USA > Virginia > Clarke County > Clarke County > History of Clarke County, Virginia and its connection with the war between the states > Part 9
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On Sept. 16th, General Chapman with a brigade of Federal Cavalry, crossed the Shenandoah at Castleman's Ferry for a raid into Loudoun after Mosby, and to burn and destroy. After crossing the river he sent a detach-
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ment of the 8th New York Cavalry under Captain Comp- son, up the river with orders to meet him at Paris. Chap- man, after going to Paris, returned through Upperville to Snickersville, from there he sent a company to the top of the mountain in the Gap to meet Captain Compson, who had followed the road along the top, arriving about 2 p. m. at the Gap, having picked up about a dozen prisoners. There both parties proceeded to feed and rest. In the meantime Capt. Sam Chapman had got on the track of Compson and his party and was following them along the mountain road to the Gap. Finding them quiet and un- suspecting, he charged them and scattered them, taking eighteen prisoners and forty horses, and releasing those of our people who had been captured. The large force of General Chapman was lying at Snickersville, but did nothing to help their fellows. Sometime in September Sheridan finding he could neither capture Mosby, nor drive him away from his line of communications deter- mined to continue his policy of treating him and his com- mand as guerillas, robbers and spies, and to hang and shoot them when captured. So having captured a number at Front Royal, General Custer at Sheridan's command hanged and shot seven of them, placing upon them a card saying, "This will be the fate of all of Mosby's men." Colonel Mosby of course retaliated. Having captured a number of Custer's men, he made them draw lots and the seven upon whom the lots fell were sent to Grindstone Hill in Clarke, and there in the woods by the roadside three were hanged, two were shot and two in some way escaped. A card was placed upon them notifying General Sheridan that it was in retaliation for the murder of the Mosby men. Mosby also sent a letter to Sheridan by the hands of Lieut. Jno. S. Russell, Russell taking it after an- other gallant officer had declined, saying "that he did not
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want to be hung yet." This effectually stopped Sheridan, from any more hanging exploits. On Nov. 6th, Lieuten- ant Russell with seven others, while concealed in a wood on the old Charlestown road, saw a party of fifteen Yan- kees going in the direction of Winchester. Russell for- tunately had on a blue overcoat. He rode out saying, "Where are you going, boys?" "To Winchester." "I'll join you," said Russell. He rode quietly along for a while and then drawing out his handkerchief he gave a signal to his party, who came charging up. The Federals were all killed, wounded or captured but two, and their horses taken. On the same day Captain Mountjoy, with his company fell into a force of cavalry sent out to look for Russell and his party. A brisk fight ensued at what is known as the Hidey farm, in which Mountjoy captured a large number of men and horses. Returning through Berryville, he allowed about half of his men to go to Lou- doun by Castleman's Ferry, he going on with his prison- ers to Berry's Ferry by way of "Clay Hill," the residence of Mr. Francis Whiting. Here he was unexpectedly at- tacked by the famous Captain Blazer with his large com- pany. Mountjoy's men were thrown into confusion and fled. At the "Vineyard," the home of the poet, Philip Cooke, one of his men was left mortally wounded and one killed; the remainder made their escape by the Island ford to the other side of the river. So you see that Mosby was not always successful. This Captain Blazer defeated several of his companies, but was finally utterly destroy- ed by Major Richards, and he himself killed after a very gallant fight. This occurred at Myerstown in Jefferson county.
On Dec. 15th, Captain Chapman, with about 125 men, crossed the river at Berry's Ferry, hoping to meet a party of Yankee cavalry who were in the habit of coming down
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to the river sometimes by way of White Post and Bethel and sometimes by Millwood. Chapman, in order to be sure of meeting them, divided his party, taking half with him towards White Post. The other half, under Lieu- tenant Russell, were secreted in Mrs. Cooke's wood, a part of the Vineyard farm, in order to watch the road from Mill- wood. About noon, the Federals, 100 strong, under Capt. Wm. H. Miles, of the 14th Pennsylvania, approached cau- tiously, having been warned by a negro. "We can't get across the river without being butchered," Russell told his men, "so the only safe thing is to whip them. Don't fire a shot until you are in forty steps of them, and we will whip them." The Federals made a good fight, but in the end they had to give way. Captain Miles was killed and about nine others, twenty were wounded and sixty-eight taken prisoners. About sixty horses were captured. None of Russell's men were injured. This was a most successful fight, and the credit in great measure is due our county man, Jno. S. Russell.
On Feb. 19th, 1865, there occurred at Mt. Carmel Church, on the road from Berry's Ferry to Paris, one of the most successful fights made by Mosby's command. Major Gibson, with 125 men from the 14th Pennsylvania and 100 from the 21st New York, was sent to stir up "Mosby's Confederacy." They crossed the Shenandoah at Shepherd's Ford, and proceeded by the mountain road past Mt. Carmel Church to Paris, where they divided, part going to Upperville, and the rest under Gibson to- wards Markham. As they went, they searched houses for Mosby's men, who sometimes stayed in the homes in that neighborhood. This march was made during the night, hoping to find every one asleep and thus easy prey. They did pick up about twenty-five, but news of their presence had got abroad, and by morning Major Richards
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was collecting a force which increased as the day went on. Following at a safe distance, they at last saw them enter Ashby's Gap and ascended the mountain. At Mt. Carmel, the road turns abruptly, and just as their rear guard reached this point, Richards charged them. The prisoners, who had been sent on in front, seeing their friends charging, formed across the road to Shepherd's Mill, the only road the Federals could retreat over, and although unarmed, thus assisted in the successful issue of the fight. Being armed only with carbines, the Yankees were no match in close quarters for men armed with pis- tols. Pressed on all sides they broke and ran pellmell for the river, throwing away guns, belts, chickens, turkeys and other plunder gathered on their trip. They pushed for Shepherd's Ford, Major Gibson, according to his re- port, trying to rally them, but really it looked as if he were leading them, as only he and a few others escaped across the river. Of the Federals, 13 were killed, a large number wounded, 63 captured, including several officers and 90 horses taken. This party was led by a deserter named Spotts. He made good his escape, much to the regret of Mosby's boys, who would have swung him up to a nearby chestnut tree with hearty good-will.
About the last of March, Colonel Mosby ordered Charlie Wiltshire, a very gallant young man from Jefferson county, to go on a scout into Clarke, taking several men with him. Now it happened that Wiltshire was paying attention to a young lady in Clarke, and all paths led to her house. But strange things happened in war times, and love knows no bounds, for a young Lieutenant of the Federal army, Ferris by name, admired the same lady and was willing to take all risks to see her. On this day, attended by an orderly, he had visited her and was just coming out to get upon his horse, when Wiltshire and his men rode up.
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Ferris, sheltering himself behind the corner of a building, opened fire on them. He was well supplied with pistols. When the affair ended Wiltshire was mortally wounded, and his companions badly hurt. Ferris escaped on Wilt- shire's horse, and it was with difficulty that Wiltshire's friends got him away to a place of safety. This unfortu- nate affair occurred at the house of Col. Daniel Bonham, now owned by Mr. Holmes Hardesty. Colonel Mosby remarked of the Yankee Lieutenant that he was as brave as Charlie Grogan, which was as high praise as he felt he could give to any man.
On the 9th of April General Lee surrendered at Appo- mattox. The last effort made by Colonel Mosby in the county was just after the surrender of General Lee, but before he had heard of it. He came with a part of his command into Mr. Edward McCormick's woods, just east of the residence of Mr. McGuire. He then sent John Russell with three others into Berryville to see the lay of the land. The Court House yard was occupied by the 1st New York Cavalry. Russell secreted himself and party in the alley running from Main street to Mr. Crow's garden, watching for an opportunity to see or do some- thing. After awhile, he saw them forming and getting ready to move, so he attacked the picket of twelve men on the Millwood pike and captured them. He expected that the regiment, hearing his firing, would follow him, when he intended to lead them into Colonel Mosby's am- bush, but for some reason they would not follow him, but went down towards the river. He got safely away with his prisoners, and rejoined Colonel Mosby. The command was sent across the river and Mosby and Russell and sev- eral others proceeded to go on a scout towards Winchester. About one o'clock at night, they stopped at the house of Mr. Thos. E. Gold, to get feed for their horses. They got
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supper for themselves as well, for Mrs. Gold immediately got busy and soon gave them as good a supper as the house afforded. They then went on towards Winchester, and Russell was sent to the "Bower" in Jefferson to get such information as might be had there. On his return, he was told by Mr. Thos. Wood that General Lee had surrendered which of course he was slow to believe, but when he heard the minute guns of rejoicing in Winchester, his faith gave way and he returned to his command with a sad heart. This ended the military operations of our people here. On the 20th of April Mosby met some officers from Gen- eral Hancock then commanding in Winchester, to make terms of surrender, but the negotiations failed and on May 1st he disbanded his men at Salem. A little later Colonel Chapman, with about 200 men, went to Winchester. They were paroled on the same terms as were the men of General Lee's army, the men returning to their homes and retaining their horses.
The committe of the J. E. B. Stuart Camp decided to place granite markers at the following places, where en- gagements were fought as described in these pages:
The Battle of Cool Spring, July 18th, 1864, near Castle- man's Ferry.
Fight at the Double Tollgate, Aug. 11th, 1864.
Fight at Berry's Ferry, July 19th, 1864.
Battle of Berryville, Sept. 3rd, 1864.
The Buck Marsh fight, near Berryville, Sept. 13th, 1864. Fight at Gold's Farm, Sept. 3rd, 1864.
Fight at Col. Morgan's Lane, Aug. 19th, 1864.
Fight at Mt. Airy, Sept. 15th, 1864.
The Vineyard Fight, Dec. 16th, 1864.
Mt. Carmel Fight, Feb. 19th, 1865.
Several other small affairs took place which have not been marked, as both the time and place were not defi-
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nitely known, or the fights were not of enough importance to be marked.
These markers were prepared and put in place by the well known marble and granite worker, T. J. Orndorf, of Winchester, Va.
CHAPTER XVI
INCIDENTS, ETC.
W 'HEN the War was on in earnest early in the Summer of 1861, there was no communi- cation with Baltimore, and so no Balti- more Sun or National Intelligencer or Alexandria Ga- zette for the gentlemen of the town and country. Their custom had been to meet every day at the Post Office to get their mail and talk neighborhood news, but now they found time hanging on their hands and could only amuse themselves by meeting in some doctor's or lawyer's of- fice or at the stores and discuss the war, its causes and effects. Many heated discussions, sometimes causing es- trangement between lifetime friends, were had in those meetings, for it was considered treason to question the righteousness or wisdom of our cause. When the Militia was ordered out there were none at home, but the older men, and sometimes a farm had no men at all to manage its affairs, only the servants, who with singular fidelity went on with the farm work as usual. The mistress or it might be the young boy of the family, not quite old enough for active service, was compelled to take the re- sponsibility of looking after things. The monotony of life was varied by visits of the father and sometimes the mother to the camp who went laden with the best that the home could afford for the soldiers of the family, or it may be, they would take a suit of clothes or boots, anything that could add to the comfort or lessen the hardships of
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soldier life. Teams were sometimes bought or pressed into the Confederate service. The cattle, hay and corn were sold to the Commissary or Quartermaster Depart- ment. In the Spring of 1862, when Jackson fell back from Winchester and the enemy moved in, there was a great change. Many of the negroes availed themselves of the first chance to leave for Pennsylvania and freedom. The horses and cattle were now taken and driven away for the use of the enemy, sometimes a receipt was given saying that this property had been taken for use of the Govern- ment and would be paid for on proof of loyalty to the United States. At one time a farmer had a fine lot of cattle, just ready for the market. A gentleman who bought for the Confederates had looked at them and made arrangements to take them away on the following day, when there rode up a company of the U. S. Cavalry with a train of wagons. They got around the cattle, loaded up all the negroes who would go into the wagons, arrested the farmer and carried him a prisoner to Winchester, al- lowing him to ride a crippled stallion, about the last horse on the palce. Here he was kept about two weeks in one of the forts; his saddle for a pillow and the ground for a bed. Upon his refusing to take the oath of allegiance to the U. S., he was allowed, through the kind offices of Mr. Geo. Ginn, a Union man of the town, to give bond in the sum of five thousand dollars that he would not give aid or comfort to the Confederacy. He and his old horse were then permitted to leave. Soon after this the 2nd Battle of Manassas occurred and an army of stragglers came through the county on their way to Winchester. The old gentleman always told them when they came to him for help, "I can't do anything-but there is my wife, ask her- she might help you." But when General White was captured at Harper's Ferry with all his papers, the
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bond in all probability was destroyed and he felt released. At any rate, in some way or other no Confederate soldier ever went away empty. With the negroes nearly all gone and with the horses also taken, it became to all a serious problem how the old and infirm, the women and children were to be fed and clothed, but those men, old ones mostly, were equal to the occasion. They would in some way get one or two horses and put out a few acres each year of corn and wheat. Those away from the main roads would have a few sheep, and hogs could always be raised, as they could hide themselves better than other stock and the Yankees didn't like hog meat anyhow, so with the little corn and wheat they were fed and the wool was traded at the fac- tories for cloth and yarn. This not only clothed the home folks, but when chance offered, providing a suit for the soldier at the front. At times there was excitement enough. Perhaps some negro or ill disposed Union man would report that at such a house was a Confederate sol- dier or may be that it was a "Rebel Post Office" and sud- denly a swarm would appear, the house would be searched from top to bottom, whatever they fancied would be car- ried away, no place was sacred. An amusing story, which is true, is told of an old lady who had secreted under her bed, some bags of wheat. She was told that she must get into her bed-an old fashioned high testered one, and be "a sick lady." The curtains of her room and bed were drawn and then two children were left on guard. A party who were unusually mean were ransacking the house and one of them approached the room of the "sick" old lady. When he attempted to enter, she and the children held the door, she crying out "You can not come into this sick room." But when he persisted, as she told it, she "fetched him a blow on his nose and drew the blood." Fortu- nately just then an officer with some humanity in his make
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up came on the scene and ordered him off and the "sick" room was saved. The old lady was always very proud of having drawn Yankee blood. Such scenes were com- mon, and very many. Probably most of the houses were searched time and again. Some times the intruders be- came violent. On one occasion, an old gentleman was trying to save the last horse on the place, holding to it and pleading for it, when he was struck with the scabbard of a sword and his collar bone broken. But these old men and women were willing to endure anything for the cause they loved. They would take risks of the utmost danger. There was one house that was used frequently as a de- pository of letters coming from the army to be distributed as best they could to the friends of the soldiers. On one occasion the mistress of the house taking a little girl be- hind her on a horse, went several miles across country by lonely roads to the next house that was used for that pur- pose. At any moment, she might have been intercepted by a party of cavalry, and if searched would have been sent to prison as a rebel spy. The people living on the great public roads and beside streams were, if possible, more troubled than any one else. Along Buck Marsh and Long Marsh runs was a favorite camping ground. For- tunate was the home if the General happened to make his headquarters in the yard, they were then safe, but after the camp had moved, the stragglers came along and then was the time of most danger. Some of these men would not stop at anything and only the protection of a divine hand saved these unprotected ones from the worst of fates. There were times with some of them that they had to draw rations from the Yankees camped in their yards.
Along these same roads many farms were left without any fencing and when the war closed the owners had to
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fence their entire farms. A number of houses and barns were burned, causing great suffering to the inmates. Dur- ing the Summer of 1864 under orders from General Grant, a number of male citizens around Berryville and vicinity who were liable to conscription for service, were arrested, among them were Jas. Forster, Henry J. Mesmer, John F. Burchell, Jno. Louthan, Jas. Louthan, Geo. Diffender- fer-Patterson, John Anderson, Killian Pope, and others whose names I have been unable to get. They were im- prisoned in Fort McHenry for some months, when they were released through the efforts of some friends of the south in Baltimore. To show the horrors of war, I will tell of an incident in the Fall of 1864 at the time of Sheri- dan's advance to attack Early. At a house near the Opequon a lady was very ill. Batteries were put in posi- tion on the hills near. Skirmishers were firing across the creek, the house and yard were filled with soldiers. Every room except the one in which the sick lady lay, was oc- cupied at night by soldiers. Amidst all this noise and con- fusion a child was born and the mother passed into the Great Beyond. Strange to say the sick one was the calmest and most self-possessed person in the house. The day after her death she was carried to Winchester through the midst of the hostile army and laid in Mt. Hebron. The child born under such adverse circumstances lived to be a bright and happy girl.
The writer has tried to gather more of the trying ex- periences of the people but has failed to get any response to his appeal for help in this direction. Of course, many of these sufferings were the natural outcome of war, but many of them need not have been if the common instinct of humanity had been given full play.
In Sheridan's barn burning raid, night came upon the burners when they reached Berryville and a few barns near
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by were not burned. Among them was that of Mr. Thos. E. Gold, which was well filled with hay. The U. S. Cav- alry would go every day and carry it to camp on their horses, promising to burn the barn before they left. It was the Fall of the year and the orchard near the barn was full of apples. One day just as a large party leaving were loaded with hay and apples, Phil. Swan, John Crow and Marquis Calmes, members of the Clarke Cavalry who were scouting, rode up to the edge of the woods near the house and in sight of the barn. Mr. Gold, standing on his porch, saw them and waving his hands to them, they dash- ed after the Yankees, firing and yelling as if they had a hundred, whereupon all took to flight and the boys rode back with three horses and one prisoner and made their escape through the woods. Very soon a regiment was on the ground threatening to burn the house and to take the "old rebel" away with them, charging him with firing out of the house on them. Mr. Gold's comment on his accuser was apropos. "Captain," he said, "that man's a liar and he knows he's a liar, I'd like to have the handling of him for a few minutes." No doubt their threats would have been carried out, but for the honesty of one of them who had remained in the orchard during the whold af- fair. He testified that there were only three rebels and that "the old Rebel" was telling the truth. These are iso- lated cases. That there were many others there is no doubt. These are given not to stir up bad feeling but that the young people of this generation and those to come, may know what hardships their ancestors endured during those troublous times.
The numerous searchings for Confederate soldiers led many people to make places of concealment for not only the soldiers who might happen to be with them, but for any valuables that could not be carried safely about their
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persons. Closets were devised with concealed openings and great ingenuity was used and scarcely a house but had a place into which they could slip a soldier or two for safe keeping. The ladies also used to have large pockets fastened to a belt around their waist, under their nice roomy skirts. The dresses of that day were especially suited for the purposes of concealment, as all ladies wore hoops which gave ample room for the pockets. In these pockets, the silver spoons and other light valuables were put whenever the Yankees appeared. The fashion of today would have offered no opertunity for such a thing. In that day every one admired curved lines in the make up and so plumpness was much sought after. Now the idea is to have all lines as straight as a shingle.
Soldiers and people took all sorts of risks and braved all dangers. On one occasion a number of Confederate Cav- alry were breakfasting at Mr. Armistead Colston's, when some one announced the approach of some U. S. Cavalry toward the front of the house. The boys had their horses just in front and were absolutely cut off from escape in that direction. One of the young ladies of the family, taking in the situation told them to come through the yard of the house and pass out through the garden back of it. She held the gate while they did so. They had hardly disappeared around the house when the Yankees appeared and ordered her to open the gate. She stoutly refused and held onto it although they struck her with the scabbords of their swords and broke her arm. The delay gained by her bravery and persistancy gave our boys time to make their escape. Such devotion was not rare. The women old and young seemed to rise to the occasion no matter how trying. This young lady became the wife of a gal- lant Confederate soldier and was well worthy of the best. Another of our heroines was a young married lady, who
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rescued all her father's cattle and cows. The entire herd was driven off in spite of pleadings and protestations that the cows at least be left, as they furnished milk and butter for the old and the children, and indeed more than half the living. She determined to follow and appeal to the General of the Command. So taking an old black Mammy behind her on a horse she started on her perilous journey. She finally overtook them at New Market, the home of Dr. Randolph, where they had halted for the night. An interview was obtained and the General at last told her that if she could get her cows out of the large drove in the field opposite, she might have them. The old Mammy here came into use. She had milked those cows and when she went to the gate and called they came running, and not only their own, but some that belonged to their neigh- bors, all that ran out when the gate was opened and were returned in triumph by these invincible women.
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