240 Southern Historical Society Papers.
ever fired a gun), by their dash almost into the enemy's stronghold, provoked the battle at Bethel Church, and that the first prisoner captured by the regiment was the one taken by their advance squad.
COMPANY E.
[The North Carolina Presbyterian, Fayetteville, N. C, Saturday, Septem- ber 21, 1861.]
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
We give the following extracts from a letter received by a friend in this place, giving interesting and reliable information from the First Regiment of North Carolina Volunteers, in Virginia :
SHIP POINT, VA. , September j, 1861. DEAR :
I am glad to say I am in excellent health, and have been, except for a few days, ever since I have been in the service, and the sick of our company and regiment are improving.
Last evening was a joyful one to the First North Carolina Regi- ment. Near night I heard loud shouting throughout the entire camp, and on inquiring the cause, found it was because of the arrival of our much-loved General Hill, who has been absent from us some five or six weeks, trying to regain his health, which had been much impaired by his constant and arduous duties at Yorktown. He looks quite feeble, but I find him early this morning on his horse, and I venture to say that horse will not be unsaddled until his rider has carefully examined every nook and corner in and around Ship Point. Last night about 8 o'clock the General found his tent lite- rally surrounded by over eight hundred men, who gave three loud, long and lasting cheers for General Hill, and then called him out. He said he had been outflanked and surrounded, and must surren- der. He was glad to be with us once more. In his late sickness he had probably suffered more than he had in all his life before ; but nothing troubled him more than his being compelled to be away from his regiment. He wanted to be with them in their sickness and camp trials, and if they got into an engagement, he wanted to be there to show them how to dodge. We had whipped the Yankees once, and could do it again, if we put our trust in God and keep our powder dry. He was afraid there was too .much disposition to place our trust in man. Too many said I will do this; we can do that.
