The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-15
rHE DUMB REGIMENT.
A civil war Precedent for tho Conduct
Of Men % the Twenty-nfth.

% Wen % inc TWenty-nhtn
To THE EprroR OF THE suN-Sir: Denis
Dunn. formerly Of the Fourth Cavalry. talks
like a man and a soldier In his letter pub
lished in THE Sun Of November -.
Let me give you another precedent for the
dumb lips Of the gallant men In the Twenty
NTH Infantry. At the close Of the civil war
the lsSth Regiment. New York Volunteers.
Second Duryee's Zouaves. after three years
distinguished service In Louisiana and Vr-
ginis. was sent to Charleston to perform pro-
vost duty. That city was then full OF negroes
who had hOcked into It from the surrounding
country to enjoy their new freedom. Con-
ficts arose between these negroes and the
boys OF the IeSth. eliminating In the killing OF
half a dozen negroes in the market house be-
fore the regiment had been in the city aweek.
Only one company OF the regiment partici-
pated In that unfortunate affair, and 10 was
directed by q brave and impetuous soldier
Orderly Sergeant Dick Reeves. who at the
head of his men charged In upou the mass 10
quelI a row thai was going on at the time.
The General In command. possibly assum-
ing that the sergeant was to blame. tmn1e-
diately ordered the regiment out Of the city
and over to Morris Island. There was no
real duty to be performed there; the war had
ended: the term OF enlistment had expired,
and the men felt a burning desire to be sent
20 their homes. but they were still detained in
" INV sh'y Nht6
day a few of the most adventurous succeeded
In breaking through restraint and reaching
the city, where. in their longing for a good
time" they made it somewh bat uncomfortab BILE
for the guards and patrols.
Then 10 was that the General commanding
resolved to visit punishment upon the whole
battalion. No greater punishment could be
inflicted than taking away Its colors. the
colors u nder which it had marched and fought
az Ponchatoula, Port Hudson. In the Teche
campaign, the Red River campaign at Deep
Bottom. and In the Shsna ndodh Valley. the
colors which had been dyed with the blood
Of the intrepid bearers. on or about July ~.
late in the evening. a General with his STAN
came TO the islam and proceeding to the
regimental headquarters demanded the sur
render OF the fla gs. The color guard was
summoned and ordered to produce them for
immediate delivery. Then IL was the men
heard OF the humiliation. There was a timei
Physical resista noep MOI Men who cheer
fully submit TO the full riRor Of military dis
cipline for three years get no such foolish
notion into their heads, but still there was a
time there. There was no sdueal. D myself
swiftly ran dow n to the shore OF the sea. where
unobserved l could give way TO the tumult OF
my feelings. The great body Of my COM
rades made no such conoealment. The eX-
citemeut was not so great, however. as to
prevent a few quick witted boys Of the re2i-
ment from dashlnR to the place where the
oolors were kept. cutting them from their
STATS aud replacing the rubber covers to hide
their deed Inc co'or suaIu user was nc
celved oy the act. ana tue General VINO re-
celSed tne covered soans ala not discover the
ruse tnat had been Played unti ne mao salleo
TOT the Guy -.
The coiors ned been hidden where nolnnlo-
ton Of pain and penalties would ever find them.
This meant more trouble. That trouble came
- $3.50 UT,SAtn Nv-aHSr Vns,z oV,ra 49, rvknI.
al once Wlcnlh twenty-tour hours the wnoIe
regiment ~as marched into fort wagner tne
plrapet OF which was manned by the Forty
seventh Regiment pennsylvania Noiun-
teers' ana the lhlro hnode island Artiilery: