U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bowman, Adam Coleman (b. 1839) ------------------------------------------------------------------- The History of Barbour County, West Virginia, From its Earliest Exploration and Settlement to the Present Time by Hu Maxwell The Acme Publishing Company, Morgantown, W.Va., 1899 Pages 335-338 Captain Adam Coleman Bowman (autobiography.) My life is uneventful and unimportant, and I am disinclined to write one word concerning myself, yet I have been so importuned by my children, and the publisher of this work, that I forego my own feelings and give a sketch for the gratification of others. I was born May 1, 1839, on Cheat River, near Licking Creek, in the present County of Tucker; was married May 24, 1874, to Tacy Jane Wilmoth;* our children are three, Stuart Hampton, Thomas Armstead Bradford and Tacy Maud. To their mother is due their health, good looks and moral and intellectual training. I was born at a time when there were no educational opportunities, to speak of, and my parents being poor, I by dint of perseverance and the help of an old college professor, Wm. Ferguson, was enabled to obtain a smattering education far in advance of most people of my day, I obtained from Professor Ferguson, not a classical education, but knowledge of English, some Latin and a good idea of mathematics and surveying. I was also good in history. When about 19 years of age I conceived the idea of being a lawyer; but had not a book or a dollar to buy one. I went to members of the profession and got the loan of books, and advice as to the course of study. After two years' studying and teaching school at intervals, I presented myself for examination before Judges Gideon D. Camden, George W. Thompson and William Jackson, who signed my license and congratulated me upon passing a very satisfactory examination. Just as I had entered upon the practice of law, the Civil War was upon us. I, with a number of others, regarded the cause of the South just; and in the spring of 1861, was arguing for the South and encouraging the enlistment of volunteers for the war. We held meetings at old Valley Furnace, and so high was our blood and effective our arguments, that we soon enlisted a number of young men, who were organized into a company and mustered into the service of the Confederate States. Our first rendezvous was Grafton which we occupied with great satisfaction to ourselves, deluded with the idea that to meet the enemy was to vanquish him at sight, having become impressed with the idea that a Southern dog was better than a Northern lion. Our commander Colonel Porterfield had a much better conception of the fighting qualities than his soldiers. Hearing that the enemy was approaching he wisely retreated. Our retreat to Philippi was accomplished in good order and without incident except a false alarm that the Yankees were upon us and an order to flank and take the woods, which order was executed with alacrity by all except our company, the "Mountain Guards," and which order, for lack of knowledge and because of an utter misconception of the enemy, I foolishly countermanded, and formed our company into line of battle, firmly believing Yankees were cowards. Our company got then and there great credit for daring and bravery, all on account of an order without authority. The next incident was our flight from Philippi. To call it a fight is a misnomer. Here the Mountain Guards again showed a lack of appreciation of the situation, refused to run, formed in line and marched out in good order, and only retreated a short distance until they concluded the Yankees didn't amount to much, and hearing the report of cannon, decided to go back and capture the cannon. They actually marched back a considerable distance and only were prevented from the undertaking by citizens and cooler heads who realized the folly of the undertaking. I have always regretted that we did not go on for there never was more blundering or greater lack of generalship than the taking of Philippi, and I firmly believe, with the light now before me, that 100 disciplined, well equipped men could have routed the army of General Kelley. The next army incident was at Laurel Hill. There, came the first revelation to me of war in earnest. A new and graver conception was forced upon my mind. I found that the Yankees could shoot and fight. We engaged them on the skirmish line without faltering, and I began to realize that the idea of a southern dog whipping a northern lion existed only in imagination. General Garnett would have defeated the enemy but for the capture of Rich Mountain. When that occurred retreat was the only hope. It was accomplished without confusion or hurry, until we were overtaken by a straggling few at Corrick's Ford where a few shots were fired and General Garnett killed. Then what had been orderly retreat became a rout. The army ran wild; officers had no control; the swiftest were able to get ahead, soldiers fell out of the ranks; took to the woods and fields; and in their frenzy, it was every man for himself. I not being accustomed to marching and unable to endure fatigue, was soon in the rear. A circumstance occurred here that made a deep impression on my mind. A comrade, John R. Phillips, and myself, friends from boyhood, both belonging to the same company, had fallen exhausted and unable to go farther, when a wagon came along, and Henry Sturm, our captain, who was riding a horse, saw us lying by the road. He called to the wagon and got Phillips on, saying that he was a lieutenant. I tried to get on the wagon and was pushed off, while Phillips went on. I followed on until I, with other straggling soldiers, got near a point called the Red House, and found the enemy there ahead of us. There we took to a swamp so thickly grown with brush, that it was almost impenetrable. Here we lay concealed three days and nights without blankets or rations. I was huddled with three Confederate officers who on the third day decided to surrender. They left me in the swamp with a solemn promise not to betray me. Hunger and thirst were so great I finally succumbed and crawled out, and got to an old Dutchman's by the name of Enos Sell. Fever set in, they nursed me three weeks, when I rode home horseback. In a few days I was captured, and was held prisoner until exchanged, then returned to the South and resumed hostilities. I recruited a company, joined the command of Wm. L. Jackson, and followed the fortunes of the Confederacy until the close of the war; participating in the battles of the Wilderness, Antietam, Petersburg, and the campaign of Early in the Valley of Virginia; was Captain of Company K, 19th W. Va. Vols.; was wounded twice, and surrendered with General Lee at Appomattox. During the time I was in the army I had many sanguinary conflicts, many hairbreadth escapes and many blood curdling experiences, but nothing so chilled my blood, and was so ground into my nature as the killing of my father, Henry V. Bowman. From that time my nature changed and revenge took the place of the common, ordinary soldier; and nothing was too daring for me to undertake that was within the bounds of legitimate warfare. I was to the front in every engagement and led my company with a fierceness that surprises me at this time. The instigators of the fiendish and hellish act were known to me soon after my return home. They are all dead now and gone to their reward. While the fire of the furies burned in my nature, and does now, while I write this, yet I never took the slightest revenge upon prisoners though numbers fell into my hands, or punished innocence for a crime dark as hell. Since the war I have been engaged in peaceful avocations, merchandising and practicing law. The law was really my forte and I now exceedingly regret that I did not give it my entire attention. To me it was enjoyment and a financial success. The Bowman genealogy to me is limited. They are German, or rather Dutch. The only one we can date from is George Bowman, who came from the state of New York with the Van Meters, and settled on the South Branch of the Potomac, in what is now Hardy and Hampshire Counties. George Bowman's son Adam married Rachel Van Meter, daughter of Abram Van Meter, and at an early day migrated with James Parsons to Cheat River, in what is now Tucker County. Adam Bowman had a numerous family, my father Henry Van Meter Bowman being his second son and child. There is nothing peculiar or striking about the Bowmans, so far as I know, except an utter disregard of ornamentation and especially jewelry. Not one was ever known to wear a finger ring, shirt stud, breast pin or diamond. While too poor to indulge in these luxuries, that is not the only reason. The fact is they abhor these; and never was a Bowman known who could dance or touch a musical instrument. Instrumental music to them is a dead language. Among the Bowmans are lawyers, doctors and one preacher, Bishop Bowman, of the M. E. church, who is a lineal descendant of George Bowman. None have won particular distinction or great wealth, but are all respectable, none ever guilty or accused of a crime. I give this sketch, with this admonition especially to my children: There are greater things than money and some things for which money is no equivalent. Your honor, honesty and integrity are above price. Let money be no temptation to barter with these. Live honestly, justly and uprightly, and you will always have the confidence and esteem of the good, and will quit this life happily. ----- *Tacy Jane Wilmoth; Mrs. Bowman is a daughter of Isaac W. Wilmoth, formerly a representative man of Barbour, but now dead. He was a son of John Wilmoth, and John was a son of Thomas who was one of five Wilmoth brothers who settled on Shaver's Fork of Cheat River, east of the present town of Elkins, when that region was Monongalia County, now Randolph. The brothers were Jonathan, Nicholas, Thomas, John and James. The last named was killed by Indians. ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Tucker County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/tucker/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------