Discovering Page County Above and Below Ground
As written by James Allen
In April of 1862, Page Counties own Jimmy Bell, a 1st Lieutenant in the 7th Virginia Cavalry, was captured while guarding the Columbia Bridge near Alma Virginia. He was transferred to Winchester, then off to Baltimore, and finally he was sent to Fort Delaware.
There Jimmy remained while the war went on. It was not uncommon for both sides to exchange prisoners at various times early in the War, and so it was for Jimmy. He was sent to Aikens Landing for exchange however, he would finish the war as a private. While he served in various units, eventually Jimmy would once again join a Virginia Calvary regiment. On Nov 5th of 1864 he would go awol, only to return on December 31st.1864, no details were given. Jimmy would ride out the last few months of the war unharmed.
Who the heck was Jimmy Bell? Jimmy Bell was born on June 8th 1840 as James H Bell, and only child, his parents were John Westley Bell, and Rachel Keyser Bell. Jimmys father would be brutally murdered by a couple of his slaves in 1842 while Jimmy was two years old. No explanation was given in the records. Thus, the hauntings of the Shenandoah Rivers South Fork were born. Jimmy and his mother would soon move in with his grandfather, George Keyser on his farm the “The Green Castle”. Jimmy Bell had it good at his grandfathers and was surrounded by friends and lots of family. In 1859 George Keyser would pass, leaving his farm to his daughter Rachel, who in turn would pass five years later, leaving it all to Jimmy in Jan of 1864. The war would end the following year and he would return to the Green Castle.
Jimmy was pretty much set for life, he had a large farm with a beautiful small mansion built by his grandfather along the Shenandoah River. He had good people running and taking care of the farm.
He was well liked in the community, and would travel around staying with friends and family. Life was good for Jimmy, that is until June 1st 1866. He had just arrived home from an afternoon in Luray. To those that worked for him nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Later that evening Jimmy would retire to his chambers never to be seen alive again. Jimmy Bell would take his own life later that night, no notes, or letters, and nobody saw it coming. It is said that Jimmy used a service pistol to take his life.
On June 3rd the day of Jimmy Bells funeral, a Writer by the name F J.W. Wood wrote, “No young man in Page County ever began life with brighter prospects than Jimmy Bell, and none ever came to a sadder end”.
This image was created by the author James Allen.
Sources used include:
U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles 1861-1865
The Page Courier article in 1896.
This Article Posted on Shenandoah Newz April 19, 2024 Hits 379.
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E.O.B writes back to Ohio - he is in Page County during the Civil War.
In early July 1862, a newly formed all volunteer Union Cavalry Regiment (6th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry) was tasked with occupying the small town of Luray Virginia. Just three months earlier they were drilling in central Ohio. The 6th Ohio Calvary Regiment was put together from ten different counties across northern and north central Ohio. Interestingly the vast majority of the troopers were not proficient in riding at all. Most could drive a wagon sure but to ride, shoot, maneuver, hardly. They would learn quickly or they would not survive.
Below is an excerpt from a letter written by Union Trooper “ E.O.B” going back to Ohio to his parents. “Know that at this time only the 6th is left to occupy Luray and Page County. The rest of the Union Army has moved north. Also keeping in mind that this regiment is inexperienced and losing troopers to accidents regularly. Just the day before they lost the company Bugler when his pistol discharged into his knee as he mounted his horse”.
E.O.B. writes on June 15th 1862 from Luray Virginia.
“We have been highly complimented by Brigadier Gen. Lloyd and Gen Stienwehr for gallantly defending Luray and keeping our good position. The 6th is learning their style, will give them enough of their own play. But they have greatly the advantage, knowing every crook, turn, and hiding place in this mountainous country which is peculiarly adapted to guerrilla warfare, and then every citizen, men, women, (woman are the worse) act as spies, and inform them of our every move, troop strength etc.
Some means must be adopted to drive them out of these mountains or they will fight us for forty years.
The main source for this post came from “The Life and Times of
Colonel William Stedman of the 6th Ohio Cavalry.”
This image came from americancivilwar.com
This Article Posted on Shenandoah Newz April 14, 2024
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Urban Westenberger - Fact from Fiction
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