WILLIAM RAIKES AND THE CIVIL WAR
God is My Witness
This is possibly the day that William Raikes had joined the military and was probably the last time that he saw any of his family or home county as you will see farther into the story. It is for one to imagine the feelings and the heartbreak on his family as the Country being in a War right here at home. One can also imagine being 20 years old and never leaving the farm for much more than going to the Grist Mill or local General Store for supplies and leaving younger brothers and sisters behind. I could imagine that it would drive his parents into bad health from worry.
The stationing of the militia at Centerville had two major purposes; one was the strategic location of the town at the point where the Buckhannon Pike, one of the main routes to the south, crossed the Hacker Valley road running east and west. At that time Centerville was one of the leading centers in the southern part of the county. It boasted three general stores that were stocked with merchandise to fill every want and demand of the surrounding area, and "traded" merchandise for any marketable product the rural farmer and family could produce. There were, also, two blacksmith shops, a gunsmith, a school, two churches, the post office and a tan yard. Second, a fortification already existed on a high hill to the southwest over-looking the town, surrounding roads and country side erected by soldiers detached from general Rosecrans' army. This hill, known as Fortification Hill, is now part of Cecil Mearns and his house stands on the location of the fort. This sturdy structure was built of logs cut from the woods nearby and stood upright with one end securely buried in the ground and close together to form a solid wall or barricade for protection and cover during an attack. Trenches were dug around the outside and breastworks of stone were erected. This enclosure was adequate to quarter the militia, the store of ammunition, however small, their rifles and equipment. At the base of this hill, to the east lay the drill field, a large level open peice of ground, now part of the lot the Rock Cave School occupies. It was here the militia went into camp for basic training: learning to drill, handle rifles, do picket duty, military tactics, and the discipline of a soldier. Their rations were issued daily by the federal goverment. The number of rifles issued by the goverment was not sufficient to go around so a militia man often improvised or used one of his own. Only the pickets used loaded rifles and were always posted to guard all roads leading into this town. The remainder of the militia drilled with empty rifles except on"target day" when live ammunition was used. After approximately six weeks, the militia having become familiar with their military duties, the camping period came to an end with a small detail being retained to guard the fortification and equipment, the remainder of the men were ordered to break camp and to muster but once a week at the drill field. Saturday was usually set as "muster day" and militiamen's families often accompanied them to spend the day trading at the stores, visiting friends and relatives and attending business matters. One member of the militia, J. C. Eagle, because of jealousy of contempt. became dissatisfied, deserted, fled south into Dixie and joined the Confederate cause. Eagle was frequently used as a scout or guide during the many raids Imboden and his men made through this part of the state. It was on one of these raids that, by an odd turn of fate, the Upshur County Militia was Captured. The Confederates had learned of a detachment of Union soldiers of Co. E. 10th West Virginia Infantry, of Upshur County, commanded by Captain Moore doing outpost duty under General Milroy, whose headquarters were at Clarksburg, Camped near Bulltown and dispatched a force under the command of Major Kesler, large enough to capture or rout them. But on arriving in Bulltown they learned to their dismay, thhat Captain Moore and his troops had been recalled to Clarksburg. This was a disappointment, of course to the Confederate commander who immediately began casting for another objective. here, Eagle being one of the Rebel scouts, suggested going further north to capture the militia at Centerville. After learning all the minute details and habits of the militia, furnished very readily by Eagle, a former member, preparations were made to march north and try to turn this visit into a success. Their route of march took them north along the Little Kanawha River and as they passed through Fidler's Mill on the evening of the day before they arrived at Centerville, William "Uncle bill" Fidler, out driving in cows that had strayed in the woods, saw the Confederates pass and recognized several of the men as men of the Upshur area. Early on the morning of Saturday, September 12, 1863, Major Kesler and his force arrived unobserved at Centerville under the cover of the dense woods and occupied a position on a high hill of the town and overlooking their objective. Here they awaited the early preparations of the militia to muster, and formed their plan of attack. The morning was clear and crisp with the first hint of fall in the air. Most of the Militia were present at roll call except, strangely enough, George Eagle and Henry Eagle, father and brother of the deserter, J. C. Eagle. (Perhaps not so strange, as it is obvious that the father and son had been warned and it is to their discredit that the militia was not warned and on their shoulders would rest the guilt of 43 deaths.) Rifles were drawn and the pickets prepared to take up their seperate posts. about the town. the drill sergeant, Loyal McAvoy, prepared to put his men through their formations, unaware of the danger surrounding them. The families of the militiamen that had accompanied them were preparing to spend an enjoyable day, trading, warching movements of the militia and visiting friends. Young boys. as usual, were on hand to feel the thrill of war in the air. Meanwhile Major Kesler had formulated his plan of attack. His tactics were simply flanking movements and just before the pickets of the militia reached their posts, a part of his command circled to the north under cover of the woods and took up a position there on a low knoll closer to the drilling militia. Another force flanked to the south of their objective annd concealed by the wooded area, was able to take up a strong position on the high hill alongside the cemetery. this was a very important position as it commanded an excellent approach to the rear of the militia in that direction. The militia was first fired upon by the Confederates to the north as they advanced and demanded surrender. This surprise attack caused instant confusion among the ranks of the drilling militia. An attempt was made by Preston Curry whose horse was tied close to the drill field, to dash for the fortification and secure ammunition, but the advancing Confederates from that direction set fire to the structure thus defeating this heroic attempt. Some of the militia were attempting to find cover in the surrounding woods. Amos Samples was one of the first to break for cover and instantly drew the Confederate fire. He was cut down by a rifle ball in his left leg, and thus became the first casualty. (It has been related that thhe Confederates firing at Samples mistook him for Cyrus Brake, whom they disliked because he had shot one of their men while on a raid through his farm.) The safest road of escape lay to the northwest through a thick stand of white oak timber and four of the militia, Gideon Wilson, James and Maddison Donly, and Harvey Armstrong, made a dash for freedom in this direction. Although they drew the Confederate fire they ran a zig zag course through the timber and made good their escape with no more damage than a slight wound in Harvey Armstrong's neck made by a minie ball. Captian Gould, still attempting to get the men in some form of organization, was met with failure as two more of the militia, John Vincent and George Armstrong, were wounded. (four wounded now.) Thus realizing the hopelessness of attempting any resistance, Captain Gould had no other choice but to accept the demands of Major Kesler and surrender the militia--without firing a shot. The Confederates closed in from all positions and quickly took command. the arms and ammunition were collected and the men formed in a marching formation. The militiamen who were wounded were immediately taken to town and given attentiion. Samples was in the worst condition; it was evident his leg was beyond repair so it was amputated by Dr. W. H. Curry without aid of an anesthetic or proper surgical tools, in a small office in the rear of his house. That evening the excitement and confusion in the quiet little town of Centerville (Rock Cave) was at a high pitch, the captured militia was prepared to march away. The families of the men were busy saying good-by and tears and prayers were mingled in open display. After confiscating all horses and anything else available of any value, the Rebel commander issued the order to march. The long line of militiamen moved out of Centerville by the Hacker Valley Road toward the prisons of the South as smoke from the burning fortification hung low and fore-boding over the sowworing town. The first night was spent in a church at Cleveland, Webster County. The next morning the Reb soldiers killed a beef from a local farmer's herd and secured roasting ears from a cornfield. this was given to the captured men and they were told to cook their own meal. This was their first lesson in their foraging in the field. The militia was then marched on southward and it was during one of the night marches near Webster Springs that Issac Vincent, grandfather of Assessor Earl B. Sayre, made his excape by falling to the ground under the thick laurel that grew along the path, lying still until the marching men were well out of hearing. The remainder of the men were marched on to Richmond, Va., and there entered Old Castle Thunder Prison. Before the war was over there would be left behind 27 widows and 83 children. The entire state of what is now, West Virgina was thrown into panic by the raid on Centerville. In Wheeling, the following editorial appeared in the daily Newspaper: "When will West Virginia have protection? She has given, according to her population more volunteers to fight the cause, than any other state in the Union, and yet is to be destoyed for want of protection. It is high time the goverment should know that West Virginia is virtually without any protection? Surely the goverment cannot be fully appraised of our situation, or else it would not suffer these things to be. We have all confidence in the general goverment that it will crush the rebellion--but certianly the powers that be at Washington do not know of our true condition in West Virginia. Thomas W. Gawthrop recorded that the Upshur Militia was marched to Big Springs, beyond Cleveland, to the court house at Warm Springs and to Milborough depot where the men were put on trains for Staunton and the next day landed at Old Castle Thunder. There the men were put up in the walls of a large brick pen with no cover. Gawthrop, as he was the case with most men, wore only thin summer clothing, He received a very severe cold due to exposure and soon developed a dreadful cough which hampered his sleep. A few days after the arrival of the Upshur men, the Richmond Enquirer, a daily newspaper of the time, reported the capture and raid in Upshur County. Seeing Gawthrop's name in the published list, three friends arrived at the prison and pledged themselves to help in securing releases on parole, if possible. These men were Hon. E. J. Armstrong, C. W. Newlon annd Lawyer James Neson. Due to the fact that some of the Upshur Militiamen had been bushwhackers and had killed some of the Rebs in thhe course of the war, parole was denied. Gawthrop then asked for an exchange, but this failed, and meantime he became so weak he doubted if he could live ten days longer, but Gawthrop refused to be sent to a hospital. Finally one of the three friends from Richmond advised Gawthrop to seek escape from his prison by being allowed to be conscripted into the Rebel Military service. Twenty of the Upshur Militia were taken out on the recommendation of friends for conscript, but when Major Berkley issued guns, ten refused, and they were put in a guardhouse for a week. After the week had elapsed, the 20 were brought in line again and told those refused gunns would be sent back to prison. The 20 refused and were consequently imprisoned although four were exempted from military duties-- two tanners, one blacksmith and one shoemaker. Gawthrop remained as a shoemaker offering his own boots as testimonial of his workmanship. One can vision at this point that William Raikes being at Andersonville Prison, was one of these that refused to take arms. When General Meade was crowdinng Lee at Fredericksburg part of the Militia was marched to Richmond on November 29, 1863, and there took a trainn for Hanover Junctio, 25 miles distant, where the group awaited further orders. It is here during the night that Gawthrop awoke with a strong impression that God had opened the way for the four men to go home. At daylight, the men drew three days' rations. On Tuesday, December 1, three days' more rations were cooked and at moon rise, Gawthrop and four companions bid the camp a silent farewell. Gawthrop arrived home December 19, 1863 on a Saturday night, rested Sunday and on Monday traveled into Buckhannon to report the conditions of his fellow prisoners. The suffering of the captured soldiers, their homesickness, the loneliness, and the deprivations have been recorded in letters sent by Bryant T. Moore to his wife Frances, now in possession of Mrs. Mabel Gilmore, of Fayette Street, maternal granddaughter. During an epidemic of measles, Moore wrote from a Richmond hospital for the first time. It had been over two months since his capture. The letter, dated December 20, 1863, reads as follows: ____________________________________________________________________________ "My dear wife and little babes, "I have been in the hospital ever since the third of this month. I have the measles and took cold with them and they went very bad with me though I have got so I can set up most of the time but I am suffering with rheumatism inn my hips and back. I have suffered greatly with them since I left home. I also took the mumps the 15th day of October last and I had a very hard time with them. "There is 18 of our boys in the hospital at this time. These are the names, L. F. Corbitt, W. Rakes, William Cunningham, Henry Latham, J. Fairbarn, E. S. Waulrus, W. G. Townsend, A. Young, Asa Young, J. Brake, S Smallridge and Harvey Long. They all have the measles. (Editors Note: All these would die in prison except Brake.) "James M. Clarkson has the fever. (He too would die.) William Fleming, Granville Armstrong, Joshiah B. Bennett, W. W. Cunningham, these four have the smallpox and they are in the smallpox hospital. I have not heard from them since they went there. (These would also die.) James S. Wilson is dead. He died about two weeks ago. He had the measles. the rest of our company was well when I heard from them. I and William Baker and Lewis F. Corbitt are all getting along very well. (Baker and Corbitt would die.) Corbitt had a very easy time with the measles. Send his family word about him. I think we will be able to return to the Castle in five or six days. James Clarkson is on the mend. "Tell Mary Ann that Franklin is well and has been well ever since he left. (According to Mrs. Mollie Pritt, of 41 Randolph St, who grew up as a child and neighbor to Mrs Clarkson, this refers to Franklin Clarkson and his wife, Mary Ann Bartlett Clarkson, He died in a southern prison leaving his widow and two children, a son Porter, and a daughter, Ollie, both of whom never married. Why Franklin's name is not listed with the deceased is unknown.) Joseph Gawthrop is wardmaster in the hospital where we are. Tell his wife he is well..." _________________________________________________________________________ Bryant Moore was later taken to a hospital in Baltimore, Md., the Jarvis Hospital, maintained by the United States Sanitary Commission. He wrote his wife, Frances, on April 28, 1864 that four of the company had come on the boat with him, B. Geyer, Issac Carter and Jesse B. Nixon. At the same time he wrote that James Clarkson was dead. ( I can find no record of Bezabel Geyer, but Carter was paroled and Jesse B. Nixon, although paroled, died in Baltimore before he could reach home.)
I will stop here quoting from the book Upshur Brothers of the Blue and the Gray. We can further beleive that at this point William Raikes was taken to Andersonville Prison, where it is believed that he died. We need to do some research on this matter later. But in the mean time it is interesting to read the Book authored by Betty Hornbeck about the Civil War in Upshur County. She did a wonderful job in this project. She has spent hundreds of hours researching and documenting these articles for her book. You can obtained the book at your local library.
Get your own Free Home Page