There is a sketch for Jacob on page 155 of Tears on the Bluestone by Arnold Hurd III - in this his parents are named, from the 1860 Mercer county census, as George and Elizabeth "Bettie" Caldwell McPherson...and there is also a short bio by a Mark King and a likeness of Jacob.
Submitted by Richard N McPherson
FAMILY STORIES The 8th Virginia Cavalry had its beginning in Guayandotte, Cabell County, Virginia (Now West Virginia) in late 1860. An excellent book on this organization has been written by Jack L. Dickinson entitled 8th Virginia Cavalry", part of The Virginia Regimental Histories Series sponsored by the Virginia Historical Society.
Much of this section is drawn from this book, but you should read the book for detailed information on the regiments activities during the civil war. There are two McPhersons, Jacob and James, listed in the muster rolls of the 8th Virginia Cavalry. Both were enlisted men, privates in Company H. Company H was originally known as the Tazewell Troop, or McDonald's Company and was composed of men from both Mercer and Tazewell Counties. It was formed by John C. McDonald on July 25, 1861, for a period of twelve months. A reorganization took place on May 14, 1862 and reenlisted for the duration in March 1864.
Jacob McPherson enlisted on February 26, 1862 in Mercer County, West Virginia at the age of 19 by Capt. Bowen. He is listed on the muster rolls for November 1, 1863 to October 31, 1864 (dated October 31, 1864). (Another listing shows him enlisting July 25, 1861 for 1 year. with a reorganization May 14, 1862. Also re-enlisted for war March, 1864.) That first enlistment date lists him as a farmer and a resident from Mercer County.
James McPherson, his brother, enlisted in the same company on April 1, 1862 at Central Depot in Montgomery County. He is listed as a resident of Craig County, Virginia where the family home place was located. One might conclude from these dates that Jacob encouraged his brother to join his company since there were other companies that drew men from Craig County and Company H was composed of men from Tazewell and Mercer Counties. Unfortunately James was captured in Raleigh County, West Virginia (It was now officially a state) on July 7, 1863. He became a prisoner of war at Camp Chase (near Columbus), Ohio on August 1, 1863, then transferred to Ft. Delaware, Delaware on March 17, 1864. He took the oath and was released on June 10, 1865. The first action the 8th Virginia Cavalry entered was in late June, 1861.
Though their first actions were to capture several Union sympathizers, they did engage Union troops in early July. Dickinson's book covers this period in detail and I refer you to his text. Our interest begins in January of 1862 when a portion of the 8th (The Border Rangers) was ordered to Princeton, in Mercer County. There job was to secure the road from Princeton to Raleigh Court House (Beckley, West Virginia).
In late January they ambushed a Union patrol and killed eight solders. On February 8 they were attacked by Union forces on Jumping Branch near the mouth of the Bluestone River in Summers County. A short battle ensued and the Border Rangers fell back to the Raleigh Court House. The Union troops decided not to attack and retired. Dickinson quotes James D. Sedinger (a second Lieutenant from Monroe County) diary: "...we was thankful to them as the most had fallen in love with some of the girls in the neighborhood and we did not want the Yanks to keep us hemmed up on the wrong side of Blue Stone (River).
At the time that Jacob McPherson joined the 8th Virginia Cavalry it had 500 men and the Border Rangers (Company E) were still doing picket duty on the road to Raleigh Court House. Though the remainder of the 8th Virginia Cavalry is not accounted for at this time, I contend that most of the 8th was deployed between Raleigh Court House and Princeton. On March 10, 1862 the Border Rangers were ordered to report to Princeton. Princeton was now occupied by Union troops, having been evacuated. The 8th went around Princeton and marched to Seddon (Bland, Virginia) to join other confederate troops.
Sometime in March or April confederate troops including the 8th recaptured Princeton. Union troops camped at Flat Top in the last days of April and sent a contingent towards Princeton on the Wythe, Raleigh and Grayson Turnpike and occupied the house of Henry Clark about eight miles from Princeton. A confederate scout reported this move to the troops at Princeton. Since James joined the 8th on April 1 in Montgomery County, it might be surmised that the taking of Princeton fell in April and that he was now part of that contingent waiting there.
On May 1 several companies of the 8th (Not Company H) moved out to the Clark house to surprise the Union forces. They were successful in surprising the enemy troops and engaged them for 13 hours, but Union reinforcements caused them to retreat to Princeton. Upon reaching Princeton, Col. Jenifer ordered evacuation of men and supplies and burned Princeton, leaving only two or three houses standing (one of which still stands today). I believe that both Jacob and James McPherson were involved in the burning of Princeton and the subsequent retreat to Walkers Mountain.
Further skirmishes in 1862 included a campaign northwest from Monroe county in the fall to include Buchannon, Weston, and Ripley. On September 4th this group was the first to plant the confederate flag on Ohio soil. Apparently the campaign was circling Union forces in the Kanawha Valley since they then proceeded to Wyoming Court House (Pineville, WV) and attempted to attack Federal forces at Raleigh Court House. All in all this period seemed to be a time of very fluid battle lines in West Virginia (At that time western Virginia). In late September the Federal forces were forced from Charleston. In October a general retreat from the Kanawha Valley was ordered and the confederates moved to White Sulpher Springs with the 8th Cavalry fighting a rear guard action. At this time the cavalry was stripped of its horses which were sent to North Carolina for better foraging ground for the winter. This evidently did not sit well with the people of North Carolina as Dickinson relates letters to the then Governor.
The 8th took winter quarters in the area of New River Bridge in Montgomery County. This winter was said to be a particularly cold one. On March 22, 1863 a new campaign was started from these winter quarters to the Ohio Valley. We do not know if Company H went along on this expedition. We do know that 400 men left the winter camp, but that by April the ranks had swollen to 1140 soldiers plus 140 officers. It might be reasonable to suspect that Company H was now with them. They got as far as Point Pleasant before significant resistance was met. They must not have gone by way of Charleston since Union troops were sent from there to roust the confederate camp in Cabell County.
The confederate forces moved south and picked up their horses again.In May the 8th was ordered to the Shenandoah Valley. Part of the regiment they now belonged to would continue on to Gettysburg to fight in that historic battle but the 8th was left in the Shenandoah to act as a screen. From this time on the 8th Cavalry fought in several locations within Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Tennessee.
At one point (October 9, 1864) the 8th Virginia Cavalry engaged the Federal cavalry under General George A. Custer in the Valley. Later (March, 1865) the 8th Cavalry was ordered to Richmond to defend the capital and rail lines leading to the city. It was during March (17) that Jacob McPherson was captured and took the oath of loyalty to the Union. The remainder of the war for the confederate forces now consisted of a retreat from Richmond to Appomattox for the final surrender on April 9, 1865.
It should be pointed out that of the 185 men enlisted in Company H, 4 were killed in action, 22 became prisoners of war, 10 were wounded, 6 died, 7 were captured and 15 were sick or injured. Since these numbers were gleaned from rosters they are probably low. Also of that 185, 32 came from Mercer County and 48 from Tazewell Co with the balance from a great number of southwest Virginia and West Virginia counties. Jacob McPherson's Prisoner of War record dated March 17, 1865 under the heading "Rebel Deserters" lists him as 5'5" tall, age 22 with a dark complection, dark eyes and black hair. He was listed as a farmer and signed the form with his mark (+).
It appears that after the war Jacob went in search of employment and found it in the Stave Mills of southern WV. These mills produced staves for barrels and the job he had was to stack the staves for curing as it was said to take a special skill to do. He and Kitty followed the stave mills as they moved to new areas of timber. Kitty is said to have run a boarding house for other mill workers. They came to settle in Mercer Co. WV doing this kind of work. Jacob McPherson was never listed as owning land in Mercer Co.
It is told that Jacob was placed in a mental institution possibly Weston, WV, in later life. The reason cited that the civil war memories became too much for him. The family had been notified to come and get Jacob, but before they arrived he had died.
Jacob Phillip McPherson was buried in Clover Bottom Cemetery above mcpherson/ShawneeLake in Mercer County, West Virginia. This area is north of Kegley and just south of the former Shawnee Lake Park. The cemetery property was purchased by the Snidow family and the cemetery was lost for many years. The cemetery was started in August, 1783 with the burial of two children, Tabitha Clay and Bartley Clay, killed in an Shawnee Indian raid. Recent efforts have relocated the cemetery and there is a drive to place a memorial marker at the location. The land has been donated to a non-profit historical group.
It was said that Kitty smoked a clay pipe. Towards the end of Kitty's life, she lived in a house near what now is a farm pond on the former Gay McPherson farm. This house was situated east of a small hill where Kitty often went to read. Upon her death her request was to be buried on that hill. This was often the custom of hill-top burial and the family complied. This began the McPherson Family Cemetery which is well maintained at this time. (A listing of those buried there can be found in the book A Mercer County History Sesquicentennial Year 1987 by the Mercer County Historical Society) Many of Kitty's decendants are also buried.
Contributor: Richard Norriss McPherson (46601001) • [email protected]
Submitted by Richard N McPherson
FAMILY STORIES The 8th Virginia Cavalry had its beginning in Guayandotte, Cabell County, Virginia (Now West Virginia) in late 1860. An excellent book on this organization has been written by Jack L. Dickinson entitled 8th Virginia Cavalry", part of The Virginia Regimental Histories Series sponsored by the Virginia Historical Society.
Much of this section is drawn from this book, but you should read the book for detailed information on the regiments activities during the civil war. There are two McPhersons, Jacob and James, listed in the muster rolls of the 8th Virginia Cavalry. Both were enlisted men, privates in Company H. Company H was originally known as the Tazewell Troop, or McDonald's Company and was composed of men from both Mercer and Tazewell Counties. It was formed by John C. McDonald on July 25, 1861, for a period of twelve months. A reorganization took place on May 14, 1862 and reenlisted for the duration in March 1864.
Jacob McPherson enlisted on February 26, 1862 in Mercer County, West Virginia at the age of 19 by Capt. Bowen. He is listed on the muster rolls for November 1, 1863 to October 31, 1864 (dated October 31, 1864). (Another listing shows him enlisting July 25, 1861 for 1 year. with a reorganization May 14, 1862. Also re-enlisted for war March, 1864.) That first enlistment date lists him as a farmer and a resident from Mercer County.
James McPherson, his brother, enlisted in the same company on April 1, 1862 at Central Depot in Montgomery County. He is listed as a resident of Craig County, Virginia where the family home place was located. One might conclude from these dates that Jacob encouraged his brother to join his company since there were other companies that drew men from Craig County and Company H was composed of men from Tazewell and Mercer Counties. Unfortunately James was captured in Raleigh County, West Virginia (It was now officially a state) on July 7, 1863. He became a prisoner of war at Camp Chase (near Columbus), Ohio on August 1, 1863, then transferred to Ft. Delaware, Delaware on March 17, 1864. He took the oath and was released on June 10, 1865. The first action the 8th Virginia Cavalry entered was in late June, 1861.
Though their first actions were to capture several Union sympathizers, they did engage Union troops in early July. Dickinson's book covers this period in detail and I refer you to his text. Our interest begins in January of 1862 when a portion of the 8th (The Border Rangers) was ordered to Princeton, in Mercer County. There job was to secure the road from Princeton to Raleigh Court House (Beckley, West Virginia).
In late January they ambushed a Union patrol and killed eight solders. On February 8 they were attacked by Union forces on Jumping Branch near the mouth of the Bluestone River in Summers County. A short battle ensued and the Border Rangers fell back to the Raleigh Court House. The Union troops decided not to attack and retired. Dickinson quotes James D. Sedinger (a second Lieutenant from Monroe County) diary: "...we was thankful to them as the most had fallen in love with some of the girls in the neighborhood and we did not want the Yanks to keep us hemmed up on the wrong side of Blue Stone (River).
At the time that Jacob McPherson joined the 8th Virginia Cavalry it had 500 men and the Border Rangers (Company E) were still doing picket duty on the road to Raleigh Court House. Though the remainder of the 8th Virginia Cavalry is not accounted for at this time, I contend that most of the 8th was deployed between Raleigh Court House and Princeton. On March 10, 1862 the Border Rangers were ordered to report to Princeton. Princeton was now occupied by Union troops, having been evacuated. The 8th went around Princeton and marched to Seddon (Bland, Virginia) to join other confederate troops.
Sometime in March or April confederate troops including the 8th recaptured Princeton. Union troops camped at Flat Top in the last days of April and sent a contingent towards Princeton on the Wythe, Raleigh and Grayson Turnpike and occupied the house of Henry Clark about eight miles from Princeton. A confederate scout reported this move to the troops at Princeton. Since James joined the 8th on April 1 in Montgomery County, it might be surmised that the taking of Princeton fell in April and that he was now part of that contingent waiting there.
On May 1 several companies of the 8th (Not Company H) moved out to the Clark house to surprise the Union forces. They were successful in surprising the enemy troops and engaged them for 13 hours, but Union reinforcements caused them to retreat to Princeton. Upon reaching Princeton, Col. Jenifer ordered evacuation of men and supplies and burned Princeton, leaving only two or three houses standing (one of which still stands today). I believe that both Jacob and James McPherson were involved in the burning of Princeton and the subsequent retreat to Walkers Mountain.
Further skirmishes in 1862 included a campaign northwest from Monroe county in the fall to include Buchannon, Weston, and Ripley. On September 4th this group was the first to plant the confederate flag on Ohio soil. Apparently the campaign was circling Union forces in the Kanawha Valley since they then proceeded to Wyoming Court House (Pineville, WV) and attempted to attack Federal forces at Raleigh Court House. All in all this period seemed to be a time of very fluid battle lines in West Virginia (At that time western Virginia). In late September the Federal forces were forced from Charleston. In October a general retreat from the Kanawha Valley was ordered and the confederates moved to White Sulpher Springs with the 8th Cavalry fighting a rear guard action. At this time the cavalry was stripped of its horses which were sent to North Carolina for better foraging ground for the winter. This evidently did not sit well with the people of North Carolina as Dickinson relates letters to the then Governor.
The 8th took winter quarters in the area of New River Bridge in Montgomery County. This winter was said to be a particularly cold one. On March 22, 1863 a new campaign was started from these winter quarters to the Ohio Valley. We do not know if Company H went along on this expedition. We do know that 400 men left the winter camp, but that by April the ranks had swollen to 1140 soldiers plus 140 officers. It might be reasonable to suspect that Company H was now with them. They got as far as Point Pleasant before significant resistance was met. They must not have gone by way of Charleston since Union troops were sent from there to roust the confederate camp in Cabell County.
The confederate forces moved south and picked up their horses again.In May the 8th was ordered to the Shenandoah Valley. Part of the regiment they now belonged to would continue on to Gettysburg to fight in that historic battle but the 8th was left in the Shenandoah to act as a screen. From this time on the 8th Cavalry fought in several locations within Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Tennessee.
At one point (October 9, 1864) the 8th Virginia Cavalry engaged the Federal cavalry under General George A. Custer in the Valley. Later (March, 1865) the 8th Cavalry was ordered to Richmond to defend the capital and rail lines leading to the city. It was during March (17) that Jacob McPherson was captured and took the oath of loyalty to the Union. The remainder of the war for the confederate forces now consisted of a retreat from Richmond to Appomattox for the final surrender on April 9, 1865.
It should be pointed out that of the 185 men enlisted in Company H, 4 were killed in action, 22 became prisoners of war, 10 were wounded, 6 died, 7 were captured and 15 were sick or injured. Since these numbers were gleaned from rosters they are probably low. Also of that 185, 32 came from Mercer County and 48 from Tazewell Co with the balance from a great number of southwest Virginia and West Virginia counties. Jacob McPherson's Prisoner of War record dated March 17, 1865 under the heading "Rebel Deserters" lists him as 5'5" tall, age 22 with a dark complection, dark eyes and black hair. He was listed as a farmer and signed the form with his mark (+).
It appears that after the war Jacob went in search of employment and found it in the Stave Mills of southern WV. These mills produced staves for barrels and the job he had was to stack the staves for curing as it was said to take a special skill to do. He and Kitty followed the stave mills as they moved to new areas of timber. Kitty is said to have run a boarding house for other mill workers. They came to settle in Mercer Co. WV doing this kind of work. Jacob McPherson was never listed as owning land in Mercer Co.
It is told that Jacob was placed in a mental institution possibly Weston, WV, in later life. The reason cited that the civil war memories became too much for him. The family had been notified to come and get Jacob, but before they arrived he had died.
Jacob Phillip McPherson was buried in Clover Bottom Cemetery above mcpherson/ShawneeLake in Mercer County, West Virginia. This area is north of Kegley and just south of the former Shawnee Lake Park. The cemetery property was purchased by the Snidow family and the cemetery was lost for many years. The cemetery was started in August, 1783 with the burial of two children, Tabitha Clay and Bartley Clay, killed in an Shawnee Indian raid. Recent efforts have relocated the cemetery and there is a drive to place a memorial marker at the location. The land has been donated to a non-profit historical group.
It was said that Kitty smoked a clay pipe. Towards the end of Kitty's life, she lived in a house near what now is a farm pond on the former Gay McPherson farm. This house was situated east of a small hill where Kitty often went to read. Upon her death her request was to be buried on that hill. This was often the custom of hill-top burial and the family complied. This began the McPherson Family Cemetery which is well maintained at this time. (A listing of those buried there can be found in the book A Mercer County History Sesquicentennial Year 1987 by the Mercer County Historical Society) Many of Kitty's decendants are also buried.
Contributor: Richard Norriss McPherson (46601001) • [email protected]
There is a sketch for Jacob on page 155 of Tears on the Bluestone by Arnold Hurd III - in this his parents are named, from the 1860 Mercer county census, as George and Elizabeth "Bettie" Caldwell McPherson...and there is also a short bio by a Mark King and a likeness of Jacob.
Submitted by Richard N McPherson
FAMILY STORIES The 8th Virginia Cavalry had its beginning in Guayandotte, Cabell County, Virginia (Now West Virginia) in late 1860. An excellent book on this organization has been written by Jack L. Dickinson entitled 8th Virginia Cavalry", part of The Virginia Regimental Histories Series sponsored by the Virginia Historical Society.
Much of this section is drawn from this book, but you should read the book for detailed information on the regiments activities during the civil war. There are two McPhersons, Jacob and James, listed in the muster rolls of the 8th Virginia Cavalry. Both were enlisted men, privates in Company H. Company H was originally known as the Tazewell Troop, or McDonald's Company and was composed of men from both Mercer and Tazewell Counties. It was formed by John C. McDonald on July 25, 1861, for a period of twelve months. A reorganization took place on May 14, 1862 and reenlisted for the duration in March 1864.
Jacob McPherson enlisted on February 26, 1862 in Mercer County, West Virginia at the age of 19 by Capt. Bowen. He is listed on the muster rolls for November 1, 1863 to October 31, 1864 (dated October 31, 1864). (Another listing shows him enlisting July 25, 1861 for 1 year. with a reorganization May 14, 1862. Also re-enlisted for war March, 1864.) That first enlistment date lists him as a farmer and a resident from Mercer County.
James McPherson, his brother, enlisted in the same company on April 1, 1862 at Central Depot in Montgomery County. He is listed as a resident of Craig County, Virginia where the family home place was located. One might conclude from these dates that Jacob encouraged his brother to join his company since there were other companies that drew men from Craig County and Company H was composed of men from Tazewell and Mercer Counties. Unfortunately James was captured in Raleigh County, West Virginia (It was now officially a state) on July 7, 1863. He became a prisoner of war at Camp Chase (near Columbus), Ohio on August 1, 1863, then transferred to Ft. Delaware, Delaware on March 17, 1864. He took the oath and was released on June 10, 1865. The first action the 8th Virginia Cavalry entered was in late June, 1861.
Though their first actions were to capture several Union sympathizers, they did engage Union troops in early July. Dickinson's book covers this period in detail and I refer you to his text. Our interest begins in January of 1862 when a portion of the 8th (The Border Rangers) was ordered to Princeton, in Mercer County. There job was to secure the road from Princeton to Raleigh Court House (Beckley, West Virginia).
In late January they ambushed a Union patrol and killed eight solders. On February 8 they were attacked by Union forces on Jumping Branch near the mouth of the Bluestone River in Summers County. A short battle ensued and the Border Rangers fell back to the Raleigh Court House. The Union troops decided not to attack and retired. Dickinson quotes James D. Sedinger (a second Lieutenant from Monroe County) diary: "...we was thankful to them as the most had fallen in love with some of the girls in the neighborhood and we did not want the Yanks to keep us hemmed up on the wrong side of Blue Stone (River).
At the time that Jacob McPherson joined the 8th Virginia Cavalry it had 500 men and the Border Rangers (Company E) were still doing picket duty on the road to Raleigh Court House. Though the remainder of the 8th Virginia Cavalry is not accounted for at this time, I contend that most of the 8th was deployed between Raleigh Court House and Princeton. On March 10, 1862 the Border Rangers were ordered to report to Princeton. Princeton was now occupied by Union troops, having been evacuated. The 8th went around Princeton and marched to Seddon (Bland, Virginia) to join other confederate troops.
Sometime in March or April confederate troops including the 8th recaptured Princeton. Union troops camped at Flat Top in the last days of April and sent a contingent towards Princeton on the Wythe, Raleigh and Grayson Turnpike and occupied the house of Henry Clark about eight miles from Princeton. A confederate scout reported this move to the troops at Princeton. Since James joined the 8th on April 1 in Montgomery County, it might be surmised that the taking of Princeton fell in April and that he was now part of that contingent waiting there.
On May 1 several companies of the 8th (Not Company H) moved out to the Clark house to surprise the Union forces. They were successful in surprising the enemy troops and engaged them for 13 hours, but Union reinforcements caused them to retreat to Princeton. Upon reaching Princeton, Col. Jenifer ordered evacuation of men and supplies and burned Princeton, leaving only two or three houses standing (one of which still stands today). I believe that both Jacob and James McPherson were involved in the burning of Princeton and the subsequent retreat to Walkers Mountain.
Further skirmishes in 1862 included a campaign northwest from Monroe county in the fall to include Buchannon, Weston, and Ripley. On September 4th this group was the first to plant the confederate flag on Ohio soil. Apparently the campaign was circling Union forces in the Kanawha Valley since they then proceeded to Wyoming Court House (Pineville, WV) and attempted to attack Federal forces at Raleigh Court House. All in all this period seemed to be a time of very fluid battle lines in West Virginia (At that time western Virginia). In late September the Federal forces were forced from Charleston. In October a general retreat from the Kanawha Valley was ordered and the confederates moved to White Sulpher Springs with the 8th Cavalry fighting a rear guard action. At this time the cavalry was stripped of its horses which were sent to North Carolina for better foraging ground for the winter. This evidently did not sit well with the people of North Carolina as Dickinson relates letters to the then Governor.
The 8th took winter quarters in the area of New River Bridge in Montgomery County. This winter was said to be a particularly cold one. On March 22, 1863 a new campaign was started from these winter quarters to the Ohio Valley. We do not know if Company H went along on this expedition. We do know that 400 men left the winter camp, but that by April the ranks had swollen to 1140 soldiers plus 140 officers. It might be reasonable to suspect that Company H was now with them. They got as far as Point Pleasant before significant resistance was met. They must not have gone by way of Charleston since Union troops were sent from there to roust the confederate camp in Cabell County.
The confederate forces moved south and picked up their horses again.In May the 8th was ordered to the Shenandoah Valley. Part of the regiment they now belonged to would continue on to Gettysburg to fight in that historic battle but the 8th was left in the Shenandoah to act as a screen. From this time on the 8th Cavalry fought in several locations within Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Tennessee.
At one point (October 9, 1864) the 8th Virginia Cavalry engaged the Federal cavalry under General George A. Custer in the Valley. Later (March, 1865) the 8th Cavalry was ordered to Richmond to defend the capital and rail lines leading to the city. It was during March (17) that Jacob McPherson was captured and took the oath of loyalty to the Union. The remainder of the war for the confederate forces now consisted of a retreat from Richmond to Appomattox for the final surrender on April 9, 1865.
It should be pointed out that of the 185 men enlisted in Company H, 4 were killed in action, 22 became prisoners of war, 10 were wounded, 6 died, 7 were captured and 15 were sick or injured. Since these numbers were gleaned from rosters they are probably low. Also of that 185, 32 came from Mercer County and 48 from Tazewell Co with the balance from a great number of southwest Virginia and West Virginia counties. Jacob McPherson's Prisoner of War record dated March 17, 1865 under the heading "Rebel Deserters" lists him as 5'5" tall, age 22 with a dark complection, dark eyes and black hair. He was listed as a farmer and signed the form with his mark (+).
It appears that after the war Jacob went in search of employment and found it in the Stave Mills of southern WV. These mills produced staves for barrels and the job he had was to stack the staves for curing as it was said to take a special skill to do. He and Kitty followed the stave mills as they moved to new areas of timber. Kitty is said to have run a boarding house for other mill workers. They came to settle in Mercer Co. WV doing this kind of work. Jacob McPherson was never listed as owning land in Mercer Co.
It is told that Jacob was placed in a mental institution possibly Weston, WV, in later life. The reason cited that the civil war memories became too much for him. The family had been notified to come and get Jacob, but before they arrived he had died.
Jacob Phillip McPherson was buried in Clover Bottom Cemetery above mcpherson/ShawneeLake in Mercer County, West Virginia. This area is north of Kegley and just south of the former Shawnee Lake Park. The cemetery property was purchased by the Snidow family and the cemetery was lost for many years. The cemetery was started in August, 1783 with the burial of two children, Tabitha Clay and Bartley Clay, killed in an Shawnee Indian raid. Recent efforts have relocated the cemetery and there is a drive to place a memorial marker at the location. The land has been donated to a non-profit historical group.
It was said that Kitty smoked a clay pipe. Towards the end of Kitty's life, she lived in a house near what now is a farm pond on the former Gay McPherson farm. This house was situated east of a small hill where Kitty often went to read. Upon her death her request was to be buried on that hill. This was often the custom of hill-top burial and the family complied. This began the McPherson Family Cemetery which is well maintained at this time. (A listing of those buried there can be found in the book A Mercer County History Sesquicentennial Year 1987 by the Mercer County Historical Society) Many of Kitty's decendants are also buried.
Contributor: Richard Norriss McPherson (46601001) • [email protected]
Submitted by Richard N McPherson
FAMILY STORIES The 8th Virginia Cavalry had its beginning in Guayandotte, Cabell County, Virginia (Now West Virginia) in late 1860. An excellent book on this organization has been written by Jack L. Dickinson entitled 8th Virginia Cavalry", part of The Virginia Regimental Histories Series sponsored by the Virginia Historical Society.
Much of this section is drawn from this book, but you should read the book for detailed information on the regiments activities during the civil war. There are two McPhersons, Jacob and James, listed in the muster rolls of the 8th Virginia Cavalry. Both were enlisted men, privates in Company H. Company H was originally known as the Tazewell Troop, or McDonald's Company and was composed of men from both Mercer and Tazewell Counties. It was formed by John C. McDonald on July 25, 1861, for a period of twelve months. A reorganization took place on May 14, 1862 and reenlisted for the duration in March 1864.
Jacob McPherson enlisted on February 26, 1862 in Mercer County, West Virginia at the age of 19 by Capt. Bowen. He is listed on the muster rolls for November 1, 1863 to October 31, 1864 (dated October 31, 1864). (Another listing shows him enlisting July 25, 1861 for 1 year. with a reorganization May 14, 1862. Also re-enlisted for war March, 1864.) That first enlistment date lists him as a farmer and a resident from Mercer County.
James McPherson, his brother, enlisted in the same company on April 1, 1862 at Central Depot in Montgomery County. He is listed as a resident of Craig County, Virginia where the family home place was located. One might conclude from these dates that Jacob encouraged his brother to join his company since there were other companies that drew men from Craig County and Company H was composed of men from Tazewell and Mercer Counties. Unfortunately James was captured in Raleigh County, West Virginia (It was now officially a state) on July 7, 1863. He became a prisoner of war at Camp Chase (near Columbus), Ohio on August 1, 1863, then transferred to Ft. Delaware, Delaware on March 17, 1864. He took the oath and was released on June 10, 1865. The first action the 8th Virginia Cavalry entered was in late June, 1861.
Though their first actions were to capture several Union sympathizers, they did engage Union troops in early July. Dickinson's book covers this period in detail and I refer you to his text. Our interest begins in January of 1862 when a portion of the 8th (The Border Rangers) was ordered to Princeton, in Mercer County. There job was to secure the road from Princeton to Raleigh Court House (Beckley, West Virginia).
In late January they ambushed a Union patrol and killed eight solders. On February 8 they were attacked by Union forces on Jumping Branch near the mouth of the Bluestone River in Summers County. A short battle ensued and the Border Rangers fell back to the Raleigh Court House. The Union troops decided not to attack and retired. Dickinson quotes James D. Sedinger (a second Lieutenant from Monroe County) diary: "...we was thankful to them as the most had fallen in love with some of the girls in the neighborhood and we did not want the Yanks to keep us hemmed up on the wrong side of Blue Stone (River).
At the time that Jacob McPherson joined the 8th Virginia Cavalry it had 500 men and the Border Rangers (Company E) were still doing picket duty on the road to Raleigh Court House. Though the remainder of the 8th Virginia Cavalry is not accounted for at this time, I contend that most of the 8th was deployed between Raleigh Court House and Princeton. On March 10, 1862 the Border Rangers were ordered to report to Princeton. Princeton was now occupied by Union troops, having been evacuated. The 8th went around Princeton and marched to Seddon (Bland, Virginia) to join other confederate troops.
Sometime in March or April confederate troops including the 8th recaptured Princeton. Union troops camped at Flat Top in the last days of April and sent a contingent towards Princeton on the Wythe, Raleigh and Grayson Turnpike and occupied the house of Henry Clark about eight miles from Princeton. A confederate scout reported this move to the troops at Princeton. Since James joined the 8th on April 1 in Montgomery County, it might be surmised that the taking of Princeton fell in April and that he was now part of that contingent waiting there.
On May 1 several companies of the 8th (Not Company H) moved out to the Clark house to surprise the Union forces. They were successful in surprising the enemy troops and engaged them for 13 hours, but Union reinforcements caused them to retreat to Princeton. Upon reaching Princeton, Col. Jenifer ordered evacuation of men and supplies and burned Princeton, leaving only two or three houses standing (one of which still stands today). I believe that both Jacob and James McPherson were involved in the burning of Princeton and the subsequent retreat to Walkers Mountain.
Further skirmishes in 1862 included a campaign northwest from Monroe county in the fall to include Buchannon, Weston, and Ripley. On September 4th this group was the first to plant the confederate flag on Ohio soil. Apparently the campaign was circling Union forces in the Kanawha Valley since they then proceeded to Wyoming Court House (Pineville, WV) and attempted to attack Federal forces at Raleigh Court House. All in all this period seemed to be a time of very fluid battle lines in West Virginia (At that time western Virginia). In late September the Federal forces were forced from Charleston. In October a general retreat from the Kanawha Valley was ordered and the confederates moved to White Sulpher Springs with the 8th Cavalry fighting a rear guard action. At this time the cavalry was stripped of its horses which were sent to North Carolina for better foraging ground for the winter. This evidently did not sit well with the people of North Carolina as Dickinson relates letters to the then Governor.
The 8th took winter quarters in the area of New River Bridge in Montgomery County. This winter was said to be a particularly cold one. On March 22, 1863 a new campaign was started from these winter quarters to the Ohio Valley. We do not know if Company H went along on this expedition. We do know that 400 men left the winter camp, but that by April the ranks had swollen to 1140 soldiers plus 140 officers. It might be reasonable to suspect that Company H was now with them. They got as far as Point Pleasant before significant resistance was met. They must not have gone by way of Charleston since Union troops were sent from there to roust the confederate camp in Cabell County.
The confederate forces moved south and picked up their horses again.In May the 8th was ordered to the Shenandoah Valley. Part of the regiment they now belonged to would continue on to Gettysburg to fight in that historic battle but the 8th was left in the Shenandoah to act as a screen. From this time on the 8th Cavalry fought in several locations within Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Tennessee.
At one point (October 9, 1864) the 8th Virginia Cavalry engaged the Federal cavalry under General George A. Custer in the Valley. Later (March, 1865) the 8th Cavalry was ordered to Richmond to defend the capital and rail lines leading to the city. It was during March (17) that Jacob McPherson was captured and took the oath of loyalty to the Union. The remainder of the war for the confederate forces now consisted of a retreat from Richmond to Appomattox for the final surrender on April 9, 1865.
It should be pointed out that of the 185 men enlisted in Company H, 4 were killed in action, 22 became prisoners of war, 10 were wounded, 6 died, 7 were captured and 15 were sick or injured. Since these numbers were gleaned from rosters they are probably low. Also of that 185, 32 came from Mercer County and 48 from Tazewell Co with the balance from a great number of southwest Virginia and West Virginia counties. Jacob McPherson's Prisoner of War record dated March 17, 1865 under the heading "Rebel Deserters" lists him as 5'5" tall, age 22 with a dark complection, dark eyes and black hair. He was listed as a farmer and signed the form with his mark (+).
It appears that after the war Jacob went in search of employment and found it in the Stave Mills of southern WV. These mills produced staves for barrels and the job he had was to stack the staves for curing as it was said to take a special skill to do. He and Kitty followed the stave mills as they moved to new areas of timber. Kitty is said to have run a boarding house for other mill workers. They came to settle in Mercer Co. WV doing this kind of work. Jacob McPherson was never listed as owning land in Mercer Co.
It is told that Jacob was placed in a mental institution possibly Weston, WV, in later life. The reason cited that the civil war memories became too much for him. The family had been notified to come and get Jacob, but before they arrived he had died.
Jacob Phillip McPherson was buried in Clover Bottom Cemetery above mcpherson/ShawneeLake in Mercer County, West Virginia. This area is north of Kegley and just south of the former Shawnee Lake Park. The cemetery property was purchased by the Snidow family and the cemetery was lost for many years. The cemetery was started in August, 1783 with the burial of two children, Tabitha Clay and Bartley Clay, killed in an Shawnee Indian raid. Recent efforts have relocated the cemetery and there is a drive to place a memorial marker at the location. The land has been donated to a non-profit historical group.
It was said that Kitty smoked a clay pipe. Towards the end of Kitty's life, she lived in a house near what now is a farm pond on the former Gay McPherson farm. This house was situated east of a small hill where Kitty often went to read. Upon her death her request was to be buried on that hill. This was often the custom of hill-top burial and the family complied. This began the McPherson Family Cemetery which is well maintained at this time. (A listing of those buried there can be found in the book A Mercer County History Sesquicentennial Year 1987 by the Mercer County Historical Society) Many of Kitty's decendants are also buried.
Contributor: Richard Norriss McPherson (46601001) • [email protected]
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Jacob Phillip McPherson C.S.A. (1843-1912)
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