The National tribune., 1901-10-31

| been ocCupsi ing the other forts near the
| mouth of tNe CdfS Fear. were withdrawn,
and. armed as infantry, joined Johnston's
army. No Troops ever fought better than
they did at KinstOn and Bentonville. AT
the latter battle one of these battaliOnS
was commanded by Lieut.-Col. John ID.
Taylor, who lost an arm on that occa-
sion. % 9s7
III HIE CRITICS.
There are those who see no need of re-
opening thel question herein discussed
While coniessitg that Il part of our
troops have been directly wrOnged by
slanderOGs Nvordsfand all of them wronged
by implication, they assert that time only
is required to make all things even. and
that the dead past should be allowed to
bury its dead. Peace-loving souls, they
deprecate controversy, believing that from
it will result only needless heart-burnings.
Then, again, there are others who OBJ
jeCt not only to the tone and temper Of
the article. but to the mere statement of
indiSputable facts. There should be, they
say, feeling of true comradeShlp among
all who have served in the same army,
especially in such an army as ours; that
comrades should assist and defend each
ctner in person and reputation, and under
no circumstances should anything be done
or said to wound or offend; to admit that
there has been provocatiOn in one direc-
ton does not justify prOvocatlOn III an
other, for two wrongs never yet made
right; that to write of anything to the
discredit of Il part of the Army of North
ern Virginia is to a certain extent to in
Jure the reputation of the whole army,
and that Il sentiment of loyalty to that
army and love for its head should prompt
its veterans to place its honor above all
other considerations. Some old soldiers
within and some without the limits of the
State have expressed these opinions.
Many others may entertain them. 1t may
be they are right. 1t may be they are
wrong. Who can tell?
However letters never printed show
that there are many WHO think when once
an effort in behalf Of justice is begun it
should be continued till that end is at
talned, and be it remembered that the
justice demanded is for the dead, who
cannot defend themselves.
The 18th. 42d, 50th and 66th n. G..
composed kirkland's Brigade, and it was
first commanded by Gen. James Martin
1t was not sent to Virginia till the Spring
of 1864, when it was placed in a division
made up for Gen. Hoke. 1t was hotly
engaged in the battle of Drewry's Bluff,
where Lieut.-Col. Lamb. of the 18th, was
mortally wounded; at Cold HarbOr, where
Col. Moore, the boy commander of the
18th, was killed; at Bentonville, Kinston,
etc. But it is probable that the hardShips
endured in the trenches at Petersburg
were responsible for more deaths than all
the bullets of the enemy.
Seven North Carolina batteries served
in Virginia. All of them were very eff
cient, but three of them were so remark
ably fine that it is temptation to name
them.
We had five regiments and one battalion
of cavalry to serve in Virginia. They were
the 9th, 18th, 41st, 59th and 63d n. G.
troops; but generally known as 1st I'd, Sd,
4th and 9th, Cav. and the 10th Battalion.
If space permitted, incidents worth men
tioning CONNECTED with each of these or
CARNATIONS could be told. AS it is, only
two, which may interest North Carolin
ians generally, and citizens of Halifax
County in particular, will be mentioned.
In the Summer Of 1864, when Gen. But
Ter came so near capturing Petersburg, at
that time defenseleSs, the 10th n. g. bat |
tallion was ,picketing the road by which !
the Federals were. approaching. 1t was
then that this battalion, assisted by two |
light field guns, acted with so much spirit |
that the advance of Buffers men was so
delayed that time was given for troops |
from Lees army to arrive and man the
heroes on this occasion was Halifax
boy-Lieut. w. +. Parker. On the disas-
trous field OF Five Forks our cavalry was
not only holding its own, but was driving |
that OF the enemy wlen the infantry gave |
way. This success of the cavalry on their
part of the line was very nearly the last |
ever gained by any portion of our army.
They had been fighting by squadrons, and |
that composed of the Onslow and Halifax
of the Sd regiment had just
made a successful ch.lrge, when, looking
20 the left, they saw he infantry retreat
ng In disorder. The squadron on this
occasion was commanded and led by d
Scotland Neck Mounted Rifeman, the late
Soriieet Smith, brave officer, a good
.itizen and loyal friend. Dear old
Boots" of other days! Lightly lie the
sod above your honcred head.
Earth has no such soldiers now,
Such true friends are not found"
36TH N. C. TROOPS.
This was heavy artillery regiment
stationed at Fort Fisher when the final
lttaek was made upon this fort After
he fire from the ships had dismounted
heir big guns and the assault by land
vas being made, they snatched up their
nusketS and showed the enemy how we'll
hey could use them. 1t is noY generally
conceded that not in the whole war did
body of soldiers ever struggle so long
md so desperately against the inevitable.
from traverse to traverse, from gun
W LOT StNeTuI nOHfS
he hopeless struggle went on. Capt.
hunters Halifax company had IS men
illed and wounded out of so present.
\ letter from u gallant member of the
ompany says: o..
There never was a formal surrender
[ 1.-THE fOrt) was taken by piecemeal-
hat is, one gun-chamber IT time"
When the capture of this place was an
punced III Richmond, and before any of
he facts regarding it were known, the !
buse and yilification heaped upon its
evOted garrison were something aston
shing even for that very censorious city
Clingman's Brigade was composed of
he. Sth, 31st, 51st and 61st n. c. 1t
eryed in South Carolina Il great part of
he war, and for the gallant conduct of
he 5lst in the defense of Fort Wagner, I
his regiment was complimented in orders
he brigade took prominent part in the {
rilliant capture of Plymouth. 1t was
ngaged at Goldsboro, Batchelor Greek
here Col. Henry Shaw, of the Sth, was
illed-and at other points in North Caro- /
ma, before it went to Virginia, which it \
id early in 1864. There it became {
art of the command of Maj Gen Hoke
.fter having herocally borne all the pri- |
ations and dangers which fell to the lot o
this splendid DIVISION" as styled by d
len. Joe Johnston, it surrendered with it Q
t Greensboro. 90
NUMBER OF, NORTH CAROLINA TROOPS.
The compiler Of cur roster adds I'D the
umber of names printed in the four vol
mes, and makes u total of 10i ,49S; but
} arrive at an approximation of the real
umber many. subtractions and very many
lore additions will have to be made.