The elite 1st Virginia Cavalry was commanded by the legendary Confederate Cavalryman Colonel J.E.B. Stuart in 1861!

Autograph Document Signed by a Confederate officer in J.E.B. Stuart's command who was wounded by a cannon ball in 1862!

7 3/4 x 7 1/2, manuscript in ink, Autograph Document Signed, by Lieutenant John Milton Lock, 1st Regiment Virginia Cavalry.

The Confederate States, To John H. Brown, Dr., 1861 Nov. 26th, To Hire of Horse from Oct. 1st to Nov. 26th @.40 $23.80.

I certify that the above account is correct and just, that the services were rendered as stated, and that they were necessary for the public service. John M. Lock, Lt. & A.Q.M., 1st Regt. Va. Cav.

Very fine, neatly written, early war 1861 document from an extremely desirable Confederate cavalry regiment!

John Milton Lock, was a 30 year old farmer from Berryville, Virginia, when he enlisted on June 23, 1861, at Camp Jefferson Davis, Va. as a private, and he was mustered into Co. A, 1st Virginia Cavalry. Lock was promoted to 2nd lieutenant on July 1, 1861, and served for a time as the Regimental Quartermaster and Commissary of the Regiment. He was promoted to captain on April 23, 1862, and was wounded in action on November 1, 1862, when he was hit in the leg by a cannon ball. He was absent from his regiment as he convalesced from his wound until being assigned to command the Confederate post at Harrisonburg, Va., in the Shenandoah Valley, on May 15, 1864. Still needing the service of this gallant and experienced Confederate officer he was later transferred into the Veteran Reserve Corps. The date and place of his official discharge are unknown. After the war Captain Lock was a hotel owner in Harrisonburg, Va. He died on March 30, 1889, and is buried in the Green Hill Cemetery, at Berryville, Va.

WBTS Trivia: After fighting in the First Battle of Manassas, Va., the 1st Virginia Cavalry was brigaded under Generals J.E.B. Stuart, Fitzhugh Lee, Williams Carter Wickham, and Thomas T. Munford. It participated in more than 200 engagements of various types including the Seven Days Battles and General J.E.B. Stuart's famous ride around General George B. McClellan's Yankee army in 1862. The regiment was active in the conflicts at Gainesville, Second Manassas, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Kelly's Ford, Chancellorsville, Brandy Station, Gettysburg, Bristoe Station, the Wilderness, Todd's Tavern, Spotsylvania, Bethesda Church, and Cold Harbor. Later it was involved in General Jubal Early's 1864 operations in the Shenandoah Valley, the defense of Petersburg, and in the Appomattox Campaign.

In April, 1862, the unit totaled 437 men, they lost 25 men at Gettysburg, and had 318 men fit for duty in September, 1864. The regiment cut through the Yankee lines at Appomattox and later disbanded. Only 1 man from the regiment was present to surrender at Appomattox Court House! Among the regiment's most celebrated field officers were colonels J.E.B. Stuart, Fitzhugh Lee and William E. "Grumble" Jones, all going on to become famous Confederate generals, with Stuart and Jones both being killed during the war! [Source: Units Of The Confederate States Army].

First Virginia Cavalry

The Field Report of Colonel J.E.B. Stuart, First Virginia Cavalry, at the 1st Battle of Manassas.

HDQRS. FIRST VIRGINIA CAVALRY REGIMENT,

July 26, 1861

GENERAL: I have the honor to make the following report of the operations of my regiment in the battle of Manassas:

I received your order to charge the enemy's flank, and proceeded immediately across the run to his left flank, but finding that it would be easier to attain his right flank, I immediately returned and marched rapidly towards the heaviest fire. As I approached the ground General T.J. Jackson, whose brigade was then engaged, sent me word to protect his flanks, but particularly his left flank. I divided the regiment, giving Major Swan half(I had but 300 men for duty), and with the remainder hurried up to Jackson's left, leaving his right to Swan. Entering a skirt of woods, I received intelligence that the enemy was rapidly outflanking us. I hastened forward through several fences just as a regiment dressed in red was running in disorder towards a skirt of woods where the fire had been heaviest. I took them to be ours, and exclaimed with all my might: "Don't run, boys; we are here." They paid very little attention to this appeal. When passing in column of two's through a narrow gap to gain the same field and very close to them, I saw in their hands the U.S. flag. I ordered the charge, which was handsomely done, stopping their flank movement and checking the advance upon Jackson. I rallied again for another charge, as only a portion of my command was in the first, owing to the difficulty of closing up; but finding the enemy had gained the woods to my right and front, leaving no ground for charging, I retired to the next field to give them another dash if they penetrated beyond the woods, which, however, they did not attempt.

In this encounter the enemy's line, or rather column, was broken and many killed. Captain Carter's company on which the heaviest of the action fell, lost 9 men killed or mortally wounded, and 18 horses killed. Captain Carter's horse was shot dead as he was gallantly leading his company into the enemy.

Of the gallantry of those engaged I cannot speak in too high terms. The regiment charged was the Fire Zouaves, and I am informed by prisoners subsequently taken that their repulse by the cavalry began the panic so fearful afterwards in the enemy's ranks.

Just after the charge our reenforcements arrived upon the field and formed rapidly on right into line. The first was Colonel Falkner's regiment of Mississippians, whose gallantry came under my own observation. As these reenforcements formed I gradually moved off to the left, where I soon found myself joined by a battery, under the direction of Lieutenant Beckham, which my cavalry supported. This battery made great havoc in the enemy's ranks and finally put them in full retreat. The principal credit here was due to this battery; but having thrown forward vedettes far out on the eminences, the important information I was thus enabled to give the battery as to position and movements must have contributed greatly to its success, and here I may add that this information was also sent back to the infantry, which was still far to our right, notifying what woods could be gained, &c.

The enemy being now in full retreat, I followed with the cavalry as rapidly as possible, but was so much encumbered with prisoners, whom I sent as fast as possible back to the infantry, that my command was soon too much reduced to encounter any odds, but I nevertheless followed our success until I reached a point twelve miles from Manassas, when, by sending back so many detachments with prisoners, I had but a squad left. The rear of the enemy was protected by a squadron of cavalry and some artillery. We cut off a great many squads, many of whom fired upon us as we approached, and the artillery gave us a volley of grape. One man of ours was killed and another was wounded at this point. I have no idea how many prisoners were taken.

I encamped that night on Sudley farm, where was a large church, used as a hospital by the enemy, containing about 300 wounded, the majority mortally.

I cannot speak in too high praise of those whom I had the honor to command on the field, but to Mr. L.T. Brian, and Mr. P.W. Hairston and Mr. J.F. Brown, having no commissions, whose meritorious conduct and worth have been made the subject of previous letters to the general, I was specially
indebted for their valuable assistance.

Of my regiment the acting chaplain, Reverend Mr. Ball, was conspicuously useful, while my attention was particularly attracted to the adjutant, Lieutenant W.W. Blackford; the sergeant major, Philip H. Powers, and Lieutenant Cummings, whose good conduct on this as on every other occasion deserves the highest commendation. Lieutenant Beckham deserves high praise for the success of his battery, as he acted as gunner to each piece himself. In the pursuit Lieutenant William Taylor alone captured six of the enemy with arms in their hands. A large number of arms, quantities of clothing and hospital stores, and means of transportation were found abandoned on the road.

Most respectfully, your obedient servant,

J.E.B. STUART,
Colonel First Virginia Cavalry

To: General JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON


Source: Official Records
[CHAPTER IX.] THE BULL RUN CAMPAIGN.
[Series I. Vol. 2. Serial No. 2.]