Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/200

 194 Southern Historical Society Papers.

Seminary, Richmond — viz : Randolph's (of six pieces, called the Howitzer Battery) ; Cahill's (four pieces of light artillery) and La- tham's four pieces of light artillery. Two pieces, he says, were added to Randolph's battery, he having two hundred and twenty-five drilled men in his company. * This was the organization of the famous Richmond Howitzers, which had been, as we have already men- tioned, in barracks since the middle of March; who were to fire the first gun at the enemy in Virginia, that at the steamer " Yankee" from Gloucester Point on the 7th May, and whose fortune it was soon to be, with the First North Carolina regiment, engaged in the first battle of the war, excepting Fort Sumter — the battle of Big Bethel, June loth. f

By the 4th May, troops at the rate of from five hundred to one thousand a day were arriving from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and even Kentucky ; some at Rich- mond, some at Harper's Ferry, and some at Petersburg. %

On May the 7th, Governor Letcher directed General Lee to as- sume the command of all the volunteer or other forces from Virginia, and other States which were in Virginia, until further orders were received from the President of the Confederate States. § The forces assembling in Virginia at that time were without a recognized head, and questions arose as to the orders issued by the Governor and General Lee, which, however, were settled by an order of the Secre- tary of War on the loth of May, directing General Lee to assume command of all the forces of the Confederate States, and to assign them to such duties as he might indicate until further orders. 1|

General Joseph E. Johnston was called to Montgomer)'^ about this time, the President of the Confederate States having appointed him a Brigadier-General, th( n the highest office in the Confederate army, and Colonel John B. Magruder was assigned to the command of the forces in and about Richmond. **

On the 9th May, General Lee informs Colonel Philip St. George Cocke, commanding Potomac Division, that Colonel Preston and Colonel Garland, with eleven companies under their command, have


 * Records War of Rebellion, Volume 11, page 789.

t History of Howitzer Battalion, pamphlet No. i, page 14.

X Richmond Enquirer.

§ Records War of Rebellion, Volume 11, page 813. || Ibid, page 827.


 * Records War of Rebellion, Volume 11, page 817.

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