USA > Virginia > Historical sketches of the Nottoway Grays, afterwards Company G, Eighteenth Virginia Regiment, Army of Northern Virginia; > Part 2
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Then the artillery duel commenced. The sharp rattle of the skirmishers waxed faster and faster. For hours it seemed that Thursday's battle was to be repeated. But it was not so to be. About twelve o'clock, the musketry began to open briskly away up the Run. It sounded like heavy, earnest work. It roared and swayed, further and further on, as if deploying lines were widening the field. After a time, the direction changed, and the advance was evidently making down the Run towards the pike. What the fortune of the day was, we could only judge by the direction of the guns. For about two hours this heavy firing continued, and then ensued a partial intermission. Just then, the Federals at the Stone Bridge began to cheer, and the cheers were taken up and rolled in reverberating waves to Cen- treville. A band of music near "Long Tom," on the pike, struck up an anthem of praise, in notes though sweet, yet just then they were extremely saddening, because they indicated defeat to us.
So far, we had not fired a gun, and only a few scattering skirmishers had come in sight. One prisoner had been taken by our men. Just then an order came hurrying us to the front. To reachi it we had to go down to Ball's Ford. As soon as we had crossed the Run, and filed out into the open field, our Brigade began to draw the fire of the artillery of the enemy stationed on the heights near the Stone Bridge. Marching by the right flank, the line was exposed to this fire for a mile. In this way, the steadiness of the men, for the first time under fire, was severely tried. Soon the scene of the hottest part of the day's battle was reached. This was where Bee's men had been driven back and the famous "Stonewall" Brigade had turned the tide. Here the " red-breeched" Federals were lying thick, dead and wounded. The first man killed in our Regiment was shot by one of these men as the line swept by him. It was a spiteful act, and he did not live long to repent of it, for as soon as he had fired, Major Cabell shot him down with his pistol. This occurred in the thick pines. When the Command reached the open field, it at once drew the fire of the enemy, then in and around the Henry house on the hill before us. Just then the Brigade, of which the 18th Regiment formed the left, having been thrown partially into dis- order from marching through the thick pines, was halted to form into line of battle. This occupied a few minutes, during which time a number of our men were killed and wounded, but no man of Company G was struck. One had been wounded in the ad- vance previously, viz .: H. Hatchett, of Lunenburg county. Of this wound and resulting fever he afterwards died.
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When the line was fully formed, the Brigade swept up the hill, in full charge, on both sides of the Henry house, capturing a bat- tery of artillery stationed on the crest of the ridge. This was the last charge of the day, for then commenced the rout of the enemy, made more complete in our front by the turning of their own guns upon them, which was effected by Lieut. Shields, of Com- pany E, of the 18th Regiment, and others. Forbidden to pur- sue, we could only exult and cheer, as the great victory of the day was consummated.
Crossing Bull Run at the Stone Bridge late 'in the evening, our Command made an advance beyond with a view to cut off the rear of the retreating and scattered forces of the enemy. Just after we had passed over Bull Run, the line of march was changed in the direction of Manassas, to oppose a movement of the enemy, said then to be moving from the direction of the Oc- coquan. This was soon ascertained to be a false report, but not till it was too late to resume the effort to pursue. Night fell on us about half way between the bridge and Manassas. Weary and well nigh exhausted by the worry and fatigue of the day, we were happy to get supper, which our cooks and commissary brought us. We were halted for the night at Camp Walker. Our sleep was interrupted early next morning by a drenching rain. Retracing our steps towards the battle-field, we bivouacked the next night near Ball's Ford, after a day of uncertainty and inaction. The next day we marched to the Pike and camped near where the rout of the reserve force of the Federals was greatest, not far from a small stream called " Cub-Run." This stream was almost literally full of muskets, and a whole battery of artillery was taken the day of the battle at the bridge over it.
When the smoke of battle had blown away, and the full ex- tent of the day's rout had been fully ascertained, the fact was revealed that it only required prompt action then and there to have secured the capture of Washington City. The fruits of the victory were chiefly the moral effect and the stores of arms and supplies captured. For many days, the men were engaged pick- ing up muskets. While here, Colonel Wood, of the 14th New York Regiment, was found near a spring in the bushes, wounded severely but not mortally, and attended by a man of his con- mand. He was in an ambulance when the rout commenced. The driver cut the horse loose, leaving him to the tender iner- cies of the victors. Two men were found dead in the woods near the Pike, on whom no sign of wound could be found, indi- cating death from fright or exhaustion. These incidents were significant of the great consternation which ruled on the day of the battle.
The next move of our Command was to Centreville, where it suffered much from sickness in the form of typhoid or camp fe- ver. Then it moved to Fairfax Courthouse, where a better camp was secured. From this place, a number of excursions were
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made to the front, near Washington and Alexandria. The picket line extended from the Potomac river above Washington by Munson's Hill near Fall's Church, and Mason's Hill in sight of Alexandria, to the river bank again below. A constant fire was kept up by the opposing lines of pickets for days at a time. Scouting parties were frequently reconnoitering. Everything indi- cated stirring events. In the interval, the Grand Army of the Republic had been re-organized under Gen. McClellan, and it was now larger and better drilled than it ever had been before. But weeks passed by and then months without any decided move.' On the 16th of October, our Command fell back to Cen- treville again, about which time the battle at Leesburg took place. We heard the roar of the guns.
As cold weather approached, we went into winter quarters, built of logs, with rude chimneys. In this place, the Command spent the winter, interrupted only by the skirmish at Dranes- ville, and an excursion occasionally to the front picket line.
During the winter, several changes occurred in the organiza- tion of the company. First-Lieutenant Richard Irby resigned his position to take his seat in the General Assembly of Vir- ginia, to which he had been elected in May. Richard Ferguson, of Dinwiddie, was elected to fill the vacancy. In December, Capt. Reps Connally resigned his office, on account of bad health. Second-Lieutenant P. F. Rowlett was elected Cap- tain, and 1st Sergeant Samuel Hardy was elected 2d Lieu- tenant. E. E. Howson, 3d Lieutenant, resigned, and Alex. Campbell was elected in his place.
Early in 1862, recruiting parties were sent home to fill up the ranks of the company. They brought in a number of recruits, who reached the Command at Orange Courthouse. In the in- terval, General Johnston had evacuated Manassas and Centre- ville, and retired to the Rapidan. This was in anticipation of McClellan's change of base to Yorktown. About the first of April, the Army of Northern Virginia moved to Yorktown, near which it took up camp. The camp of the 18th Regiment was about a mile distant from the town.
Here the term of office of the regimental and company offi- cers expired, and a new organization took place. The organiza- tion of the company on the 20th April was as follows :
RICHARD IRBY, Captain.
Samuel Hardy, Ist Lieut. R. B. Seay, 1st Sergt.
J. E. Irvin, 2d Lieut.
E. H. Muse, 2d Sergt.
Archer Campbell, 3d Lieut.
J. C. Gill, 3d Sergt.
J. E. Barrow, 4th Sergt.
J. H. Gill, 1st Corpl. J. W. Tunstill, 3d Corpl.
Wm. M. Hamilton, 2d Corpl. B. I. Scott, 4th Corpl.
J. C. Webb, 5th Corpl.
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PRIVATES.
Anderson, A. W.
Jackson, G. H.
Anderson, W. J.
Johnson, L.
Anderson, J. M.
Malone, C. G.
Atkinson, C. T.
Marshall, F. Q.
Barrow, R. B.
Morgan, A. F.
Brown, A. V.
Mitchell, W. F.
Bentley, Wm.
Orgain, E. C.
Bentley, J. C.
Orgain, J.
Bowles, G. H.
Orgain, T. A.
Burton, Wm.
O'Neil, J. J.
Campbell, John
Overby, H.
Clarke, J. W.
Pollard, C. D.
Connally, B. J.
Reames, J.
Cobbs, R. H.
Reames, W. H.
Cobbs, S. W.
Seabrook, C. J.
Crenshaw, A. D.
Seay, G. B.
Clay, J. W.
Smith, J. C.
Eckles, J. W.
Spain, R. B.
Elder, J. A.
Spain, J. A.
Farley, E. W.
Stith, C.
Farley, J. C.
Sublett, S. B.
Farley, J. H.
Sydnor, E. G.
Foster, G. W.
Sullivan, J. M.
Grammer, R. B.
Tunstill, J. D.
Gunn, R. C.
Tunstill, J. M.
Gunn, T. J.
Thompson, G. W.
Gunn, E. G.
Tucker, T. J.
Gregory, Thomas
Watkins, W. G.
Hammersley, -
Webb, L. E.
Hardaway, R. N.
Webb, J. A.
Hardaway, J.
West, J. T.
Hardaway, J. H.
West, T. B.
Hardy, L. E.
West, J. F.
Hardy, J. T.
Williams, W. O.
Hurt, R. L.
Winn, W. H.
Comissioned officers,
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Non-commissioned officers,
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Privates,
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Captain P. F. Rowlett retired on account of physical inabil- ity for active service.
First-Lieutenant R. Ferguson and 3d Lieutenant Alex. Camp- bell also retired from regular service on account of ill health.
At this time, the company attained its highest numerical strength, increased by recruits from Nottoway, Lunenburg, Din- widdie and Brunswick. The officers-elect took command on the
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21st April, a few days before the evacuation of Yorktown. The Regimental officers had been re-elected, but many changes had occurred in the company commanders of the Regiment.
The two armies commanded by General Johnston and Gene- ral Mcclellan were now confronting each other. The Warwick river lay between the lines now so near cach other that frequent skirmishing was going on.
On the 5th of May, early in the morning, Yorktown was evac- uated, and our command took up its retreating march towards Richmond. We slept in the outskirts of the city of Williams- burg the first night. The Federal forces followed closely. Though the rain was falling heavily, the Federals continued to press, and early next morning the pickets commenced to fire. This having been so common, we did not, at first, regard mat- ters as serious, but about nine o'clock our Command was marched back through the city to the hill next to the woods. There we found earnest work was going on, and the trees almost hidden by the smoke, which, in the damp atmosphere, hung like a cloud near their tops. About 11 o'clock, our Command was ordered in where the smoke seemed thickest. On reaching the scene of conflict, the dying and dead were lying mingled in the tangled woods. The enemy's line gave back, as we marched in and scat- tered through the abutis of fallen trees, on the edge of which we halted and waged a sharp-shooting contest for hours. When relieved in the evening by another command, we took position as reserves on the ground where the Federals that morning had unslung knapsacks, which were now piled regularly in line. Numbed and chilled by the drenching rain, as we were, these af- forded a great relief, as they were well packed with new blankets and rubber cloths, the very things we needed. Night found us on the field hungry and wet, and begrimed with powder. We be- gan to move back to the city about nine o'clock. It was a fright- ful night. The wounded men and horses were groaning most piteously on the wet ground as we left the field.
Company G escaped without a wound, but some of the other companies of our Regiment were considerably cut up, especially Company C, the other company from Nottoway. When we reached Williamsburg, the mud in the street was knee-deep, and the sidewalks cut up by the wagons and artillery. Notwith- standing this, we had to remain in the street for hours. We could not lie down nor sit down for the mud, so we had to stand, without food still, as we had been since early dawn. This dreadful condition lasted till about 1 o'clock next morning, when we reached the old College campus, where a few of the more fortunate ones got a little coffee, after which we resumed the slow night march through the mud. This was the dreariest night we had had so far, and possibly the dreariest of the war, About ten o'clock next morning, we halted to rest and eat, as weary, muddy a company as ever the sun shone on. We had made about ten
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miles. For over twenty-four hours we had had no rest, and been under fire, more or less, for eight of the twenty-four hours, and many had been without food during that time. Now we were too tired to sleep or to cook rations. Still not one had been hurt, and all had escaped capture.
After resting till about 4 o'clock that evening, we again began the march. We reached Barhamsville about sunset ; then bear- ing to the left, we entered a swamp, in which we wound a de- vious way, till we got so worn out that we dropped down and slept where we dropped. It was so dark that we could only dis- tinguish each other by the voice. Next morning found us near an opening, where order was evolved out of chaos. This was a day of comparative rest. Having crossed the Chickahominy at Jordan's Ford, we slept that night-the first for three nights. In five days and nights we marched for three nights and fought one battle. At the end of this time, we found all safe. The Federal gunboats were on both flanks, and their superior num- bers following up the rear, but as yet our line had not been bro- ken. Halting a short time at a church about six miles below Richmond, we rested a few days, and then took up camp on the outskirts of the city on the Mechanicksville Pike. Here we rested, free from picket duty, till the battle of Seven Pines, the first of the great battles near Richmond. This was on the 31st day of May.
The preceding night had been one of great storm. The streams were flooded. Early in the morning, we were aroused to march to the battle-field, about seven miles distant from camp. Crossing Gillie's Creek, we reached the Williamsburg road, where we were halted several hours, it was said, for Huger's di- vision, who were to open the battle. About ten o'clock they came with their wagons, and dressed as if for dress parade, ap- parently unconscious of the serious muddy work ahead of them that day. Their delay was a drawback to success, according to the plan of the battle. We were held in reserve all that day and slept on the field that night, near the York River Railroad track. The first day had been only a partial success, followed by a se- vere repulse of our forces in the evening, in which General Johnston himself was severely wounded. The next morning very early we were moved forward to relieve the command, which had been under fire the day before, at a point where the battle had been very hot. Here were splintered trees and dead horses, and dead men lying in confusion, where our infan- try charged the redoubts of the Federals and took them by storm. It was an awful scene. But this morning all was as still as death. Deserted camps, with kettles hanging over the half-burnt fagots, and sutler's stores scattered around in tempting profusion told of the suddenness of the attack of the day before. Nothing but discipline prevented an indiscriminate rush for these supplies by the men, who had had no breakfast that morning. 2
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While enjoying these good things, suddenly a volley of mus- ketry near by announced the opening of the second day's battle. The smoke, as it curled up through the damp trees, told where the enemy lav. In an instant, the whole line was wheeled to the left and marched in line of battle towards the thickest firing, al- most in our rear, on the Nine-Mile road. The camp alluded to was at the intersection of this road with the Williamsburg road. We soon reached an abatis, and on the further side there were armed men, whether friends or foes was not plain in the murky morning. They seemed to be doubtful, too, for we were in their rear-that is, they were between us and Richmond. An officer hallooed to us to show our colors, and our Colonel directed the color-bearer to do so. As he did, we received a volley from them. Then, quick as thought, the command Forward! was given, and away we went through the fallen trees and brush, creeping under and jumping over, till the further border was reached. Here we found no enemy; they had fallen back into the railroad eut not far distant. Our company was protected by the pines from their fire, but other companies were not so fortunate, and consequently suffered severely. Among others, Lieut. Col. Carrington was wounded. Sharp shooting was kept up for some time, and then our line was subsequently formed in the Nine- Mile road, running nearly parallel with the railroad. The enemy seeing this, made an advance through the abatis, but our men having long-range guns gave them such a warm reception that they soon fell back and the battle virtually ceased. The men during the day acted with conspicuous bravery, and delivered their fire as coolly as if they had been firing at a target. We slept that night in a swamp near by, and the next day returned to camp.
We only remained in that camp one night, moving next day to the Williamsburg road, where we took up camp, in which we remained till the seven days' battle commenced. Here camp fe- ver broke out again. E. W. Farley, one of the strongest and best soldiers of the Company, died. The captain of the Company also was taken with fever and was carried home.
THE BATTLES AROUND RICHMOND.
Up to this time, Company G had had but one man wounded, though it had always carried its full quota into battle. ` A period in its history now came when this was to be sadly reversed. On the 25th day of June the battles began. General Lee, now in command, had determined to drive the invader from his native soil. This movement was by turning the enemy's right flank and striking his rear. Company G went into battle on the second day at Gaines' Mill. The Federals had given back slowly, contesting
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every foot of ground until they reached a high bluff. where the ridge broke off suddenly near the Chickahominy, having a deep ditch and stream on its upper side. Up the river, there was a wide, open field, through which alone they could be approached by our brigade. The enemy's fire swept this field and the cover where our men lay for awhile, on its upper edge. Even here the carnage commenced. E. C. Orgain and his brother Thomas were killed in a few feet of each other-the first of our men to die in battle-two brothers of the three-
"They were lovely and pleasant in their lives, And in their death they were not divided."
The Regiment charged across the field-Company G under command of Lieutenant Hardy. He was soon borne from the field with his arm shot near the shoulder, by an explosive ball, which caused him to lose it. The Brigade Commander, Gen- eral Pickett, and Colonel Withers were severely wounded early in the charge. When at last the survivors reached the ditch at the foot of the hill, they were sadly decimated, but on and up they went, till from its summit the stars and bars waved in tri- umph in sight of the scattered and flying foe. The closing strug- gle occurred just before night. The Federals attempted to re- gain the hill by a cavalry charge, which, however, proved abor- tive.
A great victory had been achieved, in which Company G had borne a conspicuous part, but few were left next morning to an- swer roll-call. In addition to the Orgains, named above, C. D. Pollard and R. B. Grammer were killed, and J. H. Farley, Wm. Bentley and T. J. Gunn mortally wounded. 1st Sergeant R. B. Seay was very severely wounded, and many others. The rem- nant had hardly time to bury their dead before they were hur- ried on to another deadly conflict. At Frazier's farm they had to meet again the sullen, retiring foe. The company in this bat- tle was under command of Sergt. Muse, assisted by Ex-Lieutenant Ferguson, all the other officers having been wounded or disabled. While Corporal J. II. Gill, Chief of the Ambulance Corps, was bearing from the field his wounded brother J. C. Gill he was shot down. C. G. Malone was mortally wounded ; Sergeant Muse and R. Ferguson were slightly wounded. Out of forty- five men who went into these battles only six men came out unhurt. The survivors did all they could to find the bodies of their fallen comrades, but several sleep in unknown graves on the field or in Oakwood Cemetery.
The Captain of the Company, who had been confined at home, sick with camp-fever, hurrying back before he had recovered, found but a small remnant of the number he had left behind a few days before, and these were weary and worn with constant light- ing and watching, and saddened by the loss of so many brave comrades. To him it was sad indeed. He had left a large com- pany of young, brave men, and now only a handfull were left,
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and some of these were sick and likely to die. A number were pining away in the hospitals-some to die and some to spend weary days or months-some with bodies maimed for life. After visiting the wounded and sick, he proceeded, as fast as his feeble condition would allow, to gather together the convalescent and re-organize the company, in the month succeeding the battles around Richmond. The camp was on the Darbytown road, about four miles from Richmond.
First Lieutenant Samuel Hardy having been disabled for life, by loss of his arm, and 2d Lieutenant Jno. E. Irvin disabled by wound and disease, they resigned, and their places were filled by Archer Campbell, Ist Lieutenant and E. H. Muse, 2d Lieu- tenant. While the Company was in camp at Darbytown, pri- vate S. W. Cobbs died of disease at home.
FIRST MARYLAND .CAMPAIGN.
The scene of war having been shifted again to the Rapidan, the company, with General Lee's army, was ordered to march. Leaving Richmond on the 10th of August, 1862, it reached Gor- donsville, Va., the same evening, and camped that night near the town. The Roll of the company showed its strength to be 33 officers and men, several of them not fit for duty.
The object of the campaign seemed mysterious to the uniniti- ated. Jackson had just fought the battle of Cedar Run, in Cul- peper county, and was manœuvring in that direction still, whether offensively or defensively it was not known. After marching and counter-marching in the neighborhood of Gordons- ville for some days, we moved towards the Rapidan and camped near Raccoon Ford. Crossing the river at that place, we moved in the direction of Kelly's Ford, on the Rappahannock, where there was some skirmishing with the Federals under their new Commander, General Pope, with "Headquarters in the Saddle." Camping near Stevensburg, above, we went next day to Brandy Station, and laid in " line of battle " all day. At the railroad bridge over the river a heavy artillery battle was raging. The bridge was burned in the evening. Moving higher up, we crossed the river at Beverley's Ford, near which we camped one night. Next day a forced march was made which took us through Orleans and Salem, bringing us to the "Plains" on the railroad, that night about one o'clock. Halting in a large field of timothy grass, we dropped down and slept till morning. This place was near " Thoroughfare Gap," in Bull Run mountain. Here Dick Ferguson overtook us in time for the threatened con- fiet. We slept on the railroad track Thursday night in the Gap, where a conflict for its possession had occurred the morning be- fore. Next morning, bright and early, we pressed by New Market, down the Pike, towards the old Manassas battle field, where Jack-
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son had been bewildering the Federals for several days. As far as the eye could reach, deploying columns were in view, stretching farther and farther across the field, and the artillery stationed near Buckland, on the Pike, were throwing shell in rapid succession beyond into the Federal lines. Our command formed to the right of the Pike.
The company had left Richmond on the 10th of August with 33 men. When the line was formed, after nearly twenty days of marching, not a man was missing, but one, W. F. Mitchell, discharged from being over age. This fact showed a discipline seldom attained and never surpassed.
All day Friday, the 29th, we lay in line of battle, while a heavy battle was raging in front. To the left, the artillery continued all day to shake the earth with almost unbroken cannonading. At night we were moved by the left flank across the Pike into an orchard and corn-field, where the battle had been raging, for the dead and wounded were lying still scattered over the field As we were moving across the Pike a squadron of Federal cavalry dashed through our line, firing a volley as they came. They were all captured. During the night we slept on our arms, and were not allowed to have lights. We could hear forces moving and guns being put in position, where the enemy were posting their lines for the morrow's conflict. The next morning before light our command was moved back to the position it held the day previous. Early in the day it was moved again farther to the right, passing Federal field-hospitals, showing that their lines had given back. Taking position in the valley of a small stream, we laid in reserve till about three o'clock in the evening, listen- ing with anxious ears to the battle raging furiously just beyond the ridge, so near by that balls were falling constantly about us. At about three o'clock we were hurried forward towards the thickest conflict. Between us and the enemy there was a skirt of woods, not more than fifty yards wide, on the further edge of which the enemy were posted. As we emerged from the woods we evidently took them by surprise, as they were immediately thrown into great confusion, succeeded by a precipitate rout. The field for a mile was filled with flying infantry, artillery and cavalry. Down the hill the exultant pursuers pressed in a vain attempt to overtake the flying masses. Thus far it was in effect a repetition of the first battle of Manassas, with this difference, viz : our lines were moving in exactly the opposite direction in this battle to that they moved in at the first.
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