University of Alabama - Corolla Yearbook (Tuscaloosa, AL)

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amfdgq. The Burning of the University an excerpt from the 1906 Corolla It was in April of 1865. The great Civil War that had swept over our fair Southland had almost spent its course. My grandfather was President of the University at the time and was living in the same presi- dent's house that stands to-day. For some days the town had been excited, for it was known that the Yankees were march- ing in its direction. On the third of April news came that CroXton's Brigade was quite near, and a guard of citizens was stationed to guard the bridge, which was in the same place as the present one. Assistance was asked from the cadets and my grandfather said that he himself with the cadets, would take charge the next night. Alas! the next night was too late. That very night, about twelve oiclock, the family was awakened by a loud knocking at the front door. Going down, grandfather was met with, The Yankees are crossing the bridge! Hurrying over to the University, he gave the command to sound the long roll, which soon floated out on the night air. In a minute the whole corps of cadets was drawn up ready for action. Under the command of Captain Murfee, they were marched at a double-quick in the direction of town. On reaching the girl's college, they could see flashes and hear the shots of the battle then going on between the two skirmish lines about the brow of the hill. The battalion was then moved as fast as it could run into a position in the rear of the skirmish line. Captain Murfee gave the command to his platoon to lie down and cautioned them to fire at the flashes of the enemy's guns. Though the enemy were veterans, armed with Spencer magazine carbines, while the cadets had never been under fire before and were armed with muzzle-loading Spring- field rifles, the enemy soon fell back across the bridge, having suffered some loss, while the cadets had but three wounded. Grandfather, fully realizing that if he permitted that handful of boys, few of them of age, to be butchered by the Yankee brigade, he would be execrated by every mother in the State of Alabama, ordered the cadets to retreat, much to the disgust and chagrin of those fiery rebel youths. On reaching the Univer- sity they were told to get together only what could be carried in their knapsacks. Again they were mustered and marched down the Huntsville road. It was farewell forever to the dear old University! .In the meantime, grandfather had returned home and prepared the family for flight. Grandmother wished to stay, thinking by so doing she could save the house but he was firm and said that he would rather have the roof burned from over his head than that his wife and daughters ,should meet with any in- sult from Yankee soldiers. 16

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Cory, the faithful old driver, hitched up the carriage, all piled in, and he drove them away into the woods in the direction of what is now the new cemetery. The woods soon became so thick that further flight was impossible. They waited, not knowing what else to do. Day was dawning, a beautiful, balmy spring day. Suddenly, in the direction of town, the whole heavens became illumined-a mass of brilliant fire. The Yankees had entered the town and had set fire to the public buildings. Still not a sound was heard, and their hearts jumped with every crackle of the twigs around them. Soon there was a movement in the underbrush, and a man approached, whom they recognized to be a neighbor, also seeking safety in flight. He urged them not to remain in that unsafe place, but to find protection at the nearest house. Cory was told to lead the horses farther into the woods and they began their tramp on foot. Hungry, exhausted, wet up to the knees with the early spring dew, they reached the hospital about seven olclock. Mrs. Bryce gave them a hot breakfast and some dry clothes. In the midst of this good cheer, a noise was heard in the.direction of the University and running to the windows they beheld eight buildings in full blaze. The Yankees had reached the University, and the pride of Alabama was falling in ruins! It seemed that the Yankees had waited until day-light to make the attack, for they knew of the military training, had heard of the impetuosity of the boys, and then the negroes had told them that uthem boys sho' do shoot in ev'ry direction! But make the attack they were sure to do, for it was said, and the statement has since been corroborated, that the officers were commanded to burn every public building in the South and Particularly the University of Alabama. Soon word was brought that the presidentls house was on fire and grandmother said: I mast go. She did go, and it was through her heroic efforts that the fire was put out and the house saved. She was not the only woman who showed fortitude in that hour of need: By constantly supplying wet blankets, Mrs. Richardson saved her house, which stood on the site of Garland Hall, but which was afterwards destroyed, and Mrs. Chapman, the wife of ex-govemor Chapman, successfully pleaded with the soldiers to spare the observatory, though they did break the very valuable telescope lens. Many years have passed since that eventful morning, the fourth of April, 1865. New buildings have been built and our beloved Alabama is again the pride of the State. The little Round Tower is the only building left within the campus enclosure to perpetuate the memory of the good old daysf' But scattered here and there a mound bears witness to that glorious past and endears ten-fold Alabama's,' history, for a land without ruins is a land without memoryf' 17