The North Carolina Standard

The statements of the "mutiny," and disorderly conduct of the North Carolina Regiment, are certainly painful to every citizen of our State. But in fact we know of no "mutiny," except in Col. Paine's imagination. The disorderly conduct was from the Mississippians and Virginians—the punishment and disgrace fell on the North Carolinians. The petition of the officers of the N. C. Regiment to Col. Paine to resign, can hardly be called "mutiny," except by the arbitrary and self-willed Col. Paine himself.

But our information, derived from various sources, satisfy us that if the State has suffered any blot on her fame, it is not from the conduct of their Regiment—the gallant men who volunteered for their country—but from the cruelties and tyrannical acts of its Colonel, who did not volunteer, but was placed at the head of the Regiment by party feelings.

These painful proceedings were anticipated, and many were the predictions as soon as Gov. Graham announced his appointments, that no good or honor would ever result to North Carolina from them; it has even turned out worse than was predicted.

We give below a letter from an honorable high-minded volunteer from this county. We rely confidently on every word he has stated, and believe his statement of the transaction of our Regiment, in preference to those of the letter writers for the papers. He is in a situation to know the acts, and he has no motive to misrepresent them:

CAMP NEAR SALTILLO, Aug. 22, 1847.

There has been a great alteration in the N.C. Regiment since I wrote you last. About a week ago Col. Paine had a wooden horse made, to ride the soldiers upon when they did not do their duty. This horse of course excited considerable curiosity, both in the North Carolina, Virginia, and Mississippi Regiments. After dress parade, the Virginians came down into our camp, with the determination to break the horse to pieces. After having a great deal of sport over it, there were about two hundred got hold of the horse and broke it all to pieces, and then ran off saying that Col. Paine's horse was dead. This of course made the Colonel very mad. He then went to see Col. Hamtranck, of the Virginia Regiment, and told him that his men had broken down his horse. The Colonel laughed it off and said, the boys would do such things as that. So Col. Paine got no further satisfaction out of Col. Hamtranck.

The next night the men said they would have the horse's carcass, and about fifty started up after it, though Col. Paine had a guard of eight men around it; and got nearly to the horse when Col. Paine came out of his tent and hailed them. They all turned and ran off towards their quarters. The Colonel fired at them with a holster pistol, wounding two men; one has died since of his wound. I was lying in my tent at the time the pistol fired. I got up and came out, and to my great surprise I found that the man who was shot through the body belonged to our Company; but he was one that was attached to our Company from Company K. The other man that was wounded was a Virginian, and was shot through the hand. The man Bradley that was killed had nothing to do with the affair at all; he went down into K camp to see some of his friends, and happened to be standing outside of the tent when the Virginians run by him, and at the same time hearing Col. Paine telling them to halt, it alarmed him and thinking that he was in danger where he was, he started to run too, when Col. Paine shot him through the body. He was quite a youth, only 15 or 16 years old, and very much beloved in the Company.

The officers of the Regiment had been threatening for some time before this affair to resign, as Col. Paine's treatment had been very bad towards them; and after this took place they were determined that Col. Paine should leave, or they would. All the officers in the Regiment wrote him a polite note and signed it, requesting him to resign. He went over to see Gen. Wool about it, and told him a great tale about Lieuts. Pender and Singeltary, the Adju. and that they were at the head of all the fuss that was in the camp, and the cause of all the officers signing the petition that they sent to him. I can assure you that Lieuts. Pender and Singeltary are as innocent of these charges as you are. That evening on dress parade it was read out that Lieuts. Pender and Singeltary were dishonorably discharged from the army, by order of Gen. Wool. No one considers Lieuts. Pender and Singeltary dishonorably discharged but Gen. Wool and Col. Paine. They have now gone to Monterey to see Gen. Taylor, and there is no doubt but that Gen. Taylor will reinstate them both. Every officer here that knows any thing about it, say that they never heard tell of such a thing in their life, as an officer being dishonorably discharged from an army without having a hearing. Gen. Cushing says that Gen. Taylor will be certain to reinstate them, but I do not think Lieut. Pender ever will come under Col. Paine again, and I should not if I was in his place, after receiving the treatment that he has from him.

Since Lieut. Pender left, Col. Paine has ordered an election in the Company, when Adj. Buck was elected Captain and Robert S. Pitt, 2nd Lieut. I am very well satisfied with the election, but it shows very plainly that Col. Paine never intended that Lieut. Pender should be Captain of his company, or he would have ordered an election in it while he was in command; but as soon as Lieut. Pender was gone, he ordered an election right off. I am very well satisfied with Buck's being Captain, because I think he will do a good part by his men: but I had ten times rather Pender was our Captain.

Col. Paine is very good to his men now, and has but little to say; but nearly all the officers say, if the Colonel remains in the Regiment one month longer, they intend to leave. It is thought by some that Col. Paine will resign, but I think he will stay just where he is. I wish I could be with you about one day to tell you all about this affair, for I cannot begin to tell you in this letter.

The Virginians and Mississippians bothered Col. Paine so much, that he has moved his Regiment near Saltillo. He is said to be one of the greatest tyrants that ever was out here. I have no doubt but that you will see Lieut. Pender at home in a short time with an honorable discharge. It is generally thought here that peace will be made and that we shall get home in two or three months. I am in hopes this may turn out true.