The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-12-08
THE 2sTH N. c..REa1MRNr.

In writing this short history, il is net intended
TO go into an extended notice of the promnent part
this line regiment has borne in the most glorious
and the most bloody campaign of the war The
pen OF the future historian must do it that Justice
which for lack of time, space and capacity, am
unable to perform.
The 2Sth Regiment N G. Troops organized al
OamP Fisher" near High Point, N. C., on the
- ols' september, 1861, for twelve months. Lieut.
Eoi' Games ID. Lane on the 1st November, was
eiected Colonel; Capt Thomas L. Love- Lieur Col
onel, and Capt Richard f. Reeves, Major.
The Regiment numbered about 900 men at the
time Of its organization.
On the 3Oth September, the regiment left its
hrst camp ana under command of Lieut. Col Lowe
was transported TO Wilmington, NJ c., at which
city it arrived on the 1st October, went into camu
near the city on the Goldsboro' Railroad and was
| Incorporated into Brig Gen Joseph r Anderson s
command Col Lane arrived on the LIST of Octo-
Der and took command OF the Regiment. Here
the men built handsome barracks, and here they
underwent the drill and discipline that was neces-
sary to prepare them for a more active service
Here the regiment did post duty and guarded the
railroad bridges to the Virginia line Atthis
camp, seven companies of the ten reorganized for
. three years or the war;" in February, 1862
Newbern was attacked, and the 18th Regiment
was ordered to that point. Lieut. Colonel Love- in
command, embarked his men on the train the 18th
March, 1862, and reached Newbern the 18th, only
In time to assist in covering the rear of our dis
comfted troops. He, with Gen Branch's Brigade
then fell back to Kinston, N. g. Whilst in this
vicinity, the 2Sth Reg giment became part of Gen
Branch's Brigade.
On the 18th April, 1862, the regiment porgan-
lied for the war, ahd, having received many re-
cruits, it was about 1850 strong. Col Lane and
Lieut. Col Lowe were reelected to their former
positions by acclamation, and Capt Sam Lowe,
of Go 6, elected Major.
Branch's Brigade was ordered to Virginia. The
18th Regiment took the cars at Kinston on the
I'd May, with 1899 men for duty, arrived at Rap
idan Station, Va, the 6th where it did picket du-
ty. The Regimen then returned to Gordonsville,
the 10th, and marched through Madison G. H.,
several miles above that place, on the Robinson
river, as was the report, to join Gen Ewell, then
at New Market in the Valley. An order recalled
the Brigade to Hanover G. H., where the 2Sth
Regiment fought its first battle on the 9th May,
1862, with heavy loss. The Regiment Eere was
cut Oft from the Brigade and was engaged with
GeDs. Martindale's and Butterfed's Brigades for
over four hours, inficting greater loss than it did
receive, executing one of the most difficult retreats
of the war. Here began series of engagements
in which this command bore an active part After
a short respite, it opened the battles in front of
Richmond, it being the first Brigade to cross the
Chickahomny on the 26th June, on which day it
fought at Mechanicsville, the 28th at Cold
Harbor, on the 30th at Frazier's Farm, and at
Malvern Hill, on the lst July, 1862.
After these exhausting battles, the troops were
allowed short time to rest; the 2Sth, with the
other regiments of the Brigade, going into camp
below Richmond, till the 10th July, when it took
up the line of march, which ended 10 the Cedar
Run battle-the Regiment bearing conspicuous
part in the action, 9th August. On the 10th
A tha Rriu in, tb, 81
immortal Jackson, whom it followed the remand
er of the heros life, began the famous march to
Pope's rear, encountering heavy shelling at War
renton Springs the 24th August, and meeting the
enemy at Manassas Junction, on the 9th August,
had short fight at that place; on the 28th, 29th
and 20th at "Manassas Plains" and at "Ox Hill |"
the lst September-the 2Sth Regiment fought
in all these battles, led in each of them by Colonel
Lane, whose cool courage on all occasions is pro-
verbal with the Brigade.
After the battle at Ok Hill, the troops moved to-
wards the Potomac. The 18th Regiment crossed
at Edwards Ferry on the Potomac River on the
5th September, marched to Frederick, Md the
9th, then turned across the Blue Ridge, recrossed
the Potomac at Williamsport on the 11tR Sept,
and formed in the line of battle investing Harpers
Ferry on the l3th-participated in the capture Of
the place on the 10Th September, crossed into
Maryland second time at Sheperdstown on the
Sharpsburg the same day. Maj Montgomery was
in command here, Col Lane was in command of
the Brigade after the fall Of Gen Branch. AS
army fell back, the 2Sth Regiment crossed the
Potomac on the 10Th September, at Shepardstown,
forming part Of the rear guard of the entire
army of Northern Virginia, aud was in the gallant
charge the Goth, which drove the enemy's
troops which had followed our army to the South
bank, back into the Potomac. Branch's Brigade
Cat and after the battle of Sharpsburg, commanded
by Col Lane. was quiet in camp near Bunker Hill,
Virginia, after the Maryland campaign, its num-
bers very much reduced, the 28th regiment num-
beriDg $50 men until the 18th October, when the
command was ordered to move up to Heagersvile
and destroy the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad,
which was most effectually done, after which the
Brigade returned to Bunker Hill the 22d October.
Various moves made near Charlestown and
Suckers Gap and Camp Lee, near Winchester,
and on the 22d Nov 1862, the Brigade command
ed by Gen. Lane CCol Lane had been promoted to
Brig GEM commenced the long march to Freder-
icksburg, and arrived in time to meet Burnside at
that town. In the great battle of the 18th Dec,
1862, the 2Sth Regiment fought nobly and suffer-
ed severely. The army Immediately went into
winter quarters after this victory, General Lans's