New Kent for Zachary Taylor

 

 Nomination of General Zachary Taylor as a Candidate for the next Presidency, by the People.

 

 Saturday week, the 8th inst., being the day of Regimental Parade, a large number of the citizens of New Kent and Charles City counties, composing the 52d Regiment,* assembled at the Forge in New Kent; and the Parade being over, a meeting was held, without distinction of party, to nominate Gen. Taylor for the next Presidency.

 The meeting was organized by the appointing of Col. E.G. Crump as Chairman, and Wm. R.C. Douglass as Secretary and its object having been appropriately explained by the committee or is appointed to report proceedings  in accordance therewith; which motion prevailed, and the following gentlemen named as said committee: Doct. Robt. S. Apperson, Hill Carter, A.H. Fergusson, Col. Jno. S. Stubblefield, Jacquelin L. Poindexter, Rich'd. Crump, Dr. Wm. R. Savage, Canellene C. Fowlkes, R. T. Lacy, Dr. G.W. Morriss, Wm. Fowlkes, Braxton Garlick and Wm R. C. Douglas, who, after a short retirement, returned and reported through their chairman, Dr. Apperson, the subjoined preamble and resolution, which were submitted to the meeting in the usual manner, and adopted with but one dissenting voice.

 When the committee returned with their report Thos. H. Willcox, Esq., was in the midst of an address, the soul-stirring sentiments of which elicited frequent bursts of applause.

 The meeting was also addressed, in very handsome style, by Messrs. Hill Carter, R.T. Lacy and John Walker; and the only thing that occurred to mar, in the slightest degree, the harmony of its proceedings, was the position which Mr. Walker fell constrained to occupy in reference to them. Differing with the meeting as to the propriety of nominating Gen. Taylor, he nevertheless expressed the commendable sentiment that the People's choice should be his choice.

                                     Preamble and Resolution.

 Whereas, we are of opinion that the high state of party feeling, which has existed for the last twelve or fifteen years, has been deleterious both to our interests-and to our social relations, and whereas we have entire confidence in the fitness of Gen. ZACHARY TAYLOR for the Presidency, and believe that his nomination for that office by the People, without distinction of party, and without reference to his opinions upon those questions that have hereto divided parties, will tend in a great degree to foster a spirit conducive of good alike to our interests and to our social relations- Therefore,

 Resolved, That we do hereby nominate Gen Zachary Taylor as the People's Candidate for the next Presidency, and pledge ourselves to use every honorable effort to ensure his election.

 On motion of Capt. Braxton Garlick, it was, 

 R'solved, That these proceedings be signed by the Chairman and Secretary; and that the Whig and Democratic papers in Richmond, Norfolk and Petersburg be requested to publish them.

 On motion, the meeting then adjourned.

  E.G. CRUMP, Chairman. 

Wm. R.C. Douglas, Secretary.

 -Richmond Enquirer,  25 May 1847

Zachary Taylor would go on to claim the Whig nomination for Presidency in 1848 and would win the election in November. He would carry New Kent with 178 votes against 101 for the Democrats' Lewis Cass. This is not really surprising considering that New Kent was considered a strong Whig county.

The 52 Regiment was the militia regiment composed of the militia companies of New Kent and Charles City.

                         

                           JEALOUSY CAUSE OF FIGHT AT ROXBURY 

Ladies Fainted When Boys Started Row in Front of School 

(By J. A. Wright.) 

ROXBURY, VA„ May 14.—Since my last letter many unexpected incidents have occurred; fortunately, nothing serious. At the closing exercises of the Graded School near Quinton Friday night a large crowd attended. The program consisted of recitations, music and songs. Every seat was filled. All seemed happy when a fight outside was started by some young men. The battle raged with fury. Many ladies fainted. It was a disgraceful scene, and has cast a shadow, over this section.

 Five of the young men were arrested. They were tried Saturday by 'Squire, C. C. Tunstall and each fined -$25 and costs. The lecture that Mr. Tunstall gave them will follow them through life, it is hoped. Jealousy was the cause of the row.

 Young Higgins, who is quite a favorite with the ladies, has strewn the path along lovers' fame with thorns instead of flowers. So several others decided to get rid of this young man by force. But they selected the wrong time and place, which they have found out to their sorrow.

             Fred S. Bock Postmaster.

 At last, alter a hard-fought battle for postmaster at this place for several months, Mr. Fred S. Bock* has been appointed postmaster to succeed Mr. L. H. Rowzie. Mr. George Binns, with many years' experience, will be his assistant. 

 Roxbury is one of the best paying fourth-class post offices in the Peninsula, with two rural routes running out and one star route.

 Mr. Rowzie has made many friends here. Not a complaint was ever heard by the patrons of the office or the department. All wish him well in his new held of operations.

 This appointment was no political pull, for both Mr. Bock and Mr. Rowzie are staunch Republicans. The honor was won by merit alone. Mr. Bock standing highest on examination.

  The political situation is at fever heat now as to the congressional honors between Senator L. O. Wendenburg and Congressman A. J. Montague. No one can foretell results.

 The Methodist churches are preaching prohibition every Sunday. Several have given notice that their pulpits will be supplied for the summer by students, while the pastors go out in the highways and byways to stump for the prohibition ticket.

 No one will venture to predict the result of the September election. 

Personal News.

  There will be an all-day service at Olivet Church Sunday. A large crowd is expected to attend the unveiling of the monument by the Woodmen of the World to the late Forest Gilliam, of Providence Forge.

 Misses Bessie and Sammie Provoo, with Mr. Parker Shearwood and Mr. Richardson, who have been visiting relatives in New Kent, returned to Richmond Sunday.

  All Sunday schools in this section are now in a flourishing condition. 

 Preparations are being made for an excursion to Buckroe Beach this summer over the Chesapeake arid Ohio.

-Evening Journal, 14 May 1914

Fred Stanley Bock (21 Jul 1878- 2 May 1936)

Engagement at Slatersville- 1862

 The selection below is from the book, From Yorktown to Santiago with the Sixth U. S. Cavalry, by William Harding Carter, published in 1900. The 6th US Cavalry was one of those rarities in the Civil War, a professional regular army regiment. The story picks up during the Peninsula Campaign of 1862 right after the Battle of Williamsburg.

On May 7th the regiment left Williamsburg in pursuit of the enemy, and after a march of about five miles , overtook the rear guard, with which the carbine squadron, composed of B and H companies, became engaged. After a brief but lively skirmish the enemy withdrew. Nine men were wounded in this affair and were left to be cared for in houses in the vicinity. 

The pursuit was continued and on the 9th the advance reached Slatersville about 3 p.m. reported to the regimental commander that a detachment of about twenty Confederate cavalrymen were near by, and he sent a part of Captain Lowell's¹ squadron, consisting of fifty-five men, and Captain Sanders'² company of thirty-two men, to make a detour of the town and cut them off. Soon after the column started a vedette was discovered in the edge of the woods on the right of the village. He signaled to the company of cavalry to which he belonged and it wheeled about. Captain Lowell, who was in advance, immediately took up the gallop, and on reaching the opening he led his squadron to the charge in person. The enemy retreated before the advancing troopers in the direction of some buildings, from which a heavy fire was poured into Captain Lowell's men as soon as the enemy had uncovered them.

At this moment, and before Captain Sanders' company had completely emerged from the wood, a squadron of Confederate cavalry, heretofore concealed , suddenly approached on the left. Captain Sanders' company was immediately diverted from the road through a gap in the fence, and boldly charged down upon the squadron, which greatly exceeded in strength his own force. The sudden attack by Captain Sanders threw the advancing squadron into confusion and caused it to retreat. At this juncture some consternation was produced by the appearance of still another squadron of the enemy advancing rapidly. Captain Sanders showed his signal ability as a cavalryman by rallying his small company, which he had well in hand, wheeling about, charging the Confederate squadron which had last come upon the field, throwing it into confusion and compelling a retreat. 

It was apparent that the the small force was greatly outnumbered and the recall was sounded. Captain Sanders quickly rallied his men and withdrew. Captain Lowell, in the meantime, had pursued through the town beyond the sound of recall, but by prompt action he managed to withdraw before the enemy had recovered sufficiently to recognize the smallness of the force opposed to them. Lieutenants Hutchins³, Whitside⁴ and Coats⁵ were engaged in this affair and were commended for their good conduct. The loss in this action was four killed, eight wounded and three missing. 

The regiment was very proud of this little fight, for the companies engaged were greatly outnumbered at every turn, and it was only by the exhibition of perfect confidence and unhesitating courage that the command was enabled to withdraw, after it was discovered that the supposed small detachment of the enemy had suddenly grown to several squadrons, backed up by infantry. 

The Confederates continued their retreat and the regiment remained in close proximity to the rear guard through the 10th and 11th; on the latter date a sharp engagement, lasting nearly two hours, took place at New Kent Court House, when the enemy withdrew and the regiment pushed on to Cumberland Landing, on the Pamunkey river. During the pursuit, near New Kent Court House, the enemy's rear guard was constantly driven back, and Lieutenants Balder⁶ and Kerin⁷ behaved with such fearlessness and gallantry as to call forth a special report to the brigade commander.

¹ Charles R. Lowell (January 2, 1835 – October 20, 1864)- Charles Russell Lowell III rose to the rank of Brigadier General only to be mortally wounded 2 days later at the Battle of Cedar Creek.

² William P. Sanders (August 12, 1833 – November 19, 1863)- William Price Sanders rose to the rank of Brigadier General but was mortally wounded shortly after at the Siege of Knoxville.

³ Benjamin T. Hutchins (14 March 1836 -5 May 1889)-Benjamin Tucker Hutchins finished the war a Colonel. A Harvard graduate and  attorney, he resigned from the  Army in 1869 to go to seminary becoming an Episcopal minister.

⁴ Samuel M. Whitside (January 9, 1839 -December 15, 1904)- Samuel Marmaduke     Whitside finished the war as a Major surviving a major wound at the Battle of Culpepper Courthouse. He continued in the army serving on the frontier and in the Spanish American War, dying in 1904 as Brigadier General. He is the author of the above work.

⁵ Albert Coats  - Coats ended the war as a Lieutenant Colonel.

⁶ Christian Balder- 1st Lieutenant Balder was killed during the Gettysburg campaign at the Battle of Fairfield.

⁷ Joseph Kerin ( d. September 24, 1890) - The Irish born Kerin was captured in 1863 being held captive till exchanged in 1865. He retired from the Army in 1878.

Another good account of this actiona is at the website, Fiddler's Green-Regular Cavalry in the Civil War.