City Directories and History: The newspaper reported on McElwee taking packages to Virginia….
Yorkville Enquirer, Wed Eve July 27, 1864: J. N. McElwee, of Taylor’s Creek, going to VA
Jonathan N. McElwee, Jr. published a note written to the YE on July 25th offering to take packages when he went to Virginia. He requested that boxes be weighted and marked and left with Mr. Carroll of Yorkville or Mr. Maxwell of RH, Railroad Agents.
Yorkville Enquirer, Wed Eve July 27, 1864: W. M. McElwee from VA
J. M. McElwee wrote a letter to the YE dated July 1st from Lexington, VA. He began by saying he would never have written had not the editor noted in the paper that Yankees were going to push on toward Lexington from Staunton. He noted the editor’s prediction came true, and described action in that area. McElwee said there were no Confederate forces in the Valley except one brigade of cavalry under McCausland and he skirmished with the Yankees constantly. The Yankees came to Lexington, delayed for a few hours only when McCausland burned the bridge. They were camped around Lexington from Saturday, July 11th until Tuesday (14th), destroyed the Institute, professors’ houses and the Mess Hall, and then burned two mills, one store, and one dwelling on the river. They took what they wanted and had about three or four hundred wagons. The wagons camped on McElwee’s land and destroyed a lot of grass, trees, and used his fence for fires. McElwee hid his horses in the mountains and his Negroes refused to go with the Yankees (one was taken and escaped, two evidently were taken and did not return). “My wife behaved, among these men possessed with devils, with great courage and coolness, she went among them and asserted and maintained her rights. They generally called her a d—n rebel woman in white. Some said she was the bravest woman they ever saw.” The Yankees left Lexington for Lynchburg but were attacked by a Confederate force and retreated. McElwee said his health was ruined and he had been unable to preach for two months. “I have a violent and distressing cough, with the doctors say is bronchitis, probably the result of exposure in the army.”
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