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

brighter day bad never dawned upon
the city of Richmond Than was Sunday,
the 2ls, Of April, 1861. Under The gentle
Influences of ycrnal warmth, the foliage
had begun TO bud and spring flowers
wore fOre'elling the approach of summer.
This was the first Sunday the people o.
Virginia were 10 spend outside the United
States without even leaving their homes.
The week they were now entering was to
become perhaps the most exciting they
had ever experienced from any cause, the
reason for which being that on TIE pre-
vious Wednesday they had taken the
liberty, through their proper representa-
tives. Of seyering all political connection
with the other States Of the Union. Al
though this was so, strange 10 say no one
appeared to regret il. Nobody could
have supposed that a matter OF such Sc
rious import had taken place. On the
contrary, the entire pOpulace were car
lied away by the excitement of the new
situation, and WED with one another IN
their expressions of hilarious Joy. Al
though the important event was thus Oc-
cupving the hearts and minds Of the peO-
Die. and Of necessity interfering with the
affairs Of their daily life, they did not
forget that it was sunday 1t had ever
been the custom in Richmond 70 OBJ
serve the Sabbath. and on that memOra-
bic morning there was an unusually
large attendance a. the city churches.
The State authorities had been for some
time concentrating all available troops al
the Capital, and the town was now swarm
ing with men in uniforms. They
were TO be seen in every direction, drill-
ing and marching and counter marching.
Bodies Of armed troops were constantly
arriving, the air was veXed with the
harsher notes Of the rolling drum,
strangely contrasting with the mlider
tones of church bells summonng wor-
shippers to the temples Of the Prince OF
Peace Notwithstanding this he "p0mp
and circumstance" Of threatening war
seemed steadily growing in Importance.
For many weeks before The Act OF Sc
cessiOn had passed, the Governor had
caused the assembling of the uniformed
and organized military of the state at
different points outside the city. Bu,
as soon as the State had Jeff The Union
many OF these had been brought into
barracks within the limits Of the town.
They were thus more under the IN
mediate eve Of the Executive and could
be used IN case they were needed.
The effect of this arrangement was salu-
tarv 10 tended 10 enforce upon the IN
diyidua soldier the gravity of The posi-
tiOn be now occupied and caused MIN
to realize the uses Of discipline; IT In
q 81 Ia "a
know That in their midst was body OF
reliable citizen soldiery, and il had IT'S
effect upon that part OF The popuiaHon
whose relations to their owners was oil
peculiar significance at this Junciure
TIE CITY HAD NOW BECOME a GARRISON.
Volunteers had become veteran soldiers.
The Young men h, d abandoned The pleas
ures of society for the drill-room and the
barracks Their officers were for the
most part men Of standing IN the com
muuilv, whose social position and mental
endowments made them well fitted ior
the responsibilities they had undertaken.
Soon after the gathering of troops within
the limits of the city an agreement was
made between the state and municipai
authorities by which the Governor vas
10 exercise supreme command over the
troops In case of necessity the lalleI
were to obey his orders; ana, although
martial law was not in force, such was
The unanimily of feeling and opinion IN
the community that the entire POI ulace
recognized the wisdom Of this measure
With the condition of things Just des-
cribed there was necessarily excitement
The almost certain approach OF war pro-
duced
: SENSE or UNEAsINEss,
modified by the peculiar temperaments OF
individuals The young were gay and
hopeful. happy in blissiul ignorance
OF what the future was to develop. The
older and more thoughtful were sad oul
resoiuie. They had conscien,iOusly con
sidered the impending crisis, and had
made up their minds 10 meet its respon-
sibililies accordingly. The women were,
if possible, more aroused than were the
men. They were wrought up 10 the
bieh,st degree of mingled anxiety ana
enthusiasm, and their willing hearts and
busy hands gave earnest that they were
ready :" to play their part In fortunes
pageant. g
In the midst Of these events rumors OF
ALI kinds from time to time illled The ali.
A YANKEE GUNB0AT
had actually entered the mouth OF
York river and sent shells and conster
nation among the 'longshore people
Upon this news being verified section
of artillery had proved sufficient to dfiVe
OIL the intruder and restore the equa-
uimiiy Of the Inhabitants. Other eNci'
ing reports proved TO be false. But the