War, war is still the cry, "War to the knife."
--BYRON.
There was in the central part of the county a beautiful grove in which
the Methodists were accustomed to hold their annual camp-meetings. On
account of its location and the shelter afforded by its tents it was in
1861 transformed into a rendezvous of a radically different nature, the
military companies that had been raised in the county assembling there
preparatory to going into the army. It was there that Captain Gresham's
company, known as the Lacy Rifles, was formally enrolled by Col. R. A.
Claybrook and Dr. James Simmonds. When they came to where I stood in the
line of men they declined to enlist me because I appeared pale and weak
on account of recent sickness. I said, "Do as you like, gentlemen, but I
am going with the boys anyhow." "If you talk like that," they replied,
"we will insert your name."
Not many days afterward the company assembled at the court-house, and,
having sworn allegiance to the Southern Confederacy, was duly mustered
into its service. In vehicles of all sorts we drove to Monaskon wharf,
where the schooner _Extra_ was moored to receive us and to convey us up
the Rappahannock river. As the vessel glided along what a jolly set we
were!--gay as larks, merry as crickets, playful as kittens. There was
singing, dancing, feasting on the palatable provisions supplied by the
loving friends we were leaving, with no thought of captivity, wounds,
nor death. Ignorant of war, we were advancing toward its devouring jaws
with such conduct as became an excursion of pleasure. The only arms we
then possessed were two-edged daggers made of rasps in blacksmith shops,
and with these we were going to hew our way to victory through the
serried ranks of the invading army! Ah, well! we knew better what war
was after we had become the seasoned veterans of many campaigns.
When the vessel had proceeded up the river as far as Fort Lowry it
rounded to, because a solid shot ricochetted before the bow, and we were
transferred to the steamboat _Virginia_, which carried us to
Fredericksburg. Passing along the streets, attracting attention by our
neat gray uniforms, we marched out to the fair-grounds, and rejoiced to
obtain the friendly shelter of the cattle stalls. They were not as
comfortable as the chambers of our homes--but what of it? Were we not
soldiers now? It is wonderful and blessed how human nature can
accommodate itself to altered environments.
We were supplied with smoothbore, muzzle-loading, Springfield muskets,
small leather boxes for percussion caps, and larger ones for cartridges.
For the information of the present generation let it be explained that
the cartridge was made of tough paper containing powder in one end and
the ounce ball of lead in the other; and the manner of loading was
this: the soldier tore off with his teeth the end, poured the powder
into the muzzle, and then rammed down the ball; this being done, a cap
was placed on the nipple of the breech, and the gun was ready to be
fired. That musket is antiquated now, but it did much execution in
former days.
Maj. J. H. Lacy, for whom the company was named, presented an elegant
silk banner, which at Captain Gresham's request I received in the best
language at my command. It was never borne in battle, for it was not
companies but regiments that carried banners. There was but one flag to
a regiment, and that was always carried in the center. Twice a day there
was a course of drilling in tactical evolutions and in the handling of
the muskets. At first I was hardly strong enough to sustain the fatigue,
but I rapidly grew stronger under the combined influence of exercise,
sleeping in the open air, and the excitement of a military life. The war
did me harm in many ways, but it was the means of increasing my capacity
for bodily exertion. During the encampment at Fredericksburg many of my
spare moments were spent in reading the New Testament and Pollok's
"Course of Time."
We did not long remain in Fredericksburg; but being transported on cars
to Brooke Station we marched up to camp Chappawamsic, near a Baptist
church of that name. There the Lacy Rifles became Company F in the 47th
regiment of Virginia Volunteers, commanded by Col. G. W. Richardson of
Henrico county, who had been a member of the Virginia Convention that
passed the ordinance of secession. He was a brave and patriotic
gentleman, but unskilled in military affairs; and he did not long retain
the command.
From the summer of 1861 until the spring of 1862 we spent the time in
company and regimental drill, and in picketing the shore of the Potomac
river day and night, lest the enemy should effect a landing and take us
unaware. During that time no shots were exchanged with the enemy,
because no landing was attempted. The only fighting that we saw was at
Dumfries where there was a Confederate fort, to which we marched to act
as a support in case the Yankees came ashore. Three vessels of the
Federal navy passed slowly down the river, between which and the fort
there was a brief but lively cannonade; but so far as I know there was
no resulting damage to either side.
On Sunday, July 21, we heard the booming of the cannon at Bull Run,
lamenting that we had no part in the battle. When we afterward heard how
McDowell's army skedaddled back to Washington more rapidly than they
came, we thought that the war would end without our firing a gun. So
little did we understand the firmness of President Lincoln's mind and
the settled purpose of the North!
The winter was spent in comparative comfort, for we moved out of tents
into cabins built of pine logs, each one having a wide arch and a
chimney. At Christmas some good things were sent to me, among which was
a dressed turkey, which I did not know how to prepare for the table, for
even if I had possessed some knowledge of the culinary art there was no
suitable oven. Fortunately a comrade by the name of John Cook,--an
appropriate name for that occasion,--came to my relief and solved the
problem in a most satisfactory manner. The bird was suspended by a
string before the open fire, and being continually turned right and
left, and basted with grease from a plate beneath, it was beautifully
browned and cooked to a turn.