USA > West Virginia > History of the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry > Part 4
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it meant danger, and perhaps death. He rendered good service on the famous Salem Raid, where he contracted a severe cold. from which he never recovered, and which caused his death May 29, 1870, in his 49th year. He was mustered out with the regiment, and returned to private life at Pittsburgh. He left a widow, who resides in their home city, and three children. Mary Ray Scott, and Win. Graham and Henry Brown Scott. The two sons are employed in the offices of the Penn- sylvania railroad. The daughter is one of the talented singers of that city, having a very fine contralto voice. and sings in the choir of the Third Presbyterian church. The name is also perpetuated in two grand- sons, Josiah R. B. and Armor G. Scott. Colonel Scott was an able, brave officer, a good leader, and was a worthy representative of the volunteer soldiery of the country.
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ORGANIZATION OF REGIMENT.
MAJOR J. D. OWENS.
J. D. Owens was one of the organizers of the Plummer Guards, going to Wheeling as the captain of that company. He was commissioned the first major of the regiment, and served in that capacity until he resigned his commission, July 7, 1862. He commanded the detach- ment of the regiment that went to the battle of Allegheny Mountain, and was in command of the regiment at the battle of Cross Keys, June 1862, where he performed his duty, and handled his regiment. to the satisfaction of his superiors. It was a task of more than ordinary sev- erity, but he met it bravely. The first colonel and lieutenant-colonel had resigned, and Major Owens followed them after the active campaign was over, the regiment thus losing its first officers, of the first three ranks, as also that of adjutant and quartermaster.
MAJOR H. C. FLESHER.
Henry C. Flesher, a native of Weston, Lewis county, Va., was born October 27, 1838, and lived at that place until he was 17 years of age. He studied law and was admitted to practice in 1858, opening an office in Wheeling January 1, 1859, and there remained until he was mustered into the service, as first lieutenant of the company, and was promoted cap- tain May 1862. In October 1862 he was promoted to major of the regiment, which position he held until he resigned. He served as .1. 1. G. for Gen. Milroy before and after the Pope campaign in 1862. While in the valley with. Gen. Fremont, Capt. Flesher was directed to carry a dispatch from Fremont at Harrisonburg, to Gen. James Shields at Luray, just before the battle of Cross Keys, and was mentioned by Fremont and Milroy for his bravery and efficiency. He was with the regiment in its hard work, and did his full share of it. He settled in Jackson C. H. W. Va. in March 1869, and was married in September of that year to Mrs. Miriam F. Hopkins, where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession. He has three children. Paul 19, Pearl 17 and Pauline 11 years of age. The major is a member of the G. A. R., and has held the position of Judge Advocate for the Depart- ment of West Va. G. A. R.
MAJOR P. P. M'NAL.I.V.
Francis Patrick McNally was born in County Goet, Ireland, and came to America when about seventeen years of age. When about the age of eighteen, he went with the expedition of Commodore Perry to Japan. The expedition sailed on the 24th of November, 1852, and returned from Japan upon the completion of the Treaty. February 22d, 1855; receiv- ing an honorable discharge at Norfolk, Va. He was married to Miss Mary MeNamara, on February 14th. 1860, at Ironton, Lawrence county, O., by Rev. Philip Donahue. Both were adherents of the Catholic church. Upon the outbreak of the rebellion, Mr. McNally raised the first company that left Ironton for the three years service. He was
MAJOR F. P. McNALLY.
MAJOR D. D. BARCLAY.
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ORGANIZATION OF REGIMENT.
wounded at the battle of Rocky Gap, August 26th, 1863, was taken prisoner, and died at White Sulphur Springs, September 221, 1863.
MAJOR D. D. BARCLAY.
D. D. Barclay was born in Concmaugh township, Indiana county, Pa., April 13th, 1838. His parents J. M. L. Barclay, and Jane Fergu- son Barclay, were natives of the same county, and born within one-half mile of each other. The subject of this sketch served his minority with his parents on the farm, and at the age of twenty-one went to McKees- port, Allegheny county, Pa., where he served his apprenticeship at boat building. As soon as he had completed his trade, he went to boating on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and continued in the same until the breaking out of the war, when he went to Pittsburgh, and enlisted in Company D. When mustered in to the United States service at Wheel- ing, he was elected second lieutenant of the company. On the 22d of March, 1862, he was promoted to first lieutenant. and on July 7th to captain of the company. By his bravery and good fellowship, he soon became a great favorite in the company. He took an active part in all the battles and skirmishes in which the company was engaged, and could always be found where the danger was the greatest, and where duty called. On several occasions he acted as major of the regiment. This was notably the case on General Averill's famous Droop Moun- tain raid, and in the battle that closed the campaign. November 6th, 1863, and on the Salem raid in December of the same year. On April 24th. 1864. he received the well merited promotion of major of the regiment. He took part in all the work of the regiment, until mus- tered out AAugust 25th, 1864. During his term of service he served under Generals McC'lellan, Rosecrans, Milroy. Fremont, Popc, Averill. Crook and Hunter. The regiment had not a more popular man in it, and he had but to give the command. when his brave boys would follow him anywhere. They had the utmost confidence in his solid sense. good judgment. fidelity and bravery, and never in all his service did he do any act to lose the high regard of his men. His bravery is attested by the gallant work under Milroy, his faithful service at Rocky Gap, Droop Mountain and Salem Raid, and by his grand work on the final expedition under Gen. Crook.
Major Barclay was married on March 4, 1862, to Mrs E. P. Reinbeau, to whom have been born two sons and two daughters. After returning home from the army, he again followed his trade of boat building, and went to work for W. H. Brown, one of Pittsburgh's greatest coal mer- chants, and continued with him until Mr. Brown's death. when the firm was changed to W. H, Brown's Sons, and the major is now superintend- ent of their entire works at Brown's station, Twenty-third ward, Pitts- burgh, on the B. & O. R. R. The major is a deacon in the Christian church at Hazelwood, and ever since leaving the army has been an act- ive and enthusiastic worker in the Sunday school. His wife often ac-
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ORGANIZATION OF REGIMENT.
companied him in the army, and is most highly esteemed by the men in the command. Major Barclay is a true American, a typical citizen soldier, a patriotic citizen, and a Christian gentleman, in whom his old comrades find a good friend.
ADJUTANT HAVS.
Charles McClure Hays, a native of Pittsburgh, enlisted in the Plum- mer Guards as a private. He was a lawyer by profession, and a nephew of Judge McClure, who was famous as a lawyer and jurist before the war. Mr. Hays was a man of magnificent presence, remarkably hand- some, with a large and brainy head, and polished in speech and manner. November 6, 1861, he was promoted to be adjutant of the regiment, which office he resigned January 11, 1862. Returning to Pittsburgh, he enlisted in Captain Young's company of Heavy Artillery, stationed at Fort Delaware. He died at Harrisburg, l'a., about the close of the war.
ADJUTANT WILLIAMSON.
D. F. Williamson was by birth an Englishman. and about 40 years of age when he entered the service, as a member of Company K. He had served 12 years in the English army, and was one of the best drilled men in the regiment, especially with the sword. While the regiment lay at Elkwater. the officers specially had the opportunity to learn his skill in this respect. Many, if not all, of the line officers at that time, were drilled in the use of the saber by him. He was a well built man, and made a splendid appearance in uniform; and in addition was well edu- cated and of the most genial disposition. He was appointed first lieut- enant of Company I in the fall of 1861, and on February 7. 1862, was appointed adjutant of the regiment, resigning this office March 25, 1862. It may be said of Lieut. Williamson, that he was generally liked, and he had few enemies among the officers and men of the regiment.
SURGEON R. W. HAZLETT.
R. W. Hazlett. M. D., was born at Washington, Pa .. in 1828. He was educated at Washington College, Washington, Pa., but was prevented by illness from graduating; but subsequently the degree of AA. B. was conferred on him by the college. Adopting the profession of medicine. he was graduated at Jefferson Medical College. Philadelphia, Pa., in 1851. and practiced medicine at Wheeling, Va., until the breaking out of the war of the rebellion. Dr. Hazlett was commissioned surgeon of the Second Regiment Virginia Volunteer Infantry, June 15th, 1861, serving in that capacity until the fall of 1862, when he was appointed surgeon of Gen. Milroy's "Independent Brigade." He resigned his cominis- sion as surgeon of the regiment March 2d. 1863. and was appointed one of the surgeons in the United States General Hospital at Grafton, West Va., in the summer of 1863. While at this place, the doctor was com- missioned by the Secretary of War, Surgeon of the Board of Enrolment,
R. W. HAZLETT, M. D., SURGEON.
37
ORGANIZATION OF REGIMENT.
of the First District of West Virginia, which embraced about one-half of the State, and was mustered out of service June 15, 1865.
The doctor was present at the surrender of Gen. Pegram, after the battle of Rich Mountain, July, 1861, and participated in the battles of Montery, McDowell, Cross Keys, Cedar Mountain, Waterloo Bridge, White Sulphur Springs, Freeman's and Kelly's Fords, Warrenton, Sec- ond Bull Run, Centreville and Chantilly, in the summer of 1862.
Since his retirement from the army, he has practiced medicine at Wheeling, and has held a number of civil and medical appointments. Among the latter. the doctor was for twenty years a Pension Examining Surgeon, which position he resigned upon the election of Grover Cleve- land as President. The doctor located for a company in 1858, the first productive oil well in the state of West Virginia.
SURGEON E. N. LOVE.
Eli Nathan Love was born in Loudoun county, Va., Sept. 28, 1820. At the age of 17, he commenced teaching school, and continued in this occupation until he became of age. Having inherited some money he entered the mercantile business, but he soon tired of it, and began read- ing medicine. In 1847, he entered the University of Maryland, from which he was graduated in 1849.
He then went to Virginia, where he was married to Miss Caroline Moore, Sept. 3. 1850, and practiced his profession until the breaking out of the rebellion. After the secession of Virginia he was forced to leave his home on account of his loyalty, became a refugee, and in com- pany with several others, left Virginia July 13, 1861. and waded the Potomac river to the Maryland side, where he found some Federal sol- (liers, and went with them to the Point of Rocks, thence to Washing- ton. He next went to Ohio, but soon found his way to Wheeling, where he was commissioned assistant surgeon of the Second Virginia Infantry. Upon the resignation of the surgeon, Dr. R. W. Hazlett, he was ap- pointed surgeon of the regiment, serving until it was mustered out.
After the expiration of his term of service, he resumed the practice of his profession at Waterford, Loudoun county, Va. During the war his wife died, and after the war he married Miss Armida Athey, of Maryland, who survives him, the doctor having died August 14, 1882.
ASSISTANT SURGEON S. FORD.
Dr. Sample Ford was born in Wheeling in 1827. He attended the West Alexandria Academy, Washington county, Pa., and read medicine with Dr. R. H. Cummins of Wheeling. He attended one course of lectures at the Pennsylvania University at Philadelphia, and practiced medicine near Mckeesport, Pa. Dr. Ford was commissioned assistant surgeon of the Second Virginia Infantry in July 1861, and participated in the battles of Cross Keys, Freeman's and Kelly's Fords and Second Bull Run. He resigned his commission in the winter of 1862; and was commissioned contract surgeon at Clarysville, U. S. General hospital
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ORGANIZATION OF REGIMENT.
near Cumberland, Md., in 1863, where he remained until the close of the war. Hle subsequently practiced medicine in Bridgeport, Ohio, and Wheeling. W. Va. He died at Wheeling in 1868 of hepatic disease.
ASSISTANT SURGEON T. MILL.SPAUGH.
Dr. Theodore Millspaugh was born in Ulster county, N. Y .. May 24. 1838. He was educated at Montgomery Academy. N. Y., and Rutgers College Grammar school. He is a graduate of the College of Physi- cians and Surgeons of New York City, class of 1861. He was study- ing medicine at the outbreak of the rebellion, and was two months in the U. S. General Hospital at Alexandria, Va., immediately after the first battle of Bull Run, in the employ of the Sanitary Commission. After graduating. he entered the service as Acting Assistant Surgeon U. S. A., and joined General Fremont's command in the Shenandoah Valley, in June 1862. He was commissioned assistant surgeon of the Second Virginia Infantry August 1. 1862, and served with the regiment until mustered out. He has practiced medicine in Wallkill, N. Y. since the close of the war. He is a Republican in politics, and has repre- sented his district in the state legislature. and has held several local of- fices.
SERGEANT MAJOR G. W. MILLER.
George W. Miller was residing in Grafton, West Va., at the breaking out of the rebellion and had been for several years previous to that time, but the place of his birth is unknown. His father's name was George. He enlisted with Company B and was mustered in with the company. He was twenty-eight years of age. August Ist, 1862, he was promoted from a sergeant to sergeant major, in which capacity he served to the end of the war. He was a soldier of much merit, intelligent, brave and trusty, and possessed a constitution to stand the hardships of a soldier's life. After the war he married and moved to Kansas.
PRINCIPAL MUSICIAN J. R. THOMAS.
John R. Thomas joined the party that left California for Pittsburgh, and became members of Company G. His parents were from Wales, sturdy people, from whom John inherited a strong constitution. He worked about town. like most boys of the day, at such work as he could get, securing by reading and at the public school the average informa- tion of the day in a village. His chief joy, however, was music, and he could readily learn to play on any instrument that was given him, but his special ability lay in leading in martial music. He naturally called about him many kindred spirits, and for a year or two before the war he led a band of fifers and drummers. that was unexcelled in skill in west- ern Pennsylvania. During a great Republican parade in Pittsburgh, in 1860, the band was engaged, and was spoken of as the best in the large column. This band was the one that aroused the people of Greenfield and California, the first Sunday after Fort Sumpter was fired upon, and rallied the loyal hearts in those towns, leading to the enlistment of Com-
ELI N. LOVE, M. D., SURGEON.
THEODORE MILLSPAUGH, M. D., ASSISTANT SURGEON.
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ORGANIZATION OF REGIMENT.
pany I. This enlistment of Thomas in Company G soon caused the breaking up of the band. and all that were old enough, enlisted in the Second Virginia Infantry. Soon after the organization of the regiment. Mr. Thomas organized a regimental band, and afterward was appointed principal musician of the regiment. He remained in this position until the muster out, and was transferred to Company I after Company G was transferred to the artillery arm of the service. Mr. Thomas was a brave soldier, and while engaged at Rocky Gap was shot in the ankle and severely hurt. After the war he engaged in farming, and is now happily located in Iowa, one of the stalwart. noble citizens of that grand commonwealth.
CHAPTER III.
COMPANY HISTORIES.
N THE following pages of this chapter, will be found the history of each company from its enlistment. until the organization of the. regiment, including incidents of interest. in some cases conflict with the enemy, sketches of officers, and a roster of the company, con- taining the rank of each officer and man, and his individual record. It is not claimed that these company histories are complete and full or ab- solutely correct in all the details, as it is feared that such is not the case in some, at least, of the companies. Nearly two years were de- voted by the Historian to searching for the facts, but he was not always successful in securing them. The muster out rolls, as published in the Adjutant General's report of the state of West Virginia, were used as a basis, but were found to be imperfect, and officers and men were then asked to correct the rolls so far as it was possible. Scores of correc- tions were made of men who were killed, had died or were wounded. and the proper credit given after the names on the rolls; but after all the effort. the record is incomplete, and must so remain. Those who could give the information desired, are dead or beyond the reach of the writer. and the facts can not now be ascertained. This is greatly regretted, as doubtless many comrades in reading the book will find omissions in their own cases. and will wonder why the proper credit has not been given them. Weeks of anxious effort were cheerfully and freely given by the writer to make the record of each of his comrades perfect, and he could do no more.
The company histories will be found one of the most interesting parts of the entire work. They clearly show the patriotism that animated the men. and their readiness to hurry to the defense of their country. All were volunteers, who entered the service without promise of reward, and had no mercenary motives whatever in the course they took. Their one anxiety was to defend the flag of their country, and aid in quelling the canseless rebellion that threatened the very life of the nation. It was a
4.I
COMPANY HISTORY.
regiment of comparatively young men, the average age being about twenty-four years, a large number of them being but boys of eighteen, while a few reached the age of forty. They were young, active, strong and intelligent, the making of a splendid regiment, and their work for three years fully confirmed all that was expected of them.
An endeavor was made to secure individual sketches of the officers, and it was mainly successful. In a few cases it will be noticed that the sketch is absent, but it is because of the absolute impossibility of secur- ing it. Hundreds of letters were written to find the whereabouts of certain officers, but they were not found, nor conkl any intelligent record be had of their lives. In most cases where an officer was promoted to the field, the sketch will be found in the regimental organization. These sketches will be found very valuable and interesting. They are often a history of themselves. After reading some of them, especially of men from West Va,, it will not be difficult to understand whence came their intense love of their country and its institutions. Our officers, as a rule, were brave and efficient, and measured up well to the standard of patriots and heroes. It would be a source of great gratification were the histories of these men more complete and full, and if the lives of the brave men of the regiment could also be printed in these pages, but it was not possible. The large majority of the brave old comrades have answered to the last roll call. and many of them have left no record of their lives or life work. It is hoped that the following pages of this chapter will be found measurably free from errors, and as complete as the lapse of 26 years will permit.
COMPANY A.
The first company from Allegheny county. Pa., that entered the ser- vice of other states, was the organization that bore this name in the Second Virginia regiment. The company was organized in Pittsburgh and Allegheny by Major Abijah Ferguson, an old Mexican veteran, who being rather feeble for active service, the command devolved upon Captain A. C. Hayes, who was chosen to that office, with D. L. Smith, first lieutenant, and Oliver R. West, second lieutenant. It was among the first companies organized after the attack upon Fort Sumpter, and immediately tendered its services to Gov. Andrew G. Curtin of Penn- sylvania. So anxious were the men to serve their native state, that they sent Lieut. Smith to Harrisburg, personally to urge the acceptance of their services, presuming from the fact of his having recently been a member of the legislature. that he could prevail upon the Governor to accept them. The quota of the state having been filled, however, Lieut. Smith was informed that his company would have to wait another call for troops. The men now became impatient, and in the midst of the excitement of the occasion, news came that the enemy had captured Harper's Ferry, and taken possession of the Baltimore & Ohio rail- road, were moving on the Pennsylvania line, and were menacing Wheel-
D
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COMPANY A.
ing, Va. The loyal people of Wheeling called for aid, and this com- pany, then known as the " Washington Rifle Guards," chartered the steamer McCombs and took passage for Wheeling, arriving there on the roth of May 1861. On the 21st of May 1861, Major James Oakes of the U. S. army, mustered them into the service of the United States for three years. This was the first company of Pennsylvanians that was mustered for three years service, all the troops that were mustered prior to that time, being known as three months men.
On the morning of the 25th of May 1861, the company, together with the First Virginia Infantry, three months troops under command of Col. B. F. Kelley, left Wheeling and advanced along the line of the Balti- more & Ohio railroad toward Grafton, which place was then held by the enemy.
At Glover's Gap, company A was detached to guard that important position, and more particularly to break up a rebel military organiza- tion, known to be in that section, under command of Captain Christian Roberts. On the morning of May 27th, a detachment of the company under command of Lieut. West, encountered Captain Roberts and a portion of his command, and in the fight that followed, Captain Roberts was killed, being the first armed rebel soldier that fell in the war. Thus the honor fell to this company of killing the first armed soldier of the confederacy. Jackson, the slayer of the gallant Colonel Ellsworth, killed a few days previously, was a civilian, while Captain Roberts was a regularly mustered officer of the confederacy.
After this the company went to Grafton. where it lay while the battle of Phillippi, the first battle of the war, was being fought some sixteen miles away.
Upon General George B. McClellan assuming command of the army in Western Virginia, Company A was detailed as his body guard, along with one company of infantry of the U. S. Regular Army, and remained at his headquarters as such, during the time he remained in command of that department, participating in his successful Western Virginia cam- paign which terminated in Beverly, from which point General McClellan was called to Washington, after the first battle of Bull Run, to take command of the armies of the United States. Company A al- ways retained the most pleasant recollections of their campaign under General McClellan, as his body guard. His engaging manners, and sense of justice to his men, greatly endeared him to his soldiers.
The following is the muster out roll, showing list of members and their record. The company was mustered into the U. S. service at Wheeling May 21, 1861, and mustered ont June 14, 1864. All the members not otherwise marked, were mustered out with the company. The recruits and veterans were transferred to the 6th West Virginia cavalry when the company was mustered out.
ROBERT R. MORRIS-Marked in Company A roster, page 44, "Deserted March 2, 1863;" should read, "Discharged by order of Sec- retary of War."
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COMPANY HISTORY.
NAMES.
RANK.
RECORD OF SERVICE.
Hayes, Albert C. Otto, William.
Capt. Resigned July 22, 1861.
Prom. from ist Serg't Aug. 24, '61. Resigned March 13, '62.
Hunter, John A.
.. Prom. from ist Lt.Co. F. Mar. 20, '62. Relieved Aug. 1. '63.
Pro. 2d Lt. to Ist Lt. Mar. 1, '62, to Cap. Aug. 18, '63; wd. Alleg'y Mount.
Ist Lt Pro. to Cap. & C S. Feb. 17,'62; 10 Lt. Col. & chief C.S. 5th Army Corps.
Pentecost, Alex. J. Chambers, A. J.
Pro. to ist Lt. and R. Q. M. July 7, '62.
Black, James.
66 Pro. to 2d Lt. March 1, '62. Relieved May 30, '63.
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