ry Society, on February 22,
1861, the right of secession was attacked and defended by the
participants in the discussion, with no less zeal than they afterward
displayed on many bloody battlefields.

We had as a near neighbor the Virginia Military Institute, "The West
Point of the South," where scores of her young chivalry were assembled,
who were eager to put into practice the subjects taught in their school.
Previous to these exciting times not the most kindly feelings, and but
little intercourse had existed between the two bodies of young men. The
secession element in the College, however, finding more congenial
company among the cadets, opened up the way for quite intimate and
friendly relations between the two institutions. In January, 1861, the
corps of cadets had been ordered by Governor Wise to be present, as a
military guard, at the execution of John Brown at Harper's Ferry. After
their return more than the usual time was given to the drill; and
target-shooting with cannon and small arms was daily practised in our
hearing.

Only a small proportion of the citizens of the community favored
secession, but they were very aggressive. One afternoon, while a huge
Union flag-pole was being raised on the street, which when half-way up
snapped and fell to the ground in pieces, I witnessed a personal
encounter between a cadet and a mechanic (the latter afterward deserted
from our battery during the Gettysburg campaign in Pennsylvania, his
native State), which was promptly taken up by their respective friends.
The cadets who were present hastened to their barracks and, joined by
their comrades, armed themselves, and with fixed bayonets came streaming
at double-quick toward the town. They were met at the end of Main street
by their professors, conspicuous among whom was Colonel Colston on
horseback. He was a native of France and professor of French at the
Institute; he became a major-general in the Confederate Army and later a
general in the Egyptian Army. After considerable persuasion the cadets
were induced to return to their barracks.

Instead of the usual Saturday night debates of the College literary
societies, the students either joined the cadets in their barracks at
the Institute or received them at the College halls to harangue on the
one absorbing topic.

On the top of the main building at the College was a statue of
Washington, and over this statue some of the students hoisted a palmetto
flag. This greatly i