Colonel George Smith Patton

Colonel George Smith Patton

Colonel George Smith Patton, Archives V.M.I.

George Patton was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia on June 26th, 1833. He entered the Virginia Military Institute in 1849 and graduated in 1852. Patton spent two years of teaching in Richmond and also studied law. There he and his family moved to Charleston, (West) Virginia in 1856, where he formed a law partnership with Thomas Buroun. George Patton also served as commissioner in Chancery to the Kanawha Circuit Court and also the Kanawha County Court.

In 1856, George Patton anticipated a war developing and started to organize the militia company known as the Kanawha Minutemen at Charleston, Western Virginia. Patton, known as a strict disciplinarian had a sharp mind for tactics. He held drills on a regular basis at the Old Mercer Military School in Joel Ruffner's Meadow. The Brooks Hall or the Assembly Room, as it is known today was where this formation took place. Privately financed, the Kanawha Minutemen’s’ ranks swelled with some of Charleston’s most prominent citizens. They consisted of men who were lawyers and also socially known throughout the Kanawha Valley region. Within two weeks company elections took place, officers were elected and the Kanawha Minutemen changed their name to the Kanawha Rifles and elected George Patton as Captain. During another meeting in November of 1859, the Kanawha Rifles soon voted on a change of name to the Kanawha Riflemen.

Captain George Patton personally designed the uniforms that his men wore. The uniforms were similar in appearance to the Richmond Light Infantry Blues. The frock (over) coat was dark green with a cape and it was laced with black trim on the cuffs and collar. It featured a nine-button front, with epaulets of gold braid. The trousers were also dark green with a single black stripe down the leg for enlisted men, and a gold stripe for the officers. A wide brim slouch hat with ostrich feathers dangling down from the side with the letters "KR" on the front completed the outfit. White Berlin gloves were worn to Charleston’s social events. The Kanawha Rifles, as resources state, were armed with the latest two band fifty-four caliber Mississippi rifles with the sword bayonets.

The men were highly disciplined and were regarded as the best militia company in the area. Some say that this was in part due to their social standing in the city of Charleston, where they were invited to social balls, dinners, parades, and other town events. On one occasion they were invited to attend a social ball in Ohio, where a fight almost broke out between an Ohio company and the Kanawha Riflemen. Due to the sharp discipline of Patton’s men, the Civil War almost started there in 1858. They held dress parades and drills with an open invitation to the public to come out and watch their routine, as they would go through every command. This was a way for the riflemen to gain the support of the citizens that they would soon be protecting. During the John Brown Raid on Harper's Ferry in 1859, the governor of Virginia contacted the Mayor of Charleston, and requested that the Riflemen be ready if the stand off had not come to an end.

The Coal River Rifles were an independent company that is believed to have evolved into the Kanawha Riflemen. The information is very sketchy, and although the company started in 1859, there is no record of their military duties during the Civil War. This would explain why the Kanawha Riflemen’s ranks swelled in the early part of 1859. However, the Coal River Rifles deserve their own spot in American history.

Promotion Papers, Colonel George Patton 1861; Archives V.M.I.

As the Civil War began in western Virginia Patton enlisted in the Confederate Army’s 1st Kanawha regiment on May 8th, 1861 as Captain of Company I (Later in 1862 became Company H) formally known as the Kanawha Riflemen. The newly formed regiment then mustered into service of the Confederacy in June 1861 in the Army of Kanawha under General Henry Wise.. On June 7, he was commissioned as Lt. Colonel of the regiment. Their first baptism of fire came on July 16-17, 1861 at the Battle of Scary Creek. Confederates used this post for lookout duty and had a cannon stationed at the mouth of the Poca River where the Little Scary Creek emptied. The Kanawha River was located toward the west of the Confederate position.

On July 16th, a Federal scouting party spotted the Confederate pickets and attempted to over run the Confederates. Once the Confederates opened fired with the cannon the Federal retreated. At 9am in the morning a larger body of Federals under the command of General Jacob Cox took up positions and met the Confederates under the command of Captain George Patton at the mouth of Scary Creek. The Confederates retreated in the face of a larger force and took up defensives on a bridge that crossed the Scary Creek. Once the Federal Cavalry started to charge, two Confederate cannon open fired. The Federal Cavalry retreated. The battle for the next several hours resulted in a stalemate. Long range rifles and cannon fired at each other. The Federals made several charges to cross the bridge, and were repulsed.

During the final charge Captain George Patton was wounded in the shoulder. Captain Albert Jenkins took over command of the 22nd Virginia and realized that the Federals were falling back. Fearing that the Federals were going to regroup and make a counter attack, the Confederates left the field.

At the battle of Scary Creek July 17th 1861, Captain Patton led the Confederates to victory. A Confederate Colonel realized that the Federals were in full retreat ordered the 22nd Virginia back on the field and claim the victory. Being severely wounded in the left shoulder he was left at Charleston, (West) Virginia as an exchanged prisoner. Patton did not return to the 22nd Virginia until April of 1862. After his release one month later he was wounded at Giles Court House May 10th of 1862 and again exchanged as a prisoner on the 25th of May. Upon his return he was commissioned Colonel of the 22nd Virginia.

Once General John Echols became commander of the forces in West Virginia in 1863, Colonel Patton often commanded General Echols Brigade due to the Generals' often illness and political absences throughout 1863 and 1864. Naming his forces the Army of South Western Virginia, the 22nd Virginia spent the spring on a series of raids called the Jones and Imboden Raid. The raid went completely around West Virginia and entered Oakland, Maryland. The purpose of the raid was to destroy the B & O railroad over hangs that were vital to the Federals. On April 24, the raid carried over to Beverly, West Virginia. Once settled in Beverly, the 22nd Virginia was engaged in a skirmish that captured several Union troops and some much needed supplies.

During the month of August, the 22nd Virginia was stationed near Lewisburg in White Sulphur Springs. This town had a famous health spa and was a scene of a huge battle between The 22nd Virginia and Federal forces under the command of General Averell. The federal objective was to seize the law books at the Virginia State Law Library at Lewisburg. These books contained information on the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals for the convenience of lawyers and judges. Colonel Patton marched his army down Anthony's Creek Road and the Union army went by the way of the James River Pike. The two forces met at the intersection of these two roads. Colonel Patton deployed his men at once, immediately blocking the road. The battle lasted all day and carried over into the following day. Both armies were running low on supplies, and the Federal army was forced to withdraw from the field. Colonel Patton a decisive victory had been won for the Confederates.

The 22nd Virginia's high tide of the Civil War was at the Battle of Droop Mountain, West Virginia on November 6, 1863. This was the biggest battle to take place in the state of West Virginia. Even though the battle of Droop Mountain was classified as a Confederate defeat, General Echols managed to survive the main thrust of the Union Army and caused General Averell to incomplete their raid in Virginia and Tennessee. Even so, after the battle of Droop Mountain (West) Virginia the Army of South Western Virginia was almost destroyed. The Confederates held their ground and this forced General Averell to send a detachment of troops to the west, where they were ordered to attack the Confederate's left. Colonel Patton became aware that the left flank was on the verge of collapse and informed General John Echols of this at once. The Army of the Ohio almost wiped out the 22nd Virginia Infantry and the Army of South Western Virginia. As the 22nd Virginia recovered it's loss, General Lee called on the Army of South Western Virginia early in the spring to help clear the Federals out of the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia.

The battle of New Market (May 15th, 1864) would be the biggest victory that the 22nd Virginia would participate in. Colonel Patton led his men again in the battle of Cold Harbor, Virginia that was the bloodiest single hour to ever take place on American soil. Being placed into General Breckenridge’s Division that was part of General Early’s corps, the 22nd Virginia would take part of Early's Raid on Washington (DC). After marching north through the Shenandoah Valley from Lynchburg, the Confederate army of Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early sidestepped the Federal garrison at Harpers Ferry and crossed the Potomac River at Shepherdstown into Maryland on July 5-6.

On July 8 at Turners Gap, near Middletown MD, the 22nd Virginia may have engaged in a series of skirmishes. They consisted of Antietam Creek, South Mountain, Catoctin Creek, Ballenger Creek, and finally ending at Frederick in the late evening hours. The 22nd Virginia Infantry pushed the Federal cavalry back into the city of Frederick on a 12-mile stretch from the foot of South Mountain. This is something that was honorable, because not too many regiments during the Civil War were able to fight one constant battle after another all during one day. On July 9, 1864, 6,000 Union troops under the command of Major General Lew Wallace attempted to stop General Early's invading Confederate divisions along the Monocacy River, outside of Frederick, Maryland. During the time of the battle, the 22nd Virginia served as reserves during the battle of Monocacy.

General Early's invasion across the Potomac River during the latter part of June and early July 1864, resulted in the diversion of Union reinforcements, headed toward Petersburg, to the defense of Washington. As General Early's Maryland Campaign faltered with the arrival of Federal reinforcements, Early returned to the Valley.

A Union column, consisting of the VI Corps and elements of the XIX Corps under Major General Horatio Wright, pursued Early's army while it withdrew from the outskirts of Washington. On July 17, the Union cavalry passed through Snickers Gap and attempted to force passage of the Shenandoah River at Snickers Ford (Castleman's Ferry). On the morning of July 18, the vanguard of the Union infantry moved through Snickers Gap. Colonel Joseph Thoburn (of Crook's command) led his division downstream to cross the river at Judge Richard Parker's Ford. Early's three nearby infantry divisions moved to defend the fords.

In the afternoon, Rodes's division attacked and shattered Thoburn's right flank on the Cool Spring plantation. Thoburn made a stand behind a stonewall at the river's edge and beat off three attacks until darkness enabled him to withdraw. Union pursuit of Early was delayed several days. The Confederate forces at Cool Springs almost completely wiped out the Army of West Virginia.

July 23rd saw Confederate cavalry move aggressively down the Valley Pike pushing Union cavalry back from Newtown (Stephens City) to Kernstown. Union Brigadier General George Crook ordered Duval's infantry to deploy across the road and drive the Confederates from the town. This was accomplished quickly and the Union infantry of Duval was ordered back to Winchester and positioned behind Abrams Creek. General Crook left a brigade of cavalry to hold Kernstown.

Jubal Early's army was camped near Strasburg. At dawn of July 24th the Confederate force broke camp and moved up the Valley Pike. When they reached Bartonsville, the army divided and moved toward Winchester from several different directions. Ramseur's division was ordered to move west to the Middle Road by means of area side roads. Gordon, Wharton, and Rhodes' divisions were to remain on the Valley Pike and continue in the direction of Winchester. Early ordered two columns of cavalry to move east and west and converge on the Union rear at Winchester.

General Early ordered his army North, and splitting his army into two columns, the first column under the command of General John McCausland to burned Chambersburg, PA July 30th. The second column under General Early set forth to Moorefield, while General McCausland crossed the Potomac River at Cumberland and headed toward Chambersburg.

After the burning Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, on July 30, Johnson and McCausland's cavalry brigades rode toward Cumberland, Maryland, to disrupt the B&O Railroad. The Confederates destroyed the vital bridges along the B&O Railroad at Flocks Mill near Cumberland, Maryland.

General Benjamin Kelly organized a small force of soldiers and citizens to meet the Confederate advance. On August 1, Kelly ambushed Rebel cavalrymen near Cumberland at Flock's Mill, and skirmishing continued for several hours. Eventually the Confederates withdrew. Being encamped at Moorfield, General Early was attack and was forced to retreat back into Virginia and to take possession of the Shenandoah Valley from the Federals under the command of General Sheridan.

As a result of the Battle of Second Kernstown and General Early's ventures north, General Grant was forced to take action to ensure that the Valley would no longer prove a problem to him. General Phillip Sheridan was sent to take total control of the Valley in August of 1864. Just in Revelations, General Sheridan brought new tactics of warfare to the chapters of history books. His policy of "Scoured Earth" would devastate the citizens of Shenandoah Valley as most of the Valley was brunt in order to repress the Southern Armies strong hold and to starve out the Confederacy that was entrenched in Richmond and Petersburg Virginia.

The Battle of Opequon or Third Winchester as it is sometimes referred to, was the largest and the most important battle fought in the Shenandoah Valley. It marked the decline of Confederate power in the Valley and the rise of Union domination. General Grant had sent General Phillip Sheridan to the Valley and ordered him to put an end to the problem of the Valley once and for all. General Sheridan became to the Valley what General Sherman was to Atlanta.

On September 16th, 1864 the Confederate Army of the Valley Division was holding a vital link to the Shenandoah Valley. This link was known as the town of Winchester, Virginia. General Sheridan with an army of 38,000 men attacked General Early's 12,000-man army. During the third battle of Winchester, Virginia Colonel Patton riding his horse down an ally was shot by a Union bullet being wounded he was taken prisoner. The wound from his leg would take his life on September 25,1864 because he would not have his leg amputated, Patton was only 32 years of age. Colonel George Patton is buried at the Stonewall Cemetery in Winchester, Virginia. The marker says: "here asleep in one grave, the Patton brothers". Colonel George Patton is buried with his brother W. Tazwell Patton who was killed at the battle of Gettysburg July 3rd, 1863.

In a letter to Mr. R.A. Brock from George Patton’s Brother John, a discrepancy toward General John Echols’ behavior on the battlefield as General was in question. John Patton took it upon himself to write to the War Department in Richmond about the promotion of Colonel George Patton to Field General. John Patton Stated: “Echols was Patton’s Brigadier, but from ill health and political causes, was never with the brigade in “action” but once – at the Battle of Droop Mountain WVA where the brigade was routed and when the advice of Col. Patton was disregarded. Col. Patton commanded it, I think – indeed quite sure – in every other battle, and was, so far as I remember, uniformly successful.”

Apparently, the War Department felt that George Patton deserved his commission as Brigadier General. This is what the War Department stated: “Patton had won his commission several times and he should have it, Mr. Seddon, then secretary, told me that the trouble was for Echols, who was himself a public man and the double brother in law to Senator Capeton.”

Colonel George Patton stated on behalf of himself: “I desire no influence to be exerted whatsoever, toward my promotion. If my services in the field have not earned my promotion, I should not value it.”