stationed were sick & absent so that the
combined force was not above 1200 or 1300
men. the company organization was im-
perfect -- the men undrilled & undisciplined.
This resulted from the entire & complete incom-
petency & inefficiency of the majority of the
officers. Indeed were it not for the good
sense & order of the General -- the supervis-
ion & activity of the field & staff officers,
the command would soon have been in a
pitiable condition. the day after my arri-
val Capt. Vandeventer's company was as-
signed me to drill. This officer knew nothing
of tactics & his men are illiterate but pay
good attention & I think, will make effective
soldiers.
The men of this command are principally
from the counties of the So. West -- a mountain-
ous country producing strong, healthy,
brave people but destitute of that refine-
ment & intelligence which characterizes the
citizens of some portions of our State.
While these men make hardy good soldiers --
obedient & submissive, I doubt, whether they
possess that alacrity & unity of action which
constitutes so important a trait in the soldier.
Many never heard of a cannon & its
fire & noise may
as the guns on Ship did the savage -- strike
them with awe & terror. Illiterate men
however brave are unsafe when first
placed under fire. However, I hope for
the best. Men with the spirit of liberty
animating their bosoms are unconquer-
able. I will now continue the narration
of facts. Our two regiments are well
armed & equipped with muskets & rifles.
The cavalry of which there are several
companies are generally armed with
doubled barrel shot guns -- very effective
weapons for short distances.
men were spending their time in
quiet & ease at Campt Arbuckle
when on the 13th Aug.
staff were invited to dine at Col. McClung's.
Cap. Alexander Spotswood Vandeventer's ( 1842-1910) company became Co. B, 50th Virginia Infantry. Vandeventer rose to Colonel, was captured at Spotsylvania May 10, 1864. A lawyer in Fayetteville, Arkansas, after the war.
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