To day again I went to the office, but no letter was there to cheer
my spirits, by telling me to come home and hasten to the war. I was anxiously
expecting one, and the disapointment went quite hard.
The
Orange Guards left
Hillsboro this morning, and I am told that there were few dry
eyes in
the crowd congregated to see them
depart. There was parting with wives and children fathers and brothers, and
with some no doubt a parting for the last time. There was a flag raising here
to day. The ladies of the place made and put up the Flag. The citizens raised
the pole in which
Page 2
I had the pleasure of assisting.
Two young ladies made speaches and were followe by the following noted
gentlemen,
S.
F. [Samuel Field] Phillipps
,
Capt Ashe
,
Gov
Swain
and
Sidney
Smith
, together with quite a number of Students.
Gov
Swain
in alluding to the war said that the south was invincible by any
force that our enemies can send against us. He thought that further blood shed
2
could be avoided, by every man in the
South
shouldering his musket.
Lincoln would then see our strength and would know that it
would be useless to attempt to coerce us. Such being the case I beg you to let
me be one to proceed to
Federal
Point,
3
and frighten
Lincoln out of his witts, if possible and if the
Gov's
prediction should
Page 3
prove untrue and war should
actually be necessary, I should be happy to bear a part, humble though it be,
in defense of my country. The flag raised to day contained nine stars, the last
two in honor of
Virginia and
N. C.
4
This is probably the first flag raised, on which
N
Carolina has been numbered with the seceeding states.
God grant that she
may soon take her place among her southern sisters in reality. News from
Maryland states
that, the citizens of
Baltimore
yesterday attacked the
Seventh regiment of N. Y. which was proceeding to
Washington in answer to
Lincoln's call. reports says that about 14 were killed.
Thank the lord that
Maryland has
yet some patriots left within her borders, who will oppose aggression
Page 4
to the death, although she is presided ofer by the
traiterous
Hicks.
5 I
learn even while
6
writing that
Lincoln has taken
Genl
Scott prisoner because he was going to side with the south, and had
thrown up his commission, and has him now in Prison. This is fine treatment to
give that old veteran who has fought and bled in defence of his country. There
was also a skirmish yesterday at
Harpers
Ferry.
Major
Lilly
of
Virginia
7
who lives near there is here now on his way to take charge of his company. Two
Thousand
South
Carolineans are now on their way to
Norfolk to
aid the
virginians
in taking
fort
Monroe. Can I stay here and pretend to study, when I am continually
hearing news from the war and when my country needs
8
Apr 21
st since writing this letter I have heard
that fortress monroe is taken, that
Gov
Ellis
has caled out thirty thousand troops.
9
There is a company formin[g] here to go to
Washington
City, composed of students. As my state needs my services I shall not
volunteer. Please write to
Capt
Cowan immediately and see if he will except me. I am copelled to
go somewhere.