Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 24.djvu/334

 326 Southern Historical Society Papa*.

& Weldon Railroad. It was kept under rigid discipline; and that it was well drilled and properly cared for will appear from the follow- ing extracts from the Wilmington Journal :

"On a recent visit to the camp of the 28th Regiment we were pleased to see that a complete town of neat wooden tenements has taken the place of the canvass village of the latter part of the sum- mer and fall, affording convenient and comfortable quarters with chimneys for the men, houses for the stores and other purposes. We found nearly all finished, with the exception of some of the officers' quarters, Colonel Lane's among the number, these being left to the last, as, being less crowded, the necessity was not so pressing. * * *

' 'Almost as we go to press the 28th moves down Second street, with steady tramp, the long line of their bayonets gleaming in the sun, and the firm bearing of the men indicative of determination and giving promise of gallant service when called upon. The drill and marching of the regiments are, to our feeble notions, as good as could be desired by regulars. If there is less of the pomp and cir- cumstance of war with our plainly arrayed troops than with the fancy corps raised in northern cities, experience has shown that there is more of the pride that will stand and will not run unless it be for- ward. Colonel Lane may well be proud of his regiment."

On the 28th of October, 1861, the regiment numbered 970 all told.

It reached Newbern the i4th of March, 1862, just as the troops were withdrawing and it helped to cover their retreat. It fell back with them through mud and rain to Kinston, where it remained until it was ordered to Virginia. Soon after reaching Kinston it was as- signed to the brigade commanded by General L. O'B. Branch. It at once renewed its work of reorganizing for the war which it had so gloriously begun in Wilmington, and completed the same the i2th of April, 1862. The following from a correspondent was published at the time in the Raleigh Journal:

" It is with no ordinary emotions of joy and pride that I inform you, and through your paper the public, that the Twenty-eighth North Carolina Regiment has 'reorganized for the war.' Six com- panies reorganized before we left Wilmington. Last week the four remaining companies reorganized, and on Saturday we had an elec- tion for field officers, when Colonel Lane and Lieutenant-Colonel Lowe were elected to their former positions by acclamation. For major we had some warm balloting. Several were nominated. After