As I look out on the Old Dominion, the Mother of presidents,
statesmen and heroes, my mind is filled with historical reminiscences of its
past greatness and glory. Alas! that Virginia, a state that bore such a proud
record in the history of our country, a state that has done so much and
sacrificed so much to gain our independence and establish our government,
should now be sunk in the mire and slough of rebellion.
There is no appearance of leaving here today; many of the officers
are going ashore to look around, and the boys are amusing themselves as best
they can. Many and various are the speculations and conjectures as to our
destination. Some think we are to make an attack on Yorktown, others that Norfolk
is the point of attack. Some prophesy that we shall go up the James river,
others that we are going far down the coast. I have not bothered myself much
about it, but conclude we shall fetch up somewhere. As one looks on “old glory”
proudly waving over the frowning battlements of Fortress Monroe and the rip
raps, he would naturally conclude that this part of Virginia had not passed the
ordinance of secession. Fortress Monroe is built of granite and earthworks, and
is calculated, I believe, to mount some 400 or 500 guns. It is the largest and
strongest fort on the coast and the only complete work in this country; hence
it is called a fortress. The rip raps is an unfinished work, built on an
artificial island, and situated about a mile east of Fortress Monroe. When
completed, it will be a powerful work, and all vessels going to Norfolk or up the
James river will have to pass between the two forts.
Looking west we can see the ruins of Hampton, burned last
fall by order of Gen. Magruder. Speaking of Magruder reminds me of an anecdote
I have somewhere read of him. While serving in Mexico, he ranked as captain of infantry
in the regular army. While there he was in the habit of spreeing it pretty hard,
and early one morning, after he had been out on a pretty rough time, his regiment
received orders to march. By some strange oversight, the captain failed to replenish
his canteen, and in a little while he began to experience an intolerable
thirst. In this dilemma he called on one of his privates, whom he supposed
might have something, and asked him what he had in his canteen. He was told that
it contained a certain kind of Mexican liquor, of which the captain was very
fond. After taking a pretty good bumper, he said, “Private Jones, you will
hereafter rank as corporal, and be obeyed and respected as such.” After a while,
his thirst again coming on, he goes and calls for some more of the liquor. This
time he about found the bottom of the canteen, and thanking the corporal for
his politeness, said to him, “Corporal Jones, you will hereafter rank as
sergeant, and be obeyed and respected as such.” And, as the story went, if the canteen
had held out a while longer, private Jones might have ranked as brigadier
general.
SOURCE: David L. Day, My Diary of Rambles with the
25th Mass. Volunteer Infantry, p. 19-20
