Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-17

recoilections of those stirring Gays. when
| Virginia paused for shcrt while ere she
linked her fortunes with that cause which
though fated TO fall, was destined 70
shine so brilliantly on the pages OF ms
tory. The chaos OF that memorable Apri!
in 1851. when the whole Southland was
| eblaze with patriotic fervor and indg-
| nation. still lives in the memory OF those
| who then dwelt in the Old Dominion capt.
| taI Rut minor details--things which
| grow picturesque in the retrospect
| were ignored when brought beneath the
| shadow of greater events when were
rushing forward 10 bring on the pioody
| struggle so soon to follow. II was no
time for sentiment over emblems ana IN
| sigma; the doctrines and principles tney
| REPRESENTED were themselves then before
the nublIc and the citizens in the sunny
| lands south Of Mason and Dixon's line
| almost daily found themselves whirling
| I'm the vortex OF events which bore an
omnous significance.
virginia In the earlier days OF this YER
nal month was still a member OF the
Union. 10th TO sever the ties which bound
| her so conspicuousiy 10 that splendid
| league Of States that less than century
\ before had trailed the British lion In the
| dust. She hesitated and reflected, sadly
! sensible Of the drift OF popular opinion.
terings OF discomfort at northern out
RACES and aggressions grew stronger
/ Even then 1t took no soothsayer TO pre-
| diet her utimatum. The mind Of her
citizens was made up. but they hung
| back that no childish rashness might be
attributed TO the old Commonwealth. ON
| the 18th Of the month the State was still
a member of the Union. but the end was
near at hand. Two days later the ordi-
nance Of secession was passed in secret
session, and one week afterwards the old
capital was wild with enthusiasm for
the new star which shone in the galaxy
OF nations.
During the second week in April there
was no longer any doubt as to the senti-
ments Of the Richmond people Few
thought OF concealing their sympathies
or clinging 10 the Union. Secession flags
were Haunted on all sides; military COM
panies We're organized; men threw de-
fiance at Washington, and the old banner
OF the Stars and Stripes was scorned.
The newspapers Of that period though
full Of news concerning more important
things, devoted but little space 10 local
matters, and incidents which would now
cover columns were then disposed Of in
paragraphs. This of course is to be Ia
mented, as we have thus lost the means
OF accurately ascertaining many facts
which would be Of great interest to those
who love Richmonds history, and many
brave and noble deeds have been per-
mitted to pass into oblivion, or live only
in the minds Of few.
1t is Just such an incident In my fathers
life which / wish now to recall, and il
there be aught Of egotism in my allu-
sions. trust 1t may be attributed to filial
pride and to my love for that cause
which in our household will never lose its
lustre.
The 18th of April. 1861, found the Union
flag still Haunting its colors over the Gus
tom-house. but it was destined soon to
disappear On that same memorable day
Virginia's banner hoated In its place, and
l glory to think that my fathers hand
wrought the welcome change. OF course
the whole programme was prearranged-
If anything could be prearranged in those
stormy times-and it took but the slight
est signal to set in motion the machinery
which declared to the world that Vir-
glnia was a separate sovereignty; that
she had snapped the hateful bonds which
bound her to the Union.
Previous 10 the war my father belonged
to the Henrico Troop. commanded by
Captain j. Lucius Davis, who subsequent
~ became a colonel in the Confederate
service. That morning while passing up
the street he met his captain. who stop
ped him, and without revealing his pur-
pose, asked him TO get together as many
of the troop as he could find and meet
him in front of the custom-house. My
father, afterwards O lieutenant in the
Confederate service succeeded in getting
fourteen of the dragons to meet Captain
Davis in the excited throng of citizens
around the custom-house. The conven-
ton Of secession was then in session,
and Captain Davis had gained the prom
Use of one of the members to come out
upon the southern portico of the Capitol
and wave his hat the instant the ordi-
nance was passed. which he did. Mean
time, Captain Davis had concealed behind |
the door Of the custom-house large Vir- |
gnia flag, and simultaneously with the |
signal from the Capitol he turned to my |
father, who was standing at his side. and |
pointing to the old flag they loved so WELL |
exclaimed. Nelson, give it to the /
breeze" Thereupon, my father. then in /
the very prime Of young manhood, ac- |
by a boy. II. b. Smith Oow a |
resident Of Washington, seized the old /
banner and went scampering up the steps |
to the roof OF the custom-house, where, |
nothing daunted, he mounted the top Of !
the northeast chimney and joyously flung (
IL to the breeze. Thus, TO my father, Will |
liam Nelson Gardner, belongs the /
glory-not of raising the first Con-
federate flag in Richmond-but the l
first after Virginia shook off |
the shackles which bound her and
proclaimed herself a free and indepen-
dent sovereignty. In less than five min
utes after tho ordinance OF secession
was passed there he stood-the very en-
bodiment Of youthful recklessness and
southern patriotism-in imminent peril Of
his life, grasping the beloved old ensign
as It waved defiance from the highest
pinnacle of the custom-house TO the ac-
of the cheers and yells OF
the excited crowd below. Though, as l
have said, such incidents were then OF
little significance this one
created wild enthusiasm and excitement
for the time. 1t meant business; IL meant |
war; it meant fight to the last ditch; 1t
meant four long years of carnage, and IL
meant, alas, that the time would come
when the enthusiasm of that glorious
day would be superseded by a period OF
gloom and sorrow and darkness. But
It's but one incident among a
which told of a nations love
Of country. of hsr courage, zeal, and un-
selfish devotion.
| quote below the account of the oc-
currence, which appeared in the Dispatch
Of April 10, 1861 Mark the feeling and
the confidence which pervades the entire
article. Would that its predictions had
been truel
"The custom-house formerly used by
the Government Of the late United States,
was taken possession of yesterday by
Colonel j. Lucius Davis, Of the Thirty
third Regiment of Virginia, by order OF
the Governor Of the State of Virginia
II. IA