USA > West Virginia > Harrison County > History of Harrison County, West Virginia : from the early days of Northwestern Virginia to the present > Part 35
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At least one hundred young men met according to appointment and agreed to go to Wheeling and tender their services to the United States in the Regiment organizing there.
Alexander C. Moore, who was the prime mover in the enterprise was chosen Captain. Notley A. Shuttleworth and Oscar H. Tate, Lieutenants, and it was agreed that all would be ready to move when notified.
One man in the party, a traveling tinker, who was suspected of being a spy, was seized upon, and thrown headlong into the Creek and told to drown or clear himself. He speedily did the latter.
Shortly after this meeting all were notified to meet at the Walker House on a certain night. They were on hand at the appoinetd hour, marched to Wilsonburg hetwen 12 p. m. and daylight and took cars to Parkersburg and thence to Wheeling by boat. Rumors were afloat that state troops were then at Grafton, and that the Company would not be permitted to take cars at Clarksburg, was the reason for marching to Wilsonburg as they were unarmed.
Upon their arrival, they found that the regiment was recruited to the limit and they were not received into the service. They returned home by the same route, and all were afterwards mustered into Company B and G
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
of the 3rd. Virginia Infantry, Colonel, David T. Hewes at Camp IIcwcs where Glen Elk is now located.
The fact that two companies of young men nearly all known to each other and many of them intimate friends marched almost at the same time, and from the same town, to take their stand in opposing armies all believ- ing they were right is a sad commentary upon the condition of the times.
The leading spirits in organizing the Union Guards were Alexander C. Moore and Notley A. Shuttlesworth, and with a courage and devotion that no threats or dangers could daunt urged upon the youth of the Coun- ty the necessity of entering the service of the United States.
Both of these young men became Captains of Companies in the 3rd. Virginia Infantry, Captain Shuttleworth resigning after an ardent ser- vice of more than a year.
Major Moore after serving sometime in the Infantry, recruited a light Battery and served until the end of the war.
Not only was Clarksburg the whirlpool of civil commotion, but it was also the war center of North Western Virginia. It had strong, able, en- thusiastic supporters of the Union and aggressive, active supporters of the Southern cause though the latter were largely in the minority.
When it is remembered that the advocates of the Union, and in favor of dividing the State, were liable to be tried for treason against Virginia, arrested and dragged to Richmond, it can be imagined what courage was required to face the difficult situation.
Clarksburg, all through the war, was an important military station and supply depot.
The County furnished about eight hundred soldiers for the United States Army and about three hundred and fifty for the Southern cause.
The following full companies were recruited in the County :
Company G. 12th. West Virginia Infantry, Captain James Moffat.
Company E 12th. West Virginia Infantry, Captain Cornelius Mercer. Company B 3rd. West Virginia Infantry, Captain Alex. C. Moorc.
Company G 3rd. West Virginia Infantry, Captain Notley A. Shuttles- worth.
Company E 3rd. West Virginia Cavalry, Captain Lot Bowen.
Besides these regularly organized companies a great number enlisted in different organizations at different times throughout the war.
Native or adopted Citizens of Harrison County who held commissions in the United States Army during the war :
Colonels.
David T. Hewes. Lieutenant Colonel Robert S. Northcott.
Majors.
Nathan Goff, Brevet Brig. General. Theodore F. Lang, Brevet. Colonel.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
Captains.
Alexander C. Moore, Brevet Major. Lot Bowen, Brevet Major. Henry Haymond, Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, John H. Shuttleworth. Notley A. Shuttleworth, W. W. Werninger, Lewis A. Myers, Asa Hugill, Cornelius Mercer, James W. Moffit, Timothy F. Roane, James F. Law, Lee Hay- mond, Brevet Major, Samuel R. Steel, George I. Stealey, Gwin Minter, Daniel Sheets, John W. Kidwell, Henry C. Goff.
Lieutenants.
William L. Hursey, William E. Brison, Henry H. Link, Benj. F. Wicks, Henry Meyer, James B. Lovett, Leonard Clark, Elam F. Pigott, Van B. Hall, George W. Fortney, Henry R. McCord, Asltorpheus Wern- inger, Jr., David T. Hewes, Jr., Frank Lowrey, James R. Durham, Oscar H. Tate, T. Moore Goff, Assistant Surgeon Charles T. Lowndes.
Native and adopted citizens of Harrison County, who held commis- sions in the Confederate Army.
Lieut. General Thomas J. Jackson (Stonewall) Brigadier General William L. Jackson, Colonel George Jackson, Colonel John S. Hoffman, Lieut. Col. Chapin Bartlett.
Majors.
William P. Cooper, P. B. Adams. G. D. Camden, Jr., Andrew T. Ow- ens, Thomas D. Armsey, Rezin C. Davis and John L. Sehon.
Captains.
John G. Gettings, Charles McCally, Uriel M. Turner, Augustine J. Smith, Benj. M. Smith, Robert J. Smith, Silas Owens, Wm. F. Gordon, Hugh H. Lee, Warren S. Lurty, Alvin N. Bastable, Samuel M. Sommers, James M. Blair, Asbury Lewis.
Lieutenants.
Norval Lewis, Frederick W. Bartlett and Edward Lynch, O. T. Bond, William J. West and James M. McCann, Joshua Rodabaugh.
Captain Augustine J. Smith's states of the Company that marched from Clarksburg to Grafton to enter the Confederate Army, That :
"In antcipation of hostilities a company of Volunteers was organized in Clarksburg in January, 1861, with the intention of offering their servic- es to the Governor, and included in its membership eight attorneys at law, two editors, one civil engineer, several merchant clerks, mechanics and farmers and numbering about sixty men.
Uriel M. Turner was elected Captain and William P. Cooper and Norval Lewis Lieutenants.
On May 24th. they marched from Clarksburg under orders to proceed to Grafton and join the forces collecting there under Colonel Porterfield.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
On the second day they arrived at Fetterman and camped in the old cov- ered bridge over the valley river at that place, and that night Bailey Brown, a member of a Union Company in that vicinity, was shot and killed by a member of the company who was on picket guard, being the first man killed in West Virginia in the war, and to whose memory a monu- ment is erected in the National Cemetery at Grafton.
Upon the Company's arrival at Monterey it was designated as Com- pany "C" and assigned to the 31st. Virginia Regiment of Infantry.
The Company participated in the following engagements: Surprise at Philippi, Laurel Hill, Greenbrier River, Allegheny Mountains, McDow- ell, Front Royal, Winchester, Cross Keys, Port Republican, Seven days' fight at Richmond, Cedar Mountains, Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fred- ericksburg, Chancellorsville, Monocacy, Winchester again, Fisher's Hill, Wilderness. Spottsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, Weldon Road, Hatcher's Run, Petersburg and Appomattox.
The company was recruited while at Philippi to about one hundred men and had very few accessions afterwards, and had only six members at the surrender at Appomattox.
The following were killed in battle: Ethelbert Smith, James Smith, Alvin Nutter, A. J. Cropp, John W. Whitman, Samuel Dawson, Wm. West, John W. Wallingham. H. H. Holden, Joseph Snyder, Jonas Great- house, Luther Dawson. Others were killed whose names are not given, bringing the list of killed up to about twenty.
Several died from disease, among them being Norval Lewis, Silas Greathouse and Aaron Young.
Nearly every member of the Company was wounded, some as often as five times. Louis Carmack, John W. Pridmore and William Taylor were disabled from wounds.
Captain Charles Leib Assistant Quarter Master, who published his ex- perience in a little work called "Nine Months in the Quarter-Master's De- partment, or The Chances for Making a Million" from which extracts are given below:
He arrived in Clarksburg in June 1861 and entered upon his duties, which were many, various and perplexing.
He speaks of the following troops encamped there: The Seventh and Eighteenth Ohio, Howes Battery "G" 4th. U. S. Artillery, The Sturges Rifles of Chicago, Barker's Chicago Dragoons, Burdsall's Cavalry and a portion of the Third West Virginia Infantry then being organized.
Clarksburg was shortly made a depot for supplies for General McClel- len's Army operating on Rich Mountain and afterwards when encamped at Cheat Mountain, and later in the summer and fall for General Rose- cram's Army in the Gauley River Region.
The Captain constructed large store houses to store Quarter Master and Commissary Supplies, one of which he describes as being 80 feet front by 144 deep.
A corral for animals established in the square now included between Pike and Main and Oak Streets and Maple Avenue, and he speaks of hav- ing at one time on hand two thousand horses.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
He had a small army of employees under him and his troubles and trials were many.
As he was short of teams and as but few owners would hire them it be- came necessary for him to impress them from the surrounding country, to haul supplies to the troops in the field South of town. This raised an out- cry and he gives the following as a sample of the many interviews he had with the wrathy team owners :
"Captain Leib your men have impressed my team. It can't go." "Are you a Union Man?" "Yes one of the best in the County. I have done all the hauling I can for the government but this pressing Union men's teams is going to have a bad effect upon the cause."
"All I have to say is if Jeff Davis and his army get in here they would take your horses and wagons, strip your farm of everything, may- hap set fire to your residence and not pay you one cent, while I will pay you for their use. Our troops have come here from across the Ohio to pro- tect you. You know we have two armies in the field, one at Cheat Moun- tain and one at Gauley bridge. I am required to supply them; they want bread and must have it. I am sorry to disoblige you, but your team must go.”
"But Captain."
"I have no time to discuss this matter. It is settled."
"It is mighty hard if a man can't do as he pleases with his own property."
The Captain says of the three hundred men whose teams he was com- pelled to impress, there was not one who did not curse him during the time the impressment continued.
This, with his refusal, to pay many claims against the Government made the Captain intensely unpopular. He was the subject of an indig- nation meeting, and was severely criticised, and denounced by the Cincin- natti newspaper correspondents.
He gives the following as the character of the kind of bills presented him for payment :
NOVEMBER 1ST. 1861.
September 19th. United States.
To house burnt by Rebels. $400.00
To 5 apple trees burnt by fire $5.00 each. 30.00
To 2 plum trees burnt by fire $3.00 each.
6.00
To 2 peach trees burnt by fire $3.00 each. 6.00
To tools 73.75
2.00
To 1 grind stone.
To bedsteads, chairs, table and other furniture. 37.14
10.00
To brass kettle and tinware.
16.00
To 1 set harness, bridle and collar. 5.10
39.16
To loss of crop on account of the Rebels.
$625.15
To 1 clock
SIR :- The within account is the amount of damages I sustained by
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
the infernal secession outbreak, and would be glad if you can intercede in refunding back my losses. The Rebels called on me to fight for the South as I was a Southern man. I told them nay. They made me leave my home, then I enlisted. They then burnt my house and I am now in the service of the United States. L. S."
Another from a citizen of Braxton County :
Captain Leib, United States,
Dr.
To 17 turkeys took by soldiers.
$ 20.00
Ditto 31 chickens ..
5.00
Ditto 1 calf killed.
5.00
Ditto 2 pigs
16.00
$ 46.00
This account was refused and the Captain scored another enemy.
Captain Leib disbursed immense sums of money and had charge of and shipped enormous amounts of supplies to the armies in the field, and was a man of vast resources, great energy, and did enough work to break down a half dozen men. But alas, his enemies were too many for him. He failed of confirmation by the Senate and was discharged from the service in February 1862.
Jones' Raid.
What is commonly known as Jones' raid is celebrated in the war an- nals of West Virginia, and is the only instance during the civil war in which an armed body of Confederates appeared in the limits of Harrison County.
The commander of the Brigade was General William E. Jones, a na- tive of Virginia who graduated from the West Point Military Academy in 1848 and served as a Lieutenant in the Mounted Rifles until his resignation in 1857. At the commencement of the civil war he entered the Confed- erate Army and was killed at Mount Crawford in the Valley of Virginia in 1864.
The troops engaged in the expedition were all Cavalry and composed of the following Regiments, 6th. Virginia Col. Thomas S. Flourney, 7th. Virginia Col. Richard Dulany, 11th. Virginia Col. Lunsford L. Lomax, 12th. Virginia Col. A. W. Harman and Brown's Maryland Battalion.
The Brigade moved from its winter camp near Harrisonburg in April 1863, across the mountains by way of Moorefield, and struck the B. & O. Railroad at Oakland and thence to Rowlesburg doing what damage they could to the bridges and track, which was not very effective as the Artill- ery had been left behind and they had no facilities for blowing up bridges.
From Rowlesburg the command moved Northwardly by way of King- wood to Morgantown gathering all the horses and cattle they could find and confiscating all hats, boots and clothing out of the stores along their route.
From Morgantown they moved to Fairmont, and after a skirmish there with some troops and militia, destroyed the Railroad Bridge over the
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
Monongahela and continued on to Shinnston, and after a skirmish at Maulsby bridge, crossed the West Fork River and moved up Simpson's Creek by way of Bridgeport to Philippi. At this time it is stated that General Jones had captured about 3000 head of cattle and 1200 horses. Colonel Harman was detailed with his regiment to escort this herd of live stock over the mountains by way of Beverly to Staunton.
The remainder of the command proceeded by way of Buckhannon Weston, and West Union to Burning Springs, then the center of oil pro- duction, where great quantities of oil in barrels was destroyed, together with derricks and other property by fire.
The command then turned Eastward by way of Glenville to Sutton and at this point owing to the scarcity of supplies, the Brigade was divid- ed into separate detachments and directed to go by different routes to the Shenandoah Valley, and to unite again in Harrisonburg.
Many amusing incidents are told of the terror inspired when Jones' rough riders suddenly dashed into the various towns of West Virginia. All of the men hid or fled from their approach, but as a rule the women and children remained to prevent if possible the destruction of their homes or loss of property.
The merchants were plundered of their stock, principally of boots, shoes, clothing, blankets and groceries. The farmers suffered in the loss of forage, horses, cattle and other live stock.
General Jones, in his reports of the expedition, states that he left La- cey Spring, Rockingham County, Virginia, on April 21, 1863, and marched by way of Moorefield near Rowlesburg, Evansville, Kingwood, Morgan- town to Fairmont where on April 29 he captured 260 prisoners and des- troyed the Railroad bridge over the Monongahela River at that place.
On the morning of April 30, his command moved towards Clarks- burg by way of Shinnston. He states "From some captured furloughed men finding Clarksburg occupied by the enemy we crossed the Monon- gahela, went up Simpson's Creek and captured the force at Bridgeport five miles East of Clarksburg. This work was done by the Maryland Cavalry under the gallant Major Brown. Forty-seven prisoners were captured with their arms and a few horses. A bridge to the left of the town was destroyed and a captured train run into the stream. Tall tressling to the right of the town was burned."
Captain Frank A. Bond commanding First Maryland Battalion says in his report "That when within four miles of Bridgeport Company B. was sent on picket on the Clarksburg road. They were soon after attacked by what seemed to be a body of mounted infantry numbering about 200. They retreated before them to the ford, and there made a stand, which checked the enemy until our object was accomplished. Owing to the small number of long range guns in Company B they had to reply to the infantry with their pistols, which while keeping them in check prevented our inflicting much or any loss upon them."
Colonel Lunsford L. Lomax 11th. Va. Cavalry reports that in an attack upon the rear of the column on April 30, by the enemies cavalry on the Clarksburg road. Private Peter Armstrong Company "G" was killed. His regiment reached Bridgeport at 3:30 P. M.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
It is said that a Union Soldier named Sims who was home on furlough shot and killed one of Jone's scouts on Tunnel Hill between Clarksburg and Bridgeport.
The following is a sketch of the situation at the time of the Jones' raid by that gallant soldier Walter M. Morris, Company E 3rd W. Va. Cavalry, who participated in twenty-eight engagements.
"Clarksburg remained within the Federal lines throughout the civil war, and was an important point for the concentration of troops of various commands where they were further equipped, drilled and otherwise pre- pared for a more active and vigorous military operations.
One of the first considerable force to disembark here was General Tyler with his Brigade in May 1861. Moving from this point by night he surprised a small force of the enemy at Weston at the break of day, and thence on to menace General Wise's command then at or in the region of Sommerville and Gauley Bridge.
This move was soon followed by the arrival of Generals Mcclellan and Rosecrans in June, which force moved on against General Pegram at Rich Mountain and Carrick's ford. The concentration of these forces in the mountains of South Western Virginia necessitated the adoption of Clarksburg as a base of supplies.
For this purpose large commissary and quartermaster ware houses were built near the B. & O. R. R. depot for the storage of these supplies, and it was not an unusual sight to see fifty or more wagons, loaded with provisions and munitions of war, leave these ware houses in a single train to be hauled to the several detachments of the army then occupying dif- ferent positions in the mountains of West Virginia.
A large corral was also built here where a large number of horses and mules were collected for the use of the different branches of the army. This necessitated the purchase of a considerable amount of hay and grain for the subsistence of these animals. No important battle was fought on Harrison County's soil, but in April 1863 while General Roberts was in command of the forces at Clarksburg, Weston, Buckhannon, Beverly and Sutton, General Jones of the Confederate Army began his invasion of Central West Virginia coming via Oakland, Morgantown and Fair- mont, while Genl. Imboden was approaching from the south by the way of Beverly and Buckhannon. This simultaneous move on the part of the confed- erates so alarmed General Roberts that he promptly withdrew his forces from the outposts and after destroying all his military supplies at Buck- hannon. and Weston he united his forces at Clarksburg on the 28th. Hc now had fully 5000 men under his command at this place. Meantime Jones' was approaching from the North and was in Shinnston on the 29tlı, while Imboden following in the wake of Union troops was approach- ing via Weston, Jane Lew, Lost Creek and Peel Trec. General Roberts was greatly lacking for cavalry for scouting purposes. One company under Capt. Lot Bowen being his only available cavalry at the time.
On April 30 Capt. Bowen with 62 men rank and file was sent to re- connoiter the situation down the river towards Shinnston, while the Infan- try and Artillery were mounting their guns and otherwise preparing for an attack by Imboden from the South. When the Cavalry had proceeded
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
eight miles down the river they met a portion of Jones' Command, three hundred strong, in column at the crossing of Lambert's Run. A charge was made by the gallant "blue jackets" and strange to say, although every gun of both commands was emptied at very close range it is not known that anyone was hurt on either side by that terrible volley. This was ac- counted for by their horses galloping at such a rapid gait that made their aim unsteady and uncertain, but as the handful of Federal Cavalry rushed into the enemy's ranks with drawn sabre, the confederates suddenly wheeled their horses "about face" then began a neck and neck chase for life, in which several prisoners were captured, some of whom bore bad sabre scars as a memento of their reluctance to surrendering their arms after being captured. The "Blue jackets" were having it all their own way until the Maulsby bridge was reached some fifteen or twenty of them dashing on through the bridge, were met by a fresh volley of bullets from the enemy at such close range, that private J. W. Custer was killed and Sergeant W. H. Jones and J. C. Swentzel were wounded. N. G. Tag- gart's horse was also shot under him. After this volley the Rebels again galloped off on their retreat while Bowen's command returned leisurely to Clarksburg taking with them 13 prisoners and 19 head of horses the re- sult of their daring charge. The confederate loss was two killed and several wounded, number not known.
This charge at Lambert's Run so confused Gen. Jones that an attack on Clarksburg was abandoned and instead he turned his column castward going up Simpson's Creek and crossed the B. & O. R. R. near Bridge- port moving on Southward to form a Junction with Imboden's forces then lying at Peel Tree, Rockford, Jane Lew and Weston.
On May 1st. Colonel Thompson with the 3rd. W. Va. Infantry, 28th. Ohio, one section of Ewing's Battery and Bowen's troop of cavalry was sent to Lost Creek where a small force of Imboden's men had collected, but on approaching the place as Captain Ewing's guns were being unlim- bered in Squire Bassel's field on a knoll overlooking the cross roads where the village of Lost Creek now is, the Rebels hastily fled, some towards Jane Lew, but the largest column going towards Rockford, both columns being closely chased by the contingent of cavalry ever ready for a chase of this kind, while the belching of the two guns in Squire Bassel's field sending their screeching shells after the fleeing rebels tended to further augment their terror and speed.
Colonel Thompson's force remained in the vicinity of Lost Creek for several days, but excepting some scouting and picket duty by the cavalry nothing of note occurred, and on the fourth his command moved back to Clarksburg while the Confederates were permitted to return to their own grounds unmolested, and no aggressive move was made against them, un- til General Roberts was relieved by General Averell on May 22, 1863.
This was the last time that any of the Confederate forces ever got within the territory of Harrison County during the civil war.
While Colonel Thompson's force was lying at Lost Creek an incident occurred while not "thrilling" was at least "unusual."
Sergeant J. C. Kildow was sent with six men to picket the road lead- ing to Milford one mile from the Camp at Lost Creek. This threw the
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
sergeant's reserve post within 100 yards of his mother's door and at the old log school house within whose walls the rudiments at least of an edu- cation had been taught to several of the boys then under him. One of them, W. M. Morris, while sitting in his saddle on sentinel duty could see his father's house a half mile distant to the South while another one of the boys, E. W. Sullivan, lived to the North of the Post, no further away.
How vivid and sacred were the memories that rushed back into the minds of the boys that night while meditating upon the scenes of their "School Boy" days and silently but watchfully guarding the home of their youth and the loved ones there who knew not that their boys were near."'
General Jones' command took a large number of horses and cattle out of the country and looted all the stores on their route.
The people of Harrison County as a rule suffered but little loss of property from the Acts of War. Some few depredations were committed by unauthorized persons, but they raised their crops as usual and could sell them at good prices.
Some of the inhabitants were arrested as Southern sympathizers and imprisoned at Camp Chase near Columbus, Ohio, which may have been and doubtless was in some cases a stretch of authority. But no property was wantonly destroyed by the Union troops and it is not now recalled that a single house in the County was burnt by direction of the military authorities.
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