Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/42

 36 Southern Historical Society Papers.

Edisto Rifles {Co. G).

Captain.'james F. Izlar. Second Lieutenant, Samuel Dibble.

First Lieutenant, Sam'l N. Kennerlj-. Second Lieutenant, George H. Elliott.

Yeadon Light hifantry (G?. H).

Captain, S. LeRoy Hammond. Second Lieutenant, F. G. Hammond.

First Lieut. , Whitemarsh B.Seabrook. Second Lieutenant, F. C Jacobs.

Clarendon Guards {Co. I).

Captain, Y. N. Butler. Second Lieutenant, John J. Logan.

First Lieutenant, Joseph C. Burgess. Second Lieutenant, F. B. Brown.

Ripley Guards [Co K).

Captain, \V. B. Gordon. Second Lieutenant, S. N. McDonald.

First Lieutenant, F. J. Lesesne. Second Lieutenant, E. R. Lesesne.

July 2jd to Jist. — The health of the regiment growing worse. Our medical staff were kept very busy, and we heard of the death of several of our comrades in the general hospital in Charleston. The regimental hospital was constantly full. It was distressing to see the shortened line of the regiment on dress parade. Some of the com- panies had scarcely a platoon of men fit for duty.

Besides the sickness which was decimating our ranks, we were now greatly troubled by one of the most unjust and unwise measures of the Confederate Congress — "An act for organizing battalions of sharpshooters." This law, according to General Pemberton's con- struction of it, provided that details should be made of men, without their consent, for the purpose of organizing battalions of "sharp- shooters," the officers of which were to be appointed on the recom- mendation of division or department commanders. The men felt that Congress had acted in bad faith towards them. They had en- listed under laws which guaranteed to them the right to select their own organizations and elect their own officers. It was thought that the law was made in the interest of young aspirants for office, who lacked the ability to secure promotion by their merits and the choice of the soldiers they were to command. Men were to be torn from their comrades, friends, neighbors and officers of their choice, and turned over to the tender mercies of strangers whose ability for com- mand was untried. Earnest protests and expostulations were made at headquarters by regimental and battalion commanders generally. A deaf ear was turned to their entreaties for justice to the men of their commands. Every regiment in the department was invaded,