Does anyone know what Cawood did after the war?

[L Verge]

I received this short note yesterday from David W. Gaddy, a co-author of Come Retribution, regarding his search efforts on Charles Hamilton Cawood over the years:

Laurie,
Re: K. Cawood's postings - John alerted me to the exchanges, which have totally diverted my attention. I've continued to be troubled that I advised JOH against publishing before we knew the conclusion, and now it comes from "low-level" sources, just below our former eye-level. I think I want to send her a plaque or something!

You refer to the cemetery recording: I can't recall whether PGC has/had compilations of cemetery records compiled during the late 1930s under the New Deal back-to-work employment of historians, etc. (Those still exist at some NC counties and are invaluable.)

I had little trouble finding Edward and his mother [Cawood's wife and son]. But must dig out my Macon files. He successfully pursued his medical training, but seems to have run afoul of alcohol/drugs and was placed in asylum in Williamsburg. Later with mother when she was matron and he "house doctor."

My impression is that her marriage to Cawood was not well received from the Macons. After Richmond, she and Edward were "taken in" at Montpelier vicinity, (presumably after death of second son with Cawood, and Cawood's departure?). She redeemed herself by returning to the name of the dead hero, but her reception was thin, and I find no record of her interitance; whereas Edward received family silver. She returns to Richmond, as I recall, but I'll have to refer to notes I have on connections there.

I had hoped the (earlier) Baltimore Sun account might contain more details, as may yet happen.

It is wonderful how bits and pieces and fragments of family memory are coming together!

[k.cawood]

Lucy Jane Johnson Macon Cawood 1st husband.

EDGAR MACON,

OF ORANGE COUNTY, VIRGINIA; SECOND LIEUTENANT, THOMAS ARTILLERY.

Edgar Macon, son of Conway and Agnes Macon, was born in Orange County, Virginia, in 1828. In August, 1845, he was appointed a cadet at the Virginia Military Institute, and spent some time at that school. Afterwards he became a merchant in his native county, continuing as such until the outbreak of the war. From the first an earnest and warm secessionist, as soon as the Virginia Convention passed the ordinance, though on a sick-bed from a long and serious illness, he immediately arose and went to work to assist in raising and organizing the Thomas Artillery, of which he was elected a lieutenant. This company was first sent to Winchester, thence went with Johnston's army on his forced march to Manassas, going on foot ninety miles in twenty-four hours, under a scorching sun and with scarcely any food. Reaching Manassas on the morning of the 21st of July, 1861, the battery went at once into battle, then at its fiercest, and nobly did its part till the field was won. Lieutenant Macon, after having borne the heat and burden of the day, fell a victim to a random shot, fired after the battle was over and the enemy were retiring. He had just mounted his horse, preparatory to withdrawing from the field, when he was struck by a shell and instantly killed.

Nothing can better express the love and esteem with which he was regarded by all who knew him than the following extract from the letter of a friend written at that time:

"Of the many who laid their lives as a sacrifice upon the altar of their country on that memorable day, none could have done so more lamented than our noble young friend. After bravely fighting for more than eight hours by the guns under his charge, he fell, and as the shout of victory rose upon his ear, his spirit rose to Him who gave it. Who would not die a patriot's death? While we deeply lament his loss, we feel that he died gloriously in a glorious cause."

Lieutenant Macon was the only son of a widowed mother, and left a wife and an infant son, born three days before his death, and never seen by him.

He was a great-nephew of President Madison, and his remains repose in the cemetery at Montpelier, where rest his ancestors of many generations.

Possessed of a warm, loving, and genial disposition, he won the hearts of all, and in the domestic relations of life, as son, brother, and husband, he pre-eminently shone,—being excelled by none.

From: memorial, virginia military institue. biographical sketches of the graduates ...
By charles d. walker