The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-26
CHAPTER /.
THE BEGINNING AND THE ENDING
"Reminiscences Of the First and Last days
Of the War.
BY GEN. GEO. J. HUNDLEY.

Of the War,
BY GEN. GEO. j. HUNDLEf'
AMELIA c. H., VA, Jan ], 1879.
Geo. S Bernard. Esq. Petersburg' va
Nv Dear Sir:--in response 70 your re-
ouest | have written you the enclosed
sketch giving an account Of some OF my
army experiences / have striven as Tar
rs possible 10 suppress the irrepressioie
"eso." and. n il should seem 10 your Iedu-
ers that [ have thrust into the naIrauNe
TOO much Of my own personality Deg
20 remind them that in relating my own
experiences / have ever kept steadliy IN
view desire TO give them correct ldea
of the men and times Of which ! write
and Of war-scenes OF which the historian
takes little account History TOO OFTEN
moves along on stilts, giving very i'm
perfect idea Of the realities Of war.
II constantly Keeps before the eye
the deeds and supposed achieve
ments OF the great figures, and
the great movements OF the con-
tending forces This is all very well,
but Of this I think the public has sur
felt. and / have tried 10 give them some
insight into the interior working Of the
great machinery Of war. I have been
actuated in this labor by a desire TO
obllge an old comrade Of those days Of
which 7 write. and ! trust you will find
Il such az you desired 1t to he.
Your friend and comrade.
GEO. J. HUNDLEY.
CThe following is the sketch referred to
In the foregoing lotter)
THE BEGINNING AND THE ENDING
In the winter of 1901 l was a student
at Judge Brockcnborough' Celebrated law
school i'm Lexington. Va. The law class
think. was fairly representative Of the
feelings and opinions of the peoples Df
Virginia at that time. 1t was composed or
bright young men from all sections Of the
State. and i well remember how different
were the feelings with which the news of
Iincoln's election was received by the
Union men and the secessionists. The lat
ter rejoiced with an exceeding great
ioy." haillng his election as the harbinger
OF Southern independence. whilst the for
mer were correspondingly depressed, rec
ognizing I'm that untoward event the token
Of coming disaster to uor common coun-
try.
WAR CLOUD GATHERING.
As the session wore on and spring ad-
vanced. secession was a frequent topic
of discussion in our debating society, I
with others taking the Union side in these
discussions TO the last Soon our noble
old preceptor became a candidate for the
convention and called in VIM. McLaugh-
lin afterwards the commander Of a bat
talon Of light artillery in the Confederate
army and now circuit judge
as his assistant IN teaching our
class. Public meetings were held
and old Or. Geo. Junkin, Of
Washington College with his squeaking
voice frequently addressed those meet
ings and managed TO make his shrill
shouts of Union" Union" heard above
the cackling Of the obstreperous students
of the various institutions Of learning in
town. | remember young Harmer Gil
mer OF Richmond. one OF our law class.
disconcertinc one of the Union speakers
very much 10y suddenly crying out. as the
man reached one OF his best periods.
"Come TO my arms. you greasy fritter."
/ suppose Harmer caught the expression
In some OF the meetings Of the sovereigns
In "Old Market Hall"
The war cloud was now gathering thick
and fast I'm the far South. and its distant
mutterings grew ominous as the Virginia
contention assembled. We law students
went TO our homes and, as the Court of
Appeals was then ia session in Richmond
went there 10 get my license, appearing
for examination before Judges Moncure,
Robertson and Daniel. / went first to
Judge Moncure. ard found him at Fords
Hotel. Truly In him | bched "a man
without guile" One so simple and unpre-
tending. so gentle and kind. and at the
same time so great. we rarely meet. He
took me into his private room where his
good wife the very counterpart OF him
self In woman's attire, sat knitting First.
this gentle couple put me at my ease by
asking about my home and introducing
some familiar tonics. about which we
chatted until ! forgot what I came for
Gradually the old Judge introduced
the law into our conversation and drew
out OF me what little ] knew about it
almost imagining that I was imparting to
the old gentleman before me valuable in
formation. left him highly pleased with
myself ana my legal attachments but
bless me. what a check was i'm store for
my vanity. I next sought Judge Robert
SON. who boarded az the Exchange and
Ballard. and he frightened me half to
death, He examined me two hours
and then signed my license
Judge Daniel. seeing the signature
OF his hrsthran. signed without
word for which act I heartily
thanked him. for Judge Robertson had
about used me up. Whilst In Richmond.
visited the convention. where 7 saw all
the notables Of that day and time some
OF whom ] was destined 70 sec very fre
ulfIuN Oh tNufNtf Tflt OF discussion IN
the near future The venerable John
Janney presided: Henry A. Wise. John
Tyler. James Marshall. sommers. Gooae
Jack Thornton and Juhal Early were on
the floor
EARLY CfiANpIONED THE UNION.
John Goode was the hre-eater Of the
convention. and he and rugged Jubal Ear
ly. the devoted champion Of the Union.
frequently locked horns In debate One
day Coode insuited Early The latter
quietly took his seat. but every one knew
that the matter would not stop there
That evening or the next. after some
correspondence Goodc ap0logized. ~Old
lube" as ne H. best known 20 his soldiers.
was true type Of the Virginia Unionist
These men opposed secession and loved
the Union for the sake Of the fathers and
for It's own sake. but they loved Virginia
and their own people above all else. So
when Lincoln called for troops and Nir-
ginia seeded. they hesitated not a mo-
ment as 10 which side thev would take
IN the now inevitable conflict. Nothing
IN all history is grardcr than the conduc;
OF Early and his fellow Jnionists The
shock OF battle could not shake their
dauntless courage and neither defeat. nor
time nor poverty, nor temp
tatlon has cooled the ardor OF
their devotion 10 their state and
It's people. BY all means ict n shaft
70 up In honor Of "Old Jubal" and in
scribe on its base the simple words. sIIe
loved Virginia will all HIS heart and soul.
and mind"
whilst In Richmond. saw two COM
NAMES from Danvlle pass along the
streets with drum and nfe. and the sight
thrilled me SO, could hardly wait 10 get
home. I hurried back and Joined the FIRST