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| Captain Andrew Berkley Baker |
ANDREW BERKLEY BAKER
Andrew was born in 1814 and raised in Prince Edward County, Virginia. In 1838 he married
Louisa Cannon Webb, a daughter of Robert Ross Webb. They lived on the portion of the Webb estate that was formerly in Prince
Edward County, but went to Appomattox County in 1845. Andrew was the first coroner of Appomattox County. He and
his wife raised 13 children.
The husbands of the older daughters served in the Civil War. Andrew served as Captain of the Appomattox
Home Guards, Confederate States Army, during the Civil War. Andrew is buried in the family cemetery on Route 631 in
Appomattox County.
The following story has been passed down the generations of the Andrew Berkley Baker Family:
Three days before the surrender of General Lee to General Grant at Appomattox on April 9, 1865, Union soldiers
poured into the area surrounding what is called by the natives of Appomattox, "The Old Surrender Grounds". This was
actually Clover Hill Village, the seat of the county which was formed in 1845. The Union soldiers had spread out in the area
and across the stage coach roads in order to cut General Lee off from Appomattox where he was to have received much needed
supplies. This accounts for a company of Union soldiers taking over the fields of Walnut Shade Farm, about two miles from
the Old Surrender Grounds, which belonged to Captain and Mrs. Andrew Berley Baker, who lived there with their children.
There was sickness in the household as the Mother and one of the daughters were ill. There as a new
grave in the cemetery. The soldiers starting digging this up as they thought this was a hiding place for monies and other
valuables. Captain Baker, fearing for the lives of his family, felt desperately the need of trying to do something,
anything, no matter how daring, nor what the consequences may be to his personal welfare, to save his household. Being
a thirty-second degree Mason and hoping some of the Union sodiers were Mason, he stepped out onto he front porch of his home
and gave a Masonic sign. The coming officer, fortunately, was a Mason and rcognized Captain Baker's distress signal.
He drew his sword and made his was to Captain Baker, shaking hands and greeting him as a brother Mason. The Union Officer
assured Captain Baker complete protection for he and his family. He called the men away and posted guards around the
house.
Submitted by Betty Thomas Drinkard, wife of Elantha M. Drinkard II (Jimmy), Great Grandson.
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| Sergeant John Henry Beeton |
Sergeant John Henry Beeton
Born on August 20, 1831 in Lexington,
Virginia, Sergeant John Henry Beeton was a member of the Virginia Militia known as the Rockbridge Rifles. Virginia Governor
Letcher established the Rockbridge Rifles on November 17, 1859. The Rockbridge Rifles were raised by the Governor after the
raid on Harper’s Ferry by John Brown. Brown’s raid sent shockwaves throughout the Commonwealth during that time
immediately preceding the secession.
On
April 17, 1861 the Virginia Legislature voted for secession from the Union. The Rockbridge Rifles were ordered to report to
Harper’s Ferry and so on April 18, 1861 at about 1:00pm the Rockbridge Rifles left Lexington, Virginia for Harper’s
Ferry.
John
Henry Beeton became a member of the 27th Virginia Infantry Company H, according to court records in Lexington,
Virginia. John Henry is listed as the Second Sergeant. The 27th Virginia Infantry along with the 2nd,
4th, 5th, and 33rd Virginia Infantry regiments were organized into a brigade at the outset
of the war under the command of Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson. These five regiments were known as the “Stonewall
Brigade”, the only official “nickname” recognized by the Confederate government. The 27th, was
the smallest of the five regiments, yet the 27th was unsurpassed in battlefield valor.
At First Manassas, a burst of
canister brought down 1/3 of its members. Regrouping, the ambulatory remnants charged downhill, led by a 50-year old captain
into the guns of Rickett’s and Griffin’s batteries. When the Federal guns fell into Confederate hands it was the
flag of the 27th Virginia that fluttered overhead. From its meager ranks, the 27th lost 122 members
killed, wounded and missing, a total unmatched by any other regiment in the Stonewall Brigade.
After the First Battle of Manassas, Sergeant Beeton was ordered by the Governor of Virginia, John Letcher, to report
to the Virginia Military Institute and assume the duties of Ordinance Officer. John Henry Beeton and Robert Elison Beeton,
John’s brother, were gunsmiths in Lexington, Virginia before the war. Their father John Beeton had been a gunsmith in
Lexington as well from about 1815 till his death in 1848.
Sergeant
Beeton performed those duties throughout most of the war. However, during 1864 Federal General Hunter attacked the Virginia
Military Institute, burned the Governor’s home in Lexington and destroyed the barracks, the Institute and a portion
of the town of Lexington.
An
eyewitness account was handed down of these events through John Henry Beeton to his son William Rolison Beeton born in 1858
in Lexington. William Rolison Beeton reported as follows: “ When I was a boy about 5 or 6 years old my, which makes
this about 1863 or 1864 we received word from a courier that Federal General Hunter was enroute. Townspeople left the area
by carts, horseback, mules, walking as the sound of the Federal artillery could be heard shelling the town and the barracks
of the Virginia Military Institute. We fled into the mountains and felt some
easier as they put distant from the Federal bombardment. He saw shells and cannon balls exploding in the surrounding fields
where the present V. M. I. Alumni Stadium is located. Of course, they were terrified, but in a short time they were a few
miles along their way and felt safer. There they stayed for several days which gave the Yankees time to loot the town, burn
the V.M.I. barracks and Governor Letcher’s home before moving on to Lynchburg.”
John Henry Beeton decided to get
back into active duty in the war, and left Lexington on foot to rejoin the Confederate Army. His objective was Danville, Virginia,
but the railroads were in the hands of the Yankees so he walked the entire distance of more than 200 miles, and entered on
duty with Captain Otey’s battery of Artillery in which he served until the final surrender at Appomattox. He was a 2nd
Sergeant according to the records of the Court House in Lexington, Virginia Rockbridge County.
His wife Anna died in 1883 and
is buried in Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery along with his son George who died in 1895 in a rock quarry accident.
Finally in on February 4, 1904
John Henry Beeton passed away and he buried, along with many of his comrades about thirty paces from Stonewall Jackson’s
tomb, his old Commander.
Submitted by: Dennis James Beeton, Great, Great Grandson
JAMES EDWARD BURGE
James was born in 1829 the son
of Thomas Peterson and Rebecca Staples Burge of Buckingham County Virginia. James siblings were Thomas Hall Burge, William
Staples Burge, Martha Rebecca Burge, Susan Elizabeth Burge, Fletcher Benson Burge, and Hester Ann Burge.
James better know as “Ned” met and married Frances
Stevens Phelps sometime before 1849. Ned and Frances children were W. Fletcher Burge, James Washington Burge, Mary Sue Burge,
Frank E. Burge, Nannie Rebecca Burge, and Edmonia Burge.
Ned joined the Confederate States Army on 2-10-1863 into Co, E.,
18th Virginia Infantry and was killed at the Battle of Gettysburg
on July 1,2 or 3, 1863. Ned is buried on the Battlefield at Gettysburg. Ned’s
sword and musket were both returned to his family after his death and remains with the family today.
Ned’s youngest child, Edmonia, was only l˝ years old when her father died and she was sent to Louisville
Kentucky to live with family there and did not return for many years. When she did return for a visit she met a young widower
named Charles Henry Coleman. She never returned to Kentucky and married Charles Coleman, who was also a veteran of the War
Between the States and was at Gettysburg in July 1863.
Ancestor of Thomas E. Austin, Appomattox Rangers Court House Camp # 1733.
Submitted by Tom and Carolyn Austin.
ROBERT RICHARDSON CARDWELL
Robert Richardson Cardwell of Campbell County Virginia
was born July 8, 1844 to Thomas Dixon and Edna Neighbors Cardwell.
Robert enlisted
in the Confederate Army at Campbell Court House on August 10, 1862. He served the Confederacy in Company I, Second Regiment
Virginia Cavalry, the first mounted regiment organized in Virginia at Lynchburg, Virginia on May 8, 1861, Col. Jubal A. Early,
Commanding Officer. Mr. Cardwell was wounded in action at Berryville on August
21, 1864 and was in the hospital for 10 days. This regiment, later under the
command of General Thomas T. Munford, did not surrender but cut its way through the lines and came back to Lynchburg and disbanded
at the spot where it was formed in 1861. Mr. Cardwell served until April 17, 1865.
On April 17, 1871 Robert married Sallie K. Wright. They
had eight children: Dudley Hopkins, Nellie Bridget, Thomas Dixon, Annie Grace, John Robert, Martha Hildegarde, Marian Gladys
and Bennett Beckham. One of his daughters, Marian Gladys Cardwell Tweedy, was
an active member of the Appomattox Chapter, UDC until her death in May 12, 1995, at the age of 105.
This Confederate Veteran, Robert Richardson Cardwell,
died in Campbell County, Virginia on December 20, 1922. He and his wife are buried
at Bethany United Methodist Church Cemetery in Rustburg, Virginia.
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| Private Nathaniel C. Cash |
Private Nathaniel C. Cash
Born in Nelson
County Virginia in March 1845 Nathaniel C. Cash was the son of William Willis Cash and Elizabeth "Betsy" Campbell.
This Cash family had a very significant record of service to the Confederacy as you will see from the documented records
cited in this biography. When the War for Southern Independence started the Cash family was living in the Temperance District
of Amherst County.
At the age of 17 Nathaniel C. Cash enlisted June 1, 1863 in Lamkin's Battery of Artillery
at Massies Mill Nelson County. Nathaniel had two brothers that enlisted in the Confederate service as well these brave men
were George S. Cash who enlisted in Huntsville West Virginia May 18, 1861 as a private in 2nd Company I 25th Virginia Infantry
and Zebulon Cash who enlisted at the Amherst County courthouse on March 15, 1862 as a private in Company I of the 19th
Virginia Infantry.
Their father, William Willis Cash, enlisted on April 23, 1861 at Amherst County
Courthouse for 1 year in the 49th Virginia Infantry Company B-I. He was detailed in January of 1862 to chase deserters.
He was furloughed on February 17, 1862 through February 28, 1862. He was present through to April of 1862. POW May 31, 1862
@ Seven Pines Virginia. Exchanged August 5, 1862 @ Aikens Landing Virginia. Discharged September 2, 1864 for being over the
age.
William Willis Cash had two brothers who also fought for the Confederacy.
Nathaniel C. Cash
was admitted to the General Hospital Number 9 on May 30, 1864 transferred to Chimborazo hospital on June 1, 1864. Admitted
General Hospital number 24 for chronic diarrhea. Admitted to Moore Hospital October 7, 1864. Furloughed October 18, 1864
for 30 days, destination Lowesville, Virginia to travel to Danville and Southside Railroad to New Glasgow. Post war farmer
age 66, 1907.
According to Amherst County Courthouse records, Nathaniel C. Cash married Missouri C. Campbell
on the 10th of December 1867 in the Campbell family home.
Nathaniel's wife passed away and he married
Olivia Rose Evans on May 25, 1890 in Amherst County Virginia.
My Grandfather, Clarence Hamelton Cash,
was born June 14, 1900 in Amherst County, Virginia to Olivia Rose Evans and Clarence Hamelton Cash. His son, William Goldman
Cash, my father, was born on May 27, 1927 in Amherst County Virginia.
I have six ancestors from the Cash family
that fought in the war. This was the story of four of these men.
Submitted by Great Great Granddaughter,
Brenda Cash Beeton
CHAPMAN HUNTER CHILTON
Chapman Hunter Chilton was born
March 25, 1832 in formerly Campbell County, which since 1845 us the Spout Springs area of Appomattox County. He was the son
of John Poindexter Chilton 1809-1868 and Adeline Virginia Hunter 1812-1834 the daughter of Benjamin and Betsy Fields Hunter. Chapman married Mary Elizabeth Elliott who was born July 31, 1849 and died February
2, 1920. They lived in Appomattox County and raised eight children, some of whom were Raleigh H., John B., William C., Maggie,
Lena, Bessie and Marissa.
Chapman H. Chilton served in the
Confederate States Army in Co. D, 5th Virginia Cavalry and as Captain
of the Appomattox County Home Guards.
He was appointed Principal of
Union Academy at Spout Springs in 1860. He was an ardent advocate for free schools in Virginia and when his dream came true
in 1870, he was appointed the first Superintendent of Schools in Appomattox County, holding that position until 1881, when
the Readjuster party gained control of the State Government, and Rev. J.B. Bristow was appointed in his place. In 1885 the Democratic Party regained control of the state and immediately reappointed Mr. Chilton to his
old office, Superintendent of Schools. He held that position until 1897. A man of very strong convictions, he made some enemies, but he had the old Virginia
Courtesy that made him many friends. Mr. Chilton
died in 1914.
Submitted by Betty Thomas Drinkard
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CHARLES
HENRY COLEMAN
Charles was born about 1844,
the second of eight children to William Henry Coleman (born 1818) of Bent Creek and Eliza Moseley of Buckingham. They were
married in 1842. William’s parents were Henry and Mary Sears Coleman.
Charles joined the Army of
the Confederate States in the Spring of 1863 in Co. H, 2nd Virginia Cavalry under Captain Joseph W. Carson. Charles
was at Gettysburg as well as the Surrender on 4-9-1865 at Appomattox Courthouse. He was 4th Corporal.
When Charles returned from
the war he gained employment at the Branch Family Farm after the deaths of Lilborn and Indiana Branch. It was during this employment that he met Susan (Susie) Patteson Branch, daughter of Lilborn and
Indiana, and they were married 8-9-1876. Charles and Susie had eight children Indiana 1880, Pearl 1882, Branch M. 1892, Royal
J. 1894, Irene 1893, Florence 1895, Grace 1896, and Taylor H. 1898. Susie died
in June 1903
Charles was married a second
time in 1906 to Edmonia C. Burge (born 10-18-1861), the daughter of James Edward (Ned) Burge (1829-1863) and Frances S. Phelps
Burge(1828-1880) of Wreck Island Creek, Appomattox County, Virginia. Ned Burge
was also in the Confederate States Army and died at the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863 and is buried there on the battlefield.
Edmonia’s siblings were W.F. 1849, James W. 1854, Mary Sue 1851, Frank E. 1856, Nannie Rebecca 1858. It is believed
that Charles and “Miss Eddie” (Charles always called Edmonia “Miss Eddie”) never had any children.
Charles continued to farm in
Appomattox all his life and was know as “America’s oldest continuous tobacco farmer to attend all reunions and
yield only to Charles W. Caldwell as the last leaf upon the tree of Appomattox veterans”.
When Charles died on July 27,
1945 at the age of 101 and 7 months, he ask his beloved Miss Eddie to bury him in his Confederate Uniform that he so dearly
loved and treasured. Charles, Susie (1st wife), and Edmonia/“Miss
Eddie” (2nd wife) are all buried in the Coleman Family Cemetery on Route 608 in Appomattox County on the
family farm.
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Submitted by Carolyn E. Austin
with information from newspaper article of Times Virginia on 10-23-1958 by Earle Robinson “Appomattox First Lady now
97 years old”, Appomattox County Virginia Heritage book article by Kim Holland (Great Granddaughter of Charles Henry
Coleman), History of Appomattox by Featherstone.
(Also, a distant relative of
Thomas E. Austin - husband of Carolyn.)
DRURY WILLIAM COLEMAN
Drury William Coleman was born in 1823 in Buckingham County,
a part of which is now Appomattox County, Virginia. He was the son of Henry and
Mary Sears Coleman.
In May 1846 Drury enlisted in the Buckingham County Virginia
Militia as First Lieutenant.
On May 24, 1861 at the age of 36 Drury enlisted as a private
in Capt. Joel W. Floods Company, 2nd Virginia Cavalry, Co. H, Appomattox Rangers, Radfords Regiment Volunteers.
He was a farmer and carried his horse with him as he was mustered into service on June 3, 1861 in Lynchburg, Virginia by Lt.
Col. D.A. Langhorne. Drury was released for a short period because of his age, but then returned to service for the duration
of the war. The last record of his service is dated February 22, 1865. It is
believed that he was paroled in Lynchburg Virginia, however there seems to be no record available.
Drury was first married to Mary Durham Smith and they
had three sons, William, Schyler and James. Drury married second to Sarah E. Cumby and they had a son Thomas Drury and a daughter
Mary Laura.
Drury died in 1916 and is buried in the Coleman Family
Cemetery, located on the Coleman Family home place, which remains in the family
today.
Submitted by Hazel Lee Coleman Martin, Great Granddaughter.
SAMUEL D. CONNER
Samuel Conner was born in Appomattox County Virginia in 1834,
the son of Abendigo and Lennis Ann Ferguson Conner. His grandparents were Arthur
(A Revolutionary Soldier) and Eleanor D.(Duiguid ??) Conner. Samuel was raised
in Appomattox County with his 13 brothers and sisters. In the 1860s Samuel met
and married Sarah Elizabeth (Betty) Farrar, daughter of Robert N. and Mary Harris Farrar.
Samuel and Betty had 6 children Alberta, James, Thomas, Bessie, Mary Lenne and Lula.
On October 10, 1864 Samuel enlisted in the
Confederate States Army in Co. K 46th Virginia Regiment of Captain Huffman of the Wises Brigade.
On March 29, 1865, with less than 10 days
before the surrender at Appomattox, Samuel was wounded at Hatchers Run. He was
shot three times in the thigh and hip causing great suffering and a long convalescing. His brother, Jennings Conner was in
the same regiment and was only a few feet away when Samuel was shot and went immediately to assist him. Four of Samuels brothers
were in the war Edmund and Thomas were killed, Jennings and Allen were not wounded. Two of Samuels brothers-in-law were also
in the war Daniel P. Ferguson husband of Nancy Gilliam Conner and Elisha H. Lucado husband of Lucille Catherine Conner they
were not injured.
Samuel never fully recovered from his wounds,
for a number of years he was able to go about, but in the last years of his life he was totally disabled and confined to his
bed. He died on July 4, 1888, leaving his wife with small children to raise. Samuel and his beloved wife Betty are buried
on old Conner property, just above the Appomattox River on a lovely mountainside.
Submitted by Carolyn Evans Austin, Great,
Great Granddaughter
Ancestor of Carolyn Austin, Frances Evans,
Joan Butler, Valorie Tillett, Frances Miles.
ISAAC GILLIAM CREWS
Isaac Gilliam Crews, son of Joseph and Mary Crews, was born in 1836. He never
married.
Isaac enlisted in Co. F., 11th Virginia Infantry on March 10th,
1862. On May 5, 1862 he was severely wounded during the Battle of Williamsburg, being shot in his right eye, the bullet passing
completely through his head. He survived and after receiving treatment for his wounds for two years by the Confederate Army,
he was discharged on May 31, 1864.
He never fully recovered from his wound and in August 1889 he entered the Soldiers
Home in Richmond, Virginia. He died there on May 24, 1903. He is buried in the
Confederate section of Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia.
Ancestor of Charlie Crews, Appomattox Rangers/Courthouse Camp # 1733.
Submitted by Charlie Crews.
JOSEPH B. CREWS
Joseph B. Crews, son of Joseph and Mary Crews was born in 1829. He married Hester
A. Martin in 1852. They had four children before he enlisted in the war and they
were Nannie, Thomas, Alberta and Joseph.
Joseph B enlisted in Captain Kyles Company of Virginia Heavy Artillery at Appomattox
on March 6th, 1862. Captain Kyles Company disbanded in June of 1862
and Private Crews was assigned to Co. B, 20th Battalion of Virginia Heavy Artillery. He served with Co. B until he was later transferred to 2nd Company I, 38th Regiment
Virginia Infantry. He served with Co. I until his death, from disease, at Chimborazo Hospital in Richmond,
Virginia on August 19th, 1864.
His wife had some family members go to Richmond in a horse and wagon and bring
him home to the old Crews Place to be buried.
Ancestor of Tom Austin and Charlie Crews of Appomattox Rangers/Courthouse Camp
#1733.
Submitted by Tom Austin.
WRENNY W. CREWS
Wrenny W. Crews, son of Joseph and Mary Crews, was born in 1840.
He enlisted in Captain Kyles Company of Virginia Heavy Artillery at Appomattox
on March 6, 1862, along with his brother Joseph. Captain Kyles Company was disbanded
in June 1862 and he was assigned to Co., 20th Battalion of Virginia Heavy Artillery. He served with Co. B until
he was later transferred to 2nd Co. I,
38th Regiment, Virginia Infantry.
He served with Co. I until he surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865.
Wrenny married his brother Joseph’s widow after the war in 1866 and they
had 5 children: Willie, Robert, Jenny, Mary and John.
Wrenny died on March 15th, 1912 and is buried in the old Crews Cemetery.
Ancestor of Charlie Crews, Appomattox Rangers/Courthouse Camp #1733.
Submitted by Charlie Crews.
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