The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-03
by It's Colonel-R. T. Bennett.)

cord at the outset of this sketch our sin
cere and ardent thanks to the surviving
officers and men of the 14th Regiment
of North Carolina Troops for the I'M
broken constancy, patient submission TO
discipline, uniform, yalor and good nj
ture maintained by them throughout the
war between the Government and the
Confederate States.
The dead OF the Regiment are beyond
the tribute of tears.
The field, staff and company officers of
the 18TH Regiment of North carolina
Troops may be found in orders from the
Adjutant Generals office at Raleigh,
North Carolina, dated November LIST.
1861. aud january /, 1864. These orders
were published in pamphlet form by au-
thority Of the State.
In the Roster of North Carolina
Troops complied by Major John w.
Moore and completed in three volumes,
the field. staff and company officers, the
non-conmnissioned officers, and private
soldiers of THE 18th Regiment OF North
Carolina Troops may be found in endur-
ing shape and with reasonable approach
to accuracy.
These Volumes should be found in the
Superior Court Clerks office OF every
.
give within the space allowed to this
sketch the names of the officers and men
of the 18th Regiment of North Carolina
Troops. Justice may be rendered TO Off
GERS and private soldiers alike by point
ing the attention of the reading public to
the orders from the Adjutamt Generals
office OF the dates; and tenor aforesaid
and to, the Roster of the Troops adyerted
to further hack in this sketch. The names
of the officers should not be repeated
here uncoupled from their immortal COM
rades who to borrow the words of David
Hume in describing the yirtllous life and
consistent end of Sir Thomas Moore
followed their principles and their sense
of duty and conquered the admiration OF
mankind
The 14th Regiment of North Carolina
Troops organized originally as the 4th
Regiment of North Carolina Troops was
formed at Garysburg, North Carolina
early in June, 1861, and was composed
of patriotic and eager men and youths
who rendered their services to the State
to maintain the dignity and rights of the
State i'm the conflict then imminent.
OF the 1,4OU officers and men of the
Regiment borne upon the muster rolls
from the outbreak of the war until Palm
Sunday in 1865, when the pale flag of de
feat dropped over the gums which had
upheld the life of the New Nation"
scarcely fifty escaped wounds during
their service Captain Cherry of Com
pany A, Roanoke Minute Mem a capa-
bic and promising officer, died of wounds
received in the early operations of the
second battle of Fredericksburg.
Eli Freeman, captain of Company G,
(Anson Guard was killed at Bethesda
church May 30, 1864. He was a native
of the State of Ohio, who came South to
work at his trade as carriage builder.
He was a skilled workman in iron, a
very handsome man of pleasing address
with hair and beard of ravens blaciness,
as soon as the interest of the living per-
united / went to do the last sad duty to
the dead captain. He lay upon the battle
field; some kindly hand had drawn his
hat over his face leaving the same jaunty
look which distinguished him ian life now
mirrored in death. IT was a beautiful
day, laden with the breath of spring. As
the wind came mp from the deserted
chambers of the South it ran its fingers
through his beautiful locks and they
vibrated as if still instinct with life.
There are days in the battle experience
of courageous men when they are lifted
mp above their comrades and perform
prodigies Of valor; all authentic history
contains such instances. Likewise bat
talioals regiment, brigade, now and then
accomplish feats of arms which surprise
the very participants therein-when once
fighting force realizes that it is doing
heroic wopk the ordinary participant in
it becomes heroic.
While the corps of Lieutenant General
JACKSON was on the march, from Freder-
icksbnrg TO confront Hooker at Chancel-
louisville, General jackson rode at full
speed the entire length of his command,
then at a rest with gums stacked in ir-
regular order, without displacing single
piece. On that day and occasion his conn
tenance beamed with transcendant force
of expression. He looked the very in
carnation of war. 1t may have been that
God mercifully showed him to his COM
mand i'm the hour of his stlperlatiye
greatness to comfort and inspire them.
/ remember as if it was yesterday the
fierce gallop which brought him ON, how
his hat was carried in his right hand, his
arm we'll extended and how | said il
thoughtful becomes me to maintain rea-
sonable gravity Of manner as this chief
tuiit pdSSts ~ Dul iit ptMol Will ia
creasing swiftness through the head of
the line my soul followed him in very
transport of applause. If | could then
have felt as / feel now, looking back to
the hunilations of defeat-the horrors of
the peace that was to follow;
could then have realized that the
old heroes have more cool deternlin-
alton than young ones, that old heroes
are far removed from the early warmth
of youth. They have more andacity be-
cause nearer. death. What have they to
lose! If / could then hare realized all
this and laid ii to heart | might have
lighted a spirit in my Regiment which
the blood of a dozen hostile battalions
could not have put out. Alas! we can
not annihilate the past.
William NJ. Weir, Captain of
Company ID, (Cleyeland Blues
loyal and faithful officer and
soldier with a great body and n spirit
as fearless as ever animated mortal man,
perished in 1864.
Captain William II. Pool, of Company
f. (0ak City Guards), the only son of
widowed mother, just and brave, full o.
intelligence, very shapely in his person.
4 I, aIart