In Search of Timothy Alderman

 

Discuss the man "Timothy Alderman" of Minnehaha Springs West Virginia who was killed during the American Civil War

Based on local histories and genealogical records, Timothy Alderman was indeed a real person residing in the Minnehaha Springs area of Pocahontas County, West Virginia (which was part of Virginia until June 1863) during the Civil War.

Here's what is generally known or reported about him:

1. Location: He lived near Minnehaha Springs, an area in the southern part of Pocahontas County.

2. Time Period: He lived during the Civil War era (1861-1865).

3. Circumstances of Death: Timothy Alderman was killed during the war, but likely not in a major, formal battle as part of a regular Confederate or Union regiment. The accounts typically describe him as being killed near his home.

   • "Bushwhacked": The most common description is that he was "bushwhacked" – ambushed and killed, often by irregular forces or partisans.

   • Perpetrators: Sources often suggest he was killed by Union sympathizers, potentially members of the Union Home Guard or Federal scouts operating in the area. Pocahontas County was deeply divided in its loyalties, and this type of localized, often brutal conflict between neighbors or roaming bands was common in border regions like West Virginia.

   • Loyalty: He is generally believed to have been a Confederate sympathizer, or perhaps was perceived as such, which likely made him a target. Some accounts may link him loosely to local Confederate militia or partisan activities, though finding official enlistment records can be difficult for such individuals.

4. Date of Death: The exact date can vary slightly in different accounts, but it is generally placed sometime in 1864, often cited as April 1864.

5. Significance: His death is representative of the harsh realities of the Civil War in mountainous, border regions like Pocahontas County. The conflict there wasn't just fought between large armies but often involved guerrilla warfare, raids, ambushes, and score-settling between local factions with differing loyalties. Civilians, particularly those suspected of aiding the "other side," were frequently at risk.

Sources and Verification:

• Information about individuals like Timothy Alderman often comes from county histories (like William T. Price's Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County, West Virginia), family genealogies, local oral traditions, and sometimes notations in compiled service records or pension files (though often indirectly, mentioning the circumstances of death).

• Verifying the exact details can sometimes be challenging, as records from irregular conflicts are less formal than those of regular army units. Different sources might offer slightly different dates or interpretations of the event.

In summary, Timothy Alderman was a resident of Minnehaha Springs, Pocahontas County, who became a casualty of the Civil War. His death, typically described as being ambushed or "bushwhacked" near his home in 1864, likely by Union-aligned forces or sympathizers, highlights the localized and often personal nature of the conflict in divided regions like West Virginia. He is remembered in local history as one of the many individuals caught up in the violence of that era in the county.