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"Here lie men who have not hesitated to seal and stamp
their convictions with their blood…” Anonymous writer for the New York Times, upon seeing
the dead of Antietam
The Botetourt Light Artillery Of Virginia CSA 1861-1865 Anderson’s/Johnston’s/Douthat’s Battery
A History Of The Company THE BOTETOURT ARTILLERY 1861-1865 Since The Revolution, Virginia’s Constitution had required an
active militia in every county. This requirement was largely ignored until John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry in October
1859 alarmed the entire State. It was clear that each community had to protect themselves. In that same month, Mr. William Watson Boyd, a leader in Buchanan,
began to organize a volunteer militia company to protect the local citizens and personal property. The company was fully organized
in December of 1859. Boyd was elected captain and Joseph W. Anderson. A local lawyer was elected 1st Lieutenant.
The newly formed militia adopted the name “Mountain Rifles”. Richmond was notified of the new formation and it
was accepted into the Virginia militia in early 1860. Peace, harmony and prosperity was evident throughout the Valley throughout
the next year but a growing rift between North and South over State’s Rights, taxation, tariffs and slavery as the leading
cause. News came from Richmond that South Carolina had seceded from the Union
in December 1860. Other states followed suit in early 1861. A secession convention was held in Richmond for several weeks
with the majority of the delegates seeking compromise and negotiation. On April 12, 1861 the opening act of “The War
for Southern Independence” was initiated when cadets from The Citadel bombarded Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. The
call by President Abraham Lincoln on April 15, 1861 for Virginia to furnish troops to crush the rebellion was the final straw.
Governor Letcher issued orders for all State Militia units to stand ready to receive marching orders at a moments notice.
The Virginia Secession Commission voted on April 17, 1861 to secede from the Union. With the secession of the Old Dominion and the outbreak of war, The
Mountain Rifles was ready to serve their state. Captain Boyd was somewhat advanced in age and not in good health so he resigned
his militia post and Captain Joseph W. Anderson, the former 1st Lieutenant, was chosen as the new Captain. Other
officers elected by the Company were: Philip Peters (1st Lt.), John W. Johnston (Senior 2nd Lt.), Henry
C. Douthat (Junior 2nd Lt.) and William H. Norgrove (Orderly Sergeant). Immediately 2nd Lt. Johnston
of the Mountain Rifles and Lt. Thomas Henry Johnson of the Blue Ridge Rifles, a neighboring militia unit from the Mill Creek
area, were sent to Richmond to request arms and marching orders. The two units pitched into camp while they waited the return of the
lieutenants from Richmond. They camped the first two weeks at the Hobbs House across the river from Buchanan in Pattonsburg.
They broke camp and headed to Arch Mill to set up camp while awaiting further orders. While there the ladies of Buchanan presented
the Company with a Virginia flag, made from the wedding dress of Captain Anderson’s young bride. The men of The Mountain Rifles did not have uniforms. They wore linsey
shirts and big black hats tucked up on one side with a rosette of green ribbons. Family, friends and towns people furnished
other articles, such as knapsacks, canteens, and even sewing kits. In early May they received orders to report to Lynchburg. On the spring
morning of May 15, 1861, The Mountain Rifles assembled in front of the Old Exchange Hotel on Main Street in Buchanan. After
a short bidding of goodbyes from family and friends the command was given “Fall in men”. As they marched down
Main Street a local band played “The Girls I Left Behind”. They were off to war. They marched over the Blue Ridge to the settlement of Bufordville,
now known as Montvale, in Bedford County where they met up with the Blue Ridge Rifles. At 1pm on May 15, 1861, The Mountain
Rifles –now totaling 76 men and two Negro servants, William Anderson and William Mayo, boarded a train at the Bufordville
Depot and steamed toward Lynchburg. The train stopped at Liberty –Bedford- to let a mail train pass and the officers
gave the men permission to go into town to pick up needed items, They not only got those needed items but also picked up several
bottles of local spirits which helped raise their spirits! The arrived at Camp Davis in Lynchburg on Thursday May 16, 1861 and
the following morning Col. Jubal A. Early organized three infantry regimen its, one of which became the 28th Virginia.
It was here that the Mountain Rifles lost their independent identity. They were now Company “I” of the 28th.
On the 21st of June the 28th was brigaded with
the 8th, 18th and 19th Virginia. These regiments formed the 5th Brigade, First
Corps, and Army of the Potomac, Confederate Sates of America, commanded by Col. Philip St. George Cocke. By June 30, 1861 –after 45 days of service- disease and illness
had started to take its toll on Company I. Captain Anderson reported that only 56 of his 83 men were present and fit for duty. On July 17, 1861 orders were received to head for Manassas Junction.
On the 18th they were positioned at Balls Ford on Bull Run Creek. By mid day the roar of cannon and musket fire
could be heard four miles down river near Mitchell’s Ford. It was their first sound of war as General James Longstreet
and his men encountered the Union Army at Blackburn’s Ford. The following afternoon the men of the 28th and
her sister regiment the 19th Virginia crossed Bull Run and took up position on the opposite bank. They remained
at their post until 2pm on July 21st when the Mountain Rifles and the remainder of the 28th made their
entrance into the battle of First Manassas. Company I did not suffer any casualties during the action but did manage to assist
in the capture of the entire 1st Michigan Infantry Regiment and its Commander Col. Orlando B. Wilcox. They returned
victorious to Fairfax Court House, established camp and remained there until the early Fall of 1861. In August the Regiment was reformed and Company I became Company H.
A newly mustered company from the Amsterdam Community in Botetourt County became Company K on August 20, 1861 under the commander
of Capt. P.G. Breckenridge. Before the end of their first year of service, the Army again reorganized
and offered a 30-day furlough to those men who would reenlist for the remainder of the war and also gave them the opportunity
for individuals to change their branch of service. Captain Anderson’s company was among the first to volunteer. In late
December 1861 Captain Anderson obtained an order from the War Department to change from Infantry to Light Artillery. After its official designation as artillery, Anderson’s Battery was assigned to Brig. Gen. Edward Johnson’s
Brigade, Army of the Northwest. The battery is listed in the Order of Battle for Johnson’s Brigade in the Bath-Romney
Campaign of 1862. After 8 months of service the men of the new Anderson’s Battery
headed home for a 30-day furlough. The remained in the Buchanan area from December 24,1861 until February 1, 1862. Captain Anderson, with 80 men and officers, reported to Camp Lee near
Richmond on Feb. 3,1862 to begin instruction in artillery drill. Because Capt. Anderson’s battery was the most advanced in training
at the time, they were sent to Knoxville, Tenn. on March 29, 1862 because of heavy Union activity in Eastern Tennessee and
Kentucky. One section was sent to Chattanooga, Tenn. To pick up 4 new guns, two 6 pounders and two,12-pounders. The battery was assigned to Brig. Gen. Seth M. Barton’s Brigade
for service in Maj. Gen. Carter L. Stevenson’s Division. Operating in this region the battery took part in numerous
minor engagements with General Edmund Kirby-Smith’s Army of East Tennessee. On August 6, 1862 the battery engaged the enemy at Waldron’s
Ridge, Tennessee. In August, 1862 the Army of East Tennessee was renamed the Army of
Kentucky. Stevenson’s Division was the vanguard of Kirby-Smith’s army as it invaded Kentucky through the Cumberland
Mountains in August. Kirby-Smith’s Army of Kentucky was part of a two pronged attack on the Union forces in Kentucky.
The other prong was Maj. Gen. Braxton Bragg’s Army of Mississippi. Bragg’s army would enter Kentucky from middle
Tennessee. It was very difficult hauling artillery through the mountain passes
into Kentucky. Much of it had to be done by hand. Stevenson’s Division was given the task of taking the Cumberland
Gap and holding it open. The division did not rejoin Kirby-Smith’s main columns until the middle of September, 1862.
During the month of September , Kirby-Smith’s forces encountered the enemy at Harrodsburg and Lexington. Joining Bragg’s army after the retreat from Perryville, Stevenson’s
Division was part of the force covering the army’s retreat back into Tennessee. In November, 1862 , following the retreat back into Tennessee, the
army was reorganized. Stevenson’s Division was sent to Bragg’s newly named Army of Tennessee at Murfreesboro In December, 1862, Stevenson’s Division was ordered to Mississippi
where it was to bolster the forces of Gen. John C. Pemberton in the defense Vicksburg. Fighting in Mississippi the battery was involved in numerous engagements
including the On New Years Day 1863 Anderson’s Battery was entrenched in the
cold winter Mississippi rain and mud where they remained until January 15th when they received orders to move their
camp about 2-miles south of Vicksburg. The Botetourt Artillery now numbered 140 men. On the other side of
the river Major General U.S. Grant’s Army numbered 35,000. General Pemberton now had about 40,000 men in and around
Vicksburg. Confederate troops moved to several locations in April setting up their defenses. On orders The Botetourt Artillery
marched 44 miles in 27 hours and set up their weapons at Port Gibson. On May 1, 1863 Stevenson’s Division engaged Ulysses S. Grant’s
Army of the Tennessee at Port Gibson (Bayou Pierre). The battery was heavily engaged and suffered heavy casualties, with a
loss of 32 %. Captain Johnston’s report states at the start of the fight he had 144 men and at the end, only 79. The land battle for Vicksburg was under way. Captain Anderson had been promoted on January 28th and
was now Major Anderson on General Stevenson’s staff and was also Chief of the Artillery for Stevenson’s Division.
Lt. John William Johnston was now commanding officer of The Botetourt Artillery. The battery suffered heavy casualties at Port Gibson (Bayou Pierre).
Capt. Johnston reported he had 144 men at the start of the battle and only 79 when the day ended. The total loss of the Botetourt Artillery in this battle in killed, wounded, and captured was about sixty five officers
and men, fifty three horses, and four guns. Late in the day Captain Johnston was disabled. Botetourt Artillery Casualties at Port Gibson Captain John W. Johnston --- Wounded Lt. William H. Norgrove----KIA Lt. Phillip Peters--------KIA Lt. William P. Douthat------KIA Orderly David Lieps-----KIA George Obenchain-----KIA William Couch-----KIA Frederick C. Noel------KIA 2 Privates( names unknown)-----KIA 9 Killed 26 Wounded 28 Captured The men continued their retreat toward Vicksburg making camp at Hawkins
Ferry. On May 15th they moved again taking up a position at Champions Hill ( Baker’s Creek )to get better
position. Scattered fighting became a full-scale battle by late morning. The Virginians asked for Infantry help but none came.
The battle of Champion’s Hill left 1,202 men dead. One of those men was Major Joseph W. Anderson. This hit and run battle continued until tattered troops retreated
into Vicksburg and set up the defense of the City. The men of the Botetourt Artillery were the only Virginia unit that would
spend the next 47 terrible days at the siege of Vicksburg! After two unsuccessful frontal assaults on May 19th and
22nd Grant settled in for an extended siege of Vicksburg. Two more frontal assaults would take place later on June
25th and July 1st. General Stevenson in his report of the Champion’s Hill ( Baker's
Creek) battle mentions Maj. J. W. Anderson as "Gallantly falling in full discharge of his duties" and Capt. J. W. Johnston
as fighting his battery "to the last extremity," and he mentions Captain Johnston in the siege of Vicksburg while inspector
of light artillery "for valuable service rendered." The Botetourt Artillery had lost all their guns in the fighting at
Champion’s Hill. Upon reaching the defenses of Vicksburg they were given two 6 pounder guns as armament. Those men not
assigned to serve these two guns were armed with Enfield rifles and served as sharpshooters in support of these field pieces. The battery had the misfortune of being posted in the swamps South
of Vicksburg where the conditions were horrible. The men made the best of a bad environment. There was a consolation in this
however. This area was the right flank of the Confederate line. It was an honor to be able to say that a unit was the “Right
Of The Line”. It denoted that a commander placed trust in a unit’s ability to keep an army’s flank from
caving in to enemy pressure. During the siege of Vicksburg the Botetourt Artillery was attached
to the renowned On June 2, 1863 Capt. Johnston was promoted to Inspector General of
Artillery on General Stevenson’s Staff. Lt. Francis Obenchain assumed command of the battery. All through June at Vicksburg, the Union troops dug lines parallel
to and approaching the rebel lines. Soldiers could not poke their heads up above their works for fear of snipers. It was a
sport for Union soldiers to poke a hat above the works on a rod, betting on how many rebel bullets would pierce it in a given
time. Over a year before the much publicized Battle of “The Crater”
at Petersburg, Virginia, the troops under siege at Vicksburg dealt with a similar fight. Union engineers had tunneled under
the Confederate defenses and set off a mine under the 3rd Louisiana Infantry. The Federal troops who charged through
the opening made by the mine were repulsed with heavy losses. As with at Petersburg, the fighting was hand to hand. Brig. Gen. Andrew V. Hickenlooper, Chief engineer of the XVII Army
Corps of the Army of the Tennessee observed that “Every eye was riveted upon that huge redoubt standing high
above the adjoining works. At the appointed moment it appeared as though the whole fort and connecting outworks commenced
an upward movement, gradually breaking into fragments and growing less bulky in appearance, until it looked like an immense
fountain of finely pulverized earth, mingled with flashes of fire and clouds of smoke, through which could occasionally be
caught a glimpse of some dark objects,-men, gun-carriages, shelters, etc. Fire along the entire line instantly opened with
great fury, and amidst the din and roar of 150 cannon and the rattle of 50,000 muskets the charging column moved forward to
the assault. But little difficulty was experienced in entering the crater, but the moment the assaulting forces attempted
to mount the artificial parapet, which had been formed by the falling debris about midway across the fort, completely commanded
by the Confederate artillery and infantry in the rear, they were met by a withering fire so severe that to show a head above
the crest was certain death. Two lines were formed on the slope of this parapet, the front line raising their muskets over
their heads and firing at random over the crest while the rear rank were engaged in reloading. But soon the Confederates began
throwing short-fused shells over the parapet, which, rolling down into the crater crowded with the soldiers of the assaulting
column, caused the most fearful destruction of life ever witnessed under like circumstances. The groans of the dying and shrieks
of the wounded became fearful, but bravely they stood to their work until the engineers constructed a casemate out of the
heavy timbers found in the crater, and upon which the earth was thrown until it was of sufficient depth to resist the destructive
effects of the exploding shells. As soon as this work was completed, and a parapet was thrown up across the crater on a line
with the face of the casemate, the troops were withdrawn to the new line beyond the range of exploding shells.” Suffering from heat, the sun, rain and long damp nights and the lack
of food for the better part of five weeks took a heavy toll on Confederate troops. Finally on July 3, 1863, flags of truce were placed along the works.
That night, the men of the Botetourt Artillery cut up the wedding dress Virginia flag so it would not fall into enemy hands
and each man was given a small piece. On July 4, 1863 the City of Vicksburg was surrendered. With this event the Confederacy
was literally cut in half. No longer would the Armies west of the Mississippi have efficient contact with those east of the
river. The waning days of the Confederacy were beginning. On July 7 and 8 Major Fry of the 20th Ohio paroled the majority of
the Botetourt Artillery. A total of 130 men of the Artillery were paroled; 21 of this number were paroled within one of the
local hospitals on July 11, 1863. Pemberton’s army was to be exchanged at Enterprise, Mississippi and the Virginians
would have to march 154 miles east to reach the site. It took them nine days to get there two men died during the journey.
The death toll for the Botetourt Artillery during this campaign was 41men dead. After its exchange in September, 1863 the battery’s
ties with Maj. Johnston were severed. The battery, under the guidance of Captain Henry C. Douthat, would return to Virginia
to fight the Yankee invader on homeground in their beloved Shenandoah Valley. Maj. John W. Johnston would go on to command
a battalion of artillery in S.D. Lee’s Corps of the Army of Tennessee. Declared exchanged on September 12, 1863, the battery
returned to Virginia , reorganized under the command of Captain Henry Clay Douthat, and was assigned as Artillery in the Department
of Western Virginia. The battery had no cannon in October and November. In order for the battery to refit, rest, and recuperate
from its Vicksburg ordeal, it was assigned to defend the New River bridgehead on the vital Virginia-Tennessee Railroad near
Pulaski, Virginia. Compared to the rigorous service Douthat’s Battery had seen
for the previous 2 years, this new assignment was fairly easy. The Spring of 1864 however would bring more intense service.
By this time the battery was fully equipped. In March, 1864 Douthat’s battery had six guns. In May, 1864 Federal forces made a move into the Shenandoah Valley.
Major General John C. Breckinridge gathered his forces and moved down the valley to counter the threat. Conflicting information
on the activities of the Botetourt Artillery exist for this period of time, but officially the following Order of Battle exists
for Breckinridge’s artillery. ****On May 1, 1864 the official return of Breckinridge s Division
shows the following batteries : Monroe Virginia Battery, Capt. George B. Chapman. Lewisburg Battery, Capt. Thomas A. Bryan. Roanoke Battery, Capt. Warren S. Lurty. Botetourt Battery. Capt. Henry C. Douthat. Rhett (Tenn.) Battery, Capt. William H. Burroughs. Tennessee Battery, Capt. Hugh L. W. McClung. Charlottesville Battery, Capt. Thomas E. Jackson. **** From The Long Arm Of Lee, by Jennings Cropper Wise. Desiring to keep pressure on Lee’s forces on all fronts, General
Ulysses S. Grant ordered Maj. Gen. George Crook to advance south along the Kanawha River and attack the Virginia-Tennessee
Railroad and the Confederate supply depot at Dublin, Virginia. Brig. Gen. John McCausland, with his brigade, was enroute to Staunton
to reinforce Breckinridge. Brig. Gen. Albert G. Jenkins, Commander of the Dept. of Western Virginia, ordered McCausland to
proceed to Cloyd’s Mountain to intercept Crook. Several batteries of artillery were made available to McCausland for
his operation. McCausland’s Artillery Botetourt Artillery---Capt. Henry C. Douthat Ringold Artillery---Capt. Crispin Dickenson Monroe Artillery-----Capt. Thomas Bryan Being the senior artillery officer, Captain Thomas A.
Bryan was in command of this provisional artillery battalion. The Battle of Cloyd’s Mountain began with the Yankees assaulting
the right of McCausland’s line where the 45th Virginia Infantry was posted. Reinforcements from the 36th
Virginia on the left move to bolster the right. This weakened the left and the Federals took advantage of the move to pressure
McCausland’s left. The disparity in numbers was taking its toll on the Rebels. There was not much the Confederates could
do to slow the Yankee force. The Federal force had a 2 to 1 advantage over McCausland’s force.
This began to tell on the Rebels after a while. The Confederates began to take heavy casualties which they could ill afford.
One infantry unit, the 45th Virginia, suffered its highest number of casualties at Cloyd’s Mountain. Outnumbered, the Confederate force began to withdraw and cede the
battle to the Federals. The Botetourt Artillery , acting as a rear guard, covered the retreat.
Below is Captain Douthat’s official report of his battery’s part in the actions of May 9th and 10th
. Report of Captain Henry C. Douthat, Botetourt(Virginia)
Artillery, of skirmish at New River Bridge Maj. CHARLES S. STRINGFELLOW, Assistant Adjutant-General Headquarters Botetourt Artillery, Narrows May 21, 1864 Major: In reply to your communication of the 18th instant,
directing me to submit at once a report of the part taken by my battery in the affair of May 10 at the New River Bridge, the
operations subsequent thereto, &c., I would state that I remained with my battery, consisting of eight pieces (two 12-pounder
guns, two 6-pounder smooth-bore, two 12-pounder howitzers, and two 3-inch rifles), in position on the west bank of the river
until Colonel McCausland had crossed with his forces to the east side of the river. I then received orders to cross my pieces
, except the two 12-pounder guns, which I was ordered to destroy. At 7 p.m. I commenced crossing, and only having one boat was occupied
until 12 o’clock that night. We were ordered into position with Bryan’s and Dickenson’s batteries the morning
of the 10th , and awaited the approach of the enemy, who made his appearance about 10 o’clock, when we were
ordered to open upon him. Sometime after my ammunition was expanded I was ordered off the field. In this action I had 3 horses killed and 1 man injured by being thrown
from his horse and the limber of the gun passing over him. I fired in all 125 rounds, and brought off all my guns. I am Major, very respectfully, and &c., H.C. DOUTHAT Captain Botetourt Artillery. McCausland retreated south and made a stand at New River Bridge on
May 10. Douthat’s Battery fought from the bluffs overlooking the bridge. The Confederate artillery, Douthat’s,
Bryan’s, and Dickenson’s Batteries , exhausted all its ammunition in a Brigadier General Albert Jenkins was mortally wounded at Cloyd’s
Mountain. One again McCausland had to retreat due to inadequate forces. Requests
for reinforcements were ignored. The Federals damaged the railroad and the bridge but the damage was easily repaired and it
was business as usual for the Rebels. The Battle of Cloyd’s Mountain was the largest battle fought
in southwest Virginia up to this point and has been largely forgotten due to the fact that it took place at the same time
as the Battle of the Wilderness which has overshadowed it in historical accounts. After the fight at New River Bridge , McCausland’s force retreated
toward Christiansburg. The provisional artillery battalion of McCausland’s force was
broken up at this time. Dickenson’s Battery was ordered to Richmond. Bryan’s Battery moved on down the valley
to join Breckinridge. The Botetourt Artillery was ordered to Christiansburg where it remained
until June 9. Just 4 days prior, on June 5th , Brig. Gen. William E.
“Grumble” Jones’ force had been defeated at nearby Piedmont and forces had to be moved down the valley to
resist further movement toward the southwest by Federal troops. Jones was killed in the fighting. At this time the battery was ordered to Staunton, Virginia which was
a major supply depot and rail hub. Because the situation was urgent the battery’s horses were to be left behind. Their
flat cars were attached to the mail train for movement. Captain Douthat and his entire battery arrived in Lynchburg on the 10th of June. It was learned that the previous
day, Hunter’s Cavalry under the command of Brig.Gen. A.N. Duffie, had cut through White’s Gap at Buena Vista and
was heading for Amherst Court House to destroy a large portion of the railway system between there and Lynchburg. Captain
Douthat prevailed upon the conductor to take him and his men as far as he could toward Amherst Station. They could see smoke
coming from the direction of the Arrington depot and a decision was made to try and stop advancing forces at the Tye River
railroad bridge, which would be a vital loss if Union troops destroyed it. “On arriving at Amherst Station, fourteen miles out, we were
informed the enemy was in our front, destroying the road. Captain Douthat prevailed on the conductor to take his company on
to the next station, or as far as he felt safe to go. Arriving at the next station, we could see smoke from the burning depot
at Arrington, six miles off. Midway between the two stations was a railroad bridge (a large wooden structure) over the Tye
River. Now we knew if the enemy got to that bridge the loss would be great.” Corporal Adam Plecker, Botetourt Artillery Without the aid of horses or a loading ramp the guns of the battery would be useless if they could get them off. Enfield
muskets and ammunition was aboard the train so Captain Douthat requisitioned weapons for his men and double quick marched
the last three miles to the bridge. They got there about dark and pickets were placed on the far side of the bridge as lookouts.
About midnight, the clop of Federal horses could be heard coming toward the bridge. Adam Plecker reported that when troops
got within shouting range they yelled out and asked who they were. The lookouts asked a second time to identify themselves
or they would open fire. At that point troops could be heard galloping off at a rapid rate. The men fired after them anyway.
“In a few minutes every man had a gun, with ammunition in his
pocket, and started at a double-quick three miles to that bridge, got there at dark and placed pickets. Captain Douthat asked
me to take two good men and take position on a hill about five hundred yards beyond the bridge, in a road leading from the
burned depot, and keep a good look out should the enemy show up. 'And when you are sure of your game, fire on them and fall
back to the bridge', he said. The night was very dark, and with woods in front we could see nothing.
About midnight we heard the tramp of horses on the hard road. We halted them without proper distance, and asked who they were.
They stopped but made no reply. I asked again, 'and if you don't tell me we will fire upon you'. At that they turned tail
and went back at a rapid rate. We fired after them and still held our post." CPL Adam Plecker At daylight the threat was over. The men had opposed a Union Army
detachment of about 10 men who had ridden back telling the commanding officer that the bridge was heavily defended by a strong
Confederate force and it would be impossible to destroy the bridge. Later that morning the men march 23-miles back to Lynchburg,
arriving on Sunday June 12th and much to their surprise were greeted as heroes. The local paper reported the Tye
River incident as an “instance of heroism that should not be left as unrecorded”. They had won the battle without even SEEING the enemy! “An ammunition train that left the city via the Orange road,
about two o'clock on Saturday, and for the safety of which great fears were entertained, returned safely about eight o'clock
in the evening. The conductor saw smoke in the direction of Arrington Depot, from which he inferred that the building was
being burned by the enemy. There was on the train a gentleman named Dowdy (Douthat), who had had a hundred unarmed men with
him, and he took responsibility of seizing an equal number of muskets that were on a car, armed his men, and got off at Tye
River bridge with the avowed purpose of defending it to the last extremity. Such an instance of heroism should not be left
unrecorded.” The Lynchburg Virginian Throughout the war Lynchburg, Virginia had been a major supply depot
and location for Confederate hospitals. It was also a major communications and transportation hub. To destroy Lynchburg would
be a great asset to the Union war effort. Therefore in June, 1864, Maj. Gen. David Hunter was given the task of eliminating
the Confederate presence in the upper Shenandoah Valley, including Lynchburg. ( Hunter’s methods had been harsh on the white inhabitatants of
the South Carolina coast and Confederate authorities did not want the same thing happening in the fertile Shenandoah Valley. Hunter’s aim in this raid was to destroy railroads, Confederate
supply depots and hospitals, as well as as much personal property as possible. Upon returning to Lynchburg after the Tye River incident, Captain
Douthat procured horses for his men and and moved his guns across the James River taking up a position on the north side in
Amherst Heights. On June 17, 1864 the men moved and waited on Main Street in Lynchburg with their 6 guns and awaited orders.
About 1pm General Jubal Early arrived and began placing men in a defensive position for defense of the city. Douthat’s initiative and audacity at the Tye River Bridge had
held open the way for Early’s forces to enter Lynchburg. The Botetourt Artillery took up a position at College Hill near the
City Cemetery. They spent the rest of the day shelling enemy troops to keep them from burning the V&T railroad bridge.
During the night of June 18th and the morning of the 19th, General Hunter and his army retreated and
headed toward Liberty. Captain Douthat along with Early’s forces chased Hunter all the way back to Salem, with a minor
engagement at Hanging Rock. Hunter’s army retreated with no provisions for the trip. They
had counted on supplying themselves with stores they would capture at Lynchburg. It was a very hungry army by the time they
got back into West Virginia. After the Lynchburg Campaign, the battery remained at Lynchburg for
a time to defend the city from further Yankee incursions as Early took the rest of his army down the valley toward Washington
and Maryland. Receiving further orders the battery moved to Staunton where it remained until September 10th. At
that time they were ordered to join Major Austin Leyden’s 9th Georgia Artillery Battalion on Meechum’s
River near Rockfish Gap. On Septmber 29th they moved back to rockfish Gap and were involved in a skirmish at Waynesboro
on September 30th. The battery remained in Early’s command until the 1st
of October when it was ordered join Breckinridge at Wytheville where it became part of Major Richard C.M. Page’s Artillery
Battalion. Page had been sent from Lee’s headquarters to consolidate and
organize the artillery in Breckinridge’s Command into a more efficient fighting force. Page’s Battalion Douthat’s Botetourt (Virginia) Artillery Barr’s (Virginia Battery) Burroughs’ (Tennessee) Battery *Lynch’s (Tennessee) Battery McClung’s (Tennessee) Battery Kain’s (Tennessee) Battery Byrne’s (Kentucky) Battery *(Lynch’s Tennessee Battery had been at Vicksburg.) The Botetourt Artillery had the strongest reputation, as a fighting
force ,of any company in Page’s Battalion Apparently Major Page succeeded in his task to make Breckinridge’s
artillery efficient because it was remarked by one of Gen. Robert E. Lee’s inspectors that it was “the best battalion
of artillery ever seen in that part of the world.” On October 14, 1864 Major Page inspected the battery while it was
at Wytheville, Virginia and found it to be in good condition. On October 22, 1864 the battery received orders to report to Col.
Thomas H. Carter in the Shenandoah Valley. Arriving in Staunton on the 24th it remained there until ordered to
return to Wytheville in mid-December. Upon its return to Page's Battalion, the battery was about to become
embroiled in another crucial fight. Union Major General George Stoneman was making raid into Southwest
Virginia to once again attempt to destroy railroads, supplies, and the vital saltworks and lead mines the region held. Moving
into the region Stoneman arrayed his forces to accomplish his mission. Stoneman had sent Brig. Gen. Gillem and his Tennessee regiments to
Wytheville to destroy anything that looked valuable. Stoneman also sent Colonel Harvey Buckley and two regiments of Kentucky
cavalry to destroy the lead mines and smelting facilities that were located about ten miles from Wytheville. On December 16th,
these units encountered Confederate forces on the Mount Airy ( now Rural Retreat ) Road, (The Botetourt Artillery and Captain
William H. Burroughs’ Tennessee Battery,) moving toward the nearby town of Marion. Skirmishing took place but the Federals
moved on toward Wytheville as the Rebels moved toward Marion to reinforce Gen. Breckinridge’s forces. Arriving in Marion the artillery of Page’s Battalion set up
in positions on the high ground. What follows is an account of the Battle of Marion by David Chaltas
and Richard Brown. Although a small battle in the grand theater of the American Civil War, this crucial battle , fought in
the dead of Winter, left the combatants in a weary state. The Battle of Marion “It was a peaceful town that had for the most part been spared
the ravages of the fighting upon its soil. But as in the case of all the south, Marion had suffered with the loss of her sons,
had felt the division of families as they sadly chose to follow their conscience. The city had also contributed to the cause.
But the mountains and geographic location had afforded them some protection for the ravages of war. That is, until the winter
of 1864. The town of Marion was located on the Middle Fork of the Holston River
in Smyth County, Virginia. It was approximately half way between the salt works of Saltville and the lead works near Wytheville.
The town and the outlying farms had escaped most of the destruction that so many areas in Virginia had suffered in the first
three years of the war. Their luck was about to run out though. Major General George Stoneman, commander of the Union army in Kentucky
and Tennessee, was planning a raid into southwest Virginia. General Stoneman, like his superior officer General William Sherman,
believed in the concept of total warfare. Stoneman planned on destroying all facilities and supplies that would help support
the war effort. His belief was that civilian supplies and their possessions fell into this category and would be destroyed
accordingly. This destructive raid that would create hardships and bitter feelings in this area would forever after be called
Stoneman's Raid. The purported massacre of wounded Negro soldiers after the Battle
of Saltville created uproars by the Union press and a call for revenge was given. Even though these stories were unproven,
Stoneman could care less. His plan for a raid into southwest Virginia now began to gain support from his commanders, as they
wanted to appease the outspoken Union public. He suggested that the same troops that had been on the failed attempt to destroy
the salt works be assigned under his command for a return trip. These troops, commanded by General Stephen Burbridge, included
the 5th and the 6th U.S. Colored Cavalry. His plan was approved and he immediately contacted Burbridge and ordered him to
bring his army of approximately four thousand men through Cumberland Gap where they would meet in Tennessee. Stoneman left
Knoxville on December 10th with General Alvan Gillem and his fifteen hundred Tennessee troops. On the 13th of December, Stoneman's large army easily pushed aside
General Basil Duke's cavalry at Rogersville, Tennessee. When Stoneman approached Kingsport, he began to implement his plan
of total destruction. All railroad and telegraph facilities were destroyed as were anything that he considered a benefit to
the southern cause. This included all supplies or food that civilians had in their possessions, regardless if they held an
apparent military value. On the 14th, the Union army began to push Duke's cavalry back toward Abingdon. The next day, Stoneman
and his cavalry went into camp at Glade Spring, which was about 13 miles west of Marion. On December 16th, Stoneman's cavalry
rode toward Marion, destroying everything in their path. The job of stopping the destruction of southwest Virginia fell upon
the shoulders of Major General John C. Breckinridge, commander of the Army of the Department of Southwest Virginia. This army
was for the most part an army on paper only. His command consisted of approximately one thousand regular troops with another
five hundred militia reserves. Most of the army had been transferred to the Army of Northern Virginia to help in the defense
of Richmond. General Breckinridge was a Kentuckian as were most of his troops. His small army consisted of Colonel Henry Giltner's
Brigade formed from the 4th Kentucky Cavalry, 10th Kentucky Cavalry, the 10th Kentucky Mounted Rifles (later designated the
13th Kentucky Cavalry) and the 64th Virginia Mounted Infantry. General Basil Duke's cavalry, General George Cosby's cavalry
and Colonel Vincent Witcher and his 34th Battalion of Virginia Cavalry completed the short list of available ragged soldiers
in gray. Though small in number, all of these men were seasoned veterans and formed a formidable army. General Breckinridge had a decision to make, should he continue to
guard Saltville or attempt to stop the total destruction of southwest Virginia. On the night of December the 16th, he decided
to move out of Saltville in an effort to stop Stoneman. Taking the regular troops with him, he left Colonel Robert Preston
in charge of the five hundred militia men to defend the salt works. General Breckinridge sent Witcher and his men of the 34th
on ahead of his main force and ordered them to harass the Union army. At approximately 3:00 A.M., Breckinridge and his small
army began to travel across Walkers Mountain in the cold rain that had been falling for the last couple of days, making travel
difficult across the muddy roads. At 4:00 A.M., they reached the main road near Seven Mile Ford where Breckinridge decided
to wait for daylight before continuing. In an attempt to gain some sleep, most of the men tried to curl up along the fencerow
to get out of the cold, wet mud. The First Day of Battle December 17, 1864 -- Around noon, Breckinridge's
mud-caked men mounted their horses and began the muddy ride toward Marion. Meanwhile, Stoneman had sent Gillem and his Tennessee
regiments to Wytheville to destroy anything that looked valuable. Stoneman also sent Colonel Harvey Buckley and two regiments
of Kentucky cavalry to destroy the lead mines and smelting facilities that were located about ten miles from Wytheville. Stoneman
and Burbridge continued on toward Marion where they encountered Witcher and his men. Burbridge's front regiment, the 11th
Michigan Cavalry, were armed with Spencer repeating rifles and easily began to push them back. Witcher's small brave band
would stop long enough to fire a volley into the horsemen in blue, then race on toward Marion. He sent a courier racing on
ahead to inform Breckinridge that they were coming on the double quick toward their comrades dressed in gray. Breckinridge's front regiment was the 10th Kentucky Mounted Rifles,
under the command of Colonel Benjamin Caudill. The regiment rode under a blue flag with a white cross with the name 'Caudill's
Army' stenciled across it. As Caudill and his men neared the covered bridge that crossed the Middle Fork of the Holston River,
they saw Witcher and his men riding at a gallop toward them with the 11th Michigan hard on their heels. Caudill's men quickly
dismounted and fired a volley into the Union cavalry, emptying several saddles. This made the fourth time in less than six
months that these two regiments had faced off against each other. The 11th was caught unprepared for this new threat and immediately
retreated. As the rest of Breckinridge's troops began to arrive on the scene,
Colonel Caudill noticed that Stoneman's men had secured the high hill overlooking the river. Knowing that these hills were
the best defensive positions in the area, he immediately ordered the men of the 10th Kentucky Mounted Rifles to charge up
the hill and dislodge the Yankee soldiers. The rest of Giltner's Brigade realized what he was doing and joined in the charge,
routing the surprised Yankees. The high ground on the north side of the river now belonged to Breckinridge and his small army.
With the best defensive position now his, Breckinridge now faced another problem. The defense line needed to contain the Union
army when it attacked was longer than he had men to defend. To compensate, every sixth man became a horse holder, instead
of every fourth one. This allowed Breckinridge to line the hill with a very thin but formidable defense. The 4th Kentucky
constructed their breast works in front of the covered bridge with the 2nd Kentucky to their right and the 64th Virginia,
the 10th Kentucky and Caudill's Army to their left. Duke and Witcher's men made up the far right of Breckinridge's defensive
line. Burbridge began to form his men up in columns to attack the Rebel
defenses, staggering the 5th and 6th Colored Cavalry between the white units. As soon as the men were in position, he ordered
all columns to charge in unison. With bugles sounding, a blue wave of gallant men surged forward, knowing they faced the Enfield
rifles favored by the Rebels entrenched in front of them. Before the Union soldiers could fire their first shot, a volley
from the entrenched Confederates dropped many of them. The vastly outnumbered Rebels fired round after round into this sea
of blue as Major Richard Page and his small battery of four Parrott cannons opened up, hoping to stem the tide. The intensity
of the firing stunned the Yankees causing them to begin to fall back. At the sight of the backs of the boys in blue, the boys
in gray gave a large Rebel Yell. The yell was premature however, as the Union officers reorganized their men and with a yell
of their own, charged again. Like the previous one, this charge also was beaten back. As the sun began to set, the union soldiers were asked to charge once
again. Courageously the men formed and prepared to face the withering fire that they knew would come from the breast works
in their front. For the final time that day, the blue line charged into the hailstorm of bullets with the same results as
the previous charges. The thin gray line had held on this first day of battle. After darkness had set in, Breckinridge ordered his men to move forward
and build new breastworks. The new defensive positions placed the two armies less than one hundred fifty yards apart. Even
though cold, wet and muddy neither army would build fires that night, not wanting to give away their positions. The men would
try their best to get some sleep with little success. Sporadic gunfire that lasted all night kept both armies edgy and on
their guard, fearing a night attack. The wounded Union soldiers would have to spend the night on the cold wet battlefield.
During the night, one Union officer would make a decision that would adversely come back to haunt him the following day. Under
the cover of darkness, he and approximately seventy-five men would take up positions in and around the covered bridge. This
would be the only advance of the night by the Union army. The Second Day December 18, 1864 -- The fall of rain met the two armies
at daybreak adding more misery to the ranks as each side looked across the battlefield at each other. The Union men that had
taken up positions at the covered bridge began to fire a few rounds just to harass the Confederates in their front. Later
in the day they would regret making the 4th Kentucky soldiers that were entrenched in front of the bridge mad. Burbridge waited
for the fog to lift and for the rain to stop before commencing his attack. To entertain themselves, soldiers from both armies
began to hurl insults across the fields between them. About midmorning Burbridge decided that the light rain probably would
not stop falling any time soon and had his officers prepare to commence the battle. With bugles sounding and both armies raising their battle cries the
second day of battle began. Columns of men in blue again charged across the mucky fields into the same contemptuous fire they
had received the day before. Though their hands and fingers were cold and wet, the men of the thin gray line managed to load
and fire their muzzle loading Enfields rapidly. No doubt many a cartridge and percussion cap hit the ground in their haste
to stem the tide. Even if the men had known that later on these cartridge would be so valuable, they probably could not have
prevented their numb hands from dropping them. A combination of the colored and the white troops managed to push
the 4th Kentucky and Cosby's men back. Cosby rallied his men and counter charged, retaking their breastworks. The men that
had taken positions at the covered bridge began to take considerable heat from the 4th Kentucky in their front. They realized
their location was not a healthy one and some began to try to run back to the Union lines. As these men would attempt to leave
the bridge, the Enfields of the 4th would bark and each time a soldier in blue would fall to the ground. This soon became
a morbid amusement for the men of the 4th as each one of them wanted to pick off one of the fleeing Yanks. The Yankees decided
to wait out the battle after at least fifteen of their brothers in blue had paid the price for attempting to leave the bridge.
On the far right General Duke was being pressed hard by the heavy
columns of attacking soldiers. Seeing this, Colonel Giltner sent the 2nd Kentucky to reinforce Duke. Before the 2nd arrived,
Duke and his men countercharged the Yankee line and routed it. Now that Duke had the 2nd Kentucky to take his old position,
he and Witcher combined forces and charged the Union's extreme left flank. The colored regiment that turned to meet these
wild charging and screaming gray clad soldiers was completely routed. Seeing his flank being driven back shook Burbridge and his men, which
resulted in a disorderly retreat. A Rebel Yell echoed up and down the thin gray line at the sight of the Union soldiers retreating.
Their rail breastworks had held, turning the muddy fields in their front into murky crimson stained ones instead. But the
holding of the line had resulted in the use of a huge amount of ammunition. Each Rebel defender had shot at least seventy-five
rounds with some having fired as many as a hundred shots. The men holding the horses had sent up all of their ammunition as
their comrade's cartridge boxes became empty. At approximately 4:00 P.M. the firing became sporadic as the Union
stopped their charges across the gruesome killing fields that they would have to cross to take the Rebel breastworks. At this
time the celebrating Confederates saw a long column of Union cavalry coming down the road to join their comrades in blue.
This was General Gillem and his Tennessee troops whom Stoneman had called back from his raid on Saltville. The unexpected
fighting capabilities of the small Confederate army had temporarily created a reprieve for the salt works. As darkness began to engulf the battle scene, each army began to hunker
down behind their breast works on their respective sides of the battlefield. The men from both sides were weary, cold, muddy
and hungry. It must have seemed to these warriors that the cold Virginia rain would never cease. Someone had informed the
citizens of Marion that the Rebel soldiers had not eaten in two days causing the motherly instincts of the ladies in the surrounding
area to take over. Even with their own shortage of food the pioneering blood that ran through these southern ladies would
not allow these poor boys to go hungry. Using food that their own families desperately needed to last them through the winter,
the ladies cooked the first warm meal these boys in gray had tasted in days. Sharing what overcoats that were available, the
men covered themselves up best they could and devoured the best meal in the country. The boys in blue were not privileged
to share such a meal but did get a small army type meal. Both sides had to build fires as some of the men became numb and
insensible. Breckinridge ordered his field officers to make an inspection of the
troops and to report back with the condition of his small army. The news he received was not good. The number of men wounded
and killed had depleted his army to the point that he could no longer feel confident in holding back the enemy in his front.
To make matters worse, each man had no more than ten cartridges apiece. With their supplies destroyed by Stoneman's raiders
at Wytheville and Abingdon, there was no hope of being resupplied in time for the next day. At 11:00 P.M., Breckinridge reluctantly
ordered his men to withdraw from the battlefield. A small detail of pickets was ordered to remain until around 1:00 A.M.,
firing sporadic shots to convince the Yankees that the Confederates were still in position. Though the men faced miserable
conditions, they were confident they could hold the field the next day. Angrily they obeyed orders and silently began to move
out with Colonel Ben Caudill and his Mounted Rifles leading the way. An advance scout returned to report that Colonel Buckley and his Kentucky
cavalry were blocking the road that Breckinridge was retreating down. If the Rebels had remained on the battlefield, no doubt
Buckley would have struck their flank the next day. Breckinridge ordered the men to turn off the road and to begin the hard
climb across the mountain range to safety. The remainder of the night would be spent traversing the muddy horse trail. The next day, December the 19th Stoneman's men woke to find themselves
alone on the battlefield. Though they were men of courage, they no doubt were glad to find the troublesome Confederates gone.
At least this day they would not have to face a scornful fire and cross a mud and blood soaked field. Stoneman continued on
to his objective and destroyed a portion of the salt works at Saltville. In his haste to avoid facing Breckinridge again,
Stoneman did not take the time to completely destroy the facilities of the salt works. Stoneman and Gillem fell back into
Tennessee while Burbridge went back to Kentucky through Pound Gap. Though the battle at Marion was considered a Union victory, Breckinridge
and his men had accomplished several things. The respect for the Confederate fighting abilities had convinced Stoneman to
suspend his devastating raid and contributed to his inability to completely destroy the salt works. The vastly outnumbered
Rebels had also inflicted heavy causalities on the Union army. “ Resources:
The Botetourt Artillery played a signifigant role in delaying the
Yankees at Marion. In late December, 1864 the Virginia batteries in the battalion were
ordered to Richmond. Barr’s Battery departed to join Lee. Douthat’s Battery would soon follow. In February, 1865 changes were made in the Confederate high command
to better deal with the steadily declining military situation. At this time Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge was appointed Secretary
of War. His division was turned over to Brig. Gen. John Echols. Also in February General Robert E. Lee was made General -in -Chief
of all Confederate military forces. This act made all CSA units, including the Army of Tennessee, accountable to Lee’s
headquarters. All CSA units in departments within Virginia had always been essentially
part of the Army of Northern Virginia. Now the commanders of these units became answerable directly to General Lee with no
interference by the War Department. In February, 1865 the battery, one of many to do so, was ordered to
Richmond to join the rest of the Army of Northern Virginia in the defense of Petersburg. It was assigned to Col. John Floyd
King’s Artillery Battalion in the 1st Corps. During the time following its arrival in the line at Petersburg/Richmond, the Botetourt Artillery served in the trenches. (Here there is some question as to the status of the Botetourt Artillery.
Official records show the battery in Petersburg but written accounts show the battery as having returned to Wytheville. This
may be explained by the following order dated March 20, 1865) Excerpt from the National Archives SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. ARTY., ARMY OF NORTHERN VA., Numbers 13. March
20, 1865. It being found impracticable to equip for the approaching campaign
all our batteries, the following arrangements are ordered as most just and suitable in connection with the artillery service;
they will be effected as speedily as possible under the direction of the general and chief of artillery. 1. McLaughlin's battalion, now stationed for foraging purposes near
Dublin Depot, Lynchburg and Tennessee Railroad, will be assigned to service of the guns at Fort Clifton, Major McLaughlin
commanding 2. Chew's battery, McIntosh's battalion, Third Corps, will be consolidated
with Griffin's battery, Breathed's battalion horse artillery, according to provisions of law for such cases provided. 3. Chamberlayne's battery, Owen's battalion, now with Third Corps,
will be detached from its present connection and assigned in place of Chew's to McIntosh's battalion. **4. Dickenson's and Walker's batteries, Owen's battalion, will also be detached from its present connection and constituted
with Douthat's, just arrived from Western Virginia, into another battalion to serve stationary guns below Richmond and under
command of Lieutenant-Colonel King.** 5. Lieutenant-Colonel Owen will be assigned as second field officer
to McIntosh's battalion and the staff officers of Owen's battalion will be assigned either to Lieutenant-Colonel King's battalion
or to other service, as may be found most just and expedient. 6. Nelson's, Braxton's, and Cutshaw's battalions, Second Corps, will
be re-equipped for the field under command of Colonel Thomas H. Carter as soon as possible. W. N. PENDLETON, Chief of Artillery. Honorable J. C. BRECKINRIDGE, The troops will be on the Williamsburg road ready for you at 2 p.m.
to-morrow. J. LONGSTREET, Lieutenant-General. General R. E. LEE, GENERAL: I presume that the enemy's next move will be to raid against
the Danville railroad, and think that it would be well if we begin at once to make our arrangements to meet it. In order that
we may get the troops that may be necessary to meet such a move I would suggest that we collect all the dismounted men of
Generals Fitz Lee, Rosser, and Lomax and put them behind our strongest lines, and draw out a corps of infantry and hold it
in readiness for the raid. General W. H. F. Lee's dismounts might also be used behind our works to great advantage, with a
cavalry force of 2,000 or 3,000 men to hold the enemy in check. I think that our infantry may be able to overtake the raiding
column. If we can get a large cavalry force I think that we would surely be able to destroy the raiding force. I remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. LONGSTREET, Lieutenant-General. 84 R R-VOL XLVI, PT III Following is another excerpt from the Official Records. This could
explain the confusion over where the battery finally ended. The following order was issued on March 23, 1865 but there is
no further reference to it. ** Lieutenant General R. S. EWELL, General Lee directs that Douthat's artillery company be sent at once
to General Echols, at Wytheville, Va. Give the necessary orders. O. LATROBE, Assistant Adjutant-General. ** Due to increasing pressure being brought to bear on Lee’s beleaguered
forces there is no evidence that this order was carried out or even sent to Douthat’s Battery. The troops were probably
needed more desperately in the defenses of Richmond. At the same time McLaughlin’s Battalion of artillery was ordered
from the Valley to Richmond by the following, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, Lieutenant-General EARLY: Dispatch of 27th received. Enemy's strength cannot be as large as
reported. I would repress extravagant rumors. I regret paucity of your troops. Get them together and use them to best advantage.
Great circumspection is necessary. Martin is directed to co-operate with you. McLaughlin's
battalion will be ordered here. Sheridan has
reached Grant's left. He may attempt to go to Lynchburg from this side. R. E. LEE. This order was never carried out. Douthat’s Battery's order,
to move to Echols, was probably never carried out either. McLaughlin’s
Battalion only moved from The Narrows to Christiansburg. National Archive records of units captured by Major General George A. Custer’s cavalry division on April 8, 1865
at Appomattox Station, lists Douthat’s Battery of Virginia Artillery among the prisoners Michael Cavanaugh’s Volume of the Virginia Regimental History
Series The Otey, Ringold, and Davidson Virginia Artillery puts Douthat’s Battery with Jennings Cropper Wise, from pages 920-928 in “ Wise also in his Based on these orders in the official records, and relevant narrative
by Jennings Cropper Wise, the history of the battery continues as follows. On March 25, Douthat’s Battery was reunited with the Ringold
Battery with whom they had fought alongside at Cloyd’s Mountain and New River Bridge. From March 29-April, 9, 1865 the battery took part in what would be
the last campaign for the Army of Northern Virginia, the Appomattox Campaign. There would be 15 engagements in this final
struggle. The Army of Northern Virginia abandoned the Petersburg and Richmond
defenses on April 2, 1865 and began its march west toward Appomattox Courthouse. The Botetourt Artillery, along with Otey and Ringold batteries, assisted
in the destruction of Confederate stores the army was unable to carry with it and then joined Walker’s column as it
moved away from the city. Walker’s command had moved into the vanguard of Lee’s
army, leading the way so as not to impede the Army of Northern Virginia’s movement. The column consisted of the reserve
artillery of the 3rd Corps with 100 cannons, 200 baggage wagons, and the army hospital wagons. As part of Walker’s artillery column the battery saw its final
action at Appomattox Station on April 8, 1865. This was an action which pitted artillery, without infantry support, against
cavalry. A unique situation to say the least. The only other troops in the immediate area were Talcott’s Engineers,
serving as infantry, and Gen. Martin Gary’s Cavalry Brigade ( 24th Virginia, 7th Georgia, 7th
South Carolina ), plus 75 to 100 artillerymen armed as infantry. These artillerymen were the remnants of Major William M.
Owen’s 13th Virginia Light Artillery Battalion( The Otey and Ringold Batteries) and , although records are
vague, Douthat’s Battery, all assigned to Lt. Col. John Floyd King’s Battalion. The Federal assault began around 4 P.M. The terrain was unfriendly,
consisting of thick scrub brush and dense forest with some trails running through it. Not a very good place to fight. The Confederates were at a disadvantage due to the terrain and the
unexpectedness of the attack. They also lacked a central command and confusion reigned. Although Walker’s men battled tenaciously, without infantry
support the situation was hopeless. With his command formed in a semi-circle, Walker battled the numerically superior Federal
force. The Rebel batteries, using canister, fired with lethal effect on the Union troopers. As the Yankees began to overcome
the resistance, those batteries not engaged scattered and made their way as best they could , west, toward Lynchburg or north
to Oakville. The batteries which fought, allowing what few of their fellow artillerymen
who could the opportunity to escape, were soon overwhelmed and those not killed or wounded were taken prisoner. The Botetourt
Artillery was one of the batteries taken by the enemy. Official records show that the Botetourt Artillery was captured with
the majority of Walker’s command. Very few escaped to surrender on April 9. There are however, records of some members
of the battery being paroled in Southwest Virginia. Apprently these were men who were not with the battery at the time of
its demise. Casualties in Walker’s command were very high with approximately
100 killed or wounded and 1,000 captured. The Rebels inflicted severe casualties on the enemy as well. Union surgeons commented
that they “had never treated so many extreme cases in so short a fight. The wounds were chiefly made by artillery, and
were serious; many patients being badly mangled.” A portion of the command made its way to Appomattox Court House. Maj. Gen. George Custer’s cavalry captured 25 guns and dispersed
the artillerymen. He also captured and burned 3 trains loaded with supplies for Lee’s army. This was a major deciding
factor in Lee’s decision to surrender the Army of Northern Virginia on the 9th of April. Now the army had no supplies waiting for them. No food, clothing or
ammunition. And now, with the Federal army in possession of the railroad and blocking all roads west, the Army of Northern
Virginia was trapped. With the only avenue to the west now in Yankee hands, Lee could go
no further. Only two choices remained to him. Attack or surrender. On April 9 Lee launched one last attack against the Federals, believing
only cavalry opposed him. During the night OF April 8th however, 3 Federal Corps had moved into position and Lee
was surrounded. There was little else to do but agree to surrender what remained of his army to General Ulysses S. Grant. The official stacking of arms and furling of colors took place on
Wednesday, April 12. Exactly 4 years to the day from the Confederate firing on Fort Sumter. On a dreary April morning, the
once mighty Army of Northern Virginia, now but a shell of its former self, laid down its arms and passed into history and
legend. During its 4 years of service the Botetourt Artillery saw action on
the plains of Manassas, in the mountains and rolling hills of Western Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky, the bayous and swamps
of Mississippi, and the Shenandoah Valley before the final days in the trenches at Petersburg and Richmond. The battery rendered
4 years of faithful service to the Confederacy. In the words of writer Mary Johnston, it “ fought all over “.
Mary Johnston was the daughter of Capt. John W. Johnston, and the niece of General Joseph E. Johnston. Between May 15, 1861 and April, 1865 at least 326 men between the
ages of 17 and 51-years-old had passed through the ranks of the Botetourt Artillery…. 62 of these men had died fighting
for what they believed in. 41, of those 62 who died, lost their lives in a single campaign, the one at Vicksburg, Mississippi. After the war the men of the Botetourt Artillery got together periodically
for reunions to remember, and talk about, the trying times they had endured in service to the Confederacy. The last reunion of the Botetourt Artillery was held on June 14, 1900,
near the very spot where it had all begun so many years before. ***This account of the Botetourt Artillery has been made with the assistance of Jerry Huff, Adjutant, Botetourt Artillery
Camp #1701, Sons of Confederate Veterans*** And Mr. Jeffrey Weaver Recapitulation of Personnel in the Botetourt Artillery Aggregate----Total serving------326 Killed In Action------------------------------------20 Wounded In Action-----------------------------24 Prisoners Of War----------------------------154 Total Due To Enemy Action------198 Died Of Disease---------------------------------------42 Total dead……………………………….62 Percent Dead---------------------------------19 %
Assignments 5th(Cocke’s) Brigade, Army of the Potomac(CSA)…..[June-July,
1861] 5th(Cocke’s) Brigade, 1st Corps, Army
of the Potomac(CSA)…[July-October, 1861] Pickett’s Brigade, Longstreet’s Division, 1st
Corps, Potomac District, Dept. of Northern Virginia…[October-December, 1861] Johnson’s Brigade, Army of the Northwest…[December, 1861-January,
1862] Barton’s Brigade, Stevenson’s Division, Army of East Tennessee…[March--August,
1862] Barton’s Brigade, Stevenson’s Division, Army of Kentucky…[August-November,
1862] Artillery Battalion, Stevenson's Division, Army of Tennessee…[November-December,
1862] Artillery Battalion, Stevenson’s Division, 2nd Military District,
Army of the Dept. of Mississippi and East Louisiana …[December, 1862-May, 1863] Artillery (Attached), Waul’s Texas Legion, Stevenson’s
Division, Army of Vicksburg [May 18--July 4, 1863] Artillery, Dept. of Western Virginia…[October, 1863-April, 1864] Artillery, Breckinridge’s Division, Dept. of Northern Virginia…[May,
1864] Artillery, Army of the Valley District, Dept. of Northern Virginia…[June--October
1864] Page’s Artillery Battalion, Breckinridge’s Division, Dept.
of Western Virginia…. [October 1-22, 1864] Artillery, Army of the Valley District, Dept. of Northern Virginia…[October
22---Mid-December, 1864] Page’s Artillery Battalion, Breckinridge’s Division, Dept.
of Western Virginia….[December, 1864---February, 1865] J. F. King’s-D. N. Walker's Battalion, Artillery, 1st
Corps, Army of Northern Virginia…March--[April, 1865] Engagements & Service ******Engagements in green denote extended campaign service******
Blackburn’s Ford, Virginia.. July 18, 1861 1st Manassas(Bull Run), Virginia…July 21, 1861 Romney, West Virginia Campaign…January, 1862 Huntersville, West Virginia…January 3, 1862 Cumberland Gap (Tennessee) Campaign…March 28-June 18, 1862 Cumberland Gap, Tennessee…June 17-18, 1862 Waldron’s Ridge (Tazewell), Tennessee…..August 6, 1862 Tazewell, Tennessee...................August 9, 1862 Confederate Heartland Campaign(Kentucky) Campaign…August 14,-October 7, 1862 Investment of Cumberland Gap, Tennessee…August14-September 16,
1862 Operations in Kentucky........................September, 1862 Harrodsburg, Kentucky........................October 5, 1862 Chickasaw Bayou, Mississippi…December 27-29, 1862 Fight with Union gunboats on the Yazoo River, Mississippi…January
1, 1863 Warrenton Road, Mississippi.....February 5, 1863 Warrenton Road, Mississippi....February 15, 1863 Steele’s Bayou, Mississippi, Expedition…. March 14-27, 1863 Deer Creek, Mississippi……March 21-22, 1863 Black Bayou, Mississippi…..March 24-25, 1863 Vicksburg, Mississippi….March 25, 1863 Vicksburg, Mississippi Campaign…May 1-July 4, 1863 Port Gibson ( Bayou Pierre ), Mississippi….May 1, 1863 Champion’s Hill (Baker‘s Creek ), Mississippi…May
16, 1863 Big Black River Bridge, Mississippi…May 17, 1863 Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi…May 19-July 4, 1863 1st Assault by Federal forces…..May 19, 1863 2nd Assault………………………………........May
22, 1863 3rd Assault………………………………...........June
25, 1863 4th Assault……………………………….............July
1, 1863 Surrender of Vicksburg, Mississippi…….July 4, 1863 Security of New River Bridge, on the Virginia--Tennessee Railroad, near Pulaski, Virginia….October, 1863---April,
1864 Skirmish(Scammon's Raid) at the New River Bridge, Virginia.......November, 1863 Crook's Raid on the Virginia-Tennessee Railroad...April 29--May 19, 1864 Cloyd’s Mountain, Virginia…May 9, 1864 Dublin Depot, Virginia............May 10, 1864 New River Bridge, Virginia…May 10, 1864 Christiansburg, Virginia.........May 12, 1864 Lynchburg( Virginia )Campaign…May 26-June 29, 1864 Tye River Bridge, Virginia…June 11, 1864 Lynchburg, Virginia…June 18, 1864 Hanging Rock, Virginia….June 19, 1864 Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864.….July-October, 1864 Defense of Staunton, Virginia…June-September, 1864 Staunton, Virginia............................September 24, 1864 Rockfish Gap, Virginia....................September 28, 1864 Waynesboro, Virginia….September 30, 1864 Stoneman’s Tennessee-Virginia raid….December 12-21, 1864 Mt. Airy (now Rural Retreat ) Road, Virginia…December 16, 1864 Marion, Virginia….December 17-18, 1864 Siege of Petersburg/Richmond, Virginia…March-April, 1865 Final Assault on Petersburg…April 2, 1865 Fall of Richmond, Virginia….April 3, 1865 Appomattox Campaign…March 29-April 9, 1865 Appomattox Station, Virginia…April 8, 1865 Appomattox Court House, Virginia…April 9, 1865 |
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