Reminiscences: 1st North Carolina Cavalry, Fayetteville Observer, October 5, 1863

              FROM THE FIRST NORTH CAROLINA CALVARY.
(Fayetteville Observer, October 5,1863)
MESSRS. EDITORS: I think it due to our State to let her know of the part her troops take in the various engagements. That North Carolina has done her part in this war, the bones of her sons mouldering on every battle-field, from Bethel to Gettysburg will testify. No one except those who frequent the hospitals, or visit the battle fields, or have access to the official accounts, knows of the glorious achievements of our North Carolina soldiers. Their deeds of valor will not be found recorded in the columns of the Richmond papers. I shall attempt to give merely a sketch of the part enacted by the 1st N. C. Cavalry, in the cavalry fight at Jack's Shop, Madison County, and near Liberty Mills, Orange County/  Va. on the 22nd of September. My observation was confined to my own regiment; for that reason I shall speak of no other, for fear of doing injustice to some. We received orders about 1 o'clock on the morning of the 22nd, to be in the saddle by daybreak. As  rosy fingered Aurora tinged the eastern skies with the first streak of dawn, the familiar sound of  Boots and Saddle", broke upon our ear. With the alacrity of troopers of twenty-eight months' practice, we leaped into our saddles and soon the regiment is on the march. The old regiment is reduced to 130 men. The rest of the brigade fall in and we proceed to join the other two brigades, which constitute Hampton's division. The 2nd, 4th. and 5th N. C., together with ours, form Baker's N. C. brigade, now commanded by Col. Ferebee, of the 5th. Our regiment is under command of Lieut. Col. Ruffin, Col. Gordon being in command of Butler's brigade, (Hampton's old brigade except our regiment.) We marched within a few miles of Madison C. H.,where we came up with Jones' brigade, and learned from them that the enemy are in strong force at Madison C. H. From here we start under______
Gen. Stuart, (1st N. C. in front,) to intersect the pike from Madison C. H. to Gordonsville, which we did about six miles south of the C. H. We did not find the enemy here, so we pushed up the pike, Co. F, 1st N. C., acting advance guard, with sabres drawn. We had proceeded only a short distance when our advance guard came up with the advance guard of the enemy. Our boys charged them and ran them back; the regiment draw sabres and take up the gallop keeping close behind. Just beyond Jack's Shop, (where we first' fell in with the enemy,) there was a skirt of pines, extending on either side of the road. In these the enemy were posted, their dismounted skirmishers lining the fence. Into this  Co. F. under command of Lieut. Foard, charged most gallantry . Here they were confronted by an over whelming force of cavalry, and from every tree whistled a rifle bullet. After emptying their pistols in the face of the foe, the remnant of them came out and report the strength and position