Ambulance Corps, ANV
The Purcell Artillery, a light artillery company, was established on April 20, 1861 in Richmond, Virginia largely through the efforts of Daniel Hagerty. The battery was named for John Purcell, a wealthy Richmond merchant who financed much of its equipment. The first Captain was Reuben Lindsay Walker, a class of 1845 graduate of Virginia Military Institute. In civilian life Walker was a Civil Engineer and a planter. Daniel Hagerty was elected First Lieutenant in the newly formed battery. Elected as Second Lieutenant was William Ransom Johnson Pegram who had been detailed to the battery as a drillmaster. Lieutenant Pegram would later become the commander of Purcell's Battery and considered to be one of the Confederacy's most distinguished artillerists.
Purcell's Battery served with distinction in the Army of the Northerm Virginia throughout the war and fought in numerous battles and skirmishes. Willie Pegram, who had by then become a colonel, was mortally wounded on April 1, 1865 at the Battle of Five Forks. Later that month, when Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse, Purcell's Battery was not among the Confederate soldiers paroled. It is presumed that it reached Lynchburg, Virginia and there cut down its carriages, buried its guns, and disbanded.
The Purcell Artillery, a light artillery company, was established on April 20, 1861 in Richmond, Virginia largely through the efforts of Daniel Hagerty. The battery was named for John Purcell, a wealthy Richmond merchant who financed much of its equipment. The first Captain was Reuben Lindsay Walker, a class of 1845 graduate of Virginia Military Institute. In civilian life Walker was a Civil Engineer and a planter. Daniel Hagerty was elected First Lieutenant in the newly formed battery. Elected as Second Lieutenant was William Ransom Johnson Pegram who had been detailed to the battery as a drillmaster. Lieutenant Pegram would later become the commander of Purcell's Battery and considered to be one of the Confederacy's most distinguished artillerists.
Purcell's Battery served with distinction in the Army of the Northerm Virginia throughout the war and fought in numerous battles and skirmishes. Willie Pegram, who had by then become a colonel, was mortally wounded on April 1, 1865 at the Battle of Five Forks. Later that month, when Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse, Purcell's Battery was not among the Confederate soldiers paroled. It is presumed that it reached Lynchburg, Virginia and there cut down its carriages, buried its guns, and disbanded.
Ambulance Corps, ANV
The Purcell Artillery, a light artillery company, was established on April 20, 1861 in Richmond, Virginia largely through the efforts of Daniel Hagerty. The battery was named for John Purcell, a wealthy Richmond merchant who financed much of its equipment. The first Captain was Reuben Lindsay Walker, a class of 1845 graduate of Virginia Military Institute. In civilian life Walker was a Civil Engineer and a planter. Daniel Hagerty was elected First Lieutenant in the newly formed battery. Elected as Second Lieutenant was William Ransom Johnson Pegram who had been detailed to the battery as a drillmaster. Lieutenant Pegram would later become the commander of Purcell's Battery and considered to be one of the Confederacy's most distinguished artillerists.
Purcell's Battery served with distinction in the Army of the Northerm Virginia throughout the war and fought in numerous battles and skirmishes. Willie Pegram, who had by then become a colonel, was mortally wounded on April 1, 1865 at the Battle of Five Forks. Later that month, when Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse, Purcell's Battery was not among the Confederate soldiers paroled. It is presumed that it reached Lynchburg, Virginia and there cut down its carriages, buried its guns, and disbanded.
The Purcell Artillery, a light artillery company, was established on April 20, 1861 in Richmond, Virginia largely through the efforts of Daniel Hagerty. The battery was named for John Purcell, a wealthy Richmond merchant who financed much of its equipment. The first Captain was Reuben Lindsay Walker, a class of 1845 graduate of Virginia Military Institute. In civilian life Walker was a Civil Engineer and a planter. Daniel Hagerty was elected First Lieutenant in the newly formed battery. Elected as Second Lieutenant was William Ransom Johnson Pegram who had been detailed to the battery as a drillmaster. Lieutenant Pegram would later become the commander of Purcell's Battery and considered to be one of the Confederacy's most distinguished artillerists.
Purcell's Battery served with distinction in the Army of the Northerm Virginia throughout the war and fought in numerous battles and skirmishes. Willie Pegram, who had by then become a colonel, was mortally wounded on April 1, 1865 at the Battle of Five Forks. Later that month, when Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse, Purcell's Battery was not among the Confederate soldiers paroled. It is presumed that it reached Lynchburg, Virginia and there cut down its carriages, buried its guns, and disbanded.
