The frying pan was an essential item for cooking rations (if not a canteen half instead) that could be found in the average camp or bivouac; however, in a few instances, officers found themselves waving their men into battle with them instead!
One incident at Spotsylvania involving an officer in Hood's Texas Brigade was later recalled by a couple members of the Richmond Howitzers. On May 10, 1864, as continuous Federal assualts were made on Lee's left at Laurel Hill, one last attack by Ward's Brigade managed to breach the Confederate lines momentarily. The Texas Brigade and Richmond Howitzers were right in the middle of it.
"There was an old Captain Hunter [Capt. James Thomas Hunter, Co. H, 4th Texas Inf.],— it seems difficult to determine whether of the Texas or the Georgia regiment—who had the handle of his frying pan in his hand, holding the pan over the hot coals with his little slice of meat sizzling in it, when the enemy broke over. He had his back to them, and the first thing he knew his men were scampering past him like frightened sheep. He had not been accustomed to that style of movement among them, and he sprang up and tore after them, showering them with hot grease and hotter profanity, but never letting go his frying pan. On the contrary, he slapped right and left with the sooty, burning bottom, distributing his favors impartially on Federal and Confederate alike—several of his own men bearing the black and ugly brand on their cheeks for a long time after and occasionally having to bear also the captain's curses for having made him lose his meat that evening. He actually led the counter-charge, leaping upon the works wielding and waving his frying pan at once as sword and banner."
- Robert Stiles, Four Years Under Marse Robert, pg. 255
"In the quiet time, just before that sudden rush which swept over the works, Captain Hunter, of the Texans, was frying some pieces of fat bacon in a frying pan, over a little fire just by our gun. In a flash, the enemy was over the work, and we were in the thick of battle and confusion. The Captain glanced from his frying bacon, to see his company falling back from the works, and the enemy pouring over. The sudden sight instantly drove him wild with excitement! He utterly forgot what he was doing. With a loud yell, he swung that frying pan round and round his head,—the hot grease flying in all directions,—and rushed to his men, and tried to rally them. (Having lost the meat, he failed! With a frying pan full of meat he could have rallied the regiment!) Back he fell with the brigade, and disappeared under the hill. When the rallied Brigade came whooping back upon the enemy, ten minutes after, who should be in front tearing up the hill, leading the charge, but the gallant Captain, yelling like everything, and still waving that frying pan, to cheer on his men. More gallant charge was never led, with gleaming sword, than was this, led with that Texas frying pan."
- William Meade Dame, From the Rapidan to Richmond and the Spotsylvania Campaign, pg. 171-172
Postwar photo of Captain James T. Hunter, Co. H, 4th Texas Infantry.
And yet another example involved Major John C. Upton of the 5th Texas Infantry. In the Texas Brigade's famous charge over the Federal works at Boatswain's Swamp in the battle of Gaines' Mill, Maj. Upton boldly led his men from the front. He looked every part the rough Texas frontiersman - dressed in a woolen undershirt, black slouch hat atop his head, a brace of revolvers around his waist, and carrying a long-handled frying pan in his right hand!
As the 5th Texas crested Turkey Hill they overran most of the 4th New Jersey and 11th Pennsylvania. Colonel J. B. Robertson of the 5th Texas had been wounded, so the officers of the two Union regiments requested for another officer to properly surrender to. When Maj. Upton came running up, frying pan in hand, the refined and polished Federal officers could not believe who they had to surrender their swords to. Upton looked no different than the average private! He had to drop his skillet for a moment to accept an armful of swords.
Minutes later some of the Federal captives tried to make a run for it. Some Texans tried to pursue them but Maj. Upton called out, "let them go, let them go, we'd a **** sight rather fight 'em than feed 'em."
Any other incidents involving frying pans carried into battle?
One incident at Spotsylvania involving an officer in Hood's Texas Brigade was later recalled by a couple members of the Richmond Howitzers. On May 10, 1864, as continuous Federal assualts were made on Lee's left at Laurel Hill, one last attack by Ward's Brigade managed to breach the Confederate lines momentarily. The Texas Brigade and Richmond Howitzers were right in the middle of it.
"There was an old Captain Hunter [Capt. James Thomas Hunter, Co. H, 4th Texas Inf.],— it seems difficult to determine whether of the Texas or the Georgia regiment—who had the handle of his frying pan in his hand, holding the pan over the hot coals with his little slice of meat sizzling in it, when the enemy broke over. He had his back to them, and the first thing he knew his men were scampering past him like frightened sheep. He had not been accustomed to that style of movement among them, and he sprang up and tore after them, showering them with hot grease and hotter profanity, but never letting go his frying pan. On the contrary, he slapped right and left with the sooty, burning bottom, distributing his favors impartially on Federal and Confederate alike—several of his own men bearing the black and ugly brand on their cheeks for a long time after and occasionally having to bear also the captain's curses for having made him lose his meat that evening. He actually led the counter-charge, leaping upon the works wielding and waving his frying pan at once as sword and banner."
- Robert Stiles, Four Years Under Marse Robert, pg. 255
"In the quiet time, just before that sudden rush which swept over the works, Captain Hunter, of the Texans, was frying some pieces of fat bacon in a frying pan, over a little fire just by our gun. In a flash, the enemy was over the work, and we were in the thick of battle and confusion. The Captain glanced from his frying bacon, to see his company falling back from the works, and the enemy pouring over. The sudden sight instantly drove him wild with excitement! He utterly forgot what he was doing. With a loud yell, he swung that frying pan round and round his head,—the hot grease flying in all directions,—and rushed to his men, and tried to rally them. (Having lost the meat, he failed! With a frying pan full of meat he could have rallied the regiment!) Back he fell with the brigade, and disappeared under the hill. When the rallied Brigade came whooping back upon the enemy, ten minutes after, who should be in front tearing up the hill, leading the charge, but the gallant Captain, yelling like everything, and still waving that frying pan, to cheer on his men. More gallant charge was never led, with gleaming sword, than was this, led with that Texas frying pan."
- William Meade Dame, From the Rapidan to Richmond and the Spotsylvania Campaign, pg. 171-172
Postwar photo of Captain James T. Hunter, Co. H, 4th Texas Infantry.
And yet another example involved Major John C. Upton of the 5th Texas Infantry. In the Texas Brigade's famous charge over the Federal works at Boatswain's Swamp in the battle of Gaines' Mill, Maj. Upton boldly led his men from the front. He looked every part the rough Texas frontiersman - dressed in a woolen undershirt, black slouch hat atop his head, a brace of revolvers around his waist, and carrying a long-handled frying pan in his right hand!
As the 5th Texas crested Turkey Hill they overran most of the 4th New Jersey and 11th Pennsylvania. Colonel J. B. Robertson of the 5th Texas had been wounded, so the officers of the two Union regiments requested for another officer to properly surrender to. When Maj. Upton came running up, frying pan in hand, the refined and polished Federal officers could not believe who they had to surrender their swords to. Upton looked no different than the average private! He had to drop his skillet for a moment to accept an armful of swords.
Minutes later some of the Federal captives tried to make a run for it. Some Texans tried to pursue them but Maj. Upton called out, "let them go, let them go, we'd a **** sight rather fight 'em than feed 'em."
Any other incidents involving frying pans carried into battle?
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