Staunton Vindicator

A soldier in the Army of the Potomac perceives that his government is more interested in helping African Americans than in doing what it takes to win the war. He resents government attention to African Americans while so many white men are dying in battle and so many of their families are suffering.

A benefit concert will be held on February 24 at Staunton Presbyterian Church to raise money for soldiers.

The Congress of the Confederate States of America passed an impressment bill the previous Friday. The text is reprinted in full. Impressment is the forced use of labor or products by the government, in this case for the purpose of supporting the war.

This article contains a flattering description of the general's physical characteristics and manner.

Prof. E. Louis Ide calls for a vocal and instrumental concert to be held February 27 at the Virginia Female Institute to raise money for the people in Fredericksburg suffering from the war.

This article compares Lincoln to Gog, as described in Ezekiel and Daniel, and describes the character of the northern army, the object of the war, the advantage of having God on the South's side, and the way God will destroy the North.

A writer expresses views on the lack of support Lincoln enjoys in the North and on the worthiness of the Southern cause.

Yost reports that he sold the Vindicator to Lynn, expresses warmth towards and appreciation of the people of Augusta and surrounding counties, and asks for support for the new editor.

The new editor greets his readers, pledges to discharge faithfully "the varied duties thus voluntarily assumed," promises to promote the causes of the Confederacy and particularly the "rights of the Sovereign State of Virginia," and offers praise for his predecessor's performance as editor. Lynn observes that the unity of the new nation should not be disturbed by reviving old party issues, issues that were settled temporarily by withdrawing from the old Union, and that "advocacy of past doctrines" would be harmful. In expressing opinions, the editor will be frank and bold, but not improper or acrimonious and not unmindful of the soldiers, their families, and their plight.

Col. Imboden has been promoted to Brigadier General. He was a secession candidate for the Virginia Convention from Augusta County and was in command of the Staunton Artillery, which has emerged as one of the best batteries in the service. He also raised a regiment in western Virginia and led it in becoming a brigade.

Hudson, an aid to the Duke of Mecklenburg and a friend of many in Staunton, wrote a pro-Confederacy pamphlet and thus helped the cause long distance.

This extract describes a fugitive slave from Mobile who traveled in the North and then voluntarily returned, "thoroughly disgusted with what he saw and felt of Yankee freedom."

Henry May made this speech before the United States Congress, drawing from conversations and writings of the late Stephen A. Douglas and calling for a peaceful resolution to the war. May argues that if reunification is not possible, then separation should be recognized as a peaceful settlement. Comments from the New York Tribune and the New York Times accompany the excerpt.

War conditions prevent the holding of a regular Conference session, but those who are able to attend are invited to a meeting to be held in Churchville, Augusta County, on the third Thursday in March.

H. S. G. T. Albert of Woodstock, Virginia, married Harriet J. Black of Staunton, at the home of Richard Hawkins, on February 11, with Rev. J. R. Wheeler officiating.

Joseph Kerczewsky of Poland married Mary Key of Staunton on Tuesday, February 10, with Rev. Joseph R. Wheeler officiating.

David Sterrett, 70, of Augusta County died February 13.

Thomas C. Burwell, age about 60, died February 12 at his home near Staunton.

James B. Trimble, 78, died on February 2 at the home of his son-in-law, James B. Gilkeson.

Sallie Bell Houff, age six months, died February 13. She was daughter of E. L. and Eliza Houff, who live at Middle River.

Advertisement offering reward for return of fugitive slave, William Hamilton, age 18, who escaped in Charlottesville on February 15. Owner is M. G. Harman of Staunton.

Listing, by company, of persons absent without leave, now considered deserters, with an offer of $30 reward for their capture and return. All names listed, unless otherwise indicated, are privates. The following men lead their companies and are not deserters: Robert C. Davis, Co. A; A. J. Thompson, Co. B; Joseph Coyner, Co. C; A. Airhart, Co. D; Thomas H. Watkins, Co. E: James Bumgardner, Co. F; E. Bateman, Co. G; James Dold, Co. H; John M. Humphreys, Co. I; and Gillet, Co. K. The listing of the men and their hometown are as follows (In the cases indicated, the men are listed as substitutes): Argenbright, J. R., Jennings Gap; Ayler, John L., Deerfield; Baylor, John S., Churchville; Bosserman, William, Ryan's; Beard, J. D., Mint Spring; Cox, C. F., Hermitage; Fellows, Gideon, New Hope; Cross, J., Churchville; Gwinn, W. C., Deerfield; Harrouff, G. W., Churchville; Heller, Jonas, Staunton; Hunter, David S., Mt. Sidney; Hunter, John T., none given; Johns, Samuel S., Churchville; Lamb, James M., Christian's Creek; Loving, D. H., Christian's Creek; Mesincup, John H., Churchville; Millstead, Gideon, New Hope; Mooney, John D., none given; Mooney, Richard, none given; Parr, Ananias, Burke's Mill; Parish, Juliss, Burke's Mill; Taylor, St. Clair, Burke's Mill; Switzer, S. W., Mt. Sidney; Carter, Charles B., Waynesboro; Carter, Thomas H., Waynesboro; Chandler, John D., Waynesboro; Childress, William, Waynesboro; Clark, Thomas J., Waynesboro; Evans, William H., Waynesboro; Fretwell, James F., Waynesboro; Gardner, Franklin, Waynesboro; Kraft, John F., Waynesboro; Herndon, William H., Waynesboro; Whitmore, James G., Waynesboro; Williams, And. J., Waynesboro; Ross, A. R., Waynesboro; Alexander, John W., Sherando; Bridge, Alex., Sherando; Dedrick, H. H., Sherando; Gay, D. H., Sherando; Offighter, William, Sherando; Sillings, Eph. W., Sherando; Moses, Samuel, Sherando; Clark, William H., New Hope; Myers, Asberry, New Hope; Diddle, William, Deerfield; Carpenter, W., unknown; Jones, William, none given, substitute; Thompson, Robert, none given, substitute; Cale, Corp. D. T., Staunton; Brooks, R. T., Long Glade; Cline, S. F., Union Church; Curry, G. H. A., Union Church; Fawber, A. S., Union Church; Gains, Henry, Waynesboro; Humphreys, Jesse, Summerdean; Jones, William H., Deerfield; Kershner, James A., Deerfield; Miller, W. R., Waynesboro; Mooney, W., Waynesboro; Smeltz, F., Waynesboro; Riddle, Zeb, Mossy Creek; Rogers, G. N., Deerfield; Sprouse, John C., Deerfield; Vint, James M., Deerfield; Smith, T., Staunton; Slusser, Samuel H., Cross Keys; Betinella, Giovanni, none given, substitute; McNutt, Serg. W., Sangersville; Brown, John, Sangersville; Bosserman, Samuel, Sangersville; Flick, Benjamin, Sangersville; Flick, William M., Sangersville; Jones, R. S., Sangersville; Kerricoffe, N. R., Sangersville; Rea, Jesse, Sangersville; Michael, A., North Mountain; Michael, H., North Mountain; Shipp, James, North Mountain; Moore, H. W., Mossy Creek; Daggy, J., Mossy Creek; Reems, T. H., Mossy Creek; Reeves, R., Mossy Creek; Stumback, D. B., none given; Sullivan, J. O., none given; Pemple, William, none given; Shull, Jacob, none given; Shull, David, none given; Shull, William, none given; Michael, John, none given; Randall, B. J., none given; Armstrong, John, Collierstown; Clarke, Robert., Collierstown; Ford, William A., Collierstown; Hams, Alex., Collierstown; Long, William P., Collierstown; Camden, Layne, Buena Vista Furnace; Camden, John., Buena Vista Furnace; Cash, Joseph, Rapp's Mill; Fisher, James S., Rapp's Mill; Smith, J. A., Rapp's Mill; Dale, Samuel, Kerr's Creek; Hall, Joseph, Fancy Hill; Reed, William N., Fancy Hill; Shafer, Jesse H., Fancy Hill; Smith, J. W., Clarkson's Distillery; Harris, Alex., Thompson's Landing; Allen, Charles, Mt. Sidney; Craun, James H., Mt. Sidney; Crousehorn, D. B., Mt. Sidney; Chandler, J. H., Mt. Sidney; Cross, J. H., none given; Frazier, L. F., none given; Grant, J., none given; Huffman, J., none given; Shiflet, Frank, Parnassus; Barger, D. N., New Hope; Coly, J. W., New Hope; Clater, George, New Hope; Clater, William, New Hope; Casey, John, none given; Coyner, J. B., Waynesboro; Grooms, A. T., Long Meadows; Hume, J. G., Long Meadows; Miller, James D., Staunton; Mullen, James, Staunton; Marshall, James M., Staunton; Pullens, John, Staunton; Showalter, Leonard, Staunton; Shaner, James, Staunton; Taylor, H. C., Staunton; Tredmarsh, James, none given; White, Lieut. James A., Waynesboro; Airey, Isaac W., Long Glade; Byrd, James E., Craigsville; Cason, Jacob, Middlebrook; Condon, Patrick, Staunton; Campbell, Lawson P., Craigsville; Craun, T. H., Staunton; Donevant, Cornelius, unknown; Elinger, Henry, Middlebrook; Ingram, H., Craigsville; Ingram, Joseph, Goshen Bridge; Jackson, Jacob, Pond Gap; Kenney, David, unknown; Montgomery, James H., Summerdean; Livick, James W., Staunton; Sprouse, D., Staunton; Sprouse, Peter, Summerdean; Tyler, Daniel, Pond Gap; Troxell, Amos, New Port; Taylor, G. W., Greenville; Wiseman, Henry, Moffett's Creek; Webber, John, unknown; Barracks, Henry W., Mt. Clinton; Swink, James W., Staunton; Davis, John H., New Port; Grim, E. P., Churchville; Hasher, Jonathan, Middlebrook; Kesterson, L. B., Middlebrook; Miller, J. F., North Mountain; Mays, C. B., Summerdean; Strickler, J. H., Middlebrook; Strickler, William N., Staunton; Stanton, A. C., Staunton; Curry, Alex., Back Creek; Curry, P. S., Back Creek; Garrison, J. W., Green Valley; Gillespie, W. W., Green Valley; Harrouff, J. A., Back Creek; Hupman, J. A., Back Creek; Jones, Thomas, Back Creek; Kesterson, Jacob A., Back Creek; Miller, J. A., Back Creek; Rider, Jacob M., Back Creek; Sneed, Samuel, Healing Springs; Thomas, J. J., Healing Springs; Williams, Thomas, Healing Springs.

Letter, dated December 1862, from Col. M. G. Harman of the 52nd Regiment, Virginia Volunteers, requesting that families and friends send men in this regiment overcoats and blankets from home. He also appeals to citizens of Bath, Augusta, and Rockbridge counties to furnish 200 pairs of socks for men in the regiment and to offer information on any deserters.