Patrick Alfred Booth. 6th Virginia Cavalry Soldier

Written in the perspective of Patrick A Booth

By Johann Amurrio

My name is Patrick A Booth, middle name Alfred. My first name is the same one my father bore. I transferred to the 6th Virginia Cavalry on the 4th of September, 1863. Since then, I’ve been fighting for what I believed was right. Albeit my side lost, I fought proudly for my cause and served the greatest honour, dying in battle.

According to the 1860 census, I resided in Keysville, Charlotte, Virginia at the age of 24. I was born in Mecklenburg Virginia on the year 1836. My family was a rather extensive one. My mother’s name is Mary Smith Sanders and my father’s is the same as mine except without the ‘Alfred’. At the age of 2 my sister Ann Ford Booth was born in Charlotte, Virginia on the year of 1838. On 1840, my brother James Thomas Booth was born in the same place as I. He grew up to be a 1st lieutenant. On 1842, my second brother Samuel David Booth MD was born in the same place as my sister Ann. My second sister Virginia S. Booth was born in Charlotte, Virginia on 1844. 3 years later on 1847 my third brother Redmond Edward ‘Richard’ Booth was born in the same place as Virginia, Samuel, and Ann. On July of 1853 my father unfortunately passed away.

Before I joined the 6th Virginia Cavalry, I was a part of another squadron. I served in the 23rd Virginia Infantry before being transferred to the 6th Virginia Cavalry.. Other than my transfer, my service record was just like any other. I fought and died. A man by the last and middle name of W. Bailey enlisted me to the 23rd Virginia Infantry in Keysville on the 2nd of May, 1861. And I transferred to the cavalry on the 4th of September, 1863.

At one point in the war, the Union wanted to burn down the Shenandoah Valley because it was our main food source. The official name is the Valley Creek Campaigns, I fought in that. I also happened to die in said battle. Specifically the final one over in Cedar Creek on the 19th of October, 1864. Afterwards, the Confederacy lost this series of skirmishes and the south lost hope in general Lee. The Union victory ended in the reelection of Lincoln. Meanwhile I died over at Cedar Creek by accident in combat. Either someone accidentally shot me or I shot myself.

Whether or not I was married is a hazy topic as there aren’t any sources on my spouse. I have little to no regrets, at least I like to think that way. I fought for the losing side but at least I fought believing in my cause. I had an extensive family, participated in two different military regiments, and lived a life of sorts. My ancestors probably won’t be talking about me for centuries but I sure hope they learn about my existence. With family, like knowledge, there’s no harm in knowing more about it.

Sources

1860 Census from Ancestry.com

Service Record from Fold 3

Wikipedia’s page on the battles of the 6th Virginia Cavalry