Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-22
Richmond Welcomed Secession News.
GLOU CESTEE COURTHOUSE. VA
Nav Il 1891

GI.OU CESTEE COURTHOUSE. VA.
May 4, 1884.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
About midday on the 18th of April. 1861.
was Attending meeting of the Board
OF Directors of the York-Itiver Railroad
Company at our office over the famous
iewclry establishment Of Mitchell & Ty-
lcr, on Main street. when We were in
terrupted hy the hasty entrance Of COL
onel George w Munford, then Secretary
of the Commonwealth, who asked TO have
private interview with ne. / took him
into a. private room, where h. Informed
me that Governor I"tcher had sent him
- desire me TO report to him at once.
as Dee had matters of great consequence
IL communicate TO me, about which lie
must have my aid and official counsel.
| WAS then major general, commanding
the Eastern Division Of the state. II
WIS ntimated TO me that the Governor
had heard or received intlmatiOn, Of the
arrroaching passage of the ordinance OF
secession. or that it had passed. but had
NOT been communicated Ia him. ] cN-
cu~ed myself to the board, and hast
,n,d with the Secretary at once 10
th. office of the Governor In the Exc
cutive Mansion.
The Governor Informed me that the or
dinanco had passed, subject 10 coniirma-
ton by the people AT later day but
STATED that as he regarded the act or
the convention As practically mai' ana
the state out of the Union, he had de-
tormiued 10 DO now what be had been
Icreatcdiy urged to do, but had refused
or.uuv Norfolk with the state forces
and cnlcavor to possess himself of the
Gosport navy-yard and Fort Monroe-that
he had determined 90 oiier me the COM
rnand of such troops as ! could coicCI
for that purpose, desired a iul coH9ui-
tatiou with me. and wished 10 KNOW
when ! could depart for Norfolk. re-
,t.d as soon as q special train could be
nuli.l out | then improvised hastily Il
staY consisting of Captain now MAJOR
.'.,,r,n Harry Hvth. Major Nat Tyler
~ I'm. r,uouirpr: Major ". T. Robins,
and others. and dispatched by wire ana
letters orders to Norfolk. Petersburg anu
other points looking 10 the concentF"-
ZION of troops and material
pEGRAM AND THE NAVY.
Nv. consultation with the Governor was
long and earnest. and whilst | was win
aim Lieutenant Robert feSrdm' us
tin,,lish.d In the United states navy
i'm chinese waters and elsewhere was III,
tr,dl,ccd. his services accep'e"' anu
ne WAS assigned to inc Co"l
m4nd Of the naval forces III 'No'
fork. \ few days before a selI-eol'S'i'u'
convention OF scntlemeh' OF VIM" We
,.. nat assembled at tie Exchange
~, Min closed doors. TO endcaVor 10
brin., prcssure II bear upon the ur"i-
49, cf ~. stat Convention. and 10 am
mat. ~ moi force IL To speedy secession
49,. l.lav Of the convention had De'h
,,,.,,..l.d and Denounced in many quar-
tsr. and cartoons had be pubhshe''
.Y.h a., ~ irginia pausinS, &c 10 III e
III, public mind against theH- III ."e
as.en,bi,.,n at the Exchange OF "hiVh
..,-CoVernor Wise wa the Irahihs sl'i''|
the example OF GOV rnor Brown oi W.
pta. and that OF the Norm CaroHnian9
was urged fOr imitation. ana the Sc'"'"o
"a th.. novv-vard ana Fort Monroe, as
means OF prccipiiatlns eNv"'I' -, ,h-
,,.e formulated after a discussion OF t"c
.ltn,tt,n az those places aud the ic- ing
az roa officers and men towards the
South and 1 was iIrd 10 accept thc
conduct OF an expedition against me i"i !,
which If successful would carry WIN !,
The capture Of the naVy-yaru' sl'pS an,
material OF war. 40 descrlts the ue'Ih
OF this ulan and the result OF our lnNts-
ueation would be more than couin DC
done IN this brief reminiscenee' oe
clincd 70 accept the trust 10 the chas
OF my friends. because of the Illegally
of the proceedings. 1 do not know II
Governor Letcher was informed OF my
refusal. hut / told him as soon as ne OF
f-rcd me the command that "ouiu az
cept his offer with pleasure.
EFFECT OF SECESSION TlDlNGs.
Aiy subscqu Mt report 70 the Governor,
pubNahed by the Legislature, priehy
sketches the early operations about Nor
foik. but have no space to detaii thei,
here wildly as they are stu stafnpsn
on nv mind. | simply wish TO speak oil
the effect Of the publication OF the iaines
Of secession upon Richmond. IL was eiec>
trical; u can be described by no pen. IL
was marked by no such dramatic incident
or tableau as that which occurred III
Charleston. when Judge afterwards Coy