PVT James H. Argenbright

PVT James H. Argenbright was born in 1841 near Arbor Hill in Augusta County, Virginia. He was the 3rd of the 13 children of John Augustus and Jane (Dunlap) Argenbright. His father farmed there and may have worked as a distiller of rye whiskey but in 1860 was primarily working as a cooper together with James' older brother, David. 

James enlisted at nearby West View, Virginia on 29 Apr 1861 just 12 days after Virginia voted for succession. He then mustered with F Company 5th Virginia Infantry on 17 May 1861. He was with the unit at Harper's Ferry, the Battle of Falling Waters and, on 21 Jul 1861, the First Battle of Manassas. He was wounded at Manassas but recovered to the point that he returned to F Company on 15 Oct 1861. James was present with the unit as it fought in Jackson's Valley Campaign in the spring and summer of 1862. PVT Argenbright was with his unit at Seven Days, Gaines Mill, Malvern Hill, Cedar Mountain, Groveton, Second Manassas, and the Siege of Harper's Ferry. Then the army moved into Maryland and met the Federal units at Sharpsburg, the deadliest battle to that date. PVT James Argenbright was wounded there and evacuated to J. H. Groves farm where he died of his wound(s) on 6 Oct 1862. 

It is believed that PVT Argenbright was ultimately buried in the Washington Confederate Cemetery at Hagerstown, Maryland.

An uncle and 2 brothers also served in F Company 5th Virginia. Uncle Andrew Jackson Argenbright served as a PVT from 1861 until captured at Spottsylvania Court House in May 1864 and imprisoned at Fort Delaware. Brothers, CPL David Francis Argenbright and PVT Levi Argenbright also served, David enlisting in 1861 and Levi in 1864.

1LT Charles Washington Grills

1LT Charles Washington Grills was born in 1842 in Pulaski County, Virginia. He was the youngest of the 5 children of Charles F. and Isabella (Abney) Grills. His mother died age 36 in 1845 and his father died at about age 45 just 5-years later. In 1850 Charles and his older siblings were living with their grandmother, Elizabeth Parks (McClanahan) Abney on her farm near Mint Springs, Virginia. Valued at $1800, Charles' oldest brother John farmed it for the family. The younger children undoubtedly helped with the farm work. Another brother, Byrd, moved with some Abney cousins to Morgan County, Missouri and had built up an estate of $3912 by 1860 but he died in 1861.

Charles enlisted on 18 Apr 1861 in nearby Greenville, Virginia. This was just the day after Virginia voted to succeed from the union. He mustered with E Company 5th Virginia Infantry as the Orderly Sergeant. He was promoted shortly after being commissioned as a 1LT in the company on 23 May 1861. 1LT Grills then fought with the unit until 28 Aug 1862 at the 2nd Battle of Manassas when he was wounded in a leg. The leg had to be amputated. Evacuated to Augusta County, Virginia, near home, he died from complications arising from his wound or the treatment on 2 Oct 1862. 

1LT Grills was buried in the Abney Family Cemetery near Mint Springs, Virginia.  

His brother, Lycurgus Grills, served as an officer in E Company 5th Virginia Infantry commanding it after 2nd Manassas.