Pickett Guard

[Stryker65]

Hello all,
In the Appomattox parole records, pages 452, I have found a new Confederate command.
It is listed as the "Company Pickett Guard Unassigned Virginia Volunteers" (will be listed as Pickett Guard). According to the parole records, Lieut. C. H. Bradshaw was in command of the company. Bradshaw appears on Search for Soldiers as a Lieutenant in Chappell's Company, Virginia Local Defense (Pickett Guard), and nowhere else, although a Private Charles H. Bradshaw appears in Company C, 28th Virginia Infantry Battalion. Here are the soldiers who surrendered with that unit:

Judging by its placement in the contents, it was attached to army headquarters, as it appears between the paroles for Bridgford's 1st Virginia Battalion and the army Signal Corps. If anybody could give additional information about this command, it would be very helpful.
Thanks!

 

[RedRover]

I suspect the group comprises in fact a "company pickett guard" viz. a picket guard, rather than that being the name of a unit. the men, as a group, representing only a company picket guard.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Agree with RedRover. Thought the name probably referred to a loose conglomeration of local volunteers who formed a stationed picket guard.

It does not appear to be an official unit name and could not find an historical record for any such unit.

During the Appomattox Campaign (Mar. 29 to April 9, 1865), there was no unit with this name included in the organizational structure of the ANV nor included as one of the headquarters guard or escort units.

With the use of the word 'unassigned volunteers' included in the title name of this collective of individuals , can only conclude that it was a hotchpotch of local unassigned (to units) volunteers hastily assembled near the end of the war, perhaps posted to protect some threatened key local installation in the vicinity.

 

[Stryker65]

The Search for Soldiers record for Lt. Bradshaw lists him as being part of "Chappell's Company, Virginia Local Defense (Pickett Guards)," which makes me think that perhaps it is a detached Local Defense company under a local designation.

 

[ErnieMac]

In Fold3 I found a CMSR document (see below) that describes the election of Lt. Charles H. Bradshaw of Captain Chapell's company as the commander of a guard for some type of stores. The election took place on March 1, 1864 in Petersburg. I am unable to decipher the type of stores being guarded.

 

[Stryker65]

@lupaglupa is it possible that you or some of the folks from the Researching Documents forum could help us read this?

 

[RedRover]

I had no problem reading it. As mentioned, the officer reporting he superintended the election of Lt. Bradshaw of Captain Chappel's company "organized as a guard" for "Qr. Master's" [quartermasters] stores at Petersburg, in March, 1864

 

[Stryker65]

I had no problem reading it. As mentioned, the officer reporting he superintended the election of Lt. Bradshaw of Captain Chappel's company "organized as a guard" for "Qr. Master's" [quartermasters] stores at Petersburg, in March, 1864

What do you think would be the origin of this company? Quartermaster's employees?

 

[RedRover]

Wallace's Guide to Virginia Military Organizations gives Captain Thomas A. Chappell's company, as a company of "Local Defense Troops" organized at Petersburg, Virginia, ca. 1864.

Major William H. Ker, of the Confederate provisional army, a staff officer, wrote the letter to having supervised the election of Lt. Bradshaw in Chappell's company, ensuring it was legal, etc., with all the men voting "viva voce" (by voice, not ballots). The fact that a Confederate officer is reporting this suggests to me that Chappell's company was in fact a Confederate company, for either local defense, volunteers generally, or reserves, rather than a militia company, which would strike me to have been under State authority. I have more questions than answers however.


For some background, Fletcher Archer commanded the "local defense battalion" thereabouts in '64, including about 125 old men and boys. Some of them ended up at Appomattox too.


On June 9, 1864 while entrenched near Rives House they repelled some of Kautz's cavalry... The only company I see named specifically is that of "Capt. Wolfe."

Petersburg Monument: Archer's Battalion

Several days after the battle, Archer's local defense battalion, was reorganized into a battalion of Virginia Reserves, with companies of "Reserves" and two companies of "2nd class" militia attached (names not given), designated the 3rd Battalion, Virginia Reserves, CSA. The remnants surrendered at Appomattox.


Col. Fletcher H. Archer.

 

[Stryker65]

For some background, Fletcher Archer commanded the "local defense battalion" thereabouts in '64, including about 125 old men and boys. Some of them ended up at Appomattox too.

Several days after the battle, Archer's local defense battalion, was reorganized into a battalion of Virginia Reserves, with companies of "Reserves" and two companies of "2nd class" militia attached (names not given), designated the 3rd Battalion, Virginia Reserves, CSA. The remnants surrendered at Appomattox.

One of those companies of "2nd class militia" would most likely be Captain Owen Hobson's 2nd-class company. It is listed as being at Petersburg around that time. Not sure what the other one was...Archer's command is listed on pages 447-448 of the Appomattox Paroles with the remnants of Ewell's Reserve Corps, while Bradshaw's company is listed with Army Headquarters on page 452.

 

[RedRover]

The laws of the Confederacy allowed companies of volunteers to organize and to submit themselves to the Confederate War Department for "local defense or special service" as part of the Confederate army. If President Davis accepted them... which he always did, they were either in the form of independent companies, battalions, regiments, etc.

Most such were eventually ordered combined with others to form new regiments, battalions, etc.

Perhaps Captain Chappells' company was such a company of volunteers for local defense and special service, judging only by Major Ker's letter above, it was "organized" specifically to guard quartermasters' stores at Petersburg...

Though in many respects such corps were organized no differently than militia, they were in the CS Army. No evidence Chappell's company was ever attached to any other Confederate organization by the War Department... and the company picket guard (the men on duty as such) under Lt. Bradshaw, were carried along with Lee's army in the withdrawal from Richmond/Petersburg...

Another example, in Florida was the "1st Special Battalion of Florida Cavalry" of 1864-5; in Confederate army service for the "special" purpose of gathering cattle... and also attending to some local defense... the battalion's personnel generally attending to their own business, though IN the Confederate army. The bulk of their active duty, in rotation, being to establish "picket guards" along the coast, and to range for cattle...

 

[jcrook]

I found Inge, Jason S. in the 3rd North Carolina Junior Reserves on Fold3. Cover card states he mustered into the 3rd NCJR on Jun 1, 1864 (this is a misprint as he was never with the NCJR).
Service cards state he was from McFarlin, Lunenburg, VA and was with Chappell's Company, Virginia Local Defense (Pickett Guard), VA Railroad Guards.