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

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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

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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

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send part of them to protect his rear on Rich mountain. Colonel Pegram's regiment, and one other with a company of light artillery, Captain Raine's battery of Lynchburg, were at once ordered there. We camped in adeep valley at Rich mountain. As soon as we had selected a camping ground, we went to work at once to fortify. Trees were cut down and piled up in our front 5 the breastworks extended up the ridge on each side of the road that ran through the centre of the camp. We remained here only two or three weeks. Nothing ot importance occurred in camp. Our pickets reported they could hear the sound of axes just over the ridge and to the left of our camp. Sappers and miners were at work to turn our position. Early in the morning our pickets were driven in. The enemy had conveyed cannon up the steep, rocky clifis and with a large force held the top of tl1e mountain. Our company were posted behind headquarters. The remainder of our small force engaged the enemy for three or four hours. After losing our cannon and many of our men, and failing to dislodge them, the remnant retired and determined to escape and join General Garnett at Laurel Hill. General McClellan had made the attack simultaneously on General Garnett at Laurel Hill and Colonel Pegram at Rich mountain and with an overwhelming force. All communication between the two camps had been cut od' for a week or more. The two camps werenot over twenty miles apart, but the country between was very mountainous and rough and the only road was in the enemy's possession. The H. S. Boys remained in their position behind headquarters, and as the fighting was on the top of the mountain they did not get a shot. After 4' firing ceased, we waited in suspense until late in the night. No dinner or supper could be cooked, as Colonel Pegram had placed them there, and they could not leave until orders came from him, and he had not been heard from. Some men who were in the fight reported that his horse had been killed and that when last seen Colonel Pegram was fighting on foot, and hatlessy with his sword, broken in the fall from his horse, he was rallying the remnant of his force. It was eleven o' clock at night and there were no tidings as yet. Captain Atkinson and his of- ficers, with one or two officers of other companies, held a counsel and determined to try to escape out of the hands of the enemy, and to join General Garnett, who by that time had been driven out of Laurel Hill and was returning toward Cheat mountain. At twelve o' clock at night, when we were ready to move out over the trackless mountains, Colonel Pegram, nearer dead than alive, without hat or sword, covered wit-h dust, came into the tent and fell down totally exhausted. When he had been refreshed, he told the sad tale of disaster and that for hours he had been in the mountains, and had almost despaired, after so many fruitless efforts, of ever finding the camp. It was decided to leave camp at once. Colonel Pegram could not travel and seemed ill. The temperature of his body was high and indicated typhoid fever. He must not surrender and we could not leave him. As he was a small man, it was decided to carry the Little Corporal, 31