Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 24.djvu/153

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the country for its s.u i -i!i< -s. It is highly probable he would havr made even a shorter campaign of it had he been in command instead of McClellan after or previous to the battle of Antietam.

LESLIE J. PERRY. Washington, March 4th, 1896.

I From the Richmond Dispatch, April 19, 1896.]

COMPANY D, CLARKE CAVALRY.

History and Roster of this Command, Which Fought Gallantly.

On the igth day of April, 1861, just thirty-five years ago to-day, this company marched to Harper's Ferry. In the fall of 1859, niany of the members of this organization belonged to the Clarke Guards which went to Harper's Ferry to take old John Brown, the fore- runner of a large crusade, whose subsequent fate is known to all. Virginia had, on the ijth of April, 1861 two days before passed the ordinance of secession, cast the die, crossed the Rubicon, and called upon her sons to keep her escutcheon untarnished. It was in response to this action that this company of as gallant and true spirits as ever went forth to battle, found itself at Harper's Ferry. Colonel J. E. B. Stuart took charge of it and all the cavalry, and Brigadier-General Thomas J. Jackson, was in command of all the forces there collected.

IN A GLORIOUS CAUSE.

The people of the original thirteen States believed in State sover- eignty that the government they formed had no power to coerce one of their number for any purpose. The Southern people were educated in the belief that the allegiance of the citizen was first due to his State, and that in any conduct between his Commonwealth and the United States, or any other country, his place was at her side " at her feet he should kneel, and at her foe his gun should be pointed." Thus believing, we resented the insolence of a people who denounced the constitution as a league with the devil and a cov- enant with hell, by resuming our original independence. The splen- did achievements of the gallant sons of the South in the long and