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Southern Historical Society Papers.

sanctified and glorified as it is by the blood and tears of the past, and wave it again in the air, and sing once more their old war songs?

"When these heads are white with glory,

When the shadows from the west,
Lengthen as you tell your story,
In the vet'ran's ward to rest,
May no ingrate's word of sneering,
Reach one heart of all the brave,
But may honor, praise, and cheering,

Guard old valor to the grave."

WAR OFFICERS




Of the First Regiment Virginia Volunteer Infantry,




With Some Notice of the "Advisory Council" of Governor John Letcher in 1861.




I am indebted to my friend Captain Louis Zimmer, of the Ordnance Department, C. S. A., now of New York city, but a former comrade in F company, volunteers of Richmond, for the following memo. Some efficient and providential service by Captain Zimmer, in securing from New York at personal hazard, percussion caps, which were essential for use in the first battle of Manassas, is given under the caption "A Secret Service Episode," Southern Historical Society Papers, Vol. XXVIII, pp. 14-18. Zimmer was entrusted by the "Advisory Council" of War, which in 1861 was composed of Governor John Letcher, Lieutenant-Governor Robert L. Montague (father of our present Executive), Commodore Matthew Fontaine Maury, State Senator Thomas S. Raymond (later of West Virginia), Colonel (later Major-General) Francis H. Smith, Superintendent Virginia Military Institute, Captain Robert B. Pegram, C. S. Navy, and perhaps others. The private secretary of Governor Letcher, Colonel S. Bassett French, acted as Secretary of the Board. Of the proceedings of this "Board" of War, so able in its constitutional personnel, and which would be so informatory as to early appointments, only those of the early months of 1861 are preserved