1st Cpl. Charles E. Paxson, Co. B.
b. November 17, 1841, son of C.W. Paxson and Isabella Elgin of Waterford, Loudoun County.
m. never married
d. January 10, 1864, killed in action in the raid on Loudoun Heights.
Click HERE or on the image for a full length photograph.
Charles Paxon originally enlisted as a private in Company A at some stage before October, 1863. It is possible that he was present at the formation of the battalion in June 1863. As Col. Mosby did not take the roll before each raid, documentation is scant.
At some stage he was transferred to Company B and promoted to First Corpororal. He appears on the October - December 1863 muster rolls as "absent on sick furlough."
The following month he returned to duty and was mortally wounded in the raid on Loudoun Heights on January 10th, dying of wounds shortly thereafter.
This was the disastrous raid in which the Rangers had collaborated with Stuart scout Frank Stringfellow. Through Stringfellow's men disobeyed orders and had charged into the rear of the Federal camp and then charged. Mosby's men, supposing them to be Federals opened fire. The resulting confusion gave the Federals of Cole's Battalion an opening, and they opened fire on Mosby's men.
Mosby never forgave Stringfellow for the senseless loss of so many of his men, including two of his ablest officers, Lt. Thomas R. Turner ("Prince George's Tom") of Company A and Captain William R. Smith of Company B (who died trying to save Corporal Paxson).
In his 1896 book, Ranger Mosby, former Ranger James J. Williamson gives an account (p. 126-132) of the death of Corporal Paxson and the others in this, one of the few failed raids of Mosby's Command. Williamson wrote:
"Turner was advancing towards the tents when a ball struck him; he threw up his hands exclaiming, "I am shot!" Two of the men caught him and holding him on his horse, led him off.Paxson fell from his horse, calling out as he fell, "You are not going to leave me here on the field?" Captain Smith was advancing to assist him, when a shot from one of the tents a short distance ahead put an end to the career of this brave soldier. Captain Chapman (note: Samuel Chapman) caught him and disengaging his feet from the stirrups, laid him on the ground. Robinson (Note: Pvt. John "Captain" Robinson, Co. B) fell from his horse, dead. Colston, (Note: Pvt. Willliam E. "Willie" Colston, Co. B) a brave young Baltimorean, was shot down while endeavoring to encourage and rally our men. Owens (note: Pvt. William Mason Owens) was also killed."
Williamson quotes a contemporary biography, the Life of Sheridan, which recounts the death of Corporal Paxson in the chapter entitled, "A Battle in the Snow":
"When daylight broke upon the scene there was a young Confederate soldier lying upon the field wiht a fatal wound in the neck, near the jugular vein. he was not more than twenty years of age, and a boy in appearance as ewll as in years. The officer who appears at the croos-roads in the beginning of this story found him. he raised up the dying lad and asked him his name.'My name is Paxson' replied the boy in broken tones.
'My God! Are you Mr. Paxson's son who lives at the cross-roads towards Waterford?"eagerly inquired the officer.
'I am,' was the simple response.
The humane act of his father in 1862 was recalled, and, full of emotion, the officer picked the lad up, carried him to the hospital, laid him upon an easy couch and summoned the doctor, who replied petulantly:
'We can't care for those men until we look after our own wounded.'
'But this boy must be cared for,' said the officer, and in as few words as possible he told the story of 1862 when five of their men belonging to Cole's Cavalry lay wounded upon Paxson's farm at the cross-roads.
There was no more parleying and the boy as at once carefully atteneded to, but he was beyond human aid. All that could be done for him to ease his last moments was done. All the command felt, terribly as they themselves had suffered and weree suffering, this this boy was entitle to every attention that could be shown him.
'I do this,' said Mr. Paxson in 1862, when he assisted in taking the wounded men (Federals) toward the river, ' because I would want others to do the same by my boy, who is in the Confederate Army, if he should be wounded."
The same officer and the same men who heard these words and received that favor, dealt the death-blow to that son. Yet his dying moments were made easier by them for the favor his father had done."
Relations to Other Rangers:
Mentions in various references:
(incomplete, more to be added)See Williamson, pages 126-132, above.
Links Online:
Corporal Paxson is buried in the Union Cemetery in Leesburg. Jon Pardo has a picture of the gravestone on his Mosbys Rangers memorial website.
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