Capt. Bachman Receives Accoutrements in Good Order-- Part 1

From the August 17, 2015, Cowan's Auctions site.

The note of receipt from Captain William K. Bachman for accoutrements received in 1861 from Charleston Arsenal's Captain Frederick L. Childs.

Avery short note on a scrap of paper that the auction house expected to go for between $500 and $800 but went unsold.

William K. Bachman (1830-1901), Captain and commander of the German Light Artillery dated Charleston, S.C., August 31, 1861.

"Received in good order from Captain Lee A.Q.M. at Hamstead
Captain W.K. Bachman / German Volunteer
One box  Accoutrements
Wm. K. Bachman"

--Old Secesh

The Confederate German Light Artillery-- Part 1: With Army of Northern Virginia Seven Days Battles to Gettysburg

In the last post I wrote about Captain Childs delivering infantry accoutrements to this outfit.

The unit was formed in early 1862 in Charleston, S.C..  Captain William K. Bachman was its commander  It was armed with four 12-pounder Napoleon cannons from August 1862 to July 1863.  On May 3, 1864, it was armed with two Blakely Rifles and two 12-pounder howitzers.

This unit served in the Seven Days Battles,  Second Manassas (Second Bull Run),  Sharpsburg (Antietam), Fredericksburg,  and Gettysburg.  It then returned to South Carolina.  It was later in the Carolinas Campaign and surrendered with General Joseph Johnston at Durham  Station in North Carolina on April 25, 1865.

Some Heavy Fighting.  --Old Secesh

Frederick L. Childs-- Part 6: A Letter from the Captain

From the Bid Square site.

It was in Lot 82 of the auction with an estimate of $500-$700.  Highest bid was $250 and it was unsold.

The letter was written by Captain Childs on September 3, 1861, while in command of the Charleston Armory and went to Captain W.K. Bachman of the Charleston Artillery Battery and the German Light Artillery.

"Charleston Arsenal SC
September 3, 1861

Captain,

I have the honor  to hand you herewith invoice of one box of containing one hundred sets of Infantry Accoutrements, turned over to Captain Hudson Lee A.Q.M.  On  the 30th alto for transmittal to your address.  Upon the delivery of the articles be good enough to send me duplicate receipts.

I am sir
Your Obdt. Servt.
F.L. Childs  Capt. Con Arty.

Capt. W.K. Bachman German Volunteers"

Frederick L. Childs-- Part 5: After the War

After the war:

1866-1870--  Farmer

1870-1878--  Purser New York and Charleston Steamship Company

1878-1886--  Civil Engineer in the service of the United States

1886-1889--  Inspector of Customs, U.S. Treasury Department

--Old Secesh

Frederick L. Childs-- Part 4: Service in the Confederate Army

March 4, 1861--  Resigned from U.S. Army

March 16, 1861--  Joined Confederate Army and appointed captain of artillery.  Prepared North Carolina coast defenses under William H.C. Whiting.

July 1861--  Commanded Charleston Arsenal

November 1862--  Promoted to major

February 1863--  Augusta Arsenal

November 19, 1863---  Commanded Fayetteville Arsenal in North Carolina and was promoted to lieutenant colonel

An Arsenal Buy.  --Old Secesh

Frederick L. Childs-- Part 2: Father Was War of 1812 Veteran

From Find-A-Grave

Frederick Lynn Childs

Born May 15, 1831, in Maine  Died June 10, 1894, age 63  Stateburg, South Carolina.

Buried at Church of the Holy Cross Cemetery, Stateburg, S.C..

(Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett (1779-1851) is also buried here.  He was a U.S. Congressman, cabinet member, diplomat and introduced the plant now called poinsettia to U.S. which was named in his honor.)

Frederick L. Childs was the son of West Point graduate Thomas Wells Childs, who fought in the War of 1812, Seminole Wars and Mexican War and was brevetted to brigadier general.

--Old Secesh

Lt.Col. Frederick L. Childs--Part 1: West Point Class of 1855

Wikipedia List of Regular Army Confederate Officers.

Captain ACSA    Lieutenant Colonel PACS  Last Unit served  2nd N.C. Local Defense Troops

ACSA--  Army of the Confederate States of America
PACS--Provisional Army of the Confederate States

Civil War in the East site.

West Point Officers Officers in the Civil War--  Class of 1855

Frederick L. Childs   #9 in class, Lieutenant Colonel.

31 members of the Class of 1855 (out of 34) served in the Civil War.  Seven served in the Confederate Army.

Some other notables in the West Point Class of 1855.

Cyrus B. Comstock  #1  Captain, engineers
David McMurtrie Gregg  #8  Brigadier General
William Babcock Hazen  #28  Major General
Godfrey Weitzel  #2  Major General  He was at the First Battle of Fort Fisher.

--Old Secesh

Defense of Fayetteville Arsenal-- Part 3: Not Enough Men To Defend

On February 22, 1865, Frederick Childs wrote Bragg asking what he should do.  Childs feared a Union advance up the Cape Fear River and Sherman was getting closer.

Bragg responded:  "the enemy's superior force will, I fear, enable him to send a detachment against you, which can only be met with your resources."  In other words, you'll get no help.

On February 23, Childs sent a message to Bragg saying that  he had, at most, 250 men to stop an enemy attack, the others of his 500-man force were on duty in other parts of the state..  However, he might be able to scrounge up another 100 or 200 reinforcements at the last minute.

Childs chose to evacuate the arsenal.  Sherman captured Fayetteville on March 11, 1865.

--Old Secesh

Defense of Fayetteville and the Arsenal-- Part 2: Earthworks and More Companies

Lt.Col. Ferederick L. Childs appealed to the planters of the Fayetteville area to supply 50 to 75 slaves to build earthworks and he directed their construction along the main roads to Fayetteville.

In September 1863, he received authorization to raise Companies C, D and E for the purpose of local defense.  In 1864, the battalion was further expanded by Co. F, which was a mounted unit (so he had his cavalry).  Then came Co. G which was detailed for light duty.

With these additional companies the 2nd Battalion, or "Arsenal Guards" as they were known, had seven companies with about 500 men.

However, now, in February 1865, Col. Childs was being threatened by two superior Union armies, Schofield from Wilmington and Sherman coming north from South Carolina.

Five hundred men just wasn't going to be enough.

--Old Secesh

Defense of Fayetteville and the Arsenal-- Part 1: Wilmington Evacuation Puts Fayetteville a Major Target

From Civil War North Carolina by Wade Sokolosky.

Braxton Bragg's withdrawal from Wilmington, N.C. on Feb. 21, 1865, made Fayetteville an even bigger target with the link between the two cities with the Cape Fear River.

Bragg was well aware of the straits Fayetteville was in and advised Lt.Col.  Frederick L. Childs, in command at the arsenal to evacuate his "most valuable stores, especially ammunition for small arms." and procure wagons to transport them to the nearest rail depot.  They would be needed for the defense of North Carolina.

Childs had worried about a Union attack since he assumed command at the arsenal in 1863.  At first, he feared an attack by cavalry from Union-held New Bern.  When he first arrived, he noticed there were no prepared defensive works to protect the city.  Also, his force at the arsenal had no cavalry to warn him of approaching enemy forces.

--Old Secesh

Col. Frederick L. Childs, Cmdr. of the Fayetteville Arsenal

According to Civil War Net, he was a West Point graduate who later served in the Confederate Army.

The Class of 1855 West Point site:  Frederick L. Childs:  #1685.  Born Missouri, appointed at large.  He was #9 in the Class of 1855 which had 38 members.  Captain of Artillery March 11, 1861.

Served under Confederate Gen. Whiting preparing the defenses of the North Carolina coast in the Civil War.  Commanded the Charleston Arsenal July 1861.

Appointed Major Artillery November 1862.  Then at the Augusta Arsenal Feb. 1863.  In charge of the Fayetteville Arsenal from November 19, 1863, to capture of it by Sherman's Army.  Lt. Col.

--Old Secesh

The Fayetteville Arsenal-- Part 4: Destruction of the Arsenal

Col. Childs' force resisted for a short time but were overwhelmed by Sherman's numbers.  Sherman entered Fayetteville March 11, 1865.  He took over the arsenal which had been stripped of its arms, munitions and useful machinery before the Confederates retreated.

The Harpers Ferry rifle manufacturing machinery was said to have been hidden in the Egypt Coal Mine, near Sanford, North Carolina.

Continuing with his scorched earth policy and because the arsenal had been supplying the enemy with weapons, Sherman ordered the arsenal razed to the ground.  His soldiers used railroad rails as battering rams to knock the buildings down and then set the remains on fire.

As the fire raged, some remaining artillery shells exploded and completed the destruction.

--Old Secesh

The Fayetteville Arsenal-- Part 3: Defending It From Sherman

The principal weapon produced was known as the Fayetteville Rifle.  At its peak, the armory produced 500 rifles a month and various numbers of larger ordnance, cartridges, swords and bayonets.  Over one hundred workmen from the Harpers Ferry Arsenal relocated to Fayetteville with their families.

In the middle war years, young ladies from the area were employed in the making of cartridges and as clerks.

In 1865, as Union General William Sherman began his Carolinas Campaign, it became apparent to the Confederate commander Col. Frederick L. Childs, that Fayetteville was going to be a major target.  When Sherman reached Columbia, S.C., Col. Childs ordered the construction of earthworks for the defense of the Fayetteville area.

Remnants of these earthworks can be seen on the grounds of the Veterans Administration Hospital on Ramsey Street in Fayetteville,.

--Old Secesh