By Michael D. Martin, E.C.P.D.
Retired
About the author...Michael Martin (pictured front row, far right in the 1981 photo) is a retired veteran of 25 years on the Eden City Police Department, and has penned a number of anecdotal writings recalling his experiences.
XXVI. Leaksville-Spray's Civil War Heritage
I think the Marshall-Field Company began recruiting workers a
little prior to 1900. The Company sent recruiters into the Virginia counties
of Henry, Floyd and Patrick and promised men $14.00 a week and company
housing for their families. They promised company stores where a workers
account was good. They promised a whole new life to men who were living on
less than three dollars a week. Men who were the sons and grandsons of
the Army of Northern Virginia flocked to Leaksville and Spray to work in the
mills and make fabulous salaries. There were boarding houses where the
newcomers came and mill housing that was modern and cheap and a salary that
was unimaginable by Patrick County standards.
If you obtain a copy of the "Regimental
History of the 51st Virginia Volunteers," and compare it to the Eden
Phone book, you will get some idea. These were tough, mountain men and they
made good workers and they were the backbone of the Marshall-Field company
just as their fathers had been the backbone of General Lee's Army.
Deputy Sheriff Eugene "Buddy" Moretz's
great-great grandfather was Harvey Cockram of Company D of the 51st
Virginia of General Gabriel Wharton's Brigade of Early's Division of
Stonewall Jackson's 2nd corps. Cockram joined the Confederate Army the 14th
of June 1861 and fought every battle of the Civil War until he was shot thru
the breast and captured at the battle of Winchester on the 19th of
September, 1864.
My great grandfather was "Dick Martin"
who was wounded on Lookout Mountain on the 25th of November 1863, the
same battle that killed my great great uncle James S. Martin, 2nd Cpl. Co-I
63rd Virginia. great-great uncle, John Brammer Jr. was killed in a fight
along the Rappahannock River on February 4th, 1863.
The people of Leaksville, Spray and Draper have no
idea of their Civil War heritage. The lads grew up, listening to their
grandfathers telling stirring tales of how they routed the British Redcoats
and when the Civil War broke out, the lads wanted to be soldiers too.
It was a terrible price we paid because grandpa's left out the bad parts.
Michael D. Martin