,:-!(4.:l 
 
(fJotncU Imucrsita ffiibrara 
 
 atli'tta, SJeni fntk 
 
 THE JAMES VERNER SCAIFE 
 COLLECTION 
 
 CIVIL WAR LITERATURE 
 
 THE GIFT OF 
 
 JAMES VERNER SCAIFE 
 
 CLASS OF 1S89 
 
 1919 
 
Cornell University Library 
 E5S1.5 18th .165 
 
 Historical sicetclies of tlie Nottoway Gray 
 
 olin 
 
 3 1924 032 779 088 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of this book is in 
 the Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924032779088 
 
/RV^ 
 
Kurl ihat banner, for 'ti-^ ri't-arv, 
 Ruiind its stafi' 'lis drooping drirary ; 
 
 I'url it, fold it, it is best ; 
 Knr there's not a man to wave it. 
 And there's not a sword to save it, 
 And there's not one left to lave it 
 In the blood which hen^es gave it, 
 Anti its foes now scorn and brave it, 
 
 /'?//■/ it, //f't/e it, iet it res/. 
 
 'I'akc that l)anner down, 'tis tattered. 
 Broken is its staff, and shattered, 
 And the valiant hosts are scattered, 
 
 Over whom it floated high. 
 ( )h I 'tis hard for us to fold it. 
 Hard to think there's none to hold it, 
 I lard that those who once unrollei.! it 
 
 \ow must furl it ^\ ith a >igh. 
 
 Kurl that banner, furl it sadly ; 
 Once ten thousands hailed it gladly. 
 And ten thousands, wildly, madly. 
 
 Swore it should forever wave; 
 Swore that foeman's sword could never 
 Hearts like iheir's entwined dissever, 
 'I'iil that flag would float forever 
 
 O'er their freedom or their grave. 
 
 Kurl it! for the hands that grasped it. 
 And the hearts that fondly claspe<l it. 
 
 Cold and dead are lying low ; 
 And the banner it is trailing. 
 While around it sounds the wailing 
 
 Of its people in their woe. 
 K<jr tho' conquered they adore it. 
 Love the cold dead hands that bore it, 
 Weep for those who fell before ii, 
 Kardon those who trailed and tore it, 
 And, oh ! wildly they deplore it. 
 
 Now to furl and fold it so. 
 
 Kurl that banner, true 'tis gory, 
 
 ^'et 'tis wreathed anmnd with glorv, 
 
 And 'twill live ni song and story. 
 
 Though its folds are in the tlust ; 
 Kor its fame, on brightest pages, 
 I'enned by poets and by sages, 
 Shall go sounding dow n the ages. 
 
 I'\irl its folds though nnw we nuisl. 
 
 Kurl that banner, softly, slowly, 
 'I'reat it gently — it is holy — 
 
 Kor it droop-, above the dead ; 
 'IVjuch it not, un?old it never, 
 I.et it droop there. /i'/rAv/ |(»rever, 
 
 Kor its peo])lc's //f'/>rs ;ire dead. 
 
HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 NOTTOWAY GRAYS, 
 
 AFTERVSAARDS COMPANY G, 
 
 Eighteenth Virginia Regiment, 
 
 ARMY OF ]\TORTHERN YIRGINIA: 
 
 Prepired at the request of the surviving members of the Company at their first 
 re-union at Bellefont Church, July 21, 1877. 
 
 BY 
 
 RICHAED IRBY, 
 
 Captain oftTie Company, 
 1862-63. 
 
 RICHMOND : J. W. Fergusson & Son, 
 1878. 
 
FIRST MEETING OF COMPANY G, 
 
 JULY 21, 1877. 
 
 At a meeting of the surviving members of Company G, 18th 
 Virginia Eegiment, held at Bellefont Baptist Church (the site of 
 their first drill ground), on the 21st of July, 1877, the following 
 proceedings were held : 
 
 At the request of the Committee of Arrangements, Captain P. 
 F. Rowlett acted as Chief Marshal, assisted by Sergeant C B. 
 Seay, Corporals A. F.Morgan and J. W. Tunstill. 
 
 Orderly Sergeant E.. B. Seay formed the company into line, 
 numbering thirty-one. Captain Irby took command, and, pre- 
 ceded by the Chief Marshal, marched the men into the church, 
 which was filled by families and friends of the members present, 
 and families of the deceased. 
 
 Captain Irby was made Chairman, and Dr. Hurt, Secretary. 
 
 Dr. T. "W. Sydnor opened the proceedings by reading selections 
 from the Scripture, and by prayer. 
 
 Letters were read from Colonel R. E. Withers, U. S. Senator, 
 of Virginia, Colonel Gr. C. Cabell, M. C, of Virginia and Adju- 
 tant E. Ferguson, who had been invited to attend. 
 
 By request of the Committee of Arrangements, Captain Irby 
 then gave a sketch of the organization of the company, its entry 
 into service, its war-record while he was commander of the com- 
 pany, with sketches of men and incidents most notable in its 
 history. I 
 
 Capt. P. F. Rowlett, Dr. J. M. Hurt and Dr. Sydnor, (father 
 of Color Sergeant E. G. Sydnor, killed at Sharpsburg, gave in- 
 teresting sketches of the Company and its men. 
 
 On motion of Dr. Hurt, seconded By Dr. Sydnor, a committee 
 was appointed to open correspondence with the other military com- 
 panies engaged in the Confederate service, looking to the collec- 
 tion and preservation of the Rolls of the several companies of 
 ITottoway, and the erection of a suitable monument to the mem- 
 pry of the deceased soldiers of said commands. 
 
 Dr. J. M. Hurt, 1 
 
 A. F. Morgan-, v Committee. 
 
 J. W. Tunstill. j 
 
It was resolved that Capt. Irby be requested to complete the 
 historical sketch of the company by procuring the data for 1863, 
 1864 and 1865. 
 
 The Rolls of the company were then read, revised and cor- 
 rected. 
 
 The company then adjourned to meet again at the call of the 
 Chairman. 
 
 A sumptuous dinner was duly attended and enjoyed by the vet- 
 erans and their families and friends. 
 
 Eev. J. C. Reed, -with assistants, regaled the ajSsemblage with 
 delightful music during the exercises. 
 
 RiCHAED Ieby, Chairman. 
 
 J. M. HuBT, Secretary. 
 
 SECOND ANNUAL MEETING. 
 
 On the 20th July, 1878, a called meeting of the survivors of 
 Company G, 18th Virginia Regiment, was held at Bellefont Bap- 
 tist Church, Captain Richard Irby in the Chair, and Dr. J. M. 
 Hurt, Secretary. 
 
 Dr. T. "W". Sydnor opened the meeting mth appropriate devo- 
 tional services. 
 
 The special object of the meeting was explained by the Chair- 
 man to be the revision and correction of the Rolls of Company 
 G, which the meeting then proceeded to do. 
 
 Captain Richard Irby then read the Historical Sketch of tlie 
 company, prepared, as requested by the conipany at its last meet- 
 ing. 
 
 On motion, it was resolved that the thanks of the company be 
 returned to Captain Irby for the sketch he has prepared. 
 
 It was also resolved that a committee be appointed to take 
 steps to hold a meeting sometime in August next for the purpose 
 of raising funds to publish the Historical Sketch of the Company. 
 
 Captain Richard Irby," 
 Dr. J. M. Hurt, 
 
 A. F. Morgan, V Committee. 
 
 ■ R. L. Hurt, 
 
 J. "W". TUNSTILL, 
 
 The meeting then adjourned. 
 
 RiCHAEB Irby, Chairman. 
 J. M. Hurt, Secretary. 
 
THIRD MEETING OF Co. G, AUGUST 24, 1878. 
 
 According to the arrangements of the committee appointed at 
 the last meeting of Company G, 18th Virginia Regiment, the snr- 
 vivors met in the grove near Nottoway Foundry, August 24, 1878. 
 About thirty members were present. Capt. Eichard Irby acted 
 as Chairman, Capt. P. F. Rowlett as Chief Marshal, and Dr. J. 
 M. Hurt as Secretary. 
 
 The meeting was opened by appropriate devotional exercises 
 conducted by Rev. J. C. Reed. 
 
 The Chairman then introduced to the large audience present 
 Col. R. E. Withers, U. S. Senator from Virginia, the first Colo- 
 nel of the 18th Regiment, Army of ITorthern Virginia. After a. 
 few remarks recalling the special scenes and occasions in which 
 the company had been associated with their old Colonel, the com- 
 pany was called on for three cheers for Col. Withers, which they 
 gave with a hearty will. 
 
 Col. Withers then addressed the company and the audience 
 in an eloquent and feeling manner. Many were moved to tears 
 while he referred to the scenes and struggles of the war. He el- 
 oquantly exhorted the veterans to bv"* in peace as virtuous, brave 
 and patient as they had been in war. 
 
 Captain Richard Irby then read the Sketch prepared by Lieu- 
 tenant R. Ferguson, of the history of the company from January, 
 1863, to the close of the battle of Gettysburg, and the conclud- 
 ing portion of the Histoi'ical Sketch of the Company prepared 
 by himself since the last meeting. 
 
 At the suggestion of Dr. Sydnor, a number of persons present 
 subscribed for copies of the Historical Sketch. 
 
 Dr. J. M. Hurt, in behalf of Company G then presented Capt. 
 Irby a gold medal*, accompanying the presentation with appro- 
 priate and feeling remarks, to which the Captain responded, ex- 
 pressing his high appreciation of the company's unexpected token 
 of its regard. 
 
 The audience was then invited to partake of a regular old Vir- 
 ginia dinner, provided by the friends of the company, and dis- 
 pensed by the ladies of the county. 
 
 After dinner Judge Farrar, of Amelia county, delivered a lec- 
 ture embodying many incidents of the war, in his well known 
 style. 
 
 Before bidding the survivors a final good-bye. Col. Withers ad- 
 
 * The face of the medal bears this inscription : Presented by the Nottoway Grays 
 (Company G, l8th Virginia Regiment), to Captain Richard Irby, in testimony of their 
 love and gratitude to him as their Captain and Historian. 
 
 The obverse face has engraven on it a furled Confederate war flag, pierced by a pen. 
 
dressed to them a few parting words, full of eloquence and feel- 
 ing, which will long live in their memories. 
 
 The occasion was enlivened by music from the Cornet band of 
 Burke vjlle, which generously volunteered its services for the day. 
 The members of it being Northern settlers, thus gave a token of 
 fraternal regard, which was duly appreciated by Company Gr and 
 its friends. 
 
 The Chairman made acknowledgement of the thanks of the 
 company to Col. "Withers for his address ; -Judge Farrar for his 
 lecture; the Burkeville Cornet band for it's music; the friend^ of 
 the Company for their liberal dinner; and the ladies for their zeal 
 in enlarging the publishing fund by the sale of ice cream, &c. 
 The amount raised during the day was sufficient to publish the 
 Sketch. 
 
 KiCHARD Ikby, Chairman. 
 
 J. M. Hurt, Secretary. 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 
 
 This Sketch, written almost wholly from memory and from 
 data ])ased on the recollection of surviving comrades, will neces- 
 sarily be very imperfect. But few records were left, and these 
 were simply the first Roll of the company and records of a meet- 
 ing held to offer the company's services to the State. 
 
 Brief and -imperfect as the Sketch may be, it will, however, it 
 is hoped, revive in the hearts of its surviving members memories 
 which, though sad, ought not to be allowed to die. A number of 
 these members still live, useful in peace as they were brave in war. 
 They owe it themselves to let their children and children's child- 
 ren know what part their fathers took in the memorable war of 
 the Sections, which only needed success to make it rank in the 
 annals of time, with the greatest that ever nerved the heart of pa- 
 triots or tried the souls of men. Nay, more, they owe it to the 
 memory of those who died by their sides in that struggle, to let 
 future generations know how bravely they suffered and fought. 
 They are as worthy, of the marble shaft or storied urn, as any 
 martyrs for liberty's sake that ever lived. Grant that they were 
 mistaken — that their cause was not right — nevertheless they be- 
 lieved it right, and so believing, they dared to die for it. Parti- 
 san historians may brand us and them with the stigma of treason. 
 Let our posterity read our own records, revealing the true spirit 
 of our action, and know and rejoice that their fatljers were patri- 
 ots and worthy of the name of patriots. 
 
 Company G (first called Nottoway Rifle Guard and afterwards 
 Nottoway Grays) was organized on the 12th of January, 1861. 
 The original Roll, signed in person by the members, is 
 given below. It was composed of men who had, with possibly 
 one exception, no military education, and who, but for the exi- 
 
gencies of the times, would most probably have never joined a 
 military company. They met to prepare for the storm just then 
 casting its shadow athwart the Southern sky. They hoped that 
 the storm-cloud might pass away, but if not, they sought to pre- 
 pare to meet it. It burst on them while getting ready for it. 
 
 FIRST ROLL, JANUARY J2, i86i. 
 
 Keps Connallt, Captain. 
 
 Richard Irby, 1st Lieut. E. E. Howson, 3d Lieut. 
 
 Peter F. Rowlett, 2d Lieut. Jno. J. O'lSTeil, 4th Lieut. 
 
 Samuel Hardy, 1st Sergt. Cincinnatus Stith, 3d Sergt. 
 
 Ale:^ander Campbell, 2d Sergt. Chas. J. Seabrook, 4th Sergt. 
 Archer Campbell, 5th Sergt. 
 
 W. M. Hamilton, 1st Corpl. J. C. Gill, 3d Corpl. 
 
 Jno. W. Tunstill, 2d Corpl. Jos. A. G-oulder, 4th Corpl. 
 
 Jos. A. Jones, Inspector.* J. M. Hurt, Sec. arid Treas. 
 
 
 PRIVATES. 
 
 1 C. T.Atkinson. 
 
 18 "Wm. p. Grammer. 
 
 2 "William Burton. 
 
 19 A. M. Hurt. 
 
 3 Thos. R. Blandy. 
 
 20 E. L. Hurt. 
 
 4 Jos. C. Bentley. 
 
 21 G. H. Jackson. 
 
 5 A. V. Brown. 
 
 22 C. G. Malone. 
 
 6 J. B. Crenshaw.* 
 
 23 "W. T. Mason. 
 
 7 Branch J. Conally. 
 
 24 W. F. Mitchell. 
 
 8 Charles Drinkwater. 
 
 25 James Eeames. 
 
 9 W. J. Dixon.* 
 
 26 Jas. A. Spain. 
 
 10 Jos. A. Elder. 
 
 27 E. B. Spain. 
 
 11 "Wm. D. Farley. 
 
 28 E. B. Seay. 
 
 12 E. W . Farley. 
 
 29 J. M. Sullivan. 
 
 13 G. W. Foster. 
 
 30 James D. Tunstill. 
 
 14 E. G. Gunn. 
 
 31 G. W. Thompson. 
 
 15 B,. C. Gunn. 
 
 32 James T. West. 
 
 16 T. J. Gunn. 
 
 33 Thos. B. West. 
 
 17 E. B. Grammer. 
 
 34 Thos. M. Watkins,* 
 
 All the above were mustered into active service on the com- 
 mencement of hostilities except those marked (*). 
 
 At the formation of the company, the officers and jnen were 
 uniformed by themselves or by the assistance of their friends. 
 The county of Nottoway bought' one hundred Minnie guns, prior 
 
to active hostilities, for the infantry companies of the county. 
 One-half of these were turned over to Company G. 
 
 After the company had been organized and been drilled a few 
 times, the following proceedings were held and published : 
 
 THE NOTTOWAY GRAYS TENDER THEIR SERVICES TO THE 
 GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA. 
 
 At a regular drill meeting of the Nottoway Grays, April 13th, 1861, the following 
 preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted : 
 
 Whereas, We have reliable information to the effect that a number of Black Re- 
 publican Governors have been recently in secret conclave with the President of the 
 United States, the evident intent of which was a conspiracy against the rights and lib- 
 erty of the South, of which we form a part, as proven by the recommendation of a war 
 bill by the Governor of Pennsylvania, one of them, and the immediate passage of the_ 
 same by the Legislature of that State — therefore 
 
 Resolved, ist. That we, the members of the Nottoway Grays (inasmuch as the 
 Legislature of Virginia has declared, by resolution, its intention to meet force by force !) 
 offer to the Governor of the State our services to repel every hostile demonstration, 
 either upon Virginia or the Confederate States, by the crossing of her border with armed 
 troops for the purpose of invasion. 
 
 2nd. That we recommend to every volunteer company in the State a similar offer of 
 their services. 
 
 3rd. That we appoiiit our Captain, R. Connally, and First Lieutenant, Richard Irby, 
 a committee to present these proceedings to the Governor of the State and our repre- 
 sentatives in the Convention soon to be held. 
 
 4th. That our secretary furnish to the newspapers of Petersburg, Richmond and 
 Lynchburg, copies for publication, with the request that all the papers in the State 
 friendly to the object be requested to copy. 
 
 Capt. R. CONNALLY, Chairman. 
 
 J. M. Hurt, Secretary. 
 
 The services of the company were duly accepted by G-overnor 
 Letcher, and it was ordered to rendezvous at the Courthouse. 
 After drilling there one day it was ordered by telegram to report 
 at Richmond, on or about the 20th of April. Little did the men 
 think, that Monday morning when they kissed their wives and 
 loved ones, that many of them would not see them again for many 
 weary months. But so it was. 
 
 On the morning of their departure, the members of the com- 
 pany gathered together at sunrise in the Presbyterian church at 
 E"ottoway Courthouse, and held their first devotional meeting — 
 "a meeting which will not be forgotten. It was a solemn and 
 tearful time. Eyes unused to weeping were wet with tears that 
 day, when the rnen committed themselves into the keeping of the 
 " God of Battle," and their loved ones to the " Father of the 
 fatherless and the God of the widow." 
 
 A goodly number of the families and friends of the men of the 
 company gathered at the station, just before the train arrived, to" 
 bid them farewell. The Rev. T. "W". Sydnor made them a part- 
 ing address. With half-spoken good-byes and hands wrung in 
 grief by many, the men moved off, watching to the last for the 
 waving handkerchief of some loved one left behind. 
 
 Reaching Richmond before night, the company was quartered 
 temporarily at Mayo's "Warehouse. The men had scanty rations 
 
but no way to cook them, and fared badly for awhile. On reach- 
 ing Camp Lee, the cattle stalls were given them for barracks. It 
 is not recorded that having been "stalled," any became very fat. 
 
 IJnder the drilling of the Cadets of the Virginia Military Insti- 
 tute, promoted to be "drill-masters," they learned tactics as rap- 
 idly as possible. Before leaving Uotto way, the company had re- 
 ceived many accessions, mostly students of Union Academy, of 
 which 1st Sergeant Hardy was joint-principal, besides a number 
 of gallant young men from the adjoining counties, men of educa- 
 tion and high standing. It is not surprising, then, that it should 
 have taken high grade at oace for drill and spirit. 
 
 At Camp Lee, all was bustle and expectancy. I^ew companies 
 were coming in every day. As fast as regiments were organized 
 they M^ere sent to the front. Company G- was put in the 18th 
 Virginia Regiment, R. E. Withers, Colonel; H. A. Carrington, 
 Lieutenant Colonel; G-. C. Cabell, Major; (the only Regimental 
 Officers the Regiment had during the whole war). 
 
 Space will not allow a narration of the many novel things seen 
 at Camp Lee. Many were sad — some were ludicrous — all strange 
 to a parcel of quiet country people. The writer, then 1st Lieuten- 
 ant of the company, will not forget his first experience as Officer of 
 the Gruard. The guard-house was a plank shanty, standing off" to 
 itself, with curtains hung around the openings in place of win- 
 dows. Just before night a drunken Irishman was put in his 
 charge who had threatened to kill his Captain. He was perfectly 
 wild. with drink, and was boisterous in the extreme. The Lieu- 
 tenant, not knowing what to do vsdth him, threatened to tie him. 
 The Irishman, not at all set back, sang out " Oh yis ! yis ! yis j 
 ye can tie me and ye can gag me too ; I've been in the army be- 
 fore, and if you don't know how, I'll tell ye." Seeing he was 
 incorrigible, he had him tied with a stout rope to a post, and 
 then went to headquarters to. get. instructions what to do with 
 such a customer. Coming back he found him fast asleep, hav- 
 ing bitten the rope in two. He let him sleep. He was accosted 
 next morning bright and early by the fellow now sober, but dry 
 and hungry. "I say. Captain ! will you not send somebody up to 
 my quarters to get me some breakfast and a jug of whiskeeV 
 
 On the 26th May the Company left Camp Lee for Manassas. 
 While at Camp Lee, and immediately after reaching Manassas, it 
 was enlarged further by the following recruits : 
 
 J. E. Barrow. C. D. Pollard. 
 
 R. B. Barrow. J. J. Reese. 
 
 John Campbell. Gr. B. Seay. 
 
 D. C. Clark. S. B. Sublett. 
 
 R. H. Cobbs. W. G. Watkins. 
 
 S. E. Eowlkes. J. C. Webb. 
 
 Richard Ferguson. L. E. Webb. 
 
 J. H. Gill. A. D, Crenshaw. 
 
10 
 
 Thos. Gregory. P. Paris.* 
 
 H. Hatchett. H. Jeffrese, 
 
 E. K Hardaway. E. H. Muse. 
 
 L. E. Hardy. J. E. Pettus.* 
 
 J. E. Irvin. E. G. Sydnor. 
 
 A. F. Morgan. B. I. Scott. 
 Making, officers and men, seventy-three. 
 
 ACTIVE SERVICE BEGUN. 
 
 The 18th Virginia Eegiment, Col. E. E. "Withers command- 
 ing, was stationed at Manassas, to the right of the railroad, as 
 you face towards "Washington. Gen. Beauregard commanded 
 the Post. It was a stirring place, especially to new and untried 
 men, who had never seen anything of camp. Everyday witnessed 
 the arrival of fresh troops. War rumors from towards Washing- 
 ton were more plentiful than good bread — or even good water; 
 and a man who could live on excitement had a chance here to 
 grow fat. The first picket force sent out towards the " Occoquan" 
 had little hope of returning to camp without a list of killed and 
 wounded. Manassas was a bad place for troops. The water was 
 bad and not abundant at that. This caused diarrhoea and kin- 
 dred complaints. Private J. J. Eeese, of Dinwiddie county, 
 naturally delicate, and tenderly raised, soon Succumbed, and was 
 the first of Company G to give up his , life. This cast a gloom 
 over the hearts of the men, for it was the index of the fate of 
 many others. 
 
 In a few days orders came for the Eegiment to go to the front, 
 and it was a relief to leave a place like Manassas, to go to Cen- 
 treville, where good water abounded, and other supplies were 
 plentiful. Here we had a famous " night alarm," caused by some 
 scared men on picket, firing at some imagined enemy. Sergeant 
 Hardy got into somebody else's shoes and somebody ' put the 
 right boot on the left foot. 
 
 A few days afterwards, another move was made to the front, 
 and the company took up camp at Germantown, near Fairfax 
 Courthouse, distant about twenty miles from Washington. Cap- 
 tain Marr had just been killed in a skirmish at the Courthouse, 
 and it was daily expected that the Grand (Ifortljern) Army would 
 advance. Still June wore away, and July, with its sweltering 
 heat had come and half of it gone, before the momentous day ar- 
 rived. On the 17th July, just as breakfast was over, the sharp rattle 
 of the picket guns announced that the conflict was at hand. Soon 
 the sham breastworks, which had been thrown up to deceive the 
 foe, were filled with men. All eyes were strained to catch the 
 first glimpse of the blue-coats. The booming cann on told it was 
 
 * These two men reached us the morning of the 2 1st July, after the battle had begun. 
 They fought through the day, and both were taken sick soon after, and died. 
 
11 
 
 no mere scouting party. The Mils were soon crested With glit- 
 tering bayonets, and the conflict seemed at hand. But our stand 
 was a mere feint. "We did not fire a gun before we fell back and 
 double-quicked to the rear, to prevent the heavy column from 
 flanking our little force. It was all "Dutch" to us when /orii/?- 
 cations were deserted before a gun was fired by us, but we un- 
 derstood it all afterwards. 
 
 That day's march to Centreville and thence to Bull Run was 
 a trying time. More than one man never recovered from the 
 extreme fatigue and heat. W. D. Farley and A.' M. Hurt died 
 subsequently at the hospital of sickness caused by this overtaxing 
 march. 
 
 The retreat was made without loss of men or wagons, but the 
 latter were sent to Manassas direct, leaving us without rations 
 for the night. We halted, foot-sore and worn out, at Ball's Ford 
 on Bull Eun, about one mile below the Stone Bridge. After 
 bathing our wearied limbs in the Run, sleep came to ox^v relief. 
 The next day, July 18th, the battle of "Bull Run" was fought 
 at the ford below us. In our bushy retreat we could count the 
 artillery discharges, but, except from the tops of the highest trees, 
 could see nothing. The rattle of musketry succeeded, and sounds 
 of charges, and then the yelling of the victors. The sounds in- 
 dicated the failure of the Federals to cross the Run, but that was 
 all we could gather. .iSTight came on, and the conflict ceased. 
 What was to come next? The days of suspense and doubt were 
 long almost as years, and sleep came with troubled dreams and 
 "visions of garments rolled in blood." But so far the foe had 
 not triumphed. Friday and Saturday wore away, with constant 
 watching, by day and night to us, who held the outer post — so 
 'near the Federal lines we could hear their drums beat retreat and 
 reveille. Saturday night wc picketed near the pike, about mid- 
 way between the two armies, which were separated by a space 
 not more than three miles. On one side, we heard the drums 
 beat "retreat" for a short rest before the onward march of the 
 morrow. On the other, across Bull Run, the lines of defence 
 were forming, and in the valley, the ringing axes and falling trees, 
 and the rumbling of artillery, told of stubborn defence on the 
 morrow. It was so still that the words of command were plainly 
 heard, as the lines filed into position. 
 
 Sunday morning came bright and calm, but the Sabbath still- 
 ness was disturbed long before sunrise, by the long roll calling 
 to arms, and then the measured tread of serried ranks, and the 
 wheels of artillery carriages grating heavily on the pike. The 
 advancing column made directly for the Stone Bridge, to make 
 the feint of crossing. The undergrowth was very heavy where 
 we lay, and the distance between us and the nearest line was so 
 slight, we could plainly hear them getting "Long Tom," the 
 famous Parrott gun, of the Federals, into position. About, nine 
 o'clock, this gun opened, and its first missile was heard as it 
 
12 
 
 wMzzcd and hirtled, from tbe time it left tlie cannon's mouth, 
 till it struck, away over beyond the Run. As the shell struck 
 the ground, cheers from one flank of the Confederate line to the 
 other, went up, and were echoed and re-echoed from the opposing 
 hills. Derisive cheers ! They said there were brave hearts and 
 hands, ready for the onset. 
 
 Then the artillery duel commenced. The sharp rattle of the 
 skirmishers waxed faster and faster. For hours it seemed that 
 Thursday's battle was to be repeated; But it was not so to be. 
 About twelve o'clock, the musketry began to open briskly away 
 up the Run. It sounded like heavy, earnest work. ' It roared 
 and swayed, further and further on, as if deploying lines were 
 widening the field. After a time, the direction changed, and 
 the advance was evidently making down the Run towards the 
 pike. What the fortune of the day was, we could only judge by 
 the direction of. the guns. For about two hours this heavy 
 firing continued, and then ensued a partial intermission. Just 
 then, the Federals at the Stone Bridge began to cheer, and the 
 cheers were taken up and rolled in reverberating wave's to Cen- 
 treville. A band of music near " Long Tom," on the pike, struck 
 up an anthem of praise, in notes though sweet, yet just then they 
 were extremely saddening, because they indicated defeat to us. 
 
 So far, we had not fired a gun, and only a few scattering 
 skirmishers had come in sight. One prisoner had been taken by 
 our men. Just then an order came hurrying us to the front. To 
 reach it we had to go down to Ball's Ford. As soon as we had 
 crossed the Run, and filed out into the open field, our Brigade 
 began to draw the fire of the artillery of the enemy stationed on 
 the heights near the Stone Bridge. Marching by the right flank, 
 the line was exposed to this fire for a mile. In this way, the 
 steadiness of the men, for the first time under fire, was severely 
 tried. Soon the scene of the hottest part of the day's battle was 
 reached. This was where Bee's men had been driven back and 
 the famous " Stonewall " Brigade had turned the tide. Here the 
 "red-breeched" Federals were lying thick, dead and wounded. 
 The first man killed in our Regiment was shot by one of these 
 men as the line swept by him. It was a spiteful act, and Jie did 
 not live long to repent of it, for as soon as he had fired, Major 
 Cabell shot him down with his pistol. This occurred in the thick 
 pines. When the Command reached the open field, it at once 
 drew the fire of the enemy, then in and around the Henry house 
 on the hill before us. Just then the Brigade, of which the 18th 
 Regiment formed the left, having been thrown partially into dis- 
 order from marching through the thick pines, was halted to form 
 into line of battle. This occupied a few minutes, dudng which 
 time a number of our men were killed and wounded, but no man 
 of Company G was sta'uck. One had been wounded in the ad- 
 vance previously, viz.: H. Hatchett, of Lunenburg county. 
 \0f this wound and resulting fever he afterwards died. 
 
13 
 
 "When the line was fully formed, the Brigade swept up the hill, 
 in full charge, on both sides of the Henry house, capturing a bat- 
 tery of artillery stationed on the crest of the ridge. This was the 
 last charge of the day, for then commenced the rout of the enemy, 
 made more complete in our front by the turning of their own 
 guns upon them, which was effected by Lieut. Shields, of Com- 
 pany E, of the 18th Eegiment, and others. Forbidden to pur- 
 sue, we could only exult and cheer, as the great victory of the 
 day was consummated. 
 
 Crossing Bull Run at the Stone Bridge late in the evening, 
 our Command made an advance beyond with a view to cut off 
 the rear of the retreating and scattered forces of the enemy. 
 Just after we had passed over Bull Run, the line of march was 
 changed in the direction of Manassas, to oppose a movement of 
 the enemy, said then to be moving from the direction of the Oc- 
 coquan. This was soon ascertained to be a false report, but not 
 till it was too late to resume the effort to pursue. K"ight fell on 
 us about half way between the bridge and JVfanassas. Weary 
 and well nigh exhausted by the worry and fatigue of the day, we 
 wei'e happy to get supper, which our cooks and commissary 
 brought us. "We were halted 'for the night at Camp Walker. 
 Our sleep was interrupted early n^xt morning by a drenching 
 rain. Retracing our steps towards the battle-field, we bivouacked 
 the next night near Ball's Ford, after a day of uncertainty and 
 inaction. The next day we marched to the Pike and camped 
 near where the rout of the reserve force of the Federals was 
 greatest, not far from a small stream called " Cub-Run." This 
 stream was almost litei-ally full of muskets, and a whole battery 
 of artillery was taken the day of the battle at the bridge over it. 
 
 When the smoke of battle had blown away, and the full ex- 
 tent of the day's rout had been fully ascertained, the fact was 
 revealed that it only required prompt action then and there to 
 have secured the capture of Washington City. The fruits of the 
 victory were chiefly the moral effect and the stores of arms and 
 supplies captured. For many days, the men were engaged pick- 
 ing up muskets. While here. Colonel Wood, of the 14th ISTew 
 York Regiment, was found near a spring in the bushes, wounded 
 severely but not mortally, and attended by a man of his com- 
 mand. He was in an ambulance when the rout commenced. 
 The driver cut the horse loose, leaving him to the tender mer- 
 cies of the victors. Two men were found dead in the woods 
 near the Pike, on whom no sign of wound could be found, indi- 
 cating death from Aright or exhaustion. These incidents were 
 significant of the great consternation which ruled on the day of 
 the battle. 
 
 The next move of our Command was to Centreville, where it 
 suffered much from sickness in the form of typhoid or camp fe-. 
 ver. Then it moved to Fairfax Courthouse, where a better camp 
 was secured. From this place, a number of excursions were 
 
14 
 
 made to tlie front, near Washington and Alexandria. The picket 
 line extended from the Potomac river above Washington by 
 Munson's Hill near Fall's Church, and Mason's Hill in sight of 
 Alexandria, to the river bank again below. A constant fire v?as 
 kept up by the opposing lines of pickets for days at a time. 
 Scouting parties were frequently reconnoitering. Everything indi- 
 cated stirring events. In the interval, the Grand Army of the 
 Republic had been re-organized under Gen. McClellan, and it 
 was now larger and better drilled than it ever had been before. 
 But weeks passed by and then months without any decided 
 move. On the 16th of October, our Command fell back to Cen- 
 treville again, about which time the battle at Leesburg took place. 
 We heard the roar of the guns. 
 
 As cold weather approached, we went into winter quarters, 
 built of logs, Tvith rude chimneys. In this place, the Command 
 spent the winter, interrupted only by the skirmish at Dranes- 
 ville, and an excursion occasionally to the front picket line. 
 
 During the winler, several changes occurred in the organiza- 
 tion of the company. First-Lieutenant Richard Irby resigned 
 his position to take his seat in the General Assembly of Vir- 
 ginia, to which he had been elected in May. Richard Ferguson, 
 of Dinwiddle, was elected to fill the vacancy. In December, 
 Capt. Reps Gonnally resigned his office, on account of bad 
 health. Second-Lieutenant P. F. Rowlett was elected Cap- 
 tain, and 1st Sergeant Samuel Hardy was- elected 2d Lieu- 
 tenant. E. E. Howson, 3d Lieutenant, resigned, and Alex. 
 Campbell was elected in his place. 
 
 Early in 1862, recruiting parties were sent home to fill up the 
 ranks of the company. They brought in a number of recruits, 
 who reached the Command at Orange Courthouse. In the in- 
 terval. General Johnston had evacuated Manassas and Centre- 
 ville, and retired to the Rapidan. This was in anticipation of 
 McClellan's change of base to Yorktown. About the first of 
 April, the Army of Northern Virginia moved to Yorktown, near 
 which it took up camp. The camp of the 18th Regiment was 
 about a mile distant from the town. 
 
 Here the term of office of the regimental and company offi- 
 cers expired, and a new organization took place. The organiza- 
 tion of the company on the 20th April was as follows : 
 
 Richard Ibby, Captain. 
 Samuel Hardy, Ist Lieut. R. B. Seay, 1st Sergt. 
 
 J. E. Irvin, 2d Lieut. E. H. Muse, 2d Sergt. 
 
 Archer Campbell, 8d Lieut. J. C. Gill, 3d Sergt. 
 
 J. E. Barrow, 4th Sergt. 
 
 J. H. Gill, 1st Corpl. J. W. Tunstill, 3d Gorpl. 
 
 Wm. M. Hamilton, 2d Corpl, B. I. Scott, 4th Corpl. 
 J. 0. Webb, 5th Corpl. 
 
15 
 
 PRIVATES. 
 
 Anderson, A. W . 
 
 Jackson, G. II. 
 
 
 Anderson, W. J. 
 
 Johnson, L. 
 
 
 Anderson, J. M. 
 
 Malone, C. G. 
 
 
 Atkinson, C. T. 
 
 Marshall, F. Q. 
 
 
 Barrow; R, B. 
 
 Morgan, A. F. 
 
 
 Brown, A. V. 
 
 Mitchell, W. F. 
 
 
 Bentley, Wm. 
 
 Orgain, E. C. 
 
 
 Bentley, J. C. 
 
 Orgain, J. 
 
 
 Bowles, G. H. 
 
 Orgain, T. A. 
 
 
 Burton, Wm. 
 
 O'Neil, J. J. 
 
 
 Campbell, John 
 
 Overby, H. 
 
 
 Clarke, J. W. 
 
 Pollard^ C. D. 
 
 
 Connally, B. J. 
 
 Reames, J. 
 
 
 Cobbs, R. H. 
 
 Reames, W. H. 
 
 
 Cobbs, S. W. 
 
 Seabrook, C. J. 
 
 
 Crensbaw, A. D. 
 
 Seay, G. B. . 
 
 
 Clay, J. W. 
 
 Smith, J. C- 
 
 
 Eckles, J. W. 
 
 Spain, R. B- 
 
 
 Elder, J. A. 
 
 Spain, J. A. 
 
 
 Parley, E. W. 
 
 Stith, C. 
 
 
 Farley, J. C. 
 
 Sublett, S. B. 
 
 
 Farley, J. H. 
 
 Sydnor, E. G- 
 
 
 Foster, G. W. 
 
 SuUivan, J. M 
 
 
 Grammer, R. B. 
 
 Tunstill, J- D. 
 
 
 Gunn, R. C. 
 
 Tunstill, J. M. 
 
 
 Gunn, T. J.' 
 
 Thompson, G. W. 
 
 
 Gunn, E. G. 
 
 Tucker, T. J. 
 
 
 Gregory, Thomas 
 
 Watkins, W. G. 
 
 
 Hammersley, — 
 
 Webb, L. E. 
 
 
 Hardaway, R. ^. 
 
 Webb, J. A. 
 
 
 Hardaway, J. 
 
 West, J. T. 
 
 
 Hardaway, J. H. 
 
 West, T. B. 
 
 
 Hardy, L. E. 
 
 West, J. F. 
 
 
 Hardy, J. T. 
 
 Williams, W. 0. 
 
 
 Hurt,R. L. 
 
 Winn, W. H. 
 
 
 Comissioned officers. 
 
 . 
 
 4 
 
 I^Ton-commissioned officers, 
 
 . 
 
 9 
 
 Privates, 
 
 . 
 
 70 
 
 83 
 Captain P. F. Rowlett retired on account of physical inabil- 
 ity for active service. 
 
 First-Lieutenant R. Ferguson and 3d Lieutenant Alex. Camp- 
 bell' also retired from regular service on account of ill health. 
 
 At this time, the company attained its highest numerical 
 strength, increased by recruits from Nottoway, Lunenburg, Din- 
 widdle and Brunswick. The officers-elect took command on the 
 
16 
 
 21st April, a few days before the evacuation of Yorktown. The 
 Regimental officers had been re-elected, but many changes had 
 occurred in the company commanders of the Regiment. 
 
 The two armies commanded by General Johnston and Gene- 
 ral McClellan were now confronting each other. The "Warwick 
 river lay between the lines now so near each other that frequent 
 skirmishing was going on. 
 
 On the 5th of May, early in the morning, Yorktown was evac- 
 uated, and our command took up its retreating march towards 
 Richmond. We slept in the outskirts of the city of "Williams- 
 burg the first night. The Federal forces followed closely. 
 Though the rain was falling heavily, the Federals continued to 
 press, and early next morning the pickets commenced to fire. 
 This having been so common, we did not, at first, regard mat^ 
 ters as serious, but about nine o'clock our Command was marched 
 back through the city to the hill next to the woods. There we 
 found earnest work was going on, and the trees almost hidden 
 by the smoke, which, in the damp atmosphere, hung like a cloud 
 near their tops. . About 11 o'clock, our Command was ordered in 
 where the smoke seemed thickest. On reaching the scene of 
 conflict, the dying and dead were lying mingled in the tangled 
 woods. The enemy's line gave back, as we marched in and scat- 
 tered through the ahatis of fallen trees, on the edge of which 
 "\Ve halted and waged a sharp-shooting contest for hours. When 
 relieved in the evening by another command, we took position 
 as reserves on the ground where the Federals that moi'ning had 
 unslung knapsacks, which were now piled regularly in line, 
 l^^umbed and chilled by the drenching rain, as we were, these af- 
 forded a groat relief, as they were well packed with new blankets 
 and rubber cloths, the very things we needed. Mght found us on 
 the field hungry and wet, and begrimed with powder. We be- 
 gan to move back to the city about nine o'clock. It was a fright- 
 ful night. The wounded men and horses were groaning most 
 piteously on the wet ground as we left the field. 
 
 Company G escaped without a wound, but some of the other 
 companies of our Regiment were considerably cut up, especially 
 Company C, the other company from I^ottoway. When we 
 reached Williamsburg, the mud in the street was knee-deep, and 
 the sidewalks cut up by the wagons and artillery. ]!^otwith- 
 standing this, we had to remain in the street for hours. We 
 could not lie down nor sit down for the mud, so we had to 
 stand, without food still, as we had been since early dawn. This 
 dreadful condition lasted till about 1 o'clock next morning, when 
 we reached the old College campus, where a few of the more 
 fortunate ones got a little coffee, after which we resumed the slow 
 night march through the mud. This was the dreariest night we 
 had had so far, and possibly the dreariest of the war. About ten 
 o'clock next morning, we halted to rest and eat, as weary, muddy 
 a company as ever the sun shone on. We had made about ten 
 
17 
 
 miles. For over twenty-four hours we had had no rest, and 
 been under fire, more or less, for eight of the twenty-four hours, 
 and many had been without food during that time. IS'ow we 
 were too tired to sleep or to cook rations. Still not one had 
 been hurt, and all had escaped capture. 
 
 After resting till about 4 o'clock that evening, we again began 
 the march. We reached Barhamsville about sunset ; then bear- 
 ing to the left, we entered a swamp, in which we wound a de- 
 vious way, till we got so worn out that we dropped down and 
 slept where we dropped. It was so dark that we could only dis- 
 tinguish each other by the voice, l^ext morning found us near 
 an opening, where order was evolved out of chaos. This was a 
 day of comparative rest. Having crossed the Chickahominy 
 at Jordan's Ford, we slept that night — ^the first for three nights. 
 In five days and nights we marched for three nights and fought 
 one battle. At the end of this time, we found all safe. The 
 Federal gunboats were on both flanks, and their superior num- 
 bers following up the rear, but as yet our line had not been bro- 
 ken. Halting a short time at a church about six miles below 
 Richmond, we rested a few days, and then took up camp on the 
 outskirts of the city on the Mechanicksville Pike. Here we 
 rested, fi-ee from picket duty, till the battle of Seven Pines, the 
 first of the great battles near Richmond. This was on the 31st 
 day of May. 
 
 The preceding night had been one of great storm. The 
 streams .were fiooded. Early in the morning, we were aroused 
 to march to the battle-field, about seven miles distant from camp. 
 Crossing Grillie's Greek, we reached the "Williamsburg road, 
 where we were halted several hours, it was said, for Huger's di- 
 vision, who were to open the battle. About ten o'clock they 
 came with their wagons, and dressed as if for dress parade, ap- 
 parently unconscious of the serious muddy work ahead of them 
 that "day. Their delay was a drawback to success, according to 
 the plan of the battle. We were held in reserve all that day and 
 slept on the field that night, near the York River Railroad track. 
 The first day had been only a partial success, followed by a se- 
 vere repulse of our forces in the evening, in which General 
 Johnston himself was severely wounded. The next morning 
 very early we were moved forward to relieve the command, 
 which had been under fire the day before, at a point where the 
 battle had been very hot. Here were splintered trees and dead 
 horses, and dead men lying in confusion, where our infan- 
 try charged the redoubts of the Federals and took them by 
 storm. It was an awful scene. But this morning all was as 
 still as death. Deserted camps, with kettles hanging over the 
 half-burnt fagots, and sutler's stores scattered around in tempting 
 profusion told of the suddenness of the attack of the day before. 
 JSTothing but discipline prevented an indiscriminate rush for these 
 supplies by the men, who had had no breakfast that morning. 
 2 
 
-18 
 
 While enjoying these good things, suddenly a volley of mus- 
 ketry near by announced the opening of the second day's battle. 
 The smoke, as it curled up through the damp trees, told where 
 the enemy lay. In an instant, the whole line was wheeled to the 
 left and marched in line of battle towards the thickest firing, al- 
 most in our rear, on the Nine-Mile road. The camp alluded to 
 was at the intersection of this road with the "Williamsburg road. 
 We soon reached an abatis, and on the further side there were 
 armed men, whether friends or foes was not plain in the murky 
 morning. They seemed to be doubtful, too, for we were in their 
 rear — that is, they were between us and Eichmond. An officer 
 hallooed to us to show our colors, and our Colonel directed the 
 color-bearer to do so. As he did, we received a volley from 
 them. Then, quick as thought, the command Forward! was 
 given, and away we went through the fallen trees and brush, 
 creeping under and jumping over, till the further border was 
 reached. Here we found no enemy ; they had fallen back into 
 the railroad cut not far distant. Our company was protected by the 
 pines from their fire, but other companies were not so fortunate, 
 and consequently suffered severely. Among others, Lieut. Col. 
 Carrington was wounded. Sharp shooting was kept up for some 
 time, and then our line was subsequently formed in the Mne- 
 Mile road, running nearly parallel with the railroad. The enemy 
 seeing this, made an advance through the abatis, but our men 
 having long-range guns gave them such a warm reception that 
 they soon fell back and the battle virtually ceased. The men 
 during the day acted with conspicuous bravery, and delivered 
 their fire as coolly as if they had been firing at a target. We 
 slept that night in a swamp near by, and the next day returned 
 to camp. 
 
 We only remained in that camp one night, moving next day 
 to the Williamsburg road, where we took up camp, in which we 
 remained till the seven days' battle commenced. Here camp fe- 
 ver broke out again. E. W. Farley, one of the strongest and 
 best soldiers of the Company, died. The captain of the Company 
 also was taken with fever and was carried home. 
 
 THE BATTLES AROUND RICHMOND. 
 
 Up to. this time. Company G had had but one man wounded, 
 though, it had always ckrried its full quota into battle. A period 
 in its history now came when this was to be sadly reversed. 
 On the. 25.th day of June the battles began. General Lee, now in 
 command,, had determined to drive the invader from his native 
 soil. This movement was by turning the enemy's right fiank and 
 striking, his rear. Company G went into battle on the second day 
 at Gaines- Mill. The Federals had given back slowly, contesting 
 
19 
 
 every foot of ground until they reached a high bluff, where the 
 ridge broke off suddenly near the Chickahominy, having a deep 
 ditch and stream on its upper side. Up the river, there was a 
 wide, open field, through which alone they could be approached 
 by our brigade. The enemy's fire swept this field and the cover 
 where our men lay for awhile, on its upper edge. Even here the 
 carnage commenced. E. C. Orgain and his brother Thomas 
 were killed in a few feet of each othei' — the first of our men to 
 die in battle — two brothers of the three — 
 
 " They were lovely and pleasant in their lives, 
 And in their death they wejre not divided." 
 
 The Regiment charged across the field — Company G under 
 command of Lieutenant Hardy. He was soon borne from the 
 field with his arm shot near the shoulder, by an. explosive ball, 
 which caused him to lose it. The Brigade Commander, Gen- 
 eral Pickett, and Colonel Withers were severely wounded early 
 in the charge. "When at last the survivors reached the ditch at 
 the foot of the hill, they were sadly decimated, but on and up 
 they went, till from its summit the stars and bars waved in tri- 
 umph in sight of the scattered and flying foe. The closing strug- 
 gle occurred just before night. The Federals attempted to re- 
 gain the hill by a cavah-y charge, which, however, proved abor- 
 tive. 
 
 A great victory had been achieved, in which Company G had 
 borne a conspicuous part, but few were left next morning to an- 
 swer roU-call. In addition to the Orgains, named above, C. D. 
 Pollard and R. B. Grammer were killed, and J. H. Farley, Wm. 
 Bentley and T. J. Gunn mortally wounded. 1st Sergeant R. B. 
 Seay was very severely wounded, and many others. The rem- 
 nant had hardly time to bury their dead before they were hur- 
 ried on to another deadly conflict. At Erazier's farm they had 
 to meet again the sullen, retiring foe. The company in this bat- 
 tle was under command of Sergt. Muse, assisted by Ex-Lieutenant 
 Ferguson, all the other officers having been wounded or disabled. 
 While Corporal J. H. Gill, Chief of the Ambulance Corps, was 
 bearing from the field his wounded brother J. C. Gill he was 
 shot down. C. G. Malone was mortally wounded; Sergeant 
 Muse and R. Ferguson were slightly wounded. Out of forty- 
 five men who went into these battles only six men came out 
 unhurt. The survivors did all they could to find the bodies of 
 their fallen comrades, but several sleep in unknown graves on 
 the field or in Oakwood Cemetery. 
 
 The Captain of the Company, who had been confined at home, 
 sick with camp-fever, hurrying back before he had recovered, 
 found but a small remnant of the number he had left behind a few 
 days before, and these were weary and worn with constant fight- 
 ing and watching, and saddened by the loss of so many brave 
 comrades. To him it was sad indeed. He had left a large com- 
 pany of young, brave men, and now only a handfuU were left, 
 
20 
 
 and some of these were sick and likely to die. A number were 
 pining away in the hospitals — some to die and some to spend 
 weary days or months — some- with bodies maimed for life. After 
 visiting the wounded and sick, he proceeded, as fast as his feeble 
 condition would allow, to gather together the convalescent and 
 re-organize the company, in the month succeeding the battles 
 around Richmond. The camp was on the Darbytown road, 
 about four miles from Richmond. 
 
 First Lieutenant Samuel Hardy having been disabled for life, 
 by loss of his arm, and 2d Lieutenant Jno. E. Irvin disabled by 
 wound and disease, they resigned, and their places were filled 
 by Archer Campbell, 1st Lieutenant and E. H. Muse, 2d Lieu- 
 tenant. While the Company was in camp at Darbytown, pri- 
 vate S. W. Cobbs died of disease at home. 
 
 FIRST MARYLAND CAMPAIGN. 
 
 The scene of war having been shifted again to the Rapidan, 
 the company, with General Lee's army, was ordered to march. 
 Leaving Richmond on the 10th of August, 1862, it reached Gor- 
 donsville, Va., the same evening, and campedthat night near the 
 town. The Roll of the company showed its strength to be 33 
 officers and men, sevei-al of them not fit for duty. 
 
 The object of the campaign seemed mysterious to the uniniti- 
 ated. Jackson had just fought the battle of Cedar Run, in Cul- 
 peper county, and was manoeuvring in that direction still, 
 whether . offensively or defensively it was not known. After 
 marching and counter-marching in the neighborhood of Cordon s- 
 ville for some days, we moved towards the Rapidan and. camped 
 near Raccoon Eord. Crossing the river at that place, we moved 
 in the direction of Kelly's Ford, on the Rappahannock, where 
 there was some skirmishing with the Federals under their new 
 Commander, General Pope, with "Headquarters in the Saddle." 
 Camping near Stevensburg, above, we went next day to Brandy 
 Station, and laid in " line of battle " all day. At the railroad 
 bridge over the river a heavy artillery battle was raging. The 
 bridge was burned in the evening. Moving higher up, we 
 crossed the river at Beverley's Ford, nejar which we camped one 
 night. ISText day a forced march was made which took us 
 through Orleans and Salem, bringing us to the "Plains" on the 
 railroad, that night about one o'clock. Halting in a large field of 
 timothy grass, we dropped down and slept till morning. This 
 place was near " Thoroughfare Gap," in Bull Run mountain. 
 Here Dick Ferguson overtook us in time for the threatened con- 
 flict. We slept on the railroad track Thursday night in the Gap, 
 where' a conflict for its possession had occurred the morning be- 
 fore. 'Next morning, bright and early, we pressed by ISTew Market, 
 d-own the Pike, towards the old Manassas battle field, where Jack- 
 
21 
 
 son had been bewildering the Federals for several days. As far as 
 the eye could reach, deploying columns were in view, stretching 
 farther and farther across the held, and the artillery stationed near 
 Buckland, on the Pike, were throwing shell in rapid succession 
 beyond into the Federal lines. Our command formed to the 
 right of the Pike. 
 
 The company had left Eichmond on the 10th of August with 
 33 men. When the line was formed, after nearly twenty days 
 of marching, not a man was missing, but'one, "W". F. Mitchell, 
 discharged from being over age. This fact showed a discipline 
 seldom attained and never surpassed. 
 
 All day Friday, the 29th, we lay in line of battle, while a heavy 
 battle was raging in front. To the left, the artillery continued all 
 day to shake the earth with almost unbroken cannonading. At 
 night we were moved by the left flank across the Pike into an 
 orchard and corn-field, where the battle had been raging, for the 
 dead and wounded were lying still scattered over the field As 
 we were moving across the Pike a squadron of Federal cavalry 
 dashed through our line, firing a volley as they came. They 
 were all captured.. During the night we slept on our arms, and 
 were not allowed to have lights. We could hear forces moving 
 and guns being put in position, where the enemy were posting, 
 their hues for the morrow's conflict. The next morning before 
 light our command was moved back to the position it held the 
 day previous. Early in the day it was moved again farther tothe 
 right, passing Federal field-hospitals, showing that their lines 
 had given back. Taking position in the valley of a small stream, 
 we laid in reserve till about three o'clock in the evening, listen- 
 ing with anxious ears to tiie battle raging furiously just beyond 
 the ridge, so near by that balls were felling constantly about us. 
 At about three o'clock we were hurried forward towards the 
 thickest conflict. Between us and the enemy there was a skirt 
 of woods, not more than fifty yards wi'de, on the further edge of 
 which the enemy were posted, Afi we emerged from the woods 
 we evidently took them bj surprise, as they were immediately 
 thrown into great confusion, succeeded by a precipitate rout. 
 The field for a mile was filled with flying infantry, artillery and 
 cavalry. Down the hill the exultant pursuers pressed in a vain 
 attempt to overtake the flying masses. Thus far it was in effect 
 a repetition of the first battle of Manassas, with this difference, 
 viz ; our lines were moving in exactly the opposite direction in 
 this battle to that they moved in at the first. 
 
 We had gotten to the stream in the valley east of the "Chmn 
 house, with but little loss, when on our left on a high ridge a 
 whole brigade seemed to rise up, as if in a moment, with a bat- 
 tery of artniery on each flank. Their fire of grape and shell and 
 Minie balls raked our line from one end to the other. Under 
 this we had to change front to the left. In doing this, the loss 
 of our men was very great, m indicated by the killing and wound- 
 
22 
 
 ing of ten of the seventeen officers of the Regiment, including 
 Col. Carrington and Adjutant McCulloch. The movement was 
 completed and the line was moving up the intervening ridge run- 
 ning parallel to the one the Federals were occupying. Just as 
 our line approached the crest of this ridge, Captain Irby was 
 wounded by two balls which struck him at the same instant, one 
 in the left breast, the other in the neck, thus disabling him for 
 duty. Private S. B. Sublett was killed ; Lieutenant Ferguson, 
 Corporal Tucker, Privates L. E. Hardy and J. ~W. Clarke were 
 seriously wounded — others slightly. 
 
 Two incidents occurred in this battle which serve to illustrate 
 the spii'it of the men; the first witnessed by the Captain. As the 
 line was pressing down the hill, the color-bearer was instantly 
 killed. Seeing the colors falling, Color-Corporal E. G-. Sydnor 
 snatched the staft' from the dying man's hand, before it reached 
 the ground, and bore it bravely through the conflict. For this 
 he was promptly promoted to fill the vacancy, and he bore them 
 till he was killed. IS'O one ever bore them more bravely, nor 
 ever surrendered a life more full of promise. 
 
 As Ex-Lieut. Ferguson was lying in a gully severely wounded, 
 a soldier of another command jumped over him, and stopped a 
 minute, thinldng he recognized him as an old friend and school- 
 mate. He said, "Is that you Dick ?" Dick's only reply was, "Go 
 on ! go on ! and whip the Yankees !" These two friends did not 
 meet again for years, but when they did, they found that they 
 had met and greeted each other that day for the first time since 
 they were at college together — a hurried, greeting it was. 
 
 The company, under command of Lieutenant Campbell, went 
 on to Maryland. It took part in the battle of Boonsboro, where 
 overpowering numbers, for the first time, drove back our line, 
 and but for relief coming up there would have been heavy defeat. 
 Here Corporal B. I. Scott, one of the best men in the Regiment, 
 was killed. At the opening of hostilities he was teaching school 
 in Athens, East Tennessee, where the people were much divided 
 on the issue of the war. Hastening to Nottoway, where he 
 had previously lived, he joined the company, giving up at the 
 outset of life an honorable success which seemed almost in his 
 grasp. 
 
 » » In a few days afterwards came the battle of Sharpsburg, when 
 the courage of the men was tested to its utmost strain. In this 
 battle Color-bearer E. Garland Sydnor, of Company G, was 
 killed by a shell. Major Cabell, then in command of the Regi- 
 ment, was near by him and saw him die. He mourned over him 
 as one of the most gallant men who ever carried the colors of 
 the 18th Regiment. lie was carefully buried on the field, from 
 whence after the war his remains were removed and brought to 
 the family burying-ground in Nottoway. Of those wounded in 
 these battles no record is left, but when Captain Irby reached the 
 company, about the middle of October, 1862, he found about 25 
 
23 
 
 men much worn with hard marching and poorly supplied with 
 clothing and food. The camp was about six miles from "Win- 
 chester, on the Harper's Ferry road. Under all their hardships, 
 privations and bereavements, they were still bearing themselves 
 bravely and far more cheerfully than a civilian could have imag- 
 ined. They were not only ragged and hungry, but had attained 
 that highest of all soldierly attainments — they were lousy. If 
 this was any advantage with their other experience, they were 
 veterans indeed. This Egyptian curse was common to all ranks, 
 for the lowest private suiiered under it as well as the highest in 
 command. The camp was literally swarming A^th the vermin. 
 
 About the first of N'ovember the Camp near Winchester was 
 broken up, and the command moved down via Front Eoyal and 
 Chester G-ap to Culpeper. Burnside, now in command of the 
 Federal army, was moving down the Potomac, threatening another 
 onward move to Richmond. There were indications of a battle 
 at Culpeper, where the command remained several weeks. 
 About the first of December another move took place, our com- 
 mand recrossing at Raccoon Ford, and moving down the Rap- 
 idan, confronted the Federals at Fredericksburg. Camping in 
 one of the hollows between the long hills, the command arranged 
 their shelters. They had no tents. But hardened as they were, 
 they made themselves comfortable during the nights of Decem- 
 ber., They did not have long to wait. 
 
 •On the morning of the 12th of December, picket firing was 
 heard very early on the Rappahannock opposite Fredericksburg. 
 The whole town and surroundings were covered by the heavy 
 guns of the Federals, and thus they were enabled to place their 
 bridges in position during the night previous and the morning, 
 with little opposition from our forces. Inmiense masses poured 
 over and filed down the railroad, covered by an embankment. 
 Except at the flanks of the opposing armies, where the hills on 
 either side approached the river, the field between the opposite 
 heights averaged about a mile and a half wide. Company G 
 was about in the centre of the main line at the foot of the hills, 
 which here formed a crescent. The hea,vy fighting was on the 
 flanks, in sight of us on the right, but not on the left. Though 
 it was the seventh great battle the company had been in, it was 
 'the flrst time we had seen opposing lines taking position, and then 
 attacking and charging to and fro, with artillery iu full play. 
 Ensconced in our strong breastworks, which had been thrown 
 up during the early part of the battle, we could see all this on 
 the great day of the battle (the 13th) while we fired not a gun, 
 nor did onei seem to be fired at us. The wish was frequently 
 expressed that the enemy would attack us, for we had made 
 every preparation to receive them. After suffering the most 
 signal repulse time and again, at all points, on the night of 
 the 13th, under the cover of thick darkness, the Federal forces 
 retired beyond the river. The morning of the 14th was ushered 
 
24 
 
 in by rain and dark clouds, but early in the day the clouds lifted 
 and the sun shone out and revealed to us the blue lines of 
 infantry basking in its light on the opposite hill slopes. Then 
 the former Confederate lines were re-established, and there was 
 a great calm. 
 
 Thus ended the campaign of 1862,' prolonged far into the win- 
 ter. Our command, as soon as possible, went into winter quarters, 
 made in the best way practicable, with such materials as could 
 be gotten. This camp was at Holladay's farm, about four miles 
 from Fredericksburg. Here Christmas found the company, 
 after a year of unexampled marching and counter-marching, 
 heavy fighting at home and abroad, victorious on many fields, 
 conquered on none. 
 
 WINTER QUARTERS AT HOLLADAY'S -FARM 
 
 1863. 
 
 In January, 1863, Captain Irby asked and obtained from the 
 Secretary of War a detail to service in the Commissary Depart- 
 ment.* Since his wound he had been partially paralyzed on one 
 side, and therefore unable to march without suffering great in- 
 convenience. As the feeding of the army was now becoming a 
 serious question, he felt he could do more in a field- of service bet- 
 ter suited to his condition. He feels that he can take the liberty 
 to say that he left bearing the respect of all and the love of many 
 of those he had been honored in leading, and in whose priva- 
 tions and labors he had borne a cheerful share. 
 
 The company spent the Winter in quarters at Holladay's Farm, 
 in Spottsylvania county, about four miles from Guinney's Station 
 on the E. F. & P. E. E. If anything worthy of mention occur- 
 red during this period, no record can now be found. 
 
 We here give narrative of Lieut. Ferguson. He had been 
 honorarily connected with the company since April, 1862, and, 
 been with it in all its battles, when not prevented by sickness or 
 wounds. He was elected 3d Lieutenant early in 1863. It would 
 be doing Lieut. Ferguson great injustice to confound him with 
 w hat were called " free-fighters" during the war. Incapacitated 
 by pulmonary disease, induced by an attack of the measles in the 
 first year of the war, he was exempt from service — but so ardent 
 was his zeal, and so great his braveiy, he never failed to make 
 his appearance on the eve of battle, when it was possible for him 
 to do so. In this way he had been with the company at Eich- 
 mond, 2d Manassas and Fredericksburg, in the two former of 
 which baUles he was wounded. When he appeared on such oc- 
 casions, the "boys" would say, "Dick Ferguson has come, we 
 
 * In this department he was made Captain and A. C. S., in June, 1863. 
 
25 
 
 are going to have another fighrt." His fighting was done in the 
 ranks, with his musket, where he taught the men that a brave 
 man was not a,shamed to stand, although he had once had bars 
 on his collar. His Captain, who knew him so well, does not 
 hesitate to say that he was the completest soldier he ever met 
 with in the army, and Col. Carrington so pronounced him at the 
 battle of G-ettysburg, where he probably fired the last gun dis- 
 charged by Pickett's Division : 
 
 R. FERGUSON'S NARRATIVE.— COMPANY G, CAROLINA CAMPAIGN. 
 
 Company G, along with Garnett's Brigade, was detached 
 from Pickett's Division at Chester, Va., in the month of April or 
 May (I think), 1863, and sent by rail from Petersburg to Tarboro, 
 E". C. Thence they marched to Greenville and Little Washing- 
 ton, where the Federals were in force and strongly fortified. (I 
 returned to the Command at this point, having been on recruit- 
 ing service for several weeks, with Geo. W. Jones — who joined 
 Company G — and other recruits for the Regiment.) 
 
 The weather was warm for the season, and the march fatigue- 
 ing, and considerable time consumed in crossing the wide swamps. 
 On the march the boys enjoyed hugely the sweet potatoes and 
 scuppernong wine, and occasionally a chicken stew. Around 
 Washington the rations were chiefly fresh fish and yellow corn 
 meal, which was cooked without sifting. In addition to this, we 
 had to eat it frequently cold, which made it still more unpalata^ 
 ble, as the wagon train had to be kept at a safe distance in the 
 rear, and the cooking was required to be done there. The country, 
 too, being flat, and the rains heavy and frequent, rendered our 
 camp very uncomfortable. 
 
 There was no fighting save a little artillery skirmishing, dur- 
 ing which several members of the company made narrow escapes. 
 A good illustration of the bravery and readiness of the men for 
 duty was here exhibited. Volunteers were called for to go be- 
 yond the outposts and prevent the enemy during the night from 
 cutting down a large tree between one of our batteries and theirs. 
 Lieuts. Muse and Ferguson, with twelve men from Company G, 
 offered their services and spent the night between the picket 
 lines, listening to the conversation of the enemy's pickets, and 
 the continual barking of the dogs, with which to us, the little 
 town seemed filled. At early dawn, according to orders, the 
 squad returned in safety. 
 
 We were kept in suspense for several days, expecting either to 
 attack or to be attacked. 
 
 But one day after ,a heavy rain, just at night-fall, we took up 
 the line of retreat, marching all night — and frequently in water 
 from ankle to armpit deep; for orders were given not to sufier 
 
26 
 
 any of the soldiers to cross the swamps on the foot-bridges. In 
 two days we camped near Tarboro, and in a few days left by 
 railroad for Suffolk. 
 
 The most noted part of this trip by railway, was the display of 
 one of the many pranks to which soldiers are given. The gov- 
 ernment had a large corn-sheller, run by steam, at the Tarboro 
 depot. The soldiers, before leaving, threw large quantities of 
 cobs upon the flats, and whenever they passed a person on the 
 roadside, they would commence "shelUhg him," as they called it. 
 As rude as it was, it was nevertheless amusing to see men and 
 boys, white and black, as well as horses, running pell-mell, to es- 
 cape the volley after volley of cobs which poured forth with a 
 shout from the passing cars. 
 
 SUFFOLK CAMPAIGN. 
 
 We stopped at Franklin depot, and next day marched off to- 
 ward Suffolk, where we rejoined Longstreet. There we remained 
 for several days. The country round about had been scoured by 
 the soldiers, and there was little to be had to eat for love or 
 money. Our wagon train had to come across the country from 
 Carolina, consequently we fared poorly. Meat was more plenti- 
 ful than bread. A few peas, which a lucky member of the com- 
 pany found in his rambles, made small division amongst us. 
 We went out on picket duty only once. Found there had been 
 sharp skirmishing and much preparation made for a battle. But 
 after tarrying for a few days, the orders came to move,. and at 
 dark, hungry though glad, we set out, and marching all night 
 reached Blackwater a little after sunrise, and crossed on pontoon 
 bridges at South Quay. Here, to our great joy and comfort, we 
 met again our wagon train and cooks, with hot biscuit, coffee 
 and fried ham, in abundance. 
 
 Thence we marched for Petersburg, camping for the first night 
 near Jerusalem, the county seat of Southampton, situated on 
 E'ottbway river which we hailed with delight as an old friend. 
 
 The next night we camped near Petersburg, and thence 
 marched on toward Richmond, and camped for several days at 
 Rice's Turnout (now Drewry's Bluff) on the R. & P. R. R., and 
 on the very spot now used as a Confederate cemetery. Here the 
 sad tidings came to us of Gen. Jackson's death. "When the train 
 stopped and the news spread, stout men that were not much ac- 
 customed to weep, shed tears freely. 
 
 GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN. 
 
 From this point w'e started on the Gettysburg Campaign. We 
 halted for several days in Louisa county. At this camp, consid- 
 erable religious interest was manifested in the Division. Meet- 
 ings were conducted morning and evening chiefly by Rev. Drs. 
 Pryor and Granbery. These were soon mterrupted, however, 
 
27 
 
 by the continuation of the march. "We proceeded through 
 Orange, Gulpeper, Kappahannock, Fauquier and Loudoun coun- 
 ties, to Snicker's Gap in the Blue Eidge mountains, which we 
 crossed, and then forded the Shenandoah river about sunset. 
 Before we could get established in camp a heavy rain fell. ISText 
 morning at sunrise we re-crossed the river, which had swollen con- 
 siderably, and was just fordable by the short men. We lay all 
 that day in line of battle, guarding the gap, but no enemy ap- 
 peared. We waded the river again that evening, and next day 
 proceeded toward Winchester, and thence to the Potomac^ which 
 we crossed at Williamsport. 
 
 Here, before going into camp, a sad and solemn scene was en- 
 acted — ^the shooting of a man by the name of Riley, who had de- 
 serted the Regiment several times. The Division was formed 
 into a hollow square, and the poor man, according to military 
 custom, was marched around with Chaplain Granbery as attend- 
 ant, followed by a guard of twelve men, and preceded by the 
 drum beating the " Dead March." He seemed perfectly calm. 
 He was seated on his coffin, and at the word " fire," fell, pierced 
 by six bullets — ^half the guns being loaded with blank cartridges. 
 
 Thence we moved across the line into Pennsylvania, and 
 
 camped near a little town, , until the 2d of July, when we 
 
 marched up near Gettysburg. The booming of the cannon and 
 the rattle of the musketry told us of the dreadful work going on 
 there. 
 
 Our men were in excellent spirits, and kept well together. 
 None of them pillaged in the least, so far as I know. In fact, 
 most of us fared worse in Pennsylvania than in Virginia, because 
 we had no greenbacks with which to buy anything. 
 
 On the morning of the 3d July, we moved into position, under 
 the eye of Gen. Lee himself, and were placed in support of 
 Dearing's Battalion of Artillery. For more than two hours we 
 lay in the hot, broiling sun, in the midst of the unceasing roar 
 and whirl and whiz of shot and shell. Some of the men were 
 torn into pieces, others were overcome by the heat. 
 
 But at the command, they moved forward steadily and promptly. 
 Company G was deployed as skirmishers, and at the proper 
 time assembled and took place in line. I remember well, it 
 manoeuvred handsomely. 
 
 As Adjutant, I was in a situation to know, and can testify to 
 the admirable conduct of the entire Regiment — ^how they closed 
 up when large gaps were made in the ranks — ^how orderly they 
 moved forward, driving the enemy — and how the few scattered 
 ones that remained unhurt held their ground, hoping, but in 
 vain, for support, until they were killed or captured by the fresh 
 troops of the Federals, that were pushed forward to support their 
 comrades and restore the broken lines. No charge could have 
 been more gallant. And looking at it now with calm reflection, 
 after this lapse of years, I think I may say no commendation 
 
28 
 
 given by writers concerning this celebrated charge of Pickett's 
 Division has ever exceeded the truth. 
 
 Sergeant-Major J. 0. Gill, formerly of Company G, fell at 
 my side wounded in the loins. While I was endeavoring to aid 
 him and J, C. Webb (also of Company G, who was wounded 
 just below the eye), both of whom died, there was a momentary 
 cessation of the firing. Our scattered men were trying to save 
 themselves from capture by a hasty retreat. I remember to have 
 seen Chai'les Atkinson, who was wounded, and Ovid Williams, 
 who it is supposed was killed, running back. Seeing, the next 
 instant, the fresh troops in our front, who opened immediately 
 upon our retreating men, and knowing it would be certain death 
 to attempt escape across the open field, I laid down and com- 
 menced firing, and continued until I saw it was useless, and 
 the wounded around begged me to quit as it was only endanger- 
 ing their lives. I then endeavored to pass off as a wounded man, 
 hoping to escape by night, or that our reserves would deliver us; 
 but soon the enemy advanced their lines, and about sunset came 
 around getting up all the wounded ones who could walk. I 
 shall ever remember the heart-rending scene of our brave com- 
 rades, lying wounded upon the ground, and beseeching Col. Car- 
 rington and myself, who were carried from the field together, 
 "Please bring me some water." 
 
 Adjutant Ferguson was carried to Johnson's Island and pa- 
 roled a few weeks before the surrender of the army. 
 
29 
 
 RESULTS OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 
 
 It is not known definitely how many men went into the hat- 
 tie. But it is known, that only six of those who went in came 
 outunhurt-^viz., Lieut. A. D. Crenshaw, Sergt. T. J. Tucker, 
 Privates A. Y. Brown, J. T. Hardy, J. D. and J. M. Tunstill. 
 
 The following were killed or mortally wounded : 
 
 Corpl. W. M. Hamilton, H. H. Foster, 
 
 J. C. Gill; Sergeant Major of T. J. Gunn, 
 
 the Regiment, G. H. Jackson, 
 
 Jno. Campbell, H. Overby, 
 
 J. W. Eckles, J. C. Webb, 
 
 J. A. Elder, W. 0. Wilhams.— 11. 
 
 WOUNDED. 
 
 Capt. Archer Campbell, J. C. Parley, 
 
 1st Lieut. E. H. Muse, S. W. Ferguson, 
 
 Sergt. Jos. A. Goulder, R. C. Gunn, 
 
 Corpl. R. ]Sr. Hardaway, Thos. Gregory, 
 
 Corpl. G. B. Seay, J. Hardaway, 
 
 Corpl. A. F. Morgan, Edmund Irby, 
 
 Corpl. L. E. Hardy, F. Q. Marshall, 
 
 C. T. Atkinson (taken pris'r), C. Stith (taken prisoner), 
 
 R. H. Cobbs, _ J. A. Webb— 19. 
 
 C. Evers (taken prisoner), 
 
 Lient. Crenshaw mustered his remnant the next morning, but 
 was denied the sad gratification of burying his hero comrades 
 lying on the field or of ministering to the wants of those ready to 
 die. With the exception of G. H. Jackson, who died at Staun- 
 ton from his wound, all of the killed and mortally wounded were 
 left in Pennsylvania, and no one knows their graves, if buried. 
 It may be that some of their bones may have been gathered into 
 Hollywood, near Richmond, since the war. Who knows? 
 Others, doubtless, have whitened and mingled into dust on the 
 field where they fell, which now the plow-boy, whistling as he 
 plows, turns over as common earth, unconscious that his plow- 
 share is stirring sod hallowed by the blood of as brave men as 
 the Continent has ever known. We will rescue, from the wave 
 of oblivion, if we can, the names of these dead heroes, and deem 
 it a pious task, proud to know that we were honored in having 
 been their comrades. If victory had crowned the Confederate 
 banner, and we were now what we fought to be, would not these 
 men's names have been treasured, and their bones been gath- 
 ered, and their praises sung by a grateful country ? Defeat can 
 never blot out the glory of their deeds in the minds and hearts 
 of those capable of appreciating bravery such as theirs. 
 
 This calamity, with disease, which had taken away one of the 
 
30 
 
 company — viz., G. "W". Foster — hardly left a squad of all that 
 large company, so prominent in the 18th Regiment. 
 
 The whole Regiment had suffered likewise, and prohahly did 
 not now number fifty men for duty. So crippled was it, that it 
 was ordered to the rear, and stationed at Petersburg for guard 
 duty, so that it might have opportunity to recruit. A short time 
 after the Regiment was stationed here, the company was detached 
 from the Regiment, and ordered back to Danville as a guard at 
 the Federal jprison. In this capacity it served till December, 
 1864. The only incident worthy of note during this period oc- 
 curred during a trip to the famous Anderson ville Prison in 
 Georgia, to which place Company G was dispatched in guard 
 of a detachment of Federal prisoners. Having been kept there 
 a week or so, the discipline of the company was so far superior 
 to that of the other Commands stationed there, that a very de- 
 cided effort was made to retain the company as permanent guard, 
 and the citizens, who were very uneasy for fear the prisoners 
 would break out, went so far as to give the company a public 
 dinner, to effect an end they deemed so desirable. This effort, 
 however, failed, and the company returned to Virginia. 
 
 While Company G was stationed in Danville, the Regiment 
 was again thrown into active service, and engaged in the battle 
 of Drewry's Bluff. In this engagement, Lieutenant-Colonel G. 
 C. Cabell was severely wounded and disabled for active service 
 during the war. 
 
 THE TRENCHES— 1865. 
 
 Little can be recorded of the company during its stay in the 
 trenches between the James and Appomattox rivers. In April, 
 1865, it was moved to the extreme right of the line, then held by 
 Pickett's Division. Here commenced the series of constant, 
 every-day battles, which continued till the day of the surrender. 
 At the "Five Forks," on 'the 1st of April, a few miles south of the 
 Southside Railroad, a heavy engagement took place. In this bat- 
 tle. Company G suffered considerably, losing Lieut. A. D. Cren- 
 shaw, shot while waving his hat and leading the company forward; 
 also, R. C. Gunn and B. C. Bouldin — ^the two former veterans 
 of four years — the latter a new recruit and hardly of age. J. J. 
 O'JSTeil and G. H. Bowles lost each a leg, and Sergt. J. A. 
 Goulder and J. W". Tunstill were wounded ; also, R. B. Mun- 
 ford and W. H. Reames. It narrowly escaped capture at this 
 time. 
 
 Then commenced that dreary retreat, during which well nigh 
 every hour witnessed a struggle for existence. Almost in sight 
 of home, with flanks threatened day and night by foes flushed 
 with confidence, this was a sore trial. The second day after the 
 battle of Five Forks, the shattered Command turned their backs 
 
31 
 
 on their native sod,. having passed through Amelia county and 
 reached the county of Prince Edward. Between Eice's Depot 
 and_ Farmville, at Sailors' Creek, on the 6th of April, Pickett's 
 Division made its last effort, and after a gallant fight yielded to 
 overwhelming numbers. 
 
 In this day's battle, Captain Archer Campbell was killed. An 
 eye-witness says he had surrendered and was in the act of un- 
 buckling his sword-belt when he was cut down by one of Shei-i- 
 dan's dragoons. A native of Lunenburg county, the sou of a 
 Scotchman, he had lived in Nottoway but a short time before the 
 war l)roke out. A young man of fine character and habits, and 
 skilled in his trade, he had every prospect of success in life. 
 Singularly modest in his deportment, he had steadily advanced 
 from the ranks to the position of captain, which he held from 
 June, 1863, to his death. Twice wounded in former battles, it 
 was his sad fate to die almost in sight of his native hills, and to 
 be buried (if buried at all) in an unknown grave, by the foes he 
 had faced for four long years. Lieutenant Muse was wounded 
 early in the day, and was carried to the rear by Sergeant G. B. 
 Seay, who both thus escaped capture. These two and a few 
 others who were detailed as skirmishers on the flanks, were all 
 who escaped capture. The rest laid down their arms, submit- 
 ting, with what grace they could, to the prisoner's fate. It was 
 their peculiarly hard lot to be mai;ched by their own homes, 
 through the centre of the county, in which most of them were 
 born. Their families, if apprised of their condition, were not^ 
 then able to do anything for them. Bound for prison, they left 
 their homes and friends in the hands of the foes they had 
 fought so long. They landed at Point Lookout, where they 
 remained for some time. Some came home to die of prison fe- 
 ver — viz., Edmund Irby and E. G. Grunn; and C. Stith died 
 on the ship before reaching City Point, and probably the Chesa- 
 peake covers his bones. 
 
 Those who returned from the surrender and prison, found 
 a country in the hands of military satraps — ^their former slaves 
 their equals, and as to privileges exalted above them. But 
 it was unmanly to sit down and weep. The hardships of 
 camp had strengthened them for the encounters with pov- 
 erty. Resolutely they entered the contest, as they had done 
 in 1861, determined to win a victory in peace, though they had 
 failed of it in war. Thus they have proved that — 
 
 " The bravest are the truest. " 
 
 Scattered from Delaware to Texas, they are toiling, most of 
 them unblest by fortune's smiles. Three are ministers of the 
 Gospel — the rest the bone and sinew of the country. 
 
32 
 
 The following condensed Roll will sliow, as far as can be as- 
 certained, the pai'ticulars deemed worthy of record, in relation 
 to each xaan who had the honor to be a member of Company G : 
 
 CONDENSED ROLL OF COMPANY .G, i8th VIR- 
 GINIA REGIMENT, A. N. Va. 
 
 COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 
 
 Reps Connally, !N"ottoway county; elected Captain January, 1861 ; 
 resigned on account of physical disability December, 1861. 
 
 Peter F. Eowlett, Nottoway county; elected 2d Lieutenant Jan- 
 uary, 1861; elected Captain December, 1861; term of ser- 
 vice expired April, 1862. 
 
 Richard Irby, l^ottoway county; elected 1st Lieutenant Jan- 
 uary, 1861 ; resigned ISTovemher, 1861, to attend General 
 Assembly of Virginia; elected Captain April, 1862; re- 
 signed and made Captain A. C. S., June, 1863 ; paroled at 
 Bellefont April 9th, 1865; wounded twice at 2d Manassas. 
 
 Archer Campbell, ]S"ottoway; joined company January, 1861; 
 elected 3d Lieutenant April, 1862; 1st Lieutenant October, 
 1862 ; Captain June, 1863 ; wounded at Gaines' Mill and 
 Gettysburg ; killed at Sailor's' Creek April, 1865. 
 
 Samuel Hardy, Dinwiddle county ; 1st Sergeant from January 
 to December, 1861 ; elected 2d Lieutenant December, 1861 ; 
 1st Lieutenant April, 1862; lost arm at Gaines' Mill; re- 
 signed October, 1862. 
 
 Richard Ferguson, Dinwiddle county; enlisted April, 1861; 
 elected 1st Lieutenant l^ovember, 1861 ; term expired April, 
 1862 ; elected 3d Lieutenant December, 1862 ; 2d Lieuten- 
 ant ; appointed Adjutant of Regiment June, 1863; 
 
 wounded at Frayser's Farm and 2d Manassas ; taken pris- 
 oner at Gettysburg; remained prisoner till war ended. 
 
 E. H. Muse, Quincy, Fla.; enlisted May, 1861 ; made Sergeant 
 April, 1862; elected 2d Lieutenant October, 1862; 1st 
 Lieutenant June, 1863 ; wounded at Frayser's Farm, Get- 
 tysburg and Sailor's Creek. 
 
 John E. Irvin, IlTottoway ; enlisted April, 1861 ; elected 2d Lieu- 
 tenant April, 1862 ; wounded and disabled for service at 
 Gaines' Mills ; resigned August, 1862. 
 
 A. D. Crenshaw, N"ottoway; enlisted May, 1861 ; elected 3d 
 Lieutenant June, 1863 ; killed at Five Forks April, 1865 ; 
 buried on field. 
 
 Alexander Campbell, N^ottoway ; joined company January, 1861; 
 Sergeant till December, 1861 ; elected 3d Lieutenant Decem- 
 ber, 1861; term expired April, 1862. 
 
 E. E. Howson, Nottoway; elected 3d Lieuitenant January, 1861 ; 
 resigned on account of physical disability December, 1861. 
 
33 
 
 SERGEANTS. 
 
 C. Stith, l^Tottoway, joined company January, 1861, wounded, 
 and taken prisoner at Gettysburg, died on shipboard. 
 
 0. J. Seabrook, S"ott'oway, joined company January,, 1861, 
 wounded a:t Gaines' Mill, discharged 1862 as foreigner. 
 
 E. B. Seay, Lunenburg, joined company January, 1861, wounded 
 at Gaines' Mill and disabled for active service. 
 
 J. C. (^ill, Dinwiddie, joined company January, 1861, wounded 
 at Frayser's Farm, made Sergeant-Major of Eegiment 1863, 
 killed at Gettysburg, left on field. 
 
 J. E. Barrow, ]!fottoway, enlisted April, 1861, wounded at 
 Gaines' Mill and Gettysburg. 
 
 J. A. Goulder, Nottoway, joined January, 1861, wounded at 
 Gettysburg and Five Forks. 
 
 G. B. Seay, Lunenburg, enlisted April, 1861, wounded at Fray- 
 ser's Farm and Gettysburg. 
 
 T. J. Tucker, IllTottoway, joined April, 1861, wounded at 2d Ma- 
 nassas and Gaines' Mill. 
 
 A. F. Morgan, Nottoway, joined April, 1861, wounded at Fray- 
 
 ser's Farm and Gettysburg. 
 E. G. Sydnor, Nottoway, joined April, 1861, made Color-Ser- 
 geant 1862, killed at Sharpsburg. 
 
 CORPORALS. 
 
 W. M. Hamilton, Nottoway, joined company January, 1861, 
 
 killed at Gettysburg, left on field. 
 J. "W". TunstUl, Nottoway, joined company January, 1861, 
 
 wounded at Gettysburg and Five Forks. 
 J. H. Gill, Dinwiddie, enlisted April, 1861, killed at Frayser's 
 
 Farm, buried at Hollywood Cemetery. 
 
 B. L Scott, Tennessee, enlisted May, 1861, killed at Boons- 
 
 boro, Md, left on field. 
 
 J. C. Webb, Lunenburg, enlisted April, 1861, killed at Gettys- 
 burg, left on field. 
 
 R. N. Hardaway, Nottoway, enlisted April, 1861, wounded at 
 Gaines' Mill and Gettysburg. 
 
 L. E; Hardy, Lunenburg, enlisted April, 1861, wounded at 2d 
 Manassas and Gettysburg. 
 
 A. Y. Brown, Nottoway, joined company January, 1861, escaped 
 without wounds. 
 
 PRIVATES. 
 
 Anderson, A. W"., Nottoway, enlisted March, 1862, escaped 
 without wounds. 
 
 *Andersoli, J., Nottoway, enlisted March, 1862, died of disease 
 1862. 
 
 Anderson, "W". J,, Nottoway, enlisted March, 1862, died of dis- 
 ease 1862. 
 3 
 
34 
 
 At]dnson,_C. T., JS'ottoway, joined company April, 1861, wounded 
 at Gaines' Mill and at Gettysburg. 
 
 Atkinson, 0. C, JSTottoway, enlisted 1864. 
 
 Barrow, B.. B., N^ottoway, enlisted April, 1861, detailed on band 
 from 1862 to close of war. 
 
 Bell, J. W., , enlisted at Danville 1864. 
 
 Bentley, J. C, Ifotto way, joined company April, 1861, detailed 
 as teamster from 1861 to close of war. 
 
 Bentley, William, JS'ottoway, enlisted April, 1862, died of dis- 
 ease at home. 
 
 Blandy, T. E., Ifottoway, joined company January, 1861, de- 
 tailed in Medical Department 1861 to close of war. 
 
 Boswell, E., Lunenburg, enlisted April, 1861, killed at Gaines' 
 Mill, buried on field. 
 
 Boswell, W. W., Lunenburg, enlisted 1864. 
 
 Bouldin, B., IsTottoway, enlisted ^— 1864, killed at Five Forks. 
 
 Bowles, G. H., ISTottoway, enlisted April, 1862, lost leg at Fivs 
 Forks. 
 
 Burton, William, IvTottoway, joined company January, 1861, dis- 
 charged as over age August, 1862. 
 
 Campell, J., enlisted April, 1861, killed at Gettysburg, left on 
 field. 
 
 Carson, T. F., , enlisted 1864. 
 
 Clarke, D. C, Ifottoway, enlisted April, 1861, died at hospital, 
 August, 1861. 
 
 Clarke, J. W., Nottoway, enlisted April, 1862, wounded and 
 disabled at 2d Manassas. 
 
 Clay, J. W., IS'ottoway, enlisted March, 1862, wounded at Gaines' 
 Mill. ' 
 
 Clay, , Nottoway, enlisted March, 1862, died May, 1862, 
 
 of disease. 
 
 CobbSjE. H., Nottoway, enlisted April, 1861, wounded at Gaines' 
 Mill and Gettysburg. 
 
 Cobbs, S. "W., Nottoway, enlisted March, 1862, died of disease 
 August, 1862. 
 
 Connally, B. J., Nottoway, joined. company January, 1861, dis- 
 charged on account of age and physical condition. 
 
 Cole, P., , enlisted 1864. 
 
 Coleman, P. H., — — , enlisted —, — 1864. 
 
 Coleman, P. S., , enlisted . 
 
 Crowder, J. W., . enlisted 1864. 
 
 Davis, A. L., , enlisted 1864. 
 
 Deshazor, J., , enlisted 1864. 
 
 Draper, J. W., Dinwiddle, enlisted 1864. 
 
 Drinkwater, C., joined company January, 1861, wounded at 
 Gaines' Mill. 
 
 Eckles, J. W., Nottoway, enlisted March, 1862, killed at Gettys- 
 burg. 
 
 Edwards, L. C, , enlisted 1864. 
 
35 
 
 Elder,J. A., Lianenburg, joined company Januai'y, 1861, killed 
 
 at G-etlysburgand left on field. 
 Evers, C, N"ottoway, substituted for J. 0. Smith 1862, wounded 
 
 and ta.ken prisoner at Gettysburg. 
 Farley, J. C, Nottoway, enlisted March, 1862, wounded at Get- 
 tysburg. 
 Farley, B. W., ISTottoway, joined company January, 1861, died 
 
 of disease June, 1862. 
 Farley, J. H., Nottoway, enlisted March, 1862, died of wounds 
 
 received at Frayser's Farm. 
 Farley, "W". D., Nottoway, joined company January, 1861, died 
 
 of disease in hospital August, 1861. 
 Faris, P., Brunswick, joined company July 21, 1861, died of 
 
 disease at home August, 1861. 
 Ferguson, S. "W"., Dinwiddle, transferred to company August, 
 
 1862, wounded at Five Forks. 
 Foster," H. H., Dinwiddle, transferred to company August, 1862,' 
 
 killed at Gettysburg and left on field. 
 Foster, G. "W"., Nottoway, joined company January, 1861, died 
 
 of disease 1863. 
 Fowlkes, S. E., Nottoway, enlisted April, 1861, discharged on 
 
 account of physical disability. 
 
 Fowlkes, W., enlisted 1864, wounded at Five Forks. 
 
 Grammer, W. P., Nottoway, joined company January, 1861, dis- 
 charged on account of physical disability May, 1861. 
 Grammer, R. B., Nottoway, joined company January, 1861, 
 
 killed at Gaines' Mill. 
 
 Gilliam, W. M., , enlisted 1864. ' 
 
 Gregory, Thomas, Lunenburg, enlisted April, 1861, disabled by 
 
 wound at Gettysburg. 
 Gunn, E. G., Nottoway, joined company January, 1861, died of 
 
 prison disease May, 1865. 
 Gunn, R. C., Nottoway, joined company January, 1861, wounded 
 
 at Gettysburg and killed at Five Forks. 
 Gunn, T. J., Nottoway, joined company January, 1861, killed at 
 
 Gettysburg. 
 Hammersley, , Charlotte, enlisted March, 1862, died of 
 
 disease 1862. 
 Hardaway, J. H., Nottoway, enlisted March, 1862, drowned on 
 
 his way to hospital. 
 Hardaway, J. W., Nottoway, enlisted March, 1862, wounded at 
 
 Gaines' Mill and Gettysburg. 
 Hardy, J. T., Lunenburg, enlisted March, 1862. 
 
 Hill, J. J., , enlisted 1874. 
 
 Hite, F. B., Nottoway, enlisted March, 1862. 
 
 Hudson, L., Lunenburg, enlisted 1864, wounded at Five Forks. 
 
 Hurt, A. M., Nottoway, joined company January, 1861, died of 
 
 disease August, 1861. 
 Hurt, J. M., Nottoway, joined company January, 1861, detailed 
 
 May, 1861, as physician at home. 
 
36 
 
 Hurt, E. L., Nottoway, joined company January, 1861, dis- 
 charged by substitution May, 1862, re-entered service 1864. 
 
 Hatehett, H., Lunenburg, enlisted April, 1861, wounded at 1st 
 Manassas, and died of disease August, 1861. 
 
 Irby, Edmund, Lunenburg, enlisted December, 1862, wounded 
 at Gettysburg, died of prison disease May, 1865. 
 
 Jackson, G. H., !N otto way, joined company Jan., 1861, wounded 
 at Graines' Mill, and mortally at Gettysburg. 
 
 Jeffress, H., Nottoway, enlisted May, 1861, transferred to Com- 
 pany C, and disabled at "Williamsburg. 
 
 Jeter, "W"., Lunenburg, enlisted 1864. 
 
 Johnson, L., Nottoway, enlisted March, 1862, wounded at Gaines' 
 Mill. 
 
 Johnson, J. T., Nottoway, enlisted 1864. 
 
 Johnson, J. W., , enlisted 1864. 
 
 Jones, G. "W"., Dinwiddle, enlisted 1863, died in 1865. 
 
 Leath, G. W., Nottoway, enlisted 1864, wounded at Five 
 
 Forks. 
 
 Leathers, "W. J., -, enlisted 1864. 
 
 Malone, 0. G., Nottoway, joined company January, 1861, mor- 
 tally wounded at Frayser's Farm. 
 
 Marshall, F. Q., Nottoway, enlisted March, 1862, wounded at 
 Gaines' Mill and Gettysburg. 
 
 Mason, W. T., Nottoway, joined company January, 1861, dis- 
 charged June, 1861, on account of health. 
 
 Mason, Wm., Nottoway, enlisted March, 1862, died of disease 
 in 1862. 
 
 Mitchell, W. F., Nottoway, joined company January, 1861, dis- 
 charged as over age 1862. 
 
 Moore, G. W., , enlisted 1864. 
 
 Mumford, li. B., Nottoway, enlisted 1864, wounded at 
 
 Sailor's Creek. 
 
 Neal, S., Lunenburg, enlisted April, 1861, discharged as unfit 
 for service. 
 
 O'Neal, J. J., Nottoway, joined January, 1861, 4th Lieut, till 
 service commenced, lost leg at Five Forks. 
 
 Orgain, E. C, Lunenburg, enlisted March, 1862, killed at Gaines' 
 Mill, first victim. 
 
 Orgain, T. A., Lunenburg, enlisted March, 1862, killed at Gaines' 
 Mill, second victim. 
 
 Orgain, J., Lunenburg, enlisted March, 1862, transferred to Lu- 
 nenburg cavalry and killed in 1862. 
 
 Overby, H., Brunswick, enlisted March, 1862, killed at Gettys- 
 burg. 
 
 Pettus, J. E., Nottoway, enlisted July 21, 1861, died of disease 
 August, 1861. 
 
 Phelps, W. C, , enlisted 1864. 
 
 jP.ollard, 0. D., Nottoway, enlisted April, 1861, killed at Gaines' 
 .Mill 
 
37 
 
 Reames, J., N'ottoway, joined company January, 1861, wounded 
 at 2d Manassas. 
 
 Reames, "W". H., ]!!i5"ottoway, enlisted March, 1862, wounded at 
 Five Forks. 
 
 Eeese, J. J., Dinwiddie, enlisted, April, 1861, died at Manassas 
 June, 1861. 
 
 Eussell, B., , enlisted 1864. 
 
 Smith, J. C, Brunswick, enlisted March, 1862, substituted by 
 
 C. Evers, 1863. 
 
 Spain, J. A., ]!^ottoway, joined company January, 1861, wounded 
 at Gaines' Mill. 
 
 Spain, R. B., IsTottoway, joined company January, 1861. 
 
 Sublett, S. B., IsTottoway, enlisted May, 1861, killed at 2d Ma- 
 nassas. 
 
 Sullivan, J. M., l^ottoway, joined company January, 1861, disa- 
 bled by wound at Gaines' Mill. 
 
 Thompson, G. W., Ifottoway, joined company January, 1861, 
 disabled by wound at Gaines' Mill. 
 
 Tunstill, J. D., IsTottoway, joined company January, 1861, escaped 
 without wounds. 
 
 Tunstill, J. M., I^ottoway, enlisted April, 1862, wounded at 
 Boonsboro. 
 
 Waddill, J. T., , enlisted 1864. 
 
 Waddill, W. F., — — , enlisted 1864. 
 
 Watkins, "W". G., I^J'ottoway. joined company January, 1861, dis- 
 charged on account of age August, 1862. 
 
 "Watkins, T. M., Nottoway, joined company January, 1861, dis- 
 charged on account of unfitness for service. 
 
 Webb, J. A., Lunenburg, enlisted April, 1862, wounded at Get- 
 tysburg. 
 
 Webb, L. E., Lunenburg, enlisted April, 1861, wounded at 
 Boonsboro and Sharpsburg. 
 
 West, J.' F., Wottoway, enlisted March, 1862. 
 
 West, J. T., iN'ottoway, joined company January, 1861. 
 
 West, T. B., ^STotto way, joined company January, 1861, disabled 
 by wounds at Frayser's Farm. 
 
 Williams, W. O., Nottoway, enlisted March, 1862, killed at Get- 
 tysburg. 
 
 Williams, T. H., Nottoway, enlisted March, 1862, killed at Gaines' 
 . Mill. 
 
 Winn, G. W., Nottoway, enlisted August, 1862. 
 
 Winn, W. H., Lunenburg, enlisted March, 1862, wounded at 
 Sharpsburg, 
 
 RECAPITULATION. 
 
 Captains — ^whole number, 4; killed in battle, 1; wounded in 
 battle, 1. 
 
38 
 
 Lieutenants — whole number, 7; killed in battle, 1; wounded 
 in battle, 4. 
 
 Sergeants — ^whole number, 10; killed in battle, 2; wounded 
 in battle, 8. 
 
 Corporals — whole number, 8; killed in battle, 4; wounded in 
 battle, 3. 
 
 r- 
 
 Privates— whole number, 114; killed in battle, 20; wounded 
 in battle, 31; died in service, 20. 
 
 Totals — ^whole number, 143; killed in battle, 28; wounded in 
 battle, 47; died in service, 20. 
 
 Total killed, wounded and died in service, 96.* 
 
 Of the soldiers of 1861 and 1862, who fought during the war, 
 only five escaped unhurt. 
 
 Died since the war, to August, 1878 — 7. 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS OF REGIMENTAL 
 OFFICERS IN REGARD TO COMPANY G. 
 
 [Col. R. E. Withers, United States Senator from Virginia.] 
 
 Wythbville, Ya., July 5, 1877. 
 Capt. EiCHAKD Irbt : 
 
 My Dear Sir, — ^I am glad to hear of the proposed re-union of 
 Company G on the 2l8t inst., and if I can so arrange my matters 
 as to be present, will do myself that pleasure. I should enjoy it 
 very much, I know. I must say that your old company seems the 
 only one in the Eegiment which appreciates, properly the impor- 
 tant duty of preserving the names and memories of their fallen 
 comrades. Would that all the others would do likewise, and 
 then the Regimental and Brigade organizations would inevitably 
 follow. Should anything prevent me from meeting my old com- 
 rades, be pleased ^o present to them my kindest regards and un- 
 dying respect, as the survivors of a company which never failed 
 in the hour of trial, and was always "to be depended on." 
 
 Truly, your friend, 
 
 K. E. WlTHBKS. 
 
 [Col. H. A. Carrington.] 
 
 Charlotte C. H., Ya., August 15, 1878. 
 My Dear Captain, — ^Please accept my thanks for the kind in- 
 vitation to attend the re-union of Company G, 18th Ya. Infantry. 
 I shall try to get my matters ready to be able to be with you in 
 
 * This expresses casualties only in part^ as it was impossible to get reports, and many 
 were wounded more than once. 
 
39 
 
 person. Eest assured that my heart will be with you and the 
 noble survivors of one of the truest and most gallant companies 
 which fought through the late war. My best love to them all. 
 
 Most truly, yours, 
 
 H. A. Cakrington. 
 
 [Lieut. Col. G. C. Cabell, Meftiber of Congress from Virginia.] 
 
 Danville, Va., July 12, 1877. 
 My Bear Captain, — If I can do so, it will, I assure yOu, give 
 me great pleasure to be with you and the survivors of your old 
 company on the 21st. I remember with more than kindness the. 
 officers and men, my old comrades, of the Nottoway Grays, and 
 whilst I sorrow with those who mourn for the gallant dead, my 
 heart goes out in sympathy and kindness for the survivors of that 
 noble band of Virginia braves, whose gallant deeds reflected un- 
 dimmed honor on their county, their State, their country and 
 her cause. Should I not be present, you will please remember 
 me in great kindness to our " old comrades," and wish them for 
 me, much health and happiness, and many returns of their annual 
 re-union. Yours most truly, 
 
 Geo. C. Cabell. 
 
 [From Adjutant (Rev.) Richard Ferguson, Member of Virginia Annual Conference.] 
 
 ]!iToRTH Garden, Albemarle Co., Va., July 14, 1877. 
 Capt. Irbt: 
 
 My Dear Friend, — ^Your postal, requesting my attendance at 
 the re-union of the surviving n^embe'rs of the old company, to be 
 held near Blacks and Whites on the ■21st of July, an anniversary 
 so memorable and historic to us, has been received. I regret ex- 
 ceedingly my inability to be present on that occasion. My Quar- 
 terly Meeting will take place on that^day, and many pressinej in- 
 terests of the Church imperatively demand my presence and per- 
 sonal attention. 
 
 Say to my old comrades, I would like to be there to see them 
 and show how fondly memory cherishes their names and faces, 
 and the affection I still bear them. I would like to be there to 
 talk with them face to face of the memorable days and deeds of 
 the past, to call over the roll of our dead heroes and speak of 
 their virtues. I would like to speak a word in, memory of John 
 J! Reese, our first martyr to the cause at Manassas; of John H. 
 Grill, Sergeant of Ambulance Corps, killed at Frazier's Farm, and 
 James Q. Cri'K, Sergeant-Major of the Regiment, mortally wounded 
 at Gettysburg, both intimate friends and the companions of my 
 youth; of Horace H. Foster, noble christian soldier, who fell like- 
 vdse at Gettysburg; of Q-oodwyn Malone, a plain, good man, and 
 no better soldier, with whom I had been acquainted from early 
 youth, who was mortally wounded at Gaines' Mill. These being 
 from Dinwiddle, and the fact that I am probably better acquainted 
 with the circumstances of their death than any other member of 
 
40 
 
 the company, would naturally make me speak of them. I be- 
 lieve my brother Sam, and myself are the only surviving mem- 
 bers from Dinwiddle, unless George W. Jones be still alive. 
 
 But I could not stop here — ^I would like to speak of Captain 
 Connally, our first leader; oi Archer Campbell, afterwards Captain; 
 of A. D. Crenshaw; of G-arland Sydnor; of the Orgains, of Lu- 
 nenburg, who fell at Gaines' Mill; of the brave youth, Ovid Wil- 
 liams, and others who were killed or died either during or since 
 the war. 
 
 Say to them also, I would like to be there to pray with them 
 once more, and exhort them to love God and serve Him as faith- 
 fally as they did their countiy. 
 
 Say to the bereaved families and friends of our dead, I would 
 like to be there to mingle my tears with theirs, and devise meas- 
 ures, if possible, by which we may hand down the names of our 
 comrades to our children and children's children to the remotest 
 generation. ' 
 
 May High Heaven smile upon the occasion, and bless ^11 the 
 surviving members of the old company, and render it one of per- 
 manent good to all who may be. privileged to attend! In con- 
 clusion, permit me, along ■ with others who may be necessarily 
 absent, to ask a kind remembrance of all of you. 
 Yours truly and sincerely, 
 
 ElCHAED FbEGUSON. 
 
 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 
 
 While the soldiers' life, during active service, was one of great 
 privation, suffering and danger, still, by a wise provision of na- 
 ture, it was nevertheless not devoid of its lights to cheer its 
 shadows. The camp fire was often the scene of hilarity and fun, 
 which contrasted strongly with the severer scenes of war. Some 
 few incidents and anecdotes will be given here, especially con- 
 nected with Company G. 
 
 SOL. BROWN AND THE SURGEON. 
 
 A notable fellow was Sol. He was known all over the Regi- 
 ment, as the man who caught nearly every squirrel that was ever 
 started in or near camp, in a way no one ever attempted but hitn- 
 self He would catch him by the nape of the neck and then kill 
 him. Though one of the smallest of the men, hie seldom ever 
 fagged in body or spirits. His humor was inexhaustible. 
 
 Seeing some of the men of the Regiment drawing some deli- 
 cacies, which in the early part of the war were given out by the 
 Surgeon, and thinking he was as sich as some of them really 
 were, Sol. walked up to the Surgeon's tent one morning, when 
 the following colloquy took place : 
 
,41 
 
 "Doctor, I've come around to see you, to get you to do some- 
 tMng for me. I am mighty poorly, doctor, mighty poorly." 
 
 "what's ailing you, sir? You don't look like there is any- 
 thing the matter with you." 
 
 "Yes, doctor, but I am mighty 'poorly. I am sick about this 
 time every day. ' Please do something for me." 
 
 "Well! what is the matter with you? You look as hard as a 
 light- wood knot. 'I say! what's the matter?" 
 
 "I have got the glimpses, sir ! " 
 
 "The glimpses! whoever heard of such a disease? What is 
 the glimpses?" 
 
 "Well, sir! I keep*seeing things and I can't get 'em." 
 
 With this, the doctor made for him, but Sol. gave him the 
 "glimpses" and was soon in his quarters telling his mess how he 
 fooled tiie doctor. 
 
 SOL. AND THE GENERALS. 
 
 During the early part of the first Maryland Campaign, the 
 wagon train of a notable Bull Run hero got mixed up some way 
 with our Brigade, contrary to Gen. Lee's orders, which caused 
 the whole line to halt for hours. Col. H., commanding our Bri- 
 gade, mpeting the General aforesaid, remonstrated with him 
 about the matter. The General, who had had no good will to- 
 wards the Colonel since the battle of Leesburg, got furious, and 
 quite a quarrel ensued. Sol., always scenting such things from 
 afar, was on hand, and was looking on vsdth as much interest as 
 a httle boy at a dog fight. After waiting to see if words would 
 be all, he sang out, "FigJit! fight J you a'int no hin!" and put out 
 for his place, fearing his rashness might get him into the guard- 
 house. 
 
 HAMMOCK. 
 
 All the men knew who Hammock was, though this name was 
 not on the rolls. Many a poor fellow, who otherwise would 
 never have " smole a smile," could not resist Hammock. He 
 was the life of the company on the march and round the camp 
 fire, cheering all by his song and humor. Sometimes, however, 
 he was not to be heard mueh\ 
 
 A new man, who had just come in, was much taken with 
 Hammock, and never tired of his jokes and fun. He had been 
 in camp but a few days when the battle of Fredericksburg com- 
 menced. While lying in line of battle for hours on the first day, 
 the recruit missed Biammock's usual flow of talk, and asked 
 some one lying near "where's that fellow Hammock? I have 
 not heard a word from him to-day." Hammock overheard him 
 and explained thus — " On sich occasions as this, Hammock has 
 riiary word to say." 
 
 Lest some might suppose he was scary, it is here said to his 
 credit that a better soldier than he was seldom found. 
 
42 
 
 HAMMOCK AND THE GEORGIAN. 
 
 Eeturning to the E.egiment, after a long confinemfent at home 
 from a wound received at Games' Mill, Hammock was eating his 
 dinner on the Winchester pike. A long, lank Georgia soldier 
 passing by was attracted by tfie chicken Hammock was eating. 
 He walked around, eyeing the chicken as wistfully as a dog does 
 a bone, and said, "Whare you get that chicken?" Hammock 
 said, "Tip the pike a little way." "What you give for that 
 chicken?" "Twenty-five cents!" "Twenty-five cents for a 
 chicken ! This the meanest country ever I see ! Way down in 
 Georgia, where I live, I can get as taany chickens as I want for 
 four-pence a head." "Four-pence a head ! 'I would not give four- 
 pence for the head of any chicken I ever saw." 
 
 The Georgian walked off, doubtful whether Hammock was 
 poking fun at him or in earnest. ' 
 
 HAMMOCK AND THE CONSCRIPT. 
 
 Once, as Company G was returning from Danville, where it 
 had been to guard a lot of Federal prisoners, some where between 
 Danville and Burkeville, the Home Guard brought in a conscript, 
 weighing about 200 pounds, more or less, consigned to Camp 
 Lee, Richmond. 
 
 He was followed to the train by several females — ^probably his 
 wife and daughters — and the scene would have melted the heart 
 of any ordinary man, but it did not so affect Hammock. The 
 conscript was in tears, and giving free vent to his grief at leaving, 
 and the folly of carrying such a man as he into service. As he 
 took a seat in front of Hammock, he sobbingly said, "I don't see 
 what they are carrying me to the army for, I can't do any good 
 there." 
 
 Hammock consolingly replied — "Oh yes! my friend, I think 
 you can do a great deal of good — I have been in the army 
 myself" 
 
 This seemed to spring a fresh flood of tears, and he began to 
 boJioo like a big baby. Turning to Hammock, he feelingly ad- 
 dressed him, "I ain't no account, and I ain't gwine to be no ac- 
 count, and I ain't gwine 'to shoot nobody neither. I'l'ow, what 
 account would J be? 
 
 Hammock still disposed, to console the almost desperate man, 
 replied, " Oh yes ! my friend, you might be of great service — you 
 might stop a bullet that would kill a oetter man." 
 
 This was a view of the subject the conscript had never taken, 
 and he subsided. 
 
 THE OLD SOLDIER. 
 
 Company G had one "old soldier." Alas! though he never 
 went in reach of bullets fi'om the enemy, he nevertheless got 
 
43 
 
 "Dutch courage" enough long after ihe war to attack a man, 
 and was killed in the melee. He might have been a better nian, 
 but for taking fits of this species of " courage " too often. A 
 more peaceable man never lived, when he was sober, and he was 
 withal kind, and generous, too. "Alas! alas! my poor brother !" 
 
 The nearest this "'old soldier" ever got to the Yankees during 
 the war was on this wise : 
 
 Company G was down at Brandeniore Castle, near Munson's 
 Hill, about six miles from Washington city, soon after the first 
 battle of Manassas. One night the company was stretched for 
 nearly a mile, squads of four men being stationed about one hun- 
 dred yards apart, the Commandant of the company as near the 
 centre as possible. About ten o'clock at night the Lieutenant in 
 command heard a cow-bell in the woods which lay between the 
 picket lines. This bell, in such a place, and at such a time, as it 
 seemed to move in a direction towards a lane leading to a house, 
 which was said to be visited by "Fed." and "Confed." excited 
 Ms suspicions. It might be followed by a scouting party. Re- 
 solving to balk such a game, he took with him the squad nearest 
 to him, and moved them down to the lane between the wood and 
 the house aforesaid. Putting two of the most reliable men into 
 a corner of the fence, he ordered them not to fire until the scout- 
 ing party got fully up. Taking the "old soldier" and another 
 man, he stationed them about thirty steps distant from the fence, 
 with orders to come up as if they were a reserve, in case the men 
 at the fence should fire. Taking his place midway between the 
 two parties he waited. Slowly like ati old cow browzing as she 
 came, moved the bell-party. " Ting-a-ling" — " ting-a4mg " — 
 " ting-a-ling." Then, as if caught by a bush, the bell would "tinkle- 
 tinkle-tinJcle" — ^but on, nearer and nearer it came. Those who 
 have been in such a scrape may realize the suspense of such a 
 moment, but no one else could. But nearer, nearer and nearer 
 The bell is almost up! Bang! bang! went the fence men's 
 guns-^and almost simultaneously went the guns of the " old sol- 
 dier" and his companion — ^but fired, not at the Yankees, but up 
 in the air. So outra,ged was the Lieutenant with the action of 
 his "reserve force," tna,t for the time he forgot the "bell-cow" 
 and fell to abusing them at a sound rate, during which tim e 
 the "bell-cow" and followers retreated in such bad order that 
 they forgot to ring their bell for an half an hour or more, when, 
 ting-a-ling! ting-a-ling! it was heard again away over in the woods 
 going towards Washington. The men in the corner of the fence, 
 as gallant and true men as any in the army, said they obeyed, or- 
 ders and did not fire till they were sure they were firing at Yan- 
 kees. But so it was that next morning we could not see where 
 either blood or milk was spilt. 
 
44 
 
 A TOUCHING SCENE. 
 
 At the same picket-post where the aiapve related incident oc- 
 curred, the next day the same. Lieutenant witnessed a scene 
 which, at the time, made him realize the horrors of war in a 
 manner he had never experienced before. A more beautiful, or 
 lovelier day never smiled on this green earth ,than the one on 
 which this incident occurred. 
 
 From one point on the line, we could see the Yankee pickets 
 through an opening in the woods. They showed their bellige- 
 rent spirit — not by firing at us, as was common at other points — 
 but by mounting a section of stove-pipe on wheels and threaten- 
 ing us with grape or shell. The sham could not be detected-ex- 
 cept by the aid of glasses, which a party of scouters brought 
 along that morning. After examination with the glasses for 
 awhile, they tried the metal of the threatening-tube with their 
 long-range Maynard rifles. A few fires with these brought a re- 
 sponse from a real rifle gun, which for some time continued to 
 send over towards us its whizzing shells. This put the whole 
 line in commotion, and soon some of our own pieces unlimbered 
 near by and replied. Before this began, the occupants of a 
 dwelling near by, a woman with a number of children — some of 
 them " wee toddling things"— ^were busily digging potatoes, in 
 ignorance of what was about to take place. The first shell that 
 was fired passed directly over them and bursted in the air, the 
 scattered fragments falling to the ground. It was like a clap of 
 thunder in a clear sky. Like frightened birds, in whose midst 
 the hawk had pounced, these terror-strickened ones fled, some 
 to the houses near by, some to the straw stacks, leaving some so 
 scared thej feared to fly. And this is war! 
 
 THE "OLD SOLDIER"— AGAIN. 
 " He jumps from the frying pan into the fire." 
 
 The "old soldier" liked to take his '^sweetened." But away 
 off in the lines he found it hard to get it with or without "sweet- 
 ning." But General Johnston was falling back towards Rich- 
 mond in April, 1862, and the roads were very muddy and march- 
 ing very hard, and the route unfortunately was via Louisa Court- 
 house, where the mud was extra deep and where the "tangle-leg 
 tea" always did tangle people's legs very badly. Here the "old sol- 
 dier" had lived in days before the war, and here he got the "tea" 
 with "sweetning" in it, all of which so "tangled" his legs that 
 he could not wade through that mud aforesaid any farther. So 
 he fell out of line, and Company G- went through all the York- 
 town campaign and came back to Richmond, and through all the 
 battles of the spring and early summer without this "old soldier." 
 ISow and then some doubtful tidings would conae that he was 
 still alive, but no one could certainly say where he was or how he 
 was. 
 
45 
 
 About the first of August of that year, the Captain with Lieu- 
 tenant Muse was sitting in front of his tent one morning, when 
 who should come up but this same "old soldier," walking slowly 
 and guiding his steps with a stick in regular "old soldier style." 
 The- Captain said, "Why, old man ! we are glad to see you, we 
 did not know whether you were dead o;: alive — ^where have you 
 been since April ? 
 
 "I've been down to Camp "Winder Hospital lately — ^but I am 
 not going there any more. I'll die in the ranks before I let them 
 doctors get hold of me again." 
 
 "Why ! what did they do to you ?" 
 
 "Oh ! they physicked me and they cut me, and leeched me 
 and cupped me, and I don't know what they didn't do to me. 
 I tell you, sir, I ain't going to let $hem doctors get hold of me 
 again ! I'll die first. Why, sir, I laid down in the shade the 
 other day, and the first thing I knew, they had me, carrying, me 
 to the "dead-house." 
 
 "Well, old man, what can I do for you to-day ? The sergeant 
 will have to report you for duty unless you can get the surgeon 
 to certify you unfi!t for service." 
 
 "1^0, sir. No surgeon for me any more ! I'll stick to my 
 word and die in the ranks before any surgeon shall have anything 
 to do with me. I want you to give me a discharge from service." 
 
 "A discharge ! How can I do that ?" 
 
 "Well, sir, I am over thirty-five years of age and am entitled 
 to a discharge." « 
 
 "Sergeant, bring me the HoU ! Let us see his age. Here it 
 
 is;' , April 20th, 1861. Age 29.' How is that? 
 
 You reported your age about a year ago 29, and now you are 
 over 35. That is getting to be 'old soldier' very fast indeed." 
 
 "Oh ! as to that, when I put my age down I didn't know it 
 made any difference what I put down. But, Captain, my father 
 and mother know I am over 35." 
 
 "That is rather lame, old man. Unless you get the surgeon 
 to help you, you will have to go to duty till your father and 
 mother can make oath you are over age." 
 
 "No, sir. No surgeon for me i 1 have no more use for doc- 
 tors. I must go to duty and do the best I can." 
 
 Here Lieutenant Muse said : 
 
 " 'Old man' how many battles have you ever been in ? " 
 
 "I ain't been in any yet." 
 
 "Then you have been a dead expense to the Confederacy." 
 
 The "old soldier" went to duty and hung on till he got to 
 Gordonsville, where his father and mother made the necessary 
 oath as to his age, and he went home, a happier, if not a better 
 inan. 
 
 But, alas ! for human expectations — "there is many a slip," 
 &c. — Congress put the notch up to forty, and soon the Conscript 
 officers had the "old soldier" in tow. He had not forgotten what 
 
46 
 
 Lieutenant Muse said, and when the officers took him, he said, 
 "It ain't worth while to carry me into service again, for Lieuten- 
 ant Muse said when I was in before "I was a dead expense to the 
 Confederacy." 
 
 But go he must, and he went to Camp Lee. It was said, with 
 how much truth this deponent saith not, that he got a detail — 
 to repair the post officers' watches. 
 
 LUMP CLARK'S OPINION OF DOCTORS. 
 
 "Who that has ever been in a field hospital the night of a battle, 
 will ever forget it ? ■ ' 
 
 The night of the 30th August, 1862, the date of the second battle 
 of Manassas, brought the Captain of Company G- and his old 
 mess-mate, Dick Ferguson, together in a place and manner they 
 had never experienced before. They had just been brought into 
 the field hospital near the Pike, after jolting in the ambulance 
 over a way where the wheels struck sharp stones as many times 
 at each turn as there were spokes in them. They were 
 in a bad fix, but who ever was in so bad a fix that no one 
 was in a worse ? There was a poor 18th man shot in the- head, 
 with a cracked skull, talking about home, and the battle, and his 
 sweet-heart, and "everything by turns, but nothing long." His 
 was a hopeless case, so they let him talk, to give attention to 
 others whose cases were not so bad, and many such — many, 
 alas ! — ^there were that night. 
 
 Late at night Lump Clark, of Company 'Gr, was brought in, 
 with hand completely shattered by a Minie ball — causing suffer- 
 ing more intense, possibly, than any other wound could produce. 
 He could get no alleviation for such a. case but nature's, and 
 hence mourned and groaned, as well he might, under his' pain- 
 ful affliction, and so many were sympathizers with him (for they 
 were fellow-sufferers with him), they did not object or remonstrate 
 at the annoyance, l^lot so an impatient young "sawbones." 
 Stopping close to Lump, he scolded him hstrshly, saying, "What 
 are you keeping all this to do here for, man ? You are disturb- 
 ing every body in the hospital." 
 
 Looking half contemptuously and somewhat fiercely up at the 
 man, Lump said, "I wouldn't give grunting for all the physic you 
 have got." And he went on grunting, and the surgeon departed 
 quite disgruntled. 
 
"47 
 
 SABRE VERSUS BAYONET. 
 
 At the battle of Sailor's Creek, when Pickett's Division made its 
 last fight, an encounter occurred too remarkable to be left un- 
 recorded. The men of the 18th Regiment were fighting bravely 
 the enemy in their front, when they were suddenly and unex- 
 pectedly attacked by Sheridan's cavalry coming up in their rear. 
 
 Private R. L. Hurt, one of the veterans of Company Gr, was 
 busily loading and firing his gun, when a cavalryman came up 
 on him and struck at him with his sabre, which, fortunately for 
 Hurt, was warded off by his hat. Quick as thought he rose, and 
 turning around, he stuck his bayonet into the man on the horse, 
 who immediately turned and fled. Before he rode far Hurt saw 
 him fall and supposed he was mortally wounded. Just then he 
 and his comrades were surrounded and all taken prisoners. 
 
 This account is given by as reliable a man as was in the Reg- 
 iment. 
 
 RELIGION IN Co. G. 
 
 Prom the morning the Company met in the Presbyterian 
 church at Nottoway Court-house the day of its departure 
 tor Richmond, the company assembled daily at the Captain's 
 quarters for prayer, which was conducted by him or some 
 one of the officers or men, many of whom were professed chris- 
 tians. As stated in the sketch, three of the company since the 
 war have become ministers, viz : Richard Ferguson, J. E. Bar- 
 row and C. Evers. Two others would have been, had their lives 
 been spared, viz : E. Q-arland Sydnor and A. Dibrell Crenshaw. 
 They were studying for the ministry at the time the war broke 
 out.' 
 
 Profanity and drunkenness were indulged in by few, if any, 
 of those who made no profession of religion. This state of moral- 
 ity may not have induced, altogether, the order and decorum so 
 observable in the command, but so it was that the present writer, 
 who was in coinmand of the company for nearly two years, 
 never had the occasion to punish but one man by imprisonment, 
 and his offence was not one involving moral delinquency. This 
 high moral standard of the men made the duties of the officers 
 light, compared to what they would have been under other cir- 
 cumstances. 
 
 FIRST EXPERIENCE UNDER FIRE. 
 
 It has often been discussed whether any man is free from fear 
 under fire in battle. 
 
 The writer recollects overhearing a comparison of experiences 
 on this subject, between two of the most spirited and brave 
 
48 
 
 jonjig men of Company G — men who could, under fire them- 
 selves, deliberately take their guns from their shoulders because 
 they did not get as good aim as they wanted. He saw one of 
 them do so at Williamsburg. 
 
 The conversation occurred a few days after the first Manassas 
 battle, and was about this, in substance : 
 
 " Well, Muse, how did you feel on the field, when the shells 
 began to burst and throw dust all over us, and the Minies began 
 to sing ?" 
 
 " To tell you the truth, John (Gill), a battle is not just what 
 I had thought it. I was really anxious and curious to get into 
 One, knowing it was certain to come ; but I believe if the Yan- 
 kees are satisfied now, I would rather not go into another. It is 
 no child's play, but a serious matter indeed — to see men falling 
 around you, and it may be, yourself the next to go into eternity." 
 
 " Those were my thoughts exactly ! But for the hereafter I 
 would not have minded it so much — but, oh ! that hereafter ! I 
 have had enough of battle, if matters can be settled honorably 
 now." 
 
 To the unthinking or the fatalist, such apprehensions as that 
 expressed may not be known. To any others, nothing but duty 
 to one's " Grod, to country and truth " could nerve him for the 
 ordeal. Moved by such an impulse, the naturally timid might 
 be the bravest. It is a well known fact that men who were bul- 
 lies at home were generally the greatest cowards in battle. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 A number of mistakes have been observed by myself and 
 others which, in the more permanent form the Historical Sketch 
 will now assume, will be corrected as far as possible. 
 
 Page 19, T. J. Gunn, reported as killed, should read wounded at 
 
 Gaines' Mill. 
 Page 33, T. A. Orgain should have been numbered among the 
 
 sergeants. He was theirs* man of the company who was killed, 
 
 and not his brother, E. C. Orgain, as stated on page 36. The 
 
 latter was the second killed. 
 Page 34, John Campbell's residence, Lunenburg county, so also, 
 
 J. Deshazor's and A. L. Davis' ; residence of J. W. Bell and 
 
 L. 0. Edwards, Danville, Va. ; of P. H. and P. S. Coleman 
 
 and J. W. Crowder, Amelia county. 
 Page 35, residence of "W. Fowlkes, N'ottoway county ; Haynie 
 
 Hatchett, Lunenburg county, Va., enlisted April, 1861, wound- 
 ed at First Manassas, died , 1861. 
 
 Page 36, residence of Gr. W. Moore, Lunenburg; H. Overby 
 
 enlisted May, 1861, iastead of March, 1862. 
 Page 37, residence of B. Russell, Lunenburg; J. H. Snead, of 
 
 Lunenburg, enlisted 1864. 
 
 These changes will affect the recapitulation slightly — making 
 sergeants, 11; killed, 3; privates, 116; total of officers and 
 men, 145. 
 
 For these corrections, I am mainly indebted to First Sergeant 
 R. B. Seay. 
 
 After considerable trouble and delay, I have procured copies 
 from the photographs of nearly all the officers of the company, 
 more or less perfect, as the picture copied was good or bad. I 
 trust this group, with the best likeness extant of our noble leader, 
 Gen. Eobert E. Lee, on the front page, will be duly appreciated 
 and approved. 
 
 And now, surviving comrades of Company G, I have linked 
 your names and mine with the heroes who died at their country's 
 call, whose memories a grateful posterity will not suffer to die. 
 My task — a labor of love — is done. Farewell ! 
 
 Richard Irby.