Capt. Farish was on Adjutant-General duty in South-side Virginia. He obtained leave to return to Albemarle for the protection of his family. He was captured in civilian dress and taken to the custody of Gen. Custer—in Farish’s own home. Receiving him, Custer said, “Capt. Farish, in these unusual circumstances, I don’t know whether it is my duty to ask you to take a seat or yours to ask me.” The civilian dress classed Farish as a spy, and Sheridan sentenced him to death by hanging. Workmen erected a scaffold beneath one of the giant white oaks on Farish’s lawn. Custer made persistent remonstrance, and in a discussion which lasted until midnight, obtained a change of sentence to parole. (See Farish’s narrative, _Weekly Chronicle, Charlottesville, August 4, 1876_—_Alderman Library_.) MILITARY OCCUPATION At the close of the war the country was under military government. The civil courts were closed, right of public assembly denied, and the usual further restrictions. Government headquarters were in Richmond, and Military Commissioners controlled the separate counties under direction from the central offices. This occupation continued for two years. Albemarle was fortunate in the character of the U. S. Army officers who filled this difficult role. On the first of these—Captain Linn Tidball—several anecdotes remain. He was strict with the populace, but also with his soldiers, and more than once disciplined them for “unnecessary harshness in the discharge of duty.” One small incident was as follows: A group of soldiers stationed at the Farish house (now the old wing of the Monticello Hotel), for a while amused themselves hanging out a Union flag so that it impeded the sidewalk before the building. They would then force all passers-by to halt and salute. War feeling was still too high for this to be accepted; the populace boycotted that walk and passed in single file down the middle of the street, with eyes straight ahead. After a few days this came to the attention of the officer. The flag was removed and the men reproved, on the grounds that to use the flag for purposes of malice or sport was degrading to its honor. Another story: