12 September 1861: “The Commanding General has great satisfaction in making known the excellent conduct of Colonel J.E. Stewart, and of the officers, and men of his command, in the affair of Lewinsville…”

Item description: General Order No. 19, Laudatory of Col Stewart’s affair at Lewinsville, 12 September 1861

The Boykin family of Camden, S.C., included Alexander Hamilton Boykin (1815-1866), cotton planter, state legislator, and Confederate officer. During the Civil War, Hamilton Boykin organized and financed Boykin’s Rangers, which became Company A of the Second South Carolina Cavalry. As captain, he served from 26 June 1861 until 1 October 1862 when poor health forced him to resign. He engaged the enemy at the First Battle of Bull Run, 21 July 1861, and at Williamsburg, May 1862. Appointed judge advocate in December 1862 by Confederate president Jefferson Davis, he declined to serve, citing his lack of legal experience. Toward the close of the war, he expressed a strong dislike of Davis and his policies.

Civil War records are largely military papers and orders for Captain A. H. Boykin and his company of independent mounted rangers for the years 1861-1862. The materials during these years include several muster rolls for Boykin’s Rangers, personal and general orders, leaves of absence, court materials, discharges, notices forbidding officers’ private use of captured ambulances, and notices forbidding drunkenness and the careless discharge of firearms.

This order commends Col. J.E. Stuart (spelled Stewart in the orders) for bravery during a clash with Union soldiers led by Gen. William Smith at Lewinsville, Va.

[Transcription available after images]

Item citation: From folder 18 of the Boykin Family Papers (#78), Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Item transcription:

Head Quarters, Army of the Potomac
Sept 12, 1861

General Order
No. 19

The Commanding General has great satisfaction in making known the excellent conduct of Colonel J.E. Stewart, and of the officers, and men of his command, in the affair of Lewinsville, on the 11th Instant, on this occasion, Col Stewart, with Major Terrells, Battalion (13th Va Vols) two field pieces of the Washington Artillery (La) under Capt. Rassert, Lt. Slocum, and Capt. Patrick’s company of calvary (1st Va) attacked and drove from that position in confusion, three Regiments of Infantry, eight pieces of Artillery, and a large body of Cavalry, inflicting seven loss but incurring non.

By Command of Gen. Johnston
(Signed) Tho. G. Rhett
A.A. Gen.

Official
C.R. Holmes
A.A.A. Gen [?]

 

This entry was posted in Southern Historical Collection and tagged . Bookmark the permalink.

Comments are closed.