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Gurnell University Library
Ithaca, New York

  

THE JAMES VERNER SCAIFE
COLLECTION
CIVIL WAR LITERATURE

CHE GIFT OF
JAMES VERNER SCAIFE
CLASS OF 1889

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PEL TORY

OF THE

Hrrst REGIMENT

VIRGINIA INFANTRY.

BEING

A NARRATIVE OF THE MILITARY MOVEMENTS IN THE MOUNTAINS
OF VIRGINIA, IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY AND EAST OF
THE BLUE RIDGE DURING THE WAR OF THE REBEL-

LION, OF THE FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA IN-

FANTRY VOLUNTEERS—THREE MONTHS’

AND THREE YEARS’ SERVICE.

BY
Cc. J. RAWLING.

PRINTED BY
J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY,
PHILADELPHIA.
1887.

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Copyright, 1887, by C. J. Raw ine.

 

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Dedieated

THE SOCIETY OF THE FIRST VIRGINIA INFANTRY,
SURVIVING MEMBERS OF THE TWO REGIMENTS,

FAMILIES OF DECEASED COMRADES.

A Labor of Love,

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE,

Cc. E, Irwin. 8S. F. Dean. W, W, Ghicuniet,
Jas. A. Henry. C. J. RAwuiine.
PREERFAGE,

SELECTED by my comrades of the regiment for the
task of preparing a short history of the three months’
and three years’ regiments (First Virginia) in the War
of the Rebellion,—1861 to 1865,—the writer com-
mences his duty with hesitation, feeling his incompe-
tency to do justice to the subject, and with wakeful
apprehension of what is in store for him from the
carpers and the critics.

This narrative, little more than a synopsis of events,
cannot be made complete for several reasons, the more
important of which may be mentioned,—viz., meagre
data at command, in the form of notes taken at the
time; lack of details, in the form of private or other
correspondence; the almost total absence of official
papers or the records; the unreliability of memory to
supply defects arising from this dearth of material,
and the different impressions left on the minds of the
various actors resulting from viewing any event from
different stand-points.

On assigning this task to the writer, it is quite evi-
dent to him that but little regard has been paid to the
qualities needed or the facilities furnished in order to

do the subject even a measure of justice. Writing a
1* 5
6 PREFACE.

history has been looked upon and treated the same as
the writing of an ordinary newspaper paragraph,—
losing sight entirely of the ability required to make
up for the lack of material furnished. It should not
be forgotten or overlooked that there are two very
important factors required in the compilation of a
history. One of them is intellectual attainments of
the writer of more than the ordinary kind; the other,
the means, such as official papers, records, and corre-
spondence. Unfortunately for the success of this work,
both of these are lacking. Hence it follows the reader
should be satisfied with what is offered, as it is the best
that can be done; and if not done now, the probability
is that it never will be attempted.

The friends of the compiler—the men who had a
share in the events here narrated—will look on the
work with favor, others will criticise. But to meet
the latter fairly, will advise them, with the best of
feeling, if they think they can do better, here is the
opportunity. One strong incentive for attempting this
is the probability that it may lead to something better
and more worthy of the subject.
CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. PAGE
Political and Social Condition of the People of the Pan-
handle Counties of Virginia. ; . : : - il

CHAPTER ITI.
Enrollment of Volunteers for the Three Months’ Service . 15

CHAPTER III.
Organization of the Three Months’ Regiment. : « 19

CHAPTER IV.
Departure for the Seat of War and ‘ Battle’ of Philippi . 28

CHAPTER V.

Other Operations—End of Term of Enlistment—Muster
Out of Regiment—Result of the Campaign ¢ 3 28

CHAPTER VI.

Recruiting for the Three Years’ Regiment—Organization
and Departure for the Field . : : : ; . 33

CHAPTER VII.

Operations in General—Arrival of the Regiment at Romney
—The Ration, Forage, etc. . 7 : - é i . 88

CHAPTER VIII.

Affair at Blue’s Gap—Retreat from Romney—Death of
General Lander, etc. : . ‘i A ‘ . 47
7
8 CONTENTS.

CHAPTER IX.
Shields’s Division—Advance to the Shenandoah Valley

CHAPTER X.

Advance up the Valley—Description of it—Withdrawal
from Strasburg to Winchester j é :

CHAPTER XI.

Battle of Kearnstown

CHAPTER XII.

Pursuit of the Enemy—Advance up the Valley—Hostility
of the People—Arrival in the Luray Valley, ete.

CHAPTER XIII.

General Operations—Skirmishing on the Shenandoah—
March down the Luray Valley and through the Blue
Ridge—Catlett’s Station—Arrival opposite Fredericks-
burg—Visit of the President

CHAPTER XIV.
Return to the Luray Valley—Forced March

CHAPTER XY.

Battle of Port Republic—Retreat of the Two Brigades—
In Camp at Cloud’s Mills .

CHAPTER XVI.

Camp at Cloud’s Mills—Advance to the Rappahannock—
Attached to Rickett’s Division—Battle of Cedar Moun-
tuin—Retreat of the arene isthe ue of the Field of
Battle, etc. . : :

CHAPTER XVII.

Fighting on the Rappahannock—Second Battle of Bull Run
—Repulse of the Union Army .

PAGE

53

57

61

67

76

83

92

. 104
CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Rebel Prisoners—Arrival at Arlington Heights—Condition
of the Regiment—Return to Camp Carlisle—General
Operations .

CHAPTER XIX.

At North Mountain and Romney—General Operations—
Movements on the Potomac—Return to Romney—Moun-
tain Service

CHAPTER XX.

Withdrawal to New Creek—Re-enlistment of the Men—
‘Veteran Furlough’’—Advance to and up the Valley—
Battle of New Market é

CHAPTER XXI.

Battle of Piedmont—Total Rout of the Enemy—Incidents
—Expedition to Lynchburg—Prisoners—Arrival before
and Fighting at Lynchburg

CHAPTER XXII.

Retreat from Lynchburg to the Kanawha Valley—Incidents
and Losses—General Operations—Condition of the South .

CHAPTER XNIII.

Advance of the Regiment to the Valley—Fight at Snicker’s

Ferry—Battle at Winchester—Retreat of the Union

Army—Movements in Maryland and Virginia—Up and

down the Valley—Battle at Winchester and Retreat of

the Enemy—Battle of Fisher’s Hill and Defeat of the
Enemy—Devastation in the Valley :

CHAPTER XXIV
Defeat of Early near Woodstock—Down and up the Valley
—Captured Guns, etc.—Battle of Cedar Creek and Total
Rout of the Enemy—Death of Colonel Thoburn—Result

PAGE

. 132

. 141

. 170

184

. 196
10 CONTENTS.

PAGE
of the Battle—Regiment ordered to Cumberland—Termi-
nation of Service of the Regiment—Incidents—Close of
the War—Losses ‘ ; p ; : : ‘ . 209

CHAPTER XXYV.

The Government Successful—Plea for the Soldier, ete. . 222
ConcLupIna REMARKS é ; % 4 ‘ ‘ . 227

APPENDIX A. Officers and Men of the Three Months’
Service ‘ : s ‘ x . 281

APPENDIX B. Officers and Men of the Three Years’
Service é ‘i $ ‘ 7 ‘ . 250
HIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY,

CHAPTER I.

In presenting a record, brief though it be, of the
services of a body composed of men taken from differ-
ent classes socially considered,—the several walks in
life represented in the ranks,—the daily toilers for
their support, the skilled artisans, clerks, professional
men, and young men not yet settled in life or fixed in
any regular pursuit to gain a livelihood, it may be
readily seen that it became a task of magnitude re-
quiring more than ordinary organizing ability to mould
them into a unit, necessary in order to have the weight
that an integral part of a command should have in
performing any service likely to be demanded of a
regiment or battalion.

The volunteers of ’61 were, as a class, material such
probably as was never before seen arrayed in defence
of a principle, based on the integrity of the Union and
the very existence of the republic; embracing, of
course, protection of property, home, and firesides.

Such, however, was the lack of preparation to meet

the exigency that the officers selected were men wholly
11
12 HISTORY OF THE {1861

untrained in war or capable of lending assistance in
the organization of an army. No teachers to instruct
the officers and men in the details necessary to fit them
for active warfare. No great servile insurrection, des-
olating revolutions, or popular uprisings of any kind
having occurred in the Jand within the lifetime of any
of the actors in the bloody drama about to be opened
to call men to fill these responsible positions. The
effect that must inevitably follow this condition of
things was, that some whose pre-eminence or promi-
nence, suddenly obtained by favor or political influence,
after trial, were found incompetent to make good their
position and pretensions,—the men being the sufferers
and the cause most dear at heart the loser thereby.

The men as a body possessed great personal bravery,
Many were distinguished for it, and to cull out the
ones prominent for this first soldierly quality would be
a difficult task. They were intrepid, bearing hardships
and suffering with singular patience, accomplishing long
and forced marches with remarkable endurance and
fortitude ; facing the dangers of the battle-field with
that determination, coolness, and tenacity of purpose
characteristic of the American soldier, as shown in all
the wars the country was ever engaged in, Possessing
these qualitics, they only required to be properly com-
manded and well led, those leaders having the character
to inspire respect, to insure success, as a crown to their
efforts.

To command this active, intelligent, and

intrepid
body of men at the outset, as already stated, t]

tere was
Te nage

1861] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 13

lacking the material, and it was only after trials and
severe losses, resulting from this incapacity, that the
remedy was applied and the control placed in the
hands of the capable and the meritorious.

The conditions of society in this community, in com-
mon with all the region now known as the State of West
Virginia, in 1861, were anomalous, society being stirred
toits very depths. Neighbors, heretofore friends, looked
upon each other with suspicion, and soon, when the
overt act announced that war could not be averted, and
the sound of the first hostile gun resounded throughout
the length and breadth of this land proclaiming the
inauguration of civil war, a broad and clearly distin-
guished line was drawn between the friends of the
government and its enemies. Divisions then occurred
that were only to be healed by a bloody contest and
the lapse of time, the great healer. Friends heretofore
took opposite sides now,—one the supporter of the gov-
ernment, the other an advocate of secession and all the
evils that might follow in the train of the triumph of
that policy styled “ States’ rights,” which was nour-
ished, if not founded, in a slave-holding aristocracy.
But little respecting this class was known in the Pan-
handle counties, or, indeed, of slavery itself, which,
though practically extinct in the part of the State men-
tioned, was recognized as carrying with it its own pun-
ishment in the corruption of the morals of the youth,
rendering them arrogant and domineering to all whom
they considered beneath themselves socially, teaching

them to look upon all labor as disgraceful and beneath
2
14 HISTORY OF THE [1861

such a high-born class. It had become a question with
thinking people all over the land as to which class was
most injured by the institution ; in fact, which wore the
chains, the slave-holders and their families or the slaves
themselves. Naturally, political measures and the gen-
eral policy supported by this class were rich in seeds
sown freely throughout the South that boded no good
to a republican government, and, as Mr. Seward aptly
stated it, there was an “irrepressible conflict” between
the slave-holding and non-slave-holding States.

The representatives of the seceding States remained
in Congress just so long as it was safe for them to do so.
After injuring and crippling the government all they
possibly could, their attempts were directed to fettering
its hands, sealing its lips, and making it a helpless and
inactive witness of its own destruction.

The power to coerce a State, a question agitating the
people, was the “Gordian knot” that the lamented
President Lincoln cut by summoning the people in
their might to the defence of the country. And then
followed father against son, brother against brother ;
old companions, schoolmates, and friends were divided ;
in short, these divisions permeated society, entering
as strongly into the social as into political life, the
churches and all other organizations usually binding a
community together. The people living north of the
Ohio re-echoed the exhortation of the Union men of
the south side, “ Organize,” and adding, “ we will assist
you with all our power,” lending force to their words
by their actions, organizing themselves and moving
1861] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 15

bodies of men to the borders on the Ohio River. The
spirit of the hour seized the people, they refusing to be
controlled in their actions by the cabal at Richmond,
and declined seizing the government property in the
name of Virginia as ordered, but, on the contrary, prior
to and during the firing on Fort Sumter (April 12)
commenced preparing for a contest.

CHAPTER II.

THE feelings of the people may be judged from the
foregoing ; the events of local importance taken in or-
der may be summed up thus. Early in March a noted
local jurist issued a poster with the catch-line “ Seces-
sion is Revolution,” a respectability few in the com-
munity had attached to it. On the 11th of this
month an artillery company was formed in Wheeling,
the guns for which had been received from Richmond.
The officers of the company as well as many of the
men afterwards joined the Southern army. At this
time Company C of the Virginia State Militia, a
well-uniformed and fairly well-drilled body of the
same city, figured prominently, drilling very indus-
triously, and often parading the streets. A large
number of the young men composing it also joined
the Southern forces under the name of the “Shriver
Grays,” and was Company G of the Twenty-seventh
16 HISTORY OF THE [1861

Virginia Regiment, joining the regiment at Harper’s
Ferry in 1861. This regiment was one of the noted
“Stonewall Brigade,” and composed a part of that
command during the entire war. At this time the
following named States had gone through the form of
seceding from the Union,—viz., South Carolina taking
the initiative, adopting the ordinance of secession De-
cember 20, 1860, followed by Mississippi, January 9,
1861, and by Florida on the 10th, Alabama the 11th,
Georgia the 19th, and Louisiana on the 26th. Texas
adopted the ordinance February 1 for submission to
the people,—a mere form. On the 23d, General Twiggs,
commanding in Texas, surrendered the United States
forces there to the Confederates, delivering over at the
same time the government property, valued:at more
than a million dollars. On the 4th of March the
people of Texas ratified by their votes the action of
the Legislature, thus carrying the State out of the
Union. In a short time thereafter the rebellious
action of these States was followed by Arkansas, Ten-
nessee, North Carolina, and, as noted in another place,
Virginia joined her fortunes to the Confederation.

The Union men of the neighboring States at this
time were very active in raising men. The Pan-
handle counties were displaying their loyalty to the
flag by holding meetings to give expression to their
patriotic feelings. The great heart of the people was
stirred up,—they were leading everywhere. The first
meeting for the formation of a Union guard was held
April 15 in Wheeling, and thirty names were enrolled.
1861] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 17

And on this day the President, by proclamation, called
for seventy-five thousand volunteers, three regiments
being Virginia’s quota,—rendezvous being Wheeling
and Staunton.

On the 17th the “ordinance of secession” was
passed by the Virginia convention at Richmond to be
submitted to the people of the State for ratification.
On the day following there was a meeting held in the
Fourth Ward, Wheeling, to form the Rough and
Ready Guards; about forty names were enrolled, the
first one being James W. Bodley. The Union men of
Brooke, Hancock, and Marshall Counties also com-
menced organizing. On the 19th an attack was made
on the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment in the streets of
Baltimore. On the day following there was a rally of
the Union men at the custom-house in Wheeling,
where the United States flag was run up. Troops at
this time from Ohio and Indiana were moving to
Washington over the Pennsylvania Central Railroad.
On the 23d there were five companies organized in
Wheeling, also a company of home guards, composed
of men forty-five years old and upwards, who by
reason of their age were exempted from service in the
army. Many young men at this time were leaving
Wheeling, and doubtless other towns in the State, for
the purpose of enlisting in Ohio and Pennsylvania
regiments. The lower part of Wheeling was alive
with the Union sentiment, from the Fourth Ward
down,—particularly Richietown,—the Germans being

very active in the cause, and this activity was common
Q*
18 HISTORY OF THE [1861

inall the Panhandle counties. On the 26th the Rough
and Ready Guards, through Captain A. H. Britt, ten-
dered their services to the United States government.
The Iron Guards, Captain E. W. Stephens, were the
next to tender their services. This company was re-
cruited in what is now the Sixth Ward of Wheeling,
and was composed chiefly of mill men, a majority of
them being workers in the La Belle Mill,—a part of
Wheeling which set an example of loyalty to the older
parts of the town. On the 29th of this month there
was published a call for a State convention, to be held
in Wheeling May 13. On May 2 a company was
organized in the First Ward, Wheeling. And the
merchants of the city held a meeting at the county
court-house and resolved to pay no taxes to the
usurpers of the Virginia government. On the 9th
Major Oakes, United States army, arrived in Wheeling
and inspected several companies. ‘This officer was de-
tailed for the service as inspector and mustering officer
at Wheeling.

The political condition, which at that time might
more properly be termed military condition, of the
country, as may be inferred from the foregoing, was
such that every State was engaged in raising, arming,
and equipping men and forwarding them to the
threatened points. Congress was engaged in providing
the means to carry on the war, and nothing else was
thought of throughout the land but war. The local
events here recorded will recall to all our comrades the
state of things in the Panhandle. All was excitement,—
1861] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 19

the people everywhere fed on it,—at times, on going to
bed, feeling elated over the news of the day. Alas!
to the patriot this too seldom occurred those days.
And, again, when the news was of disaster and destruc-
tion, retired with depressing reflections, and in many
instances with the most gloomy forebodings for the
future. Daily everybody was on the tiptoe of ex-
pectation, events followed so quickly that something
more startling than the last was expected to follow;
in short, excitement produced excitement and went on
increasing. In this condition of the community the
First Regiment men were raised.

CHAPTER III.

THE companies composing the First Regiment Vir-
ginia Volunteer Infantry (three months’ men) were
mustered in, commanded by, and recruited as follows:

Company A.—Captain A. H. Britt, May 10, Wheel-

ing.

Company B.—Captain E. W. Stephens, May 11,
Wheeling.

Company C—Captain I. N. Fordyce, May 16,
Wheeling.

Company D.—Captain M. Stokeley, May 15, Steu-
benville, Ohio.

Company E.—Captain Geo. C, Trimble, May 16,
Wheeling.
20 HISTORY OF THE [1861

Company F.—Captain T. C. Parke, May 17, Wells-
burg.

Company Gt.
burg.

Company H.—Captain James F, Donnelly, May 21,
Marshall County.

Company I.—Captain B. W. Chapman, May 21,
Hancock County.

Company K.—Captain G. W. Robinson, May 23,
Wheeling.

For full roster of officers and list of men, see Ap-
pendix A.

On the 23d of May the regiment was complete, so
far as the number of men was concerned, and B. F.
Kelley, a former citizen of Wheeling and colonel of the
militia, then living in Philadelphia, was called to take
command of it. The credit for raising this the first
loyal regiment in the State has frequently been given
to Colonel (General) Kelley. It is proper to state, by
way of correcting this error, that Colonel Kelley’s first
connection with it was after the men had been enlisted,
and, as shown, the regiment organized when he was
called to the command,—responding at once to the call
by his presence ; General Kelley himself would make no
claim of the kind. During the month of May, as the sev-
eral companies were mustered into the service, they occu-
pied quarters in the Fair Grounds near the Back River
bridge, on the island. This camp was afterwards called
Camp Carlisle. The citizens of Wheeling were called
on to supply many of the men with blankets, to which

Captain James Kuhn, May 18, Wells-

 
1861] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 21

call they responded nobly. Such was the condition of
affairs in the State and in the city of Wheeling at this
period, as viewed by the people all over the North,
embracing the officers in charge of the army equip-
ments and supplies, that it was not considered safe to
send arms to Wheeling direct; the sentiment favor-
ing the government and that favoring secession, it was
considered, being so nearly equally divided. A wrong
estimate on the part of those officials, as was afterwards
developed. In consequence of this feeling, however,
the arms for the regiment were sent to Wellsburg, to
Messrs. W. H. Carothers and Campbell Tarr, two
prominent Union men of the town, who, with Lewis
Applegate and Adam Kuhn, were among the most
active supporters of the government at this crisis, and
instrumental in securing the arms, to be by them dis-
tributed to the command, and were shipped to Wheeling
by steamboat in charge of Companies F and G of the
regiment. The facts connected with the furnishing of
these arms compelling the naming of these gentlemen,
it will appear to be unjust to others who were at least
equally active and intelligently energetic in combating
the disunion sentiment in Wheeling, and lending their
assistance to the cause of the Union in every way
possible, if their names be omitted. Among them
Messrs. A. W. Campbell, C. D. Hubbard, 8. H. Wood-
ward, John Bishop, John R. Hubbard, H. K. List,
T. H. Logan, and John K. Botsford are especially
worthy of mention, besides many others whose names
for obvious reasons cannot be included here.
22 HISTORY OF THE {1861

The men having received their arms, but without
knapsacks, haversacks, canteens, or even cartridge-boxes,
to say nothing respecting camp equipage, which many
of them hardly knew of even by name, thus unpre-
pared were to enter into active service, consoling them-
selves that the other fellows were no better off in this
respect. They, however, soon came to the knowledge
that the troops of other States were much better pre-
pared for a campaign than they were, having nearly
everything mentioned that they had not, besides being
uniformed. All of them, however, were hardy and
robust, and felt that they could stand a summer cam-
paign, and the majority were familiar with the use of
arms. Thus was the first command raised in Virginia,
and probably the first in any Southern State prepared
and sent to the field, unrecognized by their State,
while at the same time men were being enlisted, uni-
formed, and forwarded to the Southern army from the
same town. Viewed at this distance, this appears to
have been preparation for a Pickwickian war. Such,
nevertheless, was the case.
1861] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 23

CHAPTER IV.

On the 27th of May the regiment, so far as men and
arms were concerned, as described, being complete, re-
ceived marching orders, and falling in at Camp Carlisle,
marched to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad depot,
there put on the cars for departure for the field of
operations, which at that time was the burnt bridges on
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, near Mannington. At
Benwood the command was joined by Colonel Irvin’s
regiment of Ohio troops, the next day were joined by
the Fifteenth Ohio, Colonel Andrews, and on the 29th,
at Camp Buffalo,—being so called after the stream upon
the banks of which it was located,—were joined by a
part of the Sixteenth Ohio. The first death among the
men occurred here, a member of Company G being
killed and his comrade wounded by the accidental dis-
charge of a gun. Thus was the sacred soil of the Com-
monwealth of Virginia invaded by United States
troops, led by a Virginia regiment and backed by the.
noble fellows of a neighboring State. On the 31st
Grafton was taken possession of, Colonel Porterfield’s
command having discreetly evacuated the town without
a show of defending it. On this day the Seventh In-
diana Regiment, Colonel Dumont, left Benwood for
Grafton, followed the day after by the Ninth Indiana,
24 HISTORY OF THE [1861

Colonel Milroy, and part of the Sixteenth Ohio also
left for the same destination.

Further than a few alarms nothing of importance
occurred until Sunday, June 2, when orders were given
for a movement. Accordingly, four regiments left
Grafton at ten A.M. in two divisions, destination re-
ported to be Philippi. One division, or rather brigade,
consisting of a battalion each of the First Virginia
and Sixteenth Ohio, and the Seventh Indiana Regi-
ments, under command of Colonel Kelley; the other,
composed of the Ninth Indiana and Fourteenth Ohio,
was commanded by Colonel Frank Lander, the whole
being placed under command of Brigadier-General
Morris.

The first-mentioned body, which shall be denomi-
nated the First Brigade, moved east to Thornton ; at that
point the men left the cars and took up the line of
march over the country roads towards Philippi, a dis-
tance of twenty-two miles. The Ninth Indiana, of
the Second Brigade, moved west on the Northwestern
Virginia Railroad to Webster, where the regiment was
Joined by the Fourteenth Ohio, thence took the road
to Philippi, a distance of twelve miles. The object
being, in thus dividing the command, to engage the
enemy on the west by Colonel Lander’s force, while
the command of Colonel Kelley should get in the rear
of the town and cut off his retreat. Here, some may
say, was a fine opportunity offered to a bold, enter-
prising enemy, but such an enemy, fortunately for the
success of the enterprise, was not found in Colonel
1861] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 25

Porterfield, or if he was such, he had not the necessary
confidence in his men to take advantage of what was
offered him. Ata later period in the war this division
would hardly have been attempted, as such disregard
of prudence and of the generally accepted idea of
properly meeting an enemy of at least equal force
would certainly have been taken advantage of, and the
command so offending taught a severe lesson. It may,
however, be concluded, judging from the result, that
the officers in command knew their enemy, at least
placed a proper estimate on his enterprise and energy,
and that he would take no advantage of their temerity,
if such it could be considered in manceuvring before
such an enemy.

Both commands marched in darkness and rain and
through the mud, being a new experience to most of
the men; but they toiled along uncomplainingly.
The gray of dawn of the 3d found them in the
vicinity of the enemy. The Second Brigade, having
much the shorter distance to march, arrived at the
destined point first, and at once planted two guns on
the brow of the hill overlooking and easily command-
ing the camp and the town of Philippi, though across
the river and below the town, prepared to open on
both with shell and shot at the appointed time, which
was four o’clock. The First Brigade, having a very
bad road, besides the additional ten miles to march, was
behind time, for which, unfortunately, sufficient allow-
ance had not been made, therefore was not in the ap-

pointed position, though using every exertion to get
3
26 HISTORY OF THE [1861

°

there. To add to the delay the command missed the
way, and instead of coming into the Beverly road
above the town and in rear of the camp, thus effectu-
ally cutting off all retreat in that direction, as was in-
tended, the head of the colamn came in just below the
town. When day began to dawn on the impatient
men of the Second Brigade, it revealed a commotion in
the camp of Porterfield’s forces just below them; evi-
dently they had been apprised of the presence of the
Union forces, had taken the alarm, and were preparing
for a fight or flight, in all probability the latter. The
hour agreed upon had passed, and the First Brigade
had not arrived at the appointed position. Impatient of
restraint,—characteristic of the volunteers in the early
part of the war,—and anxious to begin the attack, being
fearful that the enemy, now almost within their grasp,
should escape without punishment, Colonel Lander
ordered the artillery to open on the camp, and the first
Union messengers dropped among the tents of the
enemy. The First Brigade just at this juncture came
in below the camp and on the same side of the river.
Colonel Kelley, at once comprehending the situation,
rushed his almost worn-out men forward in the direc-
tion of the town and camp. The guns of the Second
Brigade, having a good range, played upon the camp
with marked effect, the shot tearing through the tents
and houses, astonishing the inhabitants. Porterfield’s
force could not stand this, but scattered, no attempt,
as far as could be seen, being made by him at organ-
ized defence, or even an orderly retreat, no time being
1861] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 27

allowed for them to make a show of resistance; in
short, they ran,—fled most ingloriously,—and what
promised at first a tragedy ended at this point in a
farce. Firing here and there a random shot or a vol-
ley, which did little or no damage, was all the defence
attempted. The First Brigade was close after them ;
the First Virginia in the advance—led by Companies
C and B, with Colonel Kelley at their head—entered
the town on the run, driving all before them. Porter-
field’s force—officers and men, horses with wagons,
horses and riders, and horses riderless—all stood not
on the order of going, but got out of that neighbor-
hood at once. While the enemy was thus making
good his escape, a man stepped from behind a wagon
and shot Colonel Kelley through the breast,—a very
dangerous, and at one time thought a fatal, wound,
from which, however, the colonel recovered, after
months of suffering, to do good service for the Union
cause afterwards. ‘The man that shot him was among
the prisoners taken, saved from death at the hands of the
men by the officers present. A survey of the ground
revealed plenty of evidence that many of the enemy
were wounded, but, such was the fear of being cap-
tured, their friends delayed long enough to help them
escape. It was afterwards reported that a number of
them were killed.

Thus ended the “battle” of Philippi.

The First Virginia Battalion after the rout were
quartered in the town, occupying houses and a church,
the town being almost deserted by its inhabitants,—the
28 HISTORY OF THE [1861
Union people having left it on the advent of the enemy,
and the sympathizers of the latter leaving upon their
friends being driven out. This action is rather a re-
markable one when it is considered that a body of men
of about equal number of that of the enemy, poorly
equipped and supplied for the purpose, attacked that
enemy in a position chosen by himself,—dividing the
force to do so,—dislodged and put him to flight, cer-
tainly was a gallant action and augured well for the
final result.

CHAPTER V.

AFTER this action part of the First was sent to
Rowlesburg, part remained at Grafton, and the re-
mainder at Philippi. Major I. H. Duval joined the
regiment on the 6th. It is deemed important to enter
thus particularly into details respecting this affair, as it
was practically the opening of the war in Virginia,
the fight at Big Bethel taking place a week afterwards,
And to the citizens of the Panhandle counties, where
the men of the First were recruited, as well as to the
participants in this opening action, it was looked upon
as an event of the first importance. But now, after
the lapse of years, when fights and battles are measured
by the amount of blood spilled, it is almost lost sight
of, being in the shadow of much more important as
well as sanguinary contests, though in many instances
less decisive. :
1861] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 29

On the 14th of June Lieutenant-Colonel Hubbard
was appointed to the regiment, joining on the 15th.
The enemy at this time had fallen back on Huttons-
ville. During July four or five companies of the regi-
ment advanced to Laurel Hill, leaving Company G as
a guard at Philippi. At this time there was considerable
skirmishing around Laurel Hill, many of the enemy
being killed, chiefly belonging to Virginia and Georgia
commands; the battalion occupied Beverly. Such were
the duties required of the regiment in July and August
that it was divided into separate commands and scat-
tered throughout the country, at no time in the short
campaign acting as a regiment. This service was very
unsatisfactory to the men, but such was the character
of the warfare adopted by the enemy that it became
necessary to meet him in small detachments. Part of
the regiment guarded the bridges and other important
points from Fairmont to Cheat River,—a very arduous
duty at this time, there being many active sympathizers
of the rebellion along the line of the railroad, who were
exceedingly annoying to the guards. Three of the com-
panies, A, D, and F, were taken as far east as Oakland,
in an effort to intercept the routed forces of the enemy
from the Cheat Mountains; but, in the opinion of the
commander, General Hill, too late to be of any service.
This general had under his command a full regiment
of Ohio troops besides the three companies mentioned,
and it was believed at the time, if properly placed and
handled, might have struck the enemy a very severe

blow, demoralized as the force was after their defeats
3%
30 HISTORY OF THE [1861

as will be mentioned. General Hill, however, was too
cautious, and the opportunity passed. General McClel-
lan arrived on the ground shortly afterwards, and it
was said remarked to General Hill, “General Hill,
you have lost a fine opportunity to do your country
good service and to add a brilliant action to your record
as a soldier.” Early in July a large portion of the
regiment received uniforms and tents long promised,
but were without knapsacks, which are almost indis-
pensable articles to soldiers. In June and July the
enemy was busy intrenching at Laurel Hill. On the
11th of July was the battle of Rich Mountain, in which
the enemy was defeated, and on the 14th was the
battle at Carrick’s Ford, General Garnett being killed,
and ending in the complete rout of the enemy. It
was after this action that General Hill failed to attack
the retreating forces before mentioned. These opera-
tions practically cleared Western Virginia of all large
organized bodies of the enemy. General Wise after-
wards made an attempt to hold a small part of it, but
it resulted in his discomfiture, and a repetition of the
attempt ended in his being compelled to withdraw. On
the 21st was the battle of Bull Run, which raised the
spirits of the Southern people to a very high degree,
and for a short time depressed the spirits of the North
correspondingly ; but in the end resulted in showing
the government and people that they had a very serious
business on hand, and causing them to rise to the occa-
sion.

At the end of July the First was in possession of
1681] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 31

Beverly and Sutton. Nothing further of importance
occurred except scouting for guerillas—or, in mountain
parlance, “ bushwhackers”—and capturing rebel sym-
pathizers, until about the 19th of August, when orders
were issued for the regiment’s return to Wheeling, the
time of the enlistment of the men having expired.
The companies at Beverly had left there for Grafton on
the 14th. The regiment arrived in Wheeling on the
21st, and was given a cordial reception by the citizens,
—it was, in truth, the grandest reception that had ever
been extended to any body of men by the people of
that city. On the 27th and 28th the men were mus-
tered out of service and paid off. In taking leave of
the three months’ organization it is proper to say that
the regiment was a foundling, being denied a parent-
age, meeting with insult and contempt from the State
government at Richmond, and quietly ignored by a
large and influential class in Wheeling and the coun-
ties of the Panhandle, the community, as was supposed,
being divided in sentiment during the period of ser-
vice, as also at the time of the enlistment of the men,
as noted before. The service performed by the three
months’ men, while not of the character of that of the
three years’ volunteers, was extremely valuable, as
opening for future operations the line of the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad, which remained open after this
during the entire war, excepting at times of inroads by
strong forces of the enemy, when it was damaged more
or less, and for the time being crippled. Pushing the
lines of the enemy far into the interior of the State,
32 HISTORY OF THE [1861

and after the victory at Carrick’s Ford driving their
forces to the eastern ranges of the Alleghanies, freeing
a large portion of the western part of the State, never
to be recovered by them. This transfer of the disputed
line so far east relieved the Ohio Valley entirely and
all that portion of the State drained by that river’s
tributaries of all serious danger from their light troops
and partisan bands, so far as the possession of the
country was concerned, thus securing the free and un-
interrupted navigation of the Upper Ohio,—a valuable
aid in the movement of troops and supplies. These
results it is believed fully met the expectations of the
originators of the movement, and most assuredly had
a salutary and lasting influence on the conduct of the
war in Virginia. It may not be out of place here to
mention as evidence of the value placed on this section
of the State, that many regiments of the army of the
rebellion were composed of Western Virginians, and
the most brilliant and dashing leader, the Ney of the
Southern army, was a native of this part of the State;
and, further, to show their expectations of again occu-
pying it, they about this time sold several of the well-
known mills and factories in Wheeling to parties in
Richmond knowing their value. It may be added,
however, that they never delivered the goods. The
highest meed of praise is due these men, who had
shown by their conduct on all occasions that they were
of the right material of which to make good soldiers.
Many of them re-enlisted for the three years’ service.
1861] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 33

CHAPTER VI.

IMMEDIATELY after the term of service of the three
months’ men, recruiting for the three years’ regiment
began in Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall, and Wet-
zel Counties, and among the friends of the Union
cause in Martin’s Ferry, which was at that time little
more than a village, but notwithstanding furnished
two full companies for the war and recruits for a num-
ber of other companies, artillery and cavalry service,
until there was hardly a young man left in the corpora-
tion. On the 30th of August Dr. Joseph Thoburn,
formerly surgeon of the First Virginia three months’
men, received the appointment of colonel of the First,
then to be organized under his direction and supervis-
ion. Many young men continued to leave Wheeling to
join the rebel forces, each one supplied with a uniform
furnished by secession sympathizers of that city. As
showing the condition of affairs, political and otherwise,
in the State during the time required for the organiza-
tion of the regiment, it is necessary to recall some of
the more important events, and even events that were
looked upon as trivial incidents at the time, being
more or less connected with the formation of that
body.

The enemy, under Generals Wise and Floyd in the
34 HISTORY OF THE [1861

southern part of the State and General Lee in the
eastern mountain district, made several desperate efforts
to get a foothold, but were met by General Reynolds
in the Kanawha country and beaten at Carnifax Ferry,
and by General Rosecrans in the Laurel Hill and Cheat
Mountain district with Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and
Virginia troops, the result being the enemy foiled in
all his attempts. General Lee gained no laurels in
this contest; this kind of warfare was not suited to
his abilities, or else he reserved his powers for larger
fields. Wise was an unimportant military discovery,
—his strength was among other scenes. Floyd appears
to have been born under an unlucky star, Mars did not
twinkle at his birth; as a soldier he was most unfor-
tunate, his military career, so far as has been made
public, was an uninterrupted series of failures from this
West Virginia campaign to Fort Donelson, where it
ended, so far as the writer has ever heard. His suc-
cess lay in another quarter. Raids were often made
on the line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, but
no permanent damage followed so far as the interrup-
tion of travel over it was concerned. This road during
the contest became of the greatest value to the govern-
ment, indeed was indispensable, and had it been de-
stroyed the probability is the enemy’s lines would have
extended as far north as the Upper Potomac River and
its north branch during the greater part of the contest.
Many of the so-called secessionists banded together in
counties of the interior and committed all kinds of
depredations and outrages, doing all the damage possi
1861] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 35

ble to the Unionists until routed out and dispersed by
the Union troops. Some of these men were captured
and taken to Wheeling, an old theatre being used to
confine them in; the building stood on the corner of
Market and Sixteenth Streets, since burned down. In
this place they were well fed and cared for.

The authorities in treating these fellows so leniently
madea great mistake. Well-known bushwhackers who
had committed murders—taken in some instances red-
handed, the proof of which might have been produced
at the time—were treated even kindly. A parallel to
this we think cannot be found. Many valuable lives
might have been saved if a few of these men had been
treated as their crimes merited. And this treatment
no doubt would have gone further towards suppressing
this barbarous warfare in the State than the presence
of an army. On September 2 an alarm called out
Companies A, B, E, and Kx of the three months’ regi-
ment, under their former officers, and two companies
of the Sixth Virginia Infantry, which was organizing
at the time at Camp Carlisle for the three years’ service.
These companies left Wheeling on the date mentioned
for Fairmont, in charge of Gencral Wheat, of the Vir-
ginia State Militia, and Lieutenant-Colonel Hubbard,
to resist the attempt on the part of the enemy to destroy
the fine railroad bridge at that point. At the same time
about a thousand men assembled at the custom-house
in Wheeling asking for arms to defend the city, it being
reported that the enemy was advancing in strong force
to take possession of the town. Aid was proffered by
36 HISTORY OF THE [1861

the Union people of Martin’s Ferry and Bridgeport
in men and material. The enemy at Fairmont, how-
ever, after the display of the force he would have to
meet, scattered; probably, being little better than a
mob, of course would make no stand. During this
month great activity was displayed in enrolling men.
The First, Second, and Sixth Infantry, the First Cay-
alry, and two or three companies of artillery were
being organized at Camp Carlisle and in various states
of forwardness, being armed and equipped for the ser-
vice, and officers appointed to command them, no further
hesitation being shown by the officials having them
in charge in forwarding arms and equipments to the
camp. Captains Melvin and White were organizing
two companies in Brooke County, Captain Milhouse
one at Martin’s Ferry, and Captain Donnelly one at
Cameron. During the month a quartermaster’s depot
was established at Wheeling to fill requisitions for
clothing, etc., for the enlisted men. Many prisoners
were received this month, captured by the Union forces
in the State, numbers of them being wounded. About
seven hundred men were at this time enrolled in the
different companies for the First Regiment and being
provided for at Camp Carlisle. On the 26th Captain
Weddle’s Company A was filled. A large meeting of
the citizens of Wheeling was held at the Atheneum,
at which a guarantee was given that the families of
absent soldiers would be provided for. On the 9th of
October a company enlisted in Hancock County took
up quarters at the camp, also part of a company from
1861] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 37

Wetzel County, both of which were to join the First
Regiment. On this day the national loan was opened in
Wheeling for subscribers, and such was the confidence
felt in the stability of the government that the loan was
subscribed to very rapidly. The Atheneum at Wheel-
ing was formally opened on the 10th for the recep-
tion of prisoners, and on this day Captain Morgan’s
company (E) was mustered in. About the same time
Captain Milhouse’s company (C) was mustered in.
On the 13th four companies of the regiment, A, B, D,
and E, took passage on a steamboat for Parkersburg,
destination being Wirt County, under command of
Lieutenant-Colonel Richmond, Colonel Thoburn being
absent from Wheeling. At this time the three large
wagon-making firms of Wheeling, Busbey, Little &
Co., Joshua Bodley, and Moffatt & McNabb, were en-
gaged on government contracts making wagons and
ambulances for the army.*

November 2 the four companies that were sent to
Wirt County in October were ordered to Romney, and
on the 6th the muskets and rifles for the First were
received. The remaining six companies of the regi-
ment at camp having been mustered in on the 7th,
were presented with a stand of colors by Governor
Pierpoint. On the 8th a government hospital was
established in Wheeling. On the 9th of November

 

* The work turned out by these firms was pronounced by com-
petent judges the best in the service of the government, and was
eagerly sought after by the quartermasters in the field.

4
38 HISTORY OF THE [1861

the First left Wheeling for the field of operations,
amid the tears and followed by the prayers of the
loved ones at home,—the last parting of many of them.

(For roster of officers and roll of men, see Ap-
pendix B.)

CHAPTER VII.

To render this short history complete as possible, as
well as intelligible to the general reader, if it be com-
plimented with such, it is necessary to make a short
digression to pick up and record the more important
military events not heretofore mentioned that had
occurred up to the time of the departure of the regi-
ment. As the space in a work of this kind is limited,
these events, being mainly of general rather than of
local interest, are condensed. Operations in Missouri
in June began to be of importance, and, as afterwards
proved, of permanent benefit to the Union cause. A
hero for the occasion had arisen in the person of Gen-
eral Lyon, a regular army officer, whose career was of
too short duration, when the success of the Union
cause is considered. On the 14th the government
buildings at Harper’s Ferry, Virginia, were burned,
and the town, which heretofore had been in their pos-
session, was evacuated by Jackson’s forces. This was
about the first appearance of this officer on the military
stage that the public had knowledge of. Afterwards
1861] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 39

his name and deeds were known to all. On the 17th
General Lyon defeated Governor Jackson at Boone-
ville, Missouri. During this month President Lincoln
recognized the government at Wheeling as the Vir-
ginia State government. July 5 the President issued
his call for four hundred thousand men. August 10
was the battle of Wilson’s Creek; General Lyon, with
Illinois, Towa, Missouri, and Kansas troops, number-
ing about five thousand, attacked General Benjamin
McCulloch, who had nearly ten thousand men under
his command. The Union forces were defeated after a
very hard fight and compelled to retreat to Springfield,
Missouri. General Lyon was killed in this engage-
ment, and, though compelled to fall back, the forces
under him were entitled to the greatest credit for their
gallant conduct. Shortly afterwards Colonel Mulligan,
after a desperate and heroic defence, was compelled to
surrender Lexington, Missouri, to an overwhelming
force of the enemy. Nothing further of importance in
a military view having occurred, the narrative may be
resumed. Accordingly, the 10th of November, 1861,
found the First Regiment at Romney ; the camp-ground
selected was an open field to the northwest of the
town, near the road leading to Greeu Spring Run.
The march from New Creek Station had been unat-
tended by any event of sufficient importance to note.
Passing through a gap in the mountains sufficiently
wide to accommodate a wagon road alongside the bank
of a creek, the course of which was through the gap,
every man almost was struck with the fine position
40 HISTORY OF THE [1861

here afforded for defence by the defile, the river in
front and a hill in the direction of Romney beyond
the stream, which, if held by a resolute enemy, might
have caused a severe loss to the assailants. The ex-
tent of the enemy’s resistance, however, when General
Kelley attacked a few weeks previously, was the firing
of a few rounds from their cannon, disabling a few
men, when the enemy’s forces started very early to re-
treat,—not soon enough, however, to save their wagons,
which were taken. No resistance was offered at any
point to the regiment’s advance.

Unloading the wagons and pitching the tents, ete.,
was an event to the majority of the men with which
they soon became familiar, and were only too glad
when they had the wagons to unload and the tents to
pitch. Looking back to that day, the men of the regi-
ment now realize the importance that should be attached
to a move in the first months of the war. It was much
like moving the inhabitants of a small town with all
their household goods. There was one wagon to each
company, headquarters had two or three, the medical
department had at least one, while one at least was re-
served for ammunition, and the remainder were used
by the quartermaster for hauling the quartermaster’s
and commissary stores,—the whole numbering over
twenty,.and even these were found insufficient to trans-
port all that was looked upon as necessary. In an en-
emy’s country it would have required nearly the entire
regiment to guard the train. After this the number
was gradually diminished until one wagon answered
1861] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 41

for the companies, one for headquarters and the sur-
geons together, and one for the ammunition. Finally,
in 1864, one was allowed for the regiment proper and
one for the ammunition. This was reaching the mini-
mum in numbers and the maximum in discomfort and
inconvenience to officers and men; but, as the latter
usually carried their cooking utensils, tent, and blanket,
besides gun, haversack, cartridge-box with forty rounds,
ete., it made little difference to them whether two or
half a dozen were allowed. Usually mules were used
for the transportation, as they required less care and
less forage than horses, and, when put to it, could sub-
sist at little expense to the government, patiently mak-
ing a meal of the wagon-side, a cracker-box, a pair of
old shoes, or something equally savory, sometimes for
two or three days getting little or nothing else. A
train of wagons might often be seen with but little left
of the sides, which, being made of poplar-wood, were
soft, consequently much relished by the animals, the
tongue, though made of hard, close-grained wood, very
badly gnawed, and even the felloes and spokes of the
wheels bearing the marks of mule-teeth. ‘The mules
of that train, it might be safely concluded, had been
on very short rations and had seen tough times. Until
the war there were comparatively few men who had
ever seen a dead mule, but before its close the bones of
many of these uncomplaining, faithful servants lay fer-
tilizing the soil of Virginia. It may be of interest to
some to state that the forage-ration for a horse is four-

teen pounds of hay and twelve pounds of oats, corn,
4*
42 HISTORY OF THE [1861

or barley, and for a mule fourteen pounds of hay and
nine pounds of either of the several grains mentioned.
Guard duty, police, drill, picket duty, ete., now fully
occupied the time of officers and men. The colonel
and staff, as also the medical staff, had their quarters
on the grounds, and the quartermaster and regimental
commissary had quarters in a warehouse opposite the
court-house iu the town, the commander of the troops,
General Kelley, having his headquarters near by.
There were five or six regiments, including the First,
encamped in the surrounding fields; two or three of
these being Ohio regiments (the Fifth, of Cincinnati,
being one), one or two Indiana, and the Seventh Vir-
ginia. The men from the different States did not ap-
pear to fraternize at this time; they had not gone
through the fire together, which does more to seal
comradeship than anything else. Gradually the ser-
geants’ squads began to know the difference between
“hay-foot” and “straw-foot” (right and left) and the
use of their guns. It was day after day, morning and
afternoon, drill, drill, drill, then the company and
finally the battalion drill, until, in the course of a few
weeks, the regiment began to assume the appearance of
a body of soldiers. Discipline was applied and the
unruly spirits brought into subjection. This was a
good school for the men to learn the rudiments, the
officers being compelled to study their parts, as many
of them found the lessons quite up to their capacity to
learn and more than their ability, in some instances,
to teach; some of them, it may be added, never could
1861] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 43

become proficient. This rather monotonous life was
interrupted occasionally by alarms of the enemy’s ap-
pearance. ‘Two of the officers, Lieutenants Freeman
and Hall, were captured in December while on picket
duty. The employment of the men was afterwards
varied somewhat by digging rifle-pits. What for it is
hard to guess, as they would be commanded by a hill
in the vicinity ; it might have been to improve the appe-
tites of the men, which was wholly superfluous. The
amusing part of this was, as showing the make-up of
a volunteer regiment, a tailor was put in charge of the
work, and when this fact was presented to the colonel,
he laughed heartily, and observed that this feature of
the affair had not occurred to him. Lieutenants L.
and J. will doubtless recollect this and be amused
thereat, though their calling has been made rather free
with. The men called the work a “fort.” Soon the
weather began to get colder, and, though a greater de-
gree of cold than usually experienced in the Ohio Val-
ley was expected, all were agreeably disappointed. The
clothing furnished the men at this time was good, the
shoes generally devoid of paper-filled soles, and the
food wholesome and, of course, very substantial; first
class indeed for the plain cooks, who manipulated the
mess-pans and camp-kettles and wrestled in more ways
than one with the “ dissected” vegetables. The beans
and the mule arrived almost simultaneously, and to
boil the one and break the other was a difficult problem
to solve, and a serious business for several days. These
two of all the soldiers’ auxiliaries probably should be
44 HISTORY OF THE [1861

classed first, and it was hard to determine which had
the strongest hold on his regard, though it is probable
the first named would have the call, being “something
to eat.” A slight digression to explain the ration, ete.,
for the benefit of the reader will be pardoned, as what
they had to eat entered very largely into the thoughts
of the men at this time.

The ration is the daily allowance of food for one
man, and as established for the United States army
was as follows :

Twelve ounces of pork or bacon, or one pound and
four ounces of salt or fresh beef; one pound and six
ounces of soft bread or flour, or one pound of hard
bread, or one pound and four ounces of corn-meal ;
and to every one hundred rations fifteen pounds of
beans or peas and ten pounds of rice or hominy; ten
pounds of green coffee, or eight pounds of roasted (or
roasted and ground) coffee, or one pound and eight
ounces of tea; fifteen pounds of sugar; four quarts of
vinegar ; one pound and four ounces of Star candles ;
four pounds of soap ; three pounds and twelve ounces of
salt; four ounces of pepper; thirty pounds of potatoes
when readily obtained, and with one quart of molasses
was considered an extra ration. While the ration,
ordinarily, means of transportation admitting of its
supply, was ample, men on the march or on the front
had many of these articles erased from the list, and
were generally confined to hard bread, bacon or salt
beef, coffee, and sugar, varied with fresh beef and what
the country afforded,—sometimes this being little in-
1861] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 45

deed. In winter quarters the rations furnished were
usually plenty and of good quality. At times desic-
cated vegetables were issued, one ounce to the ration,
in lieu of beans, peas, rice, hominy, or potatoes.
Generally, it is believed, no army was better, if as
well rationed, as that of the United States. And the
same remark may be applied to the clothing. For five
years the allowance of clothing to each man was as fol-
lows: seven caps, five hats, eight coats, thirteen pairs
trousers, fifteen flannel shirts, eleven pairs flannel
drawers, twenty pairs shoes, twenty pairs stockings,
one great-coat, two woollen blankets, and one gum
blanket. Each one of these articles is charged to the
enlisted man at a price covering the cost, and if at his
discharge he is not charged with his allowance, the
difference he receives with his pay. On the other hand,
if he has overdrawn his allowance, he is charged with
this overissue, and the amount is deducted from his
pay. The allowance proved to be ample in ordinary
service to the average careful man; in mountain or
a rough, hilly country it was barely sufficient. The
supply of rations devolved on the commissary depart-
ment; the clothing, as well as the transportation for
all, on the quartermaster’s department. For a regiment
the quartermaster had charge of the whole, and was
the accounting officer. A general idea may be formed
from this how a regiment was supplied with food and
clothing. As may be supposed, no ordinary ability
was equal to the supplying of such an army as was in
the field in 1862, 1863, and 1864 with food and cloth-
46 HISTORY OF THE [1861

ing, and it must be admitted by all fair-minded men
that this duty was well performed by the quarter-
master- and commissary-generals of the army,—they
being fully equal to the occasion, proving, indeed,
men of extraordinary ability.

In the early part of the war great confusion resulted
from the inexperience of officers of these two depart-
ments attached to regiments, brigades, and divisions,
and it was some time before business connected with
them ran smoothly. At times the same weight of roasted
as of green coffee, for instance, would be issued to the
company commissary, while the coffee-roasters at that
time had hardly acquired the art (be their disposition
what it might) of making the former weigh as much as
the latter.—common property now. Desiccated vege-
tables issued with other vegetables, while they were to
be substituted for them. Again, quartermaster’s stores
proper were not clearly understood, and it is even prob-
able that there were quartermasters at the end of the
war who could not tell the difference in the classification
between a spade and a shovel, one being an engineer’s
tool to be reported to that department, while the other
is classed quartermaster’s stores to be accounted for
to that department. Many years were required to
straighten out this business. And it is to be doubted
if the quartermaster who filed his papers in a barrel or
asack has got them straightened out even now. The
war went on all the same, however, and woe to
the official who allowed the confused condition of his
papers to interfere with his keeping up the supply of
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 47

rations. If he did, it is probable the name of “ hard-
tack” will always attach to him. The First was fortu-
nate in having an excellent man filling this position in
the person of Lieutenant Singleton, who was ever alive
to the welfare and comfort of the men, never allowing
them to suffer if it was in his power to furnish the
supplies.

CHAPTER VIII

THE advent of the year 1862 found the regiment as
described in last chapter, improving in drill and disci-
pline and gaining experience through foraging for sub-
sistence and encounters with semi-military bands of
the enemy. The men were in receipt of news through
the newspapers received almost every day, and were
kept fairly well posted in matters transpiring in the
great outside world. Mentally they were doing very
well, physically they were doing even better,—the ani-
mal was being fully developed in this pure mountain
air with hard tack and flitch as adjuncts. On the
morning of the 7th of January Companies A, B, C,
D, E, and F, with about the same number from the
other regiments, moved out on the Winchester road to
attack the enemy at a place called Blue’s Gap on the
road named. Arriving at the entrance, the battalion of
the First was ordered through the defile, the Ohio and
Indiana troops over the hill on either side. The enemy
48 HISTORY OF THE [1862

attempted to fire their guns through the gap, but fortu-
nately they failed. The men of the First were soon
upon them, capturing two field-pieces (six-pounders)
with a few prisoners; the majority of the enemy escaped.
The forces returned to camp the same evening. This
was the first aggressive action taken by the regiment,
at least the first one to meet a considerable body of the
enemy. The men acquitted themselves well, and their
being a State rivalry among the different commands,
and the question coming up which battalion should go
through the gap in the face of the guns, Colonel Tho-
burn immediately responded, “ My men will go through
it.” After his failure to fire the guns, and the Union
forces too strong to resist, the enemy did the next best
thing,—to live to fight another day,—got out of there
quickly. His loss was three or four killed and wounded.

About this time Lieutenant Thayer Melvin, who
had been promoted from sergeant, was promoted to
captain and made assistant adjutant-general on General
Kelley’s staff. As was afterwards demonstrated, this
was an excellent selection, Captain Melvin soon rank-
ing high in the estimation of the officers at the head-
quarters of the army. On the 10th, after many
alarms, the regiment was ordered to strike tents, pack
up, and load the wagons for instant departure. This
was, as may be inferred from what has been written,
considerable of a job, but was accomplished in very
good time, everything considered. The débris and
worthless stuff that had accumulated was burned, the
men fell in, and, after a tedious delay of several hours,
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 49

marched at six P.M. Evidently something was the
matter, or camp would not thus be broken up and the
regiment ordered to march at such an hour as this.
It was afterwards discovered that this was the first
alarm that “Stonewall” Jackson gave the command,
and credit must be given him for many afterwards.
Coming from the valley with infantry, cavalry, and
artillery in much stronger force than the forces here
collected, General Kelley’s command was compelled to
fall back. The regiment stopped late at night at
Springfield, having crossed the south branch of the Po-
tomac at the suspension bridge (afterwards destroyed).
Howe’s battery was placed near to and commanding
the bridge and road leading to it, supported by infantry,
until all had passed. Jackson failed to come up, but
it was looked upon at the time as a narrow escape.
The weather had been very cold and his men suffered
greatly, which, of course, delayed him, and was the
cause, it was reported, of his nearly losing. his com-
mission, To this suffering more than to anything else
may this escape from Jackson be attributed. An in-
cident occurring on this march will show how little
observant the average soldier is. Special efforts no
doubt had been made to keep the nature and cause
of the movement from them, which succeeded well,
much better than at any other time thereafter, hence
many were the opinions entertained of it and various
the conjectures offered in explanation. Captain Mor-
gan, who had served in the Mexican war, remarked, as
the regiment was floundering through the mud, “ What
5
50 HISTORY OF ‘THE [1862

do you think of this? Do you call it an advance or
a retreat?” The answer was, “Captain, when the
wagon-train is hurried up and put in the advance, the
men ordered from camp at six P.M. of a winter evening,
the battery placed in position on the side of the river
farthest from the direction the enemy would naturally
be expected to come, commanding the only road of
approach and strongly supported by the infantry, and
the direction of march away from the enemy, the con-
clusion is forced on a fellow that it is a retreat.”

The regiment crossed Patterson’s Creek and en-
camped near the railroad station in mud almost as bad
as it was possible to be. This was truly a miserable
place for an encampment, but suppose it was a fair
strategic point. On the 14th was the first appearance
of that always welcome official, the paymaster,—in this
instance being I. M. Pumphry, who paid the men up to
the 1st instant. On the 17th the regiment was brigaded
with the Seventh Ohio and Seventh Indiana, Colonel
Tyler in command. On the 20th the brigade received
Sibley tents,—a great improvement on the small
tents which up to that time had been in use, being
much larger, each one accommodating about fifteen men
comfortably when arranged for winter quarters,—taper
or conical in shape, admitted of a fire inside, and a hole
at the top was supposed to carry off the smoke. These
tents made the men much more comfortable, and re-
moved the risk of the inside men crowding the one
next the canvas through the tent and into the snow or
mud outside, which often occurred with the common
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 51

tents, to the annoyance of the neighbors. The men
were here drilled in firing and in brigade movements.
The Twenty-ninth Ohio Regiment was afterwards
added to the brigade while here. The regiment re-
mained here until February 5, when the command
took cars and were unloaded at French’s Store, a station
farther east, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and
from this point proceeded out the Romney road the
next day about eight miles. (General Lander was in
command of the division. Weather was very cold and
all were without tents, these having been loaded on the
wagons, which had not arrived. Crossed the Little
Capon River, and then orders were given to “’bout
face,” returning to camp about two miles south of the
station last named. The men here constructed shanties
or covers of brush and pine branches and called the
bivouac Camp Levels. The South Branch River at this
point makes a bend, forming a large, apparently nearly
level, peninsula, which is a beautiful farm. Looking
down on this from the camp on the levels above and
across the river is a sight as near approaching the grand
as is to be found in the Alleghanies.

The men suffered very much from the cold here,
being, with all they could do, badly protected from it.
Remained here until the 13th. Marched, and struck
the railroad again at Little Capon bridge, and proceeded
down the road to Paw Paw tunnel. Marched again
the next day, continuing east, and pitched tents two
miles from the railroad. This is the first seen of the
tents since the 5th instant. Called this Camp Chase.
52 HISTORY OF THE [1862

22d, celebration of the anniversary of Washington’s
birthday. General Lander, before all the troops as-
sembled, denounced Colonel Anisansel, of the First
Virginia Cavalry, for his behavior before the enemy,
and afterwards, through his report to the War Depart-
ment, had him dismissed, and it is probable that if
General Lander had followed his inclination Colonel
Anisansel would have danced before the public once
more only. The Third Brigade (the first being a part
of it) was reviewed by General Lander, who was cer-
tainly a remarkable man, a born commander, of fine
proportions, probably six feet two in height, decisive in
action as well as words, full of resources, fine, clear-cut
face, and an eye you would never forget having seen,
such a one as few men ever possessed. It was generally
felt that if there was work to be done he would cut it
out and do his full share of it.

On the Ist of March orders were given to be pre-
pared for a march, and at three P.M. started, arriving
at the Capon River, which stream was crossed on a
bridge made of the wagons; bivouacked a short distance
beyond for the night. This is a start for Winchester in
the Shenandoah Valley, at this time a terra incognita
to nearly every man in the command, but became well
known in the three years that followed. Next day, to
the surprise of all, marched back to the former camp
near Paw Paw. General Lander died on that day,
which will account for the retrograde movement ; there
was considerable snow on the ground at this time. On
the 3d the brigade attended the funeral of General
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 53

Lander at Paw Paw Station. There ended the
promising life of Lander in this obscure hamlet, with
no relative or, possibly, close friend to close his eyes,
and before he had opportunity to show his qualities as
an officer in high command. On the 8th officers, men,
horses, and wagons were all put on the cars at Paw
Paw and run east to Back Creek; at this point, some
twelve miles west of Martinsburg, the fine railroad
bridge had been destroyed by the enemy. This struc-
ture bore the appearance of having been strong and
massive, and had been blown up. The command re-
mained here several days, all the material with the
wagons having been unloaded.

CHAPTER IX.

GENERAL SHIELDS at this point took command of
the division. This was a popular appointment, as
nearly all the men were acquainted with his career and
knew him to be a gallant soldier, and those who were
not predisposed in his favor soon learned to love and
respect hini for his interest in them. An Irishman by
birth, an American by choice, and a patriot because he
could not be otherwise. The division had been ma-
terially reinforced, and at this time consisted of three
brigades, composed as follows:

First Brigade.— Colonel Kimball commanding ;
54 HISTORY OF THE [1862

Fourteenth Indiana, Seventh Virginia, Fourth Ohio,
Eighth Ohio, and Sixty-second Ohio Regiments.

Second Brigade.—Colonel Dunning commanding;
Fifth Ohio, Eighty-fourth Pennsylvania, Thirteenth
Indiana, and Sixty-sixth Ohio Regiments.

Third Brigade—Colonel Tyler commanding; Sev-
enth Ohio, Seventh Indiana, T'wenty-ninth Ohio, First
Virginia, and One Hundred and Tenth Pennsylvania
Regiments.

On the 11th the parties in charge of the work having
succeeded in building a temporary foot-bridge, the train
was sent around by road to cross the stream above and
join the command at a point designated. The division
was crossed over and marched eastward on the railroad
track towards Martinsburg, passing over the North
Mountain grade. To the surprise of all, there floated
the Union flaz from a house at the station named,
where was found a Union family, rare in that part of
the State. As may be supposed, the column greeted
the flag and family with loud hurrals. Passing on,
Martinsburg was reached, and marching through the
town to a point two anda half miles beyond on the
Winchester road, bivouacked for the night. This is
a fine macadamized road, but somewhat cut up by the
hauling of locomotives over it, the enemy having used
it to transfer Baltimore and Ohio Railroad engines to
the Manassas Gap Railroad at Strasburg.

The day’s march was over the rough stone ballast of
the railroad, the rails having been torn up, ties piled
up and the rails placed on top; the pile was then fired,
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 55

which would make a great heat, the rails becoming so
heated that they would bend with their own weight.
In this condition a slight twist would effectually de-
stroy them as rails. In some instances they were twisted
around trees. Marching through the town of Martins-
burg, the people were astonished and greatly delighted
at seeing Virginia regiments under the old banners, and
their greeting was very cordial, which, it may be re-
marked, was something unusual, unprecedented, in fact,
and warmed the men’s hearts towards these people.
This is a great change, the country even at this season
of the year marking such a contrast to what is seen in
the hills and mountains of the trans-Alleghany portion
of the State. The command left this point, called Big
Spring, the next morning, and took up the line of
march for up (south) the Shenandoah Valley, arriving
in the afternoon at a point three and three-quarters
miles from Winchester, occupying a field just vacated
by the enemy’s cavalry—Ashby’s command, as was
afterwards learned. No doubt these fellows were hov-
ering around gaining information for their chief (Jack-
son), who will not take very kindly to this invasion of
his territory. This camp, in honor of the commander,
was called Camp Shields. On the 15th the wagons
came up with the camp equipage and the men were
able to make themselves comfortable. They have not
learned yet to do without tents, camp-kettles, mess-
pans, and such luxuries, hence feel the absence of the
wagons very much. Rations of fresh beef were issued
here,—the first fresh meat the men have eaten for some
56 HISTORY OF THE [1862

time. This was highly flavored with garlic, the pas-
ture-fields hereabouts producing this fetid plant in
abundance. It is said the milk and butter of this part
of the State are strongly flavored with it, which would
not be a recommendation to some, though some of the
men professed to like the beef thus flavored. It is a
good substitute for onions, which vegetable all men
confined to soldiers’ rations naturally crave. On the
18th the command left in light marching order, haver-
sacks filled, blankets rolled, carried over the shoulder
and tied at the hip, with canteen, cartridge-boxes filled,
and arms, constituting the whole equipment.

The brigade passed through Winchester. Here the
people were not slow in showing their rebellious feel-
ings by hooting the Union soldiers. The women, in
particular, were noisy and demonstrative. Apparently
there were few men at home. The former, however,
were equal to the occasion, and their denunciation of
the Yankees was hearty, informing the men that Jack-
son was up the valley, and that they would come back
faster than they went up. This was by no means pleas-
ant, but they were permitted to rail on, as it did the
command no harm and appeared to do them a great
deal of good. Their feelings were particularly stirred
when they found that there were two Virginia regi-
ments in the column. The division arrived at Cedar
Creek bridge, which the enemy had thought proper
to burn down, but did not attempt to move the ford,
hence but little delay followed this destruction of their
own property. ‘The whole command camped this night
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 57

within three miles of Strasburg, and the next day ad-
vanced to a point one mile beyond the town, artillery
in position and infantry supporting,—a battery of ar-
tillery was attached to each brigade of the command,
mention of which should have been made before,—
skirmishers were out, and the command in line of
battle. The enemy opened with his artillery, some of
the shells bursting in the air. The Union guns replied,
a whole battery at a time, which appeared to satisfy
him, as he retreated up the valley. A few men were
wounded of Shields’s command ; none were killed. No
knowledge could be obtained of the casualties among
the enemy. This night the regiment lay on the Ma-
nassas Gap Railroad, very tired, with the cold rain
pouring down on the men, nothing to protect them
but a gum and a woollen blanket, fence-rails or the
mud to lie on,—a bad night indeed. About half the
regiment was on picket duty. This may be considered
the beginning of the regiment’s hard service.

CHAPTER X.

THE Shenandoah Valley, pictured in song and story,
viewed by the practical men of the command, accus-
tomed to working the rough, hilly lands of the west-
ern portion of the State, was a contrast the striking
features of which constantly called forth their admira-
58 HISTORY OF THE [1862

tion, bearing on its surface the outcropping limestone
ledge of its foundation, revealing even to the uniniti-
ated the strength of soil, proved by the growing wheat
in the fields and the size and quality of the timber of
the wooded portions. The good, substantial residences
of the proprietors, with the necessary outbuildings, in-
cluding the “quarter,” or slaves’ cabins, and in some
instances the porter’s lodge at the entrance to the
grounds, betrayed at once the opulence of the propri-
etors and the aping of the customs of feudal times.
With all, as was not uncommon in the South, there
was not wanting evidence of the relations of Abraham
and Hagar being repeated, without the connivance or
consent of the respective Sarais; but, probably, owing
to the change of time, of scenes, and of blood, there has
not arisen an Ishmael, so far as has been revealed, or
if so, Isaac has come into the rich inheritance. Truly
it is a goodly heritage, and fair to look upon,—the
granary of the Army of Northern Virginia, capable of
meeting heavy drafts for subsistence and freely honor-
ing them until General Sheridan, with fire and sword,
in 1864, at once destroyed its capacity to feed and the
power of its would-be defenders to restore,—this being
one of General Grant’s terrible blows at the vitality of
the Confederacy. However, this is anticipating events.

The next day the brigade was drawn up in line;
there having been some depredations of the men re-
ported to the commander, an inspection of haversacks
was ordered and the possessors of the plunder found,
which, it is pleasing to record, were not in the ranks
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 59

of the First, though at the same time truth compels
the confession that there were men of the regiment
who would have been pleased to share in it. After
this the order was to “’bout face,” and the command,
to the surprise of all, returned down the valley towards
Winchester, at a pace that savored strongly of a retreat.
It may be readily conjectured that neither the officers
of the companies nor men could account for this haste, as
nothing had occurred that came under their observa-
tion to cause any extraordinary alarm to be felt or
haste to get out of this neighborhood. The supposi-
tion was, however, that the commander knew what he
was doing, and that it was probable Jackson was com-
ing with a large force to find out, as the men suggested,
who’s been here since he’s been gone. Passing again
through Middletown and Newtown, arrived at Win-
chester very weary and hungry, but no rest was per-
mitted; pushing on through the town after the twenty-
three miles’ tramp, the column was again assailed by
the derisive shouts of the people, “Jackson is com-
ing! He'll run you out of the valley! See the
Yankees skedaddle!” ete. The men took all this in
very good part, as nothing harder was thrown at them.
The quartermaster with wise forethought had met the
regiment with hard bread in wagons six or eight miles
beyond the town. After the distribution of the bread
the wagons were used to haul the foot-sore of the com-
mand, of which there was quite a number. After
passing through the town the regimental band struck
up a lively air, the men responded by a cheer and a
60 HISTORY OF THE [1862

quicker step, and in excellent condition, no little in-
debted to the music for it, arrived at the former camp
(Shields) about nine p.w. A hard march, but the men
stood it admirably ; a good night’s rest in their tents
restored them. Thus terminated the first advance of
the regiment up the valley,—a road that was to be
traversed many times during the term of service of
the men, at times with full ranks and in good spirits
when the prospect was promising, at others with
thinned ranks and hopes ‘shaken, influenced by the
surroundings, the loss of comrades, and the gloom
hanging over the Northern States on account of the
fearful sacrifices the people were called upon to make
for the little advantage gained. Hope and despondency
alternated as advance and retreat followed on one an-
other. The majority of the men, however, had a well-
anchored belief that the result would be the triumph
of the government and the downfall of the rebellion,
hence never lost hope under the most depressing con-
ditions. While encamped here it soon became evident
that something important was about transpiring, order-
lies were constantly on the go. Headquarters ap-
peared to be the centre of attraction, and much business
required attention. The arms were inspected, extra
heavy picket detailed, ete., with various rumors in the
camp, having little or no foundation. On the 22d the
pickets near Winchester were driven in, followed by
sharp artillery firmg. The Third Brigade was marched
to the town to be held in reserve, and bivouacked on
the outskirts, the men sleeping on their arms,
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 61

CHAPTER XI.

On Sunday, 23d, the regiment returned to camp and
made breakfast, having at the same time been ordered
to prepare an early dinner and be ready to respond to
orders at once. Artillery firing beyond the town was
almost continuous, and, to judge from the sound, the
forces engaged were holding their respective positions.
Marched about noon to about four miles south of the
town, the cannonading continuing without intermission.
The brigade was here led to the right of the road through
a field and piece of woods, the other portion of the
command forming on the left on both sides of the pike,
at right angles to the same, turning again at a right
angle to the former course bearing to the left, and again
passing into a piece of woods, was drawn up in line
just on its border. An open field was before the regi-
ment, gently rising to a strong wall which bounded it
near the top, and beyond this, still on the rise, quite a
number of fence-rail barricades. And still beyond this
was the top of the hill, crowned by a thin piece of
woods, which extended to and covered a portion of the
sloping ground. The enemy (Jackson’s forces) was
posted behind the stone wall mentioned, the rail barri-
cades, and in the woods,—evidently a very strong and

well-chosen position, and hard to face.
6
62 HISTORY OF THE [1862

The First was on the extreme right of the line; two
brigades were engaged and one held in reserve. The
formation of Shields’s forces was like the letter L. The
First, to use the military phrase, joined the main line
of battle perpendicular to the general line, and over-
lapped the enemy’s line slightly, his left flank being
refused. About three p.m. the action opened on the
enemy’s left (Union right) with the infantry—the artil-
lery, as already stated, had been engaged for several
hours—just as the regiment got within range at the
border of the woods, receiving the first volley while
advancing. No doubt every man thought at this time,
while an almost unseen enemy was shooting at him,
that absence of body was better than presence of mind;
but there was no time to speculate on this, as there was
the enemy doing his best to kill; the buzz and whistle
of the balls, with now and then a pit or thug as one hit
the solid part of a man, was not pleasant music. And
it had become a disagreeable necessity to kill him, if
possible, in self-defence. The roar of the musketry
soon became continuous; all ideas of platoon firing
were forgotten, it was simply fire at will, and, like the
fight at Donnybrook Fair, hit a head when it was
possible to do so, which was all that could be seen of
an enemy for some time.

At the commencement of the action it was observed
that the enemy as a general thing fired too high: being
on the higher ground might account for this. Whether
the Union men made this mistake generally is not
known ; probably there was considerable of it at first,
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 63

until they became cooler and better used to the novel
position. The artillery joined in with its heavy thunder-
ing, and altogether there was a mélée. This continued
for probably two hours. Many of the command had
fallen and many been borne helpless to the rear,
when at this time a break was observed on the enemy’s
extreme left; a restlessness began to show itself along
the line in the slight shifting of position by small
bodies; evidently as the firing became more accurate
it made the position too warm for them; in detached
bodies they fell back to positions in the rear in very
good order. There was no attempt at an advance or a
charge, and presently more of them followed the
backward movement. The men of the First as well as
the whole command were pouring in their fire, pressing
them hard, moving up step by step, always forward
and cheering, which caused the blood to tingle in
the veins of all. No rebel yell there; it was a hearty
hurrah, the difference in the two being very plain.
At one time early in the action, probably about four
o’clock, the enemy threw a small body on the right
flank of the First, but this body was met by a force
thrown on that flank, led by Colonel Thoburn and
Major Duval, which opened such a hot fire that he
failed in his effort to turn this flank. This, no doubt,
was a critical juncture, but, as the men were not as a
general thing well versed in either tactics or strategic
positions, it made no difference to them. Just before
dark the enemy was in full retreat, protected and well
covered by his rear-guard. Shields’s forces followed
64 HISTORY OF THE [1862

up the valley, but the retreat was orderly, and the
rear-guard being well handled never at any time ap-
proached a rout. The Union cavalry at this time had
not been raised to that degree of efficiency that it
afterwards attained under Sheridan, Torbet, Wilson,
Custer, and Devens,—witness Aldie, Brandy Station,
Fisher’s Hill, and the hundred combats of lesser note,
winding up with Sailor Creek and Appomattox, where
this arm of the service performed the most hazardous
duty, and in nearly all of which West Virginia regi-
ments took their full share. Under Shields the cavalry
was small in number,—too small to render very im-
portant service at this juncture, the whole hardly
amounting to a regiment, while to have secured the
full results of this victory a brigade was necessary.
How the centre and left wing of the Union force
fared was not known, as the rising ground on the
front of the regiment, before described and no doubt
the key of the position, prevented a sight, even if
anything could have been seen through the smoke. It
is believed, however, that the falling back was simul-
taneous along the whole line,—from their right be-
yond the pike to their extreme left,—having full
confidence that the Ohio and Indiana regiments played
their part well and kept up their end of the line. On
the right, as may be concluded from the foregoing, the
brigade was not pushed back during the entire action,
but, on the contrary, pressed forward out of the pro-
tection of the wood into the open field, there taking
advantage of the irregularities of the ground that
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 65

offered any protection from the hot fire maintained by
the enemy. The colonel in command of the small
body detached for the purpose of meeting the attack
on the right flank as stated received a painful wound.
The pursuit was left chiefly to the reserve and the small
body of cavalry attached to the command.

The division commander, General Shields, having
been wounded by a piece of shell, the command de-
volved on Colonel Kimball; but, after the positions
were taken and line of battle formed, very few com-
mands were given or were indeed necessary. The loss
to Shields’s command was about five hundred; the
loss of the enemy about the same, or possibly slightly
heavier. The majority of his killed were shot in the
head. Have no means of ascertaining the loss of the
First in this fight, but, from the best information at-
tainable, believe it to have been between forty and
fifty, being about the average of the several regiments
engaged. After the battle immediate preparations
were made to attend to the wounded and to bury the
dead. The former were collected and taken to the
improvised hospitals in Winchester. ‘The wounded of
the enemy were also cared for. Their friends in Win-
chester were only too anxious to give them every atten-
tion when, a few hours later, they had learned of the
result of the fight. Much anxiety was felt in the town,
as a number of the young men whose homes were there
were in Jackson’s army. The derisive shouts of the
people, who had confidently relied on hailing Jackson

as the victor, were turned into weeping and wailing
6*
66 HISTORY OF THE [1862

for their loss. Trenches were dug and the dead placed
therein. The brigade bivouacked on the battle-field,
and, save the occasional sound of the big guns, now
and then varied by the sound of the smaller arms, at
this time growing fainter and fainter as the enemy
retreated, finally ceased altogether as night threw its
veil over the scene and the wearied combatants made
preparations for their much-needed rest. No sound
interrupted the occupations of the men preparing their
evening meal of coffee, flitch, and hard bread—a well-
earned supper—but the noise of the ambulances and
the voices of the men collecting the wounded, the
sound of the mattock and the shovel in the trenches
being prepared for the dead, which were being col-
lected and placed therein,—some strong, hearty frames,
having been in full health, strength, and vigor of
manhood, then a fair-haired Virginian or Georgian,
perhaps but a stripling, possibly the idol of a mother
or the pride of a sister, laid alongside the other by
the rough hands though tender hearts of the Union
men, to occupy an unknown grave. A hush fell upon
all; each man appeared to mourn the loss of a comrade,
and all influenced by the sad surroundings, increased
by the gloom of ‘the night. Wolfe’s words, though
well worn, are singularly appropriate, and will bear
quoting :
«Slowly and sadly we laid him down
From the field of his fame fresh and gory; -

We carved not a line and we raised not a stone,
But we left him alone with his glory.”
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 67

Thus ended the battle of Kearnstown, the most sig-
nal defeat that “Stonewall” Jackson encountered in his
remarkable career. The retreat of Shields in such
haste from Strasburg on the 20th was now explained,
being simply a ruse to draw the enemy down the valley.
It is supposed that Jackson had learned through his
scouts that General Banks, whose forces had been in
the valley with Shields, had taken his departure for
the eastern department with his command, thus leaving
General Shields with a force he could readily handle.
It was true that Banks had marched with his command,
as was reported by his scouts, but General Jackson
had not properly estimated Shields’s force, which was
stronger than he had supposed. On the information he
possessed, however, he had assumed the aggressive, with
the result as stated.

CHAPTER XIL

Wuite this battle, to look at it now, is only impor-
tant to the actors in it, and not even to them when
compared with others they were afterwards engaged in,
involving much heavier losses, nevertheless the people
throughout the North hailed it with almost unbounded
joy, as it appeared to mark a turning-point in the tide
of affairs. Failure to commence active operations on
the Potomac, defeat at Big Bethel and Ball’s Bluff,
with the mismanagement too plainly apparent that
68 HISTORY OF THE [1862

could hardly be avoided at this early period of the con-
test, had rendered the people greatly dissatisfied with
the operations and the handling of the army, the
results, in their opinion, not at all commensurate with
the great efforts put forth by the government, and the
loss sustained in blood and treasure by the people.
This victory was something tangible, and revived their
spirits at once, General Shields and his command being
honored accordingly.

The next morning the brigade took up the pursuit,
following up the valley the cavalry of the enemy
covering the retreat. The men, however, needed a
rest after the hard service of the week past. The
regiment encamped within about three miles of Stras-
burg, the cavalry of the enemy being quite active,
shielding the movements of the infantry. At the
bridge crossing Cedar Creek, before mentioned, a
friend of the writer’s, W. R n, a young man from
Wheeling, belonging to one of the enemy’s Virginia
regiments (Twenty-seventh, probably), was mortally
wounded by a shell, and died in a house just beyond.
This young man had two brothers in Company A, of
the First, and two other brothers in other commands in
the Union army. Cases of like character were of fre-
quent occurrence in Virginia commands during the
war. The next day the advance was continued. All
along the roads were evidences of the great loss sus-
tained by the enemy at the battle of the 23d, wounded
men and material being abandoned to the pursuers.
This night the regiment bivouacked one mile south of

 
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 69

Strasburg. Remained encamped here until the 1st of
April, under orders to be in readiness to march at once.
The regiment at this time was in support of the artil-
lery, which was engaged with the enemy at every op-
portunity, keeping him on the move all the time.
Bivouacked one mile north of Edenburg. The skir-
mishing with the enemy continued until the 4th, he
falling back all the time, and, while it made the men
rather uncomfortable, did but little damage. When
the Union guns opened on them his guns usually took
a position farther back.

The command crossed the Shenandoah River (Daugh-
ter of the Stars) near this point, attracting the attention
of the people living in the vicinity. Among the number
attracted to the spot was an elderly woman, draped in a
sort of gray homespun gown, with apparently little else
to make up her costume, industriously smoking a corn-
cob pipe, and no doubt drawing much comfort therefrom.
Was quite interested in seeing the men crossing the
stream. One of the First Virginia Cavalry passing at
the time, to the disgust of the owner of the pipe, accosted
her, “ Hallo, aunty! How does your meerschaum
color?” deprived her of further interest in the proceed-
ings. Remained at this camp until the 10th. On the
9th news was received of the capture of Island No. 10
onthe Mississippi River. Great rejoicing followed this
substantial victory. News also had been received of
the battle at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee; but it
was not known whether it was a victory or a repulse,
whether to exult or feel sad. Such was the un-
70 HISTORY OF THE {1862

certainty regarding the intelligence received that the
men began to regard the newspaper reports as rather
unreliable and the “intelligent contraband” as a
myth, hence swallowed the news with a mixture of
doubt.

The men of the command fully realized at this time
that they were in the enemy’s territory. Go where the
soldier might not a smile greeted him, or even a pleased
look,—every man, woman, and child was an enemy.
Every movement, the number of men, and the apparent
intentions of the Union commander were carefully aud
promptly reported to the enemy. These self-constituted
spies were of the greatest value to General Jackson,
while, on the other hand, any attempt on the part of the
Unionists to extract information was met by sealed lips,
pretended ignorance, or lies. The enemy’s forces were an
unknown quantity. The Union scouts were waylaid,
shot, or captured by men who, probably, the next day
were employed in some peaceable pursuit on the farm or
in the village. The result, necessarily, being an entire
absence of reliable information,—a groping in the dark
generally as to the force of the enemy at any given time,
the probability of his being reinforced, or of his move-
ments, An entire regiment was required for picket
duty.

On the 12th General Shields reviewed the division.
This was General Shields’s first appearance since the
battle near Winchester, and he received a cordial re-
ception from the officers and men. On the following
day the regiment received two months’ pay, after
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 71

which there was inspection and orders were received to
prepare to march. On the 17th marched at two A.M.
Cannonading just in front, the brigade prepared for
a fight. The enemy, covered by his cavalry as usual,
fell back slowly as before, not attempting a stand.
Bivouacked one mile north of New Market. On the
19th, at this place, the men received their knapsacks,
forwarded by the wagons from Winchester, and two
days thereafter were rejoiced at the appearance of the
teams with the tents, etc., the latter being pitched on
the hill-side not far from the Staunton pike. This was
living once more.

The men now began to feel that they were a long
way from home, at the same time felt that they were
abundantly able to take care of themselves.

On the 26th the regiment hailed with delight the
appearance of Colonel Thoburn, who had just rejoined
the command, though yet suffering from his wound.
Next day struck tents and marched with knapsacks
slung to a point three miles south of New Market,
where the regiment again encamped. The brigade was
here inspected by Colonel E. B. Tyler commanding.
On the 30th the regiment was again mustered for
pay, and marched at three p.M., arriving at Columbia
bridge at nine P.M. This bridge is in Page County,
and is an important crossing of the Shenandoah River,
much used by the enemy in his operations. This
river’s general direction is north, and the main stream
is formed by the junction of two branches not far
from Front Royal. ‘The western branch is the one
72 HISTORY OF THE [1862

flowing from the direction of Staunton, taking its rise
in the mountains west of that town. On the road up
the valley this branch is first seen near the town of
Woodstock. The other branch (eastern) takes its rise
in the Blue Ridge, passing through Page County, and
is separated from the first-mentioned branch by the
Massanutten Mountain. The camp of the regiment at
the Columbia bridge was on the latter branch. The
entire length of the river from its source to its entrance
into the Potomac River at Harper’s Ferry is probably
one hundred miles, and about fifty from the junction
of its two largest tributaries. Some men who have
campaigned in both valleys appear to be ignorant of the
fact that there are two branches of this river. The
camping-ground was on the eastern, or right, bank of the
river, in what is locally known as the Luray Valley.
The face of the country had materially changed in ap-
pearance on the last day’s march,—more woods and
underbrush and rough surface generally ; the soil had
changed to a sandy nature, unlike the rich limestone
loam of the other valley. The following day the tents
were pitched on a rolling piece of ground well suited
to the purpose. The Thirteenth Indiana and Thirty-
ninth Illinois Regiments joined here. May 3 and 4
three companies of the regiment were sent on a scout
along the river. All was quiet was the report. The
following day the regiment left camp at one A.M., and
marched up the river about eight miles; found and drove
in the enemy’s pickets. A force succeeded in getting
on the flank of the regiment in the effort made to get
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 73

in the rear. The regiment fell back skirmishing, sus-
taining a small loss, but by the movement avoided a
trap laid for its capture; without further loss camp was
regained. On the 7th again moved up the river about
five miles and developed a force in front. The enemy,
consisting of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, was in
strong numbers but a few hundred yards to the right
of the line of march, the movements of the First being
screened from observation of the main body by the
rising ground between. Passing on, the regiment
marched along the entire front of the enemy, consist-
ing, as was afterwards learned, of an entire division.
When the colonel was informed of the critical position
his men were in he at once called a halt, and satisfying
himself of the truth of the report, fell back at once in
good order. This manceuvre in the face of the enemy
was very skilfully ordered and conducted. And the
surprise is that the enemy was so slow in taking advan-
tage of the temerity, or blunder, shown in this recon-
noissance, as an advance of his left would have cut off
retreat, compelling the surrender or sacrifice of the
command. Colonel Thoburn deserves great credit for
the skill shown on this occasion in withdrawing from
this dangerous neighborhood. The Thirteenth Indiana
was not so fortunate, as, disregarding the report of the
officers of the First respecting this force in the front,
a reconnoissance by that regiment resulted in its being
compelled to beat a hurried retreat, losing a number of
men, and some of them only making their escape by

ridding themselves of their arms,—the whole regiment
7
74 HISTORY OF THE [1862

making a very narrow escape, and the colonel becoming
convinced that the enemy was in strong force in the
neighborhood. Remained in this camp until the 12th,
having in the mean time turned over the Sibley tents to
the quartermaster’s department to be transported to the
rear for storage at some post or depot for use in winter.

The men were now stripped to light marching con-
dition, the sky being the roof and the earth their bed
until the receipt of the so-called “dog tents,” being a
piece of very light cotton duck about two yards long
and one wide, buttoning at the top, thus forming the
tent. Each man carried his piece, and when two
joined together, would form a shelter intended to ac-
commodate the two, and if three joined, to accommodate
the three. These tents were long enough to allow the
feet of a tall man to project beyond the cover, to his
great annoyance, as may be supposed. These tents
were only a slight improvement on the sky covering,
and the inventor of them was certainly an enemy to
his fellow-men and delighted in torture.

It is to this day an unsolved problem with the men
what this advance to the upper waters of the Shenandoah
was expected to accomplish. It is possible, however,
that the officers knew, but as this is written from the
men’s stand-point, it may be safely asserted that after all
the years of reflection and inquiry since that time the
question has not been settled satisfactorily to them. It
may be stated here that there was sufficient intelligence
among the men to put what they saw and heard to-
gether and to form their own conclusions ; often correct
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 75

though based on very limited information. The design
was to get into Richmond by the back-door, thinking,
it may be, that Johnston and Lee were so carefully
guarding the front entrance that the back might be left
unprotected. This idea, if ever entertained, as has
been shown, was a mistaken one, and is only advanced
for the purpose of adding to the possibilities by way of
accounting for the movement. What became of the
First Brigade was not known to the men, neither is it
known now. Suppose, however, it was within sup-
porting distance. At best it was a small body far ad-
vanced into the enemy’s territory, distant from sup-
plies, and with hardly the possibility remaining of
being timely reinforced in case of meeting a superior
force, and no way to retire but by the road entered.
Tt was probably fortunate that there was a considerable
rise in the river at this time, which rendered the usual
fording places next to impassable to infantry. No
doubt the bridge approaches were strongly guarded.
Had it been generally known that General Ewell with
a strong division was in front, which was actually the
case, the command would hardly have rested so easy.
Tt must be concluded, in the light of all the facts, that
this was simply a reconnoissance. This being the case,
it was entirely successful, for the enemy was found in
such strength that it was deemed wise to let him alone.
If it was a diversion to draw off a portion of the
enemy defending Richmond, it was successful to the
extent stated.
76 HISTORY OF THE [1862

CHAPTER XIII.

By this time full information concerning the battle
at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, had been received, and
the result was found to bea repulse to Johnston and
Beauregard’s army, and, while causing an immense loss
to the Union forces, was a terrible blow to the rebellion.
Important events had followed this: Fort Pulaski,
near Savannah, Georgia, was taken by General Hunter;
General Burnside and the navy had met with success
along the North Carolina coast; Admiral Farragut
had passed the forts above the mouth of the Missis-
sippi, and General Butler’s forces were in possession of
New Orleans. This was the most important success as
yet gained by the Union forces, and at first the value
of it could hardly be estimated. The population of
New Orleans, as well as the leading men of the rebel-
lion, felt entire confidence in the ability of Forts Jack-
son and St. Philip to repel any attempt of the kind; and
when the news was carried to the city that Farragut
had passed them, such was the firm trust in the power
of these defences, indeed, in their impregnability, enter-
tained by the people of that city, that they would not
believe it until confronted by the admiral’s flag-ship
anchoring at the foot of Canal Street, with her guns
run out, fully prepared to destroy the town if need
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 77

be. General Lovell gave up the city and beat a re-
treat, powerless to resist the land and naval forces
under Butler and Farragut. General McClellan had
moved the Army of the Potomac to the Yorktown
Peninsula to begin his operations where those in the
Revolution ended about eighty years before, and in an
action there had driven the enemy to his intrenchments
about Richmond. Finally it may be noted that Norfolk
had been occupied by the Union forces; millions of
dollars’ worth of property at the navy-yard had been
destroyed by the enemy upon evacuating. The sud-
den appearance of the little “ Monitor,” and the fight
between that vessel and the ironclad ram “ Virginia”
in Hampton Roads, and the destruction of the latter
shortly afterwards, was occasion for general joy through-
out the North; and while it ended the hopes of the
rebels of destroying New York and Boston, or at least
placing these cities at the mercy of their ironclad, it
completely revolutionized naval warfare, and was the
cause of astonishment, not to say consternation, to the
naval powers of Europe.

On the 12th, the regiment being on picket, marching
orders were received, and at noon the men packed up,
fell into line, and marched for—where was the ques-
tion that none could answer. ‘The direction, however,
was down the river, and, having marched ten miles,
they bivouacked at White House bridge. The following
day the men were in line at six A.M., marched through
the town of Luray, the county-seat of Page County,
containing probably four or five hundred inhabitants,

Te
78 HISTORY OF THE [1862

and bivouacked nine miles north of it at nine P.M.
Annoying delays occur on these marches, the rear
brigade generally suffering by getting to the place
selected for the night’s rest at a late hour. Twelve
miles were marched, and, judging by the sun, the
direction was north. On the 14th marched again at
six A.M., the roads being quite muddy in consequence
of the rainfall the day before, passed through the
town of Front Royal, which is in Warren County,
and bivouacked in the mud just north of it, having
marched seventeen miles. The next day the regiment
passed through Chester Gap in the Blue Ridge, and,
being in the advance of the column at this time, was
the first to tread the soil of what might be called the
tide-water, or eastern, district of the State. Eleven miles
was the distance travelled this day. There was some
skirmishing with the cavalry of the enemy during the
latter part of the day, annoying the column some, but
doing no serious damage. The weather was fine and
the men in good spirits.

On the 16th a troop of the First Virginia (Union)
Cavalry skirmished along the road (Springville pike).
At times the firing of carbines was quite lively. The
cavalry had several men wounded. Finally two or
three companies of the First Infantry were thrown
forward in support, but the enemy did not stay for a
close acquaintance. It was ascertained that this was
Mumford’s cavalry, and were reported to have several
men killed, and lost some of their equipments in addi-
tion in this affair. The progress made was ten miles.
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY, 79

This day, Major Duval, in his search for forage for the
animals, which was running short, rode down a lane or
narrow road towards a promising-looking barn, not
observing, or at least not heeding the fact that another
lane ran at right angles to the one he was on. Upon
his return at the junction of the two lanes he was con-
fronted by four or five of the enemy’s cavalry. Major
Duval, who at first was startled, immediately made up
his mind as to his plan of procedure. He was riding
a very powerful horse, full of life; advancing coolly,
and, to all appearances, quite indifferent about the mat-
ter, when within eight or ten paces of the squad two
or three of them aimed their carbines at him and de-
manded his surrender. The major saluted them, lift-
ing his cap, and at the same instant plunged the spurs
into his horse, which sprang forward madly, literally
knocking them out of the road and nearly unseating
two of them, which action, unlooked for, so completely
disconcerted the whole party that he got far enough
away to render their aim very uncertain; though they
fired several shots at him, he escaped without a scratch,
leaving as a trophy in the hands of the enemy to re-
mind them of the adventure a blanket that had been
torn from its fastenings.

The land in the country the command was now tra-
versing (Fauquier County) lies as pretty for cultivation
as ever the sun shone on, gently undulating, with small
streams cutting it up, affording the necessary water for
pasture, ete., but, alas, everywhere shows the blight of
slave-labor, the svil being wholly exhausted, the Canada
80 HISTORY OF THE [1862

thistle flourishing, and, to all appearances, beans planted
would not yield the seed sown. This applies to large
tracts in Stafford, Culpeper, Rappahannock, and Fau-
quier Counties, and probably to some of the adjoining
counties. Evidently the great need of this country is
the location of small farmers, a class of men who have
the industry, the thrift, and the knowledge to restore the
soil,—not a difficult task, having so good an assistant as
Nature. The following day the march was resumed at
7 A.M., passing through Warrenton, a town apparently
of about one thousand inhabitants, to one mile beyond.
Bivouacked at five P.M., having marched twenty miles.
The lesson of the day before satisfied Mumford’s cav-
alry, as they attempted no interference on this day.

In passing through Warrenton the First attracted
a great deal of attention from the ladies; as for men,
there were none to be seen, except, occasionally, a very
old one. The ladies, doubtless, were attracted by the
music, the bright flags, and the fine appearance of the
men marching with cadence step. The First never
looked better, though the clothing of the men was con-
siderably worn, the wear and tear having been great on
the Shenandoah. One young lady remarked, “Oh,
look, grandma; there goes a Virginia regiment!” The
elderly lady, after adjusting her glasses and taking a
good look, replied, “Oh, yes; they are those Western
Virginians,” laying a strong emphasis on the Western,
which doubtless explained it all to the younger lady,
The chief hostlery of the place bore the novel name of
* Warren Green,” and gave evidence, such as a much-
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 81

worn door-step, polished seats made smooth by long
and frequent use, that it had been a popular resort, and
could it speak would undoubtedly be able to tell many
stories, like the Boar’s Head Tavern of Dame Quickly, of
bout and carousal, perhaps with tragic end. However,
no stop was made to inquire concerning this, as it was
evident that the command had business farther along.

The next day being Sunday there was a general wash,
followed with preaching by the chaplain of the First
Virginia and Seventh Ohio, who had a large, and it
may be said, attentive and interested, audience, and
probably very few more in need of such services could
be found. The First and Second Brigades passed this
afternoon on the way to Catlett’s Station, which is on
the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, for which point,
it was rumored, the Third was to take up the march in
the morning. Accordingly, on the next day marched
at seven A.M., arriving at Catlett’s at four p.m. Dur-
yea’s brigade was encamped here, being drilled, and an
admirable place it was for the purpose. The men of the
Third Brigade being rather badly clad were the object
of considerable ridicule from these well-dressed men,
and the majority of them being from the West, were not
devoid of interest to them, as Duryea’s men were from
the East. After several encounters they became more
respectful in Janguage and deportment, as they found
the Western men would not stand the “ chaffing.”

The regiment remained here until the 21st, when
the line of march was taken up at nine A.M., facing
south in the direction of Fredericksburg. Camped at
82 HISTORY OF THE [1862

ten p.m., the men very tired, and annoyed with delays
which they could not account for,—all the marching
nearly being done in the afternoon and night,—and
when turned into a rocky field for rest, the majority
of the men were too tired to go for water to prepare
the meal, hence lay down among the rocks supperless,
but to sleep, nevertheless. They were in Stafford
County at this time. Throughout this section of the
State a very pleasant feature was observed along the
thoroughfares, first noticed after getting east of the Blue
Ridge, which was the number of cherry-trees lining the
sides of the roads. So large is their growth and so dense
their foliage that they afford a delightful shade to the
traveller, and during the season abundance of fruit to
the wayfarer, which is greatly enjoyed by the men.
The next day marched two miles beyond Falmouth,
on the Rappahannock River, immediately opposite
Fredericksburg, and bivouacked early in the evening,
having marched eighteen miles. There were many
new troops here, all apparently from New York and
the New England States. The First was a curiosity
to these men, they not knowing that there were any
Virginia troops in the Union army. Of course their
approbation of the brigade and General Shields took
the form of cheers and offers of service, which warmed
the hearts of Shields’s men and almost made them for-
get their rags, though reminded of them at first by
very unpleasant remarks from some of their indiscreet
comrades, who, it may be observed, were taught a les-
son in good manners by some of these rather ragged
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 88

fellows, and the latter, by an event the next day, were
further forcibly reminded of them. The following
day General McDowell’s division and two brigades
of Shields’s division were reviewed by President Lin-
coln and Secretary Stanton. The Third Brigade,
being so badly clothed, was not included in the
review. This was the only time that the majority of
the men ever saw the President. Care and thought
had already begun their work on his features: lines of
wrinkles furrowed his brow, cheeks were hollow, and
his body appeared to have shrunk from his clothing.
His coat hung from his gaunt form, and appeared to
have been made for a larger man. His appearance
was in striking contrast to the bluff and hearty look-
ing Secretary at his side. His appearance will never
be forgotten by the men. The kindly-beaming smile
which lit up his face for the boys of Shields’s division
has left a lasting impression on those boys.

CHAPTER ALY.

THE movements concluded on at this time were
pregnant with results, and had been the subject of
serious conference, not to say controversy, between
General McClellan and the War Department at
Washington. The final conclusions showed plainly
the truth of Napoleon’s remark, that “an army is
84 HISTORY OF THE [1862

better commanded by one bad general than two good
ones.” General McClellan wanted General McDow-
ell’s command, which included Shields’s division, col-
lected and sent to him on the Peninsula, or marched
by the line of the Fredericksburg and Richmond Rail-
road to form his right wing in his operations before
Richmond. The general represented the matter in the
strongest form, and urged most strenuously this addi-
tion to his forces, declaring that to insure success this
junction was necessary, while the War Department just
as vigorously opposed it as resulting in the uncovering
of Washington and thus inviting invasion by a portion
of Johnston’s or Lee’s army. Viewed in the light of
what followed, General McClellan was right and the
Washington authorities were wrong. Had General
McClellan been reinforced by McDowell’s whole com-
mand,—probably twenty-five thousand men,—thus ex-
tending his right wing, he might have employed his
army in further enveloping Richmond or had a power-
ful reserve to fall back on, and given the enemy so
much to do at home that he would have been unable
to detach any force that General Fremont, who was
then approaching the valley, could not handle, by this
means keeping Jackson away from that avenue to the
Potomac and from threatening the capital, which
movement at this time was being consummated, and
was doubtless intended as a diversion on the part of
the enemy to recall McDowell and prevent the junc-
tion desired by General McClellan, which was precisely
what it did accomplish. This rendered it possible for
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 85

Jackson, with his well-known celerity, to execute that
brilliant movement on McClellan’s right flank on one
of the days of the Seven Days’ Battles, and aiding
materially in forcing the Union army to fall back to
Harrison’s Landing, on the James River, for a new
base of operations. The War Department was more
powerful than the general, hence McDowell’s command
did not form a junction with General McClellan’s, and
the result was as stated. This, however, carries us in
advance of the events intended ‘to be related here, to
which we return.

It may be remarked that Jackson was a follower of,
and apparently set a higher value on Napoleon’s tactics
than any other general officer, and to the following of
which the emperor is indebted for his marvellous suc-
cess, and with his other great qualities stamped him
the genius he was, which was simply to throw an over-
whelming force on the point attacked ; this, combined
with celerity of movement, always made him assume
the aggressive, and even if his force was outnumbered
by his enemy, he almost invariably secured this. We
might take for example Austerlitz and Wagram. In
the first named he drove such a force through the Rus-
sian centre, and repeated it with the Austrians in the
latter. Eylau and Jena are illustrations of his flank
movements: the first with the Russians, and the last
named with the Prussians. These were Jackson’s tactics
and his strength; and operating usually on an inner,
consequently a shorter line, in a country where every

white face was the face of a friend and a bearer of intel-
8
86 HISTORY OF THE [1862

ligence, he could strike blows of telling force, while his
opponent might be, and generally was, totally ignorant
of his whereabouts or the force under his command.

Tt was fully expected that Shields’s command would
cross the river the next day ; the bridges being destroyed
there were pontoons ready for crossing. Remained
here until the 25th, when marching orders were re-
ceived. As was afterwards ascertained, the enemy had
sent a large force under General Jackson towards the
valley, which, after completely using up General Kenly’s
small brigade, near Front Royal, had crossed the Shen-
andoah River and was sweeping down the valley, carry-
ing everything before him; meeting General Banks at
Winchester, routing and driving him out of the valley
and across the Potomac River with the remnant of his
command.

All this had been going on while McDowell’s com-
mand was en route to and lying at Fredericksburg.
This apparently changed the intention of the command-
ing general or the War Department, or, at least, brought
the one or the other to a determination so far as Shields’s
division was concerned, for after the receipt of shelter-
tents (a description of which has already been given
in these pages), shoes, and leggings, and a re-brigading
of the regiments, making four brigades of the three,—a
change which placed the First Virginia, Seventh Indi-
ana, Kighty-fourth and One Hundred and Tenth Penn-
sylvania Regiments into one brigade, the Fourth, and
Colonel Carroll, a regular army officer, formerly colo-
nel of the Eighth Ohio, placed in command, or acting
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 87

brigadier-general. What other changes were made,
doubtless a number, is not known. Marching orders
were received and the regiment marched at ten A.M.
towards Catlett’s Station. As the command was leay-
ing, a portion of McDowell’s was met on the road to
cross the Rappahannock River. Next day the brigade
was on the march at six A.m., and rested at nine P.M.
at Catlett’s, having marched twenty-four miles. This
forced marching led some of the thinking ones to con-
clude that there was an object in it which would be
developed ere long. There was great excitement here,
the scouts of Duryea having reported the body of men
approaching to be Longstreet’s. In consequence of this
the former fell back in great haste, his men leaving a
lot of commissary stores, besides food already prepared.
The men soon discovered this, and without regard to
whose it was, saved the food and stores by eating them,
thus securing a substantial meal without the trouble of
preparing it. The command remained here the next
day, removing toa suitable piece of ground for camping
purposes, and put up the shelter-tents, expecting to make
a stay, but the day following there was inspection of
arms and equipments by Colonel Carroll, when orders
were received to strike the shelters, and the brigade
marched at three P.M. to two miles in advance of Hay-
market and bivouacked, having marched fourteen miles.
The route for some reason was through unfrequented
roads, causing considerable alarm among the inhabitants.
On the 29th left camp at six A.M. and rested at Rector-
town at two P.M.; marched again at five P.M., and con-
88 HISTORY OF THE [1862

tinued all night, covering twenty miles, or thirty-four
miles from the last camping-ground ; stopped at five
A.M., made breakfast, and marched again at eleven A.M.
through Manassas Gap to Front Royal, seventeen miles;
bivouacked at six Pp... The men had no knowledge as
to the whereabouts of the other three brigades, but felt
satisfied they were considerably in the rear.

Next day, 31st of May, the regiment advanced,
skirmishing with the enemy, for four miles along the
road leading in the direction of Winchester, the shell
from his guns at times falling very close. Lieutenant
Crawford, leading a party of skirmishers, was killed
by a shell passing through him. The enemy finally
retreated in the direction of Winchester, when the regi-
ment returned to camp. During the night there was
a heavy rain, which made the surroundings very dis-
agreeable. June 1, Sunday, marched about ten miles
towards Luray; raining hard and roads very muddy ;
camped, and after erecting the shelters they were blown
away. This was a hard march, followed by a very
bad night; the men very tired, without sleep, and
thoroughly drenched with rain. The next morning
the regiment was on the road at eight o’clock; the rain
continued, apparently harder than at any time before,
the road was a stream; men and animals almost worn
out ; some of the horses fell down in their traces, dying
in the road, and before night many of the men were
lying by the roadside completely done up. Seventeen
miles were travelled this day, stopping for rest about six
P.M. with about three hundred men in line, The rain
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 89

continuing all night, everybody was exposed to it,
standing, sitting, or lying down. Some of the men
slept with little more than eyes, nose, and mouth
out of water. The next morning the sick-call was
well responded to, thus further depleting the battalion.
The attempt to dry clothes and clean arms was only
partially successful. Marched at two a.m. the next
day to a point twelve miles farther up the Shenandoah,
where it was learned that Columbia bridge was de-
stroyed. Camped at five P.M. five miles north of the
bridge, the rain, to the surprise of all, still continuing ;
the river was out of its banks and covered all the
roads in the vicinity. Occasionally small squads of
the enemy could be seen on the opposite side of the
river. This proved-to be another miserable night.

An incident that is in the writer’s recollection oc-
curred at this time, and may be worth notice. Going
into a house in the little village or hamlet called
Kitetown, not far from Honeyville, there were found
two sick soldiers, the sole occupants. Upon inquiry
they were found to be Alabamians, and the poor fel-
lows were needing attention very badly. The women
of the place had no means of assisting them or of alle-
viating their condition in any way, or, indeed, any idea
of how to help them, and it is possible that they were
ignorant of any duty they owed these poor sufferers.
On returning afterwards it was found that one of them
had died and the other past any help that could be
offered,—body emaciated and mind gone. It probably

did not occur to any one at the time that Shields’s
8*
90 HISTORY OF THE [1862

command had never met an Alabama regiment, and
that these men must certainly have belonged to rein-
forcements or a new command entirely. The incident,
it is believed, was mentioned to one or more officers,
but no importance appeared to be attached to it. To
some officers, however, the information would have been
valuable, as disclosing the presence of new troops, of
which the people in the vicinity could give information
as to numbers, ete.

The men at this time were so short of rations that
they were compelled to forage the country for subsist-
ence for men and animals, having nothing to eat but
flour, and not much of this. Disagreeable as this was,
necessity knows no law, and they were compelled to set
hard heart against women’s tears when the keys of the
storeroom and smoke-houses were demanded. The men
and horses must have subsistence. They succeeded in
getting a limited supply of flour and poor mutton,—the
former a poor substitute for bread, as there was no means
of baking; it, however, sufficed to drive off starvation.
The men stood this rough ordeal very well. Of course
they, like the children of Israel in the wilderness,
longed for the flesh-pots of Egypt, in this instance
flitch, beans, and coffee; but these could not be trans-
ported over the apology for roads that had been trav-
elled, and the train doubtless was many miles in the
rear. It was only by joining two or three teams, and
assisted at times by the men, that the artillery could
accompany the infantry through these almost impassa-
ble mud-holes. The misery of the situation was added
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 91

no little to by being compelled to take the necessaries
of life from these comparatively poor people, as it was
plain to be seen that some of them had little or no
means to replace the loss. On the 6th two or three
wagons succeeded in reaching the regiment with a few
barrels of bread and sugar. This relief -was timely.
These wagons were then used for taking the knapsacks
of the men to the rear, which, while depriving them of
little comforts, was a great relief on the march. Won-
derful energy and perseverance were necessary on the
part of the quartermaster, assisted by Wagon-Master
Holliday, to get these wagons up, which was appreciated
by the men. The battalion mustered at this time less
than two hundred muskets, and the whole brigade was
in number about equal to a regiment. On the 7th the
march was continued up the river sixteen miles, resting
at ten P.M. at Conrad’s Store. At this time the services
of some refugees, who had been hiding in the mountains
in the vicinity, were secured to guide the command to
Port Republic bridge. On Sunday, 8th, the brigade
marched at one A.M., having stopped for about three
hours for rest, without sleep and without breakfast, un-
washed, unkempt, and tired. Through swamps and for-
ests the trail led. As may be supposed, these men were
in poor condition to acquit themselves well in an emer-
gency calling for all the good qualities in a soldier,
A man requires a full stomach to march and fight on.
How the artillery kept up with the little column is
hard to say. It was there on hand, however, but in
poor condition. The brigade came to a halt near Port
92 HISTORY OF THE [1862

Republic bridge, which is in the southern part of
Rockingham County, and near the borders of Augusta
and’ Albemarle.

CHAPTER XY.

CARROLL’s brigade (Fourth), consisting of about
eight hundred men, in number not a full regiment,
had a task before it demanding the services of a strong
division, confronted as it was by Jackson’s whole com-
mand, infantry, cavalry, and artillery, amounting to
fifteen thousand men at least. The orders of the com-
mander of the Union forces, it was generally under-
stood, were to burn the bridge; but unfortunately these
orders were disregarded, that officer supposing that he
could successfully oppose any attempt to cross it, or, in
case he could not, to destroy it only as a last resort.
Certainly ignorant of the number, prepared to force
the passage. The regiment entered this engagement
with about one hundred and fifty men, arriving near
the bridge before mentioned about six A.M., having
marched from one A.M., after a rest, as stated, of two
or three hours, which was after a hard day’s march the
previous day, the men being urged forward almost
beyond the powers of endurance of the strongest.
The higher ground was on the enemy’s side. Wheat-
and corn-fields were the features of the position taken
by the brigade, bisected by the road leading to the
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 93

bridge, the latter having been taken possession of for
the moment; generally level ground or gently sloping
to the river-bank. After a reconnoissance by the
commanding officer, he sent forward a small troop of
cavalry, which, securing a lot of straw, placed it against
the timbers of the bridge and fired it. The bridge,
being the old-style wooden structure, would soon have
been destroyed, when, before the fire had caught,
orders were given to stay the burning and hold it at
all hazards,—fatal mistake, as was soon discovered
when too late to remedy. This last order, doubtless,
was based on the fact that the enemy showed no force
that was to be feared; neither had he as yet betrayed
any disposition to wrest the bridge from its possessors ;
all the aggressive demonstrations yet made by him hay-
ing been the firing of a single gun at long range, which
had done no harm, and served to attract rather than to
repel, which doubtless was the intention. The brigade
being in position to defend the bridge, supporting the
artillery, it was opened upon by a heavy battery on the
opposite side of the river, heretofore screened by some
wagons and tents so disposed that attention had not
been attracted to them up to this time. These guns
were well served, unusually so, the shells falling fast
among the men. After standing this fire for a short
time the brigade was compelled to fall back out of
range, and finally to take a position two or three miles
in the rear, leaving the bridge in the hands of the
enemy, he making good use of it by crossing his whole
force.
94 HISTORY OF THE [1862-

The brigade remained here until the next day,
bivouacking on the ground, and was joined by the
Third Brigade, which had been following the Fourth, a
day’s march in the rear, and Colonel Tyler, being the
ranking officer, assumed command of the force, which
consisted of about two thousand seven hundred men, or
possibly less. On the morning following the enemy in
strong force, infantry and artillery, came up and opened
fire. A desperate fight ensued, and notwithstanding
the enemy’s superiority in numbers, throwing his force
on the two little brigades in lines of three and four
deep, the fight was stubbornly maintained. A whole
division apparently attacked at once. The First being
on the left flank, thrown up into a piece of woods to
protect that flank, the Fifth Ohio joining on the right,
the latter regiment fought desperately until out of am-
munition, when the men asked for more, and there being
no reserve and no fresh regiment to supply the place,
the colonel ordereda bayonet charge, which was promptly
responded to by these noble fellows, and the centre of
the enemy’s division was broken by it. The First then
attacked the right wing, driving it back for nearly half
a mile across and beyond a ravine, when the enemy
was heavily reinforced by cavalry and artillery. The
First in retiring before this force was compelled to re-
cross the ravine mentioned, but on attempting to do so
it was discovered that a considerable force of the enemy,
anticipating this movement, had passed through it and
was in rear of the regiment, cutting it off from the main
body. The situation was an ugly, indeed, a desperate
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 95

one, requiring the promptest action or a surrender was
inevitable. The order to charge was given, and the
enemy’s line was broken, but the movement was a
costly one, the regiment suffering a heavy loss in making
it. When reformed again in the rear protected by a
piece of woods, it was found that the remainder of the
command had fallen back, having maintained the un-
equal contest for nearly two hours. The First was now
the rear-guard, which, as may be supposed, was a heavy
duty to the small band remaining. The enemy fol-
lowed up with cavalry and artillery for about five miles,
using the latter, then advancing his cavalry in his at-
tempt to rout the rear-guard, but a volley or two result-
ing in the emptying of a few saddles was sufficient to
put them to the right about, and the pursuit was given
up, there being neither honor nor profit in it.

The remnant of the two brigades then fell back to
Miller’s bridge, being joined there by the other two
brigades, which evidently had been two or three days’
march in the rear. Colone] Thoburn was temporarily
in command of the Fourth Brigade, Lieutenant-Colonel
Hubbard being in command of the regiment; the latter
was wounded, as also Major Duval. The loss of the
two brigadés was very heavy in this action, in killed,
wounded, and missing fully one-half of the command.
The First lost at least one-half of those engaged.
This was as hard and stubborn a contest as the regi-
ment was ever engaged in, and reflects the highest
credit on the whole command. ‘The loss to the enemy
in killed and wounded was much greater. One of
96 HISTORY OF THE [1862

the First in attempting to save a wounded comrade
being captured and afterwards released, had an oppor-
tunity of viewing the field, reported that his loss was
four, probably five, times greater than that of Tyler’s
command. Jackson on this occasion appeared to be
lavish in his expenditure of life, driving his battalions
up in heavy lines, the Union artillery opening great
gaps in them, while the fire of the infantry added to
the loss. During this hot conflict the gunners fired
grape, chains, and even the rat-tail files supplied to
each battery for spiking guns. Time appeared to be
more precious to the enemy than life, hence he sacri-
ficed the latter to gain the first. He was after bigger
game than the capture of a few hundred men who
fought him like these men had, as was developed some
days afterwards. Shields’s command lost five or six
guns, but no other material; the wagons and horses,
thanks to the foresight of the commander and quarter-
master, were out of the way. The guns that were
captured were mired, the horses were nearly all killed,
thus rendering it impossible to drag the guns off the
field ; several of them were cut down where they stood.
Thus ended the battle of Port Republic.

An artillery-man giving his experience just after the
fight, said that a heavy line of infantry came charging
down on him as he was preparing to fire his last shot,
having loaded his piece with a heavy charge. One
big fellow immediately in front of the gun made him-
self quite conspicuous by calling to him, “Surrender,
you Yankee !” The gunner said, “I

 

 
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 97

just stepped back and pulled the string, and I’ve never
seen that fellow since.”

On the 10th, after a night’s rest, a few stragglers
having joined during the night, the brigade left the
bivouac early in the morning. Nothing at this time
in the way of rations but hard bread, a little sugar,
and an abundance of water. This had been the variety
for several days, which, as will be admitted, was light
fare to support men at such work as has been narrated.
Again the direction is down the Shenandoah, the men
feeling the loss of comrades very much, and the com-
manding officer doubtless reproaching himself for not
burning the bridge according to first orders when he
had the opportunity, and by preventing the crossing of
the enemy have saved his own command from disaster.
The calamity, it might almost be called, following this,
indeed, directly traceable to it, was, that Jackson was
enabled to take the most direct road to Gordonsville,
then take the cars for Richmond, getting on the right
flank and rear of General McClellan’s army; materi-
ally assisting in compelling the latter to fall back,
while at that same time the Union officers supposed he
was in or near the valley. The day before the fight
here described Jackson had defeated General Fremont,
who had, it was stated, at least ten thousand men. The
guns could be plainly heard, and for anything that was
known to the officers of Shields’s command to the con-
trary, Fremont’s forces were able to hold their own;
but, as was ascertained shortly afterwards, General Fre-

mont suffered a defeat, or at least a repulse. It is
9
98 HISTORY OF THE [1862

somewhat astonishing to the uninitiated to find that
McDowell in one place, Shields in another, fifty or
sixty miles distant, and Fremont at another point,
Cross Keys, twenty or thirty miles distant from the
latter in another direction, or the three commands oc-
cupying the three points of a right-angle triangle,
should each have Jackson on his front at the same
time. It may be concluded from this that “ Stone-
wall” spread over a great deal of territory. It is
probable, however, that he detached two or three
commands, chiefly cavalry, and with these made such
demonstrations as to deceive all and to convince each
one that he (Jackson) was in his front with a heavy
force, by this means preventing a junction of the
Union forces, which was all he had to fear; indeed, it
is probable that his manceuvres at the time caused
Shields’s command to be divided, allowing the “ flying
column” (Fourth Brigade) to get two days in advance
of the main body. The division secured, he took the
different commands and beat them in detail. This
piece of generalship on the part of General Jackson is
unsurpassed by any of his subsequent movements ;
and while he depended much on himself and his men,
he left the accomplishment of the rest to the blunder-
ing of his opponents, calculating to a nicety just what
they would do and what they would refrain from do-
ing. In which, it may be added, he was not disap-
pointed.

It was understood afterwards that General Shields
was removed from the command of the division on
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 99

account of this failure, as was reported, to obey orders.
Atall events here ended the record of Shields’s division,
as the regiments composing it never constituted a sepa-
rate command again. On this day, in passing Colum-
bia bridge, the regiment was refreshed with coffee, and
stopped for rest near the Luray road, having marched
sixteen miles through the usual rain and mud. Jupiter
Pluvius must reign in this part of the State. This
evening the First and Second Brigades joined the rem-
nants of the Third and Fourth. The four brigades
have not been together for several weeks. Had the
four brigades been together at Port Republic, the fight
would have been a hard one indeed, but the result,
judging from Jackson’s force, would have been a Union
repulse, although some were of the opinion that Jackson
would have been beaten. The appearance of these men
was hailed with joy by Tyler’scommand. ‘The Seventh
Virginia was the first regiment that was seen, and looked
like a brigade, having full ranks. It was certainly a fine-
looking regiment and, as was afterwards demonstrated,
able to give a good account of itself. Next day the
command passed throagh Luray, and camped about two
miles beyond. The wounded were being brought into
the town, filling every available space. Poor fellows,
how they stood transportation over such roads as had
been passed can never be known. Stragglers joined in
considerable numbers at this time, hkewise received
some welcome additions to the slim rations heretofore
distributed, and the men were beginning to feel a little
more like themselves. Near this camping-ground is a
100 HISTORY OF THE [1862

rather remarkable spring; in extent it covers about half
an acre, and is five or six feet deep in the deepest part.
The water is perfectly clear, temperature of the ordi-
nary spring water, and, probably owing to its location,
without any tinge of color. Supplied at bottom, the
water percolating through the sand, is constantly agi-
tated, indicating the large quantity flowing. At the end
nearest the road leading to Front Royal is its exit, and
crossing this road in a strong stream, it furnishes the
power for driving the machinery of quite a large flour-
mill situated about one hundred yards distant.

On Sunday, 15th, the command resumed the line of
march in the direction of Front Royal, and without in-
cident worthy of place here rested at five P.w. This was
a very warm day, and as many of the men had received
and carried their knapsacks, this, with the haversack,
canteen, and camp equipage, besides arms and accoutre-
ments, made quite a load for each man on a hot day.

On the 16th passed through Front Royal again, and
found a number-of regiments of Eastern troops here,
bivouacked near the Manassas Gap Railroad. The
cars were found to be loaded with the Thirteenth
Massachusetts Infantry. These men stated that they
heard the guns at Port Republic plainly on the 9th,
nearly sixty miles distant. Passing through the town,
most of the men’s clothing being completely worn out,
—some were without trousers, others without shoes or
some other article of attire generally looked upon as
necessary ,—none were presentable in ladies’ society, and,
observing one or more ladies on the porch of the hotel,
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 101

the worst or least clothed ranged themselves on the
outside of the column. One of these ladies, probably
the most interested of the spectators, appeared to be on
very friendly footing with the officers. This was Miss
Belle Boyd, of Martinsburg, who had already gained
some notoriety as a spy. It was rather a surprise to
the men that this lady should be allowed such freedom
and friendly intercourse with the commander or his
staff, as a review of the men passing would warrant
the belief that such existed. They may have had a
purpose in this, or she may have deceived them.
Most likely the latter was the case. It is probable,
however, if the command had been on the advance
this scrutiny on the part of a generally-recognized
enemy would hardly have been permitted.

On the 17th the regiment received two months’ pay
and enjoyed the rest and the increased ration, the latter
being better than had been issued for about a month.
The regiment remained at this camp until the 21st,
regulation hats having in the mean time been distrib-
uted to the men. Having a march to make, and
many of the men of the brigade being unable to walk,
they were put on the cars and sent eastward. At this
time regiments new to the service—men hearty and
strong, not having undergone any hardships or even
made a forced march—were being taken on the cars in
the direction of Manassas Junction, when, to all ap-
pearances, to have marched them the distance would
have been beneficial to the men and have allowed the

use of a train for all the men of the Third and Fourth
gx
102 HISTORY OF THE [1862

Brigades; but other arrangements had been made, and
all that could do so were compelled to march. The
battalion marched at noon for Manassas Gap, destina-
tion, it being understood, was the Junction.

In passing through the Gap, the wagons being in
rear of the regiment, Wagon-Master Holliday, on
horseback in rear of the train, was very much annoyed
by the driver of a team in the train behind him, be-
longing to Robingon’s Ohio Battery. This man repeat-
edly drove the tongue or pole of his wagon into the
flanks of the wagon-master’s horse. Holliday finally
warned him that if he repeated it he would knock him
out of the wagon. The warning did not serve to pre-
vent it, for shortly afterwards he repeated it. Holli-
day thereupon jumped off his horse, and, picking up a
good-sized stone, hurled it at the driver, just missing
his head. The man sitting with the driver, Bollman
by name, said at the time to be from Portsmouth, Ohio,
pulled out an old-style holster pistol, and, taking de-
liberate aim, fired at Holliday, striking him fair on the
temple, inflicting a mortal wound. Holliday was taken
to Markham Station, placed in a ear, and, in charge of
a brother-in-law, taken to his home in Wheeling, where
he died a few days afterwards. This was a great loss
to the regiment, as Mr. Holliday was possessed of great
energy and excellent judgment; the men never suffered
for subsistence or supplies of any kind if it depended
upon him. There were but two or three witnesses to
the affair, the column just ahead of the wagons having
been halted to afford the men an opportunity to gather
1862| FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 103

wild strawberries, which grew in great abundance there-
abouts. The man (Bollman) escaped to the woods, and
though Company A scoured the country he got away.
It was well for him that he was not caught.

Continued the march this day, also on the 22d and
23d, without incident deserving of mention. And on
the 24th arrived at Bristoe Station, which is in Prince
William County, having passed through on this march
Rockingham, Page, Rappahannock, and Fauquier Coun-
ties. Pluvius still in the ascendant, as it rained on the
23d and 24th about as hard as at any time previously.
On arrival the men were regaled with soft bread and a
drink of whiskey,—ereat strangers to their stomachs,
—and which appeared to have a decidedly enlivening
effect on them, the camp being merry for a time.

On the 25th the bivouac was moved about two miles,
and being but a few miles from the Bull Run battle-
field, some of the officers secured horses and visited
that historic ground, probably little thinking that in
about two months other feelings than that of curiosity
would be connected with the ground traversed that
day ; however, we suppose that it is better for all that
human vision does not extend into the future. On
the 27th orders were received for a move, and six com-
panies took the cars, destination being Cloud’s Mills,
about three or four miles southeast of Alexandria; but
through some mistake were taken to the town named,
the consequence being these men got into no end of
trouble, many of them finally bringing up in the
guard-house. The following day the four remaining
104 HISTORY OF THE [1862

companies were taken by the cars to Cloud’s Mills for
the purpose of rest and allowing the men to recuperate,
recover the stragglers, and give the sick and worn-out
time to regain their strength, there being hardly two
hundred men at all fit for service. A few of the men
never recovered. The six companies sent to Alex-
andria joined the others at the Mills. The situation
being well selected for the purpose, the men recovered
their strength rapidly.

CHAPTER XVI.

Turis camp for location, excepting in one particular,
was all that could be desired. Clean, rolling, grassy
meadow, with sufficient shade for the comfort and health
of the men, good drill-grounds not far off, and woods
in the neighborhood to supply fuel for cooking pur-
poses, but was too close to Washington City for the
good of some of the officers prone to gayety and sport.

On the 30th of June the regiment was mustered for
inspection and received two months’ pay. Remained
at this camp until July 8. The blackberries were in
abundance and of the finest quality. Compared with
these the Ohio Valley berries are not worthy of the name,
and it was astonishing the quantity of this wholesome
fruit the men consumed. On the 4th there was a
grand salute in honor of the day from the forts on
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 105

Arlington Heights and Munson’s Hill,—the big guns
making a tremendous noise. On the day named re-
moved camp about half a mile, close to fine water and
with pleasant surroundings. The men continued to
improve in health, drill, and discipline. On the 16th
they received two months’ pay, which, it may be noted,
was twenty-six dollars for the private soldier,—thirteen
dollars per month. In connection with pay it should
be recorded that Colonels Jacob Hornbrook and William
Alexander, aides to the governor, were usually on hand
on the pay-day of the several Virginia regiments to
receive the men’s money, conveying it to their fami-
lies or friends, accounting for every dollar they were
intrusted with. Colonel Hornbrook was always the
custodian of the funds of the First, and the writer feels
that the men will be pleased at this acknowledgment
of their feeling of indebtedness to him, entertaining as
they do the warmest feeling and highest respect for his
valuable services, and the deepest feelings of gratitude
for his many kind and disinterested acts in their behalf.
On Sunday, 20th, was inspection and review by Colonel
Carroll. What became of the other brigades of Shields’s
division was not known. The First and Second were
never seen again as brigades, although some of the regi-
ments composing them were seen afterwards. It is prob-
able they were absorbed in other commands, and after-
wards became a part of the Army of the Potomac.

A pleasing incident may be noted here. On the 21st
there was a general review of the several commands
encamped near Alexandria, the Fourth Brigade being
106 HISTORY OF THE [1862

one of them. The review-ground was near Fairfax
Seminary,—the reviewing officers being Generals Stur-
gis and Cook. Ten thousand men, embracing the three
arms of the service, passed in review, and the grounds
being admirably adapted to military evolutions, the
troops looked well and drilled very satisfactorily,
pleasing the assembled crowd very much. Among the
spectators were some ladies from Wheeling, the sight of
whom gladdened the men recognizing them.

On the 24th marching orders were received, the
weather at this time being very warm. On the 25th
the men boarded the cars, which, like the ones used in
transporting them hither, were ordinary box freight-
and cattle-cars, some of which it was evident had very
recently been used in their legitimate business ; but
even this was better than always marching. The
wagons were started on the road to catch up when
they could, all the baggage and camp equipage ac-
companying the men; the wagons were lightly loaded
with subsistence stores and forage. The men and
material were unloaded near Warrenton at five P.M.,
and at eight A.M. the next day were on the march
again, passing through the town named and bivouack-
ing near the Sulphur Springs. The brigade remained
here until August 1, when, having turned over all
camp equipage, marched at noon to a point about four
miles beyond the Springs. It was understood that the
regiment, or more properly the brigade, was now in the
command of General McDowell, which comprised part
of General Pope’s army ; the last-named general hav-
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 107

ing been brought from the West, where he had been
fortunate in securing one or more important successes
to the Union cause, and where, to judge from what
followed his assuming chief command in Virginia, he
ought to have remained.

On the 4th there was another inspection of the
brigade, this time by General McDowell, a fine-look-
ing officer and an excellent man, though unfortunate
as a commander.

This is a fine country for campaigning, provided an
army carries its own supplies; in the dry months,
however, the water becomes scarce, many of the springs
and branches becoming dried up. The men occasion-
ally obtained apples at this time, which besides being
a change for them in the way of food, being added as a
dessert, is doubtless an excellent anti-scorbutic,—very
valuable to men confined almost to salted meats. The
usual mode of preparing them for household use be-
ing too much trouble was departed from, and the
probability is the plan adopted will not commend
itself to the fastidious. ‘The chief feature of the entire
preparation being like the Frenchman’s rabbit, “ first
catch your rabbit,” which in this instance means first
find the orchard, then secure the apples, which, as
may be supposed, is hard to do after a brigade has
stopped for even fifteen minutes near it. After obtain-
ing them they dumped them into the camp-kettle,
little or no attention being paid to their condition ;
bearing in mind that this same camp-kettle has been
used for boiling beans, pork, beef, or coffee, and prob-
108 HISTORY OF THE [1862

ably on the march has been filled with soap, or a pair
of boots, or something equally savory, and never was
thoroughly cleaned since it came from the hands of
the maker. After boiling or stewing to suit the ideas
of the manipulator, it is taken off the fire and all
present invited to “dip in.” The mess, complimented
with the name of “sass,” had somewhat the appear-
ance of soft soap mixed with black, scaly particles, the
latter ingredient having scaled off the kettle, and con-
tained enough grease, left from the numerous pork
compounds, to make it smooth to the palate. This
mixture was highly relished by these primitive cooks,
and a dainty man was he who couldn’t enjoy it.

This day the brigade was attached to General Rick-
etts’s division, which was composed chiefly of Eastern
troops. On the 6th, at the end of the day’s march,
bivouacked within two miles of Culpeper Court-
House, a pleasant little town of probably eight hun-
dred inhabitants. General Ricketts’s wife, a very at-
tractive lady in person and manner, accompanied the
command on horseback a greater part of the day.
The Fourth Brigade appeared to interest her more
than any other part of the column, and the First came
in for its full share of this interest. She shared with
some of the men of the regiment some milk she had
succeeded in obtaining somewhere. Of course, the
men had seen no milk for many months. This lady,
by her kind manner and graceful attentions, in such
striking contrast to everything connected with the
business of war, was highly regarded by the men.
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 109

On the 8th there was evidence that the enemy was
near. The men fell into line and marched at one P.M.
towards the town, expecting an attack, the pickets
being driven in, and advanced to two miles south of
the town. On the 9th there was heavy cannonading
in the advance all day, several batteries of the Union
forces being hotly engaged, supported by a portion of
the infantry. Ricketts’s command was not called on
until late in the afternoon, when, at about six p.m., his
division was ordered forward, arriving on the field at
about ten P.M., and when in position a brigade broke
under the artillery fire,—it was said to be Duryea’s,—
causing fearful disorder, which extended to the ammu-
nition-wagons accompanying the division, and in turn
to the quartermaster’s teams, the whole rushing on the
way to the town panic-stricken, blocking up the road
and rendering the drivers almost frantic in their efforts
to get away. Finally, by throwing a body of men
across the road, the panic was stayed and order re-
stored before much damage was done. The brigade,
in taking position on the field, was led by the First,
the drum corps in the advance playing their most stir-
ring air and the men marching to the music most gal-
lantly, while the enemy was in strong force certainly
not more than two hundred yards distant. Why he
did not fire at this time will probably ever remain a
mystery. Major Duval, in placing the pickets that
night, was accosted by an officer, who ordered him to
place the men in such positions that they were screened

and protected from the Union forces and not from
10
110 HISTORY OF THE [1862

the enemy ; the officer then passed on. Major Duval
grasped the situation at once: the officer referred to
was an enemy, and supposed Major Duval was of his
command. The pickets, as may be supposed, were not
placed according to his directions.

The Fourth Brigade was supporting Hall’s battery,
which occupied a little higher ground a few yards to
the rear. ‘Two of the regiments of the brigade under
the heavy artillery fire became demoralized and broken
up badly. All the men thought that the First was
left alone in the position, but before long a line of
dark forms approached, and the cheering voices of
comrades announced, “First Virginia, the Seventh
Indiana is always with you,” attesting that they were
comrades indeed worthy of the occasion. During this
time the enemy’s artillery, just on top of the hill,—
rather a gentle rise about two hundred yards distant,
or possibly not so far,—was exceedingly active. For-
tunately, their guns were not sufficiently depressed, as
their shot and shells went over the heads of the men,
who were hugging the ground very closely. Presently
Hall’s battery opened its fire, and if ever guns were
well served these were on this occasion, as it did not
take them long to silence the enemy’s battery that had
been so annoying. By midnight all was silent save
suspicious noises like the movement of wheels in front.
The next morning the Union artillery opened again,
but there was no response from the enemy. The men
stood to their arms the next day and advanced in the
afternoon, but the enemy had retreated. During the
1862] ¥FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 111

day Jackson, by flag of truce, asked permission to
bury his dead, which was given him, there being
plenty of this kind of work to be done.

The enemy’s battery that had been in front of the
Fourth Brigade appeared to have suffered severely ;
wheels of gun-carriages and caissons, knapsacks, caps,
and dead horses were lying on the ground that had
been occupied by this battery. The dead were lying in
the road, fields, and woods, and a cornfield in which
rose a singular sugar-loaf-shaped knob was well spotted
with the bodies of men and animals. The enemy had
carried off most of his wounded. As the day advanced
and the sun became hot, the sense of smell as well as
sight was shocked. The enemy made no attempt to
bury his dead; his burying-parties would simply drag
a lot together, usually heads all one way, and partially
cover them with the light soil, indifferent, it appeared,
whether they were decently covered or not. Many of
the dead had turned black in the face, and their hair
had dropped off. Was this owing to what they ate, or
was it because of the absence of salt in their rations?
This we cannot solve, but must leave it to the scientific
for solution. An iron breastplate was found on the
field which had been perforated by a piece of shell.
Such a protection as this might have proved valuable
against a ball from the old flint-lock musket or an
ordinary sabre blow, but was wholly useless as a de-
fence against a conical musket-ball or piece of shell,
as doubtless the wearer had discovered. This was
called the battle of Cedar, or Slaughter, Mountain. It
112 HISTORY OF THE [1862

is not known what the loss of the regiment was here ;
very slight, however, and was in prisoners only,—
taken on the picket line.

In explanation of this it'"may be stated that the
engagement followed the falling back of General
McClellan’s army, already mentioned. General Lee
being relieved of the presence of the Union army about
Richmond by the repulse of McClellan, had turned his
attention to the army that was being concentrated by
General Pope in his rear, which army was advancing
in detachments under Generals Banks, Ricketts, and
Sigel with the design of concentrating at or near
Culpeper Court-House, within easy march of the fords
of the Rapidan, closing that entrance of the enemy’s
to the Warrenton and Manassas country. General
Jackson, with the divisions of Ewell, Winder, and
A. P. Hill, crossed the Rapidan at Burnett’s Ford,
threatening the Union forces on the left: Sigel on the
right, Banks in the centre, and on the left Ricketts’s
division, with Crawford’s brigade of Banks’s division.
The last-mentioned brigade on the evening of the 8th
was thrown forward in support of the cavalry. Banks
with his command was at Culpeper, and Sigel biv-
ouacked at Hazel River bridge. On the 9th the two
forces advanced towards each other. Sigel very slowly
made his way towards Culpeper, while Banks pushed
forward towards Cedar Mountain, followed by Ricketts.
Banks joined Crawford on the heights taken by the
latter near Cedar, or Slaughter, Mountain in anticipa-
tion of an attack. Three roads approaching from the
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 113

south converge and join not far from the position taken
by Banks’s command. Jackson attacked with Ewell’s
division, and after an obstinate fight the latter was
driven back in disorder. Winder’s division coming
up restored the fight, but Ewell’s men could not be
forced to advance, and the Union forces breaking the
centre of Winder, got possession of several of his guns.
The enemy upon this fell back in disorder, and was
only saved from a rout by the timely arrival of Hill’s
division, when the fighting was renewed. The enemy’s
force greatly outnumbering the Union force engaged,
Banks was compelled to fall back a short distance, tak-
ing a new position, which was held. The delay in
pushing Ricketts forward saved Jackson from disas-
ter, with a river in his rear to add to the danger of
his situation. The enemy, as stated, slipped away in
the night after sustaining this costly check. The
enemy had a force of fifteen or sixteen thousand en-
gaged, Banks had less than eight thousand. Jackson
recrossed the Rapidan, leaving the ground in posses-
sion of his enemy. The Union forces, therefore, had
just grounds for claiming the victory. The enemy’s
loss at this battle was heavier than that of the Union
forces. The movements covered considerable ground,
the artillery playing an important part in the engage-
ment. General Winder, commanding a division of the
enemy, was killed, his loss being greatly regretted by
the enemy. This initial fight of General Pope’s gave
promise that something important would follow his

assuming the command in Virginia,
10*
114 HISTORY OF THE [1862

Operations throughout the country may be summar-
ized as follows: Admiral Farragut had steamed up
the Mississippi River with a squadron of war ships ;
Natchez had surrendered to him in May. The Union
forces occupied Corinth, Mississippi, after the most
careful advance of the war, under the orders of Gen-
eral Halleck, at Washington. These events, in addi-
tion to those in Virginia, here recorded, comprised the
important operations in May, excepting the battle of
Fair Oaks on the 31st, in which the Union forces met
a reverse. About this time General Joseph Johnston,
commanding the enemy’s forces in Virginia, was
wounded, and General Robert E. Lee was placed in
command of the Army of Northern Virginia, which
command he retained until the close of the war. On
the 1st of June the battle of Fair Oaks was renewed,
the enemy being worsted, and sustaining a heavy loss.
This temporary success, however, was not obtained with-
out great loss to the Union forces. Memphis, Ten-
nessee, was taken possession of with some gunboats by
the Union forces, the navy assisting materially. Again
there were active operations before Richmond, which
continued at times during the month, the Union army
being pushed back to Harrison’s Landing, on the James
River, as the result of these operations. July 1 was
the battle of Malvern Hill, ending the six days’ fight
between General McClellan and General Lee, the latter
suffering a bloody repulse. This day the President is-
sued a call for six hundred thousand volunteers. Dur-
ing the month General Curtis, commanding the Union
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 115

trans-Mississippi army, defeated General Pike at Bayou
Cache, Arkansas. General Halleck was appointed
commander-in-chief of the United States armies. The
Southern forces captured Murfreesborough, Tennessee,
with a large amount of stores and many prisoners. Gen-
eral John Morgan with a troop of cavalry crossed the
Ohio River and invaded Indiana, doing a small amount
of damage only. The rebellion prospered during this
month, the advantages gained being mostly with the
enemy. Much gloom in consequence throughout the
North, which unconsciously was preparing the people for
a measure which, if the Union arms had been successful,
they would have felt disposed to resist the enforcement
of. In August a draft was ordered for three hundred
thousand men to serve for nine months.

CHAPTER XVII.

THE regiment remained at this bivouac until the
15th, when orders were received for an advance towards
the Rapidan River, which is the south branch of the
Rappahannock, arriving at four p.M., and bivouacked
not far from the bank of the river,—the enemy being
in force on the opposite side, the position of one of
his batteries being visible. On the 17th General Car-
roll, the brigade commander, in company with several
members of his staff, Colonel Thoburn, and several
116 HISTORY OF THE [1862

orderlies, visited the pickets, going outside for the pur-
pose of reconnoitring the enemy’s position. Occupy-
ing a commanding place on the top of the rising ground,
General Carroll being just on the outside of the group,
with the field-glass to his eye, remarked, “ ‘There is one
of them going to shoot,” referring to the enemy’s pickets
across the river. “He has shot,” and, throwing his
hand up to his breast, “ D—d if he hasn’t hit me.”
Which was true enough, the rifle-ball having buried
itself in the fleshy part of his breast. This was con-
ceded to be the best shot ever witnessed by any one
present.

What it was that determined the movements at this
time was not known, but the regiment received orders
to move from this advanced camp, which was imme-
diately south of Mitchell’s Station, in the southern part
of Culpeper County, on the borders of Orange, and
within a few miles of the locality connected with the
writer’s earliest recollections. Thus far and no farther,
there being a host coming up from Richmond to dispute
the way and bent on the destruction of all enemies.
Somehow the general-in-chief got wind of it. Correct
information this time, and the command was ordered to
fall back, which was done in the direction of Culpeper
Court-House. Marched three miles, stopping at six P.M.
The next day marching orders were received at one
P.M., but the brigade did not move until eleven P.m.,
the road in front being occupied by other troops. Con-
tinued the march all night and all the next day, the
men and animals suffering very much from thirst, as
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 117

the day was intensely hot and little or no water could
be obtained on the road until the arrival at Rappahan-
nock Station, on the river of same name, at nine P.M.
The cavalry was skirmishing on the south side of the
river with the advance of the enemy, who opened an
artillery fire from his side, killing a man or an animal
occasionally. The men remained under arms all day
of the 21st. On the 22d the enemy showed an aggres-
sive disposition ; evidently he was in strong force over
the river,—the cannonading appeared to extend for miles
up the stream; no doubt preparing for au advance and
looking for a crossing undefended.

On the 23d the brigade marched six miles towards
Warrenton, there being a continuance of the heavy
cannonading along the river. During this night there
fell a most extraordinary rain ; indeed, it was generally
thought that this rain for copiousness would stand num-
ber one in the memory of all. It appeared like a solid
mass of water descending, and in a few minutes the
beds of streams that were dry before were raging
mighty floods, and when the light of day appeared
a creek in the vicinity was a river in width and vol-
ume, out of its banks and over the fields and roads.
To look at the events that transpired at this time, this
rain looks almost like a direct interposition of Provi-
dence in behalf of the Union forces, as it more than
anything else prevented the enemy crossing an over-
whelming force and capturing or destroying the left
wing of General Pope’s army. This night General
Stuart, the enemy’s chief of cavalry, having crossed
118 HISTORY OF THE [1862

the river before the rain with a large force, getting
into the rear of the army captured General Pope’s
headquarters, tents, baggage, etc., at Catlett’s Station,
securing his correspondence and no doubt other papers
that were regarded very valuable by his chief, besides
taking about one hundred prisoners, and among them
twelve of the First Virginia. On the 24th the brigade
marched to within two miles of Sulphur Springs and
bivouacked for the night. It was understood that the
brigade was part of the reserve force. Remained here
the next day. Nothing of importance transpired within
sight or sound save some artillery firing. What this
indicated there were many conjectures. The enemy
appeared to be above and below, on the right hand
and on the left. Officers and men were ignorant of
the state of affairs, though it was plain to be seen that
something would happen ere long to add interest to
the history of the United States. At this time, as may
be concluded from the foregoing, nothing was known
as to the movements of the army to which the brigade
was attached.

Nearly all the regular rations being exhausted, the
chief food of the men was green corn plucked from the
fields and roasted, which was thought then and believed
now to be the way to prepare it for eating. On the
26th, Tuesday, the artillery fire was as heavy as at
any time above and below, and faint sounds of it in
the rear, to the north. The brigade was moved up
towards Sulphur Springs, the enemy threatening to
cross there, but was defeated in his attempt by this
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 119

movement. Afterwards was marched back again to
the former position, he threatening to cross there also,
but failed. A good idea can hardly be given of this
service, always threatened and always on the alert,
being at all times ready to move at a moment’s notice
day or night, stomachs seldom or never filled, through
cornfields, woods, and brush, the shortest road to the
desired point, these skirmishes at times amounting
almost to a regular battle, and in the early part of
the contest would have been so classed, the object, of
course, being to prevent a body of the enemy, however
small, from gaining a footing on the north side. If
he succeeded, a strong force could be concentrated very
soon, and the value of the river as a barrier be gone.
Preventing this allowed General Pope time in which
to concentrate his army, which at this time was very
much scattered.

On the 27th it is believed that the enemy succeeded
in crossing at one of the upper fords several miles
above the position of the Fourth Brigade, as orders
were received to march at two P.M. Passed through
Warrenton, pushing along at a good gait. It began
to look like a race to arrive at some point before the
enemy. Continued the march until midnight, when a
stop was made for much-needed rest, as the men were
well jaded. ‘This stopping-place was one mile north
of New Baltimore. The enemy appeared to be all
around. this part of the country. Colonel Gavin, an
officer much respected by the men of the First, re-
turned to his regiment (Seventh Indiana) this day.
120 HISTORY OF THE [1862

General Hooker’s command had a hard fight with
General Ewell’s division, which embraced Texas and
Louisiana regiments, near Bristoe Station. The latter
was worsted and fell back. To the men in the ranks,
the officers of the line may also be included, the situa-
tion was not understood, as the enemy appeared, as before
mentioned, to be all over the country, and the brigade
in the rear of the largest bodies. ‘They had no idea of
where the bulk of the army was, and it is a question
if the staff-officers knew much more about it than the
men. On Thursday, 28th, the brigade moved at six
A.M. towards Thoroughfare Gap, and with the whole
of Ricketts’s division attacked the enemy, apparently in
strong force there and occupying an advantageous posi-
tion. This engagement was very warm and _ lasted
about two hours, and though the loss of Ricketts was
heavy, the enemy appeared to have suffered as much.
The brigade held the position assigned to it until six
P.M., then was ordered back to a point within about
four miles of Haymarket, resting at midnight. The
commanding general changed his plans at this junc-
ture, which was very unfortunate as it proved, as by
so doing he threw away all chances of success. This,
as may be supposed, was another hard day on the
men, having very little to eat or to drink, and all the
time on the alert. It is difficult for any one not an
actor in these events to realize the tax on the physical
powers under the conditions then existing. This was a
day of fighting, and it must be recorded to the credit
of the commander that when he had made up his mind
1862| FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 121

where to strike, he was a hard hitter. And it is
believed that had General Pope been as energetically
and heartily supported by the other corps and division
commanders then at hand as he had been by General
McDowell, he would have given the rebellion such a
blow that would have staggered it. A squadron of
Stuart’s cavalry in making their escape from the Union
forces,—Ricketts on one side and Hooker on the other,—
passed near the regiment, and Colonel Thoburn’s horse,
not to be behind the ruck, started after them, or rather
with them, on a full run in the dark. All the attempts
of the colonel to check him failed, and being a fleet
and powerful animal, soon joined company with them,
and having got the bit between his teeth, despite the
rider’s best efforts he kept them company for several
miles before the colonel gained control of him, which
he finally succeeded in doing, and rejoined the com-
mand Jate at night, fortunately nothing the worse for
the adventure.

On Friday, 29th, the brigade marched at six A.M.
through Manassas Junction to Bull Run. The fighting
this day was continuous, the artillery fire was exceed-
ingly heavy, apparently for miles along the foot of the
Bull Run Mountains, the railroad embankment, and
the run or creek, and appeared to be confined to no
particular line. The Union forces on the right ap-
peared to gain ground in the afternoon. The heavy
fighting continued until after dark, the men lying on
their arms all night. After it became dark the artil-

lery fire of the enemy continued along the mountain-
11
122 HISTORY OF THE [1862

side as heavy as at any time, and was awfully grand,
the flash of the guns lighting up the darkness. It
was the general opinion that the Union army had
gained some advantages on this day, though the opera-
tions appeared to lack that combination that is neces-
sary to success, hurling division after division on
strong positions without support, by this means frit-
tering away the strength of the army, without accom-
plishing what a general advance might have done. It
was hoped, however, that as McClellan’s forces were
being hastened to the field, as was supposed to rein-
force General Pope, good grounds remained for antici-
pating success the next day, though every man lay
down with a heavy heart and anxious forebodings, the
appearance of things not being satisfactory ; and there
is no use denying that there was a want of confidence
felt and shown among officers and men, which pre-
vailed, it may be added, through the entire Pope cam-
paign, from the first address of “ Headquarters in the
saddle,” ete. Moved about as the command was
during the last days of August, it is next to impossi-
ble to state where it was at any given hour. The
30th was a repetition of the 29th, the fighting being
very heavy, particularly near the Gap, the enemy’s
forces being all up and taking part in the engagement.
Pope’s forces generally were repulsed all along the line ;
though gaining temporary advantages at several differ-
ent points did not change the result, which was prac-
tically a defeat to the Union army.

This battle, Groveton, Gainesville, and Thorough-
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 123

fare Gap, all under the name of Second Bull Run, has
been the subject of more criticism and controversy
than any battle of the rebellion, not even excepting
Shiloh, or Pittsburg Landing; and for a narrator of
events coming within his sight and hearsay, occupying
a position excluding him from attaining official knowl-
edge, it were presumption for him to attempt a descrip-
tion or to criticise any movement. It is the duty of the
soldier to obey the commands of his officer, not to
question or criticise; but the expression of opinion en-
tertained by the men may be noted, which was, to
state concisely, that General Pope was not given that
aid by all of General McClellan’s corps commanders
that was to be expected from them, being more loyal
to General McClellan than to the cause, and did not
give that hearty and cordial support that their posi-
tions as defenders of the Union required of them.

By way of explanation, to render somewhat plain
what has been written, it is necessary to go back a few
days. Jackson, it appears, started with his corps, about
thirty-five thousand men, followed by Longstreet with
the same number, and Stuart with his cavalry, five thou-
sand strong,—in all about seventy-five thousand men ;
Jackson on the 20th crossing the Rapidan at Somer-
ville Ford, Longstreet at the same time crossing lower
down at Raccoon Ford, with the expectation of sur-
prising Pope at or near Culpeper Court-House. Pope’s
command, after the junction of General Reno from
the Army of the Potomac, amounted to about fifty
thousand men, occupying the line of the Rappahan-
124 HISTORY OF THE [1862

nock River. Reno guarded Kelley’s Ford, Banks,
Rappahannock Station, McDowell, Rappahannock
Ford, and Sigel formed the right higher up the river.
Pope being ordered to hold this line, or in case of
Aquia being threatened on his left or Washington on
his right, would be powerfully reinforced, and thus
be enabled to defend either or both. Here commenced
the series of movements; Lee endeavoring to effect
a crossing and Pope manceuvring to prevent him, as
already mentioned. The former finding that he could
not secure a crossing without a heavy loss, detached
Jackson towards Pope’s right flank, holding Long-
street in his position as a menace. As was antici-
pated by Pope, Jackson succeeded in crossing above
Sigel at a point only guarded by a small outpost. At
this time General Pope designed crossing the Rappa-
hannock and attacking Longstreet while Jackson was
engaged in his attempt at crossing the river many
miles above, and not within supporting distance, but
the tremendous rain of the 22d had so swollen the
river that he could not concentrate his forces on the
south side, hence he abandoned the plan and turned
his attention to meeting Jackson, ignorant at the time
what dependence could be placed on the promise of
reinforcements from the Army of the Potomac, part of
which army was then on the way up Chesapeake Bay
and the Potomac River. Early, however, with his
division had crossed the river before its swollen con-
dition prevented, thus cutting off his force from the
other portion of Lee’s army. Pope supposing the
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 125

force already crossed over to be much greater than
it really was, began the slow operation of concentra-
ting his widely-scattered army, greatly fatiguing the
men. This will explain the marching and counter-
marching of Ricketts’s division and brigades separately,
and final advance on Warrenton, and all to no pur-
pose, as Early, through the exertions of his chief
(Jackson), had been able to re-establish communication
across the river, thus escaping the designs of Pope,—
too late by one day. Early by this movement, though
not executed for the purpose, gained for his men
nearly two days’ rest, while McDowell’s men were ex-
hausting their energies in marching to cut him off.
The fact is that General Halleck in Washington was
in command of the army, attempting to direct by
telegraph. Soon he had things in confusion, and ap-
plication to him for information respecting the concen-
tration revealed that he did not know where the differ-
ent commands were, the whereabouts of the enemy, or
in what force, hence nothing but confusion could fol-
low this state of things.

Jackson, after Early had rejoined him, proceeded up
the Rappahannock, or Hedgman, River, crossing, as has
already been stated, above the points on the river held
by the Union forces, and through the valley formed by
the Bull Run Mountains, through Orleans and Salem,
to Thoroughfare Gap on the 26th. On this day, though
General Pope had information of Jackson’s course from
the officers of the Signal Corps, he strangely supposed

that he (Jackson) was directing his course to the val-
11*
126 HISTORY OF THE [1862

ley, not thinking of Thoroughfare Gap, his own sup-
plies, or that his own line of communication was threat-
ened, but instead directed his efforts to crossing the
Rappahannock River to cut off Longstreet, despatch-
ing Porter to Warrenton, the latter having arrived on
the scene by the way of Aquia, and giving Sigel strict
orders to hold Waterloo bridge, near which Jackson
had forded the river the day before. General Pope
relied on Halleck to defend Manassas Junction and
take care of the immense supply of provisions gathered
there for his army, that being his supply depot, which
the latter failed to do, and on the morning of the 26th
the Union army was cut off from Washington by the
destruction of the railroad and telegraph lines near that
junction. This alone revealed to Pope the position of
the enemy in his rear, and the failure of the promised
reinforcements to protect his communications with
Washington. He dare not fall back on Aquia Creek,
as this would uncover the capital, so he rightly formed
the resolution to cut Jackson off, isolated as he must be.
On the 27th he put his army in motion. At this time
Jackson was destroying the stores at Manassas, and
Longstreet soon discovering that the line of the Rappa-
hannock had been abandoned by Pope, concluded at
once that Jackson’s blows had been felt, set out in haste
to join, taking about the same route as Jackson had
advanced by. Pope was using his best efforts to throw
his army between them, intrusting McDowell with his
own corps and that of Sigel’s with Reynolds’s division,
the whole comprising about twenty-five thousand men,
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 127

with the task. ‘The remainder of his army, say thirty
thousand strong, to be concentrated to attack Jackson
thus cut off. Hooker in the mean time, with his divis-
ion, having met Ewell and repulsed him with heavy
loss at Kettle Run near Catlett’s Station, a short dis-
tance south of Manassas Junction, as narrated.
McDowell with the larger portion of his command
reached Gainesville this night, which is near Thorough-
fare Gap, on the only road by which Longstreet and
Jackson could effect a junction, and there should have
remained, as Jackson’s safety, with the Union army on
his front, depended upon his junction with Longstreet.
Pope, in the face of this, strangely made his dispositions
to attack Jackson, or to receive his attack on the right,
and ordered McDowell to abandon his position on the
left near Thoroughfare Gap, which he did, leaving one
of his divisions (Ricketts’s).to bar the passage, wholly
inadequate to perform such a duty. When McDowell
received the order to march in an entirely opposite
direction, this division, being his advance one, had to
be left behind, dependent on itself, to face Longstreet’s
corps, thus practically removing everything that would
bar the junction of the two wings of Lee’s army which
he (Pope) wished to keep separated. On the evening
of the 27th, when Pope was concentrating for the
purpose of attacking him, Jackson abandoned Manas-
sas, having destroyed all the supplies of the Union
army, and fell back towards the Gap, using Hill’s
division to make a circuit to confuse Pope. On the
28th all the Union forces were in motion, nearly all
128 HISTORY OF THE [1862

worn out with their exertions, and when concentrated
it was discovered that Jackson had retired. At this
time (afternoon) orders were sent recalling Ricketts,
and almost at the same time Longstreet’s heads of
columns appeared at the entrance to the Gap. Ricketts
held them in check for some time, inflicting on him
(Longstreet) a heavy loss; but the numbers were over-
powering, and a force getting in the rear of his division
he was compelled to retire, marching all night to re-
join McDowell at Centreville. King’s division of
McDowell’s corps also had a severe engagement with
Jackson about the same time, holding his own well.
Jackson was well protected by an unfinished railroad
embankment, Longstreet at this time, as may be seen,
being in supporting distance. On the 29th Pope,
still entertaining the belief that Jackson was without
support, continued his dispositions to beat him if possi-
ble before the arrival of the other half of Lee’s army,
and designated Gainesville as the point of concentration,
by this move abandoning all hope of the promised re-
inforcements reaching him in time to be of any assist-
ance. McDowell and Porter were to throw their
forces on Jackson’s right, Sigel and Reynolds the
centre, and Heintzelman and Reno his left. The two
first named and the two last had each a long distance
to march, hence Sigel struck first single-handed, and
gained ground, driving the centre of the enemy back
until the arrival of Longstreet, which checked him.
Support also came to Sigel, and the fighting became
desperate. At this juncture, McDowell and Porter, on
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 129

the road to take their positions on the right, found the
road barred by Longstreet’s corps, which prevented them
executing the order given them. McDowell, who was
the ranking officer it appears, affirms that he directed
Porter to take a position. Porter says that he was
directed by his chief to remain where he was, and there
he did remain, it is believed, all that day, while the
balance of the army appeared to become engaged
in detachments without support, gaining temporary
advantages, but in the end compelled to relinquish
them on account of the failure to support. The opera-
tions of the 29th were looked upon as a defeat, as Pope,
who had made the attack, had gained nothing, while
Lee had united his army, and the former would be
compelled to retreat to prevent starvation, or attack
Lee in a position chosen by himself and that without
delay. Strangely, however, Pope determined to renew
the struggle the next day, being somewhat deceived by
information gained through some source that Lee was
falling back upon Thoroughfare.

Both armies were nearly exhausted on the morning
of the 80th, and preparation for the contest required
much time. Ricketts’s division in support of Kearny
on the right, Reynolds and King on the left, thus divid-
ing McDowell’s corps, these with the commands already
named, Hooker, Sigel, Reno, and Porter, comprised
Pope’s forces, the cavalry being completely used up.
While Pope strengthened his right, Lee also strength-
ened his, and extended it. The latter knowing that
whatever Pope proposed doing he must do at once, as
130 HISTORY OF THE [1862

he had no means of supplying his men with food; he,
therefore, held to his strong position, compelling the
latter to attack him.

About one o’clock the battle opened by Porter’s corps
charging Lee’s centre faced by forty-eight guns. The
carnage was dreadful and the attack repulsed because,
like the charges of the preceding day, it was unsup-
ported. This was the signal for a general advance of
Lee’s whole line. Reynolds, Sigel, and Ricketts op-
posed the advance of Longstreet, whose men were
comparatively fresh, having taken but little part in
the action of the previous day. Jackson was only
able to hold his position. Lee, having massed on the
right, was gaining ground at five p.m. Milroy, detached
by Sigel to the assistance of McDowell, was forced
back, as was also Reynolds, the enemy by this secur-
ing a good commanding position. Sigel detached an-
other brigade to assist in retaking the position, but all
in vain, Longstreet being at this time not only on the
flank but in the rear of the centre, and threatening to
cut off the line of retreat by the stone bridge, hence
the left wing of the Union army was compelled to fall
back, followed closely by the enemy, already prepar-
ing to carry another advantageous position near what
was known as the Henry House; but the arrival of
Buchanan’s brigade of regulars checked him, as un-
faltering they stood the terrific fire poured into them.
This brigade was reinforced by Towner’s brigade of
Ricketts’s division, which stood its ground equally well.
The right wing of Pope’s army had during this time
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 131

gained some advantage over Jackson’s almost ex-
hausted men, but after the repulse on the left was
compelled to fall back or risk being cut off, and at six
o’clock fell back to the run. The check of Longstreet
on the left undoubtedly saved Pope’s army from de-
struction, as the brigades mentioned, reinforced by
several regiments and batteries, held their position
till nightfall, when Pope fell back to the vicinity of
Centreville with a greatly discouraged army, having
lost all confidence in the commander, and the enemy
too much exhausted to follow. General Pope, in ad-
dition to the mistakes he made, was unfortunate: the
information he received was not always reliable. His
failure to fall back from the line of the Rappahannock
on the 26th to secure his supplies and keep open his
communications, besides enabling him to meet Jack-
son, whose force was less than half of Lee’s army,
then, and after the junction of Longstreet and Jack-
son, engaging them with only a part of his avail-
able strength without waiting for the expected rein-
forcements, appear to have been mistakes, or, as was
generally looked upon, bad generalship. General
Pope appeared to give his orders impulsively, with-
out due consideration, and afterwards changed them at
a very critical time, exhausting his men to no purpose.
The opinion is entertained that in recalling McDow-
ell’s command from Thoroughfare Gap, which closed
this retreat to Jackson and at the same time barred the
way of the advancing columns of Longstreet, he made
a great mistake, which weakened him very much more
132 HISTORY OF THE [1862

than the inaction of Porter on the 29th. Ricketts saw
it, and, acting on his own judgment and following the
true instincts of a soldier, kept his own division there
unsupported, and was the first to meet Longstreet on
his exit from the defile, suffering a serious loss in his
efforts to prevent the concentration of Lee’s army.
General Pope was a good, hard fighter, a splendid
soldier, but, unfortunately, was out of place on the
Potomac.

CHAPTER XVIII

‘THE whole army, as before stated, fell back to Cen-
treville and the heights in the vicinity, Lee’s army being
apparently very well satisfied to let Pope retire in peace.
Had the result been different the latter would have been
compelled to seek a point near Washington in order to
subsist his men ; the nearest point to which supplies had
been brought was Fairfax Station, and these insufficient
to furnish his whole command. There was a very
heavy rainfall in the night. Many carriages with sur-
geons arrived from Washington, having been sent out
by order of the President. Nothing important to the
command transpired this day (Sunday). On September
1 there appeared to be heavy fighting on the right, to-
wards Chantilly. Generals Kearny and Stevens were
killed in this engagement. The death of these officers
was a great loss to the Union cause, General Kearny,
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 133

in particular, being highly respected by the whole army
and beloved by his own command, especially by the
New Jersey troops. The brigade marched at five a.M.
to Fairfax Station, on the Orange and Alexandria Rail-
road, arriving there at ten A.M. The surgeons were
busy here, there being a string of ambulances nearly
a mile long waiting to deposit their bloody loads. The
improvised hospital here was a sight to make humanity
shudder. Surely no man would be able to recognize
his own arm or leg among that mass of severed mem-
bers. A large quantity of commissary stores had been
collected here, most of which were burned by order of
the brigade commander, to prevent them, as he stated,
from falling into the hands of the enemy. The men
were called out at one A.M. on the 2d to repel a threat-
ened attack, which, however, was not made, the enemy
probably thinking at this time to make an easy capture,
being undeceived by the force shown. The main body
of the Union army had retired in the direction of Chan-
tilly and Vienna, leaving, so far as was known, but few
troops in the vicinity of Manassas Junction. General
Pope’s loss during these several days’ fights was about
ten thousand killed and wounded. The brigade marched
about five P.M. six miles in the direction of Alexandria;
rested at eight p.m. Marched again on the 3d at six A.M.
for the place named, arriving there at four P.M. It was
not a cheering sight to look upon the thinned ranks, the
worn and haggard look of the men, and the spiritless
movements of all. During the whole war if at any

time the Union feelings or patriotism of the men were
12
184 HISTORY OF THE [1862

at a low ebb, this was the time; disaster had followed
upon defeat, murmuring and discontent prevailed, and
the loss of all confidence in the leaders, resulting in
almost the demoralization of the army. Colonel Tho-
burn, who had been ailing for some time,—and it is
probable that the disasters of the week had added to his
sickness, though he never despaired of the final success
of the cause he had so much at heart,—was at this time
reported unfit for duty. It is proper to say that had he
been in command of the brigade at the time there is no
doubt that the stores at Fairfax Station would have
been saved, which were destroyed in face of the remon-
strance of Lieutenant-Colonel Hubbard.

On the evening of the 30th, after the command had
fallen back to the vicinity of Centreville, the writer in
company with a comrade went over to the little town
to see the rebel prisoners captured in the engagements
of the past three days. There were collected on this
spot about seven or eight hundred of them, the ma-
jority of them engaged in hunting, having their shirts
off for the purpose, the game being of nearly the same
color as the garment, and very successful they ap-
peared to be. These prisoners were guarded by an
Ohio regiment. Looking over the collection, one
small young man, cleanly and neatly dressed (very
striking among all the rags and dirt of his compan-
ions), wore a sergeant-major’s sash, and was engaged
in conversation with a larger fellow-prisoner. Some-
thing in the appearance and actions of the smaller man
struck the writer as familiar, and after a closer look
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 135

recognized J. L. B., of Wheeling. Calling him by a
familiar name, he turned around, and the recognition
was mutual, Asking permission of the officer of the
guard, the writer and his companion were allowed to
cross the line, and, to the no little astonishment of the
guards and on-lookers, they saw the blue and the gray
greet one another most cordially and enter into close
conversation. The larger man, J. A., was also from
Wheeling. The writer and his companion had the
pleasure of getting them coffee, bread, and bacon, and
it should be recorded that it was discovered, after
presentation of the matter to them,—pressing on the
attention of the first one referred to the deep-seated
sorrow of his family, and particularly that of his
father, at his course,—that if there was an honorable
way to do it, he would sever his connection with the
rebel army. This way was found, and he never re-
joined it. What became of J. A. is not known.

The command remained at this camp until the 6th,
when the brigade was marched to Upton’s Hill, and on
the 7th took up the line of march, passing the forti-
fications opposite Washington, crossing the Potomac
by the aqueduct bridge, and bivouacked at three P.M.
one mile north of Georgetown. On the 8th, Lieuten-
ant-Colonel Hubbard in command, the men were
mustered for pay, and on the 9th marched at ten P.M.
through Georgetown and Washington City. The
amount of drunkenness here was astonishing, particu-
larly among the high officers. The command crossed
the long bridge, and were again on the south side of
136 HISTORY OF THE [1862

the Potomac, camping at six A.M. on the 10th near
Fort Ellsworth, a large earthwork mounting prob-
ably twelve or fifteen guns of heavy calibre. Re-
mained at this camp until the 12th, when the regiment
was ordered to Arlington Heights; bivouacked be-
tween Forts Cass and Tillinghast, a short distance
from the old Lee mansion. The regiment remained
in this camp a month, General McClellan being in
command of all the troops here concentrated for the
defence of Washington, General Pope having asked
to be relieved of the command after the second battle
of Bull Run. On the 26th the men received two
months’ pay, and on the 27th some of the men cap-
tured at Port Republic returned to the regiment,
which, on the 29th, was reviewed by General Whipple.
The regiment at this time numbered nine commis-
sioned officers, a full complement being thirty-eight,
fifty-four non-commissioned officers, and one hundred
and seventy-three privates,—total, two hundred and
thirty-six men; not a field-officer fit for duty, and
several of the companies under command of non-com-
missioned officers. In this condition application was
made for the return of the regiment to Western Vir-
ginia to recruit the men and fill up the ranks; the
regiment, it may be added, never had been quite full,
having mustered a little over the minimum number
allowed on leaving Camp Carlisle.

On the 11th of October, orders having been received
for moving, the camp equipage was packed and loaded
on the few wagons left to the regiment, and the men
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 137

were marched across the Potomac, taking the cars in
Washington homeward bound, arriving in Baltimore
at four A.M. next morning, and in Pittsburg at eleven
A.M. on the 13th, having gone by the way of Harris-
burg. At Pittsburg the regiment was most generously
and hospitably entertained, the ladies, apparently, being
unable to do enough for the men, who, as may be sup-
posed, had not been used to this kind of attention.
Arrived at Camp Carlisle about eight p.m. The next
day the men received a week’s furlough, which was
afterwards renewed for fifteen days. This was greatly
enjoyed by them, and the time passed only too fast.
On the 31st the regiment was mustered for pay by
Lieutenant-Colonel Weddle, Lieutenant-Colonel Hub-
bard having been discharged for disability October 3,
and Major Duval having been promoted to colonel of
the Ninth Virginia Infantry September 9, E. W.
Stephens, then captain of Company F, being promoted
to the majority. Remained at this camp until Novem-
ber 27, when to please the citizens of Wheeling the
regiment paraded through the city, then returning to
camp, struck tents and packed up, and afterwards
marching to Washington Hall, partook of an elegant
supper prepared by the ladies. The regiment was also
presented with a beantiful flag by the governor of the
State. Then marched to the depot. Off again for the
second year’s service, destination being Cumberland,
Maryland, arriving there at eight P.M. on the 28th.
Next day pitched tents and made preparation for the

cold weather, The regiment remained here until Decem-
12*
138 HISTORY OF THE [1862

ber 8, when orders were received for a move, when
taking the cars were landed at Back Creek bridge, on
ground quite familiar to the men, then marched to North
Mountain, a few miles beyond, and pitched tents. On
the 11th the regiment was visited by General Kelley,
who ordered the removal of the camp a short distance,
near a piece of woods,—a very good location, wood
being near and coal-trains passing every day. This in-
formation may not appear important to the public, but
the fact was to the men, as many of these trains were
made to pay toll, run as fast as they might past the
camp., Comfortable winter quarters were built by the
men, and soon the little town assumed an orderly and
neat appearance. The regular routine of camp-life was
followed, the men soon falling into the old way. Drill
was the order, and ere long the former precision in
the manual and the movements was restored, and
discipline was strictly enforced. The Fifty-fourth
Pennsylvania Regiment (Colonel Campbell) and a regi-
ment of New York cavalry (Colonel Reynolds) were
also in winter quarters in this vicinity.

The end of the year 1862 found the regiment here,
which at this time numbered between six and seven
hundred men, many of the prisoners taken during the
year having rejoined. Much had occurred since bring-
ing up the record to August. After the evacuation of
the Peninsula by McClellan and the battle of Gaines-
ville, or Second Bull Run, the enemy under General
Lee, after the engagement at Chantilly, crossed the
Potomac below Harper’s Ferry and invaded Maryland.
1862] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 139

General McClellan at this time, although named to
command the defences around Washington, was again
given command of the army advancing to meet Lee,
and on the 14th of September engaged him at South
Mountain, checking his advance and inflicting on him
a serious loss. On the 17th he engaged him again at
Antietam, where a very hard battle was fought, the
result being indecisive, though, as Lee was the invader
and ultimately compelled to abandon his plans, the
failure undoubtedly was his. Very great credit is due
the Union army for the result of these actions. De-
feated and depressed in spirits as the men were, they
nevertheless fought most gallantly, and gained on these
fields practical victories, compelling Lee to recross the
Potomac and to fall back and resume a defensive line
covering Richmond.

Great fears at this time were entertained of the inva-
sion of Ohio and Pennsylvania. Cincinnati and Phil-
adelphia energetically made preparations to meet and
repel such. In connection with the battles in Mary-
land before mentioned, on the 13th General Miles, in
command of Harper’s Ferry, surrendered the place with
eleven thousand men to General Jackson, thus relieving
the latter in time to assist his chief at the battle of An-
tietam. Mumfordsville with four thousand prisoners
was captured by the enemy on the 16th, and on the
17th General Rosecrans put a period to the enemy’s
successes by defeating him at Iuka, Mississippi. On
the 23d of September President Lincoln issued the
Emancipation Proclamation, declaring all slaves free
140 HISTORY OF THE [1862

unless the States in rebellion discontinued the war in
one hundred days (1st of January, 1863). October 3 the
enemy was defeated at Corinth, Mississippi, and on the
8th and 9th the Union forces were victorious at the battle
of Perryville, Kentucky. About this time the enemy’s
cavalry under Stuart raided round General McClellan’s
army lying inactive on the north side of the Potomac,
capturing horses and stores. This activity on the part
of the enemy and inactivity on the part of McClellan,
followed by the complaint of the latter of want of shoes
for men and horses, and alleging this as the reason for
his remaining inactive, called from President Lincoln
the characteristic reply, “If you would give the enemy
more employment on your front he would not have
opportunity of raiding in your rear.” November 5
General Burnside relieved General McClellan of the
command of the Army of the Potomac. The battle of
Cane Hill, Arkansas, was fought on the 28th, the Union
army being victorious. On December 7, at Prairie
Grove, Generals Blunt and Herron defeated the Con-
federates. On the 13th was the terrible battle of Fred-
ericksburg, which resulted in the repulse of the Army
of the Potomac, under Burnside, with a very heavy
loss to his army and small loss to the enemy. Baton
Rouge, Louisiana, was captured by General Banks on the
17th. On the 19th the enemy, under Van Dorn, cap-
tured Holly Springs, Mississippi, with an immense
amount of stores for General Grant’s army in the vicinity
of Vicksburg. On the 27th General Sherman made an
unsuccessful assault‘on the Vicksburg defences. And
1863] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 141

on the 31st was the battle of Stone River, being on the
first day a Union repulse, but resulting in an indecisive
engagement on the second day,—a hard-fought and
bloody battle.

This closes the record of the more important events
of 1862. Gloom and despondency appeared to settle
down on the North. The advantages gained in the eyes
of the public were on the enemy’s side; and it is prob-
able that at no time during the contest were the Union
people of the North so depressed and possessed so little
hope of the final triumph of the government as at this
time,

CHAPTER XIX.

THE regiment remained at this camp (North Moun-
tain) until March 6, 1863, when orders were received
for a move, and, with the Fifty-fourth Pennsylvania
and Battery E, First Virginia Light Artillery, took
the cars and was transferred to Green Spring Run
Station, thence marched to the first encampment of the
regiment, in November, 1861, at Romney, remaining
at this camp but a few days; was then moved to
Mechanicsburg Gap, on the New Creek road, less than
two miles west of the town named, there, in company
with the regiment and battery mentioned, pitched tents,
and was joined immediately afterwards by a company
of the Ringgold Cavalry. Picket duty, scouting,
142 HISTORY OF THE [1863

drill, and parade occupied fully the time of the com-
mand, and the quartermaster’s appeared to be the busy
department, supplying the men with food and clothing.
Alarms at night were frequent, but generally confined
to the occupants of the tents. The camping-ground
was of a stony, light, porous nature; each tent was
supplied with a sheet-iron, conical-shaped stove; the
heat warmed the ground sufficient to enliven the
snakes, and a species called by the denizens “ blowing
viper” appeared to court familiarity with the men;
indeed, to such an extent was this carried that on
several occasions they got into the men’s berths. The
cry of “snakes” at night was sufticient to cause evacu-
ation of a tent in the shortest possible time, no one
wanting such a bedfellow. This was a laughing matter
during the day, but a very serious one at night. The
regiment remained at this camp for about three months,
nothing very important haying transpired. On the
14th of June orders for a move were received, and the
command packed up and marched to New Creek Station
on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad; the division com-
mander being General Kelley. The force at New Creek
at this time consisted of the First Virginia, Twenty-
third Ilinois,and Fifty-fourth Pennsylvania Regiments,
Colonel Campbell in command of the brigade. The
regiment remained here but a few days, when ordered
to Cumberland, Maryland, June 20, occupying a hill
in the vicinity for camping-ground on the 23d,

On the 25th West Virginia was made a department,
General Kelley being placed in command. From this
1863] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 143

time the regiment may be said to have a paternity.
As the fifty-four counties of the western part of the
State were separated from Virginia and organized as
a separate State June 20, no longer could it be said
that “Japhet was in search of a father,” though it
must be admitted when found step-mother would ex-
press the appropriate relation the State then bore and
still bears to the counties of the Panhandle, the home
of the majority of the men. The State was fortunate
in securing for her first governor a true and loyal man,
who from the first agitation of the question of separa-
tion of the State of Virginia from the Union had
been the defender of the integrity of the country and
the firm supporter of ranging the State on the side of
the general government. Governor Boreman had been
prominent in all the movements that were inaugurated
to strengthen the hands of the President. His voice
uttered no uncertain sounds on these questions, and
it was felt throughout the State that the honor at-
tached to being selected as the highest official of the
new State had been conferred on the right man.

Much having occurred since dropping the narration
of events throughout the country on the Ist of Janu-
ary, this period of inaction appears to be a fitting time
for continuing it and showing the progress of the war
throughout the broad field of operations. After the
disastrous battle of Fredericksburg General Burnside
resigned the command of the Army of the Potomac,
a command he was urged to take, and one, it may be
concluded, judging from the result, he was unfitted
144 HISTORY OF THE [1863

for, and which he himself had his misgivings as to his
ability to fill, On the Ist of January the enemy cap-
tured Galveston, Texas, and on this day the President
issued his Emancipation Proclamation, proclaiming the
freedom of all the slaves,—the hundred days having ex-
pired,—thus forever terminating slavery in the United
States, and on this ever-memorable day was the ending
of the indecisive battle of Stone River, the Union army
losing about eight thousand men killed and wounded.
The Southern army retreated on the 8d. On the 11th
a combined army and navy attack was made on Forts
Hindman and Arkansas Post on the Arkansas River,
which resulted in their capture by the Union forces,
with seven thousand prisoners and many guns. On
the 26th General Hooker succeeded General Burnside
in the command of the Army of the Potomac. There
was during the month heavy fighting by General
Grant’s troops at Vicksburg. General Porter was
dismissed from the army for his failure to suppert
General Pope. During the months of February and
March two attempts were made to capture Fort Me-
Allister, near Savannah, Ga., both of which failed.
The Confederate cruiser “ Alabama” was at sea during
this time, destroying the merchant marine of the North-
ern States. The ironclad “Indianola” ran the block-
ade at Vicksburg in February, but a few miles below
was captured by the enemy, who retained possession of
her for but a short time, when she was destroyed by the
Union squadron. On the 5th of March General Van
Dorn captured Spring Hill, Tennessee, with thirteen
1863] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 145

hundred prisoners; he also captured Franklin, Ten-
nessee, with a number of prisoners.

Active operations continued in Mississippi and Loui-
siana during the early months of 1868, and, though on
some occasions indecisive, were generally in favor of
the Union side. Admiral Farragut was very promi-
nent in these operations, and General Banks performed
important service, capturing many prisoners and guns,
while General Grant kept knocking at the gates of
Vicksburg, having during May crossed the river about
thirty miles below the town, landing near the mouth of
Bayou Pierre, and concentrated his troops on the left
bank of the river to attack Vicksburg in the rear. In
April an attack was made on Fort Sumter by the iron-
clads, but the latter were worsted and compelled to with-
draw. During this month Colonel Grierson, with a
small cavalry force, made a raid through the heart of
the State of Mississippi, destroying the enemy’s supply-
depots, capturing many prisoners, and defeating detach-
ments sent to oppose him; he also tore up their rail-
roads and burned stations and bridges, finally arriving
at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with comparatively small
loss.

On May 1 and 2 was fought the battle of Chancellors-
ville, between the Army of the Potomac under Hooker
and General Lee’s army, resulting in the repulse of the
former. Stonewall Jackson was mortally wounded at
this battle, and died on the 10th, which was a severe
blow to the Southern cause, he being without question

Lee’s ablest lieutenant. The loss of each side in this
13
146 HISTORY OF THE [1868

battle was about fifteen thousand men. Grand Gulf,
Mississippi, was taken by Admiral Farragut on the 3d.
On the 12th was fought the battle of Raymond, Mis-
sissippi, by Grant, the Confederates being defeated.
On the 14th was fought the battle of Jackson, Missis-
sippi, by Grant’s army, the Confederates being routed
and the town taken possession of; and within three
days thereafter were fought the battles of Champion
Hills and Big Black River by the same, ending in the
rout and retreat of the enemy into the fortifications
of Vicksburg, and on the 19th General Grant’s forces
invested the town on the Jand side, while Admiral
Porter took care of the immense river front and opened
communication with Grant through the Yazoo River,
capturing Yazoo City, with a large amount of stores
and several gunboats. On the 18th of June General
Lee’s army crossed the Potomac, and passing through
Maryland, entered Pennsylvania near Chambersburg.
The grand crisis of the war was now approaching.
General Grant’s army was now face to face with Pem-
berton’s at Vicksburg, and the Army of the Potomac,
under General Meade, was being hastened forward to
meet General Lee’s invading forces on the soil of
Pennsylvania. Desperate was the conflict, fearful the
loss of life, but the turning-point in the war was
reached and passed on the eighty-seventh anniversary of
the Declaration of Independence. On that day Pem-
berton surrendered Vicksburg with thirty-two thousand
men to General Grant, making the loss of Pemberton
in and around Vicksburg aggregate fifty thousand
1863] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 147

men, General Grant losing about ten thousand. On
the 3d General Lee, after three days’ fighting at Gettys-
burg, met with a severe repulse, after some of the most
desperate fighting of the war, by General Meade’s army,
losing during his invasion of the North about fifty
thousand men, and recrossing the Potomac with an
army straggling along the highways and byways for
miles, dispirited and almost demoralized. These blows
were followed by General Prentiss defeating a superior
force of the enemy at Helena, Arkansas. Port Hudson
surrendered to General Banks on the 8th with seven
thousand prisoners, thus removing the last obstruction
to the free navigation of the Mississippi, whose waters,
in the language of the President, “ flowed unvexed to
the sea,” and General Sherman defeated General John-
ston at Jackson, Mississippi, on the 17th. These bril-
liant successes were somewhat marred by the great
draft riot in New York City on the 13th, which was
soon after quelled by the troops.

The people all over the North were now rejoicing.
The seven months just passed had been productive of
substantial results; and though General Meade was
probably justly blamed for tardiness in pursuing his
discomfited opponent, the public saw in the repulse he
had given Lee a brilliant victory, and believed that
these two successes in such widely-separated regions on
this anniversary and its eve as prophetic of the ulti-
mate, perhaps speedy, downfall of the Confederacy.
Much, however, remained to be done, as was dis-
covered afterwards; and though the South was be-
148 HISTORY OF THE [1863

lieved to be only a shell, it was found to be a very
hard one to break. The Richmond government put
forth its best efforts, and, in the language of the day,
“robbed the cradle and the grave” in order to fill the
army. As for the North, the words of President
Lincoln on the field of Gettysburg in the following
November touched the heart and made firm the re-
solve of the people: “That we here highly resolve
that the dead shall not have died in vain,” “that the
nation shall under God have a new birth of freedom,”
“and government of the people, by the people, and
for the people shall not perish from the earth.”

The whole address, of which the foregoing is an
extract, was an inspiration, and is probably the equal
of anything of the kind ever uttered in the English
language, appropriate and timely, resounding as it did
through the land, stirred up the love of country in all,
and stamping the orator as a leader among men,
though, like Moses, he was allowed only a glimpse of
the “ Promised Land,” to which point he led the colored
race. And it may be added that his successor in office
did not prove a Joshua to wear his mantle.

During the latter part of June and early in July
much alarm was felt in Cumberland, as General
Lee’s army had crossed into Maryland in force, as
already recorded, his whole command being at the
time referred to in Pennsylvania foraging, taking from
the well-to-do farmers of the border counties lying
in the Cumberland Valley stock of all kinds, grain,
and provisions in immense quantities, concentrating his
1863] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 149

army finally on the Ist of July at Gettysburg, and
after that battle falling back with the chief part of his
plunder to the banks of the Potomac, to find that
river much swollen and his pontoons destroyed by
General French. He, however, succeeded in crossing
on the night of the 12th. The regiment (First West
Virginia) was moved from Cumberland to Hancock,
Maryland, and thence to Williamsport, on the 13th,
and a few days afterwards crossing the river, recross-
ing in a day or two thereafter, and for the third time
crossing on the 20th, having picked up a lot of
prisoners and material by the way. Afterwards, a
large force of the enemy appearing, the regiment took
post at Back Creek, arriving there on the 28th of
July, and remaining at that point until the first week
in August, when another forward movement was made,
the line of march being up the valley, arriving in
Winchester early in August, and was then again
ordered to Romney, taking the Winchester and Rom-
ney pike for the route. The command of Imboden
at this time again became very active and aggressive
in the South Branch Valley and throughout Hamp-
shire and Hardy Counties.

On the 15th of August the regiment, with the Four-
teenth West Virginia, a troop of cavalry, and a battery
of light artillery, moved to Petersburg, Hardy County,
and there were engaged in scouting through the moun-
tains, the country being infested with bushwhackers,
who were citizens at times and soldiers when there was

promise of gain. Any stores or supplies being moved
13%
150 HISTORY OF THE [1863

by wagons were almost sure to be captured by these
partisans, unless strongly guarded, and weak detach-
ments were often picked up by them, they knowing the
country well, and the roads intersecting one another in
these mountain regions in a remarkable way, offering
the best facilities for the prosecution of this species of
warfare, of which they were not slow to avail them-
selves. These duties, as here indicated, were arduous
in the extreme. Long and weary marches were often
undertaken to surprise an enemy, and generally resulted
in finding that enemy on the alert, and usually absent,
at least not in the place desired and expected by his
pursuers, hence the latter, as it often happened, had
their labor for their trouble and nothing more; in short,
there was neither profit nor honor in this service.
Early in September Companies B, E, D, F, and H, in
command of Major Stephens, were sent by the colonel
to Moorefield to take possession of that place, and be
prepared to meet McNeil and others on their: raids
through that part of the country. Imboden with his
command also frequented those parts, probably in
search of supplies, often obtained by capture of the
Union wagon-trains. The other five companies of the
regiment were left at Petersburg. On the 10th Major
Stephens with his command were in quiet possession of
the town. Rumors, however, to the effect that Im-
boden was in the vicinity were prevalent, but it was
supposed in no great force. On the night of the 11th
Captain Morrow took his company, with details from
the other companies sufficient to make a hundred men,
1863] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 151

with a guide, to effect the capture or rout and disper-
sion of MeNeil’s command, reported but a few miles
distant; but McNeil stole into the camp of the four
companies remaining before daylight of the 12th, and
captured the majority of the command, killing and
wounding some of them, but few escaping,—the ex-
traordinary precautions that men should use when
placed in such a position as this having been neglected
by the commander. Captain Morrow failed to re-
‘capture the men, not having sufficient force, though he
made the effort; but McNeil’s men being mounted
easily escaped with the prisoners. It appears that the
attention of the officer in command was devoted to the
front (in the direction the enemy lay), where the pickets
were strong and on the alert. McNeil came in by the
rear, his men crawling on their hands past the lone
picket at that point, who, it is stated, was asleep. Once
inside all was easy, as the men were asleep in their
quarters. The loss in this affair was about two hundred
and thirty men. This was a terrible blow to the regi
ment, weak in numbers as it was. Being now reduced
to a small battalion, it remained at Petersburg with the
Fourteenth Virginia and Twenty-third Illinois, Col-
onel Mulligan in command.

In October two companies were sent to Greenland
Gap, and remained there for a time, but were with-
drawn, and in company with part of the Twenty-
third Illinois and the Fourteenth Virginia remained
in the mountains the remainder of the year, no very
remarkable events transpiriug. This mountain war-
152 HISTORY OF THE [1863

fare, with its alarms, night attacks, and skirmishing,
was little calculated to reflect honor on any branch
of the service. The opposing force invariably being
cavalry, could wait for the opportunity,—having re-
liable and prompt information through the citizens,
knew well the position and strength of the Union
forces, the movements of trains and foraging-parties,—
strike a blow, and through their knowledge of the
country escape, usually with but little loss, it being
useless to attempt to pursue them with infantry.

The chief army of the enemy, under General Lee,
fell back to the south side of the Rapidan, but during
the month of October attempted a flank movement on
General Meade, commanding the Army of the Poto-
mac, resulting in several engagements by detachments
of the two armies, the most severe being between
General Warren’s corps and General Hill’s, of Lee’s
army, the latter being worsted. General Lee failing
in his efforts to turn the flank of General Meade, fell
back again to the Rappahannock, putting that river
between the two armies, leaving about two thousand
men in a redoubt with rifle-pits, on the north side of
the river, at Rappahannock Station. This force was
attacked by General Russell’s division of the Sixth
Corps, and after a desperate fight one thousand six
hundred prisoners with four guns were captured by
General Russell’s command. After this, in November,
General Lee went into winter quarters on Mine Run,
Orange County, the Army of the Potomac remaining
on the banks of the Rappahannock. During Decem-
1863] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 153

ber General Averill made his raid over the mountains
with three West Virginia and a Pennsylvania regi-
ment (cavalry), with a West Virginia battery, seri-
ously damaging the Virginia and Tennessee Railway,
and destroying rolling-stock, stations, and supplies,
and though the whole country was in arms against
him, he got back within the lines with trifling loss to
the command.

Operations during the latter part of the year 1863
in the West may be summed up in the following:
General Burnside having been transferred from the
Eastern to the Western department, captured Knox-
ville, Tennessee, September 1, and on the 8th he took
Cumberland Gap with two thousand prisoners. On
the 10th Little Rock, Arkansas, was occupied by the
Union forces. On the 19th and 20th of the same
month was fought the terrible battle of Chickamauga
(River of Death), General Rosecrans, in command of
the Union forces, being defeated by General Bragg;
the Union loss was about fifteen thousand men, the
enemy’s loss being less. In October General Grant
was given command of the Western armies. On the
17th the President called for three hundred thousand
more men. And during the month the troops at
Chattanooga were strongly reinforced. On the 23d to
the 26th of November was fought the battle of Chatta-
nooga and Lookout Mountain, the enemy under General
Bragg, General Grant commanding the Union forces.
Bragg being severely handled and defeated, losing these
strongholds, never to be recovered by him. And to
154 HISTORY OF THE [1863

crown the triumphs of the year, General Longstreet,
who had been detached for the purpose, on the 28th
assaulted General Burnside at Knoxville and met with
a bloody repulse, being compelled to retreat from the
vicinity.

Nothing of importance transpired during the re-
mainder of the year. A movement was made by Col-
onel Thoburn’s command in the mountains in December,
which will be recorded to show the kind of warfare,
attended with hardships and suffering, with results in
no wise commensurate as a compensation.

On the 10th of December the First, with the Four-
teenth West Virginia and a troop of cavalry, and thirty-
five men with two guns of a battery, left the camp at
five A.M., the weather being very cold, to guard a train of
wagons, eighty-three in number, to McDowell for Gen-
eral Averill’s command. Marched the first day twenty-
two miles, and after this hard march the men lay on the
ground to rest,—sleep, under the circumstances, being
impossible. Next day marched at four A.M., and over
these mountain roads accomplished a distance of twenty-
three miles, through the keen, piercing blasts. On the
12th the command was again on the march at five A.M.,
and at ten A.M. it began to rain and sleet, which con-
tinued all day. The advance was fired into this day and
three men were wounded,—these were of the cavalry.
The command camped that night at Monterey, the rain
not ceasing until the next morning, the start being made
for McDowell, ten miles distant, at ten a.m. The ad-
vance at this time, consisting of Colonel Thoburn with
1863] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 155

his staff and four orderlies, just entering McDowell,
were met and fired upon by a small troop of the en-
emy’s cavalry, about fifteen in number. The colonel
immediately sent back for support, but before it arrived
a number of shots were exchanged, after which the enemy
showed a disposition to fall back, when, upon the col-
onel’s squad advancing, they turned tail and beat a hasty
retreat, pursued by the colonel and squad for nearly two
miles, escaping into the mountains. The command
occupied McDowell, Imboden being reported in the
neighborhood, seven miles distant, with four to five
thousand men; number doubtless exaggerated. Colonel
Thoburn’s force was eight hundred, but he placed them
in such a manner on the hills, building many fires, that
would lead an enemy to suppose that his command
might embrace five or six thousand. Imboden doubt-
less was deceived by this show and feared to attack such
numbers, already aware of his presence. On the 14th
there was rain and snow at times, which, as may be
supposed, made things very uncomfortable, and being
away from all possibility of support, confronted by
many times their number, watching every opportunity to
strike a blow, was not a pleasant situation for the com-
mand to bein. Of course there was little sleep for the
men even if the weather had permitted. The rain con-
tinued for several days.

On the night of the 15th, the scouts having reported
that Imboden had been reinforced by McNiel and was
prepared for an attack on the morning of the 16th, the
colonel had all the usual preparations made for a con-
156 HISTORY OF THE [1863

tinued stay ; but at about eight o’clock in the evening
the train moved out escorted by two hundred men, and
the balance of the command brought up the rear, tak-
ing a new road entirely, if road it could be called,
down the bank and bed of a creek, the men for seven
miles of the way marching much of the time in the
water. Finally the main road was struck near to the
destined point,—Crab Bottom,—and during the next
morning the officers and pickets, which consisted of
about sixty men and constituted the rear-guard, joined
the command without the loss of a man, though very
great anxiety had been felt on their account. The
little force continued the march in the direction of
Petersburg, arriving there on the 23d. Thus the
colonel succeeded in withdrawing the entire force,
encumbered with a large train, occupying at least a
mile of the road, without the loss of a man or de-
struction of material, in the face of a vastly superior
force. JXind friends at home, in anticipation of Christ-
mas, had collected provisions and delicacies for the men,
which were placed in the care of those good friends of
the soldiers Mr. and Mrs. Hornbrook, who met the
regiment at Petersburg, and, it may be concluded, full
justice was done to the good cheer provided, accom-
panied by the hearty thanks of the men to these kind
and thoughtful friends at home, which was felt as com-
pensating for the two weeks’ hardships and privations
just undergone. The remaining week of 1863 was
passed in this camp, the monotony relieved by occa-
sional alarms of the presence of the enemy.
1863] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 157

The substantial results of the year’s contests were
with the Union side, consequently there was a great
change in the feelings of the public as to the outcome
compared with those entertained a year before. It
was apparent that the most extraordinary exertions
must be made to fill the Southern armies, and, as they
encountered defeat East and West, the ability of the
government at Richmond to keep large bodies of men
in the field became lessened. The financial condition or
ability, which necessarily enters largely into the calcula-
tions in conducting modern warfare, based on the suc-
cess of their arms, was very injuriously affected by their
defeats during the last six months, and it is not too
much to say that to the reverses to the Southern arms
in the last six months of 1863 may be attributed the
loss of hope to the Southern people in the remaining
mouths of the war, as they were never afterwards able
to put such a number of men in the field as they could
inuster prior to the 1st of July of this year. As some
great leading event or events usually have led to, or
at least preceded, the downfall of a state or a con-
queror,—the invasion of Russia in 1812 and the battle
of Leipsic in 1813 may be pointed to as the beginning
of the overthrow of Napoleon in 1815,—so, also, may
the invasion of Pennsylvania by Lee and the defeat of
Pemberton at Vicksburg, both occurring in 18638, be
termed the turning-point in the rebellion leading to
the overthrow of the South in 1865.

14
158 HISTORY OF THE [1864

CHAPTER XX.

THE opening of the year 1864, as stated, found the
regiment at Petersburg, Hardy County, greatly reduced
in number by the capture at Moorefield, in September,
of the parts of four companies before mentioned. Dur-
ing the winter a respectable earthwork was built, which
could be held by a small body against any ordinary
mountain force that would be likely to assail it. In
February, owing chiefly to the shortness of transporta-
tion facilities and the bad roads, rations, which had been
reduced for some time, began to get very scarce, and it
was found to be a poor country in which to subsist even
a small command for any length of time, hence it is
believed that it was the purpose of the commanding
officer to evacuate, when probably events hastened this
determination.

On the 10th General Early with a strong force was
reported in the vicinity and marching on the town,
There being no force adequate to dispute its possession
with him, preparations were made to retire and leave
him the empty place. In order to do this successfully
quietness and expedition were necessary,—the point to
fall back on being New Creek Station, there being a
possibility of securing support at that place. Accord-
ingly, the First, under command of the lieutenant-col-
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 159

onel, was silently withdrawn and started on the road,
pushing along all night, securing possession of Green-
land Gap, a defile in the mountain which, if once
taken possession of by the enemy, would entirely cut off
the retreat to the station by the only practicable route.
The men were placed in a good position on the hill, and
two pieces of artillery planted commanding the defile.
In the morning Early’s guns were heard pounding the
empty fort, as it afterwards appeared, though at the
time it was feared that he had prevented the retreat of
the bulk of the command. All fears of this kind,
however, were removed during the day by the arrival
of all save one, who had ventured too far or remained
too long; Captain Robb, of Company A, being the un-
fortunate one captured. The command had slipped out
quietly during the night, and taking an entirely new
road, marched all night, arriving in good order, and,
without further loss, passed through the Gap. Early
advanced no farther at this time, as he doubtless con-
cluded that it would be useless to pursue. The whole
command, with train and material, fell back to New
Creek without further incident.

During the months of January and February two
hundred and fifteen men of the regiment re-enlisted
for the war, their time of service to date from the
termination of the time of their first enlistment, which
would be in the following October and November.
And in March the entire battalion, consisting of less
than four hundred men, was granted “ veteran furlough”
to be spent at home, according to the terms and con-
160 HISTORY OF THE [1864

ditions upon which they re-enlisted, with orders to
assemble again April 1, the rendezvous being Webster,
Taylor County, a few miles west of Grafton, to be
placed under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Weddle,
Colonel Thoburn having been assigned to the command
of a brigade. Undoubtedly the men enjoyed this fur-
lough, and the time, in consequence, speedily passed ;
but promptly at the time appointed they assembled at
the rendezvous, prepared for another campaign. The
‘First, with a battalion of the Fifth New York Heavy
Artillery armed as infantry, Fifty-fourth Pennsylvania,
and the Thirty-fourth Massachusetts Regiments, com-
posed what was called the Second Provisional Brigade,
Colonel Thoburn commanding; General Sullivan com-
manding the division to which it was attached, and
General Sigel placed in command of the department.
On the 18th of April the brigade moved up to Graf-
ton, as supposed, preparatory to a start eastward, there
being no force of the enemy in West Virginia at this
time formidable enough to retain this command west
of the mountains. During January, February, and
March the South suffered severe loss by the capture
and the destruction of many of their blockade-runners,
about thirty being lost to them in these three months.
Where formerly the crews of these active vessels
thought it no evidence of seamanship to run the
blockade of the ports of the South, it now began to
be considered quite a feat to get either in or out
of them. And the rebel government being dependent
on England, through her West India colonies, for arms
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 161

and munitions of war, as well as medicines, besides tea
and coffee, and even salt, these articles began to be very
scarce, commanding very high prices, and hardly to be
obtained at any figures. The result of this was great
distress among the people themselves, and neglect, even
starvation, of the Union prisoners confined in their
pens. It is probable that, be the disposition what it
might, the enemy was powerless to treat the sick and
wounded of the prisoners as they should be treated.
No apology, however, can be offered for the barbarity
practised towards the prisoners at Andersonville, and
the execution of one man cannot atone for all the
cruelty and inhumanity there practised during this year.
It should not be forgotten that the Confederate govern-
ment formally announced that no more supplies would
be received for the Union prisoners at the South, thus
assuming the responsibility of these acts. Thirty-
seven thousand deaths at the prison named speak louder
than words of how cruel these acts were.

On the 19th the men took the cars, the wagon-
train also being loaded on them, and on the 22d
arrived at Martinsburg, that familiar gateway to the
valley. The command remained here until the 29th,
taking off the remainder of the rust that had collected
on the men in the month’s relaxation from discipline
and drill, when orders were received for a move up
the valley, and on the 30th arrived at Bunker Hill.
Over two years previous to this time the regiment
first passed over this ground with about double the

number of men that were in the ranks at this time.
14*
162 HISTORY OF THE [1864

Then the rail-fences were intact, and it appeared to the
men now quite amusing, when reflecting on the strin-
gent orders issued on the first entrance regarding the
protection of private property. One order was that
none but the top rail should be taken for firewood ;
this order was issued just after the advent of the regi-
ment in the valley. The next morning the colonel
discovered, to his surprise and vexation, that a number
of sections of the fence had entirely disappeared.
Hastening to the officer in command of the company
nearest this plain evidence of disregard of orders, he
said, “Captain W., how is this, sir? Your men have
been disobeying the most stringent orders and have
been acting like Vandals towards these farmers, when
you know it is the desire to make it plain by our
actions towards them that we come to benefit, not to
injure them.” The reply was about as follows:
“Well, colonel, that is all right and all mighty fine
in theory, but when you come to practically enforce
the order, just see where you are. A man comes along
and takes the top rail, after a while another fellow
comes along and he takes the top rail, presently along
comes another, and what was the third rail is the top
one to him; finally the bottom rail becomes the top as
well as the bottom one, then, ‘ presto,’ where’s your
fence? And there isn’t a rascal of them that has
taken anything but the top rail. Do you see it?”
The colonel did see it, and burst out laughing at the
ridiculous order.

The command remained here until the 4th of May,
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 163

when orders were received for a movement up the
valley again, and, without incident of any importance
occurring, arrived the same day, bivouacking near
Winchester, and remaining here until the 10th, when
passing through the town, the line of march was up
the well-tramped macadamized road towards Stras-
burg, arriving there in the evening and bivouacking
for the night. Besides being well marched over, this
vicinage had been well fought over, and the question
as to which side should possess it was determined
within a short distance of the spot the regiment at
that time occupied for the night’s rest. The ground
topographically being admirably adapted to the pur-
pose, was a favorite locality for the operations of
the enemy, and could be made a very strong de-
fensive position, hence the regiment generally looked
upon a fight or a skirmish there as a matter of course ;
but, contrary to the expectation, all was quiet and
peaceful on that early spring day, with not a suspicious
movement or sound that would denote the presence of
the enemy, though undoubtedly his scouts were near.
The people along the road and in Winchester appeared
to be quiet and subdued, which demeanor was in
marked contrast with their conduct two years before.
They had suffered, doubtless, very severely in the loss
of those near and dear to them in the two years’ strife,
and one wish appeared to prevail, which was, that peace
would return to the country, and bring with it blessings’
to atone in a measure for the curse of the war.

The brigade marched from this point on the 13th,
164 HISTORY OF THE [1864

advancing again up the valley through the pleasant
little town of Woodstock, then Edenburg, like its
Scotch prototype, mounted on the rocks, and Mount
Jackson, on the 14th striking the advance of the
enemy, when heavy skirmishing began, the brigade
driving the cavalry and light line of the enemy’s
skirmishers up the road and through the fields and
woods until the neighborhood of New Market was
reached. At this time but part of the division was
up; the other part, it is believed, was one march in the
rear. The First, in command of Major Stephens, was
advanced to within about one mile north of the town
mentioned, having driven the light troops of the
enemy to this point; remaining there until nightfall,
preparing to bivouae on the ground, when orders
came to the major in command to advance to the north
edge of a piece of woods to the right, and fronting on
a cross-road leading westward from the town. After
taking this position, skirmishers were sent out through
the woods to picket the front, when it was discovered
that the enemy’s pickets occupied the south edge of the
woods, about four hundred yards distant from the regi-
ment, hence there would in all probability be a dispute
as to the possession of this particular piece of ground,
After considerable firing in the dark, the enemy
advancing in line, the skirmishers of the First were
pressed back towards the regiment, which advancing
received the enemy with a volley, driving him back to
his former position. The skirmishers were again sent
forward, and were again driven in by the enemy in
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 165

line, who advanced to within one hundred and fifty
yards of the regiment ; the latter then delivered a steady,
well-sustained, and, no doubt, destructive fire, driving
the enemy’s line back from the entire front. This
appeared to satisfy him, as he allowed the regiment
with the advanced pickets to hold possession of the
ground without further efforts to dislodge them. The
enemy suffered considerable loss in this affair in killed
and wounded, but it being at night, and no one in the
command being familiar with the ground, and, besides,
night movements in the face of an enemy on the alert
being always dangerous under the most favorable cir-
cumstance, no advantage could be taken of this repulse.
The wood on the south side being picketed, the men lay
on their arms till daylight of the 15th, when the regi-
ment took position towards the front of the woods
mentioned in support of Snow’s battery, which had been
brought up. This position was held until towards noon,
Lieutenant-Colonel Weddle in the mean time having
arrived and taken command, the major as stated having
been in command during the night. At this time only
a part of Sigel’s command was present, this being parts
of two brigades, having for some reason been ordered to
march in advance of the other half of the command,
and on account of some mismanagement the other part
of the division in the rear was not brought up to take
a share in the action. The Fifty-fourth Pennsylvania
occupied the left of the line; on the right of this regi-
ment was stationed the First ; the Thirty-fourth Massa-
chusetts followed on the right in line; and another
166 HISTORY OF THE [1864

regiment on the right of the Thirty-fourth ; whether
there was a reserve or not is not known, but suppose
there was. :

In this position the enemy attacked with great vigor,
and his line being longer overlapped the left of the
Fifty-fourth Pennsylvania, and flanking the position
held by that regiment. The contest became of the
hottest character. The First was supporting Snow’s
battery (Maryland), which was in position at the south
edge of the woods, on the road leading westward, be-
fore mentioned ; made several shiftings of position, ocea-
sioned by the change of position of the enemy on front
and flank, The enemy at two P.M. getting on the flanks
of the line and threatening the rear, the position was no
longer deemed tenable, hence the First, with the Thirty-
fourth Massachusetts on the right, was’ ordered to take
position on the slope of a hill to the left and rear of the
ground then occupied, which placed them on the ex-
treme left of the line, being supported by the Fifty-
fourth Pennsylvania, which had been withdrawn to the
rear of the new line. In this position receiving and
returning a heavy and well-directed fire, the two regi-
ments remained for about an hour, causing a heavy loss
to the enemy. At this time he was discovered ad-
vancing at a charge on the left and front in strong
force. The First was then ordered to move forward to
receive the charge, and when he arrived within a dis-
tance of one hundred yards a volley by the regiment
was given with marked effect, shaking and throwing
the line into disorder for a time; their officers, how-
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 167

ever, drove them up, and the force greatly outnumber-
ing the Union command opposed to them, overlapping
and enfilading, the order was given to fall back, re-
tiring in good order to the face of the hill immediately
in rear of the former position, where being exposed
to a withering fire of musketry and canister, was for a
short time thrown into confusion; rallying, however,
from this, with the remainder of the line took position
on Rude’s Hill, the enemy remaining in possession of
the hard-earned ground and the moral effects of the
fight. Thus terminated the battle of New Market.
General Breckenridge was in command of the enemy.
It is almost useless to speculate as to what might have
been the result had the whole of Sullivan’s division
taken part in the fight. There is but little doubt, how-
ever, that had it been up and in position the result
would have been different. Why it was not has never
been explained ; officers and men had their own opinion
about this, and one expressed that of all, which it may
be said was not creditable to one high in authority.
The command after this fell back to Cedar Creek,
arriving there on the evening of the 16th. The con-
duct of the men throughout this action was cool and
determined, doing their duty faithfully and well.

The official report, being one of the two the writer
has been favored with a sight of, mentions a number
of officers and men, especially commending them for
good and effective service ; and as many of them were
killed in the action or have since died, it may not ap-
pear invidious to those who may survive, who are not
168 HISTORY OF THE [1864

mentioned, if these men are named here, though there
were many others equally deserving honorable mention,
though not coming under the eye of the commander of
the regiment. The names are Major E. W. Stephens,
Lieutenant and Acting Adjutant H. H. Hornbrook,
Captains Oscar F. Melvin, Richard Ratcliff, and John
Dougherty, First Lieutenants James W. Singleton,
Theodore L. Apple, Thomas Lloyd, Second Lieuten-
ants T. W. Simpson, John F. Beard, Joseph B. Gor-
don, Joseph P. Adams, William 8. Murphy, and J. W.
Plattenberg. To these officers the commander of the
regiment felt himself greatly indebted for active exer-
tions in leading, cheering, and sustaining the men.
Aniong the men deserving special notice are the names
of First Sergeant George L. Connelly and Corporal
Alexander Jefferson, Company A, both of whom were
killed, also Adam Rader, private, same company, mor-
tally wounded, Sergeant William Ross, Company C,
and private Levi P. Davis, Company B, all of whose
actions were especially meritorious. In this engage-
ment the First had fourteen officers and three hundred
and seventy-three men, of which number seventy-nine
were killed, wounded, and missing. Of the latter there
were sixteen, the majority of whom were killed or mor-
tally wounded. This action, as shown, thinned the ranks
of the battalion very much, which now numbered all
told about three hundred; and though but a small bat-
talion, will still be called, as usual, a regiment, being a
term better designating a body of this kind, or at least
more familiar to the reader. It is very unfortunate
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 169

that the official records of the regiment have been lost
or destroyed, as it is evident the most important books
have, for after application in quarters where it was
supposed these books and papers would likely be ob-
tained, to the regret of the writer the few pages that
were found intact were the records of only a few months
of the latter part of 1863, and the months of May and
June of 1864, and these embracing chiefly general and
special orders, the superscription containing place and
date only being valuable. The exceptions to this were
parts of the months of May and June, 1864, contain-
ing the official reports of the officers in command of the
regiment at the battles of New Market and Piedmont.
On application in another quarter, where it was believed
a ready assent would be given to an examination, the
writer was informed that these papers were so mixed
up with those of a private nature that they would have
to be separated before they could be examined, and that
notice would be given when this permission would be
granted. After waiting several weeks a renewal of the
application was made in this quarter, at the same time
reminding the party of the promise. No notice, how-
ever, up to the time of this writing, of the permission
being granted having been received, no advantage
can be taken of this information, if there be any of a
general character of interest to the public, which is to
be deplored for more reasons than may be inferred
from the foregoing. The absence of this information
is to be regretted for the reason, if no other, that there

must have been recorded many praiseworthy actions of
15
170 HISTORY OF THE [1864

officers and men which now will probably never be
given to the public. It is felt by the writer that this
is due to those referred to as explaining the omission.

CHAPTER XXI.

THE regiment remained at Cedar Creek until the
Ist of June, two weeks, being long enough in these ex-
citing times to recover from a repulse and to blunt
the keen feelings of sorrow for the loss of comrades,
when orders were received to march and join the com-
mand of General Hunter, which was then being or-
ganized for some expedition, General Hunter hav-
ing relieved General Sigel of the command in the
valley.

It was supposed that the cause of General Sigel’s
removal was his loss of the battle of Newmarket; but
to the officers and men, participants in that action, it
was thought that the blame attached to that defeat
should not be placed on General Sigel’s shoulders.
This action appeared to be on a smaller scale a repeti-
tion of the Second Bull Run battle, there being wholly
lacking unity of action, and to this may be attributed
the loss of the battle. While General Sigel was the
chief officer, the men did not think he should be held
responsible for this, any more than General Pope is
held responsible for the want of cordial co-operation
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 171

on the part of General Porter at the battle mentioned.
However, though General Sigel was relieved of this
command, and General Hunter was appointed to it in
his stead, it is probable that this change was made by, or
at the request of, General Grant for the special purpose
he then had in view, which was the Lynchburg ex-
pedition,—General Hunter probably possessing quali-
ties which were supposed to fit him for this service.
As General Sigel was retained in command of the
lower valley this is probably correct, and after the
perusal of the narrative that follows of this expedition,
the selection of the commander of it probably will be
considered complimentary to General Sigel. On the
day mentioned the command moved, taking the line of
march up the valley, again passing through the towns
before mentioned on this route, including Newmarket ;
and here learning through the scouts that the enemy
had fortified a hill some distance beyond Harrisonburg
on the direct road up the valley, it was concluded by
the commander of the force that it would be better to
flank the position, not deeming it necessary to sacrifice
the men in assaulting it. Accordingly, a detour to the
left was made, marching to the eastward on a road-lead-
ing to Port Republic, a point the men have a distinct
recollection of, being connected with suffering and loss,
from which place there is a road leading to Staunton.
Passing the village of Port Republic, the command
moved out on the Staunton road to the hamlet of Pied-
mont, in the vicinity of which the enemy had dug rifle-
pits and made breastworks of logs and rails—chevaua
172 HISTORY OF THE [1864

de frise—to defend the road, being a naturally strong
position, well fortified.

The command arrived at this point on the morning
of the 5th, being a beautiful clear morning, all nature
bright and cheerful in its early summer hues. The
First, with the other regiments of the Second Brigade,
was ordered to move forward and feel the enemy’s
position near the town; having advanced about three-
quarters of a mile, dressed the line, then moved for-
ward in support of the One Hundred and Sixteenth
Ohio Infantry, which, charging a piece of woods oc-
cupied in force by the enemy, drove him from the
position, though stubbornly held for a time. The
First then occupied this advanced position lately held
by the enemy, while the First Brigade, to which the
regiment for the present engagement was attached,
advanced and formed line on the edge of this piece of
woods in front of the enemy’s breastworks ; a meadow
of one hundred and fifty yards wide being between
the regiment and the enemy’s position; these move-
ments all being made under a heavy fire of musketry
and artillery from the line of defences. The First was
then ordered by General Sullivan to take position on
the right of the First Brigade; after taking this posi-
tion the order was given to move forward, and having
advanced about one hundred yards, the order was
given to halt and open fire, which was done, the regi-
ment maintaining this position for a short time, de-
livering and receiving a heavy fire, when, finding it
impossible to drive the enemy from his works, being
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 173

well protected in them, the order was given to fall
back again and take position at the edge of the woods
mentioned before, which order, a trying one under
such circumstances, was executed with steadiness and
without confusion,—remaining there, being somewhat
protected by the timber, delivering an effective fire as
the men in the defences exposed their bodies in firing.
At this juncture Colonel Weddle, in examining the
surroundings, had the good fortune to discover a de-
pression in the ridge—which ridge ran the length of
the meadow mentioned—of sufficient width, in his
opinion, to accommodate the working of two guns,
being within effective, indeed close, range of the
enemy’s defences; thereupon he hastened to notify
Captain Von Kleiser, of the Thirtieth New York
Battery, of it, and requested him to detach a section
of his battery to the place. Captain Von Kleiser,
evidently a good soldier and knowing his business, at
once repaired to the spot indicated, and no sooner had
he noted the position of things than he said, “ Never
you mind, colonel, wait a little, Pll show you some-
thing,” returned to his battery and ordered two guns
to the point referred to, and opening his fire, planted
his shells in the defences, bursting in the midst of the
gray-coats, producing a commotion at once among
them, every shot telling.

At this time Colonel Thoburn with the balance of
the Second Brigade had worked around and, by ex-
tending his line, got on the left flank of the enemy,

and was delivering his fire with visible effect. Colonel
15*
174 HISTORY OF THE [1864

Weddle saw the opportunity and called on the First,
“Boys, there’s Colonel Thoburn doubling up the
enemy on the right, let us meet him in the defences.
Charge!” The men responded with a cheer, and
steadily the regiment advanced, increasing the pace to
the double-quick, and, as the distance decreased, into a
run, arriving at the fortifications, jumping and clam-
bering over them. Nothing the enemy could do
would stop them, and gaining the inside of the works,
giving the defenders little or no time to rally, com-
menced a hand-to-hand contest, pushing them back
and putting them to flight in a short time, driving
some of them over the river-bank into the water,
where the fight was continued for some time. The
rout was complete, and the trophies of the fight to the
First were one hundred and fifty-one prisoners of the
Thirty-sixth Virginia and the colors of that regi-
ment.

Thus ended the battle of Piedmont, probably as
signal a defeat as the enemy sustained during the war.
The loss of the regiment in this engagement cannot be
given; it was heavy, however, considering the number
of men engaged. If the records ever showed, being
unattainable, no information respecting this can be
written, and but little reliance, it may be stated, can
be placed in any other reports; neither is the loss
(killed and wounded) of the enemy known. It was
stated at the time in the newspapers that “a worse
whipped or more utterly demoralized crowd of beaten
men never fled from a field,” which was certainly very
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 175

near the truth. The enemy was commanded by Gen-
erals Jones and McCausland, the former being killed
in the action; the latter will be recognized as he of
Chambersburg burning notoriety, which occurred in
the latter part of the following month (July).

The regiment bivouacked for the night on the battle-
ground, inside of the works. In the language of the
official report, “The conduct of the regiment under
fire, on the part of both officers and men, was cool,
firm, and praiseworthy.” Evidences were here noted
of the straits the Confederacy was in to furnish the
army with men. One very sad and instructive inci-
dent connected with this in support of the statement
may be presented here, which, doubtless, is only one
of many that might be mentioned of like character.
Colonel Thoburn and Lieutenant-Colonel Weddle were
passing among the wounded of the enemy when they
came across a man who had long ago passed the ex-
emption period, being probably sixty years of age, and
to all appearances was physically wholly unfitted for the
exposure and hardships of a soldier’s life. This man
was mortally wounded, his time on earth but a few
hours at most, and appeared to be anxious to speak
to the officers mentioned, who had spoken encouraging
words to him, at the same time seeing the hopeless
condition of the poor fellow. The wounded man in-
formed the officers that he had been taken, like many
others, from his home in Staunton, unfitted as he was
for the service, and compelled to join the army, add-
ing, “ They could do this, but they couldn’t give me the
176 HISTORY OF THE [1864

heart to fight against my country; and though in the
ranks of its foes, I have never fired a shot against that
old flag, my love for it preventing me.” Adding
further, as his life ebbed and his voice became low,
“There lays my gun; pick it up, and you will find
that I have driven a pin into the tube to prevent its
firing, and the load remains in it, which will prove to
you that what I say is true.” The lieutenant-colonel
examined the gun and found the statement correct.
On returning to the spot shortly afterwards the
wounded man was dead. Among the dead, wounded,
and prisoners were striplings,—mere boys,—probably
forced into the service. The woods took fire during
the evening and many of the dead were horribly
burned, and it was feared that some of the wounded
were also burned, though every effort was made to col-
lect all and remove them from danger of this kind.
Over eleven hundred prisoners were captured, and a
very large number of muskets; the latter were piled
up and burned, The next morning the command
marched on Staunton, arriving there the same day
(6th), taking possession of the town, awaiting the
arrival of reinforcements, as was rumored.

At this point, as was afterwards learned, it was ex-
pected that General Crook with his command, coming
from the Kanawha Valley, would join forces with Gen-
eral Hunter. Accordingly, in the evening General
Crook arrived: the commander of the united forces
being General Hunter, he being the senior officer. It
was generally understood among the officers that Lynch-
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 177

burg was the objective-point,—and what was known re-
garding the destination at any time to the line-officers
the men usually became possessed of in a short time,—
the purpose being to compel General Lee to detach a
portion of his command to meet Hunter, thus weaken-
ing his lines, of which General Grant proposed to take
advantage. The men, however, thought the object to
be the capture of Lynchburg. It evidently was not
the intention to attempt to hold the town, the force sent
being entirely inadequate to do this, though it was suffi-
ciently formidable to awake apprehension on the part
of the enemy, compelling him to detach a larger force
to keep intact his communications and line of supply.

With the division under command of General Hunter
the regiment left Staunton at seven A.M. on the 10th of
June. After marching eighteen miles, skirmishing on
the front with the enemy’s cavalry, which appeared to
be very active, and continued almost the whole day,
bivouacked at a little town called Midway. The men
at this time were placed on half-rations. On the 11th
the division marched at six A.M., and one mile north of
Lexington met the enemy, infantry, cavalry, and artil-
lery, in strong force, evidently prepared to makea stand,
but whose attempts to bar the way, though vigorous,
were futile; his column being too light was driven
through the town on the double-quick, spreading con-
sternation by the way. The command bivouacked in
and around the town. On the next day an ordinary
event following in a contest of this description occurred.
General Hunter having ordered the burning of the
178 HISTORY OF THE [1864

Virginia Military Institute, it was committed to the
flames, all the buildings connected therewith being de-
stroyed. The house of Governor Letcher here was also
burned. The governor’s daughter begged most earn-
estly of General Hunter to spare some of their house-
hold gods,—probably articles of little value to any
one but members of the family,—but all to no purpose ;
they were all consigned to the flames, the general being
relentless. Mrs. Letcher and her family sat on the
grass in the afternoon near to where the house had
stood, without a home or shelter, probably dependent
for food upon their kind and more fortunate neighbors.
The fine library of the institute was destroyed,—the
volumes were scattered through the camp,—and when
orders were received to move, books, maps, and scien-
tific instruments were either burnt or thrown away by
the men. Flour and other provisions were taken from
the stores and shops, thus making war support war, a
feature of the contest the men of the First had seen
comparatively little of, and then only resorted to in
order to prevent starvation. To the surprise of all and
the disgust of many, the bronze statue of Washington,
which had adorned the grounds of the Military Insti-
tute, was loaded into one of the wagons of the train
and hauled up the valley, across the mountains to
Lynchburg, and on the retreat across rivers, plains, and
mountains, down the Kanawha and up the Ohio to
Wheeling, where for a time it remained placed in front
of the Linsly Institute, in the eyes of many a standing
reproach to the leader of the expedition. Humanely
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 179

speaking this was a mistake, as the wagon used for the
transportation of this statue might have been better
employed in relieving the worn-out, sick, and dying of
the command, as will be narrated.

On the 13th General Duffie returned from his ex-
pedition in search of property sent away by the citizens
in wagons, which, by order of the commander, he was
to find and destroy. In this he had been successful,
having destroyed two hundred and forty wagons loaded
with provisions, clothing, ete. It was the intention to
secrete this property in the mountains until after the
passage of the Union troops. This was a mistake on
the part of the people, as much of it might have been
preserved by leaving it in the town. But such was the
terror inspired by the reported acts of Hunter’s com-
mand, that this attempt was made to save it. The re-
port prevailed here that this command was taking or
destroying all such property, the tears of the women
and the cries of the children being unheeded ; indeed,
it was found that the people of this part of the State
had been taught to look upon the armed defenders of
the Union as monsters, capable of doing anything to
injure them. An instance showing this feeling occurred
here, which is mentioned as illustrating to what ex-
tent this was indulged in. Some of the men by
accident discovered a sort of cave or fissure in the
ground, the entrance to which was overgrown with
weeds. One of them, nosing about, discovered at the
bottom quite a large, heavy trunk, which, upon ex-
amination, was found to contain silver and plated ware,
180 HISTORY OF THE [1864

fine linen, ete., no doubt of considerable value to the
owner, but of none to the men. The commander of
the regiment was informed of the discovery, and shortly
afterwards an elderly gentleman, evidently respectable
and intelligent, appeared, and stated that the property
was his, having hidden it there for safety, being advised
that the soldiers would take everything they could lay
hands on of any value. When asked if he credited
such tales, he replied that it was the universal belief,
based on the reports of the Southern officers and
soldiers, that it was a part of the warfare, as conducted
by the North, to despoil them of all their goods and
chattels, and that even the persons of their wives and
daughters would by no means be secure if the Northern
soldiers occupied the country. When the lieutenant-
colonel ordered the men to carry the trunk with its
contents to the house of the owner he could hardly
credit the evidence of his senses, and inquired what
regiment it was; when informed, this was another
surprise to him, as he had never heard of a Virginia
command being in the Union army. It may be sup-
posed that this man left with changed feelings regard-
ing “‘ Lincoln’s army of hirelings.”

Among the prisoners brought in here by General
Duffie were three familiar faces to the men of the
regiment from Wheeling,—Dr. C., P. B., and B. G.,
the latter well known in the upper part of the town.
The first named was released on parole, the other two
were sent North as prisoners for exchange. On the
14th the command left Lexington at five A.m., march-
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 181

ing through a rather poor and rough country. Weeds
and scrubby timber began taking the place of fine,
fertile fields and magnificent forest-trees of the beauti-
ful valley. Arriving at Buchanan, a village in -Bot-
etourt County, on Little James River. The com-
manding general had a bushwhacker shot this day,
leaving his body lying on the roadside, refusing to
allow it burial. Probably this was intended as a warn-
ing to his comrades. The command was still on half-
rations. One advantage following on this was little
preparation was needed for meals, hence were soon de-
spatched. Crossed the Peaks of Otter, the highest
peaks in Virginia. Thirty hours were occupied in
crossing these mountains, stopping at midnight for the
single meal taken during this time. On the 15th
passed through the little town of Liberty, which is on
the Virginia Central Railroad. At this time the mills
and all other buildings near the line of march were
destroyed, the railroad named was also torn up and
temporarily rendered useless. This part of the State
was made to suffer severely by the destruction of flour-
mills and factories, also fine dwellings belonging to the
prominent rebels. All that were seen were destroyed.
This course of the commander of the expedition was
severely condemned by many of the officers and men
of the command, but the orders had to be obeyed.
And it is probable that this mode of dealing with the
enemy had the tendency desired, which was to render
the country incapable of supporting an army, hence

would necessarily shorten the contest. This day Gen-
16
182 HISTORY OF 'THE [1864
eral Averill had a spy shot, and, not to be outdone by
the commander, left his body unburied in the woods.
The men were now subsisting on a pint of flour, three-
quarters of a pound of beef, and half-ration of coffee
and sugar per day. This was slim fare for men pushed
on the march as this command was. This night the
command bivouacked between Big and Little Otter
Creeks, about twenty miles from Lynchburg.

On the 16th, marched again at daylight, skirmishing
along the entire road, the enemy apparently having
been reinforced. On this day, General Crook’s com-
mand being in the advance, when within five miles of
the town, met the enemy in strong force, and after a
severe fight drove him back to the town. Hunter’s
division arrived on the battle-field at dark, relieving
Crook’s. At night the enemy continued his artillery
and musketry fire, the division losing a number of
men by it and seriously disturbing the repose of all.
The division was placed under arms, and advancing,
drove the enemy back and into his defences. Being
a beautiful moonlight night, there was no difficulty in
executing orders, as the enemy could be seen almost as
distinctly as by daylight. The command was close
enough to the fortifications surrounding the town to
hear the movement of the wheels of the guns being
placed in position, cutting down trees, etc., to strengthen
the defences. To all appearances there was a strong
force assembled here, and it began to look as though
the Union force was a day or two too late for success
to follow an attack on the town, if this was the object,
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 183

and defeat was hardly to be thought of, as that certainly
looked like destruction to the whole command. There
was little sleep in Hunter’s army that night, as all,
even the most obtuse or reckless, saw that it was a
hazardous position,—that General Lee was throwing a
strong force into the Lynchburg defences, and that they
could not be taken without a very heavy loss to the
assaulting party, even if then, and many a poor fellow
before the setting of another sun would be missed by
his comrades. On the 17th, at daylight, after a sleep-
less night, the enemy opened fire. Lieutenant Gordon,
Company C, a gallant officer, was mortally wounded
here, and died during the day, and a number of the
regiment were killed and wounded, the regiment being
in the front line. Captain Dougherty, Company I,
was badly wounded in the side and left in the hands of
the enemy. Remained here all the day; during this
time the cavalry was engaged in reconnoitring the
works, and the infantry in holding position before the
town. The First lost additional men during the day.
To be severely wounded under the circumstances was
almost sure to result in death to the unfortunate man,
whether captured or not. The trains on the railroad
could be heard arriving from the direction of Rich-
mond, and there could be no question as to the meaning
of this. Colonel Powell with his brigade of cavalry
and two pieces of artillery started at daylight to get in
rear of the town if possible, but when within three
miles of the railroad in the rear he met a large force,—
too large for him to attack, therefore was compelled
184 HISTORY OF THE [1864

to fall back, and in executing this movement was con-
fronted by another strong force, through which he had
to fight his way, which he succeeded in doing, suffering
considerable loss in effecting his retreat.

CHAPTER XXII.

THE situation of Hunter’s command viewed in any
light was indeed a grave, if not a desperate one ; almost
entirely without subsistence for the men or forage for
the animals, without the possibility of getting posses-
sion of the town, and two lines of retreat only practi-
cable,—the one the route already passed over to the
valley, with the certainty almost, if taken, of a force
being sent by rail to intercept, which force might, in all
probability would, be strong enough to destroy the com-
mand, and the other over the mountains to the Ka-
nawha Valley, more than two hundred miles of a rough
country, already cleanly swept of provisions and for-
age, was the outlook, and what was to be done must be
done quickly, as the privations to be undergone would
be increased with delay. The determination of the
general was soon formed. One of his good qualities
was arriving speedily at a conclusion and acting on it
at once. After a thorough reconnoissance of the situa-
tion, General Hunter in the evening, placing General
Averill’s division of cavalry as the rear-guard to cover
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 185

the movement, ordered a retreat, which commenced the
same night, General Powell with his brigade forming
the rear, and for three days and nights this gallant
officer with his small brigade performed this most ardu-
ous duty, it is said without rest or relief for his men,
fighting the pursuers at every available or good defen-
sive point. The whole command marched for these
three days and nights, halting but three times to make
coffee and eat a few mouthfuls. On the evening of the
20th the men were halted for sleep; tired nature could
do no more,—their eyes closing as they marched. At
three A.M. the march was resumed. All there was to
subsist on was a little hard bread and fresh beef, the
latter doled out in half-rations, and the animals with-
out forage of any kind; picking up a little grass by the
roadside was all they had to quiet the pangs of hunger.
The command passed through the little town of Salem,
Roanoke County, after which a mountain road was
struck and followed. The wagon-train well guarded
being in the advance, the artillery following not so well
protected. The former passed through a defile in the
mountain but a short distance west of Salem; the
enemy made an attack on the artillery, and before sup-
port could be brought up captured eight pieces, four of
which belonged to Carlin’s battery, and two each to two
other batteries of the command. Somebody was very
much to blame for this disgraceful affair, for allowing
the support, infantry and cavalry, to be so far from these
guns. No blame can be attached to the artillery for

this loss. General Hunter was at the time severely
16*
186 HISTORY OF THE [1864
censured for this. To what extent he was responsible
for it, in the absence of official information, cannot be
stated.

The road at this time being traversed was a very
bad one. What road was not bad throughout that re-
gion? In consequence of this the column was a very
long one, the men being very much scattered, and
taking considerable time to collect them made a de-
fence very difficult, the enemy at the same time watch-
ing his opportunity to capture men and material when-
ever chance offered, and accepted this one. The road
followed by the command from Salem to Meadow
Bluffs winds over the highest range of the Alleghanies,
and was the same one used by General Averill in the
winter of 1863 when making his raid into the south-
eastern part of Virginia. On the 22d, bad as the road
was, the command marched twenty-two miles, subsist-
ing on one “cracker,” weighing, probably, two ounces,
and a tincup of coffee to the man from three A.M. to
eleven P.M., when the command was halted, and, with
coffee again and a small piece of fresh beef, made a
sumptuous meal, invigorating the men very greatly.
At three P.M. on the 23d, after a sleep, the march was
again resumed, which continued until four A.M. of the
24th, arriving at the Sweet Sulphur Springs. The men
at the time were falling to sleep on their horses, and
hundreds of the infantry dropping down by the road-
side done out completely, many men on the last day,
particularly of the New York Heavy Artillery, lying
down by the roadside to be picked up by the enemy
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 187

following, and some of them never to get up again.
Many horses and mules dropped dead in the road
during the last two days of this march, which com-
pelled the burning of a number of wagons and the
pontoon-train in order to release enough animals to
save the guns; added to the difficulties mentioned, the
sun was intensely hot and a number of the men dying
from sunstroke. The wagons were as full of the sick,
wounded, and exhausted as the animals could haul in
their weakened condition; all through this the Wash-
ington statue had a wagon for its transportation. The
command left the Sweet Springs at five A.M. of the
24th, pushing on all day and all the night, arriving at
the White Sulphur Springs at nine A.m. on the 25th.
The men here were allowed time to make coffee and
take a little sleep, being roused up again and on the
march at four P.M. The entire command was entirely
out of bread and meat; this march continued until
eleven P.M., passing through Lewisburg in the evening
and bivouacking near Meadow Bluff until daylight of
the 26th, receiving a small supply of food at this point,
and, while not much, made it evident to the men that
there was a supply that would be reached probably
before long, which encouraged them to further efforts.
This was another hard day, and in the evening, resting
at the foot of Big Sewell Mountain for the night, the
question as to who would be able to surmount this was
a serious one. The next morning, however, with weak
and uncertain steps, the men barely able to carry their
muskets, and ill calculated to meet the difficulties of
188 HISTORY OF THE [1864

a march over this mountain, yet stepped out cheerfully ;
and toiling along the steep winding road all day long,
the shades of evening found the command near Hawk’s
Nest, where the men had the long-wished-for and most
welcome supply of food, followed by a good night’s
rest, the refreshing sweetness of which cannot be de-
scribed, but may be imagined.

At daylight on the 28th they were again on the way,
and, without any event of sufficient importance to note,
arrived in the evening on the Tompkins farm,—a well-
known camping-ground of the locality,—resting here
for the night, and on the next day the command ar-
rived at Gauley Bridge, when rations for the men and
forage for the animals were obtained. This terminated
the retreat, which had occupied twelve days, most of
which were days of privations and suffering that none
but the strongest were able to endure. The First, by
reason of former experiences of this kind, were as well
prepared for this march as any regiment or battalion
of the division, and much better than the majority,
hence passed through this rough ordeal with probably
a less percentage of loss than any other body of men
of the command, losing very few from exhaustion,
almost the entire loss sustained being on account of
wounds, The troops were divided here, the larger
portion proceeding down the Kanawha to Charleston.
The First remained here, and with plenty to eat and
rather light duty to perform, the men soon began to
present an improved appearance, though some of them
through overeating were on the sick list for some days,
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 189

The animals, which needed food and rest quite as
much as the men, were partly compensated here for the
late hardships undergone.

It is with hesitation that the writer refers to events
which lend truth to the old adage, “ Man’s inhumanity
to man,” ete., but truth urges the statement. Along
the line of march, in houses of people to all appear-
ances having but little of this world’s goods, as well as
of those in better circumstances and of the affluent,
every article that could be eaten was taken; and not
satisfied with this, the soldiers in many instances broke
up the furniture, glass, and crockery, tore up the bed-
ding, scattering it about the house, and even at times
destroyed the children’s clothing ; women and children,
with rare exceptions, were in charge of the premises.
The route of march of the men was followed by the
loudly expressed grief of these poor people, sometimes
with the curses of the despoiled ones on the invading
“Yankees.” Starvation almost stared these people in
the face, which many of them said they would welcome
rather than submit to the government. Reflecting on
this abuse, it added to the feeling of enmity already
entertained, which of course would be imparted to their
husbands, sons, and brothers in the army, and little
mercy might be expected from them towards Union
soldiers falling into their hands in the future. Few
of the people of the region passed through from
Lynchburg to the mountains, if appearances are to be
relied on, had the wherewith to sustain life until the
corn was fit for use; many of the women had a half-
190 HISTORY OF THE [1864

starved look. This treatment at the hands of the sol-
diers was a great surprise to these people, as they had
been assured by the returned rebel prisoners that they
had been well, even kindly, treated in Northern prisons,
hence they expected the same from the army passing
through the country; how cruelly they were deceived
may be judged from the foregoing. To the honor of
the majority of the men of the First, it should be stated
that they had no part in this. The two watering-places
mentioned were beautiful summer resorts when the
army arrived in the vicinity. On its departure there
was a change for the worse, the houses being pillaged,
carpets torn up, furniture broken, ete.

Tunter’s command in this expedition lost eighteen
hundred men killed, wounded, and missing, being
about one-fourth the number composing it. The offi-
cers and men thought a mistake was made in selecting
General Hunter for the leader of the expedition; it is
doubtful, however, if any other leader would have
succeeded better with the means at disposal.

The regiment remained on the Kanawha near Gauley
Bridge but a few days, when orders were received for
a move down the river (Kanawha) and up the Ohio,—
destination supposed to be the valley. The Ohio River
being very low, much difficulty was experienced on the
trip by steamboat to Parkersburg, where the regiment
arrived after very hard rubbing over the shoal places.
Took the cars at this point, and were again on the way
to the well-beaten track in the valley, to enter, as it
proved, on the final campaign on that battle-ground,
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 191

the end of which found the rebellion near its collapse,
so far as that part of the State was concerned. On the
9th of July the regiment arrived at Cherry Run
Station, Baltimore and Ohio Railroad; at this time
Imboden was at Hagerstown, a few miles distant, levy-
ing contributions on the town, burning government
property, and collecting and carrying off provisions
and forage, making Hagerstown pay dearly for his
occupancy.

As half of 1864 has already passed, this is a good
point at which to pause in the narrative of events con-
nected directly with the story of the regiment to record
the military events of the year, some of which hada
bearing on the operations just narrated. For a time
after the desperate fighting in November and December
of the previous year there appeared to be a lull, both
sides using every effort to strengthen the position and
fill their armies,—a very difficult matter with the
South. The Mississippi River, with the whole of Ken-
tucky and the larger part of Tennessee, were in pos-
session of the Union army, the trans-Mississippi de-
partment being cut off entirely from the eastern and
southeastern States in rebellion. Union cavalry expe-
ditions into the enemy’s territory were frequent, and
resulting almost invariably in great damage to his lines
of communication, cutting off supplies and rendering
speedy concentration of his forces uncertain. The
larger armies of the Union were placed in command of
tried men, measured by a military rather than a politi-
cal gauge, the incompetent men having been pretty
192 HISTORY OF THE [1864

thoroughly weeded out. The eyes of the country and
the hopes of all in the North appeared to be concen-
trated upon the two rising chiefs of the war, needing
only one more year’s experience to render them heroes
indeed, alive to the situation and knowing how to meet
it,—Grant and Sherman,—one to operate in Virginia,
the other in Tennessee and Georgia. The first named
was made lieutenant-general March 2, and appointed
commander-in-chief of the United States armies on
the 12th, while the latter commanded the armies in the
States mentioned ; practically a separate and distinct
command, though acting together (no rivalry or jeal-
ousy between these two men) to employ the whole
forces of the Confederacy at the same time.

On the Ist of February the President ordered a
draft of five hundred thousand men, and on the 15th
of March called for two hundred thousand more. Gen-
eral Forrest, the Confederate chief of cavalry in the
Southwest, failed in his attempt to capture Paducah,
Kentucky, on the 25th of March, and on the 28th the
Union forces secured a victory at Cane River, Louisiana.
On the 8th of April General Banks suffered a reverse
on Red River, and was compelled to retreat after con-
siderable loss. On the 12th the enemy, under com-
mand of General Forrest, captured Fort Pillow, an
earthwork on the Mississippi River, above Memphis,
defended by colored troops, many of the latter being
barbarously murdered. On the 4th of May General
Grant crossed the Rapidan River and commenced his
bloody Wilderness campaign, which at first was a re-
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 193

verse, ending, however, during the month in manceu-
vring General Lee out of his intrenchments, the latter
falling back to Spottsylvania Court-House, thence to
the North Anna River, and again to and across the
Pamunkey, fighting hard at every point, both armies
losing heavily, though, as General Lee was protected
by earthworks usually, Grant being the aggressor, the
latter’s loss was heavier. Sherman during the month
drove General Johnston from Resaca, after two days’
hard fighting. June 1 was fought the battle of Cold
Harbor, one of the hardest contests of the war, between
Grant and Lee; being a repulse to the Union arms, both
sides sustaining a heavy loss, particularly Grant. The
reader’s attention is called to the period of General
Hunter’s expedition, a diversion, as stated, designed by
General Grant to weaken Lee’s forces on his front in
order to defend Lynchburg. On the 15th of this
month Hunter’s command was approaching the town
named, being but one day’s march distant, arriving be-
fore it on the 16th, hence the information respecting
the route of his command and its objective-point must
have been known to Lee, which could no longer be
doubtful. After having crossed the mountains, General
Grant, of course, having a full understanding before-
hand of the probable time of arrival, could make his
disposition accordingly. The latter crossed the James
River, below Richmond, on the 12th, with his army,
having sent General Sheridan to break and injure as
much as possible Lee’s railroad communications by the

Virginia Central, expecting the co-operation of General
17
194 HISTORY OF THE [1864

Hunter, who, however, had passed farther west, hence
failed in forming a junction with him, if such was de-
signed. After damaging the road and bridges, General
Sheridan rejoined General Grant. The latter, on the
15th, 16th, and 17th, made several desperate attempts
to capture the works about Petersburg, but in each in-
stance found Lee prepared to defend them, and, save
the gaining of a few temporary advantages, ended in
failure and a heavy loss to the Union army, at the same
time, though, inflicting a heavy loss on Lee.

On the 21st the hard fighting was renewed, the re-
sult doubtless being that General Grant discovered that
General Hunter had not created sufficient diversion
to materially weaken Lee’s army; the Petersburg de-
fences, which were very strong, remaining in the enemy’s
hands despite his (Grant’s) best efforts. Sherman was
pushing Johnston at this time, having adopted the same
tactics as Grant. At Isenesaw Mountain he suffered a
reverse from the latter wily antagonist, perhaps the best
strategist in the Confederate army, who knew how and
when to fight and when to retreat. In this engagement
a friend and former schoolmate of the writer, F. A.
Bartleson, colonel of the One Hundredth Hlinois Regi-
ment, in command of a brigade was killed. Colonel
Bartleson will be remembered by the older citizens of
Wheeling as the son of one of the proprietors of the
Wheeling Times, associated with James E. Wharton
in the publication of that paper. In a communication
to a Pittsburg paper at the time describing the repulse,
it was stated that “ We left the noblest spirit in the
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 195

command on the bloody heights, F. A. Bartleson, ecol-
onel of the One Hundredth Tlinois Regiment.” While
this has no connection with the narrative, the digression
is made to pay a deserved tribute to as true a friend, as
pure a character, and unselfish a patriot as took up
arms in defence of the Union.

During the first week in July, General Early, with
twenty thousand men, was detached by Lee to create a
diversion for the purpose of relieving the pressure on
the Petersburg lines. Jackson’s loss must have been
very severely felt at this time by General Lee; this
expedition, so well calenlated to secure the end desired,
if in the hands of ‘ Stonewall,” would probably have
had a different termination to what it had commanded
by General Early, who, while an admirable officer as a
subordinate, lacked the qualities needed to secure the
result expected and reasonably hoped for at one time
by the Confederate government, which was, as is be-
lieved, no less than the capture of Washington. Pass-
ing into Maryland, Early fought a severe battle with
General Wallace on the Monocacy River, and a few
days afterwards appeared before Washington, threaten-
ing an attack, but, fortunately for the safety of the
capital, General Grant had detached the Sixth and
Nineteenth Corps to the defence of the city, and these
troops, owing to the delay caused by the severe han-
dling Early had received from Wallace, arrived just in
time to be thrown into the defences, thus securing the
city against capture. arly then fell back into Vir-
ginia, recrossing the Potomac at one of the lower fords.
196 HISTORY OF THE [1864

CHAPTER XXIII.

In making the digression in the former chapter to
pick up the thread of events that had occurred on the
two important fields of operation widely separated, the
First was left at Cherry Run Station on the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad; the stay there was very short,
being advanced slowly eastward to Martinsburg, then to
Harper’s Ferry, and on the 17th of July to Purcell-
ville, Loudon County, Virginia, Colonel Thoburn
being in command of the brigade. Marched on the
morning of the 18th to the Shenandoah River at
Snicker’s Ferry, crossing the river at that point, and
immediately afterwards had a severe engagement with
a body of the enemy, who was in heavy force in the
neighborhood, Early’s whole command being present.
The command was overpowered, being compelled to
fall back ; and the river being in the rear, across the
line of retreat, in getting over this the command was
thrown into disorder, but were rallicd on the opposite
side. The enemy made no attempt to cross. For the
time engaged, the loss to the regiment in killed and
wounded was quite heavy. The Sixth Corps in the
vicinity, on the right bank, for some reason took no
part in this engagement. This failure to support the
movement appeared surprising to all in the command,
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 197

but it is probable there was a good reason for it,
which was in all probability a desire to avoid a general
engagement at the time, the enemy having choice of
position. Why the brigade should have been per-
mitted to cross the river in the face of such a force
cannot be explained.

On the 20th the regiment crossed the river again,
this time without encountering the enemy in strong
force, and on the 22d arrived at Winchester, with or-
ders to be ready to move early the next morning. On
the next day the infantry formed line of battle, there
being heavy skirmishing in the advance. The enemy
at this time was very active and aggressive. After a
cavalry action, with some loss to both sides, the enemy
retired, and quiet was restored along the line. On the
24th, after much skirmishing, the forces met again, the
infantry and artillery becoming very hotly engaged.
After several hours’ hard fighting, with advantages
sometimes on one side and then on the other, the
Union forces were compelled to fall back, being at
one time in considerable disorder, but the enemy
failed to take advantage of it, having lost quite heavily.
Colonel Mulligan, of the Twenty-third Ilinois, a gallant
officer, and Lieutenant Nugent, of his staff, were killed
in this action, which was a severe one, both sides sus-
taining a heavy loss. The First lost a number killed
and wounded, but how many is not known. Colonel
Thoburn was missing from the command, and it was
feared at one time that he was either killed or captured,

but, fortunately, he turned up all right on the 28th,
17*
198 HISTORY OF THE [1864

having been cut off in the retreat, and was not able
to regain the command before the date named. All
rejoiced at his reappearance alive and well.

The brigade brought off all the wagons and material
safely, and having developed a strong force of the
enemy in the valley,—General Kershaw had joined
Early with his division,—orders were given to fall back
and cross the Potomac, which was done at Williamsport,
saving all the material. The command fell back to
Sharpsburg, and about three A.M. of the 27th marched
for Maryland Heights, about noon resting in Pleas-
ant Valley,—appropriately named,—at the foot of the
mountain. On the next day recrossed the Potomac
into Virginia, bivouacking at night on Bolivar Heights,
General Crook being in command of the troops here.
On the 30th moved again, crossing the river, and rest-
ing in the evening at Burkittsville, Maryland. The
weather being intensely hot at this time, several men
were sunstruck during the day; this occurring again
the next day, the command was halted at noon and the
men suffered to rest until three p.m. This Frederick
County is a beautiful part of the State of Maryland.
No part of the State surpasses it in beauty and fertility.
Moved on to Wolfville, and on August 3. passed over
South Mountain, having passed through the town of
Frederick, bivouacking near Monocacy Junction, and
on the evening of the 6th rested at the foot of Mary-
land Heights again. What this somewhat singular
circuit was made for the men in the ranks did not
know, neither can they be enlightened now on the

 
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 199

subject, but doubtless was based on the enemy’s move-
ments, and not specially to give the men employment.
The regiment at this time was still in the Second
Brigade, First Division, Department of West Vir-
ginia. General Sheridan with his cavalry was at this
camp, and portions of the Thirteenth, Sixth, and
Nineteenth Corps were reported at the Monocacy. It
certainly looked at that time as though some impor-
tant move was contemplated, or hardly such a force as
this would have been concentrated. The enemy was
reported in force near Hagerstown. On the 7th Gen-
eral Sheridan took command of the army for opera-
tions in the Shenandoah Valley, and on the 8th of
August the regiment again crossed the Potomac at
Harper’s Ferry, and bivouacked on the banks of the
Shenandoah near Halltown. The regiment has camped
on the banks of this stream many times during the past
two and a half years, and its beautiful waters have be-
come quite familiar to the men. How long will they
be moved up and down the river is a question they put
to each other, but none can answer it. On the 10th the
command was moved to Berryville, Clark County, and
on the 11th advanced towards Winchester, but during
the day the route was changed to the left, on the Front
Royal or Strasburg road, leaving Winchester to the
right. Skirmishing with the enemy’s cavalry com-
menced this day. Next day the march was continued
in the direction of Cedar Creek, bearing to the right.
The enemy making a stand in the afternoon on the
bank of the creek named, the First and Twelfth Vir-
200 HISTORY OF THE [1864

ginia charged and drove the rear-guard across the
stream, his forces retreating in the direction of Fisher’s
Hill. On the 13th there was considerable picket-
firing, which was usual when the enemy was near.
This condition of things applies to the 14th also.
General Sheridan was in command, as before stated,
and all expected that there would be very warm work
soon. The brigade remained at Cedar Creek, neither
army advancing, but apparently watching each other
and for an opportunity to strike a blow. On the 15th,
four companies of the regiment being on picket duty,
there was a lively exchange of shots during the whole
day, and skirmishing along the river. The artillery
was also engaged, but no general action followed. The
Fourteenth Virginia, picketing the Massanutten Moun-
tain, was engaged the whole day in this desultory fight-
ing. It was felt that all this would certainly bring on
an engagement ere long, as the two hostile forces can-
not, in the nature of men and things, confront each
other and be satisfied with this picket-firing. On the
16th orders were received for a move, and, to the sur-
priseof the men, “’bout face” was the order, taking up
the march down the pike, and at daybreak of the 17th
stopping for rest and breakfast at Middletown. Next
day—the 18th—on the back track again, marching to
Berryville,—a very hard march,—and, before getting
settled for the night, the men were ordered to fall in
and continue the march—more correctly speaking,
retreat—towards Charlestown, and bivouacked seven
miles south of that town. The conclusion in the com-
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 201

mand was that the enemy had been powerfully rein-
forced or General Sheridan would not have retreated
this distance, which conclusion was correct. The men
were now feasting on green corn and foraging for hogs,
chickens, apples, ete., which, as may be supposed, were
valuable and welcome additions to the marching ration.

The command moved from this camping-ground on
the 19th, and marching to within one mile of Charles-
town, bivouacked for the night; the Sixth and Nine-
teenth Corps were also at this point. The next day
were on the move again, marching in the direction of
Charlestown, Maryland Heights looming up in the
north. Lively skirmishing this day, with an occasional
shell ploughing up the earth uncomfortably close.
About eleven p.m. the command fell back to Halltown,
resting there. On the 22d line of battle was formed, the
men busying themselves in throwing up earth protec-
tions for themselves. Some skirmishing on the front,
but at night all was quiet along the line, allowing the
men a good night’s rest. On the 23d the skirmishing
continued, with an occasional shot from the artillery to
break the monotony of the musketry; the men busy
improving their “gopher” holes. On the 24th the
skirmishing and picket-firing continued, and during a
reconnoissance by a strong force of the command a
brisk exchange of musketry and artillery followed. A
number of the enemy were captured and a lot of beef
cattle. General Early had a strong force in front, and,
while cautious, did not appear to avoid an engage-
ment. On the 25th the picket-firing was again very
202 HISTORY OF THE [1864

active, but towards the close of the day there was a
cessation of the firing, during which the men began to
fraternize. “Yank” and “ Johnny” conversed together,
which led to an exchange of papers, tobacco, coffee, etc.,
then banterings and coarse jokes; finally hostilities
were resumed, and the men that a little while ago were
exchanging coffee and tobacco and the news were again
exchanging leaden compliments,—such was army life.
August 26th another brigade of the command made a
reconnoissance, and after feeling around found the
enemy in front in strong force; a few of the men were
wounded. On the 27th the enemy fell back, and all
was quiet during the day. The next day the command
marched in the morning, arriving at Charlestown by
noon, remaining there until three P.a., then passing
through the town, the regiment bivouacking about one
mile south of it. During the day there was a heavy
artillery fire on the right in the direction of Bunker
Hill. Enemy was reported falling back, but there
was no appearance of a desire to hasten his steps.

On the 29th the regiment was on picket duty, but
nothing of importance transpired, the usual amount of
firing being indulged in. There was heavy cannonading
and occasionally the sound of small-arms in the same
direction as yesterday, making it probable that the
cavalry forces were engaged, as also the light artillery.
The command remained in this position until Septem-
ber 3, when on that day the march was resumed at four
A.M. on the advance, faces to the south, arriving at Berry-
ville about noon. The First Virginia and the Second
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 203

Eastern Shore, Maryland, were placed on picket on the
Winchester road and were attacked by the enemy.
Sharp fighting followed, which lasted until dark. The
First lost several killed and wounded, but the men held
their positions. The whole army this day rejoiced over
the news of the capture of Atlanta, Georgia, which
inspirited the men greatly, and will be news to the
enemy’s pickets if opportunity offers to impart it, this
being, apparently, the only way of their obtaining
correct information. On the 4th there was an advance
made of about two miles, taking a good position and
throwing up temporary defences. Cavalry skirmishing
during the day, the infantry lying on their arms at
night, as matters were beginning to assume a threaten-
ing appearance. Rained in the night, making things
rather uncomfortable. The next day the men were
engaged in strengthening the defences, and the day fol-
lowing there was the usual amount of picket-firing, and
rain again this day. On the 7th a lot of convalescents
arrived and joined their respective regiments. On the
day following there was a retrograde movement to
within about six miles of Charlestown; the rain con-
tinuing. This appears to be a favorite camping-ground
and is called Summit Point. There was considerable
artillery-firing this day in the direction of Bunker
Hill. During the fine weather, when not on a move
or on picket duty, the regiment was drilled every day,
becoming quite proficient in movements and the man-
ual. These advances and retreats may lack interest to
most readers; they, however, are recorded in as brief a
204 HISTORY OF THE [1864

manner as possible, and as they lead to more important
events, it is hoped the necessity of detailing them will
be recognized. General Early commanded the enemy’s
forces that confronted the command, and when the
Union army fell back it had been discovered that he
had been reinforced ; this will explain the movements
which in the absence of this knowledge might be con-
sidered purposeless. Sherman in the Southwest was
giving all the forces the enemy could muster in that
quarter full employment in attempts to stay his pro-
gress, and with all their efforts failing, his movements
being a continual advance into the heart of the Confed-
eracy. A large force of the enemy was kept at Mo-
bile, also at Savannah, Charleston, and Wilmington.
And General Grant kept General Lee always on the
alert to hold the Petersburg works,—the key to Rich-
mond,—and, however desirous he (Lee) might be to hold
the valley, he dare not weaken his army by detaching
a sufficient force to drive Sheridan out, as Grant was
constantly feeling for the weak spots in his lines, and
gradually working around on the left in his efforts to
reach the two railroads, one connecting with Weldon,
North Carolina, immediately south, and the other with
Danville in the southwest, on the possession of which
depended the life of the rebellion ; hence, if Sheridan
defeated the force under Early, there would no longer
be any question as to which side would hold posses-
sion of the valley. The selection of this was not far
off at this time, as will be seen.

On the 18th there was heavy artillery firing in the
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 205

direction of Winchester. The Second Division of the
Sixth Corps had a spirited engagement with a division
of the enemy, and in the encounter captured the
Eighth South Carolina Regiment. On the 16th Gen-
eral Grant came up from his army before Petersburg
and had a conference with General Sheridan. The
latter explained the situation of the two armies, the
movements he had made to counteract those of the
enemy, and the plan of operations that he proposed to
enter upon at once, all to the satisfaction of the com-
mander-in-chief, who, it may be stated, had the fullest
confidence in General Sheridan, and acquiescing in
what he proposed to do, merely telling him to go ahead
and accomplish it, while he would endeavor to keep
the enemy employed on his own front.

The command remained at this point until the 19th,
all the sutlers and extra baggage having been ordered
to the rear. Marched at five A.m.; the First, Fourth,
and Twelfth West Virginia Regiments, forming a
small brigade, being left at Opequan Creek to guard the
trains and hospital, there being detachments of the
enemy constantly moving on the flanks of the army,
picking up everything that was not strongly guarded.
The Sixth and Nineteenth Corps, with the Army of
West Virginia, under General Crook,—the Sixth Corps
being under command of General Wright, and the
Nineteenth, General Emory in command,—having ad-
vanced towards Winchester, at about ten A.M. there
was very heavy artillery-firing, followed by musketry,

indicating the progress of a severe engagement, lasting
18
206 HISTORY OF THE [1864

nearly the whole day, when it began to recede, and
finally ceased. The fighting had been very hard until
late in the afternoon, when General Crook got on the
left flank of Early, charging him with great impetuos-
ity, followed by an advance of the whole Union line
immediately afterwards, which broke the enemy’s line,
he falling back, and in a confused and beaten mass
went “whirling through Winchester” towards Stras-
burg pursued by the cavalry, leaving in the hands of
Sheridan’s army over two thousand prisoners, several
battle-flags and pieces of artillery.

This was the battle of Winchester, a splendid vic-
tory to the Union arms. Both sides sustained a heavy
loss, the enemy’s being greater. On the 23d the bri-
gade advanced to Winchester, remaining there but a
few hours, when the march was resumed to Strasburg,
arriving at Cedar Creek at five p.m. Heavy fighting
at Fisher’s Hill, where the Sixth and Nineteenth Corps
attacked Early, intrenched on the front, the Eighth
Corps being on the left flank. An assault was made
by the latter on the left, and at the same time a gen-
eral advance was made along the whole line, repeating
the movements made at Winchester with a like result,
breaking Early’s line and forcing him to a swift, dis-
orderly retreat up the valley, leaving in the hands of
Sheridan about fifteen hundred prisoners and fifteen
pieces of artillery, the cavalry in pursuit giving the
enemy much annoyance and picking up many addi-
tional prisoners. This was the battle of Fisher’s Hill,
and was another complete victory for the Union arms.
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY, 207

On the same day the brigade advanced to Woodstock,
and the regiment was placed on picket duty. Another
lot of prisoners was brought in by the cavalry on this day.
On the 24th the whole command marched to New
Market, and bivouacked again on familiar ground.
The cavalry was still pushing the enemy and giving
him little rest. The next day continued the advance
up the valley, arriving at Harrisonburg at dusk, and re-
maining here until October 2, on which day there was
heavy artillery-firing on the left towards Port Repub-
lie, which was an engagement of cavalry ; a division of
the Union force having been sent by the Luray Valley
to get into the rear of Early, met a force of the enemy
on the road and were repulsed, suffering some loss,
The chief force of the cavalry at this time was engaged
in carrying out the order, “ To see to it that nothing be
left to invite the enemy to return.” Accordingly, all
the mills, barns, and grain in this beautiful valley were
committed to the flames, and at times fires could be seen
in every direction, which at night made a grand sight.
Abundance of provisions was found at the time, and,
unless destroyed, the probability was would be sent to
Richmond for the hungry army and populace. Cattle,
hogs, and sheep were brought in in abundance by the
cavalry.

This day the regiment was sent in the direction of
Staunton to collect refugees, if any could be found.
Very few were secured, however. On the 6th marched
to Rood’s Hill on the Shenandoah and bivouacked.
Marched again the next morning, arriving at Wood-
208 HISTORY OF THE [1864

stock in the evening. The order to “leave nothing,”
etc., had been literally carried out, and according to
General Sheridan’s report, the whole country from the
Blue Ridge to the North Mountain had been made
untenable to the enemy ; two thousand barns filled with
wheat and other grain, hay and farming implements,
and over seventy mills filled with grain and flour were
destroyed. Four thousand head of stock and three
thousand sheep were driven off and used by the army.
Many dwelling-houses in the lower part of the valley
were also destroyed, being the property of or harbor-
ing bushwhackers. This all appeared a very cruel pro-
ceeding, but it was both a defensive and a retaliatory
measure. The enemy at the time referred to was fol-
lowing the army down the valley, a witness to this
destruction, but making no effort to prevent it, as he
kept at a respectful distance; his late heavy losses
doubtless had made him very cautious. About this
time he was again heavily reinforced by General Ker-
shaw’s division and a force of cavalry which General
Lee had sent to Early’s aid, who no doubt was at the
time watching his opportunity to strike a sudden blow,
which must be done very soon or there would be noth-
ing left in the valley worth fighting for.
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 209

CEA PR 7.20 6k Vs

On the 8th of October the whole command marched
from Woodstock at five A.M., arriving at Strasburg at
one P.M., resting for the balance of the day and the
night close to this pleasant little town, the artillery
exchanging shots with the enemy.

The cavalry under command of General Rosser, of
which great things were expected by the people of the
valley, had for the past few days been very active,
and on the 8th became very annoying to the Union
forces, attacking the rear-guard, picking up small
squads and stragglers, and in various ways harassing
the march, until the commanding general determined,
if possible, he would punish’ him for his annoying te-
merity. This officer and his men called themselves the
“saviors of the valley,” and in keeping with this self-
styled appellation had decked their hats with sprigs of
laurel, afterwards being forcibly reminded that to
mount the laurel before the fight is dangerous, and
he that exults on putting on his armor is not so wise
as he that waits until taking it off. General Sheridan
marshalled his cavalry under General Torbert, and early
on the morning of the 9th he met Rosser at Tom’s
Brook, a small village between Strasburg and Wood-

stock, and attacked him. The result of the fight may
18%
210 HISTORY OF THE [1864

be given in the words of General Sheridan’s despatch
to General Grant, sent from Strasburg: “In coming
back to this point I was not followed up until late
yesterday, when a large force of cavalry appeared in my
rear; I then halted my command to offer battle by at-
tacking the enemy. I became satisfied that it was only
all the rebel cavalry of the valley commanded by
Rosser, and directed Torbert to attack at daylight this
morning and finish this ‘savior of the valley.’ The
attack was handsomely made; Custer, commanding the
Third Cavalry Division, charged on the back road, and
Merritt, commanding the First Cavalry Division, on the
Strasburg pike. Merritt captured five pieces of artillery,
Custer captured six pieces of artillery, with caissons,
battery-forge, ete. The two divisions captured forty-
seven wagons, ambulances, ete. Among the wagons
captured are the headquarters of Rosser, Lomax, and
Wickham, and Colonel Pollard. The number of pris-
oners captured will be about three hundred and thirty.
The enemy, after being charged by our gallant cavalry,
were broken and ran. They were followed by our
men on the jump twenty-six miles, through Mount
Jackson and across the north fork of the Shenandoah.
I deemed it best to make this delay of one day here
and settle this new cavalry general. The eleven pieces
of artillery captured to-day made thirty-six pieces of
artillery captured in the Shenandoah Valley since the
19th of September. Some of the artillery was new
and never had been fired before,—pieces marked
‘Tredegar Works.’ ” And on the 11th General Sher-
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 211

idan despatched as follows: “T have seen no sign of
the enemy since the brilliant engagement of the 9th
instant. It was a square cavalry fight, in which the
enemy was routed beyond my power to describe. He
lost everything carried on wheels except one piece of
artillery, and when last seen it was passing over Rood’s
Hill near New Market, on the Keen Run, twenty-six
miles from the battle-field, to which point the pursuit
was kept up.”

It was afterwards reported that the people of that
part of the valley, who were cognizant of this fight
and race, indulged in the expression that Rosser came
to save them wearing laurel-leaves, but that pumpkin-
vines or something that would run would be more ap-
propriate for him to wear.

On the 11th the brigade was placed in charge of the
prisoners, captured artillery and wagons, and ordered
down the valley. Accordingly left Strasburg, taking
the road through Middletown and Newtown, arriving
at Winchester at five P.M. and bivouacked, annoying
no little the good people of this town by the sight of
the captured guns, etc., though they betrayed no evi-
dence of it.

The next day the brigade left for Martinsburg, and
without incident of note arrived there at nine P.M.
The sight of such a number of guns taken from the
enemy was rather an unusual event here, and in con-
sequence attracted much attention and was the cause
of great rejoicing among the sterling Union people of
the town, and, as may be supposed, a corresponding
212 HISTORY OF THE [1864

depression among the rebellious disposed ; the former
being greatly in the majority, however, as they had
been since the commencement of the contest.

On the 13th the brigade “’bout faced,” and started
again for the front in charge of a loaded train, guard-
ing it to Winchester, and returning to Martinsburg with
another of empty wagons. Again taking charge of a
loaded train for the front, then at Cedar Creek, and
leaving Winchester on the morning of the memorable
19th en route for the front, the sound of battle being
heard early in the day, and nearing so fast from the
start that it became plainly evident that the enemy was
driving Sheridan’s army down the valley. Fugitives
began to arrive with terrible tales of rout and ruin to
the whole army. At this juncture, probably about ten
o'clock, the loud clatter of hoofs was heard, and ap-
proaching on a blaek horse, “flecked with foam,” at a
gallop was General Sheridan with a few sieudants fol-
lowing. The fugitives stopped and cheered him, when,
waving his hat, ie called to them, ‘‘ Face the other way,
boys! face the.other way!” which they did at once, and
he passed on to rally a surprised and beaten army to
assume the aggressive, and to gain a victory that would
electrify the whole country. Colonel Thoburn was in
command of a division of Crook’s corps, and while
attempting to rally the men in Middletown a rebel in
blue uniform rode up and demanded his surrender.
The colonel paid no attention to him, in all probability
thinking he was a Union soldier, when the fellow shot
him through the body. A mortal wound, of which he
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 213

died the same evening. No nobler man died that day
than Colonel Thoburn. The regiment joined the com-
mand the same evening, bivouacking on the battle-field.

General Sheridan at this time had a strong cavalry
force in a high state of efficiency, which force was kept
very actively employed during September and October.
The enemy’s cavalry, being inferior in number and
equipment, was powerless to check the advances of
these troops, they riding almost at pleasure in strong
squadrons over this fine country. The fields bare of
fences, there was no obstruction to a free range of it.
For safety the depot of supplies was established at
Martinsburg, and for a time, when the army was near
or beyond Winchester, there was required, to meet the
demands for food, clothing, and forage,—the latter
being the chief article supplied,—seven hundred four-
horse- or mule-teams, these teams in one train leaving
Martinsburg every other morning. This train, if in
single file, would extend seven miles, and would fur-
nish a fine opportunity for the forces of the enemy to
secure a supply of stores and horses. ‘The wagons,
however, were driven two abreast, thus reducing the
length of the train one-half. Usually a brigade of
infantry guarded the train, and for defensive purpose
a system of alarm-signals was adopted to facilitate ral-
lying in time of danger. Though this duty required
the utmost vigilance and activity, the trains passed and
repassed the many dangerous points (cross-roads) with-
out material loss or damage from the enemy, which
exemption may be credited to the vigilance of the
214 HISTORY OF THE [1864

guards and the precautions taken. Changes were often
made in the guards,—one brigade substituted for an-
other,—and the same vigilance required of all, as it
was understood that no excuse could be offered that
would be deemed satisfactory by the commander for
the loss of a wagon. As he had a very exacting way
with him, all learned while in his command. As al-
ready stated, the First, Fourth, and Twelfth Regiments
were on this duty in October, and, being a body of men
remarkable for their good marching qualities, were ad-
mirably adapted to this service, and it is probable, for
this reason, may have had more than a fair share of it
to perform at this time. This duty prevented the bri-
gade from being in position with the Eighth Corps on
that nearly fatal morning of the 19th, when, no doubt,
like the other commands on the left, it would have been
doubled up, as General Early threw a body of over
twenty thousand men on that flank. As has often
been well described, Sheridan rallied and marshalled
his forees more by the magical power of his presence
than anything else, and at about three P.M. presented
the astonishing spectacle of the beaten and almost de-
moralized army of a few hours before moving on the
enemy in solid column, every man animated by the
same spirit as the commander. Advancing by a left
half-wheel of the whole line, and with the aid of the
cavalry turning both flanks of the enemy, the whole
line advanced, the enemy making a stubborn resistance,
but was pushed with the utmost vigor, falling back as
his flanks became involved, and, finally, being com-
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 215

pletely routed, fled in the greatest disorder, abandon-
ing almost everything. The artillery captured was
upwards of fifty pieces (this includes what was cap-
tured from Sheridan’s army in the morning), wagons
and ambulances in large numbers, and about two
thousand prisoners. This was one of the most com-
plete victories of the war. The enemy continued his
flight up the valley, unable thereafter to make a stand.

Practically the battle of Cedar Creek terminated the
war in the Shenandoah Valley. The destruction. of
the mills and grain, and the driving off of the cattle,
ete., by the army of Sheridan,—which by fire and
sword destroyed the power of the country to furnish
an army with supplies,—removed at once the ability to
sustain and the inducement to possess. Hereafter this
ground that had often shook with the tread of a
mighty array was no longer to be the prize fought for,
—its value was gone. This was a justifiable war
measure, being the most severe blow that could be ad-
ministered to the enemy short of the destruction of his
army, and being one of the causes that led to shorten-
ing the contest was humane, and in this view of it the
end accomplished justified the means used. With the
termination of the contest in the valley ended the hope
of sustaining the rebellion in Virginia another year.
The Union forces at this time had penetrated into
North Carolina, and from the West through the Ka-
nawha Valley into Virginia, and by Eastern ‘Tennessee
into both States mentioned, destroying the railroads,
salt-works, depots of supplies, ete., until the authorities
216 HISTORY OF THE [1864

at Richmond were sorely pressed to feed the army,
surrounded at the same time by the needy population
of that city clamorous for food. Heroism of the
highest order and almost unbounded confidence in
their final suecess were required on the part of the
men composing the armies of the rebellion to inspire
them to continue a contest that to the ordinary observer
appeared hopeless. This confidence and heroism they
brought to the support of their cause, and in the de-
fences about Petersburg made a most valiant fight,
eliciting from their opponents expressions of the high-
est degree of respect and admiration for the display of
the noblest soldierly qualities.

Tt is with saddened feelings, in our view of it, that
the incidents connected with the last days of armed
resistance are read, showing as they do the tenacity of
purpose, the “four o’clock in the morning courage,”
and the lasting endurance of these men from the outer
defences of Richmond until confronted by the army
across the path at Appomattox,—the desperate forlorn
hope worthy of a cause elevating humanity instead of
degrading it. With this there is also a feeling of pride
when reflecting that these men were our countrymen
and now are of the national brotherhood,—cemented,
we trust, to the Union the closer and more firmly by
what has passed,—and realizing that all this sacrifice
of blood and treasure is a punishment to the nation
for the oppression of, and inhumanity towards, a
weaker race,—fellow-beings springing from one com-
mon Father.
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 217

After the battle of Cedar Creek the regiment was
ordered to report to General Kelley, at Cumberland,
Maryland, the term of the first enlistment of the ma-
jority of the men having expired. Accordingly, the
line of march was once more taken up, and down the
valley for the last time the men faced. Arriving in
Martinsburg without incident, there taking the cars,
arrived in Cumberland on the 2d of November, and
remaining there until the 12th. The three years’ men
who had not re-enlisted were ordered to Wheeling to be
discharged. The re-enlisted, numbering about two hun-
dred and fifty, remained at Cumberland in winter quar-
ters, and on the 10th of December were consolidated
with the re-enlisted men of the Fourth West Virginia.
Those of the First being divided into four companies,—
the newly-organized regiment being the Second West
Virginia Veteran Infantry.

Tt has been said that to find out a man’s disposition
and qualities fully it is necessary to summer and winter
with him. We are, however, disposed to think that in
camp-life a year’s contact with many men is not neces-
sary to reveal their peculiarities. The regiment was
thrown into companionship, such as a war of this kind
will make, with men from many States and under cir-
cumstances which bring out the qualities and peculiar-
ities in a strong light, showing the predominant ones.
Under very adverse circumstances sometimes the rul-
ing passion was exhibited. An incident will illustrate.
At one of the encampments of the regiment in the lower

valley the adjacent ground was occupied by a Connec-
19
218 HISTORY OF THE [1864

ticut regiment, the men of which were always on the
lookout to turn an honest penny. One of their methods
to accomplish this was making dried-apple pies and
selling them to the men of other regiments who were
not so thrifty nor so imbued with the desire of gain in
this way. One of these men one day on his rounds
-with this delicacy, looking into a tent of Company C,
called out “ Pies!” the well-known voice of H n
Cc kk responded from the interior in his deepest bass,
“No, don’t want any; just bought one from your col-
onel.” This pleased the listeners, of course, and dis-
gusted the pie-peddler. A dried-apple pie in the ab-
stract, under ordinary circumstances, is not particularly
inviting or much sought after, but to the average sol-
dier is not without its charm. In the life led by these
men no indigestion or dyspepsia lurked in the pie,
hence it became a mere matter of taste as to indulgence
in this luxury. It was reported on one occasion that
one of the men of the First ate for his supper half a
dozen pigs’ feet, more or less, bought of the sutler, and
one of these pies. During the night he was reported
unwell. After a thorough canvass of the matter this
man’s comrades were rather disposed to think that what
he had eaten for supper might possibly have something
to do with his sickness.

Another story went the rounds of the regiment at
another time, which may be mentioned as showing the
disregard to comfort and health which some men have ;
fortunately, there were few of this kind in the regi-
ment. One man of Company I was extremely negli-

 

 
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 219

gent respecting his personal appearance. Cleanliness
was foreign to him, and he evidently had great aver-
sion to soap and water. This man was the butt of his
comrades. One winter day the lieutenant ordered two
or three of his comrades to take him to the run and
give him a thorough scrubbing, which it was said was
done with the aid of a corn broom. One of the men
ordered to this duty describing it afterwards stated that
after rubbing at his neck for some time they discov-
ered an old necktie that the wearer had supposed to be
lost long ago. Of course, in the language of the ad-
vertisement, “Selling this as trustee I can only give
such title as is in me vested,” Compared with some
other bodies of troops, the men of the First were not
successful traders. On the first entrance to the valley
the extent to which this was indulged in was to save
the coffee-grounds,—coffee being a rare, consequently
highly prized, article at the time to these people, and
traded for eggs, apples, and vegetables with the rather
unsophisticated denizens; but this little deception was
soon discovered, and coffee-grounds became a drug.
The men after this were at the end of their resources,
therefore trading was no longer indulged in. It was
discovered when the regiment was in the Luray Valley
that the people placed a high estimate on a promise to
pay in the way of a circulating medium. The men
took possession of a store on one occasion, and after
distributing the contents there remained a lot of script
which the owner had been issuing in lieu of silver
fractional parts of a dollar, which undoubtedly had be-
220 HISTORY OF THE [1864

come very scarce; this script was in the form of, and
about the size of, the paper half-dollar issued by the
government during the war, requiring only the signa-
ture of the owner of the store to render it a genuine
circulating medium, redeemable by him. The script
the men took possession of, and on occasions when the
opportunity offered in the neighborhood used it as
money in payment of purchases of provisions, actually
signing the notes in their presence. Could simple-
mindedness go further ?

All the forces of the enemy in Virginia being re-
quired to resist the terrible blows then being delivered
by the armies of the Potomac and James on General
Lee’s forces before Petersburg, no attempt was made
by Early to repossess the valley. The defence even of
their strongholds became weaker and weaker during
the early spring of 1865, until finally it became plain
to the most hopeful among them that the days of the
rebellion were numbered, and half starved, with num-
bers greatly reduced during the winter months by casu-
alities and desertions, the lines were withdrawn from
the fortifications around Petersburg, and the memora-
ble evacuation of Richmond and the retreat of Lee’s
army began, ending in the capitulation of all that re-
mained of the historic Army of Northern Virginia,
twenty-three thousand men, at Appomattox on the 9th
of April, 1865, and with it terminated the contest in
Virginia. And a few days thereafter the army of
Johnston surrendered to Sherman in North Carolina,
it in turn followed by the army of the trans-Missis-
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 221

sippi, under Kirby Smith, which closed the military
operations.

In the mean time the Second Veterans had been
ordered to Bulltown, Braxton County, but the situa-
tion required no important duties of them, the re-
bellious spirit having been quenched in that part of
the State. The regiment was mustered out of service
July 16, 1865, at Clarksburg. As near as can be
ascertained, the three years’ regiment lost during the
term of service by death, disability from wounds, and
sickness attendant on the service 372 officers and men;
missing (no doubt dead), 10; captured, 350 ; transferred
to other branches of the service, 21; dismissed the
service, 1 officer; dishonorably discharged (drummed
out), 2 men; desertions, 48. Total number of officers
and men attached to the regiment during term of ser-
vice, including recruits, 1178.

In completing the task placed on the writer by his
comrades, performed as well as it has been possible in
the limited time allowed and with the material attain-
able, the writer expresses the hope that the result will
be looked upon with a friendly eye, ready to excuse
the errors—doubtless many—and overlook the want of
style expected in a work of this kind, and the failure
to furnish a scholarly production. Charge all short-
comings to inability to make a more readable narrative
rather than to the want of a desire to do so. This is
all that is asked, and no doubt will be readily granted.

19%
999 HISTORY OF THE [1864

CHAPTER XXYV.

BEFORE closing, a few words as to the result of the
contest and in advocacy of the cause of the men en-
gaged in it on the side of the government will not be
out of place. The All-Wise Creator has a way of di-
recting human affairs that is wonderful to reflect upon,
sometimes using the very means men employ for the
purpose of advancing their projects to bring about their
destruction. There being abundant food for reflection
found in this contest will, it is thought, be sufficient
apology for directing the thoughts of the reader from
the actual contest to one of the results secured. It has
been often said by the unreflecting that it is a question
which side won in the contest. Perhaps what has been
gained for humanity is not thought sufficient compen-
sation for the sacrifices made. This may be so in the
estimation of some, but in the affairs of the world great
changes for the better are not secured without great sac-
rifices, and history has been read to little purpose if
this is not considered a truism.

The Southern people would never have entered into
the contest and tried the arbitrament of the sword
had the result been known to them. They first be-
came mad, and determined on a separation from the
New England, Middle, and Western States, because it
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 223

was plainly shown that slavery would be confined to its
(then) limits. The result of the contest in 1861, followed
by that of 1862, being to the advantage of the South,
prepared the way for the President’s emancipation proc-
lamation. No one conversant with the sentiments and
feelings of the volunteers at the commencement of the
war can say that the contest would have been entered
into by them had emancipation been the object of the
war. It was only after drinking of the cup of adver-
sity filled with defeat and disaster that opened the way
for its reception by the army. Had the government
been successful in the three months’ campaign, or even
in the campaign of 1862, slavery, in all probability, so
far as the war was concerned, would have remained a
blot on the country. It follows, then, that the wisdom
of Providence so ordered events that they would pre-
pare the people for the elevation of the down-trodden,
not as an object, but as a consequence, of the war.
This followed, and there are very few in this land who
wish for its restoration, hard as its retention was fought
for. The firing on Fort Sumter, designed to lengthen
and widen the area of slavery, was its death-knell.
When acontest is entered upon which has for its object
the oppression of mankind, that cause usually fails in
the end, and its supporters are the sufferers. Having
this result in view without reference to any other, can
there be a question as to which side won?

There are many at this late day far removed from
the war and its alarms who are disposed to look upon
the surviving soldiers of the late war as an element of
294 HISTORY OF THE [1864

society poor and improvident, constant applicants for
assistance from the public, and chiefly engaged in at-
tempting to secure pensions. ‘To the citizen who lived
in peace at home during this contest, his person and
property in safety, it should hardly be necessary to re-
mind him that these same men were his bulwark of
defence, standing as a wall between him and the enemy,
fronting the tide of would-be invaders; charging at
the word of command the ranks arrayed against him,
the rifle-pits or the fortifications, his comrades falling
around him, joining in the struggle to the bitter end.
He will recollect, perhaps distinctly, or the impression
still remains, of picking up the morning paper and
reading of these conflicts, and while doing so feeling
secure in having these defenders at the front fighting
his battles for him, his family, and his property, and
when winter came with its cold blasts, its rains, sleet,
snow, and ice, how comfortable he was in his home
surrounded by all he held dear on earth. All protected
by these men on the picket-line, in the mountains, ex-
posed to it all, oftentimes without shelter and without
fire, ever on the alert, and always facing the danger.
Then he fully appreciated these services, how much he
was indebted to the soldier, and was ready to admit that
nothing the people or the government could do for him
was an adequate return for the hardships undergone
and the services rendered. As is to be expected, these
feelings of gratitude have become blunted, as they
usually do after the danger is passed, but is it not un-
just to charge these men with placing themselves in a
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 225

position that, in the opinion of their fellows, they merit
the name of “paupers,” as has been charged, at the
price of securing a small monthly allowance from the
government in the form of a pension, as an acknowl-
edgment of their services and impairment of their
health? What is desired by the mass of these men is
that the feeble and those unable to earn a livelihood
should be assisted in this way, but not that this assist-
ance be given to the strong or those who should be in-
dependent of such help. The qualities that supported
the soldier in the war will enable him to battle with the
world for a living provided he has health and strength.
As time passes and the numbers decrease, the proportion
of those remaining needing assistance may be increased
on account of age and its attendant infirmities, but the
aggregate of such will probably never again attain the
present number.

There certainly can be no question as to the duty of
the government in this matter, regardless of what
party may be in power, and as the ranks thin by the
lapse of time the opportunity to do these men simple
justice will have passed, and there will be furnished
additional proof that “ republics are ungrateful,” only
made the stronger by the desire to do justice to the few
that may remain to share, it may be, in the too late
spasm of generosity. All the others being more re-
spected for what they had undergone in their graves
than when in being. In 1840, when the remains of
the great Napoleon were taken from St. Helena, the
scenes of the last days of his wonderful life, quiet
226 HISTORY OF THE [1864

death, and burial, to France, and in Paris, where the
ceremony of placing them in their final resting-place
was in progress, Paris was there, France was there; in
short, such a concourse of people as never before had
been present ona like occasion was there assembled.
Among them were the dignitaries of almost every
kingdom and state of Europe,—princes, dukes, lords,
and other titled men, men of science, noted throughout
the world, church officials, generals, admirals, etc., cele-
brated in their respective professions, clothed in the
most magnificent robes and blazing with the insignia
of rank, but among them all, bent by age, hardships,
and wounds, a little band of Napoleon’s guard was the
object upon which the multitude gazed, and upon which
were bestowed the marks of respect and admiration to
the neglect of the great. Is this to be the compensa-
tion the little band—the last of the survivors of the
war of the rebellion—may expect from their country-
men, or are their feelings to be expressed in a more
substantial manner,—more in accord with the way of
doing such things in this practical age and country ?
is the question to be decided. The feelings of the men
or the teachings of the political party that classes these
men paupers are not to be envied.

A few words to the men of the First to close this
chapter. Since the events here narrated more than
twenty years have placed their marks on your brows,
tinged the hair with gray, cooled your ardor, and tem-
pered your energies. Long ago you ceased to be young,
and when you meet year after year this fact strikes
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 227

you forcibly, and however fresh the events here men-
tioned may appear, your term of life has been shortened
more than a score of years, and at every return of
these gatherings the familiar face of one or more will
be absent. Have these twenty years made you better
men? have the good resolutions you may have formed
when musing by the camp-fire, addressing the dear
ones at home, or when on the eve of meeting the foe
in deadly combat, been forgotten, or are they bearing
good fruit? All are now on the down grade of life,
fast being gathered to the majority on the other side.
And you have not been a careful reader of this life
if you do not feel that there is one in the hereafter
attainable by all, more fitting your efforts to secure
than all this world affords. Farewell, boys (old ones
now), and may God in his infinite mercy have you in
his keeping is the heartfelt wish of your whilom com-
rade. Of you—every one—may it be recorded,—

A soldier of Christ,
And of the Union.

CONCLUSION.

Iw the light shed by the time that has passed, the two
grand central figures of the war are President Lincoln
and General Grant. Other names, heroic as their pos-
sessors may haye been, sound commonplace and in-
928 HISTORY OF THE [1864

ferior to these. And as we get farther from the contest
and viewing it through time’s softening shades, these
two figures will stand out the more prominent. The
one called to the most exalted position by his fellow-
citizens, the other working up from the command of a
regiment by his own merits and true soldierly qualities.
The one a Moses and the other a Joshua to lead the
nation through a sea of trouble out of the wilderness
of war to Peace, the Land of Promise.

As fair an expression of the estimate placed on Gen-
eral Grant by foreigners, and in all probability an im-
partial one, is that given by Matthew Arnold, in a late
English magazine. This writer will not be charged
with entertaining a partial opinion of him or of his
countrymen generally, hence the higher value should
be placed on this.

“Wholly free from show, parade, and pomposity,
sensible and sagacious, scanning closely the situation,
seeing things as they actually were, then making up his
mind as to the right thing to be done under the cireum-
stances and doing it. Never flurried, never vacillating,
but also not stubborn; able to reconsider and change
his plans; a man of resource. When, however, he had
really fixed on the best course to take,—the right nail to
drive,—resolutely and tenaciously persevering, driving
the nail hard home,—Grant was all that.”

Proving General Grant by his actions, this opinion
is about as near correct as to his soldierly qualities as
can be expressed. About two years ago the writer was
in Vicksburg looking over the ground for the possession
1864] FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 229

of which the two armies fought so hard in 1863. At
the time referred to General Grant was on his death-
bed. One of the most prominent citizens of Vieks-
burg, Mr. R y, was present, and remarked, “ Our
people have none but the kindest feelings and best
wishes for General Grant.” The writer, on his invita-
tion, accepted a seat in his carriage, and became quite
interested as he recalled the incidents connected with
the battles on the Jackson road and the environment
of the city, ending with the capitulation of Pemberton.
The same generous sentiments, it is hardly necessary to
say, are expressed in the South towards President Lin-
coln. This, however, only Jeads to the goal desired ;
and at the risk of giving undue prominence to one
whose walk was in a subordinate position, it is ventured
to preface it with what will doubtless appear superfluous,
—a tribute to his superior officers. The writer feels
that his duty is not donc if he neglects the opportunity,
in the absence of a sketch of his life, having failed in
getting it, to give the Wheeling Intelligencer’s tribute to
Colonel Thoburn on the occasion of his burial, October
22,1864, asa fitting final to the history of his regiment.

 

“DEATH OF COLONEL THOBURN.

“What shall we write of him? what can we say
that any one in this community would recognize as a
just measure of tribute to his honored remains? Noble
man that he was, he has nobly fallen in the cause that
was dear as his life and his honor to his heart. Colo-

nel Wheat well said at the club last night that a truer
20
230 HISTORY OF THE [1864

man, a nobler soldier, a more unselfish patriot had not
fallen upon any battle-field in this war. :

“There is not a man in this community, divided
through it is in partisan feeling, that did not honor the
manhood and the soldiership of Colonel Thoburn, and
not one such that does not think that his death is to be
deplored. It is not for politics to set metes and bounds
to the public regret for the loss of such a man. The
city had come to feel a peculiar pride in the distinction
to which Colonel Thoburn had attained. He was, as
it were, her representative among the tried and ac-
knowledged leaders of the war who had won their
way to position by universally recognized merits.
Every battle had more and more endeared him to the
public heart. We were always learning more and
more of his excellence. His course was always upward ;
never once did a shadow fall between him and us.
The constant report sent by every one was that none
were more loved by the soldiers than Colonel Thoburn,
for he was always unselfish, always brave and genuine.

“The most magnificent pageant that was ever seen
in the city was the funeral of Colonel Thoburn. It
was altogether the most impressive that the community
ever witnessed in honoring the remains of the gallant
dead, and will live in the remembrance of the youngest
in our midst.”
FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 231

ue NDS aXe

ROSTER OF FIELD AND STAFF OFFICERS

OF THE

FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS,

THREE MONTHS’ SERVICE.

WITH A LIST OF COMPANY OFFICERS AND
ENLISTED MEN.

 

 

Name. Rank. Date of Rank. Remarks.

Benjamin F. Kelley | Colonel May 22,’61 | Pro. to brig.-
gen.

Henry B. Hubbard Lieut.-colonel July 18, 61 | Com. lieut.-col.
in three years’
regiment.

Isaae H. Duval Major June 1,’61 Com. major in
three years’
regiment.

John B. Lukens Ist lieut. andadjt. | May 29, ’6L

Isaac M. Pumphrey | Ist lieut. and reg. | May 27,’61 | App. major and

quartermaster paymaster U.

S. Army.
Joseph Thoburn Surgeon J seeeasaeeesenees Com. colonel of
three years’

regiment.

 

John D. M. Carr Assistant surgeon | Aug. 3, ’61

 

 

 
232

HISTORY OF THE

COMPANY A.

 

 

; When Must.

Name. Bank: into Service.

Britt, Andrew H. Captain May 10, 1861
Britt, Joseph D. Ist lieut. 10, “
O’Brien, Thomas 2a“ 10,
Craig, John Ist sergt. Th,
Britt, John T. Sergeant 10, “
Heaton, Saml. A. re 105.7 #6
Downey, Robt. . 10, -*
Kennedy, G. W. * Corporal Lio,
Wood, George se TOS 8
Smith, W. H. ih ding,
Beard, John F. ee TO,
Moreland, Henry Musician 10, #
McElroy, Samuel & Oy oc
Armstrong, Andrew Private 10,,
Bodley, James W. i ‘LO, 7s
Britt, T. G. is LG, 3
Britt, L. 8. a 0, .-€
Brunell, Thos. 0. - AO
Brady, John P. * 10... 58
Craig, Anthony es 10, “
Cropper, William " 0; *
Cropper, John a a0.)
Combs, Samuel es 10;
Combs, Morgan a 10, “
Cashman, John EB. es 10, “
Clark, Hezekiah f 10,
Conley, Walter * lo,
Clawson, Benj. ss TO), *84
Cruwbacker, Geo. K. ia 105.
Delo, Geo. C. e 1,
Debula, Wm. 10,
Fitton, Luke cy an,
Farley, Patrick a 10, “
Fenton, James ee 10, *
Fritts, Louis es 10, “
Fletcher, James es LO, 7"
Gooding, Benj. D. “ 10;
Gilchrist, Wm. W. ” 10, *
Glenn, John 10,
Haymaker, Chas. E. sf 10, “
Hoare, Wm. H. " ii, -@
Hill, George EG 10, “
Holt, John m lo, *
Haller, Joseph T. = 10,
Halpin, Patrick a TO, sf

 

 

 

Remarks.

 
FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 233

COMPANY A—Continued.

Name.

Little, John N.
Matthews, John
Marshall, Emanuel
Mills, Jeffrey
Mills, William A,
Meyers, William
Maffitt, Isaac
Marshall, Andrew
Manners, M. V. V.
Moses, David E.
MecDermot, John
McCune, Geo. R.
McCulley, James
McAdams, James
McAdams, Wm.
Newman, John W.
Nary, John P.
Phillips, Lewis
Poole, R. W. G.
Prettyman, Rubert
Rodenback, Fred.
Smith, John
Smith, Wm. H.
Smith, Lewis Z.
Savering, Henry
Sowers, John
Schofield, Joseph
Welsh, Anthony
Walt, John V.
Watkins, Reese
Wilson, John V.

Stephens, Ed. W., Jr.

Griffin, Charles E.
Norton, Thos. H.

Selah, Sam]. N.
Weston, Isaiah
Strobel, Charles L.
Gorrell, James B.
Travis, Wm. H.
Leasure, James A.
Bowers, James M,

 

 

 

 

When Must.

Rank, into Service,
Private May 10, 1861

“cc 10, ce

““r 10, “

“ce 10, “ce

“cs 10, “cc

“ 10, “ee

“ 10, “

“ 10, “

ce 10, “

“ 10, ce

“ce 10, ch

“ 10, ““

“ce li; “

it? 10, “

oc 10, “

“cc 10, “ce

“ 10, “

ce 10, “

“ 10, “

ce 10, “

“ce 10, “

“ee 10, “

“ 10, “ce

£e 10, “ce

“ 10, “

“ec 10, “

“ 10, “

“ 10, “

“cc 10, “

“ 1i, ‘“

“ 10, 6“

COMPANY B.

Captain May 11, 1861

Ist licut. ale

ge 5 ll, “

Ist sergt. dj. 38

Sergeant Tlie. 88

6 11, ce

“ 11, “c

Corporal 11, “

‘“ 11, “

“ 11, “

Remarks.

 

Transferred to the
regulararmy, U.S.
234 HISTORY OF THE

COMPANY B—Continued.

 

When Must.

 

Name. Rank. into Service. Remarks,
Arbuthnot, John 8. Corporal May 11, 1861
Cooke, James H. Musician 11,
Trisler, Charles « Ad,
Ainsworth, James C. Private 11. 4
Archey, Joseph et ae
Bailey, Lewis ~ eh
Brinton, Geo. W. sf Ly, oe
Baggs, Robt. H. es Lg
Burke, John © th, ™
Baker, Charles “ Le ss
Bernan, George W. “ ci eens
Clohan, Wm., Jr. se AL
Cromlish, George Lh.
Corbly, Eli C. _ Ly. ee
Coates, Jacob es i
Craig, John H. ” i
Davis, John _ iH, #
Emery, James a i; &
Ebukhausen, Henry & Ty. te
Evans, Wm. = uu
Florence, Brown on 1, 0
Fierrang, Peter u 11, “ | Wounded at Phil-

ippi, June 2, 61.
Gliddon, Alex. ae At, i
Harris, Thos., Jr. ie 1. *
Hodgkiss, Joseph es Ds 9
James, Richard a Ady
Jobnson, Wm. H. bed dd; #6
Kraft, August es Ti,
Kelley, Robt. a 11, #
Lindemuth, H. W. L. 11,
Lang, August “ Hy
Little, David ce 1a,
Morris, Joseph 6 11,, 4°
Montgomery, (eo. Ke Ld,
Metze, Henry C. ae 1,
Munn, Jacob ee TA:
McCready, John me Ti
McCready, James v Li
McGill, Jobn as Lt, @
Morrison, Wm. om Ti;
Murphy, Thomas of Li:
Mckinley, Finley nk Ti "6
Robinson, John ee Ti; 7
Robinson, Rudolphus « Til, » ‘46

 

 

 
FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 235

COMPANY B—Continued.

 

Name:

Smith, James D.
Sweeney, Terrence
Strobel, John H.
Shultz, John W.
Swaugor, Richard W.
Seibert, Franz
Simpkins, Daniel
Shaw, Victor
Stakeman, Geo. W.
Strobel, Robt. W.
Squiggins, George
Terwilleger, Joseph
Taylor, Benj. F.
Thomas, Thomas
Woodward, Joseph T.
Wilson, Thomas
Wells, Robert
Walker, Solomon
West, John

Work, Alfred

Wallace, Wm. H.
Weedon, Wm. H.
Woodward, Wm. H.

Fordyce, Isaac N.
MeNeeley, Thomas
Singleton, James W.
Morgan, Thos. W.
Lambuin, M. C.
Leasure, Geo. R.
Bushey, Wm. W.
Bambarger, Jones L.
Gratewood, J. L. D.
Staley, Jefferson
Fure, John P.
Simpson, John H.
Griffith, Con.
French, John D.
Johnson, Stephen
Ackerman, John G.
Adams, Milo
Armstrong, David H.

 

 

Rank.

Private
ce

When Must.
into Service,

May 11, 1861
,

i, ¢
11, cc
11, “
11, “
ll, ce
At, “e
ll, “
1, “
11. “
Ts “
11, “ee
11, “ce
11, “
1], “
11, “
11, “
1]; “
11, “
11; “
11, “
TI, “a
11; “

COMPANY C.

Captain
Ist lieut.
2d ““
Ist sergt.
Sergeant
“
“

Corporal.
“

Musician
“
Private
“

“

 

May 15, 1861
“

15,

15, “
15, “
15,
15, “ce
15; “
15, “
15, “
15, “
15, “
15, “c
15, “
15, “c
15, cc
J up “ce
15, “cc
15, “

 

Remarks.

Wounded at Phil-
ippi, June 2, 61.
236

COMPANY C—Continued.

HISTORY OF THE

 

 

Name. Rank. yee Remarks.
Arnold, Franklin Private May 15, 1861
Balls, Engler Ke 15;.
Barris, James C. es 153° '%
Booth, Hugh cs 5
Brady, C. C. a 15, 6S
Catlett, Ephraim “ 15.
Chalfant, Charles U3 16, #6
Chase, D. ee 15,
Cates, F. M. c 15, “
Delaney, Wm. C. “ 15,.
Detemple, Peter ss 15, “
Ditmore, Jobn M. “ 15, “ | Disch.; disability.
Frank, Lewis ef 15,
Frank, John Ke 15,
Frew, Alexander ee 1b, te
Fritz, Joseph sf Tb,
Fox, Jonathan cs 15,
Gefar, Joseph a 15.
Gabbert, L. C. « a
Grabam, Henry P. a 15.
Griffin, Wm. D. . 15, «
Guy, Robert A. & 15, <8
Hallowell, A. L. « 15, “*
Harris, J. N. i 15; «ff
Hartman, David 155°
Hathaway, L. D. se 15;. <@
Hornbrook, Henry H. & 5. ate
Howe, Thos. A. “ Ty.
Johnston, Wm. & 15, “
Jordan, George W. fe 15, *
Kehr, Jobn me is. *
Long, John * 15, “
Lowry, Calvin ee 15, “
Maer, Berthold ee 15;.
Metcalf, Richard e 15,
Melville, Samuel * Tso. Se
Mitchell, Wm. H. i 15, 0
McCormack, James ay Lo, 9
McCoy, Chas. D. af Loic 9's
McDiffit, James R. 5 in, *
McEntee, Matthew © 15; <6
Otto, Wm. af 15,
Radell, Jacob ve Too
Rust, August & 15, 6
Seabright, William + ty

 

 

 

 

 
FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 237

COMPANY C—Continued.

 

When Must.

 

 

 

ame: Rank. into Service.
Smith, John Private May 15, 1861
Soldan, H. C. « ¥55.
Spedden, John A. fs H5). fe
St. Myers, John “ 15, «
Steiger, John ae 15, “
Stinger, Nicholas us 15, «
Stetler, William is 5,3, 6
Stringer, Orloff ee 15, “
Taylor, James N. & Te ace
Walter, L. * Lb,
Watkins, D. Z. ne 155 3
Whitham, James ae 16, *
Wilson, William C. es i Poy
Wilson, Thomas ee 15;.
Wolvington, Thos. J. Hi 15;, °%

COMPANY D.

Stokely, Mountford 8.; Captain May 13, 1861
Orth, Christopher H. | Ist lieut. 13.
McCook, John J. 2d 13, «
Lawson, Charles Ist sergt. 13). 788
Holahaugh, Wm. Sergeant 13, “
Thornton, Chas. re 13,
Mineely, John s is, *
Maffit, John Corporal 13,..
Kelley, Nicholas ny 13;..
Batison, John a a,
Trimbur, George Fe 135
Sample, Woodman S.| Musician 1, 4
Fechner, Franklin a a, (=
Algeo, James Private 135...
Atkinson, Wm. HS 13,
Bright, Thornton a is, “
Brownlee, Danl. ef te.
Call, Isaiah “s 13,, 4°
Campbell, Terence i TB 8
Carlin, John a 13), “*
Clifton, Wm, if 13, “
Chancey, Michael a
Coombe, John ee 133.86
Francisco, John a ia,
Gardner, Thomas * 135.48
Garrett, Henry n 13,"

 

Remarks,

Wounded at
ippi, Va.

Phil-

 
238 HISTORY OF THE

COMPANY D—Continued,

 

 

George, Henderson Private May 13, 1861
Guam, Christopher ce 13,..
Hays, Charles 6 13;,
Harrison, Wm. 6“ 13;,. f
Henry, James & i, *
Henry, Levi ee 13,
Hicks, John ee 18, «
Holabaugh, Wm. es 13e te
Huish, George fe 13.
Hymens, Bounton a 13,, *
Kerr, John “ 13,
Kosler, Francis “6 oie fh
Kirkpatrick, Thomas es T35;
Laneaster, David “ 13). %6
Marsh, Theodore e 13, “ | Wounded at Phil-
ippi, Va.

McCord, Robert - 13),
McCrea, Robert mm 13, *
McSwiggin, Hugh ss 13,
Murdock, William ae T3y,- 8
Oliver, Joseph - 1, ©
O'Connell, Michael cs 13,.
O’Connell, James ae 13).
O’Neal, John se 13,
Patterson, David ee 13, ©
Peck, Isaac fe 13). 8
Piper, Peter ay EB, *
Porter, James se Pay 46
Prophater, James & 13;
Ramsey, James a 135-4
Richards, William Lopes
Richards, John V. a 13;-
Richardson, Robert 6 13,
Robinson, John T. us 135) 765
Robinson, W. al 43,
Sanders, Richard & 13,
Seeley, Joseph se 13,
Seeley, William Us 13, “
Shuler, John te Lay
Such, John 6 13,
Sullivan, Wm. oh 13, “
Smith, Charles ee 13,
Thornton, Addison We 13, “
Walker, William es 13, ff
Weaver, David ae 13,

 

 

 

 
FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 239

COMPANY D—Continued.

 

When Must.

 

Name. Rank. into Service. Remarks.
Weisman, William Private May 13, 1861
White, Andrew ot Se
Wright, Jacob - is, *
Wolf, Joho 2 13;
Wood, William en 13,. <3
Wyman, Jacob es 13,86
Young, Christopher c WSs

COMPANY E.

Trimble, George C. Captain May 17, 1861
Weddle, Jacob Ist lieut. | V7,
Trimble, John B. 2a“ | Ly,
Reese, David Ist sergt. 1z,. @
Macauley, James A. Sergeant igs
Phillips, Robert is ite. OSS
Smith, Porter sd Diyas
Thompson, Charles Corporal Li
Fritz, Adolph ee Tt,
Weddle, Henry « ire SE
Ashworth, James H. ff 17, %
Hoben, William Musician Vij!
Roberts, Thomas ae 17;,. “*f
Atkinson, Henry Private Is,
Blowers, John a ti"
Booth, Jason ee NTs « “8
Bell, Jason M. & 1
Bliss, Isaac af A eae
Crisswell, Lewis B. ee 7,
Crisswell, Elijah ae its
Cresswell, William £6 175) 8
Carr, Edward 17.
Croft, William “ Wye
Dickerson, Emanuel ue 17.
Dunn, Michael te V7. 7%
Detrick, Francis ee 17;,,. =
Everett, Robert S. o Tis.
Eckhart, Lewis i 17,
Emery, Jobn es Libis
Emery, Allen T. a T75i *
Green, Richard F. = Died
Higgins, Robert F. ee 17, “
Hoover, Basley x Ley
Hagemann, Jesse oy . 17.
Hannon, William fe iy,

 

 

 
240

COMPANY E—Continued.

HISTORY OF THE

 

Name.

Rank.

When Must.
into Service.

Remarks.

 

Hays, John
Hicks, William
Irwin, Clarence
Joues, Joseph
Jacobs, Jacob
Kraft, Albert
Kitson, Robert A.
Korner, William
Leonard, Andrew
Lloyd, William
Locke, Lewis
Lever, Joseph
McHenry, James
McCabe, Benjamin
Murrin, Geo. A.
McCormick, F.
Morrison, Danl. 8.
Newlan, Andrew J.
Nedemyers, Fred.
Oram, Lloyd
Quigley, Wm. H.
Quigley, Florence
Rice, John K.
Rector, Oscar
Smith, Wm. C.
Smith, John W.
Simpson, James
Shillin, Alexander
Simpson, Thomas M.
Stephens, Allen
Steele, Alfred
Shaffer, Henry
Sylvis, Caleb
Taylor, Joseph W.
Taylor, William
Taylor, Harrison
Untress, George
Winder, Charles
Whiteman, William
Wier, James A.
Wasson, Edward
Wallace, William

 

Private May 17, 1861
“ce

6“

 

 
FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY.

Name.

COMPANY F.

241

 

 

Donnelly, James
Stidger, Saml. B.
MeDonald, John 8.
Hagar, Jacob B.
White, Z. A.
Evans, Elmer
Connelly, James C,
Jugston, Wm. F,
Emory, Wilfred
Howard, John
Howard, Saml. M.
Hagar, Nicholas
Chaddock, Joseph
Allum, Harrison
Birch, John
Burley, Thos. P.
Bieletor, Amager
Criswell, Charles
Criswell, Danl.
Chambers, James
Chambers, G. W.
Damon, Norman
Fordyce, Solomon
Fox, Jobn E,
Fox, William
Gray, William
Gray, Samuel
Gallagher, James
Harris, Elias R.
Harris, Wm. P.
Howard, James
Howard, Wiley
Hobbs, Isaac
Helmes, Martin
Knapp, Robert
Leonard, Allison G.
Lydick, Samuel
Murphy, Salathiel
Murphy, David 7,
Myers, Henry
Mellon, William
Mellon, Samuel
Miller, Andrew
Miller, Gabriel
Moore, Ezekiel

 

 

Rank. Pecan Remarks.
Captain May 13, 1861
Ist lieut. iy *
2% 13.
Ist sergt. 1355
Sergeant iy

“ 13, “
“ 13, “
Corporal i oe
““ 73,
“ 13, “ce
“ 13, “
Musician 13.9 8
“ 13, “cc
Private 13,
“ 18, “c
“ce 13, “
“ce 13, “
“ce 13, “
“ 13, “ce
“ 13,
“ 13; “
“ 13,
“re 13, ct)
“ 13, ce
“ 13,
“ 13, ae
“c 13, “
“é 13, “
“ 13, “
ce i,
“c 13; “
“ 3» 28
“c 135 “
“ Taha
7 Bes ae
i Tpins04
“ 13, ee
“ 13, “ec
“ 13, “
“ 13, ee
“ i
“ 13, “
“c 13); “
“ 13, “
“c 13, ““

 
242

HISTORY OF THE

COMPANY F—Continued.

 

When Must.

 

Name. | Rank. | into Service. | Remarks.
McClelland, William Private May 13, 1861
“ce “

McFarland, Thomas
McGan, John
Marshall, Thomas
Marshall, Jesse
Martin, Joseph
Merchant, Benjamin
Ogle, Jacob

Ogle, Daniel S.
Piles, James M.
Parkinson, Benoni
Riggs, Andrew
Ross, Samuel

Reed, Levi

Reed, Ezra M.

Reed, Alpheus
Rallston, Chas. A.
Sanders, James C.
Strickland, John
Sands, Freeman P.
Sands, George N.
Steward, Jesse
Talbert, Anthony W.
Tarr, Brice

Thomas, Elias
Woods, Preston H.
Whipkey, Alexander
White, John W.
White, David C.
Williams, Andrew J.
Willyard, Henry

Kubn, James I.
White, James G.
Kuhn, A. W.
Beall, Thomas
Grany, Edward
Russell, Henry
Cagan, John
Duke, Thomas
Donaldson, John
Armstrong, Jonathan
McBride, Frank

Captain
Ist lieut.
2d ““é
Ist sergt.

Sergeant
its

“

Corporal
“

“
“

 

 

Dy

13, “
13, “
13, “
13, “
13, “
13, “«
13, “

3
13 “
13,
13, “
13,
133.08
13-88
3. “
13,
13s “
13,
13 “
13, “
13, “
13, “
13...
13,
135,
135-46
13, “
13; “6
13, “

COMPANY G.

May 16, 1861
ct?

16,
16, “
16, “ac
16, “c
16, “cc
16, “cc
16, rcs
16, “
16, “

16,

 
FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 243

COMPANY G—Continued.

 

Name.

Rank.

When Must.
into Service,

 

Mather, Alexander
Fowell, Frederick

Arnold, William
Arnold, Thomas
Ban, James
Brinker, Alfred
Bayless, Edward
Bradshaw, William
Cronin, Patrick
Caldwell, Robert
Caldwell, James
Crawford, George
Cook, Edward
Carr, Thomas
Cole, Elijah
Davis, Jerry
Davis, William
Davis, Dennis
Dunn, George
Daugherty, Daniel
Elder, Isaac
Fraser, Daniel
Frills, James
Fits, Michael
Fleming, William
Fleming, John
Fox, Rudolphus
Gassaway, John
Gwin, Jobn
Hively, Augustus
Hanan, Frank
Hanan, James
Hale, Henry
Hindman, Saml.
Hall, Frederick
Jacob, John
Lewis, William
Latimore, John
Musta, Henry
Moren, Robert
Merryman, Thomas
McConky, Joseph G.
McNab, James
McGill, John

 

Musician

Private
‘

 

May 16, 1861
€

16,

16,
16,
16,
16,

 

“

Remarks.

Accidentally killed,
May 27, 1861.

Dead; Grafton, W.
Va.

 
244

HISTORY OF THE

COMPANY G—Continued.

 

Name.

Remarks.

 

Marsh, George
Noland, Joseph
O’Cary, Edward
Porter, Bellany 8.
Patterson, Saml.
Prather, George
Ryan, John
Runyan, James
Russell, William
Smith, James
Smith, John E,
Spencer, Thomas
Stroud, Joshua
Taylor, George
Tuesh, John
Uperaft, John
Williams, Walter
Wright, Marshall
Wright, Benton
Winters, William
Wallace, Robert
Young, Isaac

Park, Thomas C,
Melvin, Oscar F.
Melvin, Enos W.
Lewis, James A.
Plattenberg, J. W.
Amick, George N.
Reed, Wheeler A.
Jackson, James
Hall, Chester B.
Haney, James M.
Nicholls, James C.
Nicholls, Robert
Nicholls, Edward
Archy, Jobn C.

Armstrong, Wm. 8.

Anderson, Martin
Brewer, George
Brownlee, Martin
Brownlee, William
Barnes, Shepley

 

When Must.
ee jnto Service.
Private May 16, 1861

“ 16, “
“ 16, “
“ce 16, oe
“ 16, “
“ce 16, cc
ce 16, ce
“ 16, “
“ 16, “
“ce 16, “
“ 16, “ce
“ 16, “ce
“ce 16, “ce
cc 16, “
“ce 16, “
“a 16, “
“ee 16, “
“ 16, “
“ 16, “ce
“ 16, “
ck 16, “
“cc 16, “

COMPANY H.

Captain May 16,
Ist lieut. 16,
oS 16,
Ist sergt. 16,
Sergeant 16,
os 16,

a 16,
Corporal 16,
e 16,

16,

“ 16,
Musician 16,
16,

Private 16,
6 16,

“ce 16,

“ 16,

“« 16,

“ 16,

“ 16,

 

 

 
FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 245

COMPANY H— Continued.

 

When Must.

 

 

 

Heme Rank. into Service, Cae:
Blankinsop, George Private May 16, 1861
Briggs, Jobn A. « 16, “
Burchard, David T. “ 16, “
Bigger, Wilson S. a 16; #8
Billingsly, William ue 16,
Ball, Richard Mi 16,.
Crewson, Wm. B. & 16, “
Clemens, John M. i te, =
Corbley, Andrew us 16,
Collins, James F. i 16, ©
Cowens, John §. sg li, *
Campbell, James es 16, “
Davis, Alfred « 16, «
Deighton, William en 16, “
Dean, John a 16, “ | Dead.
Davis, Charles F. a 96,
Everhart, Fred. E. ss 16,
Everett, John * 16, “ | Deserted.
Frazier, George A. i 16, *
Frank, George F. es 16,
Foster, Joseph e 16, *
Foster, Robert - 16, “
Fleming, Henry E. - 16,
Good, Thomas E. Ke 16;
Goudy, William A. ne 16, “
Gilchrist, John S. yy 16, “
Howard, Wm. W. - a0,
Harris, W. W. ag 16, +
Kimberland, H. C. ha ig, *
Kimberland, C. H. ee 16, *
Krider, Theodore * 16, ©
Lazier, James « 16, “
Litzens, Richard . 16, “
Miller, John s 16, “ | Deserted.
Martin, William a 16,
Melvin, Wm. H. ac 16, “
Mer, Lewis D. e 16, “
Mercer, Alfred E. me 16, “
McGrew, Andrew “ 16,
McCoy, Samuel * 16, *
Nagle, Samuel D. tf 165°
Noland, Samuel D. < 16, “
Pillings, Chas., Jr. 16, “
Palmer, John A. J. . 16, *
Pettit, Jeremiah “ 16, “

 

 

21*
246 HISTORY OF THE

COMPANY H—Continued.

 

When Must.

Name. Rank. into Service. Remarks.
Romph, Charles Private May 16, 1861
Silender, James i 16, “
Silender, William 16,
Shearer, Andrew a 16, *
Shriver, Wm. L. ee 16,
Sprager, Edward me 16;,
Smith, Wm. H. H. - 16,,-
Sample, Richard - 16,
Slaugherty, Patrick ss TGs
White, William ce 16;.
White, George M. ie 16, *

: COMPANY I.
Chapman, B. W. Captain May 17, 1861
Lloyd, Thomas 1st Jieut. 1G,
Brown, Richard H. as 17, “
Campbell, M. B. 2d a,
Freeman, Chas. A. Ist sergt. 1,
Hewitt, William Sergeant ln *
Morrow, W. W. a Lie:
Caldwell, J. D. Corporal Vie.
Swearingen, B. L. i Tey *8
Hart, Wm. M. ss Ly; -#
Miller, Thomas os a
McClintock, J. F. Musician Wi,
Halstead, Samuel “ r,
Adams, J. 0. Private Le
Askin, Jobn * lj, *
Apple, Theodore L. fe Te, a
Aten, James ne Ry
Branden, M. V. st Ty. 7
Bonsall, W. G. a ae
Beebout, S. K. te ct
Bird, George - 1%.
Baxton, John s Lis &
Cullin, J. W. a ifsc
Crawford, Lewis se Lids: Vs
Caldwell, Cyrus ae i.
Chapman, Samuel vf hh aa
Curren, James ss Mies
Cullen, J. M. ee die
Campbell, Alex. de Wigs 288
Durbin, John W. ef Tits. of
Dorman, J. M. we it,

 

 

 

 
FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 247.

Name.

Darrah, James
Durbin, Ephraim
Edie, J. N.
Farnsworth, Wm.
Graham, J. N.
Graham, Charles
Gear, E. W.
Harper, Alexander
Headland, James
Hewitt, R. B.
Hewitt, J. A.
Hon, Joseph
Kerr, A. J. Li,
Kerr, J. B.

Kerr, D. L.
Kemp, G. W.
Laughlin, F.
Lockhart, F. J.
Moore, J. M.
McCarty, J. A.
McGilvery, John
McSwiggen, J. C.
Newell, James
Peden, Hezekiah
Pickel, Leonard
Ramsey, W. J.
Reed, Thos.
Ramsey, Robt.
Russell, J. C.
Ralston, Benjamin
Riddle, Robert

Snowden, James R.

Smith, J. W.
Simpson, Robert
Sutor, Robert
Steele, J. M.
Scott, J. R.
Troup, Samuel

Thayer, W. H.
Vance, A. H.

White, J. W.
Wylie, D. M.
Wylie, D. N.

COMPANY I—Continued.

 

 

When Must.
into Service.

May 17, 1861
] “

17,
17,
17,

 

 

 

Remarks.

Accident’ly w’nded,
July 4, 1861.

Injured by railroad
cars.

 
248 HISTORY OF THE

COMPANY I—Continued.

 

When Must.

 

Name. Rank. inte Service. Remarks.
Wasson, Thomas Private May 17, 1861
Winch, Jacob ne iy, *
Webb, C. W. - Li, =?

COMPANY K.
Robinson, Geo. W. Captain May 17, 1861
Bryson, C. H. Ist lieut. Hes 36
Crawford, Peter i 17, “ | Captured; — after-
wards escaped.

Barnes, John 1st sergt. 17, °°
Parker, W. H. H. Sergeant 1%,
Tippitt, William ee 17, #
McCord, Hugh e a7,
MeLaugbhlin, Harry Corporal 7, «
Boyle, D. st 17,“
Johnston, R. es 1g
McTighe, P. si th
Hanes, John Musician 17,
Holt, Peter He ia,
Arker, Joseph Private Ty 66
Albaugh, Daniel * it,
Brawley, Frank . 1%.
Bureker, Barry «¢ 155. #8
Beard, James i L708
Curren, Patrick *f Ly.
Clagg, Josephus ie 1G). 88
Canprey, Joseph fe Thy
Cooper, John “e Tg Ses
Caddy, John ae 17, “
Carrol, M. ee 17-8
Crawford, James et Tt
Chalk, John Ks TZ, 8
Collums, 8. P. ee 17. et
Donohue, Patrick ee 17,
Deffibaugh, James ac 17, “
Dades, Clinton & TG,
Denny, James sf ii,
Dunbar, Carson cf 1.
Dean, Patrick eC 17
Finton, Michael ae 17. ©
Flinder, E. D. " 17,
Foster, Henry ee VW,
Foster, John ae Lz, Ke
Galliber, Daniel ae Ls."

 

 

 
FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 249

COMPANY K—Continued.

 

 

 

 

 

Name. Rank. ape ca Remarks.
Gillespy, James Private May 17, 1861
Holliday, Thomas se a
Hanes, W. C. et 1%,
Haney, M. Ly te
Harney, G. a Tr. 6
Howell, James tf dilge oS
Herron, Wm. fe in
Hogan, Geb. ie Dis 768
Harlem, Michael * ie
Johnston, B. x if,
Johnston, August fe ease te
Kuhns, John as 17;
Leon, Frank < 17,
McCollum, Wash. _ a
McCollum, Wm. a Wig.
McCaw, Robert a 17, *
MeConnell, James ‘ 1%, #
MeDavitt, Charles ee 17, *
McGuire, Patrick fg Life 88
McGuire, Michael ff Tig
Maxwell, William a 17,
McBride, James iS Nf 6 SEE
Mouile, Christian ve 17; <4
O'Keefe, John ss 17, $8
Pugh, Thomas = a
Porter, James ne Yi,
Ramedge, George me Co
Robinson, Andrew a i oe
Rupert, Mat. = ipa
Reynolds, G. D. ce 17%,
Rolly, Stephen | ee Die 8
Riddle, James ee Lise 3!
Sarver, David ee i *
Smith, George 17,“ |
Thacker, Thomas | . it,
Venniman, John s iv; “
Verey, John | tf Tt,
Wayman, Peter ee 17, “
West, Daniel os iy,
250

HISTORY OF THE

APPHN DIX. B.

ROSTER OF FIELD AND

OF THE

STAFF OFFICERS

FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS,
THREE YEARS’ SERVICE,
SHOWING THE CHANGES THEREIN,

WITH THE NAMES OF COMPANY OFFICERS AND
ENLISTED MEN.

 

 

Name. Rank. si Remarks.
Joseph Thoburn | Colonel. Oct. 30,761) Wounded March 23, 62;
mortally wounded Oct.
19,64; in command of
a division at the time;
died same day.
Hy. B. Hubbard | Lieut.-col. Noy. 2,’61| Wounded and disch. Oct.
3, 762.
Jacob Weddle. is a Dec. 4, 62
Isaac H. Duval. | Major. Nov. 2,’61 | Wounded; pro. colonel 9th
Va. Inf. Sept. 9, ’62.
Jacob Weddle. Dec. 4, 62} Pro. from captuin Co. A;
pro. to lieut.-col.
Ed. W. Stephens Dee. 4,762) Pro. from captain Co. F;
must. outexp. term serv.
James McElroy | Ist lieut. and | Nov. 13, 61} Pro. to captain Co. D.
adjt.
Hy. J. Johnson | Ist lieut. and | Sept. 23,’62| Pro. from sergt.-major;
adjt. trans. to 2d Regt. Vets.
W.T. Singleton | Ist lieut. and) Nov. 13,’61| Pro. to capt. and C. 8.;
R.J. M. captured.
Lucian Gray Ist lieut. and| July 4, ’64) Vice Singleton, pro. capt.
R. J. M. Co. 1, 2d Vets.
David Baguley | Surgeon. Oct. 29, 61) Must. out exp. term serv.
A.W. D. Kraft | Asst. surg. Jan. 19, ’63 | Disch. March 19, 763.
8. B. Stidger fe Oct. 30, 61) Resigned July 10, 62.
Jas. L. Gillespie |“ & July 8, ’62 ee Nov. 18, 762.
John English a e Feb. 27, ’63 | Vice Gillespie, resigned.
Gordon Battelle | Chaplain. Feb. 19, 62} Dead,
Wm. R. Howe © Feb. 4, ’63| Must. out exp. term serv.

 

 

 

 
FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 2651

 

 

 

 

COMPANY A.
or | When Must,
Namie: Ranic into Service.
Weddle, Jacob Captain
Robb, Wm. J. fe
Kelley, Wm. B. Ist lieut.
Barnes, John 2a 3!
Simpson, Thos. M. | 2d “
Baird, James Private Sept.
Bently, Martin. ve fe 25,
Bentz, Jacob ef O25.
Booth, James C. Corporal a
Bier, Philip A. Private 25
Beyer, John mt 2
Bumford, Wm. cs ae ote
Booth, Jason ME a Dib E
Corkran, James R. re BS D255
Coleman, Wm. ee £6 Oa er
Castle, Henry C. " | Mech. 31, 64
Cummins, Michael « | ae eae
Clevis, Charles as April 2, “
Clifton, Plato N. “ Sept. 25, 61
Chisnell, Martin oe re = aby Se
Clark, Hezekiah a eee’ 3)) a
Cochran, Wm. sig Feb. 15,64
Connelly, Geo. L. Ist sergt. | Sept. 25,61
Coppinger, John | Private Aug. 14,62
Detrich, John ie se | Sept. 25,761
Ditmore, John fs ey
Detrich, Frank we fe 225,
Dickinson, Emanuel eS ee os,
Denis, John o 25g
Emery, John , «& 26,
Evans, Wm. R. | MS aD ek
Eckhart, August et fe 96
Ebbert, Wm. B. us 25, ©
“a “a 25, “

Foster, John A.

 

 

 

Remarks.

Pro. major ’62.

Pro. from Ist sergt. to 2d
lieut., to 1st lieut., and
to capt., Nov. 1, 762;
captured Jan, "64,

Detached, A. D.C.

Dead ’62, at Port Repub-
lic.

Pro. from Ist sergt.’62.

Missing in action Sept.
64; dead.

Re-enl. Feb. 12, 764.
Wounded May, ’64; re-
enl. Feb. 23, ’64; 2d
lieut. 2d Vet. Inf. 764.
Re-enl. March 19, ’64.
Disch. 63; disability.
““ 64,

Captured "64.

Re-enl. Jan. 1, ’64.
“March 19, ’64.
Wounded; disch. 763.
Disch. ’64; disability.
Re-enl. ’64; dead ’64, at
New Market. :
Deserted 763.

Re-enl, Jan. 25, ’64.
“ "Feb. 24, “

Dead June 9, ’62, at Port
Republic.

Re-enl. Feb, 11, 64.

Re-enl. Feb. 12, 64; pro.
sergt.-maj. July 29,64,
Ist lieut. 2d Vets.
252

HISTORY OF THE

COMPANY A—Continued.

When Must.

 

 

 

Name. Rauk. into Service. Remarks.

Foster, Henry C. Private Sept. 25, 61 | Re-enl. Feb. 23, ’64; cap-
tured ’64, at New Mar-
ket.

Fletcher, James < «25, “ | Dishonorably discharged.

Gliddon, Alexander “ “25, “ | Wounded ’62.

Gruber, Charles * ce 25... $F

Greer, Henry C. Corporal mS 0G,

Gilespie, John Private « 25, “ | Re-enl. Jan. 25, 64.

Gosney, Andrew i Og Mid Ogee «Feb. 23, “

Greer, David sa sO 25, $8 Ke Tele

Griffith, Constantine = «25, “ | Disch., disability, 762.

Gilespie, Andrew ~ ty ADO ee se “ “

Gilchrist, Win. a Oct. 13, “ | Pro. to principal mu-
sician 63.

Hane, Wm. C. se Sept. 25, “

Holliday, Thos. B. “ een

Hicks, Richard . 25,

Harris, Edgar T. e «25, “ | Wounded; discharged.

Harron, Wm. %e 28,

Habig, Peter sf $6 255-8

Haberfield, Geo. 8. we O25,

Henry, James A. “@ ea,

Hicks, Linsley * M’ch 31, 64

Hamilton, Smith Corporal | Sept. 25, ’61 | Re-enl. Feb. 23, 764.

Hamilton, Milton Private «25, “ | Dead June 9, 762.

Hagerman, Jesse “ «25, “ | Deserted 763.

Howell, Thomas se Aug. 8,’62} Deserted from 77th Ohio
Inf.; returned to his
regiment.

Higgins, Robt. Sergeant | Sept. 25, 61

Irwin, Clarence E. | Ist sergt. «25, “ | Re-enl. Feb. 11, 64; capt.
2d Vet. Inf. Nov. ’64.

Jefferson, Alex. H. | Corporal «25, “ | Re-enl. Feb. 23,’64; dead
64, at New Market.

Kraft, Albert Private «25, “ | Pro. to hosp. steward ’61,

Lewis, Frank ~ M’ch 24, ’64|} Wounded; captured ’64,
at Piedmont,

Lever, Joseph = Sept. 25, ’61] Re-enl. Jan. 25, ’64.

Lukens, Joshua B. as «25, “ | Dead June, ’64, at Snick-
er’s Ford.

Moore, John H. es ie 25,

Moore, Josiah 8. &S BS S95, ee

Martin, Joseph ip Jan. 28,’64] Missing in action ’645
dead.

Meissner, John G. Me Bet, 15, *

 
FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 253

COMPANY A—Continued.

 

When Must.

 

Name. Rank. into Service.
Macauley, James A. | Sergeant | Sept. 25, ’61
Miller, Michael Private ES AD Oy ae
Mericle, Albert W. fe Ee 25 5 tt
Maxwell, Wm. fe Feb. 13, 62
Mayer, Henry P. es Sept. 25, 61
Mitchell, Andrew J. a io 355
McCormick, Frank = 2
McIntee, Mathew at TES i Oh
Newlove, James T. sf es
Power, Michael fs Jan, 28, 64
Petticord, James T. mt Sept. 25,61
Pryrock, Thos. G. Corporal a SDH ae
Richardson, Theoph, uf se 25,
Ripley, Peter Sergeant * 2h, *
Rector, Oscar Private oe gae
Rose, Geo. W. “ eT
Rigsby, Geo. A. < eS 225.3 8
Robertson, Clegg D. e i E20 es
Robertson, John C. | Corporal ee 125, 8
Rodenback, Wm. Private Oct. 13, “
Ritz, Michael “e Sept. 25, “
Riley, Lee A. Corporal Ae 25,
Rader, Adam Private me 25,
Smith, John W. se eB ee
Smith, Wm. C. Corporal OS DH se
Sheperson, Wm. R. | Private | April 14,764
Stringer, Oliver es Sept. 25, 61
Steuber, George mA Ke 2a
Simpson, James ne Oct. 13, “
Smith, John B. “e Sept. 25, “
Shoup, Jacob 8 es
Thompson, Herschel e OS 220588

 

 

 

Remarks.

 

Wounded; disch. 62.

Disch., disability, 762.
“ce “cc “
“ce “ce “ce

Wounded; disch. 64.
Dead 62.

Re-enl, Feb. 26, ’64.
Meh, 21, "64,

Captured ’64.

Re-enl. Jan. 25, ’64.

Disch., disability, 62.

Captured Feb. 1, ’64.

Re-enl. Feb. 11, ’64; Ist
lieut. Vets. Nov. ’64.

Re-enl. Feb. 23, ’64;
wounded and captured
64, at New Market.

Re-enl. Feb. 23, ’64.

Re-enl. March 19, ’64;
missing in action at
Cedar Creek Aug. 12,
64.

Re-enl. Feb. 11, 764.
“ ee 198 ce

ll, “

Disch., disability, 762.

“c 6c

Re-enl. Feb. 12, ’64;
discharged.
Re-enl. Feb. 23, 764;

wounded; dead ’64, at
New Market.

Re-enl. Feb. 23, ’64.

Re-enl. Jan. 1, ’64; cap-
tured June 18, ’64.

Re-enl. Feb. 12, ’64.

Re-enl. Feb. 11, 764;
wounded; dead ’64, at
New Market.

Deserted 63.

Re-enl. March 10, 764; de-
serted July, 64.

 

nw
Ww
254

HISTORY OF THE

COMPANY A—Continued.

 

Name.

When Must.

Rank. into Service.

 

Remarks.

 

Thacker, Thomas
Thorn, Saml. S.
Venaman, John

Weddle, Henry
Wharton, Lewis
West, Daniel
Wasson, Thomas
Wills, John

White, James C.
White, Geo. M.

McElroy, James

Daugherty, John W.

McKee, Thos. H.

Ryan, John F.

Clemmons, John M.
Billingsly, James E.
Burns, James M.

Baker, David W.
Beher, Fred.

Buchaulous, Theo.
Brian, F.

Caldwell, James
Chambers, W. H.
Crusen, John C,
Conway, Peter
Carrens, Erastus
Calbaugh, James E.

 

 

Private | Sept. 25, ’61
o Feb. 15, *64

Corporal | Sept. 25, 61
Sergeant Bin Db 8
Private Be 20 SS
“ «95,
“ce “ 25, “c
. Aug. 6,762

COMPANY B.

Captain Oct. 3, 61

is Jan. 16,63
Ist lieut. | Sept. 9, ’61
MSH AE | i a aeeaestyesiiss
Ist “ Jan. 16, ’63
2a. Feb. 20, 63
Ist sergt. | Sept. 17, 61
Private Feb. 28, 62
Sergeant / Oct. 3, ’61
Private Sept.12, “

“ fee Dae

me Oct. 3, “
Sergeant | Sept.16, “
Corporal | Oct. 3, “
Private SG Te
Corporal | Feb. 16, 62
Private Jan. 16, “

ee Oct. 3,761

ss Sept.16, “

 

 

Captured Oct. 764.

Re-enl. Jan. 25, 64; cap-
tured May, ’64, at New
Market.

Disch. G. 0. W. D. ’62.
«disability, 62.
Deserted 63.

Resigned Jan. ’63,

Wounded Aug. ’62; pro.
1st lieut. May 1, 763;
pro. capt. Jan. 16, 64;
captured Sept. 763.

Appointed adjt.

Pro. from Ist sergt. to Ist
lieut. Noy. 12, 762; pro.
to capt. and trans. to
Co. I.

Pro. from Ist sergt. to 2d

.; captured Sept.
11, 63.

Pro. from Ist sergt. to 2d
lieut. Feb. 20, ’63.

Captured Sept. 11, ’63.
Re-enl. Jan. 25,64; pro.
lieut. U.S. A.
Re-enl. Feb. 8, ’64.
Re-enl. Feb. 23, 64 ; cap-
tured May 15,64; dead.
Disch.; disability.
Re-enl. Feb. 8, 64; dead
64, at Piedmont
Captured Sept. 11, ’63.

Recruit.
oe

Re-enl. Jan. 23, 64,
“ “ce 23, “ace
FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY.

255

COMPANY B—Continued.

 

 

Name. Rank. Jeon ee Remarks.

Cunningham, J.C. | Private Sept. 17, 61] Re-enl. Jan. 23, 64; cap-
tured May 15,64; dead.

Cogan, Jobn ss “17, “ | Disch.; disability.

Crawford, Wm. a cS TA ee " ef

Clark, Thaddeus Musician «11, * | Trans. to V. R. C. April
10, 64.

Davis, James M. Private “16, “ | Captured Sept. 11, ’63.

Davis, Levi P. ie « 16, “ | Re-enl. Jan. 23, 764.

Daugherty, Danl. Corporal “17, “ | Disch.; disability; died.

Devinney,WilburF.| « qe |“ “

Davis, Chas. 5. Private “6, “ | Captured Sept. 11, 763;
disch., disability, July
6, 764.

Durrett, Henry C. Jan. 1,’62| Disch. 0.S.of W. Nov. 20,
62.

Davis, Shadrach - Sept. 16,61) Dead May 23, 62, at Win-
chester.

Dunlap, Saml. ee Oct. 3, “ | Dead Nov. 5, 763.

Davis, James 8. te Sept.19, “ | Deserted Aug. 31, 63; re-
instated.

Fier, Wm. eh Oct. 3, “| Dead March 23, 762, at
Winchester.

Gillespie, John D. uf Sept. 9, “

Green, Henry H. Corporal | Oct. 3, “ | Captured Sept. 11, 763;
died a prisoner.

Green, Marshall 8. | Private Feb. 28,’62; Re-enl. Feb. 14, ’64.

Gasaway, John Corporal | Sept. 18,’61| Disch.; disability.

Gillespie, James Private “ii, “ | Died Aug. 8, ’62.

Gasho, Jacob Sergeant «9, “ | Deserted May 5, ’62.

Handel, Wm. Private «15, “ | Captured Sept. 11, ’63.

Halley, James ee «12, “ | Re enl. Jan. 23, ’64.

Hall, Alvin fe “17, “ | Disch.; disability.

Hamilton, Horatio a Oct, 2, * “by order 8. of W.

Jones, James W. “e Sept. 18, “ | Captured Sept. 11, ’63.

Jones, Isaac i M6 Ee oe

Jeffers, Henry C. ee Feb. 28,762 | Recruit.

Jeffrey, John S. - Oct. 3,’61| Disch. by order 8. of W.

Kimberland, C. H. & Sept.18, “ | Captured Sept. 11, 763;
died a prisoner.

Kimberland, John C.| Corporal “« 18, “ | Captured Sept. 11, 63.

Kerns, Gamaliel Private Mch. 24, 64) Recruit.

Kimberland, Danl. ae Feb. 28,’62) Re-enl. Feb. 14, 764.

Kerns, Davis - Sept. 11,’61 | Disch.; disability.

Kelley, Isaac Musician «42, “ | Trans to V. R. CG. April
10, 64.

 

 

 

 
256

HISTORY OF THE

COMPANY B—Continued.

 

| Rank.

 

When Must.

 

Name. into Service. Name.
Keller, Sophina Private Sept. 21,’61 | Deserted Oct. 4, ’61.
Miller, Thomas Corporal | Oct. 17, “ | Captured Sept. 1], ’63.

““

Mendel, George C.

Ist sergt.

Merryman, Thos. D. Private

Miller, Wm. I.
Moore, Ebenezer F.
Murray, James W.

Martin, Alexander
McNabb, James
MeNabb, John

MeLaugblin, Andw.

McCafferty, Win.
McElroy, Ebenezer
McKeever, Burney
Nelson, John M.
Noland, Joseph

Noland, David.

O’ITanlin, Peter
Patterson, Saml.
Prather, Geo, M.

Plumer, Wm.
Russell, James A.
Ross, Perry J.
Roberts, Wm. G.

Russell, Travilla A.

Robinson, Edw. 8.
Robinson, Wash. P.
Smith, Clark

Still, Saml.

Stock, Henry C.

Sims, Ezra

Swarr, Adam
Shearer, Benj. F.
Stewart, James D.
Swords, Robt. M.
Taylor, Geo. D.
Thompson, And. J.

 

 

 

“
“
“c

“

Sergeant

Private
“

“i

Corporal
«

Private
“ce
“ce
“

cc
Sergeant
Private
Corporal

Private

Corporal
Private

«“

“

“
Sergeant

Corporal
Private

 

“e 11, “
“oe 1l, “
“ce 19 46
“ce 19, “
“ce 18, “cr
Oct. 3, “
Sept. 10, “
Oct. 3, “
“ 3, “
“ By “cs
“ce 3, “cc
“ 3, “re
“ce 3, “ce
“ce 11, “
“ce 3, oe
Sept. 11, “
Oct. 16, “
sept 12,
Oct. 3, “
“cr 3, “ce
“ec 3, oe

“ 4“
;

oe x ce
3;

“cs 3 “

Sept. 16, ef

Mch. 31,64
April’ 2, “
Sept. 21,61
Feb. 28,’62

Oct. 3,61
Sept. 9, «
“cr 21, “ce

 

“ 11, “
Re-enl. Jan. 23, 64.
Disch. by order 8. of W.
«disability, 762.
Disch. by order 8. of W.
Nov. 20, 762.
Trans. to V. R. C.
Captured Sept. 11, ’63.

disability.
«Nov. 62,
«by order §. of W.

6 “ “ “

Disch. ;
“ce

Captured Sept. 11, ’63.
Missing in action May
15, 64, at New Market.
Disch. by order 8. of W.
“disability, Aug.’63,
Captured Sept. 11, ’63.
Wounded and captured
at Port Republic, 762;
again captured Sept.
11, 763.
Disch., disability, Nov.’62.
Captured Sept. 11, ’63.
6“ “ T 6
Re-enl. Jan. 23, 64; cap-
tured Sept. 11, 763.
Re-enl. Jan. 23,
wounded May, ’64.
Disch. by order 8. of W.
“ “ “ “

64;

Captured Sept. 11, °63;
died a prisoner.
Recruit.
Disch.; disability.
“ “ee 62

Captured Sept. 11, 763.
Disch.; disability.

 
FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY.

257

COMPANY B—Continued.

 

Name.

Remarks.

 

Thompson, E. J.
Updegraff, Jacob
Waugh, Robert
Wells, Edwin
Walters, Sylvester
Wilson, Wm. H.
White, Asa C,
Walters, Martin

Milhouse, William

Orr, Wm. H.

Singleton, James W.

Stewart, Burgess
Vance, Robert W.

Gordon, Joseph B.

Armstrong, John A.
Anderson, M. V. B.

Bayless, Wm. W.
Brindley, James K.
Bucey, Jesse
Bucey, Thos.
Bucey, Zachariah
Barr, Remedias
Bailey, Levi W.
Brown, Gilead
Brown, Thos.
Brown, James W.

Brown, Jacob
Burton, John
Burris, Orloff Z.
Bucey, H. Wesley
Babb, Anderson J.

Babb, Samuel

When Must.

Rank. into Service.

Private Sept. 19, 6
Corporal OP Mle i
ve “ ll, «

“ Oct. 3, “
Private Da
“« Sept.19, “

> irene ace niatatanrs

“ PEs ADs SE
COMPANY C.
Captain | Oct. 1,’61
“ Nov. 1,762
Ist lieut. ee
% « Oct. i, 61
oq “ 1. 8
1 « Feb. 2,63
Corporal | Oct. 1,’61
Private Ty
ze “ Tu. 6

“ ee 2, “s

* « 2a

“ Mch. 1,’64

a “ 1 “

be “ i, “ce

“e oy 24, sf

“ “. 35,

“ © Bly 6

“ Oct 1,61

“c Mch 1,’64

i ‘“ 18, “cc

“ ee BL, «
Corporal | Oct. 2,761
Private met Gln
“ce ee 1, es

 

 

 

Disch.; disability.

Captured Sept. 11, ’63.

Wounded.

Captured Sept. 11, ’63.

Re-enl. Jan, 23, 764.

Disch. by order S. of W.
“ “ “ce ce

Deserted April, ’62.

Disch., disability, Oct. 13,
61

Pro. from Ist lieut. Nov.
1, ’62.

Pro. to Ist lieut. and trans.
from Co, I Nov. 1, ’62.

Resigned July 1, 63.

Pro. from sergt. July 1,
*62; resigned Feb. 2,
63,

Pro. from Ist sergt.;
wounded: capt’d; dead.

Re-enl. Feb, 8, 764.

Discharged by order 8.
of W.

Captured Jan. 30, ’64.

Recruit.
“

Wounded at Winchester;
disch. 762,

Recruit.
“
“ce

Re-enl. Feb. 8, 764.

Re-enl. Jan. 26, 64; cap-
tured at Port Republic.

Re-enl. Jan. 26, 64.

 
HISTORY OF THE

COMPANY C—Continued.

 

Name.

Brooks, Ilenry
Bueey, Henry W.
Bucey, Jacob W.
Beavers, Thomas
Brown, Benjamin
Barratt, Martin

Bone, Wm. D.
Clark, John 8.
Conner, Thos.
Cusick, Geo.

Cline, Wm. M.

Cochran, Watson P.
Cochran, Alex.
Crothers, Johnsen C.
Cook, Theodore
Clark, Ebenezer
Coulthorp, Oliver
Cutshaw, Shepherd
Conaway, Thos.
Clark, John E,
Cottrell, Thos.
Chapman, Joseph
Chapman, Wm. H.

Cottrell, Wm.
Chance, Sani.
Davis, Wan.
Dailey, Calvin
Duff, John T.
Dean, Isaac T.

Dean, Saml. F.

Ebbert, Jeremiah
Fulwer, Joseph H.
Hill, James W.
Harvey, Noble C.
Hobson, Francis A.
Harvey, John
Hines, Sail.
Higgins, Peter

 

Rank.

Private

Corporal
Private

7
Musician
Private

“

“ce

“

Sergeant
Corporal

Sergeant
Private
“ee

“
“

Musician

Corporal

Private
“e

 

ra
nek

When Must.

into Service.

 

Oct.

“c

,

,

,

1
2
2
1
1
1

’

ta
~_=
ed
oa
wrw
SE oeee

we OO
ee ee

ty

@

a

bo
HReoOe ES

Mch. 1,
Oct. 1,
“ 1,
“ 1,
“e i
Mch. 1,
Vet. 1,
“ y

6]
“ec

 

Remarks.

Re-enl. Feb. 13, 64
a “ 11 “cc
“ “ce iv “
“ “e 13, “

Disch., disability, 62.
Captured '63; died a pris-
oner 64.
Dead ’64.
Recruit.
“ce

6h
Missing in action ’64, at
Winchester.

Reeruit.
“

Re-enl. March 2, ’64.

“ Feb. 8, “
“cc “ 8. “
?

Disch., disability, 762.

ae “c Ts

“ “ “

“ “ “ce

“ce oe 763.

Trans. to V. RC. ’64.

Pro. to com. sergt. ; trans,
to N. ©. 8., Ist lieut.
Vets.

Dead 64, at Winchester.

Deserted May 20, ’64.

Recruit.
“

Re-enl. Feb. 14, ’64; cap-
tured June 19, ’64.

Re-enl. Feb. 17, 64;
wounded at Snicker’s
Ford ’64.

Re-enl. Feb. 8, 64.

Disch., disability, ’62.

Recruit.

Re-enl. Feb. 11, 764.
“ “ 8, “cr

“ “ “

8
Disch., disability, °62.
4e “cr “

 
FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 259

Name.

COMPANY C—Continued.

When Must.

 

Hoffman, Fredk.
Humpbreville, Wm.

Harvey, James
Jones, James 0.
Kyser, Peter
Kelly, Thomas
King, Isaac H.
King, Thos. D.
Kelley, John W.
Lynn, Elijah
Leach, William
Lamb, Lemuel B.

Leseur, George F.

Leech, Alfred

Lytle, James M.
Lewis, Chapman
Lowe, Alex.
Millikan, Wm. I.
Miller, John W.
Mercer, Wm. W.

Martin, Ephraim
Martin, Ebenezer
Moore, Richard 8.

Mercer, James T.
Miller, Jacob M.
Miller, Joseph D.

Milhouse, Thos.
Miller, Orloff C.

Melson, Richard C.
Minchan, Wm.
McWilliams, Enos

McFarlane, Johnson

Nelan, John
Nelan, J. Ross

 

 

 

Rank. into Services Remarks,
Private | Oct. 1,’61  Disch. for promotion 63.
a «1, ‘| Trans. to Co. H; pro.
to sergt. 62.
& Nov. 1, “ | Dead Oct. ’62.
Corporal | Oct. 1, “ | Re-enl. Feb. 8, 64.
Private eae
ee «7, © | Died at Strasburg 62.
fs «1, “| Re-enl. Feb. 17, 64.
Bs «1, “ | Disch., disability, 762.
m «1, “ | Deserted Sept. 63.
“ ““ 1, “
ce Mch. 1, 64) Recruit.
es “1, “ | Reeruit; wounded at
Snicker’s Ford ’64.
~ «24, “ | Recruit; missing in ac-
tion May, ’64.
Sergeant | Oct. 1,’61) Re-enlisted Feb. 8, ’64;
wounded May, ’64, at
New Market.
Private “1, “ | Re-enl. Feb. 25, ’64.
“ “ce I “ “ “ 8, “ce
ee «1, “ | Disch., disability, ’62.
“ “c 1
‘f “7, “ | Captured June 19, 64.
Re Mch, 25,’64| Recruit; missing in ac-
tion May, ’64.
c «31, © | Recruit.
“ce its 31, “ oe
Ist sergt. | Oct. 1,’61) Re-enl. Feb. 8, ’64; cap-
tain Co. E, 2d Vets.
Corporal «1, “ | Re-enl. Feb. 27, 764.
Private “ (ewe «“ “13, «
‘ «2, “| Re-enl. Feb. 8, 64; cap-
tured June, ’64.
Sergeant “1, “ | Disch., disability, 62.
Corporal “1, “ | Captured; disch., disabil-
ity, 762,
Private “1, ‘© | Pro. to drum maj.; trans.
to N.C. 58.
Corporal « 4, @ | Dead Mare 23, ’62,
Private “J, “ | Diseh., disability, ’63.
* “1, “ | Dead March 23, 762, at
* Winchester.
se Mch. 24, ’64 | Recruit; dead Dec. 11, 764.
“ce “ 24, “ “

 
HISTORY OF THE

COMPANY C—Continued.

 

Pyle, Joseph A.
Pierce, Wm.
Pyle, John B,
Price, Thos.
Pasters, John C,
Roberts, Henry
Ross, Wm.

Romick, James W.
Runyan, Dallas

Sutton, Harrison
Sloane, Wm.
Smiley, Martin R.
Saylor, Wm.

Sutherland, Upton

Stanton, John
Skeeles, John

Stillwagner, Henry
Stillwagner, Peter
Stauton, Thos. H.
Shipman, Levi J.
Stillwagner, Fredk.

Shaw, John
Sidebottom, James

Stillwagner, Saml.
Snider, Wm.
Tanly, Wm.
Taylor, Thos. D.
Taylor, Henry P.
Taylor, Zachary
Wilson, Isaac

White, Thos., Jr.
Wood, Charles
Watson, Harvey

 

 

 

When Must.

Rank. inte Sexvice, Remarks.

|
Private Mch. 1, ’64 } Recruit.

4c “e 1, “ “ce

am “« 1,61) Re-enl. Feb. 25, 764,

is Oct. 1, ‘ | Disch., disability, ’63.

a “«“ 1, “| Trans. to V. R. C. 764.

Wagoner “ 1, * |

1st sergt. “ 1, “ | Re-enlisted Feb. 8, 64;
wounded July, ’64, at
Snicker’s Ford.

Musician “« 10, “ | Re-enlisted Feb. 11, 64;
captured June, 764,

Private “1, “ | Re-enlisted Feb. 8, 64;
captured June, ’64.

“ce “ac I, “

os |Mch. 1, 64) Recruit.

6c he 24, “ “

& «25, “ | Reeruit; missing in ac-
tion July, ’64, at Snick-
er’s Ford.

Ist sergt. Oct. 1, 61) Re-enl. Feb. 8, 764; 2d
lieut. Co. E, Vets.
Corporal “4, “ | Re-enl. Feb. 11, 64,
| se ; “ 1, “| Re-enl. Feb. 17, ’64, cap-
tured at Port Republic.
Private “ 1, “ | Re-enl. Feb. 8, 64.

“ “ i “er “c a“ 8, “

it? “ i “ “ce “ 8, “

“ el te 6 66 Se ite

e “1, “| Dead March 23, ’62, at
Winchester.

“ “1, “| Dead Aug. 28, ’62, at
Thoroughfare Gap.

we “1, “| Dead Aug. 28, ’62, at
Thoroughfare Gap.

ee “ 1, “| Deserted May 29, ’64.

* Mch. 8, 764 i 20,

“ Oct. 1, 761

ca «1, “ | Re-enl. Feb. 8, 64.

“ce “ 1, “ “ “ 8, “

a Mch. 24, ’64| Disch., disability, 764.

4 Oct. 7,’61! Dead May, ’62, at Stras-
burg.

ee «1, “| Re-enl. Jan. 20, 64.
Sergeant «1, “ | Disch.; disability.
Private «1, “ | Re-enl. Feb. 25, 764.

 

 
FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 261

COMPANY C— Continued.

 

 

 

 

 

Name. Rank. juen, Brust: Remarks.

Wood, Enoch Private Mch. 31, 64 | Recruit.

Wining, Robert R. a Ee SM HE A

Wining, James K. ee 2d e w’d Sept. 3,’ 64.

Wining, Edward ne ae ae fe

Weeks, John J. ae 6 Bil, OE s

Yost, Francis M. “6 Oct. 1, ‘ | Re-enlisted Feb. 8, 64;
wounded; captured at
New Market 64.

COMPANY D.

Donnelly, Jas. F. Captain | Oct. 17, 61 | Dead Jan, ’62.

McDonald, John 8. ss Feb. 7,’62 | Pro. from Ist lieut.; re-
signed.

McElroy, James Pe Nov. 1, “ | Must. as Ist lieut. 761;
pro. to capt.

Wilson, James Ist lieut. | Feb. 7, “ | Pro. from sergt.-major ;
resigned.

Helms, Martin B. Ist “ Oct. 38, “ | Pro. from sergt.; captured
Sept. 11, 63.

Logsdon, Wm. D. 2a...“ “17,61 | Resigned Jan. ’62.

Connelly, James C. | 2d “ Feb. 7,’62) Pro. from Ist sergt.; dis-
honorably discharged.

IIall, Chester B. ody. Oct. 31, 61 | Captured Sept. 11, *63.

Allen, John P. Corporal Oe dig

Armstrong, W. I. E.| Private Feb. 25, 64 | Dead Sept. ’64.

Bonar, Thos. 8. Sergeant | Oct. 17, 761

Barcus, Benjamin | Private Feb. 19, 64 | Recruit.

Blake, Wm. Me $618, 88 ag

Blake, Jeremiah ee Mech. 1, “ ee

Burley, John A. _ Feb. 25, ““ a

Busey, Erastus ee hee ee ee

Buzzard, John “se Mch. 24, “

Burkaun, Stephen ee rae e

Blake, John Ke Oct. 17, 61 | Re enl. Feb. 8, ’64.

Blake, Nathan ef ee “Jan. 28, “

Burley, De Cliff’d M. a ey Fea,

Blake, Isaac # “17, “ | Disch.; disability.

Burch, Jesse fe cote Ee. 88 a

Bassford, Randolph = | “ 17, “| Dead May 9, ’62, at Co-
lumbia Furnace.

Bassford, Wm. tf © li * || Dead,

Burley, Thos. H. a 17, © | Dead March 23, 762, at
Winchester.

 

 
262

HISTORY OF THE

COMPANY D—Continued.

 

When Must.

 

 

Cohen, James

Cox, Stephen

Davis, Thos.

Dean, Geo. H.
Davis, Squire

Evans, John

Fish, Wm.
Fish, Benj. F.

Fox, Henry E.

Fox, Wm.
Grey, Wm.
Harris, Amos

Harris, Henry

Name. | Rank. duto Suawiée. Remarks.
Burch, Martin Private Mch. 31, ’64| Deserted June 18, ’64.
ne Qe. 17,764
Crisswell, Lloyd “ Dec. 2,762) Reeruit.
Cunningham, Jas. uu Mch, 24, ’64 “
Courtwright, John we Feb. 18, “| “
Chambers, Hamilton ue Mch. 24, “ j Captured ; died a prisoner.
it Oct. 17, 61 | Disch.; disability.
Crow, Thornton J. es “17, “ | Dead March 23, 762, at
Winchester.
Daun, Saml. N. va “ 17, “ | Captured Sept. 11, ’63.
Dunlap, Wm. B. ss Dec. 2,’62 Recruit.
a Mch, 25, ’64 a
Dowler, John W. fe Doe ee
Dunkins, Wm. te HE DB EE ee
Dilley, Leonard Corporal | Oct. 17,61} Re-enl. Feb. 8, 64.
Private eee aa uf ee eal
= “17, “ | Disch., disability, March
12, °63.
Damro, Wm. H. « © Ta, © | Dead.
Dilley, Addison o ee, “
Davis, Wm. H. H. a “17, “ | Dead Dec. ’63, a prisoner
at Richmond.
Earlewine, Wm. e a
Easton, Henry C. ss “17, “ | Re-enl. Feb. 8, 64.
ui “17, “ | Disch.; disability.
Evans, Gains W. ee fe WT, 6 es
Evans, Jonathan E, " ; “ 17, “ | Dead March 23, 762, at
; Winchester.
Corporal eo 1a,
Private SP A
Fullerton, John B. “ He DT
= | “ 17, “ | Captured Sept. 11, 763.
Fish, James K.P. | “ | Dec. 2,’62) Recruit.
Fitzgerald, Jerry A. ao Mch. 24, 64 #8
Fordyce, Saml. Corporal | Oct. 17,’61| Re-enl. Feb. 8, ’64.
Fordyce, John M, Private “17, “ | Disch.; disability.
re ©. It, ) Dead.
Gallentine, Wm. i Feb. 19, ’64/ Reeruit.
oe Oct. 17,’61 Wounded; disch. 762.
Gibson, John L. a “« 18, “ | Disch.; disability.
Corporal ae
Holmes, Wm. FH. Private ee WT, et
“ “47, «
Hughes, Barney te ner ATat ty
Hicks, James W. “ Feb. 20,64 | Recruit.

 

 

 

 
 

 

FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 2638
COMPANY D—Continued.
Name. Rank. Poe. Remarks.

Hart, Wm. Private Mch. 24, 64 | Recruit.

Howard, Geo. M. a « 24, 4 st

Howard, Albert “s tee Bl we dead Jan. 22,765.

Huffner, Renhart e m 24, a

Hartzell, Simon s Feb. 21, “ | Recruit; wounded June 8,
64; captured; dead.

Howard, James Sergeant | Oct, 17,’61| Re-enl. Feb. 8, 64.

llarris, Wm. P. Corporal See TG “e Gna Bi et

Holmes, Geo. W. Private De « Jan.26, “

Howard, Wiley “ “ 17, “| Disch.; disubility.

Howard, Wm, H. te Rey RE ae i

Hartzell, Elias bis a oY o ae

Hammond, Geo. W. ae Ce if AF

Hendrickson, Wm. se ee a st fe “

Helms, Geo. W. se Oo TS. 8 c as

Howard, Jacob eS eT ae & tf

Hicks, Wilson T. “e “17, “| Pro. assistant surg. 7th
Indiana.

Hubbs, Wm. H. Corporal “17, “ | Trans. to V. R. C.

Hollingshead, Saml.| Private “17, “ | Dead March, ’64; prisoner
at Richmond,

Harris, Henry C. i « 17, “| Dead.

Holmes, Josiah Dee. 28, “ | Dead June 5,’64, at Pied-
mont,

Kimmons, Saml. W. re * 2,’64 | Reeruit.

Lowry, Jeremiah % Oct. 17,61} Captured Sept. 11, 763.

Logsdon, James we Dee. 2,°62| Recruit.

Logsdon, John P. e Mch. 3,64 “

Lydick, Saml. « «9g “

Myers, Geo. M. cs Qet, 17,761

Martin, Joseph H. a eh

Merchant, Benj. F. | Sergeant oe

Miller, Andrew Private “17, “ | Captured Sept. 11, ’63.

Merchant, Saml. L. « “47 « “ “uy «

Mellan, Saml. Sergeant | “ 17, “| Re-enl. Jan. 26, ’64; 2d

. lieut. 2d Vets.

Moore, Ezekiel Private «17, * | Diseh.; disability.

Masena, Saml. ws eg “ *

Murphy, Wm. « « yg «@)  « “

Martin, Andrew J. at “ 17, “| Enl. in U.S, Cav. 62.

Night, Geo. T. e “« 17, “ | Disch.; disability.

Ogle, Danl. S. «“ “47, «

Ogden, Geo. W. Corporal « 17, “ | Re-enl. Jan. 26, 64.

Parkinson, James | Private “ 17, “ | Diseh.; disability.

Parkinson, Wm. T. ef HS selene s ae

 

 

 

 
264

HISTORY OF THE

COMPANY D—Continued.

 

 

 

 

 

Name. Rank. | When Must Remarks.
5

Pyles, Jeremiah Private Oct. 17, 61 | Dead.

Quigley, John " Mch. 25, ’64| Recruit.

Reed, Levi - Oct. 17,761

Riggs, Edward a Mch. 1, ’64 a

Riggs, James L. “> «24, “ | Recruit; captured July
28, 64.

Riley, Chas. W. Corporal | Oct. 17,’61)| Re-enl. Feb. 8, ’64.

Riggs, Edward Private “« 17, “ | Disch.; disability.

Sands, Freeman P. | Sergeant “17, “ | Captured Sept. 11, 763.

Smith, David G. Private Feb. 25,64} Recruit.

Stetson, Edward ef Mech. 24, ‘“ ee

Shepherd, A. A. H. es eS Dd £8 “s

Sivert, John April 2, “ se

Schnaker, David af Feb. 25, “ of

Sands, Geo. W. Dec. 2,’62| Captured June 18, ’64;
dead.

Simms, Silas o Oct. 17,’61)| Re-enl. Feb. 8, ’64.

Spears, Sargent - «17, “ | Died ’63.

Simms, Josiah ~ Mch. 24, 64 | Died June 5, ’64, at Pied-

7 mont.

White, Vachel M. es Feb. 26, “ | Reeruit.

Welling, Edward sf Meh, 24, * ~

Whipkey, Eli sas «25, “ | Captured.

Westfall, John ee Nov. 20, 63 ne

Whipkey, Alex. “ Oct. 17,’61) Re-enl. Feb. 8, 64.

Whipkey, Alex., Jr. te “ 17, “ | Disch., disability, 63.

Woods, James - eee ee - os -

White, Edward oy “« 17, “| Dead March 238, ’62, at
Winchester.

Whipkey, Jacob te “17, “ | Deserted Feb. 12, 763.

COMPANY E.

Morgan, William Captain | Oct. 17,’61) Resigned Aug. 16,62.

Craig, John a Nov. 1,762) Pro. from 2d lieut.; cap-
tured Sept. 11, 63.

Baer, John F. Ist lieut. | Oct. 17, ’61 | Resigned Feb. 28, ’62.

Morrow, James BE, | 2d | was cesses eee Transferred from Co. G,
and promoted from Ist
sergt.

Baird, John F. 2d Nov. 1, “ | Pro. from sergt.; captured
Sept. 11, 63.

Allen, Mordecai Private Oct. 17, “ | Dead June 9, ’62, at Port

Republic.
FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY.

265

COMPANY E—Continued.

 

When Must,

 

 

Name. Rank. {nto Service. Remarks.

Brady, John P. Sergeant | Oct. 17,’61

Bennett, Joseph Private “17, “ | Captured Sept. 11, ’63.

Bogard, Nathan Corporal | Sept. 14,’62) Recruit; captured Sept.
11, ’63; died w pris-
oner.

Combs, Samuel Private | Oct. 17,’61) Wounded; captured Sept.
11, 763.

Connelly, Michael “ ©. It, &

Carroll, Tunis Corporal “ 17, “ | Captured Sept. 11, ’63;
wounded; died a pris-
oner.

Culver, George W. | Private Nov. 12, 62 | Recruit.

Cosgray, John s Jan. 2,764

Claterbuck, Wm. Mch. 16, “ ee

Culver, John P. me Oct. 17,’61) Re-enl. Jan. J, ’64; disa-
bled.

Craig, Anthony ee “17, “ | Discharged.

Dean, Abraham a ag

Doyle, George % “17, “ | Captured Sept. 11, 63.

Donnelly, John H. a “17, “ | Re-enl. Jan. 1,64; cap-
tured Sept. 11, 763.

Dean, Joseph ad “17, “ | Discharged.

Ebington, Benj. a es

Frew, Robert T. “ Ui

Fingley, Frederick ns “17, “ | Re-eni. Feb. 15, 64; cap-
tured Sept. 11, °63.

Foot, John L. ce « 17, “ | Discharged.

Gonder, James Bs ee

Gould, George ae “17, “ | Injured; captured.

Graham, Wm. H. ee «17, “ | Wounded; captured June,
764, at Staunton.

Garrison, Wm, A. we Sept. 14, 62) Recruit; captured Sept.
11, ’63.

Gonder, Leander ne Oct. 17,’61| Dead at New Market, ’62.

Haymaker, Chas. E. se “17, “ | Captured Sept. 11, ’63.

Harrington, John . eo. lect

Harron, John ee ge UG ee Ce AT

Hallowfield, Alex. ss “ 17, “ | Wounded Aug. 29, 62.

Hallowell, Morrison Sept. 14, ’62| Recruit; captured Sept.
11, 63.

Hine, Jonathan “ “« 14, “ |) Reeruit,

Henderson, James s Mch. 25, 764 #

Hill, George Corporal | Oct. 17,’61) Captured June 9; escaped.

Huggins, Richard | Sergeant “ Wj, “| Re-onl. Jam, 26, “64;
wounded at Piedmont.

 

 

 
266

HISTORY OF THE

COMPANY E—Continued.

 

Name.

Hill, William H.

Imer, William
Imer, Hauson
Imer, Henry
Imer, Conrad
Kemp, William
Kite, George
Kemple, Jobn
Kittsmiller, Lloyd
Lady, David B.

Lyttle, William
Lee, John
Lady, Columbus
Little, John N.
Mills, Jeffry

McLaughlin, B. W.

Murriner, John
Murriner, James
Mills, William A.

MeNickle, John B.
Martin, John

Mulvey, William J.

McLaughlin, W. P.

Muldoon, John
Murriner, William

Muzingo, John E.
McGillon, Nelson

McKinsey, John
McLaughlin, J. H.

Mason, William F.
McKinney, Alex.
Moss, William
Marshall, Abrabam
Murrin, George A.
Nary, John P.

 

 

 

 

Rank. en eee Remarks.

Private Oct. 17,61) Re-enl. Jan. 26, ’64; cap-

tured Sept. 11, 763.

“cr “ce 17, “

“ “ 17, “

“ae “ce 17, “ce

- “17, “ | Discharged.

“t “17, “ | Captured Sept. 11, ’63.

“ Tye “ “ li, “

e “ 17, “ | Captured Oct. 7,’64; dead.

a Mch. 24, 64} Recruit.

a Oct. 17,’61| Wounded at Port Repub-
lic.

ss Mch. 13, ’64 ) Recruit.

“ “ 24, “ “

Sergeant | Oct. 17,’61) Discharged.

Private “17, “ | Wounded; discharged.

Corporal se OWE EE

Private ef TTS

“ “17, “ | Captured Sept. 11, 763.
[zs “ 17, “ “ “ce 11, “

Sergeant | “ 17, “ | Captured Sept. 11, 763;

died at Andersonville.
| Private Mch. 25, 64) Recruit.
“ “ 31, “

Sergeant | Oct. 17,’61)| Re-enl. Jan. 1, 64; cap-
tured Sept. 11, 63; 2d
lieut. 2d Vets.

Private «17, “ | Re-enl. Feb. 27, 64.

“ te az, oe “ Jan, 26, “

ee “17, “ | Re-enl. Feb. 15, 64; cap-
tured Sept. 11, 763.

“e “17, “| Re-enl. Jan. 26, 64.

o «17, “ | Re-enl. Jan, 26,64; cap-
tured Sept. 11, ’63.

“ “17, “ | Re-enl. Jan. 26,64; cap-
tured Sept. 11, ’63.

Corporal “17, “ |Trans. to J1lth W. Va.
Inf.; pro. to 1st lieut.
and adjt.

* “17, “ | Discharged.

Private fer ES st =
a “ 17, “ | Dead, ’62, at Strasburg.
se TG “764, at Piedmont.

Sergeant “17, “ | Wounded.

Private “17, “ | Captured.

 

 

 
FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY.

267

COMPANY E—Continued.

 

 

 

 

Name. Rank. Taree Remarks.
Newman, Thomas | Private Oct. 17,’61 |) Re-enl. Jan. 26, 64.
Peters, James Corporal “17, “ | Captured Sept. 11, 763.
Porter, Thomas Private fe AG
Porter, Joseph os Oe A <A ee June, 64.
Polston, Charles s “17, “ | Discharged.

Prettyman, Robert os oe Sige te . Sept. 18, 764.

Petticord, Thomas es NV ee

Porter, Jacob a «17, “ | Transferred U.S. Cavalry.

Reese, John E. ts “17, “ | Captured Sept. 11, ’63.

Roberts, George se Be Ne ee 1a

Rigby, Thomas Corporal “17, “ | Discharged.

Robbins, Joseph M.} Private “17, “| U.S. Cavalry.

Riggle, Jacob re “17, “ | Dead 763.

Shanley, Francis E. ee “17, “ | Captured Sept. 11, 63.

Shipman, Christian et CS ey Fe es a ey

Shipman, John B. e ee ss lee een

Smith, Thomas se “17, “ | Re-enl. Feb. 15,64; cap-
tured Sept. 11, 763.

Sivert, William ss Captured ; dead ’63.

Stephens, William - . Deserted March, 764.

Watkins, Reece i “17, “ | Captured Sept. 11, 763.

White, Orloff He ee Oe Es ss f= 9 AM. 268

Wilson, George D. es eG a fe" Ma 38

Wilson, William D. as “17, “ | Wounded twice; captured
Sept. 11, ’63.

Wharton, William ie Nov. 19, ’62| Recruit; captured Sept.
11, °63.

Welsh, Harvey a Mch. 31, 64 Recruit.

Wait, Reuben se Oct. 17,’61| Re-enl. Jan. 26, 61.

Whitehead, Daniel is “ 17, “ | Discharged.

Winesburg, Morgan > Mee sisal teuseeeee, Dead, Oct. 64.

COMPANY F.

Morrow, James E. | Captain |Jan. 1,’63| Pro. from Ist lieut. Co. E.

Stephens, Edw’d W. Ss Oct. 761) Pro. to major ’62; cap-
tured Sept. 11, ’63.

Melvin, Thayer Ast lieut. | ...........-.| Pro. from sergt.; pro. to
capt. and A. A. G.

Freeman, Chas. A. | Ist “ Oct. 29,’61| Captured Dec. 2, ’61; ex-
changed and rejoined
regt. Nov. 762.

White, John W. Ist “ «29, “ | Pro. from 2d lieut.; re-
signed.

 

 

 

 
268

HISTORY OF THE

COMPANY F—Continued.

 

Name. |

Rank,

| When Must,
into Service.

Remarks.

 

Apple, Theodore L.

Steele, James L. 2d
Allison, William
Allison, John
Auston, Nathan C. -
Bubout, Samuel K.
Bye, Henry

Bliss, Isaac N. ee
Bradley, James i

Brown, James

Boyce, Robert sy

Brandon, Martin V. | Sergeant
Private

Baggs, Robert

Bryson, William ee
Butler, Martin ce
Baldwin, Perry ne
Cantlin, Peter

Chapman, William ce
Chapman, Samuel -
Carter, Henry B.

 

Ist lieut.

RRivate
“

Corporal

Private

Feb. 22, °63

 

“cc 21; “
Mch. 24, ’64
“ 24, “
| Oct. 29, 61
| GE AD atk
“ec 29, “ce
Dec. 18, “
Oct. 10,76
Mch. 31, ’64
Oct. 29, 61
“ 29, “e
Nov. 4, “
| Oct. 29, «
| be 29, “
“ 29, ce
| “ 29, ‘“c
| “a 29, ce j
| “ 99, j

Sergeant | Dec. 19, “
\ I

Compton, John | Private Oct. 29, “
Conwell, John es Pie Cte a8
Clark, William | i « 99, 6
Craig, Ira | Os AG 20 ah
Darragh, James | = « 20,"
Dennis, John ee | Nov, 6,
Dorman, Jobn | Corporal | Oct. 29, “
Eskin, John Private Sap.
Elliott, Ross B. ae | 2G

'

Pro. from sergt. to 2d
lieut. 63; to Ist lieut.
63; wounded Aug. 30
at Bull Run.

Pro. from sergt. 63; cap-
tured Sept. 1], 763.

Recruit.

Recruit; captured May,
64, at New Market;
died in Andersonville.

Dead June 5, ’64, at Pied-

| mont.

Wounded at Winchester
July 24, 64.

 

| Recruit.
“ce

Recruit; wounded at New
| Market May, ’64.
| Re-enl. Feb. 8, 764;
wounded and captured
| at New Market.

Dead 62.

Dead Dec. 17, °63, at
| Petersburg (mortally

wounded).

| Dead, at Winchester.
| Deserted 62.
| “ “

“Wounded and captured
Sept. 11, 63.

| Reeruit; captured Sept.
| 11, ’63.
| Re-enl, Feb. 8,64.
| Disch. disability.
Enl. in Ist U. S. Cav.
| Disch. ; disability.
| Enl. in Ist U.S. Cav.
| Wounded at Piedmont
June, ’64.
Disch. ; disability.
Captured Sept. 11, 63.
Disch.; disability.

 
FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY.

269

COMPANY F—Continued.

 

When Must.

 

Name. Rank. dute Service. Remarks.

Farnsworth, Henry | Private Oct. 29, ’61

Foster, Collingwood ff ee 229,. 86

Frontz, William a Mch. 25, ’64| Recruit; wounded at Pied-
mont June, ’64.

Farnsworth, Thos, ee Nov. 3,’61/ Re-enl. Jan. 1, 764;
wounded and captured
at New Market May,’64.

Fitton, Robert a Oct. 29, “ | Disch.; disability.

Flood, Francis a “29, “ | Wounded; discharged;
disability.

Goff, George ig «29, “ | Re-enl. Feb. 8, ’64.

Gardner, Thomas ee eo gee ss ts By

ee eas . . 28, 4 - 7 8 ¥

rafton, James i Bo ee

Graham, Charles “e ee 29, a ae 3,

Gilbert, Lewis a “29, “ | Disch.; disability.

Gray, Lucian Sergeant “29, “ | Pro. to sergt.-major; capt.
Co. I, 2d Vets.

Hutchinson, John Private s 74, * ,

Heckathorn, Benj. a Mch. 15, ’64| Recruit; wounded at Pied-
mont June, ’64.

Hoffman, Aaron * n I, “ | Recruit; capt'd June, 64.

Hunter, George W. mF Oct. 29,’61| Re-enl. Feb. 8, ’64;
wounded and capt’d at
New Market May, ’64.

Hazeldine, Thomas ee «29, “ | Disch.; disability. ;

Hill John “ce “ 29 “ “ “

Hopkins, Thomas sg uf 29, ey Ke «

Householder, David a F295. ef

Hart, William es “29, “ | Pro. to hospital steward.

Jackson, Robert eee er 9G, 388

James, Ricbard Sergeant “e 29, “| Disch. ; disability.

Johnson, John Private «29, “ | Dead, at New Market.

Kaho, James ee OES 6 Oates

Kaho, Patrick fe «29, “ | Deserted ’62.

Kemp, Martin oe «29, “ | Enl. as member of regt’l
band; discharged.

Kemp, George sg «29, “ | Enl. as member of regt’l
band; discharged.

Kemp, John ee «29, “ | Enl. as member of regt’]
band; discharged,

Kemp, Jesse a « 29, © | Trans. to V. R. C.

Lockhart, Thos. J. “e «29, “ | Captured Sept. 11, 763.

Long, Jobn co Nov. 3, “

Lowry, William E. |“ Meh. 25, °64| Recruit.

 

 

 

 

23%
HISTORY OF THE

COMPANY F—Continued.

 

Name.

Lockhart, Alexander

McCrea, William
McCarty, John N.
McCarty, James A.

McGowan, Edward
McDonald, Allen
Miller, Wm. M.
Moore, Abraham
Marshall, Robert
Maxwell, Henry J.
Myers, Finley T.
Moore, Clinton
O’Brien, Simpson
Painter, Daniel

Porter, John
Peterson, Joshua
Pearce, John
Reed, Octavius
Root, William
Reed, David
Robinson, Thomas

Russell, John C,

Simpkins, Daniel
Shepard, John L.
Sweeney, Thomas R.
Stakman, George W.
Stotler, George
Snider, William
Sweeney, John
Shutter, Egbert P.

Simmons, Joseph
Stewart, James

Sullivan, John
Terwillegar, Joseph

| Rank.

 

When Must.
into Service.

 

Remarks.

 

 

Corporal

Private
Ist sergt.
Sergeant

Private
“
Corporal

Private
“ce

“
“

| Corporal
| Private

“

Sergeant
Private
“
“
“ac

Sergeant
Private
“ce

Corporal
Sergeant

 

64 |

“

“c
“

762
, 64

61

 

29, 61 | Re-enl. Feb. 8, ’64;

?
wounded June, ’64, at
Piedmont.

Recruit ; wounded at New
Market May, ’64. :

. 29,’61) Re-enl. Feb. 8, ’64; Ist

lieut. Co. F, 2d Vets.
Dead Oct. ’62, at Win-
chester,
Dead, at Alexandria.
“at Strasburg.

Recruit.

Re-enl. Feb. 15, 64.
4c “cc 15, “

Dead.

Re-enl. Jan. 26, ’64.

Disch.; disability.

Wounded at New Market
May, ’64.

Disch. ; disability.

Recruit.

Disch. ; disability.

Wounded at Winchester
62; disch.; disability.

Disch. for promotion in
regular service.

Captured Sept. 11, ’63.
Captured Sept. 11, 763.

.) Recruit.

“c

Re-enl. Feb. 8, 64;
wounded May, ’64; 2d
lieat. Vets.

Disch. ; disability.

Dead June 5, 64, at Pied-
mont.

Deserted July, *64.

Re-enl. Jan. 1, ’64.

 
FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY.

271

COMPANY F—Continued.

 

Name.

Remarks.

 

Worral, Benj. F.
Worral, Milton
Walters, James
Wycoff, James
Weber, John F.
Worral, Samuel

Weedon, Henry H.
White, George W.
Yost, William

Melvin, Oscar F.
Lloyd, Thomas
Hall, Chester B.

Robb, Wm. J.
Adams, Joseph 0.

Adams, John
Armstrong, C. B.
Blankineap, J., Jr.

Barcus, David
Brashear, Brice
Brownlee, Win.
Barnes, Shepley
Bonsall, Albert E.
Bonsall, John A.
Bonsall, Wm. G.

Ball, Richard
Corbley, Eli C.
Coates, Jacob
Corbley, Andrew
Crawford, Osear F.
Crawford, Geo, B.

Cunningham, S. W.

Cook, James
Cannan, John C.

 

 

 

| |

When Must.
Bank: into Service.
Private Oct. 29,61
“ “ 29, “cr
ss Nov. 3, “
e Het. 29, °

“e
“ «9g
Sergeant ae aa
Private EE, oO 208
ss Moh, 7,762

COMPANY G.

Captain Oct. 30, 61
Ist lieut. * 3h, #4
2d “ “cc 30, “
2a “ “ 30, “
oa Sept. 1,62
Private | Oct. 30,’61
ae ve 30,
Sergeant e208
Private Mch. 23, 762
ee Oct. 30,61
Corporal 330,
Private f 305°
“ “30, “
“ce “ 30, te
Sergeant 30,
Private EG 1B URE
Corporal Ee 8.0 8
Private se 33.05,
it) “ 30, “er
“ce “ 30, “
- Aug. 4, 62
Ks Feb. 23, 764
“ “ce 25, “
Fe Mch. 22, “

Captured Sept. 11, 763.

Wounded March 23, ’62.

Captured Sept. 11, 763.

Recruit.

Re-enl. Feb. 15, 64; cap-
tured Sept. 11, 63.

Trans. to Co. K.

Dead at Strasburg, ’62.

Dead May, ’62, at Catlett’s
Station.

Wounded.

Trans. to Co. D; captured
Sept. 11, ’63.

Pro. from Ist sergt. 763;
trans. to Co. A.

Pro, from 1st sergt. °62;
wounded,

Re-enl. Feb. 8, 764.
«Jan. 26, 64.

Wounded June, 64; cap-
tured.

Recruit.

Re-enl. Feb. 8, 64.
“e “ce 8, oe
Aus. 30,
Disch., disability, ’62.
Pro. to q. m. sergt. Mareh
28, 763.
Trans. to V. R. C.

Wounded.

Recruit; captured Sept.
11, 63.
Recruit.
“
“

 
272

HISTORY OF THE

COMPANY G—Continued.

 

When Must.

 

Name. Rank. into Service. Remarks,

Cord, Wm. H. Private Oct. 30, ’61| Re-enl. Jan. 26, ’64; dead.

Conuell, John R, i HB ae “«  Peb. 8, “

Curfman, Joshua * EES ROO ee ou Bo Bee

Clohan, Wm. Sergeant es 30, “| Pro. to Ist sergt. Co. K.

Calendine, Saml. Private “30, “ | Disch., disability, ’63.

Cambouse, John Bb, i eo

Cruson, John *6 ce BO Se “  G. 0. War Dept.

Cochran, Thos. J. es «30, “ | Deserted Dee. 62,

Dowler, Jobn F, . « 30, “ | Disch., disability, 762.

Dillon, Thos. J. zy * 30, © | Trans. to V.. B,C.

Edic, Geo. W. Corporal «30, “| Reenl. Feb. 22, ’64;
wounded.

Edic, John N. Private «30, “ | Re-enl. Feb. 8, 64.

Frazier, George A. < Se SOL i Bg

Goudy, Wm. Corporal He 530), 786

Gonter, Joseph M. | Private | Feb. 23, ’64 | Recruit.

Good, Thos. C. Sergeant | Oct. 30,’61| Re-enl. Feb. 22, ’64.

Glass, John Private Aug. 5,’62| Disch. G. O. War Dept.
Nov. 62; dead.

Gosnell, John ee Oct. 30,761) Dead July 24, 764, at
Winchester.

Hall, Wm. 6 ee Oy ste

Howard, Wn: ie + 0, id

Haney, James M. Corporal «30, “ | Disch., disability, 762.

Jones, Isaac Private Meh... 3,762 “s i of

Johnson, Isaac #8 ee Byes ue “ 763.

Johnson, Henry J. | Corporal | Oct. 30,’61) Pro. sergt.-maj. Jan. 24,
762.

Kelley, John Private « 30, “ | Re-enl. Feb. 8, 64.

Kerr, Danl. L. ai 6. 30), £6 ee fe §, HE

Leazear, James Corporal «30, “ | Disch., disability, 62.

Litzikus, Joseph Private Jan. 28, 62 es ee £6

L o th He “ t , “ “ x De.

lone | we | ea we

Leazear, George W. ss a 30, - tf “ o

Moren, Robt. “ ee B30; 4

Melvin, Wm. H. Ist sergt. | “ 30, “ | Re-enl. Feb. 8, ’64; Ist
lieut. Co. D, 2d Vets.

Montgomery, Geo. | Corporal «30, “ | Re-enl. Feb. 8, 64.

McCausland, Robt. | Private «30, “ | Re-enl. Feb. 8, ’64; cap-
tured; dead.

McAdams, John T. “6 «30, “ | Re-enl. Feb. 22, 64.

Morrow, James E. | Sergeant «30, “ | Pro. 2dlieut. Co. E March
1, 62.

Marshall, Wm. A. Private Jan. 28,62) Disch., disability, ’62.

 

 

 

 
FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY. 273

COMPANY G—Continued.

 

 

Name. Rank. w . a Remarks.

McCann, Saml. Private | Oct. 30,’61| Disch. G. O. War Dept.
62.

McConkey, Joseph a “30, “ | Disch., disability, 62.

McCoy, Saml. es “30, “ | Disch. G, O. War Dept.
62,

McSwords, James - «30, “ | Disch., disability, 62.

McHenry, Benj. | ge | « 30, “ | Dead ’62,

Nichols, James C. ee : Mch. 22,64 | Reeruit.

Nichols, Edward sg | Oct, 30,’61) Re-enl. Jan. 26, ’64.

Nichols, Robt., Jr. | Musician © “ 30, “ | Disch., disability, ’62.

Nangle, Saml. G. Private | Jan. 28, ’62 sf “ ge

Noon, Thomas s Oct. 30,761) Dead 762.

Parrish, James S. a = BO ee

Pugh, John C. as | “ 30, “ | Re-enl. Feb. 8,.’64.

Plattenburg, J. W. | Sergeant ‘“ 30, “ | Re-enl. Feb. 8, ’64, pro.,

| and trans. to Co. K;

wounded; capt. Co. D,
2d Vets.

Parsons, Benj. L. Private «30, “ | Disch., disability, 62.

Riddle, Clark “ «30, «

Robinett, James we «30, “ | Re-enl,. Jan. 26, 64,

Rose, James T. tf tO, © a Feb. 8, “

Stroble, Robt. W. Corporal me

Soles, Jacob Private ef Bh, 288

Shrimplin, Wm. G. a «30, “ | Captured May 15, ’64.

Shriner, Wm. oF Aug. 11,62) Recruit.

Smith, Andrew G. ih Mch, 23, ’64 be

Shriner, Peter Oct. 30,’61 | Re-enl. Feb. 8, 64.

Shreaver, Andw. J. o oe ae = i a

Springer, Wm. e «30, “ | Disch., disability, ’63.

Shriner, John «30, “ | Dead June, ’64, at Staun-
ton.

Thompson, Oliver B. i B05, “#8

Torreyson, F. M +t «30, ‘ Re-enl. Feb. 8, 764.

Wark, David Sergeant ek

Williams, Valentine | Private 30, # « oe

Whitham, Philip a «30, “ | Disch., disability, 62.

Wark, Charles ft « 30, “ | Re-enl. Feb, 22, 64.

Woodward, Jos. H. ce «30, “ | Disch., disability, ’63.

Wilson, James a « 30, “ | Pro. sergt.-maj. Nov. 9,
’6L.

Winter, Joshua ss 0

Wincher, Wm. “ «30, “ | Trans. to V. R. C.

Wayble, Cyrus H. e Mch. 7,64) Recruit.

Zimmerman, Frank Oct. 30,’61 | Re-enl. Aug. 30, 764.

 

 

 

 
274 HISTORY OF THE

COMPANY H.

A number of men of this Company marked ‘“ Deserters” were not
deserters, but absented themselves from the Company on account of dis-
satisfaction with one of the officers. After the resignation of the officer
referred to they returned to their colors; but owing to the loss of the
company books and inefficient clerical work, the error was not corrected.
An injury has been done these men which now it is desired to correct.

Name. | Rank. When) Must. |

 

 

 

| into Service. . Remarks.

Bowers, James M. | Captain | Oct. 29,61 Resigned July 28, ’62.

Reed, Thomas | s July 29,62) Pro. from Ist lieut. 62.

Hornbrook, H. I. | Ist lieut. «29, “ | Pro. from 2d lieut. 762;

| wounded,

Murphy, Wm.8. 2d“ Apr. 18, 64 Pro. from Ist sergt.; capt.
Co. F, 2d Vets.

Ater, George Private - 8, “ | Recruit.

Arnett, George W. i Aug. 12, 62 < deserted Oct. 762.

Barr, Wm. ts Oct. 29,’61) Re-enl. Feb. LI, ’64.

Barker, Abraham e Dec. 29, “ | Recruit.

Bishop, Wm. H. es Apr. 8,64 ie

Barr, Thornton « iO. Wa es

Barker, Noah Corporal | Oct. 29,61) Disch. ’62; enl. 2a U.S.
Cay. ;

Bradbury, Geo. W. Private Aug. 12, 62 | Disch., disability, ’63.

Brookover, Eli " Oet.. 29,61 is "62,

Belford, Barney * «29, “ | Dead June 5, ’64; at Pied-
mont.

Bush, Wm. H. Ce | sessessseeeseeee | Deserted Oct. 763.

Barker, John s ae Oy. SE a ff 761,

Butler, Josiah ue DG. EE i Nov. ’63.

Chaplin, James A. & ee 20H

Carroll, Saml. J. Dec. 29, “ | Recruit; supposed to be
disch. from hospital.

Criswell, Obadiah # Aug. 12, 62 | Recruit.

Coats, George “ Apr. 8,’64

Cottrell, Thomas e Mech. 31, “ a

Carroll, James = Oct. 29,61} Disch., disability, 762.

Cunningham, Wm. A «29, “ | Wounded; disch. ’63.

Chapman, Wilson 8S, - . 12,’62) Disch., disability, 62.

Campbell, Wm. H. | Drummer | Deserted 763.

Cohens, George Private Aug. 13, ee 64.

Doyle, Henry ss Feb. 29, ’64) Discharged.

Eckelberry, Richa. ef Oct. 29, *61

Edgell, James ne Jan. 1,762) Reeruit.

Evans, Francis M. ee Feb. 26, 64 es

Evans, Enoch J. v 38, © uf

 

 

 
FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY.

275

COMPANY H—Continued.

 

When Must.

 

Name. Rank. dnto Service. Remarks.

Edgell, Wun. N. Private Mch. 15,64 | Recruit.

Eckelberry, V. Corporal | Oct. 29,61 | Dead ’62.

Farmer, Saml. Private «29, “ | Wounded; captured June
5, ’64, at Piedmont.

Flubarty, David Corporal «29, “ | Re-enl. Feb. 8, 64.

Fluharty, Chas. G. | Private 0. = ® Ti, #

Fluharty, Jacob “ «29, “ | Deserted 61.

Faith, Joshua Aug. 12,’62| Recruit.

Flubarty, David B. ea April 8, 764 as

Garrison, John W. Oct. 29,61

Glasscock, W. H. C. = Mch. 31, ’64 fs

Grandon, Edward re Fels. 25,"

Gorhy, Ira Corporal | July 1, ’62) Disch. by reason of expi-
ration of term of enlist-
ment.

Goddard, Francis Private Oct. 29,’61| Disch.; disability.

Garrison, Adam . «29, “ | Deserted Noy. ’61.

Hall, Thomas ee «29, “ | Re-enl. Feb. 15, 64.

Hickenbotham, R. # Mch. 24, 64 | Recruit.

Hamilton, John “f Aug. 12, 62 a

Huffman, Ebenezer ee Mch. 24, 64) Dead.

Henderson, Wm. Sergeant | Oct. 29,’61| Discharged 762.

Harrison, Geo. A. Private Nov. 11, “ ee ee

Harrison, Reynolds ef sO = 6

Hart, Wh. H. “ “ 9; “ce “ “ce

llitchcock, Geo. W. a Det, 29, a =

Hitcheock, Joshua = ee = i

Henthorn, Richard ie -29,. ee ea

Haggerty, John i Jan, 1,762 a *

Hitcheock, Walt. H. er eg,

Hassick, Henry fe « 29, “ | Trans. to Battery A, 1st
Va. Art., 62.

Humpbhreville, Wm. * “17, “ | Re-enl. Feb. 15,64; trans.
from Co. C, ’62.

Ice, James G. e Oct. 29,’61) Captured Sept. 11, 63.

Ice, John He « 29, “ | Discharged ’62.

Ice, Aaron «9 Dee. 29, “ es a

Ice, Abraham s 20, oe i

Jennings, Wm. = «29, “ | Deserted ’63.

Jennings, Thos. e Apr. 8,764 a 64.

Kirkpatrick, I. H. ee Oct. 29,’61| Disch.; disability.

Kersliner, Aug. M. sd BE en ft

Kennedy, Wm. x Dee. 26, “ % 63.

Kent, Benj. F. #6 Oct. 29, “ | Dead Sept. 11, 763, at

 

 

 

Moorefield.

 

 
276

HISTORY OF THE

COMPANY H—Continued.

 

Name.

Lazear, Wm.
Long, David A.
Lowe, William
Lyons, Charles C.

Long, George
Lemasters, Wm.
Lemasters, Elias
Lientz, Francis D.
Lyon, Chas. C.
Martin, Sain]. J.
Minor, Abner
Myers, Geo, F,
Mason, Henry H.

Merrifield, Richard

Morgan, Elijah
Morrow, Robt. H.
Mercer, Eleben F.
Myers, Wilson
Myers, Wm.

Mercer, Wm.
Merrifield, J. M. V.
Mier, Jacob
Mosier, John
Merrifield, Zedek.
Mansfield, Nathanl.
Morrison, Benj. F.
McCammick, Hen.
McCullough, Jos. L.
McCullough, James
McCullough, 8. R.

McCammick, F, H.

McGovern, Thos.
MeMunn, Wm.
McEldowney, Robt.
McCahe, Benj.
Nay, Jeremiah
Norman, Richard
Peggs, Preston
Piles, Oliver

 

When Must.

 

Rank. into Service. Remuiks.
Private Oct. 29,761
“ “ 29, «
£6 Dec. 29, “ | Recruit.
se Mch. 3,’64| Supposed killed May 15,
63, at New Market.
ae Oct. 29,’61} Disch.; disability.
“c “ 29, « cc 6c 63.
“ “ 2g, « “ c “6
“ “ 29, “ce “ “ 762.
“ “c 29, « “ “ “
“ “ce 29 “ce
“ “ 29, “
“ “ 29, oe
a “29, “ | Wounded; captured June
5, ’64, at Piedmont.
& Dec. 24, “ | Captured Sept. 11, °63;
dead.
Sergeant | Oct. 29, “ | Re-enl. Feb. 8,64.
Corporal | Aug. 27,’62| Reeruit.
Private Mch. 8, ’64 =
a Feb. 13,62 “e
ae Oct. 29,’61| Disch., disability, Aug.
21, 762.
te «29, “ | Disch., disability, 62.
“ce ce 29, “ “e “ “er
“cc “ 29, “ “ce “ “
“ “ 29, « 7 “ “
‘“ Dec Dare “ “ “
us Nov. 2, “ | Trans. to V. B.C.
* Oct. 29, ** | Deserted 62.
“ “ 29, “
“ «99, «
“ “ 29, “
ae “29, “| Captured Sept. 11, ’63;
died a prisoner.
ef Nov. 8,’62) Missing in action July 24,
64,
ee Oct. 29,’61| Disch.; disability.
“ “ 29, “ “ “ 62.
«29, “ | Dead ’62,
. Aug. 12,62 Deserted ’63.
si Oct. 29, 61
s “29, “ | Disch., disability, ’62.
Corporal AE DO ke
Private 8 29;

 

 

 
FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY.

277

COMPANY H—Continued.

 

 

at

Name. Rank. nee Remarks.

Paugh, John J. Private | Oct. 29,’61 | Captured Sept. 11, ’63.

Peggs, Thomas ne Feb. 26, 64) Reeruit.

Peggs, Joseph * “26, “| Recruit; missing in action
at New Market.

Piles, Eli ee Oct. 29,61} Disch., disability, ’62.

Parks, Andrew ne “29, “ | Dead Aug. 30, 62, at Bull
Run.

Reed, Sam]. es ee 2G.

Resecker, Jacob ce “26, “ | Re-enl. Feb. 15, 64; miss-
ing in action July 24,
64.

Roberts, Wm. “ Apr. 8,’64} Reeruit.

Rice, Wm. a Dec. 26, ’61 cS

Rice, James B. * Oct. 29, “ | Disch.; disability.

Resecker, Martin % Feb. 29,’64| Dead July 18, ’64,
Snicker’s Ford.

Shepherd, Wm. = Oct. 29,61

Samison, Saml. bi gg.

Shreve, Saml, W. “ Dec. 25, “ | Captured Sept. 11, ’63.

Sheppard, Fres. M. “e Oct. 29, “ | Re-enl. Feb. 11, ’64.

Springer, David “s Apr.- 8, 64} Recruit.

Shriver, James Corporal | Oct. 29,’6L) Disch., disability, 62.

Springer, Sami. Private Feb. 5,°62 u S “

Shroder, John 7s Oct. 29, 61 ee es oo

Shook, James ‘“ “« 9g, & “ “ “

Simons, Levi ae «29, “ | Dead ’62.

Shreves, Elias " Dec. 25, “ “64, at New Market.

Shriver, Abraham P. * Oat. .29,.% 262,

Truax, George Sergeant 29, ©) Deans. to Vo Bs,

Tuckor, Wm. Corporal fy C20 tee oe oe es

Tucker, Reason C, | Private Feb, 11, ’62| Disch., disability, 762.

Tucker, Elijah f Oct. 29,61) Dead ’64,

Varner, Saml. Corporal By. i

Vandevener, John | Private “29, “| Re-enl. Feb. 11, ’64; cap-
tured and paroled.

Vantile, John ss Mch. 3,’64| Enl. in U.S. reg’r service.

Whitman, Marshall | Ist sergt. | Oct. 29,61

Witchie, Jacob Private MO Oe

Wade, James F. 6 «29, “ | Captured Sept. 11, 763.

Whiteman, Josiah | Wagoner | “ 29, “ | Captured Sept. 11, 63;
died a prisoner.

Woodburn, Alex. G.} Corporal | Aug. 12,’62] Wounded; captured Sept.
11, ’63; dead.

Wetzel, John Private Oct. 29,’61| Re-enlisted Feb. 11, 764;
wounded.

 

 

 

 
278

HISTORY OF THE

COMPANY H—Continued.

 

When Must.

 

Name. Rank. into Service. Remarks.
Wengrave, John Private Oct. 29,’61) Re-enl. Feb. 11, ‘64.
Watkins, George = Mch. 3,’64| Recruit.

Wade, Thos. 8. ne Oct. 29, ’61| Disch.; disability.

Wilson, Wm. 68 “29, “ | Dead March, 64.

Wiley, James A. ee Feb. 25, ’64| Recruit.

Willey, James A. es Dec. 25,’61) Dead 62.

Yost, Aaron S Oct. 29, “ | Re-enl. Feb, 11, 64.
“ “

Yost, Leonard

Trimble, John B.

Dougherty, Jno. W.

James, George
Singleton, Jas. W.

Goudy, James M.
Allison, Andrew J.
Atkinson, B. IH. HW.

Broderick, Henry

Brahler, Henry
Baltzell, Alfred

Boyles, Jobn
Baltzell, Jacob

Baltzell, Charles H.
Boyd, Enoch
Bentz, John

Boyd, John Q. A.
Bazzell, George
Beadwell, Win.
Beadwell, George
Beile, Emanuel
Burd, Daniel H.

Bushman, IHenry

Beadwell, George
Connelly, John N.

 

COMPANY I.

Captain
‘

Ist lieut.
2a

2a“
Private

Ist sergt.

Corporal

Private
Corporal

Private

Sergeant

Private
“

Sergeant
Private

“
“

 

29, “

“e 5, +e
«5s
Aug. 8,762
Mech. 24, ’64

Feb.

Nov.
Mch. 27, ’64

Deserted '63; supposed to
have enl. in Pa. Cav.

| Resigned ’62.
Pro. to capt. 762; dead.

Pro. to Ist lieut.; trans.
to Co. C.
Pro. from Ist sergt. 762.

Pro. to 2d lieut. Ist Va.
Art. 62.

Captured Sept. 11, ’63;
died a prisoner.

Captured June 22, ’64.

Recruit; captured Sept.
14, 63.

Recruit.

Wounded ’63; re-enlisted
Feb. 11, 64; capt. Co.
H, 2d Vets.

Re-enl. Feb. 14, ’64.

Disch., disability, 62.

“ “ “ce

“ “ 6“
“ “c “
“ “ “

Deserted ’63.

Trans. to Ist U.S. Cav. 62.

Dead Sept. 11, ’63, at
Moorefield.

Re-enl. Jan. 1, ’64; de-
serted May, ’64.

Deserted 763.

Recruit.

 
FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY.

279

COMPANY I—Coatinied.

 

 

 

 

 

Nanie. Rank. see Ait Remarks.

Church, Edward T. | Private Mch. 24, 64 | Recruit.

Craig, John C. a Nov. 5,’61) Re-enl. Jan. 1, 64.

Corben, William «5, “ | Re-enlisted Jan. 1, ’64;
wounded; capt’d June
6, 64.

Chalk, John H. « «5, “ | Disch., disability, ’63.

Criswell, Jonas ee £6 iB. a8 es se se

Craig, Samuel P. Corporal “3, “ + Dead *62,

Cain, Presley G. Private |Jan. 1,762 BSS AE

Campbell, Josiah Corporal | Nov. 5,761

Daily, John Wagoner Sh 155

Daily, David W. Private Mcb. 24, 64) Recruit.

Daily, Thomas J. oe Nov. 5,’61] Re-enl. Jan. 1, 764.

Donaldson, James s «5, “| Re-enl. Feb. 14, 64; cap-
tured Sept. 11, *63.

Davis, Morris «5, ‘* | Dishonorably disch. Gen.
Cc. M. 763.

Drake, David M. Ke «5, “ | Trans. to N.C.8.; pro. to
lieut.

Dysert, Charles A. * mB) Dead.

Donaldson, Walter cs «5, © | Dead July 7,64, at Mary-
land Heights.

Dixon, Joseph es « 5, “ | Deserted ’63.

Ebbert, Jobn V. K. | Sergeant « 5, “ | Disch., disability, 62.

Ecke, Augustus Corporal fe Hy 6 £6 ss 63.

Evans, John W. Private “& -b, © | Dead "61.

Guy, Robert A. Ist sergt. “5, “ | Captured Sept. 11, 763.

Godfrey, James Private July 1,762, Recruit.

Greenlee, James we Noy. 5,’61]| Disch., disability, ’62.

Hetherington, Jos. ie ee 5, “ | Deserted ’63.

Hamm, Jacob es «5, “© | Captured Sept. 11, 63.

Henderson, Wm. ge oa

IIaine, John F. fe BS) Missing,

Hannan, Jeremiah “s «5, “ | Wounded, Cedar Cr’k, *64.

Hoben, William Musician | July 15, “ | Re-enl. Jan. 1, ’64.

Hackworth, Benj. | Private | Nov. 5, “ ° Mead, Mt

Hamilton, Alex. C. “ «5, “ | Disch., disability, ’62.

Harrison, George fe Jan. 1, ’62 ee . «

Irwin, David k. ee Nov. 5,’61| Trans. to N. C. S. 61;
discharged.

Karr, William * Feb. 24, ’64) Capt’d June 18, 64; dead.

Karr, John sf April 2, “© | Dead June 5, ’64, at Pied-
mont.

Lytle, David Ke Nov. 5,’61| Supposed to be dead.

Little, James Corporal « 30, 763 | Reeruit.
280

HISTORY OF THE

COMPANY I—Chntinued.

 

 

When Must.
Name, Rank. into Service: Remarks.

Louther, James Private Nov. 5,761) Disch., disability, 762.

Mathews, Leroy a «6, “ | Re-enl. Feb. 14, ’64; cap-
tured June 8, 764, at
Staunton.

Mathews, Wm. a BE 5 Dict, arsenite 762.

Mathews, Francis Corporal «5, “ | Captured; dead Jan. 764,
a prisoner.

Mathews, Moses Private «6, “ | Disch., disability, 763.

Mathews, Geo. W. Ms Es DFE a “ 62.

Mathews, John a Se ASO ee 2 - %

Monegan, Thomas a ES > Whey = =" -

McGeary, George oe «5, “ | Captured Sept. 11, ’63;

ied i A

McPherson, Hiram 6 ee yeas Reconll Wer 14, 6%:

McCune, George Corporal «5, “ | Disch., disability, 762.

Neville, Amor Private OO ae

Null, Joseph is April 2,’64) Recruit.

Ott, William A Mch. 25, “ o

Oliver, Joseph Sergeant | Nov. 5,’61| Disch., disability, 62.

Prager, George Private Bw SR

Prophater, Jackson = i 5, a

Powers, Edward iY «5, “ | Captured Sept. 11, 63.

Pemberton, W. D. ue «5, “| Disch., disability, ’62.

Paulus, George = «5, “ | Wounded; disch., disabil-
ity, 63.

Prager, John Corporal 5s. Dead May 15, 64, at New
Market.

Russell, Edgar I. Private Mch. 24, 64 | Recruit.

Raffle, Ralph Sergeant | Nov. 5,’61) Re-enl. Feb. 14, ’64; 2d
lieut. Co. H, 2d Vets.

Raffle, Ralph, Sr. Private «8, © | Disch,, disability, 62.

Rawling, Charles J. a «5, “ | Wounded; disch. ’63.

Rhoader, Jacob . «5, “ | Dead Sept. 11, 63, at
Moorefield.

Roberts, Riley . Mch. 31,64 | Deserted July 1, ’64.

Re anee e e ee

) s C. , : ,

Stone, Wm. H. « Mch. 31, 64 Recruit; wounded at New
Market.

Sampsell, Wm. H. “ «25, “ | Reernit.

Simpson, Roberts J. o Noy. 17,’61| Dead June 19, ’64, at

. Lynchburg.

Stine, John M. ie «5, “ | Dead May 15, ’64, at New
Market.

Tippett, Wm. S. Ist sergt. «5, “ | Captured Sept. 11, ’63.

 

 

 

 
FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY.

281

COMPANY I—Cbntinued.

 

 

 

 

 

When Must. s
Name. Rank. ante Service. Remarks.

Taylor, Robert Private Nov. 5,’61/ Re-enl. Jan. 26, ’64.

Tannahill, Jas. C. | Musician «5, “ | Re-enl. Jan. 26, 64; de-
serted June 18, 64.

Vogt, Augustus Private «5, “ | Disch., disability, 763.

Vance, James S. - eo tt e a

Whitham, Joseph a «5, “ | Captured Sept. 11, 763.

Wear, James A. be fm Bo: 86

Wallace, James E. * «5, “ | Re-enl. Jan. 1, 764,

Wault, Peter Wagoner «5, “ | Disch., disability, 63.

Welsh, Anthony Private «5, “ | Dead Oct. 2, 62.

Young, Philip “ «5, “ | Disch., disability, 63.

COMPANY K.

Radcliff, Richard Captain Noy. 14, ’6L

Lewis, James A. Ist lieut. oe Nag ne

Morgan, David 2a “ “14, “ | Resigned Feb. 1, 762.

Weeden, Henry K. | 2d “ Feb. 1,62) Transf, from Co. F ’61;
pro. Ist sergt. ’61; pro.
to 2d lieut. ’62; dis-
missed March 7, ’63.

Plattenberg, J. W. | 2d “ April13,’64| Trans. from Co. G ’62;
pro. Ist sergt. 63; pro.
2d lieut. 764; wounded
at Snicker’s Ford.

Allison, Joseph Private Feb. 15, “ | Recruit.

Albright, Levi iS Mch. 31, “

Amos, Williams es Nov. 14, ’61 | Dead April 3, ’63.

Bennett, Samuel ve e J2, =

Bland, Henry # sth ©

Boley, John mes hae

Boley, David ie ee ee

Bier, Henry A. ci Mch. 31, ’64 | Reeruit.

Bird, John fe Feb. 19, “ af

Bird, Rosebury - AO a

Beals, Elisha se Nov. 14, ’61| Re-enl. Jan. 22, ’64.

Bender, William ne ce 8 a 28 Disch. ; disability.

Bennett, David fe “ 14, “ | Wounded; disch. 762, at
Winchester.

Brock, Bushridge Corporal «14, “ | Dead May, ’62.

Bartlett, Ellis Private fo Va «April, 763.

Bennett, John of “« 14, “ | Deserted. 61.

Clegg, Charles se Rone TA ttt

Coates, Charles sf Dg NE

 
282

HISTORY OF THE

COMPANY K—Continued.

 

When Must.

 

 

Name. Rank. into Service. Remarks,

Croft, James Private Nov. 14, ’61

Chalfant, Johnson es Mch. 24, 64) Recruit.

Crow, Jobn a CS Ds, 8 ef

Crisswell, Peter 0. ¢ Feb. 19,“ =

Crisswell, Lewis B. | Sergeant Nov. 14,’61  Re-enlisted Feb. 15, ’64.

Carmack, Stockton | Private “ 14, “ | Re-enl. Feb. 11, ’64; 2d
lieut. Co. D, 2d Vets,

Coates, Alexander | Sergeant “14, “ | Disch.; disability.

Clohan, William Ist sergt. | Oct. 31, “ | Dead March 22, ’62, at
Winchester.

Davis, Cephas Private Nov. 14, “ | Disch.; disability.

Doran, Jobn = Feb. 25,’64 |) Dead Sept. 24, 64.

Decker, John fe Nov. 14, ’61 | Deserted "61.

Eskey, John re Feb. 25, ’64| Recruit.

Elliott, Joseph ee | Nov. 14,61 Re-enl. March 16, ’64.

Gray, James “14, “ | Wounded; disch. 764.

Gray, Robert ay “14, “ | Re-enlisted Feb. 15, °64;
wounded, captured, "64.

Greer, Henry te «14, “ | Disch., disability, 762.

Gasney, Richard s «14, “ fe

Hasenfelt, Joseph | Corporal fe ed AE

Heston, Benjamin | Private Mch. 26, ’64 Recruit.

Hays, Henry es April18, *

Hutchison, Wm. W. = Noy. 14,’61) Re-enl. Jan. 23, 64.

Holmes, Gilbert L. & “14, “ | Re-enl. Feb. 8, 64; Ist
lieut. Co. I, 2d Vets.

Hooth, George va “« 14, “ | Disch., disability, *64.

Johnson, Alexander fe Mch. 24, ’64 | Recruit.

Justus, John f Noy. 14,’61 | Disch., disability, 762.

Jacobs, Jacob Sergeant “14, “ | Trans. to V. R. C.

Kiger, John Private «14, “ | Captured Sept. 11, 63.

Kemple, Henry C. mm ) Aug. 11, 62 | Recruit.

Kimbell, Peter ? Mch. 24, 64 e

Keller, George W. | Sergeant Nov. 14,’61 | Re-enl. Feb. 15, 764.

Krider, Theodore Corporal Be ot, ate es Jan. 26,

Keller, Henry Private Ay Ve ye

Keller, John W, ne eS dee - Be Ge

Kemple, Otis “14, “ | Re-enl. Jan. 26, 64;
wounded.

Kirkland, William id «14, “ | Deserted ’62.

Lamby, William ic Ta

Lambert, John A Feb. 19,64} Recruit.

Leech, Clement V. « Meh. 24, “ es

Leech, Ambrose is Pel, 25, * -

Leech, Samuel Corporal | Nov. 14,’61] Re-enl. Feb. 15, 764,

 

 

 
FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY.

283

COMPANY K—Continued.

 

Name.

Leech, Benjamin
Lloyd, William T,
Launar, Herman
Lyder, Joseph
Mendel, George C.
Manners, Alexander

Majors, John W.
Marple, Joel D.
Morgan, William IT.
Montgomery, John
Moore, Samuel A.

Masterson, George
Myer, Wm. A.
McCombs, John
McHenry, James
McCauslin, Robert
McGinnis, John J.
McCombs, Lovi
Oram, Peter
Owings, Alfred
Oldfield, Thaddeus
Oldfield, George

Oram, George
Oxtoby, Isaac
Orst, Henry

Palmer, John W.
Pool, Joseph W.
Parke, Thomas C.
Pelley, James
Plate, William
Pierce, Geo. M. D.
Rice, Jonathan
Riggs, Lemuel
Riggles, Charles
Rohan, Jobn
Shepherd, Henry C.
Shillings, James
Sangston, John A.
Sissell, William
Stanley, John
Swift, Wm. D.

 

Rank.

Private

Corporal

Private
“

Sergeant

Private
4“e

Sergeant

Private
“ce

 

Nov. 14,

When Must.
iuto Service.

61
14,“
14,

14, “

Remarks,

Re- en). Feb, 15,7
“ce 15.

Dieeh., disability, 62.
“ “ 63.

oF

Captured Sept. 11, 63
Captured May 15,

died a prisoner.
Reeruit.

64;

Re- enl. Feb. 16, 764.
“ 16, “e
Racca, Jan. 26,64; cap-
tured May 15, 64.
Disch., disability, 762.
be “ce 63.

Re-enl. Feb. 15, ’64.
“ ee 9g
Disch., disability, 762.
Dead Sept. 24, 763.
Deserted June, 762,

Re- enl. Feb. 11,

“ 16,

een Jan. 25, 64; cap-
tured May is, 64,
Disch. , disability, 63.

64.

“

62.

Pei, term of service

having expired,
Recruit.

“
Re- enl. Feb. 15, *64.

“ce 15, “

Deserted ’62.
Recruit.

“
Re-enl. July 15, 64.

«Feb. 24,
Recruit.

““

 

| Re-enl. Feb. 24, ’64.

 
284

FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY.

COMPANY K—Continued.

 

Name.

Severs, Joshua
Stewart, Gerard
Shaw, Joseph

Thompson, John D.

Trisler, John R.
Tolbert, John
Vandine, David
Venaman, Richard
Vandine, Louis
Wilkinson, Alfred

Wildeman, John W.

Wade, Thomas S.
Wagoner, William
Wade, James B. F.
Wright, John 8.
Weaver, Charles
Yeck, Edward J.

 

 

Remarks.

 

61
“

hen Must.
Rank. ues Service.
Sergeant | Nov. 14,
Private a 14,
f Mch. 24,
id Nov. 14,
“ “ 14,
“ee “ 14,
“cc “ 14,
“ “ 14,
“ce “ 14,
“ce “ 14,
“ e 14,
“ “ 14,
“ce “ 14,
“ce “c 14,
i Dec. 1,
ee Mch. 31,
es April 9,

 

 

Transferred to V. R. C.
Dead March, ’62.
Dead July 18,

Snicker’s Ford.

"64, at

Dead.

Disch., disability, ’62.

Re-enl. Jan. 22, 64.
Disch., disability, 762.
Re-enl. in Ist U. 8. Cav.
Dead ’62.
“ “
Deserted April, ’64.
Recruit; captured June
26, 64.

 

A number of the Company’s books having been lost or destroyed, and
none of them being attainable, it is not claimed that this list is correct.
Every effort, however, has been made to get a complete record, but it has
been found to be impossible in the limited time allowed for its completion.

The writer, in common with all interested, regrets this; but as there is
no remedy, it must be endured.

THE END.
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es
\ .

 

 

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