Hillsborough Recorder (NC)

August 7, 1861

Page 2

SHERMAN’S BATTERY

What strange powers of resuscitation Major Sherman and his men must have since they were completely “annihilated” by the 11^th Virginia Regiment, and yet revived in time to be “cut to pieces” by Hampton’s Legion, put to flight, and their guns turned upon themselves. After two such “complete annihilations,” one would think these fellows had had enough of dying; but no, we see by “an eye witness’s account” that this same Sherman’s Battery was dealing death and destruction, when “a single company of South Carolinians” charged upon and captured the entire battery! Not content with this these immortals were manning their guns again, when attacked and destroyed by the 68^th Virginia, again by the 49^th, and we are not sure but the accounts mention an “annihilation” by a Georgia Regiment before these queer fellows [unreadable phrase]. Whether the “annihilations” occurred in this order or not the accounts do not state. Certain it is, however, that reliable persons, eye-witnesses, participators, etc., mention every one of the above.

Ellsworth’s Zouaves seem, also, to have been made of the same indestructible material. For “their terrible loss was owing to their encountering a Texas Regiment, who cut them up terribly.” Again we find that it was an Arkansas Regiment who, throwing away their muskets, seized their bowie-knives and cut off the heads and cleft the skulls of the paralyzed Zouaves; and, yet, we have hardly read this thrilling description when we find that it was the 2d South Carolina Regiment that destroyed the famous “Fire Zouaves.”

It is supposed that the 6^th North Carolina Regiment was somewhere in the fight, as it is mentioned that the body of Col. Fisher, who commanded it, passed through Richmond the day after the battle.

Col. Kirkland, too, with the 11^th Volunteers, was extremely fortunate in being placed in the same Brigade with two S. C. Regiments, thereby obtaining passing mention in a letter writer’s account.

To be serious: We presume it will turn out, as it did at Bethel, that the North Carolinians prefer that the full extent and value of their gallant deeds should be made known by some other trumpeter than their own. The only letter we have seen from any of our gallant volunteers, who participated in the fight was the very modest one from Lieut. McPherson to his father who lives in the country, and it was by the merest chance that we saw it.

-Fayetteville Observer-

[Transcribed by Sharon Strout]