U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865
Order To "Shoot" At Ox Hill Was Big One for Jacksonville Sergeant
He Didn't Get Medal of Honor But He Helped Inspire It
This article is compiled by Julian Williams.
The young men from Telfair County felt an obligation, as did their neighbors in surrounding counties, to enlist and fight in the Civil War.
Even Levi Garrison (1842-1917) and his even younger brother-in-law, Jesse Jones (1844-1917), wanted to fight others for a change.
The entertainment of fighting each other had probably grown old.
But Levi's mother tried to discourage him (an older brother had already died in the service of the Confederacy and two more had left for the conflict).
Seeing her hopes fade, she said in desperation: "Levy, you can't go to war; you can't even talk." But he replied (notwithstanding a speech impediment), "Th-th-that's all-ll r-right, M-M-Ma. Th-they d-don't w-want m-me t' t-t-talk. Th-they w-w-want m-me to sh-sh-shoot." (From "They Don't Make People Like They Used To" by Addie Garrison Briggs).
His observation was profound. It seemed "shooting" was one of the main aims of that war.
Levi probably didn't get to Telfair's Company B in time, and Jesse surely didn't, to witness one of the strangest and most important "shootings" of the whole war.
But, if they missed the battle, they certainly didn't miss the war. There was more than enough of it to go around.
After 2nd Manassas, "time-out" had again been mutually called to gather up the dead and wounded of North and South.
Then, it was back to the business of war.
This time the war was heading to a little place in northern Virginia called by two names - Chantilly (Plantation) and Ox Hill.
This was to be the final hurrah for General Pope.
He would be replaced by General McClellan.
It would also be the last hurrah and death for a man who some say was destined, in time, to be the supreme commander of all Union forces.
His name was Major General Phil Kearny.
(Note: We told the story of General Kearny before but here we mention his death in another context.)
As we know from our previous article on General Kearny, he was fearless and able.
Leading a charge in a battle before arriving at Ox Hill he had shouted to his men, "Don't flinch, boys! They're shooting at me, not at you!"
He didn't realize at the time what a true statement that was to become.
It was a gloomy and frightening night at Ox Hill (Chantilly) on September 1, 1862. Rain was coming down in torrents.
Darkness had crept in with great claps of thunder and the sharp, sudden illuminating flashes of lightning didn't help a man's nerves at all when he was already absorbing the ominous blast of cannon fire.
Probably most frightening of all was the fact much of the gunpowder was wet - and many weapons would not fire! A true axiom of war - you must keep your powder dry!
It had rained as much as it did in Jacksonville the year the registrars couldn't make it to the election because the creeks were so swollen they couldn't cross over to reach the village.
The Blue and the Gray were strung out through the cornfields and along the roads near Ox Hill.
General Kearny didn't think the Grays were as close as they were.
Not even two prisoners (an officer and an enlisted man) captured from the 49th Georgia could convince him that the enemy was near.
He would ride out to see for himself.
General Kearny rode by mistake into a cornfield filled with Confederate soldiers who were low on food, shoes, sleep and patience - and up to their knees in mud.
He wanted to know the identity of the men.
"49th Georgia" was not really the answer he was looking for but he had to deal with it.
At this point we can only guess what the great Union commander thought.
Did he think that the Telfair boys were as surprised as he (they probably were) and that he could use the element of surprise to turn his horse and escape?
Did he think that, yes, their powder is wet (much of it was) and they have little chance of getting off a shot, much less an accurate shot?
Did he think that he was a superior horseman (he was) on a superior horse (Bayard was)?
Or, did he think that the fate of the war was on his side and that he could make his way out?
Or, did he just think it unthinkable that a brave man such as himself could ever think of surrendering under these circumstances?
I am not sure he had time to think of all those things because he whirled and lay as prone as an Indian scout and spurred Bayard to depart immediately.
Major John Pate hollered for him to halt.
He didn't halt.
Major Pate gave the "Fire" command.
One solitary figure, in this historic moment, jerked his musket to his shoulder, in the standing position, and subconsciously, as the product of generations of fighting Scottish Highlanders, squeezed the trigger that sent a .52 caliber ball into the body of the fleeing general.
Fortunately, for both, there was no lingering.
Sgt. John McCrimmon had killed a great man.
His nerves were steady, even with the sky ablaze with lightning, with thunder and cannon roaring, and the rain beating down on his gun sight.
His aim was sure. And his powder was dry.
General Lee rewarded him with a 30-day furlough and advancement in rank (he couldn't take the furlough because Harper's Ferry and Antietam were coming up next).
He was an unsung hero with soldier-like qualities, though killing an important enemy admired by all (even his enemies wished he had surrendered - he would have been exchanged, probably, almost immediately). But what could have been, was not.
Note: On March 13, 1863, Brigadier General Birney issued an order establishing a "cross of valor", to be known as the "Kearny Cross".
The medal was awarded to non-commissioned officers and privates who had distinguished themselves in battle.
In Birney's General Order No. 48, he stated in part, "This cross is in honor of our old leader (Kearny) and the wearers of it will always remember his high standard of a true and brave soldier and will never disgrace it."
On July 12, 1863, a Senate Resolution signed into law by Abraham Lincoln provided for the presentation of Medals of Honor "In the name of Congress, to such non-commissioned officers and privates as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action and other soldier-like qualities, during the Civil War."
This medal which now symbolizes the highest standard of courage and bravery in our armed forces (regardless of rank), is known as the Congressional Medal of Honor. (From article by Mario Espinola)
Also note: General Kearny is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Sgt. John McCrimmon, Levi Garrison and Jesse Jones are buried at Blockhouse Baptist Church Cemetery, Jacksonville, Georgia.
