Margaret Reid, the youngest daughter of William and Lucinda Creighton Reid, was a Confederate sympathizer during the Civil War. In April 1863, Margaret, fondly know as Meg, carried information on the Union troops, who were located at Buckhannon, WV to the Confederate troops led by General John D. Imboden and General William E. Jones. Imboden and his 3400 men who marched in from Staunton, VA had wanted to raid and destroy portions of the B&O rail line in WV and disrupt the Restored Government of Virginia that was meeting in Wheeling. The Jones-Imboden Raids failed in their objectives, but they did capture Buckhannon, aided by the likes of Meg. General Jones mentioned receiving such intelligence, saying, “…there was a fresh brigade at Phillipi, reported by the citizens to have arrived the night before from New Creek, under command of General Mulligan.” Meg was arrested some time soon after passing information to Imboden and Jones, but it wasn’t for spying but for the act of flying a rebel flag, for which she was sent to the Wheeling prison.
After the war, Meg, a true Southern girl at heart, eventually made her way to New Orleans and married a Philip Stockton from South Carolina. They had one daughter; May L, who was born 29 May 1881 and died 14 Apr 1907. Meg, who was a widow by 1890, worked as a seamstress from her home in New Orleans. She died there sometime between 1910 and 1920.
(Photo courtesy of Margaret Betty Smith)
No comments:
Post a Comment