Portsmouth City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Military Records.....Grimes, Carey F. March 16, 1899
Civilwar - Rosters Grimes Battery
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The Story Of Grimes Battery
Virginian-Pilot, Volume 2, Number 141, 16 March 1899 
p. 10, col. 3-4 

THE STORY OF GRIMES BATTERY 

"If Any Battery on Earth Can Go There, Mine Can." 

THE PRIDE OF THE STATE 

A Brave Band of Portsmouth Men Who Helped to Make Famous the History of the 
  Southern Confederacy - Sketch of the company From 1808 to the Present 
Time. 

  Grimes' Battery was organized in 1810, and was known as the Portsmouth 
Light 
Artillery.  It took an active part in the war of 1812, and earned for itself 
a 
good record.  The battery at that time was commanded by Captain Arthur 
Emmerson, and at the battle of Craney Island did excellent service in 
repulsing the English. 

  At the beginning of the Civil war, in 1861, Grimes Battery, or the 
Portsmouth Light Artillery, as it was then called, was the oldest battery of 
artillery in the State of Virginia.  It was then equipped with four smooth 
bore iron pieces and a sort of small firearms called musketoons.  The 
officers 
were: Carey F. Grimes, Captain; John H. Thompson, First Lieutenant, and 
Bernard Fauth, Second Lieutenant. 

  On April 20, 1861, they were ordered into service by Governor John 
Letcher, 
and reported for duty with about forty-five men on their muster-roll, but in 
a 
short time had recruited to one hundred or more. 

  On the night Gosport (now known as the Norfolk navy yard) was burned and 
evacuated by the United States naval force, under command of Commodore 
Charles 
S. McCawley, Grimes' Battery was on duty, with their guns all parked, about 
twelve squares from the navy yard, but were without ammunition.  Next day 
they 
were ordered to duty to the Naval Hospital, and remained there until May 
16th, 
when they were ordered to Hollier's Creek to guard the Western Shore of 
Hampton Roads. 

  On July 21, 1861, they elected a Third Lieutenant, Private James Webb 
being 
selected to fill that position, and on the same day the name of the battery 
was changed from the Portsmouth Light Artillery to Grimes' Battery, and the 
camp was christened "Camp Grimes." 

  On March 26, 1862, the term of one year, for which the men had enlisted, 
had 
expired, they re-enlisted for three years, or the war, and elected the 
following officers: Cary F. Grimes, Captain; John H. Thompson, First 
Lieutenant; William F. Fentress, Second Lieutenant; Thomas J. Oakham, Third 
Lieutenant.  There were present for duty at the election in addition to 
those 
who re-enlisted, ninety-nine.  The next month the size of the battery and 
the 
number of guns having been increased they were allowed a Fourth Lieutenant, 
and Francis J. Rees was elected. 

  In April of that same year the United States forces had captured Hatteras 
and Roanoke Island, and had complete possession of the Carolina Sounds.  A 
brigade of troops, under command of General Reno, advanced from Elizabeth 
City, N.C. towards South Mills.  General Huger ordered the Third Georgia to 
check his advance. 

  On the 23d Captain Grimes was ordered to reinforce the Georgians, but 
arrived too late to participate in the battle of Sawyer's Lane.  On the 2d 
of 
May, however, they had an engagement with two Federal gunboats, compelling 
them to withdraw; and on May 5th the battery was recalled to Portsmouth, and 
given two more guns, making it a six-gun battery. 

  On the evacuation of Portsmouth they marched with the division of General 
Huger, and on the 28th they marched to Richmond, and became a part of the 
Army 
of Northern Virginla, and soon became known throughout the entire army as 
"Grimes' Fighting Battery." 

  On several occasions the command received the praise of General Anderson, 
to 
whose division it was attached.  On the 25th of June, the beginning of the 
seven days' fight, it had two guns engaged. 

  At Malvern Hill, on July 1st, it behaved with great gallantry, fighting at 
close range against eighty or more guns.  They held their position for more 
than two hours, until ordered to retire.  In this action their loss was 
three 
men killed and eight wounded.  They had so many horses killed that it 
required 
three trips to get the guns off the field.  General Armistead said: "No man 
could have behaved better than Captain Grimes; he worked his guns after his 
men were cut down, and only retired when entirely disabled.  What I wanted 
never arrived - that was more and heavier guns." 

  On the night of July 28th they were at City Point, in the attack on the 
gunboats and transports.  On August 26th the battery had an artillery duel 
with the enemy at Warrington Spring; three men were wounded, one of whom 
died.  On the 30th they reached Second Manassas, and added to the reputation 
previously gained by their charge in line with Mahone's Brigade, in the rush 
and defeat of the left wing of General Pope's army. 

  The command was engaged in the battle of Crampton's Gap, September 14th, 
and 
at Sharpsburg, September 17th, where Captain Grimes was shot from his horse 
while directing the fire of the guns.  Captain Grimes was in command of 
three 
batteries: Grimes', Huger's and Moorman's, the commandant, Major Saunders, 
being absent.  After the death of Captain Grimes, Lieutenant J.H. Thompson 
was 
made Captain. 

  Orders had been received by Captain Grimes, just prior to his death, to 
recommend one of the batteries for disbandment on account of the scarcity of 
horses, and to divide the men between the other two.  Had he done so, 
Huger's 
Battery would have been the one to disband, as he was the junior Captain.  
But 
after the death of Captain Grimes, Captain Thompson was the Junior captain, 
so 
his battery was dismembered.  One detachment went with Moorman's Battery, 
became horse artillery, and was attached to General Fitzhugh Lee's division. 
They kept as well as possible a separate organization, and maintained their 
name and reputation until the close of the war. 

CAPTAIN GRIMES' FAMOUS LETTER. 

  Below will be found Captain Grimes' report of the work of the battery 
during 
the Seven Days' Battles, ending at Malvern Hill, July 14th, 1862: 
     Camp near Falling Creek, Va., 
                     July 21st, 1862. 

  Sir - Below please find a report of the movements of my battery from June 
20th last, when I was ordered to report to Brigadier General Mahone, on the 
advanced lines, for the purpose of relieving Captain Moorman's battery.  
After 
reporting to General Mahone we were expecting an engagement with the enemy 
every day, but had none until the 25th, on which day we discovered the enemy 
on the opposite side of French's farm, between the Charles City and 
Williamsburg roads, at which place I engaged them with one section of my 
battery at 850 yards distance, driving the enemy from his position.  I 
afterwards moved one piece up to French's house, within 450 yards of his 
position, and opened on him with a 12-pounder Parrott rifle gun, but I had 
the 
pleasure of driving him from his position, leaving his horses and guns 
behind, 
which fact I was not aware of until informed the next morning by Colonel 
Smith, of the Forty-ninth Virginia, and others.  The enemy was then attacked 
by a portion of three regiments of General Mahone's Brigade, the Twelfth, 
Sixth and Forty-ninth Virginia.  The Fourth Georgia and Twenty-eighth North 
Carolina were also on the field.  The enemy was driven from the field, 
making 
a complete stampede.  I had the good luck on that day to lose neither man 
nor 
horse. 

  Nothing of importance occurred with my battery after the 25th until July 
1st.  On that day I was on the Charles City road with General Mahone's 
Brigade, and was ordered back to Darbytown road to report to Brigadier 
General 
Armistead, which I immediately did.  When I arrived at that position and 
reported.  General Armistead told me that a captain had just reported his 
battery to him for duty, and directed me to report to the first general I 
saw, 
and General Wright being the first, I reported to him, and while talking to 
General Wright, General Armistead's aide came up, stating that General 
Armistead had become disgusted with the captain who had reported his battery 
to him and had driven him, with his battery, from the field, and that he 
wished to see General Wright.  General Wright asked me to ride with him, 
which 
I did.  When we found General Armistead he told General Wright that the 
captain alluded to above had formed so many excuses about getting his 
battery 
on the field that he had driven him from the field, and that he wanted 
General 
Wright to send a battery that was willing to go in and engage the enemy. 
General Wright told him he had one, naming mine.  General Armistead asked me 
if I could carry my battery on the hill.  I told him if any battery in the 
world could go, mine could.  He directed General Wright to show me the 
position to take, which he did.  I found the enemy with their batteries 
planted and their infantry drawn up in line of battle at about 1,200 yards 
distance.  I then went to the rear of my battery and carried it on the 
field. 
As soon as the battery entered the field the enemy opened fire on it, 
killing 
one man and wounding three, and killing one horse and wounding two before I 
fired a gun.  I unlimbered and commenced firing as soon as possible, and 
with 
telling effect on the enemy. 

  I remained on the field about two hours.  Lost three men killed outright 
and 
eight wounded, of whom two have since died.  I lost ten public horses killed 
and seven wounded.  My own private horse was killed, also my first 
lieutenant's horse.  My officers behaved well, but I feel it my duty to 
speak 
more particularly of First Lieutenant John H. Thompson, who remained on the 
field with me until the last gun was taken.  I had so many horses killed and 
wounded that it took three trips to get all my guns off. 

  On the next day, the 2nd, Colonel DeLeguel, chief of artillery, ordered me 
back to the old camp near Richmond, to refit my battery.  As soon as I 
completed it I was ordered by yourself to camp near Falling Creek, on the 
Richmond and Petersburg turnpike, where I now am, with my battery complete 
and 
in good condition generally, ready and willing to meet the invaders of our 
soil at any time and anywhere.  I have, General, the honor to be very 
respectfully, your obedient servant, 
                   C. F. GRIMES, 
              Captain Field Battery, 
                 Virginia Volunteers. 
  Major General B. Huger. 

HIGH COMMENDATION. 

  General Armistead said: "No men could have behaved better than Captains 
Pegram and Grimes.  They worked their guns after their men were cut down, 
and only retired when entirely disabled.  What I wanted never arrived, that 
is: more guns and heavier ones." 

ROSTER OF THE COMPANY. 

  The roster of the company as given here is from the date of its being 
mustered into service.  It was made up from the memory for Mr. John W.H. 
Porter by some of the survivors, and it is possible some names may have 
escaped them during the lapse of a time since the close of the war.  For 
many 
dates in this chapter credit is due the late Mr. Thomas H. Virnelson, who 
kept 
a diary of the movements of the company until the second battle of Manassas: 

  Captain Cary F. Grimes killed September 17th, 1862, at Sharpsburg; Captain 
John H. Thompson, promoted captain; Lieutenant Bernard Fauth, joined signal 
corps and killed 1864; Lieutenant Richard Webb, transferred to cavalry, 
Thirteenth Virginia; Lieutenant Wm. T. Fentress, Lieutenant Thomas J. 
Oakham, 
Lieutenant Francis Russ. 

THESE ARE THE PRIVATES. 

  M.W. Allen severely wounded July 1st, 1862, Malvern Hill, and on the 
Petersburg lines, 1864; John W. Ash, sergeant, surrendered at Appomattox; 
David Boyce wounded at Chancellorsville, May 3d, 1863, and at Warrenton, 
August 28th, 1862; Churchill Bohannon, W.H. Buchannan wounded at Brandy 
Station; Edward E. Beaton wounded April 1st, 1865, on Hatcher's Run, and 
died 
in hands of enemy; A.M. Brownley, W.H. Bell died at Culpeper Courthouse, 
1862; 
Thomas Bland, George W. 

Continued on Eleventh page. 


p. 11, col. 3 

STORY OF GRIMES BATTERY 

(Concluded from Page Ten.) 

Brent wounded August 30th, 1862, Second Manassas, and transferred to navy; 
William T. Backus, Jr.. died at hospital, May, 1862; William A. Batten, 
William Jordan Bright, Richard M. Boutwell killed April 1st, 1865, on 
Hatcher's Run; John W. Crismond, George E. Crimond, Bouthall Cummings, 
William 
H. Cutherell, W.H. Cherry wounded September 17th, 1862, Sharpsburg; James 
Cherry, Walter A. Creekmore killed July 1st, 1862, Malvern Hill; George D. 
Culver died at Jefferson, from wounds received August 28th, 1862, at 
Warrenton 
Springs; James A. Dillion, John H. Dillsburg, John Ewell wounded August 
30th, 
1862, Second Manassas; Thomas Fitzsimmons, V. Forbes, J.B. Griffin, James H. 
Gaskins lost leg at Malvern Hill, July 1st, 1862; Harry F. Goodson died from 
wounds September 16th, 1864, in hospital; Wm. H. Hughes (sergeant), promoted 
to lieutenant in Lee's Battery; Joshua H.L. Hopkins, Hillery Hopkins died in 
Shenandoah Valley, 1862; W.R. Hansford died on Rappahannock, 1862; C.E. 
Ironmonger, A.C. Ironmonger, Francis M. Ives, William H. Jones died in 
Charlottesville, 1862; George T. Jones died in hospital, June, 1862; Ed. H. 
Johnson, George W. King, Robert Lewis, William A. Lewis wounded slightly at 
Spotsylvania Courthouse, May 12th, 1864; Wm. E. Mahoney, Edward Moreland, 
Richard Montgomery, Stephen McHorney, Alonzo Mathews, P.H. Miller, A. 
Morgan, 
Henry Miles died in field hospital September 16th, 1864; Edward Mathews, 
John 
W. Mathews killed July 1st, 1862, Malvern Hill; John Murphy, Alex. H. 
McDonald, Edward G. March discharged 1862 over age and disability; Wm. T. 
Myers, A.M. Minter, Dennis Murry, Thomas E. Miller, John Miller, George W.R. 
McDonell wounded Malvern Hill, 1862; Brandy Station, 1863; Wilderness, 1864; 
and Petersburg, 1864; F.J. Nicholson, S.W. Newby, Quinton Overman killed 
September 17th, 1862, Sharpsburg; A.K. Parker, Ephriam Parker, Robert Peed, 
William Phillips discharged 1862, over age; Thomas Parker, Samuel P. Russ 
captured April 2d, 1865, on Hatcher's Run, and died at Point Lookout, 1865; 
Joseph S. Reynolds wounded on Petersburg lines, 1864; F.D. Rogers, Michael 
E. 
Reardon died in Richmond, 1864; Joseph Ringer, Fred Rehm, William Swain 
killed 
July 1st, 1862, Malvern Hill; Joseph M. Sloakes killed September 17th, 1862, 
Sharpsburg; H.C. Sloakes, Edward J. Shephard, Richard Stores, Aaron Spragg, 
Robert Saunders, wounded at Brandy Station: William E. Sheppard, John W. 
Snow, 
Jas. Stores, E.T.W. Summers died in hospital from wounds received at Malvern 
Hill; E.G. Straub captured, wounded in Pennsylvania in July, 1863, and died 
at 
Point Lookout; John B. Tyler, Thomas H. Virnelson, Charles C. Williams died 
from wounds received August 30th, 1862, at Second Manassas; Charles L. 
Williams, Cary R. Warren discharged 1862, under age; William Whitehead; 
Thomas 
P. Wigg, promoted first sergeant, wounded near Petersburg, 1864; Willis 
Wilson; James Webb, Jr.; John Weymouth, died in hospital from wounds 
received 
July 1, 1862, at Malvern Hill; Jacob Widgeon; Severn Whitehead; James T. 
Waller; Virginius Whitehead; Thomas J.D. White, wounded at Williamsport, 
July, 
1863; John Wrench: John J. Warren; John Wilson; Thomas C. Webb, died at 
Churchland, 1864. 

  Killed and died, 26. 

THE BATTERY'S ORGANIZATION. 

  Several attempts were made after the war to reorganize the old battery, 
but 
they were failures until July 18, 1891, when the reorganization was 
perfected 
by the election of George W.R. McDonell, captain; Carey R. Warren, first 
lieutenant; K.H. Gayle, junior first lieutenant, and James L. Young, second 
lieutenant.  Captain McDonell resigned the captaincy March 3, 1893, and 
Lieutenant Young died January l, 1892.  Lieutenant Warren succeeded Captain 
McDonell in command, and is captain at the present time. 

  The equipment of the battery consists of four 3-inch rifle guns and two 
6-pound brass pieces and sabres. 

  Since reorganization, Grimes' Battery has been called on but once, during 
the incendiary fire in Portsmouth in 1896.  It has taken part in various 
local 
parades, and has made several trips abroad. 

  In 1892 the battery attended the unveiling of A.P. Hill monument, at 
Richmond, and were also present at the reinterment of the remains of 
President 
Davis at the same place, in 1893.  They took part in the inaugural of 
Governor 
O'Ferrall in 1894.  They attended the decennial of the city of Roanoke, and 
joined in the parade and sham battle which took place at the time. 

  The battery participated in the ceremonies incident to the unveiling of 
the 
Soldiers' and Sailors' monument and also the laying of the corner-stone of 
the 
Davis monument at Richmond. 

  The command has also made two trips beyond the confines of Virginia.  It 
visited Atlanta in 1895 during the exposition.  They were received by the 
Gate 
City Guard, and became the guests of the Veteran Association of the Third 
and 
Fourth Georgia Regiments. 

  In October, 1897, the battery visited the exposition at Raleigh as the 
guests of the Governor's Guard of that city. 

  Grimes' Battery is still in a flourishing condition, and at the call to 
duty 
would respond with ranks as full of enthusiasm and patriotic devotion as 
were 
those who, in two wars, upheld the honor and won the confidence of their 
native city. 

THE PRESENT ROSTER. 

  Captain, C.R. Warren: First Lieutenant, R.J. Colonna; First Junior 
Lieutenant, J.W. Davis; Second Lieutenant, E.T. Holt; First Sergeant, Ivy B. 
Brown; Second Sergeant, C.C. Burns; Third Sergeant, L.L. Reynolds; Fourth 
Sergeant, W.W. Warren; Quartermaster Sergeant, C.A. Cuthrell; Stable 
Sergeant, 
C.R. Warren, Jr.; Guidon, John T. Lassiter; First Corporal, John Mulcurran; 
Second Corporal, C.E. Frasier; Third Corporal, W.H. McWilliams; Fourth 
Corporal, C.P. Gooding; Musician, J.T. Nicholson; Musician, J.R. Buchanan. 

THESE ARE THE PRIVATES. 

  Thomas Asbell, W.A. Anderton, Jos. W. Abbott, M.F. Braun, Ollie R. Brown, 
C.F. Bernard, John S. Barbour, R. P. Brockwell, I. J. Berman, John T. 
Benson, 
C.P. Baker, Paul Bland, Harry Cook, P.T. Cherry, G.W. Cowan, W.K. Dixon, 
Charles Eure, George Eure, W.H. Edmunds, Jas. P. Glynn, Jos. Hawkins, H. 
Harmanson, V.M. Johns, Ed. D. Lovill, C.B. Moore, W.J. Moore, A.O. Martin, 
Jos. Martin, Jas. D.B. McLaughlin, M.J. Mulvey, P.H. O'Connor, George 
Ovenshane, A.S. Pacetti, E. Rosenthal, R.H. Redford, R.K. Reville, John 
Shepherd, F.C. Lorrell, F.H. Spear, B.E. Taylor, W.J. Thomas, J.H. Traves, 
M.E. Warren, Cliff E. Warren, Jas. E. Wood. 

Additional Comments:
Capt. Grimes is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Portsmouth.

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