Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 23.djvu/109

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I rancis K. N-IM>II; tlu 22tl, William M. Brown; 27th, Daniel Hlain: and on #1 June, William K. Singleton, all of whom joined it at Mar per's Ferry. On the I4th June, at Winchester, Va., John M. (ionl; on the 1 5th, Michael J. Kmmet; on ijth, Nicholas H. Lewis, and igth, Dudley S. Pendleton joined the company. On the 2ist Jmu . on the march between Winchester and Martinslmrg, C. I). Fish- burne, and on the 27th, David R. Barton and Lyt. S. Macon, after it arrived at Tamp Stevens, where, also, on the 28th June, K. Holmes Boyd joined it.

The "history" of the company, recorded on the muster-roll, which was made out as of June 30, 1861, has the following which may be of interest: " The plain grey cloth uniforms and outfit of blankets, knapsacks, cooking utensils, &c., furnished mainly by Rockbridge county, have been as well preserved as could be ex- pected. The uniform is, however, in many cases, considerably worn."

"Discipline and drill both excellent. Public property in posses- sion of the company consists of three six-pounder brass field pieces, and one twelve-pounder brass Howitzer, with equipments and ammu- nition; four wagons, prepared as caisons, with horses and harness for same (of which two teams are ' impressed ' ), one forge, in parts, and three wagons and teams for forage, ammunition, and baggage, and ten other horses. In moral and material condition the company- is exemplary."

The "plain grey cloth uniforms" were made up by the ladies of Lexington, who used to assemble for this work in the old Masonic Hall, where, no doubt, many maidens took their first lessons in con- structing men's garments.

The old fellows who read this may observe what is said about the caissons, and remember that there were bought or " impressed " at Winchester, the running parts of four farm-wagons, and on these were put some rough boxes (or caissons), made under the supervi- sion of our captain by carpenters of that town. The tops were covered with tin and the boxes were painted, but altogether, whilst they served a good purpose for carrying ammunition dry, they must have been, to the experienced eyes of army officers, a ludicrous sub- stitute for the neat, compact caissons with which "Uncle Sam" usually supplied his own artillery, and with which he afterwards, for so many years, kept our battery supplied. The height of the boxes on the hind axles was a serious objection to them. A man of ordi- nary stature could not, from the ground, get out the ammunition,