Greenbrier County, West Virginia    Biography: Joseph Bell HANDLY

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Transcribed and submitted by Valerie Crook, <vfcrook @earthlink.net>, 1998.
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JOSEPH BELL HANDLY - is a son of Harvey and Mary C. (BELL) HANDLY, whose 
record has just been given, and he was born January 4, 1845, on the farm 
where his father still lives, near Lewisburg, this county.  In his
eighteenth year, in the fall of 1862, Joseph B. HANDLY enlisted at
Richlands, in the 14th Virginia Cavalry, Confederate service, serving in
Company K until its division, when he was placed in Company E.  His company
stayed in Greenbrier County one year, and was engaged in a skirmish at 
TUCKWILLERS Hill, and had their winter quarters, winter of 1863, at Monroe
Draft, this county.  In the following spring they moved on to Lynchburg, 
in front of the Federal General Averill's forces, and in April or May went
down the Shenandoah Valley, advancing on Washington as far as Georgetown.
He took part in the marching, countermarching, and engagements of the campaigns 
of the Valley until in January, 1865, the 14th was transferred to BEALL's brigade
of cavalry, operating with LEE until the surrender.  Among the engagements in 
which Mr. HANDLY took part were Monocacy, Maryland; Georgetown, Fishers Hill, 
Kernstown, Cedar Creek, Cedarville, Winchester, Timberville, and under Lee 
the engagements of Five Forks, and of Appomattox, where Mr. HANDLY was 
fighting until ten o'clock from daybreak, firing ceasing two hours before 
the surrender.  He was never wounded, nor taken prisoner until the surrender,
but he more than once left the battle-field with his clothing shot full of 
holes.  His occupation is farming and dealing in stock, and he is located 
in Lewisburg District.  At Richlands, February 27, 1878, Joseph B. HANDLY 
was united in marriage with Sallie Smith WATKINS, who was born in Charlotte
County, near Smithville, Virginia, July 11, 1858.  Her parents, William 
Leigh WATKINS and Ann Cobbs (HARRIS) WATKINS, still reside at the place 
of her birth.  Her father was born there, and is about fifty years of age
at this time.  Her mother, now about forty-five years old, was born in 
Virginia, also.  Joseph B. HANDLY receives his mail at Richlands, Greenbrier
County, West Virginia.


Source:  Hardesty, Henry H.  Hardesty's Historical and Geographical
Encyclopedia.  New York: H.H. Hardesty and Company, 1884.
Rpt. in West Virginia Heritage Encyclopedia.  Ed. Jim Comstock.
Richwood: Comstock, 1974.