Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-06-23

from one of our most esteemed contributors.
To the people of Richmond especially, this
account of the heroic life and services of
Major James Thomson must appeal with spe-
cial force.-ED.
It is with surprise and regret that we often
hear persons, and especially our noble South
ern women, who bore with such heroic forti-
tude their part in our late and la1nented Con-
federate struggle, saying: "Don't talk about
the war; never want to hear the subject
mentioned again" And they seem to turn
pale, and even shudder, when we speak of
the awful past, and of the brave deeds Of
those who fell, sacrificing their lives to a
seemingly ungrateful country. We contend
that all such persons make great mistake
nay, more, that they commit grevous wrong
against our immortal dead; that it is our
bounden duty to recall to mind every day and
hour what they have done. Their memory
demands that their heroic acts, their patient
endurance, their daring courage, and their
devotion to their country's cause, should ever
be kept fresh and green in the hearts Of their
postcrity. And whose duty is it to do this
but their surviving comrades? And it is
this spirit which now prompts your CORES
pondent to present to your readers a brief
account of the life and hcroism of Major
James w. Thomson, of the Stuart Horse Ar
tilery-an officer universally known aud ad-
mired by the whole Army Of Northern Vir-
ginia, and a son of John 4. Thomson, Esq,
of Jefferson county, Virginia. gentleman
who has filled several prominent public offices.
At the age of seventeen, Thomson entered
the Virginia Military Institute, a cadet,
taking a respectable stand in his class. and
l.
fellow students by his open. frank, manly
bearing. Few knew "Jemmy," as we all
called him, better than I did. We attended
the same school sat on the same bench
played pranks on our Yankee teacher fought
each other; hunted together; rode races
and, in Short were ever the best of friends,
and | can truly say, more warm-hearted,
generous man never lived. The first instance
of his bravery occurred in Lexington, Vir-
ginia, in the spring of 1861, when the ani>
mostly between "Union men" and "seoes-
sionists" had reached its climax.
Soon after the John Brown raid. military
companies were generally organized in Vir-
gnia, and amongst the first was the Rock
bridge Rifles, composed mainly Of mechanics
and clerks living in the town of Lexington,
who were to a man violently opposed to scccs-
sion. Being quite we'll drilled, handsomely
uniformed and armed with the best Enfield,
rifles, jealousy naturally sprang up between
this company and the Cadets, and the wide
difference in political opinions-for the Cadets
were all ccssOnist8-tendcd in no way to
lessen their anmosity. One Saturday, in the
latter part Of April, 'G1, it was determined
by the members of the Rifles that they would
erect "UniOn f1ag," and accordingly an
enormous pine tree was brought to the court
house square, and all the Union" men in
the county invited to attend. At the appoint
ed hour the streets were filed with men
whiskey flowed freely, as is generally the case
on such occasions, and many of the mcchan-
les became quite drunk. Vehement Union
speeches were made, and the pole was slowly
raised, much to the disgust of the secessionists
and especially of the Cadets, standing on the
street corners, for it was a holiday, among
whom were Thomson and his friend Lee. a
brother of Mai. Gen Fitz Lee. When the
pole had been raised about half way, one of
the ropes suddenly broke, and down it fell
with a tremendous crash, broken in three
pieces. A triumphant shout went up from
the Cadets, secessionists and college students,
followed by Kisses and groans on the part of
the mechanics. As the pole fell, Lee exclaim-
ed 40, am so glad v' a mechanic who
had taken a prominent part in the affair, and
who was quite drunk, powerful man. twice
Lees size, stepped up, cursed him, and jerk
ing out long knife, made pass at him
Thomson seized his arm before he could make
another stroke. and drawing revolver, put
it to his head, and turning to Lee said
"Must 1 fire." The mechanic struggled
violently and tried to stab Thomson a crowd
gathered round, and many shouted to him to
fire. He did so, but fortunately, Lee knocked
up his arm and the ball passed harmlessly
over the mechanics head. At this instant,
Sergeant Edmonston afterwards the distin-
guished Col. Edmonston, Of the 9th Virginia
infantry and commandant for some time, of
the Stoncwall Brigade stepped up, by order
of the major, violent Union man, and ar
rested Thomson and Lee, to take them to Jail.
Fifty Cadet voices Immediately shouted:
'.They shan't go they were only defending
themselves; and if they are taken to Jail, it
must be over our bodies" The major called
out the Rife company to carry out his orders,
and while they were getting their arms, Thom-
son and Lee were carried off by their friends
While this was going on in front of the court
house, at the lower end of town, large me-
chanic, member of the Rifles insulted and
beat most numerically a small Cadet, mere
boy, cutting his face and causing it to bleed
profuscly. Upon seeing this, the Cadets set
off at full speed for the institute, and in
moment their drum beat the long roll while
that of the Rifles beat defiant reply. One
hundred and sixty cadets promptly turned
out with loaded ni,tsiscts, while others dragged
into position two six pound field pieces, loaded
and aimed them at the mechanics, forming
ranks in front of the court house about three
quarters of a mile off.
At this juncturc Major Gillian afterwards
the Colonel of the Twenty 6SSt Virginia in
fantrv,) the commandant of eaaets and other
professors came running up, and in vain or
lcrcd the Cadets back to barracks but see
ing them determined to fight, he called out ::
'' For Gods sake, if you are going to fight,
fight in ranks" Sub-professor McCausland
!, 4. q s.;,,al. E;.,a.!. E,,..;I AL..Ea-sla.l