Chapter I: Front Matter

Transcriber's Note: Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have been retained as printed. Words printed in italics are noted with underscores: _italics_.

The Story of a Confederate Boy in the Civil War

By

David E. Johnston

_of the 7th Virginia Infantry Regiment_

Author of "Middle New River Settlements"

With Introduction by

Rev. C. E. Cline, D.D.

A Methodist Minister and Chaplain of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, U.S.A.

COPYRIGHT, 1914 BY DAVID E. JOHNSTON

PUBLISHED BY GLASS & PRUDHOMME COMPANY PORTLAND, OREGON

Preface

Some twenty-eight years ago I wrote and published a small book recounting my personal experiences in the Civil War, but this book is long out of print, and the publication exhausted. At the urgent request of some of my old comrades who still survive, and of friends and my own family, I have undertaken the task of rewriting and publishing this story.

As stated in the preface to the former volume, the principal object of this work is to record, largely from memory, and after the lapse of many years (now nearly half a century) since the termination of the war between the states of the Federal Union, the history, conduct, character and deeds of the men who composed Company D, Seventh regiment of Virginia infantry, and the part they bore in that memorable conflict.

The chief motive which inspires this undertaking is to give some meager idea of the Confederate soldier in the ranks, and of his individual deeds of heroism, particularly of that patriotic, self-sacrificing, brave company of men with whose fortunes and destiny my own were linked for four long years of blood and carnage, and to whom during that period I was bound by ties stronger than hooks of steel; whose confidence and friendship I fully shared, and as fully reciprocated.

To the surviving members of that company, to the widows and children, broken-hearted mothers, and to gray-haired, disconsolate fathers (if such still live) of those who fell amidst the battle and beneath its thunders, or perished from wounds or disease, this work is dedicated. The character of the men who composed that company, and their deeds of valor and heroism, will ever live, and in the hearts of our people will be enshrined the names of the gallant dead as well as of the living, as the champions of constitutional liberty. They will be held in grateful remembrance by their own countrymen, appreciated and recognized by all people of all lands, who admire brave deeds, true courage, and devotion of American soldiers to cause and country.

For some of the dates and material I am indebted to comrades. I also found considerable information from letters written by myself during the war to a friend, not in the army, and not subject to military duty, on account of sex; who, as I write, sits by me, having now (February, 1914), for a period of more than forty-six years been the sharer of my joys, burdens and sorrows; whose only brother, George Daniel Pearis, a boy of seventeen years, and a member of Bryan's Virginia battery, fell mortally wounded in the battle of Cloyd's Farm, May 9, 1864.

DAVID E. JOHNSTON.

Portland, Oregon, May, 1914.

Introduction

The author of this book is my neighbor. He was a Confederate, and I a Union soldier. Virginia born, he worked hard in youth. A country lawyer, a member of the Senate of West Virginia, Representative in Congress, and Circuit Judge, his life has been one of activity and achievement. Blessed with a face and manner which disarm suspicion, inspire confidence and good will, he makes new friends, and retains old ones.

Judge Johnston (having through life practiced the virtues of a good Baptist), is, therefore, morally sound to the core. He has succeeded, not by luck or chance, but because of what he is. Withal, he has cultivated the faculty for hard work; in fact, through life he has liked nothing so well as hard work.

A vast good nature, running easily into jocular talk, with interesting stories, in which he excels, he is able to meet every kind of man in every rank of society, catching with unerring instinct the temper of every individual and company where he is.

He is thoroughly American, and though having traveled extensively in Europe and the East, he is not spoiled with aping foreigners, nor "rattled" by their frivolous accomplishments. He is likewise an experienced writer, being the author of the history of "Middle New River Settlements, and Contiguous Territory," in Virginia and West Virginia, a work of great value, which cost the author years of persistent research.

This volume, "The Story of a Confederate Boy," is written from the heart, with all his might, and all his honesty, and is characterized throughout by fertility, sympathy, and magnanimity, in recording his own personal experiences, and what he saw.

C. E. CLINE.

Portland, Oregon.

Contents

Chapter. Page.

I. Pre-election Statement as to Mr. Lincoln.--The
Presidential Election in November, 1860.--Fear and
Anxiety.--At School with Rev. J. W. Bennett in Winter
1860 and Spring 1861.--Debating Society.--Some
Recollections of Colonel Chambers and Others.--Strong
State Rights Ideas.--Desire to Become a Soldier.--The
Anticipation and the Reality.--Return Home.--War Talk
and Feeling 1

II. Giles County, Its Formation and Early Settlers.--Its
Geographical Position, Topography and Population in
1860.--State of Political Parties.--Election of
Delegate to the Convention 9

III. What Will Not Be Attempted Herein.--How the Southern
People Viewed the Situation.--Virginia as a Peacemaker.
--The Peace Conference and Its Failure.--Geographical,
Territorial Position.--Assembling of the Convention
and Its Action.--Mr. Lincoln's Attitude and Call for
Troops.--Adoption of the Ordinance of Secession.--
Preparations for Defense 15

IV. Organization of Volunteer Forces.--Giles Not Behind
Her Sister Counties.--A Company Organized at
Pearisburg with James H. French as Captain; Eustace
Gibson, First Lieutenant; William A. Anderson, Second
Lieutenant; Joel Blackard, Second Junior Lieutenant,
and Captains James D. Johnston and R. F. Watts on
the Committee to Purchase Uniforms, etc.--The Ladies
of the Town and Country.--In Barracks and on Drill.
--Anecdote.--Dixie.--Our March to Wolf Creek.--
Presentation of Bible and Flag 25

V. The Election for the Ratification of the Ordinance
of Secession Was Held on the Fourth Thursday of May
--the 23rd. On that Day Members of the House of
Delegates, and Perhaps Other Officers, Were to Be
Elected.--Our Departure.--Lynchburg and to Manassas
Junction 39

VI. Stay at the Junction.--Organization of 24th
Regiment as Afterwards Completed.--March to Camp
Davis Ford.--First Night on Picket.--Alarm.--
March to the Town of Occoquan and Back Again.--
A War of Words.--Serious Fight Imminent.--Leaving
the 24th Regiment.--Camp Tick Grove and a Personal
Difference.--A More Perfect Union.--Camp Wigfall.
--Blondeau's Shot.--How We Cooked, Ate and Slept.
--Shannon's Bob.--Rumors Afloat of Pending Battle.
--Three Days' Rations Cooked 47

VII. Breaking Camp at Wigfall.--The March to the
Battlefield.--General Beauregard and His Appearance
and Advice.--First Cannon Shot.--Battle of Bull Run.
--The Advance.--The Charge.--The Wounded.--Isaac
Hare and John Q. Martin.--Retreat of the Enemy.--
Severe Artillery Duel.--The Dutchman and His Chunk
of Fat Bacon.--Casualties 61

VIII. Night's Experience on Our First Battlefield.--The
Dead and Cries of the Wounded.--Occurrences on the
Field.--Sunday, July 21.--Shelled by the Enemy.--
March to the Field by the Sound of Battle.--The
Battle.--Casualties.--The Pursuit.--To the Outposts.
--Incidents.--Winter at Centerville 69

IX. Our Daily Duties.--In Camp.--Among the Last
Rencounters.--Lieutenant Gibson, Corporal Stone
and Others Hold a Council of War and Determine
to Advance and Drive McClellan from Arlington
Heights.--March to the Outposts.--Graybacks.--
Religious Exercises.--Incidents of Camp.--
Depletion of the Army.--Re-enlistments and
Furloughs.--Retreat from Manassas Behind the
Rappahannock.--Albert and Snidow.--Gordonsville 83

X. The Stay Near Gordonsville.--The March to
Richmond and Journey to Yorktown.--In the
Trenches.--Skirmishing and Night Alarms.--
Reorganization.--The Retreat from Yorktown.
--The Old Lady's Prayer.--Battle of Williamsburg.
--The Killed and Wounded.--Forces and Numbers
Engaged and Losses.--Retreat Up the Peninsula.
--Battle of Seven Pines.--Casualties 93

XI. Preparations for Active Field Service.--Dress
Parade and Speeches of General Kemper and Colonel
Patton.--Battles Around Richmond.--Gaines' Mill
or Cold Harbor.--Frazier's Farm and Malvern Hill.
--Testing a Man's Courage.--Casualties.--In Pursuit
of the Enemy.--In Camp Near the Chickahominy.--
Sickness and Death.--Threatening Attitude of the
Enemy in Northern Virginia.--Concentration of
the Confederate Army on the Rappahannock.--Pope's
Bravado.--Lieutenant Hugh M. Patton Succeeds
Stark as Adjutant, and Sergeant Parke Appointed
Sergeant-Major, Succeeding George S. Tansill 107

XII. General Jackson With His "Foot Cavalry."--On
the Flank and in the Rear of General Pope's
Army.--Longstreet's Division Diverting the
Enemy's Attention on the Rappahannock.--March
Through Thoroughfare Gap.--Haymarket to the
Relief of Jackson's Men.--The Fight on the
29th.--Battle of August 30, 1862.--Kemper
Commands Division, Corse Leads the Brigade.--
Pope Defeated.--Casualties.--Rainstorm and
March Through Leesburg to White's Ford.--
Crossing the Potomac.--The Cry "Back to
Washington" and not "On to Richmond."--
"Maryland, My Maryland," "Bonnie Blue Flag."
--Halt at Monocacy Bridge 123

XIII. A Soldier's Equipment.--Washing His Clothes.--How
He Ate and Slept.--March Through Frederick.--
Middletown.--Hagerstown.--A Soldier in Active
Service in the Field.--What He Possesses.--
Indications of Southern Sympathy.--The Return
from Hagerstown.--Battle of Boonsboro and
Casualties.--Retreat to Sharpsburg 135

XIV. Number of Men for Action in Kemper's Brigade.
--General D. R. Jones' Division.--Confederate
Cavalry.--General Lee Playing Bluff with McClellan.
--The Opening of the Battle.--Burnside's Attack
and Repulse.--Casualties.--Re-crossing the
Potomac 145

XV. From Winchester to Culpeper.--Reorganization
of the Army.--What Happened at Culpeper.--To
Fredericksburg and Battle There.--In Winter
Quarters.--Incidents of the Camp 163

XVI. Leaving Camp.--March Through Spottsylvania.--
Louisa.--Hanover, Petersburg.--First North
Carolina Campaign.--Heavy Snowfall and Battle.
--Accident to Anderson Meadows Near Chester.
--Camp Near Petersburg.--Gardner Exchanges
Hats.--Lieutenant Stone in a Box.--To Weldon,
Goldsboro and Kinston.--At Suffolk, Virginia;
Return via Petersburg, Chester, Richmond, to
Taylorsville.--John, the Drummer Boy.--Professor
Hughes, Frank Burrows, and Others.--Across the
Pamunkey, Return and to Culpeper 177

XVII. Pennsylvania Campaign of July, 1863.--Culpeper
and Snicker's Gap.--Fording the Potomac.--
Shooting a Deserter.--Pennsylvania Invaded.--
Chambersburg.--My Dream.--Willoughby Run.--Roll
Call 191

XVIII. Finishing Roll Call.--March to the Field.--
Inspection of Arms.--Fearful Artillery Duel.
--The Charge.--Killed and Wounded.--Army
Retires.--Crosses the Potomac 199

XIX. Sketches and Incidents While a Wounded Prisoner.
--How Long in the Field Hospital.--The Walk to
Gettysburg and Kindness Shown Me By a Federal
Captain.--In Box Cars and Ride to Baltimore.
--What Occurred in Baltimore.--To Chester,
Pa.--Dr. Schafer and Another.--Paroled and
Back to Dixie 221

XX. Return to My Command.--Long Stay at Taylorsville
in November and December, 1863, and Part of
January, 1864.--Dr. Blackwell's Address.--Our
Second North Carolina Campaign.--General and
Mrs. Pickett and Baby George.--Back in Virginia.
--The Advance to Newbern.--Capture and Execution
of Deserters.--In Camp at Goldsboro.--Shooting
a Confederate Deserter.--The Shoemaker's Letter.
--Wilmington and Mouth of Cape Fear.--Return and
to Tarboro.--The Capture of Plymouth, N.C.--To
Washington and Newbern.--Return to Virginia 231

XXI. Battle of Dreury's Bluff.--The Forces Engaged.
--Casualties.--The Pursuit of General Butler's
Troops.--Bombardment at Howlett's House.--The
Wounding of Lieutenant John W. Mullins.--His
Death.--Withdrawal from Howlett's House 247

XXII. To Richmond.--Captured Flags.--Affair at
Milford.--Tom Yowell's Yarn.--Hanover Junction.
--North Anna.--Cold Harbor.--John A. Hale and
His Prisoner.--Malvern Hill 259

XXIII. From Malvern Hill to the South of the James.
--Engagement at Clay's House.--Bermuda Hundred
Line.--Christmas Dinner.--Our Southern Women.
--Close of 1864 267

XXIV. Religion in the Army.--Doctors Pryor, Fontaine
Stiles.--General Pendleton.--Young Men's Christian
Association.--Frazier, our Preaching-Fighting
Chaplain 285

XXV. From January, 1865, to Close of Battle of Five
Forks--Gloomy Outlook at the Opening of the Year.
--The Peace Commissioners.--Spirit of the Army.
--A. L. Fry as Regimental Clerk and Historian.
--Trouble in Company D.--Activity Within the
Federal Lines.--General Pendleton's Speech.--
Early's Small Force Defeated at Waynesboro.--
Sheridan's Raid 297

XXVI. South of the James.--Battles of Dinwiddie and
Five Forks 307

XXVII. The Retreat.--Battle of Sailor's Creek.--Captured 321

XXVIII. To Prison at Point Lookout, Maryland.--Prison
Life.--Release.--Home 335

XXIX. The Conclusion.--War Ends.--The Return to Civil
Pursuits.--The Confederate Soldier 349

Portraits

Page

David E. Johnston, 16 years old, in Confederate uniform and off for the war Frontispiece

Captain James H. French 32

Lieutenant Eustace Gibson 64

Captain Robert H. Bane 80

Lieutenant Elisha M. Stone 112

Lieutenant John W. Mullins 144

Corporal Jesse B. Young 208

Lieutenant Thomas S. Taylor 240

Rev. J. Tyler Frazier 272

David E. Johnston, Brigadier-General, Confederate Veterans, and David E. J. Wilson, Captain and Aide-de-Camp 304