Chapter V

 

Yesterday come home, been at Bakers and J. Workman, been off three days; Great news among the Yankees, the New State came into Existance,  the New Governor Boronan or some such a name, But the Rebels have penetrated through Maryland, and into Penselvania; what there Object is there I cant see, and it is stated, they were within 26 miles of Baltimore; and it is stated the Rebels were replused at a place called Gettysburg; others say there is no truth in the Report; at this moment 2 past 6 0'clock, we can hear the cannon in that direction; and there is two other Reports, one that Richmond is taken, the other that Vicksburg is taken, that the Garrison had surrendered, agean it was reported to be all false, how it all is I cant tell; but I think the taking of Richmond is all Fudge, I think the Rebels are too close on Washington, to be bothering there time at Richmond; This may be a stratagem.

 

Since last I wrote there has been some hard fighting at a place called Gettysburg, some think the Yankees got a beating, others think the other way; but I think Gen. Lee as come off badly.

 

I have just seen the Wheeling paper of the 14th and from all accounts of that paper the have got Lee in a very tight place, Ahe must Surender or be totaly routed", other reports say that the rebels are crossing the river into Virginia, and that Gen. Kelly is there on the Virginia side ready to fight him, others say that ?Bunaguard? [Beaureguard]  is there to assist Lee

 

Yesterday I started to Bakers, but I was very sick in the morning and I keeped geting worse,  I went no further then Mrs. Wards, and to day at home,I can hardly write, this Asthma is giving me a Sad brush. °John W. Ward is returned from Hancock with his them etc.  and nothing for his pay; while at Hancock and 15 miles further he says from all he could learn, that Gen. Lee, with all his fores was sune to be Captured, or completly routed, but since then, the Wheeling papers say that Lee with all his forses, have crossed the potomac with all ther PLUNDER, how all this is, I cant see, but it looks or ?Savours? Strong that the Rebels have are not so badly smashed as reported, some say that the Rebels have lost 25,000 men as prisoners, other say the Rebels ahve taken as many or more from the Yankees.   At this time they say, Lee is at Falling Water, and falling back on to Martinsburgh and Winchester, and Meade closs at his heels.  But we near nothing of any certanty.

 

The flus has broake out in this Neighbrood, particularly in Piedmount,  Henson Kitsmillers children are all down with it, and Jo Vorleys boy.   I think I can rest quiet to day, every thinks I am up in Hardy.  Mrs. William Fout is very bad of pnumonia,   I had a dificult time with Mrs. Geo. Barricks on Saturday night, the caus was a ?Bruten? Presentation, I, for some time dispared of saving the Child, but I succeeded in Saving it, for two full hours, the labour was very strong, and I found the Great use of the Erget, for it I had trusted to Nature, it would have been so long, that the woman would have been Exhosted before the child could have been expelled, and at 2 past 11 o=clock I give the Erget, to bring on pains, I have never seen the Erget act with such force, and so promptly.  The child was so far advanced in the pelvis that I found it impossible to turn.  I knew this was a wrong presentation foure weeks before, for I had examined her.

 

To day been to see Mrs. J. Sharpless a bad bowel complaint, and to see Young John Dixon with a bad gathered Jaw, I lanced it and he was soon relived.  Cow Misty took the Bull this day July 29^th I hope she will be quiet for 9 months, God help all the Girls in the same condition.   The news from the wars is very conflicting, some say the Yankees have driven Lee across the Potomac, and the Yankees have a large ary betwix Lee and Richmond, and that they will soon be at Richmond, others say quite the reverse of all this, which is true I can=t say.

 

Chapter VI

 

This being the first day Aug. I begin a New Chapter, and what will be the results of this month, few can guess with any accuracy. The contending Armies are in Frederick Va. and in Culpepper etc., but strange reports. reach us, but nearly all false. I heard that Messrs. Lincoln and Seward had made some positions to the Rebels, Viz. that if the south would return the Federal Government they the North would ^-Repeal the Confesicating and Emancipation acts; N ow I think them two men have got more Brains, than to think the South, will or Could be gulled with such a Bait; Mr. Lincoln I think, Endangers himself or his cause, in treating the 'Rebels with such mean contempt, but I cant belive one word of the Report; if that was the case, it betrays, or shows a sad weakness that I could never think of; I also heard a Yankee stating that France was about to interfere in this war, I heard stuff that I never heard before, One Stuff was, Frances was about or had conquered Mexico, and was for Erecting it into an Empire, and that he Napolean was for Acknowledging the Southern Conferersey, if so that is the Cause of Lincolns foolish ideas.

 

 

Chapter VII

                 As this is very close to the end of the month, I think I will Commence the Chapter for September. I have been very sick all though Aug. yet I have had to do considerable work; there is considerable of Sickness through our parts. This Vaccination that is making such bad work in Peopels arms, is something I have never seen, but at all events its no form of propper Vaccination, and nothing but an Ignorant fool would ever to transmit such matter into any human being, where it came from I cant tell, the first I saw of it was at Mr. Benj. Graysons, they had got. a Dr..Eaton of Piedmont to insert it into his Graysons famaly, and I was called in to see them a few days after, I think there was 6 of them with this malardy, three of them very bad, and Mrs. Graysons was as bad as any of them, I directed them to use as a wash, the Black oak bark, and I give cooling doses of medicines, and to sprinkle on the Sores a little Sul. Quinine in two or weeks they got better, one of them is not quite well.

How or what this is I cant say; at the first I thought it was, the Diptheria just siting in(as they had that complaint before they got anything like well of there arms) but in this I ceartanly was wrong for there has been hundreds of other cases in this part of the country. Graysons famaly was the first I saw, "and Mr. Grayson and  his wife informed me that in two or three hours after they had been Inoclated with this matter there arms began to pain them, and inflamation to follow up the same side of the Neck, attended with Vomiting for the first 24 hours and some continued vomiting for 48 hours, he Grayson says that he Dr. E aston had the matter in a Small vile about 1 1/2 inch long and this vile was about half full of this matter he inserted into there arms".

This is about the substance of what Mr. and Mrs. Grayson told me about the consern. I fell in with this Dr. Easton since that time and he appeared to be very angry at Gr aysons for Scandelising him (Easton) and swore that he would have done no such thing for all Graysons D---?farm? . I thought I would ask Dr. Easton how he came to have such a quantaty of matter as half a Vile ful; this sort a pusseled him the Dr. and he was a little while before he could answer me, but at last he said he had softened a Vaccine Scab with a little water in the vile, and so diped the point of his lancet in it. Now wether this Dr. Easton was the prob(p)agator of this mallady or not I am not Able to say only as I have stated, that Graysons famaly was the first I saw or heard of, but I can hardly think he was the first that prob(p)agated, some say it was Croton Oil he inserted, some think it is Veneral (French Pox) I am not aquainted with Veneral Ulcers enought  to know that, but if he Dr. Easton was the first of this it has spread rapidly, for I am told it is at Cumberland and all round, Others say it came from Richmond that they Rebels inserted this malady into the Federal prisoners; but there is nothing bad Enought but what can be fixed on the Rebels.  If Dr. Easton or any other Dr. inserted such matter as this in question, is no plea for Excuse; if an individual not aquainted with propper Vaccine matter and inserts into one another (which is very common now a days) we can pity them; but for a medical man to insert such poison into a human, he ought to be punished; for it is nothing at all like true Vaccine matter, therefore there is no Excuse for any Dr, to do such an Act, I have seen propper pus in 48 hours in a puncture of this kind; While in the propper Vaccine, there is nothing like pus, about the 9th or l0th or 11th day there will be a think [thin] almost  transperant fluid and hardly a 1/4 or a half of a Drop can be got from one cell, and that on the point of a lancet looks quite clear; and by the 20th day the Scab will fall off, so as I have just stated, there is no Excuse when a Dr, makes such a blunder:

 

In the political world there appears to be considerable Exitement boath here and in Europe. This Polish question will cause some trouble yet,' England appears to be somewhat concraned (concerned) in it, but I dont understand it at all. In Canady the there is some exitment about a war, but I think it is all a Conjecture. I think Seward or Lincoln are not quite such fools as to acquaint the Canadians if the had any intention of sending forses to Canady, but there is one thing quite ceartain, that there is a growing Jelesory betwix this Country and England.         

 

August 31 1863

 

At this time the nights are very cool, and we have had two or three frosts, that has killed our Cucumbers, and it is very dry. I see from the papers that Lee is expected to invaid Maryland; if so, I think will be another bad moove on the Rebel side, if the was to make an attact on this "West Virginia, it would look as if they were claiming there owen, or there owren rights; if Maryland wishes to revolt let her do it on her owen account; I see no right in the Rebels interfering with Maryland, let Maryland go the way she wishes to do, Lee has been twice there, and I cant see that the Marylanders are very keen to Join with the Rebels.

 

Sept. 2, 1863

           Yesterday I was on the Creek, and it was Reported that Charleston is taken, and I have heard to day that it is a fact, if so I guess this war will soon have an End for the Yankees say, its the seat and sourse of Rebelion, and if they could only destroy that nest, they could easily manage the Ballance of the Rebelious states.

 

           I have often wondered what would be the result of this Rebelion if the Rebels were conquered, I guess it will be somethink like the end of the Scotch rebelion in 1745, Hanging Choping off heads Confiscation etc., and Abolition of Slavery throught this U. S. I guess there will be some fleeing off as Burns said "with nimble Shanks" but then what will these Conquered people do; will they submit quietly, or will it require a Standing army to keep them in subjections. All this has been a problem I have often thought of. At this time it is said that the Southeren army is all leaving Virginia, and falling back to some points of the South. But I cant see what hopes the Rebels can have of themselves, time will tell.

 

Sept 6 1863       Some few days Since A. Baker told me, that there had been a Skermish or a Battle somewhere about Montray and that there was 100 horse men killed of the Union.  A few days before this it was reported the Rebels were Evacuating all Virginia; But I heard yesterday that the Rebels had been making a Raid into Maryland, but had been repulsed; all this dont look much like leaving Virginia. It has been reported that Lee is intending to make another attact on Maryland, but I think thats all FUDGE, would, or is Lee such a fool as to inform the Yankees of  his motions? if Lee is for making a full Campain, it will be at some other point than Maryland, I would think there is a greater probability of W. Virginia; But A. Baker thinks Lee could not find Subsistance in W. Virginia, I think he would find more than on the Shores of the Potomac in Maryland.

 

Sept. 12,1863

 

I was up at Aron Bakers begining of this week, and there had been some Bushwhacking somewhere about Petersburg, and Cap. Jas. had got badly shot in the Shoulder; he was brought down to N. C. Station I guess it will run hard with him. And there had been a considerable fight somewhere about the hot Springs Bath County, this had been a ?Suck-in,? and I think they Union troops was I am afraid badly routed, that is if reports are true, for it is stated the Yankees retreated to Randolph Co. I have just heard this Rebel McNeel has taken 8 or 10 of Ring Golds.

There is much talk of France's intervention, and it causes the friends of this Administration to be very angry, they State they will fight to a man if any foreign power interferes in this Rebelion; But I can hardly see What this Administration would do if such an event should take place, for it looks to me that Mr. Chase and Mr. Linclon has got there hand full, or that they have got as many Irons in the fire as they well can manage, but it would alltogeather depend on Mr. Linclons Aderants or Entheusum, there is (?Mrs.  Rus Check flannel, 22 yds. Checked, the Ball are plain?) no telling what can be done. when a peopel are determined; but the next thing is the reasons, yet all this is nothing if the people are onlv determined, but there is another think or two what will Mr. Linclon do with all the Copperheads; this will be the worst thing that Mr. Linclon will have to contend with, All togeather, will pussel A. Linclon I think.

 

 

Sept 25, 1863

 

On Monday last about Sun down, this Neighbrood got quite , Scared or Excited, 6 or 7 men made there apearance at John Dixons (Gray) and took two horses Viz. one from E. Barnhouse, and one from I. Kitsmiller under a pretense of some kind, but what I have never yet got to know the propper particulars, but let there pretense be whatever it was it was nothing more or less, than a trick to get possesion of the horses, which the accomplished, I thought at first they were nothing less than low bred horse thieves; but on the same evining two or the Gang came to To Dixon(Jr.) and demanded himself and his horse they wanted two horses, and that there was one of Old Jo Dixons his fine Gray horse, but when they were informed that it was Old Jo Dixons horse, they would not take it, they said they wanted two horses, for what he, Jo Dixon had priviously taken of Edward M. Armstrong, I had never heard of Jo. Dixon having had any hand with any of Armstrongs property, I had often heard of Jas. Dixon taking and selling some Cattle of Armstrongs, and a horse or two, but how true it all was I cant say, I remember much talk about that time, and the whole of Jas. Dixons famaly being well clad in fine Clothes which the Neighbours, some of them, plainly stated, was bought with the money he got of Armstrongs Cattle. I am not able to say, or in these times it is dangerous to say, even to say the truth I have been often questioned in regard to Jas. Dixon and the Armstrongs Cattle etc., but as I knew nothing, but hearsay, I always declined saying any thing about the case; I am quite ignorant these times as to whats right, or what is wrong, for some of my Neighbours even Extold John Tucker for an honest man, and told me that if  it had not been for him, there would not have been a hoof left on these .mountains. But as I have just stated, I dont know right from wrong. It is said, when he was killed, he had somethink like $3,000. how true a11 this is I know not 

 

The News rom the war is very conflicting, a paper of the 12th states that the Union forces at Charlston was quite in a prosperous way, and the same with the Yankees in Tennesee; and I am told, that things have changed in one week, so that there quite another ?face? on things; Thus as N. Bonepart once said on the fate of war, "Upin high spirits in the morning, down at night" But from all accounts the Rebels have been loosing ground this last 4 or 5 months..