St. Matthew 9: 12 & 13 - They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

*** Note: Please do not consider this page to be a reflection of an opinion towards the rights or wrongs of the civil war. This story is merely giving the information necessary towards understanding what the conditions were like for the men and boys, who were mostly farmers, of the "rebel boys" of the 24th Virginia Infantry during this time period.***

24th Virginia Infantry

Company F, "New River Rifles"

Jubal Early, Commander, under

General Robert E. Lee,

Commander of Northern Army of Virginia

"Jake Moses, Private"

The sum of all other American wars, including the Viet Nam "conflict", did not result in as many casualties as the war we fought with each other, the American Civil War. This war decided the destiny of millions of Americans, both black and white. The years between 1861 to 1865 were filled with intense fear, excitement and anxiety.

Jefferson Davis was elected president of the southern Provisional Government of the Confederate States on February 18, 1861. Their capital was in Richmond, Virginia. John Letcher was Virginia's Governor.

General Lee resigned from the U.S. Army and three days later was appointed Commander of the Northern Virginia Army on 1 Jun 1862. Courthouses and school houses became recruitment centers and new military units began springing up all over. Newspapers carried local details as well as the national details for all to learn of.

april 12, 1861: fort sumpter was fired on

april 13, 1861: fort sumpter surrendered and as the people on both sides were looking for "signs" the south mistook the surrender of anderson at fort sumpter to general beauroguard as a sign in the south's favor ...many southerners thought the south was already independent of the north and that the matter was closed

april 17, 1861: virginia succeeded from union and the people were divided in their opinions

may 30, 1861: lt. col. longhorne signed jacob h. moses into the 24th virginia infantry, company f, "new river rifles" today, all boys from giles count...y everyone figures the war won't last long... most of the 24th are close to twenty years of age, but some are just kids... moms say sixteen is too young to join but everyone else is going so many just had to join too... hezekiah moses would more than likely want to join to be with Jake but he's only fourteen... many probably thought the war will be over before he's old enough to come fight... besides, pa & ma moses would need someone to help around the smithy and house... jake would probably have been thinking to himself that he will have to remember the details of the coming days to tell ma and pa and the rest of the family all about the places he would go to

june, 1861 the 24th was up at daylight and drilled all day long... exhaustion takes them over at night... they were issued smooth bore percussion muskets and disliked using them as they are not the latest and many felt they may have been inferior to the yanks... they were told they would get bayonets, scabbards and cartridge... boxes with belts later not much in the way of vittles here

[the first efforts to train confederate soldiers were based on napoleonic style warfare and leaned heavily on the bayonet charge. because muskets of earlier day had given way to more accurate firearms, the bayonet charge was little used as the "chargers" were shot down before they reached the enemy. wounds from Bayonet charges in the civil war accounted for less than 4% of wounds; 5% resulted from artillery fire; but over 90% of the wounds were from the bullets of the new and improved firearms. The bayonet was most useful in staking tents and digging trenches to hide in]

manasses

late may and early june 1861 left lynchburg taking the orange and alexandria railroad to manasses junction were then organized into the 24th virginia infantry volunteers there then marched to david ford on occoquon river the six mile march like to have killed them made camp and drilled the rest of the day marched between occoquon and manasses junction all day the whole day near about did them in but early says they looked more like solders

the manasses camp was called "camp tick grove" cause its infested with ticks had sheds and tents to live in or a combination of 'em together, and straw for a mattress if lucky

the 24th brigaded with the 7th louisiana regiment pursuant to general beauregard these louisiana troops were now a part of general lee's army of northern virginia these men from louisiana were a strange lot, many of them foreign born the french ones wear bright colored suits but most of them are from ireland of the foreigners one lot of them is from New Orleans and got the name "wharf rats" are a roudy drunken bunch of men

june 19, 1861 early took command of camp he's called "old Jubilee" or "ole jube" they became part of the sixth brigade along with the 7th virginia and 7th louisiana and were to guard the right flank of confederate line at manasses

june, 1861 early took 24th on an excursion to the village of occoquon and gave the whole day off they fished, bathed and visited the village

july, august, september july, august, and september were hot and rainy typhoid, pneumonia, and measles outbreaks were getting the men coming and going heard there's over a hundred men sick or wounded the men were dying every day somehow they managed to help each other through can't describe what it would be like to bury the dead every day

finally some action

Army of Virginia.............. Army of Potomac

Confederates................................. Federal:

Beauregard...................... Sherman, Keyes

Longstreet...................... McDowell, Ayres

Wheat....................... Heintzelman, Howard

Stonewall.............................. Miles, Hunter

Johnson........................................ Burnside

july 17, 1861: early took 24th to union mills were split up an sum sent to another position there's talk of a fight but nothing happened on this day pickets were very vigilant and the rest pretty much stuck close to camp - orders to move came they marched to an area overlooking the valley of bull run and mitchell's, blackburns and mcleans fords - stayed there the longest and till about noon on the 18th

[many subsequent battles would at first be toss-ups, as commanders on both sides had been trained at the same place (West Point) and had learned the same tactics. it wasn't until commanders began to use their own newly formed strategies that the tides of the war turned]

thursday, july 18, 1861: a cloud of dust proved to be the federal army on the move which engaged longstreet the 7th regiment and was repulsed for our part - were split up again on this day were at the mclene farm gate in the afternoon and them yanks started shooting bouregard ordered the 24th to the woods an they had to go across a field to get there but nun were hurt then they were sent to help at the bend of bull run called blackberns ford ran down the rode to the field there they found there were dead men all over the place Jake Moses and the boys probably wondered if one day they would be one of them dead ones the yankees ran so fast they left the camp followers and spectators in their dust...

july 19, 1861: today dug holes using bayonets were told that would use them for cover during the fighting stayed on the field last night and today

saturday, july 20, 1861: went out for a fight today, but nuthin much happened cooked and drilled found shade under a pine thicket

aftermath of 1st manasses:

july 21, 1861: this sunday was sure not like the ones back home went out to centerville looking for another fight and prepared to form a battle line didn't have to tho as it was over heard that some of the tigers were almost flanked about 8 am this morning col evans left some men at stone bridge over bull run and met the threat heard later it was the main body of federals with 18,000 men coming to outflank the confederates evans and his men of only 1000 took cover on matthews hill and surprised the federals about 9:15 am at one point heard that about 500 of them bright colored red shirted tigers went screaming down the hill charging the federals and confusing them, though the federals finally beat them back by that time reinforcements came heard that major wheat was shot through both legs and would probably die, but the major says "I don't feel like dying yet", so maybe he won't

went thru a yankee camp at manasses the yanks left so fast they had left all kinds of things behind, even food later went back to blackburn ford at the rear of the troops

july 22, 1861: drilled in the rain all day today and soaked to the bones don't feel will ever be warm again other regiments under early followed the sound of gunfire and fought at manasses (7th reg) but brigade stopped by porter & blenker on the warrenton road when Early attempted to pursue the federals in their retreat.

[to load the guns it was necessary to bite off the end of the paper casin, ram the charge into the gun, air & fire - this needed to be practiced over and over again to perfection and no doubt after this engagement it was done in their sleep]

late july: are near the union mills ford at camp pryor the rain was making everyone sick don't have decent food or shelter all that is done is drill and picket duty [check to see if they

went to fairfax courthouse and picketed on Alexandria leesburg road and others there between Alexandria and Washington]

august 31, 1861: marched today to masons hill got to see the u.s. capital it wasn't finished yet then saw this big thing hanging in the air called a balune it was the darndest thing anyone ever seen, way up in the air like that skirmish with the yanks a lot not much sleep at times

september 1861: there's lots of fighting going on every day... wonder if it'll be the last most of the men got sick seems every day as someone dies this month some friends died from typhoid each day the men wonder who will be next to meet our maker

september 28 to October 6: camped and guarded at springfeld station could hear some fighting going on nearby have been involved in several skirmishes next camped near union mills

october 15, 1861: Fairfax Co Courthouse - see late july note - need for information

meeting the governor

late october, 1861: governor letcher gave each regiment from virginia a virginia state flag while he gave a speech some of the men got drunk and accidently fired their guns the captain was pretty darned mad about it

winter 1861-62

getting ready for winter made a chimney of clay and sticks at the end of the tent which stays full of smoke and will be darned lucky if no one burns up in their sleep it look like a bad winter there was talk of building log huts and filling in the cracks with mud we could use the tent for the roof and of course our chimney would be of clay and sticks

they won't let anyone go home.. some think they ought to go anyway it is freezing out here would just rather be home with the family

have got plenty of food such as it is, flour and crackers and half pound of fatback back home now they're forcing em to sign up again for another year though many are ready to go back to the farm it was just too hard on women and children to have them plowing, planting and harvesting all by themselves as well as doing the other house chores then if they do manage to do well some soldiers just would come and take it who knows what else happens to our family while we are here the the wife and children are at the mercy of soldiers and others who happen by and want to fill their needs...

december 20, 1861: a giles county boy, pair, died with pneumonia today if they'd a let him go home he might a lived wonder if they cared if anyone lived or died

christmas at union mills camp

december 25, 1861: not much to celebrate all wish they were home had a celebration but it wasn't the same there just isn't much to do here except suffer and worry

december 31, 1861 - reflecting back on the past months one cannot help but wonder where this war will lead us the serfs in russia were recently given their freedom

january 1, 1862: today, the beginning of a new year a year that hopefully will be one to bring about peace though at this time a peaceful solution doesn't look to likely

february 4, 1862: re-enlistment is for two more years and you get paid a bounty of $50.00 jake moses enlisted again the ground is mostly frozen at night and no one could seem to get close enough to a fire to shake off the chill the wind tends to blow clean through the clothes while it howls in the trees all around this way of life is very disagreeable

march 8, 1862: left union mills camp and headed to manases junction followed the railroad tracks there weren't any train cars to ride in and had to burn extra possessions as there wasn't room to bring it set fire to our trunks and suite cases and silently watched as they burned

march 10, 1862: are now at the rappahannock river guarding the river crossing next will be going to rapidan river

march 21, 1862: porterfield, another giles county boy, is sick with pneumonia

april 5, 1862: left rapidan river to go to the orange county court house there are again no train cars to travel on

april 7, 1862: finally secured a train car and are headed to richmond

april 8, 1862: reached richmond the ladies of the town cheered and handed out supplies as the rebel soldiers marched through the rebels then floated down the james river and did not stop until reached kings mill warf and then lebanon church were exhausted the road was muddy and it was close to midnight before stopping

april 9, 1862: marched out early this morning to redoubts 4 and 5 from yorktown to wynn's mill [about six miles - request a picture]

april 11, 1862:we rebels went through a peach orchard to try to locate the enemy, who was briefly encountered

april 12, 1862: went out with colonel terry cut down the peach orchard and then burned the buildings the enemy has lost their hiding place wars are so destructive and it is sad that the destruction hurts the very people we want to fight for and protect...

april 16, 1862: there's talk about that conscription act they would all have to serve three more years, even if don't want to pretty darn mad 'bout politicians telling all what to do you won't see them out in the rain all day and night and with only the leaves on the bushes for privacy at times and vermin in their clothes and hair all are getting pretty homesick for the family and this just don't set too well those that think they are too good to fight and have the money will just pay someone else to fight for them but most have to do their own fighting

april 17, 1862: pool is sick with rubella them yanks wont have to do battle to whip the south some wondered if the southern boys'd be wiped out by sickness before the winter was over

april 18, 1862: the april rains may be the end of many a soldier... all trenches are like creeks cannot escape the seasons ravages and are quickly losing men being forced to eat dried uncooked corn on the cob and drink the muddy water there just isn't anything else to do to survive

april 30, 1862: new southern recruits arrived

may 1, 1862: ol' bill took off today don't think he's coming' back one by one the fellas are leaving one way or the other

may, 1862: there is a serious lack of supplies but many felt they could handle it as long as it didn't get any worse

on to williamsburg

may 3, 1862: today all were thankful were not forced to defend against the iron gunboats have been afraid would not have a chance if were forced to do so federal gunboats passed up the james and york rivers and could be plainly seen by the rebel army It's saturday, and finally left for williamsburg took the yorktown road the march is bad enough, but these darned rains make it worse they just don't let up the road is nothing but mud and sometimes the men sink down in mud knee deep then one of the wagons will get stuck and we have to get the darned thing out we're all getting pretty worn out by all this moving around and marching and are awfully grateful to stop for a while some are so tired they just fall asleep upon stopping on the side of the road

it took all day to go the twelve miles to williamsburg in this rain this isn't good weather for one to be out in so much a person's liable to get sick and die being out in this weather, but what else is new

may 4, 1862: it's sunday, though it didn't seem like the sundays back home.. now at Williamsburg.. there's no shelter though just a couple of miles from town.. might as well be out in the boonies.. at least got to rest up a bit today.. things don't look too good around here.. its a might of a mess, guess 'cause of th' war en all

*************

BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG

*************

general longstreet

general hill

may 5, 1862: monday got up and were ready at three this morning to go to richmond but the darned weather was so bad couldn't go anywhere it's rained almost a solid month now, and it didn't look like it would clear up any time soon.. there was some flooding in this area earlier in the day but finally pulled out at noon

got changed around somehow today.. some was saying that general hill ordered this bunch to williamsburg 'stead of richmond must mean somethin' is going' on over there getting' a bit nervous 'bout it at williamsburg, the old colonial capital,

the 24th was put under general longstreet, a division commander in charge of the confederate rear guard to aid stuart's cavalry if necessary to delay the federal troops and provide cover for the trains loaded with supplies, ammunition and artillery

sent to the campus of the college of william and mary 'guess this is the closest most would ever get to any fancy schoolin

in the early part of the' afternoon could hear the musket fire 'bove the rain t'was kind of scary an all heard general general mclellan is to attack us

'bout 3:00 headed double fast to fort magrude went through williamsburg and boy did they give a hoot-n-holler cheer as the ebel boys went through!

after going thru town went left and crossed a fresh plowed field with all this rain bad weather it was hot, and all were tired, and sweaty wet by the time we stopped on top of the ridge

********

general hill ordered some out on small patrols to check out the forest much of it is swamp and there's a darned sight of weeds and bushes growing in there it was hard to get through all that stuff got ready tho and just as our rebels boys made a way through could hear the birds and animals flee at approach went thru that swamp and ol jube ordered to load and fix on bayonets then went after some yanks and found 'em

after crossing the wheat field entered the swamped forest it was rough going' wasn't able to keep the boys together 'cause of the thick bushes, felled trees an swampy ground had to be careful not to get caught in quicksand which added to the usual misery of mud and vermin and it was with great effort that all went through

kept on a going pert near a half mile didn't see anything at first after a wile saw some yanks near a farmhouse belonging to general hancock received orders and lit out after em and fore long was fighting shells shrieked and wizzed in the air and you could here the big guns shooting the 24th was getin it from everywhere it seemed fellas was shot down all around ol jube was hit and they took him away off the battle field after a wile spotted some north carolina boys (the 5th N.C.) were so glad to see um let out a whoop n holler then major mawry led across a fence to charge but all was ordered back then went back thru the woods an a bunch of our southern boys was captured each soldier thought for sure he was going to be captured but most finally made it back to camp 190 southern boys were killed, wounded, or captured during this skirmish the mix up caused the death of many of the 5th north carolina boys it was a tragic scene to remember

all total, 1700 casualties of our and 2200 of the union but the rest of the army got away and that was what this battle was all about

Co G of 24th - mercer co men

Co F of 24th - giles co men

floyd and william epling, john manning were wounded wounded today and george martin was wounded they say before he was captured.. Wm. Epling who enl w jacob moses a while back. don't know if they were friends, went. awol that summer.. john mccrooky and joh peck was also captured today possibly

may 6, 1862 the 24th got a pat on the back for the fighting herd that ol doc says the 24th was better than them in the crimean' war ol doc should know cause he was there ol pete had "williamsburg" put on the 24th's flag well another battle is won but were still fighting the war did as ordered - held off the yanks till the trains filled with troops, supplies, artillery and wagons, got out of mclellans reach

heard that the yanks have several times more men and that some of them were wearin the southern gray color and to beat it all, some of them had on skirts called kilts others had on baggy britches

after the battle, to look at it all, it was an awful big price to pay the ground covered with dead and dying some have their limbs blown off or just barely hanging on its terrible the way a man can be blown apart and still be alive to know what happened to him and just have to lay there and wait for death and think of their wife, kids, ma and pa.. that night as we lie looking into the flames of the fire could hear the moanin of the dyeing men mixed in with the chorus of the night critters some could be heard searching the battle site for friends...

at dawn set out to rejoin the rest of johnson's retreating army it isn't an easy thing to do but must abandon our wounded and leave them at a barn as are in no position to bring them along

*************

may 7, 1862, were sent out this morning to barhamsville to help protect maj gen g.w. smith's flank

may 11, 1862 heard something about the merrimac, now called the virginia, that the confederates rammed the virginia and it was flooded by its commander or else blown up to prevent the union from getting her they say she didnt' have enough water to get her to richmond

may 10, 1862, today at long bridge the 24th elected officers col "buck" terry and lieutenant hairston and major maury all made it again chose george porterfield as our new captain

may 13, 1863 the western part of virginia broke off from virginia and is now part of the U.S.A. and is called West Virginia.

may 17, 1862 link deserted today

may 18, 1862 left long bridge and took charles city road to richmond

may 20, 1862 reached williamsburg road near the toll gate and set up camp its the first rest in two months still had to drill but it was better than fighting many snuck into richmond maj. maury was furious and sent out details to find strayed men from the city and when he got them back he sentenced them they found men we thought were dead so theres more of us now than when we got here there's some upset soldiers around here

may 24, 1862 brigadier general garland jr. took command of our brigade

BATTLE OF SEVEN PINES

also called battle of fair oaks

may 27, 1862 major maury led east on the williamsburg road camped at bridgwater field a couple of miles from seven pines

may 27, 28, 29, 1862: some were given outpost duty and reconnaissance missions while others made defensive works

may 29, 1862: had some skirmishes but nothing big

may 30, 1862: some men were sent into the woods this morning to check out the yankee situation they got back right before supper and rec'd new battle plan from johnson were supposed to move thru the woods to capture a union division the heavens burst with rain and thunder so heavy tonight its going to be a wet mess going thru the woods tomorrow.. today jake moses' been in one year.. the electrical storm is creating quite a firework, during the night it rained so much the men had to stand up in the tents till dawn.. the chickahominy river was flooded.. marched this morning and were slowed considerably by the swollen streams went down williamsburg road where the battle was furious

garlands brigade and hills division were in the 24th

kempers brigade and longstreets division were in the 7th

may 31, 1862: the rain had lasted all night about 1 in the afternoon advanced were soon fighting before too far into the woods sank knee deep in mud and the undergrowth was thick and couldn't maintain lines had to separate entangled regiments 24th again advanced with garlands brigade and helped mississippians drive back gen caseys green troops due to delay and confusion

24th brigade was exposed to the enemy both flanks were unprotected major maury was wounded in his right arm couldnt hold together and fell behind other regiments then garland took charge and led the 24th were ordered to charge with bayonets ready upon reaching the yankee abatis, groups hung together were were soon engaged.. the rebel boys made a good target for them yanks a bunch of the southern boys were hurt and killed finally got straightened out and pushed them yankees back into retreat

passed through casey's camp and attacked union artillery positions battle ended at dusk slept on the ground that they fought on lay on the soaked ground during the night some made blazing fires of pine knots to dry clothes and blankets the wounded were propped up on tree stumps and fences to save them from drowning in the mud and puddles all total, it turned out that 117 were killed and wounded including George Belcher

wonder if all the dead will be buried or just lie where they fell for their carcass to blacken and rot.. the dead and dying littered the ground that night the wounded cast an erie heartbreaking sound all about the sound of moans were surely at times unearthly and the cries haunted the dreams of most all I am no longer eager to do battle we just do our jobs and hope we live thru it all long enough to go back home

the 24th had 16 killed, 117 wounded, and 14 missing are going to call this battle the battle of "seven pines" and it's going to be put on the 24th's regimental banner. some from the other side call it the battle of "fair oaks" us confederates lost this battle - very demoralizing

*************

june 1, 1862: were back at bridge water field camp

june 8, 1862: manassah went awol today

kempers brigade - summer 1862

june 19, 1862: joined general kemper's brigade were now called kempers 'first brigade" of longstreet's division it includes the 1st, 7th, 11th & 24th Virginia regiments

june 15, 1862: got three days food today though all would surely dream about sitting around the supper table at home with the family gen kemper gave a speech of great battles to come don't know how were supposed to have all of these great battles with so many men absent, dead and dyeing theres over four hundred absent at last count

june 25, 1862: headed west on nine mile road passed the outskirts of richmond and then turned north to mechanicsville turnpike

aftermath of the battle of mechanicsville

june 27, 1862: this is the third day of the battle.. are ready to move before dawn marched an hour fore halted and broke ranks then ate and relaxed with our front exposed after that marched for meadow bridge at chickahominy river crossing on the way saw general lee and traveler it was real exciting watching them go by they were so grand everyone stepped aside to let them pass

reached mechanicsville bridge area about noon got there, and there was no doubt that a battle had taken place, there was a mess of bodies dead and alive laying around all tore up and covered with blood.. horses, wagons and equipment were all over the place.. there was a funny feeling in the air, as all were slowed to a walk.. there was little that could be done for those poor souls that reached out begging for help or crying for mercy on their soul.. the stench of the dead bodies filled the air, mingling with smoke from the fires, and was a sickening smell one hoped would never be encountered again.

**Gaines Mill**

stayed for an hour and moved on towards gaines mill where A.P. Hill and Jackson was already fighting rested in the woods could hear the battle had an early supper of bacon and coffee which was taken from the yanks there was some skirmishing about a half mile away about this time and came under fire and fell to the ground

we're not in the main of the battle though were close enough to be hit from fire; shell and shot

as he sun disappeared moved double quick towards the battle sounds.. were slowed by the many wounded on the road.. at Gaines Mill it was even worse.. the ground was covered with wounded men.. went off to the right to some breastworks and prepared for an advance behind the captured artillery

were then ordered to "charge bayonets" and ran down the hill, meeting the enemy.. discharged one volley.. the Federals under McClellan were retreating then made way in the dark to some woods and camped for the night

june 28, 1862 up before dawn came - Rebels formed ranks and marched back to the Union breast works.. found new clothes and blankets at an abandoned yankee breast work.. there were new Enfield rifles along side love letters laying on the ground which we read.. left our Springfield rifle exchanging it for the new Enfield left by the 44th New York and others

***Kempers Brigade, Longstreet's Division***

***Frayzer's Farm (Glendale)***

the 24th is under Lt. Col. Peter Hairston on the left, at Frazer's farm, over 4 hours

june 29, 1862 today is the sabbath theres no need for a preacher to ever try to describe hell to these boys. they feel like they have been living there for the past year

started for Darbytown road and crossed the Chickahominy River at New Bridge, a pontoon bridge built by the yankees. The men had never seen such a bridge before, on the otherside were breastworks which proved to be manned and a battle line was quickly formed playing cards temporarily were replaced with bibles, reading fervently until it was proved the men behind the breast works were confederate had the men found a way to play cards while marching?

marching south took the rebel boys to Darbytown Road where they turned eastward.. by now the lack of water, together with the heat and humidity, was taking its toll men suffering with sunstroke and exhaustion were left on the side of the road.. one-third of them had been affected thus by late noon

as they moved down the road they produced a cloud of dust which made breathing difficult.. the only fresh air to be found was in the fields away from the road.. by the time they bivouacked at 11 pm those who had made it that far were exhausted, many too tired to even eat.. they went to bed hungry, exhausted and with sore feet

june 30, 1862: 6th day of the 7 days - up at dawn, ate breakfast and resumed march eastward.. made frequent stops and many who had fallen behind yesterday managed to catch up.. left Darbytown Road by mid morning and took Long Bridge Road.. finally stopped and formed a battle line about 3 pm.. Kemper's brigade was to the right of the road of Frayser's farm which was the right battle line for the confederates and the 24th was on the brigade's left on the road.

after severe shelling, an order to move came about 5 pm quickstep over undergrowth, through the woods and under steady fire.. it was swampy and then came to a meadow there were cheers and double quick step upon clearing the woods and we fell before the enemy.. as we advanced the brigade was still intact and we crossed the meadow to another swamp which had some men knee deep in mud.. encountered Union pickets in the swamp and the rebel boys rushed toward their enemy thinking it was the main body

After spotting the enemy's works behind a barricaded log house with breastworks the reformed 24th was led by Lt Col Hairston across the field through grape and canister volleys to the breastworks.. drove the enemy from six of eight of their guns however the confederate flank was exposed because they had advanced more rapidly than the others and jenkins brigade was engaged elsewhere.. the enemy closed in on kempers weak spot with kempers men receiving fire front and back kemper retreated moving to the right and back.. the men of kemper's brigade were finished for the day.. bloody, tired and muddy, they retired for the night

today was payday jacob moses re-enlisted.. joseph, william and andrew went awol

The 24th lost 3 or 4 killed, 61 wounded and 14 MIA including A. J. Holstein with the close of this battle.. the opportunity was lost for general lee to destroy the union army

july 1, 1862: day seven, pursued the union army in retreat.. rain and mud made the pursuit slow.. kempers brigade was in reserve to the confederate's right line of A.P.Hill and Jackson at Malvern Hill, where the confederate's were slaughtered, after 2 miles bivouacked near river road.. confederate casualties about 20,000 and federal casualties about 16,000

july 2, 1862: 24th and longstreet's wing followed jackson up willis' church road.. rain is heavy.. missed road we were to take

july 3, 1862: by early evening was in the area of evelington heights

july 4, 1862: 24th held as reserve for a p hill and jackson at evelington heights but battle called off.. these rainy days at evelington heights came to an end as the 24th and kempers brigade journeyed back to darbytown road.. this was the end of the seven days campaign.. were at darbytown through july.. conscripts arrived this month, prisoners were exchanged.. drills and picket duty resumed

july 28, 1862: james went awol

august 2, 1862: jake moses absent through March 6, 1863... looks like timing was good for him as jake moses missed the bloody 2nd battle of Bull Run

30 Aug 1862 the night after Bull Run Battle the sunset was an appropriate blood red

september, 1862: awol samuel, henry, peter

november, 1862: jonathan, joe, marion, william awol

december, 1862: john awol

january, 1863: jake present for roll call

february, 1863: jake present for roll call this makes one year finished of this two year enlistment

march 6, 1863: jake "left" for a while, but came back by this date.. they docked jake's pay $77.00 and $8.33 for clothes and he was then in kemper's brigade are located at Prince George's Courthouse (Petersburg) virginia.. while we were here a soldier was convicted of cowardice and received 39 lashes to the bare back in public and dishonorably discharged

march 20, 1863: peter awol

march 21, 1863: kemper's brigade moved to weldon and goldsboro NC by rail.. it was so cold in the box cars that it was necessary to build fires on piles of dirt to keep warm.. by the time the train reached goldsboro everyone was covered with soot.. the night was spent on the outskirts of goldsboro.. everyone then boarded a train the next day headed for kinston, and arrived there in the evening.. the village was deserted camp was set up south of the neuse river where camp drills and regimen were resumed.. our mission was to protect supply lines

april, 1863: jake moses present for roll call

april 1, 1863: 24th VA on picket duty on trent river all was quiet

april 2, 1863: several hundred hungry women in richmond assembled at a church and marched to capital square and confronted governor john letcher.. as he had no solution to the high price of food the women began shouting "bread ... bread ...", smashed windows and looted stores in the shopping district.. president davis appeared on a wagon and threw his money at the women, then giving them five minutes to disburse or they would be fired upon by the militia.. the rioters disbanded; the ringleaders arrested and imprisoned

april 4, 1863: returned to kinston village

april 5, 1863 easter sunday - can't afford eggs as they cost $2.50 a dozen.. guess rusty bacon and hard bread is the order of the day

loaded in railroad cars for journey back to virginia at franklin station.. went through goldsboro and weldon.. in camp their daily rations were 1/4 pound bacon and 1/8 pound of flour

april 9, 1863: major richard maury took the place of lt col hairston.. colonol terry remained at the head of the 24th

april 11, 1863: longstreet's men moved on to suffolk.. manley reece of the 24th virginia was horribly killed when knocked down from the top of the train by an overhead bridge

april 13, 1863: arrived at suffolk and formed trenched battle line.. the 24th was on outpost duty for 3 weeks on southeast side of city there were several skirmishes

4 may 3 & 4, 1863: left suffolk at midnight to go to richmond.. marched all night through swampy area and water waist deep.. passed through south quay at mid morning and rested the rest of the day.. had gone 32 miles and about broke the men they heard about general lee's wounding and the battle of chancellorsville

may 5, 1863: recovered enough to march 12 miles to jerusalem and camped

may 10, 1863: stonewall jackson died on the 11th, the body was sent to lexington for burial.. did this affect jake moses plans in the future events? did he go to the funeral, go home, or roam the country side?

may 14, 1863: many a farmer turned soldier had by now already picked up and gone home for a while.. sometimes the soldier would dream of being home and that the war was over.. other times the dream would become a nightmare of the soldier being shot in a battle and left to die.. no doubt many even wondered at the swollen bodies of the dead, covered with blow flies, left on the ground for animals that would eat on the human carcass if it was not buried or not buried deep enough.. if the body was not consumed by critters, it may have turned black with rot.. more than likely, the sightless dead soldier's boots and clothes and valuables would be stolen, sometimes even before the man was dead.. those that once looked joyously towards battle, now hoped the memories would die out quickly once it was over

many times what baths they got were probably as they crossed rivers or camped.. the vermin and filth could get unbearable.. their pay was almost worthless and a months wages could buy only a watermelon.. a portion of meat once worth $2.00 was then worth $60.00

IF Jake had thought about leaving he could go north and take the oath or go home and hide out .. some were even banding together hiding in the forests, supplied necessities by Union supporters or guerillas.. were may have been many times, while looking solemnly into the flame of the camp fire, that jake moses probably imagined he could see family and home, aching to be there...

today, may 14, 1863 jake moses finally left for good.. he deserted while two days from richmond with 9 months left to finish his enlistment, that is, if he signed up for two years like the government was requesting back then...

july 18, 1863: jake moses received some clothes at the Montgomery Springs General hospital, virginia

the war finally ended with Lee's surrender, formally accomplished at appomattox courthouse in virginia

the end of the civil war brought on a new battle for the civil war confederate veteran for they returned home to a desolated land... many homes had been burned or partially destroyed, their wives and children, prayed up by the ruthless and heartless... because what was left of the southern government failed to bring order to the south quick enough to suit the north, it was replace by the radical republican congress filled with carpetbaggers and scalawags, who looted the state treasuries

the south was eventually placed under military rule of the U.S. Army.. confederates could not vote or hold a political office.. there were five military districts, with virginia being in the first district under U.S. Army general john schofield

because they dared to rebel, the southern whites had lost their rights.. the southern black was now facing a struggle to claim his. but at this point no woman, regardless of race, even if she was rich, had any rights except those which her husband or father allowed her

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References:

24th Virginia Infantry by Ralph White Gunn, (H. E. Howard Inc, Lynchburg, Va) 1987

History of the Middle New River Settlements & Contiguous Territory by David E. John (pp.185-319) (Commonwealth Press Inc., 1st & Berkley Streets, Radford Virginia 24141) 1906.

Confederate Military Records and Correspondence