The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-07-05

Company E, who leads the remnants OF
the regiment, now in command of the gal
liant Major ]. T. Jones, pursues the enemy
firing with effect to the seminary where
the few survivors are relieved by Pen
der's division. The red tield was won
but at what cost to victor as well as to
vanquished.
Terrible, terrible, was our loss. We
entered battle with 800 officers and men
Company r on the left of the flag, lost
every one of its 81 men, 81 being killed
and 60 wounded; Company E, to the right
of the flag, suffered nearly as badly. II
carried 81 men into the fight, had Is kill
ed and So wounded, and brought out only
two untouched. Our total loss on that
day was 584-greater in number and
greater in per cent than that suffered by
any other regiment on either side during
the war.
We came out WITH only 216 men. The
officers of the regiment were killed or
wounded, but its spirit and discipline
we're not broken. On the third day the
, remnant with colors flying stepped out,
with hearts of oak, to take part in that
memorable third days charge. | call the
"
/ call the worlu to witness that these
brave fellows marched with heroic step
up those heights of death l call the
world to witness that the privates, James
NJ Brooks and Dan Thomas, Of Company
E, planted the colors of the regiment on
the enemys works and there they were
defended until captured. Out of our PIG
men, 100 were lost on that thu. day. Our
total loss in battle, then, was 5SS killed
and wounded, and 126 missing out of a
total of 800 engaged. OF the missing
there were but few who were not killed or
wounded The total was near 80 per cent.
Search the records of the world and you
will never find heroism greater or loss
more terrible. Let no man think that
these losses crushed the spirit of the re-
giment. 1t was made of stcrncr stuff.
Colonel Lane was soon sufficiently recov-
cred from his severe wound to take charge
of the regiment. 1t suffered the brunt of
battle at Bristow's Station was pronounc
ed the best drilled regiment at the Battle
of the Wilderness, and brought into that
fight $50 men, and fought there in
splendid form, many of those wounded at
Gettysburg having returned, and the num-
bers being increased by recruits. 1t was
in every important engagement In which
Kirkands or McRaes Brigade was engag
ed from the wilderness to Appomattox.
It's Colonel was wounded five times and
twice saved from death by the quick
Workmanship of his men. 1t suffered
terrible privations in the trenches around
Richmond: it was in the line broken at
Five Forks, and yet it was at Appomat-
tox where it surrendered 120 more muslSets
than any other of the North Carolina re-
giments except one, the 18th, which sur
rendered only two more. Such was the
regiment that crushed the line of the
best troops in the Federal army. on the
first of July, 1868.
/ cannot close without in my humble
way paying tribute to my fellows who
lost their lives in those bloody conflicts
and whose bones lie buried on the field
of battle. o, my noble comrades! you
poured your life blood for a cause you
loved. But you are not reckoned among
the dead. In the affectionate remem-
brance OF your comrades you still live!
They we're baptized in the same baptism
as you. The kinship thus engendered is
stronger than death. They love to re
count the history of your heroism and
their eyes grow dim as they do it. Then
of the generation that has arisen since
the dread conflict, who now move in your
old haunts, your deeds are the pride and
inspiration. All our State rings from end
to end with eulogies of you. The youth
of our schools and colleges recount your
praises year by year. your fame is safe
with them. And more than ALL dearest of
all to Southern souls, your memory is
cherished by the tenderest hearts and
fairest hands of our Southland-the
Daughters Of the Confederacy. At all
our State capitals they are raising lofty
monuments in your honor, they are mark
ing every grave with the white slab of
remembrance that your names may never
die. Year by year they deck your last
resting place with flowers wreathed by
their own fair hands, Year by year they
water your graves with tears that rise
from hearts full of grateful and loving re-
membrance of you who suffered death as
champions of Southern homes. Then, my
comrades, count it not idle that your re-
mains lie on foreign soil. It is foreign soil
no more. We lost our cause, but we have
Won Ddck our place III the AMeIItdH
Union. Pennsylvania and North Carolina
are sisters now, and like a sister. Penn
sylyania is caring for you. Her noblest
sons and daughters are pleading for a
statue of Lee to overlook the scenes which
last you saw. and are coming to regard
you as brothers. They address your old
Colonel as "Comrade' Year by year the
relentless temper of war is giving way
to the gentle tones of brotherhood and
peace. Your valor is coming to be re-
garded az the common heritage OF the
American nation. 1t no longer belongs to
your State alone it no longer belongs to
the South; it is the high water mark of
what Americans have done and can do.
The day is soon coming and is already
here, when your heroism will be as much
admired IN Maine as in Texas; IN Cali
lorna as in Carolina. Your deeds chal-
lenge the wonder of mankind You have
brought everlasting renown on your ma
tive State and the dear old 26th North
Carolina. l give you the highest tribute
"a comrades tears.