When the Civil War Came to Watauga County North Carolina

[@user-hf8rd7ff5s]

My great-great grandparents had a farm and lived west of Gettysburg during the 1863 battle. My grandfather mentioned to me years ago when he was a boy around 1910 his family visited the grandparents and the conversation was about the Civil War. The grandparents stated that during and after the battle the atmosphere was overcast followed by a lot of rain.

[@alanaadams7440]

TY for sharing your story

[@alanaadams7440]

TY for sharing your story

[@eulamae1905]

My Dad's family was from Ashe County, NC with many family connections to next door Watauga County. Dad's great-great-grandfather was hung along with three sons and a nephew on the courthouse lawn in Jefferson for being Union sympathizers. One son, Moses, survived the hanging, left for West Virginia, and fought for the Union.

[@michaelchaney5962]

Was the last name Chaney? We have a Moses from West Virginia or western va

[@eulamae1905]

@@michaelchaney5962 No, it was Price. Jesse Price was the name of my ggg-grandfather.

[@alanaadams7440]

Thank you for sharing your story

[@mr.miller3432]

Damn yankees

[@murrismiller2312]

i am from Union Co., Ga... MANY (40 %) voted GOP. DOZENS of men left and fought for the North.

[@travismorris9303]

In 1998 I was hiking with my kids along the Watauga river at Bethel Road near 321 and found about 30 Civil War era cannon balls. We took several home and I asked around if they were worth anything and was told they were not. So we didn't go back for the rest and when we moved we left then at the old house. I've been told since that they were worth some money, I wish I'd kept them all now, either way.

[@lutherpayne9957]

My family was just to the southeast of Watauga in Alexander County. I was told as a child about some blood feuds that were a direct result of the Civil War and how I could not visit so and so or play with their kids and to stay away from certain areas because I wouldn't be welcomed.... Nobody holds on to a blood feud like mountain folks. Hopefully in a couple of years I'll be able to move back to those mountains that I so dearly love. They call to me every day. I enjoyed your presentation. BTW... I had family in the 38th NC Infantry, 2nd NC Cavalry and the 22nd NC Infantry. My 3rd Great Grandfather died of his wounds incurred at the 2nd Battle of Manassas and is buried in Lynchburg, Virginia. His war was short. Enlisted in August of 62 and died December 23rd of 62.

[@lonniemonroe2714]

Thanks to your family for their service. Had ancestors in the Army of Northern Virginia & Army of Tennessee.

[@NCWoodlandRoamer]

Hey I’m from Alexander County also.

[@shelleywilliams8201]

I from Alexander County. Lived here 46 years. My whole life.

[@SHOE53]

As a small child remember my great aunt telling of the men hiding out in caves up on the mountain behind there home during the war.

[@alanaadams7440]

TY for sharing your story

[@doyleparker90]

​@@alanaadams7440¹

[@autmwnd]

My second great grandfather could have been one of them.

[@TimMcCurry-ue9kr]

I had three Great Uncles from Yancey County, outside of Burnsville, who enlisted and fought with the 29th North Carolina Infantry, C.S.A. According to Census records, no one in my family owned any slaves. So, it has always been a great mystery to me as to why they joined the Confederacy. Could it have been that they feared the bush wakers coming across the border from Tennessee? They lived only 12 miles from the Tennessee border. I may never know what caused my family’s loyalties during the War. Certainly, the Institution of slavery was not one of them.

[@douglasturner6153]

It wasn't about slavery for these people. Just defending their area and State. My CSA ancestors also didn't have slaves

[@davidrutledge1482]

Believe it or not, geography often had a lot to do with it. Read Mountaineers in Gray, it explains it very well

[@douglasturner6153]

​@@davidrutledge1482 I agree. Men belonged to local County Militias which formed Company's in eventual State Regiments. True both north and south. So they went with their State's

[@surfboy344]

Historian Shelby Foote said that when captured Confederate soldiers were asked why they were fighting since they didn't own slaves, their response to the union soldiers was along the lines of, "you're down here, that's why ".

[@deweysturgill6220]

​@@douglasturner6153 Same here. Some of my family fought in the 13th KY Calvary. Theylived in eastern KY and Southwest VA, had no slaves. Some of the people who fought for the south from the area were even mixed race. The "Mulungeon" or dark people are quite common to the area. People are completey stupid to say that slavery was the only cause of the civil war. It was like the leading to all civil wars very complex.

[@davidgalloway6414]

Never forget your history ..

[@terryeustice5399]

Interesting. Especially about the Pastor removed for not praying from the pulpit for the Confederacy. 💯👊👍

[@rdleahey]

History repeats itself. I had to leave my bride and two year old son to go to a war in South East Asia in 1968.

[@TheJTTaylor000]

Welcome home. Thank you for your service.

[@Golden_Age_Of_Sound]

We have lived in the High Country since 2012, so glad I discovered this channel, appreciate your time and energy synthesizing this information

[@jimferris9447]

Interesting history. I was born, raised and still live in Missouri. A lot of your county’s history is similar to what my ancestors experienced during the civil war. None of my ancestors were in the US before the 1840s. My mom’s mother’s side came over from the Germanic states (there was no country of “Germany” for close to another 30 years). They founded the town of Hermann, Missouri and the surrounding area. Central Missouri and the Hill Country of Texas were settled by some of the same such people at this time. Anyway, my grandmother’s grandmother told her about homesteading, working hard to clear the land, build their house, barns and other outbuildings. She told my grandmother how difficult it was for them during the Civil War. One side would come on their land and take whatever it was that they wanted. Then shortly afterward the other side would come around and do the same thing. For Missouri and Kansas, the war started about 1855, or only 7 years after my ancestors arrived. Neighboring Kansas Territory was getting flooded by both pro- & anti-slavery supporters, but the anti-slavery people were most radical and violent (look up John Brown, who later traveled back east to VA and ironically was captured by Robert E. Lee well before the war). The Jayhawkers of Kansas would ride into Missouri, often under cover of night, burst into homes and take out the men and older boys and kill them and burn the houses and barns. They did this to prevent pro-slavery Missourians from influencing Kansas. The Missouri Bushwackers would return the favor with Kansans. One of the Missouri militias was called the Tigers. It’s why for well over a century one of the biggest collegiate athletic rivalries was the Missouri Tigers and the Kansas Jayhawks. Missouri was interesting in that it was a slave state that history books will tell you “stayed loyal”. But Missouri validly voted for a pro-secession governor. Lincoln had federal troops seize our capital of Jefferson City and installed a governor and other state legislators loyal to the federal government. For the duration of the war, Missouri had two governments: the one installed by Lincoln and the Governor and his followers that operated out of the southwest of the state. I spoke to an older person recently that was from Gasconade County where my grandparents were from and my ancestors settled. He said “We never trusted anyone from the north end of the county - they were Yankees during the war.” Which is interesting. My mom’s folks were from up there - Germanic and overall were anti-slavery. My dad’s folks settled on the far south end of the county and were Irish/English.

[@AppalachianMemoryKeepers]

Very interesting! Those were bloody horrible times. Thanks for sharing the info.

[@SpenSir]

Another well chosen history lesson, Thanks!

[@AppalachianMemoryKeepers]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@jamesorth6460]

My maternal great-great grandfatherJesse Alson Ballard came from North Carolina after the war lhe ived in Indiana where he remarried after his first wife had passed away afterwards moved out to Kansas

[@alanaadams7440]

TY for sharing your story

[@davidshettlesworth1442]

Thank you for this excellent educational video! I did not know any of these facts.

[@AppalachianMemoryKeepers]

Our pleasure!

[@reneebanner6633]

Love these videos. I’m proud of my Appalachian heritage. I am pure Appalachian. My ancestors were some of the over the mountain man. These man went through the area on their way to Kings Mountain. Several of them settled in the Toe River Valley. I am proud to come from such strong, dedicated and talented people.

[@AppalachianMemoryKeepers]

Thanks for watching!

[@AppalachianMemoryKeepers]

Thanks for watching!

[@bt4839]

Thank you for your time and effort put in to research this little known bit of history!! 👍👍

[@AppalachianMemoryKeepers]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@RayBecker]

I have a question for Civil War Historians: It is my position that the Southern States, by Secession from the Union Vacated the Ratification votes of the original Constitution. As we all should know, there were 13 States at the time and in order to Ratify the Constitution, there had to be 9 States in order to Ratify. Three of the nine States were in the South. Also, this was NOT a Civil War; it was a shooting war between two Nations. The eleven Southern States formed their own central government exactly like the USA and named this entity, CSA. In Dec. 1965, the US Congress refused to Seat Reps from ten Southern States thereby nullifying the Constitution. To compound this, the North busted up the South into five Military Districts literally at the point of a gun. What kind of Republic allows for that? Then the 14th Amendment, the DC Act of 1871 which incorporated the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, the 16th and 17th Amendments (taking the Senate away from the States and Federal Income Tax) and then Congress punting their power to Mint the Money and declare the value Thereof to the Federal Reserve which is no more Federal than Federal Express. Game, set, match. No Republic. Now, who wants to prove me wrong?

[@Al-Rudigor]

Well, if you claim to be a sovereign nation, don't expect the protection of the constitution. Consider the south a conquered nation, that was added to the US. Don't forget, Lee and many other Confederate officers took an oath of allegiance. I took that oath myself, and I honored it. They were traitors. I don't care how you dress it up.

[@lonniemonroe2714]

Have stated almost exactly like you did. Yes. America is now a corporation. Greedy as hell. Feeds on war & other countries resources.

[@gillisBR549]

Correct!!!…. Hence war of northern aggression, it’s purpose ( the north) was to bring on this big centralized government that rules today!!!

[@suebennett9804]

At the time where I live was in tenn,they moved the border so now I live in nc,,shit happens I guess

[@BrendaHaltom-cs6ck]

I was born in Boone in 1950! Iremember Mast General Store and I had a school teacher named Mr Bingham!😀 M

[@user-yn7bj2mt1g]

I lived in Boone for two years getting a Masters degree at Appalachian State, and no one ever discussed this fascinating history

[@AppalachianMemoryKeepers]

Was your Masters in History?

[@virginian3390]

I recently discovered that I am related to the Lewis's from Edgecomb, North Carolina, specifically Brigadier General William Gaston Lewis(CSA), Captain Exum Lewis(CSA), Dr. Joel Battle Lewis(CSA), and more from my paternal grandmother's side. I live in Chesterfield, Virginia, and grew up just minutes from Drewry's Bluff Fort Darling on the James River.

[@megashed1]

Very Well Done ....thank you

[@AppalachianMemoryKeepers]

Thanks for watching!

[@michaelbaumgardner2530]

As a Watauga county native I found this most interesting

[@shawndain9606]

Awesome video. Please do one for Ashe too if there’s enough material

[@Macrodosian897]

Johnson County TN as well. I know it was touched on earlier in this episode, but it’s a really interesting piece of history.

[@lonnieclemens8028]

This has been an excellent video. Thank you for focusing on the hardships of the women left behind during the civil war. We erect monuments in memory of civil war soldiers. But fail to recognize the sacrifices that the women and children made. In my opinion there probably wasn't peace in the southeastern states until World War 1. People had axes to grind and scores to settle.

[@AppalachianMemoryKeepers]

Well said!

[@StormyMonday0896]

I just went out to Boone. It's a great place

[@lonniemonroe2714]

Love Boone. Well remember when they beat Michigan in football. Yankee cousins never responded to any of my calls or texts

[@HuckelAR]

Listening to this while I work at my office in Boone right now. haha. So glad there are videos on our area. Keep putting out great content!!

[@AppalachianMemoryKeepers]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@user-kz8xl4sd4y]

Thanks for the history

[@zmanj8483]

Watauga county born and raised!! Thank you for posting

[@AppalachianMemoryKeepers]

Our pleasure!

[@robinwithrow2660]

My great-great grandfather, Jonathan Israel Wilson, tried to avoid service in the Civil War by hiding out with a Stansberry cousin. They were found out when someone saw a family member bringing them food. Jonathan had to serve, even though he had a club foot which must’ve made marching agony. He served as a nurse/orderly in East Tennessee until he was able to desert. He wasn’t caught this time and went onto marry his sweetheart, Myra Brown, and father five daughters.

[@robinwithrow2660]

He served in the 58th infantry. I believe they were known for their large number of deserters.

[@PredatoryPrey]

I was just at Henson Chapel today for a family reunion.

[@donaldg.freeman2804]

Very interesting program. I'm from Fairmont, Marion County, WV which experienced an attack by CSA generals Jones and Imboden in 1863. Marion County probably provided an equal number of soldiers to each side. This raid might be a good topic for a new video.

[@828enigma6]

Do you have any thing about Stoneman's Raid in Henderson County, NC? I know they came through but I know little of their activities while here.

[@AppalachianMemoryKeepers]

Thanks for watching. Unfortunately I do not have any specifics about Henderson County.

[@jamespenson8912]

Enjoyed it, Chad! Thank you - I always learn a lot from your videos.

[@williamhanley2566]

It's CAValry. Not calvary.

[@user-xk1sy9pl6z]

Yep. Cred blown...

[@paparude7724]

@@user-xk1sy9pl6z😂

[@TonyRedunzo]

Yea, next I s'pose you gonna tell me it's pronounced Nu clee ar and not nu cue lar. Smarty Pants

[@walkacountrymile]

Possibly Fort Sumpter? Not Sumner which is in NM. Great video though.

[@Supreme_Saltine]

My great great grandfather fought for the south at fort Macon.

[@jeffgraybeal1391]

Very well done, very accurate.

[@colt45acp1000]

Very interesting! Thanks!

[@AppalachianMemoryKeepers]

Glad you liked it!

[@travismorris9303]

Theres a good book called The Ghost Riders by Sharon McCrumb about this subject

[@Slingudwig]

Wow! What an insightful video. Thank you. It wasn’t a “black & white” war. Many shades of Gray. (No pun intended)

[@JamesMartinelli-jr9mh]

We learned never to call it by that name. The senators said their goodbyes without turmoil.

[@AJearth]

My Maternal Grandparents were from Watauga County.

[@mechanicman8687]

Do one about the civil war in summers county West Virginia

[@birddog7492]

My third G Grandfather was a captain of the home guard here in WV, he was captured and spent the rest of the war at camp chase OH. He was all but starved to death when he was set free.

[@AppalachianMemoryKeepers]

Those prison camps were Hell on Earth. 😢

[@scottfrye7027]

So, your great grandfather was imprisoned at Chase with Randall McCoy?

[@birddog7492]

@@scottfrye7027 I'm told that's where he was.

[@scottfrye7027]

@@birddog7492 well according to the movie Hatfields & McCoys, and info that was shared by some of Randall's relatives that have a podcast Chase was where Randall was until the war ended.

[@scottfrye7027]

@@AppalachianMemoryKeepers prisoners suffered in both sides camps

[@fredriddle-et2wc]

There were a lot of Union people in Western North Carolina. They were pro Lincoln. My great great grandfather fought for the Union in a Calvary unit made up of people from counties around Asheville and East Tennessee.

[@TimMcCurry-ue9kr]

Hello, Scott Ballard! Do you remember me? I’m Tim McCurry! ❤️

[@JohnGalt1960]

I would have fought with the Confederacy,still will.

[@marksaucier]

You got that right brother. Deo Vindice.

[@lonniemonroe2714]

Me too. East Tennessee here. Southern by the Grace of God.

[@oldsouthmike65]

Michael C Hardy's books are awesome

[@AppalachianMemoryKeepers]

We agree! Michael is the Man!

[@BrendaHaltom-cs6ck]

I remember

[@outdoorlife5396]

I think you are leaving out, how the confederates took so much food stores another things from the yeoman farmers. I am surprised that with the desertions of the csa army and the writing being on the wall, that the home guard leaders waited till the end of the war to leave.

[@buckhendrix]

Kirk's Raiders

[@timfinneran5047]

Were there many slaves and slave owners in this part of NC?

[@EdwardTillotson-hj5pk]

No, but the war wasn't ABOUT slavery, The tyrannical psychopath Lincoln just used slavery as an excuse to suspend the constitution

[@Badhabit-cx1ch]

Almost non existence, in western n.c

[@Mr.Inman14]

If I was alive then I'd fight for the Union.

[@redohe9508]

So you would be proud of your service becoming the corrupt banana republic we exist in now? I will say if yankees could see what this country has become they would have not fought to save the union as it is today.

[@jamesash5792]

And probably passed with the first on set of the fist battle 😂

[@alabastardmasterson]

Fort Sumter. Sump.tor