Act of Kindness: Return of Maj Gen Joseph B Kershaw's Spurs by Carle A Woodruff

lelliott19

Brigadier General
Moderator
* OFFICIAL *
CWT PRESENTER
Forum Host
Silver Patron
Regtl. Staff Chickamauga 2018
Joined
Mar 15, 2013
1572117034241.png

...I received a small package by express, and with it a note creditable to the writer and humanity. With this note came my spurs as bright and untarnished as ever to the eye, but infinitely more valuable for the rich sentiments expressed by the writer that lends them a lustre more bright and precious than gold. I need not say that they are treasured in my household.

During the latter part of the war, Carle Augustus Woodruff, of New York, was a young Lieutenant serving as the Left Section Chief of Batteries B & L (combined), 2nd U. S. Artillery. Joseph Brevard Kershaw was a Confederate Major General, commanding a division of infantry in the Army of Northern Virginia. At 43 years of age, Kershaw was fully 20 years older than Woodruff, but both men had served through the war.

On April 6, 1865, the men met, face to face, following the Battle of Sailor's Creek. As far as I can tell, there is no blood relation between them, but there seems to be a striking resemblance. Both men are of fair complexion, with blue eyes, light hair, strong square jaws, and aquiline noses. But I think its more than that...its the manner in which they conducted themselves. Perhaps young Woodruff looked into the face of Kershaw and saw his own father - or himself, 20 years older?
1572119249999.png

Here's our guy Lieut Woodruff at age 21 (pictured far right) at Fair Oaks June 1862. Image entitled: Fair Oaks, Va., vicinity. Capt. James M. Robertson (third from left) and officers from LOC From L-R: Wilson, Vincent, Robertson, Woodruff.
On that day, April 6th of 1865, after a long, hard campaign and an even harder fight, Anderson, with Pickett and B R Johnson, had been routed by the Union cavalry, opening the way for Custer and Merritt to attack Custis Lee, Ewell, and Kershaw's tired infantry force, in reverse. At the same time, the Confederates were overwhelmed in front by the infantry and artillery of the Sixth Corps. Some historians estimate the Confederate loss that day at more than 8000 killed, wounded, and captured.

In his belated report, Kershaw wrote: "The conduct of the officers and men of the command, under these trying circumstances, is beyond all praise and worthy the reputation of these veteran Regiments. On no Battlefield of the war have I felt a juster pride in the conduct of my command."

Kershaw, along with two of his brigadiers and one of his staff officers were captured there at Sailor's Creek by a Corporal of the 2nd Ohio Cavalry who escorted them to Custer's headquarters. [See that story HERE] When Kershaw and his party arrived at Custer's headquarters as prisoners of war, it was the young Lieut Carle A Woodruff who met them, provided them with food and drink, and made them comfortable as they awaited Custer's arrival. The next day, in grateful appreciation for the courtesy and kindness extended by Woodruff, Kershaw presented him with "a splendid pair of spurs" that Kershaw had "worn since the first Manassas."

In his 1876 account, Kershaw tells of the return of those same spurs: "Ten years after, I received a small package by express, and with it a note creditable to the writer and humanity. With this note came my spurs as bright and untarnished as ever to the eye, but infinitely more valuable for the rich sentiments expressed by the writer that lends them a lustre more bright and precious than gold. I need not say that they are treasured in my household."

Apparently, the spurs were returned in 1875; the account was written by Kershaw in 1876; and the article was published in the newspaper in 1897. By then, Kershaw was dead, having passed in April 1894, and Woodruff was a Major of Artillery in the U S Army (he eventually made Brigadier General.)
1572120335429.png

Woodruff (circled in red) with other officers of the US Horse Artillery at Culpeper, VA 1863 LOC Link
1572122436698.png
1572122543316.png

Excerpt of letter Joseph B. Kershaw to Carle A. Woodruff, dated Camden, South Carolina, 1876, later published in The Anderson Intelligencer. (Anderson Court House, SC) February 03, 1897, page 1.
Carle Augustus Woodruff FindAGrave Memorial
 
Last edited:
We were due another act of kindness post-
Thanks JPK. It's been a while and this one is a good one, especially since we have the account of the Confederate General whose spurs were returned.

@Mike Serpa this guy above, Carle Augustus Woodruff, received the MoH issued September 1, 1893 for extraordinary heroism while commanding Battery M 2nd US Artillery at Newby's Crossroads July 24, 1863. I see that the portrait being used on the MoH site is a post war image. In the one I used, snipped from the LOC image, Woodruff is about 21 years old.
1572403049337.png

Here's the citation:

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to First Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Carle Augustus Woodruff, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 24 July 1863, while serving with Horse Battery M, 2d U.S. Artillery, in action at Newbys Crossroads, Virginia. While in command of a section of a battery constituting a portion of the rear guard of a division then retiring before the advance of a corps of Infantry, First Lieutenant Woodruff was attacked by the enemy and ordered to abandon his guns. He disregarded the orders received and aided in repelling the attack and saving the guns.​
 
Last edited:
First thing to say is it was difficult reading this thread with the long version "Rapper's Delight" bumping in my headphones!
In the group photo of the 2nd U. S. Artillery the man on the left, John M. Wilson, is a MOH recipient for actions at Malvern Hill.
I like the story about the spurs.
I've seen the LOC photos before but didn't make the MOH connection with Woodruff. In fact, I didn't know he was Woodruff.

Here is a war photo of Wilson and one taken in 1906.
00144u.jpg
01703u.jpg


The only photo of Woodruff I was familiar with is from Deeds of Valor. Is this the one on the MOH site, @lelliott19?
caw.jpg
 
Back
Top