Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-11-12
From the North Carolina Standard
THE NORTH CAROLINA REGIMENT,

HcutS on the QlnlcuiIleS eXlSllng between the
brave men forming our Regiment in Mexico
and their Colonel. To you it is known the
great cause have 10 feel this interest; and al
though the present communication must ap-
pear anonymous, trust you will not hesitate
to let your readers know it is worthy of Gre
dence.
The whole history OF the raising and Off
cering Of this Regiment is fresh in the memo
ry of every man who has the honor of our be-
loved State at heart. There was no want of
patriotism in the people. But the movements
OF the State Executive were of that cold and
repulslve character as in the outset TO dampen
all ardor and TO chill patriotic inspiration, and
lead US to suspect and fear that something
was wrong. The great men of the State pub
hshed 10 the world that the war was "unlust,
uncalled for" CO the Presidents war;" "a war
OF rapine and robbery" &c. &C. This was
echoed by the grog- shop politicians, and when
any ardent yeoman came forward at his coun-.
hy's call every possible influence was brought
10 bear to prevent his entering the service
Notwithstanding all this difficulty our State,
God bless her honorable name raised more
than the quota called for by Government, of
as good and true men as ever shouldered
musket. Then came the differing of the Re-
giment The appointment of the Colonel was
sad disappointment to many had almost
said all. That a man, not uolunteer, and
not having single soldier in the Regiment
who could say ' | know him." she is my
nelghbor ;"-having no pretensions TO military
talents, and if known or heard OF at all, only
known as a violent partlZan of that political
party who had done most to thwart the friends
of the Regiment and prevent their success
that such man should be made their COM
mander did grievously disappoint the hopes
and wishes of many an ardent soul. Two
Companies were disbanded, and again the
fear was strong y entertained that the Old
North State would suffer the disgrace of not
raising a single Regiment to aid our country
in her pressing need. Pure patriotism alone
prevented at least three other companies from
following the example set by Capt. CALDWELL
and disbanding themselves But they took
what the writer believes to be the right
course, and resolved TO do their duty. From
the time the different Companies met at the
rendezvous at Smi1hville. politics became a
sealed book, by tacit understanding, or in ma
ny instances expressed agreement, those sub
Jects were nerer mentioned.
When Col Paine reached Smithville eight
Companies were there, viz: two Edgecombc,
Wayne. New Hanover, Rockingham, Cas-
well, Cumberland and Baden, and Orange, not
full The Colonel was received with the
consideration due his commission, and the hope
was general that the worst fears of the Regi-
ment were not to be realized Every one ap-
peared to wish and hope our commander would
prove what he should and officers and men
displayed an alacrity and disposition speedily
10 learn and promptly to do their duty. The
men fell at5once into rotine of duty new to
all, and what was remark ed as unexpected by
many officers, the men themselves drew the
line of subordnatIon, and, almost without an
intimaton, always showed the Difference and
obedience due 20 the officers. An instance of
INSTRUMENTATION can hardly be pointed out,
and any approach to it was repressed and dis
couraged by the men themselves State pride,
and what was still better, County and Neigh
borho0d pride, was always apparent. There
never assembled body of men of that num-
Der better disposed to submit to all the vicisl-
tudes and hardships of a soldiers life. The
material for a Regiment 10 do honor to the
service could not be better Nor did their
spirits flag or their good disposition alter when
tested by hardships and trials new and by ma
ny unexpected and unlocked for have seen
men whom knew to have passed thus far in
life surrounded by all the comforts and luxu-
ries-wnich are en- joye1 no where in such
general perfection as in our State-eat their
rations of beef or pork and stale bread, their
hard peas and muddy coffee, (fare their o'cn
negroes would have refused,) without a MUIR
muir Men who had never seen the sea or a
ship in their lives, on the bare planks amid
| the horrors of sea sickness, three, four, and
even five and SIX in a birth, neUer murmured
In the long march over burning sands, only
varied by pestlential marshes-in the bvouac
under Heavens broad canopy alone, surroun
ded by every tormenting insect and Venomou>
reptile, they 1oeUer murmured! And, worst o.
all, when death in its most horrd shape-the
pestlence Of the Rio Grande--nvaded thel
camp, men whose every former pain had beer
watched on beds of down, and loved ones
smoothed their linen pillows, suffered anC
died on the camp blanket or wisp OF straw
Dithout a n,urmurn And these are the mer
forming Regiment which newspapers coolly
record as disgraced'-aye, disgraeedH
NY countrymen North Carolnians Cal
YOU, will you believe it? No, never! There
is in that Regiment blood which never was
which never will, which neuer can be disgra
ced A large ma jority of the privates ever
cumstanccs, and not few were a6ltent. 4
newspaper Editor says 81 they were from thu
lower classes" If these men were our Glow
er classes pray God our higher classes may
equal them | have been somewhat carried
away by my feelings on this subject, ant
have written more than intended when sa
down But feel that my excuse is a goo;
one, when the honor of North Carolina ant
her REGIMENT is the subject. Let us nov
briefly consider what could probably lead Il
the difficulties with which they have becom
Involved.
The first act of Col Paine Oh his arrival a
Smithvile was as usual on parade to assum
the command, or in military par lance, to rea
his commission 1t is my firm belief tina
when the Regiment was paraded that morning
in expectation of hearing speech from IN
high officer under whom so important par
of their life, or in all human probability to ma
nv, very many, the a0hole OF life was to b
spent, all were ready and anxious to give hin
a kind and friendly reception. Would yo
believe that with so favorable an opporunit
at 50 important period there existed ma
with so little knowledge ct human nature
of, if YOU please. 50 little tact, as to allow
to escape him? He began his speech with
His Excellencv, William A Graham, ha
appointed ME- to the arduous duty of Comnan
> ding Officer of this the first of North Carolina
Volunteers" And continued in the sam
cold, formal, studied spirit through ten min
utes speech. in which the duty Of obedicnt
, was fully impressed, but not one word whic
-11 -. n denraSSe1 cnir;t or ctro