USA > Virginia > Clarke County > Clarke County > History of Clarke County, Virginia and its connection with the war between the states > Part 15
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impression on the regiment and they took him at once into their hearts and all looked forward to a brilliant and successful career for him, but vain are human hopes. In twenty-four short hours he whom they loved was to be taken from them in the full tide of his manhood. On the morning of May 5th the division moved forward and was soon thrown into line of battle, in a thick woods. The line which was continually moving to the right, was sometimes in a dense thicket and sometimes in the open woods. Our regiment was on the extreme left and we had to keep moving in order to keep in touch with the brigade. Colonel Randolph was on foot behind the line, carrying in his hand a chess board, of which game he was very fond. Being near the writer at one time in the thick woods he remarked to me: "Tom, how will we get out of this place?" I answered: "Oh, you will get us out all right." After sometime the line halted and the enemy opened fire and we were soon hotly engaged. The regiment being on the extreme left was being flanked by the enemy and our line had to be continually stretched out towards the left in order to hold them back. This state of things had gone on for several hours and the men were getting scarce of ammunition when word was brought that the Louisiana brigade was coming to our relief. In the meantime in order to steady the line, Colonel Randolph had ordered the flag to a position near him and had gathered a number of men near it to protect it. Just after this had been done, the writer who was near the Colonel saw Sergeant Lewis of Co. "C" talking to him. They were talking very coolly but very earnestly and seriously. Sergeant Lewis with his hands resting on the muzzle of his gun and the Colonel with his chess board under his arm as calm as if in not the least danger, although the fire at this point was too hot to be comfortable. Sergeant Lewis was telling him of
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the death of Lieut. Sam Grubbs, who a little before had been shot, leading his company in an advance to drive back a body of the enemy who were outflanking them. Grubbs had been shot in the head and instantly killed. Lewis had at that time a hole through the crown of his hat, received a few minutes before. As our men were holding their own, the Colonel moved off with Sergeant Lewis to make an attempt to bring off the body of Lieu- tenant Grubbs. While going on this sacred duty Colonel Randolph was struck by a ball in the head and died im- mediately. His body was brought off, but the body of gallant Sam Grubbs was not recovered. The enemy tak- ing advantage of the momentary confusion caused by the fall of the Colonel, moved forward, but their advance was met by the timely arrival of the Louisiana brigade, which drove them back. Thus was his noble life cut short. No more gallant spirit ever filled man's heart. No braver or more thoughtful officer ever commanded the regiment. The regiment felt his loss deeply and Co. "C" missed this gallant young Lieutenant-the friend and companion of his men. But alas, such things as were upon them allowed no moments for grief. Even while the body of our leader was borne away, we had to fall back a short distance and proceed to build breast works. That evening, to our left the enemy made a desperate effort to break our lines, but failed, and renewed the attack the following morning with the same results. On the 8th of May we moved towards Spotsylvania Court House. Arriving there after a most tiring march late in the evening we immediately went to throwing up works. On the evening of the 10th the enemy attacked just to the left of our regiment and broke the line, driving the brigade on our left from their position, thus exposing the left flank of Co. "C". In this charge Elliott Weir, a member of Co. "C", had a singular exper-
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ience. When the enemy got over the breast works, he was captured and ordered to pass over to the side from which they had come. As soon as he had jumped over, he threw himself on to the ground and pretended that he was dead. In a short time our troops drove the enemy back and recovered our lines. Elliott then got up and came in safe and sound. He was not so fortunate on the 12th, when the enemy charged our division and captured 3,500 men, "Ell" was of the number and could play no such ruse to save himself, but with many others from the regiment had to go to prison and remain there until the end of the war. Soon after the death of Colonel Randolph, Lieut. Robert Randolph was made captain of the Company and Phil Nelson 1st Lieut. The heavy losses in both Co. "C" and Co. "I" made it necessary to unite them under one command, Captain O'Bannon of Co. "I", having been put upon the staff of the brigade general. All were under the command of Capt. Robert Randolph. Under him they made the campaign with General Early from Lynchburg after Hunter, took part in the fight at Monocacy and be- fore the defenses of Washington. On the retreat they passed through Loudoun and entered Clarke at Snicker's Gap. Here some of them got an opportunity for a few fleeting hours to see the home folks. At the battle of "Cool Spring" they had their first and last opportunity to fight on the soil of Clarke. They took part in the rapid movements of General Early in front of Sheridan and at the battle of "Belle Grove," or Cedar Creek, they lost their honored Captain, who had so faithfully and gallantly led them through so many trials and dangers. There was no more chivalrous or heroic spirit in the ranks of the army than he, gentle and modest, thoughtful and kind, yet de- manding the best in his men, he was loved by them with a devotion seldom seen. Upon his death the command de-
ROBERT C. RANDOLPH
CAPTAIN, "NELSON RIFLES" (COMPANY C, SECOND VIRGINIA INFANTRY
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volved upon Lieutenant Nelson. Under him the winter of 1864 was passed in the trenches at Petersburg. Our brave men here endured the greatest hardships of the war, suffering from cold and hunger and never free from the fire of the enemy. It was no common thing for a shell to drop in the midst of them while cooking their scanty rations. But amidst it all they bore themselves with fortitude, accepting the worst without complaining. One third of them were kept on the firing line at all times, so that they never had more then two days at a time for rest and even then often all were called to the front to repel a threatened attack, or to march off to the right to resist an attempt to turn General Lee's flank. Day and night these alarms came and there was no moment of security. Their rations were of corn bread and middling, day after day. As spring opened details were sent into swamps and fields hunting garlic, poke and other weeds for greens, in an effort to prevent scurvy.
Many were sick with chills and fever and other malar- ious diseases. Their pay, small at best, had become so worthless that a month's pay would not buy a pound of tobacco. But our gallant fellows cared not for the pay. If they could have been clothed warmly and properly fed, the lack of pay, dangers from shot and shell would not have affected them. When engaged in battle with their well fed and warmly clothed enemy they sometimes had the opportunity to get a haversack full of the good things that the Yankees had or to capture an overcoat or blanket, but these chances were rare now. Our army was on the defensive and were glad to be able to hold their position, and could not ransack the enemy's camps as of yore or to capture them in large numbers, and so this resource was taken from them. The winter wore itself away, General Grant having stretched his lines away to the South and
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East, compelling General Lee to still further extend his attenuated lines. At last all was ready for the final blow. On a bright Sunday morning in early April he made the attempt and succeeded in breaking General Lee's line. All saw that the inevitable had come. Petersburg so long, so bravely defended must be given up. With but a scanty supply of rations, the retreat was commenced, with the expectation of getting abundant supplies at Amelia Court House. But some incompetent, somewhere, failed to do his duty and when the army reached that point no rations were found. From that time forward the possessor of an ear or two of corn was a richer man than Rockefeller. Marching and fighting by day and marching by night, snatching a little sleep during a halt, they pushed on. On the ninth of April near the village of Appomattox C. H. they found the enemy across their path. General Gordon with the 2nd Corps, all that was left of it, and our friends of Co. "C" and "I" are among them, is ordered to clear the road of the enemy. They form into line and with the old time yell they charge the foe and drive them a mile and the road is open for escape. But useless was the charge, useless the yell, the bravery, for even then General Lee was making terms of surrender.
The end had come and of the two gallant companies that had marched to Harper's Ferry on the 17th of April, 1861, so gayly, so confidently, there are but Lieutenant Nelson and eight men from Co. "C", and four from Co. "I". A sad day for them, worn out, half starved, two hundred miles from home, no money, what were they to do? With the farewell order of their loved General sounding in their ears and embalmed in their hearts, they started on the long tramp. No longer led by able and thoughtful of- ficers, they scattered and each for himself or in couples they made the dreary tramp, depending for something to
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eat on the impoverished people along the way. Slowly and painfully they come, and at last the Blue Ridge and Shenandoah are crossed and they reach their homes. Homes almost as destitute as they, but the loved ones are there and it is home at last. Before them work, hard work, but they went at it as bravely as they had gone at their old enemy. Gradually as the summer passed, those in prisons or hospitals came and took up the work of life. How these returned soldiers bore themselves, how they toiled to rebuild broken fortunes, how they helped to put the old State back into proper place in influence and power, all now living know. They are now old and worn with the toils and cares and misfortunes of life and many are dependent upon the scanty pension given them by an un- grateful State, which has forgotten all that these men did and suffered, or if remembered, remembered only as the theme of a decoration day oration or the plank in a party platform, or in a Governor's Message. The Daughters of the Confederacy, God bless them, bedeck them with "Crosses of Honor," aid them with money, look after their widows and do all that they can to help and honor them, but the State gives them hardly enough to clothe them, and even those who get the little pension have to swear that they are in poverty.
I cannot close this account of Co. "C", the "Nelson Rifles," better than by giving an extract from a letter pub- lished some years ago in the Clarke Courier, signed "A Gentleman of Verona"-a gentleman well known and honored by all the people of Clarke, one familiar with the history of the officers and men of this Company. Al- though too young to be in the army, he was old enough at the close of the war to take note of each and every one, and can speak of them far better than the writer.
"I should like if my pen has the power, to make you a
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few pictures of some of the noble men with whom I served for part of the war in the Company "C", Second Regi- ment, Stonewall Brigade. Rudyard Kipling says: "The officers are well written about," but it is only my mess- mates and comrades and dear friends whom I shall speak of. There was our first Captain, William N. Nelson, the noblest gentleman I have ever seen. I fancy I can see him now in full dress uniform as he took us on dress parade, as handsome as an Apollo Belvidere, keen of wit, sound of judgement, stern in the performance of duty, expecting all men to do theirs in the cause he loved so well, and every inch a soldier. There was Will Randolph, true and tried, who fell as Colonel of the Regiment on the 9th day of May, 1864; who stood like King Saul, head and shoulders above any man, scholar, gymnast, statesman, and the bravest man I thought in the army. I recall how he looked as he walked on top of the works at Gettysburg, carrying an oil cloth full of ammunition to the Company. And Robert Ran- dolph, also Captain of the Company "C", killed at Cedar Creek, a perfect type of Christian soldier, and gentleman. And I see Tom Randolph as he looked at the extreme right of the Company as we marched in at Manassas on that bright July morning when our Captain and 17 men were killed out of 57 muskets.
"I often thought in looking at Tom Randolph that 'he is complete in features and mind with all good grace to grace a gentleman,' and John Jolliffe, faithful to the end, and badly wounded at Chancellorsville. Carly Whiting, who was twice wounded before he was 17 and died a mar- tyr's death at 19, and his joyous laugh was lost to the Cav- alry Camp. There were six Grubses out of seven killed and wounded; their mother should have been as proud of them as if they had been the Gracchi, and Lieut. David Keeler, like Hercules, killed without the city wall. I mind
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well Adam Thompson, the best squirrel shot in the Com- pany, and Bill Thompson, a good soldier as ever polished a belt buckle or bayonet. Then there was Warren Copen- haver, though dying soon after his first fight, left a glor- ious record behind him, and old John Hibbard, shot in the leg at Manassas at the time our Captain got his death wound, so far as active service was concerned, and Robert Burwell, the coolest man I ever saw under fire, and who in the Company does not remember George Burwell try- ing to draw his ramrod from his gun at Kernstown and crying because he could not get another shot at the -
Yankees, and which of you old fellows does not remember George's capturing the Yankee Captain at Manassas when he was only 14 years old. Lord, what a handsome dash- ing boy he was. There was a man with us on whose mem- ory my mind loves to linger as I look over the past. I fear you will say, Dear Courier, that I an only calling the roll of honor, but calling the roll was my business at that time, as it was the business of the man of whom I am just speaking, a man who never would take promotion because he thought he could serve the Dear Mother-land better as a private or non-commissioned officer, and because I think he really loved to feel the pressure of the musket to his shoulder, and got more of the glory of the strife on foot doing a private's duty than he would anywhere else. As I heard one of the officers say once he believed he was one of the most reckless men in the army. I refer to Nat Bur- well, of "Carter Hall." It would be useless to have to write his name for any of the old Company to know him when I recall the time before Richmond when Colonel Botts called on Nat to rally the regiment and let them dress on him just as the evening was closing in and the regiment came to his call. Think of the gallant fellow after the battle was fought carrying water to the wounded of the
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enemy because he said our wounded had their friends to look after them and the others, poor fellows, had been left in our hands. That always seemed to me the truest hos- pitality and the highest Christian virtue. Many of these fellows became commissioned officers and many were killed, but all deserved high rank. I have not forgotten John McCormick and the way he carried dispatches for General Rhodes, at Gettysburg, to whom he had been trans- ferred from Company C, as the army marched to Pennsyl- vania. 'I am dreaming and the visions of the past come over the still deep waters in ripples bright and fast.' I find it impossible to mention more than a few of the noble men I had the honor to serve with, in a letter, but I hope it will make some one of the old boys who has more talent than I to write what he knows so I may see it way off here and know who has passed over the river and who are still on this side. What became of Nat Cook, and Phil Nelson, and Mord Lewis? What boys they were, and what men they made, ripened in the hot furnace of red battle. There are many more men I would like to pay a passing tribute to, some who were not of my command, but I shall only speak of two now. Capt. Hugh Nelson, afterwards Major, I mind him well on his milk white steed when the white banner of peace was still spread over our fair land. The greatest scholar, statesman and scientist of the day, man of wondrous charm of manner and bear- ing, a man all of whose ways were ways of pleasantness and all his paths were peace, but when once the despot's heel was on our shore, he was a very bolt of war, and the beau ideal of a Cavalry Commander, as he led the Old Clarke Cavalry on Victor, where the foremost fighting fell. And then there was Dr. Archie Randolph, Fitz Lee's chief medical advisor and friend."
I will here give a list of the battles in which Co. "C"
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and Co. "I" took part. This list was furnished by Mr.
Lewis:
1st Manassas
July 21st, 1861
Kernstown.
March 23rd, 1862
Winchester (Banks)
Cross Keys. June 8th, 1862
Port Republic.
.June 9th, 1862
Cold Harbor
June 29th, 1862
Malvern Hill.
. July 1st, 1862
Cedar Run. August 9th, 1862
2nd Manassas. August 28th-29th and 30th, 1862
Capture of Harper's Ferry
Sharpsburg.
. Sept. 17th, 1862
Fredericksburg Dec. 13th, 1862
Chancellorsville May 2nd and 3rd, 1863
Winchester No. 2 . June 15th, 1863
Gettysburg
July 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, 1863
Mine Run
Nov. 27th, 1863
Wilderness.
May 5th, 1864
Spotsylvania. May 10th and 12th, 1864
Battle of the Nye May 18th, 1864
Bethesda Church June 2nd, 1864
Monocacy. July 9th, 1864
. August, 1864
Cool Spring Fisher's Hill.
Sept, 22nd, 1864
Cedar Creek or Shady Grove Oct. 19th, 1864
Hatcher's Run. Feb. 6th, 1865
Hains Hill or Fort Steadman
Mar, 25th, 1865
Petersburg
April 2nd, 1865
Retreat . April 2nd to 9th, 1865
Besides these, there were numerous skirmishes of not enough importance to be named or remembered.
The story of this company should have been written
. May 9th, 1862
McDowell May 25th, 1862
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HISTORY OF CLARKE COUNTY
by one of the Company, and the writer most reluctantly undertook the work. He felt that Sergt. Mord Lewis was the one best fitted in every way for it. But his mod- esty is equal to his bravery and to show my readers what his bravery was I will relate an incident of the winter of 1865. The ladies of Rockbridge County sent to the bri- gade a large lot of clothing and they desired that a suit should be given to the bravest man in each regiment, the man to be chosen by his comrades. In the 2nd Virginia Sergeant Lewis was only a few votes behind David Hen- derson, of Jefferson, and you must remember that Jefferson had five companies in the regiment. Lieut. N. B. Cooke, at one time a member of the company, in answer to a letter from the writer says: "Dear Old Mord Lewis is the one peculiarly fitted to give you Co. "C", from A to Z. No man in the army did his work more faithfully and he was fortunate enough to be never disabled and so was there all the time." There were very few of the Company in my reach to consult with and they like myself have forgotten much that would have been of interest. It has been my wish and my effort to do full justice to the gallant officers and men and if I have made errors they have been unin- tentional and unavoidable. I have been unable to get a correct list of the casualties in the different battles and as I could not give them in full, have not attempted at all. A Roll of the Company is given which has some notes as to the killed and wounded and etc., but I am sure it is not full and may be not altogether correct. This roll has upon it a number of names of men from up the Valley who were placed in the Company in April, 1862. Many of them left very soon but those remaining made good sol- diers. I am not able to indicate those men on the roll, but people of Clarke will recognize the names of our own people.
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HISTORY OF CLARKE COUNTY
Those men did their part like men in those days which tried men's souls. The following little poem expressing most beautifully his condition after so many years have passed :
THE VETERAN
[Written for the Religious Herald.]
We see him standing at the parting of the ways. The one leads back, along which youth has sped.
The other, shorter of the two, ends just ahead, Within the silent city of the dead,
Where young and old alike must end their days.
The passing years have left their furrows, clear and deep, Upon the cheek and brow once free from care.
The head, so richly crowned with locks of raven hair, Doth now but scattered strands of silver wear; And eyes, so wide awake in youth, now sleep.
In early life he heard his country's call to war, To which his loyal soul gave answer true. We know not if he wore the garb of gray or blue; But this we know, that all the struggle through He kept his face towards his guiding star.
And whether came to him glad victory or defeat, His bright escutcheon was no coward's shield. His glittering blade preserved on every field The symbol which no valiant heart may yield, And gave the world a theme for poets meet.
Down through the years that followed war-the years of peace, Which none the less were years of toil and strife, With duties manifold and heavy burdens rife- The veteran poured the manhood of his life In streams of love whose flow shall never cease. 'Tis thus we find him at the parting of the ways. What tribute for his service shall we bring? What panacea for the pain of ingrate's sting? His deeds of love and valor we will sing; His "dearest meed" be "our esteem and praise." Gainesville, Fla. W. T. H.
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE NELSON RIFLES
R OLL of Company "C", 2nd Va. Volunteer In- fantry :
Wm. N. Nelson, enlisted Apr. 17, 1861, captain, Millwood. Wounded 1st Manassas, disabled, entered another branch of service.
William Hay, enlisted Apr. 17, 1861, 1st Lieut., Millwood. Made Surgeon 33rd Va. Reg., Aug. 1861. Promoted 1st Lieut.
Robert C. Randolph, enlisted Apr. 17, 1861, 2nd Lieut., Millwood. Captain, May, 1864. Killed battle of Cedar Creek or Belle Grove, Oct. 1864.
James Ryan, enlisted Apr. 17, 1861, 3rd Lieut., Millwood. Resigned, Sheriff of County.
David Meade, enlisted Apr. 17, 1861, 3rd Lieut., White Post. Vice Ryan resigned.
David Keeler, enlisted Apr. 17, 1861, 3rd Lieut., Millwood. Aug. 1861, vacancy. Lieut. Hay promoted.
Philip W. Nelson, enlisted Apr. 17, 1861, 2nd Lieut, Mill- wood. Promoted from 1st Sergt., wounded Port Re- public and present at surrender at Appomatox. Samuel Grubbs, enlisted Aug. 17, 1861, 3rd Lieut., Millwood. Promoted from Sergt. Killed May 5th, 1864, Wilderness. John Kelly, enlisted Apr. 17, 1861, 1st Sergt., Millwood. Discharged 1861, disability.
Wm. T. Wharton, enlisted Aug. 17, 1861, 3rd Sergt., White Post. Transferred to Horse Artillery.
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HISTORY OF CLARKE COUNTY
Jno. Jolliffe, enlisted Apr. 17, 1861, 4th Sergt., Millwood. Wounded Chancellorsville, detailed special duty.
Chas. C. Benn, enlisted Apr. 17, 1861, 5th Sergt., Mill- wood. Present at surrender at Appomattox.
Cornelious Hawks, enlisted Apr. 17, 1861, 1st Corp., White Post. In prison 12 months.
John A. Hibbard, enlisted Apr. 17, 1861, 2nd Corp., Mill- wood. Wounded 1st Manassas. Discharged on ac- count of wound.
Geo. W. Rutter, enlisted Apr. 17, 1861, Drummer, White Post. Discharged for disability.
Barney Carrigan, enlisted Apr. 17, 1861, Fifer, White Post. Deserted to enemy.
Jacob B. Rutter, enlisted Apr. 17, 1861, private, White Post. Wounded Manassas 1861. Killed at Aldie 1861.
Nathaniel Burwell, enlisted Apr. 17, 1861, Sergt. Major of Regiment, Millwood. Promoted Sergt. Major of Regt. Mortally wounded 2nd Manassas, 1862, and died. Robert P. Burwell, enlisted Apr. 17, 1861, Private, Mill- wood. Transferred Stuart's Horse Artillery, Pro- moted Lieut. Died of wounds received Brandy sta- tion June 9th, 1863.
George H. Burwell, enlisted Apr. 17, 1861, private, Mill- wood. Promoted 2nd Lieut. Pelham Battery, Horse Artillery.
W. B. Copenhaver, enlisted Apr. 17, 1861, private, Mill- wood. Died 1861.
A. J. Berlin, enlisted Apr. 17, 1861, private, White Post. Served four years. Captured May 12th, 1864, pris- oner until close of war.
W. R. Barham. Served 4 years.
G. W. Anderson, private.
Fred S. Crow, private. In prison 12 months.
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HISTORY OF CLARKE COUNTY
James Cooper, private.
Jno. W. Cooper, private.
N. B. Cooke, enlisted Apr. 17, 1861, private, Millwood. Transferred to Clarke Cavalry Oct. 21, 1862. On duty at General Stuart's Headquarters. Made 2nd Lieut. Cooper's Battery. Disabled Oct. 24th, 1864. Ephriam Corfelt, enlisted Apr., 1862, private, Shenandoah County.
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