Submitted by Nancy Finney Cornish; Vetted and edited by Cheri Todd Molter & Kobe M. Brown
Based on Oral Tradition and Genealogical Research
This story is about my third great-grandmother, Phoebe Graybeal Eastridge. Phoebe Graybeal was born and raised in Ashe County, North Carolina. The ninth child of Henry Graybeal and Celia Henson, Phoebe came from sturdy pioneer stock. Her father served in the War of 1812.
About 1830 Phoebe married Pleasant Eastridge and they had at least twelve children. Pleasant deserted his family around 1850 and never returned. At that time, according to the 1850 census records, Pheobe’s youngest child was not even one year old. Their children’s names were William, John, Henry, David, Joel, Eli, Lucy, Barnabas, Mary, Andrew, Martha, and Sarah.
Phoebe and her family lived in the North Fork District of Ashe County before, during, and after the Civil War. That area was known to be strong pro-Union, and the people who lived there were subject to raids by both Confederate and Union troops, most of whom were looking to replenish food, men, and horses. There were also many stories told about the Confederate home guard, which was known to search houses and properties, looking for deserters or Union supporters who, if found, were taken out and hung from trees and left for their families to cut down.
All of Phoebe’s eight sons served in one army or the other during the Civil War, some for the Union and some for the Confederacy. At least two, Barnabas and John, were what was then called a “galvanized Yankee,” which was a term used for a man who originally enlisted in the Confederate army but chose to serve in the Union Army later in the war. Although three of Phoebe’s sons, Barnabas, Henry, and John, served in the 58th NC Troops (CSA), only Barnabas enlisted voluntarily. Henry and John were both conscripted several months after Barnabas joined.
One of the family’s oral histories claims that Phoebe convinced Confederate recruiters that her youngest son, Andrew, was not yet 16 years old and, therefore, too young to be conscripted. Taking him home, she told him to dress as a woman so he could get past the rebels and join the Union’s 13th Tennessee Calvary. Two of Phoebe’s sons died in the war: David, a Confederate who died in battle, and Eli, a Union soldier who was captured and died while a prisoner of war.
In other stories that have been passed down, Phoebe’s husband, Pleasant, was described as a “ladies’ man” and Phoebe is referred to as “mean.” However, when looking at the available resources, I think of Pleasant as a weak husband and father who deserted his family and of Phoebe as a strong woman who used her attitude as a shield against the hardships she endured during her life. It could not have been easy for Phoebe, as well as for many other women, who had to fend for themselves and protect their children during that time.
Editor’s Notes:
This story mentions eight sons William, John, Henry, David, Joel, Eli, Barnabas, Andrew, but some of the sources found on Ancestry and findagrave.com suggest a ninth—Pleasant Jr.—too. The following are notes on the war service of each of Pheobe Eastridge’s sons, from eldest to youngest:
On October 1, 1861, William Eastridge enlisted in the US Army as a 1st Lieutenant, serving in Company B of the 2nd Tenn. Infantry. Eastridge mustered out about three years later, on Oct. 6, 1864.
On July 20, 1862, John Eastridge, a twenty-nine-year-old resident of Ashe County, enlisted in the Confederate army for three years. He served in Company L of the NC 58th P. Rangers Infantry. According to his military records, John deserted from the army on February 9, 1863. A month later, he was arrested, and in June he returned to serve with his company. On July 8th, John deserted near the Chattahoochee River but returned soon after without incident. However, on August 22, 1863, John deserted again, that time from Campbell Station with his brother, Barnabas. His records state that he returned in January 1864 and was back on the rolls by April. Eventually, however, he joined the “E” Co. TN 13th Cavalry, so he became was what then called a “galvanized Yankee.”
On July 20, 1862, twenty-five-year-old Henry Eastridge was conscripted in the Confederate army. He served in Company L of NC 58th P. Rangers Infantry. On January 6, 1863, Henry deserted at Big Creek Gap, Tennessee. Military records verify that he had deserted, and he was kept on the rolls until April of that year. He did not return.
David Eastridge [also spelled Estridge in records] was conscripted by the Confederate army to serve in Company A “Jeff Davis Mountain Rifles” of the 26th NC Infantry Troops on March 28, 1864. At the time, he was married to Nancy E. Williams Eastridge. Based on the Widow’s pension Nancy filed after the war, David died at a hospital at Staunton, Virginia, after receiving a chest gunshot wound at the Battle of Tar Hill. David was buried in a mass grave at Thornrose Cemetery, Staunton, Virginia.
On July 30, 1862, Joel Eastridge was conscripted into Confederate service. He served in Company G of the TN 63rd Infantry. The date and method of his discharge was not provided in his military records.
On March 25, 1863, twenty-four-year-old Eli Eastridge enlisted in the Union Army, serving in Company B, TN 2nd Infantry. On November 6, 1863, Eli was captured by the Confederates at Rogersville, Tennessee. He died while imprisoned.
On February 20, 1863, Barnabas “Barney” Eastridge enlisted in the Confederate Army at Ashe County as a private, serving in Company L of the NC 58th P. Rangers Infantry. About six months later, on August 22, 1863, Barnabas deserted with his brother, John, while stationed at Campbell Station, Tennessee. Barnabas was arrested on December 10th and returned to service around May 1, 1864. He was captured by Union forces two weeks later at Resaca, Georgia. By May 22nd, he was confined at Camp Morton, IN. On March 14, 1865, Barnabas took the “Oath of Allegiance” at Camp Morton, and a few days later, he joined the U.S. Army. By switching sides, he became known as what was then called a “galvanized Yankee” by supporters of the Confederacy. He served in Company G, U.S. Army 6th Infantry.
On September 24, 1863, Andrew Eastridge enlisted in the US Army. Based on the family’s oral traditions, Andrew’s mother assisted him in his efforts to avoid Confederate conscription and make it to the place where he could enlist in Federal forces. On Nov. 8, 1864, serving as a corporal, he mustered into Company E, Tennessee 13th Calvary. Andrew survived the war and was mustered out of service on Sept. 5, 1865.
Other note: Phoebe is spelled “Phebe” on her gravestone.