Shep's Place Family Tree

Camp near Bermuda Hundred
February 26 1865
My Dear Mother:

I sit down this Sabbath morning to write you a few lines - your welcome letter has just come to hand & carfully perused. we have moved from the river & come back to our old camp where the Tar heels were camped in our place. They burned our houses down seven in the company ours included but we got into another until we can rebuild. You spoke of a fight near Richmond I suppose it was at Hatchers Run it wasn't near us. I am sorry to hear that the soldiers are doing so badly but that their way. I think Pa had better not let his corn go too fast or he will not have enough to do him he had better put some in a safer place than the corn crib & they will be apt to find it, but I hope they will not pester you anymore. I know the soldiers fare badly enough but there's no use in doing so badly & nobody that thought much of himself would do so. - I am sorry to hear the dyptherea is at Mr. Biggs I hope he has not lost any one else. Did any of the white family die? I think he had better send for Dr. Neal & not be at outs with him at such a time. There is no news stirring now there was right smart excitement in camp the other day about the negroe question. Every man in the camp but 4 or 5 voted for putting them in. I think it looks rather strange for us to do the same thing that we were so much against at the first of the war. It looks like a drowning man catching at a straw. And if we should put the negroes in the army & by that means should gain our independence why they & not us would get the credit. Then they could say that they fought for & gained the independence of the south. We have been against freeing the negroes against abolishinism & now we turn around & do that same thing because we are in ‎(some think)‎ rather a tight place. Admit that we are did we not say that we were fighting in a just cause & thus God was on the side of the south. Then why can't we say so still & put our trust in God who is the god of batles who can with us ‎(without the aid of the negroes)‎ as an instrument drive the yanks not only from our country but clear out of existence. Well enough about the yanks.....Tell David that he must make haste & answer my letter & to keep the Horses close or some of those soldiers might accidentaly make a mistake & ride one of them off. Tell him to keep a good door & lock to the stables.....Your everloving son, Jimmie

James Archelius Wood, pioneer farmer and the oldest citizen of Botetourt county, and the only living member of his civil war company, was born September 1, 1847, near the present Glen Wilton, at that time the nearest postofffice being Clifton Forge, Virginia. He was the eldest son of the Rev. Davis Morton and Sarah Reynolds Wood. His ancestors on both his father's and mother's side came from England, and fought for their freedom in the Revolutionary War. At the tender age of 16 years Mr. Wood entered the civil war, defending a cause which he thought to be right--and for nearly two years was subjected to numerous and almost unbelieveable hardships.

He belonged to Company D., of the 11th Virginia regiment, Tenny's Brigade, Pickett's Division. He was on the lines between Petersburg and Richmond until January and was then transferred to Drewry's Bluff. He participated in Pickett's charge at the battle of Gettysburg. He also saw service at Ashland Station on Pamunkey river; later on the southside of Richmond and in the Battle of Dinwiddie Courthouse and another at Five Forks on April 2, 1865. He was in the rear guard on retreat from Five Forks to Sailor's Creek and on the scrimmage line part of the time, and was captured during the fight at Sailor's Creek by the Fifth Pennsylvania Cavalry of Custer's Brigade on April 5th 1865, four days before General Lee's surrender, and was taken by way of Petersburg and City Point to Newport until July 3rd 1865. He reached home on July 15th, where he was tendered a royal welcome, even by the remaining negroes, who declared themselves a holiday to celebrate the return of "Marse Jim" in safety from the war, a runner going to each field to call the workers in, with the glad cry of "Marse Jim done come home--Marse Jim done come home."

His father, being in frail health at that time and with most of the Negroes leaving, Mr. Wood assumed the duties of the farm and, with the few faithful Negroes who stayed with them, tried to restore the farm which had been ravaged by the "other side," which took many years of hard work to even partly accomplish. At that time tobacco was the main crop, this being taken down the James river to Lynchburg to market.

Mr. Wood was married on March 14th 1871 to Miss Sabina Payne, daughter of Lewis and Louisa Peck Payne. To this union were born ten children....

Mr. Wood is still quite active and loves to talk of his "War Days." He was 90 years of age on September 1 last, and is living on the farm to which he moved shortly after his marriage and on the same land which was deed to his grandfather, Jas. H. Wood, by the latter's father Joseph Wood, who died in 1816, and who was a direct descendant of the Duke of Argyle. A brother of Joseph Wood was Governor of Virginia for many years and was the founder of Winchester, Virginia.

Mr. Wood has one brother and one sister living--George C. Wood, of Huntington, W.Va., and Mrs. S. H. Price, of Montvale, Va.

Mr. Wood has for years been a member and elder of the Presbyterian Church at Glen Wilton. He has never aspired to public office, but has always taken an active interest in everything for the good of this state and community. His genuine worth and sterling integrity have endeared him to a host of friends far and near.