CHARLES P. BELCHER
Charles P. Belcher, 24th VA Infantry CSA:
Civil War Hero, but Deserter and Traitor
Introduction
Charles P. Belcher of the 24th VA Infantry is one of the most interesting, but most difficult to understand of all the Belchers who fought in the Civil war or War Between the States. At 6'4" in height, Charles must have been an impressive figure at the close of the blood bath of the Pickett-Pettigrew Charge on July 3, 1863 at Gettysburg, PA. Waving the regimental colors of the 24th VA Infantry, Charles exclaimed to General George Pickett, "General let's go it again." The idea that a soldier would have such thoughts at that time defines Charles as a bonafied hero of the war. More amazing, his record shows that he had been wounded just two days earlier at Gettysburg on July 1. There are several first hand accounts that Charles' meeting with General Pickett did take place.
Given that he was the color bearer for the 24th and survived the charge is evidence that he was a heroic and dedicated Confederate defender. Little doubt that Charles actions seem heroic. Little doubt that he was a believer in the Southern Cause at the mid point of the war in July 1863.
But something drastic happened and one year later to the date, Charles deserted to the enemy and five days later signed an Oath of Allegiance to the Union. What happened to make him go from a true hero of the Southern Cause to a man that would desert his comrades in arms and go over to the enemy? His case is not unique in that he deserted from his unit. Twenty six Belchers appear to have deserted, but only two Charles P. and Marten (31 VA Inf) show that they deserted to the enemy.
This paper will attempt to explore some thoughts on Charles as a hero, deserter and traitor.
Who Was Charles?
The Historical Data system (HDS) provives the following about him:
Charles P. Belcher Residence not listed; Enlisted on 6/4/1861 at Lynchburg, VA as a Private. On 6/4/1861 he mustered into "D" Co. VA 24th Infantry (date and method of discharge not given)
He was listed as:
* Sick (date and place not stated) (Summer of 1861)
* Wounded 7/1/1863 Gettysburg, PA
* Detailed 9/15/1863 (place not stated) (As brigade foragemaster)
* Deserted 7/3/1864 (place not stated)
* Confined 7/5/1864 Bermuda Hundred, VA (Estimated day)
* Oath Allegiance 7/10/1864 Bermuda Hundred, VA (Released)
* Description 6' 4", fair complexion, brown eyes, light hair
Southern Historical Society Papers (SHSP.
"24th Virginia Infantry's Action at Gettysburg."
This is a long excerpt of an even longer article written by the Late Colonel Joseph Mayo,for the Times-Dispatch in Richmond Virginia, Dec.13,1914. He was a survior of that dreaded day at Gettysburg.
Joseph May was in the 3rd Virginia.
..... And lastly, the sight of the impetuous Kemper,as rising in his stirrups and pointing to the left with his sword,he shouted: "There are the guns boys.Go for them!" It was an injudicious order,but they obeyed it with a will,and mingling with Garnett's people,pushed rapidly up the heights.Within a few steps of the stone fence,while in the act of shaking hands with General Garnett, and congratulating him on being able to be with his men (he had been seriously hurt a day or two before).I heard someone calling to me,and turning my head,saw it was Captain Fry.He was mounted and blood was streaming from his horse's neck.Colonel Terry had sent him to stop the movement to the left.The enemy in force (Stannard's Vermonters) had penetrated to our rear.He told me that Kemper had been struck down,it was feared mortally,and Garnett and Armistead had both been killed. With the help of Col. Carrington of the Eighteenth,and Major Bently,of the Twenty-fourth, I hastily gathered together a small band and faced them to meet the new danger.
The 24th's Action
"At 2:00 A.M. on July 2, the 24th Virginia and Pickett's division
proceeded eastward on the Chambersburg Pike toward Gettysburg. Under a
broiling sun the Virginians rapidly crossed South Mountain and by 2:00
P.M. had trudged twenty-three miles through suffocating dust. The
exhausted men encamped early in the afternoon near Willoughby Run. They
Were three miles west of Gettysburg, which for the previous two days had
been the scene of a desperate Struggle. As July 2 closed, the Virginians
sensed that tomorrow would bring their entry into the combat.
General George Stannard's Vermont brigade, which was stationed in a
cluster of trees southeast of the Codori house and perpendicular to the
Union line, took advantage of the Virginians' exposed right flank.
Musketry ripped huge gashes in the ranks of the regiment. The Virginians
pushed forward, only to be hit from the front by William Harrow's and N.
J. Hall's brigades. Despite the murderous fire from the Union soldiers,
the men from the Virginia highlands continued to close ranks around their
colorbearer, Charles P. Belcher. The Virginians now opened fire and
poured well directed volleys into the ranks of their Northern
adversaries.
In the confusion of battle, Kemper's men had drifted to the left. They
passed a piece of rough terrain in front of Hall's position, then became
tangled with Garnett's brigade. General Kemper, having been wounded,
relinquished command of the brigade to "Old Buck" Terry. In desperation,
Terry tried to stop the leftward movement, but his efforts went for
naught. Individually, and in places collectively, Kemper's and Garnett's
men continued their easterly charge.
Owing to Col. Terry's temporary advancement to brigade command, Lt. Col.
Maury's unexplained absence and Maj. Hambrick's wound, Capt. Bentley took
command of the 24th Virginia. Savage hand-to-hand combat began between
the Virginians and the Union troops just south of the angle. Despite the
Federal advantage of a stone wall, at least part of the 24th Virginia was
able to get inside of the Union works. The mountaineers stormed over the
wall, causing many Federals to surrender. Continuing forward, Capt.
Bentley and his men were able to occupy at least one of Alonzo H.
Cushing's Union guns. However, the unsupported Virginians could not
maintain their advantage.
In backing across the field, the men from the Virginia highlands
continued to fall. Walter Harrison, inspector general for Pickett's
division, described the scene by stating: kiln the attack it was heavy
but the rear. unheeded; in the retreat it became terrible." However, a
few men of the 24th Virginia were able to find their way back to Seminary
Ridge where the charge began. There the men bathed their wounds in a
little creek. Clear water soon ran crimson with blood. Farther down the
creek, troops quenched their ravinous thirst with the same rose-colored
liquid.
Only two of the regiments had
retained their colors, one of which was the 24th Virginia, and the color
bearer, a tall mountaineer, named Charles Belcher, was waving it, crying:
"General, let us go at them again!" just about then General James L.
Kemper was carried into the crowd, and the latter came to a halt. Then
General Lee was seen to ride up, and we, as was usual, wanted to know
what he had to say, crowded around him.
General Pickett broke out into tears, while General Lee rode up to him,
and they shook hands. General Lee spoke to General Pickett in a slow and
distinct manner. Anyone could see that he, too, felt the repulse and
slaughter of the division, whose remains he viewed.
LEE'S WORDS.
If the remarks made to General Pickett, by General. Lee, we distinctly
heard him say: "General Pickett, your men have done all that men could
do; the fault is entirely my own." These words will never be forgotten.
Just then, he turned to General Kemper and remarked: "General Kemper, I
hope you are not seriously hurt, can I do anything for you?" General
Kemper looked up and replied: "General Lee, you can do nothing for me; I
am mortally wounded, but see to it that full justice is done my men who
made this charge." General Lee said: "I will," and rode off.
General Pickett turned to us, saying: "You can go back to the wagons and
rest until you are wanted." The men then left for their wagon trains.
*Month Charles deserted. The other man to desert to the Union left a day
after Charles.
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One would think that desertions would be highest immediately after a
battle where the casualties were high. The 24th VA had casualties at 76
places/dates in the HDS reccords. I have cchosen several of these dates
that correspond to the times when the regiment deserters were the
highest.
24th VA casualty Index
Date Place Killed Wounded POW Missing
5/5/62 Williamsburg 19 62 65 4
5/31/62 Seven Pines 9 30 3 0
8/29/62 2nd Manassas 5 52 0 0
8/30/62 2nd Manassas 7 1 0 0
9/14/62 South Mt. 0 3 8
0
9/15/62 South MT 0 0 1
0
9/17/62 Sharpsburg 0 1 0
0
5-6/63 0 casualties for regiment
7/1/63 Gettysburg 2 17 12
1 Charles wounded
7/2/63 Gettysburg 0 3 1
0
7/3/63 Gettysburg 15 57 45
7
7/4/63 Gettysburg 0 0 0
1
5/15/64 Drewry's Bluff 0 1 0
0
5/16/64 Drewry's Bluff 33* 73 0
0
7/3/64 Bermuda Hundred 0 0 0
0 Charles deserted
10/22/64 Seven Pines 0 1 1
0
3/3/65 Gates Co. NC 0 0 1
0
The day that Charles deserted there were no casualties.
I have no idea of what happened to Charles after he was released by the
Union. Did he go home? Could he go home? Did he remain in Northern
territory? Did he survive the war? I do not have answers to any of these
questions, but I am fairly sure that he was not accepted by the
Confederate Daughters about 45 years after the war. He is not listed in
the Honor Roll.
Don't know their criteria for seletion. Another slight seems to come from the 24th VA Reenactor's web page. They
have a large amount of data regarding the regiment, but no mention of
Charles as a hero at Gettysburg or as a deserter.
Based on the timing he may have just reenlisted after three years. He
may have just returned from his furlough for reenlisting. If he had just
been fed-up with the fighting, why did he not go back to the regiment.
Why not just stay home. There was obviously something else going on to
cause him to take such a desperate step.
Charles chose to go to the enemy
rather than chance becoming a POW or getting killed. It is obvious that the Union went to great efforts to encourage men to desert. He probably just wanted the release so he could go back to the mountains and hide until ther end of the war. There is no indication that he was "galvanized" or enlisted in the Union Army.
Summary
The case of Charles P. Belcher has presented an excellent study of one
man in the war. It raises more questions than it answers about how or why
a man can choose to desert to the enemy rather than just go home. Going
over to the enemy was not that common. Charles was one of the two men to
take this route out of 138 to desert from the 24th Va. My records show
that 26 Belchers deserted. One of these is said to have galvanized. The
other 25 deserters will also make good stories, and I hope to explore
them.
presented by: Greg Belcher and Gayl Wells