a Army and
Navy were organized; and all of the naval officers who had tendered
their services received commissions in the Virginia, and afterward in
the Confederate Navy; but as there were very few vessels in commission,
the greater portion of these officers were ordered to shore batteries.
My first experience was at Fort Powhatan, an earthwork situated on James
River a short distance below City Point, and carrying six or eight guns
mounted on ships' carriages, which had been transported from the Norfolk
Navy-yard. "Grim visaged war" had not shown his "wrinkled front" in
those fair portions of the land; and our time was chiefly spent in
drilling the volunteers at the big guns, and visiting the hospitable
families in the neighborhood; but all of us were soon to be transferred
to more active scenes. The young gentlemen-privates of the gallant
volunteer company, who so daintily handled the side and train-tackles
of the 42-pounders in the battery, considered themselves fortunate, not
long afterwards, if they obtained full rations of lean beef, or "Nassau"
pork, and "hard tack;" and bore the brunt of many a severely contested
battle as part of Stonewall Jackson's "foot cavalry." But at this period
there were only a few so called croakers who at all realized the
magnitude of the struggle about to ensue. The camps resounded with song
and merriment; and many of the young warriors were attended, like the
knights-errant of old, by a faithful squire, who polished the boots,
cleaned the musket, and performed other menial service for his "young
master." My own "fidus Achates," was old "Uncle Billy," whose occupation
was gone by the stoppage of a tobacco factory in Richmond, where he had
been used to take a prominent part in the peculiar songs of the
"profession." He would sometimes give us a specimen of his vocal powers,
and would nearly bring the house down, literally and metaphorically,
while executing the mysteries of a "Virginny breakdown" in thick soled
brogans sixteen inches long.

But to return from this digression, it was believed by many persons that
a large party at the North would oppose the prosecution of a war of
invasion. It will be remembered by those at all conversant with the
history of events at that time, how strong had been the party opposed to
secession in the Convention then in session at Richmond, (at least
two-thirds of its members having been elected as Union men,) and what
strenuous efforts towards peace an