Five Confederates
From Pleasant Hill
By
Omar C. Addington
You have heard it said that the American Civil War
turned the father against the son, and brother against
brother. No so, say, the five sons of James O. and
Elizabeth Godsey Wood of Pleasant Hill in Scott County
located three miles east of Estilville (now Gate City)
in Moccasin Valley.
For many years it seemed the
Union would be dissolved and only the compromises of
the past had postponed the secession of the South. Two
ways of life had evolved in the United States because
of geographical difference in the North and South. The
North had become a giant industrial power while the
South had become an agricultural region.
When news reached the Wood
family at Pleasant Hill that Virginia had seceded from
the Union and their way of life was threatened, a
family conference was held of those living at home and
nearby. Some were away from home. James H. was at the
Virginia Military Institute and Martin B. was in Lee
County.
In letters written home, their view and opinions were
given - stand by Virginia and our way of life.
The Wood family had a
difficult decision to make. They loved the United
States, but still they believed in the sovereignty of
each state. They believed the Constitution did not set
up a national government above and over the states,
but was a compact between independent states and that
each state had a right to govern itself and was not to
be interfered with by another state or group of
states. The Wood family had always been taught from
the beginning that when England was trying to subject
the colonies to harsh rule, a compact was formed by
the colonies as states for mutual aid and defense.
Thus schooled and so understanding of their rights,
the Wood family felt justified in their decision to go
with the South.
James and Elizabeth Wood knew
they would have to give part, if not all of their sons
for the Southern cause. This they did. Henry Clinton
and James Harvey volunteered in 1861. John G. and
Martin B. offered their services in 1862 and William
Morrison in 1864.
John
Godsey Wood
1829-1891
John G. as he was known, was the eldest son of James
O. and Elizabeth Godsey Wood. He was born June 1, 1829
at Pleasant Hill near Estilville (now Gate City),
Scott Co., VA. He was given the best education that
the local schools could offer. The Wood family had
always believed in acquiring the best
education possible.
When the war started, John G.
was a farmer at the old homestead. He was helping to
supply the local men who were leaving for the
Confederate Army at Estilville on December 12, 1862.
John G. left with them and was assigned for three
years to Company "A" 22nd Virginia Cavalry and sent to
Saltville,
Virginia to help defend the salt works. (1)
The Federals, realizing the
South's need for salt, made several raids against the
military forces guarding the salt works. The salt
works were destroyed December 18, 1864, when the
Federal forces under General Stoneman from Tennessee
laid waste to East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.
John G. was discharged from
the army May 11, 1863 because of functional heart
disease and poor vision. He returned to Pleasant Hill
and resumed farming and helping others who were to
fight for the cause of the South. After his brother,
Major Henry Clinton, returned from the war, he started
a mercantile
business and John G. worked for him about three years.
In 1870 he went to Goodson
(now Bristol) Virginia to manage the Magnolia Hotel.
He built a wooden walkway from the second floor of the
building to the railway across the street. In those
days, there were no railway dining cars. Trains would
remain in Bristol long enough for the passengers to
cross over the bridge
to the hotel for meals. The Magnolia Hotel was the
favorite place for holding dances and other social
functions. Tables in the big dining room would be
pushed back to make a dance hall. The group providing
music for the dance was a Negro trio, playing the
banjo, violin and guitar. (2)
Sometime in the late 1870's
John G went into business with his brother-in-law,
Charles Yarborough and started a general mercantile
business known as Yarborough and Wood. In addition to
the mercantile business, the census of 1880, Goodson
district of Washington County,VA, shows him as a
landlord and
owner of the Virginia Hotel. This hotel replaced the
Magnolia Hotel which burned.
John G. died in Bristol in
1897 and is buried in East Hill Cemetery.
Henry
Clinton Wood
1836-1909
Henry Clinton Wood or "Clint" as he was known was the
second son of the Wood family. He was born February
15, 1836 in Scott Co., VA, at Pleasant Hill, the old
homestead. He spent most of his life in his native
county. Henry received his early elementary education
in a one room schoolhouse known as the
Wood's Schoolhouse, located on a cliff above Big
Moccasin Creek. His next educational experience was at
Fall Branch Seminary at Fall Branch, Tennessee. After
graduation he returned to Estilville where he engaged
in the mercantile business.
Clinton enlisted in the
Confederate Army on May 20, 1861 and organized a
company in Scott County which became known as Company
"D". He was commissioned a Captain on July 1, 1861.
Company "D" became part of the 37th Regiment of the
Virginia Infantry and was assigned to the 3rd Brigade,
Stonewall
Jackson Division, whose purpose was to defend the
Shenandoah Valley against the enemy.
The 37th Regiment, Virginia
Infantry was made up of ten companies: Scott County
one, Lee County one, Russell County three, and
Washington County five. The Regiment was accepted into
service of the Confederate States on July 1, 1861.
Judge Samuel V. Fulkerson of
Washington County, Virginia left the bench to become
Colonel. Robert P. Carson, also of Washington County
became Lieutenant Colonel.
At the battle of Gaines Mill
June 27, 1862, Colonel Fulkerson fell mortally
wounded. This made necessary a readjustment of the
officers in the Regiment. Captain Henry C. Wood became
Major on June 28, 1862. According to his military
record, Major Wood participated in forty-two major
battles. Some of
great magnitude where Chancellorsville, Sharpsburg,
Cold Harbor, Cedar Creek and Gettysburg (3). After the
battle of Cedar Creek, Major Wood wrote the following
report to his commanding officer, Colonel A. G.
Tallaferro.
Report of Major H. C. Wood, Thirty-seventh Virginia
Infantry - No. 47
Camp near Gordonsville, Virginia, August 13, 1862
In making my report of the
part acted by the Thirty-seventh regiment in the
action on Cedar Creek on the 9th instant, it is
necessary for me to state that it was late in the
engagement when the command devolved on me,
consequently I was not informed as to the position we
were to take until after we had gone on the
field. Being marched into the woods in rear of our
batteries, we were ordered to lie down there to
support them. Lying there for some time, very much
exposed to the enemy's shells, which were continually
bursting over and around, we were then ordered to the
field. Coming into the field, taking position on the
left of the
Twenty-third Regiment (which regiment was on the
extreme right of the brigade), we were marched
forward, crossing a small hollow to the brow of a low
eminence, from which position the enemy in three
columns in battle order opened fire on us, which was
gallantly returned by my men which continued, the
action soon becoming general. In this position the
action continued for some time; the first line of the
enemy giving way, the second were thrown into the
utmost confusion, when the left of the regiment, being
unprotected and unsupported by the Forty-seventh and
Forth-eighth Alabama Regiments having given way, and
being thus exposed to a fire in front, rear, and on
the left flank, was compelled to give way, which was
taken up by each company from the left, not, however,
until after we received orders to fall back, which was
done in tolerable good order by most of the companies,
some, however, becoming a little confused. I soon
succeeded in rallying the men - not until a great many
of them were killed by being exposed to fire from the
front and left flank. As soon as they were rallied
they advanced gallantly to the contest, driving the
enemy from before them in every direction.
It is proper to state here
that this regiment would have been able to maintain
its position had the Forty-seventh and Forty-eighth
Alabama Regiments been able to have maintained
theirs.
I must express my thanks to
the officers and men of this regiment for the gallant
manner in which they conducted themselves so gallantly
it is impossible to mention particular individuals,
although there were those whose gallant conduct
renders them worthy of the proudest position.
H. C. Wood, Major, Commanding
Thirty-seventh Virginia Regiment.
Col. A. G. Taliferro,
Commanding Third Brigade.
At Gettysburg, Major Wood captured a United States
Flag from a Federal officer. He kept this flag along
with a silk flag that had been given to him when he
left for service in 1861. This flag was presented to
him by the ladies who had sons, brothers, and husbands
in Company "D".
Major Wood was twice wounded,
first at Sharpsburg on September 17, 1862, and at
Winchester sometime in 1864. His obituary states that
he was wounded at the battle of Chancellorsville, but
I find no mention of this in his military records.
However, the military records show that his brother,
Captain James H. Wood was wounded in the battle. (4)
The last account of Major
Wood in the army was from Camp Ewell, near Burgess
Mill dated February 27, 1865 on the muster roll he is
shown absent by Surgeon's Certificate. The reason was
that he was sent to Willow Springs, Russell County,
Virginia to recuperate from wounds and a broken arm.
Perhaps he was
here when the war ended April 9, 1865. (5)
After the war ended he
returned home to Pleasant Hill. For a time he worked
on the farm. He later engaged in a successful
mercantile business at Estilville.
Major Wood and his brother,
Judge Martin B. Wood often engaged in land deals with
General Imboden in Wise county around Big Stone Gap.
Clinton Avenue in Big Stone Gap was named for Major
Wood and Wood Avenue was named to honor the Wood
brothers. (6)
In 1870 Scott County was laid
off into seven magisterial districts and Major Wood
was a member of the Commissioners who made the
division. He had the honor of naming six of them.
Powell was named for Ambrose Powell; Taylor District
was named in honor of the Taylor family; Estilville
District was named
for the county seat; Fulkerson District was named in
honor of James and Abraham Fulkerson; Johnson District
was named in honor of the Johnson Family; Floyd
District was named in honor of Governor Floyd. Another
member of the Commissioners named the district in
which he lived for a life-long friend who had the
nickname "Dekalb", Dekalb District.
Major Wood became a leader in
the Readjuster Party in Southwest Virginia, and was
elected to two terms in the Virginia State Senate
first in December 1875 representing Scott and Russell
Counties. He was reelected in December 1879 to
represent Lee, Scott, and Wise Counties and became
Speaker of that body in
1881 and again in 1882. He was serving in the State
Senate when Dickenson County was formed. The county
seat took his two names, "Clint Wood." (8)
In 1885 in the memorable
Gubernatorial Campaign when Fitzhugh Lee won over John
S. Wise, he was the Republican candidate for
lieutenant governor. In 1892, he was defeated as the
Republican candidate for lieutenant governor. In 1892,
he was defeated as the Republican candidate for
Congress from the Ninth
District.
In 1891 Major Wood moved from
his native Scott County to Bristol and became a leader
in the business and industrial life of that city. He
was Vice-President of the Bank of Bristol. He was the
first President of the South Atlantic and Ohio
Railroad, which began construction in 1877. The
construction of the railroad was completed from
Bristol to Big Stone Gap in 1890.
Major Wood was
secretary-treasurer and general manager of the Diamond
Ice Company at the time of his death on December 8,
1909. He is buried in East Hill Cemetery, Bristol,
Virginia. (9)
Captain
James H. Wood
1842-1917
James Harvey Wood was the third son of the Wood
family. He was born February 22, 1842 at Pleasant
Hill, the old homestead, in Scott county, Virginia. He
attended the local schools of his community and
entered the Virginia Military Institute at Lexington,
Virginia, July 20, 1860.
When the war began in April,
1861, he was in the second semester of his fourth
class at the Institute. He went to Richmond with his
fellow cadets when they were summoned by the Governor,
to train the volunteers being recruited there for
Confederate service. He was with the Virginia Military
Institute in
Richmond four months before he entered active
Confederate Military service as drill sergeant. He
wrote President Davis requesting a commission. The
following is a copy of the letter: (10)
Greenbrier
River, Virginia
August
31, 1861
To His Excellency
President Davis
Honored Sir,
Having been a cadet at the Virginia Military Institute
two years prior to this time, I feel desirous to enter
the Confederate Army permanently. I therefore,
respectfully solicit the position of second Lieutenant
in the Army of the Confederate States.
Very
respectfully your
Obedient
Servant,
Cadet
James H. Wood
Cadet Wood was recommended by his superior officers as
follows:
Greenbrier
River, Virginia
5
September, 1861
I cheerfully recommend Cadet Wood as being in every
respect qualified for and worthy of the position which
he seeks and am fully satisfied that the service would
be benefited by his appointment, and I therefore, most
respectfully request that he be appointed.
Samuel
V. Fulkerson
Col.
Comd. 37th Regt. VA Vols.
It would give me great pleasure to see Cadet Wood in
the Confederate service in the capacity he desires
believing him well qualified for the position.
R.
P. Carson
Leit.
Col. 37th Regt. VA Vols.
In the meantime Cadet Wood had been drilling the
volunteers and making them into first class soldiers.
After four months he was given a furlough. He returned
to his home at Estilville. His commanding officers
again wrote letters of recommendation and sent them to
his home. These letters read:
Camp
Barton Greenbrier
River,
Virginia
26
October, 1861
Cadet James H. Wood of the county of Scott, Virginia,
has been doing duty with my Regiment for sometime in
the capacity of drill sergeant. He is a cadet of the
Virginia Military Institute, and understands the duty
of drilling very well. He is a young man of
unexceptionable moral character and would dutifully
fill with credit to himself any position which may be
assigned him.
Samuel
V. Fulkerson
Col.
37th Regt. VA Vols.
I concur in the above statement.
R.
P. Carson
Lieut.
Col. 37th Reg. VA Vols.
He again wrote President Davis requesting a commission
as captain of artillery.
Estilville
Scott County, Virginia
November
25, 1861
To His Excellency,
Jefferson Davis,
I have an artillery company partly made up, composed
in part of Kentucky refugees, who being forced to
leave their homes almost wholly unprepared as to
clothes or money are of necessity compelled to go into
camp immediately and feeling confident that I can get
a company in a very short time. I desire that you
should commission me as captain of artillery in the
Confederate States Army.
I desire a commission in
order that I may go into camp for the purpose of
drilling my company and the power of mustering them
into service.
In regard to my
qualifications I enclose a copy of recommendations
signed by the field officers of the 37th Regiment
Virginia Volunteers in which regiment I have been for
four months in the capacity of drill master.
I
have the honor to be your
Obedient
Servant,
James
H. Wood
Cadet Wood received his commission as first Lieutenant
April 22, 1862 and was assigned to the 37th Regiment
Virginia Infantry, in which regiment his brother,
Henry C. Wood, was captain. He was promoted to
Adjutant and was assigned to Colonel Fulkerson's staff
in charge of the official correspondence and
distribution of orders of the command. He served in
this capacity until June 27, 1862, when Colonel
Fulkerson was mortally wounded at the battle of Gaines
Mill. A readjustment of the officers of the Regiment
was made and Lieutenant Wood was promoted to Captain
on June 28, 1862. (11)
Captain Wood participated in
twenty-six major battles and many skirmishes and was
twice wounded, first at Cedar Run, August 9, 1862, and
second at Chancellorsville May 2, 1863. He was
captured at Spottsylvania Court House in the battle of
the Bloody Angle on May 12, 1864. It was given this
name because of the triangular position of the
Confederate Army. He gives the following narrative of
the capture:
After being captured, we were
moved toward the Potomac by way of Fredericksburg.
When we reached the Potomac on the following morning,
we were placed aboard a transport and moved down the
Potomac to Point Lookout, Maryland. Here we remained
until the first of June, when we were taken in a
cattle transport to Fort Delaware, where I was
confined until my release June 13, 1865. (12)
While a prisoner of war,
Captain Wood began the study of law, and after his
release completed the course. He was admitted to the
Bar in 1867. Captain Wood moved to Bristol, Virginia
about 1870 and opened a law office. An advertisement
in the Bristol Courier of October 25, 1873 states:
James H. Wood, Attorney for Scott and Washington
Counties in Virginia and Sullivan County in Tennessee.
James H. Wood represented all
types of clients in his career as a lawyer including a
land company that had land to sell in Lee, Scott and
Wise counties. One case that merits mentioning is the
trial of General James A. Walker.
General Walker, who led
Stonewall Jackson's Cavalry at Chancellorsville after
Jackson's death, was elected to Congress in 1894 and
1896, but was defeated in 1898. The election was
contested by General Walker. During the taking of
evidence in Bristol, on March 11, 1899, a gun battle
occurred. General Walker shot the counsel of his
opponent and was then himself shot by the law clerk of
the counsel of his opponent.
The following July, General
Walker was placed on trial. He was defended by Captain
James H. Wood. The jury acquitted General Walker after
a trial that lasted several days.
The obituary of Captain Wood
states that he served in the House of Delegates of
Virginia, but an index of the members of the General
Assembly from 1776 to 1920 does not show a James H.
Wood. Perhaps this was confused with his brother Major
Henry C. Wood who served in the State Senate.
He moved from Bristol to
Washington, DC in 1901 and formed the J. H. Wood
Corporation where he became counsel for two railroads
and a number of corporations. He later became
president and principal director of the Blankenship
Law and Commercial Company. Captain Wood moved to New
York City about 1909 where he was associated with the
New York Urban Real Estate Company. His son, James H.
Wood, Jr., was president of the company (13).
While living in New York, he
wrote an account of his experience in the war which he
called "The War." Captain Wood died at the home of his
daughter in New York City on November 12, 1917, at the
age of seventy-five. His body was returned to Bristol
for funeral and burial services. James H. Wood is
buried in East Hill Cemetery.
Judge
Martin B. Wood
1845-1908
Martin B. was the fourth son of James O. and Elizabeth
Godsey Wood. He was born February 21, 1845, at
pleasant Hill, the old homestead, located near
Estilville, Virginia in Scott County. Martin attended
the "Old Field" schools which were schools located in
the fields that were so depleted they were unfit for
agriculture.
His father required his sons
to work on the he farm along with the slaves. Martin
B. would often slip away and hide to read. He had a
great desire to learn and by the age of eight was
reading all the books of his father and those he
could borrow in the community. After he completed the
work of the local schools, he entered Fall Branch
Seminary at Fall Branch, Tennessee in 1858 for two
years. Then he went to Jonesville, Virginia for one
year. After he had completed his school work in
Jonesville, Martin became clerk in a store at
Stickleyville in Lee County with a salary of one
hundred dollars a year. (14)
In March ,1862, he joined the
Confederate Army and was assigned to the Stonewall
Jackson Brigade in the valley of Virginia. Martin was
wounded at the battle of Sharpsburg on September 17,
1862, and for a long time, could not walk. He was
discharged from military service and returned home to
Pleasant Hill where he remained until he entered the
Virginia Military Institute, September 8, 1863. Here
he remained until it was burned by the Federal General
Hunter.
When the battle of New Market
was fought, Martin B was a cadet private in Company
"D." However he was left with the guard detail at the
Institute, because the old wound in his leg prevented
him form marching.
His father was elected clerk
of the county court of Scott county in August, 1865,
and Martin was made his deputy. In 1869, his father
was relieved of the office by the military
authorities. While serving as deputy clerk. Martin had
studied law and was licensed to practice. In May 1870,
he was appointed clerk of the county court and in
November of that year was elected for a term of six
years.
Following his six year term
as county court clerk, Mr. Wood declined to be a
candidate for reelection. He was elected Judge of the
county court and began his term February 10, 1880 and
served until January 12, 1886. (15)
Judge Wood became president
of a stock company which was formed in 1883, that
purchased newspaper equipment. He began the
publication of a newspaper called the Progressive Age.
This newspaper was published for about four years,
when publication was suspended.
Judge Wood and his brother,
Major Henry C. Wood dealt in real estate in various
parts of Scott County. They specialized in property
around Moccasin Gap, Speers Ferry and along railroad
right of ways. (16)
In 1888, he sold his property
in Scott County and Estilville and moved to Bristol.
He founded the first wholesale grocery company in this
area.
Judge Wood dies at his home
in Bristol November 17, 1908. He was interred in the
family plot in East Hill Cemetery. He was later
exhumed and reinterred in the Caldwell-Wood Cemetery
which is adjacent to the Glenwood Cemetery in Bristol.
Judge wood has a monument to
his grave approximately eight feet high and two feet
wide, on each of the four sides, with a genealogy of
his family on three sides, beginning with the John
Wood who came from England in 1855. On the west side
are the following inscriptions:
Lead Kindly Light
So Long Thy Power Hath Blest Me
Sureit Still
Will Lead Me On
E'er Moor and Fen, O'er Crag
And Torrent Till
The Night is Gone
And With the Morn Those
Angel Faces Smile
Which I Have Loved Long Since
And Lost Awhile
And I Heard a Great Voice Out of Heaven Saying Behold
the Tabernacle of God is With Men and He Will
Dwell With Them and They Shall Be His People and God
Himself Shall Be With Them and Be Their God.
And God shall Wipe Away All Tears From Their Eyes and
There Shall Be No More Death Neither Sorrow
Nor Crying, Neither Shall There Be Any More Pain; For
the Former Things Have Passed Away.
William
Morison Wood
1845-1943
William Morison Wood was the youngest son of James O.
and Elizabeth Godsey Wood. He was born December 21,
1846, at Pleasant Hill near Gate City. He received his
early education in the old one room school, which was
very common in that day.
He matriculated at the
Virginia Military Institute on March 3, 1864, from
Glade Springs, Virginia. This writer has not been able
to determine why, but one guess would be he was
working at the salt works in Saltville, which is
nearby.
Mr. Wood had been a cadet a
little over two months, when at midnight May 10, 1864,
through the barracks sounded a long roll on the drum.
For a messenger on painting horse had dashed into
Lexington. A poem tell us:
One night
when the boys were all abed, we heard
the
long roll beat
And quickly the walls
of the building shook with the
tread
of hurrying feet;
And
when the battalion stood in line
we
heard the welcome warning;
General
Breckenridge needs the help of the corps;
be
ready in the morning.
There was little sleep in the
barracks that night; breakfast was eaten by
candlelight. At seven the Corps was off in a pouring
rain. That night they camped without tents. For days
it rained, but the cadets marched on until New Market
was reached.
William M. Wood was eighteen
years old at this critical period of the Civil War
when he marched with the Corp from Lexington to New
Market to stop the advance of the Federal troops, May
15, 1864. He served as cadet private in Company "A".
Their victory on this
occasion has made the event a memorable one in
Virginia war history.
Cadet Wood was a member of
the corps for one year, but was awarded a diploma
January 1, 1895. "Honoris Causa," by the board of
visitors, because of honor. Mr. Wood was honored by
his Alma MaterMay 15, 1939, because he was the sole
survivor of the cadets who had fought at New Market.
He was a guest of the cadet corps for the
seventy-fifth anniversary of the battle of New Market
and the ceremonies of the centennial of the VMI. He
was then in his ninety-fourth year.
William M. Wood was
introduced to the audience by Col. William Cooper. 'It
is my honor, on behalf of the authorities of the
institute, to introduce to you, the last survivor of
the charge of the VMI Cadets, William Morison Wood."
William Wood then spoke as follows:
"My dear fellow cadets,
ladies and gentlemen, it is indeed an honor to have
the privilege and opportunity of being present here
with you on this annual celebration, in honor of the
Cadets who, seventy-five years ago followed the flag
of the Old Dominion on the New Market battlefield,
amid the rain of musketry and the incessant volleys of
canister, grape, and exploding shells. Our gallant
commander, Colonel Shipp, was wounded and taken from
the field.
The intrepid Henry a. Wise,
Captain of "A" Company, assumed command and
brilliantly led the battalion of youths, in triumph to
achieve immortal fame and to make history for this
institution that will live throughout the annals of
its existence.
These youth, by their
indomitable courage and deeds of daring, have elicited
the admiration and praise of all who are
familiar with the history of this famous battle. But
the passing of three quarters of a century has wrought
marvelous changes.
Young gentlemen, I
congratulate you on your good fortune of being Cadets
of this famous institution.
In the spring of '64, General
Sigel, with a well-equipped veteran army, invaded the
fertile Shenandoah Valley, from whence and by way of
which General Lee's army was receiving large supplies
of food and munitions of war. The valley, at all
hazards, must be defended and the invader driven from
its soil.
General Lee's army was being
hard pressed by superior numbers; to detach any
considerable number of soldiers for service elsewhere
would be extremely hazardous. Therefore, every
available command from other sections was being
mobilized to meet the oncoming invader and drive him
if possible, from our soil. In this crucial dilemma,
the Corps of Cadets was ordered down the valley to aid
in this undertaking.
Much has been said and
written concerning this famous New Market Battle, some
contradictory statements have been made, but Colonel
Cooper, who for many years had devoted much time and
labor in research for facts, has just given you a most
interesting account of the results of his long
tedioius investigations, to which I can add nothing of
interest.
I will say, however, that I
was a member of "A" Company and on behalf of the Wood
family of Southwest Virginia, who for many years have
and are still wearing the gray uniform of VMI, may I
be permitted to mention three brothers who fought
under Stonewall Jackson, two who attended the VMI and
a grandson who is now present, a member of "F"
Company.
Thank you for your kind
attention, I hope to be back again next year. (17)
Following the war, Mr. Wood went into the mercantile
business and for many years owned and operated the
Wood Grocery Company in Bristol, Virginia-Tennessee.
Mr. Wood died March 2, 1943
at Old Hickory, Tennessee at the ripe old age of
ninety-seven. When news of his death was received at
the VMI General Order No. 22 was published. The order
read: (18)
"I, the superintendent, have
received, with deep sorrow which will be shared by all
VMI men, announcement of the death during the night of
March second of William Morrison Wood, the last
survivor of the battalion of cadets participating in
the Battle of New Market. In token of respect to his
memory and of sympathy for the members of his family,
the flag of the institute will be flown at half staff
until retreat, Thursday, the fourth instant."
By command of Lieutenant
General Kilbourn, his body was returned to Bristol for
funeral and burial in the East Hill Cemetery.
Fortunate indeed were James
and Elizabeth that their five sons survived the
terrible conflict and returned to them at the old
homestead at Pleasant Hill, for one third of the men
who had enlisted in the Confederate Army never came
back.
The men that returned from
the war had no money, no credit, no accumulation of
goods. Nevertheless, honor, dignity, and self respect,
they still had. As bad as things were, they did not
give up or quit. Through hard work, determination and
faith they began to reconstruct their lives without
government aid of any kind. It was not until 1888 that
the first pension law was passed in Virginia for
disabled veterans, and not until 1900 were other
veterans permitted to apply for a pension. There is no
record of any of the Wood brothers ever receiving a
pension.
We can say of the five
Confederates from Pleasant Hill, as children they
played together, as young men they worked together, as
soldiers they fought together. In Mother Earth they
are interred together. May God rest their souls
together, forever.
Footnotes:
(1) General Services Administration, National Archives
and Record Service
(2) Loving, Robert S., Double Destiny, page 161
(3) National Archives and Record Service, OP CIT
(4) Loving, Robert S, OP CIT, pp 164-165
(5) National Archives and Record Service, OP CIT
(6) Addington, Luther F., History of Wise County, p.
179
(7) Addington, R. M., History of Scott County, p. 13
(8) Commonwealth of Virginia, Division of Legislative
Services
(9) Bristol Herald Courier, December 9, 1909
(10) Wood, James H., The War
(11) Loving, Robert S., OP CIT
(12) National Archives and Record Service, OP CIT
(13) Letters written to General Anderson, 1903
(14) Wood, Martin B., History of the Wood Family
(15) Addington, R. W., OP CIT, p. 195
(16) Deed Book 27, page 279
(17) Information from the Virginia Military Institute
(18) War of the Rebellion, Official Records of the
Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume XII,
Part II
Historical Sketches of
Southwest Virginia, published by The Wise County
Historical Society, publication 13 - 1979, pages 1 to
13
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