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Staunton Spectator: November 4, 1862 Go To Page : 1 | 2 |

Important General Orders
(Column 6)

Summary: Orders businesses in Charleston, a western Virginia town, to reopen in order to serve the needs of the soldiers who are returning to the Kanawha Valley. Brigadier General Echols also warns shopkeepers that they must accept Confederate money, and at face value. A second order commands that the conscription act be enforced in Kanawha County.

Laws Passed
(Column 7)

Summary: Lists the acts recently passed by Congress regarding the army, the treasury, treasury notes, and sick and wounded soldiers.

The Uses of Economy
(Column 1)

Summary: Blames the drought and the blockade for the shortages that the Confederacy will likely suffer in the coming year. Urges citizens to be conservative in their consumption so that the men in the field and their families at home will have more to eat.

Full Text of Article:

There is every reason to believe, from present appearances, says the Lynchburg Virginian, that we shall be short of supplies for one army and people next year. The short crop of when and corn for the past year, the fatality that has attended the hog crop; the waste superinduced by large standing waste superinduced by large standing armies; the drought which has retarded the Fall operations of farmers in getting their wheat sown, and the embarrassments that the agricultural portion of our citizens have suffered, in consequence of the presence of the enemy, and the demand made upon them by our Governments, State and Confederate, will we fear, be manifest in a short supply of bread and meat next year. It believes us therefore to observe the greatest frugality and economy in the use of what we have. It matters not that we have a plethora of money, or that there be an abundance elsewhere to supply our lack, when we are excluded from the markets of the world, and are compelled to rely upon what we have within ourselves. Money cannot produce one grain of corn, or increase by one pound, our quantity of meat. Our supply will be limited by the circumstances that surround us, and to that, whether much or little, we must contine [sic] ourselves. We cannot increase it by the ordinary means of commercial intercourse. Under these circumstances, we are called upon to husband our resources of bread and meat, by the diminution, so far as practicable, of consumption. We should stint ourselves, and those who have spread a bounteous board heretofore, should, no matter what their means may be, endeavor to do with less. Thousands of our gallant soldiers who were nursed in the lap of plenty, and brought up in the midst of affluence, have known what it was to go for days together without a meal:--and cannot we, to increase the stores that may be necessary for their sustenance in the field, endure some little of their patient self-denial? We can do with much less than we consume, and instead of priding ourselves upon spreading an ample board, groaning with every luxury, we should feel a sense of reproach for indulging in such improprieties. This is no time for feasting and high carnival, but for earnest self-denial, and abounding patriotism and charity. Our suffering countrymen, and the dependent families they have committed to our care whilst they are fighting our battles, demand that we appropriate less to ourselves, and more to those who would be glad to gather the crumbs that fall from many of our tables. The season, the condition of the country, the wants of those to whom we have referred, and the prospect before us, all call upon us, trumpet-tongued, to forego every species of luxury during the existence of this war.

The Small Pox
(Column 1)

Summary: Reports that small pox has "made its appearance in this county." Entreats residents to have their families vaccinated and those who live in the country to be especially careful not to introduce the disease into the town of Staunton.

Full Text of Article:

This dangerous and loathsome disease has made its appearance in this county. We have been informed that there are some cases in the neighborhood of Middlebrook, and that it exists in other portions of the county. To prevent its extension, every family, without exception, should have all of its members vaccinated as soon as possible. Those even who have been vaccinated heretofore should be vaccinated again to make "assurance doubly sure." The citizens of his place are very apprehensive that it may be brought from the country to the town, and we would, therefore, request our country friends to be careful not to bring it here, for, as soldiers are passing daily through this place to the army, it may in this way get into our army and do us more harm than all the soldiers Lincoln has been able to bring into the field against us. Therefore, in behalf of our common country as well as of the citizens of Staunton, we appeal to our country, friends not to bring this horrible disease to this place.

Burglary
(Column 1)

Summary: Relates that an unknown person broke into the grocery store owned by Mr. Samuel Hartley of Staunton the previous Sunday night. The burglar stole about fifty pounds of sugar, ten dollars, Mr. Hartley's coat, and some brooms.

Confederate Notes
(Column 2)

Summary: Predicts that if the Confederate government is recognized by European nations, the value of Confederate currency will increase greatly. Reasons that if this happens, the distrust of individuals in Confederate money will be proven to have been unfounded.

Full Text of Article:

There is evidently some distrust in the public mind, of Confederate money. This is one cause of the spirit of speculation and high prices, by which public and private interests are injured.

We are inclined to think this distrust is without any just foundation. If we secure our independence our currency will be perfectly good--if not, nothing that we have will be of value.

But there is one view to which we would call the attention of the public. If the rumors of intervention be tree, or if from any other cause an early peace should become probable, it is evident that the eight per cent bonds will be a most desirable investment. Capitalists will at once seek for them. Confederate money is available to buy them at par, while Bank notes will not necessarily be so. The 8 per cent bonds under a brisk demand, will go above par, and Confederate notes will keep pace with them, because they are, by law, convertible into 8 per cent bonds. By this process, millions upon millions of dollars of Confederate notes will be withdrawn from circulation and invested in bonds. A sudden contraction of the currency will be the consequence, followed by a fall in prices, and a general smash in speculations. On the whole we think people had better be on the look out for squalls and haul in their sails before the storm comes. Prudence will also dictate that men should hold on to Confederate money as it is likely to be at a premium.

The Destruction of Roads
(Column 2)

Summary: Reports that the Confederate troops have destroyed the railroads that link the Valley with Baltimore and other points of supply. As a result, if the Northern army re-occupies the Valley during the winter, "they will have to furnish other means of transportation."

For the Spectator
(Column 3)

Summary: Relates details of a meeting held in Churchville, in which citizens of the Ninth Magesterial District made plans to assist the poor during the winter ahead.

For the Spectator
(Column 4)

Summary: Lists the casualties from Company H in the 5th Va. Inf. who have been killed or injured, or have died of disease, since the war began. Company H was formerly commanded by Captain Antrim and is now led by Captain Gibson of Augusta County. The total number of killed are eleven, total number wounded, twenty nine. Twelve have died from disease, making a total casualty list of fifty two.
(Names in announcement: James W. Baskin, Henry Plumb, Benjamin S. Brown, Sergeant Jas. S. Bazel, Corporal John H. Whitmore, William T. Harris, William P. Branneman, Daniel B. Carroll, John E. Harris, Corporal Smith Bateman, Franklin Trainer, James A. Branneman, James Walker, Lieut. James W. Gibson, Jacob Coiner, Capt. George T. Antrim, John A. Lutz, Sergeant Wm. S. Whitesel, Sergeant David H. Whitesel, Jacob Brown, Fulton W. Brown, George Kilman, Franklin Trayner, James K. Galt, Jacob Colner, Captain James W. Gibson, Corporal William O. Evans, Sergeant Francis E. Johnson, Sergeant William F. Bowen, Joseph Alexander, Francis M. Ash, Cyrus M. Killian, Lieutenant George F. Keiser, Walter A. Monteiro, Andrew J. Keiser, Fulton W. Brown, James W. Mathews, Henry C. McCausland, Corporal James S. Kennedy, Thomas Kelly, Sergeant David H. Whitesel, Corporal Columbus Smith, John Bowers, Martin V. Fredd, Marion F. McCreary, John L. Baskins, James H. Guthrie, Samuel Patterson, Daniel Crist, Jacob Spotts, Alex E. Taylor, George H. McCord)

From a Soldier
(Column 5)

Summary: Extracts a letter from a soldier discussing the destruction of the B & O Railroad and the cold weather that is beginning to set in.

Origin of Article: Rockingham Register

For the Spectator
(Column 5)

Summary: Lists the citizens who contributed to the Hospital Library fund and the amounts each donated.
(Names in announcement: William H. Peyton, Miss Maggie Davis, Mrs. J. B. Peyton, H. H. George, Miss M. J. Bledsoe, Mrs. Richard Hawkins, Miss Virginia Bryan, Miss Lucy J. Snyder, Miss Fanny Baylor, P. B. Hoge, R. Summerson, C. R. Mason, Miss Ednora Mason, Mrs. W. A. Burke, Miss Joe Brown, Dr. M. L. James, S. F. Taylor, Mrs. Poage, Dr. Douglas, Dr. Merrillat, Dr. Wayt, Dr. Butler, Dr. Bush, Dr. Hay, Dr. Davidson, Dr. Woodward, Dr. Oder>, Dr. Bronaugh, W. Woodley, W. W. Bond, J. W. Morgan, S. Nathan, C. Holt, Captain G. S. Jones, J. M. Johnson, W. A. Legrand, M. L. Blockley, D. M. Coleman, W. H. Marshall)

Died
(Column 5)

Summary: Lizzie McCulloch, aged two years, died on October 9. She was the only daughter of D. C. and Sue M. McCulloch.
(Names in announcement: Lizzie McCulloch, D. C. McCulloch, Sue M. McCulloch)

Died
(Column 5)

Summary: John H. C. McCadden, of Augusta County, died in Moorefield on October 18 of diphtheria. He was eighteen years old and a member of the First Virginia Regiment.
(Names in announcement: John H. C. McCadden)

Died
(Column 5)

Summary: Mrs. Nancy Raceor died in Staunton on October 23 at the home of Mrs. Mary F. Gibson. She was the wife of James Raceor of Orange County, Virginia.
(Names in announcement: Mrs. Mary F. Gibson, Mrs. Nancy Raceor, James Raceor)

Died
(Column 5)

Summary: Simon Stover, aged 81 years, died at his home near Churchville on October 31.
(Names in announcement: Simon Stover)

Died
(Column 5)

Summary: Mr. Albert W. Strayer, aged about 34 years, died at the home of his father, Jacob Strayer, Esq., of Rockingham County, on October 25. Strayer had suffered from "a protracted illness of pulmonary consumption."
(Names in announcement: Jacob StrayerEsq., Mr. Albert W. Strayer)