Images of the 23rd Virginia

23rd Virginia Infantry

Look into their eyes and you will know them:

Images of the real men

William Booth Taliaferro,

Colonel, Field and Staff

Born 12/28/22 in Gloucester County. VA. Graduated College of William & Mary. Studied law at Harvard. Commissioned in US army 1847, Mexican War, politician, active in Virginia Militia. Major General commanding Virginia Militia on Peninsula in May 1861. Commander of the 23rd Va. from 5/61 through 3/6/62, including battles at Carricks Ford and Rich Mountain. Promoted Brigadier General commanding 3rd Brigade of Jackson's Division. Seriously wounded 3/28/62 at Groveton. Returned to division command at Fredericksburg. Transferred ANV to South Carolina 2/63. Commanded Battery Wagner. Promoted to Major General 1/1/65. Present at Bentonville. Paroled 5/65. Returned to law and politics. Died 2/27/98 at his estate "Dunham Massie" in Gloucester County, Va.

William Henderson Gregory,

2 Lt. Co. K

Born Lunenburg Co., VA. Son of Josephus and Elizabeth Lee Gregory. Enlisted 5/2/61 at Keysville for 1 year. Reelected 2 Lt. at reorganization 4/21/62. KIA McDowell 5/8/62. Buried family cemetery Lunenburg Co.

William Oswald Goode,

Pvt. Co. K

Born 11/15/40. Enlisted 5/2/61 at Keysville for 1 year. Captured Carricks Ford, (West) Virginia 7/13/61. Paroled 7/20/61 at Beverly. Discharged 9/8/61. Joined another unit. Died 1/31/07 in Richmond.

Thomas Garland Sims,

Pvt. Co. G

Born 8/6/42. Enlisted 3/10/62 at Tolersville, Louisa Co. for war. Detached as nurse to hospital in Gordonsville 8/25/63 through 11/63. Absent, detailed teamster in division ordinance reserve 12/63 through 10/64. Paroled 6/1/65 Ashland, VA. Died 12/24/20 Spotsylvania Co.

Charles Anderson Raine,

1st Lt Co. E, Reg. Field & Staff

Born 1841. Enlisted 5/7/61 at Brooklyn, Halifax Co., VA for 1 year. Appointed QM Sgt. from corp. 12/25/61. Reenlisted 2/62 and furloughed. Elected 1st Lt. at reorganization 4/26/62. Commanded Company. Absent sick 8-9/62. Appointed chief of ordinance 3rd Brigade 10/1/62. On furlough 1-2/63. Acting QM for regiment 3-4/63. Adjutant for regiment from 7/63. In hospital Richmond with dysentery and on leave 12/63. Captured 5/12/64 at Spotsylvania CH. Sent 5/14/64 from Belle Plain to Pt. Lookout. Transferred 6/23/64 to Ft. Delaware. Released on oath 6/16/65. Light complexion, 6'-2" tall, light complexion, dark hair, dark eyes. Married Elizabeth Caldwell Oliver age 16 on 12/19/66. Businessman and farmer in Halifax and Pittsylvania Counties. Fathered 12 children. Died in Danville, Pittsylvania Co., VA 3/5/02. See his memoir on this site's History Page.

William Anderson Hightower,

1st Sgt Co E

Born Halifax Co., VA 8/14/43. Only son of Joshua Hightower and his wife Mary Thomas Anderson. Was a student when enlisted as private 5/7/61 at Brooklyn for 1 year. Sick leave 8/61. Reenlisted 3/62. Sick leave 7-8/62. WIA and left with wounded/captured Sharpsburg. POW as of 9/27/62. Sent to Ft. Mc Henry. Transferred to Ft. Monroe about 10/17/62. Paroled and exchanged 10/27/62. Appointed 1st Sgt. 1/1/63. Severely wounded in left leg at Chancellorsville 5/3/63. Died of his wounds 5/21/63. Buried at Laurel Grove, Pittsylvania Co., VA in family cemetery on south side of Route 659.

Edward Lindsey Clarke,

Pvt. Co. F

Born 1837. Married Mary Rebecca Ellis 12/21/59 and had 8 children, including a daughter born before the war. Enlisted 5/20/61 at Manakin, Goochland Co. WIA Kernstown 3/23/62. According to Lt. Samuel Johnson of Co. D "...one shell burtsted in four feet of me and gave me the hardest jar I ever had. But I was not struck with a fragment. The same shell struck directly under Edward Clarke of Co. F as it bursted. He was blown up four feet by the force of the explosion but escaped with the loss of his heel, which maimed him for life. The wonder is -striking as it did in the ranks-there was not a dozen or more killed." Two other Clark brothers were wounded as well. Disabled for war after Kernstown. Paroled 5/1/65 at Dover Mines, Goochland Co. Died 3/7/85. Buried Dover Baptist Church, Manakin, VA.

Clodorma Clarke,

Corp. Co. F

Born 5/41 Goochland Co., VA. Married Meedy Powers. Enlisted in Goochland Grays 5/20/61 at Manakin, Goochland Co. Reenlisted 2/13/62. Promoted to 3rd Corp. WIA Kernstown 3/23/62. Promoted to 2nd Corp. Captured 5/12/64 Spotsylvania. Sent 5/20/64 from Belle Plain to Ft. Deleware. Released on Oath 6/7/65. Died 2/28/23 and buried Dover Baptist Church, Manakin, VA. Light complexion, blue eyes, brown hair.

Andrew G. Walton,

Pvt. Co. A

Born Louisa Co. 1842 to Frances and Andrew G. Walton, a successful farmer. Nine brothers and sisters. Enlisted 3/1/62 at Louisa in Company A, Louisa Rifles, which contained several relatives, including the company commander, Capt. Benjamin J. Walton. Probably caught up with the regiment sometime after March 23, 1862 battle of Kernstown during Jackson's Valley Campaign and at a time when several new recruits are known to have joined the regiment. Died of Pneumonia 7/10/62 at hospital in Staunton.

Steven L. Crew,

Sgt. Co. D

Born 1838 Ferncliff, Louisa Co. Was a farmer. Married Susan Carter about 1860. Enl. 5/23/61 Trevilian Station. Left as nurse for wounded and captured Sharpsburg. Exchanged prior to 2/63. Surrendered Appomattox. Father to three children. Died 1919 at Crew Farm, Louisa Co. Brother James V. M. Crew of 23rd KIA Cedar Mountain 8/8/62.

Philip McSherry,

Pvt. Co. E

Farmer. Enlisted 3/17/62 at Whitlock, Halifax Co., VA. Sick in hospital and at home 4/15/62 to muster 6/63. WIA 11/17/63 Payne's Farm. Absent afterwards with leave. Provost Guard Danville July-September 1864. Absent with leave wounded afterwards to 12/64. Post War Image. Died 1880.

Clayton Glanville Coleman, Jr.,

Capt. Co. G

Born 1840 at Roxbury, New Kent County, VA. in 1840. Attended VMI in class of '59 but did not graduate. Attended UVA and Medical College of Virginia, from which he graduated 3/61. Practiced as physician. Enlisted 4/24/61 at Fredericks Hall, Louisa Co., Va. Furloughed while commanding company 9/61. Promoted Lt. Col. 4/15/62 but elected Captain and served at that rank 5/21/62 upon reorganization. Resigned 10/30/62. Appointed Assistant Surgeon in Confederate Medical Department 4/8/63. Practiced medicine until 1871 when he became a civil engineer in civil service. Married Anna Sherrard Breedin of Winchester and had four children. Died in Little Rock, Arkansas 10/7/08.

George William Clibourne,

Corp. Co. I

Born 1838 Worsham, VA. Was salesman before the war. Enl. 5/21/61 at Prince Edward C.H. for 1 year. Absent sick 9-12/61. Reenlisted for war 4/12/62. Promoted 3rd Corporal. Present 12/62. Transferred to Co. F 18 Va. Inf. 1/63. Paroled 4/1/65. Became cabinet and casket maker. Married Cordelia Rice Calhoun 12/21/65, the widow of John L. Calhoun of Co. D, 18 Va., who was killed in Pickett's Charge. Died Hampden-Sydney 12/23/09. Photo made 12/3/60 at Prince Edward C. H. George paid $8.00 for this photograph. His brother, Thomas Clibourne of Co. G, 23rd, was mortally wounded at Chancellorsville.

Samuel Carter Williams,

Capt. Co. E

Born 1834 Pittsylvania Co., VA. Resided at Southerlin, Halifax Co. Enl. 5/7/61 at Brooklyn, Halifax Co. Wounded in arm and captured 5/8/62 at McDowell. Imprisoned and exchanged for officer. Returned from convalescent leave 8/20/62. Present continuously commanding company until KIA 11/27/63 at Payne's Farm. Buried family cemetery near Southerlin.

Andrew J. Richardson,

Pvt. Co. A/Major, Field and Staff

Andrew was born 11/15/1836 and became a lawyer. Enlisted 5/15/61 at Thompson's Cross Roads for one year. Elected 1st Lt. 11/5/61. Elected Capt. 12/16/61. Sick leave 1-2/62. Re-elected Capt at reorganization 4/21/62 and commanded the Co. through 12/63. Wounded Chancellorsville. Absent with leave to 12/28/63. Appointed Major 3/6/64 with date of rank 11/27/63. Commanded 23rd VA Infantry regiment 5-7/64. Wounded 8/24/64 Bunker Hill. Ordered to Imboden's Cavalry 1/28/65 by general Early. Paroled Columbia (Fluvanna Co.). Died Louisa 4/13/1912. Buried Bethpage Church of Disciples near Fredericks Hall, Louisa Co., VA.

His portrait hangs in the Louisa Court House. Maj. Richardson was the Commissioner of the Revenue for Louisa Co. for thirty-seven years.

Robert Morgan French,

Pvt. Co. C

Born 12/20/41 in Amelia Co. Enl. 3/15/62 at Winterham for 3 years. Absent sick 5-10/62, 1-2/63, and 4-5/ 63. Was at Chancellorsville. Sprained ankle on way to Gettysburg and missed battle there. Captured 5/12/64 at Spotsylvania. Sent 5/20/64 from Belle Plain to Ft. Delaware. From interview he related, "We were having a right hot time of it at Spotsylvania Court House. We were down behind a low breastworks. I was loading and my companion was shooting. One gun jammed and both of us tried to fix it. When we looked up, we couldn't see anything but Yankees. They took us across the Potomac with about 2,000 others to The Plains. Here they kept us huddled together in a little hollow for three days without food. Then we were loaded on a ship and sailed out into the Chesapeake Bay up to Fort Delaware. The wounded lay around without medical attention. Some had gone mad from head wounds, and all we could hear was the moans of the dying and the distant roar of cannons. To make matters worse, I got scurvy of my right leg and couldn't walk. Then we heard about Appomattox. Those of us that were left cheered. But they kept us until June 21." Released on oath 6/20/65. Worked as foundryman for Southern Railroad for 20 years before retiring to Soldier's Home from Chesterfield Co. 10/19/14. Never married. Died of bronchitis and old age 3/26/39, age 97. Buried Maury Cemetery, Richmond. Five feet-six inches tall, dark hair, dark eyes.

Alexander C. Hamilton,

Pvt. Co. G

Born 2/2/34 Louisa County. Married Lucy T Holliday 3/17/59 and had 6 children. Enlisted 3/10/62 at Tolersville (Mineral) for war. Present 3/10/62 to 6/62. Present 1/63 to 6/63. Wounded and captured Culp's Hill, Gettysburg, PA. 7/3/63. Arrived Ft. Delaware 7/7/63. Transferred to Point Lookout 10/26/63. Paroled and exchanged 4/3/64. Assigned light duty by Medical Board 4/64 to 10/64 . Detailed as guard res. ordnance with 2^nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia 11/64 and 12/64. Present 1/65 and 2/65. Captured 3/2/65 at Waynesboro, VA. Sent to Harpers Ferry, then to Point Lookout, MD 3/12/65. Released on oath 6/20/65. Worked in mines near Mineral, VA. Died 2/2/16. Buried at Cuzco on family farm near Mineral. Five feet 8 inches tall. Dark hair, dark eyes, dark complexion. Photo made 1860.

John Joseph McCargo,

Pvt. Co. K

Born 4/4/41 in Charlotte County. Farmer. Enlisted 5/2/61 at Keysville for 1 year. Captured 3/23/62 at Kernstown. Sent Ft. McHenry to Ft. Delaware. Exchanged 8/5/62 at Aikens Landing and rejoined company. Captured again 5/3/63 at Chancellorsville. Sent through Washington, DC to City Point for exchange 5/10/63. Present all rolls until captured again 5/12/64 at Spotsylvania C.H. Sent 5/20/64 from Belle Plain to Ft. Delaware. Paroled and exchanged 9/14/64. Admitted hospital Petersburg 12/10/64 with ulcerated arm. Transferred Farmville and furloughed to 3/23/65. Rejoined company. Surrendered and paroled 4/9/65 Appomattox C.H. Died 10/31/17 in Rockingham Co., NC. Buried Calvary Cemetery near Reidsville, NC.

John Barret Pendleton,

Sgt. Co. G

Born Louisa County, VA. Farmer, age 30 at time of enlistment. Lived at "The Hermitage" in Louisa Co. and is buried there. KIA Laurel Hill (West) Virginia 7/1/61.

John J. Roberts,

Pvt. Co. C

The military records extant for Pvt. Roberts only tell us that he was in a hospital in Winchester in July 1864, where his left leg was amputated. The photograph tells us that he volunteered early in the war, as he wears an early-issue frock coat. The many years of hardship endured by this soldier are not documented. Buried 1897 in family cemetery in Painesville, Amelia County, VA.

Robert David Hill,
Pvt. Co. A

Born about 1843. Enlisted 5/5/61 at Thompson's Cross Roads, Louisa County for 1 year. Absent sick 5 through 6/62. AWOL 8/31/62-12/20/62. Pay reduced by courts martial 2/63. Captured 7/3/63 Gettysburg. Sent 7/63 from Ft. McHenry to Ft. Delaware. Transferred 10/26/63 to Point Lookout. Exchanged 2/13/65. POW Louisa County. Released on oath 5/15/65. Married May 13, 1871, Louisa Co., VA to Eugenia Standhope Swift (of Louisa Co.) , widow of his older brother, William T. Hill. Became father of two. According to his great granddaughter "He was known as Dave...family story is he was very sick, came home so he wouldn't die, and went back after getting well. He was captured at Gettysburg and was a POW. He said he had to walk back home to Louisa barefooted at the end of the war....He used to attend Memorial Day parades in Richmond with his unit. My mother would go with the family to see him march with the 23rd. She said at one of these was the first time she had ever seen a balloon. She was 12 years old when he died, about 1924."

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Thomas Garland Waldrop,

Pvt. Co. D

Born 12/7/34. Enlisted 8/1/62 at Mechanicsville, VA for 1 year. Present every roll until surrendered and paroled at Appomattox 4/9/65. Died 6/10/13.

William Creath McKay,
Pvt. Co. K

Born 10/22/45 in Nottoway County, VA. Enlisted 5/21/62 at Keysville for 1 year. Sick at Monterey, Highland County, VA 8/61. Wounded 8/9/62 at Cedar Mountain. Absent through muster 2/63. Captured 7/3/63 at Gettysburg, probably at Culp's Hill. Sent from Ft. McHenry to Ft. Delaware. Transferred to Point Lookout 10/27/63. Exchanged 2/15/65. On roll of exchanged POW's 2/21/65 at Camp Lee, Richmond. Reenlisted for war. Paroled 4/20/65 at Burkeville, VA. In 1927 he and William D. Foster, also a member of Co. K, were featured in The Farmville Herald as the "Last Surviving Members of Co. K." William C. McKay was affectionately know as Capt. McKay, although there is no known evidence that his rank was ever higher than private. According to the article, he claimed to have "fought in every battle which Jackson was engaged" and that the "recollection of Jackson's death is peculiarly vivid." The article says he was not quite 16 when he muster in. Married Mary Susan Johnson of Lunenburg County and had two sons, Stanley B. McKay and Richard Walter McKay. His father, George B. McKay, volunteered for the Lunenburg Heavy Artillery, despite his age. William died in 1931.

William D. Foster (left),

Pvt. Co. K

Enlisted 5/2/61 at Keysville for 1 year. Absent sick at Winchester, Battletown, VA 11/61 to 2/62. Severely wounded 9/17/62 at Sharpsburg (Antietam), MD. Thereafter in hospitals in Richmond and Farmville and at home on leave until retired to Invalid Corps 11/25/64. Photograph of Privates Foster and McKay published in 1927 in the Farmville Herald. Private Foster ultimately survived compatriot McKay.

Spotswood Paul Johnson,
Pvt. Co. F

Born 1824. Married Trace Penelope Cragwall 12/22/49 in Goochland County, VA. He paid a marriage bond of $150.00 to the Commonwealth of Virginia as she was only 17. Settled in Crozier, Goochland Co. and fathered two sons and a daughter. Enlisted 5/20/61 at Manakin, Goochland County for 1 year. Reenlisted 12/61 for 3 years. In desertion 5/6/62 through 12/62 . Captured Culp's Hill 7/63 and sent to Ft. Delaware. Died 1/19/64 from fluid in lungs and buried at Pea Patch Island. Later reburied at Fort Delaware, New Jersey due to flooding of the Delaware River. Buried Finns Point National Cemetery. Presently there is a large monument at the cemetery with the names of prisoners that were buried in the trench. The names amount to two thousand, more or less.

Lewis Cole McGehee

Pvt. Co. G

Born 7/23/25. Enlisted 3/10/62 at Tolersville (Mineral) Louisa County for war. Detailed pioneer duty 1/63 through 2/64. Wounded 9/14/64 at Winchester. Paroled Ashland, Virginia 5/2/65

John Morton Booker,

Corp. Co. I

Born about 1837 in Charlotte Co., VA to Lucy Ann Morton and James M. Booker. Moved to Prince Edward County with family. Attended Hampden-Sydney College and became a teacher. Enlisted 5/21/61 at Prince Edward C. H. for 1 year. Reenlisted, on furlough 30 days to 3/24/62. KIA age 25 years and 2 months, Sharpsburg (J. H. Grove Farm) 9/17/62. Never married.

Possibly Horace J. Booker

Pvt. Prince Edward Central Guards

The book Even More Confederate Faces identifies this soldier as the brother of John Booker (left). Their eyes would suggest they are in fact related, but his name can't be verified. The census records tell us that John had two younger brothers, one of whom would have become of military age during the war. The letters "CG" on the kepi, as on John's kepi, and the militia/early war frock coat, tell us he was in the Central Guards of Prince Edward County, the militia company which became Co. I of the 23rd. The photographic props (pistol, belt, and knife) suggest the photo was taken at the same studio as John's photo, perhaps at a pre-war militia muster in Farmville. However, Horace J. Booker served in Company I of the 56th Virginia, a company from the county of his birth, neighboring Charlotte County. John's brother Horace was about 17 in 1861. Therefore, we believe it is possible that Horace was a member of the pre-war militia company with his brother, but was underage at the time of his brother's enlistment, so later enlisted in the 56th VA. Horace survived the war. Is the photo above that of Horace?

Unknown

Pvt. Prince Edward Central Guards

The book Even More Confederate Faces identifies this soldier as a member of the Central Guards of Prince Edward County, which became Company I of the 23rd VA. The frock coat is that of this pre-war militia company. The photographic props suggest the photo was taken at the same studio as the two photos to the left. That this soldier served in the Prince Edward Central Guards is probable. That he served in the 23rd VA is possible. His identity is known but to God.

William F. Harrison
Capt. Co. F

Born 11/26/25 in Powhatan Co., VA. Married Marie Louise Cosby and moved to Goochland County, VA. Father of 3 daughters before the war. Enlisted 5/20/61 at Manakin, Goochland County for 1 year. Organized Company F and elected Captain. Wounded slightly at Laurel Hill 7/7/61. Present with company until dropped from commissioned officers rolls 4/21/62 and replaced by his Lieutenant, probably because he was not re-elected captain by his men. Returned home for several months then enlisted as a private in Co. B 31st Battalion Virginia Cavalry, which became Co. B 24th VA Cavalry. In 1864 was appointed 4th Corporal and was elected Capt. of Co. B 3/65. Captured Saylor's Creek 4/6/65 and sent to Johnson's Island, Ohio. Released 6/18/65. Returned home and fathered 2 more daughters. Wife Maria died 1873. Moved to Manchester (south Richmond) with his 5 daughters. Died 10/8/96.

Credits

23rd Virginia Infantry by Thomas M. Rankin, Copyright 1985 H. E. Howard, Inc. Lynchburg, VA

Mr. Gerald W. Harlow

Mr. Brian Downey

Mr. Lou "Butch" Hiner

The Sims Family

Ms. Linda June Cousins

W.B. and Toni Haley

Dr. J. Pendleton Wootten and her husband Dr. P. Wootten

Mr. Lowry Eads

Mr. Robert Grimes

Mr. Walt Brinkley

R. A. Mosocco

Echoes of Glory by Time-Life Books

The Amelia Family

Mrs. Linda Bartlam Reams

Mr. Tim McKay

Mr. Sydnor L. Dickenson

Ms. Joyce A. Johnson Moore

Mr. William Thomas's Even More Confederate Faces

Mr. Alan Thrower from England

Mr. Ken Bass

Music: "A Gift of Thistle" from the movie Braveheart

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