War Time News

Source:  The Brookville Republican, June 18th and 25th, 1862;
reprinted August 13, 1908

Transcribed by Shirley Pierce

Captain A. C. Thompson. This gallant young officer, whom we mentioned last week as being dangerously wounded, reached home last Monday evening, and was enthusiastically welcomed by his many friends. His wound, though serious, is mending, and we hope he will soon be entirely recovered. He made a very narrow escape from instant death, the ball entering just below the right shoulder and lodging in the left side, where it remained several days before it was extracted. Captain Thompson, by his bravery on the battlefield, has won a name which any young man might envy him. We are glad to welcome him home. Captain Thompson reports Lieut. Craig as recovering rapidly from the effects of his wound, and that he will be home in a few days. Capts. Kirk and Duff (the latter reported dead) he says are also recovering and have returned to their homes.

Capt. Means' Company.  Last week we forgot to mention that the Jefferson county boys under our patriotic friend, Capt. R. R. Means, attached to Colonel Sam. Black's regiment, were in the fight at Hanover Court House and had a hand in whipping the rebels. The following were wounded in Capt. Means' company: James McSparrin, Rose township; Ira Felt, Jr., Brockwayville; John Kaylor, Union township. We learn from a letter from Sergeant C. R. Thompson that Mr. McSparrin was wounded in the knee and has since suffered amputation.

Killed.  We are informed yesterday by Rev. Mr. Cummins that Capt. H. W. McCullough, of the Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, was killed in a late skirmish with the rebels under Morgan, near Front Royal. He was a cousin of the Messrs. Marlin, of this place, and was here two or three years ago.

Source for the above items: The Brookville Republican, 18th June 1862 issue; reprinted 13th August 1908

Lieut. A. S. Craig. This brave young officer, who was so seriously wounded in the battle of Fair Oaks, and who has since been in a hospital at New Haven, Conn., reached home Sunday evening, where he was received almost as one from the dead. His wound is healing rapidly, and we think he will soon recover entirely from its effects. He is in fine spirits and declares his intention of rejoining his regiment as soon as his health will permit. Lieut. Craig has proved to the world that he is a brave man and a good soldier, and we cordially welcome him home.

On Parole. Mr. Robert Hubbard, of the Fourth United States Cavalry, is now at home in this place. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Williamsburg and is now on parole, and is anxious to be exchanged, so that he can join his regiment. Mr. Hubbard was taken to Richmond, where he was kept for several days, long enough to appreciate the care bestowed upon their prisoners by the Southern chivalry.

Brigadier General Jameson writes a letter speaking in the warmest terms of the conduct of his brigade at Fair Oaks. He says Major Culp of the 57th was killed in the engagement, and Col. Campbell was severely wounded soon after. Still the regiments stood firm until ordered to fall back. Lieut. Col. Morgan, of the 63d, in command of eight companies of that regiment, did very signal service. Col. Hayes had been sent from camp by me a few minutes before I received the order to advance at double quick, and I could not get word to him in time to enable him to rejoin his regiment before it went into action. But he did good service with two companies of it, which had been on fatigue duty, and a small force, which he succeeded in rallying as they were retreating from the field, aiding very materially in checking the advancing columns of the enemy. I had disposed of my command at different points, with the exception of 348 men of the 105th Pennsylvania Volunteers, under Col. McKnight. All our men had fled from the abattis in the vicinity of the Richmond road. Our only alternative was to make the best stand possible with the small handful of men under Col. McKnight. We led them across the open field and into the abattis in a double quick, and under a terrific fire, deploying one-half on either side of the road. For more than an hour and a half this small force held every inch of the ground. At last the enemy broke and ran, and McKnight pursued them through Casey's old camp. During the time McKnight was holding the Richmond road our line had been gradually giving way about a quarter of a mile to his right. Just as McKnight succeeded in routing the force in his front our line gave way entirely at the point above indicated, and the rebel force came pouring into the Richmond road, directly in his rear, and while the gallant McKnight was pursuing the South Carolina chivalry toward Richmond the rebel forces directly in his rear were pursuing a portion of our forces toward the Chickahominy. I then received orders to withdraw my men if possible. With great difficulty they succeeded in filing off to the left in the woods toward the White Oak swamp, retreating along the edge of the swamp back to our second line of defense. No other evidence of the valor displayed by this heroic little band is necessary than a list of the killed and wounded. Every eighth man of their number has since been buried on the field where they fought, and just one-half their number either killed or wounded. A parallel to this fighting does not exist in the two days battle nor will it exist during the war.

Died. On the 20th ult., of typhoid fever, in the Mt. Pleasant Hospital, Washington, D. C., Thomas Means, of Co. A, 105th Regiment, P. V., aged about twenty-one years. He was from Whitesville, Jefferson county.

Died. At Carver Hospital, Alexandria, Va., on the 17th day of June, Private John D. S. McAnulty, of typhoid fever, aged twenty-four years.

Died. At Carver Hospital, Alexandria, Va., on the 20th ult., of chronic diarrhaea, Private Reuben Weaver, in the twenty-sixth year of his age. He was a resident of Strattonville, Clarion county, Pa.

Source: The Brookville Republican, 25th June 1862 issue; reprinted 13th August 1908