no such incident can be described. Webster said of old England that, "her morning drum beat, following the sun, circles the world with the martial airs of England." But when Virginia flung her standard to the breeze with her proud motto, "Sic Semper Tyrannis," and summoned her array, the earth blazed with the fiery cross of Virginia as they rushed to her defence. From every continent, from every clime, from all avocations, from the bar, the pulpit, the counting room, the work-shop, the Virginians came. "Their's not to reason why, Their's but to do and die." When the Sea Venture, after the romantic shipwreck at the Summer Isles, which gave Shakespeare the incident and the locality for the Tempest, was about to loose her gallant commander, old Sir George Somers, when he gave up his manly spirit, he called his crew about him and "exhorted them to be true to duty and return to Virginia." The words of the old knight rang like a trumpet call wherever there was a Virginian, "Be true to duty and return to Virginia." Those who failed to obey that call, for there were a few, a very few, who did fail, by their subsequent lives, did not furnish bright examples of renown, success or happiness, to encourage others in future crises to follow their example. It is due to candor to say that neither Lee nor Johnston approved the action of the other States, for they knew that such action would inevitably bring on war, and they knew what war meant, but there is no reason to think that either of them for a moment believed that Virginia could, would or ought to act, except just exactly as she did act. With them, as with all other Virginians, the simple question was: "With or against blood and kin? For or against the old mother?" and the question answered itself in the asking. CHAPTER IV. THE CAMPAIGN OF 1861 IN VIRGINIA. 'HE Virginia convention, on the 17th of April, THE adopted an ordinance, repealing the act by which, in 1787, she had accepted the Constitution made at Philadelphia, and provided for accepting the Constitution as amended and accepted by the States at Montgomery ; the ordinance to be submitted to the vote of the people on the 24th of May. The secret was at once proclaimed all over the land, and on April 19th, a Massachusetts regiment passing through Baltimore in response to President Lincoln's proclamation to defend the capital, was attacked in the streets by a mob and badly demoralized. The Virginians promptly took possession of Harper's Ferry, where there was a depot of arms, and were about to seize Fortress Monroe, but lost their opportunity through vacillating counsels of a State administration, faithful and zealous, but inexperienced in war. Brigadier-General Johnston sent in his resignation to the Secretary of War of the United States on Saturday, April 20th, and it was placed in the hands of the Secretary April 22, with the request that the proper order accepting it be promptly issued. This was done, and on the morning of the 23d, with only his personal arms and clothing, he left Washington for Richmond. |