From "The Journal of James H. Hodam: Sketches and Personal Reminiscences of the Civil War as Experienced by a Confederate Soldier"
Edited by his great-grandson Robert P. Hodam.
Pub. 1995, 2nd. Ed.
Copyright 1995
Pages 49 - 54

The Civil War portion of this Journal was written between May 1901 and March 1902 from notes and diaries James kept during the War.

In Sept of 1862 at age 21 James Harrison Hodam of Roane County, VA joined the 17th Virginia Cavalry, Co. C, at Hillsboro (possibly Hillsboro Academy). James was an inveterate diarist and scribbler regarding the events of his life, using whatever was to hand to record his thoughts. He shared this trait with his father, Adam Hodam, who was also dabbled in what is now called folk art and taught James how to mix his own pigments and inks wherever he found himself. Born 14 Aug 1841 in Ohio, James' parents moved to what was then Roane Co, VA (now WVA) in 1844 to a 300 acre farm on Spring Creek nine miles downstream (north) of the current town of Spencer, WVA.

In Dec 1862 James was left behind on a farm family to recover from typhoid. A companion from his unit, John Hedges, was left to nurse him. In Feb 1863 they rejoined the 17th's Co. C at Camp Zircle, located two miles from Salem, Roanoke Co, VA. The following is James' list of men resident at Camp Zircle the rest of that winter, plus their fates as best he personally knew of them while writing his Journal in 1901-1902. I present this in honor of my late stepfather, Robert P. Hodam, in hopes that it will help someone get a little further along with their family genealogy. Spellings of proper and place names are those used by James.

Men Who Died in Camp between Dec 1862 and Feb 1863:

Will Blake
Sandford Groves
Alex Harris
William Harris Jr.
Sergeant George Sims
Jas. Westfall

Men Who Died in April 1863 (James Hodam assisted in their funeral rites):

David Crower
Isaac Groves
Elijah McCord
Marshall Smith

The Living:

Wm. H. French, Col.
Wm. Tavener, Lt. Col.
Frederick F. Smith, Major
Rev. Samuel Shepperd, Chaplain
Dr. E. S. James, Surgeon
Van Forson, Capt. and Quartermaster
Wingfield, Capt., Commissary
S. S. Barbee, Lt., Adjutant
Ben Gosch, Sergeant Major

Capt. Tavenor (James used both spellings) was promoted to Lt. Colonel of the regiment so there was a general promotion of the officers of Co. C. The following Roll is from James Hodam's original copy.

~~~~ Roll of Company C ~~~~

Commissioned Officers:

Wm. Tavenor - Captain - promoted Lt. Colonel - Killed at Monocacy Md. 1864
Thad P. Waldo - 1st Lt - Promoted Captain Jan 15th 1863 - Died at home 1866
Wm. D. Camden - 2nd Lt. - Promoted 1st Lt. and captured June 1864 - Died 1880
Luther R. Skinner - Elected 3rd Lt. Jan 25 1863 - Captured at Cedarville Va 1864

Non-Commissioned Officers:

Jas. H. Camp - 1st Sergeant - Wounded at Boonsboro Md 1863 and put on the retired list
Jas. H. Hodam - 2nd Sergeant - Wounded at New Creek W Va August 4th 1864 - in command of Co. at Appomattox
Gideon Smith - 3rd Sergeant - Died at Pearisburg, Va 1863
George Smith - 4th Sergeant - Died at Salem, Va 1863
John R. Ryan - 5th Sergeant - Promoted 4th Sergeant 1863 - Died at home 1889
Lewis G. Sims - 1st Corporal - Promoted 5th Sergeant 1863 - Wounded 1863
Charles Taylor - 2nd Corporal - Captured in Logan W Va 1863
Thos. J. Camp - 3rd Corporal - Promoted 3rd Sergeant - Captured at Moorfield W Va 1864 - Died at home 1893
George W. Skinner - 4th Corporal - Still living at Weston W Va

Privates:

Asa Adair - Captured at Cedarville Va Nov 8th 1864
Thomas Burns - Captured at Cedarville Va Nov 8th 1864
Wm. H. Craig - Living in Lewis W Va
Adam Cosner - Deserted in 1863 - Since died
Abram Cosner - Died at Montgomery Springs Va 1863
John Chipp - Captured at Cedarville Va Nov 8th 1864
Jerry Church - Wounded at Port Republic Va June 9th 1862
David Crower - Died at Salem Va 1863
Henry Camp - Now living in Gutherie Co Iowa
L. D. Camden - Color Sergeant - Living at Clarksburg W Va
Bud Dawson - Color Bearer - Living in Weston W Va
Thomas Fix - Living in Harrison Co W Va
John Fomash - Discharge on account of poor health 1863
Morgan W. Feather - "The Bravest of the Brave" - Wounded 3 times and died at Staunton Va 1864
Hiskel Groves - Killed at Winchester Sept 19th 1864 (62?)
Harrie Groves - Wounded at Fiveforks Va April 2nd 1865 - Died 1895
Isaac Groves - Died at Salem Va 1863
Sanford Groves - Died at Salem Va 1863
Gilbert Groves - Captured at Salors Creek Va April 7th 1865
John F. Hedges - Died at Harrisonburg Va June 13th 1863
Wm. Harris Jr. - Died at Montgomery Springs Va 1863
Alex Harris - Died at Montgomery Springs Va 1863
Calvin Harris - Died at Montgomery Springs Va 1863
Wm G. Harris - Wounded at Lynchburg Va 1864 - Still living in West Va
Zach Harris - Still living in Lewis Co W Va
Jackson Harris - Wounded at Shepherdstown W Va 1863
Martin Harris - Captured at Moorfield 1864 - Died in prison in Webster Co.
Charles Hyson - Wounded at Gettysburg Pa - Promoted Corporal - still lives in Webster Co.
Dick Hardwich - Deserted 1862
Wm. Blake - Died at Montgomery Springs Va 1863
David Jeffers - Living in Lewis Co W Va
Jas. Jeffers - Captured at Cedarville Va 1864 - Died in 1895
Morgan Johns - Living in Lewis Co W Va
John D. Kyer - Promoted Ordinance Sergeant - Captured 1864 - Lives in Spencer W Va
John M. Molden - Wounded at Lynchburg Va 1864
George McCord - Captured in Logan Co West Va 1863
Elijah McCord - Died at Salem Va 1863
Jacob McCauley - Living in Braxton Co W Va
Jacob McNemar - Deserted in November 1862
Wesley Mitchell - Died at Lynchburg Va 1863
Benoni Powers - Still lives in Lewis Co W Va
Layfayette Powers - Wounded at 2d Bull run Battle 1862
Thomas Ryan - Killed at Winchester Sept 19th 1864
Frank M. Ryan - Captured at Moorfield 1864 - Died in prison
James W. Smith - Wounded at Sheperdstown - Lives in Lewis Co W Va
David W. Smith - Lives in Monroe Co W Va
John S. Smith - Captured at Cedarville - Lives in W Va
Lewis Smith - Lives in W Va
Marshall Smith - Died at Salem Va 1863
Geo. W. T. Smith - Wounded at Winchester 1864 - Transferred 31st Va Infantry
John Spore - Transfered to 31st Va Infantry 1863
Charles Skinner - Captured at Cedarville 1864 - Living in W Va
Wm. H. Skinner - Captured at Cedarville 1864 - Died in prison
Gabe D. Skinner - Killed at Cedarville Va Nov 8th 1864
James H. Sims - Living in Iowa
Samuel Spriggs - Company Farrier - Living in W Va
James Westfall - Wounded and Died at Parisburg Va 1862
Isaac Waldo - Promoted corporal - Captured near Port Republic 1864

The copyright holder has agreed to allow the entire Journal to be digitized and posted to GoogeBooks.com and the InternetArchive.com in 2009.

Diane Goodboe
dgoodboe@gmail.com