Before I Forget

Traces of Texas, a Facebook group I enjoy, shared this excerpt from author James H. Cook in his book: "50 Years on the Old Frontier," 1923.

"I had succeeded in transplanting myself from a state [Michigan, about 1875] where the people .... good citizens who loved God and nature ----- had accepted and, as a rule, lived up to the Ten Commandments; where, when trouble arose between men, it seldom was carried to a point beyond a fist fight. But in the section of Texas I had now entered, different conditions and codes prevailed. The War of Rebellion [Civil War] then so recent, had caused numerous men who had survived it and who had committed all sorts of desperate crimes, to seek refuge in the wilds of the land of chapparal and cactus, where the strong arm of the law seldom entered, and where, when it did, the refugee would be apt to have the best of it. A majority of the ranchmen in the country preferred aiding a white refugee to helping bring him to justice. The preference sprang from a motive of self-protection, for the enmity of such characters was a most dangerous thing. As there was in that section but little employment other than working with stock, naturally these men took up the life of the cowboy ---- when their time was not occupied dodging State Rangers or robbing stages and small settlements. Almost every dispute had to be settled with a gun-or-knife fight or else assassination. Such people, added to thieving bands of Mexicans and Indians, wild beasts of many sorts, and other terrors such as centipedes, tarantulas, and rattlesnakes, were a help in making life interesting ...

I did not let anyone know where I hailed from. A 'blue-bellied Yankee,' even if he were but a boy, was about the most unpopular thing in Texas at that period. With many people, anyone who came from the country lying to the north of the Red River was a Yankee."

Curious about a family's ancestor during the Civil War, we were surprised to find that THREE of his sons had enlisted and fought in the Union Army from Charleston and/or Pendleton County, (now) West Virginia. George Washington Arbogast and his wife, Mary (Reed) were parents of ten children. Their teenage sons, Michael, Francis, and George Jr., served with the 7th Regiment, West Virginia Cavalry. Among the many splendid web sites researching this regiment's history is:

          http://7wvcavalry.com/

First, a page from the 1860 Federal Census showing the family of George and Mary "Arbagas" living in Clay County, Virginia, beginning on line 20. 

Another record (see attached) reports these dates' events on a Michael Arbogast:

June 1862 (8th VA Infantry) Wounded at the Battle of Cross Keys on June 8. Absent sick, with leave.

July 1862 - Absent sick at Cumberland Hospital

Dec. 1862 - Absent since Dec. 5.

July 1863 - July 24, Cherry Run. Deserted before the Enemy. 

A later record dated January 26, 1865 shows:

         Wheeling W Va. Pvt., Co. K, 7th Reg. West Virginia Cavalry, Remarks: Deserted at Cherry Run July 18, 1863.

This battle at Cherry Run was soon after Gettysburg. Two different records show two desertion dates--both in July 1863 at Cherry Run. I found this from Michael's commanding officer, Benjamin Kelley. My word, the sheer number of soldiers, horses, and gear moving through the countryside!

Cherry Run, Va.,  July 22, 1863—12.30 p.m.

TO: Major-General Meade:

I crossed the Potomac at this place with my force, about 6,000 strong—3,200 infantry, 2,500 cavalry, and three batteries—on the 15th and 16th instant, and occupied Hedgesville, Berkeley County, 7 miles west of Martinsburg. On Saturday and Sunday skirmished briskly with Hampton’s brigade near Martinsburg. On Monday, Hill’s and Ewell’s corps moved from Bunker Hill to Martinsburg, and a strong cavalry force was sent through Mill’s Gap into the Back Creek Valley to cut off my retreat. It therefore became necessary to fall back to this point, and recross the river.

I am ready to go forward again at any moment, and annoy and harass the flank and rear of the enemy; whenever I can do so without unnecessarily endangering my small command. Will you please keep me advised of your movements and whereabouts, so that I can act in concert with and subordinate to your movements?

B. F. Kelley,

Brigadier-General

I do not find young Michael on the 1870 Federal Census. He appears on the 1850 and 1860 rolls, but is hiding from me in later censuses. The 1860 census transcriptions spells his last name as "Arbagas" so evidently I'm not sufficiently creative in my use of keyword searches. I will continue to guess at how his name might have been misspelled. Or perhaps he died soon after the War? No pension record has been found for a Michael Arbogast. His whereabouts were also unknown to family historian/cousin, Chuck Eades. Did he seek his fortune in gold in California? Was he sent to Andersonville or another prison?

GEORGE, JR.:  Young George had to obtain his Dad's consent to volunteer, and I think he lied about his age. Please see the images within this gallery.