{⋆★⋆} BG Jones, John Robert

John Robert Jones​

Born: March 12, 1827

Birthplace: Rockingham County, Virginia

Father: David S. Jones 1801 – 1870

(Buried: Woodbine Cemetery, Harrisonburg, Virginia)​

Mother: Harriet Ann Yost 1804 – 1875

(Buried: Woodbine Cemetery, Harrisonburg, Virginia)​

Wife: Sarah Louisa Brashear 1832 – 1878

(Buried: Woodbine Cemetery, Harrisonburg, Virginia)​

Children: None

Education:

1848: Graduated from Virginia Military Institute​

Occupation before War:

Principal of Military School in Urbana Maryland​

Civil War Career:

1861: Helped raise Company I, 33rd​ Virginia Infantry Regiment​

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1861: Captain, Company I, 33rd​ Virginia Infantry Regiment​

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1861: Served in the First Battle of Manassas, Virginia​

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1861 – 1862: Lt. Colonel of 33rd​ Virginia Infantry Regiment​

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1862 – 1865: Brigadier General, Confederate Army Infantry​

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1862: Served in the Seven Days Campaign in Virginia​

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1862: Served in the Battle of White Oak Swamp, Virginia​

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1862: Concussion from Wound at the Battle of Malvern Hill, Virginia​

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1862: Served in the Capture of Harper's Ferry, Virginia​

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1862: Wounded from explosion of shell at Battle of Antietam​

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1863: Compelled to leave field at Chancellorsville ulcerated leg​

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1863: Arrested by the Union Army near Smithsburg, Maryland​

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1863 – 1865: Prisoner of War held by the Union Army​

Occupation after War:

Merchant in Harrisonburg, Virginia​

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Rockingham County Virginia Commissioner of Accounts​

Died: April 1, 1901

Place of Death: Harrisonburg, Virginia

Age at time of Death: 74 years old

Burial Place: Woodbine Cemetery, Harrisonburg, Virginia

 

[Pollaco]

After reading a biography if him I'm a little puzzled . He took shelter behind a tree at Fredricksburg. For this he was accused of cowardice by his subordinates? But the biography states he was a division commander up to the day Before Fredricksburg. Just what was the time frame on this "sheltered behind a tree" incident? The biography also states that Jones' commission as brigadier was never confirmed.

 

[gentlemanrob]

 

[ErnieMac]

It seems to me that Jones was suffering from PTSD or something similar in late 1862 and early 1863. He had served ably under Jackson in the Valley and during the Seven Days, but had been wounded at Malvern Hill, not recovering until just before the Maryland Campaign. While Jones was leading Jackson's Division into battle at Sharpsburg an artillery shell exploding nearby temporarily deafened him and possibly left him with a concussion. When he returned to the army just before Fredericksburg Jones was a different man.

The 'tree episode' followed. It seems of little consequence today, but that was not acceptable behavior in that day. A month long court-martial followed resulting in Jones' acquittal in April. The final straw came at Chancellorsville some weeks when Jones left the battlefield complaining of an ulcerated leg. During the ANV reorganization that followed Jones was removed from command and he resigned his commission. (Ironically his brigade was assigned to BG John M. Jones.) Following his resignation Jones traveled north to Smithburg Maryland where he was taken prisoner by Federal troops on July 4, 1863. Confederate authorities had no use for Jones and refused to exchange him. Jones spent the remainder of the War in prison camps.

 

[Pollaco]

That accompanying newspaper article mentions his divorce from his second wife under "sensational circumstances". That sounds like a interesting story.

That article also mentions custody of his children. The children were a big part of that "sensational" story.

 

[ErnieMac]

That accompanying newspaper article mentions his divorce from his second wife under "sensational circumstances". That sounds like a interesting story.

The ending paragraphs in the attached website linked below describes Jones' "indiscretion" quite nicely.

Cowards in the Cornfield? (Part Two): The Complicated Story of Virginia’s General John R. Jones

When General J. R. Jones quickly relinquished command at the prospect of marching his division into Antietam’s Cornfield, his fellow Southern officers began whispering the word “coward” behind his …

antietamscornfield.com

 

[USS ALASKA]

Historical Sketch And Roster Of The Virginia 33rd Infantry Regiment by John C. Rigdon

The Virginia 33rd Infantry Regiment was organized during the early summer of 1861 with men from the counties of Hampshire, Shenandoah, Frederick, Hardy, Page, and Rockingham. It became part of the Stonewall Brigade and served under T. J. Jackson, R. B. Garnett, Winder, Paxton, J. A. Walker, and W. Terry. The regiment was active at First Manassas, First Kernstown, and in Jackson's Valley Campaign. Later it participated in the campaigns of the Army of Northern Virginia from the Seven Days' Battles to Cold Harbor, then it moved with Early to the Shenandoah Valley and fought in numerous conflicts around Appomattox. This unit lost 45 killed and 101 wounded at First Manassas, and there were 59 disabled of the 275 engaged at First Kernstown.

It sustained 33 casualties at Malvern Hill, 15 at Cedar Mountain, 105 at Second Manassas, 19 in the Maryland Campaign, and 66 at Chancellorsville. Twenty-three percent of the 236 at Gettysburg were killed, wounded, or missing. Only 1 officer and 9 men surrendered.

Companies of the Virginia 33rd Infantry Regiment

Co. A; Hampshire County.
Co. B; Shenandoah County
Co. C; Shenandoah County
Co. D; Winchester
Co. E; New Market.
Co. F; Moorefield
Co. G; Mt. Jackson and Shenandoah counties
Co. H Page County
Co. I; Rockingham County
Co. K; Shenandoah County.

Historical Sketch And Roster Of The Virginia 33rd Infantry Regiment (Virginia Regimental History): Rigdon, John C.: 9781725025080: Amazon.com: Books

Historical Sketch And Roster Of The Virginia 33rd Infantry Regiment (Virginia Regimental History) [Rigdon, John C.] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Historical Sketch And Roster Of The Virginia 33rd Infantry Regiment (Virginia Regimental History)

www.amazon.com

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[rpkennedy]

The biography also states that Jones' commission as brigadier was never confirmed.

That is correct. He was appointed but his promotion was delayed indefinitely until he was captured. An interesting question would be that if he was to be exchanged, would it be as a brigadier general or a lieutenant colonel?

Ryan

 

[Pollaco]

That is correct. He was appointed but his promotion was delayed indefinitely until he was captured. An interesting question would be that if he was to be exchanged, would it be as a brigadier general or a lieutenant colonel?

Ryan

I think I read somewhere that his parole papers listed him as a Lt. Col. But I not real sure of that.

 

[rpkennedy]

I think I read somewhere that his parole papers listed him as a Lt. Col. But I not real sure of that.

Technically, when he was captured, he held no rank because he had resigned. It was an odd situation, for sure.

Ryan

 

[Pollaco]

That is an odd situation. They (the Federals) were holding a civilian in custody?

 

[Luke Freet]

1863: Arrested by the Union Army near Smithsburg, Maryland1863 – 1865: Prisoner of War held by the Union Army

What the heck was he doing in Maryland? Presume he was a hanger-on during the Pennsylvania Campaign?

 

[ErnieMac]

That is an odd situation. They (the Federals) were holding a civilian in custody?

Numerous civilians were held in Federal custody for suspected disloyalty. Most were released after taking an oath of allegiance or by the intercession of someone who knew what strings to pull. Jones was in a unique situation as a Confederate civilian arrested by Federal authorities whose government didn't care enough about him to try to obtain his release. Jones was probably fortunate they didn't think he was a spy especially since Smithburg MD was more or less on Lee's line of into and out of Pennsylvania.

 

[USS ALASKA]

What the heck was he doing in Maryland? Presume he was a hanger-on during the Pennsylvania Campaign?

Sir, I believe that after resigning for med reasons, he was trying to return to convalesce in his then home in the Urbana Maryland area.

I think...
USS ALASKA

 

[USS ALASKA]

That is an odd situation. They (the Federals) were holding a civilian in custody?

Which happened to blockade runner crews - just not for 3 years as most were foreign nationals.

Cheers,
USS ALASKA