Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-02-25

win, my Aid de-camp, were energetic and prompt IN
carrying orders to all parts Of the field. -
Very respectfully yours, & 1S;or.n g., I'D, d
- Brig. GsnsraI
Carr. A. L. EVANS, A. A. G. r.-zsae .so
Nor,-It ought perhaps to be stated that the ensmys
retreat 80 Prectats that be LEFT ss
attack 90 both wings at e moment while the swamp
in his front prevented his attacking aud DIVIDING our cen
tre he have been terrified and induced 10 aoAn
don a. strong position the art Of the engineer could
have made fed with his large army tOwsds the cosss
REPORT OF COL. r. B.vANcE.t.'
HEAD'eks 2ND BRIGADE, McCowN's DIVISION,
:,., SHELBYvILLE, TENN, Feb :, 1868.
Gen. J. G. Martin, a. A. General -
SIR:-According to directions received from Gov.
Clark, repeated by Gov Vance, to report to you
engagements in which my regiment took part,
hasten to lay before you brief account Of our share
of the battle of 3lst December before Murreesboro
The regiment Goth N. g. left McMinnville Tenn,
on Sunday evening, December 2Sth, aHd arrived at
Murfrees6oro', after forced march, on Tuesday,
and encamped near the line of battle where rations
were cooked At o'clock, a M, 3lst, we left
camp and got in line at daybreak the regiment be-
ing the extreme Left of Gen. Braggs army. Ten
minutes after getting in place, the order was given
to advance, which was done in concert with Gen.
McCowns entire division. We had scarcely began
the forward movement till very heavy firing opened
on our right extending gradually for miles along
the Southern lines until the engagement became
general and grand in the extreme On our partwe
soon encountered the enemy s pickets and skirmish
ers, who fired one or two rounds and lied, the bri-
gade in hot pursuit Private Wardrup, Co. u, 29th,
was killed on the first fire.
The charge was continued across fences, creeks
and fields for several miles, chasing the flying enc
my all the while, during which time the 29th cap
tured twelve pound howitzer, with the gunners,
horses &C. The charge was so rapid that this squad
had time to use the piece agaest US. Two wagons
with mule teams) laden with ammunition, one
medical wagon, one wagon with full set of band in
struments and many prisoners were also taken and
sent to the rear. At length the brigade was halted
and reformed, many of the goth being so exhausted
from long marching that they could not keep in
line. The brigade was then marched by the right
flank half mile or more, which changed our position
and put US on Gen. McCown's right and Gen. Cheat
ANS left We we're then froa:ed again and moved
in line through heavy oak forest across the friune
pike, where soon encountered the enemy in hea-
vier force. The blue coats fred warmly for few
moments, which was eagerly replied to by our troops
followed by shout which made the woods ring,
and another bayonet charge This seemed more
than the enemy could stand, for they broke again,
closely followed by the brigade, which succeeded in
driving them clear through dense cedar thcket
the ground covered with rocks and thus forming
natural breastwork) to the open field beyond under
the protection of their batteries. Here gallant
and lsmented General, James E. Rains, f. dead
upon the field another sacrifice upon libertys sacred
altar. At this point was our hardest struggle for
the day. Pushing on through the cedars, the goth
came suddenly upon regi ment of Yankees with its
left flank to us, which was pouring destructive fire
into the 1lth Tennessee on our left This arrival
was opp0rtune, for one or two moments firing drove
the Yankee regiment away ami thus saved the ll;h
Tennessee from being cut to pieces. The enemy
rallied in three lines on slope beyond his bate
res, and the fire for an hour was terrible, shells
bursting, canister rafting and musket and minnie
balls striking around incessantly, killing and wound
ing men and horses continually. In the midst of
this terrific Ere, color bearer james Lanning com.
p.ny 6, Zone Of the Bethel heroes, carried the fae
presented by the ladies of Reem's Creek, n G., to
the very front and bore it sloft where 1t was shot
through by thirteen of the hostile bullets Our am.
muniton giving out fell back 10 get supplied and
to reform the command, other troops moving I'D at
once and taking our places. After receiving amlnu.
milton, the regiment was moved agairsto the front
and was ordered to cross aeld to prevent the enc.
my from aanking Gen. MeNair, which he was try.
ing to do. We moved across the field under fire
from Federal battery, without loss but Just As we
were reaching the wood beyond met Gen. Ms
command retiring to a new line which was estab-
lished and to which we also returned Here we
remained in line from the evening of the Slst of De-
cember till the morning of the 3rd January, not be-
ing in any other regular engagement although skir
mishing. at different periods in the interim. The
conduct Of the men under fire was admirable, and
<the officers of the regiment under me behaved most
nobly l ana under many obligations to the staff
Capt E W. Herndon, a. Q. n, Capt David Plem.
mons, A. 9. s., and Adjutan: John E. Hoey. for
the IF thnir =
conduct of Adjutant Hoeywss the subject Of gen.
eral admiration, he having borne himself through
out the conflict with the most daring gallantry.-
The merits of many officers Of the line occur to NV
mind, but forbear 10 mention part without naming
all. Our total loss, including some wounded acct.
dentaay, in killed, wounded and missing, was go.
|. The troops are much pleased with Gen. McCown.
our division commander, and, while regretting the
necessity Of falling back have perfect confidence in
the judgment Of Gen. Bragg, and are willing 70
risk him on any field. Respectfully,
ROBERT B. VANCE, Col.
29th n G. Troops.
Testimonials to the Bravery of North carol;na
Regiments.
~ '5'-. HEDaRs. HooD's DIvis1ox.
january 2sd, 1852.
The Major General commanding regrets to an
nounce to this Division the departure cf the Sixth
kihy-fourth, and Fifty seventh North Carolina reg
nieots they h.yng been transferred 70 another com
The Sixth was one ofthe first regiments thai
came to Virginia to assist in driving the foe from
her soil, and as one of the celebrated Old Thfrr
Brigade it has gaineda reputation second to no regi
ment. in'the army. In the ever-memorable cam
paign of 186l32-in the battles of Manassas LIST
Seven Pines, Gains MILL Malvern HILL Freeman,
Ford, Manassas %, Boonsborough Gap, Sharpsbur,
ton for courage'and patriotism for which the SON
Of the Old North State, since the days of ourdiss
Revolution, have 'beeDlso justly celebrated y
The Fifty fourth ana Fifty seventh, though the,
have been with this sou4 Md but short time, hays
by their xallantry IN the fntfla nf Rsdarck sh,,rn