USA > Virginia > Clarke County > Clarke County > History of Clarke County, Virginia and its connection with the war between the states > Part 7
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dren at the cabins and prepare the food for them and their families. The old men and women sat around and dozed in the chimney corners, dug a little in the patches and knit socks for the men.
The house servants were often taught to read by their mistress and also how to make dresses and other things for themselves. The old saying that many hands made light work was fully exemplified on these large plantations.
The farmers who held smaller numbers of slaves were possibly more lenient to them than the large owners. They were more a part of the family. Their meals were prepared in the same kitchen and were about the same as that served to the master. The food was always good and substantial. Their quarters were generally a stone building holding all of the slaves of the farm. The slaves on both large and small farms were attended by the family physician and you may be sure that he was sent for very soon when one was taken sick. Unless, as in many cases it was true, the lady of the house could manage the cases. The wife of the farmer in all classes was always called upon in case of sickness. The night was never too bad or dark to prevent her from going to the bedside of one of her de- pendants. If there was any one a slave to all the others, it was the lady of the place. To her all the household looked for help in a time of need. She was the teacher of the young girls and boys brought into the house to learn the various duties there. Upon her was the duty to think of and provide for the household, both black and white, and the numerous visitors which were coming and going all the time. There had to be discipline of some sort, es- pecially on the large farms and where there were many slaves, but the discipline was not stern. It is customary to associate the lash or the cowhide with slavery, but the writer can say from personal knowledge that the use of
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these things were very rare. Only the most refractory were ever subjected to it. The great majority of owners never used them at all. In a very few cases where the slave was vicious and dangerous he was punished and if not yielding he was then sold to be taken out of the county.
One of the great objections to slavery was the fact that sometimes they were sold and their families were broken up. That seemed hard at first glance but I know that the families of not only negroes but whites are broken up this day far more than in the days of slavery. When the sales became necessary-at the settling up of an estate, or from some such reason, efforts were always made to sell them in families rather than singly. These sales oc- curred very seldom. The writer recalls only one. On Christmas day, 1860, an estate was sold out and that was the only one in his memory that was settled in that way. On that occasion some negro traders, (as the men who dealt in slaves were called) were there and were bidders, but got but few, if any, of the negroes sold. People gen- erally disliked the negro trader and his business was not considered reputable. Persons holding small numbers of negroes very often petted and spoiled the children and sometimes even the older ones. The writer recalls an anecdote of an old lady who owned a few, among them a very much spoiled young fellow, who was a fiddler. Some- times he would go to a party to play for the dances and end in getting on a spree and not coming home for several days. When he returned he would come in very meekly and to her outbreak would be silent. She would accost him with "Will, where have you been, you rascal? I must have you whipped. Aggy, make poor Will a cup of coffee," and there it ended. I have written this in the effort to show to the people who have grown up since the war and those who may come in the future, what the institution
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of slavery was and how they were treated by their owners. That there were rare cases of cruelty cannot be denied, but as a class the negro was more comfortable, better clad and better fed than now in his freedom. Then his wel- fare in health or sickness was upon his master.
The clothing furnished them was of the best material. For the males in Winter a heavy woolen cloth-of a drab color, for the females striped linsey, partly woolen. Each received a suit of Winter clothing, with woolen socks and good underclothing. The men had good heavy boots for Winter and shoes for Summer. There was generally a shoe-maker in each neighborhood who did the making and mending for the community around him. A tailor was brought to the house to cut the men's clothes, which were then made by the mistress and her girls, who had been trained under her eye to do needle work. The dresses for the women and girls were made by the same. The old women who could only sit around the fires, generally did the knitting, with the help of some of the girls and young women. The Summer clothing was always plentiful and comfortable.
The negroes were allowed holiday at Easter and a full week at Christmas. At Christmas they enjoyed them- selves to the fullest. Many of them received presents from their owners and they were allowed to gather in the quarters for dancing and other amusements. While one would play the fiddle or banjo another would pat "Juba" and another make very good music on a triangle or big horse shoe suspended by a string and beat upon with a large nail or piece of iron. The younger ones were great dancers and it was one of the Christmas pleasures of the young white folks to see them dance. They were light hearted and joyous, free from care, knowing that the old Master and Mistress would attend to all their wants.
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Religious instruction was provided for them. All the churches had galleries for their use, which were generally well filled. They were received in the churches as mem- bers and were looked after by the pastors and officials of the churches. Many of them were taught from the Bible by their Mistresses, who would read it to them and ex- plain it so that they could take in the plan of salvation. Many of them were sincere Christians and lived upright lives. Some who felt called to preach were so well taught that although unable to read they could repeat chapters of the Bible. Hymns they knew by memory and their pecu- liar method of lining out verses in a singing tone thus as it were never breaking the tune was very interesting. The preachers were allowed to gather their families at night and on Sunday evenings and preach to them, much to their pleasure, as by nature they were a very religious race. Their morals were just as good as now, although they have had forty years of education and the preaching of their own ministers. Marriage was the rule among the young men and women and few children were born out of wedlock. They married sometimes one on the same farm, but gener- ally they chose mates from neighboring farms. The hus- band was allowed to visit his wife as frequently as he wished and took great pride in carrying to her some little offering, such as sugar or coffee or some article of clothing. The children belonged to the owner of the wife, but bore the name of the husband. There was some stealing among them of a petty kind, which was mostly passed by without notice. The greater crimes were rare among them. They were faithful and had genuine affection for their owners in many cases. During the war they had often the oppor- tunity to betray their owner's sons or friends to the enemy, but very rarely did they do so. In fact their fidelity was remarkable and the race deserves and gets credit for it among all right thinking Southern people.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE CLARKE COUNTY MILITIA
F OR many years before the war each county in the State had a Militia organization. Once a year everybody between the ages of eighteen and forty-five was compelled to meet in what was called the "general muster." General muster day was the biggest day of the year, it even beat the circus days. Everybody big and little, from far and near, turned out to see the great sight, The drums and fifes were heard calling the men together and there was much riding to and fro of officers in gay uniforms and cocked hats with curling plumes. At last the line was formed and the regiment marched to a field near town, where the men were put through some evolutions and then dismissed for a rest. The ginger cake and lemonade stands then did a big busi- ness, to say nothing of the bar-rooms. Bullies from the country around were ready and willing to whip anybody who would try chances with them and there was no officious policeman to interfere or hard hearted Mayor to impose a fine. Little boys strutted around the proud posessor of a horse cake or a stick of peppermint candy, everybody, black and white, for it was a general holiday, had a big time. After the Colonels and Majors and Captains had dined at the hotel and returned, possibly in as jovial a condition as the men, the lines were reformed, the big drum beat the time and away they marched to town again, where they were dismissed for the day and for the year.
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Of course nothing was learned as to military drill by such meetings, but they served to bring people together and to gratify the ambition of those who wanted to be Colonels and Majors, etc.
The Regiment in Clarke was the 122nd, when the war opened. Washington Dearmont was Colonel, J. J. Riely, Lietenant Colonel, and W. A. Hardesty, Major.
There were several companies. The writer has been unable to find out the names of all the officers. As Cap- tains, there were Newton Pierce, J. R. Nunn, Bitzer, Lit- tleton, Lee and Spillman. Lieutenants, Jas. Hardesty, G. W. Diffenderfer, R. H. Renshaw, R. P. Morgan, Adjt. W. H. Carter, Sergt. Major.
When General Johnson moved his army to the help of Beauregard, it was thought that some military force should be left here in the Valley to make a show of re- sistance to any of the enemy who might appear. So about the first of June, 1861, the Militia of the several counties were ordered to meet at Winchester, where they were armed with anything in the shape of a gun that could be got. The Clarke regiment in pursuance of this order met there and drilled as best could be done, where neither of- ficer or men knew anything of the drill. When Johnston's army fell back from Bunker Hill to Winchester and there was every indication of a fight, naturally great excite- ment prevailed among them. Great was the amusement of the young volunteers, who thought they knew all about drilling when they witnessed the awkwardness of their friends in the Militia Corps. Some of the youngsters were made very proud by being asked to help drill a Com- pany or squad.
When at last Johnston's army left, there was no force but Ashby's cavalry and the several regiments of Militia under the command of General Carson, of Frederick.
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When Patterson moved with his army to Harper's Ferry and then into Maryland, General Carson occupied points near the Potomac, Martinsburg and other places, with cavalry to the front guarding the fords, etc.
The Clarke Regiment under Colonel Dearmont and Lieut. Col. Riely was posted at Duffield's depot on the B. & O. R. R. In the meantime the company of Captain Bitzer, or men from the several companies were mounted and formed into a cavalry company, in which capacity they did very efficient service, picketing and scouting. For sometime after going to Duffield's depot there was no indication of the enemy, but one day they were startled by the news of his approaching from two directions, with the purpose of surprising and capturing them, but Colonel Riely, in command at the time, by a well ordered and timely retreat extricated his regiment from its perilous position and fell back to Smithfield, and later rejoined the Brigade at Winchester. They saw service at other points on the river and were with General Jackson and Ashby's cavalry when the attempt was made to break Dam No. 5, on the Potomac. Carson's brigade of Militia made a demonstration towards Falling Waters to attract the at- tention of the enemy while General Jackson with Ashby and the four infantry companies with him made the at- tempt to cut the dam. They were also with them when another effort was made just at Christmas, 1861, more to deceive the enemy as to General Jackson's real intentions than to injure the Canal. On all these occasions the mem- bers of the Clarke Regiment did good and efficient ser- vice, enduring the hardships of the campaign cheerfully and being always ready to do their part and no doubt would have given a good account of themselves if put to the test in action. In fact they were under fire along the river at different times and deported themselves well.
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After the conclusion of Jackson's Romney Campaign they were disbanded and sent home, having been in active ser- vice about eight months.
Many of them joined the volunteer companies later, and served with credit during the war. The brigade had a battery of two pieces of artillery under Lieutenant Dif- fenderfer of the Clarke Regiment and Mr. Thos. Bragg as gunner. Mr. Bragg's experience as a pump borer was thought to fit him particularly well for that position. Whether they were ever in action the writer does not know, but am sure, that if they had been, Lieutenant Diffen- derfer and Gunner Bragg would have given a good ac- count of themselves. The men in the militia were mostly men of family, with wives and children or older people depending upon them, men from thirty-five to forty-five years of age. The members of the volunteer companies were from sixteen to forty years and were mostly single men, without the ties of the older men in the militia, but they were of the same stamp, ready and willing to do the duty placed upon them. After the disbanding of the militia, an act was passed by the Confederate Congress requiring all men between the ages of eighteen and forty- five to enter the army and a great many of the men and officers also, joined volunteer companies. Others who were able got substitutes, who took their places in the army; others were allowed to stay at home because of the num- ber of women and children depending upon them. Me- chanics, such as wagon makers and blacksmiths, who were considered necessary for the communities where they lived, were also allowed to remain at home, but after the spring of sixty-two the men at home were mostly past middle age, and upon them devolved the care of the old and help- less, the women and the children. The militia from the county were a credit to the country and no one need be
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ashamed of having had a father or friend who for eight months faithfully and cheerfully did the duties put upon them.
CHAPTER XIV.
MILITARY MOVEMENTS IN THE COUNTY
A FTER the march of the Companies from the County to Harper's Ferry on the 17th of April, 1861, no movement of troops except the assemb- ling of the militia and their march to Winchester, excited the interest of our people. General Johnston's army marched through the county on its way to Manassas on the 18th of July. After this time there was nothing more than the passage of a company of cavalry or two on their way to join the main army, or to make a scout towards the Potomac. In November General Jackson and his brigade were ordered back to the Valley, but did not pass through the County. The Winter wore away and the enemy was reported at Charlestown, but until early in March none appeared.
On March the 10th, they advanced from Charlestown towards Berryville and entered the town. There was much consternation. Some refugeed, some even went as far as Snickersville, hoping to be safe, but they ran into danger there, the earth seemed full of Yankees. After a few days everyone determined to make the best of it; those who had fled came back to endure the sight of the hated foe, and later to endure sufferings and trials of many kinds. Jackson evacuated Winchester and the Federals from Berryville moved on and united with those from Martinsburg, and old Winchester was fully in their hands, with Jackson at Mt. Jackson. General Banks thought he
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could help Mcclellan at Manassas by playing the game of Johnston of June before, and so started a column through Berryville to cross the river and the mountain, when suddenly, they heard far away towards Winchester the roar of cannon. They halted, they hesitated, they faced about and back through Berryville they poured to- wards Shields at Winchester, but too late. Kernstown had been fought. Jackson had struck them and made them do just what he wanted. He had diverted them from their purpose to fall on Johnston and enabled him to withdraw from McClellan's front in safety.
After Kernstown, Berryville was occupied for some time by a force under Colonel Reynolds, of Pennsylvania, who treated the people kindly, except, if his officers saw a good horse ridden in town, they took possession; but such is war. When Jackson advanced this force was with- drawn, but until after Second Manassas and the fall of Harper's Ferry, the cavalry and wagons could be seen any day traversing our roads. Upon one occasion a small party of Federal cavalry were reported coming from Charlestown. An old man of the town in a moment of frenzy, seized a shot gun and meeting them at the corner near Colonel Smith's house, fired upon them and killed their leader. The rest took flight and old "Uncle Low" Maddux was hurried away, for all knew that his life was forfeit if caught. Back to Charlestown they fled, but soon returned to wreak their vengeance. By hard per- suasion they were prevented from burning the town. On their way back to Charlestown they met a youth who had ridden out to see and hear what might be going on. They immediately seized him and charging him with being a spy, carried him to Charlestown with them, with dire threats as to hanging. Suddenly their threats were stop- ped by a report of the approach of rebel cavalry. A
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party sent out to reconnoiter saw coming to the town on another road a body of men. "Rebels; Rebels;" away they galloped through the town, followed by the party they had seen, who also had seen rebels and having thus frightened each other, they fled to Harper's Ferry leaving our friend Ammi Moore, locked in the jail. Fortunately a friend passing found the key and turned him out, and he made for home and soon after into the army, where he felt safer.
During the movements to catch Jackson, a Federal Division, "Blenker's Dutch" they were called, crossed the river at Berry's Ferry and camped for a while in the neighborhood of Bethel Church and left unpleasant mem- ories behind them among the people.
When Jackson left the Valley on his march to Richmond, the County was at the mercy of parties passing and re- passing. Our cavalry sometimes moved through to re- connoiter, but were unable to stay, bacause large forces of the enemy occupied Winchester and Harper's Ferry. In the main, the Federal cavalry did as they pleased, taking horses, cattle and wagon loads of negroes off, and keeping the people in constant fear of trouble. In the last days of August, the battle of Second Manassas was fought and General Lee moved into Maryland to fight the bloody battle of Sharpsburg. On this long and tire- some march around Pope, and into Maryland, a large number of the soldiers, from fatigue, sickness and want of shoes had fallen behind, and when the army crossed the Potomac, were ordered to rejoin the army at Winchester. Thus there came about a movement of this large number of stragglers through the country. They took their time in reaching Winchester, moving from one house to the other, being fed with the best that the people had and where shoes or clothing could be had, they were sup-
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plied with these also. But the poor fellows had a good time, drifting along, never thinking, many of them, that their presence at Sharpsburg would no doubt have given us a victory that might, have been decisive. But the hearts of the people went out to the poor fellows, and they did their best for them. After the battle of Sharpsburg, General Lee's army remained in Jefferson and Berkeley until the latter part of October, McClellan being on the north side of the Potomac near Harper's Ferry. Mc- Clellan about the last of October began to move into Loudoun and towards Richmond. General Longstreet's corps was sent across the Blue Ridge to watch Mcclellan's movements and Jackson's corps was moved from Bunker Hill towards the Shenandoah, taking position between Charlestown and Berryville. Subsequently D. H. Hill's division of Jackson's corps was also sent across the ridge to watch the enemy, Longstreet having moved on south- wards. A. P. Hill's division was below Berryville in Colonel Ware's woods, where is now the village of Webb- town, so that he could watch the gap and ferry. Here he had an engagement with the enemy, who had crossed the ridge as McClellan was moving on. Early's division was posted for awhile near Wyckliffe Church, while Jack- son's was on the Charlestown pike, with General Jackson's headquarters at Mr. M. R. Page's home, but as the enemy passed south along the mountain, Early was moved to Millwood and then to Stonebridge and Jackson to the Opequon above Millwood. After the enemy had left the vicinity of the Blue Ridge, D. H. Hill re-crossed the moun- tain and moved up the river on the east side to the vicinity of Front Royal. As soon as McClellan, or rather Burn- side, who had succeeded him, developed that he was mov- ing to Fredericksburg, Jackson's whole corps moved out of the county and across the mountain. While Jackson's
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corps was near Millwood, General Jackson had his head- quarters at "Carter Hall." After this stay in the county, so pleasing to our people, making them feel so secure from harm, no one was left of our soldiers but some regiments of cavalry who were to watch the enemy's cavalry on the other side of the mountain. How well they did it will appear a little later. Col. E. V. White's battalion was camped in Colonel Ware's woods just below Webbtown, to watch the ford at Castleman's Ferry. A part of the 12th Virginia Cavalry was camped at the junction of the Summit Point road with the Charlestown. All seemed safe and pleasant, when, one day General Stahl's brigade of Federal Calvary pushed across the river, found White's men with their saddles off and totally unprepared and drove them pellmell through the streets of Berryville. Here a small part of the 12th met them in a fight around the Baptist Church, and in the woods back of the Church, but were too few in number to hold them, and they also had to seek safety in flight, losing some good men in the encounter. Stahl pursued them as far as Mr. Martin Gaunt's, and then retired taking with him a few prisoners as the result of his raid. Among the prisoners was B. F. Thompson, a member of Co. I, 2nd Virginia Inf., who happened to be in town and could not get away. They put him on one of their cavalry horses, and as they were going along on their way to Aldie, after dark, he noticed that he might possibly get into the line of guards on each side of the prisoners. Seizing his opportunity he finally got out of the line, and then riding towards the front, for a time, he turned and as he passed down the line ordered them to close up and keep a good look out on the pris- oners. Having passed the rear, he jumped his horse over a fence and away across the country he fled, and just as church was being dismissed the next day in Berryville,
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he rode in with his good horse and equipments for his re- ward, which horse was all he had to commence life with when the war ended.
After this cavalry moved out, the people of Clarke were again at the mercy of the enemy, who now had almost complete possession, and moved as they wished about the country. Winchester was full of them, under the hated Milroy. Berryville was occupied by a force under Colonel McReynolds, and all were resting in safety "they think," when General Ewell with the 2nd Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia appeared at Front Royal, crossed the river and pushed on, the main body to Winchester. Rhodes' Division coming by the Double Tollgate on the Front Royal and Winchester road, moved across the county by "Page Brook" to Berryville, hoping to surprise and capture the force there, but somehow they got notice and fled in time to escape to Martinsburg, and, with such of Milroy's men as reached that place, found safety across the Potomac. Longstreet followed through the county on his march to Shepherdstown, and for a few short weeks our soldiers rejoiced the eyes and hearts of our people soon to be saddened by the news of defeat at Gettysburg and the return of our gallant army on its retreat. On the advance while Longstreet's corps was passing through, General Lee had his headquarters just north of Berry- ville, under a large oak tree, on the land owned recently by A. Moore, Jr. The spot has been marked by a granite block. While here he attended the Episcopal Church on Sunday morning, and some of our people had the pleas- ure of seeing him and speaking to him. Only a few days was the army allowed to rest their tired limbs in our midst, when they were again on the march to meet the untiring foe. The county was more than ever left at their mercy and being as it was between the lines of the
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