Elkton Historical Society, Inc

Elkton, Virginia

A series of 5 articles

Kite Began Service at Harper’s Ferry in 1861

Hiram Alexander Kite of Conrad’s Store (now Elkton) was called to Harper’s Ferry along with his militia unit, the Elk Run Greys, immediately after the state of Virginia seceded from the Union on April 17, 1861.

Kite was appointed Captain of the 2^nd Regiment, 7^th Brigade, Virginia Militia. Kite’s militia unit camped at Harper’s Ferry for a while before being ordered to the vicinity of Romney, Virginia (now West Virginia), where they were to remain for several months.

During the Fall of 1861, Captain Kite and his troops marched to Winchester, where they set up camp at the “Fair Grounds.”

On Nov. 21, 1861 Captain Kite wrote a letter to his family back home. Excerpts of Kite’s letter are quoted as follows:

“I write this letter after nine o’clock as we have orders to march in the morning at 7 o’clock to our old quarters at the Flowing Spring to report to Col. (Turner) Ashby.” “I learn that Ashby has asked for the second regiment.”

“Jackson’s Brigade have moved their camp some three miles below town, what direction they will take, I don’t know.”

Kite proceeds, in the letter, to tell how to build a “soldier’s fireplace,” used to warm the inside of a tent, by using flat stones and an empty flour barrel. The letter continues, “I hope the enterprise you spoke of may succeed. I think you did right in going in with them to furnish salt to the neighbors at the lowest price so as to cover cost – for I should have done the same – but the Deer Union folks could not get any at any price.”

Near the end of the letter Kite writes, “I was very sorry to hear of the death of my old Buck (his horse) for it was just the loss of twenty-five dollars, for Tom Miller offered me that for him when I was home.” “I hope they were careful in skinning him.” “I want the skin tanned with the wool on.” “Tell the tanner to tan it with the first hides he puts in, for if I have to remain in the service I want to sleep on.”

When Capt. Kite was discharged from service, in early 1862, he brought the hide of old buck home with him. The hide is now on display at Jackson’s Headquarters (Miller-Kite House).

In October 1862, Capt. Kite’s oldest son, 18-year-old Charles Kite, entered the Confederate Army as a member of Company I of the 10^th Virginia Regiment, Volunteer Infantry, which was then commanded by Capt. W.D.C. Covington, a former member of the Elk Run Greys Militia.

(Written by Casey Billhimer, originally published in The Valley Banner, April 17, 2003)

Charles Kite’s letters home reveal details of life for Civil War soldiers

On October 1, 1862, 18-year-old Charles R. Kite, the oldest of seven children born to Capt. Hirem A. Kite and his wife Margaret of the Conrad’s Store community, enlisted into the Confederate Army.

Charles was assigned to Company I of the 10^th Virginia Infantry, which was made up of dozens of young men, including his uncle, Lt. Joseph H. Kite, from eastern Rockingham County.

Stonewall Jackson’s famous Valley Campaign had taken place four months earlier and had included the 10^th Virginia Infantry during the battles of McDowell, Front Royal, Winchester and Port Republic, with casualties amounting to six killed, 27 wounded and eight taken prisoner.

Charles Kite initially reported to his regiment, which was camped near Bunker Hill, W. Va. north of Winchester, where it was to remain for several weeks.

On Oct. 18, the 10^th Virginia Infantry marched toward Martinsburg, where it was ordered to destroy the tracks of the B & O Railroad, which prevented Union troops from using the rail line for several months.

After then returning to Bunker Hill, the 10^th marched to the vicinity of Berryville, Va., where the weather progressively turned cold with a snow storm eventually blanketing the campsite.

By November 1862, the 10^th Virginia had moved to within four miles of Winchester, pitching its tents along Pughtown Road.

From this campsite, Charles Kite wrote a letter to his mother, portions of which are quoted as follows:

Camp Cooper, Va.

Nov. 19, 1862

“I received your kind letter and was glad to hear from you all. Sorry to hear that the fever is in the family.”

“I am well this morning and as hearty as a pig. I weigh 150 pounds – 14 pounds more than I did when I left home. The reason why is because we get so much good beef and slapjacks and apples to eat at fifty to seventy five cents a dozen.”

“I was mighty glad to get that box. We were under marching orders when Frank came but he hauled it to the next camp for me. The molasses gave out this morning. I have a little butter yet. I think I can do without another box for a while.”

“You can send my overcoat and boots together the first chance you get. I do not think my shoes will last me ‘til Christmas.”

In less than four weeks, on December 13, 1862, Charles Kite was to experience his first full-fledged battle, when Union Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside met up with Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee during the battle of Fredericksburg.

Private Kite described the battle in another letter to his mother, dated Dec. 17, 1862 and sent from his camp near Port Royal:

“We had to leave and go down towards Fredericksburg to meet the Yankees.”

“We went through the woods in a line of battle last Saturday. The thick of the fight came Sunday morning. We were on the front line. We laid a ditch beside the railroad.”

“The Yankees had possession of the railroad but we whipped them back. The Yankees were laying thick on the ground at one place.”

“There [was] four men wounded in our Regiment, one in our Company, Bill Davis, two in Company H and one in Company F.”

“We say three lines of Yankees. I never saw the like before. Sunday they sent in the flag of truce to bury their dead. The Yankees came in fifty yards of us to get their dead.”

“They talked to some of our men – said they were tired of this war. Capt. Woodard [p. H. Woodward] got shot twice in the hand and lost some more of his men. He lost twelve of his horses.”

“I expect it will snow here before long. I must close for this time. It is cold – I cannot write any more. Write soon. Yours truly, Charles Kite.”

After experiencing the agony and death of war at Fredericksburg, Charles spent a cold Christmas encamped at Port Royal, which is located 15 miles southeast of the battlefield, and penned another letter to his mother, dated December 26, 1862:

“I received your letter and was glad to hear from you and am glad to hear you are getting well. I was afraid some of you all would die.”

“I hope you all will enjoy your Christmas party. I am well and am spending my Christmas making breastworks and picketing on the Rappahannock River. We can see some Yankees every once in awhile. We are on a seven day picket.”

“I wish the war was over so I could shoot some wild ducks. I saw a drove the other day, there were about 300 went over our heads. Bill Marshall and I were on the same post.”

“I talked with a Yankee on the other side of the river. I was on one side and he was on the other. He said he was getting tired of the war.”

“I asked him if he wouldn’t like to be home shucking corn. He said he would, that fighting was not what it was cracked up to be.”

A few weeks later, Charles sent out still another letter from the same camp, dated January 11, 1863:

“I received your letter last Saturday evening. I was glad to hear from home. I was as proud of my clothes as if I was worth two thousand dollars.”

“Tell the children I am always thinking of them. Tell Mary I have got my haversack full of candy but I have no way to send it home.”

“I spent my Christmas on picket but it was a mighty dull one. The gloves will do splendid. My shirts are as good as new. I have enough stockings. Apples are selling from one to two dollars a dozen. Cakes are bought at five inches square. As the Captain ought to be thought of I will have to close. Write soon. Yours truly, Charles Kite.”

Near the end of April 1863, the Union army, commanded by Gen. “Fighting” Joe Hooker, began it’s “On to Richmond” campaign.

After learning that Hooker’s army had crossed the Rappahannock en route to Richmond, Confederate Gen. Lee decided to take the initiative and quickly strike the enemy.

On the evening of May 1, 1863, Lee and Stonewall Jackson laid out a plan of attack against Hooker’s right, an objective that would be accomplished the following evening.

(Written by Casey Billhimer, originally published in The Valley Banner, April 24, 2003)

Kite killed at Battle of Chancellorsville

On May 1, 1863, as Union Gen. Hooker’s army attempted to march to Richmond, Gen. Robert E. Lee, with Stonewall Jackson’s corps in support, decided to attack the Federals as they approached Chancellorsville.

The first day of the five-day Battle of Chancellorsville consisted of heavy skirmishing and artillery fire, which by nightfall had ceased.

During a meeting between Lee and Jackson that night, it was decided that Jackson’s entire corps would, the next day, march about 12 miles and attack the Union right flank – considered a vulnerable part of the enemy’s line – while Lee held Hooker’s front.

At about 5 p.m. on May 2, Jackson’s troops made their attack, shattering the Union line. While surging forward along the Plank Road toward Chancellorsville, Jackson’s corps took scores of prisoners, captured four cannons and hundreds of firearms, as well as some valuable equipment and supplies.

After the action ended later that night, it was determined that the 10^th Virginia Infantry had suffered a loss of about 50 killed and wounded. Among those killed was Sgt. Brown Miller of Company G, who died in the arms of his brother-in-law Capt. William Billhimer, also of Company G.

Another member of Company G, David N. Funkhouser, had become a close friend to three members of Company I – Private Charles Kite, Cpl. James M. Philips and 2^nd Cpl. Alexander Wyant, all of whom survived the action of May 2.

However, their corps commander, Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson was mortally wounded that night by his own men, who mistook him for the enemy.

The following morning, Sunday, May 3, the 10^th Virginia was placed in the third line of battle as the attack was renewed at dawn.

After an hour of fighting, the 10^th Virginia was ordered forward to support a South Caroline brigade – exposing themselves to heavy artillery and musket fire.

Lt. Col. Samuel T. Walker, of the 10^th Virginia, was instantly killed by a cannon ball as other members of his regiment fell nearby.

After advancing once more, the 10^th Virginia Infantry was attacked from the right side by four regiments of Pennsylvania volunteer’s who killed, wounded or captured nearly 100 members of the 10^th Virginia.

Had it not been for a Confederate flanking attack, which drove the enemy beyond the farm and home of Melzi Chancellor, the 10^th Virginia Infantry would have been completely annihilated.

When the day’s tally of losses to the 10^th Virginia was taken, the regiment had suffered 38 killed, 75 wounded and 23 taken prisoner. Among the dead were Charles Kite, James Philips and Alexander Wyant – close friends who died side-by-side in the line of battle. Among the wounded was their friend David Funkhouser who suffered a head wound.

(Written by Casey Billhimer, originally published in The Valley Banner, May 1, 2003.)

Wounded friend brought family first news of

Kite’s death in battle

On the morning of Sunday, May 3, 1863, Private Charles R. Kite, 18, of Conrads Store, 2^nd Cpl. Alexander Wyant, 23 of Beldor and Cpl. James M. Philips, 28, of Page County – all members of Company I, 10^th Virginia Infantry – were killed in action during the Battle of Chancellorsville.

A good friend of the deceased trio, Private David Neff Funkhouser of Company G, a 19-year old son of the Rev. Joseph and Christina Funkhouser, was severely wounded in the head.

Funkhouser, due to his wound, was given a 60-day furlough to go home and recuperate. However, being an infantry soldier, Funkhouser had to walk the distance from Chancellorsville to his home in Keezletown – some 80 miles away.

On occasion, Funkhouser would hitch a ride on a passing wagon. While trudging along his westward route, he would often stop by a farmhouse, where receptive family members would provide a night’s stay and a meal or two.

The following is a true-to-life account of the remainder of David Funkhouser’s journey home, as provided by John T. Funkhouser and Mary Elizabeth Kite.

David Funkhouser followed the Spotswood Trail across the Blue Ridge Mountains. About a mile from the foot of the mountain, he came to a large and inviting brick house.

It was now late afternoon and some days after leaving Chancellorsville. He was weak, tired and weary. There was hope in his heart that here he would find food and shelter for the night.

When David knocked on the front door, it was opened by a man who seemed to be about the age of his own father. David asked if he could be given some food and shelter for the night.

After a momentary pause, caused possibly by the thought that his won son might be knocking at some stranger’s door seeking help, David was immediately invited in. As the evening meal was about to be served, he was asked to join the family and share in the supper.

During the meal, he was plied with many questions about the progress of the war and the battle in which he was wounded.

Later on, he introduced himself and learned for the first time that the family’s name was Kite. David remarked that his closest friend had been killed in the same battle in which he had been wounded and that his friend’s name was Charles Kite.

This remark brought a stunned silence to the table and Mrs. Kite quietly arose and went to the kitchen, leaving the care of two-year-old Florence to her oldest daughter, Susan.

Hiram Kite, who had earlier captioned a company of soldiers and witnessed first hand the grim havoc that war could ravage on men, was visibly shaken.

Regaining his composure, Capt. Kite explained to David that Charles was his oldest son and that David had brought the first news of his death.

Later in the evening, when the younger children were in bed, David related the events of the two fierce days of battle at Chancellorsville, of other battles in which he and Charles had been engaged and of how they became close friends.

Before retiring to what she knew would be a restless night, Mrs. Kite applied a fresh dressing to David’s wound.

David had never known just where Charles lived. However, it appeared more than a mere chance that David had inadvertently stumbled onto Charles’ home that night. The fate that brought them together in the first instance was still at work.

The next morning, David was awakened early. The three youngest children were still asleep. He wondered about this when called to breakfast. Mr. Kite had risen about an hour earlier and hitched up a team of horses to the surrey to drive David the remainder of his journey to his home in Keezletown.

(Written by Casey Billhimer, originally published in The Valley Banner, May 8, 2003)

Local soldiers buried at Elk Run Cemetery

During the second week of May, 1863, a few days after Capt. Hiram A. and Margaret Kite learned from Pvt. David Funkhouser that their oldest son Pvt. Charles R. Kite had been killed May 3, during the Battle of Chancellorsville, Capt. Kite received an official packet from the Confederate Army.

Included in the packet were some of Charles’ personal effects and a letter believed to have been written by Capt. Kite’s brother and Charles’ uncle, Lt. Joseph H. Kite of Company I.

The letter reads as follows:

Near Chancellorsville, Spotsylvania Co., Va., May 4, 1863, H.A. Kite-Esqr., Sir:

“It becomes my duty to inform you of the death of your son, C.R. Kite. He was killed yesterday in the battle.”

“Poor Charlie. We had all learned to love him. He died a hero. We buried him yesterday. If you wish to come for his body you can easily find it. It is buried on the farm of Wm. Chandler or Chancelor, I don’t know which.”

“The first day’s fight was on this farm (2^nd of May). The house is a weather boarded one. Some two or three hundred yards below this house on the right side of the Plank Road, and about a hundred yards from the road, under a walnut tree near some old field pines. You can find his grave together with A. Wyant’s and J.M. Philips’. The graves are plainly marked with head boards-also a plank nailed to the tree.”

Capt. Kite received another letter from his nephew, 2^nd Lt. William K. Jennings, who also served in Company I with Charles. This letter reads as follows:

Dear Uncle, “From all that I can learn no one of our company saw Charlie when he fell.”

“Joe Monger says the last he recollected of him was as they were moving along under heavy fire to their position in line.”

“He (Joe Monger) had been thrown down by a bush and Charles, true to his kind hearted nature, stopped and asked him if he were hurt. This is the last time he was heard to speak by one of his company.”

“It was about ten minutes afterwards that the prisoners were taken by being flanked and probably by that time Charlie had ceased to live. He is supposed to have been killed instantly.”

Capt. Kite, realizing his son’s body could be retrieved, hitched a pair of horses to his spring board wagon and departed for the Chancellor farm.

Kite returned home on May 16, with the bodies of his son, Charles, James Philips and Alexander Wyant. Burial services took place the following day, Sunday May 17, two weeks after the boys were killed in battle.

The following account, describing the funeral services, appeared in the May 19, 1863 issue of the Rockingham Register newspaper:

“Sunday, May 17, 1863 was a day of beauty and no doubt happiness to many. The sun rose in an unclouded sky, carrying its beam of joy and gladness to every part of our beloved state. Alas! That such a day should have witnessed so much sorrow – for, although a day of beauty, it was a day of sorrow to this community.

The corpses of three young men, members of Company I, 10^th Virginia Regiment, who were killed at the Wilderness, May 3^rd, had reached the neighborhood the day previous, and this was the day of their burial.

What a difference there would have been had it been stated that Charlie Kite, Jimmie Philips and Alexander Wyant were to be at church that day, just from the field of carnage and strive!

Many would have gone just to see them, hear the news and hear from the loved ones in the army. How different would have been the scene at home! “Pa, brother is coming!” “Ma, Papa is coming!” Oh! What rejoicing! But no! It was not thus.

As the slow moving wagon approaches that bears their bodies to their former homes, the eyes of all suffused with tears, while suppressed wails of anguish escape from many lips.

At ten o’clock on Sunday, the procession that followed two of these heroes, Charles Kite and Jimmie Philips, slowly approached Elk Run Church, where, after their bodies were deposited in their silent resting places, close to each other, (comrades in life were not separated in death) their funerals were preached from Isaiah 25-8, (first clause) to a large and attentive congregation.

Upon reaching the house of Alexander Wyant, the services were more impressive, if possible, than before.

There lay confined the remains of the husband and father – who had been a steward in the M.E. Church-South – while the tears of the widow and orphans were mingled with those of dear relatives and friends.

The exercises were opened by dedicating to God in Holy Baptism, the children of the deceased, one of whom was an infant who bore his father’s name. The sermon was then preached, by request from Isaiah 35-10, after which we followed the body to the grave.

In a ministry extending through a period of four years, I have never passed through as solemn and impressive scene as these.

Truly, this is bringing the war to our own doors. May God in His mercy console the afflicted, and supply with His presence the absence of loved ones! Truly the living should prepare to die.

A Confederate gravestone, located in a cemetery in Charlottesville, bears an inscription which can fittingly be used to honor these young soldiers who died defending their homeland. “Fate denied them the victory, but crowned them with immortality.”

Note: A year later, Charlie’s younger brother, William Edwin Kite, 17, joined the Confederate Army, remaining until the war ended. David Funkhouser recovered from his wound and moved to the McGaheysville area after the war and died an old man.

He is buried in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

The Kites are buried in Elk Run Cemetery. Alexander Wyant is buried in the Wyant Cemetery at Beldor.

(Written by Casey Billhimer, originally published in The Valley Banner, May 15, 2003)

Kite Began Service at Harper’s Ferry in 1861

During the Fall of 1861, Captain Kite and his troops marched to Winchester, where they set up camp at the “Fair Grounds.”

On Nov. 21, 1861 Captain Kite wrote a letter to his family back home. Excerpts of Kite’s letter are quoted as follows:

“Jackson’s Brigade have moved their camp some three miles below town, what direction they will take, I don’t know.”

When Capt. Kite was discharged from service, in early 1862, he brought the hide of old buck home with him. The hide is now on display at Jackson’s Headquarters (Miller-Kite House).

(Written by Casey Billhimer, originally published in The Valley Banner, April 17, 2003)