Berkeley County was part of the state of Virginia prior to June 1863. To answer the question, "Was it a pro Union or pro Southern Confederacy state," it is important to consider that its delegates to the 1861Seccesion Convention in Richmond voted unanimously to secede, the majority of its men fought for the Southern Confederacy and, after the Civil War, the people joined in a law suit, which went to the Supreme Court for final decision, to return Berkeley and Jefferson Counties to Virginia. With respect to the long-held myth that the people of the state voted to have western Virginia separated from Virginia and made into a new state, the polls weren't even opened for a vote in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties. It was considered too dangerous for "Union"agents to appear in the area. It is also important to note that the state of West Virginia was created by Executive Order of the President, not a vote of the people. The legitimacy of the Executive order raised sufficient questions that the United States Congress later voted to create the state. That voted raised sufficient questions that the question was taken to the Supreme Court. Like the issue of returning Berkeley and Jefferson Counties to the state of Virginia, in the post war atmosphere of bitterness, the Supreme Court made its decision in favor of "Union" ADVOCATES. The will of the citizens of Berkeley County was never considered in the decision. --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.551 / Virus Database: 343 - Release Date: 12/11/03

On May 23, 1861 the citizens of Virginia voted in a referendum to approved or disapprove the decision of the state's convention to secede from the Union. The vote was not about creating a separate state. While Virginia as a whole voted overwhelmingly to secede, Berkeley and Morgan counties voted to remain in the Union. In Berkeley, the vote against secession was over 800 more than those who favored secession. The actual number of citizens who supported the Union in Berkeley may have been larger. On May 19 Col. Thomas J. Jackson (later called "Stonewall"), who commanded at Harpers Ferry, sent a regiment of troops from the Ferry to Berkeley Co. to "check the disloyalty there." (his words, concerning disloyalty to the Confederacy). Later that year a soldier from the Stonewall Brigade referred to Martinsburg as an "abolition hole." Evidence shows that Berkeley was pro-Union, although the minority of citizens who supported the South was large, perhaps as high as 40-45%. Tim ----- Original Message ----- From: Deb Ludwig To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2003 7:52 AM Subject: [WVBERKEL] War Between the States Berkeley County was part of the state of Virginia prior to June 1863. To answer the question, "Was it a pro Union or pro Southern Confederacy state," it is important to consider that its delegates to the 1861Seccesion Convention in Richmond voted unanimously to secede, the majority of its men fought for the Southern Confederacy and, after the Civil War, the people joined in a law suit, which went to the Supreme Court for final decision, to return Berkeley and Jefferson Counties to Virginia. With respect to the long-held myth that the people of the state voted to have western Virginia separated from Virginia and made into a new state, the polls weren't even opened for a vote in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties. It was considered too dangerous for "Union"agents to appear in the area. It is also important to note that the state of West Virginia was created by Executive Order of the President, not a vote of the people. The legitimacy of the Executive order raised sufficient questions that the United States Congress later voted to create the state. That voted raised sufficient questions that the question was taken to the Supreme Court. Like the issue of returning Berkeley and Jefferson Counties to the state of Virginia, in the post war atmosphere of bitterness, the Supreme Court made its decision in favor of "Union" ADVOCATES. The will of the citizens of Berkeley County was never considered in the decision. --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.551 / Virus Database: 343 - Release Date: 12/11/03 ==== WVBERKEL Mailing List ==== BERKELEY County List Administrator: <=<[email protected]>=>

> On May 23, 1861 the citizens of Virginia voted in a referendum to > approved or disapprove the decision of the state's convention to secede > from the Union. It is also important to know that which state Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan Counties eventually became a part of was not finally settled until 1872 - and that decision was made by a court of law. Were a vote among residents taken at that time, who knows what the outcome would have been. That's why I think the answer that was posted to the question of Berkeley's sentiments during the Civil War that was a simple "Yes" was most accurate - too close to call. Berkeley County was truly on the border and the sentiments of its residents prove that, as well as do the numbers of Confederate and Union soldiers in Berkeley County's cemeteries - many of both, and often almost side by side in such cemeteries as Green Hill and Norbourne. Another piece of information that could be used as proof of Berkeley's split sentiments is the fact that Martinsburg TODAY is home to a camp of both Sons of Confederate Veterans and Sons of Union Veterans (as well as the Daughters counterparts of SCV and SUV). No doubt, as strong as feelings can be - at times - 140 years later, Berkeley County was a volitile place to live during the war. Don Silvius a lifelong Berkeley County resident Don Silvius Co-coordinator Shenandoah County, Virginia GenWeb Project <http://www.rootsweb.com/~vashenan/vashenan.html> The 2nd annual Shenandoah County Heritage Day is Saturday April 10, 2004, at the Edinburg Fire Hall, Edinburg, VA, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

I was born and raised in Western Maryland but I lived in Martinsburg from 1966 to 1973 and heard a lot about the Civil War while there. My grandfather also told me that his father (b: 30 December 1860 in Martinsburg) was carried as an infant west on the B & O railroad to western Maryland after the Civil War. I now believe that migration took place in 1861 or shortly after the beginning of the War and my great great grandfather may have deserted the Confederate Army. Especially since another son was born in 1864 in Maryland. The church we attended in Martinsburg had a street level entrance into the basement. It was used off and on by the Confederate and Union forces as a hospital. Church records were lost in the process and sometime after the Civil War the county courthouse burned down and more records were lost. My great-great-grandfather is now my brick wall. I have been unable to trace back from him. I intend to buy Dr Crites' book and maybe find something about him. These e-mails have been interesting. Leon S Clark ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, December 22, 2003 8:15 AM Subject: [WVBERKEL] Berkeley County sentiments during the Civil War | > On May 23, 1861 the citizens of Virginia voted in a referendum to | > approved or disapprove the decision of the state's convention to secede | > from the Union. | | It is also important to know that which state Berkeley, Jefferson | and Morgan Counties eventually became a part of was not finally | settled until 1872 - and that decision was made by a court of law. | Were a vote among residents taken at that time, who knows what | the outcome would have been. That's why I think the answer that | was posted to the question of Berkeley's sentiments during the | Civil War that was a simple "Yes" was most accurate - too close to | call. | | Berkeley County was truly on the border and the sentiments of its | residents prove that, as well as do the numbers of Confederate and | Union soldiers in Berkeley County's cemeteries - many of both, | and often almost side by side in such cemeteries as Green Hill and | Norbourne. | | Another piece of information that could be used as proof of | Berkeley's split sentiments is the fact that Martinsburg TODAY is | home to a camp of both Sons of Confederate Veterans and Sons of | Union Veterans (as well as the Daughters counterparts of SCV and | SUV). | | No doubt, as strong as feelings can be - at times - 140 years later, | Berkeley County was a volitile place to live during the war. | | Don Silvius | a lifelong Berkeley County resident | | | Don Silvius | Co-coordinator | Shenandoah County, Virginia GenWeb Project | <http://www.rootsweb.com/~vashenan/vashenan.html> | | The 2nd annual Shenandoah County Heritage Day | is Saturday April 10, 2004, at the Edinburg Fire | Hall, Edinburg, VA, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm |