The semi-weekly messenger., 1900-10-26


Every foot moved with a light ana
steady step and the EXPRESSION OF s4a
isfaction was on the counfenance % All,
When about TO cross the Blue Ridse
at Massaunther Gap orders were re-
ceived to return to GoTdorrSsIIIe- ia~
next week the same route Wa gone
over. A few days after our second re-
turn our baggage was loaded On me
train and We started towards Rich
mond. At Hanover Court House We
again went into camp Herr Branch
was reinforced with Colonel Hardenan,
Forty-Fifth Georgia. part OF Lathams
artillery and some CT RobertSo1s regl'
ment OF cavalry.
The sick and the extra baggage.
were sent TO Richmond. and on the
2eth Branch marched towards the
Chickahominy. Johnson's left camping
that night between PeaRe's turnout and
Slash church
On the 23fh Branch fought the battle
of Hanover Court House with about
1000 men. engaging General Portsrs
regulars and Ss<igevsl lck's command or
about 12 GOO Colonel James II. Lane.
with the 18th regiment was tsent back
10 hold the crossing Al Tdiaferro's
mill, where two companies or the Thir-
ty-seventh were on duty.
Porter came in between the brigade
and the Twenty eighth regiment on =
road leading towards Mechanicsvilie-
regiment were sent To Lanes relief
and found Porter's pickets at Peake's,
which they ran in To the line OF regu-
lars at the aforementioned road
Colonel Cowan was placed with the
Eighteenth on the right OF the Hanover
road and Colonel Lee with the Thirty
seventh was sent through a wood TO
his right 20 attack on Porter's flank.
About this time a train arrived with
the Twelfth North Carolina, Colonel
Wade. which, with the Thirty-third.
was placed on the left OF the road. and
drove back TO the road the fiankers put
out by Porter. As Porter had no line
beyond the road these regiments had
no further engagement.
The Eighteenth regiment made n
splendid attack on Porter's front line
and drove it back TO the Mechanics
Vile road where the ditch bank and
wicker fence afforded fine defence.
From this cover Porter's volleys did
great dana ge, and the Eighteenth was
compelled to move by the right flank
to a wood some 200 yards to the right.
to get some protection. From this wood
the unequal fight was carried on. The
Thirty seventh was further 10 our right
and engaged with us till ordered TO
withdraw.
We lost very heavily in this action.
some companies losing 80 per cent in
killed and wounded. Our first expe-
rience in war was a bloody baptism.
THE Bloody Eighteenth was A well
earned title.
General Branch. in his report SAYS OF
it: Colonel Cowan with the Eigh-
| teenth made the charge most gallantly.
but the enemys force was much larger
than had been supposed. and strongly
posted, and the gallant Eighteenth was
| compelled to seek shelter. X con-
tinued to pour heavy yolleys from the
| edge Of the woods and must have done
great execution. The steadiness with
| which this desperate charge was made
| reflects the highest credit on officers
| and men. The Thirty-seventh found
| the underground SO dense as TO retard
| it's progress. but when il reached It's po-
| sition it poured n heavy and destruc-
| tive fire upon the enemy. This com
| binad volley from the Eighteenth and
| Thirty-seventh compelled the enemy
| to leave his battery for a time. and take
| shelter behind a ditch bank
After stating the positions OF his
| forces and the purposes of his engage
ment, continuing. he says: Finding I
could no longer remain without being
| surrounded, and hearing OF rein
| forcements, and feeling assured from
| the firing that Lane had made good his
| retreat to Hanover Court House. / de-
| termined to draw off This. always
| difficult in the presence OF q superior
| enemy, was rendered comparatively
| easy by the precaution / had taken not
| to engage my whole force. Campbell
| was ordered to place the Seventh across
| the road so as to receive the enemy IL
| they should attempt TO follow. Orders
! we're then sent TO Lee and Cowan 10
| withdraw in order. They were hotly
| engaged when the order was received
| but promptly withdrew. Colonel
Cowan, in an especial manner. attract
ed my attention by the perfect order
| in which he brought out his regiment.
| Notwithstanding the severe and long
| continued fire he had received from
| both infantry and artillery. The regi-
| ment marched TO the rear without
haste or confusion and went up the
| Ashland road
The command reached Ashland
during the night, and the next day
marched to the left OF Johnson's line.
inside the Chickahominy. near Cham
berlain's. The Eighteenth guarded the
| crossing several days. Here an occur
renee tool; place that had its influence
on this and other North Carolina bri-
gades during the war. perhaps account
ing for their skant newspaper notorie-
", in contrast with certain other com
| mands
When the Richmond papers came into
camp two Of them had communica-
tions relative to- the engagement Of the
Iwenty-seventh, gingerly crticisiug
lot Withdrawing With
out fighting all his force for all they
were worth, vigorously protesting that
that was what the troops were there
for. etc This was breezy.
! General Branch sent his aide. Major
Blount, to the editors. and got each ar
ticle, then sent for Captain -. OF the
Thirty-seventh. and Lieutenant -. Of
the Thfrty-third. to come To headquar-
| ters-
He received them in that ore<1. easy
manner or which he was master and
entertained them with such courtesy
as put them entirely al ease. Handing
each his communication he asked 'Ts
that your signature for the purpose
therein expressed" with the delibera-
tion OF clerk in chancery probating a
| paper.
They recognized that a condition not
! theory them, sweated tn.
great sweat OF confusion and acknowl-
edged their deeds.
i CTo be Continued)