History of Randolph-Macon College, Virginia / The Oldest Incorporated Methodist College in America

by Richard Irby

A. B.

WILLIAM E. EDWARDS.
B. L. ARNOLD, Va.

[Illustration: WILLIAM E. EDWARDS, D. D., A. B., 1862.]

At the annual meeting, June, 1862, of the Trustees, the following resolution was adopted:

"This Board, having the utmost confidence in the ability of the Confederate States to maintain their independence, and that it is safe to make investment in their stocks (bonds), is of the opinion that it would be judicious to sell out our stocks which do not pay an interest of more than six per cent., and to invest the same in Confederate States bonds, bearing an interest of eight per cent. And that the President of the College be requested to confer with our Investing Agent on the subject, and that if the investing Agent concur with the Board in the propriety of the exchance of stocks, that he proceed to make it."

Under the military regime the session opened as usual in September, 1862. The number of students in attendance was small, as might have been expected.

The board of students was fixed at $25 per month, with the following bill of fare at the Mess Hall:

"For breakfast—Sugar, coffee (or substitute) or milk (those using the one will not be entitled to the other), flour-bread, viz., loaf bread and biscuit, and either batter-bread, waffles or muffins, butter, cold or fried bacon, or hash.

"For dinner—Boiled bacon and cabbage, or other greens, and one of the following kinds of meats, viz., beef, mutton, shoat or fowls, with the vegetables of the season, and corn-bread.

"For supper—Sugar, coffee (or a substitute) or milk, as at breakfast, flour-bread, viz., loaf-bread and biscuit, and either batter-bread, waflles, muffins, or toast-bread and butter."

What soldier could not fight on such fare as this!

In October, 1862, Professor Staubly resigned, and soon afterwards went to Petersburg, along with Professor W. B. Carr, to teach in the Petersburg Female College. They were thus engaged till the 9th of June, 1864, when General Kautz attacked the Home Guards, under the command of Major F. H. Archer. In this engagement Professors Carr and Staubly were participants, and the latter was killed, along with Geo. B. Jones, a Randolph-Macon alumnus.

At a called meeting of the Trustees held December 18, 1862, the President presented to the consideration of the Board the condition of the College, with an exhibit of receipts and disbursements.

After much deliberation, it was ordered that the operations of the College be suspended from and after the 5th of February, 1863, to the opening of the fall term, in September following.

"Dr. W. A. Smith was placed in charge of the property. At a meeting of the Trustees held July 24, 1863, the President in his report in regard to the closing term said:

"The College opened September, 1862, with about twenty students, which number gradually increased to forty-four. The Conscript Act then went into operation, and took nearly half that number.

Then, on motion, it was ordered that the exercises of the College be
suspended until otherwise ordered. The Virginia Conference of the M. E.
Church, South, held its annual session at Broad-street Methodist Church
November, 1863. At this Conference the following resolution was adopted:

"Resolved, That we recommend the Trustees of Randolph-Macon College to remove it from its present site to some more eligible locality, and we call their attention specially to the advantages presented by Lynchburg as the place to which it should be transferred."

A meeting of the Trustees was called to consider the resolution of the Conference, and the Trustees assembled at Broad-street Church November 26, 1863.

As there were only nine members in attendance, the Trustees adjourned to meet in the city of Petersburg on the 20th of January, to consider the recommendation of the Conference, and an order was made that notice of the adjourned meeting be given in the newspapers of Richmond and Petersburg.

The Trustees of Randolph-Macon College met, pursuant to adjournment, at the Washington-street M. E. Church, Petersburg, Va., on Wednesday, January 20, 1864. There were present seventeen members. The chairman, President Smith, presented the resolution of the Conference, given above.

After considerable discussion, the following was agreed upon as the sense of the Board:

"Resolved unanimously, That while the Board of Trustees of Randolph-Macon College are not prepared to take decisive action on the resolution of the Virginia Conference in relation to the change of location of said College, yet this Board so far concurs in the spirit of their resolution as to appoint five members as a committee of the Board to take immediate steps to ascertain the comparative advantages offered by other localities with a view to its removal; and that the committee be requested to perform their duty with dispatch, and report to an adjourned meeting to be held in Petersburg, Va., on Wednesday, March 9, 1864."

The following were appointed said committee: Rev. W. A. Smith, chairman, Rev. L. M. Lee, Rev. J. C. Blackwell, E. R. Chambers, and R. M. Smith; and, on motion, Captain Richard Irby was added to the committee.

The Trustees met, pursuant to adjournment, in Washington-street M. E.
Church, Petersburg, Va., March 9, 1864.

The committee appointed at the meeting January 20 last made report, as follows:

"The committee to whom were referred the comparative claims of the different localities which have been spoken of as offering the most encouraging prospects of success beg leave to submit, that such is the unsettled state of public opinion as to the financial condition of the country at this time, and for some time to come, that no enlightened judgment can be reached by your committee as to the advantages offered by other localities compared with the present location of the College, we beg, therefore, to be relieved from the further consideration of the subject.

"(Signed) WM. A. SMITH, Chairman."

The following order was adopted in regard to the report, viz.:

"Resolved, That the report of the committee be referred back to the same committee, with instructions to take into consideration all the subjects committed to them at the meeting held in Petersburg on the 20th January last, and report to a subsequent meeting to be held in Petersburg at the call of the President, or when he may be requested to call a meeting by any five members of the Board of Trustees."

This meeting was never called. The committee never formulated any further report. In a few weeks after the meeting was held, Petersburg was invested by the Federal army, under General Grant. This investment was continued until April, 1865, when General Lee's right wing was turned, Petersburg and Richmond evacuated, and the final surrender at Appomattox.

The following reminiscences of the last days of the College before the suspension are given by Rev. Dr. W. E. Edwards, who was at the College till near the close:

"The years 1860-1862 were among the most memorable in the history of the College. In 1860 the College, perhaps, had attained the climax of its ante-bellum prosperity. It had met difficulties and conquered them. It had grown and developed into commanding importance. A future of great promise opened up before it. Dr. William A. Smith was now at the zenith of his great popularity as a college president and as an instructor in Moral Philosophy. The changes which from time to time he had introduced in the management of affairs bore continually-increasing fruit in the orderly conduct of students and in their closer application to books; nay, more, his adaptation to the professorial duties which he had assumed shone out conspicuously before the church and the state. He was endowed with splendid abilities—an intellectual giant. Especially was he a born metaphysician. He possessed a power of introspection and an aptness for the logical arrangement of truth that fall to the lot of but few men in life; and now, by patient toil, he elaborated and delivered to his classes a course of original lectures upon the various subjects in his special department, which of itself would justly entitle him to a high rank among the instructors of the country. It is to be regretted that these lectures were never written out in extenso and given to the public. No doubt, at certain points, they would disclose a lack of thoroughness, due to the absence of large and general reading; still, they would manifest a marked degree of original and profound investigation, and would prove, what cannot be said of all that today is taught in our colleges under the name of Moral Science, exceedingly helpful in the proper culture and discipline of character. In other words, the Doctor, in the plan and order of his talent, was practical rather than speculative.

The dark cloud of civil war, so long anticipated and dreaded, now appeared with threatening aspect upon the horizon. The presidential nominees were made. Intense excitement pervaded every department of society. Still the attendance of students upon the fall session of the College for 1860 was not much abated. Of course, the storm without was felt in the narrower circle of college life; all the circumstances of a regular political campaign was here faithfully enacted. Parties were formed; electors were chosen; speeches were made; votes were cast. The majority upon which so important a decision was made (to the best of my memory) was five, yet, in spite of this political strife, studies were pursued with the zest and regularity of former years. A few months passed by. The great American people, despite the students of Randolph-Macon College, decided who should be the President of the country, and declared in favor of Abraham Lincoln, 'the rail-splitter of Illinois.' The College participated more and more in the effects of the increasing excitement. Many students from the seceded States returned to their homes. At length the 4th of March, 1861, arrived. Mr. Lincoln was inducted into office. Immediately he called for seventy-five thousand men to crush the 'rebellion.' Virginia, so long standing aloof, and hoping against hope, now compelled to make a decision, unhesitatingly cast her fortune with that of her Southern sisters. The wildest enthusiasm prevailed among the students. Bondfires were kindled; a great torchlight procession was formed; the different professors were visited, and, after the most approved style, called on for speeches. Then the march was continued to Boydton, to the manifest delight of the citizens of that little town; and then, at a late hour of the night, the line was broken, and every one was left to find his way as best he could back to his room. It is a time long to be remembered.

"Soon students in large numbers left for their homes to prepare for war. The country was converted into an immense camp. So great was the depletion in the number of students, and so great was the excitement that prevailed throughout the country, that the College authorities deemed it inexpedient to hold the regular commencement exercises for this year. So closed the term of 1860-'61.

"A word at this point: In those days it was not deemed improper or unbecoming for ministers of the gospel to have decided views upon questions of state. There were clerical Whigs and there were clerical Democrats, and very stoutly did they maintain the cause of their respective parties. Of course, they never entered the political arena, but in private and around the fireside there was often no small war waged by these 'gentlemen of the cloth' over the great issues of the day. Dr. William A. Smith was a Democrat of the Calhoun stamp. He believed implicitly in the right of secession, a sacred right guaranteed by the constitution, and was not slow to give the reason for the opinion which he cherished. Still, in the earlier part of 1861, he did not recognize the necessity for the exercise of this right on the part of the South. He thought that some compromise might be effected and the Union saved; yet when Mr. Lincoln was inaugurated, and his policy forecast in the call for seventy thousand men to crush the rebellion, he no longer hesitated, but claimed rights which before he was willing to ignore; and the South had no stauncher friend or more zealous advocate than he during all those dark days of fratricidal strife, even to the close, when drums ceased to beat and the battle-flags were furled.

"We start a new era. Vacation begins. The excitement in the land, if possible, becomes more intense. There is volunteering for service, drilling, hurrying on to the front. Everything is placed under contribution to facilitate and render successful the mighty trial of arms which is impending. The battle of Manassas is fought. The South is the victor; yet the fruits are not what were desired and anticipated. The war cloud, instead of vanishing, grows denser. The evidences of a protracted and sanguinary conflict become manifest. The trustees of the College, under existing circumstances, were embarrassed. They knew not what to do; yet in the early part of July they declared against the opening of the doors of the institution for the coming year. Later on, however, they reversed this decision, and the College began its fall session at the usual time. Several important changes are here to be noticed. First, the number of students was perceptibly smaller than usual; the whole body, perhaps, did not exceed sixty-five or seventy. A few of these were manifestly parties desiring to shirk military service; yet the great majority was composed of persons under the age of conscription and of persons who were already far advanced in their college course and looked forward to a speedy graduation.

"Again: there was a change in the complexion or membership of the Faculty. Professor Massie resigned to accept a call to governmental work in Richmond, and Professor Turner was elected to fill the Chair of Mathematics. He, however, resigned at the close of the half session, and Professor Blankenship was chosen as his successor. Professor Shepard resigned, and entered upon active military service in the field. No one was appointed to fill his place, as the exigencies of the case did not demand it.

"Once more: the style of the College was changed from a purely literary to a semi-military institution. A regular uniform was prescribed; drills were daily observed, and other things of a similar character were enjoined, all looking to the preparation of the student for the duties that awaited him in defence of his country.

"The Commencement exercises for this year were exceedingly interesting and for the times very largely attended. Dr. James A. Duncan delivered the address before the two societies. His presence among the scenes of his boyhood was a joy to his old acquaintances, and his address was highly appreciated for its worth and for the sake of the man who delivered it."

The record of the meeting held March 9, 1864, given above, closes the official history of the College prior to the surrender.

We give the names of the trustees following those who were named in the charter of February, 1830, with date of their election:

NAME. STATE. YEAR.
NATHANIEL MASON,. . . . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1833
THOMAS ADAMS, . . . . . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1833
THOMAS WILLIAMS,. . . . . South Carolina, . . . 1833
ALEXANDER SPEAR,. . . . . Georgia,. . . . . . . 1834
W. H. ELLISON,. . . . . . Georgia,. . . . . . . 1834
Rev. WILLIAM CAPERS,. . . South Carolina, . . . 1834
Rev. W. M. KENNEDY, . . . South Carolina, . . . 1834
Rev. W. M. WIGHTMAN,. . . South Carolina, . . . 1834
GEORGE W. JEFFRIES, . . . North Carolina, . . . 1834
BEV. SYDNOR,. . . . . . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1834
Rev. I. A. FEW, . . . . . Georgia,. . . . . . . 1834
Rev. LOVICK PIERCE, . . . Georgia,. . . . . . . 1835
SEABORN JONES,. . . . . . Georgia,. . . . . . . 1835
J. C. POYTHRESS,. . . . . Georgia,. . . . . . . 1835
Rev. JAMES McADEN,. . . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1835
Rev. ABRAM PENN,. . . . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1835
WILLIS LEA, . . . . . . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1835
Bishop J. O. ANDREW,. . . Georgia,. . . . . . . 1835
HUGH A. GARLAND,. . . . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1835
Rev. STEPHEN OLIN,. . . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1835
HORACE PALMER,. . . . . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1837
Rev. JAMES JAMEISON,. . . North Carolina, . . . 1837
Rev. B. T. BLAKE, . . . . North Carolina, . . . 1837
M. M. MCPHERSON,. . . . . Georgia,. . . . . . . 1838
THOMAS W. WILLIAMS, . . . South Carolina, . . . 1838
S. K. HODGES, . . . . . . South Carolina, . . . 1838
L. C. GARLAND,. . . . . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1840
D'ARCY PAUL,. . . . . . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1840
A. A. CAMPBELL, . . . . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1840
Rev. D. S. DOGGETT,.. . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1841
Rev. A. M. FORSTER, . . . South Carolina, . . . 1841
Rev. HENRY B. COWLES, . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1842
GEORGE ROGERS,. . . . . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1842
EDWARD R. CHAMBERS, . . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1842
WILLIAM TOWNES, . . . . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1844
WESLEY YOUNG, . . . . . . North Carolina, . . . 1845
Rev. R. O. BURTON,. . . . North Carolina, . . . 1845
Rev. WILLIAM B. ROWZIE, . Virginia, . . . . . . 1845
ELLIS MALONE, . . . . . . North Carolina, . . . 1846
THOMAS BRANCH,. . . . . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1846
Rev. L. M. LEE, . . . . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1846
THOMAS W. HARRIS, . . . . North Carolina, . . . 1846
RICHARD B. BAPTIST, . . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1846
CHARLES R. EATON, . . . . North Carolina, . . . 1848
MASON L. WIGGINS, . . . . North Carolina, . . . 1848
CHARLES S. HUTCHESON, . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1848
WILLIAM IRBY, . . . . . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1848
JAMES J. DALY,. . . . . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1848
Rev. R. I. CARSON,. . . . North Carolina, . . . 1848
Rev. JAMES REID,. . . . . North Carolina, . . . 1848
G. W. S. PARHAM,. . . . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1848
GEORGE WILSON,. . . . . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1848
GEORGE D. BASKERVILLE,. . North Carolina, . . . 1848
Rev. ANTHONY DIBRELL, . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1849
Rev. WILLIAM CLOSS, . . . North Carolina, . . . 1852
Rev. THOMAS S. CAMPBELL,. North Carolina, . . . 1854
THOMAS H. CAMPBELL, . . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1854
RICHARD IRBY, . . . . . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1854
CHARLES SKINNER,. . . . . North Carolina, . . . 1854
Rev. GEORGE W. NOLLEY,. . Virginia, . . . . . . 1855
JOHN G. BOYD, . . . . . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1855
Rev. LEO ROSSER,. . . . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1855
Rev. J. P. MOORE, . . . . North Carolina, . . . 1855
Rev. R. E. G. ADAMS,. . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1855
Rev. P. W. ARCHER,… . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1855
Rev. N. F. REID,. . . . . North Carolina, . . . 1855
Rev. WILLIAM CARTER,. . . North Carolina, . . . 1855
Rev. J. E. EDWARDS, . . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1857
N. MILAM, . . . . . . . . North Carolina, . . . 1857
Rev. G. W. CARTER,. . . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1858
RICHARD M. SMITH, . . . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1858
Rev. JOHN C. BLACKWELL, . Virginia, . . . . . . 1858
THOMAS P. JERMAN, . . . . North Carolina, . . . 1858
LEROY M. WILSON,. . . . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1859
O. H. P. CORPREW, . . . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1859
WILLIAM A. SMITH, . . . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1860
W. T. SUTHERLIN, . . . . Virginia, . . . . . . 1860

Secretaries of the Board.

Rev. WILLIAM A. SMITH,
Rev. WILLIAM M. WIGHTMAN,
Rev. JOHN G. CLAIBORNE,
Rev. EDWARD WADSWORTH,
Rev. HENRY B. COWLES,
RICHARD B. BAPTIST,
RICHARD IRBY,
WILLIAM A. SHEPARD.

Treasurers.

JOHN W. LEWIS,
ALEXANDER BOYD,
BEVERLY SYDNOR,
LANDON C. GARLAND,
DAVID DUNCAN,
CHARLES B. STUART,
Rev. WILLIAM A. SMITH.

Agents.

Rev. H. G. LEIGH,
Rev. WILLIAM HAMMETT,
Rev. M. P. PARKS,
Rev. JOHN EARLY,
Rev. WILLIAM A. SMITH,
Rev. THOMAS CROWDER,
Rev. JOHN A. MILLER,
Rev. JOHN KERR,
Rev. S. S. BRYANT,
Rev. R. O. BURTON,
Rev. WILLIAM B. ROWZIE,
Rev. R. I. CARSON,
Rev. BENJAMIN R. DUVAL,
Rev. N. THOMAS,
Rev. HENRY B. COWLES.

Rev. JOHN EARLY,
Chairman Board of Trustees, 1831.
President " " 1833 to 1872.

In the body of the history sufficient prominence has not been given to a number of the Professors and Agents. They in many instances richly deserved this prominence, but it seemed to be impossible to get portraits of them. A search for some of them for years failed to secure them.

The good work, as agents, of Rev. B. R. Duval and Rev. N. Thomas, more particularly the former, deserved a much more extended notice and commendation.