The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-26

ne was now for the first time bringing
10 tneir serious attention. He foretold
win prophetic accuracy 10Y Richmond
would become the capital OF the South;
now 1t would be the chief object of the
enemy TO capture Il. and how self-de-
ceived the North would become in making
the attempt. He pointed out as with a
hnger OF light the very track OF the in
Vading hosts. and he finally predicted the
only way by which the city should fall,
II IL should. Captain Randolph's speech
mad Its effect. The men began to realize
more han ever what was the future
before them. and when at last he solemn
ly enjoined them to learn TO XIII their en-
emies as soon as possible. and that this
was the alternative then before them,
their march in return 10 their quarters
at the Spotswood Hotel showed that
they were In a far graver and more
sober-minded condition than they had been
a few hours before. Indeed, from that
time there were a few who went back
and walked no more with us"
The company was at the Spotswood
Hotel when the convention of Virginia
passed the act of secession on the 18th
OF April. 1861. on the 21st of April the
men were mustered into service Of the
State. BY a singular coincidence this i'm
portant ceremony took place at the court
house on the southeast corner Of the
capitol Square. the same building In
which they had held their first meeting
In November. 1853. They were now
soldiers, indeed; subject 10 official au-
thority, without wills OF their own, and
liable at any moment 10 be called on for
any military duty. 1t was not long before
an opportunity was afforded them. On
Sunday. the 24th of the month, the town
was startled by the sounds Of the bell in
the tower on the square, ringing ,out an
alarm. II was high noon when the people
mad Just been listening TO messages of
peace from the pulpits OF the city. This
was the occasion of the famous "Pawnee
Panic A fun account Of this event hav-
Ing already appeared in these columns. it
Is proposed TO refer here only TO the part
borne by the Howitzers on that day.
Having assembled promptly, i'm obedience
to orders previously issued. they marched
with full ranks and their six newly
mounted pieces. drawn by two horses TO
each gun. down TO Wilton, a few miles
below Richmond, on the left bank Of the
James river. Arrived at that place, the
battery was put in position on the cliffs
overlooking the channel. which at that
point ran close to the shore. II was then
about 5 o'clock p. NJ. The alarm had been
occasioned by a report that the United
States war steamer "Pawnee' was on
her way up the river 10 lombard the city,
but more especially to recapture or de-
stroy a large amount of powder at that
moment stored in a barge, tied up at the
wharf at Rockets. When the Confed-
crates destroyed the Government pro-
perty and ships at GOspOrt, they had Sc
cured this powder and towed the barge
containing II up to Richmond. 1t had
been a subject Of concern to the State
authorities for some time. Guards from
the Howitzers and other companies had
been detailed from time TO time to take
charge of 1t. Only the officers knew
what the vessel contained. n the strict
est orders were issued lest by accident or
otherwise en- explosion should occur be-
fore the powder could be transferred TO
the public magazine. 1t was with this
powder that the first battle of Manas-
sas was for the most part fought by the
Confederates.
At Wilton the company bivouacked on
the lawn between the mansion and the
river. This was their first experience at
sleeping on the ground in the open air.
They hoped that before morning they
would have n chance to test the metal of
their battery. Other troops were also
posted along the river, and cavalry Videttes
had been sent below to watch for the ap-
proach of the enemy. No alarm occurred
during the night, and the morning came
without a single incident TO engage their
attention. The truth was. the warship
referred TO had come up the river as far
as Westover the day before on a purely
domestic errand. and was as that moment
on her return to Hampton Roads. Cap
tain Randolph took this opportunity to
test the range and quality of the rifed
gun. Having dispatched a messenger
UP to the city to prepare the inhabitants,
- l. - IL l.. lnVrn t-taf M ON II
was at hand, he amused the men with n
little target practice. Every private had
his turn. followed by the officers, accord
ing to rank. The target was a cedar tree
standing across the river about half n
mile off. The best shot was aimed by
First Lieutenant Shields. it having sew
cred the trunk of the tree. one-third from
the top. OF course. man hours were con-
sumed in this amusement. In the mean
time. the rumors of the Pawnee had
reached the surrounding country. No
contradiction of them had been made;
consequently when ---e people began 70
hear the distant reverberations Of artil-
lerv. they quite naturally concluded tnat
the ight had begun. The consequence
was that in due time men on horseback
and afoot began to arrive in the neigh
borhood Of Wilton. They came armed
with whatever weapons they coulu nhu'
and were not a little disappointed WI1eH
thew found that all this noise was Out a
pence performance. The truth IS the peoe
ME were already aroused TO a sense vi
the crisis upon them, ana the Spiiit VI
FIGHT was abroad In the idnu' -
enending one night and part Oh wv 49,
al Wilton the Howitzers returheu ~ '"
barracks at the Spotswood.
Troons were now rapidly Gatherlns IL
on5 around Richmond. Camps WeIH ViH,
inc i'm various directions. chlel OF VIM
- n. The present Fair Grounds AT nv
haad of Broad street. where the MANY
VS. orr;.r lied and drilled. Al the arm
49, was assembled at Richmon1 IL
ior un1cr command of Colonel Johh D.
Ntogrnder. a distinguished officer OF Una,
arn, of ,hc service. late Of the Dhi,e'
ctotes Army. Early in May the ho"H@-
ore 1eft the Spotswood House ana wen
into barracks in the then unhnlshen puliH-
snr Of tbe college. and in tents on 'he
c,.,,nds with other artillery ~comPanics'
~ commissioned officers were theh zap
tin George W. Randolph; flrst Aieu-
INT / 4. Shields; Second LAeu'clidh'
Iohn THOMPSON I:rown and Tlhri Lieu
tenant u p. Mayo. Recruits came III
- rumher 10 loin the howitz ars that
4, uros found necessary TO form them lhto
a battalion Of two companies. inns vas
coon done. and Captain Randolph put III
command with the rank of major luis
oc,i,n REQUIRED the election OF comnhS-
gioned officers for each of these coHpd-
rtoe John c.. shields was chosen captain
~ tho first and John thompson
pro,vn captain of the second. Great at
,ention was now bestowed upon the drlli-