USA > West Virginia > History of the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry > Part 3
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CHAPTER II.
ORGANIZATION OF REGIMENT.
HE three months men who had so gallantly and successfully car- ried the flag over Laurel Hill and Rich Mountain, were now sent to the rear to be mustered out, their term of service having expired, and the field was being occupied by three years troops. Ohio and Indiana were sending their brave men to the front, some of whom were encamped at Beverly, and Col. Balsley, Sixth Ohio Infantry, had command of the post at that place. Loyal Western Virginia was busy raising troops for its own defence and the support of the national authority, and men from all over the section were inquiring for the best place to give their services. The Second Regiment Virginia Volunteer Infantry, now being enlisted in various sections, was ordered to rendez- vous at Beverly for organization, the first regiment in the state enlisted for the three years service. Company after company reported at Camp Carlisle, and were mustered into the United States service. This camp was located in the Fair grounds on Wheeling Island, at Wheeling, and was named after Hon. John S. Carlisle, one of the most prominent loyalists of the state, distinguished for his services to his country, and one of the ablest Representatives of the state in Congress.
Companies A, D, F and G came from Pittsburg, Pa .; Company I from Greenfield and California, Washington county, Pa .; Company H from Ironton, O .; Company B from Grafton, Va .; Company C from Wheel- ing, Va .; Company E from Monroe and Belmont counties, O., and Wetzel, Taylor and Ritchie counties, Va .; and Company K from Park- ersburg, Va., and Bridgeport, O. The companies met together at Beverly, Va., in the latter part of July, and were organized as the Sec- ond Regiment Virginia Infantry. Dr. John W. Moss, of Parkersburg, Va., was commissioned Colonel, Robert Moran Lieutenant Colonel, J. D. Owens Major, Rev. J. W. W. Bolton Chaplain, Dr. R. W. Hazlett Surgeon, Dr. Sample Ford Assistant Surgeon, Lieut. H. G. Jackson Ad- jutant, and Lieut. Webster A. Stevens Regimental Quartermaster. The
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ORGANIZATION OF REGIMENT.
following are the field officers, and non-commissioned staff, with the date of entering service, and the record of each:
NAME AND RANK.
DATE OF COMMISS N.
RECORD.
John W. Moss, Colonel.
July 3, '61
Resigned May 20, '62.
George R. Latham, Colonel.
May 25, '62
Wounded at Second Bull Run.
Robt. Moran, Lieutenant Colonel.
July 3, '61
Resigned May 20, '62.
Alex. Scott, Lieutenant Colonel.
May 20, '62 Mustered out.
James D. Owen, Major.
July 3, '61
Resigned July 7, '62.
Thomas Gibson, Major.
July 7, '62 Transferred to 14 Pa. Cav.
H. C. Flesher, Major
Nov. 9, '62
Resigned February 23, '63.
D. D. Barclay, Major.
May 11, '64 Mustered out.
H. G. Jackson, Adjutant.
Aug. 23, '61 Resigned October S, '61.
Chas. McC. Hays, Adjutant
Nov. 26, '61 Resigned January 11, '62.
D. F. Williamson, Adjutant.
Feb. 7, '62 Resigned March 25, '63.
June 12, '62 Promot'd to Cap. Apr 27, '64
Jno. C. French, Adjutant.
Apr. 27, '64 Declin'd prom'n. Not must.
Webster A. Stevens, First Lt. and R. Q. M. . .
July 7, '62
Mustered out.
R. W. Hazlett, Surgeon
July 25, '61 Resigned March 2, '63.
Eli N. Love, Surgeon.
Mar. 13, '63
Mustered out.
Sample Ford, Assistant Surgeon Eli N. Love, Assistant Surgeon.
Dec. 29, '62
Promot'd Snrg., Mar 23, '63.
Theo. Millspaugh, Assistant Surgeon
Sep. 20, '62
Mustered out.
J. W. W. Bolton, Chaplain
Aug. 20, '61
Cloyd Mountain, May '64.
John J. Ebert, Sergt. Major.
June 1, '61
Disch. for disabil. Jan 13, '63
Geo. W. Miller, Sergt. Major
May 25, '61
Promoted to Ist, Lt. Co. H.
WVm. A. Silver, Sergt. Major.
June 24, '61
E. F. Seaman, Q. M. Sergt.
Sep. 1, '63
Mustered out with Co.
Geo. Kirkpatrick, Com. Sergt.
July 29, '61
Mustered out with Co.
Jno. R. Thomas, Prin. Mus
June 13, '61
{ Wounded in ankle at Rocky Gap.
Danl. McK. Martin, Hosp. Steward.
Mar. 22, '62 Mustered out.
An earnest effort has been made to secure a good sketch of the life and services of each of the field officers and non-commissioned staff. which has been accomplished except in a few cases. In a few instances, it was not possible to get the desired information, and no sketch is made, but the name is simply placed in the roll of honorable record and ser- vice, of itself glory enough for any one. The individual sketches will be found very interesting and valuable, and as much as any other part of the work, show the struggles and heroic deeds, that led to the forma- tion of the grand army that saved the nation. The writer very much regrets that he could not have a complete notice of every one, but he found it impossible. The sketches of the chaplain, quartermaster, and others connected with the quartermaster department, will be found in the special articles in later chapters of this work.
COLONEL JOHN W. MOSS.
Dr. John W. Moss was born in Fairfax county, Va., October 4, 1816. He received a collegiate education in a Virginia school, and was graduated in medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and located at Parkers- burg, Va., in 1840, to practice his profession. Politically he was de- voted to the principles of the Whig party, and was regarded as one of
F. P. McNally, Major.
Mar. 24, '63 Kill'd Rocky Gap, Aug 26 '63
John Combs, Adjutant
July 27, '61 Resigned July, 62.
A. J. Pentecost, First Lt. and R. O. M.
Aug. 6, '61 Resigned September 18, '62.
f Mustered out. Wounded at
Mustered out.
Mustered out with company.
Mustered out with Regiment.
COLONEL JOHN W. MOSS.
GEORGE R. LATHAM, COLONEL AND BREVET BRIGADIER GENERAL.
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ORGANIZATION OF REGIMENT.
its leaders in that section of the state. He was opposed to the theory of state's rights, and strong in the belief that a citizen's just allegiance was due to the general government. After the passage of the ordinance of secession by the Virginia convention at Richmond, he aided in inaugurating the movement to save his part of the state to the Union, and was president of the convention held for that purpose in the city of Wheeling, May 13, 1861. He was also a member of the convention of June 11, 1861 at Wheeling, called to form the "Reorganized Govern- ment of Virginia," which was recognized by the Federal authorities. He was elected to the House of Delegates of the general assembly, which met in Wheeling July 1, 1861, and while serving in that body, he was commissioned colonel of the Second Virginia Infantry. Colonel Moss commanded his regiment with ability, and had the respect of his command, resigning his commission May 20, 1862. On August 22, 1862, he was commissioned surgeon of the Fourteenth West Virginia Infantry, and served as such until his death at Petersburg, W. Va., January 2, 1864.
COLONEL GEORGE R. LATHAM.
George Robert Latham was born in Prince William county, Virginia, in sight of the Bull Run battle ground, March 9, 1832. His father's name was John; mother's, Juliet A .- maiden name, Newman. He is the third of ten children, eight of whom grew to man or womanhood. Of five brothers living at the breaking out of the rebellion, four entered the army. James W., then living in Iowa, entered Col. Fitz Henry Warren's First Iowa Cavalry, and was with Wilson's cavalry which cap- tured Jeff. Davis. John T. was a lieutenant in Bat. E., First W. Va. Lt. Art., and Benj. F. was lieutenant, and adjutant, Seventeenth W. Va. Infantry. Abner O. was not physically able for military service, and is now chief of the Diplomatic and Consular Bureau in the Fifth Auditor's office. Washington, D. C. James W. and Benj. F. have died since the war.
His father was a farmer, and he was reared on the farm. In Novem- ber, 1849, his father moved with his family into Western Virginia, and settled in Taylor county. George R., as a youth, was of very studious habits and good memory; but enjoyed limited means of acquiring an education, having access to such schools only as the state of Virginia then afforded, and that during the winter months only. In January 1850, he was taken with a severe attack of pleurisy, followed by general prostration, from which he was totally disabled for farm work for three years, and which broke up the plan of home study he had marked out and just entered upon. In 1852, having partially regained health, he took a country school and followed teaching in Taylor, and Barbour counties, Va., until the winter of 1859. From 1855 to 1861 he was a citizen of Grafton, where he married December 24, 1858, Miss Caroline A. Thayer, a daughter of Franklin and Mary Thayer, then of Mon-
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ORGANIZATION OF REGIMENT.
ongalia county, Va. While teaching school he turned his attention to the study of the law, and in the last week of 1859, passed the necessary examination and was admitted to the bar, opening the first law office in Grafton.
At this time, Rev. Simeon Siegfried was publishing the Grafton Sen- tinel, Grafton's first newspaper, to which Mr. Latham became an occa- sional contributor, participating to some extent, without an interest. in its management. About the time of the Presidential nominations for 1860 the Sentinel suspended. and he took the office and published a campaign paper called the Western Virginian, in the interest of Bell and Everett. After the election it became evident to those who watched the sentiment, and knew the reckless determination of those who con- trolled it, in the south. that there would be "unpleasantness." In this border section business was now practically suspended, and all was ex- citement and preparation.
Upon the passage of the ordinance of secession, the union delegates from Western Virginia returned home. many of them leaving Richmond in disguise at night in order to escape with their lives. No one who had voted against the ordinance was safe to remain after it had passed, who did not immediately "flop over," as some did. Mr. 1 .. , in view of these facts, published an editorial about this time in which he said: "Considering the treatment of the Western Virginia delegates to the convention, we do sincerely hope that no Western Virginia constituency will ever again be represented in the present capital of the state." Viewed in the light of subsequent history, this wish partakes of the nature of prophecy. He also wrote for publication about this time, a call for a convention in Western Virginia-the first that was written.
Col. Porterfield, with a battalion of troops from AAugusta and adjoin- ing counties, was now at Phillippi, sixteen miles south of Grafton, where he was joined by Barbour county volunteers. W. P. Thompson had organized a company at Fairmont, Marion county, and moved to Fetter- man, one and one-half miles west of Grafton, where he was joined by a company of Taylor county rebels under Hansbrough. The union leaders, though at a disadvantage, the rebels having the start by way of organization, were by no means inactive, and Mr. Latham was in con- stant correspondence with all the leading union men of the State.
About two weeks before the election, Mr. Latham hoisted a large United States flag over his law office and turned it into a recruiting office. Maj. James Oakes, as mustering officer, and Capt. Wm. Craig, as quartermaster, of the regular army, had, in the meantime, been stationed at Wheeling, to muster into the United States service, such volunteers from Virginia as might present themselves. Mr. Latham at once placed himself in communication with them, often visiting them at Wheeling, and they gave him all the information and advice he needed. By the 20th of May he had a full company enrolled, which afterwards became
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ORGANIZATION OF REGIMENT.
Company B, and was the first union company recruited in the interior of the State. He and the company determined to remain in Grafton and vote before leaving for Wheeling. About this time a little incident occurred which is probably worthy of note. The flag, before mentioned, was suspended over Main street on a rope, one end of which was tied to the chimney of Mr. Latham's house, and the other to that of Mr. Lewis', opposite. One day when Mr. Latham was in Wheeling, a com- mittee of citizens called upon his wife and advised her to have the flag taken down, stating that from threats they had heard, the house would be in danger if it remained up over night. She replied that Mr. Latham had left it flying when he went away, and, so far as she was concerned, it should fly until he came back. The alarmists. however, frightened Mr. Lewis and he took the rope off his chimney, and the flag into an upper window of Mr. Latham's house, leaving the rope still tied to his chimney. On the afternoon of the day before the election, Capt., after- wards Col., Thompson, commanding at Fetterman, for the purpose of intimidating the citizens of Grafton, marched his force, about one hun- dred and sixty strong, through Grafton and back, passing up Main street and down the railroad. When it became known to the citizens of Graf- ton that they were coming, the excitement was intense, and it was with the utmost difficulty that a bloody street fight was prevented. A single shot fired would have proved most disastrous, but the calmer counsels prevailed and bloodshed was deferred to await legal organization. As the rebel column marched up Main street Mr. Latham was standing in ยท front of his office. A half dozen of fiery young men rushed past him into his house, threw the flag out of the window, and, rushing down again, dragged it through the rebel column and tied the other end of the rope to a tall post across the street, and it remained there all the evening, hanging so low as to obstruct passage, the horsemen following at the rear of the rebel column being compelled to turn back. There was in the town a company, probably fifteen to twenty-five, of little girls, who had been accustomed to meet and sing patriotic songs. As if by magic, these appeared on the platform at the Grafton House, in white dresses, carrying small union flags, and gave the rebels a strain of union music as they passed back to Fetterman. Mr. Latham had sent his family. consisting of wife and two small children. to her father's. The election passed off as quietly as a funeral. the largest vote ever polled at Grafton to that time being cast, and only one for the ordi- nance.
Porterfield had moved on that day from Philippi to Webster, four miles south of Grafton, and he and Thompson were to unite their forces at Grafton on the next day. Latham therefore collected his company after night, and while the rebels at Fetterman were really fearing,an attack, marched around them, striking the railroad at Valley Falls, six miles below, in time to intercept a 3 a. m. train for Wheeling. The lat-
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ORGANIZATION OF REGIMENT.
ter part of June, Capt. Latham was ordered with his company to Graf- ton, where he met Gen. McClellan and, knowing the locations, dis- tances, &c., assisted him in preparing his Western Virginia campaign. The company was then assigned to Gen. Morris' command at Phillippi. and took part in the campaign to Carrick's ford. Capt. Latham had charge of Garnett's body, dressed and boxed it and it was sent in charge of a staff officer to Manasses and delivered to Gen. Beauregard several days before the first battle of Bull Run. This company also buried the body of a mere youth who fell by the side of his general, and placed at his head a board with the inscription, written by First Lieutenant F. A. Cather, "Here lies the body of a youth (name unknown ) who fell defend- ing his general while his comrades ran away." The most interesting trophies captured by Company B in this race were the patent leather wallet of George W. Hansbrough, with his name on it, and a cartridge box with the following inscription: "D. S. K. Knight who killed the first yankee in Virginia."
Capt. Latham and his company were left at Bealington to protect the line of transportation. From this time on until his muster out in March 1865, his history is incorporated with that of the regiment. Toward the close of his service, Secretary of War Stanton nominated Col. Latham as brevet brigadier general, after a thorough investigation of his record, thus placing upon this gallant officer, one of the proudest honors of his life.
Col. Latham had the confidence and love of the entire regiment. The men believed in him, admired his courage, trusted his honesty and relied on his ability and intense devotion to country, and he never dis- appointed them. With a knowledge of his conduct during the service of the regiment, the writer cheerfully bears testimony to the worth and ability of this noble and brave officer. He never failed in any emerg- ency, and his men would follow him wherever he called to duty.
In the fall of '64, Col. Latham was elected a member of the Thirty- ninth Congress for the Second District of West Virginia, from March 4th, '65, to March 4th, '67, and was mustered out of the service March roth. During his term in Congress he served on the committees of printing and of public buildings and grounds. This was probably the most exciting Congress the country has ever experienced. It was dur- ing the Reconstruction period and the quarrel with President Johnston. Col. Latham, though an ardent Republican, did not approve of some of the measures and doctrines advocated by a majority of his party. While favoring the amendments which were offered to the constitution. in order to harmonize it with the altered condition of things, he would not agree that the reconstruction of the government was necessary in order to restore the states to their proper places in the union, or to "guarantee" future loyalty; and was in favor of local self-government in and for the states, and the seating of loyal members of Congress, legally
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ORGANIZATION OF REGIMENT.
elected, whenever and from whatever state presented; but he was op- posed to crer admitting to a scat in Congress, or to other important federal offices, any who had not been continuously loyal. His position on these momentous questions is fully presented in his own language, in speeches delivered in the house on January 8th and May 28th, 1866.
On account of the failure of his health, Col. Latham declined to be a cadidate for renomination. and about two weeks before the adjournment, at the request of the Secretary of State, he agreed to accept an appoint- ment as United States Consul at Melbourne, Australia. For this posi- tion he was nominated by President Johnson and promptly confirmed by the Senate, and left for his post of duty on the roth and sailed from Boston on the 20th of April, 1867. This service continued three years, he returning in 1870. While in Melbourne he detected a whisky fraud upon the revenue of the United States, which was compromised by the payment of $75,000 into the treasury. He also collected from the Fiji Islands an indemnity claim of long standing, amounting to $45,000. The white residents, of all nationalities, united with the native author- ities of Fiji, and presented, through him, an application or petition to the Government of the United States to extend its jurisdiction over the group. President Grant and his cabinet, however, rejected the pe- tition. They then applied to Great Britain, which promptly accepted the offer. Col. Latham delivered one lecture in Melbourne on the "American War," for the benefit of the building fund of the church , which he and his family attended. The largest hall in the city was filled and the committee realized between $400 and $500. He was urgently requested to repeat the lecture in other places and for similar objects, but declined because the State Department, in a general way, disapproves of its foreign representatives lecturing on matters relating to ou: public institutions and governmental policy. When about to leave Melbourne, he was feted, banqueted and presented with addresses as no other consul of any nation, to Melbourne, had ever been. It is regretted that we have not a full copy of his reply to an address pre- sented to him by the Consular Corps. In this he congratulated them especially upon the fact that during his connection with them, all the nations represented had been at peace; and predicted in the near future the settlement of international disputes by an international congress. and consequently practical disarmament.
Since 1870 Col. Latham has retired mostly from public life, though still taking a lively interest in all the social and political questions of the day. He was elected and served one term of two years, about 1875, as Superintendent of public schools for Upshur county, West Va., and was appointed by President Hayes, in 1880, Supervisor of Census for the first census district of West Virginia. This is his last public office to date. He received a grape shot wound in his left foot at Lee's Springs on the Rappahannock river, in August, 1862, which was thought to be
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ORGANIZATION OF REGIMENT.
but trifling at the time and for some years after, but which is now giv- ing him much trouble and pain at times. Col. Latham has a wife and eight children living-four sons and four daughters, and he is now fifty- cight years of age.
LIEUTENANT COLONEL ROBERT MORAN.
Robert Moran, was born on the banks of White Day creek, Monongalia Co., Va., near the village of Smithtown, December 27, 1822. Shortly after this his father moved into what is now Marion county, West Va., where he remained until his death. During the boyhood of the subject of this sketch, there was but little opportunity in that section of securing an education, especially by the common people, who had to work both summer and winter, clearing out their farms. His father being a poor man with a large family, he received but a few months schooling. In his boyhood he had strong military inclinations, and when he attended the drills of the State Militia with his father, he determined to be an officer if he reached manhood. At twenty-one years of age he was elected Captain of a militia company for five years, and after that was elected lieutenant colonel of the One Hundred Forty-seventh Regiment of Virginia Militia, and six years later was elected colonel of the same regiment, which commission he held until the war began. Upon reach- ing his majority, Col. Moran married, and began clearing a farm for himself. In 1852 he rented his farm and moved to the village of Win- field, about four miles from Fairmont. where he kept a general store and tavern, until April 1. 1861. Seeing that war was inevitable, he sold his goods at auction, at a sacrifice of nearly $3,000, and on the first call for troops for the support of the government, he cast his fortunes with the union, and began to enlist troops for the Second Virginia Infantry, of which he was appointed lieutenant colonel, upon its organization in July, 1861. At the convention held in Wheeling, May 13, 1861, Col. Moran was a delegate, and took a prominent and positive part in its proceedings. Col. Moran participated in all the cam- paigns of his regiment, until May 20, 1862, when he resigned his office. His health had become so bad that he had to retire, and was so worn down at the time, that he had to be hauled in an ambulance to New Creek, and it was weeks before he was able to reach his home. After his return home, Gen. Jones, of the confederate army, made a raid through Fairmont and that part of the state. and Col. Moran did good service in the defence made against the raider.
After the war he was assessor of Internal Revenue for two years, and in 1875 was land commissioner for one-half of Marion county, to place a valuation on all real estate for taxation. In the spring of 18:6. he moved to Platte county, Nebraska, of which he was elected county com- missioner one term, and since then his health has been so bad, that he has declined to serve in any office, though often solicited by the people to do so. He is now living on his farm of 640 acres, greatly enfeebled by disease.
.
ALEXANDER SCOTT, LIEUTENANT COLONEL.
MAJOR H. C. FLESHER.
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ORGANIZATION OF REGIMENT.
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ALEXANDER SCOTT.
Alexander Scott was a native of Franklin county, Pa., and of Scotch- Irish origin. His parents' relatives, as well as those of his wife, fled to this country during the Irish Rebellion, and are of a sturdy. courageous stock. Col. Scott's grandfather, Alexander Scott, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and the colonel comes honestly of his soldierly qualities. His father, Samuel Scott, was a farmer, and moved to Wooster, Ohio, in 1836, when the son went to Pittsburgh to study music. He gave up his studies to enter the service in the Mexican war, and went out from Pittsburgh with the "Rough and Ready Guards," com- manded by Capt. Rowley. This company was mustered in as Com- pany F Maryland and District of Columbia volunteers, October 8, 1847, and was on duty until July 24, 1848, when it was mustered out. At the close of the Mexican war, Col. Scott married Eleanor G. Smith, daugh- ter of Prof. James M. Smith, of Pittsburgh, formerly of Londonderry, Ireland, and went to reside in Nashville, Tenn., and from there to Mississippi, and engaged in the furniture business. They remained there until the breaking out of the rebellion. He was at that time a member of the AAberdeen Masonic Lodge, and commanded the Monroe Rifle Volunteers. This company was ordered to report for duty at Macon, Ga., to go into a confederate regiment, and the colonel was given com- mand, but he declined the offer, and left the South, returning to Pitts- burgh. Here he aided in recruiting Company F of the regiment of which he became lieutenant-colonel, entering the service as captain of the company. He was in all the battles in which the regiment took part, and his history is intimately connected with all the operations of the army recorded in the following chapters. At the battle of Second Bull Run, August 30. 1862, he had his horse shot under him. At the battle of Droop Mountain. November 6, 1863. he commanded the rein- nant of the regiment, and was complimented on the field by General Averill, for his gallant conduct. He had the entire confidence of his men, and they cheerfully followed his leadership, though they knew that
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