Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 24.djvu/240

 232 Southern Historical Society Papers.

T. S. Barratt as superintendent, who had served the United States Government formerly at Old Point Comfort for a number of years before the war, while in the rear part of this enclosure was a large rifle-factory, containing all of the rifle- works brought from Harper's Ferry, Va., and handsome frame dwellings for various officers' quar- ters. With the exception of these last, all the other buildings were constructed of brick, trimmed with stone. Mr. Bell continued dur- ing the entire war as architect of all buildings, and was a Scotchman of national reputation.

Some 100 yards from the rifle-factory were two large brick maga- zines for storage of powder and fixed ammunition.

OLD OFFICERS.

The commanding officers of this post, previous to the war, were in order as follows: Major Laidley, United States Army; Captain Dwyer, United States Army; Captain J. A. J. Bradford, United States Army, the latter being in command at the opening of hostili- ties as United States Army officer. Captain Bradford resigned from the United States Army, and was made colonel in the Confederate service. In 1863, I think it was, he was taken desperately ill, and died, and was buried with military honors by the battalion in the rear of the arsenal building, at his particular request. I had the honor of commanding the escort. There was stationed at the post, under command of Lieutenant J. A. DeLagnel, a company of United States Artillery, who held the post up to the day, when, by order of Governor John W. Ellis, General Walter Draughon, in command of the State militia, was ordered to take possession of the arsenal. General Draughon gathered his forces, consisting of the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry Company, under command of Major Wright Huske; the Lafayette Light Infantry, under command of Captain Joseph B. Starr, and organized other companies from "Cross Creek," " Flea .Hill," "Rock Fish," and "Que Whiffle" districts, representing branches of the artillery, cavalry and infantry service, numbering in all about 500 men. General Draughon ascended the hill and halted his command just outside of the arsenal enclosure, and made a formal demand of the surrender of this property in the name of his Excellency, John W. Ellis, Governor of the State.

Lieutenant DeLagnel accompanied General Draughon where he could make an inspection of his command, when the following con- versation took place between himself and the famous old ' ' Captain Bulla": Lieutenant DeLagnel halted in front of Captain Bulla's