Lt. William Anderson “Devil Anse” Hatfield of the 45th under Capt. John Buchanan
The 45th Battalion Virginia Infantry was raised by Lieutenant Colonel Henry M. Beckley, mainly with men from the Virginia State Line, under the previous command of General John Buchanan Floyd, in late 1861. Floyd’s early measures at Bowling Green, and marching into Tennessee to Nashville in February of 1862, proved to be his first downfall. After due political pressure he was relieved of his duties from that early command. However, he raised the V.S.L., about May 15, 1862, after a Subscripted Act was passed April 6, 1862. Western Virginia was a balancing act as to which side of the war it would take as partners, but Floyd had made his choice very early in this war. During this time many men had already made their choice of armies. Logan county men always voted as Democrats, over 30 years prior proven by their voter’s poll. These Virginia men were Jeffersonians and trusted in the Virginia way of life, as their progenitors once had under Washington in 1777, and Jackson in 1812. The common belief that God and country are earned and the “right to bear arms” lay deep in the mountains of Appalachia. While Floyd had many exploits, and his stories were written in newspapers and books, it was Beckley and Buchanan who drew strikes upon Anse Hatfield. Anse was in Company B, of the 45th Virginia Battalion of Infantry.
The 45th Battalion Infantry had evolved in March 1863, when it learned that the V.S.L., had disbanded on March 31, 1863. Beckley formed his army although it was not officially recognized until Dec. 10, 1863. Beckley was a previous Floyd 1stBattalion man, so many of these men trusted his leadership. It is written that Beckley took nearly eight months to form his Battalion, which consisted of six companies, A through F.
Field and Staff
Henry M. Beckley Lieut. Col. Blake Lynch Major
John Strother Pendleton, Surgeon
Gilbert Christian Greenway, Quartermaster
J. A. Peterson, 2nd Lieut. Adj.
John F. Alvey, Assistant Quartermaster
Aaron W. Huffman, Asst. Commissary of Supply
William R. Fisher, Ensign
Alexander W. Johnson, Hospital Stewart
James P. Massie, Sergeant Major
Companies and Captains
Company A, Capt. Joel E. Stollings
Company B, Capt. John Buchanan
Company C, Capt. James R. Cook
Company D, Capt. Benjamin H. Justice
Company E, Capt. Lloyd Ellis
Company F, Capt. William B. Hensley
Company B, Captain John Buchanan’s Company, formerly Company I, 1st Virginia State Line, organized on May 7, 1863. Many of the members of this unit were from the Magnolia area of Logan County with ninety-seven enlistments. In fact, many of these men, were located on the Tug River area just across the river from Pike County, Kentucky. This was the company in which Devil Anse Hatfield would be nominated as a 1st Lieutenant upon its first muster. The below list does not show him.
Company “B” consisted of:
John Buchanan, Captain
William S. Ferrell, 1st Lieutenant
William Anderson Hatfield, 1st Lieutenant
Ellison Hatfield, 2nd Lieutenant
James Williamson, 3rd Lieutenant
John C. Sansom, 1st Lieutenant
Andrew M. Toler, 1st Sergeant
Harrison Stafford, 2nd Sergeant
John Davis, 3rd Sergeant
Augustus Francisco, 1st Corporal
James Duty, 2nd Corporal
William T. Patterson, 3rd Corporal
Obediah Blankenship, 4th Corporal
J. Buchanan, Corporal
How do we know that 1st Lieutenant Anse Hatfield existed? Our first clue is in the application for Samuel Smith. In the pension application on Pinson Fork, a Pikeville resident named Samuel Smith declared for pension on Nov. 25, 1914, and fought with the 45th under Captain John Buchanan, 1st Lieut. Anse Hatfield, 2nd Lieut. Billy Ferrell, and 3rd Lieut. James Williamson. Samuel Smith says he was born in the year 1837, that he enlisted in September 1862 under Captain John Buchanan and fought until the war was over. He surrendered and took the Oath in Louisa, under Harve Power, Provence Marshall Office. The twist was that he claims to be under Company F., of this regiment. Surprisingly, Anderson Hatfield can also be found under Company F, on a muster roll. Though he names most of the Company B, Anse was also in that regiment. One of his witnesses, Moses Chapman (of the 45th) of Deskin, Ky., swore that “the Samuel Smith enlisted in this said army did actual military service in said army until honorably discharged. Also that as a private soldier the applicant Samuel Smith served in the above mentioned confederate army and that he was on duty at the end of the war in 1865, that he was discharged at Louisa, Kentucky, that he is unable to work for his support and that he owns no property and has no income, and is a citizen of Pike Co., Kentucky, and has been for more than fifty years.”
There are two other documents that can be specific to Anse Hatfield. That would be the Saltville Record of the Quartermaster Report and the Military Card showing him August 31, 1863, in Company B, of the 45th Virginia. We know it is Anse because he says he is the reporting to Capt. John Buchanan, under Beckley, which would be Company B of the 45th Virginia. John Henderson Varney [1] is shown as Orderly Sergeant.
Military Card – Pvt. Company B, 45th Battalion Virginia Infantry; date Apr. 1, 1864; Enlisted May 1, 186_. Logan, by John Buchanan; Card Remarks deserted 1863.
1st Lieut. Anse Hatfield is mentioned in this Special Requisition – Quartermaster Stores for Capt. J. D. Buchanan, 2 Co., B-Col. H. M. Beckley Regiment Stationed at Saltville, Virginia, for Aug. 28, 1863, where he received 44 shirts, 2 jackets, 2 pants, 2 pr shoes, 2 pr socks, 5 caps, & four pr drawers.
John H Varney; [1] Enlistment Date 1 May 1863; Enlistment Place Logan County, WV; Enlistment Rank Private; Muster Place VA; Muster Company I; Muster Regiment 1st State Line; Muster Information Enlisted Muster Out Date 1 Jul 1863, Muster Out Information; Absent without leave; Side of War Confederacy; Survived War? Yes; Last Known Residence Place Mingo County, WV; Additional Notes; Alive in 1900, age 70. Additional Notes 2Muster 2 Date: 01 May 1863; Muster 2 Place: Virginia; Muster 2 Unit: 804; Muster 2 Company: B; Muster 2 Regiment: 45th Batt. Infantry; Muster 2 Regiment Type: Infantry.
William Ferrell1st lieutenant, company B, 45th Batt. Va., Inf. He enlisted May 7, 1863, under John Buchanan. He was captured at Piedmont on June 5, 1864. He was sent to Camp Morton in Indiana on June 21, 1864, and then onto Johnson Island, Ohio, June 22, 1864 and released on oath June 14, 1865.
[2] 1865 Aug. 12 – Kentucky Archives Criminal and Civil Case File 2074
Sowards & Co. Plaintiff against Robert L. Jackson & others} Affidavit – The plaintiff Morgan Sowards, Lewis Sowards & Thomas Sowards state that the claim in the action against the defendants Robert Jackson & others is for money due for goods, wars, taken, and that it is a just claim and that they ought to, as they believe recover. Three thousand dollars and that the said Robert Jackson, Thos. Collinsworth, Julius Williamson, Hammond Williamson, George Lawson, Melvin Lawson, Harrison Deskins, Robert Hatfield, William A. Taylor. Anderson Hatfield, Elias Hatfield, Ellison Hatfield, Patterson Hatfield, John Livingston, William Hatfield and Elijah Tackett are in a military body of men cooperating with the army of the so-called Confederate States of America and have been absent for more than thirty days and that the ordering process of law cannot be served upon them. Sworn Oct. 12, 1864. Store was robbed about Oct. of 1864, though not prosecuted until Aug. 1865. There was a separate case against Jacob Cline, in which Anderson Hatfield admitted to being there, yet, says Cline was made to go.
The third article of consideration tells us when Lt. Anderson Hatfield took oath of allegiance and left the war on May 4, 1865, Company B, 45th Virginia Battalion, resident of Logan. He is described as age 25, 5 foot 6 inches tall, dark complexioned, dark eyes, dark hair, occupation farmer.
Unlike others, Anse was not in Company D, of the 45th Virginia Mounted. That honor belongs to another Anderson Hatfield, the son of Andrew of Wyoming County. One needs to check out the differences between the archival cards. These cards are written out based on a muster roll, or sometimes an amnesty paper. They are man-made cards and can be placed with the wrong soldier, as in this case. Both of these cards were created from one muster roll dated April 1st, 1864, giving us two Anderson Hatfield’s in the 45th, one in Company B, and the other in Company D. One of the Andersons was enrolled Jan. 1, under Capt. B. H. Justice, and the second enlisted under Capt. John Buchanan. As we’ve already proven, Devil Anse Hatfield was under Company B as a First Lieutenant. Both say they mustered in service in the county of Logan. No surprise there, because that’s where the 45th was stationed under Capt. Justice and Capt. Buchanan. Both tell us that Devil Anse (Co. B) and Anderson (son of Andrew) were absent from the service. Anderson (son of Andrew) deserted on Feb. 1, 1863, under B. H. Justice while Devil Anse deserted May 20, 1863, telling us again if we had the muster roll to view, we are talking about two different men, listed on one muster roll under different companies. Again, we have to remember that these are man-made cards and can have men of the same name in the same regiment. These two men are of different companies and under different captains. John Buchanan was elected Captain on May 7, 1863. Another card dated Oct. 31, 1864, says he was at New Market Valley, Va., sick, and says Captain John Buchanan, 45th Batt. Inf. Inspection Report, while in Thomas Smiths Brigade, Wharton’s Division.
Anse was quoted in a newspaper account saying he was a Captain in the war. We have no way to support that except by his interview in the Big Sandy News on Oct. 10, 1913. In this article Anse says he is 74 years of age, and now part of a Vaudeville act. During his stage act, he says “I got the name of Devil Anse while I was in the Civil War. I was a captain in that, and it struck with me ever since.” A second article printed in the Charleston News shows Anse was in a Vaudeville act on Oct. 3, 1913. Another article show he was visiting his nephew, the Governor at that time, and was in Charleston.
If Devil Anse was a Captain in the war as written, it could be that he rode with Captain Bill Smith, who after leaving his command in the Eighth Virginia, gathered men and ran his own militia unit, raiding up and down the Sandy. It was during the feud that Capt. Bill Smith said he knew Devil Anse and his sons. In the trial of Johnson Hatfield in 1890, Bill Smith testified that the captain had married his niece, and that he had visited Anse Hatfield from time to time, when he visited his brother who lived nearby. [3]
[3] Col. William Smith. Recalled by the Commonwealth
Q. You were on the stand the other day Mr. Smith? A. Yes sir.
Q. Mr. Harkins asked you about the trouble you had with Frank Phillips, state to the jury why it was you went to Frank Phillips house and done what you said you did? (Defendant objects – overruled – defendant excepts) A. Well I met Phillips in the road, but I did not know him. He commenced on me in an insulting manner about things that had transpired in the war, and when he seen he could not bluff me, he wanted to make friends with me, and finally I parted from him. That night about 8 o’clock I was at the place where I was staying, he come where I was in bed proper up suffering from a dislocated shoulder, and shoved the door open and threw a 44 revolver on me. I had my hand up to my head. I turned my head just as the pistol fired and just shaved the hair on my skin. I would like to have killed him and if I had, had any chance I would have done so.
Cross examined by Harkins
Q. What trouble was it you say he talked about that occurred during the war? A. I will give you a detailed statement of it. I had a contract with Jack Rittenhouse to build shanties up and down the river. I was on a horse above Williamson and had started to go across; this young man Frances and him rode up but he did not ask me six or seven miles. We talked all the way up but he did not ask me my name. We went on up to Mr. Carters who was sick on Sunday, and told me he would send his partner down, and he would stay all night. In the presence of these two gentlemen I started; after I get down a piece they rode off and I stayed there. Wolford went on and said he would go across the river. When I got to Anse Blackborns and John Francisco’s, and just as I stopped – as I aimed to stop, Phillips was there. He said “I aimed to come with you, and it is a damn good thing I did not, for I would have killed you if I had, as I turned I noticed that he meant what he said. I said I am glad that you have changed your mind as I would have been broke up, if you had killed me. I put my hand back on my pistol and cocked it. He said, “do you know who I am”. I said no, and I do not care who you are. He said maybe you do not know what it is about. I said I did not want to know. He said I am “Bad Frank Phillips”. I said I do not care for Bad Frank Phillips nor any other Phillips, or a whole regiment of Phillipses”. He said that I had arrested his father during the war and had sent him to prison. Told him that if I did, that I was not so cowardly as to kill like he did Dempsey. Blackborn spoke up and said that I had not done that and that I was an officer, and it was my duty to do what I had done. He put back his pistol and said he was sorry he had named the thing to me. Finally I said, “I can part from you as a friend”, and with my left hand to you which is nearest my heart, and the other hand on Aunt Bets, and with that we talked very friendly. I went to bed that night and was sitting propped up in the bed, when Phillips jumped inside and drew his revolver inside on me and fired. I followed him out of the house and saw him running up through the field.
Q. So you know whether or not Frank Phillips that you had the difficulty with was the same Frank Phillips who made several raids in Logan County with James McCoy, and others? A. As to the man I do not know him. It was reported by everybody that knew him, that he was the same man.
Lt. Anderson Hatfield son of Andrew Hatfield, and Susan Trent of the Second VA. Inf.
Andrew and Susannah (Trent) Hatfield are the parents of Humphrey, Lorenzo, James, George, and Anderson, according to the 1850 and 1860 census. Andrew died Oct. 22, 1891, at the age of 82 years, 9 months, and 14 days. At the time of death, he was living at Baileysville. He was buried in Wyoming County.
1860 United States Federal Census; Father Andrew Hatfield 49; Mother; Susannah Hatfield 43; James Hatfield 24; Anderson Hatfield 22; George Hatfield 19; Lorenzo D Hatfield 16; Clarissa Hatfield 13; Louisa Hatfield 10; Lucinda Hatfield 10; Chloe Hatfield 7; Susannah Hatfield age 4.
Andrew’s sons Lorenzo, George, and Anderson are shown in the 2nd Virgina Infantry. George, Lorenzo, and James also fought in the 45th Virginia and were enlisted under B. H. Justice. All three are shown as privates. George filed for pension. Anderson is shown as a Lieutenant in the Second Cavalry under James Cook, and a Private in the 45th Battalion Virginia, enlisted under B. H. Justice. As shown above, he is listed in the same muster as Devil Anse Hatfield, both showing a desertion.
James, Lorenzo, George, Humphrey, and Anderson, all sons of Andrew.
[4] Capt. B. H. Justice of the First State Line, is also shown in the 36th Virginia Regiment, and in the 45th Battalion Va., Infantry. He was captured at Piedmont in 1864. On August 28, 1863, and received a requisition as Captain under Col. H. M. Beckley’s Regiment, while at Saltville. In another requisition, August 6, 1863, he asked for 32 jackets, 32 pants, 64 drawers, 32 shoes, 32 socks, and 32 caps. On Dec. 30, 1863, at Camp Georgia, Virginia, he produced a special requisition for 20 blankets, two axes, two buckets, 3 pair shoes, and 5 shirts.
Anderson Hatfield, son of Andrew, is shown as a Private in Company D, 45th Battalion Virginia Infantry on Apr. 1, 1864. Enlisted Jan. 1, 1864, Logan, by Captain Benjamin H. Justice [4].
He is also shown as Lt. Anderson Hatfield in the muster roll of the Second Virgina Infantry. Note this is a picture of Anderson Hatfield, son of Andrew. This is a Civil War picture, note the gun on his side. It was originally shared on Ancestry by “Dockhat” stating it was a family photo identifying Anderson Hatfield as husband of Octavia Lusk.
This Second Virginia Infantry muster roll is dated March of 1863, commanded by Col. Wm. Elisha Peters, Second State Line Infantry, Company G, with Captain James R. Cook; 1st Lieut. Anderson Hatfield, 2nd Lieut. Thomas Cartwright, 3rd Lieut. Charles Canterbury, and 4thSergeant George Hatfield. The other Sergeants are named as William R. Brooks, Henry Clay, and Andrew Brooks. Corporals are named as George Blankenship, James Brooks, James Gunnoe, and Andrew M. Cook. Lorenzo D. Hatfield is shown as a private.
Anderson Hatfield, son of Andrew, was born 7 April 1838 and died 3 August 1903, in Wyoming, WV, at the age of 65, 3m 26d. He married Octava Hatfield, and his occupation was farmer. His mother is shown as S. Hatfield, and his father as A. Hatfield.
WV Archives shows Clayton Hatfield was born to Octava and Anderson on Oct. 13, 1869. Daughter Grace May Hatfield was born in 1883, and Pearl Hatfield born 1888. The 1870 census shows Anderson on Sunhill PO, Huffs Creek, born 1849, 21 years old, wife Octavy, children Safroney and Alonzo. The 1880 census shows Octavia and Anderson on Huffs Creek, Wyoming with children Sofronia, Alonzo, Claughton, and Pierce. In 1910, Octava says she was born 1848, widowed, lives Brown Creek, McDowell, she is 62 years old living with son Clayton who is 36. Also a marriage of Anderson Hatfield to an Octava Lusk in 1864. His death cert says his father is Andy and his mother Susan, born 4-7-1838, died 8-3-1903. Have not found a pension file on him.
Humphrey Hatfield, another son of Andrew, 26 years of age enlisted in the 36th Virginia, Company D, as a private. His enlistment date shows May 27, 1861, under Capt. Beckley, in Logan County Court House. He was taken prisoner Sept. 19, 1864, captured at Winchester, Virginia. He was sent to Point Lookout on Sept. 20, 1864, exchanged March 15, 1865.
James Hatfield, son of Andrew is shown in 45th Virginia, Co. D, enlisted by B. H. Justice, July 9, 1863, arrested at Narrow, N. R. by order of Col. McCormick.
Lorenzo Dow Hatfield, son of Andrew, enlisted as a private, in Company G, 2nd Cavalry. He was imprisoned on Feb. 20, 1863, at Coal River in Wyoming County. Imprisonment information has his age at 18 when captured, complexion light, eye color blue, hair color light and his height 6 ft, 1 inch. He was a resident of Wyoming County, WV, occupation, farmer. Notes 1863-02-25 Confined, (Atheneum Military Prison, Wheeling, WV); 1863-03-15 Confined, (Camp Chase, OH); 1863-04-02 Exchanged.
George Hatfield, son of Andrew enlisted under the 45th, Co. D, by B. H. Justice on July 9, 1863, roll dated Nov-Dec. 1864. He took Oath at Camp Morton, Indiana, June 12, 1865. He was captured at Piedmont on June 5, 1864. His pension says he was not found under the 2nd Va. Inf muster rolls but that he shows in Co. D, 45th. Says James R. Cook (Capt.) not identified, but Goerge is shown under Lt. Col. Henry M. Beckley in the 45th, Co. D. He married Rena Cook, daughter of James, and Emily Cook, and died when 28 years of age. Children are Ashby born 1869.
Ancestry has this George as the son of James and Rachel Toler (parents are wrong). He married Nancy Buchanan, and died Boyd Co, Ky, that Nancy filed for pension May 19, 1924, for the 45th Virginia Infantry, that she was born Dec. 10, 65 in Wyoming Co. George applied for pension under the 2nd Virginia Infantry but pension office says he was not found on a roll. A. L. Wesley and J. W. Vansant witnessed that he served. George says he served under Capt. Cook and discharged Rock Island, Ill., on June 16, 1865. The same George Hatfield in Boyd County, Kentucky, death cert says his father was Andy, and his mother was Susan Trent. The 1880 census shows George 39, Rena L. 28, their children; Palestine, Foley, Nevada, Brook; The 1900 census shows George married to Nancy J. 34, he is 57, children Brookey, Foley, Martha, Fletcher, Lake, Fledie.
[5] Jacob Hatfield also shows up enrolling on July 9, 1863. Not sure of his familial lineage. Records show a Harrison Hatfield in the 45th Infantry as a private in Company D.
Captain James R. Cook [6] of the Second State Line, organized Dec. 1862, comprised10 companies, under Floyd before they disbanded. Looking at the names and remarks, many of these men, as of March 1863 on this particular muster, are decimated having been captured or deserted. According to Weaver, this company was stationed at Saltville, January 1863. Other Captains of the Second State Line were Capt. Ezekiel Counts, Capt. Simeon Hunt, Capt. J. C. Harrison, Capt. William Williams, Capt. William R. Lee, Capt. John B. Goff, Capt. Mathias Harrison, Capt. Julius Williamson, and Capt. William S. Chandler, all Second Infantry.
Muster Rolls of Captain James R. Cook, Co. (G), of the Second Regiment of Infantry, Army of the Confederate States of America, and Colonel Wm. E. Peters from thirty-first day of December-January 1863, when last mustered, to the thirty-first day of March 1863, shows Anderson Hatfield 1st Lieut. enlisted 20th Sept, Wyoming C. H., by James R. Cook, period 12 months. Last paid by Maj. Taylor Dec. 31, 1863.
In the book written by Jeffery Weaver, Capt. James Russell Cook had become Captain of “C” Company in the 45thBattalion Virginia Infantry mustering into service on May 18, 1863, just two months after the March 1863 muster roll.
M. E. Cook 13 Son, John M. Cook 11 Son, James L. Cook 10 Nephew, Martha E. Cook 9 Daughter, James W. Cook 7 Son, Robert T. Cook 3 Son, Geo. H. Cook 9/12 Son, W. F. Meadows 21 Adopted Son.
