Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-08-02

4
mahogany table and the silver table
service of the ward room, kept watch
over by au old boatswain's mate, and
sitting in solemn state at the bottom
of it, drinking coffee and eating crack"
ers. was the second lieutenant. To
him we mentioned the rumors, asked
where the boys had gone and request
ed him TO have the sailors transport
our baggage to the depot from which
the school had started. These he met
with ridlcule, denied the evacuation oil
the city and said the "middles" had
gone to Chapel Hill, N. G., which
would be the seat Of the Naval Acade-
my for the rest of the war. He added
we ought TO return to the hospital and
retire and the next day leave with him
and two other m;dshirmen, or come on
to Chapel Hill when we were well.
ABANDONING THE CAPITAL.
Acting on this we returned and on
the next morning were awakened by
the explosion of the magazines.
Dressing rapidly we proceeded to the
surgeons office and received our dis =
charge from the hospital, with "per'
mission 10 leave the city," On going
out into the street it appeared as
though the final day of doom was upon
US. Though a singularly clear and
beautiful day, the air was filed with
smoke and sparks and the darkness oil
twilight was over and about the city.
Stores were being broken open and
rifled; dead men, shot down in the at
tempt to rob, were laying at intervals
while negroes fought over barrels OF
provisions that had been rolled from
burning warehouses. Mingled with
the roar of flames came the appalling
crash of exploding magazines and the
rumble Of falling walls. Rapidly as
possible We forced our way through the
frantic masses and gained the Danvllle
railroad bridge only to fad it in flames
at different points and no evidence oil
trains on the Manchester or southern
side of it. Retracing our steps we
sought egress from the north side OF the
CITY. On crossing Main street we notlc'
ed two blocks below us, and advancing
on q trot, a regiment Of Federalcavalry.
They overlook US aud rode by without
observing US, although we were gor-
geous 10 full uniform, but without side
arms or accoutrements, save small
bayersacks in which we had slowed all
the crackers we could get. By means
Of a locomotiv obtained under compul'
s,on. and with the assistance OF two
army officers, we rode twinty-iiye miles
from Richmond, and then having no
experienced engineer and the steam
heing unhaus,ed we abandoned it on
side track and rea ;hed the Valley OF
Virginia after days Of toilsome progress
on foot.
THE CON FEDERATE TREASURY.
Going back now 10 the departure OF
the midshipmen from the warehouse
we trace the connection Of the Naval
Academy with the fleeing treasury OF
the Confederacy. For the following
accurate narrative we are indebted to
Midshipman r. H. Fleming, then a
Jealous and efficient young officer and
now a Presbyterian minister OF proml-
nence 10 this State
"We left our quarters at 4P. NJ. on
Sunday and proceeded rapidly to the
Danyille depot. Ga reaching it we were
formed in line and were addressed by
Captain Loyal, the commandant OF
midshlpmen, who told US that we had
been selected by the Secretary. because
he believed us TO be brave, honest and
discreet young officers aod gentlemen
for service OF peculiar danger aud
delicacy. That to our guardianship was
TO be committed valuable train, con-
tanning the archives Of the government
with its money We we're then marched
into the depot, where our train, in co
many with others, was receiving freight.
Guards were placed al all entrances and
sorad with fixed bayonets cleared the
building of loafers and citizens. The
train left the depot at II midnight, and
two midshipmen, with load ed reyolvers'
were placed in each car containing The
government boxes, one to sleep while
the other watched. Iu these cars also
were government clerks with several
ladies. their wives, and Their personal
baggage. The next day We reached
Danville, and on the 5lh of April Ad
mlral Semmes W it'll tie men of the
James river squadron (the iron-clad'
had been blown up on the night OF the
2dO reached that point and were as
signed to its defense. Midshipmar
Semmes was he re detailed 10 biz
fathers staff, aud MIdshipman Brecken'
ridge accompanied his father (Ihe Sec
retary of War; as his personal add
Our train stoDd on the track not lar
from the depot and our encampmen
was in a grove ear the train.
FLIGHT THROUGH THE CARoLINAs
"On the 9th Of April we left Dan
Vile and reached Greensboro N. u.
about 4 2. NJ. the 10Th. Then on Il
Charlotte, reaching there after dark on
the 18th. While here the money "a'
placed in the MINT and the midshipnel