The 111th Heads to Virginia and the Battle of Bristoe Station

Abstract: The men of the 111th New York Infantry return to war in Virginia and soon engaged the enemy at Bristoe Station in events recalled in several diary entries from various soldiers of the 111th.

Original written by siblings George & Deb McGraw, September 2023. Revised and edited by Erika Newcombe and Deb Hall, June 2026.

111th National Colors with battles written on the stripes.

There are thirteen stripes on the 111th National Colors, each stripe bearing the name of an engagement where they fought. It is not an all-inclusive list as there are not enough stripes on Old Glory for that, but Gettysburg is fittingly on the first red stripe.

Sgt. Richard Warren (Port Byron) of Co. F recorded in his diary July 5, 1863, just after the Battle of Gettysburg, "I went down and looked over the Battle field. It was one of the hardest sights I ever saw. The ground was covered with dead and wounded that had lain there for 2 nights and a day, through the storm. Details was sent out to bury the dead and wounded was brought in."

On the 8th he wrote, "We was called up this morning at day light. Was ordered to pack up and it made worst travel that I ever saw." He also reported that on the 9th they saw a spy hung from a tree near the old Antietam battlefield while on their way to Jefferson. By the 18th they were back at Harper's Ferry again, crossing the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. On the 19th the men picked blackberries in the same way as they had in 1862. The eight companies that left Auburn in 1862 with 705 men now had only 145 as they camped near Warrington (Warrenton) Junction, VA in 1863.

The men spent most of August on picket duty along Elk Run. It was noted that Cpl. John Fishback of Co. D jumped five levels with his promotion to regimental sergeant major. Meanwhile, Co. B was on duty at nearby Camp Rucker while Co. C was at Camp Beckwith near Lewinsville where both companies engaged Confederate Col. John Mosby and his guerillas.

In September, the regiment moved camps several times and Sgt. Paylor recorded in his diary that on the 16th they left Culpepper. "As we marched through town the bands played and flags flying. Marched to Ceder [sic] Mountain ... We could see where the enemy camps were in the woods ... this is where Pope was defeated," which was August of 1862.

The regiment spent the remainder of September on picket duty supporting artillery batteries after crossing the Rappahannock on a pontoon bridge. Things were generally quiet and several men from Co. D managed to get two 100 lb. pigs while on picket duty the afternoon of the 21st. They continued picket duty into early October. Supplies seemed to be more plentiful, but even as the men received replacement clothes, they were discouraged that no new soldiers came. Sgt. Warren recorded on the 5th, "...very nice day. Had a horse race this afternoon and the 2nd corps had come to relieve us."

Sketch by Alfred Waud depicts General Gouverneur K. Warren's II Corps fighting at the Battle of Bristoe Station in October 1863

On October 14, he wrote, "We moved this morning at daylight... We had but a short distance when we was attacked by Brigade of Cavalry and a Battery of Flying Artillery. We had a little skirmish with them and drove them. We took some prisoners and one Col. The first Div. had heavy skirmish the same time we was not molested until we got to Bristoe [Station].

"Our regiment was deployed as Flankers when we was attacked by A.P. Hills Corps. We was rallyed [sic] and ordered forward double quick. We went down to the rail road and got under cover and lay there and fired, the enemy then advanced on us in line of Battle but was repulsed with heavy loss. We captured 450 prisoners and 5 pieces of Artillery. Our losses was 2 killed and 22 wounded. Our Co. [F] lost none. We crossed Bull Run Creek and went into camp."

Sgt. John Paylor (Lyons) of Co. D also wrote on the 14th, "Lay in woods on guard. Got up 4 a.m. Marched at 5. The rebs attacked us after we started with cavalry. Had a skirmish. Auburn on Cedar Run attacked again. At Catlett Station had a heavy fight. Drove the rebs and took 450 prisoners and seven pieces of artillery. We had 3 wounded... marched to Centerville. Got there 3 a.m."

First Sgt. Esek Hoff of Co. K also wrote about that day at Bristoe Station, "...away we went at the word forward. The bullets flying like a hail... we paid them back in their own coin."

Map of Bristoe Station Battlefield - Blue arrow at 111th position.

During the remainder of October the regiment changed position numerous times; they crossed Mitchells Ford on a pontoon bridge the morning of the 19th, passing through Manassas Junction at 9 a.m. and arriving back at Bristoe Station at 11 a.m. to find the rebels had destroyed the railroad. On the 20th, they were up at 3 a.m. but not on the march until 6 a.m. They crossed Broad Run three times during the afternoon in water three feet deep. They passed through Gainesville at 2 p.m., stopping for the night near New Baltimore. Ironically, Paylor described that as a "Pleasant Day."

Company C was also not idle during October. While at Camp Beckwith near Lewinsville, a surprise

raid by Virginia Cavalry on October 2 feinted an attack on the pickets while others were sneaking into camp to cause havoc. Lt. Patrick Welch led the men from Co. C in a counterattack. While the men drove off the enemy, the Company paid a high price with one man wounded and nine captured, seven of whom later died in Andersonville POW camp before the war ended. Five additional men of the company were missing and thought to be captured. A four-man scouting detail under Cpl. Dewitt C. Bidlack (also known as Bullock) managed to evade capture and returned to camp. Sgt. George Wishart was briefly captured but managed to escape and returned to the company only to be killed in action seven months later during the Battle of the Wilderness on May 2, 1864.

The Battle of Bristoe Station, VA was soon written in its place of honor on the first white stripe of the 111th National Colors. Col. MacDougall wrote General Order No. 17, congratulating the men of the 111th, "new laurels won by it in the engagement of the 14th at Bristoe Station." He ended the order stating, "every member of the 111th who performed his duty upon that occasion will in coming years look back with pride to Bristoe."

These stories have been researched and recalled here after reading both primary and secondary sources, such as Civil War diaries that have been donated to historical societies and libraries, by descendants and collectors. If the reader is a descendant of a Civil War soldier, especially those from Wayne County, New York, please use the contact form to let us know about yourself and your ancestor. ###

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