USA > Virginia > Historical sketches of the Nottoway Grays, afterwards Company G, Eighteenth Virginia Regiment, Army of Northern Virginia; > Part 1
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Gc 973.74 V811 1762923
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00824 2536
Gc 973.74 V811 1762923
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012
http://archive.org/details/historicalsketch00irby
HISTORICAL SKETCH
OF THE
NOTTOWAY GRAYS,
AFTERWARDS COMPANY G,
:
EIGHTEENTH VIRGINIA REGIMENT,
ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA :
Prepared at the request of the surviving members of the Company at their first re-union at Bellefont Church, July 21, 1877.
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BY 1 RICHARD IRBY,
Captain of the Company, 1862-63.
RICHMOND : J. W. FERGUSSON & SON, IS78.
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Gift of C . G. Dawes , Chicago , MAR 24 1911
Furl that banner, for 'tis weary, Round its staff 'tis drooping dreary ; Furl it, fold it, it is best ; For there's not a man to wave it, And there's not a sword to save it, And there's not one left to lave it In the blood which heroes gave it, And its foes now scorn and brave it, Furl it, hide it, let it rest.
Take that banner down, 'tis tattered, Broken is its staff, and shattered, And the valiant hosts are scattered, Over whom it floated high. Oh ! 'tis hard for us to fold it, Hard to think there's none to hold it, Hard that those who once unrolled it Now must furl it with a sigh.
Furl that banner, furl it sadly : Once ten thousands hailed it gladly, And ten thousands, wildly, madly, Swore it should forever wave : Swore that foeman's sword could never Hearts like their's entwined dissever, Till that flag would float forever ()'er their freedom or their grave.
Furl it ! for the hands that grasped it, And the hearts that fondly clasped it, Cold and dead are lying low ; And the banner it is trailing, While around it sounds the wailing Of its people in cheir woe. For tho' conquered they adore it, Love the cold dead hands that bore it, Weep for those who fell before it, Pardon those who trailed and tore it, 'And, oh ! wildly they deplore it, Now to furl and fold it so.
Furl that banner, true 'tis gory, Vet 'tis wreathed around with glory, And 'twill live in song and story, Though it> folds are in the dust ; For its fame, on brightest page>, Penned by poets and by sages. Shall go sounding down the age .. Furl its folds though now we must.
Furl that banner, softly. slowly, Treat it gently -- it is holy- For it droop- above the dead ; Touch it not, unfold it never, Let it droop there. furled forever, For its people's hopes are dead.
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Irby, Richard.
Historical sketch of the Nottoway grays, afterwards Com- pany G, Eighteenth Virginia regiment, Army of northern Virginia; prepared at the request of the surviving members of the company at their first reunion at Bellefont church, July 21, 1877. By Richard Irby ... Richmond, J. W. Fer- gusson & son, 1878.
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48 p., 1 1. 24cm.
Portraito mentioned in appendix-wenting.
1. U. S .- Hist .- Civil war-Regimental historles-Va. Inf .- 1Sth. 2. Virginia infantry. 18th reg't, 1861-1805.
+2-18053
Library of Congress
E581.5.18th
OHMLS CARD :3761-7
FIRST MEETING OF COMPANY G,
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JULY 21, 1877.
At a meeting of the surviving members of Company G, 18th Virginia Regiment, held at Bellefont Baptist Church (the site of their first drill ground), on the 21st of July, 1877, the following proceedings were held :
At the request of the Committee of Arrangements, Captain P. F. Rowlett acted as Chief Marshal, assisted by Sergeant G. B. Seay, Corporals A. F.Morgan and J. W. Tunstill.
Orderly Sergeant R. B. Seay formed the company into line, numbering thirty-one, Captain Irby took command, and, pre- ceded by the Chief Marshal, marched the men into the church, which was filled by families and friends of the members present, and families of the deceased.
Captain Irby was made Chairman, and Dr. Hurt, Secretary. Dr. T. W. Sydnor opened the proceedings by reading selections from the Scripture, and by prayer.
Letters were read from Colonel R. E. Withers, U. S. Senator, of Virginia, Colonel G. C. Cabell, M. C., of Virginia and Adju- tant R. Ferguson, who had been invited to attend.
By request of the Committee of Arrangements, Captain Irby then gave a sketch of the organization of the company, its entry into service, its war-record while he was commander of the com- pany, with sketches of men and incidents most notable in its history.
Capt. P. F. Rowlett, Dr. J. M. Hurt and Dr. Sydnor, (father of Color Sergeant E. G. Sydnor, killed at Sharpsburg, gave in- teresting sketches of the Company and its men.
On motion of Dr. Hurt, seconded by Dr. Sydnor, a committee was appointed to open correspondence with the other military com- panies engaged in the Confederate service, looking to the collec- tion and preservation of the Rolls of the several companies of Nottoway, and the erection of a suitable monument to the mem- ory of the deceased soldiers of said commands.
Dr. J. M. HURT, 1 Committee.
A. F. MORGAN,
J. W. TUNSTILL.
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It was resolved that Capt. Irby be requested to complete the historical sketch of the company by procuring the data for 1863, 1864 and 1865.
The Rolls of the company were then read, revised and cor- rected.
The company then adjourned to meet again at the call of the Chairman.
A sumptuous dinner was duly attended and enjoyed by the vet- erans and their families and friends.
Rev. J. C. Reed, with assistants, regaled the assemblage with delightful music during the exercises.
RICHARD IRBY, Chairman.
J. M. HURT, Secretary.
SECOND ANNUAL MEETING.
On the 20th July, 1878, a called meeting of the survivors of Company G, 18th Virginia Regiment, was held at Bellefont Bap- tist Church, Captain Richard Irby in the Chair, and Dr. J. M. Hurt, Secretary.
Dr. T. W. Sydnor opened the meeting with appropriate devo- tional services.
The special object of the meeting was explained by the Chair- man to be the revision and correction of the Rolls of Company G, which the meeting then proceeded to do.
Captain Richard Irby then read the Historical Sketch of the company, prepared, as requested by the company at its last meet- ing.
On motion, it was resolved that the thanks of the company be returned to Captain Irby for the sketch he has prepared.
It was also resolved that a committee be appointed to take steps to hold a meeting sometime in August next for the purpose of raising funds to publish the Historical Sketch of the Company.
Captain RICHARD IRBY, Dr. J. M. HURT, A. F. MORGAN, R. L. HURT, J. W. TUNSTILL,
Committee.
The meeting then adjourned.
RICHARD IRBY, Chairman.
J. M. HURT, Secretary.
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THIRD MEETING OF Co. G, AUGUST 24, 1878.
According to the arrangements of the committee appointed at the last meeting of Company G, 18th Virginia Regiment, the sur- vivors met in the grove near Nottoway Foundry, August 24, 1878. About thirty members were present. Capt. Richard Irby acted as Chairman, Capt. P. F. Rowlett as Chief Marshal, and Dr. J. M. Hurt as Secretary.
The meeting was opened by appropriate devotional exercises conducted by Rev. J. C. Reed.
The Chairman then introduced to the large audience present Col. R. E. Withers, U. S. Senator from Virginia, the first Colo- nel of the 18th Regiment, Army of Northern Virginia. After a few remarks recalling the special scenes and occasions in which the company had been associated with their old Colonel, the com- pany was called on for three cheers for Col. Withers, which they gave with a hearty will.
Col. Withers then addressed the company and the audience in an eloquent and feeling manner. Many were moved to tears while he referred to the scenes and struggles of the war. He el- oquently exhorted the veterans to be in peace as virtuous, brave and patient as they had been in war.
Captain Richard Irby then read the Sketch prepared by Lieu- tenant R. Ferguson, of the history of the company from January, 1863, to the close of the battle of Gettysburg, and the conclud- ing portion of the Historical Sketch of the Company prepared by himself since the last meeting.
At the suggestion of Dr. Sydnor, a number of persons present subscribed for copies of the Historical Sketch.
Dr. J. M. Hurt, in behalf of Company G then presented Capt. Irby a gold medal*, accompanying the presentation with appro- priate and feeling remarks, to which the Captain responded, ex- pressing his high appreciation of the company's unexpected token of its regard.
The audience was then invited to partake of a regular old Vir- ginia dinner, provided by the friends of the company, and dis- pensed by the ladies of the county.
After dinner Judge Farrar, of Amelia county, delivered a lec- ture embodying many incidents of the war, in his well known style.
Before bidding the survivors a final good-bye, Col. Withers ad-
* The face of the medal bears this inscription : Presented by the Nottoway Grays (Company G, ISth Virginia Regiment), to Captain Richard Irby, in testimony of their love and gratitude to him as their Captain and Historian.
The obverse face has engraven on it a furled Confederate war flag, pierced by a pen.
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dressed to them a few parting words, full of eloquence and feel- ing, which will long live in their memories.
The occasion was enlivened by music from the Cornet band of Burkeville, which generously volunteered its services for the day. The members of it being Northern settlers, thus gave a token of fraternal regard, which was duly appreciated by Company G and its friends.
The Chairman made acknowledgement of the thanks of the company to Col. Withers for his address ; Judge Farrar for his lecture ; the Burkeville Cornet band for its music; the friends of the Company for their liberal dinner; and the ladies for their zeal in enlarging the publishing fund by the sale of ice cream, &c. The amount raised during the day was sufficient to publish the Sketch.
RICHARD IRBY, Chairman. .
J. M. HURT, Secretary.
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
This Sketch, written almost wholly from memory and from data based on the recollection of surviving comrades, will neces- sarily be very imperfect. But few records were left, and these were simply the first Roll of the company and records of a meet- ing held to offer the company's services to the State.
Brief and imperfect as the Sketch may be, it will, however, it is hoped, revive in the hearts of its surviving members memories which, though sad, ought not to be allowed to die. A number of these members still live, useful in peace as they were brave in war. They owe it themselves to let their children and children's child- . ren know what part their fathers took in the memorable war of the Sections, which only needed success to make it rank in the annals of time, with the greatest that ever nerved the heart of pa- triots or tried the souls of men. Nay, more, they owe it to the memory of those who died by their sides in that struggle, to let future generations know how bravely they suffered and fought. They are as worthy of the marble shaft or storied urn, as any martyrs for liberty's sake that ever lived. Grant that they were mistaken-that their cause was not right-nevertheless they be- lieved it right, and so believing, they dared to die for it. Parti- san historians may brand us and them with the stigma of treason. Let our posterity read our own records, revealing the true spirit of our action, and know and rejoice that their fathers were patri- ots and worthy of the name of patriots.
COMPANY G (first called Nottoway Rifle Guard and afterwards Nottoway Grays) was organized on the 12th of January, 1861. The original Roll, signed in person by the members, is given below. It was composed of men who had, with possibly one exception, no military education, and who, but for the exi-
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gencies of the times, would most probably have never joined a military company. They met to prepare for the storm just then casting its shadow athwart the Southern sky. They hoped that the storm-cloud might pass away, but if not, they sought to pre- pare to meet it. It burst on them while getting ready for it.
FIRST ROLL, JANUARY 12, 1861.
REPS CONNALLY, Captain.
Richard Irby, 1st Ligut. E. E. Howson, 3d Lieut. Jno. J. O'Neil, 4th Lieut.
Samuel Hardy, 1st Sergt. Cincinnatus Stith, 3d Sergt.
Alexander Campbell, 2d Sergt. Chas. J. Seabrook, 4th Sergt. Archer Campbell, 5th Sergt.
W. M. Hamilton, 1st Corpl. J. C. Gill, 3d Corpl.
Jno. W. Tunstill, 2d Corpl. Jos. A. Goulder, 4th Corpl.
Jos. A. Jones, Inspector .*
J. M. Hurt, Sec. and Treas.
PRIVATES.
1 C. T. Atkinson.
18 Wm. P. Grammer.
19 A. M. Hurt.
20 R. L. Hurt.
4 Jos. C. Bentley.
21 G. H. Jackson.
5 A. V. Brown.
22 C. G. Malone.
6 J. R. Crenshaw .*
23 W. T. Mason.
7 Branch J. Conally.
24 W. F. Mitchell.
8 Charles Drinkwater.
25 James Reames.
9 W. J. Dixon .*
26 Jas. A. Spain.
10 Jos. A. Elder.
27 R. B. Spain.
11 Wi. D. Farley.
28 R. B. Seay.
13 G. W. Foster.
30 James D. Tunstill.
14 E. G. Gunn.
31 G. W. Thompson.
32 James T. West.
16 T. J. Gunn.
33 Thos. B. West.
17 R. B. Grammer.
34 Thos. M. Watkins .*
All the above were mustered into active service on the com- . mencement of hostilities except those marked (*).
At the formation of the company, the officers and men were uniformed by themselves or by the assistance of their friends. The county of Nottoway bought one hundred Minnie guns, prior
2 William Burton.
3 Thos. R. Blandy.
12 E. W. Farley.
29 J. M. Sullivan.
15 R. C. Gunn.
Peter F. Rowlett, 2d Lieut.
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to active hostilities, for the infantry companies of the county. One-half of these were turned over to Company G.
After the company had been organized and been drilled a few times, the following proceedings were held and published :
THE NOTTOWAY GRAYS TENDER THEIR SERVICES TO THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA.
At a regular drill meeting of the Nottoway Grays, April 13th, 1861, the following preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted :
WHEREAS, We have reliable information to the effect that a number of Black Re- publican Governors have been recently in secret conclave with the President of the United States, the evident intent of which was a conspiracy against the rights and lib- erty of the South, of which we forin a part, as proven by the recommendation of a war bill by the Governor of Pennsylvania, one of them, and the immediate passage of the same by the Legislature of that State-therefore
Resolved, Ist. That we, the members of the Nottoway Grays (inasmuch as the Legislature of Virginia has declared, by resolution, its intention to meet force by force !) offer to the Governor of the State our services to repel every hostile demonstration, either upon Virginia or the Confederate States, by the crossing of her border with armed troops for the purpose of invasion.
2nd. That we recommend to every volunteer company in the State a similar offer of their services.
3rd. That we appoint our Captain, R. Connally, and First Lieutenant, Richard Irby, a committee to present these proceedings to the Governor of the State and our repre- sentatives in the Convention soon to be held.
4th. That our secretary furnish to the newspapers of Petersburg, Richmond and Lynchburg, copies for publication, with the request that all the papers in the State friendly to the object be requested to copy.
CAPT. R. CONNALLY, Chairman.
J. M. HURT, Secretary.
The services of the company were duly accepted by Governor Letcher, and it was ordered to rendezvous at the Courthouse. After drilling there one day it was ordered by telegram to report at Richmond, on or about the 20th of April. Little did the men think, that Monday morning when they kissed their wives and loved ones, that many of them would not see them again for many weary months. But so it was.
On the morning of their departure, the members of the com- pany gathered together at sunrise in the Presbyterian church at Nottoway Courthouse, and held their first devotional meeting- a meeting which will not be forgotten. It was a solemn and tearful time. Eyes unused to weeping were wet with tears that day, when the men committed themselves into the keeping of the " God of Battle," and their loved ones to the "Father of the fatherless and the God of the widow."
A goodly number of the families and friends of the men of the company gathered at the station, just before the train arrived, to bid them farewell. The Rev. T. W. Sydnor made them a part- ing address. With half-spoken good-byes and hands wrung in grief by many, the men moved off, watching to the last for the waving handkerchief of some loved one left behind.
Reaching Richmond before night, the company was quartered temporarily at Mayo's Warehouse. The men had scanty rations
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but no way to cook them, and fared badly for awhile. On reach- ing Camp Lee, the cattle stalls were given them for barracks. It is not recorded that having been "stalled," any became very fat.
Under the drilling of the Cadets of the Virginia Military Insti- tute, promoted to be "drill-masters," they learned tactics as rap- idly as possible. Before leaving Nottoway, the company had re- ceived many accessions, mostly students of Union Academy, of which 1st Sergeant Hardy was joint-principal, besides a number of gallant young men from the adjoining counties, men of educa- tion and high standing. It is not surprising, then, that it should have taken high grade at once for drill and spirit.
At Camp Lee, all was bustle and expectancy. New companies were coming in every day. As fast as regiments were organized they were sent to the front. Company G was put in the 18th Virginia Regiment, R. E. Withers, Colonel; H. A. Carrington, Lieutenant Colonel; G. C. Cabell, Major; (the only Regimental Officers the Regiment had during the whole war).
Space will not allow a narration of the many novel things seen at Camp Lee. Many were sad-some were ludicrous-all strange to a parcel of quiet country people. The writer, then 1st Lieuten- ant of the company, will not forget his first experience as Officer of the Guard. The guard-house was a plank shanty, standing off to itself, with curtains hung around the openings in place of win- dows. Just before night a drunken Irishman was put in his charge who had threatened to kill his Captain. He was perfectly wild with drink, and was boisterous in the extreme. The Lieu- tenant, not knowing what to do with him, threatened to tie him. The Irishman, not at all set back, sang out "Oh yis! yis! yis ; ye can tie me and ye can gag me too; I've been in the army be- fore, and if you don't know how, I'll tell ye." Seeing he was incorrigible, he had him tied with a stout rope to a post, and then went to headquarters to get instructions what to do with such a customer. Coming back he found him fast asleep, hav- ing bitten the rope in two. He let him sleep. He was accosted next morning bright and early by the fellow now sober, but dry and hungry. "I say, Captain! will you not send somebody up to my quarters to get me some breakfast and a jug of whiskee ?"
On the 26th May the Company left Camp Lee for Manassas. While at Camp Lee, and immediately after reaching Manassas, it was enlarged further by the following recruits :
J. F. Barrow.
C. D. Pollard.
R. B. Barrow.
J. J. Reese.
John Campbell.
G. B. Seav.
D. C. Clark. S. B. Sublett.
R. H. Cobbs.
W. G. Watkins.
S. E. Fowlkes.
J. C. Webb.
Richard Ferguson.
L. E. Webb.
J. II. Gill. A. D. Crenshaw.
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Thos. Gregory.
P. Faris .*
H. Hatchett.
H. Jeffress,
R. N. Hardaway.
E. H. Muse.
L. E. Hardy.
J. E. Pettus .*
J. E. Irvin.
E. G. Sydnor.
A. F. Morgan.
B. I. Scott.
Making, officers and men, seventy-three.
ACTIVE SERVICE BEGUN. .
The 18th Virginia Regiment, Col. R. E. Withers command- ing, was stationed at Manassas, to the right of the railroad, as you face towards Washington. Gen. Beauregard commanded the Post. It was a stirring place, especially to new and untried men, who had never seen anything of camp. Everyday witnessed the arrival of fresh troops. War rumors from towards Washing- ton were more plentiful than good bread-or even good water; and a man who could live on excitement had a chance here to grow fat. The first picket force sent out towards the "Occoquan" had little hope of returning to camp without a list of killed and wounded. Manassas was a bad place for troops. The water was bad and not abundant at that. This caused diarrhea and kin- dred complaints. Private J. J. Reese, of Dinwiddie county, naturally delicate, and tenderly raised, soon succumbed, and was the first of Company G to give up his life. This cast a gloom over the hearts of the men, for it was the index of the fate of many others.
In a few days orders came for the Regiment to go to the front, and it was a relief to leave a place like Manassas, to go to Cen- treville, where good water abounded, and other supplies were plentiful. Here we had a famous "night alarm," caused by some scared men on picket, firing at some imagined enemy. Sergeant Hardy got into somebody else's shoes and somebody put the right boot on the left foot.
A few days afterwards, another move was made to the front, and the company took up camp at Germantown, near Fairfax Courthouse, distant about twenty miles from Washington. Cap- tain Marr had just been killed in a skirmish at the Courthouse, and it was daily expected that the Grand (Northern) Army would advance. Still June wore away, and July, with its sweltering heat had come and half of it gone, before the momentous day ar- rived. On the 17th July, just as breakfast was over, the sharp rattle of the picket guns announced that the conflict was at hand. Soon the sham breastworks, which had been thrown up to deceive the foe, were filled with men. All eyes were strained to catch the first glimpse of the blue-coats. The booming cannon told it was
* These two men reached us the morning of the 21st July, after the battle had begun. They fought through the day, and both were taken sick soon after, and died.
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no mere scouting party. The hills were soon crested with glit- tering bayonets, and the conflict seemed at hand. But our stand was a mere feint. We did not fire a gun before we fell back and double-quicked to the rear, to prevent the heavy column from flanking our little force. It was all "Dutch" to us when fortifi- cations were deserted before a gun was fired by us, but we un- derstood it all afterwards.
That day's march to Centreville and thence to Bull Run was a trying time. More than one man never recovered from the extreme fatigue and heat. W. D. Farley and A. M. Hurt died subsequently at the hospital of sickness caused by this overtaxing march.
The retreat was made without loss of men or wagons, but the latter were sent to Manassas direct, leaving us without rations for the night. We halted, foot-sore and worn out, at Ball's Ford on Bull Run, about one mile below the Stone Bridge. After bathing our wearied limbs in the Run, sleep came to our relief. The next day, July 18th, the battle of "Bull Run" was fought at the ford below us. In our bushy retreat we could count the artillery discharges, but, except from the tops of the highest trees, could see nothing. The rattle of musketry succeeded, and sounds, of charges, and then the yelling of the victors. The sounds in- dicated the failure of the Federals to cross the Run, but that was all we could gather. Night came on, and the conflict ceased. What was to come next? The days of suspense and doubt were long almost as years, and sleep came with troubled dreams and "visions of garments rolled in blood." But so far the foe had not triumphed. Friday and Saturday wore away, with constant watching, by day and night to us, who held the outer post-so · near the Federal lines we could hear their drums beat retreat and reveille. Saturday night we picketed near the pike, about mid- way between the two armies, which were separated by a space not more than three miles. On one side, we heard the drums beat "retreat" for a short rest before the onward march of the morrow. On the other, across Bull Run, the lines of defence were forming, and in the valley, the ringing axes and falling trees, and the rumbling of artillery, told of stubborn defence on the morrow. It was so still that the words of command were plainly heard, as the lines filed into position.
Sunday morning came bright and calm, but the Sabbath still- ness was disturbed long before sunrise, by the long roll calling to arms, and then the measured tread of serried ranks, and the wheels of artillery carriages grating heavily on the pike. The advancing column made directly for the Stone Bridge, to make the feint of crossing. The undergrowth was very heavy where we lay, and the distance between us and the nearest line was so slight, we could plainly hear them getting "Long Tom," the famous Parrott gun, of the Federals, into position. About nine o'clock, this gun opened, and its first missile was heard as it
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whizzed and hirtled, from the time it left the cannon's mouth, till it struck, away over beyond the Run. As the shell struck the ground, cheers from one flank of the Confederate line to the other, went up, and were echoed and re-echoed from the opposing hills. Derisive cheers! They said there were brave hearts and hands, ready for the onset.
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