Reminiscences of Civil War Times in Taylor County
The author recalls prewar and early Civil War events in Taylor County centered on Grafton. Fortifications, federal troops, and local loyalties divided neighbors as Unionists led by George R. Latham and Daniel Wilson faced Confederate volunteers under Hansbrough and Robinson. The narrative covers a May 1861 secession vote, flag defiance by Latham, and a fatal skirmish near Fettermann where Bailey Brown died and Daniel Knight killed him, marking Brown as the first enlisted Northern casualty.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Grafton
Alexandria
Grafton House
Fetterman
Layior County
Johnies
Mr. Latham
Daniel Wilson
F. A. Cather
Leonard Mallonee
Bailey Brown
George R. Latham
Wilson
Brown
Daniel S. Knight
George Glenn
Robinson
Knight
Glenn
Old Town
Feterman
Latham
National Cemetery
Daniel Knight
Stafford County
George Kntene
Haymond
Louis Knight
Wellr
Balley Brown
Harvey Brown
Ball- Pert
Grafton Guards in Civil War Sharpshooter Service
The article recounts the Grafton Guards of West Virginia, led by Captain Latham, through three years of hard service in Western Virginia. It notes battles such as Dry Fork, Cheat River, Bull Run, and Droop Mountain, heavy losses, a notable raid with General Averell, and Latham’s role in aiding General McClellan. It also mentions captures of enemy gear and the unit’s scouting prowess.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Virginia
Grafton Guards
Dry Fork
Cheat River
Bull Run
Droop Mountain
Cloud Mountain
Cedar Mountain
Monterey
Cross Keys
Rocky Gap
Salem
Averell
Wheeling
McClellan
Grafton
Latham
Philippi
Rich Mountain
Carrick's Ford
Garnett
Beauregard
Manasses
Grafton Company
Cather
Batley Brown
Carrick’s Ford
Hansbrough
Fetterman
Brown
St .D. S
Smithley Led West Virginia Scouts From Grafton to War
A West Virginia regimental group organized scouts under Generals Milroy Averell Sigel and Fremont with Company B of Grafton furnishing leader W D Smithley who became chief of scouts for multiple commands. Described as brave and cool he joined in 1859 at Boothville aged 21, voting against secession with his father. He enlisted in Company B under Captain Latham and had two brothers who died in southern prisons. Smithley’s scouts included A B Hammer John W Willhide Marshall Bailey Alex Watts and N L Lock, serving as scouts spies and occasionally sharpshooters. They faced extreme danger, wore disguises to infiltrate Confederate camps, endured long separations and, despite injuries and capture threats, Smithley survived a prison ordeal at Wardensville and escaped from Columbia to rejoin Sherman’s army. Willhide Bailey and others shared similarly perilous experiences.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
West Virginia
Milroy
Averell
Sigel
Fremont
Grafton
W. D. Smithley
Mande
Smithley
Boothville
Boothsville
Union
Latham
Pennsylvania
Ohio
Indiana
A. B. Hammer
John W. Willhide
J. Willhite
Wardensville
Columbia
S. C
Sherman
Wiii-Hide and Bailey
Also Mentioned on This Page
Taylor County
Finnegan‘s Rock
Catholic Cemetery
Bluemone
Woodward’s Hill
Mulligan
Jones
Sumpter
Rosecrans
United States
Richmond
Countes
Taylor
Ernest L. Love
Grafton Sentnel
Western Virginian
Main Street
John W. Lewis
G. W. Hansbrough
John A. Robinson
Fetterme
Fred
Baltimore
Cap
Jorion
Inmle
What Is
Castoria
Ey Brown
Pruntytown
Valley Falls
Vince Alle
Spowine Bloch
Western
Canada
Saskatchewan
Alberts
Linst
Pitkeburg
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