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the militia of the various States to put down the rebellion…the
border States being ordered to send their proportion。 This brought
matters to a climax。 Virginia； North Carolina； Kentucky；
Tennessee； and Missouri all refused to furnish contingents to act
against the Southern States； and Virginia； North Carolina； and
Kansas a few days later passed Ordinances of Secession and joined
the Southern States。 Missouri； Maryland； and Delaware were
divided in their counsels。
The struggle that was about； to commence was an uneven one。
The white population of the Seceding States was about 8；000；000；
while that the Northern States were 19；614；885。 The North
possessed an immense advantage； inasmuch as they retained the
whole of the Federal navy； and were thereby enabled at once to cut
off all communication between the Southern States and Europe；
while they themselves could draw unlimited supplies of munitions
of war of all kinds from across the Atlantic。
Although the people of Virginia had hoped to the last that some
peaceful arrangement might be effected； the Act of Secession was
received with enthusiasm。 The demand of Mr。 Lincoln that they
should furnish troops to crush their Southern brethren excited the
liveliest indignation； and Virginia felt that there was no course
open to her now but to throw in her lot with the other Slaves
States。 Her militia was at once called out； and volunteers called
for to form a provisional army to protect the State from invasion
by the North。
The appeal was answered with enthusiasm； men of all ages took
up arms； the wealthy raised regiments at their own expense；
generally handing over the commands to experienced army
officers； and themselves taking their places in the ranks； thousand
of lads of from fifteen to sixteen years of age enrolled themselves；
and men who had never done a day's work in their life prepared to
suffer all the hardships of the campaign as private soldiers。
Mrs。 Wingfield was an enthusiastic supporter of State rights； and
when Vincent told her that numbers of his friends were going to
enroll themselves as soon as the lists were opened； she offered no
objection to his doing the same。
〃Of course you are very young； Vincent； but no one thinks there
will be any serious fighting。 Now that Virginia and the other four
States have cast in their lot with the seven that have seceded； the
North can never hope to force the solid South back into the Union。
Still it is right you should join。 I certainly should not； like an old
Virginian family like ours to be unrepresented； but I should prefer
your joining one of the mounted corps。
〃In the first； place it will be much less fatiguing than carrying a
heavy rifle and knapsack； and in the second place； the cavalry will
for the most； part be gentlemen。 I was speaking only yesterday
when I went into Richmond to Mr。 Ashley； who is raising a corps。
He is one of the best riders in the country； and a splendid specimen
of a Virginian gentleman。 lie tells me that he has already received
a large number of applications from young volunteers； and that he
thinks he shall be able without any difficulty to get as many as he
wants。 I said that I had a son who would probably enroll himself；
and that I should like to have him in his corps。
〃He said that he would be glad to put down your name； and that he
had had many applications from lads no older than yourself。 He
considered that for cavalry work； scouting； and that sort； of thing
age mattered little； and that； a lad who was at once a light weight；
a good rider； and a good shot was of as much good as a man。〃
〃Thank you； mother。 I will ride into Richmond to…morrow
morning and see Ashley。 I have often met him at one house or
another； and should like to serve under him very much。 I should
certainly prefer being in the cavalry to the infantry。〃
Rosie and Annie； who were of course enthusiastic for the South；
were almost as pleased as was Vincent when they heard that their
mother had consented to his enrolling himself。 So many of the
girls of their acquaintance had brothers or cousins who were
joining the army； that they would have felt it； as something like a
slur upon the family name had Vincent remained behind。
On the following morning Vincent rode over and saw Mr。 Ashley；
who had just； received his commission as major。 He was cordially
received。
Mrs。 Wingfield was speaking to me about you； and I shall be glad
to have you with me…the more so as you are a capital rider and a
good shot。 I shall have a good many in my ranks no older than you
are。 Did I not hear a few mouths since that you bought； Wildfire？ I
thought when I heard it； that you would be lucky if you did not get
your neck broken in the course of a week。 Peters； who owns the
next estate to mine； had the horse for about three weeks； and was
glad enough to get； rid of it for half what he had given for it。 He
told me the horse was the most savage brute he ever saw。 I
suppose you did not keep it many days？〃
〃I have got it still； and mean to ride it with you。 The horse was not
really savage。 It was hot…tempered； and had； I think； been badly
treated by its first owner。 Who…ever it had belonged to； I found no
difficulty with it；。 It only wanted kindness and a little patience；
and as soon as it found that it could not get rid of me； and that I
had no intention of ill…treating it；； it settled down quietly； after
running away a few times and giving me some little trouble at
starting。 And now 1 would not change it for any horse in the
State。〃
〃You must he a first…rate rider；〃 Major Ashley said； 〃to be able to
tame Wildfire。 I never saw the horse； for I was away when Peters
had her； but； from his description it was a perfect savage。〃
〃Are we allowed to bring a servant with us〃 Vincent asked。
〃Yes； if you like。 I know that a good many are going to do so； but
you must not make up your mind that you will get much benefit
from one。 We shall move rapidly； and each man must； shift for
himself； but at the same time we shall of course often be
stationary； and then servants will be useful。 At any rate I can see
no objection to men having them。 We must be prepared to rough it
to any extent when it is necessary； but I see no reason why at other
times a man should not； make himself comfortable。 I expect the
order to…morrow or next； day to begin formally to enroll
volunteers。 As I have now put down your name there will be no
occasion for you to come in then。 You will receive a
communication telling you when to report yourself。
〃I shall not trouble much about uniform at first。 High boots and
breeches； a thick felt hat that will turn the edge of a sword； and a
loose coat…jacket of dark…gray cloth。 That is the name of the tailor
who has got the pattern； and will make them。 So I should advise
you to go to him at once； for lie will be so busy soon that； there is
no say