Search the Newspapers Browse Newspapers by Date Articles Indexed by Topic About the Newspapers Valley of the Shadow Home

Staunton Spectator: April 23, 1861 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

They Call me a Traitor Now
(Column 3)

Summary: Poem about an old man who had moved from Tennessee to Mississippi. He reminisces about fighting under the stars and stripes during the War of 1812 and says that he loves the flag. However, the people in Mississippi won't fly it, and they consider him a traitor for his loyalty.

Origin of Article: Memphis Bulletin

Description of Attack on Fort Sumter
(Column 4)

Summary: An account of the attack on Fort Sumter.

Proclamation of the Governor of Virginia.
(Column 5)

Summary: Proclamation of the Governor of Virginia ordering the militia companies to ready themselves to fight against the Federal government in the event of acts of war against the Commonwealth.

Shearing the Wolf
(Column 5)

Summary: Argues that the Northern Republicans should consider the consequences of attempting to coerce the seceded states by force.

President Davis's Proclamation
(Column 6)

Summary: President Davis's proclamation seeking to raise a naval force of private vessels.

The Proclamation
(Column 6)

Summary: A transcript of Lincoln's call for troops.

[No Title]
(Column 7)

Summary: Transcript of the War Department's call for state militia units to be converted to Federal Service.

Glorious "Old Augusta"
(Column 1)

Summary: Praises the steadfast efforts of Virginia to negotiate a settlement in the Union. However, now that Lincoln has issued a call for troops and peace has failed, it has become appropriate for Virginians to abandon their quest for peace and fight for the Commonwealth.

Full Text of Article:

We feel proud of "Old Augusta"--her noble conduct challenges the admiration of all brave and patriotic citizens. She contains sons as patriotic as ever sacrificed their lives and fortunes for liberty, and as brave soldiers as were ever commanded by Caesar or Napoleon. Her citizens are the sons of brave and patriotic sires, and they have not degenerated. They are ready at all times to respond with alacrity to the call to arms, and are animated with a firm and determined spirit to strike till the last armed foe expires. When their State calls they hesitate not to strike
For their altars and their fires,
The green graves of their sires,
God and their native land.
They in the same patriotic spirit which animated the "Father of his country," cherished a cordial and habitual attachment to the Union, and, with deep and heartfelt devotion, labored with all the earnestness of their natures to preserve it as it had been bequeathed to them by their ancestors. As long as there was a ray of hope, they stood firmly as the friends of the Union and the advocates of a just, honorable and peaceful settlement of all our national difficulties. When others despaired, they still hoped; when others yielded, they still stood firmly. They had the high moral courage to stand firmly where their convictions of patriotic duty commanded, though their motives were impeached and their loyalty distrusted by those who did not appreciate their noble characters.--But as soon as the last ray of hope had been extinguished, as soon as they had seen the President's proclamation, the herald of civil war, and heard the call to arms, they sprang to their feet, donned their military dress, shouldered their guns, bade their fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters a hurried and affectionate farewell, and marched with speed to the place of rendevous. They did not stop to consider the consequences to themselves individually--they were willing to sacrifice all they possessed--their lives and fortunes--in defence of their native State.--Many left their families almost entirely unprovided for--there was no time to consider individual interests when their State called for their services. Some left sick wives and children, and some sick fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters. It was almost enough to melt a heart of adamant to witness such scenes as were present just before the troops left this place. One would call upon his physician and say: "Doctor, my Dear wife is sick, I hope you will attend her carefully." Another would say, "Doctor, I have left two sick children, and request you to see them daily." Another would say, "Doctor, my father is old and feeble, I fear I may never see him again, I desire you to keep him alive if you can till I return." Another would say, "Doctor, my dear mother is nearly heart-broken, I hope you will console her as much as possible."

The same patriotic fires which glowed in the bosoms of their noble ancestors, in 1776, burns brightly now upon the altars of the hearts of the brave and chivalric sons of Augusta. This county, we have no doubt, will send more soldiers to the field than any county in the State, though Rockingham and Rockbridge will nobly do their duty. These three adjoining Union counties, we venture to predict, will furnish more soldiers than any other three adjoining counties in the State. We feel convinced that all three of these strong Union counties will do their whole duty. We are sure that the brave and patriotic Union men of these counties will forgive those who, in ignorance of their true characters, charged them with being "submissionists" and "sympathisers with Black Republicanism," and hope that those who did so will have the candor and manliness to acknowledge that they wronged as brave and loyal citizens as ever breathed the air of freedom. Let all feelings of alienation and party spirit be buried, and all stand together in harmony and friendship as a band of affectionate brothers.--"United we stand, divided we fall." In "Union there is strength," in division there is weakness. Let all stand together. We are still for Union--a Union of brave and patriotic men for the defence of our State.

The "Spectator" Soldiers
(Column 1)

Summary: Two employees of the Spectator have joined the army. The Spectator will continue publication unless all the men are called into service of the state.
(Names in announcement: David E. Strasburg, Arthur S. Spitzer)

Massing of Troops
(Column 2)

Summary: Reports the departure of the Augusta militia units for the East in obedience to the Governor's call for troops to defend Virginia.
(Names in announcement: Capt. J.D. Imboden, Maj. Gen. Harper, Rev. J.J. Brooks, Capt. Baylor, Rev. Taylor, Maj. Gen. Harman, M.G. Harmon, Capt. Robert Doyle, Capt. Hazel Williams, Capt. James Newton, Capt. Patrick, Capt. Stuart Crawford, Lieut. William Johnson, Capt. Absalom Coiner)

[No Title]
(Column 2)

Summary: Reports that the North appears to be preparing for war in earnest. Union fervor is rising, particularly in New York and Philadelphia.

Where We Have Stood and Now Stand
(Column 3)

Summary: Argues that Lincoln's aggression toward the South, involving the country in a civil war that could have been avoided, is in the "Highest Degree Criminal." The article maintains that Virginia will fight with the South, especially now that the Convention has adopted an Ordinance of Secession that awaits only the popular vote for passage.

The "Home Guard"
(Column 3)

Summary: Reports the raising of a militia in Augusta County that will be called the Home Guard and will protect Augusta.
(Names in announcement: Capt. William Tate, Lieut. John Hendron, Lieut. David Young, Lieut. Nicholas Trout, Sgt. E.M. Cushing)

Appropriation by the Court
(Column 3)

Summary: Item reports that the county court of Augusta appropriated $50,000 for the equipment of volunteers and support of families of soldiers called into service.

Fort McHenry Besieged! No Troops Can Pass Through Maryland
(Column 4)

Summary: Series of dispatches reporting, among other things, a lack of co-operation by Maryland with Federal troops attempting to reach D.C., declaration of martial law in D.C., and the seizure of several Federal properties by Virginia troops.

Action of the Town Council
(Column 4)

Summary: Item reports that the Staunton town council has made an appropriation of $3,000 for the purchase of firearms, equipment, and ammunition for the Home Guard.

Full Text of Article:

The Town Council on Wednesday, the 17th inst., made an appropriation of $3,000 for the purchase of 100 fire-arms, equipments and ammunition, for the use of the "Home Guard" in Staunton, and $500, to be applied to the wants of the families of the soldiers who have been or will be called into service, and appointed a police of ten for each night till the May Court.

Proclamation of the Governor
(Column 5)

Summary: Governor's proclamation related to the defense of the Commonwealth encouraging all Federal Army and Navy personal who reside in Virginia to retire therefrom and enter the service of Virginia.

[No Title]
(Column 5)

Summary: Asserts that, unfortunately, Lincoln's actions have swung opinion in the Border States to the Southern cause. Virginia will now cheerfully join the cry for a united South.

Origin of Article: Norfolk Herald

Editorial Comment: The Herald is "an old, true Whig, Union paper."

A Proclamation by John W. Willis, Gov. of North Carolina
(Column 7)

Summary: Announces North Carolina's intention to side with the South and defend the sovereignty of North Carolina and the rights of the South.

Missouri's Response to Lincoln
(Column 7)

Summary: Missouri Gov. C.F. Jackson responds to Lincoln's call for troops by refusing to send any men for the illegal and unconstitutional cause of war on the South.

Mt. Crawford, April 20, 1861
(Column 1)

Summary: Letter from a Mt. Crawford resident, who discusses the "unusual excitement in our usually quite village" as all the troops march through.

To the Farmers of South River
(Column 1)

Summary: James Walker announced his candidacy for the Legislature.
(Names in announcement: James Walker)

E. Pluribus Unum
(Column 1)

Summary: Letter nominating Tate, Finley, and Falron as candidates for the Legislature.
(Names in announcement: William Tate, Samuel Finley, J. Falron)

[No Title]
(Column 1)

Summary: Samuel Finley refused the nomination to run for the Legislature.
(Names in announcement: Samuel Finley)

[No Title]
(Column 1)

Summary: Letter nominating Sproul as a candidate for the Legislature.
(Names in announcement: Col. W. Sproul)

Died
(Column 2)

Summary: Reports the death of Clarence Lightner, son of A.B. and S.E., on April 7. He was 8 months old.
(Names in announcement: A.B. Lightner, S.E. Lightner, Clarence Lightner)