Confederacy itself would be in existence,
was a feeling experienced by all, but was too painful a subject for
general discussion. The gaiety of the place under such conditions,
viewed at this remote day, seems astonishing. There the Confederate
Congress and the Virginia Legislature held their sessions; and there
were the numerous employees of State and Nation, and refugees from
various parts of the South, and, besides, it was the great manufacturing
center of that section, employing mechanics and artisans of every
calling. For four years this mixed multitude had listened to the thunder
of cannon almost at their doors, and had seen old men and boys called
out by day and by night to meet some extraordinary emergency, while it
was no uncommon occurrence for hundreds of sick, wounded, and dead men
to be borne through the streets to the overflowing hospitals and
cemeteries. One surprising feature of it was to see how readily all
adapted themselves to such a life.

My first social visit, in company with my messmate, James Gilmer, of
Charlottesville, Virginia, was to call on some lady friends, formerly of
Winchester. We found these ladies starting to an egg-nog at the house of
some friends--the Misses Munford--with instructions to invite their
escorts. This position we gladly accepted, and were soon ushered into
the presence of some of the celebrated beauties of Richmond, and were
entertained as graciously as if we had been officers of high rank. The
climax of this visit was as we were returning to camp the next
afternoon. We overtook Tazwell McCorkle, of Lynchburg, the only member
of our company who could afford the luxury of being married and having
his wife nearby. He had just received a box from home, and invited us to
go with him to his wife's boarding-house and partake of its contents.
While enjoying and expressing our appreciation of the good things,
McCorkle told us of the impression the sight of old-time luxuries had
made on their host, Mr. Turner, a devout old Baptist, who, with uplifted
hands, exclaimed, as it first met his gaze, "Pound-cake, as I pray to be
saved!"

Since the burning of the Virginia Military Institute barracks, by Hunter
at Lexington, the school had been transferred to Richmond and occupied
the almshouse. This, on my visits to the city, I made my headquarters,
and, preparatory to calling on my lady acquaintances, was kindly
supplied with outfits in apparel by my friends among the professors.
Havi