"I don't know how!"
"Then," replied Mix, "right about, and run like hell, or you'll be
gobbled up!"
Again, at the battle of Kinston, it was said that the 44th who were
laying down, were ordered to charge the rebel line, which had begun
to waver and show signs of weakness; that they refused, and the 10th
Connecticut (three hundred strong) were ordered up, charged upon the
rebels, and, in charging, had to walk over the prostrate 44th. I give
this story without vouching for its truth; for, being in another part
of the field, I had not an opportunity of witnessing the inception
of the charge referred to, though, arriving with our regiment near
the bridge by the flank ahead of the main charging column, I had an
opportunity of seeing the 44th come up at the double-quick close on
the heels of the flying rebels. But the story was told, and told,
too, on the battle-field.
At Whitehall, however, no envious tongue could say aught against the
conduct of this regiment; and I can here speak of what I saw of them,
and can say they acted well under the murderous fire to which they
were exposed.
Another anecdote of the 44th, and I have done with them; and, lest
I might be accused of harboring any of that feeling towards them I
have already alluded to as prevailing in the department, and which I
most heartily condemn, I will state that I do not believe one word
of it, and only give it a place here to show how far human malignity
and envy will make men forget what is due to self-respect and to
co-laborers in a good work. During the siege of Little Washington, it
was stated that the rebels sent in a flag of truce, requesting the
commander of the post to send the women and children, _and the 44th_,
to a place of safety, as they were going to assault the town.
The 5th regiment came about the same time the 44th did. They were
a fine, hardy-looking set of men, and participated with credit in
all the expeditions undertaken during their term of service in this
portion of the department.
The 45th regiment was the next--a fine body of men; but they, too,
like the 44th seemed to assume too much importance, and came in for
their share of ill-will; but, speaking from my own knowledge, I never
knew of but one instance in their whole career where they did not
seem to be up to the mark, and this time from no fault of the rank
and file. The fault, if any, lay with the officers. I allude to a
little affair at a place called Cole Creek, on the railroad towards
Kinston, in May '63, where, by the Colonel of the 45th outranking our
Lt. Col., the regiment had the advance, and when it came in sight
of an earthwork manned by a few rebs, the Colonel anxious for his
men, and not wishing to be precipitate, seemed to hesitate. Colonel
Fellows riding up, asked him why he did not advance on the enemy's
work, replied that he thought it too strong.
"Allow me," said Colonel Fellows, "and I will take it with my two
flank companies."
The consent was obtained, and companies A and F of the 17th walked
into the works, which had been hastily abandoned on their approach by
the rebels. As I said before, this result was no fault of the rank
and file of the 45th, whom I have seen marching in under fire, with
ranks precisely dressed up, and acting with coolness and intrepidity.
The 43d seemed the favorite regiment with the three-years men, who
regarded it as the best of the nine months men. They were, indeed, a
fine lot of men, and, I have no doubts if circumstances placed them
in the post of danger, they would prove themselves fully as reliable
as the three-years troops. In saying this, it will, of course, be
inferred, that I do not consider the nine-months men as reliable in
an emergency as the three-years men; and, I do not think them so,
generally speaking--not because the men are inferior in regard to
courage or endurance; but because they are not really soldiers but
militia, and not so self-reliant as the three-years men.
Of the other nine months men I know but little, save that they were
a fine lot of men, and if they did not do anything to distinguish
themselves, it was no fault of theirs, but because they lacked the
opportunity.
A few words in regard to the feeling of the three-years men towards
the nine-months troops. The men of the old regiments, almost to a
man (but there were some exceptions) seemed to regard them with a
feeling of envy and dislike, and the frequent salutations of 'how are
you, three hundred dollars and a bugle?' partly showed from whence
the dislike came. I say partly, for the other reason was, that,
besides receiving so high a bounty, they could return at the end of
their time of service,--which to men who had already served eighteen
months, and still had a year and a half to serve, seemed unfair. And
certainly, looking at the matter with their eyes, the thing did not
seem altogether right, though it might very properly be argued that
as the three-years men went into the service with their eyes open,
and agreeing to the terms of the Government, they had no right to
complain.