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Staunton Vindicator: May 24, 1861 Go To Page : 1 | 2 |

Staunton Camp
(Column 2)

Summary: Col. John Echols is now commanding the Virginia forces in Staunton. A number of local companies have recently left the County.

Significant Admission
(Column 2)

Summary: Claims that a Northern man told the W.H. Garber, the Superintendent of the Staunton Boot and Shoe Factory, that a number of Northerners would like to emigrate to the South if they could. The article also claims that Northerners are joining the army for bread, not because they support Lincoln.
(Names in announcement: W.H. Garber)

Virginia Forces
(Column 2)

Summary: Claims that Virginia will have 200,000 soldiers ready for active service in one month.

Picayune Butler
(Column 3)

Summary: Very cutting article about B.F. Butler, who was recently put in command of Federal forces at Fort Monroe. The article calls him a "crave-hearted coward" and states that his promise to subdue the South is ludicrous.

"Augusta Lee Rifles"
(Column 3)

Summary: The Augusta Lee Rifles organized at Greenville on May 21 and elected the men as officers. The members of the company are to report at the Staunton Armory on Monday, May 27.
(Names in announcement: Captain R.D. Lilley, 1st Lieut. C.G. Merritt, 2d Lieut. J.B. Smith, 3d Lieut. C.G. Davis, 1st Sergeant C.P. McCoy, 2nd Sergeant D.B. Wilson, 3d Sergeant W.H. Burns, 4th Sergeant J.B. Hawpe, 5th Sergeant Joseph B. Wright)

[No Title]
(Column 3)

Summary: The Confederate Congress will meet in Richmond and begin its session after the 1st of June.

Late from Europe
(Column 4)

Summary: Announces that both the British and French are making preparations to send fleets to the American coast to protect their commercial interests and expresses the belief that these two countries will ultimately be drawn into the war in support of the South.

Europe and the South
(Column 4)

Summary: States that the English press has generally been favorable to the South. Article also points out that the Lincoln administration's attempted blockade is a de facto admission that the Confederacy is a separate and independent government.

President Davis
(Column 5)

Summary: Praises Jefferson Davis as a "iron man of war" who stood firm in the battle of Buena Vista in the Mexican war.

Origin of Article: Bangor Democrat

Protestant Episcopal Church
(Column 5)

Summary: The convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the Diocese of Virginia met in Richmond last week. At the meeting, Bishop Meade stated that the South would be fighting a war of self-defense, so its position was justifiable before God.

[No Title]
(Column 5)

Summary: In a letter from a New York broker to a friend of his in the South, the man stated that he had lost twenty thousand dollars in the last few months. He fears that the South cannot be subjugated, and he is "convinced of the foolishness of continuing the state of affairs now existing." The Gazette calls this letter "the first and only instance of returning reason among the deluded people of the North" that it has seen in a long time.

Origin of Article: Alexandria Gazette

From Harper's Ferry
(Column 1)

Summary: Letter from Joseph Ryan, foreman of the Vindicator's office, about his experiences near Harper's Ferry. His regiment marched to Shepherdstown on May 13th and then retreated the next day.
(Names in announcement: Jos. N. Ryan)

Hon. A.R. Boteler
(Column 2)

Summary: Letter from A.R. Boteler, who was one of the first men to join a volunteer company and march to Harper's Ferry. In his letter, Boteler expresses his approval of the recent secessionist action of the State Convention.
(Names in announcement: A.R. Boteler)

The Election
(Column 4)

Summary: Augusta county overwhelmingly supported the Ordinance of Secession in the recent election--only ten of the twenty-three hundred votes were cast against ratification. Twelve hundred voters were absent because they are in the army. The normal vote of the county is roughly thirty-five hundred.

Full Text of Article:

The Election.

The full returns of the election held yesterday have not come in, and therefore we do not give a table. It is ascertained, however, that about twenty-three hundred votes were cast, and not more than ten against the Ordinance of Secession. Taking into consideration that about 1200 of the voters of the county are absent in the service of the State, this is the usual vote of the county. There will not be over ten votes out of thirty-five hundred, cast against "Ratification." Christian is elected to the Senate, and Sheffey and Walker, and probably W.M. Tate, to the House. The contest is between Tate and J.A. Harman, and is very close. Broun leads Holliday for the Board of Public Works from 1200 to 1500.

We will publish the full returns hereafter.

In Rockingham a very large vote was polled, and not over twenty against the Ordinance. Hopkins, Woodson and Grattan are elected to the Legislature. Broun beats Holladay for Board of Public Works.

In Shenandoah, a very large vote was cast, and unanimous for ratification.

In Rockbridge a large vote cast, and one only against ratification. Anderson and Dorman elected to the Legislature. Broun leads for Board of Public Works.