The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-11


made IL necessary 20 adopt some plan by
which. in case Of real need, the struggling
members II different military organiza.
lions might be rallied 20 their several
places OF rendezvous upon given sigma
In the belfry Of the venerable and his
toxic tower, now 10 be seen on the Capitol
Square hung an old iron bell, whose dis
c0rdaHt voice had often been heard in
many IN alarm in years gone By. u was
ordered therefore, hat no matter where
the soldier might be, if away from his
company. the toll OF this bell should de.
mand his immediate return 10 duty
Tie writer well remembers where he
was on that lovely day lie had been
listening 10 the tender announcements Of
one who still lives to sdorn a pulpit in
this city. The congregation had Just
been dismissed and were quietly emery
ing from the doors Of the church. He,
however, was Fastening TO fulfil an en-
gagement 10 dine with a friend when
suddenly the dismal tones OF that old
iron bell were borne portentously upon
the air No time for dinner now. Slow
~ and solemnly the venerable tocsin re-
peated at intervals It's stern command.
What could be the matter The calm
and quiet OF that holy day soon disap-
D AIRED The widest excitement az once
peryaded the entire community. Armed
men in groups and half-uniformed strag-
glers were seen burr, ing to their com
mands Troopers and mounted coureis
were gallopipg frantically from place to
place.
were demanding to know what Oh earth
was the matter Arrived at the barracks
in the SpOiswood HO'cl, the writer found
the company 10 which he WAS attached
ready for duty. No orders had been re
ceiyed and yet, while the men stood In
anxious suspense the bell was still tOlling.
Al last the news took a tangible form. II
was announced that the Governor had
received positive Information that large
Federal steamer, the Pawnee man-Of-
war. with troops on board, had left Cos
port and was on her way up James river
TO rccapiure q barge filed with powder
taken from the Navy Yard AT that place,
and which now lay al The wharf at Rock
etls. Nothing could be more probable.
The powder had been captured from the
United States. and had been brought 10
Richmond. What more natural than
that the Government should endeavor TO
reclaim such valuable war material
Who could doubt that the enemy was
about to be upon us and that the State
forces would soon he obliged to protect
not only the captured powder, bu the city
itself? Meantime the news bad spread
over the entire city Every family lad
heard il, and every member thereof knew
H. Such an OulpOuring Of the people
had never beeu seen since Richmond was
a town.
Troops were now beginning 20 move.
The Howiizer corps, 10 when the writer
had the honor TO be attached, had peraded
one hundred and eighty men with -four
nieces the day before and were IN iine
condition They now joined TIE column
of troops on their way TO Rockets.
Main street was crowded with people ana
troons. No trace Of fear could be dc
tecied on any face In that immense
thrOng. They had long been ia sus-
pense, and, now, when il appeared they
were about to meet an enemy, they
seemed iubilant with hope That he might
come. Ia the meantime the citizens had
armed themselves
EVERY CONCEIVABLE VARIETY or WEAPON
was brought into requisition. Fire arms
Of every variety, shOt-guns, old muskeis,
that had been resting in garrels and cor
ners were pluckel from out the cObweDs
and walked up for action; heavy sabres
that had served at VALLEY Forge or al
the "Cowpens," an,iQuaiel pistols and
modern reyOlvers, swelled the list, and
even bowie knives dlrks and sword
canes were 90 be seen in the hands OF
crave dignilsrios of the law, and Of old
men who perhaps had been in camp al
AWarOnW or had endured the trials OF
the Revolution of 70, ana one citizen
was seen bearing "a syihe blade with
which he doubtless hoped 10 gather a
harvest of Yankees. The writer does
not al all exaggeraie the condition OF
things as be Witnessed II. under the eX-
element of that memorable day.
Not content with this formidable array
of assailanls, some more enthusiastic
citizens actually marched up TO the
armory on the canal At the foot OF Gam
bles Hill and dragged out some OF the
ola DltttS III h4AlilNiff Ah'' A"- 49,
resting quietly in that military retreat
ever since their capture from the British
at The seigc of York. They even went SO
far as 10 disturb the repose OF those
grim, but beautiful representatives OF
former age, whose thunders had been
heard during the wars Of the spanish
succession, in the time Of Louis the
Fourteenth. With these aniiquated
monsters they confidently expected to
crush the insoleni Pawnee
should she dare to approach
within range Of such direful
engines of war. These, however, never
reached the scene Of action, their great
weight making them TOO unmsnageable
even in the hands of 50 determined
band of patriots When the column OF
troops arrived al Rockets they iouni The
crowd at that place larger than ever
he neis hburing hills were covered with
a multitude OF women and children,