Civil War
On 24 June 1861, near Clarksburg, Virginia, Joseph Steenrod Hess enrolled in Company A, 1st Regiment of West Virginia Cavalry Volunteers. He was mustered in 10 July 1861, reenlisted as a vet-volunteer 30 November 1863 and was mustered out at Wheeling, West Virginia, with the company 08 July 1865 with the rank of Sergeant. The company, known as the Kelly Lancers, saw some of the most active service in the campaign and was in twenty-two battles.
The Battle At Cedar Creek
One of the most fierce and decisive battles of the Civil War was the battle of Cedar Creek fought near Strasburg, Virginia. Because William W Hess, had a part in this battle..
At the age of 19, on August 14, 1862, William W. Hess enlisted for three years in the service of the Union Army. He was assigned to Company C, 14th Regiment, West Virginia Infantry Volunteers. His older brother, Joseph Steenrod, had enrolled at Clarksburg, Virginia in Company A, First Regiment, West Virginia Cavalry on June 24, 1861. Perhaps the example of an older brother had some influence on William's decision to volunteer. Also, many of his young friends were responding. In the Morgantown area there was a division of loyalties. Some were volunteering in the Union Army and some in the Confederate..
According to family history, William's service entailed participation in nineteen regular battles besides numerous skirmishes, including the Battle of Cedar Creek when Sheridan made his famous ride. He was also present at the time of the engagement at Cloud Mountain and claimed to have witnessed the surrender of Lee at Appomattox..
William's regiment had reported for duty at Cumberland, Maryland in July and August of 1864. The infantry and cavalry of West Virginia, under Generals Crook and Averill, were part of the forces under General Phillip Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley. General Averill had been relieved of his command after September 23, 1864 following the Confederate victory at Kernstown, Virginia. Convinced that the Shenandoah Valley must be denied the enemy, General Grant pulled General Sheridan from the Richmond offensive and put him in charge of the campaign..
General Grant had ordered General Sheridan to destroy all crops and supplies as far as Strasburg. In response to the order, Sheridan had reported, "A crow would have to carry its rations if it had flown across the valley.".
Having reached Strasburg, Sheridan had proceeded personally to Washington, D.C. in response to a request from Secretary Stanton. While in Washington he had his horses shod and rested his cavalry. He had reached Winchester, Virginia on his return, when he heard the guns some 15 to 20 miles away. Hurring forward he reached the field and met his troops retreating in confusion before the enemy..
On a clear night, October 18, 1864, the Union forces had lain encamped among the hills on one side of Cedar Creek. They had been sure that the enemy, weary from battle, would follow their example on yon side of the creek where hills hid them from view. Anyway, if was the usual thing to do battle in daytime and rest the troops at night. But scouters for General Early's Confederate troops viewed the sleepin enemy and saw an opportunity to make and early morning surprise attack..
Ralling their men, the Confederate troops crept stealthily over the hills and pounced on the unsuspecting Union forces. They captured supplies and killed and wounded many men. When success seemed imminent, and at the break of dawn, a heavy fog descended which caused total confusion of both armies and resulted in complete disarray. General Wright, who had been placed in charge during Sheridan's absence, was in the process of reorganizing the men for the purpose of counter attack when General Sheridan rode forward waving his hat and shouting: "Face the other way, boys, we're going back." One of the best accounts of the Battle at Cedar Creek is in a book by Edward J Stockpole entitled Sheridan in the Shenandoah. "Jubal Early's Nemesis." He says that Sheridan said, "Come on back boys, Give 'em Hell, G--D--'em. We'll make coffee out of Cedar Creek tonight." This author also suggested that the restoration of confidence was due, certainly in part, to the organizational work that had already taken place under the leadership of Wright. At any rate the lines were reformed and they moved back upon the enemy, resulting in the total defeat for General Early's army..
In a letter to his wife Elizabeth, William A. Lewellyn wrote from a camp near Front Royal on October 21, 1964: "It was the hardest fight that has ever been fought since this war has commenct our loss was very heavy the damdes murder I ever saw and I did not see the worst of it but thank God they got what they wanted the fourteenth Va lost a great meny men Wm. Hess and others that I no wounded."*.
As a result of the battle at Cedar Creek, the Union casualties were 644 killed, 3430 wounded and 1591 captured or missing. Among those wounded was 21 year old Corporal William W. Hess. His military records say, "Gun shot wound-ball passing across post upper 3 and left thigh-lodged in right." He was temporarily hospitalized at Martinsburg, about 40 miles from the sight of the battle. Then he was sent to the General Hospital in Germantown, Pennsylvania. On December 27, 1864 (just 4 days before his 22nd birthday) by order of the Secretary of War and under the Medical Director's office, Department of the Susquehanna in Philadelphia, he was transferred to the General Hospital in Grafton, West Virginia. He returned to duty April 2, 1865 ans was mustered out with his company at Cumberland, Maryland on June 27, 1865. He had been appointed Corporal on August 18, 1863..
In the meantime, Joseph Steenrod Hess had served with Kelly's Lancers (Company A, First West Virginia Cavalry). They served until July 8, 1865. He was mustered out, with the rank of Sergeant, with the rest of his company on that date. The company saw some of the most active service in the campaign in West Virginia and was in 22 battles..
The Battle of Cedar Creek is so famous in Civil War history that details of it are recorded in nearly every written account. The defeat was decisive and marked the end of General Early's army and the end of the campaighing in the Shenandoah Valley. And our ancestor William W. Hess and Joseph Steenrod Hess was there. .
* Note: The son of William A. Lewellyn, Robert Lee, married a niece of William W. Hess, Carrie Virginia Hess (daughter of Elza Hess. The letter was one of several written to his wife by Wm. A. Lewellyn and now in the possession of his great grandson, Robert L. Roberts..
On 24 June 1861, near Clarksburg, Virginia, Joseph Steenrod Hess enrolled in Company A, 1st Regiment of West Virginia Cavalry Volunteers. He was mustered in 10 July 1861, reenlisted as a vet-volunteer 30 November 1863 and was mustered out at Wheeling, West Virginia, with the company 08 July 1865 with the rank of Sergeant. The company, known as the Kelly Lancers, saw some of the most active service in the campaign and was in twenty-two battles.
The Battle At Cedar Creek
One of the most fierce and decisive battles of the Civil War was the battle of Cedar Creek fought near Strasburg, Virginia. Because William W Hess, had a part in this battle..
At the age of 19, on August 14, 1862, William W. Hess enlisted for three years in the service of the Union Army. He was assigned to Company C, 14th Regiment, West Virginia Infantry Volunteers. His older brother, Joseph Steenrod, had enrolled at Clarksburg, Virginia in Company A, First Regiment, West Virginia Cavalry on June 24, 1861. Perhaps the example of an older brother had some influence on William's decision to volunteer. Also, many of his young friends were responding. In the Morgantown area there was a division of loyalties. Some were volunteering in the Union Army and some in the Confederate..
According to family history, William's service entailed participation in nineteen regular battles besides numerous skirmishes, including the Battle of Cedar Creek when Sheridan made his famous ride. He was also present at the time of the engagement at Cloud Mountain and claimed to have witnessed the surrender of Lee at Appomattox..
William's regiment had reported for duty at Cumberland, Maryland in July and August of 1864. The infantry and cavalry of West Virginia, under Generals Crook and Averill, were part of the forces under General Phillip Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley. General Averill had been relieved of his command after September 23, 1864 following the Confederate victory at Kernstown, Virginia. Convinced that the Shenandoah Valley must be denied the enemy, General Grant pulled General Sheridan from the Richmond offensive and put him in charge of the campaign..
General Grant had ordered General Sheridan to destroy all crops and supplies as far as Strasburg. In response to the order, Sheridan had reported, "A crow would have to carry its rations if it had flown across the valley.".
Having reached Strasburg, Sheridan had proceeded personally to Washington, D.C. in response to a request from Secretary Stanton. While in Washington he had his horses shod and rested his cavalry. He had reached Winchester, Virginia on his return, when he heard the guns some 15 to 20 miles away. Hurring forward he reached the field and met his troops retreating in confusion before the enemy..
On a clear night, October 18, 1864, the Union forces had lain encamped among the hills on one side of Cedar Creek. They had been sure that the enemy, weary from battle, would follow their example on yon side of the creek where hills hid them from view. Anyway, if was the usual thing to do battle in daytime and rest the troops at night. But scouters for General Early's Confederate troops viewed the sleepin enemy and saw an opportunity to make and early morning surprise attack..
Ralling their men, the Confederate troops crept stealthily over the hills and pounced on the unsuspecting Union forces. They captured supplies and killed and wounded many men. When success seemed imminent, and at the break of dawn, a heavy fog descended which caused total confusion of both armies and resulted in complete disarray. General Wright, who had been placed in charge during Sheridan's absence, was in the process of reorganizing the men for the purpose of counter attack when General Sheridan rode forward waving his hat and shouting: "Face the other way, boys, we're going back." One of the best accounts of the Battle at Cedar Creek is in a book by Edward J Stockpole entitled Sheridan in the Shenandoah. "Jubal Early's Nemesis." He says that Sheridan said, "Come on back boys, Give 'em Hell, G--D--'em. We'll make coffee out of Cedar Creek tonight." This author also suggested that the restoration of confidence was due, certainly in part, to the organizational work that had already taken place under the leadership of Wright. At any rate the lines were reformed and they moved back upon the enemy, resulting in the total defeat for General Early's army..
In a letter to his wife Elizabeth, William A. Lewellyn wrote from a camp near Front Royal on October 21, 1964: "It was the hardest fight that has ever been fought since this war has commenct our loss was very heavy the damdes murder I ever saw and I did not see the worst of it but thank God they got what they wanted the fourteenth Va lost a great meny men Wm. Hess and others that I no wounded."*.
As a result of the battle at Cedar Creek, the Union casualties were 644 killed, 3430 wounded and 1591 captured or missing. Among those wounded was 21 year old Corporal William W. Hess. His military records say, "Gun shot wound-ball passing across post upper 3 and left thigh-lodged in right." He was temporarily hospitalized at Martinsburg, about 40 miles from the sight of the battle. Then he was sent to the General Hospital in Germantown, Pennsylvania. On December 27, 1864 (just 4 days before his 22nd birthday) by order of the Secretary of War and under the Medical Director's office, Department of the Susquehanna in Philadelphia, he was transferred to the General Hospital in Grafton, West Virginia. He returned to duty April 2, 1865 ans was mustered out with his company at Cumberland, Maryland on June 27, 1865. He had been appointed Corporal on August 18, 1863..
In the meantime, Joseph Steenrod Hess had served with Kelly's Lancers (Company A, First West Virginia Cavalry). They served until July 8, 1865. He was mustered out, with the rank of Sergeant, with the rest of his company on that date. The company saw some of the most active service in the campaign in West Virginia and was in 22 battles..
The Battle of Cedar Creek is so famous in Civil War history that details of it are recorded in nearly every written account. The defeat was decisive and marked the end of General Early's army and the end of the campaighing in the Shenandoah Valley. And our ancestor William W. Hess and Joseph Steenrod Hess was there. .
* Note: The son of William A. Lewellyn, Robert Lee, married a niece of William W. Hess, Carrie Virginia Hess (daughter of Elza Hess. The letter was one of several written to his wife by Wm. A. Lewellyn and now in the possession of his great grandson, Robert L. Roberts..
Civil War
On 24 June 1861, near Clarksburg, Virginia, Joseph Steenrod Hess enrolled in Company A, 1st Regiment of West Virginia Cavalry Volunteers. He was mustered in 10 July 1861, reenlisted as a vet-volunteer 30 November 1863 and was mustered out at Wheeling, West Virginia, with the company 08 July 1865 with the rank of Sergeant. The company, known as the Kelly Lancers, saw some of the most active service in the campaign and was in twenty-two battles.
The Battle At Cedar Creek
One of the most fierce and decisive battles of the Civil War was the battle of Cedar Creek fought near Strasburg, Virginia. Because William W Hess, had a part in this battle..
At the age of 19, on August 14, 1862, William W. Hess enlisted for three years in the service of the Union Army. He was assigned to Company C, 14th Regiment, West Virginia Infantry Volunteers. His older brother, Joseph Steenrod, had enrolled at Clarksburg, Virginia in Company A, First Regiment, West Virginia Cavalry on June 24, 1861. Perhaps the example of an older brother had some influence on William's decision to volunteer. Also, many of his young friends were responding. In the Morgantown area there was a division of loyalties. Some were volunteering in the Union Army and some in the Confederate..
According to family history, William's service entailed participation in nineteen regular battles besides numerous skirmishes, including the Battle of Cedar Creek when Sheridan made his famous ride. He was also present at the time of the engagement at Cloud Mountain and claimed to have witnessed the surrender of Lee at Appomattox..
William's regiment had reported for duty at Cumberland, Maryland in July and August of 1864. The infantry and cavalry of West Virginia, under Generals Crook and Averill, were part of the forces under General Phillip Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley. General Averill had been relieved of his command after September 23, 1864 following the Confederate victory at Kernstown, Virginia. Convinced that the Shenandoah Valley must be denied the enemy, General Grant pulled General Sheridan from the Richmond offensive and put him in charge of the campaign..
General Grant had ordered General Sheridan to destroy all crops and supplies as far as Strasburg. In response to the order, Sheridan had reported, "A crow would have to carry its rations if it had flown across the valley.".
Having reached Strasburg, Sheridan had proceeded personally to Washington, D.C. in response to a request from Secretary Stanton. While in Washington he had his horses shod and rested his cavalry. He had reached Winchester, Virginia on his return, when he heard the guns some 15 to 20 miles away. Hurring forward he reached the field and met his troops retreating in confusion before the enemy..
On a clear night, October 18, 1864, the Union forces had lain encamped among the hills on one side of Cedar Creek. They had been sure that the enemy, weary from battle, would follow their example on yon side of the creek where hills hid them from view. Anyway, if was the usual thing to do battle in daytime and rest the troops at night. But scouters for General Early's Confederate troops viewed the sleepin enemy and saw an opportunity to make and early morning surprise attack..
Ralling their men, the Confederate troops crept stealthily over the hills and pounced on the unsuspecting Union forces. They captured supplies and killed and wounded many men. When success seemed imminent, and at the break of dawn, a heavy fog descended which caused total confusion of both armies and resulted in complete disarray. General Wright, who had been placed in charge during Sheridan's absence, was in the process of reorganizing the men for the purpose of counter attack when General Sheridan rode forward waving his hat and shouting: "Face the other way, boys, we're going back." One of the best accounts of the Battle at Cedar Creek is in a book by Edward J Stockpole entitled Sheridan in the Shenandoah. "Jubal Early's Nemesis." He says that Sheridan said, "Come on back boys, Give 'em Hell, G--D--'em. We'll make coffee out of Cedar Creek tonight." This author also suggested that the restoration of confidence was due, certainly in part, to the organizational work that had already taken place under the leadership of Wright. At any rate the lines were reformed and they moved back upon the enemy, resulting in the total defeat for General Early's army..
In a letter to his wife Elizabeth, William A. Lewellyn wrote from a camp near Front Royal on October 21, 1964: "It was the hardest fight that has ever been fought since this war has commenct our loss was very heavy the damdes murder I ever saw and I did not see the worst of it but thank God they got what they wanted the fourteenth Va lost a great meny men Wm. Hess and others that I no wounded."*.
As a result of the battle at Cedar Creek, the Union casualties were 644 killed, 3430 wounded and 1591 captured or missing. Among those wounded was 21 year old Corporal William W. Hess. His military records say, "Gun shot wound-ball passing across post upper 3 and left thigh-lodged in right." He was temporarily hospitalized at Martinsburg, about 40 miles from the sight of the battle. Then he was sent to the General Hospital in Germantown, Pennsylvania. On December 27, 1864 (just 4 days before his 22nd birthday) by order of the Secretary of War and under the Medical Director's office, Department of the Susquehanna in Philadelphia, he was transferred to the General Hospital in Grafton, West Virginia. He returned to duty April 2, 1865 ans was mustered out with his company at Cumberland, Maryland on June 27, 1865. He had been appointed Corporal on August 18, 1863..
In the meantime, Joseph Steenrod Hess had served with Kelly's Lancers (Company A, First West Virginia Cavalry). They served until July 8, 1865. He was mustered out, with the rank of Sergeant, with the rest of his company on that date. The company saw some of the most active service in the campaign in West Virginia and was in 22 battles..
The Battle of Cedar Creek is so famous in Civil War history that details of it are recorded in nearly every written account. The defeat was decisive and marked the end of General Early's army and the end of the campaighing in the Shenandoah Valley. And our ancestor William W. Hess and Joseph Steenrod Hess was there. .
* Note: The son of William A. Lewellyn, Robert Lee, married a niece of William W. Hess, Carrie Virginia Hess (daughter of Elza Hess. The letter was one of several written to his wife by Wm. A. Lewellyn and now in the possession of his great grandson, Robert L. Roberts..
On 24 June 1861, near Clarksburg, Virginia, Joseph Steenrod Hess enrolled in Company A, 1st Regiment of West Virginia Cavalry Volunteers. He was mustered in 10 July 1861, reenlisted as a vet-volunteer 30 November 1863 and was mustered out at Wheeling, West Virginia, with the company 08 July 1865 with the rank of Sergeant. The company, known as the Kelly Lancers, saw some of the most active service in the campaign and was in twenty-two battles.
The Battle At Cedar Creek
One of the most fierce and decisive battles of the Civil War was the battle of Cedar Creek fought near Strasburg, Virginia. Because William W Hess, had a part in this battle..
At the age of 19, on August 14, 1862, William W. Hess enlisted for three years in the service of the Union Army. He was assigned to Company C, 14th Regiment, West Virginia Infantry Volunteers. His older brother, Joseph Steenrod, had enrolled at Clarksburg, Virginia in Company A, First Regiment, West Virginia Cavalry on June 24, 1861. Perhaps the example of an older brother had some influence on William's decision to volunteer. Also, many of his young friends were responding. In the Morgantown area there was a division of loyalties. Some were volunteering in the Union Army and some in the Confederate..
According to family history, William's service entailed participation in nineteen regular battles besides numerous skirmishes, including the Battle of Cedar Creek when Sheridan made his famous ride. He was also present at the time of the engagement at Cloud Mountain and claimed to have witnessed the surrender of Lee at Appomattox..
William's regiment had reported for duty at Cumberland, Maryland in July and August of 1864. The infantry and cavalry of West Virginia, under Generals Crook and Averill, were part of the forces under General Phillip Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley. General Averill had been relieved of his command after September 23, 1864 following the Confederate victory at Kernstown, Virginia. Convinced that the Shenandoah Valley must be denied the enemy, General Grant pulled General Sheridan from the Richmond offensive and put him in charge of the campaign..
General Grant had ordered General Sheridan to destroy all crops and supplies as far as Strasburg. In response to the order, Sheridan had reported, "A crow would have to carry its rations if it had flown across the valley.".
Having reached Strasburg, Sheridan had proceeded personally to Washington, D.C. in response to a request from Secretary Stanton. While in Washington he had his horses shod and rested his cavalry. He had reached Winchester, Virginia on his return, when he heard the guns some 15 to 20 miles away. Hurring forward he reached the field and met his troops retreating in confusion before the enemy..
On a clear night, October 18, 1864, the Union forces had lain encamped among the hills on one side of Cedar Creek. They had been sure that the enemy, weary from battle, would follow their example on yon side of the creek where hills hid them from view. Anyway, if was the usual thing to do battle in daytime and rest the troops at night. But scouters for General Early's Confederate troops viewed the sleepin enemy and saw an opportunity to make and early morning surprise attack..
Ralling their men, the Confederate troops crept stealthily over the hills and pounced on the unsuspecting Union forces. They captured supplies and killed and wounded many men. When success seemed imminent, and at the break of dawn, a heavy fog descended which caused total confusion of both armies and resulted in complete disarray. General Wright, who had been placed in charge during Sheridan's absence, was in the process of reorganizing the men for the purpose of counter attack when General Sheridan rode forward waving his hat and shouting: "Face the other way, boys, we're going back." One of the best accounts of the Battle at Cedar Creek is in a book by Edward J Stockpole entitled Sheridan in the Shenandoah. "Jubal Early's Nemesis." He says that Sheridan said, "Come on back boys, Give 'em Hell, G--D--'em. We'll make coffee out of Cedar Creek tonight." This author also suggested that the restoration of confidence was due, certainly in part, to the organizational work that had already taken place under the leadership of Wright. At any rate the lines were reformed and they moved back upon the enemy, resulting in the total defeat for General Early's army..
In a letter to his wife Elizabeth, William A. Lewellyn wrote from a camp near Front Royal on October 21, 1964: "It was the hardest fight that has ever been fought since this war has commenct our loss was very heavy the damdes murder I ever saw and I did not see the worst of it but thank God they got what they wanted the fourteenth Va lost a great meny men Wm. Hess and others that I no wounded."*.
As a result of the battle at Cedar Creek, the Union casualties were 644 killed, 3430 wounded and 1591 captured or missing. Among those wounded was 21 year old Corporal William W. Hess. His military records say, "Gun shot wound-ball passing across post upper 3 and left thigh-lodged in right." He was temporarily hospitalized at Martinsburg, about 40 miles from the sight of the battle. Then he was sent to the General Hospital in Germantown, Pennsylvania. On December 27, 1864 (just 4 days before his 22nd birthday) by order of the Secretary of War and under the Medical Director's office, Department of the Susquehanna in Philadelphia, he was transferred to the General Hospital in Grafton, West Virginia. He returned to duty April 2, 1865 ans was mustered out with his company at Cumberland, Maryland on June 27, 1865. He had been appointed Corporal on August 18, 1863..
In the meantime, Joseph Steenrod Hess had served with Kelly's Lancers (Company A, First West Virginia Cavalry). They served until July 8, 1865. He was mustered out, with the rank of Sergeant, with the rest of his company on that date. The company saw some of the most active service in the campaign in West Virginia and was in 22 battles..
The Battle of Cedar Creek is so famous in Civil War history that details of it are recorded in nearly every written account. The defeat was decisive and marked the end of General Early's army and the end of the campaighing in the Shenandoah Valley. And our ancestor William W. Hess and Joseph Steenrod Hess was there. .
* Note: The son of William A. Lewellyn, Robert Lee, married a niece of William W. Hess, Carrie Virginia Hess (daughter of Elza Hess. The letter was one of several written to his wife by Wm. A. Lewellyn and now in the possession of his great grandson, Robert L. Roberts..
Bio by: Aundra Hess
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