Fear in North Carolina

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EDITED BY TED YEATMAN

In late March, 1865, a Federal cavalry division, under the command of Major General George Stoneman, left East Tennessee for a raid into South Western Virginia and the virtually untouched back country of North Carolina. The objective of the raid was the destruction of Confederate supplies and the liberation of several thousand Federal soldiers in the Confederate prison camp at Salisbury, North Carolina.

The following account of Stoneman’s capture of Salisbury is believed to have been written by Mary Eliza Currey, 16-year-old daughter of the last post surgeon, Dr. Richard Owen Currey. In April 1864, Mary and her family received permission from Major General John M. Schofield to leave Knoxville and join Dr. Currey, then at Salisbury. On February 17, 1865, Surgeon Currey died of meningitis, contracted while treating Federal prisoners at the overcrowded Salisbury camp. On their own again, Mary and her family, having fled war torn East Tennessee a year earlier, were again faced with the grim spectre of destruction.

Tuesday, April 11th, 1865

What an eventful day this was one year ago. Then we were leaving home and many dear friends. About this time (10 o’clock A.M.) we were traveling in some dirty box cars, with the windows barred, to intimate I suppose that we were a kind of prisoners. When will we return to dear old Knoxville? Ah, no can answer. Soon perhaps we will see the bleak hills, once so green and emery that you loved to gaze upon them. It cleared off very nicely this morning, and I took a right-long walk soon after breakfast. How many blessings God still confers upon us, and how little we deserve them.

“12 o’clock P.M.”

First ? as I was retiring to rest, Mr. Wiley came in and told us some most alarming news. The raiders were reported to be 8 miles from here, and that reliable news had been received that the Yankees were at Mocksville 19 miles from here at 5 o’clock P.M., and had burnt that place. We were very much excited of course, and I forth with went to packing. I emptied the contents of four trunks in sheets, thinking that if the Yankees came they could be moved more easily than they could, were they in trunks. I do hope the Yankees will not burn and destroy as they have done at nearly all the towns they have been to.

Wednesday, 12th, 1865

Have just a few minutes ago finished (6 o’clock) dressing, and after having asked the protection of my heavenly Father, I sit down to write a little in my journal. Oh! Could I write all my thoughts I would soon have this volume full. Aunt Nellie came in about day light and said that they were fighting about two miles from here. By the time I got dressed the fireing had ceased. We ate breakfast and soon after our friend was ordered off. We were very sorry to see him go.

10 o’clock A.M.

The yankees have come! Alex Helper came around here about 9 o’clock and after standing in the front porch 1 _ hour, the yankees came dashing in shouting and firing. They came in all directions. As they came by our house they took Alex prisoner. I do not feel much frightened, though I am very much excited. I have not spoken to any of them yet.

11 o’clock A.M.

Mrs. Murphy has been over here. She is much distressed as she thinks that Mr. Andrew M. is captured. Aunt Nellie and Martha have been out in the street all morning, and came running in just now with an armful of goods, saying that the yankees were going to burn or blow up several stores on the front street. I dread that so much for when they begin they never know when to stop. A yankee has just been here. He asked us for something to eat and if there were any firearms about the house. I told him that we had just given the last we cooked to some soldiers and that we had nothing more prepared. He then rode off without dismounting.

12 o’clock A.M.

They are breaking open the commissary stores, and throwing them out in the street. It is not very far from here only one square, and if they blow it up, I am afraid that some of the pieces will fly over here. The negroes and the poor are gathering it up and carrying it off as fast as possible. I think they are right in doing so for it will be destroyed. I was frightened this morning. A very insolent yankee, the first that has been in this house, came walking in whistling and making as much noise as possible. He first went to the table in the passage, on which he sat the medicine chest, opened it and upturned it generally, but finding nothing in there to suit him, he came in Mother’s room. The first place he went to in there was the desk, out of which he took some Confederate money, which I neglected to take out, some maps, a pocket case of instruments, and other little articles. He then demanded all of the gold and silver and asked if we had a watch. We replied that we did have a watch, but as it was fathers we did not like to give it up. He replied that we had better give it to him at once, as he intended to search for it if we did not. We were very much afraid he would make us give it up. But as a kind providence would have it, Aunt Nellie succeeded in getting two soldiers who were in the street, to come and help us. They ordered him out, and I did not know what he or I would have gotten the men to make him give them up. The men were right good natured, and I wish we could have gotten them to stay as a guard. I hope no more of them will come.

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