Although they employed no slaves in their business, they were sympathetic to the Southern cause. Soon after the outbreak of the Civil War, Willie enlisted in the Confederate Army on May 23, 1861, at the age of twenty-two, with the rank of corporal. On July 1, 1861, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant, the same day the 30th was mustered into Confederate service.

On that warm day in May 1861, as Willie was packing to march off to war, Sara was beside herself, as her only son was leaving, and maybe, never to return. "When you leave t'morrah, you must promise to be careful," she said. "And don't forgit your socks and shirts." "I'll be careful," Willie replied, "and I won't forget to take the clothes." As his mother left the room, she used her shawl to hide her eyes, so that Willie never saw her tears.

The next morning came and the family sat down to a breakfast of biscuits and gravy. As Sara held back her tears, the family spoke of happier days. But then it was time for Willie to leave. When he wasn't looking, Sara placed two jars of Raspberry jam and some biscuits in Willie's pack. Willie, being young and spirited, did not realize the horror he was about to see. He hugged his father, who had the feeling of proud concern, then his mother pulled on his shirt, waved her hand through his hair, all as mother's do, to make sure he looked his best.

As Willie walked to the train that would take him to Richmond, he looked back at his home, and remembered the cool nights and the smell of the burning wood in the fireplace, and his mother's cooking. The smell of the freshly baked bread did not leave his mind. He remembered working with his father at the cigar business, and the fun he had climbing trees and fishing in the nearby steam. But soon his thoughts became diverted, to the cause, that reason he enlisted in the army. But what was his cause he thought to himself. He had mixed emotions, as he and his family owned no slaves, nor did he actually approve of such things. Yet, being from Baltimore, originally, but more importantly having roots in Virginia, his cause was that of support for his state, regardless of the deeper reasoning others felt. Maybe he could convince the Yankees to go home he thought, as he neared the train station. If I could do that, maybe I could stay at home, and this terrible war would be over.

As he boarded the train, he saw several companies of Confederate soldiers. Even as a young man, and not a boy, he still held the excitement of the war. The soldiers, the uniforms, the guns and cannons, all were things that boys enjoyed. The concept that the guns and cannons were real, and not as he played in the fields using a stick for a rifle, had not hit him yet.

His father had a rifle, which he gave to Willie to take to war. It was a Springfield, 1848 .58-caliber musket. His father had taught him how to use it, and Willie was a very good shot. He had only killed on a few occasions for food with his father; things like rabbits and such. The idea that he might have to shoot another man had not even entered his mind.

As he had enlisted, he entered the Virginia Volunteers as a corporal, and about a month later was mustered into Confederate service, into Company "C," 30^th Infantry.

One of the many regiments who gallantly fought at the Battle of Antietam was the 30th Infantry, Army of Northern Virginia. Originally organized as an US Militia, they entered the war as the 2nd Infantry Battalion Virginia Volunteers (Militia) along with eight other companies in state service on June 13, 1861. On July 1, 1861, it was transferred to Confederate service, as the 30th Virginia Infantry, and reorganized on April 19, 1862.

The 30th Infantry consisted of ten Companies, A through K, and were involved in numerous battles throughout the war; namely, The Seven Days Battles, Malvern Cliff, Harpers Ferry, Fredericksburg, Manassas, Hampton Roads, Winchester, Front Royal, Harrisonburg, Cross Keys, Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, Mobile Bay, Petersburg Siege, Sayler's Creek, Knoxville and Plymouth Sieges, Drewry's Bluff, Five Forks, Antietam, and Appomattox Court House.

To understand something about the one thousand three hundred ninety-three men who served in the 30th Infantry, it is interesting to note the various occupations of these men, of which 802 are on record. The largest number of men were farmers with 180, followed by laborers (136), students (105), carpenters (55), managers (49), clerks (31), shoemakers (23), merchants (16), teachers (15), bricklayers (15), overseers (14), millwrights (13), blacksmiths (12), physicians (11), grocers (10), sailors (10), tailors (9), wheelwrights, printers, painters (8 each), lawyers (6), policemen, tanner, tinner, dentists, coopers, confectioners (5 each), mechanics, moulder, factory hand (4 each), miner, gentlemen, baker (3 each), and butcher, druggist, cabinet maker, preacher, restaurant keeper and nurserymen (2 each). Additionally, there was one of each of the following: bookseller, carder, drayman, hotel keeper, fisherman, caster, cigar maker, engineer, machinist, postmaster, plumber, plasterer, railroad conductor, stone cutter and livery stableman.

Of these men who served in the 30th, the enlistment age is known for one thousand one-hundred twenty-eight. Of these the youngest were thirteen (2), fourteen (1) and fifteen (5). The oldest were two men, aged fifty-six and fifty-seven. The most frequent ages were eighteen (98), twenty-two (88) and twenty (84). The median age was twenty-four years and the average was twenty-five years. Twenty-eight percent of the men were married, and the average height was five feet eight inches.

The Razor and 58 caliber Rifle used by William Benton Marck

July 1861 was a tough time for Willie and the recruits of the 30th. The various companies were spread across a wide area on the Potomac River, from Marlboro, Pratts and Matthias Points. Military drills were constantly being held, often in painful doses. Tiresome, boring picket duties on the river's edge were made more difficult by the swarms of insects. Sleeping was impossible, not only from the heat, but also because of the thousands of mosquitos.

Finally, on July 20, 1861, Colonel Richard Milton Cary, commander of the 30th, announced that a forced march shall begin to Manassas Junction, where the war's first battle was brewing. The first day's march was tiring, very hot and dusty. By dusk the 30th reached the village of Aquia. Willie described the village as a store, with a couple of dilapidated houses, and a tobacco warehouse. Nothing much there to provide any relief after the long march, he noted.

Early in the morning on July 21, the march resumed toward Manassas. Most of the day, Willie recalled the incessant sound of infantry fire, which only added to the discomfort of the long seven-hour march, after which they stopped to eat at a place known as Cole's store, and rested for about three hours. As Willie puffed on one of his cigars, he recalled that during the morning's march, the "green" soldiers gave out and fainted from the tiresome march and the heat. Finally at about 8:00 p.m. they arrived in Manassas, in a total state of exhaustion. He remembered that Colonel Cary was quite proud of the men, as they had covered forty-seven miles in less than twenty-nine hours. Fortunately, the Union army had fled earlier in the day, as the 30th was in no condition to fight.

The following morning brought a downpour, turning the once dusty roads into thick mud. The 30th camped approximately one-half mile from Manassas Junction. All day on July 22, Willie and the men of the 30th witnessed their first real taste of war, as they watched the dreadful sight of wounded fellow soldiers being brought back from the field. Sergeant Marck, along with other sergeants and Lieutenants Cole, Mason, Carmichael, Dabney, Knox, Smith, and Chesley, were given strict orders from the commanders of Company C, Captains Alexander and Wallace, to maintain tight discipline of the men, keeping them in camp. All requests from the men to view the battlefield or collect souvenirs were denied. The wounded men were a horrible sight. Men were bleeding, and some had lost limbs. This first taste of battle for the men of the 30th was one they would never forget. Wounds from rifle fire left holes the size of silver dollars. Others, from cannon fire were too gruesome to describe. Medications in the war were quite limited.

One fact of the Civil War that is concerning is that more than twice as many soldiers died of illnesses than were killed in battle. This resulted from soldiers being forced to live in unhealthy conditions; often poorly fed, in crowded unsanitary camps. Epidemics would sweep through encampments and take more lives than the battles. Most of the diseases of this time were little understood, and at times the treatment did more harm than good.

Willie remembered that the universal ailment of all soldiers, and probably the deadliest, was called many names. Some called it the "Tennessee trots," others the "Virginia quick steps," or merely the "bowel complaint." Doctors had labeled this ailment "debilitis," or "diarrhea." Treatment for this ailment varied according to the doctor, and the available medications. One soldier in Company C, who had this ailment was treated with heavy doses of lead acetate, opium, aromatic sulfuric acid, tincture of opium, silver nitrate, belladonna, calomel and ipecac. Two weeks later the soldier died, and no wonder. Consequently, soldiers regarded a visit to the doctor as more a death sentence, rather than a cure. Because of this they would endure very long periods of suffering, rather than be sentenced to a hospital, with similar treatment. One medication commonly administered to soldiers was a mercury and chalk compound called blue mass. This was used in cases from toothache to constipation, and was the staple of all doctors' medicine bags. Quinine was the most valuable medication during this time. It was known to be an effective treatment for malaria, and as a prescription for about a dozen other complaints, as well as use as a dentifrice or toothpaste. Although quinine was thought to be good, the most commonly used medication, for both the North and the South, was alcohol, usually in the form of whiskey or brandy.

July 23 brought the 30th to marching again, this time back toward Manassas. The men of the 30th were happy to be marching again, as this time they were not scheduled for battle. After several days march, they arrived at Marlboro Point, where they stayed for forty-seven days, until September 12. From here they moved to Camp Holmes, outside Brooke's Station. Willie and several of his friends cheerfully remembered that this new camp was far from the river with its insects, and from the railroad.

For a year or so, Willie, with Company C, fought bravely at the battles of Front Royal, the Seven Days Battles, and Cross Keys. During this time, and throughout most of the war, temporal supplies were in great demand. Although most of the men in Company "C" had money, as they were paid on a regular basis, the badly needed clothes and shoes "could not be gotten for mere money." Finally, a shipment of six hundred sixty English blankets arrived, which was a real bonanza for the troops, at the cost of $2.75 each.

In the early months of 1862, Confederate authorities endeavored to reenlist the majority of soldiers whose twelve-month enlistments were about to expire. Although many desired to go home, most reenlisted. Some out of patriotism, and others for fear of news of a possible draft, with the conscription law soon to be passed.