The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-29
"REMINISCENCES OF WAR
xxTsRKsfIxG DESCRIPTION OF SOL
DER LIFE ar NORFOLK.
incidents Durina the Fret Year Of the
Great struggle How the Crays Lived In
the City by the Sea.

Mr.. John T.. Laug.;on. Jr.. an old mem
her Of the Old Richmond Grays, Company
A. Of the First Regiment Of virginia
Volunteers. The contents OF the paper
which gave a very interesting Description
Of soldier life at Norfolk during th'
first year OF the great Civil war "er'
as follows:
The rccollections Of Confederate SOL
der life IN the department OF Norio'h'
Va. during the FIRST year OF the Wv,
uar con he little more than q recital OF
camf-lffc. as IL was not the Pi'"S
81 those troopg 10 become acuFeiF ga"
FACED with the enemy. but as u ~ "",
d,,,v 10 nut on record our experience %
,ho mar, ,xe each took in the ConIeuefa'.
service "a well for the edihca"oh NV
.,,crtainnncnt Of our comrades, as IoI
,ho Information Of our children, prooap'y
80 hetter way can be devised than iVi
Zach 10 give a review OF such ihciuehsN
as came within his own personal hio"'
edge. -, o., ,be
The committee appointed ~ w
last meeting Of the Camp 10 haNe N
narcd papers 10 be reah Ht 49, '",..ns
t,c have agreed 10 coniine thenSe'NSo
80 me o,crations Of the first year OF IN,
,,.ar and what / herewith submit WIZ
A. Tho recollection OF "A private so'ulei
- the richmond Grays. as may pV
ahtn 10 recall them. after so long an ~
,cr,al. without diary or other meHoi"hu"
10 verify them. ,.,,r
rho richmond Grays Afterwards known
nc comnanv G.. Twelfth Regiment OF
Virginia Infantry. was one OF me Ola
volunteer military organizations Of iucn-
,nona handsomely uniformed, pe1ecuS
oouippcd. and thoroughly driDed' WIN
n membership Of more than 100 oincelS
md men ready for duty ana peins - -.
pany Of the FIRST Regiment s s-nt
1,fsn,rv. was very naturally the hiS'
30 our city companies 10 he called OF
FOR any special military duty, and for
several DAYS before il left the city, was
virtually under arms expecting 10 be
hourly called on
WHO FIRED THE SHOT?
These expectations were realized on
Saturday nighi. April 10. 1861, "hen we
were ordered 10 assemble at the oiu
-. Dufdina. on Franklin street, near
Governor street, then occupied as the
plnes' Armory. The men were sum
raced by Sergoants and Ccrporals Of
SQUADS. and before 10 o'clock there were
more than 100 men present for duty
Nothinc of special interest occurred that
nipht besides the loss of sleep, except
mat as many members We're supplied
with pistols and bowie knives TO be used
I'm close quarters. the company was
somewhat startled by the firing OF q
pistol which had dropped from the hands
of Private George Nicholas, afterwards
killed I'm the Color Guard OF the ReGi-
ment at the second battle OF Manassas.
This may probably settle the question
ms 70 who fred the first shot during the
war.
sunday morning about sunrise, the
Company was marched 10 the Peters
burg depot. and was therefore, the hrs1
Company Of Richmond Volunteers that
LEFT this city, and was on its way TO
assist in the capture or the GoSport
Navy yard at Portsmouth, Va.
Arriving at Petersburg. we were break
tasted at the Bollngbrook Hotel, and
waited until the middle of the day before
we could be furnished with transportar
lion to Norfolk. 10 Join the Petersburg
Battalion. which had preceded US on
an carly train and with which we hoped
10 share tie honor and glory Of being
In the first fight.
LOADING THE GUNS THE FIRST TIME.
7
dsced when our Captain Wyatt NJ. FL
lott came through the train just before
we reached Norfolk. and gave the order
to load our guns. how we were charged
20 be careful 20 await orders, and then
implicitly OBEY them. to be cool in ac-
ton. TO preserve our ammunition, and
aim low
little then knew, how valuable these
instructions would be to me in subse-
duent years when l commanded men ii
far more dangerous situations. but these
safeguards proved TO be Of no special
use on this occasion, for on our arrival
at the Norfolk and Portsmouth Ferry
we learned that tire Federal troops hac
embarked on their Transports and. with
their navy had evacuated the navy yard
after setting the building and some of the
vessels on fire. and destroying much val
Nabie property.
The Company was quartered for th'
night I'm an old deserted building, called
The Virginia and North Carolina Hotel
probably the dirtiest and most uncomfort
able quarters that troops ever had. We
remained there. / think, two nights
freely using the water from a well IL
the back yard. We found that as W.
required a great deal Of water for 50
many men. that the well was going dry
and required TO be cleaned out. VIVA
was our surprise, horror and DISCUS
10 find the bottom OF the well filled Will
dead and purified dogs, cats and rats
Ne discontinued the use OF that waite
afterwards.
MAKING THEMSELVES COMFORTABLE.
The Company during this time, con
formed to their former style Of living
by taking their meals at the Atlanta
Hotel. Quarters were soon secured 70
us at the Norfolk Military Academy
A building modelled after our State Cap
itol, situated in the center OF the city
in the middle of q large square. with
large drill ground entirely surroundin
At, where straw-beds and rations wer
furnished cooks hired and every cor
venience that could add TO our comfoi
provided for; and here we spent III
happiest part Of our military life.
The beauty and proficiency OF on
Company drill soon attracted the after
ton Of the citizens. and 1t was the
daily custom to attend the drills an
dress parades. coming by hundreds.
was not very long before we forme
many acquaintance among the best
the people. and as we were allowed I
keep our trunks with our citizens war
robe We were the daily recipients
invitations 70 dinners. suppers, dance
and other social and musical entertain
ments.
II may be difficult for some Of thes
old veterans 10 realize that one OF {
best companies in the service was tn
spending their time in paying attentio
TO the prettiest ladies. and living on Il
finest oysters. the most luscious frui
the freshest fish. and the largest veget'
bles. besides hundreds or other goo