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

Page 31 text:

Orders came at last for the company to report to '4 Camp Lee, Richmond, Va. This was a camp of instruction, one and one half miles from the western limits of the city. The joy was unbounded at the news. A meeting was held in the college chapel. Speeches were made by Dr. R. L. Dabney, Dr. Smith, Dr. Atkinson, and others. Many tears were shed that night i11 the homes on the Hill, many plighted vows to be consummated when this cruel war was over. The young soldiers in their new uniforms seemed conscious of the great re- sponsibility thrust so suddenly upon them, and each girl believed her lover a born hero. ' Valubies, watches, photographs, rings, that were brought from far- away homes in some instances, were now committed to the care of the fair ones, more than one boy telling his 4' best girl, 4' This watch was the gift ofa deceased father, and is sacred to his memory, this ring a precious heirloom in our family, and at my death descends to an only sister. To no one else on earth but you would I commit it, in case of my death send it to Mn-sl. U One girl boasted after the fond farewells were over and the boys gone, that she had a box full of watches, rings, etc. The company marched to Farmville, and awaited at the station the coming of the train. Prince Edward had gathered there her beauty and her chivalry. ' The Farmville Guards and Prince Edward Troop had already reported. Trains were passing loaded with troops from Virginia and other parts of the South, bands played Dixie, the H Marseillaisej' and other inspiring strains. While we waited the boys were busy leaving souvenirs, tokens, etc., and the girls were scratching names on canteens, tin cups and pewter spoons. As we heard the whistle of our train, the girls en masse gathered around Captain Atkinson and were showering kisses on him. A lieutenant looked on a while until his H best- girl approached, when he offered to relieve Captain Atkinson of this part of his arduous duties. H I can stand the tiring yet, lieutenant, if it becomes too heavy, I'll call for you. In a short time 'we boarded the train for Richmond. The Eleventh Virginia Regiment C Colonel Garlandj were aboard, and as we had many friends in the Home Guards from Lynchburg we had an enjoyable trip. We arrived in good shape, were quartered for a few days in a warehouse, and then went to Camp Lee. Here we were inducted into the mysteries of camp life rather rudely. Our tents were good, but the preparations for feeding horses, cooking, etc., sadly lacking. The corps of cadets from the Virginia Military Institute had arrived here under command ot' Major T. J. Jackson CStonewallQ and they were our instructors in military tactics. Our time was taken up in posting guard, policing camp, cooking, 4' dress parade, and regular drill. The company was attached to the Twentieth Virginia Regiment, Colonel John Pegram, of Richmond. The regiment was composed of Captain Bailey's company, Richmond, the 'f Hardy Blues, Hardy County, Va.g a Charlotte company, Captain Wzitkiiisg Captain 29

Page 30 text:

students like a fire in the night. Letters were written home and permission of parents secured to join the company here, which was readily granted when it was understood that Dr. Atkinson would command the company. J no. W. Jackson, of Fluvanna county, and Robt. G. Temple, of Chesterfield, Va., were the only students who were at all familiar with military tactics. These formed the students into a company and commenced drilling. The ranks were rapidly filled, being augmented hy students from Union Theological Seminary and recruits from the county of Prince Edward. The drill was the most popular and interesting of the college exercises. Hardee and other books on tactics now occupied the attention of the students. The company became very popular, and was soon the Hpetw of the Hill. The ladies became enthusiastic recruiting agents, and every fel1ow's sweetheart saw to it that his name was enrolled. We were invited to drill in the yards of the homes on the Hill, and the girls would gather to applaud, and furnish refreshments. The requisite number having been obtained, the company was duly organized and oiiicers elected: Rev. J. M. P. Atkinson, President of the College, captain, Jno. W. Jackson, first lieutenant, Robt. G. Temple, second lieutenant, Tazewell' M. McCorkle, third lieutenant, W. W. Page, orderly sergeant. The name chosen was H. S. Boysgv the uniform, jackets of Confederate gray with gray pants, and caps with straight brims and the letters H. S. BJ, in gilt on the band. The company was mustered into service early in May, 1861. Lieu- tenant McCorkle was sent to Richmond to provide arms. The rifle supplied us by the State was, as I remember, the rifle used by the cadets of the V. M. I. Dr. Atkinson had turned his attention from philosophy, and now became an ardent student of 'f tactics. No company ever had a braver or truer leader. He possessed the highest qualincations of a soldier but lacked the thorough military training. The delay in ordering the company to it the front began to make the boys restive, and frequent murmurs were heard, To prevent this the squad drill was varied to ftdouble-quick to Worsham and back, while every day the steady tramp of earnest, serious-minded young men--the very flower of our civilization-might be heard along H Via Sacral' ' The sweet moral atmosphere that had always pervaded the homes and hovered over the altars, and was an inspiration to all who entered the clmsic halls of Union or H Hampden-Sidney, seemed now charged with electricity of war. Grave Seminarians were leaving the reading of Turretin, Natural and Revealed Theology, and were ready to use the leaves of hymn books for U wadding if need be, to force bullets to the hearts of the enemy. It is amusing what limited knowledge of war and what it meant we possessed. The blacksmiths were called into requisition, and orders given for long knives 12x2 inches, very sharp, and each private furnished with one, with which he expected to carve the enemy. 28

Page 32 text:

Dance's company, Ha11ove1', Va., a company from Fluvanna, one from Bucking- ham, and the H. S. Boys, and others whose naniesand numbers I forget. Orders came to join the command of General Garnett at Laurel Hill in Pen- -dleton county. Nothing of importance occurred on the march of over one hundred miles. We were all charmed with our gallant little Colonel On this long march we began to get a taste of the hardships ofa soldier's lite. Each night the camps were named,-soinetiuies for the girls we let't behind. VVIICII orders for the day were read by the orderly sergeant next morning, each heart recalled a different name, and all sang H Annie Laurie. At the loot ol Cheat mountain, on the Greenbrier river, we rested tbr the night at a farm house owned by a Mr. Heva-ner. It was an ideal place for rest and refreshment: a stream of clear water, a beautiful grove of sugar maples, large barns, and out- houses, and an abundance of good things t'or man and beast. He fed the regi- ment. Otwn in the days around Richmond, at the 4' Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor-when these men had scattered and joined other com. mands-as we sat around the camp fires did our thoughts go back and conversa- tion turn to this camp on Greenbrier river. After climbing Cheat mountain, which was about seven miles as the road was graded, we passed the little village of McDowell on the other side. The next day we passed Beverly, and the next went into Camp at Laurel Hill and reported to General Garnett. His command was small-only a few thousand raw recruits. A few miles away, beyond the mountain ridges that enclosed Laurel Hill, on both sides of Tygart river the commands of General George B. McClellan, Rosecrans, and McCook were encamped. Here we had camp lite in earnest- guard mounting, picket duty, dress parade,'i and the usual routine ofa soldier's duties in the field. The officers occupied one tent a11d messed together. 'We became familiar with all the varied duties and became acquainted with the rfield officers. We all were ardent admirers of General Garnett, he was every inch a soldier, while the high moral tone of his character captured every heart. Whiskey had been flanked into camp against his express orders. He gave -orders to all his pickets to search every country wagon and every stranger enter- ing ramp, and allow no whiskey to enter. The writer was present with Lieuten- :ant Jackson in charge of the guard on a mountain road, when a wagon came up and was halted. The driver protested at being searched, said. he was delivering some oats, potatoes, etc., that had been ordered by officers in the camp. The wagon was loaded with sheaf oats and vegetables, underneath which we found a barrel of mountain dew whiskey. It was rolled out, and a courier sent to General Garnett tor instructions. His reply was, Spill it. We knocked out the bung and the clear liquid was drunk by the earth. As there was a road through the mountain gap, in the rear of General Garnett's camp, that crossed Rich mountain and afforded an entrance to Beverly and thence to Cheat mountain, he was forced to divide his small command and 30