Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-10-11
NOrth.CaroIina and the War.

NOrth.CarOIina and the War.
Extract from, 1.-THE Bsttls of Great Bethel" by
FRANK l. WILSON, Esq.
Let it be remembered that the first blood she'd in
this DGr, in regular battle was shed at the battle OF
Great Bethel and let IL also be remembered that
the first blood Of a Southern soldier that stained
Confederate SOIL toas the blood Of a North. Caro-
Linaan-young Wyatt who knew not the meaning
of fear, and was iCsensible to danger when and
where duty called. He was but private soldier,
but no drawer spirit has nobly persisted on the
battle6 field, whether clad in uniform or in humble
garments. And from the day of his death the
troops of North Carolina seem to have emulated his
example. They have been among the bravest and
most reliable troops in our armies, and have been
excelled by none. They have ever sprung with
alacrty where duty called them, and by their steady
frmness, their determined purpose their resolve to
conquer or die, they have accomplished deeds that
will place them among the highest on the scroll of
fame when the truth of history shall be unrolled.
For all this they have not sought praise-they only
want justice for justice itself their highest praise
And little, indeed, is the praise they have received,
and that little apparently wrung from reluctant
tongues, envious pens and begrudging hearts. On
hundreds of bloody fields thousands of her best aud
braves sons have fallen with their faces 10 the foe
and their heroism and self devotion are unchron-
icled-their glorious deeds are as silent as their
bloody graves.
newspapers nearest the scene of operations either
pass 1t over in silence represent it a small af
fair or if they speak of the bravery of the troops,
they strangely forget to tell what State the troops
from. Ifthey meet with reverse, which, thank
God is seldom, these same newspapers bruit it
abroad, magnify it, and ring changes upon it with
apparent delight.
1t is not my purpose to retalate by concealing
the heroism of other troops or BY attempting to
pluck leaf from the wreath of honor that encir
cles their browS; but to contrast the conduct of
those papers and to show their Cm) partiality in
chronicling faithfully the events of the day, will
say they have never yet published the fact that
North Carolina troops have on two occasions at
least charged over the PROSTATE forms Of troops of
another State, and accomplished the work to which
these PROSTATE soldiers could be neither led nor
driven.
Let US look at 4 few recent events. Gen. Ram.
Seur not long since met with a slight reverse near
Winchester, Va. What degree of censure, if any,
he merits know not But let him be fairly judged
and acquitted or punished as he deserves; for l
would screen no officer or soldier from me:ted CEN
sure, whether from North Carolina or elsew here
But certain newspapers in and around the seat of
Government, seized upon the affair, held it up
"RsmSeurs defeat" and seemed delighted to alude
to 1t =" the first reverse to our arms since the
Maryland campaign commenced" Of course this
reverse" vas attributable to North. Oarolinians,
under = North Carolina commander. Had they
been troops from some other State would the
reverse" have been heralded with such flourish
Of trumpets? Perhaps the following will answer
the question:
Qnite reconnaissance "Ramseur's defaat"-Pe-
grams Battery was captured and the troops sup
porting it repuised. know not that those engaged
were to blame. | have to think they did
not fight brsvely and do all that brave men could
under the circumstances; but these same news
papers touched the affair gingerly-cut it off with
nh nd rnantinDnd tha Statee from
which the troops came--a indication that they
we're not from North Carolina; and they were not
few days afterwards about 5000 North Carroll
mans, with few other troops, encountered about
$4,000 Of tho enemy at Gravely Hill, not far from
Richmond, drove them back several miles, and
killed, wounded and captured many; and yet, if
the editors of these papers have ever heard Of the
fight at Gravely Hill, l sm not aware that they
have ever communicated the information to their
readers
In fact one or more Of the Richmond papers, some
days after the affair at Bethel seemed to have doubts
about any such battle having been fought at all
Was it because North Carolina troops principally,
were engaged?
More recently still On Sunday, 21st of August
last forces repuised in their assault on the
enemy's lines near Petersburg on the Weldon rail-
road. Virginia papers told US that the repulss was
attributable to the conduct-one of them says the
shameful conduct" Of . certain brigade which gave
way at cTlIca InnDenI ana cOulO not DC IailIeu
but they told US not what brigade IT was, ncr have
they yet done SO. We all know it WAS not North.
e Carolina brigade.
On the following Thursday the enemy was attack
ed near Reams' Station, the same rosd driven
back into their fort6c1tions-their Notifications
stormed and cSrrisd-Gnd the Yankee hosts scatter
ed like chaf before invincible soldiers. Thauks
to that good and grsAt-heartsd man, Gen. Lee, he
tell us in his oficis dispatch that Cooks, Ackae'G
and Lanes North Csrolns brigade, with Psgranl'I
artillery, composed the aSsaultrng columns.
Had not Gen. Lee stated these facts, it is quite
likely none Of the Virginia papers would have
troubled their readers With the information.
rth-CarolinA, too. has fever high officers than
any other State that has furnished so many trOops
But few of her sons have been promoted, and toe
many Of these few here, we'll As slse1hese, have
apparently been selected, not so much with refer
ence to qualifications as to partizan predictions
Oar troops, for the most part must fight under off