Finding Aid to The History of A Campaign

JONES MEMORIAL LIBRARY
2311 MEMORIAL AVENUE
LYNCHBURG, VA 24501
(434) 846-0501
THE HISTORY OF A CAMPAIGN
by Peter B. Akers & John L. Henry
Enclosed is a diary account "compiled from copious notes taken on the field as the
incidents occurred." Both compilers were members of the Lynchburg Rifle Greys, which
was commanded by Capt. Langhorne. The account covers part of 1861 only.
PETER B. AKERS (c.1841-aft.1898)
Peter B. Akers was born in Virginia about 1841, the son of Bryan Akers and Martha
Morton Moon. He enlisted as a sergeant in Co. A of the 11th Virginia Infantry on 22
April 1861 and was elected 2nd lieutenant one year later. At Milford Station he was
captured and held in several prison camps; he was among the "immortal 600." His
release came on 14 June 1865, from Fort Delaware, where he had been held along with
his brother, Maj. Albert Akers. In later years, he moved to Hamblen Co., TN where he
was an auctioneer. He was living in Morristown, TN in 1898.
In a letter of 18 April 1892, A. Fulkerson, of Bristol, VA, wrote concerning life in the
prison camp at Fort Delaware, "Lieutenant Peter Akers, of Lynchburg, VA, was the star
of the company, and his ceaseless flow of spirit, his wit, humor, and inexhaustible fund
of anecdotes added immensely to the character and enjoyment of the exhibitions, and he
did more, probably, to give life, spirit, and success to the laudable enterprise than any
man in the prison, and for his noble efforts in this behalf, Pete has and deserves the
gratitude of his fellow sufferers."

SOURCES: Brock, R.A., ed. Southern Historical Papers, Vol. XXII. Richmond, VA: The Society, 1894;
Morris, George & Susan Foutz. Lynchburg in the Civil War Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1984;
Murray, J. Ogden. The Immortal Six Hundred, Winchester, VA: The Eddy Press Corp., 1905; Shearer,
J.W. The Shearer–Akers Family Combined with "The Bryan Line" Through the Seventh Generation
Somerville, NJ: The Somerset Messenger, 1915.

JOHN L. HENRY (c.1839-1861)
John L. Henry was born the son of William and Leomyra W. Lee Henry about 1840.
The 1860 U.S. Census lists him as a printer and living in Chesterfield County in the
household of the Rev. Mr. Robert M. Lee. He enlisted in the 11th VA Infantry as a
private the same day as Peter B. Akers, on 22 April 1861. Pvt. John Henry was killed in
action at Dranesville, VA, on 20 December 1861.
SOURCES: 1850 U.S. Census, Campbell Co., VA, p. 77, household #51, National Archives Microfilm M432, Roll 938; 1860 U.S. Census, Campbell Co., VA, p. 231, line #2, National Archives Microfilm M653, Roll #1340; Morris, George & Susan Foutz. Lynchburg in the Civil War. Lynchburg, VA: H.E.
Howard, Inc., 1984.

MS1795