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

by Richard Irby

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."