Samuel Koontz
Upon Virginia's secession, Koontz remained loyal to the Union but was inactive during 1861-62. In February 1863, Koontz accepted a commission as first lieutenant from Francis Pierpont, governor of the Restored Government of Virginia. The legal and political structure in the county had fallen into such disorder, however, that Koontz could not locate a justice of the peace who would administer the necessary oath for him legally to assume his new military post. Two different justices refused to administer the oath for fear of Koontz being captured by Southern partisans. If captured, Koontz's legal documents would reveal the justices allegiance to the Union and expose them to partisan atack. That the threat was real is confirmed by the capture of Koontz. He was taken by raiders sent into Fayette County by General John Echols with the specific purpose of arresting those civilians who had been denounced by refugees.
Koontz, without the legal documents, had begun to recruit fellow German Americans into his unit, and he unsuccessfully tried to recruit James B. Hamilton. On June 5, 1863, Echols s raiding party captured Koontz near his home. Koontz maintained that he was a Union soldier. He had remained inactive until 1863, and his renewed pro-Union activity apparently was related to the Confederate arrest and imprisonment of one of his relatives. Arrested as a "traitorous Virginian," Koontz first was imprisoned in Castle Thunder in Richmond. A year later, Koontz was transferred from Castle Thunder to Libby Prison for Union soldiers, a recognition of his claim that he was a military prisoner of war.
Castle Thunder prison, a group of three commercial buildings impressed into use by Confederates in 1862, housed deserters, civilians, and political prisoners. Two wings were set aside, one for African Americans and one for women prisoners. Designed for fourteen hundred people, it held almost three thousand when Koontz and James B. Hamilton arrived. Koontz worked in the hospital while at Castle Thunder, and his transfer to Libby Prison indicated his recategorization as a Union soldier. Hamilton, a political prisoner, continued to believe that he would be released from Castle Thunder. James Hamilton's story yields details of life in Fayette County in the Civil War era and shows the complexity of the loyalty question.
Brigadier General John Echols, who had a penchant for exaggerating the quantity and quality of dangerous subversives, summarily accused, convicted, and sentenced James Hamilton for disloyalty prior to any hearing. Echols wrote a letter that accompanied prisoner Hamilton as he was moved under guard to Lewisburg, Dublin, Lynchburg, then Richmond. Echols declared that Hamilton was "a most dangerous man to our cause" and should be confined "during the continuance of the war." Once a student at the Virginia Military Institute himself, Echols became infuriated at the notion that a former cadet could be disloyal to the Confederacy. He also charged Hamilton with providing information and maps to the enemy, a charge that Echols believed "might" be proved if he had access to Union-controlled Fayette County
Samuel B. Koontz represents yet another variation in loyal behavior. Prior to the war, Koontz, a farmer in the Mt. Cove District, served as an officer in the 142nd Virginia Militia. Upon Virginia's secession, Koontz remained loyal to the Union but was inactive during 1861-62. In February 1863, Koontz accepted a commission as first lieutenant from Francis Pierpont, governor of the Restored Government of Virginia. The legal and political structure in the county had fallen into such disorder, however, that Koontz could not locate a justice of the peace who would administer the necessary oath for him legally to assume his new military post. Two different justices refused to administer the oath for fear of Koontz being captured by Southern partisans. If captured, Koontz's legal documents would reveal the justices allegiance to the Union and expose them to partisan atack. That the threat was real is confirmed by the capture of Koontz. He was taken by raiders sent into Fayette County by General John Echols with the specific purpose of arresting those civilians who had been denounced by refugees.
Koontz, without the legal documents, had begun to recruit fellow German Americans into his unit, and he unsuccessfully tried to recruit James B. Hamilton. On June 5, 1863, Echols s raiding party captured Koontz near his home. Koontz maintained that he was a Union soldier. He had remained inactive until 1863, and his renewed pro-Union activity apparently was related to the Confederate arrest and imprisonment of one of his relatives. Arrested as a "traitorous Virginian," Koontz first was imprisoned in Castle Thunder in Richmond. A year later, Koontz was transferred from Castle Thunder to Libby Prison for Union soldiers, a recognition of his claim that he was a military prisoner of war. Castle Thunder prison, a group of three commercial buildings impressed into use by Confederates in 1862, housed deserters, civilians, and political prisoners. Two wings were set aside, one for African Americans and one for women prisoners. Designed for fourteen hundred people, it held almost three thousand when Koontz and James B. Hamilton arrived. Koontz worked in the hospital while at Castle Thunder, and his transfer to Libby Prison indicated his recategorization as a Union soldier. Hamilton, a political prisoner, continued to believe that he would be released from Castle Thunder. James Hamilton's story yields details of life in Fayette County in the Civil War era and shows the complexity of the loyalty question. We do not know just when William Grose moved to the community but he first settled on a tract of fifty acres taken up by a man named Foster and we find that he made survey of and got patent for one hundred and forty acres adjoining this land on September 1832. His father had moved to Line Creek in 1815. William married Susan Koontz of near Keslers Cross Lanes so we conclude that they settled in the community prior to the year 1832.