732 NortH Carotina Troops, 1861-’65.

ing and camp duty. On one occasion General Polk, in re-
viewing his corps, selected the beautiful flag presented to the
Thirty-ninth North Carolina Regiment by the ladies of Ashe-
ville to be placed at the reviewing stand, which produced a
little envy in the. minds of the troops from some
other States. While the regiment was marching out to take
its place, and William Breedon, the Ensign, was
proudly bearing his beautiful banner, some one called out
“Hurrah for the Tar Heels.” As we had not then
learned our new name, the Ensign took it is an insult, and
stepping out of the ranks, stuck his flagstaff up in
the ground and dared those offering an insult to North Car-
olina to step out two at a time and he would whip the entire
regiment. This caused a yell of laughter, and Bree
don, realizing the joke, raised his banner and marched on.
The corps made a fine display. A large number of ladies
from Shelbyville were present and were delighted with the
movements of the troops.

General A. P. Stewart commanded the Division, issued
orders for a thorough training of the company officers. We
were placed under a West Point officer, who organized us into
a class, and we had to make “‘Hardee’s Tactics” our constant
companion for some time. We recited every day, and were
then formed into a squad and put through the practical part
of the lesson. We had a good class and as every one did his
best, made good progress in company and battalion drill.
Our instructor must have reported progress to the General,
for one day as I was drilling the company, General Stewart
and his staff approached. He alighted and walked by my
side for some time, and, when we had completed the move-
ment, ordered a halt and tendered us his thanks for our cor-
rect movements and proficiency. On the day following the
regiment was marched out to the parade ground, as we sup-
posed for our usual drill. Colonel Coleman formed us in
line of battle and gave the commands, “Order Arms, Parade
Rest.” We thought him very kind in not trotting us around
that old field, but in a few moments discovered General
Stewart advancing with his staff. They were saluted by the
Field Officers, and after a short consultation, Adjutant Har-

Tuirty-NiIntH REGIMENT. 733

den took his position, called attention, and proceeded to read
the following order: “Lieutenant J. M. Davidson, Com-
pany ©, will take charge of and drill the regiment.” I did
not feel the least. bit elated over the order, but it had to be
obeyed. I went to Colonels Coleman and Reynolds for ad-
vice, but they only said take the regiment through any evo-
lution youcan. I decided on one of the most beautiful move-
ments in Hardee’s Tactics—that of breaking the regiment to
the rear into columns of companies. There were seven or
eight hundred men, divided into ten companies. I was not
honored with a horse and had never attempted to drill more
than a single company. I took my position in front of and
near the centre of the regiment, and gave the command to
move, but omitted to first give the precautionary command.
Of course the order was not obeyed, they could not move,
being at order arms and parade rest. The General, specta-
tors and regiment smiled audibly. Discovering my mis-
take, I gave my voice a high pitch and commanded: ‘“Atten-
tion, battalion, shoulder arms, by the right of companies to
the rear into column, march.” All moved out nicely, and I
wheeled them around the old field and attempted to throw
them into line at a double-quick, but while stepping bi@ek-
wards my heel struck a little grub or bush, which gave me a
hard fall, my sword flew out of my hand and stuck up in the
ground several feet away. As I went down I yelled, “Halt!”
and General Stewart called out, “Rise, Captain, and try it
again.” I succeeded in getting the regiment into line again,
and saluting the Colonel, begged to be relieved of the com-
mand. General Stewart said that as I had done so well, ex-
cepting the fall, he would let me off.

Captain Allen, of Company D, was called out next, and at-
tempted to go through the same movement, but, unfortu-
nately, gave the command, “By the right of Companies to
the rear, March!’ and each Captain marched his company
to the rear until we struck a dense cedar thicket, when some
one yelled, ‘Down on your marrow bones and charge the
cedar thicket.” Captain Allen, who had a feminine voice,
called out in his distress: “Colonel, what is the matter with
the men ?” The Colonel assured him that the men were obey-