Colonel of the 51st Virginia Militia Scrapbook

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Confederate Journal of Colonel Charles E. Shryock, of the 51st Regiment of Virginia Militia, 58p. quarto, which begins with a reflective entry about the begining of the unit then continues with almost daily entries from September 5, 1861 through January 16, 1862, it read in part: “...I was this day orderd by Gen. Carson to muster my regiment (51st) and report for duty in Winchester, where we remained fro two months leading rather a monotonous life. The soldiers having the same daily routine of drill, Picket and guard duty...the glorious battle of Manassas was fought and wonon the 21st July and we still remained at Winchester to guard the lives and property of the good & patriotic citizens who, or many of whom, seemed to be strongly in favor of the man or party who had the biggest dollar...recd an order to march immediately, to Duffields depot on the Balt & C.R.R. in Jefferson County, Va to repel the enemy in his lawless & cowardly incursions upon the peaceful & unprotected citizens of Jefferson Co., and to protect the men engaged in removing the Engines, Cars, and Rail road track in the vicinity...[9/8] The men worked today as usual in removing the Locomotives and taking up the Rail Road track...[9/9]Named our camp today ‘Camp Darke” in honor of Gen. Darke of Revolutionary farme. He owned this property and built the house in which I am now quartered...[9/10] was reinforced today by some 60 or 70 men, part of the 31st Regiment under command of Maj. Washington...Received a dispatch from Lieut Col. Ashby stating that the enemy was crossing the River at Sheppardstown in considerable force. I immediately ordered out a part of my command to act in concert with Col. Ashby’s cavalry to repel the invaders...[9/16]Sent two companies (Capts Orndorff & Kite) under command of Maj. Notring to assist Lieut Col. Ashby in planting a 24 pounder opposite the Old Furnace a mile above Harpers Ferry...The expedition proveda failrue on account of the sudden & mysterious disappearance until daylight of the gun manager. One of the men accidently shot off his finger when in sight of the camp...[9/21]Went over to Lieut Col. Ashby’s camp this morning with Maj. Glass...[9/23] Went up to Martinsburg today in company with Maj. Glass - was pained to witness the immense destruction of property in the way of bridges, engines, cars & c. The cost of one bridge, a small one comparatively, across the Opequan, is said to have been $67,000...[9/26]Received a notice about 5 PM from Lieut Col. Ashby that he was ready to march that night to break down Dam No. 4 and destroy the canal at that point and desiring my cooperation...reached the Dam about daylight...We fired some three rounds with the rifled cannon at some thirty or forty Yankees who were dodging about on the opposite side of the river; we also fired a few musket shots. They returned the fire with small arms, teh balls flying pretty thick about us, but doing no damage whatever...[9/30] Heard today tht one of Capt. A.M. Pierce’s men was shot on yesterday by the Union men near Hedgesville. It proved to be Private Mimrod Triplett...was followed by some 30 or 30 Union men and murdered...[10/3]Received orders today from Gen. Carson to move up to Bat in Morgan Co....[10/17] a messenger arrived to General Carsons informing him that on the day of the 16th Col. Ashby and Cols Albert and Spitler had a fight with the Yanks in which Ashby lost his 24lb cannon, and one man killed and about 15 wounded. The enemy lost abotu 30 killed and 30 or 40 wounded in consequence of the above intellegence we received orders...to leave for the scene of action...Col. Ashby informed me that the Yankess had all left this side of the river...[10/21] The battle of Leesburg fougth. Our loss 30 killed & 150 wounded...Col. Baker of Oregon was killed...[10/26] The enemy crossed with a large force at New Creek in Hampshire County and proceeded at once to Romney and put Col. McDonald’s Regiment to flight, some of them not stopping till they got safely to their homes. General Carson at once dispatched a courier to Martinsburg with orders for the Regt....[11/5]The enemy left Romney this morning in the direction of Winchester. Capt. Sheets with a company of cavalry was between Col. Sincendiver and Romney when the enemy advanced on Capt Sheets he sent to Col. Sincendiver for reinforcements but when the gallant Col heard 2 reports of cannon, he mistook Capt. Sheets position and fell back...[11/6] received official orders from Major General Jackson informing me that he assumes the command of the Valley District of the Department of Northern Virignia, also that the forces shall be known as the army of the valley...[12/18] about 70 of the enemy approached the river deployed as skirmishers and under cover of large trees commaenced firing on our pickets. About 12 or 15 of our pickets was posted in a mill on the bank of the river and so situated, that they could not make their escape. General Carson ordered a detachment to occupy the hills on this side of the river about 12 men from the 51st Regt. suceeded in gaining a hill and being protected by a few trees opened fire across the Potomac and succeeded in driving the enemy from the opposite shore at which time our pickets made their escape from the mill. They also fired shell from a 6 pound cannon...Some of Col. Ashby’s command opened on their batteries after which the enemy drawed off their batteries...[1/4/62] arrived about 2 miles from where the Yankees was encamped, we threw out our skirmishers, and advanced in line of battle...when we arrived in about 100 yards of where the Yankees was concealed behind a stone fence they opened fire on us, did us no damage. Col. Sypes returned the fire, at which time they opened on us with cannon when we was ordered to fall back. We fell back about 1/2 mile and by the time we got cannon over the mountain and advanced again, teh Yankees had all left...” Much more. VG.

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