USA > Virginia > Augusta County > Augusta County > Annals of Augusta county, Virginia, from 1726 to 1871 > Part 51
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Wednesday, September 24 .- All the wounded men who can walk have been creeping up from Winchester, trying to get to their homes. Stauuton is full of them. Many look very forlorn, hands and arnis hurt, faces bound up, badly clad, barefooted and dirty.
September 25 .- Last night the town was overflowing with wound- ed soldiers from the army and recruits going down.
Saturday night, September 27 .- Late this evening nearly five hun- dred Yankee prisoners were brought up from Winchester. They marched four abreast. It was pitiful tosee so many human beings led or driven along like sheep. Troops have been moving down the Val- ley from this point nearly every day this week. Most of the wounded who have arrived here have been forwarded to Richmond. Others continue to come, however. Night before last the town was alive with them. They were fed as far as possible, by citizens.
Thursday, October 2 .- An ambulance train laden with wounded soldiers has come in from Winchester. From the number of Northern vehicles in the train one might suppose that the Federal army was passing along. *
* The number of ambulances arrived and on the road this side of Mt. Sidney is said to be two hundred and twenty-five.
Wednesday, October 8 .- The scene at the railroad depot this mori- ing was in striking contrast to those of former times. Many wounded soldiers were going home on furlough or discharge,-some on two crutches, others on one, and several supported by two men each. A poor fellow came limping along, using a rough staff in place of one of his legs, which was wounded. One leg of his pants was cut off at the knee, and the other was slit open so as to expose the bare limb. What clothing he had on was dirty, as usual with most soldiers return- ing from the army.
Monday, October 13 .- There was a distribution of public salt to- day. Considerable crowd and pressure. One pound allowed to each individual. Several wagons went through town to day on their way to Kanawha county for salt. News was received on the 13th, of Stuart's cavalry excursion into Pennsylvania, capture of Chambers- burg, etc.
Saturday, October 18 .- A dreadful railroad accident at Ivy, Albe- marle county, a few days ago, to a train bringing soldiers up this way. Seven or eight men killed and sixty or seventy wounded. But what of this at a time when inen are killed by hundreds and thousands every day ! Soldiers still pressing through the town to the army. Provisions of all kinds scarce and prices high. Flour, $14 per barrel ; butter, 75 cents per pound ; clothing very difficult to get.
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Wednesday, October 22 .- We have more to fear from the scarcity of subsistence and clothing than from the Federal armies. * * Felt hats sell for $10 to $15. The price for making a pair of common shoes is from $5.50 to $6. The cannon of twenty-three dismantled artillery companies have been sent to Staunton. Up to a few days ago, 13,000 recruits for General Lee's army had passed through town since the battles in Maryland.
Friday, October 31 .- Rumors for several days past that our army is falling back from Winchester or going into eastern Virginia. It is said that Jackson is to remain in the Valley this side of Winchester. Troops still going down.
Friday, November 7 .- A long train of ambulances with sick soldiers just arrived from Winchester. ** * General expectation that the war will close in a short time, either from European interven- tion, or a change of feeling in the Northern people.
Wednesday, November 12 .- Yankees said to be at Shenandoah mountain, twenty-six miles from Staunton. * * The South Caro- lina cavalry regiment, which has been in the vicinity of town for some time past, went out just now to see after the enemy. They passed through town and made an imposing display.
Monday, November 17 .- Our cavalry have returned from High- land (across the Shenandoah mountain), and report that no Yankees are in that region this side of the Alleghany mountain. * * More than a hundred Yankee prisoners were brought up the Valley yester- day. A hundred or more on the 13th.
Thursday, November 20. - Yankees in Highland,-Millroy and Kelley,-committing great depredations in Crab Bottom. Several Yankee prisoners on parole are walking about our streets,-one strap- ping fellow in Zouave uniform .- red pants, etc.
Tuesday November 25 .- The scene has greatly changed. The enemy under Burnside are opposite Fredericksburg, demanding the surrender of the place. General Lee is there commanding our forces. Jackson and D. H. Hill have moved from the Valley in the same direction.
Intelligence of the battle of Fredericksburg was received on December 12th, 13th, and continuously to the 23rd.
Tuesday night, December 23 .- As an incident of the times, I men- tion that a milliner of Staunton went to Baltimore recently to purchase goods, taking a female companion with her. The goods had to "run the blockade," in other words, to be smuggled across the lines, and the two women returned, each concealing a large number of bonnet frames under her hood and wearing any quantity of dresses and cloaks.
· Thursday night, December 25 .- Upon joining a crowd near the courthouse, I learned that the sentinels had last night halted citizens on the streets, and ordered them not to pass unless they were going to their homes. We all agreed that it was a high-handed usurpation, which should not be submitted to. So we addressed a communication
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to Colonel D., the commander of the post, inquiring if the guard had acted in pursuance of orders, and if so, whether the proceeding was to be continued to-night. He stated in his reply that the guard were in- experienced and had misunderstood their instructions. The paper sent him, however, showed that the Provost Marshal was present at one of the street corners, and required the sentinel to use his gun when necessary to arrest passers-by.
Friday night, December 26 .- At a sale near town to-day, coru went off at $3.60 a bushel, oats $2.05, bran $1.05, and other things in proportion.
Sunday night, January 4, 1863 .- Returning from the cemetery this morning I walked over the hill and through the grounds where deceased soldiers are buried. The number of graves has greatly in- creased since I was there last. It was almost appalling to see the rows of graves recently dug, waiting with gaping mouths for the still living victims. The sight brought before me vividly the sufferings of the soldiers dying in military hospitals, far from home and kindred, and all the horrors of a time of war.
Friday night, January 30 .- A general impression that the war will soon be over.
February 7 .- A number of deserters from the Federal army oppo- site Fredericksburg have arrived here within a few days past.
February 23 .- The money value of a day's rations for one hundred soldiers, formerly about $9, is now at market prices more than $123. Coffee $3.50 to $4, and sugar $1 a pound ; butter $1.75.
By March 11th, flour had gone up in Staunton to $25 a barrel, bacon $1 a pound, indicating " either a time of famine or an utterly ruinous depreciation of the currency."
Early in 1863, the people of Staunton relied upon " Confederate candles" for light in their dwellings at night. Candlewick was dip- ped in melted wax and resin, and wrapped around a stick, one end being passed through a wire loop fastened to the stick. The end of the wick burned freely when lighted, but the illumination was very feeble, and unless the candle were watched, and the wick drawn through the loop and trimmed every few minutes, the whole affair was soon aflame.
March 27 .- At an auction sale yesterday, common dinner plates brought $3.75 a piece. Many persons have had their glass and china- ware broken np since the war began, and there is a great demand for such articles.
Saturday, April II .- The Thirty-first and part of the Twenty-fifth Virginia regiments arrived to-day and go to join Imboden at the Shen- andoah mountain. The remainder of the Twenty-fifth is expected to- night. It is probable that a movement is on foot to procure cattle in the northwestern part of the State.
CHAPTER XXII.
THIRD YEAR OF THE WAR-1863-'4.
The third year of the war opened with rather bright prospects for our people. Certainly the general feeling was hopeful and compara- tively cheerful. It was however very difficult to procure necessary ar- ticles of subsistence in this community, and families who had previous- ly lived well, were reduced to bread and water.
The casualties in the Fifty-second Virginia regiment were repor- ted April 28, 1863, as follows : Killed in battle or died from wounds, 54 ; died of disease, 68 ; died from causes not known, 15. This state- ment does not include the men permanently disabled by wounds and sickness.
The first rumor of the battles of Chancellorsville came by telegraph on May Ist. On the 4th, it was reported that our army was occupy- ing the camp of the enemy, that we had taken ten thousand prisoners, and that General Jackson was wounded. Charles Calhoon was mor- tally wounded, and Joseph N. Ryan lost a leg. Ninety-five Federal prisoners taken in Hardy were brought in on the 2d, and forty-seven more from the northwest on the 8th.
But we continue the extracts from the diary :
Monday, May 4 .- A telegraphic rumor this morning that Jackson had defeated the enemy at Port Royal, capturing 5,000 of them. * * After night the railroad train brought the report that the Yankee army had been driven seven miles beyond the Rappahannock, that our army was occupying the camp of the enemy, that we had taken 10,000 pris- ouers, and that General Jackson was wounded, one person said severe- ly, others said slightly.
Tuesday, May 5 .- While we were enjoying the good news received last night, a dispatch came this morning stating that 12,000 Yankees, cavalry and artillery, under General Stoneham [Stoneman], were in Louisa county on their way to the James river canal. It is said that this division, as they came on last week, took our cavalry entirely by surprise, capturing 2,000 of them, and scattering the remainder ; that Fitzhugh Lee with 500 men followed them, and fought them while they were breaking up the railroad, but having such superiority of numbers they were able to brush Lee off and go on with their work. General R. E. Lee states in his official dispatch that he gained
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a great victory, but says that General Jackson was severely wounded. Another account says he was wounded in the arm, and did not leave the field. Some members of the Fifth regiment, wounded in the re- cent battle, arrived this evening.
Wednesday night, May 6 .- Very few additional particulars in re- gard to the recent great battle,-chiefly repetitions of the statement that we gained a decided victory. But General Jackson has lost his arm, the injury being so serious as to render amputation necessary.
Thursday night, May 7 .- A man from Harrisonburg stated this morning that the Yankees were coming up the Valley. As the tele- graph made no such report, it was considered an idle rumor. But after dark an army surgeon arrived with the sick soldiers from the Harrison- burg hospital. He said the road between Harrisonburg and Staunton was full of people, with their cattle, etc., flying before the Yankees supposed to be coming. We have a force of 800 men below Harrison- burg. Afterwards I learned that a telegraphic dispatch had been re- ceived, stating that 2, 100 of the enemy were nine miles below Har- risonburg.
Monday, May 11 .- A report of General Jackson's death was cur- rent this morning, but most persons hoped it was not true. Between I and 2 o'clock, however, the telegraph operator stepped into the room where I was writing, and handed me a dispatch from the War Department at Richmond, to be forwarded to Lexington by express, announcing the fact. There is universal lamentation in this commu- nity. It is like "the mourning in the Valley of Megiddon," when King Josiah was slain.
Wednesday night, May 13 .- Persons from Shenandoah give some particulars of the recent advance of the enemy through that county. They were about 2,000 in number, and came only a mile this side of New Market. All accounts state that they were very timid, and sud- denly hurried back upon receiving some intelligence by courier from Winchester, the officers not waiting to eat the dinner that was pre- paring. * * The slain have been arriving ever since the battle, as well as the wounded.
Wednesday night, May 20 .- General Jenkins' brigade of cavalry is collecting at Staunton, and an inspection takes place to-morrow near town. Jenkins is to command in the Valley, Jones, and perhaps Im- boden, having been ordered to join Lee.
Saturday, May 23 .- The expedition to northwest Virginia brought off about 3,000 cattle, it is said.
Wednesday, May 27 .- * * About sixty women and children from northwestern Virginia arrived in town last night. They were sent off by the Federal authorities for sympathizing with the South, and were allowed to bring only necessary wearing apparel and $100 each.
Saturday night, June 6 .- No railroad train from Richmond this evening. Reason not given, but it is presumed that General Lee's
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army is moving. It is believed that Lee is advancing north of the Rappahannock.
Saturday night, June 13 .- Rumored this evening that General Ewell's corps was near Winchester, en route for Pennsylvania.
Tuesday night, June 16 .- Passengers by stage from Winchester report that General Ewell has captured a large number of Yankees at that place. * * It is evident from the large quantity of ordnance and other stores coming to Staunton, that the Valley will be the scene of protracted operations.
June 17 .- We learn from Winchester that our army has crossed the Potomac at three points. All the Federals at Winchester, except Millroy and his body-guard, were captured. The number is given as five thousand.
Friday night, June 19 .- Staunton is again a great thoroughfare for the army,-many soldiers passing through town to join their various commands.
Monday night, June 22 .- About ro o'clock this morning upwards of sixteen hundred Yaukees, taken at Winchester, arrived. They * were guarded by the Fifty-eighth Virginia infantry. * The prisoners were much better clothed than the Confederates who guarded them. They were immediately put aboard a railroad train, which started for Richmond in the evening. *
* Large numbers of our soldiers have been passing through town for several days past, coming from the east by railroad, and going down the Valley on foot.
Tuesday night, June 23 .- Nineteen hundred more Yankee prison- ers were bronght up to the vicinity of town to-day, and a part of them sent off to Richmond by railroad this evening.
June 24 .- The guard of the prisoners,-a North Carolina regi- ment,-although generally dirty, and some of them ragged, looked stouter and more hardy than the Yankees. Several of our poor fellows were barefooted.
June 25 .- A number of female Northern camp followers have been brought up from Winchester and sent to Richmond to be passed beyond our lines.
June 26 .- The whole number of prisoners who have arrived here this week is 4,321, including forty-five women and children.
Tuesday night, June 30 .- The main body of our cavalry under Stuart, has been fighting constantly on the Virginia side of the Potomac. *
* Wagou trains going from Staunton to Winchester are now required to be gnarded. A train is waiting till a guard of five hundred men can be formed of convalescent soldiers.
July 4 .-- A number of wagons loaded with hardware, stationery, etc., purchased by our quartermasters in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, arrived to-day. Northern merchants have been excluded for so long from the Southern market that they are way behind the times in re-
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gard to prices ! For example, hand-saw files, which sell here at $3 eachı, they sold to our quartermaster at 25 cents, Confederate cur- rency.
July 7 .-- The atmosphere seemed full of exciting rumors yester- day. Great battles at or near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, were re- ported.
Wednesday, July 8 .- The following is given as a specimen of the current reports during the war : *
* Later in the day, Towers came into my room, with a glowing face, to tell that Mr. Phillips told him that Judge Thompson told him that Stump, (telegraph operator ), told him that in a battle on Sunday we had a glorious victory, some forty thousand to sixty thousand of the enemy laying down their arms. George E. Price went to the telegraph office to inquire about the mat- ter, and reported on his return that Stump said the news must have come by some other line. Next, Major Tate came in-David S. Young had just told him that Judge Thompson said, etc. Then Major Bell informed me that Stump denied having authorized any such report. Coming home to dinner, I encountered Mr. Michie and John B. Bald- win. Mr. Michie had seen McGuffin, etc. Baldwin said he had seen Judge Thompson, who had given him the news in full. Mr. Michie believed the report, -he was determined to believe it. Stump, he said, had communicated to Judge Thompson confidentially what he had no liberty to divulge, and was now endeavoring to repair damages by his denials, while the Judge was relating the news in strict con- fideuce to everybody he met.
Thursday night July 9 .- Blue ! blue! The Richmond newspapers of this morning publish a dispatch from General Johnston, dated Jack- son, Mississippi, July 7th, stating that the garrison of Vicksburg capit- ulated on the 4th.
Friday July ro .- Soldiers wounded at the battle of Gettysburg give fearful accounts of the slaughter of our army. Pickett's division annihilated. Many persons known to us were killed. A disastrous affair. The news received by us is, however, in many respects unin- telligible. As far as we now see the tide is running fearfully against us. The road leading into town from Winchester is lined with wound- ed soldiers coming up from the battlefield. * It is a sad sight to see so many poor fellows dragging themselves along to get nearer home. They are of course those who are comparatively slightly wounded.
July 11 .- Wounded soldiers have come into town to-day in a con- stant stream ; some of them in vehicles and some on horseback, but most on foot. Many of them are without shoes.
July 12 .- The stream of wounded men arriving has been uuinter- rupted, and not a third part of those disabled has arrived yet. It is now said that comparatively few were killed.
By the 16th, General Lee's army was back on this side the Poto- mac. On the 18th, nearly four thousand prisoners were brought in.
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On the 20th, a long train of ambulances loaded with wounded or sick men arrived.
July 25 .- Crowds of sick and wounded soldiers have been arriving in ambulances, wagons, aud on foot ; and many of the inhabitants of the lower Valley, with all the property they could bring off.
General Lee had left the Valley and gone east of the Blue Ridge.
July 28 .-- Wounded and sick soldiers and refugees still coming in.
Monday night, August 24 .- I was aronsed at 5 o'clock this morn- ing and informed that the Yankees were at Buffalo Gap, ten iniles from town. Was surprised upon going down street to find everything quiet. As the day advanced, the convalescent patients in the hospitals were armed, the citizens formed companies and Imboden's command, -said to be 1,000 men,-came up from their camp three miles below town. Cannon were planted on the hill west of town, and other defensive preparations were made. Towards 10 o'clock most persons concluded that no enemy was near. People from Buffalo Gap had heard nothing of the Yankees till they came to town, and a man from Highland re. ported that they had gone towards Pocahontas. Afterwards scouts came in and reported that no Yankees were near Buffalo Gap.
Thursday, August 27 .- On Tuesday we heard that the Yankee raiders, from 4,000 to 5,000, liad driven Colonel Jackson across the Warm Springs mountain, that he was retreating to Millborough, and that Staunton was threatened again. We next heard that the Yankees were "going back," and that Jackson was " after them."
Wednesday night, September 30-On Monday last (court day) General Smith, ex-Governor and Governor-elect, and Senator Wigfall, of Texas, addressed the people of this comity on their duty at this crisis. The people " resolved " that they would sell produce at the rates fixed by the government to all consumers.
In September, peaches were abundant and sold at $23 to $25 a bushel.
Tuesday night, October 15 .- I have been engaged for several days past in the great work of having a suit of clothes made. My wife bought the cloth several weeks ago at the factory near town. It is gray jeans, and cost $10 a yard, but similar cloth sells now at $14. Four yards of unbleached cotton cloth were furnished by my wife (wherefrom I know not) for pockets, sleeve-lining, etc. She also produced a piece of black alpaca, which her brother had worn as a cravat, for skirt and back lining. I bought two yards of osnaburg, at $2.50 a yard, and have engaged buttons from the manufacturers in town. The Lushbaughs turn buttons out of maple wood. The suit will cost from $130 to $150.
The Augusta " Raid Guard," otherwise called Home Guard, were summoned to the Shenandoah mountain November 12th, as the
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enemy was supposed to be advancing. The various companies were organized as a regiment on the 11th,-John B. Baldwin, Colonel ; Kenton Harper, Lieutenant-Colonel ; J. M. McCue, Major ; Dr. J Alexander Waddell, Surgeon ; C. R. Mason, Quartermaster ; N. P. Catlett, Commissary, and J. C. Marquis, Adjutant.
Friday, November 13 .- Seven or eight companies of the Raid Guard were on parade to-day. It was encouraging to see that we had so many men left. They are mounted infantry, except a company of artillery raised in town.
The aların of invasion proved unfounded, and the companies were dismissed for the time. The price of flour had risen to $80 a barrel on November 16th.
Saturday night, November 2r .- There is a general feeling that the war will be interminable. All round the horizon there is not a glimmer of light. Yet the war does not weigh as heavily on the spirits of the people as it did for many months after it began. The recollection of the security and abundance formerly enjoyed seems like a dream. I picture to myself the scenes in our streets three years ago, -piles of boxes before every store door, shelves and counters within filled and piled up with goods ; merchants begging customers to buy ; groceries running over with molasses, sugar, coffee, tea, cheese, fish, etc .; confectioners making the most tempting display of fruits, candies and cakes ; wagons loaded with country produce calling at every house, and farmers earnestly inquiring who wished to pur- chase flour, corn, potatoes, beef, pork, apples. Now the stores, - still so-called by courtesy,-will furnish you thread, buttons, pins and other light articles which have "run the blockade," cotton cloth of Southern manufacture (at $3.75 a yard), vessels made of clay instead of glass or chinaware, and occasionally a few yards of calico or linsey ; the confectioners' saloons are like " banquet halls deserted," and you will be lucky if by dint of entreaty, and as a special favor, a farmer will sell you a barrel of flour or a few bushels of corn. In consequence of this state of affairs, each family manufactures and produces its own supplies as far as possible. People are willing to pay any price in "currency " for what they need ; " money " is plentiful, but alas ! it cannot be used as food or clothing.
But I discover no change in female attire ; most of the ladies seem to "dress" quite as much as formerly. How this happens I do not know. Perhaps woman's ingenuity, "Gars auld claes look amaist as weel's the new." But from the sensation caused by a new bonnet at church I suppose the sex do feel the pressure of the times in regard to fashions. Men dress in homespun or in broadcloth of antique cut, without regard to style. Our ladies, however, are just as eager as formerly for the "fashions" from Philadelphia and New York. Every now and then some female comes " through the lines," and the patterns of her bonnet, cloak and dress are speedily adopted by the whole sex. As apropos to this, See No. 277 of the Spectator. In the
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time of Queen Anne, French fashions were imported into England by means of dolls dressed in the latest styles, and during the hottest peri- od of the war between the two countries the dolls continued to come.
November 29 .- Flour is up to $95 a barrel. At this rate of depre- ciation we shall soon have no currency at all, as the money we have will bny nothing. Many persons, however, have no more of the de- preciated currency than they formerly had of good money.
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