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Southern Historical Society papers.
Vol.
X. Richmond, Va., Oct. And Nov'r, 1882.
Nos. 10-11.
Reminiscences of the First battle of Manassas.
I was appointed by
Gov. Letcher,
Colonel of the Forty-ninth Virginia volunteers, the latter part of June, 1861, upon my individual application.
The Governor replied to my application, that I was too old; to which I rejoined, that I would like to see the young man who could stand more hardship and fatigue than
I. Well, he said, if you insist upon it, I will not refuse.
To which I said, in the words of the bridegroom, who, when asked by the parson if he would take this woman as his wedded wife, “zounds man, that is just what I come for.”
The Governor thereupon gave me an order to
General R. E. Lee, then
Adjutant-General of our State, to prepare my commission.
Upon presenting it,
General Lee, after glancing over it, looked up with manifest surprise, he, too, doubtless thinking I was too old; and pausing a moment, and without a word, he filled up and handed it to me. I took it to the
Governor for his signature.
Receiving it, I returned with it to
General Lee, that he might make the proper record — who, having done so, returned it to me, with an order to
General Beauregard to form my regiment out of companies as they severally reported for duty.
In my
