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Recollections of the 13th Regiment
Hurt Federal Soldier at Gettysburg
At the battle of Gettysburg, Lt. Alexander S. Douglas of Company C of the 13th Regiment had command of the ambulance corps of the brigade, which was composed of two men from each company in each regiment, whose duty it was to march in rear of their respective commands in battle and carry off the wounded as they fell to the ambulance, which would carry them to the field hospital. On July 2, 1863, a Union soldier was lying wounded in the hot sun, some distance in front of the Confederate lines, and was crying out loud to be removed. McGowan's brigade was behind some temporary breastworks made of fence rails piled up in front of the men. As soon as the soldier rose to an upright position, he became the target of the Union sharpshooters. Lt. Douglas got four men to volunteer to go with him and carry off this wounded Federal soldier to the Federal hospital at the Lutheran Seminary, which was within the Confederate lines. Doing so made them the target of the Federal sharpshooters until the four men got the wounded Federal soldier on the litter, when, seeing the mission of mercy of Lt. Douglas and his men to help their wounded comrade, the Federals ceased firing at them.
Photo of Lieutenant Douglas
The four men with Lt. Douglas were all members of the 13th, to wit: Isham Kirby of Co. C of Spartanburg county; A. Willis of Company I of Spartanburg county; David Suber of Company D of Newberry county and Dick Taylor of Company K of Lexington county.
Lieutenant Rufus Marion Crocker's Diary Entry
Rufus Marion Crocker was born February 1, 1838 in Spartanburg county, SC. At the outbreak of the war, he volunteered in the service of his State and was elected junior second lieutenant of Company I of the 13th Regiment. The diary entry below is an interesting account of the movements of the 13th Regiment up to the time of the Battle of the 2nd Manassas, where Crocker was seriously hurt. Crocker participated in Stonewall Jackson's famous march around Pope's right and rear. The entry is as follows:
"In 1862, August 25th, crossed the Rappahannock and marched towards Manassas; got there 27th and took possession; lay there that night and burnt the cars and provisions that we could not use or take along. Next day, 28th, we marched to Centerville, and from there by the Stone Bridge; met the enemy at railroad cut and fought that evening and lay on the battlefield and renewed the fight next morning and fought all day until 3 o'clock in the evening. Captain Smith was killed soon after I was wounded in the left leg, breaking one bone. My regiment lost half their number. I lay in the woods until the5th of September. I hired conveyance to Warrenton, Va., to a hospital, and was taken down with fever; lay there until the 20th, and went to Culpepper Courthouse and stayed there two nights and went to Gordensville and lay there one night, and went to Richmond; 1st October started for home; got home the 4th, and had a severe time with my leg. January 21st, 1863, went to Columbia and caught erysipelas. June went to Columbia. Again August went to Columbia. September 25th started back to my regiment." Lt. Crocker continued to serve his State until the end of the war, and returned home.
The Johnson Brothers
The brothers, Green Johnson, age 27; William Johnson, age 25; Marion Johnson, age 20; and John Tyler Johnson, age 16 all enlisted at the Spartanburg County Courthouse on September 4, 1861, by Captain Joseph L. Wofford. They became part of Wofford's Company E of the 13th Regiment of the South Carolina Volunteers. They were the sons of Elizabeth Johnson of northern Spartanburg county. It is said that they stuck together during the war. At the Battle of Fredericksburg, Marion Johnson was shot in the right arm. At the time, he was beside his younger brother, John T. Johnson. John told Marion to get down that the Yankees were firing. He did duck down but stuck up his right arm as if to shield himself. As a result, he was seriously injured on December 13, 1862, and his right arm was amputated. This story was handed down to John Tyler's grandson, Ben C. Johnson.
Photo of Pvt. Marion Johnson
John Tyler Johnson was wounded at the Battle of the Wilderness on May 5, 1864, where he took a mini ball in his left hand. He was admitted to Wayside Hospital in Richmond, Va. and stayed there until May 20th when he was discharged. He received a 60 day furlough; returned to service and was retired on September 14, 1864. According to a conversation with Viola Trent, daughter of Marion Johnson, John Tyler was almost court martialled once. The night was coming and the soldiers were supposed to hide in some pines. The woods were real thick and they were supposed to stay put until the morning and the soldiers were not to make any noise or fire their weapons unless ordered to do so. John Tyler allegedly saw someone crawling towards him and he could hear this noise so he fired his gun at the noise. His superiors were going to make an example of him but because he had been such a solid and true soldier they let him go with a good tounge lashing. John Tyler's older brother, William Johnson was not so fortunate. Company E was a part of the bloody charge at Spottsylvania Courthouse and he was wounded seriously on May 12, 1864; and died of the wounds in the hospital at Richmond on May 29, 1864. He is buried at Hollywood cemetery in Richmond. After returning home, the surviving brothers talked of how hungary they would be during the war and that they would have given anything for a piece of their mother's home cooked corn bread.
The Knitted Wool Cap That Saved
Victoria Crosson related this story about her father, Private J.T.P. Crosson of Company G of the 13th Regiment. Her father carried two items from home with him into battle: a small hand Bible and a knitted wool cap made by his mother. He carried both of these items with him in his pocket. She related that at the 2nd Battle of Manassas, he was shot in the side. However, the bullet did not penetrate him because the wool cap was so folded that the ball did not go through it. He felt that it was a helmet that protected his life.
She also related the time at Gettysburg when her father was with four fellow soldiers and they were standing not far from the rock wall at Gettysburg. One of them said that they are leveling a cannon on us. So they decided to get behind the wall. So they went on and had gotten on top of the wall. Her dad had his hand resting on a small post oak that had grown up beside the wall when the cannon exploded, and he alone was left to tell the story.
The Shaved Head
During the war, J.M. Werts of Company G of the 13th told that once a large bullet shaved the hair off the back of his head and shocked him all over. This knocked him out but he regained consciousness and was not at all seriously injured. He survived to return home after the war.
Coffee Saved the Day
Its said that there was never a brighter man than Lt. Colonel Lester of Company G. Once when the fellows of Company G were at a meal, an enemy shell was thrown into their midst. The fuse was still burning so Col. Lester had the mind to take his cup of coffee and pour it on the fuse and save the company. Many men were saved that day due to his quick thinking and that good cup of coffee.
The Promotion of Adam Washington Ballenger
Adam W. Ballenger was born in northern Spartanburg county (then called district) on January 17, 1844. His parents were Edward B. Ballenger and Cassia Ann Hempley Ballenger. He was raised on his father's farm, and soon after the beginning of the war, he enlisted at the Spartanburg Courthouse in Company C of the 13th Regiment. Ballenger was a sergeant in Co. C until 1863 when he was promoted for distinguished gallant service on the battlefield at the 2nd Battle of Cold Harbor. This promotion came from none other than General Robert E. Lee. At the battle, a charge was made against the federals and they were thrown in confusion ---so started an act of retreat. During all this, Ballenger separated himself from his command and alone, rushed forward and mounted one of the guns of the enemy's artillery. The union driver of the horses carrying the piece jumped off on the tounge between the horses and made his escape out at the end of the tounge. Ballenger immediately, in order to secure the capture of the gun, jumped off the piece, which he mounted. In returning to his command he met his Captain J.W. Carlisle, who told Ballenger that his brother, Joseph, was wounded and left in the rear. He then went to help his brother. In the meantime, a group of federals had come around on wing of the Confederate troops, but finding they were about to be cut off retreated, and carried Joseph Ballenger with them. The federals put Joseph Ballenger in the prison camp at Point Lookout where he died shortly thereafter. The conduct of Adam Ballenger was witnessed by General McGowen. McGowen sent for Ballenger a day or two later. When Ballenger arrived at headquarters, he was congratulated by the general, who informed him that he had recommended that he be commissioned a first lieutenant. He received his officers commission and was assigned to Company H of the 13th Regiment.
Photo of Lieutenant Ballenger
A few months later, he was appointed to one of the companies of Dunlop's Battalion of Lee's Sharpshooters, three companies of which were made up out of McGowen's Brigade. He remained in this outfit until he was severely wounded in the arm and hip on the picket line at Petersburg. He was carried to a hospital in Richmond and was there at the time of the surrender at Appomattox. After four months, he was well enough to return home and was ordered to the State capitol building in Columbia to take the oath of allegiance. Ballenger didn't like this idea, so he slipped off and bringing his army sword with him, he walked several miles out of the city and boarded the train for home. He finally returned home safely. This story is from Dr. Landrum's book on Spartanburg County.
Left for Dead and a Mother's Dream
R.W. Tinsley joined Company C of the 13th Regiment at the beginning of the War Between the States. He was only sixteen years old at the time. Company C was originally led by Captain David R. Duncan and later by Capt. John W. Carlisle. At the battle of Cold Harbor on July 27, 1862, young Tinsley was shot through his body with a minnie ball. In fact, this same shot killed a man directly behind Tinsley. On the battlefield, Tinsley was left for dead. Lying on the battlefield, Tinsley remembered that nearby there was a small creek; so, he slowly moved his way to the stream. There at the creek, he was able to drink water and bandage his wounds. He laid there all night and the next day was picked up by the ambulance corps. The night that he was lying all alone, he mother, had a dream that her son was in a certain hospital with severe wounds. She was so convinced by this dream that she persuaded her husband to make the journey to Virginia. They went to this hospital and found there son in a condition as bad as his mother had dreamed. They helped him recover and it took one year for him to come to a degree of health. He did recover and was able to re-enter service. After the war, he moved to Union county, SC and became a noted jeweler and watch maker. This story as told by Mrs. J.W. Mixson.
The Capture of Union Prisoners
O. Simeon Wertzs joined Company G of the 13th Regiment at the beginning of the war. He recalled while in Virginia at Reams' Station, he was sent out scouting. He said that the enemy's picket post was somewhere nearby, and his captain wanted 2 men to go scout. A friend of his volunteered to go with him. While out in the field, he soon thought that he saw a Federal soldier. He told his buddy to stay several yards back. He said that he eased up behind the federal soldier and called him to stand perfectly still and to drop his gun. The Union soldier obliged and was totally surprised. He says that the "Yankees" did not shoot him as they were going off, because he thinks that they thought he, Wertzs, was captured. Wertzs says he caught another Union soldier on another day and brought him into camp. This federal soldier was said to have been quite a prize as he had papers in his pocket that proved he was to be a spy. He credited his small stature as being the tool to help him capture these soldiers...it kept him from being seen by the enemy.
Three Times Wounded but not Dead
O. Simeon Wertzs noted that he was wounded three times during the war, and each time it appeared to be fatal. He says he through the grace of God he lived even having been shot in the head once. At Gettysburg, he stated that he was seriously wounded in his left wrist. Gen. Longstreet's men found him on the ground and carried him to the hospital. At the hospital, he was told to wait in the anteroom until the time for his examination. He waited all night with tremendous pain. He just used cold water pouring it over the wound to help ease the pain. Then an order came for all who could walk to move on. The doctor on duty, looked at his arm and pushed some small pieces of shattered bone back into his hand. He says as he walked 15 miles, he would bathe the arm in water whenever he found it. He noted that eventually the arm healed without any dressing at all. The only thing that he had was cold water and pieces of cloth wrapped on it to keep out the dust and flies.
General Robert E. Lee and the Horse Shoe
Pvt. James E. Rawl belonged to Major George W. Meetz's Company K of the 13th Regiment. He recalled that the 13th marched from the Battle of the Wilderness in two days to Spotsylavania. There, General Robert E. Lee rode up to McGowan and said that he had lost the Horse Shoe and asked McGowan if he could help him regain it. He heard McGowan respond that "Yes, my men will follow me anywhere." As they were ordered out, Gen. Lee said, "Palmetto Boys, follow me." Oscar Wood turned to the Gen. Lee and told him: "General, you are worth far more to us in the rear than in the front, we have McGowan to follow." When they got to the breastworks and began the fight, McGowan was wounded. Benjamin Brockman of the 13th took charge and they had a hard fight all day and all night. Colonel Brockman was killed, but the brigade regained the Horse Shoe and held it all day. They then moved out and McGowan's brigade was put on guard of the wagon.
A Virginian Joins the 13th Regiment
David A Christian lived 2 1/2 miles from Appomattox, Virginia. In January of 1864, he enlisted near Orange Courthouse in Company C of the 13th Regiment of the South Carolina Volunteers. Capt. David R. Duncan was in charge of Company C at the time. Capt. Duncan was reared and educated in Virginia and after becoming an adult had followed his father to Spartanburg county, South Carolina, where he became an attorney prior to the beginning of the war. Capt. Duncan was a close friend of Capt. Adams, the Chief of Gen. A.P. Hill's signal corps of the 3rd Corps. Gen. Hill required the signal detachment to be composed of two men from each state in the 3rd Corps. Thus, Capt. Adams and Capt. Duncan contrived to have Christian enlist in a South Carolina unit. In October of 1864, all signal corps personel were returned to their original units. According to Christian's notes, he thought about joining a Virginia unit but decided to continue with the 13th because he was treated very kindly by the men of the 13th. He stayed with the 13th until the close of the war and had probably the shortest walk home of any man of the 13th after the surrender at Appomattox -- only 2 and 1/2 miles. This story was related by Lt. Col. R.M. Dyess, the great grandson of David A. Christian.
Pvt. James E. Rawl Tells of the Fighting
Private James E. Rawl belonged to Company K of the 13th Regiment. "At Knowles Station we drove Grant's Army back into the woods. He flanked our armies. We fell back to the railroad. As I was coming over the fence I was wounded in the left shoulder. I was carried to the field hospital, where I stayed thirty days. I carried water for the wounded while there."
" We haad a day's march from Hawe's Shop down the James River below Chapins Bluff. We fought the negro troops under General Grant. In this battle I was wounded in the left ankle. We drove them back and John Anderson killed a Yankee Colonel with his sword. From there we crossed the James River and marched to Petersburg. On the 30th of September we had the battle of Jones' Farm, during the two days of fighting here, Captain C.C. Caughman was killed."
"After seven days at Richmond we went by rail to Jordansville and marched all day and night until we got to Manassas. Then we were in the rear of General Polk's Army, and General Longstreet was driving Polk's Army back. Stonewall Jackson held the rear, here we had some hard fighting and bloody scenes. I was wounded in the left thigh, and carried to Warrenton, Virginia, from there to Lynchburg, where I stayed three months, and from there to Jackson's Hospital in Richmond, Virginia, where I obtained a furlough for 75 days."
"I belonged to Major Meetz's Company. General Lee was driving Meade back from Richmond. We had a hard fight and succeeded in driving them back to Malvern Hill. If McGrunder (McGruder) had been on time with reinforcements, we would have captured Meade's Army. Maxey Gregg was killed at this time."
Bloody Angle and the Red Oak Tree
Newton L. Bennett belonged to Company B of the 13th Regiment. He joined after Gettysburg and was with this company until the surrender at Appomattox. He recalled: " In the battle of Spotsylvania, the fiercest engagement I ever witnessed, I fought sixteen hours without ceasing. The 'Bloody Angle,' shaped like a horseshoe, was taken by Hancock's Corps just at break of day. He captured Bushrod Johnson's Division with the artillery on the lines."
"McGowan's Brigade of South Carolinians and Harris' Missippians were sent to retake the angle. This they partially succeeded in doing with dreadful loss. Of the 34 of Company B who were in the battle, only 17 answered the roll call the next day. Colonel Benjamin Brockman and his brother Jesse Brockman, received their death wounds at this battle."
"My own hat and clothing were riddled with bullets, but I was unhurt. I was in the redoubt next to the redoubt in which stood the famous red oak tree, sixteen inches in diameter, that was shot down by grape and mini balls. I was 15 feet of this tree and saw it fall, wounding Sgt. Kinard of Company G of Newberry and Simeon Boswell of my company. I was on picket lines of Petersburg when they were taken and surrendered. at Appomattox."
The Surrender that Wasn't
J.F.F. Caldwell relates in his history of "McGowan's Brigade," an interesting account of confusion and the thoughts by both sides of a surrender of the other side. The Brigade, including the 13th Regiment, advanced upon the works. About the time the brigade reached the line, General McGowan was wounded by a mini ball in the right arm. Colonel Brockman of the 13th was the senior colonel present and assumed command. Then he received his wound, and Colonel J.N. Brown of the Fourteenth assumed comand of the brigade. Soon an order was given for the brigade to advance to the outter line. The troops did so at the double-quick pace; and found Harris' Mississippi brigade laying in the trenches. Caldwell writes: "We moved by the flank up the works, under the fatally accurate fire of the enemy, and ranged ourselves along the intrenchment. The sight we encountered was not calculated to encourage us. The trenches, dug on the inner side, were almost completely filled with water. Dead men lay on the surface of the ground and in the pools of water. The wounded bled and groaned, stretched or huddled in every attitude of pain. The water was crimsoned with blood. Abandoned knapsacks, guns and accoutrements, with ammunition boxes, were scattered all around. In the rear, diabled caissons stood and limbers of guns. The rain poured heavily, and an incessant fire was kept upon us from front and flank. The enemy still held the works on the right of the angle, and fired across the traverses. Nor were these foes easily seen. They barely raised their heads above the logs, at the moment of fiing. It was plainly a question of bravery and endurance now....... At one or two places, Confederates and Federals were only separated by the works, and the latter not a few times reached their guns over and fired right down upon the heads of the former."
"So continued the painfully unvarying battle for perhaps two hours. At the end of that time a rumor arose that the enemy were desirous to come in and surrender. Col. Brown gives the following account of it in his official report: -'About two o'clock, P.M., the firing ceased along the line, and I observed the enemy standing up in our front, their colors flying and arms pointing upward. I called to them to lay down their arms and come in. An officer answered, that he was awaiting our surrender -- that we had raised a white flag, whereupon he had ceased firing. I replied that I commanded here; and if any flag was raised it was without authority, and unless he came in, firing would be resumed. He begged a conference, which was granted, and a subordinate officer advanced near the breastwork and informed me that a white flag was flying on my right. He was informed that unless his commander surrendered, the firing would be continued. He started back to his lines, and, failing to exhibit his flag of truce, was shot down midway between the lines, which were not more than twenty yards apart at this point. The firing again commenced with unabated fury."
"An ensign of a Federal regiment came right up to us during the 'peace negotiations,' and demanded our surrender. Lieutenant Carlisle, of the Thirteenth Regiment, replied that we would not surrender. Then the ensign insisted that, as he had come under a false impression, he should be allowed to return to his command. Lieutenant Carlisle, pleased with his composure, consented. But as he went back, a man, from another part of the line, shot him through the face, and he came and jumped over to us."
Father and Son at Bloody Angle
Colonel William Lester in giving an account of the scenes of that day of the Bloody Angle, said that he saw a young man killed, that he fell into the ditch, behind the works in the water. The soldier's father was near him, and while stooping over the son he was shot and fell dead across the him.
If you know of any stories or recollections of any member of the 13th please let me know at adj61@aol.com.