May 18, 1861 - Local militias leave Romney, WV plus First Confederate Memorial

 May 18, 1861 - Romney, WV

https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=58656

Hampshire County Courthouse

Secession and Occupation

On May 23, 1861, Virginians voted in a statewide referendum to approve or disapprove the Ordinance of Secession that the convention in Richmond had passed on April 17. Here at the Hampshire County Courthouse, 1,188 out of 2,635 eligible voters approved and 788 disapproved secession. Virginia seceded from the Union, and the Hampshire County Committee of Safety voted to raise $10,000 to support the Confederate war effort.

Although Hampshire County became part of the new state of West Virginia, county residents generally sided with the Confederacy during the war. On May 18, 1861, two local militia companies, the Hampshire Guards and the Frontier Riflemen, left Romney to join other Confederate units training at Harpers Ferry. During the course of the war, Hampshire County raised thirteen Confederate companies and only one for the Union. After the war, on September 26, 1867, Hampshire County dedicated what is perhaps the first Confederate Memorial in the United States. It still stands in Romney’s Indian Mound Cemetery. [see below!]

Several times during the war, the troops of one side or the other occupied the Hampshire County Courthouse. As usual in such cases, the building suffered from rough treatment. Soldiers from both armies often found themselves searching for any type of structure that would provide protection from the weather. Camps were temporary, and the soldiers had only tents or crude cabins for shelter.



not the CIVIL war

Also here in Romney,

https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=159299


It's "important" to know that the sign is wrong. It has essentially solidified oral tradition into metal. I dare you to name more than even a dozen times that Romney changed hands. This is no Harpers Ferry.

[and the other side of the sign says:] 
Early Memorial. 
In 1866, Confederate Memorial Association was formed here, which on September 26, 1867, dedicated a monument to Confederate soldiers, one of the first erected anywhere. This was site of Indian cemetery long before white men came.

https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=150650

"This cemetery is centered around what is known as the Romney Indian Mound. Indian Mound Cemetery is also the site of the First Confederate Memorial, Parsons Bell Tower, and re-interments from Romney's Old Presbyterian Cemetery. The cemetery is currently owned and maintained by the Indian Mound Cemetery Association, Inc. There are over one thousand people interred in the cemetery, including veterans from many wars, going as far back as the Revolutionary War."

https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=159296

The Daughters of Old Hampshire, erect this tribute of affection to her heroic sons, who fell in defence of Southern Rights.

Captains
G.F. Sheetz. • A. Smith. • G.W. Stump. • I.M. Lovett.

Privates
J.D. Adams. • I.P. Armstrong • E. Allen. • J.W. Baker. • H. Baker. • J.W. Barley • H. Bird. • W.J. Blue. • T.T. Brooks. • R. Brown. • J.W. Bobo. • E.D. Carroll. • J. Cupp. • J.S. Davis. • J.A. Daily. • J. Davy. • S. Eagly. • J. Flory. • J. Furlow. • L.Y. Gibson. • R.C. Grace. • T.T. Gross. • R. Gill. • J.P. Greitzner. • A. Haines.

J.J. Arnold • F. Abee • A.J. Baker. • Wm Baker • J.Bumgarner. • Morgan Brill • Mat Brill • G. Delaplaine • J. Doughett • J. Engle. • C. Garvin • G.B. Garvin • W. Hiett • J. Hammock • T. Harrison.

Sergeants
B.W. Armstrong. • J.C. Leps. • G. Chesshire.

Rev. I.S. Reese.

Privates
I. Haines. • J.F. Hass. • W. Harrison. • A. Hollengack. • G. Hott. • E. H. Hutley. • B. Havre. • Holsenholler. • W.V. Inskler. • J. Johnson, Jr. • J.H. Johnson. • T. Keely. •J. Kern. • S. Loy. • E. Milleson. • O. Milleson. • S. Mohler. • K.M. Myers. • J.W. Marker. • T. Mc Graw. • I. Mills. • J. Merritt. • J.W. Pugh. • J.W. Pugh. • O.V. Pugh.

J. Kump • M. Orndorff • S. McCauley • L. Snodgrass • J.E. Pugh. • V. Kump • P. Noland • J. Rudolph • J.M. Reese • M.V. Reid. • W.O. Lupton • J. Moreland • J. Starns • V.C. Sechrist • G.W. Strother.

Lieutenants
M. Blue. • J. Buzzard. • J. Earsom. • H. Engle. • W.F. Johnson. • J.N. Moorehead. • F.D. Sherrard.

J.D. Park. • S. Park. • L.D. Poland. • I. Peer. • Parran. • F. Parran. • H. Powell. • A. Rownell. • J.W. Ream. • G.W. Rickman. • L. Spaid. • P. Stimp. • M. Senoff. • A. Shingleton. • J. Stewart. • S. Swisher. • E. Taylor. • M. Taylor. • J. Taylor. • E.P. Marr. • L. Wolfe. • J. Washington. • M. Watkins. • H. Wilson.

G. Shoemaker. • L.D. Shanholtzer. • J. Strother. • W. Ungleshee. • B. Wills.

Goddess Bros.
Balt. Md.



https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=2101


See ya in '62, Romney...

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