Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/754

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CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

by General Hill. For their bravery in this action the boys of the Twenty-fourth received unstinted praise in the official reports. They lost severely, and again at Seven Pines, where as a part of General Garland's brigade, they made a fierce attack through swamp and thicket, upon the enemy. When Lee took command the regiment was assigned to General Kemper's brigade. Longstreet's division, later commanded by Pickett, and thereafter was identified with the service of those commands. It was distinguished for intrepidity at Frayser's farm, and sustained its good record throughout the war. This was shared by Private Allen, who was in every action of Pickett's division, except at Petersburg, including Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Plymouth, N. C., Drewry's Bluff and Cold Harbor. From June 5, 1861, to December 25, 1863, he never lost a day from duty, and at the latter date received a furlough in recognition of his fidelity. Fortunately he was never wounded, though his clothing was frequently cut by rifle balls, and his wrist was grazed by a cannon ball on the day following the capture of Harper's Ferry. On March 7, 1865, he received his first sick furlough, of twenty days, and soon after his return he took part in the fight at Five Forks, and was captured. He was confined at Point Lookout until his parole, June 26, 1865. Since the war he has been engaged in farming, also since 1879 in tobacco warehousing, and has been successful in business. He was married November 7, 1865, to Miss E. J. Munn, and has seven children: Nannie S., Sallie O., Annie E., Fanny F., Peachy L., Lucy D., and R. J. Allen.

S. Brown Allen, of Staunton, Va., a veteran of the Fourteenth Virginia cavalry, was born in Bath county, in 1845, and soon afterward was brought by his parents to Augusta county, where he was reared and educated. He entered the military service of Virginia early in 1861 as a private in the Churchville cavalry company, which was attached to the command of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston and assigned to picket duty. A few months later the company with three others was organized in a cavalry battalion, and in 1862 it became Company A of the Fourteenth cavalry. In this command Private Allen served throughout the remainder of the war, being promoted to corporal just before the battle of Gettysburg, and sergeant six months later. During his service he participated in the battles of Allegheny Mountain, Camp Bartow, McDowell's, Droop Mountain, took part in the month's skirmishing with the Federals under Averell up the valley from Sweet Spring mountain to Lynchburg, and then returning down the valley he participated in Early's successful pursuit of the enemy to the Potomac river. Continuing under Early's command he shared in the march through Maryland to the defenses before the city of Washington, in 1864, and took part in the subsequent battles at Winchester, Cedar creek, Fisher's Hill, Port Republic and Waynesboro. In the campaigns about Richmond he served gallantly at Culpeper Court House, Brandy Station, Gordonsville, and then being engaged at Petersburg from early in 1865, was in the action at Five Forks, and the final combat at Sailor's Creek. At Appomattox he did not surrender, but with many others, being mounted, went through the enemy's lines and escaped. Returning to Augusta county a veteran at the age of twenty years, he went upon the farm, and has continued ever since in agri-