Pocahontas County History Preservation, Digitization, Community

May 30th, 1861

It was now Thursday, May 30th, 1861, and I remained over until Monday following, as the troops had gone into quarters and were preparing to make a stand unless threatened by overwhelming numbers. The time passes somewhat tediously on Friday and Saturday. There was nothing to be heard from Grafton. A squad of Capt. Loudermilk's cavalry reported themselves ambushed four miles from Philippa, and one of them wounded and left to be captured. Groups of soldiers were at drill, otherwise there seemed but little order pervading the camp.

On Friday I met Col. Porterfield and was invited to take tea with him at his quarters, and I found him to be a very intelligent and affable gentleman. During the interview he told of an incident that indicated the state of feeling of the higher circles of Northern people toward the Seceding Virginians. It was to the effect that Rev. Dr. Harrison, Pastor of the Alexandria Church, had made conversation with an eminent Philadelphia divine in regard to our national troubles. The northern minister of the city of brotherly love declared very warmly that the government must be supported at the sacrifice of much life, if need be. So it seemed it mattered not to him if many souls perished in the effort to vindicate the government though souls should perish for a soulless corporation. Col. Porterfield spoke rather despondently of the unprepared condition of Virginia to meet invasion successfully. He regretted very much the lack of order, preparation, and discipline among the troops now at the front, but he hoped all might come right after while.

Friday afternoon about four o'clock I officiated as chaplain at the burial of the first soldier to die in this campaign. Private Phares of Pendleton Minute Men, a company led by Capt. David Anderson, of Franklin. This company along with the Franklin Guards, led by Capt. Moomau, made up the funeral cortege, under the direction of Capt. Anderson. The dead soldier's disease was pneumonia much aggravated by forced marching on Tuesday previous. The grave was on a knoll half a mile to the northeast of Philippa. The hour was about 5 p.m. when the body was lowered and the salute fired. The evening air was balmy to a delightful degree and seemed to hold a solemn stillness. The sunset scene was inspiring and touchingly suggestive of the beautiful aspiration that once welled up from a sorrowing heart:

Thus when life's toilsome day is o'er,
May its departing ray
Be calm as this impressive hour
And lead to endless day.

Night came quietly on, the soldiers had partaken of their evening rations, and in one quarter hymns were heard, in another the banjo and the dance, in another the jest and laughter. Suddenly a horseman was heard rushing the bridge at a furious rate and galloped up Main Street a la Paul Revere, and reported the Union Army just a few miles away, coming at quick step to attack Philippa. The long roll was sounded and as soon as possible the troops prepared for action and were arranged to meet the threatened attack. The night was so dark one could hardly seen the length of his arm. There was an incipient stampede of civilians, women and children from the northern part of town, towards the southern hills. A dense crowd surrounded the public house at the southern extreme of the town and jammed the street while a very large, portly gentleman, a refugee from the direction of Fairmont, called out in tones like the roaring of a bull that he believed the whole thing was a "hoe-ax" and nothing but a "hoe-ax" and it was all a bad kind of foolishness to be scared in such a bad way. The effect was reassuring and in the course of an hour or less perfect tranquility was restored.