Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-01-28
lANDRIA. VA. TUESDAY EVENING. JANUARY %. 1902.
II & t.ue tha. t,e Fedsr.l army

BUN OereQ aDOuJ ~ VVV men, Nnite VIII
the Confederate colors there marched
only about 1000 but wh, booted the
disparity In foroesl The smaller army
was composed in the msin of Virginisns
who stood upon their native soil,
with their loved ones and t1e trs-
ditiops OF the Common wealth behind
and ieir foes before them. ia place
rest" the be t alion remained and saw
10 first line Of battle ascend the slope
and engage the enemy. The be tt o is
ioined and the "Young Guard" woDder
when their time will come. The sound
OF horses hooi rapidly beating the
ground smites the ear. The very speedtt
wnIcn 1e rider approaches. conveys the
tenor OF bis message In advance. Belts
are drawn tighter, muscles harden and
Jaws set fast, "Col. shipp, General
Echols says advap csiyour battslioD." Ii
what be said, before be reached the side
OF the commsndant Of cad, IL,
The II tie speech made by Col. 5hipp
ls craven upon my memory-"Hush
talking like Aock Of msg.pies, listen
to your officers and obey their orders.p
The battalion Is brought t, sttsntion
and the march to Wet Dry aud to death
is begun. Up the Same slope over
which the 6l st line Of bet ls bad pre-
csded them, they stream. and as it'
Great n OF the storm Of b. tile Ever for
ward and onward they press, meeting
soldiers, some OF whom pass around the
haDks of the cadet battalion. others lie
down for them to Ia;s over them, 9th
ers still are dead. dying and wounded
still tle cadet battalion presses on.
A gap Ia the first line is reached, I 10
passed and still the bat slion moves on.
That VS. sVlrRipa day. The bstta.
liou OF cadets, 10 advance Of the rest OF
the army, 10 parade formation, with
colors,- general guidss and officers t>
le front, marching With empty guns
10 face OF concentr, tad musketry and
artillery fire. When within short dis.
tance OF the enemy, Cary Weston, OF
Norfolk, Adjutsrt OF the battalion
ssluted Col. Shipp With bis sword,
saying: Colonel We are 10 advance
of the whole line" and then above the
roar OF infantry fire and stream OF
shot and shell, rose the clarion voice OF Col.
Shipp commanding, MARK time, march" In
the Valley Of Death, in parade formation
they executed the command, each Young
foot marking tine to the boom OF hostile gun /;
The flag Of the Commonwealth proudly fost-
ing IN the breexs before their eyes; ihsy were
Maintaining the honor, the traditions, the
pride Of Virginia. The burtling missiles OF
war were killing and wounding their COM
rades, bat pTet srying their line. the Survivors
ever dressing 10 the centre, stepping over the
dead snd wounded, always presented solid
and compact front TO the foe. Then IL was
that the youthful band experience the keen
delight OF him who wrote
There is something Of pride In the perilous
hour,
Whaper be the shape in which death may
lower,
For Fame is there t, tell who blseds,
And Honor's eye on daring deeds"
The FIRE is witheripg. The command,
Halt lie down." is given and obeyei. Tho
rest Of the army reaches the line occupied by
the Cadet Battalion, and the young line 10
loosed, the battery whose grape and canister
had wrought such distraction aud havoc in
the rsnks Of the Cadets is caItured. and with
thrust OF bayonet aud butt OF Rusket they
syengs the death Of those whs hsd fallen un-
der its murderous and destructive missiles
In quick succession the battalion engages two
regimsnts OF infantry, each comprisipg .
force much greater than Its owB. and defeats
them in detail. The victory Ia won, the sns-
my routed, and the Cadet Battalion had writ
tea new psse In the lustrous history Of the
Common wealth. That night o comforting
dispatch went down the Valley to the great
commander Of the Army Of Northern Virgin
Ia, who In spotsylvAnla lay with his army
locked in dead y struggle with the Army OF
the Poiom,c. His base Of supplies was for
the time safe.
/ do not feel that ID Is asking q favor at
your hands to desire you to vote to enbody .
provision in the Constitution for the pIsser-
vaton and p.rpetuation Of the Virginia Mill
tary Institute, but rather that It sf1rds you
an opportunity to to Of service to the State
Leave IL to me, sir, and will 90 entrine it
Ia the very vitsls Of the organic law thst 1t
will lsat, as hope the Commonwealth will
Until the years grow old,
And the stsrs grow cold,
And the leaves Of the judgment roll unfold.