12th LOGO

LOYAL WEST VIRGINIA
by Theodore Lang
The Deutch Publishing Co.
1895.


TWELFTH REGIMENT W. VA. INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS.

Roster of the Field, Staff and Company Officers of the Twelfth Regiment West Virginia Infantry Volunteers, Showing the Alterations and Casualties therein, from the Date of Original Organization of Said Regiment to the Date of Muster Out, June 16, 1865.

DATE OF COMMISSION
NAMES AND RANK
 CO. 
REMARKS
 
COLONELS
 
 
Aug. 20, 1862.John B. Klunk, Resigned September 1, 1863.
Jan. 26, 1864.William B. Curtis.  
 
LIEUTENANT-COLONELS.
  
Aug. 23, 1862.Robert S. Northcott, Resigned January 5, 1865.
Jan. 25, 1865.Richard H. Brown.  
 
MAJORS.
  
Aug. 25, 1862.Francis P. Peirpoint, Appointed Adjt.-Gen. of W.Va., June 16, 1863.
July 27, 1864.William B. Curtis, Promoted to Colonel.
Feb. 6, 1864.Richard H. Brown, Promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel.
Jan. 25, 1895.William Burley.  
 
FIRST LTS. and ADJT'S.
  
Aug. 7, 1862.Francis P. Peirpoint, Promoted to Major.
Aug. 25, 1862.George B. Caldwell, Resigned Jany 8, 1865.
Feb. 1, 1865.Henry R. McCord.  
 
First Lts. and R. Q. M.
  
Aug. 5, 1865.Nathan U. Thurber, Resigned May 11, 1865.
May 17, 1865.David B. Fleming.  
 
SURGEONS
  
Aug. 9, 1862.John Frizzell, Resigned September 15, 1862.
Sep. 16, 1862.John C. Campbell, Resigned March 12, 1863.
July 23, 1864.Sampson P. Bryan.  
 
ASSISTANT SURGEONS.
  
Aug. 11, 1862.Dwight Ruggles, Resigned November 22, 1862.
Sept. 10, 1862.Sampson P. Bryan, Promoted to Surgeon.
Nov. 8, 1862.Frederick H. Patton.  
July 23, 1863.Alexander Neil.  
 
CHAPLAINS.
  
Oct. 7, 1862.Thomas H. Trainer, Resigned December 25, 1862.
March 26, 1864.Richard W. Wallace.  
 
CAPTAINS.
  
April 16, 1862.Hagar Tomlinson,
A
Resigned November 1, 1864.
Nov. 16, 1864,William Burley,
A
Promoted to Major.
Jan. 25, 1865.William L. Roberts,
A
 
Aug. 22, 1862.Martin P. Bonar,
B
Resigned January 25, 1863.
Feb. 11, 1863. John C. Roberts,
B
Resigned on account of wounds.
 
CAPTAINS.
  
Feb. 13, 1865.Thomas A. Fleming,
B
 
Aug. 23, 1862.Erastus G. Bartlett,
C
 
Aug. 20, 1862.Wm. B. Curtis,
D
Promoted to Major.
Oct. 12, 1863.Wm. A. Smiley,
D
Promoted to Paymaster U. S. A.
May 9, 1865.David M. Blayney,
D
 
Aug. 22, 1862.Cornelius Mercer,
E
 
Aug. 25, 1862.Amos N. Pritchard,
F
Resigned March 24, 1865.
May 9, 1865. Francis H. Peirpoint, Jr.
F
 
Aug. 25, 1862.James W. Moffatt,
G
 
Aug. 20, 1862.Jacob H. Bristor,
H
 
Aug. 28, 1862.Richard H. Brown,
I
Promoted to Major.
Feb. 10, 1864.John Henry Melvin,
I
 
Aug. 29, 1862. Thomas White,
K
Resigned August 1, 1863.
Oct. 28, 1863.John B. Jester,
K
 
 
FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
  
Aug. 16, 1862.Thomas S. Magruder,
A
Resigned January 17, 1863.
Feb. 3, 1863.William Burley,
A
Promoted to Captain.
Dec. 16, 1864.W. H. Riggs.
A
 
Aug. 22, 1862.Nathan S. Fish,
B
Resigned February 3. 1863.
Feb. 11, 1863.James W. Dunnington,
B
Dismissed May 28, 1864.
Aug. 6, 1864.Henry C. Wallace,
B
 
Aug. 23, i862.Wm. L. Roberts,
C
Promoted to Captain, Company A,
Feb. 1, 1865. Michael Gardner,
C
 
Aug. 20, 1862.William A. Smiley,
D
Promoted to Captain.
Oct. 12, 1863.David M. Blayney,
D
Promoted to Captain.
May 9, 1865.James C. Peirson,
D
 
Aug. 22, 1862.Oscar H. Tate,
E
Dismissed March 6, 1863.
July 9, 1863.James R. Durham,
E
 
Aug. 22, 1862.Thomas A. Fleming,
F
Promoted to Captain.
Feb. 13, 1865.Francis H. Peirpoint, Jr.
F
Promoted to Captain.
May 9, 1865.Duncan Cunningham,
F
Transferred to 10th W. Va. Infantry.
Aug. 25, 1862.Van D. Hall,
G
Resigned February 33, 1865.
Feb. 13, 1865.George W. Fortney,
G
 
Aug. 20, 1862.David Powell,
H
Mustered out by order War Department.
Feb. 13, 1865.Thomas H. Means,
H
 
Aug. 15, 1863.John Henry Melvin,
I
Promoted to Captain.
Feb 10, 1864.Milton B. Campbell,
I
Dismissed September 13, 1864.
Nov. 11, 1864.William Hewitt,
I
 
Aug. 29, 1862.John B. Jester,
K
Promoted to Captain.
Oct. 28, 1863.John R. Brenneman,
K
 
 
SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
  
Aug. 16, 1862.William Burley.
A
Promoted to 1st Lieutenant.
Feb. 3, 1863.Philip G. Bier.
A
Promoted to Captain and A. A. G., U.S. Vol.
April 6, 1864.Thomas W. Manning,
A
Resigned November 16, 1864.
Dec. 16, 1864.Joseph Caldwell,
A
Transferred to Company C.
Aug. 22, 1862.John C. Roberts,
B
Promoted to Captain.
Feb. 11, 1863.James Whittingham,
C
Promoted to Captain and A. Q. M., U. S. Vols.
Oct. 24, 1864.Henry R. McCord,
C
Promoted to 1st Lieutenant and Adjutant.
Dec. 16, 1864.Joseph Caldwell,
C
Killed in the assault and capture of Ft. Gregg,
whilst planting the regt'l. colors on the Ft.
Aug. 20, 1862.David M. Blayney,
D
Promoted to 1st Lieutenant.
Nov. 23, 1863.James C. Peirson,
D
Promoted to 1st Lieutenant.
Aug. 22, 1862.James R. Durham,
E
Promoted to 1st Lieutenant.
July 9, 1863.Asa S. Hugill,
E
Promoted to Captain and transferred to
10th W. Va. Infantry.
Aug. 25, 1862.Thomas H. Haymond,
F
Resigned February 7, 1863.
March 4, 1863.John T. Ben Gough,
F
Killed in action at Winchester.
Dec. 1, 1863.Francis H. Peirpoint, Jr.,
F
 
Feb. 13, 1865. Duncan Cunningham,
F
Promoted to 1st Lieutenant.
May 9, 1865.Craven Smith,
F
 
Aug. 25, 1862.Elam F. Pigott,
G
 
Aug. 20, 1862.Thomas H. Means,
H
Promoted to 1st Lieutenant.
May 9, 1865.William D. Martin,
H
 
Aug. 27, 1862.Thomas W. Bradley,
I
Killed in action at Winchester.
Jan. 19, 1864.Milton B. Campbell,
I
Promoted to 1st Lieutenant.
April 6, 1864.William Hewett,
I
Promoted to 1st Lieutenant.
Nov. 11, 1864.Josiah M. Curtis,
I
 
April 29, 1863.John R. Brenneman,
K
Promoted to 1st Lieutenant.
Oct. 28, 1863.John A. Briggs,
K
 

     The Twelfth West Virginia Infantry was organized August, 1862, with John B. Klunk, colonel; Robert S. Northcott, lieutenant-colonel; and Francis P. Peirpoint, major. Its early service was performed in West Virginia in scouting, guard duty, etc. In January, 1863, we find the regiment at Winchester, in the Middle Department, Eighth Army Corps, General Milroy's division. In March, it is a part of Col. Geo. Hay's brigade, still at Winchester. May 11, it is at Clarksburg in General Roberts' command. June 1, at Grafton; again at Winchester, June 13 to 15, participating in Milroy's disastrous defense of that place, when the regiment lost two officers and six enlisted men killed, one officer and 35 wounded. In this engagement Lieut. James R. Durham, of Co. E, while gallantly leading his company in the fight was severely wounded in the right arm and hand.

     On June 30, it was at Bloody Run, in Col. L. B. Pierce's brigade; July 14, at Hagerstown, in Col. A. T. McReynold's brigade; August 31, at Martinsburg, in General Kelley's department; September 1, 1863, Colonel Klunk resigned. December 10, at Charlestown, in command of Major Curtis; December 31, in General Sullivan's division, Col. Geo. B. Well's brigade; January 26, 1864, Major Curtis promoted to colonel and in command of the regiment at Harper's Ferry. At New Creek, February 1, opposed to Early's and Rosser's advance upon that place. April 1, at Cumberland, in Colonel Thoburn's brigade, Sigel's department; April 15, at Webster and Beverly. May 15, at New Market, in the Shenandoah Valley, in the battle between Sigel and Breckinridge, two killed and fifteen wounded. July 18, at Snicker's Ferry, in Colonel Thoburn's brigade. July 24 and 25, at Kernstown in General Crook's command, Div.-Col. Wm. G. Ely's brigade, two killed, 19 wounded. September 19, at battle of Opequon, Lieutenant-Colonel Northcott commanding brigade. October 19, at battle of Cedar Creek, under General Sheridan, Colonel Curtis commanding brigade, Lieutenant-Colonel Northcott commanding regiment. In March, 1865, several West Virginia regiments were transferred to the Army of the Potomac, and were incorporated in the 24th Army Corps. The 12th Regiment was assigned to the 3d Brigade of that corps, under command of Col. William B. Curtis, of the 12th, as brigade commander.

     While the brigade was in camp at New Market, Va., eight miles below Richmond, it received orders on the 27th of March to proceed at once to the left of our lines on Hatcher's Run, to co-operate in a general movement against the enemy. The advance troops struck the enemy's lines at the angle where their works began to retire, and crossed Hatcher's Run, silencing two forts, carrying one of them and the line of works between them by assault. The assault on the 2d of April, upon Forts Whitworth and Gregg, and two or three smaller works, were performed under the immediate observation of General Grant, who in his official report makes mention of the troops engaged. The Third Brigade (Colonel Curtis) captured Fort Whitworth and one or two smaller works, taking a large number of prisoners, whilst the 12th West Virginia Regiment, operating in this brigade, aided in taking Fort Gregg, and distinguished itself for gallantry in the desperate hand-to-hand conflict which the attack on that fort involved. The colors of the 12th West Virginia were the first planted on the works. The gallant color-bearer, Private J. R. Logsdon, of Co. C, was shot dead upon planting the colors there. Several other of the regiment were killed inside the fort, among whom were the gallant Lieut. Joseph Caldwell, of Co. C; Lieut. Josiah M. Curtis, Corporal Andrew Apple, and Private Joseph McCausland, of this regiment; each won from the Government a mark of distinction for their gallantry in this desperate conflict. Maj.-Gen'l John Gibbon, commanding the corps, presented to the regiment a golden eagle for their flagstaff, with the following inscription neatly engraved upon it, viz.: "Presented by Maj.-Gen'l John Gibbon to the 12th W. Va. Volunteer Infantry, for Gallant Conduct in the Assault upon Fort Gregg, April 2, 1865."

     The regiment was mustered out of the service at Burksville, Va., June 16, 1865. The regiment lost during the war, killed and died of wounds, three officers and 56 men; died of disease, 131 men. Total 190.


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