Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 30.djvu/148

 140 Southern Historical Society Papers.

section was given up to the enemy. This created intense feeling over the State, in which the college students participated.

On the next day, November 8th, the company, by a unanimous vote, offered their services to Governor Pickens for coast defence. The faculty of the college, however, violently opposed this move- ment, and used every argument in their power in order to influence Governor Pickens not to accept the company. On the afternoon of the same day the company left Columbia for Charleston on their way to Port Royal to report to General Dray ton, who was then in com- mand of the forces at that place. Upon reaching Charleston, how- ever, the company was detained there by the Governor, with a flattering statement that they were retained as his body guard. The company was then temporarily stationed on the Washington race course, and attached to one of the Charleston regiments then in camp and under the command of Colonel Peter C. Gaillard.

Dr. LaBorde, in his History of the South Carolina College, on page 459, gives this account of the incident:

"November 8. A committee of the students presented a com- munication to the faculty from the Governor of the State, expressing his willingness to allow the College Cadets to report to General Drayton for military duty, provided they bear the permission of any of the faculty.

" The faculty unanimously resolved that they had no authority to- disband the college. There was a general meeting of the students, and they resolved to leave for the scene of war. The president waited on the Governor and made the most strenuous efforts to pre- vent it. But it was in vain."

The Federal forces, however, did not press their victory as vig- orously as was expected, and so military operations on the coast of the State were rather inactive for several months. During this time the College cadets remained in camp in the ordinary routine of daily drill and camp life, but all were preparing for the more active duties of the field, which they felt in view. The professors, however, in the meantime, anxious to preserve the life of the College, spared no efforts to insure their return upon the opening of the Col- lege in January. The quiet which ensued the fall of Port Royal afforded the Governor a good pretext, and so on the roth day of December the company was mustered out of service and the students ordered to prepare themselves to return to College on the ist of January. The students, however, felt that the time had come when