Stapleton Crutchfield
Encyclopedia
Stapleton Crutchfield served as a Confederate artillerist in the American Civil War
. He was closely associated with Stonewall Jackson
until the latter's death. Crutchfield lost a leg in battle, removing him from service in the field. He returned to field service in the last campaign in Virginia, losing his life.
on June 21, 1835. He attended the Virginia Military Institute
, graduating in 1855. Jackson was one of his teachers. Crutchfield stayed on as an instructor of mathematics and tactics.
, but they were able to do little with the available ordinance. Crutchfield saw service at the First Battle of Winchester
on May 25, 1862, including carrying orders to MJ Richard S. Ewell
. He was captured briefly at the Battle of Cross Keys
together with Lt. Edward Willis, his assistant, on June 8. Ltc Crutchfield was back on duty the next day at the Battle of Port Republic
, directing the guns, having escaped during a melee between his captors and troops from the 37th Virginia Infantry
.
Crutchfield participated in the Seven Days Battles
with Jackson's command. His artillery was at the head of Jackson’s column at the Battle of White Oak Swamp
. The fire of his guns drove off federal gunners, permitting the Confederate infantry to cross the swamp, briefly. Union reinforcements, however, forced the Confederates to withdraw.
Crutchfield was promoted to the rank of colonel on May 5, 1862. He served under Jackson at the Battle of Cedar Mountain
, the Second Battle of Bull Run
, the Battle of Antietam
and the Battle of Fredericksburg
.
Crutchfield commanded the artillery reserve of Jackson’s corps at the Battle of Chancellorsville
. He was wounded on May 2, 1863 when he brought up guns to fire on the Union batteries at Hazel Grove, losing a leg as a result.http://sill-www.army.mil/famag/2002/MAY_AUG_2002/MAY_AUG_2002_PAGES_43_47.pdf He was in an ambulance when Jackson, wounded by his own men, was placed in it too. At one point Jackson had the ambulance halted to ease his companion’s pain.
After recovering from his wound, Col Crutchfield served as an artillery inspector for coastal defenses beginning on March 16, 1864. Then he was assigned to command artillery units in the defenses of Richmond, Virginia
, including the Chaffin's Bluff
Defense Line. When the city was abandoned by the southern army, his gunners became an infantry brigade in the division of MG George Washington Custis Lee
. In that role he lost his life at the Battle of Sayler's Creek
on April 6, 1865, being shot in the head while leading an attack on the Union VI Corps
.
Opinions of Crutchfield varied. Edward Porter Alexander
thought him a candidate for promotion to brigadier general before the leg was lost, but Campbell Brown thought him "competent but lazy". A recent writer has opined that Jackson tolerated Crutchfield's tendency to sleep late because of his abilities.
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He was closely associated with Stonewall Jackson
Stonewall Jackson
ຄຽשת״ׇׂׂׂׂ֣|birth_place= Clarksburg, Virginia |death_place=Guinea Station, Virginia|placeofburial=Stonewall Jackson Memorial CemeteryLexington, Virginia|placeofburial_label= Place of burial|image=...
until the latter's death. Crutchfield lost a leg in battle, removing him from service in the field. He returned to field service in the last campaign in Virginia, losing his life.
Pre-War
Stapleton Crutchfield junior was born in Spotsylvania County, VirginiaSpotsylvania County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 90,395 people, 31,308 households, and 24,639 families residing in the county. The population density was 226 people per square mile . There were 33,329 housing units at an average density of 83 per square mile...
on June 21, 1835. He attended the Virginia Military Institute
Virginia Military Institute
The Virginia Military Institute , located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Unlike any other military college in the United States—and in keeping with its founding principles—all VMI students are...
, graduating in 1855. Jackson was one of his teachers. Crutchfield stayed on as an instructor of mathematics and tactics.
Civil War
After the outbreak of war, Crutchfield served briefly as an infantry officer before becoming an artillerist. As a lieutenant colonel, Stapleton Crutchfield served as Stonewall Jackson’s chief of artillery in Valley Campaign, beginning on April 21, 1862. On May 23, he hurried guns to the front in the Battle of Front RoyalBattle of Front Royal
The Battle of Front Royal, also known as Guard Hill or Cedarville, was fought May 23, 1862, in Warren County, Virginia, as part of Confederate Army Maj. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's Campaign through the Shenandoah Valley during the American Civil War...
, but they were able to do little with the available ordinance. Crutchfield saw service at the First Battle of Winchester
First Battle of Winchester
The First Battle of Winchester, fought on May 25, 1862, in and around Frederick County, Virginia, and Winchester, Virginia, was a major victory in Confederate Army Maj. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's Campaign through the Shenandoah Valley during the American Civil War. Jackson enveloped the...
on May 25, 1862, including carrying orders to MJ Richard S. Ewell
Richard S. Ewell
Richard Stoddert Ewell was a career United States Army officer and a Confederate general during the American Civil War. He achieved fame as a senior commander under Stonewall Jackson and Robert E...
. He was captured briefly at the Battle of Cross Keys
Battle of Cross Keys
The Battle of Cross Keys was fought on June 8, 1862, in Rockingham County, Virginia, as part of Confederate Army Maj. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's campaign through the Shenandoah Valley during the American Civil War...
together with Lt. Edward Willis, his assistant, on June 8. Ltc Crutchfield was back on duty the next day at the Battle of Port Republic
Battle of Port Republic
-References:* Cozzens, Peter. Shenandoah 1862: Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2008. ISBN 978-0-8078-3200-4....
, directing the guns, having escaped during a melee between his captors and troops from the 37th Virginia Infantry
37th Virginia Infantry
The 37th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment raised in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia....
.
Crutchfield participated in the Seven Days Battles
Seven Days Battles
The Seven Days Battles was a series of six major battles over the seven days from June 25 to July 1, 1862, near Richmond, Virginia during the American Civil War. Confederate General Robert E. Lee drove the invading Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, away from...
with Jackson's command. His artillery was at the head of Jackson’s column at the Battle of White Oak Swamp
Battle of White Oak Swamp
The Battle of White Oak Swamp took place on June 30, 1862 in Henrico County, Virginia as part of the Seven Days Battles of the American Civil War. As the Union Army of the Potomac retreated southeast toward the James River, its rearguard under Maj. Gen. William B. Franklin stopped Maj. Gen. Thomas J...
. The fire of his guns drove off federal gunners, permitting the Confederate infantry to cross the swamp, briefly. Union reinforcements, however, forced the Confederates to withdraw.
Crutchfield was promoted to the rank of colonel on May 5, 1862. He served under Jackson at the Battle of Cedar Mountain
Battle of Cedar Mountain
The Battle of Cedar Mountain, also known as Slaughter's Mountain or Cedar Run, took place on August 9, 1862, in Culpeper County, Virginia, as part of the American Civil War. Union forces under Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks attacked Confederate forces under Maj. Gen. Thomas J...
, the Second Battle of Bull Run
Second Battle of Bull Run
The Second Battle of Bull Run or Second Manassas was fought August 28–30, 1862, as part of the American Civil War. It was the culmination of an offensive campaign waged by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia against Union Maj. Gen...
, the Battle of Antietam
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam , fought on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek, as part of the Maryland Campaign, was the first major battle in the American Civil War to take place on Northern soil. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with about 23,000...
and the Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, between General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside...
.
Crutchfield commanded the artillery reserve of Jackson’s corps at the Battle of Chancellorsville
Battle of Chancellorsville
The Battle of Chancellorsville was a major battle of the American Civil War, and the principal engagement of the Chancellorsville Campaign. It was fought from April 30 to May 6, 1863, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, near the village of Chancellorsville. Two related battles were fought nearby on...
. He was wounded on May 2, 1863 when he brought up guns to fire on the Union batteries at Hazel Grove, losing a leg as a result.http://sill-www.army.mil/famag/2002/MAY_AUG_2002/MAY_AUG_2002_PAGES_43_47.pdf He was in an ambulance when Jackson, wounded by his own men, was placed in it too. At one point Jackson had the ambulance halted to ease his companion’s pain.
After recovering from his wound, Col Crutchfield served as an artillery inspector for coastal defenses beginning on March 16, 1864. Then he was assigned to command artillery units in the defenses of Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, including the Chaffin's Bluff
Chaffin's Bluff
Chaffin's Bluff is located in Henrico County, Virginia, United States, along the James River. Chaffin's Bluff on the north side of the river opposite Drewry's Bluff, long-considered a major defense point of the river below Richmond...
Defense Line. When the city was abandoned by the southern army, his gunners became an infantry brigade in the division of MG George Washington Custis Lee
George Washington Custis Lee
George Washington Custis Lee , also known as Custis Lee, was the eldest son of Robert E. Lee and Mary Anna Custis Lee...
. In that role he lost his life at the Battle of Sayler's Creek
Battle of Sayler's Creek
-External links:* * : Maps, histories, photos, and preservation news...
on April 6, 1865, being shot in the head while leading an attack on the Union VI Corps
VI Corps (ACW)
The VI Corps was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Formation:The corps was organized as the Sixth Provisional Corps on May 18, 1862, by uniting Maj. Gen. William B. Franklin's Division, which had just arrived on the Virginia Peninsula, with Maj. Gen. William F. Smith's...
.
Opinions of Crutchfield varied. Edward Porter Alexander
Edward Porter Alexander
Edward Porter Alexander was an engineer, an officer in the U.S. Army, a Confederate general in the American Civil War, and later a railroad executive, planter, and author....
thought him a candidate for promotion to brigadier general before the leg was lost, but Campbell Brown thought him "competent but lazy". A recent writer has opined that Jackson tolerated Crutchfield's tendency to sleep late because of his abilities.