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2-2015

The Impact of Lynchburg, Virginia Upon The Confederacy During The Civil War Bethany L. White

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AMERICAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITY SYSTEM Charles Town, West Virginia

THE IMPACT OF LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA UPON THE CONFEDERACY DURING THE CIVIL WAR

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS in CIVIL WAR STUDIES By Bethany L. White November 23, 2014 The author hereby grants the American Public University System the right to display these contents for educational purposes.

The author assumes total responsibility for meeting the requirements set by Unites States Copyright Law for the inclusion of any materials that are not the author’s creation or in the public domain

© Copyright 2014 by Bethany L. White All rights reserved.

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DEDICATION

I dedicate this thesis to my loving husband Wayne White for his patience and willingness to spend every weekend for two years traveling to battlefields or related locations across the Eastern Theater, countless hours in bookstores and libraries and sitting through numerous lectures while I took notes or spoke with historians. A historian could not have asked for a better research assistant!

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I wish to thank Dr. Robert Young for his patience and guidance throughout not only this thesis process, but throughout all of my Civil War courses during both Masters of Arts in History degrees. I also thank Dr. John Chappo, Dr. John Hoptak and Dr. Richard Hines of American Military University’s History Department for their guidance that has brought me to this point. This work could also have not been completed without the valuable assistance of Susan Pillow, Nancy Jamerson Weiland and Chuck Bradner at Jones Memorial Library, Ted Delaney at Old City Cemetery, the staff at Lynchburg Museum System, Edie Light at Presbyterian Cemetery and Greg Starbuck at Historic Sandusky. I would also like to acknowledge the role that Dr. James I. Robertson Jr. has unknowingly played in my endeavors, for being a role model for Civil War historians everywhere and for being my educational hero.

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ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS THE IMPACT OF LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA UPON THE CONFEDERACY DURING THE CIVIL WAR by Bethany L. White American Public University System, November 23, 2014 Charles Town, West Virginia Professor Robert Young, Thesis Professor The following is a study of the impact that one specific city had upon not only Virginia, but also upon the entire Confederacy throughout the four years of the American Civil War. The study takes a careful look at how Lynchburg, a small city located in south-central Virginia played a very significant part and provided tremendous support to the military and Confederate government. The paper includes a review of the early years and how the introduction of the tobacco crop brought the small town in 1786 to a booming city that rivaled both Richmond and Petersburg in wealth and exports by the 1850s. When the war began, Lynchburg sent men to serve in infantry, cavalry, artillery and home guard regiments. Lynchburg also served as a major transportation hub for the Confederacy with three railroad terminals, canal boats and river travel. There were thirty-two hospitals established throughout the city that served thousands of wounded soldiers from both sides. Following the surrender at nearby Appomattox and the beginning of Reconstruction, Lynchburg citizens began the slow process of rebuilding as did thousands of communities across the defeated South. From its humble beginnings in the late 1780s through 4

the war years of the 1860s to the Reconstruction efforts of the 1870s, I would argue that the community of Lynchburg has made a significant impact upon not only the Commonwealth of Virginia, but throughout the South.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER

PAGE

INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………….. 8 I.

The TOWN BUILT BY TOBACCO…………………...……………………………….10

II.

LYNCHBURG DURING THE CIVIL WAR…………………………………………..38

III

AFTER APPOMATTOX……………………………………………………………….73 CONCLUSION…………………………………………………………………………87

BIBLIOGRAPHY……………………………………………………………………………….89

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Illustrations and charts Original city limits……………………………………………………………………………. 17 Lynchburg streets, 1829……………………………………………………………………….. 26 U.S. Federal Census records of Lynchburg, Virginia 1840 – 1870 …………………………... 29 Scenes of Lynchburg 1859 – 1865…………………………………………………………34 - 35 Harper’s Weekly illustration, May 3, 1879 special on Lynchburg tobacco …………………...36 Locations of major Civil War hospitals in Lynchburg, Virginia……………………………….56 The last standing hospital……………………………………………………………….…57 - 58 11th Virginia Infantry………………………………………………………………………….. 67 Historic Sandusky………………………………………………………………………………72 Organization of Federal troops at Lynchburg…………………………………………………..74 Organization of Confederate troops at Lynchburg……………………………………………..75

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INTRODUCTION Throughout the history of the United States from 1776 to present day, there were more lives lost during the American Civil War than in every other conflict that has had the presence of American military personnel. More than 700,000 Americans lost their lives in the four years of fighting on strictly American soil 1. At times, entire families were depleted of generations of men as husbands, fathers, brothers, sons and even grandfathers would serve side by side for a cause that each believed was worthy of death if necessary. Complete communities would be devastated and find it difficult to recover economically. The community of Lynchburg, Virginia was not any different from the rest of the cities throughout the South. A quiet but industrial city located on the James River, Lynchburg would become of vital importance to the Confederacy when war broke out in 1861. From its quaint beginnings as the location of the Lynch family ferry in the 1750s to the establishment as a small community in 1786 to a booming tobacco town by 1820, Lynchburg began to make its mark upon Virginia. When the James River and Kanawha Canal Company completed the building of the canal in the 1830s, Lynchburg continued to grow physically and economically. A variety of industries sprang up throughout the city that included tobacco warehouses, bakers, dry goods, confectionaries, general stores, flour mills, lumber yards and other companies. By the 1850s, three railroads had terminals in Lynchburg which had become the one of the wealthiest cities in the country, second only to New Bedford, Massachusetts. However, times would become tough with the arrival of not only the 1860s, but four long years of war. Lynchburg would support the Confederate efforts in a variety of ways including service as a major medical center with thirty-two different hospitals, transportation hub and munitions supply centers. As was the case with so many other communities across the country, 1

Dr. James I Robertson Jr. Lecture on how the Civil War still lives, April 4, 2014

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Lynchburg sent her native sons to defend Virginia in the 11th Virginia Infantry as part of Company A (Rifle Greys), Company E (Lynchburg Rifles) or Company G (Home Guard), Lynchburg Artillery or 2 nd Virginia Cavalry. The local fairgrounds were even converted to serve as a Union prison camp. Lynchburg was such an important city for the Confederacy that the Union’s newly installed leader, General U.S. Grant personally sent a telegram to General David Hunter and stated that it would be valuable to capture Lynchburg if only for a single day. 2 As a result, Hunter and Confederate General Jubal Early would clash for two days in June 1864 that ended in Union troops withdrawing during the night. However, in less than one year, the war would for all intents and purposes end in nearby Appomattox with the surrender of Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. As was the case throughout the South, Lynchburg began the slow process of rebuilding and Reconstruction. Change came and went as progress began to be made through the 1870s. The Freedmen’s Bureau established a school for former slaves and their children. Slave auction houses and slave pens were demolished to be replaced by new and exciting places of business. The city was fortunate that its distance from both Richmond and Washington D.C. prevented significant destruction that other parts of Virginia had borne. As a result, the vast majority of the buildings and homes were left intact which allowed families to concentrate on rebuilding their uprooted lives and economically challenged town. The small ferry community started by John Lynch had made a significant impact upon not only Virginia, but the Confederacy during the war. Now, the community would again come together to start a new chapter and wait for the arrival of a new century that brought hope and promise with each passing day. 2

Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs (New York: Charles Webster & Co, 1886), 282

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Chapter I The town built by tobacco The humble beginnings of the community that would become known as Lynchburg, Virginia were very much the same as other communities and even the colonies that were appearing along the eastern shores of America. British subjects were bravely traveling across the mighty Atlantic Ocean for new and exciting opportunities. Some were settling in many of the colonies for the chance to worship and practice religion in the manner of their choosing without fear of reprisal from the government. It is that hope of religious freedom that brought the Lynch family to the western part of Virginia. Among the first settlers that relocated to an area between the coast and the Appalachian Mountains known as the Piedmont were Quakers who arrived during the mid-1700s. Settling into the eastern shores of Virginia along the Tidewater area, the Quakers had left England to escape conflicts with the Anglican Church. However, the members soon realized that there was an additional conflict with the Quaker tenets when confronted with the peculiar institution of slavery within the Tidewater region. As a result of the contradiction between culture and religion, members of the Society of Friends began searching for an area of Virginia that had not yet been tainted by the poison of slavery or numerous settlers. The answer was found in the Virginia Piedmont. 3 Once the Friends from eastern Virginia became established with the new area, other members of similar beliefs also joined the settlement. Members from Hanover, Henrico, Loudon and Fairfax Counties all traveled to central Virginia to settle in an area that was far enough away

3

Al Chambers. Lynchburg: An architectural history. (Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia,1981), 1

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from those colonists who practiced slavery or held other religious beliefs. Among the more prominent members who relocated from Albemarle County was the family of Charles Lynch 4. Charles Lynch was just fifteen years old when he ran away from home after receiving severe punishment at the hands of a teacher. Lynch convinced a sea captain to allow passage on a ship that was bound for the Virginia colony. Before the ship had completely left the home port of Galway Bay, Ireland, Lynch began to have second thoughts and jumped overboard. However, Lynch was rescued and brought back aboard the ship. Upon arrival at Virginia, the captain demanded payment from the teenager for the safe passage. When Lynch stated that there were no funds from which to pay, the captain had the boy indentured to Christopher Clark, who was a wealthy tobacco planter from nearby Louisa County. 5 It was in the service of Clark that Lynch’s destiny was forever changed and a future city was born. As the years slipped by, Clark became very impressed with Lynch’s work ethic and considered the teenager to be a son. Soon, Lynch was provided with a quality education. In 1733, Clark gave the hand of his daughter Sarah to Charles for marriage. Before long, the young couple began to prosper through tobacco farming and land speculation. 6 In 1752, the Lynch family moved to central Virginia and purchased property on the south bank of the James River. Sarah had grown up in the Quaker faith and began hosting worship services at the Lynch home of Chestnut Hill. The family continued to prosper and began what would prove to be a new enterprise with the establishment of a ferry service across the James River. 7

4

Ibid. James Elson. Lynchburg, Virginia: The first two hundred years 1786 – 1986. (Lynchburg: Warwick House Publishing, 2004), 1 6 Ibid. 7 Ibid., 2 5

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In 1745, the Virginia General Assembly enacted a law for the establishment and appointment of several new ferries. “Be it enacted…that public ferries be constantly kept at the places hereafter named, and that the rates for passing the said ferries be as follows, that is to say: From the land of Edward Lynch, in the county of Bedford, over the Fluvanna, at the mouth of Black-water Creek, to the land of Micajah Moorman, in the county of Albemarle; the price for a man three pence, and for a horse the same. For every hogshead of tobacco, the same as for one horse.” 8 Within the new statute were several key elements that would pertain to not only the Lynch family but also to the establishment of Lynchburg. Edward Lynch was a son of Charles and the elder brother to John. The Fluvanna River is an earlier name for what would become known as the James River. The southern end of Lynch’s ferry stretched to Bedford County as Campbell County, which would encompass Lynchburg entirely, had not yet been founded in 1745. The northern end of the ferry would reach eventually into Amherst County which was also non-existent at the time of the statute. For this reason, the northern border of Albemarle County is given. Black-water Creek flowed through what was considered to be Campbell County at the time of Lynchburg’s founding and into the James River. 9 Travel east of the Blue Ridge Mountains had proven to be difficult for the early settlers. The southernmost tip of the Fluvanna River soon became the upper part of the James River. In its eastward journey, the river curved southward in what was called the Great Bent. East of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where the cliffs along the banks of the river are broken sits a natural ford at the eastern end of what became known as Percival’s Island. In 1750, the area known as Horse Ford became the location for Charles Lynch to develop a ferry. Lynch and the other settlers had to resolve a problem prior to any hope of becoming prosperous in the new venture. Part of the problem was due to the presence of the Monacan Indian tribes who were located nearby. 8

William Hening. The Statutes at Large: A collection of all of the laws of Virginia, 1756 – 1763. Vol. 7 of The Statutes at Large. (Richmond: Franklin Press, 1820), 126 9 Elson, 1

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Normally, the Indians did not bother the peace loving Quakers and would occasionally trade with the newcomers. However, the Indian problem would soon be fixed when Iroquois from Pennsylvania and New York came south and engaged in fierce tribal warfare. By utilizing Dutch weaponry, the Iroquois completely ravaged both the Monacan tribe and the land. It has been said that the attack was the first recorded invasion of people from the North into southern land. 10 The ferry business would become a very successful business for the Lynch family. After the family became established along the James River, patriarch Charles Lynch would die the following year in 1753. John and Edward each inherited significant land holdings from their father. When Edward died in 1765, John also inherited his brother’s land which would become the location of Lynchburg. 11 Seventeen year old John Lynch took over control of the ferry business and became a conveyor of goods to eastern Virginia on the James River. When the Monacan tribe had been greatly reduced as a result of the Iroquois attack, local settlers were presented with a golden opportunity that was not commonly seen throughout the Colonial period. A significant area now had a major land route with a nearby river that was mostly free from Indians. John Lynch would make the most of the opportunity by building quarters for himself and other traders or travelers from landholdings that Charles Lynch had owned along the James River. 12 By 1754, the membership in the Society of Friends had significantly increased in size. Many prominent families attended monthly services that were sponsored at Chestnut Hill which prompted the Lynch matriarch Sarah to help found the South River Meeting House in 1757

10

Richard Loyd and Bernard Mundy. Lynchburg: A pictorial history. (Virginia Beach: Donning Co, 1975), 9 Elson, 15 12 Ibid. 11

13

several miles away. However, the new location was hastily built with logs and would become destroyed during a fire in 1768. 13 As his father and mother before him, John Lynch also became a prominent member of the Society of Friends but had difficulty in completely following the required tenets. There were three specific rules that some members had the most difficulty in following with complete obedience. Taking up arms during a war, owning slaves or marrying someone who was not a member of the Society of Friends were each viewed as significant and serious reasons for disowning a member. John Lynch would be appointed as a clerk to the Society in 1777 but would be censured twice and risked becoming disowned from the membership. The reasons for such actions are not fully understood, but Lynch was known to have a quick temper which was sometimes difficult to be controlled. 14 In 1776 at the Virginia Annual Meeting, local Societies were directed to expel those members who still practiced that peculiar institution of slavery. Members who owned slaves were placed in a distressing predicament and had three options to consider. First, the member would continue to own slaves but become disowned by the Society. Another option was that the member would free the slaves but face financial ruin and social ostracism for choosing church membership over providing for the family. The third and final option was also a costly choice by moving from Virginia to another colony. As a former slaveholder who now held an important position within the Society, church leaders turned to John Lynch for assistance. Lynch was appointed to the task of encouraging fellow Quakers to free the slaves and as clerk to record all such actions. Members were also not allowed to hire slaves to help with the large tracts of land that the majority of Friends owned. It is worthy to note that during this time in history, white 13 14

Ibid., 10 Elson, 12

14

males were not hired to do manual labor. The ensuing result was not what the leaders had in mind as many families refused to free the slaves and were disowned from the Society. Many of the former members chose to remain locally and became members of the Methodist faith as it was the only other denomination in the area. 15 Following the events of the American Revolution, the 1780s brought growth and new commerce to the area surrounding the ferry. The young country’s leaders began to seek new and improved routes across the colonies for the purposes of increasing trade and travel. George Washington personally rode more than 800 miles into the region to provide surveying assistance. Upon his return, Washington encouraged Congress to pass bills that promoted navigation along the upper reaches of both the Potomac and James Rivers. 16 John Lynch began to consider the area upon which many of the settlers were living. In 1784, Lynch petitioned the Virginia General Assembly to take a large portion of land for the purposes of establishing a town on the south bank of the James River. The petition was denied for unknown reasons. But that would not stop the determined Lynch who tried again in 1786. In October 1786, the General Assembly passed the following act to establish a town on the lands of John Lynch, in the County of Campbell. “Be it enacted…that forty-five acres of land, the property of John Lynch, and lying contiguous to Lynch’s Ferry, in the county of Campbell…laid off into lots of half an acre each, with convenient streets, and established a town by the name of Lynchburg.”17 The General Assembly in granting the petition to establish the town did specify that certain conditions were required to be met. One of the most important conditions was that the 15

Ibid., 13 Loyd, 10 17 William Hening The Statutes at Large: A collection of all of the laws of Virginia 1785 – 1788. Vol. 12 of The Statutes at Large. (Richmond: Franklin Press, 1820), 398 16

15

town could be near but was not to be located on the James River. This meant that Lynch’s Ferry could not be located within the town limits. That did not stop or cause Lynch further concern as he began the business of starting Lynchburg. Perhaps in a show of respect to his family’s faith, Lynch named eight members of the Society of Friends to be part of the chosen eleven original trustees. The first public trustee meeting was held on May 8, 1787. 18 During the first trustee meeting, there were little to no building conditions that were required for homeowners to meet before establishing new dwellings. Builders were to be given a period of three years to build in order to hold title to their lots. This was greatly relaxed as opposed to the struggles that other colonists faced at the time. For example, landowners in the communities that became Moorefield, West Virginia and Frankfort, Kentucky were only given two years. Lynchburg landowners also could utilize the building material of their choice while those who lived in Norfolk, Virginia were required to use bricks. Finally, Lynchburgers did not face any size restrictions on their dwellings. Homeowners in Moorefield were required to build homes that measured eighteen square feet while residents of Abingdon in western Virginia faced even stricter guidelines in that homes were required to be twenty feet long and sixteen feet wide. 19 On June 20, 1787, the town’s first business land transactions took place with seventy-two lots put up for sale and twenty-two purchased. John Lynch, as the principal land owner, chose to keep four specific lots within the center of town for his own personal purposes. 20 But despite the relaxed regulations, landowners were slow to build new dwellings. By 1787, Lynchburg only had three houses. 21

18

Steve Tripp. Yankee town, Southern city: Race & Class relations in Civil War Lynchburg. (New York: NYU Press, 1997), 10 19 Chambers, 10 20 Ibid., 13 21 Ibid., 19

16

Map of the Original City layout

Fourth Alley (Eleventh St)

Courtesy of Jones Memorial Library

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Lynchburg began to grow with not only the number of homes that were being built, but in the growth and production of tobacco. The crop was planted extensively throughout the Piedmont. In order to sell the tobacco to points east, the only practical highway in existence was the James River. However, single canoes were too small to carry the heavy hogsheads that were packed full of tobacco leaves. One ingenious individual invented a new method of transporting products by tying two canoes together for the purposes of carrying two to three hogsheads. Thus began the production of a new transportation vessel called the bateau which was a flat-bottomed boat with boardwalks laid outside the gunwales. The boardwalks allowed men with long oars or poles to walk heavily loaded bateau upstream. By using bateaux instead of canoes, people were able to sell more tobacco and other products in cities such as Richmond and other places on the eastern shore. 22 Having been raised around tobacco fields, Lynch knew that the growing and selling of tobacco was a very lucrative business. In May 1783, the Virginia General Assembly passed an act to amend and reduce the several acts of Assembly for the Inspection of Tobacco into one consolidated act. In accordance with the new law, all tobacco warehouses had to be secured with strong doors, hung on iron hinges and were required to have one square brick or funnel that measured six feet high and four feet in diameter with an arch at the bottom for the purposes of burning refused tobacco. A packed hogshead barrel of tobacco could weigh has much as 1,000 pounds and was required to be stored on level ground. Lynch believed that money could be made locally by selling and inspecting tobacco which in turn would bring more people to Lynchburg. As a result and after receiving two tobacco inspection licenses for warehouses, Lynch’s Warehouse was built just outside of the city limits in 1791. The warehouse would stand on the

22

Tripp, 11

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northeast corner of Lynch Street and First Alley until 1978 and serve in a variety of uses. 23 The warehouse had a depth of forty-eight feet and was made from both brick and wood. By 1805, Lynch added an additional two story brick warehouse behind the original building. This addition stood until 1909.24 In 1792, Lynch would later build a second warehouse called Spring Warehouse on the corner of Lynch Street and Sixth Alley (modern day Commerce and Twelfth Streets). It was used as an inspecting center until 1839. The building was later used by a lumber company as recently as the 1960s. 25 Lynchburg would never be the same quiet town again. By 1802, Lynch decided that the time was right to expand the town’s limits. As a result, the founding father purchased an additional thirty half-acre lots for the purposed of enlarging the town. Fifteen lots were located northwest of the current town limits and the remaining fifteen lots were just southeast of the border. 26 It is interesting to note that the new borders still did not encompass either of Lynch’s tobacco warehouses or the ferry. This is so that Lynch could run the businesses just enough outside of the town so that each would be exempt from town laws and taxes. On January 10, 1805 the Virginia General Assembly passed an act for incorporating the town of Lynchburg and enlarging the same. A new city government was established and met in the new government building known as Common Hall. There were twelve elected councilmen who in turn elected a mayor, chairman, four aldermen and a recorder. The first Corporation Court met on May 6, 1805 and consisted of the mayor, recorder and the four aldermen. It was

23

Chambers, 7 Ruth Blunt. Rise and decline of Lynchburg tobacco warehouses. (Lynchburg, 1960), 3 25 Ibid., 4 26 Chambers, 28 24

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also decided that the new government had the authority to build new streets and erect public buildings. 27 By 1810, Lynchburg was becoming an economically sound city, especially with the continued growth of several new businesses including the increasing number of various tobacco warehouses that were filled were hogsheads. Tobacco leaves were tightly packed into the hogsheads. After the barrel or cask was sealed, a long spike was driven through the center with the ends protruding through each end to serve as an axle. Saplings were then attached to the ends of the spike which were then attached to a team of horses, mules or oxen. The barrel was then reinforced with hickory hoops and rolled along from the planter’s home to the local tobacco warehouse. While the animals were pulling the heavy load, the stuffed hogsheads helped to create roads throughout the area. As a planter had a significant number of warehouses to choose for the purposes of selling the tobacco, a system needed to be established so that interested parties would know when the time had come to purchase the product. 28 In order to inspect a tobacco hogshead, the container had to be broken open. When it was time, a designated employee would blow into a long trumpet that signaled a break. Each tobacco warehouse would utilize this method as each trumpet had its own distinct sound. However, there was great confusion caused when each warehouse would signal at the same time. The decision was made to rotate the break schedules throughout the week with a different warehouse having the first break of the day. 29 Religious fervor seemed to be spreading throughout the area with the exception of the Society of Friends. As many Quakers chose to leave the Society and join other denominations 27

Elson, 54 Ibid., 29 29 Loyd and Mundy, 10 28

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rather than releasing their slaves, the membership had dwindled. By 1814, there were no slaveholders who were also members of the church. However, basking in their accomplishments, church leaders chose to not discuss the matter. By 1830, an increasing number of Friends were becoming ostracized from Lynchburg citizens due to an increasingly well-known stance on slavery. 30 When a town meeting presided by mayor Samuel Wiatt was held on August 27, 1835, the focus was toward northern agitators and an attempt to stamp out all Negro freedom. Many Quakers used the meeting as a warning and moved out of the area to friendlier non-slave owning states such as Ohio, Indiana, Kansas, Texas and even California. By 1839, there were no further meetings held at the old South River Meeting house. The meetings stopped entirely by 1858.31 As the town grew and became a city, John Lynch was known as a shrewd businessman who had an excellent eye for profits and never forsaking his religious upbringing when dealing with business. Lynch also believed in promoting community goodwill and took great strides to be an example to others. Before his death on October 31, 1820, Lynch donated a significant amount of land for various purposes throughout the city. In 1791, Lynch donated ten acres of land for the Quakers to build a place of divine worship and for burying their dead. In 1806, land was designated for the purposes of establishing a city cemetery. In 1812, the Lynchburg Toll Bridge Company built a covered bridge that stretched from outside the city’s limits across the James River to Amherst County. The bridge was built using land from Lynch. In 1813, land was donated on which the first court house was built. The court house would stand until 1855 when it was replaced by a better constructed building that still exists in 2014.32

30

Ibid., 13 Ibid., 54 32 Ibid. 31

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From its earliest days, the settlers of what would be called Lynchburg discovered that there was a significant cash crop in tobacco. Throughout much of the nineteenth century, tobacco factories would appear almost overnight across the town. The production of chewing tobacco, snuff or smoking tobacco would steadily increase as the decades went by. 33 The peculiar institution of slavery also continued to increase as many slaves were bought and sold in downtown Lynchburg. A market house was built in 1805 in the middle of the intersection of Main and Water Streets that was the location of among other things, slave auctions. The building was enlarged in 1813 and remained standing until 1873 when it was demolished. 34 Many slaves were sought to work in the numerous tobacco factories and were seen as diligent workers despite the poor working conditions. Other businesses soon began to arrive and establish factories in along the Main Street area. By the decade of the 1830s, Lynchburg had grown significantly since its founding in 1786. There were 4,630 citizens that included the slave population, twelve resident attorneys and fifteen practicing physicians. By 1843, the population had increased to 6,000 partly due to the growing number of tobacco factories that dotted a variety of city streets. 35 In 1830, there were fifteen factories throughout the city. Just thirteen years later, that number doubled to thirty factories. In only seven more years, there were thirty-five factories spread across the city. By the eve of the Civil War, the number of factories had increased to forty-five. 36 Lynchburg could definitely claim to be the town that was built by tobacco.

33

Ibid., 28 Ibid., 54 35 William Dunn and T. Gibson Hobbs. Historical Sketches from THE IRON WORKER. (Lynchburg: Lynchburg Historical Foundation, 1984), 19 36 Tripp, 7 34

22

Lynchburg tobacco accounted for approximately 23.4% of all tobacco that was inspected in Virginia in 1840. By 1860, 17% of Virginia’s manufactured sales came out of Lynchburg. The city was one-sixth the size of the state capital, Richmond and one-third the size of Petersburg but produced more tobacco in proportion to its size than any other city in both Virginia and North Carolina. The growth of the industry caused Lynchburg to become the leading producer of chewing or plug tobacco. As a result, some believed that the southern city greatly resembled the emerging commercial and industrial centers of the North.

37

It was a great time to be a tobacco factory owner. By 1860, Lynchburg was the second wealthiest city in the country due to tobacco production. A reporter from the Petersburg Express wrote that “Lynchburg has the finest tobacco in the world.” Another reporter from the Richmond Enquirer stated that there was “not a town in Virginia more interesting than Lynchburg.”

38

Tobacco manufacturers made up almost 30% of the city’s personal wealth, 25% of real estate wealth and 27% of Lynchburg’s total wealth. Five tobacco factory owners were worth over $100,000. The wealthiest owner, Jessie Hare owned $110,000 in real estate, a large brick home with a fountain in the front yard near the business district of Main Street and was conveniently next to his Planter’s tobacco warehouse which stood until 1888.39 Hare also owned thirty-five slaves and had a total personal worth of more than $800,000.40 There was a number of tobacco warehouses spread throughout the city that would stand well into the twentieth century. Martin’s warehouse, which later became known as Union warehouse was located on the southwest corner of Lynch and Second Alley and stood until 1948 when it was demolished to become a parking lot. Blackwater warehouse stood at the intersection 37

Ibid. Ibid., 8 39 John M. Payne. Recollections of Lynchburg Eighty Years Ago in 1850. (Amherst, VA, 1931), 7 40 Ibid. 38

23

of Cabell and Orange Streets until 1854 when the building changed functions and served as a train depot for more than one hundred years. Liberty warehouse, built in 1805 and located on Lynch Street, stood until the late 1950s. Friend’s warehouse, built in 1806, was located on Church Street. By 1960, the building had been demolished and became the site of the new city post office. 41 By 1859, Lynchburg had forty-seven tobacco factories. Two of the most well-known brands, Killikinnick and Lone Jack ,were extremely popular and highly sought during the Civil War by soldiers who continued to use both brands long after Reconstruction. Roads throughout Lynchburg were continuing to improve which allowed tobacco to be transported to the warehouses for inspection by horse drawn wagons. After inspection, the tobacco was repacked into various hogsheads and sent to Richmond via the James River for sale and manufacture. 42 The sweet aroma of cured tobacco certainly enticed numerous citizens to purchase the addictive crop. Cigarettes were not as widely used, especially in comparison with pipe or cigar smoking. Chewing a plug or twist and dipping snuff were the most conspicuous method of consuming tobacco. However, the chewing of tobacco came with a problem that was sickening to many people. Proper etiquette was not usually employed when the time came to dispose of the juice in one’s mouth that developed from chewing tobacco. Well-known English author Charles Dickens noted grotesquely during a boat trip down the Lynchburg branch of the Kanawha Canal that some of his fellow passengers had yellow streams of half-chewed tobacco trickling down their chins. Court Street Methodist Church contained spittoons for use by members during worship

41 42

Blunt, 5 Elson, 32

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services. 43 One customer of the newly built Franklin Hotel wrote to a friend of her disgust when stating that “We stopped at the Franklin Hotel which would be an excellent house if it was kept cleaner. How can a popular and much frequented house be kept clean when traveling men lay in bed and project the salivary extract of tobacco upon the walls of their chamber?”44 Another writer, Charles Mackay noted that instead of the bald eagle, America should have a spittoon as its national symbol. As much as the tobacco industry was a success, there were also significant problems that were experienced by many owners. One known problem was that the industry suffered from a high turnover rate among owners. For example, there were only sixteen tobacco owners that were still in business in 1860 out of the forty-one present in 1850. Part of the problem was the result of nature working against the farmers. In order for fine grade tobacco to be grown, there had to be a combination of perfect water, fertile soil and constant cultivation. If any one element was missing, the tobacco crop would be less than desirable. Another problem was the economy which affected the amount of sales. The 1857 panic caused many Northern merchants to default on payments which became a leading factor in the decline of owners by 1860. As a result of the panic, Lynchburg in 1858 was only selling 70% of its numbers from 1853. 45 Although Lynchburg was primarily a tobacco town, there were many emerging industries that helped the city to continue growing. There were a number of hotels located along Fifth Street that were built in 1815. The Western hotel, located on the corner of Fifth and Madison Streets opened in 1815 as the Joseph Nichols tavern. In 1833, the tavern changed to the Western

43

Elson, 28 Chambers, 30 45 Ibid., 9 44

25

Fourth Alley (Eleventh St)

Sixth Alley (Twelfth St)

Eighth Alley (Thirteenth St)

Lynchburg, Virginia in 1829 (Current Street Names)

26

Hotel. 46 The tavern did enjoy some notoriety during its day. According to the legend of the infamous Beale treasure, there were three letters kept in the tavern safe that described the size and location of the treasure. Another hotel located just three blocks from the Western was the Kentucky hotel. Built in 1800, the former Terrell – Langhorne house began operation as a hotel in 1826. 47 There were other hotels that were open prior to the start of the war. The most prominent was perhaps the Franklin hotel which opened its doors on November 1, 1817 on the corner of Main and Eleventh Streets. The owner, Samuel J. Harrison was a personal friend of Thomas Jefferson who often visited Lynchburg while traveling from Monticello in Charlottesville to his retreat, Poplar Forest, in nearby Bedford County. Harrison was so comfortable with Jefferson that the former President was asked to personally select the wines that would be served at the Franklin hotel. The hotel would reopen in 1852 as the Norvell house. 48 Other industries throughout Lynchburg included eleven grist mills, two copper smiths, one fertilizer manufacturer, four banks and four coach makers. One well known coach maker, John Bailey, was located in an abandoned tobacco warehouse and employed fifty people. There were six foundries that produced a variety of products. One foundry, owned by Francis B. Deane Jr. was called F.B. Deane Jr & Son. Deane’s foundry produced the passenger and freight cars for the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad that would eventually pass through Lynchburg. Deane was very familiar with establishing a successful foundry as he had previously founded the Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond that would prove to be irreplaceable as the munitions heart for the

46

Chambers, 30 Ibid. 48 Ibid. 47

27

Confederacy. The Phoenix Foundry was owned by A.G. Dabney and produced iron fixtures for tobacco factories.

49

Other businesses in the city included bakers, blacksmiths, cabinet makers, carpenters, carriage makers, chair makers, coopers, silversmiths, gun smiths, hatters, masons, painters, printers, rope makers, saddlers and shoemakers. There were several brickyards and two extensive tan yards. The Piedmont flour mill opened in 1855 and operated until the 1970s. A large cotton factory was also located on the right bank of Blackwater Creek that employed seventy people and ran 2500 spindles. 50 The cotton mill was the first attempt to manufacture cotton in southwest Virginia and would stand until the 1990s. More than just places to make a quick profit existed within the thriving city. Several benevolent societies attempted to promote moral welfare throughout the area. The Bible society, an auxiliary of the American Bible Society began in 1815. The Colonization Society began in 1826 and attempted to send out free blacks to Liberia for the purposes of beginning colonies there. Another society that was popular among the churchgoing members of the community, but not with the rest of the citizens was the Temperance Society. Although there was no incorporated seminary of learning, students could attend a good classical and math school. There were also several co-ed schools and even some that were specifically for young women. Lynchburg did not yet have a public library but literate citizens could read the semi-weekly newspaper The Lynchburg Virginian. 51 Despite its comparison to the emerging industries of the North, Lynchburg could never truly be considered to be a “Yankee town” due to its peculiar institution of slavery. According to 49

Tripp, 11 Dunn and Hobbs, 17 51 Ibid., 19 50

28

the 1840 census, Lynchburg’s total population of 5,304 people was made up of 3,143 free citizens and 2,161 slaves. It is important to note that during the 1840 – 1870 census records, the category of free colored citizens included both mulattoes and blacks as opposed to whites. During the next decade, the population continued to increase by 52% as the city peaked at 8,071 citizens including slaves. It is interesting to note that in the first census after the war, the one category that outnumbered all others in the census was the total amount of colored females. 52 Year

White Males

Colored Males 197

Colored Females 285

Male Slaves

1355

White Females 1306

1840

Total

1107

Female Slaves 1054

1850

2278

1824

254

291

1858

1566

8071

1860

1973

1834

163

200

1506

1179

6855

1870

1681

1750

1389

1950

n/a

n/a

6770

5304

Slavery and slave trading both proved to be an extremely profitable business. For example, in the Lynchburg Republican on June 9, 1845, businessman George Davis advertised the sale of two hundred young Negroes of the usual ages. Davis went on to state that he would personally match the same prices that interested buyers could find in Richmond. 53 In August 1852, an advertisement in the Lynchburg Virginian by future City Councilman Seth Woodruff stated that: “Negroes wanted: The subscriber continues in market for Negroes, of both sexes between the ages of 10 and 30 years, including Mechanics such as Blacksmiths, Carpenters, and will pay the highest market prices in cash. His office is a newly erected brick building on First or Lynch Street, immediately in the rear of the Farmers’ Bank, where is prepared to board negroes, sent to Lynchburg for sale or otherwise, on as moderate terms and keep them as secure as if they were placed in the jail of the Corporation.” 54

52

U.S. Census Bureau. Federal Census Records of Lynchburg, Virginia 1840 - 1870 Elson, 41 54 Ibid. 53

29

Woodruff, who served on City Council throughout the war, built Farmers’ Bank in 1852. In the basement of the bank was the notorious slave pen where traders could securely keep slaves until they were either sold at auction or brought home. The bank was located one block from Main and Water Street (Ninth Street today) which was not only the heart of the city but also where the majority of the slave auctions took place. 55 By 1860, there were two interesting statistics that further explained the makeup of Lynchburg’s population. The first was that during the first half of the nineteenth century, Lynchburg had a higher population of free blacks than any other city in Virginia. Part of this reason was the result of the Quakers freeing many of their slaves. 56 The other interesting statistic was that 40% of the white households owned 40% of the remaining city population. The majority of the slaves served as forced labor in the numerous tobacco factories around town and helped to create the city’s increasing wealth. Over 1,000 people were employed in the tobacco factories. Nearly all were black and most were slaves. There are some records that indicate that as much as one-half of the slave population worked in the factories. In order to increase production, some of the factory owners offered cash incentives to those slaves that were willing to work overtime. Some slaves could make five dollars per week for overtime and talented slaves made as much as ten dollars per week. As a result, Lynchburg became the most expensive place in Virginia to hire slaves as local hiring rates increased by 35%. 57 Unlike the capital city of Richmond, most white households did not try to hire poor white females to serve as domestic servants, nurses or cooks. This type of labor was regarded to be better suited for a slave and thus more than 800 slaves were employed as a type of house servant. 55

Ibid. Clifton and Dorothy Potter. Lynchburg 1757-2007.( Charleston: Arcadia Publishing, 2007), 18 57 Tripp, 12 56

30

Most of the young white women that did work outside of the home were employed as seamstresses. In 1860, there were 230 young white females that worked outside of the home. Of that number, 5% were employed as house servants including five Irish women. 79% worked as seamstresses, mantra makers, milliners or tailors. Many of the free black women often worked in the tobacco factories or performed washing and sewing duties for white families. 58 How did the white citizens of Lynchburg feel about the increasing number of slaves in the community? Some viewed slaves as perpetual children who needed constant supervision and discipline. Slave holders did not want strictly obedient workers, but instead slaves were seen as obedient children who needed not only guidance but close supervision. As a result, many slave holders believed that they were the slaves’ moral guardians and had a duty as well as a responsibility to make sure that the slaves did not misbehave or stray far from good moral conduct. Many owners feared that a productive and well-behaved slave would wander too close to questionable areas such as the Buzzard’s Roost and mingle with lower class whites and free blacks who would certainly encourage unruly behavior. Slaves were expected at all times to be loyal and obedient servants to their owners for a lifetime. 59 As owners tried to find ways to increase power over their slaves, a number of new institutions and societies came into existence. During the 1850s, slaveholders supported the creation of all-black churches. Court Street Baptist Church was the first all-black church in Lynchburg and still exists in the twenty-first century. Blacks were able to freely worship, but whites continued to serve in positions of authority by controlling the financing, serving as ministers, and as Sunday school teachers. Many owners feared that if loyal slaves did not receive

58 59

Ibid., 17 Ibid., 18

31

the proper religious education and learn a strict code of moral values, many slaves would become easily tempted by any of the various vices that could be found in and around the Lower Basin. Those who became tempted usually were turned over to the local police department for further action. 60 Police officers were often used as only the last resort for correcting unruly slaves. Many that were beyond simple correction were sent to Mayor William D. Branch for summary judgment. Petty crimes such as being drunk or breaking curfew often resulted in whipping. One such example is told by a former Captain in the Army of Northern Virginia and resident of Lynchburg during the 1850s, John M. Payne. Captain Payne wrote in his memoirs that behind the Courthouse were two small brick houses for each of the clerks of court and a whipping post between the houses: In these days the Court House Bell would ring at 9 o’clock every night and if a Negro was caught out without a pass after this hour he was arrested, and either had to pay $1.00 or take ten lashes at the whipping post. On my way to school I have frequently seen this penalty administered, but it was very mercifully done and did not hurt the culprit. 61

The more serious crimes were handled sensitively and on a case by case basis. One example occurred in 1858 when three slaves were arrested for setting fire to William Miller’s tobacco factory. The situation caused a slight panic in the city of a possible slave insurrection. Two of the slaves, William and Morris were sentenced to death by Mayor Branch. Both of the condemned slaves actually belonged to William Miller, the factory owner. A third slave named Carey belonged to a local lawyer named William Speed. A confident Speed believed that Carey was innocent and refused to turn the slave over to the police and Mayor for punishment. The court decided that Carey had to be sold and moved out of the city. Speed complied, but only after

60 61

Ibid., 20 Payne, 15

32

much protest. 62 Despite what many in the city thought about unruly slaves as the only real cause for concern or problem, the city was about to take a dramatic change that would affect many people. By the 1850s, Lynchburg experienced an economic boom. The small town of Lynchburg was rapidly becoming a growing metropolis. However, it would not last as tensions across the country began to increase between people in the North and South. The boom times of the 1850s would give way to the troublesome and dark days of the 1860s. As was the case with every other city across the country, Lynchburg was not exempt from its share of economic troubles. Due to the strong attachment and dependence upon the production, manufacture and sale of tobacco, the economy was extremely vulnerable to sudden collapses. Three specific years were especially difficult for many tobacco owners as the panics of 1856, 1857 and 1860 produced a stranglehold on much of the city’s wealth. Those who were financially sound received many pleas for assistance from societies established to help the poor and destitute. 63 One of the largest charitable societies was the Dorcas Society. Formed from a Methodist women’s group, many of the city’s wealthiest matrons belonged to the organization, but the group still depended upon private donations in order to survive. One of its main functions was to provide year round assistance for poor white women and their children. Those who were given aid also attended the Methodist Sunday School which provided moral and religious education, which meant the poor white Irish Catholic women were excluded from any assistance. 64

62

Tripp, 21 Ibid., 31 64 Ibid., 32 63

33

Although economic times were certainly difficult in the 1850s, there were even more difficult times on the horizon. Tobacconists that were living in large houses just above the city heights would soon be out of business. Tobacco warehouses and factories that were spread across the business district would become places of pain, misery, disease and death. The new railroads that were installed in the early 1850s would serve a new purpose and have more usage than ever before. Foundries that made iron castings for tobacco owners would change and produce ammunition and wagons for an army. The vast majority of the male population would leave the friendly city limits and many would never return. As tensions continued to increase across not only Virginia but the country, war loomed on the horizon. It would be years before not only Lynchburg, but millions across the South enjoyed the kind of economic prosperity that was seen in the 1850s.

Old Market House on Lynch Street looking towards Court House

Water (Ninth) Street from Court House view

Both pictures are courtesy of Jones Memorial Library

34

Farmer bringing tobacco hogshead to market. Photo courtesy of Lynchburg Museum System

Main Street in Lynchburg Virginia, 1859. Photo courtesy of Jones Memorial Library

35

Harper’s Weekly May 8, 1879 special on Lynchburg tobacco (Courtesy of Lynchburg Museum System) Row 1- The Breaks (Auction of leaf tobacco) / Unloading leaf Row 2 – Calling to the “Breaks” (Friend’s Warehouse) / Twisting plug tobacco Row 3 - Tobacco wagons and market (Planter’s Warehouse) / Pressing baler – smoking tobacco

36

CHAPTER 2 LYNCHBURG DURING THE CIVIL WAR

During the early years of Lynchburg, transportation to other towns or cities was effective but very limited. The road to Charlottesville, located seventy miles away, was well travelled with ease and expedition. On the other hand, someone that desired to go to Richmond from Lynchburg and did not wish to go via the James River was required to travel fifteen miles east in order to take the turnpike. For those that wished to travel west, one option was the Lynchburg – Salem Turnpike, an expensive macadamized road that was only half complete and ran through both New London and Liberty. Mail delivery traveled via the Piedmont Road to Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Danville and Sale, North Carolina. Other mail deliveries went by way of the mail coach to and from Richmond three times weekly or the route established by future Governor William “Extra Billy” Smith that stretched from Washington D.C. to Georgia. 65 There had to be a better way for citizens to travel. In 1812, the Virginia General Assembly appointed a special commission that was headed by Chief Justice John Marshall to survey the James River from Lynchburg to the mouth of Dunlop’s Creek. The commission was ordered to locate the most direct way via water transportation to the Great Kanawha Falls and provide the legislature with a report on the findings. The commission met in Lynchburg on September 1, 1812 and gathered on the Lynch Bridge and traveled up the river to a point above Buchanan, Virginia near the Peaks of Otter. The group soon returned from the survey to Ohio and submitted the report to General Assembly. After a careful study, the legislature favorably recommended the passageway, but public

65

Dunn & Hobbs, 17

37

demands deemed any progress that had been made to be completely insufficient with local needs. 66 While the future canal was being surveyed and researched, another drive was ongoing. In November 1830, a group of progressive citizens met to discuss internal improvements and the building of a railroad. One proposal was made to construct a railroad that stretched from Lynchburg west and connected with the New River Railroad. 67 On April 5, 1831, the Lynchburg and New River Railroad Company was incorporated and a grand celebration was planned. Excited townspeople staged a large parade on the day that shares of stock went public. Eager citizens purchased over 3,000 shares in one day. Not everyone in Virginia was excited about the future railroad. The General Assembly denied the proposal and instead voted to incorporate the preferred project of the James River and Kanawha Canal Company on March 16, 1832.68 It would be the first of several battles between those citizens demanding rail service and the state legislature. Another public meeting was held on October 15, 1835 and a special committee petitioned the General Assembly to incorporate the Lynchburg and Tennessee Railroad Company. According to the petition, the railroad was to stretch from Lynchburg to Tennessee and connect with the Nashville and New Orleans Railroad line. The bill was passed by the legislature on March 11, 1836 but the line was to be constructed from Lynchburg to Richmond. In June 1836, another meeting was held to recommend the western road. The General Assembly again passed the bill and stopped advocating the road to Richmond. However, the controlling members of the legislative body were more interested in building the new canal. In March 1839, the Assembly 66

Dorothy Brooks. “1812 survey of Waterway to West recalled.” Lynchburg Daily Advance, February 22, 1968 Norfolk & Western Railway. Lynchburg’s first railway: The Virginia & Tennessee. (n.p., 1936), 1 68 Ibid., 2 67

38

again passed a proposal to build the road from Lynchburg to Richmond. 69 The railroad continued to stall at the state level in favor of the new canal despite continued pressure from influential citizens in Lynchburg. In 1840 as the railroad bill attempted to be passed by the General Assembly, the canal was nearing completion. At the canal’s peak, the line stretched from Richmond to Buchanan for a distance of two hundred miles. The grand waterway had thirty-eight locks, four stone dams, numerous bridges and culverts. Travel up and down the new canal was frequently made by packet or passenger boats which were all named for prominent Virginians. The first packet boat was appropriately named for the former Chief Justice who had been so instrumental in the initial surveying, John Marshall. 70 With the Marshall’s arrival in Lynchburg in 1840, the canal was complete and ready for travel. To aid in the navigation of the boats that were daily traveling upstream, a force of ninetysix men and twenty horses were required to pull against the current along the canal’s towpath. 71 Each boat was pulled by three horses and relayed for fifteen miles. The horses would then be changed and housed at nice stables at each relay point. Freight boats were pulled by two mules while two fresh mules were housed in the boat’s bow. Every six hours, the mules were interchanged. 72 Passengers could ride on a packet boat three times per week and travel from Lynchburg to Richmond in just thirty-six hours. In order to make the 144 mile trip, passengers were required to pay $14.50 which provided two nights lodging and five meals. While the mode of

69

Ibid., 3 Marcus Toney. “Old Packet Boat.” Lynchburg News, October 28, 1914 71 Brooks 72 Toney 70

39

transportation might seem unusually lengthy, the travel was more pleasant when compared to riding a dusty and bumpy stage coach. 73 The canal was such a success that by 1854, the James River and Kanawha Canal Company fleet consisted of seventy-five decked boats, sixty open boats and fifty-four bateaux. Over 865 men and 423 horses were also required to operate the large fleet. 74 With the completion of the canal, public discussion continued in demand for a new railroad line from Lynchburg to Tennessee. In 1845, another proposal came to the General Assembly who again defeated the bill. In 1847, the legislature passed another bill that allowed the canal to extend west to Buchanan. Lynchburg residents held yet another meeting in response to a request from Buchanan residents to the General Assembly for the purposes of building a railroad line in southwestern Virginia to Buchanan. Again, the legislature denied the proposal. However, Lynchburgers would not be denied and held a second meeting. Members of the railroad board sold $500,000 in stock to citizens who in turn sent another proposal to the General Assembly which was again denied. After a second stock purchase, an additional proposal finally passed and on March 24, 1848 the Lynchburg and Tennessee Railroad Company was incorporated. 75 The young railroad company had achieved a monumental victory with the incorporation but still faced an uphill struggle with a legislative body that heavily favored a grand waterway in the Kanawha Canal. To gain additional support, railroad commission secretary Francis B. Deane Jr wrote a letter to famed navigator and native Virginian LT Matthew F. Maury. Maury responded to Deane via letter on June 20, 1848 with the example of Baltimore, Maryland and 73

Ibid. Brooks 75 Norfolk & Western, 4 74

40

how politics can hinder great accomplishments. Maury stated that the city of Norfolk, Virginia was home to the greatest shipping port and harbor in the world. However, Norfolk civic leaders were embroiled in a battle with Richmond and Petersburg which forced other towns across the state to grind to a halt. Cities such as Baltimore were moving forward in progress and were unhindered by such blockades. Maury continued to state that Virginia was more concerned about canals than railroads while Baltimore was building a canal to the mountains for rich mineral wealth. There was great concern that although there was no other existing railroad line that was as long as the Lynchburg and Tennessee line was projected to be, if Virginia failed to capitalize on its opportunities and build the requested line, the project would fail. Members of Tennessee’s Congressional delegation also attempted to help support the new railroad. Congressman John Rogers wrote in a letter dated November 16 to fellow Congressman William Cocke that he would very much like to see the railroad line completed. Congressman Cocke then sent a letter on December 20 to Virginia Congressman and Lynchburg representative Thomas Bocock stating that in 1843, Tennessee had warehouses that were full of merchandise and the roads were full of wagons transporting materials from one city to another. A railroad would expedite the shipping of merchandise from Lynchburg to Tennessee and other places. In a response letter dated January 6, 1849 to Deane, Bocock apologized that the railroad was looked upon with jealousy by friends of other schemes. Part of the frustration with the legislature’s constant delays and denials could be found in the company charter in which there was confirmation that a railroad that connected with Tennessee was of the utmost importance. 76 Yet, some members continued to block passage of the railroad bills to further other agendas. Bocock acknowledged that there were more than sufficient resources in existence from which to 76

Virginia & Tennessee Railroad Company. The original charter of the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad Company (Richmond: Dispatch Job Office, 1855)

41

begin building the line. The Congressman also stated that the line simply needed to extend the road to the Tennessee state line and that those citizens would further extend the railroad from Bristol to Memphis. In early 1849, the General Assembly had one final bill to pass regarding the Lynchburg and Tennessee Railroad Company when the name was changed to the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad Company. After decades of struggle and multiple bills to the General Assembly, ground was finally broken on the morning of January 16, 1850 for Lynchburg’s first railroad. Although the air was bitter cold and the ground was covered with snow, excited spectators did not seem to mind. At 11:00, Governor John B. Floyd arrived and lifted the first spade of dirt to formally begin the construction. However, the beginning work would have a brief moment of controversy as to the location of where the rails would be manufactured. The decision was soon made to purchase 6,000 tons of rails that weighed sixty pounds per yard from two iron work foundries in Wales. 77 The building of a railroad is a tremendous undertaking and the construction of the Virginia and Tennessee line proved to be no different in difficulty. The line required tunneling through several hundred feet of solid rock, building two large bridges and several cuts. However, the workers persevered and the line to Liberty was completed by late March 1852. The line was extended to the community of Big Lick (modern day Roanoke) on November 1, 1852. 78 On October 1, 1856, six years after its initial beginning, the Virginia and Tennessee line was finally completed. Rail stretched from Lynchburg west to Bristol for a distance of just over two hundred miles. What had originally been the dream for some took twenty-six years to come 77 78

Memorial of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad Company (n.p., 1851), 5 Ibid., 6

42

to realization. The new railroad brought prosperity and new businesses to Lynchburg along with increased property values. 79 The Virginia and Tennessee was only the first railroad to bring rail service to Lynchburg. On December 29, 1849 the Southside Railroad out of Petersburg was also being built. Construction was completed on October 1, 1854 and the line extended from Petersburg east to Lynchburg over a distance of 123 miles. The additional rail line not only brought increased prosperity to Lynchburg, but a continuous line from Petersburg through Lynchburg to Bristol, Tennessee was formed. Another bonus was the newly installed telegraph line that stretched from Bristol to Lynchburg. 80 By 1850, the President and Directors of the newly formed Orange and Alexandria Railroad Company sent a request to the General Assembly to extend the railroad from Gordonsville in Northern Virginia to Lynchburg in the hopes of connecting with the Virginia and Tennessee. One reason for the request was to accommodate a thriving and fertile portion of the state while providing more expedient travel options for citizens who hoped to reach either Richmond or Washington D.C. 81 The request was granted and a third railroad line through Lynchburg was completed. The Virginia and Tennessee line ran east and west from Lynchburg to Bristol, Tennessee. The Southside line ran from Lynchburg through Petersburg to the eastern shores of Tidewater. The new Orange and Alexandria line nearly reached Lynchburg, stopping at the riverbank north of the city. Stagecoaches met passengers on the northern bank and crossed

79

Ibid., 7 Memorial, 9 81 Ibid., 4 80

43

Lynch’s Bridge into Lynchburg to continue their travels. 82 Another economic upswing was taking place in Tobacco Town. By the middle to the close of the 1850s, Lynchburg was still, for the most part, considered to be pro-Union. For that matter, so were the majority of other Virginia communities. As other states in the Deep South began to talk about leaving the Union, Lynchburgers did not share that same desire. Citizens knew that in a sectional conflict, Lynchburg would gain very little but lose much. Perhaps the Virginian portrayed the city’s true feelings the best with its motto “The rights of states and the Union of the states”. 83 Despite its pro-Union sentiment, there were still deeply held southern traditions and customs that were observed in the city. During the 1851-52 academic year, Madison College in Uniontown, Pennsylvania began holding classes with many of its faculty and students coming from southern towns including Lynchburg. When the school’s administration announced in early 1855 that the student body would be desegregated, the majority of the school’s officials disagreed. This opposition reached epic proportions when the college President announced at the June 1855 commencement that he and the faculty had resigned and planned to open a new school in the South. Several school officials met in Lynchburg and received a pledge from the city’s elite citizens of $20,000 for the erection of buildings. On October 1, 1855, the first classes were held at Lynchburg College. Students could enroll in college, preparatory or military instructional courses. 84 During the next several years, Lynchburg College would bring culture to the city as visiting speakers brought lectures and plays. Dudley Hall, the city auditorium located on Church

82

Chambers, 199 Elson, 120 84 Ibid., 130 83

44

Street, also hosted a variety of plays, concerts and shows. However, the carefree days in Lynchburg would change in late 1859. In mid-October 1859, a small group of armed men stormed the federal arsenal in Harper’s Ferry, Virginia, seizing arms and attempting to incite a slave insurrection. The insurgents killed a small number of local citizens and Colonel Robert E. Lee along with Lieutenant J.E.B. Stuart was sent to take charge of a Marine detachment that had been dispatched to quell the invasion. After a brief skirmish, the leader, a man named John Brown, was captured and the uprising had stopped. Although located several hours away, the disturbance caused more than a few people in Lynchburg to take notice. In the Virginian, an article described the event as a “mysterious movement of insurgents who were animated by the frenzy of abolition and determined to liberate the slaves.” 85 Many in Lynchburg were shocked by the events of Harper’s Ferry and a cloud of gloom seemed to settle across the city. One letter to the Virginian stated the local feeling best when the author noted that there was no military presence in Lynchburg to assist local law enforcement if the events at Harper’s Ferry had occurred locally. Signed by “Odin”, some believed that the letter had been written by the first Virginia and Tennessee Railroad President, General Odin Clay. Regardless of the true identity of the author, the sentiment behind the letter was rapidly understood. 86 Just two weeks after the John Brown raid, local lawyer Samuel Garland organized one hundred men and formed the Lynchburg Home Guard. Garland was promptly elected Captain and the man who later became a Confederate General began a military career. Joining the Home Guard was a new cavalry company. The Wise Troop, named in honor of Virginia Governor

85 86

Virginian, October 19, 1859 Elson, 123

45

Henry Wise, was commanded by a retired Army officer, Captain R.C.W. Radford. Another prominent local attorney who later rose in the Confederate ranks, Charles M. Blackford, joined the Wise Troop as an enlisted cavalryman. 87 Three days prior to John Brown’s November 1859 execution, a public meeting was held at Martin’s Tobacco warehouse to consider the subject of Virginia invasion by federal troops. Many of the leading citizens still maintained strong pro-Union sentiment and did not wish nor were prepared to secede with the rest of the Deep South. There was a common belief that the arming of the community and state would be in the best interests of protecting loved ones and property. It is interesting to note that although the citizens that attended the meeting and many in Lynchburg held pro-Union sentiments, the time honored traditions of the South were strictly observed. During the meeting, seven resolutions were passed. The first resolution was to continue the institution of slavery and that any interference constituted a violation of law and promised only an evil outcome. Marking the noticeable difference in the uneasiness that spread across the city, Mayor William Branch appointed six additional night watchmen. 88 A heightened sense of panic, tension and uncertainty closed out 1859 Lynchburg with most wondering what would happen in the new decade of the 1860s. The arrival of 1860 brought mixed feelings to many citizens. While business appeared to be conducted as normal, there was also a noticeable increase in military activity. To mark the beginning of the spring season, a flag raising presentation was held at Lynchburg College. Participating in the event were the Lynchburg Home Guard, the Wise Troop and a new unit, the Rifle Greys, which consisted of men who were considered to be too old to actively serve in the

87 88

Ibid. Ibid.

46

military. Also introduced were the new college Corps of Cadets and the newly assembled brass band. 89 Sectional tensions were still on the rise between the North and the South. A local wagon manufacturer, John Bailey began advertising weekly in the Virginian that: ABOLITIONISTS KILLED IN LYNCHBURG The way to kill the northern fanatics is to buy your carriages, buggies and wagons at BAILEY’S, 184 Main Street, Lynchburg and not send your money north to enrich and enable the Abolitionists to make Sharpe’s rifles and spears to send to our Negroes to kill us with. – John Bailey 90

The Independence Day 1860 celebration in Lynchburg was a grand affair held at the city fairgrounds. Joining the celebration were the various military units from the city which included the introduction of another new unit, the Lynchburg Artillery. Charles Blackford delivered a speech which followed the reading of the Declaration of Independence. During the evening, a large catered meal was served followed by toasts made by Colonel D.A. Langhorne and Captain Garland. Starting off the thirteen toasts was one to the rights of the states and the Union of the states. Next were toasts to the Commonwealth of Virginia followed by one to the Army and Navy of the United States. 91 The arrival of fall saw the introduction of sleeping car service on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad in September. During October, the stage coach service was expanded from Lynchburg south to Chatham in Pittsylvania County. Of course, the arrival of fall also meant that the country would elect a new political leader. Voters had four tickets from which to choose a new President and Vice-President. The Republicans were represented by Abraham Lincoln

89

Ibid. Virginian, March 16, 1860 91 Elson, 125 90

47

from Illinois and Hannibal Hamlin from Maine. Many Lynchburgers referred to the Republican ticket as the “Black Republicans” that had a deep hatred for slavery and the southern people. Secessionist Democrats were led by John Breckinridge of Kentucky and Joseph Lane of Oregon. Endorsed by the newspaper Lynchburg Republican, the Union Democrats were represented by Stephen Douglas of Illinois and H.V. Johnson of Georgia. The final ticket, the Constitutional Union party and endorsed by the Virginian contained John Bell of Tennessee and Edward Everett of Massachusetts. By Election Day, new Governor John Letcher had arrived in Lynchburg which led to rumors that Virginia was preparing for a federal military invasion or a slave insurrection. 92 At the end of the day, the election results were tallied. John Bell carried Lynchburg with 960 votes. In second place was Breckinridge with 487 votes followed by Stephen Douglas who received 132 votes. The man who would be President received either no votes or none that were officially recorded. 93 In the days following the election, the downcast feelings that had been felt in 1859 returned again. Economic problems began to return among the city’s businesses. Susan Blackford wrote that in the days following South Carolina’s secession, “Virginia’s relatively ineffective leaders sought to avoid the holocaust that was looming ahead.” 94 Soon industries began to feel the economic pinch as noted in the Virginian that business was dull and money scarce. 95 Just one week later, Virginian editor Charles Button wrote a scathing editorial stating that a record number of Lynchburgers were destitute of the common life necessities, but that did not stop the city’s elite from hosting extravagant parties and wasting hundreds of thousands of

92

Virginian, November 1, 1860 Elson, 128 94 Charles M. and Susan C. Blackford. Memoirs of life in and out of the Army of Virginia during the War Between the States. 2 volumes. (Lynchburg: Warwick House Publishing, 1996), 7 95 Virginian, December 13, 1860 93

48

dollars that could have fed thousands of people. 96 The elite parties to which Button referred were often hosted by Captain and Mrs. Garland. Attendees often dressed in the style of French aristocracy of big wigs, silk stockings, knee buckles, long vests, velvet coats and cocked or laced hats. 97 Parties that resembled the court of Louis XIV reminded many of the pending French Revolution. Little did many know just how close the resemblance was to another war. January 4, 1861 was declared by President James Buchanan to be a National Day of Fasting and Prayer. 98 A relief society restarted in Lynchburg with Mayor Branch serving as President. The goal of the group was to attempt to alleviate some of the suffering in the city. 99 Two weeks later, the Relief Society raised $429.20 and helped sixty-five families. Sadly, the funds were soon exhausted and little more was raised. 100 On February 2, 1861, Lynchburg voters elected delegates to a called state convention to discuss the issue of secession. Even after the election and increased tensions, Lynchburg was still pro-Union and demonstrated this by overwhelmingly voting for two Unionist candidates. John Speed received 1,033 votes and Charles Slaughter earned 1,025 votes compared to Disunionist candidates John Goggin with 374 votes and Thomas Kirkpatrick with 367 votes. At the convention, 75% of the delegates were slaveholders, but surprisingly still aired a voice of moderation. As late as April 4, 1861, delegates voted 85-45 not to secede. 101 Then came the hostilities at Fort Sumter and Lynchburg, Virginia and the rest of the country would never be the same.

96

Virginian, December 19, 1860 Elson, 129 98 Ibid. 99 Virginian, January 21, 1861 100 Virginian, February 8, 1861 101 Elson, 130 97

49

Following the fighting at Fort Sumter, members of the Virginia delegation went to meet with President Lincoln in Washington D.C. in a desperate attempt to cease further hostilities. The movement was too late and on April 15, 1861, President Lincoln issued a call for 75,000 volunteers from all states to put down the growing rebellion in South Carolina. 102 The next day, Virginia Governor Letcher responded in the same manner as many other southern governors. In a response telegram to Secretary of War Simon Cameron, Letcher stated that: In reply to this communication I have only to say that the militia of Virginia will not be furnished to the powers at Washington for any such use or purpose as they have in view. Your object is to subjugate the Southern states, and a requisition made upon me for such an object – an object, in my judgment, not within the purview of the Constitution or the act of 1795 will not be complied with. You have chosen to inaugurate civil war, and having done so, we will meet it in a spirit as determined as the Administration has exhibited towards the South.103

On April 17, 1861, the Virginia delegation again met and overwhelmingly voted 88-55 to secede. The citizens of Lynchburg who had previously been in overwhelming favor of staying pro-Union now voted unanimously 1486-0 to secede. As a result, local military units began to swell in great numbers as patriotic Virginians rushed to defend their beloved homeland from the pending invasion by federal troops. The Wise Troop expanded after local recruiting and became a full regiment known as the Second Virginia Cavalry. 104 The Lynchburg Home Guard became part of the Eleventh Virginia Infantry. From the day of secession to December 1861, more than 401 residents volunteered for military duty in ten different companies. In early 1862, sixty-eight additional men enlisted in two additional companies. The few remaining Unionists that were left in Lynchburg felt it wise to keep their views quietly. 105

102

Ibid. U.S. Government: War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. 128 parts in 70 volumes and Atlas. (Washington DC: Government Printing Office, 1880 – 1901), Series 3, Volume 1, 76. Hereafter referred to as the OR. 104 Elson, 131 105 Ibid., 139 103

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In June 1861, the Second Virginia Cavalry left Lynchburg for Richmond amidst a grand celebration by hundreds of citizens. But just as local military units left for further assignment in Richmond, additional military units from across the state as well as the South arrived in Lynchburg via the railroads as the city began its new role as an induction center. Virginia troops were mustered at Camp Davis and placed under the command of Colonel Jubal Early. Troops from other southern states were housed at the city fairgrounds. However, with the additional soldiers came additional problems. During the coming days and weeks, there were an increased amount of robberies, fights, drunken brawls and murders of soldiers. The Rifle Greys had to be called out to help the police restore order. 106 While other cities and small towns such as Gordonsville or Charlottesville were railroad terminals, no city had so far to fall as Lynchburg. What had been a quiet and romantic Southern city before the war rapidly turned into a large military encampment, one of the largest hospital centers in the South and a Confederate quartermaster depot as well the location for a Federal prison which in time would hold between two hundred to two thousand Union troops. 107 Beginning in 1862, citizens were starting to feel the effects of the war. Inflation began creeping in as prices began to rise to record levels. For example, a sack of salt in the 1850’s only cost $3.50 while the same sack cost $20.00 by 1862. In an attempt to help provide for the material strapped Confederate military, local foundries worked hard to produce arms, munitions, wagons, caissons and uniforms. Churches donated bells as a result of the iron and metal shortages. Deane’s Foundry went from producing sleeping cars for the railroad to turning church bells into cannon. Richard Shepherd and Company repaired captured Federal muskets. The 106

Ibid., 140 Peter Houck. A prototype of a Confederate hospital center in Lynchburg, Virginia (Lynchburg: Warwick House, 1996), 6

107

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Phoenix Foundry made percussion caps. John Bailey who had earlier advertised about killing abolitionists produced two wagons and four caissons per day for the Army. Cavalry regiments were forced to provide personal horses which became harder as the war continued over the four years. 108 As difficult as the early years of the war was for Lynchburg and much of the country, things would only get harder as time went on. As the war began, small southern cities were not prepared for the blood and gore that appeared in the thousands of troops that arrived on local railroads seeking medical aid. Lynchburg was chosen as a hospital center due to the existence of the railroads, the numerous tobacco warehouses that could easily be converted to hospitals and the fact that much of the war occurred more than one hundred miles made Lynchburg remote and therefore safe enough for recovering troops. 109 With the establishment of the hospital complex, Lynchburg was considered to be a prototype of the Virginia railroad towns that were quietly tucked away from the battlefields and forced to become a hospital city. 110 In 1861, the city’s population was 6,000 which meant that the daily arrival of 1,500 wounded soldiers would easily overwhelm the local citizens. 111 The three railroads terminating in Lynchburg that was once essential to the tobacco commerce became more important in bringing thousands of wounded soldiers from the battlefield to a hospital. Field hospitals were usually only a collection of tents and ambulance wagons that often were required to be moved as the army left an area. Soldiers that needed to have long term care often hindered the forward movement of troops. An answer was found in 108

Ibid. “Tobacco center converted to Confederate hospital city” (Lynchburg: n.p.), 1. Hereafter referred as Tobacco Center. 110 Houck, 9 111 Ibid, 13 109

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transporting hundreds of troops via the railroad to other cities. But there were problems encountered from bringing troops in this method. Many soldiers who arrived at the railroad depot died of dehydration and exposure, often without seeing a doctor. During the peak casualty runs from events such as the battle of the Wilderness, men were laid out at the depot and exposed to the open air and weather without receiving prompt medical attention in a “tobacco hospital.” Another problem was that the railroad boxcars often hurried the progress of the disease by being poorly ventilated in the summer weather and not heated during the winter. Trying to get multiple wounded soldiers to area hospitals, boxcars were often overcrowded with wounded and infected men with poor hygiene which created a horrible stench.

112

By 1862, 1251 soldiers left the

hospitals horizontally instead of vertically and were buried in the city cemetery. 113 In order to meet the immediate need for additional hospitals, multiple buildings that were large and had sufficient open room were used. The first choice due mainly to its size and availability was Lynchburg College. The start of the war caused financial problems for the young school. The lack of financial support, low student enrollment due to military enlistment and the resignation of several faculty members caused the Board of Trustees to vote on closing the school and allow the Confederate military to use the buildings. 114 Another choice was the Warwick Hotel on Main Street which would serve as a hospital for a temporary time as well as the housing location for the more than twenty medical officers that were transferred to Lynchburg. 115

112

Ibid., 3 Houck, 11 114 Elson, 131 115 Ibid., 154 113

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The most unusual establishment of a hospital was not without controversy. Senior Surgeon in Charge Doctor William O. Owen enjoyed a reputation as a competent surgeon but often had trouble with authority. When Doctor Owen was approached by sixty year old Lucy Otey with a request to open a hospital that would be run by the five hundred members of the Ladies Relief Society, Owen sneered in disgust that “flies and women are both undesirable in hospital settings.” Otey, a recent widow with the death of her War of 1812 husband, Captain John Otey, was not to be denied and appealed to Richmond and President Jefferson Davis. Davis not only approved Otey’s request to open the hospital, but appointed the widow as an officer in the Confederate Army. It was the policy of the Confederate government that only military officials were allowed to lead hospitals. 116 Following President Davis’ approval, Otey and the Ladies Relief Society opened the hospital at the City Hotel. The women provided such quality care for the wounded soldiers that former nurse Mary Forsberg later wrote that it became an unwritten law to send the worst wounded soldiers to the Ladies Relief Hospital who had the lowest mortality rate of any hospital in Lynchburg for the duration of the war. Perhaps one reason was the personal touch that the women extended to the soldiers. One example is shared by Mary Forsberg recalling the efforts of one local woman: At one point, there were more than ten thousand sick and wounded soldiers in the city. This was before disinfectants and sterile dressings came into use. Bandages were often very stiff and painful. One specific woman, Mrs. Henry Lewis came in at 5:00 each morning and brought soft cloths from home. She would go to as many beds as necessary, remove the stiff bandages, wash the soldier’s wounds with clean water and place clean soft bandages so that the open sores would not stick to the clothes. The soldier who had been awake throughout the night and in intense pain with the stiff bandage sticking to clothes could now rest easily. 117

116 “ 117

Tobacco center”, 3 Mary Forsberg. Hospital reminiscences during the War Between the States 1861 – 1865. (Lynchburg, 1901)

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Many of the wounded from Manassas were brought to Lynchburg. The overflow required an additional fifty to sixty surgeons and over four hundred medical personnel. By the end of July 1861, over 1250 soldiers had died in Lynchburg. 118 Lynchburg College as the largest hospital had the highest casualty rate with 20,000 casualties and 288 deaths during the first year. As the war continued, it became clear that additional hospitals would be needed in the city. Tobacco warehouses became the obvious choice due to the available room and significant number of buildings. In April 1862, the first three tobacco warehouses were converted into hospitals. Booker, Christian and Saunders warehouses became general hospitals. 119 These types of hospitals allowed many practitioners who could not progress further in the medical profession the opportunity to not only gain immediate work, but actual hands on experience with a variety of trauma. Many local doctors had enlisted to fight on the battlefield and not practice medicine. 120 Before long, there was a need to open additional hospitals throughout Lynchburg. Nineteen tobacco warehouses and thirteen other buildings combined to create the sprawling Lynchburg Confederate hospital center. Fourteen of the warehouses were permanent locations and five were established for temporary use. Of the thirteen remaining buildings, seven were to be used as permanent sites and six were for only temporary use. The hospitals were divided into type (General, Specialty) and divisions with each location having a doctor in charge. When the wounded soldiers arrived at the railroad depot, medical personnel brought the men to Wayside Hospital for a form of triage. Based upon each soldier’s condition, a determination was made as to where the best help could be provided. For many, soldiers were 118

Houck, 16 Ibid. 120 “Tobacco Center”, 4 119

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sent to one of the many General hospitals throughout the city. Union prisoners were sent to the Fairgrounds. The worst cases were sent to the Ladies Relief Hospital for special care. Surgeries often took place at the Odd Fellows Hall and convalescents were sent to Camp Nicholls. Troops that had contracted small pox were immediately sent to the Pest House located within the Methodist Cemetery. There, Dr. John Terrell made significant changes that not only helped existing smallpox patients, but in just a short time, lowered the mortality rate from fifty to five percent. 121 Permanent Hospitals Booker Burton Candler Christian Claytor Crumpton Ferguson Ford Knight Langhorne Miller Reid Saunders Taliaferro Fairgrounds Lynchburg College Pest House Union Hotel (Ladies Relief) Warwick Hotel Wayside Hospital

Hospital Type Temporary Hospitals General Chamber General Massie General Planter General Sheau General Wade General Camp Davis General Camp Nicholls General Dudley Hall General Norvell Hotel General Odd Fellows Hall General Washington Hotel General General General Union Prisoner of War camp General Small Pox Nursing General Triage

Hospital Type122 Genera General General General General General Convalescents General General Surgery General

Throughout the course of the war, Lynchburg hospitals treated tens of thousands of wounded men. Yet the local funeral home, Diuguid Funeral Service only had just fewer than 2,100 burials during the period of 1861 – 1865. According to Diuguid’ s records, the lowest fatality was one in February 1865 while the highest month was January 1863 with 196 deaths due to a smallpox epidemic. Between May and September 1862, a typhoid fever outbreak 121

Dr. John J. Terrell. “A Confederate Surgeon’s Story.” Confederate Veteran’s Magazine, December 1931 (n.p.), 457 122 Houck, 145

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resulted in 776 deaths. The Battle of the Wilderness resulted in 405 fatalities from May through July 1864.123 Locations of Major Hospitals in Lynchburg during the Civil War.

Taken by author, Old City Cemetery, Lynchburg VA. 2014

123

Diuguid Funeral Service. Burial Records 1861 - 1865

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Civil War Trails sign located on last remaining hospital, Lynchburg VA. Taken by author, 2014

Knight hospital which was converted from a tobacco warehouse. Built in 1845, it is the last remaining Civil War hospital still standing in Lynchburg, VA out of 32 in existence during the war. Taken by author, 2012.

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Former Miller hospital built in 1845 and collapsed in 2012. Picture taken by author, 2012

One of the newer hospitals opened in 1862 at the city fairgrounds. Previously used to house southern troops, the large acreage was converted into a prisoner of war camp for captured Union soldiers. By this time, the Richmond prisons were overflowing and an auxiliary prison system needed to be established. The first auxiliary prison was set up in Lynchburg due to its remote location. The fairgrounds continued to host Confederate soldiers, many of whom were from North Carolina, who often volunteered to serve as guards. The prison was a line camp in that a boundary line was drawn around the facility. If a prisoner crossed the line in an attempt to escape, the guards had orders to shoot to kill. Designed in April 1862 to hold 500 prisoners, the camp soon stretched to overflowing with more than 3,000 prisoners captured by Jackson during 59

the Shenandoah Valley campaign in mid-June 1862. Local gardeners sold food and fresh vegetables to the prisoners who had little to no rations due to the food shortages throughout the Confederacy. The death toll rose during the summer of 1862 due to heat exhaustion and typhoid fever. 124 The country had been torn apart by war for only two years, but would continue to suffer hardships for the next three years. 1863 brought continued hardships for not only Lynchburg but for the rest of the Confederacy as hard fought battles took its toll on the male population. Perhaps the hardest trial came in May 1863 with the death of Confederate hero Lieutenant General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson. In cities across the south, thousands of citizens put on mourning wear for the now deceased soldier. Everyone it seemed wanted an opportunity to memorialize Jackson and the citizens of Lynchburg had their chance. When the train arrived from Richmond bearing the General’s casket and waiting on the funeral party to board the John Marshall packet boat on the Kanawha Canal for passage to Lexington and burial, Mayor Branch had an idea. There was to be a grand and glorious funeral service held for General Jackson as well as a processional. Included in the procession were 1,500 wounded soldiers who were in various city hospitals and had marched with Jackson. After the funeral service and the end of the procession, the funeral party proceeded to Lexington and the Virginia Military Institute. 125 As 1863 turned into 1864, the country continued to feel the brutal effects of civil war. Generations of men were extinguished in a single battle. Towns across the south faced the harsh realities of war with food shortages, inflation and the complete desolation of land due to the constant fighting that often occurred between the warring armies. Lynchburg was in a remote

124 125

Dr. Clifton Potter. Lecture on Union prison camp, August 28, 2014. Lib Wiley. “Old Clipping tells of historic voyage of Packet Boat Marshall.” Daily Advance, March 2, 1960

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enough location that the full effects of the war did not make a significant impact as sister cities in northern Virginia such as Winchester or Warrenton. That fortune would change in June 1864 with the arrival of General David Hunter. Confederate officials were not the only ones who took a special notice to the many railroad lines that fed through Lynchburg. President Abraham Lincoln described the Virginia and Tennessee railroad as the “Gut of the South”. Besides serving as a railroad terminal, Lynchburg was also the depot for the Army of Northern Virginia’s commissary and quartermaster stores that were gathered between Lynchburg and Knoxville, Tennessee. The few medical supplies that existed for the Confederacy were also stored in railroad storage. 126 General U.S. Grant was convinced that if Lynchburg could be removed as a rail terminal for just a few days, General Robert E. Lee would have little choice but to surrender the Army of Northern Virginia. 127 In a telegram to General David Hunter, the commander of the Department of West Virginia, Grant stated that General Phil Sheridan was leaving on June 7 for Charlottesville in order to destroy the Central Railroad (later the Chesapeake & Ohio railroad). Grant ordered Hunter to operate in the same manner in regards to both the Orange and Alexandria railroad and the Kanawha Canal. After reaching Staunton, Hunter was to travel towards Lynchburg via the Charlottesville road and destroy the Orange and Alexandria as well as related bridges. After capturing Lynchburg and destroying bridges, Hunter was to join Sheridan and move east together as a united army and combine forces with Grant who was going to move the army south of the James River and attack Lee at Petersburg. 128

126

Charles M. Blackford. Campaign and battle of Lynchburg, Virginia (Lynchburg: Warwick House, 1994), 1 Trickery, triage and triumph: Lynchburg every day of the war”, (Lynchburg: Discover Lynchburg, n.d.) 20 128 Grant, 282 127

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Grant left the option up to Hunter as to determining the best method of carrying out the orders. Hunter turned to one of his trusted cavalry commanders, General William Averell for the purposes of writing an operations plan with the intent of executing the plan within the next five days. By June 9, 1864, Averell showed Hunter a plan which was ordered to be immediately carried out. Composing Hunter’s army of just over 36,500 troops were two infantry and two cavalry divisions as well as eight batteries of artillery. Leading the infantry were Generals Sullivan and Crook while Generals Duffie and Averell headed the cavalry. With such a large army, Hunter exuded supreme confidence and frequently bragged to Secretary of War Stanton about great deeds that were going to take place. 129 As Hunter was making his grand exit from Staunton on June 10 with the large army marching in four columns, the city of Lynchburg was quiet and only guarded by seven hundred recovering soldiers in the multitude of hospitals or the invalid corps of the crippled commanded by General Francis Nicholls. General Nicholls had been recovering in a local hospital after losing his left arm at First Winchester and his left foot at Chancellorsville. The Confederate War Department thought it would be better if Nicholls was removed from action and thus moved him to command the military post at Lynchburg. In his honor, the invalid corps established Camp Nicholls. 130 A small detachment of the Army of Northern Virginia, previously under the command of the late General William Jones, left Piedmont and made a hard forced march to Lynchburg. The detachment was placed under the command of General John Breckinridge, the former United States Vice-President who was now commander of the Confederate States Department of

129 130

Blackford, 2 Ibid., 9

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Southwest Virginia. Breckinridge was an invalid recovering in a Lynchburg bed due to his horse having been shot out and then falling upon him at Cold Harbor. Along with the invalid corps and Breckinridge’s troops were the six guns of the Botetourt artillery under the command of Captain H.C. Douthat who had been positioned in southwestern Virginia. 131 On June 11, the Botetourt artillery was ordered to report to Staunton via a freight train on the Orange and Alexandria railroad. On the way to Staunton, the regiment encountered part of General Duffie’s raiders in Arrington and as a result, spared the railroad bridge. The artillery unit was unable to continue further due to the destroyed rails and returned to Lynchburg. 132 While Duffie’s raiders were encountering significant delays, General Sheridan was detained at Trevillian’s Depot in Louisa County by General Wade Hampton’s cavalry which created disorganized confusion. Sheridan was forced to retreat to Grant’s location which left the main road open for Lee to send reinforcements quickly to Lynchburg. 133 Lee took full advantage of the opportunity by ordering General Jubal Early on June 12 to communicate with General Breckinridge and orchestrate a combined attack on Hunter. Lee’s plan was for Breckinridge to attack the front of Hunter while Early attacked the rear. There was only one problem to the plan. Hunter was under fifty miles away while Early was more than 160 miles from Lynchburg. 134 Early was able to use the railroad for approximately sixty miles, but the heavily destroyed rails significantly slowed travel. Then something happened that worked to Early’s advantage.

131

Ibid., 11 Ibid., 13 133 Ibid., 15 134 Ibid., 16 132

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When Hunter had left Staunton, the army had grand visions and a great plan in place to capture Lynchburg. Then the General arrived in Lexington and things changed immediately. Instead of traveling rapidly onto Lynchburg, Hunter spent two days in the small town and burned numerous homes, including that of Governor John Letcher, although many only had women left to protect them. The Virginia Military Institute also suffered extensive damage as a result of Hunter’s wrath. Nearby Washington College was barely saved from ruin when locals pleaded with Hunter not to burn the school named for the first General of the Army. While the college was spared from being set ablaze, it would not be spared from Union troops looting and destroying much of the books and papers that were kept there. By June 16, Early had reached Charlottesville, having marched eighty miles in four days. A telegram was soon received by Early from Breckinridge stating that Hunter had moved to the town of Liberty which was twenty-five miles away. Choosing to use the rails as the fastest form of transportation, Early turned to the Orange and Alexandria for help. There was only one engine and a few cars that were available for use. Duffie’s raiders had failed to seriously damage the railroad and telegraph system between Charlottesville and Lynchburg and both had been repaired within two days. By the morning of June 17, Early had moved the half of the II Corps by rail in one day. General Ramseur’s division and one of General Gordon’s brigades arrived in Lynchburg to a hero’s welcome during the afternoon. General Rodes’ division and the rest of Gordon’s brigades were ordered to march parallel to the tracks and meet the train as it returned towards Charlottesville. As a native Lynchburger, Rodes’ requested that Early allow his division to be among the first to arrive in the city for the purposes of defending home and family. For an

64

unknown reason, Early denied the request and as a result, Rodes’ division did not arrive in Lynchburg until the evening of June 18th. 135 When Early arrived in Lynchburg, Breckinridge was still recovering in bed. General D.H. Hill had been sent to Lynchburg and was ordered by Early to reconnoiter and establish defensive lines. Hill established the lines close to the city limit on College Hill and placed Breckinridge’s infantry, Virginia Military Institute Corps of Cadets, the Nicholls’ Invalid Corps and the Botetourt artillery to defend the city. When Early arrived to inspect the lines, he chastised Hill for placing the lines too close to the city and believed that enemy shells would destroy the down town area. Moving the lines further out, Early placed members of the II Corps, Breckinridge’s troops and the Botetourt artillery at the new post.

136

Another defensive line known as the outer defenses was established during the evening of June 17 across the Lynchburg – Salem turnpike approximately two miles from the city limits and one and one-half miles from Hill’s line at College Hill. General John Imboden and a cavalry regiment were placed at Fort Early on the Lynchburg – Salem turnpike approximately four miles from the old Quaker church while General John McCausland’s small regiment was placed near a small bridge on the hill blocking Forest Road and Union cavalry headquartered nearby. Having a goal of keeping the enemy in check, the Confederates held for only a moment as the larger advancing army crept closer to the city. 137 The initial skirmish between the two armies began at 4:00 on the afternoon of June 17 and ended at nightfall. In an attempt to trick the larger army into believing that additional reinforcements were arriving, Early had the engine from the Southside railroad run all night long 135

Ibid.,19 Ibid., 21 137 Ibid., 21 136

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and blow its whistle while crowds cheered and a brass band played. Near the old Quaker church, Hunter and his staff which included future Presidents McKinley and Hayes began to reconsider their strategy. During the night of June 18 and into the predawn hours of June 19, the Union army began its long retreat to West Virginia. The battle of Lynchburg was over in an embarrassing fashion for the mighty Hunter who lost one hundred men to the Confederates six casualties. 138 Although Lynchburg had been spared capture by Hunter and the Union forces, the war was far from over as thousands of wounded troops continued to pour into the city. One example of how Lynchburg’s hospital center was seen as a vital piece in caring for the wounded can be witnessed by examining the hospital admission records for September 7, 1864. According to the Confederate Medical Director’s office in Richmond, Virginia, there were 8,313 admissions to various state military hospitals that were outside of the massive Chimborazo hospital complex in Richmond. Of these admissions, 1,348 or sixteen percent went to Staunton, a railroad community near one end of Shenandoah Valley. 1,059 or thirteen percent were sent to Mount Jackson, a small railroad community at the opposite end of the Shenandoah Valley. Petersburg, the great city that was in the midst of a long siege, received 1,644 or twenty percent of the casualties. Lynchburg, however, approximately two hours in modern driving time from Petersburg, received 1,728 or twenty-one percent of the wounded. 139 Although the Battle of Lynchburg had been successful for the Confederacy, it was only one victory against numerous defeats as the war effort continued to go very badly for the South. As 1864 turned into 1865, the Confederacy was struggling financially, starving physically and

138 139

Chambers, 204 Houck, 187

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running out of men and ammunition. As Richmond fell, the end was in sight for the once proud Confederacy. Finally, on April 9, 1865, Generals Lee and Grant met to bring the hostilities between the two armies to an end at Appomattox, a small village located just twenty-five miles east of Lynchburg. Although Johnston and Sherman would meet in North Carolina two weeks later to discuss the final surrender terms of the war, for all intents and purposes, the surrender of Lee ended the war. Lynchburg and the rest of the South now had to pick up the pieces and try to restore some sense of order, rebuild their lives and for the first time, work without the assistance of numerous slaves. Questions abounded about what to do next, not only for broken white families, but for the suddenly surplus amount of newly freed blacks. The five year period of Reconstruction brought out the best in some citizens while at the same time, the worst in others. More importantly, Lynchburg and other cities within Virginia would be ruled by the sworn and hated enemies, Federal troops and abolitionists from the North. As families began to work together and attempted to restore some sense of normalcy, former slaves began to slowly become accustomed to new freedoms. Men with dollar signs in their eyes, carpet bags in their hands and convincing words on their lips also arrived in attempts to become wealthier at the expense of families that were torn asunder. As with hundreds of cities across the South, Lynchburg was at the beginning of a new era, one that brought restored hope and renewed promise. The length of Reconstruction would depend largely on how well all of the citizens put aside their differences and opinions from before the war for the sake of rebuilding a city after the war.

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ELEVENTH VIRGINIA INFANTRY

During the four long years of civil war, there were 1,507 men that enlisted in the ten companies that made up the Eleventh Virginia Infantry. The majority of the enlistments took place during the period of April 1861 – April 1862. Five specific companies were formed and officially mustered into service during the week that Virginia seceded from the Union. Four of the five companies were from Lynchburg with the fifth company coming from Fincastle. During the period of May 17 – June 9, 1861, an additional five companies mustered into Confederate service. 140 The total enlistments of the five Lynchburg companies (A, B, E, G, H) were 787 soldiers. By the end of the war, the Lynchburg companies had lost 296 men for a casualty rate of thirty-eight percent. Company

Name

Location

Date of Muster

A B C D E F G H I K

Rifle Greys Southern Guard Clifton Greys Fincastle Rifles Lynchburg Rifles Preston Guards Home Guard Jeff Davis Guard Rough & Ready Rifles Valley Regulators

Lynchburg Lynchburg Mount Zion Fincastle Lynchburg Christiansburg Lynchburg Lynchburg Martinsville Roaring Run

April 22, 1861 April 23, 1861 May 16, 1861 April 23, 1861 April 19, 1861 May 29, 1861 April 23, 1861 May 15, 1861 May 15, 1861 May 25, 1861

Enlistments 1861

1862

1863

1864

1865

Total

Staff A B C D E F G H I K TOTAL

3 13 28 84 49 20 59 56 10 19 17 328

2 6 11 5 5 4 1 4 4 0 6 48

0 22 10 9 7 16 14 14 19 7 7 125

1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

9 157 159 154 148 149 174 204 118 110 125 1507

140

3 116 110 86 86 109 100 130 85 84 95 1004

Jerald Markham. 11th Virginia Infantry. (Athens, GA: New Papyrus Publishing, 2011), 8

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The youngest enlistee was a mere sixteen years old while the oldest member was fifty-five years old. The average height of each man was 5’9” while the shortest was 5’ ½” and the tallest was 6’3”. Throughout the four years of war, twenty men were wounded more than once. One particular soldier, Martin Van Buren Hickok was wounded five times and held as a prisoner of war twice. The unit took part in approximately forty-three engagements between Blackburn’s Ford on July 18, 1861 and the surrender at Appomattox on April 9, 1865. COMPANY Staff E K I A B C D H I K F H A B C D E F G H I K A B C D E F G H I K B C D E F G K A B D E F G

ENGAGEMENT Blackburn’s Ford “ “ “ “ Munson’s Hill Dranesville

DATE 7/18/61 “ “ “ “ 8/27/61 12/20/61

Yorktown

4/62

Williamsburg

5/5/62

Seven Pines

5/31/62

Mechanicsville

6/26/62

Frazier’s Farm

6/30/62

KIA 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 6 2 6 7 0 2 1 2 3 4 0 4 4 5 3 4 8 2 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 1 0 2

MWIA 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 2 0 3 1 0 0 1 0 3 0 2 1 2 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1

WIA 0 2 1 0 0 3 3 0 1 2 6 0 1 7 4 13 9 4 10 11 3 3 0 8 25 4 19 11 13 21 2 9 4 5 0 1 1 2 5 0 2 2 1 1 1 3

POW 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 1 2 1 3 7 2 9 4 1 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 5 3 0 0 3 1 3 2 5 2 7 1

TOTAL 1 2 1 1 1 3 4 2 3 2 8 2 2 15 8 27 25 6 24 17 6 9 6 8 32 8 26 15 19 30 4 14 5 6 5 4 2 3 0 2 6 6 6 4 10 7

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COMPANY H I K B C D E F G H I K F B C D E F G I K B C D E F G H K B E F I K C C D F H I K I D E G A B C D E F G H I K

ENGAGEMENT

DATE

Second Manassas

8/30/62

Maryland Campaign Boonsboro

9/1862 9/14/62

Sharpsburg

9/17/62

Williamsport

9/20/62

Shepherdstown Fredericksburg

10/10/62 12/13/62

Beverly’s Ford Suffolk

4/15/63 4/18/63

Newbern Gettysburg

4/1863 7/3/63

KIA 1 0 2 0 2 2 0 0 3 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 8 0 4 3 5 1 3 3

MWIA 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 0 2 2 1 2 0

WIA 1 1 3 4 15 4 1 2 3 0 3 4 0 3 2 2 4 1 3 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 10 11 8 4 5 10 13 5 10 8

POW 4 2 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 3 0 2 1 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 5 10 9 4 7 14 8 6 14 10

TOTAL 7 3 6 8 17 6 3 3 7 0 3 5 3 4 3 6 4 4 6 3 3 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 4 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 0 17 24 27 9 16 29 28 13 29 21

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COMPANY D I I I B C G I B C D G H A B C D E F G H I K A B C E F H I F C F D G C B C E F G I K B B C D H I K A B C D E

ENGAGEMENT Greencastle, PA Kelly’s Ford Mine Run Cherry Grove, VA

DATE 7/8/63 8/6 – 9/15/63 11/28/63 3/3/64

Plymouth, NC

4/18/64

Drewry’s Bluff

5/16/64

Milford Station

5/20/64

Gaines’ Mill Mechanicsville FT Howell Chester’s Station Glen View Hatcher’s Run Petersburg

6/3/64 6/14/64 6/17/64 8/12/64 3/21/65 3/30/65 4/1865

White Oak Road Dinwiddie Court House

4/1/65 4/1/65

Five Forks

4/1/65

KIA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 0 1 1 3 1 1 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0

MWIA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 2 1 1 0 3 0 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

WIA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 1 12 12 7 3 7 5 12 1 5 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 1 1 0

POW 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 2 19 17 16 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 3 3 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 11 26 7 17 7

TOTAL 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 1 4 2 7 1 14 15 11 5 8 9 12 2 7 3 7 3 21 17 16 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 3 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 13 30 8 19 7

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COMPANY F G H I K E F I K B E F C D A B C D E F I K A D F G K C A B C D E F G H I K Company Totals Staff A B C D E F G H I K Totals 141

ENGAGEMENT

DATE

Ford’s Depot

4/2/65

Deep Creek Amelia Court House

4/2/65 4/3/65

Richmond retreat

4/5/65

Fisher’s Creek & Farmville

4/6/65

Sayler’s Creek

4/6/65

Appomattox Unknown events

Enlistments 9 157 159 154 148 149 174 204 118 110 125 1,507

4/9/65 7/1861 – 4/1865

KIA 1 12 12 24 18 10 12 29 10 10 17 309

MWIA 0 1 9 12 10 4 16 6 3 6 3 140

WIA 0 43 75 60 48 39 46 76 16 36 32 942

KIA 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

MWIA 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

WIA 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 3

POW 12 15 5 5 1 1 1 1 1 4 1 2 1 1 9 8 5 3 1 8 9 9 1 4 1 1 0 1 5 2 2 3 0 1 2 1 6 3

TOTAL 13 18 5 5 1 1 1 1 1 4 1 2 1 1 9 8 5 3 0 8 9 9 1 4 1 2 1 1 6 4 3 3 1 1 2 1 6 6 141

POW 0 41 67 60 54 40 80 42 21 55 31 982

Total Casualties Enlistment % 1 11% 97 (54) 34.3% 163 (88) 55.3% 156 (96) 62.3% 130 (82) 55.4% 92 (53) 35.5% 154 (108) 62% 144 (68) 33.3% 49 (33) 27.9% 104 (68) 61.8% 83 (51) 40.8% 2373 (1431) 94.9%

Ibid., 8 - 11

72

***Note that the total casualty count was calculated as the sum of the Killed in Action, Mortally Wounded in Action, Wounded in Action and Prisoners of War. As some of the men were wounded multiple times, the Wounded in Action number was subtracted and the results in parentheses to give the number of men that were removed from the field permanently. As is shown above, the 11th Virginia Infantry suffered a 94.9% casualty rate during the four years of war. Deaths not on the battlefield 142 35 – Typhoid Fever 26 – Disease 25 – Died as POW 24 – Unknown cause 9 – Pneumonia 2 – Measles 2 – Typhoid Pneumonia 2 – Chronic Diarrhea 1 death each - Chronic Dysentery, Pericarditis, Brain Fever, Diarrhea, Bowel Ulceration, Diphtheria, Dropsy, Tuberculosis, Eruptive Fever, Fever

Historic Sandusky house, Lynchburg VA. Headquarters of MG David Hunter during the battle of Lynchburg, June 17-18, 1864. Picture taken by author, 2012

142

Ibid., 21

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ORGANIZATION OF FEDERAL FORCES AT LYNCHBURG143 Department of West Virginia, MG David Hunter, Commanding 1st Division: BG J.C. Sullivan 1st Brigade: COL G.D. Wells

34th MA

116th OH

123rd OH

5th NY H.A. (A, B, C, D)

2nd Brigade: COL J. Thoburn

4th WV

18th CT

1st WV

12th WV

Unassigned units:

2nd MD (Eastern Shore)

2nd MD (Potomac Home Brigade)

1st Brigade: COL R.B. Hayes

23rd OH

36th OH

5th WV

13th WV

2nd Brigade: COL C.B. White

12th OH

91st OH

9th WV

14th WV

2nd Division: BG George Crook

3rd Brigade: COL J.M. Campbell 54th PA Artillery: 1st KY (L)

3rd & 4th PA Reserves

11th WV (6 companies)

15th WV

1st OH (L) Federal Cavalry

1st Division: BG A.N. Duffie 1st Brigade: COL R.F. Taylor

15th NY

2nd Brigade: COL J.E. Wynkoop

1st NY (Veteran) 20th PA

22nd PA

1st Brigade: COL J.N. Schoonmaker

8th OH

14th PA

2nd Brigade: COL J.H. Oley

34th OH Mounted Inf.

3rd Brigade: COL W.H. Powell

1st WV

21st NY

1st MD (PHB)

1st NY (Lincoln)

Artillery: 1st WV (L), Battery B 2nd Division: BG W.W. Averell

Artillery: CPT H.A. Dupont

30th NY (L)

3rd WV

5th WV

7th WV

2nd WV Btry B, MD (L) 1st WV Btry D

5th US, Btry B

143

George Morris & Susan Foutz. Lynchburg in the Civil War: the City—the People—the Battle. (Lynchburg,: H. E. Howard, 1984), 1

74

ORGANIZATION OF CONFEDERATE FORCES AT LYNCHBURG GEN Jubal A. Early, Commanding Department of South West Virginia, MG John Breckinridge, Commanding (Temporarily under command of GEN D.H. Hill and GEN Elzey) Brigade: BG G.C. Wharton (COL August Forsberg): 45th VA

50th VA

51st VA

30th VA BN (SS)

Brigade: COL George S. Patton:

22nd VA

23rd VA BN

26th VA BN

Brigade: COL T. Smith:

36th VA

45th VA BN

Brigade: BG R.D. Lilley

13th VA

31st VA

49th VA

52nd VA

Brigade: BG R.D. Johnston:

5th NC

12th NC

20th NC

23rd NC

Brigade: BG W.G. Lewis

6th NC

21st NC

54th NC

57th NC

60th VA

Division: MG S.D. Ramseur 58th VA

1st NC BN

Division: MG John B. Gordon (Partial) Brigade: BG Z. York:

5th LA 6th LA 7th LA 8th LA 9th LA 1st LA

Brigade: BG C.A. Evans 13th GA

26th GA 31st GA 38th GA

60th GA

2nd LA 10th LA 14th LA 15th LA 61st GA

12th GA BN

Home Defense: GEN Francis T. Nicholls: Convalescents & Invalids Corps

V.M.I. Cadets

Lynchburg Silver Greys

Confederate Cavalry Corps GEN Robert Ransom, Commanding 14th VA

Brigade: BG J. McCausland: Brigade: COL W.L. Jackson:

1st MD

Brigade: BG J.D. Imboden:

16th VA

19th VA 20th VA

18th VA

17th VA 46th VA BN

23rd VA

47th VA BN 26th VA

62nd VA

25th VA

Brigade (Mounted Infantry): BG J.C. Vaughn: 1st TN 43rd TN Mt. BN remnants of the 16th TN, 61st TN and 62nd TN Mt. Inf Brigade: BG W.E. Jones (under BG Vaughn): Artillery:

Botetourt Arty (6 guns)

Artillery:

MAJ F. King BN

8th VA

16th TN BN

21st VA 22nd VA 34th VA BN

Berkley’s Battery (2 guns)

Chapman’s VA Battery

37 VA BN

36th VA BN

W.S. Lurty’s Battery (2 guns)

Bryan’s VA Battery

Lowry’s VA Battery

75

CHAPTER 3 AFTER APPOMATTOX After four long years of intense struggle, the national nightmare was finally over. All across the south, entire communities were destroyed as the skeletal frames of once important buildings stood as a silent witness of ferocious fighting. Families that lost husbands, fathers, brothers and sons in the service of the military struggled to fill the void at not only the dinner table, but in family chores. Food was scarce, crops were devastated and most of the livestock had been slaughtered to feed the passing armies. While Lynchburg did not suffer as much of the destruction as other southern cities such as Richmond, Charleston or Atlanta, there were economic hardships that had to be overcome. Following the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia on April 9, 1865, Mayor William Branch formally surrendered the city of Lynchburg to Federal General R.S. McKenzie on April 12, 1865. However, there was much work that needed to be done as many buildings had to be repaired not so much due to bombardments, but more as the result of long-term neglect. Many of the former tobacco factories that had served as hospitals needed to be repaired and converted back to usable warehouses. One hotel that had served as a hospital, the Norvell House, had to be completely remodeled and refit entirely with new furniture from Europe. Another hotel turned hospital, the Washington Hotel had a new front and several new shops installed by January 1866. Building supplies were nonexistent and the majority of carpenters were lying dead on the battlefields. Both the Southside and Virginia and Tennessee railroads were left in

76

ruins after the war. The Virginia and Tennessee was repaired by July 1865 while the Southside had to wait until January 30, 1866 to be completely fixed. 144 The day after Lee’s surrender began the official period of occupation and restoration. Across Lynchburg, citizens had to revitalize the economy. Although there was little damage that had been done to the physical tobacco plants, production had stopped and markets were lost due to a worthless currency over the last four years. In order to have any type of stability, the local economy was going to have to be rebuilt literally from scratch. Slowly, the tobacco market began to rebuild and another railroad was proposed in 1866.145 Not only did local civilians have a difficult time rebuilding their lives, returning soldiers perhaps faced an even more difficult time. After enduring four years of war that included the traumatic effects of surviving combat, little to no rations, hard marches, and rags for clothing, soldiers had to try and rebuild homes as well as lives that were lost. One soldier, Captain Charles Blackford who had been an attorney before the war, joined wife Susan in Charlottesville after the war and lived in a room at the University of Virginia for two months by paying $3.50 per month for rent. On June 10, 1865, Blackford walked forty-two miles next to the Orange and Alexandria railroad towards Lynchburg to return home. Upon reaching the Tye River, Blackford convinced a conductor to allow free passage to Lynchburg as the previously wealthy attorney could not afford the cost of a railroad ticket. Upon reaching Lynchburg, Blackford borrowed one twenty dollar gold piece from local tobacconist William Booker and re-established his law practice. 146 Not only did Lynchburg citizens have to rebuild their fractured lives and a struggling economy, all of the work would have to be completed without the use of slave labor. Thousands 144

Chambers, 198 Boyd, 14 146 Elson, 186 145

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of newly freed slaves were now living among former owners and competing for the same jobs as thousands of other white citizens. For those former slaves who had been employed in the tobacco factories or for those who had cruel masters, freedom could not come fast enough. However, those individuals who had served as trusted domestic servants and formed an emotional bond were not as reluctant to leave a good home. Some former slaves found employment with northern industries. Others were not as anxious to seek gainful employment and began to use their new freedom to steal and destroy property. 147 Although not officially passed until March 1866 by Congress, the Military Bill authorized military rule in Virginia. In the days and weeks following the surrender, the Federal government established military districts across the south. On May 31, 1865, the Lynchburg commander, Brigadier General (Brevet) John Gregg issued General Order 15 in an effort to restore law and order throughout the city. General Gregg stated that “Neither the freed men, women or children have any right to remain on the plantation of their former master, unless employed by him: and whenever the freed man ceases to be a good and faithful laborer and refuses to work, the employer has the right to discharge him and eject his family from the premises, either by due course of law or by the military authority….It is only by remaining on the plantations and working that they can hope to be happy. They may as well understand first as last that the Government will not maintain them in idleness.148

Once thought to be the worst possible scenario, Lynchburg citizens eventually learned that living under military rule and governed by the hated Yankees was not as bad as it seemed. The people who were the hated enemies of all southern people appeared as well-mannered, polite and respectful of law and order. 149 In a public meeting called by Mayor Branch on September 10, 1865 at Dudley Hall, the citizens of Lynchburg took an opportunity to express support and appreciation to several individuals. Speaking to the assembly, Mayor Branch stated that “We went to the battle with 147

Ibid., 190 BG John I. Gregg. General Order 15, May 31, 1865. (Lynchburg: Jones Memorial Library, PAM# 2842) 149 Elson, 186 148

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honor; we fought with honor and now, let us yield with honor.” Several resolutions were passed expressing a grateful city’s appreciation. They first gave respect and commendation to the Federal Generals Gregg and Curtis as the military commanders over Lynchburg for their good treatment of the citizens. The second resolution gave respect and confidence to the newly installed Governor Francis Pierpont. The third promised cordial and confiding support to new President Andrew Johnson. Finally, Mayor Branch stated that the citizens recognized that the institution of slavery was forever abolished, but wanted to be clear that any authority or jurisdiction that is not given expressly to Congress still strictly belongs to the states. 150 In order to help with the massive relief effort and social reconstruction of the newly freed slaves, the War Department established the Freedmen’s Bureau in 1865. The purpose of the Bureau was to move the former slaves to become full citizens. People were issued clothing and food, provided legal representation and employment. The Bureau’s agents assisted in operating special hospitals and establishing temporary camps. Families were reunited and marriages performed. The Freedmen’s Bureau also provided the necessary assistance for those freedmen who had served in the military with receiving back pay, bounty payments and pensions. 151 Superintendents of the Bureau had the responsibility to protect the rights of the former slaves as free citizens. As new citizens of the United States, each person was guaranteed to have liberty and justice as protected by the government. But, unlike white citizens, black citizens were reminded that the government would not always be present in the south. As a result, freedmen were encouraged to live quietly, peacefully and as law abiding citizens. 152 Essentially, the

150

Ibid., 188 “Freedmen’s Bureau” www.archives.gov (Accessed October 12, 2014) 152 William T. Aldersen. “The influence of military rule and the Freedmen’s bureau on reconstruction in Virginia 1865 – 1870”. (PhD Thesis, Vanderbilt University, June 1952), 33 151

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Bureau reminded all freedmen in the Lynchburg area of what General Gregg had previously stated in General Order 15. Reconstruction formally began in 1867 with the passage of the Reconstruction Act of 1867. The Act included a military bill that threatened martial law, partisan government and disenfranchisement to the Confederate cause. Several political factions that had previously been out of government power were suddenly in charge and reminded political enemies of their loss of power. The obvious government abuse that occurred caused resentment among the older establishment and entrenched their concepts. However, the political scene was about to take a very dramatic turn. 153 In 1867, politics began to radically change across the South. The Reconstruction Act of 1867 was responsible for the provision of full suffrage for all males who were twenty-one years old and older. While this new law was permissible, the new law also extended to former slaves. For the first time in history, a large number of former slaves registered, voted and held both appointed and elective offices. By 1867, ninety-seven freedmen from Virginia held office in the national, state and local governments. Most of the new politicians were members of the Radical Republican party. The majority of white Virginians were members of the Conservative or Democratic Party. There were two groups in particular who caused several problems across the South during the days of Reconstruction. Radicals from the North, known as carpetbaggers, came with the Federal troops as well as native Virginians known as scalawags. The few whites who helped promote the freedmen to political office were usually either carpetbaggers or scalawags. As a result, many of the freedmen wholeheartedly believed that if there was

153

Boyd, 17

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continued support among the black community for the Republican Party, their rights would always be protected. 154 One specific concern that further divided Virginians was the mounting war debt of more than $45 million. Members of the Conservative Party, known as the “Funders”, believed that the honorable thing for Virginia to do was to pay the bill in full. However, the Radical Republicans, known as “Readjusters” stated that there were simply no funds available to repay any type of debt. The freedmen took a different position from the Funders and Readjusters in that since the war was primarily fought between white people, the war debt, therefore was created by the white people and freedmen should not be responsible for any repayment. 155 Judge John C. Underwood, a native of New York, was appointed to serve as a United States District Judge within Virginia. On December 3, 1867 a constitutional convention that became known as the Underwood Convention of 1867 – 68 was held in Richmond. There were 105 delegates present including twenty-five free blacks. 156 The convention was called for the purpose of creating a new state constitution, but instead created a substantial amount of political furor and gave little to no confidence in the newly established state government. Federal and military officials replaced all of the popularly elected officials throughout each branch and level of government. 157 During the convention, a controversial proposal was introduced that, had it passed, would have no doubt caused an insurrection among the white citizens of Virginia. The proposal called for the right to vote to be withheld from all former federal and state officials who had served in the Confederate military. The proposal also required local officials to swear under oath that they 154

Harry S. Ferguson. “The participation of the Lynchburg, Virginia Negro in politics 1865 -1900” (MA Thesis, Virginia State College, 1950), 5 155 Elson, 231 156 “Virginia Constitutional Convention” www.encyclopediavirginia.org (Accessed October 12, 2014). 157 Boyd, 17

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never bore arms against the federal government. White politicians warned that if the second proposal passed, the entire state would be under Negro rule. The proposal was soundly defeated in 1869. 158 It is interesting to note that by 1871, there were twenty-seven elected AfricanAmerican delegates seated in the General Assembly. In 1873, there were twenty-five and by 1891, there were none. 159 Following the end of the war, Congress had received many petitions and memorials, mostly from religious organizations, that called for assistance in establishing public schools in the South. Many in the North were concerned about the educational status of the newly freed slaves throughout the South. 160 Two specific individuals decided to take action for the purposes of educating the freedmen. Jacob Yoder, a Mennonite man from Pennsylvania moved to Lynchburg for the purposes of teaching in a new Freedmen’s bureau school that had been established at the former Camp Davis. On April 23, 1866, Yoder wrote in his diary that the white citizens in Lynchburg accepted the result of the war only because there was no choice and that many still loved the idea of slavery. Yoder also noted that there was significant crime committed by both whites and blacks. 161 Within the next two weeks, Yoder wrote on May 2, 1866 that “these people”, referring to the freedmen, are immensely poor, profoundly ignorant and remarkably vicious. 162 Yoder’s opinion of his new students changed by the end of the school year in June 1867 when a school program was performed in front of a racially mixed audience at the new African Methodist Episcopal Church. 163 158

Elson, 229 Ibid., 230 160 Anderson, James D. Education for servitude: “The social purposes of schooling in black south 1870 – 1930” (PhD, Thesis, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1973), 6 161 Yoder, Jacob. Personal diary, April 23, 1866 162 Ibid., May 2, 1866 163 Ibid., June 27, 1867 159

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Massachusetts money broker George Peabody established the Peabody Education Fund in 1867 with the donation of $1 million for southern public education. Mr. Peabody added two conditions to the donation. First, there had to be equal representation of both the North and South on the governing board. Second, Robert Winthrop, a conservative on the issue of southern reconstruction, was to be named as permanent President of the Board of Trustees. 164 One specific group, the American Freedmen’s Union Commission held a meeting with the freedmen school teachers on July 12, 1867. In a general letter to its members dated July 17, 1867, the Commission discussed the results of the meeting. During the meeting, there were three resolutions that were passed. First, it was determined to be in the best interest of the freed people to establish schools that were similar to the northern schools. It was also decided that there should not be any additional schools built in areas where there was community cooperation. Second, teachers and agents throughout the South were to organize people into associations in order to raise the funds necessary to establish and support schools. The last resolution stated that all textbooks were to be sold at a price that was established by the Teacher’s Committee and none were to be given away without special permission. One of the African-American delegates to the Convention was Samuel Kelso, a native of Lynchburg. On January 28, 1868, Kelso introduced a resolution to the Convention that established public schools that were free to all children. The measure passed and Kelso later became one of the first teachers in Lynchburg. Public education was made available to all children around the Lynchburg and surrounding areas for the very first time. 165 At the start of the fall 1868 semester, Jacob Yoder returned to Lynchburg as the Superintendent of the Pennsylvania Freedmen Relief Association and took control of twenty-four 164 165

Ibid., 7 Elson, 230

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local schools until the passing of Virginia’s first public school law in July 1870. The PFRA continued to financially support the schools until the first institution opened on April 5, 1871. Yoder taught in the freedmen schools for ten years when he received an appointment as a supervisor and served until his death in 1905. 166 While public education was beginning in Lynchburg, one collegiate president visited Lynchburg and received a hero’s welcome. Former General turned Washington College President Robert E. Lee visited Lynchburg in May 1868 for the purposes of attending a local meeting of the Protestant Episcopal Council. While in the city, Lee stayed with the Blackford family and the citizens felt as if a divine benediction had been bestowed upon Lynchburg. When General Lee died on October 12, 1870, Lynchburg, as was the case with cities across the former Confederacy, plunged into mourning with businesses closed and homes as well as churches draped in black. 167 By 1869, Virginia was nearing the end of the Reconstruction era. In October 1869, the General Assembly ratified the Fourteenth and Fifteenth amendments to the Constitution which guaranteed the rights of former slaves. By January 1870, Virginia ceased to be Federal military district and all of the federal troops left Virginia. A newly elected governor was installed and Virginia congressmen were seated in Washington. By 1870, reconstruction in Virginia was over. 168 As Lynchburg continued to recover from Reconstruction, the city made great strides to move forward with business. In December 1870, the city limits were greatly enlarged and the area population doubled in size, increasing from 6,855 to more than 12,000. Unsightly buildings were torn down including the ancient marketplace that had been such an eyesore for many 166

Ibid., 198 Ibid., 216 168 Ibid., 192 167

84

decades and was demolished in 1873. In 1875, the former City Hotel and Ladies Relief Hospital collapsed for an unknown reason and killed two people. 169 For many, the decade of the 1870s began to bring prosperity and substantial economic growth back to the once extremely wealthy city. For some, the new decade continued to bring economic devastation. Among the industries that simply could not recover economically was the James River and Kanawha Canal. The once mighty canal that had existed since 1812 and began to suffer economically from the rise of the railroads continued in operation until 1870. Eventually, the railroads and two major floods in 1870 and 1877 ravaged the canal beyond use. In 1879, a legislative act approved the sale of the canal and provided that certain dams were to be broken and the canal drained. The canal was first sold to the Richmond and Allegheny Railroad, then again to the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad which found the towpath to be an excellent roadbed for water level transportation. The final chapter of the canal occurred as late as 1933 when the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad sold the Waterworks Dam to Appalachian Power Company after securing permission from the State Corporation Commission to close the Lynchburg level. After more than 120 years, the canal was finished. 170 The other industry that hit economic problems was the railroad. In the days following the war, railroad treasuries were empty, the tracks were devastated and the company credit was ruined. When the Reconstruction era began, the railroads had little more than provisions and promises to pay loyal workers. The Virginia and Tennessee railroad and the Southside railroad operated separately until 1870. Both lines along with the Norfolk and Petersburg railroad merged together to combine nearly four hundred eighty miles of track to form the new Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio railroad with former General William Mahone named as President. The A, 169 170

Ibid. Ibid., 227

85

M & O sold in February 1881 for $8.605 million and was reorganized as the Norfolk and Western railroad. 171 Lynchburg citizens attempted to bring another railroad to the city with the Shenandoah Valley railroad in early 1881. However, plans were formed too late and the route had already been established. Meanwhile, on February 14, 1868, the Orange and Alexandria railroad merged with the Manassas Gap railroad to form the Orange, Alexandria and Manassas Railroad Company. In November 1872, the O,A & M consolidated with the smaller Lynchburg and Danville railroad to become the Washington City, Virginia Midland and Great Southern railroad. In 1880, the Washington, Virginia and Southern was sold and the name changed to the Virginia Midland Company. In 1898, the Virginia Midland merged with Southern railway. 172 During the 1980s, the Norfolk and Western railroad merged with Southern railway to become NorfolkSouthern railroad. Reconstruction had been forced upon Lynchburg with no guarantees of a successful future. All across the South, communities and lives had to rebuild from the ashes after four long years of war. Life, as it was known prior to the war forever changed with the final surrender. Although there were people who were intent on making money on the misery of others, citizens banded together to rebuild local communities. What had been depressing and hopeless at the beginning turned into the rebirth of a city that realized a brighter future when two groups of people, the former owner and the former slave, worked together to achieve great things for a place that had been the vision of a seventeen year old ferry captain from a century ago..

171 172

Norfolk & Western, 11 Ibid., 12

86

CONCLUSION More than two and one-quarter centuries have passed since seventeen year old John Lynch, a ferry boat captain with a vision and hundreds of acres in land founded the city that would bear his name. In time, the city grew beyond even what Lynch could imagine and became the second wealthiest city in the country, much in part due to the production and marketing of a peculiar weed. As was the case with other cities across the South, Lynchburg relied heavily on slave labor. As a result, there were frequent slave auctions in the business district and specific curfews that pertained to the enslaved population that carried harsh penalties if violated. Matters became more serious when John Brown’s raid took place in October 1859, causing many in Lynchburg to wonder if the same thing could happen in the quiet city. Then the election of 1860 occurred, causing cries of disunion and secession. Lynchburg and the rest of the South would never again be the same. Lynchburg citizens responded to the Governor’s call for troops to defend against the pending Federal invasion with raising multiple companies to serve in the infantry, artillery and cavalry. Thousands more supported the military on the home front by producing munitions, wagons, caissons or uniforms. When the time came, hundreds came to help care for the wounded in dozens of local hospitals. Thousands were buried in local cemeteries, but tens of thousands more lived to continue the fight. At the end of the war, citizens of Lynchburg came together to slowly rebuild their lives and a city. Former slaves now enjoyed the same freedoms that white citizens had for centuries. The arrival of Reconstruction, Federal troops and the Freedmen’s Bureau brought significant changes to Lynchburg which were met at first with hesitation and then achieved. Old buildings were

87

demolished and new industries sprang up. Among the new buildings that were built in Lynchburg were several public schools that offered free education to children regardless of race. For the first time, people of both races could receive a quality education that would improve future generations. By 1870, substantial growth and prosperity began to appear in Lynchburg for the first time in a decade. As the years went by, traditions changed as old things passed away. The Kanawha Canal ended and the railroads changed owners multiple times. More changes took place throughout the coming years as a new century dawned in the growing city. One event that never seemed to change despite the passing years was the honoring of the city’s Civil War veterans. For years, significant milestones were celebrated as local chapters of the United Daughters of the Confederacy and Sons of Confederate Veterans were established to reunite veterans. As late as the 1930s, parades were held to honor the white-haired men who freely gave to defend everything that was held dear during the 1860s. The Civil War centennial was celebrated across the country in the 1960s as millions remembered grandfathers and greatgrandfathers who served on both sides. More than 150 years have now passed since Lynchburg along with the rest of the country was thrown into the national nightmare known as the Civil War. Celebrations have marked significant battles or events since 2011 and will continue through April 2015. Numerous sesquicentennial events were celebrated in Lynchburg during mid-June 2014 to mark the small battle that had serious ramifications upon the Confederacy if Hunter had been successful. It was a true reminder that the loss of Lynchburg, for even a single day, would have been disastrous for Virginia and indeed the Confederate government. For this reason, it can be concluded that Lynchburg indeed made a very significant impact upon the Confederacy

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BIBLIOGRAPHY Aldersen, William T. “The influence of military rule and the Freedmen’s bureau on reconstruction in Virginia 1865 – 1870”. PhD Thesis, Vanderbilt University, 1952 Anderson, James D. “Education for servitude: The social purposes of schooling in the black south 1870 – 1930”. PhD Thesis, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1973 Blackford, Charles M. Campaign and battle of Lynchburg, Virginia. Lynchburg: Warwick House, 1994. Blackford, Charles M. and Susan C. Memoirs of life in and out of the Army of Virginia during the War Between the States. 2 volumes. Lynchburg: Warwick House Publishing. Blunt, Ruth. Rise and decline of Lynchburg tobacco warehouses. Lynchburg, 1960 Brooks., Dorothy. “1812 survey of Waterway to West recalled.” Lynchburg Daily Advance, February 22, 1968. Chambers, Al. Lynchburg: An architectural history. Charlottesville: University Free Press of Virginia, 1981. Diuguid Funeral Service. Burial Records 1861 – 1865. Lynchburg. Dunn, William and T. Gibson Hobbs. Historical sketches from THE IRON WORKER. Lynchburg: Lynchburg Historical Foundation, 1984. Elson, James. “Lynchburg brought to hospital in its fair youth” Lynch’s Ferry: A journal of local history. Spring/Summer 2004. Lynchburg: Warwick House Publishing, 2004. _______. Lynchburg, Virginia: The first two hundred years 1786 – 1986. Lynchburg: Warwick House Publishing, 2004. Facts to establish the importance of Lynchburg and Tennessee Railroad as a state and national work and as a line of internal improvement required for the development of latent wealth of the southwestern counties of Virginia. Richmond: Shepherd & Colin, 1848. Ferguson, Harry S. “The participation of the Lynchburg, Virginia Negro in politics 1865 – 1900”. MA Thesis, Virginia State College, 1950 Forsberg, Mary. Hospital reminiscences during the War Between the States 1861 – 1865. Lynchburg, 1901 “Freedmen’s Bureau” www.archives.gov (accessed October 12, 2014) Grant, Ulysses S. Personal Memoirs. New York: Charles Webster & Co, 1886 89

Gregg, BG John I. General Order 15, May 31 1865. Lynchburg: Jones Memorial Library, PAM# 2842 Hening, William. The Statutes at Large: A collection of all of the laws of Virginia 1756 -1763. Vol. 7 of The Statutes at Large. Richmond: Franklin Press, 1820 ______. The Statutes at Large: A collection of all of the laws of Virginia 1785-1788. Vol. 12 of The Statutes at Large. Richmond: Franklin Press, 1820 Houck, Peter. A prototype of a Confederate hospital center in Lynchburg, Virginia. Lynchburg: Warwick House, 1996 Loyd, Richard and Bernard Mundy. Lynchburg; A pictorial history. Virginia Beach: Donning Co, 1975 Lynchburg Virginian newspaper, 1860 - 1866 Markham, Jerald. 11th Virginia Infantry. Athens, GA: New Papyrus Publishing, 2011 Memorial of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad Company. n.p., 1851 Morris, George and Susan Foutz. Lynchburg in the Civil War: the City-the People-the Battle. Lynchburg: H.E. Howard, 1984. Norfolk and Western Railway. Lynchburg’s first railway: The Virginia & Tennessee. n.p., 1936 Payne, John M. Recollections of Lynchburg Eighty Years Ago in 1850. Amherst, VA, 1931 Potter, Dr. Clifton. Lecture on the Union Prison Camp in Lynchburg. August 28, 2014 Potter, Clifton and Dorothy. Lynchburg 1757 – 2007. Charleston: Arcadia Publishing, 2007 Robertson, Dr. James I. Lecture on how the Civil War still lives, April 4, 2014 Terrell, Dr. John J. “A Confederate Surgeon’s Story.” Confederate Veteran’s Magazine, December 1931 (n.p.) “Tobacco center converted to Confederate hospital city”. Lynchburg: Discover Lynchburg, n.d. Toney, Marcus. “Old Packet Boat.” Lynchburg News. October 28, 1914 Trickery, triage and triumph: Lynchburg every day of the war. Lynchburg: n.p., n.d. Tripp, Steve. Yankee town, Southern city: Race & Class relations in Civil War Lynchburg. New York: NYU Press, 1997 90

United States Census Bureau. Federal Census Records of Lynchburg, Virginia, 1840 - 1870 United States Government. War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. 128 parts in 70 volumes and Atlas. Washington DC: Government Printing Office, 1880 – 1901. “Virginia Constitutional Convention” www.encyclopediavirginia.org. (Accessed October 12, 2014 Virginia and Tennessee Railroad Company. The original charter of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad Company. Richmond: Dispatch Job Office, 1855. Wiley, Lib. “Old clipping tells of historic voyage of Packet Boat Marshall” Daily Advance, March 2, 1960 Yoder, Jacob. Personal diary 1866 - 1869

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