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| False Rumor Report in Phila. Inquirer 4-30-1863 |
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Postwar Story About Grumble Jones
Bristol (VA) Herald Courier 11-7-1948 |
In April of 1863, a Washington, Pennsylvania ("Little Washington") newspaper received news of the Confederate occupation of
Morgantown from J. Edgar Boyers, West Virginia statehood (and Union) supporter who had fled Morgantown before he could be the apprehended by Confederate raiders.
The article noted,
“The information [from Morgantown]
was brought by a gentleman who resides two miles below Morgantown on the
Monongahela River and who reached this place about Tuesday morning. Their [the
Confederates] aim appeared to be the obtaining of supplies in the shape of
horses, cattle, stores, etc. and the capture of such leading citizens as had
rendered themselves conspicuous for their efforts in the Union cause. Our
informant being one of this class…was compelled to flee when they were within a
few yards of his house...On reaching the main road, he leaped upon one of the
horses that was being brought away to avoid capture and came through
Waynesburg, arriving here early on Tuesday morning as stated.” [Washington (PA) Reporter and Tribune, April 29, 1863]
While Confederate General William “Grumble” Jones was
occupying Morgantown and rounding up Union supporters, another resident of the city
escaped the dragnet and rode about 45 miles north to Washington, Pennsylvania to alert these citizens of transpiring events. A Pittsburgh newspaper published an alarming report
of the events to their south: “The
excitement in Washington, Waynesburg and Uniontown at last accounts was
unabated...Messengers arrived here from Washington [PA] last evening and took
out six thousand rounds of ammunition, which would be distributed to the
militia there. They had five hundred men under arms, and ready to give the
rebels and warm reception, but they had no ammunition.” [Pittsburgh Gazette, April 29, 1863]
Little Washington wasted little time
in responding. Late in the evening of April 28, as soon as news was received of
Jones’ movement at Morgantown, the courthouse bell was sounded and a late-night
meeting was held within minutes. Two couriers reported that Grumble Jones had
captured Morgantown (which was true), and that Waynesburg and Washington were
the next targets on the Confederates’ path to Pittsburgh (which was not true). Overnight preparations were made to form
a militia company to march to Waynesburg, which had requested military
assistance. The Little Washingtonians agreed with the request, choosing to confront
the enemy in Waynesburg rather than wait for the raiders to appear in their own
city. [AlexanderWishart, Letter to Isaac M. Wells, August 3, 1901, Courtesy of U. Grant Miller Library, Washington and Jefferson University]
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| Washington County Court House |
The
company of militiamen from Washington was hastily organized under the command
of Captain Alexander Wishart and Lieutenant Harvey Vankirk. Wishart earlier had
served in the 8th PA Reserves and was the current school
superintendent of the city. He was wounded during the Seven Days’ Battles at
Gaines Mill, Virginia in 1862 and was medically discharged several months later.
Vankirk, an attorney, was also given a medical discharge from the 85th
Pennsylvania in 1862.
Captain Wishart later remembered that,
“…farmers and others who had teams
were asked to convey the troops to Waynesburgh. When I [asked] where the arms
and ammunition was to come from, Major [John] Ewing cried out, ‘Dang it all,
we’ll fight them with pitchforks!’ But a wagon was sent to the Allegheny
Arsenal [in Pittsburgh] at once and arms and ammunition procured, and after
their arrival the company proceeded to Waynesburgh in the wagons which had been
tendered.” [Wishart letter]
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Obituary for Alexander Wishart
Pittsburgh Daily Post 8-3-1906 |
Wishart
and Vankirk led their company from the
Washington Courthouse to Waynesburg, a distance of 23 miles. A Washington newspaper said these “patriots
about Washington, armed with 'Dutch’ rifles, went to Waynesburg filled with
zeal and enthusiasm and determined to repel Imboden and his hordes, or die.” They arrived and found that the reports of
Jones [or Imboden] making a move into Pennsylvania were unfounded and exaggerated. Wishart returned to
Little Washington with him company on May 2nd. [Washington (PA) Observer, date unknown]
Invasion
warnings cooled after the first few days of May as it became known that Jones
had veered to the south towards Fairmont, (West) Virginia. As accounts began to report the fight at Fairmont,
similar stories of the invasion of Uniontown or Waynesburg were discounted. The
New York Times wrote that, “The reports for the
south-western part of the State [Pennsylvania] are very contradictory owing to
the excitement among the inhabitants.” [New York Times, April 29, 1863]
On May 6, Greene County citizens were being alerted
that the raid had not continued into Greene County as feared, but that the
marauders were still a potential threat to the region:
“The excitement consequent on the
threatened Rebel Raid on Greene and adjoining counties has almost entirely
subsided. The Rebles have disappeared from Morgantown but are said to be still
in the vicinity of Fairmont or Warren…On Saturday morning, all imminent danger
of a Rebel incursion having passed away, the Washington lads returned to their
homes and our own people resumed their usual business activities. At present
all is quiet, and all alarm allayed…” [Waynesburg Messenger, May 4, 1863]
Finally, on May 18, the Waynesburg
Messenger could report that, “On Tuesday evening the rebels all left in
the direction of Fairmont on the West side of the river… At this date, all is
quiet in the vicinity of Morgantown. No signs of ‘graybacks’ have been seen
since Tuesday of last week.” [Waynesburg Messenger, May 10, 1863]
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"Little" Washington (dot in Washington County)
PA Counties of Washington, Greene , Fayette, Somerset, Westmoreland, Allegheny
Emerging new state of West Virginia
From Maps Showing the Development of Pennsylvania (1920)
NEXT: John Hunt Morgan |
