Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-13
NEW GOVERNMENTS.
A TASTE IN 1855 OF THE WORK
NOW TO BE DONE IN CUBA.
Experiences of Provost Marshal on
Reconstruction Duty in Virginia
in 1sG5-Marriage by Martial
New York SUM-

| army OF tearing down and setting up new
| local governments in the West Indies
| brings out many "reminiscences among
! veterans Of a neglected or half-forgotten
| phase Of the civil war. Practically the
same work was done when the United
States forces reoccupied territory which
had long been under Confederate rule,
Captain C. 3. Fairchjld, of the First New
| York Veteran Cavalry, tells the following
story OF his brief career as a dispenser
| OF martial law, in small doses. during
! April and May. 1865:
II was Just out of my teens" says
| the Captain, when the fortunes OF wa
| placed me at the head of the Provost
| Marshars Bureau in a district OF South
western Virginia, which for four years
had been disputed ground between the OPP
| posing armies. Headquarters was at the
| army outpost on Loup Greek. We held
| the rod Of martial law as gently as we
| dared over the people within the lines
| and. as our government claimed 10 rule
| the adjoining territory as belonging to
| the loyal State of West Virginia. the in
! habitants outside the lines, who were not
under arms for the Confederacy. had
| rights which we were bound TO respect
| and TO protect
"a few months training in the Office be-
| fore General Echol's Confederates aban-
| doned the region and started east TO join
Lee, on the James. gave me an insight
| into the feelings of the people, theii
wants, and attitude, and in fact, the
whole political situation so new to all OF
| US. l had to discipline disloyalists, armed
| partisans and outlaws. and TO favor and
protect the innocent men and women,
whose lives were disturbed by years OF
existence between two fires. Immediately
| after the surrender of Lee l was order
ed to advance into the hostile territory,
comprising several counties in the south
eastern part of the State along the pres
ent line Of Virginia proper, and set up a
local government. There had not been a
show of Federal authority there for four
years, excepting when our armed forces
marched through to or from some battle
field on the disputed border. But the
Confederate soldiers had departed leaving
the local authorities without protection,
and very much in the fog as to what
would happen next. There were no munich
paites to deal with, only county govern
ments, and these the prolonged war. with
the constant presence of armies and arm
ed men. had reduced to a state Of chaos
Besides, what had we to succeed them
WITH
my orders instructed me 10 secure
the public archives of the several coun-
ties passed through, to appoint and en-
power new county clerks to take them
into custody and administer the duties
of the Offices. and TO place these officials
under bonds as required by law. But
there were no counties existing in that
territory according to our view. We
were practically face TO face with a
foreign sovereignty, smashed TO pieces
by our conquest. The dominion OF the
newly-erected State of West Virginia
had never been extended over that re-
gion. and the people and officials con-
sidered themselves outside OF the United
States and in the plight of conquered
foreigners.
AT the first county seat visited
Somerville, Nichols county, found that
the Confederate incumbent, who bore the
suggestive name of Alexander Ham
ilton, had allowed the official archives
TO be taken into what was locally known
as Eas, Virginia, the unequivocally Con-
federate part of the State. Fortunately,
i had with me on the trip, in the capacity
of chief clerk. man thoroughly
Informed in that section of country.
This was James Van Blbber, Of the
Seventh West Virginia Cavalry FederaD.
Van Bibber had been reared in the re-
gion, and moreover, had travelled all
through it repeatedly before the war.
When Virginia seeded he had gone with
IL into the Confederate service, and as
soon as partial conquest had been made.
returned TO allegiance to the United
States and Joined the local volunteers.
His knowledge of the responsible and in
fiuential citizens and of the temper OF
the people was of great service 10 me,
and | settled the deadlock in Nichols
county by authorizing Hamilton to bring
back the archives and continue to act
under his old bonds until a new county
was organized under the laws Of West
Virginia. He did so, and less than a
year ago learned that he is still in office
and the only one OF my appontees now
living
The night after leaving Somerville l
accepted the inequalities Of the noted
bear hunter of Sewell Mountains, Griggs
McClung. So fascinating were the old
mans tales of beal-hunting exploits that
L sat with him all night by a blazing log
and forgot all about the worries OF a gov
eminent official wrestling with points OF
law. Next day McClung beguiled my te-
dious journey to Lewisburg. the seat OF
Greenbrier county twenty miles distant.
with his stories OF old times. At Lewis
burg | first came into contact with some
Of the leading ex-Confederates among
them Congressman r. NJ T. Hunter and
Governor Sam. Price. Price |
originally opposed dsunion but finally |
took the office Of Lieutenant-Goyernor I'M |
der the Confederacy. These gentlemen |
were very cordial and aided me greatly, |
but were very much amused over the eff |
forts Of STRIPPING whose sole experience |
In the world, outside the army, had con- |
sisted of couple or terms at teaching a |
district school. / was glad TO have their |
OF my amateur method OF |
setting up government for IL tell the |
truth | had no guidance and was after |
ward brought 10 book, officially, as well |
as abused by certain people for 'continu- |
ing rebels in Office. But my action stood |
because there were no Federal counties |
existing at the time TO validate new bonds |
for new appointees.
AT Union Monroe. seat OF Monroe coun- |
ty, / had my first clash with any one as
suming authority. The captain or local |
home guard (FederaD had seized the ar
chives. had deposed the clerk. and was
affairs himself. Finding that the
Did Confederate clerk was willing TO
serve, | took him TO the office, accom- |
panied by his sureties, all worthy citi-
Gems, and placed the property and all au-
hority In their hands, turning the tables
On the captain.
AT Union Monroe l dipped still further
INTO amateur ethics and married two
,ountns hv he dfvina rfOht 81 ,,flg.o.. |