Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1900-04-26
The Murder of DavY Getz.
WOODSTOCK, VA,
February 10, 1900

February IO, I9UU.
In last Sundays Dispatch is pub
lished an article by Mr.. R. D. Stuart
of Baltimore, giving an account of til,
horrible murder Of Davy Getz, of thit
place, by the command of Genera
George A. Custer.
While the article is generally cor
rect, it differs in some Of its detail.
from the account which I have Sc.
cured from persons who were present
and 'are still living in Woodstock
The writer personally knew the small
family, consisting of Andrew Getz
Elizabeth, his wife, and their simple
minded son, David. David was about
80 years Of age The family lived in
a small house close to the Methodist
church. For rent Of thishumble home
they acted as sections Of the church.
The fact that Davy was mentally de-
fcient was doubted by no one. A
single glance at his countenance would
convince any one. OF him were re-
quired no duties Of civil or military
character. He was simple and harm
less. The boys loved to tease him,
and many a Confederate soldier told
Davy that he had come from the army
to take him back with him. He was,
in every respect, nothing more than
very timid child. He had no am
bition to be soldier, but, on the con-
trary, was always badly frightened
when the suggestion was made that
he should 90 into the army.
He had in some way, become pos
sessed of an old musket, and with it
amused himself in hunting ground
squirrels and small birds. In the
summer of 1864 he was engaged in
his usual sport in the pines near his
home, when squad of Federal SOL
diers suddenly came upon him. To
their question Are you bush
whacker?" "Why, yes, he replied.
He had no more intelligent compre-
hension of the term "bushwhacker'
than he had of the doctrine Of trans
cendentalism. He was at once seized
by a number of the Federal soldiers,
dragged down High street to the pike
and then tied to a wagon, The poor
fellow was almost frightened to death,
and his heart-rending screams aroused
the whole town.
Accustomed, as were our people, to
the brutality OF the Federal hordes
that prowled through this valley,
nothing aroused their sympathy and
horror, not even the burning Of their
homes and churches by the fire fends
of the brutal Sheridan, as did this in
human outrage. Tied behind wag-
on and dragged through the streets,
his plaintive cries and shrieks brought
to their doors the ladies on either side
of the street. Helpless, they stood
and wept for the poor unfortunate.
Close behind him walked his aged
father and mother clasping each 9TH
er's hands, while their cries of distress
touched the hearts Of all, except the
inhuman captors. They continued to
follow their screaming child until they
were driven back by the bayonets Of
the Federal soldiers.
Clusters camp was about one mile
south Of Woodstock. Here he was
waited upon by Mrs. J. L. Campbell,
Mrs. Murphy, and other ladies Of the
town, who gave him truthful state
ment of the character Of the man, and .
besought Custer to look at him, as one
glance would have convinced him Of |
the truth Of their statements. He
roughly repulsed them. He was az
terwards visited by Moses Walton
distinguished lawyer Of Woodstock |
by DR.. J. S. Irwin, a Union man, Of .
this town, and by Mr.. Adolph Heller,
a prominent merchant and a strong
Union man, at whose house both Gus
ter and Torbett had occasionally made
their headquarters. While Mr.. Hell
Ter was at heart a Union man, he was
not of that kind who would give in
formation that would injure his neigh
bors, but was always ready to protect
the innocent, so far as it was in his
power. He earnestly besOught Gen
eral Custer to release the poor idiot
that was in his hands. When Custer
that he proposed to have
him shot, Mr.. Heller boldly exclaimed:
General Custer, you will have to
sleep in bloody grave for this. Sure
Iy, just God will not permit such
crime to 90 unavenged." These gen.
tlemen left his headquarters saddened