Civil War life in the Western Carolina mountains

By Betty Chandler

June 25, 2008

Jesse Bailey was born about 1834 in North Carolina very near the Unicoi County/Tennessee state line. He was the son of Charles Bailey and Margaret “Peggy” Riddle, who were born about 1795 and 1800. She was said to be the daughter of John Riddle. The couple attended the old Zion Baptist Church.

Charles Bailey and his family lived on the banks of the South Toe River and around the vicinity of Celo in Yancey County, finally settling on a ridge near what is commonly known as Bailey Cemetery in Yancey.

Jesse Bailey's letters.

Charles Bailey, father of Jesse had ten and possibly 11 children, depending on which Bailey cousin you consult. Most of the Baileys in Unicoi County today are descendants of this family. He was not a wealthy man, but he held a substantial amount of land, according to public records and old deeds. He died in 1849, leaving minor children.

The County Commissioners in Burnsville ordered the heirs to divide Charles’ land. Those receiving bequests of land from their father included Jesse Bailey, William Bailey, Harvey Bailey, Elizabeth Bailey Rowland, Nancy Bailey Randolph, John Bailey, James Bailey, David Renfro and wife (a Bailey child), and Ansel Bailey.

Charles’ son Jesse married Elizabeth Bradley George, the widow of Jesse’s brother, Nathaniel.

Zion Church played a huge part in this branch of the Bailey family. Old minutes have been preserved from as early as 1840. From the minutes we have learned that people sometimes “kept their seats” for different forms of misconduct (everything from drinking alcohol to working on Sunday; falling out with family or neighbors, failing to attend church services, etc.) Others kept their seats for “evil conduct.” In other situations, church members were asked to go and meet with other members who had fallen out of the church to help them improve themselves and return to the church fold. At the same time, some members had behaved so badly in the community that they were turned out or excluded. Members came into the church by “experience”, or by letter from another church.

Members of Zion Church periodically supported the church by paying for support of the gospel, and for making repairs and additions to the church.

There are a couple of gaps in the minutes of Zion Baptist Church, most notably between the years of 1851 and April, 1857 and from July, 1857 to 1864, during the Civil War. D. C. Renfro was the Clerk of the church in 1880.

As the nation moved into the Civil War, much of Western Carolina moved to the beliefs of the North, while others swore allegiance to the South. Even the Bailey family was torn by the war. It is fact that brothers fought against brothers in this part of the country. Many went to Knoxville and Nashville to enlist, while many went to Lexington, KY, to enlist. It was a hard time - especially for women left at home with several young children.

Many of the larger families had children who were grown and could help with the younger ones. In the case of Jesse, mentioned above, and his brother William, they were minors when their father died. Both fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War.

Still others from the region ran into the woods only to harass local law enforcement, residents who were prey to marauders, and those who simply weren’t willing to fight for any side.

There was a skirmish that reportedly occurred between some Union troops who had deserted and returned to the mountains and the home guard, reportedly led by Samuel Byrd, Jr. Approximately 12 men died when the Confederate and Union troops met. Brothers Jesse and William Bailey both sided with the Confederacy and were taken far from home during their tours of duty.

Jesse enlisted at Burnsville, NC and served in Company C of the 58th Regiment. He was later listed as a deserter, along with the notation that he was “expected to return”. It is a known fact that many of the troops who were farmers sometimes took “leave”, whether approved or otherwise, to return home long enough to set out a crop or harvest a crop, then return to their units. He returned to fight again in 1864 and was “pardoned”. He was then sent to Asheville, NC to serve.

During the war, Jesse wrote a few (or had someone write for him) letters to home. One of those was preserved through his granddaughter, Elizabeth Bailey, and her husband, David Decatur Bailey. It reads as follows:

“Wm. Bailey - a few lines to let you know I am in good health at this time. Bill, I would like to see you and be at home, but I don’t want to see you here anymore while you live nor any of my brothers if they can help it for tiems is hard here. We don’t get a half enough to eat, only as we by and ____ and grate and make mush and eat it and no milk to eat with it like I was at home.
“Bill I want you to see that my wife is attended when she is in want of help. Also, I want you to see that she is not _______ out of her part of the brandy that is made at my house.
“Children, a few lines to you - I want you to be good children and mind you mother. I sent James some powder. I want him to be careful with that gun and not shoot anybody nor his self.
Jesse to Wm. Bailey
James ____ and all the children.”

The Widow Bailey applied for Jesse’s pension on July 6, 1903 at the age of 75. Apparently, the reunited government, under the Laws of 1901, made provisions for certain Confederate soldiers, sailors and widows.

While her claim was supported by local witnesses, she was ultimately approved to receive Jesse’s pension. It is not known whether or not she actually benefited.

Jesse was admitted to a Meridian, Mississippi hospital on January 26, 1865 and was subsequently furloughed.

During the war, he requested that his saddle be hidden in a tall pine tree behind his house, and his wife and son, Manasseh put it in the tree.

The Beacon has previously run a photograph of his funeral party. Behind the casket are his brothers, widow, children, and a multitude of relatives and neighbors.

This bit of history reflects the “clannish nature” of our mountain ancestors. They were used to surviving through remaining close to their relatives and close friends. And they were a strong, hardworking breed of people, which carries through to their descendants still today.