Twenty-fifth Virginia Infantry

Report of Lieut. Col. J. M. Heck, Twenty-fifth Virginia Infantry, of
operations from May 24 to July 13, including skirmishers July 7 to 9, and
engagement at Rich Mountain.

--,--, 1861.
On May 24 I reported for duty to Col. George A. Porterfield, who was then,
with about 100 men, holding the town of Fetterman, three miles west of
Grafton, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.

On the 25th Col. Porterfield received a re-enforcement of six or seven raw
recruits, infantry and cavalry, under Col. R. Turk.

On May 26 Col. Porterfield, with his small force of half-armed and
undisciplined troops, took possession of Grafton.

At 12 o'clock on the night of the 26th I was ordered by Col. Porterfield to
proceed to Richmond without delay, and report the condition of his little army,
and the necessity of this being re-enforced. I started immediately, and by
constant traveling reached Richmond in time to report to Gen. Lee on the
evening of the 28th. The general informed me that owing to the movements
of the enemy at Alexandria and other points it would be impossible for him to
do anything more for the army in the Northwest than to furnish me with some
arms at Staunton, Va., and authority to recruit a regiment in the valley and
mountain counties immediately on the route to Grafton.

In compliance with his order and instructions I repaired to Stauton on the 29th
in company with Maj. R. E. Cowan, where we proceeded with all possible
dispatch, assisted by Col. M. G. Harman (at that time major and quartermaster
at that point), to raise troops and get up supplies. While thus engaged the news
of Col. Porterfield's retreat from Grafton and his subsequent defeat at
Philippi reached us. This caused us some delay, as we had to provide clothing
as well as provisions, as the army was then suffering, having lost all their
guns. We also had some difficulty in fitting up a battery or four pieces
(6-pounders), which had been furnished us by Governor Letcher, but was
without caissons.

On June 7 we left Staunton with one battery of four pieces (6-pounder brass
cannon), temporarily assigned to the Eighth Star Artillery, from Shenandoah
County, command by Capt. Rice, afterwards' assigned to the Lee Battery,
commanded by Capt. Anderson; one company of cavalry, commanded by
Capt. Moorman, and three companies of infantry. About the same time we
received orders from the governor to call out the militia of Pendleton,
Highland, Bath, Pocahontas, Randolph, and Barbour. We immediately dispatched
Lieut. John T. Cowan (who had been ordered to report to me for duty) and
others to these counties with the governors' proclamation and orders for the
militia of the three first-named counties to meet us at Monterey, in Highland
County, on June 10. Having authority from the governor to use the militia or
not, as we saw proper, we arranged for each county to furnish a company of
100 men, which was done, and the rest were discharged. We considered that
many volunteers to be worth more than the whole militia force; besides, it was
necessary of some to remain at home to take care of the crops, as our army
had to be supplied principally from those counties. Three companies were
formed from the militia of Highland, Bath, and Pendleton, and the militia from
those counties sent home.

With this force (in all eight companies) we reached Col. Porterfield's
headquarters, at Huttonsville, on June 15. Gen. Garnett, who had reached
there one day in advance with one staff officer, ordered Lieut. Col. W. L.
Jackson and myself to form a regiment each from the companies then there,
about twenty-four in number. My regiment was composed of ten companies
of infantry, to which was attached one company of cavalry and one of
artillery.

Immediately after the formation of my regiment I received orders to march
that night to Rich Mountain Pass. Capt. Corley, of the general staff, was
sent with me to select the location for fortifications.

We marched that night, and early the next morning, June 16, occupied the
western slope of the mountain near its base, seven miles west of Beverly.

We worked our whole force on the fortifications for several days, but made
rather slow progress, as we had but few tools and no engineer until Prof. Jed.
Hotchkiss joined the command.

On the same day that I occupied this position Gen. Garnett, with Col.
Jackson's regiment, occupied the Laurel Hill Pass, seventeen miles northwest
of Beverly. The enemy was at this time holding Philippi with a considerable
force and Buckhannon with a small force.

On June--I was ordered by Gen. Garnett to take part of my regiment and
all the wagons under my command and go to Buckhannon on a foraging
expedition, a report of which you have.

The day after we left Buckhannon June-, the enemy, under Gen. Rosecrans,
about 5,000 strong, occupied the place and was very soon largely re-enforced.

On July [6] a detachment of about 100 men made an attack on our picket at
Middle Fork Bridge, about half-way between our camp and Buckhannon.
Notwithstanding their superior numbers they were repulsed, leaving one dead
on the field. Three of our pickets were wounded-one slightly, the other two
severely. The enemy soon afterwards appearing in large force, our picket was
compelled to withdraw from the bridge.

On July 7 I sent out Maj. Tyler, of the Twentieth Virginia Regiment, who
had been sent with seven companies to re-enforce me, with two companies to
reconnoiter the enemy's force and position at the
bridge. This little force, under their gallant leader, attacked and drove in the
enemy's pickets, but finding the enemy in large force, withdrew in good order
and returned to camp.

On the evening of the same day Lieut.-Col. Pegram arrived with the
remainder of the Twentieth Regiment and assumed the command. I then
offered to give him all the information I had of the surrounding country,
fortifications, &c., and immediately introduced him to Professor Hotchkiss,
my engineer.

On July 9 the enemy in large force moved up and occupied the Roaring Run
Flats, about two miles from and in sight of our position, and on the evening
of the same day made a reconnaissance in force, driving in our pickets.
Col. Pegram at this time very much underrated the force of the enemy, and
wrote to Gen. Garnett for permission to surprise and attack, but I think this
underrating of the enemy's force kept Gen. Garnett from ordering Col.
Pegram to fall back from the position, as I have no doubt he would have done,
at the same time falling back from his own position to Cheat Mountain, had
he learned or even supposed the enemy in front of our position half as strong
as he was. I say this because I know Gen. Garnett did not consider us
strong enough in that position to resist a force so superior in numbers, even
against a front attack only, as he inspected the position in person after the
fortifications had been commenced, and remarked that we could defend the
position against the attack of an enemy three or four times our number. The
force brought against us was at least ten to one. I deem the foregoing
statement due to the memory of one of Virginia's noblest sons, a devoted
patriot, a wise and sagacious general, who fell a victim to a combination of
circumstances over which he had no control.

On July 10 the enemy made a second reconnaissance in force, which return
to camp late in the evening. Lights were seen in the enemy's camp until after
midnight, and he appeared to be in considerable commotion, as if preparing
for some expedition requiring extra rations, &c. Col. Pegram, in
anticipation of a rear attack, sent to the top of the mountain, about two miles
in our rear, two companies of the Twenty-fifth Regiment, Capt. Curry's,
and-, of his own regiment, which remained out all night.

Early on the morning of the 11th a cavalry sergeant of the enemy (who had
been detailed to assist in keeping open the communication between Gen.
Rosecrans, who had started very early that morning with six regiments of
infantry to turn our left flank, and Gen. McClellan, who, with the main
body of the enemy and eighteen pieces of artillery, was to attack us in front
as soon as Rosecrans made the attack in the rear) missed his way and rode up
to our lines and was wounded and captured. Col. Pegram learned from him
that the enemy had moved a force to his rear, but could not learn by which
flank, so he sent two more companies, with one piece of artillery, to
re-enforce the picket on the mountain, which made in all a force of about 300
men, which was placed under the command of Capt. De Lagnel, whose deed
of daring on that day has won for him a name as lasting as history itself.

Col. Scott, who was marching with a regiment to re-enforce Gen.
Garnett, was requested by Col. Pegram to hold a road one mile west of
Beverly. This was done because Col. Pegram thought that the enemy would
try to turn his right flank by a very circuitous route, coming in at that road,
but the enemy made the attack about 11 o'clock on
the mountain from the left flank, having made a circuit through the woods.

Our brave little band of heroes under Capt. De Langnel met the enemy with
great resolution and repulsed him twice, but were finally overpowered by
overwhelming numbers and compelled to retreat, having lost in killed and
wounded in the three hours' fight about one-third of their whole force. After the
brave Capt. De Lagnel had been shot down, while, with the assistance of a
boy-all the rest of the [men] at the guns having been killed or wounded-he
was loading and firing his pieces, the gallant Capt. Curry, of the Rockbridge
Guards, assumed the command of the few remaining men and conducted the
retreat in as good order as possible, being under the concentrated fire of four
regiments, which made a perfect hail of leaden missiles.

The enemy, having charged and taken our piece of artillery, were bayoneting
our wounded soldiers, who had been shot at their posts. As soon as Col.
Pegram learned that we had been driven from our position at Hart's house and
lost our piece of artillery, he determined to take about half of the command
and charge and retake the lost position, and immediately organized them and
marched from our camp, leaving me in command, with instructions to hold
that position at all hazards.

In the mean time the enemy was busy making preparations for an attack in
front, cutting roads and placing a large number of pieces of artillery in
position. Our force had been so weakened by the heavy detail made by
Col. Pegram that we could do nothing but strengthen our position and await
the attack of the enemy.

About 11 o'clock at night, having heard nothing from Col. Pegram, his
adjutant and other officers insisted on a council of war being called. I called
a few officers together and repeated to them my orders from Col. Pegram,
instructing me to hold the position until I heard from him, which might not be
before morning, as he had not then determined whether he would attack
Gen. Rosecrans that night or in the morning.

We were about returning to our several posts, as we were expecting an attack
every moment, when Col. Pegram returned and informed us he had
determined not to make the attack at Hart's house, and had sent the men he
had selected for that purpose away under the command of Maj. Nat. Tyler,
and he ordered me to call in all the companies and pickets and retreat with
them immediately in the direction of Gen. Garnett's camp, at Laurel Hill.
I preceded without delay to execute the order; had the remaining pieces of
artillery spiked; the men formed single file; a pass-word by which they might
recognize each other in the dark was given them, and they were marching out
of the camp when Col. Pegram came up, owing to his weak condition,
having been thrown from his horse during the day. His orderly, in halting the
command until the colonel could get in front, failed to reach the head of the
column, and forty or fifty men, under the command of Capt. Lilley (guided
by Maj. Stewart and Professor Hotchkiss), did not receive the orders to halt,
and marched for some time, thinking they were followed by the rest of the
command. On discovering that they had got separated from us, they changed
their course, marched through Beverly and escaped.

Soon after leaving Camp Garnett this little force passed between two regiments
of the enemy, as we afterwards learned, and escaped being fired upon by
replying by chance with the signal adopted by the enemy. The night being very
dark and route being over precipitous mountains
and through almost impassable undergrowth, we made but little progress until
after daylight.

Soon after sunup on the 12th we were in sight of Beverly on a high mountain,
and could see the river valley for many miles both to our right and left. Had
we gone directly down into this valley as urged by Col. Wirt in person
[and] some of the officers we would have escaped, as the enemy did not enter
Beverly until about 1 p. m. on that day. I suppose that we would have gone
into the valley at this point if Col. Pegram had not mistaken some of our
own (Lilley's) men for the enemy's advance; as it was we were kept in the
mountains, marching slowly in the direction of Gen. Garnett's camp at
Laurel Hill.

Late in the evening I asked permission of Col. Pegram to go down into the
valley and see if the road leading from Beverly to Gen. Garnett's camp was
clear, which was granted. Taking with me a citizen that I could rely upon, I
send him to a house where he learned from the inmates that there was no news
in that neighborhood of any movements of the enemy in the valley; but as they
were three miles from the main road and could give no certain news as to the
movements on it, I returned and reported to Col. Pegram, and he
determined to move his men to the main road without delay.

We found this march through the valley to the main road rather difficult, as
we had to wade the Valley River three times and cross much swampy land.
When we were within a half mile of the main road the head of our column,
having crossed the river, was halted till the rest of the command came up,
when we were fired into, which caused some confusion, as it was very dark.

Col. Pegram ordered me to recross the river with the command and form
them, as he had just learned that the enemy was at Leadsville Church (3,000
strong), at the point where we would strike the main road. He soon afterwards
ordered me to march the men back again to the foot of the mountain, he riding
on in advance, having procured a horse after he got into the valley. When
I arrived at the house late at night I found Col. Pegram, who was much
exhausted and very weak, asleep. I awoke him, and he told me to call together
the commandants of companies and procure a private room. I did so, and sent
for the colonel, who informed the officers that he had concluded to surrender
the command, as he believed it would be impossible to escape, being, as he
believed, so surrounded by the enemy that it would be impossible for us to
cross the valley to the mountains on the other side, and admitting that if we
were able to do so, he thought that in their present exhausted and starving
condition it would be impossible for the men to reach the nearest settlement.

All the officers seemed to agree with the colonel except Capt. J. B. Moorman,
of the Franklin Guards, and myself. The captain had marched his company by
the same route after the defeat at Philippi, and thought that it could be done
again. I argued that we could try the experiment, and if we came across a very
superior force we could then surrender to it, which I thought would be much
better than to send a proposition to surrender to Beverly, seven miles distant.
I thought that with what meal, flour, and meat we could get in the
neighborhood (there being several houses near) we could manage to subsist the
men on short rations until we could get something in the mountains. But, as
stated before, a majority of the officers thought it would be better to surrender
at once. Col. Pegram then wrote a note to the commanding officer of the
U. S. forces at Beverly and dispatched it about 12 o'clock
that night (July 12) by a messenger, who returned a little after sunrise
the next day with one of Gen. McClellan's staff officers, Col. Key, and
about twenty cavalry. Col. Key brought Col. Pegram a reply to his note
from Gen. McClellan (copies of which you have). Col. Pegram and
Col. Key had a long conference, at the end of which the men were
marched to Beverly and stacked their guns. There being no formal surrender
of officer to surrender their swords to, Col. Pegram and most of the
officers who had swords hung them on the stacked arms, and many of them
were soon stolen by the Yankee guards.

We were kept at Beverly and well treated by our captors until July 17, when
all but Col. Pegram were released on parole by order of Gen. Scott,
Pegram being refused his parole because he had been an officer in the U. S.
Army.

The foregoing account has been written hastily and from memory, but I think
in the main is correct. There are undoubtedly many points of interest that have
been forgotten, but as I have been informed that you will have written
statements from several of the officers, and among others one from Lieut.
John T. Cowan, who was with me all the time, and to whom I am much
indebted. He is a cool and intrepid young officer, and certainly deserves a
much better fate.

There are many officers who deserve honorable mention, and foremost among
those is the brave Capt. Curry, who was wounded in the fight at Rich
Mountain; but where many acted so well distinction would be invidious.

Yours, very truly,

J. M. HECK,
Late Lieut.-Col., Commanding 25th Regiment.

R. R. HOWISON, Richmond, Va.

Source: Official Records
PAGE 254-2 OPERATIONS IN MD., PA., VA., AND W. VA. [CHAP. IX.
[Series I. Vol. 2. Serial No. 2.]

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Gettysburg after battle report:

Report of Lieut. Col. J. A. Robinson, Twenty-fifth Virginia Infantry,
of operations June 13-15.

June 16, 1863.
Maj.: I have the honor to report that no casualties occurred in
either the Twenty-first, Twenty-fifth, or Forty-fourth Virginia Regt.'s
during the recent engagements around Winchester. These
three regiments are now under my command.

I have the honor to be, major, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,

J. A. ROBINSON,
Lieut.-Col., Comdg. Brigade.

Maj. B. W. Leigh,
Assistant Adjutant-Gen., Johnson's Division.

Report of Col. John C. Higginbotham, Twenty-fifty Virginia Infantry.

Camp near Martinsburg, W. Va., July 21, 1863.
Capt.: I herewith respectfully report that at twilight, July 1,
in obedience to orders from Capt. [R.] Cleary, acting assistant
adjutant-general, I threw forward four companies, under the command
of Maj. [R. D.] Lilley, as a picket to cover the front of the
brigade, which were deployed as skirmishers the following morning
at dawn.

At 3 p. m., in accordance with instructions, I deployed the remaining
portion of my regiment, and assumed charge of the line. The
skirmishing, which had only been occasional, and confined more
closely to the center of the left wing, became more general as the
line advanced. We were shelled until the base of the hill occupied
by the enemy was reached, but without casualties. The enemy
made but feeble resistance until thrown back upon their line of
support, well sheltered behind rocks and other accidents, in rear of
a small branch, but were dislodged in one charge. Just here my
casualties were the heaviest. At 8 p. m. I received a wound that
caused me, after the firing had nearly ceased, to surrender my command
to Lieut.-Col. Robinson.

The regiment remained in line of battle that night, with pickets
thrown forward, and at dawn, July 3, advanced, throwing 50 men
forward as sharpshooters, under the command of Lieut.'s [J. G.]
McCray and [J. H.] Yancey. These sharpshooters, as well as the
supporting regiment, were engaged during the entire day.

At 12 o'clock that night, the regiment withdrew with the brigade
to the chain of hills in front of Gettysburg. Remained quietly in
line during the day of July 4, and, after twilight, with the division,
marched in the direction of Fairfield.

It is with pleasure that I can testify to the gallantry and skill exhibited
by Lieut.-Col. Robinson and Maj. Lilley in lending
assistance to me, as well as the same I affirm of the commanding
officers of Companies A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, &c.; First Lieut.
[Solomon] Poe; Capt. [W. H.] Fitchett, Capt. [E. D.] Camden,
Capt.'s [C. D.] McCoy, [J. H.] Johnson, [J. M.] Berry, [R. E. A.]
Stuart, [Wilson] Harper, and [J.] W. Mathews, with their several
lieutenants. I never saw men act better.

My casualties in killed, wounded, and missing are 70.*

I am, captain, very respectfully,

JNO. C. HIGGINBOTHAM,
Col., Comdg. Twenty-fifty Virginia Infantry.

Capt. Samuel J. C. Moore. A. A. G., Jones' Brigade.

Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 27. Part II. Reports. Serial No. 44

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Report of Col. John C. Higginbotham, Twenty-fifth Virginia Infantry.

DECEMBER 4, 1863.
CAPTAIN: In obedience to an order from General Johnson, through
General Jones, on the morning of the 27th ultimo I went forward to
protect on the march the artillery of the division, and 1 mile east of
Bartlett's Mill, on the Locust Grove road, encountered six vedettes
of the enemy, which, after a little skirmish of a few minutes, were
driven off without injury to us. I then deployed five companies
(the right wing of my command) to scour both sides of the road
until we reached the pickets of Rodes' division, when they were
withdrawn. The regiment resumed its march, and afterward
countermarched until near the scene of action.

Near evening, agreeably to your order, I deployed three companies
of my regiment, under command of Captain Johnson, to fill in part
the interval between Major Anderson's skirmishers and the left
of Rodes' division, which skirmishers moved forward well when the
brigade advanced in line. I lost sight of the skirmishers of the
brigade at the first ravine in the woods, upon the crest of which hill
the enemy were posted, and coming so suddenly in their front, I
found it necessary to deploy 12 men, with Lieutenant Hendrix,
Company A, upon my right to fill the vacancy between Captain Johnson
and it, to protect my flank. It was essential for the line of Major
Anderson to retire.

We drove the enemy out of their position, and if we had not
gotten far beyond the left of the brigade and exhibited the weakness
of our flank--the open space nearly a half mile between us and
Rodes' left--we could have pushed them much farther. We retired
to the skirts of the woods, or rather back to the crest of the hill, and,
upon an order from Captain Early, to the fence we had last crossed
in advancing, and afterward marched by the left flank with the
brigade to the main road.

Company A captured 1 prisoner; Company E, 4; Captain Mathews,
of Company I, an adjutant.

My officers exhibited that energy, coolness, skill, and gallantry.
and the men that determined bravery, which has ever made them
conspicuous upon every battle-field.

Captain Boyd was severely wounded, and my sergeant-major
(D. M. Layton), who has more than once been recommended for
promotion, was again hurt. There was no skulking.

My thanks are due Lieutenant-Colonel Lilley and Acting Major
Harper for the assistance so nobly extended me, and to Lieutenant
Massie, my acting adjutant, I am especially grateful.

I herewith append a list of casualties, and additionally remark that
the enemy left some of their dead, knapsacks, canteens, axes, &c., in
our possession.

Respectfully submitted.

JNO. C. HIGGINBOTHAM,
Colonel.

Capt. SAMUEL J. C. MOORE,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Jones' Brigade.

[Inclosure.]

List of Casualties in the Twenty-fifth Virginia Regiment.

Wounded.
Company A:
Officer.................................... 1
Private.................................... 1
Company B: Private........................... 1
Company C:
Non-commissioned officer................... 1
Private.................................... 1
Company F: Private........................... 1
Company G: Private........................... 1
Field and staff: Non-commissioned officer.... 1

Total................................... 8

E. B. MASSIE,
Second Lieutenant, Acting Adjutant.

Source: Official Records
PAGE 857-48 OPERATIONS IN N. C., VA., W. VA., MD., AND PA. [CHAP. XLI.
[Series I. Vol. 29. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 48.]