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The Story of a Confederate Boy in the Civil War


By

David E. Johnston

_of the 7th Virginia Infantry Regiment_

Author of "Middle New River Settlements"


With Introduction by

Rev. C. E. Cline, D.D.

A Methodist Minister and Chaplain of the
Military Order of the Loyal Legion, U.S.A.


COPYRIGHT, 1914
BY
DAVID E. JOHNSTON

PUBLISHED BY
GLASS & PRUDHOMME COMPANY
PORTLAND, OREGON




Preface


Some twenty-eight years ago I wrote and published a small book
recounting my personal experiences in the Civil War, but this book is
long out of print, and the publication exhausted. At the urgent request
of some of my old comrades who still survive, and of friends and my own
family, I have undertaken the task of rewriting and publishing this
story.

As stated in the preface to the former volume, the principal object of
this work is to record, largely from memory, and after the lapse of
many years (now nearly half a century) since the termination of the
war between the states of the Federal Union, the history, conduct,
character and deeds of the men who composed Company D, Seventh regiment
of Virginia infantry, and the part they bore in that memorable
conflict.

The chief motive which inspires this undertaking is to give some meager
idea of the Confederate soldier in the ranks, and of his individual
deeds of heroism, particularly of that patriotic, self-sacrificing,
brave company of men with whose fortunes and destiny my own were linked
for four long years of blood and carnage, and to whom during that
period I was bound by ties stronger than hooks of steel; whose
confidence and friendship I fully shared, and as fully reciprocated.

To the surviving members of that company, to the widows and children,
broken-hearted mothers, and to gray-haired, disconsolate fathers (if
such still live) of those who fell amidst the battle and beneath its
thunders, or perished from wounds or disease, this work is dedicated.
The character of the men who composed that company, and their deeds of
valor and heroism, will ever live, and in the hearts of our people will
be enshrined the names of the gallant dead as well as of the living, as
the champions of constitutional liberty. They will be held in grateful
remembrance by their own countrymen, appreciated and recognized by all
people of all lands, who admire brave deeds, true courage, and devotion
of American soldiers to cause and country.

For some of the dates and material I am indebted to comrades. I also
found considerable information from letters written by myself during
the war to a friend, not in the army, and not subject to military duty,
on account of sex; who, as I write, sits by me, having now (February,
1914), for a period of more than forty-six years been the sharer of my
joys, burdens and sorrows; whose only brother, George Daniel Pearis, a
boy of seventeen years, and a member of Bryan's Virginia battery, fell
mortally wounded in the battle of Cloyd's Farm, May 9, 1864.

DAVID E. JOHNSTON.

Portland, Oregon, May, 1914.




Introduction


The author of this book is my neighbor. He was a Confederate, and I a
Union soldier. Virginia born, he worked hard in youth. A country
lawyer, a member of the Senate of West Virginia, Representative in
Congress, and Circuit Judge, his life has been one of activity and
achievement. Blessed with a face and manner which disarm suspicion,
inspire confidence and good will, he makes new friends, and retains old
ones.

Judge Johnston (having through life practiced the virtues of a good
Baptist), is, therefore, morally sound to the core. He has succeeded,
not by luck or chance, but because of what he is. Withal, he has
cultivated the faculty for hard work; in fact, through life he has
liked nothing so well as hard work.

A vast good nature, running easily into jocular talk, with interesting
stories, in which he excels, he is able to meet every kind of man in
every rank of society, catching with unerring instinct the temper of
every individual and company where he is.

He is thoroughly American, and though having traveled extensively in
Europe and the East, he is not spoiled with aping foreigners, nor
"rattled" by their frivolous accomplishments. He is likewise an
experienced writer, being the author of the history of "Middle New
River Settlements, and Contiguous Territory," in Virginia and West
Virginia, a work of great value, which cost the author years of
persistent research.

This volume, "The Story of a Confederate Boy," is written from the
heart, with all his might, and all his honesty, and is characterized
throughout by fertility, sympathy, and magnanimity, in recording his
own personal experiences, and what he saw.

C. E. CLINE.

Portland, Oregon.




Contents


Chapter.                                                        Page.

     I. Pre-election Statement as to Mr. Lincoln.--The
        Presidential Election in November, 1860.--Fear and
        Anxiety.--At School with Rev. J. W. Bennett in Winter
       1860 and Spring 1861.--Debating Society.--Some
       Recollections of Colonel Chambers and Others.--Strong
       State Rights Ideas.--Desire to Become a Soldier.--The
       Anticipation and the Reality.--Return Home.--War Talk
       and Feeling                                                  1

    II. Giles County, Its Formation and Early Settlers.--Its
        Geographical Position, Topography and Population in
        1860.--State of Political Parties.--Election of
        Delegate to the Convention                                  9

   III. What Will Not Be Attempted Herein.--How the Southern
        People Viewed the Situation.--Virginia as a Peacemaker.
        --The Peace Conference and Its Failure.--Geographical,
        Territorial Position.--Assembling of the Convention
        and Its Action.--Mr. Lincoln's Attitude and Call for
        Troops.--Adoption of the Ordinance of Secession.--
        Preparations for Defense                                   15

    IV. Organization of Volunteer Forces.--Giles Not Behind
        Her Sister Counties.--A Company Organized at
        Pearisburg with James H. French as Captain; Eustace
        Gibson, First Lieutenant; William A. Anderson, Second
        Lieutenant; Joel Blackard, Second Junior Lieutenant,
        and Captains James D. Johnston and R. F. Watts on
        the Committee to Purchase Uniforms, etc.--The Ladies
        of the Town and Country.--In Barracks and on Drill.
        --Anecdote.--Dixie.--Our March to Wolf Creek.--
        Presentation of Bible and Flag                             25

     V. The Election for the Ratification of the Ordinance
        of Secession Was Held on the Fourth Thursday of May
        --the 23rd. On that Day Members of the House of
        Delegates, and Perhaps Other Officers, Were to Be
        Elected.--Our Departure.--Lynchburg and to Manassas
        Junction                                                   39

    VI. Stay at the Junction.--Organization of 24th
        Regiment as Afterwards Completed.--March to Camp
        Davis Ford.--First Night on Picket.--Alarm.--
        March to the Town of Occoquan and Back Again.--
        A War of Words.--Serious Fight Imminent.--Leaving
        the 24th Regiment.--Camp Tick Grove and a Personal
        Difference.--A More Perfect Union.--Camp Wigfall.
        --Blondeau's Shot.--How We Cooked, Ate and Slept.
        --Shannon's Bob.--Rumors Afloat of Pending Battle.
        --Three Days' Rations Cooked                               47

   VII. Breaking Camp at Wigfall.--The March to the
        Battlefield.--General Beauregard and His Appearance
        and Advice.--First Cannon Shot.--Battle of Bull Run.
        --The Advance.--The Charge.--The Wounded.--Isaac
        Hare and John Q. Martin.--Retreat of the Enemy.--
        Severe Artillery Duel.--The Dutchman and His Chunk
        of Fat Bacon.--Casualties                                  61

  VIII. Night's Experience on Our First Battlefield.--The
        Dead and Cries of the Wounded.--Occurrences on the
        Field.--Sunday, July 21.--Shelled by the Enemy.--
        March to the Field by the Sound of Battle.--The
        Battle.--Casualties.--The Pursuit.--To the Outposts.
        --Incidents.--Winter at Centerville                        69

    IX. Our Daily Duties.--In Camp.--Among the Last
        Rencounters.--Lieutenant Gibson, Corporal Stone
        and Others Hold a Council of War and Determine
        to Advance and Drive McClellan from Arlington
        Heights.--March to the Outposts.--Graybacks.--
        Religious Exercises.--Incidents of Camp.--
        Depletion of the Army.--