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Gc 973.74 V81JO 1764916
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00824 2544
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
http://www.archive.org/details/understarsbarshi00jone
Under the Stars and Bars
A History of the Surry Light Artillery by 3. W. Jones
Recollections of a Private Soldier in the War Between the States
Benjamin Washington Comes
And Hist'ry's pen will yet relate, In some approaching, clear-eyed day, The men were right who fought for the State, And wore the sober, Southern Gray. -Reunion Ode.
RICHMOND EVERETT WADDEY Q 1909
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1764916 -
F 8511 ,. 44
Jones, Benjamin Washington, 1841-
Under the stars and bars: a history of the Surry light art !!- Icry : recollections of a private soldier in the war between the states ... Richmond. E. Waddey co., 1909.
x!li, 207 p. 202.
1. U. S .- Itt .- Cht war - Regimental histories-Va. crt .- Surry Big'it artillery. 1201-1-13. Surry light artillery.
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Necat LI rary of Congress
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To HIS OLD COMRADES, WHO MARCHED WITH HIM UNDER THE BANNER OF THE SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY, FROM THE BEGIN- NING OF THE STRUGGLE IN VIRGINIA TO THE CLOSING HOUR AT APPOMATTOX, THESE RECOLLECTIONS, IN GARB AS RUGGED AS WAS THE BOY SOLDIER HIMSELF, ARE RESPECTFULLY AND FRATERNALLY DEDICATED, BY THE AUTHOR.
PREFACE.
These recollections of events that occurred in Vir- ginia during the great and bloody struggle between the States, in which the writer shared in common with his Company, are collated principally from letters written to a friend at home while the war was progressing.
I have thought it best that the form of the letters be retained, only adding here and there such notes and remarks as appeared to be necessary to make of them one connected story. Having been written as the events were transpiring, they serve admirably as the frame- work of the narrative, and present a true reflex and picture of the state of affairs as seen by a private soldier during the bitter contest in Virginia leading up from Big Bethel to the abandonment of Richmond.
The book is not meant for general circulation, but only for the boys in gray, my immediate companions in arms, who shared in the events herein related; and for their friends and kindred, who will wish to read the story, and know how those boys stood the test of battle, and endured the ordeal of the daily trials and sufferings to which they were subjected through four long, weary, tragicful years. It is simply an offering of love to the men (the dead and the living alike), with whom I marched and camped, and labored and suffered, in the
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effort to turn aside the tidal wave of a ruthless invasion that was sweeping over our land from the Potomac to the Rio Grande, and leaving behind it scarred and deso- lated homes, and destitution and misery.
It is certain that the men of the Surry Artillery went out to fight for their homes and firesides, for personal liberty, and for the independence and integrity of their State. These were the principles for which we con- tended. It were these incentives, and not the narrow question of perpetuating negro slavery, that animated the heart of the private soldier of the South, and nerved his arm to strike its heaviest blows in defence of the sacred holdings where his cradle had stood and his ancestors lay buried. They were no hireling soldiery, but freeborn citizens, the native lords of the soil that had been invaded. This tells the secret why the boys in gray, from Texas to Maryland, fought so stubbornly and so persistently. -
It has been one purpose in the course of this story, to present something of the inner life of the soldier in camp-something of the many little tableaux and come- dies that were often taking place, and which served to break the monotony of what would often have been a dull and scarcely endurable life. Perhaps the recital of these episodes, most of them doubtless long since for- gotten by the surviving actors therein, may serve to recall some pleasant memories, and evoke a smile from the now old and gray men, who were then, for the most part, but beardless and care-free boys.
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And now, having finished the task, not altogether as I fain would, but as I could, I lay it in the hands of my surviving comrades, trusting that it may serve to call up pleasing, though it must often be sad, reminis- cences of that era of unpleasantness that marked our loved Southland with a thousand battlefields, laid therein a million untimely graves, incarnadined her soil with rivers of blood, and filled her homes with widows and orphans, and poverty and loneliness, where love, peace, and plenty should have reigned supreme.
The memory of these things must linger while a single veteran remains to tell the mournful story. And it is right that the sons and daughters should know what the fathers and mothers endured. Over the wrongs that we suffered we may throw the mantle of forgiveness, but we can never forget them. Knowing well that we were right, we would fight the foe again, were cause and quarrel and issue the same. The man who would not contend for his own domicile and altar, for the soil of his birthplace and the graves of his ancestors, is a craven.
Surry, Va., 1909. B. W. J.
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CONTENTS
INTRODUCTORY NOTES 1
LETTER FIRST. Company attached to 3d Virginia Infantry-Drilling with the Regiment-Murmur's of the men-Guard duty-Van- dalism-Hucksters-Note. 11
LETTER SECOND.
An invasion of measles-Recruits-Two cannon-Sergeant Bloxam and his hard drilling-Soldierly pluck -- Note. .. 15
LETTER THIRD.
Winter quarters-Two more guns-Life in camp-Gambling- Note.
19
LETTER FOURTH.
A mild winter-Life in camp-Active operations expected- Other troops-A soldier's burial-Rations-Note. 23
LETTER FIFTH.
The campaign opened-Confederate reverses-Naval battle in Hampton Roads-Departure of the 3d Regiment, and other forces-Camp "Destruction"-Transfers-On the march-Note. 27
LETTER SIXTH.
Destruction of the Merrimac-Advance of a Federal fleet- Engagement at Harding's Bluff-Re-elction of officers- Postscript-Note. 31
LETTER SEVENTH.
In Chesterfield-The 2d Section goes to Richmond-Camping around-Point of Rocks-Battle of Seven Pines-All quiet on the burly Appomattox-Note.
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LETTER EIGHTH.
A contest with gunboats-Results of the fight-The enemy's losses-The seven days' battles-Note. 39
LETTER NINTH.
Return of the 2d Section-End of the seven days' struggle- Mcclellan stationary-Balloons-Death of I. O. Cren- shaw-Note. 45
LETTER TENTH.
Shelling a gunboat-Results-Discharge of 35-year men- Lee in Northern Virginia -- A Comet-Election for 3d Lieu- tenant-Autumn-Note. 49
LETTER ELEVENTH.
On to Manchester-The "wood brigade"-Resignation of Cap- tain Ruffin-Promotions and election-The town-View of Richmond-Note. 54
LETTER TWELFTH.
Frame barracks-Sick men-Foreign residents-Lee at Fred- ericksburg-The city defences-A snow storm-Rations- Note. 60
LETTER THIRTEENTH.
Christmas eve-Church bells-Christmas boxes-Fredericks- burg -- Attached to Lightfoot's Battalion-Our camp-No snug cabins-Note. 66
LETTER FOURTEENTH.
A night on picket-Snowed under-Only a cavalry raid- And a false alarm-Note. 70
LETTER FIFTEENTH.
Snow and wind storm-Tents overturned-Rat venison-A new flag-Battalion drills-Note. 73
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LETTER SIXTEENTH.
Good health of the men-"Broom day"-Confederate sta- tionery-Skulkers-A revival spirit-Songs in camp- An incident-Note. 77
LETTER SEVENTEENTH.
Sabbath breaking-Inspections and parade-Government work-Conduet of officials-Sir Matthew Hale's Sabbath law-"Permits"-Note. 85
LETTER EIGHTEENTH.
The "everlasting" itch-Williams and his remedy-Bright hopes, but dark results-That, too, passes-Rumors of battle-Note. 89
LETTER NINETEENTH.
Suffolk recaptured-Big siege guns-Marching orders-Des- tination-The Home Guard-Note. 94
LETTER TWENTIETH.
Gordonsville-Marching and counter-marching-The Stone- man raid-At Orange Courthouse-Scenery-Note. 99
LETTER TWENTY-FIRST.
Conflicting reports-Wounded men and prisoners-Death of General Jackson-Honoring the remains-Orders to return-Note. 105
LETTER TWENTY-SECOND.
The plains of Virginia-Condition of agriculture-A pen sketch of Colonel Rhett-Arrival at Richmond-A new camp-Note. 109
LETTER TWENTY-THIRD.
All quiet on the James-Drilling and guard duty-Church and theatre-Negro raiders-Note. 114
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LETTER TWENTY-FOURTH.
The battle cloud moving northward-Advancing from the York-On the Chickahominy-Scenery and conditions- Note. 119
LETTER TWENTY-FIFTH.
Return into camp-Confederate reverses-Hope for us yet- Our cause just-Why we sometimes fail-Conscripts and skulkers-Note. 124
LETTER TWENTY-SIXTH.
Hanging of Kellogg, the spy-Revivals-Furloughs-Health of the Company-Books-Note. 129
LETTER TWENTY-SEVENTH.
Guardian angels-September days in camp-Hard times in Surry-But worse in other parts-Courage, and better times-Note. 135
LETTER TWENTY-EIGHTH.
Winter quarters again-Rations-Small-pox-A fire-The city by moonlight-"All quiet along the James"-Con- federate Congress-Note. 139
LETTER TWENTY-NINTH.
Forage details-Condition of the country visited="Greens" and pot liquor-Why soldiers are given to "raiding"- A lecture on Palestine-Pay-day in Camp-Note. . 145
LETTER THIRTIETH.
Campaign of 1864 begun-Confederate vietories-Dahlgren- Kilpatrick cavalry dash-Its nefarious purpose-And farcical failure-Stirring events expected-Notes. 151
LETTER THIRTY-FIRST.
The "Soldiers' Home"-Oakwood Cemetery-A chicken "raid"-Double duty-Songs-Note. 157
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LETTER THIRTY-SECOND.
The Butler campaign begun-Battle of Port Walthall-A Confederate victory-Losses-Note. . . 167
LETTER THIRTY-THIRD.
The enemy advancing-Railroad torn up-Fight at Swift Creek-Trying to turn the flank-Advancing toward Richmond-Note. 174
LETTER THIRTY-FOURTH.
A glance at operations elsewhere-Federal cavalry again- Butler's second advance-Note. 178
LETTER THIRTY-FIFTH.
Two days under fire-Conduct of the men-Casualties and inci- dents-Note. 183
LETTER THIRTY-SIXTH.
The battle of Drewry's Bluff-Charge of Terry's and Gracie's men-Prisoners-Note. . 188
LETTER THIRTY-SEVENTH.
Our losses-Company Q ordered to report-Watching the enemy-Spring's lush sweetness-More vandalism- Verscs-Note. . 194
LETTER THIRTY-EIGHTH.
On the march-Condition of the horses-Drewry's Bluff hill- Battle of Cold Harbor-Grant crossing the Chicka- hominy-Note. 200
LETTER THIRTY-NINTH.
Picketing in New Kent-Unburied dead-A battle-scarred country-Corn bread only-Note. 205
LETTER FORTIETH.
Return to the city-Our summer camp-View of the city- Richmond the Mecca of the South-Often on picket- Note. 210
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LETTER FORTY-FIRST.
Picketing around-The "poetry of war"-Frequent exchange of shots-No news from home-Note. 215
LETTER FORTY-SECOND.
Ceaseless boom of cannon-The flight and bursting of a shell-Recruits-Deserters-Note. 219
LETTER FORTY-THIRD.
In winter quarters again-Clothing-Rations-Both armies rest-Courtesies along the lines-Note. 222
LETTER FORTY-FOURTH.
The paymaster around-Prices-Health of the Company- Furloughs-Absentees-Note. 226
LETTER FORTY-FIFTH.
The winter of '64-'65-No prayer meetings-Reading and sport-The cannon's boom again-Beef and biscuit- One meal a day-Note. 231
LETTER FORTY-SIXTH.
Butler's ditch-Our idle iron-clads-Pushing around the flank-Southern railroad cut-Grant's railroad-And his towers-Note. 238
LETTER FORTY-SEVENTH.
A circuitous mail route-But one line open-Richmond un- tenable-What then ?- Note. 244
THE SAD FINALE.
The battle of Five Oaks-Lee's flank turned-Richmond abandoned-The city an ocean of flame-Slowly retir- · ing-Without rations-A weary march-Our last fight --- Sabbath morning, April 9th-A sound of battle-At Red Oak church-Disbanding-Tears and farewells-Crossing the James.
247
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HOMEWARD BOUND.
Rest and sleep- Starting out-Hospitality of the people by the way-Sheridan's trail of ashes and desolation- Passing Richmond-Down the Chickahominy-Waiting for darkness-Crossing the James-Home at last. 266
THE SHADOW ON THE WALL.
"Coming events cast their shadows before them." 279
REMINISCENCES
Of S. M. Williams, Quartermaster-Sergeant of the Surry Light Artillery, on the march from Richmond to Ap- pomattox, April, 1865. 281
EXPERIENCES
Of Dr. Joseph N. Jones, of Surry, while a prisoner of war. 284
REPORT
Of Pembrook D. Gwaltney, a member of the Surry Light Artillery, detailed as Master Armorer, for the 2d Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. 288
OUR DEAD.
The following is a list of our comrades who died during the progress of the war, either of sickness or of wounds re- ceived in battle : 290
LIST OF SURVIVORS 295
Under the Stars and Bars
A HISTORY OF
THE SURRY LIGHT ARTILLERY
INTRODUCTORY NOTES.
WHEN, early in 1861, the first muttering thunders of war began to reverberate through our land-and when, on the 17th of April, Virginia, finding it impos- sible to remain neutral, passed her ordinance of seces- sion, and cast in her lot with that of the new-born Southern Confederacy, men everywhere throughout the old State began hastily to organize, equip, and prepare themselves, as best they could, for the impending con- flict that was so rapidly approaching. Even then the flame of war had already burst forth in the farther South, Sumter had been bombarded and taken, and the spirit of war prevailed almost everywhere North and South. The determination to resist invasion-the first and most sacred duty of a free people-became general, if not universal. The plodding, conservative farmer forsook the implements of his toil, the mechanic laid aside his tools, the merchant turned away from his traffic, and the fiery young student of law or letters
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closed his books, and took up the rifle or the sword; all classes responded to the call for volunteers, and mili- tary companies for every branch of the service were speedily enrolled and armed, ready for duty wherever the State might call them. Camps were laid out and barracks constructed, fortifications were built, forges and factories became busy in preparing the implements of war, and all was activity, and bustle, and ardor, to meet the boastful foe who had already crossed our borders.
In all these preparations, the little county of Surry, in common with her sister counties around her, took an early and active part. In nothing was she found laggard or supine. She gave freely of her material and money, and her people, male and female, exerted themselves nobly in mustering and equipping men for the field. Her sons of military age almost en masse hastened to enroll themselves in some new or already existing company. Every man, except a timid nothing here and there, felt it his duty to respond to the call of his State, and of the new Confederacy under which he then lived and acted.
Besides the old Surry Cavalry, an ante-war organi- zation composed of the flower of her wealth and chiv- alry, to which nien began to flock till it was filled to repletion, another large Cavalry company was made up in the county. The Light Artillery, the history of
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which is herein related, was enrolled and sent into the field. The Jamestown Heavy Artillery, Captain Har- rison's Company, was composed largely of men from Surry. Captain Allen's Infantry of Prince George, had in it quite a number of Surry men. Some joined the Isle of Wight Blues, some enlisted in the Sussex Cavalry, and numbers still went to other commands, as inclination or convenience led them. This statement will account for the fact, that, in proportion to her military strength, so few companies or commands hailed directly from Surry county.
In the enrollment of the Light Artillery-the S. L. A., as I shall often put it, for brevity-James D. Han- kins, a young cadet just returned from the military school at Lexington, took an earnest and active part. Early in May, 1861, the embryo company, augumented in numbers by men from the Cabin Point and Spring Grove neighborhoods, where John A. Deal had been laboring to form a company, met at Surry Court House, effected a permanent organization, and elected its commissioned officers. The county court, shortly after- wards, presented the men with new and serviceable uniforms, and the new Company stood ready for active service wherever the State might order it to go.
The following is a list of the men of the new Com- pany, rank and file, as it was originally constituted :
Captain-Thomas W. Ruffin.
First Lieutenant-James D. Hankins
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Second Lieutenant-Ira O. Crenshaw.
Third Lieutenant-John A. Deal.
First Sergeant-William R. Barham.
Second Sergeant-Theophilus J. Berryman. Third Sergeant-T. Bolling Bell.
Fourth Sergeant-Joseph H. Pitman.
Commissary Sergeant-Joel W. Whitley.
First Corporal-John H. Bell.
Second Corporal-Bolling T. Jones.
Third Corporal-Edwin S. Spratley.
Fourth Corporal-Samuel A. Moody.
PRIVATES.
Bailey, James T.
Johnson, William S.
Bell, Edwin R.
Jones, Isaac G.
Berryman, Joseph R.
Jones, Benjamin W.
Berryman, John R.
Judkins, John L.
Brown, Nicholas A.
Judkins, W. B. O.
Casey, Roger.
King, James.
Cockes, Littleton M.
King, Joseph.
Clayton, William A.
Little, William H.
Collier, R. M. J.
Moody, James W.
Davis, John A.
Pond, Noah B.
Deuell, James T.
Presson, John W.
Edwards, William W.
Roberts, Henry C.
Edwards, W. John.
Rowell, George A. Rowell, J. Henry.
Foreman, W. W.
Goodrich, Whitfield.
Rowell, Patrick H.
Garon, Joseph.
Rowell, Thomas J.
Gwaltney, Benjamin F.
Savedge, Richard R.
Harris, Jolın T.
Seward, John L.
Holleman, Edmund S.
Spratley, James N.
James, William E. Johnson, Lewis.
Thompson, Robert C.
The Company, as thus constituted, was composed of men, all of whom were residing in Surry in 1861, but a number of them were natives of other places. Lieu- tenant Crenshaw came from Richmond; Bailey and Holleman were from Southampton county; Casey was
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a native of Ireland; Foreman came from Baltimore; Garon was from New Jersey; W. S. Johnson hailed from Connecticut, and B. H. Delk, W. H. Little and J. W. Whitley were natives of Isle of Wight county.
Immediately upon its organization, application was made for guns and equipments. But at that early stage in the life of the Confederacy, there were no guns to be had, and a long delay ensued before any were obtained. However, having been ordered into camp, on the 22d of June, 1861 (a few days after the battle at Big Bethel), we took our departure from Surry Court House for Smithfield, in Isle of Wight. It was on a Satur- day afternoon, a bright and balmy day. The Com- pany was halted for the day at Bacon's Castle, and we were quartered in the old Hebron church, where we spent the first night of our soldier life.
Supper was furnished us by the elder John Han- kins, Mr. William A. Warren, and other patriotic citi- zens of the vicinity, and we passed the night in or near the church building, some sleeping out of doors and some upon the benches or the floor. It was a novel ex- perience with us all. But merriment and good humor prevailed; songs, comic or otherwise, dispelled serious thought, as they also prevented sleep on the part of some who had thought to retire early. No one slept much, and the god of dreams doubtless fled appalled from the noisy assemblage.
In fancy I look back over the long and eventful period of forty-eight years that has elapsed since that,
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to us, ever memorable time. I see the gay procession as it journeyed on, some in wagons and some in rail- carts or other conveyances-hear the jests and dashes of song that broke now and anon from the care-free boys-see them at supper, in soldier style, helping them- selves liberally-see them at night trying to find a soft place on the bare pews of the church, and finally giving it up in disgust-and see, on the morrow morn, the good ladies of the vicinity come out to bid us good-by and wish us safety and a speedy return to our homes ! Alas! how very little did any of us then know or realize of the true nature, or probable duration, of the conflict that awaited us, or the self-denials and privations to which we would be subject, in the stern tragedy to which we were hastening! Heaven, in its mercy, veils the future from us, whether our pathway leads through jungles and thorns, or over daisied plains and beds of roses.
On arriving at Smithfield, we were quartered on the grounds of the Mason street church and the Masonic Hall, and the church building was opened for our occu- pancy by night. Rations were supplied us by the town, and drilling, morning and afternoon, took up a large part of our time by day. In a few days the enrolling officer came along, and we were mustered into the military service of the Confederate States of America, for the term of one year-"unless sooner discharged" ' ! And perhaps some of us were verdant enough to think
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that the war would indeed be over, and we would return, with honors and eclat, before the expiration of one year! Our pay, as soldiers of the Confederacy, began from the day we were mustered into service.
Thus the STARS and BARS became our banner. Under its immaculate folds, during four immortal years, a military history was to be written that should eclipse that of any land or any people. In the making of this history, it fell to the lot of the S. L. A. to share but a small and humble part. Yet, as I expect to show in the following pages, we did good service wherever sent, and accomplished something of importance for the cause of the Southern Confederacy.
Though we were not in at Gaines's Mill or Cold Harbor, on the left of the Confederate lines, when the great drama before Richmond began in 1862, we were in at Point of Rocks, on the extreme right of that line, where we held back a Federal fleet of seven gun- boats, saved Petersburg from bombardment, and per- haps, from capture; effected the destruction of one of their vessels, and gave the Confederacy a serviceable engine to put upon one of its ironclads. Though we were not present in Spotsylvania, when Lee and Grant were pounding each other to pieces in May, 1864, we were present at Port Walthall, and Fort Stevens, and the second Drewry's Bluff during the same tragicful month, where we helped to turn back Butler's host from its advance on Richmond and to pen them up in
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quiet idleness at Bermuda Hundred. Though we did not march with Lee into Maryland, or share in the misfortunes at Gettysburg, we did help to guard and defend the oft-assailed Capital from the sudden forays of the enemy, under Stoneman and Dahlgren and Sheridan.
These things must count for something. And his- tory's pen will yet accord to the smaller portion of Lee's army that guarded the Capital of the Confed- eracy successfully in '62, '63 and '64, the meed of having performed their part as well as the larger army that foiled the invading hosts at Fredericksburg or Chancellorsville. It is not the number contending, but the issue involved, that makes a battle important. Port Walthall and the second Drewry's Bluff saved the cities of Petersburg and Richmond from capture and the Confederacy from ruin, twelve months before the col- lapse of the Southern Republic. Let the following pages furnish the proof I have to offer for the state- ment here advanced. This is not uttered in any brag- gart tone, but in simple justice to ourselves and the truth of history.
Our short sojourn at Smithfield, comparatively with the remainder of our soldier life, was like a fete day to us. We were fed, and regaled, and noticed by the good people of the town, until we became quite vain of our importance. The evening hours were enlivened by song, in which the ladies sometimes joined from
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their verandas or windows-the days were made happy by the visits of friends from home-the duties were light-and rations were plentiful and good. A few weeks passed pleasantly, but too speedily, by, only to linger in memory but never to return-to fade away, like receding songs of happiness, that the great cloud- burst of war soon silenced forever! I recall, even now, with mingled feelings of pleasure and amusement, that first, short, happy month of soldier life at old Smith- field, ere discipline had galled us, and ere we were "broke to the harness" by the rude hand of the drill- master, and we were made to learn the first hard lesson of military duty-that it was ours to obey and do with unquestioning promptness !
In the early part of August, our Company was or- dered to join the 3d Regiment of Infantry, then sta- tioned at Camp Cook, on the lower James river. Here we were quartered in tents lately vacated by a Company that had been transferred to another command, and we were ranked as Company I of the Regiment. It was at this place that our real soldier life and experiences began. But we were "under the yoke," and the boys took to their duties kindly, and laughed, and sported, and sang the tardy hours away with great good nature and nonchalance.
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