The Evening Argus

Major E. A. Kimball and the Charge at Roanoke.

At the battle of Roanoke, when the 9th New York regiment, under the lead of Col. Hawkins and Lieut. Col. Betts, was pushing through the woods to the right, in the flank movement upon the rebel battery, but one or two companies had advanced when General Parke ordered the regiment to charge the battery taking the road in front. The charge was led by Major Kimball, and the movement was the brilliant feature of the day. Maj. Kimball is an old friend of ours - we knew him well in Vermont, and we take pleasure in copying the following notice of him from the Boston Post. He is a brother of Mr. B. H. Kimball, of this city.

"One of the most brilliant charges during the war was that of Major Kimball, at the head of a small detachment of the New York 9th, in the hottest of the fight at Roanoke Island. From the account, it would seem to have been the most daring onset in that action, so fearfully crowded as it is with daring and splendid deeds. It is regarded by one writer as the turning point of the action - While the Massachusetts 21st and 51st New York charged the battery to the right, the left wing of the New York 9th, (Hawkins Zouaves,) with Major Kimball, charged up the road in the face of the works, at which the panic-stricken rebels fled, and the place was taken, the Massachusetts and New York colors floating from the parapet amid cheers that shook the forest. Those who know Major Kimball need not be told how brave and undaunted a man he is when the music is the roar of battle. It was he who, as captain of the Vermont company, in a former 9th infantry (the 9th United States or New England regiment during the Mexican war) ascended the summit of Chepultepec with Col. Seymour, of Connecticut, and with him struck down the Mexican flag that floated there, and planted the stars and stripes in its place. It was a splendid act, and won the admiration of the gallant soldiers who saw it, as it did the applause of the country when it heard of it. Capt. Kimball was brevetted with the rank of major for gallant services in Mexico, and has not since been in service until the breaking out of the rebellion. Democratic in politics, but liberal, enlightened and tolerant, he was for some years the printer (for printing is his trade) and editor of the Woodstock (Vt) Age - which journal he left to raise a company in the late (wl Ransom's New England or 5th United States regiment at the outbreak of our war with Mexico. During the administration of Pierce and Buchanan, we believe both, he held an appointment in the New York custom house, the duties of which post he discharged with faithfulness and integrity. A warm personal friend of Major Kimball, who witnessed and chronicled the brilliant exploit in Mexico, rejoices at this new evidence of his heroism in the most terrible conflict in North Carolina. May his sword yet win for him still higher distinction and honor."

The Post might have added, with truth, that Maj. Kimball cut the halyards to the flag at Chepultepec and had it partly lowered before Lieut. Col. Seymour arrived, and that he consented to share the honor with Seymour. Had it not been for his generosity on that occasion, Seymour's name would never have been mentioned in connection with the matter.