Charles W. Spratley, student 1853-1854

Spratley, older brother of Eugene Spratley, was a merchant in Greensville County, VA when he enlisted on may 4, 1861 as a sergeant in the Greensville Guard, which became Co. F, 5th Battn. (Archer's) VA Infantry. He was elected 1st lieutenant on February 17, 1862. On June 12, 1862, he transferred as a private to Co. E of the 5th VA Cavalry, which later became Co. H of the 13th VA Cavalry. Spratley was wounded during the at Brandy Station, VA on October 11, 1863 and was sent to the hospital in Richmond, VA and then to Petersburg, VA. He did not return to his regiment until late spring 1864. He was detailed as regiment post master in the summer of 1864. No further record of him has been found and he did not surrender at Appomattox Court House with his regiment. He was listed as killed at Brandy Station in a January 11, 1898 letter to the editor published in the Richmond, VA Dispatch written by the company captain, William N. Blow. This may be an error or Spratley may have died later as a result of that wound or in a later engagement.