Stapleton Crutchfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stapleton Crutchfield
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Stapleton Crutchfield, by William D. Washington
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| Born | June 21, 1835 Spotsylvania County, Virginia |
| Died | April 6, 1865 (aged 29) Amelia County, Virginia |
| Allegiance |  Confederate States of America |
| Service/ |
 Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Unit | 9th Virginia Infantry 58th Virginia Infantry |
| Commands held | Artillery / Jackson's Division Artillery / II Corps, ANV Artillery Bde. / Department of Richmond |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Stapleton Crutchfield was a brave soldier who fought for the Confederate army during the American Civil War. He was an expert in artillery, which means he commanded cannons. Crutchfield worked closely with a famous general named Stonewall Jackson. He was badly wounded in battle, losing a leg, but he still returned to fight. Sadly, he died in one of the last battles of the war.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Stapleton Crutchfield Jr. was born in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, on June 21, 1835. He went to the Virginia Military Institute (VMI). There, one of his teachers was Thomas J. Jackson, who later became a very famous general.
Crutchfield graduated from VMI in 1855. He then stayed at the institute. He worked as a teacher of math and military tactics. In early 1861, he even served as the temporary leader of VMI.
Service in the Civil War
When the Civil War began, Crutchfield joined the Confederate army. He started as a major in the 9th and 58th Virginia Infantry Regiments. He was later promoted to lieutenant colonel. In early 1862, he was offered the rank of colonel for the 16th Virginia Infantry. However, he turned it down because he was not feeling well.
Working with Stonewall Jackson
Instead, Crutchfield became the main artillery commander for General Stonewall Jackson. This role began on April 21, 1862, during the Valley Campaign. He helped move cannons quickly to the front lines.
Crutchfield fought in several important battles with Jackson. These included the Battle of Front Royal and the First Battle of Winchester. During the Winchester battle, he even delivered orders to another general, Maj. Gen. Richard S. Ewell.
He was briefly captured by Union soldiers on June 8. This happened when a group of Federal troops got behind the Confederate lines. But Crutchfield managed to escape the next day. He then returned to lead the cannons at the Battle of Port Republic.
Major Battles and Promotions
Crutchfield also took part in the Seven Days Battles with Jackson's forces. His artillery played a key role at the Battle of White Oak Swamp. His cannons helped drive away Union gunners. This allowed Confederate soldiers to cross the swamp for a short time.
On May 5, 1862, Crutchfield was promoted to the rank of colonel. He continued to serve under General Jackson. He fought in major battles such as the Battle of Cedar Mountain, the Second Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Antietam, and the Battle of Fredericksburg.
Wounded in Battle
At the Battle of Chancellorsville, Crutchfield was in charge of the artillery for Jackson's corps. On May 2, 1863, he was badly wounded. He was bringing cannons forward to fire on Union positions. During this action, he lost one of his legs.
After he was wounded, Crutchfield was placed in an ambulance. By chance, General Jackson, who was also wounded by his own men, was put in the same ambulance. At one point, Jackson even asked the ambulance to stop to help ease Crutchfield's pain.
Return to Service and Final Battle
After recovering from his serious wound, Colonel Crutchfield returned to duty. From March 16, 1864, he worked as an inspector for coastal defenses. Later, he was assigned to command artillery units defending Richmond, Virginia. This included the defenses at Chaffin's Bluff.
When the Confederate army had to leave Richmond, Crutchfield's gunners became an infantry brigade. They were part of a division led by Maj. Gen. George Washington Custis Lee. In this new role, Crutchfield lost his life. He was shot in the head while leading an attack on Union forces. This happened at the Battle of Sailor's Creek on April 6, 1865, just before the war ended.
