Residence was not listed; an 18 year-old Farmer.
Enlisted on 4/18/1861 as a Private.
On 4/18/1861 he mustered into "E" Co. VA 4th Infantry
He was Killed on 7/3/1863 at Gettysburg, PA
Promotions:
* Corpl 6/15/1863 (Estimated day)
Sources used by Historical Data Systems, Inc.:
- The Virginia Regimental Histories Series
You may obtain his records through the service noted in the red enclosed box above.
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4th Regiment, Virginia Infantry
4th Infantry Regiment was assembled at Winchester, Virginia, in July, 1861. Its companies were from the counties of Wythe, Montgomery, Pulaski, Smyth, Grayson, and Rockbridge. It became part of the Stonewall Brigade and served under Generals T.J. Jackson, T.B. Garnett, Winder, Paxton, J.A. Walker, and W. Terry. The regiment fought at First Manassas, First Kernstown, and in Jackson's Valley Campaign. It then participated in many conflicts of the Army of Northern Virginia from the Seven Days' Battles to Cold Harbor, was with Early in the Shenandoah Valley, and saw action around Appomattox. The unit reported 5 killed, 23 wounded, and 48 missing at First Kernstown, took 317 effectives to Port Republic, had 7 killed and 25 wounded at Malvern Hill, and had 19 killed and 78 wounded of the 180 at Second Manassas. It lost forty-eight percent of the 355 engaged at Chancellorsville and more than fifty percent of the 257 at Gettysburg. The regiment surrendered with 7 officers and 38 men of which only 17 were armed. Its field officers were Colonels James T. Preston, Charles A. Ronald, and William Terry; Lieutenant Colonels Robert D. Gardner and Lewis T. Moore; and Majors Matthew D. Bennett, Joseph F. Kent, and Albert G. Pendleton.
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Gettysburg after battle report:
Report of Maj. William Terry, Fourth Virginia Infantry.
Camp near Buckletown, Berkeley Co., Va.,
July 16, 1863.
Sir: In obedience to circular of this date, I have the honor of submitting
the following report of the part taken by the Fourth Virginia
Infantry in the operations around Gettysburg from the 1st to
the 3d instant. As the Fourth Regt. was at no time detached
from the brigade, all that it did was, therefore, under the eye of the
brigade commander, and renders it unnecessary that I should go into
details for information.
On July 1, the Fourth Regt. was not engaged, not reaching
the field until after the fighting for that day had closed by the defeat
of the enemy, who had been driven to the south of the town.
At night, the Fourth Regt. was conducted to the left and southeast
of Gettysburg, and placed in position, where it remained inactive,
excepting some sharp skirmishing, until near night, when we were put
in motion, and, after several changes of position, we finally moved to
the right, nearer Gettysburg, and placed in position in the woods at
the base of one of the hills occupied by the enemy, the summit of
which they had very strongly fortified with earthworks and abatis.
Early on the morning of the 3d (Friday), my regiment became engaged
with the enemy behind their defenses, in which they were
exposed to a heavy and destructive fire of shot, shell, and musketry,
from which the regiment sustained a heavy loss in killed, wounded,
and missing of both men and officers. A large number of those
missing are believed to be prisoners, as when my regiment was ordered
to relieve the Thirty-third, many of the men and officers advanced
so far up the side of the hill under the enemy's defenses that
they afterward, when the regiments in support gave way, found it
impracticable to effect a retreat.
After night, my regiment with the brigade retired from the front
of the enemy's works, and returned to a position northwest of Gettysburg,
where we remained on Saturday, and Sunday morning commenced
to fall back, and have now safely returned to the south bank
of the Potomac, which we crossed on the morning of the 13th instant.
In the battle of Gettysburg, I have to regret the loss of many valuable
lives, among them Lieut. J. Kent Ewing, killed. Among the
wounded officers known to be in the hands of the enemy are Capt.
[W. P. F.] Lee and Lieut.'s [John T.] Sayers, jr., [J. T.] Howe,
and [R. J.] Glendy.
It affords me pleasure to say that officers and men in this last battle
behaved to my entire satisfaction, and displayed a coolness and gallantry
worthy of a victory, though we were unable to win one. I
will not attempt to specify any as most deserving of credit for good
conduct, as I feel assured I could not do this with justice. It would
be less difficult to name the unworthy.
I hand in as a part of this report a list of the killed, wounded, and
missing,* showing 12 killed, 65 wounded, and 61 missing, embracing
men and officers; total, 138.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
WM. TERRY,
Maj., Comdg. Fourth Virginia Infantry.
Lieut. C. S. Arnall,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen., Stonewall Brigade.
Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 27. Part II. Reports. Serial No. 44