Hartwood church vandalized by Yankees before Kelly's Ford, Stafford Co, Virginia - Fitzhugh Lee & Averell, Foes & Friends

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Here at Hartwood Church in Stafford County, Virginia, Union/Yankees appeared to be more interested in looting and destroying southern American churches than fighting a war.

The historical markers in front of this church capture what happened here (see the full text at links below). A Yankee soldier was dismayed by what he found:

“Myself and another … decided to take shelter at Hartwood Church, a small brick structure. On entering, we were struck with a number of texts and embellishments executed in charcoal on the walls. The seats have been torn out, the windows and doors smashed, and the walls covered with obscene characters and writings. A body of Union Cavalry did this dastardly desecration in the house of worship - a sufficient commentary on the characters of these dirty caricatures of patriots. No matter if it is a Rebel house of worship, its character should be a protection against vandalism. Such treatment of churches is a disgrace to the much-boasted civilization of the nineteenth century.” - Pvt. John W. Haley, 17th Maine Infantry, June 11, 1863, diary, Dyer Library, Saco Museums, Saco, Maine”

The historical marker continues:
“This is Hartwood Presbyterian Church, which Federal troops occupied during the Civil War. They removed and burned all the woodwork, leaving only the bare plaster walls. On November 24, 1862, Capt. George Johnson, 3rd Pennsylvania Cavalry, arrived here with two squadrons. An amateur artist, he spent more time drawing graffiti on the church’s plaster walls than attending to his troops’ security.”

Keep in mind, Yankees also vandalized churches attended by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, George Mason, etc in this area in addition to hundreds of others.

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Another amusing thing happened near this church at the Battle of Kelly’s Ford (see the map showing Yankees traveling from this church to Kelly's Ford). It was there that BGen Averell’s 2,100 Union Cavalry crossed the Rappahannock to attack BGen Fitzhugh Lee’s 800 Confederate Cavalry. Despite being greatly outnumbered and outsupplied, Lee counterattacked and drove the Yankees away, back to the other side of the river.

Incidentally, although Lee and Averell were fighting each other as Generals on opposing sides, they were closest of friends at West Point. Lee sent his old friend and classmate the following message during this time, "I wish you would put up your sword, leave my state, and go home. You ride a good horse, I ride a better. If you won't go home, return my visit, and bring me a sack of coffee.

Fitzhugh Lee was practically the closest man to “American Royalty”. He is the great-grandson of Revolutionary War Hero and Virginia Governor General Light Horse Harry Lee, Great Grandson of George Mason (Father of the US Bill of Rights), and nephew of Confederate General Robert E Lee. His cousin George Washington Custis Lee (whose the son of Robert E Lee) was both the Great Grandson of General/President George Washington and aide-de-camp to President Jefferson Davis (Robert E Lee’s father-in-law was one of two children adopted by George Washington).

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Some Historians have surmised that Lincoln’s Yankees often had little respect for Americans and their towns because so many from the North were actually foreign born immigrants from distant lands; “As soon as you set foot in the country the recruiters came at you from all sides,” German Yankee soldier Albrecht wrote. “Since I didn’t know anything about American recruiting tricks, I did the same thing as others…I signed up.” (Albrect was just one of the approx 200,000 foreign born Germanans who fought for the Union against just a few hundred 3rd and 4th generation German Americans in the Confederacy).

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ADDITIONAL READING:
Hartwood Church Historical Marker:
https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=19718

Hartwood Church Historical Marker:
https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=122067

Battle of Kelly’s Ford near Hartwood Church:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kelly%27s_Ford


Location: Kellys Ford, VA 22734, USA

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