The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-05-24
THE HIGHEST PRAISE.
LOngstreet Said the Greatest Numbers
of Union Dead We're Found Before
Tar Heel Regiments.

correspondence CudTlOstc oDStINct.I
In this mornings Constitution l
perceive in the Associated Press dis
patches that in the memorial addresses
yesterday and the proceedings at
Birmingham there was conspicuous
absence OF any kindly mention of the
brave Tar Heel soldiers or General
Longstreet. Other States and numerous
generals of minor fame received full
some laudation, and l wish to relate
to you an incident that Per Sc is more
eloquent than all the ornate word
painting of yesterday.
Last summer l met General Long
street here at Father Keiley's and put
to the old worrior this leading ques
ton: "General, what State furnished
the best soldiers to the Confederate
armies?" B,ing devoted Georgia
"cracker,' | proudly thought he
would say Georgians, OF course"
But here was his reply almost in haee
verba:
"All the States, composing the
Southern Confederacy, nobly, did
their duty, and all the soldiers fought
very valiantly, but l will cite one or
two facts, and you can draw your own
conclusions: Upon numerous battle
fields l noticed there were many more
Federal dead in front of the North
Carolina regiments than in front of
the regiments from any other State.
"The North Carolina soldiers were
very patient under severe fire. 1t is
very trying to soldier to be under
heavy fire and at the same time
inactive, and many troops fretted and
chafed under it, but the Tar Heels
submitted cheerfully and patiently
when told by their officers it was
unavoidable tor the time being. On
the retreat to Williamsburg put some
North Carolina regiments as parts of
the rear guard, and no finer work was
ever done. To be the rear guard on
a retreat was no sinecure and Nc
Clellan found to his fearful cost it was
perilous to crowd my Tar Heels as we
slowly and in perfect order fell back.
When McClellan's advance-guard
undertook to push my rear guard the
North Carolina troops punished him
severely.
How different it was in the race for
Campbell's Station, when Mr.. Davis
insisted on my going upon the Knox
Vile expedition. General Burnside S
army was almost on trot, and re-
pea,edly | sought to force the fighting,
but Burnside kept on rapid move,
and l fully intended to get the gap at
Campbell's Station and if had done
SO Burnside would have been COM
pelled to give me pitched battle or
surrender very likely surrender.
"At Williamsburg the North Caro-
lima regiments acted very differently,
stopping and giving battle whenever
crowded and SO they always did,
whether marching on the enemy or in
retreat; and the latter was very
seldom. The one prominent fact,
however, that attracted my attention
was, that a great many more Union
dead were found in front of North
Carolina regiments than in front o.
the regiments of any other State-due
perhaps in some measure, to the
unusual craftsmanship of the Tai
Heels. Soldiers from the other
States were as brave and devoted bu
judged by results, as witnessed on tn.
field, North Carolina soldiers had nc
superloTs and, in proportion to popu
lation, the muster-rolls showed she haC
more than her quota in the service"
The General went on and spok,
warmly and enthusiastically Of th'
individual characteristics Of the soldier
from the different States, praising then
to the skies as splendid, heroic soldiers
never surpassed in the worlds history
ancient or modern but he never die
say which State furnished the bes
soldiers, mentioning, however, th'
. foregoing as the marked traits Of you
men. General Longstreet spoke highl.
Of Union troops, too, specifying thei
efficiency in artillery as their creates
excellcncy or highest merit.
E. A. Angler.
/ Atlanta, Ga, April II, 1894.
Method will teach YOU to win time