The Narrative of a Blockade-Runner | Page 3

disbursing agent; and when these States
withdrew from the Union, their citizens belonging to the two branches
of the public service did not, and do not, consider themselves amenable
to this charge for abandoning their official positions to cast their lot
with their kindred and friends. But yielding as they did to necessity, it
was nevertheless a painful act to separate themselves from companions
with whom they had been long and intimately associated, and from the
flag under which they had been proud to serve.
During the brief interval which elapsed between the act of secession
and the admission of the State into the Confederacy, the Virginia Army
and Navy were organized; and all of the naval officers who had
tendered their services received commissions in the Virginia, and
afterward in the Confederate Navy; but as there were very few vessels
in commission, the greater portion of these officers were ordered to
shore batteries. My first experience was at Fort Powhatan, an earthwork
situated on James River a short distance below City Point, and carrying
six or eight guns mounted on ships' carriages, which had been
transported from the Norfolk Navy-yard. "Grim visaged war" had not
shown his "wrinkled front" in those fair portions of the land; and our
time was chiefly spent in drilling the volunteers at the big guns, and
visiting the hospitable families in the neighborhood; but all of us were
soon to be transferred to more active scenes. The young
gentlemen-privates of the gallant volunteer company, who so daintily

handled the side and train-tackles of the 42-pounders in the battery,
considered themselves fortunate, not long afterwards, if they obtained
full rations of lean beef, or "Nassau" pork, and "hard tack;" and bore
the brunt of many a severely contested battle as part of Stonewall
Jackson's "foot cavalry." But at this period there were only a few so
called croakers who at all realized the magnitude of the struggle about
to ensue. The camps resounded with song and merriment; and many of
the young warriors were attended, like the knights-errant of old, by a
faithful squire, who polished the boots, cleaned the musket, and
performed other menial service for his "young master." My own "fidus
Achates," was old "Uncle Billy," whose occupation was gone by the
stoppage of a tobacco factory in Richmond, where he had been used to
take a prominent part in the peculiar songs of the "profession." He
would sometimes give us a specimen of his vocal powers, and would
nearly bring the house down, literally and metaphorically, while
executing the mysteries of a "Virginny breakdown" in thick soled
brogans sixteen inches long.
But to return from this digression, it was believed by many persons that
a large party at the North would oppose the prosecution of a war of
invasion. It will be remembered by those at all conversant with the
history of events at that time, how strong had been the party opposed to
secession in the Convention then in session at Richmond, (at least
two-thirds of its members having been elected as Union men,) and what
strenuous efforts towards peace and compromise had been made by the
Border States Commissioners. The call upon Virginia, by President
Lincoln, for her quota of troops to aid in subjugating the South, had
settled the question, however, in the Convention; and in a few hours
after Governor Letcher's reply to that call, Virginia had virtually cast
her lot with the Gulf States, although two weeks elapsed before she
became a member of the Confederacy. I had visited, some months
previous to the secession of the State, many of the little villages in New
England, where I saw that the population were in terrible earnest.
"Wide awake," and other secret societies were organized; and
inflammatory harangues aroused the populace. The favorite theme of
the orators was the "martyrdom" of John Brown; the piratical and
murderous raid of that fanatic into the State of Virginia being exalted

into a praiseworthy act of heroism. When I returned to Virginia and
contrasted the apparent apathy and want of preparation there with the
state of affairs at the North, I trembled for the result. But when the
State severed her relations with the Union, the Governor acted with
great vigor and ability, and the most was made of the limited resources
at his command. Volunteers responded with alacrity to the call to
defend the State from invasion; and none responded more readily, or
served more bravely, than those who had opposed secession in the
Convention. It seems invidious to cite particular examples; but the
"noblest Trojan of them all" will point a moral, and serve as an
exemplar for generations to come. Wise in council, eloquent in debate,
bravest and coolest among the brave in battle, and faithful to his
convictions in