Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/179

 The Wee Nee Volunteers of Williamsburg District. 1 73

so many skirmishes between the pickets of the two armies, were being rapidly cut down. Wood was plenty, and the men were comfortable. There was some fever, but in the main the command was healthy. Private George Gist, of Company C (Wee Nees),got my permission to beat up volunteers to build me a house, and I soon had a shanty' made of poles and clap-boards (split by these kind-hearted soldiers), with a good wide clay chimney, board bedstead and table, and was as comfortable as a soldier in the field ought to be. There were other shanties built by the men for themselves and some of the officers of the regiment. Our camp began to present quite the ap- pearance of a village. We used the Presbyterian church as our chapel, and had some excellent discourses from Rev. A. F. Dickson, and occasionally from other ministers of the Gospel, who were either visiting the troops or connected with the regiments on the island. Captain Thomas, of the Twenty-first South Carolina volunteers, should not be forgotten. He was the pastor of the Baptist church in Bennettsville, Marlboro district, and went into service in command of a company composed largely of the young men of his congrega- tion. His influence was highly beneficial to his regiment. His bravery as a soldier was equal to his eloquence and fervor as a preacher. Musician Mueller, chief of the regimental band, added much to the interest of the religious services. The performers on the brass horns, belonging to the band under his direction, made music surpassing the finest organ. The sound was much more like that of an organ under the hand of a first-class performer than any- thing else which I have ever heard, but the music was decidedly better. Every member of the band deserves special mention. The sweet music which they discoursed beguiled camp life of much of its tediousness.

Assistant Surgeon Dr. J. M. Warren was detached from the regi- ment and sent to another command in Virginia. Dr. Warren was a kind-hearted gentleman, able and intelligent, and thoroughly familiar with the mysteries of his profession. Our loss seemed irreparable, but we were exceedingly fortunate in having a gentleman, Dr. A. J. Beale, of equal ability assigned to us in place of Dr. Warren. Dr. Beale was a Kentuckian, and had been a lieutenant in Company D, Ninth Kentucky infantry. He was engaged with his regiment in the battles of Shiloh and Murfreesboro. At the latter place he was severely wounded. He took up a gun which had fallen from the hands of a disabled soldier, and dropping upon one knee to fire, was hit by a ball which made six holes in his body, passing through both