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in the event of a landing in the James Peninsula by the
Northerners。 A few days later there came an official intimation
that he had received a commission in the cavalry； and had at
General Magruder's request been appointed to his staff； and he at
once entered upon his new duties。
The fortress of Monroe； at the entrance of Hampton Roads； was
still in the hands of the Federals； and a large Federal fleet was
assembled here； and was only prevented from sailing up the James
River by the Merrimac； a steamer which the Confederates had
plated with railway iron。 They had also constructed batteries upon
some high bluffs on each side of the river。 In a short time 5；000
negroes were set to work erecting batteries upon the York River at
Yorktown and Gloucester Point； and upon a line of works
extending from Warwick upon the James River to Ship Point on
the York； through a line of wooded and swampy country
intersected by streams emptying themselves into one or other of
the rivers。
This line was some thirty miles in length； and would require
25；000 men to guard it； but Magruder hoped that there would be
sufficient warning of an attack to enable reinforcements to arrive
in time to raise his own command of about 10；000 men to that
strength。 The negroes worked cheerfully； for they received a
certain amount of pay from the State； but the work was heavy and
difficult； and different altogether to that which they were
accustomed to perform。 The batteries by the sides of the rivers
made fair progress； but the advance of the long line of works
across the peninsula was but slow。 Vincent had； upon receiving
his appointment； written at once to Major Ashley； sending his
letter by Dan； who was ordered to bring back Wildfire。 Vincent
stated that had he consulted his personal feeling be should have
preferred remaining in the ranks of his old corps； but that as the
fighting might be close to his home； and there was no saying what
might be the behavior of the slave population in the event of a
Northern invasion； he had； for the sake of his mother and sisters；
accepted the appointment； but as soon as the danger was over he
hoped to rejoin the corps and serve under his former commander。
Dan； on his return with Wildfire； brought a letter from the major
saying that although he should have been glad to have had him
with him； he quite agreed with the decision at which he had； under
the circumstances； arrived。 Vincent now took up his quarters at the
camp formed a short distance from the city； and much of his time
was spent in riding to and from the peninsula； seeing that the
works were being carried out according to the plan of the general；
and reporting upon the manner in which the contractors for the
supply of food to the negroes at work there performed their duties。
Sometimes he was away for two or three days upon this work； but
be generally managed once or twice a week to get home for a few
hours。
The inhabitants of Richmond and its neighborhood were naturally
greatly interested in the progress of the works for their defense；
and parties were often organized to ride or drive to Yorktown； or
to the batteries on the James River； to watch the progress made。
Upon one occasion Vincent accompanied his mother and sisters；
and a party of ladies and gentlemen from the neighboring
plantations； to Drury's Bluff； where an entrenched position named
Fort Darling had been erected； and preparations made to sink
vessels across the river； and close it against the advance of the
enemy's fleet should any misfortune happen to the Merrimac。
Several other parties had been made up； and each brought
provisions with them。 General Magruder and some of his officers
received them upon their arrival； and conducted them over the
works。 After this the whole party sat down to a picnic meal on the
ground； and no stranger could have guessed that the merry party
formed part of a population threatened with invasion by a powerful
foe。 There were speeches and toasts； all of a patriotic character；
and General Magruder raised the enthusiasm to the highest point
by informing them that in a few days…the exact day was a secret；
but it would be very shortly…the Merrimac； or； as she had been
re…christened； the Virginia； would put out from Norfolk Harbor；
and see what she could do to clear Hampton Roads of the fleet that
now threatened them。 As they were riding back to Richmond the
general said to Vincent：
〃I will tell you a little more than I told the others； Wingfield。 I
believe the Merrimac will go out the day after to…morrow。 I wish I
could get away myself to see the affair； but； unfortunately； I cannot
do so。 However； if you like to be present； I will give you three
days' leave； as you have been working very hard lately。 You can
start early to…morrow； and can get down by train to Norfolk in the
evening。 I should advise you to take your horse with you； and then
you can ride in the morning to some spot from which you will get
a fair view of the Roads； and be able to see what is going on。〃
〃Thank you very much； sir；〃 Vincent said。 〃I should like it
immensely。〃
The next day Vincent went down to Norfolk。 Arriving there； he
found that although there was a general expectation that the
Merrimac would shortly go out to try her strength with the enemy；
nothing was known of the fact that the next morning had been
fixed for the encounter； the secret being kept to the last lest some
spy or adherent of the North might take the news to the fleet。
After putting up his horse Vincent went down to the navy yard； off
which the Merrimac was lying。
This ship had been sunk by the Federals when at the
commencement of hostilities they had evacuated Norfolk。 Having
been raised by the Confederates； the ship was cut down； and a sort
of roof covered with iron was built over it； so that the vessel
presented the appearance of a huge sunken house。 A ram was
fixed to her bow； and she was armed with ten guns。 Her
steam…power was very insufficient for her size； and she could only
move through the water at the rate of five knots an hour。
〃She is an ugly…looking thing；〃 a man observed to Vincent as he
gazed at the ship。
〃Frightfully ugly；〃 Vincent agreed。 〃She may be a formidable
machine in the way of fighting； but one can scarcely call her a
ship。〃
〃She is a floating…battery； and if they tried their best to turn out the
ugliest thing that ever floated they could not have succeeded
better。 She is just like a Noah's ark sunk down to the eaves of her
roof。〃
〃Yes； she is a good deal like that；〃 Vincent agreed。 〃The very look
of her ought to be enough to frighten the Federals； even if she did
nothing else。〃
〃I expect it will not be long before she gives them a taste of her
quality；〃 the man said。 〃She has got her coal and ammunition on
board； and there's nothing to prevent her going out this evening if
she wants to。〃
〃It will