The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-12-23
THE FIRST KENTUCKY REGIMENT.
harasA'ps Uaaereoas BY TaSm Dsrins fls Can.
paS"-A Change cf ofeers-Goiny into Fins.r
Quarters.
tcoRREsfoxpEscH OF rBR RIcHnosp pIspArou
CAxr YEAR CRsrRRvrLLR. VA

>Asf ssAN tsSTkhVIbhR, tA.,(
December ls, 1881
read an Interesting letter, n few days
since, in your valuable paper. from a now
ner OF me Isl Virginia regiment. Having a
ieisnre hoar nave concluded to write you
an 'epistolary production. - in references to
the LIST ntueky regiment. TO which Won r
correspondent belongs. This regiment has
s"hered many hardships in the last eight
n'pn'hs. DIX or the ten compan nies under the
command or Col. Duncan were among the
hest tehiederate troops Or not the frxU tn at
IuShea 70 The assistance OF Virginia. We were
seht 10 Harper's Ferry, and stationed uuou
tne maryland Heights, which was then con.
sioersu the post of honor, exposed to all kind
OF ihciement Gather, performing the hea-
Vlesl guard duty in the army, guarding every
pass night and day, without a mrrmur
We FELL back with Johnston to Winchester
sfo was with him in his marches 10 and from
Darssviiie. Here Col. Duncan resigned the
command of the battalion, and we were
placed TEN porarily under the command of
Captain claiborne, an old officer of the u S.
a In The memorable march from VInches-
ter 10 fie3nont, our boys never tired or broke
oowh, out was the sixth regimen this each
ca that place Well do / raeoliect the words
OF the iamented Barlow, to whose brigade we
belonged; as he passed ;long our lines he re.
marked These ksutuckians could 20 TO Ma
nassas Withont stopping, they march SO eie-
santiy." Owing 10 the railroad ae ec,den t. we
ala not participate in the battle Of The gIst
Which was agreat disappointment to the men
VINO were burning Tor an opportunity to meet
the enemy.
At Manassas we remained for more than q
month Ia n state OF inaction. Considers b q
uiscontent ri sprung up in the battalion,
on account OF the bad treatment We had re-
celVed. largs majority OF the battalion
were the pick and flower of the young men of
their respective counties. They I'D ell listed
from the highe motives of patriotism
Farmers, doctors. lawyers, and n fair Spripk-
iinS OF Gators had lett their homes in a far
off State, and shouldercd their nuskets in
defence of the Sou II, aud from lofty sen Sc
OF duty were lighting iu the ranks. They
asked the privilege which had been granted
10 dlmcsteyery other eciment in the service
that of efectlng their field officers. In our
| case II was denied, for an lliberal prejudice
ana an UEfoun3sd IN II. SSion had been Gre
| ated at headquarters against US, that we
were = mutnous, disorganized crew, "fit
only Tor treason, strategem, and spoiis.'
Four mouths had elapsed, and yet not tent
had been given us Night after night have
we been eX posed to the pei tngs OF Il .pitiless
storm, tEat would have brought tears from
| the eyes OF old Lear himself" with the earth
| Tor bed, and the blue heavens for a cover
Ing. whose faut. il was / leave You to guess.
We mad been t.eated AS ''mere cattle and
''SiaShed about without tents and com
mandsd by officers who had no sympathy in
| common with us, until we had grown soured
We could not forget that while we were sol
Ciers, stIit we were gentlemen, and were un-
willing TO submit to The petty tyranny and
| The iron rule that is applied 10 regulars.
1t was tauntingiy told US that we must be
j
partment saw liz to place over Us, or we
would he marched to the rear and d sbanded
But fortune, as II tired of prosecuting Us, ia
vorej us win streak of good luck Cant
Tom Taylor, Of the 4. S. A, was appoin ted
our Lieut.. Col. and placed in command over
us this hushed up ali discomfort and proved
the 'balm of Giiead'f for ali of our trpu bies.
Many Of the meu had known him pers ona,ly
IN kentucky. His kindRssS and eEiaIity as a
man, his skill and gallantry as q soldier,
we're known TO all, and another fact he was a
native born kentuckian. He brought with
/ him four companies from Richmond, and
uniting them with the six we already had,
formed a regiIn of eight or nine hundred
| men. He also brought us tents, clothing
| and mahy other things We needed. Since
| then we have got along SWimmingly;" all
discomfort has given away for cheerfuiness,
and blither or gayer set cannot be found
| in the army.
| Under the excellent tpiti~n Af Col Taylor,
We made rapid progress in battalion drill
and now we elicit compliments from the
| Commanding Generals for the ease and ra-
pidlty OF our movements. Colonel Tay lOr
has SHOWN himself the 6 right man for the
| right place" lie found rs rs scattered ansi
| disorganized as the " children of the Mist -
| and, by his unremitting exertions, he has
| perfected US both in drill and discipline
Lien tenant Colonel Taylor was prom oted to
Colonel, and William Preston JohDston son
| Of General Albert ). Johnston, who was our
| Maj IT, was made Lieutenant Colonel. He is
| one OF tue best Of men, aud, / think, with
best officers in the army. He is hi y.h- -souled
conscientious man with the strictest sense ci
honor and justice, and gains the admiration
and esteem OF all with whom he comes III
contact by his courteous manner. Captain
Desha was appointed as his successor bat
declined The appointment, as his com pnny,
who were much attached to him, and who,
| like hims self, being from Northern Kentucky
were exiles from home by Yankee oppression
Captain Grassland was then appointed NJ ajor,
which has turned ont to be an exceedin giy
popular appoin tlnent- NJ 'lor Grassland was
| one of the leading Secessionists. of Southern
Kentucky and by his eloquent appeals, he
fired the hear is Of a great many SOutherners
| TO take up the gauge of battle" and leave
their homes III defence of the South. Every
| body loves him for the Kindness and purity
| of Lis nature, and for his oFen -hauded gene
| rosity that is ever ready TO give aid and com
| fort TO all who need assistance. He has done
| much for the cause Of Southern Rights il
| Kentucky.
| Col. Tom Taylor is justly very proud OF
| his regiment, and takes great pains drllI U g
| them, and in the health of the men We
| have lost very few by sickness, while the ex-
| posure we have undergone would have re.
| duced the most of regiments to q mere skele
| ton; even now we can muster seven hun
| dred as brave men rs ever trod q battle field
| and who are painting for An opportunity tC
| meet the enemy, and prove by the valor OF
| their acts that they are not unworthy de.
| scendants of the dark and bloody ground "
1t has been Iumored that We were to he
| j
| am willing TO remain IN Virginia, or any
| where else where l can best serve the &" good
| cause" large majority of the regiment
| Will re-eniist for two more years, but theil
| hearts yearD tor an opportunity TO strike g
| blow for their native state. 4 great many
| companies are exiled from their homes, and
| can receive no assistance from their friends
Concerts have been given and subscrip
| ton bocfs have been opened for the benefit y
| other rrfinlents-but meme tor the first Ken
! tncky. Yet we do not complain, for He neeC
| nothing: for we have that naughty self re-
| i'ancc which ,s the birthright OF every true
| kentrcktap, who neither asks anything BY
way Of charity, unless driven TO IL by dire
| NECESSITY. IT is true We have never been en-
| gagged IN battle, but If we had then history
| would have given the lie to the slanders o
| 'hoGc who have sought 20 defame and biacken
| chr characters.
! Itie reported that we will go into winter
| quarters IN n few days $50 mote il be. -
| w" ha~" PLENTY of blankets, good overcoats
| and clothes, aud in our snug cabins we can
| largh a. the bowling blasts OF winter, and bs
| ready With the first flower of spring TO mee
| The harharians Of the North. HICKMAN.