|
Distances
as Traveled by Sharp in 1861 |
| From |
To |
Miles |
Railroads |
| Richmond, Va. |
Baltimore, Md. |
150 |
Several routes
available |
| Richmond, Va. |
West Point, Va. |
38 |
Richmond & York
River |
| Richmond, Va. |
Winchester, Va. |
217 |
Virginia Central,
Orange & Alexandria, Manassas Gap |
| Winchester, Va. |
Martinsburg, Va. |
22 |
none |
| Winchester, Va. |
Strasburg, Va. |
18 |
none |
| Strasburg, Va. |
Leesburg, Va. |
55 |
Manassas Gap, then road |
| Martinsburg, Va. |
Shepherdstown, Va. |
9 |
none |
| Winchester, Va. |
Duffields, Va. |
29 |
Winchester &
Potomac, then road |
| Duffields, Va. |
Halltown, Va. |
5 |
none |
| Halltown, Va. |
Winchester, Va. |
26 |
Winchester &
Potomac |
| Martinsburg, Va. |
Stevenson's Depot on
Winchester & Potomac RR |
12 |
none |
|
|
| January |
1 - |
In Richmond |
|
| March |
3 |
|
4 |
Left at 6 1/2 am for Baltimore to
attend to some Estate business for Mr. Meri. Arrived
at 5 pm |
|
5 - 11 |
In Baltimore |
|
|
12 |
Left Baltimore at 4 am and arrived
at Richmond at 3 pm |
|
13 - |
In Richmond |
|
| April |
12 |
|
13 |
In Richmond |
100 guns fired by Fayette Artillery on rumor
of surrender of Fort Sumter. Also torch light procession.
Confederate flag raised today at Tredegar Works |
|
14 - 16 |
In Richmond |
|
|
17 |
In Richmond |
Steamer ??? seized today at 3 pm on order
Governor Letcher |
|
18 |
In Richmond |
All United States property taken possession of
today by Gov. Letcher |
|
19 |
In Richmond |
Torch light procession in honor of capture of
Fort Sumter and passage of ordinance of secession |
|
20 |
In Richmond |
|
|
21 |
In Richmond |
Steamer Pawnee reported coming up the James
River. Volunteer companies called out. News received of
burning of Gosport Navy Yard, capture of Harpers Ferry by
Virginia troops. Burning of Bridge on ??? W&P RR.
Ponder, captured at Fort Norfolk, arrived today. Great
Excitement.. |
|
22 - 23 |
In Richmond |
|
|
24 |
In Richmond |
South Carolina troops arrived today |
|
25 - 26 |
In Richmond |
|
|
27 |
In Richmond |
James ?earing arrived today from New Port N.
S. |
|
28 - 30 |
In Richmond |
|
| May |
1 - 22 |
In Richmond |
|
|
23 |
In Richmond |
Voted today (for the first time in my life)
for Ratification of the Ordinance of Secession |
|
24 |
In Richmond |
|
|
25 |
Went to West Point and back |
|
26 - |
In Richmond |
|
| June |
17 |
|
18 |
In Richmond |
Appointed an Agent of the Quartermasters
Department Confederate States Army and instructed by Col. A.
C. Myers, Acting Quartermaster General, to proceed to the
Baltimore & Ohio RR at Harpers Ferry or any other point,
and remove to the line of the Manassas Gap RR any
locomotives, cars or other RR machinery or material that
could be secured {Map
of the locations mentioned below} |
|
19 |
In Richmond |
Employing a force and procuring tools for the
purpose of removing locomotives &c. |
|
20 - 23 |
In Richmond |
|
|
24 |
Left Richmond for Winchester at
6:20 am in company with George T. Darracott and P. F.
Darracott and arrived in Winchester 10:30 pm |
|
25 |
In Winchester |
Saw Genl. Jos. E. Johnston. Started to
Martinsburg at 12; arrived there 3 3/4 pm and saw 36
locomotives and many cars partially destroyed by fire. At 5
1/2 pm went to Col. T. J. Jacksons headquarters and got from
him orders to his officers to stop any further destruction of
machinery. Started back to Winchester at 8 pm and arrived
there at 11:15 pm. Mark Darracott and M. Darracott arrived
today. |
|
26 |
In Winchester |
Sent Mark Darracott to Blakely County to
impress horses and negroes. Hugh Longest {37
y. o. RR coach maker from Richmond}, Bene Sturman and
22 men arrived today |
|
27 - 28 |
In Winchester |
|
|
29 |
Left for Strasburg at 10 1/2 am.
Arrived with Mr. Banner at Middletown and arrived at
Strasburg at 4 pm. Foster and 22 men arrived at Strasburg
today. Met with J. M. D. Goldsborough today (Chief Engineer
{also Superintendent},
Manassas Gap RR). Arrived at Winchester at 10 3/4 pm and
commenced boarding at the J. G. Heist's
{Treasurer, Winchester & Potomac RR} |
|
30 |
In Winchester |
60 horses arrived today from Berkley County |
| July |
1 |
Started to Martinsburg in am and
arrived there at 3 1/2 pm. Met Col. T. J. Jackson. Returned
to Winchester at 9 1/2 pm. Started six carts and wagons to
Martinsburg for machinery &c. |
|
2 |
In Winchester |
Started machinists and laborers to Martinsburg
to commence work of removing locomotives and machinery.
Started Longest and force to strengthen Cedar Creek bridge {3
miles north of Strasburg}.
Went to Strasburg at 3 pm and arrived there 5:20 pm. Met
Gerty, who arrived on train at 7:45 pm in charge of Mr. N.
L. Black, and started for Winchester where we arrived at 12
midnight. Met Longest and ??? 9 miles from Winchester and
turned them back. A fight at Falling Waters today in which
Confederates were victorious. Six wagons loaded with
material today and left Martinsburg |
|
3 |
In Winchester |
Started my force to Martinsburg. On arrival at
Martinsburg, they were ordered back by Genl. Johnston who
informed them that Martinsburg was in the possession of the
Federals |
|
4 |
In Winchester |
Started Longest and party to Cedar Creek
Bridge again |
|
5 |
In Winchester |
Started three Gondola cars this am. Teams took
them to Newton {7 miles south of
Winchester and 11 miles north of Strasburg}, seven miles, and returned by 7 pm |
|
6 |
In Winchester |
Started three cars. These and the 3 at Newtown
were taken to Cedar Creek Bridge and left at the bridge {7
miles closer to Strasburg}. Was
not suitably strengthened for them to cross |
|
7 |
In Winchester |
Genl Johnston fell back to this place today |
|
8 |
In Winchester |
Started 7 more cars and at 9 am started in
company with Gerty {Sharp's wife,
Gertrude, 24 y. o.} for Strasburg. Cars arrived at 5 pm. Put
two upon track {of Manassas Gap RR} and at 8 pm started back to Winchester, where
we arrived at 11 pm |
|
9 |
In Winchester |
|
|
10 |
Left at 10 am for Strasburg in
company with Gerty. Started seven cars from Winchester this
am and had them on Manassas Gap RR track by 6 1/2 pm |
|
11 |
Started fourteen B&O RR cars
to Richmond at 6 1/2 am. Left at 7 am for Winchester in
company with Gerty where we arrived at 10 am |
|
12 |
In Winchester |
Started eight cars to Strasburg |
|
13 - 15 |
In Winchester |
|
|
16 |
In Winchester |
Started seven cars to Strasburg |
|
17 |
In Winchester |
T. H. Mymie of Richmond called today |
|
18 |
In Winchester |
Genl. Johnston, with his command, evacuated
Winchester today, going in the direction of Manassas |
|
19 |
In Winchester |
Started all my force to Strasburg. Sent off
eight cars |
|
20 |
Left Winchester at 11 am in
company with Gerty for Strasburg. Decided to stay at Mr.
Isaac Bowman and went there in pm |
|
21 |
In Strasburg part of the day.
Seven cars arrived today from Winchester |
|
22 |
In Strasburg part of the day.
Brought eight cars from Winchester to Newton |
|
23 - 24 |
At Strasburg |
|
|
25 |
At Strasburg |
Seven cars arrived, making 80 cars hauled |
|
26 - 27 |
At Strasburg |
|
|
28 |
At Capt Bowman's |
|
29 |
At Capt. Bowman's |
Sick |
|
30 |
Left at 11 am for Leesburg, Va.
Overtook my wagons and men near Camp Berkley and got from
Col. {Eppa} Hunton an escort of 25 men to accompany them to
Leesburg. Force arrived at 3 pm and went to send off
locomotives McKenzie and Manning {both
belonging to the Alexandria, Loudoun & Hampshire RR} |
|
31 |
At Leesburg |
At work on locomotives all day, getting them
ready to haul |
| August |
1 |
At Leesburg |
Got one engine ready to haul |
|
2 |
Left Leesburg at 2 pm with two
locomotives and tenders. Broke our chain three miles from
town and laid in all night |
|
3 |
Started with locomotives. By 10
1/2 am had gone one mile and broke one of the locomotive
truck tongues. Repaired this and got within one mile of Ball
Mill where we stopped all night. |
|
4 |
Crossed Goose Creek at a ford in
am and arrived with all my train at Camp Berkley at 2 pm.
Left at 4 1/2 pm and stalled on hill near camp |
|
5 |
Hauled engines up the hill with
blocks and tackle and got them to the next one. ????? at
Mount Zion. Stayed with Lt. Blakeley at his Mothers at Aldie |
|
6 |
Went to examine Goose Creek Bridge
near Middleburg. Train arrived at Middleburg at 9 am. Hired
some oxen |
|
7 |
Train arrived at Rectors cross
roads {Rectortown Station on the
Manassas Gap RR, about 25 road miles from Leesburg on the
route taken} by 3 pm. I left for Strasburg via Piedmont
{station 4 miles west of Rectortown} at 3 pm and
arrived at Strasburg at 8 pm |
|
8 |
At Capt. Bowman's all day |
|
9 |
Went to Piedmont. Got one engine
on the Manassas Gap RR and returned to Strasburg |
|
10 |
At Strasburg in the am. Started in
pm from Capt Bowman's for Winchester in company with Gerty.
Arrived at 8 pm |
|
11 |
In Winchester |
Saw Col. MacDonald {commanding
7th Va. Cavalry} and arranged with him to
furnish an escort for my force to Martinsburg. At 10 pm
started on stage with Gerty for Richmond. Engines all on
track at Piedmont and machinery loaded up |
|
12 |
At Capt Bowman's all day |
|
13 |
Left at 6 1/2 am for Richmond,
where we arrived at 3 pm. Saw QM Genl and one gentleman on
business |
|
14 |
Left Richmond at 6 am. Arrived at
Manassas in company with Gerty, Cap Carter and John
McFarland {34 y. o. machinist from
Richmond} too late to connect to the train for Strasburg.
Came up on the water train to Camp Berkley {about
16} miles from
Broad River Station {Broad Run Station
on the Manassas Gap RR} and spent the night. Met Mr.
Goldsborough {Superintendent,
Manassas Gap RR} and Mr. Vandergrift {Superintendent,
Orange & Alexandria RR} |
|
15 |
At Camp Berkeley all day. Left on
the 4 pm train for Strasburg. John McFarland stopped at
Piedmont and took charge of Leesburg engines. Gerty and self
arrived at Mr. Heist's in Winchester at 11 pm |
|
16 |
In Winchester |
|
|
17 |
In Winchester |
Started all my force to Martinsburg |
|
18 |
Left at 7 am for Martinsburg. My
force arrived at noon and went to work on locomotives and
machinery |
|
19 |
At Martinsburg |
Commenced loading wagons with tools and
machinery. Started Engine 231 at 6 pm. Got it through town
by 7 1/2 pm |
|
20 |
Left Martinsburg at 6 am and
arrived at Winchester at 9 1/2 pm |
|
21 |
In Winchester |
In pm went to Stevenson's Depot {5
miles from Winchester, on the Winchester & Potomac RR, 2
miles east of the direct road from Martinsburg to
Winchester} and arranged
to unload wagons at that point and haul by RR to Winchester.
Engine 235 left Martinsburg at 4 pm and arrived at Charles
Lee at
9 pm {3 miles south of Martinsburg} |
|
22 |
Went to Stevenson's by RR and
thence by my buggy to Martinsburg arrived at 10 1/2 pm |
|
23 |
At Martinsburg |
Left for Winchester at 4 1/2 pm; came from
Stevenson's to Winchester by RR |
|
24 |
In Winchester |
Engine 235 arrived at Stevenson's today |
|
25 |
Went to Stevenson's by RR and
thence in my buggy to Martinsburg, where I arrived at 11 1/2
am. Left Martinsburg at 3 1/2 pm and arrived at Winchester
at 6 3/4 pm. Passed Engine 231 5 1/2 miles from Stevenson's |
|
26 |
In Winchester |
Sick. Engine 231 arrived at Stevenson's at 12
m. |
|
27 |
In Winchester |
Left at 6 pm in company with Gerty for
Richmond |
|
28 |
Arrived at Strasburg at 1 am and
left at 3 am for Richmond, where we arrived at 4 pm |
|
29 |
In Richmond |
Went to ??? {Virginia}
Central shops in am. Saw QM Genl.
and others |
|
30 |
In Richmond |
At 12 M started on the engine McKenzie
{hauled from the Alexandria, Loudon &
Hampshire RR at Leesburg} now
called Genl. Beauregard on trial trip. Went as far as
Hanover C. H. {18 miles north of
Richmond on the Virginia Central RR} and back by 5 pm |
|
31 |
In Richmond |
|
| September |
1 |
Left at 6 1/2 am and arrived at
Strasburg at 8 pm |
|
2 |
At Strasburg |
Left at 11 am for Winchester. Met Engine 208
coming out of Winchester at 4 pm |
|
3 |
Left at 8 am for RR (with horse
and buggy) in company with ??? Arrived at Charleston {Station
on the Winchester & Potomac RR, 22 miles north of
Winchester} at 10
am and left for Martinsburg {9 miles
west}, where we arrived at 5 pm |
|
4 |
Left Martinsburg at 10 am and
arrived at Stevenson's at 12 1/2 pm and took train to
Winchester. Ordered part of my force to Duffields {a
station on the Baltimore & Ohio RR 3 1/2 miles west of
Harper's Ferry} to remove
engines from there to Halltown {a
station on the Winchester & Potomac RR} |
|
5 |
In Winchester |
|
|
6 |
Left for Duffields where I
arrived at 12 m. Saw Col. Ashby and quartered with him |
|
7 |
At Duffields. Started Engine 225
for Halltown at 4 pm. Force at work tearing up tract in
charge of Geo Glaize |
|
8 |
At Col. Ashby's camp |
Engine 225 was upset at Halltown. Raised her up
and put her on the track by 4 pm |
|
9 |
At Col. Ashby's camp |
Hauled engine 83 to Halltown and put her on
track |
|
10 |
Hauled engine 33 to Halltown this
am. Left Halltown at 3 1/2 pm for Winchester on a hand car.
Arrived at Winchester at 8 pm |
|
11 |
Went to Col. Ashby's camp and back
by 8 1/2 pm |
|
12 |
In Winchester |
|
|
13 |
Went to Col. Ashby's camp at
Halltown. Met Col. Ashby on his way to Winchester. Col.
Ashby returned to camp at 9 pm. At midnight I accompanied
Col. Ashby, one piece of cannon and 150 cavalry to
Shepherdstown {5 miles from Halltown} |
|
14 |
Arrived at Shepherdstown at 1 1/2
am, when 6 rounds of solid shot hit Federal camp on north
side of River and returned to camp. At 4 pm went to Harpers
Ferry with Col. Ashby, Capt. Myers and Lt Areitt and
examined cannon set on Bolivar Heights by Genl. Johnston. At
Halltown, I parted with them and went to Charlestown and from
there in my buggy, with Mark Darracott, to Winchester, arriving at 11 pm |
|
15 |
In Winchester |
At 5 1/2 pm left for Richmond; arrived at
Strasburg at 8 1/2 pm |
|
16 |
Left at 3 am and arrived at
Richmond at 3 pm. Saw QM Genl. and others. Mr. Marshall,
President of Manassas Gap RR, came down with me |
|
17 |
In Richmond |
Met Mr. Goldsborough today {Superintendent,
Manassas Gap RR} |
|
18 |
In Richmond |
Engine Genl. Johnston (Manning) went out today
on Virginia Central RR. Dined with Mr. Marshall and Goldsborough at
Four ??? |
|
19 |
In Richmond |
|
|
20 |
In Richmond |
Sent Engine Genl. Johnston from Virginia Central Depot
via Hanover Junction to Fredericksburg Depot {Richmond,
Fredericksburg & Potomac RR -- less than 3/4 mile
between the two Depots, but they were not connected at this
time, so this 42-mile trip was required} |
|
21 |
In Richmond |
Engine Genl. Johnston went to Manassas Gap RR
today {there is no record of this; the
locomotive was assigned to the RF&P RR} |
|
22 |
Left for Strasburg at 8 1/2 am;
arrived at 9 1/2 pm and quartered with Capt. Echols |
|
23 |
Left Strasburg and arrived at
Winchester at 12 m |
|
24 |
In Winchester |
|
|
25 |
In Winchester |
|
|
26 |
Left for Col. Ashby's camp. Took
buggy and mare on train. P. Cameron {probably
Paul Cameron, President of the North Carolina RR} arrived
at camp at 12
1/2 pm, and at 10 1/2 pm started for dam 4 Potomac River in
company with Col. Ashby |
|
27 |
Arrived at dam 4 at daylight after
a nights ride in the rain, but found it impracticable to do
anything. Returned to camp in the pm |
|
28 |
Left camp at 12 m and arrived at
Winchester at 3 pm |
|
29 |
Went down to Maj. W. T. Jones' and
dined with him; returned to Winchester in pm |
|
30 |
In Winchester |
|
| October |
1 |
In Winchester |
|
|
2 |
In Winchester |
Engine 231 put on track at Strasburg |
|
3 |
In Winchester |
Accepted appointment of Chief Engineer,
Winchester & Potomac RR |
|
4 |
Left by RR to Cameron {3
miles before Charlestown}
and from
thence to Camp Jefferson (Col. Ashby) |
|
5 |
At camp |
Went to Martinsburg and back in pm |
|
6 |
Left camp at 9 am and arrived at
Winchester 12 m |
|
7 - 9 |
In Winchester |
|
|
10 |
Went to Strasburg at 5 pm |
|
11 |
Left Strasburg at 3 pm and arrived
at Richmond at ??? |
|
12 - 13 |
In Richmond |
|
|
14 |
Met at Fredericksburg Depot T. H.
Mymie, William Ettinger {42 y. o.
machinist from Richmond} and John F. Tanner, committee
to value the Engine Genl. Johnston, which they agreed at
being worth $8,000. Mr. Daniel, Jr. President {Richmond,
Fredericksburg & Potomac RR}, accepted the
engine. |
|
15 |
Commissioned as Acting
Quartermaster Captain today by Jefferson Davis |
|
16 |
In Richmond |
|
|
17 |
Left Richmond at 7:40 am for
Strasburg in company with Gerty; we arrived at 9 1/4 pm |
|
18 |
Left Strasburg at 11 am and
arrived at Winchester 1 pm |
|
19 |
Went to Col. Ashby's camp at
Flowing Spring and back by RR |
|
20 |
In Winchester |
|
|
21 |
In Winchester |
P. Eagen arrived last night |
|
22 - 27 |
In Winchester |
|
|
28 |
In Winchester |
Started for Strasburg at 2 pm |
|
29 |
Left Strasburg at 3 am and arrived
at Richmond at 4 pm |
|
30 |
Left Richmond at ??? am in company
with sister; arrived at Strasburg 9 1/4 pm |
|
31 |
Left Strasburg at 11:15 am with
sister and arrived at Winchester 1:15 pm |
| November |
1 - 4 |
In Winchester |
|
|
5 |
Went to Halltown by RR with sister
and Miss Maggie Hait and were met by Col. Ashby and escort,
thence rode to Harpers Ferry and had a view of surrounding
scenery. Returned to Col. Ashby's camp at Flowing Spring.
Arrived and took train to Winchester, where we arrived at 6
pm. Genl. T. J. Jackson and staff arrived today to take
command in the Valley of Va. |
|
6 - 11 |
In Winchester |
|
|
12 |
In Winchester |
Col. Ashby here |
|
13 |
In Winchester |
|
|
14 |
In Winchester |
E. C. Marshall, President of Manassas Gap RR
here today |
|
15 - 17 |
In Winchester |
|
|
18 |
Went to Strasburg and back |
|
19 - 23 |
In Winchester |
|
|
24 |
Went to Col. Ashby's camp at
Flowing Spring by RR and from there rode along line of RR to Harpers
Ferry. Walked from burnt bridge down to Hem??le. Returned to
camp and to Winchester by 6 pm |
|
25 - 27 |
In Winchester |
|
|
28 |
Left for Martinsburg with John
McFarland at 12 m and returned to Winchester at 9 pm |
|
29 |
In Winchester |
John McFarland left for Richmond today.
Longest
left Martinsburg today under escort of Lt. Washburn for Sir
Johns run |
|
30 |
In Winchester |
John McFarland at Noedstock today valuing
machinery transported from B&O shops to the Manassas Gap
RR |
| December |
1 - 2 |
In Winchester |
|
|
3 |
In Winchester |
Col. Ashby here in pm |
|
4 |
In Winchester |
|
|
5 |
In Winchester |
Longest and force left for a visit to
Harpers Ferry. Am built a temporary bridge and brought off
Engine 50, four B&O cars and some arsenal machinery |
|
6 |
In Winchester |
More cars brought from Harpers Ferry today |
|
7 - 8 |
In Winchester |
|
|
9 |
In Winchester |
Alex Dudley {President,
Richmond & York River RR} here. Met 12 pontoon boats for
Genl. Jackson today |
|
10 |
In Winchester |
|
|
11 |
In Winchester |
My wife had a fine
daughter at six forty am, our first child. On the 13th of
January 1862, we will have been married for 5 years. Named
daughter Lucy Ashby after my wife's mother and my friend
Col. Turner Ashby |
|
12 |
In Winchester |
H. W. Vandegrift
{Superintendent, Orange & Alexandria RR} here with one trustee and
Machinist Mr. Sample |
|
13 |
In Winchester |
Isaac Jermade here |
|
14 |
In Winchester |
|
|
15 |
In Winchester |
Started at 2 pm for Strasburg |
|
16 |
Left Strasburg at 3 am; arrived at
Richmond at 6 pm |
|
17 |
In Richmond |
|
|
18 |
In Richmond |
Employed C H Manson today as clerk |
|
19 |
In Richmond |
|
|
20 |
Left at 7 1/2 am in company with
Mr. Marsh {Sharp's father in law} to Winchester; arrived at Strasburg 10 1/4 pm |
|
21 |
Left Strasburg at 6 1/4 am with
Mr. Marsh. Arrived at Winchester 8 1/4 am. Received order
from Maj. Genl. T. J. Jackson to deliver four miles of RR
iron at Strasburg by Thursday night subject to order of
Genl. J. E. Johnston |
|
22 - 29 |
In Winchester |
|
|
30 |
Went to Charleston by RR and
thence via buggy to Martinsburg. Returned to Winchester at
dark. Saw Longest at Buckeleytown {4
miles south of Martinsburg}. Genl. Jackson ordered all
my wagons and horses to Winchester today for the use of the
army |
|
31 |
Appointed Acting Chief
Quartermaster of the Valley District today by Genl. Jackson
and entered upon the duties of the office |
