A Civil War Soldier of Versatility:
The George Rust Bedinger Story
by
Scott Zerull
The George Rust Bedinger Story
by
Scott Zerull
In 1858, the 18 year old George Rust Bedinger enrolled as a student at the University of Virginia from the encouragement of his father Henry. School was going well and George was liked by his friends and professors. One day in class George had been reprimanded in the classroom, furious, he got up and shot a contemptuous look at the flabbergasted professor and left the class in the middle of the lecture. He returned moments later to the class and sat down in the front row. For the rest of class he was attentive and silent. At the end of the class he walked straight up to the professor and told him without hesitation or shame that he felt sorry for his rudeness and wanted to apologize for his conduct. He felt he had given offense in some way and wanted to correct and acknowledge his error. This bold act of defiance followed by immediate regret and apology was an event that endeared him to his professors and classmates alike. One student who was in class that day who did not know Bedinger personally called him a “young hero” when he came back to the class to see the professor recalling the scene as “splendid”. This included classmates who would later serve in the confederate ranks same as George. This story is a perfect example of the extraordinary man he was. It was his principles and desire to always do the right thing that made his military service to the confederacy astonishing in many ways.
It is widely accepted by historians that Civil War soldiers on both sides were men of honor fighting to defend their homes and way of living, or that they were patriots trying to reconnect the broken country. They suffered terrible injuries, horrific battles, relentless marching, and dealing with the harsh impulses of Mother Nature. Many young brave men fought and died for their own personal reasons, but the experience is similar for both sides. Thousands of men enlisted to fight for a cause, even faking their age to be able to fight and be a part of history. George Rust Bedinger may have started out like so many others enduring the same hardships that befell many soldiers. However it was his actions and experience that set his apart from all of his peer and other confederate soldiers.
George Bedinger was an exceptional soldier of diversity that defies what historians consider the average soldier or the average soldier experience. He does this in a myriad of ways, one of which is by his rank. He enlisted as a private in 1860 and eventually was promoted directly to captain commanding in the 33rd Virginia Regiment E. Company the Emerald Guard. This is a rare occurrence during the war and even in today’s modern military such a jump in rank is extremely unusual. Normally an enlisted soldier would work his way up the noncommissioned officer ranks and remain an enlisted man. An officer is similar, staying within the structure of the officer ranks. George jumped from the bottom of the enlisted rank structure to the officer rank structure. Secondly, he enlisted in the infantry, was moved to artillery, then again to cavalry, and finally back to the infantry. Again in the modern military age it is unparalleled to see one man move between different fighting units even in special warfare groups. George Rust Bedinger was an amazing soldier that deserves to be studied because his journey in the Civil War was one of honor, bravery, and astonishment.
These two examples alone challenge the foundation of what is considered to be the average soldier. Aside from his decorated military service record, George had by all accounts a pleasant and humorous spirit. He was very well respected by his peers, commanders, and subordinates alike. His energy was infectious and he greatly impacted whichever unit he was serving with. Considering all the evidence working in tandem, George Rust Bedinger proved himself to be someone who is genuinely special. After a very thorough searching of many books and sources, there has been no historical work published that can compare to the type of soldier he was, his service, or his contribution to the Confederate war effort. Many books such as the The Life of Johnny Reb by Bell Irvin Wiley or The Civil War: A Narrative by Shelby Foote try and nail down the experience and put in words the average soldier by using primary sources, but they cannot compare. He truly was an extraordinary soldier that shattered the boundaries of what a typical soldier contributed to the war effort and others around him at the same time.
George Bedinger was born to an upper middle class family in 1840 on July 10th at their home Shepardstown, Virginia, which in modern day is now part of West Virginia. His mother, Margret Elizabeth Rust, died when he was only 3 years old. His father Henry Bedinger III, was originally a lawyer but served briefly as a Virginia senator representing the 10th congressional district and at one point was the Mister to Denmark. His father died in 1858 when George enrolled as a student at the University of Virginia. There is little written or known about his time growing up but based on his family’s income in addition with social states and his relatives also being politicians and congressman, he was well educated and was provided great care in his youth. His upbringing can be considered another factor of why he enlisted, but it is not certain the exact reason of why he enlisted.
As a man George was described by his friends at college as of “medium height, active, strong, and graceful.” His countenance was a merry one, but could change with “wonderful readiness.” His voice was “pleasant and musical” and he showed great fondness for music and drawing which had been thoroughly cultivated according to his friends and family. He closely resembled his father in his disposition and social attributes, but his accomplishments were his own. Many of his friends from school remembered him fondly because of his “mental accomplishments and splendid virtues” because of his academic success at school. Bedinger “was social and genial in his disposition, full of life and gaiety, cheerful and generous and manly.” George was a man of virtue and had a strong moral compass for doing the right thing which translated into his actions as a soldier during the Civil War. It was of these virtues and his subsequent actions in numerous battles that would eventually help him attain the promotion to the rank of Captain.
When the war broke out in 1860, George dropped out of college and enlisted under the call of Virginia Governor John Letcher to enlist and prepare for war. It can only be speculated why he joined to fight, but the educated guess points towards his character and virtues. His sense of duty and inner fortitude driving his obligation to stand up for what he believed in is what drove him to enlist. His values are most notably remembered, and those same values can be attributed to his success while in the service. George Rust Bedinger was a man of principle, and those principles are the foundation of his inspiration to enlist and fight for the confederacy.
He originally enlisted from Jefferson Country, in the 2nd Virginia Infantry Regiment, B. Company “The Hamtramck Guard” as a private. He purposely joined this company because his cousin was a lieutenant, and in this company they would serve together briefly. His enlistment began at Harper’s Ferry on May 5th, 1861. Their first mission was to seize the armory at Harper’s Ferry. Also in this unit he was assigned with many men he had known from his time at the University of Virginia which worked out well for the unit’s cohesion and performance. He also participated in a special reconnaissance mission with his cousin Lieutenant Edwin Lee. Edwin was charged with examining avenues of approach because federal troops were close to their position. He was told if necessary a “trusty man” could potentially be sent into the camp to get information from the inside. Naturally he choose George and they rode 12 miles in the night to meet an informant, deeming the man and his information trustworthy they returned with the intelligence report. This successful mission was one of many to come for George.
The first time George Rust Bedinger saw combat was at the Frist Battle of Bull Run, otherwise known as the Frist Battle of Manassas as an infantryman. In a letter his sister had written to their stepmother, she told her of George’s experience at Bull Run. She said “George was in the thickest of the fight but thank god he did not receive a scratch.” Shortly after the battle George along with “several other intelligent members” were temporarily assigned to the 1st Rockbridge Artillery under the command of Captain and later General William Nelson Pendleton. The reason behind this was that the battery had captured Union artillery pieces and lacked the appropriate amount of men to function all weapons. With a new unit and new friends to make, his transfer to the 1st Rockbridge Artillery was made official on August 26th, 1861.
“Virginia’s First Brigade” was under the command of the brilliant confederate General Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson in the army of Joseph E. Johnston It was in this brigade that Bedinger would flourish and serve for the majority of his service in a majority of his career as a soldier. General Jackson implemented a simple but vigorous training program where Bedinger among others would receive crucial training for the coming war. The training in basic drill and battle tactics on the small unit level reinforced Bedinger’s strong sense of duty and battle planning that would be apparent in his actions for the rest of the war as a private and as a commander.
For the next 8 months Bedinger was an artilleryman involved in many different battles and hardships. It was also here that George started to earn his reputation as a soldier and what type of man he was at his core. A fellow soldier described his presence and personality in a kind manner, recalling that he was “the most interesting of all” other soldiers in the unit. Another soldier recalls George as “In camp and on the march Bedinger was always gay and cheerful, and, though reared in ease and affluence made himself and his comrades merry amid their privations and discomforts.” Specifically he was talking about Jackson’s winter campaign known as the Romney Expedition, to take hold of the Shenandoah Valley and other advantageous targets.
The campaign was brutally cold and the troops had inadequate blankets, food, and warm clothing. By the end of the campaign Bedinger had marched to Romney, Bath, and numerous other places up and down the Shenandoah Valley. It was during this campaign’s brilliant strategic movement, skirmishes, marches, and battles that George got his first sustained exposure of war and General Jackson had earned his notorious nickname of “Stonewall Jackson” due to his military knowledge and battle prowess.
It was also during these hardships George grew closer to friends with many of the men in his unit. One soldier, Edward Moore, remembers a camp fire where George and other men were joking about their singing voices, life experiences and normal shenanigans. He reminisces that George without shame got up in front of the first and sang “though the world may call me gay, yet my feelings I smother, for thou art the cause of my anguish, my mother.” The same soldier had also written in diary that “brilliant Bedinger, whose presence imparted an electric touch to those around him, I shall ne’er see his like again!” These kind words are a true testament to George’s personality even in the coldest winter with inadequate supplies he still found a way to improve morale and for a moment make everyone forget about the horrible war being waged around them.
The first major battle that George fought in as an artilleryman was the battle of Kernstown on March 23rd, 1862. It was here that Bedinger engaged in a long artillery duel with Union troops on the battle field. During the battle, Bedinger’s actions were unique, one of his fellow soldiers recalls them in amazement, “He was always in the right place at the right time, and in spite of the dangers to which he was exposed and of which he was fully conscious, could not resist the temptation to be merry and to provoke merriment in others. At his own and his companions’ occasional impulses to dodge the nosiest shells with which the enemy were making the day hideous.”
This was the first example of George’s commitment to fighting and his personality. He was a confident young soldier whose view of the war was one of favor and sureness. He wrote his sister often during the war, where he would give her insight to the war and his thoughts on the conflict. In a letter shortly after Kernstown he wrote her speaking of a potential upcoming battle saying “I have no doubt of victory. Our men are of excellent capacity.” This letter displays the commitment to the war effort and his perception of the confederate war effort. Unknown to Bedinger, his time in the artillery was drawing to a close.
The lessons learned by Bedinger in the artillery would follow him for the rest of the war. The hardening of this special soldier by both the infantry and the artillery experience had given him the combat knowledge along with the technical and tactical knowledge to back it up. Jackson’s Stonewall Brigade had taken a college boy and forged him in to a combat veteran. This private who was determined to have an impact on his unit and friends and by all recollections succeeded in his mission to do so through his jolly disposition, strong sense of duty, and impeccable integrity to do the right thing. It is clear to see that his brief time in the 2nd Virginia Infantry and the 1st Rockbridge Artillery is what laid the foundation and set the tone for his performance the rest of the war.
After fighting 8 hard months as an artilleryman, he was unexplainably transferred to the 7th Cavalry known as Ashby’s Cavalry. The transfer most likely came from the reorganization and redistribution of troops in early 1862. George was now in Major General Richard Ewell’s division, Brigadier General George Stewart’s brigade. Unfortunately there is no record available of which company he served in, however it would be a sure assessment to say that he served with the ‘Shenandoah Rangers’ of C. Company from Shenandoah County. This presumption makes sense when considering his future unit would be made of from men of Shenandoah County.
During his time in Ashby’s Cavalry George saw further combat, participating in the battle of Harrisonburg. The main effort of the cavalry while Bedinger was assigned to the unit was the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1862. The main battles that Ashby’s Cavalry participated in were Front Royal, and the First Battle of Winchester. However, soon after the battle it was time for George to move on to the next unexpected assignment.
In the fall of 1862 the Confederacy was in need of more soldiers, so with George being the electric and personable man, was charged with raising a volunteer cavalry company from men inside the Shenandoah Valley. Understandably he met the task with some difficulty due to the fact that a strong majority of those willing to fight were already in the Army. Understandably George failed this task because a large majority of volunteers were already in the service of the Confederacy. This task can be considered his only failure during his service to the Confederacy. Failing to raise a company, he was transferred back to infantry.
He was reassigned to the 33rd Virginia Infantry Regiment, once again he was under the brigade command of General Stonewall Jackson, while the regiment was commanded by Colonel Edwin Lee. He was placed in E Company “The Emerald Guard” comprised of men from Shenandoah County. It was here that George Rust Bedinger would bring his military experience to its culminating peak. Briefly after his transfer Bedinger took up the position of company sergeant major in charge of his troop’s welfare, morale, and discipline. This is another key example of how George’s military experience was different compared to his peers because as a private he was the acting sergeant major, a spot normally reserved for an older battle hardened noncommissioned officer.
Soon after his transfer he participated in the battle of Second Bull Run and Antietam. During the battle of Second Manassas the Emerald Guard had engaged in battle with a Union brigade that guarded a vast supply depot. With a stalemate happening, the unit engaged in battle with the rest of the Confederate army taking the fight to the Union troops for three days of combat. Bedinger would survive this encounter, only to face a much deadlier battle.
His second battle while assigned to the 33rd was Sharpsburg, otherwise known as Antietam, the single bloodiest day in American history. The regiment under command of General Jackson and General Dayton engaged in tenacious combat around Sharpsburg would see heavy fighting. The company lost 3 men while 17 more were injured, adding to the combined total of 22,717 soldier dead upon the battlefield. After the battle the men were worn out, their “clothing, accoutrements, and discipline” were all reported as “indifferent” by the company commander. After surviving the bloodiest battle the unit was described by a soldier in the unit as being “as good as circumstances permit” concerning their welfare and morale.
The silver lining of his failure to raise a company, was that George had been transferred to the 33rd VA Infantry Regiment, and was soon to be given the opportunity to be promoted to the rank of Captain. This is exceptionally unusual because the jump straight to captain is a rather large gap of military rank. Not only did he surpass many of his peers who were enlisted men, but jumped over some of his officer appointed over him. This is also telling of Bedinger’s character because he did not become an officer right away from his social status, but rather through his actions and conduct as an enlisted soldier for the Confederacy. The Confederacy was in serious need of soldiers and commanders due to desertion and death, however the research surrounding Bedinger suggests that his promotion was given because of his merit. This promotion only adds to the diversity and matchless soldier experience of Bedinger, and makes him part of a small percentage of soldiers who went from enlisted to officer during the war.
As luck or fate would have it, the men of the Emerald Guard were in need of a company commander, and George was the right man for the job. The company was made up primarily of Irishmen who were noted for their “most colorful and volatile company” conduct. Their tendency for hard liquor and their affinity for brawling at the slightest provocation had earned them a reputation for being some rowdy and tough soldiers that were difficult to get along with, let alone command. Colonel Lee had written to his friend describing the Celts in action saying “You will be glad to know the men behaved nobly” and won “the highest commendation for themselves”. Bedinger also concluded that “The men were firm, cool, eager and manly. I never saw them stand shelling & bullets better and never saw a little straggling.” Proving that despite their rough and tough disposition, the Irishmen were excellent and disciplined soldier during the heat of battle. It also helped that they remembered George from earlier encounters where as a private, was the acting sergeant major for Emerald Guard.
Edwin Lee had selected him for command and the Irishmen showed “perfect willingness” to have him. Lee described him as “one of the best captains I know of” and his men are delighted with him, notwithstanding his discipline.” This alone is impressive, but what is more impressive is that George had multiple letters of recommendation from officers of superior rank and time in service. The first letter was written by Colonel Edwin Lee, saying “upon the grounds of general merit, officering and skills. Being the one best qualifying in his skills for the officership, and further grounds of remarkable and marked conspicuous gallantry in many battles, and special conspicuous daring and coolness in battle at Manassas and Sharpsburg .” This letter of recommendation was just the beginning for Bedinger’s promotion process.
What made his promotion even more spectacular was that other officers of higher superiority who were in line for command above him recommend George before themselves. 1st Lieutenant John Ford also wrote letter of recommendation said “I cordially conquer the appointment of Captain George R. Bedinger to the command of his Company and waive my right to promotion.” Another letter from Captain J. B. Golladay who was stepping down from command due to health issues reflected that sentiment saying “Promote George R. Bedinger to command of E. Company, 33rd Virginia Infantry Regiment, for extraordinary gallantry and skill in present battles.” He added “I waive my right to promotion and Bedinger’s appointment should be immediate” also saying “a letter of appointment should be drawn up, as it is important to the welfare of the company that Captain Bedinger should assume his duties permanently.” He concluded that letter saying “there is no one better fit for it” and “his men are delighted with him.”
The many letters of recommendation and other officer waving their right to promotion speaks volumes to George’s character and military experience. A promotion means more pay and better treatment as an officer, and to pass that up to someone who hasn’t been with the company as long is incredible. Bedinger truly had an aura about him that beamed with energy, enthusiasm, and military knowledge. The Irishmen, the company officers, and the regimental officers all agreed that he was the best man for the position, taking in the accounts of his service in the different military disciplines, war experience, and the measure of George as a man. Truly it is an outstanding accomplishment which in war time was no taken lightly because the leader would be leading the men into the jaws of death, and the foundation of trust was critical to mission success, and Bedinger was the man for the job.
Upon receiving and reviewing the many accolades and personal references of George, Brigadier General James A. Walker and General Robert E. Lee approved the appointment of Bedinger for command of the Emerald Guard by special order number 47. This nomination of title was received well by the company and it was another excellent accomplishment by Bedinger. His coolness in battle and natural leadership would gain him the respect of Irish compatriots and regimental officers.
Bedinger’s company command was first tested at the Battle of Fredericksburg on December 14, 1862. His company was responsible for defending the far right flank of the confederate line at a bridge known as Hamilton’s Crossing. He saw little action but wrote to his stepmother saying “Our sufferings, preceding and during the battle were considerable. Marching and tramping or lying upon the frozen earth, but not a man deserted his post.” Despite the lull in action for the Emerald Guard, the effect and influence of his command was visible on Bedinger’s men. He wrote to his mother again saying “I am very much pleased with the conduct of my Irishmen. They are enthusiastic and brave and at the same time obedient. I think they are fond of me, at least they are very attentive to my comfort.”
This lull of action did not last long as the next test for Bedinger was the Battle of Chancellorsville. The 33rd was thrown right in the thick of the fighting and suffered heavy casualties from three straight days of combat pitting the Union Army of the Potomac against the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. Bedinger wrote again saying “Yesterday we fought the most terrible battle of this war, attacking the enemy in his chosen positions and driving him at every point, our Brigade behaved magnificently, but lost very heavily...Today we are in line and throwing up breast works, whether we will attack or the enemy retreat further, I cannot say, I'm pretty certain of more fighting. Thank God I am spared to write you this note, tho half of my little company were killed or wounded.” This letter shows that while the battle had taken a terrible toll on the men, he was still pleased with their performance of his men in the preparation of defenses and combat with the Union army. He knew there was more fighting to ensue and he could only hope and pray that his men would perform with the same standard they had displayed in pervious encounters. While the battle was won, it had terrible consequences for the Confederacy for the famous Stonewall Jackson had been killed. The brigade was now under the command of General James Walker, and was transferred to the Second Corps commanded by General Richard Ewell.
One of the more subtle actions Bedinger did as commander was pay homage to his previous commander, General Stonewall Jackson. Jackson had been killed and the loss of his leadership was immediately felt by all confederates. So in an effort to honor the fallen General, Bedinger among other commanders petitioned to Jefferson David himself to rename the brigade from “Virginia’s first Brigade” to the “Stonewall Jackson Brigade”. This was approved and the newly renamed soldiers continued to fight on. This small action may seem insignificant, but it speaks volumes about the respect and admiration that the soldiers, including Bedinger, had for the fallen commander. They wanted to honor his memory and did so in a fitting manner.
Despite the loss of General Jackson, Bedinger’s company continued their fight this time at the Second Battle of Winchester. During the battle Union troops fled north of Winchester towards the Martinsburg Turnpike and the men of the Emerald Guard were ordered to pursue. They followed the routed Union troops and stuck gold in their pursuit. In his own words to his sister George described the great victory “Rejoice in another glorious victory…We arrived before this town on 13th and surrounded it. Bombed the Yankees during the 14th, had a sharp battle with them yesterday 15th as they tried to escape and killed or captured two thirds of their force. We have taken between two-three thousand prisoners… and innumerable stores and plunder of every description to an immense amount.” This huge success for the company and Captain Bedinger. Morale was boosted significantly, the momentum was in their favor, and they accomplished this feat only sustaining one casualty.
The victory at Winchester opened a movement corridor to the north and General Lee wanted to exploit this opportunity to keep the Union Army on its heels. With this opportunity at hand, General Lee pushed north moving through Virginia and Maryland, arriving in Pennsylvania around Chambersburg. This was a high risk operation and a lot was riding on its success. Many lives hung in the balance including that of George Bedinger and the soldiers of the Emerald Guard. The Second Corps had received orders to move to a town called Gettysburg. As many historians know, this battle would eventually culminate in extremely violent fashion, claiming thousands of lives and becoming the turning point of the Civil War.
The first day of battle gave the 33rd minimal exposure to battle. They spent the day mostly arriving and preparing for the battle to be waged the next couple days. The second day consisted of minor skirmishing and probing along the far left confederate flank. It was not until the third day that the 33rd was mustered for battle. The scene was set for the ultimate Napoleonic decisive battle. Lee versus Meade and their entire armies at their command with only one able to emerge as the victor.
The third day started by rousing the 33rd around 3 am. The entire brigade was moved to the confederate far left flank near Culp’s Hill where the Union had fortified their position and lie in wait of the confederate troops. Culp’ Hill was described as “a rugged and rocky mountain, heavily timbered and difficult to ascent.” The Union troops were “strongly entrenched in a most advantageous position.” This was jagged terrain was harsh on the confederate troops adding to the difficulty assaulting a fortified positon uphill from their skirmish line.
At daybreak the 33rd along with the rest of the army advanced to the frontline of battle to attempt to take the hill that they 78th New York was holding. The union troops atop the hill had heavily fortified their positon creating impressive breastworks a few feet high made of stone and fallen timber. Bravely, the 33rd Virginia advanced in intervals as they took the hill, taking cover behind whatever rocks and trees were around them. The assault was slow and within the first two hours most of the regiment had exhausted their ammunition supply but continued to fight for 5 hours straight. As small resupply trains started to flow in as the battle raged on all fronts. When enough of the men had been resupplied they attempted to rally and charge up the hill, but to no avail.
It was during one of these charges that Captain George Rust Bedinger met his tragic fate. He fell on July 3rd, 1863 at the young age of 23, just 7 days after his birthday. During the battle his unit had felt the impact and were taken aback. In addition to fighting and impossible battle, their friend, comrade, and commander had fallen. He was reported in the casualty report by his friend Major J.B. Golladay to have fallen “perhaps farther advanced in line of battle than another officer or man.” Golladay continued to say “The loss of Captain Bedinger is felt and mourned…who certainly comprised part of the flower of the regiment.” Gettysburg had claimed Bedinger in combat among 18 of his men, and over 23 thousand of his confederate brothers in arms.
The loss of George was immediately felt by his family and friend who survive him could now only delight in memory, recalling his features and life. His soldiers, family, and friends could only take pleasure in his friendship now lost, and a whose life as robbed by a bloody conflict taking a man of virtue, humor, and integrity only to end his life all too soon. Sadly put “No longer would George Bedinger’s merry face and lively quips enliven family gatherings”. His cousin wrote a fitting obituary for his fallen cousin saying “Though quite a young man, he had won for himself a most enviable reputation for unusual gallantry and skill. He entered the service as a private, earned his promotion upon fifteen battlefields, and at last has fallen where brave men love to die, leading his men up to the cannons mouth.”
The bottom line is in his life and death George Rust Bedinger was a distinguished individual whose service was beyond exemplary. His personality and merry humor endeared those around him and lightened the sprits of men on and off the battle field. Not only did he enlist as a private and finish as a captain in command of a company, but other officer waived the right at promotion to ensure that the right man for the job had command. His actions in battle were consistently noted for their special conspicuous daring, conspicuous gallantry, and special coolness under fire. His skills as a soldier, officer, and all around man were unmatched by experience. He experienced not only the infantry, but the artillery and cavalry as well, something that is so unheard of it demands and deserves respect and admiration.
In every facet of military service Bedinger displayed the highest standards of integrity and duty while serving in every unit he was assigned. In each unit was assigned he was cited for displaying the boldest of military bearing. His principles as man were demonstrated through his conviction to do the right thing and serve the Confederacy honorably and with distinction. His actions are a credit to himself, his family, and his multiple military assignments. His driving sense of responsibility is something that can be envied by all. Although his body was never recovered, his name resides on the commemorative plaque of the men who fell in the service of the Confederacy with others who were in the 2nd Virginia Infantry Regiment. This is most likely due to his initial enlistment with the 2nd Regiment, and not his command time within the 33rd regiment. George was also included in the Emerald Guard Roll of Honor after the conclusion of the war.
It is near impossible to find a soldier that can compare to George’s military experience during the Civil War or even in the modern day military. There is no Civil War book on confederate soldiers quite like his experience that has been published in the historical or academic field of literature. He is a rare specimen that only displayed the highest values and truly embodied what it meant to be a Civil War soldier.
His experience is something that shatters the boundaries of historians take to be the Civil War experience or Civil War soldier. It is because of this challenge that Bedinger provides that his story should be shared with the historical and academic community. His service to the Confederacy was unique from his transfers to diverse units requiring different skill sets, and his time in command roles as either Sergeant Major or Captain.
Bedinger is an excellent example that expands the knowledge of the historical community in what is considered a Confederate soldier. While he did endure the same hardships that so many men faced with lack of food, resources, and the proper equipment to fight, George seemed to not be bothered by it. He is an anomaly among the ranks of thousands of soldiers, but he is different in his in his rank and experience. He was not a god of warfare or an infallible soldier, but he was a friend, a leader, a true soldier. It was his actions and virtues that sets him apart from all other soldiers of his time, and with those actions he achieved greatness until his final stand charging upon Culp’s Hill. As Edwin Moore so gracefully and simply stated, we “shall ne’er see his like again!”
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Atkinson, Matt. “First Rockbridge Artillery.” http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/First_Rockbridge_Artillery#start_entry[accessed 4 April 2016].
This website provided great detail into the specifics of the battle, while covering the main scope and even mentioned my soldier. This source will be helpful as it is about a subject where sources for my soldier are limited.
Bedinger, Doug. "Bedinger Family History and Genealogy." http://www.bedinger.org/battle-of-fredericksburg.html[accessed 13 Feburary 2016].
This websites offers an in depth look at the Bedinger family genealogy and the history of each of the family members. This website will be useful because of the first hand nature and letters it provides, however it must be used carefully due to family bias.
Brown, Earl Schenck Miers and Richard A. Gettysburg. Rutgers University Press: New Brunswick, 1948.
This book offers a gathering of first hand sources, both Union and Confederate, to describe the events leading up to the battle, and different perspectives from many soldiers. This book will be helpful to get bits of information and descriptions of the position and fighting from soldiers, but does not go into great detail and hardly mentions Culp's Hill..
Bryant, James K. The Battle of Fredericksburg. London: History Press, 2010.
In this work Bryant offers the facts in great detail surrounding the main action, movement, and causalities sustained at Fredericksburg. While the book is well written, he does not mention anything much about my soldiers unit or their contribution to the battle.
Casler, John O. Four Years in the Stonewall Brigade. Dayton: Morningside Bookshop, 1971.
The book Four Years in the Stonewall Brigade tries to capture the cohesion, experience, and the bond that units under Stonewall Jacksons command experiences during his life and after his death. This book mentions my soldier and give small details about his character which will be useful to get a better idea of who he really was.
Clasby, Robert. Gettysburg: You Are There. Short Hills: Buford Books, 2003.
This book gives a play by play style of history when reviewing the Battle of Gettysburg and offers a board overview of the events during the battle. This book will be helpful when looking at the strict facts of what happened on the second day of the battle.
Coddington, Edwin B. The Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command. Dayton: Morningside Bookshop, 1983.
This book gives an impressively detailed look at every battle aspect of Gettysburg, including a section dedicated to Culp's Hill. This book will be an immense help in finding the details of what actually occurred at this battle position.
Compiled Military Service Records for George Rust Bedinger. National Archives and Records Administration. Washington, D.C.
" " for Josh Golladay. National Archives Records Administration. Washington, D.C.
The actual military service record file of George Rust Bedinger holding documents that survived the war including pay vouchers, letters, and many citations about his conduct and actions. This original source is an extremely valuable contribution to my research because it provides many details about Bedinger that I was previously missing!
Dryer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion Vol I & II. Des Moines. Broadfoot Publishing Company, 1994.
The Compendium while impressive in size, give more statistical facts about KIA, battle units, chain of command, and other factual references and does not cover many individual soldiers. This book did not aid my search because it talked only about the numbers and not the people.
Frassanito, William A. Gettysburg: A Journey in Time. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1975.
Frassanito write his book in such a way where he covers the battle, but only specific engagements along the battle line, and also dedicates a section to Culps Hill. This book does provide pictures and explains the conditions of battle but does not give facts, but more of conceptual ideas and assumptions of what happened and why.
Guelzo, Allen C. Gettysburg: The Last Invasion. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2013.
In this book Guelzo gives review of the events leading up to, as well as the battle and uses a plethora of sources to tell the story with detailed accounts. This book gives the feeling of being there and the information it has will be useful because it involves very detailed accounts of what happened among the entire battlefield from primary sources written after the battle.
Haskell, Frank A. The Battle of Gettysburg. Boston: The Riverside Press Cambridge, 1958.
This book gives a description of the battle focusing on the first day with small details about the second day, reinforcing many details made by previous books. This book doesn’t offer any new material or ideas, but solidifies facts surrounding Culp's Hill.
Jr., James Robertson. The Stonewall Brigade. Baton Rouge: Louisana State University Press, 1977.
In this work Robertson wants to convey what the experience was for the men who served in the Stonewall Brigade for the duration of the war looking at primary sources to get the information straight from the soldiers. This book mention my soldier and his character which again can aid my depiction of him and his personality.
Jr., Robert Driver. The 1st and 2nd Rockbridge Artillery. Madison: H. E. Howard, 1987.
This work gives the full unit history of the Rockbridge Artillery during the entire Civil War giving brief blurbs about the battles they fought in and general stats about the unit. This book is helpful in providing information about my soldier’s time in the unit and his actions during battle.
Levin, Alexandra Lee. "This Awful Drama" General Edwin Gray Lee, C.S.A. and his Family. New York. Vantage Press, 1987.
This book on General Lee tells of his experience of war as commander and talks about some of his soldiers from primary and secondary source material. It briefly talks about my soldier, but the information provided within is extremely useful and will be a great asset to my paper.
Lipscomb, John. The University Memorial Biographical Sketches of the Alumni of the University of Virginia Who Fell in the Confederate War. Baltimore: Turnbull Brothers, 1871.
This collection on UVA alumni was written to get an appreciation for small piece of their lives before, during, and after the war suing primary sources for their background. This book is an excellent testament to my soldier, his character, and other details that happened to him during the war.
Long, E. B. Long and Barbara. The Civil War Day by Day: An Almanac 1861-1865. New York: Double Day and Company Inc, 1971.
This book is tries to cover every day of the civil war and to do that they can only use the brief and obvious details of every engagement and days for the war using both primary and secondary sources. This book does not cover anything about my soldier or his units.
Lowery, Terry D. 22nd Virginia Infantry. Lynchburg: H.E. Howard Inc, 1988.
The 2nd VA INF book cover the entire unit history and performance during the war through mainly primary sources with a few secondary sources. This book helps me establish the timeline of my soldier’s service and any action he had before his transfer.
Luebke, Peter C. "Second Battle of Manassas" http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Second_Manassas_Campaign[accessed 6April 2016].
This source much like Atkins covers the scope of the Second Bull Run while still providing little details to have a better understating of what happened. This source will help me understand the battle, but it cannot provide anything more than that for my research.
McPherson, James M. Hallowed Ground. New York: Crown Journeys, 2003.
McPherson provides a more abstract reflection of the battle and the implications of the commanders and their choices during the battle while linking it to a modern day tour of the battle field. This book hardly mentions Culp's Hill so it will not be of much use.
Moore, Edwin A., The Story of a Cannoneer Under Stonewall Jackson. New York and Washington. The Neal Publishing Company, 1907.
In this book Moore tells the account of an artillerymen in the Stonewall Brigade and the action and day to day activities based on primary sources. This book gives insight to my soldiers character, actions during battle, and personality which will be useful to complete his profile.
Nelson, Dr. Jay Luvaas and Col. Harold W. The U.S. Army War College Guide to the Battles of Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg. Carlisle: South Mountain Press, 1988.
This book is special because it is written in a military fashion with military terminology providing numbers of men, units and commanders, and their chain of command. This book will be useful in finding out from a military perspective trying to piece together the details of the unit in their actions at Fredericksburg.
Pfanz, Harry W. Gettysburg: The Second Day. Chapel Hill: The Universtiy of North Carolina Press, 1987.
In this book Pfanz takes a look at the entire second day of the battle in great detail looking at what specially happened and why, he also provides a wealth of information in the appendix with units, commanders, and chain of command. This book is similar to the military guide but sole deals with Gettysburg, this book will be a great help in getting the organization of the units correct in my research.
Rable, George C. Fredericksburg! Fredericksburg! Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 2002.
In this book Rable attempts to encompass every detail and aspect of the Fredericksburg and does an excellent job of it. However, this book will not be useful because he only mentions the 2nd Virginia Battalion, not the 2nd Virginia Regiment.
Reidenbaugh, Lowell. 33rd Virginia Infantry. Lynchburg: H.E. Howard Inc, 1987.
Much like the 2nd VA INF Book, this book encompasses the unit history and performance for the duration of the war using mainly primary and some secondary sources. This book mentions my soldier multiple times and is a good reference for his actions and character.
Rust, Ellsworth Marshall. Rust of Virginia: Genealogical and Biographical Sketches of the Descendants of William Rust 1654-1940. Washington: Ellsworth Marshall Rust, 1940.
This collection of the Rust family included one on my soldier and gave a short but informative section about his life including college and the war. This book is helpful getting more life information, and lead me to the source (UVA Book) which provided excellent information in my research regarding his life and actions!
Scott, Robert N. The War of the Rebellion: A Compliation of the Offical Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1889.
Scott attempts to gives a full collection of official documents and primary source information to give a full scope of both sides during the war, but has too many topics to cover them all in depth. This book only covered broad spectrum topics and the big commanders, nothing below brigade level is really covered so it will not help my research.
Service, National Park. "Battle Unit Details." http://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-battle-units-detail.htm?battleUnitCode=CVA0002RI01[accessed 13 Feburary 2016].
This website provides the very basic details of Civil War soldiers and units. This website can only offer the basics of my soldier but was a good starting point in my research.
Sifakis, Stewart. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia. New York: Facts on File Inc, 1992.
This book attempts to provide official records for every unit, battle, and soldiers that participated in the Civil War for the Confederacy from Virginia. This book has a small section on my soldier which provided details on his actions as both a private and commander which pointed me in the right direction for more details about his life in the army.
Stackpole, Edward J. Drama on the Rappahannock: The Fredericksburg Campaign. Harrisburg: Military Service Publishing Company, 1957.
Stackpole discusses the Fredericksburg Campaign in great detail, and really pays attention to the events that led up to, and occurred at the culminating battle of Fredericksburg. This book is gives some information about Stonewall's unit, but does not offer any particularly useful details to use.
State, The Ohio. "The War of Rebellion: A Compliation of the Offical Records of the Union and Confederate Armies." http://ehistory.osu.edu/books/official-records[accessed 13 Feburary 2016].
The Ohio State website provides an overwhelming amount of information from primary sources regarding the Civil War and soldiers that participated. It is a large amount of information to sift through, but it could provide some key witness accounts for both Gettysburg and Fredericksburg which could be a valuable help to my research.
Swindel, Bryan. "The Emerald Guard- A Brief History of the Company "E" Thirty Third Virginia Infantry." http://33rdvacoe.yolasite.com/emerald-guard-history.php[accessed 27 March 2016].
This online history encompasses the full story of the 33rd VA INF Company E from multiple primary and secondary sources to give the full scope of the company history. It goes into detail about my soldier and his actions and conduct form his promotion till death which will be useful for my research.
Tucker, Glenn. High Tide at Gettysburg: The Campaign in Pennsylvania. Dayton: Press of Morningside Bookshop, 1983.
Tucker gives the Battle of Gettysburg a perspective solely through the commanders high up in the chain of command to depict how the battle happened and who made what decision. This will not be very useful, if only to see what my soldier’s commander was thinking in the battle.
Stackpole, Edward J. Drama on the Rappahannock: The Fredericksburg Campaign. Harrisburg: Military Service Publishing Company, 1957.
Stackpole discusses the Fredericksburg Campaign in great detail, and really pays attention to the events that led up to, and occurred at the culminating battle of Fredericksburg. This book is gives some information about Stonewall's unit, but does not offer any particularly useful details to use.
State, The Ohio. "The War of Rebellion: A Compliation of the Offical Records of the Union and Confederate Armies." http://ehistory.osu.edu/books/official-records[accessed 13 Feburary 2016].
The Ohio State website provides an overwhelming amount of information from primary sources regarding the Civil War and soldiers that participated. It is a large amount of information to sift through, but it could provide some key witness accounts for both Gettysburg and Fredericksburg which could be a valuable help to my research.
Tucker, Glenn. High Tide at Gettysburg: The Campaign in Pennsylvania. Dayton: Press of Morningside Bookshop, 1983.
Tucker gives the Battle of Gettysburg a perspective solely through the commanders high up in the chain of command to depict how the battle happened and who made what decision. This will not be very useful, if only to see what my soldier’s commander was thinking in the battle.
Wiley, Bell Irvin. The Life of Johnny Reb. New York: The Bobbs-Merrill Company Publishers, 1943.
In Wiley’s work he is determined to give the factual depiction of the confederate solider using many primary sources to ensure he encompassed the entire scope of the experience in every detail. This book will be useful to get an accurate idea of excatly what the soldier did in his every day tasks, but does not cover a majority of my research area.
It is widely accepted by historians that Civil War soldiers on both sides were men of honor fighting to defend their homes and way of living, or that they were patriots trying to reconnect the broken country. They suffered terrible injuries, horrific battles, relentless marching, and dealing with the harsh impulses of Mother Nature. Many young brave men fought and died for their own personal reasons, but the experience is similar for both sides. Thousands of men enlisted to fight for a cause, even faking their age to be able to fight and be a part of history. George Rust Bedinger may have started out like so many others enduring the same hardships that befell many soldiers. However it was his actions and experience that set his apart from all of his peer and other confederate soldiers.
George Bedinger was an exceptional soldier of diversity that defies what historians consider the average soldier or the average soldier experience. He does this in a myriad of ways, one of which is by his rank. He enlisted as a private in 1860 and eventually was promoted directly to captain commanding in the 33rd Virginia Regiment E. Company the Emerald Guard. This is a rare occurrence during the war and even in today’s modern military such a jump in rank is extremely unusual. Normally an enlisted soldier would work his way up the noncommissioned officer ranks and remain an enlisted man. An officer is similar, staying within the structure of the officer ranks. George jumped from the bottom of the enlisted rank structure to the officer rank structure. Secondly, he enlisted in the infantry, was moved to artillery, then again to cavalry, and finally back to the infantry. Again in the modern military age it is unparalleled to see one man move between different fighting units even in special warfare groups. George Rust Bedinger was an amazing soldier that deserves to be studied because his journey in the Civil War was one of honor, bravery, and astonishment.
These two examples alone challenge the foundation of what is considered to be the average soldier. Aside from his decorated military service record, George had by all accounts a pleasant and humorous spirit. He was very well respected by his peers, commanders, and subordinates alike. His energy was infectious and he greatly impacted whichever unit he was serving with. Considering all the evidence working in tandem, George Rust Bedinger proved himself to be someone who is genuinely special. After a very thorough searching of many books and sources, there has been no historical work published that can compare to the type of soldier he was, his service, or his contribution to the Confederate war effort. Many books such as the The Life of Johnny Reb by Bell Irvin Wiley or The Civil War: A Narrative by Shelby Foote try and nail down the experience and put in words the average soldier by using primary sources, but they cannot compare. He truly was an extraordinary soldier that shattered the boundaries of what a typical soldier contributed to the war effort and others around him at the same time.
George Bedinger was born to an upper middle class family in 1840 on July 10th at their home Shepardstown, Virginia, which in modern day is now part of West Virginia. His mother, Margret Elizabeth Rust, died when he was only 3 years old. His father Henry Bedinger III, was originally a lawyer but served briefly as a Virginia senator representing the 10th congressional district and at one point was the Mister to Denmark. His father died in 1858 when George enrolled as a student at the University of Virginia. There is little written or known about his time growing up but based on his family’s income in addition with social states and his relatives also being politicians and congressman, he was well educated and was provided great care in his youth. His upbringing can be considered another factor of why he enlisted, but it is not certain the exact reason of why he enlisted.
As a man George was described by his friends at college as of “medium height, active, strong, and graceful.” His countenance was a merry one, but could change with “wonderful readiness.” His voice was “pleasant and musical” and he showed great fondness for music and drawing which had been thoroughly cultivated according to his friends and family. He closely resembled his father in his disposition and social attributes, but his accomplishments were his own. Many of his friends from school remembered him fondly because of his “mental accomplishments and splendid virtues” because of his academic success at school. Bedinger “was social and genial in his disposition, full of life and gaiety, cheerful and generous and manly.” George was a man of virtue and had a strong moral compass for doing the right thing which translated into his actions as a soldier during the Civil War. It was of these virtues and his subsequent actions in numerous battles that would eventually help him attain the promotion to the rank of Captain.
When the war broke out in 1860, George dropped out of college and enlisted under the call of Virginia Governor John Letcher to enlist and prepare for war. It can only be speculated why he joined to fight, but the educated guess points towards his character and virtues. His sense of duty and inner fortitude driving his obligation to stand up for what he believed in is what drove him to enlist. His values are most notably remembered, and those same values can be attributed to his success while in the service. George Rust Bedinger was a man of principle, and those principles are the foundation of his inspiration to enlist and fight for the confederacy.
He originally enlisted from Jefferson Country, in the 2nd Virginia Infantry Regiment, B. Company “The Hamtramck Guard” as a private. He purposely joined this company because his cousin was a lieutenant, and in this company they would serve together briefly. His enlistment began at Harper’s Ferry on May 5th, 1861. Their first mission was to seize the armory at Harper’s Ferry. Also in this unit he was assigned with many men he had known from his time at the University of Virginia which worked out well for the unit’s cohesion and performance. He also participated in a special reconnaissance mission with his cousin Lieutenant Edwin Lee. Edwin was charged with examining avenues of approach because federal troops were close to their position. He was told if necessary a “trusty man” could potentially be sent into the camp to get information from the inside. Naturally he choose George and they rode 12 miles in the night to meet an informant, deeming the man and his information trustworthy they returned with the intelligence report. This successful mission was one of many to come for George.
The first time George Rust Bedinger saw combat was at the Frist Battle of Bull Run, otherwise known as the Frist Battle of Manassas as an infantryman. In a letter his sister had written to their stepmother, she told her of George’s experience at Bull Run. She said “George was in the thickest of the fight but thank god he did not receive a scratch.” Shortly after the battle George along with “several other intelligent members” were temporarily assigned to the 1st Rockbridge Artillery under the command of Captain and later General William Nelson Pendleton. The reason behind this was that the battery had captured Union artillery pieces and lacked the appropriate amount of men to function all weapons. With a new unit and new friends to make, his transfer to the 1st Rockbridge Artillery was made official on August 26th, 1861.
“Virginia’s First Brigade” was under the command of the brilliant confederate General Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson in the army of Joseph E. Johnston It was in this brigade that Bedinger would flourish and serve for the majority of his service in a majority of his career as a soldier. General Jackson implemented a simple but vigorous training program where Bedinger among others would receive crucial training for the coming war. The training in basic drill and battle tactics on the small unit level reinforced Bedinger’s strong sense of duty and battle planning that would be apparent in his actions for the rest of the war as a private and as a commander.
For the next 8 months Bedinger was an artilleryman involved in many different battles and hardships. It was also here that George started to earn his reputation as a soldier and what type of man he was at his core. A fellow soldier described his presence and personality in a kind manner, recalling that he was “the most interesting of all” other soldiers in the unit. Another soldier recalls George as “In camp and on the march Bedinger was always gay and cheerful, and, though reared in ease and affluence made himself and his comrades merry amid their privations and discomforts.” Specifically he was talking about Jackson’s winter campaign known as the Romney Expedition, to take hold of the Shenandoah Valley and other advantageous targets.
The campaign was brutally cold and the troops had inadequate blankets, food, and warm clothing. By the end of the campaign Bedinger had marched to Romney, Bath, and numerous other places up and down the Shenandoah Valley. It was during this campaign’s brilliant strategic movement, skirmishes, marches, and battles that George got his first sustained exposure of war and General Jackson had earned his notorious nickname of “Stonewall Jackson” due to his military knowledge and battle prowess.
It was also during these hardships George grew closer to friends with many of the men in his unit. One soldier, Edward Moore, remembers a camp fire where George and other men were joking about their singing voices, life experiences and normal shenanigans. He reminisces that George without shame got up in front of the first and sang “though the world may call me gay, yet my feelings I smother, for thou art the cause of my anguish, my mother.” The same soldier had also written in diary that “brilliant Bedinger, whose presence imparted an electric touch to those around him, I shall ne’er see his like again!” These kind words are a true testament to George’s personality even in the coldest winter with inadequate supplies he still found a way to improve morale and for a moment make everyone forget about the horrible war being waged around them.
The first major battle that George fought in as an artilleryman was the battle of Kernstown on March 23rd, 1862. It was here that Bedinger engaged in a long artillery duel with Union troops on the battle field. During the battle, Bedinger’s actions were unique, one of his fellow soldiers recalls them in amazement, “He was always in the right place at the right time, and in spite of the dangers to which he was exposed and of which he was fully conscious, could not resist the temptation to be merry and to provoke merriment in others. At his own and his companions’ occasional impulses to dodge the nosiest shells with which the enemy were making the day hideous.”
This was the first example of George’s commitment to fighting and his personality. He was a confident young soldier whose view of the war was one of favor and sureness. He wrote his sister often during the war, where he would give her insight to the war and his thoughts on the conflict. In a letter shortly after Kernstown he wrote her speaking of a potential upcoming battle saying “I have no doubt of victory. Our men are of excellent capacity.” This letter displays the commitment to the war effort and his perception of the confederate war effort. Unknown to Bedinger, his time in the artillery was drawing to a close.
The lessons learned by Bedinger in the artillery would follow him for the rest of the war. The hardening of this special soldier by both the infantry and the artillery experience had given him the combat knowledge along with the technical and tactical knowledge to back it up. Jackson’s Stonewall Brigade had taken a college boy and forged him in to a combat veteran. This private who was determined to have an impact on his unit and friends and by all recollections succeeded in his mission to do so through his jolly disposition, strong sense of duty, and impeccable integrity to do the right thing. It is clear to see that his brief time in the 2nd Virginia Infantry and the 1st Rockbridge Artillery is what laid the foundation and set the tone for his performance the rest of the war.
After fighting 8 hard months as an artilleryman, he was unexplainably transferred to the 7th Cavalry known as Ashby’s Cavalry. The transfer most likely came from the reorganization and redistribution of troops in early 1862. George was now in Major General Richard Ewell’s division, Brigadier General George Stewart’s brigade. Unfortunately there is no record available of which company he served in, however it would be a sure assessment to say that he served with the ‘Shenandoah Rangers’ of C. Company from Shenandoah County. This presumption makes sense when considering his future unit would be made of from men of Shenandoah County.
During his time in Ashby’s Cavalry George saw further combat, participating in the battle of Harrisonburg. The main effort of the cavalry while Bedinger was assigned to the unit was the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1862. The main battles that Ashby’s Cavalry participated in were Front Royal, and the First Battle of Winchester. However, soon after the battle it was time for George to move on to the next unexpected assignment.
In the fall of 1862 the Confederacy was in need of more soldiers, so with George being the electric and personable man, was charged with raising a volunteer cavalry company from men inside the Shenandoah Valley. Understandably he met the task with some difficulty due to the fact that a strong majority of those willing to fight were already in the Army. Understandably George failed this task because a large majority of volunteers were already in the service of the Confederacy. This task can be considered his only failure during his service to the Confederacy. Failing to raise a company, he was transferred back to infantry.
He was reassigned to the 33rd Virginia Infantry Regiment, once again he was under the brigade command of General Stonewall Jackson, while the regiment was commanded by Colonel Edwin Lee. He was placed in E Company “The Emerald Guard” comprised of men from Shenandoah County. It was here that George Rust Bedinger would bring his military experience to its culminating peak. Briefly after his transfer Bedinger took up the position of company sergeant major in charge of his troop’s welfare, morale, and discipline. This is another key example of how George’s military experience was different compared to his peers because as a private he was the acting sergeant major, a spot normally reserved for an older battle hardened noncommissioned officer.
Soon after his transfer he participated in the battle of Second Bull Run and Antietam. During the battle of Second Manassas the Emerald Guard had engaged in battle with a Union brigade that guarded a vast supply depot. With a stalemate happening, the unit engaged in battle with the rest of the Confederate army taking the fight to the Union troops for three days of combat. Bedinger would survive this encounter, only to face a much deadlier battle.
His second battle while assigned to the 33rd was Sharpsburg, otherwise known as Antietam, the single bloodiest day in American history. The regiment under command of General Jackson and General Dayton engaged in tenacious combat around Sharpsburg would see heavy fighting. The company lost 3 men while 17 more were injured, adding to the combined total of 22,717 soldier dead upon the battlefield. After the battle the men were worn out, their “clothing, accoutrements, and discipline” were all reported as “indifferent” by the company commander. After surviving the bloodiest battle the unit was described by a soldier in the unit as being “as good as circumstances permit” concerning their welfare and morale.
The silver lining of his failure to raise a company, was that George had been transferred to the 33rd VA Infantry Regiment, and was soon to be given the opportunity to be promoted to the rank of Captain. This is exceptionally unusual because the jump straight to captain is a rather large gap of military rank. Not only did he surpass many of his peers who were enlisted men, but jumped over some of his officer appointed over him. This is also telling of Bedinger’s character because he did not become an officer right away from his social status, but rather through his actions and conduct as an enlisted soldier for the Confederacy. The Confederacy was in serious need of soldiers and commanders due to desertion and death, however the research surrounding Bedinger suggests that his promotion was given because of his merit. This promotion only adds to the diversity and matchless soldier experience of Bedinger, and makes him part of a small percentage of soldiers who went from enlisted to officer during the war.
As luck or fate would have it, the men of the Emerald Guard were in need of a company commander, and George was the right man for the job. The company was made up primarily of Irishmen who were noted for their “most colorful and volatile company” conduct. Their tendency for hard liquor and their affinity for brawling at the slightest provocation had earned them a reputation for being some rowdy and tough soldiers that were difficult to get along with, let alone command. Colonel Lee had written to his friend describing the Celts in action saying “You will be glad to know the men behaved nobly” and won “the highest commendation for themselves”. Bedinger also concluded that “The men were firm, cool, eager and manly. I never saw them stand shelling & bullets better and never saw a little straggling.” Proving that despite their rough and tough disposition, the Irishmen were excellent and disciplined soldier during the heat of battle. It also helped that they remembered George from earlier encounters where as a private, was the acting sergeant major for Emerald Guard.
Edwin Lee had selected him for command and the Irishmen showed “perfect willingness” to have him. Lee described him as “one of the best captains I know of” and his men are delighted with him, notwithstanding his discipline.” This alone is impressive, but what is more impressive is that George had multiple letters of recommendation from officers of superior rank and time in service. The first letter was written by Colonel Edwin Lee, saying “upon the grounds of general merit, officering and skills. Being the one best qualifying in his skills for the officership, and further grounds of remarkable and marked conspicuous gallantry in many battles, and special conspicuous daring and coolness in battle at Manassas and Sharpsburg .” This letter of recommendation was just the beginning for Bedinger’s promotion process.
What made his promotion even more spectacular was that other officers of higher superiority who were in line for command above him recommend George before themselves. 1st Lieutenant John Ford also wrote letter of recommendation said “I cordially conquer the appointment of Captain George R. Bedinger to the command of his Company and waive my right to promotion.” Another letter from Captain J. B. Golladay who was stepping down from command due to health issues reflected that sentiment saying “Promote George R. Bedinger to command of E. Company, 33rd Virginia Infantry Regiment, for extraordinary gallantry and skill in present battles.” He added “I waive my right to promotion and Bedinger’s appointment should be immediate” also saying “a letter of appointment should be drawn up, as it is important to the welfare of the company that Captain Bedinger should assume his duties permanently.” He concluded that letter saying “there is no one better fit for it” and “his men are delighted with him.”
The many letters of recommendation and other officer waving their right to promotion speaks volumes to George’s character and military experience. A promotion means more pay and better treatment as an officer, and to pass that up to someone who hasn’t been with the company as long is incredible. Bedinger truly had an aura about him that beamed with energy, enthusiasm, and military knowledge. The Irishmen, the company officers, and the regimental officers all agreed that he was the best man for the position, taking in the accounts of his service in the different military disciplines, war experience, and the measure of George as a man. Truly it is an outstanding accomplishment which in war time was no taken lightly because the leader would be leading the men into the jaws of death, and the foundation of trust was critical to mission success, and Bedinger was the man for the job.
Upon receiving and reviewing the many accolades and personal references of George, Brigadier General James A. Walker and General Robert E. Lee approved the appointment of Bedinger for command of the Emerald Guard by special order number 47. This nomination of title was received well by the company and it was another excellent accomplishment by Bedinger. His coolness in battle and natural leadership would gain him the respect of Irish compatriots and regimental officers.
Bedinger’s company command was first tested at the Battle of Fredericksburg on December 14, 1862. His company was responsible for defending the far right flank of the confederate line at a bridge known as Hamilton’s Crossing. He saw little action but wrote to his stepmother saying “Our sufferings, preceding and during the battle were considerable. Marching and tramping or lying upon the frozen earth, but not a man deserted his post.” Despite the lull in action for the Emerald Guard, the effect and influence of his command was visible on Bedinger’s men. He wrote to his mother again saying “I am very much pleased with the conduct of my Irishmen. They are enthusiastic and brave and at the same time obedient. I think they are fond of me, at least they are very attentive to my comfort.”
This lull of action did not last long as the next test for Bedinger was the Battle of Chancellorsville. The 33rd was thrown right in the thick of the fighting and suffered heavy casualties from three straight days of combat pitting the Union Army of the Potomac against the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. Bedinger wrote again saying “Yesterday we fought the most terrible battle of this war, attacking the enemy in his chosen positions and driving him at every point, our Brigade behaved magnificently, but lost very heavily...Today we are in line and throwing up breast works, whether we will attack or the enemy retreat further, I cannot say, I'm pretty certain of more fighting. Thank God I am spared to write you this note, tho half of my little company were killed or wounded.” This letter shows that while the battle had taken a terrible toll on the men, he was still pleased with their performance of his men in the preparation of defenses and combat with the Union army. He knew there was more fighting to ensue and he could only hope and pray that his men would perform with the same standard they had displayed in pervious encounters. While the battle was won, it had terrible consequences for the Confederacy for the famous Stonewall Jackson had been killed. The brigade was now under the command of General James Walker, and was transferred to the Second Corps commanded by General Richard Ewell.
One of the more subtle actions Bedinger did as commander was pay homage to his previous commander, General Stonewall Jackson. Jackson had been killed and the loss of his leadership was immediately felt by all confederates. So in an effort to honor the fallen General, Bedinger among other commanders petitioned to Jefferson David himself to rename the brigade from “Virginia’s first Brigade” to the “Stonewall Jackson Brigade”. This was approved and the newly renamed soldiers continued to fight on. This small action may seem insignificant, but it speaks volumes about the respect and admiration that the soldiers, including Bedinger, had for the fallen commander. They wanted to honor his memory and did so in a fitting manner.
Despite the loss of General Jackson, Bedinger’s company continued their fight this time at the Second Battle of Winchester. During the battle Union troops fled north of Winchester towards the Martinsburg Turnpike and the men of the Emerald Guard were ordered to pursue. They followed the routed Union troops and stuck gold in their pursuit. In his own words to his sister George described the great victory “Rejoice in another glorious victory…We arrived before this town on 13th and surrounded it. Bombed the Yankees during the 14th, had a sharp battle with them yesterday 15th as they tried to escape and killed or captured two thirds of their force. We have taken between two-three thousand prisoners… and innumerable stores and plunder of every description to an immense amount.” This huge success for the company and Captain Bedinger. Morale was boosted significantly, the momentum was in their favor, and they accomplished this feat only sustaining one casualty.
The victory at Winchester opened a movement corridor to the north and General Lee wanted to exploit this opportunity to keep the Union Army on its heels. With this opportunity at hand, General Lee pushed north moving through Virginia and Maryland, arriving in Pennsylvania around Chambersburg. This was a high risk operation and a lot was riding on its success. Many lives hung in the balance including that of George Bedinger and the soldiers of the Emerald Guard. The Second Corps had received orders to move to a town called Gettysburg. As many historians know, this battle would eventually culminate in extremely violent fashion, claiming thousands of lives and becoming the turning point of the Civil War.
The first day of battle gave the 33rd minimal exposure to battle. They spent the day mostly arriving and preparing for the battle to be waged the next couple days. The second day consisted of minor skirmishing and probing along the far left confederate flank. It was not until the third day that the 33rd was mustered for battle. The scene was set for the ultimate Napoleonic decisive battle. Lee versus Meade and their entire armies at their command with only one able to emerge as the victor.
The third day started by rousing the 33rd around 3 am. The entire brigade was moved to the confederate far left flank near Culp’s Hill where the Union had fortified their position and lie in wait of the confederate troops. Culp’ Hill was described as “a rugged and rocky mountain, heavily timbered and difficult to ascent.” The Union troops were “strongly entrenched in a most advantageous position.” This was jagged terrain was harsh on the confederate troops adding to the difficulty assaulting a fortified positon uphill from their skirmish line.
At daybreak the 33rd along with the rest of the army advanced to the frontline of battle to attempt to take the hill that they 78th New York was holding. The union troops atop the hill had heavily fortified their positon creating impressive breastworks a few feet high made of stone and fallen timber. Bravely, the 33rd Virginia advanced in intervals as they took the hill, taking cover behind whatever rocks and trees were around them. The assault was slow and within the first two hours most of the regiment had exhausted their ammunition supply but continued to fight for 5 hours straight. As small resupply trains started to flow in as the battle raged on all fronts. When enough of the men had been resupplied they attempted to rally and charge up the hill, but to no avail.
It was during one of these charges that Captain George Rust Bedinger met his tragic fate. He fell on July 3rd, 1863 at the young age of 23, just 7 days after his birthday. During the battle his unit had felt the impact and were taken aback. In addition to fighting and impossible battle, their friend, comrade, and commander had fallen. He was reported in the casualty report by his friend Major J.B. Golladay to have fallen “perhaps farther advanced in line of battle than another officer or man.” Golladay continued to say “The loss of Captain Bedinger is felt and mourned…who certainly comprised part of the flower of the regiment.” Gettysburg had claimed Bedinger in combat among 18 of his men, and over 23 thousand of his confederate brothers in arms.
The loss of George was immediately felt by his family and friend who survive him could now only delight in memory, recalling his features and life. His soldiers, family, and friends could only take pleasure in his friendship now lost, and a whose life as robbed by a bloody conflict taking a man of virtue, humor, and integrity only to end his life all too soon. Sadly put “No longer would George Bedinger’s merry face and lively quips enliven family gatherings”. His cousin wrote a fitting obituary for his fallen cousin saying “Though quite a young man, he had won for himself a most enviable reputation for unusual gallantry and skill. He entered the service as a private, earned his promotion upon fifteen battlefields, and at last has fallen where brave men love to die, leading his men up to the cannons mouth.”
The bottom line is in his life and death George Rust Bedinger was a distinguished individual whose service was beyond exemplary. His personality and merry humor endeared those around him and lightened the sprits of men on and off the battle field. Not only did he enlist as a private and finish as a captain in command of a company, but other officer waived the right at promotion to ensure that the right man for the job had command. His actions in battle were consistently noted for their special conspicuous daring, conspicuous gallantry, and special coolness under fire. His skills as a soldier, officer, and all around man were unmatched by experience. He experienced not only the infantry, but the artillery and cavalry as well, something that is so unheard of it demands and deserves respect and admiration.
In every facet of military service Bedinger displayed the highest standards of integrity and duty while serving in every unit he was assigned. In each unit was assigned he was cited for displaying the boldest of military bearing. His principles as man were demonstrated through his conviction to do the right thing and serve the Confederacy honorably and with distinction. His actions are a credit to himself, his family, and his multiple military assignments. His driving sense of responsibility is something that can be envied by all. Although his body was never recovered, his name resides on the commemorative plaque of the men who fell in the service of the Confederacy with others who were in the 2nd Virginia Infantry Regiment. This is most likely due to his initial enlistment with the 2nd Regiment, and not his command time within the 33rd regiment. George was also included in the Emerald Guard Roll of Honor after the conclusion of the war.
It is near impossible to find a soldier that can compare to George’s military experience during the Civil War or even in the modern day military. There is no Civil War book on confederate soldiers quite like his experience that has been published in the historical or academic field of literature. He is a rare specimen that only displayed the highest values and truly embodied what it meant to be a Civil War soldier.
His experience is something that shatters the boundaries of historians take to be the Civil War experience or Civil War soldier. It is because of this challenge that Bedinger provides that his story should be shared with the historical and academic community. His service to the Confederacy was unique from his transfers to diverse units requiring different skill sets, and his time in command roles as either Sergeant Major or Captain.
Bedinger is an excellent example that expands the knowledge of the historical community in what is considered a Confederate soldier. While he did endure the same hardships that so many men faced with lack of food, resources, and the proper equipment to fight, George seemed to not be bothered by it. He is an anomaly among the ranks of thousands of soldiers, but he is different in his in his rank and experience. He was not a god of warfare or an infallible soldier, but he was a friend, a leader, a true soldier. It was his actions and virtues that sets him apart from all other soldiers of his time, and with those actions he achieved greatness until his final stand charging upon Culp’s Hill. As Edwin Moore so gracefully and simply stated, we “shall ne’er see his like again!”
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Atkinson, Matt. “First Rockbridge Artillery.” http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/First_Rockbridge_Artillery#start_entry[accessed 4 April 2016].
This website provided great detail into the specifics of the battle, while covering the main scope and even mentioned my soldier. This source will be helpful as it is about a subject where sources for my soldier are limited.
Bedinger, Doug. "Bedinger Family History and Genealogy." http://www.bedinger.org/battle-of-fredericksburg.html[accessed 13 Feburary 2016].
This websites offers an in depth look at the Bedinger family genealogy and the history of each of the family members. This website will be useful because of the first hand nature and letters it provides, however it must be used carefully due to family bias.
Brown, Earl Schenck Miers and Richard A. Gettysburg. Rutgers University Press: New Brunswick, 1948.
This book offers a gathering of first hand sources, both Union and Confederate, to describe the events leading up to the battle, and different perspectives from many soldiers. This book will be helpful to get bits of information and descriptions of the position and fighting from soldiers, but does not go into great detail and hardly mentions Culp's Hill..
Bryant, James K. The Battle of Fredericksburg. London: History Press, 2010.
In this work Bryant offers the facts in great detail surrounding the main action, movement, and causalities sustained at Fredericksburg. While the book is well written, he does not mention anything much about my soldiers unit or their contribution to the battle.
Casler, John O. Four Years in the Stonewall Brigade. Dayton: Morningside Bookshop, 1971.
The book Four Years in the Stonewall Brigade tries to capture the cohesion, experience, and the bond that units under Stonewall Jacksons command experiences during his life and after his death. This book mentions my soldier and give small details about his character which will be useful to get a better idea of who he really was.
Clasby, Robert. Gettysburg: You Are There. Short Hills: Buford Books, 2003.
This book gives a play by play style of history when reviewing the Battle of Gettysburg and offers a board overview of the events during the battle. This book will be helpful when looking at the strict facts of what happened on the second day of the battle.
Coddington, Edwin B. The Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command. Dayton: Morningside Bookshop, 1983.
This book gives an impressively detailed look at every battle aspect of Gettysburg, including a section dedicated to Culp's Hill. This book will be an immense help in finding the details of what actually occurred at this battle position.
Compiled Military Service Records for George Rust Bedinger. National Archives and Records Administration. Washington, D.C.
" " for Josh Golladay. National Archives Records Administration. Washington, D.C.
The actual military service record file of George Rust Bedinger holding documents that survived the war including pay vouchers, letters, and many citations about his conduct and actions. This original source is an extremely valuable contribution to my research because it provides many details about Bedinger that I was previously missing!
Dryer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion Vol I & II. Des Moines. Broadfoot Publishing Company, 1994.
The Compendium while impressive in size, give more statistical facts about KIA, battle units, chain of command, and other factual references and does not cover many individual soldiers. This book did not aid my search because it talked only about the numbers and not the people.
Frassanito, William A. Gettysburg: A Journey in Time. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1975.
Frassanito write his book in such a way where he covers the battle, but only specific engagements along the battle line, and also dedicates a section to Culps Hill. This book does provide pictures and explains the conditions of battle but does not give facts, but more of conceptual ideas and assumptions of what happened and why.
Guelzo, Allen C. Gettysburg: The Last Invasion. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2013.
In this book Guelzo gives review of the events leading up to, as well as the battle and uses a plethora of sources to tell the story with detailed accounts. This book gives the feeling of being there and the information it has will be useful because it involves very detailed accounts of what happened among the entire battlefield from primary sources written after the battle.
Haskell, Frank A. The Battle of Gettysburg. Boston: The Riverside Press Cambridge, 1958.
This book gives a description of the battle focusing on the first day with small details about the second day, reinforcing many details made by previous books. This book doesn’t offer any new material or ideas, but solidifies facts surrounding Culp's Hill.
Jr., James Robertson. The Stonewall Brigade. Baton Rouge: Louisana State University Press, 1977.
In this work Robertson wants to convey what the experience was for the men who served in the Stonewall Brigade for the duration of the war looking at primary sources to get the information straight from the soldiers. This book mention my soldier and his character which again can aid my depiction of him and his personality.
Jr., Robert Driver. The 1st and 2nd Rockbridge Artillery. Madison: H. E. Howard, 1987.
This work gives the full unit history of the Rockbridge Artillery during the entire Civil War giving brief blurbs about the battles they fought in and general stats about the unit. This book is helpful in providing information about my soldier’s time in the unit and his actions during battle.
Levin, Alexandra Lee. "This Awful Drama" General Edwin Gray Lee, C.S.A. and his Family. New York. Vantage Press, 1987.
This book on General Lee tells of his experience of war as commander and talks about some of his soldiers from primary and secondary source material. It briefly talks about my soldier, but the information provided within is extremely useful and will be a great asset to my paper.
Lipscomb, John. The University Memorial Biographical Sketches of the Alumni of the University of Virginia Who Fell in the Confederate War. Baltimore: Turnbull Brothers, 1871.
This collection on UVA alumni was written to get an appreciation for small piece of their lives before, during, and after the war suing primary sources for their background. This book is an excellent testament to my soldier, his character, and other details that happened to him during the war.
Long, E. B. Long and Barbara. The Civil War Day by Day: An Almanac 1861-1865. New York: Double Day and Company Inc, 1971.
This book is tries to cover every day of the civil war and to do that they can only use the brief and obvious details of every engagement and days for the war using both primary and secondary sources. This book does not cover anything about my soldier or his units.
Lowery, Terry D. 22nd Virginia Infantry. Lynchburg: H.E. Howard Inc, 1988.
The 2nd VA INF book cover the entire unit history and performance during the war through mainly primary sources with a few secondary sources. This book helps me establish the timeline of my soldier’s service and any action he had before his transfer.
Luebke, Peter C. "Second Battle of Manassas" http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Second_Manassas_Campaign[accessed 6April 2016].
This source much like Atkins covers the scope of the Second Bull Run while still providing little details to have a better understating of what happened. This source will help me understand the battle, but it cannot provide anything more than that for my research.
McPherson, James M. Hallowed Ground. New York: Crown Journeys, 2003.
McPherson provides a more abstract reflection of the battle and the implications of the commanders and their choices during the battle while linking it to a modern day tour of the battle field. This book hardly mentions Culp's Hill so it will not be of much use.
Moore, Edwin A., The Story of a Cannoneer Under Stonewall Jackson. New York and Washington. The Neal Publishing Company, 1907.
In this book Moore tells the account of an artillerymen in the Stonewall Brigade and the action and day to day activities based on primary sources. This book gives insight to my soldiers character, actions during battle, and personality which will be useful to complete his profile.
Nelson, Dr. Jay Luvaas and Col. Harold W. The U.S. Army War College Guide to the Battles of Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg. Carlisle: South Mountain Press, 1988.
This book is special because it is written in a military fashion with military terminology providing numbers of men, units and commanders, and their chain of command. This book will be useful in finding out from a military perspective trying to piece together the details of the unit in their actions at Fredericksburg.
Pfanz, Harry W. Gettysburg: The Second Day. Chapel Hill: The Universtiy of North Carolina Press, 1987.
In this book Pfanz takes a look at the entire second day of the battle in great detail looking at what specially happened and why, he also provides a wealth of information in the appendix with units, commanders, and chain of command. This book is similar to the military guide but sole deals with Gettysburg, this book will be a great help in getting the organization of the units correct in my research.
Rable, George C. Fredericksburg! Fredericksburg! Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 2002.
In this book Rable attempts to encompass every detail and aspect of the Fredericksburg and does an excellent job of it. However, this book will not be useful because he only mentions the 2nd Virginia Battalion, not the 2nd Virginia Regiment.
Reidenbaugh, Lowell. 33rd Virginia Infantry. Lynchburg: H.E. Howard Inc, 1987.
Much like the 2nd VA INF Book, this book encompasses the unit history and performance for the duration of the war using mainly primary and some secondary sources. This book mentions my soldier multiple times and is a good reference for his actions and character.
Rust, Ellsworth Marshall. Rust of Virginia: Genealogical and Biographical Sketches of the Descendants of William Rust 1654-1940. Washington: Ellsworth Marshall Rust, 1940.
This collection of the Rust family included one on my soldier and gave a short but informative section about his life including college and the war. This book is helpful getting more life information, and lead me to the source (UVA Book) which provided excellent information in my research regarding his life and actions!
Scott, Robert N. The War of the Rebellion: A Compliation of the Offical Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1889.
Scott attempts to gives a full collection of official documents and primary source information to give a full scope of both sides during the war, but has too many topics to cover them all in depth. This book only covered broad spectrum topics and the big commanders, nothing below brigade level is really covered so it will not help my research.
Service, National Park. "Battle Unit Details." http://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-battle-units-detail.htm?battleUnitCode=CVA0002RI01[accessed 13 Feburary 2016].
This website provides the very basic details of Civil War soldiers and units. This website can only offer the basics of my soldier but was a good starting point in my research.
Sifakis, Stewart. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia. New York: Facts on File Inc, 1992.
This book attempts to provide official records for every unit, battle, and soldiers that participated in the Civil War for the Confederacy from Virginia. This book has a small section on my soldier which provided details on his actions as both a private and commander which pointed me in the right direction for more details about his life in the army.
Stackpole, Edward J. Drama on the Rappahannock: The Fredericksburg Campaign. Harrisburg: Military Service Publishing Company, 1957.
Stackpole discusses the Fredericksburg Campaign in great detail, and really pays attention to the events that led up to, and occurred at the culminating battle of Fredericksburg. This book is gives some information about Stonewall's unit, but does not offer any particularly useful details to use.
State, The Ohio. "The War of Rebellion: A Compliation of the Offical Records of the Union and Confederate Armies." http://ehistory.osu.edu/books/official-records[accessed 13 Feburary 2016].
The Ohio State website provides an overwhelming amount of information from primary sources regarding the Civil War and soldiers that participated. It is a large amount of information to sift through, but it could provide some key witness accounts for both Gettysburg and Fredericksburg which could be a valuable help to my research.
Swindel, Bryan. "The Emerald Guard- A Brief History of the Company "E" Thirty Third Virginia Infantry." http://33rdvacoe.yolasite.com/emerald-guard-history.php[accessed 27 March 2016].
This online history encompasses the full story of the 33rd VA INF Company E from multiple primary and secondary sources to give the full scope of the company history. It goes into detail about my soldier and his actions and conduct form his promotion till death which will be useful for my research.
Tucker, Glenn. High Tide at Gettysburg: The Campaign in Pennsylvania. Dayton: Press of Morningside Bookshop, 1983.
Tucker gives the Battle of Gettysburg a perspective solely through the commanders high up in the chain of command to depict how the battle happened and who made what decision. This will not be very useful, if only to see what my soldier’s commander was thinking in the battle.
Stackpole, Edward J. Drama on the Rappahannock: The Fredericksburg Campaign. Harrisburg: Military Service Publishing Company, 1957.
Stackpole discusses the Fredericksburg Campaign in great detail, and really pays attention to the events that led up to, and occurred at the culminating battle of Fredericksburg. This book is gives some information about Stonewall's unit, but does not offer any particularly useful details to use.
State, The Ohio. "The War of Rebellion: A Compliation of the Offical Records of the Union and Confederate Armies." http://ehistory.osu.edu/books/official-records[accessed 13 Feburary 2016].
The Ohio State website provides an overwhelming amount of information from primary sources regarding the Civil War and soldiers that participated. It is a large amount of information to sift through, but it could provide some key witness accounts for both Gettysburg and Fredericksburg which could be a valuable help to my research.
Tucker, Glenn. High Tide at Gettysburg: The Campaign in Pennsylvania. Dayton: Press of Morningside Bookshop, 1983.
Tucker gives the Battle of Gettysburg a perspective solely through the commanders high up in the chain of command to depict how the battle happened and who made what decision. This will not be very useful, if only to see what my soldier’s commander was thinking in the battle.
Wiley, Bell Irvin. The Life of Johnny Reb. New York: The Bobbs-Merrill Company Publishers, 1943.
In Wiley’s work he is determined to give the factual depiction of the confederate solider using many primary sources to ensure he encompassed the entire scope of the experience in every detail. This book will be useful to get an accurate idea of excatly what the soldier did in his every day tasks, but does not cover a majority of my research area.