Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-08
THE WAR HowITzERs.

THE WAR HOwITzERs.
History of Their Orsanisation-Ths
Third Company.
suoithville, Charlotte County, Va.
March 8, 1896.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
In August. 1858, after much labor ant
many dificulties, the writer completed
roll and record Of the Third Company
Richmond Howitzers, to which was ap
pended a sketch. giving the origin OF TIM
original organization. and brief history
of its services during the late war, witt
list Of battles In which the Third Com
pany participated. / send 1t for YOU
Confederate Column" as q matter o.
interest to your many readers.
The complete roll and record OF th'
Third Company has been donated to tbs
Confederate Museum. 1t Is in its origina
form, as designed and complied by Its
author. handing down to posterity a com
plete record OF the 24 members.
Respectfully yours. r. w. JONES.
The Richmond Howitzers were organ
lied on the night of November g. 1853, at
the State courthouse (since destroyed),
In the Capitol Square. The excitement
which had Just been started by the raid
OF John Brown and his followers at
Harper's Ferry was the immediate cause
of this organization. The scheme to
form such an arm OF the military service
of the State as the Howitzers were intend
ed to be was originated by the late Gene
raj George w. Randolph. whose early
years had been devoted to the navy of the
United States. He was chosen captain
Of the company, with John c. Shields
and John Thompson Brown Its leuten-
ants, and CASTOR G. Otey orderly SER
geant.
Its first service Immediately after its
partial organization was as infantry at
,Harpers Ferry and Charlestown during
the scenes consequent upon the capture
and execution Of brown and his men.
The uniform of the company was then
simply red shirts and black pants. They
were afterwards uniformed In gray. and
the State having furnished them with a
battery Of six beautiful navy Howitzers,
. soon became in popular estimation, one
Of the most promising companies In the
country.
The crusade Of Brown was eventually
followed by a proclamation OF war by
the President Of the United States against
the South. Virginia, after vainly en-
deavoring to preserve the union and
harmony of the States, resolved TO unite
herself with the fortunes Of the new
Confederacy. and the Howitzers at once
volunteered their services to their be-
loved State for term OF the war.
MUSTERED IN.
The original company had now increased
to over 800 men, and was received and
mustered into the service Of Virginia on
the 2lst Of April, 1861, In front Of the same
courthouse where eighteen months be-
fore they We're first formed. The corps
was marched into camp at the Baptist
College, near Richmond, where they were
organized into a battalion OF three COM
panies with George w. Randolph as major,
The First Company was commanded by
John c. Shields who later was promoted
to colonel, and assigned to the command
of Camp Lee; the Second Company. by
John Thompson Brown. afterward pro-
NOTED to colonel, First Virginia Regi-
ment Artillery, and killed at the "Wilder-
ness" May g. 1854; the Third Company.
by Robert c. Stanard. who died on the
Peninsula October 2S. 1861, and was sue
ceeded by Edgar +. Moseley, who was
promoted to major Of artillery August,
1862. and killed at Petersburg in 1864. He
was succeeded by Benjamin II. Smith,
who continued In command Of the COM
pany to the close OF the war.
These companies participated. from the
first gun at Bethel to the last at Apo
mattox Courthouse. In all the leading
events Of the late war, and carved for
themselves name which their descend
ants will be proud to remember.
OF the first officers Of the battalion but
one Is now alive august. 1859. and OF
La ttaxr
their last battle, and whom no sound
shall awake to glory again."
To these fallen heroes this work IL dedi-
Gated.
THE THIRD COMPANY.
The Third Company. Howitzers, went
into camp at the Baptist College on
April q, 1861, with 104 officers and men,
and, besides numerous skirmishes, were
engaged In the following battles:
Bethel. June 10, 1861.
Ellison's Mil, June 30. 1862
Gaines's Mill, July I, 1862.
Fraysier's Farm. July g. 1862.
Maycock's Landing. August -, 1862
Charlestown, October Is, 1862.
Fredericksburg, December 49, 1862
Charlottesville. May 2, 1853.
Winchester. June =, 1863.
Gettysburg, July Sd and 4th. 1858.
Mine Run, -, lSSf.
Spotsylvania Courthouse. May 10th. 18th,
and 18th, 1864.
Pole Green Church, June I, 1864.
Fusselps Mil. August l6. 1864.
LaurelHill Church, September g. 1854
Darbytown, October 10, 1864.
Around Richmond, October, 1854, TO
April. 1866.
Deatonsville, April 8, 1865.
Surrendering at Appomattox Courthouse.
April 10. 1866. her complete battery, with
ninety-six officers and men.