a space, every available foot of space was crowded with wounded and bleeding soldiers. The floor, the benches, even the chancel and pulpit were all packed almost to suffocation with them.

The amputated limbs were piled up in every corner almost as high as a man could reach; blood flowed in streams along the aisles and out at the doors; screams and groans were heard on all sides, while the surgeons, with their assistants, worked with knives, saws, sutures, and bandages to relieve or save all they could from bleeding to death. These heart-rending horrors are now, after nearly forty years has elapsed, as vivid in the memory of the writer, and probably in the memories of many others who witnessed them, as though they had occurred but on yesterday.

This venerable old edifice was badly wrecked during the battle, but in consideration of the fact that the wounded Federals received just as tender and careful treatment at the hands of our surgeons and their assistants as the Confederates did, caused some generous citizens of the North soon after the war closed, to show their appreciation of the kindness shown their suffering soldiers, had the house rebuilt in a very handsome manner. So old Salem Church stands to-day one of the most beautiful houses of worship in all that part of the country, and a noted landmark of one of the bloodiest battles of the late civil war..

In conclusion, I will state that seldom so overwhelming a victory was ever gained over such fearful odds as General Lee's over General Hooker at Chancellorsville. By it, Richmond was saved and the Federal army, one of the largest and best appointed that had ever been encountered by our troops up to that time, was thoroughly beaten and forced to save itself from almost utter extermination by ignominious retreat. According to statistics taken from Hooker's and Lee's reports, now on record at Washington, and recently published, is taken the following figures: Hooker had in the action 113,838 troops, 404 pieces of artillery, besides small arms, and lost 17,287 men, while Lee had only 59,681 troops, 160 cannon, besides small arms, and lost 12,000 men. These figures clearly show the military genius, skill, and ability of General Lee and his subordinate officers as well as the pure metal of which the Confederate soldier, from the highest officer to the humblest man in the ranks, was conposed.

Colonel C. C. SANDERS,

Twenty-fourth Georgia Regiment.

[From the Charlotte Observer, November, 1901.]

A CONFEDERATE PLAN FOR ARMING THE

SLAVES.

It was overlooked at the time of its publication in the Richmond Dispatch, but the New York Sun makes a summary of a strikingly interesting documentary contribution to our Richmond contemporary by Mr. Irving A. Black, who, during the civil war, was assistant adjutant-general on the staff of General Patrick R. Cleburne, who commanded a division in Hardie's corps of the Confederate Army of the Tennessee. The document is a paper prepared by General Cleburne in December, 1863, in which for the first time a military officer of prominence definitely advocated the employment of slaves as soldiers for the South. The paper was submitted to the brigadier-generals of the division, and Mr. Buck's recollection is that the project was approved by them unanimously; but when it was referred to the general officers of the army it was opposed by several of them, though, continues Mr. Buck, "my impression is that Generals Hardie and Johnston, however, declined to forward the paper to the War Department on the ground that in tenor it was more political than military. Subsequently it was sent through another channel to Jefferson Davis, who indorsed on it these words, substantially:

"While recognizing the patriotic motives of its distinguished author, I deem it inexpedient, at this time, to give publicity to this paper, and request that it be suppressed.

"J. D."

All copies were supposed to have been suppressed, but a few years ago one was found among the effects of a deceased officer of General Cleburne's staff and sent to the Confederate Record Office of the War Department at Washington, by which it was referred to Mr. Buck for authentication.

General Cleburne in this paper, according to the narrative, described the straits to which the Confederacy was reduced in the latter part of 1863, and said:

"In this state of things it is easy to understand why there is a growing belief that some black catastrophe is not far ahead of us, and that unless some extraordinary change is soon made in our condition we must overtake it."

The "extraordinary change" advised by him was this:

"That we retain in service for the war all troops now in the service, and that we immediately commence training a large reserve of the most courageous of our slaves; and, further, that we guarantee freedom within a reasonable time to every slave in the South who shall remain true to the Confederacy in this waṛ.'

He goes on to argue his case with very considerable ability, referring finally, to the military aptitude of negroes as displayed in the Union army and elsewhere, and conciuding by saying that "If they can be made to face and fight bravely against their former masters, how much more probable is it that with the allurement of a higher reward, and led by those masters, they would submit to discipline and face dangers?"

General Cleburne-an Irishman born and a gallant spirit-was killed in the battle of Franklin, November 30, 1864. A little while before this event, a bill had been introduced in the Confederate Congress which embodied some of the features of his plan. It was bitterly opposed, a representative from Mississippi saying, for example: "All nature cries out against it. The negro was ordained to slavery by the Almighty. Emancipation would be the destruction of our social and political system. God forbid that this Trojan horse should be introduced among us.'

Finally, however, the bill was passed, but with a provision "that nothing in this act shall be construed to authorize a change in the relation of the said slaves." But Mr. Hunter, of Virginia, had denounced it as involving emancipation, advancing this argument, among others, that negroes now are deterred from going to the enemy only by the fear of being put in the army. If we put them in they will all go over." But the bill passed only a few months before General Lee's surrender, and never became operative.

The Sun asks whether or not, if it had been made effective at the time General Cleburne proposed it, it might not have changed the whole course of events. Reason and religion both say no. The seeds of that war were implanted in the Constitution, and their germination was only a question of time. War was inevitable, and, like other things, the manner of its termination was directed by the innate Power. But for the consolation afforded by this belief, the Southern people, at its conclusion, would have been of all men most miserable.

[From the Richmond, Va., Dispatch, December 1, 1901.]

WILLIAMSBURG JUNIOR GUARDS.

Battle-Roll of a Gallant Band, Worth Preserving.

The Thirty-second Virginia Regiment was organized in 1861, by Colonel B. S. Ewell (late emeritus president of William and Mary College), the brother of General Richard S. Ewell, and classmate of General U. S. Grant and other celebrities, at West Point. The Colonel afterwards served on the staff of General Joseph E. Johnston, in the South.

On our retreat from the Peninsula, when General Joseph E. Johnston came down from Manassas to assist General J. Bankhead McGruder, who was confronted by the superior forces of General Geo. B. McClellan, we dared to hold a company election at Bottom's bridge, by bivouac, when quite all the officers were changed. In the face of the enemy, such would never have been allowed in any European army. It was accomplished, however, without a hitch of unpleasantness. Octavius Coke, brother of your fellow-townsmen, John A. and Alexander Coke, was made captain; Robert P. Taylor, a gallant comrade, first lieutenant, and John H. Barlow, Jr., a splendid fellow, second lieutenant. The Williamsburg Junior Guards, as Company C, was merged into the Thirty-second Regiment of Virginia Volunteers, Colonel Edward Montague, of Essex county, commanding, and Dr. James Semple, of Hampton, regimental surgeon. This regiment was with General J. E. B. Stuart when he was killed, and bore a severe part, under heavy fire, in the battles of Yellow Tavern, Gettysburg, etc. When the battle of Yellow Tavern was over, Robert A. Lively discovered a minie ball, which is now in the possession of his son, R. A. Lively, Jr., at Covington, Ky., coiled, or rather flattened, in a pair of yarn socks he had in his haversack, to which may be attributed his escape from death.

Out of the eighty-six boys who organized (only enough men in the company for officers), as the "Williamsburg Junior Guards," only a few returned to their homes in 1865, to tell the tale, and today only an infinitesimal margin remains. The rest have gone to join the "ages." Their mothers had offered them as a sacrifice

upon the altar of their Southern homes and firesides, with the injunction of the Spartan, to "return with their shield or on it.

By some good luck I preserved this list (in pencil), and although nearly effaced, I hasten to send it to you, that the "art preservative of all arts" may transmit it as a reminiscence of the glorious past, filled with grandeur and pathos, without a solitary regret.

Perhaps the roster of Company C would be comfortable reading for the present generation in and about old Williamsburg.

The accompanying list of names suggests much that is mingled with a sense of joy and sadness. When the war bugle's blast was heard through our land, these boys were among the first to put on their armor. The opportunity to maintain their prestige, for really they felt that the mantle of their fathers had fallen upon their shoulders, was cheerfully accepted.

Colonel Joseph V. Bidgood, of your city, has reminded me of some facts I had quite forgotten. When Dr. Pettit, adjutant of the Thirty-second, was killed at Sharpsburg, Mr. Bidgood was promoted from sergeant-major to adjutant.

I observe that of the list Colonel W. Miles Cary is a resident of your city, basking on the hillsides of mature thought, waiting to hear the "keel strike on the other shore."

THE ROLL.

Officers-J. A. Henley, captain; W. H. E. Morecock, first lieutenant; H. M. Waller, second lieutenant; Dr. Leonard Henley, third lieutenant; Octavius Coke, orderly sergeant; Parke Jones, second sergeant; J. F. Bowery, third sergeant; R. L. Henley (late county judge), fourth sergeant; W. T, Christian, fifth sergeant; W. E. Moss, color-bearer; A. J. Hofheimer, first corporal; R. A. Bowery, second corporal; W. W. Lee, third corporal; W. H. Barlow, fourth corporal.

Privates-Thomas Mercer, W. H. Pierce, John Pierce, John H. Dix, J. H. Barlow, Jr., T. J. Barlow, R. G. Barlow, G. O. Ball, J. V. Bidgood, William Burke, R. Barham, W. Miles Cary, J. W. Clarke, C. B. Coakley, R. Crandall, Thomas C. Carrington, G. W. Clowes, J. A. Davis, J. W. Davis, S. N. Deneufville, Henry L. Dix, W. C. Durfey, W. F. Gilliam, W. G. Gatewood, Benjamin Gilliam, R. J. Griffin, J. R. Harwood, J. M. Johnson, G. W. Jackson, H. T. Jones, Jr., J. C. Lucas, W. H. Lee, Edward M. Lee, Edward Henley Lively, Robert Allen Lively, R. C. Lawson, L. Lukehard,