The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-08-04

Georgia; and Brig. Gen. R, S. Ripley
was assigned to its command, Maj. Con
D. II. Hill being in command OF the
division.
Seven DAYS Battles.
On the Goth of June, after circuit
ious and fatiguing night march, the reg
iment arrived in the vicinity of Me-
GAINESVILLE. Here detail Of one com
pany from each regiment was made, and
Mai. DeRosset, of the 83rd, was placed
in command. The object Of this select
battalion was to clear the way and exam
inc the bridge across the ChiCkahOminy.
CA mine was thought to have been placed
under it by the enemy In order to
understand its duties more fully, its
officers were sent to the top'of a hill near
by, from which could be seen the route
intended, etc. On this hill, and in
range of the enemy's guns, a group Of
distinguished Confederates were assem-
bled, composed Of President Davis, Mr..
Randolph, Secretary of War; Generals
Lee, L9ngstreet and D. II. Hill, waiting
to hear Gen. Jackson'8 guns on the north
side of Machanicsville before ordering an
advance,
Gen. Jackson being delayed, Gen. Lee
ordered an advance Of this portion Of
The line after hearing the guns Of Gen
A. 2. Hill at Meadow Bridge After the
battalion alluded to had examined and
crossed the bridge, and cleared the field
of skirmishsT8, Blp.ey's Brigade, having
been selected rs the assaultius column,
was ordered across the bridge and t.
form line of battle L advanced to the
attack in front Of the splendid artillery
Of the enemy strongly posted across the
pond at "Elys01's Mills. " The slaughter
was terrific, yet the regiment pressed
forward in the face of this murderOus
Are for more than half mile, advancing
steadily to what seem9d inevitable de-
struction, till it reached the pond, when
it was ordered by the right flank and
took shelter in q skirt of woods below.
In this assault. Col. ". s. Stokes was
mortalfy wounded, 1t. Col. Mcdowell
badly wounded, and Maj, Skinner killed.
Captains James g. Wright, of Company
E and r. W. Rives, of Company H,
and four Lieutenants were killed. and
more than half of the men of the regi-
ment killed and wounded. On the 27th,
the enemy having retreated, this regl
ment with the army pursued him in the
direction of Cold Harbor by way Of
Bethsaida Church. There being now no
field officers and but few company off
GERS in the regiment, Maj. W. r. Cox,
of the Second North Carolina Regiment,
was ordered to take command in this
battle.
Ia the charge that followed through
the dense undergro with this regiment be
came separated from its brigade and ac
ted as a support to Garland's Br.g2de
1t lost several men, killed aud wounded
The following day was spent in burying
cur own and the Federal dead.
The next day the ChickahOminy was
at Grape Vine Bridge aud the
march continued in the direction Of
White Oak swamp via. Savage's Station.
Here, after a sharp skirmish, the enemy
was repulsed.
From this point the regiment marched
in the direction of Malvern Hill by way
of Quaker road and turning to the right
after passing the church, was soon IN
der fire from the enemy's guns on Nal
vern Hill.
The troops taking shelter under the
crest of the hill, formed line of battle
and were ordered by General Hill to as
sault the strong natural position of the
enemy on the plateau. Arriving at the
crest and in full view at close range Of
the enemy's infantry and artillery, this
together with the third, went
by the left flank, in perfect order, and
took advantage of a cut in the road. At
this place that gallant soldier, Col. Gas
ton Mears of the 3rd was killed while
bravely leading his regiment. Gen.
Chas. Winder, Of the StOnewall Brigade,
then assumed command Of this and the
Third Regiment
Night came at last to end this bloody
and disastrous struggle, the enemy re
treating, The next day the dead of
these two regiments, 1st and Bird, were
found nearer to those of the enemy than
were those Of any other troops on this
part of the line, proving that they ap
preached nearer the enemy's line of bat
tie than any of the Regiments that
fought on this part Of the field. The
regiment suffered heavily in this engage
ment Among the killed was Capt |
John Benberry Of Company A, beloved
and mourned by the entire regiment. At
this battle Capt. Brown of Company B,
was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and
Capt. II. S. Hine of Company @, Major
The regiment remained for several days
in this locality. Major General D. Fl.
Hills Division, of which it was part,
having been left to watch McClelland's
While here, Lieutenant
Colonel Brown and Major Hne were de
tailed to go to Raleigh to procure the
regiments quota Of conscripts. They
with about FIVE hundred These
men proved to be excellent material for
brave and willing, as was fully
proven on many bloody field afterward
After being assigned to their proper
companies and sufficiently drilled, the
regiment, with the Division, was moved
by rail to Orange COurt House.
south Mountain Campaign.
About the 9th Of August the regiment
moved in the direction the army had
taken, passing the battle field Of Cedar
and WIS in reserve at Second
Manassas and ChautilIy. Afterwards il
crossed the Potomac st Point Of Rookie"
and camped near Frederick, Nd where
it remained for several days, then
crossed the South Mountain at Cramp
TOMS Gap and remained at Boouas3 oro
until the 14Ch, when it participated in
2 ba hattie o4 rho c,ap itu YapcifiD57 Raj no
on the right of the B"addock road At