USA > Virginia > City of Portsmouth > City of Portsmouth > A record of events in Norfolk County, Virginia, from April 19th, 1861, to May 10th, 1862, with a history of the soldiers and sailors of Norfolk County, Norfolk City and Portsmouth, who served in the Confederate States army or navy > Part 14
USA > Virginia > City of Norfolk > City of Norfolk > A record of events in Norfolk County, Virginia, from April 19th, 1861, to May 10th, 1862, with a history of the soldiers and sailors of Norfolk County, Norfolk City and Portsmouth, who served in the Confederate States army or navy > Part 14
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Lieutenant Whitehurst was discharged for disability, though the exact date of his discharge is somewhat uncertain. but on the 25th of April, 1864, when the company was relieved from duty in the fortifications of Richmond and attached to the 38th Vir- ginia Regiment of Company I, 3d Lieutenant Benj. F. Halstead had been promoted to 2d Lieutenant, and 1st Sergeant A. B. Williams had been promoted to 3d Lientenant. The company participated in the two battles of May 10th and 16th, 1864, near Drury's Bluff, and in the battle of Chester Station on the 16th of June, following, between Pickett's Division and the forces of
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ST. BRIDE'S LT. ARTIL' RY, CO. I, THIRTY-EIGHTH VA, REGT. 133
General Butler, who had made an advance from Bermuda Hun- dreds towards the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad. Butler was driven back into his entrenchments and remained there until the close of the war. The company participated in the battles of Dinwiddie Court House, March 31st, 1865, and Five Forks, April 1st.
On the 28th of March, 1865, Captain Martin was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment, his commission to date from December 2d, 1864. Lieutenant Chaplain was wounded and disabled at the battle of Drury's Bluff, May 16th, 1864, and was retired on the 14th of December. Lieutenant Williams was discharged for disability in 1864, and upon the retirement of Lieutenant Chaplain, 2d Lieutenant B. F. Halstead was promoted to 1st Sergeant, Thos. A. McClanen was elected 2d Lieutenant, and Josiah W. Leath, 1st Sergeant. In comparison with the other companies which went from Norfolk county to the Confed- erate army its list of casualties was small. No record or other information is obtainable of the losses, if any, at Five Forks.
Below will be found a list of the members of the company who left with it at the evacuation of Norfolk county by the Con- federates on the 10th of May, 1862, and were accounted for on the roll for December, 1864. In 1863 the company was strength- ened by the remaining men in a disbanded company from Lynch- burg, one of whom was killed, two wounded and three died in hospital.
Captain Geo. A. Martin, promoted Lieutenant Colonel 38th Virginia Regiment March 28th, 1865.
First Lieutenant Wm. M. Chaplain, wounded May 16th, 1864, at Drury's Bluff, disabled and retired.
First Lieutenant Benj. F. Halstead.
Second Lieutenant Jno. J. Whitehurst, resigned 1863.
Second Lieutenant Thos. A. McClanen.
Third Lieutenant A. B. Williams, resigned 1864.
First Sergeant Josiah W. Leath, promoted 1st Sergeant De-
cember 1st, 1864, wounded May 16th, 1864.
SERGEANTS.
Chas. H. Melson, Jno. E. James, Robert M. Saddler.
PRIVATES, ETC.
Aydlott, John,
Boggs, Wm.,
Cofer, Robert E.,
Allen, John R.,
Bush, Wm.,
Cofer, Reuben F.,
Brown, Jno. W.,
Blunt, Thos.,
Davis, Elzy,
Bullock, Wm.,
Cooper, M. V. B.,
Dier, Edward F.,
Brummell, Richard, Cooper, James,
Dozier, Jas. W., Jr.,
Barcroft, Edward,
Capps, A. J., Downing, Chas. W.,
Beal, John,
Callis, Henry, Everett, Chas.,
Balls, Jno. R.,
Constable, Chas. W., Fitchett, Wm.,
.
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NORFOLK COUNTY, 1861-5.
Forrest, John, Frost, W. W.,
Lamonte, Joshua,
Sawyer, C. T.,
Smith, Jas. E.,
Stringer, Thos. J.,
Smith, W. S. (Corp'l)
Shermadine, Wmn., Sykes, Wm., Spence, Abner, Sykes, Jesse,
Godfrey, Gervais K., May, Joseph S.,
Tucker, W. IL.,
Godfrey, Wm. T.,
Morse, Henry,
Tucker, Samuel,
Guy, George, Hudgins, Win. H.,
Needom, Wilson,
Hudgins, Samuel N., Omler, Joseph,
Holland, John,
Old, W. W., Powell, Jno.,
Whitehurst, Jas. H., Whitehurst, C. P.,
Harvey, John,
Peyton, Jas. A.,
Whitehurst, W. A.,
Howe, Wm.,
Pugh, Abraham,
Whitehurst, George,
Ironmonger, James, Jordan, Miles II.,
Reed, John,
Wilder, Benjamin,
James, Geo. T.,
James, Jno., (Sergt.)
Reed, David, Ross, Edward,
West, Jno. Wood, Lorenzo,
Jones, Jno. W .,
Rogers, Roderick,
Waterfield, Benj.,
Kuhn, Thos. C.,
Robinson, Wm., Waterman, Absolem,
Lambert, Thos.,
Rainey, Malachi,
Walker, W. W.,
Lee, Thos. J.,
Revel, John,
Woodward, Samuel,
CASUALTIES.
Private, Balls, John R., wounded May 16th, 1864, died July 16th.
Crews, Jos. B., (Lynchburg) died in hospital, Richmond, August 19th, 1864.
Private, McGraw, Win., (Lynchburg) died in hospital, Richmond, July 29th, 1864.
Private, Phelps, Robert S., (Lynchburg) died in hospital, Richmond, July 6th, 1864.
Private, Tinsley, Geo. W., (Lynchburg) wounded May 16th, 1864, died August 15th. Lieutenant, Chaplain, Wm. M., wounded May 16th, 1864, disabled and dis- charged.
Private, Drisco], Chas. E., (Lynchburg) wounded May 16th, 1864.
Graham, John B., wounded May 16th, 1864.
Leath, Josiah W., wounded May 16th, 1864.
66 Lee, Thos. J., wounded August 25th, 1864, lost a leg.
Old, W. W., wounded Juue 1st, 1862, Seven Pjnes.
Phillips, Aldusten D., (Lynchburg) wounded May 10th, 1864, and disabled, discharged November 28th, 1864.
Private, Reed, David, wounded August 25th, 1864. 66 West, John, wounded May 16th, 1864.
Col. Geo. A. Martin, formerly Captain of the company, thinks the following were killed or died, though their names seem to have been omitted from the official reports :
Corporal Wm. Harden, killed May 10th, 1864, at Drury's Bluff. Private Mathias Wright, killed May 16th, 1864, at Drury's Bluff.
Joshua Lamonte, killed May 16th, 1864, at Drury's Bluff.
Flora, Henry C., Ferguson, Henry, Garrett, W. T., Graham, Joseph, Graham, Tinsley, Graham, Jno. B.,
Lamonte, Henry, Lambert, Jno. N .. Lambert, Henry J., Land, Henry, Morris, A. W., Martin, Wn., Mott, Lewis,
Minor, Wm. B.,
Tebault, Daniel, Tripple, Chas., Vandenberg, James,
Harvey, Henry,
Peed, Chas. W.,
Wilder, Jas. M.,
ST. BRIDE' S LT. ARTIL'RY, CO. I, THIRTY-EIGHTHI VA. REGT. 135
Private Henry Lamonte, killed August 25th, 1864, at Bermuda Hundred.
6. Thos. Khun, killed August 25th, 1864. at Bermuda Hundred.
Henry Flora, died in hospital, Richmond.
Chas. Whitehurst, died in hospital, Richmond.
66 Win. Sykes, died in hospital, Richmond.
66 Jos. S. May. died in hospital, Petersburg.
PROMOTIONS.
Private W. W. Old was promoted to Captain and A. A. G. on the staff of General Edward Johnson, and afterwards on the staff of General Ewell. Private Charles W. Downing was promoted to Captain in Cohoon's Bat- talion.
Private John Aydlott was promoted to Commissary Sergeant 20th Battal- jon Heavy Artillery.
The following members of Company I surrendered at Appo- mattox :
*Edward Barcroft,
John W. Gunter,
Jacob Connor, Wm. Lettrell,
*J. W. Dozier, P. D. Mitchell,
W. A. Dunham, *. Pugh,
C. Driskell,
*J. F. Sykes.
*Original members of the company. The others were transferred to the company.
CHAPTER XV.
THE NORFOLK COUNTY RIFLE PATRIOTS, COMPANY F, FORTY-FIRST VIRGINIA REGIMENT.
This was one of the largest and best companies which entered the service of the Confederate States. It was organized in 1860, the men being from that section of Norfolk county lying be- tween Washington Point, now Berkley, and Great Bridge, and was mustered into service on the 21st of April, 1861, at Norfolk. The following were the officers of the company at the breaking out of the war and under whom it was mustered into service :
Captain-William II. Etheredge.
First Lieutenant, Philip Biddle; 2d Lieutenant, Jetson Jett; 3d Lieutenant, Arthur Portlock ; 4th Lieutenant, John N. Ether- edge.
Lieutenant Etheredge was physically unable, on account of ill healthı, to do military duty, but was mustered in with the com- pany and served for the original term of enlistment of twelve months, when he was retired.
On the 21st of April the company was ordered to take posses- sion of the arsenal at St. Helena, opposite the Gosport Navy Yard, and remained there until the latter part of May, when it was transferred to the Navy Yard and did guard duty there while the iron clad Virginia (Merrimac) was being built. Captain Eth- eredge has related to the author the anxiety of Commodore For- rest, who had command of the Navy Yard and who seemed bur- dened with a fear that the Yankees would attempt to burn it up. On one occasion he informed Captain Etheredge that he had re- ceived a letter telling him that the Yankees had offered a million dollars to any one who would set fire to the ship, and urged re- doubled vigilance on the part of the guard. Captain Etheredge assured him that no Federal emissary should get near enough to set her on fire. Captain Etheredge says scarcely a day passed without some such incident as that happening between the Com- modore and himself.
In March, 1862, the company left the Navy Yard, went to Seawell's Point and joined its regiment, the 41st Virginia, it being Company F. The officers of the 41st were Colonel John R. Chambliss, Lieutenant Colonel William A. Parham and Major Joseph Minetree. The company left Scawell's Point May 10th, 1862, with the balance of Huger's Division for Richmond. In March Lieutenant Jett resigned and organized a company called the Border Rifles, of which he was elected Captain. As Com- pany F had more than the regulation number of men for one
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NORFOLK CO. PATRIOTS, CO. F, FORTY-FIRST VA. REGT. 137
company about twenty five or thirty of them at their own request were assigned to Captain Jett's new company, and their names will not appear on the roll of Company F.
The first battle in which the 41st Regiment was engaged was the battle of Seven Pines. The regiment was under command of Colonel Chambliss and had already been assigned to Mahone's Brigade. It was advancing in line of battle, not aware of the close proximity of the enemy. Company F was on the extreme right and next to it was a company from Petersburg. While the regiment was advancing the left marched faster than the right, and being in an oblique position, received a flanking fire from the enemy, which, being unexpected, threw the regiment into eonfu- sion and that portion of it nearest the enemy retired very hastily. Captain Etheredge sprang to the front of his company, spoke a few words of encouragement to them, reminded them of their promise to follow wherever he led, and they stood by him man- fully. A portion of the Petersburg company, on his left, under their captain, also stood their ground, and these two companies formed a nucleus upon which the other companies rallied.
In the midst of the confusion Colonel Chambliss rode in front of Company F and his horse was killed under him. Just as he fell Dr. James Parrish of Portsmouth, Surgeon of the regiment, rode up and offered his horse to the Colonel, who declined it, saying, "I believe I will stay here on foot with the old man," meaning Captain Etheredge. He reminded Dr. Parrish that his post was in the rear and ordered him to it. Colonel Chambliss assembled the captains of the various companies of the regiment at his tent the next day, and after complimenting Captain Ether- edge, told them that the stand made by Company F had saved the credit of the regiment.
After the battle of Seven Pines Colonel Chambliss was trans- ferred to a cavalry regiment and Captain Etheredge was pro- moted to Major of the 41st. This also cansed a change in the officers of Company F, and Lieutenant Biddle became captain. Captain Biddle died in a hospital September 16th, 1862, and 1st Lieutenant Arthur E. Portlock succeeded him. He was wounded at Chancellorsville May 3d, 1863, recovered from his wound and died from siekness in Richmond August 9th, 1864. Lieutenant W. Scott Sykes became captain at the death of Captain Portlock and commanded it until the close of the war. He was wounded July 30th, 1864, at the Crater, but recovered and surrendered with the company at Appomattox April 9th, 1865, with seventeen members of the company. The company participated in twenty- one pitched battles and numerous smaller affairs and lost thirty- one men by death from wounds or sickness. First Lieutenant John T. Widgeon was killed May 1st, 1863, at Chancellorsville.
10
138
NORFOLK COUNTY, 1861-5.
Captain Wm. H. Etheredge, promoted Major 41st Regiment, surrendered at Appomattox.
Captain Phillip W. Biddle, died September 16th, 1862, Winchester.
Captain Arthur E. Portlock, died August 9th, 1864, Richmond, wounded May 1st. 1863, Chancellorsville.
Captain W. Scott Sykes, wounded July 30th, 1864, Crater, surrendered at Appomattox.
Lieutenant John T. Widgeon, killed May 1st, 1863, Chancellorsville.
Lieutenant Robert C. Jones, surrendered at Appomattox.
Lieutenant Wm. T. Gray, promoted 2d Lieutenant March 11th, 1864, re- signed.
Lieutenant John N. Etheredge, not re-elected at reorganization in 1862.
Sergeant John H. Kirby, sick in hospital at time of surrender.
Sergeant David W. Whitehurst, surrendered at Appomattox.
Sergeant John F. Murden, wounded July 30th, 1864, Crater, surrendered at Appomattox.
Sergeant James E. Armstrong. killed May 6th, 1864, Wilderness.
Sergeant Robert W. Carson, died February, 1865.
Sergeant George T. Tart, died in prison, captured August 19th, 1864.
Corporal John D. Hudgins, died January. 1863.
Corporal Josephus Godfrey, killed Angust 30th, 1863, 2d Manassas.
Corporal John Z. Lowe, captured August 19th, 1864, not exchanged.
Corporal H. T. Williamson, surrendered at Appomattox.
Corporal Arthur H. Tatem, captured October 27th, 1864, not exchanged.
PRIVATES.
Butt, Frederick, captured October 27th, 1864, on parole at surrender.
Butt, Henry, wounded July 2d, 1863, and disabled, Gettysburg.
Bntt, Francis, wounded August 30th, 1862, and disabled, Manassas.
Barrett, Wm. S., appointed musician for regiment.
Banks, Edwin, mortally wounded July 1st, 1862, Malvern Hill.
Butler, James N., detailed in Q. M. Department.
Bailey, Wm. H., (1) killed July 1st, 1862, Malvern Hill.
Bailey, Wm. H., (2) captured on retreat from Petersburg.
Ballentine, Thos. R., wounded June 1st, 1862, Seven Pines and furnished substitute.
Buck, David.
Cnthriell, Enos, detailed March 1st, 1862, by Secretary of War.
Cuthriell, John W., detailed March 1st, 1862, by Secretary of War.
Cuthriell. Joseph E., detailed March 1st, 1862, by Secretary of War. Carter, Win. E., captured at evacuation of Petersburg.
Creekmore, Gregory, detailed 1861 to work in Navy Yard.
Detrick, John, wounded July 1st, 1862, Malvern Hill, and furloughed.
Dashiell, Leven H., wounded Seven Pines, Malvern Hill and Manassas, and was detailed in Q. M. Department at surrender.
Dey, Apollos O., wounded June 1st, 1862, Seven Pines, furnished substi- tnte.
Dey, David, detailed by order of Secretary of War.
Dunn, J. Thos., captured August 19th, 1864. not exchanged.
Davis, Wm. H., captured on retreat from Petersburg.
Davis, Wm. T.
Deyser, Luke, killed on retreat from Petersburg.
Edmonds, John J., detailed in hospital department.
Edmonds, W. C., detailed in ordnance department.
Edmunds, Henry.
Edmunds, Abel, captured October 29th, 1864, and not exchanged.
Elliott, Kemp B., discharged 1862.
Etheredge, Charles O., wounded June 1st, 1862, Seven Pines.
Edmondson. Gabriel, wounded September 17th, 1862, Sharpsburg, and transferred to navy.
Etheredge, Samuel A., surrendered at Appomattox.
1
NORFOLK CO. PATRIOTS, CO. F, FORTY-FIRST VA. REGT. 139
Forbes, Elijah R., wounded May 1st, 1863, Chancellorsville, and transferred to navy.
Foreman, Josephus, killed Angust 30th, 1862, 2d Manassas.
Fisher, Caleb, surrendered at Appomattox.
Forrest, John R., detailed in Q. M. department.
Foreman, Washington, wounded June 30th, 1862, Charles City Road, sur- rendered at Appomattox.
Foreman, Thos., in hospital during the war.
Fitchett, Wm. E., wounded June Ist. 1862, Seven Pines.
Fentress, John, wounded June Ist, 1862, Seven Pines, disabled July 1st, 1862, at Malvern Ilill and discharged.
Godfrey, Walton, died December, 1862, near Fredericksburg.
Gibson, Peter HI., sick in hospital at time of surrender.
Gilbert, Robertson, detailed by order of General Mahone.
Gilbert, Richard B.
Hodges, Riley W., killed July 1st, 1862, Malvern Hill.
Hodges, Wm. W., killed June Ist, 1862, Seven Pines.
Hodges, Josiah, died in hospital.
Hodges, David, killed July 2d, 1863, Gettysburg.
Hanbury, Wm. T., discharged.
Howell, Jesse B.
Hughes, Isaac B., killed June 1st, 1862, Seven Pines.
Harrison, Benjamin F., detailed in hospital, Richmond.
Halstead, Henry, captured.
Hodges, John II., wounded July 1st, 1862, Malvern Hill, furnished substi- tute.
Hodges, John K., wounded May 6th, 1864, Wilderness.
Hall, Samuel, wounded June 1st, 1862, Seven Pines, and killed July 30th, 1864, erater.
Hodges, Samuel, killed July 1st, 1862, Malvern Hill.
Hall, Edward, wounded May 6th, 1864, Wilderness, surrendered at Appo- mattox.
Hodges, Geo. A., discharged April 16th. 1862.
Hudgins, Wmn., died in hospital April 18th, 1862.
Hall, Geo. W., captured on retreat from Petersburg.
Herbert. Melnotte, promoted 1st Lieutenant Company D.
Jones, Walter C .. killed May 6th, 1864, Wilderness.
Kirby, Wm. H., discharged March 25th, 1862, disability.
Knight, Wm. H.
Lowe, Win. J., captured in Petersburg.
Lockhart, Benj. H., wounded August 30th, 1862, Manassas, and detailed in passport office, Gordonsville.
Lynch, Oresmus M., wounded June 1st, 1862, Seven Pines, and captured.
Merchant, Francis M., promoted Lieutenat Company K, 61st Virginia.
Miller, Wm. H., detailed to regimental drum corps.
McClanen, Wilson L., died in hospital.
Murphy, Wm. J.
Murphy. James T.
Murden, Samuel, wounded June 22d, 1864, Wilcox Farm, and detailed in commissary department.
Murden, Reuben, mortally wounded May 1st, 1863, Chancellorsville.
Murden, Henry, died in hospital, 1862.
Murden, Camillus, killed May 1st, 1863, Chancellorsville.
Manning, Canning, captured and not exchanged.
McPherson, Robert, discharged April 25th, 1862.
Miller, W. H.
Nash, James E., discharged for physical disability.
Nicholson, Allen F., discharged April, 1862, over age.
Portlock, Wm. F., wounded August 30th, 1862, Manassas, surrendered at Appomattox.
Portlock, Dempsy, surrendered at Appomattox.
140
NORFOLK COUNTY, 1861-5.
Pherral, Isaac, killed August 30th, 1862, 2d Manassas.
Randolph, James A., wounded and disabled August 30, 1862, 2d Manassas. Ritter, James A., wounded July 30th, 1864, Crater, Surrendered at Appo- mattox.
Sykes, James W., wounded July 2d, 1863, Gettysburg, surrendered at Appo- mattox.
Sykes, Alex F., wounded June 30th, 1862, Charles City Road.
Speight, David, died in hospital.
Scaff, John D., surrendered at Appomattox.
Squires, Seth W., died in hospital, 1861.
Tatem, Nathaniel C., detached with Ransom's Brigade, surrendered at Ap- pomattox.
Tatem, Elijah A., wounded and disabled July 1st, 1862, Malvern Hill, and discharged.
Tatem, John W.,
Taylor, James F., died in hospital.
Whitehurst, Christopher, discharged.
Williamson, Virginius, captured on retreat from Petersburg.
Williamson, Samuel, captured.
Williams, Samuel, killed June 2d, 1864, Cold Harbor.
Woodhouse, Moses C.
Wright, David L., discharged.
Woodward, Oden, captured in Pennsylvania and never heard from.
Williamson, Everett, appointed Ordinance Sergeant of regiment, surrendered at Appomattox.
Vellines, Watson B., discharged April 16th, 1862, by General Huger. Killed and died-31.
This company participated in the battles of-
Seven Pines, June 1st, 1862. Spotsylvania, C. H., May 12th, 1864.
Charles City Road, June 30th, 1862.
Malvern Hill, July 1st, 1862.
Manassas, Aug. 30th, 1862.
Crampton Gap, Sep. 14th, 1862.
Sharpsburg, Sep. 17th, 1862.
Fredericksburg, Dec. 13th, 1862.
Chancellorsville, May 1st, 2d, and 3d, 1863.
Salem Church, May 3d, 1863.
Gettysburg, July 1st and 2d, 1863.
Bristoe Station, Oct., 14th, 1863. Mine Run, Dec. 2d, 1863.
Wilderness, May 6th, 1864.
Turkey Ridge, skirmishing June 4th to 13th, 1864.
Frazier's Farm June 13th, 1864. Wilcox Farm, June 22d, 1864.
Cold Harbor, June 2d and 3d, 1864.
Crater, July 30th, 1864.
Davis Farm, Ang. 19th, 1864. Ream's Station, Aug. 25th, 1864.
Burgess Mill, Oct. 29th, 1864.
Hicksford, Dec. 9th, 1864.
Hatcher's Run, Feb. 6th, 1865. Cumberland Church, April 7th, 1865.
Amelia C. H., April 5th, 1865.
In all of the above battles the Confederates were victorious ex- cept Malvern Hill, Crampton Gap and Bristoe Station. In the first and last of these three the Federals successfully resisted the Confederate attacks, but retreated after the battles.
CHAPTER XVI.
THIE JACKSON GRAYS, COMPANY A, SIXTY-FIRST VIRGINIA REGIMENT.
This company was recruited in St. Bride's Parish of Norfolk county, in the section now known as Pleasant Grove Magisterial District, and was organized at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, July 1st, 1861. The company left Pleasant Grove on the 10th of July, and reached the Court House at Portsmouth on the 12th, and was mustered into service there. It was then officered as follows :
Captain, Wm. H. Stewart.
First Lieutenant, Win. C. Wallace ; 2d Lieutenant, John T. West ; 3d Lieutenant, Geo. T. Hodges.
First Sergeant, Camillus A. Nash ; 2d Sergeant, William A. West ; 3d Sergeant, William A. Dudley ; 4th Sergeant, Henry S. Etheredge.
First Corporal, Peleg Pritchard ; 2d Corporal, Geo. D. Old ; 3d Corporal, Thos. H. Sykes ; 4th Corporal, Laban Mansfield.
The company was named after Mr. James P. Jackson, the pro- prietor of the Marshall House in Alexandria, who was killed in that eity on the 24th of May for defending the flag he had hoisted over his hotel. That day, a large force of Federals, numbering eight or nine thousand men, was pushed across the Potomac river early in the morning, and ocenpied the town. Seeing the Con- federate flag flying at the top of the staff on the hotel, Colonel Ellsworth, of Chicago, commanding a regiment of Fire Zouaves of New York city, went up to the top of the building, with sev- eral men from his regiment, and took it down. As he was de- seending from the elevation, Mr. Jackson, who had been aroused by the noise, came out from his bed room with a double barrel gun, and npon his asking the cause of the commotion, Colonel Ellsworth pointed to the flag in his possession and said : "This is my trophy." Mr. Jackson replied, " And you are mine." and immediately fired, killing him dead. Colonel Ellsworth's com- panions returned the fire, shooting Mr. Jackson and afterwards running a bayonet in him.
After remaining at the Court House for a few days, the com- pany was ordered to the batteries at the Naval Hospital and re- mained on duty there testing the heavy rifled cannon which were being re-modeled in the Gosport Navy Yard, until December, when, at its own request, it was sent to Sewell's Point and put in charge of a masked battery of six heavy rifled guns of six-inch caliber. This was the most advanced battery among the defences
141
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NORFOLK COUNTY, 1861-5.
of the harbor of Norfolk and Portsmouth, and was within range of the Federal guns at the Rip Raps or Fort Calhoun.
When the Confederate iron-clad Virginia, better known, how- ever, as the Merrimac, went down to Hampton Roads and had her battles with the United States fleet, on the Sth and 9th of March, 1862, this battery took part, with two rifle six-inch guns. in the engagement, as the naval vessels, passing to and from Fort- ress Monroe, passed within range of its guns. Two men belong- ing to the company were wounded in this engagement. They were Lientenant Win. C. Wallace, who was slightly hurt, and Private A. B. Cooper, whose skull was fractured, and whose wound was so serious that he was incapacitated from further ser- vice and was discharged. They were wounded by a shell from the Sawyer gun at the Rip Raps. One of the rifle guns burst one of its bands from too rapid firing and becoming overheated. On the morning of May 10th, 1862, the company abandoned the battery by order of General Hnger and formed the rear guard of the troops as they fell back upon Norfolk, crossed the ferry to Portsmouth and was the last command which left that city by rail, being moved out on flat cars late in the afternoon. Only one company remained after the departure of the Jackson Grays, namely, the Portsmouth Rifle Company, and that marched out of the city to Suffolk.
Upon the arrival of the company at Petersburg, it was assigned to duty with the 61st Virginia Regiment as Company A. At that time the regiment was under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Wm. Fred. Niemeyer, and, in a few days, the company, with Company C, the Blanchard Grays, of Norfolk county, was de- tached from the regiment, and with a two gun battery of six- pounders, ordered to the neighborhood of Bermuda Hundreds, in Chesterfield county, to watch the movements of the Federal fleet in James river. While there, during the seven day's battles, the fleet made a demonstration up the Appomattox river towards Petersburg, and attempted to secure a large quantity of coal which was stored at Port Walthal, but this small force attacked them and so annoyed them as to force them to hug the opposite shore, where several of the vessels stuck in the mud, and after two days the enemy was forced to set fire to and abandon one gunboat. This action took place on the 26th of June, 1862. From Ber- muda Hundreds, the company was ordered to guard the fords of the Rappahannock river, while General Lee, with his army, was engaged in the Maryland campaign. While there, upon one oc- casion, while seouting near Bristoe Station, it met a Federal brig- age belonging to Seigles' corps, accompanied by a battery of artil- lery and a company of cavalry. Under cover of a forest, which concealed the smallness of the Confederate force, an attack was made upon the Federals who were repelled. The company cap-
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