Virginia Military Institute - Bomb Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

Page 31 text:

Some IReminiscences of a IRew fjfcarket Cadet. [FTER the battle of New Market, the Corps of Cadets marched down the Valley and at Staunton took train for Richmond, Virginia. It was one triumphal jour- ney; at every station along the route we were met by crowds of people including many ladies and gentlemen and pretty girls, who vied with each other in shower- ing us with flowers and good things. This was par- ticularly the case at Charlottesville, Virginia. At Han- over Junction the train stopped and we were disem- barked, and drawn up in line with colors flying and band playing. Lee ' s Army was making one of its changes of front, and his ragged boys were marching along the road. Every now and then in the distance we could see the explosion of a shell in the air, which told of the proximity of the Yankees. We were informed that a fight was in prospect, and that we might be called on once more to show what a Cadet could do. The gallant Rhodes, a brilliant alumnus of the Institute, who so shortly afterwards shed his life ' s blood for his country, passed by with his staff of young and chivalrous officers. Learning of the proximity of his former comrades, he came dashing up, and made a brief, but ringing, speech of praise and congratulation to the Corps, and then passed on to engage the enemy. We were disappointed in our expectations of a scrap with the Yanks, for after a short stay, we were ordered back on our trafn and proceeded On to Richmond. When we arrived there, we were treated as heroes. There were flag presentations, speeches by old War Governor Letcher, President Davis, and others; but all this had an end, and we were once more ordered back to the V. M. I., where we soon resumed our studies (?). 15

Page 30 text:

Geology and Mineralogy, consisting of a large museum, lecture- room, two laboratories, a storeroom, private office, and a military museum. In the tower of the building it is proposed to put a large electric clock. For this clock our artist makes this suggestion : Suggestion for the New Tower Clock. The building when furnished and complete will cost twenty-five thousand dollars. Over the front door will be a memorial stone bearing the inscription, 1839 — Francis H. Smith — 1889, the fig- ures signifying Francis H. Smith ' s term of service as superintendent of the Institute. 14

Page 32 text:

But it was only a short stay, for in a brief period Hunter ' s army came along. From the top of the Barracks I witnessed the approach of this army, with its glittering bayonets and immense wagon train. We were ordered to burn the bridge, and some of us exchanged a few shots with the Yanks who were drawn up in the field across the river ; but alas, what could the handful of McCaus- land ' s men and Cadets do against such a horde of enemies? Almost nothing, and we were hurried through Lexington to the tune of exploding shells, and cries of the ladies along the country roads to Balcony Falls. The charred and blackened walls of the Institute, Mess Hall, and the professors ' dwellings, told the tale of wanton destruction which this army was guilty of. We retired to Lynchburg, where we had the pleasure of wit- nessing the defeat of that same army, and aided in an humble man- ner in saving Lynchburg from the horror of being a captured city, and in inflicting such a defeat to Hunter ' s army that it was never set in the field again. Once again we returned to the Virginia Military Institute, but what a change had a few days wrought ! We gazed with saddened hearts at the vandalism which had vented its spleen on our Alma Mater. Most of us had lost everything — clothes, books, affectionate tokens, etc. All was gone in the destroying flames which swept away instruments, apparatus, text-books, archives, pictures, aye, even the bronze statue of Washington, which adorned the arch front. We were all furloughed and told to get to our homes as best we could. I can not now recall the date of our arrival home ; but jn a short time thereafter, while we were enjoying the comforts of Home, Sweet Home, the battle of Fort Harrison was fought, and at every corner of the principal streets the provost placed sen- tinels with orders to arrest every able-bodied man, whether prop- erly furloughed or not, and send him to the front. I was ordered by General Pat T. Moore, commanding the Reserves of Richmond, to assemble all the Cadets, arm them at the arsenal, and report to him at the outer works at Osborne Turnpike. In obedience to this order, I corralled about thirty-two furloughed Cadets, to whom were added a few gentlemen from the basement offices in the State Capitol ; and after getting arms and accoutrements from the arsenal, 16