HISTORY
Loyal West Virginia 1861-1865, by Theodore Lang, 1895; pages 236-243.
The First West Virginia in the Three Years' Service
Oct. 30, 1861. | Joseph Thoburn, | Killed in action at Cedar Creek, Va., Oct. 19, 1864. | |
Nov. 2, 1861. | Henry B. Hubbard, | Discharged on Surgeon's certificate of disability, Oct. 3, 1862. | |
Dec. 4, 1861. | Jacob Weddle, | ||
Nov. 2, 1861. | Isaac Hardin Duval, | Promoted to Col. 9th W. Va. Inft. Sept. 9, 1862. | |
Dec. 4, 1862. | Jacob Weddle, | Promoted from Capt. Co. A. Promoted to Lt. Col. | |
Dec. 4, 1862. | Edward W. Stephens, | Promoted from Capt., Co. F. Mustered out at expiration of term of service. | |
Nov. 13, 1861. | James McElroy, | Promoted to Captain, Co. D. | |
Sep. 23, 1862. | Henry J. Johnson, | Vice McElroy, promoted. Retained in service by order Sec'y of War, and transferred to 2d W. Va. Veteran Infantry. | |
Nov. 13, 1861. | Wm. T. Singleton. | Promoted to Captain and C. S. | |
July 4, 1864. | Lucian Gray. | Vice Singleton, promoted. | |
Oct. 29, 1861. | David Baguley. | Mustered out at expiration of term of service. | |
Jan. 19, 1863. | A. W. D. Kraft, | Discharged March 19, 1863. | |
Oct. 30, 1861. | S. B. Stidger | Resigned July 10, 1862. | |
July 8, 1862. | James L. Gillespie, | Vice Stidger. Resigned Nov 18, 1862. | |
Feb. 27, 1863. | John English, | Vice Gillespie, resigned. | |
Feb. 19, 1863. | Gordon Battelle, | Died of disease. | |
Feb. 4, 1863. | William R. Howe, | Vice Battelle, deceased. Mustered out at expiration of term of service. | |
Oct. 3, 1861. | Jacob Weddle, | A | Promoted to Major, Oct. 3, 1862. |
Nov. 25, 1862. | William J. Robb, | A | Promoted from 1st Lieut. Mustered out at expiration of term of service. |
Nov. 26, 1861. | James C. White, | B | Resigned Jan. 16, 1863. |
Feb. 19, 1863. | George W. White, | B | Vice J. C. White, resigned. |
Oct. 21, 1861. | William Milhouse, | C | Discharged for disability Oct. 13, 1862. |
Nov. 25, 1862. | William H. Orr, | C | Mustered out at expiration of term of service. |
Nov. 5, 1861. | James F. Donnelly, | D | Died at Cumberland, Md., Jan. 1862. |
Oct. 6, 1862. | John S. McDonald, | D | Resigned. |
Nov. 25, 1862. | James McElroy, | D | Mustered out at expiration of term of service. |
Nov. 20, 1861. | Wm. Morgan, | E | Resigned Aug. 16, 1862. |
Nov. 25, 1862. | John Craig, | E | Mustered out at expiration of term of service. |
Nov. 1, 1861. | Edward W. Stephens, | F | Promoted to Major. |
Feb. 4, 1863. | James E. Morrow, | F | Mustered out at expiration of term of service. |
Nov. 5, 1861. | Oscar F. Melvin, | G | Mustered out at expiration of term of service. |
Nov. 6, 1861. | James M. Bowers, | H | Resigned July 28, 1862. |
Sep. 10, 1862. | Thomas Reed, | H | Mustered out at expiration of term of service. |
Nov. 6, 1861. | John B. Trimble, | I | Resigned. |
Aug. 25, 1862. | John W. Dougherty, | I | Died at Annapolis, Md., 1864. |
Dec. 11, 1861. | Richard Radcliff, | K | Mustered out at expiration of term of service. |
Oct. 3, 1861. | William B. Kelley, | A | Mustered out at expiration of term of service. |
Nov. 26, 1861. | James McElroy, | B | Promoted to Captain, Co. D, Jany. 16, 1863. |
Nov. 20, 1861. | John W. Dougherty, | B | Promoted to Captain, Company I. |
Feb. 19, 1863. | Thomas H. McKee, | B | Mustered out at expiration of term of service. |
Oct. 21, 1861. | William H. Orr, | C | Promoted to Captain. |
Nov. 25, 1862. | James W. Singleton, | C | Mustered out at expiration of term of service. |
Nov. 5, 1861. | John S. McDonald, | D | Promoted to Captain. |
Feb. 6, 1862. | James Wilson, | D | Resigned. |
Oct. 8, 1862. | Martin B. Helms, | D | Mustered out at expiration of term of service. |
Nov. 20, 1861. | John F. Baer, | E | Resigned February 28, 1862. |
Nov. 1, 1861. | Charles A. Freeman, | E | Mustered out at expiration of term of service. |
Dec. 17, 1861. | Thayer Melvin, | F | Appointed A. A. General. |
Nov. 24, 1861. | John W. White, | F | Resigned January 24, 1863. |
Feb. 25, 1863. | Theodore L. Apple, | F | Mustered out at expiration of term of service. |
Nov. 5, 1861. | Thomas Lloyd, | G | Mustered out at expiration of term of service. |
Nov. 6, 1861. | Thomas Reed, | H | Promoted to Captain. |
Sep. 24, 1862. | Henry H. Hornbrook, | H | Mustered out at expiration of term of service. |
Nov. 22, 1861. | John W. Dougherty, | I | Promoted to Captain. |
Nov. 6, 1861. | George James, | I | Mustered out at expiration of term of service. |
Dec. 11, 1861. | James A. Lewis, | K | Mustered out at expiration of term of service. |
Oct. 3, 1861. | John Barnes, | A | Killed in action at Port Republic, June 9, 1862. |
July 8, 1862. | Thomas M. Simpson, | A | Mustered out at expiration of term of service. |
Nov. 24, 1862. | Thos. H. McKee, | B | Promoted to 1st Lieutenant. |
Feb. 19, 1863. | John F. Ryan, | B | Mustered out at expiration of term of service. |
Nov. 6, 1861. | James W. Singleton, | C | Transferred to Company I. |
July 8, 1862. | Robert W. Vance, | C | Resigned February 2, 1863. |
Feb. 25, 1863. | Joseph B. Gordon, | C | |
Oct. 21, 1861. | Burgess Stewart | C | Resigned July 1, 1863. |
Nov. 5, 1861. | Wm. D. Logsden, | D | Resigned January 1, 1862. |
Jan. 23, 1862. | James Wilson, | D | Promoted to 1st Lieutenant. |
Feb. 6, 1862. | James C. Connelly, | D | Dishonorably discharged Jan. 20, 1863. |
Nov. 5, 1861. | Chester B. Hall, | D | Mustered out at expiration of term of service. |
Nov. 20, 1861. | John Craig, | E | Promoted to Captain. |
March 10, 1862. | James E. Morrow, | E | Promoted to Captain. |
Nov. 25, 1862. | John F. Baird, | E | Mustered out at expiration of term of service. |
Nov. 1, 1861. | John W. White, | F | Promoted to 1st Lieutenant. |
Feb. 25, 1863. | James L. Steel, | F | Mustered out at expiration of term of service. |
Nov. 5, 1861. | Chester B. Hall, | G | Transferred to Company D. |
Dec. 18, 1861. | William J. Robb, | G | Transferred to Company A. |
Aug. 25, 1862. | Joseph O. Adams, | G | Mustered out at expiration of term of service. |
Nov. 6, 1861. | Henry H. Hornbrook, | H | Promoted to 1st Lieutenant. |
April 11, 1864. | William S. Murphy, | H | Mustered out at expiration of term of service. |
Nov. 6, 1861. | James W. Singleton, | I | Promoted to 1st Lieutenant, Company C. |
Nov. 25, 1862. | James M. Goudy, | I | Mustered out at expiration of term of service. |
Dec. 11, 1861. | David Morgan, | K | Resigned February 1, 1862. |
March 17, 1862. | Henry K. Weeden, | K | Dismissed March 7, 1864. |
April 11, 1864. | John W. Plattenburg, | K | Mustered out at expiration of term of service. |
Col. Benjamin F. Kelley was the first colonel. Mention being made of his service and wounds, we have here to add that he was nominated by President Lincoln to be a brigadier-general of volunteers at the same time at which General Grant and a number of others who became illustrious in the War of the Rebellion were named for like positions. General Kelley was confirmed by the Senate and as a brigadier-general he commanded many important armies during the progress of the war. He was the only brigadier-general that ever commanded a department as such, through the entire war, notably the Department of West Virginia in the summer of 1864. He was brevetted major-general and leaves a record for fidelity and devotion to the cause of the Union, sharing in the establishment of a new State-West Virginia. He now sleeps among more than 14,000 of his comrades at Arlington, where future citizens shall view his resting place and talk of his lift service in the cause of liberty.
Col. Joseph Thoburn
But few names in the annals of was have clustered around them memories so strange and inexplainable as that of this gallant and loyal son of Virginia. He was on many battlefields, a leader worthy of his star, but facts over which political destinies seemed to hang, had kept from him the well-earned distinction of general, while he commanded a division of the army as a colonel longer than any man in the great Rebellions. It is said by a writer who is familiar with the records of the War Department, that this fact cannot be disputed. Colonel Thoburn was perhaps as well known as any colonel in the war; although his services were confined exclusively to the soil of Virginia, yet he came in touch and in contact with the commanders of all the Eastern armies and held subordinate positions above his rank, temporarily commanding brigades and divisions at different times. He was a man of conscientious principles, lovable in his disposition and brave to a fault. He never lacked in popular esteem among the rank and file of the army. His death was announced by General Sheridan as a great calamity. West Virginia has no greater honor to perform than that of placing, somewhere within her borders, a suitable testimonial to the character of this man.
Isaac H. Duval
Isaac H. Duval, of Wellsburg, West Virginia, who entered the service as major in the three months' service with the First Virginia Infantry, re-entered the service in the same capacity with the regiment at the beginning of the three years' term. His genius as a soldier very soon brought him into prominence when the active hostilities of the war began to show of what metal men were made. Of all the names borne on the rolls of the First Virginia Infantry, perhaps the ideal soldier was found in the person of this man. Very early in 1862, Governor Peirpoint selected him as colonel of the Ninth West Virginia Volunteers. His soldierly bearing soon marked its characteristics upon the regiment, and it became known throughout the Army of West Virginia that there was none better than the Ninth. In the conflicts that followed in the campaigns of 1863-64, Colonel Duval was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general and upon him devolved important commands during that history made famous by Sheridan and Crook, which shall live in the annals of time. It is a strange coincidence that at the surrender of the last troops in the Department of West Virginia, it should fall to the lot of one of West Virginia's sons to receive the sword of the commander of the capitulating forces, when the climax of war was ended. General Duval, upon whom rested the command of Hancock's corps (General Hancock being absent), being stationed at Staunton, Virginia, at the time of the capitulation of Lee's army, threw his troops in the way of the Confederate General Rosser, who in the command of Lee's cavalry attempted to make his way west with a sufficient force to continue active operations, but was brought to bay and compelled to surrender. General Duval has lived to enjoy the honor and esteem of the people of West Virginia, he having represented them in the lower House of Congress, and in many ways filled places of trust and honor.
Subalterns
Among the subordinate officers there were many who entered the service as unknown striplings or boys from the schools and the shops, who placed themselves at the heads of companies and other subordinate commands that were as honorable to their service, by reason of their youth and opportunities, as though they had succeeded to greater commands.
Rank and File
In the rank and file there were men as true and loyal, as ever bore arms in the defense of liberty and free government. It may not be amiss to state that of the per cent. of battleflags captured a greater number in proportion to the troops in the filed than by the troops of any other State. The names of many of the First West Virginia Infantry are enshrined forever on fields that shall live as among the marked spots where the conflicts of men took place in the War of the Rebellion. It would be doing injustice to others that any should be named, for among the unknown who fell and sleep in unmarked graves, West Virginia's greatest glory in unhonored and unsung, but we can all say: "All hail to the sons of the storm-born State, who gave their lives that liberty might live and that West Virginia may ever continue among the family of States."