The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1892-04-28
A BIT OF HISTORY.
A Term of Forsyth Court that Was
Never Held.


Never Held.
The spring term of Forsyth's Su-
perior court in 1866 was not held.
Mr.. John Black burn, who was At
that time clerk of the court, record
ed on his docket the reasons why
said court was postponed. The fol-
lowing is his story In full as record
ed on one of the court ledgers:
The second Monday after the
fourth Monday of March, A. D. 1865,
being the 10th day of April.
Be 1t remembered that the above
mentioned 10th day of April, 1865,
is the regular time of holding the
Superior court of law of the county
of Forsyth at the court house in
Winston. And the clerk and Sheriff
T. J. Wilson and D. 81. Starbuck,
attorneys, some jurors, witnesses,
&c., attended. No Judge, solicitor,
or any other attorneys attended.
Considerable excitement and many
reports concerning the arrival of the
Federal army in town was in circu-
lation during the day, and after
waiting patiently for the judge to
come until middle of the afternoon,
and information being received that
the Yankee army was assuredly on
its way and not very far distant, the
people began to dispense rather un
tremendously, not taking time to
bid their friends adieu.
| consulted some of my friends
about what l should do with records
and papers in the Superior Court
Clerks office, and on consultation
concluded to remove the most valua-
BILE l moved some of my dockets
and placed them in the care of Mrs.
Emily Webb, wife of James Webb,
and some with Mrs Elizabeth Long,
widow, who lived in part of the large
brick building west of the court
house, known as Miller's store-house.
One of the dockets / handed in much
haste to my friend, George III. Flynt,
and requested him to do the best he
could tn save it. He left it with my
friend F. L. Gorrell, Esq. Some of
the most valuable papers l tumbled
into a sack and left them with Mrs.
Long. At this time great confusion
prevailed, it being certain the army
was not far distant.
Capt W. A. Albright, enrolling Off
Ger, had a considerable confederate
guard in the court house and they
LETT precipitately. | locked up the
office and started down street to hear
the news in Salem. | and Robert De-
| Schwelrity, principal of the Fem ale
Academy in Salem, Joshua Boner,
Mayor Of Salem, Thomas J. Wilson,
| Mayor of Winston, and r. l.. Patter
| -hn 70 Snln
their way up street to meet the Yam
kee army. They invited me to &C
company them, and we went up
street into Liberty in front of the
house then occupied by Mr.. Alexan-
| der Bowel, and halted there and wait
ed the arrival of the army. which was
| about or near shutdown.
The first was ten or fifteen men on
horseback with pistols in hand and in
full gallop. On their arrival within
forty or fifty yards we raised white
handkerchiefs to let them know our
mission was peace.
The replied all right. They were
angry and inquired for Confederate
or rebel soldiers; said they had been
| fired on. Others came up soon and
it was not long until General Pal
mer and staff arrived when one of
our company introduced himself to
| General Palmer and then introduced
| the others to him. He also intro
duced US to several of his officers,
etc., and invited us to accompany
him into town, which we did. The
main army encamped near the Salem
bridge on the west side of the creek.
The Generals headquarters was at
the residence of Joshua Boner, Esq.
in Salem. JOHN BLACKBURN,
| c. S c.