"The jagged, brazen arrows fell Athwart the feathers of the night."
On the next day all departed for their homes. Ah! who surmised so soon to leave them again, and on so different a mission!
We now pass from these holiday reflections, which are germane only to the introduction of these reminiscences, and arrive at the period when our _law-abiding_ old State called her sons to arms; when we pledged our _most_ sacred honor in the cause of freedom, and willingly made the sacrifice:--
"All these were men, who knew to count, Front-faced, the cost of honor-- Nor did shrink from its full payment."
On Friday, the 12th day of April, 1861, General G. T. Beauregard, then in command of the provisional forces of the Confederate States at Charleston, S.C., opened fire upon Fort Sumter. Then, on the 15th, came the proclamation of Mr. Lincoln, calling for 75,000 troops. As this levy could only mean war, Virginia determined to cast her lot with the Confederate States, and, accordingly, on the 17th added herself to their number.
This proclamation was the out-burst of the storm, and with lightning speed the current of events rushed on to the desolating war so soon to ensue.
On the 16th of April, Governor Ellis received from Mr. Cameron, Secretary of War, the following telegram, viz.:
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C., _April 15th, 1861_.
Call made on you by to-night's mail for two regiments of military for immediate service.
_Governor_ Ellis immediately telegraphed back the following reply:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, RALEIGH, N.C., _April 15th, 1861_.
SIR: Your dispatch is received, and if genuine, which its extraordinary character leads me to doubt, I have to say in reply, that I regard that levy of troops made by the administration for the purpose of subjugating the States of the South as in violation of the Constitution, and as a gross usurpation of power. I can be no party to this wicked violation of the laws of the country, and to this war upon the liberties of a free people. _You can get no troops from North Carolina._ I will reply more in detail when I receive your "call."
JOHN W. ELLIS, _Governor of North Carolina_.
It is to be remarked that as early as the 19th of March, Senator Thos. L. Clingman had dispatched Gov. Ellis, to wit: