USA > Virginia > Augusta County > Augusta County > Annals of Augusta county, Virginia, with reminiscences illustrative of the vicissitudes of its pioneer settlers > Part 31
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" After the houses were consumed, the Yankees began to pack up 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 report of the capture of their wagon train. Before they began to pack up, some of the houses were searched
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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 hield for some time, because he returned 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.
"Friday .-- Most of the Yankees left this morning. Since din- ner 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 uniform, 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 pre- vious Friday.
General Breckenridge came from the east to Rockfish Gap with reinforcements, and for several days there were frequent
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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 burnt. Another person, who came down the Middlebrook road a few days after- wards, reported many graves of Federal soldiers killed in skir- mishes with Jenkins's 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. Breckenridge broke up at Rockfish Gap, and hung upon the Federal rear. Several citizens of Staunton, in charge of government supplies at a point in Nelson county, were surprised and captured by a party of Federal soldiers. The Rev. R. H. Phillips, acting as quartermaster, and William D. Candler, were taken to Ohio, and spent many weary months in a military prison.
The diary was resumed, and we continue our extracts :
Thursday, June 16 .- We heard this morning that Hunter was at Buchanan, and Breckenridge 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 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 coun- try 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.
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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 Breckenridge was in a position to intercept the retreat. * * While the Federal army was here, an officer rode up to the sentinel stationed at the Confederate 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 with- drawn, and the buildings were in flames. * * Several of our people suffered severely at the hands of "Jesse Scouts," taking them for Con- federate soldiers, and telling them where they had property hid, &c. 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 Chris- tian's creek, and from there a stage runs to Staunton. *
* Legh R. Waddell, who was in John L. Opie's company at the battle of Piedmont, says he did not know the Confederates were defeated till they had re- treated 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 pro- ceeded some miles, Mr. Waddell became suspicious in regard to the movement, and remarked to a comrade that the Yankees were proba- bly at that time in Staunton. This remark was regarded as very ab- surd, as the company generally thought the movement was for the pur- pose of "heading the enemy." Upon arriving at Hermitage, the com- pany 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.]
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 remainder ; but by evening what seemed to be more truthful accounts were re- ceived. 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 Lexington, and the soldiers from this county have been permitted to visit their homes. We did not know that Early was coming till he had almost reached town. * * I hear that Federal officers, recently here, said the ladies of Staunton did not insult them, nor at the same time give them any countenance ; that no where had they been treated with such cold
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politeness. * * During the occupation, several young men 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 comrades into Hamil- ton's house and laid upon a bed. They ordered Hamilton to bury him, which he refused to do, and after insulting and endeavoring to intimi- date him they went off, promising to send another squad. The second party came and left without burying 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 Yan- kees 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, &c., are con- cerned, they are a woe-be-gone looking set. As 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 im- possible to refuse a morsel to our own men, notwithstanding the beg- gars are generally stragglers.
Sunday night, July 10 .- 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 11 .- We are at last getting some authentic particulars in reference to the case of Mr. Creigh, of Greenbrier. It was said by some that a negro woman shot the Yankee who was threatening outrage to Mrs. Creigh and her daughters; by others, that Mrs. Creigh's mother shot the man while Mr. Creigh was struggling with 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 re- cently in Greenbrier, a negro informed upon Mr. Creigh, and he was arrested and brought to Staunton. After a mock trial he was condemned, and hung near New Providence 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, tes- tified that Creigh was " a good man, if there ever was one," and that the soldiers said he did right in killing the ruffian.
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Wednesday night, July 13 .- We have no intelligence from Early, ex- cept 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 Rich- mond, stating that a baggage car on the Danville railroad was burned this morning, and that the books, papers, &c., of the two banks of Staunton were destroyed. The effects of the banks were taken to Dan- ville 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 1 .- 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 requiring 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 Win- chester. * Our loss at Petersburg on Saturday is reported as 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 Har- per's Ferry.
August 4 .- Northern newspapers report that McCausland has 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 des- troyed by the Yankees in Virginia. The people laughed at the demand, which was made at intervals three or four times, accompanied by a threat to burn the town if it was not complied with. As the people persisted in disregarding the demand, the town was finally set on fire. Our men say the affair was extremely painful to them. There is every reason to believe that Henry K. Cochran, of Staunton, was killed at Chambersburg, and he probably fell a victim to popular rage.
Saturday, August 13 .- We hear that a large force of the enemy is
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pressing Early up the Valley. * * Heavy cannonading was heard all the morning from six to eleven or twelve o'clock.
August 14 .- Reported that our army and the enemy were confronting each other at Strasburg on yesterday. * * A large number of army wagons came in to-day, probably 140 to 150 in all.
Wednesday night, August 17 .- Yesterday evening about 6 o'clock I heard the cannonading below Richmond very distinctly. The Reserves were sent to Richmond on Monday.
Friday night, August 19 .- News from the lower Valley this morning that the Yankee army was retiring, and burning barns and mills as they went. Early had passed through Winchester in pursuit.
Wednesday night, August 24 .- Four hundred and fifty prisoners from the lower Valley brought in this evening. They are to be detained here till further orders from General Early.
August 31 .- I am again engaged in the arduous labor of getting up a coat and vest. Five yards of coarse cloth, which I obtained by a trade, would have cost in our currency at least $200. Having procured the cloth, the difficulty now is about trimmings and making. Two yards of skirt lining will cost $30. My jeans coat, made last year and lost at Hubbard's, in Nelson county, on the 11th of last June, was lined with an old cravat. Alas ! everything of that kind is now used up, so I must make the back of an old vest serve another " tour " to help out the new one. The usual charge of a tailor for cutting out a coat and vest is $15, and a woman charges $33 for making. These prices are not high con. sidering what the currency is worth. For coat buttons I must rob an old garment.
Saturday night, September 3 .- The Yankee prisoners sent up the Val- ley by Early, have been forwarded to Lynchburg. While detained here they were bivouacked on the Middlebrook road two or three miles from town. A sergeant-major preached to his fellow prisoners once or twice on last Sunday. They frequently held prayer-meetings and their singing was heard all round the country. Twelve of them, from New Jersey, expressed a desire to take the oath of allegiance to the Confed- eracy, and all declared themselves heartily tired of the war.
Saturday night, September 4 .- Mrs. C. sent for me this evening to di . rect a letter to her husband, who is a prisoner at Camp Chase, Ohio. Such letters go from Richmond, by the flag-of-truce boat. While I was at Mrs. C.'s two children came in, and, inquiring who they were, I was told that their father also was a prisoner in the enemy's hands. In a few minutes another little girl entered, and Mrs. C. remarked that her father, too, was a prisoner.
Tuesday, September 20 .- Our army defeated yesterday below Win- chester. * * A deep feeling of gloom seems to pervade the commu- nity. Life has no charms at present, and there is little to hope for the future. It is like walking through the valley of the shadow of death.
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September 21 .- Still very few particulars in regard to the recent battle. Stage passengers report that our loss was three thousand, killed and wounded-comparatively few killed-and that the enemy's loss was very large. They say the enemy was repulsed twice and driven back two miles, but continued to bring up fresh troops. Early brought off his wagons and 400 prisoners taken during the battle. Our army was at Fisher's Hill, and there is a rumor of skirmishing there this morning.
Friday evening, September 23 .- A report got out about 2 o'clock that Early had been driven from Fisher's Hill, with the loss of twelve pieces of cannon. *
* I thought we had reached the lowest stage of despondency on yesterday, but there was still a " lower deep." Anxiety was depicted on every countenance. Some persons report that the enemy is 70,000 strong, while Early has only 7,500 infantry. Edward Waddell arrived yesterday, badly wounded in the right hand. * * Reported that thousands of our soldiers are without arms, having thrown their guns away. Guns have been sent from Staunton since the battle of Winchester.
Saturday, September 24 .- A dispatch from General Early this morn- ing assured the people of Staunton that they were in no danger-that his army was safe, and receiving reinforcements. He, however, ordered the detailed men to be called out. * * This county is now rich in all that is needed to sustain an army, and if the enemy comes the loss will be irreparable. General Early's dispatch has not quieted appre- hension.
About 10 o'clock at night, September 24, General Early sent an order to evacuate the town, as he was compelled to retire from the Valley to Brown's Gap, in the Blue Ridge. During that night there was little rest or sleep to persons connected with the various government depots, and as early as possible the next day all army stores were started eastward by railroad and wagon trains.
The Federal army, some 3,000 men, under General Torbert, entered Staunton on Monday evening, September 26, and, pass- ing through, camped on the Waynesborough road. A part of them went to Waynesborough on Tuesday, during which day the remainder of them occupied Staunton. They entered very few houses and committed no depredations of any consequence. They impressed all the negro men into their service, and took them down the railroad to destroy the track and bridges. The colored people were very indignant, and did much less damage to the railroad than they could have done.
On Wednesday, the 28th, the whole Federal command moved to Waynesborough, and late that evening they were attacked
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by a party of Confederate cavalry from Brown's Gap. The enemy were driven off, leaving about forty dead and more than eighty prisoners. They returned through Staunton late Wed- nesday night, in great haste and some disorder, and went down the Valley as they came up, by the Springhill road. They ap- peared to spend Thursday and Thursday night in burning barns in the direction of Middle river, the whole heavens being illumi- nated until a late hour.
Confederate cavalry entered Staunton on Thursday, the 29th. General Early afterwards moved his infantry from Waynesbo rough towards Mt. Sidney, and for several days North river, from Bridgewater to Port Republic, was the line between the two armies.
John N. Hendren, of Staunton, was appointed Treasurer of the Confederate States in the fall of 1864.
Monday night, October 10 .- The Richmond Dispatch of this morning says that the New York Herald of the 5th published a letter from Grant to Sheridan, ordering him to burn every house in the Valley, to destroy every mill, kill every horse, cow, sheep. and hog; that he is determined to make the Valley a wilderness. * * It is said that when the Yan- kees were here recently an officer made an address to the negroes after they had finished tearing up the railroad track near town. He was anxious for the young men to go off with them, but would not advise the old men to leave their homes; if, however, the latter chose to go, they would be taken to Washington city where arrangements would be made by which they could work for a living. "Humph," said an old negro, " plenty work here."
Wednesday night, October 12 .- At this usually abundant season of the year, people heretofore accustomed to live in luxury are scuffling for the necessaries of life. Since dark we have been listening to the noise of a mill grinding sugar cane (sorghum), there it is, still, after 10 o'clock, probably half a mile off. Something sweet - molasses, if not sugar-is eagerly sought after. At Waynesborough, the other day, I drank at supper and breakfast "rye coffee " without sugar.
October 15 .- Nothing talked of except the recent order calling into service all detailed men. One order has followed another in rapid suc- cession from the adjutant-general's office. It seems that almost every male from seventeen to fifty years of age not in the army is to be taken to Richmond with the view of going to the field. The recent orders take millers from their grinding, but men sent from the army undertake in some cases to run the machinery. Farmers are ordered from their fields and barns and soldiers are detailed to thresh the wheat. All men engaged in making horseshoes are ordered off, so that our cavalry and
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artillery horses will have to go barefooted. The officials at Richmond are apparently in a state of panic.
Thursday night, October 20 .- This afternoon it was announced that Early had attacked the enemy near Strasburg, and captured 1,500 prisoners. Before the first glow of satisfaction at this good news had left my face, we heard that Early had lost his cannon, and was retreating before the enemy.
October 21 .- A number of officers and men who were engaged in the affair down the Valley, and many ambulances with the wounded, have arrived. They say the enemy was attacked early in the morning and completely routed, being driven a long distance, with the loss of cannon, wagons, about 4,000 men-in fact, almost everything. Early ordered a halt, and immediately his men scattered to plunder. The enemy ral- lied, and, another corps coming up, attacked our men while they were dispersed. At the same time the Federal cavalry attacked the wagons in the rear of the army. The result was, that we were routed, and lost more than was gained at first, except in prisoners.
October 22 .- A large body of prisoners was brought in this morning and sent off by railroad. The number was stated to be 1,340, but I thought it at least 2,000.
Throughout the war the courts were open, and their authority was respected. In November of this year, several "detailed farmers," called into military service, sued out writs of habeas corpus, and brought their cases before Judge Thompson at Staun- ton. He decided that they were not liable to serve as soldiers, and ordered their discharge.
Thursday, November 10 .- From the means employed to provision Early's army it must be in great straits for subsistence. Commissaries and quartermasters, with details of men, are traversing the county in search of supplies. The mills are watched, and every barrel of flour is taken up as soon as it is turned out. .
Thursday, November 24 .- A large part of Early's army is in this county.
December 7 .- Two divisions of Early's corps are on their way to Richmond, having reached Waynesborough.
Rodes' division passed through Staunton on the 15th, and Wharton's division on the 17th. Rosser went into quar- ters with his cavalry, near Buffalo Gap, and the infantry and artillery left under Early were stationed near Fishersville. General Early had his headquarters in Staunton.
A report on the 20th, that the enemy was coming up the Val- ley, brought Early's small force up from Fishersville, and sent
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