Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-03
THE GALLANT FIRST.
Though Nov Marked BY DiEoTd lis Re.
cord Has Been Good.
SERVICE IN WAR AND PEACE.
Responded TO Every Call and Won
. Glorious Name-Its ReOrganisa-
mt It's Head.


and caused much unfavorable comment
| and criticism to be heaped upon II, the
name Of the old First Virginia Regi-
ment lives in history, and the organiza-
ton may refer with pride TO the many
deeds Of valor done by its members. The
regiment has had an interesting history
II WAS organized May /. 1851. in this city.
and its first colonel was Walter Gwynn.
1t participated in the John Brown IN
surrection with full ranks, under COM
mand of Colonel Thomas y. August.
In 1850, upon the resignation Of Colonel
August. Z. T. Moore was elected colonel
Various companies UP to this time had
composed the regiment, most of when
had but a brief existence. At the out
break Of the war the regiment consisted
Of ten companies. all fully equipped ana
ready for service. with Colonel Moore
In command About the middle OF April
three companies were detached. Company
was sent to Norfolk, where II after
wards was attached to the Twelfth. Com
10 nies and + were sent 10 Fredericks-
burg and assigned TO other commands
All three did gallant service. Thus the
command entered the war with but seven
companies. About the middle OF july anu
Just before the battle Of Bull Run com
psny from Washington was attached 10
the regiment as Company r.. and at Cen
treville another company also from
Washington. WAS temporarily attached as
Company +.
OFF TO THE WAR.
on the 9th OF April, 1861, the regiment
was marched to the Fsir-Grounds, theh
known as Camp OF Instruction Here
the first tents were pitched and camp
life commenced I'm earnest. On me zo'n
the regiment struck tents ana cmpafke"
on a train over the Richmond, FredeHcks-
burg and Potomac railroad for Mannssas'
War was then considerd piaythlns'
and hundreds of ladies' were dt the tram
to see the boys off. Every musket was
adorned with a bouquet OF flowers ana
the train pulled out amid the t'eers oi ths
ladies, who waved their han1k-rcnleis anu
bade the soldier lads "godspeed. IbrV
remained In camp at Manassas untll the
18th, when. on q false alarm, they were
marched to Bull Run. on the evening
of June Ist companies y, D. q, ana N
were ordered to Fairfax Courthouse unuer
the command of Major Munford.
Here they did outpost duty, sleeping IN
an old barn and getting up every morning
at dawn eager in their expectation OF
meeting the enemy. This !lsted until the
2lst when the battalion was marched
back to Manassas where the rest or
the regiment remained. ON the ldh
Of July orders came 70 meet the enemy.
who was then advancing from Washing
ton. A forced march was Irade To Bull
Run, and on the morning Of the 18th
line of battle was formed. About ii
o'clock the enemy opened with artillery,
and at o'clock charge was made I'm the
centre OF the regmental line Companies
B. c. q. and II. which had been held in
reserve, were ordered forward, end fought
for some time on the bank of the run.
When the enemys fire slackened, these
reserve companies were ordered across
the run. where the enemy was met in
heavy force.
THE COLONEL WOUNDED.
Here among the trees on the side Of the
hill the PRINCIPAL part Of the fighting was
done Colonel Moore was struck down,
and Major +. G. Skinner took command.
For nearly two hours the battle lasted.
when the enemy was forced to fall back,
and the regiment was relieved by the
Seventh Virginia. The storm of lead and
iron had passed through their ranks for
the first time. but the men OF the First
stood It like they had been used TO
nothing else. Many a poor fellow was
laid low, however. Five were buried next
morning under an apple-tree, eight more
died afterwards, and twenty-seven were
wounded. In his report Of this battle
General LOngstreet paid a high compl-
ment TO the courageous conduct OF the
men of the First Regiment
The regiment next participated in the
First Battle OF Manassas and although 10
the right of the fighting. was severely ex-
posed to artillery fire all day, having
six men wounded among whom was
Major skinner. August 10th tn regiment
went into camp AT Camp Harrison, and its
strength was shown TO be 7l9 men, rank
and file.
In March, 1862. at Lebanon church, a
general reorganization of the regiment
took place. and Lewis B. Williams was
elected colonel. FIR derrick G. skinner
lieutenant-colonel and William II. Palmer
major. Companies Il and X, whose time
Of service had expired. disbanded. and
most OF the men joined other commands
MAJOR PALMER'S GALLANTRY.
After the evacuation of Yorktown. in
May. 1862. the regiment had a serious
engagement with the enemy, and, being
separated from the brigade, fought all
day on its own hook.
The balls few thick and fast. Colonel
Williams was badly wounded. and was
carried from the field. Major Palmer,
who had also been wounded but did not
leave the field, then took charge. The
regiment suffered as follows that day:
Killed s; wounded. 27-of which were
left in the hands Of the enemy; prisoner.
l. The command played havoc with the
enemy. however. and captured several
hundred prisoners. The regiment next
participated in the battles around Rich
mond On the 30th IL were killed and SO
wounded. The command was then dis
organized or suspended, and the men
came TO their homes in Richmond. On
the 26th of June they again reported for
duty. The regiment then did service at
Gaines's MIL in following the enemy on
It's retreat to James river, and in the
battle Of Frazier's Farm.
\ few days after the seven-days' bat
ties the command. numbering about 90
men. returned to Richmond and went into
camp at Darbytown. Reorganization was
then begun. and in "a short while there
We're l4l men In ranks.
Camp was broken August 10th.
and a few unmportant sl<rmishes were
ENGAGED in. The next battle OF any con-
sequence which the regiment participated
In was the second of Manassas. Here the
regiment did some heavy nghting ana
CAPTURED two batteries. Colonel Skinner,
who did gallant service, was badly wound
cd The loss TO the regiment In this en-
gagement was 80. The command then
Joined Jackson and was actively engaged
In fighting for months.
HEAVY LOSSES.
1t took prominent part in the battle
OF Gettysburg and out of about leo VINO
went into the battle ii lost le0. Among
the killed was Colonel Williams. From
Get,ysburg the regiment fought its way
20 Drewry's Blum, where IL again went
into battle. this time with the result
that 70 mon were wounded, AMI - BILLED.
In front OF Petersburg ii next fought,
ana although It succeeded in driving
the enemy some distance. IL was only
handful Of men. as compared with the
Federal forces. and finally had, 10 retire.
About 81 of the members Of the old First
were taken prisoner. Those who were
left got back 10 Five Forks. and. with
the brigade. marched on toward Appc-
mattox. At Sailors creek Sheridan's
cavalry swept around the depleted regi-
mcnt and. escape being impossible. Lieu
tenant Colonel +. III. Langley, then In
command. surrendered his men. few |
members were not in line At the time OF |
this surrender, and they struggled on TO |
Appomatiox. where. when the Confede- |
rate stars went down 10 rise no more, |