The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-07-28
THE 18th REGIMENT
MR.. WILSON G.. LAMB WRITES
OF ITS GLORIOUS RECORD
IN THE LATE WAR.
DEEDS OF MATCHLESS HER0lSM.

One Defeat, SurrenderIng at Centr
Church Randolph County at the Fina
CapituIation--Its Tattered Flag wa
Saved by Private Thomas and Dis
played at Raleigh, May Goth, 1895
The Fight at BentonsyiIIe.
With the exception of two companie
garrisoning Fort Barlow on Roanoke
Island, the 18th regiment was captured
at Fort Hatteras on the 9th of August
1861, by the United States naval ant
land forces, commanded respectively b.
Commodore Stripgham and Gen. B. F
Butler. The 18th regiment was differed
as follows:
Colonel, W. F. Martin; Lieut.. Colonel
George W. Johnston; Major, Henry a
Gillian; Adjutant, Gilbert Elliott; Quar-
termaster, John s. Dancy; COmmssary
L. D. Starke; Surgeon, Wyatt M. Brown
Fort Clark, commanded by Capt. JOhI
@. Lamb, a mile up the beach, and Fort
Hatteras, near the inlet, under the imme
date command of Col. Martin, consti-
tuted the defenses Of Hatteras Inlet, The
garrison, numbering less than 1000
men, was attacked by the overwhelming
land and naval forces of the Federals,
and after an heroic defense surrendered
as prisoners of war. Shortly thereafter
the enemy, under Gen. Burnside, moved
upon Roanoke Island. The two com
panes constituting the balance Of the
eth regiment garrisoned Fort Barlow,
he CxNlay,liA 1oo1nrchirA IF
Capt. Fearing and Lieut.. @. G. Elliott,
the latter SO greatly distinguished after
wards as Adjutant General to Generals
Martin and Kirkland, succeeded by the
accurate fire of their guns in keeping
back the Federal fleet, and only sur
rendered after the landing of the Fed
eral troops upon another part of the
island, pushing back the Confederates
under Col. Shaw, and completely flank
ing the fort. I am indebted to Capt. @.
G. Elliott for an incident of this battle
which is worthy of being preserved. He
writes
During the bombardment of Fort
Barlow a cannon shot cut down the flag
staff. Instantly Lieut., Thos. H. Gil
liam sprang upon the parapet, amid the
storm of shot and shell, and firmly plan
ted the beautiful silk color Of the John
Harvey Guards which waved until the
order to retire was received" An his
torical parallel TO the brave act of Ser
geant Jasper at Fort Moaltrie.
Thus the whole regiment in these two
engagements became prisoners of war.
After being exchanged, the 7th regiment
Gas it was first called was re organized
at Camp Mangum and became the 18th
n. @. T.
The organization was as follows:
Col. W. f. Martin, 1t. Col. John O.
Lamb, Maj. Thos. H. Sharp, Adj. Gil
bert Elliott, Serg. Maj. Wilson G.. Lamb,
A. @. NJ. John S. Dancy, Commissary
L. D. Starr Surgeon r K, Speed.
Company A, Captain William Biggs;
Company B, Captain James J. Leigh !;
Company @, Captain William B. Wise;
Company D, Captain J. III. @. Luke;
Company E, Captain John L. Swain;
Company T, Captain George B. Daniel;
Company g, Captain Thos j. Norman;
Company Il, Captain Stewart L. John
son; Company |, Captain A. J. N.
Whitehead; Company K, Captain How
ard Wiswall; Company L, Captain Lu-
cius J. Johnson.
The Adjutant Of the regiment, Gilbert
Elliott, was detailed and under his su-
pervision the iron-cla ram "Albemarle, a"
which contributed so largely to the cap
ture OF Plymouth, was constructed.
Lieutenants NJ. a Gotten and Wilson G..
Lamb filed his place as Adjutant OH The
regiment. The Itch, was assigned to
service in Eastern North Carolina and
performed picket duty watching the
enemy at Newbern, Washington and
Plymouth. In December, 1862, de-
tachment from the regiment with a
squadron of cavalry from Col. Evans
regiment and Moore's Battery, all under
1t. Col. Lamb, captured Plymouth. An
other detachment drove the enemy from
Washington. N @. Many minor raids
and surprises of the enemy's outposts
cleverly managed by Capt. William Biggs,
Lieuts. Hardison, Grimes, Gotten and
others gave indication of what might be
expected of the regiment when it should
have the opportunity of displaying its
fighting qualities.
In 1868 the regiment was brigaded
with the 42nd., 50th., and Goth, regi-
ments and placed under the command
of Brig. Gen. James G. Martin and sta
toned at Fort Branch, Kinston and Viii
mington. and was thoroughly drilled and
disciplined by that splendid organizer
and disciplinarian.
On the I'd of February, 1864, the regi-
ment under command of Lieutenant
Col. Lamb with the AID, Col Brown,
Paris Battery of six guns and a squad
ron Of cavalry, Lieutenant Col. Jeffords,
the whole under command of Gen. J. G..
Martin, attacked the enemy's forts al
Newport. After the capture Of their
block houses and driving in Of their out
posts, the command moved upon then
forus and Entertainments. The nth N
G. on the right assailed their columns il
splendid style and pouring over tht
works captured their guns and barracks
The brave Capt Leith of Company I
was killed. The enemy fed in dismay
over the river and did not stop unit
safely under the guns of Fort Macon
Ten pieces or artillery, 70 prisoners and
a large quantity of stores were the fruits
of this victory. The railroad bridge wa
burned and the railroad occupied to pre-
vent re-inforeements from Beaufort anC
Fort Macon being sent to Eewbern
Owing to the failure of Gen Picketti
command around Newbern, Gen. Mar
tins troops were withdrawn the mex
day. In reference to this battle | quot
from the official report of the Fedora
General, |. n. Palmer commanding a
Newbern under date of February z, 1864
Martin performed his part we'll"