The extraordinary number of names of officers in this regiment who afterward became famous is worthy of notice.

The colonel was Albert Sydney Johnston; the lieutenant-colonel, R.E.

Lee; the senior major, William J.Hardee; the junior major, George H.Thomas; the senior captain, Earl Yan Dorn; the next ranking captain, Kirby Smith; the lieutenants, Hood, Fields, Cosby, Major, Fitzhugh Lee, Johnson, Palmer, and Stoneman, all of whom became general officers afterward on the Southern side, with the exception of Thomas, and the three last named, who became prominent generals in the Federal army.

It is rare that such a constellation of famous names is found in the list of officers of a single regiment.
The explanation is, nevertheless simple.

Positions in the new regiments were eagerly coveted by the best soldiers of the army, and, in appointing the officers, those of conspicuous ability only were selected.