Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-08-02
Confederate Naval Cadets.
THE ACADEMY ON THE JAMEs-IM-
POkTANT STATEMENT RESPECT
ING CONFEDERATE SPECIE.

GDr. John W. Harris in Phils delphia Times.l
1t may not be known in the North
that even amid the throes OF a terrific
revolution, in which every resource OF
the South for attack and defense was
taxed to The uttermost, her government
had established and conducted through
three years Its existence regularl J
Organized and we'll perfected naval
school for the education ofits officers.
Early in 1862 a prospectus appeared In
one of the Richmond papers announc-
ing the formation of an Academy tor
| the Instruction of Midshipmen. and
soon after, by regular Congressional
appointments, the various districts oi
the Coz federacy were being filled. 1t
was modelled strictly upon the Anna-
polls system, but candidates were not
required to 60 into competitive exami-
nations, and the appointments were
chiefly given to those whose SOCIAL and
political influence was extensive. The
examinations, previous to admission,
! were of course searching aud rigid, and
no youth lacking fitness succeeded, let
his social or political status be what 1t
might. AS consequence the classes
| Of the Academy were made up OF young
| men belonging to the gentle class OF
society and many Of them nearly re-
lated to the highest military and civil
officers Of the government. The school
was placed under the command OF
| Captain William II. Parker, a lieuten-
ant of the old service and a brilliant
officer, who when occupying the rank
| Of passed nidshlpman had published a
ire atise on practical Seamanshlp,"
used as textbook at Annapolis and
subsequently, BY the Confederate school.
Assistant instructors in the various
departments were also detailed, some
| Of them eleres of Annapolis and other
| men of high scholarship selected from
| tie army. The steamer yorktown"
Which few months before had partl-
| dputed 10 the conflict oil the Merrlmac
| dnd Monitor as tender 10 the former
| Aip, was up, given the name oil
| 4Patrick Henry" and anchored of the
hore batteries at Drury's Bluff, where
|! de school was quartered in cottages
| }uilt for the purpose. Here she re-
hained for short time and was then
| lowed up the river to within two miles
| bf Richmond, where she lay for nearly
| year, with the entire Academy on
board, and finally, about eight months
Ibrevious TO the surrender, was moved
Ihp to the city and lay at Rockets
I|where she perlshed tragically in the
llaames of the Sd of April, 1865.
\ APPROACHING THE END.
/ During March, 1865, the health OF
1.-THE crew became impaired by the foul
I ness of bilge water. and the midship-
men were removed from the ship and
| ouartered ir a large tobacco factory on
| the corner OF Twenty y-iourth and Frank
lin streets, the writer. in company With
twelve or fifteen others, having been
4 sent to the Naval Hospital In the city
some two weeks previous. On Sun"
H day, the ID of April, there we're anx-
n ious looks upon the faces OF the
y medical officers Of the hospital, and 4
II O'Clock ln the afternoon, midshipman
II cemiug 10 the ward TO SET sick COM
rade, met the jeers and amused ex-
presslons Of many of US because he was
armed and equipped as an infantry
soldier, with cartridge box and bayo-
net on his belt, instead Of the dainty
d ess-sword OF the Confederate
"nisdy.n His father was an army
officer, high in command, and he was
ip.eeted with such sallies as 'Say, Ed,
when did you change service ~
"Daddy has promoted him TO an army
} staff position" "High private in The
rear rank" "How will you fix you
Irelatiye rank?" "Horse marine," ETC.
etc. The quizzing of a gang OF ill-'ed
: midshipmen was silenced, however, wheI
the visitor informed us that at 2 o'clo;l
the day before orders had been Issue
for the corps to be armed as Infantry
and that they had been marched to the
naval store-house in jouble.qulck time
and supplied with all the acc outremen'S
with which we found him. Osher ru
mors came in that members Of the Sc
. uior class and some passed midship
men had been seen as officers in inlan-
try marching through the streets auC
: that a naval brigade had been formed
3 and the iron-clad squadron at Drury'a
Bluff had been abandoned.
AN EVENING OF UNc ERTAINTY.
o There began hustle in and abou
4 tie wards, and at sundown the state
ment was freely banded around tha
TIE President and Cabinet had left The
city, and that 1t was To be evacuated al
4 once. At 8 o'clock the writer an'
3 two comrades, all enfeebled By week