≡ Menu

OR XL P1 (Broadfoot Sup.) #20: Account of Lieutenant Colonel William Wallace, 2nd SC, June-December 1864

OR XL P1 (Broadfoot Sup.) #20: Account of Lieutenant Colonel William Wallace, 2nd SC, June-December 18641

Image of Official Records, Volume XL, Part 1 and Broadfoot Supplement to the ORs, Volume 7SOPO Editor’s Note: The Broadfoot Supplement to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies is rare and not sold in single volumes.  As a courtesy to researchers, I’m making available summaries of the reports contained in this set relevant to the Siege of Petersburg.

Summary: Colonel William Wallace of the 2nd South Carolina Infantry, Kershaw’s Brigade, gives a brief, vague, and wholly unsatisfactory account of his regiment’s movements during the Siege of Petersburg.  Note that this account was originally published in the pages of the Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 7. Also note that I’ve published Wallace’s account of the campaigns of 1864-65 in full.

Source: Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 7, pages 130-131

Available Online?: Yes. I have published this article in full on the Southern Historical Society Papers page.

 

Source:

  1. Supplement to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Part I, Reports, Vol. 7, pp. 261-262 ↩

Tagged as: , , , ,

{ 0 comments }

SHS Papers: Volume 7: Operations of Second South Carolina Regiment in Campaigns of 1864 and 1865 by William Wallace

SOPO Editor’s Note: Due to the unfortunate political climate of the early 2020s, I want to state here that some critics of the Southern Historical Society Papers accuse the writers of these articles of perpetuating the Lost Cause. In addition, these articles were written decades after the war and may suffer from some issues with accuracy.  All that said, these articles provide a look at the Siege of Petersburg from the Confederate perspective.  This perspective is largely absent from the Official Records due to the hasty retreat from Richmond and the burning of many important documents during the Appomattox Campaign. I believe it is important to provide this perspective on this site.

Operations of Second South Carolina Regiment in Campaigns of 1864 and 1865.1
By Colonel WILLIAM WALLACE, Commanding.

[SOPO Editor’s Note: Normally I would remove portions of an article not relevant to the Siege of Petersburg, but if I remove those in this case I would be left with little to show.]

At sunrise on the morning of the 6th of May [1864], we were marching by the right flank along the [Orange] Plank road when suddenly we heard firing; heard the minnie balls whistling and falling amongst us; saw our troops running rapidly to the rear, and learned that the enemy had surprised and routed them. [Joseph B.] Kershaw’s division formed line in the midst of this confusion, like cool and well trained veterans, as they were, checked the enemy and soon drove them back. The Second [South Carolina] regiment was on the left of the Plank road, near a battery of artillery, and, although completely flanked at one time by the giving way of the troops on the right, gallantly stood their ground, though suffering terribly; they and the battery keeping up a well directed fire to the right oblique until the enemy gave way. General Lee now appeared on our left, leading Hood’s brigade. We rejoined our brigade on the right of the Plank road, and again advanced to the attack. As we were rising a wooded hill we were met by one of our brigades flying in confusion, the officers in vain endeavoring to rally their men. We met the enemy on the crest of the hill and again drove them back. We were soon relieved by Jenkins’ brigade, under command of that able and efficient officer, General Bratton, and ordered to march to the rear and rest. We had scarcely thrown ourselves upon the ground when General [John] Bratton requested that a regiment should be sent him to fill a gap in the lines which the enemy had discovered and were preparing to break through. I was ordered to take the Second regiment and report to him. A staff officer showed me the gap, when I double-quicked to it and reached it just in time, as the enemy were within forty yards of it. As we reached the point we poured a well directed volley into them, killing a large number and putting the rest to flight. General Bratton witnessed the conduct of the regiment on this occasion, and spoke of it in the highest terms. The enemy, up to his time, had been routed at all points, and General [James] Longstreet was just advancing to give the finishing stroke to the victory, by cutting them in half, when he was unfortunately wounded by our own men.2

Our regiment lost severely by this battle. Colonel [John D.] Kennedy was again wounded and the gallant Lieutenant-Colonel [Franklin] Gaillard killed, both early in the action, when fighting near the battery. The command of the regiment consequently devolved upon myself [then Major, later Lieutenant Colonel William Wallace] as the only field officer present. The 7th [of May 1864] was spent in burying the dead and marching slowly towards the right. At night we made a forced march towards Spotsylvania Courthouse, near which point we arrived at daylight [May 8, 1864] and slept till sunrise, when we were aroused and double-quicked about a mile. We had just been placed in position by General [J. E. B.] Stuart, of the cavalry, when the enemy advanced to the attack, thinking they would meet nothing but cavalry. We opened a terrific fire upon them which killed a great many and drove the rest back in confusion. They soon returned, however, bringing artillery to bear upon our frail breastworks of rails. The men stood their ground, however, and again drove them back with great slaughter. General Stuart remained with our regiment during the entire action, sitting on his horse amidst a storm of bullets, laughing and joking with the men and commending them highly for their courage and for the rapidity and accuracy of their fire. Poor fellow! he left us after the fight was over, and, to the regret of all, we heard a few days after of his death [at the Battle of Yellow Tavern, May 11, 1864]. The rest of the army soon came up and fortified the heights which we held that morning. The battle raged with great fury for several days, but Grant, finding that he could not reach Richmond by that route, rolled on towards the Pamunkey. He made a feint at Northanna bridge, but finding Lee ready for him, continued his march for the Peninsula.

The regiment did good service at this point, four companies holding the bridge successfully against a large force of the enemy.3

Grant still rolling on by his left flank, Lee marched by his right to be ready to confront him whenever he should offer battle. This he did again at Cold Harbor, about the 1st of June [1864]. One brigade, under the lamented Colonel Keitt, was sent out to reconnoitre and came upon the enemy in large force, strongly entrenched. Keitt was killed and the brigade suffered severely. A few skirmishers thrown out would have accomplished the object of a reconnoissance and would have saved the lives of many brave men. Our troops, finding the enemy entrenched, fell back and began to fortify. Soon our line was established and the usual skirmishing and sharpshooting commenced. That same afternoon, being on the extreme left of Kershaw’s division, I received orders to hasten with the Second regiment to General Kershaw’s headquarters. I found the General in a good deal of excitement. He informed me that our line had been broken on the right of his division, directed me to hasten there and if I found a regiment of the enemy flanking his position to charge them. I hurried to the point indicated, found that our troops, to the extent of a brigade and a half, had been driven from their works and the enemy in possession of them. I determined to charge, however, and succeeded in driving them from their position with but little loss. Our regiment numbered one hundred and twenty men. The enemy driven out consisted of the Forty-eighth [New York] and One-hundred-and-twelfth New York. We captured the colors of the Forty-eighth, took some prisoners and killed many whilst making their escape from the trenches. We lost in this charge one of our most efficient officers, Captain Ralph Elliott, a brother of General Stephen Elliott. He was a brave soldier and a most estimable gentleman.4

The regiment was at the siege of Petersburg and did good service there. [In mid-June 1864 at the end of the Second Battle of Petersburg] [t]hey threw up breastworks under a heavy fire, and held them for eight days until relieved.5 The regiment was then held in reserve at Petersburg and was thrown continually to the extremities of the line to resist the flank movements of the enemy.6 It was afterwards sent to the [Shenandoah] Valley and operated there under General Early for several months, sharing his victories and defeats. It was then ordered back to the lines in front of Richmond [in mid-November 1864], and was marched almost every night in midwinter, the ground covered with snow, to some threatened point, and was at last sent to South Carolina, in January, 1865, to aid in defending its native State from the invasion of Sherman. But they were marched to Charleston whilst Sherman was burning Columbia, evacuated that place with scarcely an enemy in sight, and were conducted in ignominious retreat into North Carolina, while Sherman, unresisted, was destroying the vitals of their State. The regiment was engaged in the two small battles in North Carolina – Bentonville and Averasboro’. They were small affairs and merely intended as temporary checks to the enemy. General Joe Johnston, I believe, never had any other object in view. The regiment was reorganized at Smithfield, North Carolina, by the consolidation of the Twentieth with it. It retained its name and colors. It had five hundred men present for duty. Its officers were William Wallace, Colonel; J. D. Grahame, Lieutenant-Colonel, and J. S. Leaphart, Major. The regiment remained at Smithfield for some weeks, reorganizing and drilling, and then marched to join General Lee. At Raleigh we heard rumors of his surrender, which were not believed; but soon after they were confirmed by stragglers from his army, whom we met on our march. We soon after surrendered to General Sherman at Greensboro’, and, being paroled, returned home.

WILLIAM WALLACE,
Colonel Second South Carolina Regiment.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

Vol07Pages128to131Ops2ndSC64to65SketchedWallace

Source/Notes:

  1. Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 7, Pages 128-131 ↩
  2. SOPO Editor’s Note: This paragraph covers the May 6, 1864 second day at the Battle of the Wilderness.  For more, see Gordon Rhea’s book The Battle of the Wilderness: May 5-6, 1864. ↩
  3. SOPO Editor’s Note: The preceding two paragraphs cover the first day of the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House in some detail, and then gloss over the rest of the fighting as well as that at the Battle of North Anna River. for more on these fights see Gordon Rhea, The Battles for Spotsylvania Court House and the Road to Yellow Tavern, May 7–12, 1864 and To the North Anna River: Grant and Lee, May 13–25, 1864. ↩
  4. SOPO Editor’s Note: In this last paragraph prior to the Petersburg portion, Wallace describes his unit’s actions at the Battle of Cold Harbor. For more, see Rhea’s book Cold Harbor: Grant and Lee, May 26–June 3, 1864. ↩
  5. SOPO Editor’s Note: I believe this refers to when Kershaw’s Division, First Corps, Army of Northern Virginia reached Petersburg on the morning of June 18, 1864 and took position southeast of town on the right flank of the Confederate forces arrayed east of town. Unfortunately, in many cases in postwar accounts Confederate soldiers are not very specific with dates.  It makes sense since they were relying on memory and did not yet have access to the Official Records. ↩
  6. SOPO Editor’s Note: In looking over the Diary of the First Corps for June-July 1864, Kershaw’s Division (of which this regiment was a part) was involved in the June 29, 1864 First Battle of Reams’ Station, covered the movement of several railroad trains full of corn on July 10, 1864, and fought at the First Battle of deep Bottom on July 28, 1864. ↩

Tagged as: , , , , , , , ,

{ 0 comments }

OR XL P1 (Broadfoot Sup.) #19: Report of Lieutenant General Richard H. Anderson, commanding First/ANV, June 13-October 19, 1864

OR XL P1 (Broadfoot Sup.) #19: Report of Lieutenant General Richard H. Anderson, commanding First/ANV, June 13-October 19, 18641

Image of Official Records, Volume XL, Part 1 and Broadfoot Supplement to the ORs, Volume 7SOPO Editor’s Note: The Broadfoot Supplement to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies is rare and not sold in single volumes.  As a courtesy to researchers, I’m making available summaries of the reports contained in this set relevant to the Siege of Petersburg.

Summary: This thirteen-page report from Lieutenant General Richard H. Anderson covers the period of time during the Siege of Petersburg during which he was commanding the First Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. That said, the report diverges from Petersburg and moves to the Shenandoah Valley for most of August and September 1864, during which time Anderson was in the latter place with Early’s Valley Army. Anderson returned in late September 1864, at which point the report covers his last few weeks in command north of the James River until James Longstreet resumed command on October 19, 1864.

Source: Robert E. Lee Headquarters Papers, Virginia Historical Society

Available Online?: Sort of.  Here are part one and part two of the “Diary of the First Corps” from the Official Records which gives a more bare bones version of what Anderson writes in his report.

 

Source:

  1. Supplement to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Part I, Reports, Vol. 7, pp. 249-261 ↩

Tagged as: , , , ,

{ 0 comments }

Rebel Units and Commanders at the Battle of Hatcher’s Run: Epilogue and Order of Battle

NigelLambertHatchersRun5EpilogOOB

SOPO Editor’s Note: This is the fifth in a series of five guest posts by Dr. Nigel Lambert, a semi-retired British biochemist with a lifelong interest in the American Civil War.  Nigel has worked closely with Bryce Suderow over the first half of 2021 thoroughly researching the Confederate Order of Battle at the Battle of Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865.  Read on and you will soon see why this is such a difficult task.  I want to thank Dr. Lambert for his generous decision to publish this series of articles here at the Siege of Petersburg Online.  This article is the copyrighted work of Nigel Lambert and may not be reproduced without his express written consent. All rights reserved.

*****

Rebel Units and Commanders at the Battle of Hatcher’s Run.

Epilog

Dr Nigel Lambert, March 2022

 

Anyone reading textbook accounts of the battle of Hatcher’s Run may be forgiven for feeling confused as to who was fighting in gray; with various reputable authors referring to different commanders both within their accounts and on battle-maps. It is not ideal to have well-cited accounts of the battle featuring different commanders. Similarly, it is unfortunate that visitors to the preserved battlefield today, will view site-boards with battle-maps depicting erroneous Rebel brigade commanders. The previous three articles have explored in significant detail which Rebel units were fighting at Hatcher’s Run between February 5-7th 1865, and who was commanding them. Several notable conflicts have been highlighted and hopefully resolved, whereas other incongruities have been reported, but still remain inconclusive.

Three sources of potential error have been identified:

1) Many authors have understandably used the End of January 1865 Confederate Inspection Reports in the O.R. to determine who was present in the Rebel army at Hatcher’s Run, about a week later. The reports shows that Gen. MacRae, Gen. Johnston and Col. Lowe were all present and commanding their respective brigades. Thus, it was natural to assume that they led these commands a week later at Hatcher’s Run. Unfortunately, in that intervening week, other reliable sources show that Generals MacRae and Johnston went on leave and Col. Baker returned from leave to resume his command from Col. Lowe. While it is known that Col. Lea replaced Gen. Johnston, it is still not totally clear who replaced Gen. MacRae as brigade commander at the battle.

The command structure of Weisiger’s Brigade is also uncertain, with conflicting primary evidence suggesting that David Weisiger was or was not present at the battle. So here are four Rebel brigades that have caused problems in ascribing commanders. Absences of other senior Rebel commanders associated with the battle, have been more consistently documented, for example Gen. York and Gen. Mahone were known to be absent ill and Gen. Sanders had been dead for over 5 months.

2) Units in the Rebel Army were formally named after their latest commander of commensurate rank, notably a Brig-Gen. for a brigade and a Maj-Gen for a division. At the late stage of the war when Hatcher’s Run took place, promotions could not keep pace with the incapacitation of senior Rebel field officers, hence it was not uncommon for a named unit to be commanded by someone of a different name. For example, York’s Brigade was commanded by Col. Peck, as Gen. York was absent ill as stated above. If we just consider the Rebel Army Infantry divisions and brigades: 3 out of the 4 divisions had a different commander to the division’s name, and 7 (possibly 8, if we include Weisiger) out of 15 brigades had a different commander to the brigade’s name. The scope for confusion is considerable, particularly if these issues are not dealt with explicitly within accounts.

3) Hawks’ extensive database is a very accessible, valuable and detailed resource for understanding the structures and commanders of all the armies that fought in the Civil War’s Eastern Theatre. The information is presented on a monthly basis throughout the entire civil war, with data taken mainly from the O.R. and Ray Sibley’s reference book. However, this gargantuan database requires careful interpretation, if inaccurate conclusions are to be avoided. Just because a commander is attributed to a given unit on a given month, does not necessarily mean that they were commanding for the entire month. Some command changes that occurred mid-month are duly noted in the database; but not all. This situation is especially acute at the time of the Hatcher’s Run battle, towards the end of the war, when Rebel command was relatively fluid due to injuries, absences and illness. A good illustration is the command of Heth’s Division for February 1865, the month of the Hatcher’s Run battle. The database records Gen. Joseph Davis as commanding, and any casual reader would understandably assume that Gen. Davis was leading Heth’s Division at the battle. In truth, it is clear that Gen. Heth was commanding his Division at Hatcher’s Run and that Gen. Davis was only in command of the Division at some point during that month.

It is incumbent upon history to remember accurately those brave officers who led their soldiers into deathly combat at Hatcher’s Run in February 1865. Whatever must the spirit of for example, Col. John Baker, think when seeing his name and contribution being completely absent from many prominent battle-maps and texts, despite him having been wounded leading the renown “Lawton – Gordon – Evans” Georgian brigade throughout the battle. It is time for these unfortunate errors to be addressed.

Below I provide an Order of Battle for the Rebel Infantry and Cavalry for the Battle of Hatcher’s Run; this involves significant revisions to established narratives. Apart from the horse-artillery specifically linked to Dearing’s Brigade, the analysis does not include artillery units. I have also included brigade strengths taken from the end of January Inspection reports (The cover-page combatant figures are quoted. The soldiers of the 55th NC have been included in Cooke’s brigade strength and not that of Davis, as this regiment transferred brigades in the week after the Inspection Reports and before the battle). Sadly, no such data is available for those in Mahone’s Division.

Uncertainties still exist; notably, the command structure of MacRae’s Brigade and Weisiger’s brigade, and whether all three Rebel cavalry brigades were indeed present at the battle. There is also debate as to whether elements of Grimes’ Division (Second Corps) and Wilcox Division (Third Corps) played a part in the battle. For the moment, these have not been included in the composition.

Attempts are on-going to resolve these and other gaps in our knowledge of who fought in gray on those three deadly days in February 1865. This is therefore very much a living document and hopefully should more information come to light, an even more accurate Order of Battle can be formulated.

 

Order of Battle

 

Army of Northern Virginia

Commencement of the Battle of Hatcher’s Run, dawn February 5th 1865.

 

SECOND CORPS

Maj-Gen. John B Gordon

 

Early’s Division

Brig-Gen. John Pegram

Pegram’s Brigade

Col. John Hoffman

(631 effectives)

13th Virginia Capt. George Cullen; 31st Virginia Capt. Nathan Clawson; 49th Virginia Capt. Jerome Norvill; 52nd Virginia Lt-Col. John Lilley; 58th Virginia Lt-Col. John Kasey.

Johnston’s Brigade

Col. John Lea

(775 effectives)

5th North Carolina Major James Taylor; 12th North Carolina Capt. John Drake; 20th North Carolina Major Duncan Devane; 23rd North Carolina Capt. Abner Peace; 1st Battalion North Carolina Sharpshooters Capt. Reuben Wilson.

Lewis’ Brigade

Brig-Gen. William Lewis

(902 effectives)

6th North Carolina Capt. John McPherson; 21st North Carolina Capt. John Byrd Snow; 54th North Carolina Capt. R.A. Barrow; 57th North Carolina Capt. John Beard.

 

 

Gordon’s Division

Brig-Gen. Clement Evans

Evans’ Brigade

Col. John Baker

(1,156 effectives)

13th Georgia Lt-Col. Richard Maltbie; 26th Georgia Maj. Benjamin Grace; 31st Georgia Col. John Lowe; 38th Georgia Lt-Col. Philip Davant; 60th Georgia and 61st Georgia combined Col. Walters Jones; 12th Georgia Battalion Capt. George Johnson.

Terry’s Brigade

(A consolidated brigade made up of the remnants from Stonewall Brigade, Jones’ Old Brigade and Steuart’s Old Brigade)

Brig-Gen. William Terry

(1,104 effectives)

2nd Virginia, 4th Virginia, 5th Virginia 27th Virginia 33rd Virginia – Col. Abraham Spengler.       21st Virginia, 25th Virginia, 42nd Virginia, 44th Virginia, 48th Virginia – Col. Norvel Cobb.           10th Virginia, 23rd Virginia, 37th Virginia – Lt-Col. Dorlias Martz.

York’s Brigade

A consolidated brigade

Col. William Peck

(434 effectives)

1st Louisiana Lt. Enoch Farmer; 2nd Louisiana Capt. Charles Farris; 5th Louisiana 6th Louisiana and 7th Louisiana combined Lt. James Weymouth; 8th Louisiana Capt. Louis Prados; 9th Louisiana Lt. T.A. Upshaw; 10th Louisiana Lt. Enoch Farmer; 15th Louisiana Lt. J.B. Penrose

 

THIRD CORPS

Lt-Gen. A.P. Hill

 

Heth’s Division

Maj-Gen. Henry Heth

Cooke’s Brigade

Brig-Gen. John Cooke

(1,684 effectives)

15th North Carolina Col. William Yarborough; 27th North Carolina Lt-Col. Joseph Webb; 46th North Carolina Lt-Col. Alexander McAlister (tentative); 48th North Carolina Capt. John Moore (tentative); 55th North Carolina Capt. Walter Whitted.

Davis’ Brigade

Brig-Gen. Joseph Davis

(706 effectives)

1st Confederate Battalion Maj. Francis McClung; 2nd Mississippi Lt-Col. John Blair; 11th Mississippi Col. Reuben Reynolds; 26th Mississippi Maj. Tully Parker; 42nd Mississippi Col. Andrew Nelson.

 

McComb’s Brigade

Brig-Gen. William McComb

(907 effectives)

2nd Maryland Battalion Capt. Joseph McAleer; 1st Tennessee Capt. William Daniel; 7th Tennessee Lt-Col. Samuel Shepherd; 14th Tennessee Capt. William Winfield (tentative); 17th Tennessee and 23rd Tennessee Col. Horace Ready; 25th Tennessee and 44th Tennessee Capt. Jonathon Spencer; 63rd Tennessee Battalion Capt. A. A. Blair.

MacRae’s Brigade

Col. John Lane or Lt-Col. James Adams

(1,203 effectives)

11th North Carolina Capt. William Kerr; 26th North Carolina uncertain; 44th North Carolina uncertain; 47th North Carolina Maj. William Lankford; 52nd North Carolina Capt. John Alexander.

Mahone’s Division

Brig-Gen. Joseph Finegan

(Up to 4,600 effectives)

Finegan’s Brigade

Col. David Lang

(no strength data for end of January)

2nd Florida Col Walter Moore; 5th Florida Lt-Col William Baya; 8th Florida Maj. Thomas Clarke; 9th Florida Capt. H.C. Simons; 10th Florida Lt-Col William Scott; 11th Florida Col. Theodore Brevard.

Harris’ Brigade

Brig-Gen Nathaniel Harris

(no strength data for end of January)

12th Mississippi Lt-Col. Thomas Manlove; 16th Mississippi Lt-Col. James Duncan; 19th Mississippi Col. Richard Phipps; 48th Mississippi Col. Joseph Jayne.

Sanders’ Brigade

Col. William Forney

(no strength data for end of January)

8th Alabama Lt-Col. J.P. Emrich; 9th Alabama Maj. James Crow; 10th Alabama Lt-Col. William Smith (tentative); 11th Alabama Capt. Martin Stewart; 13th Alabama Col. James Aiken; 14th Alabama Capt. John Terrell.

Sorrel’s Brigade

Brig-Gen. Moxley Sorrel

(no strength data for end of January)

3rd Georgia Capt. James Matthews; 22nd Georgia Capt. George Thomas; 48th Georgia Capt. Alexander Flanders; 64th Georgia Capt. Creswell Walker; 2nd Georgia Battalion Capt. George Jones; 10th Georgia Battalion Maj. James Frederick (tentative)

Weisiger’s Brigade

Brig.-Gen. David Weisiger or Col. Virginius Groner

(no strength data for end of January)

6th Virginia Col. George Rogers; 12th Virginia Maj. John Lewellen (tentative); 16th Virginia Capt. Solomon Eley; 41st Virginia Lt-Col. Joseph Minetree; 61st Virginia Col. Virginius Groner or Lt.-Col. William Stewart.

Lee’s Cavalry Division

Maj-Gen. W.H.F. “Rooney” Lee

 

Barringer’s Brigade

Brig-Gen. Rufus Barringer

(1,356 cavalrymen)

1st North Carolina Cavalry Col. William Cheek; 2nd North Carolina Cavalry Col. William Roberts; 3rd North Carolina Cavalry Lt-Col. Roger Moore; 5th North Carolina Cavalry Col. James McNeill.

Beale’s Brigade

Brig-Gen. Richard Beale

(958 cavalrymen)

9th Virginia Cavalry Lt-Col. Thomas Waller; 10th Virginia Cavalry Lt-Col. Robert Caskie; 13th Virginia Cavalry Col. Jefferson Phillips.

Dearing’s Brigade

Brig-Gen. James Dearing

(710 cavalrymen and 69 artillerymen)

8th Georgia Cavalry Col. Joel Griffin; 4th North Carolina Cavalry Col. Dennis Ferebee; 16th Battalion North Carolina Cavalry Lt-Col. John Edelin; Graham’s Virginia Battery Capt. Edward Graham.

 

Nigel Lambert’s Hatcher’s Run Series:

 

About the Author

Photo of Dr. Nigel Lambert at Petersburg National Battlefield

Visiting Petersburg National Park (Oct 2015)

Dr Nigel Lambert is British and lives near Norwich, England. Semi-retired, Nigel is a biochemist by profession, although from the turn of this century he has been involved in health research from a social perspective. A life-long Civil War enthusiast, he has been privileged to visit many of the wonderful battlefields on several occasions. A recent chance encounter with a civil war rifle ignited his interest in the battle of Hatcher’s Run. Surprised by the sparse and conflicting literature on the battle, he decided to employ his scientific knowhow to create this series of articles exploring the Rebel Order of Battle for Hatcher’s Run.

 

 

 

Tagged as: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

{ 0 comments }

OR XL P1 (Broadfoot Sup.) #18: Report of Captain George B. Easterly, 4th WI Btty, June 4-July 31, 1864

OR XL P1 (Broadfoot Sup.) #18: Report of Captain George B. Easterly, 4th WI Btty, June 4-July 31, 18641

Image of Official Records, Volume XL, Part 1 and Broadfoot Supplement to the ORs, Volume 7SOPO Editor’s Note: The Broadfoot Supplement to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies is rare and not sold in single volumes.  As a courtesy to researchers, I’m making available summaries of the reports contained in this set relevant to the Siege of Petersburg.

Summary: This slightly more than one-page report by Captain George B. Easterly of the 4th Wisconsin Battery, a regular and later horse artillery unit serving with the Army of the James Cavalry, gives a day by day itinerary view of the unit’s actions from June 4 to July 31, 1864, but skips many days.  The report covers the battery’s role on June 15-16, 1864 at the Second Battle of Petersburg as well as the July 27, 1864 fighting at the First Battle of Deep Bottom.

Source: National Archives, exact location not noted

Available Online?: No.

 

Source:

  1. Supplement to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Part I, Reports, Vol. 7, pp. 248-249 ↩

Tagged as: , , , ,

{ 0 comments }

Rebel Units and Commanders at the Battle of Hatcher’s Run: Confederate Cavalry

NigelLambertHatchersRun4Cavalry

SOPO Editor’s Note: This is the fourth in a series of five guest posts by Dr. Nigel Lambert, a semi-retired British biochemist with a lifelong interest in the American Civil War.  Nigel has worked closely with Bryce Suderow over the first half of 2021 thoroughly researching the Confederate Order of Battle at the Battle of Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865.  Read on and you will soon see why this is such a difficult task.  I want to thank Dr. Lambert for his generous decision to publish this series of articles here at the Siege of Petersburg Online.  This article is the copyrighted work of Nigel Lambert and may not be reproduced without his express written consent. All rights reserved.

*****

Rebel Units and Commanders at the Battle of Hatcher’s Run.

Article 3: The Rebel Cavalry Division

By Dr Nigel Lambert, March 2022

 

This article (number 3 in a series of 3) explores the Rebel organization of the Army of Northern Virginia (ANV) cavalry division as pertaining to the battle of Hatcher’s Run (February 5-7th 1865). As February dawned, this division was composed of three brigades under the commands of: Rufus Barringer, Richard Beale and James Dearing. These units will be explored in turn, highlighting areas of contention.

 

“Rooney” Lee’s Cavalry Division

 

 

          Barringer (Brigade)             Beale (Brigade)                    Dearing (Brigade)

 

Maj-Gen W.H.F. “Rooney” Lee’s Cavalry Division

With the arrival of 1865, the cavalry situation within the ANV was dire. Horses were in short supply and with the army besieged around Petersburg and Richmond forage for what horses it had was limited. The army could barely feed and clothe its soldiers. Action was needed. As of 19th January, the ANV Cavalry Corps under the influential General Wade Hampton was disbanded. Hampton with Butler and his cavalry division were sent to the Carolinas to join the fight against Sherman’s advancing Federal Army. This left Gen. Rooney Lee’s division as the sole cavalry operating within the ANV. Butler left his horses for Rooney Lee’s troopers, in the knowledge that mounts and forage were relatively plentiful in the more spacious Carolinas1. Thus, leading up to the battle of Hatcher’s Run, the reconnaissance, screening and raiding functions that typified the role of civil war cavalry was in the sole hands of Rooney Lee and his troopers, a force of around 3,000 officers and men2

Maj-Gen. William Henry Fitzhugh “Rooney” Lee was the second son of Lt-Gen Robert E. Lee, the ANV commander. Rooney had a distinguished civil war cavalry career, notably serving with the legendary JEB Stuart. In April 1864 he was promoted to Major-Gen. and took command of the division which he led to the end of the war3. The weather at the start of February 1865 was particularly wintery and forage for horses in short supply around Petersburg, hence, Rooney Lee and his troopers had moved to Belfield some 40 miles south of Petersburg both for foraging purposes and to protect the vital supply line there4.

 

The unit composition and commanders within the cavalry division around the time of the battle is generally consistent. What is more problematic is the presence of Rooney Lee’s cavalry at the battle of Hatcher’s Run itself. As shall be revealed in this article, a recurrent theme is the paucity of information on Rebel cavalry at the battle. In some well researched and frequently cited accounts of the battle there is simply NO mention of Rebel cavalry at all5. Other sources, clearly place Rooney’s troopers at the battle and being central to the fighting along the Vaughan Road on February 6th. However, even these accounts are very brief and if included at all on a Hatcher’s Run battle-map, the Rebel cavalry are depicted as one divisional icon; I know of no map that situates the specific cavalry brigades6.

The three brigades will now be considered in turn and the evidence considered for their participation in the battle of Hatcher’s Run (February 5-7th 1865).

 

Barringer’s Brigade                                                                                                Brig-Gen. Rufus Barringer

 

1st NC Cav (9th NC Regiment) – Col. William Cheek

2nd NC Cav (19th NC Regiment) – Col. William Roberts

3rd NC Cav (41st NC Regiment) – Lt-Col. Roger Moore

5th NC Cav (63rd NC Regiment) – Col. James McNeill

 

Rufus Barringer was a colorful character; he had led a very distinguished war career in the cavalry and rose through the ranks at pace. He was promoted to Brig-Gen. on June 6th 1864 and assigned command of North Carolina’s cavalry brigade, a position he held until his capture on April 3rd 1865.  After being captured, he had the notoriety of being the first Rebel general to meet President Abraham Lincoln. Barringer currently has a website devoted to him, run by a descendent, who also published an award-winning biography about the general. There is NO mention of the battle of Hatcher’s Run in this, or other Barringer biographies7. The composition of the brigade and regimental commanders is consistent between the “Civil War in the East” (CWE) database and the end of January 1865 Rebel Inspection Report; the latter noted the brigade strength as 1,356 cavalrymen (or 1,850 depending on what data one choses)8. Soon after Hatcher’s Run, Col. William Roberts was promoted to Brig-General on February 23rd 1865 and took over Dearing’s Brigade (see below), following Dearing’s transfer to Rosser’s cavalry division in The Shenandoah Valley. At 23 years old, this made William Roberts the youngest Rebel general in the entire war9.

 

 

Brig-Gen. Rufus Barringer
Col. William Roberts; following Hatcher’s Run he was promoted and given command of Dearing’s Brigade

 

 

 

 

Many civil war cavalry units had two names, a state regimental name and a cavalry name. This was the case for North Carolinian cavalry units. For example, the 9th NC State regiment was the first cavalry regiment formed in North Carolina and hence it was called the 1st NC cavalry. This was Barringer’s former regiment and was claimed to be JEB Stuart’s favorite regiment10.

The accounts of these regiments in Clark’s five-volume anthology of first-hand accounts for most North Carolinian regiments reveals nothing about the Hatcher’s Run fight. Interestingly, they are listed under their regimental state name11. The account for the 1st NC Cavalry is actually penned by Barringer himself and does not mention the battle of Hatcher’s Run at all. The relevant account for the 2nd NC Cavalry is penned by Col. Roberts and again does not mention the battle, although there is a detailed discussion of the Belfield / Stony Creek Raid in December 1864. The 3rd NC Cavalry account also fails to mention Hatcher’s Run. Perhaps most intriguing of all is the narrative for the 5th NC Cavalry. This was penned by a Private Paul Means and is a very detailed account of the unit. There are several pages plus a map, discussing the Belfield / Stony Creek Raid (December 9-11th 1864) which from an overall civil war perspective was a smaller affair than the Hatcher’s Run battle12. There is then a similarly detailed account of the battle of Chamberlain Run (31st March 1865) including the deaths of Col. McNeill and his second -in-command. There is also a copy of a letter from Robert E. Lee written just after the battle of Hatcher’s Run to the Rebel Government complaining about lack of supplies for his soldiers; it even alludes to the recent battle. However, there is simply NO mention of the 5th NC cavalry taking part in the battle at all. Other accounts for these regiments also report nothing for the battle13.

I have located a regimental history (of the 2nd NC Cav) that does indeed refer to the battle of Hatcher’s Run14. The account albeit brief, focusses upon the poor state of the troops, the harsh winter weather and the grueling march for both men and horses from Belfield to Hatcher’s Run on February 5th / 6th 1865. Again, Robert E. Lee’s letter to the Rebel government complaining about the lack of provisions is recorded. What is also reported is that the regiment suffered no casualties during February 5-7th. Indeed, research has uncovered that the entire brigade suffered but two casualties (1W and 1M) for 5th – 7th February15.

Based upon the consistent non-accounts and miniscule casualties, the rational conclusion is that whatever troopers from Barringer’s Brigade reached Hatcher’s Run from Belfield, they were not heavily engaged in the battle.

 

Beale’s Brigade                                                                                                      Brig-Gen. Richard Beale

 

9th Va Cav. – Lt-Col. Thomas Waller

10th Va Cav. – Lt-Col. Robert Caskie16

13th Va Cav. – Col. Jefferson Phillips17

 

Richard Beale was a highly regarded Rebel cavalier; his exploits had frequently found favor with the legendary JEB Stuart and he had accordingly risen through the ranks during the war to become colonel of the 9th Va Cav18. His rank, as of early February 1865 is slightly complicated. In August 1864, brigade commander John R. Chambliss was killed in action. Col. J. Lucius Davis (10th Va Cav) as the senior officer took command of the brigade. Davis (a cousin of the Rebel president) went on leave towards the end of October and resigned on February 2nd 1865 frustrated that he hadn’t been promoted to Brig-General19. Meanwhile, according to Beale’s memoirs, he took over brigade command on 17th October 186420. His promotion papers got misplaced and his promotion only came through on February 6th 1865, but was effective from January 6th 186521. The brigade Inspection Report for January 28th 1865 has Beale listed as a Brig-Gen. and the strength of the brigade was recorded as 958 cavalrymen (or 1,247)22.

 

The composition of the brigade and regimental commanders presented above is consistent with both the CWE database and the Rebel Inspection Report for end of January 186523. However, for the period December 1864 – April 1865 one highly cited source has Beale’s brigade being commanded by a Capt. Samuel Burt. Records show that up until late February, Richard Beale was still in command and one has to assume he was commanding at Hatchers Run24.

Sources locating this brigade at Hatcher’s Run are more plentiful than for Barringer’s Brigade, just discussed. Beale’s own memoir devotes one sentence to the battle and reports25 that: “Much of the winter of 1864-1865 was spent in comfortable winter quarters near Belfield Station, each of the squadrons taking its turn at picket service on a line about 30 miles from camp. They were on the right of our infantry at Hatcher’s Run in the month of February 1865 and in an engagement on the 5th of that month suffered considerably” (my added emphasis). One source puts the brigade casualties for Hatcher’s Run at: 2 killed, 8 wounded and 16 missing26.

 

Gen. Beale had three sons serving in his former 9th Va cavalry regiment, one of which, Lieutenant George W. Beale, wrote a book about his war experiences. This account has a chapter devoted to the battle of Hatcher’s Run27. However, there is little discussion of the major fighting on February 6th, it only reports: “… Lee’s Division of Cavalry marched on the night of the fifth [February] 40 miles in order to reach this scene of action, and on the sixth were engaged with the Federal cavalry escorting Warren.” He then goes on to describe events on the following day (the final day of the battle), where he was seriously wounded and two comrades either side of him, killed in a sharp fight. I find it curious that his father’s memoirs mention nothing of this event. A more recent and acclaimed history of the 9th Va cavalry28 also briefly mentions their involvement at Hatcher’s Run, it reports: “When the Federal V Corps made a turning movement to Hatcher’s Run, in early February, the 9th Va Cavalry marched 40 miles overnight to reach the site by the morning of February 6th. The regiment drove in some skirmishers but recoiled from the volleys of an entrenched line and suffered considerably”.

A modern history of the 10th Va Cav mentions the unpleasant march from Belfield to Hatcher’s Run, but nothing of the battle itself29. Accounts for the 13th Va Cav are more illuminating30. It appears that elements of this regiment were on picket duty in early February, away from the Division camped at Belfield. Consequently, they were involved in some short but sharp fighting of February 5th to hold back the Federal advance. It is reported that the regiment lost 13 men captured at Hatcher’s Run on this day. No mention is made of the fighting on the subsequent two days.

In conclusion, the organizational structure of this brigade for early February 1865 appears highly reliable. Significant evidence exists to demonstrate that the units were engaged at the battle of Hatcher’s Run. However, given that the brigade commander reports that “they suffered considerably” at the battle, one may wonder why more words were not written on the subject in subsequent memoirs and biographies?

 

 

 

 

Brig-Gen. Richard Beale Post war photo

                                                 

Brig-Gen. James Dearing

 

Dearing’s Brigade                                                                                                     Brig-Gen. James Dearing

 

8th Ga Cav – Col Joel Griffin31

4th NC Cav (59th NC Regiment) – Col Dennis Ferebee

16th Battalion NC Cav (75th NC Regiment) – Lt Col John Edelin32

Graham’s Va Battery33 – Capt. Edward W. Graham

 

James Dearing was yet another colorful character. Formerly an artillery commander, he was promoted to Brig-Gen. on April 29th 1864 and assigned to a cavalry brigade which initially fought in North Carolina. Strangely, his promotion never seems to have been ratified by the Rebel government leading to confusion over his formal rank34. From May 1864 onwards, he was always referred to as Brig-Gen. in official reports and private letters. He had a quasi-independent command, operating with merit, across several commands around Petersburg during the summer and autumn of 1864. He and his longstanding friend Gen. Rosser, were constantly conspiring for him to be moved to Rosser’s command (in the Shenandoah Valley), but Robert E. Lee, kept refusing. Gen. Beauregard also requested that Dearing be promoted to Maj-Gen. and lead his cavalry division in the west, this also got rejected. While Dearing was on furlough visiting his family and new baby, between late December 1864 and early January 1865, Robert E. Lee transferred him to General Butler’s Cavalry Division. However, in mid-January Lee sent Butler’s Division to the Carolinas (see page 1 above) and Lee decided to keep Dearing around Petersburg, so he transferred him to Rooney Lee’s Cavalry Division. This was the situation around the time of the battle of Hatcher’s Run35.

Soon after the battle, Dearing got his wish and he was transferred to Rosser’s command in the Valley to eventually take command of the renown Laurel Brigade36. On February 23rd 1865 Col. William Roberts was promoted to Brig-Gen. and took over Dearing’s brigade (see page 2 above). In the last days of the war Rosser and Dearing returned to the desperate fighting following the Federal breakthrough at Petersburg37. A detailed MA Thesis on Gen. Dearing, that was turned into a book, does not mention the February 1865 battle of Hatcher’s Run38.

The above regimental composition of the brigade is consistent across both the CWE database for January 1865 and the end of January 1865 Inspection Report, which recorded the brigade strength at 710 cavalrymen and 69 artillerymen (or 1,055 “present for duty”)39. However, in Noah Trudeau’s well cited book40, for December 1864 to April 1865, it erroneously lists Gen. Dearing as being in Tom Rosser’s Division and hence, nowhere near Hatcher’s Run in February 1865. Trudeau lists Brig Gen. William Roberts as commander of this cavalry brigade. As I described above, Roberts only took over command in mid-February, after the battle of Hatcher’s Run.

The 8th Ga Cavalry was created by consolidating three Companies of the 20th Georgia Cavalry Battalion with seven companies of the 62nd Georgia Partisan Rangers commanded by Colonel Joel R. Griffin. The order to consolidate was originally issued in July 1864 but was not executed until October 1864. The 62nd had been assigned to Dearing’s Brigade in May 1864 and the newly formed 8th Ga Cav. commanded by Griffin, remained with Dearing41. I have found no record linking this regiment to the Hatcher’s Run battle.

There are some illuminating accounts for the 4th NC Cavalry for early February 1865. In one regimental account42 Hatcher’s Run is not included on a list of engagements the regiment took part in. Another regimental history43 reports that the regiment was performing picket duties in early February and on February 4th was entertained by a mock jousting competition arranged by Barringer’s Brigade. There is no mention of the battle on the following three days. It goes on to detail how regimental commander Col. Ferebee resigned his commission on March 3rd, piqued by William Roberts from Barringer’s Brigade, being promoted ahead of him and given command of Dearing’s Brigade. The regiment’s contribution (listed under its 59th NC State Regiment name) in Clark’s anthology44 makes no mention of the Battle of Hatcher’s Run, although it does discuss the fighting over the same area in October 1864. There are reports of all the command changes in February: Dearing going to Rosser and Robert’s taking over the brigade. Also, mentioned is the “retiring” of Col. Ferebee. According to records from the North Carolina Civil War & Reconstruction History Center45 the regiment suffered only one casualty (a captured trooper) for the whole of February 1865, and the battle of Hatcher’s Run in that month, is not listed as an incident on the regiment’s roster, whereas fairly minor skirmishes are included.

As well as being called the 75th NC Regiment, the 16th Battalion NC Cav were also latterly called the Confederate 7th Cavalry. They were formed in July 1864, by consolidating five NC companies of the 7th Confederate Cavalry Regiment, three NC companies of the 62nd Georgia Cavalry Regiment, and Company C of the 12th NC Cavalry Battalion46. Their regimental account in Clark’s anthology47 is chronologically muddled, however, Hatcher’s Run is at least on a list of battles the unit took part in, although no details are given. One source reports that the regiment lost one trooper captured in early February48.

Following a large Rebel cavalry and artillery re-organization on January 16th 1865, Rooney Lee’s Cavalry Division had attached to it, Lt.-Col. Roger Chew’s Horse Artillery.  At the time of the Hatcher’s Run battle this horse-artillery was composed of three units:

  • Washington (SC) Artillery commanded by Lt. Lindsley Halsey. This had formerly been the famed “Hart’s Battalion”, but since Major James Hart’s serious wounding on Oct 27th 1864, had been reorganized and commanded by Halsey49.
  • 2nd Stuart Virginia Artillery, otherwise known as “McGregor’s VA Battery” was commanded by Major William McGregor50.
  • Petersburg Virginia Horse Artillery, otherwise known as “Graham’s Va Battery” was commanded by Capt. Edward Graham. This unit typically operated with Dearing’s brigade and is included in the brigade’s end-of-January Inspection Report51.

There is limited evidence to suggest that some if not all of these horse-artillery units were active on February 6th and 7th at the Hatcher’s Run battle52.

In summary, there is virtually no documentary evidence describing Dearing’s cavalry at the battle of Hatcher’s Run. The battle is conspicuously absent from most personal and regimental narratives. What casualty data that is available, would also suggest that this brigade was only minimally involved at Hatcher’s Run.

 

Conclusions

Unlike the two previous articles on the Rebel Infantry Corps, the regimental composition and commanders constituting Rooney Lee’s cavalry division is generally consistent across accounts. What is problematic in this instance, is the lack of information situating many of the units at the battle of Hatcher’s Run. Only solid evidence exists for the presence of Beale’s Brigade. With the confusions in the Inspection Reports, even knowing the actual Divisional strength is problematic, either 3,093 or 4,152, depending on which values one choses. This is a sizeable disparity, especially considering that the standard estimate for all Rebel forces at the battle is around 14,00053.

  • Several highly regarded accounts of the battle do not mention Rebel cavalry activity at all; whereas other accounts clearly describe their presence.
  • Lengthy and reputable biographies of both Barringer and Dearing pointedly omit the battle. This could suggest that regarding these brigades, nothing of significance occurred during the battle.
  • Most of the Barringer / Dearing regimental histories do not discuss the battle.
  • The above conclusions are supported by the miniscule casualties reported for both Barringer’s and Dearing’s Brigades, which would suggest they were minimally engaged, at the most.
  • Only Beale and his regiments provide any serious acknowledgement of the battle. Yet we are left with a conundrum from Beale himself, when he reports that the brigade “suffered considerably” at the battle, but there is no further account anywhere to develop what sounds like a significant engagement. Beale also fails to acknowledge that his son was actually seriously wounded at the battle.
  • Until new material is uncovered, the role of Rooney Lee’s cavalry at Hatcher’s Run will remain shrouded in mystery.

 

 

Notes

Information about the photographs used and full details of the bold references are provided in the Introduction text along with “Acknowledgements”.

 

  1. 1. John Horn (1993) “The Petersburg Campaign” in which chapter 10 “The Battle of Hatcher’s Run” p199 -200; Samuel Martin (2001) “Southern Hero: Matthew Calbraith Butler: Confederate General, Hampton Red Shirt, and U.S. Senator” p 132-133; Mary Daughtry (2002) “Gray Cavalier”, p242-246; Hawks, C.S.A. Cavalry Corps January 1865 webpage, Cavalry Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, December 1864 (civilwarintheeast.com) .
  2. Sherrill, p412; reports the brigade strength at 2,800; whereas the end of Jan inspection report amounts to 3,039 men; NARA, (1973) M935, Roll 15, 1.P.58, 0339: Inspection Reports and Related Records Received By the Inspection Branch in the Confederate Adjutant and Inspector General’s Office.
  3. Mary Daughtry (2002) “Gray Cavalier: The Life and Wars of General W.H.F. “Rooney” Lee”.
  4. Richard Beale (1899), “History of the Ninth Virginia Cavalry, in the War Between the States” p147; Daniel Balfour (1986) “Thirteenth Virginia Cavalry” p42; Mary Daughtry (2002) “Gray Cavalier”, p242-246.

5.Trudeau p 312- 322; John Maass (2015) “The Petersburg and Appomattox Campaigns 1864-65” p40-42;  Perry Jamieson (2015) “Spring 1865: The Closing Campaigns of the Civil War”, p84-90; Jerry Korn (1987), “Pursuit to Appomattox” Time Life Series, p27-33; Bergeron p30-37, does have a Rooney Lee icon on a map, but there is no mention of Rebel cavalry in the text; Earl Hess (2009) “In the Trenches at Petersburg: Field Fortifications & Confederate Defeat”, p228-233, Rebel cavalry literally receive two words on p232, “ …. another fight took place along Vaughan Road, as Confederate cavalry and infantry advanced northward…”; Gen. Andrew Humphrey’s (1916) “Campaigns of the Civil War: The Virginia Campaign of ’64 and ’65”, p312-315.

  1. Bearss p200- 221 and includes a detailed battle-map on p207 with a Rooney Lee icon. There are few references to Rebel cavalry in the Official Records, see O.R. Vol 46, part 1, p253, 267; Sherrill, p413-14, but no mention of specific Rebel cavalry brigades; Harold Hand (2006) “One Good Regiment” p193; this Federal account refers to firing into the enemy and: “emptying a good many saddles”; William Locke (1868) “The Story of The Regiment”, p376. This is a history of the 11th Penn Infantry regiment and regarding the Hatcher’s Run fight it reports: “Meanwhile Gregg [Federal cavalry commander], on the left, pressed on flank and in rear by the rebel cavalry, was also driven from his defenses”. The issue has recently been addressed by myself in: Nigel Lambert & Bryce Suderow (2022) “The Battle of Hatcher’s Run: A Re-Appraisal” North and South Magazine, Series 2, Vol. 2, No. 5, p35-46.
  2. www.generalrufusbarringer.com; Sheridan R. Barringer (2016) “Fighting for General Lee: Confederate General Rufus Barringer and the North Carolina Cavalry Brigade”. Marvin Krieger (1979) “Rufus Clay Barringer”, NCpedia (https://www.ncpedia.org); Sheridan “Butch” Barringer (2008), The General, published in “Confederate Cavalry”, Rantings of a Civil War Historian » Brig. Gen. Rufus Barringer (civilwarcavalry.com); Rufus Barringer, WiKi Rufus Barringer – Wikipedia.
  3. Hawks, William H.F. Lee’s Division January 1865 webpage, William H. F. Lee’s Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, January 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com) and NARA, (1973) M935, Roll 15, 2.P.58, 0355-57: Inspection Reports and Related Records Received By the Inspection Branch in the Confederate Adjutant and Inspector General’s Office. The accounting in the cavalry Inspection Reports is mystifying, while the cover records 1,356 men, the aggregate of column 11 (Present for Duty) is 1,850.

9.Neil Raiford (2006) “The 4th North Carolina Cavalry in the Civil War: A History and Roster”, p83-84; Military WiKi, “General William Roberts” – Wiki William Paul Roberts | Military Wiki | Fandom (wikia.org).

  1. 10. 1st North Carolina Cavalry Regiment Re-enactor website: 9th Regiment North Carolina State Troops / 1st North Carolina Cavalry International (1st-nc-cavalry.org).
  2. 11. Clark: 9th NC: vol 1, p438-39; 19th NC: vol 2, p105-107; 41st NC: vol 2, p782; 63rd NC: vol 3, p632-643.
  3. The Stony Creek Raid (petersburgsiege.org)

13.The National Park Service database account for the 1st NC cavalry does not mention Hatcher’s Run, Battle Unit Details – The Civil War (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov).  The “Carolana website”, 3rd NC Cavalry webpage 41st NC Regiment (3rd Cavalry) (carolana.com) has no mention of Hatcher’s Run; John Rigdon (2018) Historical Sketch & Roster of The 5th Regiment, North Carolina Cavalry, does not mention Hatcher’s Run; On the Thomas Legion website, Hatcher’s Run is not listed as a battle that the 1st NC or 2nd NC Cavalry took part in,   http://www.thomaslegion.net/1stnorthcarolinacavalryregimentbattlesandcasualties.html.  http://www.thomaslegion.net/2ndnorthcarolinacavalryregimentbattlesandcasualties.html  

  1. Roger Harrell (2011)“The 2nd North Carolina Cavalry”, p346-47.
  2. 15. Alfred Young, a recognized expert on civil war casualty records, Personal Communication (April 2021).
  3. Stephen Taylor (2015) Hoosier State Chronicles,The Hermit on the Banks of the Wabash | Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana’s Digital Newspaper Program. Robert Caskie has an interesting back-story, which is captured in this article. After the war, he and his family travelled west and he set up a prosperous tobacco business, only for him to face financial ruin due to a law-suit back in Virginia. He travelled north to avoid both his creditors and family and in effect became a recluse under another name. He remained a hermit in the Wabash Valley until around 1910, having famously been rescued from a flood. In 1920, aged 90, he travelled to France and Switzerland and lived there for a period, before returning to the US, where we died in Philadelphia in 1928 aged 98. His other notoriety is that he attended the execution of John Brown in 1859 and it is claimed that he is the central figure in a famous civil war ambrotype image from that event, discovered in 1911 and used recently by Ken Burns.
  4. 17. Find a Grave website, COL Jefferson Curle Phillips (1821-1910) – Find A Grave Memorial.

18.Civil War WiKi, Richard L. T. Beale | Civil War Wiki | Fandom (wikia.org);  World Biographical Encyclopedia, Richard Beale (May 22, 1819 — April 21, 1893), American military, politician | World Biographical Encyclopedia (prabook.com) ; Find a Grave Memorial, Richard Lee Turberville Beale (1819-1893) – Find A Grave Memorial ; Richard Beale (1899), “History of the Ninth Virginia Cavalry, in the War Between the States”.

One event has particularly been linked to Richard Beale. In March 1864, he intercepted the Federal Kilpatrick – Dahlgren cavalry raid, capturing about 175 men and killed Dahlgren. Papers found upon Dahlgren’s person, revealing a design to burn Richmond and kill Rebel President Jefferson Davis and his Cabinet, were forwarded to the Rebel government. These controversial papers discovered by Beale’s troopers may have been a factor that influenced John Wilkes Booth in his decision to assassinate Abraham Lincoln.

  1. Colin Woodward (2016) “Who was Colonel James Lucius Davis?” Who was Colonel James Lucius Davis? – leefamilydigitalarchive (wordpress.com) ; Hawks, “10th Va Cavalry regiment webpage, History of the 10th Virginia Cavalry Regiment in the American Civil War (civilwarintheeast.com).
  2. 20. Richard Beale (1899), “History of the Ninth Virginia Cavalry, in the War Between the States” p146.
  3. World Biographical Encyclopedia, Richard Beale (May 22, 1819 — April 21, 1893), American military, politician | World Biographical Encyclopedia (prabook.com)
  4. 22. NARA, (1973) M935, Roll 15, 3.P.58, 0368: Inspection Reports and   Related Records Received By the Inspection Branch in the Confederate Adjutant and Inspector General’s Office. The usual discrepancy in the cavalry accounting between the cover figure and the “present for duty” figure.
  5. 23. Ibid 0368-0370; Hawks, William H.F. Lee’s Division January 1865 webpage, William H. F. Lee’s Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, January 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com).
  6. 24. Trudeau, p500, Organisation of Forces Appendix.
  7. Richard Beale (1899), “History of the Ninth Virginia Cavalry, in the War Between the States” p147.
  8. Alfred Young, a recognized expert on civil war casualty records, Personal Communication (April 2021).
  9. George Beale (1918) “A Lieutenant of Cavalry in Lee’s Army”, Chapter 32, p197-200.
  10. Robert Krick (1982) “Ninth Virginia Cavalry”, p43.
  11. Robert Driver (1993) “Tenth Virginia Cavalry” p69.
  12. 30. Daniel Balfour (1986) “Thirteenth Virginia Cavalry” p43; John Cooke (1867) “Wearing of the Gray; Being Personal Portraits, Scenes and Adventures of the War”, p553-564; Mary Daughtry (2002) “Gray Cavalier”, p242-246.
  13. 31. Col. Griffin was absent in December 1864 for no known reason and again took a leave of absence on February 17th for an indeterminant period. Schulte, 8th Ga Cavalry webpage, 8th Georgia Cavalry — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com).
  14. 32. John Edelin (from Maryland) had only taken over regimental command in January 1865. As someone from outside North Carolina, he does not appear to have been popular, and when he got captured on March 30th 1865, few in his command seemed to be upset. Clark, vol 4, 75th Regiment, p89; Schulte, 16th NC Battalion Cavalry webpage,16th North Carolina Battalion Cavalry — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com).
  15. Organized in April 1843 this artillery unit had a distinguished antebellum history. For example, it served as security during the trial and execution of John Brown. Taken from: “Graham’s Petersburg, Jackson’s Kanawha, and Lurty’s Roanoke Horse Artillery” by Robert H. Moore, II (1996).
    http://reocities.com/Heartland/Hills/1850/Grahamsdetails.html
  16. 34. Military WiKi, James Dearing | Military Wiki | Fandom (wikia.org) ; James Dearing – Wikipedia ;
  17. William Parker (1969) “Brigadier General James Dearing C.S.A.” MA Thesis, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, p71-74.
  18. 36. Ibid p75; William McDonald (1907) “A History of the Laurel Brigade”, p364.
  19. 37. The story surrounding Dearing’s demise is a well-documented topic. On April 6th during the Battle of High Bridge, Dearing was shot in a pistol fight with Federal Lt-Col. Theodore Read, Read died instantly and Dearing who was captured, died of his wounds on April 23rd, two weeks after the ANV surrender. Notwithstanding whether his promotion to Brig.-Gen. was formally ratified, Dearing has the claimed notoriety of being the last general to die from combat in the war. William Parker (1969) “Brigadier General James Dearing C.S.A.” MA Thesis, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, p77-81; Military WiKi, James Dearing | Military Wiki | Fandom (wikia.org).
  20. 38. William Parker (1969) “Brigadier General James Dearing C.S.A.” MA Thesis, Virginia Polytechnic Institute; William Parker (1990), General James Dearing, CSA (The Virginia Civil War Battles and Leaders Series).
  21. Hawks, William H.F. Lee’s Division January 1865 webpage, William H. F. Lee’s Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, January 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com); NARA, (1973) M935, Roll 15, 4.P.58, 0380-82: Inspection Reports and Related Records Received By the Inspection Branch in the Confederate Adjutant and Inspector General’s Office.  Again, we have a mis-match between the cover figures and the “Present for Duty” figures from column 11.
  22. 40. Trudeau, p500, Organisation of Forces Appendix.
  23. Hawks, 8th Georgia Cavalry webpage, History of the 8th Georgia Cavalry Regiment in the Civil War (civilwarintheeast.com) ; National Park Service, Confederate Georgia Troops, 62nd Georgia regiment, Battle Unit Details – The Civil War (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov); Research OnLine – Georgia 8th Cavalry Regiment, Research OnLine – Georgia 8th Cavalry Regiment.
  24. John Ridgon (2019) “Historical Sketch and Roster of the North Carolina 4th Cavalry Regiment”, Research OnLine – 4th Regiment, North Carolina Cavalry.
  25. 43. Neil Raiford (2006) “The 4th North Carolina Cavalry in the Civil War: A History and Roster”, p83-84. Wadesboro NC Argus Newspaper, Feb 23rd 1865.
  26. Clark, 59th NC Regiment, Vol 3, p466.
  27. 45. Cheri Todd Molter, Content Development Specialist, N.C. Civil War & Reconstruction History Center; Personal Communication, April 8th 2021.
  28. 46. Family Search, NC Civil War Confederate Cavalry Units, North Carolina Civil War Confederate Cavalry Units • FamilySearch,
  29. 47. Clark, 75th NC Regiment, vol 4, p87-89.
  30. 48. Alfred Young, Civil War casualty-data expert, Personal Communication.
  31. 49. Louise Pettus, “James F. Hart of Yorkville”, JAMES F. HART OF YORKVILLE (rootsweb.com); Schulte, Washington South Carolina Artillery (Hart’s SC Battery) webpage: Washington South Carolina Artillery (Hart’s SC Battery) — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com) ; West Virginia in the Civil War website, Chew’s Battery | West Virginia in the Civil War (wvcivilwar.com).

 

 

  1. 50. Schulte, 2nd Stuart Virginia Artillery webpage: 2nd Stuart Virginia Artillery (McGregor’s VA Battery) — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com); Robert J Trout (2008) “Memoirs of the Stuart Horse Artillery Battalion: Moorman’s and Hart’s Batteries”, p245.
  2. 51. Robert H. Moore, II (1996). “Graham’s Petersburg, Jackson’s Kanawha, and Lurty’s Roanoke Horse Artillery”,

http://reocities.com/Heartland/Hills/1850/Grahamsdetails.html; Schulte, Petersburg Virginia Artillery webpage, Petersburg Virginia Artillery (Graham’s VA Battery) — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com); NARA, (1973) M935, Roll 15, 4.P.58, 0380-82: Inspection Reports and Related Records Received By the Inspection Branch in the Confederate Adjutant and Inspector General’s Office.

  1. O.R., 46, Pt2, p465-66; O.R., 46, Pt1, p369; Bearss, p211-12.
  2. Calkins, p23.

 

About the Author

Photo of Dr. Nigel Lambert at Petersburg National Battlefield

Visiting Petersburg National Park (Oct 2015)

Dr Nigel Lambert is British and lives near Norwich, England. Semi-retired, Nigel is a biochemist by profession, although from the turn of this century he has been involved in health research from a social perspective. A life-long Civil War enthusiast, he has been privileged to visit many of the wonderful battlefields on several occasions. A recent chance encounter with a civil war rifle ignited his interest in the battle of Hatcher’s Run. Surprised by the sparse and conflicting literature on the battle, he decided to employ his scientific knowhow to create this series of articles exploring the Rebel Order of Battle for Hatcher’s Run.

 

 

 

Tagged as: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

{ 0 comments }

OR XL P1 (Broadfoot Sup.) #17: Journal of Lieutenant William C. Miller, Btty B 1st PA Lt Arty, June 13-30, 1864

OR XL P1 (Broadfoot Sup.) #17: Journal of Lieutenant William C. Miller, Btty B 1st PA Lt Arty, June 13-30, 18641

Image of Official Records, Volume XL, Part 1 and Broadfoot Supplement to the ORs, Volume 7SOPO Editor’s Note: The Broadfoot Supplement to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies is rare and not sold in single volumes.  As a courtesy to researchers, I’m making available summaries of the reports contained in this set relevant to the Siege of Petersburg.

Summary: This one-page report by Lieutenant William C. Miller of Battery B, 1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery covers the battery’s role in the first two weeks of the Siege of Petersburg. The battery was engaged on June 17-18, 1864 at the Second Battle of Petersburg, and if the Broadfoot Supplement editors did not make a mistake, it appears the unit also fired 93 rounds at a Confederate fort opposite their position on June 30, 1864 without reply.  I question the date of June 30 because it is random and because there are numerous other mistakes of this sort in at least this volume (Volume 7) of the Supplement to the Official Records.  I suspect this may really be July 30, 1864, the date of the Battle of the Crater, both because a major event happened that day and because it aligns with the reports of other Fifth Corps batteries.  I would have to see the original report to know for sure.

Source: Library of Congress, Henry Jackson Hunt Papers

Available Online?: No.

 

Source:

  1. Supplement to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Part I, Reports, Vol. 7, pp. 247-248 ↩

Tagged as: , , , ,

{ 0 comments }

Rebel Units and Commanders at the Battle of Hatcher’s Run: Confederate Third Corps

SOPO Editor’s Note: This is the third in a series of five guest posts by Dr. Nigel Lambert, a semi-retired British biochemist with a lifelong interest in the American Civil War.  Nigel has worked closely with Bryce Suderow over the first half of 2021 thoroughly researching the Confederate Order of Battle at the Battle of Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865.  Read on and you will soon see why this is such a difficult task.  I want to thank Dr. Lambert for his generous decision to publish this series of articles here at the Siege of Petersburg Online.  This article is the copyrighted work of Nigel Lambert and may not be reproduced without his express written consent. All rights reserved.

*****

Rebel Units and Commanders at the Battle of Hatcher’s Run.

Article 2: The Rebel Third Corps

By Dr Nigel Lambert, May 2021

 

This article (number 2 in a series of 3) explores the Rebel organization of the Army of Northern Virginia (ANV) Third Corps as pertaining to the battle of Hatcher’s Run (Feb 5-7th 1865). At the start of February, the Corps was composed of three divisions: Heth’s, Mahone’s and Wilcox’s. The latter did not take part in the battle and is thus not discussed in this article. However, one account does mention Brig.-Gen. Samuel McGowan’s Brigade of Maj-Gen Cadmus Wilcox’s Division, relieving Davis’s Brigade in the Rebel defenses on February 5tha.  The Third Corps artillery is also not included in this analysis. The two participating Divisions were composed of nine brigades. The following schema depicts the Rebel units involved in the battle of Hatcher’s Run and adopts the formal nomenclature used at the time to describe them. These units will be explored in turn to reveal the regimental structure of each brigade, who was actually commanding these units at the battle, and highlight areas of contention.

 

 

A.P. HILL (Third Corps)

 

 

HETH (Div)                                        MAHONE (Div)                     [WILCOX (Div)]

Cooke’s Brigade                               Finegan’s Brigade                  not involved

Davis’ Brigade                                  Harris’ Brigade

McComb’s Brigade                          Sanders’ Brigade

MacRae’s Brigade                           Sorrel’s Brigade

Weisiger’s Brigade

 

Third Corps (Lt.-Gen. A. P. Hill)

Gen. Hill and his Corps had been defending the Petersburg line since June 1864. As 1865 dawned, Hill’s physical health was causing concern amongst his staff and colleagues. He had developed uremia (potentially fatal), which together with stress and lack of sleep made it hard for him to self-orientate and be attentive. The condition of his soldiers was also poor, with food and clothing (especially shoes) in short supply during the bitter winter. Consequently, absenteeism through illness and desertion was rife.1

 

 

 

Corps commander Gen. A.P. Hill
Maj-Gen. Henry Heth

 

Heth’s Division                                                                                                                                                    Maj.-Gen. Henry Heth

Gen. Heth was an experienced commander and had led the division since May 1863 through many of the war’s bloodiest battles2. Estimates of the division strength around the time of the Hatcher’s Run battle range from 3,000 to 4,676 officers and men3. Some sources actually report Brig.-Gen. Joseph Davis commanding the Division for February 18654. As highlighted in my previous article, what has most likely occurred here, is that the “Civil War in the East” database (CWE) database has taken information from the Sibley data source5 stating that Davis was in command at some point in February 1865 and projected that to cover all of February 1865. The evidence is overwhelming that Heth was in Divisional command at Hatcher’s Run6. Although most probably a typographical error, one renown Order of Battle places Heth’s Division within Gordon’s Second Corps6a.

 

Cooke’s Brigade                                                                                                                                               Brig.-Gen. John Cooke 

 

15th NC – Lt-Col. (Col.) William Yarborough

27th NC – Maj. (Lt-Col.)  Joseph Webb

46th NC – Lt-Col. Alexander McAlister (uncertain)

48th NC – Capt. John Moore (uncertain)

55th NC – Capt. Walter Whitted

 

 

Brig-Gen Joseph Davis
Brig-Gen John Cooke

 

 

 

John Cooke was the brother-in-law of the famed Rebel cavalier JEB Stuart, while his father was a general in the Federal army. Cooke was promoted to general on November 1st 1862 and had a very active war, being wounded seven times, at least four of which were serious7.

The regimental compositional data for this brigade in January 1865 is consistent across the CWE database and an Inspection Report that took place on 28th January8. However, there are several anomalies with this information and the above list hopefully provides a more complete picture of the regimental structure that existed at the battle of Hatchers Run, just over one week later.

A significant amendment is the inclusion of the 55th NC regiment, which transferred to Cooke’s Brigade from Davis’ Brigade just prior to the battle of Hatcher’s Run9 and hence was not listed in this brigade’s Inspection Report (see above). The 55th NC does not appear anywhere in the CWE database for January 186510. Their commander Capt. Walter Whitted was seriously wounded at Hatcher’s Run during the fighting of February 5th; it’s not clear if he ever returned to duty. The Sibley dataset records that Whitted took a leave of absence on February 16th, whereupon Capt. John Peden took command of the regiment. The CWE database erroneously has Peden in command of the 55th NC for all of February 186511.

William Yarborough was promoted to Colonel on November 4th 1864, however, both the End of January Inspection Report and the CWE database have him listed as Lt-Col.12.  Similarly, Joseph Webb was promoted to Lt-Col. on January 11th 1865, but he is only listed as a Major in the Inspection Report and CWE database for end of January13. At this late stage of the war there could be significant delays in getting promotions formally ratified by the Rebel government.

Lt-Col. Alexander McAlister had commanded the 46th NC throughout October – December 1864; the formal regimental commander Col. Samuel Saunders, returned in January 1865 and his name is found on the January 27th Inspection Report and the CWE database for that month. However, it seems that McAlister was back in command during February 1865 (possibly including the Hatcher’s Run battle) up to February 27th, when he was sent on a special assignment14.

The End of January Inspection Report and CWE database have Col. Samuel Walkup as commander of the 48th NC regiment15, however, he went on leave from January 29th to around February 16th and hence would not have been at the battle of Hatcher’s Run. Capt. John Moore had on recent occasions acted as regimental commander in the absence of Col. Walkup and it is likely that he did so on this absence also16.

At the time of the Inspection Report on January 25th 1865, the brigade strength was reported as 1,412 infantrymen17. However, this did not include the 55th NC regiment, who were inspected as part of Davis’ brigade (see below).

Some casualty data shows that the 55th NC regiment lost 2 killed and 8 wounded at the battle, and the 27th NC regiment lost 1 killed and 1 wounded, however, some claim that the 55th NC loses were far greater18.

The reports of these five regiments in Clarks five-volume anthology are rather mixed. The 15th and 48th accounts have no mention of the battle at all and the 46th and 55th have just a few words. The 27th NC account however, contains a much fuller description of their deeds at the battle19.

 

Davis’ Brigade

Brig-Gen. Joseph Davis

 

1st Confederate Battalion – Maj. Francis McClung

2nd Miss – Lt-Col. John Blair

11th Miss – Maj. (Col.) Reuben Reynolds

26th Miss – Maj. Tully Parker

42nd Miss – Lt-Col. (Col.) Andrew Nelson

 

Joseph Davis was the nephew of the Rebel President Jefferson Davis; he gained a Brig-Gen. commission in September 1862 and was assigned to this brigade which he led through some of the most bitter battles of the war. By the end of January 1865, the brigade strength was 978 infantrymen20.

The brigade’s Inspection Report for January 30th 1865 and CWE database for that January, provide the same regimental structures21. Regarding the situation a week later at the battle of Hatchers Run, a few amendments have been made in creating the above list. The 55th NC regiment was still part of this brigade on the day of inspection (272 men present for duty), however, this regiment transferred to Cooke’s North Carolinian Brigade in early February 1865 before the battle of Hatcher’s Run, as described above. The CWE database mistakenly includes the 26th NC regiment and not the 26th Miss, as part of the brigade. The listed commander, Major Parker was a longstanding member of the 26th Miss22. The 26th NC was in fact part of MacRae’s Brigade (see below). Reuben Reynolds (11th Miss) was promoted to Colonel on December 1st 1864; however, he is still listed as a Major in the January 30th Inspection Report23. Similarly, Andrew Nelson (42nd Miss) was promoted to Colonel as early as May 5th 1864, but is still listed as Lt-Col. in the January Inspection Report and CWE database in January 186524.

As discussed above, the CWE database erroneously has Gen. Davis as Division commander for all of February 1865, (which obviously would include the Hatcher’s Run battle) with Lt-Col. Nelson in charge of the brigade. It seems fairly clear that Gen. Davis led the brigade at Hatcher’s Run25. There was a report that Lt-Col. Blair the commander of the 2nd Miss regiment, was captured during the February 5th fighting, however, upon further research this proved to be incorrect26.

 

McComb’s Brigade                                                                                                                                           Brig.-Gen. William McComb

 

2nd Md Battalion – Capt. Joseph McAleer

1st Tenn – Capt. William Daniel

7th Tenn – Lt-Col. Samuel Shepherd

14th Tenn – Capt. William Winfield (tentative)

17th and 23rd Tenn – Col Horace Ready

25th and 44th Tenn – Capt. Jonathon Spencer

63rd Tenn Battalion – Capt. A.A. Blair

 

This reconstituted brigade had a complex history; it is a combination of Gen. James Archer’s old brigade (2nd Md, 1st Tenn, 7th Tenn and 14th Tenn) and the remnants of Gen. Bushrod Johnson’s old brigade. These were the only two Tennessee brigades that fought in the Eastern Theatre. Bushrod Johnson had been promoted and given command of a division in the Fourth Corps and the former brigade commander, the popular Gen. Archer, died on October 24th 186427. However, the brigade was still formally called “Archer’s Brigade until Col. William McComb was promoted to Brig-Gen. on January 20th 1865 and formally took command28. The brigade structure presented is in accordance with both the brigade’s Inspection Report and CWE database for the end of January 1865, the former reports the brigade strength at 907 infantry29

Command of McComb’s old regiment the 14th Tenn, seems to be rather confused around the time of the Hatcher’s Run battle. One source reported that when McComb formally took over brigade command in January 1865, Lt-Col. James Lockert was made Colonel of the 14th Tenn, However, Lockert is not listed on the Confederate Colonel register, another source claims he was wounded and captured at Gettysburg and never returned to duty30.   The end of January Inspection Report shows Capt. Winfield as the regimental commander,

 

Brig-Gen William MacRae – absent during the Hatcher’s Run Battle.
Brig-Gen William McComb – promoted in January 1865.

 

 

whether he or James Lockert was commanding at Hatcher’s Run a week later, remains unclear. By the end of February 1865, Major James Johnson was reported as being in command31. This is a good illustration of the transient nature of regimental command structure in some parts of the Rebel Army at this late stage of the war.

 

MacRae’s Brigade                                                                                                                Lt-Col. James Adams / Col. John Lane – uncertain

 

11th NC – Capt. William Kerr

26th NC – uncertain

44th NC – Col. Thomas Singletary (uncertain)

47th NC – Maj. William Lankford

52nd NC – Capt. John Alexander

 

The Inspection Report for Jan 27th 1865, nine days before the battle of Hatcher’s Run, records Gen. William MacRae as present in command of the 1,203-strong brigade, with Col. John Lane as commander of the 26th NC regiment. The other regimental commanders present in the Inspection Report are as listed above32. The CWE database for January 1865, reports that the 44th NC regiment was commanded by Maj. Charles Stedman33 as of 31st January. In view of the Inspection Report data, this would seem to be an error. However, it is not inconceivable that Col. Singletary was absent at the battle of Hatcher’s Run a few days later, through illness or other reasons, and Maj. Stedman took over command. This would at least support recent accounts of the brigade at the battle (see below). Thomas Singletary had become Colonel of the 44th NC as early as June 28th 1862, following the death of his brother Col. George Singletary. Wounded at Spotsylvania in May 1864, he only returned to duty on November 21st 1864. Maj. Stedman had been commanding the regiment in his absence34.

Brig-Gen. William MacRae was a seasoned and highly regarded commander who had been leading the brigade since June 186435. However, several credible sources claim that MacRae was in fact absent from the Hatchers Run battle of February 5-7th 186536. One evidence stream is none other than Gen. A. P. Hill himself, who is reported as saying: “Had William MacRae been here, the result would have been different“. One source even claims that not only was Gen. MacRae absent, but his entire brigade was absent too37. Although, the account of the 44th NC regiment in Clark’s anthology doesn’t mention the battle of Hatcher’s Run (not an uncommon occurrence, as I have revealed for several other NC regiments that were present at the battle), the other four regimental accounts in Clark’s anthology do reference the battle38. The overwhelming evidence does place the brigade in the battle (see below).

Earl Hess reports that although MacRae was absent due to illness, at the battle of Hatcher’s Run (returning a few days after the battle), the brigade was very much present, although he is unclear as to who was commanding. Col John Lane (26th NC) was the brigade’s senior officer and was a likely candidate, but MacRae’s able adjutant-general Capt. Louis G. Young seemed active in directing troop movements during the battle39. A recent regimental history of the 11th NC regiment by William Venner, provides a fuller explanation40. This text confirms the absence of Gen. MacRae at Hatcher’s Run and goes on to claim that Lt-Col. James Adams of the 26th NC regiment took charge of the five-regiment brigade. Furthermore, because of the inexperienced nature of the commander, the brigade was initially kept in reserve during the battle. If this account is true, it would mean that both Col. John Lane, and Col. Thomas Singletary (both senior to Lt-Col Adams) were also absent at the time of the battle. In the Earl Hess account, it suggests but does not definitively state, that Maj. Stedman was in a position of command during the battle41. I have so far been unable to corroborate the Venner account and thus regard the command of both this brigade and that of the 44th NC regiment and 26th NC regiment at the battle of Hatcher’s Run as uncertain.

Many reputable accounts of the battle have William MacRae and his brigade present at the battle and heavily involved in the February 5th fighting42. Although some texts and battle-maps simply refer to “MacRae’s Brigade”, none add any qualifier stating that MacRae was not actually commanding the brigade, unlike for several other formally named units that were commanded at the battle by others (for example, Col. Peck commanding York’s Brigade, Col. Forney commanding Sander’s Brigade and Gen. Finegan commanding Mahone’s Division). It is probably safe to assume that the absence of William MacRae at Hatcher’s Run has “slipped under the radar” of many chroniclers.

 

Mahone’s Division                                                                                                             Brig-Gen. Joseph Finegan

Comprising of up to 4,600 men, Maj-Gen. William (Billy) Mahone’s Division formed a significant part of the Rebel Third Corps and was held in high esteem by both blue and gray soldiers alike. However, as February 1865 dawned, Mahone was absent sick and Brig- Gen. Finegan was tasked with commanding the division; it was Finegan who would lead the division at the battle of Hatcher’s Run43.

“Old Barney” Finegan (sometimes misspelt Finnegan) had strong ties to his beloved Florida. He and his Florida brigade had been transferred from Florida to Lee’s ANV in May 186444. Through his political connections in the “Sunshine State”, it had been arranged in January 1865 for him to return to Florida. However, out of a sense of duty, he agreed to remain in command of the division until Mahone returned, which he did on March 20th 1865, when Finegan consequently moving back to Florida45. His Florida brigade remained in the Petersburg trenches.

Despite the fact that William Mahone was nowhere near Hatcher’s Run in February 1865, formally, this combat unit, at the time, was called Mahone’s Division. For civil war era accounts and battle-maps mention may or may not have been made to the fact that the division at Hatcher’s Run, was actually being commanded by Gen. Finegan46. One eye-witness account reports: “General William Mahone of Hill’s Corps then arrived, and Pegram joined him in the attack and the enemy were driven across Hatcher’s Run”47. For any modern-day reader, the likely inference drawn from this text, is that General Mahone arrived in person.

Most modern narratives of the battle, explicitly state that Mahone was absent and that Finegan was commanding, most modern battle-maps use the “Finegan” label (and not the technically correct “Mahone”) to situate the division48. As I discussed in my Introduction article and as I’ve just described with MacRae’s Brigade, distinguishing between formal attributions of Rebel units and who was actually commanding them at a given time, can cause substantial misunderstandings. This clarification, as it pertains to the battle of Hatcher’s Run, is the primary goal of these articles.

For some unknown reason there are no End of January 1865 Inspection Reports filed for this Division49, which robs us of a significant information resource.

 

Finegan’s Brigade                                                                                                             Col. David Lang

 

2nd Fla – Col Walter Moore

5th Fla – Lt.-Col William Baya

8th Fla – Maj Thomas Clarke

9th Fla – Capt. H.C. Simons

10th Fla – Lt-Col. William Scott

11th Fla – Col. Theodore Brevard

This brigade was the command of Gen. Joseph Finegan, however, as he was temporarily serving as divisional commander (see above), brigade command passed to Col. David Lang. The CWE database erroneously has Gen. Finegan as brigade commander for all of January and February and Col. Lane is completely absent for these two months50.

Lang was the longstanding commander of the 8th Fla regiment, although the CWE database does not record him as commanding this unit from August 1864 to February 186551. In most general accounts of the battle, there is only commentary of the actions of Mahone’s Division per se; mention of the specific brigades is rare. In two examples of where the specific brigades are mentioned, this brigade is exclusively omitted. Despite these anomalies, and based upon a brigade history, it seems clear that Finegan’s Brigade was present at Hatcher’s Run and David Lang was its commander52.

Upon Finegan’s departure to Florida around March 20th (see above), after strong lobbying from Gen. Mahone, it was Col. Theodore Brevard that was promoted to Brig- Gen. to lead the brigade, and not David Lang, who Mahone may have personally disliked. By March 28th Brevard’s promotion was approved and he took command of the brigade. Interestingly, Brevard would be the last Rebel general (out of 425) duly appointed by President Jeff Davis53.

Two sources have a Capt. Clarke commanding the 10th Fla regiment for January 1865. However, at the Hatcher’s Run fight, the more senior regimental officer Lt-Col. William Scott, was not only present, but was wounded and lost an arm54, thus he is the more likely commander at the battle.

Calkin’s Order of Battle includes Bonaud’s (Georgia) Battalion as part of the brigade. This unit otherwise known as the Georgia 28th Artillery Battalion, was commanded by Maj. M. Bonaud. Formed in 1863 it took an active part in the Olustee campaign in Florida. In the spring of 1864, the unit was sent north as infantry. Companies F and H were assigned to Finegan’s Brigade; Bonaud with the five remaining companies joined the Army of Tennessee. Companies F and H integrated into the 11th Fla regiment, no evidence to date, suggests that they were an independent force within the brigade54a.

 

Brig-Gen. Joseph Finegan – commander of Mahone’s Division at Hatcher’s Run

 

Brig-Gen. Nathaniel Harris

 

 

Harris’ Brigade                                                                                                                                                 Brig.-Gen. Nathaniel Harris

 

12th Miss – Lt-Col. Thomas Manlove

16th Miss – Lt-Col. James Duncan

19th Miss – Col. Richard Phipps

48th Miss – Col. Joseph Jayne

 

Gen. Harris had been in command of this Mississippian brigade since January 186455. A post-war account for Harris’ Brigade at Hatcher’s Run56 confirms the above regimental command structure provided by the CWE database for late January 1865, with one notable exception; the database has a Capt. A.K. Jones leading the 12th Miss regiment. It seems clear that the more senior Lt-Col. Thomas Manlove was present at the battle of Hatcher’s Run, because there are reports of his wounding and capture at the fight57. Some sources claim that he actually died from his wounds, but he survived and died in 1880. Manlove was a longstanding Lt-Col. in the 48th Miss regiment. It would seem that in late 1864 he transferred across to the 12th Miss to became their commander. However, no regimental account I have discovered for the 12th Miss, lists Manlove as ever being its commander58.

Sanders’ Brigade                                                                                                               Col. William Forney

 

8th Ala – Lt-Col. J.P. Emrich

9th Ala – Maj. James Crow

10th Ala – Lt-Col. William T. Smith (uncertain)

11th Ala – Capt. Martin Stewart

13th Ala – Col James Aiken

14th Ala – Capt. John Terrell

 

At the time of the Hatcher’s Run battle, this Alabaman unit was known as “Sanders’ Brigade”, after its well-liked, former commander Brig-Gen. John Sanders, who had been killed on 21st August 186459. Col. William Forney had been captured at Gettysburg where he commanded the 10th Ala, and spent over a year as a prisoner of war. Upon his exchange in August 1864, still on crutches, he re-joined his old regiment and then was soon given command of the brigade. However, because he was not a Brig-Gen. it was still technically called Sanders’ brigade60. As discussed previously, surprisingly few modern accounts of the battle describe Mahone’s Division at a brigade level. I have found only three accounts that mention this brigade with “Sanders’ Alabamians” used is a common descriptor. Only one of these sources uses a map with the brigade situated and it is labelled “Forney”61. Following the battle of Hatcher’s Run, William Forney was officially promoted to Brig-Gen. on February 15th 186562.

Regarding the regimental details there are a few contextual issues to highlight. The longstanding commander of the 9th Ala regiment, Col. J. Horace King went on a leave of absence from 19th January 1865 and it seems that he never returned, leaving Maj. Crow in command63. The CWE database for January 1865, records Capt. Stewart in command of the 10th Ala as well as the 11th Ala; this seems unlikely. Lt-Col. Smith was known to be in command at some point in February 1865, whether he was at the time of the Hatcher’s Run battle is uncertain64. The longstanding commander of the 11th Ala regiment Col. George Tayloe, although present in January 1865, seems to have been absent for the following month65 with Capt. Stewart taking temporary command. Col. Tayloe would go on to lead Sorrel’s Brigade after Gen. Sorrel was severely wounded at Hatcher’s Run (see below). The 13th Ala regiment had only joined the brigade (from Archer’s, soon to become McComb’s Brigade, Heth’s Division), on Jan 9th 186566. Finally, the longstanding but infirm commander of the 14th Ala regiment, Col. Lucius Pinckard was medically retired67 on January 3rd 1865 with Capt. Terrell taking command.

Sorrel’s Brigade                                                                                                                                                      Brig.-Gen. Moxley Sorrel

3rd Ga – Capt. James Matthews

22nd Ga – Capt. George Thomas

48th Ga – Capt. Alexander Flanders

64th Ga – Capt. Creswell Walker

2nd Ga battalion – Capt. George Jones

10th Ga battalion – Maj. James Frederick (uncertain)

 

Moxley Sorrel was an interesting character, an excellent staff officer to Gen. Longstreet for much of the war, his memoirs received critical acclaim, although they say little about the battle of Hatcher’s Run68. This Georgian brigade was formerly “Wright’s Brigade”. Moxley Sorrel was promoted on October 27th 1864 and took over permanent command of the brigade after Gen. Ambrose Wright (initially the commander of the 3rd Ga regiment) had been transferred to Georgia69. Sorrel was seriously wounded at Hatcher’s Run during the fighting on February 7th, with brigade command eventually passing to Col. George Tayloe (of the 11th Alabama Regiment, see above)70. One renowned account reports that Col. George Taylor (sic) was in brigade command throughout December 1864 – April 1865, which is clearly incorrect71.

Regarding the regimental structure, Maj. Frederick was known to be in command of the 10th Ga battalion on January 31st 1865, whether he was present at the battle of Hatcher’s Run a week later is uncertain; a Capt. Caleb Hill is known to be commanding at some point in February 186572. The long-standing commander of the 64th Ga regiment, Col. Walter Weems was commanding up to and including January 1865, however, it seems clear that Capt. Walker was commanding throughout February73. The lack of Rebel senior officers at this stage of the war is very noticeable with this brigade, with five of the regiments being commanded by captains; three ranks below the usual regimental colonelcy.

 

Brig-Gen Moxley Sorrel – severely wounded at Hatcher’s Run

 

Brig-Gen. David Weisiger

 

 

 

 

 

Weisiger’s Brigade     

Brig.-Gen. David Weisiger or Col. Virginius Groner

 

6th Va – Col. George Rogers

12th Va – Capt. Thomas Owens or Major John Lewellen

16th Va – Capt. Solomon Eley

41st Va – Lt.-Col. Joseph Minetree

61st Va – Col. Virginius Groner or Lt.-Col. William Stewart

This dataset is complicated by one particular first-hand account in the Confederate Veteran Magazine [74]. Written in 1897 by Captain Leslie Spence of the 12th Va, he stated that the brigade was commanded at the battle by Col. Groner. However, I have discovered no other source to verify this position. The war records of Weisiger and Groner do not assist in resolving this mystery [75]. Accounts from other divisional sources allude to the presence of Weisiger during the battle [76]. Particularly telling are the letters of Lt.- Col. Stewart (61st Va) who doesn’t mention Weisiger’s absence, nor the fact that, next in seniority, he would be regimental commander, if Groner was acting as brigade commander. Indeed, Stewart described emotionally stepping down as acting regimental commander a month earlier, as Groner returned from a lengthy sick-leave [77]. Until further evidence emerges, the command of this brigade has to be viewed as uncertain.

David Weisiger (formerly commander of the 12th Va) took over brigade command in May 1864 and continued in that capacity to the war’s end. Hatcher’s Run hardly features in any narrative of Weisiger or the five Virginian regiments of his brigade [78]. A notable exception is John Horn’s award-winning book on the 12th Va regiment [79], which includes various eye-witness testimonies and also alludes to Col. Groner being in brigade command, as derived from the above Spence account [80]. The Hatcher’s Run section includes an account from Private Bernard who reported the regimental casualties as 23 killed and wounded [81].

Who was commanding the 12th Va at the battle is also uncertain? Schulte and CWE both report that Capt. Thomas Owens was commanding in February 1865 [82]. The usual regimental commander Major John Lewellen, was hospitalized some time in February 1865 and indeed never returned to duty. Lewellen was promoted on February 23rd 1865 to Lt-Col. which was back-dated to July 1864 [83]. Whether Lewellen took sick before or after the battle of Hatcher’s Run is currently not known.

The established commander of the 16th Va regiment Lt-Col. Richard Whitehead, was wounded on January 30th 1865, and Capt. Eley took command just prior to the battle of Hatcher’s Run [84].

 

 

Conclusions

The article explores the organization and command structure of the Rebel Third Corps around the time of the battle of Hatcher’s Run (Feb 5-7th 1865). The key issues addressed are as follows:

  • Joseph Davis did not lead Heth’s Division at Hatcher’s Run and consequently Lt-Col. Nelson did not command Davis’ Brigade, as could be inferred from key data sources.
  • The 55th NC regiment fought at Hatcher’s Run as part of Cooke’s Brigade and not Davis’ Brigade.
  • Gen MacRae was on leave at the time of the Hatcher’s Run battle. Who commanded his brigade during the battle is unclear; Col. John Lane and Lt-Col. James Adams have both been postulated as possible candidates?
  • The command of Weisiger’s Brigade at the battle is also in question, as a first-hand account claimed that Col. Groner was commanding.
  • Unlike for Gen. MacRae and Gen. Weisiger, the absence of Gen. Mahone at Hatcher’s Run is widely recognized and that Gen. Finegan was commanding Mahone’s Division at the battle, with Col. David Lang in command of Finegan’s Brigade.
  • When discussed at all, most authors employ the technically correct descriptor “Sanders’ Brigade” while usually acknowledging that Col. William Forney was in command at Hatcher’s Run. The one battle-map depicting this brigade however uses “Forney” as the label. This is another example of the confusing inconsistencies in describing Rebel units at this battle, that hopefully these articles address.

Other minor inconsistencies and oddities are also highlighted.

In the next, and final article of this series, attention is focused upon the organization and commanders that comprised Gen. Rooney Lee’s Division of cavalry at the battle of Hatcher’s Run.

 

 

Notes

Information about the photographs uses and full details of the bold references are provided in the Introduction text along with “Acknowledgements”.

  1. J. Caldwell (1866) “The History of a Brigade of South Carolinians”, p200. This reference is used widely in Bearss, p184-186.
  2. James Robertson (1987) “Gen. A. P. Hill: The Story of a Confederate Warrior” p310.
  3. 2. Mark Boatner ed. (1959) “Cassell’s Biographical Dictionary of the American Civil War” p398;
  4. 3. Thomas Livermore (1986) “Numbers and Losses in the Civil War in America” p134 estimates no more than 3,000; whereas the January Inspection Report records 4,676, NARA, (1973) M935, Roll 15, 7.P.53, 0150: Inspection Reports and Related Records Received By the Inspection Branch in the Confederate Adjutant and Inspector General’s Office, hereafter referred to as NARA (1973).
  5. 4. Hawks, Heth’s Division webpage for February 1865. Heth’s Division, Third Army Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, February 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com); Calkins, p172.
  6. 5. F. Ray Sibley (1996), “The Confederate Order of Battle, Vol 1 The Army of Northern Virginia”. This valuable data source is used extensively by both Hawks and Schulte in populating their respective datasets. Covering such a vast amount of data, unsurprisingly there are a several glitches and errors. The Hawks database is laid out on a monthly basis, however if Sibley reports that person X was commanding a unit on a particular day in say February 1865, that does not necessary mean that he was commanding for the whole of that month. Hawks sometimes but not always, explains these situations.
  7. 6. Bearss, p186-192; Trudeau, p314-316; A. Wilson Greene (2008) “The Final Battles of the Petersburg Campaign: Breaking the Backbone of the Rebellion”, p101-02.

6a. Calkins, p172.

  1. 7. “General John Cooke”, Civil War Wiki, John Rogers Cooke | Civil War Wiki | Fandom (wikia.org)
  2. 8. Hawks, Heth’s Division webpage for January 1865. Heth’s Division, Third Army Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, January 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com); NARA (1973), M935, Roll 15, 9.P.53, 0178.
  3. 9. Clark, vol3, p310; Christopher Bingham (2007) “From New Bern to Bennett Place with Cookes’ Foot Cavalry, a History of the 27th Regiment of North Carolina Troops, 1861-1865”, MA Thesis, East Carolina University, p411.
  4. 10. Hawks, Heth’s Division webpage for January 1865. Heth’s Division, Third Army Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, January 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com); Hawks, Mahones’ Division webpages for January 1865, Mahone’s Division, Third Army Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, January 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com).
  5. 11. Charles R. Jones, Petersburg Siege Newspapers, “Historical Sketch.” Our Living and Our Dead (Newbern, NC), May 20, 1874, p. 1 col. 5-6, p. 2, col. 1. Schulte, 55th NC webpage, 55th North Carolina Infantry — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com) ; Hawks, Heth’s Division webpage for February 1865, Heth’s Division, Third Army Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, February 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com) .
  6. 12. Schulte, 15th NC webpage, 15th North Carolina Infantry — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com); Bruce Allardice (2008) “Confederate Colonels: A Biographical Register”, p410; Hawks, Heth’s Division webpage January 1865, Heth’s Division, Third Army Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, January 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com) ; NARA (1973), M935, Roll 15, 9.P.53, 0178:
  7. 13. Schulte, 27th NC webpage, 27th North Carolina Infantry — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com); Hawks, ibid; NARA, (1973) ibid.
  8. Schulte 46th NC webpage 46th North Carolina Infantry — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com); Hawks, ibid; NARA ibid.
  9. 15. Hawks, ibid; NARA (1973)
  10. Schulte, 48th NC webpage, 48th North Carolina Infantry — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com). Kemp Burpeau (2021) “Writings of a Rebel Colonel: The Civil War Diary and Letters of Samuel Walkup, 48th North Carolina Infantry”, p150.
  11. 17. NARA (1973), M935, Roll 15, 9.P.53, 0176:
  12. “55th North Carolina Infantry Regiment: Battles and Casualties”, Thomas’ Legion website, 55th North Carolina Infantry Regiment: Battles, Casualties (thomaslegion.net); “27th North Carolina Infantry Regiment: Battles and Casualties”, Thomas’ Legion website, 27th North Carolina Infantry Regiment: Battles, Casualties (thomaslegion.net). Christopher Bingham (2007) “From New Bern to Bennett Place with Cooke’s Foot Cavalry, a History of the 27th Regiment of North Carolina Troops, 1861-1865”, MA Thesis, East Carolina University, p417, claims that the 55th NC regiment lost upwards of 25 men.
  13. 19. Clark, vol1, p747-48; vol2, p450-52; vol3, p78, p122, p311-12.
  14. 20. Civil War Wiki “Joseph R. Davis”, Joseph R. Davis | Civil War Wiki | Fandom (wikia.org); NARA, (1973) M935, Roll 15, 10.P.53, 0188. The Davis Brigade Inspection Report is one example of where the accounting doesn’t really add up. The cover page value (that I use throughout these articles) records 978 infantrymen; this coincides with the aggregate of column 11 (Present for Duty) rather than the more typical aggregate of columns 42 and 43 which gives a value of 1,154 officers and men.
  15. 21. Hawks, Heths Division webpage January 1865, Heth’s Division, Third Army Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, January 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com); NARA, (1973) M935, Roll 15, 10.P.53, 0190.
  16. 22. Hawks, Heth’s Division webpage for February 1865, Heth’s Division, Third Army Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, February 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com). Schulte, 26th Miss webpage, 26th Mississippi Infantry — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com).
  17. 23. Hawks, 11th Miss webpage, 11th Mississippi Infantry Regiment – The Civil War in the East; Bruce Allardice (2008) “Confederate Colonels: A Biographical Register”, p320; NARA, (1973) M935, Roll 15, 10.P.53, 0190. Interestingly, Steven Stubbs (2000) large (950 pages) regimental history of the 11th Miss regiment “Duty.Valor.Honor”, does not mention the battle of Hatchers Run.
  18. 24. Bruce Allardice (2008) “Confederate Colonels: A Biographical Register”, p289; NARA, (1973) M935, Roll 15, 10.P.53, 0190; Hawks, Heths Division webpage January 1865, Heth’s Division, Third Army Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, January 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com).

Interestingly, Schulte quoting from the Ray Sibley reference book, erroneously claim that Col. Nelson was captured at the Hatchers Run battle while commanding the brigade, and that Col Reynolds (11th Miss) took over command. 11th Mississippi Infantry — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com). In truth, Nelson was captured on April 2nd (along with most of the 42nd Miss regiment) near Hatcher’s Run as part of the Federal breakthrough. Hawks, 42nd Miss webpage, History of the 42nd Mississippi Infantry Regiment in the American Civil War (civilwarintheeast.com).

  1. 25. Calkins, p172 also has “Col.” Nelson as commanding Davis’s Brigade. Bearss p186-92; Trudeau, p315.
  2. 26. Civil War Talk (2019), The Battle of Dabney’s Mill (Hatcher’s Run) | The Traveler’s Companion – Visit Historic Sites (civilwartalk.com). John Blair (1949) “The Civil War Diary of John A. Blair”, MA Thesis, Univ. of New Mexico, p41-43. Lt-Col. Blair was indeed captured at Hatcher’s Run, but in April 1865, two months later.
  3. 27. James Robertson (1987) “Gen. A. P. Hill: The Story of a Confederate Warrior” p306; Mark Boatner ed. (1959) “Cassell’s Biographical Dictionary of the American Civil War” p525; Earl Hess (2002) “Lee’s Tar Heels” p284. In his description of the Hatcher’s Run battle, Hess still refers to “Archer” and “Archer’s Brigade”, although he does state that McComb was now it’s commander.
  4. 7th Tenn unit history extracted from “Tennesseans in the Civil War” vol 1 (1964), posted on “Tennessee and the Civil War” website November 2016, 7th Tennessee Infantry Regiment – Tennessee & the Civil War (tngenweb.org); provides a good summary of the evolving command structure for this brigade throughout the war.
  5. Hawks, Heths Division webpage January 1865, Heth’s Division, Third Army Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, January 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com); NARA, (1973) M935, Roll 15, 11.P.53, 0210,0212. Another source states that by January 31st 1865, this brigade only numbered around 300 effectives, with many of the regiments having just a few dozen men. James Robertson (1987) “Gen. A. P. Hill: The Story of a Confederate Warrior” p310.
  6. 30. 14th Tenn unit history extracted from “Tennesseans in the Civil War” vol 1 (1964), posted on “Tennessee and the Civil War” website November 2016, 14th Tennessee Infantry Regiment – Tennessee & the Civil War (tngenweb.org); Bruce Allardice (2008) “Confederate Colonels: A Biographical Register”, Hawks, 14th Tenn webpage 14th Tennessee Infantry Regiment (civilwarintheeast.com).
  7. 31. Schulte webpage for 14th Tenn, 14th Tennessee Infantry — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com); “Tennessee in the Civil War” (1964) ibid.
  8. NARA, (1973) M935, Roll 15, 8.P.53, 0162,0164. Singletary is spelled Singeltary on the actual report and the Official Records text (O.R., series 1, vol 46, p1182) and this (mis)spelling has been copied in other texts.
  9. 33. Hawks, Heths Division webpage January 1865, Heth’s Division, Third Army Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, January 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com). Charles Stedman would become the last surviving Rebel veteran in the US congress. Max Williams (1994) “Charles Manly Stedman”, NCpedia, Stedman, Charles Manly | NCpedia.
  10. 34. Hawks, 44th NC webpage, 44th North Carolina Infantry Regiment (civilwarintheeast.com); Schulte, 44th NC webpage, 44th North Carolina Infantry — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com); Geni ancestor website, Thomas Chapeau Singletary (1840 – 1873) – Genealogy (geni.com).
  11. Paul Branch, (1991) “William MacRae”, NCpedia, MacRae, William | NCpedia; Craig Chapman (2017) “William MacRae – Combat Leader” General William MacRae Civil War Combat Commander (craigschapman.com) . Craig Chapman (1998) “More Terrible than Victory”, p266-275.
  12. 36. Paul Branch, (1991) ibid; “General William MacRae: Lee’s Fighting Brigadier”, Cape Fear Historical Institute, General William MacRae (cfhi.net) ; Earl Hess (2002) “Lee’s Tar Heels” p284-87; Thomas Venner (2015) “The 11th North Carolina Infantry in the Civil War: A History and Roster”, p196. Kemp Burpeau (2021) “Writings of a Rebel Colonel: The Civil War Diary and Letters of Samuel Walkup, 48th North Carolina Infantry”, p150. This Colonel went on leave with Gen. MacRae on January 27th. Craig Chapman (1998) “More Terrible than Victory”, p266-275.
  13. 37. “General William MacRae: Lee’s Fighting Brigadier”, ibid.
  14. 38. Clark, vol3 p32. Similarly, Hawks, 44th NC webpage all reports no battle activity for this regiment from October 28th and April 1st, 44th North Carolina Infantry Regiment (civilwarintheeast.com); Clark, vol1, p601; vol2, p390; vol3, p99, p251.
  15. 39. Earl Hess (2002) “Lee’s Tar Heels” p284-87. Capt. Louis G. Young was badly wounded at the battle of Hatcher’s Run and was still hospitalized at the end of the war; Confederate Veteran Magazine (1922) vol30, p306.
  16. W. Thomas Venner (2015) “The 11th North Carolina Infantry in the Civil War: A History and Roster”, p196-97.
  17. 41. Earl Hess (2002) “Lee’s Tar Heels” p285.
  18. 42. Trudeau, p315; Bearss, p186 p189 (map); Calkins, p173; p15 (map); John Horn (1993) “The Petersburg Campaign” p201; A. Wilson Greene (2008) “The Final Battles of the Petersburg Campaign: Breaking the Backbone of the Rebellion”, p102; Schulte, Battle of Hatcher’s Run webpages, The Battle of Hatcher’s Run (or Dabney’s Mill): February 5-7, 1865 — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com); Civil War Preservation Trust, Hatcher’s Run battle map for February 5th 1865, Battle of Hatcher’s Run – February 5, 1865 | American Battlefield Trust (battlefields.org); As of May 2021 the site boards at the actual battlefield show MacRae labels, Bill Couglin (2007) “The Battle of Hatchers Run”, The Historical Marker Database, The Battle of Hatcher’s Run Historical Marker (hmdb.org). All these references refer to “MacRae’s brigade” and not to MacRae in person. However, none mention that he was not In contrast, these books clearly state the absence of Gen. Mahone, and the maps use “Finegan” to label the division (see note 48).
  19. 43. Trudeau, p319-20; John Horn (1993) “The Petersburg Campaign” p206; Moxley Sorrel (1905) “Recollections of a Confederate Staff Officer, p174-75. Bearss, p215; Earl Hess (2009), In the Trenches at Petersburg, p227; Sherrill, p412 reports Mahone’s Division as comprising 4,600 men; although Col. J. J. Dickison (1899) Confederate Military History, Vol 11.2, Florida (Clement Evans, Ed.) p159-60, states the division strength as only 3,500 effectives.
  20. 44. American Battlefield Trust, Civil War biographies: Joseph Finegan webpage, Joseph Finegan | American Battlefield Trust (battlefields.org).
  21. Waters and Edmonds (2013) “A Small but Spartan Band: The Florida Brigade in Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia” p175.
  22. 46. Orson Curtis (1891) “History of the Twenty-fourth Michigan of the Iron Brigade”, p290; John Pullen (1957) “The Twentieth Maine”, p238;
  23. Douglas, p312.
  24. Schulte, Battle of Hatcher’s Run webpages, The Battle of Hatcher’s Run (or Dabney’s Mill): February 5-7, 1865 — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com); Trudeau, p320; Sherrill, p XXX; John Horn (1993) “The Petersburg Campaign” p206; A. Wilson Greene (2008) “The Final Battles of the Petersburg Campaign: Breaking the Backbone of the Rebellion”, p104; Art Bergeron (1998), “The Battle of Hatcher’s Run,” Civil War Magazine, issue 67, p44-49; Jerry Korn (1987), “Pursuit to Appomattox” Time Life Series, p27-33; all mention that Gen. Finegan was leading Mahone’s Division at this battle. Bearss, p215, doesn’t mention Mahone at all and simply refers to Finegan’s division.

The battle-maps in: Trudeau, p301; A. Wilson Greene (2008) “The Final Battles of the Petersburg Campaign: Breaking the Backbone of the Rebellion”, p103; Steven Stanley (2015) Civil War Trust, The Battle of Hatcher’s Run February 5th 1865 map, civil war trust map hatchers run february 5th civilwar.org – Bing images; Art Bergeron (1998), “The Battle of Hatcher’s Run,” Civil War Magazine, issue 67, p46; CWPT battlefield site boards, all depict a “Finegan” icon. In Bearss, the battle-map (for February 5th) on p189, curiously has a small “Mahone” label near Heth’s brigades, and a Finegan label on what appears to be a brigade icon retreating to the Rebel defenses. His map (for February 6th) on p207, just has a Finegan (division) icon arriving at the battle. I have found two modern maps that exclusively use “Mahone” and avoid “Finegan”; namely: Wooddell, p436; and the CWPT (2005) February 5th map The Battle of Hatcher’s Run CWPT Map — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com).

  1. 49. O.R., series 1, vol 46, p1182. They are also missing in NARA (1973).
  2. 50. Hawks, Mahones’ Division webpages for January and February 1865, Mahone’s Division, Third Army Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, January 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com); Mahone’s Division, Third Army Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, February 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com).
  3. 51. Hawks, Mahones’ Division webpages from August 1864 – February 1865. Mahone’s Division, Third Army Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, August 1864 (civilwarintheeast.com); Schulte, webpage for 8th Fla, 8th Florida Infantry — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com).
  4. 52. Both Trudeau p320; and Schulte, Battle of Hatcher’s Run webpages, The Battle of Hatcher’s Run (or Dabney’s Mill): February 5-7, 1865 — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com), specifically ignore Finegan’s Brigade. A more complete picture is provided by: Waters and Edmonds (2013) “A Small but Spartan Band: The Florida Brigade in Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia” p172-74. Ed Gleeson (1998). “Erin Go Gray, An Irish Rebel Trilogy” p36-39, also describe the actions of Finegan’s brigade commanded by Col. Lang on the 6th February fighting.
  5. Waters and Edmonds (2013) “A Small but Spartan Band: The Florida Brigade in Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia” p175-76. Interestingly, Trudeau makes no reference to Brevard ever taking brigade command (Trudeau, Organization of Forces, p499).
  6. 54. Hawks Mahones’ Division Jan 1865 webpage, Mahone’s Division, Third Army Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, January 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com); Schulte, 10th Fla webpage, 10th Florida Infantry — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com); J. J. Dickison (1899) Confederate Military History, Vol 11.2, Florida (Clement Evans, Ed.) p160. Waters and Edmonds (2013) Ibid p174-75.

54a. Calkins p173; John Rigdon (2019) “Georgia 28th Artillery Battalion” Research OnLine – Georgia 28th Artillery Battalion; Schulte, 28th Georgia Battalion webpage, 28th Georgia Battalion Heavy Artillery — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com).

  1. 55. Jenny Goellnitz (1998-2005) “Biography of Gen. Nathaniel Harris and Then A.P. Hill Came Up – Biography of Nathan Harris (aphillcsa.com), This website was closed in March 2021; Military Wiki, Nathaniel Harris, Nathaniel H. Harris | Military Wiki | Fandom (wikia.org).
  2. 56. Official Records (Addendum Reports), vol 46, serial number 95, p717- 21, “Postwar account by Brig-Gen N. H. Harris CS Army of the Battle of Hatcher’s Run, February 6th 1865”.
  3. 57. Schulte, reproduction of an article initially written by Private Frank Foote (1884) of the 48th Miss regiment, “The death grapple at Petersburg: the last days of Harris’ Mississippi Brigade”, NP: September 24, 1884 The Clarion (Jackson, MS): The Death Grapple at Petersburg: Last Days of Harris’ Mississippi Brigade, Part 3 — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com); Championhilz (2018), “Those who blazed a road to glory: Lt-Colonel Thomas Manlove remembers his men,” “Those Who Blazed a Road to Glory:” Lt. Colonel Thomas B. Manlove Remembers His Men – Mississippians in the Confederate Army (wordpress.com) ; Philadelphia Inquirer, 13th February 1865, Correspondent Edward Crapsey letter regarding the battle of Hatcher’s Run; Official Records (Addendum Reports), vol 46, serial number 95, p718, “Postwar account by Brig-Gen N. H. Harris CS Army of the Battle of Hatcher’s Run, February 6th 1865”.
  4. Hawks, Mahone’s Division November and December 1864 Mahone’s Division, Third Army Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, November 1864 (civilwarintheeast.com); Mahone’s Division, Third Army Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, December 1864 (civilwarintheeast.com); Schulte, 12th Miss webpage, 12th Mississippi Infantry — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com); National Park Service, Battle Unit Details, 12th Miss regiment,  Battle Unit Details – The Civil War (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov).
  5. Civil War Talk (2014) “Confederate Brig-Gen. John C. Sanders from Alabama” Confederate Brig. General John C. C. Sanders from Alabama | Soldiers, Politicians, & Other Men (civilwartalk.com).
  6. 60. Paul Branch (1986) “William H Forney”, NCPedia, Forney, William Henry | NCpedia; Brett Derbes (2012) “William Forney”, Encyclopedia of Alabama, William Forney | Encyclopedia of Alabama.
  7. 61. Trudeau, p320, refers to the “Alabamians of Sanders’ Brigade (Col. Forney in command)”; Waters and Edmonds (2013) “A Small but Spartan Band: The Florida Brigade in Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia” p172-73, has a “Forney” brigade label on a map and in the text refers to “Brig-Gen. Forney commanding Sanders’ Alabamians”. Forney was only a Colonel at the time of the battle. Schulte, Hatcher’s Run webpages, The Battle of Hatcher’s Run (or Dabney’s Mill): February 5-7, 1865 — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com), refers to “Sanders’ Alabamians” with no mention of Forney at all. Ed Gleeson (1998). “Erin Go Gray, An Irish Rebel Trilogy” p36-39, has a “Forney” label on a battle-map and correctly states that Forney was leading Sanders’ Brigade. Other modern texts of the battle, including the longest and most detailed account by Bearss, do not mention the specific brigades of Mahone’s Division.
  8. 62. Paul Branch (1986) “William H Forney”, NCPedia, Forney, William Henry | NCpedia; John Eicher and David Eicher (2001) “Civil war high commands” p240; Brett Derbes (2012) “William Forney”, Encyclopedia of Alabama, William Forney | Encyclopedia of Alabama.       Forney was not promoted to Brig-Gen. on November 8th 1864 as reported by Hawks,10th Ala webpage, 10th Alabama Infantry Regiment (civilwarintheeast.com).
  9. 63. Schulte, 9th Ala webpage, 9th Alabama Infantry — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com); Hawks, 9th Ala webpage, History of the 9th Alabama Volunteer Infantry Regiment in the Civil War (civilwarintheeast.com).
  10. Hawks,10th Ala webpage, 10th Alabama Infantry Regiment (civilwarintheeast.com); Schulte, 10th Ala webpage, 10th Alabama Infantry — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com)
  11. Schulte,11th Ala webpage, 11th Alabama Infantry — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com).
  12. 66. Hawks, webpage for 13th Ala, History of the 13th Alabama Infantry Regiment in the Civil War (civilwarintheeast.com); Schulte, 13th Ala webpage, 13th Alabama Infantry — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com).
  13. 67. The Alabama in the Civil War Message Board, Re: Co D 14th ALA Infantry (history-sites.com); Schulte, 14th Ala webpage, 14th Alabama Infantry — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com).
  14. Moxley Sorrel (1905) “Recollections of a Confederate Staff Officer.”
  15. 69. Moxley Sorrel (1905) “Recollections of a Confederate Staff Officer” p173-74; Russell Brown (2015) New Georgia Encyclopedia, Ambrose Wright (1826-1872) Ambrose Wright (1826-1872) | New Georgia Encyclopedia; Jenny Goellnitz (1998-2005) “Biography of G. Moxley Sorrel” And Then A.P. Hill Came Up – Biography of Gilbert Moxley Sorrel (aphillcsa.com), this website was closed in March 2021.
  16. Moxley Sorrel (1905) “Recollections of a Confederate Staff Officer”, p179; Hawks, Mahone’s division February webpage, Mahone’s Division, Third Army Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, February 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com).
  17. 71. Trudeau, Organization of Forces, p499.
  18. 72. Hawks, Mahone’s Division January 1865 webpage, Mahone’s Division, Third Army Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, January 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com); Schulte, 10th Georgia battalion webpage, 10th Georgia Battalion Infantry — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com).
  19. 73. Schulte, 64th Ga webpage, 64th Georgia Infantry — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com); Hawks, Mahone’s Division, February 1865, Mahone’s Division, Third Army Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, February 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com).
  20. Leslie Spence (1897) “Old Guard of Richmond, Virginia”, Confed. Vet. Magazine, Vol 5, p484-485.
  21. Confederate Civil War Service Reports, US Civil War – Fold3.
  22. Waters and Edmonds (2013) “A Small but Spartan Band: The Florida Brigade in Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia” p172-76; Ed Gleeson (1998). “Erin Go Gray, An Irish Rebel Trilogy” p36-39.
  23. William Stewart (1911) “A Pair of Blankets” p188-193.
  24. Military Wiki, “David A. Weisiger”, David A. Weisiger | Military Wiki | Fandom (wikia.org)
  25. John Horn (2019) “The Petersburg Regiment”, p357-362
  26. John Horn, personal communication, March 2022.
  27. This data is also mentioned in an earlier book by Horn: John Horn (1993) “The Petersburg Campaign” p202.
  28. Hawks, Mahone’s Division, February 1865, Mahone’s Division, Third Army Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, February 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com); Schulte, 12th Va webpage, 12th Virginia Infantry — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com).
  29. William Henderson (1984) 12th Virginia Infantry, p137; Clete Ramsey (2012) “John Richard Lewellen”, John Richard Lewellen (b. 1821 – Genealogy.com.
  30. Schulte, 16th Va webpage, 16th Virginia Infantry — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com).

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

Photo of Dr. Nigel Lambert at Petersburg National Battlefield

Visiting Petersburg National Park (Oct 2015)

Dr Nigel Lambert is British and lives near Norwich, England. Semi-retired, Nigel is a biochemist by profession, although from the turn of this century he has been involved in health research from a social perspective. A life-long Civil War enthusiast, he has been privileged to visit many of the wonderful battlefields on several occasions. A recent chance encounter with a civil war rifle ignited his interest in the battle of Hatcher’s Run. Surprised by the sparse and conflicting literature on the battle, he decided to employ his scientific knowhow to create this series of articles exploring the Rebel Order of Battle for Hatcher’s Run.

 

 

 

Tagged as: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

{ 0 comments }

OR XL P1 (Broadfoot Sup.) #16: Journal of Brigadier General August V. Kautz, commanding Cav/AotJ, June 13-July 31, 1864

OR XL P1 (Broadfoot Sup.) #16: Journal of Brigadier General August V. Kautz, commanding Cav/AotJ, June 13-July 31, 18641

Image of Official Records, Volume XL, Part 1 and Broadfoot Supplement to the ORs, Volume 7SOPO Editor’s Note: The Broadfoot Supplement to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies is rare and not sold in single volumes.  As a courtesy to researchers, I’m making available summaries of the reports contained in this set relevant to the Siege of Petersburg.

Summary: This ten-page excerpt from the journal of Brigadier General August V. Kautz is an AMAZING resource for Siege of Petersburg researchers.  It is an almost day by day account of what Kautz and his Cavalry Division from the Army of the James were doing.  Features of this journal include his division’s movements and actions during the Wilson-Kautz Raid as well as the First Battle of Deep Bottom.

Source: Library of Congress, exact location not noted (If you know the exact location, please CONTACT US. ALL of Kautz’s journal pertaining to the Siege of Petersburg should be published for the benefit of researchers and students alike.)

Available Online?: No.

 

Source:

  1. Supplement to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Part I, Reports, Vol. 7, pp. 237-246 ↩

Tagged as: , , , ,

{ 0 comments }

Rebel Units and Commanders at the Battle of Hatcher’s Run: Confederate Second Corps

SOPO Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of five guest posts by Dr. Nigel Lambert, a semi-retired British biochemist with a lifelong interest in the American Civil War.  Nigel has worked closely with Bryce Suderow over the first half of 2021 thoroughly researching the Confederate Order of Battle at the Battle of Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865.  Read on and you will soon see why this is such a difficult task.  I want to thank Dr. Lambert for his generous decision to publish this series of articles here at the Siege of Petersburg Online.  This article is the copyrighted work of Nigel Lambert and may not be reproduced without his express written consent. All rights reserved.

*****

 

Rebel Units and Commanders at the Battle of Hatcher’s Run.

 

Article 1: The Rebel Second Corps

 

By Dr Nigel Lambert, March 2022

 

This article (number 1 in a series of 3) explores the Rebel organization of the Army of Northern Virginia (ANV) Second Corps as pertaining to the battle of Hatcher’s Run (February 5-7th 1865). As February dawned, the Corps was composed of three divisions; which were formally termed: Early’s, Gordon’s and Grimes’. The latter is usually viewed as not taking part in the battle and is thus not discussed in this article. However, there are isolated sources which claim that Brig.-Gen. Philip Cook’s Brigade of Brig.-Gen. Bryan Grimes Division did play some part in the fighting late on February 5th 1865a. The Second Corps artillery is also not included in this analysis.

The two participating divisions were each made up of three brigades. The following schema depicts the Rebel units involved in the battle of Hatcher’s Run and adopts the formal nomenclature used at the time to describe them. These units will be explored in turn to reveal: the regimental structure of each brigade, who was actually commanding these units at the battle, and areas of contention.

 

GORDON (Second Corps)

 

 

 

 

Early’s Division                  Gordon’s Division                          [Grimes’ Division]

Pegram’s Brigade                Terry’s Brigade                                 probably not involved

Johnston’s Brigade              York’s Brigade

Lewis’ Brigade                      Evan’s Brigade

 

 

Second Corps (Maj.-Gen. John Gordon)

 

By November 1864, R. E. Lee’s ANV was besieged around Petersburg and Richmond, trying to save the Rebel capital and hence prolong the war. In a desperate reorganization, the divisions of Generals Gordon, Early (commanded by Pegram) and Grimes, of Lt-Gen. Jubal Early’s Rebel Army of the (Shenandoah) Valley were ordered to join Lee at Petersburg. The three divisions arrived at Petersburg during mid-December 1864 / early January 1865. Gen. Gordon was given command of all these forces in what became the re-formed ANV Second Corps. At the end of 1864 the Corps numbered 8,600 effectives. Given their recent mauling in the Shenandoah Valley, there was significant concern over the fighting morale of these demoralized troops1.

Early’s Division

Brig-Gen. John Pegram

 

Pegram had taken command of the renown Early’s Division in the Shenandoah Valley back on September 22nd 18642. After several Rebel defeats, Pegram along with many of the Rebel forces in The Valley, were ordered back to the Petersburg area in December 1864 (see above). He got married3 in a lavish wedding on January 19th. Three weeks later, Pegram led the division (some 2,400 infantry) into battle at Hatcher’s Run and was killed on February 6th in the fighting around Dabney’s Mill4. In a presumed typographical error, the “Civil War in the East” (CWE) database reports that Pegram was killed on Feb 26th; it then states that Brig-Gen. Robert Johnston took over the division, a view shared by others5. Other sources6 have Brig-Gen. James Walker (Stonewall Jim) taking over divisional command. The eye-witness account of Kyd Douglas, supported by historian Lee Sherrill, appears to give the most likely version of events7. They report that in the immediate aftermath of Pegram’s death, Brig-Gen. William Lewis took responsibility for the division. Several days later (after February 10th) when Brig-Gen. Robert Johnston (the senior divisional officer) returned from an absence, he took over command of the Division. On February 26th Brig-Gen. James Walker was assigned to the Division and took over command on 27th February. Strangely, one acclaimed battle account refers to a “Walker’s Brigade of Pegram’s Division”; no such brigade existed at Hatcher’s Run8.

 

Although technically this was “Early’s Division”, on all modern maps of the battle it is always labelled “Pegram”. Similarly, in any modern textbook account of the battle, it is referred to as Pegram’s Division9. Lt-Gen. Jubal Early himself, played no part in the battle of Hatcher’s Run. What is noticeable for all the brigades in this division, is the frequent lack of senior regimental field officers above the rank of major.

 

Pegram’s Brigade

Col. John Hoffman

 

13th Va10 – Capt. George Cullen

31st Va – Capt. Nathen Clawson / Major William Cooper

49th Va – Capt. Jerome Norvill

52nd Va – Lt-Col John Lilley / Capt. Cyrus Coiner

58th Va – Lt. Col John Kasey

 

Formally, this unit was known as Pegram’s Brigade, but with Pegram taking over the division (see above), brigade command had passed to Col. Hoffman, however because Hoffman wasn’t a Brig-General, it was still technically called Pegram’s Brigade. Again, on modern battle-maps, the attribution “Hoffman” (and not Pegram) is used to label this brigade11. Col. Hoffman was seriously wounded on February 6th, in the same action around Dabney’s Mill that killed Pegram12. In fact, Kyd Douglas and Federal General E. Ord incorrectly wrote that Hoffman was “mortally wounded”13. Hoffman required the amputation of his left foot and did indeed come close to dying from his wounds14. As senior regimental officer, Lt-Col. John Kasey took immediate command of the brigade upon Hoffman’s incapacitation15 and led the brigade until he was captured at the Fort Stedman battle on March 25th 1865.

 

Brig-Gen. John Pegram; he was shot and killed at the battle of Hatcher’s Run
Major Henry “Kyd” Douglas; present when Gen. Pegram was killed

 

 

However, Trudeau writes that Major Kyd Douglas took over command from Hoffman before Kasey16. I have found nothing to support this view, although it is true that Douglas did eventually get to formally lead the brigade in the closing days of the war17.

 

The regimental structure presented above is consistent across the CWE database for January 31st 1865 and a Confederate Inspection Report for January 28th 1865, the latter reporting the brigade strength at 631 infantrymen18. There are two issues to highlight regarding this data as it pertains to the battle of Hatcher’s Run, just over a week later. The commander of the 52nd Va regiment, Lt-Col. John Lilley was on-leave during January and hence he wasn’t listed in the above Inspection Report. However, he was present at Hatcher’s Run, as sources report his wounding on February 5th, thus he was presumably the regimental commander leading his troops into the battle; once wounded, Capt. Coiner seems to have taken over once more19.

 

The command of the 31st Va (Hoffman’s former and famed regiment) in early 1865 is an interesting story. On some pages, the CWE database has Major Cooper as commander and on others it’s Capt. Clawson20. In fact, this command issue was a long running “dispute” which even reached Gen. Robert E. Lee21. Cooper although outranking Clawson had poor health and was frequently on administrative duties in Richmond, meaning that Clawson was nominally in charge of the regiment for large periods. Regarding the Battle of Hatcher’s Run, Cooper was ill in bed and Clawson was commanding in the field. This kind of minutia is why it’s very difficult to say with certainty, who was in charge of regiments on most given days.

 

Casualty data for some of these regiments at the battle of Hatcher’s Run has fortunately been recorded22 and is as follows:

 

31st Va; 2 killed, 7 wounded (one mortally), 1 captured

52nd Va: 11 wounded

58th Va: 2 killed, 12 wounded

 

Johnston’s Brigade

Col. John “Gimlet” Lea

 

5th NC – Major James Taylor

12th NC – Capt. John Drake

20th NC – Major Duncan Devane23

23rd NC – Captain Abner Peace24

1st Battalion NC Sharpshooters – Capt. Reuben Wilson25

 

Significant command conflicts exist within accounts of this North Carolinian brigade. Brig-Gen. Robert Johnston was the long-landing commander and the Army Inspection Reports for the end of January 1865 recorded Johnston commanding a brigade of 775 men26. However, it appears that he was absent in early February 1865 and only returned to the brigade after February 10th. During this absence, which included the battle of Hatcher’s Run, Col. John Lea (commander of the 5th NC) took Johnston’s place as brigade commander27. Many modern authoritative texts and battle-maps refer exclusively to Johnston’s Brigade, without stating that

 

 

Brig-Gen. William Lewis; he took over divisional command upon the death of Pegram.
Brig-Gen. Robert Johnston; he was absent for the battle of Hatcher’s Run and his brigade was led by Col. John Lea.

 

 

 

Col. Lea was in fact commanding28. This view has echoed on many websites, maps and derivative texts. I will highlight other examples (both in this article and the following one) of generals who were also absent from the battle, but these absences are explicitly noted. The strong suspicion is that many authors were not aware that Johnston was absent, and wrote accordingly. This is certainly the case in at least one highly acclaimed account where Johnston is mentioned in person as being present. Given the reliability of the End of January 1865 Inspection Reports, it is understandable that chroniclers assumed Johnston was present a week later.

 

The CWE database reports that Major Taylor commanded the 5th NC regiment for January and February 186529. Taken at face-value, (as any reader would, who accessed the site), this is incorrect. Col. Lea (when not standing-in for Gen. Johnston during his brief absence) would have been in command of his own regiment (the 5th NC) for much of this time-frame. The CWE database is populated from the O.R. and Sibley’s reference text30. What is likely to have occurred is that some evidence showed that Major Taylor was in command at some point in January and at some point in February, not that he was in command throughout both months and that no source was found that mentioned Col. Lea, hence his omission. Col. Lea is for instance completely absent from the Jan 28th Inspection Report31. The lesson from this rather esoteric discussion is that databases / reference books are only as accurate as the data entered and the completeness of the data available. On the whole, the CWE database does a good job, but down at the regimental level in particular, it can be unreliable and misleading.

 

Regarding the regimental commanders, the CWE data for January 1865 is identical to that found in the January 28th Inspection Report32, with the exception of the 1st Battalion; the Inspection Report has a Lt. Cornelius Shultz commanding and not Capt. Reuben Wilson as reported in the CWE database. However, Col. Lea’s official brigade report of the battle33 reveals significant differences in regimental commanders listed in the Inspection Report one week earlier. Lea’s report shows that Capt. Reuben Wilson was indeed commanding the 1st Battalion during the battle, but that a Capt. Pleasant Smith was not commanding the 20th NC regiment and a Capt. Frank Bennett34 was not commanding the 23rd NC regiment as recorded in both the Inspection Report and CWE database. The de facto commander of the 12th NC, Lt-Col. William S. Davis seemed to have been absent in January 1865 and not present at the battle of Hatcher’s Run according to Lea’s report; Davis resigned on February 10th 186535. Similarly, the formal commander of the 20th NC regiment, the oft-wounded Col. Thomas Toon, was hospitalized for much of the 1864/1865 winter, according to Lea’s report (see above) he wasn’t back for the Hatcher’s Run battle. He did resume command at some point following Hatcher’s Run, only to get wounded again at Fort Stedman on March 25th 1865 which ended his war36.

 

The first-hand accounts of these five NC regiments in Clark’s five-volume anthology37 report surprisingly little for this period. Only the account for the 23rd NC mentions the Hatcher’s Run battle in any detail. Indeed, the account for the 5th NC (Lea’s own regiment) has no mention of the battle at all, it places the regiment on the North Carolina / Virginia border for the 1864/65 winter period. They all discuss the move from The Valley to Petersburg in December 1864 and then an assignment to North Carolina to round-up deserters (a significant problem for the Rebel army at this time), although there are conflicts as to whether this took place before February 5th or after February 8th. There then follows lengthier accounts of the fight at Fort Stedman on March 25th. Given the significant involvement of these regiments in the Hatcher’s Run battle, one is left to speculate on why it received so few words; to the point of ignoring it entirely in the case of the 5th NC regiment, when in fact their commander was leading the brigade at the battle. Hatcher’s Run (or Dabney’s Mill as it was sometimes termed) is on a list of battles fought by the 5th NC regiment, as reported by the “North Carolina in the American Civil War” website38.

 

 

Lewis’ Brigade

Brig-Gen. William Lewis

 

6th NC – Capt. John McPherson

21st NC – Capt. John Byrd Snow

54th NC – Capt. R.A. Barrow

57th NC – Capt. John Beard

 

I have described above how Brig.-Gen. Lewis immediately took over divisional command after Pegram was killed at the Hatcher’s Run battle. Lee Sherrill’s detailed biography of the 21st NC is a significant source of information on the battle; this account places both Gen. Lewis and Capt. Snow with Pegram and Hoffman when they were both shot (see above); Lewis was unharmed but Byrd Snow was killed39. The regimental commanders above are identical to those listed in the Inspection Report for the end of January40, which records the brigade strength at 902 infantrymen.

 

The first-hand accounts of these NC regiments in Clark’s 5 volume anthology, again report very few details of the Hatcher’s Run battle41. The de facto commander of the 57th NC regiment Col. Hamilton Jones, had been taken prisoner in November 1863, and was still absent for the Hatcher’s Run fight. He was exchanged sometime later in February and was severely wounded at Fort Stedman on March 25th 186542. Ad hoc casualty data for the Hatcher’s Run battle reports: 2 killed, 7 wounded and 23 captured for the 21st NC regiment; 5 wounded and 9 captured for the 54th NC regiment43.

 

 

Gordon’s Division

Brig-Gen. Clement Evans

 

Previously commanded by Gen. Gordon, Evans took over divisional command in December 1864, when Gordon was made commander of the re-formed Second Corps. As Evan’s was not a Major-General, the unit was still known as Gordon’s Division, although in modern battle accounts and maps, it is termed Evans’ Division44. Estimates of the division strength going into battle at Hatcher’s Run, vary from 2,695 – 3,500 men45.

 

Evans’ Brigade

Col. John H. Baker

 

13th Ga – Lt-Col. Richard Maltbie

26th Ga – Major Benjamin Grace46

31st Ga – Col. John Lowe

38th Ga – Lt-Col. Philip Davant

60th Ga + 61st Ga – Col. Waters Jones

12th Ga battalion – Capt. George Johnson

 

This brigade was formerly commanded by Brig-Gen. Evans before he took over command of the division. In terms of unit nomenclature, from a memoir written by a former brigade soldier, he knew it as the Lawton-Gordon-Evans brigade47; clearly not a useful moniker when labelling maps or for battle narratives.

 

This brigade presents another significant command conflict. In many mainstream accounts and battle-maps of the Hatcher’s Run battle, this Georgian brigade is commanded by Col. John Lowe48. The CWE database (end of January 1865) and the Brigade’s Inspection Report for 30th January 1865 both record Lowe in command, with Col. Baker being completely absent, even from commanding the 13th Ga, his old regiment49. However, others sources reliably show that Col. John Baker was in brigade command at the battle of Hatcher’s Run, a little over a week later50.

 

In his personal account of the 61st Ga regiment, Private Nichols provides the following paraphrased information51: “Col. Baker commander of the 13th Ga, took over brigade command from Gen. Evans when he took charge of the Division in December 1864. On January 18th 1865 the depleted 60th and 61st Ga regiments were merged. Major Walters Jones was promoted to colonel to command the combined unit and Capt. S. Kennedy was promoted to Lt-Col. to be second in command. Kennedy was seriously wounded at Hatcher’s Run. Col. Baker led the brigade at Hatcher’s Run where he was slightly wounded. Baker was in brigade command for several months. He was seriously wounded at Fort Stedman (March 25th 1865) and Col. Lowe (of the31st Ga) immediately took over command of the brigade which he led to the end of the war”.

 

For February 1865, the CWE database reports Baker as brigade commander and Lowe is back to being in charge of his 31st Ga regiment52. The brigade strength was reported to be 1,156 infantrymen at the end of January 186553. As alluded to above, the regimental structure at the time of the Hatcher’s Run battle has some differences to that reported in the CWE database and Inspection report a week earlier. In these sources the 60th and 61st Ga regiments are not combined and a Capt. Perry is listed as commanding the 31st Ga regiment54.

 

 

 

Brig-Gen. William Terry; commanded a consolidated brigade of Virginian regiments at Hatcher’s Run.
Brig-Gen Clement Evans; Division commander at Hatcher’s Run

 

 

 

Terry’s Brigade

Brig-Gen. William Terry

 

2nd Va, 4th Va, 5th Va, 27th Va, 33rd Va. – Col. Abraham Spengler

21st Va, 25th Va, 42nd Va, 44th Va, 48th Va. – Col. Norvel Cobb

10th Va, 23rd Va, 37th Va. – Lt.-Col. Dorlias Martz

 

This was a “consolidated brigade” made up of the remnants of numerous Virginian regiments that were all what remained of three famous Rebel Brigades (the Stonewall Brigade, Jones’ Old brigade and Steuart’s Old Brigade) by December 9th 1864, when they transferred from the Valley to be part of the re-formed Second Corps at Petersburg55. The regimental structure in the CWE database is mostly consistent with the End of January Inspection Reports56 with Spengler leading the Stonewall Brigade remnants, Cobb commanding the Jones Brigade remnants and Martz leading the Steuart Brigade remnants. However, the CWE database included the 50th Va regiment in Cobb’s collection and the 36th Va instead of the 37th Va in Martz’s group. This is an error as both the 36th Va and 50th Va stayed in the Valley with Gen. Wharton’s Division and were effectively destroyed / captured at the battle of Waynesboro on March 2nd 1865; information that is also provided by the database on the regimental pages57. The Inspection Report on January 28th 1865 records a brigade strength of 1,104 infantrymen58. Accounts of some of these units in “The Virginia Regimental Histories Series” reveal casualty data for the battle of Hatcher’s Run and other interesting observations59:

 

21st Va: 1 killed, 6 wounded.

25th Va: 4 wounded, 1 captured.

33rd Va:  Lt-Col. George Huston was killed in battle on 6th February.

37th Va: 2 wounded.

42nd Va: 6 casualties total.

44th Va; 1 killed, 11 wounded (I mortally).

 

These regimental histories show that desertion was rife, with soldiers simply walking across into Federal lines to surrender. The lack of food and clothing during a harsh winter being contributing factors, but a major issue was a widespread dissatisfaction with the regimental consolidation.

 

 

York’s Brigade

Col. William Peck

 

1st La, – Lt. Enoch Farmer.

2nd La, – Capt. Charles M. Farris.

5th La, 6th La, 7th La, – Lt. James E. Weymouth.

8th La, – Capt. Louis Prados.

9th La, – Lt. T. A. Upshaw.

10th La – Lt. Enoch Farmer

15th La. – Lt. J. B. W. Penrose.

 

In October 1864, the ten regiments of the famous “Louisiana Brigade” now amounting to only ~500 men, were reorganized as a battalion of six companies, although it was still referred to as a “consolidated brigade”. The 10th Louisiana merged with the 15th Louisiana into one of the companies. In early December, the “Brigade” transferred from The Valley to Petersburg and became a part of Evans’ Division in the re-formed Second Corps. Their commander Brig-Gen. Zebulon York, struggling to recover from a wounding at “3rd Winchester” (September 1864) was replaced by Col. William Peck (commander of the 9th La), who himself had also been wounded at “3rd Winchester,” but had returned to the field in December60.

 

The data above is from the Inspection Report on 28th January 1865 and reveals the confused picture, with many of the “regiments” commanded by Lieutenants rather than Colonels. The 10th La and 15th La don’t appear to be merged on that particular day. In the CWE database, the 15th La is shown as merged with the 14th La, (not in the Inspection Report) and the 8th La is merged with the 9th La. What is noteworthy, is that Col. Eugene Waggaman of the 10th La (see below) is missing from both the CWE database and the Inspection Report61 suggesting he was absent from duty for some reason. The Inspection Report shows Lt. Farmer the 1st La commander also leading the 10th La regiment, which graphically highlights the plight of this “brigade”.

 

It is clear that Col. Peck led York’s Brigade of 434 infantrymen62 into battle at Hatcher’s Run. William Peck was promoted to Brig-Gen. soon afterwards (on 19th February) and was then transferred to the west, consequently, Col. Eugene Waggaman took command of York’s “Brigade” which by then amounted to just over 400 men63. Modern accounts of Hatcher’s Run and battle-maps, refer to Peck and Peck’s brigade and the technically-correct York attribution is largely ignored64. This presumably reflects the fact that Gen. York’s absence was well known to chroniclers.

 

 

Conclusions

This article addresses many of the conflicting narratives regarding which Rebel Second Corps commanders were present at the deadly, three-day Battle of Hatcher’s Run. While one should never expect forensic consistency across hundreds of historical accounts, the substantial areas of discordance in mainstream, highly acclaimed accounts of the battle, require understanding.

 

The key issues revealed are:

1) Brig-Gen. Robert Johnston was NOT present at the battle; his Brigade was instead commanded by Col. John “Gimlet” Lea.

2) Col. John Baker and NOT Col. John Lowe was commanding Evans’ Brigade at Hatcher’s Run. Col. Lowe was most likely commanding his 31st Ga regiment.

3) The above relatively unknown commander issues, together with more familiar commander absences and the confused nature of Rebel unit nomenclature, has resulted in significant confusion within modern texts and especially battle-maps.

4) On the death of Brig-Gen. Pegram, NEITHER Brig-Gen. Robert Johnston nor Brig-Gen. James Walker took over immediate command of the Division. Neither of these generals were present at the battle. Brig-Gen. William Lewis took command following the death of Pegram, remaining in post for about a week.

5) The 36th Va and 50th Va were not part of Terry’s Brigade and were operating at the time in The Shenandoah Valley, many miles away.

Many more minor disparities and oddities are also described. It is important to explicitly differentiate between a person’s name used to define a given unit and who was actually commanding the unit; this is especially salient for modern accounts of the battle. Despite having Rebel brigade Inspection Reports for the end of January 1865, only a week before the battle, absences and returns from absences in those few days clearly occurred, leading to many of the current conflicts on this topic. Finally, issues with databases and reference texts are highlighted, regarding incomplete “fine-grained” data at the regimental level.

 

In the next article of this series, the spotlight is focused upon those Rebels present in Lt.-Gen. A.P. Hill’s Third Corps at the battle of Hatcher’s Run.

 

 

 

Notes

 

Information about the photographs uses and full details of the bold references are provided in the Introduction text along with “Acknowledgements”.

 

a This was the renowned “Doles-Cook Brigade”, composed of the 4th Ga, 12th Ga, 21st Ga and 44th Ga infantry regiments. J. Graham (1901) Clark vol 2, p451-52; and R. Driver (2003) “1st and 2nd Maryland Infantry C.S.A”, p310-312; both specifically mention this Georgian brigade taking part in the final assault on February 5th 1865. Henry Thomas (1903) “History of the Doles-Cook Brigade of Northern Virginia, C.S.A”, is the seminal book on the brigade and within it there is scant mention of the Hatcher’s Run battle. However, on page 486 it stated that Col. James Beck, commander of the 44th Ga, exposed himself at the battle, developed pneumonia and was hospitalized. The section covering the exploits of the 21st Ga regiment mentions that after December 1864: “The next engagement in which our regiment took (a) prominent part was near Hatcher’s Run to the right of Petersburg, the enemy’s sorties being repulsed in a number of instances” (page 348). Within the rosters there is Private George Brown, Company “I” 21st Ga, who was reported captured Feb 6th at Hatcher’s Run.

1 Hawks, Army of The Valley December 1864 webpage, Army of the Valley, December 1864 (civilwarintheeast.com) ; Kyd Douglas, p307; Sherrill, p403-407; Mark Boatner (1959) Cassell’s Biographical Dictionary of the American Civil War, p179-181. Interestingly, in an acclaimed Jubal Early biography (Millard Bushong (1955) “Old Jube” p267) the transfer of the divisions of Gordon, Pegram and Grimes (his senior generals) to Petersburg in December 1864 is not mentioned. Grimes’ division may have arrived a bit later, in early January 1865 Bearss, p183. Also noteworthy is that in both Gen. John B. Gordon’s “Reminiscences of the Civil War (2015 ed)” Chap 26 p245-259 and Ralph Eckert’s (1993) John B Gordon: Soldier, Southerner, American p105-107 there is no mention of the Battle of Hatcher’s Run, nor the death of Gen Pegram, one of his three divisional commanders. January and February 1865 are generally glossed over, before concentrating upon his meeting with R. E. Lee to discuss an attack on Fort Stedman. Interestingly, R.E. Lee had been given command of all Rebel forces on 6th February during the Battle of Hatcher’s Run. Douglas Freeman (1961) “Lee” 1 vol Abridgement, p445-46. The morale of the returning troops is discussed in Waters and Edmonds (2013) “A Small but Spartan Band: The Florida Brigade in Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia” p172.

  1. Hawks, the 5th NC regiment webpage, History of the 5th North Carolina Infantry Regiment in the Civil War (civilwarintheeast.com) ; Hawks, the Army of The Valley September 1864 webpage Army of the Valley, September 1864 (civilwarintheeast.com); Kyd Douglas, p298.
  2. 3. Kyd Douglas, p311-12. Gen. Pegram married southern belle Hettie Carey of Baltimore on January 19th 1865 in St Paul’s Church Richmond, in a ceremony attended by senior Rebel political and military leaders. The fact that the same congregation was attending his funeral three weeks later is especially poignant. Valgene Dunham (2013) “Allegany to Appomattox: The Life and Letters of Private William Whitlock of the 188th New York Volunteers” p157, gives a detailed account of the wedding and bride.
  3. 4. Kyd Douglas, p312, Bearss, p214, Trudeau, p320, Sherrill, Sherrill, p413 quotes a division strength of 2,400, the End of January Inspection Report records 2,353 infantrymen; NARA, (1973) M935, Roll 14, 16.P.51, 065: Inspection Reports and Related Records Received By the Inspection Branch in the Confederate Adjutant and Inspector General’s Office, hereafter referred to as NARA (1973). Kyd Douglas was present at the time and Pegram died in his arms.
  4. Hawks, The webpage for the 5th NC regiment History of the 5th North Carolina Infantry Regiment in the Civil War (civilwarintheeast.com); Bearss, p226 reports that Brig-Gen. Johnston was in command of the division the day after Pegram’s death; this is unlikely given that Johnston wasn’t at the battle. Calkins, p22.
  5. Trudeau, Organization of Forces Annex p498; General James A. Walker Wiki page, James A. Walker – Wikipedia; Clark, 23rd NC account vol2, p262. These are mostly ambiguities rather than errors; Walker did (eventually) become divisional commander three weeks after Pegram was killed. However, as I have described, two other officers took command before Walker’s appointment and most importantly for this article, Gen. James Walker was nowhere near Hatcher’s Run during the battle.
  6. Kyd Douglas, p313; Sherrill, p417.
  7. Gen. James Walker was an experienced commander, he was wounded (a smashed left elbow) at the battle of Spotsylvania in May 1864 where he’d led the famed Stonewall Brigade. Following recuperation at home, he then took on various responsibilities in the ANV from July 1864 to mid-February 1865 such as guarding railroads, bridges, organizing prisoners etc. In the days following the death of Gen. Pegram and incapacitation of Col. Hoffman at Hatcher’s Run, he was given command of Hoffman’s brigade and by March his promotion to Maj- Gen. was formalized and he took over divisional command from Gen. Johnston. Edward Christian Campbell (1972) “JAMES ALEXANDER WALKER- A BIOGRAPHY,” MA History Thesis, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, p55-56. This is consistent with both Kyd Douglas, p313 and Sherrill, p417 who report that Gen. Walker took over divisional command from Gen. Johnston on Feb 27th 1865. Johnston and his brigade then went to North Carolina to round-up deserters, significantly depleting the division. Trudeau, p319, refer to a captain in Walker’s Brigade of Pegram’s Division, no such brigade existed at the time.
  8. 9. A selection of modern authoritative references that use the Pegram Division notification and not Early, the technically correct label: Trudeau, p301, 317-319; John Horn (1993) “The Petersburg Campaign” p203; Bergeron, p30,34; Bearss, 184-214; CWBT map
  9. The 13th Va was in fact Gen. James Walker’s old regiment; it had originally been organized and commanded by none other than A.P. Hill. Hawks, 13th Va regimental webpage HIstory of the 13th Virginia Infantry Regiment in the American Civil War (civilwarintheeast.com); James Robertson (1987) “Gen. A. P. Hill: The Story of a Confederate Warrior” p36.
  10. 11. A selection of modern authoritative references that use the Hoffman Brigade notification and not Pegram, the technically correct label: Bearss, p206-207, 214-15; Bergeron, p30,34; Sherrill, p415; Waters and Edmonds (2013) “A Small but Spartan Band: The Florida Brigade in Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia” p171-73.
  11. Sherrill, p415; Wooddell, p426
  12. Kyd Douglas, p312. General Ord’s official report is cited in Wooddell, p427, footnote 906.
  13. Wooddell, p426-432
  14. Sherrill, p415; Wooddell, p426.
  15. Trudeau, Organization of Forces Annex, p498
  16. According to Wooddell, p434-36, following the capture of Col. Kasey at Fort Stedman (March 25th), Major Cooper (the same officer as discussed for note 21) was “left in command of the brigade”. As late as April 2nd, Cooper was commanding the brigade in fighting. He claims that Kyd Douglas took command of the brigade on April 3rd. Kyd Douglas however claims that he was placed in temporary command of the brigade on March 24th and led the brigade at the Fort Stedman fight, Kyd Douglas p313. This view is not shared by Petersburg National Park Historian W. Wyrick (2008) “Lee’s Last Offensive”, Blue & Gray Magazine vol25, p15, who reports Col. Kasey in brigade command at Fort Stedman, until captured. What I find noteworthy is that Lt-Col. Kasey is not referred to once in the Kyd Douglas book, despite being a senior commander in the same brigade and brigade leader for several weeks? There seems no dispute that Kasey was present at Fort Stedman as he was captured there. It seems highly implausible that Major Douglas would be placed in brigade command over Kasey on the eve of battle. This is clearly a conflict that needs addressing by those researching the Fort Stedman story. Kyd Douglas p315 claims he was promoted to Brig-Gen. around March 25th, although whether all the formal paperwork was ever completed is unclear.
  17. 18. Hawks, Pegram division webpage for January 1865, Early’s Division, Second Army Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, January 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com); NARA (1973), M935, Roll 14, 18.P.51, 0684, 0686.
  18. 19. Schulte, 52nd Va webpage, 52nd Virginia Infantry — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com); Robert Driver (1986) “52nd Virginia Regiment”, p73; Neither a regimental history (John Robson, (1876) “A History of the 52nd Virginia Regiment”) nor an obituary of Colonel (there is no evidence he achieved this rank) John D. Lilley, Confederate Veteran Magazine (1914), Vol 22 p33, mention his wounding or the Hatcher’s Run battle.

 

  1. Hawks, Pegram division webpages for January and February 1865 Early’s Division, Second Army Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, February 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com) has Capt. Clawson in command, yet on the 31st Va webpage 31st Virginia Infantry Regiment (civilwarintheeast.com) Major Cooper is listed as commanding after Hatcher’s Run.
  2. Wooddell Chapters 11-12. Regimental command of 31st Va at Hatcher’s Run is specifically described on p427.
  3. 22. David Riggs (1988), “The 13th Virginia Regiment”, p74; John Ashcraft (1988), “The 31st Virginia Regiment”, pp73; Robert Driver (1986), “The 52nd Virginia Regiment”, p73; Robert Driver (1990), “The 58th Virginia Regiment” p75.

 

  1. Report by Col. John Lea, O.R. Addendum Reports, Vol 46, Serial Number 95, p803- 807; states that Maj. Devane was commander of the 20th NC at Hatcher’s Run..

24 Ibid; Clark Vol2, p262; both attest to Capt. Peace being in command of the 23rd NC regiment.

  1. 25. Following the battle of Hatcher’s Run much of the brigade was sent to North Carolina to round up deserters (see note 8). It was during this duty that Reuben Wilson and his sharpshooters earned a notoriety that outlived the war. The Western Piedmont region from which Wilson hailed, was a complex mixture of staunch Rebels, Union sympathizers and renegade mobs of deserters. On March 16th Capt. Wilson’s troops removed five men from a local jail and marched them out into nearby woods and shot them. For the rest of the war and afterwards this led to the call for Wilson’s prosecution. On April 2, 1865, in a charge at Petersburg, his left leg was cut off by a shell. He was hospitalized, paroled on April 21, re-arrested, and taken to Libby Prison, where he remained until December 20, 1865. David C. Williard, (March 2012), “Executions, Justice, and Reconciliation in North Carolina’s Western Piedmont, 1865–67.” Journal of the Civil War Era, Vol. 1, No. 1, p31-47.
  2. OR Series 1, Vol 46, p1180-83 provides a summary of the Confederate Inspection Reports for Jan 26th-31st 1865; NARA,(1973), M935, Roll 14, 19-P-51, 0696.
  3. Report by Col. John Lea, O.R. Addendum Reports, Vol 46, Serial Number 95, p803-07; Sherrill, p412-417; Kyd Douglas, p313; Trudeau, Organization of Forces Annex p498 also has Lea taking over from Johnston at some point between December 1864 and April 1865. Waters and Edmonds (2013) “A Small but Spartan Band: The Florida Brigade in Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia” p173-4. The nature of Johnston’s absence is uncertain, but wherever he was, he hadn’t returned by the evening of February 10th (Sherrill, p416-17), returning around February 13th when he assumed temporary divisional command from Gen. Lewis who returned to his brigade (Sherrill, p417). Kyd Douglas, p313; is less specific about the timing of Johnston’s return, but has it around the same date.

John Gimlet Lea was in fact a character of some notoriety. Wounded at the battle of Williamsburg 1862, he had been found and cared for by none other than George Custer (then a Federal Lieutenant), an old West Point friend. During his recuperation at a nearby house, Lea met and fell in love with a daughter of the family household and they were married three months later. Custer frequently visited Lea during his convalescence and was a groomsman at the wedding. Emerging Civil War, “Brothers at Bassett Hall”, posted October 25, 2011 by Daniel Davis, Brothers at Bassett Hall | Emerging Civil War.

  1. Schulte, The Battle of Hatcher’s Run (or Dabney’s Mill): February 5-7, 1865 webpages; The Battle of Hatcher’s Run (or Dabney’s Mill): February 5-7, 1865 — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com): Valgene L. Dunham ( 2015) in “Gregory’s New York Brigade: Blue-Collar Reserves in Dusty Blue Jackets” Chap 6; Bergeron, p30-37; Trudeau, p318 refers to “Johnston’s brigade” without qualifying that he wasn’t in command, unlike for Mahone’s Division p319-20, where he makes clear that Gen. Finegan was commanding. Calkins p17; p21-22 mentions Johnston in person and has Johnston mentioned on two maps. Johnston’s name appears on markers at the actual battlefield site, Bill Couglin 2007, The Battle of Hatcher’s Run Historical Marker The Battle of Hatcher’s Run Historical Marker (hmdb.org).

Bearss p206-211. On p210 it states: “Johnston and Lewis led their cheering troops out of the timber ….”; Bearss, p226, states for the day after Pegram’s death: “…Gordon posted Pegram’s Division (now commanded by Gen Johnston)…”.

  1. Hawks, Pegram Division webpages for January 1865 and February 1865 Early’s Division, Second Army Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, January 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com) .
  2. Schulte, 5th NC regiment webpage, 5th North Carolina Infantry — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com).
  3. OR Series 1, Vol 46, p1180-83.
  4. Ibid; Hawks, Pegram division webpage for January 1865, Early’s Division, Second Army Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, January 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com) .
  5. Report by Col. John Lea, O.R. Addendum Reports, Vol 46, Serial Number 95, p803- 807.
  6. Although Capt. Bennett was not commanding the 23rd NC regiment at Hatcher’s Run, he was present at the battle because he was wounded there and lost an arm. Clark, vol 2, p262.
  7. 35. Schulte, 12th NC webpage, 12th North Carolina Infantry — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com); Report by Col John Lea, O.R. Addendum Reports, Vol 46, Serial Number 95, p803- 807.
  8. 36. Schulte, 20th NC webpage 20th North Carolina Infantry — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com); Maud Smith (1996) “Thomas Fentress Toon” NCPedia, Dictionary of North Carolina Biography, University of North Carolina Press, Toon, Thomas Fentress | NCpedia; Cape Fear Historical Institute, “Brig-Gen. Thomas F. Toon”, General Thomas F. Toon of Columbus County (cfhi.net).
  9. Clark vol 1 p289-90, p650; vol 2 p124, p262-63.
  10. 5th North Carolina Regiment (Infantry), 5th NC Regiment (Infantry) (carolana.com).
  11. The 21st North Carolina Infantry was one of only two North Carolinian regiments that in 1865 could boast “From Manassas to Appomattox,” i.e., they were with the ANV from the start to the finish of the war. Sherrill, p415.
  12. OR Series 1, Vol 46, p1180-83; NARA (1973),M935, Roll 14, 17-P-51, 0668, 0670.
  13. Clark, vol 1 p328; vol 2 p143; vol 3 p281-82, p422.
  14. 42. Schulte, 57th NC webpage, 57th North Carolina Infantry — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com); William Pittman (1988) “Hamilton Chamberlain Jones”, NCPedia, Dictionary of North Carolina Biography, University of North Carolina Press Jones, Hamilton Chamberlain, Jr. | NCpedia.

43 American Civil War, Thomas’ Legion, North Carolina Civil War Regiments and Battles, 21st North Carolina Infantry: Battles and Casualties (thomaslegion.net); 54th North Carolina Infantry Regiment: Battles, Casualties (thomaslegion.net)

 

  1. In late November 1864, after John B. Gordon took over command of the re-formed 2nd Second Corps, Evans was given the temporary rank of major-general and command of Gordon’s old division. Robert Grier Stephens ed (1992) “Clement Anselm Evans, Intrepid Warrior: Clement Anselm Evans, Confederate General from Georgia; Life, Letters, and Diaries of the War Years”; M. Boatner ed. (1959), “Cassell’s Biographical Dictionary of the American Civil War” p267.

A selection of modern authoritative references that use the Evans Division notification and not Gordon, the technically correct label: Trudeau, p301,318; John Horn (1993) “The Petersburg Campaign” p203, 206; Bergeron, p30, 34; Bearss, p206-07, 213; Steven Stanley (2016) Civil War Trust, Map of the Battle of Hatcher’s Run, Battle of Hatcher’s Run – February 5, 1865 | American Battlefield Trust (battlefields.org) .

  1. 45. Sherrill, p413 reports 3,500, whereas the January 1865 Inspection Report records 2,695, NARA (1973),M935, Roll 14, 20-P-51, 0/01.
  2. Major Grace was killed at the Hatcher’s Run battle on February 6th 1865, with a Capt. Knox taking over regimental command, Schulte, 26th Ga webpage, 26th Georgia Infantry — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com).
  3. George W. Nichols (1889) “A soldier’s story of his regiment (61st Georgia) and incidentally of the Lawton-Gordon-Evans brigade, Army Northern Virginia.”
  4. Hawks, Gordon’s division webpage for January 1865 Gordon’s Division, Second Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, January 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com) (although the heading says Jan 1864); OR Series 1, Vol 46, p1180-83; Bearss p186-190; Bergeron p30-37; Valgene L. Dunham (2015) “Gregory’s New York Brigade: Blue-Collar Reserves in Dusty Blue Jackets” p86. It is Lowe’s name and not Baker’s that is on the battle map used by the Civil War Battlefield Trust, Steven Stanley (2016) Civil War Trust, Map of the Battle of Hatcher’s Run, Battle of Hatcher’s Run – February 5, 1865 | American Battlefield Trust (battlefields.org) ; Calkins, p15-17; p172; Schulte, Battle of Hatcher’s Run webpages, The Battle of Hatcher’s Run (or Dabney’s Mill): February 5-7, 1865 — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com).
  5. Hawks, Gordon’s Division, January 1865 webpage, Gordon’s Division, Second Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, January 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com); NARA (1973),M935, Roll 14, 22-P-51, 0/04, 0/41; OR Series 1, Vol 46, p1181.

 

  1. Waters and Edmonds (2013) “A Small but Spartan Band: The Florida Brigade in Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia” p173-4; The Atlanta Weekly Intelligencer, April 12th 1865, vol 7, No. 38, column 5; this Georgian newspaper article provides a detailed account of the battle and reports on the actions of Col. Baker leading the Georgian Brigade. George W. Nichols (1889) “A soldier’s story of his regiment (61st Georgia) and incidentally of the Lawton-Gordon-Evans brigade, Army Northern Virginia” p37, 210-13. Ed Gleeson (1998) “Erin Go Gray: An Irish Rebel Trilogy”, p36. Dale Nichols (2017) “Hurrah for Georgia”, p214-16; which also explains that Baker was wounded on February 6th. P. Johnson (Ed) (1979) “Under the Southern Cross”, p222-23. These accounts clearly place Col. John Baker as brigade commander, while Trudeau, Organization of Forces Annex p497 is also consistent with this view.
  2. George W. Nichols (1889) “A soldier’s story of his regiment (61st Georgia) and incidentally of the Lawton-Gordon-Evans brigade, Army Northern Virginia” p37, 210-13.
  3. Hawks Gordon’s Division webpages for February 1865 Gordon’s Division, Second Army Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, February 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com).
  4. 53. NARA (1973),M935, Roll 14, 22-P-51, 0/04.
  5. 54. Hawks, Gordon’s Division, January 1865 webpage, Gordon’s Division, Second Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, January 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com); OR Series 1, Vol 46, p1181.
  6. Hawks, Gordon’s Division, January 1865 webpage, Gordon’s Division, Second Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, January 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com); Hawks, Gordon’s Division December 1864 webpage, Gordon’s Division, Second Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, December 1864 (civilwarintheeast.com); Hawks, 2nd Virginia regiment webpage 2nd Virginia Infantry Regiment (civilwarintheeast.com); Schulte, 10th – 23rd – 37th Virginia webpage, 10th-23rd-37th Virginia Infantry — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com) .
  7. Gordon’s Division, January 1865 webpage, Gordon’s Division, Second Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, January 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com); OR Series 1, Vol 46, p1181.
  8. 57. Hawks webpages for 36th and 50th Va regiments, 36th Virginia Infantry Regiment (civilwarintheeast.com) ; History of the 50th Virginia Infantry Regiment in the American Civil War (civilwarintheeast.com); Hawks, Wharton’s Division webpage, February 1865, Wharton’s Division of the Army of the Valley, February 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com).

Although the 36th and 50th Va are correctly absent on the February 1865 webpage Gordon’s Division, Second Army Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, February 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com).

  1. 58. NARA (1973),M935, Roll 14, 23-P-51, 0/6.

59 Susan Riggs (1991) “The 21st Virginia Regiment”, p52; Richard Armstrong (1990) “The 25th Virginia Infantry and 9th Battalion Virginia Infantry”, p86; Lowell Reidenbaugh (1987), “The 33rd Virginia Regiment” p82, this mentions the killing of Col. George Huston and his replacement by Col. Abraham Spengler. The death of Col. Houston (sic) of the Stonewall Brigade at Hatcher’s Run is also reported in the Richmond Daily Dispatch, February 11th 1865, page 3 column 2. However, there is no evidence to confirm that George Huston was ever promoted to a colonel and that his true rank at Hatcher’s Run was Lt-Col. and hence he was always junior to Col. Spengler, National Park Service Battle Unit Details, “33rd  Regiment Virginia Infantry”, Battle Unit Details – The Civil War (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov);  Thomas Rankin (1987) “The 37th Virginia Infantry”, p75; Kevin Ruffner (1987) “The 44th Virginia Infantry”, p58; John Chapla (1983) “The 42nd Virginia Regiment”, p53.

 

  1. 60. Hawks, webpage for 14th La regiment 14th Louisiana Infantry Regiment (civilwarintheeast.com). Civil War Wiki, “William R. Peck” William R. Peck | Civil War Wiki | Fandom (wikia.org); Terry Jones (2002) “Lee’s Tigers, The Louisiana Infantry in the Army of Northern Virginia” p220-22. Interestingly, with these changes of commands, someone as senior as Brig-Gen. William Peck does not feature anywhere in John Horn’s (1993) The Petersburg Campaign, June 1864 – April 1865 Rebel Orders of Battle p267-289.

Gen, Zebulon York is an interesting character, after his lengthy recuperation, he was assigned to recruiting duty in various prisoner-of-war camps. After the ANV surrender at Appomattox, York with a small number of infantry and artillery successfully defended the Yadkin River Bridge from an attack by Stoneman’s Raiders (April 12th 1865), enabling the fleeing Rebel President Jefferson Davis to evade capture for some time,  Military Wiki, “Zebulon York” Zebulon York | Military Wiki | Fandom (wikia.org); Anne Brownlee (2003) Trading Ford History, “Stoneman’s Raid: Salisbury and the Yadkin River Bridge” Stoneman’s Raid: Salisbury and the Yadkin River Bridge (trading-ford.org).

  1. OR Series 1, Vol 46, p1181; Hawks Gordon’s Division webpage for January 1865 Gordon’s Division, Second Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, January 1865 (civilwarintheeast.com).
  2. 62. NARA (1973),M935, Roll 14, 21-P-51, 0/2
  3. Hawks, 10th La regiment webpage, 10th Louisiana Infantry Regiment (civilwarintheeast.com) ; Terry Jones (2002) “Lee’s Tigers, The Louisiana Infantry in the Army of Northern Virginia” p222; Schulte, York’s Louisiana Battalion Infantry webpage, York’s Louisiana Battalion Infantry — The Siege of Petersburg Online (beyondthecrater.com).
  4. A selection of modern authoritative references that use the Peck Brigade notification and not York, the technically correct label: Bearss, p207-08; Bergeron p30-37; Valgene L. Dunham (2015) “Gregory’s New York Brigade: Blue-Collar Reserves in Dusty Blue Jackets”. Chap 6, p86; Wooddell, p426; Waters and Edmonds (2013) “A Small but Spartan Band: The Florida Brigade in Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia” p173; Steven Stanley (2016), Civil War Trust, Map of the Battle of Hatcher’s Run, Battle of Hatcher’s Run – February 5, 1865 | American Battlefield Trust (battlefields.org);

 

About the Author

Photo of Dr. Nigel Lambert at Petersburg National Battlefield

Visiting Petersburg National Park (Oct 2015)

Dr Nigel Lambert is British and lives near Norwich, England. Semi-retired, Nigel is a biochemist by profession, although from the turn of this century he has been involved in health research from a social perspective. A life-long Civil War enthusiast, he has been privileged to visit many of the wonderful battlefields on several occasions. A recent chance encounter with a civil war rifle ignited his interest in the battle of Hatcher’s Run. Surprised by the sparse and conflicting literature on the battle, he decided to employ his scientific knowhow to create this series of articles exploring the Rebel Order of Battle for Hatcher’s Run.

 

 

 

Tagged as: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

{ 0 comments }
Next Posts Previous Posts

Search SOPO

SOPO RSS Feed

Subscribe to The Siege of Petersburg Online RSS Feed

Links