The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-07
A Chapter Of Local War History
In and Around the Town Of Marion
A Paper Read by Mrs. B. E Copenhaver, Historian Of
she E-,.ston Chapter, Y. D. c. at the Meeting Held
at Marion, Va, une | 3 and a. 1912


bridge was thus put into possession Of
tho news that was pasEinz over the
E wires. including the debates Of the Con-
E fetcrate Congress He finally smashed
, the telegraph Instruments and cut the
wires. proceeding thereafter TO his work
| OF destruction In the town OF Bristol.
/ a large storehouse filed with hams
and meats Was burned. shells were ex.
/ ploded. buildings were SGT on FIRE
{ burDridgc then advanced upon Ao-
/ insdon. reaching that place before the
| Confederate General Vaughn. who was
anXiousiy expected by tho citizens OF
/ tho town. Here the Federal troopg
were divided General Gillem was sent
/ IN pursuit ot General Vaughn Major
I Harrison. with 300 picked men. was
sent ahead 10 DESTROY the iron works
I near Marion having received orders 10
/ burn bridges and tear up railroad
track salons the way
( BY this time confusion reiened in
the town OF Marion Reports Of the
ravases OF the Federal troops in the
( villages along the line ran from mouth
/ 10 mouth Tne KNOBS and mountains
/ surrounding tho town received fugi-
lives of all classes Women waited.
| white-faced and trembling, in their
! homes
William sexton. clerk of the county.
| vas hauling corn on MS Farm near
Marion when frightened courier told
/ NAM OF tho rapid approach Of the enemy.
! Thinking nTEt not or his own safety.
/ but Of the records OF the county IN
| trusted TO his care. he mounted his
/ horse and salloped into the panic
l. stricken town Here he secured a
/ wagon and a negro driver Going into
! the courthouse. he gathered up the nles,
/ TRUSTING them into large box. which
ne put into tho wagon Mr.. Thurman.
q merchant, whose store was Just across
7 the street threw in a number OF bales
OF dry goods Just as Major Harr!son's
men came into town the wagno started.
Mr.. Sexton accompanies IT on horse
/ back
he turned in upon tho staiey's
Creek Road. hoping that tho Feacrals
I world take the main road 10 Wythe-
/ Vile. But they were bent upon the
/ destruction OF the iron WORKS. and.
/ therefore, took the same road. turning
4 In at the iron works. while Mr.. Sexton
/ continued along the Rye Valley Road.
The wagon had just reached the foot
/ Of tho Hill below the old Knlinger
! place when a messenger from the iron
| works came across the country with
/ the news that Harrison's men had
aestroyc@ the iron works ana Were
on the road 10 the Rye Valley At that
moment the claiter OF the approaching
cavalry was heard. and Mr. Sexton
realized the use lessness OF any further
| efforts at saving the records. Just
as Tho Federal troops came into sight
! he put spurs to his horse and rode
/ into the hills. He was pursued for
little distance by the enemy Several
shots were fred a. him. but ne made
good his escape :nto the mountains.
The Federal commander. after exam
sning the contents Of the wagon. set
fire to IL. He then dispatched TWO OF
his. men to the house on the hill. with
orders osearch il, and. IL rebels or
firearms were concealed in it. TO burn
It 10 the ground
The messengers were met at the
door by Katharine. the youngest
daughter of the house. They asked
Tor a drink Of water. and then most
courteously inquired If there were any
rebel soldiers or firearms concealed
about the house They were told that
tho men .: the ia mily were away with
the Confederate army. As TO firearms.
behind the door were stacked two new
guns captured from the Yankees and
left there by one OF the sons who
was at that moment home on fur
Tough and hidden in the knobs around
the house. The quick witted eldest
knowing Katharine's habit OF fearless
candor. grasped a rusty and battered
old rifle and came forward with 4 dis
arming smile.
! Here's Dads old gun" she said.
The Sourteous Northerners laughed
at the Grlapidated old weapon and made
no further effort to search the house.
Instead one OF them politely remarked:
i hear that calico IS scarce in the
South now There are several bales
OF II burning in that wagon at the
foot OF the hill. Go down and help
yourselves"
The girls watched the soldiers march
81 T.
camped for Il brief rest near the spring
which now supplies the town of Marion
with water Calico was indeed scarce
In the South in December. 1854. But
neither OF tho girls was minded TO
accept dress on such terms They
went back into the room where their
mother was.
From the window could be seen the
smoke of the burning wagon and the
camp fres OF the Federal eoldiers.
Katherine watched it. thinking of the
contents of the wagon. She knew Of
the burden II carried since Mr.. Sexton
had stopped in the road to warn the
family OF the coming Of Harris6n's
men She understood that the loss of
the records would involve the county
in an endless succession of lawsuits.
and she declared her intention of going
down and trying to save the books.
Her mother and sister begged her
not to make the attempt They told
her that the dangers of venturing SO
near the dreaded troops from the North
We're too real and terrible 10 be faced
ny an unprotected girl. But Katharine
persisted. She was confident that she
could save the books. and under cover
OF the approaching twilight. she went
down 10 the wagon. accompanied by
a Girl, servant OF the house
The books were burning slowly. and
she was able to carry them one at a
| time over footbridge to a clump OF
bushes. into which she threw them
The servant became alarmed at the