Who we portray....

I was born May 29, 1800 in Warrenton, Virginia. At the start of the conflict, I had a horse farm in Warrenton, a wife, two sons and a daughter.

My oldest son Jonathan and I joined Ashby’s Cavalry in June of 1861, after Federal invasion of Virginia. We rode and fought in the Northern Virginia border campaign, The Romney Winter Campaign under Jackson, The Battle of Kernstown, Jackson’s Valley Campaign (McDowell, Front Royal, Winchester, Harrisonburg).

My son was killed and I was wounded at Harrisonburg on June 6, 1861 and brought t a temporary hospital at Port Republic on June 9. After recuperation, I was assigned as a scout with the 15th Alabama Company G.

My wife died of the fever in the fall of 1861. My youngest son joined Wade Hampton’s Cavalry in the spring of 1862.

Following Ashby’s death and Jackson’s reorganization of the cavalry, I moved to Richmond with Jackson’s Corps (Ewell’s Div., Trimble’s Brig.) fighting with the 15th Alabama Company G under the command of Colonel Oates at 1st Cold Harbor, Malvern Hill, 2nd Manassas, Chantilly, Sharpsburg and Fredericksburg.

I stayed with the 15th Alabama when they moved to Law’s Brigade, Hood’s Division, Longstreet’s Corps and fought at Gettysburg where my youngest son was killed. I then was at Chickamauga, Brown’s Ferry, Lookout Valley, and Knoxville. Moving back East, we fought in the Wilderness Campaign at Spotsylvania, Hanover Junction, 2nd Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Deep Bottom, Fussell’s Mill and was part of the surrender at Appomattox. I was later reunited with my daughter, who survived the war.

(Tom Bassford)

I was born in Raleigh, North Carolina and I graduated from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and The University of Pennsylvania College of Medicine.

I married Sallie Buchanan, a socialite, from St. Louis, MO and spent twenty years in St. Louis as a public health reformer (Cholera Epidemic of 1849), a professor at St. Louis University School of Medicine and The Director of The U.S. Marine Hospital.

I am a firm believer in states’ right, but at the start of this conflict, I am not committed to either side. I have no slaves, but I do have an Irish housekeeper and three other young German servants.

Early one evening, Federal authorities entered my home, confiscated most of my household goods and arrested my wife for spying, all the while my son William (AGE 5) was upstairs dying from a brain seizure. My second son, George would later die from a fever in December of 1863.

On June 20, 1862, I was faced with signing an Oath of Allegiance to the Union. I decided to flee St. Louis, travel to Richmond, VA and enlist my services in the cause of the Confederacy. I left a note in the Dean’s Office at St. Louis University Medical School explaining that I would not be teaching my anatomy class the next day and I also resigned as the Director of The U.S. Marine Hospital. At the time, my wife, only surviving son (George) and my infant daughter (Maggie) were all imprisoned in St. Louis.

Two weeks ride by horseback found me in Richmond, VA where I received a commission with the rank of Major on July 4, 1862. I was assigned as a surgeon to the Confederate Dept. of Trans-Mississippi sector and requested to serve under Maj. Gen. Sterling Price, commanding the Missouri forces now serving in Mississippi.

I left Richmond, VA on July 6th planning on traveling to Mississippi, but was soon captured on July 8th by members of the 29th Massachusetts Infantry near Malvern Hill & Poindexter’s Farm and was forced to provide medical services for Union forces.

On August 22, 1862, during a conflict with the 15th Alabama near Hazel River, I was rescued by members of Company G. While awaiting new papers for re-assignment, a horse, and provisions to continue on to Mississippi, I am providing my services as a surgeon for the 15th Alabama Company G.

^{(Chris Nulle)}

Miss Deb was born January 5, 1823 in Montgomery County Maryland. She grew up on a large farm not far from Sharpsburg. Although not rich, her family was well enough off to allow her to have lessons along with her older sister. As a result, she can read, write, use numbers. And does not speak with a Southern accent.

At times her family would go to Washington City to visit relatives. While there, Deb met a French diplomat Andre and several months later, in 1843, they were married. Micheal was born in 1847. Ashley in 1851 and Benjamin in 1853. After France declares war on Russia (Crimean War) in 1854, Andre leaves Miss Deb and the children to return to his homeland. She receives only 2 letters from him then never hears from him again.

After the death of her parents, Miss Deb takes over running the family farm. Once the war started, Michael couldn’t resist the urge to fight, and despite his young age and unbeknownst to his family, heads to join the Second Maryland Volunteer Infantry. Having never been political, and having relatives on both sides of the war, Miss Deb wrote letters and used all her contacts to try and find our where Michael was.

During the battle of Antietam, the farm house was heavily damaged and the fall crops were ruined by the raiding soldiers from both sides. Miss Deb and her family could not support themselves on the farm without help and there was no one who could help them. A cousin, who was a member of the 15th Alabama, Co G, agreed to have Deb and her children join him as the company seamstress and she assists Major William M. McPheeters with the wounded. She has been known, when possible, to try and gather information from Union soldiers on troop movements to share with her cousin.

(Deb, Ashley and Ben)

I was born May 22, 1820. I was married to Mandy Baxley on July 21, 1856 and worked as a farmer. I enlisted with the 15th Alabama Company G on August 15, 1862 near Abbeville, Alabama in Henry County named for Patrick Henry.

I missed four or five major engagements. I participated in Manassas Junction, Manassas, Chantilly, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg and Gettysburg. I was wounded at Gettysburg and captured on July 2, 1863. I was exchanged on September 1864.

(Steve Hatfield)

I was born in Washington, Georgia in 1840, on our family’s plantation. I joined my four brothers and an older sister, and some time later, my dear sister Metta was born and helped me to maintain a feminine presence in the face of all these gentlemen!

I have always been interested in exploring new things, and have come up against my father on a number of occasions. I recently attended LaGrange Female College, where I was one of the first students. I have learned much about music and art, and while I can converse in French and refer to Latin, my interest and education about literature have helped me decide that I want to be a writer, and a writer I will be!

These recent unpleasantries have given me a background to start my writing activities, and I travel from camp to camp, when my brothers or Father permit me, to chronicle the things I see our soldiers enduring. I hope to be able to publish my journal with the help of my parents’ friends in the city. Fortunately, their social position, what with Father being a judge and all, will be a major reason that I will be able to realize my dreams. I have no doubt; of course, that what I write will be interesting, provocative and important for both men and ladies to read!

This war has caused a great deal of upset in my own family as Father does not support the secessionists. My four brothers and I ardently disagree with him. Father thinks that this war will ruin our way of life, and is most disheartened by Georgia’s secession from the Union. He fears that without slavery, we will no longer be able to maintain the plantation’s cotton fields. I tend to see my brothers’ point of view which is that there is no other way to protect our way of life, except to secede from the Union. We must all do whatever we can to guard against losing the family home and fortune. My brothers are willing to fight for this cause, and I will do my most so others will know the truths behind the battle lines.

(Peg Nulle)

I was born in Abbeville, Alabama in January 14, 1844. My father was Jesse Vickers and his mother was Nicey Vickers. I had four brothers and three sisters and two step brothers. Jesse married Harriet Morris on August 7, 1860 after the death of Nicey in 1850. When I was six years old my father deeded to me a Negro girl by the name of "Harriet" and when I was nine months and eleven years old, my father deeded a Negro boy by the name of "Jake" until I became 21 years old or had died.

My older brother, Hatcher, enlisted as a private with Company E of the 6th Alabama Cavalry at the outbreak of the War Between the States. I enlisted on March 3, 1862 as a private at the age of eighteen with the 15th Alabama Co. G Henry County Pioneers.

At the outbreak of the conflict, I became sick from dysentery and was absent from service in Winchester, Virginia from May 25, 1862 until Shepherdstown, West Virginia on September 18, 1862. I rejoined the 15th Alabama Co. G at Sharpsburg, Maryland (Antietam) in late September 1862.

I served with distinction with the 15th Alabama Co. G. from December 13, 1862 until the Wilderness Campaign of May 1864 where I was severely wounded and permanently disabled. I was shot in both legs.

I fought in the battles of Suffolk (April 11-May 4, 1863), Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863), Chickamauga (September 18-20, 1863), and Wilderness (May 5-7, 1864). Because of my injuries sustained from the Wilderness Campaign, I was absent from duty for Spotsylvania (May 8, 1864) through Williamsburg Road (October 27, 1864).

My father died in 1864. After the war, I married Mahala Lovice Dominy on November 24, 1865 in Henry County, Alabama. I returned to farming and had two children (Jesse & Mandy).

(Kate Nulle)

 (Jen V)