John Thomas Byrd
| 1st. Lt. Company G. Born 4/22/1828, near Warm Springs, Bath County,VA.
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This photo is most likely
taken |
This is a photo of
John |
| "Major [ NOTE: this was, apparently, JTB's rank in
the "Bath County Yellow Jackets" , a militia unit that seems
to have served as a partisan unit in the Valley until formally absorbed
into the 18th. Virginia Cavalry in 11/1862 . .CML]
John Thomas Byrd, a son of Alexander Hamilton Byrd and Elizabeth Capiteau, was born May 1828 at the original 'Byrd's Nest', Williamsville,Va. With the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in the Confederate Service. He served under Generals Imboden and Early. His horse was named 'Cupid'. He was promoted [NOTE: to 1st LT. . .CML] and succeeded Captain William Erwin of Warm Springs, Virginia who was captured at McConnellsville, West Va. When the War ended, he returned with fourteen surviving comrades to Bath County and took up the disheartening burdens of the reconstruction period and became a very successful farmer and stockman. He was a man of great endurance and strength and took pleasure in his horsemanship which was of superior quality. He would execute the cavalry drills for the reunions. He would break in the outlaw horses of his friends and his fame in this respect was widespread. As an agriculturalist, he was way ahead of his time and not only knew how to produce crops but also how to build up and improve the land. He was a heavy crop[?] raiser, and his product always commanded the highest market prices. John Byrd was a fighter by nature and found pleasure in winning any contest which presented difficulties. At a time when the supremacy of the Democratic party was in danger in his district he agreed to accept the nomination for State Assembly and served the counties of Highland, Bath and Allegheny at the state assembly in Richmond Virginia for twenty two years ably and with great distinction. He was an eloquent and convincing speaker. A deeply religious man, he was a close student of the Bible and elder in his church and preached for the congregation in the absence of the regular pastor. His education had many setbacks because of the turmoil of the times and the dangers in the distances to schools. But his fund of information was a large one and covered many subjects. He was a Presbyterian and a Democrat."
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This photo is of John
T. Byrd's horse "Cupid". |
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Reminisces of It was in March 1862, that I entered the war of Confederates as a
cavalry soldier. In September I was elected First Lieutenant of Company
G, 18th. Virginia Cavalry Regiment, General John D. Imboden, General
Lomax Division. I was in active service all the time, was never sick,
hurt, or wounded, and remained in the war until it's close. The Capt.
of company G., Capt. W.D. Erwine, was captured in 1863 and I was put in
command of the company until 1864, at which time I was promoted as Capt.
of company B. of the 18th. Regiment. Capt. Stump, the former Capt., was
killed in battle, and his company being beyond enemy's lines, refused to
serve under the other officers of said company, and informed the Colonel
of the 18th. Regiment of that effect. But said if Lieut. John T. Byrd
was given them for a leader and commanding officer they would continue
to serve, therefore, rather than loose the Company , I was placed as
their Captain, with great reluctance on my own Company G. I was in many battles and skirmishes. On the day of the last battle of Winchester, General Early's defeat, I was sent with my company as advanced guard to meet the enemy; recognizing me as an officer, they directed their shots entirely at me; and continued to do so, until the regular battle began. Their bullets fell so thick around me, that I ordered my men not to ride near me, less they would be shot. One man, Dick Welch, a private from Woodstock,VA. said, that his captain could not go anywhere that he could not, and started to ride by my side, but turned back, and said the balls were falling like hail around me. Later in the day my horse was killed under me, and a bullet marked the rim of my hat. Brave Dick Welch was killed at the same time. Jacob Williams, a private soldier of Company D. rode up to me, mounting behind him, he carried me out of that place, being Dick Welch's horse, I mounted it, leaving poor Dick dead upon the field.
At that time, I found the enemy had driven the right wing of our ranks back some distance, and we were out off. We formed in front of the column in order to get out, but the enemy formed line, facing our line of march. The officer ordered me to surrender, or he would shoot me, I answered, "You have an empty gun", I ordered my men to draw saber, we cut our way out, and did not loose a man. At Fisher's Hill we were again defeated, our retreat from the line of battle, the Col. asked me to take a squad of men and go to the right and see if I could find our horses as were dismounted at the time. I took with me five men, we were walking promiscuously along. The enemy's cavalry seeing us, rode towards us, I ordered my men to form a line of battle and putting on a bold front, we marched toward the enemy showing death or victory, they drew off to the right, and darkness coming on we made our escape through standing corn field.
Our Brigade surrounded Charlestown, West Virginia, and captured over five hundred prisoners, the enemy from Harper's Ferry pursued us with considerable force and tried to recapture their men. We had a close engagement. In making a charge with our Regiment Captain Calinell's horse ran off with him into enemy's ranks, and he had to surrender. The Yankee Captain to whom he surrendered, failed to take his arms, and he quickly concealed his pistol under the skirt of his coat. They rode along in conversation, Calinell looking sharply for a chance to escape. Finally the Yankee lowered his arm with his pistol in his hand, at that moment Calinell drew his pistol into the face, and ordered him to surrender. He looked straight at him, and remarked, "Don't this beat Hell, you were my prisoner, and now I am yours", Calinell answered," This is the kind of material you are working with, I would take you with me, but your soldiers are too close." He took his pistol, bid him goodbye, jumped his horse over a rail fence, and ran. The Yankee ordered his men to fire on him, the ball struck his right arm, breaking it but he made his escape."
On our retreat we were put to our best to hold the enemy in check. Our Regiment broke ranks for the want of one of the field officers to command. All three had disappeared. I rallied seventeen of my company, and we held them in check for an hour under heavy artillery. We were in a deep ravine , and they were shooting over our heads, but they did not know it, by so doing, our line got into position. When we went into camp that night the General sent for me to come to Headquarters, he highly commended me for my gallantry in saving the Brigade, and prisoners. Our Brigade with the 31st. Regiment of Infantry made a raid into West Virginia, through the counties of Randolph, Upshur and Nicholas, and back through Greenbrier Co,. At Nicholas Court House we had an engagement with the enemy. Our Regiment was in front and the Col. ordered a halt. The enemy were making for the woods, ready to open fire on us. I saw it would be too late for me to see the Col. so I moved my company to the front, and ordered a charge. The enemy's front Colmen being in the woods, we put them to flight, and ran them nine or ten miles, captured prisoners, wagons, trains and ect..
After that my company was called the Shell Bark Company, and if any important post was to be guarded or scouting to be made, the Shell Bark Co. was always the one to go. I will give one other incident that happened. We had a battalion from Maryland known as Maj. Gilmore's Battalion. In that battalion was a Lieut. who was named Getts, who would go out every day with his men, and lay in ambush. The Yankees would send out a scout every day, with a hundred men or more. One day just below Strasburg, VA. there came up a German Capt. with a hundred men. Getts sent out one man so the company could see the top of his head. The Capt. turned his men around with their faces towards their camp. Getts came out, tow and two with his rear in the bushes. The Capt. ordered a brisk retreat. Getts and his eleven men began firing, and ran them eleven miles into Winchester. They were so closely pursued, that the Capt. left his horse in the street, and ran into a house, and Getts after him, but when he got into the house, he saw only ladies, he inquired for his man, one lady said he had mistaken the house it must have been the next door. There were two ladies who were there and they pointed to the bed. Getts said "Ladies don't be soared, I will shoot under this bed. The Capt. hollowed out, "Don't shoot, don't shoot. Me come out, Me come out!" and out came a man over two hundred pounds in full uniform. They returned with eleven prisoners and eleven horses, each man had a horse, eleven after on hundred. This sketch is from John T. Byrd: Father of I would like to thank Clif M. Lee once again for some fantastic
stories from John T. Byrd.
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This biography and photos were provided by Clifton
M. Lee
I would like to thank him for providing this material for all of us to enjoy.
He is proud of his heritage and as he should be.
Thanks Clif
