The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-08-11
BITS OF WAR HISTORY
SKETCH OF, THE FIRST REGI-
MENT NORTH CAROLINA
TROOPS.


BY COL. HAMILTON A. BROWN.
officers of the Companies Composing
the Regiment--The Seven Days Bat
tie Around Mechanic sville, Meadow
Bridge. ChicKahominy and Malvern
HiII--Jackson's Strategic Movement
at ChanceIIorsville--Th Fight at
Winchester and Gettysburg.
concluded from last sundayI
On the 9th of November, this regi
ment was engaged in short, sharp
fight at Paynes' Farm, where the com
manding officer of the regiment was shot
through the hand, and lockjaw threat
ened, and the command was turned over
to Capt. Latham. In this battle the
enemy was driven from the field after a
loss of several of the regiments best
men. At Mine Run the regiment was
engaged in several skirmishes, but no
general battle. Thus ended the cam
paign of SO, and the regiment built win
ter quarters near the Rapidan, and did
picket duty along the river at Mitchell's
Ford during the winter of '63 and "a.
Col. Mcdowell having now resigned,
Lieutenant Colonel Brown was promo
ted to Colonel, Major Harrell to Lieu
tenant Colonel and Capt. Latham to
Major. The regiment was now thor
oughly reorganized, and the vacancies
filed with competent company officers
carefully selected, and all of them an
honor to their State, as subsequent
events bore ample testimony. The per-
feet discipline and efficiency attained by
this regiment during this winter, and
the high compliment afterwards paid it
on the battle field of the Wilderness by
Lieutenant General Ewell and Major
General Johnson were due in great de-
gree to the efficient management and
cooperation of Lieutenant Colonel Har-
rell and Major Latham, not only on the
field, but to their assistance in training
and drilling the men in camp. Credit
is also due to the faithful assistance of
competent and willing company officers,
several of whom, among them Captains
Boone, Thompson, Day, johnson, Mizell
and others, had been promoted from the
ranks, and were veterans of many a
bloody field in previous campaigns Rev.
W.R. GwalUney, chaplain of the regi-
ment, wrought good work here also. A
large chapel was constructed in which
regular services were held for the sol
diers. He also established school
for them, which did much to improve
their condition in every way.
The Wilderness Campaign.
On the 4th of May, camp was broken
and the regiment, with the brigade and
division, marched in the direction of Lo-
Gust Grove and met thu enemy on the
evening of the 9Th III the first days bat
tie of the Wilderness, where, after hard
fight, portion of the regiment captured
two pieces of artillery and more than one
hundred prisoners in an opening on the
old Stone road. The regiment had wit
messed and had taken part in the capture
of many batteries, but the manner of
this capture was both novel and thrilling.
The Colonel of the 146th N. Y, Jenkins,
whose regiment was opposite in the enc
my's line, being killed, his command
gave way and sought protection in
gully in rear of the battery. A portion
of the First Regiment, Lieutenant O. Z.
Scott being one of the leading spirits,
suddenly emerged from thicket of pines
and attacked the battery on thefank. Here
the fighting was desperate, club, guns
and bayonets being used. TWAS claw
for claw, and the devil for us all. Lieu
tenant Shelton, commanding this bat
terry battery D. N. Y Light Artillery,
Capt. Winslow having been wounded, at
last surrendered two guns, the other two
escaping This portion of our regiment,
Il he, I'D 1bIsnund &rr,
far to the right was now in rear OF the
enemy's lines opposed by Gen. Rhodes on
the right of the road. AT length Gen.
Rhodes succeeded in routing this portion
of the enemy's line and perfect
stampede ensued. We could only avail
ourselves of the above named gully, from
which we had juat captured so many of
the enemy, while this vast herd of fleeing
Federals came rushing through and over
us without firing gun or speaking
word While we were yet III this TEN
porary concealment, 1t Col. Lightfoot,
of the 9th Alabama, in pursuit OF the
routed foe, dashei up to this battery,
mounted the guns and, with flag in hand,
claimed the capture. We in turn rose
up from this now famous gully and, to
his establishment and disappointment,
proved TO him that the prize and the
honor were ours The remaining portion
of the regiment, with the brigade, arrived
in time to assist in retaining the bat
terry from Col Lightfoot and t1e 9th
Alabama The enemy being reinforced,
made another advance, and we were IN
turn driven back to cur first position,
leaving the guns between the lines. We,
however, removed them from the field
on the night of the 9Th, after the firing
had ceased.
Spottsylvania Campaign.
On the night of the 9TH the movement
was commenced by the right flank and
the march was continued throughout the
next day, the Sth, through the dust, heat
and smoke, the woods being on fire ar
irving in the evening near Spottsylvania
Courj House. The enemy was marching
on road parallel with ours and when
the roads came together at shutdown a
brisk engagement took place. While
going into this action on the right, by
file into line, color bearer, W. FL. Lee,
was decapitated by shell. Capt. Thomp-
son picked up the colors and bore them
until the regiment had finished the
movement aud taken it's place in line.
Just before advancing, volunteer was
called for to bear the colors in the
battle a stripping, with gosling voice,
tattered jacket, ragged trousers, and
powder burnt face, and in the immediate
presence of the murderous legion of