1861 April 19 University of Virginia

Dear Father,

If not called to service
now, I suppose I shall be eventually.
Therefore as the Maynard rifle is
the most effective arm in the service,
& as you have or did have some in
the store, do please, if you think proper,
save me one, if the army or if not, of
the sporting size ^'& cartridge cases'. I fear that even
now I may be too late, & that they
are all disposed^'of'. I wrote mother last
night a letter of 10 pages about
two military companies of students
going from the University, as we
have since learned, to Harpers Ferry.
Our Jeff Davis Corps had its first
squad drill this afternoon. It was
a very cool, windy evening, but the
unpleasant beginning did not take

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away the zeal. I never liked
tactics before, but now I dont think
any one could drill me too often.
I am in the comp squad of my
best remaining friend, Walker, who
graduated first in his class with the
rank of captain at the state
Institute of Tennessee.

This afternoon by order of the Faculty
a Southern Confederacy flag was
raised on the top of the Rotunda.
We were addressed by Profs Bledsoe,
Coleman & Maupin & by Prentiss,
the Proctor, assistant Prof Dudley
& a Charlottesville editor.

If you have received my letter,
you know that Prof Bledsoe, who
graduated at West Point & served two
years in the army, is captain
of the University Jeff Davis Corps.
I repeat for fear that you may not
receive the letter. Col Smith, of
VMI, passed by in the cars this

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morning. I went down as far
as Charlottesville & had quite a
talk with the Col, now Brigadier
General, I believe. He said that the
cadets would pass here Sunday
morning on their way to Richmond.
Col expects to raise a brigade of 1000
or 1200 men from the present
cadets, old cadets & university &
college students, who will report
to him at Richmond. He will
equip & drill them 6 times a day
until they are thoroughly disciplined.
I believe he proosed to hold them
as a reserve, whose charge will ^'partly' decide
the fate of the day. He expects the
two compaies, which have gone from
here, to join him. Harry Estill,
the first man in my class at W[ashington] C[ollege],
has written to his friends in Lexington
to send him by Major Gilham an
uniform & permission to go. Estill
will join the cadets as they pass here.

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He was an hard student & stood
a fine chance to put through three
or four tickets this year. Estill's two
brothers have already gone. He
said he could not study, I have
not seen any one, who is really
studying. I have cooled down
a little, & feel a little more like
study to night. I went to see
Dr. McGuffey this afternoon eve-
ning. He did not approve of
one or two companies starting off so
poorly equipped. They expected
to be back in two weeks, but they will
doubtless join Col Smith & not
come back at all. Profs here are
trying to be easy on us & favor us as
much as possible. Have not been
among ^'young' ladies for so long, that I am
almost a barbarian. A few sweet
smiles & a slight conversations this
afternoon proved very refreshing. Please write
immediately about the rifle, what you think proper.
Sorry to say that I owe $4.60 & nary to pay
with. Love to all from one, whom they will think
a foolish crazy boy. Your affectionate son JT Allyn Jr.

[on top margin of page 1]
Hurrah for your firing a gun
for Secession!

MSS 3344-a