But soldiers from different States, all of the same nationality and of the same lineage, from habits, temperaments, and environments, had different characteristics upon the field of battle.  From an impartial standpoint, I give my opinion thus: 

The Virginians were the cavaliers of the South, high-toned, high-bred, each individual soldier inspired by that lofty idea of loyalty of the cavalier.  They were the ideal soldiers in an open field and a fair fight.  They were the men to sweep a battle line that fronts them from the field by their chivalrous and steady courage.  Virginia, the mother of Presidents, of great men, and noble women, the soldier of that State felt in honor bound to sustain the name and glory of their commonwealth.  As a matter of fact, the Virginians, as a rule, with exceptions enough to establish the rule, being one of the oldest of the sister States, her wealth, her many old and great institutions of learning, were better educated than the mass of soldiers from the other States.  They were soldiers from pride and patriotism, and courageous from “general principles.”  In an open, fair field, and a square and even fight, no enemy could stand before their determined advance and steady fire.  They were not the impulsive, reckless, head-strong soldiers in a desperate charge as were those from some other Southern States, but cool, collected, steady, and determined under fire.  They were of the same mettle and mould as their kinsmen who stood with Wellington at Waterloo.

The North Carolinians were the “Old Guard” of the Confederacy.  They had little enthusiasm, but were the greatest “stickers” and “stayers” on a battle line of any troops from the South.  They fought equally as well in thicket or tangled morass as behind entrenchments.  To use an army expression, “The North Carolinians were there to stay.”  It was a jocular remark, common during the war, that the reason the North Carolina troops were so hard to drive from a position was “they had so much tar on their heels that they could not run.”  They were obstinate, tenacious, and brave.

South Carolinians took on in a great measure the inspirations of some of their French Huguenot ancestors and the indomitable courage of their Scotch and German forefathers of the Revolution.  They were impulsive, impetuous, and recklessly brave in battle, and were the men to storm breastworks and rush to the cannon’s mouth at the head of a “forlorn hope.”  They possibly might not stay as long in a stubbornly contested battle as some from other States, but would often accomplish as much in a few minutes by the mad fury of their assault as some others would accomplish in as many hours.  They were the Ironsides of the South, and each individual felt that he had a holy mission to fulfill.  There were no obstacles they could not surmount, no position they would not assail.  Enthusiasm and self-confidence were the fort of South Carolinians, and it was for them to raise the Rebel yell and keep it up while the storm of battle raged fierce and furious.  They were the first to raise the banner of revolt, and right royally did they sustain it as long as it floated over the Southland.