USA > West Virginia > Hampshire County > History of Hampshire County, West Virginia : from its earliest settlement to the present > Part 47
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643
ONE FEDERAL COMPANY.
John Poland, taken prison; Joseph Powell, Charles T. Pow- elson, taken prisoner; Jacob Rhodes, taken prisoner; John W. Rhodes, Samuel Steward, Isaac Shillenburg, William Shafer, William F. Staggs, taken prisoner; John F. Staggs, taken prisoner; Benjamin Tasker, wounded October 19, 1864; John D. Welch, deserted.
Captain Jarboe's company was in the following engage- ments: Timber Ridge, August, 1, 1862; Shafer's Mountain, August 22, 1862; Hedgeville, Virginia, July 26, 1863; Lunice Creek, September 6, 1863; McNemar's Church, January 3, 1864; Leetown, Virginia, July 3, 1864; Maryland Heights, July 5 and 6, 1864; Snicker's Ferry, Virginia, July 18, 1864; Winchester, Virginia, July 23 and 24, 1864; Martinsburg, West Virginia, 1864; Berryville, August 3, 1864; Cedar Creek, Virginia, August 15, 1864; Fisher's Hill, Virginia, September 22, 1864; near Strasburg, Virginia, October 13, 1864; Cedar Creek, Virginia, October 19, 1864.
CHAPTER LVI.
-«0»-
IMBODEN'S RAID,
Early in the summer of 1863 General Lee planned the Gettysburg campaign. It is worthy of note that his first written orders, relating especially to the preparation for that campaign, were in regard to a movement in Hamp- shire county. The letter given below, written by General Lee, is self-explanatory, particularly when viewed in the light of subsequent events. This is the letter:
"Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia, "June 7, 1863. "Brigadier General John D. Imboden, "Commanding Northwestern Brigade, "Staunton, Virginia.
"GENERAL: In view of operations in the Shenandoah val- ley, I desire you to attract the enemy's attention in Hamp- shire county, and proceed down to Romney, or such other point as you may consider best calculated for the purpose. After leaving a sufficient guard in the Shenandoah moun- tains, you can use the rest of your command for the pur- pose specified. In attracting their attention, and detain- ing whatever force they may have at New Creek, Cumber- land, Cacapon, etc., you will, of course, do them all the injury in your power by striking them a damaging blow at any point where opportunity offers, and where you deem most practicable. It will be important, if you can accom- plish it, to destroy some of the bridges so as to prevent communication and the transfer of reinforcements to Mar- tinsburg. After accomplishing what you can in Hamp- shire, should you find it practicable or advantageous, you
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IMBODEN'S RAID.
can cooperate with any troops you may find operating in the valley, forwarding to the commanding officer of the force there any information that you may deem important, and comply with any requisition on his part. I desire you to move into Hampshire as soon as possible. Let me know the time of your departure and the time of your expected arrival. In connection with this purpose, it is important that you should obtain for the use of the army all the cattle that you can. Communicate with the agents of the com- missary department you may find purchasing in the country west of Staunton, and let them make arrangements to as- sist you in purchasing and taking care of the cattle. Major Nolan is now in that region making arrangements for cat- tle. I wish you to communicate with him if practicable. I hope you will also be able in that country to collect recruits for your brigade, both cavalry and infantry, and bring them out with you. I am very respectfully.
"R. E. LEE, General."
In obedience to the instructions contained in this letter, Imboden was soon in motion and came into the South branch valley. After a brush with federal scouts below Romney he divided his force, sending one divison to Cum- berland and the other down the South branch. The force sent to Cumberland approached the town and fired a few shells, but met with no resistance. The citizens surren- dered the place and the confederates entered. They did not remain long. Imboden proceeded eastward and on his way burnt the railroad bridge at Patterson creek. Before this division of his troops had reached the mouth of the South branch the other division had arrived at that point and had battered down the railroad bridge with artillery. They planted a gun with a range at right angles with the bridge and cut the beams with cannon balls. At the eleventh shot the bridge fell. The bridge was of iron and steel, and the solid shot cut the beams as if they had been pine. The noise made when the cannon balls struck the
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HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE.
beams was heard many miles. It is said, indeed, that this noise was heard at a greater distance than : report of the cannon.
John Greitzner's Horse .- In June, 1863, General Imboden, with about seventeen hundred men, camped two and a half miles above Romney, on his way to Gettysburg. Among his soldiers was John Greitzner, who was acquaint- ed in Romney. He was in need of a horse, and having saved a considerable sum of money, bought one in Rom- ney. The animal was barefooted, and not being able to have shoes put on in town, he took the horse to a black- smith shop on the Northwestern pike, a mile above Rom- ney. The smith had nailed one shoe on, when federals appeared. They were so near that Greitzner could not escape. He wore a confederate uniform. He pulled off his coat and threw it behind the forge and assumed an air of innocence. The federals proved to be a scounting party of forty which had been riding about the country several days. Some of them entered the shop and asked Greitz- ner what he was doing there. He said he had brought a horse to have it shod. "What are you doing with gray clothes on?" was the next pointed question. "It is pretty hard times, and we boys in Romney have to wear anything we can get." "Do you live in Romney?" "Yes." The yankees took a good look at him and came to the conclusion that he was not a rebel, but had picked up a pair of con- federate pants somewhere; so they started on. But a sol- dier with a lame horse came hobbling after, and seeing the horse in the shop, took it and left his in its place. Greitz- ner considered that he had made a lucky escape, even if he did lose the horse.
Fight Near Romney .- The union scouts who took Greitzner's horse proceeded to Romney, unaware that Im- boden was in the vicinity. But some of the confederates were in town, and lost no time in communicating with Im- boden, who sent two or three companies to surround and
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IMBODEN'S RAID.
capture the yankees, if possible. The latter had proceed- ed down the river on the road to Hanging Rocks. But Im- boden's men were in the road ahead of them, and were placed in an advantageous position on the hill near the present residence of Garrett Parsons. The force was am- ple to surround and capture the scouts had the attack been properly made; but through some misunderstanding the men neglected to attack at the proper moment, and the yan- kees, taking in the situation at a glance, escaped with only one man wounded. But their force was cut in two, a num- ber galloping back toward town, and by crossing over the hills through the woods reached the Jersey mountain road and escaped by that route, while the main body put spurs to their horses and went down the road toward Hanging Rocks. However, while escaping from one ambuscade they ran into another. McNeill's company was at Hang- ing Rocks, and the scouts were caught between two forces-Imboden's from the rear and McNeill's from the front. There was only one avenue of escape, and that led across the river. The scouts attempted it, but McNeill headed them off, and they escaped up the mountain on the west side of the river, but were compelled to abandon fif- teen horses, which fell into McNeill's hands.
How Imboden Saved His Men .- General Imbo- den occupied Romney several days in 1862. During that time General Kelley, with a large union force, was at New Creek. Among his troops was a body of Dutch cavalry, which had not been much in service. The men were poor riders, and in order that they might have grounds for ex- ercise and practice, a horse corral was established outside the town, and the Dutch cavalrymen kept their horses there. Imboden sent his men to New Creek to procure, by capture, such horses as they could, and they found the Dutch horses an easy prey. They carried several off, and a few nights later returned and procured another lot. Not meeting with opposition, the rebels continued to pay
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HISTORY OF HAMI HIRE.
nightly visits to the corrals, until they had secured nearly a hundred. General Kelley grew tired of it, and set an ambuscade at the corral, and the next night caught three of Imboden's men and promptly sentenced them to be hung as horse thieves. A woman who lived near by informed Imboden of what had happened, and he wrote to Kelley, saying that the men had acted under orders, and that if anyone were guilty the guilt must rest on their general. He further stated that he held twenty-nine federal prison- ers and could easily catch another, and that he would re- taliate and hang ten yankees for every rebel hanged by Kelley. The union general replied that, inasmuch as the men had acted under orders, they were not guily of horse- stealing and would be heid simply as prisoners of war. Frank Pownall, of North river, was one of the three men sentenced to death by General Kelley.
Attack on an Armored Car .- On July 4, 1864, General Imboden made an attack on the railroad bridge over the South branch. He fired with artillery for some time, but was unable to do much damage, because a block house on the west side of the river, garrisoned by union troops with artillery, rendered it impossible for him to reach a position from which his guns were effective against the bridge. An armored car, covered with railroad iron and containing seven men and a twelve-pounder, stood on the track on the west end of the bridge. It was one of a number constructed to run up and down the road. guard- ing exposed and threatened places. The mission of this one was to guard the South branch bridge, as a sort of aux -. iliary to the block house. It was believed to be proof against small artillery. There was a porthole in each end, about six inches in diameter, just large enough for the muzzle of the cannon. Each porthole was provided with a trap door, which could be closed by a lever inside; and when closed, it was supposed that shells could rain upon the car all day without doing harm. There was a trap.
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IMBODEN'S RAID.
door two feet square in the bottom, and through this the garrison went in and out. The men who constituted the garrison of the car on July 4, 1864, belonged to a Maryland company, and were James L. Croston, Albert Bigford, Alexander B. King, Benjamin Closs, Lieutenant Moses M. Bigford, Dennis Dehaven and John W. Croston.
When Imboden found that he could not bring his gun to bear on the bridge, he tried the range on the car, from the distance of half a mile. The first shell passed over the car. The next struck it near the roof. The third went in at the porthole; and as it did so, it jarred the trapdoor shut, rendering the car as dark as a dungeon, except that the shell had a long fuse of a peculiar pattern, which gave a diabolical light as it sputtered and hissed, and went spin- ning and gyrating about the floor of the car, scattering sparks and lurid smoke in all directions. The seven men in the car made a wild scramble for the trapdoor in the floor, trying to get out before the shell exploded, which it certainly would do in a few seconds, even if it did not set the car's magazine on fire and create a sudden and instan- taneous volcanoe. While the men were scrambling for the place of exit in the floor, one of the portholes flew open from some cause, and on the spur of the moment John W. Cros- ton tried to pick up the hissing shell and throw it out. But it spun about so rapidly that he could not get hold of it, although he severely burned his hands and face in the effort to grab it. By this time the other men had succeeded in opening the door in the bottom of the car, and out they went, Croston being the last to go, and barely escaped the explosion, being so near that his face was filled with pow- der. The car caught fire and what escaped the explosion was burned. The shells in its magazine kept up a furi- ous bombardment for some minutes. The late garrison, after they escaped from the car, never looked back until they had crossed the Potomac into Maryland.
In the meantime Imboden had turned his guns on the
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HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE.
blockhouse, but, so far as he could see, he made no impres- sion on it. However the garrison were hard put to it. The day was excessively warm, and the smoke in the building was stifling. They were about to raise the white flag when Imboden ceased firing and took his departure. He had done little damage to the bridge, and had not stopped travel on the railroad. After his departure, the union troops destroyed a portion of the pike up Breakneck mountain to prevent the confederates from bringing artillery by that route to the bridge in the future.
CHAPTER LVII.
MURDER OF CAPTAIN STUMP.
Following are the names of the members of Captain George W. Stump's company, B, Eighteenth regiment Vir- ginia cavalry, copied from the official roll of the company, now in possession of Lieutenant Philip H. Snarr of Hardy county: George W. Stump, captain, Hampshire county; William H. Feller, first lieutenant, Hardy county; Robert Oats, second lieutenant, Hardy county; Philip H. Snarr, second lieutenant, Hardy county; Solomon Park, first ser- geant, Hampshire county; Samuel W. Feller, second ser- geant, Shenandoah county; John Park, third sergeant, Hampshire county; Henry Cobin, fourth sergeant, Hamp- shire county; Henry G. Houser, fifth sergeant, Hampshire county; Robert J. Damon, first corporal, Hardy county; James W. Tucker, second corporal, Hardy county; John Tharp, third coporal, Hampshire county; John T. Mathias, fourth corporal, Hardy county; David J. Buckley, quarter- master sergeant, Hardy county; William H. Davidson, blacksmith, Hardy county; Park Ashford, farrier, Hamp- shire county. Privates: John H. Anderson, Shenandoah; Jacob Brock, Hardy; Robert T. Burch, Hardy; Joseph Brill, Hardy; William W. Bean, Hardy; John W. R. Bean, Hardy; John H. Broll, Hardy; Asa C. Bean, Hardy; John T. Brown, Hardy; William F. Bean, Hardy; William W. Bean, jr., Hardy; George W. Bean, Hardy; Bennett Bean, Hardy; Alfred J. Bean, Hardy; John H. Combe, Hampshire; Charles Combs, Hardy; Jehu Combs, Hardy; George W. Combs, Hardy; Jeremiah Dove, Hardy; Abraham Delaw- der, Hardy; Jacob Delawder, Hardy; John Delawder,
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HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE.
Hardy; Samuel Delawder, Hardy; Amos Delawder, Hardy; Joseph H. Earls, Hardy; Cyprianus Fitzwater, Hardy; William H. Fitzwater, Hardy; John P. Gretzman, Hamp- shire; George Greaves, Augusta; Jeremiah Higgs, Rock- ingham; Elias Higgs, Rockingham; John Hunsbary, Hardy; William Hatterman, Hardy; George W. Harless, Hardy; Peter Kohne, Hardy; Philip W. Link, Hardy; John Link, Hardy; Joseph Lowery, Hardy; Joseph Linthicum, Hardy; Ambrose Lind, Hardy; Jacob Mathias, Hardy; Samuel Moyers, Hardy; Isaac Moyers, Hardy; John N. Mathias, Hardy; Samuel May, Hardy; Abraham Moyers, Rocking- ham; Elijah L. Nazelrod, Hardy; Benjamin Park, Hamp- shire; Joseph M. Parker, Hardy; James W. Poland, Hamp- shire; James A. Pepper, Hampshire; Jacob C. Stultz, Hampshire; Cyrus See, Hampshire; George W. Shireman, Hampshire; Allmon Sager, Hampshire; Abner Shireman, Jackson Strawderman, Hampshire; Leonard Strawderman, Hampshire; Jacob Smith, Hampshire; Joseph T. Tucker, Hampshire; James W. Taylor, Hampshire; Philip Whit- mer, Hardy; Selestine Whitmer, Hardy; Jacob Walker, Hardy; David Witmer, Hardy; Adam Whitmer, Hardy; Abraham Whitmer, Hardy; Charles Wilson, Hardy.
The Murder of Captain Stump .- No soldier sent from Hampshire into the confederate army was more active than Captain Stump, whose home was on the South branch, a few miles above Romney. He was a man of wealth, and equipped at his own expense the men of his company, except a portion of their arms. He furnished the horses. He was wounded in the neck near Winchester late in 1864, and was incapacitated for service for some time. Early in 1865 he again took the field, but was still suffering from his wound. About the first of February he marched with his men to the vicinity of Moorefield, and thence to Hampshire, and on February 5. early in the morning, he arrived at William Stump's, two miles above Romney. His father lived there, and he stopped to see
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MURDER OF CAPTAIN STUMP.
his people. He rode into a lane, tied his horse and went into the house.
In order to understand the particulars of his death, it is necessary to go back and detail the movements of the fed- eral force which pursued and overtook him. General Cus- ter, afterwards killed by Sitting Bull. was then at Winches- ter, and about the first of February, 1865, sent spies to discover the whereabouts of Major Henry Gilmor, who was believed to have a small confederate force on the South fork, in Hardy county. The spies made their report, and Custer sent three hundred cavalry, under Major Young, across the mountains into the South branch valley. These men passed up North river in the night. There was a con- federate picket in that part of the country under command of a man named Heiskell. One of his men discovered the union cavalry, and it was evident that they were striking for Gilmor or McNeill. This picket asked permission of Heiskell to go to McNeill and Gilmor and inform them of their danger. Heiskell refused to give his consent and or- dered the picket not to go, saying that he was not doing picket service for McNeill. This selfishness on his part no doubt cost the life of Captain Stump and caused the cap- · ture of Gilmor. Major Young pushed forward with his cavalry and captured Major Gilmor, and then moved down the South branch to Romney. On the way he overtook and captured some of Captain Stump's men, and learned from them that the captain was ahead. These federals wore gray uniforms.
They proceeded to William Stump's, and seeing a horse tied, concluded that Captain Stump was there. The cap- tain had just arrived and was entering the house, having only reached the porch when he observed that strangers were in the vicinity. He walked to the edge of the porch, and seeing several horses tied to the fence and hearing men talking on the other side of the house, he realized that he was in danger of capture, and started toward his horse.
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HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE.
His wound prevented him from running and he walked up the yard. By that time the federals had entered the house, and several were in the yard. One of them said to William 'Stump: "Who is that man and what is he running for?" Mr. Stump made no reply. Captain Stump had by this time reached his horse and had untied him. At this mo- ment he was fired at with a revolver, but was not struck. The shot brought several yankees round the house and they fired as the captain was mounting his horse. The animal was struck and the captain fell heavily on the frozen ground. The federals surrounded him, and as he was trying to rise, one of them shot him in the side. He was overpowered and taken prisoner. They carried him to the lane below the house. He asked permission to see his father, who was sick in the house. His request was de- nied. They mounted him on a horse and started with him down the road. The manner of his death was learned from those who took part in it. He had gone but a short distance when he became too sick to ride. One of the guards so reported to Major Young, who is said to have replied: "Make him sicker." At any rate, he was mur- dered on the spot, and the soldiers claimed that they did it in obedience to the orders of Major Young. Captain Stump was shot more than a dozen times, was stripped of his clothes and left dead in the road. His brother removed the body. Not only did the friends of Captain Stump con- sider that he was murdered, but the union soldiers re- garded it as murder and spoke of it as such.
All of Captain Stump's papers fell into the hands of the federals. None of his property in the valley of Virginia was ever recovered by his friends. It was known that he had many horses there, as well as other property; but in the excitement and danger of the time, nothing was saved. Shortly after the war Colonel Young went to the border between Mexico and the United States, and was caught by the Mexicans and hanged.
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MURDER OF CAPTAIN STUMP.
Taxing Citizens .- An example of how the innocent sometimes suffer for the guilty was seen on December 2, 1864, in the lower part of the South branch valley. When McCausland passed through that country in August, 1864, some of his men burned the residence of Mrs. Huffman. No one ever accused the citizens of the surrounding country of having anything to do with it. Yet, on Decem- ber 2, 1864, a squad of union soldiers were sent into the valley and levied and forcibly collected a tax from the citi- zens from Michael Blue's to the mouth of the South branch to reimburse Mrs. Huffman for her loss. It was done in war, and many things are tolerated in war which would not be endured in peace; but, nevertheless, a proceeding like that outrages every sentiment of justice.
CHAPTER LVIII.
- «O»- -
AVERELL DEFEATS M'CAUSLAND.
Early in August, 1864, an important military movement took place in Hampshire county, but the battle occurred in Hardy. It was the most important battle fought in the South branch valley during the war, and deserves mention somewhat in detail. The confederate generals engaged were McCausland and Bradley T. Johnson, while General W. W. Averell was in command of the union forces. Mc- Causland had been on a raid into Pennsylvania, and had burned Chambersburg, after plundering it. General Averell, with a force of cavalry, was ordered to pursue, and if he could overtake McCausland to fight him to a finish. The confederates retreated from Pennsylvania, passed south of Cumberland, attacked the union forces at New Creek and moved leisurely to Moorefield, where they went into camp a few miles below the town, General Johnson on one side of the river and General McCauisland on the other. They evidently did not expect pursuit, as no precaution was taken against surprise. General Averell crossed the Potomac at Hancock on August 4, and took the route to Bath, in Morgan county, by Bloomery gap. He reached Springfield, in Hampshire county, the next day, losing one hundred horses from exhaustion. On August 6 he moved to Romney, and during the afternoon his scouts captured a messenger with dispatches from McCausland, and from these he learned the position of the confederates near Moorefield, and he moved at once to the attack, routing the confederates, capturing all their cannon, four hundred horses, thirty officers, four hundred and twenty prisoners,
44
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.
AVERELL DEFEATS M'CAUSLAND.
killing many, retaking nearly all the plunder carried from Pennsylvania and pushing the southern forces hurriedly up the mountains east of Moorefield. General McCansland came near being court-martialed for allowing himself to be surprised and whipped. He had notice of the advance of Averell nearly four hours before the union forces came up; yet he suffered his forces to remain separated by the river, and they thus were defeated in detail by the enemy. The fact probably is that, although notified that Averell was coming, McCausland did not expect him so early in the morning. Information of the approach of the federals had been carried to McCausland by W. H. Maloney, of Mc- Neill's rangers. Following will be found Mr. Maloney's account of the affair, as he saw it:
"I was in Romney when General Averell arrived. As he came in at one end of the town I went out at the other. I suspected his design, and hid in the woods near the bridge over the South branch above town and watched his move- ments. His men halted and fed their horses, and then crossed the river and took the Mill creek road, in the direc- tion of Moorefield. I estimated his force to be between seventeen hundred and two thousand. As soon as Averell was out of sight I started up the river road for Moorefield. I had gone only a few miles when I met Isaac Parsons, and persuaded him to go with me. We reached Moorefield at midnight, and I went at once to the house of Samuel A. McMicken, General McCausland's headquarters. I in- formed the general that Averell was coming. He seemed to doubt it at first, but I heard him send an order to the camp to get ready to meet the enemy. I was acquainted with Mr. McMicken, having been frequently at his house. I told him that I was very tired and would like to take a sleep. He directed me to a room, where I found a bed, and I was soon asleep. That was the last I knew until daybreak. I arose, and was told that the officers who had slept at the house were all gone. I went out in the yard
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