 | Memoirs of the war of secession |  |
Appendix.
The First Regiment was at home ten or twelve days upon its
re-enlistment furlough, when it was recalled into service by a
special order and rendezvoused at Bamberg upon the South
Carolina Railroad, whence it was transferred to the City of
Charleston. Its ranks were here filled by the reception of
four new companies. Glover was re-elected lieutenant-colonel.
O'Caim declined to continue in service and Captain Duncan was
elected to the vacant majority. Of the staff, Captain Lartigue
declined reappointment and Lieutenant Flowers, of Company H
of the twelve-months regiment, was appointed quartermaster.
Legare having gone into the line and out of the regiment, Captain
J. V. Martin was appointed commissary. Dowling had been
broken by an examining board, and John S. Stoney was appointed
assistant surgeon in his stead. Mortimer Glover was sergeant-major
and Donald Rowe quartermaster-sergeant.
The four new companies were officered as follows:
Captain, R. L. Crawford.
First Lieutenant, J. H. Kirk.
Second Lieutenant, F. L. Welsh.
Third Lieutenant, L. J. Perry.
Company D.
Captain, T. D. Gwynn.
First Lieutenant, William West.
Second Lieutenant, T. W. Powell.
Third Lieutenant, F. P. Newby.
Company F.
Captain, J. C. Winsmith.
First Lieutenant, W. A. Nesbitt.
Second Lieutenant, J. N. Moore.
Third Lieutenant, J. E. Vise.
Company H.
Captain, J. H. Stafford.
First Lieutenant, J. H. Harlee.
Second Lieutenant, W. L. Manning.
Third Lieutenant, R. Murchison.
Company I.
The history of this regiment until July, 1862, when its first
colonel was promoted to a brigade, is contained in subsequent
pages of these Memoirs. In a week or ten days afterward the
regiment was ordered to Virginia, where it was attached to
Jenkins's (afterwards Bratton's) Brigade in the division then
commanded by Hood and later by Fields. This division was a
part of Longstreet's Corps. The history of the regiment, after
the promotion of its first colonel, was carefully prepared by
Colonel James R. Hagood, its last commander, whose manuscript
is now in the possession of the writer. Suffice it to say here that
its career was creditable and its services arduous and faithful
which it was attached.
Colonel Glover fell at the Second Manassas. He was a graduate
of the South Carolina College with its first honor, and a
lawyer who had already obtained distinction at an early age,
when the war broke out. In the reorganization at Coles Island
some temporary unpopularity was manifested toward him, the
result of a faithful discharge of duty, and sickness deprived him
of a share in the operations preceding Secessionville. In the
active operations in Virginia his worth was conspicuous and
endeared him much to his men. He fell universally lamented,
and his death was marked by distinguished heroism.
Duncan succeeded Glover, but saw little service with the regiment,
and resigned. Livingston succeeded Duncan and retained
the command somewhat longer, when he resigned. Neither of
these officers distinguished themselves and the regiment suffered
in discipline and usefulness in their hands.
Colonel Kilpatrick was now appointed to the command. He
was a South Carolinian and a graduate of the State Military
Academy. In another regiment he had won his commission by
gallant and meritorious service. He soon restored the discipline
and esprit of the regiment; and after a career which added to his
own and the reputation of the regiment, he, too, died upon the
field of battle.
Colonel James R. Hagood joined the regiment after the battle
of Secessionville and rose in two years from the ranks through
the successive grades sergeant-major, adjutant and captain to its
command. His colonel's commission was dated the day after he
was 19 years old, and like all of his others was "for distinguished
valor and skill." He got no step by seniority or election, and was
at the date of his promotion the youngest regimental commander
in the Confederate Army. Of him our great chieftain, General
Lee, wrote from the retirement of Lexington in March, 1868:
"During the whole time of his connection with the Army of
Northern Virginia he was conspicuous for his gallantry, good
conduct and efficiency. By his merit constantly exhibited, he rose
from a private in his regiment to its command, and showed
by his actions that he was worthy of the position." And Major
General Fields added: "During our eventful service together, in
Hagood's high-toned, soldierly bearing at all times, his thorough
handling of his regiment, and his distinguished gallantry in
action, won my hearty admiration and regard." My brother!
these immortelles are laid upon thy grave, upon which the grass
is not yet green. No better soldier wore the grey. No knightlier
spirit breasted the storm in twenty battles beneath the Red Cross
Flag, nor struggled more bravely amid the after difficulties that
befell the followers of a Lost Cause.
Colonel Hagood commanded the regiment from the death of
Kilpatrick, in Longstreet's Tennessee campaign in the winter of
1863, until the surrender at Appomattox Court House, in the
spring of 1865. In the terrible retreat which preceded the surrender,
when the veteran Army of Northern Virginia was by
hardship and hunger and fighting reduced from 27,000 to 8,000
men fit for duty, the First Regiment, which bore its full part of
these trials, lost but seven unwounded men to the enemy. This
fact speaks volumes for the spirit and devotion of the men and of
the able manner in which they were commanded.
| Memoirs of the war of secession | |