Forsyth County Historical Association
Forsyth County, North Carolina
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CIVIL WAR NEWS ARTICLES
Articles written In the Peoples Press 1864-1865
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PEOPLE'S PRESS - Salem, NC (Vol XIV No. 22)
Sept 8 1864 - Deserters (pg 1)
...A number of deserters are surrendering themselves to the troops, and it is expected that many more will do so during this and next week....The proclamation of the
Governor offering a pardon to those who will return is having a beneficial effect already. It is said that nearly fifty have surrendered themselves at Troy, and they are
coming in daily.
...We appeal to the friends and relatives of all such as have been guilty of the crime of desertion, to do everything in their power to return them to duty at once. Delay
will be fatal to these unfortunate men. We hope these misguided men who are yet lurking in this county will come forward and report at Winston before the days of grace
expire.
Sept. 29, 1864 - The Forsyth Home Guard (pg 1)
The Home Guard of this county, which has been on duty hunting deserters for some weeks, was disbanded on Wednesday until further orders. We learn that about 57
deserters, recusant conscripts, and men whose furlough had recently expired, were returned to dutyÐ some coming in voluntarily and others were arrested.
Oct. 27, 1864 - Disloyalty in Forsyth
(The following article, entitled Way of the World, published in a Greensboro newspaper incited the editors of the People's Press.....)
ÒWe learn from a gentleman just from Forsyth county, that it is estimated there that about 400 of the officers and men belonging to the Home Guards of that county
have gone, with the intention of going into the lines of the enemy, since the recent call. May all disloyal men follow them is our sincere wish.
The response of PP:
Ever since the commencement of the war, Forsyth County has been misrepresented and slandered, her good deeds generally being overlooked by her defamers. We
have repeatedly stated that the citizens of this county always quietly submitted to every call for men made, fully as much so as any county in the State, until her
population, composed mostly of small farmers, is very much depleted. The soldiers' families, too, under the management of our worthy County Agent, have been as well,
if not better, provided for than in most counties in the State. That we have men among us upon whom the burdens of the war have fallen extremely heavy, causing some
dissatisfaction, and that we have our share of deserters, as every county in every State has, we do not deny. But false charges and wholesale misrepresentations
should not go unrebuked. Forsyth may have sins enough to atone for, without being charged with those of others.
We have been informed that the stampede referred to , in the article above from the Greensboro' World consisted of about 190 to 200 men, from Randolph, Davidson,
Guilford and Forsyth. We have not ascertained the exact number from Forsyth, but learn there were some 25 or 30, the balance from the other counties mostly from
Guilford, the whole expedition being headed by a magistrate from Guilford, an original accessionist and rampant war man, so long as he could keep his carcase out of
danger, which is the case with many others who do not practice what they preach. The above are the facts, as we have been informed. We did not allude to the matter
last week, because there were many conflicting rumors, and we believed, at that time, very much exaggerated.
Another stampeding party, all mounted on horseback, numbering twenty-three persons, were arrested at Love's Meeting House, in this county, on Monday night last,
and brought to WinstonÐ all from Guilford county, save two from this county, we are creditably informed.
November 3, 1864 - Arrested-
We learn from the Richmond Dispatch of the 28th ult., that a portion of the stampeders, alluded to last week, from this and adjacent counties, who are attempting to
make their way into the Yankee lines, were arrested and forwarded to Richmond, by the Provost Marshal at Wytheville, and committed to Castle Thunder, to await court
martial. The following are the names of the prisoners:
J.Q. A. Conner
David Shields
J.H. Reid
J.C. Armfield
W. Watson
J.J. Browing
Jas. R. Stevens
John W. Russel
James Peebles
Jas. Crews
George Pretty
Wm. Spach
J.P. Reed
J. Mandar
J.F. Pegram
R.F. Hyatt
A.J. Mustin
J.H. Idol
J.D. Holder
B.F. Bundy
J.F. Ledbetter
W.H. Campbell
Frank Mickey
L. Smith
A.A. Stafford
J. Smith
John Stafford
Elwood Smith
Smith Frazier
Dec. 15, 1864 - Accidentally Shot
Capt. Fries, of this place, was shot through the wrist while engage in apprehending a notorious deserter named Dial, near this place. The pistol was in the hands of a
friend and accidentally exploded. Injury not serious.
Mar. 2, 1865 - Shot
On Sunday, the 26th, two deserters were shot in the northern portion of this county, one named Dial, of this county, severely, and the other named Fann or Fant, hailing
from Raleigh, mortally wounded.
Mar. 2, 1865 - Murder
We learn that, a few days since, at the house of Mr. Kallum, in Stokes County, a murder was committed under the following circumstances:
A Capt. Williams and Lieut. Moore, hailing from Kentucky as recruiting officers, were lodging at Mr. Kallum's. Late at night the report of a pistol was heard, which aroused
Mr. K's family, when Lieut. Moore was discovered shot dead in his bed, Capt. Williams stating that the deed was committed by some person unknown, who came to the
door of the apartment in which they lodged and fired a pistol, killing the Lieutenant.
There are various rumors and conjectures in regard to the matter.
Mar 23, 1865 - 1st Battalion N.C. Sharpshooters.
We inadvertently neglected to notice the arrival of this Battalion, commanded by Captain R.E. Wilson, last week. The officers and privates are looking remarkably well
and appear to be in fine spirits. The object of the visit is generally understood, and a number of deserters have been arrested and sent on to their commands, from this
county and Yadkin. Capt. Carmichael's well known band of music accompanies the Battalion.
Some five men, we learn, have been shot in this county (two of them from Yadkin) by the military. We know nothing of the circumstances in connection with the shooting,
except that some of them were executed for desertion.
A portion of the 23d Regt. NCT have also been on a visit to this county for a week past.
We learn that his is not the only county where the presence of troops was deemed necessary to arrest deserters.
The deserters in Randolph and other counties are committing numerous and aggravating outrages. And we learn that a squad of Senior Reserves, in the upper part of
Davidson county, have trespassed on the premises of defenseless women and old men, taking possession of horses, wagons, and other property. Where is the civil law?
Concert On Friday night, inst, Capt. Carmichael's Brass Band, of the 1st N.C. Battaltion accompanied by a select choir of Salem ladies, entertained a very large
audience in the town hall, with instrumental and vocal music.....The concert was given for the benefit of the Soldiers Relief Association.....
Dec. 9, 1865 - Capt. Wilson, of Yadkin County
Commander of the 1st Battalion N.C. Sharpshooters, of the Confederate Army, was brought to this place, on Tuesday last by order of U.S. military authorities, and
delivered to civil authorities of this county, under an indictment for shooting or causing to be shot several citizens of this county in the months of March last. He was
committed to the county jail for trial at our next Superior Court.
Capt. Wilson was severely wounded in engagement just previous to Gen. Lee's surrender, causing his foot to be amputated. He fell into the hands of the Federals, and
has been under arrest ever since.
(On Thursday, [Apr. 12, 1866], Wilson was arraigned for murder on three bills of indictment. Trial was removed to Rockingham county. Bail required in the sum of
$10,000 I each case. People's Press Apr. 14 1866)
Apr. 21, 1866 - Forsyth Superior Court
At the session of this court, last week, true bills were also found against the following persons, charged with being implicated in the shooting of several persons of this
county all members of the last 1st N.C. Battalion, commanded by Capt. R.E. Wilson:
Henry Hester
Moses Woodhouse
James Jones
John Sapp
Nathaniel Crowder
Thomas Close
William Henshaw
Henshaw alone, so far, has been arrested and bound over for his appearance at the next term of this court.
Sept. 29, 1864 - Military Arrests of Women
.....During this past week, the Courthouse of this county was made a prison for several women who were arrested by the Home Guard, and held as hostages for some of
their relatives whom it was said had deserted the armyÐ These women, I suppose, were victualized at the expense of the State or county, and guarded by male sentinels
at the same expense. I have not heard whether they were court-martialed or whether they were exchanged according to the cartel of exchange or not; they have been
released, however.
Mr. Editor: A great deal has been said by the people of the South about military encroachments, and the press, the great bulwark of
liberty, has flashed its vivid light within the walls of the Capital and throughout the machinery of the government in warnings to the
people, touching the subject of military usurption, oppression and tyranny, as fraught with the most fearful and direful consequences
to a free people—And the true patriot has put forth every effort to keep the military power subordinate to the civil, and for their
faithfulness and encouragement they have been branded as agitators, croakers, and even tories and traitors to the cause of human
freedom—yet their works have followed them, and their agitations and croakings have, until recently, kept down the hand of tyranny
and oppression, such as was exhibited in the times of the Dantons. During the Spanish inquisition, the women were compelled to
seclude themselves, lest they should be taken up by the inquisitor and thrust into prison as guilty of some offense known to a
detective. And are we not drifting into some such chance? I do not, however, wish to be understood in any remark I may make now,
as assailing any of the higher functional departments. I mean to speak only of certain infringements of the civil law, for, thank God, it
is still open and not yet crushed down, but I fearfully think entrusted with its faithful keeping in the hands of those who are ignorant of
its existence, or who are disposed to let it be trampled down by the dwarfish commandants of military posts in some of the counties of
this State.
During the past week, the Court-house of this county was made a prison for several women who were arrested by the Home Guard,
and held as hostages for some of their relatives whom it was said had deserted the army. These women, I suppose, were victualed at
the expense of the State or county, and guarded by male sentinels at the same expense. I have not heard whether they were court-
martialed or whether they were exchanged according to the cartel of exchange or not; they have been released, however.
In other counties a similar course has been pursued by this arm of the military service, and I learn from credible authority that some of
the women arrested in those counties were roped around their necks and hung up, to extort from them the whereabouts of their
husbands, sons and relatives, whom it was said had deserted from the army; and that others were forced to undergo the pains of
having their fingers put under the joints of heavy rail fences and squeezed until they told where their friends etc., were, if they could
do so.
This is a high handed business in a country blessed with Christian associations, and in the face of a plain statute law against such
foul violations of such law.
Gov. Vance was very explicit in defining the character of this law in his campaign speeches, so much so, that it was believed no one
would mistake its true import. He warned the people of similar encroaching of the military then, and told them never to submit to any
such infringements of their rights as free citizens. It is not, therefore, reasonable to suppose for a moment, that any orders were
issued by Gov. Vance, through the Adjutant General, or Col. Mallett, to arrest helpless women and drag them under guard off to
some prison and detain them from their homes for a day or a week! And yet such an impression prevails with some.
Where are the keepers of the civil law? Where are the Esquires and County Solicitors? Have they nothing to do in this matter of
openly violating the laws of the land? What are their duties? Do they know them? Or do they quake and tremble in their knees at
the sight of a musket and bayonet? If they are thus driven from the faithful discharge of their duties, the country would do well to give
them all a musket and transportation to Gen. Lee.
And then the incoming Legislature could appoint others who have nerve, and they could elect County Solicitors of like nerve and
ability.
The Governor cannot attend to these things; he has officers to execute the laws, and it is their duty to do it; and when they cannot do
it, then to call on him for help.
Let this be done, and the poor helpless women may perhaps stay at home and take care of their little ones and their little truck
patches, and these would-be-military-rulers would know their true position and execute such orders as they received from their
superiors, or be made to suffer the penalty of the law.
AQUILLA
Nov 4, 1865: Pardons from the War -From People's Press
...which have been recently received....
Forsyth County: John H. Hester, R.L. Walker, J.M. Richmond, J.H. Stoltz, T.W. Crews, Geo.
V. Fulp, Will Flynt, John P. Nissen, Isaac W. Mooris, Nathan Pfaff, J.W. Hunter, Eli Weavill,
H.K. Thomas, O.A. Keehln and Henry R. Lehman.
Stokes County: Wm. A. Lash; Wm. Withers; David N. Dalton; Stephen H. Pore; John A.
Martin; John J. Martin; W.B. Taylor; Sam'l S. Wall; Robert Wall; L. Smith; R.H. Massey;
Thos. Martin; Christopher Smith; Sterling Adams; J.W. Bitting; A. Westmoreland; and W.B.
Carter