Saturday, December 17, 2011

William G. Lewis.


William G. Lewis.


William G. Lewis. Appointed from North Carolina June 2, 1864, to rank from May 31, 1864; confirmed June 2, 1864; wounded and captured in action at Farmville, Virginia, April 7, 1865, and paroled at Farmville Virginia, between April 11 and 21, 1865.

He was a Civil War Confederate Brigadier General. When the Civil War broke out, he was a railroad civil engineer, whom joined the Confederate Army and was commissioned a Major. He saw action at the Battle of Bethel, Battle of New Bern, was promoted Lieutenant Colonel of the 33rd North Carolina Regiment in 1862 and participated in the defense of Richmond. In 1863, at the Battle of Gettysburg, he was Colonel in command of the 33rd North Carolina and led a brigade in the Battle Of Cold Harbor. In June 1864, and was promoted Brigadier General in charge of the entrenchments of Drewry's Bluff, Virginia, where he saw his last action. Following the war, he returned to his career as a civil engineer, serving as the State Engineer of North Carolina and general superintendent for several railroads.

Born: September 3, 1835, Rocky Mount, Edgecombe, North Carolina.
Death: January 8, 1901.

Father: John Wesley Lewis.
Mother: Catherine Ann Battle.
Wife: Martha Lucinda, Married March 15, 1864.
He died of Pneumonia.
Burial: Willow Dale Cemetery, Goldsboro, Wayne County, North Carolina.

Numbers 509. Report of Lieutenant Colonel W. G. Lewis, Forty-third North Carolina Infantry.
DARKESVILLE, W. VA., July 19, 1863.

SIR: In accordance with orders received from headquarters, I beg leave to respectfully submit the following report of the part acted by the Forty-third Regiment North Carolina troops in the three days' battle at Gettysburg, Pa.: At about 1 o'clock, July 1, we were drawn up in line of battle, about 1 or 2 1/2 miles from Gettysburg. After brief cannonade by a battery on our left, we were ordered forward. We moved forward about a mile before we encountered the enemy. The Forty-third Regiment was halted in a lane, when the Forty-fifth and Second Battalion moved still farther forward and engaged the enemy. Our position at that time was on the fight of the Forty-fifth, and on the left of the Thirty-second Regiments. We were then ordered to move by the left flank to a position between the Second Battalion and Fifty-third Regiment, with orders to support either on the right or left, as necessity demanded.

We remained in that position under a sharp cross-fire for some time, when we were ordered to join on to the left of the battalion and support it. The right of the regiment, in obeying that order, was exposed to a most severe fire in front and on flank, and lost very heavily. Captain [W. C.] Ousby was killed there, while doing his full duty. We remained there but a short time, when we received orders to fall back under cover of the hill, which was done in perfect order. After a short time, and when supports came up on our left, we were ordered to join on with the battalion as before, to swing around the right, and advance toward a battery of the enemy which was pouring a deadly fire into our flanks. We continued to advance, driving the enemy before us, until we came to a railroad cut, which interfered a short while with our advance.

At the railroad cut, 400 or 500 prisoners surrendered to the brigade; also several stand of colors were captured, but I am not certain that any were taken by this regiment. After moving a short distance farther in line of battle, we moved by the left flank behind a railroad embankment, where we rested until the following day. On the morning of July 2, we moved to a position on the crest of a hill which the enemy held as their line the day before. Here we remained quiet until about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, when our batteries opened on the enemy's position on the highlights beyond the town, and were vigorously replied to, which subjected the regiment to severe shelling, in which we lost 1 killed and several wounded very severely.

About dark, we were ordered forward, and advanced nearly a mile, when we were halted. After remaining there a short time, we were ordered to retire, and took position in a street on the south edge of tho town. We remained there until near daybreak, when we were ordered to the extreme left of our line, to assist General Johnson in an attack on a mountain. We entered the action July 3, about sunrise, on the side of the mountain. We remained in reserve under fire a short time, when we moved by the left flank, and relieved troops who occupied works from which the enemy had been driven.

After remaining some time under fire, but not being able to return it, we were ordered to go over the breastworks, and support General Steuart in a charge on the enemy's position. Colonel [T. S.] Kenan carried the left wing over, but Steuart's brigade was repulsed and driven back before the left of our regiment had advanced far enough for the right to join it in the proposed charge. Colonel Kenan was wounded in this charge, and was taken off the field, when the command of the regiment devolved on myself.

The left wing remained out of the works some time, exposed to a most severe fire from a battery posted about 400 yards distant, when they were ordered to return to the work. From that time to the time we were ordered to retire, this regiment was exposed to a most severe fire of grape, shrapnel, and shell at short range, and only two companies oh the right had an opportunity to return the fire of the enemy. About 2 o'clock we were ordered to retire, which was executed in first-rate order. We remained in line of battle until about 1 o'clock, when we were ordered to return to a position near the one occupied by us on July 2, which we did.

With but one exception-and that an officer-the officers and men behaved remarkably well. There was no straggling from this regiment. Where all acted so well, it is difficult to particularize for good conduct; but Lieutenant [Jesse A.] Macon, Company F, and Lieutenant {W. E.] Stitt, Company B, showed such marked coolness and bravery on the field, that it is just that they should be mentioned. Sergeants [P. B.] Grier, Company B, and [G. W.] Wills, Company D, behaved remarkably well.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. G. LEWIS, Lieutenant Colonel, Comdg. Forty-third North Carolina Infantry.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Archibald C. Godwin.


Archibald C. Godwin

Archibald C. Godwin, Born in Nonfolk county Virginia.  Appointed from North Carolina, August 9, 1864, to rank from August 5, 1864.  Killed in action at Wenchester, Virginia, September 19, 1864.

He was a Civil War Confederate Brigadier General. He was miner in California and returned to his home state of Virgina when the Civil War broke out in 1861. He initially served as Provost Marshal of Richmond, when he was transferred to the front as Colonel in command of the 57th North Carolina Infantry in 1862. He led the 57th North Carolina in battles at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and was captured at Rappahannock Bridge in November 1863. After being prsioner exchanged, he was promoted Brigadier General in August 1864 and was killed in action at the Third Battle of Winchester, Virginia. 

Burial: Stonewall Confederate Cemetery, Winchester, Winchester City, Virginia.

Honorable JAMES A. SEDDON.
DUNN'S HILL, September 20, 1864.

General Early reports that on the morning of the 19th the enemy advanced on Winchester near which place he met his attack, which was resisted from early in the day till near night, when he was compelled to retire. After night he fell back to Newtown and this morning to Fisher's Hill. Our loss is reported severe. Major-General Rodes and Brigadier-General Godwin were killed nobly doing their duty. Three pieces of artillery of King's battalion were lost. The trains and supplies were brought off safely.

R. E. LEE.

General Dabney H. Maury--C. S. A.




Dabney H. Maury
  
Dabney H. Maury.  Born at Fredericksbury, Virginia, May 20, 1822.  Appointed from Virginia March 18, 1862, to rank from March12, 1862; comfirmed March 18, 1862; promoted to be Major General, Provisional Army, November 4, 1862.  Died at Peorsa Illinois January 11, 1900.

 He graduated from West Point in 1846, was commissioned an US Army officer and was recognized for meritorious conduct during the Mexican American War. When the Civil War began, he resigned his commission and entered the Confederate Army as a Colonel. He performed admirably at the battles of Pea Ridge and was promoted Brigadier General in early 1862. He led division in actions at Corinth, Vicksburg and was promoted Major General in November, 1862. Appointed commander of the District of the Gulf in 1863, he supervised the construction of Mobile's defenses but was forced to order the city's evacuation 1865. After the war he served as US Minister to Colombia, 1885 to 1889.

Burial: Confederate Cemetery, Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg City, Virginia.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

John Minor Botts, Civil War.

John Minor Botts.

Birth: Sep. 16, 1802, Dumfries, Prince William County Virginia.

Death: Jan. 8, 1869, Richmond, Richmond City, Virginia.

United States Representative from Virginia, 1839-1843 and 1847-1849; delegate to the Convention of Southern Loyalists, 1866.

Burial: Shockoe Hill Cemetery, Richmond, Richmond City, Virginia.

His head stone reads.

I Know no North, no South, no East, no West; I only known my country, my whole country and nothing but my country.

John Minor Botts in the Civil War.

April 9, 1862. - A court of inquiry ordered in the case of Honorable John Minor Botts, of Virginia, arrested as a suspect by the Confederate authorities.

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY BRIGADE,
Near Fort Buffalo, Va., October 4, 1864.

Lieutenant Colonel J. H. TAYLOR,

Chief of Staff and Assistant Adjutant-General:

COLONEL: I have the honor to report my return to this point this evening. I telegraphed the substance of what I had to report this morning from Catlett's Station. I omitted to say that one wood since Kershaw's division left Culpeper Court-House for Gordonsville,a nd a few days since left Gordonsville to join Early. It was his division which attacked us before near Culpeper Court-House. It had just come down from the Valley there the day previous to my arrival, and was on its way to join Lee at Richmond. I have this information from the Honorable John Minor Botts, at Brandy Station.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. M. LAZELLE, Colonel Sixteenth New York Vol. Cavalry, Comdg. Cavalry Brigade.

Case of John Minor Botts.

HENRICO, March 22, 1862.

President DAVIS:

I appeal to your kindness to get you to answer me a few questions. First, what was Mr. Botts taken from his family for and cast into jail?* Second, why is he kept there now three weeks without allowing him a trial? Mr. Davis, what has he done to cause his confinement? Could you but know the anguish of his distressed family you would not keep them tortured as they are. A family of girls without a mother, and their idolized father torn from them at such a time of danger as his! Have you children? How would you feel about them? Are you a member of the Church of Christ? Remember the Savior's holy words, "Blessed are the peacemakers. " Answer this speedily if you please, and direct it to

MISS M. M. BLAIR.

WAR DEPARTMENT, Richmond, April 22, 1862.
Messrs. W. T. JOYNES and Others, Richmond, Va.

GENTLEMEN: Your letter of the 18th instant has been received. I think that for the present Mr. Botts should not be permitted to remain in the vicinity of Richmond, and have therefore ordered his discharge on parole if he will retire to the interior and pledge himself to do or say nothing prejudicial to the Confederacy or its Government.

Your obedient servant, GEO. W. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War.

GENERAL ORDERS, WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJT. AND INSP. GENERAL'S OFFICE, No. 28.  Richmond, April 25, 1862.

A court of inquiry having assembled at Richmond, pursuant to Special Orders, No. 81, April 9, 1862, from the Adjutant and Inspector General's Office, to examine "into the causes of the arrest of John Minor Botts and to report the facts in reference thereto, and whether in the said John Minor Botts; and the court having made such examination and reported the result withi the evidence in the case to the Secretary of War, the following are his decision and orders thereupon:

The Secretary of War having considered the record of the examination in the case of John Minor Botts, and the report of Brigadier General J. H. Winder as to the practicability of confining him to his house and premises in the manner recommended by the court of inquiry directs, that he be discharged from confinement on his delivering to General Winder a writen parole of honor to the following effect:

That until otherwise permitted by the Department he will so journ in Lynchburg. Danville, or Raleigh, or in such other place in the interiors as may be selected by himself with the consent of the Department; that he will proceed without unnecessary delay to the place of his so journ; that he will not depart therefrom or go more than five miles from this residence; and that while on parole he will do nothing to the injury of the Confederate Government, nor express any opinion tending to impair the confidence of the people in the capacity of the Confederate States to achieve their independence.

Mr. Bott's family will passports to join him if desired.

By command of the Secretary of War: S. COOPER,

Lieutenant Colonel Lawson Botts.

Lawson Botts.

Birth:Jul. 25, 1825, Fredericksburg City, Virginia.

Death: Sep. 16, 1862, Middleburg, Loudoun County, Virginia.

2nd Va.Inf.Regt. Shot through cheek and mouth,2nd Manassas,
8/28/1862;Died of wounds.

Sarah Elizabeth "Bettie" Ranson Botts.

Birth: Aug. 21, 1829.

Death: Jan. 26, 1909, Jefferson County, West Virginia.

Wife and Widow of Confederate Colonel Lawson Botts. They were married on January 29, 1851 in Jefferson County, Virginia, per Marriage Register of license line number 36. Her husband was the defense attorney for John Brown during the early stages of the famous John Brown trial. He was commissioned Captain of the Bott's Grays, a per-war militia Company from Charles Town. Promoted to Captain of Company G, 2nd Virginia Vol. Infantry, stepped up the ladder quickly to Colonel. Mortally wounded at the battle of second Manassas, dying at Middleburg, Virginia.
Both were buried at Zion Episcopal Churchyard, Charles Town, Jefferson County, West Virginia.

The following are battle reports by him.

The Peninsular Campaign.

No. 234. Report of Lieutenant Colonel Lawson Botts, Second Virginia, Infantry, of the battles of Gaines' Mill and Malvern Hill.

HDQRS. SECOND REGIMENT VIRGINIA VOLUNTEERS, July 13, 1862.

CAPTAIN: In obedience to orders I have the honor to report that at an early hour on the morning of June 27, from camp near Totopotomoy Creek, the Second Regiment, under Colonel Allen, was put on the march and moved all day toward the enemy.

About 5 o'clock, the fire of musketry being exceedingly heavy, the regiment moved rapidly forward and was drawn up in line of battle immediately in rear of Ball's old tavern, exposed to the shells of the enemy.

In a few minutes the regiment and the Fifth Virginia, under Colonel Baylor, were ordered a short distance to the front to support the Purcell Battery, and while in this position Captain Burgess, of Company F, Second Regiment, was wounded.

Soon these regiments were moved to the left, and the whole brigade, by command of General Winder, was drawn up in line of battle, and ordered to charge a battery whose shells had for some time been sweeping the field around us. The Second Regiment responded promptly to the call. The charge was made through a wood of thick undergrowth, over a marsh, and the men became separated. Forming the line again the men pressed steadily forward, leaving behind in an open field whole regiments which had been previously sent forward.

About 7 o'clock the regiment, numbering about 80 men, reached a hill near McGehee's house, and found the fire from the enemy's batteries and their supports terrible.

Here Colonel Allen and Lieutenant Keeler, of Company C, fell. Here Major Jones, Captain Colston, and Lieutenant Kinsey were wounded. Here several of the men were killed or wounded.

The regiment being in advance, or at least separated from the brigade, few in numbers, did not advance, but gallantly held its position. General Winder soon coming up, and seeing the position, gave orders to maintain the hill while he brought up re-enforcements, which could be seen in our rear. Hurrying these up, the line of battle was again formed and the order to charge was given by General Winder. As before, the regiment gallantly answered. Our troops rushed forward, the enemy fell back in retreat, and late in the evening the enemy had fled, leaving us in possession of the field, upon which we remained all night.

I cannot close the report of this day without bearing testimony to the gallant conduct of Colonel, Allen, Major Jones, Captains Colston and Burgess, and Lieutenants Keeler and Kinsey, and, indeed, to the officers and men of the regiment.

On Saturday the regiment remained near McGehee's.

On Sunday we were marched as far as Grapevine Bridge, and returned about night-fall to our camp.

Monday we crossed the Chickahominy and the York River Railroad, and bivouacked near White Oak Swamp, and moved Tuesday, July 1, on the Shirley road, halting occasionally for some time. Heavy artillery fire all the while heard in front.

Passing a church, we were placed in a wood about 5 p.m. to the right of the road, and remained there over an hour.

Some of the regiments of the brigade being within reach of the shells of the enemy, about 6.30 o'clock the brigade was ordered from the woods to the road. The thick undergrowth delayed the movements of the Second and Fifth Regiments so much, that when the left of the Second reached the road neither the Twenty-seventh, Fourth, nor Thirty-third were in sight. The road was crowded with artillery and regiments hastening from the battle-field. The regiment was pushed forward as rapidly as possible on the road, and Sergeant-Major Burwell sent in advance to ascertain the routes taken by General Winder, and by his exertions we followed in his track.

Night was rapidly closing in. The regiment was in the woods to the right of the road, marching upon the left flank of the enemy and exposed to the fire of their artillery.

Leaving the woods we entered a field, which was swept by the enemy's fire. Here we met officers and men hastening to the rear, who reported that all our troops were in retreat. Still the regiment was pushed forward to join, if possible, the brigade. The Fifth was in our rear. The darkness, the rapid march, and the woods had separated the men very much, and the command was exceedingly small. Concealing them by a deep ravine in a wood, within 150 yards of the - road, I rode out until I struck the road. Here I could not see any of our troops, and the fire from the enemy was incessant.

On my return to the regiment Colonel Baylor called me to a consultation, and the result was that we should fall back and join our brigade, our impression being that our troops had been driven from this portion of the field. If we remained we would expose the men to a fire which they could not reply to or be cut off by the enemy; therefore, marching to the rear by nearly the same route we had advanced, we struck the - road at - Church, and learning that General Winder had not fallen back, we reformed our regiments and reported to him.

Providentially we had only 2 men wounded, though exposed to as heavy a fire as ever the regiment was under.

With this I send you a list of the killed and wounded.

LAWSON BOTTS, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding.
Note. I left out the list of killed and wounded, as there were no names just numbers.
------------------------

Second Manassas.

No. 32. Report of Lieutenant Colonel Lawson Botts, Second Virginia Infantry.

[CAMP GARNETT], August 13, 1862.

CAPTAIN: In obedience to order I have the honor to report that on Saturday, the 9th, about the hour of 5 p.m., the First Brigade, of which this (the Second Regiment of Virginia Infantry) is a part, was marched through a woods near Cedar Run, in Culpeper [County], in column of regiments, within range of the enemy's artillery, a shell occasionally falling near the brigade. Shortly after the column was deployed in line of battle just at the skirt of the wood, facing a large field and another piece of wood, the division fence being near the center of the Second Regiment.

By order of Colonel Ronald, commanding, the brigade was moved to the front. Almost immediately afterward a regiment of the enemy appeared on the other side of the field. This regiment, though supported by others in the wood, fled after a short resistance, and the Second Regiment, with the Fourth and Fifth, drove the enemy through the wood they occupied. Finding no enemy in the front, and that the right wing of the brigade was pressed, the Second Regiment was ordered to its support, Captain Moore, of Company I, being left with a strong company to scout the woods and prevent surprise. Joining the right wing, the enemy was driven again from position and followed till night rendered pursuit dangerous.

I cannot too highly commend the conduct of the officers and men of my command; and though exposed for some hours to the enemy's fire, providentially no one was killed and but 7 wounded.

Respectfully,

LAWSON BOTTS,

Lieutenant-General, Commanding.

This last report will be in part, it tells of Lawson being wounded.

BATTLE OF MANASSAS.

Numbers 168. Report of Brigadier General William B Taliaferro, C. S. Army, commanding First (Jackson's) Division, of operations August 20-28.

Killed or wounded.

Colonel [John F.] Neff, Thirty-third Virginia, while gallantly leading his regiment into action, was killed; Colonel [A. J.] Grigsby, Twenty-seventh Virginia, wounded; Colonel [Lawson] Botts, Second Virginia, mortally wounded; Major Nadenbousch, Second Virginia, Major [William] Terry, Fourth [Virginia], wounded, and others whose names and whose gallantry have been doubtless reported to the commanding general.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

New Jersey Loyalists To The Crown.

The following list of soldiers were loyalists to ihe crown during the Revolutionary war.  There is information on all these names and will be given on request.  Some names will have more information then others.  I will give a couple of examples on the kind of information you may receive.

Authors Note Please give the title of this page when requesting information, to give a name out of the blue with no refevence as too where the name came from makes it hard for me to help you.
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Example 1.

Philip Kearney Skinner, a resident of Perth Amboy, New Jersey.  He was a son of General Skinner.  He was commission by his father as Ensign in the First Battalion November 10, 1781.  He was after the war, placed in the British line, the twenty-third regiment of foot and aftter various promotions he became in 1825, Lieutenant General of the British Army.  The following year, April 9, 1826, he died in London.

Example 2.

John Waddington, during the years of 1780-1781, and part of 1782, this officer was the Quartermaster of the First Battalion, but died of disease during the last mentioned year.

Lieutenant Colonel.

Isaac Allen.
Joseph Barton.
Stephen Delancey.
Edward Vanughan Dongan.
Elisha Lawrence.
John Morris.
Abraham Van Buskirk.

Majors.

John Antill.
John Barnes.
Daniel Isaac Browne.
John Golden.
Robert Drummond.
Thomas Leonard.
Thomas Millidge.
Richard V. Stockton.
Robert Timpany.
Philip Van Cortlant.

Adjutants.

John Atchison.
George Cypher.
Isaac Hedden.
Patrick Henry.
John Hyslop.
Ozias Insley.
John Jekins.
Arther T. Pritchard.
Cornelius Thompson.

Quartermasters.

Fleming Colgan.
Bartholomew Dougaty.
John Falker.
Daniel James.
Thomas Morrison.
James Nealson.
William Sorrell.
Theodore Valleau.
John Waddington.

Surgeons.

Absalom Bainbridge.
Daniel Bancroft.
Henry Dongan.
Charles Earle.
John Hammell.
Uzal Johnson.
William Peterson.

Surgeons Mate.

James Boggs.
Stephen Millidge.

Chaplains.

Thomas Barton.
Daniel Batwell.
Charles Inglis.
Charles Morgan.
John Rowland.
James Sayre.
Edward Winslow.

Captains.

David Alston.
John Barbarie.
Benjamin Barton.
Urian Bleau.
Waldron Bleau.
Daniel Bessonet.
Donald Campbell.
Patrick Campbell.
Peter Campbell.
Richard Cayford.
William Chandler.
John Cougle.
Daniel Cozens.
Joseph Crowell.
Edward Earie.
Patrick Haggerty.
Charles Harrison.
Cornelius Hatfield Jr.
John Hatfield.
Samuel Heyden.
Samuel Hudnot.
Thomas Hunlock.
William Hutchinson.
Garret Keating.
Joseph Lee.
Samuel Leonard.
John Longsteet.
Alexander McDonald.
Cornelius McLeod.
Norman McLeod.
Peter Ruttan.
Samuel Ryeason.
James Shaw.
George Stanforth.
John Taylor.
Bartholomew Thatcher.
William Van Allen.
Jacob Van Buskirk.
John Williams.
John Alston.
Joseph Cunliff.
Edward Steele.

Lieutenants.

Charles Babbington.
Henry Barton.
James Brittain.
William Chew.
John Coombes.
Richard Cooper.
John DeMonzes.
Justus Earle.
John Ford.
Francis Frazer.
James Harrison.
John Hatton.
Anthony Hollinshead.
Christopher Insley.
George Lambert.
John Lawrence.
Enoch Lyon.
Donald McPherson.
James Moody.
John Monro.
Thomas Oakason.
Josiah Parker.
Robert Peterson.
John Reid.
Martin Ryerson.
James Servanier.
Daniel Shannon.
John Simonson.
Michael Smith.
William Stevenson.
Andrew Stockton.
John Thompson.
John Throckmorton.
Jphn Troup.
William Turner.
John Van Buskirk.
William Dumont.
John Van Norden.
John Vought.
Joseph Waller.
John Willis.
Samuel Richard Wilson.

Ensigns.

Jonathan Alston.
Peter Anderson.
William Banks.
James Barton.
Joseph Bean.
Joseph Brittain.
John Camp.
James Cole.
Nathaniel Coombes.
Ezekiel Dennis.
Peter Dunworth.
Daniel Grandin.
Reuben Hankinson.
William K. Hurlet.
Zenophon Jewett.
William Lawrence.
James Briser.
George Lee.
John Leonard.
Richard Lippincott.
Richard McGinnis.
Hector McLean.
Colin McLane.
Phineas Millidge.
Peter Myer.
John Robbins.
Ruloff Ruloffs.
Stephen Ryder.
George Ryerson.
John Seamon.
James Service.
John Shannon.
Philip Kearney Skinner.
John Swanton.
Lewis Thompson.
Henry Van Dellen.
Philip Van Cortlandt Jr.
Malcom Wilmott.
John Woodward.
Robert Woodward.