To Cross The River

Brigadier General Frederick Lander

A part of the Romney Campaign, the Battle of Hancock was fought 5 January 1862.

Confederate General Thomas J Jackson moved his troops from Winchester, Virginia to Bath in order to block the movement of supplies on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.  Upon reaching the Potomac River across from the town of Hancock, Maryland the Confederate soldiers skirmished with the Union soldiers garrisoned in the town on 5 January 1862.  Jackson ordered artillery set up on Orrick’s Hill, and had it fire on the town.  The artillery caused only minor damage.

Union commander Brigadier General Frederick W Lander would not surrender.  Jackson had the artillery continue to bombard the town for two day while he looked for a place to cross the river.

On 7 January 1862, Jackson had his troop withdraw, and they moved on to Romney, West Virginia.  There were an estimated 25 casualties reported.

Only One Battle

Union Colonel Alfred M Wood enlisted on April 4^th 1861 in the 84^th New York Infantry, also known as the 14^th Brooklyn.

Alfred M Wood was born April 19^th 1825.  On April 13^th 1858 he was made the Colonel of the 14^th New York Militia.

When the Civil War started Wood enlisted in Brooklyn, New York on April 4^th 1861 for three years’ service in the 84^th New York Infantry, which is better known as the 14^th Brooklyn.  He was wounded and captured at the First Battle of Manassas; where Wood led his regiment in two attempts to capture Henry Hill.  It was during this attack that Confederate General Thomas J Jackson, whom the 14^th was charging against, gave the Regiment its nick name of the “Red Legged Devils”.  Wood would be exchanged and returned to duty.  Do to the wounds he received at Manassas, Wood was discharged on October 18^th 1861.

Wood became the Mayor of the city of Brooklyn in 1864.  After the war ended he spent a great deal of time helping the veterans of his old regiment the 14^th Brooklyn.  Wood died July 28^th 1895, and is buried in the Greenfield Cemetery in Uniondale, Nassau, New York.

If you would like to read more about the life of Alfred M. Wood this is a good site.

Stonewall's One Loss

Fought in Winchester, Virginia on March 23rd 1862, the First Battle of Kernstown was the opening of Confederate Major General Thomas J Stonewall Jackson’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign.

Confederate Major General Thomas J Jackson’s move into the Shenandoah Valley was an attempt to keep Union forces there occupied. The Union troops were under the command of Major General Nathaniel P Banks. Jackson’s intelligence told him there was a small force led by Union Colonel Nathan Kimball, but in truth it was a full infantry division. Jackson moved his men from Woodstock, Virginia, getting in front of the Union position in Kernstown about 11am on March 23rd 1862. The Confederate Cavalry attacked and was forced back. Jackson reinforced them with an infantry brigade. He then turned to rolling up the Union right with his two remaining brigades. They attacked the Union artillery on Pritchard Hill. However Union Colonel Erastus B Tyler’s brigade prevented this move and was backed up by Kimball’s brigade. Jackson’s aide Alexander Swift Pendleton got a view of the Union forces in the Confederate front, and estimated them to number about 10,000. By 6pm the Confederates were running out of ammunition, panic set in among the troops, and caused them to flee, forcing a Confederate retreat. For the first and only time Jackson was driven from the field and defeated.

The Gallant Pelham

Confederate artillery officer Major John Pelham died March 17th 1863 during the Battle of Kelly‘s Ford.

John Pelham was born September 7th 1838 on Cane Creek in Alexandria, Alabama, the son of Doctor and Martha [McGehee] Pelham. He grew up on his families plantation, where he learned to be a proficient rider. With the help of his local United State Congressman Sampson Willis Harris, Pelham received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. While at West Point Pelham was popular with his class mates, and ranked highest in his class in cavalry tactics. With the Civil War brewing Pelham resigned on April 22nd from West Point just two weeks before graduation in 1861.

Upon returning home, with the Civil War under way, Pelham accepted a commission in the Alabama militia. He soon became a Lieutenant in the artillery, a part of Confederate General Joseph E Johnston’s army. Pelham was quickly noticed by Confederate Cavalry General JEB Stuart, who transformed Pelham’s battery into Horse Artillery. Pelham and his artillery were involved in over 60 fights, including First Bull Run, Antietam, and Fredericksburg. At Sharpsburg his guns harassed the flanks of the Union line causing heavy casualties. Lieutenant General Thomas Stonewall Jackson said of Pelham after the battle, “It is really extraordinary to find such nerve and genius in a mere boy. With a Pelham on each flank I believe I could whip the world."

On March 17th 1863 at the Battle of Kelly’s Ford, Pelham took part in a cavalry charge. He was standing in his stirrups to urge his men forward, when he was struck in the head by a piece of exploding Union artillery shell. Pelham was carried six miles to the Culpeper Courthouse, where he died without ever regaining consciousness.

Into The Valley

The Battle of McDowell one of Jackson’s actions in the Valley campaign was fought May 8th 1862.

Leaving from Staunton Virginia, Major General Thomas J Jackson marched his army along the Parkersburg Turnpike. He was advancing to face two Union brigades under Brigadier General Robert Milroy and Brigadier General Robert Schenck. Reaching McDowell on May 8th 1862, Milroy assaulted the Confederate position on Sitlington’s Hill. After four hours of heavy fighting the Union troops were repulsed. Milroy and Schenck pulled back into western Virginia, allowing Jackson’s army march through the valley and hit other Union columns.

Hadn't Planned on the Winter Weather

The Romney Expedition was part of a Confederate Army military expedition into the Shenandoah Valley and was begun January 14th 1862.

The bulk of the action of the Romney Expedition was conducted by forces under Confederate Major General “Stonewall” Thomas J Jackson and Federal Major General Nathaniel Banks. An unusually warm December ended as Jackson issued orders to move into the valley. Stonewall was able to occupy the town of Romney, Virginia [now West Virginia] on January 14th 1862.  From here he planned his advance to Cumberland,Maryland, but the weather became severe, and he had to cancel any further movements. Jackson left William Wing Loring’s division behind to occupy Romney while he returned to Winchester.