The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-13
At "wHITE MARSH,
4 War Episode of Two Cadets of the
NIrgInI1 MilItnrN Inntitutc.

virginia Military Institute.
-, Senerai Hunter Y A, had applied
stitute at Lexington in revenge for
ne part that the cadets Of that in
SSutution took in the battle OF New
market on the 18th OF May 1864,
II was IN the autumn OF that wear.
me cadets of the v. NJ ! being home
less on account OF duty TO their State,
tnat General Francis II. smith then as
ever the faithful superintendent of that
institution and noted for his admins
Tatlve excellence. secured from the
proper authorities the almshouse at
pitap. then not fully completed and
not having been occupied by the per
sons fer whom II was designed.
90 we eadet corps went into quar-
", In September. 1854, and resumed
their studies. and acting as drill mas
ters for recruits until the evacuation
c OF this city. April 3, 1858. This re-
incident was induced by the writer's
recent FREQUENT visits TO this City
nospitai. nov very much larger and
When the 100 hungry boys occupied IL
as barracks and lecture halls, with
phiy Two very scant meals per diem
put sun al pertaining to that period
Is TO memory dear" and this last
week. on frequent visits there to see
q man badly wounded by a pistol shot.
y was my privilege to walk M and
i
mad since ] was on sentry duty there
as boy cadet. So whilst walking over
the old camp ground" I naturally in
uuiged in reveries. and of this par
our beleaguered. half starved, pear-
less Richmond In these reminisce noes
OF last week there tn. following adj
venture. as related here, was deemed
most worthy OF publication. So hers =
oners Itself for the Confederate Gel
uInn OF The Times Dispatch of a time
IN Virginia's h!etory-of Christmas.
iso! war Christmas is in bitter
some Of the cadets went home for the
holidays. ha: many Of nmr homes were
either destroyed or difficult TO get
10 by. the vcissitudes Of "the times
so sadly out OF joint Those who had
no homes to so to a fortiori stayed n.
barracks ! was ono of the latter
class, and gladly nvailed myself of the
INVITATION OF a dear. dear friend.
whose son was one of my chums This
noted. lovely matron of white Marsh.
gloucester county. Va, Mrs. j. Prosser
Iaen. formerly Rehecca Lloyd, of Alex
andria. whose SON John. determined.
WIN her permission and his fathers.
pr Tabh, then connected with Chin
horszo Hospital. to go down 10 GIou-
which was bright vista TO me
our Confederate lines terminated at
Mechanicsville on the pike of that
name FIVE miles northeast OF this city,
vile and Yorktown, where the United
states army there was in winter quar-
ters. SO the intervening territory be-
tween Meehanicsville and Yorktown
rauding parties from York and dashes
from Richmond
This Esd day OF December. 1864, was
cold. gray winters morn. when we
with one horse only between us. on
which we were TO ride and tie" some
ninety five miles, with the two rivers.
the the ChlTSTk a and Pamunsey, to
not TO be suspected as spies. Our trip
was without incident save having TO
wait at Piping Tree Ferry for
at last about midnight of the third
day OF this hazardous journey. we ar
rived AT White Marsh our destinn-
ton, and one of the most magnificent
estates then In this county with its
avenue OF pecan trees, splendid falling
garden attached to the rear of the
hospitable. fine old mansion, whose
hospitable doors were. never shut in tho
face of want or otherwise. and the
name Of White Marsh was a syno
nym of broad, open hearted Kindness
On arriving a. that hour, OF COURSE
there was hutter In the old mansion.
thinking the arrival that of the en,my.
which was not infrequent and at all
hours Of the night. So Informing MS,
Miss Minnie LLOYD tnow Mrs. Phiiin
Ysatmnnl. sister of John Miller, kiss
ed him fondiy and welcomed me. and
we were soon before n blazing IRE.
with oysters, ham. cake, etc. as n
relay and led by lovely girls--one Of
whom was tho great incentive that led
nc into this hazard--we then put our
dear old horse in green house (now
empty down I'm the overfrown. nm
clipped garden. for safety. as the Yam
KEGS feared ''bushwhackers" and avoid
ed going into these acres of oyergrown.
thorny shrubbery: Next day and the
next we. enjoyed Christmas TO its
fullest, II boys appetite is trun
index. and now L envy 1t after these
many years.
The Lady OF Lyons" (Bulwer's dear
love story) was improvised for the
third evening. Pauline Deschappelles
was represented by one whom | risked
the trip to see. and 1 was Claude Mel
notte. and all was going as merry AZ