PAULCER MCCUNE PARDONED AFTER CIVIL WAR

(01/30/2023)
By Bob Weaver

Paulcer (Palcer, Palser) McCune was a Hur resident who went off to the Civil War. He made his way back to his home to Buckhorn Hollow, charged as a deserter.

McCune, a descendant of the early Calhoun McCunes, hid out in a cave at the foot of Paulcer's Knob, one of the county's highest peaks, for nearly a year.

Local residents have often said McCune's desertion charges were the result of confusion, in one recorded account he was listed as dead.

Nonetheless, after surviving his cave experience and returning to his family near Hur, he was granted a pardon by President Andrew Johnson.

He lived out his life at Hur, and is buried in the deep woods on Husk Ridge.

A LETTER REQUESTING HIS PARDON

Calhoun County to wit The State of West Va

We the undersigned partitioners of the said county, state and neighborhood earnestly partition your honored Excellency Andrew Johnson president of these United States to pardon Palcer B. McCune who has bin in the southern army who is charged with various charges which we believe him to be innocent.

While he was in the army he has bin misled by the ordenance of secession and state sovereignty, and was at that time about 20 years old (actually about 28), if pardoned we believe he will be a good loyal citizen of this commonwealth, he was a good peaceable youth before the war, he is willing to submit himself to all amnesty oaths, and to become a peaceable citizen.

SIGNED

R Wilson
Thomas Wiones
Abraham Springston
Jos S Brasil
W Nichols
Henry Payne
I J Bartlett
J M Somons
George P Smith
Wm P Westfall
Geroge R Wright
U C Sporks
Passel Wright
James Carpenter
John J Wright
Perry Westfall
James Nutter
Blankenship
William D Nutter
Isac Starcher
G Y Wright
George Springston
Samuel Tansek
Job Truman
Sylvester Nutter
Geo W Wright
Toloy Wright

A RETURN TO PAULCER'S CAVE

PAULCER FLEES FROM HIS REBEL COMRADES