Major John Henry Dettor and Bettie Trevilian [7-171]

[7-171] MAJOR JOHN HENRY DETTOR, b ————_; ; d Apr. 1, 1865; s Rev. Joseph and Margaret (Shultz) Dettor [7-83]; m Jan. 17, 1861, BETTIE TREVILIAN.

One child: [7-326] John Hampton, 6 Nov. 7, 1864; m Annie Laurie Carson:

Betty (Trevilian) Dettor m 2nd time, ——————Winston and had two sons who m and had families [B. 7. Detior-.]

Since there has been some confusion regarding the correct military record of Capt. Dettor in the Civil War, the following data furnished by Mrs. Frank Johnson of Louisa, Va., and. B. T. Dettor of Chattanooga, Tenn., is inserted.

Correct Miuirary Recorp or CapraiIn Joun DETTOR. To the Editor of The Times-Despatch, Sir:

Permit me to correct your statement in your issue of the 23d inst to the effect that Captain Hawley became major of the Tenth Virginia Cavalry the last year of the war. When Colonel Caskie became colonel, Lieut. Hawley became captain of Co. A and remained so to the surrender.

When we left Petersburg, Robt. A. Caskie was Colonel W. B. Clement’s lieut-colonel and J. Henry Dettor (Company F from Albemarle Co.), was major. The major was killed in the retreat and the regiment was captured near Amelia. Consequently no promotion could be made. I was lieut. in Co. K. Tenth Va. Cavalry, and served in West Va. also, being made lieut. just before the seven days battles before Richmond, and knew personally and intimately every officer in the regiment. This correction is due to the memory of Major Dettor and correct history. J. H. Turner, D. D. Ruxton, Maryland. My Dear Madam:

Yours received and it gives me great pleasure to do or say anything I can which may be of use to the wife of Capt. J. Henry Dettor, Co. F., 10th Va. Cavalry, U.S. A. He always wrote or signed his name J. Henry Dettor. I knew him intimately as a fellow officer in the same regiment. He and I were rather companionable. He was a good fighter, an excellent officer, and had the good will and esteem of all in the regiment. He was promoted major of the regiment just about the time we left Petersburg after its evacuation. I spoke to him a few minutes before he was killed. It was I think just about the time—a little before or after the battle of Five Oaks. It is fifty years ago and some things have been forgotten.

I should like to know just where his body was found.

About a year ago there was a notice in the Times-Dispatch of Rd., of the death of Capt. Hawley, Co. “‘D’’ of our regiment. In this notice he was mentioned as major of the 10th Va. Cavalry. Although I did not know whether any of Major Dettor’s friends were alive or might ever see it, I took occasion to write to the Dispatch and correct the error, telling the editor that Capt. Hawley was never major of the regiment, but that J. Henry Dettor was promoted to the office as I have stated. I did this in justice to the memory of Maj. Dettor.

They failed to send me a copy of my notice and so I did not know it had been published. I presume this is the notice to which you refer.

There were two lieutenants Martin in Co. F. Are they living? ‘Yours is the first and only word I have had from the Co. in all these years, except a brief call I made on Capt. Cable in Staunton, a few years before his death. Capt. Dettor rode a sorrel horse with a blaze or bald face. Your mention of the horse recalls it to mind. Sincerely yours, J. H. Turner, Lieut. Co. K. 10th Va. Reg. 3 Somerset Road, Roland Park, Baltimore, Md. Nov. 25, 1914

Capt. or Maj. J. Henry Dettor, mustered in service, left home 27th of June 1861. Mustered in at Gawley Bridge, West Va. Served in battles in West Va. He was wounded at Charles City Court House, W. Va. Henry Lee was left to guard road during the battle around Trevilians. In the battle around Richmond a piece of shell passed through his saddle-bags and one piece went in front and skinned the horse’s legs. He had several narrow escapes.

He was killed at Five Forks, Dinwiddie County, Ist day of April, 1865, nine days before the surrender. His body was afterward found by his father, Joseph Dettor, and carried to Greenwood, his old home, and buried. He turned back to save another company and his horse fell then ran off and he called to his boys to get his horse and then the enemy closed in on them. W. F. Dettor, his brother, got his horse and led it out. (Mrs. Frank Johnson].

John Henry Dettor Captain of Company F., Tenth Virginia Cavalry, was killed at “FIVE FORKS,” Dinwiddie County, Va., April 1st, 1865, age 30 years.

After eight months of suspense alternating between hope and fear, at times his parents and friends hearing that he was certainly alive, at other times that he was killed, his remains were found by his father, December 3rd, carried to his home in this county, near Greenwood Depot, where his funeral was preached (Dec. 9th) by the writer, to a large and attentive audience, from Romans, 8th chapter and 23d verse, and then buried with Masonic honors by King Solomon Lodge, No. 194, of which he was a member.

Thus has passed away from earth one of the noble brave around whose name the evergreen Acacia will ever twine.

He was a Christian, devoted to the Master, who has called him away from the Church militant to the Church triumphant in Heaven, where the clarion notes of the bugle will never summons ‘‘to arms’’ and no crimson current flow amidst the roar of artillery, the gleam of the sabre, and the sharp crack of the rifle.

As a captain he was exceedingly popular with his superior officers, and with his company, including among its members some of Albemarle’s bravest sons.

As a son he was affectionate and obedient; as a husband and father kind, attentive and devoted; as a brother generous and true.

A warm-hearted Mason, a genial companion, a NOBLE MAN, Cc. Cc. V.