Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-11-05

which, if not checked by proper authority,
must result in anarchy.
AS have spoken, SO speaks every Ufhcer
OF the Brigade who has uttered an opinion.
Respectfully, JOHN A. WILCOX,
Adjt. I'd Reg. Miss, Vols.
And Ii Pender and myself were further
more furnished by the officers of the MlssIs-
sippi Regiment with an argument addressed u
the Department through the Hon; hooe4t :.
Walker, protesting against the Whole anaif'
and calling for Executive interference
| quote from the Register again: We
learn that Gems. Gushing and WOOL made oil
ioent inquiry for causes of complaint against
Col Paine. but could hear of nothing except
austeritv of manner" And again GO Trbu-
mails are provided; and again: g An appeal
was only needed to Gen. WOOL. Appeal was
made to Gen Wool in more than one instance.
Even more, formal complaint was sent TO
Gen. Taylor, who sent it to Gen. Wool as the
proper one to investigate the matter, where it
was dropped. Here is that complaint:
"CAMp n. c. REGIMENT, BuENA VISTA,
August eth, 1917.
Maj. Gen. Zachary Taylor:
SIR: 1t is with deep regret for the necessl-
ty which compels US to do so, that we lay be-
! fore you a complaint against the Colonel OF
our Regiment; and it is only after long and
! patient submission to constant oppression.
| that we Mt length co so. We will mention
some of the many similar occurrences on which
our complaint is grounded.
| While in camp near Monterey, on or about
the 25th June, Private Thompson, N. G. Vols.
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 mean time
merely warding off the blows,) until eXhaus-
ted by his efforts, he concluded the perform
ance by throwing tin basin at his head
This occurred in the most public part OF the
camp.
On or about 14th July, at camp at Buena
Vista, Private VIM. Brand, N. c. Vols, Cook
1 took piece of wood from the pile for the use
2 of the Regiment Brand was ignorant OF any
: violation of orders in doing so, and no oFde1
prohibiting it had in any way been generally
e made known. Col. Paine, seeing him, crlet
: out with loud voice TO put il down-WhlcE
! he did, instanty -and then ordered non com
: missioned Officer standing by TO strike hin
Y with heavy stick, and enforced obedience t
= this ORDER saying, that when he ordered hin
to knock a man down. he must do ii, or h
Il would knock him down. In two other in
stances, he has been guilty of violence to mel
under his command, not belonging to the Re
giment; in one case. using his fists, and in tn
other, knocking a man senseless with tn
: swingle-tree of a wagon.
7 Rut If not Of thpca fhinrS tbouph m nc
h glazing, that we chiefly complain. He ha
o several times placed Officers in arrest, and il
e close arrest, for the most trfllng and insight
" ffcant causes. He has endeavored secretly +
0 destroy their authority over their men, and ha
1t habitualIy treated them with the utmost dis
respect-seeming to regard them more as brute
:, than as men. But We do not wish to ammo
1t you with multiplied examples which are dai
e ly occurring, and would fill a volume
It We are proud of the character of our Reg
/ ment, for good order and discipline, and W
is Will continue TO use our utmost endeavors t
e, sustain it. 1t is their birthrght, as citizen
re of North Carolina. But we have still the sen
l. slbities of men and the feelings of freemen
and it is not a part of their character to sui
nit always to grinding oppression. That Co
+ Paine has been guilty of acts which woul
y subject him to the severest Judgment of
Court Martial, no one can deny. And we re
quest that the Commanding General will ofde
l. his conduct to be submitted to the considers
le ton of that tribunal, whose investigation h
r has refused to others.'
(This was signed by the commanding Off
Iy Ger of every company in the Regiment, excel
as ONE do not count Capt. Patrick NJ Ilenr,
in because he has not been with the Regimen
I'd since shortly after lis arrival in Mexico, an
knew nothing of our internal affairs
- The whole matter will soon be brought bt
is fore proper "tribunal,' = and the result of i
he scrutiny will be made known But it has a
lie ready obtained much notoriety, and ii was nj
lie 10 be expected that would silently allow m,
to self to be condemned by public opinion. I
er be sure there was time when did not thin
lis it would ever be my part to bring the imput
r. ton of dishonor upon the fair fame of OF
good Old State. In that, however, it seems
s. have been disappointed. But when iust
it. has been done, trust that may yet wipe O
H. the stigma, and make adequate atonement, f
as whatsoever of injury such an imputatlon h;
b. done her.
n. GEO 4. B. SINGELTARY,
til 1st 1t N c. Vols
is Wash otDn C5fU Oct 23 1917