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| Notes for Robert H. Fletcher | ||||||||||
| Served in the Confderate Army. Following information comes from Margaret Beyer Military Experience of Robert H. Fletcher Co. K, 17th Virginia Infantry 1850 Census lists Robert H. (Herbert?) Fletcher, age 21, occupation shoemaker, living with the family of Thomas E. Saunders, in Warrenton, VA. Thomas E. Saunders, 26, was born in Kentucky, and was also a shoemaker. He was married to Mary C. Saunders, and had three small children: Catherine E (5), William E. (3) and Ann E. (1). William Fletcher, age 10, was also part of this household. Robert H. Fletcher married Mary Emily Allison on October 16, 1851. [I have a copy of the marriage record.] Thomas E. Saunders and Emily's father, William Allison, signed the marriage license. Robert and Emily had three children before the outbreak of war Robert H., Jr. (birthdate unkown), Marian (1855) and William Aubrey (1859). They had two more children later, "Richie" (Richard?) (1870) and Lou Ella (1871). William Aubrey Fletcher had 3 daughters (Grace, Lillian and Edith) and 4 sons (William, John and Richard Herbert Fletcher (1892) father to Ellen Fletcher Beyer. The "Warrenton Rifles" were formed on April 22, 1861, ten days after the firing on Fort Sumter. They were formed under the command of Captain John Quincy Marr, a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, and a delegate to the Virginia Convention that passed the order of secession. According to the Warrenton town history, virtually every able-bodied male in Warrenton signed up. Robert H. Fletcher, age 32, was enrolled by Marr on April 22, as a private. The original enlistment was for a period of one year. The Rifles adopted a uniform of gray frock coats and trousers with black trim. Their gray dress caps had a black band, and were ornamented in front with a brass bugle and the letters "W.R." On April 24, the company was presented with a flag by the ladies of Warrenton. Robert H. Fletcher and the rest of the Warrenton Rifles (numbering about 90) then marched to Dumfries, about 37 miles away, where they were actually mustered into service on April 27. On May 30, the Warrenton Rifles were ordered to duty at Fairfax Court House. At about 2:30 am, June 1, the company was aroused by a sentinel, who reported that he had been fired upon by enemy cavalry. Fighting broke out, and soon after, Captain Marr was separated from his company. Two charges by Union cavalry were repulsed, and the enemy retreated. Captain Marr was found to have been killed early in the fighting. One of the company wrote: The company has received such a shock as I fear it will not recover from soon. No, I believe never. In early June, the 17th Virginia Infantry was formed, attached to the 4th Brigade. The Warrenton Rifles became Company K of the 17th Virginia Regiment (present for duty strength: 745). On July 2, Brigadier General Longstreet was appointed to command the Brigade. The 17th Virginia fought at Blackburn's Ford, First Manassas (First Battle of Bull Run), on July 18, 1861. They sustained one fatality. Records show that Robert H. Fletcher remained with Company K from April 1861 at least through August 1862. The 17th Virginia camped at Centreville from July 23 to August 12, 1861. On August 8, the troops were reviewed by the French Minister and Prince Jerome Napolean Bonaparte, under a flag of truce. The regiment camped at Fairfax Court House from August 12 to September 24, when they marched to Falls Church, engaging in skirmishes with the Union along the way. On September 27, the regiment headed back toward Fairfax Court House, stopping at Mills' Cross Roads. Here they met up with J.E.B. Stuart, who thanked the men and told them to return to Fairfax Court House for a well-deserved rest. On October 3, Jefferson Davis reviewed the troops at Fairfax Court House. On October 11, Company K engaged in a scouting expedition toward Annandale. On October 12, General Longstreet was promoted, and left the command of the 4th Brigade. On October 14, the regiment returned to Mills' Cross Roads for picket duty. On October 16th, the pickets were abandoned, and the troops marched back toward Centreville, where they remained for the winter months. [Centreville is about 25 miles from Warrenton, and Fairfax Court House and Falls Church are also close by, in Northern Virginia. Warrenton itself passed back and forth several times between Northern and Southern hands. William Aubrey Fletcher recalls as a small boy the soldiers frequently marching through the streets both North and South. It is not unreasonable to assume that Robert H. Fletcher and other members of the Warrenton Rifles were able to go home to see their families for some period during the time of this encampment.] On October 30, the Virginia troops were presented with a flag bearing the state crest and "Sic Semper Tyrannis" by the Governor John Letcher. Severe rain and wind storms on November 1 devastated the camp; only two tents remained standing out of 150. Tents, blankets and paraphernalia were scattered around the campground. On November 3-6, Company K (present for duty strength of 48 men) were assigned for picket dury at Fairfax Court House. While there, two officers were put under arrest for allowing a lady to pass the outpost (one Belle Boyd and her escort). The officers loist the use of their swords for a few hours. While Company K was away on picket duty, on November 4, Brigadier General Clark of Mississippi was assigned command of the 4th Brigade. On November 8, the regiment, following the lead of Company H, voted to enlist for the duration of the war. In December, the troops began building log cabins, to provide more sturdy winter quarters. At this time, there were approximately 15,000 men in the camp, about 560 within the 17th Regiment. The 23rd of December was a severe day snow, rain and fail fell in torrents. To "prevent colds," rations of whiskey were issued to the men. The "Seventeenth," so long without a copious supply of "Pine Top," hailed the liquor with delight, and ere the faint beams of twilight's silent hour had retired, about two-thirds of [the] "Bloody Seventeenth' were certainly not frozen. When it [the whiskey] came, there was no visible reluctance in according it a prompt and cordial reception. [Wise, p. 50-51] The regiment broke camp on the 9th of March, 1862. Company K was back up to a strength of 74 men. The regiment fell back toward Culpeper, passing through Warrenton on the 11th of March, 1862. Street Scene of Warrenton ca. 1862 The regiment reached Orange Court House on March 17, 1862. On some days, the march would begin at 8 am, and end late in the evening. Frequently, rations would not be issued until 9 pm, and then they would have to be cooked. "Persons who are used to having their meals regular," wrote William R. Smith of Company F, "have no idea how hungry men will get when marching all day with nothing to eat." [Wallace, p. 27] On April 6, 1862, the regiment headed toward Fredericksburg, but they were held up by a snowstorm at Louisa Court House [unusual for this time of year in Virginia]. The troops reached Richmond on April 9th and camped near the city. They marched down Main Street, flags flying, on April 12th. James Thomas Petty of Company B noted: The ladies thronged the doors, windows, balconies and streets and cheered us on with smiles of welcome and words of kindly encouragement. God bless their noble hearts! [Wallace, p. 27] At Rocketts Landing in Richmond, the 17th Virginia and part of the 1st Virginia boarded the steamer Curtis Peck towards Norfolk. They landed near Williamsburg, and marched to Yorktown, where General McClellan was concentrating the Union forces. The regiment withdrew to Williamsburg on May 3, and engaged the Federals at the battle of Williamsburg, sustaining 30% casualties (killed and wounded). Strength of regiment was 599 on April 30 and 293 on June 30. Strength of Company K was 73 on April 30 and 27 on June 30. On May 9, the troops reached Christian Farm near Long Bridge, and then fell back to a camp near Richmond on May 25. On the 31st of May, they fought in the Battle of Seven Pines, supporting Stuart's Horse Artillery on the following day, June 1st. On June 25 through July 1, they fought at various battles around Richmond: Gaines Mill, Chickahominy and Malvern Hill. On July 7, they returned to camp near Richmond. On August 10, 1862, they broke camp and took the train to Gordonsville; from there marching to Gainesville. On August 29-30, the regiment engaged in a battle near Groveton. They pursued the Union troops toward Washington, halting on September 3rd near White's Ford on the Potomac [back up in Northern Virginia]. It is not recorded when or why Robert H. Fletcher left the Company, but he was noted as Absent Without Leave (AWOL) from September through December 1862. His name appears on a register of the Medical Director's office in Richmond as being admitted to 3 Alabama Hospital. [This may have been part of the Chimborazo Hospital in Richmond, which attempted to organize casualties by regiment). He was admitted and/or treated on October 20, 1862. Illness, injury or length of stay are not noted. The Company K recordkeepers brought their records up to date in January of 1863, noting that Robert H. Fletcher had been detached to the Quartermaster Depot in Columbus, GA, as a shoemaker since November 1, 1862, by Special Order #243/8, Department of the Army of Northern Virginia Lee, dated November 15, 1862. He was listed as being in Georgia from November 29, 1862 until 1865 (probably April, when the Company was dissolved after surrender.) Fletcher received a clothing issue from the Quartermaster Depot on July 31, 1863. He was noted as being 35 years of age and able-bodied in August 1864. He was noted as being employed by Maj. F. W. Dillard in April 1864. In January 1865, he was absent for _ day. [Information just discovered today on internet:] Mary Emily Fletcher applied for a widow's pension on April 24, 1900. The application lists Robert H. Fletcher, as having served in Company K, 17th, (??) Brigade, Pickett's Division, Longstreet's Corps. He is listed as having died in Warrenton, VA on the 27th of March, 1898 of "paralysis." n Margaret Beyer n February 14, 20027 ________________________________ Sources: I freely admit that I have borrowed heavily and flagrantly from the following sources: Confederate Military Records on microfilm, Virginia State Archives, Richmond, VA Lee A. Wallace, Jr., 17th Virginia Infantry (Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1990). George Wise, History of the Seventeenth Virginia Infantry, C.S.A. (Baltimore: Kelly, Piet & Co., 1870) ____ In the 1880 Census, Robert Fletcher is listed a shoemaker living on Winchester Street in Warrenton. His son William, age 20, is already listed as a printer, the ocupation he will follow through much of his life. 13 FLETCHER, ROBERT H. State: VA Year: 1860 Fauquier County Record Type: Federal Population Schedule Township: Warrenton P.O. Page: 183 Database: VA 1860 Federal Census Index (from Ancestry.Com) In | ||||||||||
| Last Modified 19 May 2002 | Created 20 May 2002 by Reunion for Macintosh |