Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/49

 Diary of Lieutenant-Colonel John G. Pressley. 43

occasions were when we made expeditions to Wilmington, which will be mentioned at the proper time. He was sometimes in charge of one division of the line of fortifications and sometimes of the other, exercising the command of a brigadier. General Beauregard* had great confidence in him. The regiment came in time to regard me as their permanent commander, and my position was then as agree- able as could be desired. I had a very sincere regard for the ofiicers and men, and the many proofs of affection and confidence which they gave me are recollections which shall always be cherished. I found Major John V. Glover, a man in whom "was no guile," a willing, efficient, able and brave coadjutor. No regimental commander could have had an assistant and associate better qualified or worthy of higher esteem.]

About the 14th of November the Major was detailed as a member of a Court Martial, which sat in Charleston, and I was left for several weeks without his valuable assistance. While we were at " Camp Glover" a great many of the men, particularly of the two Williams- burg companies, were cheered by the presence of their wives. Their coming was encouraged and everything done to make them comforta- ble. Their presence was a real benefit to the regiment. Every man was a faithful soldier under the eye of his wife. These ladies were jocularly called " the eleventh company of the Twenty-fifth South Carolina volunteers."

November 28th. — Orders were received to-day to hold the regiment in readiness to move at any moment. News had reached headquar- ters in the city that a fleet had left Port Royal. General Beauregard expected an attack somewhere on the coast, and held his forces ready to move to any point where the}'- might be needed.

November 2gth to December ijth. — Between these dates we had a period of rest, broken only by the regular routine of camp duties and a visit of Colonel Roman, of General Beauregard's staff, who was on a tour of inspection of all of the troops of this Military District. A copy of the Colonel's report was sent to me for the information of the command. It conveyed the gratifying intelligence that the Twenty- fifth South Carolina volunteers had been pronounced the best regi- ment in the District.

December 14th. — To night orders came to move at once to the depot of the Northeastern railroad for the purpose of being trans- ported to Wilmington, North Carolina. Orders that seemed to indi- cate a movement on the enemy were always obeyed with spirit and alacrity, and we were not long in marching to the depot. The enemy