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EYE-CATCHING 1859-1861 VIRGINIA MILITIA GROUPING OF CAPT. J.Q.A. NADENBOUSCH, BERKELEY BORDER GUARDS, LATER COLONEL 2nd VA INFANTRY OM RECOMMENDATION OF LEE AND STONEWALL JACKSON
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$9,500.00
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Item Code: 2025-3677
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An historic and eye-catching Virginia officer’s group belonging to John Quincy Adams Nadenbousch while Captain of the “Berkeley Border Guards,” a militia company raised in response to the John Brown raid, present at the execution of Brown’s co-conspirators Stevens and Hazlett in March 1860, and in 1861 taken into state and then Confederate service as part of the 2nd Virginia Infantry, during the early stages of which, like the state seizure of the Harpers Ferry Armory and the campaign and battle of First Bull Run, he likely wore his Virginia militia uniform as well. The regiment served in the Stonewall Brigade and when Nadenbousch came up for promotion to Colonel, over rival captains, it was recommended by both Lee and Jackson, and he commanded the regiment through the Gettysburg campaign, resigning only in early 1863 for disability that rendered unable to resume command of the regimen in the field.
The main piece in the group is Nadenbousch’s striking, green trimmed officer’s shako with a wonderful old, brown ink display tag indicating it descended through his daughter, his epaulets with his name inside the lid of their original Canfield of Baltimore pasteboard box, and two notes- one in old, thin brown ink, reading “Property of J.Q.A. Nadenbousch” and the other in pencil, “Grand Fathers Col. Nadenbousch / Dress uniform epilets” followed by a 1945 date and three faint initials.” The display card for the shako reads: “This Cap / was worn by Col. J.Q.A. Nadenbousch / when Captain of the / Berkeley Border Guards / previous to 1860 / is the property of Mrs. Alexander Parks.” This is J.Q.A Nadenbousch’s daughter Mary Ella Nadenbousch (1854-1910,) wife of Alexander Parks, Jr. With the group is also a clipped-corner brass crossbelt plate bearing the company letter “A,” with the name of Nadenbousch’s son on the reverse, likely from postwar militia service.
The shako follows the general lines of the US 1851 pattern, quite popular among Virginia militia, standing about 10-1/2” tall, black in color, with a wide, deep green velvet band around the base having a narrow band of gold braid around the back and sides along its bottom with a black leather chinstrap along the front secured by two eagle-and-anchor buttons. The black visor is flat, with a bound edge. The front of the cap is fitted with an irregular-oval gold bullion embroidered officer’s insignia showing the arms of the U.S. like its US regulation cousins and bordered with jaceron wire, but with the embroidery done on green velvet, matching the wide band around the base of the shako, and filling the space between the band and the top of the shako. A large wreath surrounding a vertical rifleman’s trumpet are both embroidered in gold directly on the wide green band with the silver embroidered letters “BBG” superimposed on the trumpet.
The shako is in very good condition, with only one or two pencil-point moth nips on the exterior and showing just some rubbing on the more raised areas of the green velvet band and insignia. There is a little displacement of the lower edge of the green band on the front, concealed by the chinstrap, which is in place. The visor is in place, with the stitching secure at the corners, but parting along the middle and should be handled with care or conserved. The interior has a red leather sweatband in place, showing wear along its lower edge. The black silk drawstring lining is present and largely complete, though showing some tears along the lower edge where it joins the sweatband.
The epaulets are typical for militia of the period, with no rank insignia, but wide bullion coils indicating an officer hanging from the underside of gilt brass crescents. The strap portions are embroidered gold bullion with twisted bullion edges, and fitted on the underside with long, doubled brass wire hooks for attachment near the shoulder. The undersides are lined with padded silk, probably yellow originally, and now mostly off-white with stains, one showing a larger, stain on the underside of the pad and some shredding at one corner near the hook. Their cardboard box was damaged in storage and shows bends, creases and cracks, but is complete, with the Canfield label legible and Nadenbousch’s signature, “J.Q.A. Nadenbousch” in brown ink on the underside of the lid.
The belt plate in the group, measuring about 2-1/2 by 3-1/2 inches, has the letter “A” fixed to its face by three small loops fitted through slots, and has its long fastening pin with catch hook still in place, for wear on a web crossbelt. The name “J. F. Nadenbousch” is written on the back along one edge, most likely J.Q.A.N.’s son James Frederick Nadenbousch (1852-1884) and dating to the later 1870s or early 1880s.
Born in Berkeley County in 1824, John Quincy Adams Nadenbousch was listed as a miller by occupation when he joined the Confederate army in 1861, but had developed other business interests over the years, acting as a carpenter or “house joiner,” running a lumber mill and opening a distillery. He is credited with helping organize the “Berkeley Border Guards” in 1859, the name reflecting the county’s position on the state’s northern border and concern about abolitionist forces invading the state, fears stoked by John Brown’s raid and rumors of rescue forces on their way to break him out of jail.
The company is often credited with being among the first arrivals to face Brown at Harpers Ferry, and some later members of the company may have headed there on news of the raid, but the actual formation of the company does not seem to date until October 31, 1859, after Brown’s capture. That is the date of Nadenbousch’s commission and mid-November 1859 newspaper reports included the Berkeley Border Guards among military companies in the process of forming “for public protection,” with the company having enrolled 120 members and being split into two. They were, however, called up at various points soon after on rumors of potential incursions from the north or suspicious characters trying to enter the state, and they were certainly on duty and witnesses to the execution of two of Brown’s men, Stevens and Hazlett, in March 1860, with the company, 95 strong, receiving pay from the state for 30 days service.
In the aftermath of Brown’s raid and trial they became part of the 67th Virginia Militia, from Berkeley County, with Nadenbousch listed as a “Captain of Riflemen” in the regiment, indicating the company had regarded themselves as a rifle company and explaining the green trim of the shako and the riflemen’s trumpet insignia on the shako.
When war broke out the company enrolled for active service with the state for one year, with Nadenbousch enrolling on April 18 at Martinsburg, and mustering into state service on May 11 at Harpers Ferry, with the company eventually designated as Company D of the 2nd Virginia. When the company joined the Provisional Army of the Confederate States in mid-July, his appointment as Captain was then redated to July 1, 1861.
The regiment became part of the Army of the Shenandoah and in the run-up to First Bull Run took part in a skirmish at Falling Water on July 2. At Bull Run, as part of Jackson’s Brigade they were in the fighting around Henry Hill. They took part in Jackson’s Valley Campaign, taking 90 casualties at First Kernstown, 25 at Cross Keys and Port Republic, 27 at Gaines' Mill, and 77 at Second Manassas in late August, including Nadenbousch, who suffered a severe wound in the right groin. The regiment was posted to Martinsburg on Provost Guard duty during the Antietam Campaign and Nadenbousch was back with them by at least November-December, 1862, when he is listed as present on the muster roll, and the regiment saw action at Fredericksburg, losing 2 killed and 19 wounded.
Casualties among officers in the regiment had been significant, with command often devolving upon Captains. Nadenbousch was among several rivals for field grade commissions and both Lee and Jackson sign notes approving the promotion on January 1863 application in his service file. He was officially promoted to that rank on March 17, 1863, but with the rank effective from September 16, 1862. We show an image of him in his Colonel’s uniform that likely dates soon after the promotion.
He commanded the regiment at Chancellorsville, where some secondary sources state he was wounded again, but he was present and in command during the Gettysburg campaign, including preliminary movements north and the battle of Second Winchester, and then in the main fighting, the regiment taking part in the attacks on Culp’s Hill.
Nadenbousch’s health declined after Gettysburg (an obituary says he was wounded three times during the war) and he submitted a resignation with letter of disability in August, but was apparently deemed too valuable to lose and was posted as post commander at Staunton, Virginia. In late 1863/early 1864, with Spring campaigns on the horizon, he again submitted his resignation on the grounds that he was, “permanently physically disabled for duty in the field with my Regiment.” He patriotically declined an offer of retirement since that might prevent him from performing some further duty for the Confederacy.
Nadenbousch returned to his family and business interests in Berkeley County, including running a hotel. When he died in 1892 an obituary credited him with participation in the battles of First Bull Run, First Winchester, Kernstown, Port Republic, the Seven Days, Cedar Mountain, Second Bull Run, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg, among others. CWData includes his OR reports for Second Bull Run, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg.
In addition to the recommendations of Lee and Jackson on his promotion to Colonel, additional testimony to his abilities and service is provided in the approval of his promotion by and examining board of officers, “in consideration of the exhibition of extraordinary valour & skill in the battle of Manassas July 21st 1861; at the battle of Kernstown March 23d 1862 in which he was distinguished in the command of three companies that composed our advance force of infantry; at the battle of Port Republic June 9th 1862 in which he had command of our line of skirmishers and opened the engagement; at the battle of Cold Harbor June 28th 1862 and at the battle of Malvern Hill July 1st 1862; at the battle of Cedar Run Aug. 9th 1862 and at the battle of Manassas Aug. 28th 1862, in which he was severely wounded, . . .”
This is a great looking group and very scarce piece of headgear belonging to an officer with substantial and well-respected service. [sr][ph:L]
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