Averell's Raiders & the 35th Star
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John W. Saylor, 6th W Va Cavalry - scout

My Great-Great-Grandfather was John W. Saylor (Sailor or Sailer) who was a scout under General Averell from 1863-1865, detached from the 6th WV Cavalry. Saylor lived in Luray, VA in 1860 with his wife, Isabel Orndorff of Hardy Co, WV. He joined the 10th VA Co K (Confederate) in 1861. Then  he joined the 6th WV Cavalry (Union) in Phillipi, WV and was detailed as a Jessie Scout and a scout for Averell. He survived the war, apparently having divorced his wife, and briefly lived in Winchester. He Enlisted in the 5th US Inf in Winchester in 1867 and stayed in the west until retiring to Winchester again in 1880. He died in Winchester in 1905 and is buried there.

In Feb 1863 he was tried for murdering John F. Haines and Samuel Beyler of Page Co, VA and of murdering eight Federal Scouts. He was found guilty and sentenced to die but President Lincoln overturned the verdict.

I am hoping to learn more about John W Saylor and about the murders for which he was convicted.

I am working with some western Virginia Civil War scholars to figure out the whole story.  The trial was by military board (apparently not a court martial) in Winchester, but I've not found out the details yet.  I will send updates.   
                                                                         ---Jim Gaddis   jimg320@gmail.com

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