The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-11

snail DC unfOlled. For all TINS they
have not sought praise-they only want
justice, for justice itself is their highest
praise. And little, indeed, the praise
they have received and that little ap-
parently wrung from reluctant ton
CUES, envious pens, and begrudging
hearts. On hundreds of bloody fields
thousands of her best and bravest sons
have fallen with their faces to the
foe; and their heroism and self-devo-
ton are unchronicled-their glorious
deeds are as silent as their bloody
graves.
Do North Carolina troops achieve a
victory, the newspapers nearest the
scene of operations, either pass it over
in silence or represent it as a small
affair; or if thy speak of the bravery
of the troops, they strangely forget to
tell what State the troops are from.
If they meet with a reverse, which,
thank God! is seldom, these same
newspapers bruit it abroad, magnify
it, and ring charges upon it with APP
parent delight.
1t is not my purpose to retaliate by
concealing the heroism of other
troops, or by attempting to pluck one
leaf from the wreath of honor that
encircles their brows; but to contrast
the conduct of those papers, and to
show their (im) Partially in chroni-
cling faithfully the events of the day,
l will say they have never yet pub
lished the facts that North Carolina
troops have, on two occasions at least.
charged over the PROSTATE forms of
troops of another State, and accom-
plished the work to which these pros
tTate soldiers could be neither led nor
driven.
Let us look at few recent events.
Gen. Ramseur not long since met with
slight reverse near Winchester, Va.
What degree of censure, if any, he
merits / know not. But let him be
fairly judged and acquitted or punish
ed as he deserves; for / would screen
no officer or soldier from merited
censure, whether from North Carolina
or elsewhere. But certain newspapers
in and around the seat of Government.
seized upon the affair, held it up as
"Ramseur's defeat" and seemed de-
lighted to allude to it as the first re-
verse to our arms since the Maryland
campaign commenced" OF course this
reverse" was attributable to North
Carolinians, under a North Carolina
commander. Had they been troops
from some other State, would the re
verse have been heralded with such
a flourish of trumpets? Perhaps the
following will answer the question:
defeat"-Pegram's Battery was cap
tured and the troops supporting it re-
pulsed. l know not that those en-
gagged were to blame. l have no rea-
son to think they did not fight bravely
and do all that brave men could I'M
der the circumstances; but these same
newspapers touched the affair gingerly
cut it off with a paragraph-and
never mentioned the States from
IL til. =,
cation that they were not from North
Carolina; and they were not A few
days afterwards about 5000 North
Carolinians, with a few other troops,
encountered about II 900 of the enemy
at Gravely Hill, not far from Rich
mond drove them back several miles,
and killed, wounded and captured
many; and yet, if the editors of these
papers have ever heard of the fight
at Gravely Hill l am not aware that
they have ever communicated the in
formation TO their readers.
In fact one or more of the Rich
mond papers, some days after the af-
fair at Bethel seemed to have doubts
about any such battle having been
fought at all. Was it because North
Carolina troops, principally, were en-
gagged?
More recently still. On Sunday
21st of August last our forces were
Tepulscd in their assault on the enc
mys lines near Petersburg on the
Weldon Railroad. Virginia papers told
us that the repulse was attributable to
tho cOnduct-one of them says 1.-The
shameful conduct of a certain brigade
which gave way at a critical moment
and could not be rallied; but they told
us not what brigade it was, nor have
they yet done so. We all know it was
not a North Carolina brigade.
on the following Thursday the
enemy was attacked near Reams' Sta
ton, on the same road, driven back
into their fortifications-their forti-
fications stormed and carried-and the
Yankee hosts scattered like chaf be-
fore our invincible soldiers. Thanks
to that good and great-hearted man,
General Lee, he tells US in his official
dispatch that Cooks, McRae's and
Lanes North Carolina brigades, with
Pegram's artillery, composed the as
saulting columns.
Had not General Lee stated these
facts, it is quite likely none of the
Virginia papers would have troubled
their readers with the information.
North Carolina. too, has fewer high
officers than any other State that has
furnished SO many troops. But few
of her sons have been promoted, and
too many Of these few, here, as well
as elsewhere, have apparently been Sc
lected, not so much with reference to
qualifications as to partizan predilec-
tons Our troops, for the most part
must fight under officers from other
States; and though this does not effect
their willingness to fight, they cannot
help considering it an indignity to
thcir State.
Look. too, to the present position
of ono of her most cherished sons
General D. H. Hill. the hero of Bethel.
For nearly year he has been without
a command but he has not been idle.
He has suffered no fine drawn military
etiquette, to which victory and thou
sands of lives are too frequently sac
rificed and the causes itself put in
jeopardy, to interfere with his love for
and duty to his country. He has, in
many recent battles, taken part, some
times assigned to a command for the
special occasion. His case is awaken
ing Indignation against his pursuers,
and creating a corresponding sympa-
thy for him, in the hearts of his
countrymen throughout the Confed-
eracy. He is now more honored, more
respected and looked to with more
trustfulness, than those who would
hold him down. He has proven that