National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-07-19
A SMELL OF POWDER.
WASHINGTON AS 1T WAS on THE EVE OF
THE GREAT CONFLICT.
The First Clash Of Arms AMI the Stir II
Casscd Among tho southern-Bred Yonth OF
the District-The Excitement That Reigned
in and About the City.



PUBLICAN, there has been good deal Of
the H." but this was because tho necessi-
ties of tho case demanded IL to mako the
narrative lifolike. If lug in myself in
this article 1t is only because my case was
typical Of tho large number of youths Of
tho south who were away from homo in
schools and colleges north Of the Potomac
in tho early days Of 1861. Doubtless tho
tale, even IL poorly told, will be of interest
to hundreds In tho District of Columbia.
Tho recalling of the state Of feeling in
tho city Of Washington, and the condition
of affairs after the Inauguration of Presi-
dent Lincoln and before the first actual
clash of arms in Virginia, will be inter-
estlng, particularly to the large class Of
Washington people who, in 1861, loft
confederacy.
In 1861 the writer was o student at
Georgetown college, now, Georgetown
university. There were about $50 stu
dents all told, and fully two-thirds of
these were from tho southern states. The
state of political excitement in tho col
lege before the November elections was
on q small scale representative of the
general ferment in the country, tho
students being divided in allegiance be-
tween Douglas, Breckinridge, and Bell
and Everett. Regular stump-speech
meetings wore held on holidays, and
prominent among the speakers was OK
secretary of the navy, Nat Golf. Only
one student, and there were many
students from the extreme north, had tho
courage to openly advocate tho election
of Lincoln, and that one was James For
10 IA1x In MAJ lt.,.N a,,N
colonel in the marine corps. After the
capture Of Fort Sumter, the majority of
tho students whose parents resided in the
then seeded states were called home.
To us of the border states the situation
was very unpleasant. We neither knew
whether to go or stay.
1t will DO recollected that there was
general feeling of uneasiness in Washing
ton after President Lincoln was inaugur-
ated, and business was almost ut a stand
still. The universal inquiry implied, IL
not expressed, was-what next. Men of
substance and of family were reducing
as far as possible their worldly goods to q
handy and movable basis, and in the
case Of slsyeowners many of the slaves
were sent to Virginia to be out Of harms
way in case Of clash of arms in tho
national capital, for there were hundred
absurd rumors a6oat as to possible attacks
from the Virginia side on the capital by
the secessiouists. Hundreds of individ-
uals could DO found who were willingto
swear that thoy had seen Ben McCul-
| lough's Texas rangers lurking In the
woods just over the Long bridge; others
who would swear they had seen battery
of artillery planted on Arlington heights;
others who knew that flotilla of boats
was being secretly prepared in Alexan-
dria.
In fact, the public mind was In that
condition Of feverish expectancy and
anxiety which seems always the prelude
to great events in the history of the
world. verify believe that at this time
there were but few who thought that the
different sections of the country would
come to bloody blows. Some said "the
farmers, the bone and sinew Of the land,
the good sense of tho country, will step In
to avert fratricidal war" Others said
"the peace commission will settle it," but
underlying all this was the fear to con-
Observation-Disclosures that the blood of bott
sides to the controversy was mn. and In
| that oara,tiso -...i-s1-:~T vao uPs sv 10 vuS
result.
Well, 1t may DO assumed that the col
lege boys did not escape the contagion o.
the prevailing excitement. So fercely
did the plague rage that as far as studies
were concerned the classes were almos
utterly demoralized. Ono morning q
think about April 10. 1861 about thu
crack of day the writer was aroused from
his cot In the dormitory by Mr.. Joe King
one of the projects and an ardent seces
sionist, who said, 'If you intend to figh
for the south you must get over the rive
before sun up. I will take care of your
books and trunk. Lincoln will declar,
martial law this morning, and you will
BIO cut off from Virginia."
Hastily donning my clothes / wen
down to the room of the president
Father Early, and, on being admitted
found him on his knees before the alta
in private prayer. Abruptly excusing tn,
interruption, and explaining my object
applied for funds to take me home. TIL
good old man bowed his head on the alta
with sigh, and said: SIS it come to this
OH! | trust the better sense of tho coun
try will prevail" l got the money iron
, the treasurer, and set out face southwark
At that time there were no street cars
but Vanderwerkin's line of omnibuse
ran from the corner of High and Bridg
streets, Georgetown, to the navy yard
Ii was too early for tho buses" so
trudged along until got to Seventh stree
, "bus" for the early boat to Alexandra
Just at this corner an old fellow VIII
had belonged to Mays dragons. and ha
: been wounded in the celebrated charg
{ at Palo Alto. kept peanut shop. III
, informed me that no boats were running
and that all communication with til
south had been interdicted except upon
pass from the provost marshal. Tha
. settled it for me. struck out for tn
Long bridge as fast as could go. Whe
, ] got to the bridge saw two cannon un
. limbered to sweep tho bridge with thei
, complement of mon lounging about, an
q little ahead were two cavalry vide tie
/ had passed them fifty yards whom tn
sergeant of the guard called me back an
asked for my passport told him WI
, q mechanic, suddenly called to Alexar
! dria to sec o sick father, and was walkin
because l understood no boats were rur
ming. He permitted mo to pass, AID
/ goes, without saying, drew long broat
( of relief when my foot was planted agai
upon tho soil of my native state.
hoofed it, in western parlance, alon
tho turnpike to Alexandria, and O
, mounting the steps of the Marsha
. house, then kept by James w. jackson
. tho slayer of Col Ellsworth, the first ma
n / met was my father He asked me VIII
: / had left college. told him. "Why
a said he, lyon jackass, there is going
. bono war, and you must go back straigh
: way" l refused and sulkod as q 17-yoa
= old youngster was apt to do under IL
i circumstances. and just then NJ. ID. Bal
= who was then captain of the Fairfl
3 cavalry. stepped up and offered mo u
= position of second lieutenant in h
u. company. Mr.. Jackson Joined US abol
a this time, and / agreed to accept secor
"a lieutenanoy in his artillery company.
4 And hero | want to say word in rel
a ton to James William Jackson in q hi
= torical point Of view. His memory h
\ been loaded down with maledictions
V northern historians, and no has bee
made martyr by southern writer's.
knew tho man intimately aud speak
tho card, and no one can for momel