COMPANIES OF THE 56TH N.C., ATTACKED YESTERDAY AT GUM SWAMP The articles on this page were published May 6, 1863 Issue in the Weekly Standard, a Raleigh, North Carolina newspaper. W. W. Holden, Editor. Contact: Myrtle Bridges February 28, 2003
There has been heavy skirmishing on the lines below Kinston, the enemy having again advanced the force. We are indebted to the Progress for the following dispatch giving some particulars of the fight at Gum Swamp on the 28th instant: Goldsboro', April 29. Three or four companies of the 56th N. C., were attacked yesterday at Gum Swamp, nine miles below Kinston, by some six or eight thousand Yankees. Our boys fought them over two hours with the constancy and determination of veterans, and only retired from their breastworks when flanked and overpowered by numbers. Our loss is estimated at about forty killed, wounded and missing. Among the killed is the brave Lieut. Lutterloh, of Fayetteville, of Capt. Lockhart's company, who died this morning of his wounds. The Yankees were expected to continue their advance this morning, but evidently have not done so. Gen Hill will give them a proper welcome when they come. THE GUM SWAMP AFFAIR-A friend has handed to us a letter from his son, a member of Starr's Battery, dated May 25th. He states that Lieut. Whitmore with 12 men and a howitzer went down to Gum Swamp on the morning of the fight, agreeable to orders. When the enemy appeared, the detachment begged for leave to fire, the Yankees being about 30 yards distant, but Col. Rutledge refused, as there was danger of killing more of our men than of the enemy. The artillery men refused to leave their gun and were captured with it, together with 8 fine horses. The Artillerists were Lt. Whitmore, Sergt. Sedberry, Corpl. Dobbin, privates T. W. Carroll, T. J. Campbell, W. L. Duke, H. Cloninger, S. Waller, J. A. Brown, B. Plummer, R. B. Braswell, John McLean and Irving Jones. Gen Hill pursued the enemy to within about 9 miles of Newbern on Sunday evening, when they had a very brisk skirmish, between Cooper's parts of Branche's, Bunting's and Starr's Batteries, and the 54th Pennsylvania regiment commanded by Col. Jones. We lost 2 killed and 3 or 4 wounded. Two Yankees were found dead. "The march was terribly fatiguing," says the letter. "The dust rose in great clouds all along the road, the streams were nearly dry, the little pole wells were soon drained, and horses and men were perishing from thirst. I have heard of men fainting and dying by the roadside, and I saw it yesterday and the day before." Fayetteville Observer
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©Copyright February 28, 2003 Last up-dated August 29, 2022 by Myrtle Bridges