Pocahontas County History Preservation, Digitization, Community

May 21, 1861

Orders came from Governor Letcher to take up the march for Grafton, and the troops started the 18th of May. At the solicitation of Captain Hull and others, and being more than willing besides, I tendered my services as a volunteer chaplain.

My congregations, McDowell and Williamsville, readily granted me leave of absence, and so on the 21st of May I set out to join the troops at Grafton. At first it was a perplexing matter to me whether I should furnish myself with arms, but having been advised to do so I borrowed a double-barreled shotgun. It was a show weapon for those times. The kind lady at whose home I had lived about a year, Mrs. Washington Hull, provided me with ample supplies of roasted chicken, good biscuit, and sweet cakes. Thus equipped and furnished I began my lonely journey from McDowell, heading for the seat of war at Grafton. The day was very uncomfortable because of a chilly blowing rain.

At Monterey I halted a little while, it being quite early, but I was there long enough to have my eyes opened to the fact that soldiers ought to be careful and not wear out their welcome. Old Mother Shumate had a sad tale of the care and inconvenience that was endured in providing volunteers with accommodations upon such short notice.

The first adventure of special notice after leaving Monterey, was to meet the late James Gay on the mountain between Monterey and Hightown in a state of much excitement over alarming rumors from the Northwest, to the effect that the people from Beverly on to Grafton were seriously disaffected toward the Southern troops. In consequence of this reported disaffection, he thought it about certain that civil war would commence at once. Such news made me think it was the right thing to have done to get my shotgun, and so prized it more than I had been doing. Nevertheless I felt quite faint at having to travel alone through the enemies' country from Beverly to Grafton. Not long after the interview I passed Hevener's climbed the mountain, crossed over to where there is a very clear beautiful spring of water and, being about noon, I stopped to give my horse his first feed and partake of some of my own fancy rations. I found however that my horse was foolishly afraid of a gun and when I dismounted he came near getting away from me. The great questions now was, and it spoiled all enjoyment for my first military dinner, how should I remount as he would not let me come near him with my gun in my hand. At Monterey and McDowell there had so many to help that I had not noticed his aversion to a gun when in the act of mounting. Finally I hit upon the expedient of blindfolding him, that proved entirely successful. Having replaced my saddle bags, shawl-blanket and overcoat, preparatory to remounting, I took my white linen handkerchief and blinded him until I could remount, which at length I succeeded in doing, with my gun in my hand. After mounting I reached forward and removed the blindfold, and proceeded without further trouble or interruption.

Towards evening I overtook a carriage containing a gentleman and two ladies. It was a pleasure to recognize them as the Rev. J.K. Harris, of Rockbridge County, with his wife and her sister. His destination was Beverly to take charge of some congregations in Randolph County. As Cheat was to be crossed the next day we made an agreement that I was to guard the party if they would carry a portion of my luggage. The terms were mutually satisfactory. About the time our agreement was ratified late evening came on, the carriage turned into Yeager's and I went on to George Burner's to spend the night. The old gentleman of the house occupied the time allotted to conversation by a resume of the political question then occupying public attention with such ominous prominence. The good lady of the house had no taste for politics and soon after finishing up the chores in the cooking room she came in, drew up a small table near the fireside, lighted a tallow dip, placed it on the table and near it reverently placed the Bible and hymn book. Having read the 116th Psalm and commented on the 7th verse: Return unto thy rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with thee--and sung the hymn "When I can read my title clear," we bowed in prayer for grace to help in time of need in those strange eventful days. Thus closes my first day's journey of my "On to Grafton."