The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-13
A SKETCH OF THE EIGHTEENTH
NORTH CAROLINA INFANTRY.
COMPLIED BY WILLIAM H.. M,LAURIN,
(PART THIRD.)

ly outnumbering foe. During the nigh
Lee withdrew his forces n crossed
the Potomac into Virginia Branch's
brigade, commanded by Colonel Lane,
covered the retreat. Repulsing the
enemy, then falling back till pressed
again, the rear was effectively cover
ed. We crossed the ford below Botil-
er's mill in good order, under fire Of a
pursuing enemy, and went n camp
two OR three miles away.
During the night the enemy crossed
a corps, and on the morning Of the
10th, A. P. Hits division was sent
back to attend to it The heights on
the Maryland side command the Vir-
GINA side, and were bristling with ar
tillery. A few rounds showed that our
artillery was not in it, and IL got out
of range so that 1t was purely an in
fantry light on our part Hill charged
with three brigades, supported by the
other three, and drove the enemy to the
river, capturing many prisoners. From
he start the artillery had our range
@Hately, and their shells ploweo
the Eighteenth several times
Wing the dyance Reaching the
river the Eighteenth occupied a bluff
overlooking Boilers i'm IL dam, and
from it, shot blue coats crossing the
dam, till a. detail sent down captured
all the bluff.
The artillery practice became so ac-
curate that they'd hit a litter carrying
off our wounde or our canteen men.
going across a ridge in our rear for
water. We had to lie close all day, and
Withdraw after night. The enemy that
got across the river, had also to lie
close, in the canal all day. 1t was full.
We camped arOund Bunker Hill, and
in October worked a few lays on the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad, beyond
M~artinsburgh. and left a couple CT sec
tiOns about HedgerSville and North
mountain depot in splendid disorder.
Colonel Lane was promoted ~brigadier,
and assigned to the command of
brigade, and remained with
it during the war. Colonel Robert H..
Cowan. of the Eighteenth regiment, re-
signed and Lieutenant Colonel Thos.
]. Fender became colonel. Major For
ney George, lieutenant %cOlOnel, and
Captain John d. Barry, Company I, ma
jOr of the regiment.
About the middle of November the
Eighteenth had an engagement with
the enemy at Smokers Gap, and the
last days Of the month, Jackson fol-
lowed LOngStreet tOWardS FrederickS-
burg to meet Burnside's movements.
There was an abundance of rain, Sleet
and snow during the march, and many
of the men We're barefooted, as we'll
as thinly clad. but they had the stuff
of heroes in them.
On the 10th of December, we camped
below fredericksburg, neal the Mas
SapOnaX, and on the 18th wen into line
above that stream, A. P. Hill right be-
ing at HamiltOn'S crossing and his left
near Deep Run, Fields, Archer, Lane
and Pender in the front and Gregg and
Thomas in the second line as supports.
From HamiltOn's the railroad circles
around the ridge that extends from that
place to Fredericksburg and runs be-
Tween the foothills and the Port Royal
road.
Archer occupied the arc of the cir
Gle, and to his left was a stretch of
wooded marshland, 500 or 900
yards between his left and Lanes
right This gap Lane and Archer tried
to get filled, and subsequent results
; showed the unwise neglect of their su-
periOrs in not needing their entreaties.
The railroad track to the left of the
marshland. which Lane occupied, ran
through a low place with a ridge to the
right, some seventy-five or a hundred
yards. high enough to shut out a view
of the plain in front, from all of the
brigade, save part of the Thirty-sev-
enth on the right, M the Seventh on
the left. Several pieces of artillery
We're on this ridge in front of the Sew
enth and of Pender on its left.
When the fog lifted on the 18th, the
artillery dual from the enemy, with
these guns and those on the ridge in
our rear, put us under a heavy fire.
When the enemy advance. they were
repulSed at the crest of the ridge in
our front. The gap between Lane and
Archer was discovered and in their
next advance, q heavy force againSt
that part of the line. forced back Arch
.ers left and Lanes right, and pene-
trated to Gregg's line. Lanes right
regiments held their ground tenacious
1y, each retiring only as compelled ia
TN@r~--1 D~-l@- @L-@- I@-I- 49,
right wing OF the Eighteenth to the
woods some se~venty-fve or one hundred
yards in our rear, and made a de-
termined stand. Here the enemy was
checked, Thomas coming to our as
siStance.
Gregg was said to have been killed
before he knew that the troops ad-
vancing on him were enemies. His
gallant brigade from a tenn
pOrary confusion and joining with
LawtOn and Hoke sent to Archer'S re-
lief, and Thomas and Lane on it's left
The whole line advanced, and drove
back the enemy with great loss. Reach
ing the railroad the left of the Eigh-
teenth and the Seventh that had held
their position, Joined in the advance
The division was reformed On the rail-
road line and gotten in readiness fol
a night attack. At nightfall we took
position at the crest of the rising
ground in front and were ready at tht
appointed time. but Jackson's desire
for a night attack was overrubed. and
the order was countermanded in tht
nick of time. We occupied the from
line till about midday OF the 14th
when we were sent back to top Of
the ridge for a nights rest.
On the 18th we were again in line
ready for any emergency on that night
Burnside withdrew his forces to thu
north side Of the Rappahannock
Jackson's corps moved down the Por'
Roya a to Corbin's neck, and wen
INTO winter quarters
On the soth OF April camp was broker
and we marched to Frederfcksburgh
and next day we engaged with tn,
enemy across the Orange plank road
near Charlottesville.
On the morning OF the Ind OF May
1853, / was sent to recall our skrmfsh'
ers, and follow to the left jackson
marched by the left flank going, b,
the Iron Furnace. around Hooker
-nv - $1,000 tic O-anOo MA nj