Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/1246

1168 Confederate army of 4,500. They had been under fire at times so withering that it seemed impossible any living thing could escape, from noon to sunset, and throughout there had been an almost incessant rain. As Colonel Shipp reported—"Wet, hungry, and many of them shoeless—for they had lost their shoes and socks in the deep mud through which it was necessary to march—they bore their hardships with that uncomplaining resignation which characterizes the true soldier." In the same month the cadets were ordered to the Richmond lines and en route they were disembarked at Hanover Junction and assigned position for an anticipated battle with Grant's army, but on the same day continued to the Confederate capital, where they were stationed on the intermediate lines. Upon Hunter's advance toward Lynchburg, they moved to Lexington, fell back to Lynchburg before Hunter, and after his repulse returned to Lexington, where they found the institute in ruins. The battalion was then furloughed, but in the following September the cadets were ordered to Richmond by the secretary of war. They served on the outer lines from October 1st to December 11th, and then resumed academic work at Richmond, using the almshouse as barracks. During the winter they were also in active service for a few days against the Federal cavalry, and on the first of April, 1865, they were ordered to the outer lines on the Nine Mile road. On the following night the battalion of cadets, a battalion of dismounted cavalry, and a body of convalescents, all under command of Colonel Shipp, were in the rifle-pits in advance of the outer lines, unsupported, and with no other force between the enemy and Richmond. On the following day the command was disbanded.

George W. Simons, of Norfolk, a native of Baltimore, born in 1841, was taken to Richmond by his parents while an infant and reared and educated at the Virginia capital. At the age of fifteen years he removed to Norfolk and found employment with an uncle and became a member of the Norfolk Juniors, the oldest company at that city, whose organization dated back to 1802, and whose record embraced honorable participation in the war of 1812. With this company, which became Company H of the Twelfth Virginia regiment, Mahone's brigade, he served during the Confederate occupation of Norfolk at Boush's Bluff, and at an entrenched camp near Ocean View. The company left Norfolk with more men than any other from that city, and in the subsequent active service lost more heavily than any other company. They fought at Seven Pines, Oak Grove and Malvern Hill, before Richmond, at the second battle of Manassas, Crampton's Gap and Sharpsburg, and then having suffered great losses, recruited near Winchester for the remainder of the struggle. Their next battle was Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville soon followed, where the greater part of the company was captured. Mr. Simons, with the others who remained, fought at Gettysburg. During that campaign he was detailed to collect cattle for the army, and was successful to his entire satisfaction in despoiling the enemy of beef. He was continued in special service until after the Wilderness campaign, when he again served in the ranks in the fighting about Petersburg. On June 22, 1864, his command captured more Federals than their own numbers, and were distinguished in the check given to the enemy's advance. He continued on duty at Petersburg until the evacuation, and on the retreat was captured between that city and High Bridge. He then