USA > Virginia > Augusta County > Augusta County > Annals of Augusta county, Virginia, from 1726 to 1871 > Part 48
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trumps for copy. At length after dark Tuesday evening, the 27th, the town was startled and elated by the unaccustomed sound of an engine whistle, and a large part of the population rushed to the depot to learn the news. Did Richmond, Washington and New York survive, or had they been smothered to death by the snow ? The train proved to be only an engine with one car attached, bringing the passengers who had started from Richmond on the 18th. The regular western train of that day was arrested by the stormn at Louisa Court-house, and the passengers were detained there till the 21st. They then worked their way by some means to Gordonsville, where they had to remain till the 25th. Starting again, they spent a night in the railroad car, and reached Staunton, as stated, on the 27th. They brought no mail nor news except the account of their own adventures. At 4 o'clock Wed- nesday, January 28th, the first train from Richmond arrived with thirty bags of mail for the Staunton postoffice.
The John Brown raid at Harper's Ferry occurred in the fall of 1859. Many military companies were assembled at that place by order of Governor Wise, among them the West Angusta Guard of Staunton, Captain W. S. H. Baylor. This fanatical affair was like " the letting out of waters," comparatively trifling in itself, but tending to the des- perate strife which arose in less than two years thereafter.
Again in the summer of 1860, Staunton was visited by three floods, two in one day, similar to the occurrence of 1846. The first was preceded by a terrific storm of thunder, lightning, wind and rain. As on the former occasion, after the storm was over the flood came and swept through the town. The last of this series presented a curious phenomenon. The rain had ceased, the clouds were dispersed, and the sun was shining brightly, when a vast wall of water, ap- parently eight or ten feet high, came down the meadow from towards the present city water works. It moved so deliberately that a person 011 Prospect street, seeing it coming, ran down Angusta street to Courthouse street, thence up New street to Beverley, and up Augusta to Frederick, warning people as he went of the approaching overflow, and reached Frederick street just as the raging torrent came booming round the corner. The water was so deep in the street at the Virginia Hotel as to admit of persons swimming in it .*
* A still more destructive flood occurred early in the night of Tuesday, September 29, 1896. Rain fell at intervals in torrents all day; but late in the afternoon the storm seemed to liave ceased. About half past 8 o'clock, however, it begau again, and for several hours rain came down in almost solid sheets. The lower parts of the town were deluged. On the former occasions the main branch of Lewis creek contributed little to the overflow, but on this the flood appeared
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CHURCHES IN AUGUSTA COUNTY.
A history of religious denominations is an essential part of the annals of a county, and we regret that we cannot give a more detailed account of the various churches in Augusta. Efforts to obtain infor- mation, however, have signally failed. There lias been a strange neg- lect on the part of the officers and members of most congregations to preserve the history of their respective organizations.
The first settlers of the county having been almost unanimously Presbyterians, the congregations and meeting-houses of that denom- ination ante-date all others by many years. We have given such ac- counts as we have of the earliest Presbyterian congregations,-Augusta (or Stone Church), Tinkling Spring, Hebron (or Brown's meeting- hsuse), Rock Spring, and Bethel. Mossy Creek church was organized in 1767. All these congregations have had a succession of worthy, and in some cases eminent, pastors, besides many heretofore mentioned, including the Rev. William Brown, Rev. F. M. Bowman and Dr. Handy, of Augusta church ; and the Rev. Messrs. B. M. Smith, R. L. Dabney, C. S. M. See and G. B. Strickler, of Tinkling Spring. There was no regular Presbyterian church organization in Staunton till 1804. At first the Presbyterians living in town were connected with Tinkling Spring. From 1804 to about 1824, or 1825, Staunton and Hebron united in the support of a pastor. The first church building of the denomination in the town was erected in 1818. Before the Revolution, Presbyterian ministers preached occasionally in the court-house, and after the war, up to the year 1818, they officiated on alternate Sundays in the old parish church. The Rev. Joseph Smith was the first pastor of the Staunton church, when it became a separate, or self-sustaining organization, from 1826 to 1832. The present house of worship was erected in 1871, the old church being then turned over to the Augusta Female Seminary.
A second Presbyterian church was organized in Staunton in 1875, and its church building erected in 1876.
The first Presbyterian chuch in Waynesborough was erected about 1798, which was superseded by another in 1824. Until 1847, Waynes- borough was associated with Tinkling Spring in the support of a
to come chiefly from that quarter. Moreover, the dam at the Fair Ground and an embaukment on Brew's farm, Middlebrook road, broke, and the water which had accumulated being discharged, carried destruction in its course. A family of four negroes living near the stone railroad bridge on the Middlebrook road, were drowned, their house having been washed away. From that bridge to the depot of the Valley Railroad was, next morning, a scene of desolation. Many buildings fell or were swept off, and from 30 to 40 horses and mules were drowned. In the midst of the storm, the electric and gas lights were extinguish- ed, and the town was left in pitch darkness. The fire bell was rung to call people to the rescue of others who were in peril, but in the darkness and flood little could be done. As never before our people realized the meaning of the words " the terror by night."
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pastor. In that year, however, a separate church was organized there, with the Rev. William T. Richardson as pastor.
Other Presbyterian churches in the county, with the dates of their organization, are as follows : Union, 1817 ; Shemariah, 1832 ; Mt. Carmel, 1835 ; Mt. Horeb, 1857; and Loch Willow, at Churchville, 1866. There are also several chapels in the county connected with various congregations.
The many "Mounts" in the county are supposed to be an impor- tation from "the old country." The prefix of Mount to names of places is common in the north of Ireland.
The Church of England being established by law in the colony till the Revolution, vestrymen for Augusta parish were elected in 1746, and a rector was appointed during 1747. The erection of the parish church was not begun, however, till 1760. The building was finished in 1762, the rector officiating in the meanwhile in the court-house and private dwellings. Mr. Balmaine, the curate in 1775, entered the army as chaplain at the beginning of the Revolutionary war, and did not return to Staunton to reside. It is said that a minister named Cham- bers officiated here for a short time, in 1788. and then removed to Kentucky. From that time, till about 1811, there was no regular Episcopal service in the church. In the meanwhile, several promni- nent gentlemen from Eastern Virginia, had settled in Staunton, and having been reared in the Episcopal church, they naturally desired to reinstate here the modes of worship to which they were attached. It is said also that fears were entertained lest the heirs of William Bev- erley might successfully claim the lot if the Episcopal service were permanently discontinued, and thus alienate not only the church but the common burying-ground of the town. At that time Mr. William King resided in Staunton. He was a zealous member of the Metho- dist church, and a man of exemplary character. Originally a cooper by trade, Dr. Boys gave him some instruction in surgery, and he then practised medicine upon a system peculiar to himself. At the instance of Mr. Peyton, and others, Bishop Madison, in 1811, licensed Mr. King as deacon, to read the Episcopal service in the church. He officiated in this manner for some years. In 1815 he paid tax as one of the physicians of the county.
The Rev. Daniel Stephens, D. D., a regularly educated minister, settled in Staunton, in 1820, as rector of the parish and principal of the Staunton Academy. He remained for a few years only, going to the west in 1827. The next rector was the Rev. Ebenezer Boyden, who took charge of the church in 1831. Mr. Boyden was a gentleman of literary taste and culture, and was the first person in the county to pay particular attention to the cultivation of the grape-vine. He married in Staunton the oldest daughter of Major Daniel Sheffey.
The original parish church was taken down in 1831 and a new church built. The latter gave way to another, which was superseded by the present structure. There are two Episcopal chapels in the county, one called Boyden, five miles southeast of Staunton, and the other called Trinity, two miles west of town.
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About the year 1748 the Presbyterians began to hold service in a meeting-house two miles northwest of Midway, or Steele's tavern. They called the place " Providence," probably after a church of the same name in Pennsylvania, but in the course of time it was desig- nated " Old Providence," to distinguish it from New Providence in Rockbridge. In or about 1765, the population on Walker's creek, Rockbridge, having increased, and the membership being chiefly in that neighborhood, Old Providence was abandoned as a place of wor- ship. When the schism occurred at New Providence in 1789 or 1790 on account of psalmody, a portion of the congregation reopened the Old Providence meeting-house, and it became an Associate Reformed, or "Seceder" Presbyterian church. They built a stone church in 1793, which still stands, but is disused, a brick church, built in 1859-60, having taken its place. The Rev. Horatio Thompson, D. D., was pastor of Old Providence for many years.
The first Lutheran church in the county, called Coiner's, or Trinity, on South river, was built in 1780. Mt. Tabor church in Riverheads district, was built in 1785; Mt. Zion, six iniles west of Middlebrook, was organized in 1830; Mt. Hermon, at Newport, in 1850 ; Bethlehem, near Fishersville, in 1843 ; Mt. Zion, near Waynes- borough, about 1845; Staunton Lutheran church, in IS50 ; Salem, near Mt. Sidney, in 1845; and the Churchville church, in 1850. Bethany, near Waynesborough, and Pleasant View, between Staunton and the village of Springhill, are other Lutheran churches.
A Methodist church was built in Staunton before the close of the last century, probably in 1797, although the name of "Staunton circuit " first appears on the minutes of the Methodist Episcopal church in the year 1806. Mr. Sampson Eagon, who lived on the top of the hill, southwest corner of Main and Coalter streets, was one of the founders of the church in this community. He was a zealous and good inan, universally respected, and held religious services at times in his wagon-maker's shop, which stood in the same lot as his dwelling. Hence the eminence on which he lived was called " Gospel Hill." The present church building in Staunton is the third which has occupied the same spot .* There is now a Methodist church at nearly every village in the county, the number of churches and chapels being eighteen, besides several colored Methodist churches.
The German Reformed church in the county dates back to the last century. For many years this denomination held jointly with the Lutherans, St John's church, near Middlebrook, St. Peter's, at Churchville, and Zion's, near Waynesborough. The Rev. John Brown ministered to these churches many years, till 1833. From 1835 to 1858 the Rev. J. C. Hensel officiated at St. John's. New Bethany church, at Newport, was founded in 1845, and a church was built at Mint Spring in 1882.
* A fourth building now occupies the spot, erected in 1896.
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The Tunker, or German Baptist church, was organized in the county about the year 1790. Its places of worship are known as Mt. Vernon, Barren Ridge, Valley District and Moscow, with branches at several places.
The United Brethren have fifteen organized churches in the county, and eleven houses of worship.
The Catholic church in Staunton was built in 1850. A school connected with the church is conducted by Sisters of Charity.
A Baptist church was organized in Staunton in 1853 and the recent house of worship was built in 1855. There are now six Baptist churches of the same connection in the county,-at Waynes- borough, Greenville, etc., -besides two colored churches in Staunton.
CHAPTER XX.
AUGUSTA COUNTY AND THE WAR OF SECESSION-1860-'2.
It is not expected that we should give here a history of the recent war, from 1861 to 1865 ; but a brief account of the state of affairs in the county during that period will be attempted. Much has been writ- ten and published about the battles of the war and the life of soldiers in the field ; we propose to relate succinctly how the people at home fared, what they saw and heard, what they thought, and how they felt.
Until the war actually arose, the sentiment of the people of Angusta, with the exception of a few individuals, was earnestly in favor of maintaining the Union. At the Presidential election, Breck- inridge, who was regarded as the secession candidate (although most of his supporters denied that he was), received only 218 votes in the county, while Bell received 2,553, and Douglas, 1,094.
As soon as the result of the election was known, the people of South Carolina took steps to secede from the Union ; and thereupon many citizens of Augusta published a call for a county mass-meeting on Saturday, November 17, to consult as to what course was necessary " for the preservation of the Union in the present alarming condition of our country." The meeting was held in the court-house on the day named, and was large and enthusiastic. Alexander H. H. Stuart presided, and John L. Peyton acted as secretary. It was resolved to appoint a committee of thirteen to report to a meeting at November court such resolutions as they might deem proper for the people of Augusta to adopt. By vote of the meeting, Mr. Stuart was made chairman of the committee, and the other members were Hugh W. Sheffey, George Baylor, John B. Baldwin, John L. Peyton, Kenton Harper, John D. Imboden, George M. Cochran, Jr., Joseph A. Wad- dell, John McChe, Benjamin Crawford, Gerard B. Stuart, and Robert Guy.
On November court day, (the 26tl1), the court-house was crowded with people anxious to participate in the proceedings, and never were more interest and anxiety exhibited by a popular assembly. A series of resolutions, written by Hugh W. Sheffey, and with some modifica-
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tions adopted by the committee of thirteen, was reported to the meet- ing. One of the resolutions declared the Constitution of the United States to be " the easiest yoke of government a free people ever bore, and yet the strongest protector of rights the wisdom of inan ever con- trived." Another expressed sympathy with the people of the extreme Southern States in their aggrieved feeling at the election of Lincoln, but appealed to them to unite with Virginia "in testing the efficacy of remedies provided by the Constitution and within the Union," The last resolution was as follows : "That our senator and delegates be requested, in the discharge of the responsible duties which will soon devolve upon them, in the spirit of harmony and conciliation attempt- ed to be expressed in these resolves, to bend all their energies to keep Virginia to her moorings as 'Flag Ship of the Union,' and to induce hier, placed as she is between the North and the extreme South, with moderation, forbearance and wisdom worthy of her ancient renown, to exert lier power and influence to preserve, on the one hand, tlie know11 and equal rights of hier own people as citizens of a common country, and, on the other, the harmony of the Union and the integrity of the Constitution."
Every attempt to change the resolutions was voted down, and they were adopted by an overwhelming majority. A resolution in favor of a State Convention, to be called by the Legislature, was also defeated. Union men considering that a step in the direction of secession. Thus the people of Augusta took their stand in favor of the Union, and against every measure which it was feared might tend to its dissolution. But while in favor of the Union, they were opposed to all measures of coercion by the Federal Government, regarding an enforced union of States, by means of military power, as inconsistent with our theory of government, and not to be desired. They preferred to allow any State, resolved upon secession, to try the experiment withont let or hindrance. For themselves, they proposed to remain in the Union. And although seeking peace, they reserved the right to determine on which side they would fight, if fight they imust.
During the monthis of December and January, the course of events was watched with intense anxiety. President Buchanan hav- ing appointed Friday, Jannary 4, 1861, as National Fast Day, on ac- count of the disturbed condition of the country, the occasion was observed in Staunton in a remarkable manner. The whole people appeared to feel the solemnity of the crisis. All the stores were closed, and business generally was suspended. Sermons were preaclied in the various churches by the respective pastors at 11 o'clock, a. m.,
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and at 3 a Union prayer-meeting was held in the Lutheran church, which was crowded to overflowing. Vain was the help of man,- God was earnestly entreated to interpose and save the country from ruin.
Contrary to the wishes of the people of Augusta, the Legislature passed an act providing for a State Convention. The election was held on the 4th of February, and Alexander H. H. Stuart, Jolın B. Baldwin and George Baylor were chosen, as Union men, to represent Augusta county.
The Convention met in February, and, being largely composed of men opposed to secession, if it could be avoided, for two months labored to prevent disunion, and restore peace to the distracted country. It seemed to our people that a corresponding spirit was not exhibited by the Federal government and the North generally. A. great revolution was in progress in many of the Sonthern States, but the authorities at Washington persisted in treating it as the ebullition of a mob. President Lincoln having been inangurated, formidable military and naval preparations were set on foot. Finally, Fort Sumter having surrendered to the Carolinians, the President issued a proclamation on April 15th calling for seventy thousand volunteers. Virginia was asked to furnish her quota of troops, and Staunton was named as one of the places of rendezvous. The proclamation precipi- tated the action of the Convention, and an ordinance of secession, subject to the vote of the people, was passed April 17, 1861. From that day, however, a state of war between Virginia and the United States was recognized as existing. Our people almost unanimously took side with the Southern States. Which side, -North or South,- was to blame, we shall not discuss here, but the people of Augusta, and, indeed, of the whole State, have always felt that they were not responsible for the conflict.
Much military enthusiasm prevailed throughout the State after the "John Brown raid," and many volunteer companies were organ- ized in this county. When the war began we had about a dozen, one artillery, two cavalry, and the remainder infantry. All the infantry companies were armed, and the artillery had four pieces of cannon. The West Augusta Guard, of Staunton, the oldest of the organiza- tions, was completely equipped.
On the 13th of April the commissioned officers of seven of the organized companies in the county met in Staunton to form a volunteer regiment, to be designated the Fifth, as provided by law. The fol- lowing field officers were elected : William S. H. Baylor, Colonel ; Absalom Koiner, Lieutenant-Colonel; Franklin F. Sterrett, First
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Major, and Rudolph Turk, Second Major. Other companies in the county were invited to join the regiment. The organization of the regiment was, however, not completed, the various companies be- ing ordered to the field a few days afterwards and a different arrange- ment consummated.
April 17, 1861, was a day of intense excitement in Staunton. People from the country poured into town, and all business and labor were suspended. An order had been received by telegraph from Richmond, -irregularly issued, it was afterwards ascertained,-re- quiring the varions military companies of the county to prepare to mareh. Late in the afternoon of the 17th, the West Augusta Guard, Captain William S. H. Baylor, and the Staunton Artillery, Captain John D. Imboden, went eastward by a special railroad train, and it soon afterwards appeared that their destination was Harper's Ferry, by way of the Alexandria and Manassas Gap railroad.
On the 19th the companies from Springhill (Captain Doyle), Greenville, (Captain Newton), and Middlebrook, (Captain Williams), marched down the Valley. Captain Patrick's troop of cavalry, and Captain Koiner's company of infantry also marched on the 19th witli- ont passing through Staunton. The West View company, (Captain Roberts), the Mt. Solon company, (Captain Grinnan), the Mt. Sidney company, (Captain Stuart M. Crawford), commanded by Lientenant William P. Johnston, the captain being sick, and Captain A. W. Harman's company, organized at Staunton, speedily followed the others down the Valley.
Kenton Harper, Major-General of militia, was ordered by the Governor to proceed to Harper's Ferry and take command. He was, however, superseded by Colonel Thomas J. Jackson before the close of the month.
Eight infantry companies from this county and two more from the lower valley, were organized at Harper's Ferry as the Fifth Virginia regiment. This regiment became a part of the "Stonewall Brigade," and served during the war, at the close of which very few of the original members survived. The first field officers of the regi- ment were Kenton Harper, Colonel ; William H. Harman, Lieutenant- Colonel ; and Wm. S. H. Baylor, Major.
Staunton soon became an important military station, and a great depot for army supplies. M. G. Harman was the first quartermaster of the post, with the rank of major. He, on going to the field, was succeeded for a short time by A. W. Harman. Finally, H. M. Bell was appointed to the office, and held it during the last two and a half years of the war. The first commissary of the post was Captain F. H.
.
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Henderson, who was succeeded by Captain E. W. Bayly. Wm. M. Tate, of Augusta, afterwards commissioned commissary with the rank of major, was stationed at Staunton as agent for the purchase of army subsistence. Extensive hospitals for sick and wounded soldiers were also organized and maintained here during the war. The first surgeon in charge was Dr. J. Alexander Waddell, and afterwards, successively, Dr. Hay and Dr. A. M. Fauntleroy.
During the latter part of April, sixty-nine wagons laden with guns from the Lexington arsenal, arrived in town. Day after day troops also arrived and departed. On May 18, seven companies, under command of Colonel John Echols, were temporarily quartered liere. The ladies were then busily at work making soldiers' garments.
The ordinance of secession was voted on by the people May 23, and ten votes against it were cast in the county. The vote for the ordinance was 3, 130. At the same time Hugh W. Sheffey, William M. Tate and James Walker were elected to the House of Delegates. Bolivar Christian represented the county in the State Senate.
On June 4, news of the encounter with the enemy at Philippi, Barbour county, was received. The Churchville cavalry, Captain Sterrett, was there, which increased the anxiety felt in the communi- ty. A considerable body of Virginia troops was soon collected in the northwestern part of the State, beyond the Alleghany mountain, and most of the supplies were forwarded from Staunton. For this purpose, in addition to government wagons and teams, many others belonging to farmers were temporarily pressed into service.
Captain R. D. Lilly's company, organized at Staunton, and four other companies from different counties started to the northwest on June 7. Regiment after regiment and company after company arrived and departed in like manner.
The militia of the county were called out on the 28th of June. On the 15th and 16th of July we had tidings of the disaster in the northwest, and of the death of General Garnett.
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