On Saturday, May 23, 2009, I and three other Union Reenactors went to the Marion County Historical Society in downtown Fairmont to serve as color guard for a recognition day for Julia Pierpont, wife of Francis H. Pierpont of Fairmont, who was appointed as Governor of the Restored State of Virginia after the secession of Virginia during the Civil War. This irritated the Confederates to no end and Grumble Jones’ Rebel raiders burned the couple’s library after the Battle of Fairmont in the spring of 1863. We were also joined by a couple of Living Historians portraying Governor and Mrs. Pierpont.
Pierpont, an important political figure in this region was also involved in the movement for West Virginia statehood and served as Reconstruction governor of Virginia after the war’s end. During this time in Richmond, Mrs. Pierpont learned that graves of Union soldiers in Richmond’s Hollywood Cemetary were being neglected. To remedy this, she gathered some friends and trooped off to the cemetary to decorate the graves with flowers. This set in motion a chain of events that resulted in Grand Army of the Republic Commander-in-Chief, General John A. Logan ordering in 1868, that May 30 be designated as “Decoration Day” by the GAR. The name, of course, was changed in 1882 to “Memorial Day.”*
The program at the Historical Society consisted of refreshments and speeches as well as Civil War period music on the porch and front lawn. Inside the historic house, were a number of interesting exhibits dealing with the Civil War period. This was followed by memorial services at the Woodlawn Cemetary for the Pierponts as well as for Thomas C. Miller, local educator and Civil War veteran, and for all who have fallen in service to their country. For this part of the program, we were joined by an honor guard from VFW post 629 from Fairmont.
All in all, it was an enjoyable day. Hats off to the Marion County Historical Society for their efforts.
*Information courtesy of Marion County Historical Society and Pierpont Community and Technical College.
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