Coupland Randolph Page writes that on 8 June 1861 his company (Liberty Hall Volunteers) formed on the campus of Washington College (now Washington and Lee) in Lexington, Virginia, and from there they marched uptown to the courthouse. (The company was comprised largely of students of the college.) At the courthouse, "a beautiful silk banner, the gift of the ever blessed daughters of brave old Rockbridge (County), is then presented by one of her eloquent sons, to the company, who at the close of its impressive oration, unfurls it as the captain gives the order 'present arms!' and taking it into his hands, passes it over to the safe keeping of the color-bearer." Following this impressive spectacle, the company mounted old stages at the foot of VMI (Virginia Military Institute) and began the trek to Staunton. They arrived late at night and were quartered in the freight house of the Virginia Central Railroad, where pallets of straw had been laid. Then they were properly welcomed to life in the army by having to deal all night with a "corps of lively fleas" that thrived in nearby cattle cars. From there they embarked on a train pulled by the "Old Hero" engine, but the train stalled going up the steep incline to Thoroughfare Gap and the men had to disembark and push the train to the summit.