History of Albemarle County Virginia United States of America

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Local History Notes:

Albemarle County, VA., Feb. 28-March 1, 1864. Custer's Expedition. Brig.-Gen. George A. Custer, commanding the 3d cavalry division, with 1,500 men and a section of artillery, left Pony mountain on the afternoon of Feb. 28 for a raid into Albemarle County. That night he bivouacked at Madison Court Road Leading to Stanardsville. A small picket of the enemy was encountered A Few Miles North of Banks' Ford on the Rapidan river, but it was quickly dispersed. About 8 o'clock the advance reached Stanardsville, where shots were exchanged with a small detachment of Confederate cavalry, which fled rapidly toward Orange Court House. From prisoners taken at Stanardsville, Custer Learned that Fitzhugh Lee's Cavalry was foraging in the neighborhood of Charlottesville and turned in that direction. Some 6 Miles from Charlottesville the Confederate pickets were met and driven rapidly back 2 Miles beyond the Rivanna River and 3 Miles from Charlottesville, where the enemy was found in force, supported by four batteries of artillery. Capt. Ash, with two squadrons of the 5th U. S. cavalry, was sent to charge the right flank and succeeded in capturing 6 caissons filled with ammunition, 2 forges and several sets of good harness, besides destroying the camp of the enemy's artillery. The demonstration developed the fact, however, that the Confederates were superior in numbers and too strong to attack, so Custer withdrew in good order, recrossed the Rivanna, destroying the bridge behind him and returned to Stanardsville. Upon reaching that Place on the morning of March 1, he found it again occupied by the enemy's pickets, who were driven out and the stores, consisting of clothing, saddles, provisions and whisky, were destroyed. From Stanardsville, Custer started on the return to Madison Court House, but after proceeding A Few Miles he found three brigades of Confederate cavalry-two Under Gen. Stuart and one Under Gen. Wickham -Drawn up at the forks of the road leading to Burton's and Banks' Fords. Capt. Lieb, who was in advance with one squadron of the 5th U. S. cavalry, charged the whole force, and for a short time the enemy was thrown into confusion by the sudden and unexpected Action. Stuart rallied his men and countercharged, forcing Lieb Back upon the main body. The entire 5th regiment Under Capt. Arnold then charged, driving the enemy back and capturing over 20 prisoners, besides recapturing some of Lieb's men who had fallen into the hands of the enemy. As the Confederates retreated Lieut. Porter hurried his guns in position and fired a few shots after them to accelerate their movements. Part of the Confederates moved Toward Banks' Ford and the remainder toward Burton's. The latter was pursued across the South river and driven to the Rapidan, where Custer placed his artillery in position as though he intended to force a passage at Burton's Ford, which caused Stuart to concentrate his forces there, when Custer faced about and moved quickly to the upper fords, crossing the Rapidan before the enemy could prevent the movement. Besides the bridge over the Rivanna River and the stores at Stanardsville, the expedition destroyed 3 Large Flour Mills filled with grain , captured 2 wagons, one of which was loaded with bacon; 50 prisoners, a stand of colors and 500 horses and brought in 1OO negroes. Custer's casualties amounted to 6 men slightly wounded. He was complimented by the major-general commanding for the success of the expedition.

SOURCE: The Union Army A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States 1861-65 -- Records of the Regiments in the Union Army -- Cyclopedia of Battles -- Memoirs of Commanders and Soldiers. 8 vols. Madison: Federal Publishing, 1908.

Biographies:

Armistead Churchill Gordon, lawyer, was born in Albemarle county, Va., Dec. 20, 1855; son of George Loyall and Mary Long (Daniel) Gordon; grandson of Gen William Fitzhugh Gordon and of Judge Joseph J. Daniel, of the supreme court of North Carolina; and a descendant of John Gordon of Middlesex county, Va., a Scotch-Irish emigrant to Virginia froth Ulster, Ireland, about 1728; and through his mother a descendant of William Randolph of Turkey Island, Va., and of John Stith, the immigrant, who was the father of William Stith, historian, and president of William and Mary college. Armistead attended the University of Virginia, 1873-75, and was admitted to the bar in 1879. He was mayor of Staunton, Va., 1884-86; commonwealth's attorney, 1890-92, and city attorney, 1894-99. He was on the board of visitors of the University of Virginia, 1894-98; became a member of the charter board of William and Mary college in 1897, and was rector of the University of Virginia, 1897-98. He is the author of Befo' de War: Echoes in Negro Dialect (with Thomas Nelson Page, 1888); Congressional Currency (1895); For Truth and Freedoom: Poems of Commemoration (1898); Envion, and Other Tales of Old and New Virginia (1899) and contributions to periodicals.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

William Cabell, soldier, was born near Dover, on Licking-Hole creek, Goochland county, Va., March 13, 1730; son of William and Elizabeth (Burks) Cabell. It is probable that his education was finished at William and Mary college. In December, 1749, he began to assist his father in surveying, and continued to do so until 1753. In 1751 he became a vestryman of St. Ann's parish, Albemarle county, and held this office for ten years. In February, 1754, at the beginning of the French and Indian war, he raised a troop of horse, of which he was made captain. About 1755 he became a lieutenant-colonel of the Albemarle militia, and on Oct. 11, 1760, was promoted colonel. He was also a justice of the peace. From 1757 to 1761 he was a member of the house of burgesses. In 1760 he subscribed with others to a premium to be given for the purpose of encouraging the production of wine and silk in the colony. In 1761, at the first Amherst court, he qualified as the first presiding magistrate, the first county lieutenant, the first county surveyor, and the first county coroner, holding the offices until 1775. He also held the offices of burgess from Amherst county, of vestryman, and of surveyor by appointment of William and Mary college, thus holding all of the leading offices of Amherst county during the colonial era. On May 2, 1763, he received, from his father, a deed to 1,785 acres of land in Amherst county, which, with the 460 acres already patented, an addition of 579 acres in 1764, and many subsequent additions, made a large and valuable estate. Colonel Cabell was one of the original subscribers to the stock of the first James river canal company, and was prominent in all plans for the improvement of the country. From 1774 to 1776 he was chairman of the Amherst county committee, and from September, 1776, to March, 1781, he served as state senator, when he was appointed a member of the council of state. He was elected to the house of delegates, in 1782, in 1783, and again in 1787, being one of the few members to oppose the adoption of the Federal constitution. In 1788 he was again in the house of delegates, and in 1789 was made presidential elector, voting for George Washington. His wife was Margaret, daughter of Colonel Samuel Jordan, by whom be had seven children. At his death he left an estate of about thirty thousand acres of land, many slaves, and personal property, although he had given several of his children fair estates. His death occurred March 23, 1798.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

James Thompson Farley, senator, was born in Albemarle county, Va., Aug. 6, 1829. He removed to Missouri and from there crossed the plains to California in 1850, and in 1854 was admitted to the bar. He served two terms in the state assembly, being chosen speaker of that body at the beginning of the session of 1856. He was in the state senate, 1860-68, and was president pro tempore through one session. In 1873 he was the unsuccessful Democratic candidate for U.S. senator but succeeded A. A. Sargent on March 4, 1879, his term expiring March 3, 1885. He died in Jacksen, Cal., Jan. 22, 1886.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

John Thomas Harris, representative, was born in Albermarle county, Va., May 8, 1823; son of Nathan and Ann Allan (Anderson) Harris. He was a brother of William Anderson of James Overton who died in Atlanta, Ga., July 22, 1891, and of Dr. Clement Rush, who died at Stanton, Va., Nov. 2, 1871. John Thomas was educated for the law and practised in Harrisburg, Va. He was commonwealth attorney, 1852-59; presidential elector, 1856; representative in the 36th congress, 1859-61; representative in the Virginia legislature, 1863-65; circuit judge for the 12th circuit, 1866-69; representative in the 42d-46th congresses, 1871-81; chairman of the Democratic state convention, 1884; delegate-at-large to the Democratic national convention of 1884; elector-at-large on the Cleveland ticket, 1888, and president of the temporary organization of the World's Columbian commission, 1892. He died in Harrisburg, Va., Oct. 14, 1899.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Albemarle County Virginia

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