Chincoteague Maps and Other Information - Chincoteague History Notes

Chincoteague During the Revolutionary War

The entire Eastern Shore played an important part in the American Revolutionary War, but it was not a major battle field.

The Eastern Shore of Virginia supplied seven companies of soldiers, one captain, one ensign, four sergeants and a drummer.

John Cropper was the highest commissioned officer from the Eastern Shore. As more men were needed, it was necessary to draft some men. A large number were required to guard the creeks and inlets of the two counties of Accomack and Northampton. Since Chincoteague is part of Accomack County, I am sure they helped to defend their section. These counties also opposed the Stamp Act and other taxes which brought on the American Revolution.

During the Revolutionary War, Eastern Shore waters were used as a refuge for privateers from Virginia and other states when they were overloaded with captured supplies or being chased by the British Ships.

A Story told During the Revolutionary War

A story told years ago by an old man who had received it from his forefathers concerns some Islanders who fought during the Revolution and who were present at Yorktown at the time of Cornwallis' Surrender. He told it this way: two of them Chase and Smallwood "wonderin" how much longer the irregular "fightin" would last.

"Yere" stood Lafayette and "watchin" and somehow "Yere" came a shell they were not expecting and dirt flew into their faces and bosoms.

A "lectle" too close, General says, "Lafette".

"Give no heed to a little dirt," says Washington.

"So here come the Redcoats, closer till you could see the buckles on their shoes, and Chase and Smallwood, they didn't like it, not "knowin" what it meant. Washington then made these "Yere" "life gards" present arms and fire blank "cartridges" into the air. Then Cornwallis and his staff came out with a little white flag, Washington started out with his guards and met them.

Cornwallis handed his sword point foremost, and Washington turned his head away, and all were still as death.

Then Cornwallis gave the sword handle foremost. Washington took it and was quiet a minute, "studin" what to say. Then he gave Cornwallis the sword and said, "Take that as a memorial and never draw it again to fight America."

(Taken from Harpers Monthly Magazine, p. 784, written by Maude Radford Wamer.)

Chincoteague During the Civil War (1861-1865)

The Civil War, which began in 1861 and ended in 1865, was a dark period not only in our section, but in our country.

In the beginning of 1861 the question of slavery divided our country into sections, the North and South. Those states of the northern part sided with the North and stayed in the Union. Those of the South came out of the Union and sided with the South, excepting Chincoteague Island. It is noteworthy that Chincoteague is the only part of present day Virginia that didn't secede from the North or the Union. The vote to stay with the Union was 138 for, 2 against. Mr. John Whealton had earlier counseled the people of the Island to stand with the Federal Government.

In time, a company of Federal soldiers was stationed around the docks and creeks; these were known as blockade runners.

During the late hours of the night, the northern soldiers that were on duty would leave their boats and come ashore to the Island and steal pigs, fowl, and food from the poor people of the Island, while the Islanders that were left were trying to hide from the enemy.

Another legend is told about the Civil War.

As we have said, in 1861 John Whealton was influential in keeping the citizens of Chincoteague in the Union. After he had persuaded them to remain in the Union, Confederate sympathizers became upset and organized a company to subdue the Islanders led by Whealton.

Early one morning this well-equipped company left from the Western Shore of Chincoteague Sound and advanced to meet the Confederate company on flatboats in the middle of the Sound. After the exchange of many harsh words and a brief conflict, the confederate invaders were driven away with a considerable loss to themselves but without loss or injury of a single Islander.

After this first assault the Islanders prepared themselves for future attacks and were successful in warding off other invaders.

Results of Civil War on Chincoteague

The Island was one of the first places to be visited by Federal troops; something like 4 men enlisted. In spite of this, the Island's luck held, and it seems that they saw no active fighting. Some houses flew the Confederate flag, and two or three men joined the Southern forces. A few sympathizers put out the lighthouse's light, but it was promptly lighted again by the Islanders, who wanted permits for their oyster boats to run up to Pennsylvania and New York. The Federal soldiers tore up a few fences and demolished the M. P. Church's benches.

In spite of all this, apparently, no wounds were left, physical or mental, to mark the sign of Civil War and they have not afforded one tale of death, no fireside tragedy, only some humorous tales and a few flattering pensions.

An interesting Civil War story is told about Mrs. Mary Thornton Young, a descendant of the marriage of John Watson, an Englishman, and an Assateague Indian girl. When her husband, Theodore Young, enlisted in the Army during the war, she "raised a time" saying, "If Theodore Young goes I'm going too."

She was enlisted in the service as a cook and served until her husband's accident. They were sent home when he suffered a broken back. He apparently recovered and lived until he drowned at Chincoteague in 1902. They are both buried in the Veterans Graveyard on Willow Street (Tick Town) known now as Clark's Graveyard.

"Grandmother Young"
Aged 98, picture taken
in 1917.

Time and space will not permit me to enter a lengthy discussion and narration of the part Benjamin Scott played in the Civil War.

Benjamin E. Scott, five feet, eight inches tall, light complexion and blue eyes, at the age of 25 joined the forces of the North as an Army man. Later on as the war continued, he decided to enter the Navy. It was there he played a very important part as a corporal in this conflict. Many stories were told by him concerning just what the Civil War was like.

At the end of this Civil War, the veteran returned home to spend the rest of his life on Chincoteague Island.

He received his discharge on the first day of December 1865 at Monroe, Virginia, and received his pension August 6, 1879.

Some of the other Civil War Veterans I can recall were Mr. Robert Richardson, Leonard Clark, Elias Clark, E. A. Jeffries, Estet Adams, Richard Reynolds, Theodore Young (by word of mouth), George Arthur Ewell (colored), Dave Birch, Colored Luke, Colored Zock, Elijah Russell, James Cluff, Sam Blake, Sr., John Cropper, Mr. Spencer and Mr. Henry Mumford. Some of these are buried in the Clark's burying ground on Willow Street, New Church Lane Cemetery, and Greenwood Cemetery.

Not a single Islander received an injury.

In 1905 the following was printed in the Peninsula Enterprise Newspaper of Accomac, Virginia.

April 1905 - Henry Mumford Ex. Confederate member of Company G. Md. Infantry, has been presented by the Daughters of the Confederacy with a handsome bronze medal for bravery and faithful service during the Civil War.

1861 Civil War Battle Made Chincoteague Oysters Famous

Before the rush of tourists to Chincoteague Island created by the annual pony round-up, the nationalization of Assateague as a wildlife refuge and the publication of Misty, the Island's only claim to fame had been her succulent oysters.

I was surprised to find that no one in Chincoteague was aware of the circumstances that contributed to the fame of their oysters, or the mania to serve them in the finest hotels and restaurants.

On July 4, 1861, some 418 men from the barrier islands of Maryland and Virginia met at Chincoteague to celebrate the 85th Anniversary of our Independence. All present signed a draft prepared by Dr. George Schereer which pledged support for the United States against her enemies. Captain Edward Whaley, Sr., a veteran of the War of 1812, shouted, "I will defend the old flag to my last drop of blood, against the lazy, slave-holding aristocrats and their lackeys in Richmond."

On July 5, the draft and letters addressed to the commanding officers of the U.S. Navy at Hampton Roads was dispatched aboard the sloop "Jenny Sharpley." These letters gave details of the importation of arms through Chincoteague Inlet and up the Pocomoke River to rebel sympathizers; it also requested the right to ship oysters to Philadelphia and asked for protection by the U.S. Navy.

The Jenny Sharpley arrived at Hampton Roads and made up fast to the flagship. Two Chincoteague men delivered the packet to Flag Officer Stringham, who questioned them. He seemed to ignore the letters, but was enraged at the fact that they had managed to invade the Union Blocking Squadron and had been able to board the ship without being challenged by any of his officers.

The men were fed and sent on their way to Chincoteague, a pass through the blockade. Nothing was heard from their request for months, but the American Flag continued to fly over the Island, despite growing Confederate forces at Accomac.

On Monday, September 2nd, President Abraham Lincoln was meeting with some cabinet officials when Treasury Secretary S.P. Chase handed him a letter marked "Confidential Copy." The letter was addressed to Flag Officer S. H. Stringham, North Atlantic Blockading Squadron; it read as follows:

Sir:
I must bring to your immediate attention the plight of the loyal citizens of the lower Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia. I was informed by my brother, in a letter posted at Snow Hill, that you were delivered intelligence which warned of the running of arms to rebels in that area. The Union cannot afford to lose the rice and bean crops from that area, nor can we afford to lose the inland routes between lower Delaware and Chincoteague, if navigation is cut on Chincoteague or Sinepuxent Bays. I mean in no way to sound disrespectful to you, Sir; however, if that area is to be preserved, immediate protection for the loyal residents should be forthcoming, quickly.
Edward Donaldson
Commander
U.S. Navy

The Secretary of the Navy jumped to his feet and exclaimed - "If no action is pending then Stringham will be replaced." General Winfield Scott suggested that the U.S. Army send several thousand troops immediately for the relief of these loyal fellow Virginians.

On Thursday, September 19th, Captain L.M. Goldsborough relieved Captain Stringham as flag officer. On the evening of September 24, eight small boats were observed rowing toward Chincoteague Inlet from the mainland. The alarm bell was rung in front of W.H. Watson and Company warehouse, and 94 armed men from Chincoteague responded. They took up positions along their warehouses and docks. It was discovered that the purpose of the boats was not to invade Chincoteague, but to mark the channel with lanterns, so that two sloops and a large schooner could enter the inlet.

By dawn, the three ships had anchored in the bay near Cockle Creek. At dawn, the British Flag that had been flying from the schooner was replaced by a Confederate one. There was much activity around the schooner and the name "Venus" was pointed out on her transom. On the afternoon of the 25th, an oyster sloop captained by Edward Whaley, Jr., and crewed by William Lynch, John Jester, Henry Savage, and Robert Snead were off to warn the U.S. Navy.

This time they were escorted to the flagship, U.S.S. Minnesota, in guard boats and presented to Captain Goldsborough. The men related their story and dined with their host in the great cabin. Four sailors from the Minnesota, armed with rifles and cutlasses, accompanied the men to Chincoteague with the pledge of immediate additional help.

On the evening of September 30, Lt. Commander Alexander Murray of the U.S. Navy arrived off shore with 90 men in the U.S.S. Louisiana.

They were signaled from shore, and a sloop arrived alongside with the four seamen and Chincoteague Islanders, who offered to pilot her in.

On the mainland plans were being laid to convert the schooner into a privateer of ten guns. The cannons were aboard as were 1,000 stand of New England rifles, shot, and three tons of powder. The 135 ft. schooner, with her broad beam and shoal draft, was ideal to command and prey on shipping entering or leaving the Delaware Bay. It is evident that her first target would be the Yankees across the bay in Chincoteague.

At 9 a.m. on October 5, the boats of the Louisiana attacked the schooner with howitzers. The steamer was piloted through the inlet and opened a heavy fire with her 32 pounder on the rebels. An enemy force of 300 cut off two of the Navy boats, and they boarded the schooner for protection.

The destructive fire from the Louisiana cut the rebel defenses to ribbons, and the sailors set fire to the schooner, sinking her off Cockle's Creek. The rifles and cannon aboard the "Venus" were salvaged in early December, 1861. Her gear and mundane items should still be buried in her rotting hull. The two sloops were captured and taken to Norfolk as prizes of war the same evening.

The Louisiana remained at Chincoteague until late December. On the 8th of December, 4,000 Union troops secured the lower shore for the Union. Winfield Scott is said to have ordered up Chincoteague oysters and Bermuda onions at the hotel opposite the War Department.

The watermen of Chincoteague were issued 21 passes for their ships to supply oysters to the northern ports. The story of their patriotism was published throughout the North and their oysters were in Vogue. Signs appeared along New York's South and Folton Streets reading: "Patriotic Chincoteague Oysters"

Commodore Vanderbilt had ice and dry goods sent to Chincoteague and two ships arrived off-shore, annually, to take in oysters for New York. Some song writer even composed the "Chincoteague Oyster Quick Step."

The story of what made the Chincoteague oysters famous may be only a memory of the past. The oyster today is as sturdy and delectable as it was when the Chincoteague men nailed their flag to a pole in the face of imminent danger and peril.

Chincoteague During the Spanish-American War

The Spanish-American War in 1893 was between the United States and Spain.

One of the important events of this war was the installation of a telephone by the Lighthouse Service and then the telephone connections were made with the various Assateague Lifesaving Stations.

According to the records there were very few veterans of the Spanish-American War on Chincoteague Island.

One I knew personally as a teenager was John Somers Clark. He lived on the Eastern Side of the Island.

Mr. Clark was born in 1874 on Chincoteague Island, Virginia. His parents were Samuel and Comfort Clark and he married Elizabeth Jane Clark, December 31, 1892. Born to him and wife were 10 children. Four died in infancy. The six that survived to manhood: Alfred, Owen, Charles, Hilton, Wilmer, and Roland. The only one now living is Charles H. Clark.

As a young man, Mr. John Somers Clark joined the United States Navy and fought during the whole Spanish American War. He was stationed on a large ship known as the "Ram-Contidant."

Mr. Clark told his grandson John Leonard how they ran enemy ships down and rammed them to sink them with the steel hull of his ship. The ship was named "Ram" due to the great services the ship did.

Returning from the war he taught his grandson, John Leonard, to play the bugle, and he worked in the seafood business.

Mr. Clark died of a heart attack in the Union Baptist Church on Chincoteague, while singing hymns.

All the grandsons can remember about Grandpop is that he was a kind and loving person, who taught them that, if they can't say something good about a person, don't say anything.

World War I and World War II

The two great national crises, World War I and World War II, brought much pain, sickness, death, and distress to communities throughout the United States. From the Island of Chincoteague, nine men lost their lives; others were wounded and had to suffer limitations for many years.

During World War I, off the coast of Assateague, German U. Boats were active. It is known that German U. Boats were responsible for sinking several allied vessels in the Atlantic off Assateague.

When the War began in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson and the people of the United States wanted to stay out of this great struggle. However, as time went on, German submarines sank American ships and the German armies were threatening the freedom of the world. So, Congress declared war on Germany. This declaration was supported by the Virginia members of Congress. The greatest Navy the world has ever known was built at this time.

Many men were called from the Island to join the large armies of the United States. There was a lot of trouble on the Island and elsewhere during this terrible war.

How well does the writer remember what took place. Schools were in trouble, too. Many of the teachers were called to War. Reverend and Mrs. O.W. Sawyer, pastor of the Union Baptist Church, volunteered to help keep the school open by teaching in the High School. Men left their families to go to France and to so many other places.

When the principal of the school was called, the students followed him to the boat dock to see him off. At this time, we had to travel by boat whenever we had to travel from Chincoteague.

Communication at this time was quite different from that of today. The families were unable to hear very often. So many of the young men couldn't read or write and were thus unable to keep in touch with their parents. Likewise, many parents were unable to read or write. Newspapers were scarce, and a lot of people couldn't afford to buy them to see if their loved ones were wounded or killed. The writer took time out to help those by writing to the men to find out how things were overseas.

In 1918 when the War had ended, the time was learned when the principal and some of the servicemen would arrive on Chincoteague. A great crowd went to the dock to see the boat as it came in. What a happy time! Some were laughing and some were crying for joy.

One of the World War I veterans, the beloved Dr. Harold Smith, first came to the Island as a young student and a volunteer during World War I in 1917 and was invited to preach a sermon in the Methodist Protestant Church.

As a young student, the writer remembers, he always came up to the high school to visit a young lady, one of our own teachers, Miss Lula Watson, who later became his beloved wife. For many years they lived in New Jersey, where Dr. Smith was a Methodist minister. Following his retirement, they returned to Chincoteague to live.

Chincoteague During World War II

When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the United States felt that war was necessary to defeat the Axis power, Germany, Italy and Japan.

So war was declared; immediately many young people from the Island answered the call to do their duty for their country. Chincoteague and other parts of our country felt it would be a long terrible war, and so it was. It wasn't very long after the war started officers were seen time after time knocking at doors. handing telegrams to families, telling them a loved one had been wounded or had given his life for his country. This indeed was a very sad time for all the people on Chincoteague.

Not only those in the service had to make a sacrifice for their country, but those at home had to make a sacrifice, too. Those that stayed home threw themselves into a war effort.

Colgate W. D. Darden, Governor of our state from 1942-1947, led the people to do their part in helping to win the War. People bought many hundreds of dollars worth of war bonds; many people entertained soldiers and sailors from nearby camps in their homes. Scarce food and gasoline were rationed and contributions were made to the blood banks.

When the War ended, the men who returned home received a royal welcome. Unfortunately, however, World War II claimed the lives of the following young men: John Lawrence Beebe, son of John Beebe; Charles Lee Boothe, son of the late Will Boothe and Lizzie Boothe; Robert Day, Jr., son of the late Elizabeth Scott Day; Floyd Fisher, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell Fisher; Charles Herbert Fletcher, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles Fletcher; Raymond Jones, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Morris Jones; George Leroy Mears, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Mears; Carl E. Merritt, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Lee Merritt;' Charles R. Phipps, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Emory Phipps, Sr.

Raymond Jones

Camp Fletcher

In the beginning of World War II, the soldiers stationed on Chincoteague Island were without proper shelter, and had to use the building which had been the Methodist Protestant Church on Church Street. The Church had closed in 1930. Today years later it is the Saint Andrew's Roman Catholic Church. In the early 1940's part of the building was not only used by the soldiers, but half of the building was used as a lunch room for the students attending what is known today as the Elementary School.

In a few weeks, a camp was built on the land now owned by Dr. and Mrs. Donald J. Amrien, on the corner of Church Street and Ridge Road.

This camp was named "Camp Fletcher" in memory of the first casualty of World War II from the Eastern Shore and from Chincoteague Island: Charles Herbert Fletcher, Jr., son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles Fletcher.

Camp Fletcher - named after Charles Fletcher, the first one killed in action during World War II.

The men of this camp were really a big help to the people of Chincoteague and nearby places. The waters surrounding our Island were guarded all day and all night by these faithful servicemen. Even our causeway was guarded by them. As you crossed the causeway, in spite of the swarms of mosquitoes in the summer and cold freezing weather in the winter, they stood on duty.

Soon after World War II, this camp burned. The origin of the fire is unknown. The vacant lot facing the home of the Amrien family is the very spot where "Camp Fletcher" stood.

Charles Herbert Fletcher, Jr.

Charles Herbert Fletcher, Jr., who made the supreme sacrifice for his country, was the first casualty in World War II from Accomack County, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles Fletcher of Chincoteague, Virginia.

He entered the Coast Guard of the United States on October 28, 1940.

At the same time, Gordan Bradford of Willis Wharf in Northampton County was a casualty, being wounded when the death of Herbert Fletcher occurred. He was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Harry Bradford of Willis Wharf. He entered the Coast Guard on November 4, 1940.

Both parents received telegrams from the United States Navy Department telling of the boys' war casualties.

The telegram received by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Fletcher, February 1, 1942, reads as follows:

"The Navy Department deeply regrets to inform you that your son, Seaman First Class, Charles Herbert Fletcher, Jr., was killed in action, at sea, in the performance of his duty and in the service of his country. The body has not been recovered. On behalf of the Coast Guard, I extend its sincerest sympathy in your great loss. To prevent possible aid to the enemies, please do not divulge name of the ship or station."

His parents were raised on Chincoteague Island and later moved to New York City. The son attended school in New York and when his parents moved back to Chincoteague, he attended Chincoteague High School and graduated in 1939, entering the United States Coast Guard in 1940.

While in the Coast Guard, he won three medals for Marksmanship.

Charles Herbert Fletcher, Jr., was killed in action, January 29, 1942.