Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1911-03-28
Pee l,ectioas Of haries Town, 1861

Rec liections Of haries TGwn, 1901
Mr. Editor.-Fifty years ago. as boz.
I was a clerk in the store Of Hedges &
Trussell. who succeeded Brown & WASH
ingtou Pirst in the old Spirit of Jeffer-
son bu.ldiug on the corner. Afterwards
they moved INTO the block where later
the National Bank was built. Sam
Woody had shoe shop in the next
room. and John T cowley tailor shop
MP stairs. Old Cousin John Stephenson
lived in the brick house near the corner.
Hedges & Trusseil had good trade
from town and country people. most of
whom have passed away. / could re-
call now many of their names Captain
linn Hurst would ride up every Friday
(bauk davl and have me bring him a
pourd of tobacco Mr. Cato Moore would
buy a dollar worth of sugar and pay
me with gold dollar. Ladies from the
country came in two-horse carriages
with their daughters to shop. and the
girls were pretty in those days. ! call
to mad one who was beautiful. She
married and lived in Baltimore
Well. that winter and spring the war
clouds were lowering thick and fast. aud
the only talk in our store by those who
met there was of the coming conflict,
aud their talk was earnest and serious.
Here are their names: Capt John w
Rowan. Dan CockrIlI. Editor Frank
Reall. Tom Alexander John Waiting
ton. C w Trusseil and others. As the
weather became miIder the meetings got
to the sidewalk, and many young men
would stop and talk. and seemed anxious
for war. Charley Aisquith home from
Philadelphia. Horace GalIaher home
from Baltimore. Tin Moore. Tin Baylor.
Tom Burnett. and many others. and as
the news came from Congress at Wash
iugton, their excitement would increase,
and they wanted to fight. Along in
April, when Virginia was in the
throes of secession. the excitement ran
high, and enquiry would be put to Capt
Rowan, when are we goiug?" His
answer was Il am waiting for orders
from the Colonel"-Col VIM Allen. who
liued about eight miles southwest os
town. At last the day OF orders cam.
Virginia seceeded April 18th. aud on the
morning of April 10 the old town was
aroused by the ringing of bells and the
beating of drums aud the shouts of the
people. There was hurrying to and fro.
citizens appearing on the streets in uni
form and with guns IN their hands, as
soldiers, making ready TO form in line.
The Jefferson Guards. Captain Rowan.
became Company A. and the Bolts
Grays. Lawson Bolts Captain. became
Company G. OF the Second Virginia To-
faatry, afterwards IN the Stonewall BIT
gade. They marched to the w & P R R
depot and took cars for Harpers Ferry.
Henderson Cavalry went on horse
back. reckon Mr. Hedges had gone to
Baltimore to buy spring goods. and got
home on the last taain that came &c
Harpers Ferry AT that time.
After our army had marched away,
there was nothing TO prevent the UnioU
troops from coming in. winch they did
on jury II. reaching town about mid
day. coming from Smithdeld. and aftei
| Gen Patterson and staff had passed oui
store, making headquarters at Mr. An
drew Hunters home, the first troops, the
nth fudIanna Infantry. halted II iron
OF the store. stacked arms and rested Z
little while. Their uniform was gray
with red trimmings. Soon they marched
of, taking side street for the fields II
camp. Twenty-three regiments marched
IN. with flags streaming and bands play
ing, and csmp-d all around the town.
Each regiment had band OF music. anc
| Charles Town before nor since never
heard so much music. By that time oui
store was getting short of groceries. 81
we traded the soldiers wearing appare
for sugar and coffee. and got quite Z
supply for our home people. That army
began to move Saturday night. and by
o'clock Sunday the rear guard wa:
leaving town. and the people began tC
come out of their homes. and met eact
other as if they had been a long time
separated. Such was the beginning oil
the great war to Charles Town. ! also
saw the advance of Banks army. in Feb
ruary. 1852 The 9Th Michigan Cavalry
galloped down Main street with pistols
drawn and cooked. one OF whom fred
into Mr y 5 Whites perlor window. and
one went off and shot a horse in front OF
| Mr Nelson Gallaher'S house. and they
wanted to burn tue house. claiming the
shot came from there. History tells OF
the tremendous struggle the South made
for four years against immense odds.
until the storm Graded nation tell. and
the Southern Confederacy was entombed
10 the Metropolis of Nations at Apo
mattox. F. w. B.
Luray. Va.
rartinsburg voted dry" yesterday BIZ
liz majority.
United States Senator Clarence W