Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1906-01-03
First Battery of the Rockbridge
Artillery

pen of Mr.. W. G. Mcdowell ap-
peared in the Cor federste co'umn
of the Rich nond Times-Dispatch
last Sunday:
The Rock bridge Artillery might
properly and truly be called 'the big
men behind the big guns''-flrsS. on
account of their extraordinary services
they rendered their country from the
skirmish at Halusville, July 2, 1861,
where they fred the first big Confede-
rate gun in the Shenandoah Vail ey,
through four years. embracing nearly
every skirmisk and battle fought in
Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania,
to Appomatox, where, upon the last
day, April 9, 1855, they fired their last
gun, surrendering ninety-three Officers
and privates, an evidence Of how they
stuck to their guns through desolat-
lon, deprivation and starvation.
They also deserve this appel alton
on account OF the high INTEL
lectual qualities of officers and prlvates.
In The Life OF Stonewall Jackson"
by his wife. we find on the roster Of
the Rockbridge Artillery "seven mast
ers Of arts OF the University Of Vir-
GINA. forty two other college graduates,
nineteen theological students and others
Qncluding the youngest son Of General
R. E. Leo who we're among the noblest
young men of the South. and proper
ton OF processing Christian men as
surprisingly large as 1t was highly graf
flying, most Of whom were privates.
After the war seventy-two Of these nen
entered professional lie in four of its
departments. Twenty three clergyman,
including a bishop and a number Of
eminent doctors Of divinity; twenty-six
lawyers, including three judges and
some of the most prominent practition-
ers In Virginia and other States; six
teen educators on several Of whom was
conferred the big distinction Of doctor
Of laws, and seven physicians well
known to their professional brethren.
Besides these, others prominent as
bankers and engineers. Another evil
dence of the high intellectualstype OF
these men is found In the fact that
fcrty-five OF the privates of this COM
pany werespromoted to be commission
ed officers and assigned to other COM
mands, many of them attaining high
rank and becoming quite distinguish
ed.
The enrolment OF the Rockbridge
Artillery began at Lexington Va, on
April 10, 1861; ia less than a week it
included n officers and privates. un
der command OF Captain John McCaus
land, who in few days was promot
ed to be lieutenant-colone and sent
to West Virginia. when the Rev. w.
N. Pendleton. d. D., was unanimously
elected captain, under whose leader
ship the company left Lexington on
May 10th for the seat OF var (twenty
three days after the first enrollment),
carrying with it two small brass six
Founders from the Virginia Military
Institute. On May 18th, at Stanton,
Va, the company was regularly mus
tered into service. leaving at once for
Harpsr's Ferry to join Col. T. j. Jack
son ("Stonewall'') where itIrOceived two
more guns. This battery did fine
service at First Manassas, and after the
First Brigade was organized and bap-
tiled the "Stonewall Brigade, the
Rockbriuge Artillery was assigned to
it,and continued part Of it,participat-
ing in all its battles and skirpishes TO
Sharrsburg. Upon the reorganization
Of the artillery in October, 1863, the
battery was assigned to the First Regi-
ment of Virginia Artillery under com
mand OF Col. J. Thompson Brown,
and continued with 1t, until the close
OF the war.
The company had five captains duI-
Ing Ithe war; John McCausland, az
terward brigader- general of cavalry;
Rev. w. N. Pendleton, D. D.. after
ward brigadier- general Of artillery and
chief of artillery Of the army OF North
ern Virginia; Judge William McLaugh-
lin, afterward lieutena1t-colonel OF artil-
lery In the Army Of Northern Eir-
glnia; w T. Poague, afterwards lieuten-
ant colonel Of artillery in the Army of
Northern Virginia;and Archibald Ora
ham, who commanded the battery from
Second Fredericksburg to Appomattox.
Lieutenant ]. B. Peterborough and
Private r. G. NJ. Page rose to be ma
jors Of Artillery lu the Army Of North
ern Virginia.
AT no time during the wal did the
Rockbridge Artillery lack for recruits,
but had 4 list from which 1t could
fill lts ranks when depleted by heavy
casualties and by numerous promo
tions from It's roster. At Kernstown
it's rolls contained about $50 men, with
eight guns; after that battle the com
pany was given permission by Stone
wall Jackson to form battalion, and
after forming two companies and elect
ing their officers, for some reason the
permission was countermanded from
headquarters at Richmond, and the
company was ordered to cut down its
number to $50 men, and permission
was given the remainder to enter any
branch Of the service they saw fit
Many Of the dismissed men watched