USA > West Virginia > Jefferson County > Military operations in Jefferson County, Virginia (and West Va.) 1861-1865 > Part 1
USA > West Virginia > Jefferson County > Military operations in Jefferson County, Virginia (and West Va.) 1861-1865 > Part 1
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UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY
MILITARY
OPERATIONS IN
JEFFERSON COUNTY
VIRGINIA AND WEST VA.
1861-1865
ERSIT
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CA
SEAL
LET TI
LIGHT
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LIFORNIA.
·1868.
THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
حـ
MILITARY
OPERATIONS
IN
JEFFERSON COUNTY
VIRGINIA (AND WEST VA.)
1861 -- 1865
.
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY CAMP U. C. V.
FARMERS ADVOCATE PRINT, 1911.
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INTRODUCTORY.
LIBRARY SETS
NOV 25 '42
ALDINE BOOK CO.
A movement was started in 1910 to erect markers at different points in the County of Jefferson, where skirmish- es or battles took place. Through the liberality of the people of the County, aided by a large contribution from the Jefferson County Camp, No. 123, the money was raised, and the markers, twenty five in number, erected. It was also thought best to have a history of each skirmish or bat- tle fought at or near the several markers, and for that pur- pose this booklet was gotten up, in order to perpetuate the memory of the gallant deeds of the officers and men engaged.
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COUNTY MILITARY ORGANI- ZATIONS.
There were Ten Companies of Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery raised in Jefferson County, Virginia. A large ma- jority of the people in Jefferson County were in sympathy with the movement to separate from the Union, and the flower of her men took up arms in defense of the Southern cause. Five of the Companies raised in the County belong- ed to the Second Virginia Infantry, "Stonewall" Brigade. They were Company "A" of Charles Town, Capt. John W. Rowan; Company "B" of Shepherdstown, Capt. Vincent Butler; Company "G", Charles Town, Capt. Lawson Botts, Company "H" of Duffield's Depot, Capt. J. H. L. Hunter, and Company "K", Harpers Ferry, Capt. Geo. W. Chambers. There were Four Companies of Cavalry; Company "F" of Shepherdstown, Capt. Wm. A. Morgan. This Com- pany was attached to the First Virginia Cavalry. Capt. Morgan was promoted until he became the Colonel of the Regiment. This gallant officer served with the cavalry with great distinction throughout the entire war.
Capt. Botts was promoted until he reached the Colon- elcy of the Second Virginia Regiment. He was killed in the second battle of Manassas. Col. Botts was an officer of great courage and capacity.
The other three companies of Cavalry belonged to the 12th Virginia. They were Company "A" of Charles Town, Capt. John Henderson; Company "B" Capt. R. W. Baylor; Company "D" Moler's Cross Roads, Capt. John S. Knott. This gallant officer was killed at High Bridge, April 7, 1865.
Chew's Battery was raised mainly in Jefferson County, and was commanded by R. P. Chow as Captain and Milton Rouss as First Lieutenant; James W. Thomson, 2nd Lieu- tenant; John W. Carter, 2nd Lieutenant. Lieutenant Rouss was elected a Lieutenant in Co. B 12th Va. in 1862, where he served with great skill and gallantry. The men of this battery were all mounted, being the first battery in the Confederate army to be thus organized and equipped. It served with Ashby's Cavalry until his death, and through- out the famous campaign in the Valley took part in all the
battles fought by Jackson. With four other companies, it formed what was known as Stuarts Horse Artillery. Capt. R. P. Chew was promoted to the rank of Major in the win- ter of 1864. Later upon the re-organization of the Horse Artillery into five battallions, Chew was promoted to the command of the whole, with the rank of Lt. Colonel. Thomson was promoted to Major of Artillery with Rosser's Division of Cavalry, and John W. Carter succeeded Thom- son as Captain of the Company. Major James W. Thomson was killed at High Bridge 7th April, 1865. This Company served with the army of Northern Virginia, in many of its great battles, and perhaps was under fire oftener than any battery in the Confederate Army.
No soldiers in any cause ever fought better than those that went out from Jefferson County to fight the battles of the South. Their reputation is interwoven with that of Turner Ashby, "Stonewall Jackson", Jeb. Stuart, Wade Hampton and Robert E. Lee, the matchless leaders of the armies of the South.
COMPANY K, SECOND VIRGINIA INFANTRY.
There was a Volunteer Company at Harpers Ferry at the be- ginning of the war, of 1861-65, called the "Floyd Guards". This company was mustered into the Confederate Service, as Company K, Second Virginia Infantry regiment, in the spring of 1861. The officers at the beginning of the war were: Geo. W. Chambers, Cap- tain; William Engle, First Lieutenant; John B. Davis, Second Lieutenant. Lieutenant Davis had been a non-commissioned officer in the U. S. Army. He was killed at the battle of Gettysburg. At the reorganization of the army in the spring of 1862, the following officers were elected : Charles H. Stewart, Captain; B. W. Moore, 1st. Lieutenant; Cleon Moore, 2nd. Lieutenant; and Jesse Fleming, 3rd. Lieutenant. Lieutenant Fleming was killed at the Second Battle of Manassas.
Company K, served with General T. J. Jackson in the Shenan- doah Valley Campaign; the fighting around Richmond, Antietam Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, the Wilderness, and most of the other campaigns in which the Army of Northern Virginia was en- gaged. Greatly reduced in numbers it surrendered at Appomattox.
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COMPANY H, SECOND VIRGINIA INFANTRY.
Company H, Second Virginia Infantry, Stonewall Brigade, was organized at Duffields, shortly after the Brown Raid; consequently it was drilled and equipped when the war begun.
This Company has a record well worthy to be preserved.
In its first battle ( First Manassas ) it had twelve men wounded and killed. In its second battle, (Kernstown) it had thirteen wounded. None of these were killed, but about half of them were disabled for life. It lost one of its best officers in this battle, Lieu- tenant Link, who was shot in the thigh, and disabled for life.
In Jackson's Valley campaign. Port Republic, MeDowell, and continuous fighting up and down the Valley pike, it had losses.
On one occasion beyond Strasburg, a shell from a well aimed gun struck the pike in the center of the Company, and tore two men to pieces.
It participated in much of the seven days fighting below Rich- mond, and had losses. At Second Manassas, it went into the fight with fourteen men, and six were wounded. It participated in all the subsequent battles of the war wherever the regiment was engag- e:l. As men got well from their wounds they would come back. Some were wounded as many as four times. Scareely a man es- caped.
Sergeant Jenkins, at the reorganization, was elected Captain, and was with the Company from the beginning to the end; and was the ranking officer in the regiment at the surrender, and signed the parole of the men of the regiment.
The Company, at the heginning, numbered about sixty-five men. At the reorganization some joined the cavalry; and from time to time a few recruits were sent to it, but the continuous hattles stead- ily reduced its numbers to the close of the war; and of the original sixty-five who went out with it, only the following returned: Captain Jenkins, Lieutenant John Foley, Captain J. S. Melvin, Commis- sary of the Regiment, Privates Eskridge, Joseph Me Williams ( Marylander ) and Wid Shepherd.
" BOTTS GREYS" BATALLION
John Brown's invasion of the territory of Virginia in October 1859, aroused the people of the South to the realization that there
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was a large element of the population of the North that was deter- mined to foree the views of that section in regard to the relation of the States to the General Government, upon them, whether willing or not, and they did what any brave and spirited people would have done under the circumstances-determined to resist aggression to the utmost of their ability.
As a result, volunteer military organizations sprang into ex- istence all over the Southland, from the Potomac to the Gulf. One of the first companies in Jefferson county after the Brown Raid, was the "Botts Greys", so called in honor of its first Captain, Law_ son Botts. Edwin Moore, Chas. H. Stewart and R. M. English, were the other Commissioned Officers of the Company. All these gentle- men with the possible exception of English were educated at the V. M. I. and were consequently well qualified to instruct raw troops in the rudiments of military drill. A short time after its organization, the "Botts Greys" together with several other companies from this and the counties adjacent were formed into a Batallion and placed under the command of Col. William Allen. The first duty performed by this batallion was to march to Harpers Ferry and take posses- sion of the Government Arsenal located at that place. A few days after this Thos. J. Jackson was ordered to take command of the post. Troops from other states soon began to come, and General Joseph E. Johnston superceeded Col. Jackson. Gen. Johnston pro- ceeded at once to bring order out of chaos, by organizing the troops at hand into Regiments and Brigades, and the "Botts Greys" be- came a company of the 2nd. Virginia Infantry, and so remained to the end.
Col Jackson was assigned to the command of the 1st. brigade composed of the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 27th and 33rd. Regiments of Infan- try, and the Rockbridge Battery. It received its baptism of fire at the first battle of Manassas where it lost heavily-company G of the 2nd. coming in for its full share with a loss of 13 wounded, 3 of the number mortally. In that battle the company was commanded by Edwin Moore who had succeeded Capt. Botts as Captain, when the latter was made a Major of the Regiment. The subsequent history of the company is identified with that of the Army of Northern Vir- ginia in all of those battles it participated up to the surrender at Appomattox Court House. As a matter of fact but few of the old company were left when the surrender took place. Messrs. Moore and Stewart attained the rank of Major before the close of the war.
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Geo. H. Flagg and C. W. Scheerer commanded the company at dif- ferent periods, and David Howell became a Lieutenant.
Of those who were at different times officers of the company- Moore, Stewart, Flagg and Scherer survived the war. English was killed at the battle of Port Republic, while acting as an aid to Gen. Dick Taylor, and Botts at Second Manassas in command of the Regiment.
JEFFERSON GUARDS.
Jefferson Guards, which when the Second Regiment of Virgin- ia Infantry came into existence becoming Company "A", was or- ganized by electing officers on the 1st day of May 1858 when John W. Rowan was elected Captain, Henry B. Davenport, 1st Lieut., Chas. H. Stewart, 2nd Lieut., James A. Hurst, 3rd Lieut., Edwin H. Campbell, 1st Sergt., Edward R. Harrell, 2nd Sergt., E. S. Har- rell, 3rd Sergt., John H. Hurst, 4th Sergt., and Benjamin F. Beall, Ensign, was a well drilled company, equipped for service when the emergency for the use of soldiers arose on the occasion of the John Brown Raid at Harpers Ferry on the 17th day of October, 1859; that morning the Company was assembled in front of the Court House in Charles Town and marched to Harpers Ferry and some_ time during that Monday undertook to dislodge Brown and his party from the Engine House by a charge down the street to the iron fence which separated it from the street, but in consequence of the gate being locked and eight or ten feet high, which prevent- ed them getting into the armory yard, their effort was in vain and accomplished nothing, and was forced to retire to shelter from the murderous fire from the Sharp's Rifles of the Brown party. In this movement of the Company Mr. Samuel C. Young, Sr., who was not a member of the Company, but had patriotically attached himself to it for the occasion was badly wounded in the shoulder by a shot from one of the Brown party, and permanently disabled him.
After the capture of Brown's party by Col. Robert E. Lee ( afterwards the Immortal General Robert E. Lee of the Army of Northern Virginia ) and his Company of United States Marines, they were brought to the Jail in Charles Town and the Jefferson Guards assigned to quarters on the first floor of the Market House building then occupying the ground upon which Charles Washington Hall now stands and opposite to the Jail, and remained there as regular soldiers until about April 1st 1860, when it was discharged from the
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service of the State. During that summer it was re-organized, John W. Rowan, Captain; Henry B. Davenport, 1st Lieut .; David H. Cockrell, 2nd Lieut .: Edwin R. Harrell, 3rd Lieut .; M. S. B. Robertson, 1st Sergt .; Henry D. Rust, 2nd Sergt .; Gco. A. S. Davis, 3rd Sergt .; Thos. B. MeIntyre, 4th Sergt .; and uniformed at the expense of the State of Virginia, when it assisted in organiz- ing the Second Regiment of Virginia Infantry, of which William Allen was made Colonel.
On the 18th day of April 1861 between 1 and 2 o'clock p. m. Jefferson Guards (Co. "A") was ordered to fall in by Captain Rowan and the 84 men having been previously notified to assemble at the Market House, promptly obeyed the Captain's order, the right of the Company resting about where the street crossing now is from Washington Hall to the Jail corner; as soon as the company was formed the march for Harpers Ferry was begun and reached a little after midnight amid the smouldering ruins of the Govern- ment Buildings which had been set fire to by the Company of United States Regulars there before they retreated across the Potomac bridge, as we entered the town, company "A" being in the advance.
The first week in May 1861 company "A" was detached from the Regiment and ordered to take up position on Maryland Heights, the location of which was about 300 yards from the top where Col. Blanton Duncan had been previously placed in position with his First Kentucky Regiment of Infantry, and was reached by a road through the barn yard of Mr. Colin Unseld, the company was kept in its position for a week or ten days without tents or cooking uten- sils and rations were carried for more than a mile up the mountain side from the low land barn yard of Mr. Unseld, the meat cooked on flat rocks and the dough baked by wrapping around the ram rods of the guns and holding it over the fires, when the company was re- lieved and ordered to report to the regiment.
In the latter part of June 1861 Harpers Ferry was evacuated by the army marching to Winchester, Va., and from there on the 18th day of July 1861 started for Manassas, which we reached on the evening of the 19th in time to participate in the battle of the 21st where our loss (the company's) was two mortally wounded and six others seriously, among them our Captain who was permanently disabled, though continuing in the service until the close of the War.
The next engagement was at Kernstown, Va., on the 23rd day of March 1862, where Ephriam B Crist and James W. Campbell
were killed and ten of the men captured and made prisoners of war by the Yankces.
On the 25th day of May 1862 was the driving of General Banks from Winchester and the company escaped injury, but on the 9th day of June following in the battle of Port Republic two were badly wounded and several slightly, then the march to Rich_ mond in the fight at Gaines' Mill, with some slightly wounded, then to Cedar Mountain on the 9th day of August, none injured, then Second Manassas on the 29th, 30th and 31st of August '62, where Tom McIntyre and Albert Pendleton were killed and six wound- ed, then on the 13th day of December at Fredericksburg, two wounded; at Chancellorsville, May 3rd '63, one killed, (Dolphin Rawlins ) and none injured; then on to Winchester, Va. on the 12th and 13th of June'63, the force of Gen. Milroy was surrounded and on the 15th day of June '63 a short while after day light the com- pany being at the head of the flanking column at Stephenson's Depot to intercept the flecing portion of Milroy's that had been surrounded in Winchester the three days previous. Two members of company "A" being on the skirmish line advancing towards the Yankee po- sition came in contact with two members of the 18th Connecticut In- fantry, one of them surrendering to William H. Moore and the other to the writer, who relieved the Yankees of their arms and turned them over to the Provost Guard, then moving on to Gettys- burg, Pa., where on the 2nd day of July one man ( Willis Magaha ) lost a leg; then back to Virginia in the engagement at Mine Run (Paynes Farm ) on the 27th of Nov., the company again escaped injury.
On the 5th, 6th and 7th days of May '64 in the Wilderness engagements, the company had five or six slightly wounded, but on the 12th day of May in the charge made by Gen. Hancock's corps upon our lines at the "Bloody Angle" near Spottsylvania Court House where the company was posted there were 24 of the company captured and two badly wounded, and the company was so badly depleted that when the army surrendered at Appamattox Court House on the 9th day of April 1865, not more than 6 or 7 of it were permitted to witness the closing events of that dark and gloomy period.
MARKERS ONE, SIX AND EIGHT Kearneysville, Uvilla, Crossing of Uvilla and Charles Town Roads.
On the Sixteenth of October, 1862, Brigadier General Humphreys crossed the Potomac at Butler's Ford, with Six Thousand Infantry, Five Hundred Cavalry, and Six pieces of artillery, and advanced on the roads leading to Kearneysville. Another force, commanded by Brigadier General W. S. Hancock, with his own brigade, fifteen hun- dred from other brigades, four regiments of cavalry, and four pieces of artillery, advanced from Harpers Ferry at the same time, in the direction of Charles Town. We had, at the time, a line of pickets extending from the North Mountain to the Shenandoah River. The advance was so sudden that it cut off some of the pickets.
Company D, of the Twelfth Virginia Cavalry, was pick- eting from Engle's Hill to the Shepherdstown road. The reserve was near where Marker No. 8 stands, at the inter- section of the Uvilla and Charles Town roads. A sharp en- counter took place between the Federal advance and com- pany D, a little south of this point in Rocky Lane. Captain Knott was wounded in the shoulder. Many of the company were from this section, and knew every road. They easily made their way through the enemy's lines and joined the Regiment. Thus they played even; for about a month previous, our line of pickets were being advanced, and com- pany D struck their pickets at Duffields, and chased them back on their company reserve at Marker 8. They held their own until the company had closed up, when a charge was made and they were driven to Lucas' woods, where a regiment was stationed. They all decamped and crossed the Potomac.
Humphrey's advance guard went as far as Smithfield, and his main body a little south of Kearneysville. The Con- federates had been destroying the railroad in this section, and some of General Winder's Infantry was near. They, with Fitz Lee and Hampton's Brigades of Cavalry, com- manded by General Stuart, attacked late in the evening of
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the Sixteenth of October, (Marker No. 1), and, after some severe fighting, drove him from his position. They were steadily driven back on the Seventeenth, but made a deter- mined stand two miles south of Shepherdstown, on the Shepherdstown and Duffields road at what is called the Forks. A brigade of regulars, commanded by Major Lovell, U. S. A. occupied this part of the field, and the im- portance of holding it was apparent. Back of him was the Trough road which led to the ford on the Potomac and also the road leading to Shepherdstown. If the position were carried his retreat was endangered. Trees were felled across the road to impede the artillery and cavalry, but Winder's infantry forced them back slowly, and the whole force crossed into Maryland.
The losses on both sides were considerable. No esti- mate of the losses could be found. Our badly wounded were taken to the Uvilla churches and neighboring farm houses, and cared for. Many wounded had been left at these churches after the battle of Sharpsburg, and those unable to get away were paroled by the Federals. At this point is planted Marker No. 6. -
MARKERS TWO, FIVE AND SEVEN Butler's Woods, Moler's Cross Roads, and Uvilla.
After the Gettysburg Campaign, with Lee back in Vir- ginia and Harpers Ferry in the hands of the enemy, the situation in Jefferson County was about as follows :- The enemy's pickets extended about 2 miles out from Harpers Ferry, with signal and spy stations on Maryland Heights. Any movement of troops in day time could be seen by them. Even many of the picketposts were under their observation. The Shenandoah River was high. hardly fordable. Lee's army was in Jefferson and Berkeley Counties until after the middle of the month. The Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers wore carefully picketed, and the army uncertain what the next move would be. On the Sixteenth, the Fed- erals, crossing at Shepherdstown and driving in the pick- ets, advanced a large force of cavalry as far as Kearneys-
ville. Here Fitz Lee and Chambliss' brigades of cavalry confronted them and steadily drove them back. The fed- erals were amply supplied with artillery, and at every fav- orable position, made stubborn resistence. Late in the evening, Stuart came on the field and took cominand, hav- ing ordered General Jenkins, with his brigade of cavalry from near Martinsburg to his assistance, who arrived later in the evening.
The enemy, having fallen back to Butler's woods, made a final stand. The cavalry could not well operate, and so both sides dismounted their men and fought until dark. The Confederates remained on the field, expecting to renew the engagement in the morning, but the enemy moved off in the night.
There is no official account of the losses on either side. Colonel Drake, of the first Virginia Cavalry, was mortally wounded, and died that night at Mr. Marshall's. About 40 feet from Marker No. 2, measuring west, is the place where he was shot. He was an able officer.
This movement of the enemy had been made to ascer- tain Lee's position, but failed. This force was to have been supported by a brigade from Harpers Ferry, but they fail- ed to arrive on time, as will be shown. Company D, of the Twelfth Virginia Cavalry, was picketing from near Shep- herdstown to Engle's Hill; and when the advance was made, they stayed within the enemy's lines to operate. A cour- ier was captured at Uvilla on the evening of the fifteenth, and sufficient information obtained to justify our watching this road.
Early on the morning of the sixteenth, Captain Kear- ney took position in the timber adjoining the Uvilla store, put a picket in either direction, and awaited events. It was not long until a squad appeared. They were taken in. The company would divide, and charge front and rear. This was continued until thirty-three prisoners, their horses and equipments, and the General's head-quarter's wagon with his extra clothing, camp fixtures, and bedding, and two fine horses and harness, and servant were captur- ed. Several escaped and gave the alarm. Marker No. 7, on the hill north of the Uvilla store, is where most of the captures were made.
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Major Knott, joining the company at this time, sent the prisoners back to safety, and moved the company to Moler's Cross Roads, two and one-half miles east of Uvilla. When they neared the place, they saw the advance guard of some force. They charged and captured one. The others ran into their column, closely followed by our con- pany. They were over the hill and could not be seen. The company wheeled about and exchanged some shots and re- tired. It was a brigade of cavalry with artillery on their way to reinforce their forces at Shepherdstown. They, supposing that a heavy force was in their front, placed their artillery in position, threw out skirmishers, put their squadrons in line of battle and awaited developments. Full three hours time was lost. Every citizen that happened along was held by them until near midnight.
They finally moved on, and joined forces near Shep- herdstown; but too late. This timely check of this brigade for three hours undoubtedly saved the day on the pike at Butler's woods. Our forces were very many less than theirs.
Marker No. 5 at Moler's Cross Roads, is a few hundred yards west of where the brigade was checked.
MARKER NUMBER THREE Shepherdstown Through Four Years of War
Marker No. 3, planted on the pike south of Shepherds- town near the cemetery, marks no particular battle, but we record some incidents worthy of notice. After the bat- tle of Sharpsburg, the town was literally filled with woun- ded Confederates. Every available house was occupied and many private residences as well. Hospital flags seemed to float everywhere. At the time of Lee's retreat, the Fed- eral artillery threw many shells over the town, a few fall- ing in it, but not much damage was done.
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