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Transcribed Newspaper Articles--Augusta County: 1864 Valley Campaign
- The Spectator, March 8, 1864, p. 1, c. 7:
"To The Farmers Of Augusta, Rockingham And Shenandoah." Author predicts that the
Valley will be subject to enemy raids during the coming
planting season. Tells farmers that the plundering of farms can be prevented if they provide feed
for the cavalry horses, which could then protect the farms.
- The Vindicator, May 6, 1864, p. 2, c. 2:
"From the Lower Valley." The most reliable report of the enemy's movement in the Valley
indicates that the enemy is encamped at Fisher's Hill, three miles from Strasburg, and has captured
Woodstock. This movement up the Valley is believed to have been a cover for Sigel, who is
reported to have met up with Meade's army by way of Front Royal.
- The Spectator, May 17, 1864, p. 2, c. 2:
"Battle And Victory Near New Market." Reports that Confederate troops, including cadets
from VMI, successfully drove back the Union army at New Market and in the process took
ninety-fiveYankees prisoner.
- The Vindicator, July 8, 1864, p. 2, c. 1: "Justice." The
editor has heard rumors that a citizen or two took oaths of loyalty to the United States during the
recent enemy occupation of the Valley. The editor has been unable to validate the rumors and
offers instead a number of examples of how patriotic the citizens of Augusta were during the
recent crisis.
- The Vindicator, July 8, 1864, p. 2, c. 2: "The Enemy in the
Valley." The editor offers a long account of the recent battles in the Valley, noting the desire
of the enemy to occupy this important area of the state and detailing the troop movements,
advances, and defeats in the Valley in recent weeks.
- The Vindicator, July 15, 1864, p. 2, c. 1: "Who Are
They?" Discusses the Confederate raid in Pennsylvania, which surprised Northerners who
were expecting to hear of the capture of Petersburg.
- The Vindicator, July 15, 1864, p. 2, c. 3: "The "Staunton
Spectator.'" The editor and proprietor of the Staunton Spectator, Richard Mauzy, announces
that the publication of the Spectator has been suspended since publication of its issue dated May
31, 1864, because of the destruction of its offices by the enemy on June 7. The enemy destroyed
everything in the building on all three stories, and only the job press is repairable. Mauzy
expresses relief to learn that other editors in line of the enemy's march have not suffered as greatly
as he has.
- The Vindicator, July 22, 1864, p. 2, c. 2: "Movement into
Maryland." The editor notes that Valley people eagerly await news from Confederate forces
in Maryland, particularly news of any acts they may have commented in retaliation for the enemy's
treatment of the Valley and its people recently. The editor tries to explain why Confederate
forces did not attempt to capture Washington D. C.
- The Vindicator, July 22, 1864, p. 1, c. 6: "The Burning of
Gov. Letcher's Residence." Describes the burning of former Governor Letcher's residence in
Lexington, Virginia, by enemy forces.
- The Vindicator, July 22, 1864, p. 2, c. 1: "War News."
Provides miscellaneous news from Pennsylvania, Petersburg, and Georgia. The article states that
the Confederate army has recrossed the Potomac from Maryland and is once again in Virginia.
The front at Petersburg has been quiet, with the exception of the enemy's shelling of the city.
- The Vindicator, July 29, 1864, p. 1, c. 5: "Hunter's
Disastrous Retreat." The editor quotes from an article in the Columbus (Ohio) Statesman and
comments further on the advance and retreat of Hunter's forces into and out of the Valley and
then into western Virginia. While in the Valley, the enemy troops took all food from women and
children, destroyed what they did not eat themselves, rifled the library at Virginia Military
Institute, and burned the Institute.
- The Vindicator, July 29, 1864, p. 2, c. 2: "War News."
Provides miscellaneous war news from Petersburg, Georgia, and the Valley.
- The Vindicator, July 29, 1864, p. 2, c. 4: "Office Recorder
Virginia Forces." Joseph Jackson, Jr., Recorder of the Virginia Forces, calls for the collection
of reports and documentation of vandalism by enemy raids and occupation, by order of Governor
Smith. The clerk of the county court in Augusta is authorized to gather such information for the
county.
- The Vindicator, August 12, 1864, p. 2, c. 1: "War
News." The editor summarizes developments in the war in the past week, concentrating on
Petersburg, the lower Valley, and the burning of Chambersburg, Pa.
- The Vindicator, August 19, 1864, p. 2, c. 1: "War
News." The editor surveys developments in the war in the preceding week, particularly in
Petersburg and Atlanta. He also reports that, in the Valley, General Early's troops are near
Strasburg awaiting the enemy.
- The Vindicator, August 26, 1864, p. 1, c. 5: "Why
Chambersburg Was Burned." A letter writer from Maryland summarizes General Early's
demands on the town of Chambersburg as recompense for General Hunter's destruction in
Jefferson County, Virginia.
- The Vindicator, August 26, 1864, p. 2, c. 1: "War
News." The editor summarizes developments in the war throughout the Confederacy in the
preceding week, including news from the Valley where a clash around Winchester between
General Early and Union forces resulted in the capture of four-to-five hundred Yankee prisoners,
who arrived in Staunton on Wednesday.
- The Vindicator, September 9, 1864, p. 2, c. 2: "War
News." Provides war news from Atlanta, Petersburg, and the Valley. The article includes
details of the fall of Atlanta.
- The Vindicator, September 23, 1864, p. 2, c. 1: "War
News." The editor reports the particulars of the engagement three miles below Winchester
last Monday between General Early's forces and the enemy. Among those killed on the
Confederate side was Colonel Funk of the 5th Virginia Infantry. Major Newton from the same
regiment was wounded, and Captain James Bumgardner and Lieutenant William Galt of the 52nd
regiment are reported missing.
- The Vindicator, October 21, 1864, p. 2, c. 1: "Retribution
Will Come." The editor compares the recent enemy occupation of the Valley with a previous
occupation. Before, the destruction was not as vast and severe, and the public outcry, including
in the North, was against Hunter and his tactics. This time, however, the destruction is of far
greater consequence, as Sheridan attempted to carry out Grant's order to make the Valley a
"barren waste."
- The Vindicator, October 21, 1864, p. 2, c. 2: "War
News." Among the war news summarized by the editor this week is a report from New
Market that General Early attacked and beat General Sheridan Wednesday morning at or near
Cedar Creek. No other information is available at this time.
- The Vindicator, October 28, 1864, p. 2, c. 1: "The Battle of
Bell Grove." The editor offers a summary of the battle between General Early and General
Sheridan near Cedar Creek on Wednesday, October 19, 1864. In spite of Confederate losses, the
enemy cannot claim victory.
- The Vindicator, October 28, 1864, p. 2, c. 3: "Gen'l Early's
Address to His Army." Reprints the text of General Early's address to the army of the Valley
on October 22, 1864, in which he criticizes them for abandoning their position and plundering the
enemy's camp. Their actions, Early claims, caused the men to fail to achieve what would have
been "one of the most brilliant and decisive victories of the war."
- The Vindicator, November 18, 1864, p. 1, c. 4: "A Modern
Antaeus." The Chicago Times cannot decide whether to admire the many victories the
North has had
in the Valley of Virginia or to admire the Confederate forces there who have suffered so many
defeats yet continue to resist and fight back. Each time General Early fights back more quickly
and more deadly, only to be defeated more severely each time.
- The Vindicator, November 18, 1864, p. 1, c. 6: "Failure of
Grant's Recent Advance." General Grant was to have assembled a large number of troops in
order to take Richmond from all sides, but was still unable to capture the city. In the end, some
of the troops he had hoped to assemble were engaged elsewhere, including in the Valley. The
current theory is that Grant will wait until spring to try to take the city again.
- The Vindicator, November 18, 1864, p. 2, c. 4:
"Rockingham's Losses." The latest Yankee raid resulted in the following damage to
Rockingham County: 30
houses, 450 barns, and 31 mills burned; 100 miles of fencing torn down; 100,000 bushels of
wheat, 50,000 bushels of corn, and 6,232 tons of hay destroyed; 1,750 cattle, 1,750 horses, 4,200
sheep, and 3,350 hogs carried off; 3 factories and 1 furnace burned; an immense number of
farming utensils destroyed; and countless household furnishings wrecked.
- The Vindicator, November 25, 1864, p. 2, c. 1: "War
News." The editor reports that rain for several days has stopped temporarily the military
operations at Richmond and Petersburg, with the exception of the capture by General Pickett of
an enemy picket line. The Confederate loss in the encounter was one killed and nine wounded.
Enemy attempts to recapture the position and reestablish picket lines were unsuccessful. The
editor includes also reports from east Tennessee, Georgia, and the lower Valley.
- The Vindicator, November 25, 1864, p. 2, c. 2: "'While We
Dislike . . .'" Even though the subject of the enemy's treatment of people in the Valley has
received
much attention already, the editor is compelled to comment further because of the extent of the
destruction in Augusta County. The editor questions how the people of the United States can
claim to be in the forefront of civilization and still act with the "malicious inhumanity" and
"wanton barbarity" evident in recent transgressions in the Valley. The editor calls upon the
county court of Augusta to follow the example of Rockingham county court and appoint a
committee to gather information on the full extent of local damage.
- The Vindicator, December 2, 1864, p. 2, c. 1: "A Word to the
Wise." The feeding of the troops is of utmost concern to all southerners, but the recent
destruction in the Valley leaves insufficient produce to feed the local people, much less supply the
troops. The editor joins his voice with others raising the concern that supplies are not being
managed properly. The many areas of the state that have suffered so much less than the Valley
and that, in turn, have more abundant produce should be called upon to provide produce for
impressment and to provide food for people in the Valley.
- The Vindicator, December 23, 1864, p. 2, c. 1: "War
News." In a weekly recapitulation of developments on all fronts of the war, the editor reports
that picket line skirmishes continue in Petersburg and, in late-breaking news, that General Rosser
launched an attack early Wednesday morning at Mellrose, about five miles below Harrisonburg.
Rosser succeeded in driving the enemy from its position and in capturing about forty prisoners.
Most of the Yankee Cavalry in the lower Valley have crossed the mountain and are heading
towards Gordonsville. General Early will be able to head them off in whichever direction they
head.
- The Vindicator, January 27, 1865, p. 2, c. 2:
"War News." The editor cites information from the Lynchburg Republican regarding the
aftermath of the battle at Winchester on September 19, 1864. A Confederate surgeon in charge
of the Confederate wounded states that the army left about 400 wounded from the battle and
another 260 previously sick and wounded in the hands of the enemy. From the battle on
September 19 until the close of the campaign, the enemy captured 864 sick and wounded, far
fewer than previous estimates. Yankee surgeons at Winchester stated that after the fight on
September 19, they buried six Union soldiers for every one Confederate and that local hospitals
were filled with six thousand wounded. These large losses indicate the skill with which the
Confederates fought, in light of the overpowering odds against them.
- The Vindicator, February 10, 1865, p. 2, c. 1:
"War News." The editor reports that skirmishes have occurred between Northern and
Southern pickets near Petersburg but that no engagements have occurred yet. In the Valley, the
enemy surprised the Confederate picket at Edinburg, captured a lieutenant and fourteen men, only
to be pursued by twenty men from the 12th Virginia Cavalry and overtaken. The Confederates
regained their picket and took sixteen prisoners and twenty horses.
- The Vindicator, March 24, 1865, p. 2, c. 2:
"Sheridan's Raid." Sheridan's troops left Winchester on Monday, February 27, 1865, reached
Staunton on Thursday morning, moved on to Charlottesville on Friday, then divided into two
columns when they moved on Monday. They encountered General Early's small force in
Waynesboro while they were on their way to Staunton and captured six hundred or seven hundred
of Early's men, according to people who saw these prisoners pass through Staunton. Sheridan's
troops destroyed canals, rail lines, and bridges along the way, in addition to large quantities of
government supplies and personal property. Sheridan met little resistance because the
Confederate troops were so scattered. The editor hopes the forces will be kept more
concentrated in the future and insists that farmers of the Valley and in counties east of the Blue
Ridge must be willing to supply the army if they want to keep the army nearby for protection.
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