From the North Carolina Soldiers

From Lane's Brigade. Extract From a Letter Dated

Between Chaffin's Farm and Deep Bottom

August 5, 1864

You have probably seen in the papers accounts of the capture of 4 splendid guns from the Rockbridge Battery near Deep Bottom, on Wednesday the 27th. For information of our friends, I will state that neither this Brigade nor nor any other N.C. troops were concerned in this affair. It occurred two miles from the left of our line. The gunners were Virginians - the troops supporting Gary's S.C. and Va. Cavalry brigade on the left and Humphrey's Miss. Infantry on the right. Each charges the blame upon the other. The fact that the battery was Virginian sufficiently accounts for the retiscence of the Richmond papers, which would
otherwise have teemed with terrible denunciations, as in the case of that petty affair in the Valley which they delight to call "Ramseur's Defeat".

A short while after the capture of these splendid guns from the Virginians, the enemy opened upon our Brigade with a battery supported by a line of battle and advanced their skirmishers. These were driven back and by 5 o'clock p.m. the skirmish ceased. It was during this skirmish that Col. Barry was wounded as we were riding forward.

The next morning we moved to the left and forward 4 or 5 miles and fought the battle of Gravelly Hill, which broke up the enemy's advance on this side the river. After pursuing the retreated enemy on Friday and Saturday we we ordered to Petersbuerg; but Gen. Ewell telegraphed Gen.
Lee asking to be allowed to keep — Brigades, which was granted, and we are now in line about 2 miles below Chafin's Bluf and about 1 ½ miles above our old place at Deep Bottom. The latter is held by some of Fields' Division.

I forgot to mention in my last that we captured a battery at Gravelly Hill, but brought off only one piece, which we have safe. The battery was in front of McGowan's line of advance and was for the most part taken by men of that Brigade; but its fire was oblique, and I think we received the most of its shots.

E.J. H, Jr.

[It is a curious fact that not one of the Virginia papers, nor any Press dispatch, has ever alluded to this fight at Gravelly Hill, where 2,000 (in great part North arolinians) drove 7000 Yankees nearly three miles - Observer]

Fayetteville Observer
Aug. 11, 1864