Accomac County in War Time: A Community History

INTRODUCTION

"Accawmack," as it was anciently spelled, is the northern most of the two counties forming the Eastern Shore of Virginia as "Ye Antient Kingdome of Accawmack." The word means "land beyond the waters," and is the name of the tribe of Indians that inhabited the peninsula when Captain John Smith visited it. The county contains 252,945 acres and has a population of about 34,795.

On the ocean side a chain of islands acts as a breakwater to the mainland. One of the largest of these islands is Chincoteague, well known to the sportsmen of the North and of vast importance to the commercial life of the county because of its large fish industry. On Paramore's Beach, Cedar, Metompkin, Wallop's and Assateague Islands are United States life saving stations.

The climate of Accomac is mild and salubrious; the soil is a light sandy loam, warm and easily tilled. Accomac and Northampton counties are shown by the census report of 1920 to be the richest agricultural counties in the Unites States. A co-operative marketing organization known as the Eastern Shore of Virginia Produce Exchange was formed in 1900, and since that time the farmers have gained steadily in wealth. In 1916 the gross sales of the organization amounted to $6,971,786.45, and in 1920 the gross sales were $10,465,667.13.

Onancock is one of the oldest towns in Virginia. Incorporated in 1880, records show that as early as 1670, Onancock, while still an Indian town, had four of five white families. Francis Makemie, the founder of organized Presbyterianism in America, lived there in 1682.

The records of Accomac and Northampton Counties are the oldest continuous records in the United States. The first play ever presented in English America, entitled "Ye Bare and Ye Cubb," was given at Pungoteague, Accomac county, in the year 1665.

Many interesting facts might be related concerning the early history of the country, but since this is a history of the World War period, the foregoing introductory statements must suffice.

EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA CHAPTER, RED CROSS

The first World War agency organized in Accomac county was "the Eastern Shore of Virginia Chapter American Red Cross," and the following is quoted from a history of this chapter written by Frances L. Taylor:

On June 1, 1917, a meeting was held in the town hall, Onancock, to formulate plans for the organization of the Eastern Shore of Virginia Chapter American Red Cross.

The following officers were elected: Chairman, Mrs. J. S. Waples; vice-chairman, Mrs. J. S. Tyler; secretary, Mrs. J. P. L. Hopkins; treasurer, G. H. Powell.

Executive committee: Mrs. W. H. Parker, Mrs. J. S. Mills, Mrs. E. D. F. Custis, Mrs. M. M. White, Mrs. George Borum, Mrs. Bessie Hopkins, Mrs. J. W. Robertson, Misses Frances and Constance Taylor and J. L. Parker.

Soon the different towns on the Shore began to enroll as branches, and by November the number had reached twenty-one, nearly every town in the county being represented. The total enrollment for the chapter and branches was 3,820.

As new phases of the work developed, the following committees were appointed:

Publicity -- Miss Frances L. Taylor.

School committee -- Miss Constance S. Taylor, chairman; Miss Frances L. Taylor, Treasurer.

Home service -- Dr. J. W. Robertson, chairman, May, 1918-October,1918; R. T. Hearn, October, 1918, to the present.

War drive -- Stewart K. Powell, chairman; J. S. Waples, treasurer.

Christmas roll call -- Rev. F. A. Ridout, chairman; Warner Ames, vice-chairman.

In June, 1918, Mrs. Tyler declined re-election as vice chairman, and Mrs. J. S. Mills was selected. Both of these ladies entered heart and soul into the work, as is proven by the large amount of work accomplished. Valuable work has been done by Dr. John W. Robertson and Mr. H. R. Hearn in the home service section. Over a thousand hearts have been brightened by the self -sacrificing efforts of the above-named gentlemen.

Accomac was one of the first counties in the Potomac Division to organize a Junior Red Cross. Thirty-three of the forty schools in the county organized auxiliaries, the membership being 3,300. Two thousand dollars was contributed to the Child Welfare Fund, many refugee garments were made, also comfort-kits, scrap books, shot bags, etc.

Miss Constance Taylor was chosen out of the fifteen from the Potomac Division to consider plans for the peace program.
She was very proud when the announcement was made that the Accomac Juniors had raised more money, per school population, than any other county in the division. The principal work of the Juniors, during the session of 1919-20, was sending goodies to the shell-shocked patients in the Hampton Hospital.

That the Accomac people were alive to their duty, both to the soldiers and suffering humanity, is manifest, for $25,000 was raised by the chapter and its branches. The people of Accomac and Northampton counties gave $2,500 to buy an ambulance to be used in France.

Below is given some of the articles, made by the Accomac County Red Cross, in large numbers:

SURGICAL DRESSINGS: -- Gauze wipes, 82,405; gauze compresses, 1,025; gauze sponges, 3,250; laparotomy pads, 723; absorbent pads, 3,461; triangular bandages, 4,378; rolled muslin bandages, 985; T bandages, 254; many tailed bandages, 1,136; abdominal bandages, 487.

HOSPITAL GARMENTS AND SUPPLIES: -- Pajamas, 900; hospital bed shirts, 104; helpless case shirts, 281; bed socks, 108 pairs; napkins, 761; shot bags, 14,306; pillows, 75.

KNITTED ARTICLES: -- Sweaters, 670; socks, 1,548 pairs; helmets, 10; wristlets, 148; mufflers, 13; refugee garments, 2,500.

MISCELLANEOUS: -- Picture puzzles, 348; story books, 600; gun wipes, 55,860; comfort kits (furnished), 2,500; property bags, 1,447; Christmas packages for overseas, 300.

One cot with full equipment was sent to Camp Lee.

FRANCES L. TAYLOR, Publicity Committee Chairman.

ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

An intensive food campaign was conducted in the county under the leadership of J. Brooks Mapp and Mrs. J. W. Stockley and with the aid of the Radford Chautauqua. The help of the housekeepers was whole-hearted. The "don't waste" of war time and the instruction in food values, the mission of the "calory," etc., proved of great help in this educational campaign among the housewives. As one housekeeper expressed it, "the war certainly taught us to serve less meat, more vegetables, fewer courses and the value of better cooked food, as nothing else could." The intelligent planning of meals, the wise selection of food, the interest in cooking, the clean plate and the proper use of leftovers during the war has meant better health and the saving of many dollars to our people. The teachers of the public schools, at the suggestion of Superintendent G. G. Joynes, brought the facts of food conservation and fuel saving into their daily lessons.

In the first four Liberty Loan drives the value of the bonds sold was $658,600, falling below the allotment of the extent of $141,000. But the county exceeded its quota by $16,950 in the Victory Loan drive, buying bonds to the value of $503,000. The First National Bank of Onancock sold $358,000 worth of bonds. Mrs. R. J. White was chairman of the committee for raising the Fourth and Fifth Liberty Loan quotas. Belle Haven led the Fourth drive by subscribing $19,050.00.

During the year 1918 War Savings and Thrift Stamps were sold in the county to the amount of $253,955, maturity value. The ladies of the county sold Thrift Stamps at all the county fairs.

Accomac's allotment in the United War Work drive was $9,000, but the committee decided to work for double that amount. So wonderfully was the drive conducted and so whole-heartedly were the people in sympathy with the cause, that they gave $24,000, and thus tripled the amount asked of them. Accomac won the State honor flag in this drive.

The Draft Board in Accomac county was composed of the following: Dr. John Hack Ayres, chairman; John D. Grant and B. T. Melson. The following doctors in the county served as members of the Medical Advisory Board: Rooker J. White, William F. Kellam, D. L. DeCormis, John W. Robertson, William M. Burwell, R. R. Nevitte and Joseph Hart Hiden.

The Peninsula Enterprise, published at Accomac, Virginia, rendered a distinctive service to its patrons during the draft periods by publishing the registration numbers and the order in which each man registered in the county was called into service. It is claimed that no other county paper in Virginia rendered such a service to its readers. At the close of the war the Enterprise published a sketch on the life and record of each boy on the Gold Start list of Accomac county, together with a photograph of each.

MEN IN SERVICE

There were 921 in service from Accomac county. The county boasts five Distinguished Service men and one woman who received special distinction. They are as follows:

Beverly Fielding Brown, brigadier general, 116th Field Artillery, Ninety-first Division -- Officer of the Legion of Honor. [Thought to have been the youngest Brigadier General in the United States Army -- thirty-eight.]

Dr. John Bowdoin Mears, attached to Marine Corps at Santo Domingo -- Cited. [This citation is not included among those verified by the War History Commission and published in Source Volume I. It is, however, thought to be authentic.]

Clarence Ames Martin, captain, Fifty-sixth Infantry, Seventh Division -- Cited by division commander.

Vernon Lee Somers (deceased), second lieutenant, Forty-ninth Company, Fifth Marines, Second Division -- Distinguished Service Cross and Navy Cross; cited twice by division commander.

Miss Sarah Waples Crosley, Red Cross nurse -- French Croix de Guerre; Serbian Cross of Mercy.

James Carroll Joynes (colored), private, Company D, 369th Infantry, Ninety-third Division -- French Croix de Guerre with bronze star.

The following commissioned officers, in addition to those mentioned above, have furnished their records to the community historian:

Dr. F. C. A. Kellam (deceased), lieutenant-colonel and commander of base hospital at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

Dr. Claude Colonna, first lieutenant, Medical Corps, attached to U. S. S. Agamemnon.

Dr. Edward Critcher, served with British army (rank not given).

Joseph Hart Hiden, captain, U. S. Army, Medical Corps, on duty at debarkation hospital No. 5, New York City.

James C. Doughty, lieutenant, Medical Corps, attached to U. S. S. Baltimore; later stationed on New England coast.

Robert Battaile Hiden, ensign, U. S. Navy.

John William Robertson, first lieutenant, Medical Corps.

John Wise Ross, captain, Dental Corps, 319th Infantry, Eightieth Division.

Dr. Ira Hurst, captain, M. R. C.

Dr. Edward T. Ames, first lieutenant, M. R. C.

B. D. Ayres, first lieutenant, Forty-seventh C. A. C.

H. Allen Westcott, first lieutenant, Reserve Corps.

N. P. Westcott, lieutenant, Forty-eighth Infantry.

The spirit of the boys of Accomac was expressed by Sam Mason, of Makemie Park, in the following conversation. When the call came, a friend said to Sam: "How about it, boy? Do you want to go?" He answered: "Well, Ma'am, I don't know that I do want to go, but I feel it is just as much my duty as the other fellow's, and I am going across happy, I told my folks to stop crying, I am going to get happy and stay happy doing my bit as long as 'Uncle Sam' needs me."

The Onancock service flag bears ninety-one stars, and three men from this city made the supreme sacrifice: Clayton Evans, Stewart Ashby and Allen Watson. Following is the Gold Star roster for the county:

Commander John S. Parsons, Accomac, Va.

Lieutenant Vernon Lee Somers, Bloxom, Va.

Corporal Jesse Thomas Shield, Locustville, Va.

Corporal Joseph Thomas Phillips, Keller, Va.

Corporal Byron C. Cugler, Tasley, Va.

Private Crisby Ray Bowden, Chincoteague, Va.

Private Ansley H. Holston, Chincoteague, Va.

Private Bagby Stuart Ashby, Jr., Accomac, Va.

Private Clayton Thomas Evans, Horntown, Va.

Private Isaac R. Daisey, Chincoteague, Va.

Private Coley Woodland Gardner, Melfa, Va.

Private Claud J. Matthews, New Church, Va.

Private Homer W. Hastings, Melfa, Va.

Private Tubman Lewis Crockett, Tangier, Va.

Private Augustus Drummond Bonniwell, Painter, Va.

Private Lawrence Summerfield Adams, Harborton, Va.

Private Edward W. Mears, Wachapreague, Va.

Private Burleigh Ray Chance, Locustville, Va.

Private William L. Crockett, Tangier, Va.

Private Allen Watson, Wachapreague, Va.

Private Eulas S. Ewell, Mappsville, Va.

Private Harry S. Birch, Chincoteague, Va.

Private Emanuel Joseph Halverson, Harborton, Va.

Private Lee D. Dennis, Quinby, Va.

Private Estel G. Bloxom, Makemie Park, Va.

Private Emory L. Ferguson, Guilford, Va.

Private Oscar C. Satchell, Makemie Park, Va.

Private William Andrew Spurley, Leemont, Va.

While we feel that every soldier, sailor and civilian of Accomac county is deserving of praise for the efforts put forth in the time of the country's great need, there are always some special deeds of sacrifice that stand out in bold relief against the horizon of every community's efforts along any particular line. For this reason we feel that the records of Rev. Frank A. Ridout and Miss Sarah Waples Crosley are deserving of special mention.

Before coming to Onancock as rector of Holy Trinity church, Rev. Frank A Ridout offered his services to the War Department as a chaplain, but was declared ineligible because of his age. But the spirit of patriotism continued to whisper to him, and in April, 1918, the vestries of Holy Trinity and St. George's churches granted him a leave of seven months to do Y. M. C. A. work in France. He was in charge of the Y. M. C. A. activities of the Seventh Division, and while serving in this capacity was badly wounded on the head and was also shell shocked.

As soon as Belgium was invaded by the Germans, Miss
Sarah W. Crosley, of Savageville, offered her services to the American Red Cross, and sailed with the first contingent that left this country in September, 1914. After working in a hospital in France for several months, she was sent to Belgium, where she remained until the last Red Cross unit was withdrawn. When America entered the war she was placed in charge of a large Red Cross hospital in Paris, remaining there until the Armistice was signed. Miss Crosley expected to return to America, but answered the call of the Near East instead. En route from Italy to Montenegro, she was robbed of all of her possessions, including all papers, and was under surveillance until duplicates could be procured from Washington. She describes her experiences on that journey as trying and dangerous beyond belief. As stated elsewhere in this narrative, Miss Crosley was decorated by both France and Serbia. Accomac is proud of her work, both in the field of honor and in the field of mercy.

POST WAR ACTIVITIES

The principal post-war activities in the country have centered around the Red Cross and the Near East Relief organizations. At the close of the war the local Red Cross engaged a nurse for six weeks who gave a course in home nursing and hygiene to six classes. In 1921 a health nurse, Miss Sarah Crosley, was engaged by the Red Cross and employed by that organization until May 14, 1923. At this time the health work in the country was taken over by the county and State. The Red Cross, however, continues to contribute $300 annually to the health unit in Accomac county. Hundreds of refugee garments have been made by the Red Cross; yearly Christmas bags for soldiers on foreign duty and disabled soldiers in hospitals have been sent. The chapter always responds to calls sent from headquarters, and a month ago when a call came for six sweaters, seven were sent.

In 1921, 1922 and 1923 the Near East Relief committee raised $13,420.19, or $3,340.39 over the annual quota of $3,360. The committee is composed of Mrs. R. J. White, chairman; J. C. W. Leatherbury, Onancock; Mrs. L. H. Lord, Belle Haven; Mrs. Sadie Savage, Onley; Mrs. Edith Davis, Atlantic; Rev. W. G. Boggs, Accomac.

In 1921 Accomac was second in the State for oversubscribed quotas in Near East Relief campaigns. Since 1923 contributions of clothing and canned milk have supplemented the quota. One year the county contributed 5,000 pounds of clothing valued at 75 cents per pound.