Members Who Served in the Military

It is entirely possible that Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company members have served in every major war that the United States of America has fought since the War of 1776. During the Country’s fight for independence, Loudoun County raised a militia with 1,746 men, the largest in Virginia.  We have no documentation this far back but if you consider that the Revolutionary War ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on September 3, 1783; just twenty years before our 1803 incorporation, it is likely that some of our first members would have served.  

During the War of 1812, national treasures such as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and other items from the National Archives were hidden in Leesburg for safe keeping when the British invaded Washington D.C. It was a Leesburg Volunteer fireman who kept them safe. County sheriff and Methodist pastor John Littlejohn who was responsible for securing the items in an abandoned house. His name also appears on the roster of original members of the 1803 Fire Company. Various militias were raised and many Leesburg residents served. Unfortunately, we have been unable to confirm that the matching names on the fire company rosters were the same members on the militia lists.

As the War Between the States grew closer, the Union Fire Company stopped being called the Union and came to be referred to as the United Fire Company in 1859. Many Fire Company members served in the more than twenty militias and units that were formed in Loudoun County. 

The following list can be found in our book, “The Lost History of the Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company and the Fire Service in Loudoun County 1803 - 1925” written by James R Fazekas.

Company Officers of the Loudon Guard who were Fire Company Members:

Captains -    Charles Binus Tebbs, George R. Head, William B. Lynch

Lieutenants - Charles B. Wildman, Jesse J. Stansbury, William W. Athey, George T. Lambden, Francis B. Littleton

Members of the 1851 United Fire Company who Served in the 17th Virginia Infantry Company C Loudoun Guards:     

EVARD, Chas. E:  jeweler; age 36; enl. 27/4/61, at Leesburg; Cpl., Co. C. Prom. to Sgt. Absent sick (rheumatism_, hosp., Charlottesville, 1-4/62. Signed document 22/6/64, Wash., D. C., certifying his desertion, and exemption from military service in D. C. under law of 24/2/64, being a non-resident.

HEAD, George R: 1st lt., Loudoun Guards, 1859; whitesmith; age 38; enl. 27/4/61, at Leesburg; 1st Lt., Co. C. Prom. to Capt., 1961. Dropped at reorganization of company, 4/62. Died 29/1/94.

FADELEY, Charles W.: enl. 23/4/61, at Leesburg; Pvt., Co. C. Rejected 22/5/61. by mustering officer having been under 18 years of age. Became of age 26/6/61, but did not rejoin the company. Enl. 13/4/61, at Leesburg; Pvt., Co. H, 8th Regt. Va. Inf. Captured at Gettysburg; exchd. Prom to Sgt., 1864. Paroled 28/2/65. Died 1910. Bur. St John's Cem., Hampton.

HAMMERLY, John W.: enl. 22/4/61, at Leesburg; Pvt., Loudoun Guard. Was sick in Leesburg when company was mustered into service. Never rejoined, and was believed to be unfit for service. Another data base shows John W. Hammerly, b1843 - d1911, as a member of the   35th BN. He may have joined after he recovered from his illness.

SMALE, John C.: tinner; age 19; enl. 23/4/61, at Leesburg; Pvt., Co. C. Deserted, 1862.

STRANSBURY, Jesse J :  b. 22/1/29; jeweler; enl. 27/4/61, at Leesburg; 1st Sgt., Co. C. Prom. to 2nd Lt., 1861. Dropped 28/4/62, at reorganization of the company. Died 19/7/86. Bur. Union Cem., Leesburg.

TEBBS, Charles Binus: b. 1826; lawyer; Capt., Loudoun Guard, 1859; Enl. 27/4/61, at Leesburg; Capt., Co. C. Lt. Col., 8th Regt. Va. Inf., 6/61-4/62; dropped at Regtl. reorganization. Clerk, A. & I. G. O., Richmond. Served in Co. E, 3rd Bn. Local Defense Troops. Died at Charlottesville, 26/9/67, en route to Leesburg. Bur. Union Cem., Leesburg.

WILDMAN, Charles B.: b. 1818; merchant; enl. 27/4/61, at Leesburg; 2nd Lt., Co. C. Actg. A. D. C., to Brig. Gen. N. G. Evans, 7th Brig., 10/61. Dropped 28/4/62, at reorganization of regiment. Died 1898. Bur. Union Cem., Leesburg.

The following members of the 1851 Union Fire Company served with other Virginia Militia Units

BALL C. H. :  Born 1835 – Killed 1864 11th VA Cavalry

DAVIS, William:  Born 1846-Died 1921 8th VA

BENEDUM, James H. :  Born 1817-Died 1871  Loudoun Artillery  

1859 list of Leesburg Union Fire Company who were Delinquent from the Militia

DRISH, Edwin:  born 1833- Killed 1864 35th BN

Delinquent List – 1860

On November 25, the military court received list of delinquents in the Leesburg Fire Company. One of the Fire Company members listed was J. W. Wallace, who went on to join and later desert, the 17th Virginia Infantry Company C personnel - Loudoun Guards:

WALLACE, James W.: tailor; age 28; enl. 22/4/61, at Leesburg; Pvt., Co. C. Deserted, 6/5/62.

The following members of the 1861 Virginia Fire Company served in the 17th Virginia Infantry Company C Loudoun Guards:

ADAMS Wm. F.:   b. Loudoun Co.; tinner; age 18; enl. 27/4/61, at Leesburg; Pvt., Co. C. Company drummer, 1861-1862. Dischd. 12/6/62 for disability. Described as 5 ft. 8 in., fair complexion, blue eyes, and dark hair.

ATTWELL Luther L. :   b. Loudoun Co.;  clerk; age 21; enl. 22/4/61, at Leesburg; Pvt., Co. C.  Killed at Sharpsburg, 17/9/62. Buried on the battlefield.

BIRKBY, Henry C.: coach maker; enl. 22/4/61, at Leesburg; Pvt., Co. C. Absent, sick in Lynchburg, 6-10/62. Present, 2/63. On rolls as a deserter, 8/63.

BRENNER John E.: Pvt., Alexandria Artillery, 1859; tinner; age 22; enl. 22/4/61, at Leesburg; Pvt., Co. C. Captured at Manassas Gap, 21/7/63; sent to Point Lookout. Transferred to Elmira, N. Y., 16/8/64. Transferred for exchange, 10/3/65. Took Oath of Allegiance at Alexandria, 9/5/65. Mbr. Clinton-Hatcher Camp, C. V. Loudoun Co.

BIRKBY H. C.: coach maker; enl. 22/4/61, at Leesburg; Pvt., Co. C. Absent, sick in Lynchburg, 6-10/62. Present, 2/63. On rolls as a deserter, 8/63.

BURKE R. S.:  b. Alexandria, 15/1/39; printer; enl. 22/4/61, at Leesburg; Pvt., Co. C. Prom. to Cpl. Wded. at Williamsburg, 5/5/62. Present, 12/62. Prom. to Sgt., 1862. Present, 12/64. Paroled 17/4/65, at Darmstown, Md. Mbr. Clinton-Hatcher Camp, C. V., Loudoun Co. Died 27/6/1912. Bur. Union Cemetery, Leesburg.

CANTWELL Joseph F.:  stage driver; age 24; enl. 22/4/61, at Leesburg; Pvt., Loudoun Guards. Rejected by mustering officer as physically unfit for service.

COCHRAN Wm. V.:  b. 1836; carpenter; enl. 22/4/61, at Leesburg; Pvt., Co. C. Absent sick in Richmond, 6-8/62. In Episcopal Church Hosp., Williamsburg, with dysentery, 5/63. Hospitalized in Richmond and Lynchburg, intermittent fever, 7-8/62. Present, 12/64. Died 1908. Bur. Union Cem., Leesburg. James Davisson not listed in the 17th Virginia

FADELEY C.W.:  enl. 23/4/61, at Leesburg; Pvt., Co. C. Rejected 22/5/61. by mustering officer having been under 18 years of age. Became of age 26/6/61, but did not rejoin the company. Enl. 13/4/61, at Leesburg; Pvt., Co. H, 8th Regt. Va. Inf. Captured at Gettysburg; exchd. Prom to Sgt., 1864. Paroled 28/2/65. Died 1910. Bur. St John's Cem., Hampton.

INZER John B:. 1838; shoemaker: enl. 22/4/61, at Leesburg; Pvt., Co. C. Present on rolls 10/61-12/64. Oath of Amnesty, 10/5/64, at Alexandria. Died 1911. Bur. Chesnut Grove Cem., Herndon.

KELLY John W.:  b. 1838; stage driver; enl. 23/4/61, at Leesburg; Pvt., Co. C. Det. as brigade teamster, 1864. Reported AWOL to Bureau of Conscription officer, Loudoun Co., 3/3/65. Died 1866. Bur. Union Cem., Leesburg.

LITTELTON Edgar:  b. 1839; clerk; enl. 22/4/61, at Leesburg; Pvt., Co. C. Prom. to Cpl., 1861. Present 12/64, last service record. Died in 1894. Bur. Union Cem., Leesburg.

MURPHY John: b. Ireland; stone cutter; age 27; enl. 22/4/61, at Leesburg; Pvt., Co. C. Apptd. Regtl. Color Cpl., 1/12/61. Captured 30/6/62; exchd. Captured 17/9/62; exchd. Deserted, 1863.

Members of the 1870 Fire Department who served with the 17th Virginia Infantry Company C Loudoun Guards:

STRANSBURY, Jesse J :  b. 22/1/29; jeweler; enl. 27/4/61, at Leesburg; 1st Sgt., Co. C. Prom. to 2nd Lt., 1861. Dropped 28/4/62, at reorganization of the company. Died 19/7/86. Bur. Union Cem., Leesburg.

STEADMAN, James T.: cooper; age 23;  enl. 24/4/61, at Leesburg; Pvt., Loudoun Guard. Rejected 23/5/61, physically unfit for service.

GARNER, Hezekiah: cooper; age 27; enl. 23/4/61, at Leesburg; Pvt., Co. C. Present or accounted for 5/61 to 12/64. Apptd. Cpl., 1/4/64. Captured 31/3/65; sent to Point Lookout. Released after taking oath, 13/6/65. Living, 1898.

HEAD, Benjamin F.: b. 1834; carpenter; enl. 22/4/61, at Leesburg; Pvt., Co. C. Prom. to Cpl., and to Sgt., 1861. Captured 30/6/62, at Frayser's farm; sent to Fort Columbus, N. Y. Harbor; and to Fort Warren, Mass. Released 11/8/62. Took the Oath of Allegiance. Brother of Geo R. Head. Died 1913. Bur. Union Cem., Leesburg.

The following members of the 1872 Fire Department served in other militia units:

HAMMERLY, John W.: enl. 22/4/61, at Leesburg; Pvt., Loudoun Guard. Was sick in Leesburg when company was mustered into service. Never rejoined, and was believed to be unfit for service. Another data base shows John W. Hammerly, b1843 - d1911, as a member of the   35th BN. He may have joined after he recovered from his illness.

ABBOTT, Joseph A.  10/13/1834 - 12/19/1898 8th VA 

BIRKBY, Charles T.  b1841 - d1908 17th VA 

During World War I, many Loudoun County residents were sent to fight in Europe. Unfortunately, the Fire Company does not have sufficient records from that period and we are unable to verify our members service.

On December 7, 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and America entered World War II and Leesburg Fire Company members began leaving for the military soon after. In July 1942, the meeting minutes note that Jack Caviness resigned due to going into the military and RC Wenner resigned due to leave for the army. It was also decided that all new me members will only serve for the duration of the war until the old men return. That September, Matt Pulliam left for the navy and served on a destroyer in the South Pacific. In early 1943, Clark Swain, Curtis Keys, JE (Fritz) Lawrence, Stanley Reed and AB Titus, resigned due to military service. In February, the Company voted to "hold an oyster roast for the boys going into the service." Several kegs of beer were donated by a local grocery store for the big send-off. That May, AB Titus, CS Reed and WR Frye called into service and in October, Cliff Johnson was called up. In January 1945, Joe Grehan left for the Army. After the war, the replacement firemen began to resign as the veterans returned home and rejoined the Fire Company. Letters were sent to all members who resigned expressing regrets that they left and thanking them for years of service that they gave.

Our Company history is still unfinished, so our list of members is incomplete at best. We have not yet begun to research the remaining wars – Korea through Iraq and Afghanistan but we do have a partial list of members who were or are veterans. We would be honored and greatly appreciative if anyone can provide more information regarding past and present members who were in the military so we can recognize their service to our Country. Please help us complete this list!

John Carr Jr., Army, Vietnam

James “Jimmy” Dorsey, Army, Vietnam

John Pumphrey, Navy, Vietnam era

Terry Frye, Army, Vietnam era

J B Anderson, Air Force, Vietnam era

Matt Breeden, Army, Iraq, Afghanistan

Jimmy Bradley, Coast Guard

Jeff McCoy, Marines, Bahrain

Brian Gillingham, Navy

Travis Warner, Marines
Sean Reilly, Army Ranger, Afghanistan
Thomas Trimpey, Marines
Max Walsh, Marines, Africa, Spain
William Sabio, Marines
James Fazekas, Marines
Alan Holmes, Army
John Larregui, Marines