Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 12.djvu/107

Rh the ironclads in the river, and in the trenches at Drewry's Bluff. In the fall of that year they were again assembled at the school, and exercises went on pretty regularly during the winter.

When Richmond was evacuated, April 2, 1865, the corps of midshipmen, numbering at the time some 60, armed with rifles and well-drilled as infantry, was selected by the authorities to take charge of the Confederate treasure. Suffice it to say, the duty was faithfully performed. After traversing the State of South Carolina and reaching Augusta, Ga., the corps retraced its steps to Abbeville, S. C., and on the 2d of May, 1865, delivered the treasure intact to President Davis and his cabinet at that place. It was the last act of the Confederate States navy, and was marked by unparalleled devotion to duty. It is recorded in another work by Capt. William H. Parker, who commanded the corps: "Here I must pay a tribute to the midshipmen who stood by me for so many anxious days. Their training and discipline showed itself conspicuously during that time. The best sentinels in the world; cool and decided in their replies; prompt in action, and brave in danger—their conduct always merited my approbation and excited my admiration. During the march across South Carolina, footsore and ragged, as they had become by that time, no murmur escaped them, and they never faltered. On the 2d of May they were disbanded at Abbeville, S. C., far from their homes. They were staunch to the last, and verified the adage that 'blood will tell.' Their officers [Captain Rochelle, Lieutenants Peek, Armistead, McGuire, Graves, Armstrong, Huck and Sauxey] I cannot say too much for. From the time we left Richmond until we disbanded, they set the example to the corps to obey orders, with the watchword, 'Guard the treasure.' I am sure that Mr. Davis, and Mr. Mallory, if he were alive, would testify to the fact that when they saw the corps in Abbeville, wayworn and weary after its long march, it