Staunton Vindicator

The editor comments on Lincoln's address at the opening of the Sanitary Fair in Baltimore, in which the President called for a person-for-person retaliation of the massacre at Fort Pillow, if investigations reveal that a massacre is indeed what occurred there. In rebuttal, the editor contends that General Forrest killed the African-American and Union soldiers who resisted capture, an appropriate procedure in war. If the President truly wants retaliation, the editor warns, then let him be advised that the approach is two-sided and should not end until he has met his "retributive share," thereby ridding the African Americans of their worst enemy (Lincoln).

A meeting will be held at the Court House on May 3, 1864, for the purpose of organizing a local association to raise money for supplying limbs to maimed Confederate soldiers. The association will work in cooperation with similar ones formed elsewhere. Reverend J. A. Stirewalt, who organized similar groups in the lower Valley, will speak, as will the Honorable A. H. H. Stuart. Staunton and Augusta citizens have embraced worthy undertakings before and surely will set an example to other associations in their contributions to this cause. The editor especially invites women to attend the meeting.

The Augusta Reserves was organized last Saturday, with four companies formed with persons between the ages of 45 and 50 and an artillery company formed with persons ages 17 and 18. Officers elected include--for First Company: J. F. Hottle, Captain; John Seawright, 1st Lieutenant; David W. Coiner, 2nd Lieutenant; William McFall, 3rd Lieutenant. Second Company, Robert W. Stevenson, Captain; William Blackburn, 1st Lieutenant; J. W. Crawford, 2nd Lieutenant; William Morris, 3rd Lieutenant. Third Company, James C. Cochran, Captain; Thomas Coleman, 1st Lieutenant; Peter R. Bright, 2nd Lieutenant; Peter E. Houff, 3rd Lieutenant. Fourth Company, John Nunan, Captain; John Beard, 1st Lieutenant; J. C. Baum, 2nd Lieutenant; G. K. Lewis, 3rd Lieutenant. Artillery Company, J. C. Marquis, Captain; George A. Armentrout, 1st Lieutenant; Joseph S. Shumate, 2nd Lieutenant; Charles Stafford, 3rd Lieutenant.

The editor offers a detailed list of how land, slaves, and other articles will be assessed for taxation and the dates from which the items will be assessed.

Elizabeth T. Bear and John H. Fauber, of Augusta County, married April 7, 1864, with Reverend C. Beard officiating.

Sarah Hemp married David Bosserman near Middlebrook on April 17, 1864, with Reverend J. H. Crawford officiating. All are from Augusta County.

Sarah E. Whitlock and George W. Hanger, both of Augusta County, married April 21, 1864, at the Methodist Episcopal parsonage in Staunton, with Rev. Mr. Dice officiating.

Elizabeth Lotts, of Middlebrook, Augusta County, married Jacob Strickland on April 25, 1864, at the Methodist Episcopal parsonage in Staunton, with Rev. Mr. Dice officiating.

Jane Rankin, 53, wife of Reverend David Rankin, died suddenly in Augusta County on the night of April 15. She leaves behind numerous friends and family. She had an unnamed number of children.

On April 25, 1864, the Court of Augusta County appointed persons to superintend and serve as officers at the election to be held May 4, at which Clerks, Sheriff, Commonwealths Attorney, Justices of the Peace, Constables, Commissioners of the Revenue, Overseers of the Poor, a Surveyor, and any other officer required by law will be elected. At the Courthouse, William P. Tate, William B. Kayser, Thornton Berry, C. C. Francisco, David S. Young, and H. H. Peck, Officer. For the Second District, John B. Evans, John Tremble, William S. Slanker, A. J. Garber, William H. Donagho, and William L. Balthis, Officer. At Craigsville, Dr. D. Bashaw, Luke Woodward, William Armstrong, A. S. Young, John Stuple, and James M. King, Officer. At Middlebrook, Elijah Hogshead, McPheeters McCutcheon, William R. Dunlap, William Thompson, Samuel X. Kerr, and Thomas S. Coalter, Officer. At Greenville, John Newton, Lewis Bumgardner, John Merrett, John B. Shultz, Adam M. Hawpe, and John Towberman, Officer. At Stuart's Draft, Adam McChesney, Hugh G. Guthrie, Thomas Johnston, Joseph Long, Jacob VanLear, and William L. VanLear, Officer. At Fishersville, Franklin McCue, John Brown, George T. Antrim, William Caldwell, John Hamilton, and Philip Schmucker, Officer. At New Hope, James M. Stout, F. Fretwell, Nathaniel Kerr, Thornton G. Stout, George C. Robertson, and John C. Myers, Officer. At Mt. Meridian, Benjamin Byerly, J. J. Wanderlick, Dr. Walker, James A. Patterson, Abraham Mohler, and Benjamin Craig, Officer. At Mt. Sidney, A. H. Ross, John C. McCue, Isaac J. Parkins, Thomas Parke, Robert S. Harnsbarger, and Charles K. Hyde, Officer. At Spring Hill, Baily Dunlap, Theophilus Gamble, William H. Gamble, Jacob Shreckhise, Dr. Samuel R. Hendren, and William D. Poe, Officer. At Mt. Solon, John G. Fulton, Samuel Bell, J. H. Ervin, Daniel Forrer, Andrew B. Rodgers, and Robert P. Eubank, Officer. At Churchville, Harvey Bare, Ephraim Geeding, Dr. Joseph Wilson, Henry B. Seig, F. F. Sterrett, and A. B. Lightner, Officer. At Swoope's Depot, George A. Wilson, George Shuey, A. G. Wayland, Jacob Baylor, George F. Hoover, and George W. Swoope, Officer. At Midway, William T. Rush, A. M. Moore, James Henry, J. D. McGuffin, John H. Rush, and Dr. A. J. Hamilton, Officer. At New Port, Frank Hite, John C. Echard, Dr. John McChesney, James J. Martin, William S. Steele, and A. S. Turk, Officer. At Deerfield, Joseph Mann, Jacob Beck, Renix Hodge, Dr. William McCutcheon, James Crawford, and Thomas E. Montgomery, Officer. At Sherando, William C. Bridge, Daniel J. Shaw, G. B. Stuart, Samuel A. Hunter, Jonathan Balsley, and Philip Killian, Officer. At Parnassus, Thomas S. Hogshead, Edgar Crawford, Chesley Kinney, James Byers, Martin Whitmore, and James A. Hamrick, Officer. At Waynesboro, William W. King, R. Terrell, John B. Smith, John J. Bell, William Withrow, Jr., and William L. Mowry, Officer. The advertisement is signed by William A. Burnett, D. C.

The Augusta County court has empowered agents authorized to get and distribute supplies for families of soldiers to disregard price limits if necessary to obtain the needed supplies. In addition, the court added the families of substitutes to the list of those to be provided with supplies.

Reverend Nathaniel G. North, of Greenwood in Albemarle County, Virginia, announces the beginning of a new journal to be distributed free in Confederate camps, vessels, hospitals, orphanages, and similar institutions. The journal is to be of an "evangelical and literary character." Reverend North solicits submissions for inclusion in the journal.

John Nunan offers a reward for the return of Jane, an African-American girl, age about 17, who ran away from him on Tuesday night, April 26. She is slim, tall for her age, black skinned, and was wearing a red calico dress and white hood with black net. Nunan bought her from Samuel Bowman of Rockingham County and understood that she was raised in Hampshire County. Nunan offers $50 for her return from within the county and $100 for her return from outside the county.