Page 154 - History of Rockingham Co
P. 154
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY
fair ladies of our town, who are in favor of joining the
Confederacy."
On April 17 the convention at Richmond adopted an
ordinance of secession by a vote of 88 to 55. Consistently
with his declarations before the election, Mr. Lewis voted with
the minority, and steadfastly refused to sign the ordinance
after it was passed.
The division of opinions and convictions in the convention
—but reflected the similar divisions over the State particularly
in the western part. In Rockingham the majority agreed
with the majority of the convention, but there were also a
number who thought differently. For example, in the Blue
Ridge sections of East Rockingham, where anti - slavery
sentiment and martial spirit were both strong, a number of
men went north and joined the Union armies. In other
sections of the county the peace principles of large numbers
of the people, particularly the Dunkers and Mennonites. kept
many from assuming a decided attitude oneway or the other;
but notwithstanding all these conditions, the attitude of the
county as a whole was soon definitely and decidedly for the
Confederacy. On April 20, when the "Mountain Guards,"
from Spring Hill, Augusta County, and the "Rockbridge
Rifles" were passing through Harrisonburg the ladies pre-
sented them with flags. The firing on Sumter, Lincoln's call
for troops, and the action of the Virginia convention had
aroused tremendous enthusiasm. Meetings to organize
home guards, etc., were held at Bridgewater, Lacey Spring,
Harrisonburg, and elsewhere.
Before the war was over, Rockingham men were serving
in many different commands; but the organization that is
perhaps most frequently thought of in connection with the
military history of the county is the 10th Regiment, Va. V.
I., made up chiefly of Rockingham soldiers; and we deem our
readers fortunate in having presented to them herewith an
account of this regiment, written by one who knows its
history at first hand.
—133-
fair ladies of our town, who are in favor of joining the
Confederacy."
On April 17 the convention at Richmond adopted an
ordinance of secession by a vote of 88 to 55. Consistently
with his declarations before the election, Mr. Lewis voted with
the minority, and steadfastly refused to sign the ordinance
after it was passed.
The division of opinions and convictions in the convention
—but reflected the similar divisions over the State particularly
in the western part. In Rockingham the majority agreed
with the majority of the convention, but there were also a
number who thought differently. For example, in the Blue
Ridge sections of East Rockingham, where anti - slavery
sentiment and martial spirit were both strong, a number of
men went north and joined the Union armies. In other
sections of the county the peace principles of large numbers
of the people, particularly the Dunkers and Mennonites. kept
many from assuming a decided attitude oneway or the other;
but notwithstanding all these conditions, the attitude of the
county as a whole was soon definitely and decidedly for the
Confederacy. On April 20, when the "Mountain Guards,"
from Spring Hill, Augusta County, and the "Rockbridge
Rifles" were passing through Harrisonburg the ladies pre-
sented them with flags. The firing on Sumter, Lincoln's call
for troops, and the action of the Virginia convention had
aroused tremendous enthusiasm. Meetings to organize
home guards, etc., were held at Bridgewater, Lacey Spring,
Harrisonburg, and elsewhere.
Before the war was over, Rockingham men were serving
in many different commands; but the organization that is
perhaps most frequently thought of in connection with the
military history of the county is the 10th Regiment, Va. V.
I., made up chiefly of Rockingham soldiers; and we deem our
readers fortunate in having presented to them herewith an
account of this regiment, written by one who knows its
history at first hand.
—133-
