Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 28.djvu/64

 58 Southern Historical Society Papers.

off. The men who carried the Stars and Bars, showed their alle- giance to their colors; they will show their allegiance now, when the Stars and Stripes are unfurled, and they will follow their banner where any man will dare to lead.

But let us hear no more of treason or of traitors! There are no rebel graves in yonder Silent City of Blandford, watched over by that Confederate sentinel, which the true and loving hands of our women have set up as a memorial of their undying love for the "LOST CAUSE."

HARPER'S FERRY AND FIRST MANASSAS.

Extracts from the Diary of Captain JAMES M. GARNETT, in charge

of General Reserve Ordnance Train, Army of Northern Virginia,

from January, 1863, to February, 1864; and Ordnance Officer

of Rodes's (later (irimes's Division, 3d Corps, A. N. Va.,

from February, 1864, to April 9, 1865.

RESERVE ORDNANCE TRAIN, A. N. VA.,

CAMP NEAR COBHAM STATION, V. C. R. R.,

Wednesday, September gth, 1863.



Monday, April i5th, 1861, maybe considered the commencement of this war for Virginia, for on that day appeared Lincoln's procla- mation for 75,000 men to "crush the rebellion," which hurried up our old fogy Convention, and compelled their secession on Wednes- day, April 1 7th. I was at that time at the University of Virginia, that session being my third, as I went there from the Episcopal High School of Virginia in '57, spent sessions '57~'8 and' 58- 9 at the University, taught '59-' 60 at Greenwood, Mr. Dinwiddie's boarding- school in this (Albemarle) county, and returned to the University the session of '6o-'6i.

This proclamation created quite a sensation at the University, rais- ing the military enthusiasm to the highest pitch, and especially filling our two companies, the "Southern Guard," Captain E. S. Hutter, and the " Sons of Liberty," Captain J. Tosh, with an earnest desire to lend a hand in the defence of our State.