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THE FIFTH NORTH CAROLINA REG1- 1 MKNT. ' i sThe Filth Infantry, N. C. State Troops, forms a part of Brigadier General Longstreet’s command 1; and although crippled in its efficiency by the sick- )' ness of two of its field officers, nobly performed its p ut in the battle of Manassas, on the right wing, 8 under the gallant lead of its Lieutenant Colonel, ? J. 1*. Jones, w ho was in sole command during the 1 entire engagement.Early in the morning the cannonsJing corcmenc- i jcd from two batteries on the right flank of the posi- 1 t tilt;iii occupied by this Regiment, supported by u , j full brigade of the enemy. Colonel Jones deter- r mined to ascertain the position of their batteries and the force of the enemy, detailed a small re-connoitering force under the command of Rev. .Jantes Sinclair, Chaplain of the Regiment, who [ had volunteered his services for the day. This v force crossed the Run, and attempted to penetrate g the wood on the left of the enemy's position, but g was recalled, in order to charge the batteries up I ( the ravine on the right, the scouts having brought i ^ in the necessary information. The Virginia seventeenth was at the same tiiue ordered to support llie North Carolina Fifth, which duty it gallantly discharged. General Longstrcet, with characteristic valor, undertook now a movemeut which, if the orders were understood generally, would have j carried the day with still greater lustre, if not a more complete victory.Col Jones was otdered to send four companies up the hill as skirmishers, and to draw the tire of the batteries, while Brigadier General Jones from our right was to flank the enemy on his left. '1 he reserve companies of the otli, supported by the 17th Virginia, was to attack the enemy on the right. 'J be skirmishers of the North Carolina Oth headed by the Chaplain, charged up the hill, in face of a storm of grape and cuu stcr which killed two an 1 wounded five of his men. On the summit of this lull these men lay fur two hours, receiving the enemy’s fire without flinching, while on every side the hoary monurclis of the forest were being mown down like grass before the tuow-oi’s scythe. The brave commander himself-e. toed to be ubiquitous—here, there and everywhere exposing himself it* the hottest of the fire. It is hard for men to remain still and receive the fire of the enemy, without being permitted to return it; and this precisely was the condition of the North Carolina 5th on the -1st J uly. Long and eagerly 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 for two hours, and losing in killed and wounded seven men, this body received orders to retire to the ravine, which was done in good order.But the tide of battle aeain rolled down the hill and once more four companies of the 5th N.C. State troops were ordered to occupy the summit, and await orders to advance with the bayonet on the battery on the right of the enemy’s position. This was accomplished without any loss to the North Carolinians; and although they wlt; re not 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 annals of the .Southern Confederacy. Had Lieut. Col. Jones had the other field officers of the Regiment with him, there would have probably been another bright spot in the glories of the 21st of July, 18G1. But bravely did he perform bis duty, though bis Lieut. Colonel was a preacher, taking his first lesson in the art of war. and imparting the same to the enemy in the most impressive manner possible.Gen. Longstrcet, in token of his appreciation of Mr Sinclair's services on the occasion, presented him with one of t he sabre® captured from the enemy, and expressed his desire that he should go on his 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 fight, is a native of Anson county, formerly of the U S. Army.
Newspaper Details
Charlotte Western Democrat
Charlotte, North Carolina, US
Tue, Aug 06, 1861
Page 1
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USA 03 Mar 2024
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