USA > Virginia > Virginia before and during the war > Part 5
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young daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, were handsome and amia- ble, but had neither their mother's strong character nor pride.
John, now at home, had finished his academic course and was taking a rest before commencing the study of law. He had graduated in all the schools of the University of Virginia except in mathematics, shrinking from the hard study necessary to mas- ter this science in its higher branches, thus failing to take the degree of A.M., much to his mother's mortification. He was, however, a fine linguist and well read in English literature, and was a ready and forcible speaker. His temper was quick, his moral principles unfixed, and he already had acquired a taste for alcoholic drinks. Col. Preston was inclined to be neutral in re- ligion and politics. However, to relieve the tedium of Sundays, he generally attended church, and in politics his sympathies were with the South, though fearing agitation that might lead to revo- lution. He owned but few slaves, only a sufficient number for domestic servants, his fields being cultivated and his cattle herded by white men. Many people around held to him almost the same relation that feudal tenants formerly held to the barons in Eu- rope, and almost daily a number of rough men in their shirt sleeves, with long rifles on their shoulders, might be seen around his outhouses and stables. These men always voted with him, and were ready to join with him in any feud he might have with his neighbors. In after years when war came, men in Col. Pres- ton's position, in these mountains, were almost universally fol- lowed by their tenants, whichever side they might espouse.
There was a watering place in the neighborhood, fitted up for the accommodation of a few guests. Here a few families from the South resorted in summer for a quiet resting place. These fornied the acquaintance of the family, so the young peo- ple. did not want for company.
Judge Buford said he and his wife had come out here for rest, and spent his time reading and taking quiet horseback rides with Col. Preston. They had both been Whigs, when that party had an existence, and agreed very well in politics, and in their rides
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would discuss politics in a quiet manner. The subject, however, was seldom mentioned injMrs. Preston's presence, as she would not agree atgall with them. Jolin and Willie had some very good sport, ten miles away, hunting deer, accompanied by some of the rough mountaineers. They camped out at night in a small tent they carried with them. They carried no provisions but bread and coffee, trusting to their guns for meat. Willie had the luck, much to his delight, of bringing down a fine buck. There was also some good fishing in the clear mountain streams. Willie was quite expert as a fisherman in the waters of the Staunton, but could not compete with John in angling for trout found in these clear cold streams, but not in the rivers of the low country. An incident occurred during this visit showing John's ungovern- able temper and Willie's coolness. They were riding together, where two young men, a negro and a white man, were driving and trying to separate some cattle from the bulk of the herd. Whilst the negro was riding rapidly he wheeled his horse sudden- ly and ran against a snag. This inflicted a severe cut in the side of his horse, which was a very fine animal. On this, John rushed upon him and lashed him with his riding whip. On the young white man remarking that the accident was unavoidable aud that Dick was not to blame, John turned upon him, saying, "what have you to do with it, you poor, -[using an opprobrious epithet, at the same time raising his whip as if to strike.] The hand of the man went into his bosom instantly, when Willie pushed his horse between them, saying. "hold, John, you are too hasty; my friend, let's stop this thing-forgive and forget." John lowered his whip, saying, "I was so aggravated. That horse is, I believe, injured for life." Willie prevailed on him to offer an apology to both, in case of Dick, adding a quarter of a dollar which seemed much to soothe his wounded feelings.
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CHAPTER XIV.
Their visit being over, all returned home. Willie, though much pleased with his visit, saw no reason for preferring the mountain country to Eastern Virginia. He preferred the state of society in his own section. The social distinctions were more marked than in the Piedmont section. Wealthy families frequent- ly resided many miles from those with whom they mingled so- cially. Whilst there were many intelligent and educated people, there was a large class illiterate, degraded and superstitious, and this in a greater degree than in any class east of the mountains. After spending a few days at home, Willie took his departure for Harvard, and his sisters, accompanied by Lizzie Campbell, for Richmond, he accompanying them to that place.
He had advanced rapidly in learning and had made a reputa- tion for ability with his classmates. He was devoted to his studies, and went but little into society, only occasionally visiting a few friends in Boston. He made many friends among the stu- dents from all sections of the country. Among these students politics was frequently discussed, and life long opinions formed. Willie's Southern principles were not overcome by his Northern associations. He found many persons very prejudiced and unin- formed about the condition of the Southern States, and his in- dignation was frequently aroused by the remarks he had to listen to. Being of a domestic disposition, he always went home dur- ing the summer vacations.
The year 1859 was an era of great prosperity in the South. The great majority of farmers were busily engaged in improving their farms and bettering their fortunes, unconscious of the great catastrophe so soor to come upon them. Only a few were suf. ficiently discerning to see the cloud that was approaching. Among these few was Judge Buford. who was prudently invest- ing his surplus means in the newer Northern States. The state of society in the country in Virginia was in a condition we shall
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probably never see again. Men of moderate and large fortunes had no home but their plantations and farms. They had no city residences, and all their interests were with their neighbors. They lived in an independent and dignified style, having all the necessities if but few of the elegancies of life. They were leisure- ly and systematic in their habits, and had not the frantic haste to be rich, characteristic of more recent times. A planter worth fifty thousand dollars had a higher social position than a million- aire of to-day. If the planters had some of the faults of pa- tricians, they also had the virtues. They could not retain the respect of their neighbors, if any stain of meanness or of cow- ardice was attached to them. Want of courage in a man, or of virtue in a woman, was looked upon as an unpardonable offense. In any warfare between capital and labor the wealthy slaveholder was the natural ally of the laborer, all his income coming direct- ly from the labor of his slaves, and when slavery was abolished, the poor man of the North and of the South lost his only power- ful friend, and was left to struggle unaided by wealth, in any quarter, against the combined capital of the whole country.
Willie, on his return, visited his old acquaintances. He found Miss Nelson, who had just returned from her school in New Jersey at home. She was now a highly accomplished lady, with an education equalled for thoroughiness by that of but few persons in the State. She had procured a situation in a large public school in a city of Indiana, at a good salary, and would go to attend to her duties in September. Mr. Nelson was delighted with the progress and prospects of his old pupil and confidently predicted that he would make a great man.
Tom Jones had improved greatly. He was making fine crops and had repaired the old house, put up nice new fences and changed the looks of things around for the better. Judge Buford observed his course with pleasure and had determined that in a few years he would give him business in the manage- ment of his plantation. An elderly man, Mr. Trigg, was now overseer. During Willie's stay at home, Mr. Trigg was laid up with
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an attack of fever, and the hands were under the control of the negro foreman. One day as Willie was riding through the fields he discovered quite a commotion among the hands. On riding up he found Sam in open rebellion, positively refusing to obey orders. On his interfering and insisting on obedience to the fore- man, Sam, who was much excited, said. "Mars Willie, you ain't de oberseer and ain't got nothing to do with me; you better go along and mind your own business." On his replying, "I will show you what I have to do with it," Sam rejoined, "go away, you might get hurt." On this, Willie leaped from his horse. He was six feet two inches in height, and although apparently slen- der, weighed about one hundred and eighty pounds. Though a close student, he had not neglected the gymnasium and was an expert boxer and very active. Sam was of that Herculean build. so common in the negro race. Though not so tall as Willie by four inches, he weighed over two hundred pounds, without hav- ing an ounce of superfluous flesh. His strength was almost in- credible, and since his eighteenth year, he had never met his match in strength. As Willie advanced, Sami threw himself on the defensive, thinking that he could easily seize and hold him without hurting him. But Willie so skillfully planted a blow under his chin as to fell him to the earth, and every time he at- tempted to rise, repeated with so good an effect that Sam gave it up.
Sain, before this time, had rebelled and been conquered, but only by force of weapons and of numbers. Never before had he met a man that dared to stand up before him in fair fight, and he respected Willie accordingly. He being now humbled, Willie listened to an account of the difficulty, made Sam agree to sub- mit, and told the foreman not to tell his father anything about it, as he disliked very much to be annoyed by such things.
Willie was a frequent visitor of the Campbell's. Their home was made pleasant by intelligence, industry and refinement. On his first call, Mrs. Campbell proudly exhibited for his inspection little William Buford, a fine chubby fellow of six months old.
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He now told Lizzie of his love for her, and she told him that she supposed she had always loved him, as she could not remember when she had begun to do so. It was agreed that they would be married as soon as he could procure license to practice law, an event which they could not foresee would be long postponed by coming events. In the meantime they gave themselves up to the enjoyment of the present with bright dreams for the future. She was so intelligent, so beautiful and so amiable that he thought that no man could be happier than he. And he was so noble in appearance, so talented and so brave, he was to her a king among nien.
No one would desire to see a dark and angry cloud on a beau- tiful day of sunshine, and none would desire that these two, happy in the present, should hear the mutterings of that tempest. already heard by some in the distance, destined to overwhelm them. Judge Buford, observing Willie's frequent visits to the Campbell's, suspected the purport, and being an ambitious man, desired his son to make a brilliant and wealthy marriage. After hesitating for some time. from that strange timidity some parents feel in addressing their children on this subject, he at last led hin into a conversation about it, telling him that he was too young as yet to form an engagement, and that after the completion of his studies he would have an opportunity of becoming acquainted with ladies of wealthy and distinguished families.
Willie replied, "Father, I will be candid with you. I have always obeyed you, but in relation to marriage, I will be my own judge. You are a Baptist and have always taught me that, in matters of religion, no human authority should interpose between a man and his Maker. I believe it is just so in relation to mar- riage. I love Lizzie Campbell and expect to marry her, and would request you as a gentleman not to let anyone know that you do not entirely approve of it. She is so proud that, although she loves me, she might refuse me, if my family objects."
Judge Buford knew the firmness of his son and gave the de- sired promise. He had no idea of outraging the feelings of his
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son; and would not oppose him in anything he might desire, un- less a'question of principle was involved. Although valueing wealth and distinction, he preferred to them his son's affection. Good Mrs. Buford had no objections to the gentle Lizzie.
His vacation being nearly ended, Willie departed for Har- vard, accompanying his sister and Lizzie to Richmond. This was to be the last collegiate year for him and them. He bade his betrothed a tender farewell, each promising an uninterrupted cor- respondence.
CHAPTER XV.
The summer of 1860, so eventful in history, had now come, and Willie had graduated with great distinction. On his return home he was accompanied by a particular friend, about a year his senior, Marion Lamont, of South Carolina, who had graduated with him. Lamont was descended from an ancestor who had left France to avoid the persecutions of Louis XIV. He was very wealthy ; the only son of his mother, who was a widow. He was barely of the middle height and quite spare in form, but firmly knit and symmetrical in shape. His head was finely formed and of moderate size, his eyes blue and his complexion remarkably fair. Casually observed, his appearance was rather effeminate, but in spite of this he was emphatically, physically and intel- lectually a man. He had that perfection of manner possessed by so many gentlemen of the extreme Southern States, easy, un- affected and pleasant, in which they stand unrivaled, except, per- haps, by the educated class in Massachusetts. Though retiring he had rare conversational powers for so young a man. His abil- ities were of a high order, and he was the soul of honor.
Letitia, the elder. Miss Buford, had grown up to be an ex- ceedingly beautiful woman. Though only seventeen, she seemed already a mature woman. She was very tall and her form f:111 and well rounded. Her hair and eyes were dark, but her com-' plexion was very fair. Her expression, though intelligent, had
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all the sweetness and gentleness of childhood. The influences surrounding her from her earliest years had been pure and re- ligious; and though she possessed a mind of superior order and highly cultivated, she was as ignorant as a child of the evil that was in the world. But with all this gentleness and simplicity, she had a very firm and unyielding disposition, and a purpose once formed by her was very hard to be changed.
No sooner had Lemont seen her than his fate was sealed. He became immediately deeply in love. She was not so suscep- tible, but in a few weeks she yielded to the fascination of his manners and the brilliancy and earnestness of his conversation. This was pleasing to Willie, who esteemed no one more highly than Lamont, who was so honorahle that he soon spoke to Judge Buford on the subject. "He gave him references of the highest character as to his standing morally and socially, and as to the extent of his property, which was large, and which was his own, as his father was not living. To his surprise, the Judge received his proposal quite coolly, urging the extreme youth of his daugh- ter and the precarious condition of National affairs as reasons why he would not consent to their early union. Willie was grieved at this, as he saw no reason why they should not be mar- ried in a short time, as Lamont did not intend following a pro- fession, his wealth being sufficient to justify him in this course.
Letitia, who had become very much in love, if urged, would have left father and mother for him. . She told him she was irre- vocably his, and would go with him whenever he came for her. Lamont was too honorable to take advantage of her feelings. In about a month, he took his leave, promising frequent letters and exacting the promise of an answer to all of them. He also prom- ised that he would go to see her, at her new residence, as soon as practicable,-a promise very long in being fulfilled, caused by events over which he had no control.
Judge Buford had determined to move to Chicago, the next winter, and Willie to attend the law school of the University of Virginia, in the autumn, his father entertaining a high opinion
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of the legal abilities of Judge Minor, the law professor.
During the summer, the people were intensely excited about the pending Presidential election. Willie, though too young to vote, was deeply interested and formed his own opinions. The Jolin Brown raid had made a deep impression on the public mind. and there was a strong feeling against Northern aggression caused not by the atrocious attempt of a fanatic, but by the open- ly expressed sympathy of many occupying high public office or conducting influential newspapers. It was now generally be- lieved that the election of a President on a sectional issue would cause a dissolution of the Union. Unfortunately those opposed to such a result were divided into three parties.
The three old friends, Judge Buford, Dr. Stoval and Mr. Nel- son were divided as to their choice for President. Mr. Nelson was for Breckenridge and Lane, affirming that the Southern States and all lovers of constitutional liberty everywhere should contend for full and equal rights in States and Territories, and neither Congress nor a territorial Legislature had a right to dis- criminate against property in slaves more than against property of any other kind. He asserted that the States were equal, and and that the Territories, the common property of all, could not be rightfully conceded to one section ; that our Union was a con- stitution Union, and that every State was the rightful judge of its own internal policy, and that Congress had no right to interfere except to protect all in their constitutional rights. Dr. Stoval, for reasons satisfactory to himself, was for Douglass and Johnson. He said Douglass was the regular Democratic nominee, voted for by two-thirds of all the delegates present, that he was a good man and true to the constitution. and had not changed his prin- ciples, which were the same he held in 1856, when he was very popular in the South. He also asserted that Douglass, if elected, would sign and enforce any constitutional law for the protection of slave property as well as for any other property. He felt cer- tain that Breckenridge could not possibly be elected, being the nominee of a faction of the Democratic party, and he thought it
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very dangerous to reject so good a man as Douglass merely be- cause some of the party did not agree with him on an abstraction. For his part, he would vote for Mr. Breckenridge, if he were the regular nominee, although he agreed with Mr. Douglass in his opinions, knowing how dangerous it was to divide a party in crit- ical times like the present. Judge Buford said that, although a Whig, he would have supported the Democratic nominee, had there been no division in the party, but now he believed it would be impossible to elect either Douglass or Breckenridge, and that there was no chance of defeating Lincoln by any of the candi- dates opposed to him. The only chance was that the election should be thrown into the house of Congress. He considered the whole question about the Territories an. abstraction, as he did not believe that another Territory would ever apply for admission into the Union with a constitution permitting slavery. None of our Territories were suited for the profitable employment of . slaves, either from products or climate, besides the preponder- ance of emigration to all of them was sure to be opposed. The platform on which Bell and Everett were nominated, if carried out in good faith, as he believed it would be by them if elected, was sufficient for him. Although thus divided, the personal re- lations of these old friends was not interrupted.
After the election of Lincoln the excitement became more intense, and was increased when it was ascertained that South Carolina had seceded. The people of Virginia were unwilling to secede, but insisted on having new guarantees that none of the rights of the States should be infringed upon, and were unaltera- bly opposed to the coercion of a State, by the general govern- ment. Such had been their sentiments from the formation of the constitution of the United States, and the writer has known old men who ceased to support General Jackson, when he issued his proclamation, when South Carolina nullified the tariff laws, and never voted the Democratic ticket afterward, but lived to de- nounce the unconstitutional proclamations of Lincoln, at the be- ginning of and during the progress of the civil war. If in 1831.
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the difficulties with South Carolina had not been peaceably set- tled, and the United States had have sent troops into that State, Virginia would have resisted.
Judge Buford, before leaving the State, gave James Camp- . bell a power of attorney to act for him and manage and dispose of all his property in Virginia. It was determined that the plan- tation should be carried on as it had always been The Judge would not sell any of his negroes, remarking that if they were freed, he had as well sustain the loss as any one else. Mr. Camp- bell was to move into the family residence, and his brother-in-law, the Rev. Mr. Taylor, into his house.
Lamont came to see his affianced on Christmas, and Judge Buford consented for him to marry her the next winter, if the condition of the country would permit. The young people were forced to submit to this decision. Lamont remained with the family until their departure in January, when he returned home to be among the first to take up arms in defense of his State.
The Virginia Legislature now passed an act for the calling of a convention for considering her federal relations, to meet in February. To this body James Campbell was elected, as a Union man, over a very popular young lawyer who was for immediate secession, Dr. Stoval voting for him, and Mr. Nelson, though a warm, personal friend, for his opponent. The inaugural address of Mr. Lincoln was very unfavorably received in Virginia, and her State pride was deeply wounded by the reception met with, from the authorities at Washington, by delegates sent by her with propositions for adjusting national difficulties.
Border State conventions failed to secure any concessions from the Republicans who would agree to no terms of compro- mise proposed. The people were becoming convinced that they could not retain the ir constitutional rights in the Union. After Mr. Lincoln made his call for troops to act against the seceded States, the convention, on the 17th of April, passed an ordinance of secession by a large majority [among them James Campbell] subject to ratification or ejection by the popular vote. The Leg-
جو جومية الرصد ومسار
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islature did not wait for this vote which was to be taken in May, but immediately formed an alliance with the Confederate States. As early as the 22d of April, Governor Letcher was in corres- pondence with President Davis as to concerted action for con- mon defense. The majority for secession was overwhelming, with little dissent, except in the northwestern part of the State. Here there were but few slaves, and the population much re- sembled the people of Pennsylvania near them in habits, occupa- tions and political opinions, and where long before secession was thought of, a party had been formed for a division of the State. These people had long been dissatisfied with their ratio of repre- sentation in the Legislature, as slaves were counted as persons, in adjusting the number of representatives sent by the counties, and they desired a change of the State constitution in this respect. Governor Letcher, who resided in the valley country, thought these people had just cause for complaint. Hence, when after the war had commenced, the project was formed of erecting a new State, the idea was already familiar to the people. The vote on the question of secession had barely time to be taken, when the armies of Patterson and Mcclellan were poured into the north- western part of the State.
CHAPTER XVI.
When it became evident that the State would secede, and volunteers had been called for to defend the State, Willie Buford left the University and hastened to his county. He found the people united in the purpose of defending the State, and none to approve the course of President Lincoln. Governor Letcher had been among them encouraging them in their efforts at defense, and the indefatigable ex-Governor, Henry A. Wise, had stopped and made them a speech on his way to the Northwest.
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