Episode 45: SGT William V. Izlar and the 25th South Carolina at the Battle of Globe Tavern

At the Battle of Globe Tavern, 21 August 1864, SGT William V. Izlar and the 25th South Carolina advanced alongside the rest of Hagood’s Brigade against what was perceived to be an open flank of the Union V Corps, but in reality occupied by BG Lysander Cutler’s 4th Division.

Sources used for this episode:

Izlar, William V. A Sketch of the War Record of the Edisto Rifles, 1861-1865. Columbia: The State Company, 1914. https://www.loc.gov/item/19014528/.

Davis, George B., Perry, Leslie J., Kirkley, Joseph W. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. ser. 1, vol. 42, pt: 1: Reports. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1893. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924077725905&view=1up&seq=3.

Transcript

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The battle seemed to halt firing and practically ceased on both sides, and both armies stood in breathless expectancy awaiting the issue of this momentous parlay between these two brave determined men. Upon the refusal of Captain Dailey on his second demand of General Haygood to return the flag, he drew his pistol from his belt. And shot the Gallant federal captain. hi, my name is Bill Coghlan and host the first person Civil War podcast. While the generals of both sides get most of the recognition, the Civil War was fought by the men in the ranks, and they told their stories during and after the war. Follow me as I reveal what these men witnessed in the battles of the Civil War. Episode 45 is entitled Sergeant William v Isla in the 25th South Carolina at the Battle of Globe Tavern, and relies on his book, A Sketch of the War Record of the ATO Rifles 1861 to 1865, which published in 1914. William Valmore. Isla was born in 1840 and lived in Orangeburg County, South Carolina. On one March, 1861, William Isla enlisted as a private in company A, the ATO rifles in the first South Carolina, where his brother, James f Isla held the rank of First Lieutenant. The A Disto Rifles was a militia company that formed in 1851 and had been one of the first companies to volunteer for service in South Carolina. Governor. Pickens ordered the formation of the first South Carolina Infantry for State Service, commanded by Colonel Johnson Hagood. And companies, A, B, C, and D of the first South Carolina South formed an Orangeburg while the remaining six companies hailed from the neighboring Barnwell County. On 11 April, 1861, private Isla and the Orangeburg companies made their way to the train station and the local citizens gathered there to see the men off to war. Some of the enthusiastic citizens had taken out one of the old cannon, which had laid rusting about the streets since the days that had been used by Captain Henry Felder and the Revolutionary War out to the station and fired a parting salute. The gun was not mounted, but was fired as it lay on the ground. The muzzle being elevated somewhat by having a block of wood placed underneath it. Private Isla, and the first South Carolina officially organized itself on 11 April when the companies from both counties arrived in Charleston. The regiment formed at the train station and marched to the race course which is present day. Hampton Park, where it encamped for the night. At four o'clock the next morning, April 12th, the men were suddenly aroused by the boom of the first gun fired on Fort Sumter. and what proved to be four years of bloody nessian war had actually commenced. While the bombardment of Fort Sumter continued private Isla in the first South Carolina boarded a ferry that took them across the harbor to Morris Island. The regiment did not participate, but they did witness the completion of the bombardment and eventual surrender of the fort to Confederate forces. Private Isla in the first South Carolina occupied the growing defenses around Charleston until 12, April, 1862 when when the regiments enlistment expired, according to private Isla, many from the ATO rifles reenlisted and maintained their company identity. The rifles were assigned to the Utah Battalion whose commander sought volunteers to eventually form a regiment of infantry. Though actively recruiting private Islam and the Utah Battalion remained in the defenses around Charleston and fought at the Battle of Secession V in June of 1862. As the ranks continued to fill the ATO rifles re flagged as company G 25th South Carolina, which mustered into service on 22 July, 1862. Private Isla in the 25th South Carolina remain in the defenses around Charleston and man fortification such as Fort Wagner and Fort Sumpter. On one May, 1864. William Isla promoted to the rank of Sergeant and later that month, the 25th South Carolina shipped up to Virginia and fought at the Battle of Dries bluff before being transferred to the army of Northern Virginia, where it fought at the Battle of Cold Harbor and several engagements at Petersburg. Even before the siege of Petersburg, the city was a critical logistics hub, acting as the junction for five separate railroads. These railroads not only supplied Richmond. But also Lee's army, which have taken up defensive positions around the Capitol and the city of Petersburg. From June to July, 1864, the Union Army attacked the Confederates mainly on the east side of the city. The railroads in that direction were now blocked, but the south side Railroad to the west and the Weldon Railroad to the south still brought supplies into the city after one failed attempt in June, Lieutenant General Grant assigned the Union fifth and ninth course in mid-August to advance upon the Weldon Railroad and sever the line to Petersburg. On 18 August, 1864, major general Governor Kay Warren's fifth core met elements of Lieutenant General AP Hill's third core at the Globe Tavern, along the Weldon Railroad, the first and second days of the Battle of Globe Tavern saw a series of attacks and counter attacks, but 19 August ended in decisively with the union in possession of the tavern. On the third day, 20 August, heavy rains prevented a general engagement, but the Confederates did bring up reinforcements. Sergeant Isla and the 25th South Carolina were assigned to the Confederate Fourth Corps and a part of a brigade consisting solely of South Carolina regiments commanded by Brigadier General Johnson Haygood. As the brigade arrived at the Weldon Railroad, they reinforced Major General William Mahomes division of AP Hill's third core. With the weather favorable to fight on 21 August, Lieutenant General AP Hill ordered in advance upon the Union Army who had in the interim constructed fortifications. On reaching the ground. General Haygood was ordered by General Mahome, who seemed to have charge of the movement to make the attack at once, representing to Haygood that the enemy were not entrenched and that he would strike his flank. This proved to be a fatal error. General Mahome planned a frontal assault with the weight of his division while Haygoods Brigade attacked on what he perceived was an exposed flank, but in reality was only a salient in the union line. This meant that the South Carolinians, who according to Sergeant Isla, only numbered 743 men, were about to attack an entire section of the fifth core line by itself. As Sergeant Isla in the 25th South Carolina formed For the advance, they were already within artillery range. When the brigade in column of fours was moving into position for the advance, the enemy opened upon us with artillery and a file of four men was killed in the company just in front of the ATO rifles, and all of the troops in the rear had to pass over these poor fellows. The column being at the double quick, all four were killed by one shell. While the Union artillery found the proper range, it was not the case for the Confederates as a prelude to Mahomes Advance was an artillery barrage designed to break up the union defenses. But according to Major General Warren, the effect of the barrage was minimal. August 21. The enemy at 9:00 AM drove in my pickets on the north and west and opened with about 30 pieces of artillery. Crossing his fire at right angles over my position. The timber, however prevented his artillery men from having any good view of our lines. Hey Goods brigade began their advance, which had to negotiate moving through a swamp and abee placed in front of the federal works. Once through these obstacles, the brigade reformed its line with the 25th South Carolina on the left flank, besides an NCO in the ranks, Sergeant Isla was also an orderly and noticed during the advance that the union line was changing its front. I noticed that the Yankees were forming on our left flank, and I ran up to the line to the right to find General Haygood and report this to him. He met with a captain instead and was given orders and tell him to deploy a company facing to the left to protect that flank. I hasten back to find Captain Gordon and deliver this message, but before I could reach him, the line commenced the forward movement, and I joined in the advance when I reached my company, knowing that it was futile to attempt any new disposition of troops at that time. The shifts in the line that Sergeant Isla witnessed was only part of what proved to be mostly the fourth division of the fifth core. With only one Confederate brigade to face. Brigadier General Lysander Cutler. The fourth division's commander advanced his left and right flanks so as to create a concave line to surround the South Carolinians on three sides. With a deafening yell that could be heard Above the thunder of canon and the roar of small arms, the line rushed forward into the jaws of death. Few, few shall part where many meet. Into the jaws of death is a line from the poem, the charge of the light Brigade, wherein 1854, a British cavalry brigade charged into a valley surrounded by Russian artillery and infantry on three sides and were slaughtered. Few, few shall, part where many meet. Is a reference to the poem entitled Hoen Linden, about the battle of the same name, where a French army in 1800 surrounded in Otro Bavarian army on three sides. And smashed it. I saw Lieutenant Kennerley and Sergeant Ben p Isla shot down both of the a Disto rifles. I ran to my brother, who seemed to have the fatality of being wounded in every battle in which he was engaged and found. He was severely wounded on the shoulder. He soon recovered from the shock and I raised him to his feet and told him to make the best time possible to the rear. Despite mounting casualties, Sergeant Isla and the 25th South Carolina continued with its charge against infantry and artillery. When the charging column had reached within about 30 paces of the enemy's line. It had been so fearfully cut to pieces that it appeared too weak to advance further with any hope of success, and appeared to pause for a few moments. Once the South Carolinians halted Brigadier General Cutler sent out his Provost Marshall, captain Daley, to the Confederate line. Upon arrival, he sees the stand of colors and demanded the surrender of the entire brigade. Seeing this brigadier General Haygood rushed to the scene and spoke with Captain Dailey. When the line had reached the enemy's works, some 200 men having gotten into a reentering angle where they were exposed to a severe crossfire, became confused, and a mounted officer of the enemy galloping out of a sally port, sees the colors of the 27th regiment. And called upon them to surrender. Several officers and men began to surrender, but had not been carried in observing this, I made my way to them from the part of the line upon which I was. Calling to the men to shoot him. They either did not hear me or were bewildered by the surrender of part of their number and failed to do so. When I got up to him. I demanded the colors from him and that he should go back into his works, telling him that he was free to do so. Sergeant Isla still in line with the 25th South Carolina was witness to such an uncommon exchange upon a battlefield. The battle seemed to halt firing and practically ceased on both sides, and both armies stood in breathless expectancy awaiting the issue of this momentous parlay between these two brave determined men. Upon the refusal of Captain Dailey on his second demand of General Haygood to return the flag, he drew his pistol from his belt. And shot the Gallant federal captain. Major General Warren corroborates his exchange in his official report. General Haygoods brigade struck a part of our line where the troops were in echelon and they found themselves almost surrounded. And everyone thinking they had surrendered, ceased firing troops immediately advanced to bring them in when their officers commenced firing. And Captain Daley, provost Marshall of the fourth division was shot by General Hagood. Upon retrieving the flag, brigadier General Haygood waved in front of his men in motion for the brigade to retreat. Confederates all along the line attempted to follow their commander, but by this time they had become intermingled with union soldiers and for many it became impossible. Sergeant Isla managed to return to the confederate lines unscathed but Haygood, south Carolinian Brigade suffered horribly from their ill-fated charge. William Isla already foreshadowed just how deadly the charge was through poetry, but he also provided statistics that truly placed the charge of the South Carolinians at the Battle of Globe Tavern to be on par with the charge of the light brigade. Exact numbers differ between sources. Of the 607 men who advanced against the Russians at the Battle of Balaclava, 247 men were killed, wounded, or missing, which is a 40% casualty rate. At the Battle of Globe Tavern. The South Carolinians began their charge with 740 men, and according to Brigadier General, Haygood sustained 15 killed 126 wounded and 309, missing or captured, totaling 450 men, which is a casualty rate of 61%. William Valmore. Isla died in 1912, but he worked on his book for several years prior to his death, and eventually a sketch of the war record of the Aristo Rifles. 1861 to 1865, published in 1914. In setting out to write his book. It seemed that William Isla desired rigid historical accuracy throughout the entire work, but he soon found that he could not help but add personal accounts into the narrative. In writing this sketch, it was my intention to avoid as far as possible, all personal illusions. And confine myself to such facts and incidents as came under my own observation and with my own knowledge and at the same time give a clear and concise statement without amplification or hyperbole. I find, however, in order that all important events and interesting incidents, which goes toward making a historic sketch, which I intend this to be of the a disto rifles be clearly set forth personal reference, cannot be avoided. I hope therefore, I may be pardoned for what may appear as being a little egotistic, although literally true. Thank you for listening to the 45th episode. Links to Sergeant Isle's book and social media accounts are available on the podcast website. First person Civil War podcast.com. On Facebook, Instagram, x and LinkedIn. This week you will find a picture of Sergeant William Isla sometime during the Civil War. In two weeks time, first Lieutenant Charles T. Clark of Company H 125th Ohio provides next episode's first person account at the Battle of Missionary Ridge. my name is Bill Coghlan. And thank you for listening to First Person Civil War Podcast.