Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-03-18

s When The evening CLOVIS with its beautiful smile,
And our eyes are closing in s,unbera awhile
= Inlay the greenwood OF soul be in sight!
----==-====
=. For thet3tandard.
(Ron, h Notes of) Seere Engagement on the
kappahanuock, Tuesday, 2ith February.
= File quietly sitting by their camp fres Tues
day morning this brigade startled by a" order
from Gen. Hoke to be in readiness to move against
thu laemy at u, M-troops to be supplied with
f,rty rounds CT ammunition. At that hour the
forces moved off promptly, following narrow,
winding road in the direction of the ritter. The
roads Being heavy, it was necessary to make ire
1ucent halts to "close up" the rear. Fearing that
these delays would give the enemy time to discover
our rpyement, and possibly to ambush us on the
way, a Accompany Of cavalry under command of Capt
Lat: more, was sent forward to observe their move
lticnts. Cemng,n sight of their camps, we found
the enemy were very active in forming their lines.
lien. Hoke then gave the order to double quick
that We might secure a position before the enemy
could move out to meet u.s. The line was formed
fronting the camps in the following order: 9Th n
C., (Col Goodwin. on the right; Dist n G., (Maj.
Rankin commanding on the left Of the 511th; on
the extreme left was the 54th N. c., Capt Rogers
commanding , 9th N. c., Giesst. Col. Webb com
mandng,) on the right of the 54th, with LIST N c.
Battalion oS Capt o9oPS ws ng.rn in the
and advanced rapidly to "fee' the enemy's lines.
Cen. Hoke ordered Maj Tate Of the 9th n c. to
take tw6 companies and try to turn the cnemy's'
right flank as soon as the engagement became gen.
eral The order to advance was now given, and in
4 mo nent the fight opened with the greatest fury.
In accordance with the Generals order, Maj. Tate
moved to the left with portion CT the 54th n. c.
and Capt Whites company, "P." and Lieut. Tur-
nefs detachment, company 'E," G;h n. c., to turn
the enemys right flank. After an obstinate fight.
the ilanking party charged and successfully turned
their right when the main line of the enemy gave
way, our whole force charging upon them, driving
them through their camps to their extreme rear
works. At this juncture every thing was depen-
dan upon discipline but unfortunately, as at Shi-
lsh eur troops, now in full possession of the chief
part # the enemys camps, betook themselves to
stray cling about looking for trophies and plunder,
when suddenly the enemy moved down.upop US
heavy column Of reserves, driving US in confusion
frola al tae ground we had won Finding it i'm.
posi- lie to rally the men in sufficient force to make
any successful resistance to such overwhelming
numbers, we slowly fell back to strategic point
on an open plain in frunt of our own camps.
The enemy, mistaking our reverse for rout,
beg ~ arranging to follow up their success by an
attack upon US ip our strong positions. Some of
our men captured by the enemy made their escape,
10 whom we were indebted for this information.
Our lines were rapidly formed, and every available
man brought out though there were some skulk-.
ers, as usual when the General moved US forward.
ABOUT one hundred yards and halted. We were
not kept long in waiting Soon the enemy could
he seen deploying along the edge Of the woods, in
front of US, but cut of range. The General then
made short speech to the men, reminding them
that our all depended upon a successful ress-
taFcs-that if the enemy got into our camps We
ho ,,kfa mad Il ~
walton would inevitably follow as it would be i'm
possible to supply ourselves again with blankets,
axes, cooking utensils, &C. He concluded, by tel
ling them to stand frm-glve not an inch-and
reserve your tire till the enemy comes close up
During this time the enemy was completing his
formations and then slowly advancing came square
ly to our 'front.' with heavy supporting column
just in rear of his CENTRE evidently with the design
Of piercing our line and dividing us in twain His
movements were beautifully executed, ard dis
r.aJ ed clever generalship with superb discipline
when within long range he halted, as though invi-
ting US to move on him. We waved our colors and
gave him yell of defiance Seeing we were not
to lie drawn out, he came calamity forward open.
ing furious hire upon US as he advanced. It was
difficult to restrain our men from returning the fire
at once, hut soon the range became perfect, when
we opened upon our assailants, delivering volcy
after volley with terrible effect At this moment.
Gen, hoke, fearing the supporting column Of the
neny would break our centre, ordered the gallant
Maj Rankin with the 2lst N. G. to tura the enc
my's right which was done-and then, "w,th
rush from right to Left we pressed them back and
hna!!y completely routed the foe, capturing three
stand OF coiors, many prisoners and valuable Quar-.
teraasters stores Captains j. A. Lea and j. C.
Turner were severely wounded and greatly distin-
gu:shed themselves
Lieut. Col: Webb,* 9Th N. c., was captured with
some subatern. officers and men, He was in the
thckest Of the. fight, and though unfortunately
taken IN the hrst engagement has proven by his
daring assault upon the enemy that he is worthy
OF all the honors bestowed upon him Col. God.
win Lieut: Col. Jones, and Maj Craige of the 5Tth
g, were conspicuous in the fight, and acted
with their usual heroism.. Major Rankin handled
hrs regiment with cohsummate skill, and Captains
Bril-, Blackburn and Jones, Lieuts. Miller, Oaks
Moore and Alspaugh, all Of the 2ist N. c., were
br we and efficient Capt Beard, Adiutant Semple
and Lieut. Dckey, Of the 9th N. G., and Capt
Rogers and Lieut.. Williams Of the 54th N. G. were
aetive participants in the events of this glorious
day. Espt Cooper, commanding LIST N. q. Bat
talon, and Lients. Williamson, Woodruff and FAINT
Of the same, and, in fact the whole battalion COW
sred theMsftyeS Yita glqrE Hthe OLD, historic"
.s IL perhaps Would be sufficient TO- say sbe was
herself" Oh 1fs oecssio,ib ii York. ssEs4ihhg
.ifses wv Dyu;pPvntlso9, was not IN the action.
Int Lieut. Allen led his coHpany! IN salant style'
sAPtaius White Ylneaet. Guess and Ray Adj.
'HS6ans hid Eiaulss TotspAhart SS1esf NcPhSrsSp
Turner, D;xSh aebAhe; seiihiotk, Miller, Walker,
-ts,asse JesKms' c.axtotd;t Burton ana Wariisk,
Acting Sergio Maj John D.; ~ hits Color S.r@'t
simpson and Corpl Rsss,S Of the Go1or Guard III
displayed soldiey bearing great mowers il endS.
rance and military aptitude ,Joseph Boon
deserves spees mention for slneraosious eo,ddct
-REsJ;H. DsFis Susseqn6thN. G., tnniks,his bseth.
tsn al1 Hhssline a, geaesally Hehtinto the AZ.
tio"ltks tr,e soFaiar, aid could be sect Batt,nS
ai wy hSed af 'eash peiaanssar;jss and
Attsrneasers lsot ita,ssek :sbeltsr; and bossss
sens!eatadsthe fae:o Cspt Smith, Of Gen. Hokeil
etaf settee eAoa md braye!'d;1oK g =: -
nlIIestahefsAMs 1ensof ts names names" az Gals r.
AssH.srysta n o, and Mcdowell, b4.h NJ ,ssss
.se.tsA from ii, hs 8, b. r,ib,.s, .. g. a.;
.Ex R fa{ titaaaa,esasrtl y j. ,oss :, ..-,r~sg
ns ,x9n$. s;!iiL sE: sDaE ;'a. ]. see
s!3 a j!an srii5o J. u I'll .5u-0g.rs. .igs~ =
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