"It is not his (Buchanan's) purpose to garrison the forts to which you refer, because he considers them entirely safe under the shelter of that law-abiding sentiment for which the people of North Carolina have ever been distinguished."
The congress of delegates from the seceded States convened at Montgomery, Alabama, on the 4th of February, 1861, and on the 9th, Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi, was chosen by this body for President, and Alexander H. Stephens, of Georgia, for Vice President of the Confederate States. On the 18th of February Mr. Davis was inaugurated and the Provisional Government was instituted.
On the 4th of March, "at the other end of the avenue," Abraham Lincoln, nominated by a sectional convention, elected by a sectional vote, and that the vote of a minority of the people, was inducted into office.
Eager now were the inquiries as to the probabilities of a war between the sections. Everything was wrapped in the greatest uncertainty. North Carolina still adhered to the Union.
The anniversary of our company occurring on the 15th of March, which was now near at hand, we determined to celebrate the occasion. We accordingly issued invitations to the Rowan Rifles, of Salisbury, the Blues and Grays, of Danville, Va., and the Orange Guards, of Hillsboro, to be present with us. The Danville Grays, commanded by Capt. Claiburne, arrived on the evening of the 14th, the Rowan Rifles, Capt. McNeely, accompanied by Prof. Neave's brass band, greeted us on the morning of the 15th; the Orange Guards, Capt. Pride Jones, brought up the rear a few hours afterwards. Our visiting companies were welcomed, and the hospitalities of the city extended in an appropriate address by our then worthy Mayor, A. P. Eckel, Esq. Special addresses of welcome were made to the Danville companies by John A. Gilmer, Jr.; to the Rowan Rifles, by Lieut. James T. Morehead, Jr.; and to the Orange Guards, by Lieut. Wm. Adams. Having formed a battalion, under the command of Col. R. E. Withers, who had accompanied the Danville companies, we paraded the streets some hours. We repaired, by invitation of Prof. Sterling, to the Edgeworth grounds, where we found a bountiful lunch ready for us, prepared by the hospitable hostess. From Edgeworth we marched to the college, and passed in review before the bright eyes and smiling faces of the assembled beauty of that institution. At night our guests were entertained at a sumptuous collation in Yates' Hall, prepared by the ladies of our city. After we had refreshed the inner man, and regaled ourselves at the groaning tables, we moved, by way of a temporary bridge, constructed from the third-story window of the Yates building to the large hall in the Garrett building adjacent. Here, under the soul-stirring music discoursed by the Salisbury band, the feet began to twinkle and sound in quadrille, and continued until
"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,