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THE TIT! II NORTH CAROLINA REG I- 1M TNT. ' j »The Fif ill Iu fan try, N. C. State Troops, forms .n part of Brigadier General Longstreet's commandand although crippled in its efficiency by the sick- | Jj ness of two of its field officers, nobly performed ilspart in the battle of Manassas, on the right wing, ' under the gallant lead of its Lieutenant Colonel,J. T. Jones, who was in sole command during the entire engagement.i(Ia ai aI1Early in the morning the cannonading comments jj ed from two batteries on the right flank of the posi- '| lion occupied by this Regiment, supported by u j ? full brigade of the enemy. Colonel Jones determined to ascertain the position of their batteries and the force of the eneuiy, detailed a small re-con neutering force under the command of Rev. James Sinclair, Chaplain of the Regiment, who i j had volunteered liis services for the day. This v• i %force crossed the Run, and attempted to penetrate j g the wood on the left of the enemy's position, butwas recalled, in order to charge the batteries up the ravine on the right, the scouts having brought iu the necessary information. The Virginia seventeenth was at the same time ordered to support tlie North Carolina Fifth, which duty it gallantly discharged. General Longstreet, with characteristic valor, undertook now a movement which, if the orders were understood generally, would have carried the day with still greater lustre, if not a more complete victory.Col Jones was oidered to send four companies up the hill as skirmishers, and to draw the tire of1 the batteries, while Brigadier General Jones from our right was to flank the enemy on his left. '1 he reserve companies of tho 5th, supported by the 17th Virginia, was to uttaek the enemy on the right. The skirmishers of the North Carolina 5th headed by the Chaplain, charged up the hill, in luce of a storm of grape and can ster which killed two an 1 wounded live of his men. On the summit of this liiil these men lav fur two hours, re-••ceiving the enemy's lire without flinching, while on every side the hoary monarch* of the forest were being mown down like giass before the mow-ci’s scythe. The brave commander himself.-eoiu* ed to be ubiquitous—here, there and everywhere , j: exposing himself in the hottest of the fire. It is j v hard for men to remain still anil receive the fire of Hie enemy, without being permitted to return it; and this precisely was the condition of the North Carolina 5th on the 21st J uly. Long and eager’v did those brave men watch lor the signal of attack upon the right, in order to give the Northern hounds a touch of the Southern steel.After remaining on the hill fur two hour*, and losing iu killed and wounded seven men, this body received orders to retire to the ravine, which was done in good order.But the tide of buttle again rolled down thehill and once mure four companies of the 5lli N.C. State troops were ordered to occupy the summit, and await orders to advance with the bayonet on the battery on the right i»{ the enemy’s position. This was accomplished without any loss to the North Carolinians* and although they wc renot privileged to advance upon the battery, we think the North Carolina Fifth Infantry has given good earnest that at no distant day she will carve for herself a name in the military annuls of the Southern Confederacy. Uud Lieut. Col. Joneshad tl»e other field officers of the Regiment withhim, there would have probably been anotherbright spot in the glories of the 21st of July, 1801.But bravely did lie perform his duty, though his Lieut. Colonel was a preacher, taking his first lesson in the art of war. and imparting the sameto the enemy in the most impressive manner possi-bio. J( Jen. Longstroct, in token of his appreciation of Mr Sinclair s services on the occasion, presented him with one of t he sabres captured from the enemy, and expressed his desire that he should go onhis staff.Duncan K. McRae, the Colonel of the above mentioned Regiment was unfortunately detained at Weldon by sickness. Lieut. Col. Jones, who commanded in the tight, is a native of Anson county, formerly of the U. S. Army.rI1tJ8Vt1
Newspaper Details
Charlotte Western Democrat
Charlotte, North Carolina, US
Tue, Aug 06, 1861
Page 1
Full Page
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Anonymous
USA 14 Mar 2023
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