The Fourth Alabama Painting by Don Troiani

Fifth Brigade, Army of the Potomac

Mapping the Civil War, featuring rare maps from the Library of Congress, including the position of Captain F B Schaeffer's infantry battalion

Mapping the Civil War, featuring rare maps from the Library of Congress, including the position of Acting Major F B Schaeffer's battalion infantry

Schaeffer's Battalion Infantry

Arrived at Manassas Junction between May and July 1861

ACTING MAJOR F B SCHAEFFER
Captain F B Schaeffer was assigned to command Schaeffer's Battalion Infantry on 6 July, 1861.

Unlettered Company Beauregard Rifles: First Lt. E H Cummins
The company was mustered in state service at Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, on 22 June, 1861. First Lieutenant E H Cummins commanding the company as Captain F B Schaeffer was acting major on 21 July, 1861. The company was assigned to the 1st Virginia Infantry, Company F, on 23 July, 1861, and was redesignated as the 1st Virginia Artillery, Company C, on 7 September, 1861 (See the 1st Virginia Infantry). The company was mustered out on 13 November, 1861.

Captain F B Schaeffer, formerly a second lieutenant, 3rd United States Artillery, commanded the National Rifles, District of Columbia militia, and refused to take the oath of loyalty to the United States. Colonel C P Stone, inspector general, District of Columbia, refused Captain F B Schaeffer's majors commission and terminated his captaincy in February 1861. F B Schaeffer proceeded to Alexandria, Virginia, with some secessionists members formerly assigned to the National Rifles and organised the company at Pheonix Hall, Alexandria, Virginia (See the District of Columbia militia).

Unlettered Company Crescent Blues, Company B: CAPT. Mcg C Goodwyn
The company was mustered in Confederate service at New Orleans, Louisiana, on 8 June, 1861, and was ordered to Richmond, Virginia, on 14 June, 1861. The company arrived at Camp Davis, near Lynchburg, Virginia, on 24 June, 1861, and was ordered to proceed to Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, on 4 July, 1861. The company was assigned to Schaeffer's Battalion Infantry, under the command of Acting Major F B Schaeffer, by Special Order No.94 on 6 July, 1861. The company was temporarily assigned to the 49th Virginia Infantry during September, 1861, and was permanently assigned to the Washington Battalion Infantry, Company C, on 1 October, 1861 (See the Washington Battalion Artillery).
Unlettered Company New Market Guards: CAPT. H N B WOOD
The company was assigned to Schaeffer's Battalion Infantry, under the command of Acting Major F B Schaeffer, by Special Order No.94 on 6 July, 1861, and assigned to the 49th Virginia Infantry, Company C, during August 1861 (See the 49th Virginia Infantry).

Sources

"On the morning of the 21st, they were associated with the Beauregard Rifles, a Washington City company, and the New Market Guards, a Virginia company, all under the command of Captain Schaeffer, of the Beauregard Rifles, and ordered to support Latham's Battery a company of Lynchburg Artillery."

"A second and third time the acting Major of the Battalion directed a retreat, stating (so it is said) that the day was lost, and that to remain was to court swift and certain destruction. Captain Goodwyn then remarked that he and his company had come there to fight, and not to retreat, and begged to be permitted to remain. The permission was given, and Captain Goodwyn then called for volunteers. His call responded to by about fifty members of his own company; including Lieutenants Saunders and De Lisle, and a portion of the Beauregard Rifles. The rest of the battalion retired under orders of the commander. Captain Goodwyn and his followers continued to support Latham's Battery until they charged and captured Griffin's Battery (three piece) and turned its guns on the enemy."

"Goodwyn fell in with Col. Kershaw's, South Carolina Regiment, just as it was making the final charge on the enemy, and participated in the pursuit of the flying federalists as far as Centerville."

The Daily Delta, 13 August, 1861: Jackson Barracks – Historical Military Data on Louisiana Militia, Volume 113, pp. 10–15

"II. Capt M Goodwin's Company Crescent Blues, Louisiana Volunteers, and Capt H N B Wood's Company Virginia Volunteers, will be temporarily detached and take position at the Stone Bridge across Bull Run, on Centreville Turnpike, and will be reported to Capt F B Schaeffer, who will command the Battalion and give special attention to their military drill, instruction, and discipline."

A Life in letters: Lieutenant Colonel Robert A Hardaway in the Civil War and the New South, 6 July, 1861, Columbus State University

"He inspected the division, thus increased, consisting of the 2nd and 8th South Carolina regiments, the shattered remnants of Hampton's Legion, about 150 strong, whom we had received, (what with the killed, wounded, and those attending them, few were left in the field,) ans one company – partly of Marylanders, and partly of Crescent Blues of New Orleans."

The Rebellion Record: A Diary of American Events with Documents, Narratives, Illustrative Incidents, Poetry etc., Volume 2: Charleston Mercury, 29 July, edited by Frank Moore

"We remained long enough to inquire after the Crescent Blues, the fine independent corps commanded by that gallant and accomplished young officer, McGavock Goodwyn. The Blues are now attached to the 49th Virginia regiment, commanded by ex-Governor Smith, of whose gallant conduct in the battle of the 21st General Beauregard speaks in the most glowing terms."

The Daily Delta, 25 August, 1861: Jackson Barracks – Historical Military Data on Louisiana Militia, Volume 113, pp. 159–160

"The Crescent Blues, we believe, acted as an artillery company, and had charge of a battery".

The Daily Delta, 24 July, 1861: Jackson Barracks – Historical Military Data on Louisiana Militia, Volume 111, pp. 130–134

"This company was composed of members of the Pelican Hook and Ladder Fire Company of New Orleans. It went to Virginia unattached and fought at Manassas with two other independent companies. In September, 1861, it was attached for one month to the 49th Virginia Infantry."

Lee's Tigers: The Louisiana Infantry in the Army of Northern Virginia, by Terry L Jones

"The National Rifles of Washington was a District of Columbia Militia Company. Captain Francis B Schaeffer led the majority of his hundred-man company across the river into Virginia service. They became Company F, 1st Virginia Infantry, called the Beauregard Rifles."

Marylanders in the Confederacy, by Daniel D Hartzler

"The Beaureguard Rifles were mustered into the service of Virginia at Camp Pickens on 22 June, and at First Manassas the company was part of a provisional battalion under Captain F B Schaeffer's command. E H Cummins, First Lieutenant, was in command of the Rifles at the time of the battle and their transfer to the 1st Virginia Infantry."

The Virginia Regimental Histories Series, First Virginia Infantry, Third Edition, byL A Wallace, Jr.

"This ink and watercolour manuscript map shows the position of Captain Schaeffer's command at First Bull Run, and brings home the knowledge that the height of the corn, the depth of the river, and the landmark poplar tree all had some effect on the battle."

Captain F B Schaeffer's battalion is illustrated on a hand-wrought copy of a lithogragh based on sketches by Captain S P Mitchell of the 1st Virginia Infantry.

Mapping the Civil War, featuring rare maps from the Library of Congress, by Christopher Nelson

The Virginia Regimental Histories Series, Forty-ninth Virginia Infantry, First Edition, No.547 of 1000, by L Reidenbaugh

Miscellaneous Disbanded Virginia Light Artillery, First Edition, No.372 of 1000, by R H Moore II

A Guide to Louisiana Confederate Military Units 1861–1865, by Arthur W Bergeron, Jr.

A guide to Virginia military organisations 1861–1865, Revised Second Edition, by I A Wallace, Jr.

Notes

Captain F B Schaeffer, former captain, National Rifles, District of Columbia militia, proceeded to at Phoenix Hall, Alexandria, Virginia, and organised the Beauregard Rifles (See the 6th Virginia Battalion). The company was ordered to proceed to Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, and was ordered to the vicinity of the Stone Bridge, Virginia. The Crescent Blues, Company B, and the New Market Guards, stationed at at Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, were assigned to Schaeffer's Battalion Infantry, under the command of Acting Major F B Schaeffer, by Special Order No.94 on 6 July, 1861, and were ordered to report to Acting Major F B Schaeffer, commanding the the Beauregard Rifles at the Stone Bridge, Virginia (See the Battalion Heavy Artillery). Schaeffer's Battalion Infantry, under the command of Acting Major F B Schaeffer, was assigned to the Fifth Brigade, Army of the Potomac, and was ordered to support a section of Lynchburg Artillery, under the command of Captain H G Latham, on 21 July, 1861 (See the Lynchburg Artillery). After the first battle of Manassas the Beauregard Rifles was assigned to the 1st Virginia Infantry, Company F, on 23 July, 1861 (See the 1st Virginia Infantry). The Crescent Blues, Company B, was temporarily assigned to the 49th Virginia Infantry in September 1861 and was permanently assigned to the Washington Battalion Infantry, Company C, Camp Pickens, at Manassas Junction, on 1 October, 1861 (See the Washington Battalion Infantry). The New Market Guards was assigned to the 49th Virginia Infantry, Company C, during August 1861 (See the 49th Virginia Infantry).