Contributed by Mary LeNoir
Isaac Huggins was born January 28, 1842, in Jones County, North Carolina. His parents were Eliza Heath and Thomas Huggins. Eliza was born December 25, 1818, and Thomas was born in 1805. Isaac’s grandparents were Elizabeth Hodgson, who died November 12, 1842, and Isaac Huggins who was born in 1751 in Jones County, North Carolina.
When North Carolina seceded from the Union on May 21, 1861, Isaac was 20 years old. Joining the ‘Jones Rifle Guards’ which was organized in Jones County. He enlisted at Trenton on May 24, 1861. He signed up as a Private in the 2nd Regiment, Infantry, State Troops. The unit tendered its service to the state and was ordered to Camp Advance, near Garyburg, Northhampton County, NC. There it was assigned to the regiment as Company G.
On the Muster Roll July 16 to October 1, 1861, he was listed present. He also was present in November and December. Although I found no January roll, I saw that Major Burton gave him his pay February 28, 1862. Through March and April he was present and on May 1, 1862, he was reported present and paid a bounty by Lt. Williams.
Then from July to October 31, 1862, he was absent because he reported sick. On August 31, 1862, he was admitted to Chimborazo Hospital No. 4 in Richmond, VA. The hospital was an extremely large facility, constructed after the outbreak of the war. It opened its doors October 17, 1861. Normal occupancy was about 3,000 people in 120 building. Those designated for patients were divided into five division. In all, it had an ice house, soup house, bakery an soap factory, as well as operating its own farms for beef and goat herds. Isaac was diagnosed with scrofula. The Merck Manual says it is Tuberculouis Lymphadenitis. Before the control of bovine TB, most tuberculosis occurred as scrofula, now rare. Diagnosis is usually made by excision.
On September 4, Private Huggins was moved to Hugnenot Springs, VA, where he was admitted September 5, 1862. Some of the most touching and pitiful stories documented from the Civil War are tales of soldiers recovering from battle wounds and diseases. The stories at times can be overwhelming. Close by is a cemetery thought to hold the bodies of 250 Confederate soldiers in a mass grave. Except for one individual who has been identified, the remainder rest unknown, their names lost to history. From October 1 to December 31, 1862, Isaac was considered present while still being attached to the hospital at Huguenot Springs, VA.
From January to February, 1863, he was listed as present but a Bounty was due him. Then, from March to April, 1863, the private was listed as present although he had not been paid since February 28, 1863. In May and June, 1863, he was still unpaid.
On May 3, 1863, Isaac was wounded at the battle of Chancellorsville, VA. The campaign at Chancellorsville lasted from April 30 to May 6, 1863. Estimated casualties were 24,000 total (US 14,000; CS 10,000). On May 3, the Confederates attacked with both wings of the Army and massed their artillery at Hazel Grove. This finally broke the Chancellorsville. Major General Joseph Hooker (US) withdrew a mile and entrenched in a defensive “U” with his back to the river at United States Ford. Stonewall Jackson was mortally wounded. This battle was considered by many historians to be Lee’s greatest victory. From July to August he was reported absent due to being wounded. Isaac was awarded the Roll of Honor by the Adjutant General of the State of NC. He sustained a gunshot wound to the right ankle and was admitted May 11, 1862 to Chimborazo Hospital No. 3, at Richmond, VA. On May 23, he was transferred to Salisbury. From May to June, 1863 he was still absent from being wounded, still had not been paid since February 28th. However, on November 26, 1863 he was paid for the period of service from March 1 to October 31, 1863 the sum of $88 by J.F. Devine. I have Isaac’s signature where he signed fro the money. Then he was absent from July to August 1863. September 1, 1863 he was furlough September to December, 1863. Sounds like to me that he finally got a run of decent health. No doubt the trip back to Jones County, North Carolina had a healing effect on him.
September 17th, Isaac was listed absent because he was detailed by order of General Robert E. Lee, to report to Provo Marshal Office, as a Guard at Liberty, VA. Isaac was listed on a Roll of non-commissioned officers and privates that were employed on extra duty from January to October, 1864 as an Ambulance Driver. His service as an Ambulance Driver lasted from January 1 to June 28, 1864 when he was discharged.
Dated August 18, 2003