USA > West Virginia > Hampshire County > History of Hampshire County, West Virginia : from its earliest settlement to the present > Part 40
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59
548
HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE.
the committee's expenses had been subscribed by mem- bers of the committee, or by other citizens; but the whole matter was about to pass into the hands of the county court, as will be seen from the following order:
"At a court held for the county of Hampshire, Virginia, May 27, 1861; present, David Gibson, William Dunn, Isaiah Lupton, Robert Carmichael, J. C. Pancake, J. C. Poland, George W. Washington, John Hammack, William French, B. D. Stump, W. Donaldson, James Liller, John Starkey, Elijah Rinehart, Samuel Cooper, James Sheetz, George Spaid, N. Alkire, H. Alkire, H. Parrell, William D. Rees, E. M. Armstrong, J. W. Albin, S. Milleson, A. A. Brill and Thomas Crawford, Justices.
"It is ordered that the county court of Hampshire county doth appropriate the sum of ten thousand dollars, if so much be necessary, for war purposes, to be levied upon all the property of the county liable to state tax, except so much as is exempt from levy; that five thousand dollars of this sum be levied at this time, and the remaining five thousand dollars, together with an additional amount to cover the accruing interest, be levied at the May term, 1862; that bonds be issued, payable at the proper times, and that the bank at Romney be requested to cash the same as they may be required; and that James D. Arm- strong, John M. Pancake, and Isaac Parsons be and they are hereby appointed to execute said bonds for and on be- half of the county of Hampshire; that the said sum be placed in the hands of the committee of safety, to be used at their discretion for the said purposes, and for the sup- port of such families of volunteers of the county in actual service as may require assistance. The committee of safety are hereby directed to report their proceedings under this order to this court at its March term, 1862. The committee of safety consists of the following gentle- men: James D. Armstrong, Isaac Parsons, John M. Pan- cake, David Gibson, Dr. S. R. Lupton, John C. Heiskell, J.
549
BEGINNING OF THE STRIFE.
WV. Marshall, W. A. Vance, R. K. Sheetz, A. W. McDonald, James Sheetz, John T. Pierce, James W. Albin, Charles Blue, John A. Smith, Robert Hook, R. B. Sherrard, G. W. Gore, George W. Washington, and John Johnson, as ap- pears by the proceedings of a public meeting held in Rom- ney, Saturday, April 26. 1861. A roll call of the court on the foregoing order shows that all the members of the court voted aye, except Lupton, Hammack, Liller, Cooper, and Albin who voted no."
It is to be regretted that no record exists of any subse- qent proceedings of this committee and by some it is be- lieved that no meeting was held after May 29, 1861. George W. Washington in his journal mentions all the meeting's up to that time, but none later.
Romney's Remarkable Record .- No town in West Virginia, and, except Winchester, Virginia, perhaps none in the United States, has a record surpassing Rom- ney's in respect to changing hands during the Civil war. If the complete record could be obtained it is confidently believed that Romney would surpass Winchester, which changed hands seventy-eight times during the war. Rom- · ney has fifty-six times to its credit; and those who are ac- quainted with the facts say there were many more, but no record of them can be found, and the well-established fifty- six captures of the town must suffice. It will not be pre- sumed that there was a battle every time the town changed hands. There was no hard battle, and the skirmishes were neither severe nor numerous. At times the troops of one side would march peaceably out and the other side would occupy. Again, a few shots would be exchanged; and on two or three occasions the fighting had considera- ble importance.
The table which follows will show in chronological sequence the captures and recaptures of Romney between June 10, 1861, and April 15, 1865. In another part of this book the important captures will be given more in detail.
550
HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE.
Virginia militia, in the service of the Southern Confeder- acy, held the town from the beginning of the war till June 11, 1861. Then began Romney's vicissitudes of fortune, as follows:
June 11, 1861, captured by General Lew Wallace and held a few hours.
June, 1861, occupied by Colonel McDonald, with confed- erate militia.
July 21, 1861, Colonel Cain, with a federal force, took pos- session and remained a few hours.
July, 1861. Colonel Cummins came in with confederate troops.
September 24, 1861, Colonel Cantwell, with Ohio troops, took the town after a brisk skirmish.
September 24, 1361, Colonel McDonald recaptured it and drove the federals nearly to Keyser, fighting all the way.
October 27, 1861, General Kelley marched from Keyser and captured Romney after a fight which at that time was considered severe. The confederates retreated, with loss of cannon and wagons.
Jannary 14, 1862, Stonewall Jackson took peaceable pos- session, General Lander having retreated. The Hamp -. shire militia were a day or two ahead of Jackson in enter- ing the town.
March 3, 1862, Colonel Downey of the union army, occu- pied Romney after General Loring, who had been left here by Jackson, marched back to Winchester. For the next four captures the dates cannot be definitely fixed.
Spring of 1862 Hampshire militia occupied when Colonel Downey withdrew.
Summer 1852, Colonel Greenfield, with the twenty-second Pennsylvania regiment, was the next.
Summer of 1862, Hampshire militia, or troops from the regular confederate army, occupied Romney after the Pennsylvanians had retired.
551
BEGINNING OF THE STRIFE.
Fall 1862, General Lander sent Maryland troops to Rom- ney (federal).
November, 1862, General Imboden occupied the town with a confederate force.
December 29, 1862, General Milroy, with a strong fed- eral force, occupied the town for a day or two, as he was marching to Winchester.
During the first four months of 1863 there is no record that troops of either side entered the town, but that was a time of military activity, and in all probability Romney changed hands several times during these months.
June 7 (probably), 1863, Captain McNeill, with a confed- erate force, was in possession.
June 15, 1863, Colonel Campbell came in with a federal force.
June 16, 1863, General Imboden occupied Romney on his march to Gettysburg.
June 17, 1863, a federal company was in possession of the town one hour.
June 18, 1863, a confederate force took possession, and hurried on to join the forces then on the march to Gettys- burg. It is believed that these men belonged to Imboden's brigade and that they had been scouting in the mountains of Hardy county.
June, 1863, a federal cavalry company entered Romney.
June 22 (probably), 1863, Captain Sheetz, with a confed- erate force, occupied the town.
June 22 (probably), 1853, Lieutenant Summers, with a federal force, took possession after Captain Sheetz with- drew.
July 12, 1863, a confederate force again took possession. August 8, 1863, Romney occupied by federal cavalry.
August 15 (probably), 1863, confederates entered Romney.
September, 1863, federal troops, known as Blinker's Dutch, captured the place.
552
HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE.
October 5, 1863, a confederate force was again in pos- session.
October, 1863, federal cavalry held the town for a short time. There is no record of further occupation of the town in 1863.
January 5, 1864, McNeill was in possession of Romney.
January 8, 1864, federal cavalry entered and took pos- session.
February 1. 1864, confederate cavalry held the town.
February 1, 1864, New York cavalry drove out the con- federates.
February 3, 1864, the town was in possession of confed- erates belonging to General Rosser's command.
February 3, 1864, General Averell, who was hunting for Rosser, took the town.
May 10, 1864, McNeill was once more in possession.
May 10, 1864, McNeill departed and federal troops were in possession.
May 10, 1864, the confederates, whether McNeill or not cannot be ascertained, drove out the federals, making three times in one day that Romney changed hands.
July, 1864, federal cavalry under Ringgold held the town.
August 5, 1864. General McCausland occupied Romney on his return from his raid into Pennsylvania.
August 5, General Averell passed through Romney in pursuit of McCausland, having been only two hours behind him when McCausland set fire to Chambersburg, and hav- ing been in pursuit all the way to Romney. He overtook and signally defeated him at Moorefield, a full account of which will be found in this book.
August 29, 1864, McNeill occupied Romney.
October 31, 1864, federal cavalry from Springfield occu- pied the place.
November 1, 1864, McNeill occupied the town on his way to attack Springfield.
553
BEGINNING OF THE STRIFE.
November 2, 1864, federals pursuing McNeill entered Romney.
November 28, 1864, confederates belonging to General Rosser's force occupied the town, the day that Keyser was captured.
January, 1855, federal troops from Cumberland were in the town.
February 1, 1865, a force of two hundred confederates were in possession of Romney.
February 5, 1865, Colonel Young with a federal force were in the town. This was the force which murdered Captain George Stump.
February 7 (probably) 1865, MeNeill held the town.
February 13, 1865, the federal were once more in pos- session.
February 19, 1865, McNeill was once more in possession, carrying away Generals Crook and Kelley as prisoners, having captured them at Cumberland, a full account of which will be found in this book.
February 19, 1865, federal cavalry, pursuing McNeill, were in the town about one hour.
February 19, 1865, a small confederate force dashed into the town as the federals were retreating and drove out the stragglers, capturing one prisoner.
February 25 (probably), 1865, federals from Cumber- berland were in possession.
April 15 (probably), 1865, the town was held for the last time by armed confederates. They were the companies of McDonald and Sheetz, which had escaped from Virginia when General Lee surrendered.
CHAPTER XLVII.
LEW WALLACE TAKES ROMNEY.
The first union troops to occupy Romney were under Gen- eral Lew Wallace, June 11, 1861. Prior to that time the Hampshire militia and several confederate companies had occupied the town, sometimes in strong force, and some- times not. There were too few confederates in Romney when Wallace come, tooffer much resistance, and no attempt was made to hold the place. A few men with rifles posted themselves on the bluff overlooking the South branch bridge, and fired as the federals advanced; but ran as soon as a few shots had been exchanged. The confederates who were in the town retreated, and nearly all the citizens went with them. It was the first view of the blue coats the people of Romney had, and they did not know whether they could safely remain, or whether they would be safer somewhere else. General Wallace, as is generally known, was author of Ben Hur and other famous works. If all soldiers were as gentlemanly as he, and as considerate of others, war would lose many of its horrors. It is appro- priate in this connection to quote from the journal of George W. Washington under date of June 12, 1861. He says:
"I rode up to the upper end of the place, and on my re- turn met Everett who informed me that the federal troops were in Romney. I rode on to Romney to see what was going on. Before I got there they left. I was told that the officers were gentlemen and that they informed the. citizens they would be perfectly secure under this protec- tion; that they had come to the county by invitation, and
555
LEW WALLACE TAKES ROMNEY.
that no unarmed person would be disturbed. The inhabi- tants had generally left before I got there. The brave soldiery of the county! The last heard of them they were fleeing toward Harper's Ferry."
It was during this occupation by the federals that the printing material of the South Branch Intelligencer was destroyed. There was not so much as a piece of type left. The paper had been strong in its support of seses- sion.
Richard Ashby Killed .- On June 26, 1861, Richard Ashby, brother of General Turner Ashby, was mortally wounded by a bayonet thrust through the body, in an en- counter on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad near the mouth of Dan's run, in what was then Hampshire county, but is now Mineral. A body of confederates from Winchester had reached Romney on June 17. The two Ashby brothers were of the number. A few days later the Ashby cavalry was sent to Patterson's creek, and was in that region until June 26. On that day Richard Ashby, Garrett Monroe and seven others encountered a large force of federals at the mouth of Dan's run. In attempting to ride across a cattle stop on the railroad, Ashby's horse fell, and the rider was thrown. He was attacked, wounded in seven places, and left for dead on the railroad. His companions escaped. After the federals had passed on, the wounded officer rallied and was able to walk to the side of the rail- road where he concealed himself under bushes and lay there till evening. In the meantime his brother Colonel, afterwards General, Turner Ashby was scouting with a larger party along the railroad, and learned from the citi- zens that heavy firing had been heard that morning from the direction in which his brother had gone, and the colonel hastened to ascertain the fate of his brother. In a short time he discovered a camp of federal soldiers on Kelley's island in the Potomac river, and charged the camp, losing three men, but succeeding in dislodging the
556
HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE.
federals. Among the spoils of the capture was Richard Ashby's horse, and from this it was concluded the rider had been killed. Search for him was made, and he was found near where he had been wounded. He was carried to the house of Mr. Cheshire one-half mile from Spring- field, where he received every attention. There was no hope for his recovery, and on July 4, 1861, he died. He was buried in Indian Mound cemetery, Romney. Roman- tic writers, with more regard for sensationalism than for truth, have conveyed erroneous ideas of the death and burial of Richard Ashly; and it is the duty of the historian to correct these so far as he can. It has been represented that a dramatic scene took place by the open grave when General Ashby broke his brother's sword, threw the pieces in the grave, and registered a solemn vow to be avenged upon the murderers of his brother. Nothing of the kind occurred. The funeral was solemn and impres- sive, and General Ashby enacted no theatrical part. He knew that his brother had fallen in open battle; that it was the fortune of war, and that his fate was that which every soldier might expect. The body of Richard Ashby was removed to Winchester, Virginia, in October 1862, and was buried beside his brother, General Ashby. At the same time and in the same cemetery was buried the body of Captain George Sheetz. Richard and Turner Ashby were grandsons of Captain John Ashby who did service in Hampshire during the French and Indian war of 1755, and who was a personal friend of youthful George Washington.
Colonel Cain's Visit .- Colonel Cain of the federal army, paid Romney a visit on July 22, 1861. After Lew Wallace withdrew his troops, June 12, there had been no federals in the vicinity to dispute the possession of Rom- ney by the confederates. In the latter part of July, how- ever, there were no confederate forces in Romney, except a few straglers. On the twenty-second of that month, it being Monday, and a court day, a few persons were stand-
557
LEW WALLACE TAKES ROMNEY.
ing around the court house, when a federal soldier rode up with a white flag and asked for David Gibson, who came forward and was handed a letter by the soldier. He read it and announced that it was from Colonel Cain, who want- ed an interview with him. The news spread that the yankees were coming, and the people fled, and the federal soldiers were not opposed when they came in. No one now remembers what was the business which Colonel Cain talked over with Mr. Gibson. On that date, July 22, 1861, George W. Washington wrote in his journal: "Monday, court day. I doubt, however, whether there will be any court, as I understand everybody has run away from the town and county, nearly. I rode to Romney. As I expected, no court. Before I left there was quite a stir among what few people were there, from Mr. Gibson's having received a letter from Colonel Cain of the federal army, requesting an interview with him. The few that were left all made their escape."
Fight at Hanging Rocks .- A skirmish took place at Hanging Rocks, four miles below Romney, on Tuesday morning, September 24, 1861, between Hampshire militia and several companies of union troops under Colonel Cant- well of the eighty-second Ohio regiment. The militia was under Colonel McDonald. Captain Robinson and Lieuten- ant John Blue were also in the company. There were only twenty seven men on the confederate side, but in addition to these, a large scouting party had been sent down the river. Rumors of the approach of the federals had been circulating for some time, and McDonald kept a sharp lookout. On the evening of September 23 he had received information which led him to believe that the federals would attempt to pass Hanging Rocks early the next morning. With his twenty-six men he climbed to the top of the rocks a while before day on the morning of September 23. The air being cool, some of the men built a fire, which was in- discreet, for they might thus have betrayed their presence.
558
HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE.
But the fog was dense and the fire was not discovered by the enemy.
The Hanging Rocks rise perpendicularly more than two hundred feet, the top overhanging the base in several places. The South branch flows along the base of the cliff about half a mile, leaving a space between the water and the rocks varying in width from forty to one hundred feet. The road leading from Romney to Cumberland passes along the narrow strip of level land between the river and the base of the cliff. Since the war a railroad has been built there also; but at the time of the skirmish only the Romney and Cumberland pike occupied the nar- row space. Troops marching to Romney from the north would naturally follow that road; and Colonel McDonald took advantage of the strong position to check the advance. Stones were piled near the brink of the precipice by the men who had taken possession of the summit, and they prepared to hurl them upon the federals who might at- tempt to pass below. Everything was in readiness by the break of day. As already stated, Colonel McDonald had sent a scouting party down the river the night before. The party was liable to return at any time, and the men on the cliff had been instructed to make no mistake by attack- ing their own scouts. Soon after daybreak cavalry was heard crossing the ford of the river at the north end of the pass; and presently the head of the column appeared, fol- lowing the road up the river along the base of the cliff. The confederates on the rocks were lying flat, with their heads and shoulders over the brink, peering down through the fog, trying to determine whether the men below were enemies, or only the looked-for scouts who had been sent down the river. The federals were suspicious of the place, were expecting an attack, and consequently were on a sharp lookout. They saw the heads of the rebels project- inp over the cliff, and instantly fired on them. That brought a furious attack from the militia above. Down
559
LEW WALLACE TAKES ROMNEY.
came a rain of stones sufficient to have crushed an army. The yankee cavalry saved itself by wheeling and rushing back down the road. But in so doing the horsemen rode over the infantry in the rear. Many rushed into the river to save themselves. Those who could swim got safely over; but many were drowned. The bodies of a dozen or more afterwards were taken from the river and buried in · the sand on the west bank. During the high water on the following Saturday, September 28, other bodies were washed down the river and were taken out and buried. For years afterwards, at the place where the soldiers were drowned, muskets were occasionally entangled in the lines. of fishermen and were drawn up.
The federals recrossed the river at the ford a short dis- tance below and there halted. At that moment Garrett I. Blue, who lived just below there, father of Lieutenant John Blue, rode up the pike. As it happened, there had been a confederate camp a few days before at the ford, and Mr. Blue mistook the federals for confederates, and rode across the river to them. Seeing all in readiness for moving, he remarked: "Well, you are about to go, I see." He did not even then discover his mistake, nor did he when a yankee remarked: "That is a very nice rifle you are carrying. Let me see it." Mr. Blue handed it to the soldier, who examined it and asked: "Do you think you could hit a yankee with it?" "I think I could," was the reply. "Well," answered the soldier, "You might be so foolish as to do it, and I will take charge of your gun and you too. We are yankees." Mr. Blue submitted with the best grace he could. In a few minutes after, Garrett W. Blue rode up to the opposite side of the river. He was making off when they halted him. He refused to stop and was fired upon. His horse threw him and he was taken prisoner. Colonel Frazier, a union officer who was present, and who was ac- quainted with both prisoners, interceded for them and they were set at liberty.
550
HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE.
After the check to the union forces at Hanging Rocks there was great excitement in Romney, where Colonel Mc- Donald had about seven hundred militia. It was discov- ered that the federals had not retreated toward Cumber- land, but had taken the road to Mechanicsburg, five miles southwest, and were preparing to advance on Rom- ney through Mill creek gap, three miles southwest of the town-where Mill creek cuts through the mountain to reach the South branch. The confederates had two old cannon, and with these fired a few shells as the federals attempted to pass down the gap. The only damage done, so far as ascertained, was the sending of a shell through a house which stood in range. The house still stands as a witness of the fact. Colonel McDonald had doubts as to his ability to hold the town, and he removed the greater part of his stores, and in the evening withdrew nearly all his troops to Frenchburg, on the Winchester pike, six miles east of Romney, leaving a strong picket at Mill creek gap to oppose the advance of the federals. The pass is long and narrow, easily defended by a small force against an army. Later in the war a company of seventy confed- erates posted there, held Averell's army in check several hours. McDonald believed that his picket could hold the pass so long as there was no attack in the rear. But there was danger of that. The federals might force their way through the gap at Hanging Rocks, where they had been repulsed in the morning; and by crossing the hills, cut off the retreat of the confederates toward Winchester.
During the whole afternoon of September 24, McDon- ald's men held the pass at Mill creek. A force of Hamp- shire militia under Lieutenant John Blue was in Romney. During the night of September 24 the picket at the gap was on the alert. But just after daybreak on September 25, a blunder and a false alarm lost the pass to the confed- erates. A picket had been stationed in the woods, on the hillside to look out for federal flanking parties. In the 38
561
LEW WALLACE TAKES ROMNEY.
early morning, when the fog was dense, the picket dis- cerned a large log which, in the semi-darkness, he mistook for a line of yankee soldiers drawn up among the bushes. He gave the alarm, and there was great confusion and ex- citement until it was ascertained that the alarm was false. Butone blunder had scarcely been corrected before a more serious one was committed. A report came that Colonel Cantwell had forced the pass at Hanging Rocks and was getting in the rear of Romney. It was a false report, but it was acted upon by the confederates as though truc. They retreated toward Winchester, abandoning the pass which they had held all night. The federals came through, and in a short time were in possession of Romney.
That was early in the morning. McDonald's troops were nearly all at Frenchburg, six miles east. Those who had held the gap hastened up the pike to join the main body. Lieutenant John Blue, with a few militiamen, was in Romney. As the retreating rebels ran through town, shouting that the yankees were coming, Lieutenant Blue and his few men took to the hills, barely escaping the en- emy. Colonel Cantwell sent a cannon about half a mile up the Winchester road and fired a few times at the militia on the hill. The fire was returned, and one of the federals was wounded.
By this time the fog had cleared away. While the yan- kee cannon was wasting ammunition in a fruitless endeavor to drive the militia from the hill, a cloud of dust was ob- served where the pike passes down Jersey mountain to- ward Romney. McDonald's cavalry was coming on a charge. The yankees understood what it meant. They hooked to their cannon and out of town they went, faster than they had come in. McDonald's men came, shooting. The yankees returned the fire as they ran. Near the bridge which crossed the South branch the federals made a stand, and a brisk fight took place, but with little daroage to either side. The confederates began crossing to Cip-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.