Volume 15 , Issue 5

History of Rockbridge County, Virginia - Extracts From Newspapers

We continue with the "History of Rockbridge county, Virginia" and its part in the War of 1861, by continuing with "Extracts From Newspapers from 1861 to 1864 via Oren F. Morton's book, "history of Rockbridge County, Virginia."

1861

1500 men in the county on government wages. Complaint in October that tanneries were paying only five cents per pound for hides, but asking from sixty cents and upward for leather.

1862

Prices in August: flour, $8; corn, $1; oats, fifty cents; butter, twenty-vie to thirty cents; bacon, thirty-five cents; beef, nine to twelve cents; eggs, fifteen cents.

"If every part of the Confederacy had as many idle young men in it as this quiet little town of Lexington, we might raise a splendid army in addition to the forces now in the field." -- Gazette, August 14. The Natural Bridge Aid Society sent $150 to the relief of the wounded of the 12th Georgia at McDowell.

Public schools partially or entirely closed for more than a year. Private schools fully sustained. Ann Smith Academy reorganized with Mrs. George D. Baskerville as principal. The Rev. Mr. Trimble's school at Brownsburg now in its third year and more flourishing than ever before. -- August 21.

Good crops in the Valley of Virginia. Candles seventy-five cents a pound. Why not substitute an hour of the morning for an hour of the evening?

About 150 of the Rockbridge Dragoons surprised and captured int he west of Greenbrier, about December 1st, by the Federal cavalry.

1863

Farm produce five times as high as usual. Things purchased, ten times as high. -- February 2. Wood, per cord, $12. -- March 5.

Native dyes, copperas being a requisite in each instance: The root and bark of sassafras, a beautiful yellow and orange; kalmia (dwarf laurel), a drab; willow bark, a deep blue-black on wool and linen, a dark slate on cotton; bark and root of red oak, a chocolate brown; pine bark, a slate (on cotton); pine with kalmia, a dove; sweet gum bark, a dove; maple, a purple; beech bark, a dove; leaves and berries of sumach, a black; white oak, a Lead (on cotton), but will not dye wool.

200,000 pounds of bacon in the county -- April 15.

As a candidate for the Confederate Congress, Baldwin had 676 votes and Letecher 526. 253 cadets in the Virginia Military Institute, May 6th, and more wish to come in. Sixty students at Washington College.

Seventy-five families in Lexington will need bread this winter, and 100 will need fuel to the amount of 500 cords. 150 families in the corporation produce no foodstuffs.

1864

Lexington House sells for $100,000 in January. Many farmers on half rations of meat so as to send meat to the army. Matrimonial advertisement by one of Rosser's soldiers. Several smokehouses robbed in April. English stationery on sale at one of the stores. Large wheat crop, considering the reduction in the supply of labor.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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