The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-01-25
A WAR "REMINISCENCES.
A Tribute to Brave and Gallant
Soldier.

A few weeks ago we published a
letter written home by Col. W. H.
Check, the day after the battle of
Chamberlain Run. March 3lst. 1865,
in which action his regiment, the First
North Carolina Cavalry, did such splen-
did service, sustaining loss of so men
killed and wounded, exclusive Of II
officers out of 81. In reprinting this
letter the Charlotte Neps prefaced it
with the following comment:
We copy from the Henderson GOLD
LEAF the following as showing at once
the death rate OF war, and on what slen
der threads the story of State history
hangs. Eighty men killed and wounded
in single skeleton regiment in a small
cavalry fight! And told only in a stray
family letter. Who can tell the
full story OF the bloody fight at Chamber
lains Run, March 31st, 1865?
The Wilmington Messenger in copy
ing the letter, took occasion to make
the following complimentary and de-
served reference to brave and gallant
soldier and his splendid command than
whom no better troops ever drew sabre
or fired musket. 1t says:
One of North Cardinals very gallant
and effective soldiers was Col. Cheek, of
Warren county He still lives and re-
sides at Henderson, Vance county. He
was Colonel of the famous First North
Carolina Cavalry that did often splendid
fighting. Just before the war ended Col.
Cheek was made Brigadier General and
but for the ending of the war the CON-
mission would have been given him. We
are reminded of this by letter written
to his wife LIST April, 1865, giving an ac-
count of the fight the day before in which
his regiment lost eight men. We quote
from the letter that appears in the Hen
certainly like war times Can the South
ever do too much for the brave fellows
who periled all for principles and liberty?
Touching the matter of Col Cheeks
promotion, the GOLD LEAF has hereto
fore referred The Messenger is correct
in saying that he was made Brigadier
our knowledge we have so called him,
as he is by right entitled to that honor
and distinction. His commission was
made out and forwarded, but failed to
reach him owing to the war ending.
We have seen letter from the War
Department at Washington stating
that among the captured archives Of
the Confederacy a record is found
showing that on August Goth, 1864,
Col. W. II. Cheek was recommended
by Brigadier General Rufus Barringer
to be Brigadier General; also recon-
mended by Major Generals w. H. F.
Lee and Wade Hampton, and forwarded
from Headquarters Army Of Northern
Virginia with the following endorsement
written by Gen. r. E. Lee: g Respect
fully forwarded as evidence of merit of
this officer &c. The date of Gen.
Lees endorsement was September lst,
1864, and he was again recommended
for especial gallantry'' in this fight of
Chamberlain S Run. and his commits
sion was promptly issued, but never
reached him by reason of the ending Of
the war.
Perhaps it would not be inappropri-
ate in this connection to publish the
letter Of Gen. Barringer, above re-
ferred to, in full:
August Goth, 1864.
GENERAL:-I take great pleasure IN
recommending for promotion, when a va
cancy occurs among the N. c. Troops,
Col. w. II. Cheek, of the list n. c. Cav. |
have served with Col. c. for more than
three years and regard him as an able,
efficient and brave officer. He has COM
manded his Reg't nearly twelve months
and has kept it in a high state of eff
cheney. He was absent wounded, when
the recent vacancy in the N. c. Brigade
was filled, or his name would no doubt
have been more strongly urged at the
time. Since his return the Brigade has
been several times severely engaged and
he has uniformly handled his command
with great success. For a few days past
he has been commanding my Brigade
and in two severe actions has given en-
tire satisfaction. | think him capable of
making an excellent Brigade Commander
and consider him fairly entitled to pro-
motion. Respectfully,
r. BARRINGER,
Baigadier General Com. Div.
GEN 9 COnpCD A op6 Eonoro1