The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-28
"RAMSEUR'S IRONSIDES."
The Gallant Work Done by North Caro-
linians on the 18th of May.

AS a North Carolinian l can appreciate
the deserved tribute paid 10 the gallant
Ramseur and his brave men by General
James A. Walker in his thrilling account
of the fight at the "bloody angle" on
May IL. 1864. This Is not the first time
that this gallant soldier has been praised
for his indOmitable courage.
In novel entitled Don Miff,' the
author himself a Virginian. and 1 be-
lieve a Richmond lawyer, pays a glowing
tribute to Ramseur and his gallant bril-
gade The author says: I'VE marched
all day TO reach the field near Winchester,
and on arriving there We found that
Ramseur and his little band of heroes Of
200 North Carolinians had been fighting
all day long and holding the entire
Yankee army at bay till reinforcements
could come up" Percy Greg, in his
History. speaking OF the battle of Sharps-
burg, says in his foot notes that Long
street and his staff had to serve the guns
of Il battery which with a regiment
whose cartridge pouches were empted
was the only defense of the position.
This was the Twelfth North Carolina
regiment of Ramseur's brigade that was
placed at this critical point. The Of
hcers of the gallant Twelfth. when Long
street in person, ordered them up, in
formed him that they had fired the last
round and had not a single cartridge to
d man. lie replied that they must hold the
position at all hazards, and with the
bayOnet. 1t was a critical moment, and
the old Twelfth held on like grim death
with the cold steel, Lee had weakened
this part OF the line in order TO reinforce
Jackson on another part Of the field,
who was hard pressed. Longstreet dis
covered Burnside's men ascending the
slope of the hill towards this gap in
the line and rushed up the Twelfth North
Carolina and with himself and staff
worked the guns of a battery near by
with their own hands and checked Burn
sides advance, Longstreet mentioned this
incident and complimented the Twelfth
in his report of the battle. On another
occasion this regiment so distinguished
itself for its splendid fighting that Cen
cral Johnson. who was afterwards cap
tured at the salient, made them a little
speech. comphmenting them publicly.
II l am not mistaken II was General
Rhodes who made the little speech
The lamented and gallant Ramseur
while fighting under Early in the Valley
OF Virginia, yielded up his life for the
cause he loved so well. Such was his
splendid fighting that his brigade became
known as "Ramseur's Ironsides." and
they were. says "Stonewall' Jim, as
true as steel
10 call him. knows too well what lit
is TO be a soldier 10 wish 10 do injustice
TO North Carolinians." They nave rever
had justice done them, but they are being
ri3tted al last l am glad to see.
The Times did them full justice at the
time Of the unwilling of the Lee mOnu-
ment We quote from one editorial, which
says: Brave. modest Old North Carolina.
al ways slow to praise her own perform
ances. and yet always managing in
genuine merit to equal anyone Of the
sister States Of the Union. She was in
great part the reliance of Lee in the time
that tried mems souls"
We are coming with several thousand
strong to honor the memory of Davis
when his remains are brought 10 Rich
moud TO rest with the 1900 Confederate
dead In Hollywood, where
ION flames eternal camping ground
Their silent tents are spread"
Aye, with loving hands, among the
soldiers ne loved so well. we shall lay
our dead chief TO rest, and say with over
flowing hearts
REST on. embalmcd and sainted dead!
Dear as the blood you gave,
No impious footsteps here shall tread
The heritage Of your grave;
Nor shah your glory be forgot
While fame her record keeps,
Or honor points the haliowed spot
Where valor proudly sleeps"
"MoRoTocK."
Findowrie, February %. 1898