[
478]
Chapter 20: commencement of civil War.
- Uprising of the Southern people, 478.
-- character of the early Volunteers, 479.
-- the insurgents on Arlington Hights
-- invasion of Virginia by National troops, 480.
-- military occupation of Alexandria, 482.
-- death and funeral of Colonel Ellsworth, 483.
-- first fortifications erected near Washington, 484.
-- the troops in Virginia
-- Mount Vernon, 485.
-- attack on Sewell's Point, 486.
-- attack on Acquia Creek batteries, 487.
-- dash into Fairfax Court House
-- the Unionists in Western Virginia, 488.
-- Union Convention at Wheeling
-- alarm of the conspirators, 489.
-- Government of Virginia reorganized, 491.
-- State of West Virginia, 492.
-- troops ordered to Western Virginia, 493.
-- insurgents in Western Virginia, 494.
-- March against the insurgents at Philippi, 495.
-- battle of Philippi, 496.
-- Union troops at Grafton, 497.
At the close of April,
Jefferson Davis and his confederates were satisfied that the
Government and the loyal people of the country were resolved to maintain the nationality of the
Republic at all hazards, and they put forth extraordinary efforts to strike a deadly blow before it should be too late.
The possession of
Washington City being the chief object to be first obtained, troops were hurried toward it, as we have seen, from all points of the Slave-labor States, with the greatest possible haste and in the greatest possible numbers.
At the beginning of May there were sixteen thousand of them on their way to
Virginia or within its borders, and, with the local troops of that Commonwealth, were pressing on toward
Washington, or to important points of communication with it. At the same time measures were on foot at
Montgomery for organizing an army of one hundred thousand men.
1
The enthusiasm among the young men of the ruling class in the
South was equal to that of the young men of the
North.
Notwithstanding the proclamation of the
President, calling for seventy-five thousand men, was read by crowds, “on the bulletin-boards of the telegraph-offices in every town, with roars of laughter and derision, and cheers for the great rail-splitter Abraham,” as one of their chroniclers avers, and few believed that there would be war, “companies were formed on the spot, from among the wealthiest of the youths, and thousands of dollars were spent on their organization, drill, and equipment; indeed, had
Jefferson Davis so desired, he could have had two hundred thousand volunteers within a month for any term of service.”
2 The enthusiasm of the young men was shared by the other sex. “Banners of costly material,” says the same writer, “were made by clubs of patriotic young ladies, and delivered to the companies with appropriate speeches — the men, on such occasions, swearing that they would perish rather than desert the flag thus consecrated.
Subscriptions for arms and accouterments poured in, and an emissary was dispatched northward, post-haste, to get the requisites.”
Regarding the whole matter as a lively pastime in prospect, many of the companies prepared to dress in costly attire, and bear the most expensive rifles; but those who knew better than they what kind of an entertainment the
Southern youth were invited to, gave them some sound lessons at the beginning.
“The young gentlemen of your company,” wrote
Jefferson 
