Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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•N. -s*r-.rwv ■<su SU3ITLK TO DiiAXEfcfVILLE. oii^r iuxu.;^ r/rr e.+ri.v caejujeu of a a.tz- LAST soar OF CARVLISi.lSS. to be b.Ml, were diilei eiit a!fuirs. A I! ;h ‘s« 1 tLiu/K, U«. ir;tiiiiy-Uu* want of ae ive ec/Viee j t toi* ftool,-eonlt'ib.ile.i l<> i!'.o bftli 1»< l-gfejttiul.dvlt.orxii/.r.oii iiu.^ooa biek- end c-on; biiius x^rro heunl 1 1 thipongbont tbe Jlc'ritnni.t uud ibe»e Ht»8t l.itvy a-.iofcMet. l «il n *» hudbiinwi eK‘Cte(l not unit b^^dU'e of bH iii.rit try aitaiiimentii,* itui it y ah isryi il in Ws ftvvor tlmt be was exe*.*fdii<“iy in^cni- a!:d ehifty in (ieikeiino »:ny nnd n'l pinns wbicb wonbl be neci^sary f> ' ; -t us the best of evert thing rth' -b .ditiinp .nod, and that ton lie sj; eM hiekui'j • to complete J the of any man in the upon tins t*ceas;oa had never seen on to.befoul. The nesr'inarters, tlie The Ulatorjr of the Sixth Sonth r-*eo1l»‘* JUgliuent I>urln«r the First Vear of the Civil War- The Int< restluz AAdrisi) of Major T. W. Wood ward Before tha*Sur- vIvors’ AkKoclatlou. The 20th of December, 1800, had come amt gone. The Ordinance of j Secession had been rufified, and South ; _ Carolina was preparing to put her [equipments, the costliest nnn-, lb« lu»Usc in order for the storm which j |,paiUiiest provisions and the h slwi s might soon assail her. Of the causes! c |otlies, wi1h plenty of mudicine which led to this, action and of her ^lu'avs on hand for the sick, were a right so to act under the law of the j j ew of the many blesshr/ i wh’c’i Ids Jaiid, l shall not treat on this occasion. These have .been written of by abler pens than mine ami spoken of in far more eloquent and cpuvincfng language than I could coiumand. 1^,there Were mithing i[io.re it would be enough for all fair-minded men througliout the world to state that, like the followers of Washington-, w? thought we were right. But even this is unnecessary, lor who is he, unbiased by prejudice, tiiat witnessed your deeds of devotion and heroism, or odds which van encountered, or who has read of the Trials and sullcr- ings which you so cheerfully en dured for ,4he ^osl Cause, that dare say these were not Ihe acts of a high- minded, honorable people guided by conscientious convictions and bUllim' tor their liberties lujd then- prWllPesr I'Hril? le.Wb these liiaF- ters to the unprejudiced historhui of the future, and will at once address myself to the subject assigned me by your executive committee—“The Sixth South Carolina Regiment from its Formation to the Bati le of Dranesville.” Aeail hud been made for troops and Chester and ‘ Fairfield were asked to furnish a battalion each, of five compa nies, which when formed were to be united into a regiment under such officers as should be selected by the ballots of the command, and wilh the usual staff appointed by the colonel. The regiment was to be numbered ac- C-t tlhw ofspirus Regia o it. v. >re somethin*' v, ..ich 1 —n long face.ai.J a sorrowful ex|ni‘> vin of cSmiuteHMftc&, Ilo knew that 1;..< ompa'ny wfi> hanging fire and is • doi.ku d uis abyil'y to get through. found all great Boyce, onr member in Congress, anti asked him fora name to sdggtst in tins place of Colonel Jackson. !Uu\ Boyce was an adtnitvr of UeuersI ilending; sen, who hatl acineved eousUforaWts ivputafmn with Walker in Nicaragua, amt at his suggestion and in compai.y with him wo called on the Coneral, m [ktt»rablv mi pressed, l pan tedi Revofleut sincerely: and It was regret but'with characteristic and hot marches, w ere generally dis-. Jng <? fl> ^. cr arrived at liichnwnd. You.all rometn- l»er' our meeting with Winder; our bivouac noon the green hills Rt a fine -——--- , spring rear t'lmnhouuo hospital; our. rptpns I i 11 l,*i idon c# .’^o, 'W 1 8K - OIU i-jac d j.. ujan was entrance a few moments later the when we f ched. It was heix* ingtoii, which- was distincjly .yis\ble uthduinm President^ cyfe fell npott ns, awVpass- that yon tbr the «rst time sjiw-Fn si- but a Ibw mires off. - And ItjC tho IpWO* unmoor—.sixty-live—which the law ing the rauny who-were ahead of us in dent Davis, who had r< uuiroil. Tid'avis iho sevenlli cb^i- the order of their interviews, he ajH an extra -paiiv, antt npon the apiicaruiice of ohR proaehed with'lds hand exteudtHl, and there was wot a heart •” w ~ • v,*. r,r- w . A : a motnahl Lore man him ;d fiot only the late of tiie gave us wcour.Ty, hut kind, even oor- that did uoi awctl with pi'.du ami 5Syffi8 v b pi n ^5ywUh the :i .m>iu i.nt uU>> Kitiifr iim nr.t dial firreettnor. nt tlm - linio askine fldenee. nor an arm which was not Wi are fortibly imprcwco w II |\S| 1*41’ astsst- a laiiv * . . avis, who had just arrived on cenee of onr unhtarv nonage wo woi.- n train, and i am sure that dered w hv General Bcanregard dtdn t ivas uof a heart amongst you. at once send ns over to capture it. though 'this honor w^s hotly conte ed bv otliers—w hilst w dh a permit to out and. htud. bulter-inilK the. sit he could nose out more .itilj, and unearth more hurled ap; than auv than in the^army, anc rarely Veturned withbuti.^enough bo make his whole company-rtierry. Colo nel Winder had been annoyed by the effects of some of these. tripsV ami was holding atigliter r4lh„and had some what curtailed P^i ’s faciy^es for go ing at large*.,• Peter was- tnei-efuio a little On the dry order: in fact, ns he said all, and ns above remarked Homebody j company was recofiHteil ami received, bud to be held responsible. It was tint- Our trouble having been pasved, as is departure from “Camp W oodward at ' ‘ ‘ -a was ten- : vs'uuiHierville, dated July 7, which I oral, theiefore, that Colonel Rion aiwuys ti:e case, assistance should be blamed for all these 1 If General Beauregard had orders for the scattering Cf die Regi ment, and for purposes which be cony company- And 'hen came Goodlett, sidered important, it was Colonel of Greenville, with tliabsplendid array mountain onr ris Junction, having left Richmond despotism w-........... , ,,1-1.- about eleven o’clm kun Saturday nisrlit was the “hoino-«f the foee, lh« la«»d r» K to makR ini' for lost of the blest, r ’ that were being formally; '» hm « no1 ts ,0 make . U H ,0f!t ;:g ot me niest, mat were oeing jonuauv y, ■ —-- - ---- md prepared the Djihsiest of excascs for time iinbthed ' V U A * ve the imbruing of a bretlier's hand in a aoon diswvei-ej|.by. Winder, reeling mi previous. Tlie men bad had no!Inc. that has counted the should be blained for all these lailires.; dered fiom varions quarters. Soon a still have in my possession, informing to eat since dinner on Saturday, an issued shower of recruits from home were on ■ me that the otijeet of our mission had were subjected to all tlie ineouve the imbruing « ^ **• - likeHic imslt of a shit) in a wale, baud for the attenuated ranks of our gotten abroad in camp; that “there nieuces of an overloaded train. At brothers Woodland concwted the was great .indignation at the idea ot Culpepper reliable iufonnatiou reached most bellish of schemes for las over- ** e ' v “ ^ being placci under the command of a us that , throw a.id subjugation, although he *«» * «“>“ " e "^ 8 ^ ul sjwbuts—tbe Carolina : ^'egular ,, ; that “ihreats of mutiny bad, J only asked to be let alone. One char* Rion’s business, by his ingenuity and of general fertility of resources, to have ; Mountaincers-roach with n huge bowio : been beard’*: that “the devil waste a ric.nt was ooi.'o ox ! acter who always accompanied us on at least held the order in abeyance un- i knife in his hoot, ami (.'amp, of Spar- play gauernlly”, etc , etc. There was abont six miles from Manassas. Onr the>e expeditions must not be ovei- - - - - • •■* ■ -. . . .. ‘ then gvfivt care and judgment to be colonel, w:th charaoteustic foresight, looked. I know that yon will autici- iu tiie select:on of a colonel, telegraphed announcing onr arrival pate me and at once recognize •, *k CHKSTKr.'S Ol-tl JIKXlCAX GAil^-COCK, weight of the _ folt the full net-in the best condition it was (lie; Co.wpeus and surmounted by a J.din ! responsibility which resusl upon ns. Colonel’s business, whetlier be was at i Brown pike from UnrperV Ferry* mid Mr. Davis heard as through with great core hispostor not, to have them conde.nnud | glorious “old” John White witli tia’ ! jiatieucg, the wh;;e regarding ns with at once and with or without facilities for transportation to supply other ami better from Charleston ? 1 f your shoes didn’t lit snugly, or if your pants were a little too tight in the Stride, the in genuity of the Colonel must- remedy the evil, the fertility of his resources guanl against all similar occurrences for the future? It has been trutimtlly said that a man is twice a boy—once in I his vouth and once in Ids old age. My York Guards. We were now full to overflowing, and rtct'o in the Provisional army ofj cording to tlie datcof its reception into J t . X p*eiicnce is that he is so three times; . tlie service of the State, and being tlie j ollce j„ |„ s „„j m ge, once in liis dotage, sixth formed and accepted we were designated tiie Sixth Regiment. Ches ter furnished tlie Chester Blues, under MeLure, the Calhoun Guards, under Seerest, the Chester Guards, under Jiardiu, the Catawba Guards, under Straight, and the Pickens Guards, under Moore. Fairfield furnished the Fairfield Fencibles, under Rion, the Boyce Guards, under Shedd, the Buck- his same earnest, penctrating look which We had encountered at t he tirst interview, ami which made \on foci the Confederate States and with tba | that whilst he iist^n* 1 # to the lips lie exception of one thing ready and eager | also read tlie secrets of tire inner man. l'< " (lie seat of war in Virginia. The ; “He was iinidi surprised at what we vacant colonelcy uas stili nuftlled,! told him,” and ahhoagii there ninst be but there was midi Id • dtv here, for the 1 a«»«»e mistake somewliere, still recog- law said that the Li. umnani-Cyioiiel ! "tzing the pccnlianty of the Ritnatfou, was Colonel, that the Major was Lieu-; he Would mit, tlint't n;»on us a man tenant-Colonel, and that Means, the and directing that cooked provisions | be prepared so that we conld icave 'at I«i!mediately upon our at provisions were served, caps and cart ridges—lorty rounds to the man—were ai'.* 1 t 0,U ’ - . ,1 m" wv l ‘ lC ) ^ ar PM march; for, as you know, he was uia- About six miles to the left ue hear the p] e to p CC p n p and usually started in foniunug ot the cannon; everybody ai j vance ot - as< I can sec him now as *!k1 common sense .ell us that is the we p ass on rfta j w j t |, pjg 8Cr . On no pnul, the sun opens our vanl bearing his rifle,- bis silvered v f the veteran Eaves, who was probably nVMl the only man in iho Regiment who coiild ascertain from Colonel Winder I the direction and destination of our senior Captain, was v. as deemed graceful Major. But it not to profit by our lute conunumler. es had had enough of the foolishness ami in-uibonlinatlo'i which we had witnessed about caihp for some time piud, and it was thought find a stre.ngjr and a regular army officer would best meet the require ments of the position. These views were conununionti d to Seerest amt Mem 4 , who, r.cfjiiii'Scbig in them, a meeting of a!! tiie eoin ni-sjoned pf- tieers waS held, id! ligiils of promo tion wore waived, ’.ml a committee of two (('apt. K. C. MeLure, of the Bines, and myself) was .-cnt to the President to ink the fiillilinent of onr wi>bre. tJovernor Mi'ans, who took great inter-j e>t in the Regiment, was anxious that ! p ie youngc-t capt ain iii the position sliould be given to tb.at j **° coininemed upon noble Caroiinian, Maxey Gregg, and ] generally , mid we promised to suggest his name to the President. Tlie Governor gave ivs a letter to Colonel Gregg and asked us to e.iH on him when wo reached Rich- ■eiion could against \\ horn a single oi j be urged, fie could not appoint Gen eral Hcnningsen, although he spoke head Guards, umler Means, tlie Little River Gminis, tinder Brice, and the Cedar Creek Rifles, under Harrison. Tlie regimental organization was com pleted by the election of J. H. Rion to tlie colonelcy, A. J. Seerest to tbe lieutenant-colonelcy and T. W. Wood ward to the in ijority. Our stuff con sisted of Julius Mills, adjutant; J. J. MeLure, quartermaster; Isaac It. Means, commissary; the venerable uml eminent John Douglass, surgeon; J. I). Palmer, assistant surgeon; C. B. Belts, chaplain; W. B. (freight, ser geant-major; W. S. Rahli, commissary sergeant; — McUlenaglian, quarter master sergeant. After tlie election of Rion to the colonelcy, Firs 1 . Lieutenant Bratton was promoted to the captaincy of the Fencibles, and Lieutenant Walker succeeded Seerest in the com- in and of the Calhoun Guards. The Regiment being thus organized, the commander sent the following letter to the President of the Oiditedcrate tttatos: TImanqi Ar:s. firn I’eot., S. C. Y., . Wi.vxsnono, s. C., goth If arch, lion. Ji'fj’. Dncin, President of the Confed erate Titaf'S: Tlie Regiment which I have the honor to command was raised especially for the de fence of South Carolina; tnit the same spirit of patriotism which actuated this Regiment to volunteer in the defence of their State, law caused them to authorize me to tender their services in defence of our common country, the Confederate Mates, in the following contingency, to wit : That in the event of a eon Hit of arms becoming imminent, volunteers from this Mate aie needed for active service in the and again for a period of at least three' the misfomum of mouths, if lie ever joins the arur., no ' matter what his age is. To add to the iiilfleulfies of tlie situa tion it had been determined upon to turn over the State troops to the Cott- | federate Government and we were i ordered to rendezvous at >uiuinei vide I to make the transfer and to get ready 'for our departure for Virginia Ami Besides, son’s of | kindly of him. * ! too iimdi of tire | him. ' such fine ail-. “lie preferred you Mo be, to folly of follies—you were to be al lowed" to choose whether \ on would go as a regiment or disband and go lioine-alihoUgh you had already agreed to do so. One would have supposed that the government needed all her troops to repel the storm which by this time was gathering all around, and that yon would have been ordered to Virginia organized and equipped as you were, and with no further inducements for demoralization and dishaudiiietit. But there were near-sighted men in tho-e day* and politicians then as now. To get to Summerville we must puss through Charleston, ami mint'utlcpr and sheiry cobblers tasted as well then us they do now. Tiie consequence was that when you arrived at Summer ville the general demoralization had ^-’eiiturc? ate.at nut to trust material as we rcp’-aseiited. him.'’ “out I htiA'c at my dispose! a tti;in who I know wiil meet all the rcquirem ’uts of your case. He combine; um-i happily the essen tial cieine.d* of the cul.ivaieil, courte ous gmitlemau wil!» the sterner abili ties of the Ronimainicr, ami under him iliere was rat ynace P'ores, the dust closes ikcin. Wagons of woumled jsass. disabled men, as sisted bv friends, limp by-, prisoners in charge .-of soldiers, men on horseback with u.e stiff corpses of friends across the fronts of their saddles, ail hurry by, and with one voice announce the day lost and onr troops surrounded, j ^riv^ them from a wood wbicb they s: :gic exception to the excited mass our front, and from which w men was me: was our ouu glonoits ^ vt , xvclx .ji, ( .j n tr aunoved bv the long Wade hahimot?, whom we s::\v ,0ci’t' locks glistening in tbe morning’s sun and Ids step, though ■ unsteady from age, yet beaiiug hiin true as the needle to the pole to our bivouac. It was upon one of these expeditious Hint we ; iiad our first brush with the cucuiy. , Colonel Winder had determined to J. sbuil cot ilideu v exm'ct to hear that your t«egi;iti-nt .has made its mar! Again he took down ti’e Army Regis ter and showed its the record of CtlAKLKS s. w: idf-r, the old annv, [iluet aboai I cisco, when moud. our We did tter, whie!) call and, presenting is now the property of the Assoeiulion, we waited until he hail read it, and then asked if we i might present his name to the Presi- ut. Colonel Gregg, yon well re culminated, ami whilst some conipa-' member, was now w ithout a command nies preserved tlieir discipline otie ts j-—the term of enlistment of the six- were .really but roving mobs of jolly, uiontlts regiment which he had carried rollicking soldiers. One company— to Virginia having expired about this _ the FeueiUUii—which was the last-to ; Amt (t. Wwrrtir-tm n gi aeeftit- arrive, finding that their tents bud not j thing for him to appear at the extreme been erected for them, ami that other'front, where he had been operating, ism and to duty the bv e«! upon ins good record e.-p.‘daily upon hi* con- the iii-fated San Fran- he displayed great hero- higiie*t ideas of devotion remainjug nboarit the u». It was upon this occasion that we paraded mole men than I laid ever s eti before or since iu ranks—983. We arrived on the battle-field before six o’clock and remained tw enty-fonr i hours in bivouac without tents or pro visions, rain descending ail the time.' We did not arrive in time. The battle | w:is over and the Federal arnty iu full! re. rout as we approached. You will remember, know, > our feelings ot dis- of a Mftllic Kit,-ell was appmntment when it was uscertHilied !, ot ^ c . 8 w ,; o we| . c ( ,|, cove tnat _we were lurt tn tune to revive our „ f tlie T »i, after others l make the the with k-H litm me.l.e inquiry iSsn itt general arrangement* for theirea*c and comfoit were utqirovided, c reared such a din that the Colonel luriict them loose and allowed them to go! into town to hunt quarters, ami it was 1 not long until they had captured this elegant summer resort and were hav ing n good time generally; and they were only brought back to camp some days utter, through the earnest solicita tion of their solid captain who had been sent after them, condition of affairs Rion, who was aware w ith another regimenl of South Caro linians. The “Old War Hors;.*” was greatly moved bv our proposition. Nothing in the world would have been more agreeable to hijn than to get to the front again and renew the pleasant tieiiPig Yankee railroad had been indulging. But after thanking us heartily for the honor proffered, he staled that he had covenanted with the field and staff pastime of sheilitt trains, in which he wreck wilh hi* soldiers had gone, “ ut before appointment,” said he, “go to Spottswood Hotel, see him, t.fik him, aim alter you have diligent end persistent him and then come and tell me wnat you tlunx of him.” We call' d on WiiiduA Ilis appearance and manner pleased W caihjtRa fiue.iaUigiY was an earnestness pressivoness of sty into the wood. They did’ liot stand, however, but fled precipitately over the lulls and in the direction of Wash ington, and from the commotion be yond must have aunounflbd that Beau regard was on hand with the whole army. This was the skirmish of MaH’9 iii!ij<aud resulted iu the capture of two or three prisoners, I am not sure which but 1 remember a lieutenant his discovered by.Corporal Dunlovy, of tbe Blues, hidden in a bunk of potatoes in the j celiar under tji^..t>vick house, which i the rignt w ing Usaiiled iu the advance. . . It was at the gate to this hotise that mn,lil1 i Bill Jamison, of the Boyce Guards, was attacked by the old Quaker’s bull- L; dog, and after quite a baud to hand . ! "' tight succeeded 111 passing his bayonet “ 10 through hhi!, whereupon the dog fled, ., - • 1 .-.i 1 1 • • . . . . leaving a l rail of blood over tiie van! the w, ,e. ues' ot tae devil,-could to - ^ lminv ? 1 'M i nVH v ’“’i h V:r' vvoumled Yankees were concealed yiVow ot men ot his own blood,and their baptism of lire, and how for a !oi:„ time we looked with feelings of admi ration not unmixed with envy upon those tor till: Ah! my comrade*, little did we dream regiments which had taken part, pon ait Isuiui* it was fig was the last battle of the war. ol li the : le trials and s could it miseries in store for be realized that arrogance and malice of man, or even lion which would ei any one. The coco passed upon him by uli of whom we made inquiry impressed its even more than our interview, and hastening luck to our nobie President we had But it *cems lhat there were iio proph- eis in these days endowed with wis dom from on high, and human ken could not grasp tlie true issues at stake. 1 :the day before, bnl bei tainlv in 'the immediate neighborhood, that the first man was killed in tlie front of our line. Three members of the Calhoun luck to our noble President we hud Ins could not grasp the true issues at stake. ..mr-A .1.,*.. :..„...3.i uppoiiHmaut co.ilirmed. How lull. It was', > think, the day after the bat*! A V ??re lUt> * W *P! our tngli antieip.itioiis were realized tie lluu Col. Ballard Preston, a distin- ^ '’V* ^ U;U 'i U9 ,.G*| ^ or v; ..wi,.. i *JSr.Kl» ,K, .*^IS5 field. lathis contingency we tendermtr.— r , . , services Co you for twelve months, pro-j lion towards him, and not wishing to vided that tiie Governor of the State will j be an impediment or even an excuse consent to our tnuisier to the volunteer for the Regiment’s not taking Conied- sei vice of the Coutederete Mates. This Regiment is composed of ten uni formed companies—eight infantry of the tine, and two rifle companies—withan aver age strength of eighty-five (M) men Cash. Very respeeMuliv, J.vs.’ll. Rtox, Colonel. "We were afterwards ordered to Charleston, and arrived on the night of the 11th of April, 1861, preceding tlie bombardment of Fort Sumter. Distinctly do you recall the thrilling scenes of that ever memorable morn ing—how we were awakened by the boom of the first gun from Fort John-; had no opportunity to display bis qual- Such was the | officers of his late regiment to preserve when Colonel 1 their organization and await assign or the disatlec-' men* as a wlwdc R; another eommand. “These officers were not then in Rich- inoud, and he could not therefore be released from his promise”, and must t decline. We then called on thePrcsi- blunder of his life and ae.tually sub- dent. This was lho first time that 1 initted it to a vote wliethi r or not tbe ! had ever seen this grand man, who 1 Regiment .would go to Virginia with j still think is him as colonel. The ballot was had, and by a small majority., 1 think ol three or four votes, jl was de agaiflnt htTii, and we were depiiv tins most critical period of our liis of an efficient and astute head, action of the majority gave real groi for otlence to the personal ftietu , the Colonel, who knew tiiat be had kindly smile when wo had finished TMl.X01JI.EST ROMAN OF THEM ALT., Harold from our camp at German- a firm peace”. And it is in this, which town, and dated August 17, 1861, I was largely the prevailing opinion find tlie following short sketch of that we find an explanation him: “Colonel Winder is tt native of long period of inaction tv I Maryland. At the commencement of and why it was that (he ourprerenttibuble.? hoprotvintlv resign- filer was kept on his ow ul a captaincy iu the Ped-ra! army, and Potomac, where his ranks offering his services to Pres;,lent Davis by disea*c, his advantages of dash and was forthwith as>igned to duties in marksmanship neutralized bv time and without discovering them the soldiers behind the pine ing thajMie hud fmftfd a gap make sure of his man, and he saw Think- iil tlie to oaclied position to enough to then run and ideations us a commander, ami it also furnished a pretext to all parties who j were disMilistied from any cause vvh;it-j ever or who were troubled with home sickness and desired to see their fami lies, before leaving for Virginia. This was the first time Unit many had et'er , been from home. Inmtediately the Fencibles, the Little River Guards and tbe Cedar Creek stoii—bow you rushed out, formed your companies and clamored for your arms, which were here for tlie first time issued to the command -and then the march to tlie battery, where we remained silent but eager spectators ot the conflict which was going on around liio harbor. Upon tlie fal) of Sumlcr we were divider! into iitiineroi.s de tachments and assigned to various positions around Charleston. , Rion, | taiued to be thoroughly with the Fencibles and tiie BuckhCad Guards and Pickens Guards, was at Battery Island, Seerest was at Morris Island with the Little River Guards,' flic Blues, the Cedar Creek Rifles and the CaHiouu Guards, Hardin Fort Johnston with his company a little later. I was sent laud, where I. found the Boy mid the canttvba Guards. ... this place, and from the two twenty lour portnders which a?eve mounted in and constituted the armament of the little concrete fort which had been built by the Spaniards of old, that we 1 fdlloAV tiie Colonel, fired occasional shots of defiance at the majestic Niagara as she steamed up and down the coast on her blockading iluties > hoping to draw her near enough to blo\v her out of the water with our formidable battery. Fortunately lor tills portion of the coniuiaud shallow water intervened between ns and that certain destruction which would have resulted to oiiisajvi.'s and fort if she could have approached near enough to strike us only with a single shell. The D1SUKUBERUKXT OF THE REGIMENT teristics lire as follow j quite prominent, a deadly animosity to ' the whole Yankee nation; a strict eye ! to camp discipline; punctiliousness in tlcmanlv ■ 1 Said he, “The officers of the Sixth Regiment have established a precedent heretofore unknown in the-.inililaiy. Tise refusal of promotion, He in your case sanctioned bv law, is indeed a movt wonderlnl occurrence. But you ! regular’ officers. There is not a prl have shown your putiiotism and good | vato in the Regiment who does hot sense, and you shall have one of the! approach him with ease and best men at inv disposal, and a Caro-; donee, Whilst there is not an liiiinn if possible.” “But”, be con-1 amongst Us conscious of any derclic- R.fl 's wen*, ascer-1 tinned,‘M have doubts of my suthori-i tioii of duty< who does not inomently disirgitnized in! tv to make the appoinlmciit”. After i expect tjie orderly Avith the Colonel's quenec is vie with iiiaiice of their which lie could be largely excelled by his adversary. - My lieart sickens when I think tiiat with a different policy history might have told a different tale. the niaunal and manoeuvres; and a gen- From Manassas we followed along the _ «»k (A v"U certed signal three bullets whistled for him, one penetrating the brass plate upon liis belt, passing through'his body and knocking off tiie left hjtiid button 011 his and in a short time he was flat of his bifok (lead drunk and fis£ asleep. Thd morning of the trial had arrived ayd the court which was to pass 011 Peter's grave offence was ;already convened. In great trouble he (lent for mo to come to the guard-tent.'JfoblJpngbcdh liis spiritual aifoi*4K v and in plaintive tones he spoke of his apprehensions and begged me to stand bv him. ‘J Were you really drunk’?” said I> - “Niver a hion more so,” .said he. ; “How much did vou get from tlie barrel?” “About a ha"’ gallon.” “How long did it last you?” “I only made two drinks of it, "sir,” was. his reply. **Your case looksn little ba'd; but do "as I tell yup. foW licit vop ai’c arraigned and the . charge of drunkenness ou post is mad?, deny it emphatically, say that you only took a half gallon, which was pnolently divided into twft drinks, and offer to prove by me'and twenty witnesses, who knoW you as well as I do, that a half gallon, even if swallowed at one draught, could.ijot. have produced the effects chargpU flviho case. You. cer tainly were not drunk if this is all that you drank. 1 am sure that you were sick.” “Since t’ come to recollect bet ter I was not feeling well upon that, morning;” said Peter, as he caught tlw cue, and the merry twinkle of liis good-natured Irish eye returned after a long absence. lie was brought be fore tlie court and the charges had been read, when he arose and ivitli his rich brogue and inimitable ami pe culiarly ridiculous stylej ■ but witli great,. Assumed solemnity, said that “there must be a mistake.someivhere,” iu fact “he thought they had the Avrong sow by the ear intirely.” “It must be another mon.” he siiid, “for he had only had his l ha’ gallon’ upon the occasion in question, which was divided into two drinks, and if yer honors will only allow me to step around to tlie Uidgiiuiiit for a moment I’ll he after bringing twenty foine solf diers who’ll swear that tlii’s wonldnlt plutzc a mob like me.” The explosion which foiloived was instantaneous, and many r.iiiitjfes passed before that court was able to proceed to business. Tiie case against Peter was too strong, but Urn effect of the speech was such thalgg only a mild sentence of a feAV week'; grabbing stumps in tlie parade grQmid was imposed, and it was not long be fore t'eter w^is on duty again, neither a sadder nor a wiser liianT \ But,. Comrades^ the God of .battle was not yet appeased—“gritn-F Isaged War” still showed “his wrinkled front” . —the Northern fanatical, liberty- < shrieking philanthropists still HOWLED FOR OUR DESTRUCTION. We Had now^rethoved from McLean’s Ford and goiie partially into winter quarters. I say partially, for tiie 20th of December found us still a’t work 011 our huts. On thebvquiug of the 19th of December, 1861, we received orders to prepare rations and hold ourselves ill readiness for an early start 011 the morrow;' iVlijtfer was a niptuber of a court-martial, And Was therefore una ble to accompany . us. 4 Licutenant- (iolOncf Seerest was Tn co'minaiid, and at an extra early hour we started npoq an expedition, tlie object Liid 'destina tion of Which were uiikiioavii to us. You will remember the signal rockets which were thrown up in the direction of Vienna, which were probably in tended to notify, the ep^uyvof onr de parture. h ’•* par When we crrived at the place of meet ing on the road, we found that we were accompanied by three regiments, the 11th Virginia, under Colquel Gar* " Forney, aftabilitv not usual aiuongst line of the Federal reUeat to Centre- thHock ville and thence to Cathp Peters, wliern the cartonch This poor fellow lin- s iu great pahi, _ that his lieart was Blanding, were formed info the Third J 101 ./'! li'' 8 c . 0 ! l ^.‘ ct > I* 1 } 1 ’ ie . Brigade, under I). R. Jones, and con- ^ ct 1 >,08 ^ 8< | Mito service, although his stitulcd a part of Longstreet’s Dlvi-i? ul ?' vaM '| e . l - v ? ,u ^ ^ 1S cu, 'J. on ®H sion. At this camp little occurred to 1'°.^ ®* n Pty by reason of the vary the routine duties of drilUHg, ?- 111 ^, W J 11C I done but a short guarding and dress parade. The most VuaiJt •^ llS f* 1 t i U8 - po,n /.» an( | notable occurrence which I now rc- J 1 u?, ,n ^ p,u ^ trie a ber was the excessive!v hot !u’ 1 n "m 8 8t 5 l > u, P c ^ ei ^ by Ah, my comrades, how those ocea- march which we took to tlie review of thw B, *. Ton ! . J 0 * 1 , wl, J oo.«y"»ES'lr,^' ,a e ,. e — •..? cs not Avo took tlie place of tlie Mjssh’slpians, 8 '^ c ’, 11,1 confi- who fought the battle of BaH’s Bluff, ge , e '!- f( V Son ? C I'. 0 * 11 '! ofil if r ' u . ull V:'' <, > "ith Jenkins and Slontiutul ^ coat behind; anottfor i laud, theTOth Alabama, iufdm‘.Forney,’ i of ids gun; and the » l »} (be 1st Kentucky, under Taylor, *• ainJdj’htt’s Georgia Battery,.the whole ■utWiulMI mUU one years hate uoW olapsea gave TOT the Donefit oT some Trench 1 t "J""* ese sceuea were iK-ing enacted, Prince and which caused sickness and 1.!! » 0 ° n how fresh and green do they’ resulted in thd death of some of our W*!? i 111 * man—Lewis Miller—who could bvuliv 1 showed us the nnw of Thomas spring to memory; hoty# clear and soldiers. ! nicket dutvSdthe soldiers w3 means be Indu-ed to re-enlist. It waV «bickson, \vho it appeared had cutered bright dre the visions which jiass be- l rom Camp Petow we. moved to rtiill also understood that all the stuff, with ! " e*t Point from South Carolina, grad- j tore us. 1 can distinctly see him now; Germantown, Here we were fourteen Lvebm kmi^ Avith them »he., t! the exception of the adjutant, would DmB’d «nd Iiad been assigned to duty sword 111 liaud, as Ironi the back ot the nnlvs from Alexandria and in full Tolu’s ffraltoS HMw’ht «« • oil the frontier; was breveted once or, little sorrel mare, in those deep, rich sound of the big guns at Washington • x .‘A 6 greiite?i aengni to ex- commauded by Brigadier-General J* E. B. Stuart. We had marched abotff sixteen miles, aiid were nearing the little towti'.61 Dranesville along a road: skirted on either aidg.by woods, when a cavalryman Jwas "seen rapidly ap proaching, and immediately the bullet; of a picket whistled .oyer our heads. This, with an order foliialt and load, was the first intimation wdfoad, that the enemy were near and a tight ou hand. As soon as the command had loaded, we were moved a short dis< goreA ’fr.h f V\ T s»ct PnSitir ornrl. lie ' 1 t\t\i\ flietiiiDtlv ftlPirt liifin nnw: riofmsiiifmrn Hd'C W0 \V0l*O tOlirtOGIl \ i • fc* S u ^ Things looked :oaU,e trontier; was ureveteil once or, utuo sorrel marej in those aeep, ncu sotma o| tno big guns at Washington .kT,*- winn • ’xu 0 . rather gloomv, for three companies' twice lor meritorious conduct in In- tones of his well known sonorous and in the batteries along the Potomac. othci ? JL Ha wL thnl 8 Avere already hevond the hone oT re- dian fighiiitg, and “upon the avhole voice—forever hushed at Cedar Monii- Yon will lememhcr this place as the iJe "t 18 t,ms cn o a o<- 1 * “ 1 1 ” “He would ap- tiin—he delivered that stereotyped site of “Camp Misery”, which Was a i eoyerv. But there was vet a clmuce. v> !ls 11 good man when AN IMMENSE BALLOON General Beauregard appreciating our point him.” Now, neither of us had speech—the only one I ever heard him flat siirroanded'by rising grounds in , . difficulties, and’not Avisliin< r to see this every begird of Captain (now Colonel) make but . which we always heard all directions, and after Tains formed was seen ylowly, rising above the trees Regiment, which he had ~ jJiu ksmi, and avc so staled, hut upon when it was snppi/sed we were abont quite a pond, and it. was here that the in front of the position which he oc- his a-siiiing us that we Avould tiad htuT to march to IwttTe: “My men, we seeds of disease, whiclr tvere already enpied. Tom, jike many of us, had I’ROSOUNCED THE FINEST ROOT OF MEN li luiT.etfer seen, pass <»iii of » ! all lights there .was nothing left but. to ut this time was peculiarly unfortu nate. It looked as if the officers were seeking for comfortable quarters and ! and separate stations him) coiiiuiutuis. Some Avere acting as heavy iirt’dierists and fi.nimiiig butteries, endwthers as itifnu*' try, stationed not far apart it was true, but still d : v’;.led by \vn*o" and marshes, Avlutih made it so difficult of access exist ence, iiad sept u* word licit our ml me and organization should be pre* rved if we would save and muster in seven of the original cotupitiiic-, and H. t he Avou'd tdlow jime to rec: tit elsevv .n re the three companies vUicn were udss- ing. The camp was tlicrelote raked scraped for recruits unit tn rent teiegrauis Were sent b cue to ex- pedite the departure <>f uli wtio w •nid foiti us. The mnstcriiig officer- -the intrepid Jvihil Duiiuovuiit—hail ar rived, and after waiting several days, we .were informed that his (une was shall probably get into a Keep eoql and aim low. men, we lit to-day. ever aim being disseminated, were scattered never seen a. balloon, and the sight of [lootn'L Rio appointment, ami inakiug Keep cool and aim Ioav. Never aim broadcast, afld with relentless hand, this strange, huge monster rising in ourioV we departed., As soon us above tlie waisi of n man, and bo sure The barn and tqe church at Makejy’s the air, and apparently approaching avc were upon the streets vc com- to kill all you can. Right face, for- farm wore soon filled with our 1 Ifcu- the post, was too nitich for his nerves; mcueid unht.'trioiDiy to inquire of all ward -march”. gdiahiiig cotarudes, and many a gal- and alter a momentary stare he drop- wbom wc knew, and we had not yet You were now on your way to Rich- laiit fellow was called to his filial reck- {>ed his gun and, with race-horse toiiud a man wlio could led u«<pf our mqnd. Adjutant Mills was the only oning before he had fired a shot til the Ipeoil, dashed for RegimentA) Head- .. a...... ' ' J * *- * ’**" ’ quarters, more than i mile off. And ... v . -Snip the Ipth Alabama filing on tlie righ of tlie fdad a»d taking position fron right to left in the order named. Cutt with his battery wiTs 'stationed in th< road; and we were ordered to file U tkfe left and occupy the position to th< left of the battery. ,Thia manoeuvre- as we. Were marching right in front- inVerted our order aiul would compel m to go into battle fiiced rby . (he real ranly Colonel Secrest’s attetitlon wai callcw Id tlie matter; and the' vugges tlon made that it would perhaps lx better to couiiteriiiareji and fight as w had usuallv drilled; But he was afraii that we might be asailed by the eneuv who were supposed Ad be itj the thick et Id otir frout; of that we might t> Ordered forward while in the exert tiou of the moveroeiit n gnd he decide to abide the issue as we stood. Ju at thj^tiiBfe the 1st Kentucky, wlih new cufoiiyti. We were already iu quite a ncfvous Hta*!* of mind ’.vlien we iiict a Car lititiau v7>w Iiad held a com- ;ni-.*i(»ii in li.e (.‘id i:riny. “Do you kiMW Captain Javksyfi?” we asked. one of the old staff who retained his enemies of his country, place and accompanied us But Se- Referring to a communication from eresf had appointed Anderson surgeon, this camp in August, 1 copy the Babcock assistant-surgeon, H. A. Gail- lowing: “The health of our "troops lard quartermaster, James Ragan quRg; distressing; there are over three that we raroly si».v o. fi*Tud. oi ♦•.i.b i out; thaf he had been ordered back . t nn< f hoiiep W'*re Tje'dug that, to ('hariosto*i to report. We must, “that lie is rather too’fond of ftolickr Sjadabliiiy unit iuLuruotumu.iicntioii come to umv, therefore. The Guesicr . itig; he drinks a good deal, amt is u .i .neb and officers so neces.-ary ; coiupanics hau little or no tiuitblc and known in the old army as “Hell Roar ing Jackson”. This * completed our «care, Mini wc determined to see the President on the uext morning and uvge him to rcuM! In the meantime in voluntary oigamfiidous which havei were safolv through; Means, with the mhui no service, the^mvedyolttiethimf | Rucki.ead Guards, sioihI lim test, and bad about worn i*ff and many had , nLftv the veteran Shidd, with the Bovce loiiod out tiiat “fighting war” and: Guards, was to be iiluced in the bal- chinp- imuters at home, wbvp “biled : an«s. Shedd, who had tlie liveliest,liii- ghf Ju left extending about half mental front to our left. I w with Cdlonel Seerest wh< ne in and took position behii 1 «'n 0f 'i a,,t * coustlted as to tbe propri ou. ^BoH ty of tiding back,' seeing the colonel occupied ft, and lettiug him know who were Ut thev had seen ns f this direction. Bill McAli colors well up, and wo we *11 the appointment, gallant officer; he was dcvounl to his . frequently called*out to repel attacks;' storm.‘which »weDt &wsv "onr‘VahtIl 8tail( *! n g oar b^cks to. Ryi j we cuUmI ou Mi’- tts Adjutant, nud loved the old j which acre threatened from various and drenched as with rain, but didn’t j [contimed on xrtBD paokJ - Point, who, 1 think, had not graduated the blacks atUched to the Regiuient. ’ camped ht McLean’s Ford at Hie breaking out of the war; and M r e had lost one iiran, named Wren. Run. Here our lino w»i«