During the winter most of the vacancies in company and field officers were filled by promotion, according to rank.  In most cases, the office of Third Lieutenant was left to the choice of the men, in pursuance to the old Democratic principle, “government by the will of the people.”  Non-commissioned officers usually went up by seniority, where competent, the same as the commissioned officers.

All these vacancies were occasioned by the casualties of war during the Pennsylvania, Chickamauga, and Knoxville campaigns.  The Seventh, Fifteenth, and Third Battalion were without field officers.  Captain Huggins was placed in command of the Seventh, and Captain Whiter, the Third Battalion.  No promotions could be made in the latter, as Major Miller and Colonel Rice had not resigned, although both were disabled for active service in consequence of wounds.

There was considerable wrangling in the Fifteenth over the promotion to the Colonelcy.  Captain F.S.  Lewie, of Lexington, claimed it by seniority of rank, being senior Captain in the regiment.  Captain J.B.  Davis, of Fairfield, claimed it under an Act of the Confederate Congress in regard to the rank of old United States officers entering the Confederate service—­that the officers of the old army should hold their grade and rank in the Confederate Army, the same as before their joining the South, irrespective of the date of these commissions issued by the war department.  Or, in other words, a Lieutenant in the United States Army should not be given a commission over a Captain, or a Captain, over a Major, Lieutenant Colonel, or Colonel, etc., in the Southern Army.  As all the old army officers entering the service of the South at different periods, and all wanted a Generalship, so this mode of ranking was adopted, as promising greater harmony and better results.  Captain Davis had been a Captain in the State service, having commanded a company in Gregg’s six months’ troops around Charleston.  And, furthermore, Davis was a West Pointer—­a good disciplinarian, brave, resolute, and an all round good officer.  Still Lewie was his peer in every respect, with the exception of early military training.  Both were graduates of medical colleges—­well educated, cultured, and both high-toned gentlemen of the “Old School.”  But Lewie was subject to serious attacks of a certain disease, which frequently incapacitated him for duty, and on marches he was often unable to walk, and had to be hauled for days in the ambulance.  Then Lewie’s patriotism was greater than his ambition, and he was willing to serve in any position for the good of the service and for the sake of harmony.  Captain Lewie thus voluntarily yielded his just claims to the Colonelcy to Captain Davis, and accepted the position of Lieutenant Colonel, places both filled to the end.

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COLONEL J.B.  DAVIS.