PFC George Thomson

PFC George Thomson was born 3 Nov 1922 in Boston, Massachusetts. He was the youngest of the 4 children born to Robert Mathew and Wilhelmina (Strachan) Thomson. Both parents were natives of Scotland and had immigrated in 1911 and 1912 with their older children. His father worked as an instructor in health and hygiene. His 2 sisters became nurses and his brother became a doctor and surgeon. In 1940 the family was living at 40 Concord Avenue in Milton, Massachusetts, a home owned by his father and valued at $7500 at that time. George was still a student when he registered for the draft in 1942 and he managed to complete 2-years of college.

George volunteered for the Army in February 1943. After enlisting and completing his basic military training he was sent to England and assigned to A Company 116th Infantry. He then trained with the unit as they prepared for the amphibious invasion of Nazi occupied France. PFC Thomson took part in that amphibious assault on the morning of 6 Jun 1944 when he was killed in action on Omaha Beach.

PFC Thomson rests forever in the Normandy American Cemetery.

PFC William Gray Perdue

courtesy of Karl Clendening

PFC William Gray Perdue was born 1 Aug 1923 in Roanoke, Virginia. He was the eldest of the 3 children born to William Harrison and Stella Gray (Crowe). His father worked as a mechanic at a garage and was later the proprietor of a gas station reporting a 1939 income of $900. The family owned their home at 677 Peters Creek/Route 3 in Salem, Virginia. William was able to graduate from Andrew Lewis High School and then be employed.

William was drafted in January 1943. After his initial military training he was sent to England and assigned to A Company 116th Infantry. He was with the unit for the final phases of training for the amphibious landing that took place at Vierville-sur-mer, France on the beach code-named "Omaha". PFC Perdue was killed in action in that assault on 6 Jun 1944.

PFC Perdue was repatriated and re-interred in the Sherwood Burial Park in Salem, Virginia.

PFC Daniel Brunke Schmidt

PFC Daniel Brunke Schmidt was born 1 Oct 1913 in Cherry County, Nebraska. He was the eldest of the 5 children born to Harmon Brunke "Harm" and Mary Ellen (Osgood) Schmidt. 5-year old sister Elizabeth died in 1921. His father was a rancher who died unexpectedly in 1922 when one of his horses kicked him in the head. His mother married a man who had been their hired hand, Fred Mittendorf, who was a native of Germany. Mary and Fred had 2 more children and continued to live on the ranch. In 1940 Daniel was working for Lewis Anderson as a ranch hand. His family moved from the Cherry county ranch to Ulysses, Nebraska in 1942. He then went to work as a contractor and carpenter at the Alliance Army Air Base.

Daniel was drafted in November 1942. 3 months after entering the service he was sent to England and assigned to F Company 116th Infantry. He trained with the unit for the planned amphibious landing that was to be a part of the effort to liberate Nazi occupied Europe. PFC Schmidt was killed in action on 6 Jun 1944.

PFC Schmidt was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in the Sterling Cemetery in Sterling Nebraska.

Daniel's brother-in-law, LT(jg) Cecil Leroy Smith, and half-brother, PFC Fred Mittendorf Jr., were both serving at the time of Daniel's death.

PFC Thomas Henry Williams

courtesy of MAJ Jimmy Cotton

PFC Thomas Henry Williams was born 19 Aug 1917 in Troutdale, Virginia. He was the first of Walter Johnson and Dora Geneva (Pierce) Williams' 8 children. His father supported the family by farming in Grayson County, Virginia, at first on rented land and then on his own farm. Thomas and his siblings certainly helped their father and Thomas was able to attend 3-years of high school before going to work full-time. That is, in the economy of the time, it was difficult for Thomas to find full-time employement.

Thomas was drafted in May 1941. In accordance with policy at this time in the war he was sent to Fort George Meade, Maryland for processing and assigned to A Company 116th Infantry. PVT Williams then trained with the unit there and near Fort Bragg, North Carolina and Camp Blanding, Florida before sailing to England with the unit in September 1942. Once in England he trained with his company as it prepared for the amphibious invasion of Nazi occupied France. PFC Williams took part in that assault on 6 Jun 1944 and was killed in action on that day.

PFC Williams rests forever in the Normandy American Cemetery.

Great-grandfather, David Crockett Williams, served as a PVT in A Company 34th North Carolina Infantry (CSA) wounded at Chancellorsville, captured and interned at Point Lookout.

SSG Maurice Miller Williams

SSG Maurice Miller Williams was born 25 Aug 1917 in Vienna, Virginia. He was the youngest of the 13 children born to Howard Milton and Leah Colmore (Cornell) Williams. His father farmed in Fairfax County, Virginia. Maurice (pronounced "Morris") completed just 3-years of high school before he began work as a gas station attendant and played amateur baseball. He might have found a position as a Richmond City policeman in early 1941 but that job wasn't going to last very long.

Unlike many of the senior NCOs in the 116th Infantry, Maurice had not been in the National Guard at the beginning of the war. He was drafted in May 1941, soon after the 116th's units had been federalized and sent to Fort George Meade, Maryland. In accordance with the policy at the time he was drafted, PVT Williams was sent there as well. Once assigned to A Company 116th Infantry, PVT Williams was with the unit as it conducted training at Fort Meade, near Fort Bragg, North Carolina and at Camp Blanding, Florida. He was with the unit when it sailed for England aboard the Queen Mary. His unit was sent to Tidworth Barracks near Stonehenge and began a period of intense training. It was soon apparent to the command that so much training without recreation wasn't good for morale and among other things, an American baseball league was begun. The 116th formed a baseball team in the summer of 1943and Williams  was chosen as pitcher on the 20-man roster. The Yankees had a 27-game winning streak and entered the 1943 ETO World Series. Although they were considered underdogs the 116th Infantry Regiment Yankees fought off the competition and won the ETO World Series. Military necessity then required that the pace of training again increase to prepare the 116th for the coming amphibious assault. It says something for his leadership skills or military competency that Maurice would achieve the rank of SSG before June 1944. SSG Williams was killed in action in that amphibious assault on 6 Jun 1944. 

SSG Williams rests forever in the Normandy American Cemetery.

Older brother, Virgil Vivian Williams, served as a PVT in A Battery 110th Field Artillery Regiment, 29th Division in France during WWI. Brother, Allen Howard Williams, also served as a PVT in France during WWI.

PVT Claude Vernon Bray

PVT Claude Vernon Bray was born 15 Oct 1918 to John William and Rena Ann (Todd) Bray of Polk, Missouri.  His father was a farmer who died in 1930. Rena remarried and the children lived with her and their step-father, Edward Snyder.  However, it was the older brothers who are actually the farmers in the 1940 census. 

Claude entered service on 29 Jun 1943.  He was shipped overseas and assigned to 1st Platoon B Company 116th Infantry with which unit he attempted the assault on 6 Jun 1944 but he was killed on that day.  PVT Bray is buried in Montrose Cemetery in Greenville, Illinois. 

Brothers Clifford Earl Bray and  Manford A Bray also served. 

Soldiers without any biography...

While our intent is to provide a short biography and photos of soldiers of the 116th (mostly those who died in service) but with veterans of the Great War (World War I) we will have soldiers for whom and about whom we can find no information other than Rank, Name (and not always much of that), and date of death.  If you can help with that we'd be most grateful but of course nobody would know with which soldiers we need help unless we provide a list.  This is that list.  It should go without saying that we will update as we get information on those listed by posting a biography on them or by adding those as we discover them in this project.

PVT Satarino Fabricatose,  D-116th, KIA 8 Oct 1918*
PVT Alexander Pionski, D-116th, DOW, 22 Oct 1918
PVT Giovanni Santo, G-116th, KIA, 9 Oct 1918

PVT Joseph A. Crane, H-116th, DOW, 17 Jul 1944
PVT James D. Roberts, B-116th, KIA, 24 Apr 1945
PVT James A. Thompson, G-116th, KIA, 7 Jun 1944

PS - If you have information, feel free to comment on this post which will make that information easy to find.  If you need more genealogical assistance with someone you believe was a soldier in the Stonewall Brigade, i.e. the 116th Infantry Regiment or one of its ancestral units we will be glad to help if we can. Alternatively you can contact us through the 116th Infantry Regiment Foundation web site Contact page.

* New information has come to light and further research is being done to complete a memorial.

PVT Timothy Kane

PVT Timothy Kane was born 30 Nov 1910 in Drumshanbo, Ireland. He was the son of Owen Kane. Timothy immigrated in 1928 and pursued the American dream in New York City.  A high school graduate, Timothy apparently worked for the New York Central Rail Road, an elevator operator in 1933, and worked as attendant at Roosevelt Hospital in New York City 1940.

Timothy was drafted February 1941. We don't know for certain but we think that he was sent to Fort George Meade, Maryland and almost immediately assigned to B Company 116th Infantry. He would have then trained with the unit at Fort Meade, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina during the Carolina Maneuvers and at Camp Blanding, Florida. PVT Kane would have traveled to England aboard the Queen Mary with the regiment in September 1942. Once in England, PVT Kane would have participated in the intense training that was part of the unit's preparation for the planned amphibious landing that was to be part of the liberation of occupied France. However, for reasons currently unknown, PVT Kane present when a hand grenade detonated and was wounded in the abdomen. Admitted to the 50th Field Hospital at Cambridge, England PVT Kane died there on 31 May 1944. 

PVT Kane rests forever in the Cambridge American Cemetery.

PFC Henry Richard Dority Jr.

PFC Henry Richard Dority Jr. was born in Orange County, North Carolina on 30 Aug 1920. He was the only child of  Henry Richard and Carrie (Reeves) Dority. Carrie was was his father's 2nd wife. His father was a farmer with a farm near Banister, Virginia. Carrie was not well, she died of pulmonary tuberculosis in 1927. His father remarried later that year and had a daughter with Leslie Dean (Seamster) Dority. Henry senior had a stroke and died in 1939. Henry junior found work in a cotton mill but reported a 1939 income of only $144. 

It is likely the need for additional income that caused Henry to join the National Guard enlisting in F Company 116th Infantry in South Boston, Virginia. PVT Dority was serving with that unit when it was federalized in February 1941. He then trained with the regiment at Fort George Meade, Maryland, in the Carolina Maneuvers near Fort Bragg, North Carolina and at Camp Blanding, Florida before sailing with his unit to England in September 1942. The regiment underwent a period of intense training in England. We don't know why but PFC Dority died on 26 Dec 1943. 

PFC Dority rests forever in the Cambridge American Cemetery.

PVT Christian G. Ulrich

courtesy of Skip Farrow

PVT Christian G. Ulrich was born 2 Sep 1915 in Buffalo, New York. He was the 3rd of the 5 children born to Christian Frank and Margaret Mary (Pfaff) Ulrich. His father was a butcher to support his family at 61 Mineral Spring Road in Buffalo which was valued at $1000 in 1930. Young Christian left high school after 3 years and went to work as a fireman for the City of Buffalo School Department. 

Christian was drafted in December 1942. After completing his basic military training he was sent to England and assigned to the 116th Infantry. PVT Ulrich suffered a non-battle related injury and died on 15 Sep 1943. 

PVT Ulrich now rests forever in the Cambridge American Cemetery.

PVT John R. Adams

courtesy of Ginger Thrush

PVT John R. Adams (aka James R. Adams) was born 2 Jul 1842. We aren't sure when he enlisted but he was captured near Halltown, Virginia (now West Virginia) on 25 Sep 1864 while his unit, D Company 57th Virginia Infantry, was in the area. He may have changed units but was at one time a soldier in the 5th Virginia Infantry Regiment. He was taken to Camp Chase, Ohio where he died of disease on 15 Jun 1865. PVT Adams is buried in the Camp Chase Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio.

PVT Willie Eugene Young

PVT Willie Eugene Young was born 15 Jan 1925 in Hardeman County, Tennessee. He was the 2nd of 5 children born to Eddie Simon and Mamie E. (Rhodes) Young. His father farmed to support the family. Willie would finish his education with the 6th grade and then continued farming with his father.  

Willie was drafted in February 1943 and after training was sent to England in April 1944 and assigned to B Company 116th Infantry. With only a couple of months of training PVT Young was a part of the amphibious assault on Omaha Beach. He was killed in action on 6 Jun 1944 as B Company landed on the beach.

PVT Young was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred with family in the New Union Baptist Church Cemetery in Toone, Tennessee.

PVT James Bourne

courtesy of Forgotten Sons

PVT James Bourne was born 20 Apr 1843 in the village of Hothfield in County Kent, England. He was the 6th of the 11 children of James Attaway and Martha (Gillette) Bourne. He immigrated with his mother and 7 siblings arriving aboard the Mediator in New York harbor on 19 Jan 1848. The family was soon living in Tazewell County, Virginia where father James was working as a laborer in 1850. In the 1860 census, recorded on 18 Jun 1860, father James reported that he was farming in eastern Tazewell county and that his farm was worth $1200 and his personal estate was $360. James undoubtedly farmed with his father.

Young James was only 18 when the American Civil War began in 1861 and we believe that he enlisted soon after although it is possible that he did not enlist until 1864, mustering with H Company 5th Virginia Infantry. He would then have been present for every engagement in which the regiment participated over the next 3-years. PVT Bourne was captured with many other soldiers of the 5th Virginia on 12 May 1864 at Spotsylvania Court House. Initially sent to the prisoner of war camp at Point Lookout, Maryland he was then sent to the camp at Elmira, New York. PVT Bourne died there of an inflammation of the lungs almost exactly 1-year after his capture. He was buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery with other Confederate dead, now Woodlawn National Cemetery, by former slave John W. Jones who kept detailed records of all the burials.

PVT Peter W. Bridges

PVT Peter W. Bridges was born about 1828 in Gloucester County, Virginia. He was the eldest of 4 children born to Thomas and Sarah J. Bridges. The family farmed near Matthews, Virginia. 

Peter enlisted on 5 Dec 1863 at Matthews mustering with F Company 5th Virginia Infantry. PVT Bridges was with the unit at The Wilderness and at Spotsylvania Court House where he was captured with many others in the 5th Virginia on 12 May 1864 and sent with them to the Prisoner of War camp at Fort Delaware. PVT Bridges contracted small pox and died at Fort Delaware on 13 Apr 1865. He was buried on the eastern shore of the river in what is now the Finn's Point National Cemetery in Pennsville, New Jersey.

Brothers, Thomas Frank Bridges and Benjamin Franklin Bridges, served as a PVTs in Armistead's Battery, Virginia Light Artillery and survived the war.

1LT Jefferson William Obet Funk

1LT Jefferson William Obet Funk was born 30 Jun 1841 near Winchester, Virginia in Frederick County. He was the second of three children born to Christopher "Christian" and and Elizabeth (Arnold) Funk. His father worked as a bricklayer and was somewhat successful with real estate valued at $3296 in 1860 but the remainder of his estate was only $75. The family likely raised most of their own food. Christian did well enough that his oldest son was able to get an education and become a physician by 1860. Jefferson was likely pursuing a similar path in life.

Jefferson enlisted as a SGT in A Company 5th Virginia Infantry at Winchester on 18 Apr 1861, the day after Virginia voted for succession. He was commissioned as a 2LT a year later, on 23 Apr 1862. He fought with the unit until captured at Spotsylvania Court House on 10 May 1864. Sent to Morris Island, South Carolina on 15 Aug 1864 then to Fort Pulaski, Georgia (he was one of the "Immortal 600") on 15 Dec 1864 and then to Fort Delaware on 12 Mar 1865. 1LT Funk died there on 26 May 1865 of chronic dysentery. His body was recovered and he now rests forever in the Mount Hebron Cemetery in Winchester, Virginia.

Brother of COL John Henry Stover Funk.

PVT John E. Clemmer

PVT John E. Clemmer was born in 1835 in Augusta County, Virginia. He was the 9th of the 14 children born to John Cyrus and Diannah Virginia (Crick or Creek) Clemmer. His father farmed in Rockbridge County in what is referred to District 51 on the 1850 census but is actually Disctrict 6 (VI in the Roman numerals on maps of the time) that is in the area of Steele's Tavern just south of the Augusta County line. John Cyrus Clemmer died 29 Oct 1857. With his father dead and many of his older siblings married and having moved away from the family farm, John apparently made the decision to live with and farm for his brother William near to Staunton, Virginia. 

The whole country was moving towards war and, after the events at Fort Sumpter Virginia voted to succeed on 17 Apr 1861 and John and several of his brothers enlisted on that same day and mustered with D Company 5th Virginia Infantry on 25 May 1861. John was with the unit until 3 Jul 1863 at Gettysburg where he was wounded in the head. PVT Clemmer recovered from his wound and rejoined his unit in April 1864. It was not long before he was again involved in combat in the Battle of The Wilderness. Soon after the unit was caught in the Mule Shoe salient in the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House and PVT Clemmer was captured with many other men from the 5th Virginia. Sent to Fort Delaware which was on Pea Patch Island in the middle of the Delaware River along the Delaware and New Jersey border, PVT Clemmer was held there until he succumbed to dysentery and died on 19 Mar 1865. As with many of those prisoners who died there he was taken across the river and buried in an unmarked grave at what is now Finn's Point National Cemetery in Pennsville, New Jersey.

Other family members served during the American Civil War as well. Brothers, Jacob Franklin Clemmer, George Lewis Clemmer, William Letcher Clemmer and Henry Clay Clemmer, also served as PVTs in D Company 5th Virginia Infantry. Brother Joseph Alexander Clemmer served as a PVT in H Company 14th Virginia Cavalry.

COL William Henry Harman

COL William Henry Harman was born 17 Feb 1828 in Waynesboro, Virginia. He was the second of the five brothers born to Lewis and Sarah Jane (Garber) Harman, all of whom would serve as officers in the Confederate States army during the Civil War. His father farmed in Augusta County. Like his brothers, William was given a private education. 

William left home to serve as a 2LT in the 1st Virginia Infantry Regiment during the Mexican American War. After his return he studied law and married Margaret Susan Garber on 26 Dec 1848. He began work as a lawyer and was elected Commonwealth's Attorney for Augusta County, Virginia in 1851 and held the position until the Civil War. 

William and Margaret had eight children. Their second child, Frances, died at the age of 2 of an undisclosed (or unknown) cause in 1850. Their eldest child, Kenton, died of a "sore throat" at the age of 7 in 1857. 

William was appointed Brigadier General of the 13th Brigade of Virginia Militia by Governor John Letcher on 10 Apr 1861. As such he was part of the plot initiated by former governor Henry Wise to preemptively seize the federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry (now in West Virginia). After Virginia voted for succession on 17 Apr 1861, Governor Letcher approved the plan and BG Harman's troops under MG Kenton Harper captured the post on 18 Apr 1861. 

The 5th Virginia Regiment was organized there with COL Kenton Harper commanding and LTC William Harman as what would now be referred to as the executive officer. The regiment was assigned to BG Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's brigade (1st Virginia Brigade) and William's brother, COL Michael Garber Harman was initially the brigade's quartermaster and he was soon succeeded by their brother MAJ John Harman. The unit fought at First Manassas on 21 Jul 1861 where General Jackson received his nickname. William succeeded as commander of the 5th Virginia in September 1861 when COL Harper resigned. COL Harman commanded the regiment at the First Battle of Kernstown on 23 Mar 1862. He was not elected as Colonel of the regiment in the April 1862 reorganization of the Confederate army. Instead he served as an aide-de-camp to Brigadier General Edward "Alleghany" Johnson in the Valley Campaign in April 1862 and then returned home. 

He was appointed Assistant Adjutant General on 19 Feb 1864. He commanded a regiment of militia/reservists/home guard at the Battle of Piedmont on 5 Jun 1864. He survived that defeat and continued to serve. He was present to command CSA soldiers at the Battle of Waynesboro and was killed in action while attempting to rally his soldiers on 2 Mar 1865.

COL Harman's body was recovered and interred in Thornrose Cemetery in Staunton, Virginia. He is survived by numerous descendants. His brothers worked towards economic recovery for the region.

COL John Henry Stover Funk

COL John Henry Stover Funk was born in Frederick County, Virginia on 28 Jun 1837. He was the eldest of the four children born to Christopher and Elizabeth (Arnold) Funk. His father was a brick mason and the family lived on Market Street in Winchester, Virginia, the county seat of Frederick. Called "Stover" by his friends, John graduated from the Winchester Medical College in Winchester and began a medical practice in Farmington, Virginia (in Marion county in what is now West Virginia) in August1860.

When the Marion Rifles, a militia unit was formed in Marion County, John was elected Captain of the company. He enlisted, together with the other members of his unit, on 18 Apr 1861 and the unit was re-designated as A Company of the 5th Virginia Infantry Regiment. He and his company fought at First Manassas. In April of 1862, with the reorganization of the army, Funk was elected Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment then, after Colonel Baylor was killed leading the brigade at Second Manassas, Funk became Colonel of the regiment. When Brigadier General Paxton was killed at Chancellorsville, he temporarily commanded the brigade as the senior Colonel. He reverted to command the regiment when Brigadier James A. Walker ("Stonewall Jim") was assigned to command the brigade on 19 May. He fought at Culps Hill at Gettysburg. When the brigade was overwhelmed at the Mule Shoe on 12th May 1864, Funk was put in nominal command of the remnants of the Stonewall Brigade, while Col. William Terry (who was nearly a full year junior in seniority to Funk) was promoted to command the full brigade of the remnants of the rest of the division. Funk would serve with the "Stonewall Regiment" until he was mortally wounded at the Third Battle of Winchester, 19 Sep 1864. He died of his wound at his father's home 2 days later on 21 Sep 1864.

COL Funk is buried next to his brother, 1LT Jefferson William Obet Funk, in the Mount Hebron Cemetery in Winchester, Virginia. 

COL William Thomas Poague

COL William Thomas Poague was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia on 20 Dec 1835. He was the first-born child of the six children of John Barclay and Elizabeth Stuart (Paxton) Poague. His father was a successful farmer in north-western Rockbridge County of Virginia owning eight slaves in 1850 and increasing that to twenty-two by 1860. His total estate was valued at $39,220 in 1860 or about $1.5-million in today's money. As the son of a wealthy family, William was educated as was common at the time. He attended school in Brownsburg, Virginia for two years before attending at Washington College for four years graduating with a BA degree in 1857. He traveled after graduation, taught school near Atlanta, attended judge Brockenbrough's law school and then moved to Saint Joseph, Missouri to practice law. 

After it became clear that war was inevitable, he returned to Lexington to enlist in the Rockbridge Artillery even though he had not supported succession. Elected 2nd Lieutenant he served at First Manassas before Captain Pendleton was reassigned to serve as chief of artillery. He was then given command of the battery and promoted to Captain. He fought at several battles before being promoted to Major on 2 Mar 1863. MAJ Poague served as Executive Officer to COL David Gregg McIntosh's artillery battalion before being assigned to command his own battalion in 3rd Corps. He commanded the battalion from Gettysburg to Cold Harbor where he was twice wounded. After recovering he participated in the defense of Petersburg and was present for the surrender at Appomattox.

Returning home after the war, William married Sara Josephine Moore in 1878 and supported his family as a farmer, teacher and lawyer. He represented Rockbridge County in the Virginia House of Delegates and was a trustee for Washington and Lee University from 1865 to 1885. He worked as Treasurer for VMI for 30 years, 1884-1914 and was on their Board of Visitors. COL Poague died on 8 Sep 1914 and is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Lexington, Virginia.

His 3 sons served in WW1 in France in the Field Artillery. He has several living descendants.

NOTE: This memorial was published on the 100th anniversary of his passing.

CPT Henry King Cochran

courtesy of Sassy Tazzy

CPT Henry King Cochran was born 1 Apr 1834 in Augusta County, Virginia. He was the 4th of 9 children of George Moffett and Maria Theresa (Boys) Cochran. George Moffett Cochran Sr was very well to do. His real estate holdings were valued at $50,000 in 1850 or about $1.7-million in today's money. In 1860 his real estate was valued at $60,000 and his personal estate at $40,000 which would be about $3.2-million today. Henry attended the University of Virginia in Charlottesville as did 3 of his brothers and Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Cochran was already a prominent person in Augusta County at the age of 26 working as a physician, merchant and farmer. As the election of 1860 approached, his father spoke publicly against succession and it seems from newspaper reports that Henry was of like mind in 1860 and active in at least one group politically supporting that view.

Henry joined the West Augusta Guard in 1860 and was made a Lieutenant in that unit commanded by William Smith Hanger Baylor. Elected as 1st Major when the various Augusta county units voted to form a regiment in March 1861 he was commissioned as a 2LT in L Company 5th Virginia when the unit was mustered on 17 Apr 1861. He resigned 20 May 1861 just before the unit was converted to an artillery battery but soon became an assistant surgeon at the Old Seabrook Hospital in Richmond, Virginia. Henry apparently accepted an appointment as Quartermaster of the 14th Virginia Cavalry Regiment with rank effective 14 Feb 1863. He was transferred to the 13th Virginia Cavalry on 20 Dec 1863. Although some sources say that he was  transferred to the 11th Virginia Cavalry in 1864 and was Quartermaster for that regiment it appears that he may have been returned to the 14th prior to McCausland's raid into Pennsylvania in July 1864.

CPT Cochran was present for the burning of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania by GEN McCausland's troops on 30 Jul 1864 when he was killed. This is the account of his death by a local witness.

Captain Cochran, quartermaster of the 11th Virginia Cavalry, was caught by Thomas H. Doyle, of Loudon, and at the point of his pistol was given just fifteen minutes to live. Cochran begged piteously for his life but Doyle, on the very second, shot him dead; and there was found on his person $815 in greenbacks, all stolen from citizens, and $1,750 of Confederate currency.

CPT Cochran was initially buried in Franklin County, Pennsylvania but his body was recovered after the war and returned to Staunton and buried near his family in the Thornrose Cemetery in Staunton, Virginia. 

5 of the 7 Cochran brothers served in Virginia units during the American Civil War. George Moffett Cochran Jr. served as Quartermaster of the 52nd Virginia Infantry and later of J. Pegram's Brigade. Alexander Boys Cochran was a 1LT in G Company 5th Virginia Infantry captured at Spotsylvania Court House and sent to Fort Delaware. John Lynn Cochran was a 2LT in A Company 52nd Virginia Infantry and died of disease 30 Jan 1862. James Addison Cochran served as a PVT in I Company 14th Virginia Cavalry and was wounded in action.

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.

* * * * * * 

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.

PVT William Crist Anderson

PVT William Crist Anderson was born 25 Jan 1841 at Burnt Cabin Place in Augusta County, Virginia. He was the 3rd of 9 children born to Alexander and Sarah Francis (Livick) Anderson although some records indicate that his father was Charles Anderson

William was not among the first to enlist, perhaps because of his age, and did not join D Company 5th Virginia Infantry until 21 Mar 1862 when he was drafted.  It is possible that he was present for the 1st Battle of Kernstown but was most certainly with the unit in the remainder of General Jackson's Valley Campaign, the Seven Days Battles, Cedar Mountain, Groveton, 2nd Manassas, Chantilly, Harper's Ferry, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, 

PVT Anderson died at Alton Military Prison on 15 Dec 1863 and is buried in the Confederate Cemetery in Alton, Illinois.

Brothers served as well. Edward Manor Anderson served as a PVT in C Company 14th Virginia Cavalry as did Andrew Perry Anderson and John A. Anderson. John died of disease at home in April 1863.

CPT Lycurgus Grills

CPT Lycurgus Grills was born in 1839 in Augusta County, Virginia. He was the 3rd 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 Lycurgus and his siblings were living with their grandmother, Elizabeth Parks (McClanahan) Abney on her farm near Mint Springs, Virginia. Valued at $1800, Lycurgus' 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. Lycurgus went to Charlottesville, Virginia and enrolled at the University of Virginia attending 1859-1861. 

Lycurgus enlisted on 30 Aug 1861 at Centerville, Virginia serving as a PVT in E Company 5th Virginia Infantry with younger brother Charles. Commissioned as a 2LT in that same company where his younger brother ranked him. He was present at the 2nd Battle of Manassas when his brother was wounded and was also wounded there. Nevertheless he was promoted to Captain on 30 Aug 1862 and now commanded the company although he didn't return until 2 Oct 1862. CPT Grills became so ill on 20 Jul 1863 that he was sent to a hospital in Culpeper, Virginia. He was then sent nearer to home to a hospital in Staunton, Virginia. He died there on 15 Nov 1863. 

CPT Grills was buried in the Abney Family Cemetery in Mint Springs, Virginia. 

Lycurgus brother Charles Washington Grills served as a 1LT in E Company 5th Virginia Infantry until he was wounded and later died of his wound.