The Vindicator, May 6, 1864, p. 2, c. 2
There are several reports of the movements of the enemy in the Valley. The most reliable report is that the enemy are encamped at Fisher's Hill, three miles this side of Strasburg and have occupied Woodstock--It is generally believed that the movement up the Valley was to cover the movement of Sigel, who is reported to have crossed to Meade's army by way of Front Royal.
The Vindicator, May 6, 1864, p. 2, c. 3
He is about 16 years old and well grown, black sin with a small scar I think about his face. He had on when he left a slouch hat and blue yankee coat. He was hired to Maj. H.M. Ball, Quartermaster at Staunton,
J.L. Timberlake.
Spec copy.
The Vindicator, May 13, 1864, p. 2, c. 2
For for the past few days large numbers of those wounded in the late fights have arrived at Staunton. They were met at the trains by many of the Ladies of this place, who supplied them with various little delicacies prepared for them. Our hospital is full of these gallant unfortunates, who have been wounded in defending our homes and firesides from the ruthless invader, and while we can not heal their wounds by a simple wish, we can ameliorate their condition much by sending many little things not generally needed for family use, which will be thankfully received by them.
The attention of the Country people is especially directed to this patriotic and humane duty. Send to the wounded anything you can spare and send at once.
The Vindicator, May 13, 1864, p. 2, c. 3
Ran away from Esteline Furnace Augusta County, Va., on Monday night the 23rd of April 1864
who was hired of M.F. Gooch, Sheriff of Louis Co. Va., he belongs to Richard Cotton. Said boy is about 5 feet 5 inches high, about 25 years of age very black, he is a quick active boy, and talks very fast.
The above reward will be given if arrested and confined so that we get him again.
Burke & Kunkle.
May 13 3t. Spec. copy.
The Vindicator, May 20, 1864, p. 2, c. 2
This company, commanded by Capt. Garber of Staunton, in the recent fight at Spottsylvania C.H. has gloriously maintained the high reputation it won on the field of First Manassas. In this engagement the Richmond Howitzers left their guns and Gen. Lee called for volunteers to man them. The Staunton Artillery promptly moved forward and manned the Howitzer Battery and two others, and worked the guns so efficiently as to receive a handsome compliment from Gen. Lee.
Here they lost Jas. T. Burns, killed, and Sergt's Jno Bryan, and John Butler, Corpl Benj. Pforr and Privates W.C. Smith, Peter Good, John Stirewalt, Christian Huffman, Peter Proctor, Benj Ford and Henry Woods, wounded slightly, except Benj Pforr who is supposed to be mortally wounded.
The Vindicator, May 27, 1864, p. 1, c. 4
The progress of the social equality of niggers with white people is making fearful headway in this part of the world. The fiat has gone forth from the White House that all who expect to find favour in the eyes of his Majesty Abraham the First must be ready on all occasions to bow down and worship this idol of the Republican party. General Butler (who feels that his head is in some danger since the appointment of General Smith to command the troops in his department) has just taken a step in this direction that will no doubt restore him to full favour with ours would be monarchy. The daily line of steamboats which run between this city, Baltimore and Fortress Monroe, have always had among their rules, one which forbade the presence of coloured people at the same table with the passengers. This rule was enforced on a recent occasion. But, when the boat arrived at Fortress Monroe, the friends of the coloured person who had been refused a seat at the table complained to General Butler of the "indignity" thus offered to one of "our coloured fellow citizens." The Hero of Big Bethel at once issued an order directing that in future negroes should be allowed to sit and eat at the same table with the passengers on board of these boats, and that no distinction whatever should be made in the treatment of any person on account of his colour. Henceforth, therefore the ladies and gentlemen who travel on these steamboats will have the exquisite pleasure of sitting at the stable [sic] side by side with filthy, greasy niggers.
The Vindicator, May 27, 1864, p. 2, c. 2
Why should we expect success in the present campaign? There are some who feel a painful fear of the defeat of our armies, unless they see at all times telegraphic dispatches or newspaper bulletins of our continued success. A week's delay in obtaining news from the front is all that is necessary to transform there from their tad pole condition to that of a small sized croaker. They expect a General to hurl an adversary from strong positions, defeat his army or put it to ignominious rout in less time than a squadron of cavalry would advance to a charge. There are no Generals extant who could equal the expectations of such persons. for all such we feel that it is a useless task to write. To those who have no depression because of the tapping of a railway by a raiding party nor are unduly elated by a minor success we would say, in answer to the question at the head of this article, that there is every reason to believe that we will win in the present campaign. The campaign is not immediately confined, as regards its commencement, to the Spring, at which time it opened here, but may be considered as begun in the series of movements made in Texas, Mississippi and Florida, all of which had more or less bearing on the impending struggle in Virginia, being the mere movement of pawns in the great game of chess to be played out on another part of the board between stronger pieces, to which these lesser ones but aided the initiation. Let us take a recursery [sic] view of these movements. The movement in Texas met with disaster and was forced to take a new direction into Louisiana and Arkansas, although we have it distinctly stated that the armies making the latter movement were positively ordered to reinforce the army of Tennessee. In Mississippi the forces under Sherman, with all their parade and bragging, failed to accomplish any thing further than the destruction of a few bridges and the tearing up of twenty-five or thirty miles of railroad track, and hastily retreated also to reinforce the army of Tennessee. The expedition into florida was speedily repelled by the gallant Finnegan, being driven under the protection of their gunboats and of which only a few are left in that State the remainder coming to the east to engage in the great game there. After thundering at the walls of the detested city, Charleston for such a length of time with but little effect, the men and armaments of that locality have also been withdrawn to participate in their expected success. Thus is it narrowed down to the two great fields of Georgia and Virginia, the former of which is now being used by the enemy as a distraction from their grand aim--which involves the destruction of the army of Northern Virginia, the seizure of the capital and ultimate overthrow of the Confederacy. In our immediate proximity we find that the contest is measurably narrowing down to the conflict between the armies of Gens. Lee and Grant. Averill and Crook essaying to make a movement on what might be termed Gen. Lee's extreme left flank have been signally chastised by the redoubtable Morgan, the gallant Jenkins, Jones, Jackson, French and McCausland, while, Siegel, who tried the route of Banks in the Valley, came as near being routed by the brave leaders off the Valley, Breckinridge and Imboden, as did commissary Banks at the hands of the lamented Stonewall Jackson. On the extreme right butler, reinforced by the forces from of Charleston harbor and Florida, would fain have reached the city of Richmond before his great superior Grant, but unaccountably and unfortunately found in his way the ever present and invincible Beauregard, and, report says, is endeavoring now to join his superior with the remnant of his demoralized crew. Thus we see that the armies of the North have rapidly converged to the grand centre under Grant, where they have already met a sufficiency of obstacles, as acknowledged by their own rulers, to have deterred any save Grant, whose stubbornness, for which he has been proverbial for years, seems to have been intensified by his desire to obtain power in the North, of which the failure to endeavor to proceed now would destroy the last shadow of a hope.
He asserts that he will fight it out in the line he has selected if it takes all summer, and we believe he will do so if he can muster the men sufficient.
Then to sum it up although, Averill and Sigel may either attempt to distract by movements, which will most surely be repelled, or, Butler may leave a small force to annoy by disturbing communications below Richmond, yet the contest if decided now must be done by the two great armies of Virginia. With a vast preponderance of numbers they have failed most signally thus far, having been defeated with immense loss (stated at 70,000 by Northern papers) in every attempt to overwhelm Gen. Lee, and having accomplished nothing save the cutting of railway and telegraph communication. Taking the losses of the enemy into consideration, even allowing largely for reinforcements to fill up their depleted ranks, they will, as the experience of the many days battles proves, find that all the troops they can map under Grant will be but adding numbers for destruction before the brave men with whom gen. Lee will continue to contest their way. Of their own choice they are contesting the matter just where we could most desire it. We have been gloriously successful thus far and will in the end most assuredly defeat the only army to whom the enemy look for success and put at rest forever, we hope, the desire of the North to subjugate the brave people of our glorious Confederacy.
The Vindicator, May 27, 1864, p. 2, c. 4
I will give one thousand dollars reward for the apprehension and delivery in Jail of the following negro men, or two hundred and fifty dollars for the apprehension of either of them, viz:
about 25 years old, black and Pox marked. He came from Richmond.
is about 20 years of age, light copper color, about 5 feet 5 or 6 inches high and likely, he had on when he left a Janes coat and pants, and a home made hat, and was raised in Augusta County.
is about 5 feet 3 or 4 inches high, black, and about 20 years old. He came from near Martinsburg.
is about 21 years old, black and likely. He had on when he left a suit of janes clothes, walnut color.
These negroes ran off on the night of the 22d of May 1864.
William Jordan,
Rockbridge Baths.
May 27--1t
The Vindicator, May 27, 1864, p. 2, c. 4
Ran away from the subscriber on Saturday night last, Moses 40 years old, six feet high, heavy set and black whiskers tinged with grey. He belongs to C.T. Butler, near Shepherdstown, Jefferson Co Va. A liberal reward will be paid for his apprehension, if lodged in jail or returned to me.
Address Fishersville. Augusta Co. Va.
P.T. Burkholder.
May 27-2t