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Valley Virginian: January 31, 1866 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

Scraps From My Haversack
(Column 06)

Summary: The paper continues its series of a veteran's account of campaigning with Stonewall Jackson.

"What's the Times?"
(Column 02)

Summary: This editorial denounces Congress's decision to prevent the seating of Southern representatives. The radicals, the article asserts, are intent on starting a race war. The South, the editors argue, have kept their half of the bargain by accepting the results of the war, including the end of slavery, but now the North is going back on its promises of speedy reunion. If only Johnson's policy had been adhered to, the South would have been able to quickly regain peace and prosperity. Proud Confederate veterans, the paper asserts, have a duty to resist radical policy.

Full Text of Article:

This question is often asked now by our people and it is a serious one, so serious to us that it is painful to attempt an answer to it. If President Johnson's policy had been carried out by Congress, our Country, the South, would have now been on the high road to prosperity and some hope of repairing the devastation of war could be entertained. It has not been carried out, but, has been opposed by the Radicals with consummate ability and spite. When the armies of the Confederacy surrendered and our people accepted the pledges of Andrew Johnson and Gen. Grant, they expected to be restored to all rights and privileges of citizens of the United States, to which they renewed their allegiance. They accepted, in good faith, the results of the war; gave up slavery and were prepared to work out the problem of free negro labor, as best they could.

And now after doing all that was asked of us by the President of the United States and Gen. Grant, and more than was ever claimed by the "so-called" Union party North, "what's the times?" We elect representatives to the Congress of the U. S. and they are refused admittance, and we are told that our oaths to support the Constitution are false and we are not to be trusted. A new interpretation of the Constitution, for them, is given by the Radicals in Congress, and they practically assume the position held by the States rights men during the war, i. e. that we had a right to secede. They declare us out of the United States and demand new guarantees before the "Territories of the South" can be admitted to full representation, as States of the United States. At first we hoped that the Conservative element in the North was strong enough to check the Radicals in Congress in their mad career, but since they have been home and come back to Washington, more bitter than ever we can see no hope for the South, except in the nerve and firmly expressed purpose of Andrew Johnson to oppose their ruinous measures.

It is a very simple question with our people. They were promised certain things, by the only power of the U. S. Government authorized to grant them. The Congress of the U. S. refuse to approve the contract and, in fact, repudiate it. We have honestly done our part, and it remains for the people in the United States to force their representatives to aid Andrew Johnson in doing theirs. If they do not we can see very little in the future of this continent to look forward to hopefully--but a people who have gone through four years of such a war as ours can certainly look the future bravely in the face.

The Jacobin Radicals, in Congress, are doing their utmost to make a war of races; their speeches and their votes show it. Negro suffrage is to be enforced and the negro placed not only on an equality, but made superior to the white man. When the contest opens, as we hope it never may, the "times" in the South will indicate the extermination of the negro race. All this and the confiscation laws make the times look very black, and we can see but one hopeful sign that is in the old saying, that "the man who killed a dog for spite never saw him buried."

But still there is something to live for in this desolated land of ours. It is something to feel that you did your duty in the past four years; that your people made a name that can never perish; that the glory and the heroes of war are acknowledged to be yours by the world. It is something to feel proud of, when you can say you were with Stonewall Jackson at Kernstown and Lee at Appomattox. Hecatombs of martyred dead tell you you did no wrong, and a world forever applauds your glorious deeds. The wives, the mothers and the orphans of our dead, demand of us that we make a brave effort to secure "better times," such an effort as they made on the battle field to secure independence. They lost all. We still have life and a duty to perform to those they left a "sacred heritage" to us. So let the Radicals in Congress do their worst, if we but do our duty, no more harm can come to us than has already. To develope our resources; to raise this country from poverty and weakness to wealth and strength; to feed the widows and the orphans of our dead is the only duty, of "the times," for us to attend to. And if President Johnson's nerve, and his kindness to the people of the South, and General Grant's pledges avail us nothing, then, we can say we have done our duty, in war and peace, and looking the world honestly in the face be prepared for all that comes.

[No Title]
(Column 03)

Summary: The paper endorses President Andrew Johnson's position opposing suffrage for African Americans.

Full Text of Article:

The President on the 28th stated to a distinguished Senator that the agitation of the negro franchise question in the District of Columbia at this time, was a mere entering wedge to the agitation of the question throughout the States; that it was ill-timed, uncalled for and calculated to do great harm. He believed it would engender enmity and strife between the two races which would result in great injury to both, and the certain extermination of the negro population. Precedence, he thought, should be given to more important and urgent matters of legislation, which were essential for the restoration of the Union, the peace of the country and the prosperity of the people. The above is strictly true.

The Election
(Column 03)

Summary: The paper prints the results of recent local elections. Capt. James Bumgardner Jr. was elected Attorney for the Commonwealth. Samuel Paul was elected Sheriff of Augusta. The following Magistrates were elected: Staunton district (No. 1), J. Wayt Bell and C. C. Francisco; Greenville (No. 4), W. F. Smith; New Hope (No. 6), S. B. Finley; Mt. Sidney (No. 7), T. J. Burke and Theo Gambell; Mt. Solon (No. 8), J. M. McCue and Chesley Kenney.
(Names in announcement: Capt. James BumgardnerJr., Samuel Paul, J. Wayt Bell, C. C. Francisco, W. F. Smith, S. B. Finley, T. J. Burke, Theo Gambell, J. M. McCue, Chesley Kenney)

[No Title]
(Column 03)

Summary: The paper announces that General Terry, commanding the Department of Virginia, "has issued an order declaring the vagrant law of Va., recently passed, of no effect, as far as regards negroes. White men can take care of themselves. So we go."

Scraps From My Haversack
(Column 04)

Summary: The paper continues its series on the history of Jackson's command.

Our Honored Dead
(Column 05)

Summary: The paper publishes names of Confederate soldiers buried in Staunton's Thornrose Cemetery. The list includes regimental identification.
(Names in announcement: B. Skinner, J. A. Long, H. Potter, W. R. Phillips, A. Sigman, George Bridgit, A. Poore, C. T. Taylor, L. A. Caswell, J. A. Stallings, P. B. Tlanger, G. F. Jones, S. Henderson, J. S. Barker, E. Ritchie, T. Shayler, A. R. Hurley, D. Errand, W. A. McDowell, R. M. Gills, J. M. Chissley, B. A. Stonaker, S. Fields, J. W. Baker, J. Aultman, J. W. Harris, W. F. Watly, W. W. Burges, W. W. Keen, H. Grimes, B. S. Green, C. R. Stevens, W. C. Atkins, W. M. Hunsucker, W. Radon, S. Kalam, J. Clary, J. F. Heperis, H. H. Amos, J. Hults, J. W. Willson, M. A. Bodgers, W. M. Tate)

Full Text of Article:

Below we continue the list of Confederate Soldiers buried in Thornrose Cemetery.

North Carolina

B. Skinner, 2; J. A. Long, 14; H. Potter, 30; W. R. Phillips, 33; A. Sigman, 18; Geo. Bridgit, 23; A. Poore, 2; C. T. Taylor, 48; L. A. Caswell, 3; J. A. Stallings, 30; P. B. Tlanger, 30; G. F. Jones, 2; S. Henderson, 38; J. S. Barker, 4; E. Ritchie, 28.

South Carolina

T. Shayler, 13; A. R. Hurley, Phillips Legion; D. Errand, 3; W. A. McDowell, 12; R. M. Gills, 17; J. M. Chissley, 3.

Georgia

B. A. Stonaker, 21; S. Fields, 35; J. W. Baker, 13; J. Aultman, 6; J. W. Harris, 51; W. F. Watly, 45; W. W. Burges, 38; W. W. Keen, 31; H. Grimes, 49; B. S. Green, 38; C. R. Stevens, 44.

Alabama

W. C. Atkins, 12; W. M. Hunsucker, 11; W. Radon, 17.

Virginia

S. Kalam, 9; J. Clary, 21; J. F. Heperis, --; H. H. Amos, 47; J. Hults, 42; J. W. Willson, 1st Va. Art.; M. A. Bodgers, 5th Va. Cavalry.

Mississippi

W. M. Tate, 2.

[No Title]
(Column 05)

Summary: The paper reports the comments of a man regarding the results of the Revolution and of the Civil War.

Full Text of Article:

An old gentleman remarked the other day that in 1776 we went to war on account of the stamp act, and got the nigger; while in 1861 we went to war about the nigger and got the stamp act.

Marriages
(Column 05)

Summary: John Crum and Mrs. Catharine Thuma, both of Augusta, were married on January 21 by the Rev. C. B. Hammack.
(Names in announcement: John Crum, Catharine Thuma, Rev. C. B. Hammack)

Marriages
(Column 05)

Summary: Rev. P. H. Whisner and Miss Lou Arey, of Augusta, were married in January 24 by Rev. W. S. Paird.
(Names in announcement: Rev. P. H. Whisner, Lou Arey, Rev. W. S. Paird)

Marriages
(Column 05)

Summary: John H. Andrews, of Augusta, and Miss Josephine McCall, of Rockingham, were married on January 7 by Rev. M. D. Dunlap.
(Names in announcement: John H. Andrews, Josephine McCall, Rev. M. D. Dunlap)

A Skirmish
(Column 01)

Summary: The paper reports that a skirmish between "two parties of Freedmen" took place on the outskirts of Staunton. "It seems one party were having a dance, and the other, jealous of their sport, attempted to break up the 'hop.' The Superintendent of the Freedmen's Bureau is energetically investigating the matter and the guilty will be brought to trial."

Bacon Stolen
(Column 01)

Summary: The paper reports that 2,50 lbs of bacon were stolen from the smokehouse of James Bumgardner, near Greenville. The thieves were tracked to the vicinity of Staunton and the bacon was found hidden in the woods near Cochran's Mill. No arrests were made.
(Names in announcement: James Bumgardner)

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: The paper reports that Rev. S. D. Stuart of Staunton received $10,000 as the first subscription to the Lee Endowment in N. Y.
(Names in announcement: Rev. S. D. Stuart)

That Petition
(Column 02)

Summary: The paper reports that Mr. W. J. Dewes "assumes all the responsibility for getting up the mysterious petition that has been circulating in the County, for the supposed purpose of bringing the troops back" to Staunton. The paper asserts that Mr. Tukey had nothing to do with it. Dewes declined to show the petition to the editors of the Valley Virginian, but planned to make it public after consultation with other Union men. The editors "protest against the secret circulation of any petition," but forbear further comment until the draft becomes public.
(Names in announcement: W. J. Dewes, Tukey)

The Confederate Note
(Column 01)

Summary: The paper prints a poem honoring the Confederacy.

Full Text of Article:

The following lines were written upon the back of a Five Hundred Dollar Confederate Note, by Major S. A. Jonas, subsequent to the surrender:

Representing nothing on God's earth now,
And naught in the water below it;
As a pledge of a nation that's dead and gone,
Keep it, dear Captain, and show it.
Show it to those that will lend an ear
To the tale this this paper can tell
Of Liberty born, of the patriot's dream,
Of a storm-cradled nation that fell.

Too poor to possess the precious ore,
And too much a stranger to borrow,
We issue to-day, our "Promise to Pay,
And hope to redeem on the morrow."
Days rolled by, and weeks became years,
But our coffers were empty still;
Coin was so rare that the Treasury'd quake
If a dollar should drop in the till.

But the faith that was in us was strong indeed,
And our poverty well discerned,
And these little checks represented the pay
That our suffering veterans earned.
We know it had hardly a value in gold;
Yet as gold the soldiers received it;
It gazed in our eyes with a promise to Pay,
And each patriot soldier believed it.

But our boys thought little of price or pay,
Or of bills that were over due;
We knew if it bought our bread today,
'Twas the best our poor country could do.
Keep it! it tolls all our history over,
From the birth of the dream to its last;
Modest, and born of Angel, Hope,
Like our hope of success it passed.