USA > Virginia > Augusta County > Augusta County > Annals of Augusta County, Virginia, with reminiscences illustrative of the vicissitudes of its pioneer settlers (A Supplement) > Part 32
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Saturday night, December 31 .- The last night of a dreary year, full of wretchedness. * ** Forage is very scarce, and many horses are dying.
Thursday night, January 12, 1865 -The State sells salt to citizens at a less price than the market affords, and I have secured all I am entitled to, as the best investment of Confederate money. Some time ago the article was distributed to the people of the town at the rate of 25 pounds to each person, and I then obtained 275 pounds. Another distribution was made to-day, and I received 220 pounds more. * * A lady's dress, which formerly cost $10 to $15, now costs $400 to $500.
Monday night, January 16 .- Rosser has been to Beverley, Randolph county, and has captured 600 or 700 Federal soldiers.
January 18 .- Pins sell in town at $12 a paper, and needles at $10. Flour in Richmond at $1,000 a barrel. Confederate currency is almost worthless.
Friday night, January 20 .- Many persons were encouraging them- selves to-day with reports about foreign intervention. * * The prisoners captured by Rosser at Beverley (600 or 700) were sent off by railroad to-day. They have suffered greatly from cold and hunger, as our soldiers have. Several of them died on the way to Staunton, and others will probably not survive long. After the train started I saw one of the prisoners lying on the pavement at the corner of the courthouse yard. A crowd was around him, some of whom said he was dying. He was taken to the Confederate military hospital. All the prisoners are from Ohio. One of them boasted, it is said, that he had been in many of the houses about here.
Tuesday, January 31 .- Early has had his headquarters in Staunton for some time, and Fitzhugh Lee moved up from Waynesborough a few days ago.
Thursday, February 9 .- Two soldiers, convicted of desertion and robbery, were shot to-day near town.
Friday, February 24 .- General Crook entered Staunton this after- noon under very different circumstances from his visit in June last.
He was brought in by McNeil's men, who kidnapped him in Cumberland, Maryland, although there were two Federal regi- ments in the town.
The people of Augusta, who assembled at February court,
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contributed a large amount of provisions for the maintenance of the Confederate army.
Tuesday, February 28 .- We were startled this morning by an order from General Early to pack up. The enemy in large force was coming up the Valley, and had arrived at Mt. Jackson.
This was Sheridan's command of mounted men, which swept through the Valley without tarrying at any point. They burnt Swoope's depot, Swoope's mill and barn, Bell's barn, etc., on March 2.
General Early retired with his small force to Waynesborough, where he made a stand, but he was surrounded by a host of enemies, and his men were killed, captured or scattered. Wil- liam H. Harman was killed there, while acting as volunteer aid. The General narrowly escaped capture. On Saturday, the 4th, a body of the enemy returned to Staunton with their prisoners, 600 to 800, and the same day proceeded down the Valley, while the main body crossed the Blue Ridge at Rockfish Gap. Sheri- dan had no wagon train, but subsisted upon the country, his men plundering, consuming and destroying as they went. While they were in Staunton they seized cooked food wherever they found it, and on the 2d the writer's family had nothing to eat during the day except some potatoes which a servant smuggled into the house and roasted in the dining-room. For several weeks afterwards there was no communication by railroad or telegraph between Staunton and Richmond.
Early Monday morning, April 3, the news of the evacuation of Richmond flew through the streets of Staunton, and from house to house.
April 6 .- All things indicate that the days of the Confederate States are numbered.
On Tuesday morning, April 11, vague reports of General Lee's surrender reached Staunton.
Friday, April 14 .- We heard last night from an authentic source that General Lee had certainly surrendered himself with his army. * * O'Ferrall is still. operating in the lower Valley. The Federal com- mander in that quarter notified him that he was violating the terms of Lee's surrender, and O'Ferrall has sent to Staunton for information. * * Pierpoint, the Governor of Virginia, recognized by the Federal government, has been in Richmond. He was elected by a few votes in
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Alexandria, Norfolk, and possibly some other places occupied by Fede- ral troops during the war. Another State, called West Virginia, is pre- sided over by Governor Bowman, or Boreman. Nothing remains for us but submission.
Sunday night, Aprit 16 .- Authentic intelligence to-day that two per- sons have arrived in Charlottesville from Richmond, sent by Lincoln in search of Governor Smith, to invite him to return. At last accounts the Governor was flying from Richmond, on the tow path of the James river canal.
Monday night, April 17 .- Four years ago this day, the two military companies started from Staunton, and the war began. Now the war is virtually over, and we are-what shall I say?
LIST OF AUGUSTA MEN
WHO SERVED IN THE FIELD AS CAPTAINS, MAJORS, ETC., IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY.
Antrim, George T .- Captain of Company H, Fifth regiment Virginia infantry. Disabled at Kernstown.
Arehart, Abraham .- Captain of Company D, Fifty-second infantry.
Baldwin, John B .- Inspector-General of State troops; colonel of Fif- ty-second infantry. Disabled by sickness.
Balthis, William L .- Captain of Staunton Artillery, succeeding John D. Imboden. Disabled at Malvern Hill.
Bateman, Elijah .- Captain of Company G, Fifty-second infantry, suc- ceeding Samuel McCune. Lost arm in battle, May 6; 1864.
Baylor, William S. H .- Major of Fifth infantry, lieutenant-colonel and colonel. Killed at second battle of Manassas, commanding bri- gade.
Berkeley, Frank B .- Chief of staff of Brigadier General Imboden, with rank of captain.
Brown, S. Bradford .- Captain of cavalry; General Lee's body guard. Bucher, David .- Captain-quartermaster of Fifth infantry.
Bumgardner, James, Jr .- Captain of Company F, Fifty-second regi- ment, succeeding Joseph E. Cline.
Burke, Thomas J .- Captain of Company L, Fifth infantry, succeeding James H. Waters.
Byers, John S .- Captain of Company C, Fifty-second infantry, suc- ceeding Wm. E. Dabney. Disabled by wound.
Christian, Bolivar .- Captain-commissary of Fifty-second infantry. Afterwards on special service with rank of lieutenant-colonel.
Cline, Joseph E .- Captain of Company F, Fifty-second infantry. Re- tired from disability.
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Cochran, George M., Jr .- Captain-quartermaster of Fifty-second in- fantry.
Cochran. James .- Captain of Company I, Fourteenth Virginia caval- ry, succeeding F. F. Sterrett. Promoted colonel.
Coiner, C. Benton .- Captain of Company G, Fifty-second infantry, succeeding Elijah Bateman.
Curtis, E. L .- Captain of Company I, Fifth infantry, succeeding O. F. Grinnan.
Dabney, Wittiam E. (of Albemarle) .- Captain of Company C, Fifty- second infantry. Killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862.
Davis, Robert C .- Captain of Company A, Fifty-second infantry, succeeding Edward Garber.
Dempster, John J .- Captain of Company E, Fifth infantry, succeed- ing L. Grills.
Dold, James A .- Captain of Company H, Fifty-second infantry, suc- ceeding J. D. Lilly. Killed at Bethesda Church, below Richmond, 1864.
Doyte, Robert L .- Captain of Company C, Fifth infantry, lieutenant- colonel of Sixty-second infantry. Killed at Piedmont while acting as captain of reserves.
Futtz, Alexander H .- Captain of Staunton Artillery, succeeding A. W. Garber.
Garber, Asher W .- Captain of Staunton Artillery, succeeding W. L. Balthis. Promoted major.
Garber, Edward .- Captain of Company A, Fifty-second infantry, succeeding J. H. Skinner. Killed at second battle of Manassas.
Gibson, James W .- Captain of Company H, Fifth infantry, succeed- ing G. T. Antrim.
Grills, Lycurgus .- Captain of Company E, Fifth infantry, succeeding J. W. Newton. Died in service.
Grinnan, Oswald F .- Captain of Company I, Fifth infantry.
Hatl, William .- Captain of Company G, Fifth infantry, succeeding R. Simms. Killed at Wilderness, May 5, 1864.
Hanger, Henry H .- Captain of Company I, Fourteenth cavalry, suc- ceeding Joseph A. Wilson.
Hanger, Marshalt .- Captain and major on staff of General J. E. B. Stuart
Harman, Asher W .- Captain of Company G, Fifth infantry, colonel of Twelfth Virginia Cavalry.
Harman, John A .- Major and quartermaster of Second Corps Army of Northern Virginia.
Harman, Lewis .- Captain of Company I, Twelfth cavalry.
Harman. Michael G .- Lieutenant-colonel and colonel of Fifty-second infantry, succeeding J. B. Baldwin.
Harman, William H .- Lieutenant-colonel and colonel of Fifth in- fantry, succeeding K. Harper. Killed at Waynesborough, 1865, acting as volunteer aid.
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Harper, Kenton .- Colonel of Fifth infantry.
Hotchkiss, Jed .- Major and topographical engineer of Second Corps Army of Northern Virginia.
Hollle, Joseph F .- Captain of Company D, Fifty-second infantry.
Humphreys, John F .- Captain of Company I, Fifty-second infantry, succeeding Samuel Lambert.
Imboden, George W .- Colonel of Eighteenth Virginia cavalry.
Imboden, John D .- Captain of Staunton Artillery; colonel of inde- pendent command ; brigadier-general.
Koiner, Absalom .- Major of Fifth infantry, succeeding W. S. H. Baylor.
Lambert, Samuel .- Captain of Company I, Fifty-second infantry. Died in service.
Lilly, John D .- Captain of Company H, Twenty-fifth infantry. Pro- moted lieutenant-colonel.
Lilly, Robert D .- Captain of Company D, Twenty-fourth infantry. Promoted lieutenant-colonel, and brigadier-general. Lost an arm at Winchester, 1864.
Long, William .- Captain of Company B, Fifty-second infantry. Killed at McDowell, May 8, 1862.
Mason, C. R .- Commissioned first as a post-quartermaster with the rank of captain ; afterwards as lieutenant-colonel of engineers in the field.
Mc Clung, James A .- Captain-quartermaster of the Fifty-seventh Virginia regiment.
Mc Clung, Thomas .- Captain of Company E, First Virginia cavalry, succeeding William Patrick.
Mc Coy, Charles D .- Captain of Company D, Twenty-fifth infantry, succeeding R. D. Lilly.
Mc Cune, Samuel .- Captain of Company D, Fifty-second infantry.
Merritt, C. G .- Captain-quartermaster of Twenty-fifth infantry.
McKamy, William. C .- Captain of Company D, Fifth infantry, suc- ceeding W. H. Randolph.
Newton, James W .- Captain of Company E, Fifth infantry. Pro- moted major. Lost a leg in service.
Patrick, William .- Captain of Company E, First Virginia cavalry. Promoted major. Killed at Second Manassas.
Randolph, William H .- Captain of Company D, Fifth infantry, suc- ceeding H. J. Williams. Killed at Cold Harbor.
Roberts, St. Francis .- Captain of Company F, Fifth infantry. Dis- abled by wounds in battle.
Simms, Richard .- Captain of Company G, Fifth Infantry, succeeding A. W. Harman. Killed at Second Manassas.
Skinner, James H .- Captain of Company A, Fifty-second infantry, lieutenant-colonel, and colonel. Wounded and disabled, May 12, 1864.
Sterrett, F. F .- Captain of Company I, Fourteenth cavalry.
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Thompson, James .- Captain of Company B, Fifty-second infantry, succeeding William Long.
Trevy, J. M .- Captain of Company C, Fifth infantry, succeeding R. L. Doyle.
Trout, E. Stribling .- Captain of Company H, Fifty-second infantry, succeeding J. A. Dold.
Waters, James H .- Captain of Company L, Fifth infantry. Captain and commissary of regiment.
Weller, Charles L .- Captain of Company C, Fifty-second infantry, succeeding J. S. Byers.
Williams, Hazel J .- Captain of Company D, Fifth infantry. Pro- moted lieutenant-colonel.
Wilson, Joseph A .- Captain of Company I, Fourteenth cavalry, suc- ceeding James Cochran. Lost an arm in battle.
Wilson, Peter E .- Captain of Company F, Fifth infantry, succeeding St. F. Roberts.
The following natives of Augusta, who, however, were not living in the county when the war arose, were officers in the military service :
William D. Stuart, son of Thomas J. Stuart, Esq., of Staunton, born about 1830, and educated at the Staunton Academy and the Virginia Military Institute. Was principal of a school in Richmond, in 1861. Appointed by Governor Letcher, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Fourteenth Virginia regiment. At the reorganization in 1862, was elected colonel of the Fifty-sixth regiment. Mortally wounded at Gettysburg, and died in Staunton.
James A. Walker, son of Mr. Alexander Walker, of South river. Educated at the Virginia Military Institute. While practicing law in Pulaski county was appointed lieutenant colonel of the Thirteenth Vir- ginia regiment, commanded then by A. P. Hill. Became successively colonel, brigadier-general, and major-general.
Briscoe G. Baldwin, Jr., son of Judge B. G. Baldwin, educated at the Staunton Academy and the Virginia Military Institute. Appointed lieutenant colonel of artillery and assigned to ordnance duty in Rich- mond.
John H. McCue, son of John McCue, Esq., was practicing law in Nel- son county in 1861. Appointed commissary of the Fifty-first regiment, Colonel Wharton. Was with General Floyd's command at the fall of Fort Donelson. Captured at Waynesborough in March, 1865, while acting as volunteer aid and detained a prisoner till July.
John L. Peyton, of Staunton, was appointed, early in the war, agent of the State of North Carolina in England, and running the blockade in October, 1861, he resided abroad during the remainder of the war.
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In the battle near Winchester, July 20, 1864, General R. D. Lilly, while commanding Pegram's brigade, was wounded three times-first, in the left thigh by a shell; next, his right arm was shattered near the shoulder by a minie-ball; and, lastly, a minie-ball went through his already injured thigh. Being entirely disabled by the second injury, he dismounted, and as his horse was galloping to the rear he received the third wound. Weak and faint he laid down under a tree. A portion of the Federal army passed over him, and a soldier stopped long enough to take off his field-glass. Left alone for awhile, he crawled to a shady spot among rocks and leaves. Soon a Federal straggler came up and robbed him of his watch, pocket-book, hat, gold ring and pocket knife. Next, an Irishman in the Federal army came along, inquired about his injuries, and went nearly a mile to procure water for him. Finally, several of Averill's cavalry gathered near him, and while they stood there a moccasin snake glided across his forehead and stopped near his face. He called to the soldiers, and they killed the reptile. His arm was amputated at the shoulder by a Federal surgeon, and the wounded thigh was properly treated. The stolen watch was recovered through the agency of the surgeon and a Federal colonel.
Clement R. Mason was one of the most remarkable men of his day. He was born a poor boy, early in the present century, and reared in Chesterfield county. At an early age he was thrown upon his own re- sources, without the advantages of education. After pursuing various avocations, he turned his attention to the construction of railroads, and a large part of the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad was constructed by him. By a mental process peculiar to himself, he made the most intricate cal- culations in mensuration, with promptness and accuracy. He accumu lated several fortunes during his life, and lost nearly as many by his liberality. He was transparently honest, and, with much worldly wisdom, as guileless as a child. For about the last thirty years of his life he resided in Augusta county. When the war arose in 1861, he raised a company for the Fifty-second regiment, but his services were more needed otherwise. He was first commissioned as quartermaster, with the rank of captain. Soon, however, General T. J. Jackson at- tached him to his person and employed him in constructing roads and bridges, obtaining for him the commission of lieutenant-colonel of en- gineers. An anecdote is related to show his energy and skill: One evening General Jackson notified him to hold himself in readiness to. construct a bridge over a river they were at. The regular engineers sat up all night, drawing the plan, and in the morning Mason was sent. for to receive instructions. He presented himself at headquarters, with the announcement that the bridge was up! His death occurred in January, 1885, when he was about eighty-two years of age. Up to the time of his last sickness he was actively engaged in constructing railroads. in Pennsylvania, Kentucky and elsewhere.
CHAPTER XVII.
AFTER THE WAR-1865.
The war closed when General Lee surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse. For many days afterwards all the roads in the State were full of weary men wending their ways homeward. Many homes were devastated and poverty-stricken. The armie of the Confederate States had wasted away, and not only so, but the people were impoverished. Some food was left in the coun- try-more, indeed, than was generally known of a few weeks before-and the pressing need was for articles of clothing. Railroads had been torn up, factories destroyed, farms laid waste, towns wrecked, the banks were all broken, and there was liter- ally no currency in the country. Farmers set to work to do what they could, and a few other people found employment. Most white people were idle from necessity, and the negroes as- serted and proved their newly acquired freedom by leaving the farms and flocking to town. The recuperation of the country, which began at once and has been so far consummated, is one of the marvels of the age.
It was not anticipated at the close of the war that the Southern people generally would be subjected to pains and penalties. Edmund Burke said : "It is impossible to frame an indictment against a whole people." But the fate of many regarded as leaders was for some time in suspense.
We continue our extracts from the diary :
April 19 .- No rumors to-day of any consequence. Yesterday there was a report that Lincoln had been assassinated.
April 20 .- The report of Lincoln's assassination was renewed this evening. * * There is general regret in our community. * * We
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are now in a condition of anarchy. Bands of soldiers are roaming about and taking off all cattle, sheep, horses, etc., they suppose to be public property.
Having borne the heat and burden of the war for so long, it is not strange that returned soldiers, having come home in a state of destitution, should feel that they had a peculiar right to Con- federate property, nor is it strange that they sometimes mistook private for public property.
Friday night, April 21 .- I hear that a lady arrived this evening from Washington with a newspaper giving an account of Lincoln's assassi- nation. Seward was assailed in his chamber at the same time and wounded.
April 22 .- The assassin was an actor, named John Wilkes Booth. He and twenty or thirty others associated with him escaped down the Potomac on the Maryland side. He was not considered a Southern sympathizer, having left Richmond early in the war to go North. Rumor says that some persons at the North attribute the murder to the ultra abolitionists, who are disaffected on account of Lincoln's sup- posed leniency to the South. Vice-President Andrew Johnson has been sworn in as President of the United States, and has made several speeches, in which he announced vengeance against "traitors." He has withdrawn the invitation, or permission, for our Legislature to meet at Richmond.
Monday night, April 24 .- The Pierpoint government is established at Richmond, and we will doubtless be required to recognize it as legiti- mate. * The County Court was busy to-day trying to devise means for maintaining law and order.
April 25 .- We have no mails, no newspapers, and no regular com- munication with the world. Occasionally some person arrives with a Baltimore or Richmond paper. * * There were many exciting rumors to-day. Among them that Andrew Johnson had been killed, and that Washington, Philadelphia and New York were in flames. Also, reported by some one who came up the Valley that Grant had been killed, and that fighting was going on in Washington city. * ** Trouble, suspense, anxiety-a time when we have no government, and know not what will be on the morrow.
April 27 .- Reported that Andrew Johnson had not been poisoned, as was said, but was under arrest as an accomplice in the assassination of Lincoln !
Salurday, April 29 .- Several companies of the Twenty-second New York cavalry, under Colonel Reid, arrived to-day from Winchester. They came in very cautiously, having scouts on the hills before they entered. They evidently feared an ambuscade! Their camp is near the cemetery. * * It was a curious spectacle this afternoon to see Federals and Confederates mingling on the streets. Everybody seemed
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to be at ease. Jesse Scouts were in town considerably in advance of the main body.
Sunday night, April 30 .- The day passed off quietly. Many Yankees were riding and walking about unarmed. Four officers and two other soldiers attended the Presbyterian church in the forenoon. The Epis- copal church was not open, because Mr. Latané was apprehensive of trouble if he omitted to pray for the president of the United States. Surely these are evil times when churches are subject to military con- trol. * * Our town police arrested a drunken Yankee soldier last night and put him in jail.
Monday night, May 1 .- Negroes are flocking to the Yankee camp, some of them having come from home on horseback. * * The Yan- kees gave up stolen horses to their owners when called for. * * The officers have told everybody that they did not wish the negroes to go off with them, and would furnish to them neither transportation nor rations, but they were not at liberty to send them home. This afternoon, how- ever, the soldiers began a system of treatment which must have been discouraging to " American citizens of African descent." A number of tents had been taken from the military hospital to the Yankee camp, and some of them were spread upon the ground and used as blankets for tossing up the colored friends. Men, women and children were thrown up at the risk of cracking skulls or breaking necks. One woman having been tossed up several times fell on her head, and at last ac- counts was lying insensible. *
* This evening a Confederate and Yankee had a fist-fight in the street. The former got the better of his opponent, but both were put in jail.
Tuesday, May 2-The Federal troops started early this morning down the Valley. Many negroes, men, women and children, accom- panied them. The negroes can't realize that freedom is possible in their old homes. One old man started, but soon returned, saying it was too far !
Thursday night, May 4 .- A movement was on foot this morning for a public meeting on Monday next, with a view to the reorganization of the State government under the Constitution and laws of the United States.
Sunday night, May 7 .- Information that a considerable body of Fed- eral troops is on the way from Winchester. * * General Smith, our fugitive Governor, is in town to-night, and has sent round notice that he will deliver an address at the American hotel.
Monday night, May 8 .- The county meeting came off to-day, and was attended by many people. A committee was appointed to go to Rich- mond and confer with the authorities there, civil or military, and ascer- tain what liberty will be allowed in regard to the re-establishment of the State government. The committee are Alexander H. H. Stuart, Wil- liam M. Tate, John B. Baldwin, M. G. Harman and Hugh W. Sheffey. 22
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Governor Smith approved of the meeting. Resolutions were adopted declaring that the contest is ended; that a State Convention should be held, &c. The Governor goes armed with a brace of pistols, and his servant carries a gun or two. He has returned to Lexington.
Tuesday night, May 9 .- The Federal troops entered town this morning. First came three or four scouts, next the cavalry (three regiments), and then three regiments of infantry. Brigadier-General Duval commands. Their principal camp is on the Parkersburg road, near town. The headquarters are at the Virginia hotel. They have about 150 wagons, and supplies for thirty days. As the first infantry regiment marched in the band played " Hail Columbia." The private soldiers seem good- natured enough, but they are a low order of people, much inferior to our men, who have always whipped them when not outnumbered more than three to one. The officers are a spruce, dapper-looking set.
Wednesday night, May 10 .- The committee appointed by the county meeting on Monday called upon General Duval this morning. He was extremely civil; said the only instructions he had were to restore order by suppressing guerilla parties, and to parol Confederate soldiers. He had no instructions in regard to civil government. [There were no guerillas in the country.]
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