Page 92 - WPA Book
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Works Project Administration – Articles from Rockingham County
HISTORY – CIVIL WAR
1. SUBJECT:
Sheridan’s Orders to Burn Dayton, Virginia.
2. LOCATION:
3. DATE:
During the War Between the States.
4. OWNERS:
5. DESCRIPTION:
On Sheridan’s devastating raid up the Shenandoah Valley and the death of Lieutenant Meigs by bushwhackers,
General Sheridan ordered the inhabitants to move their personal property to fields and the houses burned.
General Custer’s army occupied the forty-acre orchard of the Coffman family, near the suburbs of Dayton. The
Coffmans lived in a brick house. Their belongings had practically all been carried out of the house by soldiers,
when General Custer, searching a bureau drawer, found a Masonic apron, neatly folded. Upon inquiry he was
informed by Mrs. Coffman that the Masonic apron belonged to her husband, who was a Confederate soldier.
Upon learning this, General Custer ordered the soldiers to carry the belongings back into the houses, and the
town of Dayton was saved.
6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: None (Significance is described in item 5)
7. ART:
8. SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
Informants: Mrs. Nancy Boyers, Keezletown, Virginia.
Mr. Joe Shrew and Mr. Fishback, Dayton, Virginia.
August 10, 2024 W.A. Byerly
Bridgewater, VA
Page 91 of 482
HISTORY – CIVIL WAR
1. SUBJECT:
Sheridan’s Orders to Burn Dayton, Virginia.
2. LOCATION:
3. DATE:
During the War Between the States.
4. OWNERS:
5. DESCRIPTION:
On Sheridan’s devastating raid up the Shenandoah Valley and the death of Lieutenant Meigs by bushwhackers,
General Sheridan ordered the inhabitants to move their personal property to fields and the houses burned.
General Custer’s army occupied the forty-acre orchard of the Coffman family, near the suburbs of Dayton. The
Coffmans lived in a brick house. Their belongings had practically all been carried out of the house by soldiers,
when General Custer, searching a bureau drawer, found a Masonic apron, neatly folded. Upon inquiry he was
informed by Mrs. Coffman that the Masonic apron belonged to her husband, who was a Confederate soldier.
Upon learning this, General Custer ordered the soldiers to carry the belongings back into the houses, and the
town of Dayton was saved.
6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: None (Significance is described in item 5)
7. ART:
8. SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
Informants: Mrs. Nancy Boyers, Keezletown, Virginia.
Mr. Joe Shrew and Mr. Fishback, Dayton, Virginia.
August 10, 2024 W.A. Byerly
Bridgewater, VA
Page 91 of 482
