24th. Virginia Infantry

Hall of Honor

  29. Thomas Jefferson Draper Jr.

(b. Sept. 4, 1837 in Henry County Va.-d.Sept 29, 1927 in Henry Co. Va., buried in Draper Cemetery, enlisted in Co. H. on June 5, 1861 at Martinsville, Va. Pvt., Discharged Jan. 5 1862, conscripted May 14, 1864, discharged again Sept. 5, 1864 with a disability.

NOTE: There is a good photo of Thomas Jefferson Draper Jr. on the link for the men of the 24th.

30. Peter Davis Draper 

(b.Nov. 24, 1834 - d. June 29, 1924) died in Henry Co., buried in Nunn Family Cemetery, enlisted Co. H on Mar. 17, 1862, in Danville Hospital Aug. 10, 1862 and from Sept. 9, 1862, to March 24, 1863 with diarrhea, on detached service in ths spring of 1863 until the end of the war.

31. Jesse Hurd Draper 

(b. Sept. 14, 1839-d. Feb. 6, 1904) enlisted Co. H on June 5, 1861 at Lynchburg, in Charleston Hospital Sept. 13, 1861-Jan. 9 1862 with rheumatism and Chimborazo, July 3, 1862, with typhoid fever, wounded at Seven Pines, elected 1st Corp. May 10, 1862, captured at Gettysburg( Co. H, 24th Va. was in Kemper's Brigade in Pickett's Charge), imprisoned at Ft. Delaware, moved to Point Lookout on Oct.26, 1863, exchanged on Feb. 10, 1865.

32. Elkanah Brammer Draper  

(b.May 20, 1827-d. Nov. 10, 1902) enlisted Co. H on Jan. 11, 1863, Pvt., wounded in right foot May 16, 1864, admitted to Richmond Hospital May 17, 1864, retired to invalid corps Dec. 19 1864, granted an artifical limb in 1884.

I would like to thank Kenneth Draper for the Biographies on the Draper's.

33. Isaac Palmer 

Age 28 enlisted Company A. 5/16/61 at Floyd C.H., Fifer, absent sick in Charlstown Hospital 10/13 - 12/23/61 with Typhoid fever 8/10/62. Captured at Gettysburg; died of Typhoid fever at Fort Delware 5/23/64.

34. James Palmer 

Age 30 farmer; enlisted Company A. 5/16/61 at Floyd C.H. Detailed as nurse 9/15/61; captured at Williamsburg; claimed to have joined the 27th. Virginia Battalion 4/63.

35. Samuel Palmer 

Enlisted Company A. 5/16/61 at Mason's Hill. Wounded at Frayser's Farm; wounded in hand 7/62, admitted Chimborazo 7/3/62, to Petersburg; admitted to Williamsburg hospital 7/3/62; to duty 7/24/62; assigned to duty as fifer, Winter 1863- 10/1/64. AWOL 12/28/63 4/64; captured at Burkeville 4/6/65; released from Point Lookout 6/16/65. 5'8-5/8", dark complection, dark brown hair, hazel eyes, Residence Floyd County.

The following is a composite of information sent by Walter Palmer,
ancestor to the preceding three Palmer's listed.
Thank you Walter

James Palmer (1831-1887) served in Co. A, 24th VA Inf until his capture at Williamsburg. After exchange, he then joined the 27th Bn VA Cavalry (Triggs Partisan Rangers). The company he served in became part of the 25th VA Cavalry on July 8, 1864. He was wounded on June 5, 1864 and retired. He married in September, 1864 and moved to MO around 1870. My grandmother (his son's wife) told me (although she never knew him) when I was a boy that he had been wounded in the hip but they had never removed the ball and that this contributed to his death. Also serving him in this unit was his younger brother, Robert H. Palmer, who as captured at Fisher's Hll or Mt. Crawfored in September, 1864, confined at Point Lookout and released on May 14, 1865. Unfortunately, I have not been able to trace his movements thereafter but I've obtained some recent clues that have encouraged me. Samuel T. Palmer (1842-1924) served in Co. A, 24th VA Inf until his capture at Burkesville on April 6, 1865 covering Gen. Lee's retreat. He was confined at Pt. Lookout until his release on June 16, 1865. He had previously been wounded in the hand and foot. I just recently was able to trace his later movements. He returned to Montgomery County and married Isabelle M. ? in 1872. He applied for a pension in 1909 and his widow applied for a pension after his death in 1824 in Montgomery County. One of the witnesses on his application was a Robert "M" Palmer from Roanoke, VA. I need to investigate and determine if this could have been his brother Robert. The other brother, Isaac Palmer was captured at Gettysburg and died in confinement at Ft. Delaware. He is buried at the Finns Point National Cemetery, Salem, New Jersey. His name originally appeared on their rolls at Isaac Panner but I sent them documents proving that this was indeed Isaac Palmer and they changed their records accordingly. The Confederate monument at Finns Point was provided through the efforts of James Kemper then Governor of VA, who was his brigade commander at Gettysburg.

36. William Weldon Bentley

William Weldon Bentley, born 1839, Montgomery Co., Virginia; graduate, VMI Class of 1860; Lt. Col., 24th Virginia Infantry Regiment, CSA; farmer and stock breeder; died July 23, 1924, Richmond, VA; buried Hollywood cemetery. I quote from page 46 of R. W. Gunn's Regimental History of the 24th Virginia Infantry:

"Owing to ... Lt. Col. Maury's unexplained absence and Maj. Hambrick's wound, Capt.Bentley took command of the 24th Virginia. Savage hand-to-hand combat began between the Virginians and the Union troops just south of the angle. Despite the Federal advantage of a stone wall, at least part of the 24th Virginia was able to get inside of the Union works. The mountaineers stormed over the wall, causing many Federals to surrender. Continuing forward, Capt. Bentley and his men were able to occupy at least one of Alonzo H. Cushing's Union guns. However, the unsupported Virginians could not maintain their advantage.

A Northern counter attack swept the men back across the stone wall. Colonel Joseph Mayo of the 3rd Virginia and Capt. Bentley, the latter bleeding from a hip wound, tried to regroup the troops. Yet before they could rally the men, both flanks of the small force were dangling in the air. The troops were forced to retire."

I learned from Carol Reardon's Pickett's Charge in History and Memory (p. 192) that Capt. Bentley was wounded three times at Gettysburg and he served as the honorary commanding officer of the 500 survivors of Pickett's Charge that took part in the 50th anniversary reenactment of that great charge.

The following is a composite of information sent by Randall M. (Randy) Anderson ,
William Weldon Bentley was Randy's gr-gr-great uncle.
Thank you Randy!

37. Madison Keaton

Enlisted in Company I; 5/31/61 at Lynchburg, VA.; Absent sick in Chimborazo 10/17 - 11/8/61; admitted Chimborazo 4/17/62 with dysentery;
Admitted Farmville hospital 5/7/62 with diarrhea; transferred 5/20/62;
deserted 6/4/63, captured 5/21/64; died of chronic diarrhea at Elmira 12/20/64.

Madison Keaton was born April 28, 1819 in Patrick County, Virginia.
He was married to Sarah Ann Hutts at the time of his enlistment. He died in Elmira, New York prison camp December 20, 1864.

He is buried in Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery located in Elmira, New York.
Madison was the uncle to McNealey A. Lawless, Goerge Washington Lawless, Thomas Jefferson Lawless, Andrew Jackson Lawless, Frances Marion Lawless all of which served in the 24th Regiment Va Infantry, Company I.

Madison was one of many of his family who enlisted to fight in this war. The following information sent by Sandra Lee ,
Thank you Sandra Lee

38 Shelton, Josiah A.

Co.I Enlisted 5/31/61 at Lynchburg, Va.
Absent sick in Chimborazo 3/13 - 4/29/62 and 5/9 - 6/13/62. with typhoid fever.
Parents Thomas Shelton and Elisabeth Allen Shelton.
Contributed by Deborah Shelton Wood