Impact of the Federal and Confederate Armies on the Local Population of Highland County in 1861-62 Extracts from the Memoirs of the Rev. W.T. Price

(Presbyterian Minister / Circuit Rider based in McDowell)

Three hand written volumes covering 1854-1864,West Virginia State Archives, Charleston-- Researched and transcribed by Hank and Linda Trent

This transcription was done hurriedly before the previous McDowell and was sent to the McDowell list as a series of emails, with the various subheadings as the email subject lines, so it wasn't divided that way in the original manuscript. There may be many typos and general mistakes, due to the nature of the hurried transcription.

Part 1: Federals occupy McDowell:Transcriber’s Note: From Rev. Price's manuscript, this part concerns Mrs. Hull, General Milroy and a neighbor who pretended to be a unionist.

”In a few days a city of tents appeared to rise as if by magic in the beautiful valley of McDowell. Everything indicated that this would be a military depot and that it was designed by the Federal Generals to occupy this point permanently. Nearly all of the residents had deserted the village upon the approach of the Federal army, leaving their sweet and once quiet homes to the mercy of the invader. But two families remained, one of these was the family of a deceased Confederate officer who had died of fever contracted at Camp Bartow on Greenbrier River. In the death of her devoted husband the widowed wife felt that she had endured the worst a merciless mercenary could inflict and she resolved to remain at home with her [illeg.] children and abide the consequences.Her residence was large and commodious and the officers in command sent to know of her, whether she would receive them as boarders. It was a neighbor who brought their message, a man who felt it to be his most prudent policy to disguise his former secession proclivities and conciliate the clemency of the federal officers by acting in a way that led the federals to believe that he was a good union man. He had taken the [illeg.] path not from sympathy or desire for the ultimate success of the invasion of Virginia, but as a means securing his property from being seized without compensation for the use of the army.The lady replied in plain but respectful terms, that she was not prepared to receive boarders, her health was much impaired, her supplies were limited, and all facilities for replenishing her scanty store had been cut off by their presence, her sympathies were entirely with the south, consequently she would greatly prefer not receiving any one of them into the house, for their presence would be a source of continual annoyance. She knew that she was in their power however and they could come and drive her from her home if they saw fit. But tell them, said she, if they do come here to board, it will be without my consent, anyhow. Upon receiving her reply, they came immediately and took up their quarters and ordered dinner to be prepared as soon as possible. Among these unwelcome guests so destitute of true manly feeling, who eat at her table, was Gen. Milroy, the general commanding. His manner was very haughty, slightly mollified with something of a patronizing air towards his secession hostess and while at the table he asked quite a number of questions respecting the state of public sentiment in the community around, whether there were many secessionists or not. When she told him that every person of any standing or respectability in society were ardent sympathizers with the cause of the South he became quite petulant and profane. He abused the secessionists in language such as ruffians use in groggeries and brothels, and which shall not appear upon this page to shock the reader's eye. When the widowed wife heard these profane and abusive epithets applied to those whose only offence was they loved the cause to which her husband had devoted his life and had fallen a victim, her feelings overcame her and almost blinded with tears she arose from the table and retired weeping and sobbing to her chamber. Now what is really surprising, the Federal General softened down a little when he [illeg.] and actually apologized for what he had said in her presence. But she would accept no apology from him and but seldom appeared at table again, during the time the officers remained in her house...

”Part 2: How to Deal with Officers:Transcriber’s note: This is part 2 of the same section of Rev. Price's manuscript. It tells how the citizens learned to interact with the federal officers.

”To the credit of the general [Milroy] be it recorded here that during the most of his stay, he behaved himself pretty well, and was more guarded in his language in the presence of ladies. Sometimes I have been informed he could be actually affable and polite, especially if some smooth talking deceitful man or old woman would call at his headquarters in search of a stolen horse or cow taken by some of his thieving soldiers, would praise up the union and flatter him with fulsome compliments before making their business known. While his vanity would be thus tickled, by the oily tongued owner of the stolen property, "pressed" as he would term it, in his presence, he would direct an order to be written authorizing the giving up of the missing property.It has been communicated to me as a useful secret, by those who have seen a good deal of the Federal officers, that in order to get along with them, deception and lying are indispensable. If a true and sincere Christian man or woman comes into their presence wishing to recover anything "pressed," or more properly stolen, and candidly confesses that they are conscientiously attached to the Southern Confederacy, that their only desire is to do what is right and recover what is justly their own, and no more, while their prayers and sympathies are with Virginia and the South, yet they are quiet and peaceable citizens, desiring to remain at home and interrupt no body. They had understood that if they would remain at home, that their right should be respected, nothing that they had should be disturbed and believing these proclamations, they did so, and tried to conceal nothing. The federal soldiers were kindly received and fed at the houses, but upon leaving drove away horses, sheep or cattle and left no pay for them, and they have come to claim the protection promised in their proclamation and recover what has been lost.

Then the generals would usually become excited with transparent rage, denounce these sincere and honest [illeg] citizens as the cause of all our national troubles, that starvation, hell and damnation, were all too good for the secesh, and unless they take the oath of allegiance to uphold and sustain the government, they need not expect to be allowed to leave the lines, recover their property, or receive any compensation. The oath would be administered, and order would be written, but in many instances the property was not forthcoming or the proper officer was out of camp, or some other trivial reason assigned, for not giving up the property. The claimants are sent home with the request that they call again, and perhaps, all would be right then. This policy of sincerity and candor will not do, with these generals as a class, but if a different policy is pursued, and one assumes the [illeg] of the hypocrite, rolls up the eyes with pious glances at the stars and stripes, shed a few crocodile tears in sympathy with the imperiled union, greatly deplore the infatuation of men, who know their rights and dare maintain them, then these generals soften down very much, they try to speak tenderly of the happiness and joys of Heaven in store for the loyal and union-loving, how the blessing of God will rest upon those who go forth to battle for the Government, and how grossly absurd it is for one to be a Christian and a secessionist at the same time. Positive opinions of protection are given, peremptory orders are issued to restore what is claimed, and all seems to pass off pleasantly.”

Part 3: Foragers and Citizens:Transcriber’s Note: The next part of Rev. Price's manuscript. This talks about how foragers treated citizens in Highland County, and mentions a surprising change from first impressions.

”Having said this much respecting the officers, something will now be recorded about the soldiers under their command. When the Fed troops came to Highland, every true southerner was really alarmed by the kind and conciliating manner, in which they treated the citizens near their first encampments. The [illeg] was industriously circulated from the officer commanding, to the people of the county, to remain quietly at their homes, pursue their usual avocations, and nothing they had should be molested.Some of the soldiers looked over the village of Monterey, and seemed to be very much grieved to see that a place so beautiful should be so much abused and injured by the rebels. The garden fences to which southern cavalry had tied their horses had been broken considerably, and presented a condition so dilapidated as to elicit the liveliest sympathies of the union soldiers from Wheeling and Cincinnati. They asked permission to repair them and took much pleasure in saying through sentimental newspaper correspondence that it was their high and holy mission to restore the blessings of the old union and to alleviate as much as possible the ruin and desolation brought upon these beautiful mountain valleys, by the hell-deserving rebels.Fences were repaired, and the gardens spaded up by the soldiers, they cut wood and carried water for families, some of whose members were refugees, or soldiers in the Confederate service. It seemed that they would subjugate west Virginia [?] with overmuch kindness. There is but little doubt many persons secretly congratulated themselves upon the arrival of the United States troops bringing thus with them the blessings of the old flag and so tenderly erasing the destroying footsteps of the Confederates.

Many farmers vigorously set about doing double work upon their farms in order to raise larger crops than usual, quite a number deserted form the Confederate army upon the Shenandoah, and returned to their homes, and began to work in the fields, feeling sure that Confederate cavalry would not return to molest them while under the folds of the union flag. Some individuals were known to enter the federal lines, and upon their return gave the most positive assurance, that if there were any persons subject to military duty and yet did not wish to fight in either army, if they would come to their houses and work for them on the farms, they should be protected and receive liberal wages.The great mass of the population were thrown completely off of their guard, and the invaders spread themselves everywhere, and took full possession of every point without even a faint show of opposition of the citizens. The cavalry scoured the country in every direction, reconnoitering pasture fields, corn cribs, smoke houses, hen roosts and kitchens, and it seemed to pain them very much, that this rebellion should be so unsparing upon its own people. The cavalry having completed their reconnaissance, foraging parties began to go out in every direction, escorted by detachments of cavalry. There was evidently some system observed. The first that went around were quite polite and gentlemanly in their bearing towards the citizens and were very conciliating indeed. The most courteous and chivalrous southerner could scarcely excel them. After these came another class with foraging wagons. They did but little except take part of the grain and bacon, give receipts for the amount, and kindly invite the people to call at the quartermaster office for their pay. But after these, another class foraged upon principles entirely new in civilized warfare. They had government wagons, were commanded by United States officers and guarded by soldiers, regularly mustered into the federal service. These latter class ransacked houses from cellar to garret, pillaging drawers and trunks of all letters, jewelry and fancy articles. The letters they would read and make sport of, the heart pins would be fastened to their caps, and the artificial flowers were frequently used in decorating their horses' bridles. Spring houses and smoke houses were emptied of every thing stored up in them, milk, cheese, butter, pickles and meat. Hen houses were robbed, even hens that had been setting for weeks, would be carried off and made into pot-pie, and their eggs taken and [illeg] in camp to their comrades. Ducks, geese and turkeys shared a similar fate. Sometimes the housewives and their [illeg] daughters were provoked beyond endurance and would cut loose upon the miserable and dirty thieves in order to shame them but they would have to yield and retire blushing from the presence of the shameless blackguards, and leave everything at their disposal.”“Lest the reader might think that I am romancing, I shall [illeg] the following extracts from the journal of a minister of a gospel. The facts therein stated will be qualified to at anytime by the persons whose names are mentioned as strictly correct. Nothing like all the sufferers are mentioned, for but a few specimen instances are given in these extracts. "May the 13th 1862. ‘Today I returned from my temporary exile and I have spent it visiting my people who have suffered so much from the recent invasion of the federals.’.”

Transcribers: note: (Here insert the journal at the end of the book.) [Not sure what journal he was referring to--all his papers stacked up about 3" high and were hard to sort out; it might even have been missing].

”The federals, as a general thing could excel our people in the use of profane, blackguard or abusive epithets, and it was a superiority, very cheerfully accorded them by almost everyone but so long as they would talk decently they could be pretty well matched as one or two anecdotes will serve to show. One morning a lieutenant was pompously promenading the room of a house, where he had been spending a few days. He seemed to be quite a nice young man compared with many of his comrades, and he was quite fond of lady's society. He was in animated conversation with a young lady at the time referred to and in the course of this promenading and conversation he stepped up to the table, on which were placed some books and papers. Assuming an air of mock surprise, he exclaimed, "Why you have the Bible here, who would have thought it!" The young lady seated on the opposite side of the room, for I must do her the justice to say that she was seated all the time and showed but little pleasure in this company, modestly observed, "Yes sir we have the Bible, and I do expect we have as many Bibles in the South, as you have in the North and read them as much too." [several words illeg] I must say, Miss, that this horrible rebellion is a mighty poor way of showing a good use of the Bible. When we started from our homes to engage in this war, which a good use of the Bible might have prevented, we took the Bible in our hand, and the sword in the other." "I suppose then, sir, that you set out for good or for evil, and somehow the evil has gotten the better of you, judging from the way your men have acted so far in this war." The pompous Lieutenant was nonplussed and renewed his promenading in moody silence and when he did speak, it was to change the subject.”

Part 4: Fear of Federal Arrival (1):

“My faltering pen admonishes me not to attempt a description of the scenes that followed the announcements of this, as the intelligence was given from house to house. Rumors of the most exaggerated character flew with the wings of the wind, intensified the popular excitement, that Gen. Jackson was retreating across the Blue Ridge. Gen. Johnston with his devoted Northwest troops were on the march to join him, and thus leave the valley with its happy homes and fruitful fields and ample stores of provisions, an easy conquest to the mercenary and heartless invaders. The sabbath that followed is remembered by thousands as the most gloomy of their lives. The sky was overcast with dense clouds, a cold north wind blew the rain and caused it to fall in chilling spray upon all exposed, but the sky of the future was yet more dark and the tears wept by fond mothers and gentle maidens far more chilling to the best feelings of the sensitive heart. Many remained at home recalling with a recollection painfully vivid the accounts to which they once listened with idle curiosity received from refugees, and now began to realize their mournful import as the scenes they portrayed were about to be reenacted before their own eyes. Many fond parents who had heard of the fair refugees from Fairmont now thought of their own sweet daughters, and with aching heart reflected that ere another week, they too might be homeless exiles, seeking a refuge from the coarse ribaldry and obscene [illeg] of a contemptible hireling soldiery, [illeg], the soldiers of the union.”

Transcriber’s Note: [I think "the fair refugees from Fairmont" are Mary and Abbie staying at Mrs. F.H. Hull's. He said earlier "the late Capt. F. H. Hull... had kindly offered Mary and Abbie home beneath his peaceful roof" and mentioned elsewhere they were from Fairmont. Anyone know more about them?]

“Men of God whose charges were in the county were seen slowly moving over muddy roads to their house of worship, to find but few in attendance, but with aching hearts [several words illeg] to verify to them the promise, that where two or three are gathered together in his name there he would be in their midst. They felt that ere another sabbath, these sacred places, endeared to themselves and people by associations of the most hallowed character, might be desecrated by the presence of an infidel German soldiery who in the name of liberty would take possession if it, as a place for smoking, drinking, gaming, and profane language.”... ... ...“Throughout the valley men's hearts failed them for fear, panic and perplexity seem to have deprived the multitude of their self posession. Business was suspended, government stores removed with much unnecessary loss, the sick and wounded hurried away to different places out of the Blue Ridge which resulted in much suffering and in some instances death.”

Part 5: Fear of Federal Arrival (2):Transcriber's Note: Backing up a bit, in this post and the one I'll send next, Rev. Price talks about why he thought the Federals were so arrogant, and the mood of the people just before the Federals arrived. I've left out a large section in the middle, where he goes into detail on military tactical movements. (manuscript begins at this point)

“In reflecting upon the strange behavior of the federal troops towards unoffending citizens it is hard to assign an adequate reason why they should be so bold and reckless. It has been suggested to me that it may be explained as a result of their being confident of final success, and that they looked upon this region as being completely subjugated and the reason for their thinking this was to be found in the falling back of the North Western troops from their entrenched camp on Shenandoah, to Valley Mills a few miles west of Staunton. After a pretty thorough reconnaissance the federal officers reached the conclusion the way to Staunton by the Parkersburg road was altogether impracticable as long as the Confederates held the mountain and there is much reason to believe that they were on the point of abandoning this route when intelligence was brought them that the confederates had hastily fallen back. They immediately seized the mountain and evidently regarded the "on to Staunton" as virtually accomplished, when the stars and stripes floated from the wooden walls of the temporary confederate fortifications on Shenandoah summit and reinforcements were hurried from [illeg] to Monterey and McDowell, which became the base of what were designed to be permanent military operations.

This falling back of the Confederates occasioned a joyful surprise to the enemy and a painful surprise to our friends and none were more surprised than General Johnson himself, who chanced to be absent at the time on an official visit to Gen Jackson at Swift Run Gap.On one day the hundreds of peaceful families whose sweet homes adorn and beautify the valley of Virginia, rested in a charming sense of security because an army stood between them and the enemy and had chosen a position acknowledged by the enemy to be impregnable. The next day all was confusion and dismay as the smoke of camp fires was seen to arise from the oaken groves around and beyond the valley of West View indicating that there had been another falling back leaving the way open to valley.

Part 6: The citizens want revenge: Transcriber’s Note: This is the last part of this continuous section that I have copied. In this part, he and the citizens start itching for some old-testament style vengeance on the federals.

”[The federal army's] confidence became overweening, and their behavior to old men, children and females disgustingly insolent. Foraging parties went everywhere with small guards, and apparently with as little fear of surprise or attack as if they were foraging in Maine or Michigan. After a day of robbery and plunder, they would halt at some private swelling for the night, feed their horses, eat their suppers,give the family some insolence, and then stretch themselves upon the floor, and fall into the most profound sleep, leaving none to act as sentinels, often times such was their sense of security, so fully did they believe that Virginia was subjugated beyond all power of resistance.One night as many as thirty came to the home of a mountaineer, whose secession sympathies were well known. They were exceedingly jovial and hopeful, and after a cheerful supper, spread their blankets upon the floor and fell asleep. Not one was appointed to keep guard. When the brave patriotic mountaineers saw them sleeping so profoundly and thought upon their business here, to pillage, burn and slay, his heart burned for revenge. He silently stole forth to where his two axes were concealed and carried them into his cabin, fully determined to chop their hands off. His wife suspected his purpose, seized his uplifted arm and by her tears and entreaties caused him to relent and forbear his purpose. He laid his axes aside and permitted them sleep on unmolested. The vile wretches owe their lives to the tenderness of a woman's heart which made her forget the errand on which they came, and that perhaps some one of these might yet meet her absent sons in the shock of battle when her tears may again flow, as they had today, are told that one or both have fallen by their hand.Such a careless manner of scouting and foraging led many persons, who had heretofore thought but little of taking an active part in resisting them, now to lay plans to cut some of them off. It was now very plain that fear not principle was the controlling motive with these deceitful men, and there was in many minds, the opinion that it would be better to damage the enemy as much as possible and defy them to do their worst, or as much as they dare. It was evident that the rights of private property were not respected, that it was the enemy's intention to take all as they may need it or could use what the country afforded. It would be better, thought some, to have what they destroyed immediately rather than suffer the enemy to have the advantages of its use. Consequently opportunities were sought for, to inflect injury upon the enemy's foraging parties. It was not long until a desired opportunity presented itself. A train of 28 wagons came to Williamsville...