Story of Civil War in Hertford Mirrored in Government Activity:
THE HEBALD. Ahosltie, N. C.—MILESTONE YEAR 1859—PACE S
County Court Met in Old Union Church After Winton Burning
(Continued from Page 4)
And, in Hertford County, there
were war preparations and scares.
The County Court met in special
session on June 12, 1862, and dealt
solely with war matters.
It resolved that “whereas this
county is invaded by the Govern
ment of the United States, it is
the court’s opinion that it is un
safe for the sheriff to attempt to
collect the present state taxes
while the present invasion con
tinues.”
Federal gunboats were roaming
the Chowan River at will. Federal
was crossing the river to
reconnoiter down dusty Hertford
roads.
In another resolution, the Court
recognized another growing prob
lem growing out of this federal
military activity.
It resolved that “whereas many
negro slaves have run away and
gone to the U. S. gunboat cruising
up and dov/n the Chowan River,
it is resolved that any caught do
ing so may be arrested 'dead or
alive.’ ”
Another growing problem that
was to become a nightmare was
indicated by the court’s action in
naming a “salt commissioner.”
'Watson L. Daniel was given the
post and ordered to proceed to
Wilmington and purchase salt to
be distributed to Hertford fami
lies.
He was ordered 1:6 borrow funds
at six per cent for the salt supply.
The court levied a direct tax
for government during the year.
It levied SI,?!)!) for county pur
poses, $1-000 for the poor, S500 to
pay off county bonds, and $300 for
the state asylum.
More Sait Troubles
But Daniel could get little salt
at Wilmington.
On July 21, 1362, the County
Court met in special session and
ordered Daniel to “visit various
salt works in Virginia.”
He was ordered to purchase 3,-
500 bushels of salt from Virginia.
The salt was to be sold to Hert
ford families at cost.
He had been able to get but 140
bushels of the vital commodity at
Wilmington. It was ordered de
posited at three points in the
county for sale—at Lewis Spiers’
in Murfreesboro, Starkey Har
rell's at California Crossroads,
and Joseph Scull’s at Harrells-
ville.
The Court stipulated that n o
family could purchase more than
one peck of the salt' supply.
(It is worth note that salt was
vitally important in these days be
cause it was used for the curing
of • pork, the staple meat in the
diet.)
Routine Matters
With the defeat of McClcllan’'s
army in Virginia, many of the
federal units that were harassing
eastern North Carolina were call
ed northward and the local situa
tion became more stabilized.
In August, 1862, the court met
and attended only to routine mat
ters.
In November, it held another
routine quarterly meeting. It
appointed committees to build a
new ferry flat for Hill’s Ferry on
the Meherrin and examine the
ferryboat at Wiccacon Ferry near
HarreUsville.
It ordered that $90 be paid for
timber used in repairing Hill’s
bridge and $110 for repairs to Wic
cacon Bridge.
1863 Begins
The Court was still conducting
routine business as the fateful
year of the Confederacy opened.
In its February meeting, the gov
erning body of Hertford met at
the newly - renovated Methodist
Church in Union, appointed tax-
lister.s, wardens of the poor and
the board of superintendents of
common schools.
In April, as Confederate armies
gathered in Virginia for a spring
campaign, the Hertford Court met
in special session to reappoint
John Harrell as commissioner to
provision families of soldiers. He
was to continue to get two and a
half per cent of the county’s funds
as his pay for the work.
In May, the Court met in regu
lar session and attended to a long
list of routine matters.
Pursuant to an act of the North
Carolina Legislature, the Court
appointed a “forage committee”
which was to “ascertain provision
and forage that may be available
for the army.”
Three transportation matters
were attended to. A committee
was named to consult with North
ampton officials about repairs to
Ix)ng Bridge, committees were
named to repair or rebuild Wic
cacon Bridge and to let Tar Land
ing Ferr>'.
The Court paid Abner Harrell
$30 for keeping Tar Landing Fer
ry for a year, $150 for building a
new flat there. Ann Harrell re
ceived $100 for keeping Wiccacon
Ferry for a year.
A direct tax was levied for ex
penses for the year. $1,463 was
needed for county purposes, $2,-
300 for poor, $550 for the asylum
and $1,120 to retire county bonds,
a total of $5,433.
Bridge Burned
By the time the Court met on
August 24, 1863, a Union cavalry
force had landed at Winton,
marched through Murfreesboro.
fought at Boone’s Mill in North
ampton County, and retreated
back through the county.
The force had burned the Mur
freesboro bridge and looted many
areas of the county. ,
A committee was named to de
cide whether to build a new bridge
at Murfreesboro, and the sheriff
was ordered to summon all road
overseers to a meeting at the next
meeting.
Abner Harrell agreed to con
tinue as keeper of Tar Landing
Ferry for $139.50 per year for
three years.
No jury was called, since most
of tho county’s men were either
off in the army, retreating from
the Confederate defeat at Gettys
burg, or in hastily-assembled lo
cal regiments formed to resist in
creased federal military action in
eastern North Carolina.
By November, the county was
knuckling down to what was to be
a hard winter, a winter of in
creasing despair.
The Court met and ordered old
iron salvaged frpm the burned
county jail to be sold.
A ferry flat was ordered con
structed to take the place of the
burned Murfreesboro Bridge, $300
was appropriated for the boat.
$146 was paid for a keeper who
had already acted as ferryman
there for 73 days. $51 was ap
propriated for materials for a new
bridge at Murfreesboro, and $30
for repair of Hill’s Bridge between
Murfreesboro and Winton, where
federal cavalry had brushed with
local troops in July.
In December, 1863, the court
met to take care of routine mat
ters. It ordered a committee to
employ someone to keep Wic
cacon Ferry and paid $180 for 90
days keep at the temporary Mur
freesboro ferry.
Mrs. Harrell was paid $100 for
keeping Wiccacon Ferry and paid
$100 for new rope for the ferry.
John Main, a free negro, was
given tho task of keeping the
temporary Murfreesboro bridge.
Purchase Cetten Cards
A committee was named to go
to Raleigh and purchase the cotton
cards' which had been allowed
Hertford County for distribution to
the wives of soldiers.
F. L.'Roberts was issued a whis
key license for his store in Mur
freesboro, and school and tax
boards were renamed.
Finally, the county asked that
holders of county bonds appear at
tho temporary courthouse to re
ceive their yearly dividends.
In May, the Court was still en
acting routine business. By this
time, the new crop was in and the
area had been heartened by win
tertime Confederate activity aim
ed at clearing federal troops from
eastern North Carolina. (Although
unsuccessful, the attempts had
had temporary success. In any
event, most Union forces had been
called north to join the giant array
of General U. S. Grant, moving
on Richmond.)
The Court paid free negro
John Main $225 for keeping the
temporary Murfreesboro Feri’y,
and $92 went for materials for a
new bridge there. Henry Griffith
got $198 for keeping Hiil’s Ferry
for 99 days. Abner Harrell got
$150 for keeping Tar Landing
Ferry.
Inflation Begins
For the next nine months, the
minutes of the County Court in
dicate the worsening money situa
tion in the despairing Confed
eracy. Huge sums were voted to
accomplish tasKs wiiich were once
routine.
In August, the Court paid Main
-$150 for keeping the Murfreesboro
ferry for three months. John Vin
son got $63 for keeping the same
ferry for 21 days.
New rates for ferries (applying
to nonresidents—the ferries were
free to county citizens) were or
dered, indicating the inflationary
trends.
A man and horse had to pay
fifty cents; buggies, sulkies, carts
..:'.d other one-horse vcloicles were
to pay one dollar, two - horse
o'-.Vo': wore to
$1.59 and
four-horse units to pay $2. Car
riages were to cost $2.50.
The Court ordered some steps
put on the temporary courthouse-
church, and ordered the well fill
ed. Repairs were ordered to Cutta-
whiskey Bridge and a committee
named to let the ferry at HiE’s
Bridge.
Fifsancial Crisis
In November, financial matters
were in the spotlight, and the
spireling inflation that was de
stroying confidence and caiising
economic life to grind to, a stand
still was the striking point in
actions by the Court.
The Court ordered that the Con
federate bonds ov/ned by the coun
ty be sold at 70 cents on the
dollar. It ordered taxes collected
for provisioning of soldier’s fami
lies and the total levy came to
$.39,591 which was ten times what
the total cost had been only two
years earlier.
Prices for materials to build
bridges and ferries indicated the
worsening condition of C 0 n -
federate money. The court order
ed $363 paid for cotton to make
rope for the Mui'freesboro ferry.
Joseph "Weaver was paid $350 for
keeping the Murfreesboro ferry
for three months, and $50 for
making rope for the ferry.
In February, 1865, the court met
with need and despair gather
ing on every hand.
It named W. D. Pruden as an
agent to purchase cotton to be
used in exchange for provisions
for soldiers’ families. 'The Court
had despaired of using deflated
Confederate currency for that
purpose.
Miles Mitchell, a member of the
.lome Guard, asked the court to
le relieved of his duties of .guard-
T-.i-rviii'c-' of r^n^k He said the
supplies needed to be constantly
guarded and that he was “nearly
50 years old,” unfit for the con
stant vigil.
A petition was sent to the Gov
ernor asking that Mitchell be dis
charged from the Home Guard.
In routine matters, the Court
paid large sums for a few days
of ferry keeping. Over $450 was
paid to various keepers of the
Murfreesboro bridge, they were
now getting four dollars a day,
twice as much as a year pre
vious.
Abner Harrell was paid $500 in
deflated currency for keeping Wic
cacon Ferry for a year.
Rope for Hill’s Bridge was pur
chased for $135.
Keepers of the Murfreesboro
Bridge included S. Williams, Per
ry Carter, Emma Burgess and
Thomas Weaver.
John Newman was issued a
See COURT, Page 7
Wheeler's Report
(Continued from Page 4)
The follov/ing report from V/heeler, in the colorful language v/hich
characterized military communications of Confederate civilian-sol
diers, tells much of the story of the Roancke-Chowan during the
Civil War,
It is a report of tiny actions between unprepared local soldiery
and overwhelming' federal power which rode the river in the form of
heavily-armed gunboats.
It al-’o gives an inkling of the hopes and ideas which many military
au'.horities had about the strategic significance of the Chowan River
line.
Many felt that the Confederacy should mount an attack across the
river and clear federal troops from this enclave on the flank of the
Confederate armies in Virginia.
On the federal side, plans were always being discussed to launch
a major attack across the river to cut the railroad line only a day’s
march beyond the west bank of the river.
Further notes follow the report of Major Wheeler.
Wheeler reported:
HDQRS. TWELFTH NORTH CAROLINA BATTALION
Hertford County, N. C., June 20, 1863.
Maj. ARCHIE ANDERSON
Petersburg, Va.
MAJOR: A dispatch from Capt. C. G. Wright, commanding
battalion near Coleraine, was received on the 18th instant, at 5
p.m., stating the enemy was landing at that place from, five
gunboats and transports, and asking my immediate assistance.
My mounted fofce was in the saddle in a few minutes, and
before daybreak we were within reach of Captain Wright, who
had posted himself advantageously 5 miles north of Colei'ain.
But the bird had flown; the guboats pushed off, and have gone
down the Chowan River.
Thus were we again disappointed in our anticipation of a brush
with the cow'ardly invader.
We were in the saddle nearly all night and ten hours today,
and the dullness of my communication may be attributed to
fatigue and loss of rest.
After the affair of the 17th at the rifle-pits near Jordan’s
Fishery, the two gunboats proceeded up the Chowan River as
far as Manny’s Ferry, near the Virginia line, evidently intimi
dated, having done no damage save wounding three of my men;
two slightly, one severely in the right side by a Minie ball. His
case is critical, and as I cannot rely upon the prompt attention
of local physicians, allow me to hope that you will order Dr. C. E.
Worrell to my immediate assistance.
Prominent citizens are urging me to employ cannon, and I am
more than ever satisfied of the necessity of its use. The enemy is
now driven from our waters, and I wish to attack him on land in
counties east of Chowan River, bui, as suggested before, unless
our crossing be protected by artillery, a single boat could cut
, off our retreat.
If you will let me have the use of Woodbury Wheeler’s artillery
for a shori while, and I do not render you a good account, I will
trouble you no more.
Until my occupation of this region, there was a large contra
band trade in tobacco and other articles, carried on across the
Upper Chowan.
In the absence of any instructions from you, may I ask your
wishes at an early date?
Persons of suspicious character occasionally cross the river.
These I have prevented without waiting your instructions, but
would prefer a plain expression of your views.
I am, very respectfully, etc.,
S. J. WHEELER
Commanding Twelfth North Carolina Battalion,
P. S.—May I ask the immediate attention of Major-General
Hill to the inclosed charges (not found) against Captain Hag
gard?
The “Captain Wright” referred to was the commander- of a unit
of Georgia cavalrymen which was stationed near Suffolk and charged
with reconnoitering the Chowan River line.
The “rifle pits at Jordan’s Fishery” were trenchworks at a landing
just north of Winton. Similar field fortifications were thrown up
south of Winton, and at Colerain. From these positions, southern
troops could only watch helplessly as the federal gunboats passed
unhindered up and down the Chowan.
“Manny’s Ferry” v/as an ancient Chowan River crossing in Hert
ford County just south of the Virginia border. At this point, Confed
erate forces had earlier constructed a defensive boom which cffec-
tivly stopped gunboats from going any farther pp the river,
Wheeler’s reference to the “large contraband ti'ade in tobacco and
other articles” tells much of tbe story of the Roanoke-Chowan in
Civil V7ar times. The area was a “no man's land” between Union
and Confederate forces for most of the war. A large clandestine trade
was carried on across the river. Federal forces in occupied Norfolk
paid good prices for tobacco and cotton. In addition, many runaway
slaves. Free Negroes and Union sympathizers slipped across the river
to join federal forces. Besides this, bands of deserters and other law
less elements hid out in the vast pine forests and gum swamps and
preyed on the local populace. Intermittently, Confederate units came
into the area on specific missions and helped break up the traffic or
the outlaw camps, but the region was known as a hotbed of law
lessness during most of the war.
Even Wheeler’s unit, formed primarily as a local defense force,
was soon to be broken up and ordered to join the Army of Northern
Virginia.
The “Captain Haggard” who apparently incurred Major Wlieeieris
wrath was the commanding officer of Company A of the battalion,
which was composed of men from Northampton County. There is no
record of the final result of Haggard’s arrest by his commanding
officer. Probably the charges were dropped. Confederate records are
filled with such summary arrests which rarely went any further
after the parties concerned had cooled off.
Wheeler’s report was made to an officer on the staff of the general
commanding the Department of Virginia and North Carolina, which
at this time was located at Richmond. This force was responsible foi
all troops which guarded the fedei'ai forces based in Norfolk. The
long distance between the command and the isolated Chowan Rivei
line was another handicap in Confederate efforts to effectively block
federal forces in the area.
PART OF OUR MODERN OFERATiON
Pace-Setters in Our Field...
We opened our operation here in 1950and installed the most
modern in sawmill equipment. .. being the second in North Caro
lina to install debarking and chipping equipment to conserve na
tural resources. Since that time we have constantly improved and
enlarged our mill. We try to stay ready to meet the needs of a
growing area and a growing state. Thanks to the folks in this area
that have given us friendships and patronage.
We Join in Celebrating the Milestone Year
HERTFORDCOyiTY'S200th ANNIVERSARY
MANUFACTURERS
Ahoskie, North Carolina