Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-09-17

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the dangers of the war, yet none of them
could endure with patience the probability of
being inveigled into service under a call
which might convert them into soldiers of
the regular army.
It was hard service and an unreasonable
demand upon such people, aud cannot think
Of it without indignation. A husband could
not offer his services, without probably a vir-
tual divorce from his wife, father without
a long, and weary separation from his chill
dren, or lover without the painful appre-
hension that he would return, if ever, not to
the arms of his adored, but to find her we'd
ded mother, the wife of some cowardly fell
low, who stayed at home, and stole hero's
bride. Though not myself distressed by any
such circumstances, yet I had powerful rea-
sons to revolt at the service demanded. |
was then IL years of age, and student in
the South Carolina College, of the Sopho-
more class. I had still more than two years
of my collegiate course unfinished. To fight
dozen battles, if need be, in six or twelve
months, and then returning, houored if liv-
ing, or mourned if dead, would have been a
welcome and pleasing service but to be
made machine, garrison soldier, with no
laurels to win, and to wear out five or ten
years of my life, including the best days of
my youth, in a weary and Improbable SER
vice, was perspective to which death would
have been relief.
Such were the peculiar hardships of the
terms upon which the Palmetto Regiment
was called into service. Justice to that
Regiment requires that the country should
know the extremeness and harshness of the
terms imposed upon them. But to refuse
any terms, would have exposed the State to
ridicule and imputations, and her gallant
young men promptly answered the call.
The first regiment of June was disbanded
and new one offered. The second Regi-
meut was infinitely superior to the first, in all
the qualities and elements of the soldier
The first was composed of militia volunteer
companies in the aggregate. The second
was composed of individual volunteers. 1t
was fortunate for the honor of the State, that
the substitution was made.
Notwithstanding the hard and chilling
terms of the service, there was enthusiasm
in the eager rush to arms. The call was MT
only fully and promptly met, but the contest
was, who should have the privilege of going.
Express riders dashed in day and night, un-
der whip and spur, to the Governor, bearing
the offer of companies for the regiment
Martial music resounded throughout the
State, and the tramp of marching soldiers
was heard on every highway. The ten CON-
panies which made up the complemen of
the Regiment, were received in week after
the call was made, and a supernumerary conf
pany was rejected.
AS soon as the call was made, l became
restless in my college seclusion. I was con-
stitutionally soldier, and had an irrepressi-
bic longing to mingle in the smoke aud con-
hict of battle. In the romance of my boy
hood, l was on the point of going to Circas-
sia to fight against the Russians. And now
that my own country was at war, and my ma
tive State was called to prove her chivalry,
[ could not allow others to 60 and leave me
at home. I threw down my books, and Of
fered myself as one of the Palmettoes. I
did this without the knowledge or consent of
my guardian, and against the fearful remon-
strances of my friends who looked upon me
as doomed to die. Twoof my college friends
Haywood Trezevant and Perry Butler, fol-
lowed my example, and both of them fell in
the service of the State. They were both
mere boys like myself, both brave and talent
ed, and both of them fell in the line of duty.
I walked over the dead body of Trezevaut
at Chapultepec, and Butler died of the yel-
low fever.
Early in December, the Palmetto Regi-
mcnt rendezvoused at Charleston, where they
were mustered into the service. The Regi-
ment was composed of the following compa-
nies, under the following Captai s:
Company A., from Sumter District, Cap
tain Frank Sumter, and 10 men. Company
B., from Chester District, Captain R. e. NJ.
Dunovant, and 92 men. Company G., from
kershaw, Captain Moffatt, and SO men
Company D., from Edgefcld, Captain Pres
ton S. Brooks, and 9l men. Company f.,
from Abbeville, Captain J. F. Marshall, and
81 men. Company F., from Charleston,
Captain Blanding, and 96 men. Company
e., from Fairfield, Captain Kennedy, and
SS men. Company H., from Richland,
Captain Dessaussure, 8Smen. Company l.,
from Lancaster, Captain Secrest, and II men
Company X, from Barnwell, Captain n. I.
Walker, and SS men.
These ten Companies made up full regi-
ment, and the Company from Newberry, un-
der Captain James II. Williams, was reject
ed. This Company, however, persisted, and
made special application to the Secretary
Of War, which was successful, and it was
added to the Regiment few weeks later
The eleventh Company then, was Company
L., from Newberry, Captain J. H. Williams,
and 81 men.
The numerical strength of the Regiment
including Captains, Field Officers, Medical
Staff, aud Musicians, was about 1000 men,
Regiments generally, do not contain more
than 700 men. The Companies were very
full, and the Regiment unusually large.
1t was composed of the best material in
the State. A majority of the men were less