The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-07-21
RICHMOND During
STORMY WAR DAYS
Recollections That Will Not
Fade from Memory's Tab
let While Lie Lasts.
THE CAPITAL AS 1T WAS THEN
From the Fright Of Wars First
Alarms to the Toughness
OF Experience.
THE CAPITAL AS IT WAS THEN
a,c,,mond During the War, 1so1-'G5.


Richmond During the War, 1SG1-'Go.
During the spring and summer OF
1861 five thousand volunteers from
Richmond were enrolled in the Con-
federate Army, representing all
branches of the scrvice--infantry,
). cavalry and artillery-to say nothing
! Of those no less useful workers
employed in less conspicuous de-
partments OF army organization.
When it is remembered that
the population of the city was theh
less than 10000, this voluntary enrol
1nent Of SO large percentage Is
strongly Indicative of several facts OF
more or less import, of which the
most weighty and significant IS the
exhibit of the temper and spirit or the
community, who fell into ranks ut the
first war-blast, whose trumpet tones
proclaimed the tremendous import of
the crisis then at hand, and to be met.
Before the realization OF this peremp-
tory crisis, demanding instant and Do
cisive action. the sentiment of the
town had been divided Many excellent
people. OF conservative mind lad hoped
and striven for peaceful solution Of
pending political troubles that for
years had Swallowed the county with
evil forebodings and apprehension. This
conservative influence was SO strong
that it stayed positive action by the
State Convention till the issue of LIN
coins proclamation demanding Nir.
ginia troops. The convention had met
in February. When an early move FOL
SECESSION was tabled the New York
Tribune announced the news under
taunting headlines, in big capitals. that
Virginia could not be kicked out OF
the Union" Lincoln's proclamation
calling for a Virginia quota of troops
to march against her Southern sisters
was answered by the immediate seces-
sion Of the State, and the muster OF
her volunteers. encouraged and sup.
ported by a practically unanimous pub.
lie opinion.
The Spirit of IT.
The temper and spirit of that time
az represented by this wonderful up.
rising and flocking to arms, can hardly
be realized by those not old enough tc
remember tho events. The ordinary
business of every day became matter
of secondary Importance. Men. wome,
End even children turned attention nnt
energies to the now pressing dutle.
~
friends for camp service. and to sup
plying the needs and demands of {
situation strange and difficult to
generation without experience in wa
conditions To meet these demands
Richmond in 1861 was put to the ex
IRENE OF ingenuity. since In many dl
rections the very means of snpply ha,
to be invented and built up. HOY
these demands We're met and how thes
means were created are recollection
that now live in the grateful memoir
of many an old veteran here TO-DAY
whose soul is happy in visiting one
more the scenes of his glorious youth.
To many of these young volunteer
their early experience of camp life wa
but :as an extended picnic, the onl
irksomeness of which was in the rou
tine of drills and the restraints Of dis
clpline in training them to the dutie
OF soldier life In tho comparatiy
ease and abandon OF their first year
service in the field they were but get
ting the training, the clicking int
shape" that made the Army of Nortt
ern Virginia what It was IN the late
days of hardship and real trials thu
tested their qualities of soul and bod
An incident Of tho time. though lud
crous in some of Its features, we'll /
illustrates tho spirit animating the con
munity. civil as well as military.
Historical Review.
The State seeded April l7th On Il
following sunday, the 2lst rum
spread that tho Federal gunbo
Pawnee was coming UP the river
shell the city. Quickly responding
the alarm bells. the city military COZ
panies and large bodies Of either
armed with shotguns. pistols, or al
1mproyiscd weapons, lined tho riv
banks from Rockets TO Wilton, dete
mined to give the intruder III least
much annoyance as possible, ey
though they could not prevent his a
vance nor silence his heavy CUR
Many old gentlemen even rode do,
the River Road, their carriages stock
--.... RhOtguns, for which some OF tn,
had ripped off lead around their Eous
70 make bullets. Luckily, no gunbc
came. and the "Pawnee War as
WAS dubbed, WAS the occasion OF so
after amusement at the time; but
was an early instance OF the gallan
{" be later proven on many Il sorit
feld. "Pawuen wars" and other
nors and alarms were, however,
fhe meidents of other days. tho y
lIde to the mighty conflict at ha
preparation for which was the abBo
dhg employment OF everybody, In
out OF the army. The transfer OF
Confederate government TO Rit(hm,
and the daiiy arrival OF thousands
Southern soldiers gave the old tn
- lineliness and even ga!ety /,
wrought a wonderful change In
'a hitherto usually quiet streets Nj
VII an old fellow here at the reunion
week has been reminded OF and
ce Esed his Iecollect.ons OF that i