Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/139

 The Wee Nee Volunteers of Williamsburg District. 133

and announced by proclamation that ten regiments would be raised, troops to be received by companies, and field officers to be appointed by the Governor and Executive Council. Captain Charles H. Simon- ton agreed to join me and organize a regiment. As Captain Simon- ton had two companies and I had then but one, it was agreed between us that he should be colonel and I lieutenant-colonel of the proposed regiment.

Before the expiration of the term of the First regiment, Captain John V. Glover had reorganized his company, the Edisto Rifles, and the St. Matthew's Rifles, another company of Orangeburgers, had reorganized with Martin A. Sellers as captain, and both of these com- panies declared their purpose to unite their fortunes with the Wash- ington Light Infantry and Wee Nees. Thus was formed the nucleus of the Twenty-fifth South Carolina volunteers.

There were eleven companies organized by the men and officers constituting Colonel Hagood's First regiment. Eight remained with that organization which was soon filled by the addition of two others. Colonel Hagood was soon promoted to be brigadier-general, and Colonel T. J. Glover, who succeeded him, fell gallantly leading that command on one of the bloodiest fields in Virginia.

On the 1 3th day of April, 1862, Lieutenant R. A. Blum, then in command of Company B, Washington Light Infantry, receipted to me for ordnance stores at Fort Pickens and Green Creek Bridge, and early in the morning of the i4th day of April, 1862, the Wee Nees came up to the city, and thence to their homes, on a fur- lough, which was granted to the whole company preparatory to their entering upon their third term of service, for which they had enlisted.

. The furlough of the Wee Nees was not as long as they had ex- pected. In less than two weeks from the time they reached home an order was sent to me to report with the company at Bamberg, in Barnwell district. This did not accord with our plans. The men had re-enlisted with the understanding that they were to form a part of a new regiment. It was expected that when the companies which intended to go into the new organization should be called together, they would assemble in Charleston. The Washington Light Infantry (two companies, "A and B") were in the field on James Island. It will be remembered that they succeeded the Wee Nees as the garri- son of Fort Pickens on Battery Island. I went at once to Charles- ton, and, with the assistance of Captain Simonton, before I returned, succeeded in having so much of the order as required the companies