Chronology of Wartime Service

July 3-4, 1864

High Times at Martinsburg, W. Va.

The Brigade along with the balance of Early's small army had continued its march north to the ford at Martinsburg, W. Virginia at the head of the Shenandoah Valley. There they took advantage of the Union stores and sutler's supplies that had been abandoned in Union Gen. Franz Sigel's hasty retreat.

In a remembrance of Lt. Col. James Simeon Blain, commander of the 26th Georgia, Jacob E. Dart of the Brunswick Riflemen (Company A) recalled:

"We arrived at Martinsburg late on the evening of July 3rd. Sutler's stores were hidden in cellars and in charge of Union sympathizers, but we soon caught on to the game and all public property or Government property was soon our property. It was a grotesque sight to see an old Confederate in tattered jacket, with a broadcloth coat on and patent leather boots. Some even had beaver hats.

I remember going down into a cellar of a house owned by a German, a little boy told several of us that Sutler's stores were in that cellar. We at once proceeded to investigate in spite of the protest of a buxom German Lady and, upon going into the cellar we found kegs of butter, cheese and all manner of other food. I wanted some butter and finding nothing better than the head of a keg, I proceeded to place on it all it would hold for it was very soft. When we reached the head of the stairs, who should I meet but the German woman, and without a word she tipped the keg-head butter and all, into my face. I was besmeared with butter from head to foot, and I have never been very fond of soft butter since.

There were several Union ladies who had prepared a bountiful repast for the Union officers the next day.

Captain N. Dixon, Lieut. Dart and other officers called at a very imposing residence and asked for something to eat. The lady of the house told them she was a Union Lady, but as her friends had left in haste, and she had more than the family could consume, they could go in and help themselves; and such a feast of roast turkey, pork and all that partook of an old Virginia family and their proverbial hospitality, even if they were Unionists."

Pvt. George H. Lester of the Tom Cobb Infantry (Company E, 38th Georgia) recalled with relish what he referred to as the "Dutch General's barbeque", namely:

"A table spread about 200 yards long, loaded with all the good things that could be imagined. Our boys...(fell) aboard these delicious viands, barbecued meats, and everything in profusion, which they discussed to the fullest extent, while the Yankees on the other side of the river, watched us with mouths watering and eyes filled with tears."

Pvt. Henry Pruitt Fortson of the Muscogee Confederates (Co. ?, 31st Georgia) remembers:

"We spent the 4th at Martinsburg, Va., feasting off yankee treats. We got most anything that you could call for. We got on the yankees before they knew it. Our cavary and the yankee cavalry had a little fight. I saw three dead yankees. None of us was hurt. We captured any amount of Government stores. Corn, oats, flour, everything an army needs. The boys broke open every store in the place, mostly sutler shop confectioneries. The boys have been smoking cigars ever since. The boys all got new oil cloths & tent flies. I got a splendid oil cloth. I could not carry any more. I could get most anything but had no way to take care of it. We had whiskey & tobacco served to us in abundance. We tore up everything after we got in yankeedom, nothing like the yankees did on their trip to Lynchburg. Martinsburg VA is completely tore up, a perfect Union hole."

Similar stories are told by Virginians, Louisianians, and North Carolians of Gordon's and Breckinridge's commands who found themselves at large in Martinsburg.

Such lapses of military discipline are not well regarded, so it is perhaps not surprizing the Early's and Gordon's post war remembrances make no mention of the pillaging of stores at Martinsburg. After Martinsburg and the subsequent engagement at Harpers Ferry on July 6th, however, Early felt compelled to issue orders deploring "accounts of plundering and confusion" and calling for preservation of the "strictest discipline" and the prevention of "all straggling, marauding, and appropriation of property by unauthoried parties."

Brig. Gen. Clement Evans had no opportunity to write his wife Sarah with details due to a severe wound received just a few days later at Monocacy. His journal contains only the following brief entry: "July 3rd - Sunday....Entered Martinsburg, Place evacuated by Yankees. Quantities of stores, etc."

Similarly, Pvt. Nichols of the 61st Georgia recalled only that "We arrived at Martinsburg before dark, and ran General Sigel off and captured the town, with a considerable quantity of stores."

Sources

Jacob E. Dart, "Life of J.S. Blain" (manuscript)

Henry Pruitt Fortson, Undated Letter, Barnes Family Manuscript Collection. Alderman LIbrary, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA.

George H. Lester, "War Record of the Tom Cobb Infantry," United Daughters of the Confederacy, Georgia Division, Oglethorpe County Chapter 1292, Lexington. This They Remembered (Washington, GA: Washington Publishing Co. 1965) at p. 104-105.

Intrepid Warrior

Nichols, A Soldier's Story of His Regiment

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Last Updated: Jan. 21, 2001