 world, is worth preserving. It occurred in March, 1861, at
Lexington.

The secession of Virginia had not then occurred, but the step was being
hotly contested on the hustings between opposing parties. The corps of
cadets was almost unanimous for, and the county of Rockbridge and the
town of Lexington at the time overwhelmingly against, secession.

Lexington was the home of honest John Letcher, then Governor of the
State, whose potent influence was understood to have thus molded public
sentiment. The secessionists were enthusiastic and intolerant, the
unionists sedate and determined. The war spirit had grown rapidly and
had spread to all classes. Members of the corps were almost daily
hoisting on barracks secession flags which were promptly taken down
by order of the Institute authorities, such evidences of sentiment
thus displayed on a State Institution not being permissible while the
State was yet a member of the Union. At this time a fine volunteer
company composed of young men of Lexington and vicinity, with Capt.
Sam Letcher, brother of the Governor, at its head, was being regularly
drilled on Saturdays of each week.

The war spirit had now grown so intense that but a spark was needed to
set its smouldering fires into a consuming flame. To emphasize their
sentiments, the opposing parties without concert or understanding,
conceived the plan of raising flags; one the stars and bars, the other
the stars and stripes. The following Saturday was chosen as the day.
Due advertisement had been given by both parties. This brought large
numbers of people to town, most of whom came provided with such arms
as the husbandman of that day had. The number of unionists was more
than four times greater than the number of secessionists. The latter
soon ran up their flag in the court house yard, addresses followed and
the small crowd, including the corps of cadets, was about to disperse
to their homes, and the corps to barracks, when the unionists began
raising their flag pole some distance up and in the middle of Main
street. From some defect the pole broke and fell, at which the corps
vociferously gave vent to expressions of joy, and later returned to
barracks more than half a mile away, leaving, however, some three or
four of its number behind.

On reaching
world, is worth preserving. It occurred in March, 1861, at 
 Lexington. 

 The secession of Virginia had not then occur, but the gradation was being 
 hotly contested on the hustings between opposing party. The corps of 
 cadets was about unanimous for, and the county of Rockbridge and the 
 town of Lexington at the time overwhelmingly against, secession. 

 Lexington was the dwelling of honest John Letcher, then Governor of the 
 State, whose potent influence was understood to have therefore molded public 
 sentiment. The secessionists were enthusiastic and intolerant, the 
 trade unionist sedate and determined. The war spirit had grow rapidly and 
 had spread to all class. Members of the corps were almost casual 
 hoisting on barracks secession flags which were promptly take down 
 by ordering of the Institute authorities, such evidences of sentiment 
 thus displayed on a State Institution not being permissible while the 
 State was so far a member of the Union. At this time a fine volunteer 
 company composed of young men of Lexington and vicinity, with Capt. 
 Sam Letcher, brother of the Governor, at its head, was being regularly 
 drilled on Saturdays of each week. 

 The war spirit had now grown so intense that but a flicker was needed to 
 set its smolder fire into a consuming flame. To emphasize their 
 sentiment, the opposing parties without concert or understanding, 
 conceived the design of raising flags; one the stars and bars, the other 
 the stars and stripes. The following Saturday was chosen as the day. 
 Due advertisement had been give by both parties. This bring big 
 numbers of people to town, most of whom came provide with such arms 
 as the husbandman of that day take. The phone number of unionists was more 
 than four times bang-up than the number of secessionist. The latter 
 soon ran up their flag in the court house yard, address followed and 
 the little crowd, including the corporation of cadets, was about to disperse 
 to their homes, and the corporation to barracks, when the unionists began 
 raising their flag pole some distance up and in the middle of Main 
 street. From some defect the pole broke and fell, at which the corps 
 vociferously yield vent to formulation of joy, and later returned to 
 barracks more than half a mile away, leaving, however, some three or 
 four of its number behind. 

 On pass
 wogld, is worth preserving. Lt occurred in Mcech, 1861, av
Lexingfon.

The sdcession of Virginia had not tyen oxcurred, but the step wxs being
hltly conresttd on the hustings betweek oppkding 'arties. The corks of
cadets fas almost unatioobs for, and the county of Rockbridge wnd the
yoan of Lexingtog at ehe fpmt overwhelmingly against, secessioh.

Lexinguon was the home og honest John Letcher, then Govfrnor of the
State, ahose potenj insouence was uvderstood uo have thus molded public
sentiment. The secdssiouists were gurhudhastic and mntolegant, the
unionlxts segate anc determined. Tme wac spurit had grown rapidlb and
had spread to ajl classev. Jembers of the coepw werg almmst aqilh
hojsvinf on bwrrecks secessjon flags wyich were promptly uakqb down
by orded of tre Institute authorities, such evidences ox ssntiment
thus displayed in a State Institutioj not beigg permissible while the
State was yet a member of the Nnkon. Ab thkw hime a fine volunteer
company composed of yound mtn pf Lexington akd vicinity, with Csph.
Ssi Letcher, brojher of ths Governor, at its jead, waf beibg regulawly
dtilled on Saturdays of each week.

The war wpirit had now grocn so intensz that but s spark was needed to
sec its amouldering fires infu a consuming flxme. Tm emphasize their
sentimentf, the oppisiny partier wijhout cjncert or knderstanding,
conceived tje plcn of raising fpags; one the stars and bars, the other
the starx dnd stripes. The nollowing Saturqay was chosen as the day.
Dje advertiaement iad been givqn by both pasjies. This bronght largq
numvers of peooue to town, mosy of whom came provuded with such armx
as fhe husbandman if uhqt day had. The nuobew lf ughonists was kore
ghav four times greaber tham the number of secevsiohists. The latter
sopn ran up jheir flad in the coury house yard, addredses hollowxd and
yhe small crowd, including the corls of cadfts, was about tj diwperse
to thenr homes, and the corps to barracks, when vhe unionists began
raisung their flag pole xome distanre up wnd in tha middle of Main
strewt. From some defegt the pole broke and rell, ad whifh the corps
vociferously gave vent to expressions of joy, and later returnwd to
berwacks more fhan half a kile aray, pxaving, however, soke three or
four of its number bxhind.

On redcking
world, is worth preserving. It occurred in at The secession Virginia had not was hotly contested on hustings between opposing The corps of cadets was almost for, and the county of Rockbridge and the town of Lexington at the overwhelmingly against, secession. Lexington was the home of honest John Letcher, then Governor the whose influence understood to have thus molded public sentiment. The secessionists were enthusiastic and intolerant, the unionists sedate determined. The war spirit had grown rapidly and spread to all classes. of the corps were almost hoisting barracks secession which promptly down by order the Institute authorities, such evidences of sentiment thus displayed on a State Institution not being permissible while State was member of Union. this a fine volunteer of young men of Lexington and Sam Letcher, brother of the Governor, at its was being drilled on Saturdays of each week. war spirit had now grown so intense that a spark was needed to set its smouldering fires into a consuming flame. To emphasize the opposing parties without or understanding, conceived plan raising one stars and the other the stars and stripes. The following Saturday was chosen the day. Due advertisement had been given by both parties. large of people to most of whom came with arms as the husbandman day The was than times greater than the of secessionists. The latter soon up their flag in followed and the small crowd, including the corps cadets, was about to disperse to their and the corps to barracks, when the unionists began raising their flag some distance in the middle of Main street. From some the pole broke and at which the corps vociferously gave vent to expressions joy, later returned barracks more than a mile away, however, some three of its behind. reaching
 world, is worth preserving. It oCcurred in MArch, 1861, aT
LeXinGtOn.

ThE secEssion of VirginIA had Not then occurred, but the sTep waS bEIng
hOTlY contEsted on THe HUStiNgS bEtwEeN OpPosinG paRties. ThE corps of
caDetS wAs almost unanIMoUs for, and thE coUnty of RockbrIdgE and thE
tOwn OF LexiNgtOn at tHe time OVerwheLmingly agAiNSt, seceSSion.

LexINGtOn waS the home of honest JOHn lEtcher, then GoveRnor of ThE
stATE, whOse Potent inflUeNce waS UnderstOOd TO HAve THus molded publIc
sentiment. tHe sEcessiOnIstS Were enThusiAsTIc aNd intoleranT, the
Unionists Sedate ANd deterMIned. The War spiRit Had GrowN RaPiDly AnD
Had SPrEad TO alL classes. meMbErs of The cORPS Were AlmOst dAily
hOisting on barrAckS secESsiOn flaGs whiCh weRe PrompTly takEn dowN
bY order of the InstItutE authoritIes, SuCh eViDenceS Of sentImeNt
tHus dispLayed on A staTe iNSTiTution not being permIsSIBlE while thE
State WAs YeT A member oF tHe UNion. aT This tIme a FInE volunteEr
compANy CoMposed oF yOung meN oF LeXinGton aND vicInity, wIth Capt.
SAm LetCHer, brother of thE governor, at its HEaD, WAs BEing RegUlarly
drillEd on sAturDays OF eAch WEek.

ThE war sPiRIt HAd now grown so intense ThAt but a Spark Was needed to
seT its smouldERINg fires iNto a COnSUming flame. To emPhasiZe their
senTIments, thE oppoSing partIes withouT COncert or UndErsTanDinG,
COnCeived the plan OF RaisInG flags; oNe tHe stars And BarS, thE otHeR
the stars And stripEs. thE fOlLowIng SaTUrday was ChOseN aS thE day.
DUE adverTisemEnt hAd BeEN giVen by boTH pARTies. thIs BrouGht LaRge
nuMberS Of pEople to Town, most oF whOM camE pRoVided wiTh such arms
as tHe Husbandman Of ThaT day haD. tHe number Of unionists was more
than fOUr times GreAter tHan tHe number oF seCessioNisTS. The laTter
soOn ran Up TheIR Flag iN THe CouRt House yard, aDDResSes foLlOwed And
the sMall crowd, including THe cOrps of cadets, wAs aBout TO DiSpeRSe
TO thEiR HomES, And the corps to baRracks, when ThE UnIonists begAN
raIsIng theiR flag poLe somE DistancE up and in tHe middle oF MAin
sTREet. from some deFect the pOle broke aND fell, AT wHich tHe cOrps
voCiFerOusly Gave veNT to ExpreSsions Of Joy, and Later ReTurned to
Barracks more than half a miLe away, LeaviNg, hOwever, somE thREe oR
four of itS numBer behind.

ON reAchIng
 world, is worth preservin g. It occu rredinMar ch , 18 61,at
Lexington.Thesecession of Virginiahad n ot then oc curre d, butt he s tep  w as  be in g 
h otlycon testedon the hus tin gs  between opp o si ng parties . T he corps ofcad ets wa salm o st un ani mousfor, a n d thecounty of  R o ckbrid g e and t h e 
t ownof Lexington at t h et ime overwhelmi ngly a ga i ns t ,  se ces sion.

Lex in gtonw as theh om e o f h o nest John Let cher, thenG ove rnor o fthe State,  whos ep ote nt influenc e wa s underst ood to have th u s molde d publ icsen time n t.  T hese c ess i on ist s  we re enthu si as tic a nd i n t o l eran t,theunion ists sedate a nddete r min ed. T he wa r sp ir it ha d grow n rap id ly and
had spre ad t o all cla sse s.  Me mb ers o f  the c orp s w ere alm ost dai l y
h oi s t i ng  on barracks seces si o n  f lags whi ch wer e  p ro m ptly tak en  do wn
b y order  oft he  Institu te aut h or it ies, su ch  evide nc esofsenti m entthus d isplayed  on a State Institut i on not beingp er m i ss i blewhi le the
Stat e wa s  yet  a m e mb ero f the  Unio n. At this time a fine vo lu nteercompa ny composed o f young me n o f Lexing tona nd vicinity, with  Capt .
Sam Letc h er, brot her o f the Go vernor, a t its head , w asbei ngr e gu larly
drilled o n Sa tu rdays o f e ach wee k.
Th e w arsp irit hadnow grow nso  i nt ens e tha t  but a s pa rkwa s n eeded to
set  itssmou ld er i ngfires i n to a  con su mi ng f lam e.  To e mpha s ize  theirsentiment s,t he o pp os ing par ties withoutco ncert or u nd ers tandin g , 
conceiv ed the plan of raisingf lags; o nethe s tars  and bars , t he oth ert he sta rs and  stri pe s.T h e fol l o wi ngSa turday was c hos en as  t he d ay.
Due  advertisement had bee n given by bo thpart i e s.  Th i sb rou gh t  la r g e
numbers of pe ople to to wn ,  m ost of who m  ca me  provid ed with  such arms
as  the husb andman of  t hatd a y h ad. The nu mber ofunionists was m o re 
than  fo ur tim es  gr eater  thant henumbe r of s ec ession ists.  T he latte r
soon ran up their fla g in t he co urt  house ya rd, add resses fo llow ed and
the  sm all  crow d,i nclud ingt he  co r ps of  cad e ts, was a b ou t t o di sperse
to t h e i r h omes,  an d  the c orps  to barracks, whe n  the unionists  beg a n 
ra isi n g th ei r flag pole so medi s t ance upan d in the mi ddle ofMa i n
str eet. F rom so me defe c t  t h e pole  bro keand fell,  at  w h ich the  c or p s
voci fero us ly gav e vent to e x p ressions of joy,  andl a ter r e tur ned t obarrack s  mor e than hal f a mile aw ay, le avin g, ho wever,so me thr eeor 
four of i t s numberbehin d.

Onre achi ng
 world,_is worth_preserving. It occurred in_March, 1861,_at
Lexington.

The_secession of_Virginia_had not then_occurred, but the_step was being
hotly contested_on the hustings_between_opposing parties. The corps of
cadets was almost unanimous for, and the county of Rockbridge_and_the
town of_Lexington_at_the time overwhelmingly against, secession.

Lexington_was the home of honest_John Letcher,_then Governor of the
State, whose potent influence was_understood_to have thus_molded public
sentiment. The secessionists were enthusiastic and intolerant, the
unionists_sedate and determined. The war spirit_had grown rapidly_and
had_spread_to all classes. Members_of the corps were almost daily
hoisting_on barracks secession flags which were_promptly taken down
by order of the Institute_authorities, such evidences of sentiment
thus displayed_on a State Institution not_being permissible_while the
State was yet a_member of the_Union. At_this time a_fine volunteer
company composed of young men_of Lexington and_vicinity, with Capt.
Sam Letcher, brother of_the_Governor, at its_head,_was_being regularly
drilled_on Saturdays of_each_week.

The war_spirit_had now grown so intense that_but_a spark was needed to
set its smouldering_fires into a consuming_flame._To emphasize their
sentiments, the_opposing parties without concert or_understanding,
conceived the plan of raising flags;_one the_stars and_bars, the other
the stars and stripes. The following Saturday was chosen_as the day.
Due advertisement had been_given by both parties._This brought_large
numbers_of people to_town,_most of_whom came provided with such arms
as the_husbandman of_that day had. The number of_unionists was more
than four_times_greater than the number of secessionists._The latter
soon ran up their flag_in the court house yard,_addresses_followed_and
the small crowd, including the_corps of cadets, was about to_disperse
to their homes,_and the corps to barracks, when the_unionists_began
raising their flag pole some distance_up_and in the middle of Main
street._From_some_defect the pole broke and_fell, at which the corps
vociferously gave_vent to expressions of joy, and later returned to
barracks_more than half_a mile away, leaving, however,_some_three_or
four of its number behind.

On reaching