In 1861, talk of secession transformed into armed conflict. Many of the men educated at Randolph-Macon College in the preceding 29 years immediately responded to the calls of their state militias to serve, while others later enlisted or were conscripted into the Confederate or Union armies. Others served in public office, or were ultimately drawn into the conflict in the last days in reserve units in local defense. These are their stories.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
John E. Miller, student 1860-1861
Miiller was a teacher in Warren County, NC in 1860 prior to enrolling at Randolph Macon. He enlisted as a private in Co. F of the 12th NC Infantry on May 18, 1861. Miller was wounded in the forearm and knee joint at the Battle of Gaines' Mill on June 27, 1862 and hospitalized in Richmond, VA where he remained until he received a medical discharge on September 25, 1862. His whereabouts after this are unknown at this time.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
James Williamson Millner, student 1860-1861
Millner enlisted in Co. K of the 38th VA Infantry, the Cascade Rifles of the Pittsylvania Regiment, as a sergeant on June 2, 1861. He was elected 3rd lieutenant on September 17, 1861 and promoted to 2nd lieutenant on November 14, 1861. He was "wounded slightly" on July 1, 1862 at the Battle of Malvern Hill, VA, the last of the Seven Days Battles near Richmond, VA. Millner resigned his commission in a letter dated December 26, 1862 because he wished to join a cavalry company. The resignation was accepted on January 13, 1863, but no records of him with a cavalry unit have been located and he is listed on the rolls of Co. K in early 1865 as a private. Millner was wounded in the right side of the neck by a minie ball at the Battle of Five Forks, VA on April 1, 1865, hospitalized in Petersburg, VA and and captured on April 3, 1865. He remained in hospitals until his release on July 22, 1865 upon taking the oath of allegiance.
After the war, Millner returned home to Pittsylvania County, VA where he farmed. Sometime between 1880 and 1900, he moved to Rockingham County, NC where he died on October 15, 1910. Millner is buried in Greenview Cemetery in Reidsville, NC.
After the war, Millner returned home to Pittsylvania County, VA where he farmed. Sometime between 1880 and 1900, he moved to Rockingham County, NC where he died on October 15, 1910. Millner is buried in Greenview Cemetery in Reidsville, NC.
Monday, November 25, 2013
Richard Boyd, Class of 1854
Boyd graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1857 and was practicing medicine in Petersburg, VA in 1860. He was appointed an Assistant Surgeon in the Medical Department of the CSA on July 19, 1861. He served in several hospitals including in Charlottesville, Culpeper, Orange Court House, and Farmville until October of 1863, when he was sent to Charleston, SC, where he served in the 1st NC hospital before being placed in charge of the post hospital at Adams Run, SC in January 1864. He was promoted to Surgeon on April 19, 1864. At some point in 1864 he returned to Virginia and was assigned to the 64th GA Infantry, remaining with them until he surrendered at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865.
After the war, he returned home to Mecklenburg County, VA and practiced medicine. Dr. Boyd died on February 13, 1893 and is buried in Oakhurst Cemetery in Clarksville, VA
After the war, he returned home to Mecklenburg County, VA and practiced medicine. Dr. Boyd died on February 13, 1893 and is buried in Oakhurst Cemetery in Clarksville, VA
Friday, November 22, 2013
Henry Clay Wall, student in the Preparatory Department, 1856-1857
Wall, younger brother of William Covington Wall, was a student in the Preparatory Department during the year his older brother attended the college. "Clay" Wall enlisted as a private with his brother in Co. D of the 23rd NC Infantry, the Pee Dee Guards, on May 30, 1861. He was promoted to sergeant on November 3, 1861. Wall was discharged from the company when he furnished a substitute on May 10, 1862. On March 1, 1864, he enlisted as a private in Co. A of the 4th NC Cavalry (also known as the 59th NC Infantry).
After the war, he farmed and was a merchant in Rockingham, NC. In 1876, he published a regimental history, Historical Sketch of the Pee Dee Guards. Wall died July 31, 1899 and is buried in the Leak Cemetery in Rockingham, Richmond County, NC.
After the war, he farmed and was a merchant in Rockingham, NC. In 1876, he published a regimental history, Historical Sketch of the Pee Dee Guards. Wall died July 31, 1899 and is buried in the Leak Cemetery in Rockingham, Richmond County, NC.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Edward Marcellus Jordan, student 1856-1861
Jordan enlisted as a private on May 16, 1861 in Co. F of the 27th NC Infantry. He was promoted to corporal on July 1, 1861. In August 1861, he was transferred to Co. C of the 2nd NC Cavalry as a private. In 1862, he was detailed for a while as ordnance sergeant and to the quartermasters department. Jordan was wounded in the right shoulder on June 9, 1863 at the Battle of Brandy Station and was hospitalized at Chimborazo in Richmond, VA.. He was promoted to second lieutenant on December 15, 1863 and to adjutant for the regiment on August 3, 1864. He surrendered at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865.
After the war, he became a Methodist minister serving in the Virginia Conference until 1911. Jordan died in 1914.
After the war, he became a Methodist minister serving in the Virginia Conference until 1911. Jordan died in 1914.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Edward C. Jordan, student 1847-1848
Jordan practised law in Person County, NC before moving to Arkansas sometime in the late 1850s. He was a lawyer in Little Rock, AR in 1860. In July 1861, Jordan joined the 12th AR Infantry, where he served as Captain and Assistant Quartermaster. He served with this unit until the Battle of Island Ten in the Mississippi River, when most of the regiment was captured. Jordan escaped capture and fought with the 6th AR Infantry until the 12th AR Infantry was reorganized in late 1862 after the prisoners were exchanged. He became its lieutenant colonel, serving until his death in June 1863 during the Battle of Port Hudson, LA, when a shell fragment severed his right leg and backbone. He was buried on the field.
Monday, November 18, 2013
Robert Mason Mallory, Class of 1852 (A.B.) and 1855 (A.M.)
Mallory was a lawyer in Brunswick County, VA. his father, James Baugh Mallory, served as the Brunswick County delegate to Virginia's 1861 Secession Convention. Robert M. Mallory served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1859-1863, and also had a mail contract with the Confederate government. Mallory's application for a presidential pardon at the end of the war states that he was county agent for Brunswick to receive "the tax in kind" for the Confederate government. In his application letter he makes the claim that these were insignificant; however the Provost Marshal in Brunswick County states that Mallory "has been an influential agent of the late so called Confederate government and is anxious to renew his allegiance to the United States." Mallory signed the oath of allegiance on July 10, 1865 and was granted a presidential pardon by Andrew Johnson on July 29, 1865.
After the war, he resumed his occupation as a lawyer and remained a prominent citizen in Brunswick County. He served as a judge for the Brunswick County Court from 1870-1876 and served again in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1885-1887. Judge Mallory died on July 4, 1903 and is buried in the Mallory Family Cemetery in Brunswick County, VA.
After the war, he resumed his occupation as a lawyer and remained a prominent citizen in Brunswick County. He served as a judge for the Brunswick County Court from 1870-1876 and served again in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1885-1887. Judge Mallory died on July 4, 1903 and is buried in the Mallory Family Cemetery in Brunswick County, VA.
Friday, November 15, 2013
John Emory Wheeler, student 1855-1856
Wheeler attended Princeton Theological Seminary and Yale University after leaving R-MC. He was a Presbyterian preacher in Wytheville, VA prior to the war, was married in Louisiana in 1862 and was ordained in Mississippi in 1864. He was commissioned chaplain of the 31st LA Infantry on April 10, 1863 and was assigned as the post chaplain at Enterprise, MS. A letter dated December 12, 1863 indicates he did not leave Enterprise to report to the 31st LA indicating it was "well nigh impossible for me to join it." He resigned June 17, 1864.
After the war, he taught at Oakland College in MS and also preached. He then was a pastor in Nashville, TN, in Missouri, in Sacramento and San Francisco, CA, and in Baltimore. He died November 22, 1905 in Harrisonville, MD and is buried in Druid Ridge Cemetery in Baltimore County, MD.
After the war, he taught at Oakland College in MS and also preached. He then was a pastor in Nashville, TN, in Missouri, in Sacramento and San Francisco, CA, and in Baltimore. He died November 22, 1905 in Harrisonville, MD and is buried in Druid Ridge Cemetery in Baltimore County, MD.
Thursday, November 14, 2013
James G. T. "Gray" Shell, student 1862-1863
Gray Shell, younger brother of John Robert Shell, joined the Captain Epes' Company of the Chesterfield (VA) Light Artillery on an unknown date. He is listed as receiving clothing in March, 1864 and for the 4th quarter of 1864. He is listed in Blackwell family genealogies as having died during the war in 1864 with no further information provided and disappears from the historical record.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
John Robert Shell, student 1859-1860
Shell enlisted as a private in Co. G of the 9th Virginia Cavalry on an unknown date. Since he was a medical student at the time of his enlistment, he was assigned in 1862 as a hospital steward at the Huguenot Springs hospital near Richmond, where he served as an apothecary. He took the oath of allegiance and was paroled as a prisoner of war on May 10, 1865.
After the war, he returned to Lunenburg County, VA and was a farmer in 1870 and a horse trader in 1880. By 1900 he had moved to Brunswick County, VA where he was a farmer in 1900 and a dealer in 1910. Shell died on February 27, 1914 and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Lawrenceville, VA
After the war, he returned to Lunenburg County, VA and was a farmer in 1870 and a horse trader in 1880. By 1900 he had moved to Brunswick County, VA where he was a farmer in 1900 and a dealer in 1910. Shell died on February 27, 1914 and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Lawrenceville, VA
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Hardy L. Fennell, student 1851-1852
Fennell enlisted as 1st lieutenant of Co. C of the 1st NC Infantry on May 16, 1861. In late 1861, he was commanding the company. He was shot in the hips on June 27, 1862 during the Battle of Gaines's Mill at Cold Harbor, VA, a very serious wound, and he was promoted to captain shortly after on July 8, 1862. Fennell was disabled by his wound and resigned on December 15, 1862, stating in his letter of resignation the the had "never sufficiently recovered so as to be able to walk." His service record indicates he died shortly afterwards, but does not indicate the date. One source indicates his death as September 3, 1863.
Monday, November 11, 2013
Robert H. Simmons, student 1858-1859
Simmons enlisted as a private in the the Boydton Cavalry, Co. A of the 3rd VA Cavalry, on May 14, 1861. He was killed on June 9, 1863 at the Battle of Brandy Station, VA.
Friday, November 8, 2013
James W. Buford, student 1857-1858
Buford, who attended the University of Virginia after leaving R-MC, enlisted as a private in Co. H of the 53rd VA Infantry on May 25, 1861. He was wounded in the leg at the Battle of Gettysburg on July 3, 1863 and was hospitalized at Chimborazo in Richmond and then in Petersburg, and is reported as "sick at home" for several months afterward. Buford is reported as having died in 1865.
Thursday, November 7, 2013
James Colin Neal, student 1861-1862
After Randolph-Macon closed for the war, Neal attended VMI and then Washington College. According to his pension application dated May 22, 1918, he joined Co. G of the 9th VA Cavalry in June 1864 and surrendered at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865.
Neal was a faremr in Lunenburg County, VA in 1880 but by 1900 had moved to Petersburg, VA where he was a tobacco auctioneer. He died on August 9, 1927 and is buried in Petersburg's Blandford Cemetery.
Neal was a faremr in Lunenburg County, VA in 1880 but by 1900 had moved to Petersburg, VA where he was a tobacco auctioneer. He died on August 9, 1927 and is buried in Petersburg's Blandford Cemetery.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
William R. Oliver, student 1857-1858
Oliver, a retail merchant from Buchanan County, Missouri, served in the Union Army in Co. B of the 12th Missouri Cavalry. He was enrolled for duty September 23, 1863 and mustered in on November 3, 1863. He was assigned to enrolling recruits in St. Joseph, MO on December 18, 1863, where he was injured by an accidental gunshot wound to the hand on December 31, 1863 and was discharged for disability on April 28, 1864. He returned home to DeKalb. MO where he was a dry goods merchant in 1870. By 1880, he was a railroad agent. In 1872, he was awarded a monthly pension of $8.00 for his service disability. Oliver died on April 30, 1916 and is buried in Dearborn Community Cemetery in Dearborn, MO.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
James Wiley Ferebee, student 1857-1858
Ferebee, who attended the University of North Carolina after leaving R-MC, joined Co. M of the 2nd NC Infantry on May 30, 1861 as a private. This regiment later became Co. B of the 32nd NC Infantry, and when it was reorganized in the spring of 1862, Ferebee was promoted to its captain on May 1, 1862 but would not serve long. He died of disease in Petersburg, VA on July 17, 1862.
Monday, November 4, 2013
Thomas Blackwell, student 1862-1863
Blackwell enlisted in Co. G of the 9th VA Cavalry on January 20, 1864. He died from typhoid fever at Gordonsville, VA on May 18, 1864 in the Gordonsville Receiving Hospital, also known as the Charity Hospital.
Friday, November 1, 2013
Nathaniel P. Boyd, student 1860-1861
Boyd enlisted as a private in Co. B of the 2nd MS Infantry on March 3, 1862. He was killed at the Battle of Gettysburg on July 1, 1863.
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