Private (CSA) Benjamin Warner Pritchett

GEDCOM Note

1880 Census- Benjamin Warner Pritchett, listed as age 44.Census place Livingston, Spotsylvania, VA, source FHL Film1255391, Natl Archives T9-1391, Page 388C1870 Census: Livingston TWP, Page 18, image 265 of 303, line127. Lists BW "age 34", Mildred, William A., Benjamin J, Sarahand Richard. It says that BW could not read nor write.The Pritchett's Civil War VeteranBenjamin Warner Pritchett was a Confederate Civil War Veteranand lifetime resident of Spotsylvania County. His service tothe Confederacy was marked by his participation in many majorbattles, and being wounded for the cause. He stood and watchedthe colors folded at the surrender of the Army of NorthernVirginia to the Federal Army. After the war, he returned tohelp rebuild the south, started his family and served as amember of his church and community.From post war documents, it appears that Benjamin was born in1835 or 1837, likely in Spotsylvania County. The uncertainty ofhis birth date results from conflicting ages between the 1860Census and his Civil War Pension Records. His father wasWilliam Warner Pritchett, a farmer who lived in SpotsylvaniaCounty from 1801 until he died in 1883. Benjamin's mother wasMatilda Luck. Matilda and William Warner were married onDecember 24, 1822. We can trace Benjamin Warner Pritchett lifeas it is recorded in several places, including the censuses of1850, 1860 and 1910. He was counted in Saint George's Parish,in the eastern district of Spotsylvania County. Later in life,we know he was a member of Goshen Baptist Church in SpotsylvaniaCounty. On September 5, 1859, Benjamin married Mildred C.Pritchett. Apparently, Mildred was a distant cousin and thedaughter of Richard and Martha Pritchett. Richard was born in1798 and Martha was born in 1797. It appears that prior to thewar, Benjamin and Mildred had a son by the name of Johnny.Neither Johnny's birth date or death date is known. In 1861,just prior to Benjamin's military service his second son,William "Willie" Henry was born.After the original southern states seceded, Virginia had severalvotes of the legislature and one popular vote on secession.Spotsylvania County where Benjamin lived voted unanimously forsecession. Not one person in the county of Spotsylvania votedagainst secession. While no records have been found that wouldindicate Benjamin or his father owned slaves, the Federal armywas invading his native land. Therefore he enlisted for thelength of the war, with other residents of Spotsylvania Countyon March 13, 1862. This was a short time prior to conscriptionby the Confederate States of America (CSA). Initially, hiscompany was assigned to the 5th Alabama Infantry, however he wassoon transferred to the 55th Virginia Infantry. The 55th was aVirginia Regiment started on the Virginia Peninsular, in Essexand Middlesex County in the spring of 1862. Benjamin's became amember of Company M that was commanded by Captain John F.Alexander.While it cannot be stated as a fact, which battles Benjaminfought. We do know he fought at Chancellorsville where recordsshow that he was wounded. We can assume his participation fromhis unit assignments and the fact that he was present on themuster roll calls. Benjamin would have likely seen action inmany battles including the Seven Days battle, Cedar Mountain,Second Manassas, Chancellorsville, The Wilderness, Petersburgand Appomattox.Benjamin's first engagement, was the Seven Days campaign thatended the Yankee General McClellan's attempt to captureRichmond. In fact, the Union forces had to evacuate this partof Virginia as a result. During Seven Days, and for most of thewar, the 55th was assigned to General A.P. Hill. Just prior tothis battle, while General Hill's division was guarding a bridgethe Yankees waived a flag of truce. It was under this truce andthrough the lines of the 55th Virginia Infantry that GeneralRobert E. Lee's wife who had been captured was transferred fromthe Union forces to the Confederates. This division alsostarted the battle, advancing first when Stonewall Jackson'sdivision did not show up when expected.In late July of 1862, the 55th and General Hill's division wasassigned under General Stonewall Jackson. The division wastaken by train to Gordonsville and marched north of Culpeper andengaged the Federal forces under Pope at Cedar Mountain. The55th was engaged in the later stages of the battle and wasespecially active in pursuing the Yankees as they fled northwardinto the darkness. Hill's division under Jackson continued tomaneuver around General Pope's forces, raided a very largefederal storehouse in Manassas and continued on to inflictterrible losses on the Yankees at the second battle of Manassason August 30, 1862. The 55th pursued the Yankees to the presentNorthern Virginia suburbs- nearly into Washington D. C. Theywere likely the unit that mortally shot the Federal GeneralPhilip Kearny in the butt as he leaned over his horse trying toescape. The Division commander, General A.P. Hill was quoted assaying "Poor Kearney, he deserved a better death than this."As the Army of Northern Virginia continued onward, General Leemade the decision to bring the war to Maryland. Just prior towading across the Potomac at White's Ferry, Benjamin became sickand was sent to the hospital until March 4, 1863. It is unclearwhat brought Benjamin to the hospital. His company's musterroll, on January 10, 1863 said he had been sent to JeffersonHospital on September 5, 1862. There is some evidence tosuggest that Benjamin was wounded on May 10, 1862 while he wasstill in service to the 5th Alabama Infantry, however this hasnot been verified. If he was wounded, perhaps hospitalizationwas not necessary until complications flared up in earlySeptember. Around November, Benjamin's problems were bad enoughto keep him out of the hospital, but apparently they were notbad enough to keep him from Mildred, because nine months laterhis third son, Benjamin J. Pritchett Jr. would be born.While Benjamin was convalescing, the 55th continued theiroffensive in Maryland. General Lee offered the Marylander'stheir freedom from Federal oppression as the southerners movedthrough Maryland, but when one of A.P. Hills men lost Lee'sorders for invasion, this tipped off the Yankees and theterrible battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam) - September 17th 1862took place. This was likely the bloodiest single day of the war,where over 32 men a minute were killed or 2000 an hour. The55th, without Benjamin was involved in capturing Harper's Ferryand arrived late in the Sharpsburg battle. However, thepresence of Hill's division might have prevented a major defeatfor the Confederates.In addition, while Benjamin was in the hospital his unit wasvery active in the battle of Fredericksburg on December 13th1862. His unit was placed at Massaponax just south ofFredericksburg, but when the Union General Burnside startedattacking Fredericksburg, the 55th was moved to the right sideof the Confederate line. Perhaps the family is lucky that hemissed the battles of Sharpsburg and Fredericksburg.After returning to action, his unit continued to be assigned tothe overall command of Stonewall Jackson and as such was a partof Jackson's famed actions. A few months later, he fought inthe battle of Chancellorsville (May 1st - 4th 1863). GeneralJackson marched his men around the flank of the Federals throughthe outskirts of Fredericksburg and Catherine Furnace- justsouth of Chancellorsville. The Federals expected theConfederates to be on their east or south, and suddenly theyfound them attacking from the west. In the initial phases ofthe battle, Hill's division- and the 55th were in the rear asrelief units. However, at nightfall, the division and the 55thwere ordered to the front. The 55th led the way easterly downPlank Road (now Route 3). As they approached the front, theypassed through the advance Confederate lines of the 18th and37th North Carolina Infantry and found the enemy was in forcedirectly in front of them. The 55th was deploying off of PlankRoad adjacent to the Van Wert House. Today, this spot is liesunderneath the eastbound lane of the improved Route 3 justacross and south of the National Park Service Visitor Center atChancellorsville. The house was destroyed when the road wasupgraded.The Yankees were trying to regroup from their disastrous day atthe hands of Stonewall Jackson's forces. Federal cannons hadbeen brought up just in front of them as they marched intoposition. Everyone was on the edge of his nerves. Soon theyheard noises to their left and there was much confusion. Whenthe dust settled, they learned that General Stonewall Jacksonand the fire from the 18th North Carolina Infantry and possiblythe 55th Virginia had mortally wounded the Southern leader.Jackson died a few days later. However, the battle as itinvolved the 55th had just begun. As the night wore on andshortly after Jackson and later A.P. Hill was wounded theFederals opened fire with their cannons. The 55th took thebrunt of this attack and many members of the regiment werekilled or wounded. The 55th Infantry commander Colonel FrancisMallory was killed, while other officers including Captain BillyChristian and Colonel Brockenbrough were wounded. We know thatit was at this point that Benjamin was wounded. He was 26 yearsof age at this time. Twenty-five years later, his applicationfor a pension for his war wounds stated that " a few minutesafter General Jackson was wounded a piece of shell struck me onthe shoulder, breaking the bones and carving the flesh." Thiswound was in his right shoulder. Apparently, he lost some useof the right arm from a shell wound in the shoulder. He appliedfor a pension from Virginia on May 7, 1888. This wound shouldhave earned him a $15 dollar year's pension. However, for somereason the pension was denied. In 1902, he again applied for apension, which was accepted.As a result of Benjamin's injury, he was out of action untilSeptember or October 1863. However, he was likely home for thebirth of Benjamin Jr. on August 2, 1863. In the meantime, thebattle of Chancellorsville raged on. The 55th was ordered toattack the main Federal line, however a later order to notattack was not given to the 55th and only the 55th moved forwardand suffered devastating losses. This crippled the regiment forthe rest of the Chancellorsville battle. However, the rest ofthe Army of Northern Virginia pressed forward for one of theirgreatest feats. Perhaps the Confederates felt that they werenot undefeatable and they planned an invasion of the north.As a result of his wounds, he missed the battle of GettysburgJuly 1st - 3rd. The 55th played a large part in the initialportions of Gettysburg, but was likely not involved in the worstof the fighting. In fact, the 55th was involved in the startingof the battle on July 1, 1863 as it marched towards Gettysburglooking to requisition shoes. On the fateful day of July 3,1863 the 55th was lined up to take part in what became known asPickett's Charge. However, miscommunications and surprise fireby the Federals 8th Ohio Regiment prevented much advancement bythe 55th. Instead they were sent running early.Benjamin returned from his injury in the fall of 1863 and the55th took part in the Battle of the Wilderness (May 5th - 6th,1864) and the battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse. These battlestook place in the areas that Benjamin lived before (and after)the war.As the war wore on, and the Federals sieged the Confederatecities of Petersburg and Richmond, we know that the 55th was inthe middle of the city's defenses of Petersburg. The regimentsuffered from starvation, terrible sanitation and discontent-but continued to fight for the cause. Eventually, General Leecommanding the Army of Northern Virginia evacuated Petersburgand tried to escape to supplies in Lynchburg. However, swiftpursuit by General Grant's Army of the Potomac nearly surroundedthe Confederates at Appomattox.At the start of the regiment's final campaign on 3rd April 1865,the regiment numbered 435, of which 200 were fit for duty. Whilemost of the regiment was captured as Lee's Army of NorthernVirginia retreated from Richmond, Benjamin was one of a handfulof soldiers from the 55th Virginia Infantry that joined with themain army in the confusion just prior to Appomattox. Benjaminwas at Appomattox for the surrender of General Lee to GeneralGrant on the 9th April 1865. The Confederate Army of NorthernVirginia once more with General Gordon in command, and the old'Stonewall' Jackson Brigade leading, marched ahead on April 12,1865. This time it marched between the lines of the Union'sArmy of the Potomac with General J. L. Chamberlain commanding.Benjamin and the rest of the Confederates laid their arms downand rolled the colors for the last time. There were 21 enlistedmembers of the 55th at the surrender and a handful of officers.Records show that Benjamin received parole as a condition of thesurrender. He was listed as being in Company M of Barton'sBrigade. The men of the 55th fought hard for their homeland andserved with distinction the Confederate States of America...and, when that hope was lost returned to serving the country asa whole.After the war:Perhaps we are lucky that he missed several major battles(Antietam, Fredericksburg and Gettysburg). Just a few daysafter the battle of 2nd Bull Run, he spent 6 months in thehospital. Perhaps this was among the most dangerous time for himas approximately half of the Confederate forces died fromdisease. Two months after he returned to duty, he was woundedat Chancellorsville. Therefore, he participated in rigorousmarches and deathly battles and was very sick and in thehospital and nearly killed by Yankee cannon fire. However, heappeared to learn how to stay alive or just had good luck as hesurvived the downfall of the Confederacy and witnessed thesurrender at Appomattox.After the war for Southern Independence, Benjamin returned toSpotsylvania County. He had two more children with his wifeMildred Pritchett including Kate Pritchett in 1867 (later shemarried and became Kate Harris, wife of James L. Harris) andRichard Harrison Pritchett on May 30, 1869. Benjamin continuedto farm a small amount of land in the county. Sometime prior to1885, his wife Mildred apparently died however, no record hasbeen found. At the age of 48 Benjamin married a Julia F. Perryon Apr 23, 1885. Julia was 14 years younger than Benjamin. OnDecember 18, 1918, Benjamin died at his home near Curlew at theage of 83 years.In his obituary, he was remembered as a member of Goshen Church.His second wife, Julia F. Perry Pritchett and three childrensurvived him, Ben Pritchett Jr. of Spotsylvania County, Mr.Richard Harrison Pritchett of Fredericksburg and Mrs. KateHarris of Spotsylvania County and several grand children. Hisobituary stated he was interred in the family burying ground onSaturday December 21, 1918 at 2 p.m. At this time, this burialsite has not been located.Written by:David J. EngelFootnote:Benjamin Warner Pritchett was not the only Confederate Veteranin our family history. Benjamin's brother William A. Pritchettserved in the 45th Virginia Infantry, perhaps his other brothersJohn R. and Herbert M. Pritchett did likewise. The father ofRichard Harrison Pritchett's wife Albenia Carter also served.His name was Wallace M. Carter (1839-1913). Wallace served inthe 30th Virginia Infantry along with many other citizens ofSpotsylvania County including several of Wallace's brothers JohnMelzie (1844-1914) and William P. Carter (1831-1861). MildredC. Pritchett's brothers, William P. and Richard Harry Pritchett,also served in the 30th Virginia Infantry. Consider Mildred'ssituation, she had a husband in the war who was wounded, threebrothers one of whom died and one wounded and at least 1brother-in-law if not more.55th Virginia Infantry - Division and Brigade Commanders:1861 Colonel George E. Picket B District of Lower Rappahannock,Colonel Mallory for 55thApril 10, 1862 Brigadier General Charles Field's brigadeApril 27, 1862 A.P. Hill assumes division commandJune 27, 1862 Colonel Mallory leaves command to Lt. ColonelWilliam ChristianMarch 1863 General Henry Heth assumes brigade commandMay 2-3, 1863 Mallory, Jackson killed, and Christian andPritchett wounded, Colonel Brockenbrough assumes command of55th Infantry, Henry Heth takes division command from Hill.July 19, 1863 Henry Harrison Walker takes over brigade commandfrom Colonel BrockenbroughMay 10, 1864 General Henry Walker shot, Colonel Robert M. Mayo(47th VA Infantry) assumes brigade command. Mayo had beencaptured at Gettysburg and exchanged.May 19, 1864 Colonel William Christian returned as 55th Regimentcommander.May 27, 1864 Brigadier General Birkett Davenport Fry takes overfrom Colonel Robert M. Mayo brigade command.June 1864 Colonel Robert M. Mayo resumes command from GeneralFry who was sick and had been wounded 4 times during war.Aug 19, 1864 Brigadier General James Archer takes over brigadefrom Mayo in shake up. Archer had been captured at Gettysburgand exchanged.Oct 24, 1864 General Archer dies, Colonel Mayo reassumes commandof brigade.Dec. 26, 1864 55th Infantry is transferred to General Ewell=sRichmond Defense ForceJan 9, 1865 55th is transferred again, to Brigadier General SethBarton which was assigned to Major General G.W. Custis Lee=sRichmond Defense DivisionApril 9, 1865 Surrender of Army of Northern Virginia atAppomattox, VAReferences:1.) 55th Virginia Infantry, The Virginia Regimental Series, byRichard O= Sullivan, 2nd Edition, 1989. Available fromMorningside Bookshop, 1-800-648-9710, www.morningsidebooks.com2.) 30th Virginia Infantry, The Virginia Regimental Series, byRobert K. Krick, 4th Edition, 1985. Available from MorningsideBookshop, 1-800-648-9710, www.morningsidebooks.com3.) Application of Soldier, Sailor or Marine for a Pension, forBenjamin Warner Pritchett, 1888. Library of Virginia,unrecorded frames.4.) Application of Soldier, Sailor or Marine for Disability byWound, for Benjamin Warner Pritchett, 1902. Library ofVirginia, Frames 765, 766 and 767.5.) Marriages In Virginia, Spotsylvania County 1851-1900,Orange County 1851-1867, by Therese Fisher, published byHeritage Books, 1-800-276-1760 , orwww.heritagebooks.com/cgi-bin/shopzone30.exe/st_prod.html?p_prodid=778&p_catid=&sid=73QMVZ0FqAAH6r8-57101612248.9b CentralRappahannock Regional Library call number: 929.3755365 Fi6.) National Archives Veterans Records search, Compiled ServiceRecords, Form NATF 80, Image ID: 55414, Order date 10/12/00,copied date 12/05/00War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records ofthe Union and Confederate Armies, Report of Lt. Colonel WilliamS. Christian, No. 343, May 17, 1863 Page 899, Chapter XXXVII7.) Fredericksburg Daily Star, AAged Spotsylvanian Dead@December 21, 1918, page 3 column 2, obtained at CentralRappahannock Regional Library, Fredericksburg, VA8.) 1850 United States Census, Spotsylvania County andFredericksburg, VA, Page: 421(A), Line 23 Residence 774,Eastern District, obtained from www.allcensus.com1860 United States Census, Spotsylvania County andFredericksburg, VA, Index Page 394, ID# VA45746124, obtainedfrom www.allcensus.com Index available at Central RappahannockRegional Library, Fredericksburg, VA9.) 1880 United States Census, Spotsylvania County andFredericksburg, VA, obtained from www.allcensus.com Indexavailable at Central Rappahannock Regional Library,Fredericksburg, VA10.) 1910 United States Census, Spotsylvania County andFredericksburg, VA, obtained online from www.ancestry.com11.) Generation=s Family Tree Software, stores family tree.Over 800 individuals are listed in my master database. Thissoftware is available from:www.sierrahome.com/software/catalog/familytree/Records file is available from David Engel. Obtain version 8.0or higher for compatibility with Easy Tree program, althoughGEDCOM files are transferable from any version.12.) 1909 Spotsylvania County, Confederate Pension List; onlineat www..rootsweb.com/~vaspotsy/spotspen.htm13.) The Roster of Confederate Soldiers 1861-1865, Volume XII,Edited by Jane B. Hewett, Broadfoot Publishing Company,Wilmington NC, 1996, available at Central Rappahannock RegionalLibrary, Fredericksburg, VA.14.) Index B Guide to the Southern Historical Society Papers,1876- 1959, Volume III, N-Z, James I. Robertson, Jr. Editor inchief, Broadfoot Publishing Company, 1992, available at CentralRappahannock Regional Library, Fredericksburg, VA15.) The Civil War : A Narrative : Fort Sumter to Perryville,Fredericksburg to Meridian, Red River to Appomattox (3 Vol. Set)by Shelby Foote December 1986, Vintage Books; ISBN: 0394749138www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0394749138/ref=ase_vickiehollemanbo/107-8274624-3460517