19th and 20th Virginia Cavalry Regiments – Comprehensive History Including Operations As Infantry

Formation and Organization of the 19th & 20th Virginia Cavalry

 

19th Virginia Cavalry: The 19th Virginia Cavalry Regiment was formed in April 1863 during the Civil War, using the 3rd Virginia State Line as its core. This unit – known as the “Moccasin Rangers” – was a semi-organized guerrilla band from the mountain counties of western Virginia (what would soon become West Virginia). Under the command of Colonel William Lowther Jackson (a cousin of Stonewall Jackson), with Lieutenant Colonel William P. Thompson as second-in-command and Majors George Downs and Joseph K. Kesler, the 19th Cavalry coalesced out of local militia and ranger companies. Notably, Company A of the regiment was the Moccasin Rangers, drawn from Calhoun and Wirt Counties. Other companies were raised in Braxton, Jackson, Roane, Marion, Gilmer, Pocahontas, Kanawha, and Randolph counties – all in the mountainous region of northwestern Virginia. Many of these men had been fighting as irregulars early in the war, attacking Unionists and supply lines; their activities earned them the label of “bushwhackers” by Union authorities.

Colonel William Lowther Jackson

 

Lieutenant Colonel William P. Thompson

 

Jackson, tasked with organizing Confederate resistance in the west, incorporated these partisan fighters into the 19th Cavalry in April 1863. At its founding, the regiment had fewer than 75 horses for over 1,000 men. The shortage of mounts was exacerbated by General John D. Imboden’s strict orders forbidding the seizure of horses from Unionist civilians. Though Jackson and his men were eager to appropriate mounts by force, Imboden was adamant about avoiding alienation of the local population, hoping to bring that part of western Virginia back into the Confederate fold. As a result, the majority of the 19th Virginia Cavalry operated as dismounted infantry for nearly a year, fighting on foot until the spring of 1864.

 

Major George Downs

 

20th Virginia Cavalry: The 20th Virginia Cavalry Regiment was organized in August 1863, amid a push to recruit more “North Western Virginians” into Confederate service. Many early members of the 20th were originally from the 19th’s ranks (for example, a number of men from Company C, 19th Cavalry, were briefly transferred to help form the 20th’s Company F in mid-1863). The 20th Cavalry’s first commander was Colonel William W. Arnett, with Lt. Colonels Dudley Evans and John B. Lady, and Major Elihu Hutton as field officers. The regiment’s companies were raised largely in what had just become the state of West Virginia: Marion, Monongalia, Randolph, Barbour, Harrison, Wood, Wirt counties, among others. Interestingly, two companies (I and K) were recruited in Rockbridge County in Virginia proper, but the majority of troopers hailed from the Appalachian counties that had split from Virginia.

 

Major Elihu Hutton

Like the 19th, the 20th served under Col. William L. Jackson’s brigade for most of the war, and in fact Jackson often commanded both regiments together in the field (this led to the brigade informally being called “Jackson’s Cavalry Brigade”). Together, the 19th and 20th Virginia Cavalry became the backbone of Jackson’s Brigade in the western Virginia theater. These men too suffered from a lack of horses, and although trained as cavalry, often fought dismounted until mounts became more available in early 1864.

Command Structure: Both regiments were part of the Confederate States Army cavalry branch. Initially, the 19th was assigned to Brig. Gen. Albert G. Jenkins’s Cavalry Brigade in the Department of Western Virginia. After Jenkins was wounded at Gettysburg (mid-1863), command of the brigade passed to Col. William L. “Mudwall” Jackson, who eventually was promoted to brigadier general and continued to lead these units through 1864. The 20th, upon its formation, also joined Jackson’s Brigade. Thus, through late 1863 and 1864, the 19th and 20th Virginia Cavalry fought alongside each other, usually under William L. Jackson’s command.

Jackson repeatedly lobbied for the right to seize horses from Unionist civilians in order to remount his command, arguing that cavalry was ineffective without horses. Nevertheless, Imboden remained firm in his policy of restraint, hoping to avoid provoking further Unionist backlash in the contested counties of western Virginia. As a result, Jackson’s Brigade—though labeled as cavalry—fought largely as infantry for much of 1863 and early 1864, often relying on seized Union wagons or captured mounts after engagements to replace their dwindling supply of horses.

Early Engagements in Western Virginia (1863)

Jones–Imboden Raid (April–May 1863): Shortly after the 19th Virginia Cavalry’s creation, it took part in a major Confederate raid into the western counties. In April 1863, Gen. John D. Imboden and Gen. William E. “Grumble” Jones launched a two-pronged expedition to disrupt Union infrastructure (notably the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad) and rally recruits in northwestern Virginia. Col. William L. Jackson led the 19th Cavalry as part of Imboden’s column during this raid, which ranged hundreds of miles. The 19th Cavalry fought in several skirmishes and helped Imboden’s force occupy towns like Beverly, Buckhannon, Weston, and Sutton in what is now West Virginia. Imboden later reported the raid “compelled the enemy to destroy large and valuable stores at Beverly, Buckhannon, Weston, Bulltown, Suttonville, and Big Birch” and that his men seized or burned bridges, blockhouses, railroad trestles, cattle, horses, and wagons. However, the hoped-for massive uprising of local recruits did not materialize – Jackson managed to recruit only 300–400 new volunteers during the raid. Imboden bitterly noted that the people remaining in northwestern Virginia seemed largely beaten down or Unionist, writing that those true to the Southern cause had their spirit “broken by tyranny” while those against the Confederacy were implacably hostile. This statement underscores the social reality the 19th (and later 20th) Cavalry faced: operating in a region with divided loyalties and relatively limited Confederate support. The Jones-Imboden Raid nevertheless was an early proving ground for the 19th Cavalry, which by the raid’s end in May 1863 had helped damage Union supply lines and glean much-needed mounts and equipment. In June 1863, the 19th was attached for a time to the Army of Northern Virginia’s cavalry during the Gettysburg Campaign (as Jenkins’s Brigade), though it saw little action in Pennsylvania beyond scouting and burning bridges in the Union rear.

Skirmishes and Guerrilla Warfare: Throughout 1863, small detachments of the 19th (and later the 20th) Cavalry were involved in a series of skirmishes across western Virginia. The mountainous terrain and mixed sympathies of the populace meant the war in this region was often a war of raids, ambushes, and counter-raids. The regiments patrolled and contested areas around Sutton, Summersville, Bulltown, and Beverly. They confronted Union “home guard” units and U.S. regiments guarding supply routes. For example, in June–July 1863, part of the 19th Cavalry took part in an expedition to Beverly, West Virginia, to disperse Union forces there. Both regiments also had to deal with Unionist guerrillas and pro-Northern partisans in the region. This period saw an ongoing “bushwhacker vs. bushwhacker” conflict: interestingly, some families were split – one of the Moccasin Rangers’ early leaders, Perry Connolly, was killed in 1862, while his brothers fought for the Union. Such internecine strife was common in western Virginia. By the fall of 1863, the 19th and newly formed 20th Cavalry were the principal Confederate mounted force operating in the Ohio River and Kanawha River valleys of West Virginia, under Col. Jackson’s command.

The Battle of Bulltown (October 13, 1863)

One of the most significant actions for Jackson’s Brigade was the Battle of Bulltown, fought on October 13, 1863, in Braxton County (central West Virginia). Although small in scale, this engagement was important for control of the Weston & Gauley Bridge Turnpike, a key road through the region. Bulltown was a tiny village where that turnpike crossed the Little Kanawha River by a covered bridge, and both sides recognized its strategic value. In fact, Union and Confederate forces had occupied Bulltown off and on since 1861 because of the crossroads; by autumn 1863 the Union maintained a stockade fortification there.

In early October 1863, Col. William L. “Mudwall” Jackson (commanding the 19th and 20th Virginia Cavalry and other detachments, about 700 men total) launched a surprise offensive to seize Bulltown. Jackson’s plan was to overrun the Federal garrison, disrupt Union use of the turnpike, and perhaps inspire local support. What mounted forces Jackson did have, he sent to destroy telegraph lines and scout in their home counties to draw Federal attention away from his Bulltown operation. In the predawn hours of October 13, his Confederate force crept upon the Union camp. Captain William H. Mattingly, commanding less than 400 Federals (detachments of the 6th and 11th West Virginia Infantry) in log breastworks on a knoll by the river, described what happened next:

“We were attacked this morning at 4:30 o’clock by Colonel William L. Jackson, with about 1,000 men and two pieces of artillery. They charged our fortifications on the northeast side… We fell back to our main fortification… They [the Rebels] continued fighting until 4:30 o’clock this evening, when they retreated.” – Capt. W. H. Mattingly, 6th WV Infantry, official report from Bulltown, Oct. 13, 1863.

Jackson’s assault in the dim early light initially drove the Union pickets in and forced the Federals to hunker down in their small fort. The Confederates had achieved surprise; Mudwall Jackson’s 700 men (including the 19th & 20th Cavalry dismounted, supported by two cannons) outnumbered the Union garrison roughly two-to-one. Twice during the battle Jackson sent a flag of truce demanding Mattingly’s surrender, and allegedly boasted that he knew the Federals’ exact numbers and ammo count. The Union captain refused each demand. According to local lore, Mattingly replied he would “fight until Hell freezes over and then fight on the ice” rather than give up. A contemporary account in the Wheeling Intelligencer confirms the defenders’ resolve:

“At 4 o’clock A.M. the Federal forces at that point, only 155 in number, were attacked by the renegade Wm. L. Jackson with a rebel force… not less than 800, with two pieces of artillery. The fight was kept up till 4 P.M., and resulted in the complete repulse of the rebs., with a loss of from fifty to sixty killed, wounded and prisoners. Our loss was slight.” – Wheeling Intelligencer, October 19, 1863.

Despite the long odds, Mattingly’s “gallant little band” held on for 12 hours, aided by strong log fortifications on the knoll and a timely resupply of ammunition from a moored steamboat. Col. Jackson tried maneuvering his troops through the woods to encircle the fort. He divided his force, sending part of the 19th Virginia Cavalry under Maj. Joseph K. Kesler to flank the position from the west while the 20th and the rest pressed from the front. The Confederates managed to infiltrate to within yards of the log barricades, but the defenders poured on steady rifle fire. Frustrated, Jackson sent his second demand for surrender mid-afternoon, which was again rebuffed with defiance. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Jackson, Union reinforcements were on the way. A column of Union cavalry (Companies of the 4th WV Cavalry, known as the “Wheeling Cavalry” or Boreman’s Rangers) was moving toward Bulltown.

By 4:30 PM, Col. Jackson decided to retreat. His force withdrew southward in the direction of Sutton, leaving at least nine of their own dead on the field (these were later buried by local residents). That evening and the next day, Union cavalry arrived to pursue the fleeing Confederates. A member of the pursuing Ranger company wrote:

“On the evening of the fight at Bulltown, our company and Company C, 4th W.Va. cavalry, arrived… the next morning Capt. Shanley was ordered to take command of both companies and proceed on the road on which Jackson was retreating… We drove in Jackson’s pickets, capturing one man and two horses; we then attacked his column… Major Homes… gave the order to cease firing and fall back… I venture to say that had Shanley been in command of the cavalry that day, Jackson would never have gotten away with his command.” – Letter in Wheeling Daily Register, Oct. 27, 1863.

In the end, the Battle of Bulltown was a clear Union victory. Jackson’s Confederate force failed to capture the fort or the valuable bridge. The “renegade” Jackson, as Union papers called him, was “sadly disappointed” in not being able to push on to seize the regional town of Weston as he had hoped. The little garrison at Bulltown had held out against superior numbers, bolstering Union control of interior West Virginia. Union losses were very light – Captain Mattingly himself suffered a severe thigh wound (he would survive) and a handful of men were injured, but only 1 killed. Confederate losses were several dozen. The fight marked effectively the last major Confederate offensive into central West Virginia. After Bulltown, the 19th and 20th Virginia Cavalry would not operate in such strength in that region again; instead, they shifted focus to southern West Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley subsequently. Today, the Bulltown battlefield is part of the Bulltown Historic Area managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (as part of the Burnsville Lake project). Visitors can still see the remains of the Union entrenchments and other period structures. The site features interpretive staff and preserved earthworks, commemorating the fierce fight in this mountain crossroads. (The memory of Bulltown also lives on in local lore, particularly the colorful replies attributed to Captain Mattingly during the battle.)

Late 1863: Droop Mountain and Operations in the Appalachians

After the Bulltown repulse, Jackson’s cavalry units regrouped. In November 1863 they faced a new challenge: a Union offensive in southeastern West Virginia. On November 6, 1863, the Battle of Droop Mountain took place in Pocahontas County, involving many of the same Confederate troopers. This time, however, the 19th and 20th Virginia Cavalry were not fighting alone – they were part of a larger Confederate force under Brig. Gen. John Echols (about 1,700 men) trying to stop Union Gen. William W. Averell’s raid through Greenbrier County. Jackson’s 19th Cavalry and Arnett’s 20th (in Jackson’s Brigade) held positions on the right of the Confederate line on Droop Mountain. Averell attacked with a force of 5,000, including infantry and cavalry. In a hard-fought battle lasting several hours, the Union forces assaulted the wooded crest. Eventually, Averell’s troops flanked and broke Echols’s left, forcing a Confederate retreat in the afternoon. Jackson’s brigade, including the 19th and 20th, provided rear guard cover as Echols’s army fell back in disorder toward Lewisburg. The Battle of Droop Mountain was one of the largest battles in West Virginia and effectively ended organized Confederate resistance in the new state.

In the wake of Droop Mountain, the surviving Confederate cavalry – including the 19th and 20th – withdrew into the Shenandoah Valley or toward southwestern Virginia. Through the winter of 1863–64, Jackson’s Brigade performed picket duty and minor raids in the Greenbrier Valley and the Alleghenies. Both regiments were assigned in December 1863 to the newly created Department of Western Virginia and East Tennessee, under Maj. Gen. Samuel Jones. They operated around the Virginia–West Virginia border, skirmishing occasionally with Union scouting parties. One recorded action was a skirmish at Marling’s Bottom (Hillsboro), West Virginia, on April 19, 1864, where elements of the 19th Cavalry were engaged. By mid-1864, however, the demands of the larger war pulled the regiments eastward. When Union General David Hunter drove up the Shenandoah Valley toward Lynchburg in June 1864, Jackson’s Brigade (19th, 20th Virginia Cavalry, and others) was called to join the Confederate forces gathering to oppose Hunter. This began the final phase of the regiments’ active service, in the Valley Campaigns of 1864.

1864: Shenandoah Valley Campaigns and Final Operations

In June 1864, the 19th and 20th Virginia Cavalry were incorporated into Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge’s command defending southwest Virginia. They helped repel Hunter’s raid at the Battle of Lynchburg (June 17–18, 1864), arriving as part of Brig. Gen. John McCausland’s and Jackson’s cavalry forces. As the war shifted focus, both regiments became part of Lt. Gen. Jubal Early’s Army of the Valley. Through mid-1864, they served in Jackson’s (and briefly Brig. Gen. Henry Jackson’s and Col. William H. Payne’s) Cavalry Brigade, in Maj. Gen. Robert Ransom’s cavalry division. During Early’s invasion of Maryland in July 1864, the 19th and 20th were among the Confederate cavalry units that rode north. They likely saw action screening the flanks at the Battle of Monocacy (Maryland, July 9, 1864), where Early’s advance was delayed by Union forces. Subsequently, the regiments rode with Early’s army through the gates of Washington, D.C. (though they did not assault the capital), and back to the Shenandoah Valley as Union General Philip Sheridan took charge of Federal forces.

That autumn, the 19th and 20th Virginia Cavalry fought in the great Shenandoah Valley battles: at Third Winchester (Sept. 19, 1864) and Fisher’s Hill (Sept. 22, 1864), Jackson’s Brigade was engaged on the Confederate cavalry wing, though outnumbered by Union horsemen. Both battles were defeats for Early’s Confederates. By October 1864, the remnants of the 19th and 20th were weary but still in the field. They were present at Cedar Creek (Oct. 19, 1864), Early’s final, disastrous attempt to turn the tide in the Valley. On that foggy morning, while Early’s infantry surprised the Union camps, Jackson’s cavalry (including the 19th and 20th) skirmished on the flanks and rear. Ultimately Sheridan’s Union army routed Early, and many Confederate cavalrymen (especially dismounted ones) were captured in the retreat from Cedar Creek. Col. William H. Arnett of the 20th Cavalry distinguished himself attempting to cover the Confederate retreat during this battle.

After Cedar Creek, Jubal Early’s once-formidable force was a shattered remnant. In the final winter of the war (1864–65), the 19th and 20th Virginia Cavalry, still together in Jackson’s brigade, endured harsh conditions. By early 1865, they were operating in the upper Shenandoah Valley and the mountains of western Virginia, trying to protect what was left of the Confederate flank. Many troopers lacked shoes and proper clothing. In February 1865, Brig. Gen. William L. Jackson took many of these cavalrymen southward in an attempt to link up with Confederate forces in southwest Virginia and North Carolina. By March 1865, as Union General U.S. Grant pressed in on Richmond and Petersburg, Jackson’s brigade was in western Virginia, one of the last Confederate forces still active west of the Appalachians.

In early April 1865, with General Lee’s surrender looming, the 19th and 20th Virginia Cavalry effectively disbanded. On April 15, 1865 – six days after Lee’s surrender at Appomattox – Colonel (now General) Jackson officially dissolved the 19th Cavalry regiment. The 20th Cavalry similarly broke up around April 14–15, 1865. The officers and men, rather than formally surrender as a unit, mostly went home or fled, some attempting to reach Confederate forces farther south. A few small groups, including Jackson himself, surrendered to Union authorities later in April on parole. Thus ended the active service of the 19th and 20th Virginia Cavalry – without a formal capitulation, but in the general collapse of the Confederacy’s defense of Virginia.

Social and Cultural Context of the Regiments

The story of the 19th and 20th Virginia Cavalry is deeply entwined with the divided loyalties of their home region. Western Virginia (later West Virginia) was largely pro-Union; indeed, the state of West Virginia was created in 1863 by secession from Virginia, with voters in those counties overwhelmingly approving a new state that remained loyal to the Union. Within this Unionist region, however, pockets of Confederate sympathy remained strong – particularly in the rugged Appalachian counties where longstanding resentment of federal authority and loyalty to Virginia ran deep. The men of the 19th and 20th Cavalry were often from these pockets: mountain farmers, woodsmen, and rangers who chose to fight for the South even as their neighbors joined the North. Many were of Scots-Irish or German frontier stock, accustomed to hard living. Their motivations ranged from opposition to what they saw as Union invasion of their homes, to personal loyalty to charismatic local leaders, to resentment of the new West Virginia state’s loyalty oaths and anti-slavery measures. For example, Company A of the 19th (the Moccasin Rangers) had initially taken up arms to defend their localities in 1861 before formal Confederate enlistment – such men were motivated by a fierce sense of local allegiance and a desire for revenge against Unionist neighbors as much as by abstract ideology. Throughout 1861–62, these irregulars (like Perry Connolly’s band in Calhoun County) terrorized Union supporters, which led Union authorities to crack down harshly. By 1863, when these fighters were brought into the 19th Cavalry, they already carried two years of bitterness into the ranks. The phrase “Remember Spencer”, for instance, was reportedly used as a battle-cry at Bulltown – referencing an earlier clash at Spencer, WV, where Confederate partisans suffered losses at Union hands.

Demographics: The ranks of the 19th and 20th included men as young as mid-teens to seasoned men in their 40s. A regimental roster shows a wide range of occupations – farmers predominating, but also blacksmiths, schoolteachers, and woodsmen. Most could ride and shoot before enlisting, valuable skills for cavalry service. Notably, a number of officers were local gentry or men of some political standing: Colonel William L. Jackson himself had been a lawyer and a county judge from Parkersburg (and even Lieutenant Governor of Virginia before the war). He earned the nickname “Mudwall” to distinguish him from his famous cousin “Stonewall” Jackson, though humorously there was confusion and multiple “Mudwall” Jacksons in Confederate service. The common soldiers, by contrast, sometimes fought with minimal uniforms or equipment. Letters from the men (when extant) often speak of lack of shoes, clothing, and even horses, troopers of the 19th and 20^th had to serve as infantry until mounts could be procured. Despite hardships, the esprit de corps within companies – often made up of neighbors and kin from the same county – was strong. They were known for a rough, irreverent sense of humor.

Regional Support and Civilian Interactions: In western Virginia, civilian support for these Confederate cavalrymen was a double-edged sword. Sympathizers provided food, intelligence, and guides through the mountain passes. On the other hand, staunch Unionist locals would report their movements or even take up arms against them. The 19th Virginia’s early incarnation as the Moccasin Rangers gained notoriety for raids on local post offices, theft, and even murder of Unionist civilians. This led to retaliatory arrests – one leader, Dan Duskey, was captured and sent to prison in Albany, NY for such activities. Confederate Governor John Letcher and Gen. Imboden realized that to win hearts and minds (and recruits) in the west, the partisan fighters needed to be brought under regular discipline. Thus, when the 19th and 20th were formed, efforts were made to formalize command and curb the more lawless tactics. Still, guerrilla-style fighting never fully ceased. Even after the regiments joined Early’s Valley army, small bands were often detached back to their home counties for scouting or recruiting, where they sometimes clashed with home guards or bushwhackers. As Imboden indicated, by late in the war many western Virginia Confederates felt isolated – he wrote that except for pockets of support, the populace had become “to all intents and purposes, a conquered people” in the northwest.

 

Accounts of the 19th and 20th Virginia Cavalry operating as Infantry:

 

 

April 1863

When the Jones and Imboden raid began, Jackson filled the roster of the 19th Virginia Cavalry with 10 companies and recruited 4 more companies to begin forming the 20th Virginia Cavalry. However, out of the more than 1,000 men mustered into cavalry service, only 400 of them owned horses. Jackson lobbied for his regiments to be added to Imboden's army to provide his dismounted soldiers an opportunity to seize horses from the well-bred stock of western Virginia. The primary objective of Jackson's men was to get horses, preferably from Federal herds, but from the civilian population if military horses could not be taken. Imboden hoped that his army's success in western Virginia would recapture the allegiance of the civilian population. Imboden issued an order to the army forbidding seizure of private property and required anything, including horses and cattle, to be paid for with Confederate banknotes, which the men enlisted into Jackson's ranks did not have.

Company A, 20th Virginia Cavalry were not all mounted, therefore divided. The mounted men of the company were detached from the 20th and sent with the 18th regiment of cavalry, commanded by Col. Geo. Imboden, and I was in command of that part of the company. The dismounted part of the company was sent with the infantry and dismounted cavalry around Beverly to the right, and that part of the company was commanded by Capt. Camp. - Poe

The Next morning my horse was dead; he may have been hurt in the fall in the creek. I was then on foot. Capt. Camp took command of the mounted men, and I the dismounted. - Poe

I was not feeling very active, having marched on foot from Beverly, Randolph county. - Poe

 

June 1863

Jackson split his command into several detachments to watch Beverly and other points. The department commander, Major General Sam Jones, admonished Jackson to pay close attention to any movement towards Staunton. The general urged Jackson to have the remainder of his men ready for active service as soon as possible. About two months had passed since the organization of the 19th Virginia Cavalry, yet they lacked arms and equipment. Many of the men were without horses.

The grade of the pike makes the distance three or four times as far as it would be to go directly across. To gain time, footman had a well beaten path directly over the mountain. I was ordered by General Jackson to take eighteen men and go up the path to the top of the mountain and report, should the enemy attempt to flank his command from that side. - Poe

 

June 29, 1863

The expedition to Beverly started when Colonel Jackson advanced by three different routes. One detachment would advance via Valley Mountain. This column consisted of cavalry, infantry (actually dismounted cavalrymen, used as infantry), and a section of Captain Beirne Chapmans Battery.

When daylight came we were in plain view of a Federal picket, with a farm house standing about half way between us. Our forces were about equal in number. They were mounted, we were not, but we were in the edge of the woods.- Poe

July 1, 1863

Colonel Jackson accompanied the column with the dismounted men and the artillery. Along the way, an assassination attempt against Jackson took place. A party of Union Bushwhackers resolved to kill Jackson. As none of the bushwhackers knew Jackson, they asked for aid of a young girl who knew him. The assassins persuaded her to step out onto the road as Jackson passed by and hand him a letter. This she did, and as soon as she had reached the safety of her house, the assassins fired a volley at Jackson. Their volley missed, striking no one. Jacksons men immediately returned fire, killing one of the bushwhackers and routing the rest. Jackson promptly arrested the young girl and detained her for a while.

 

Evening, July 1, 1863

After passing Valley Mountain, Colonel Jackson detached Major John B. Lady with a force of 150 dismounted cavalrymen. Men from the companies of Captain Evans, Arnett, Hayhurst, Duncan, and Boggs made up the detachment. These companies became part of the 20th Virginia Cavalry in August. Major Lady and his men followed blind paths over a series of the most rugged and densely timbered mountains for 12 miles. Major Lady ordered a two-hour halt, which his exhausted men readily welcomed.

 

July 2, 1863

The march toward Beverly resumed. Many of the men complained of being footsore. When within eight miles of Beverly, Jackson detached about 200 men under the command of Major David Boston Stewart. The men of this detachment were from the companies of Downs and Ball, with part of Youngs, Lewis, and Campbells. Some unorganized recruits and mounted men accompanied them. Major Lady advanced his command as far as possible, just out of range of Federal artillery. Captain Evans, with 40 men, were placed on the road to blockade and picket it. Captain Arnett occupied an adjacent height to support Evans men. Major Lady held the companies of Captain Hayhurst, Duncan, and Boggs in reserve. About this time the cavalry scouts (Sergeant Rader) reported to Major Lady. Major Lady, taking advantage of now having mounted men, sent a courier to communicate with Colonel Dunn. Leaving the main column near Huttonsville, Major Stewart followed the back road as fast as the condition of his men would permit. The few mounted men accompanying him acted as scouts in the advance. Major Stewart deployed Captain Campbells Company on his right as skirmishers. Detailing 25 men to advance and take possession of the roads beyond Harpers house, Stewart prepared to advance upon the Federals. Major Stewart and his men were in motion at 6:45 a.m. Thirty of his men, being unable to march, remained at Harpers house. Captain Burns and his company scouted their former position, with Stewart and the dismounted men following. The major ordered his men, about 140 strong, to fall in, and opened fire on the enemy. Major Stewart ordered the dismounted men to charge. They rushed forward with a deafening cheer, firing upon the enemy. Lieutenant William Harris fell while leading his company in this charge. According to the Richmond Sentinel, the Federals had 42 killed and 67 wounded. The loss in Stewart’s command amounted to, according to the available records, 3 killed and 5 wounded. The mounted men of Stewarts detachment did not take part in the fight. Lieutenant Wamsley, Company I, 19th Virginia Cavalry, attached to Stewart’s column as a guide, advanced with the first charge. According to Major Stewart, Wamsley yelled: 'Come on; don’t let the damned Yankees whip us on our own soil.'

 

August 11, 1863

That afternoon Jackson received word from Colonel Arnett (20th Virginia Cavalry) that Averell was pressing him, and he was falling back down to Back Creek. Jackson immediately ordered his dismounted cavalry to Gatewoods, nine miles distant. Only a small mounted force remained at Camp Northwest. The mounted men from Arnett’s detachment arrived at Camp Northwest, bringing in his wagon train. They reported Arnett and the dismounted men cut off and moving down Knapp Creek. Colonel Jackson went to Gatewoods during the early hours of the night. Upon arrival there, he reinforced Evan’s command by two companies. To support Evans, Jackson ordered Lt. Col. William P. Thompson to take the dismounted men to a position a mile in Evans rear.

 

August 23, 1863

Colonel Jackson, feeling vulnerable, moved his dismounted men to the Jackson River, on the road to Warm Springs. The mounted men of his command remained at Gatewoods. Jackson ordered Colonel Arnett to move with the cavalry to the Jackson River in the Warm Springs road. Lieutenant G.W. Siple (Company F, 19th Virginia Cavalry) and 30 men remained with Jackson at Gatewoods. Averell’s advance came into sight about 10 a.m. and began skirmishing with Jacksons men. Jackson fell back with Lieutenant Siple acting as rear guard. The skirmishing continued as he retired. Along the way, Jackson posted his dismounted men to make a stand. He ordered Colonel Arnett to send 100 dismounted men to the top of Back Creek Mountain to prevent a flank attack. After some slight skirmishing, Jackson fell back across Warm Springs Mountain. He continued to retire until about 10 p.m., when his dismounted men camped near the Cow Pasture River.

 

August 25, 1863

That morning Jackson ordered his dismounted men to move to the west bank of the Cow Pasture River. The dismounted men of Jacksons command, through a misunderstanding, fell back to Old Millboro. When he learned of the error, Jackson ordered them to go into camp at that place.

 

August 27, 1863

Jackson ordered his dismounted men to move from Old Millboro to Warm Springs.

August 29, 1863

Arnett and Jackson followed Averell with the mounted men. Lt. Col. Evans followed with the dismounted men. Colonel Arnett moved with what cavalry he could muster to Big Spring on the Clover Lick route. Lt. Col. Evans and the dismounted men moved toward Huntersville and Marlins Bottom. While at Huntersville, the detachments from the 8th Virginia and 37th Virginia Battalion joined Jackson. By this time, Major Kessler arrived. Jackson ordered him to pursue Averell as rapidly as the condition of his horses and foot soldiers would allow. Kessler moved at once to Edray, where the dismounted men gave out and halted. The major and the mounted men pressed on.

 

September 1, 1863

Jackson informed Jones that he was collecting his stragglers and absentees. Jackson reported that he left 300 men behind, who could not march. In the same communication to Jones, Jackson outlined a raid to capture the Federal garrison at Sutton. Major Joseph R. Kessler would move on the Cold Knob route with 200 dismounted men the next day.

 

October 13, 1863

The men Jackson assembled for the Bulltown Campaign included 6 companies of Infantry (Dismounted Cavalry). Jackson sent a Battalion of mounted troops to Huttonsville to divert the attention of the 10th West Virginia Infantry. 

 

November 3 - 4 , 1863

Lt. Colonel Thompson, with 120 mounted and an undisclosed number of dismounted, was absent from Camp Miller on a raid in Nicholas County. Thompson received orders to report to Jacksons headquarters. Taking the mounted men, Thompson moved rapidly to join Jackson. Captain J.W. Ball and the dismounted men followed. Colonel Jackson later ordered Arnett to take command of the dismounted men of the brigade. Jackson wished Arnett to station them in detachments along Mill Creek, near Mill Point.

 

November 6, 1863

Colonel Jackson made preparations to fall back to the summit of Droop Mountain. He ordered Colonel Arnett to remain in position with the dismounted men until Federal artillery opened fire. Once they began firing, Arnett was to fall back by the safest route to Droop Mountain. The cavalry, under Lt. Colonel Thompson, remained in the rear. After the dismounted men were safely away, the cavalry would follow. Around 11 a.m., Federal artillery opened, and Jacksons men began to retire. Shells from the long-range guns burst over the heads of Arnett’s men but injured no one. Thompson wrote: 'These men and I held on under the terrific shower of shell and grape about 40 minutes, until I saw the infantry (dismounted cavalry) in a comparatively safe position, when I slowly retired, the enemy pressing with his skirmishers and main columns.

Colonel Jackson prepared to meet the attack. The right of his line lay near the road across Droop Mountain; he posted his artillery there. Colonel Arnett and his dismounted men occupied the center of the line. Lt. Colonel Thompson and the cavalry occupied the left of the line. Only 750 of Jacksons men took part in the fight at Droop Mountain. Around 11 a.m., Lt. Colonel Thompson, with about 175 dismounted men of the 19th and 20th Virginia Cavalry, rushed to the left but went too far. Leaving Captain Spriggs to guard that point, Thompson returned to the pike with the dismounted men, where he placed them under Major Kessler.

Jackson prepared to fall back, leaving Company A, 20th regiment as a skirmish line along the bank of Mill Creek. The Company that day numbered from sixty to eighty men, all the officers were present. We were directed to remain until we had orders to fall back. Adjutant Smith, who brought the message for us to fall back, stood on a hill quite a distance from our line, and called to me loud enough to be heard by the enemy. To save further delay I arose from my covert and gave the command, "attention, company on right and left take intervals in retreat, double quick march." Before I got through the command, company "A" was getting out of that valley just as fast as their feet could carry them. - Poe

 

December 12, 1863

Captain Marshall, with a detachment of about 150 men (mostly dismounted), occupied an outpost at Huntersville.

 

December 13, 1863

At sundown, Jackson ordered his dismounted men, artillery, and wagon train to go to Hot Springs.

 

December 14, 1863

Three hours later, Jackson went to Healing Springs. His cavalry remained at Warm Springs until sundown. The dismounted men, with the wagon train and artillery, moved at daylight to Healing Springs. Thompson arrived at Callaghans, where the mounted men of Jackson's brigade joined him.

 

December 19, 1863

Colonel Jackson sent Arnett with the dismounted men up the Rich Patch Road to the point where Averell’s men had turned off towards the bridge.

 

December 20, 1863

Pursuit by Jacksons dismounted men being of no use, Jackson ordered Captain Spriggs to follow with the mounted men of the brigade. Colonel Arnett, with the dismounted men, returned to camp at Jackson River Depot that evening.

The 20th regiment was dismounted. I was at the head of my company, which was at the head of the regiment. My captain being present I went back to my place in the company.. Soon Adjutant Smith called for me to select five men from my company that would stand fire and report to Major Lady.  I replied, "Sir, any of my men will stand fire," and started for the front, saying, "come, five of you boys." They fell in and we reported to Major Lady, who was in command of a battalion of mounted raw recruits. He at once dismounted six of his recruits, and directed me to mount my men and go forward... - Poe

May 11, 1864

Colonel Jackson left most of the horses of the command, poor and tired, in Monroe County. The march took a toll on the shoes and boots of the brigade. The roads were in poor condition, full of mud. Shoes and boots fell to pieces. Many of Jacksons men needed new foot gear when they arrived at the Narrows.

 

May 13, 1864

A handpicked detachment of 300 to 350 men followed the Federals. The armies skirmished with each other for an hour and a half. Averell’s men fell back and retreated on the Catawba road. The Confederates, having to march on foot, were weary and broken down.

 

Andrew Butler Stonestreet  Company B,19th Virginia Cavalry. Andrew was born in Bath County, Virginia on March 31, 1828 and died in Braxton County, West Virginia on June 15, 1891