For some reason, Federal authorities did not ID Brown as a member of the 14th Virginia, instead, they called his unit "Jenkins' Cavalry, Va." This would explain at least one of the later miss-identifications. One could hazard a guess that the Va(Virginia) in cursive, may have been read Al, or Ala, just a wild guess.
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O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXI [S# 31] pp. 10/11
NOVEMBER 24-30, 1862.---Expedition from Summerville to Cold Knob Mountain, W. Va., and skirmish (26th) at Lewis' Mill, on Sinking Creek.
No. 3.--Report of Col. John C. Paxton, Second West Virginia Cavalry.
HDQRS. SECOND WEST VIRGINIA VOLUNTEER CAVALRY,
Camp Piatt, December 2, 1862.
SIR: In obedience to your order, I marched my command, consisting of Companies G, I, F, A, K, D, E, and H, Second West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry (in all, 475 men, rank and file, in good order), on the morning of November 24, for Summerville, arriving there at 10 p.m. the same day, a distance of 53 miles.
Left Summerville next morning at 7 o'clock, and arrived at the Hinkle farm at 4 p.m., 35 miles, and, being able to obtain some hay there, remained until 4 a.m. the 26th, when we took up the line of march, in a blinding snow-storm, for Greenbrier, via Cold Knob Mountain, where we arrived at 10 a.m. the same day; distance, 20 miles. Met Colonel Lane, Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, who was to assist me in breaking up a camp of the rebels at the foot of the mountain; but, on account of the severity of the weather and hard marching, he wished to return to his camp at Summerville. I asked him to take the advance, until we met the enemy's pickets, which he did, and, in about 1 mile, exchanged shots with 6 of the enemy, wounding 1. Colonel Lane at once opened his ranks, and gave us the road. We pushed rapidly into the enemy's camp, a distance of some 5 miles, effecting a complete surprise, at 12 m., the enemy scattering in all directions.
We killed 2, wounded 2, paroled 1, and captured 2 commissioned officers (1 captain and l second lieutenant), 111 non-commissioned officers and privates, 106 horses, and 5 mules; burned and destroyed about 200 Enfield and Mississippi rifles and 50 sabers, with other accouterments, stores, and supplies, and their camp tents, &c. I had 2 horses killed in the enemy's camp, and lost l0 on the march from fatigue and exhaustion.
The enemy was found 3 miles from the foot of Cold Knob Mountain, on Sinking Creek, Greenbrier County, West Virginia, at Lewis' Mill, and consisted of a part of five companies of cavalry, viz, Rockbridge Cavalry, Braxton Dragoons, Churchville Cavalry, Valley Cavalry, and Nighthawk Rangers. They were men who had been in the service fifteen months, and were located at this point to guard the mountain pass, and to organize a part of A. G. Jenkins' brigade. Our success was complete. We never lost a drop of blood.
After securing the prisoners and horses and destroying the camp, &c., we marched at 4 p.m. (26th) for Summerville, where we arrived on the 27th at noon, making 120 miles for men and horses, without food or rest, except one feed of hay for horses, over the most rugged and mountainous part of Western Virginia. Remained in Summerville until the 29th. Left for Camp Piatt, and arrived in camp on the 30th at noon. My men suffered severely from frost. I left 2 men in the hospital at Summerville, whose boots we cut from their feet. Others were more or less frozen. My horses were very much cut down.
I cannot close this report without deservedly complimenting the officers and men; but, where all behaved so gallantly, it is impossible to particularize. But all honor is due Major Powell, who led the charge, and Company G, Captain McMahan, who led the column.
1 have the honor to be, your obedient servant,
J. C. PAXTON,
Colonel, Comdg. Second West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry.
Capt. R. P. KENNEDY,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., First Div., Dept. of the Kanawha
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14th Virginia Cavalry
Chas. E. Thorburn, Colonel
Robt. Augustus, LCol/Col
Geo. Jackson, Maj.
Co. A White Mountain Rifles
Co.B, Charlotte Cavalry or Troop & Jackson's Squadron
Co. C, Valley Rangers & Valley Cavalry
Co. D, Jenkins Guards
Morgan's Company F
Smith's Company F
Company H, Rockbridge 3nd Dragoons, Jackson's Squadron
Company I, Churchill Cavalry
Company K, Greenbrier Cavalry (No 2) Va
Bland's Co. L
Dunfield's Co. M
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Israel Brown, Private, Capt. John T. Bland's Company, 14th Regiment Virginia Cavalry,* enlisted October 4, 1862 at Little Birch by Capt. Bland for 3 years,** captured [121 Va. Jenkins; Cav]*** in Greenbrier County, Va. November 26, 1862, received at Military Prison, Alton, Illinois January 10, 1863, died May 19, 1863 of Variola (Smallpox)
Description: age 35, Farmer, 5' 11", dark complexion, grey eyes, light hair, resident of Nicholas County, Va.
* This company appears to have been attached to the 14th Regiment Virginia Cavalry as Company L until assigned to the 17th Regiment Virginia Cavalry as Company I, when that regiment was organized Jan. 28, 1863
** Mustered in the C. S. Service at Summersville, Nicholas County, Va., Oct. 4th, 1862, for service in Gen'l Jenkins' Cavalry Brigade
*** Carried on Federal returns as Private, Jenkins' Cavalry (Virginia)
M324: Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Virginia