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Civil War Publications--Monroe County, W.V.
These pages contain brief reviews of nine publications available through the Monroe County
Historical Society. Most of these are based on original Courthouse or Museum records and
concern this County or adjacent areas. No major battles were fought here although 15
Confederate companies were mustered here and Federal forces that marched through here had
quite an impact on the citizenry. These publications give firsthand documentation of these
events and are available at our Museum or by writing to the Society at PO Box 465, Union, WV
24983.
Captain Beirne Chapman and Chapman’s Battery, by A.S. Johnston, 54 pages, softbound,
$10.00. This book was published in 1903 by the editor of The Monroe Watchman and it details
the many campaigns engaged in by this unit which was so important to the Southern cause.
George Beirne Chapman raised this Battery in Monroe County early in 1862 and was engaged
locally at the Battles of Lewisburg, Dry Creek and Droop Mountain. This unit went on to fight
in many campaigns, with Chapman being mortally wounded at the Battle of Winchester in late
1864, while Chapman’s Battery fought on without him until the war ended.
Diary of Susan Waddell, 1863-1867, edited by Leann E. Ginther, 86 page leaflet, $16.00. Mrs.
Waddell was the wife of the president of Union College and the mistress of a girl’s school on the
premises on Pump Street, Union. She kept a diary which covers 32 pages, and there are 35 pages
of explanatory notes and 13 pages of appendices to explain the references in the diary. It is
through Susan’s diary that we know a great deal about life in Union during the Civil War years.
It includes the encampment here of the Federal infantry under Generals Crook and Averell, with
their 10,000 troops and the attendant sufferings of the local residents.
Elmwood Letters, by Caperton family members, 92 page leaflet, $18.00. There are 52 letters in
this collection, the majority dating from 1860. If read from beginning to end, they provide
considerable insight into the events surrounding the onset of the war. Some of the letters address
fairly trivial accounts, but there is much information sprinkled in about local politics. The
Caperton family was very influential in the area and had connections in Richmond and
elsewhere, so their opinions and observations are worthy of consideration.
Life in the Irish Corner District during the Civil War, by N.B. “Doc” McDowell, 64 page
leaflet, $12.00. The Irish Corner is a district of Greenbrier County just north of Monroe. These
writings were published in the West Virginia News during 1926 and describe the author’s early
memories of the Civil War. He lived within earshot of the Battle of Lewisburg and he covers
this and the battles of Dry Creek and Handley’s Hill. Attitudes of the local populace toward the
slavery question and the war are discussed including those of his father who was an abolitionist.
An index of about 1750 entries is included, mostly of personal names.
Monroe County Historical Society – P.O. Box 465, Union WV 24983
monroewvhistory.org
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Mary Jane’s War, by Joe B. Roles, 189 pages, softbound, $16.00 (shipping, add $3.00). This
novel was written in 2002 by a local author and is based on a true story. Mary Jane’s husband
died from a wound received in the Battle of New Market during the Civil War. With help of a
servant she took a pair of mules and a wagon 120 miles through the Alleghany Mountains and
enemy lines during the winter of 1865 to pick up her husband’s remains and she brought them
back home to Monroe County for burial. The story is gripping and the author is proposing to
make a film of the book. Local support for this movie project is being solicited.
Monroe County in the War Between the States: Miscellaneous Information, 65 page leaflet,
$12.00. This diverse collection includes “A War Diary” by the Rev. S.R. Houston which
contains entries from throughout the war. It is a poignant reminder of the deterioration of
conditions because so many young men were away at war. Also included is a one page
description by Isabella Caperton of the Yankee raid of 1864 as well as a critique of the Battle of
Winchester by Lieutenant George M. Edgar. There are a number of letters from both home and
the front, and a touching interview with ex-slave James Campbell.
Monroe County Soldiers in the Civil War, compiled by Shirley Ulaki, 147 page leaflet, $25.00
(shipping, add $3.00). This thick book contains courthouse records and other materials that
range from muster rolls to official efforts to supply soldier’s families with food. The index of
some 2700 individual names reads like the “Who’s Who” of Monroe in the war effort. Projects
of the local women are described and range from making uniforms, tents and knapsacks for the
soldiers, to driving wagons to the Charleston area to fetch salt from the mine there. Information
is presented on local units including Lowry’s Battery, the Monroe Sharpshooters, Vawter’s
Company, Thurmond’s Rangers and the Rocky Point Grays.
Monroe County, West Virginia in the Civil War by Leona Lynch Kessel, 75 page leaflet,
$14.00. This Master’s thesis was completed in 1950 at West Virginia University by Ms. Lynch,
a Monroe native. It is well organized and researched, with chapters discussing local events for
each of the war years. These cover the troop movements, the problems of the local authorities in
providing for the citizenry, and the local commodities such as food, salt and gun powder. Also
included are muster lists for 9 of the 15 military units raised in this county and an index with
about 1350 names.
Skirmish at Pearisburg, by George A. McLean, Jr., 153 pages softbound, $20.00 (shipping, add
$3.00). This is a well written and researched account of an unsuccessful attempt in 1862 by
General Rutherford B. Hayes to disrupt the Virginia & Tennessee Railway which ran through
southwest Virginia. The action happened in adjacent Giles County and involved Lowry’s,
Bryan’s and Chapman’s Batteries from Monroe. Two future U.S. presidents were involved and
McLean, a native of Pearisburg, argues that the success of General Heth and his Confederate
troops here may be the reason that Giles County remained in Virginia when the state boundary
was drawn.
Monroe County Historical Society – P.O. Box 465, Union WV 24983
monroewvhistory.org