Description
This is an exceptional, tri-fold, leather bound notebook kept by Luther M. Schaeffer of the famed 4th Virginia Infantry which details the rosters of both Company E and Company L. Luther would muster with Company L in mid July of 1861. On February 19th, 1863, he would be detailed as a drummer and would continue to serve with the regiment at least up until October of 1864 when he disappears from the rolls. During the summer of 1861, the 4th Virginia would be joined with the 2nd Virginia, 5th Virginia, 27th Virginia, 33rd Virginia and a four-gun battery known as the Rockbridge Artillery and form what would be become known as the famed “Stonewall Brigade”. Serving in the Army of Northern Virginia, the regiment would fight in some of the wars bloodiest battles beginning with Bull Run. It would be followed by Malvern Hill, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville where the regiment would suffer a 48% casualty rate. At Gettysburg, they would suffer the highest loss of the brigade. They would continue to fight on until Appomattox, surrendering with just 44 men out of the regiments original strength of 1487. This leather bound notebook bears an ink inscription on the reverse reading “L. M. Schaeffer Blacksburg, Va”. Within the notebook itself, Luther kept, with great detail, a list of the men enrolled in Company L in alphabetical order. He details ranks, promotions, discharges, men who deserted or were killed or wounded in battle and the battles in which those casualties were received. A pocket located within the book holds 5 additional paper pages listing the names of men enrolled in Company E and details the history of each man the same manner as he did with Company L. There are a couple loose pages in the notebook itself but for the most part the binding in very solid. Whether Luther was keeping this information for his own records or was serving in some position within the regiment which dictated he keep track of this information I do not know. I could not locate much information on his service. He did however survive the war and is buried in his hometown of Blacksburg.
