1861 March 22 University of Virginia

Messrs Editors:

The Spirit of Secession is rampant here. Last
Friday -- one week ago -- the sun rose upon the flag
of the Southern Confederacy floating from the top
dome of the Rotunda of the University. As soon as
it was discovered the news spread like wild fire over
college and soon the morning air resounded with
"Hurrah for the Southern Confederacy." The students
collected in large numbers upon the lawn during
the early part of the day. Prof. Bledsoe came out
and while exprressing himself as heartily endorsing
the sentiments designed to they it manifested, reques-
ted that the flag might be quietly taken down,
as the faculty could not allow it to remain over
State property. Fifty students instantly ascended
to the roof of the Rotunda and the flag was brought
down upon the lawn where it was received with
outbursts of applause. Speeches were made & the
flag finally borne off to "Carr's Hill" to the tune of
"Dixie."

The verdict of the Public was that on the night
previous -- the night of the Ides of March -- access

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was obtained through a series of four doors -- barred
and bolted -- to the top of the Rotunda "by some
person or persons unknown" and the banner of
Southern hopes -- the three stripes & seven stars --
flung to the breeze for the first time in Albemarle
County. -- It is whispered by "those who know"
that it was a band of seven of the "Carr's Hill
boys" who conceived & executed the plan. This
happened on Friday & before Monday 8 or 9 secession
flags were flying in different parts of College.
This afternoon there was a grand flag raising at
one of the boarding houses. At half past four
oclock the Southern Guard, -- a company lately
formed & composed of students -- marched down
to the scene of festivity in full uniform, with music
playing, & numbering about 70 muskets. --
The flag, after being drawn up, was unfurled by
a little girl attired as the Goddess of Liberty. As
it gracefully unfolded to the breeze, "the Guard" fired
a salute of seven rounds by sections in quick
succession, the band playing "Dixie." After the
usual speeches the Guard marched off to drill
upon the lawn & the crowd dispersed.

The Sons of Virginia & of the South ^"Maryland" are true to her honor ^'the South.

To the Editors of the Exchange--

Albert T. Bledsoe (1809-1877), professor of mathematics and the University of Virginia, afterwards served as Assistant Secretary of War for the Confederacy, and later edited the Southern Review. Author of "An essay on liberty and slavery" and "Is Davis a traitor; or Was secession a constitutional right previous to the war of 1861?

According to W. G. Bean in Stonewall's Man Sandie Pendleton law professor John B. Minor looked at the flag and muttered "Flag of my country, can it be, that in they place a rag I see."

In his memoirs Soldier's recollections, leaves from the diary of a Confederate Randolph H. McKim admitted to being one of the Carr's Hill Seven.

MSS 15097