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 The original Company A, known as the Montpelier Guards, was formed in Orange County, Virginia, in the 1850s. In late 1859, the Montpelier Guards was one of the units hand-picked to serve as security and escort for the trial, incarceration, and execution of John Brown in Charles Town (now Charlestown, WV). They officially became part of the 13th Virginia Regiment in May of 1861, and were placed under the command of Col. A.P. Hill. Although the men were frustrated at not being part of the great victory at Manassas, they were able to prove themselves as the war went on. The Regiment participated in several small engagements in Northern Virginia, at times within sight of the unfinished Capitol dome in Washington. During this series of engagements the 13th Virginia suffered its first loss when Company A's Private Marcellus Robinson was killed at the Battle of Upton's Hill in August 1861. In the Spring of 1862, the Regiment had the honor of being a part of Jackson's forces as they constantly outwitted the Federals during the Valley Campaign. While they suffered serious losses in the Battle of Gaines' Mill, they fought bravely and prevailed at the end. The 13th Virginia soldiers were the heroes of the Battle of Cedar Mountain when they shattered a Union cavalry charge. Veterans of the Regiment referred to Cedar Mountain as "preeminently our fight!"  In the remaining months of 1862 the 13th Virginia saw action at Second Manassas, protected the left flank of the Army at Antietam and plugged a crucial hole in Jackson's line at Fredericksburg. The Regiment was not at Gettysburg, however, as they remained in Winchester conducting provost duty. 13th Virginia also participated in battles such as Chancellorsville, Spotsylvania and Winchester, but it wasn't until Cedar Creek in October, 1864, that the Regiment again suffered heavy losses. During that engagement many men were lost under the weight of a Federal counterattack. Color bearer Elias Trainham was shot when he refused to surrender the Regiment's flag, which had been presented by A.P. Hill's wife, to the 5th New York Cavalry. In the end, at Appomattox, only 63 men from the Regiment remained to surrender. For further information on the history Company A and the 13th Virginia the following books are recommended: 13th Virginia Infantry by David F. Riggs The Virginia Regimental Histories Series 1988, Lynchburg ISBN-0-930919-65-3 Raw Pork and Hardtack, A Civil War Memoir from Manassas to Appomattox by Pvt. Robert Catlett Cave (Editor: Walbrook D. Swank) 1996, Shippensburg PA ISBN-1-57249-031-4 The memoirs of a private of Company A. Defending til Southern Confederacy (originally published as The Men in Gray in 1911) by Pvt. Robert Catlett Cave (Editor: Walbrook D. Swank) 2001, Burd Street Press, Shippensburg PA ISBN-1-57249-261-9 Written by a private of Company A. With the Old Confeds, Actual Experiences of a Captain in the Line by Capt. Samuel D. Buck 1983, Gaithersburg MD ISBN-0-913419-01-X The memoirs of a Captain of Company H, 13th Virginia Infantry. Stonewall Jim (a biography of General James A. Walker) by Willie Walker Caldwell 1990, Elliston VA ISBN-0-9617256-5-6 The biography of the 2nd Regimental Commander of the 13th Virginia Infantry Regiment. A Different Window ...A Different Victory by Capt. Zephaniah Turner Ross 1997, Orange County Historical Society VA The memoirs of a Captain and a history of Company B, 13th Virginia. Stonewall Jackson's Foot Cavalry - Company A, 13th Virginia Infantry by Pvt. George Q. Peyton (Editor: Walbrook D. Swank) 2001, Burd Street Press, Shippensburg PA ISBN-1-57249-211-2 The memoirs of a private and a history of Company A, 13th Virginia,1864-1865. History of Hampshire County by Hu Maxwell and H. L. Swisher 1897, A. Brown Boughner, Morgantown, West Virginia. Reprinted 1972 by McClain Prining Comp., Parsons VW Includes the Roster and History of Company I, 13th Virginia. |