The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-03

caught from the discharge pipe and the
animals drunk from the box The most
thorough and searching police of the
camps gave the command a sound eSti-
mate of cleanliness.
Some one has said cleanliness in IFS
last analysis lis virtue.
IN the fighting at Williamsburg. the
14th Regiment lost eight killed. nine
wounded. Sergeant Hamilton, of Wake.
lost both eyes. Henry Sanders. of An
son, was very forward in the fighting
Henry w. Robinson, of the latter county
was outstanding through the fight in spite
OF entreaty and orders. Every man of
the regiment behaved admirably.
Though engaged in the bloody battle of
Seven Pines, the losses were less.
have always insisted the troops from
every State of the Confederacy were
quite alike in courage and hardihood. All
were at times less steady than their
wont. / have no patience with the tenn
per which points to the unbecomiug
pauSes in the services of Regiments.
The Fourteenth Regiment attained
very great perfection in drill and MARCH
ing. Brigadier Ramseur and General
Rodes witnessed the drill of the Rpgi-
command was inspired by the test and
was as steady and uniform as n battlion
could be- General RamSeur declared in
the presence of the Major General that
the Regiment performed with as much
precision as the Corps of Cadets at West
Point. Every officer evinced personal
pride in the command, and exerted
moral influence in it's government, so
that in the hour of battle they went for
ward conscious of dependence upon each
other and with faith that the line would
stand together as long as endurance was
duty 1t would fatigue the patience
of readers if we gave i'm this sketch the
minute details of soldier duties and sol
dier life. The drum corps of the Regi-
ment was kept UP adj the way through.
William Vaughn, the fifer could get
more thrilling strains out of his instru-
ment than any one | have heard. assist
ed by Albert Garter. james Patticl.
james Lewis and Albert Robarts, frsr
an last; tattoo, taps and reveille were
pieces of high art. In the seven days
fighting around Richmond. the
Regiment was commanded by
Lieutenant Colonel William Johnston,
brave officer, very capable and atten-
tive to his duties. The colonel of the
Regiment lay sick Of "a fever.
The command acquitted itself with
stout courage all these days.
1T was in one of these fights Lieut..
Marcellus Thompson of Company Il, son
of Mr. Thompson, of Wake county, who
died year or so ago at a very advanced
age, possessing the confidence and es-
teen OF the people of his county, was
killed. He made an enduring impression
on my memory by his able manners, con-
siderable sense Of humor, keen appre-
citation of a joke and fondness for the
lottery of life. Having acted as commits
sary of subsistence for the Regiment
six months, ! knew the command in its
weakest parts and insist that with
trihing exceptions the command showed
its good breeding and manners by sup
pressing disappointment over poor RAJ
tions. The first great baptism of blood
in our regimental experience came at
Sharpsburg. Our position in the Bloody
lame has become historical and deserves
Immortality. In the most exposed part
of the lane the Regiment held its
ground. repelling every stroke of the
enemy from sunrise until late in
the afternoon. 1t was a terrific battle.
the autumn sun was without caprice.
/ watched the tide of this battle with in
tense interest, while the combatants
Numbered away. The open fields TO the
left oblique of our regimental position
were fought over and over with varying
fortune Now the flag of the Govern
ment was ON the summit of a hill for
which all were striving, then the tide
went back and the ensign of the Con-
federate States was to the fore.
There must be something decisive in
fetching the last squadron on the field
it is as decisive or more so than getting
there first with the most men.
With two hundred and fifty mounted
men. resolute in their courage-ready for
push of pike" thrown in the very
crisis Of these occasions upon the indie
cision of either side, victory must have
come The commanding General may well
consider the advantage of having attach
ed to- considerable bodies of infantry
some force of cavalry for these lost OPP
portunities. We came out of this battle
baffled of victory, but we fetched with
MS a sense of superiority which nothing
but exhaustion could shake. All the
day long the soldiers of my command
maintained their high sense of duty, and
exhibited the same exalted courage,
which is the pride of the South. None
fatered-all did well. Some outdid
themselves. 1t would be difficult for
any true soldier to name day in his
battle experience which he enjoyed more
than the day at Sharpsburg. 1t was
splendid.