The Greensborough Patriot

June 5, 1862

Page 2

Col. Scales Regiment.

            Mr. T. C. Evans, Junior Editor of the Milton Chronicle, who was in the Williamsburg fight, has published in the Chronicle the following account of the action of the Regiment commanded by Col. A. M. Scales:

COL. SCALES REGIMENT IN THE FIGHT

            The 13th N. C. Regiment left the Brigade at 3 o’clock in the evening, and were guided through a field, all the while exposed to a galling fire from the enemy, and posted in the rear of an old ditch.  We had hardly taken our position before the left of the line was attacked by a Regiment of the Yankees came up under the guise of friends, drying, “Don’t shoot! We are friends—the 19th Mississippi.”  This Yankee trick was played so well that they succeeded in getting twenty or thirty steps from us, besides we had been cautioned not to shoot till we were certain, for friends were before us.—But no closer did they come, for just then Companies B, G, and K opened a heavy and effective fire upon them, which seemed to stagger them for a while—but again they rallied, when Lt. Col. Ruffin, who had charge of those companies at the time commanded “charge the scoundrels boys,” and right glorious was the charge—man to man with bayonets locked, disputed every inch of ground fiercely.  Just then Captain Baily with sword raised to strike down a Hessian Colonel, was shot through the arm and right breast and fell badly wounded.—Whether he was conveyed off the field or not is yet unknown; they opinion is he was taken prisoner.  This charge lasted about ten minutes, when the Yanks fell back, finding there was no flinching on the part of the 13th, though Cos. B, G, and K were badly cutup.  A soldier of another Regiment who witnessed the charge, cried out after it was over, “go it pluck,” and the old Thirteenth felt in no small degree proud of this rude but expressive compliment.

            Col. Scales acted in a manner becoming the Regiment: he gave unmistakable proof that the honor of the Regiment would ever be safe in his hands.  The bearing of Lt. Col. Ruffin on that day reflects grace on the sword that hangs at his side and adorns the position which his is so eminently fitted for.  Walking up and down the line with admirable ease and nonchalance, his person exposed to the enemy’s fire, his voice was heard everywhere enlivening the men and cautioning them to keep cool and be watchful.  By some unaccountable cause our Regiment remained in that thick wood from dark till 11 o’clock, alone and unsupported.  Orders were issued in the evening for us to leave, but strange to say we never received them and we would in all probability have been there till day break had not Col. Scales sent to enquire into the matter, when word was returned that orders had been issued.  If morning had have dawned on us there the whole Regiment would have been cut off and either cut to pieces or all have been taken prisoners.

            Capt. Erwin was wounded while leading his men to their position.  I annex a correct list of our casualties.

LIST OF THE KILLED, WOUNDED AND MISSING.

            Company A—Killed: A. C. Totten—Wounded: H. C. Thompson, Joseph Gillaspie.

            Com. B.—Killed: 1st Lieut. J. Thompson, R. S. C. Baker, J. F. Knox, E. I. Prather, Corporal R. L. Swan, J. F. Wilson—Wounded: Capt. A. A. Erwin, Lt. J. W. Alexander, J. A. Boyd, C. W. Brown, J. M. Erwin, Corp. W. A. Freeman, F. A. Hawkins, J. R. Kerr, H. L. Wolfe, S. H. Magain, W. S. Taylor.

            Com. D—Wounded: W. H. Bradford.

            Com. F.—Wounded: J. H. Farchess, N. M. Igmer.

            Com. G—Killed: W. M. Hussey, L. Morgan, S. Pippin, J. Marshall, V. B. Anderson.—Wounded: W. H. Adkins, Sergt. W. Peel, Sergt. Dupree, Corp. W. Andrew, Corp. G. W. Stancill, E. Andrews, W. Proctor, W. Alston, B Parker, 1st Sergt. G. L. Brown, (slightly) J. Tanner, (slightly).

            Com. K—Killed: M. D. Hines, R. W. Stanfield, M. N. Ward—Wounded: P. R. Wright, Sergt. J. N. Justice, R. A. Maxwell, W. R. Totton, J. L. Ward, W. A. Walker, J. M. Martin, A. B. Powell, J. Taylor, Capt. G. P. Bailey, Sergt. R. L. Watt (slightly)

            Missing—Co. B:  3

            “               Co. D:  1

            “               Co. G:  4

            “               Co. K:  7

            Total Missing:    15

            “  Killed:             15

            “  Wounded:        48

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