The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-09
MAKE NO CHANGE.
So Writes Capt. West of
Co. E., Fifth N. C.
''Rather Than Change 1t Send North
Carolina Troops With SIedge
Hammers and Powder The
Stones TO Dust"

The sentiment that North Carolina
has written the plain truth of history
unon the monument to be dedicated
at AppomattoX on Monday is very
strong. There are those, for reasons
of courtesy to Virginians, who would
have preferred to omit the claims TO
which the State is entitled. But the
overwhelming sentiment is mo Sur
render"
Maj. Henry A. London. chairman of
the AppomattoX Commission, has re-
ceived a letter from a North Carolina
soldier now living i'll Richmond. which
voices the sentiment of many. In
view of The unfortunate expression of
difference of opinion, we print below
the full text of the letter from Capt.
West He writes
Hon. II. A. London, Chairman Monu-
ment Committee. Raleigh, n. c..
My Dear Sir and Comradc:-I have
read many newspaper articles about
the injustice about to be done by your
committee in the erection of q monu-
ment at AppomattoX G. II. in COM
memoration of the North Carolina SOL
diers in the late war, over and above
all other troops that took part in the
war between the States. The inscrip-
ton as | read it, is exactly the ac-
I
so oft repeated in my presence while
on the retreat from Gettysburg to VIII
Transport and on to Winchester. 1
was desperately wounded in my left
shoulder July 1st and acting as field
officer. commanding 5th n. G. 5.
Troops. l was allowed a horse and
rode on the retreat among all sorts
of organizations, artillery infantry
and squads of cavalry = / would ride
ahead find a nice cool spring, tether
my horse lie down and rest while di-
visions of General Lees troops would
march by This mode of travel was
intact by Mai. Brooks of the goth
Regiment and others of same brigade
and myself until we arrived at Will
Transport in advance of General Lees
army which had been halted at Hag-
erstown to check the enemy's advance,
| etc Hence our entire ride was
! through and among the men of every
grade from general commanding to or
derieS and priVateS, and the TOPIC OF
conversation in every command ana
camp fire was about the great charge
on the third day. All fixing the failure
| on the non-support of the North Caro-
! lima bows that they took the works
but had to give them UP. Mai. Brooks
and myself felt proud of such eX-
preSSionS coming from Virginia South
| Carolina, Georgia and other troops
| Hence VIC strolled along among the
soldiers for two reasons; to keep from
I being captured, and easy access to our
surgeons in case of a hemOrrage from
our several wounds Never once did
we hear the right to the farthest 70
| the front disputed about the North
| Carolina soldier At haits we were
often in company with field. and GEN
eral staff officers. And it was talked
until / believe the entire army then
admitted the fact in toto.
! After my wounds healed l returned
to my regiment in November 1858,
! at Raccoon Ford. Va. and remained
in command OF my company until
/ June 70, 1864, when Col. Garrett and
others were killed. | then took COM
mand of the regiment at Snottsylvania,
| G. H., and remained in command until
was wounded at Cedar Greek or
| Middleton. Va, Oct. 10, 1864. and dur
! ing all this period l never heard the
right of farthest to the front ques-
toned except in favor of the North
Carolina boys at the Gettysburg
charge at about which hour l was
reading the burial service over two of
the noblest boys sent to battle from
North Carolina, viz: Charles f.
Deems, first lieutenant Company G.,
and William A. Carr. second lieutenant
Company e, 9Th North Carolina Regi-
ment, both killed in first days fight.
Also my dear friend Fab. II. Hay
wood, expecting any moment that he
would die &C his wounds. Although
my wound panied me much, yet
could not let the prevailing incidents
pass unnoticed, and after one funeral
service Mai Brooks and myself
watched the closing scenes on the field
of strife, and at the hospital it was
the talk that Marse Bob would regain
all his lost ground before midnight
But when the shadows of the even
ing began to draw close down; COURT
ers began to fly over the field in all
directions and Doctor Black. our bril-
gade surgeon gave orders for all that
could to get in line and march. The
entire night was consumed in getting
out of sight of the battlefield
Rather than change the epitaph on
the North Carolina soldiers monument
send your North Carolina State troops
with Sledge hammers and powder the
stone into dust Place a card over the
dust that the great nocturnal storms
may blow the dust to the four corners
of the earth and into mid-ocean. that
there may remain neither name nor
remembrance of the heroism of North
Carolina boys.
Now my comrade / have written
hurriedly while sick with fever. lust
out of bed to write my sentiments to
YOU. <AililOuSI i nave liNeu mere since
1892 yet 1 have never lost sight of my
old home and dear old State of North
Carolina. Would | could be with you.
but poverty and affection have laid
heavy hands at my door and / have to
forego all the pleasures Of life unit:
that supreme roll call-whcn | know
/ will be rich indeed.
Sincerely yours
S. B. WEST. C. S. V.
Late ('OT1ngpU
Carolina State Troops.
To the young lady who is figuring
on marrying q man for the nnrnnse