Today in Wheeling History: May 17--The Shriver Grays, a Confederate company raised in Wheeling, secretly departed the city by riverboat, traveling to Harpers Ferry to join the Confederate Army (1861).
The Shriver Grays were a Confederate military company organized in Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia) in May 1861 at the beginning of the American Civil War. The unit had about 80 men initially and was led by Captain Daniel Shriver.
On May 17, 1861, the Shriver Grays departed Wheeling by riverboat, as they were unable to travel via the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad which was being guarded by Union forces. They moved down the Ohio River and up the Kanawha River, then traversed overland to the Shenandoah River, and finally down to Harpers Ferry.
The company was mustered in as Company G of the 27th Virginia Infantry Regiment, part of the famous Stonewall Brigade. They fought in many of the major battles and campaigns of the war, including First Bull Run, the Valley Campaign, the Seven Days Battles, Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg.
Captain Shriver was promoted to major and then lieutenant colonel. He was severely wounded in June 1862 at the Battle of Port Republic. In September 1863 after Gettysburg, Shriver resigned his commission to serve in the Virginia General Assembly. Command of the company passed to Captain Robert McEldowney.
The Shriver Grays suffered very heavy casualties over the course of the war. By the end of the conflict, very few of the original members remained. The company fought to the very end, participating in the Appomattox Campaign before surrendering with Lee's army in April 1865. Of the 21 men of the 27th Virginia who surrendered at Appomattox, only 1 was from the Shriver Grays.
In summary, the Shriver Grays were a Confederate company raised in Wheeling that fought bravely in many major battles as part of the renowned Stonewall Brigade, but was reduced to a remnant of its original size by the end of the Civil War due to very heavy combat losses. Their service was a notable chapter in Wheeling's Civil War history.
To learn more: (https://tinyurl.com/4w6acmrt) (https://tinyurl.com/mrxzcmau) (https://tinyurl.com/ye29d355) (https://tinyurl.com/yseycw5z) (https://tinyurl.com/4ctdn6yz) (https://tinyurl.com/3k5hu6a4)
Photo credits: Library of Congress, Find a Grave
The Shriver Grays were a Confederate military company organized in Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia) in May 1861 at the beginning of the American Civil War. The unit had about 80 men initially and was led by Captain Daniel Shriver.
On May 17, 1861, the Shriver Grays departed Wheeling by riverboat, as they were unable to travel via the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad which was being guarded by Union forces. They moved down the Ohio River and up the Kanawha River, then traversed overland to the Shenandoah River, and finally down to Harpers Ferry.
The company was mustered in as Company G of the 27th Virginia Infantry Regiment, part of the famous Stonewall Brigade. They fought in many of the major battles and campaigns of the war, including First Bull Run, the Valley Campaign, the Seven Days Battles, Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg.
Captain Shriver was promoted to major and then lieutenant colonel. He was severely wounded in June 1862 at the Battle of Port Republic. In September 1863 after Gettysburg, Shriver resigned his commission to serve in the Virginia General Assembly. Command of the company passed to Captain Robert McEldowney.
The Shriver Grays suffered very heavy casualties over the course of the war. By the end of the conflict, very few of the original members remained. The company fought to the very end, participating in the Appomattox Campaign before surrendering with Lee's army in April 1865. Of the 21 men of the 27th Virginia who surrendered at Appomattox, only 1 was from the Shriver Grays.
In summary, the Shriver Grays were a Confederate company raised in Wheeling that fought bravely in many major battles as part of the renowned Stonewall Brigade, but was reduced to a remnant of its original size by the end of the Civil War due to very heavy combat losses. Their service was a notable chapter in Wheeling's Civil War history.
To learn more: (https://tinyurl.com/4w6acmrt) (https://tinyurl.com/mrxzcmau) (https://tinyurl.com/ye29d355) (https://tinyurl.com/yseycw5z) (https://tinyurl.com/4ctdn6yz) (https://tinyurl.com/3k5hu6a4)
Photo credits: Library of Congress, Find a Grave
RSS Feed
