The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-03-22
7HE NORTH CAROLINA STATE TROOPS
BY w. n. ROSE, Jr.

and while deplOylng William Scott
OF this company was killed. This was
the first man killed in the cath Regi
mcnt by a Vance bullet. In this figh'
we began to see war as a reality. VIZ
held the line that had been occupie,
by the 10th Louisiana Regiment in IN,
morning part of the day, they having
been badly cut to pieces. At sunset
the oath was ordered to take Yankee
battery that had been Smelling as dur
ing that afternoon, not more than l5l
yards in front but while we We're
forming in the hedgerow, the Yankees
began falling back.
Soon after dark. the gath Regiment
was relieved by Col. Zeb Nance's Regi'
ment. the Goth North Carolina, and
sent back Immediately i'm rear to rest
for the night. However, we were not
out of danger, for during the night
Nance's men got up a fuss with the en-
envy, and Yankee bullets came thick
and fast among us
Next morning, the Goth Of June, the
gath Regiment was ordered to re-
occupy the same position of the even
ing before. On reaching this post,
Col. Vance came up to Col. Clarke and
asked him if he was ready. Clarke an
swered him yes. Whereupon Vance
said: Very well then, ColoneI. j
viii open the ball, and the baby shall
he born" Now in a few minutes,
turning and walking off in the direc-
tion of his command, whistling as 10
vial as boy going to mill,
Reaching his command he gave the
order to charge, but the Yankees did
as the evening before-they limbered
up and got further. This was the first
time the writer ever saw Col. Vance,
and this little incident made an inn
preston that Vance would do to tie
to, no matter where you place him,
and we never had cause to change that
opinion. Later in the day, the gath
Regiment was ordered to the right of
the Confederate lines, and later to the
extreme right. About dark an order
passed down the line to fall back in
good order. This order proved to be e.
false order, but was not so understood
by Capt. Lane. who was on the extreme
right Of the regiment, until he was lost
in thick marsh or swamp, where we
had to remain during the night in
water almost l<nee-deep. We could
hear the enemy as they were moving
near US on our right. We could hear
the clanling of their armor, and did
not know what moment they might
discover our isolated condition, Com
pany f being cut off from the regi-
mcnt.
TO the writer, this was perhaps the
most miserable night in war. Can't
Lane, however, Mt dawn Of day found
his way back 70 the regiment. and
Company y resumed her place in line.
| he regiment was then ordered to drive
the enemy from an oak-thicSet in
front which was done in admirable
style.
We quietly remained on this line the
remainder of this day.
The 2sth was passed quietly by us on
this line. The 10Th was quiet also.
The Both, moved to the left and did
some skirmishing.
July the 1st, McClclIan's retreat ( ON
was discovered. Lees pur-
snit commenced. The gath Regiment
had previously been assigned to Cen
H0bert Rausom's Brigade. and Rom
SONS Brigade was among the advance
troops, the gath Regiment at the head
OF the column Reaching the fork OF
the road near Frazier's farm. we found
Gen. Lee and staff on horseback. Gen.
Lee remarked to Col. Clarke that we
We're an hour too late, that Mcclellan
had just passed We followed On.
however, reaching Malvern Hill abont
the 3rd of October p. IN. Wright's
Georgia Brigade led the attack ON
I{ansom's right The cath Regiment
was posted on the Hill behind an old
Tense. While in this position, Ransom
rode in front Of the line, and gave the
order to wait until we could "see the
whites of their eyes. and id it. give
1T to them" We were soon, however.
moved to the support of Wright, who
by this time was getting things hot.
Soon after the whole of Lees army
became engaged, and from then until
= O'Clock at night, The contest was un-
ahated. II vas here that Capt. Bill
tirlley, Of Company c, from Johnston
county was found dead in advance of
any other Southern soldier that fell on
this blood-red field. We slept at night
on the battlefield, expecting a renewal
Of the strife the next morning. Morn
ing came, and with it the rain in tor
rents. which prevented a renewal of
the strife.
Mcclellan retreated TO Harrisou's
Landing, on the James. Lee followed.
Mcclellan evacuated Harrison's Land
ing and swung his army around 80 the
north of Richmond Lee moved to the
Rapidan The 9th Regiment
camped for a few DAYS near the
old Seven Pines battlefield. and
then crossed the James. camped
near DrevTy's BIuf. From here we
marched through Petersburg, and went
into camp near City Point. 1t was
here that we heard the farewell adj
dress OF our beloved Vance, who had
been elected to the governorship OF
North Carolina. From here the Regi-
mcnt moved to the north of Petersburg
and camped on Dunlap's farm. About
the first of September4we reached Rich.
mond, boarded the train to Gooden-
vile, the railroad having been torn
mp beyond there to Manassas. From
Gordensville we took up the line OF
march to Washington City; from here
TO Frederick City, Md, forded the Pc.
tomac north Of Leesburg The first
night in Maryland, detachment was
sent out to attack the Yankee picket
Ut NnoXie Creek under Capt Duffy
Of Company p. Crossing the canal, an
attack was made, i'm which Capt. Duffy
was severely wounded and he and his
men taken prisoners. The following
day we re-crossed the Potomac at Point
Roclss, south Of Hafper's Ferry. The
next day we marched thirty-eiCht miles