"Ann Flora MacCallum married Mr. Hiram S. Fickle, of Lebanon, Va., a brave and gallant soldier, who served throughout the War between the States, receiving a desparate wound which maimed him for life. Two children were born to these parents - John and Duncan MacCallum Fickle, twin sons of unusual beauty, both of whom died in infancy; and these parents were not blessed with other children."In a 1996 interview with his descendant William C. O'Neal, O'Neal relates this information about Fickle:
Mr. H. S. Fickle was a very fine-looking man, and had many noble traits of character. Kind and generous to a fault, he was loved of many, especially the little children, and he was never happier than when bestowing some gifts upon them. He died in Melrose, Fla., several years ago, where he was buried with Masonic honors."
"I remember my favorite ancestor was Hiram Fickle in Melrose. Although he lived there, he was really a citizen of North Carolina, so when the war between the states came he went back up to North Carolina and raised a regiment. He lost his left arm, his left hand, in the war but he came back to Melrose and went back into producing citrus....He's famous for having the best bird dogs in the area. he had a general store in Melrose, but he was a wonderful camper. One of the old men told me, 'He could split more kindling with one arm than any man in camp could do.' He didn't have a damned thing to do with running that store because he was a wounded war hero."Apart from the incorrect military information, this gives us a vivid picture of Hiram S. Fickle.
Fickle was the son of John B. and Polly Fickle (and the brother of Isaac B. Fickle.) Born in 1842, he was a blacksmith like his father when he enlisted in the 37th Virginia Infantry on May 10, 1861. A few months later he was accidentally shot in the arm by a musket ball. He was in the hospital for several months and was eventually discharged because of the loss of use of the arm. At the time of his discharge he was "...19 years of age, 5 feet 11 1/2 inches high, fair complexion, blue eyes, light hair, and by occupation when enlisted a Blacksmith."
The wounded arm did not discourage Fickle, and he soon re-entered Confederate service. On August 4th, 1862 he was elected 1st Lieutenant of the 16th Virginia Cavalry.
Fickle's Compiled Service Record is a bit vague, but it appears he was put under arrest in early July, 1864. Nevertheless, he was with the unit a month later when they were surprised by a Union cavalry force under the command of Brigadier General William W. Averell. The Confederate forces were routed, fleeing in great haste.
Isaac V. Reynolds' letter of August 9th, 1864 records the scene:
"I walked day before yesterday 40 miles from Moorfield to Mt. Jackson. I ran 4 miles early that morning, with the yanks right at our asses, cutting and slashing with sabers right and left.
...Elliott for one got three licks, none fatal, when the yanks surprised our camp early on the morning of the 7th. They charged right into camp cutting and slashing everything before them...
The way I came to be afoot in the stampeede Fickle mounted my horse where it was standing close with the saddle on. He left the saddle (?) his and run off with mine. He never (---) until he reached the valley, just come into camp today. He felt very mean, I know. I call it a d--d mean trick of any man."
On August 29th, 1864 Reynolds adds:
"I had two fine pair shoes for you, but Fickle lost them on his stampede with several other tricks I had."
