Arkansas True Democrat [Little Rock],
July 25, 1861
From our own Correspondent.
Richmond, July 9th, 1861.
Notwithstanding the oppressively warm weather, the city of Richmond presents a stirring and lively appearance. There is great activity in the various departments of the newly formed government, particularly those of the war and navy, and their subordinate branches, the quartermaster’s and commissary’s departments. There are several large encampments in the purlieus of the city, where fresh troops are drilled and made acquainted with the rotine of a soldier’s life. The drill masters of the raw recruits are generally the cadets of the State Military Academy at Lexington, who, I understand, receive $30 a month for their services. Some of these cadets are mere boys, yet their education admirably fits them for the office of instructors of tactics. Recently a company of about 100 stalwart mountaineers passed my window under charge of a lad of about fourteen years old–there were some in the ranks old enough to be his grand-father, and yet the men obeyed him and seemed to improve vastly under his instruction. He was tied to a sword almost as long as himself, and with a penny-trumpet voice gave out the word of command with all the stern dignity of a veteran. That boy is the son of a lieutenant of the Public Guard, and has a fine company of juveniles under his command, whom he calls the Junior Home Guard, for the protection of the city. He will be a general some of these days. . . .
Quod.