Hampden Sydney College - Kaleidoscope Yearbook (Hampden Sydney, VA)

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lgatriniinm nf the Glnllrgr Tun HAMPDEN-SIDNIQY Bovs IN 'rms REVOLUTIONARY WAR BY Goonnrncn A. WILSON, JR. p ut played by Hampden Sldnev hoys in the Wu for Independence is by no means an etsy one In th rt day of gl eat men and gl eater deeds Htmpden S1dney's 'diop 111 the bucket was probably too small to attract the attention of the historians of the time, and we must suppose that her patriotic students and professors were too modest to hand down in writing the story of their own deeds of valor. At all events, were it not for that most valuable work, Dr. Foote's Sketches of Virginia, we of the present curriculum would know nothing about the gallant and patriotic efforts of our predecessors in the infant years ofthe college. The quotations given below are taken from the first volume of tl1c Sketches, which contains, so far as we can discover, the only records bearing on this in- teresting portion 'of Hampden-Sidney's history. 4' As the declaration of national independence spread through the cou11try, the youths were roused and offered themselves as soldiers to redeem that pledge of 'our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor! Busy as the students were in their studies, their hearts were full of patriotism, and with the arts and sciences of academic life they would learn the rudiments of the art of War .... Mr. John Blair Smith was chosen captain of a company of the students, about sixty- iive in number, over sixteen years of age, Mr. David Witherspoon lieutenant, and Mr. Samuel Venable .... was chosen ensign. The students wore uniform, viz., a hunting shirt dyed purple, and every student.. although under sixteen years of age, was mustered every month. Captain Smith was at this time a tutor in the institution. He later became the distinguished divine, the beloved President of Hampden-Sidney, and the founder of Union College, N. Y. There is more to be said of him. Lieutenant Witherspoon, whose father signed the Declaration of Independence, was also a tutor. Ensign Venable was a stu- dent, living in a hut which his father had erected on the college grounds for his accommodation. This purple-shirted company of beardless lads, led by their gal- lant captain, were in dead earnest and stood ever ready to answer at a moment's 24 HE task of portraying, after the lapse of a century and a quarter, the z ' 1 . - , 2 f 1 . I 4 1 2 A . I i ' ' 2 - ' ' ' ' .

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vancing to Lexington, Price compelled Curtis, with the forces from Kansas, to fall back to Independence and from thence to retreat to the Big Blue and after- wards to Westport, within a mile or two of Kansas City. On the 231-d Curtis and Pleasanton gained the advantage at the Big Blue. The retreat began, across the Osage river, where Marmaduke and Cabell surrendered, and on, through the familiar ground about Carthage, to Arkansas. Curtis was in pursuit as tar as the Arkansas river, CNovember 75, below Fayetteville. He says in his interest- ing though perhaps exaggerated report: Some of our troops crossed over and exchanged a few shots, as they supposed with the last ot' l?rice's army. Our work was accomplished and the shout that went up from the Army of the Border, and the roar of our cannon resounded through the gloomy forests ofthe Arkansas, carrying to the camp ot' the enemy beyond our parting farewell .,.. . . A prisoner taken by the enemy, who had escaped or been discharged, a reverend and perfectly reliable gentleman, gave the particulars of the enemyis condition. The elm trees for miles had been stripped to furnish food for the starving multitudefi This was the last effort made to carry the war into Missouri. Considered with reference to the number of men, the distance marched, the battles fought, and the amount of property destroyed, Pricels was one of the most remarkable expeditions ofthe war. General Price had marched 1,434 miles, fought forty- three battles and skirmishes, and, according to his own calculation, destroyed upward of ten million dollars worth of property. And yet it is diiiicult to see what the Contederate authorities expected to gain by the movement. Price was not strong enough to maintain himself in the State against the overwhelming odds that could be concentrated against him, and without some such prospect his expedition was a predestined failure. 'Kirby Smit-h's orders of August 4, 1864, mentioned St. Louis as an objective. The celebrated iirst and second Missouri brigades now consolidated and, re- duced to a mere skeleton scarcely four hundred strong,fired their last gun at Fort Blakeley 011 the shores ofthe Gulf of Mexico, April 9, 1865. General Price was not in command. His active service had terminated in March. He did not long survive the war. Joining that distinguished company ot' Confederate emigres, he went to Mexico and there held oiiice for a time in the Board of Illlllllg'l'2ti7lOll. General Price died in St. Louis, September 29, 1867. ALLFRED J. MORRISON. For the facts see: 1 Missouri LAmerican Comrnonwealthsl. By Lucien Carr, Boston, 1888. 2 The Fight for Missouri. By Thomas L. Stead, New York, 1886. 3 The Mississippi Valley in the Civil War. By John Fiske, Boston, 1900. 4 Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I., Vol. XLI, Part: I. The Rev. J. W. Perkins, of Huntsville, Mo., is about to publish a life of General Price. 23

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D notice the call of their country. Though the company as a whole was never en- gaged in actual conflict some of them afterwards died on the field of battle, while others lived to render distinguished service to that country which they so ardently loved. In 17 7 7, about the first of September, there was a requisition from the Governor for one company of militia from Prince Edward county to march to Williamsburg to repel an expected invasion by the British. The students of the college, with full consent of the President, volunteered to answer this call of the Governor, one of the trustees, and marched with their tutor, J. B. Smith, as their captain. Captain Smith, with the other officers named above, led out all of the students over sixteen years of age. They marched to the capital and there remained on duty for several days. When the alarm was over they were discharged with compliments from the Governor. 4' As the vacation was about to take place they returned to their respective homes. Several of them never returned to the academy,-some entered the United States army as otiicers and others enlisted as private soldiersfi This company seems never to have been reorganized, but nevertheless the fighting spirit remained at the college. EX-captain Smith succeeded to the presidency before the manifestation of that spirit is again recorded. In 1781, after his famous retreat from North Carolina, Gen. Greene issued pressing calls for reinforcements. ' Captain William Morton, of Charlotte, in about two days, called a company of his neighbors and set out on foot for Greene's camp. President Smith felt it his duty to offer his services by way of encourage- ment to his parishioners. and joined the company in Halifax, 011 the evening of the first day's march. The Captain, his friend and an elder in his church, with much difficulty pursuaded him, exhausted in body and with blistered feet, to re- frain from the fatigues of camp and return to cheer the families of his charge with his presence and counsels. At first glance it seems strange that none of the students followed their captain on 'this occasion. But when we remember that this occurred in the winter months, in those days the vacation, it is easily understood. On a former occasion the students bore their part. A company of dragoons had been previously raised in the counties of Prince Edward, Amelia and Notto- way, and made a part of Lee's famous legion, whose deeds are romantically rec- corded in his Memoirs of the Southern War. Lieutenant Eggleston was from Amelia, and appears to have been a favoritewith Lee, he was afterwards a mem- ber of Congress tor many years. On this alarming and pressing call from Greene, a company of militia dragoons was raised in Prince Edward, under the command of Thomas Watkins. Philemon -Holcomb, Charles Scott and Samuel Venable were the other officers. Among t-he privates was the famous Peter Francisco. This company was attached to Colonel Washington's command, it is said that Captain Watkins offered himself and company to Lee, who refuse them because 25