USA > Virginia > Augusta County > Augusta County > Annals of Augusta county, Virginia, from 1726 to 1871 > Part 52
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November 30 .-- It is reported that the loss of men from this county, killed and wounded, in the late fight on the Rappahannock, was one hundred and fifty.
Friday night, December 11 .- Another raid reported. The Home Guard called out.
The Home Guard went to the Shenandoah mountain to meet the enemy on the 13th. During the night of the 13th, there were wild reports from various quarters. It was said that Imboden had been skirmishing with the enemy at the Shenandoah mountain, and that Echols had been driven back from Lewisburg. On the 15th, several railroad trains filled with soldiers, under General Early, arrived from the east, and went through to Buffalo Gap, and General Fitz. Lee's cavalry was in the vicinity of town.
December 17 .-- When I awoke this morning, it was raining hard, and the trees were covered with ice. I wondered how it was possible for human beings to endure long-continued exposure to such weather. * * At ro o'clock, Lee's division of cavalry passed through town, and went up the Greenville road. None of them knew where they were going. The men were dripping wet, but seemed in fine spirits. The horses generally are in good condition. The Home Guard re- turned to-day, having been dismissed to assemble again at a minute's warning.
December 18 .- All the troops returned from Buffalo Gap last night, in the rain. They were marched two miles from town on the Green- ville road, and spent the night without shelter. During the morning, we learned that part of the troops were to go to Millborough to intercept Averill. At 1 o'clock, Thomas' brigade was inarched to the depot, to ineet a railroad train, which, however, did not arrive till after dark. * As soon as the men found they would not start im- mediately, they had blazing fires in the open space between the Amer- ican hotel and the depot. *
* The crowds of dusky, clay-soiled and smoke-begrimed men gathered in the dark around the fires, cooking their rations as best they could, were a picturesque scene.
On Saturday, the igth, there was a rumor that a Federal force was coming up the Valley, and was near Harrisonburg. After ten o'clock that night a cannon was fired on one of the hills in town to summon the Home Guard of the county. In a short time the regular
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troops arrived from their camp, and were marched out towards Har- risonburg. "The soldiers seemed to be in high spirits, calling for the Home Guard, and cracking jokes at one another as they passed along."
The Home Guard started Sunday evening, the 20th, and being mounted, they overtook and out-stripped the regular infantry. The Federal force at Harrisonburg, hearing of the approach of the Confed- erates, hurriedly retreated, and there was a lively race to New Market. From that point the Guard returned home, General Early with his troops moving down in the direction of Woodstock.
The portion of the diary from January 1 to June 5, 1864, was lost-most probably destroyed, having been in a house burnt by a party of Federal soldiers. In February, 1864, it was officially re- ported that two hundred soldiers of the Stonewall brigade were with- out shoes.
CHAPTER XXIII.
FOURTH YEAR OF THE WAR-1864-'5-
The writer recalls no local event of special interest from January Ist to June 5th, 1864. In the month of May the battles of the Wilderness, or Spottsylvania Courthouse, between Generals Grant and Lee, occurred. Colonel James H. Skinner, commanding the Fifty- second regiment, was severely wounded and permanently disabled on the 12th at Spottsylvania Courthouse. On the 15th of the same month General Breckinridge defeated a considerable Federal force at New Market, many Augusta people participating in the battle.
No resident of Staunton then living and over the age of infancy will ever forget Sunday, June 5, 1864. For a week or more we had heard that a Federal force under General Hunter was coming up the Valley, and that Generals Crook and Averill were pressing in from the west with another large force. Imboden, with two skeleton regi- ments and a company of artillery, was in the Valley, while McCaus- land and Jackson, each with a small force, were between Staunton and Crook and Averill. The reserves (men over forty-five and boys under seventeen years of age) were also with Imboden; and during the previous week all the men in the county able to bear arms,-detailed workmen, farmers, etc.,-were hastily collected and formed into companies, and joined him at North river, near Mount Crawford. On Thursday and Friday troops arrived from the southwest under General William E. Jones, probably twenty-five hundred men. General Jones joined the force at North river on Saturday morning and assumed command. The enemy finding our men strongly posted and intrenched, moved toward Port Republic and crossed Nortlı river to the Augusta side. During Saturday night our army fell back to a point between New Hope and Mount Meridian, near the village of Piedmont. Skirmishing began early on Sunday morning.
From eight or nine o'clock in the morning till three in the after- noon, many citizens of Staunton were on the hills observing the smoke arising from the battlefield. For several hours no one of theni imagined that a battle was in progress only eleven or twelve miles off, but the smoke was supposed to arise from the conflagration of mills
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and barns burnt by the enemy. We had often heard the reports of cannon from below Richmond, but the noise of the battle of Piedmont did not reach our ears till quite late in the day, when a few explosions of cannon were indistinctly heard.
In the meanwhile, diligent preparations for departure in case of disaster were going on at the various government depots and offices. Railroad trains and wagons were loaded up, and all hands connected with the quartermaster and commissary departments were ready to start at a moment's warning. Information of the battle was received by mid-day, but our people were generally hopeful, especially as per- sons recently observing on the hill-tops reported that the smoke was receding, showing, as they thought, that our men were driving the enemy back. Late in the afternoon, however, the writer learned the result of the battle from the excited remark of a citizen : "General Jones is killed and our army is routed !" Such was the intelligence from the field.
The army wagon trains and many citizens immediately left town, going up the Greenville road and crossing the Blue Ridge into Nelson county at Tye River Gap.
It is not proposed to give here an account of the battle. The Augusta men, lasty levies as they were, are said to have acquitted themselves with marked gallantry. One wing of the enemy was re- pulsed, but the other overwhelmed the Confederate force opposed to it, and the men not killed or captured came pell-mell into Staunton Sun- day night. The county had to mourn the loss of several esteemed citizens, and many more were seriously wounded. Robert L. Doyle, acting as captain, Harvey Bear and John W. Meredith were killed on the field. The more experienced soldiers said the raw troops did not know when they were whipped, and kept on fighting when they should have retreated. But nearly every man of them was, to some extent, a trained soldier. Brigadier-General Vaughan succeeded to the command of the defeated army, and drew off to the Blue Ridge at Rockfish Gap.
Sunday night passed away at Staunton without incident On Monday, June 6, the Federal troops entered the town. Very few men were left in town, but many Confederate soldiers, absent from their commands, lingered till the last moment. One daring youth, when exhorted to make his escape, declared his purpose to remain till he could capture a liorse. And he actually accomplished his purpose. Almost in the presence of a large body of Federal cavalry, he singled out a man in advance, and presenting his gun ordered him to dis-
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mount. Leaping into the saddle, he made his way with horse and prisoner to Waynesborongh, where he joined his command.
From a letter written at Staunton, by a lady, on the 6th and sev- eral subsequent days, we make the following extracts. After describ- ing the alarm in her family on the entrance of the Federal troops, the writer says : "We got through the remainder of the day and night without much alarm and without being much annoyed by so many Yankees coming to the hydrant for water and to the kitchen for food. * * Tuesday morning early, the burning commenced,-railroad depot, steam mill, government workshops, Trotter's shops and stages, Woolen factory, Garber's mill, etc. He, (General Hunter) agreed that the workshops should not be burnt, if the citizens would bind themselves to pull them down, which they did; but still the fire was applied, without notice having been given. All the interior of the shoe factory was destroyed. It must have been ludicrous to see Mrs. - flying across the street, axe in hand, to assist in the work of destruction, and thus escape the danger of fire.
"After the houses were consumed, the Yankees began to pack np for a move, and we could hear them saying to one another, 'bad news !' but could not quite learn what. until it leaked out that there was a re- port of the capture of their wagon train. Before they began to pack up, some of the houses were searched for provisions, but a stop was put to it, and by dinner time not a Yankee was seen in town. Our scouts were on the hills in a little time, and we felt too happy to think
whether the enemy would return. * By four o'clock the town * was perfectly alive with blue coats again. I learned from some of the men that they had gone to reinforce Averill. On Wednesday Crook and Averill came, and it seemed to me that the locusts of Egypt could not have been more numerous. Our yard and kitchen were overrun all the while, and the streets were filled from end to end. * * The house-searching began in good earnest on Wednesday." The officer who searched the lady's house "was very gentlemanly, and went through it as a matter of form," without taking any of her limited supplies.
"N. K. Trout " (mayor of the town) "and B. F. Points were arrested, and kept in confinement till this morning, or last night. Mr. Trout was accused of concealing arms, and Mr. Points of showing pleasure when the Federal troops left town on Tuesday. George W. Fuller was arrested as a spy, and held for some time, because he re- turned to town bringing letters from Confederate soldiers to their families. Our people captured at Piedmont were cooped up in an old guard-house, and we all made bread for them.
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" Friday .-- Most of the Yankees left this morning. Since dinner a regiment has passed, just arrived from Martinsburg. I understand most of the troops took the Lexington road. * * Our servants were such a comfort to me. They could not have behaved better, and I really feel thankful to them."
Many of the Federal soldiers who were in Staunton seemed to be gentlemanly persons, having no heart for their business ; others were mere plunderers, and robbed blacks and whites alike. At night the town was perfectly quiet, and the citizens felt safe. During the day, however, the soldiers were permitted to roam about, and there was a reign of terror. Federal soldiers, dressed in Confederate uniformi, called "Jesse Scouts," traversed the county, and strong parties of cavalry visited nearly every house. They boasted that some of their men were in Staunton Sunday evening while the stampede was going on, and even on the previous Friday.
General Breckinridge came from the east to Rockfish Gap with reinforcements, and for several days there were frequent skirmishes about Waynesborough and on the road to Staunton. On the 12th the writer counted twelve dead horses, on the road between Staunton and Waynesborough. The railroad as far as Fishersville was torn up, and the bridges were burut. Another person, who came down the Middlebrook road a few days afterwards, reported many graves of Federal soldiers killed in skirmishes with Jenkins' cavalry, and puddles of blood here and there. The Donaghe, Opie and Taylor farms, adjacent to Staunton, were almost denuded of fences. R. Mauzy's printing office, Staunton Spectator, was broken up.
The Federal army proceeded up the Valley towards Lexington, part going by the Greenville route and the remainder by way of Middlebrook and Brownsburg. Jenkins was in advance of the latter, skirmishing as he was driven back by the superior force of the enemy. Breckinridge broke up at Rockfish Gap, and hung upon the Federal rear.
As stated, the quartermaster's wagons moved up the Greenville road Sunday evening, June 5, 1864. They arrived at Smith's tavern long after dark. Resting there till daylight, the train then went on to cross the Blue Ridge at Tye River Gap. Reaching the top of the mountain, Monday evening, tents were pitched, and the party made themselves as comfortable as they could. Many refugees, ladies as well as men, with their stock, passed the camp . that evening and the next day, going into Nelson county, which was supposed to be a safe retreat. All day Tuesday the quartermaster's party remained on the mountain ; but on Wednesday they went down into Nelson. Posses-
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sion was taken of a vacant house known as "Hubbard's Quarter," only a few miles from Arrington depot, on the Orange and Alexandria railroad, now the Virginia Midland. A long rest was anticipated at that place, but after dark a courier arrived bringing an order from General Vaughan that the army stores should be forwarded to him at Rockfish Gap. Accordingly, most of the wagons, accompanied by several officers and many subordinates, moved forward on Thursday, along the eastern base of the Blue Ridge, and reached Rockfish Gap on Saturday, the 11th. There tidings were received by telegraph, which excited fears as to the fate of the men and stores left at Hubbard's. A party of Federal troops, it was reported, had burned Arrington depot. Several days elapsed before the facts were ascer- tained.
Captain R. H. Phillips had remained at Hubbard's in charge of such stores as it was thought General Vaughan would not need, and with him were Anthony D. Wren, James H. Blackley, William D. Candler, and other employees. While they were waiting for their din- ner on Saturday, to their infinite astonishment a party of Federal cav- alry burst upon them, having followed on their track across the moun- tain. The enemy dashed up with a shout, firing their pistols and de- manding the surrender of the "rebels." Wren instantly fled, and es- caped by concealing himself in an adjacent wheat field ; the others sur- rendered at discretion. Boxes were hurriedly broken open and rifled, the house was set on fire, and in less than half an hour the en- emy retired with their prisoners and plunder. The latter included many valuable papers and much jewelry. On account of liis feeble physical condition at the time, James H. Blackley was turned loose on parole after a few days ; but Captain Phillips and William D. Candler were taken to Ohio and detained for many months in a military prison. Candler, a perfectly truthful man, says that he and other prisoners were driven by hunger to catch rats for food, and this in the midst of abundance in the North and West. Yet the Yankees complain of the starvation at Andersonville, while Confederate soldiers had hardly necessary subsistence.
The diary was resumed, and we continue our extracts :
Thursday, June 16 .- We heard this morning that Hunter was at Buchanan, and Breckinridge in Amherst county. Still no mail, and no reliable intelligence from any quarter. It is said the Yankees shot one man and hung another in Lexington. Reported that Crook or Averill brought off Mr. David S. Creigh from Lewisburg, and when they got to Rockbridge hung him, and left his body suspended to a tree. The town has been as quiet every day as on Sunday. Stores
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and shops closed ; a few men sitting about on the streets and talking over the events of the last two weeks ; and even the little children are less noisy than usual. Everything looks like a tornado had swept over the country and left the stillness of death in its track. Many farmers having lost their horses are unable to work their corn.
Saturday, June 18 .- The telegraph is up again, and working from Richmond to Staunton. *
* Accounts we have from Lexington represent the treatment of that place by the Yankees as much worse than Staunton suffered. * The Yankees while here threw a num- ber of bombshells into the creek, and the town boys have been fishing them up and opening them to get the powder. One exploded to-day while a negro man was opening it, killing the man. The fragments flew to a great distance.
Sunday night, June 19 .- Reported this morning that Hunter got near enough to Lynchburg to throw two shells into the city, one of which killed a boy ; that Early attacked him yesterday evening, and defeated him ; that the Confederates advanced this morning, but found the Federal army retreating in confusion ; and that Breckinridge was in a position to intercept the retreat. * While the Federal army was here, an officer rode up to the sentinel stationed at the Confeder- ate workshops, corner of Frederick and Lewis streets, and handing him written orders from General Hunter, as he said, told him to shoot down any man who should set fire to the buildings. The Rev. S. D. Stuart was present and heard it all. In a few minutes the sentinel was withdrawn, and the buildings were in flames. * * Several of our people suffered severely at the hands of "Jesse Scouts," taking them for Confederate soldiers, and telling them where they had property hid, etc. Dr. Davidson even took some of them into the woods to see a fine horse he had secreted there in charge of a negro boy. Horse and boy were both taken off.
Wednesday night, June 20 .- Many reports during the day, some of which came in a Lynchburg newspaper received this evening. Too much good news for one day ! We now have a mail from Char- lottesville three times a week. The railroad trains come up to Christian's creek, and from there a stage runs to Staunton. * * Legh R. Waddell, who was in John N. Opie's company at the battle of Piedmont, says he did not know the Confederates were defeated till they had retreated some distance. He was on the right wing of the Confederate army, which was successful, the left being broken and routed. After the company, which was at the rear of the retreating column, had proceeded some miles, Mr. Waddell became suspicious in regard to the movements, and remarked to a comrade that the Yan- kees were probably at that time in Staunton. This remark was regarded as very absurd, as the company generally thought the move- ment was for the purpose of "heading the enemy." Upon arriving at Hermitage, the company was halted, and it was announced that all the farmers had permission to go home to take off their stock. [This is mentioned as another instance of how little a private soldier knows about a battle.]
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June 24 .- We had most flattering reports this morning of the capture of a good part of Hunter's army and the dispersion of the re- mainder ; but by evening what seemed to be more truthful accounts were received. Nearly the whole concern will escape towards Kanawha.
Sunday night, June 26 .- General Early, commanding Ewell's corps, has arrived within a few miles of town, from towards Lexing- ton, and the soldiers from this county have been permitted to visit their homes. We did not know that Early was coming till lie had al- most reached town. *
* I hear the Federal officers, recently here, said the ladies of Staunton did not insult them, nor at the same time give them any countenance ; that nowhere liad they been treated with such cold politeness. During the occupation, several young meu belonging to the cavalry in General Lee's army, who had come home for horses, called at John Hamilton's, on Christian's creek. While they were at dinner a dozen Yankees came upon them. They, of course, resisted capture, and one of them killed a Yankee. One was captured, and the others escaped. The dead man was taken by his contrades into Hamilton's house and laid upon a bed. They ordered Hamilton to bury him, which he refused to do, and after iu- sulting and endeavoring to intimidate liim they went off, promising to send another squad. The second party came and left without bury- ing the corpse, and Mr. Hamilton had to do it at last. Two or three of our cavalrymen, at home on furlough, dashed upon the Yankee pickets near the Lunatic Asylum, and killed one, and came near stampeding the whole army. While here, the Yankees seem to have been in a state of great trepidation.
Tuesday evening, June 28 .- Early's army has been passing through town since daylight, off and on. The infantry have gone down the Valley turnpike, the artillery down the New Hope road, and the cavalry around the western part of the county, without coming through town. * * The soldiers, generally, seemed in good spirits.
Early is supposed to have from 20,000 to 25,000 men. I was aroused early this morning by the music of the troops who were marching out of town. They had plenty of music, such as it was. One of the bands played, " When this cruel war is over." * * As far as dress, etc., are concerned, they are a woe-be-gone looking set. A.s usual, multitudes of them have been calling at private houses for something to eat. We thought the Yankees had left no surplus in the county, but it is impossible to refuse a morsel to our own men, notwithstanding the beggars are generally stragglers.
Sunday night, July ro .- At last accounts, Early was at Frederick City, Maryland. His object, according to current report, is to release our men held as prisoners at Point Lookout.
Monday, July 17 .- We are at last getting some authentic partic- ulars in reference to the case of Mr. Creigh, of Greenbrier. It was said by some that a negro woman shot the Yankee who was threaten- ing outrage to Mrs. Creigh and her dangliters; by others, that Mrs. Creigli's mother shot the man while Mr. Creigh was struggling with
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him on the floor. A letter from Lewisburg states, however, that he was killed by Mr. Creigh in defence of himself and family, and that his body was thrown into a well. This occurred six months ago. When the Federal troops were recently in Greenbrier, a negro in- formed upon Mr. Creigh, and he was arrested and brought to Stoun- ton. After a mock trial he was condemned, and hung near New Prov- idence church, in Rockbridge. Averill and Crook were opposed to his execution, it is said, but it was ordered by Hunter. A Federal chaplain named Osborne, from Pennsylvania, testified that Creigh was "a good man, if there ever was one," and that the soldiers said he did right in killing the ruffian.
Wednesday night, July 13 .- We have no intelligence from Early, except through Northern newspapers. Great excitement in the North. Friday, July 15 .- * The government offers $30 a bushel for wheat ! Surely the public debt will never be paid.
Monday night July 18 .- Our army has left Maryland and crossed to the south side of the Potomac, near Leesburg.
Saturday, July 23 .- A dispatch was received this evening from Richmond, stating that a baggage car on the Danville railroad was barned this morning, and that the books, papers etc .. of the two banks of Staunton were destroyed. The effects of the banks were taken to Danville to preserve them from the enemy, and were on the road back when the catastrophe occurred. [This report caused a panic in the community, but it turned out that the loss was not great].
Tuesday July 26 .--- Seven hundred and forty Yankee prisoners were brought into town yesterday, and sent off by railroad. They were taken in Maryland and down the Valley.
July 30 .- We have no lights at night. Candles are so high in price that I cannot buy them. * * Very heavy cannonading heard all morning.
Monday, August I .- News by the train last night that Grant sprung a mine at Petersburg, on Saturday. * The Reserves of * the Valley District are in town to-day, in obedience to an order re- quiring them to report here for organization. [They were chiefly men from forty-five to fifty-five years of age. ]
Tuesday, August 2 .- Early is said to be at Bunker Hill, near Winchester. Our loss at Petersburg on Saturday is reported at 1,200 ; the loss of the enemy is said to be about 3, 000, including 1, 100 prisoners. The slaughter of the enemy is said to have been terrible. [The enemy's loss was afterwards reported as 5,000].
August 3 .- A rumor to-day that 40,000 Federal troops were at Harper's Ferry.
August 4 .- Northern newspapers report that McCausland lias been to Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and burnt the town.
Tuesday, August 9 .- One or two persons who were with McCaus- land at Chambersburg have arrived in town. They say that McCaus- land, by order of General Early, made a demand on the town for a hundred thousand dollars, to reimburse the owners of property de-
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