USA > Virginia > Tazewell County > Tazewell County > History of Tazewell county and southwest Virginia, 1748-1920 > Part 56
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belonged to D. Harold Peery was set on fire by the raiders and destroyed. It was where the late Henry Groseclose had his store.
About 10 o'clock the morning of the 16th, some four hours after Toland's men passed, Colonel A. J. May, who was camping with a small force of Confederates on Colonel Henry Bowen's place in the Cove, passed Captain's Peery's with about fifty mounted men in pursuit of Toland. Colonel May was riding rapidly at the head of the column, and was carrying a pennant or small flag.
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Colonel Andrew Jackson May was a Kentuckian by birth, but was so closely associated with what transpired in Tazewell County during the entire Civil War, that he made it his future home, and was recognized as one of Tazewell's Confederate soldiers. In the spring of 1861 he was living at Prestonsburg, Kentucky, and entered the service of the Confederacy as lieutenant colonel of the 5th Kentucky Infantry. In the fall of 1862 he organized the 10th Kentucky Cavalry, and was made colonel of the regiment. He was its commander until the war closed.
From his manner, he seemed to say with his flag: "Follow me!" They were following him compactly and eagerly. The Colonel was every inch a soldier, and his men were as fearless as their leaders. A little later. Colonel Vincent Witcher, another daring soldier, passed Captain Peery's with a small force of mounted men pursuing the Federals. Colonel May and his men on the morn- ing of the 17th came in contact with the rear guard of Toland's forces at Stony Creek, some six miles northwest of Wytheville,
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where several of the Federals were killed, and, perhaps, a few prisoners taken.
From Stony Creek, General Toland pushed on rapidly to Wythe- ville, reaching the head of what is now called Tazewell Street on the 17th of July, 1863, about ten o'clock A. M. The people of Wytheville had been notified of the approach of the enemy, but no Confederate troops were then stationed at that point. There was a home guard organization of about fifty youths and men, all
Captain David G. Sayers entered the Confederate army in the that was commanded by Captain Elias V. Harman. In the fall of 1862, spring of 1862 as second lieutenant of a company of Partizan Rangers Lieutenant Sayers was made captain of a company that was attached to the 37th Battalion of Virginia Cavalry, known as Witcher's Bat- talion. He was with the detachment of Witcher's men that pursued Toland's regiment when it made its raid to Wytheville. Captain Sayers was born September 15th, 1840, and died April 12th, 1902.
of whom were under or over military age. A small detachment of reserves, possibly fifty in number, was sent to their assistance from a Confederate training camp at Dublin, in Pulaski County. The command of the one hundred men was placed with Colonel Joseph L. Kent. He had entered the Confederate service as Captain of the Wythe Grays, in April, 1861. That company was a unit of the 4th Virginia Infantry, Stonewall Brigade. He had served as Colonel of the 4th Regiment in 1862, but on account of ill health had been forced to retire from the service. Colonel Kent, being
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an experienced military man, made excellent disposition of his small but fearless force. Some youths and men concealed them- selves in and behind houses along the east and west side of Taze- well Street and performed desperate feats as sharpshooters, or snipers, as they are now called, while the enemy was advancing along that street.
For some reason an attempt was made by the invaders to fire the town. or, at least, certain houses. At the time it was said or thought that the burning was done in revenge for the killing of Gen. Toland by a sniper. He was killed immediately in front of the beautiful residence of Captain William Giboney, which fronted on Tazewell Street and stood where the High School building is now located. The torch was applied to the Gibboney residence, and all its valuable contents were destroyed, except a few articles that were appropriated by the raiders. Among these articles was a dictionary that fell into the hands of Captain Fortescue, who was in charge of the advance guard of Toland's troops. The dietionary was afterwards recovered by Captain Gibboney, and on its blank pages the following entry was found:
"Camp Piatt Aug. Ist, 1863.
"This book (an old Webster's Dictionary) was the only article saved from the buildings and residence of Wm. Gibboney, in Wythe- ville, Va., destroyed by order of Brevet Brigadier Gen. John Toland on the 17th day of July, 1863. It was entrusted to Thos. O'Brian, who in attempting to cross New River was drawn under the current and drowned-it was afterwards recovered & lost in a skirmish- & recaptured & carried to Wytheville, where it was again in the hands of the enemy-& again recaptured & carried over four hun- dred miles by the troops, being under fire the entire trip, lasting nearly eight days -- & arrived at Gauly Bridge, W. Va. in an almost exhausted condition and immediately engaged with Gen'l McCaus- land of the Rebel army & reached Camp Piatt after 15 days of tedious hardship & heavy loss of Men.
Wm. H. Fortescue, Capt. Commanding Squadron."
Several years after the conclusion of the Civil War, Mr. Albert H. Gibboney, son of Captain Wm. Gibboney, received a letter from Captain Fortescue in which he made the following statements:
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"In reference to your Father's property, will say the order to burn it was given to me by Gen. Toland in person. When Gen. Toland gave me the order I asked him if he had better not make it written. He replied that it could be done quicker than he could write the order." Captain Fortescue also wrote Mr. Gibboney:
"I was in charge of the advance that entered Wytheville & had as Junior, Captain Delaney-who was one of the first officers killed. Gen. Toland had just ordered a sabre charge & Col. Powell. 2nd in command, rode up & gave me the order. I had just given the order when Gen. Toland was struck and died instantly. Col. Powell was the next one to fall. And though I was afterwards on many hotly contested fields I was never upon any that was more so than Wytheville."
The fighting began at about 10 o'clock, and was continued for about an hour. Of course such a small force of citizens and soldiers could not successfully hold back one thousand, or more, splendidly armed and mounted men. The Federals by repeated charges forced the Confederates to retire and scatter; but the enemy had been defeated in their plans for doing extensive damage to the railroad. As soon as the Confederates withdrew, the Federals sent detach- ments towards the railroad station to begin the work of destruction. But they heard the loud whistling of a locomotive that was pulling a train from the east and that was approaching Wytheville. They thought the train was bringing Confederate reinforcements, and made a hasty return to the main body of Toland's men; and the demoralized command commenced its retreat to West Virginia.
After setting fire to Captain Gibboney's dwelling the torch was applied to several houses on Tazewell and Main streets. The dwell- ing and printing office of David A. St. Clair, situated opposite Captain Gibboney's home, were totally destroyed. A storehouse on Main Street that was used for medical supplies by the Confed- erate Government, and the Cumberland Presbyterian church on Main Street, that stood a short distance east of the present Epis- copal church, were also burned down. The women and children in the other houses that were fired, put out the flames as soon as the Yankees retired from the buildings. If the Federals had not retreated so hastily it is likely that much more serious damage would have been done to the town.
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The Federals' losses amounted to seven killed and thirty wounded. Among the killed were General Toland and Captain Delaney. Lieutenant Colonel Powell, second in command, was severely wounded and was made a prisoner. He was riding one of John Hambricks' fine gray mares that had been taken from Cap- tain Peery's place on the morning of the 16th. The mare was restored to Mr. Hambrick a few days thereafter. being ridden from Wytheville by Colonel Jas. F. Pendleton, father of the author.
There were only three whites and one negro killed on the Con- federate side. Captain Oliver was mortally wounded near the stone house on Tazewell Street, then owned and occupied by Mrs. Haller, mother of the late Colonel Charles Haller; and now owned and occupied as a residence by Miss Frances Gibboney and her sister, Mrs. Kate Campbell. Pat Helligan, an Irishman, was stand- ing in his house and declined to surrender on account of his nationality; he was shot and died instantly. Clayton Cook was mortally wounded, just as he walked out of Crockett's Hotel. He was very deaf and did not hear the demands the Federals made upon him to surrender. George, a faithful negro slave of Mr. Ephraim MeGavock, was shot while trying to save his master from capture. A number of citizens were made prisoners, among them Colonel Thos. J. Boyd, Dr. Gage, Alfred Sult, James Corvin, Frank Slater, James Miller, Wash Leshy, Ephraim McGavock and Robert Bailey. The prisoners were taken as far as the top of Big Walker's Mountain, about ten miles northwest of Wytheville, and there released.
General Toland was shot through the heart and expired instantly. It has never been positively known who fired the shot that killed him. Some said it was Bob Bailey, a youth in his teens, son of Jesse Bailey. Others said it was Andrew Parish, also a youth, who fired the fatal shot; and still others claimed it was a woman who killed him. Well might Captain Forteseue declare: "Although I was afterwards on many hotly contested fields, I was never upon any that was more so than Wytheville." Nothing more desperately daring was done during the Civil War than the defence that was made at Wytheville by the old men and boys, and, possibly, the women of the town.
The Federals were very much demoralized by their experience at Wytheville. After arriving at the top of Walker's Mountain,
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instead of retreating by the same ronte by which they had advaneed, they left the turnpike road and went down a mountain spur ealled "Ram's Horn", and entered the valley in Bland County, and turned their march eastward. When they came to the place of William Stowers they turned their horses into his wheat field and entirely destroyed his erop. From that point they went east as far as Charles Grayson's place. There they turned back and went through the gap of Brushy Mountain over what is known as the Laurel road, and followed that road down Laurel Creek to Frank Suiter's place in the Hunting Camp Valley. They stole all Mr. Suiter's horses, and followed a path across Round Mountain and came into the Wolf Creek Valley at the now Isaae Stowers farm. Then they proceeded up Wolf Creek to Crabtree's Gap, and crossed Rich Mountain into the Clear Fork Valley. Turning down Clear Fork, they proceeded down the valley to the Henry Dill's place at the mouth of Cove Creek, and turned up that creek. A small detachment of Confederate soldiers and Tazewell citizens charged upon the rear guard of the Federals as they were going up the ereek, killing several of the enemy, and captured several men and a number of horses. The raiders erossed East River Mountain at the George Gap, which is at the southwest corner of the Walter M. Sanders farm. From thence they passed through "Pin Hook" (now Graham), crossed the Stony Ridge and camped that night in the meadows near Falls Mills. The next morning they proceeded by way of the month of Abb's Valley to a gap in the Laurel Ridge, just above the big spring. There they were attacked by a part of the 10th Kentucky Cavalry. In the skirmish two of the Ken- tuekians, Thomas Fletcher and Tutz were killed; but the Federal losses are not known. Continuing their retreat, the Fed- erals passed just east of Pocahontas, and on by way of the Peeled Chestnuts; and at last gained safety in the mountains of West Virginia.
A very interesting incident occurred while the Federals were retreating, in which a Tazewell girl proved herself a heroine. A Federal trooper stopped at the home of Jonathan Hendrickson, who lived about two hundred yards west of the present Graham furnace. He ordered his supper, which was promptly served him. When he arose from the table he was looking into the muzzle of his own carbine, which was pointed at the Yankee by Miss Mattie Hendrick-
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son. She politely told him he was her prisoner; and she held him as sueh until a squad of Confederates came along and took him in charge.
SMALL RAID BY FEDERALS.
The second raid by Federals through the county was made by a very small detachment. They travelled at night, on foot, and kept away from all thoroughfares and houses. The object of the raid was to get to the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad near Marion, and to destroy bridges, burn depots, and so forth. This raid was made in the latter part of August, 1863. Toland's unsuccessful raid to Wytheville was made about six weeks previously. There were about twenty-five or thirty men in the second raid, and they approached Tazewell by the Sandy Valley route and entered the county in the Horse Pen Cove. There they concealed themselves to await nightfall, when they would resume their journey over ridges and mountains.
Several peach trees, laden with ripe fruit, were standing about a deserted cabin near where the men were in concealment. Some of the hungry men were lurd from their hiding by the tempting red peaches. While they were gathering and devouring the fruit, Charles Taylor, who lived half a mile northwest of Witten's Mill, and about the same distance west of the present residence of Mrs. Henry S. Bowen, came suddenly upon the raiders. Mr. Taylor was out looking for lost cattle, which he thought had strayed into the Horse Pen Covc. The officer in command of the expedition made Mr. Taylor a prisoner; and required him to make oath that he would not reveal the presence of the raiding party to anyone, which Mr. Taylor faithfully observed. Later on, they were dis- covered by an old woman named Patsy Hall, who did weaving for people in the surrounding neighborhoods. They made Patsy take an oath similar to that administered to Mr. Taylor. She did not consider the oath binding, and forthwith travelled to the home of Robert Graham, who lived where Robert Tarter now resides, and told Mr. Graham and others in the neighborhood that the Yankees were coming by way of the Horse Pen Cove. Of course Patsey. like the old woman who saw a thousand squirrels in a tree, imagined there were hundreds in the raiding party, and so related.
Runners were sent out immediately to notify the people, just as the pioneers were warned of the approach of Indians, and before
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sundown the approach of the enemy was made known to all persons along the route the raiders were expected to follow. A detachment of the Tazewell Troopers were doing scouting duty, and were encamped in Abb's Valley, under the command of Lieutenant Joseph S. Moss. Judge S. C. Graham, then a youth seventeen years old, son of Robert Graham; and J. R. East, a youth about the same age, were sent as couriers to Abb's Valley to warn Lieutenant Moss of the presence of the enemy. He immediately brought his squadron to the head of the North Fork of the Clinch, and during the night sent out scouts to discover the whereabouts of the raiding party. About daylight the trail of the party was discovered just east of Witten's Mill. It was seen that they were traveling on foot. through the woods and fields, and in a staight line toward the rail- road at or near Marion. Lieutenant Moss dismounted about a dozen of his men, and with them followed the trail. He had mounted troopers take the horses of himself and his dismounted men by the usual horseback route in the direction of Marion; and the trailers got their horses in one of the valleys between Marion and Tazewell. From Witten's Mill the raiders made a bee line, evidently by use of a compass, to Marion, crossing Rich, Clinch, Brushy and Walker's mountains. They reached the southside of Walker's Mountain, about five miles north of Marion, some time during the night of the next day following their discovery in Horse Pen Cove. They again went into concealment, with the purpose of striking the railroad in the night time.
A courier had been sent hastily from Jeffersonville to Marion to warn the citizens and any Confederate force that might be in that vicinity. As soon as the messenger arrived at Marion, Hon. James W. Sheffey and about twenty more citizens armed themselves and started out to hunt for the raiders. They found them on Hungers Mother Creek, about six miles north of Marion, and about two miles east of the Chatham Hill road, at a place then belonging to John Allen, but now owned by Elkana Ford. The hungry Yankees were feasting on roasting ears they had roasted at a fire, hiding and waiting until night time, when they could slip to the railroad and destroy bridges. The smoke from their fire attracted the attention of the squad of citizens and they closed in upon the raiders. When they saw the citizens, the raiders began to seatter and run. Two or three of them were captured but the balance made their escape.
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AVERILL'S RAID.
Brigadier General W. W. Averill, with a brigade of cavalry, composed of 2,479 officers and men, made the third Federal invasion of Tazewell County, in May, 1864. It was the privilege of the author to view this raiding army, but under more fortunate circum- stances than he had seen Toland's raiders in July, 1863.
General John S. Williams, who was in command of the Confed- erate forces stationed at the Salt Works, had received notice of
Major Thomas Peery Bowen was the eldest of the four gallant sons of Gen. Rees T. Bowen who served in the Confederate Army as members of the "Tazewell Troopers." He was mustered into service in May, 1861, his company being designated Co. H of the 8th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry. In the fall of 1861 he became captain of the com- pany; and early in 1863 was promoted to major of the regiment for gallantry in action. Major Bowen was severely wounded in battle, but remained in active service until the surrender at Appomattox. He was born at Maiden Spring, August 2nd, 1838, and died October 6th, 1911.
Averill's advance through West Virginia. General Williams dis- patched the 8th Virginia Cavalry, under command of Colonel Abe Cook, and with Major Thomas P. Bowen second in command, to ascertain the strength of the Federals and to impede their advance to the Salt Works, if that place should prove to be Averill's objec- tive. Two companies of the 8th Cavalry had previously been sent to Abb's Valley to perform picket service. Colonel Cook reached Tazewell late in the afternoon of the 7th of May with the remainder
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of his regiment; and about the same time Averill entered Abb's Valley, where he encamped that night. Colonel Cook camped with his regiment in the meadow, now owned by Joseph S. Gillespie, at the west end of Tazewell.
At about noon the 8th of May the head of Averill's column arrived at the Round House ('Squire Tommie Peery's former home) and there halted. The advance regiment filed into the meadow opposite the Round House, and the men dismounted and held their horses while they grazed upon the grass, which was luxuriant and about knee deep. They sent out pickets, but the main body did not advance beyond the Round House until late in the afternoon. These pickets went as far as the Brittain place, a mile west of the court house.
In the meantime Colonel Cook, aeting upon orders sent by couriers from General Williams, fell back towards the Salt Works. Colonel Cook's retirement left Averill's advance unopposed.
Some time ago the author heard Mr. Alex St. Clair relate what he knew of Averill's movements after he left the Peery place. Mr. St. Clair was a member of Company I, 16th Virginia Cavalry, that met Averill's army on the 10th of May, 1864, in the battle at Queen's Knob, or the Gap of Crockett's Cove, in Wythe County. Upon request, he has furnished me his recollections in writing, and they are as follows:
RECOLLECTIONS OF MR. ST. CLAIR.
"About the 1st of May, 1864, Gen. Averill left his winter quarters near Charleston, W. Va., with about 2,500 cavalry, his objective being Wytheville, Va., where he would strike the Va. & Tenn. R. R., one of the main arteries by which the Army of Northern Virginia was supplied. Advancing by way of Logan and Wyoming counties he reached the head of Abb's Valley on the evening of the 7th, where he surprised two companies of the 8th Va. Cavalry, on picket duty, and captured 20 men. Camping in the Valley that night, he pro -- ceeded the following day toward Tazewell C. H. At Five Oaks he was met by a small force of Confederates. In the skirmish that followed a Federal soldier was killed and buried in the garden of C. H. Greever, Esq. A few days after a neighbor asked the Esq. if he was not sorry to have the Yankee buried so near his house. His reply was, 'No ding it, I wish they were all in there.'
T.H .- 40
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"Averill reached Tazewell Court House on the afternoon of the 8th, and encamped on the farm of the late Capt. W. E. Peery, one and a half miles east of the Court House. For some unaccountable reason, he abandoned the advance on Wytheville, by way of Burke's Garden, broke camp about midnight, and at daybreak on the 9th was at the residence of the late Charles F. Tiffany on Bluestone. At this place the Federals took quite a number of horses and negroes and destroyed the wagon train of the 16th Va. Cavalry, capturing W. P. Whitley, Wm. Gose, and others. Averill continued his march by way of Cross Roads, Mercer County, and Rocky Gap and camped the night of the 9th near Bland C. H.
"The 16th Va. Cavalry, which had wintered at 'Camp Georgia' near the residence of S. C. Peery, two miles north of Tazewell C. H., was ordered east May 4th, arriving at a point near what is now the city of Bluefield. Col. Wm. L. Graham, who was in com- mand of the regiment, learned that a strong Federal force was advancing from Princeton. This proved to be Gen. Crook with about 7,000 men, who was acting in conjunction with Averill, and had for his objective Dublin, Va., which he reached after the battle of Cloyd's Farm. This battle was fought May 9th.
"After Crook had passed Rocky Gap, Colonel Graham led the 16th to Wytheville. On the morning of the 10th Gen. John H. Morgan reached Wytheville, in advance of his command, and ordered Col. Graham to take his regiment to the gap at Crockett's Cove, six miles from Wytheville, and to hold the gap till reinforced. Passing through the gap, the 16th emerged into the Cove beyond. In a very short time we saw our advanced guard coming pell mell with two Yankee regiments in hot pursuit. Mounting our horses we dashed back into the gap. Col. Graham's command was: "Dis- mount boys and follow Grimes", which we did with a will, and poured a withering fire into the charging Yanks, emptying many saddles, and sending the rest scurrying to cover. Col. Graham, not being a West Pointer, gave many unique commands, but which always meant, "go for them boys", with Grimes in the lead. The Sth Va. Cavalry, having arrived, occupied the gap. The 16th was deployed and moved east along the top of the mountain. The Yankees dismounted a regiment and attempted to turn our right flank by crossing the mountain and striking our rear; but the 16th met them on the mountain top, drove them down the mountain, thus
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throwing us on their left flank. Just at this time, Gen. Morgan, who had gone around the mountain west of the gap where the fight began, advanced on Averill's right flank. Seeing this, Averill began to withdraw, which he did in a most skillful manner, forming his regiments in Echelon, each one when driven back forming in the rear of the others, thus maintaining a stubborn resistance. But with all his skill and bravery, night alone saved him from utter rout and capture. Averill lost many in killed and wounded, himself among
Colonel William L. Graham was one of the most fearless soldiers and commanders that Tazewell County gave to the Confederate army. He was a grandson of Colonel John Montgomery, who was a noted Indian fighter, and who served with George Rodgers Clark in the Illinois campaign. Colonel Graham was not a trained military man, but a natural born fighter and leader. He always led his men into battle, calling on them to "Follow Grimes." He was born near Chat- ham Hill, Smyth County, Virginia, in October, 1820, and died in April, 1908.
the latter. The Confederates losses were very small. In this engagement about 2,500 men on each side took part, but I doubt if a more systematic and skillful fight took place during the Civil War. Averill retreated to the neighborhood of Blacksburg, where he joined Crook, who fell back to Meadow Bluff in Greenbrier County. After resting a few days, he moved along the C. & O. R. R., destroying the same, and joined Hunter at Staunton. The united armies then began the advance on Lynchburg, by way of Lexington, Buchanan, Liberty, etc. MeCausland, skirmishing at
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