The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-09-18
BATTLE OF REAMs STATION.
Capt. Graham Replies To ComraGe
Utley's Article.
1000 H Street. N. w.

Washington, d. c.. Sept, II, 1904.
10 the Editor: VIII you allow me
d little space in your columns to re-
ply to Comrade Utley's article in your
issue OF September 4th, in which he
asks for information as to the other
troops engaged in the memorable al
TAR, or battle at Ream's Station, Va,
August 25th, 1854.
Ii Comrade Utley will read the
history of the North Carolina Regl-
ments, 1S61-1865, published by the
state, he Will find there an account
OF each regiment of the Confederate
army which took part in that charge,
ana that they were all from the "Old
North State.''
| was not a participant in that bat
tle' having not recovered from a
wound received at the Battle of the
Wilderness, but l can tell him some
thing of what the records say.
General Lee. IN his official dispatch,
states that the charge was made by
COOKIES, McRae's and Lanes North
Carolina Brigades. This dispatch |
saw IN the Charlotte Bulletin, at Char
lotte, ~ G.. in the morning of August
2& 1864, and it can be found in the
Records of the Bulletin" published
by direction of Congress. 1t is the
only instance-So far as | can recoi-
lect-that General Lee mentioned the
State from which the troops came,
but IN this dispatch. he says:
Cookies, McRae's and Lanes North
Carolina Brigades."
AS to the disposition Of the troops
engaged, | know nothing; but from
my company records, [ know that
my company, G. 27th n. G. Inf. went
into the fight with one Lieutenant and
ten enlisted men, and chat at The end,
they had only one corporal and two
men. AS to the loss of the other
companies | cannot state, but Calvin
Herring, Major of our regiment, was
severely wounded there, and w Ash
ley knight, Adjutant, killed, and at
the end of the conflict, the 18th Re-
giment had only about 20 men left
for duty. This is shown by the official
reports.
No more gallant regiment than the
26th n G. could be found. anywhere,
but let some of the balance of those
whom General Lee-gener1lly accept
ed as good authority on Confederate
matters-states We're engaged in this
affair, dash, or battle, as you may call
il, get some of the credit too.
The Brigades which General Lee
names were composed of the follow
ing Regiments, viz: Cookies Brigade:
Is, q, 46. As and So n. c.. McRae' 5
Brigade. IL, 26. A, Al and 50 n. G.
Regiments and Lanes Brigade, Z, 1Si
IS. 33 and 81 n. G. Regiments.
/ forgot to mention above one fact
which will tend TO show that the
9th n. c. had a part in this affair
and that is--(as / got it from General
John r. Cooke. our Brigadier) thai
the first Confederate flag planted on
the Union works was that of the 27th
n. G. Inf, carried by Roscoe Rich
ards, sergeant of my company.
Comrade Utley is mistaken III
thinking that Hancock's Corps was
but little heard of after this Battle
of Reams Station. They were the
ones that we met at Fort McRae Sep
tember 30, 1864; near Burgess Mills
October "a. 1864; Hatcher's Run Feb
ruary So, 1865. and all along the line
on the etreat from Petersburg, and
they seemed always ready to give us a
little of what Sherman said war was.
VIII some comrade, of each of the
other regiment engaged, give further
information as to the occurrences OF
that day?
1t was a "Tar Heel battle and now
let us have a full account of it,
JAS. \. GRAHAM,
Late Can't. Co. G. 27th n. c. Inf,
Cookies Brigade.