Benjamin Franklin DeBruhl 7th SC Cavalry CSA

At the surrender at Appomattox Court House April 1865, the regiment consisted of 5 Field and Staff commissioned officers, 3 non commissioned officers, 14 company officers, and 353 enlisted men for an aggregate total of 377.
The following note appears in the Paroles of the Army of Northern Virginia page 472-3.

Gary's Cavalry Brigade
A.C. Haskell, Col. 7th S.C. Cavalry commanding Brigadier
W.H. Mouldin, Quatermaster
J.S. James, Captain A.C.S. 24th Va. Cavalry Acting C.S. Brig.
1st Lieutenant S.M.G. Gary, Aide-de-Camp.
2nd Lieutenant R.W. Boyd, Ordnance Officer
Surgeon H Barr, Acting Brig. Surgeon.
J.C. Sosnowski, Brig. Ordnance Sergeant
B.T. Hane, Courier, Co. B 5th S.C. Cavalry

(Signed) A.C. Haskell
Colonel 7th S.C. Cavalry Commanding Brigadier
(Paroles signed by Col. Haskell.)

This document was obligingly furnished by General J.C. Kelton, Acting Adjutant and Inspector-General United States Army, Washington, D.C., being a copy of the original in his Department. A majority of the cavalry of the Army of Northern Virginia appear not to have been surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse. In a report of General Fitzhugh Lee, commanding the cavalry to General Robert E. Lee, dated April 22, 1865, he states that Generals T.L. Rosser and T.T. Munford, commanding divisions, succeeded in cutting their way through the lines of the Federal Army, and "immediately made arrangements to continue the struggle," until the capitulation of General Johnston's army brought the convincing proof that a further resistance was useless. A printed order (No.6) issued from near Lynchburg, Va. April 21, 1865, to his command by General Munford-a copy of which is before the editor-glows with patriotic ardor and an undying spirit of resistance. General Munford, in a recent letter to the editor, states that though he was paroled about May 10, 1865, that his command were not surrendered, but disbanded at Lynchburg, Virginia and dispersed to their homes.

Note: Benjamin Franklin DeBruhl was according to his military records and family history tradition was with the group that disbanded near Lynchburg, Virginia.
He retained his horse and "Muskatoon"rifle which of itself, were proof of his having not surrendered.  Benjamin and George E. DeBruhl brothers both served in the 7th S.C. Cavalry. George was on record as having surrendered and was paroled immediately.
Ben and George E. DeBruhl first enlisted April 9th 1861 in 2nd Regiment S.C. Infantry (Palmetto Regiment)
Captain J.D. Kennedy's Company.  The Regiment was called into active service at Camp Davis
near Richmond, Virginia May 23, 1861 The Regiment took part in the first major battle of the
Civil War, Bull Run as part of 1st Brigade Army of the Potomac CSA.  The Regiment was commanded by Col. J.B. Kershaw.
September 29 to October 12, 1861 In CSA General Hospital, Charlottesville, Va.
April 1, 1862 on company muster rolls
June 25 to July 1, 1862 Regiment took part in the Seven Days Battle as part of 4th Brigade
McLaws Division.
July 8, 1862 Benjamin was granted a discharge due to the fact he was under 18 years of age and
had served at least 9 months of his one year enlistment.
February 3, 1864 Ben and George both reenlisted in Company K, 7th SC Cavalry Division 
for the duration of the war.
March 1, to August 31 1864 on company muster roll.
November 1, 1864 Ben's name appears on a roll for receipt for clothing
7th SC Cavalry Regiment served under Garry's Brigade Fitzhugh Lee's Cavalry Division
in and around Richmond and Petersburg Virginia, during the siege.  When Lees Army
retreated towards Appomattox, Fitzhugh Lees Division delayed General Sheridan's pursuit
allowing Lees Army to retreat from Petersburg.  The 7th Cavalry was the last to leave 
Richmond fired the James River Bridge slowing the Federal pursuit.
The Regiment was surrendered at Appomattox with Lees Army.
Fitzhugh Lee at a council of war the night before the surrender requested from his uncle
Robert E. Lee for permission to make a breakout with the remnants of the 7th SC
Cavalry. Permission was granted and the breakout was successful.  They made their way
westward towards Lynchburg, Virginia. When they got word that Joseph Johnstone
had surrendered in North Carolina ending all hope for a linkup.  General order number
6 was issued to disband and all soldiers were ordered to make their way back to their 
homes. The war was over, they were told to live in peace and within the law.



Battles: Benjamin participated in.

Bull Run
Mechanicsville
Gainesville
Malvern Hills
Centerville
Seven Days
Petersburg Siege Va. (June 1864-April 1865)
New Market Heights (29 September 1864)
Ropers Farm (30 September 1864)
Sayler's Creek (6 April 1865)
Appomattox, Court House Va. (9 April 1865)

Rostor:

Field and Staff
Company A
Company B
Company C
Company D
Company E
Company F
Company G
Company H
Company I
Company K

The men listed on this page, were all present at the Appomattox surrender.

Officers:
DuBose, D. St. P. Captain
Cantey, J.M. Lieutenant
Douglass, R. Sergeant
Trusdel
McDowell, W.D. Corporal
Gamewell.

Privates:

Anderson, G.W.
Atkinson, W.
Baruch, H.
Deas, L.H.
DeBruhl, George, E.  (Benjamin F. DeBruhl was not present having left the night before with
the remnants of the 7th Cavalry in the breakout)
Duncan, W.
Hinton, S.L.
Huckabee, M.G.
Huggins, W.J.
Johnson, J.J.
Mickle, J.P.
Radcliffe, B.J.
McCullock, R.
Russell, W.F.
Sanders, E.R.
Seale, A.J.
Stokes, J.L.
Stover, J.L.
Stalvey, J.A.M.
Stalvey, G.
Stalvey, W.R.
Thompson, L.C.
Veal, W.R.
Young, J.N.

References:
The Appomattox Roster, R.A. Brock The Southern Historical Society, 1887.
The Civil War in South Carolina Index.

Posted by Norman DeBruhl Middletown, Maryland 21769