Potomac would have
been thing of the past He unwiliingly attacked
the finest army the world ever knew, not only as
regards numbers and intrepid courage, but also rs
regards health and spirits The health OF our army
was never better or Its spirits more bouyant. The
high and healthy regions of Western Virginia, in
which it had been moving for the past fall had
gwen 10 II DOlu ana elaSllC spirit, ahll W Lltlt
which the eagle shares, he circles the summit OF
his native heights, and as he regards his feathery
opponents below; so our noble army gathered upon
the beautiful slopes overlooking the broad plains of
the Rappahannock, viewed with careless diSdan the
myriad hosts of the enemy, which darkened the
earth for miles in their front. Our position was
such also that half of our division, 4. 2. HliS,)
able to repulse, with tremendous slaughter, SIX
or eight divisions of the enemy, and received but
slight loss Thus, when we take into consideration
the relative position of the two armies the respec
tive merits of their Generals and the vast difference
in the material which compose them, we cannot see
how the battle could have had any other issue
We opposed but slight resistance to the passage OF
the enemy across the river, only enough to induce
them to believe we were not anxious for them to
come, when at the same time the enemy was eXpe-
rencing the Joy of the lion watching his prey fast
moving within his grasp They effected passage
On Thursday, and landed the entire army on this
side Of the river; consequently, Friday morning at
o'clock the long roll" was beat, and our division
moved off to the battlefield, distance of three
miles, at quick time, Penders brigade leading the
division and the old 18th leading the brigade. We
took position on the front line OF battle consttu-
ting the right wing OF the army.
As the men moved on the field their countenan-
ceS eTinced determination and confidence IN their
Success but at the same time their faces wore
cast Of solemnity.
The 18th regiment was drawn up on the front
line of battle, Friday and Saturday, supporting
battery each day. On Friday there was no fight
ing, except skirmishing in front. In the morning
We witnessed a pretty cavalry skirnish, which ex-
cited the interest of the boys and in the evening
very lively artillery duel closed the exercises of the
day. When night drew her sable curtains around
U.s. and closed from view the long battle line of the
enemy, we retired behind the hill and kindled up
fires by which TO sleep, and prepare for the NOR
fror, haEpr-
sacks, those who had blankets wrapped themselves
up and laid down to rest; while those who were
not so blessed had to stretch themselves upon the
bare bosom Of mother earth" with the canopy OF
the heavens for covering, which was rather cold
bed considering how white she appeared next morn
Ing. The men lay down to rest on the battle held
as cOmpoSedly as if they were in camp, notwIth-
Sanding they were in sight of two hundred thou
Sand armed enemies with hundreds OF guns pointing
a!them, which might at any minute ''let slip the
dOgS Of war" upon their devoted heads. by ten
O'clock at night every man had surrendered him
self into the arms of Morpheus, and all nature was
Stint as if sleeping.
Morning came, the ground was frozen and white
with Frost and thick mist hung heavily on The
hornon. The men were aroused aHd caliet TO arms.
About nine O'Clock the sun could be seen bursting
through the dense folds OF fog that envcloPed us,
sld a loud booming in the distance, screaming
noise near us and crashing of timberS IN our rear,
announced the commencement OF the battle Inc
men were ordered to lie down to protect themselves
as much possible from the internal missiles that
!ied the air above them, and plOwed the earth IN
IN tro:t beneath and around them For hours our
devoted ranks were rakcd with shell, shrapne,
Solid Shot and minnie balls, which threatened to all
acOnNOn ruin. At one time the day was quite
s9ouv; the sun became obscured, the earth seemed
10 reel beneath the tremendous and lncesSant roar
Of artillery, AMI the air was wildly vocal with