The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-10-30
TRIBUTE TO WICKHAh

J. ulDO Ia ~
uh,,h IN those DAYS. had such , ,nnoeSt 20
NnS". - ife III the man and, IN ao"lt..N 40
- lao obtained from books, was 1T and
All Virginia boys We're 20 ,"o xyas sent 10
,n tell the trutI. Afterwards ~ tredercks-
"f rear Alexandra and nj 'e';ty ~
s'"'''S Zen ~ that Grand uniNeir'y ii
IIrt'hi .,n.,ille from whose tiA i,vea
ma 80 a. many men whose lut"., oi,,a
49, rof tributei 10 the reno"n y,
- tbe.r state and their couuti, ...,,.ior
The law hrst claimed Mlcs".1| lar Rut
~. - admitted m 1872 TO the "a ~
aau ~ t,., vears' practice no gave up sno
'vi o., praferring 20 lead tho hie 90 -
ploio Arricu iufai topics Oh" not az
h mug S' 80 bi. hours but he took Heep IN
a. everything relating 70 the local III
tre.f. of ..s ueighoors anu anu 10 ,''or,;a,o
90 one wear ter his ha'py i."t age
I'D T.,.,. Penn ravlor ho was elected 10
90 '.i's ~ os.egafes and began that active
TIE h''s' sirs which he ever after
i.r' IF" Pol in 1893 be was elected ~
WAi.' D r-.- the district Composing the
me hanover ana Henrlco. mere
r, Che House ne acqnlIou INA, $50,
c,.e-.ouce sut kA0"'S r ". 10 aftor ca
'N.'t IN distinguished hun IN MS A1'oi 0"-
rcer ..,,,-,,
,-t.,tirs had been principally passed
'f'~sfv home and amid the Green neiqs
ih ".' i., beautifully on every side. ihpPly
t...-...4 TO the noble woman VINO mas su'-
I.'. l.., honarei hv the state ana De,
i M. lis friends and neighoors' lie .Aa
.r.ev noticed the angry spec "i..on
andy grew into "a war-c.oui u-'" 20
Almost ready O. burst ana oeIu-o W.
t,-s contents his old molheI '..so IA "a
aeon had heen called 30 CONSIDER ana oe-
t"..,,.n What action should be taken by
l....,r'a m Tins most imporiant Crisis /"
t,.,.rt.n Williams Mickham was
eiecte7 esa member from henrco' lie was
az s-dont Wing IN pOilcs aha Ri intense
Union man His every thought was lot tnc
,-l..r,.otiDr, Il the union OF the states. lie
s.sS ecid asr. under whose waving folds
49,. rearlEe bad made wonderful progress
"a - rnmor.o. arts agriculture and manu-
fa ture, had fouT.shed go.
withdrawing the growth and political
MI ,res. az Il party at the North which was
i..fleto tho South and her institutions, he
I.fr.t thIuk secession was the remedy. lie
.,It Lave pleaded to the end for the correc-
t.rsf al wrongs rather than lot leave the
-a And when at last N the proceedings
f..t convention tho question was puI
vIe.ler Virginia would withdraw from the
In A.. o. whose glory she had coutrinuteI so
-r.f among those who voted IN favor Oh ne
I.rtstil represented upon the starry nag OF
fally and Williams g. Nlckham'
An Effort FOR PEACE.
Tie decision Of his State % secede had been
-se.i IN after prolonged denberation and
Yer everv effort had boon made FOR peace 10y
ie highest constitutional body. convention
0tt.e representatives OF her people.
The clear ringing notes OF her ougle tnen
summoned her sons from every cline 70 her
lefens4. Her trumpet voice was heard over
4Ee Afisutic's blue pillows. and they came
tr0nl foreign shores Ii was heard where
frozen fingers bind with icy letters the IaHes
NJ the North 10 was heard along fhe shores
0r tie the warm gut 81 the > uIh Auu rom
+Ie last 20 where the waves break IN shining
frarmeuts ON the golden sands of tie Pacific,
and they fastened from every point 70 her
sunnort men born within her limits hurried
hack o. their old homes and everywhere
within her borders citizens were moulded
INTO soldiers eager 10 rush u oattle as 10
ian.uet. and o. embrace death with rapture,
If NECESSARY 20 defend her soil from the tramp
" the invader.
FOR his STATE.
II Wicbbam bad been a strong Union man
previous to the passage II the ordinance OF
secession by the convention. after that act
wa. passed as If touched by magical wand.
Lee WAS transformed into devoted son OF Viz
rris whose only desire Was 90 obey her cont
mauds whose only prayer was for her sue
cess aud when later IN the proceedings
o.. the convention, Robert +. Lee stood with
% the walls of the Capitol mOdestly accepting
iD appropriate manner the command Of the
Virginia rces in reply 20 the eloquent adj
dress Of its president Mr.. Janney. he had no
more loval no more ardent 10 more enthusl-
astic supporter than Williams G. Wickham,
tie Mon member from Hanover.
oh Virginia and Nirginians, we fancy
f.. ). u. t1,..r4 auk nil
go. and where thou lodgest | Will lodge;
thy people shall be my people, and thy God
NY God
Three wears before these occurrences. hav-
ing q love for horses and an inclination for
military life. he had been commissioned rs
captain Of cavalry Of Virginia volunteers.
lie was therefore in position to rapidly re-
spon1 90 Che summons OF his State. and lost
% time IN going 90 bis home 70 make the
requisite preparations % enter Immediately
into the opening campaign. To was not many
days before IS company 81 cavalry was march
ing through the old county Of Hanover. on its
way 90 Richmond e. be mustered into the
service OF the Confederate States. At the head
%, the Hanover Dragons rode Captain Wick
ham AMI behind him as gallant body of
troopers as ever drew sabres for a cause they
knew % be right, and who were destined as
Company o. Of the Fourth Virginia cavalry
50 write with brilliant pen the record Of their
deeds upon the scroll of fame.
FIRST POINT or ATTACK.
While Virginia could be invaded from West
Virginia, up her great valley, along tho
Peninsula route OF from the direction of
Norfolk IL soon became apparent that the
first point Of contact between the armies Of
the North and South would take place at or
near Manassas Junction The respective
armies were being rapidly organized by Win
field Scott a native of Virginia. at Washing
ton. and iy Robert +. Lee at Richmond,
8lo. q Few days before, had declined the
command Of the armies of the United States
that be might draw his sword in behalf Of
DIS State and enlist under banner borne by
Virginia troops.
The irrepTessible conflict which Seward had
talked about had indeed arrived. The angel
= peace had plumed his wings for fight; the
demon of war relgned supreme IN the
land
Wckhams Hanover Troop were promptly
ordered 10 the neighbOrhoOd Of Bull Run
and added 20 the army then beins formed
there under Beauregard
Al that early period the use Of cavalry was
not well understood by the army command
er On either side. Al Manassas the cavalry
was distributed 10 the various brigade com
mauders 10 be used as scouts and cOuriers
aui as escorts or body guards After the
junction If JOhnston's forces with those Of
beauIegard, during the battle of the 2lst Of
July. 1861. there were but thirteen compa-
pes Of cavalry in the whole army enough.
viewer If tho employment Of that arm
o, service had been well understood. to have
teen placed under an enteTprlslng officer ike
Stuart and sent in active pursuit of Me- low-
Oh iugtiyes ia order 10 reap the fruits Of