Family Tradition of Relic of War Between the States

FAMILY TRADITION OF RELIC OF WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.

Written by Anna Gleaves Rich

 In 1860 Dr. Samuel Crockett Gleaves occupied the chair of surgery, of the University of Pennsylvania, and resided in Philadelphia, with his wife, whose maiden name was Maria Louise Crockett, and their two sons, James Lucian Gleaves and Charles Wythe Gleaves. Their third son, Robert Taylor Gleaves, was born there, in that year.

 In 1861, when the firing on Fort Sumter, S.C. inaugurated the War Between the States, and Virginia seceded from the union, Dr. Gleaves resigned his position, returned to his native state with his family, and offered his services to the Confederacy. He was appointed Surgeon for the entire Regiment of Calvary commanded by General John Floyd, (Ex-Secretary of War of the United States) and Dr. Gleaves was accorded the rank of Major. He served throughout the War.

 At one time during the War he came home on a short furlough to visit his family, in Wytheville, Virginia, because one of his small sons was quite sick.  During this visit his wife’s dearest friend, Mrs. Mary Poe Miller, called on them. She lived in the house later owned by Dr V. C. Huff on East Main Street, just opposite the Rich House, built by Fleming Keen Rich, 1st, in 1848.

Mrs. Miller was suffering the greatest anxiety over property she owned in Louisville, Kentucky, was determined to go there to see about it, and asked Dr. Gleaves to assist her in making arrangements for the journey. Dr. Gleaves was indignant with her for even considering so hazardous a journey. He said, "Mary Poe, You are very foolish to consider risking your life just to save property. You would have to run the land blockade through the Union Army, which is very dangerous indeed. Your life is very valuable because you have small children, God has given you to rear, and you should realize that a mother to care for them is of far more importance in their lives than any property you might safeguard to leave them. I am even now seeking a soldier, who is a scout, or a civilian, who is a spy, to run the inland blockade through the Northern Army for me. My supply of quinine is exhausted and there are men in Floyd’s Cavalry suffering with malaria, who could be made fit for military duty, if I had quinine for them. That is a worthy motive for blockade running.

 ‘Dr. Gleaves, I will do both errands on one trip. Help me and I will help you and your soldiers. But if you do not aid me, I will go anyway. I am deter­mined. You cannot stop me, so you might as well help me to avoid some risk. No Yankee shall ever have any property of mine!’

 “Mary Poe, a supply of quinine means life to my patients, so try it, and I pray God will help you! You must have a good horse, ride at night in the darkness and I will furnish you a pass I found on a dead Yankee, whose dying hour I was able to ease. He had hoped to send it to his wife so she could come nurse him, but did not live long enough. Conceal the quinine by sewing it in your riding habit, and coiling it in your hair. It has been done and neither side has shot a woman spy or smuggler in this war! God guard you!”

 Mary Poe Miller ran the inland blockade through the Union Army, saved her property in Louisville, Kentucky and brought back a supply of quinine.  As a token of gratitude for the pass that enabled her to satisfy the sentries when challenged, she gave Mrs. Maria Gleaves, the prettiest thing she had, a silver card case, with castle, bridge and moat embossed on one side, and a cathedral in relief on the other side. Across the top are her initials, "M.P.M.".  Mrs. Maria Gleaves used it until her death in 1878. Later Dr. Gleaves gave it to her namesake granddaughter, Anna Maria Gleaves. Christmas 1950 she gave it to her namesake granddaughter, Laura Anne Rich. So nearly a century later property of Mary Poe Miller is owned by a girl, who is half-Yankee, for Christians should conquer prejudice, and not cherish bitterness.

Card case showing castle, bridge and moat.

Card case showing cathedral.