Regimental History
Antietam after battle report:
Report of Col. P. F. Stevens, Holcombe (South Carolina) Legion,
commanding Evans' brigade, of the battles of Boonsborough and Sharpsburg.
HDQRS. HOLCOMBE LEGION, SOUTH CAROLINA VOLS.,
Near Winchester, Va., October 13, 1862.
CAPT.: In obedience to an order from Gen. Evans, I have the honor
to submit the following report of the actions participated in by the troops
under my command, first as colonel of my own regiment, and, secondly, as
commanding officer of Evan's brigade:*
* * * * *
BATTLE OF FROG PASS (BOONSBOROUGH).
On Sunday, September 14, after marching from Hagerstown to the mountain
pass (called, I believe, Frog Pass), I was told by Gen. Longstreet to
report with my brigade to Gen. D. H. Hill, who would assign me my
position. Turning to the left an east at the pass, I was led up the mountain
by Maj. Fairfax to Gen. Hill. This latter officer directed me to hill some
mile distant and still to the left, where I was to report to and support Gen.
Rodes. Having accomplished about half the distance, I receive an order from
Gen. Evans for instructions and forward to Gen. Rodes to tell him why
I had halted, I found that the enemy were in the valley below on my right
and were already threatening my position. Throwing out the legion as
skirmishers to check the advance, I disposed the brigade according to my
best judgment along the brow of the mountain side, my left very nearly
joining Rodes' right. Before I could receive further instructions from Gen.
Evans, I was attacked. My skirmishers were soon drive back and the line
opened fire. Being near the Seventeenth South Carolina, and seeing it doing
well, under command of Lieut.-Col. [F. W.] McMaster, I gave him
general instructions and moved to the left. Here I found the Twenty-third and
Twenty-second driven back, but rallied under Capts. Durham and [M.]
Hilton, respectively. Very soon the Eighteenth retired also, and from that
time the fight was a retreating one until the enemy occupied the mountain
and we were driven from it. Gen. Rodes was at the same time forced
back on my left. Capts. Durham and Hilton and Adjutant DuBose were conspicuous
in their efforts to stay the retreat, but I am constrained to say that after
once falling back I cannot commend the behavior of the men. Some two or three
bravely faced the foe, but a general lack of discipline and disregard for
officers prevailed all around me. The Seventeenth and most of the legion
were on the right and not with me. The brigade having reassembled on the
turnpike, I threw out the legion on picket, deployed along the skirt of woods
on the mountain we had just left, and reported to Gen. D. R. Jones.
About 11 or 12 o'clock I received an order from Gen. R. E. Lee to send
a small detachment back to the ground where I had fought, and ascertain
whether the enemy still occupied it or had retired. This duty I intrusted to
Lieut. Dubose, then on picket. Advancing to the battle-ground, or nearly
to it, the lieutenant left his men and moved on alone. In a few moments a
shot was fired and a cry was heard. Falling back some 100 yards, his men
waited in vain for his return to them, and two or three of the enemy having
been seen, they returned to report the loss of their beloved leader. Whether
that single shot proved fatal or whether he is a prisoner I know not, but in
him I have lost my right arm, and the service as noble, as pure-minded, as
fearless an officer as ever batted for his country.
At the battle of Sharpsburg sickness, fatigue, and the casualties of battle
had reduced the brigade to a mere skeleton. Placed in position just where the
main road from Boonsborough enters the town on the north, it acted as a
support for different batteries on either side of the road until Wednesday
afternoon, when, the engagement having become general, by order of
Gen. Evans, it was deployed as skirmishers to meet those of the enemy.
I was with the Twenty-third, Twenty-second, and Eighteenth South Carolina
Regiments on the left of the road, and, seeing my men falling rapidly, while
the enemy was still advancing, I was apprehensive of being flanked, and
order them to fall back to a stone wall in our rear. Perceiving that my
retreat had left unsupported a section of Boyce's artillery, which I had not
before soon, I again resumed my position, and, bringing up Boyce's battery,
opened fire with musketry and artillery upon a line of the enemy advancing on
the right of the road. The line was broken and driven back. Col. Walker, of
Jenkins' brigade, having sent for artillery, I ordered Capt. Boyce to his
support.
It was now late in the evening, and, my men having nearly
exhausted their ammunition, I left general instructions and sought the
ordnance officer. Before I could get more ammunition my men had fallen
back, in accordance with instructions, and, finding them scattering in town,
I marched to the rear and bivouacked for the night.
The next morning, by order of Gen. Evans, we assumed our position in
front of the town, acting as a support to Capt. Page's artillery until 10
o'clock at night, when we withdrew, according to instructions, and crossed
the Potomac. Two days after, Gen. Evans took command of the brigade
and I of my regiment.
During the engagement at Sharpsburg my men behaved well, obeyed orders,
and never gave back except at my command.
To this report you will please append my report on the case of Maj.
Stewart, Twenty-second South Carolina Volunteers.*
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
P. F. STEVENS,
Col. Holcombe Legion, South Carolina Volunteers.
Capt. A. L. EVANS,
Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
Battles Fought
Fought on 30 Sep 1864.
Fought on 5 Nov 1864.
Fought on 29 Mar 1865 at Petersburg, VA.
=======================================================================================
1880 United States Federal Census
about W. Drayton O'Shields
Name: W. Drayton O'Shields
Home in 1880: Glenn Springs, Spartanburg, South Carolina
Age: 49
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1831
Birthplace: South Carolina
Relation to Head of Household: Self (Head)
Spouse's Name: Julia
Father's birthplace: South Carolina
Mother's birthplace: South Carolina
Occupation: Farmer
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Household Members: Name Age
W. Drayton O'Shields 49 w/m farmer b. SC
Julia O'Shields 53 w/f wife b. SC Keeping House
Henry O'Shields 20 w/m son b. SC
Wiley O'Shields 17 w/m son b. SC
Henry Thomson 16 servant
1870 United States Federal Census
about Wiley D Oshields
Name: Wiley D Oshields
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1831
Age in 1870: 39
Birthplace: South Carolina
Home in 1870: Glenn Springs, Spartanburg, South Carolina
Race: White
Gender: Male
Value of real estate: View Image
Post Office: Glenn Springs
Household Members: Name Age
Wiley D Oshields 39 w/m Farmer Real Estate $1500 Personal $800 b. SC
Juliet Oshields 44 w/f wife Keeping House b. SC
Munroe Oshields 18 w/m son farming b. SC
Franklin Oshields 16 w/m son farming b. SC
Robert Oshields 14 w/m son student b. SC
Enos Oshields 12 w/m son student b. SC
Huey Oshields 10 w/m son student b. SC
Wiley Oshields 7 w/m son at home
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Name: Cebron O'Shields
Side Served: Confederacy
State Served: South Carolina
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private.
Enlisted in Company 3, 5th Bn Militia Infantry Regiment South Carolina.
Name: Hugh O'Shields
Side Served: Confederacy
State Served: South Carolina
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private.
Enlisted in Company H, 6th Cavalry Regiment South Carolina.
Name: Jeffrey O'Shields
Side Served: Confederacy
State Served: South Carolina
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private.
Enlisted in Company E, 6th Cavalry Regiment South Carolina.
Name: John O'Shields
Side Served: Confederacy
State Served: South Carolina
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private.
Enlisted in Company G, 27th Infantry Regiment South Carolina.
Name: William O'Shields
Side Served: Confederacy
State Served: South Carolina
Service Record: Enlisted as a 1st Lieutenant.
Commission in Company F, 13th Infantry Regiment South Carolina.
Name: Amos Oshields
Side Served: Confederacy
State Served: South Carolina
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private.
Enlisted in Company E, 2nd Rifles Infantry Regiment South Carolina.
Name: Hugh Oshields
Side Served: Confederacy
State Served: South Carolina
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private.
Enlisted in Company G, 7th Bn Reserves Infantry Regiment South Carolina.
Name: J Oshields
Side Served: Confederacy
State Served: South Carolina
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private.
Enlisted in Company F, 13th Infantry Regiment South Carolina.
Name: John Oshields
Side Served: Confederacy
State Served: South Carolina
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private.
Enlisted in Company E, 18th Infantry Regiment South Carolina.
Name: Lecil Oshields
Side Served: Confederacy
State Served: South Carolina
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private.
Enlisted in Company H, 5th State Line Infantry Regiment South Carolina.
Name: Willis Oshields
Side Served: Confederacy
State Served: South Carolina
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private.
Enlisted in Company E, 2nd Rifles Infantry Regiment South Carolina.
Name: Young Oshields
Side Served: Confederacy
State Served: South Carolina
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private.
Enlisted in Company G, 7th Bn Reserves Infantry Regiment South Carolina.
JR