Do you have a book inside you that is waiting to get out, some hidden dream to be an author, make that dream a reality. Share your talent with the world, you have the idea I make it a reality. The books you see below were all self-published by authors like you.
Taken from Murder, Mayhem, & Hydrophobia, Civil War Edition, Compiled, Written, & Conceived and by Shirley E. Grose, and published by Shirley.
Shirley's Notes: Back when I was researching a Nicholas County History I found this Civil War memoir by F. G. Shakleford. I published it in my book Murder, Mayhem, & Hydrophobia, Civil War Edition. It's a humorous but accurate account of the Confederate army, 36th Virginia Regiment, Company F from Nicholas County, West Virginia, where I live. Shakleford wrote this 28 chapter history around the 1899 and published it in the Nicholas Chronicle newspaper which can be found on Microfilm at the Dept. Of Archives and History, Charleston, WV. His memory was very good. This memoir traces troop movements. It is so accurate that it filled gaps for the author of the Virginia regimental history series published around 20 years ago. I forget the author's name. My name is in the front of his book on this 36th Virginia Regiment, Nicholas County.
MY RECOLLECTIONS OF THE WAR, CHAPTER 1
by F. G. SHAKLEFORD
Why I write MY RECOLLECTIONS OF THE WAR, is this: I find from the reading of our school histories th at they are very imperfect, in fact give but a very meager account of the battles fought. In many instances, the movements of the armies are not mentioned.
I shall endeavor to give an unbiased account of all the important events that took place under my observation, both in what is now West Virginia and other points to which our command was ordered. I would say to those who may read my articles that I am not a scholar and hope they will over look grammatical errors; and also imperfect spelling.
On the 10th of June, 1861, there was a volunteer company raised in Nicholas County for the Confederate service, of which I was a member. We organized by electing--Newman as Captain; Washington Huffman, William Wiseman and George Thornton as Lieutenants, and Frank Thornton, Orderly Sergeant.
We marched for Charleston on the Kanawha River, where we took up camp; received our arms and went drilling, that we might be able to do good service (for without drilling men are poor excuses for soldiers.) There were several companies stationed at different points in the valley this time.
About the 15th of July 1861, there was a small force of Federals came up the Valley; attacked a few small companies of Confederates at Sherry, below Charleston, in which attack the Confederates got a little advantage.
The union forces threatening our rear about the 20th of July, 1861, we were ordered to evacuate the Kanawha Valley, and fall back to the White Sulphur Springs, in Greenbrier County, Virginia, where we went into quarters. Our company known as Company F, was attached to the 36th Virginia Regiment, it having been composed of West Virginians, and commanded by Col. John McCausland.
We remained in camp until about the middle of August, when we were reinforced by several regiments under the command of Gen. John B. Floyd, who took command of the whole force. He then ordered an advance movement and marched into Nicholas County, West Virginia, then Virginia. We crossed Gauley River at Carnifax Ferry; had an engagement with an Ohio regiment commanded by Col. Tyler, near Zoar Church, in which battle the Confederates routed the enemy. The Confederate loss was several killed, some ten or twelve wounded . Lieutenant Thornton was wounded in the arm, which incapacitated him for duty. I received a slight wound in the side which deprived me of duty until the Carnifax fight.
Gen. Floyd then fell back and fortified between Gauley Cliffs and Henry Patterson's house (where he now lives). The artillery was within a few hundred yards of his house, and commanded full view of the road leading to Kesler's Cross Lanes.
Having recovered from my wound, I returned to my regiment, the 9th of September, 1861, which was stationed in Summersville. We remained there on the 10th until Gen. Rosecrans was a few miles of that place, when we fell back to the main force under Gen. Floyd.
CHAPTER II
ON SAME DAY WAS FOUGHT THE BATTLE OF CARNIFAX FERRY
Gen. Rosecrans, with a superior force, made an attack on the Confederate fortifications about the middle of the afternoon. They made charge after charge, and were repulsed at every point. The battle raged with but little intermission, until dark closed the scene. The 36th was placed on the extreme left flank, and therefore did not receive any of the charges, but lay under a galling fire from the enemie's artillery. I think the Union loss, officially reported was 19 killed and 70 wounded. The Confederates had 7 wounded and none killed. Gen. Floyd received a wound in the arm.
Gen. Floyd, as soon as dark came, (knowing the danger his command was in) ordered an immediate retreat to the South side of Gauley river. The wagons were ferried across in the boats, while the infantry over on (a) bridge, not more than five or six feet wide, which had been constructed before the fight. By this means, Gen. Floyd saved his command from being captured. The next morning, at sunrise, the whole command was across the river, and out of danger of immediate attack by the enemy.
The 36th was placed as rear guard of the command. Our cooking utensils having gone ahead, we had to use our iron ram rods, and by this means baked it. It was by no means bad to eat, especially when one was hungry.
While Gen. Floyd was at Carnifax's Ferry, Gen. Henry A. Wise was fortified at or near Hawks Nest, holding at bay a brigade of Federals,which were threatening Floyd's rear.
We fell back, Gen. Wise covering our retreat to Sewall valley, where our forces made a stand. Gen. Floyd and Wise disagreeing as to the position they would fortify, each went to work on his own hook; Wise in Sewell Valley, and Floyd at Meadow Bluff in Greenbrier County. During this time, Gen. Robert E. Lee came to us with a brigade of soldiers.
While we were making preparations for the enemy, Gen. Rosecrans, with his whole force, took a position on the top of Big Sewell mountain in full view of the Confederate forces.
Gen. Lee stated that he could dislodge the enemy with the loss of 500 men, but as nothing would be gained, it was useless to make the sacrifice.
Each army held it's position for several weeks, when the roads becoming very bad. Gen. Rosecrans fell back, Gen. Lee and Wise moved toward Richmond, Virginia, and Floyd with his command crossed to the South side of New River, and took his position at Cotton Hill, from the top of which he shelled the enemy for a week, or more, without accomplishing any thing more than the dodging of the enemy.
From Cotton Hill, we were ordered to fall back and take up winter quarters at the Salt Sulphur Springs, in Monroe County, Virginia. We had received fresh orders to move in haste to South West Virginia. This was about the first or second week in December. We remained at this point until the 28th. Here ends Gen. Floyd's campaign for the year 1861.
CHAPTER 111
ON THE 28TH OF DECEMBER, 1861, WE WERE AGAIN ORDERED TO MARCH, OUR DESTINATION BEING BOWLING GREEN, IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY.
We took up our line of march for the Virginia, and Tennessee Railroad, where we took the cars. Our train was made up of box cars, which were not very inviting, as we had no fire; the snow was doubt six inches, deep, a, nd not very warm. We arrived about noon at the Tennessee line; the snow began to disappear, and by sunset, we were in a very pleasing climate, so much so, that we needed but little fire. We did not travel at night for fear of an accident.
There was nothing of importance transpired during our long trip but a few amusing incidents, only one of which I will relate.
One frosty morning, just after sunrise, as we were passing through the northern part of Georgia, several of us had taken the tops of cars, to warm up and supple our joints, when the train halted at a tank to take on water. As the train moved out, James Amoco, of Company F, full of his mischief, reached out and caught hold of the rope that raised the gate of the tank, and give it a jerk, which threw about a barrel of water into our car, and wet about everything in it, both doors being open. Old man George Butcher, sitting between the doors patching his breeches, received the whole force of the water from a six-inch hose. You may be sure he was wet. He swore if he could find the man that did it, he would shoot him if he was the last man living. He did not find the man.
We arrived at our destination the first week in January 1862, when we went into camp, and remained for a short time. Several of the company had the mumps while at this place. While here, we performed our camp duty as usual. The remainder of our time was taken in idleness, and the study of mischief. One night, while we were all soundly sleeping, and everything quiet, except the tramp of the sentinel, one of our men came into my tent and waked me. His orders were, get up and prepare yourself with pipe, tobacco, and fire and follow me. In the mean time, he had called out the Buket Brigade. He leading, we followed him a hundred, or two yards out of camp, when he made a halt, where he had left his comrade to guard an oblong box. His first work was to take off the end, and I with my pipe drive out the enemy.
One of the boys, being very nervous, as soon as the first bucket was filled, gathered it and made for camp. Instead of taking it to his own tent, he put it into the first one he came to, remarking, I”If the boys did steal it, I can't help what they did.” His conscience, by the next morning, was sufficiently settled to partake of it.
From Bowling Green, we marched to another place in the above mentioned state, the name of which has escaped my memory. We remained at this point until the Union forces captured Fort Henry, on the Tennessee River, when we were ordered to Fort Donelson, on the Greenbrier River. We took the cars and ran to a little town called lover, a short distance above the fort. Here we disembarked, and marched directly for the scene of action. This was the 14th, of February when Com. Foot, was pounding away on the fort with his gun boats. While that ws going on, the infantry charged away on the fort with his gun boats. While that was going on, the infantry charged upon the breastworks of the Confederates, without success, being repulsed at every charge.
On the 15th, the Confederate Generals marched outside of their breastworks, attacked the enemy, and drove them back, the fighting lasting from morning until late afternoon when they returned to their fortifications. What the loss was, I cannot say; but tolerably heavy, as the whole army of the Confederate was engaged.
On the night of the 15th, there was a fall of about four inches of snow. We could have no fire by which we could warm, and therefore, suffered considerably from the cold. FORT DONELSON CONTINUED.
CHAPTER IV & V MISSING
CHAPTER VI
GENERAL FLOYD, ON ACCOUNT OF HIS ACTIONS AT FORT DONELSON, WAS RELIEVED of his command, and so far as I could learn, never had another during the war.
General Loring was then put in command of the Kanawha division of Confederates. He took command as well as I can remember in the month of July 1862. He had a grand review in the month of August, after which there were general preparations made for advance movement into the Kanawha Valley. About the first of September, we were ordered to break up camp at Union, and march directly to the Valley. We
CHAPTER 111
ON THE 28TH OF DECEMBER, 1861, WE WERE AGAIN ORDERED TO MARCH, OUR DESTINATION BEING BOWLING GREEN, IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY.
e took up our line of march for the Virginia, and Tennessee Railroad, where we took the cars. Our train was made up of box cars, which were not very inviting, as we had no fire; the snow was doubt six inches, deep, a, nd not very warm. We arrived about noon at the Tennessee line; the snow began to disappear, and by sunset, we were in a very pleasing climate, so much so, that we needed but little fire. We did not travel at night for fear of an accident.
There was nothing of importance transpired during our long trip but a few amusing incidents, only one of which I will relate.
One frosty morning, just after sunrise, as we were passing through the northern part of Georgia, several of us had taken the tops of cars, to warm up and supple our joints, when the train halted at a tank to take on water. As the train moved out, James Amoco, of Company F, full of his mischief, reached out and caught hold of the rope that raised the gate of the tank, and give it a jerk, which threw about a barrel of water into our car, and wet about everything in it, both doors being open. Old man George Butcher, sitting between the doors patching his breeches, received the whole force of the water from a six-inch hose. You may be sure he was wet. He swore if he could find the man that did it, he would shoot him if he was the last man living. He did not find the man.
We arrived at our destination the first week in January 1862, when we went into camp, and remained for a short time. Several of the company had the mumps while at this place. While here, we performed our camp duty as usual. The remainder of our time was taken in idleness, and the study of mischief. One night, while we were all soundly sleeping, and everything quiet, except the tramp of the sentinel, one of our men came into my tent and waked me. His orders were, get up and prepare yourself with pipe, tobacco, and fire and follow me. In the mean time, he had called out the Buket Brigade. He leading, we followed him a hundred, or two yards out of camp, when he made a halt, where he had left his comrade to guard an oblong box. His first work was to take off the end, and I with my pipe drive out the enemy.
One of the boys, being very nervous, as soon as the first bucket was filled, gathered it and made for camp. Instead of taking it to his own tent, he put it into the first one he came to, remarking, I”If the boys did steal it, I can't help what they did.” His conscience, by the next morning, was sufficiently settled to partake of it.
From Bowling Green, we marched to another place in the above mentioned state, the name of which has escaped my memory. We remained at this point until the Union forces captured Fort Henry, on the Tennessee River, when we were ordered to Fort Donelson, on the Greenbrier River. We took the cars and ran to a little town called lover, a short distance above the fort. Here we disembarked, and marched directly for the scene of action. This was the 14th, of February when Com. Foot, was pounding away on the fort with his gun boats. While that ws going on, the infantry charged away on the fort with his gun boats. While that was going on, the infantry charged upon the breastworks of the Confederates, without success, being repulsed at every charge.
On the 15th, the Confederate Generals marched outside of their breastworks, attacked the enemy, and drove them back, the fighting lasting from morning until late afternoon when they returned to their fortifications. What the loss was, I cannot say; but tolerably heavy, as the whole army of the Confederate was engaged.
On the night of the 15th, there was a fall of about four inches of snow. We could have no fire by which we could warm, and therefore, suffered considerably from the cold. FORT DONELSON CONTINUED.
CHAPTER IV & V MISSING
CHAPTER VI
GENERAL FLOYD, ON ACCOUNT OF HIS ACTIONS AT FORT DONELSON, WAS RELIEVED of his command, and so far as I could learn, never had another during the war.
General Loring was then put in command of the Kanawha division of Confederates. He took command as well as I can remember in the month of July 1862. He had a grand review in the month of August, after which there were general preparations made for advance movement into the Kanawha Valley. About the first of September, we were ordered to break up camp at Union, and march directly to the Valley. We encountered the enemy at Fayetteville in a strongly fortified position. It was a little in the afternoon when Gen. Loring took in the situation. He had his batteries placed in such positions, that they could rake the fortifications of the enemy. Then commenced one of the severest artillery fights that our command had during the war. The infantry was not called into service as the enemy was entrenched in strong breast works, which could not be taken without great loss of life. The 3th supported Bryants Battery which did good work, although they lost some men in killed and wounded, and the guns somewhat injured.
While this was going on, our regiment was lying behind the hill upon which the artillery was placed in the hot broiling sun, without water or any to be had conveniently; so we did without to where there was plenty.
It seems strange, but true, that men are prone to sleep while an artillery fight is going on, if not engaged. During this fight, there were numbers of men that slept soundly in the broiling sun, while the cannons booming and the shells flying over their heads. A citizen would never have slept on account of excitement, but not so with a soldier. When a soldier gets into a fight he loses all fear as to what the consequences will be, and takes everything calmly and quietly as if nothing is going on.
Next morning, at daylight, we found that the enemy had pulled up their stakes and left; thinking perhaps it would be better than to be cut off from their supplies, which we could very easily have done; they being at Gauley Bridge twelve miles away.
The 36th that morning, was ordered to march in advance. We arrived at Cotton Hill about noon, when a halt was ordered, as there was a mountain to cross, and it covered with timber, there was some danger of being ambushed.
There were several of us volunteered to reconnoiter the mountain, as we were making a short turn in the road, the bullets from the enemy commenced whizzing past us, so we lost no time in retreating back behind the curve. We then returned to our regiment, and reported to the colonel the position of the enemy. He told us to remain behind, and rest up some before starting out; while the regiment moved forward.
After resting awhile, we started out to overtake our regiment. When we got to the top of Cotton Hill, there appeared as we thought to be a considerable battle going on at the Kanawha Falls. We hastened our steps, that we might take a hand in it; but about a half mile from the falls, we met very unexpectedly Gen. Floyd, who was from there. After a pleasant handshake, he informed us, that instead of a battle, it was the blowing up of the Federal Magazine. We hastened on, and soon arrived at the Falls. The regiment was but little ahead of us. We there beheld the greatest destruction of Army stores, that we saw during the war. The whole valley from the falls to the Bridge, a distance of two miles, was enveloped in smoke. They aimed to destroy everything, yet numbers of the citizens visited the place, and found hundreds of dollar's worth of property, that had not been destroyed, such as wagons, iron horse shoes, salt, bacon, and many other things, which was of use to the citizens; all of which they appropriated to their necessities.
It was said, at the time, the army stores destroyed at that place, amounted to two million dollars; whether it was that amount or less, I do not know, but I know it must have been immense, because it was the depot of the supplies for all this section of country where the Federal Army operated; extending from the Kentucky line into the county of Webster.
Just as I got to the Falls on the south side of Kanawha river, I saw the last one of the Federals going down on the opposite side, riding at two forty gait; for the place was at that time getting very unhealthy, especially for a Union soldier, as he knew the Confederates were like themselves in administering a certain kind of blue pill whenever they had a chance.
CHAPTER VII
STILL AT THE FALLS. The enemy had build a fire on a large flat boat on the opposite side of the river from us, so as to entirely as they thought, stop our progress. But they would have made a mistake in leaving it tied up. If they had let it float down the stream we would have dad to march down the river on the South side.
Several of the boys swam across the river, and threw fire off the boat. While they werre doing this another one crossed with the end of a twine string in his mouth, it not being more than an eighth of an inch in diameter. They fastened the cord at the bank of the river, and then pulled for the side of the river where we were waiting for it. As soon as it reached the bank, we marched into it, being long enough to hold the regiment, and with that small cord we pulled the boat across the river. As soon as it landed, the Colonel was the first man who got out of the boat, the others following and forming into line without making a single halt.
Then, commenced a forced march down the Kanawha river, in pursuit of the enemy, until dark; when we were ordered to halt, and go into camp for the night. Early the next morning, the command was under marching orders. The 36th marching in fron the day before, was then thrown to the rear.
Some persons may wonder to themselves why this was done; I will say that it was according to military rules for the front regiment one day to take the rear, the next, and so on, as long as they may be marching. This is done in order that it may rest the men, as it is not half so laborious on the front men, as those who are in the rear, seem to be in a strain to keep up. When a regiment makes a halt, the front company immediately stops, while it will be some little time before the rear company does the same; and when ordered to march, the front has marched perhaps fifty or a hundred yards, before the rear company makes a start.
We marched all that day without any thing of importance taking place, until about twohours by sun, when the cannons in front of us commenced booming at Charleston, several miles away. By the time we arrived at the scene of action, the enemy had departed; being near sunset.
Before the fight commenced, the most of the people of Charleston left their homes, and sought safety upon the heights, just back of the city. As we marched in numbers of them were just returning to their homes and many were carrying bundles which I supposed contained things of value they did not like to leave behind.
When the enemy left, they took the road leading in the direction of Parkersburg. That was the last we saw of them. The valley was now clear of the enemy, from Gauley Bridge to Point Pleasant.That night we camped on Elk River, at Charleston, just a little over one year, from the time we evacuated it in 1861. A year has passed, yet, in that year, many changes have taken place, a number of battles have been fought, some lost and gained, yet the Confederates are still holding their own with the Federals.
The next morning, some of us crossed over Elk river, and foundmany things the enemy had left behind, and judging fromthe value of some, they carried but little away withthem. I found a very large book in which they kept all their records; this, I turned over to the Colonel of our regiment, as Ihad no use for it.
We remained at this place several days, when the 36th was ordered to the Redhouse Shoals some distance down the Kanawha river. Here we again went into camp, and remained something like two weeks. It was here we had the most battling we had during the war. There were a lot of boat gunnels lying upon the bank of the river. These we put into the water, and as many men could get on one of them would go out nto the river and make for the opposite shore; but, we hardly ever reached it, .... by the time we would reach the middle of the stream, some fellow would give another tilt, and into the river he would go.This would start the fun and in a very few minutess all would be in the water. Then would come the scuffle to get back. This was our daily amusement.
From here, we marched again down the river. That evening, after going into camp; several of us decided we would go out of camp, and get our supper at some citizens house. We found one where we could get it. A young woman who was preparing it had a piece of midling bacon about 6 inches thick, from which she was scraping a thick coat of ash before frying. Seeing her scraping instead of washing, and leaving it not very clean, I remarked to her, she need not go to all that trouble, as a soldier had to eat many things, he did not like. She said, "she wanted it clean." I said again a soldier did not mind a little dirt. She answered me back, "it is just as yhou like, not that I care" and went on with her cutting, without scraping. So I was beat at my own game, and had to take a back seat like a boy at a frolic. Ithought it was nothing but ashes, I could stand it, as the old people used to say, it was good for a certain kind of disease, which is not mentionable here. After supper we returned to camp.
CHAPTER VIII
NEXT MORNING WE WERE AGAIN UNDER MARCHING ORDERS. WE WENT DOWN THE RIVER TO WITHIN FOURTEEN MILLES OF THE OHIO river, where we got a flat boat load of bacon, which was poled up the river to Charleston. Our regiment followed to guard it.
It was now October, and preparations were being made to again leave the Valley, and fall back to our base of supplies, as there was some danger of being cut off by the enemy, whcih they could very easily have done.
We camped just across Elk river, from Charleston, for a short time. There was a pantoon bridge thrown across the Elk, upon which all the crossing was done. There were orders issued, that no private was to go over into Charleston, even with a permit. So, one day F. S. Reynolds, as he reported decided he wanted to go over into the city, and fell upon a plan by which he might fool the guards. He borrowed Lieutenant Duffy's uniform coat, and put it on, then he was in a condition to pass the seninel, without being questioned. But ni passing up the street, he saw coming upon the same side, our Lieutenant Colonel, Thamas SMith. To avoid him, he took an angling course across to the other side of the street, and to keep safe, he kept his eyes peeled, lookung out for breakers, and returned to camp without any difficulty; a feat, which he always had a knack of performing, when in a close place.
Two days before we broke camp on Elk, was a cool damp time, and being exposed to the weather, I took the severest chill I ever had, having contracted the disease in the West in '59, and had not entirely recovered from it. I was sent to the hospital in Charleston, where Iremained until the command was ready to leave; and not being able to march, I was sent ahead with the sick to Princeton, the county seat of Mercer County, Virginia. Here the 36th Virginia regiment went into winter quarters, forming a brigade, under the command of Col. McCausland.
During this winter, we had a fine time for sporting and playing trick upon one another. Duringt his time, the command buildtthem a house in which to worship. there was a great revival, the services being conducted by the late Rev. Martin Bibb, who I thought had great influence over many of the command.
Many professed conversion and a goodly number were immersed, and received certificates of the same, that they might, if they even returned home, present them to their churches. Thomas Tomlnsin, or rather as we called him, "Dad," received one of the same. Other denominations, received likewise.But sad to say, many took no interest whatever in the meeting. During this winter, times were very easy on us, with the exceptionof guard duty, which was always very bad in winter, owing to exposure to the cold.
One evening late, I loaded my pipe for a smoke, but before I could light it, the drum beat for dress parade, I ladid it up remarking , at the time, I could do my smoking after the parade was over. James Amick, always looking out for mischief and the first on roll call, answered to his name, then slipped int the tent, took the tobacco out of the pipe, filled it about half-full of powder, the remainder with tobacco, laid it up. When we came back, I was ready for my smoke. There was a considerable laugh, but no damage done. The perpetrator in this, as in all tricks, generally absent when they went off. This was a prelude to others of the same nature, but on different persons.
Our Captain of the commissary decided that he would speculate some, by buying up port, and selling it to the soldiers, at a very large profit. For safe keeping, he put two halves of a hog into a house, where the corn for the army was kept, that it might be guarded, by the guard that took care of the corn. One of our company, decided he wanted some pork, and not over flush with money, he would get it without costing him any thing. So, late in the night, he gathered his oil cloth, and struck out for the corn house, where he found the guard sitting by a fire at the side of the house, the door of it being open. He engaged the sentinel's attention for a while in conversation, then left, and as he pasased by the door, he reached in, and lifted out a half a hog, wrapped it up in his oil cloth, and carried it to his tent, and hid it away. That mess had plenty of pork for that week. It was no used or the owner to search for it, for everyman in the coompany knew it, not one would even give any information, concerning it. This, was one of the tricks of a similar nature.
It was now Christmas, and the boys were up early enjoying themselves, by taking a wee drop of "Mountain Dew" that had been smuggled into camp the previous day. About breakfast time, they commenced getting very hilarious, so much so, that they commenced shooting their Christmas guns all over the camp. The Colonel came down and ordered it to be stopped, but turned and made for his quarters, it not being many minutes, until orders came for the regiment to be ordered out under arms. Then there was hurrying among, who had shot, that we might have our guns clean, for we were looking for our guns to be inspect, and we would be the man, who had a foul in. But things turned out differently from what we expected. We were ordered in line, then stack arms, and guard placed over them. It was more likely, the innocent stood guard that day, while the guilty ones went free.
CHAPTER IX
T.S.H. SHAWYER OF COMPANY F, HAD BEEN OUT THREE MILES INTO THE COUNTY, WHERE HE BECAME ACQUAINTED WITH A COUPLE OF young ladies. So, the day after Christmas, he invited me to go with him to see them. I, of course, did not object, as it was seldom I had the opportunity of being in the company of girls.
We arrived at the house before noon; took dinner with them; after which we were invited into the sitting room, whre we enjoyed ourselves very much. From the interest they seemed to take in us, we thought we were all, O.K., so we did some small talking to them , in which they seemed to be interested. Of course, as it was the first trip for me, I did not make any fair promises, but was only preparing the way, for the future achievements. But the sequel will show, how it allended. About sunset, two soldiers came in, and made themselves very conspicious, and as soon as they could get to talk to the girls, they began to shy off from us. What was the matter, we could get to talk to the girls, they began to shy off from us. What was the matter, we could not tell; but we soon saw our company was not desirable. So, we about faced, and made for camp. We leaned afterward, the two soldiers reported us as married men. Knowing soldiers as I do, it was more probable, they exchanged two single men, for two married ones.
(1863) During this year, there was nothing of any great immmportance transpired. There was no fighting; but a great deal of moving about, from place to palce.
In May, we were ordered to prepare for making a move, our destination being Raleigh County, Virginia. We camped several miles East of the Court House on a small creek.
While here, several of Company 1, of the 36th, too down with the Small Pox. The Company immediately put into quarantine, and hospital prepared for those who were sick with the disease. Captain Porterfield of the above named company and a young man by the name of Hurt, from Raleigh, both died with the disease. As good luck would have it, the disease did not spread any farther in the regiment. It was confined, I think, to only one mess in the company, and others of the regiment. It was brought into camp through a lot of clothing, the mess had ordered.
It was in our company at this place, that a Catholic Priest held a meeting, for the benefit of their member who belonged to the company, and others of the regiment, of like faith. There were certain performances in Latin, I do not understand. After which he preached a sermon in English which (if I am any judge) was excellent.
One day I was on guard, and at night, while gone to my supper, the countersign was given out. In returning to the guard headquarters, I passed the sentinel, he knowing that I was a member of the guard, instead of halting me for the pass word, he wanted to know if I wanted it. He being a greener, just recruited, of course I wanted to know, but he had no right to give it. I went forward, and he gave it as Rapparattox. As I knew of no such word in my vocabulary, I decided he had compounded two words, Rappohannock and Appomatox, and it was one or the other of them. The sergeant gave it to me, as Appamattox.
There was a scouting party sent out, to see what the enemy was doing. They returned in about a week, with a squad of the enemy, as prisoners of war. Our company was ordered to cook enough rations, to last them to the railroad, which was several days march. We also cooked dinner for them. One of them was mad and stated that by the time they arrived at the depot, he had found out which one of the boys he was, and was very willing to partake of his rations.
As soon as it was saaafe to take Company 1 out of quarantine, we moved back to our old camping ground at Princeton. There was some fortifying done while here, which we never had any use for; so, it was labor thrown away.
While at tis place, the enemy made a raid into Tazwell county, Virginia. We undertook to head them off, and so doing, we had to march the most of one night, and also got a big scare. As we were quietly marching along, wwe heard a tremendous racket ahead of us. We were immediately halted, and orderred to form into a line.There was a piece of woods at our right, and a cleared field to the left of us. As the enemy was composed of mostly cavalry and ours infantry, we were for getting out of the road; we lost no time in gettingover the fence, and forming into line, that we might be ready for the enemy. We remained in that position for some little time, when word was brought back along the line to prepare for action, when lo, and behold it was nothing but an empty wagon, coming down a rocky hill, just in front of us, which made fuss enough, for a whole regiment of calvary.
We of course felt a little sheepish over the affair, but it was no more than any other command would have done under similar circumstances; when they were expecting the enemy. We failed to meet up with the enemy. So we had to return to our regular cammping ground, tired and worn out.
CHAPTER 10 MISSING
CHAPTER XI
TWO DAYS IN A SMALL VILLAGE, with a general lookout for the enemy, and surrounded by mountains, with no excitement to renervate our nervous system went hard on us.
The enemy did not make their appearance, and it was no use to undertake to follow a cavalry raid. It was pretty hard on us to move around so much, without even a smaell of the enemy, let alone a shot. All hunters know a dull, and uninteresing time they have, when out on a hunting exibition, when no game can be found, at which to shoot. It is the same with soldiers. After the enemy had passed out of our reach, with no prospect of an engagement, we again marched, not knowing precisely to what point. We marched till a very late hour inthe night before going into camp, why, we couldnot tell.
The following day, we crossed the South side of New river, and made direct for Parisburg, the county seat of Giles. It was sometime past noon, and no rations on hand, we were all getting pretty hungry. A good many tried to get dinner at the hotel, but failed, on account of it being locked up, to keep the soldiers from crowding the house. But fortune favored me. Ihappened to see a man standing before the door of the hotel, who was raised in the same vicinity, in which I was, and were well acquainted with each other. I stepped out of ranks, and had a shake hands, as it had been several years since we had seen each other. I asked him, if he thought there was any chance of getting dinner. He said he did not know, but would see; as he was a boarder himself. He passedd in, and in a few mniutes later, he, he returned, and told me to follow hm. He preceded me to the dining room, where I sat down and partook of a sumptuous meal.
After which, he invited me to his private room, where we spent an hour or two in very pleasant conversation over our experience in the war. During which time he went to his trunk, and took a shirt and a pair of drawers and showed them to me, the whole of the front of the lower extremity, with the front of the drawers, had been taken off clean with a solid shot from the enemies artillery. He told me, it took every particle of flesh away cross the lower part of his bowels to the striffning. The doctor told him, here was no possible chance for recoery,and all he could do was to give him something, that would deaden the pain. But he recovered, contrary to the expectation of the doctors and at this time nearly well. The young man was no other than Eustace Gibson who afterwards, was a representative in Congress from the fourth district of West Virginia, afterwards was a representative in Crongress from the fourth district of West Virginia.
It was remarkedly, yet true, so many men who were slightly wounded, died, while others would seemingly be shot to pieces would recover. Time passes, and I must be on the march to overtake my regiment, which I did at the Narrows of New River, where it had gone into camp.
From this point we made several moves similar to the lst two mentioned, without meeting up with the enemy. Some countryman with his wagon, got mixed up with our wagon train. When we arived at the river late in the afternoon, we found that the regiment could not be crossed over that night, so we had to camp for a quarter of a mile along back from the river. The road was narrow with a single wagon track; so the wagons had to stand all right where they were. The citizen not being able to get his wagon out, left it, and took his horses into the country (we were supposed to get accomodations both for himself and horses). Some time after dark, the wagon next to ours, one of the members of Company F, decided he wanted to know what was in the wagon; so he crawled in, and found it contained a barrel of whiskey.
The first thing to be done was to get a hole in it, this he accomplished; in a very short time with a bayonet (the only real bayonet charge he had during the war, although a good soldier.) From that time whiskey began to flow, though slow at first, it soon became known all over camp, when there was a general rush for the wagon. There was not much sleeping done that night. By the next morning, htey had drained the barrel of it's contents, were carrying it around in buckets like water. A man could get a drink wherever he might go. There was a lively set of us.
The larger portion of the regiment were gentlemanly merry, some staggered, while a few were drunk. What remained over we carried away in canteens. A couple got so drunk, the colonel had them tucked in the river, when they began to cool off a little. Old Uncle Jake Hardway, who was detailed at head quarters, the colonel called his attention, by saying, "Hardway, where in the h--did the men get their whiskey?" It was not the intention of the men that he should know, for if he had known it at first, we would have got no whiskey. We crossed the river, and made another move.
By this time, it was getting late in the year, when preparations were being made again to move into winter quarters. The 36th and 60th regiments, composed a brigade under the command of Col. McCausland. Our supplies were boated down New River miles away. There was a mill near by, and at one time, we failed to get our flour, when we had to resort to the mill to have corn ground to make bread, which we did not relish much.
CHAPTER XII
ALONG LATE IN THE SEASON, a small command of Federals moved up New River to within a few miles of where we were, and put up camp. They remained there a short time; it seemed more for a taunt than any thing else. One morning we moved down on them, but low and behold! the enemy had departed, leaving behind their tents standing, which they had rendered useless, by splitting them to pieces with their knives. Their flight must have been very sudden, if not, they would have taken every thing with them. They left other things besides their tents. They out generated us, again.
F.S. Reynolds, G.W. Brown, Wm. Gray and myself, were sent out on a mission. We marched until late in the afternooon; we were nearing a town in which a number soldeirs were stationed. We, admonishedby the slanting rays of OLD SOL, that it was time we were looking out for a place where we could get something to relieve our hunger, and also to rest our bodies, F.S. Reynolds being our best talker, we started him out to see if he could get a place at which we could stay over night. He was refused at several houses, the excuse being already full. The next house we came to was about 150 yeards from the road, and also a very fine one. Such houses soldiers hardly ever applied for accomodation, as there was but little prospect of ever getting it. I had formerly learned the name of the man who lived there; so I told the boys to remain at the road while I would go to the house, and that we would get to stay. It was such a movement. I walked up to the house and called, when an old lady came to the door. I spoke to her, and put on as many airs as a French dancing master in politeness, after which, I asked her if she could takein our soldeirs for the night.
The first question she asked, "where are you from?" Knowing that a West Virginian at that date, was not a vry good introduction, so I answered from West Virginia, but war raised in C--county, Virginia. As soon as she heard that, she drew down her spectacles, that she might get a better view of my physiognomy, maybe to see if I was good looking or not. Well, so far as beauty was concerned, I suppose she was satisfied, as I was nearly as good looking then, as I am now. "ANd you say you was raised in C--county, Virginia?" "Yes, m'm. Do you know J. S. P of that county? a former member of Congress from that state--he is a brother of my husband. I forgot what is your name?"
I told her. I then informed her that Iknew him. "Are you a relative of Judge S. of that county?" Some, but distant, and many other questions, all of which I answered, as I supposed with satisfaction. About this time two young ladies came to the door, and asked more questions in five minutes,than a Philadelphia lawyer could answer. In that number of hours. So the old lady said, that Mr. P. was not at home, but if I would go security that nothing would be interrupted by the men I had with me, that we could occupy J.P---'s office, which we were very willing to accept. I returned for the men, when we tgot back to the office, there was a servant making a general clean up in it, for our benefit. There was two beds in the room, and every thing to make us comfortable. We spent the night, got our supper and breakfast, thanked the lady for her kindness, and went on our way. So much for knowing somebody.
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