The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-11-20
RALEIGH n. @, TIL URSDAY NOVEMBER 20 1879

drew line Of earth-works across the PENN
sula which is only half dozen miles broad at
this point But before he could do more
than to entrench his camp at the town, in
telligence of Butler S advance forced him to
cover his own weakness by show of bold
ness. Col. D. H. Hill, an old comrade, who
had arrived the previous week with the lst
N. Z. Regiment, nearly 900 strong, was or
dered to proceed down the Peninsula, some
Is or'2O miles, as corps of observation.
-Four guns, Richmond Howtzers," under
Capt. Geo ". Randolph, atterward Secre-
tary of War. and a platoon of cadets from
Charlotte Institute, accompanid the expedi
ton.
Col. Hill selected a position at Big Bethel
church, where the road to Hampton, miles
distant bridged a small stream, an afluent
of Back RIVER 4 Under his directlon, Lieut.
Colonel Lee, skilled engineer, laid off
line of breast works, with small rcdoubt at
the road to cover Randolph's Howitzers
One Of the guns, however, was taken across
the creek, and planted on a knoll toward the
right Saturday was spent in throwing up
works, q .laborlous business, owing to lack of
adequate tools. To many of the young sol
diers it was first lesson in hard labor, soon
to become the stern necessity of their lives.
The majority of them were representative
being members of old volunteer companies,
the pride of their several localities. Upon
the roll the North Carolina regiment were
IN hundred men who within the brief space
of four years arose to the command of regi-
ments, brigades. divisions, and corps; Col
Hill becoming one of the five Lieutenant
Generals of the Southern service. In the
ranks were two companies from Mecklen-
burg, two from Cumberland, two from Edge
combe, one from Orange, one from Burke,
one from Buncombe. and one from Lincoln.
( See note below.) Nearly all of the officers,
and many privates, had negro servants, and
for time supported themselves at private
expense. And here is the secret of the long
succession of victories during the first eigh-
teen months of the war that Southerners
had not yet become worn-down into sOicfters;
they were still citizens az arms, still inspired
with ers onal pride still ready to bear any fa-
tigue, face any odds, rather than tarnish an
honorcd family name. Thus on numerous
occasions when the Southerners were out
numbered SIX to one, overwhelmed cut
generated, aud reasonably whipped, the IN
dividual pride Of the Drawer spirits kept up
Il show Of resistance until the foe took fright
and fed
THE NEW MARKET RACES.
On Saturday afternoon, a citizen brought
intelligence that naraudlng parties, out
from Hampton on two roads, were burning
houses and arresting citizens. Col. Lee,
with the " Fayetteville Independents, y
caught orc party piundering 4 house near
Little Bethel church, and chased them over
New Market Bridge, two miles from Hamp-
ton. Mai. Lane, with another company,
trottel after the Yankees on the Back Riv
er road, ana after making a circuit within
sight of Hampton, charged upon a party as
large rs his own putting them to flight, with
a loss of 3 killed and one prisoner. This,
says Col. Hill, who, though a Presbyterian
elder, and the author of several religious
books, is fond Of joke, was the second