Introduced Version
House Concurrent Resolution 21 History
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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 21
(By Delegates Hamilton and Lynch)
Requesting the Division of Highways to name a stretch of road in
Upshur County, West Virginia, the "Upshur Civil War Company
"C" Militia Memorial Highway"; specifically, to provide this
identification to that stretch of road on State Route 20 from
milepost 11.53 at the intersection of State Route 20 and State
Route 4, to milepost 0.00 at the Webster/Upshur County line.
Whereas, On September 16, 1862, at Buckhannon, Upshur County,
West Virginia, Company "C" of the Upshur County 133rd Militia State
Troops was mustered with a known roster of seventy men; and
Whereas, Company "C" was stationed at Centerville (now Rock
Cave) which was one of the leading centers in the southern part of
the county, boasting three well-stocked general stores, two
blacksmith shops, a gunsmith, a school, two churches, a post office
and a tan yard; and
Whereas, Stationing at Centerville was decided in large part
because a fortification already existed on a high hill to the
southwest, known as Fortification Hill, which is now part of a
farm, the house of which now stands where the fort once overlooked
the town, surrounding roads and countryside; and
Whereas, While stationed at Centerville, the soldiers' initial
six weeks time was primarily devoted to learning basic drill, rifle
handling, attending lectures on military tactics, becoming
disciplined soldiers and learning duties and responsibilities; and
Whereas, After becoming familiar with their soldier role,
Company "C" was ordered to break camp and return to muster only
once per week at the open, drill field; and
Whereas, Unbeknownst to Company "C", the Confederates had
learned all the minute details and habits of the Upshur County
militia from a former member of the militia who had deserted, fled
south and joined the Confederate cause wherein he served as a
scout; and
Whereas, Early on the morning of September 12, 1863, the
Confederates arrived unobserved at Centerville under cover of the
dense woods, occupying a position on a high hill overlooking the
area where they intended to capture the Company "C" militia and,
awaiting the early preparations of the militia to muster in the
open field, they formed their plan of attack; and
Whereas, All but two members of the militia presented to muster
on the clear, crisp morning of September 12, 1863, the two absent
members being the father and brother of the deserter, now
Confederate scout, who had advised the confederacy of the
whereabouts and doings of the Company "C" militia; and
Whereas, As the families of the Company "C" militiamen, who had accompanied their husbands, fathers, brothers and sweethearts, were
anticipating an enjoyable, sociable day, the drill sergeant of
Company "C" prepared to put his men through their formation,
unaware of the danger surrounding them; and
Whereas, Just as the militiamen were arriving at their posts in
the wide, open and vulnerable field, the Confederates began firing,
advancing from the hills and demanding surrender; and
Whereas, The surprise attack caused instant confusion amongst
the militiamen who were without cover and with only empty rifles
for defense; and
Whereas, The Company "C" militia were captured and on the
evening of September 12, 1863, the rebel commander issued the order
to march and the long line of militiamen moved out of Centerville
toward the prisons of the South, gazing back at the town of
Centerville shrouded in smoke from the fortification set afire by
the Confederates; and
Whereas, The march was long and the captured soldiers suffered
loneliness, homesickness and numerous deprivations with many of the
men hospitalized along the way due to an outbreak of the measles
and other poor health conditions; and
Whereas, The Company "C' militia were ultimately imprisoned at
Old Castle Thunder, a warehouse used as a prison, in Richmond,
Virginia; and
Whereas, The militiamen were initially all denied paroles and exchanges; and
Whereas, Upwards of twenty militiamen were offered an escape
from the deplorable prison conditions if they agreed to be
conscripted into the rebel military service but all refused; and
Whereas, By the end of the war, forty-three members of the
Company "C" militia died in southern prisons, leaving behind
twenty-seven widows and eighty-three children; and
Whereas, The raid on Centerville and capture of Company "C"
threw what is now the entire State of West Virginia into a panic,
causing newspaper editorials to question whether West Virginia, who
had given more volunteers to the government, per capita, than any
other state in the nation, had the protection of Washington; and
Whereas, The lives of the militiamen of Company "C" deserve to
be honored so that their sacrifice is not forgotten and remains
salient in the minds of all who live and travel through Upshur
County; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name
that stretch of road in Upshur County, West Virginia, on State
Route 20 from milepost 11.53 at the intersection of State Route 20
and State Route 4, to milepost 0.00 at the Webster/Upshur County
line the "Upshur Civil War Company "C" Militia Memorial Highway";
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made six signs that state, in bold and prominent
lettering, the "Upshur Civil War Company "C" Militia Memorial
Highway" and erect these signs on both sides of West Virginia State
Route 20 at milepost 0.00, milepost 8.33 (the historical landmark
of Fiddler's Mill) and milepost 11.53; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates
forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Secretary of the
Department of Transportation and to the County Commission of Upshur
County.