Lawson Botts, Col. of 2nd Virginia Infantry Regiment

From Civil War Scholars.com.  2nd Va. Inf. Regt..

Born 7/25/25 at Fredericksburg.

Attended V.M.I. 1841.  Lawyer in Charles Town.  Married Sarah Elizabeth Bibb Ranson, 1851.

Defense attorney for John Brown during the early stages of Brown's trial.Commissioned captain of Bott's Greys, prewar militia Co. from Charles Town, 11/4/1859.

Captain Co. G. 2nd Virginia Volunteer Infantry 5/31/1861. (This was William Beall's company.)

To Major 6/12/1861.  To Lt.Col. 9/11/61.  To Colonel 6/27/1862.

Provost Marshall at Winchester, Nov.-Dec. 1861.

Mortally Wounded In Action (MSIA) at 2nd Manassas 8/28/1862.  William Beall also captured here.

Died 9/16/62 at Middleburg.

Buried Zion Episcopal  Cemetery, Charles Town, West Virginia.

--Old Secesh

The Bodies of John Yates Beall and W.H.C. Whiting

John Yates Beall's body was taken from Fort Columbus and originally interred in New York's Green-Wood Cemetery.

On March 22, 1870, the body was reinterred at Zion Episcopal Cemetery in Charles Town, West Virginia.

After the death of Confederate General W,H.C. Whiting, also at Fort Columbus, his body was also buried at New York's Green-Wood Cemetery.  His widow Kate Whiting had his body exhumed in 1900 and moved to Wilmington, North Carolina's Oakdale Cemetery.

Whiting is the highest ranking Confederate prisoner to die while in northern prison.  Of course, he was also a big player at Fort Fisher.

--Old Secesh

John Beall's Last Letter to His Brother-- Part 2: "I Die For My Country"

Remember me kindly to my friends.  Say to them I am not aware of committing any crime against society.  I die for my country.  No thirst for blood or lucre animated me in my course.  For I had refused when solicited to engage in enterprises which I deemed destructive but illegitimate, and but a few months ago I had but to have spoken, and I would have been red with blood, and rich with the plunder of the foe.

But my hands are clear of blood, unless it be spilt in conflict and not a cent enriches my pocket.

Should you be spared through this strife, stay with mother, and be a comfort in her old age.   Endure the hardships of the campaign as a man.  In my trunk and box you can get  plenty of clothes.

Give my love to mother, the girls, too.  May God bless you all now and evermore, is my prayer and wish for you.

John Y. Beall

--Old Secesh

John Y. Beall's Final Letter to Brother William: "But Only Crime Can Make Dishonor"

From "Lincoln, Beall & the Gallows" by Jim Surkamp.

Written from his cell while awaiting his execution.

Fort Lafayette, Fen. 14, 1865
 Dear Will:

Ere this reaches you, you will most likely have heard of my death through the newspapers, that I was tried by a military commission, and hung by the enemy, and hung,  I assert, unjustly.  It is both useless and wrong to repine over the past.

Hanging, it was asserted, was ignominious, but crime only can make dishonor.  'Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, and I shall repay,' therefore do not show unkindness to the prisoners -- they are helpless."

More.  --Old Secesh

William Beall-- Part 6: S.O. Means Special Order

From Civil War Scholars.com  2nd Virginia Infantry Regiment.

This was essentially what the Find-A-Grave had, but some other items which I will relate.

WILLIAM BEALL

Student  Enlisted Camp Jackson at Bolivar Heights,

Detailed by Special Order 253 from the Secretary of War to report to his brother, John Y.Beall then became a prisoner 11/16/1863.  Exchanged 3/16/1864.  The Find-A-Grave article just said S,O. for the Special Order.  That clears up what S.O, means.

Surrendered at Appomattox.

William Beall-- Part 5: Served In the Stonewall Brigade

Baltimore Sun June 18, 1907, obituary.

WILLIAM BEALL [Special Dispatch to the Baltimore Sun].

Charlestown, West Virginia.

William Beall, 63 years old, a well-known retired farmer, residing near Flowing Springs, died yesterday after an illness of some months, aged 63 years.

He served in the Confederate Army and was in the Stonewall Brigade.

Mr. Beall had for some years one of the vestrymen in Zion Episcopal Church.

He is survived by three sisters.

--Old secesh

William Beall-- Part 4: His Obituary in the Confederate Veteran, 1907

William Beall's Obituary in the Confederate Veteran Vol. XVI, page 288

"After a protracted illness, William Beall  entered into rest June 16, 1907. aged sixty-three.

"He served n Company G, 2nd Virginia Regiment, Stonewall Brigade.  For awhile he was in the Confederate Navy with his brother, Captain John G. Beall, who was executed  on Governor's Island, N.Y..

"He was a prisoner at Fortress Monroe, both brothers being in irons.  He surrendered at Appomattox.

"He returned to his native county, (Jefferson) and was a successful farmer, a good soldier, an honored citizen.  He was also a useful member of the Episcopal Church.

"Many miss and mourn him."

--Old Secesh

William Beall-- Part 3: Sick A Lot, On Brother's Operation

Present on January and February rolls.

Hospitalized 4/18/63

Hospitalized for "Diarrhoea" 5/2-7/21 in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Detailed 10/4/1863 by S.O. 253 to report to John Y. Beall;  POW 10/4/1863 Accomack Co. Virginia

Confined  11/16/1863 Fort McHenry, MD.

Confined Fort Monroe, Va.  Exchanged 3/16/1864.

Kind of interesting that he was detailed the same day he was captured and must have been operating on one of his brother's expeditions.

--Old Secesh

William Beall-- Part 2: Captured At 2nd Manassas

Co. G, 2nd Virginia Infantry, Stonewall Brigade, Johnson's Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, CSA.

Enlisted 6/8/1861 at Bolivar Heights, Virginia.  On 9/8/1861 he mustered in as a private in Co. G., 2nd Virginia.

Absent sick 10/3/1861.

POW 8/27/1862 in 2nd Battle of Manassas, Va.;  Exchanged 11/20/1862; granted Medical Furlough.

--Old Secesh

William Beall, John's Brother-- Part 1: Also Buried at Zion Episcopal Cemetery

From Find-A Grave.

PVT. WILLIAM BEALL

Born  26 March 1844,   Jefferson Co. W. Va.

Dies 16 June 1907, (Age 63)  Ranson, Jefferson Co.  W. Va.

Burial:  Zion Episcopal Cemetery, Charles Town, W. Va.

--Old Secesh