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

Page 28 text:

they were not Utne enough clressedf This company signalized itself in the battle of Guilford, in that famous charge made on the Queen's Guards. Lieutenant Holcomb uscd to relate the circumstances of that terrible charge upon the Queen's Guards, in which this troop bore a part. Leaping a ravine, the swords ot' the horsemen were upon the heads of the enemy, who were rejoicing in victory and safety, and before they suspected danger multitudes lay dead ..... When this company was formed tl1e students, already lessened i11 number by the calamities of war, pressed forward to the ranks. Peter Johnston, about six- teen years of age, son of the donor of the land on which the college stands, offered himself, and was rejected as under age and under size. He nevertheless procured a horse and oiiered himself to Lee, and was with some hesitation received. He served during that momentous campaign with great honor, tak- ing part in several actions, besides the decisive one of Guilford Court-House. He was in after life ajudge of eminence in his native state, and has left a pos- terity to rejoice in his patriotism. Some of that posterity were indeed H chips off tl1e old block.l' His son, General Joseph E. Johnston, needs no recommend- ation from my pen, his nephew, General Albert Sidney Johnston, killed alt Shiloh, is almost as well known, another so11 was United States Senator J. M. Johnston, father of Dr. George Ben Johnston, the eminent surgeon of Richmond, Va. Lieutenant Holcomb was at one time steward of the college, while Samuel Venable, as stated above, was ensign of the original student company. lt is also reported that when news of the depredations of the British forces on the Chesapeake reached Prince Edward, a short time previous to the arrival of Greene, he QPresident Smithj prepared for a campaign. The nature and results of these preparations are alike unknown. It is not known whether the students were enlisted. However, as this was a short time before the arrival of Greene, it is quite probable that his plans gave way before the pressing call from that general. '4 When Cornwallis invaded Virginia the services of the college were for a time suspended l' in order that the students might join with U all able to bear arms in Prince Edward and the surrounding counties in repelling the invader. Nothing is know of the conduct of the Hampden-Sidney boys in this final cam- paign, as they were absorbed into the body of the Virginia militia. After the capture of the invading army at York the boys resumed their studies, and very nearly allowed their patriotic efforts to be entirely forgotten. 26

Page 27 text:

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

Page 29 text:

Flhr uihamphrn-Sihneg Bugs 1861-1865 N THE stirring times of '61-'65 old Hampden-Sidney had en- , rolled in its student body a fine type of men. They came from was homes of Christian education, refinement and culture. The insti- G9 tution of slavery had developed in the South the highest strain of 5.5 manhood and womanhood-statesinen, soldiers, preachers, lawyers, historians, doctors, and private citizens, the peers of any country we on earth during the same length of time. Q The great question of the right of a state to seeede from the Union was discussed freely on the campus and was the theme of many a fiery debate in the Union and Philanthropic Societies. In fact, it was aroused in 1859, U when the first. angry drops of the deluge of blood which was approaching felll upon the soil of Virginia -the John Brown raid at Harper's Ferry. On April 14, 1861, came Lincoln's proclamation without the authority of a shadow of law from Congress, declaring war against South Carolina and the Confederate government, and calling upon the states for 75,000 soldiers to invadethem. The discussions in the societies were conducted and ably defended by earnest advocates of both sides, union and secession. Many chivalrous young men hesi- tated as long as Virginia hesitated. It was urged, We must not take the initia- tive, strike the first blow to destroy the Union. On the other side it was urged, as Alex. H. Stephens has brought out so forcibly C War Between the States J, The laws of nations have always decided that the guilty party was not always the one who struck the first blow, but the party who made the ,first blow necessary to be struck. John Brown had spit in the face of the South, and it was necessary to defend the homes and honor of the State. All the governors of the Southern States, except Maryland, refused compliance to the proclamation. In Virginia, all remains of hesitation were instantly ex- tinguished. The convention which was in session in Richmond, Va., on the 17th of April, 18611, passed' an ordinance resuming the separate independence of the State, and the Governor immediately began to prepare for war. About this time Rev. J. M. P. Atkinson, President of Hampden-Sidney College, was heard to say, Ulf the general government should persist in the measures now threatened, there must be war. In that case the students should enlist in a body, and, if they wish it, I will lead them. This aroused the 27