Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/49

 Stonewall Jackson's Scabbard Speech. 43

youth are moving forward, silently, but with quick and resolute step, imagining little and recking less the danger ahead.

At that time the superintendent of the Institute, Colonel Francis H. Smith (now Major-General and venerable with years), was an invalid in his chamber recovering from an attack of pneumonia. His attention being arrested by the beating of the drum, he went to the window and saw the cadets moving down the hill, many loading their guns as they went. He did not know the cause, but was sure trouble was brewing. Hurrying as soon as possible across the parade ground and through private lots, he reached the street in time to bring the column of cadets to a halt between Governor Letcher's house and Craft's Hotel. A few moments more and the head of the column would have rounded the curve in the street and appeared in full view and range of those ready and waiting to meet its attack. Fortunate halt! It doubtless saved the corps from destruction.

Just after the column had halted, the steps of approaching men were heard on the plank-walk around the bend in the street. In- stantly every eye was turned in that direction.

" Here they come! " exclaimed the son of the lamented Bishop- General of Tennessee, and, weeping with rage, he stepped a little to the left for a quicker view, cocked his musket, and brought it to the position of aim.

"Don't fire, you fool you !" cried a cadet officer near by, who seized the gun and pushed it up.

The footsteps proved to be those of a committee of citizens from the town, who were hurrying to meet the cadets, and if possible pre- vent bloodshed. In the meantime other officers of the Institute had arrived on the ground.

The ear of the corps was quickly caught. No authority was as- serted, no threats were made, but with the voice of sympathy the superintendent showed his coolness and wisdom by saying to the cadets that although he did not know the cause of the threatened contest between them and the citizens of the town, he claimed the right to lead them in the fight, but he must insist on a prompt obe- dience to orders. " All right ! " cried the cadets, whose confidence was thus won. The spokesman of the committee then stepped for- ward and made a strong appeal to the cadets to desist from violence, assuring them of the release of their comrades, and of ample redress for all wrongs. The cadets being satisfied by this assurance, the superintendent gave the command, " Right-face ! forward, march ! " and the corps returned promptly to barracks. The rattle of mus-