PVT Luther Argenbright

PVT Luther Argenbright enlisted in D Company 5th Virginia Infantry on 11 Jan 1864. His first combat experience was likely at Morton's Ford, Virginia on 6 Feb 1864. His next experience was in the fighting in The Wilderness on 5 and 6 May 1864. PVT Argenbright was certainly with his company in the battle at Spotsylvania Court House and he was reported killed in action there on 12 May 1864. 

It is probable that PVT Argenbright was buried on the battlefield. We do not believe that he was moved to the Spotsylvania Confederate Cemetery.

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The above is all that we know for certain about PVT Luther Argenbright. Other researchers, including the author of the Virginia Regimental Series volume on the 5th Virginia, have apparently confused PVT Argenbright with Luther Asberry Argenbright, born 17 Sep 1830 died 17 Mar 1854, and buried in the Middlebrook Cemetery in Middlebrook, Virginia. We do not believe that is correct because there is both a contemporary stone marker with a different date of death and a contemporary government record of the date of death on the Luther Asberry Argenbright's headstone.

PVT George M. Carper

PVT George M. Carper was born in 1830 or 1832 in Frederick County, Virginia. He was the 4th of 8 children of Jacob and Eliza (Keller) Carper. The family had been in Frederick County since at least 1790 and originated in Germany. George's father farmed for himself before he began working for others to support his family. George also became a farmer, working first for others and then for himself. 

Still unmarried when the Civil War began, George enlisted in K Company 5th Virginia Infantry Regiment on 7 Mar 1862. George would have fought with the unit at the First Battle of Kernstown, been at McDowell and Front Royal, fought at the First Battle of Winchester, Port Republic, Sevens Days, Gaines Mill, Malvern Hill, Cedar Mountain, Grovetown, 2nd Manassas, Chantilly, Harpers Ferry, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, 2nd Winchester, Stephensons Depot, Gettysburg, Mine Run, and The Wilderness. PVT Carper was killed in action on 12 May 1864 at Spotsylvania Court House. 

We believe that PVT Carper is buried at the Spotsylvania Confederate Cemetery but is among those who were not identified and are not named on the roster.

George had 3 brothers. William Harvey Carper served as a PVT in H Company 7th Virginia Cavalry Regiment and was wounded in the arm at Sappony Church, Virginia. Jacob Carper served as a PVT in K Company 5th Virginia Infantry Regiment and died of typhoid in 1862 at Saint Charles Hospital, Richmond, Virginia. 

1SG James M Doom

courtesy of JMB

1SG James M Doom was born 9 Mar 1841 in Augusta County, Virginia. He was the 4th of 10 children born to Madison and Margaret (McAleer) Doom. Madison would support his family in several ways over the years working as a shoemaker in 1850 and as a gardener in 1860. Madison's total estate was reportedly worth $400 in 1860. By that date only 7 of Madison and Margaret's 10 children were still living. James was working as a marble cutter.

James enlisted as James F Doom, on 9 Jun 1861 in L Company 5th Virginia Infantry in Shepherdstown in what is now West Virginia. He then fought with the unit at First Manassas, through the Valley Campaign until wounded at Second Manassas on 28 Aug 1862. He recovered from his wound, possibly at home, and returned to his unit about the middle of October that year. SGT Doom served with L Company until killed in action as the unit fought northeast of the Germanna Plank Road at The Wilderness on 5 May 1864. 

1SG Doom's body was returned to Staunton and buried with family in Thornrose Cemetery.

Brother of CPL John F Doom of  L Company 5th Virginia Infantry killed in action at Port Republic on 9 Jun 1862.