Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 10.
Reverend J. William Jones, Ed.

Mr. Randolph at once granted the order for reorganization; and the complaints of the men of companies D, E, F and G as to their term of enlistment having been explained to him, he said, as understood by Colonel Johnson and Captain J. Louis Smith, who was present, that that being a question of fact, it could only be determined by a court with jurisdiction competent to try it, and that would be a court martial.

Colonel Johnson therefore published an order requiring all men absent without leave to report in two weeks for duty, or be considered and treated as deserters, and proceeded with the regiment to Charlottesville.

While there, he reported to the Secretary of War that he had explained to the men his conclusion about them as he understood it, and in answer to an inquiry from him fully and distinctly set forth all the facts in relation to the original enlistment at Harper's Ferry, the complaints of the men about them and the statements of the company officers in relation thereto.

Companies E, F and G, claimed to have understood their original enlistment as only for one year. Their officers declared that the time and terms were fully explained to them to be for the war. Company D claimed that the original enlistment by Colonel Deas was not binding because of want of authority in him.

But many individuals of all four of these companies asserted that they understood the facts as alleged by their officers.

During the first week at Charlottesville there was considerable grumbling and dissatisfaction, but that quieted down and the men were getting satisfied and contented. Colonel Johnson furnished each man who desired it, with a new uniform, his bounty and pay and a short furlough, in consideration of which, the recipient was to go off and hunt up recruits. The plan was working well; many came back before their leave was out, and many who had been absent for months came in, rejoiced to get among their old comrades again.

While this was going on Colonel Johnson took Companies A, B, C and D to Gordonsville in obedience to General Jackson's orders and assumed command there, leaving the residue behind to collect men.

Thus we had every prospect of reorganizing in a few weeks and going into the field, with from three to four hundred men at least.

On the 14th of August came an order from the Secretary of War to disband the whole regiment. No exceptions were made. Companies A, B and C, which had just gone into service, were included as well as those who were discontented.

How this order was procured was never known. It is supposed that