USA > Virginia > King and Queen County > King and Queen County > King and Queen County, Virginia (history printed in 1908) > Part 18
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Thursday, the 15th .- We crossed the Chickahominy at midnight, and had a hard time of it, making two miles in about five hours. Alas for the vexations and unaccountable delays, the marchings and countermarch- ings of an army. Nobody knew anything. Men went to sleep standing in the ranks. The very mules nodded between the beatings given them by inexperienced drivers for refusing to pull through bottomless roads. Everybody was mad and hungry, and worn out and un- patriotic. At last we turned into fields about six miles from Richmond, and broke into wagonloads of hard- tack. The next day we moved nearer the city, and on Sunday, the 18th, our eyes were greeted with the sight of its spires. And now the doom of being finally con- verted into infantry seemed to settle upon us, to our bitter regret and utter disgust. Even the old battery that some of us had nursed all the way from Gloucester Point was taken away. We were quietly assigned to Rhodes's Brigade, and the addition of Captain White's company constituted us a battalion. Our former first lieutenant, Ryland, left us to try his fortune in another command.
And now we were in for it. Roll call at 4:30; squad drill at 5; company drill at 8; and battalion and bri- gade drill at 5 P. M., in the field near Roper's mill. For several days we were kept in constant commotion, marching and countermarching, up the road and down again, none of us knew why.
On the night of May 30th there was a heavy fall of rain. It was a fitting prelude to the storm of battle, the rain of shot and shell through which our boys were about to pass. It was evident that serious work was ahead.
Saturday morn, May 31st .- We were under arms at an early hour, little knowing what was before us. Large bodies of infantry moved with us down the road.
The command was given to halt and load; and then we made a hurried march through field and wood, double-quicking until officers and men were out of
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breath. We formed in line of battle, and Captain Otey, acting as field officer, in connection with Captain Bagby, addressed the command in a few words, exhorting every man to keep cool and do his duty. We then marched to the front through a pine thicket, charged through acres of felled trees, raised our first Confederate yell, and in a few minutes found ourselves in a strong horseshoe fort, from which the enemy had fled at our approach. We turned their splendid twelve-pound napoleons upon them with telling effect, and charged on through their deserted camp, under a galling fire. Five of our boys fell in a few moments,-Bacon, Butler, Courtney, Holmes, and Pynes. Sergeants John W. Ryland and William Meyer, Corporal Boliver Lumpkin, and Pri- vates Ben Carlton, Tom Segar, John Gresham, Benja- min McLelland, H. C. Pendleton, John Willroy, George Hurt, Jim Kelly, Hurt, Benjamin Sale, Tom Myrick, and others, were wounded. Falling back after a while to the redoubt, we were relieved by other troops. President Davis and General Lee ap- peared on the scene and were vigorously cheered by our men. Dear Otey had fallen, and the field was covered with our dead and wounded. Night closed the scene. We slept on the field, ministering to the wants of the wounded and dying. Never can the writer forget the last words of that brave boy, Jimmy Bacon. He was mortally wounded and slowly dying, and on being asked if anything could be done for his comfort, he replied: " Just leave your canteen with me, to relieve my thirst, and please take a lock of my hair and my watch for my mother, and tell her I was not afraid to die, and cheer- fully gave my life for our cause." If Bacon's grave could now be found, we would erect a shaft to his mem- ory and engrave these brave words upon it. Sunday the battle was renewed; but we were too much cut up to take part in it. The roads were filled with ambu- lances and wagons conveying the wounded to Richmond. We buried our dead on the field, and after lying down that night to rest for a few hours, were called up, made a forced march through mud and mire, and wagons and ambulances, to a field where we at last found some rest,
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and began to collect our scattered forces. General Johnson had been wounded, and General Lee assumed command in a general order. [The battle of Seven Pines. ]
Monday, June 9th .- Our company, Captain Otey's, and Captain Jordan's, were ordered to report at once to Goode's Regiment, Wise's Brigade, below Chaffin's Bluff, on James River. We had now only thirty men for duty, and having pitched our tents near the Childrey house, began again the dull round of daily drill.
Wednesday, the 25th .- Jackson swooped down upon the enemy's right, and day after day we heard in the dis- tance the seven days' battle that culminated at Malvern Hill, July Ist, and sent McClellan's forces reeling to their gunboats. We did picket duty on the river, and watched the result with intense solicitude. Great was the relief and joy in Richmond.
The month of July was without incident. Drill and guard duty, chills and mosquitoes, were the order of the day. We rarely had more than thirty-five men for duty. The captain was sick at Coyner's Spring, and the first lieutenant in Richmond. The exchange of prisoners now began, and they were constantly passing our camp on the way to Varina. McClellan "changed his base," and Lincoln called for 300,000 men. August brought its daily drills and chills, and courts-martial.
September gave us great joy over the victory at Ma- nassas, and the march into Maryland. On the 7th of this month our company was again detailed for battery service under Captain Page, and John Willroy dryly remarked that " once more we had retired to the quiet of domestic life." Thursday, the 18th, was a day of thanksgiving and prayer.
Until the middle of October we were engaged in hauling logs and building quarters for the winter, and on through November we drilled daily at our two rifle guns, two mortars, and one eight-inch columbiad, com- manding the river below Chaffin's Bluff. Regular reli- gious services were held on Sunday and during the week.
Thursday, November 20th .- Our captain returned
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from Richmond with the rank of major. Lieutenant A. F. Bagby became captain; the writer, first lieutenant; Lieutenant Hayes, second lieutenant; and at an election held on the 24th Benjamin Walker was made third lieu- tenant. Early in December there was a deep religious awakening in the company, and Albert Gresham and John Parks made a profession of religion. The serv- ices were conducted by Elders George F. Bagby, John Pollard, and William E. Wyatt.
Monday, December 22d .- Our young captain left under somewhat suspicious circumstances. It was given out that he was on recruiting service. We soon learned that he had captured a fair damsel near Walkerton, and mustered her into the Confederate service on Christmas day. On the 30th she was introduced at the officers' quarters as the first female recruit.
January, 1863, was a dull month in camp; rains were incessant, and we had nothing to do, nowhere to go, and nothing to eat. The excitement each day was Norvell Ryland's return from Richmond with papers and letters for the command.
February was no better. Snows and rains suspended all military operations.
March 7th .- Captain Page was ordered to Charles- ton, greatly to our regret. The question of supplies was now becoming a serious one. The men drew as a day's rations, one quarter-pound of meat, one quarter- pound of sugar, one and a half pounds of flour, and a little rice and salt.
April was without special incident.
Saturday night, May 2d .- Jackson was wounded at Fredericksburg, and Sunday Richmond was wild with excitement over the enemy's raid around the city. The relief was great when the news came of Hooker's de- feat, but the immortal "Stonewall " Jackson died on the evening of the 10th; on the IIth his remains were brought to Richmond, and on the 12th lay in state in the Capitol, where thousands called to look upon the dead hero.
May was spent by us in camp, turfing magazines and discussing Vicksburg, now the center of military interest.
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We again began our infantry drill, and this gave us more to do. Purkins took a two-horse plow from a neighbor, "just to keep his hand in," he said, and with Jim Eubank as driver, was preparing for a crop of vegetables. June was another dull month with us. Lee was in Maryland, filling the North with terror. Hooker was relieved, and Meade put in his place. Gettysburg was fought July Ist, and Vicksburg fell on the 4th. On the 16th President Davis called out all men from eighteen to forty-five.
The month of August witnessed a great revival in the Twenty-sixth Regiment, under the preaching of Rev. A. Broaddus of Kentucky. About one hundred and eighty-five professed religion, of whom Chaplain Wyatt baptized nearly one hundred. Towards the last of the month there was much sickness in camp, thirty- three being with chills at one time. The writer was separated from his command until November.
September 4th .- Wise's Brigade was ordered to Charleston, our company and Captain Montague's being included. The command passed through Peters- burg, Weldon, Wilmington, and Florence, and reach- ing South Carolina, went into camp early in October on Wapper Creek, near Charleston.
The months of October and November gave us but little employment. An occasional change of camp, the constant shelling of Fort Sumter by the enemy, and fur- loughs to Virginia, were the staple of conversation.
November 28th .- Rev. R. H. Bagby arrived from King and Queen with 1200 pounds' weight of supplies for our company. We regarded him as an angel of mercy. He had followed us up through the fortunes of war, ministering to our temporal and spiritual wants. In December we were doing picket duty on Little Brit- ain Island. Rations were small; lean beef, rice, and po- tatoes constituted our bill of fare. Flour was $125 per barrel, corn $60 per bushel, and neither love nor money could purchase coffee and butter.
January 15th, 1864 .- Colonel Goode was assigned to the command of the second subdistrict, with headquar- ters at Adam's Run, the Fourth and Forty-sixth Regi-
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ments, Whilden's Cavalry, and Kemper's Battery, con- stituting his command. He extemporized a staff, select- ing an officer and several men for duty from our com- pany.
February 9th .- The enemy landed on John's Island, capturing our pickets. A part of our brigade went down at once, but they had left as suddenly as they came.
Wednesday, March 2d .- The writer was at home on furlough, and had the pleasure of taking part in the cap- ture of Dahlgren's raiding party, near Stevensville. Papers found on his person were said to contain direc- tions to capture and sack Richmond, release all pris- oners there, hang Jefferson Davis and his Cabinet, and then make for the Rappahannock River.
The last of this month witnessed another religious awakening in our company.
News now reached us from Virginia that General Grant had been placed in command, and immense prep- arations were going on there to overwhelm us in the spring campaign. A day was set apart for fasting and prayer. Chaplain Robert gave us an excellent sermon.
April 15th .- Major Bagby left us to recruit his shattered health in Virginia. General Wise tells us he is constantly expecting marching orders; but he is busy making combs, spoons, and pipes, and working in his garden.
Tuesday, May 3d .- Our marching orders came at last from General Samuel Jones, commanding our de- partment. All was bustle and excitement. On the 5th our regiment took its departure, filling two trains. We heard as we passed through Charleston that the enemy were moving against General Lee on the Rapidan, up the Peninsula, and on the south side. We reached Flor- ence on the 6th, all in high spirits, cheering everyone we met, and making the woods ring with our songs. We reached Wilmington Saturday, hungry as wolves, and found peanuts $2.00 a quart, and short measure at that. Sunday we passed through Weldon, and reached Jarratt's Station at 8 that night. A raiding party of the enemy, in command of Cutts and Spears-ominous
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names-had just destroyed all the railroad property there.
We marched all day, to Stony Creek. Tuesday, the IOth, we passed through Petersburg, and out to the Dunlap House, where we were in arms all day. We heard that there was some reluctance on the part of General Wise to serve under General Bushrod Johnson. There was considerable activity along the lines,-shell- ing and picket firing and constant shifting of the few troops on the ground. We learn that General Lee has repulsed Grant every day for a week, as he shortens his line and falls back towards Richmond.
Wednesday, May 11th, 1864 .- Our forces moved across Swift Creek against the enemy, but did not en- gage them. We were then ordered to Dunn's, three miles below the city, on the City Point road. Got-
Here the diary ended. It would be impossible now for the writer to finish the sentence, or to add a word to it. We evidently " got " into business. The siege of Petersburg began now in earnest. We had but little time for rest, and could not complain of neglect when any work or fighting had to be done. A mere handful of men kept Burnside's magnificent corps in check for days, when it really had nothing to do but to march into Petersburg. The effort to drive Butler's heavy force gave us hard work, and our company did its full share. A stirring and affecting incident occurred during one of our charges to get possession of the Osborne Turnpike. Crossfield had received a mortal wound, and was be- ing borne to the rear on a stretcher. Meeting us, he waved his hand in triumph, and exclaimed: "Go in, boys, and give it to them. It makes no difference about me."
It is impossible now to recall dates and events during this summer. We settled down to life in the trenches, being rarely relieved, except for a day or two at a time, when we sought rest in the ravine just behind old Blan- ford Cemetery. Casualties were constantly occurring. We ate, slept, had our social gatherings and our reli- gious services within the lines for many weeks. The
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monotony, drudgery, and constant exposure of such a life were borne with great patience and fortitude.
On the morning of July 30 the battle of the Crater occurred, and the death of Edward Bagby, while bravely defending an important part of the lines, cast a gloom over our whole company. To the gentleness of a woman he added a moral courage that knew no fear in the discharge of duty.
The fall set in with no additional activity on the part of the enemy. It seemed to be a dogged perseverance on both sides. We can never forget the faithfulness and devotion of our camp servants. With every opportu- nity to escape, they were as true and faithful to us as the best of us were to our cause. Being in command of a part of the lines one day, the writer said to the servant who brought him his dinner: "Jack, there are your friends, not five hundred yards distant. They say they love you, and have come to set you free. If you wish to join them, the way is open; not a musket shall be lifted upon you, and in five minutes you will be a free man." The boy's eyes actually filled with tears at such a sug- gestion, and he answered quickly: "I s'posed you thought mo' ob me dan dat. Gi' me a gun, an' I'll show you whar I stan'!" This seemed to be the common feeling of our old servants who followed our fortunes through the war, and endured all the hardships of camp life.
October 27th, 1864 .- In the evening one hundred picked men of the enemy made a sortie upon a salient of our lines defended by a battery. It was a bold move- ment, and was well executed. They were soon in pos- session of this part of our line, killing and wounding many of the artillerymen and infantry stationed there. This was to be the beginning of a general attack.
When the firing began the writer was in the Crater, detailing a picket for the night from Colonel Tabb's regiment, the Fifty-ninth. Squads had already been sent out from the other regiments to relieve those who had been in the rifle pits on our front all day. Supposing that, through mistake, our command was firing on the relieved pickets as they came in, he ran down the
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trenches, ordered the companies through which he passed to cease firing, and in a few moments found him- self in the salient held by the enemy. His consterna- tion can better be imagined than described. There was no chance to escape. In a few moments he was hurried over the rampart and across the narrow field separating the two armies; and although he fell twice, hoping thus to break the hold of his captors and hide in a rifle pit, and tried to feign death by stretching out his limbs con- vulsively and then ceasing to breathe, the experiment failed, and he found himself a prisoner of war,-along with Colonel Harrison, Lieutenant-Colonel Wise, and Lieutenant Cox, of the Forty-sixth Virginia.
And here his humble contribution to the history of our company must close. A few days at City Point, two months at the old capital at Washington, and six in Fort Delaware, brought with them a suspense far more unendurable than the hardships and dangers of daily service in the field.
Other hands must trace the record of the hard winter that followed,-the battles of Hatcher's Run and Sail- ors' Creek, the retreat from Petersburg, disasters that " followed fast and followed faster," until FAILURE was written upon the Confederate cause, and the sun went down upon it at Appomattox Courthouse.
PART III DOMESTIC AND SOCIAL
CHAPTER XII
SELECTIONS FROM THE POEMS OF KING AND QUEEN
[The following beautiful and touching lines were written by Mrs. Sarah Jane Bagby, the wife of Rev. Alfred Bagby, of King and Queen County, Virginia, on the death of her mother, Mrs. John Pollard, whose high-toned Christian character and earnest piety shed for many years a bright luster upon Mattapony Baptist Church, of which she was a member.]
MY MOTHER
There is a form now hid from view, From which my own its being drew. It sweetly sleeps beneath the sod, -- The darkened way the Savior trod,- My Mother.
There is a spirit, glad and free, Now dwelling in eternity; It calmly rests in Jesus' love, Forever blest in heaven above,- My Mother.
I fain would tell the matchless grace, And all the many virtues trace, That shone in form, in face, in heart, And made her seem of heaven a part,- My Mother.
But ah! 'tis vain. The sun doth light This world of ours, and make it bright: So she was sunshine in our home,- A radiance reaching to the tomb, --- My Mother.
And then above, with gentle hands, They raised a monument. It stands To tell, so all around may hear, Her memory is supremely dear- My Mother.
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And surviving daughters come to weep O'er the cold grave where she's asleep, And strew with flowers the sacred mound Where peaceful rests in hallowed ground My Mother.
A sister's love she never knew ; An only brother, fond and true, Clasped her cold hand. How sweet 't will be To clasp it in eternity! My Mother !
While yet a babe upon her knee, She spoke of Jesus' love to me, And bade my aspirations rise To better things beyond the skies - My Mother.
In after years, when storms arose, And trials grew, and many woes Came thick and fast, she bade me still " Be happy in thy Father's will "- My Mother.
" As dies the wave upon the shore," She calmly slept, then woke no more To this vain world, but far away She woke to an eternal day,- My Mother.
Her loving sons then sadly bore Her body to the grave; but o'er That precious earth, that silent tomb, There cometh nought of fear or gloom, My Mother.
Yes, she is gone! and I am left, And earth of half its joy bereft. As oft her empty chair I see, The world seems empty then to me,- My Mother.
Yet there is one who more doth miss Her loving smile. His earthly bliss Was centered there. But ah! 'tis fled; He's lonely now, since she is dead,- My Mother.
..
MISS SARAH JANE POLLARD (1834-1888) MRS. ALFRED BAGBY
FACING 243
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But, happy thought! again we'll meet, To cast our crowns at Jesus' feet ; To join in anthems loud and long, Praising the Lamb with joyful song, My Mother.
MY BIRTHDAY WISH
BY LUTHER R. BAGBY, Stevensville, Va.
I'd like to be a boy again And run around the farm, And play those childish games once more That did us all no harm.
I'd love to kneel by mother's knee And say my evening prayer, And look into her lovely face While I was kneeling there.
I'd love to have that same sweet hand Upon my shoulder laid, As back into a little room My boyish feet were led.
And down upon the floor we knelt Hard by the mercy seat, And God was asked to keep her boy Close to the Savior's feet.
I'd love to kneel again once more Around the fire place, And hear my father's pleading voice Praying for daily grace.
Sweet praises filled the very air And heaven lit up his face, As kneeling by the old armchair He reached the throne of grace.
I'd love to go to Sunday School And learn the way of life, And spend those happy days again So free from sin and strife.
I'd love to meet my class again That met there by the door, With good Judge Jones, our teacher then, Who left us long ago.
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He took us all the Bible through, And taught us all the way That Moses and the prophets went And leads to endless day.
My life has been so full of faults I fain would live it o'er,
That I might give more life, more love To Him whom we adore.
Since this is all denied me, Lord, Oh, give me grace to live, So that when I am called away A good account may give.
TO MR. AND MRS. MOORE B. WRIGHT ON THE DEATH OF THEIR BOY
By SARAH JANE BAGBY How soon the icy hand of Death did nip The tender flower And cause its leaves to fade and die In one short hour ! Yet long enough it lingered here to fill Thy loving heart, And make thee feel as if it were of life The better part.
Did Stranger pluck the tiny Bud within Thy garden fair? Or was it He who loves and keeps thee 'Neath his care? Father ! Mother! Thou must feel 't was God,-did send An angel to transplant the rose He Did but lend.
Then thank Him for the fragrance shed Around thy way! Bend low, "pass 'neath the rod," He'll Be thy stay! When thy long day is ended, thou shalt Claim thine own, And find within the pearly gates thy Flower, full blown.
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Didst thou e'er see the eagle stir The eaglet's nest? And briars place 'neath down to pierce Their tender breast ? That they might try their wings, and large Of stature grow ? Mid bracing air, mid purer climes, Nor look below?
Just so thy God would say to thee, Take staff in hand, Rise, follow; I will lead thee to The better land ! Thou wilt bless the cruel thorns that Pierced thy breast, Nor would not let thee rest within Thy earthly nest.
HER PORTRAIT M. E. P.
As on thy face I gaze to-day, Thy smile seems a caress, Thine eyes with merry, laughing light Again my spirit bless. The past the present seems to-day,- The years behind us flung; We stand on Love's sweet threshold, dear, And thou and I are young.
I've not forgot how fair thou wast, My bonny, bonny bride; No envious veil of silken gauze Thy loveliness could hide. But lovelier far than e'er before To me thou then didst seem, And life was all, to thee and me, A sweet midsummer's dream.
Ah wife, I dimly knew thee then, Thy worth I had not guessed ; Through joy and through gloom alike, Thy love bore every test,
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So true thou wast, so noble, dear, So bright, so strong, so brave; Then waters deep of trouble came My sorrowing soul to lave.
No fixed gulf divides us, love, Only a peaceful stream; With brightest hopes of joy beyond Its lucent waters gleam. Though long the years I've missed thee, dear, Thou'st seemed not far to me,- Some day the bridge that spans the tide Shall bear me o'er to thee.
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LINES BY PROF. RYLAND
The following lines were written by Prof. Josiah Ryland when he was principal of the Stevensville Academy in 1856, and many of the King and Queen people, as well as others, will be interested in seeing them in print .- H. R. P., Jr.
1856
O age of varnish, cant and shame, That wanteth nothing but a name! King William throws the gauntlet down In peerless Bessie Blanchie Brown! Come to the rescue, King and Queen, Produce thy Walker, Dora Deane! Unfurl the banner of the sun; Make way, make way, for Fenelon! And let the glory of the day Burst forth afresh in Ora May! O who the matchless grace shall tell Of her of Woodville, Floss Rochelle ! But, Bessie, Dora, Floss make way For the last cherub, baby Gay! Who, the last Pleiad of the skies, With ebon hair and azure eyes, Appears on earth, a Peri bright, To glad our eyes and charm our sight. Here, for a while, Dame Fortune's wheel, Exhausted by the maddening reel, Rests pendent while new names are found Of would-be grace and empty sound.
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