The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1895-03-07
HENDERSON, c., THURSDAY, MARCH Z, 1895.

line OF hastily fixed up rifle pits and
drove them nearly mile through the
pines TO a large open field. In the
meantime the men from Beale's Bri-
gade and my regiment had gotten all
lntermixed and badly scattered SO
when we came to this opening and /
saw two regiments of Federal cavalry
mounted and in line, ready for action,
and anticipating charge from them, l
ordered halt and to form line quick
ly. We delivered few volleys at
them and they retired.
A few moments after this Gen. w.
II. F. Lee, at tho head of a mounted
sqadron from the Fifth Regiment, came
up the road from the ford at gallop.
lie charged acros the open field and
into the woods beyond, but did not
meet the enemy. This road was still
about one hundred yards to the right
of my new line. These mounted mon
from the Fifth were the first troops
from either of the other regiments
from our brigade that l saw on that
side of the creek. l am very sure mono
of them united with me in either the
do not pretend to say that these
two fine regiments did not do their full
duty at the point assigned them. l
believe the Fifth fought we'll and hard
at the ford in the morning, and l believe
the Second fought equally as we'll in
the evening; either of them perhaps as
gallantly as did the First higher up the
creek, but the enemy was too strong
for them.
The ford was not uncovered until
after the combined attack Of the First
Regiment and Beale's men up tho
creek, which crushed their right and
| forced them to withdraw.
These are my recollections of the
part taken by the First Regiment in
this great cavalry battle, and my men,
ory has been lately refreshed by con-
versations with mon who were there
present, and | also have some letters
written at the time, one of which, to
my wife, l hero insert:
HDQRs FIRST n. c. CAvALY,
April LIST, 1865.
My DEAR ALICE:
| We had terrible fight yesterday.
lost eighty in my regiment. Colonel
Cowles severely wounded; Maj. Mcleod
slightly; Capt. Dewey killed. Capt. Cole.
man killed. Thirteen other officers
wounded, several of whom will die. John
and Ais were not hurt. Nearly all the
brim of my hat was shot off. My horse
(the one lately bought) shot twice and
killed.
My regiment fought more gallantly
than ever saw it before We waded a
creek waist deep and seventy five yards
wide under heavy fire and drove the
enemy from an entrenched position. Will
give you full particulars when | have
more time. Gen. Lee complimented us
in the highest terms. The Thirteenth
Virginia was on my left and after the
fight gave me three most enthusiastic
cheers. Boots and saddles has sounded.
Goodbye. Yours devotedly,
HUSBAND.
The losses were chiefly in the after
noon fight. Many were shot while
crossing the creek and many again
while lying under the old fence, and
the dead and wounded were scattered
all through the pines. We saved all
and none were taken prisoners.
In proportion to the number engaged
this loss will equal, if not exceed, that
of any cavalry regiment in the history
of the world in single days fight.
The exact number taken into action
l do not recollect, but when we remem-
Der that this was in the very last days
of the Confederacy, when all of its reg
iments, and especially its cavalry, were
reduced to mere skeletons, | feel safe
to say that the efficient mounted COM
mand on that day did not exceed two
hundred and fifty men, Take from
this the One-fourth, to hold the horses
of the dismounted men, and the various
details that must be made, and it will
be seen that we took in action not tC
exceed one hundred and seventy-fve
What cavalry regiment (save General
Cu.ter's command) ever lost seventeen
out of twenty-one officers in an open
field fight, or eighty men out Of about
one hundred and fifty?
Gen. Barringer says Of this fight
in the afternoon: my plan was to put
the First Regiment in on the left, dis.
mounted in line aud thus attract and
draw the fire of the enemy" AS to
drawing the fire of the enemy, this part
of the plan was a grand success. A
shower of lead met US as soon as we
entered the water, and was poured on
US continuously until We reached the
fence on the other side. Gen. Lee, as
he witnessed our advance under thi.
concentrated and deadly fire, said to
Gen. Barringer: ''Sir, the world mover
I 1 j IL J.
ing done at Gettysburg more gallant
than this charge of the First North
Carolina Cavalry at Chamberlain
Run
w. II. CHEEK,
Late Colonel First \. {. Cav
Henderson, y. c.. Feb. ii, 1894.