Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-09-17

modification by every N. Caroiihian. rom time to
time during the last six nonths, we have learned,
as we'll from private letters as from Interviews
which we have had with individuals who have
returned from Gen. Taylor's army, of the unpieas-
ant state of things which existed in the n! Va re-
giment. We have been told that Col. Paine has
made himself the most unpopular commander IN
the whole army. One of our letters, and that re-
ceived recently, uses the following language with
regard to this man: " Col. Paine, our comman-
der, is hated despised end cursed by the whole re-
gment. with unanimity perfectly unparalleled"
Indeed, from the accounts which we have had from
Gent Tsylor's Headquarters, we have been daily
looking for some occurrence similar to that detail.
ell in the following letter. We have, however.
folborne. up to this time, to speak Of the matter,
from the fact that we disiked 10 create uneasness
amongst the friends and relatives Ct Our gallant
soldiers who compose The North Carolina regi.
ment. We cannot do any longer We may
as we'll speak out. We believe there never was 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 more effectual course to attain this
| end than the one which he has pursued. He
commenced by acting the petty tyrant, and be has
continued to enact the character since he has
been with the regiment. We will do Col. Paine
the justice to state that in opinion has thus
acted rather from want Of judgment, than from
any inherent badness Of heart The truth. We be-
lieve, is that he is very vain man, and rather
weak with all. and the appointment Of Colonel in
flated him far beyond his natural proportions He.
like many other men, could not bear the honors
heaped upon him by Governor Graham. without
being pulled up to pitch far beyond the Limits
which nature had prescribed for him. He treated
his men with all the naughty bearing and rigor Of
discipline which might be expected from the COM
mander of regiment of Russian Doors. The con-
sequences is, that the North Carolina, the Missis-
sipp and 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" we'll the men.
and are equally dissatisfied. How the matter is
to terminate, we do not know !; but we fear it will
not end with the killing of the unfortunate man.
We for one, would advise Col. Paine to resign
we predict that he will lie compelled to do at
ny rate. No similar occurrence has taken place
since the commencement of the war. We know,
too, that the North Carolina regiment stands
high for order, sobriety and subordina,ion as any
regiment of Volunteers in the service. II cannot
be argued that Col. Paine had bad materials to
work upon the reverse was the case. We say
let him come home, and let the regiment have a
commander whom it can respect, and treat with
common respect
The following is the letter alluded to:
| BvsNA vrsrA, Augusr 10. l647.
An occurrence took place last evening which had not
purposrd relating fearing that something distress
sing might out OF it, bot everything quiet
now will briefly relate the circumstance. Col Paine.
of the North Carolina regiment from the rigid system
| Of discipline which he hss pursued, hrs become
very imp Pular in his own regiment aud in the
Mississippi and vergnia regiments with which he has
been thrown in connection officer Of :hs day. Many
insults have been offered him by members of the two
latter and this feeling gradually been rpenng till
came TO head last night crowd assembled ahou,
different tents Of about thirty men, his aud
some privales Of the Virginia regiment aud
ly stones thrown AT his tent number Of al.
assembled in front Of his lieu cnant coionelR tent
who was sick and vomiting, and INDUCED in brutal
cKhter at his Illness These crowds dspe sod
and ordered be AIKEN TO the provost guard
The Of one company ordered to perform he duty
refused but were compelled to obedience by tho c"o
mel. One OF them. however, refused TO take s aims
until the colonel held his sword him and threaten.
cd to cut him down if he refused 1hst company hav.
ing rvinced determination not to obey were ordered
to the Of the colonels and obeyed contrary
his expectation aud dismissed after answering 10
their names Subsequently, quite late in the rveaing,
another posse assembled in front Of the colonels
but he in sight they began dispcrse in differ
ent directions. lie ordered them halt they
fused Tie colonel then cried that he would Arc II
they did not halt, and ordered them again, aud upon
their refusing, discharged his pistol into tn crowd,
bringing down two mrn, Tnunding one OF them mortal.
ly THIS prompt and decisive step queled the mutny,
and the colonel reported Gen Cush ng and Cen WOOL
who app owed OF his conduct They both repaired to the
camp but Every thing was quiet regret to say that
the colonel did not receive any very unanimous sup
port from Ills officers the occasion. The who
badly shot died last night. have time write
more. for the mail is the point of closing b.