Mountain Road

Mountain Road. . , In the 19th century, Mountain Road consisted of mostly large and small farms. In 1857, the Hopkins family purchased Walkerton on approximately 250 acres. Two other substantial homesteads on Mountain Road at this time belonged to the Sheppards and the Allens. The Sheppard family lived at Meadow Farm, which consisted of about 300 acres. Benjamin Allen and his wife Susan Sheppard Allen resided on a sizeable estate between Walkerton and Meadow Farm., When the Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railroad laid tracks in 1836, the local area became known as Mountain Road Crossing. During the Civil War, the area was known as Glen Allen Station and sometime later the name was shortened to Glen Allen., Mountain Road was a path well used by both Union and Confederate troops. In Stuart's ride around McClellan in June 1862, Stuart traveled Mountain Road. The families of Mountain Road had endured two raids by the Union Cavalry including the Kilpatrick-Dahlgren Raid in February and March of 1864, before Sheridan made his ride through Glen Allen Station on his way to Yellow Tavern., The Hopkins Family , Francis Hopkins lived at Walkerton with her three children George, Erasmus and Josephine until her death in 1866. George Hopkins enlisted as a private on May 9, 1861 in Company I, "Henrico Light Dragoons" of the 10th Virginia Cavalry. He attained the rank of Captain in May 1863., Erasmus Hopkins enlisted on May 27, 1861 as a Private in Nottoway Troop, Co. G, 3rd Virginia Cavalry at Nottoway Court House. In a February 1862 letter, Erasmus detailed his difficulties with an ilness as well as having little to eat. He wrote "we only draw bread, sugar and coffee." He also mentioned that "'the army is in better spirits since the appointment of General Lee and desertions are less frequent.", Josephine Hopkins kept in close contact with both of her brothers during their service through Ietters. She sent at least one package of goods to George Hopkins consisting of bread, apple butter and molasses., On April 10, 1864, just one month before the Battle of Yellow Tavern, George sent a letter home to his sister Josephine detailing recent difficulties while serving. He wrote "one of the most disagreeable marches that men ever went through ... seven days in the rain or snow falling all the while, nothing for men or horses to eat." He asked about their mother's health and whether she had recovered. This may be the reason he tried to go home just after the Battle of Yellow Tavern. Captain Hopkins survived the war and returned home to Walkerton where he continued to farm the property until he died in 1905. He was buried along with his mother, brother and sisters in the family cemetery at Walkerton., The War Reaches Home , Sheridan's Mountain Road March , Early on the morning of May 1, 1864, a servant of Dr. Sheppard's began warning the local residents that an immense cavalry force was on the way. In short time, they arrived and the scene was described by a local resident. He recalls "the whole body of miscreants were swarming the roads, the fields, and the woods, and by thousands surrounded the mansion and grounds of Mrs. Allen. Here and elsewhere, they were stealing everything they could lay their hands on while destroying much of what they couldn't take." Other victims included Mr. James Winston, Dr. John Sheppard, and Mrs. Hopkins. "The devils appropriated everything they could lay their thievish hands upon.", Among Sheridan's other objectives was to disrupt as much of the Confederate logistic activity as possible. Colonel Alfred Gibbs of the 1st New York Dragoons reported that at the Glen Allen Station, they "tore up parts of it, burned cross ties, and destroyed the telegraph wires and some culverts." General Merritt stated that at "Glen Allen Station, the road (tracks) was destroyed in both directions from that point for 4 or 5 miles.", During the late afternoon, Gordon's confederates pressed the Union rear guard and a running batle took place along Mountain Road from Glen Allen Station past the Hopkins' residence at Walkerton Tavern. Editorials appearing in the Richmond Dispatch days later claimed that Yankees "also occupied Hopkins' and Rowe's houses, firing from the windows.", A few days after the battle, Sheridan stated that he placed the severely wounded men in the large farmhouses in the area. Located less than a quarter of a mile from the rail lines and being a large home, it is likely that Walkerton was used to house some of the wounded men., Captain George Hopkins of Walkerton was among the Confederate soldiers that were taken prisoner either during or shortly after the Yellow Tavern Battle. One report states that he was taken prisoner at his residence, which further gives evidence as Walkerton being occupled by Union Cavalry., (Captions) , The Sheppard Family , During the Civil War, Dr. John Mosby Shepperd and his wife Virginia Iived at Meadow Farm with their nine children and 17 slaves. They farmed the property and Dr. Sheppard served as a doctor for the local community., Mary Elizabeth Sheppard was the third daughter of John and Virginia. She recalled to her son Sheppard Crump that on the day of the battle, Custer's men raided thse property stealing all the family's food including hams hidden in a wardrobe., Alexander Hamilton Sheppard, the eldest son of Dr. and Mrs. Virginia Sheppard, was 18 years old when he served as a guard at Libby Prison in 1865. He wrote his mother "I wish you would send me a few peas and beans if you have them to spare."