Carolina Cadets. 141
duty required that they should be at the front, and so, fired by their patriotic zeal, most of them at once joined other commands and be- came regularly enlisted in the army.
The action of the Governor at this time in disbanding the com- pany defeated the hopes which the students had entertained of going to the front in a body. In fact, the faculty of the College, as well as State officials, deemed it inexpedient that they should do so, fearing that the ardor of youth would prove rather a disadvantage, and preferred that the students should go as individuals and be in- corporated in commands under older heads.
Upon the opening of the college in January, 1862, but few of the students returned. Of this an interesting account will be found in Dr. LaBorde's history of the college on page 471. The exercises of the college were continued, however, with rather unsatisfactory results through the months of January and February, and until the 8th of March, 1862, on which day the college was closed for the war. (See LaBorde's History Q/ South Carolina College, pages
47L 472.)
It was the ambition of the students to go to the front in an organ- ized body, and it will be seen that three separate attempts were made to accomplish this end. In these efforts they were defeated by the more conservative views of the faculty and trustees, who, in their desire to save and preserve the college, thought it best that it should be otherwise. The privilege of displaying their patriotic zeal in an organized body was thus denied them, but history will show an equal patriotism on the part of the individual student. Many gave their lives a sacrifice for the cause. Many rose to posi- tions of distinction.
Many as privates in the rank served their country with a self- sacrificing devotion and patriotic zeal worthy of the cause for which they were willing to lay down their lives.
