Virginia Military Institute - Bomb Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

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Stiiged a Mob ' s Bcngcance. N the winter of 1 860-61 the majority of the students at the Virginia MiHtary Institute were secessionists, while the people of the town were almost unanimously for the Union. One day two of the students came back to the Institute much worsted in a fight with the villagers, and the whole school resolved on vengeance. Seizing their guns, a large number of the boys started toward the town. On their way they had to pass Professor Jackson ' s house, and he came out just in time to intercept them. Jackson stepped on a horse block in front of his house, and just as the foremost of the students came abreast of him he called out in his most commanding tone : ' ' Halt ! front face ! ' ' Almost instinctively they obeyed, and after waiting for the stragglers to come up, he said, in his mildest tone: Well, young gentlemen, where are you going? One of the men explained, in a very excited way, that two of the boys had been maltreated by the villagers, and they were deter- mined on revenge. Well, said the professor, that may all be very well, but whom have you for a leader? You can ' t go on an expedition without a leader. They had not thought of that, they said. Well, suppose I lead you, said Professor Jackson. Nothing would suit them better. All right, said the professor, but before we start we must get a little better organization. To that end he marched and counter-marched them, wheeled them up and down the road, and, in short, carried them through all the evolutions necessary for his purpose, which was to cool them off. That being accom- plished, he halted them before the horse block, and, ' having lectured them, he wound up by advising them to go back to school and be good boys. And this they did, after giving three cheers for Professor Jackson.— 5a« Francisco Argonaut.