The Rockbridge Artillery
Continued from: First Battle of Manassas
The Rockbridge Artillery was commanded by Captain William T. Poague. Edward Alexander (Ned) Moore served as a private in the Rockbridge Artillery from its day of conception to Lee’s surrender at Appomattox. He wrote a lengthy account of his experiences in the unit. Giving an account of the members of the brigade, including his two brothers, he recalled that most were graduates or students at colleges and Universities. Saving the mention of George Rust Bedinger he wrote, “Last, and most interesting of all was George Bedinger, of Shepherdstown, a student of the University of Virginia.” [i] Moore recalled being in camp one afternoon, the beans were cooked and everyone was about ready to have a meal when “bang!” went a canon on the opposite hill, and the shell screamed over their heads. His gun was ordered to hitch up and go into position.” Moore said he lost his appetite. He gave his beans to his brother, “John, take my beans, I don’t want these beans!” He said, “Then my friend [George] Bedinger gave me a homemade biscuit which I ate as I followed the gun [cannon] to position”. [ii]
Moore recalled that “Bedinger and his cousin Alec Boteler, both sang well, but Boteler stammered badly when talking, and Bedinger kept him in a rage half the time mocking him, frequently advising him to go back home and learn to talk. Still they were bedfellows and devoted friends. I feel as if I could hear Bedinger now, as he shifted around the fire, to keep out of the smoke singing:
“Though the world may call me gay, yet my feelings I smother,
For thou art the cause of this anguish—my mother.’” [iii] [iv]
Battle of Kernstown
With the Rockbridge Artillery, George Rust Bedinger saw action at the battle of Kernstown on 23 March, where the Rockbridge Artillery was heavily engaged throughout the day.
In appearance, George was of “medium height, active, strong, and graceful.”[18}”in camp and on the march another wrote, “Bedinger was always gay and cheerful, and, though raised in ease and affluence, made himself and his comrades merry amid their privations and discomforts”. [19]
Campaign in the Martinsburg-Darksville area
George Rust wrote his sister Diddie a letter from Darksville while waiting in anticipation of a battle with the Union forces near Martinsburg. [This letter was probably written July 4, 5, or 6, 1861, when Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's army was at Darksville. This notation is made with thanks to Brian Houston, Civil War researcher.
Union forces occupied Martinsburg from July 3 to July 17, 1861. http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Martinsburg_Virginia_During_the_Civil_War
Revisions made July 22, 2015.]
My Dearest Sister,
I this morning received your thick letter dated June 27th. Yesterday in reply to a message which Col. Allen gave me I wrote you a few hasty words, entrusting the note to Capt. Pendleton. This morning he informs me that has P do in the greatest haste (we expect to march in a moment) I write a line or two more. We are now seven miles from Martinsburg at Darksville on the Winchester turnpike. The enemy is in Martinsville. It is the impression with us that we will attack him to day.
I have no doubt of victory. Our men are in excellent opacity. You will have heard when this reaches you that on the day before yesterday, Col. Harpers regiment and a pair of Capt. Pendleton’s camp was engaged with the enemy for nearly an hour. Killing as far as we can learn. This is three hundred. In the same engagement cost Ymots cavalry took fifty prisoners. Of course I can tell you nothing about Gen’l Lee’s plans. It is now nine o'clock and still we make no advance toward Martinsburg. I cannot account for the delay. There are all kinds of reports. That the enemy have retreated &c, &c,& c, &c.
You are a capital girl and I thank you with all my heart for your kind gifts and letters. Henry Douglas [v] means to return his _?_ for a havelock - I will write to you. When I come through the difficult all very great. Send me a word very often.
Love to cousin, love and respect to Minnie [Mary Bedinger], P and family.
Your affectionate brother
George Rust Bedinger
The Rockbridge Artillery was commanded by Captain William T. Poague. Edward Alexander (Ned) Moore served as a private in the Rockbridge Artillery from its day of conception to Lee’s surrender at Appomattox. He wrote a lengthy account of his experiences in the unit. Giving an account of the members of the brigade, including his two brothers, he recalled that most were graduates or students at colleges and Universities. Saving the mention of George Rust Bedinger he wrote, “Last, and most interesting of all was George Bedinger, of Shepherdstown, a student of the University of Virginia.” [i] Moore recalled being in camp one afternoon, the beans were cooked and everyone was about ready to have a meal when “bang!” went a canon on the opposite hill, and the shell screamed over their heads. His gun was ordered to hitch up and go into position.” Moore said he lost his appetite. He gave his beans to his brother, “John, take my beans, I don’t want these beans!” He said, “Then my friend [George] Bedinger gave me a homemade biscuit which I ate as I followed the gun [cannon] to position”. [ii]
Moore recalled that “Bedinger and his cousin Alec Boteler, both sang well, but Boteler stammered badly when talking, and Bedinger kept him in a rage half the time mocking him, frequently advising him to go back home and learn to talk. Still they were bedfellows and devoted friends. I feel as if I could hear Bedinger now, as he shifted around the fire, to keep out of the smoke singing:
“Though the world may call me gay, yet my feelings I smother,
For thou art the cause of this anguish—my mother.’” [iii] [iv]
Battle of Kernstown
With the Rockbridge Artillery, George Rust Bedinger saw action at the battle of Kernstown on 23 March, where the Rockbridge Artillery was heavily engaged throughout the day.
In appearance, George was of “medium height, active, strong, and graceful.”[18}”in camp and on the march another wrote, “Bedinger was always gay and cheerful, and, though raised in ease and affluence, made himself and his comrades merry amid their privations and discomforts”. [19]
Campaign in the Martinsburg-Darksville area
George Rust wrote his sister Diddie a letter from Darksville while waiting in anticipation of a battle with the Union forces near Martinsburg. [This letter was probably written July 4, 5, or 6, 1861, when Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's army was at Darksville. This notation is made with thanks to Brian Houston, Civil War researcher.
Union forces occupied Martinsburg from July 3 to July 17, 1861. http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Martinsburg_Virginia_During_the_Civil_War
Revisions made July 22, 2015.]
My Dearest Sister,
I this morning received your thick letter dated June 27th. Yesterday in reply to a message which Col. Allen gave me I wrote you a few hasty words, entrusting the note to Capt. Pendleton. This morning he informs me that has P do in the greatest haste (we expect to march in a moment) I write a line or two more. We are now seven miles from Martinsburg at Darksville on the Winchester turnpike. The enemy is in Martinsville. It is the impression with us that we will attack him to day.
I have no doubt of victory. Our men are in excellent opacity. You will have heard when this reaches you that on the day before yesterday, Col. Harpers regiment and a pair of Capt. Pendleton’s camp was engaged with the enemy for nearly an hour. Killing as far as we can learn. This is three hundred. In the same engagement cost Ymots cavalry took fifty prisoners. Of course I can tell you nothing about Gen’l Lee’s plans. It is now nine o'clock and still we make no advance toward Martinsburg. I cannot account for the delay. There are all kinds of reports. That the enemy have retreated &c, &c,& c, &c.
You are a capital girl and I thank you with all my heart for your kind gifts and letters. Henry Douglas [v] means to return his _?_ for a havelock - I will write to you. When I come through the difficult all very great. Send me a word very often.
Love to cousin, love and respect to Minnie [Mary Bedinger], P and family.
Your affectionate brother
George Rust Bedinger
[i] Moore, Edwin A., 1907, The Story of a Cannoneer Under Stonewall Jackson, The Neal Publishing Company, New York and Washington, 315 p., p. 29.
[ii] Moore, p. 35.
[iii] Moore, p. 36-37.
[iv] A. L. Levin, "This Awful Drama", states that the Botelers and Bedingers were cousins. It has been said that Alexander Boteler married the daughter of Jacob Morgan making George and Alexander cousins of some rank.
[v] Henry Kyd Douglas of Shepherdstown entered the Confederate service as a private in the Hamtramck Guards with his friends George R. Bedinger and Edwin G. Lee. Henry Kyd Douglas served through the war and became the youngest member of General Stonewall Jackson's staff. His experiences are told in his book, "I Rode With Stonewall.
[ii] Moore, p. 35.
[iii] Moore, p. 36-37.
[iv] A. L. Levin, "This Awful Drama", states that the Botelers and Bedingers were cousins. It has been said that Alexander Boteler married the daughter of Jacob Morgan making George and Alexander cousins of some rank.
[v] Henry Kyd Douglas of Shepherdstown entered the Confederate service as a private in the Hamtramck Guards with his friends George R. Bedinger and Edwin G. Lee. Henry Kyd Douglas served through the war and became the youngest member of General Stonewall Jackson's staff. His experiences are told in his book, "I Rode With Stonewall.