Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-08-31
LUCKY VOLUNTEERS.
JOE WlLLARD's COMPANY THE MOST
FORTUNATE IN THE SERVICE.

Practical Patriotism of Virginia's Richest
NIan-Raised Fine Body of Mon in His
Native County-They Got Donble Pay
OF to tho Phllippines-Fitted Uniforms.
"The richest man in Virginia" is
one of the most patriotic of the sons
of the Old Dominion. His company
of volunteers is probably the most for
tunate in the entire service of the no
tion. The men are to have q, place in
the army that is to invade the Phil
ippines, owing to the influence of their
captain; they have been provided with
uniforms at the expense of their cup
tain; their pay is double that of the
other volunteers, and they will have
extra care in the event of wounds or
sickness. When the first call for
troops was made there was no man
more eager to respond than Joseph
Willard, member of the Virginia
legislature, lawyer in active practice
at Fairfax Courthouse, and the son of
the founder of Willard's hotel, for
half century the leading hostelry of
the national capital. He offered him
self for enlistment Us q private, but so
many of the young men of the neigh
borhood asked him to be their leader
that he was induced to raise COM
pany.
AS soon as it was known through
out the county that Joseph Willard
wanted recruits there was rush of
young men to his headquarters. His
only conditions of enlistment were
that the men should be unmarried,
aEle-bodied and citizens of Fairfax
county. When he had the required
number he selected uniform suitable
for campaign in tropical climate
and sent every man to tailor to be
fitted. He paid the bill and was sat
isfed, when, on reporting mt Ric..-
mond, his company received the fat
tering notice of officials and veterans
for its fine appearance. The young
men are tall, as most Virginians are,
and show the sound health of men
who live in the open mir. They are
nearly all farmer boys and sons Of
veterans of the Confederate army.
Next they were informed by the cap
tain that he would ray out of his own
pocket an additional S13, so that their
pay will be $26 n month. This is be-
cause many of the families to which
the boys belong have been partly de-
pendent on them and must find it hard
to carry on the farms in their absence.
Since the war began many families
that werein comfortable circumstances
have found it difficultto make living
on the few acres they are able to cul-
tivate. The generosity of Captain
Willard has made it easy for the men,
bers of his company to enlist, although
it was not expected when they first
offered themselves. Then their only
inducemcnt for joining this company
was that Captain Willard was daring
and pushing man, of fighting family,
who would certainly be iii the thick of
any fighting that might be going on.
When they were told Of the promise
to send them to the Philippines Cap
tain Willard made short speech that
added enormously to the satisfaction
of the parents of the boys. He said
his income, aside from the amount that
is necessary to keep up his household
and the like, is $1,000 day, aud that
as far as this sum would so the boys
should lack nothing that money could
buy in event of wounds or sickness, or
to preserve their health in q strange
climate.
After several weeks at Richmond
the company has been ordered to re-
port at Camp Alger, where the boys
will be-visited Ly relatives and.
friends for a farewell. It now seems
beyond all doubt that they will soon
start for Manila. Captain Willard
himself leaves a wife and two young
children. His wife is not less patri-
otic than her husband and has taken
the utmost interest and pride in the
company. Captain Willard told her
how eager he was to 60 to the seat of
war, as his blood had been boiling
over the Spanish cruelty in Cuba; but
he had resolved to abide by her do
cision, as there would be no lack OF
men to take his place. She did not
hesitate, but told him to go.
Nobody is surprised at the bound
ing enthusiasm of Captain Willard if
they happen to know the stock he
springs from. His father, for so
many yeas the head of Wizards
hotel, was an officer in the Union army
and as such was brought into contact
with the most daring and eff 'ent of
all the Confederate spies the civil
war. This was Miss Fora, the daugh-
ter of rich citizen of Fairfax Court
house. The old people are full of
"reminiscences of her exploits, some
of which were dangerous and re-
quired the utmost personal courage
and devotion to the Confederacy. She
made many journeys between Wash
ington and Richmond when it was
difficult to get through the Federal
lines. Sometimes she was disguised
and needed all the talent OF an actress
to elude the suspicious officers. At
one time the authorities at Washing
ton, resolved to deal severely with all
spies, regardless of sex or family in
huence. Miss Ford's friends at
tempted to persuade her to abandon
her enterprise or to suspend her trips
for a time. Even the Confederate
officials who profted by her work
warned her that it would be too haz-
ardous to attempt another journey at
that time. But it ali had no effect on
her purpose, aud she continued to
carry information and messages from
one capital to the other. Miss Ford
formed romantic attachment for
Federal officer who had been kind to