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you to go to him at once； for lie will be so busy soon that； there is
no saying when the whole troop will get their uniforms。〃
Upon his return home Vincent related to his mother and sisters the
conversation that he had had with Major Ashley。
〃Certainly you had better take a servant with you；〃 his mother said。
〃I suppose when you are riding about； you will have to clean your
horse； and cook your dinner； and do everything for yourself； but
when you are in a town you should have these things done for you。
Who would you like to take？
〃I should like to take Dan； mother； if you have no objection。 He is
very strong and active； and I think would generally be able to keep
up with us； besides； I know he would always stick to me。〃
〃You shall have hun certainly； Vincent； I will make him over
formally to you。〃
WITH LEE IN VIRGINIA。
85
〃Thank you； mother；〃 Vincent said joyfully； for ho had often
wished that Dan belonged to him； as he would then be able to
prevent any interference with him by the overseer or any one else；
and could； if he liked； give him his freedom…although this would；
he knew； be of very doubtful advantage to the lad as long as he
remained in the South。
The next morning the necessary papers were drawn up； and the
ownership of Dan was formally transferred to Vincent。 Dan was
wild with delight when he heard that Vincent was now his master；
and that he was to accompany him to the war。 It had been known
two days before that Vincent was going； and it seemed quite
shocking to the negroes that the young master should go as a
private soldier； and have to do everything for himself…〃just；〃 as
they said； 〃like de poor white trash；〃 for the slaves were proud to
belong to an old family； and looked down with almost contempt
upon the poorer class of whites； regarding their own position as
infinitely superior。
Four days later Vincent received an official letter saying that the
corps would be mustered in two days' time。 The next day was
spent in a long round of farewell visits； and then Vincent mounted
Wildfire； and； with Dan trotting behind； rode off from the
Orangery amid a chorus of blessings and good wishes from all the
slaves who could op any pretext get away from their duties； and
who had assembled in front of the house to see him start。
The place of meeting for the regiment was at Hanover
Courthouse…a station on the Richmond and Fredericksburg
Railway； close to the Pamunky River； about eighteen miles from
the city。
The Orangery was a mile from the village of Gaines； which lay to
the northeast of Richmond； and was some twelve miles from
Hanover Courthouse。
A month was spent in drill； and at the end of that time the corps
wore able to execute any simple maneuver。 More than this Major
Ashley did not care about their learning。 The work in which they
were about to engage was that of scouts rather than that of regular
cavalry； and the requirements were vigilance and attention to
orders； good shooting and a quick eye。 Off duty there was but
little discipline。 Almost the whole of the men were in a good
position in life； and many of them very wealthy； and while strict
discipline and obedience were expected while on duty； at all other
times something like equality existed between officers and men；
and all were free to live as they chose。
The rations served out were simple and often scanty； for at present
the various departments were not properly organized； and such
numbers of men were flocking to the standards that the authorities
were at their wit's end to provide them with even the simplest
food。 This mattered but little； however； to the regiment；； whose
members were all ready and willing to pay for everything they
wanted； and the country people round found a ready market for all
their chickens； eggs； fruit； and vegetables at Hanover Courthouse；
for here there were also several infantry regiments； and the
normally quiet； little village was a scene of bustle and confusion。
The arms of the cavalry were of a very varied description。 Not；
more than a dozen had swords； the rest were armed with rifles or
shot…guns； with the barrels cut short to enable them to be carried as
carbines。 Many of them were armed with revolvers； and some
carried pistols so antiquated that they might have been used in the
revolutionary war。 A certain number of tents had been issued for
the use of the corps。 These； however； were altogether insufficient
for the numbers； and most of the men preferred to sleep in shelters
composed of canvas； carpets； blankets； Qr any other material that
came to hand； or in arbors constructed of the boughs of trees； for it
was now April and warm enough to sleep in the open air。
In the third week in May the order came that the corps was to
march at once for Harper's Ferry…an important position at； the point
where the Shenandoah River runs into the Potomac； at； the mouth
of the Shenandoah Valley。 The order was received with the
greatest satisfaction。 The Federal forces were gathering rapidly
upon the northern banks of the Potomac； and it was believed that；
while the main army would march down from Washington through
Manassas Junction direct upon Richmond； another would enter by
the Shenandoah Valley； and； crossing the Blue Ridge Mountains；
come down on the rear of the Confederate army； facing the main
force at； Manassas。 The cavalry marched by road； while the
infantry were despatched by rail as far as Manassas Junction；
whence they marched to Harper's Ferry。 The black servants
accompanied the infantry。
The cavalry march was a pleasant one。 At every village through
which they passed the people flocked out； with offerings of milk
and fruit。 The days were hot； but the mornings and evenings
delightful； and as the troops always halted in the shade of a wood
for three or four hours in the middle of the day； the marches；
although long were not fatiguing。 At Harper's Ferry General
Johnston had just superseded Colonel Jackson in command。 The
force there consisted of 11 battalions of infantry； 16 guns； arid
after Ashley's force arrived； 300 cavalry。 Among the regiments
there Vincent found many friends； and learned what was going on。
He learned that Colonel Jackson had been keeping them hard at
work。 Some of Vincent's friends had been at the Virginia Military
Institute at Lexington； where Jackson was professor of natural
philosophy and instructor of artillery。
〃He was the greatest fun；〃 one of the young men said； 〃the stiffest
and most awkward…looking fellow in the institute。 He used to
work about as if he never saw anything or anybody。 He was
always known as Old Tom； and nobody ever saw him laugh。 He
was awfully earnest in all he did； and strict； I can tell you； about
everything。 There was no humbugging him。 The fellows liked him
because he was really so earnest about everything； and always just
and fair。 But he didn't l