The College in the Years 1861-1865; Wm. & Mary Qrtly., 2nd Ser., Vol. 3, No. 4, 1923 Transcribed by Kathy Merrill for the USGenWeb Archives Special Collections Project ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** The College in the Years 1861-1865 William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, 2nd. Ser., Vol. 3, No. 4. (Oct., 1923), pp. 221-230. THE COLLEGE IN THE YEARS 1861-1865. The following report was made to the Board of Visitors and Governors at a meeting held in Richmond, July 5th, 1865, the first meeting since the autumn of 1861. Richmond, July 5th, 1865. To the Board of Visitors and Governors of the College of William and Mary: The following report of the general and financial condition of the College of William and Mary is respectfully submitted for your information and consideration. Since your last meeting in this City in the Fall of 1861 the total suspension of all College exercises has rendered a convocation of your body unnecessary even if it had been practicable. The return of peace enables you to resume your important duties as visitors & Governors of the time honored Institution whose government you have in the past so wisely administered and in whose behalf are, now more than ever, required your counsel and advise, as well because of the state of the country as by reason of the losses which have been sustained. First among these is the irreparable one of the venerable Patriot and Statesman who for so many years presided over your body as its Rector. As a most honored Alumnus, as a Visitor and Governor who throughout his distinguished career always had the interests of the Institution nearest his heart; As our Chancellor our Patron and our Friend the Faculty will never cease to mourn the death and cherish the memory of Ex- President John Tyler. Not having access to the Records there may in this report be some errors, especially of dates; it will however be found substantially correct in its statements. Early in May, 1861, the immediate prospect of active hostilities rendered it impossible to continue the College Exercises; they were accordingly suspended by the Faculty, and the very few remaining students advised to return to their homes. Page 222. The Faculty then consisted of the President who also filled the chair of Mathematics Natural Philosophy & Chemistry, A professor of Moral & Mental Philosophy & History, A Professor of Latin, Latin Literature & the Romance Languages, a Professor of Greek, Greek Literature and German, an adjunct Professor of Mathematics, an assistant Professor of Ancient Languages appointed by the Faculty under your authority and a Professor of Constitutional and Municipal Law. At your meeting in the Fall of 1861 held in this city you passed a resolution suspend- ing the salaries of the Professors. It was understood that their relations to the College remained in all other respects as before. The Professorship of Moral & Mental Philosophy & History was in the summer of 1861 vacated by the death of Professor Robert J. Morrison. By his loss the members of the Faculty were deprived of a valued and beloved associate and friend and the College of a devoted Professor whose earnest & zealous labors ac- complished much for the Insitution, and whose worth and ability were recognized and acknowledged by all whom he was officially connected. Imediately after the suspension of the College Exercises the Building was taken possession of by the military authorities first as a barrack and then as a hospital and was so held until the evacuation of Williamsburg, May 5th, 1862. The Building Enclosures and Grounds were up to this time in an excellent state of preservation. During the retreat of the Confederate army and pending the battle of Williamsburg much of the enclosure was destroyed by the Confederate troops being used as fuel. The destruction of the enclosures was completed after the occupation of the town by the United States Army under Genl. McClellan. After the evacuation of the place Mrs. Virginia Southall and family moved into the house of the President and remained in it till the Spring of 1864. The Brafferton was Page 223. used as an office and quarters of the U. S. officer commanding the town. The Colege was a Depot of Commissary Stores. On the 9th of September, 1862, a body of Confederate States Cavalry under the command of Col. Shingler of South Carolina penetrated into the town encountering, & defeating the force holding Williamsburg & the Forts in the vicinity & capturing Col. Campbell the commanding officer with others. The town was evacuated by the Confederate forces as early as 11 o'clock A. M. of the same day. Later in the day parties of the regiment of cavalry (the 5th Pa.) which constituted the garrison entered the town, as I have been credibly informed, and under the excitement produced by their defeat and the use of a quantity of whisky which they found, fired the College Building. This was consumed with the Chemicals & Chemical apparatus, a small portion of the Philosophical Apparatus the furniture and a part of the Library. Most of the Books were saved by the strenuous exertions of the citizens, the ladies being conspicuous in the good work. The fire did not reach the upper floor & roof of the Southern Tower which with its scrolls and other appurtenances remains uninjured. Subsequent to this all the out houses in the College yard excepting portions of the brick kitchens of the Brafferton and President's house were pulled down and carried off; the house occupied by the late Professor Morrison was burned; and the wood work of the Brafferton with the exception of the roof; and the floor of one room and the lower passage was carried off. After a raid this spring by a detachment of Mosby's command a line of defensive works was thrown across the College yard of which the walls of the Main Building the remaining portion of the brick kitchens near it the Brafferton & the President's House formed a part; some of the door ways & windows being blocked up & loopholed; the whole being connected and flanked by a strong line of palisades Page 224. extending across the two adjacent roads and further defended at some points by chevaux de frise. The walls of the College Building are apparently in as good condition as they were after the fire of 1859; indeed are less warped and cracked. The College Hotel still occupied by Mr. Harrell the Steward altho in want of repair has not been injured. After Mrs. Southall & her family moved from Williamsburg the President's house was somewhat though not seriously injured. It is now used as the Head Quarters of the Regiment stationed there. This has prevented my returning to Williamsburg which I wished to do as soon as practicable as well for the collection & preservation of the scattered property of the College as for other reasons. Most of the Philosophical Apparatus was in 1862, after the evacuation of the place became certain, stored in the Lunatic Asylum where it still remains. For its preservation it requires cleaning and other attention. Most of the College Books saved from the fire are also there. Professor Taliaferro after an examination thinks the most valuable part of the Library has been saved. The College is under great obligation to Doctor Wager the present Superintendent of the Lunatic Asylum for his care of both Books and Apparatus. The value of the Property of this kind saved amounts, as well as I can judge, to several thousand Dollars. The Charter and Seal of the College are safe. Some of the Records have been preserved but others of great interest and value have I regret to say been destroyed. The Portraits have been preserved. A full inventory of what has been saved will be made when practicable. After the evacuation of the Peninsula had been determined on there was not time for packing and sending away the moveable College property, even if it had been possible to obtain transportation. The only thing to be done was to distribute such articles as could be and to leave the rest to the chances of war. It Page 225. was remembered that during all the vicissitudes of the Revolution of 1776 the College Library and Apparatus remained in the Building unharmed; and it was hoped it would not be less fortunate in the contest then pending. It is proper to state that so far as is known the U. S. Military authorities did not authorize destruction of the College property. It was done principally, if not entirelay, by unorganized bodies of soldiery. The following is an approximate estimate of the losses in property sustained by the College during the war: The College Building estimated at $57,000.00 Value of Frame Building occupied by the late Professor Morrison 2,000.00 Damage to Brafferton, including out buildings 3,000.00 Injury to President's house & out buildings 1,600.00 Enclosures 1,200.00 Chemical Apparatus 1,500.00 Philosophical Apparatus 1,200.00 Library 2,500.00 __________ Total $70,000.00 This is I repeat, an approximate estimate but I believe that $70,000 currency would restore the College to the condition it was in before the war. (Experience has proved the foregoing estimate to be much too small by about $30,000 dollars - B. S. Ewell). During the Fall of 1862 I visited the vicinity of Williamsburg three times in the hope of entering the town under the protection of a flag of truce, and doing something towards securing the College property. In this I was disappointed. During one of these visits I got possession of and brought away a very valuable piece of apparatus. The securities of the College usually left by the Faculty in the hands of the Bursar Tazewell Taylor Esq were delivered by him, March 7th 1862, to Hugh Blair Grigsby LL. D. Visitor for safe keeping, with the sanction of the Page 226. Faculty expressed in their order dated February 28th 1862 and the approval of the Right Reverend Bishop Johns, Hugh Blair Grigsby and Tazewell Taylor, Visitors & Governors of the College, to be returned when applied for by the Faculty or by the Bursar. For a description of the securities thus delivered see the exhibit marked "A". In the summer of 1862 there appearing a prospect of investing a portion of the interest then due in satisfactory security and to meet some few accruing expenses the Faculty empowered me to perform temporarily the duties of Bursar; directing me to consult any Visitor within reach of the subject of invest- ment. The absence of Mr. Taylor - the Bursar had temporarily deprived the College of his valuable services. Under this authority some few collections were made. The prospect for investment proving fallacious nothing else was done in this respect. Subsequently, in the Spring of 1864, the Faculty renewed my appointment as Bursar protem, and authorized me to apply to Mr. Grigsby for the College securities and to deposit them in some place of safety subject to the order of hte Faculty or Mr. Grigsby. A special messenger was sent by whom they were delivered by Mr. Grigsby about the middle of June. I received them a short time after. In this measure agreed to unanimously by those of the Faculty present the absent members subsequently concurred. The reasons for its adoption were first, the promise of an advatageous loan which was afterwards effected, and secondly the threatening aspect of military affairs round Richmond. It was thought by high military authority that the Southern part of Virginia would soon be exposed to cavalry raids. There was one which reached the county of Charlotte in July, about the 1st, a detachment visiting Mr. Grigsby's residence and taking from him a large amount of valuable property, altho his residence was not entered. The securities were for a time deposited in Macon, Ga. then thought to be one of the safest places in the Confed- Page 227. eracy and where Professor Taliaferro was stationed. The continued advance of the armies of the United States and the threatened condition of many places in the interior before deemed entirely secure brought me to the conclusion that it was best to keep them entirely under my own supervision; which I accordingly did at some little expense. Learning not long before the evacuation of Richmond from an unquestionable source that the stock of the Bank of the Commonwealth of which the College held 266 shares was based entirely upon Confederate Bonds and would prove utterly valuless should these Bonds become so I obtained authority from the Faculty to sell this stock, it being above par, and invest the proceeds in Confederate Bonds then below par or otherwise, in the event of Mr. Macfarland's opinion being favorable to the change. When I consulted him he advised the sale & the reinvestment in something else, if possible, than Confederate Bonds. The stock was sold for about 32,000 Dolls. Confederate money a short time before the evaucation of the City. Being able to purchase nothing else I invested a portion of this in Confederate Bonds, some of which the Treasury officials of the Confederate Government had in their possession for the purpose of making the transfer at the time of the evacuation. The investment of the remainder was prevented by the sudden fall of Richmond. This stock costing 26,600 Dolls. may be set down as a total loss. It may be as well here to state that the stock of this Bank is now worth nothing. For a list of existing securities and report of the present condition of the finances see exhibit "B". The loan above alluded to was effected thro Lewis E. Harvie of Amelia County to whom the College is much indebted for the interest he manifested, and the exertions he made in regard to it; the borrowers are the Misses Archer of Amelia who gave their note fully secured for $6,000 the amount borrowed. To make this loan and for other purposes thought necessary a part of the interest due was collected in 1864. The interest and divi- Page 228. dends colelcted in 1862 & 1864 amounted to $3,617.48. Following Mr. Grigsby's advice no collections were made beyond what was necessary to make up this sum of $6,000. The dividends on the stock of the Bank of the Commonwealth furnished the balance as well as the means for defraying current expenses, which were inconsiderable in fact, though nominally large. The College owes a small amount which has not been paid heretofore because of the obligation to pay in good money. The individual bonds amounting to about $53,070.45, mostly secured by real Estate are believed to be all good; as are the bonds of the Richmond & Danville Rail Road Co. of the Cities of Petersburg, Lynchburg & Norfolk amounting to $12,750 as well as the shares of the old James River Company the par value of which is $8,800 yielding an annual income of $600. Of the value of the State stock amounting to $23,900 all of which is registered, and of the 1/4 of a share of the Dismal Swamp Canal Co. formerly valued at $3,500 I have no means of forming an estimate. So far as is now known the loss to the fund is $26,600 par value of the stock of the Bank of the Commonwealth and the proceeds of John Jones' note amounting to $5,000 collected in 1862 & invested in Confederate Bonds. As an offset to this are the arrears of interests & dividends amounting to $18,081.77 and the note of the Misses Archer amounting to $6,000. The accompanying letter from England relative to a trust fund to which the College seems to have a legal claim is respectfully enclosed for your consideration. Enclosed find a letter from Professor Taliaferro to me to which the attention of the Board is respectfully invited and one from Professor Joynes to your Body. I regret I am not at liberty to withhold that part of Mr. Joynes' letter which refers to me; it was written without my knowledge. I did not intend in this report to have alluded to the removal of the College, thinking it a subject for the Board, not the Page 229. Faculty, to consider had not the matter been broached by Mr. Joynes. If it were moved to Richmond, for example, there would be but little doubt of an immediate enlargement of its sphere of usefulness. If this be done I see no reason why it should not begin as a College. The fund is sufficient to support the faculty and defray other expenses. In view of the increased tuition fees the Professors' salaries might be reduced. Before effecting the removal serious difficulties would be encountered. A strong opposition would be made by the people of the Tidewater Counties, and the friends of the University. Legislative action would be necessary. If this commences there is no telling where it would stop. It is believed that money could be collected in the North by individual subscription to rebuild the College in Williamsburg but not elsewhere; and it is thought the attempt should be made. If removed, to use the language of one of your own Body, "It would no longer be William & Mary College." It seems to me the reasons based on historic associations given by Prof Joynes for not transferring the fund apply as forcibly to a transfer of the College itself from its present site. While for several years the College where it is now could not be much beyond a grammar school yet in time when the Tide Water Region flourishes as I believe it will its prosperity may reasonably be expected to be as great as it ever was if not greater. If it be determined to leave the Institution where it is the funds would not support the present number of Professors even if the condition of hte state & of the College Buildings did not render the services of all of htem unnecessary. The organization of the Faculty must be preserved as it constitutes the corporation. By retaining the services of two or three of the Professors to teach in the Preparatory Department; and such students as may wish to pursue Collegiate Studies the name & Organization of the Institution Page 230. would be contined and every essential condition satisfied. It may here be stated that for these purposes the Buildings now in Williamsburg are sufficient. The Professors not immediately employed might remain conected with the College as hereto- fore; their salaries being suspended, and they in the mean time being at liberty to engage in other pursuits. Respectfully submitted. BENJ. S. EWELL President William & Mary College. P. S. - As I do not think it proper to advise the visitors in relation to the important question of removing the College, I have in this report confined myself to simply stating some of the most obvious reasons for & against the measure without the expression of an opinion. The report of the Bursar Tazewell Taylor Esq of the financial transactions to February 1865 is herewith submitted; it having been examined & approved. Respectfully BENJ. S. EWELL President William & Mary College.