The news & observer., 1895-09-15

Major Gen. W. Fl. O. Whiting was NOR
tally wounded and fell in the hands OF
the enemy and died soon afterwards In
prison on Governors Island, N. 7. Col.
Lamb of the 36th regiment was also
wounded and captured. The enemy's
killed and wounded lay thick upon the
battlefield, especially in the front OF the
40th regiment, which was in the hardest
of the fight. Surely the valor displayed
! by North Car0linians in that effort to
hold the last gateway of the South
against such overwhelming numbers,
both on land and sea, is glory enough to
perpetuate their names in the annals o.
| this State for all time. After the battle
was over, seeing So many of our com
rades alive aud able for dgty, was a
cause Of deep gratitude to Almighty
| God. The next mocujg che 10TH the
magazine in the fort exploded and killed
about two hundred of the enemy. which
was a scene of inexpressibe horror
That evening we were put on board + e
steamships De M0llay and Gen. Lgo"
and carried TO Northern prisons, ne
sick and wounded to Point Lookout, and
those able for duty to New York City
and transported by railroad to Emira,
N. Y, where they remained until after
the war when they were par0led and
sent home. The officers were carried to
Governors Island, N. Y and released
on parole there During our stay in
prison many of our men died from star
yation and exposure.
On January 10Th, 1865, companies B,
| @, H and [, of the 40th Regiment, evac
| usted Fort Holmes, on Bald Head, and
Company evacuated Fort Campbell, on
Oak Island beach, above Fort Caswell,
and was transported by steamer to
Smithville, which was reached about
daylight, and remained in the town that
| day, and went out about two miles from
town at night The next day (the 17th)
they Joined Company A of the regiment
at Fort Anderson, about ten miles above
Smithville, on the Cape Fear river. The
garrison was then composed of six com
papies of the 40th Regiment and the
command from Fort Oaswell, numbering
in all about 750 men. This fort was a
weak affair, mounting only small, short
range guns. We had several skirmishes
with the feet at this place. On Febru
ary nth the enemy, about 10000 in
where hard picket skirmishing was had.
The next day general engagement en-
sued. The enemy attacked the fort in
the rear with about 10,000 infantry,
while Porter with a fleet of sixteen gun
boats and ironclads, lying within few
hundred yards of the fort, quickly de
molisbed our guns. In the land at
tack We held our own against
great odds. In this fight Lieuten-
ant Vause, of Company A, was killed
aud Lieut.. Davis, of the same company
was mortally wounded and died the same
day. Lieut.. Bonner, of Company B was
captured with his skirmish line This
fight was continued until the next morn
ing, (the 195h). Finding The command in
danger of being cut off by a heavy
column of infantry IN the rear, they
evacuated the Fort, carrying all the light
guns, including the Whitworth cannon,
and fell back towards Wilmington. We
took a sta1d at Town Greek, where we
had quite little fight, butour casualties
were slight. Col Simont0n's 8. g. Reg
iment was captured From Town Greek
we went through Wilmington towards
Masonbono sound, formed skirmish
line, and fell back through Wilmington,
(the 22nd) 70 Northeast river, where we
had skirmish with the enemy; from
there, fell back to 4Duplin- Gross Roads
from this point we went on to Kinston,
Ito meet the enemy advancing from New
barn,) where we arrived, March the 9Th
and in the fight at Jackson's mills, on
the and 6th We attacked the enemy
in front and rear and drove them several |
miles, and killed, wounded and captured |
about two thousand prisoners. The next
day, (the 9tb), We attacked them again. |
in a fortified position at Wise's Forks |
where we charged them, but We were re-
pulsed with heavy loss. among the |
wounded was the gallant Col John ]. |
H8drick, Of this regiment who retired |
from the field and Major Holland, |
assumed command Of the regiment. At |
this time the 40th Regiment was attached
to Gen Hagood's South Carolina Brigade. /
On the 18th we withdrew from Kinst0n |
and marched to Goldsboro, and passed /
through that town just as the advance of !
the enemy from Wilmington Vas enter ]
Ing; then to Smithfeid, where we went |
in camp. Troops from every quarter |
b8gan gathering, and very soon We had |
quite an army to what we before had. |
Then we went to BentongiIle, whore, 90
a quiet Sunday morning, March 10, the
booming If cannon was heard, and very
soon the sharp crack Of the rifles and the
vengeful singing Of the deadly minnie
balls The fight very soon became gen |
eral, and we rapidly threw up works and
in few hours We we're pretty well pre-
pared to defend ourselves As the day
grew On, the fight became desperate, the
Confederate8 generally successful Late
in the afternoon We attacked the enemy
from right to LETT, swinging into line and
charging over our works on the enemy'5
fortified lice. Then it was that while
struggling forward 10 that pine thicket
we lost many Of our officers aud
men, killed and wounded. Bat at
length Gen. C0'quitt's Georgia Brigade
on our right gave way, and, the enemy
massiDg in our front, we fell back to our
old line, where we checked their advance.
Now as to this charge before it was made,
Lieut.. John H Hill, of Company III, y
advanced with the skirmish line to the
frolt. The r. giment, with the brigade,
was moved by the left flank before
charging which threw it to the left of the
skirmish line, and instead of bearing in
front of our own command, they were
in front of Co'quitt's Georgia brigade