Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/198

 192 Southern Historical Society Papers.

This was the account of the arrival of the First South CaroHna Vol- unteers under Colonel Gregg^, accompanied by General Bonham and his staff. Three days after, the Second South CaroHna Volunteers, under Colonel J. B. Kershaw, arrived, and South Carolina had fur- nished the first organized brigade in Virginia. A brigade which, with some changes, became the First Brigade of the Army of the Potomac, and continued under Bonham, Kershaw, Conner, and Kennedy, a brigade throughout the war.

A correspondent of the Charleston Merciiry, who accompanied the first South Carolina Volunteers, writing on the 26th April, thus describes the appearance of Richmond on the arrival of this regi- ment :

"We reached Richmond on an auspicious day. The ordinance by which Virginia became a member of the Southern Confederacy had been adopted by the Convention in secret session and just made public. The people were wild with delight at the wished for consummation. The city was liter- ally covered with flags — either the triple-barred symbol of the Confederate States or the State ensign. As I passed through the streets it seemed as if the whole male population were under arms. The roll of the drum was heard from every corner. Drill squads were marching and counter- march- ing: in every direction. The sidewalks were filled with the fair daughters of Richmond, who, from the beginning, have been foremost in this great move- ment, and who had come out to cheer with their approving smiles, husbands, brothers, and lovers in the ranks. * * + All business appears to be sus- pended, e.xcept the sale of arms, military clothes, and equipments. The hotels are crowded to their utmost capacity, and the corridors glitter with arms, epaulettes, and gold lace. The formation of military bodies pro- gresses with vigor altogether unprecedented. Most of the old companies have doubled and trebled their numbers, and are being formed into bat- talions."

Volunteer companies from all parts of the State were quartered in Richmond, and a camp of instruction was formed at the Fair Grounds, under the command of Colonel Gilham, who had with him the Lex- ington cadets, under Major Colston, to assist in drilling the raw troops. The South Carolina brigade, under General Bonham, was encamped near the reservoir. There were volunteers from Georgia also, arriving as early as the 26th April, but I have not been able to ascertain, though I have made considerable enquiry, more particu- larly in regard to them except that two of the companies were from Macon, the Macon Volunteers and Floyd Rifles.

On the 26th, Major-General Joseph E. Johnston, of the Virginia volunteers, was assigned to the command of all the State forces in