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send me a few pairs more of socks (somebody stole most of mine, I believe), I would be much obliged to you. Jim Taylor brought so many [?] that I'm afraid 'twould be hard to hit upon numbers which we have not, already. If you are at a loss as to what kind of eatables to send, a large [begin underline] sponge-[end underline] cake or so, and a few ginger cakes (by your own receipt, ha!ha!) and biscuit will do. The boys seemed to like sponge cake very much. We are much better off than when I last wrote two of us having received boxes with provisions enough to last some time. I forgot to ask you to send a French dictionary and some books [begin unerline] Arnault [end underline for one. Lewis' Horace, I would like to have also. If the box will be much trouble to you I'd rather you wouldn't do it. I'm not in as great need of it as when I wrote before
Good bye, my dear old Mother, may God bless and keep you [begin underline] all [end underline] till we meet again
[this is the same as page 18 of this document, already transcribed]
[top right margin] [1862] Head Quarters 33rd Reg't N.C.I. Kinston March 20th 1862
Dear Sir
Thinking you would like to know a few of the facts connected with our fight near new bern. I write to give you a true statement of as much of the action as I [begin underline] know [end underline] of.
The causes of our defeat were several, but the main cause was in our not having sufficient number of men to man our works properly. The blame rests on the authorities at Richmond for their culpable neglect in sending us a sufficient number of men to resist the attack, which they would have known would take place. Another cause was the miserable manner in which our works were constructed by Maj Thompson, who has failed in every work he has ever undertaken, made the greatest failure of all, in the construction of those works. They are a disgrace to [begin underline] any [end underline engineer. The cause of our being defeated in so short a time was the running of the militia followed by Col Sinclairs regiment, before [even a?] rounds had been fired by the enemy. As
[left margin, sideways on page] I could not get my horse up to the works on account of fallen timber which we had to climb over exposed to a terrible fire. I put the reins behind the saddle & started him to the rear. He went a short distance & returned and followed me with his head almost
[top of page sideways} on my shoulder until he could get no farther. He then turned & started to the rear but was shot before he got twenty steps from me. He suited me better than any horse in the world. He was the favourite of the camp on account of his gentleness, & [begin underline] good ness. [end underline]
Give my love to cousin Louise & the children.
I am not atal dispinited at our defeat but hope it will not happen again soon. Your friend truly WG Lewis
soon as Gen Branch knew that the militia had abandoned their position, he ordered Col Avery's (my) regiment to move forward & take the position from which the militia had fled. Col Avery's regiment was held in reserve as the first of the action to be thrown to the place hardest pressed. After the militia & Col Sinclairs regiment left, there was a space of some four hundred yards not defended. The enemy marched heavy colums through that space & flanked us right & left. Our regiment occupied little redoubts thrown upon hills command a small swamp. The Field officers of our Regiment had separate commands, Lt Col Hoke had charge of the right wing, Col Avery of the center & I had command of the left wing which rested on the railroad. My left flank was entirely unprotected, the vacant space being between Col Campbells' right & my left. Our regiment was exposed to a most severe fire for three hours & a half without any cessation whatever. My commanda portion of four companies, was enfiladed on two sides, or rather on both flanks. for nearly an hour before I ordered a retreat. A regiment of Yankees had also formed in line of battle in our rear. We saw the gauntlet the whole length of this regiment, which fired at us as
we passed, when my left flank was turned I threw a part of my command on the rail road embankment, & drove them from a position they had taken up there, three different times but they returned soon after with heavy reinforcements as often as they were driven back.
The last time they charged me with three or four regiments my front & flank, I ordered my men to meet the charge with the last volley & retreat following me. All of my command behaved well. I lost more men [crossed out] than [end crossed out] than all of the rest of Gen Branches command together. Col Avery is a prisoner. He & Lt Col Hoke behaved with the greated gallantry & stubbornness. Our regiment fought an hour after all except Col Vances regiment had retreated.
Col Vance was on our right,& only two or three of his companies were engaged. Gen Branch ordered a retreat. We did not get the order & were thrown on our own resources. If we had given way when the other regiments did the whole command would have been captured as the enemy were nearer to the bridges than our men. After Col Campbell was flanked on his right, he retired a short distance from the works, & the Yankees charged over the deserted works in crowds. Col. Campbell then charged them with the bayonet