Not long ago, while perusing the papers of Confederate civilians in Fold3, I dropped in the names of some relatives in the Valley, just to see what I might find. For starters, I found that my third great grandfather, William M. Dorraugh, was of help to Gen. Richard S. Ewell. It was a small thing, really, but… in May, 1862… while Ewell remained behind, in Page County, and Stonewall Jackson moved toward Front Royal, Ewell needed to have supplies moved from Luray, along the South Fork of the Shenandoah River (to Jackson’s body of troops at Front Royal, perhaps?). How my third great grandfather got involved, I haven’t a clue. Still, he did… providing three small boats to transport supplies…
Is this an indication that he truly supported the Confederacy? Hard to say, really. This is the only document in the civilian files. That said, however, I have a hunch he sided with the Confederacy. Not that it is an indication (not at all, considering how many father-son combinations I have seen who were at odds, when it boiled-down to loyalties) of loyalty, but he did have two sons and two sons-in-law in the service of Virginia. Additionally, he was (as I discovered in the papers of Joseph F. Milton and Hiram P. Strole) a notary in the county… and being in wartime… any office of authority (if I remember correctly) required an oath of loyalty.
So, at about the same time I found this, I also discovered something else. William’s wife, Sarah Ann Ham Dorraugh, was a daughter of Joseph H. and Ann Grace Smoot Ham. I actually knew that part already, but what I didn’t know was… in addition to Sarah (and a brother Elijah), Joseph and Ann also had (at least) two other sons… Samuel and Vernon. Like Sarah, Elijah Ham remained in the Shenandoah Valley and had a son who served in the Confederate army. Yet, Samuel and Vernon did not remain, and, before 1840, moved to Indiana. They too had sons, but several of their sons served in blue (and one of them was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, before the family moved to Indiana). Fortunately, the first cousins didn’t come together in battle, as the Indiana branch served primarily in the west.
What I find interesting is that this is yet another one of those examples in which we find that those serving in blue weren’t so unfamiliar with the “ways and understanding of the South”. Indeed, with only one generation between father and son, I can’t imagine that they were so detached. Like I’ve said in posts before… with the fathers AND mothers being from Virginia, surely they passed many of the same customs and traditions (whether ideals and values or simple foodways) along to their children. These Virginia extensions, that reach out to the midwest, never cease to fascinate me considering the ties, but their different perspectives and how they impacted their sentiments/loyalties.
One of my third great-grandmother’s nephews in blue was George W. Ham, of the 57th Indiana Infantry. Much to my surprise (and delight), I found his letters AND his photo (likely taken at the end of the war, in Indianapolis) online (see the links at the bottom of this post).
I also found George’s obituary in an Indiana newspaper…
For the letters, take a look at this link.
For the photo, see here.
Enjoy the photo and letters…
Cenantua's Blog 
Patrick Young
August 24, 2013
Saw you on Vimeo at Library of Virginia forum. Sounded good.
Robert Moore
August 24, 2013
Thanks, Patrick!
Janet
August 24, 2013
Re: Your comment –
“Is this an indication that he truly supported the Confederacy? Hard to say, really. This is the only document in the civilian files. That said, however, I have a hunch he sided with the Confederacy. Not that it is an indication (not at all, considering how many father-son combinations I have seen who were at odds, when it boiled-down to loyalties) of loyalty, but he did have two sons and two sons-in-law in the service of Virginia.”
There seems to be a pattern to this type of comment in your blog. Why is this subject important to you?
Have you had personal experiences that make you sensitive to this angle of the subject?
Robert Moore
August 25, 2013
The subject is important because I’ve found, no matter where one is from, there is frequently a misconception about people and sentiments, in regard to the Civil War. The recurring subject matter is sometimes purely happenstance. This is one of those instances where research into my family intersected with my interests in wartime sentiments. In that instances such as this seem to be a regular occurrence, I’m particularly pleased, as they demonstrate their aren’t merely rare anomalies.
Janet
August 25, 2013
OK, thanks for the explanation. I kept thinking, who in their right mind would think that a soldier would be loyal to either military regime after the first two weeks in camp, regardless of whether a person has only seen “Gone with the Wind” or written several books.
After reading your comment, I suddenly remembered my own experiences relating to military vs. civil events, as shown in the Introduction to our second work. As a result, we pointed out the connection on the back cover and included a military index to appease the military market and assure that our works would survive to reach the used book stores.
***
Back cover: …Military campaigns, casualties, and camp life cross paths with civilian life when children, cattle and corn are sacrificed for the Confederate cause…
***
Introduction… Siram Henkel was a farmer and kept a farming journal. In trying to market the 1861 book, we were told by sellers of historical books that a farm journal would be of little interest – their customers were only interested in military history. Farming was narrowly viewed by the vendors as unrelated to military history.
What role, if any, did the farmers play in the War Between the States? …
Yes, the farmers played a major role in the War.
Farmers WERE soldiers.
***
Robert Moore
August 26, 2013
“who in their right mind would think that a soldier would be loyal to either military regime after the first two weeks in camp”
I disagree. Just as diverse as opinions were going in, there were plenty of folks who became more invested in respective causes as the war progressed. No doubt, some did question why they were there, after two weeks… some even deserted at some point, because of that uncertainty, and even a feeling that they were more disconnected from a particular cause than they had originally believed. Yet, I feel there were others, by their actions, who demonstrated other opinions. Whether they remained on that course or not, can only be evaluated by their actions (again) as the war progressed into later years.
Michelle
August 26, 2013
Im trying to locate or get info on Rebecca Nicholson from Culpeper , VA .She gratuated from Culpeper Co high school around 1971. I believe this branch of the Nicholson family is my key. Please email me at hiswings91@gmail.com
Jane Rosson
August 26, 2013
I think Joseph F. Milton is a relative of mine. Does Fold 3 have some of his correspondence?
Robert Moore
August 27, 2013
No, strictly his service record.