Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-12-17
MISCELLANEOUS,
LETTER FROM GEN. j. A. EARLY
The Troops Of Virginia and Nor,h Caroli
ma- Gen. Humphreys and The Battle of
s. Geaysbnrg-Revere's Story About Stone-
acaN Jdckson.
RidnMoNp. December s 1872

q,
y Editor Of Enquirer IL have observed in
the report otf some remarks, complimentary to
North Carolina and her troops, recently made
by Gen. John B. Hood, on the occasion of a
serenade t.. him at Raleigh, in that State, the
following statements:
"l believe that your State had moro men
in Virginia, than Virginia had on her own
soil. and you and all North Carolinians ought
to be proud of her name''
In view of the we'll known fact that almost
Sal the Virginia troops served in the State for.
nearly the entire war, this statement, if true.
conveys avery serious imputation on her peo-
pie; and coming from SO distinguished a
source it should not be permitted to go un>
noticed.
No one has a higher estimate of the energy
displayed by the North Carolina government,
and the value of her troops, than myself
think had much better opportunities of
judging of the conduct, as well as the nuns
bers of the North Carolina troops that served
withit Army of Northern Virginia. than
Gen. Hood had, for / believe that while he
was connected with that army he had under
his command only three North Carolina regi.
ments atsany tine-the Sixth, Fifty>iour,h
aud Fifty>sevepth-and 1 also believe that
those were the only regiments Prom that State
which served in the corps to which he be-
longed after the army was regularly divided
into corps. Those regiments were transferred
to my division id January, 1868, and served
withit until5the close of the war: and at va.
rious times all the brigades, regiments and
organizations of North Carolina troops at
tached tnSthe Army2of Northern Vireiuis.
prior to its arrivalsat Cold Harbor in June.
lsG4, except the cavalry regiments, and. per
haps, very few batteries of artillery, came
under my command and went into action un>
der me. OF the eight brigades of North Car
oollna infantry Belonging to that army when I
was detached in June, 1864. four were with
n me throushout my whole campaign in Mary
land and the Valley. No one is more ready
or willing to bear testimony to the general
good conduct aud ealantry of the North Car.
DINA troops, than aun and always have been;
and must say that the State which gave to
the cause such soldiers as Pender, Ramseur.
Branch. G. b. Anderson, Daniels, Gordon.
Fisher, Campbell. Stokes, Avery, and Others
among the dead, to say no,hing of the living.
has indeed good cause to be proud of her war
record But in order to place the merits of
the North Carolina people, government and
troops before the world, it is not necessary to
depreciate poor old Virginia, who threw her.
self into the. breach, between ten Southern
sisters and the Uuited States government,
and, after having had her soil devastated four
long years by the tread of contending armies,
came ou. of the conflict bleeding, torn and
dismemhered Nor can the fame of the
former State be enhanced by showing that
the latter was derelict. can hardly presume
that such was the intention of General Hood.
yet the effect of his statement is to do prea.
injustice to Virginia
During the battles around Richmond, in
1862. our army in Virginia was larger than
at any time during the war, numbering then
something less than 80, 900 men for dutv.-
AT those battles there were present forty FIVE
regiments and three battalions of Virginia in.
tantry. which | could name, if necessary,
being fully, if not more than one fourth of
the infantry regiments present There were,
also, seven regiments of Virginia cavalry
present. and much the largest portion of all.
the artillery was manned by Virginians. At
the same time; very considerable force OF
Virginia troops. of all arms, was in the VAL
ley, Western and Southwestern Virginia
The North Carolina troops present at these
battles. being all then in Virginia, consisted
of thirty regiments and two companies of in-
fantry; five companies of cavalry, and few
batteries of artillery. Atthose battles all the
Confederate States; except Kentucky and
Missouri, were represented by regiments and
Georgia had present more regiments and more
men than North Carolina; one of her bri-
gades, 0awton's; afterwards Gordon's). be.
ing the largest brigade ever attached to the
army of Northern Virginia. :.
:. Until after the battle of Fredericksburp
the proportion of Virginia and North Caro-,
lima troops continued about the same, except
that three North Carolina. regiments. under
Colonel Daniels, were withdrawn after the
battles around Richmond. aud two new reei.
ments, the 54th and 9th North Carolina.
were at fredericksburg; aud the Virginia
cavalry had been increased by new regiments,
while the North Carolina cavalry had been
increased certainly to one, and perhaps, to two.
Regiments. After .ho .battle of Frsderickss
burg, Walkers division, Of two North Caro>