USA > West Virginia > Harrison County > History of Harrison County, West Virginia : from the early days of Northwestern Virginia to the present > Part 36
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The first Union troops to arrive in Clarksburg was a portion of the 14th Ohio Regiment on the night of May 30, 1861, and from that time during the succeeding four years many thousands of troops either were encamped at or passed through the town.
Troops were stationed at Beverly, Buckhannon, Weston and Sutton during the war, and Clarksburg was an important Military Station where were accumulated large quantities of supplies for the use of the soldiers and where were hospitals established.
Troops were arriving and departing almost daily and in the shifting scenes of the drama of war sometimes many thousands were encamped around Clarksburg at one time. The principal camps were on the Jack- son place near the old depot, the new depot, the Weston road and where Adamston now is.
For the protection of the town earth works were thrown up on Criss' Hill and Pinnickinnick had a fort on its summit mounted with a number of guns. The remains of these works can still be seen.
It was a trying and exciting period for the inhabitants, numerous alarms were given of the approach of the enemy and more than once the prominent Union men fled to Wheeling and Parkersburg.
The money of the Merchants National Bank was removed out of town by its officials on two or three occasions. Once Nathan Goff, the President, took the funds as far as Pittsburg, and at another time Luther Haymond, the cashier, taking them in an ambulance with an armed escort to Grafton to avoid falling into the hands of the enemy who were reported advancing on the town.
During the four long weary years of war's alarms, the Courts of
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Harrison County were open and never failed to hold their regular sessions, the merchants and others plied their usual avocations, money was plenty and were it not for the presence of soldiers there was nothing to indicate that war prevailed in the land.
At the close of the war the government made sale of all its war ma- terial, wagons, horses, harness and commissary supplies and the last troops withdrew in 1865.
There was great rejoicing at the close of hostilities. The long nerve- racking and excitement, attending the living amid the dread scenes of war was at last ended, and the quiet of peace was more than welcome, and all were gratefull that:
The war drum throbbed no longer And that the battle flags were furled.
From the roar of Sumpter's guns on that April day in 1861, to the surrender of the sword of the Knightly Lee, to the silent soldier Grant, on that other April day in 1865, upon the field of Appamattox the sons of old Harrison were present, on all of the great battle fields of that long and bloody struggle and sustained the honor of their native county and the courage of their race.
Drastic Legislation.
The Wheeling Convention on June 19, 1861 passed an ordinance that all officials elected by the people should be required to take an oath to support the re-organized government and in case of refusal the office was to be declared vacant by the Governor and a special election held to fill the vacancy.
Several of the Harrison County officers refused to take this oath and were ousted from office, among them being the Clerk of the Circuit Court and the Sheriff.
The Richmond Convention on June 27, 1861 passed an ordinance "That any citizen of Virginia holding office under the Government of the United States after the first of August, shall be forever banished from this State, and is declared an alien enemy and shall be so considered in all the Courts of Virginia."
It was further enacted that in addition to the above penalties any citizen who may hereafter undertake to represent the State in the Con- gress of the United States shall be deemed guilty of treason and his prop- erty be confiscated for the use of the State.
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The Spanish War.
On account of the friction caused by the treatment of the inhabi- tants of Cuba by the Kingdom of Spain, who claimed jurisdiction over the Island, and on account of the blowing up of the United States War Ship Maine in the harbor of Havana in April, 1898, war was declared against Spain by an act of Congress approved April 25, 1898.
West Virginia furnished two Regiments of Infantry for this war, both being equipped at Charleston, Colonel Baldwin D. Spilman com- manded the First Regiment and Colonel D. T. E. Casteel the second.
Two companies were recruited at Clarksburg for this war, one of them had for some time been organized as Company K of the first regi- ment National Guards and was assigned to the First Regiment of Volun- teers as Company "D" with the following officers: Captain Harry R. Smith, First Lieutenant Cyrus Earl Vance and Second Lieutenant Cuth- bert A. Osborne.
This company was mustered into the United States service May 13, 1898 and mustered out with the Regiment February 4, 1899.
It had been the long period of thirty-seven years since the streets of Clarksburg had witnessed soldiers marching to war, and on the evening of April 27, 1898 nearly the entire town turned out to do honor to their departure.
The Company was presented with a flag by Mayor Matthew G. Holmes and a band of music and Custer Post No. 8 Grand Army of the Republic and a large number of citizens escorted them to the depot.
One other Company was recruited for the war and left Clarksburg on June 27, was mustered into the 2 Regiment July 4, 1898 and mustered out with the Regiment April 10, 1899. The officers were Captain Melvin S. Sperry, First Lieutenant Robert H. Ramsey and Second Lieutenant John H. Clifford.
These two regiments were held in reserve in the Southern States during the war and were not called upon for active service in the field.
At the time of the Spanish war there was one officer from the County serving in the 5th. U. S. Infantry Regular Army, First Lieutenant Mel- ville S. Jarvis who is still in the service as Captain.
Charles A. Morgan was at this time a cadet at the Naval Academy at Annapolis and was serving on the war ship Indiana and took part in the battle of Santiago when the Spanish fleet was annihilated.
Charles J. Goff of Clarksburg was appointed a Captain in the Quart- er-Master's Department and served in Cuba and also in the transport service.
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OF HARRISON COUNTY
New State.
The election of Abraham Lincoln as President in November, 1860, followed by the secession of South Carolina and the other Gulf States, the calling of a special session of the Legislature January 7, 1861, the passing by it of an act calling a convention to meet at Richmond, the election of delegates to be held February 4, and the convention to meet February 13, 1861, the campaign preceding the election of Delegates to the Virginia Convention, the firing on Fort Sumpter April 12th. 1861, the passage of the ordinance of secession by Virginia April 17th, the elec- tion on the fourth Thursday in May, which resulted in its ratification by the people, all in rapid succession may well be imagined to have created intense excitement and apprehension in the counties west of the moun- tains.
This chain of startling and alarming events passing as a historic panorama swiftly before the eyes of the bewildered public, could hardly be understood or realized. Wild rumors of every description were in cir- culation and no man knew what an hour would bring forth. "Coming events cast their shadows before," men's minds were disturbed by the premonition of coming evil, and it began to be plainly seen that we were in the midst of momentous events and a public crisis that would surely lead to a resort to arms.
The great majority of the people in North Western Virginia were loyal to their country and strongly in favor of remaining in the Union, and an active minority, many of the politicians and office holding class were in favor of seceding from the Union and joining the Southern Con- federacy.
Political parties were dissolved, families were divided, life long friends and neighbors took opposite sides of the public questions and grew suspicious of each other. Intense excitement prevailed everywhere and discussions were the principal occupations. Some of the merchants posted placards prohibiting the discussion of politics in their places of business. It seemed that society was to be dissolved into its original ele- ments, that the people were remanded to a state of nature and every man was to look out for himslf.
The condition of the people in this portion of the State was most un- usual and alarming. With the older counties of the Mother State East of the mountains solidly for withdrawing from the Union, and those west of it nearly solidly opposed to it, they were passing through a crisis which demanded the utmost courage and prudence to solve this new political
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problem confronting them, that had so suddenly arisen affecting the very life of the National Government.
History does not record an incident so thoroughly exhibiting the ca- pability of the American people to control and govern themselves in the midst of dangers and civil commotion, and when they were cut off from all government and control of the legal authorities at the State Capitol at Richmond, abandoned by the Circuit Court Judges, and were thrown on their own resources, and compelled to take matters in hand in the in- terest of law and order for their own protection, with a firm resolve that under no circumstances would they abandon the flag of their fathers.
In the midst of all this confusion the County Courts were held as usual and officials continued to discharge their duties.
In order to show the conditions of affairs and to record the actions of the people of Harrison County in this grave crisis there will be given the action of public meetings, in order that these stirring times that so much appealed to the loyalty and manhood of all concerned can be in some measure preserved for future generations.
The slave states regarded the election of Mr. Lincoln as a blow at the system of slavery, and instantly threats of secession from the Union, were made and public meetings began to be held to express their senti- ments upon the political situation.
After the Presidential election the first public expression of opinion of Harrison County was set forth in a mass meeting held at Clarksburg on the 24th. of November, 1860, which declared that the people would first exhaust all constitutional remedies for redress before they would re- sort to any violent measures; that the ballot box was the only medium known to the constitution for a redress of grievances and to it alone would they appeal, and that it was the duty of all citizens to uphold and support the lawful constituted authorities.
The next meeting of the Union people was held at Clarksburg Jann- ary 19, 1861, to nominate two delegates from Harrison County to the Convention, which by an act of the legislature were to be elected to meet in Richmond as above stated. The meeting was presided over by Charles Lewis with Dr. David Davisson as Secretary.
After passing resolutions announcing devotion to the Union, and that they would adhere to it for "weal or woe" they adopted the following platform upon which their candidates should stand.
"Resolved, That we will support no man as a delegate to the Con- vention to be held in Richmond on the 13th. day of February next, who is not unequivocally opposed to secession and will not so pledge himself.
Resolved, That we will support no man who will not pledge himself to oppose and vote against the appointment of persons to represent this State, in any convention, having for its object the establishment of a provisional or other government, or of persons to any body convened for the purpose of forming a Southern Confederacy or government.
Resolved, That we will support no man who will not pledge himself to vote against any ordinance, resolution or motion that has for its ob- ject the withdrawal of the State from the Federal Union.
Resolved, That we will support no man who will not pledge himself
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to vote against any resolution to be laid down as an ultimatum, and the refusal of which by the other States to be considered just cause for se- ceding from the Union.
Resolved, That we will not support any man who believes that the convention to assemble at Richmond on the 13th. of February, 1861, or any other State authority can absolve the citizens of this State from their allegiance to the General Government; and that we will support no man who does not believe that the Federal Government has the right of self preservation.
Resolved, That we will support no man who will not oppose all de- liberation and discussion by the members of said Convention in secret session."
Hon. William A. Harrison read the proceedings of an enthusiastic Union meeting held on Friday evening at Shinnston in which members of all political parties participated, declaring their devotion to the Union and their onposition to secession.
Upon the platform adopted Hons. John S. Carlile and Charles S. Lewis were nominated as Candidates for members of the Convention.
The States Rights party nominated Robert Johnston and Benjamin Wilson as Delegates to the convention by a meeting held January 1861.
Mr. Johnston issued a lengthy circular to the voters taking the ex- treme Southern view of the condition of affairs, denounced in severe terms the "Black Republican party" and the people of the Northern States generally and stated that Mason and Dixon's Line ran North and West of his feelings and opinions.
The campaign was short. but the candidates issued circulars defining their views and addressed the people at different places in the County and the election resulted in the choice of John S. Carlile and Benjamin Wilson as delegates to the Richmond Convention.
The convention met, a majority of its members being in favor of the Union, but the firing on Fort Sumpter, the call of President Lincoln for 75,000 troops precipitated matters and on April 17 in secret session an ordinance of secession was passed.
The members of the convention from North Western Virginia re- turned to their homes.
On the evening after Mr. Carlile's return home quite a number of citizens called at his residence. He stood in the doorway of his house, seemed depressed and disturbed and spoke a few words in solemn tones to his neighbors and friends. He warned them that by the prejudice and passions of designing men a conspiracy was formed to destroy the Na- tional Government, and that his lips were sealed as to the action of the convention, but that they would be opened in a short time, cautioned his hearers to remain calm and that in a few days a meeting would be called to decide the policy to be pursued in the present crisis, and earnestly re- quested them to remain true to the Stars and Stripes.
The time for action had now arrived and on the 22nd. day of April 1861 there assembled on short notice a mass meeting in Clarksburg of twelve hundred of the citizens of Harrison County presided over by John Hursey with John Wesley Harris as Secretary.
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This meeting acted with courage and a determination unsurpassed in history, struck the keynote of the situation and took steps which add- ed thousands to the Union Ranks and resulted in the formation of the State of West Virginia.
The meeting was addressed by John S. Carlile and his eloquent and patriotic utterances poured forth with all the earnestness and oratory of his gifted nature, and abilities, swayed the hearts and feelings of that vast audience as the wind moves the forest trees.
Intense excitement prevailed in this assembly and all seemed im- pressed with the dangers of the situation that now faced them and with the importance of their acting with courage and discretion.
The meeting reaffirmed its allegiance to the Federal Government and denounced the Virginia authorities for inaugurating a war without the consent of the people, and on motion of the brilliant leader, Mr. Carlile, adopted the following :
Resolved, That it he and is hereby recommended to each and all of the counties composing North Western Virginia to appoint Delegates, not less than five in number of their wisest, best and most discreet men to meet in convention at Wheeling on the 13th. day of May next, to consult and determine upon such action as the people of North Western Virginia should take in this fearful emergency.
Resolved, That Honorable John S. Carlile, Waldo P. Goff, John J. Davis, Thomas L. Moore, Solomon S. Fleming, Lot Bowen, William Dun- kin, William E. Lyon, Felix S. Sturm, Benjamin F. Shuttlesworth and James Lynch, be and are hereby appointed delegates to represent this county in said convention.
THE OTHER SIDE, CIRCULAR.
To The Southern Rights Men of Harrison County :
War is upon us! A most fearful, terrible and devastating war has been inaugurated by the present administration; it has been forced upon the people of the South and the proclamation of Lincoln calling for 75,000 men to carry out the infamous behests of the North to murder the citizens of our sister Southern States, is published in our midst, and Vir- ginia is called upon to furnish her quota of men and means for the slaughter of those who know their rights and dare maintain them, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Florida and Lou- isiana and after them Virginia and the other Southern States are to be trampled under the iron heel of Black Republican despotism. The battle cry and shout of an insolent and vindictive Northern fanatic, who claims by the votes of your enemies to be your master, is now heard; he is now arming a civil war and inciting blood and rapine at the hands of the slave; is now calling upon you to aid him in coercion, to carry fire and sword into the homes of those to whom you are endeared by every tie of consanguinity of interest and affection.
FREEMEN OF HARRISON! Will you stand by and permit this war to
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be waged without any interference or remonstrance? You are bound to assume a position, the fanatical North calls upon you, the outraged, in- jured and gallant people of the South call upon you; the honor, the in- dependent States Rights men of Virginia call upon you, and you this day have to decide which voice you will obey. The Union is dissolved, it cannot be cemented again and made a Union by the spilling of blood. The independence of the Southern seceded States should be at once ac- knowledged; civil war and destruction should not wrap this land in flames, and internecine strife should not be forced upon us.
FREEMEN OF HARRISON! This dark and bloody drama which Abra- ham Lincoln is desiring to open up before the country, the people of Vir- ginia by
PROMPT ACTION may avert; we invite you to meet with us in solemn assembly ; let every man come to Clarksburg on
FRIDAY, THE 26TH. DAY OF APRIL to take counsel together and take such action as the circumstances then surrounding us may require.
We do not propose to you to go to war, but we want the great heart of the people to beat audibly, as we know it does silently, responsive to our Southern sisters in this perilous hour of their sad calamity. We are opposed to coercion :- we deplore the necessity of revolution. We there- fore invite you to meet with us and say that no hostile force whose aim shall be the depredation of the South shall polute the soil of Virginia with impunity.
Come one! Come all! We may, under the providence of the God of armies, make such a start that others may be induced to follow, or at least wipe out the stain and stigma of being looked upon as coercionists and the minions of the bloody crew who are preparing to destroy our homes, and, worse than all, the liberties of the Commonwealth."
Pursuant to the above circular on April 26, 1861, a meeting was held at the Court House of those in favor of the State seceding from the Union, Ex-Governor Joseph Johnson was chairman and W. P. Cooper, Norval Lewis and W. F. Gordon secretaries.
The meeting in a long preamble complained of the hostility of the Northern States towards the South and denounced in severe language the election of Abraham Lincoln as a sectional candidate and as one who had no other claim to public notice, than his opposition to all the South- ern States and his invention of the doctrine of an irrepressible conflict between the people of the North and those of the South.
The meeting adopted a long series of Resolutions setting forth their views partly as follows:
"Resolved, That we thoroughly approve the principles and actions of the General Assembly, the Convention and the Governor as herein- before set forth, we reprobate and detest the baneful principles and atrocious action of the despot at Washington who now exercises the power of a Military Emperor, and we solemnly pledge ourselves in this hour of trial and peril by our countenance, our suffrages and our persons devoted to the service to sustain our cherished State of Virginia in her
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determination to resist the concentrated despotism that threatens the free government and enlightened institutions of the Southern States:
That we regard it our duty and we earnestly recommend that all citizens loyal to the commonwealth, should at once in the manner pre- scribed by the laws of the land, organize themselves into volunteer com- panies, procure arms and prepare themselves and stand ready to fight the battles of Virginia against her hostile foes.
Resolved, That while we utterly condemn the proposition to divide the State, and in our utmost souls we loathe and abhor the diabolical manner in which it is proposed to effect it, and the degrading connection sought to be formed with a hostile State, and we would solemnly warn and fervently implore our fellow citizens to inform themselves, and think and reflect, for themselves, on this and other subjects of vital public importance and not allow themselves to be seduced by wicked and reckless men to their own infamy, the degredation of their families and the destruction of their country."
The following is a copy of a circular issued by the Union men of Clarksburg calling a meeting for May 3, 1861: "Men and Countrymen."
The convention at Richmond has betrayed the trust reposed by us in it. It has usurped our rights and transferred our citizenship to the Southern Confederacy without our knowledge or consent, depriving us of the right to vote thereon. It has appointed members to the Montgomery Congress, for the purpose of subjugating us entirely to a Military des- potism; men holding the cannon and bayonet are to be our masters. If we wish to preserve our liberty let us assemble in Clarksburg on Friday the 3rd. of May to deliberate upon our dearest interest."
Pursuant to the above call a large meeting was held at the Court House on May 3, 1861, which was addressed by Francis H. Pierpoint and by resolution.
Denounced the Acts of the Richmond convention in adopting the constitution of the Southern Confederacy as unauthorized, tyrannical and done without the consent of the people of Virginia.
Declared that they were for the integrity of the Federal Union in all its parts and would stand by the Stars and Stripes as the flag of their country.
That Western Virginia had patiently submitted to the oppressions of Eastern Virginia for half a century, that if secession is the only remedy offered by her for all our wrongs, the day is near at hand when Western Virginia will rise in her strength and patriotism, repudiate her oppressors and remain under the flag the emblem of our nationality and greatness."
The call of the Clarksburg convention to the people of North West- ern Virginia to meet in Wheeling on the 13th. day of May met with a
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prompt and enthusiastic response, and the most discreet men of the several counties were selected to attend the meeting.
The body met on the day fixed and after considerable discussion passed resolutions earnestly urging the voters to be prompt at the polls on May 23, and vote against the ratification of the ordinance of secession, and also to vote for a member of congress, which had been prohibited by the Richmond Convention, and also for State Senators and representatives.
It was also recommended that in the event of the ordinance of secession being ratified by the votes of the people, that the counties represented in said meeting do on the 4th. day of June, appoint delegates to a convention to be held at such place as a committee should designate on June 11, 1861, to devise such measures and take such action as the safety and welfare of the people they represent, may demand.
The election of the 23rd. of May 1861, resulted in the ratification of the ordinance of secession. Harrison County gave 694 votes for ratifica- tion and 1691 for rejection and elected John J. Davis and John C. Vance to the House of Delegates and cast a unanimous vote for John S. Carlile for Congress. The counties now composing West Virginia cast 44,000 votes, of which 40,000 were against the ordinance.
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