Thomas Taylor Boswell, Randolph-Macon class of 1845, enlisted as the captain of Company A of the 56th Virginia Infantry in July 1861. He would have seen action throughout Lee’s campaigns in Virginia, as well as Pickett’s Charge at Gettysburg. He is most notable for his defense of the Staunton River Bridge on June 25, 1864. The January 1920 issue of Confederate Veteran mentioned his efforts.
“It was Maj. Thomas Taylor Bowell, who with scarcely twelve hundred men … defended and held Staunton River Bridge against a Federal raiding force of more some ten thousand picked cavalry. Over this bridge the food for General Lee’s army had to pass, and when late in the day word was flashed to Richmond that the Federal force was retreating, there came back to order promoting Major Boswell to the rank of colonel ere the smoke of battle had blended with the darkness of the night.”
Colonel Boswell survived the war and died in 1887.
Contributed by Matthew Guillen '14
“It was Maj. Thomas Taylor Bowell, who with scarcely twelve hundred men … defended and held Staunton River Bridge against a Federal raiding force of more some ten thousand picked cavalry. Over this bridge the food for General Lee’s army had to pass, and when late in the day word was flashed to Richmond that the Federal force was retreating, there came back to order promoting Major Boswell to the rank of colonel ere the smoke of battle had blended with the darkness of the night.”
Colonel Boswell survived the war and died in 1887.
Contributed by Matthew Guillen '14
