Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-10-13
EDITORS CORRESPONDENTS
SALriLLo, MEXICO. Aup ~ ,sa

w." 10y PaSt, SOmc ScTIDuS anu ulSpraCeful
lehces nave taken place at Camp which, If not ar
rested, must destroy our whole Volunteer Bric,de.
L he circumstances rs have heard them (and I
believe correctly,) are these: The Comnandant
oil the North Carolina Regiment, Col. Payne, who
IS somewhat ola martinez. possessing, perhaps, as
Is usual, rather more zeal than knowledge or dis
erection, had rendered himself exceedingly obnox
ious not only to his Regiment but the Virgini,
and mississippi also. by the extreme severity OF his
conduct, as Field Officer Of the day, towards his
Uuard, and also by some frivilous and vexatious ar
rests OF Officers. This feeling, however. had not
manifested itself in any thing more than few beats
ana groans on the turning off Of his guard and pro-
oaoly some similar acts, when "Old Misery" as he
was called, happened to pass by any number of the
dsaffected, until one night last week. About that
time 1t appears that Col. Payne had caused Wood
en- Horse to be erected, upon which he purppsed to
ride the recusant soldiers of his command into
something like sense Of duty, if not chivalrous
feeling and department. AS the continuance was a
novelty I'm Camp, it very naturally excited a good
deal of curiosity, and squads of men, from time to
Time, gathered in from different parts of the Brigade
10 see It, This was offensive to the Colonel. and
ne ordered the inruders to desis Still the icbiug
spirit could not be suppressed, and the men contin
ued TO visit the 'annal' long after any reasonable
curiosity might have been supposed TO be satiated
mus af1alrs proceeded, until it seemed pretty OBJ
vious that the object was longer to CRAFTY mere
curiosity, but deliberately TO insult and annoy Col
fayne. AT this point the Colonel determined IN
assert his rights at all hazards and drive awav the
intruders, whatever force might be necessary 10 eff
iect IT, On the next night, therefore, he went out
ana gave The mob fair warning of his intentions,
and ordered them to disperse which they did ON the
instant but as they parted, (beng closely huddled
round the "fiorsc') the different members of thu.
animal by sort OF sympathy or animal magnetism
Went OH with them, so that two Joints were left
together This greatly enraged the Colonel, and
he determined the Horse should be RECONSTRUCTED
and 1t was done accordingly. As soon as the fact
was known, the curiosity of the mob revived In Gee
the animal anew and ascertain how it had been
menued and on Sunday night they commenced
gathering In as before. But ON this occasion as I
understand, the Colonel was fully prepared for
them' having guard in attendance and being well
armed himself. lie ordered the mob 10 dsperse-
.iney insulated: lie then directed the guard TO
fire. They refused. The Colonel ,hereuSon drew
one OF his pistols and fired into the crowd. and mos,
unfortunately killed one of his own soldiers Gan in
nocent MANI who CHANGED to be in rance Of the
shot-the same ball having first passed through the
hand of one Of the rioters. This dispersed the mob
loI the tune but unhaPPily it is to be feared has
not quelled its spirit. Threats and movements
have since been made Gas learn, lndicatnr a mr.,
pose to assassinate the Colonel vet it is to he
nopeu purpose SO base and dastardly will not he al
io"ed 10 De consnmmated. Gen. Wool has taken
strong action ON the subject. He has summarilv
dismissed from the service, in disgrace two ! leu
tenants oil the North Carolina Regiment, and also
TWO prvates-the wounded man. (who am sorry
to say belonged to one of our VIRGINIA comn,ros
ana another belonging TO the North Carolina Rcui-
ment, whom suppose he ascertancd to be deeSIv
implicated in the disturbances
HE excitement in the North Carolina Reuimep,
on Monday was very great, and letter was adj
dressed TO CoI Payne signed by of the officers
Oh MS command requesting him to resign This he
refused to do however, and thereunon q p,n,hn, &c
them rendered their designations but they have
SINCE, with the exception Of three or four recon
sldered the matter and withdrawn them. What is
TO be the issue of the difficulty i'm the Reoiment il
Is hard to say. but think it most probable that
Col. Payne will take the first favorable opnor,un;,v
that is afforded him to retire.
"A Court of Inquiry has been ordered by General
WOOL to investigate the whole affair." CONSISTING of
Brig Gen. Gushing and Col. Hamtramck. whose
report, presume, we will have shortly.
Although man of harsh manners, and certainly
very mistaken notions IN regard 10 the proper mode
u. governing men, Col Payne is represented by
those who know him as possessing great frmness
and conscienciousness in the discharge of wha, he
esteems to be his duty. The distressing circum-
stances In which he has become involved. there
lore, are the more to be regretted-proceedinp &C
they have doubtless done, rather from errors of the
mead than OF the heart. | am told he feels most
deeply the death of the poor soldicr-and in that no
-, An order was received by us last evening from
I1ead quarters to move out to camp to day. bnt
ms ts morning received another suspendinS it
what are the motives, or whether anything is in
the wind, cannot say. few days more think
will decide our destiny. ''
wrote a hasty note by Mondays mail apprisinp
you OF the death of poor l.ambert.-He died at 21
minutes past on that day. The loss of such as
ne is deeply affecting to ine-for he was one of the
hnest OF youths as well as the choicest of soldiers
and well may feel my own strength shorn. as one
alter another the very best of my arrows are thus
sna'ched from my culver. To those OF us who re-
main The future is all uncertain, and it is natural
that we should begin more and more to feel towards
each other, In all that relates to it, as if we were
"'' w III d COMMON iate Yours, sc.
CAMP BuENA VIsrA, (Nfex.) Aug. 25, AZ.
Dear -: We arrived here last evening tho
TWO Virginia companies in Saltillo-Capt w. r.
archeI,s and my own-having been relieved bv
SCapt. Fletcher Archer's and Capt. Thrills Oa;e
Capt Fairfax's,) and we are now once more estab.
iished In our tents. The change is considerable
out hope 1t will not prove disadvantapeous T., the
neaith OF the men. During the time we were sta
lioned IN the city we suffered greatly more from
sickness than the other companies of the REGIMENT
IN camp, yet it may be, as we have been So long
icised' mat we will have to undergo new process
d seasoning Tor the field. On this account was
In bcI int