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 9
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 9
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Captain, John T. Kilby.
First Lieutenant, J. O. B. Crocker; Second Lieutenant, William S. Wright.
First Sergeant, John H. Wright; Second Sergeant, James C. Bidgood; Third Sergeant, Keely Harrison; Fourth Sergeant, Henry B. Lewer.
Upon being mustered into service the company was ordered to the battery at Pinner's Point and was attached to the 9th Va. Regiment as Company I, remaining on duty there until the evacuation by the Confederates on the 10th of May, 1862, when it marched to Suffolk. At Pinner's Point the company occupied comfortable quarters which the men built for themselves with lumber furnished by the Quartermaster's Department, but the health of the men was not good in camp, and four of them died in hospital during the year they were there. The battery at Pinner's Point con- tained twelve 32 and 68-pounder Dahlgren guns, and, nearer the end of the point, there was another battery of four 6-inch rifle guns. These were originally 32-pounder Dahlgren guns, and were rifled and banded in the Navy Yard. These two batteries were manned by Company I and Company K. In rear of the batteries there were erected two furnaces for heating shot red hot, and also a bomb-proof magazine, but no opportunity presented itself of testing their efficiency as the enemy never appeared be- fore the battery.
In May, 1862, there was a reorganization of the company, and the men re-enlisted for the war. There was also a slight change in the officers. On account of a disagreement or misunderstand- . ing Lientenant Wright declined a re-election and enlisted as a private in Company K. First Sergeant John H. Wright was discharged, at his own request, for the purpose of organizing an- other company. In this he succeeded, and became its Captain. It was attached to the 61st Virginia Regiment as Company H. Lieutenant Wright was with Company K in the battle of Seven Pines, and was wounded through the fleshy portion of the arm. After recovering from his wound he was appointed Adjutant of
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CRANEY ISLAND ARTILLERY, CO. I, NINTH VA. INFANTRY. 87
the 61st Virginia Regiment and died in camp in the fall of 1863 of congestive chill.
At the reorganization of Company I Captain Kilby and First Lieutenant Crocker were re-elected and Cornelius M. Dozier was elected Second Lieutenant. John Arthur was elected Third Lieutenant, but failed to qualify or to connect himself with the company. Private McKemmey Lewis was elected First Sergeant. After the evacuation of Pinner's Pomt the company went to Pe- tersburg and was in camp on Dunn's Hill with the rest of the regiment, but remained there only a few days when it was de- tached and sent to Battery No. 5 in the fortifications around Richmond. On the 1st of June it was ordered to rejoin the regi- , ment at Seven Pines and marched to that place, but did not reach there until after the battle was over. It missed one other battle, that of Drury's Bluff, which was fought on the 16th of May, 1864, while the company was absent from the regiment on de- tached duty, but, with those two exceptions, it participated in all of the battles in which the regiment was engaged.
During the month of June the regiment took part in several skirmishes and picket fights, which accustomed the men to fire, and when the battle of Malvern Hill was fought, the first general engagement in which Company I took part, the men acted with the coolness and steadiness of old veterans and were conspicuous for their gallantry. Color Sergeant John T. Bain of Company I had the colors of the regiment, and when the regiment was charg- ing up the hill was shot down, receiving a wound from which he subsequently died. Captain Kilby picked up the flag, stood with it in front of the line, waved it to the men and held them to their position. While thus waving the colors the staff was shot in two just above his hand, but he caught it up again, and handing it to Joshua Grimes of his company told him to hold on to it under all circumstances and contingencies. Lieutenant Colonel Gilliam in his official report of the battle [see Chapter XII., the 9th Virginia Regiment, post] alludes to this incident, but speaks of it as the flag of another regiment. The 9th Virginia and 4th Georgia were somewhat mixed together at the time, which was possibly the cause of Colonel Gilliam's mistake.
Company I lost very heavily in this battle. Four men were killed outright on the battle field and two others died from wounds received there, while eleven others were wounded more or less severely. The killed were Lieutenant Cornelius M. Dozier, Ser- geant Joseph Prentis, Corporal Lucillicus W. Jones and Private Thomas Parker. Sergeant Henry B. Lewer and Color Sergeant John T. Bain were mortally wounded, were taken to Richmond and died shortly afterwards in the hospital. The day before the battle Corporal Jones had been elected by the company to the position of Third Lieutenant, but was killed before he obtained
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NORFOLK COUNTY, 1861-5.
his commission. Sergeant Prentis was a gallant boy, scarcely eighteen years old, son of Mr. Robert Prentis, proctor of the Uni- versity of Virginia. His dead body was found the day after the battle, nearer the enemy's lines than any other, showing that in his zeal to snatch victory from the seething volcano of shot and shell they were endeavoring to storm, his young and chivalrous spirit had carried him far in advance of his comrades.
Captain Kilby was with the company at Warrenton Springs, Second Manassas, Harper's Ferry and Sharpsburg, and on the 2d of October, 1862, was appointed a Surgeon in the army and assigned to the 3d Georgia Regiment. Lientenant Crocker then became Captain. On the 13th of August Corporal John C. Nie- meyer and Private John Vermillion of Company K were elected Second and Third Lieutenants in Company I, and upon the pro- motion of Lieutenant Crocker to Captain they were advanced to First and Second Lieutenants respectively.
Captain Crocker was a steady soldier, something on the order of the Roman sentinel at Herculaneum, who stood at his post while the burning ashes were falling all around him and finally entombed him. He was a Norfolk county farmer at the beginning of the war, without any experience in military tactics, but as kind hearted as a woman, as brave as -a lion and as steady as a stone wall. His men loved him like a father, and were fond of getting off practical jokes at his expense. On one occasion, in the midst of a battle, one of his men, knowing his total unacquaintance with military matters, and to see what he would say, exclaimed, "Cap- tain! I have blown the tube out of my gun." "Well, blow it back again," replied the Captain. A little later another of his men sang out, "Captain, they are cross firing at us." "Well, cross fire back at them," came back his reply.
At the battle of Gettysburg the company was in the charge of Pickett's Division, and paid a heavy toll for the gallantry it dis- played and the fame it won on that occasion. It carried thirty- eight men in the charge, of whom three were killed, thirteen wounded and eleven captured. Some of those captured were wounded also. Lieutenant Neimeyer and Privates Mills Brinkley and Jesse Norfleet were killed. Captain Crocker was captured and Lieutenant Vermillion was wounded and captured. Color Sergeant Joshua Grimes was severely wounded while carrying the flag, but recovered, and on the 17th of Angust, 1864, was appointed Ensign of the regiment with the rank of Third Lieu- tenant. He was again wounded at Drury's Bluff May 16th, 1864, this making the third time the bullets from the enemy made a lodgement in his body. Frank M. Arthur, who was captured at Gettysburg, was elected Second Lieutenant while in prison, and was subsequently exchanged and commanded the company until the battle of Five Forks, on the 1st of April, 1865, when he again
CRANEY ISLAND ARTILLERY, CO. I, NINTHI VA. INFANTRY. 89
fell into the hands of the enemy. During the interval between the battle of Gettysburg and the following spring the company was without any commissioned officer, and Orderly Sergeant MeKemmy Lewis was in command, but in the spring of 1864 Lieutenant W. T. R. Bell of Accomac county was sent from Camp Lee to take charge of it, and remained until the return of Lieu- tenant Arthur from prison.
Captain Crocker and Lieutenant Vermillion were not exchanged but were kept in prison until the close of the war. Captain Crocker was one of the Confederate officers who were sent to Morris Island in Charleston harbor by the United States authori- ties and placed under the fire of the Confederate batteries. The reason they assigned for this proceeding was that there were some Federal officers confined in the city of Charleston who were ex- posed to the fire of their guns which were aimed at that city.
Just before the battle of Gettysburg Private Mills Brinkley had one of those mysterious presentments or premonitions of approach- ing death. While the regiment was passing up Cemetery Hill, in the charge of Pickett's Division, he turned to Lieutenant Nie- meyer, who, with Lieutenant Vermillion, was at his post in rear of the line, and told him he felt as if he were going to be killed, and asked permission to leave the ranks. Lieutenant Niemeyer refused his request and ordered him to take his place in the line. Lieutenant Vermillion joined in his request. He reminded Lien- tenant Niemeyer that Brinkley had always proved himself a brave and good soldier, but Lieutenant Niemeyer again refused and Brinkley resumed his position in the ranks. He had hardly taken twenty steps further in advance when a piece of shell struck him in the forehead, killing him instantly. In a very few minutes afterwards Lieutenant Niemeyer was himself killed.
The following members of the company participated in the charge of Pickett's Division at Gettysburg. Several who received slight wounds did not report to the hospital and are not recorded as having been wounded.
Captain J. O. Crocker, captured.
First Lieutenant John C. Niemeyer, killed.
Second Lieutenant John Vermillion, wounded and captured.
Sergeant McKemmie Lewis, wounded.
Color Sergeant Joshua Grimes, wounded.
PRIVATES.
Arthur, Frank M., captured, Capps, Josiah, wounded and cap- tured,
Barnes, Belson, wounded,
Bidgood, W. D., captured,
Brinkley, Mills, killed, Brinkley, Granville, captured,
Brinkley, Daniel,
Carney, Richard, wounded,
Gomer, John D.,
Gwynn, George W., wounded,
Harrell, Reuben, captured,
Herring, R. II.,
llumphlet, J. T., wounded,
7
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NORFOLK COUNTY, 1861-5.
Jones, Nathan E. K., wounded and captured, Small, Benjamin, wounded,
Jordan, John L., wounded.
Stallings, J. Van,
Lassiter, Richard.
Taylor, Benjamin, captured, Taylor, Williamson B.,
Norfleet, Jesse, killed,
Parker. William J., Vann, William II., wounded,
Richardson, George Clay,
Wilkins, Henry,
Riby. Thomas, captured,
Walton, Henry, wounded,
Riddick, Amos, captured,
Wilkins, George,
Stringer, John E.,
Below will be found the roster of the company. Those marked with a star were from Nansemond county.
Captain John T. Kilby, appointed Surgeon C. S. Army October 2d, 1862. Captain J. O. B. Crocker, promoted Captain October 2d, 1862, captured July 3d, 1863, at Gettysburg and not exchanged.
*Second lientenant William S. Wright, resigned 1862, enlisted in Company K, wounded June 1st. 1862, at Seven Pines, promoted Adjutant 61st Virginia, died in fall of 1863.
Second Lieutenant Cornelius M. Dozier, killed July 1st, 1862, at Malvern Hill.
First Lieutenant John C. Niemeyer, killed July 3d, 1863, at Gettysburg. First Lieutenant John Vermillion, wounded and captured July 3d, 1863, Gettysburg, and not exchanged
*Seeond Lieutenant Frank M Arthur, captured at Gettysburg, exchanged and captured April 1st, 1865, at Five Forks.
*First Sergeant John H. Wright, promoted Captain Company H, 61st Vir- ginia Regiment.
First Sergeant McKemmy Lewis, promoted First Sergeant April, 1862, wounded July 3d, 1863, Gettysburg, and captured April 1st, 1865, at Five Forks.
*Sergeant Charles Badger, died in hospital October 4th, 1862, Richmond. Sergeant Keely Harrison, transferred March 27th, 1862, to Company C, 13th Virginia Cavalry.
Sergeant Henry B. Lewer, wounded July 1st, 1862, Malvern Hill, died July 22d, Richmond.
Sergeant Joseph Prentis, killed July 1st, 1862, Malvern Hill.
Sergeant Joshua M. Grimes, promoted Ensign, wounded July Ist, 1862, Malvern Hili, July 3d, 1863, Gettysburg, May 16th, 1864, Drury's Bluff. *Sergeant William H. Vann, captured at Five Forks April 1st, 1865. Sergeant T. J. Grimes, wounded.
Corporal Henry Walton, wounded July 1st, 1862, Malvern Hill, and July 3d, 1863, at Gettysburg, promoted Color Corporal.
Corporal Willis D. Bidgood, captured July 3d, 1863, Gettysburg, and April 1st, 1865, at Five Forks.
Corporal Lucillicus D. Jones, killed July 1st, 1862, at Malvern Hill.
Corporal Belson Barnes, wounded July 3d, 1863, at Gettysburg, and cap- tured at Five Forks April 1st, 1865.
PRIVATES.
Barnes. George.
Barnes, J. E., detailed in Division Provost Guard.
Bidgood, Nathaniel, furnished substitute 1862 and discharged.
* Bidgood, J. C., furnished substitute 1862 and discharged.
Bidgood, J. H., discharged September 13th, 1862, for disability.
Bidgood, Tully W., absent, sick in hospital.
*Bain, John T., wounded July 1st, 1862, Malvern Hill, died August 6th in hospital Richmond.
Skeeter, William J.,
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CRANEY ISLAND ARTILLERY, CO. I, NINTH VA. INFANTRY.
*Brinkley, Mills, killed July 3d, 1863, at Gettysburg.
*Brinkley, Granville, captured July 3d, 1863, at Gettysburg.
*Brinkley, Daniel.
*Brinkley, Mallory, died in hospital April 1st, 1862, Pinner's Point.
Bunting, William H., transferred to Navy January 11th, 1862.
Bunting, Lloyd, transferred to Company C, 13th Virginia Cavalry.
Bunting, Francis H., died in hospital March 27th, 1862, Pinner's Point.
Burley, William, killed 1864, Howlett House.
Busby, William A .. wounded April 13th, 1863, at Suffolk.
*Crocker, W. H., captured September, 1862, died in Fort Delaware.
Carney. Richard, wounded August 28th, 1862, Warrenton Springs, and July 3d, 1863, at Gettysburg.
*Cox, William, died in hospital July 5th. 1862, Richmond.
Capps, A. J., transferred to Company C, 13th Virginia Cavalry.
Capps, Josiah, captured July 3d, 1863, Gettysburg, died at Point Lookout.
Dennis, Samuel, transferred March 27th, 1862, to Company C, 18th Virginia Cavalry.
Duncan, Blanch, surrendered at Appomattox.
Duncan, John, captured at Five Forks.
Duncan, Richard, captured at Five Forks.
*Dean, Edward G., discharged 1863 for disability.
Danghtrey, William, died March 27th, 1862, in camp, Pinner's Point.
Duke, Henry, transferred March 27th, 1862, to Company C, 13th Virginia Cavalry.
*Duke, Nathaniel, wounded July 1st, 1862, at Malvern Hill, and disabled. Duke, Lewis.
Evans, Charles, died in hospital 1864.
Field, Richard.
Gwynn, George W., wounded July 3d, 1863, at Gettysburg.
*Gomer, John D., died in hospital 1864. Richmond.
*Greene, Jesse, died in hospital November 28th, 1862, Richmond.
George, J. W., supposed to have been killed 1865.
Gurley, J., died in hospital 1864, Richmond.
*Harrell, Elkana.
*Harrell, Abram, discharged in 1863 for disability. Harrell, Edward.
*Harrell, Josiah, died in hospital in 1862, Richmond.
*Harrell, Reuben, captured July 3d, 1863, at Gettysburg and died in prison.
*Harrell, Henry, died in hospital in camp June, 1862, York River railroad.
*Herring, R. H., captured April 1st, 1865, at Five Forks.
Henry, William C., transferred to Navy January 18th. 1862.
*Humphlet, Jno. T., promoted Color Sergeant, wounded July 3d, 1863, at Gettysburg.
Johnson, Thos., died in hospital in 1863, Richmond.
Jones, Nathan E. K., wounded and captured Jnly 3d. 1863, at Gettysburg. *Jones, Jas. G., died in hospital November 28th, 1862, Charlottesville.
Jordan, John L., wounded July 3d, 1863, at Gettysburg, and captured April 1st, 1865, at Five Forks.
Johnigan, Richard.
Keeter, W. W., died in hospital November 20th, 1862, Staunton.
King, James.
King, Thomas,
Lewis, William, detailed cook.
Litchfield, Jacob, detailed cook.
Lewis, Ambrose, died in hospital June 22d, 1862, Richmond.
Lassiter, John, wounded August 28th, 1862, at Warrenton Springs, and died November 25th at Richmond.
*Lassiter, Richard, wounded July 1st, 1862, Malvern Hill, wounded at Suf- folk, April 13th, 1863. and captured at Five Forks.
*Norfleet, Jesse, killed July 3d, 1863, at Gettysburg.
Parker, Thomas, killed July 1st, 1863, at Malvern Hill.
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NORFOLK COUNTY, 1861-5.
Parker, W. J., captured April 1st, 1865, at Five Forks.
*Parker, Jesse, captured April 1st, 1865, at Five Forks.
Ruthledge, Anthony, died in hospital 1865, Richmond.
Richardson, Geo. Clay, captured April 1st, 1865, at Five Forks.
*Rudd, Augustus S., died in hospital June 18th, 1862.
*Riddick, Mills, wounded April 13th, 1863, at Suffolk, disabled and detailed in passport office, Petersburg.
*Riddick, Amos, captured July 3d, 1863, at Gettysburg.
"Raby, Thos., captured July 3d, 1863; at Gettysburg.
*Stallings, J. Van, captured April 1st. 1865, at Five Forks.
Savage, William, captured April 1st, 1865, at Five Forks.
Spivey, Jetheo, transferred March 27th, 1862, to Company C, 13th Virginia Cavalry.
Sawyer, Albert.
Skeeter, W. J., surrendered April 9th. 1865, at Appomattox.
Small, Benjamin.
Savage, Mike L., died in hospital 1862, Pinner's Point.
Spaulding, John A.,
*Stringer, John E.,
Taylor, Benj., captured July 3d, 1863, at Gettysburg.
Taylor, Williamson B., captured April Ist, 1865, at Five Forks.
*Vann, Alfred, wounded April 13th, 1863, at Suffolk, and died in hospital. Wagner, James, detailed as Ordnance Sergeant.
*Wilkins, Henry.
"Wilkins, George.
Wilson, A. J , transferred February 1st, 1862, to Company C, 13th Virginia Cavalry.
*Wright, Jos. S., transferred April 30th. 1862, to Signal Corps.
*Wright, J. Edwin, transferred April 30th, 1862, to Signal Corps. Killed and died-34.
CHAPTER XI.
THE OLD DOMINION GUARD, COMPANY K, NINTHI VIRGINIA INFANTRY.
This company was organized in Portsmouth June 26th, 1856, and soon became one of the largest and most popular companies in Virginia. Even before the war it was nothing unusual for it to parade with from eighty to ninety men, and at the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the settlement of Jamestown, which took place on that historic island in 1857, and which drew together the military companies of the entire State, the Old Dominion Guard was the largest company on the grounds. The first Captain of the company was Captain John W. Young, who was succeeded by Captain Edward Kearns.
At the beginning of the late war the Old Dominion Guard was one of the companies in the 3d Virginia Regiment, and on the 20th of April, 1861, it was ordered into active service by Governor Letcher, and remained in the field until the close of the war.
On the night of the 20th the men were quartered in the Court House, and at daybreak on the 21st part of them were marched to the Navy Yard, with other troops, to take possession and guard property there, and the remainder were marched to the Naval Hospital point to build an earthwork to prevent the return of the United States vessels Pawnee and Cumberland, which had left the Navy Yard about 1 o'clock that morning. Subsequently the whole company went on duty at the Hospital point and remained there about a week, when it was detached from the 3d Regiment and ordered to Pinner's Point, just below the Hospital point. where they were shortly afterwards joined by the Craney Island Artillery under Captain John T. Kilby, one of the companies or- ganized in Norfolk county and subsequently attached to the 9th Virginia Regiment as Company I. Here a strong earthwork con- taining twelve guns, six and eight-inch Dahlgrens, was built under the supervision of Major F. W. Jett of the Engineer Corps, and later another earthwork, containing four six-inch rifle guns, was thrown up nearer the point. In June, 1861, the 9th Virginia Regiment was organized and the Old Dominion Guard was at- tached to it as Company K. The post at Pinner's Point was under command of Lieutenant George Harrison of the Navy, who held the brevet rank of Major, and who was assigned to that duty on account of his previous experience in the use of heavy guns. The younger members of the company soon learned Major Harrison's weak points, and he was the victim of many a practical joke.
93
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NORFOLK COUNTY, 1861-5.
When the company was mustered into service on the 20th of April the following were the officers:
Captain-Edward Kearns.
First Lieutenant-Dennis Vermillion.
Second Lieutenant-L. A. Bilisoly.
And shortly afterwards, while in camp at the Hospital point, Sergeant Henry A. Allen was elected Third Lieutenant.
Camp life at Pinner's Point was not very exciting, and the main drawbacks were extra guard duty or temporary confinement in the guard honse for going to town without leave of absence, re- strictions which the young soldiers regarded as extremely onerous and unnecessary. While there the company lost one of its mem- bers. Yonng Jacob W. Keeling died from pnemnonia. He came from Suffolk, originally, and his remains were taken there for in- terment. A detachment from the company escorted the body to the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad depot in Norfolk.
During the summer and fall the company occupied tents, but when cold weather set in, timber was sent to the camp and the company built very comfortable quarters. They were the best military quarters in the harbor, and, considering the fact that very few of the men had ever had any previous experience in that kind of work, they were marvels of comfort and conven- ience.
While there the company enjoyed excellent health, and, on one occasion of inspection, while occupying the tents, there were one hundred and five men in line for duty. During the fall of the year, the season of chills and fevers, it was noticed that, while very few of the members of the Old Dominion Guard, a company raised exclusively in the city, were affected, Company I, which was on duty with them, and which was composed of men who were raised in the country, and nearly all of whom were used to hard work, had so many men on the sick list that Company K had to perform a part of their guard duty. This fact seems to bear out the theory that men raised in the cities can stand exposure better than those raised in the country.
While at Pinner's Point the gallant Captain Kearns made his first great and only attempt at oratory. The ladies of Ports- · mouth made a very handsome silk flag for the Old Dominion Guard and selected Miss Virginia Handy, daughter of Rev. I. W. K. Handy, of the Presbyterian Church, to make the presentation. The company was drawn up in line in a shady grove near the camp and a large number of ladies and other friends of the con- pany were present. Miss Handy, in very appropriate and touch- ing language, placed the handsome banner in the hands of Cap- tain Kearns, "whose modesty was only excelled by his bravery." Captain Kearns began his response, and it was his first effort. He said : "Miss Handy and Ladies of Portsmouth !- On behalf of
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OLD DOMINION GUARD, CO. K, NINTH VA, INFANTRY.
the Old Dominion Guard, I accept this magnificent flag, which will be onr guide in the front of battle, and, if I falter!» Here he forgot the rest of his carefully prepared speech, but he re- peated, "If I falter !! " but memory would not come to his aid, and, after a lengthened pause, drawing his sword hastily from its scabbard and flashing it in the air, he exclaimed: "If I falter! I hope Christ may kill me !! "
A roar of applause and laughter greeted this abrubt and unex- pected termination of the oration.
When the company left Portsmouth with the regiment and the Confederate battle flags were substituted for the State flags, this flag was left in Petersburg for safe keeping and disappeared in some way or other. The company never knew what became of it.
Nearly half of the members of the Old Dominion Guard were young men under the age of twenty-one years and were full of life and enjoyment. On one occasion the Hospital steward, who was not averse to an occasional dip into " something strong," re- turned to camp from the city with a demijohn of sherry wine in his wagon, and stopping in front of the guard house, left it in the wagon and went into the building occupied by the officers as quarters and in which he kept his drugs. The sentry at the gnard house reported the condition of affairs to the company's quarters, and in a very few minutes three of the boys appeared upon the scene with two buckets, one empty and the other full of water, and in less time than it would take to tell it the wine was transferred to the empty bucket and the demijohn was filled with water. Shortly after the embryo doctor came out , for his "jug," carried it in the house and the officers were invited to partake. Their smiles were " childlike and bland" when they saw the pro- portions of the demijolm, but upon tasting its contents they classed the luckless apothecary as a "heathen Chinee." He pro- tested, however, that it was wine when he left town. That night No. 6 and No. 9 messes, with their invited guests, enjoyed a wine supper with hardtack accompaniment.
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