the 
 
 BATTLE OF GREAT BETHEL 
 
 (FOUGHT JUNE 10, 1861.) 
 
 BY 
 
 FRANK. I. WILSON 
 
 Invadeap' vain your battles' steel and tire ! 
 Choose ye the morrow's doom— 
 A prison or a grave. 
 
 Halleck. 
 
 RALEIGH,. N. C. : 
 
 PRINTED AT THE "STANDARD" OFFICE. 
 
 1864. 
 
i 
 
THE 
 
 BATTLE OF GREAT BETHEL, 
 
 (FOUGHT JUNE 10, 1861.) 
 
 BY 
 
 FRANK. I. WILSON 
 
 Invaders! rain your battles' steel and fire! 
 Choose ye the morrow's doom— 
 A prison or a grave. 
 
 Halleck. 
 
 RALEIGH, K C: 
 
 PRINTED AT THE "STANDARD" OFFICE. 
 
 1864. 
 
 : 
 
II 
 
 Bn tared, according to Act of Congresi, in the year 1864 , 
 
 BY FRANK. I. WILSON, 
 
 In the Clerk's office of the District Court of the Confederate 
 
 States for the District of Pamlico of North-Carolina. 
 
 RALEIGH, W. 0. : 
 PRINTED AT THE ** STANDARD " OFFICE. 
 
Y* 74-8-3 
 
 PREFATORY. 
 
 "The feattle of Great Bethel" has been written partly to 
 do honor to the gallant men engaged in it, and partly to 
 "rebuke the low and envious feelings of some who hare ever 
 withheld, so far as they could, justice to North- Carolina and 
 her sons. If I have used strong language* it has been because 
 the occasion has warranted it. If I have spoken plainly it 
 has been because the wrongs, or attempted wrongs, of North- 
 Carolina have been plain. It has not been ray aim to vindi- 
 cate the character of my State ; for it needs no vindication. 
 Envy of her high estate is the parent of all the attempted 
 injustice to her; and the contemptible assaults made upon her, 
 or the no less contemptible omission, wilfully, to do her jus- 
 tice, to say nothing of the meanness ci either "damning her 
 witn faint praise," or remaining silent over her glorioua deeds, 
 constitute one of her excellenciea of which she may be justly 
 proud. " Malicious Envy," so well described by Spencer, is 
 the enemy whose puny shafts are hurled at North -Carolina, 
 "Malicious Envy rode 
 Upon a ravenous wolfe, and still did chaw 
 Between bis cankered teeth a venomous tode, 
 That all the poison rau about his jaw; 
 But inwardly he chawed his own ttiaw 
 At neighbor's wealth that made him ever sad, 
 For death it was when any good he saw, 
 And wept, that cause of weeping none ho had; 
 And when be heard of harm he' waxed wondrous glad." 
 *»»■** **■*•** * 
 
 "Envy with a pale and meagre face * 
 
 * • stood shooting at stars, whose darta .fell down 
 
 Again ou bia own face." 
 
 Lilly's Endymion. 
 u Base Envy withers at another's joy, 
 JVnd hates that excellence it cannot reach" 
 
 /9r// n ~A 
 
 / 
 
IV 
 
 The Battle of Great Bethel was one of the most remarkable 
 on record. I have not attempted a full and detailed history 
 of it, but have only noticed such portions of it as comported 
 with my plan. The fact that one thousand citizens, converted 
 in a few days into soldiers, should meet and defeat five times 
 their number, killing and wounding five or six hundred of the 
 enemy, with the loss of but one. man, indeed sounds more like 
 romance than history, but truthful history will place it, 
 through all future time, as one among the richest jewels in 
 North- Carolina's coronet of glory. 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 Kaleigh, N. p.. September 25, 1864 
 
BATTLE OF GREAT BETHEL. 
 
 In front of yon stands an old Chnrch, its roof 
 greening with the moss of ages. From that humble 
 building, for many generations, ha9 gone np the 
 sound of prayer, of praise and thanksgiving to Al- 
 mighty God*; and from that rude old pulpit, from 
 time to time, for a long series of years, the Gospel 
 has been preached : Christ and Him crucified, peace 
 on earth and good will toward men. 
 
 Look now to your left. Th tt forest of tombstones, 
 those numerous mounds — some red with the freshly 
 upturned earth, and others green with the young 
 grass, tell you that there i3 situated a section of the 
 Great City of the Silent Dead. The rich with the 
 lofty monumental column ; the poor with the hum- 
 ble marble or still humbler headrock ; the old and 
 the young ; the saint and the sinner, are all on an 
 equality here, side by side, their bodies resolving 
 iuto their original elements. Once they listened to 
 the word of God in that old Church, some unto 
 salvation, and some unto condemnation. Now they 
 are dust, alike. 
 
 How calm, how quiet, how peaceful is the scene ! 
 The old Church — the grave-yard — the tall old oaks 
 waving their branches in the gentle breeze, and the 
 
tiny Insects huzzing with a low murmnr around— -the 
 sun just looking forth from his Eastern conch, silver- 
 ing the dewdrops as they hang suspended from the 
 leaves or fall in sparkling splendor to the earth. 
 How the soft wind of the early morn soothes and 
 cools the heated brow ! What a tranquilizing effect 
 all these things have upon the soul ! How the mind 
 retires, as it were, into itself, to reflect, to meditate, 
 to worship ! How thickly throng the thoughts of 
 Time and of Eternity, of Life and Death ; and how 
 the senses are all mellowed and softened as we gaze 
 upon the scenery around us ! Involuntarily the 
 mind mounts from Nature up to Nature's God, and 
 the spirit feels chastened, though calm and refined. 
 
 Now look to your right. O God, what a contrast ! 
 There is a long trench dug in the earth, and beyond 
 it, in the dense woods, you see muskets stacked. 
 Close by these muskets you see men in uniforms — in 
 warlike array — ay, in line of battle, ready at a mo- 
 ment's notice to seize their arms and hurl the leaden 
 Heaths against any approaching foe. Wide-mouthed 
 <L -non also, are gaping, as if impatient to commence 
 the work of destruction. There are officers, with 
 sherds gleaming in the light of the newly arisen 
 sun of this glorious June morning, moving 'from 
 point to point ; and there, in the centre of the line, 
 waves proudly the Battle Flag — the Stars and Bars 
 of a young nation just feeling the first throes of 
 its birth. 
 
 Kecall for a moment the scene. Before you is 
 the old Church ; to your left is the quiet graveyard ; 
 to your right, O Heaven ! is WAR. Thus on earth 
 
mingle peace and strife ; the Gospel and the sword ; 
 the sacred and profane; the quiet dead and the 
 maddened living; the scenes of peace and the pre- 
 parations for deadly conflict. 
 
 But the sounds of a horse's hoofs are heard in the 
 distance, coming up upon the right at rapid speed. 
 A moment more and horse and rider appear, dash 
 through our lines, and halt at a certain tent. The 
 reins are dropped, the rider dismounts and enters 
 the tent. 
 
 " Colonel," said he, " the tale of the deserter is 
 true. The enemy is advancing and will soon be 
 upon us." 
 
 Orders are issued for the deserter to be brought 
 before the Colonel, who thus addresses him : 
 
 " Your offense is pardoned. Go to your company, 
 do your duty, and retrieve your character."* 
 
 A few moments more, and a noble steed, with 
 holsters at the saddle bow, is led up to that tent. A 
 man comes forth, a small man in stature, but every 
 muscle well developed. A glance shows that he is 
 inured to hardships, that his frame is strong and 
 wiry and capable of great endurance. His brow is 
 slightly contracted, his lips compressed, and his 
 whole air thoughtful ; but there is a battle-gleam in 
 
 *It will be remembered that the first news brought to our 
 troops of the advance of the enemy, was brought by one of 
 our soldiers who, in an evil hour, picqued at something 
 deserted. He soon repented his desertion, and fortunately 
 obtaining information of the movements of the enemy, he bore 
 back the information as a peace-offering. He had truly re- 
 pented, and, as we have seen, was forgiven. 
 
8 
 
 his eyes, and determination marks every feature. 
 He looks at his Adjutant and says : 
 
 " Captains to the centre." 
 
 He pats that gallant horse gently on the neck, 
 strokes his forehead soothingly, speaks a few kindly 
 words to him, and mounts. Slowly and thoughtfully 
 he rides to the centre of the line. The Adjutant 
 has done his duty, and the Captains are grouped 
 together under that Battle Flag, anxiously await- 
 ing him. 
 
 Let us look for a moment on that group of Captains. 
 There stands a large-eyed, bold and manly form, 
 mildness beaming in his countenance, but deter- 
 mination also stamped there. You see it mingling 
 with his great good nature in the prominent eyes 
 and in every feature. That is William W. McDowell, 
 Captain of the " Buncombe Rifles." In peace he 
 has been a lamb ; in war he proved himself a lion. 
 
 Beside him stands a tall, rough-hewed, but manly 
 form, reminding you of one of the granite rocks of 
 his native mountains. He is courteous and affable, 
 and a kindlier heart never throbbed within a manlier 
 breast ; but look into his eyes ; trace those long and 
 boldly developed lines that seam his countenance ; 
 and you will read bravery even to desperate daring, 
 written there. That is C. M. Avery, Captain of the 
 " Burke Kifles." Alas ! he has sealed his devotion 
 to his country's <jause with his life. 
 
 Next to him is a form, not so tall, but well devel- 
 oped, with a tendency to corpulency. His light 
 blue eyes bespeak a kindly nature, yet gleam with 
 a light which tells you he possesses courage and 
 
decision, while that broad prominent under jaw 
 indicates that he is persistent in his resolves, and 
 not easily swerved from them. That is William J. 
 Hoke, Captain of the "Southern Stars," from Lin- 
 coln county. 
 
 By his side is a figure similar to his own, whose 
 broad and placid face, just slightly browned and 
 roughened by an Eastern sun and out-door exercise, 
 shows that with its predominent expression of good 
 nature and friendly feelings, is mingled qualities 
 firm and unswerving, untiring and persistent. In 
 peace he was characterized lor energy — and so in 
 ]n war. That is John L. Bridgers, Captain of the 
 '" Edgecombe Guards." 
 
 I regret that I cannot portray the other Captains, 
 hs I have never seen them ; but facts attest that 
 they were brave and true men ; and I mention their 
 names with the names of their respective companies : 
 D. A. Bell, Captain of the " Eufield Blues," Halifax 
 county; Wright Iluske, Captain of the " Fayette- 
 ville Light Infantry," Cumberland county ; J. B. 
 Starr, Captain of the " Lafayette Light Infantry," 
 Cumberland county ; B. J. Ashe, Captain of the 
 "Orange Light Tnfantry; " E. A. Ross, Captain of 
 the '* Charlotte Grays," and L. S. Williams, Captain 
 of the " Hornets' Nest Rifles," both from Mecklen- 
 burg county. 
 
 It is a fact not only somewhat remarkable, but 
 highly gratifying, that all sections of North-Carolina 
 were represented in that one regiment. From the 
 rugged mountains of the West, from the rolling and 
 iertile lands of the Centre, and from the sea-washed 
 
10 
 
 sands of the East, these gallant men had simul- 
 taneously sprung to arms when the first bugle-note 
 of war was sounded. They had come together 
 as brothers to " do or die ; " and they have 
 proved that the men of the West, of the Centre, 
 and of the East, are alike brave and alike entitled 
 to that wreath of glory that now encircles their 
 brows, and that North-Carolina, through all her 
 borders, has sons that will not only maintain her 
 honor, but who have alreadj', on many bloody fields, 
 added intensity to the bright halo that has ever 
 \made radiant her untarnished fame. 
 _Let witlings defame her — let hirelings abuse her— 
 let cowards traduce her — let editors and high officials 
 studiously avoid awarding her the well deserved 
 meed of praise, and maliciously watch for every 
 opportunity to cast a slur upon her — they are but 
 the worthless rottenstone that polishes the pure gold 
 of her character. Serene in her conscious majesty, 
 her stream of fame flows on, one-half of it ruffled 
 to form a tear of pity for her would-be detainers, 
 the other half bright and tranquil as the stars that 
 stud the heavens. 
 
 Pardon this digression. 
 
 The little man on horseback rides up to the assem- 
 bled Captains, and speaks : 
 
 *' Comrades, a courier has just arrived with the 
 certain intelligence that the enemy is advancing 
 against us in force. We will fight him here. Repair 
 to your respective companies and have them ready 
 for battle. I will be with you again in a few moments." 
 
 The captains return to their respective commands. 
 
11 
 
 A light touch of the spur and that noble horse 
 springs forward, bearing his rider out into the thick 
 woods. We will follow him. There stands the 
 horse, now and then impatiently champing his bit, 
 pawing the earth and tossing his head ; but he 
 loves his master too well to leave him. 
 
 And where is that master % Look at the root of 
 that great old oak, and you see hiin upon his knees. 
 He is praying for strength, for guidance, and for 
 victory. Above him wave the branches of the tall 
 trees ; the beams of the morning sun are peering 
 as it were through loopholes in the dense green 
 foliage, flickering over the earth as the gentle 
 breeze stirs the overhanging boughs. What a lovely, 
 what a pleasant, what a peaceable morning 1 Man 
 may rage, but God ever smiles, heedless of the 
 wrath of his puny creatures. 
 
 Presently that kneeling form arises. Again he 
 pats the neck of his steed, mounts, and rides back 
 to his lines. How those few moments have changed 
 his aspect! His brow is now smooth and serene, 
 and his whole countenance is placid ; but that stamp 
 of determination, that high resolve, and that firm- 
 ness of purpose, still mark every feature, and that 
 battle-gleam still lights his eye. He rides along his 
 lines and addresses his brave North-Carolinians : 
 
 " Soldiers, the enemy is approaching in heavy 
 force. In one or two hours — perhaps less— you will 
 bo engaged in battle. Remember you are North- 
 Carolinians, and that the heretofore untarnished 
 fame of your mother State is now in your hands. 
 This battle is to be the first of a long series to be 
 
13 
 
 fought on the soil of Virginia, and yon should be 
 proud that you now have the opportunity to honor 
 yourselves and to reflect additional glory on your 
 native State. Repose in me, as "your commander, 
 the confidence I repose in you as soldiers, and vic- 
 tory shall this day perch upon your Battle Flag, no 
 matter what the odds against us." 
 
 Thus he rides along, uttering these or similar 
 words to each company, and he is answered with 
 shouts, and assurances that they will stand by him 
 to the death. Then his eyes flash, his countenance 
 grows animated, for he knows the battle-fever is 
 raging in his ranks. 
 
 He approaches the few Virginians in his command 
 and addresses them : 
 
 " Virginians, you stand upon your native soil and 
 the foot of the foul invader pollutes it. Show your- 
 selves this day worthy representatives of your great 
 State, and let us all unite to hurl back the foe that 
 now advances to make us its prey. Remember the 
 many great and good heroes of your State, and 
 emulate their decd3. ' Give us liberty or give us 
 death,' be your motto." 
 
 Those gallant Virginians respond with cheers. 
 The allusion to their great heroes has re-kindled the 
 lires of their patriotism, and they are ready for 
 the fray. 
 
 It is scarcely necessary for me to say that man 
 was Col. Daniel H. Hill, a native South-Carolinian, 
 a brave and well educated soldier, and a Christian 
 warrior. He doubtless has his faults, for no man is 
 perfect ; and whatever may be thought of some of 
 
13 
 
 his writings, none can doubt biB qualifications for 
 lighting. I believe that but for a causeless bowi 
 raided against him by some individuals on our coast, 
 when lie had charge of that department, the foot of 
 no invading Yankee would ever have found a resting 
 place on North-Carolina soil. It was monstroun 
 that Gen. Hill should require, for a short time, one- 
 fourth the nogro men of that section to work on 
 fortifications ; but that monstrosity pales before thai 
 of the Yankees, who have taken four-fifths of ah 
 negro men, women and children that they could lav 
 handr, on, together with the fertile lands once cnbi 
 vated by those negroes, and have burned and de- 
 stroyed millions of property, making a once plentiful 
 and happy land, a desolation. Men are sometimes 
 " penny wise and pound foolish," and alas! compe- 
 tency is too frequently set aside for incomp3tency, 
 through the channels of favoritism, partisan prefer- 
 ence, petty personal spite and envy. But we 
 pass on. 
 
 Listen ! A low, deep, heavy, hollow sound it 
 heard in the distance. It is the rumbling of wheels ; 
 the measured tread of long columns of armed men ; 
 the beating of iron hoofs on the hard gound ; and 
 various other Bounds incident to the marching of a 
 large army. Nearer and nearer approach the«i 
 sounds, mingled with the rattling of mnskets and 
 the jingling of swords; and now comes into view 
 column after column, their muskets, swords and 
 bayonets gleaming in the sun, and the blue uniforms 
 looking like a cloud of destruction about to bursv 
 and overwhelm our little band, now grasping their 
 
14 
 
 trusty arms. Ay, these gallent few can discern the 
 once loved, but now detested Flag, prostituted to 
 the base purposes of a tyrant and Abolition horde, 
 who then made, and yet make it, the signal for civil 
 war and cutting the throats of those once protected 
 beneath its ample folds. Beneath it now is daily 
 perpetrated deeds at which the very fiends stand 
 aghast — deeds that have smelled rank to Heaven, 
 and which will yet call down a retribution, in God's 
 good time, upon the enactors, that will startle the 
 world with the justness and vengeance of Almighty 
 Power, since He and his laws have been set at 
 defiance, His name blasphemed, and the worship 
 of the negro substituted for that of Himself. 
 
 If the hearts of our little band fluttered faster than 
 they did before, and if their blood coursed more 
 rapidly through their veins than usnal, fear was not 
 the cause, but natural excitement that the calmest 
 and bravest cannot wholly prevent. They may 
 have grasped their arms more firmly — they may 
 havo compressed their lips more tightly, and their 
 eyes may have gleamed with unusual light; but 
 these things only indicated spirits undismayed and 
 souls resolved. There was no quailing — they were 
 nerved for the contest, and ready for it. 
 
 Suddenly from the Richmond Howitzers belches 
 forth the iron deaths. The columns of the advancing 
 foe are rent and torn, but the gaps are,closed and 
 on they come. All at once the leaden messengers 
 are hurled from a thousand rifles and muskets, and 
 they strew the ground with dead and wounded 
 Yankees. Five times as many are hurled at our 
 
15 
 
 little Spartan band, but not a man is touched. One 
 continued sheet of flame bursts along our front, and 
 the work grows too hot for Yankee pluck, and they 
 begin to show their backs. A shout goes up from 
 our soldiers, and Yankee legs cannot outstrip our 
 bullets. They fall at every step until beyond our 
 reach, the Howitzers aiding the muskets, in* the 
 work of death. 
 
 After a short breathing spell they again approach. 
 Our dauntless heroes retire to their trenches. On 
 come the gaudily dressed New- York Zouaves, with 
 yells like savages, and savages they were in all 
 except disregard for personal safety. Like all bad 
 3 men they were apparently reckless, but in fact 
 were cowards. Little did they think that, like the 
 sacrifices of ancient times, they were bedecked and 
 ornamented for the slaughter. A few vollies throw 
 them into disorder. They glory in the work of 
 killing, but being killed is a very different thing. 
 They could gloat with fiendish satisfaction over the 
 blood of others ; but their coward hearts cannot 
 bear the idea of having their own veins drained. 
 Many have been the helpless and unarmed victims 
 that have fallen beneath their assassin strokes. 
 But here there are two 6ides to the question. While 
 they would deal death to others, their craven spirits 
 cannot bear the thought of having the compliment 
 returned. The whistling of bullets has no music 
 for their ears, though they could listen enraptured 
 to the dying moans of the unoffending, slain for 
 purposes of robbery or revenge. 
 
 In vain their Colonel, Waldrop, tries to rail/ 
 
16 
 
 them, Elevating himself, with naked sword in 
 hand, he curses them for cowards and tries to shame 
 and exasperate them into bravery. Fool that he 
 was, not to know that true valor dwells not in the 
 bosoms of thieves and murderers. Fool that he was, 
 not to know that such bosoms are insensible to 
 shame. While waving his sword and heaping curses 
 upon his flying sooundrels, a ball from a North- 
 Carolina musket stretches him lifeless upon the 
 ground. Those of his command able to run, ply 
 their legs with might and main, scattered in all 
 directions, and infusing their terror into others. 
 They had physical force, but no true valor : the de- 
 praved are never brave. They are but beasts, and 
 like all beasts they shrink instinctively from danger, 
 with a wild howor in which allreason, all manliness, 
 all self-possession is lost. 
 
 Meantime one of the Howitzers has been rendered 
 useless, on another part of the line, by the breaking 
 of a wire in the vent. Some hundreds of Yankees 
 bravely rush upon the harmless piece and capture 
 it. What a glorious deed ! How renowned must 
 they be in history ! Have they not fearlessly rushed 
 upon a piece of metal, that will not shoot, and 
 dauntlessly laid their hands upon it? Have they 
 not won an elephant, and a dead one at that ? Who 
 <an blame them for yelling and shouting over the 
 i hough t of the undying fame that must now forever 
 couple their names with those of the renowned 
 heroes of history? 
 
 Short lived gratulation ! As bounds the'lion upon 
 the more ignoble boasts that are feasting upon the 
 - 
 
17 
 
 unresisting carcass provided for them by. tlie valor 
 of another, so springs Capt. Bridgers with his 
 seventy-five Edgecombe Guards, upon the jubilant 
 Yankees. As nee the meaner animals with reckless 
 fright, so flee these valiant captors of the inoffensive 
 gun. A charge at them is all — upon them requires 
 a tieetness of courage superior to that of fear — some- 
 thing rarely found! The gleam of bayonets was 
 disgusting to their sight, and they turned their backs 
 to avoid seeing it, leaving behind them the prizQ 
 for which they had expended so much breath in 
 noisy shouts. But few of our men had been struck, 
 and not a single one disabled. 
 
 Very soon it was perceived that the Yankees 
 were effecting a lodgement in an old house, from 
 which they could very much annoy us. Capt. 
 Bridgers called for volunteers to set fire to the house. 
 Five men sprang forward, young Henry L. Wyatt 
 the foremost among them, each with a brand in his 
 hand. They make a dash for the house, and young 
 "VVyatt falls, struck in the forehead bv a ball. 
 Scarcely is he upon the ground before his slayer is 
 shot down, and the Yankees speedily evacuate the 
 house. Again repulsed, there is' a halt in the 
 battle-storm. 
 
 Colonel Hill rides along his lines, his face beam- 
 ing with pride and joy, and is greeted with cheers. 
 Every soldier feels himself a hero. That natural 
 dread which all must feel when going into battle, 
 has worn off, and now they feel invincible. The 
 laugh and juke go round, and all are merry. Many 
 of the dead have been borne off, but they can see 
 
18 
 
 many still lying where they fell, and they know 
 their arms have been felt. 
 
 In about half an hour the enemy again advances, 
 from a different direction, having made a consider- 
 able circuit, with the intention of Hanking our men 
 and getting in their rear. But their columns plunge 
 into a deep morass, and they can neither advance 
 nor retreat. Now does the carnival of death hold 
 high revel in their ranks. In range of onr marks- 
 men, they fall by scores, some sinking into the slimy 
 mud and water, the only graves they will ever 
 know. All that can, struggle back, and make haste 
 to put themselves out of reach of our guns. Like 
 frightened sheep they scamper off, and infect their 
 comrades with their own terror. A hasty, disor- 
 derly, and disgraceful retreat commences, our cannon 
 accellerating their steps. Our men leap from their 
 fortifications, and pursue the ftying foe for several 
 miles. The retreat becomes a route, and our vic- 
 tory is complete. 
 
 Thus was hurled back in blood and shame the 
 glittering hosts of Yankee chivalry ! that went forth 
 bo proudly to capture that handful of " ragged 
 rebels." How must old Beast Butler have felt when 
 he saw his troops returning crest-fallen, whipped ! 
 Doubtless if there had been a defenceless woman 
 near him he would have insulted her, and felt as 
 proud of it as his Puritan forefathers did of burning 
 old women for witches, and punishing harmless 
 Baptists and Quakers for worshipping God accord- 
 ing to the dictates of their own consciences. 
 
 Our entire loss was one killed and seven slightly 
 
19 
 
 wounded ; that of the enemy was about three hun- 
 dred killed and as many more wounded. It is true 
 that we had the ad van t: go of position, but that 
 would have availed us but little but for our own 
 superior valor and workmanship. Their balb, at 
 times, iiew thick and fast, but mostly far above the 
 heads of our own troops, as if expecting to find 
 them up trees. 
 
 Let it bo remembered that the first blood shed in 
 this vjar, in regular battle, lOas shed at the battle of 
 Great Bethel; and let it also be remembered that 
 the first blood of a Southern soldier that stained 
 Confederate soil, was the blood of a North- Caro- 
 linian — young Wyatt, who knew not the meaning 
 of fear, and was insensible to danger when ana 
 where duty called. He was but a private soldier, 
 but no braver spirit has more nobly perishedon the 
 battle-field, whether clad in uniform or in humble 
 garments. And from the day of his death the troops 
 of North-Ccirolina seem to have emulated his exam- 
 ple. They have been among the bravest and most 
 reliable troops in our armies, and have been excelled 
 by none. They have ever sprang with alacrity 
 where duty called them, and by their steady firm- 
 ness, their determined purpose, their resolve to 
 conquer or die, they have accomplished deeds that 
 will place them among the highest on the scroll of 
 fame, when the truth of history shall be unrolled. 
 For all this 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 tbat little apparently wrung from reluctant 
 
20 
 
 tongues, envious pens, ana 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-devotion are unchrou- 
 icled — their glorious deeds are as silent as their 
 bloody graves. 
 
 Do North-Carolina troops achieve a victory, tho 
 newspapers nearest the scene of operations, either 
 pass it over in silence or represent it as a small 
 affair ; or if they speak of the bravery of the troops, 
 tney strangely forgeflo tell what State the troops 
 are from. It they meet with a reverse, which, thank 
 God ! is seldom, these same newspapers bruit it 
 abroad, magnify it, and ring charges upon it with 
 apparent delight. 
 
 It 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)-partiality in chroni- 
 cling faithfully the events of the day, I will say 
 they have never yet published the facts that North- 
 Carolina troops have, on two occasions at least, 
 charged over the prostrate froms of troops of another 
 State, and accomplished the , work to which these 
 prostrate soldiers could be neither led nor driven. 
 
 Let us look at a few recent events. Gen. Ramseur 
 not long since met with a slight reverse near Win- 
 chester, Ya. What degree of censure, if any, he 
 merits I know not. But let him be fairly judged 
 and acquitted or punished as he deserves ; for I 
 would screen no -officer or soldier from merited ceii- 
 
21 
 
 sure, whether from North-Carolina or elsewhere. 
 Bat certain newspapers in and around the seat of 
 Government, seized upon the affair, held it up as 
 44 Ramseur's defeat," and seemed delighted to allude 
 to it as " the first reverse 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 S^ate, would the 
 "reverse have been heralded with sucii a flourish 
 of trumpets ? Perhaps the following will answer 
 the question : 
 
 Quite recently — siuce " Ramseur's defeat"— Pc- 
 gram's Battery was captured and the troops sup- 
 porting it repulsed. 1 fenow not that those engaged 
 were to blame. I have no reason to think they did 
 not fight bravely and do all that brave men could 
 under the circumstances $ but these same news- 
 papers touched the affair gingerly — cut it off with 
 a paragraph — and never mentioned the States from 
 which the troops came — a sure indication that they 
 were not from North-Carolina ; and they were not. 
 A few days afterwards about 5,000 North-Carolinians, 
 with a few other troops, encountered about 17,000 
 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, I am not aware that they have ever 
 communicated the information to their readers. 
 
 In fact one or more of the Richmond papers, some 
 days after the affair at Bethel, seemed to have 
 
22 
 
 doubts about any such battle having been fought at 
 all. Was it because North-Carolina troops, princi- 
 pally, were engaged ? 
 
 More recently still. On Sunday, 21st of August 
 last, our forces were repulsed in their assault on the 
 enemy's lines near Petersburg, on thoWeldon Rail- 
 road. Virginia papers told us that the repulse was 
 attributable to the conduct — one of them says "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 followingThursday the enemy was attacked 
 near Reams' Station, on the same road, driven back 
 into their fortifications — their fortifications stormed 
 and carried — and the Yankee hosts scattered like 
 chaff before our invincible soldiers. Thanks to that 
 good and great-hearted man, Gen. Lee, he tells us 
 in his official dispatch that Cook's, McRae's and 
 Lane's North- Carolina brigades, with Pegram's 
 artillery, composed the assaulting columns. 
 
 Had not Gen. 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 selected, not so much with reference 
 to qualifications as to partizan predilections. Our 
 troops, for the most part, must fight under officers 
 
23 
 
 . 
 from other States; and though this does not effect 
 their willingness to fight, they cannot help consid- 
 ering it an indignity to their State. 
 
 Look, too, to the present position of one of her 
 most cherished sons, Gen. D. H. Ilill, the hero of 
 Bethel. For nearly a 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 thousands of lives are too frequently sacrificed 
 and the cause itself put in jeopardy, to interfere with 
 his love for and duty to his country. He has, in 
 many recent battles, taken part, sometimes assigned 
 to a command for the special occasion. His case is 
 awakening indignation against his pursuers, and 
 creating a corresponding sympathy 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 
 he has the cause of his country at heart, and that 
 self is not considered. He knows his countrymen 
 will do him justice, and lets not the injustice done 
 him by malice or envy or other cause, interfere 
 with his love of duty. He had too much of the 
 "go ahead," and too little of the "falling back" 
 qualifications, to render him a fitting person for 
 special favors and place him in the safe line of pro- 
 motion. Posterity will do him justice, and, like his 
 adopted State, he is content with this. 
 
 itforth-Carolina, too, has more volunteers, in pro- 
 portion to her population, than any other State; 
 and the Conscript law has been more rigidly en- 
 
24 
 
 forced, in her borders than in those of any other 
 State ; yet, because there are some deserters and 
 skulkers in her western counties, more than half of 
 whom are from other States, she must be stigma- 
 tized as "the tory State," and the Habeas Caipm 
 act must be suspended for her special benefit. One 
 half of Virginia may set up for itself and join 
 Lincoln, and hundreds of her Eastern citizens may 
 have taken the oath of allegiance to Abraham the 
 last ; yet we hoar nothing of tories there. Cotton 
 and sugar planters "down South" may take the 
 oath of allegiance and cultivate their own lands 
 with what were formerly their o^n negroes, by 
 giving the Yankees one-half of the products ; yet 
 we are not told of any tories there. North-Carolina 
 must be made the scape-goat to bear olt the sins of 
 the other States, to gratify official spleen, partisan 
 malice and envious hearts. She can well afford to 
 act in this capacity ; she can well endure the con- 
 temptible scoffs and sneers of her traducers, for she 
 knows the sun of her fame shines but the more 
 brightly, in contrast with their dark conduct to- 
 wards her, and that she is so far beyond their puny 
 shafts that, but for pity, she could smile compla- 
 cently upon them. The truth of history, she knows, 
 will do her justice, and conscious of this, she moves 
 along serene and undisturbed, though she lets fall a 
 tear of pity for the depravity of those assailing her. 
 She asks no artificial bolstering, no high-wrought 
 eulogies of venal pens and hireling scribblers. She 
 would blush at any notoriety given her by such 
 means, and in her honest pride would denounce 
 
25 
 
 6ucb false glitter, knowing it was not glory. She 
 cares not that abuse of her is made a stepping stone 
 to court-favor and promotion. She knows that all 
 such will soon find their level, unfathomably be- 
 neath her. She doss her duty, fully, bravely, nobly, 
 and is satisfied to bide her time until the demorali- 
 zation and enviousness of the present day 6hall have 
 given place to a fairer, less prejudiced and less 
 corrupt era. 
 
 One other instance. At the battle of Gettysburg 
 a certain brigade was hoisted to the top round of 
 the ladder of praise for having stormed and carried 
 a portion of the enemy's works. It is needless to 
 say what State these troops were from ; they were 
 not from North-Carolina, or we should never have 
 heard of the grand achievement. The Virginia 
 papers prfled Pelion upon Ossa, and day by day 
 bore up material to add to the length, breadth and 
 height of the stupendous pile. 
 
 And what are the facts ? The works were stormed 
 and carried in spite of a few straggling Yankees 
 left behind, the " grand army " having evacuated 
 the place and commenced its retreat. There had 
 been, but a Jittle time before, a heavy force there, 
 and had it remained until our assaulting columns 
 arrived it is highly probable that few or none of the 
 assailants would have escaped. In that case, had 
 they been North-Carolina troops, it would have 
 been a blunder. But honor to the brave officers 
 and men engaged, for they expected formidable op- 
 position; and I mention the affair merely to show 
 with what facility Virginia editors can magnify mole 
 
26 
 
 liills into mountains when certain troops are spoken 
 of, and reduce mountains to mole hills when other 
 troops form their theme. Had North-Carolina 
 troops stormed these works, the whole affair would 
 most likely have been considered a ludicrous joke ; 
 or an attempt might have been made to create the 
 impression that they knew the works were aban- 
 doned, and sought glory which they knew would 
 be bloodless. 
 
 To add insult to injury, it is also sometimes inti- 
 mated that the North-Carolina troops are put in the 
 front of the fight, in order that other troops behind 
 them may prevent their running away ; but none of 
 them have ever yet been made to fall while other 
 troops charged over them. Ask Gen. Lee and other 
 honest officers why they are so frequently put in 
 the front, and they will tell you, because fehey are 
 reliable. At Yorktown North-Carolina troops were 
 placed in front, and in the retreat from that place 
 they brought up the rear. Thus was the post of 
 honor and of danger assigned them in both cases. 
 
 Quite recently — O, tell it not in Gath, nor pub- 
 lish it in the streets of Richmond ! — these same Vir- 
 ginia papers, for purposes best known, perhaps, to 
 themselves, have spoken well of the u honor " and 
 " conservatism " of North-Carolina. " Time,o Dor 
 naos et dona ferentes." Still they say nothing of 
 the bravery of our soldiers. 
 
 If a man has reviled, abused, and spoken con- 
 temptuously of you through a series of years, or 
 slighted and ignored you, and all at once begins to 
 praise you, can you regard it as complimentary! 
 
27 
 
 Can you believe him sincere? Would yon not nat- 
 ural ly suppose he had some sinister motive for bis 
 sudden change ? If you are wise you will watch 
 him with increased vigilance. 
 
 It must be mortifying, too, to every true son of 
 North-Carolina to see our own State papers copying 
 these articles, and expressing thanks and grateful 
 feelings for them; just as a child who has been 
 scolded, is pleased by a kind word from the one who 
 had scolded it. It is too much like the whipped 
 spaniel that will turn and lick the hand that smote 
 him, for a kind pat on the head. No; let them 
 abuse her — it is her praise : their praise is her bane. 
 Sordid motives sometimes prompt the language of 
 compliment. Political considerations often do the 
 same. Spite at one party not unfrcquently suggests 
 praise of another, when neither is regarded with 
 any kind feelings, the show of kindness being put 
 on for party purposes — to dupe one into antagonism 
 with another. North-Carolina has too much sense 
 to be thus duped, and too much penetration not to 
 see the serpent coiled beneath the rose. She is 
 above calling upon her defamcrs to prove her good 
 character. She can afford to despise both them and 
 their testimony, well knowing they will have no 
 weight with an impartial historian* Conscious rec- 
 titude can wait its vindication;: conscious guilt seeks 
 for props and stays, and would deceive the world 
 by creating an impression of its innocence, even by 
 pulling down the innocent aud building itself upon? 
 the ruins. The guilty are generally the first accu- 
 sers, in order to divert suspic'oii from themselves. 
 
28 
 
 To prevent their own conduct being discnssed, they 
 had rather discuss and draw public attention to that 
 of others. 
 
 North-Carolina rests her fame upon her deeds — 
 not upon her words. It is not necessary for her to 
 defame others. She is willing to award praise to 
 all who deserve it. She seeks the injury of none, 
 and she has no fears that others can injure her.—* 
 Calm and unmoved she pursues the even tenor of 
 her way, appreciating her friends and passing by 
 her foes with silent contempt, mingled with pity for 
 the envy of some and the malice of others. The 
 groundless prejudices of those high in authority, 
 weigh no more with her than the paltry attacks or 
 slights of petty newspaper scribblers, puffed up 
 sub-officials, and dastardly tools of would-be tyrants. 
 
BY FRANK. I. WILSON. 
 
 This work, of about 100 pages, is now 
 in the hands of the printer, and will be 
 ready soon. It embraces what the writer 
 either saw or heard from reliable sources, 
 and will be printed on fine white paper. 
 
 SOME OF THE CONTENTS ARE : 
 
 Nassau as it was, and as it is; Population; 
 
 White Folks ; Colored Population ; Soil ; 
 
 Products j Stock ; Dogs ; Chicken Cocks; 
 
 Ikying at Quarantine; Government; 
 
 Shipping ; Squalls ; Jllusquitoes ; 
 
 Sharks, and other ocean 
 
 products; 
 
 The Parson on £ea-Sickuess, Ac, &c. 
 
 Sent free of postage for $3 per cop/ ; 
 five or more copies to one address $2.50 
 per copy. 
 
 Send orders to 
 
 FRANK. I. WILSON. 
 
 Hgp" Papers in the State publishing the above 
 will have a copy of the work sent them free of 
 postage. 
 
NEW AUCTION & COMMISSION STORE. 
 
 W. II. & R. S. TUCKER & W. R. ANDREWS 
 
 Have associated themselves together under the name 
 and style of 
 
 tucker, iLmmsws & CO., 
 
 for the purpose of conducting a general Auction* 
 and Commission business. 
 
 All business entrusted to them will meet with 
 promptness and dispatch. 
 
 TUCKER, ANDREWS & CO. 
 
 Raleigh, N. C, Oct. 4, 1S64. 
 
 CREECH & LITCHFORD, 
 
 AUCTION & COMMISSION MERGBMI 
 
 FAYETTEVILLE STJKEET, RALEIGH* N. €.. 
 
 Agent* for the §ale of Personal and Seal 
 Estate, Produce of all Rinds, &c, to. 
 
 All business entrusted to them mil; be promptly 
 and faithfully attended ft®. 
 October 4, 1864. 
 
W. R. RICHARDSON t & CO., 
 
 EXCHANGE AND STOCK BROKERS, 
 
 FAYETTE VILLE ST., RALEIGH, N. C. 
 
 WANTED TO BUY 
 
 GOLD AND SILVER, BANK NOTES, 
 
 AND NORTH-CAROLINA TREASURY NOTES- 
 
 October 4, 1864. 
 
 J. M. TOWLES, 
 
 AUCTION & COMMISSION MERCHANT. 
 
 FAYETTEVILLE STREET, RALEIGH. K. C. 
 
 Will attend punctually to all business entrusted to 
 him. "With an experience of many years, he feels 
 assured he can give general satisfaction. Patronage 
 respectfully solicited. 
 October 4, 1854. 
 
J. G. WILLIiLMS & 00., 
 
 §foci{ ^9 £xcf)^ge Stoles, 
 
 FAYETTEVILLE STREET, RALEIGH, N. C. 
 WA N TE D, 
 
 3,000 North- Carolina Coupons (old), 
 
 2,000 North-Carolina Railroad Coupons, 
 
 5,000 North-Carolina Bank Notes. 
 October 4, 1864. , 
 
 CHARLES M. FARRiSS, 
 
 MIlfflAIT TAIWln 
 
 FAYETTEVILLE STREET, RALEIGH, N. C. 
 
 Keeps constantly on hand a large and varied 
 selection of English and Confederate Goods, and 
 having in his employ two of 
 
 Xfye $esf Gtiffete Iff ffje .§oi{ff?; 
 
 is prepared to furnish Officers' and Citizens' 
 Clothing- at the shortest possible notice. 
 
 His prices will be as moderate as the times will 
 admit of. 
 
 CHARLES JL FARRISS. 
 
 October 4, 1864. 
 
I 
 
v* 1 ''•' ,