Lieutenant Allen and Colonel Davis
Gold’s History of Clarke County, published in 1914, follows the fighting of June 9, 1863, on the road that led from Beverly’s Ford, where Union cavalry began crossing the Rappahannock a little before daybreak, "by way of St. James church to Brandy Station." In the woods that day, Gold wrote, was "Lieut. R. O. Allen, of the Clarke Cavalry, whose attention was attracted to Col. B. F. Davis, of the 8th New York Cavalry, that day in command of the brigade."
Allen had one load left in his pistol. He came up behind Davis, who "made a vicious stroke at Lieutenant Allen with his sword." Allen threw himself on the side of his horse, and "fired his remaining shot at Davis with an aim so true that he fell dead from his horse and Allen galloped off unharmed."
Source note: Thomas D. Gold, 1914
On p. 268, in an account of fighting, Gold's 1914 history of Clarke County names "among them Lieut. R. O. Allen, of the Clarke Cavalry, whose attention was attracted to Col. B. F. Davis, of the 8th New York Cavalry, that day in command of the brigade."
What the source supports
That Gold's narrative names a Lieut. R. O. Allen of the Clarke Cavalry.
Uncertainty
The reviewed crop does not name the battle (it is in the text before the passage) and gives only a name, a rank and a unit. Whether this Lieut. R. O. Allen is the R. O. Allen of the roll entry (C1360) rests on the matching initials, surname and rank; no record says so. Each cited passage was read twice, the second time independently: first as a rendered page image of a digital reproduction (a 300 dpi render of the stated PDF page), then on a cropped image of the same page. Both readings support the claim; neither was of the paper itself. The crop is held privately and is not shown on this site. Nothing beyond the quoted passage was read from the page. No human historian has reviewed this claim.
Source
Evidence role: supports. Supports the claim at the cited book's own level; the underlying record was not read. See limits.
History of Clarke County, Virginia and its connection with the war between the states
Thomas D. Gold · 1914 (publication)
Locator: Printed p. 268, PDF p. 298 of the hosted copy, battle narrative naming Lieut. R. O. Allen
Relevant passageamong them Lieut. R. O. Allen, of the Clarke Cavalry, whose attention was attracted to Col. B. F. Davis, of the 8th New York Cavalry, that day in command of the brigade
Checked: This passage was read on a digital reproduction of the page; no original has been handled. The source's other readings: existing OCR reviewed, original image not independently inspected.
Open sourceSource family: gold-1914. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Sonnet 5.5) · 2026-10-05. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Thomas D. Gold, 1914
Gold’s 1914 history of Clarke County, in its account of the fighting on the road from Beverly’s Ford by St. James church to Brandy Station (printed pp. 267-269), says that Lieut. R. O. Allen of the Clarke Cavalry, with one load left in his pistol, came up behind Col. B. F. Davis of the 8th New York Cavalry; that Davis "made a vicious stroke at Lieutenant Allen with his sword"; and that Allen, throwing himself on the side of his horse, "fired his remaining shot at Davis with an aim so true that he fell dead from his horse and Allen galloped off unharmed."
What the source supports
What Gold’s history says of Lieut. R. O. Allen and Col. B. F. Davis at Brandy Station.
Uncertainty
Gold wrote in 1914, about fifty years after the battle; this is his account, and no record read here describes the encounter otherwise. The passage was read on the page image of the hosted digital reproduction. No human historian has reviewed this claim.
Source
Evidence role: supports. Names Lieut. R. O. Allen of the Clarke Cavalry and Col. B. F. Davis.
History of Clarke County, Virginia and its connection with the war between the states
Thomas D. Gold · 1914 (publication)
Locator: Printed p. 268, PDF p. 298 of the hosted copy, battle narrative naming Lieut. R. O. Allen
Relevant passageamong them Lieut. R. O. Allen, of the Clarke Cavalry, whose attention was attracted to Col. B. F. Davis, of the 8th New York Cavalry, that day in command of the brigade
Checked: This passage was read on a digital reproduction of the page; no original has been handled. The source's other readings: existing OCR reviewed, original image not independently inspected.
Open sourceSource family: gold-1914. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Evidence role: supports. The last load and Davis’ sword stroke.
History of Clarke County, Virginia and its connection with the war between the states
Thomas D. Gold · 1914 (publication)
Locator: Printed p. 268, PDF p. 298 of the hosted copy, Lieut. R. O. Allen and Col. B. F. Davis
Relevant passageLieutenant Allen had shot from his pistol all but one load. [...] Colonel Davis, perceiving his danger, made a vicious stroke at Lieutenant Allen with his sword.
Checked: This passage was read on a digital reproduction of the page; no original has been handled. The source's other readings: existing OCR reviewed, original image not independently inspected.
Open sourceSource family: gold-1914. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Evidence role: supports. The last shot, as Gold tells it.
History of Clarke County, Virginia and its connection with the war between the states
Thomas D. Gold · 1914 (publication)
Locator: Printed p. 269, PDF p. 301 of the hosted copy, Allen’s last shot
Relevant passageThrowing himself quickly on the side of his horse, the sweep of Davis’ sword passed over him and in an instant Allen fired his remaining shot at Davis with an aim so true that he fell dead from his horse and Allen galloped off unharmed.
Checked: This passage was read on a digital reproduction of the page; no original has been handled. The source's other readings: existing OCR reviewed, original image not independently inspected.
Open sourceSource family: gold-1914. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Evidence role: supports. Places the fight on the road from Beverly’s Ford by St. James church to Brandy Station.
History of Clarke County, Virginia and its connection with the war between the states
Thomas D. Gold · 1914 (publication)
Locator: Printed p. 267, PDF p. 297 of the hosted copy, the road from Beverly’s Ford to Brandy Station
Relevant passagesuddenly, a little before daybreak, began the fording of the Rappahannock at Beverly’s Ford [...] the road, a narrow one, led through the hills overlooking the river, and thence on by way of St. James church to Brandy Station.
Checked: This passage was read on a digital reproduction of the page; no original has been handled. The source's other readings: existing OCR reviewed, original image not independently inspected.
Open sourceSource family: gold-1914. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-13. How this project checks its sources
A battle narrative in Gold's history (1914), printed p. 268, that names Lieut. R. O. Allen of the Clarke Cavalry.
What this image does and does not showA crop of part of one printed page; the rest of the page and the book is not shown.
Thomas D. Gold, History of Clarke County, Virginia (1914), p. 268. Rights Changes: Cropped to the document only (box 0,1250 1367x750 pixels of the page image); not retouched, enhanced, highlighted or re-encoded.
Source: History of Clarke County, Virginia and its connection with the war between the states Open the full image
What this image is evidence for
Passage it reproduces: Printed p. 268, PDF p. 298 of the hosted copy, battle narrative naming Lieut. R. O. Allen
Statements on this site that rest on it:
- On p. 268, in an account of fighting, Gold's 1914 history of Clarke County names "among them Lieut. R. O. Allen, of the Clarke Cavalry, whose attention was attracted to Col. B. F. Davis, of the 8th New York Cavalry, that day in command of the brigade."
- Gold’s 1914 history of Clarke County, in its account of the fighting on the road from Beverly’s Ford by St. James church to Brandy Station (printed pp. 267-269), says that Lieut. R. O. Allen of the Clarke Cavalry, with one load left in his pistol, came up behind Col. B. F. Davis of the 8th New York Cavalry; that Davis "made a vicious stroke at Lieutenant Allen with his sword"; and that Allen, throwing himself on the side of his horse, "fired his remaining shot at Davis with an aim so true that he fell dead from his horse and Allen galloped off unharmed."
Gold’s account goes on: Allen’s last shot, and Nicholas Moore of the Clarke Cavalry wounded beside him.
What this image does and does not showA crop of part of one printed page; the rest of the page and the book is not shown.
Thomas D. Gold, History of Clarke County, Virginia (1914), p. 269. Rights Changes: Cropped to the running head and the first paragraph (box 0,170 1367x725 pixels) from a 300 dpi render of PDF p. 301 of the hosted copy; re-encoded as JPEG. Not retouched or enhanced.
Source: History of Clarke County, Virginia and its connection with the war between the states Open the full image
The Allen brothers
Gold’s book prints a full-length photograph of Allen, "LIEUTENANT, 'CLARKE CAVALRY' (COMPANY D, SIXTH VIRGINIA CAVALRY)." Its caption says he was the eldest of three brothers in the Confederate army, and that the other two died in the service: David H., mortally wounded at the First Battle of Manassas, and A. S., at Chancellorsville.
Source note: Thomas D. Gold, 1914
An unnumbered plate between printed pp. 268 and 269 of Gold’s 1914 history of Clarke County is a full-length photograph captioned "R. O. ALLEN LIEUTENANT, 'CLARKE CAVALRY' (COMPANY D, SIXTH VIRGINIA CAVALRY)." The caption says he "was the eldest of three brothers who served in the Confederate Army, two of whom lost their lives in the service (David H., who was mortally wounded at the First Battle of Manassas, and A. S., at Chancellorsville.)"
What the source supports
That Gold’s history prints a photograph of R. O. Allen, and what its caption says of him and his brothers.
Uncertainty
The book does not say when or by whom the photograph was taken. The caption is Gold’s; the brothers’ deaths are not checked here against other records. The plate was read on the page image of the hosted digital reproduction. No human historian has reviewed this claim.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The plate and its caption.
History of Clarke County, Virginia and its connection with the war between the states
Thomas D. Gold · 1914 (publication)
Locator: Unnumbered plate between printed pp. 268 and 269, PDF p. 299 of the hosted copy, portrait of R. O. Allen and its caption
Relevant passageR. O. ALLEN LIEUTENANT, "CLARKE CAVALRY" (COMPANY D, SIXTH VIRGINIA CAVALRY) He was the eldest of three brothers who served in the Confederate Army, two of whom lost their lives in the service (David H., who was mortally wounded at the First Battle of Manassas, and A. S., at Chancellorsville.)
Checked: This passage was read on a digital reproduction of the page; no original has been handled. The source's other readings: existing OCR reviewed, original image not independently inspected.
Open sourceSource family: gold-1914. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-13. How this project checks its sources
R. O. Allen, lieutenant, Clarke Cavalry (Company D, Sixth Virginia Cavalry), in the portrait plate of Gold’s 1914 history.
What this image does and does not showA plate printed in the book; the book does not say when or by whom the photograph was taken.
Thomas D. Gold, History of Clarke County, Virginia (1914), unnumbered plate between pp. 268 and 269. Rights Changes: Cropped to the plate and its caption (box 80,150 1220x2020 pixels) from a 300 dpi render of PDF p. 299 of the hosted copy; re-encoded as JPEG. Not retouched or enhanced.
Source: History of Clarke County, Virginia and its connection with the war between the states Open the full image
What this image is evidence for
Passage it reproduces: Unnumbered plate between printed pp. 268 and 269, PDF p. 299 of the hosted copy, portrait of R. O. Allen and its caption
Statements on this site that rest on it:
- An unnumbered plate between printed pp. 268 and 269 of Gold’s 1914 history of Clarke County is a full-length photograph captioned "R. O. ALLEN LIEUTENANT, 'CLARKE CAVALRY' (COMPANY D, SIXTH VIRGINIA CAVALRY)." The caption says he "was the eldest of three brothers who served in the Confederate Army, two of whom lost their lives in the service (David H., who was mortally wounded at the First Battle of Manassas, and A. S., at Chancellorsville.)"
Nicholas Moore
Another Clarke man was in the woods with Allen. Nicholas Moore, Gold wrote, "received a very severe wound from a pistol shot," fell forward on his horse, kept his seat, and was brought off the field.
Source note: Thomas D. Gold, 1914
Gold’s account of Brandy Station (printed p. 269) says that "One of the men in the woods with Lieutenant Allen was Nicholas Moore, of the Clarke Cavalry, who received a very severe wound from a pistol shot," fell forward on his horse, kept his seat, and was brought off the field.
What the source supports
That Gold’s history names Nicholas Moore of the Clarke Cavalry as severely wounded at Brandy Station.
Uncertainty
Gold wrote in 1914, about fifty years after the battle; this is his account, and no record read here describes the encounter otherwise. The passage was read on the page image of the hosted digital reproduction. No human historian has reviewed this claim.
Source
Evidence role: supports. Nicholas Moore wounded, as Gold tells it.
History of Clarke County, Virginia and its connection with the war between the states
Thomas D. Gold · 1914 (publication)
Locator: Printed p. 269, PDF p. 301 of the hosted copy, Nicholas Moore wounded
Relevant passageOne of the men in the woods with Lieutenant Allen was Nicholas Moore, of the Clarke Cavalry, who received a very severe wound from a pistol shot which caused him to fall forward on his horse and to loose control of it.
Checked: This passage was read on a digital reproduction of the page; no original has been handled. The source's other readings: existing OCR reviewed, original image not independently inspected.
Open sourceSource family: gold-1914. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-13. How this project checks its sources
Wounded at Brandy Station
Gold’s roll of the Clarke Cavalry lists "R. O. Allen, 2nd Lieut., permanently disabled by a wound received at the Battle of Brandy Station, June 9, 1863." His service record bears that out. In the autumn of 1864 the company still carried him "Absent sick wounded in action June 9, 1863 Brandy Station," and on November 15, 1864, he was retired to the Invalid Corps at Richmond and assigned to duty under Maj. Gen. Kemper.
Source note: Thomas D. Gold, 1914
Gold's 1914 history of Clarke County, in the roll printed on p. 240, lists: "R. O. Allen, 2nd Lieut., permanently disabled by a wound received at the Battle of Brandy Station, June 9, 1863."
What the source supports
What Gold's roll prints for R. O. Allen: his rank and the wound.
Uncertainty
As printed, by initials and surname only. Gold prints other men named Allen (for example Lieut. D. H. Allen on p. 315), and none is assumed to be this man or to be related to him. The reviewed crop does not show the roll's heading. The heading is on printed pp. 238-239 (with a portrait-plate caption between them), read in the separate statements on this page, which also record that the troop was not composed wholly of residents of Clarke County; the unit is the roll's and is not stated in the entry itself. Gold's preface to a different company's roll (the Clarke Rifles, printed p. 196) says that roll was rebuilt from memory and "may not be altogether right"; no such statement was read for the roll cited here, and none is assumed. Each cited passage was read twice, the second time independently: first as a rendered page image of a digital reproduction (a 300 dpi render of the stated PDF page), then on a cropped image of the same page. Both readings support the claim; neither was of the paper itself. The crop is held privately and is not shown on this site. Nothing beyond the quoted passage was read from the page. No human historian has reviewed this claim.
Source
Evidence role: supports. Supports the claim at the cited book's own level; the underlying record was not read. See limits.
History of Clarke County, Virginia and its connection with the war between the states
Thomas D. Gold · 1914 (publication)
Locator: Printed p. 240, PDF p. 268 of the hosted copy, roll of the Clarke Cavalry, Allen entry
Relevant passageR. O. Allen, 2nd Lieut., permanently disabled by a wound received at the Battle of Brandy Station, June 9, 1863.
Checked: This passage was read on a digital reproduction of the page; no original has been handled. The source's other readings: existing OCR reviewed, original image not independently inspected.
Open sourceSource family: gold-1914. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Sonnet 5.5) · 2026-10-05. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Compiled service record of Robert O. Allen
A muster-roll card in the same record for Sept and Oct 1864 reads "R. O. Allen, 2 Lieut, Co. D, 6 Reg't Virginia Cavalry" and carries him absent: "Absent sick wounded in action June 9, 1863 Brandy Station."
What the source supports
That the company still carried 2nd Lieut. R. O. Allen absent in the autumn of 1864, wounded at Brandy Station on June 9, 1863.
Uncertainty
The cards are the War Department’s later abstracts, not the original records. No card read here says that the man on it is the Robert O. Allen of Gold’s Clarke Cavalry roll: the link rests on the name, rank and Company D of the 6th Virginia Cavalry. The passage was read on the saved file and twice on the crop, the second time independently. Nothing beyond the quoted passage was read from the card. No human historian has reviewed this claim.
Source
Evidence role: supports. Supports what the cited card says (RECORD label); it does not by itself establish that the man is the Robert O. Allen of Gold’s roll. See limits.
Compiled service record of Robert O. Allen, Co. D, 6th Virginia Cavalry (Confederate), NARA M324, roll 62, as viewed on Fold3
U.S. War Department (compiled service records of Confederate soldiers), National Archives microfilm publication M324
Locator: NARA M324 roll 62, Robert O. Allen, Co. D, 6th Virginia Cavalry, image 11 of 34 (Fold3 image id 7947463), muster-roll card for Sept and Oct 1864
Relevant passageR. O. Allen, 2 Lieut, Co. D, 6 Reg't Virginia Cavalry. Appears on Company Muster Roll of the organization named above, for Sept & Oct, 1864. Present or absent: Absent. Remarks: Absent sick wounded in action June 9, 1863 Brandy Station.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: nara-m324-allen-robert-owen-co-d-6th-va-cav. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-13. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Compiled service record of Robert O. Allen
A register card of the Invalid Corps, Provisional Army of the Confederate States, in the same record reads "R. O. Allen, 2 Lt Co D. 6 Regt Cavy Va." and gives his retirement on Nov 15, 1864, at Richmond, and his assignment to duty under Maj. Gen. Kemper by S.O. 279 of Nov 24, 1864.
What the source supports
That 2nd Lieut. R. O. Allen was retired to the Invalid Corps on November 15, 1864, and assigned to duty under Maj. Gen. Kemper.
Uncertainty
The cards are the War Department’s later abstracts, not the original records. No card read here says that the man on it is the Robert O. Allen of Gold’s Clarke Cavalry roll: the link rests on the name, rank and Company D of the 6th Virginia Cavalry. The passage was read on the saved file and twice on the crop, the second time independently. Nothing beyond the quoted passage was read from the card. No human historian has reviewed this claim.
Source
Evidence role: supports. Supports what the cited card says (RECORD label); it does not by itself establish that the man is the Robert O. Allen of Gold’s roll. See limits.
Compiled service record of Robert O. Allen, Co. D, 6th Virginia Cavalry (Confederate), NARA M324, roll 62, as viewed on Fold3
U.S. War Department (compiled service records of Confederate soldiers), National Archives microfilm publication M324
Locator: NARA M324 roll 62, Robert O. Allen, Co. D, 6th Virginia Cavalry, image 16 of 34 (Fold3 image id 7947471), register card of the Invalid Corps, November 1864
Relevant passageR. O. Allen, 2 Lt Co D. 6 Regt Cavy Va. Appears on a Register of the Invalid Corps, P. A. C. S. Date of retirement Nov 15, 1864. Military station Richmond. When assigned to duty S.O. 279 Nov. 24, 1864. Where assigned To Maj. Gen[l]. Kemper.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: nara-m324-allen-robert-owen-co-d-6th-va-cav. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-13. How this project checks its sources
Muster-roll card for Sept and Oct 1864, from the compiled service record of Robert O. Allen, Co. D, 6th Virginia Cavalry.
What this image does and does not showOne card from the file. The cards are the War Department’s later copies of muster rolls, reports and registers, not the original records. The writing is by hand and some figures are faint.
National Archives (NARA), Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers (M324), roll 62, image 11 of 34, via Fold3. Rights Changes: Cropped by the researcher to the card from page 11 of the saved file (sha256 7c239dbeee9b4345...) and shown at its own 1836 by 2376 pixels; not scaled, retouched, enhanced, highlighted or re-encoded.
Source: Compiled service record of Robert O. Allen, Co. D, 6th Virginia Cavalry (Confederate), NARA M324, roll 62, as viewed on Fold3 Open the full image
What this image is evidence for
Passage it reproduces: NARA M324 roll 62, Robert O. Allen, Co. D, 6th Virginia Cavalry, image 11 of 34 (Fold3 image id 7947463), muster-roll card for Sept and Oct 1864
Statements on this site that rest on it:
- A muster-roll card in the same record for Sept and Oct 1864 reads "R. O. Allen, 2 Lieut, Co. D, 6 Reg't Virginia Cavalry" and carries him absent: "Absent sick wounded in action June 9, 1863 Brandy Station."
Register card of the Invalid Corps, November 1864, from the compiled service record of Robert O. Allen, Co. D, 6th Virginia Cavalry.
What this image does and does not showOne card from the file. The cards are the War Department’s later copies of muster rolls, reports and registers, not the original records. The writing is by hand and some figures are faint.
National Archives (NARA), Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers (M324), roll 62, image 16 of 34, via Fold3. Rights Changes: Cropped by the researcher to the card from page 16 of the saved file (sha256 7c239dbeee9b4345...) and shown at its own 1836 by 2376 pixels; not scaled, retouched, enhanced, highlighted or re-encoded.
Source: Compiled service record of Robert O. Allen, Co. D, 6th Virginia Cavalry (Confederate), NARA M324, roll 62, as viewed on Fold3 Open the full image
What this image is evidence for
Passage it reproduces: NARA M324 roll 62, Robert O. Allen, Co. D, 6th Virginia Cavalry, image 16 of 34 (Fold3 image id 7947471), register card of the Invalid Corps, November 1864
Statements on this site that rest on it:
- A register card of the Invalid Corps, Provisional Army of the Confederate States, in the same record reads "R. O. Allen, 2 Lt Co D. 6 Regt Cavy Va." and gives his retirement on Nov 15, 1864, at Richmond, and his assignment to duty under Maj. Gen. Kemper by S.O. 279 of Nov 24, 1864.
Sergeant Moore’s horse
A claim in William Moore’s service record certifies that "the horse of William Moore Sgt Co (D) 6th Va Cavy was shot in the action of June 9th 1863 near Brandy Station," and that a board appraised it at $375. On September 19, 1863, he signed for the money: "W. Moore." Gold’s roll lists him as a sergeant promoted to lieutenant, who "died of wounds received in action at Five Forks, Va., April 2, 1865."
Source note: Compiled service record of William Moore
A claim in the same record certifies that "the horse of William Moore Sgt Co (D) 6th Va Cavy was shot in the action of June 9th 1863 near Brandy Station" and was appraised at $375, and carries a receipt for that sum dated Sept 19, 1863, signed "W. Moore."
What the source supports
That the Confederate government paid William Moore, sergeant, Co. D, 6th Virginia Cavalry, $375 for a horse shot under him at Brandy Station on June 9, 1863.
Uncertainty
The cards are the War Department’s later abstracts, not the original records. No card read here says that the man on it is the William Moore of Gold’s Clarke Cavalry roll: the link rests on the name, rank and Company D of the 6th Virginia Cavalry. The passage was read on the saved file and twice on the crop, the second time independently. Nothing beyond the quoted passage was read from the card. No human historian has reviewed this claim. One letter of the appraising officer’s name is doubtful and bracketed.
Source
Evidence role: supports. Supports what the cited card says (RECORD label); it does not by itself establish that the man is the William Moore of Gold’s roll. See limits.
Compiled service record of William Moore, Co. D, 6th Virginia Cavalry (Confederate), NARA M324, roll 69, as viewed on Fold3
U.S. War Department (compiled service records of Confederate soldiers), National Archives microfilm publication M324
Locator: NARA M324 roll 69, William Moore, Co. D, 6th Virginia Cavalry, image 18 of 18 (Fold3 image id 7224412), claim for a horse shot in action, 1863
Relevant passageTo 1 horse shot in action $375.00 I certify that the above account is just and correct and that the horse of William Moore Sgt Co (D) 6th Va Cavy was shot in the action of June 9th 1863 near Brandy Station [...]
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: nara-m324-moore-william-co-d-6th-va-cav. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-13. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Thomas D. Gold, 1914
Gold's 1914 history of Clarke County, in the roll printed on p. 241, lists: "Moore, William; Sergeant, promoted to lieutenancy in the Company, died of wounds received in action at Five Forks, Va., April 2, 1865."
What the source supports
What Gold's roll prints for a William Moore: his rank, the wound and the date.
Uncertainty
As printed. The sentence can be read as giving April 2, 1865 as the date of the wound or of the death, and it is not checked against any other record. The reviewed crop does not show the roll's heading. The heading is on printed pp. 238-239 (with a portrait-plate caption between them), read in the separate statements on this page, which also record that the troop was not composed wholly of residents of Clarke County; the unit is the roll's and is not stated in the entry itself. The entry gives a given name and surname only; no record read here separates this man from others of the same name, and none is claimed to be related. Gold's preface to a different company's roll (the Clarke Rifles, printed p. 196) says that roll was rebuilt from memory and "may not be altogether right"; no such statement was read for the roll cited here, and none is assumed. Each cited passage was read twice, the second time independently: first as a rendered page image of a digital reproduction (a 300 dpi render of the stated PDF page), then on a cropped image of the same page. Both readings support the claim; neither was of the paper itself. The crop is held privately and is not shown on this site. Nothing beyond the quoted passage was read from the page. No human historian has reviewed this claim.
Source
Evidence role: supports. Supports the claim at the cited book's own level; the underlying record was not read. See limits.
History of Clarke County, Virginia and its connection with the war between the states
Thomas D. Gold · 1914 (publication)
Locator: Printed p. 241, PDF p. 269 of the hosted copy, roll of the Clarke Cavalry, Moore entry
Relevant passageMoore, William; Sergeant, promoted to lieutenancy in the Company, died of wounds received in action at Five Forks, Va., April 2, 1865.
Checked: This passage was read on a digital reproduction of the page; no original has been handled. The source's other readings: existing OCR reviewed, original image not independently inspected.
Open sourceSource family: gold-1914. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Sonnet 5.5) · 2026-10-05. How this project checks its sources
Claim for a horse shot in action, 1863, from the compiled service record of William Moore, Co. D, 6th Virginia Cavalry.
What this image does and does not showOne card from the file. The cards are the War Department’s later copies of muster rolls, reports and registers, not the original records. The writing is by hand and some figures are faint.
National Archives (NARA), Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers (M324), roll 69, image 18 of 18, via Fold3. Rights Changes: Cropped by the researcher to the card from page 18 of the saved file (sha256 dc3167fa005775c8...) and shown at its own 1836 by 2376 pixels; not scaled, retouched, enhanced, highlighted or re-encoded.
Source: Compiled service record of William Moore, Co. D, 6th Virginia Cavalry (Confederate), NARA M324, roll 69, as viewed on Fold3 Open the full image
What this image is evidence for
Passage it reproduces: NARA M324 roll 69, William Moore, Co. D, 6th Virginia Cavalry, image 18 of 18 (Fold3 image id 7224412), claim for a horse shot in action, 1863
Statements on this site that rest on it:
- A claim in the same record certifies that "the horse of William Moore Sgt Co (D) 6th Va Cavy was shot in the action of June 9th 1863 near Brandy Station" and was appraised at $375, and carries a receipt for that sum dated Sept 19, 1863, signed "W. Moore."
About the sourcesWhat the evidence says
Gold’s 1914 History of Clarke County, read on the page images of the hosted copy, and cards from the compiled service records of Robert O. Allen and William Moore, read on Fold3 images.
Gold’s account of the encounter with Colonel Davis was written about fifty years later and is the only record here that describes it. The service records confirm Allen’s wound and Moore’s horse, not the encounter.
- An account exists✓ Supported by a source
Gold’s 1914 history of Clarke County, in its account of the fighting on the road from Beverly’s Ford by St. James church to Brandy Station (printed pp. 267-269), says that Lieut. R. O. Allen of the Clarke Cavalry, with one load left in his pistol, came up behind Col. B. F. Davis of the 8th New York Cavalry; that Davis "made a vicious stroke at Lieutenant Allen with his sword"; and that Allen, throwing himself on the side of his horse, "fired his remaining shot at Davis with an aim so true that he fell dead from his horse and Allen galloped off unharmed."
See the evidence
✓ Supported by a sourceAn account existsGold’s 1914 history of Clarke County, in its account of the fighting on the road from Beverly’s Ford by St. James church to Brandy Station (printed pp. 267-269), says that Lieut. R. O. Allen of the Clarke Cavalry, with one load left in his pistol, came up behind Col. B. F. Davis of the 8th New York Cavalry; that Davis "made a vicious stroke at Lieutenant Allen with his sword"; and that Allen, throwing himself on the side of his horse, "fired his remaining shot at Davis with an aim so true that he fell dead from his horse and Allen galloped off unharmed."
What the source supports
What Gold’s history says of Lieut. R. O. Allen and Col. B. F. Davis at Brandy Station.
Uncertainty
Gold wrote in 1914, about fifty years after the battle; this is his account, and no record read here describes the encounter otherwise. The passage was read on the page image of the hosted digital reproduction. No human historian has reviewed this claim.
Source
Later historical account Evidence role: supports. Names Lieut. R. O. Allen of the Clarke Cavalry and Col. B. F. Davis.
History of Clarke County, Virginia and its connection with the war between the states
Thomas D. Gold · 1914 (publication)
Locator: Printed p. 268, PDF p. 298 of the hosted copy, battle narrative naming Lieut. R. O. Allen
Relevant passageamong them Lieut. R. O. Allen, of the Clarke Cavalry, whose attention was attracted to Col. B. F. Davis, of the 8th New York Cavalry, that day in command of the brigade
Checked: This passage was read on a digital reproduction of the page; no original has been handled. The source's other readings: existing OCR reviewed, original image not independently inspected.
Open sourceSource family: gold-1914. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Later historical account Evidence role: supports. The last load and Davis’ sword stroke.
History of Clarke County, Virginia and its connection with the war between the states
Thomas D. Gold · 1914 (publication)
Locator: Printed p. 268, PDF p. 298 of the hosted copy, Lieut. R. O. Allen and Col. B. F. Davis
Relevant passageLieutenant Allen had shot from his pistol all but one load. [...] Colonel Davis, perceiving his danger, made a vicious stroke at Lieutenant Allen with his sword.
Checked: This passage was read on a digital reproduction of the page; no original has been handled. The source's other readings: existing OCR reviewed, original image not independently inspected.
Open sourceSource family: gold-1914. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Later historical account Evidence role: supports. The last shot, as Gold tells it.
History of Clarke County, Virginia and its connection with the war between the states
Thomas D. Gold · 1914 (publication)
Locator: Printed p. 269, PDF p. 301 of the hosted copy, Allen’s last shot
Relevant passageThrowing himself quickly on the side of his horse, the sweep of Davis’ sword passed over him and in an instant Allen fired his remaining shot at Davis with an aim so true that he fell dead from his horse and Allen galloped off unharmed.
Checked: This passage was read on a digital reproduction of the page; no original has been handled. The source's other readings: existing OCR reviewed, original image not independently inspected.
Open sourceSource family: gold-1914. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Later historical account Evidence role: supports. Places the fight on the road from Beverly’s Ford by St. James church to Brandy Station.
History of Clarke County, Virginia and its connection with the war between the states
Thomas D. Gold · 1914 (publication)
Locator: Printed p. 267, PDF p. 297 of the hosted copy, the road from Beverly’s Ford to Brandy Station
Relevant passagesuddenly, a little before daybreak, began the fording of the Rappahannock at Beverly’s Ford [...] the road, a narrow one, led through the hills overlooking the river, and thence on by way of St. James church to Brandy Station.
Checked: This passage was read on a digital reproduction of the page; no original has been handled. The source's other readings: existing OCR reviewed, original image not independently inspected.
Open sourceSource family: gold-1914. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-13. How this project checks its sources
- An account exists✓ Supported by a source
Gold's 1914 history of Clarke County, in the roll printed on p. 240, lists: "R. O. Allen, 2nd Lieut., permanently disabled by a wound received at the Battle of Brandy Station, June 9, 1863."
See the evidence
✓ Supported by a sourceAn account existsGold's 1914 history of Clarke County, in the roll printed on p. 240, lists: "R. O. Allen, 2nd Lieut., permanently disabled by a wound received at the Battle of Brandy Station, June 9, 1863."
What the source supports
What Gold's roll prints for R. O. Allen: his rank and the wound.
Uncertainty
As printed, by initials and surname only. Gold prints other men named Allen (for example Lieut. D. H. Allen on p. 315), and none is assumed to be this man or to be related to him. The reviewed crop does not show the roll's heading. The heading is on printed pp. 238-239 (with a portrait-plate caption between them), read in the separate statements on this page, which also record that the troop was not composed wholly of residents of Clarke County; the unit is the roll's and is not stated in the entry itself. Gold's preface to a different company's roll (the Clarke Rifles, printed p. 196) says that roll was rebuilt from memory and "may not be altogether right"; no such statement was read for the roll cited here, and none is assumed. Each cited passage was read twice, the second time independently: first as a rendered page image of a digital reproduction (a 300 dpi render of the stated PDF page), then on a cropped image of the same page. Both readings support the claim; neither was of the paper itself. The crop is held privately and is not shown on this site. Nothing beyond the quoted passage was read from the page. No human historian has reviewed this claim.
Source
Later historical account Evidence role: supports. Supports the claim at the cited book's own level; the underlying record was not read. See limits.
History of Clarke County, Virginia and its connection with the war between the states
Thomas D. Gold · 1914 (publication)
Locator: Printed p. 240, PDF p. 268 of the hosted copy, roll of the Clarke Cavalry, Allen entry
Relevant passageR. O. Allen, 2nd Lieut., permanently disabled by a wound received at the Battle of Brandy Station, June 9, 1863.
Checked: This passage was read on a digital reproduction of the page; no original has been handled. The source's other readings: existing OCR reviewed, original image not independently inspected.
Open sourceSource family: gold-1914. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Sonnet 5.5) · 2026-10-05. How this project checks its sources
- An account exists✓ Supported by a source
A muster-roll card in the same record for Sept and Oct 1864 reads "R. O. Allen, 2 Lieut, Co. D, 6 Reg't Virginia Cavalry" and carries him absent: "Absent sick wounded in action June 9, 1863 Brandy Station."
See the evidence
✓ Supported by a sourceAn account existsA muster-roll card in the same record for Sept and Oct 1864 reads "R. O. Allen, 2 Lieut, Co. D, 6 Reg't Virginia Cavalry" and carries him absent: "Absent sick wounded in action June 9, 1863 Brandy Station."
What the source supports
That the company still carried 2nd Lieut. R. O. Allen absent in the autumn of 1864, wounded at Brandy Station on June 9, 1863.
Uncertainty
The cards are the War Department’s later abstracts, not the original records. No card read here says that the man on it is the Robert O. Allen of Gold’s Clarke Cavalry roll: the link rests on the name, rank and Company D of the 6th Virginia Cavalry. The passage was read on the saved file and twice on the crop, the second time independently. Nothing beyond the quoted passage was read from the card. No human historian has reviewed this claim.
Source
Contemporary document Evidence role: supports. Supports what the cited card says (RECORD label); it does not by itself establish that the man is the Robert O. Allen of Gold’s roll. See limits.
Compiled service record of Robert O. Allen, Co. D, 6th Virginia Cavalry (Confederate), NARA M324, roll 62, as viewed on Fold3
U.S. War Department (compiled service records of Confederate soldiers), National Archives microfilm publication M324
Locator: NARA M324 roll 62, Robert O. Allen, Co. D, 6th Virginia Cavalry, image 11 of 34 (Fold3 image id 7947463), muster-roll card for Sept and Oct 1864
Relevant passageR. O. Allen, 2 Lieut, Co. D, 6 Reg't Virginia Cavalry. Appears on Company Muster Roll of the organization named above, for Sept & Oct, 1864. Present or absent: Absent. Remarks: Absent sick wounded in action June 9, 1863 Brandy Station.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: nara-m324-allen-robert-owen-co-d-6th-va-cav. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-13. How this project checks its sources
- An account exists✓ Supported by a source
A claim in the same record certifies that "the horse of William Moore Sgt Co (D) 6th Va Cavy was shot in the action of June 9th 1863 near Brandy Station" and was appraised at $375, and carries a receipt for that sum dated Sept 19, 1863, signed "W. Moore."
See the evidence
✓ Supported by a sourceAn account existsA claim in the same record certifies that "the horse of William Moore Sgt Co (D) 6th Va Cavy was shot in the action of June 9th 1863 near Brandy Station" and was appraised at $375, and carries a receipt for that sum dated Sept 19, 1863, signed "W. Moore."
What the source supports
That the Confederate government paid William Moore, sergeant, Co. D, 6th Virginia Cavalry, $375 for a horse shot under him at Brandy Station on June 9, 1863.
Uncertainty
The cards are the War Department’s later abstracts, not the original records. No card read here says that the man on it is the William Moore of Gold’s Clarke Cavalry roll: the link rests on the name, rank and Company D of the 6th Virginia Cavalry. The passage was read on the saved file and twice on the crop, the second time independently. Nothing beyond the quoted passage was read from the card. No human historian has reviewed this claim. One letter of the appraising officer’s name is doubtful and bracketed.
Source
Contemporary document Evidence role: supports. Supports what the cited card says (RECORD label); it does not by itself establish that the man is the William Moore of Gold’s roll. See limits.
Compiled service record of William Moore, Co. D, 6th Virginia Cavalry (Confederate), NARA M324, roll 69, as viewed on Fold3
U.S. War Department (compiled service records of Confederate soldiers), National Archives microfilm publication M324
Locator: NARA M324 roll 69, William Moore, Co. D, 6th Virginia Cavalry, image 18 of 18 (Fold3 image id 7224412), claim for a horse shot in action, 1863
Relevant passageTo 1 horse shot in action $375.00 I certify that the above account is just and correct and that the horse of William Moore Sgt Co (D) 6th Va Cavy was shot in the action of June 9th 1863 near Brandy Station [...]
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: nara-m324-moore-william-co-d-6th-va-cav. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-13. How this project checks its sources
Each statement above is assessed on its own evidence. Nothing here is averaged, scored or voted on, and a well-attributed account can be documented while what it describes stays unconfirmed.
Source note
This story rests on Gold’s 1914 History of Clarke County, read on the page images of the hosted copy, and on cards from the compiled service records of Robert O. Allen and William Moore (National Archives, M324), read on Fold3 images. Gold wrote about fifty years after the battle; the encounter with Colonel Davis is told only in his account here. A parole card filed in Moore’s record is printed for a W. J. Moore of Company K and is not used.
What do the Union reports of the battle say of how Colonel Davis was killed?
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Go deeper: every source under this story Follow another threadThe last roll call: the Clarke Cavalry, 1884 to 1918
The company Allen and Moore served in, and how its survivors kept meeting from 1884 to 1918.