Battle of Front Royal, May 23, 1862. 1st Maryland CSA vs. 1st Maryland USA

CSA Today

Brev. Brig. Gen'l
Honored Fallen Comrade
Joined
Dec 3, 2011
Location
Laurinburg NC
At the Battle of Front Royal, May 23, 1862, the 1st Maryland CSA was thrown into battle with their fellow Marylanders, the Union 1st Regiment Maryland Volunteer Infantry.
This is the only time in United States military history that two regiments of the same numerical designation and from the same state have engaged each other in battle. After hours of desperate fighting the Southerners emerged victorious. When the prisoners were taken, many men recognized former friends and family.
According to Goldsborough:
"nearly all recognized old friends and acquaintances, whom they greeted cordially, and divided with them the rations which had just changed hands".
Among the prisoners was Charles Goldsborough, captured by his brother, William Goldsborough, who would go on to write the history of the Maryland Line in the Confederate Army.
 
At the Battle of Front Royal, May 23, 1862, the 1st Maryland CSA was thrown into battle with their fellow Marylanders, the Union 1st Regiment Maryland Volunteer Infantry.
This is the only time in United States military history that two regiments of the same numerical designation and from the same state have engaged each other in battle. After hours of desperate fighting the Southerners emerged victorious. When the prisoners were taken, many men recognized former friends and family.
According to Goldsborough:
"nearly all recognized old friends and acquaintances, whom they greeted cordially, and divided with them the rations which had just changed hands".
Among the prisoners was Charles Goldsborough, captured by his brother, William Goldsborough, who would go on to write the history of the Maryland Line in the Confederate Army.

A related story.

http://catholicherald.com/stories/T...ort=&content_class=&sub_type=stories&town_id=
 
At the Battle of Front Royal, May 23, 1862, the 1st Maryland CSA was thrown into battle with their fellow Marylanders, the Union 1st Regiment Maryland Volunteer Infantry.
This is the only time in United States military history that two regiments of the same numerical designation and from the same state have engaged each other in battle. After hours of desperate fighting the Southerners emerged victorious. When the prisoners were taken, many men recognized former friends and family.
According to Goldsborough:
"nearly all recognized old friends and acquaintances, whom they greeted cordially, and divided with them the rations which had just changed hands".
Among the prisoners was Charles Goldsborough, captured by his brother, William Goldsborough, who would go on to write the history of the Maryland Line in the Confederate Army.
Nice find, CSA! And quite moving...really. I can only imagine capturing my brother--he'd probably scold me for being on the wrong side...:frown:
 
Brother against brother always sad. My great great grandfather was on Confederate side and his two brothers on Union side. They were at same battle. My great great was mortally wounded at battle and died that day. It was shortly after that that one of brothers deserted. I wonder if it had anything to do with my gggrandfather's death at the same place he had been. I would sure like to learn more about them. It is so very sad.
 
“This is the only time in United States military history that two regiments of the same numerical designation and from the same state have engaged each other in battle.”

Both the 1st Alabama CS and the 1st Alabama US were at the Battle of Monroe Cross Road (March 10, 1865). About 15 years ago, a speaker from Fort Bragg gave a talk to my SCV camp about the battle. I seem to recall that he said the regiments didn’t actually engage due to location on the field.

Also the 5th Kentucky Mounted Infantry CS was at the battle as was the 5th Kentucky US cavalry. There might be a question about counting the 5th Kentucky Mounted Infantry as cavalry despite being brigaded (Breckinridge) with 1st, 2nd and 9th Kentucky cavalry regiments CS.
 
From the New York Times - May 26, 1862.
http://www.nytimes.com/1862/05/26/n...re-particulars-of-the-front-royal-battle.html

LATER FROM BALTIMORE.; PARTICULARS OF THE FRONT ROYAL BATTLE.
BALTIMORE, Sunday, May 25.

The city has been in a state of intense excitement throughout the day. News of the disaster to Col. KENLEY'S First Maryland Regiment at Front Royal occasioned intense feeling, and when the Secessionists commenced to congregate at the corners this morning, with radiant faces and words of rejoicing, they were attacked and beaten.

During the day at least a hundred have been knocked down in different parts of the City, though the police interfered, and prevented any fatal results. In one or two cases ropes were brought out, and preparations made for hanging parties to lamp posts. Two men were stabbed, but not dangerously. Among those attacked was ROBERT MCLANE, late Minister to Mexico, who was saved by the police.

Two members of KENLEY's Regiment have arrived in the city. They report they were attacked by a large cavalry force, under ASHBY, and several regiments of infantry, and twice repulsed them with great loss. KENLEY's force consisted of the First Maryland Regiment, one section of KNAPP's Pennsylvania Battery, and three companies of the Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania. Whilst the fight was progressing, two companies of New-York Cavalry came to their assistance. The fight commenced at 12 o'clock, and continued up to night, when the infantry force succeeded in surrounding them. The first fight and repulse took place east of the Shenandoah, and finding the force too great, he retreated to the west side, destroying one of the bridges, but was too hotly pressed to succeed in destroying the principal bridge. He made another stand on the west side of the river, and Knapp's battery mowed down the rebels with shell and grape. They fired in all nearly two hundred rounds. KENLEY received a musket-shot in the neck during the first attack, but continued on horseback until the close of the day, when he was placed in an ambulance perfectly exhausted. The last fight took place about four miles this side of Front Royal, his effort being to fall back in order, expecting reinforcements momentarily from Gen. BANKS.

A member of KNAPP's Battery, who escaped, says says that the Maryland regiment fought with indomitable bravery, and that Col. KENLEY led them on frequently to bayonet charges. He also says, that on the this approach of ASHBY he displayed a white flag until within pistol range, when Col. KENLEY ordered to cease firing. The white flag was then thrown down, and the enemy rushed on our troops, cutting and slashing, and refusing all quarter. Lieut.-Col. BRISBANE and Maj. MILLER, are both reported wounded and prisoners.
 
From the Richmond Daily Dispatch - May 28, 1862
http://dlxs.richmond.edu/d/ddr/browse.html

Another victory in the Valley.
It was announced yesterday early in the day that a dispatch had been received, giving intelligence of a victory over the enemy by the forces under Gen. Jackson. Upon inquiry at the Departments, we learned that no official information of an engagement had been received, but that it was generally believed that our forces had encountered a body of the enemy at Front Royal, in Warren county, and had routed them, capturing several pieces of artillery, a large quantity of ordnance stores, and a considerable number of prisoners.

From a gentleman who left Staunton yesterday morning we learn that a courier from the army of Gen. Jackson arrived at that point on Saturday evening, and brought dispatches to Gen. Johnson, substantially confirming the above statement. Information received from private sources deemed entirely worthy of credit, assure us that Gen. Jackson was within four miles of Front Royal on Friday morning, and the town was occupied by about 1,500 Federal troops. We presume that it was this force with which he had the engagement reported, and the hope is reasonably entertained that he had succeeded in bagging the whole party. There is no probability that "old Stonewall" will permit the Yankees to stagnate during their sojourn in the Valley, if he is permitted to continue his operations against them.

We learn from a gentleman who left Winchester in the early part of last week, and succeeded in flanking the Yankee pickets, that the unscrupulous scamps have commenced a system of incendiarism in that town and the counties of Jefferson and Clarke. During the week they burned the Medical College in Winchester, in which was deposited the carcass of John Brown's worthless son, who met his deserved fate at Harper's Ferry. Denning's regiment of Cincinnati Dutch, which rendered itself notorious in Hampshire co. last winter, by burning and wantonly destroying everything within reach, had gone down into Clarke and Jefferson, and from lights continually observed in that direction, from Winchester, it was believed that they were indulging their favorite mode of warfare, by applying the torch to the property of defenceless citizens. A few evenings before our informant left Winchester, a brilliant light was noticed in the direction of Charleston, and apprehensions were entertained that the town had been fired by the desperadoes.

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch - May 29, 1862

The fight in Warren county.

A correspondent, who was in the engagement of Friday last, near Nineveh, in Warren county, in which the combined forces of Gens Jackson and Ewell so completely and effectually routed the enemy, gives us some particulars with reference to this brilliant success, which may prove of interest to the reader. From the letter of our friend we learn that the advance of our army encountered just above Front Royal — and guarding the bridges over the Shenandoah — a Yankee force, consisting of three regiments of infantry, a few companies of cavalry, and two pieces of artillery. They were immediately charged by Wheat's Tiger Battalion and driven across the river. The enemy fell back slowly for a few miles under cover of their guns, when portions of the 6th and 2d regiments of cavalry were ordered to the front in pursuit. After advancing some distance, this force was divided, a few companies being thrown across the fields upon either flank, and the rest proceeding straight down the road.

The centre was led by a portion of the Rappahannock & Troop, (6th regiment,) who, advancing rapidly, were soon far ahead of the other companies. They came upon the enemy at McKaye's, and were at once ordered to prepare for the charge. The enemy, observing their small number, halted and formed to receive them. The order was given them to charge, and at full speed not only did this small force charge a body immensely superior to their own in numbers, but they broke their lines and routed them, and took one hundred prisoners before other assistance arrived. The early arrival of the other companies rendered the success completes. Nearly the whole Yankee command, officers and men, wagons and baggage, two pieces of artillery, cavalry horses, &c., fell into the hands of our victorious forces.

Our success was complete and glorious, and there was nothing to impair it but the loss of some of our best and bravest soldiers. Major Davis fell at the head of the Rappahannock Troop, and of the thirty-six of this company who made the charge twenty-three were killed or wounded. A partial list of these we here with append. Killed — Haddux, Frank Duncan, Phil. Field,--Burles,--Starke, Samuel Yates, Joseph Pullen, and Dallas. Brown Wounded — Brady,--Cannon, Dabusy Eastham, Richard Field, Geo. Johnson, Cyrus Atkins,--Kendall,--Benton,--Hankins. Captain Baxter was also killed, gallantly leading his men upon the enemy. There were some other casualties, of when our correspondent did not obtain a list.

The charge of the Rappahannock troop was a desperate and daring one and will forever remove the odium which was so unjustly sought to be fixed upon the company for its conduct at Fairfax Court-House, one year ago.
 
* Civil War Trust Map of the Battle of Front Royal, Virginia

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* The North Fork of Shenandoah River Bridge Crossing (1st Maryland, USA and 1st Maryland, CSA)

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* Richardson's Hill (1st Maryland, USA encounter 1st Maryland, CSA)

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* Photos courtesy of William Bechmann (2014)
 
The First Maryland Battalion (CSA) and the Maryland Potomac Home Brigade (a USA regiment) were in close proximity (within a few hundred feet of each other) on Culp's Hill at Gettysburg on the morning of July 3, 1863. The First Maryland Eastern Shore regiment (USA) was there too. Adjutant John E. Rastall of the First Maryland Eastern Shore regiment states in Confederate Veteran (vol. 7, p. 408) that his command wounded and captured one of their former members then serving in the Confederate First Maryland Battalion. Rastall also mentioned that his Eastern Shore regiment contained many slave owners.
 
This is Church where Stonewall inquired if there was another road to approach Front Royal. A gentleman was sitting on the fence that was around the Church at that time talked with Stonewall and showed him 2 approaches. Also, the church was used as an office and is where Stonewall made his battle plans.

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The Unknown Soldiers are buried under the center monument and those that were known have the Stones. Stonewall watched the attack from this hill before it was a Cemetery.
Prospect Hill Cemetery.
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Nice Photo!

* The Battle of Front Royal (Shenandoah Valley Circle Tour Marker)

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* The Civil War Trails Marker on top of Prospect Hill (Cemetery) "Wonderful View of the City!"

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* Photos courtesy of William Bechmann (2014)
 
Actually, if I remember correctly they had a rematch at Gettysburg. They faced off at Culp's Hill where the Union 1st Maryland evened the series. Don't know if they ever met again.
 
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