Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 09.djvu/118

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History of the Fourth Kentucky Infantry.
109

these officers wished to retain their rank and titles. Besides, when bidding adieu to their friends at home, they had pledged themselves to see to the comfort and interests of their sons. Some talked of going to Virginia, others of joining Morgan, while s few declared they would return to Kentucky, rather than be consolidated with other companies. Colonel Trabue was entirely too shrewd s man to allow these objections to disturb him. Once get enough men into camp, and he would very soon organize his regiment. He was possessed of the very tact which was needful on that occasion.

You would see him going quietly about among the officers, suggesting the manner in which the cause would be best served, and making places for disappointed ones, and on the whole fixing things to his entire satisfaction. I am yet unaware of his promises to Company H or what he told my friend Joe Robertson on that occasion, but my memory is entirely fresh to the fact that after four or five trips to Bowling Green on special duty as Adjutant of a battalion under Captain Nuckols, I found when the balance of the regiment joined us there, that Joe was Adjutant of the command. In making him Adjutant, he had settled Company H and my "hash" at one and the same time. While I was glad to see him advanced to s good place, I could hardly realize the particular benefit that would accrue to me. I went South with Colonel Trabue for the express purpose of taking that place, and took it, and entered into the performance of the duty as such, and of course sought the Colonel to have an understanding about it. I was not long in making up my mind that a boy of nineteen was no match for a veteran of forty.

He seemed as much hurt over the affair as I was, and when I left him I actually felt sorry for him. Company D, however, took me in and kindly cared for me, and my associations with it live bright and fresh in my mind as if it were only yesterday I parted from them.

By relating the above I want you to understand that when Colonel Trabue came across an obstacle in his way he removed it. When the regiment was fully organized it stood thus: R. P. Trabue, formerly of Adair county, Colonel; Andrew R. Hynes, formerly of Bardstown, Lieutenant Colonel (these two were engaged in practicing law in Vicksburg and the South when the war commenced); Thomas B. Monroe, Jr., of Frankfort, Major; Joseph L. Robertson, of Montgomery county, Adjutant; Griff. P. Treobald, of Owen county, A. Q. M. (now of Louisville); George T. Shaw, of Louisville, A. C. S.; Dr. B. T. Marshall, of Green county, Surgeon; Dr. B. B. Scott, of Greenburg, Assistant Surgeon; Company A, Captain Joseph P. Nuckols, of Glasgow;