Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/202

 196 Southern Historical Society Papers.

the war, and on which, the year after, she alone was to lose in killed and wounded 1,749 ti^en, more than one-fourth of all her sons en- gaged, including seven colonels killed.

On the 25th May, the First Virginia struck their tents at the Fair Ground, and joined the other Virginia troops and the First and Sec- ond South Carolina, under General Bonham, at Manassas.*

General Joseph E.Johnston, having been appointed Brigadier Gen- eral on the 15th May. was assigned to the command of the troops near Harper's Ferry, and was directed by the Secretary of War, on proceeding to that point, to take Lynchburg in his route and to make arrangements for sending forward to Harper's Ferry such forces as he might deem necessary to strengthen his command. f General Johnston arrived at Harper's Ferry on the 24th May, and issued an order assuming command of the troops there, which order he inclosed in a communication to Colonel Jackson, requesting him to have it copied and distributed to the different regiments. This Jackson at first declined to do until he received instructions from Governor Letcher or General Lee, but upon being furnished with an indorse- ment on an application " Referred to General J. E. Johnston, com- manding officer at Harper's Ferry. By order of Major-General Lee," he immediately complied with General Johnston's request and published his order assuming command.;};

On the 2ist, Colonel Deas, Inspector-General Confederate States Army, reports that the forces assembled at Harper's Ferry consists of the First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Virginia regiments, the Fourth Alabama, two regiments from Mississippi, five companies of Virginia artillery, eight companies of Virginia cavalry, four com- panies of Kentucky infantry and some small detachments, amounting to seven thousand seven hundred men, of whom seven thousand were available for active service in the field, and well armed. §

I do not know what regiment is mentioned here as the "First" Virginia. It certainly was not "the old First," for that regiment was not at Harper s Ferry at this time, and there was no " First" in the Stonewall brigade, to which the other Virginia regiments here men- tioned belonged.

On the 2ist May, Colonel John B. Magruder was placed in com-


 * War History Old First Virginia, page 8.

t Records War of Rebellion, Volume 11, page 844.

J Records War of Rebellion, Volume 11, pages Syi-'yy, ? /did, page 861,