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John H. Lemaster Divided Loyalties in a Complex Time

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John H. Lemaster Divided Loyalties in a Complex Time JOHN H. LEMASTER DIVIDED LOYALTIES IN A COMPLEX TIME Michael L. Strauss Shepherd University-2005 Friday, July 21, 1863. The Confederacy’s bloody, demoralizing loss at Gettysburg is now a painful memory. Members of Company A of the 2nd Virginia Infantry slowly make their way from Pennsylvania through the newly formed state of West Virginia. Private John H. Lemaster is among their number.1 They had paused three days prior to set up camp in Darkesville, a small hamlet located only four miles from his family farm2. Thoughts of loved ones undoubtedly passed through his mind so close to home. Morale in his company is very low, despite the fact that they hadn’t seen any heavy fighting in the recent campaign. With just one furlough in two year’s time – not to mention their recent military humiliation – it’s no wonder that a dubious plan is about to move from thought into action for John H. Lemaster.3 It’s difficult to say what led to Lemaster’s decision to desert his post in the Confederate Army. Obviously, he was neither the first nor the last to take this step. In fact, 61 men from the 2nd Virginia Infantry alone deserted during the final two weeks of July.4 Had his loyalties changed or was his decision shrewdly based upon the changing tide of the war? Had he become fed up and disheartened that he was willing to risk serious punishment for a chance to return home? John H. Lemaster was born 15 January 1842, in the Opequon District of Berkeley County, Virginia, to John A. and Rhuanna (Tabler) Lemaster. The Lemaster family was a very old family, coming to Virginia from Pennsylvania in 1812. Lemaster’s great grandfather, 1 See Dennis E. Frye, 2nd Virginia Infantry (Lynchburg: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1984), 55. and Compiled Service Records, Military Reference Branch, National Archives. RG109 Microfilm Publication M324. Roll 326. 2 See Daniel H. Sheetz to Lydia Philips 18 July 1863 transcript in hand of Ronald Sheetz, Martinsburg, West Virginia. and Howard M. Lemaster and Margaret Herberger, Lemasters U.S.A. 1639-1965 (Carlinville: Howard M. Lemaster, 1965), 253. 3 See Dennis E. Frye, 2nd Virginia Infantry (Lynchburg: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1984), 55-56. and Compiled Service Records, Military Reference Branch, National Archives. RG109 Microfilm Publication M324. Roll 326. 4 Dennis E. Frye, 2nd Virginia Infantry (Lynchburg: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1984), 55. 2 Andrew Lemaster, had even served in the Revolutionary War from Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 1777. Andrew had served with Captain Emrick’s 3rd Battalion of the Berks County militia. Andrew was the first of the Lemaster’s to leave Berks County.5 With the need for living space, the Lemaster family moved toward the Virginia border. They first settled in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, later moving into Berkeley County, Virginia, where they set up a permanent home.6 John H. Lemaster’s grandfather was the first in his line to purchase land in Berkeley County. On 18 April 1812, John Lemaster bought 226 acres of land along the Opequon Creek from George and Mary Strode. It is there that John A. Lemaster was born.7 John A. Lemaster lived his entire life as a farmer in Berkeley County, Virginia. He moved into his own farm shortly after marrying Rhuanna Tabler on 15 February 1841 in Berkeley County, Virginia. Joshua Tabler stood in as witness for the marriage.8 The young couple would eventually be blessed with ten children, John H. Lemaster being the eldest of these children.9 Young John grew up and experienced the same culture as that of his neighbors. By law, he would have attended the pay school of the day at the expense of his parents. The system of schooling during this time in Berkeley County was known as the “Academy”. In addition to 5 Howard M. Lemaster and Margaret Herberger, Lemasters U.S.A. 1639-1965 (Carlinville: Howard M. Lemaster, 1965), 251. 6 Ibid., 252 7 Berkeley County, West Virginia. Office of the Superior Court. Superior Court Deed Book 1. Pg 170-176. 8 Guy L. Keesecker, Marriage Records of Berkeley County, Virginia 1781-1854 (Martinsburg: Guy L. Keesecker, 1969), 128. 9 Howard M. Lemaster and Margaret Herberger, Lemaster U.S.A. 1639-1965 (Carlinville: Howard M. Lemaster, 1965), 253-254. 3 school, young John would have been expected to work on his father’s farm.10 This probably included such things as tending to household chores and taking care of any livestock that the family owned. By 1850 John A. and Rhuanna Lemaster had six children living in the family household.11 His father owned a farm of 90 acres of improved and unimproved lands valued at $3600.00. In addition, the family owned two horses and numerous other livestock, and harvested wheat and oats along with other produce.12 Between 1850 and 1860 three additional children were welcomed into the John A. Lemaster family.13 By early 1858 young John H. Lemaster was becoming a responsible adult. It would soon be time for him to learn a trade that would serve him throughout his adult life. During this year his father decided to hire out his eldest son to a master saddler named Reason Shugert of Charlestown in neighboring Jefferson County, Virginia. Lemaster would soon learn the skills of the harness making trade from Shugert, laboring as an apprentice under his tutelage for the customary period of time. Reason Shugert was no stranger to his trade. He had recently moved his business from Shepherdstown to nearby Charlestown, Virginia, where he continued to do a good business. Shugert served as a town official for a number of years in Shepherdstown before relocating to Charlestown.14 10 Willis F. Evans, History of Berkeley County West Virginia (Martinsburg: Willis F. Evans, 1928; reprint, Bowie: Heritage Books, Inc., 2001), 294 (page citation is to the reprint edition). 11 U.S. Bureau of Census. Population Schedules of the Seventh Census of the United States, 1850 (National Archives) Berkeley County, Virginia. RG29 Microfilm Publication M432. Roll 936. Pg 37. 12 U.S. Bureau of Census. Non Population Schedules of the Seventh Census of the United States, 1850 (National Archives) Berkeley County, Virginia. Agricultural Census. RG29. Microfilm Publication T1132. Roll 4. Pg 461. 13 Howard M. Lemaster and Margaret Herberger, Lemasters U.S.A. 1639-1965 (Carlinville: Howard M. Lemaster, 1965), 253-254. 14 Clifford S. Musser, Two Hundred Years History of Shepherdstown (Shepherdstown: Shepherdstown Independent, 1931), 85-89. 4 Within a year John H. Lemaster was evidently doing well in his new trade. Reason Shugert had a thriving operation in Charlestown. He had leased a shop belonging to Squire Andrew Hunter which was located one door west of the Carter House hotel along Main Street in the center of town.15 Lemaster would live and take his meals with the Shugert family in the house located next to his shop. By 1860 Shugert had four men working for him including Lemaster.16 The pay for a young man of his means was quite good for the day. He was paid a salary of $15.00 per month which included his room and board. Shugert had invested $1800.00 into his business that year and he could afford to pay his employees handsomely.17 Lemaster would continue to work for Reason Shugert over the next year.18 While Lemaster improved his skills as an apprentice, events unfolded around him that would forever change his life. The John Brown Raid on nearby Harpers Ferry was a recent memory. Brown had been hung the previous year in Charlestown on 2 December 1859 for treason. It is reasonable to assume that young Lemaster witnessed the execution of this traitor to the Commonwealth of Virginia.19 With the election of Abraham Lincoln for President the 15 Sprit of Jefferson, 2 April 1859, p.4. 16 U.S. Bureau of Census. Population Schedules of the Eighth Census of the United States, 1860 (National Archives) Jefferson County, Virginia. RG29. Microfilm Publication M653. Roll 1355. Pg 807. 17 U.S. Bureau of Census. Non Population Schedules of the Eighth Census of the United States, 1860 (National Archives) Jefferson County, Virginia. Manufacturing Census. RG29. Microfilm Publication T1132. Roll 8. Pg 210. 18 Reason Shugert. Born: 28 January 1820 Died: 2 Oct 1883 in Jefferson County, West Virginia. He would continue the Saddler trade after the Civil War. Shugert is buried at the Edge Hill Cemetery in Charlestown, West Virginia. See Hugh E. Voress, Burials in Jefferson County, West Virginia (Charlestown: Jefferson County Historical Society, 1998), 62. and Sprit of Jefferson, 9 October 1883, Pg 3, Col 2. 19 Millard K. Bushong, A History of Jefferson County, West Virginia (Charlestown: Jefferson Publishing Company, 1941), 134-136 5 following Spring, a feeling of uncertainty filled the air for the residents of Jefferson County, Virginia. With each passing day the talk of slavery and secession continued to gain momentum. After all, Lemaster’s employer Reason Shugert was a slave owner.20 John’s own parents were not slave owners and didn’t feel the need for slave labor. By 1860 they were still located in Berkeley County with son Theodore doing the bulk of the chores which John had previously done on the farm.21 Political turmoil continued to mount for the people of Virginia. By April of 1860 a volunteer regiment of the militia was drilling and serving in Jefferson County on a regular basis. If war were to break out, most of the men of this militia unit would make up the chemistry of the 2nd Virginia Infantry.22 These men were under the command of former Virginia Military Institute graduate Colonel James W.
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