Correspondence From The Army
The Mexican War
North Carolina
(Transcriber’s Note: The Raleigh Register had correspondents who
wrote in regularly from the army. Their letters were never signed by
their own names, but as “Volunteer” or “Justice”. One, however,
signed with his initials: “J.D.G.” From his observations of being in
some type of officer position, and with Company H, he may have
been Sgt. Joseph D. Gorman, however, as stated below, he came
home early due to sickness so who the other correspondent(s) are
is unknown.)
Fayetteville Observer, Tuesday, July 21, 1846
Our Volunteer Regiment
From the Raleigh Register
It will be seen from the official notification of the Adjutant General,
contained in this paper, that the Regiment of Volunteers called for
by the President from this state, has been completed by lot, and is
now ready for any emergency that may arise. The names of thirty
two companies were placed in the wheel and the ten, announced
by the Adjutant General, were drawn therefrom. Since then, we
learn, some six or eight additional companies have been tendered,
making in all about thirty companies which have volunteered their
services in this State, where only ten were required.
Official
North Carolina
Office of Adjutant General
Raleigh, July 10, 1846
The following companies of volunteers, from No. 1 to No. 10 inclusive,
have been selected by lot from the whole number, whose service have
been tendered under the requisition from the War Department of the
U.S. and are arranged in the order in which they were drawn, to wit:
1. Rowan Co., Richard W. Long, Captain
2. Orange Co.
3. Buncombe Co., Will D. Jones, Captain
4. Lenoir Co., James Davis, Captain
5. Ashe Co., Andrew J. Vannoy, Captain
6. Surry Co., George W. Brown, Captain
7. Davie Co., D.W. Smith, Captain
8. Cherokee Co., John S. Powel, Captain
9. McDowell Co., John S. Brown, Captain
10. Caswell Co., Archer Lea, Captain
The captains commanding the foregoing companies will immediately
forward to this office rolls of their respective commands, containing
the names of the commissioned and non-commissioned officers and
privates.
Robert W. Haywood
Adj’t. General, N.C.M.
Raleigh Register and North Carolina Gazette, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 1846
Late From the Army
We have been permitted to make the following extracts from a letter,
addressed by Mr. J.H. High, a volunteer in General Taylor’s army,
and a native of this city, to his brother, a resident here, which
contains some interesting details in relation to the condition of the
army:
“We shall remain at this place at least a month, if not longer. We
have to remain until Gen. Taylor gets a supply of provisions for us.
He has made a requisition of 1,000 wagons, to convey the baggage,
etc. The general is, himself, at Matamoras, with 9,000 troops,
awaiting reinforcements to take Monterey. A regiment left this
morning for Bureta, 18 miles from this place. There are 5,000 troops
here, awaiting Gen. Taylor’s orders. This point is entirely surrounded
by the Gulf of Mexico; nothing to be seen, but sand, sky and water;
not a tree on the island; not a stick of wood to be found of any
description. We use stone coal for cooking, and it makes excellent
fires; and we have many of the luxuries of life in great abundance,
such as oysters, fish, etc., plenty of old bacon and corn bread and
occasionally, fresh meats. We suffer most for good water. We have
to dig a hole in the ground, about two feet deep and then put in a
barrel, when it is called a well. We have seven or eight hundred on
the island. The water is, of course, a little brackish. Major Ringgold’s
remains lie at Point Isabel, just in sight of us across a little stream.
His grave is enclosed with muskets around. They intend removing
his remains to Baltimore in a short time. We have a number of
Mexican prisoners here, left by Gen. Taylor. They are rough
looking chaps, but appear to be well contented.”
Raleigh Register and North Carolina Gazette, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 1847
Our Regiment Complete
We make this annunciation with confidence, for, although nine
companies only have been officially reported, yet there are so many
nearly completed, that long before this paper reaches our distant
readers, the Regiment of North Carolina Volunteers will be under
marching orders. We subjoin the names of the captains of the
volunteer companies and the order of precedence is indicated by
the letters of the alphabet:
Company A, Captain Richard W. Long, Rowan
Company B, Captain Louis D. Wilson, Edgecombe
Company C, Henry Roberts, Wayne
Company D, Martin Shive, Cabarrus
Company E, Tilmon Blalock, Yancy
Company F, W.E. Kirkpatrick, Cumberland
Company G, G.W. Caldwell, Mecklenburg
Company H, Wm. S. Duggan, Edgecombe
Company I, John Cameron, Orange
Company K (nothing follows)
We understand the “Orange Boys” were so much afraid of being left
out that they knocked up His Excellency, the Governor, at 2:00 in
the morning to get their commission.
Raleigh Register and North Carolina Gazette
Tuesday, March 2, 1847
John A. Lane, a private in the Cumberland and Bladen Company,
died on Tuesday last, of hemorrhage of the lungs.
There is nothing like the sickness among the troops that there was
a week or two ago.
The Orange Volunteers, being a detachment only, have been
divided and apportioned off to other deficient companies, chiefly
to Yancy, so that by this and other changes, nine complete
companies have been made up, leaving one yet to be gathered.
Towards this, some twelve or fifteen men from one of the western
counties came down on the railroad on Monday and Lt. Col. Fagg
has bone to Buncombe for more recruits. By the apportionment of
the Orange Volunteers among the other companies, Capt. Cameron
is left without a command.
The nine companies range alphabetically thus:
A, Edgecombe, Capt. Wilson
B, Wayne, Capt. Roberts
C, Cabarrus, Capt. Shive
D, Yancy, Capt. Blalock
E, Edgecombe, Capt. Duggan
F, Caswell, Capt. Williamson
G, Rockingham, Capt. Henry
H, New Hanover, Capt. Price
I, Cumberland, Capt. Kirkpatrick
Companies A & E left for Brazos Santiago on the 15th inst., in the
Schooner E.S. Powell. Companies B, C & D will, it is expected,
leave tomorrow in the brig Samuel N. Gott. Major Stokes will go
with them.
The schooner Harrison Price has been contracted for by Lt. Fremont,
the government agent, and will probably get away in four or five days,
taking companies H & I.
Wilmington Chronicle
Fayetteville Observer, March 10, 1847
The schooner Florida left for Brazos Santiago Friday last having on
board the last of the nine companies of the North Carolina Regiment:
Company F, Caswell, Capt. Williamson
Company G, Rockingham, Capt. Henry
Col. Paine went out in the Florida
Wilmington Chronicle
Fayetteville Observer, March 20, 1847
Edward Cantwell of Wilmington has been appointed 2nd lieutenant
in the 12th Regiment of Infantry, one of the new regiments. E.N.
Saunders of North Carolina has been appointed 2nd lieutenant of
infantry in the 12th Regiment
Fayetteville Observer, Tuesday, May 4, 1847
The Matamoras Flag of the 11th ult says:
Lt. Stanton of the North Carolina Regiment, came down the river on
Friday last in charge of a number of sick volunteers belonging to his
regiment. On the passage down, two of them died, viz; George W.
Barnes, 1st Sgt, Company A; J.J.F. Stokes, 3rd Corp., Company F.
Our regiment was stationed at Cannargo(?) at the last date.
Raleigh Register and North Carolina Gazette, Tuesday, May 11, 1847
We have had the pleasure of seeing Major Theophilus H. Holmes,
of the U.S. Army, who arrived here a few days ago on a visit to his
family in this place, from whom the active operations on our southern
frontier have separated him for the last two years. During that period
he has had the good fortune to be engaged in the defense of Fort
Brown, and the brilliant battles of Monterey, and Vera Cruz. At
Monterey, especially, he distinguished himself by coolness and
courage in the most exposed situations, for which our readers will
recollect he was especially named in the dispatches, and to which
he owes his promotion to a majority. It gives us pleasure to thus
mention the distinction of a gallant North Carolinian. Major Holmes
describes the operations before Vera Cruz as affording the most
perfect exemplification of the certain results of science in war.
Nothing was omitted or overlooked, from the greatest to the most
minute particular, of what was essential to the triumph of our arms;
and the result followed with the precision and certainty of a mathematical
demonstration. Gen. Scott is said to have declared, that in 72 hours the
castle and city would surrender. In 70 hours after this, they did so. To
all the masterly arrangements of Gen. Scott it was undoubtedly owing
that the strong city, and still stronger castle, were gained with so little
loss of life on our side. Major Holmes has proceeded to Washington.
Fayetteville Observer
Fayetteville Observer, Tuesday, May 18, 1847
The Hillsborough Recorder contains two letters from volunteers
in Mexico, which contain some interesting particulars. One,
dated at Camargo, April 5, says:
“Our camp us just out of the town, upon the banks of the St.
John(?). We are obliged to drink the river water as there are
no springs within this part of the country and it is not made
more palatable by seeing the number of dead mules on its banks.
If we are left at this place for the summer, one half of our regiment
will die. The heat even now is almost unbearable, being more
sultry than ours is in August. A large majority of the men have
been sick with dysentery, the most fatal disease of this country,
although they are now getting better. Our major is now quite sick
with fever.
The other, dated at St. Francisco, 56 miles beyond Camargo,
April 10, says:
Our numbers have been badly thinned by disease. Both the
Edgecombe companies have scarcely enough men to stand
guard. This is disheartening: men dread sickness more than
death. Yesterday Col. Paine passed us with the Second
Battalion, consisting of 200 wagons from the Brazos, and the
worst used up men I never saw in my life, out of four companies
not sixty men capable of doing duty. The weather has been very
hot and sultry but it commenced raining yesterday and the air is
a little cooler, the mud is knee deep and our tents are flooded
with water. While I am writing a man from Edgecombe lies dead,
from that fatal disease, diarrhea. What will be the feelings of that
man when he stands at the foot of God and the spirits of thousands
stand pointing to their ghastly wounds? But ‘tis done and God
forbid another drop of blood should be spilt in this horrid war.
Words cannot express what the eye can see and from the mouth
of the Rio Grande to Monterrey is nothing but a vast extended
graveyard; the American soldiers, they have whitened the plains
with their bones and made the natives wealthy on the spoils of war.
A Gallant North Carolinian
The Raleigh Register has on various occasions praised Lt. Bryan
for his gallant behavior at the Battle of Buena Vista and we observe
that the good people of Raleigh, of which city he is a native, are
about to present him with some testimonial of their regard. This
is as it should be; the life of a soldier is hard and dangerous
enough, Heaven knows, and every brave act should be remembered
and rewarded. But in praising one distinguished son of North
Carolina, our friend Gales has omitted to mention another and, it
detracts nothing Lt. Bryan’s well earned reputation to say it, a
more distinguished one, for it was he who, when the battery to
which Lt. Bryan was attached, was captured by the enemy,
gallantly threw himself in the front of their advancing columns,
and drove them back in confusion. Nay, he did more: to use
the language of the “noblest Roman of them all” it was owing to
his efforts on this occasion that the “day was saved.” Here is
what Gen. Taylor said: “In the meantime, the firing had partially
ceased upon the principal field. The enemy seemed to confine
his activity to the protection of his artillery and I had left the
plateau for a moment when I was recalled thither by a very heavy
musketry fire. On regaining that position, I discovered that the
infantry (Illinois and Kentucky) had engaged a greatly superior
force of the enemy—evidently his reserve—and that they had
been overwhelmed by numbers. The moment was most critical.
Capt. O’Brien, with two pieces, had sustained this heavy charge
to the last, and was finally obliged to leave his guns on the field—
his infantry support having been entirely routed. Capt. Bragg,
who had just arrived from the left, was ordered at once into battle.
Without any infantry to support him, and at the imminent risk of
losing his guns, this officer came rapidly into action, the Mexican
line being but a few yards from the muzzle of his piece. The first
discharge of his canister caused the enemy to hesitate, the
second and third drove him back in disorder and saved the day.”
Does not this heroic conduct deserve notice, not only in North
Carolina but throughout the length and breadth of the land?
Suppose Bragg’s efforts on that memorable occasion had failed?
The day would have been lost in all probability—Taylor and his
army would have been destroyed…….Honor, then to the noble
North Carolinian who thus rolled back the tide of battle and “saved
the day”.
Raleigh Register and North Carolina Gazette
May 28, 1847
Capt. William J. Clark’s company of newly raised infantry, took up
their line of march from this city on Monday last, en route for
Charleston, their place of embarkation, for the seat of war. This
company is composed of a sturdy, athletic set of men, who look
as though they were able to do service on the field of battle; and
we hesitate not to say, that when the occasion shall offer, that
our gallant young townsman and his fine looking corps, will add
fresh lustre to the ancient fame of our noble old Commonwealth.
Raleigh Register and North Carolina Gazette
June 4, 1847
Our Army Correspondence
Camp Paine, Camargo, Mexico
May 3, 1847
My Dear Sir:
Soon after the arrival of our regiment at this place, on the 7th ult., I
wrote, according to promise, a cursory detail of this country and its
people—such, at least, as I had the opportunity to observe, in a
hurried and somewhat hazardous march up the Rio Grande to this
place. We have been unoccupied here now about a month, and but
very little has occurred worthy of note; but still, I feel that it is due
to you, to give some information of us and our condition.
Two weeks ago, we moved our camp to the north bank of the San
Juan (pronounced in Mexican, Sawn Whan) about two miles above
the town, in the chapparal, where our police guard, under the direction
of our excellent adjutant, O.A. Buck, cleared us an excellent camp
ground. The next morning, Col. Paine, with a detachment of two
companies and 50 dragoons (regulars), escorted a large train of
provisions and military stores, to Monterey.
Soon after the departure of Col. Paine, the officers left, named our
encampment after him, as a mark of their high estimation of his
military genius, and his invaluable service to the regiment. He is a
strict disciplinarian and by his promptness, unceasing energy and
faithful discharge of every duty, and strict enforcement of it from
others, has won the entire confidence, respect, and admiration of
the whole regiment, both officers and men. We have heard from
him by a downward train, but he is still absent, though he is
expected back in a day or two.
We now have four companies in the detached service. But as the
colonel was accompanied by Adjutant Buck, I have not yet had an
opportunity of paying my respects in person to old Rough and Ready,
as I feel particularly anxious to do. Of course, therefore, you must
not expect any further description of places and persons in these
foreign parts, in this letter. But I go next week, and you shall be
promptly furnished with my observations, if they be worth transcribing.
Our muster rolls to the 1st of May have just come in and it was in
looking over them that I felt it due to you now to write, as they enable
me to give you a full and complete list of the deaths which have
occurred in the regiment since we left Smithville. I begin with the
companied in alphabetical order and give the places of death as well
as the county from which the soldier came:
Company A, L.D. Wilson of Edgecombe, captain
Calvin Johnson of Edgecombe, died at Matamoras, on the 28th March
Wm. H. Spencer, of Warren, died at Matamoras on the 6th April
George W. Barnes, Edgecombe, died on board steam boat, April 8
Amos Edwards, Edgecombe, died at Matamoras on the 18th April
Littleton T. Griffin, Edgecombe, died at Camargo, 26th April
Wm. Parker, Edgecombe, died at Camargo 29th April
Company B, H. Roberts of Wayne, captain
Willie Baily, of Johnston, at Camargo, April 23
Benjamin Alford, Wayne, Point Isabel, April 20
Company C, M. Shive of Cabarrus, captain
Enoch Flowers, Anson, Matamoris, March 25
Martin Stough, Cabarrus, on the road to this place from Matamoras,
March 27
Company D, T. Blalock, Yancy, captain
Thomas Curran, Granville, on board of the Gott, at sea, March 8
Wm. H. Keith, Yancy, at the Brazos, March 15
Jno. Ledford, Yancy, Camargo, April 17
George Miller, Orange, Camargo, April 25
David Poor, Yancy, Camargo, April 26
Company E, W.H. Duggan, Edgecomebe, captain
Gideon Barnhill, Martin, Matamoras, March 21
Wright Durden, Edgecombe, St. Francisco, April 9
Ephraim Flora, Edgecombe, Camargo, April 23
Patrick Hardy, Martin, Camargo, April 27
J.J. Stokes, Edgecombe, on board steam boat near Matamoras, April 9
Hardy G.L. Calhoun, Edgecombe, Camargo, May 1
Company F, George Williamson, Caswell, captain
Jas. H. Miller, Caswell, on board the Florida, March 17
Company G, P.M. Henry, Rockingham, captain
None
Company H, W.H. Price, New Hanover, captain
Jno. Waler, New Hanover, on board the H. Price, at sea, March 11
Company I, W.E. Kirkpatrick, Cumberland, captain
William Caison, Camargo, April 16 (county not shown)
Richard M. Johnson, New Hanover, Camargo, April 20
Most of these deaths were from typhoid fever, some from the prevalent
diarrhea, and a few from old chronic diseases. Young Keith was killed
by the falling of some timbers of the vessel which were broken off by
the steam boat which went out to land them at the Brazos. The sea
was rough and before the steamer could be fastened to the vessel,
she caught a part of her rigging; a large piece of timber was broken
off, and fell on him, fracturing his skull and producing death in a short
time.
Those that died at Matamoras, were in the general hospital at that
place. The deaths at sea were old cases of disease. The burial s
ervice for the sea is particularly solemn and impressive. They were
buried in their full uniforms, closely sewed in their military blankets;
and with sinkers to their feet, were thus consigned to their watery
graves. The ceremony is simple but most impressively awful and
brought tears to many a soldier’s eyes that would not quail to any
enemy and I hope produced in the minds of many, serious
considerations for their final dissolution and destination.
The one who died on the road, also had to be committed to his
final resting place without a coffin, as no plank could be obtained,
and there are no trees here large enough to have them made from.
Our daily sick reports average more than a hundred, but I am
well pleased to inform you, that under the treatment of our
vigilant and skillful physicians, they are improving and the
cases are not as severe as formerly.
The men have been very imprudent in the sue of the water,
and as we are obliged to use from the river, which is rotten
limestone, its imprudent use is very deleterious, when not
fatal.
In a late dispatch, however, from General Taylor, we are
assured that we shall soon be ordered up to Monterey, and
that in no event will he march upon San Luis Potesi without
all the regiments now called into the service for the war with
Mexico.
We are all anxious to go to Monterey, as we learn that the
troops are quite healthy there.
We have no army news. I will keep you advised of all our
movements of interest and importance.
I am, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant and friend
A Volunteer
Raleigh Semi Weekly Register
June 18, 1847
Our Army Correspondence
Monterey, Mexico, May 26, 1847
I know of nothing I can write more interesting to you than a
description of the country and occurrences since I left Camargo.
The face of the country between Camargo and Monterey is one
continual broken wilderness, up hill and down dale, abounding in
Prickly Pear and Mosqueet trees, and as you advance toward
Monterey, the Palmetto becomes quite plenty.
I left Camargo on the 20th April, having only been informed the
evening before, that our company (H) and Company F had been
detailed to escort a train of wagons up to Monterey. We went the
first day to the 9 mile Rancho. On the 21st, after a hot day’s
march, we arrived at Mier. I visited the town the next morning and
found it a rather old, dilapidated looking place, i.e., what I saw of
it; but take it in all, it is rather a pretty place and beautifully situated.
We had two swivels in our train, captured at the Battle of Monterey,
carrying pound balls or 18 musket balls. One was placed under my
command, with one man to assist me and six to protect, in case of
an attack which we anticipated before we arrived at Monterey. The
next day we arrived at Canales’ camping ground, on a beautiful little
stream called Canales Run, by far the loveliest I have met with in
Mexico, and about the size of Walnut Creek.
On the 23rd we made an early start, and having a pretty fair road,
and little delay, arrived at our camping ground, 12 miles, by 2:00,
near a Rancho called Ponta Cuba, burned by the volunteers. It
appears to have been quite a Rancho, as some of the houses were
well finished and seem to have been well fortified. We here met
companies C and G, on their return march, having guarded a train
within thirty miles of Monterey, and meeting a train on its way
down, unguarded, returned with it. Here a volunteer belonging to
Company C, was shot through the head while after a beef in the
chapparal.
The detachment of men from our company, with Lt. Singletary, and
11 others assigned to our company, took up the line of march at
7:00 the next morning, at 11:30, orders were given to prepare for an
attack, caused by Capt. Bunch, Commissary, having been lanced
through the jaw; he being alone in advance when the train was set
upon by a couple of Mexicans, --we fired two shots at them and
hearing a rustling at the chapparal from another quarter, thought it
best to retire. The attack, however was not made and without any
other accident, we arrived at Ceralvo about 2:00.
Ceralvo is quite a handsome place—the church shows at a long
distance; and the Cordilleras are in full view—and a splendid sight
they are to look upon: mountain rising upon top of mountain, like
the rolling of old ocean’s waves, lashed to fury by revengeful Neptune,
or like the dark, black clouds of September’s thunderstorm frowning
down upon us.
The water of Ceralvo is the best I had tasted in Mexico; they have fine
wells, and the appearance of the whole town looks most beautiful;
here and there, scattered through its whole length, are fig, orange
pomegranate trees in all their luxuriance and beauty. About 13 miles
below Ceralvo, is the spot on which Urrea made his attack upon a
train that was going down. At that time, there were no American
troops stationed at Ceralvo; he took some 50 or 60 wagons and
retired to make his second attack, and although he sounded his bugle
twice for the charge, thought it best to retire altogether.
Today a private belonging to Company H was run over by a wagon
and his legs were badly crushed. Nothing else occurring during the
day, we halted after a nine mile march at Robbers Rancho. This
appears to have been a pretty strong place, but is now all burned
down, and from its near vicinity to the mountains, must have been
a great resort for the young brigands. On the 26th, nothing occurred
that I am aware of, though rumor has it that two lancers were taken
by the dragoons and shot; and after a 19 mile march over the
roughest road I ever saw, we camped at the deserted rancho (also
burned) at the very foot of the Cordilleras.
On the 27th, we made an early start, and in 5 miles met a train going
down. The Lancers shot one of the advance guard in the down train,
through the thigh, but the lancer was killed by la ranger. We passed
the spot where a train was attacked, some 60 wagons burned and 40
or 50 Americans killed. It is horrid to look upon the sight—the bones,
however, have been buried lately and the sight is not quite so bad.
We passed through a little place called Ramos, a most lovely situated
place, but not nearly deserted. Also Marin, which has a fine church
and some find buildings. At this place, the Kentucky and Mississippi
volunteers, had a brush with the Mexicans a day or two after the battle
of Monterey. We camped a after three miles further march, at the head
of the San Juan river. On the 28th, we made quite an early start and for
the first time saw signs of cultivation, passed through Ava, Frea, also
nearly deserted, San Francisco, and several Ranchos and halted about
3:00 at General Taylor’s camp, at Walnut Springs, five miles from
Monterey.
Yours, Etc.
J.D.G.
Raleigh Register and North Carolina Gazette
Tuesday, June 29, 1847
Among the list of deaths in the hospital at Matamoras, during the
month of May, we notice those of Jackson Rogers, James L. Barnes,
G.H. Shultz, Reuben Harrell and Benjamin Little of the North Carolina
Regiment. Two companies of North Carolina Volunteers left Monterey
on the 29th May for Saltillo
Raleigh Register and North Carolina Gazette
July 15, 1847
Our Army Correspondence
Headquarters N. Carolina Regiment of Volunteers
Walnut Springs, near Monterey, Mexico
The Old North State has reported herself in person at headquarters,
and we think a favorable impression has been made. Our station is
at Camargo. Col. Paine moved forward with 150 men to escort a train
of wagons and General Taylor has given him leave to remain here as
long as he likes.
We have been at this place eight days, but shall soon return, as the
colonel is getting anxious to see his men again. Of all places in
Mexico, Camargo is the worst. In dry weather so very dusty and in
wet weather, muddy and such water! I would prefer drinking from the
dirtiest mud hole in North Carolina, rather than from the San Juan.
The soldiering comes very hard on the men; many were sick when
we left Camargo and one had died. If we are obliged to remain at
Camargo, our regiment will suffer much during the warm weather.
Gen. Taylor is camped in a beautiful grove of large trees—the first
I have seen in Mexico—and excellent water is gushing out all
around us, forming the most beautiful springs I ever saw. Three
regiments of volunteers and two companies of regulars, is the
amount of force in this camp. Monterey is four miles distant from
the camp and is garrisoned with the Ohio Regiment, the term of
service of which expires in about one month. When all the troops,
whose terms of service expires in June, leave the filed, General
Taylor will have but four companies of regulars, and four regiments
of volunteers, viz: North Carolina, Massachusetts, Virginia and the
second Mississippi unless the ten regiments begin to arrive, and
with this force, he will be obliged to keep open a line three hundred
miles in length, or fall back and relinquish possession of some of the
important places.
Monterey is a beautiful place for a Mexican city. On three sides it
is flanked by lofty mountains, that do not appear to be more than
half a mile distant, and are not in reality more than three. I have
visited several places rendered interesting by recent events—the
Bishop’s Palace, Arista’s Garden, the Black Fort, and the redoubts
on the eastern and southern sides of town—Arista’s Garden is the
most beautiful place I have seen for a long time. It is surrounded
by a massive wall of stone.
The day before yesterday, Col. Paine and I visited the Hot Springs.
They are situated about four miles from here, at the foot of the
mountain. The water is so warm, that at first we could not bear it on
the skin, but soon it became delightful and is a most luxuriant bath.
The Mexicans are constantly cutting off individuals, who stray out
of camp or who fall behind the trains, as they pass from one place
to another. Yesterday I saw a young man of the Indiana Battalion
brought in. He was out hunting, and was found with his throat cut,
and more than a mile from General Taylor’s camp. As we came up,
Capt. Bunch of the Kentucky Cavalry, was lanced through the cheek
by a lancer. He was about half a mile ahead and was attacked by
four men with lances.
Col. Paine spends much of his time at headquarters and appears to
be on very good terms with Old Rough and Ready, and frequently
takes tea or dines with him. I have had the pleasure once of supping
at his table.
Raleigh Register and North Carolina Gazette
July 28, 1847
We have been favored, says the Fayetteville Carolinian, with the
perusal of a letter received by a gentleman in this place from a
sergeant of the Cumberland and Bladen company, dated Monterey,
June 28, from which we make the following extracts: “Our regiment
has suffered severely by sickness, the two Edgecombe companies
have suffered more than any other companies in the regiment—they
were large companies when they left North Carolina but both
companies will not make one now. Our company has, since its
arrival at Camargo, lost seven men and we have all the time averaged
from ten to twelve on the sick list. Those that have died are William
Caison, Richard Johnson, Wm. M. Whitley, T.H. Josey, Daniel
Melvin (Bladen), E. James and Corp. Samuel R. Ricards. The
Caswell company, within three weeks, lost nine men, their names
are: W.H. Glasgow, (first initial illegible) R. Wright, Benjamin
Cossantis, R.B. Chandler, H. Roland, J. Bracher, S.H. Thompson,
J.A. Cox, J.H. Miller and Yancy Carver.
Raleigh Register and North Carolina Gazette
Wednesday, Aug. 11, 1847
Mr. Joseph D. Gorman, one of the Raleigh volunteers for the
Mexican War, returned to this city on Saturday last, having
been discharged from service on account of bad health. He
left General Taylor’s camp on the 1st July, at which time and
place he heard from the North Carolina Regiment. They were
then at Saltillo, where they would remain until General Taylor
was ready to make his advance upon San Luis Potosi. There
had been about 125 deaths in the regiment, and there were
about 200 on the sick list, many of them dangerously so, six
having died of measles at Monterey the night previous. It was
believed that Old Rough and Ready would surely make a move
upon San Luis some time during the present month, August.
He also speaks in the most glowing terms of the popularity of
General Taylor with his man and says all the Army are for him
for next president, against the world.
Raleigh Register and North Carolina Gazette
Aug. 14, 1847
The Standard publishes a letter from Captain Wm. J. Clark, which
gives the following deaths in Companies G and I:
Nathan Perry of Franklin Co
John B. Roy of Washington, Sergeant
Timothy C. Jones, of Bath, Beaufort County
James M. Brady of Catawba County
Charles Airey of Gold Hill, Rowan County
Fenner Fink of Granville County
Rufus R. Hildreth of Anson County
Raleigh Register & North Carolina Gazette
August 18, 1847
Our Army Correspondence
Camp on the Battlefield of Buena Vista
July 17, 1847
My Dear Sir:
I advised you of our arrival here, soon after it occurred, and at
that time intended to have sent you the monthly list of deaths
up to the 1st inst., from the 1st May, in the regiment; but as all
the reports were not then in, I could not. I now copy the lists of
May and June for you, but as the list is rather a long one, I must
omit all except the company to which they belonged.
In the month of May, there died belonging to Company A,
commanded by 1st Lt. Jo. S. Pender:
Joel D. Braswell
Jackson Rodgers, Jr.
Thomas Wiggins
William Abrams
William Edwards
John H. Schultz
Reuben Horn
Company B, under Capt. H. Roberts
Jackson Daniel
William Sykes
Elijah Rivenback
James Peel
James Whitfield
John A. Boyt
Company C, under Capt. M. Shive
None
Company D, under Capt. T. Blalock
Thomas Butler
Company E, under Capt. W.S. Duggan
Hardy G.L. Calhoun
Lemuel Wren
Jas. L. Barnes
Joseph Proctor
William Griffin
Company F, under Capt. George Williamson
Myles Boyce
William H. Glasgow
Company G, under Capt. P.M. Henry
None
Company H, under Capt. Wm. H. Price
Charles H. Utley
Company I, under Capt. Wm. E. Kirkpatrick
William W. Willoughby
Elias Jones
Company K, under Capt. L.P. Tipton
None
During the month of June:
Company A
Dempsey Hicks
Henry Bell
William A. Amason
Company B
Williamson Hicks
Company C
William McDuffie
Company D
George Hensley
Company E
Guilford Joyner
George Lowe
Company F
Yancey Carver
Benjamin Cosand
Richard R. Wright
Jas. M. Chandler
Jas. A. Cox
Jeremiah Bradshear
Henry Roland, Jr.
Jno. H.Thompson
Company F
Robert J. Sapp
Daniel Hall
Wm. Scott
Company I
D.J. Melvin
Jas. H. Josey
Company K
None
(Transcriber’s note, nothing shown for G or H)
Out of this large number, more than two thirds have died of diarrhea,
so prevalent and so fatal in this country. The others have fallen
victims about equally between measles, pneumonia, epilepsy and
typhoid fever. We have about 100 men now sick, left in the different
hospitals from this place to the Brazos, and it is believed we have
lost many that were left behind, of which we have no official account
as of yet. We now have present for duty 400 non-commissioned
officers and privates and 18 officers; sick—non-commissioned
officers and privates, 137; officers, 18; discharged non-commissioned
officers and privates, 33; officers, 4.
It is with feelings of no ordinary character of sorrow that I have to
furnish you with such details of our regiment. In the list of mortality
are many brave and noble spirits; and I hope it will be some
consolation to their surviving and weeping friends and relatives, to
know that they bore their sad fate with a fortitude becoming a
soldier and received every attention the nature of the case would
admit of.
Though the service rendered the government by the regiment has
been of such a character as to elicit no public applause, yet its
labors have been more severe that if it had been in actual
engagements with the enemy; and it has suffered as great a loss
by disease as other regiments did in the hardest fought conflicts
of the war.
In a day or so after I had written my last, Lt. Col. Fagg, with Capt.
Tipton’s fine mountain company and several detachments, arrived
in camp—they had not lost a man till they reached this place, but
I regret to say they have since, as also have several other companies.
This is a delightful spot, and it is hard to conceive why it is so
sickly. We are surrounded on all sides by lofty, rugged mountains,
with a constant and healthful breeze of fresh air; and nearly in the
center of the plain in which we are encamped, gushes forth a
dozen large fine springs—sufficient to furnish one of Bonaparte’s
largest armies with fine, fresh water. Even in mid-day, in the sun,
it is not half as hot as with you; and morning, evening and night, it
is cool and pleasant. In fact, our nights are actually invigorating
and delicious—charmingly sweet. In truth, we pity you all, during
your long, sultry, summer days, with not a breath of air, and dust
enough to choke your carriage wheels, while we are here in a
broad, open plain, with not a tree, or shrub or flower, to break the
monotony of our mountain breezes—unsurfeited by spicy dinners,
regaling ourselves upon the wholesomeness of pickled pork,
smoked middling and hard bread. It is indeed noted, of not
perfectly delicious, to be a soldier.
I am truly yours,
A Volunteer
Weekly Register and North Carolina Gazette
Wednesday, Sept. 15, 1847
We copy from the “Greensboro’ Patriot” the extracts of a letter
addressed to that paper from Captain Henry of the North Carolina
Volunteers, now in Mexico:
On arriving, I immediately reported to General Wool’s headquarters,
and knowing him to be a stickler for military order and exactness,
I had my company in the best order, with knapsacks packed—
muskets and bayonets glistening, jackets buttoned up to the very
nick, close around the glazed leather stock—actually shining with
a high polish—canteens and haversacks well stored with water
and provisions—and after receiving from the gallant general the
highest praise, we marched in regular order to the position assigned
to us in the encampment.
I will gladly give you an extended description of the celebrated
battle field, were I not certain that a more minute and accurate
account has already been sent to the States concerning Buena
Vista. General Wool’s encampment is three miles this side of
the battle field and six miles out from Saltillo, upon an extensive
plain, and upon the borders of the most beautiful rivulets of water
I ever beheld. The three regiments of Mississippi, Virginia and
North Carolina are now encamped in regular order and thus
extending over an immense distance across the plain, presents
a most striking and beautiful appearance. But so expansive is
the plain, and so imposing are the proportions of the vast
mountains close at hand, that a large body of troops on parade
do not strike the beholder with half the effect which might be
expected.
General Wool is, as you are no doubt aware, the very best
disciplinarian in the army and in the performance of his duties,
recognizes no officer or corps though he has frequently, in
“general orders”, expressed himself wonderfully pleased and
surprised at the rapid improvement of the three regiments in
camp duties, drill and general discipline.
On my first arrival, he expressed to me great satisfaction and very
much pleasure in having the North Carolina regiment with him on
this line of operations, and said his knowledge of the character of
the “Old North State” was the harbinger of something good to be
expected from her regiment—on several occasions since the arrival
of our regiment, he has privately expressed himself not at all
disappointed in his expectations in regard to it.
Regimental and dress parades, as well as all the various drills, by
company and battalion, are regularly kept up, and the admirable
system of camp police, observed in the camp especially by our
own regiment, is the subject of general remark.
It is a lamentable fact, that our regiment, is, like the Mississippi
Regiment, much reduced by sickness and death. They have made
sad havoc in the rank and file of many companies. A great many
officers have been and are now sick, and on today I understand the
aggregate number on the sick report is 150. In fact, the two
Edgecombe companies are nearly broken up, and both at this
time number only about 35 effective men each, will, no doubt, be
in a short time merged in one company. It appears that the lower
country North Carolinians cannot stand this country so well as
the upper country “boys” and it is noticed as a remarkable fact,
that the further north from which the troops come, the healthier
and more efficient soldiers they are for this climate and service.
I am extremely sorry that since I addressed you last, my own
company has experienced considerable sickness. The privations
which it underwent, on the march to this place, and for some time
after being in camp, proved highly injurious to its health. My
command were, in such a manner, hurried off from Camargo as
an escort to a large wagon train, which had gotten under way for
some miles before I had received any order to march, that being
deprived of all means of transportation, my men had not the
opportunity to take with them their best blankets or watch coats.
And on arriving at camp without tents, axes, spades or hatchets,
and with very few mess pans and camp kettles, you can well
imagine how much we were exposed to very great inconveniences
and to the infestations of the climate. In a few days, some fifteen
or twenty of my company were stricken with measles, colds, etc.,
and ever since, the number of sick has varied daily from twelve to
twenty five. All, I am happy to say, are now improving and I
congratulate my friends, that in a few days, there is a prospect of
my company being completely restored.
In connection with the health and general condition of the company,
I am much pained to announce the deaths of some excellent men
since I last addressed you. It is indeed a painful task—but truth
and candor, as well as a sense of duty, compel me to do it promptly.
All of these unfortunate, but noble and gallant young soldiers had
been left sick at Camargo and Monterey—had partially recovered
and joined us in Saltillo—but, alas! The too sudden transition from
the sultry and murky country below to the high, bleak and cool
country among the mountains, caused a fatal check upon their
improving health, and at once prostrated them. But, several of
them, never again joined us as the following statement will show,
viz.:
Sgt. A.M. Strong died in Monterey July 17, 1847
Sgt. J.P. Wright died in Saltillo July 10, 1847
Corp. J.F. Bouldin died in Saltillo July 13, 1847
Private Daniel Hall, died at Camargo June 10, 1847
Private Wm. Scott, died at Monterey June 22, 1847
Private Alexis Newman died in Saltillo July 5, 1847
I should neglect the narration of the most interesting affair
witnessed by me since I have been in Mexico were I not to tell
you of the celebration we had on the glorious 4th of July. Only
think of the birth of our national independence being joyously
celebrated in the city of Saltillo in northern Mexico just 14 months
after the commencement of a national war.
At an early hour in the morning, the military guard paraded on
the plaza in fine style, and with excellent field music and a band,
we marched to the almada, a public garden in the suburbs of
the city, and upon the whole the most beautiful and pleasant
place I ever beheld where I was called upon to read the most
celebrated of all state papers, the Declaration of Independence.
I did so to the best of my ability, but I assure you, sirs, that the
most overwhelming associations of the novel occasion, well nigh
caused me to falter in the accomplishment of such a task. It
was said to have been the first time the Declaration was ever
read to Mexico, or at least this portion of Mexico, and you may
well imagine with what intense interest the vast crowds of
Mexicans, both ignorant and enlightened, that followed us in
good order, to the almada, and listened to the reading of this
great document.
After the ceremony was over, the battalion marched back in
quick time to the plaza to the tune of “Yankee Doodle” and
being dismissed, the different companies filed off in excellent
order to their respective quarters. Thus, was celebrated in
Saltillo, Mexico, the 71st anniversary of our independence, the
participation in which on my part, I shall ever look upon as the
most pleasing reminiscence of my life.
Raleigh Register and North Carolina Gazette
September 18, 1847
Camp Battleground of Buena Vista
August 2, 1847
My Dear Sir:
It affords me pleasure to inform you that orders were read to
us a few mornings ago, to hold ourselves in readiness to
march further into the interior, in two or three weeks. We
shall march through to Zacatecas and proceed thence either
through San Luis Potosi or through Gaudalaxara upon the city
of Mexico.
Troops are being ordered up from the Rio Grande as fast as
possible and by the time of our departure, from present
indications, we shall be able to move forward six or seven
thousand strong.
Since I last wrote to you, General Cushing has arrived at camp,
and taken charge of the brigade now here. He is a splendid l
ooking officer, and possesses fine military talent. I am more
than delighted to inform you that he has selected Adjutant
O.A. Buck, of our regiment as one of his aides. Our regiment
parts with its worthy and universally esteemed adjutant with
regret for our (I fear) irreparable loss, when, at the same time,
we are both pleased and proud that one so worthy had receive
a proper reward by promotion. You well know, that both
depraved and debased must be the soul who could entertain
for a moment any ill will to Adjutant Buck, now promoted to
Aide to General Cushing with the rank of colonel.
For its fine training and soldier-like bearing and warlike
deportment, our regiment is deeply if not mainly indebted to
the unceasing labors of Adjutant Buck. Collected together,
as our regiment was, from all parts of the state, where each
militia captain was “lord of all he surveyed”, and formed what
code of military law and discipline it seemed to him meet,
rest assured it required an energy that never tired, a patience
and forbearance but few possess, to tame them down gently
to the strict rules and hard discipline of regular service. This,
Adjutant Buck has performed and the regiment as a body feel
their obligation and are ready to acknowledge it by a proper
sense of gratitude.
I regret to inform you that the regiment is still quite sickly—
about 200 daily are reported and now and then a death.
Col. Paine has sent home on the recruiting service, Captains
Price, of Company H and Williamson of Company F and Lt.
Tatem of Company K, and it is to be hoped that they will
succeed, as the soldiers who now come out will pass
immediately into the interior where, I think, it must be more
healthy than even in your city.
Very Respectfully,
A Volunteer
Fayetteville Observer
Sept. 21, 1847
We truly regret to announce the death of Captain Martin Shive,
of the Cabarrus Company, which occurred in Mexico on the
15th August. It will be recollected that, when the Mecklenburg
and Rowan companies showed such a spirit of insubordination
last winter, an attempt was made to involve Captain Shive in the
rebellion, and, at the very height of the disaffection, marched for
Mexico. Raleigh Register
Raleigh Register and North Carolina Gazette
Wednesday, Sept. 22, 1847
We extract the following from the New Orleans Picayune, which
contains sundry letters from Mexico:
“Since my last, two companies of the North Carolina regiment
have been ordered to the support of Captain Prentiss’ battery,
on the hill above Saltillo. One of these companies, commanded
by Captain Henry, is the crack corps of the regiment and has
been stationed in town ever since their arrival. It had no
participation whatsoever in the late mutinous outbreak. Mr.
Buck, formerly adjutant of the regiment, but recently appointed
aide-de-camp to General Cushing, has been elected captain in
the regiment to fill a vacancy and will not go to Vera Cruz.”
“The mutiny in the North Carolina regiment has been effectually
quelled. On the morning after it broke out, a number of the
officers of the regiment signed a petition to the colonel to resign,
which he very properly refused to listen to, but laid it before
Generals Cushing and Wool. It was considered by the
commanding general, that there was a participation in the
mutiny, and two of the signers were dishonorably discharged
from the service. As soon as this was known, seventeen
officers tendered their resignation, but after 24 hours had
elapsed, they thought better of it and begged leave to withdraw,
expressing all due contrition, and leave was granted. Thus
quiet and subordination has been restored. The three regiments
have all been separated: the North Carolina ordered to the rear,
and the Virginians to the front. The soldier who was wounded
by Col. Paine at the time he shot at the mutineers was a
Virginian, and has been dishonorably discharged from the service.”
Raleigh Register and North Carolina Gazette
September 29, 1847
We had not intended to make any commentary on the unfortunate
occurrence in the camp of our regiment at Buena Vista until the facts
should be ascertained by the proper military tribunal, which we had
supposed would be constituted for that purpose. But the subject
having become a theme of general discussion, and a portion of the
press having indicated a disposition to censure in advance the
commanding officer, we deemed it our duty to inquire into the
circumstances, so far as known here, from any authentic source,
and to lay the results before our readers.
It appears that the North Carolina regiment had been some time in
camp with those from Virginia and Mississippi—the soldiers of the
two latter had taken up an aversion to Col. Paine and, as he was
informed, frequently had threatened his life, and advised his own
men to take it. Their hostile feeling was further manifested by
saluting him with insulting noises as he passed their quarters, in the
discharge of his duties as field officer of the day. These insults coming
from crowds of men were noticed in no other way than by complaint to
their officers. He had never spoken to these soldiers unless brought
into contact with them in the course of duty, which he had some
soldiers confined for breach of discipline.
This state of feeling having gone on for several weeks, on the night
of the 14th, a crowd of more than 100 men from the Virginia regiment
entered the encampment of the North Carolina regiment and in the
presence of many of its men and several of its officers, committed
a gross outrage of military order, interfering with the internal
arrangements of discipline therein.
At the time of this occurrence, which took place in the tent of the
colonel, who happened to be in another part of the camp, the lieutenant
colonel and major were both sick, but the former went out and
attempted to arrest some of the perpetrators, but from the tardiness
of the sergeant in ordering out the guard, they all escaped.
On the following evening, the 15th, the same crowd commenced
parading the North Carolina streets in bands, passing several times
before the door and around the tent of the colonel, making insulting
and provoking sounds.
Col. Paine went out into the crowd of Virginia volunteers and
succeeded in arresting two men with his own hands and reported
them to their colonel, who put them into confinement. This
suppressed the riot for half an hour, when bands of the other
regiments again began to parade the North Carolina camp and to
throw stones at the colonel under the cover of darkness. He twice
attempted to arrest some of them in person, but they escaped to
their quarters, cursing him as they fled. The design to do him
personal injury being now apparent, the colonel ordered out a guard,
as well for his own safety as to preserve the quiet of the camp. He
therefore ordered a detail of eight men to guard his quarters. It was
now about 8:00 p.m. Six of them were brought in and placed under
the command of the sergeant major with instructions to place two
sentries in the rear of his tent, to prevent any other then men of his
own regiment from passing and to take up all strangers attempting
to pass. The Virginia soldiers had been previously notified that they
would not be allowed to enter his encampment.
After posting the sentries with these instructions, the sergeant major
went to the company from which the remaining two men had been
ordered, to learn why they had not been furnished and in a very short
time the sergeant of that company came to inform the colonel that
his men positively refused to obey the order. The colonel immediately
repaired to their quarters and found them in a state of open mutiny
and ordering some of them to be arrested, he was obliged to draw
his sword and raise it over the head of one before he could be
compelled to aid in executing this order.
After sending four or five of the ringleaders to the provost guard, the
rest became obedient and two men were added to the guard as
required. The colonel, it being near 9:00, returned to his tent, and
large stones were thrown at him by persons hidden in the darkness,
one of them, weighing more than a pound, struck the clothes of 2nd
Lt. White, who was at his side. The colonel sent out persons to
discover the perpetrators of this outrage, and after a while went out
himself to the front of his encampment. On his return by a different
route, he stopped at the tent of one of the officers and spoke to him
of what was going on, but received no reply. Going a few steps
further, he was met by Drummer Stubbs, who in much excitement
informed him that a large crowd of soldiers from the other regiments
had assembled near the tent of Lt. Col. Fagg (who lay dangerously
ill in bed), that they were engaged in earnest conversation and feared
intended harm to him (Col. Paine).
The colonel instantly called to a lieutenant who was near and directed
him to bring twenty men from his company to his tent, telling him of
the assemblage just referred to and his apprehensions of their evil i
ntent, he himself continued walking towards the tent of Col. Fagg.
Before arriving there, he saw a body of thirty or so men assembled
in the officers’ street, in the quarters of Company D. He turned and
approached them. They were engaged in conversation in a low,
earnest tone. He discovered that they were soldiers of other regiments,
and before being observed by them, he challenged them and ordered to
stand.
They began to move, and he approached nearer, still ordering them
to halt or he would fire. The crowd broke as he came nearer, and
ran in opposite directions. Before and after they ran, he called “halt
or I will fire”. They continued to run, at the same time threatening
him, and he fired his pistol into that part of the crowd which ran
towards the front, and immediately called on the officers to call out
their companies under arms. One person fell at the fire and another
exclaimed with curses “he has shot me in the hand.” The first was
Private Bradley of Buncombe County, mustered into service with a
detachment of supernumeraries under Lt. Col. Fagg, and attached
to Company A on reaching the army—and the other was a private
in the Virginia regiment.
This occurred about 9:30 p.m., when, by regulations, every soldier
is required to be in his tent, after the Virginia soldiers had been
notified that they must not enter the encampment of our men, as
above stated, and after ferment and repeated warnings from the
colonel to the men on the right wing of the camp in which Company
A was situated, not to be out of their tents that night—telling them
of the precautions he had taken to guard against violence, and of
the danger that would be incurred in being out.
Col. Paine immediately sent to the Virginia regiment for a surgeon
to assist in examining the wound of Private Bradley, who died of
the same, next morning.
Immediately on the report of the pistol, the sergeant attempted to
bring the guard to the colonel, but two of them deserted. Passing
along the line towards the extreme right, to see that the companies
turned out, the colonel discovered that, notwithstanding his repeated
orders, no obstacle had been opposed to the entrance of men from
other regiments into his camp, although the officers of that wing had
command of their companies. Soon after, in the main street of the
camp, he met General Cushing and his staff, and an officer of the
Virginia regiment, the latter insisting that Col. Paine should go into
his tent, for he had positive assurance that his life was in danger and
informed him that the officers of the Virginia regiment had taken every
prevention to put a stop to their men leaving their quarters.
By this time, General Wool and staff, with a guard, had arrived, and
thrown a line of sentries between the North Carolina regiment and the
others—and the disturbances ceased. Major Stokes, though very
unwell, turned out and rendered every assistance to the colonel in
command. Lt. Col. Fagg was extremely ill the whole night and could
not get out. Officers of the Virginia Regiment also made generous
offers to support the colonel if needed, and assured him that this was
a common feeling among the officers of that regiment.
Of his own company officers, then in camp, only three made any tender
of active assistance, and the lieutenant who was ordered to bring the
twenty men failed to do so.
Quiet prevailed the remainder of the night and since. On the next morning,
a paper signed by most of the company officers of the regiment, then in
camp, was sent to the colonel, stating, in substance, that the signers,
“believing it necessary for the quiet and harmony of the regiment”, request
the surrender of his commission. The adjutant, Lt. Singleton, refused to
receive this paper and it was sent to the colonel by a private soldier. He
received it with surprise and immediately laid it before General Wool,
without comment. Upon which, the general forthwith issued an order
dismissing from the service the two officers most prominent in signing;
also dismissing with dishonor, the Virginia private who was wounded in
the hand and one in Company A, who belonged to the same detachment
with the unfortunate Bradley, and who had gone from his own company to
that in which he was originally recruited, and dissuaded the men from
turning out as guards, swearing that there was not a man in his company
who would turn out.
On the day following, the greater number of the officers who had signed
the petition above referred to, severally tendered their resignations, each
assigning as the cause, that he was “unwilling to sanction(?) his silence,
the imputation cast upon him, in common with others, in connection with
the unfortunate occurrence of the 15th August.” These were handed the
colonel by General Cushing. The resigning officers were sent for by
General Wool and after a conference with him, we understood to have
withdrawn resignations and consented to strike their names from the paper.
Several of the officers subsequently communicated with the colonel in
regards to the paper in question, and explanations took place,
re-establishing their kind relations.
Capt. Henry’s company was not in camp, at these occurrences, and
Captains Price and Williamson and Lt. Tatham, were absent on recruiting
service. General Wool has ordered a separation of the North Carolina and
Virginia and Mississippi regiments, and they were encamped, at the last
notice, five miles apart.
General Wool approved entirely of the course of Col. Paine throughout the
mutiny. But the colonel requested a court of inquiry, which was ordered to
be composed of General Cushing and Col. Hamtrauck(?) But the latter
officer being ill, and before his recovery, the former being ordered to
General Scott’s command, the court did not set. We hope, however,
that another will be constituted, at the earliest day practicable. We
learn that General Cushing and Wool diligent inquiry for causes of
complaint against Col. Paine, but could hear of nothing except “austerity
of manner”. Whatever other causes may have existed, of which, being
ignorant, we say nothing, none in our opinion could justify the outrages
attempted upon the order of the camp and his personal safety
Fayetteville Observer
Sept. 21, 1817
(Transcriber’s note, following is an extract from the above newspaper,
giving a slightly different slant on what they felt was the problem, and
probably was the newspaper referred to above in the first paragraph of
the article in the Raleigh Register.)
We believe that there was never a more unfortunate appointment than
that of Col. Paine. The man, from all accounts, could not, had it been
his desire to render himself odious, have pursued a more effectual
course to attain this end than the one he has pursued.
He commenced by acting the petty tyrant and he has continued to
enact the character ever since he has been with the regiment. We
will do Col. Paine the justice to state, that in our opinion he has thus
acted rather from a want of judgment than from any inherent badness
of heart. The truth, we believe, is that he is a very vain man, and
rather weak with all, and the appointment of colonel inflated him far
beyond his natural proportions. He, like many other men, could not
bear the honors heaped upon him by Governor Graham, without being
puffed up to a pitch far beyond the limits which nature had prescribed
for him. He treated his men with all the haughty bearing and rigor of
discipline which might be expected from the commander of a regiment
of Russian boors. The consequence is, that the North Carolina, the
Mississippi, the Virginia Volunteers cordially hate and despise him;
nor is this feeling confined to the rank and file. The officers have been
made to feel his “rigor of discipline” as well as the men, and are equally
dissatisfied. How the matter will terminate, we do
not know; but we fear it will not end with the killing of the killing of
the unfortunate man. We, for one, would advise Col. Paine to resign;
we predict that he will be compelled to do so at any rate…….We
say let him come home and let the regiment have a competent
commander whom it can respect and treat with common respect.
Raleigh Register and North Carolina Gazette
November 24, 1847
We find in the Greensboro Patriot a letter from Captain Henry, dated
at Saltillo, October 10, from which we take the following passages:
I have visited the camp of our regiment daily for a fortnight, on my
regular trips to Buena Vista, to attend a general court martial now
in session there and of which Col. Paine, Lt. Col. Fagg and myself
are members. I perceive almost daily improvement in the discipline,
order and police of our regiment, and I unhesitatingly declare, that,
instead of confusion and disorder so prevalent in other regiments, I
find perfect quietude and contentment now pervading from the “Old
North State” regiment.
It should be published to the world, that while it is extremely difficult
to confine the men of the other regiments within the chain of sentinels
even by day or night, and to restrain some of them from escaping to
Saltillo upon bacchanalian adventures, or even from committing
depredations upon the enemy, in the meantime not a single officer,
non-commissioned officer or private of our regiment, has been known
to adventure to Saltillo without the proper passport, although within two
miles of the city, and not a single instance of the slightest imposition
or depredations upon the Mexicans has been committed by any of them.
A new supply of clothing, which they will receive today, a little more
attention to cleanliness of dress and accoutrements, added to the
excellent drill and police duties enforced by Col. Paine, and the two
other excellent field officers, will make our regiment equal to any of
the old regiments of “infantry of the line” and certainly superior to the
volunteer regiments now here.
But the effect produced by a large and full regiment under good discipline
will be lost with us, so meager and reduced in rank and file in every
company from death and discharges. The health of the regiment is better
now than it ever has been, the number of sick not being more than sixty
five, and scarcely any of them in the hospital.
Since I last addressed you, Capt. Pender, our Quartermaster, has died
and his remains have been sent to Monterrey. Col. Paine has been
extremely unfortunate in regard to his staff. Our regularly appointed
Assistant Commissary Exum Whitaker and Assistant Quartermaster
Solomon Pender, have both died; Capt. Buck left him in the midst of his
late troubles (not agreeably to his consent) to become a temporary
aide-de-camp to General Cushing—and I am sorry to add that our highly
esteemed Assistant Commissary W.P. Graves, lately appointed, vice
Whitaker, deceased, is at this time quite ill at Saltillo, from the prevailing
disease of this country.
Col. Paine has labored under these and many other disadvantages, since
he has undertaken the functions of his present station, and the result of
all his labors and persevering efforts has proved him to be no ordinary
man. If he has been too rigid in his discipline for an officer of volunteers,
I am sure it was an error of the head, and not of the heart, and I am
equally sure that I am right in saying that both officers and men will like
him and every other disciplinarian in the regiment, much better at the
end of their service for the elevation which this discipline will give them.
The resignation of officers of our regiment has not yet come to an end.
Capt. Roberts of Wayne County has resigned and will shortly set out for
home; he has had bad health ever since he has been in this country.
Raleigh Register and North Carolina Gazette
January, 1848
Our Army Correspondence
Camp Arispe’s Mills, Mexico
Dec. 20, 1847
Mr. Gales—Sir:
The unfortunate disturbances in the North Carolina regiment having been
carried to such an extent and having been canvassed so much in the
newspapers, it is with reluctance that I now undertake to correct some of
the glaring misstatements made in the letter of the officers of the N.C.
Regiment to General Taylor, asking for an investigation of Col. Paine’s
conduct. I am sorry that the officers were not governed by more truth
than they seem to have been.
I consider it to be the duty of everyone to correct such misstatements, as
far as it is in his power. I quote from the letter referred to: “While in camp,
near Monterey, on or about the 25th June, Private Thompson, N.C. Volunteers,
under arrest, was brought before the colonel and having saluted him in the
usual way, was ordered to stand with his hat off—not doing this very readily,
Col. Paine attacked him with his fists and continued the scuffle for several
minutes (Thompson in the meantime merely warding off the blows) until
exhausted by his efforts, he concluded this performance by throwing a tin
basin at his head. This occurred in the most public part of the camp.”
The whole story is this: on the evening before Thompson was carried
before Col. Paine, he (Thompson) was lying down about 25 steps from
Col. Paine’s tent, in company with some three or four others, in a state
of intoxication. He was abusing Col. Paine at a great rate, and was heard
by the colonel, who was in his tent. He stepped up to where Thompson
and the others were, and asked “Who is this valiant man?” upon which
there was a dead silence. The sergeant or corporal of the guard was
called and Thompson ordered to the guard tent, and the colonel returned
to his own.
The next morning, Thompson was carried before Col. Paine and did not
salute him at all, upon which Col. Paine ordered him to stand with his
hat off; when he replied: “I pull off my hat to no man”, upon which Col.
Paine struck him with a wash basin (tin) and ordered him back to the
guard tent and irons to be put on him.
That afternoon, Thompson at his own request was carried before Col. Paine,
when he said he was that morning laboring under the effects of his spree of
the day before, and was sorry for what happened; when Col. Paine ordered
the irons to be taken off and Thompson released. I was an eye-witness of
the whole affair.
The colonel striking at Thompson might have been a little rash, but cannot
be construed in any other way.
In the language of General Order No. 44: “Had the company officers of N.
Carolina regiment, as a body, uniformly and actively discharged their duty
to their men, and the colonel, these unfortunate and disgraceful occurrences
would not have happened.”
Col. Paine never has received that support from the subaltern officers of the
regiment, to which he is, as their commander, entitled; and again if they
had kept “their tongue between their teeth” a little more, in the presence of
their men, much of the feeling which not prevails would have been avoided.
I will refer again to the letter to General Taylor: “In two other instances
has he been guilty of violence to men under his command, not belonging
to his regiment—in one case using his fists, and in the other, knocking a
man senseless with the swingle-tree of a wagon.” The first case where it
says “using his fists” I have never heard of before. The other was a
teamster attached to his command, who kept a traveling grog shop and
when spoken to about it by Col. Paine gave him some insolence, when
he took up a swingle-tree and struck him. I never heard of him knocking
him senseless. The whole letter to General Taylor is about the smallest
thing I have seen for some time.
I am sorry that anything should have happened to tarnish the good name
of our regiment, which it sustained from the Brazos up to its present
encampment, and which is to be attributed entirely to the rigid discipline
of Col. Paine.
I say here, that there is no man, other than Col. Paine, in North Carolina,
who could have taken charge of the North Carolina regiment and sustained
for it the enviable reputation it ahs with the commanding officers of the
division of the army. Every North Carolinian ahs cause to be proud that
he is the commander of the regiment.
The communication in the “Standard” from “A Volunteer” heads any
article I have ever seen. It must have been written by some of those
volunteers at home, for in it he shows his utter ignorance of all military
discipline as is evidenced by his idea that the colonel, in introducing
himself to his regiment, should have run on in a foolish, childish way.
No, sir, Col. Paine commenced his discipline, which was rigid from
the beginning, and impressing upon his men the fact, that they could
never make soldiers unless they were attentive to duty and obedient
and respectful to their officers. This course he has always pursued
and to what effect will be seen from the fact that there has never been
a general review that the North Carolina regiment has not been
complimented upon their soldier-like appearance and skill in maneuvering.
There are many parts of this communication which I would notice, but
it is too contemptible, and I believe that the citizens of the Old North
State will look upon it in this light.
I am opposed to prolonging this discussion, but I have noticed these
in justice to Col. Paine.
JUSTICE
Fayetteville Observer, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 1847
We regret to learn, by a letter from Capt. Kirkpatrick, dated Arispe’s
Mills, Sept. 23, that Captain Pender, Quartermaster of the Regiment,
died on the 22nd. Captain Kirkpatrick mentions that Lt. Dunham as
being sick—the rest of this command, who went from this county,
were all well. We learn verbally from Raleigh, that Lt. Singletary
arrived there a day or two ago from Washington, on his way to Mexico—
having been restored to his rank, as we understand, of taking his old
place or of accepting another commission.
Raleigh Register and North Carolina Gazette
December 29, 1847
Our Army Correspondence
Headquarters N.C. Regiment Volunteers
Arispe’s Mills, Nov. 20, 1847
Dear Sir:
Knowing the deep anxiety by all at home, to hear from their friends
and relatives out here, I send you a list of deaths occurring in the
N.C. Regiment for the month of October last, and promise to hereafter
furnish you, immediately at the expiration of each month, an official
account of any alterations which may take place in the regiment.
Died:
Company A
David Williams
Wm. Hawkins
Jas. B. Harrison
S. Tyson
Company C
Uriah Scott
D.C. Kluff
Company D
Wm. Smith
Berry Ray
Company E
Elijah Pippin
Company F
Lorenzo Bradshear
George Morton
Company G
Samuel Terry
Richard Cardwell
Wm. T. Wadlington
Company H
Isaac Harvey
Company I
Dorsey Jones
Company K
Nathan Tatham
J.H. Hightower
Wm. Wilson
Two officers, Capt. Roberts and Lt. Thompson, resigned, and there were
21 discharges on Surgeons’ Certificates of Disability, for the same month,
making an aggregate of 44.
The health of the regiment has improved wonderfully in this month; up
to the present date, not a death has been reported and but very few
cases of sickness. We have very cool weather, which suits the boys
exactly. They are all fat and lively, and one of the happiest and most
orderly regiments that has ever been in the country—and all, through
the “rigid discipline of Col. Paine!” I have done the colonel great injustice
in many of the letters written by me and sent home; but I am now satisfied,
that he is the very man for this command—none others would have done
half so well. Those that were most bitter in denouncing Col. Paine, a short
time since, have come out boldly and openly in his defense and can but
pity the poor, miserable attempt, made by the Loco Foco papers of North
Carolina, to impair the reputation of the colonel, as a commanding officer.
In short, ALL men of both parties, are completely disgusted with such
stuff and hope we have seen the last of it. The statement of the unfortunate
affair of the 15th August last, as it appeared in the Register, was the fairest
I have ever seen published. It was, in fact, exactly as it occurred and I was
present and saw it all.
Raleigh Register and North Carolina Gazette, Saturday, Jan. 22, 1848
From a letter to a gentleman in this city, by an officer of our regiment,
we learn that only one man of the regiment died during November—
Jesse Miller of Company K. There were four discharges for the same
month, making a loss of five men. “We shall not be so fortunate” says
the writer “during the present month (December). Up to this date, (11th),
two have already died and six have been discharged. Among the list of
deaths, I am sorry to record the name of C.H. Shaw, Company A, from
Wake Co., who died in Saltillo on the 3rd December. He was a fine
soldier and the “pet” of his company. On the 6th, Private James Sharpe,
of Company K, died at Saltillo. The health of the regiment is better at this
time. The morning report represents only 54 on the sick list, instead of two
or three hundred, as has been the case heretofore; and many now on the
hospital are convalescing. Col. Paine will leave for Monterey in a few
moments, having been ordered by Gen. Wool to report himself in person,
at an early day. Nobody here knows for what.
Fayetteville Observer, April 11, 1848
We have politely been shown a letter from an officer in our regiment
at Saltillo, dated 12th March, which states that the court of inquiry on
the subject of the dismissal of Lts. Singletary and Pender had
concluded its labors. The result is not stated as we presume that it is
not to be divulged until submitted to the president. The writer states
that Col. Paine had gone to Monterey and it was understood would
proceed thence to the U.S. and probably resign his commission, a
circumstance which, the writer says, “he fears will be no advantage to
the regiment either here or at home.” Previous to his departure the
officers of his regiment united in giving him a most splendid and costly
supper, “the grandest affair I have seen in Mexico since I have been
there. I don’t think this looks like we don’t respect him.”
Raleigh Register and North Carolina Gazette, Saturday, July 15, 1848
The Boys Coming to Vote!2
We learn from the New Orleans Picayune of the 4th inst., that the
transport schooner Maj. Barbour, brought over from the Brazos three
companies of the North Carolina regiment (Companies C, D, and F)
with the following officers: Col. Paine, Capts. Area and Constable,
1st Lt. D.S. Johnson and 2nd Lts. Wiley, Mitchell, Jones, Blackwelter
and Nicholls. The transport schooner Maj. Bache has brought over
Companies I and K of this regiment, under the command of Capt.
Kirkpatrick. The schooner Capt. Page brought over Company H and
detachment of the same regiment. All above left the Brazos on the
28th and arrived in the river on Sunday, 2nd inst.
Fayetteville Observer, Aug. 1, 1848
Six companies of the North Carolina Regiment, viz., C, D, F, H. I and K,
arrived at Smithville on the 24th ult., on the barque Yarmouth. They
were accompanied by Col. Paine. Two companies, G and B, arrived at
Old Point, Va., on the 22nd, in the brig Tally-Ho, from Brazos,
accompanied by Major Stokes, Captains Henry and Singleton and Lts.
Masten, Stubblefield, Daniel and Webb; with Capt. R.J. Mitchell, Asst.,
Qtr. Master and Capt. S.P. Tipton of Co. H. The two remaining
companies, A and E, also arrived at Old Point on the same day, in the
Heroine from Brazos, accompanied by Lt. Col. Fagg, Capts. Daggan
and Buck, Lts. McCarroll, Bullock and Pitt and Surgeon Cobb.
Transcribed by Christine Spencer July 2008
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