Corps of Cadets ordered to Richmond. March to Staunton, thence by rail
to Richmond. Wreck in Blue Ridge Tunnel. Speech of Governor at Richmond.
Some of the States had passed ordinances of secession and others were
following in rapid succession and war between the States was no longer
problematical, but a fact. Virginia hesitated, but soon cast her lot
with her sister States of the South and became a part of the new
nation. Preparation for war was now pushed forward with great energy.
Our corps under command of the State had previously been ordered to
Richmond, and its members had been assigned to drill and organize for
service the raw volunteers then hurrying thither.
On our departure from the V. M. I. we marched to Staunton, about
thirty-six miles distant, thence by rail to Richmond. All were
delighted and filled with pride on that beautiful spring morning when
the corps in fine array with martial tread marched from the front of
barracks, down by the mess hall to the pike, thence on toward Staunton.
Colonels Smith and Gilliam and Major Jackson were in charge. Baggage
and artillery followed. The bridge across North River was passed and as
we ascended the slope on the other side we took a last lingering look
at the fading outlines of barracks, so dear to us. There our laudable
boyish ambitions had been aroused, our hopes kindled and our mental and
physical manhood developed. There each was independent of the others,
yet all were a band of brothers. Each had learned to obey, and hence
knew how to command. The march continued and barracks was soon out
of sight. About ten miles out, knapsacks became too burdensome, and a
farmer's wagon was impressed for service. This relieved us greatly.
Staunton was reached about 10 o'clock on the night of the day we set
forth. The corps was fed and lodged for the night in the hotels.
Footsore and weary we slept well and arose at early reveille, chipper
and bright and ready for the coming duties of the day. One of the
first of which was after breakfast to load on flat cars our battery of
four pieces of artillery and our equipment. This was new to us and was
hard work. This done, we found we would have two or three hours at our
disposal before leaving. Many matrons and damsels, as well as men and
boys, had already come to the station to give cheer and encouragement
to those who were going forth to do battle for their cause. The neat
fitting uniforms of the cadets, to say nothing of their good looks
and personal merit, for they were a magnificent body of youths, were
always pleasing. A little later the crowd of ladies, men, boys and
girls with waving handkerchiefs, cheers and huzzas bade us good-bye,
and on our way to Richmond we sped.
All went well, until we reached the Blue Ridge tunnel on the old
Central, now Chesapeake and Ohio, railroad. Here an exciting and
somewhat perilous catastrophe occurred. The train consisted of
passenger cars for the officers and corps and flat cars for the battery
and baggage. It was special, and hence had no schedule time. When well
in the tunnel, which is nearly a mile long, our engine was derailed.
The smoke from it filled the cars and the narrow space around them. We
could not go forward, for the engine and force engaged blocked the way;
nor could we go back, as we would be in danger of being left, as the
engine might be ready for duty any minute and would at once pull out.
To add to our peril another train from the direction whence we came
was about due as per schedule time, and was liable to collide with
ours, in which event results could but be imagined. Thus we were held
veritable prisoners for nearly two hours, imperiled by the dangers of
an oncoming train and the suffocating smoke from our own engine,--our
first lesson in the privations and hardships of war. In all this the
boys were bright and cheerful. Many witty and some sage remarks were
made. Soon, however, we were on our way. Nothing of interest transpired
on the rest of our journey, except greetings given us at the stations
by the already aroused people who assembled to cheer us on, and the
timid requests of the fair maidens for souvenir buttons from our
uniforms. Such requests could not be refused. So far was it carried
that some of our uniforms were quite disfigured before we reached our
destination.
Late in the afternoon Richmond loomed up to view. This was another new
sight, for most of us were from rural districts and had never seen a
city. From the station we marched to the front of the Capitol building
in Capitol Square. Here the corps was reviewed by his excellency the
Governor who made a little talk and the compliments paid us were
pleasing to boys as we were. He said among other things that war was
upon us and much depended upon our work in preparing an army for the
field. Then amid the waving of handkerchiefs by the dames and maidens
and the huzzas of the men and boys, a large number of whom had gathered
to see and greet us, we marched to what was then known as the new fair
grounds about two miles west of the city. Here we were quartered in the
Exhibition and other buildings. The grounds were beautiful and well
suited for a camp of instruction.
Companies and regiments began at once to arrive, undrilled and
undisciplined, raw and without arms, except in instances where the
individual had given play to his own imagination as to what would be
useful in battle, and pursuant thereto had brought the squirrel rifle,
the shotgun, the butcher's knife and the pistol, some of the latter
of the old pepper box type. A few thought the savage, the dare-devil
mien the true indice of the soldier, hence the red hunting shirt,
the coon skin cap, the unkempt hair and beard were popular insignia.
How ludicrous was it all in the light of after experience! Yet these
manifestations were not to be condemned. It is a chapter in their
history that ought to give pride to their sons and daughters, because
these were the promptings of purest patriotism.
We began early to grapple with the fact that the South was without
arms with which to meet a well armed, equipped and powerful foe.
These disadvantages to be contended with by the new nation were very
great, hence the organization of an army and its equipment as best
might be was rushed with great vigor. Enlistment was rapid and troops
now entering the camp were anxious to be drilled and instructed. The
pulpit, the bench, the bar, the farm, the anvil, the shop and every
other calling was represented, ready and willing to take any position
from captaincy to private, the latter generally preferred, because
of the general feeling of unpreparedness for the responsibilities
of office and command, hence there was no unseemly scramble in this
respect.
At first the camp was intended for Virginia troops only, but it was
soon made the rendezvous of troops of other States as well. This
increased the numbers so much that not only the new but the old fair
ground was utilized and filled. All added to the excitement, and war
and preparation therefore were the absorbing themes of the old and
the young, male and female. No male, physically and mentally able to
do service, would stay out. Boys of tender years enlisted with the
approval of fathers and mothers, and in some instances were even urged
to do so. No critical or even cursory examination was applied to the
volunteer. Meanwhile the drill, the discipline and the organization
went on in a most satisfactory way. The efficient work of the corps of
cadets which deserves much praise was soon apparent. It is just to say
that the work had been done mainly under the command of our commandant,
Col. Wm. Gilliam, Colonel Smith having returned to the Institute and
Major Jackson having been commissioned a colonel and ordered to report
to Gen. Joseph E. Johnston at Harpers Ferry.
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