The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-06-16

Carolina Union Volunteers.
l am, Governor,
With great respect,
Your ob't servant,
F. "A. WHITNEY.
list Lieut.. Sth U. s. Infantry
s Post Quartermaster.
The flags were sent to the Capitol in
charge of guard of honor, consisting of
detachment of United States soldiers in full
dress uniform. The guard halted at the
door of the Capitol. The flags were then
formally delivered by the commissioned
officer in charge of the guard, to the Gov
ernor. The guard then saluted the flags
and they were placed in the Executive
Chamber.
Both of the flags were made of fine silk
bunting. The United States flag IS badly
rent, but the outlines are still intact The
State colors, however, were less fortunate,
and the blue field, with few of the semi
circle of stars, is alone distinguishable, the
flag having been almost destroyed by shot
and shell.
The presentation of these flags to the
State of North Carolina calls up portion
Of her history, of which she may well be
proud. The day has arrived when the men
who fought under these colors, are honored
among the foremost of the Union heroes.
The history of the First North Carolina
white Union Regiment, faithfully written,
would be second in thrilling interest and
patriotic devotion to no other regiment du-
ring the war. Four regiments of white
troops were organized in the federal armies
| from North Carolina volunteers-two in the
eastern portion, numbered one and two, and
two formed of refugees from western North
Carolina; also numbered as the first and
second. This regiment was organized in
1853, and was composed of eight companies
ofinfantry, two of artillery and one of cavalry,
which were recruited at New Berne, Wash
ington, Beaufort, Plymouth, Roanoke Island,
Edenton and Elizabeth City. The first COM
mander was Col. POTTER, afterwards Briga-
dier General United States volunteers. Col.
POTTER was succeeded by Col. j. W. Nc
CHEsNEY, who died from wounds received
in skirmish with the enemy. The last
| Colonel was OSCAR EAsTMoND. In the early
part of its service the companies were scat
tered in different parts of the State and in
Virginia, acting generally as scouts and
guides. The regiment took part in the last
battle of Kinston, the last battle at New
Berne, the battle of Plymouth, and in nu-
merous skirmishes.
The cavalry company in one year captured
from the enemy four times their own number
of men and over twice their number OF
horses. Upon one occasion at Greeneville,
in this State, so men of this company, COM
manded by Capt. Graham, captured 100
infantry and section of artillery. The
heat of the conflict can be judged from the
fact that Surgeon Menninger dressed four
teen sabre wounds among his own mer
after the battle.
The two artillery companies manned a
various times the Notifications at Washing
ton, N. c., Fort Hatteras and Fort Macon.
At the battle of Plymouth, which tool
place after the Confederate order treating
North Corolina Union volunteers as desert
ers, the Union forces were overcome, ant
Gen. Vessels concluded to surrender tn
town, when 24O men of this regiment stepped
forth to sell their lives as dearly as possible
or cut their way through the lines and es
cape. Of those 240 men but 81 survived
and escaped to the swamps How many o
their enemies bit the dust can never b
known. With such men to oppose, ant
such barbarous orders to drive them to dies
peration, the success of the Confederacy wa
impossible.
The first Surgeon of the regiment, d.
Babbitt, died from over-exertion in atten
dance upon citizen patients at the yellow
fever epidemic at New Berne. Of the officer
of the regiment there are now surviving Co
Oscar Eastmond, Col W. A. Moore, Stat
Senator from Carteret; It. Col. G. Fl. Foster
lawyer at Greensboro; Capt. Geo. W. Ora
ham, now Capt. second United States cava
ry, who was commissioned for bravery t
the same rank in the regular service that b
held in the volunteer army; 1t. VIM. Cherry
merchant at Washington, N. c.; 1t. JOSEF
Etheridge, State Senator; and Surgeon f
j. Menninger, Secretary Of State.
Of the 1O4O men composing the rank AM
file of this regiment there were 1899 nativ
North Carolinians; and a majority Of tn
officers were natives of the State, though l
the organization of the regiment several off
GERS who had seen service under the stal
and stripes were commissioned to secure in
mediate efficiency. Some 5000 white native
of North Carolina served in these four Mort
Carolina Union regiments, and some 1000
more enlisted in the organizations of othe
States, and many Of these men gave thei
lives as the highest testimonial of their de
votion to the country whose flag was drive
from nearly every foot of their native State