| Battle of Seven Pines Participants, Page 6 |
From Jim S. Harris, g-g-g-nephew of Henry Speck Harris, killed at Seven Pines
Henry Speck Harris was born February 12, 1837, in Orange County, NC, the
son of Marcus and Louvena Harris. He was the 2nd or 3rd cousin of William
Henry Harris, the 3rd or 4th cousin of Sterling Clary Harris. He died from
wounds received at the Battle of Seven Pines and was buried on the
battlefield.
E-mail Jim
==========
From J. Edgar Sherman, g-grandson of Captain James Owens Berry, wounded at Seven Pines
Captain James Owens Berry was born 21 January 1837 in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. He
enlisted in Col. Eppa Hunton's 8th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment at Dranesville, VA on 22
June 1861 as a private, but because of previous drill training in the Washington, DC militia, he was
soon promoted to lieutenant. The 8th Virginia, from Fairfax County, known as the "Bloody Eighth,"
became part of Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia and eventually assigned to Gen.
James Longstreet's Corps, Pickett's Division, Garnett's Brigade.
Lt. Berry was captured during the Battle of Bluff, 21 October 1861,
sent to Old Capitol Prison, Washington, but escaped in November
to rejoin his regiment. He was elected Captain of Co. G in April,
1862. Lt. Berry was wounded (shot in the jaw) during the Battle
of Seven Pines on June 1, 1862. He and G Company continued in
battles for the 8th Virginia, including Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg.
Captain Berry refused to sign the Oath of Allegiance to the U.S.
after Gen. Lee's surrender at Appomattox. Shortly thereafter, he
was captured at his home in Fairfax County and sent to federal
prison at Johnson's Island, OH. He was released in June, 1865,
after agreeing to sign the Oath. He returned to Fairfax County
where he spent the rest of his life.
He was later elected to the VA House of Delegates and served
on the Providence School Board; he was a leader of the Marr
Camp of Confederate veterans. His daughter, Grace Berry,
married Franklin Sherman, Jr. of Fairfax County, 12 May 1903.
E-mail Edgar
Henry Speck Harris was born February 12, 1837, in Orange County, NC, the
son of Marcus and Louvena Harris. He was the 2nd or 3rd cousin of William
Henry Harris, the 3rd or 4th cousin of Sterling Clary Harris. He died from
wounds received at the Battle of Seven Pines and was buried on the
battlefield.
E-mail Jim
==========
From J. Edgar Sherman, g-grandson of Captain James Owens Berry, wounded at Seven Pines
Captain James Owens Berry was born 21 January 1837 in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. He
enlisted in Col. Eppa Hunton's 8th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment at Dranesville, VA on 22
June 1861 as a private, but because of previous drill training in the Washington, DC militia, he was
soon promoted to lieutenant. The 8th Virginia, from Fairfax County, known as the "Bloody Eighth,"
became part of Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia and eventually assigned to Gen.
James Longstreet's Corps, Pickett's Division, Garnett's Brigade.
Lt. Berry was captured during the Battle of Bluff, 21 October 1861,
sent to Old Capitol Prison, Washington, but escaped in November
to rejoin his regiment. He was elected Captain of Co. G in April,
1862. Lt. Berry was wounded (shot in the jaw) during the Battle
of Seven Pines on June 1, 1862. He and G Company continued in
battles for the 8th Virginia, including Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg.
Captain Berry refused to sign the Oath of Allegiance to the U.S.
after Gen. Lee's surrender at Appomattox. Shortly thereafter, he
was captured at his home in Fairfax County and sent to federal
prison at Johnson's Island, OH. He was released in June, 1865,
after agreeing to sign the Oath. He returned to Fairfax County
where he spent the rest of his life.
He was later elected to the VA House of Delegates and served
on the Providence School Board; he was a leader of the Marr
Camp of Confederate veterans. His daughter, Grace Berry,
married Franklin Sherman, Jr. of Fairfax County, 12 May 1903.
E-mail Edgar
===========
From Lewis Regenstein, a descendant of Albert Moses Luria, killed at Seven Pines
Lewis Regenstein has shared an excerpt from a book he has written about his family's Civil War
experiences; the information gleaned from the memoirs of Albert's father, Major Raphael Moses,
as recounted in the book, "Last Order of the Lost Cause" by Mel Young. Major Moses was Gen.
James Longstreet's chief commissary officer, and is best known for being the father of Georgia's
peach industry; he attended the last meeting, and carried out the last order, of the Confederate
government. To read this moving narrative, click here.
E-Mail Lewis
===========
From Terry Walker, whose 2-g-grandfather's half-brother, Lawrence Walker, participated in the
Battlle of Seven Pines.
Lawrence Walker was in Company D, 19th Virginia Infantry and was wounded in the Battle of Seven
Pines. Also, in the 19th VA was William J. Walker. The info below is for Pvt. Lawrence Walker.
E-Mail Terry
===========
From Lewis Regenstein, a descendant of Albert Moses Luria, killed at Seven Pines
Lewis Regenstein has shared an excerpt from a book he has written about his family's Civil War
experiences; the information gleaned from the memoirs of Albert's father, Major Raphael Moses,
as recounted in the book, "Last Order of the Lost Cause" by Mel Young. Major Moses was Gen.
James Longstreet's chief commissary officer, and is best known for being the father of Georgia's
peach industry; he attended the last meeting, and carried out the last order, of the Confederate
government. To read this moving narrative, click here.
E-Mail Lewis
===========
From Terry Walker, whose 2-g-grandfather's half-brother, Lawrence Walker, participated in the
Battlle of Seven Pines.
Lawrence Walker was in Company D, 19th Virginia Infantry and was wounded in the Battle of Seven
Pines. Also, in the 19th VA was William J. Walker. The info below is for Pvt. Lawrence Walker.
E-Mail Terry
===========
Keith Ward shared these two soldiers' names from the 20th Massachusetts Infantry.
Thomas Armstrong was in Company H, 20th Massachusetts Infantry; rank in, sergeant; rank out,
sergeant.
Isaac L. Barker was in Company I, 20th Massachusetts Infantry; rank in, private; rank out, private.
Both of these companies fought in the Battle of Seven Pines/Fair Oaks.
=====
Thomas Armstrong was in Company H, 20th Massachusetts Infantry; rank in, sergeant; rank out,
sergeant.
Isaac L. Barker was in Company I, 20th Massachusetts Infantry; rank in, private; rank out, private.
Both of these companies fought in the Battle of Seven Pines/Fair Oaks.
=====
From Don Allen, whose gg-grandfather was killed at 7 Pines.
Matthew T. Allen, Pvt, Co. A, 6th AL Inf Reg: Matthew Tolbert Allen was born 6/20/1829 in GA; died
5/31/1862 at the Battle of 7 Pines, VA. He was the son of Henry Allen, born about 1800 in Duplin Co.,
NC; died about 1870 in Henry Co., AL; married 11 August 1825 to (1) Easter Wells in Irwin Co., GA;
Easter's birth and death dates unknown. Matthew T. Allen married (2) Francis Mourning
Blackshear on 4 January 1853 in Henry Co., AL. Francis was born about 1831 in Henry Co., AL and
died about 1863, Henry Co., AL. Six children were born to this marriage: Sarah Catherine, William
Tolbert, Easter Malissa, James David and Martha Ella. Matthew Tolbert Allen enlisted 5 March 1862
in Columbia, AL into old Co. L, 6th Inf Reg, later to be called Co. A.
Daniel S. Allen, Pvt, Co. A, 6th AL Inf Reg: Daniel S. Allen was born about 1842 in Henry Co., AL;
died 20 June 1862 at Receiving and Wayside Hospital or General Hospital No. 9, Richmond, VA from
wounds incurred on 31 May 1862 at the Battle of 7 Pines. He was buried at Hollywood Cemetery,
Richmond, VA. He was the son of Henry Allen, born about 1800, Duplin Co., NC; died about 1870,
Henry Co., AL; married Elizabeth in GA. Elizabeth was born in 1812, GA; died in 1870, Henry Co., AL.
Daniel never married and left no issue. Daniel's enlistment information is identical to his older
brother Matthew. A step-gg-grandfather from NC was, also, a participant in the Battle of 7 Pines.
Don
=====
From Sam Marshall, whose g-grandfather was wounded in the Battle of 7 Pines
My g-grandfather, Milas Jay Holthouser, Private from Iredell Co. served under D. H. Hill at Seven
Pines. He was roughly 16 years old at the time. He was wounded in the leg and on the face.
During the campaign he managed to get word back home about his condition. His younger brother
(about age 15) took the family mule and wagon and found his way from Troutman, NC to the
Richmond area and found him in the Mechanicsville area. He transported Milas and another
soldier from the area back home. My g-grandfather lived out the rest of his life as a farmer and
raised a family. He always walked with a crutch and carried a black doctors' bag with him to dress
his leg wound, which never really healed. He wore a long beard which was fashionable at the time
to cover his facial wound. His company was initially formed in Statesville, NC.
Sam
=====
From Diane Stark Sanfilippo, whose gg-grandfather participated in the Battle of 7 Pines
My gg-grandfather, William Brewster Quailes, fought in the Battle of Seven Pines. William
Brewster Quailes was born 27 April 1837, Anderson Co, Pendleton District, SC; died, 1915,
Bessemer, AL; married 26 October 1863, Madison Co., GA to Nancy Cordelia McDonald, born 29
June 1838, Franklin Co., GA; died 26 February 1870, Atlanta, Fulton, Co., GA.
Grandpa Quailes enlisted with the Palmetto Sharpshooters Regiment, SC, when the unit was
formed in April, 1862. He was critically wounded in the Battle of Frazier's Farm. He returned to GA
on a 90-day recuperation pass, then rejoined while his unit was serving for a short time in TN. He
remained with his unit until it surrendered 29 officers and 356 men, more than any other unit at
Appomattox.
William's only son, Willie Johnston, died not long after the war during the flu epidemic, and Nancy
died just a day after giving birth to a stillborn girl. My g-grandmother was his only surviving child
from his marriage to Nancy. He remarried and had three more daughters, so his grandsons were
his pride and joy. The parents of William Quailes were John Balius Quailes, Jr., born 1804, SC; died
after 1880, Hall Co., GA and Mary Hembree, born 2 March 1801, Pendleton District, SC; died 25
January 1892, Anderson Co., GA.
Diane
=====
From Harriett Fuquay, whose gg-grandfather was wounded and gg-uncle was killed at 7 Pines
Green Massey, my gg-grandfather, was wounded in the left shoulder on 31 May 1862. He served
with Co. F, 27th GA Inf (aka Featherstone's Brigade, 4th Division, Army of Northern VA and General
Alford C. Colquitt's Brigade.) He enlisted 23 June 1861 and was discharged at Macon, GA at the
conclusion of the war. Green Massey was the son of Kimbrell and Lucinda Massey and the
husband of Joanah Hill and Georgia Partin. He was born 6 March 1843, died 8 March 1928 and is
buried in Pine Level Cemetery, Macon Co., GA. Green Massey was a native of Muscogee Co., GA
and lived at Miona until his death.
According to the physicians who examined him when he applied for a pension in 1900, "the
miniball entered the left shoulder joint and was still lodged in the muscle and joint, therefore,
rendering the arm nearly useless." He drew a pension until his death in 1928.
John H. Shirah, my gg-uncle, was killed at the Battle of Seven Pines on 31 May 1862. John Shirah
was married to Green Massey's sister, Lucinda, and served in Co. F, 27th Reg, GA Inf, with his
brother-in-law, Green Massey. The Richmond Daily Dispatch lists John Shirah as the only soldier
killed from Co. F on May 31. John Shirah's place of burial is unknown. John Shirah was the son of
Charles Shirah and Laurainia Medlin Shirah. He was born about 1830. He married Lucinda Massey
on 28 August 1852 in GA. John enlisted in the 27th Reg on 9 September 1861 at Griffin, GA.
Lucinda Shirah filed a claim for his pay amounting to $196.06 and it was at that time the authorities
discovered that John had indeed been killed in the battle. Mrs. Shirah was awarded his pay.
Harriet
======
From Chanda Blitch, whose gg-grandfather was killed during the Battle of 7 Pines
My gg-grandfather, Pvt. William James Higdon, of Alexandria, VA, died 31 May 1862. Killed along
with him were three friends, W. H. 'Billy' Lunt, Monroe 'Rhodie' Whittington and John S. Murray. All
were members of Capt. Arthur Herbert's Co. H., 'Old Dominion Rifles,' 17th VA Inf, Army of Northern
VA. They are remembered, along with others from the town, on the Confederate Memorial Statue,
'Appomattox,' which stands at the intersection of South Washington and Prince Streets near the
old waterfront in Alexandria. My grandfather's family was told he was buried on the field, as were
so many others, and his grave was never found. At 43, he was older than many who enlisted so
early in the war. His wife had died four years before at 33 years of age, and thus he left four
orphans, ages 18, 15, 12 and 8, in a sister's care.
Chanda
=======
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Participants - Battle of Seven Pines
Battle of Seven Pines Index
The Past Whispers - Home
Matthew T. Allen, Pvt, Co. A, 6th AL Inf Reg: Matthew Tolbert Allen was born 6/20/1829 in GA; died
5/31/1862 at the Battle of 7 Pines, VA. He was the son of Henry Allen, born about 1800 in Duplin Co.,
NC; died about 1870 in Henry Co., AL; married 11 August 1825 to (1) Easter Wells in Irwin Co., GA;
Easter's birth and death dates unknown. Matthew T. Allen married (2) Francis Mourning
Blackshear on 4 January 1853 in Henry Co., AL. Francis was born about 1831 in Henry Co., AL and
died about 1863, Henry Co., AL. Six children were born to this marriage: Sarah Catherine, William
Tolbert, Easter Malissa, James David and Martha Ella. Matthew Tolbert Allen enlisted 5 March 1862
in Columbia, AL into old Co. L, 6th Inf Reg, later to be called Co. A.
Daniel S. Allen, Pvt, Co. A, 6th AL Inf Reg: Daniel S. Allen was born about 1842 in Henry Co., AL;
died 20 June 1862 at Receiving and Wayside Hospital or General Hospital No. 9, Richmond, VA from
wounds incurred on 31 May 1862 at the Battle of 7 Pines. He was buried at Hollywood Cemetery,
Richmond, VA. He was the son of Henry Allen, born about 1800, Duplin Co., NC; died about 1870,
Henry Co., AL; married Elizabeth in GA. Elizabeth was born in 1812, GA; died in 1870, Henry Co., AL.
Daniel never married and left no issue. Daniel's enlistment information is identical to his older
brother Matthew. A step-gg-grandfather from NC was, also, a participant in the Battle of 7 Pines.
Don
=====
From Sam Marshall, whose g-grandfather was wounded in the Battle of 7 Pines
My g-grandfather, Milas Jay Holthouser, Private from Iredell Co. served under D. H. Hill at Seven
Pines. He was roughly 16 years old at the time. He was wounded in the leg and on the face.
During the campaign he managed to get word back home about his condition. His younger brother
(about age 15) took the family mule and wagon and found his way from Troutman, NC to the
Richmond area and found him in the Mechanicsville area. He transported Milas and another
soldier from the area back home. My g-grandfather lived out the rest of his life as a farmer and
raised a family. He always walked with a crutch and carried a black doctors' bag with him to dress
his leg wound, which never really healed. He wore a long beard which was fashionable at the time
to cover his facial wound. His company was initially formed in Statesville, NC.
Sam
=====
From Diane Stark Sanfilippo, whose gg-grandfather participated in the Battle of 7 Pines
My gg-grandfather, William Brewster Quailes, fought in the Battle of Seven Pines. William
Brewster Quailes was born 27 April 1837, Anderson Co, Pendleton District, SC; died, 1915,
Bessemer, AL; married 26 October 1863, Madison Co., GA to Nancy Cordelia McDonald, born 29
June 1838, Franklin Co., GA; died 26 February 1870, Atlanta, Fulton, Co., GA.
Grandpa Quailes enlisted with the Palmetto Sharpshooters Regiment, SC, when the unit was
formed in April, 1862. He was critically wounded in the Battle of Frazier's Farm. He returned to GA
on a 90-day recuperation pass, then rejoined while his unit was serving for a short time in TN. He
remained with his unit until it surrendered 29 officers and 356 men, more than any other unit at
Appomattox.
William's only son, Willie Johnston, died not long after the war during the flu epidemic, and Nancy
died just a day after giving birth to a stillborn girl. My g-grandmother was his only surviving child
from his marriage to Nancy. He remarried and had three more daughters, so his grandsons were
his pride and joy. The parents of William Quailes were John Balius Quailes, Jr., born 1804, SC; died
after 1880, Hall Co., GA and Mary Hembree, born 2 March 1801, Pendleton District, SC; died 25
January 1892, Anderson Co., GA.
Diane
=====
From Harriett Fuquay, whose gg-grandfather was wounded and gg-uncle was killed at 7 Pines
Green Massey, my gg-grandfather, was wounded in the left shoulder on 31 May 1862. He served
with Co. F, 27th GA Inf (aka Featherstone's Brigade, 4th Division, Army of Northern VA and General
Alford C. Colquitt's Brigade.) He enlisted 23 June 1861 and was discharged at Macon, GA at the
conclusion of the war. Green Massey was the son of Kimbrell and Lucinda Massey and the
husband of Joanah Hill and Georgia Partin. He was born 6 March 1843, died 8 March 1928 and is
buried in Pine Level Cemetery, Macon Co., GA. Green Massey was a native of Muscogee Co., GA
and lived at Miona until his death.
According to the physicians who examined him when he applied for a pension in 1900, "the
miniball entered the left shoulder joint and was still lodged in the muscle and joint, therefore,
rendering the arm nearly useless." He drew a pension until his death in 1928.
John H. Shirah, my gg-uncle, was killed at the Battle of Seven Pines on 31 May 1862. John Shirah
was married to Green Massey's sister, Lucinda, and served in Co. F, 27th Reg, GA Inf, with his
brother-in-law, Green Massey. The Richmond Daily Dispatch lists John Shirah as the only soldier
killed from Co. F on May 31. John Shirah's place of burial is unknown. John Shirah was the son of
Charles Shirah and Laurainia Medlin Shirah. He was born about 1830. He married Lucinda Massey
on 28 August 1852 in GA. John enlisted in the 27th Reg on 9 September 1861 at Griffin, GA.
Lucinda Shirah filed a claim for his pay amounting to $196.06 and it was at that time the authorities
discovered that John had indeed been killed in the battle. Mrs. Shirah was awarded his pay.
Harriet
======
From Chanda Blitch, whose gg-grandfather was killed during the Battle of 7 Pines
My gg-grandfather, Pvt. William James Higdon, of Alexandria, VA, died 31 May 1862. Killed along
with him were three friends, W. H. 'Billy' Lunt, Monroe 'Rhodie' Whittington and John S. Murray. All
were members of Capt. Arthur Herbert's Co. H., 'Old Dominion Rifles,' 17th VA Inf, Army of Northern
VA. They are remembered, along with others from the town, on the Confederate Memorial Statue,
'Appomattox,' which stands at the intersection of South Washington and Prince Streets near the
old waterfront in Alexandria. My grandfather's family was told he was buried on the field, as were
so many others, and his grave was never found. At 43, he was older than many who enlisted so
early in the war. His wife had died four years before at 33 years of age, and thus he left four
orphans, ages 18, 15, 12 and 8, in a sister's care.
Chanda
=======
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Participants - Battle of Seven Pines
Battle of Seven Pines Index
The Past Whispers - Home