I am looking for information on this Regiment and Companies. I have six ancestors that fought with .Company C and one with Company I. It is my understanding that there was a book written about the 19th, but I have been unable to locate one. Any help would Be Appreciated.
24TH VIRGINIA INFANTRY ROSTER
Shockley, John F Company C Private Private
View attachment 231849
Shockley, Martin V. B Company C 1st. Lieut. Captain
Shockley, Oliver C. Company C Private Sergeant
Shockley, R. S. Company C Private Private
Shockley, Richard Company C Private Private
Shockley, William Company C Private Private
Shockley, William H. Company I Private Sergeant
Twenty-fourth Virginia Infantry
Report of Col. Jubal A. Early, Twenty-fourth Virginia Infantry, of action at
Blackburn's Ford.
HDQRS. SIXTH BRIGADE, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
July 31, 1861.
COLONEL: I submit the following report of the operations of my brigade
on the 18th instant in the engagement at Blackburn's Ford on Bull Run, in
which our troops were commanded by Brig.-Gen. Longstreet:
In the morning of that day I marched with my brigade, composed of the
Seventh Virginia Volunteers, Col. Kemper's regiment, commanded by
Lieut.-Col. Williams; the Seventh Louisiana Volunteers, commanded
by Col. Harry T. Hays; six companies of the Twenty-fourth Virginia
Volunteers, my own, commanded by Lieut.-Col. Hairston, and three
pieces of artillery from the Washington Battalion of New Orleans, under the
command of Lieut. Squires, to Camp Walker, from whence it was
moved by direction of Gen. Beauregard into the road leading from Camp
Walker to the gate in front of McLean's farm, where it remained until about
12 o'clock, at which time a large could of dust was observed on the high
ridge north of Blackburn's Ford, at which Gen. Longstreet's brigade was
stationed. This cloud of dust proved to be produced by the enemy's columns
moving in that direction, and in a few minutes the cannonading was
commenced by the enemy, directed first upon Gen. Bonham's position at
Mitchell's Ford and subsequently upon the farm-house of McLean and the
hospital in his barn, over which was floating the hospital flag.
As soon as the cannonading commenced my brigade was moved by order or
the general to the cover of the pines to the left of the road
leading from McLean's house to Blackburn's Ford, where it was joined by
two more pieces of artillery from the Washington Battery, under Capt.
Eshleman. At this position it remained for the purpose of supporting either
Gen. Bonham at Mitchell's Ford, Gen. Longstreet at Blackburn's Ford,
or Gen. Jones at McLean's Ford, as occasion might require. After the
first cannonading had ceased, and Gen. Beauregard with his staff had
passed towards Mitchell's Ford, a fire of musketry began at Blackburn's
Ford, which became very animated, and was continued for some time, when
one of Gen. Longstreet's aides came to inform me that he had repulsed
the enemy's charge, but desired re-enforcements. I immediately put my
whole brigade in motion, including the five pieces of artillery, to which, by
his own request, was joined Lieut. Garnett, of the same battery, with
two pieces that had been sent to the rear by Gen. Longstreet before the
action commenced.
After my column was put in motion I received an order from Gen.
Beauregard to support Gen. Longstreet with two regiments and two pieces
of artillery. I therefore proceeded with the Seventh Louisiana Regiment and
Seventh Virginia Regiment and two pieces of artillery under charge of
Capt. Eshleman, to the support of Gen. Longstreet. Upon arriving at
Blackburn's Ford I found the greater part of Gen. Longstreet's command
under cover on the banks of the stream engaged with the enemy, who were
under cover on the hill-sides on the opposite banks. Col. Hays' regiment,
which was in advance, was then placed on the banks of the stream under
cover to the right and left of the ford, relieving the Seventeenth Virginia
Regiment, under Col. Corse. This regiment proceeded to its position
under quite a brisk fire of musketry.
The Seventh Virginia Regiment, under Lieut.-Col. Williams, as it
arrived was formed to the right of the ford under a heavy fire of musketry
from the enemy, evidently directed at the regiment. It was momentarily
thrown into confusion by this fire, and discharged many of its own guns over
a portion of our own troops in front; fortunately, however, doing them no
damage, as I believe. The regiment was soon rallied, and proceeded to the
banks of the stream, relieving the First Virginia Regiment. The two pieces
of artillery under Capt. Eshleman, which followed the Seventh Virginia
Regiment, were moved down in the open field on the right of the road, so
as to be concealed from view of the enemy's artillery by the timber on the
banks of the stream, where they opened a fire upon the enemy on the
opposite side, directed only by the sound of their musketry. As soon as the
Seventh Virginia Regiment advanced to the banks of the stream, as above
stated, I sent back for the companies of the Twenty-fourth Regiment and the
remainder of the pieces of artillery, and they were brought up; the
companies of the Twenty-fourth were placed in position in good order to the
left of the ford in a space not occupied by Col. Hay's regiment, and the
remaining guns of the Washington Artillery (five in number) were
unlimbered on a line with the first two pieces and to the right of the road.
A scattering fire of musketry was kept up for some time, but the enemy
finally ceased firing, and evidently retired to the hills, where their artillery
guns were placed, having no doubt observed the position of our pieces of
artillery, for a fire was soon commenced on them by the enemy's artillery,
which was responded to by ours, and the cannonading was continued for a
considerable time with great briskness on both sides, the balls and shells
from the enemy's battery being directed with considerable accuracy upon
ours, but the enemy finally ceased firing, and did
not renew the attack with musketry. During all this firing, when the balls
and shells were passing over the heads of the men on the banks of the
stream, they remained at their posts, coolly awaiting the renewal of the
attack with musketry.
The affair closed late in the afternoon, and about dusk Gen. Longstreet,
by direction of Gen. Beauregard, retired with the two regiments of his
brigade that had been engaged in the early part of the action to the pines
from which I had gone to re-enforce him, leaving my brigade on the ground
for the night.
When I first arrived on the ground I joined Gen. Longstreet, being
actively engaged in the thickest of the fire in directing and encouraging the
men under his command, and I am satisfied he contributed very largely to
the repulse of the enemy by his own personal exertions.
The officers and men belonging to the Washington Battery behaved very
handsomely indeed under a well-directed and galling fire of the enemy,
displaying great coolness and skill in the management of their pieces. The
regiments of my brigade came for the first time under fire, and while one
regiment was thrown for a few minutes into confusion, without retiring it
rallied under fire on the same ground, and took the position assigned it and
retained it. Some parties sent across the stream after the close of the fight.
We were not able to examine the ground occupied by their battery and the
regiments of infantry supporting it, because it was evident that a large force
was in the neighborhood, and the whole of next day the men were engaged
in throwing up embankments to strengthen our position, which was on
ground lower than that occupied by the enemy. About one hundred muskets
were picked up on the hill-sides, with a large numbers of hats and other
articles. From all indications the enemy's loss must have been much larger
than our own. The ranks of the Seventh and Twenty-fourth Virginia
Regiments were much thinned by sickness, and the whole number of my
brigade did not exceed fifteen hundred men. I have already furnished
Brig.-Gen. Longstreet with a list of the killed and wounded. Capt.
Fleming Gardner, my aide and acting assistant adjutant-general, and Capt.
George E. Dennis, assistant commissary to the Twenty-fourth Virginia
Regiment, who acted as aide during the engagement, discharged their duties
to my entire satisfaction.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. A. EARLY,
Col., Comdg. Sixth Brigade, First Corps, Army of Potomac.
Col. THOMAS JORDAN,
A. A. Gen., First Corps, Army of Potomac.
Source: Official Records
CHAP. IX.] THE BULL RUN CAMPAIGN. PAGE 463-2
[Series I. Vol. 2. Serial No. 2.]