USA > Virginia > Augusta County > Augusta County > Annals of Augusta county, Virginia, from 1726 to 1871 > Part 49
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From a diary kept by the writer at Staunton during the war, we shall now make sundry extracts, as more likely to interest the reader than any other statement of facts. A contemporary account, written on the spot, will, perhaps, to some extent, enable readers to view things as they were seen by the writer. Dr. Johnson says that men forget the actual miseries of war, and delude themselves by supposing that it consists wholly in a proclamation, a battle, a victory, and a triumph. Here the reader may obtain a glimpse of what war is. We quote :
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Saturday, July 20, 1861 .- We have had a horrid view of war since my last. On Thursday evening two wagons full of sick soldiers ar- rived from Monterey, Highland county. Before these could be provid- ed for, others were brought in. The sick men were taken out of the wagons and placed in the sheriff's office and court-house, inany of them on the floors. The sight was a sickening one-one man gasping with asthma, another burning with fever, and another shaking with chills. There are now at least one hundred and fifty sick soldiers in town. The citizens are doing what they can for them. *
* * The Arkan- sas regiment left for the northwest yesterday. Two other regiments left this morning, and a fourth will go to-day. The mnen of one of the companies sang as they moved off : " We'll stand the storm," etc. * *
* George M. Cochran, Jr., arrived from Winchester yesterday evening, and says General Johnston has gone across the Blue Ridge to reinforce Beauregard at Manassas. * * -X
Evening .- The sick soldiers have been coming in all day in crowds, and are lying about in every place, suffering for food, etc.
On the 19th we heard by telegraph of some fighting in Fairfax county, which was the beginning of the " First Battle of Manassas."
Monday, July 22 .- The telegraph reported yesterday that the fight near Manassas Junction had been renewed, and this morning there is intelligence of a great battle, lasting from 8 A. M. till 6 P. M. The victory is attributed to our side. The enemy were said to be re- treating, pursned by our cavalry. Total loss (on both sides, it is pre- sumed ), ten thousand to twelve thousand. Most of the volunteers from this county were on the field, and we know that at least a part of General Johnston's command was in the engagement. The utmost desire, not without apprehension, is felt to obtain full particulars.
At night the telegraph announced that one member of the Staun- ton Artillery and two of the Guards, ( William H. Woodward and Joab Seely), had been killed, and that seven men in both companies were wounded.
Tuesday, July 23 .- The town is overflowing with sick soldiers and stragglers from the Northwestern army. There are probably three hundred in hospital. No arrangement yet for their comfort at the In- stitution.
The State Institution for the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind had been occupied as a hospital for sick and wounded soldiers ; but some time was required for making suitable arrangements.
Wednesday, July 24 .- The streets are full of soldiers, many of whom are lying against the houses and on store boxes. A free negro woman took three of them home with her to get something to eat and a place to lie down. They had arrived from Monterey, broken down and destitute.
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Thursday, July 25 .- A letter was received last night from Lyttle- ton Waddell, Jr., [of the Staunton Artillery.] He began the letter Sunday morning (21st), and in the first part gives an account of the march from Winchester and the arrival at Manassas. In the midst of a sentence he breaks off to say that he heard the report of cannon and must go to his post. At 5 o'clock P. M. he resumed and told about the battle ; but at the close of the letter could not say definitely what was the result. On a separate piece of paper hie states that General Johnston had come along and announced a victory ! More troops ar- rived last night, and a second North Carolina regiment this morning. Others are still here.
Friday, July 26 .- The booty captured after the battle near Manas- sas is said to be immense. The Federalists seem to have anticipated an easy march to Richmond, and were provided with all sorts of con- veniences and luxuries. Many females and children accompanied their army, and female apparel and even children's toys were found scat- tered over the ground.
Monday, July 29 .- Two railroad trains arrived yesterday with troops, Tennesseans, I believe. Part of them went on immediately by way of Millborough to the Northwestern army. * * General Lee arrived in the mail train late this evening, and was saluted by a Georgia artillery company stationed on the left of the Middlebrook road, half a mile from town.
Tuesday, July 30 .- A Tennessee regiment went off last night. There are still, however, many soldiers about town. The drum is beating nearly all the time. The camp fires on Garber's hill Sunday night were very beautiful. * No paper has been issued from the Spectator office for two weeks, Mauzy and all his hands being in the militia. A long line of cavalry came in just before dinner from to- wards Winchester. There seemed to be three or four companies. McDonald's Legion they call themselves. The Georgia artillery com- pany left town late this afternoon. More troops passed to-day on the railroad, -two trains. I cannot keep count of them.
Wednesday, July 31 .- * * The militia have been greatly ex- ercised for more than two weeks past. The number of men remaining to be furnished by this county, to make up the ten per cent. called for, was, on yesterday, three hundred and fifty. * One or two more cavalry companies belonging to McDonald's Legion came in last even- ing. The whole number is said to be seven or eight hundred.
Friday, August 2 .- Troops ! troops ! ! They have been pouring in yesterday and to-day, principally from Southwest Virginia and Ten- nessee. They are rough-looking fellows, very free and easy in their manner, but generally well-behaved. The Rockbridge militia, some eight hundred strong, arrived day before yesterday. They have ar- ranged to furnish their quota of volunteers, and the remainder will re- turn home. The militia of Augusta, outside of Staunton, have also raised their quota, I believe ; but the two town companies are still wrangling. * * There must be from one thousand to twelve hun- dred volunteers at this place, recently enlisted, besides regiments stop- ping in transitu.
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Wednesday, August 7 .- The soldiers passing through town make themselves very much at home, and sometimes make ludicrous mis- takes. A party of them called at Mr. S.'s the other day and asked for food, which was given to them. An officer afterwards made his ap- pearance, called for a room and dinner, and announced that he would be back to supper, leaving directious as to what he would have pre- pared. On taking his departure at night, when pay was refused for his entertainment, he discovered that he was not in a boarding-house, and expressed great mortification. He saw so many going there to eat he was sure it was a house of public entertainment.
The Angusta militia was discharged ou the 7th of August, the quota of volunteers called for having been made up. The Fifty-second Virginia regiment was organized at that time. The field and staff officers were, John B. Baldwin, Colonel ; M. G. Harman, Lieutenant- Colonel ; John D. Ross, Major ; Dr. Livingston Waddell, Surgeon ; George M. Cochran, Jr., Quartermaster, and Bolivar Christian, Com- missary.
On August 20, the price of salt had gone up to $10 a sack, and on the 24th the price of coffee was forty cents a pound.
Thursday, August 22 .- It was rumored in towni on yesterday that St. Louis had been burnt, and that our troops in Northwest Virginia had captured fourteen hundred of the enemy with the loss of General Loring. Neither report could be traced to any reliable source.
Monday, August 26 .- Yesterday afternoon the Rev. Dr. Armistead of Cumberland county, preached to the soldiers camped on the Insti- tution grounds. There was no pulpit, but the preacher stood under the trees or walked abont, while the soldiers and others stood, or sat, or lay at full length in the grove. The ladies are bent upon nursing at the hospital. Perhaps they agree with the Spectator, (No. 193), "that there is in military men something graceful in exposing themselves naked." I hear some ludicrous stories of their perform- ances. Mrs. - was very anxious to "do something," and went fussing round till she found one of the doctors. He gave her two pre- scriptions, which she hastened to administer, but was alarmed after- wards upon discovering that she had given a dose of calomel to a typhoid fever patient. It is said these ladies rub the fever patients and dose the rheumatics. One man had his face washed by one lady after another till he was perfectly clean, or very tired of it.
This extract refers to a few good women who were entirely un- fitted for the business of nursing ; many others proved "ministering angels" in the hospitals here and elsewhere.
Tuesday, September 3 .- Abont one hundred Federal prisoners ar- rived last night from the west by railroad. They were taken in the affair at Gauley river between our troops under Floyd and the Feder- alists under a Colonel Taylor. Most of them are from Ohio.
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Friday, September 6 .- The regiment lately organized here, (Bald- win's), is preparing to start, but there is some trouble in the ranks. Moreover, many of the men are absent without leave. * *
* The jailor of this county informs me that the Union men brought from Beverley when our army retreated from that place, and since then con- fined in our jail, are in miserable plight,-some of them half naked. There are twenty-one of them. We continue to liear sad accounts of the sickness at Monterey. Eight deaths there yesterday or the day before.
Clothing and other necessaries were soon provided for the prison- ers referred to above.
Saturday, September 7 .- * Last night sixteen prisoners were brought down on the western train, most of them Ohio volun- teers. One of them had neither hat, shoes, nor stockings, and his feet looked white and tender. I sent him a pair of shoes and a pair of stockings, somewhat worn, but better than none. *
* We had an illustration yesterday evening of the difficulty of getting true ac- counts of military operations. On the arrival of the western train the baggage master told A. F. Kinney that Wise's troops had recently killed four hundred of the enemy, with only a small loss on our side. I did not believe that, but on my way home I encountered Richard- son, who came down on the train, and he informed me that John H. McCue, just from the region where Wise is, had come in with him, and told him that Wise had a fight in which fifty of the enemy were killed, with no loss on our side, and that the sixteen prisoners brought down were taken in that affair. I have learned this morning that there is no truth in either story, yet neither of the persons mentioned would tell a falsehood. The prisoners were taken by Floyd.
Wednesday, September II .- The Fifty-second regiment left town about 2 o'clock yesterday. Main street was lined with people for an hour or two beforehand. One of the soldiers, who was detailed as wagon-guard, sat on a stone by Morris' corner, and his wife clung to him to the last. She was greatly distressed, but he appeared unmoved. Seven of the companies are from this county, viz : Skinner's, Long's, McCune's, Lambert's, Hottle's, John Lilley's, (late Mason's), and Dabney's ; and three from Rockbridge, viz : Miller's, Morrison's, and Watkins'.
Monday, September 16 .- We have been agitated for several days past by rumors from General Lee's command, without being able to obtain any definite information. The express has not come in since Friday morning. Saturday night one or more persons arrived with the corpse of a Georgia soldier, and stated that an attempt made by our force at Greenbrier river against the enemy on Cheat mountain had failed.
Wednesday, September 18 .- Many rumors from the northwest cur- rent for several days past-one, that General Lee had reached Hun- tersville ; another, that he had captured fourteen cannon, and after- wards lost six ; another, that four hundred of liis men had been killed; another, that the enemy had routed a body of our men at Petersburg,
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in Hardy county. None of these are authentic. *
* Twenty-six wagons were sent out on yesterday, six to-day.
Friday, September 20 .- A train of wagons has just arrived from Greenbrier river, bringing the remnant of Captain Bruce's company, Twentieth regiment. Thirty odd men are left of about ninety who went out a few months ago. The regiment was at Rich Mountain when the disaster occurred there, and is completely broken up. Many of the men were captured by the enemy, some disabled by wounds, many died of disease, and some, I presume, killed. Most of the men left of Bruce's company go into the hospital.
The Confederate army operating in northwest Virginia depended for subsistence almost entirely upon supplies collected at Staunton, and transported thence in wagons. Most of the wagons thus employed were hired, or "pressed," for the purpose, the owners being paid $4 a day for a four-horse team and driver, and $2.50 for a two-horse team, etc. The government, however, owned a large number of horses and wagons, and for these drivers only were hired. On September 24th, thirty-two wagons were sent out, and thirty-six on the 25th. Thirty wagons went out on the 28th, loaded for Monterey and Huntersville.
Friday, October 4 .- An express boy, riding in great haste, arrived to-day at the Quartermaster's Office. He brought news that 5,000 of the enemy attacked our force, 2,500 to 3,000, at Greenbrier river [on the Staunton and Parkersburg turnpike, in Pocahontas county], yes- terday morning, and were repulsed with heavy loss, after a fight of three or four hours. The Fifty-second regiment did not get up in time to participate in the battle.
On October 17, there were seven hundred and fifty patients in the Staunton hospital, and notice had been received to prepare for five hundred more from Greenbrier river.
Thursday, October 24 .- The Fifty-eightli Virginia regiment has at last started west. It has been here for many weeks. Most of the companies are from Bedford county. The ranks are thin from sick- ness, etc.
Eighty-one wagons with army supplies were started to Monterey on October 21, and others on the 2d of November.
Thursday, November 7 .- Yesterday was election day for president of the Confederate States, members of Congress, etc. There was no opposition to Jefferson Davis for the presidency. The refugees from the Wheeling district, who voted here for congressman, under the Governor's proclamation, seemed more interested and excited than any other persons. At the courthouse they gave Russell three votes and Kidwell two.
November II .- Salt is now held here at $18 a sack. Baldwin was elected to Congress in this district. Have not heard the result in the
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Wheeling district. John N. Hendren was elected a member of the State Convention in Baldwin's place.
Thursday, November 14 .- The North Carolina regiment, Colonel Lee, which passed through Staunton some months ago, returned to- day on the way to Manassas. The men generally look rather soiled and badly. The ranks, however, are not as much reduced as I would liave expected. From the manner in which the men ran over the town to procure bread, I presume they were suffering from hunger. They carried their bread, cakes, etc., in very dirty hands. They came down by railroad, and went on after a delay of two or three hours. Other regiments from the west are expected in a day or two to go to Manassas or Winchester.
During the latter part of November, Staunton was crowded with soldiers, generally stragglers from the northwestern army. Many regiments were moving from the mountains, and officers and men seemed to think it not improper to come on in advance. The diary remarked on the 28th : " The whole northwestern army seems de- inoralized."
Monday night, December 2 .- After vibrating on the road near McDowell, Highland county,-one day ordered forward, and the next back,-the troops lately at Greenbrier river, or a part of them, have proceeded towards Manassas by way of Harrisonburg. Last Saturday it was reported that a large body of the enemy was advancing this way from Cheat Mountain, and another approaching Monterey from Petersburg, in Hardy county, while a third force was marching upon Winchester. * * We are sending large quantities of supplies to Monterey and other points, for the troops left in that region.
December 11 .- Several trains of empty wagons have gone out to bring away the army stores which have accumulated at various points in Highland county since last spring. War is a costly business. Five teams from the lower part of Rockingham cost more than $250, eleven days' hire, probably more than the lading was worth.
Saturday night, December 14 .- The town was startled this morn- ing by the news of a battle, yesterday, on the Alleghany, an express having arrived during the night. It is stated that two deserters from our side informed the enemy of the very small force (under General Edward Johnson) we now have on the mountain, which induced the Federal general to collect all the men he could for an assault upon our camp. The enemy had, it is said, 5,000, while we had 1, 200 effective men. The former were repulsed with a reported loss of eighty killed. Our loss is given as twenty killed and eighty wounded. The fight lasted several hours. * * Notwithstanding the Yankees are thus aggressive, the movements still indicate that all our troops are to be withdrawn from Pocahontas and Highland. The town was full of wagons to-day,-some having arrived from the west with supplies taken out heretofore with vast labor and expense; and others going out empty, to bring back similar loads.
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Monday night, December 16 .- The streets as full of soldiers to- night as ever. Guards with fixed bayonets constantly walking about. * * Teams going and coming all the time, and a constant rush of team-owners, wagon-masters, teamsters, etc. Old or broken down horses are coming in from the armny in droves nearly every day, and better ones are sent out as fast as they can be procured. Since dark a crowd of worn out artillery horses arrived from Huntersville.
The Virginia Hotel stables, in Staunton, were destroyed by fire on Wednesday morning, December 18, and forty-seven or forty-eight horses were burnt up,-most of them belonging to individuals, and the remainder to the government.
By the 25th of December, army supplies were going by wagon from Staunton to Winchester. Many teams from Buckingham and Appomattox counties had been pressed into service.
December 26 .- Money was never so plentiful. Coufederate States treasury notes, State treasury notes, bank notes of all sorts and sizes, and "shinplasters " issued by corporations and anybody who chooses. Gold and silver coin are never seen.
Friday night, January 3, 1862 .- We had exciting news to-day from almost every quarter. At 2 o'clock an express arrived from the Alleghany mountain, beyond Monterey, with intelligence that the Federalists in large force were at Greenbrier river, and also at, or near Huntersville. An attack was anticipated, and reinforcements were re- quested. We hear that large reinforcements have been moving up to-day from Richmond towards Centreville, beyond Manassas, in an- ticipation of an attack from the enemy in that quarter. General T. J. Jackson has moved with his division from Winchester towards Romney and we hear of skirmishing in that region. One or two regiments passed yesterday evening, by railroad for the Greenbrier region, from which our troops were lately withdrawn.
During the months of January and February the diary is full of the reports about Mason and Slidell, the Burnside expedition, the Confederate expedition to Romney, the disaster at Roanoke Island, the fall of Fort Donelson, etc., etc. ; but there is little of local interest, or pertaining to the annals of the county. News came on February 16th, of a splendid victory at Fort Donelson,-ten thousand men and one hundred cannon captured. This was contradicted on the 17th, and on the ISth we had tidings of the fall of Donelson. On the 19th the diary says : " It is impossible to describe the state of feeling in the community, the depression and anxiety." Things looked brighter on the 20th, but on the 22nd, everything was gloomy again. There was no salt in town for sale, and persons were going round to borrow a little for table use. Authentic intelligence from Tennessee was not received till the 24th, and then it was said the Confederate loss at
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Fort Donelson was from twelve thousand to fifteen thousand men ; but in a day or two the number was reduced to seven thousand.
Wednesday night, March 5 .- For a week or two past we have had rumors that our army stores were to be removed from Manassas, Cen- treville, etc., to Gordonsville, where extensive store-houses have been erected. Many wagons, moreover, have been impressed in Albemarle and other eastern counties to go to Manassas. This morning forty fonr-horse government wagons started from Staunton for the same place. There was a rumor this morning that Winchester would be evacuated in a day or two by our troops, but stage-passengers, who afterwards arrived, contradicted it.
Monday night, March 10 .- The Richmond newspapers bring a proclamation of the Governor, calling upon the militia to go at once to various points named, and report to our generals. The militia of this county are to report at Winchester. The Confederate authorities have called for 40,000 men from Virginia, and cannot wait the opera- tion of the act lately passed by the Legislature.
Thursday, March 13, 1862 .- Intelligence came last night that the enemy have occupied Winchester, General Jackson having withdrawn his army.
Sunday night, March 16 .- Jackson's army, when last heard from, was at Woodstock. A portion of the rolling stock of the Manassas Gap railroad arrived yesterday over the turnpike.
The militia of the county having been called out again to rein- force General Jackson, they assembled in Staunton, and on March 17, proceeded down the Valley. The ranks of the companies were very thin, nearly all the able-bodied men of the county being in the army already. The diary states that "when Company A, One-Hundred- and-Sixtieth regiment, was ordered into line, - marched out, solitary and alone. He was afterwards joined by several others."
Wednesday night, March 19 .- About 2 o'clock to-day seventy odd men were brought in, having been captured by our cavalry scouts in Pendleton or Hardy. Ten or eleven of these are from this county, and the remainder from Rockingham. They were endeavoring to make their way in small parties to Ohio, to escape military duty. Some, if not all of them, are simple-hearted, inoffensive people, belonging to the Dunkard church, whose tenets forbid going to war. They will be sent to Richmond to-morrow, and are confined to-night in the courthouse, every door and window being guarded by a sentinel. * * There is something pitiful in the case of these people, flying as they were to escape conscription, and being taken like patridges on the mountains. The whole crowd had a pocket pistol between them, and no other arms.
Thursday night, March 20 .- Early this morning I met Sam Baskin, who had just returned from Jackson's army. He said the enemy had mustered 70,000 strong at Winchester, but after laying a double-track railroad to Strasburg, had gone off, leaving only 3,000
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men behind. Soon afterwards I met Sandy Garber, just arrived also. He said the enemy had seventeen regiments at Winchester, and that none of them except pickets had been out of the town in this direc- tion. Such are the contradictory reports constantly brought to us.
Saturday night, March 22 .- * * While in the country yes- terday I could but observe the quietude of the scene. The cattle in the barn-yard, the sheep in the field. and all nature seemed perfectly composed. What a contrast to the rage of men ! Coming home, I met a man and asked him the latest news. "Nothing special," he replied ; "not many getting off, but I did." The ruling thought with him was about the " Board of Exemption " from military duty.
March 23 .- One of the Augusta militia, who was discharged and sent home, gives the following account of things: "The army seemed to be in a high state of enjoyment, but glad to receive the re- inforcements from the county. The volunteers,-the men composing the army,-were dressed in every conceivable style. Some wore slouched hats, some caps of their own manufacture, and others the old- fashioned high-crowned beavers. They were, however, uniformly dirty. Many wagons were employed in bringing the army stores from Mount Jackson to New Market. The loads were emptied in great haste and the teams hurried back for more, as the enemy were ap- proaching. The people of the country round were flying with what property they could carry off, some having their chickens tied on the wagons. But the men, old and young, were coming to the army with their guns. The hurry and tumult were kept up nearly all night. The next day (21st), the Augusta militia were marched down near Mount Jackson, meeting our army coming this way, and quartered on the Meem farm. The cavalry were between them and the enemy, who had advanced to Woodstock, and a battle was con- sidered certain. The next morning (22nd), our armny was suddenly put in rapid motion toward Woodstock in pursuit of the retreating enemy."
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