Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-11-07
THE
civil, WAR
F|FTY YEARS AGO TO-DAY
July IL, 1861-Lieut Col. John Pegram of Virginia Sur
rendered to Mai. Gen. George B. Mcclellan the Confed
crate Force at Rich MountainWhat Gen. Mcclellan Had
Accomplished

| Fifty years ago today the first cam.
paign in western Virginia was brought
| to a virtual close, when shortly before
midnight Lieut. Col John Pegram, OF
the goth Virginia infantry c. S. A, sent
to Maj Gen. George b. MCCLELLAN az
Beverly a messenger with a note to sur
render
Owing to the reduced and almost
famished condition Of the force now un-
der my command wrote Colonel Pc
gram, IT am compelled to offer to sur
render them to you as prisoners Of war.
1 have only TO ask that they receive at
your hands such treatment as northern
prisoners have invariably received from
the SOUTH"
1t was about 5 o'clock the next morn
Ii~g when the messenger was brought %
General oClellan The man had been
two days without food; gladly he ate the
breakfast at general offered him snu
Sta. more gladly he drank his whisky.
Meanwhile General, Mcclellan sent 1y
a member of his staff to "John Pegram,
Esq, styling hfnseff lieutenant colonel.
r. A. c. S. provisional army Confeder-
ate states)," an acceptance of his offer
OF surrender, and at once Colonel Pc
gram set oAe for Beverly with his COM
mand, 80 officers and 5g5 men.
On the way they were met by wagons
containin; hard bread for the men, and
at beverly, after stacking arms, the
men were given comfortable quarters
and served rations, while the officers
were put on parole with the liberties on
the tow
Il deem 1t my duty" colonel Pegram
wrote in his report, ito return my
thanks and the thanks Of the officers
here with me to General Mcclellan ror
the kind treatment our men have receiv-
ed from his troops"
The general himself writing to his
wife, says that he finds the prisoners
are beyond measure astonished at my
humanity to Them" IT have tried 10
temper justice with mercy" he writes
II think these men will do me no harm,
but that some mothers and sisters and
wives will bless the name Of your hus
band"
SITUATION AT RICH MOUNTAIN.
Colonel Pegrams surrender came as
the consequence of the battle of Rich
mountain, fought the day before.
Rich mountain is the most western OF
the spurs of the Alleghenies Just east
of it is the Tygart river valley, contain
of Randolph county, and across it runs
the turnpike from Parkersburg on the
Ohio to Stanton in the upper Shenan-
doah valley, one of the principal lines
OF communication between northwestern
and central Virginia.
The northern end of the mountain is
called Laurel hill and over this passed
the road from Philippi. occupied by the
federal troops since the defeat of Col.
Porterfeld on June g.
Brig Gen. Robert s. Garrett, who had
succeeded Col Porterfield in the Con-
federate command in that region, had
erected rough fortifications at the west
ern side Of both passes. That on Lau-
rel hin he himself held with about 5000
men. while that at Rich mountain, which
he considered the stronger position, he
had put in charge OF Col Pegram with
1900 men and four field pieces.
His preparations had barely been COM
pleted by July when the federal forces
appeared. Brig Gen. Thomas A. Morris
with strong brigade threatened Laurel
hill, while Gen. Mcclellan himself, with