Chapter 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; and Joel Blackard, Second Junior Lieutenant; 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.

On learning of the adoption of the Ordinance of Secession by the convention, the country was ablaze with the wildest excitement, and preparations for war began in earnest. Volunteer organizations of troops were forming all over the state. Why and wherefore, may be asked. Not to attack the Federal Government, to fight the Northern states, but only to defend Virginia in the event of invasion by a Northern army. There was at this time in the county, already organized and fairly drilled, the volunteer company of Capt. William Eggleston, of New River White Sulphur Springs. Pearisburg and the region roundabout in the most part received the news of the secession of the state with apparent relief and gladness, and immediately James H. French, Esq., of Pearisburg, a lawyer and staunch, bold Southern man in education, sentiment and feeling, assisted by others, commenced the enlistment of a company of volunteer infantry to serve for the period of twelve months from the date of being mustered into service, believing that war, if it should come, would not last longer than one year. Enlisting men for war was something new; people are always ready to try something new, and as our people were possessed of a martial spirit, this, together with the excitement and enthusiasm of the occasion, made it no difficult matter to enroll a full company in an incredibly short time. Names were readily obtained, among them my own. I had to go with the boys,--my neighbors and schoolmates, little thinking, or in the remotest degree anticipating, the terrible hardships and privations which would have to be endured in the four years which followed. The idea then prevalent among our people was that we were not to be absent a great while; that there would probably be no fighting; that Mr. Lincoln was not really in earnest about attempting to coerce the seceded states, and if he was, a few Southern men would suffice to put to rout the hordes of Yankeedom. If, however, the Northern people were intent upon war, our people were ready to meet them, because thoroughly aroused.

Our people had by this time arrived at the conclusion that war was inevitable; no settlement on peaceable and honorable terms could be had. They had therefore left the Union, which seemed to them the only alternative. Consequently we felt obliged to appeal to the sword for the settlement of questions which statesmanship had failed to solve; yet always willing to make a child's bargain with the Northern people,--"You leave us alone and we will leave you alone." Extravagant utterances and speeches were made as to Southern prowess. It was even said that one Southern man could whip five Yankees; that the old women of the country with corn-cutters could drive a host of Yankees away; but the people who made these assertions knew little of what they were saying, for ere the war had long progressed we found we had our hands full, and it soon became evident that we might like to find someone to help us let go.

The organization of the company which afterwards became Company D, 7th Virginia regiment, took place April 25, 1861. The only contest for office worth relating was for the captaincy, which was between James H. French and Andrew J. Grigsby, and resulted in the election of the former. The following is a complete roster of the company, with dates of enlistment, rank, etc., to be followed later by a tabulated statement of losses in battle, by disease, desertion, discharge, etc.:

ROSTER OF COMPANY D, 7TH VIRGINIA INFANTRY.

Date of enlistment. Name. Rank.

1861--April James H. French Captain
1861--April Eustace Gibson First Lieutenant
1861--April W. A. Anderson, Sec. Lieutenant
1861--April J. Blackard, Second Jr. Lieutenant
1861--April Allen C. Pack First Sergeant
1861--April John W. Mullins Second Sergeant
1861--April Joseph C. Hughes Third Sergeant
1861--April Wm. D. Peters Fourth Sergeant
1861--April Hamilton J. Hale Fifth Sergeant
1861--April Allen L. Fry First Corporal
1861--April Elisha M. Stone Second Corporal
1861--April T. N. Mustain Third Corporal
1861--April John W. Hight Fourth Corporal
1861--April David C. Akers Private
1861--August George W. Akers Private
1861--August William R. Albert Private
1861--August Daniel Bish Private
1861--August Allen M. Bane Private
1861--August Robert H. Bane Private
1861--April Joseph E. Bane Private
1861--August Jesse Barrett Private
1861--April Alexander Bolton Private
1861--August Travis Burton Private
1861--August William H. Carr Private
1861--August James M. Collins Private
1861--April John R. Crawford Private
1863--March William Crawford Private
1861--April James B. Croy Private
1861--April James Cole Private
1865--January D. E. Dulaney Private
1861--April M. J. Dulaney Private
1861--August Tim P. Darr Private
1861--April John S. Dudley Private
1861--April William H. Douthat Private
1861--April Thomas Davenport Private
1861--August David Davis Private
1861--April Elbert S. Eaton Private
1861--April Elisha D. East Private
1861--April John W. East Private
1861--April Joseph Eggleston Private
1861--April James H. Eggleston Private
1861--April Francis H. Farley Private
1861--April William C. Fortner Private
1861--April James H. Fortner Private
1861--April Jacob Tyler Frazier Private
1861--April William Frazier Private
1861--August Creed D. Frazier Private
1861--April William A. French Private
1861--April John S. W. French Private
1861--August Andrew J. French Private
1861--April James H. Gardner Private
1861--August Francis M. Gordon Private
1861--April Andrew J. Grigsby Private
1861--April Charles A. Hale Private
1861--April John A. Hale Private
1861--April John D. Hare Private
1861--April Isaac Hare Private
1861--April James B. Henderson Private
1861--August John Henderson Private
1861--Mar. 1862 Baldwin L. Hoge Private
1861--April 1861 James Hughes Private
1861--April James J. Hurt Private
1861--April George W. Hurt Private
1861--April John F. Jones Private
1861--April Manelius S. Johnston Private
1861--August George Johnston Private
1861--April David E. Johnston Private
1861--April George Knoll Private
1861--April Charles N. J. Lee Private
1861--April Joseph Lewy Private
1861--April Henry Lewy Private
1861--April William H. Layton Private
1861--April James Lindsey Private
1861--April Patrick H. Lefler Private
1861--August Anderson Meadows Private
1861--August Ballard P. Meadows Private
1861--April John Meadows Private
1861--April Newton J. Morris Private
1862--March Christian Minnich Private
1861--April George A. Minnich Private
1861--April John H. Minnich Private
1861--April Absalom D. Manning Private
1861--April Raleigh Merricks Private
1861--April Tapley P. Mays Private
1861--April John Q. Martin Private
1861--April John H. Martin Private
1861--August Wiley W. Muncey Private
1861--August George C. Mullins Private
1862--March James J. Nye Private
1861--April John Palmer Private
1861--August Charles W. Peck Private
1861--April John W. Sarver Private
1861--April Demarcus L. Sarver Private
1861--April Josephus Southern Private
1861--April Samuel B. Shannon Private
1861--April Joseph C. Shannon Private
1861--April William H. H. Snidow Private
1861--April John P. Sublett Private
1861--April William T. Sublett Private
1861--April Lewis R. Skeens Private
1861--April Alexander Skeens Private
1861--April Joseph Skeens Private
1861--April Amos L. Sumner Private
1861--August Thomas J. Stafford Private
1861--August William H. Stafford Private
1863--January Ralph M. Stafford Private
1861--April Andrew J. Thompson Private
1861--August Adam Thompson Private
1861--August Alonzo Thompson Private
1861--April Thomas S. L. Taylor Private
1861--April Lee E. Vass Private
1861--April Washington R. C. Vass Private
1861--April Elijah R. Walker Private
1861--April Lewis N. Wiley Private
1861--April Gordon L. Wilburn Private
1861--April Ballard P. Watts Private
1861--April Hugh J. Wilburn Private
1861--August William I. Wilburn Private
1861--April Edward Z. Yager Private
1861--April Thomas J. Young Private
1861--August Isaac Young Private
1861--April Jesse B. Young Private

Whole number of enlisted officers and men, 122.

Upon the company being organized, a committee was appointed by the county court to purchase uniforms and blankets. This committee, which was composed, as now recollected, of Captains James D. Johnston and R. F. Watts, acted promptly, and the materials for the uniforms were soon on hand. The ladies of the town and surrounding country went to work in earnest and with energy to make our outfits. Herculean as was the task, they accomplished it in an incredibly short time, and we soon donned our bright new clothes, with nice brass buttons, and began to think ourselves soldiers in fact. We occupied as barracks the large frame building on the south-east side of the town, the same lately owned and occupied by Capt. James D. Johnston as a residence. While here we usually had daily squad and company drill, conducted by the accomplished Captain W. W. McComas, then a practicing physician, who had been a soldier in the Mexican War, and who, after the departure of our company, raised and organized a company of which he was made captain. He fell at his post in the forefront of the battle of South Mills, North Carolina, April 19, 1862. He, like many others, died too soon for his country's good, and his friends were greatly grieved and distressed over his untimely death.

During the period which elapsed between the organization and departure for Lynchburg, the designated place of rendezvous, and while in barracks, "the boys," as we were wont to call ourselves, played many pranks upon each other, one of which is worth relating. A sham or mock election was held for the election of a fifth Lieutenant, the choice falling on a very credulous member of the company, who, after the announcement of his election, became quite anxious to know what the duties of his office required of him,--which we, also ignorant of military duties, were unable to answer. With his consent, it was agreed to refer the solution of the matter to Lieutenant Anderson, who was always full of wit and humor, ever ready with answer, and always enjoyed a good joke. Upon the arrival of the Lieutenant, the question was promptly referred to him, and without pausing he promptly answered, "His duties are to carry water and catch fleas out of the soldiers' beds." This seemed satisfactory to the newly elected Lieutenant, and doubtless, as was afterwards demonstrated--for he always obeyed orders and did his duty--he would have proceeded to perform his prescribed duties as explained by Lieutenant Anderson, had not some one told him that it was all a joke and a sell.

Early in May we were invited to a dinner prepared for us by the good people living at and near the mouth of Wolf Creek, whither we marched, partook of a bountiful repast, and returned to our barracks. During our stay in barracks at Pearisburg, as before stated, we were frequently drilled by Captain McComas, who attempted to teach us to keep the step and to cheer, or huzzah. The latter was no easy task, for in fact we never did learn uniformity in the "huzzah," but gradually drifted into that wild "rebel yell," as it was called, which so often sent a thrill of horror into the Yankee ranks, and the memory of which brings a cold chill over those fellows yet! "Dixie," "Bonnie Blue Flag" and other patriotic songs, sung by the choir of the company, greatly enthused us, but "Dixie" had more music in it than all others put together, and it has ever been so, even to this good day.

As all people of all lands are more or less fond of "flag worship," it was altogether fit and proper that the company should have a suitable emblem or flag, and the women, always first in every good work, determined to present to the company a flag and a Bible. Both were soon ready, and it was determined to have a formal presentation of each. Miss Mary Woodram, now the widow of Dr. James O'Keiffe, presented the flag, and the pupils of Pearisburg Academy the Bible, which was placed in the custody of Jacob Tyler Frazier, who had been selected as chaplain, the flag being delivered to Joseph Edward Bane, the company's ensign. J. Smoot Dennis, a boy of only seven years of age, a pupil of the school, presented the Bible, in the following little speech:

"The teachers and pupils of Pearisburg Academy beg leave to present this copy of the Holy Scriptures to our magnificent 'Mountain Boomers' as an expression of our confidence in their Christian faith and patriotism."

To which the chaplain responded:

"On behalf of the 'Mountain Boomers' I accept this book, knowing it to be the Word of God. I shall read it with care and diligence, and on all suitable occasions will endeavor to explain and enforce its claims. Should any of our band fall sick in camp, or be wounded on the field, then from the great treasure of its precious promises I will bring balm for the suffering, and point them to Him whose mission to earth was to bind up the broken-hearted and save that which was lost. If the Pale Horse and his Rider should overtake any of us in a distant land, we will rest in hope of the glorious appearing of Him who is the Resurrection and the Life, and with whom we shall be gathered into that land which no foe invades, and where friends are parted no more."