The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-27

it eclipsed it's record. At this place l had
command Of the regiment, because Of the
sickness Of Col. G.. NJ. Andrews, who in
sisted that | should lead it into action.
However, later in the day, Andrews at
! tempted to rejoin the head of his regi-
ment, but in the attempt, was wounded
In the thigh and died from the effects OF
amputatiOn.
| This was one OF the most satisfactory
enga gements to me that I witnessed dur
ing the war, and the old End sustained its
i equation quite manfully. 1t was or
Gered to the front early in the action, in
.dvance of any other regiment of the di-
vision, and although pressed hard until
even after darkness closed the scene,
held its own against great odds, and
even after dark many prisoners were
captured by it. Upon this occasion it
was the great right hover of the gallant
st North Carolina, commanded and led
| that thrice gallant and dashing soldier,
| Col. w. Ii. III. COwles, and its vigorous
attack upon the enemy's flank made sure
the saving of our guns which were in
great danger Of capture. There was
stubborn fighting and much individual
leallantry shown by some of my men dur
ne the day, and | remember that Ser
geant Nicholas Harrell, of Company G. a
perfectly reliable man, informed me n
he close of the engagement, that during
he day he had placed hOrs de combat no
less than six of the enemy. But the
brigade commander did not witness the
action of this regiment, nor did | receive
| IN order from him during the day, but he
got possessed with an idea somehow, or
ether. that the LIST alone was entitled to
all praise, and published an order to that
effect so soon as the brigade returned to
camp. / declined to have the order read
to my men on dress parade, and there
was friction between the brigade COM
Imander and myself, but | carried MY
point in the end. l did not object to his
congratulating the 1st upon its splendid
behaviour, but l did object to his partial
| ty
After the death Of Col. G. M. An
lrews, | was commissioned Colonel of the
regiment about the LIST of August, /
| shink. and soon after followed the battle
Reams's station, brought on by a move
nent of the Federals to capture and hold
the Weldon and Petersburg Railroad,
on August %. The bearing Of the End
there furnished an inspiration to the
whole cavalry command, but the division
commander, in his report only refers to
| The uINlSlOu liz ldSI 49, tiiS
great brunt of the battle, so far as the
cavalry participated, was borne by the
2nd n c. and the 10th Virginia, and
these two regiments, unsupported, car
led the last Of the entertainments held
by the enemy. 1t was just at dark, l
remember, and never witnessed a more
splendid charge. Our losses were small,
but our captures were great, and the old
End n G.. did splendid work. We cap
,tured twice as many prisoners as we had
men engaged, and the next mornings
Richmond papers gave full credit to our
splendid and heroic service.
That superb soldier and our great chief,
Gen. Wade Hampton, congratulated me
upon the field and subsequently in his
official report upon the battle, referred
especially to the conspicuous gallantry Of
my regiment
At McDowell's farm, on the 25th Of
September, the End took the lead, and
captured one officer, a Major, 1 think
and some prisoners. My loss in men was
light, but it was here that the brave
Captain J. N. Turner, Of Company 3 was
killed, and his death was a great personal
bereavement to me. He and had served
as second heutenants together, and our
relations were very cordial and warm.
but there was unpleasantness between
him and his captain, and he asked to be
transferred to the engineer corps, which
was done. After / became Colonel OF
the regiment, he asked me to have him
sent back to ii, and l remember how
happy he was when he returned. He
would come to my quarters every night
and talk over the war memories OF the
past He was commissioned captain of
MI nv II htyf foil
happiness was short-lved. A few days
thereafter he was shot through the head
near me, in this Mcdowell farm fight,
his sword in one hand and his hat in the
other, cheering on his men. Poor, dear
Turner, there was no better man or
more splendid soldier.
In all the marching and counter
marching from the south to the north
side of the James river, the End was al
ways in place. and participated in every
engagement at Jones's farm, Gravelly
run. Hargroves, Boisseaus farm and
other places.
In one of these engagements, near the
White Oak swamp, on the north side OF
the James river, and where the gallant
Gen. j. X. Chamoless, Of Virginia, lost
his life, the regiment had close CALL
The division of Gen. w. II. +. Lee was
hurried to the front in column of tours,
the 2nd being the last of the division
Suddenly l saw the regiments to my front
bear to the right. and Immediately there
after come an order from Gen. Lee, borne
Iby Major John Lee, of his staff, for the
End to hurry to the front. The command
"trot' was given, and in a short while
/ reported to the Major General. My
orders were to relieve the regiment to
my front, the 9th Virginia. / think it was,
nd he further said to me: Roberts, you
know what to do, but the line must be
held"
The entire division was soon Withdrawn
by some miscarriage of orders, as | af-
forwards learned, and it was not very
l)ng before the enemy advanced in great
numbers upon my little command, but it
stood up against this onslaught as only
brave men can. At one time the regiment
was practically surrounded, and its an
initiation seemed complete, but in the
very nick of time up dashed the LIST, led
nv thp gallant Col w II CbooI, ,,Jl, +,