A list of all of the regional partnering communities participating on the Sesquicentenial Committee:
Franklin County Civil War History
Franklin County, VA during the War between the States sided heavily with the Confederate States of America. Out of a population of 20,000 Plus, roughly 2500 served the Confederate Cause. Of those who went off to serve, roughly 250 to 300 became casualties during the conflict. If they are buried within the county, they are in family plots and pocket cemeteries about the land.
There were also some Blacks in the local population, either enslaved or free, that
worked as teamsters, cooks, fortification builders, locally and in other areas of Virginia.
Research shows that roughly 47 Blacks joined the US Colored Troops during the War and
l Black joined the US Navy. Many Blacks served on the home front also, to keep farms,
plantations, and businesses going.
There are many antibellum homes within Franklin County — and many are in private hands but on the National Registry of Historic Places. Notably among these are: “The Grove” — home of the Saunders — whose first wife was Jubal Early sister; Jubal Early often visited this house and from 1854 to 1861 had his law office on the grounds. Another is the Revolutionary vintage “Hook – Powell — Moorman House” — and Powell was an exslave — and relative of the late, notorius Adam Clayton Powell — a Congressman from New York; and the Duncan – Holland House –with 680 acres and on which grounds was an early Franklin County School, and served as a Confederate Post Office during the War.
Most significant is the Jubal Early Home Place and Archaeological Site — wherein General
Jubal Anderson Early, CSA, was born in 1816. He went through much of his childhood there and on grounds nearby, his mother and some sibblings are buried as well as his horse — Gray Bull — which carried him through Yankee sentries at the end of the War. General Early was against Secession and twice voted against it, but signed the Notice on April 17, 1861. He served the CSA well and fought in many battles — more than any other Confederate General and came closest to entering Washington DC at the Battle
of Fort Stevens, within the DC limits, in July 1864. After escaping the Federal warrants,
he exiled in Canada, where he was the first CSA General to recount his war exploits and
set a tone for all who followed. After an amnesty was declared in 1869, he returned to
Lynchburg, VA and practiced law. He continued to repudiate the North and focused a
more balanced view of the Southern Cause through the Southern Historical Papers and
Society. He served as a Lottery Commissioner for Louisiana for seven years. This position
allowed him to write and to speak of the Southern Cause. He died in 1894 and is buried
in Lynchburg. JUBAL EARLY’S BIRTHPLACE AND HOME PLACE IS THE ONLY SITE
IN FRANKLIN COUNTY THAT IS ON THE VIRGINIA CIVIL WAR TRAIL. Appropriate
signage and a grounds / parking plan is scheduled for completion during the CW 150
Sesquicentennial by the Jubal Early Preservation Trust — the Home Place keepers.
Another son of Franklin County, was Booker T. Washington — who was born in slavery in
1856 as Booker and was valued as $400 worth of property on the Burrough’s Farm of 220
acres. At the War’s end, he was freed and made the journey to Malden, WVA where he
worked in the salt and coal mines. As he matured, he learned to read and eventually, he
pursued an education at the Hampton Institute — nearly 500 miles away. He worked and
studied hard and after graduation, became a teacher — first in Malden, then, in Hampton.
When the opportunity arose, he became a Principal and Founder of the now famed
Tuskegee Institute — Tuskegee University in Alabama. He developed the school, and
moved in political and international circles to gain support for its continuance. He was
awarded a Doctorate by Harvard University; advised three to four Presidents, and had
“tea” with Queen Victoria. His birthplace was Franklin County; he was a model for
his people, and his writings reflect a wisdom earned through education & hard work.
The Burroughs Farm — now occupies 230 odd acres — and is a showplace of the
heritage of Booker — (Talliafero — his father according to his mother) — Washington
– a name he took upon himself. His birthplace became a National Monument in 1956.
Another place of historical significance, relative to the Civil War, is the Washington
Iron Works — a frontier ironworks and furnace — which aided our Revolutionary War
efforts against the British. Worked until in 1850′s and destroyed by a flood on a
local creek, it had a resurgence with some repairs in 1865 to produce some cannon
shot for the hard pressed Confederacy. The Ironworks and Furnace is in private
hands, but represents one of the most intact and maintained furnances from the
Virginia frontier. It is one the National Registry of Historic Places.
Late in the War, elements of foragers belonging to Federal General Stoneman, came
into Rocky Mount, and raided the “smoke house” of “The Grove” for some provisions.
Other than these connections, and many family stories, family ancestries, and family
survivors, there were no real battles or skirmishes within Franklin County, VA. The
families are very private and have shared their pictures, diaries, and letters with the
Franklin County Historical Society, Rocky Mount, VA — and the Jubal Early Chapter
553, United Daughters of the Confederacy.
