The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-01
Wartime "Reminiscences of Wise
County
BY q Il Chdpmnn N.
AZ "A thin

About March OF this year a letter
Addressed Postmaster. Gladesville,
Va" was received at the pos Office at
Wise. dated at Shenandoah. O.. March
2. 1911. and was answered by Assistant
Postmaster j. T. Riner. which letter
made inquiries concerning present con-
ditlons in this county. and recounted
se.eral incidents that occurred m this
vicinity in ls62'63, forty nine years
ago. The letter was from Mr., B. F.
Morris. who says among other things:
~ was one OF the frst Union soldiers
that entered Gludesville (nate the
spelline) in the evening OF May 81,
1852. The next day was Sunday
Twelve of US were sent out about Elk
or seven miles on the road to the Ab-
ingdon salt works Near an old meet
ing house we had a little skirmish
with aome home guards. In the dash
my, horse slipped and fell on me in
front OF a house. After getting out
from under my horse, 1 noticed a Con.
federate officer In the road sgme dis
lance in front OF me, and coming to-
wards me. Just than young lady
ran out Of the house saying. Oh. that
Is my father. Please don't shoot him.
told her would not unless he tried
TO shoot me first. He came up to me
and surrendered. The man was lieu
tenant in the Confederate Army, and
was at home on furlough His name,
snodgrass. / found him to be a very
nice man, as I rode by his side back
to. GladesVille. ] have often wondered
about him and his daughter that stood
trembling by my side when took him
prisoner Any information YOU can
give me about her or any member OF
the family will be highly appreoi.
ated."
To our older citizens, who knew this
locality In the years Of the war, or
for many years following II. Il is
not necessary to say that the meet.
Ing house" mentioned in Mr.. Morris's
letter, stood on the hill Just east Of
what is now Dorchester Junction, ana
that the house 10 front which his
horse fell. is the old Snodgrass homo
at West Norton.
The Confederate Lieutenant captured
was ESQ. John snodsrass. father or
our townsman. A. F. snodgrass and
the young lady was Mr. Snodsrass's
Oldest daughter, afterwards Mrs
Franklin Gilley, now of Ashland, Ky.
Mr.. Morris says that Mr.. snodgrass
was taken along with other prisoners
to Pikeville, KY, and he thinks from
there sent to Camp Chase, Columbus,
Ohio.
Mr. Riner received \ second letter
from Mr., Morris. in which he tells OF
being, as liSutenant of cavalry, the
leader OF the van in the attack upon
Gladesville July Z. 1863. he says that
three Confederates rushed out of tho
hotel. and that he gave chase and cap
tured two Of them. The other escaped
by getting behind a house and disap-
pearing This man, he thinks. was
probably the father of Mr. I r. u,,
Rev. Daniel kipef who stiIl lives on
Indian Creek. in this county, and VINO
is said to have escaped in that man.
ner. at that time.
In later letter to MI a. F. snod.
grass he inelpsed his laterst photo
graph, taken in hia wartime uniform.
the cavalry Jacket still bearing blood
stains from wound received in Ceor.
gia in 1864. and wearing sword can
tured by his wife's L-other. William
oberlin, at Gladesville. July Z, 1853.