Individual Details
Enoch Adkins
(28 Nov 1846 - )
Enoch Adkins was born November 20, 1846 in Wayne County, Virginia to Tillman Crockett Adkins and Surrilda Adkins, farmers in the Millers Fork area. A great-grandson of Hezekiah Adkins, a private in the continental line of the first American Revolution; Enoch was the second of thirteen children. His older brother was Dallas Adkins, and his younger brother, Manville. Fate and timing left the three oldest boys in the path of a revolution that might not divide the Union, but would certainly tear apart their home, friends and relatives.
On September 6, 1862; Enoch enlisted in Spurlock's Company of Ferguson's Batallion (which had once been part of the 167th Virginia Militia defending Wayne County). But the war forced continual change on command and organization. Within a year, Private Enoch Adkins would find that his unit had become Company E of the 16th Virginia Cavalry in General Albert Jenkin's Brigade. Until the summer of 1863, the 16th Virginia had been involved in skirmishes and actions pretty close to home in Wayne, Cabell, and surrounding counties. In May, Jenkins' forces were in Giles County (where Hezekiah had served from) and "were in a strategic location for what Lee had in mind: an invasion of the North." The path Jenkins' Cavalry would take began June 10th at Front Royal, and would later attack Winchester under General Ewell. By July, the 16th Virginia would be in Pennsylvania alongside the brigades of Chambliss, Hampton, and Fitz Lee under Stuart. At Gettysburg, the cavalry battle would climax at Rummel Farm when the forces of Custer, Janeway, and McIntosh fought the Confederates to an apparrent stalemate, since both sides "held roughly the same ground that they had when the morning's fighting had begun." Elsewhere on the battlefield, Pickett's Charge had not been so lucky and the cavalry was called to shield the retreat of Lee's army.
After many skirmishes on the way back to Virginia, a new year and another reorganization found the 16th Virginia back on its home ground. Wayne Court House, as the town that had once been Trout's Hill was now called, would be the scene of alot of minor action on the way to Droop Mountain. Enoch Adkins, however, would not be with his comrades for that last battle in Pocahontas County come November, for on February 15, 1864 at Laurel Creek not far from his home, Enoch and forty of his comrades would be captured when US Colonel Gallup and 275 soldiers of the 14th Kentucky Infantry "completely surprised the camp of the 16th Virginia cavalry." He was sent to POW camps at MacLean Barracks in Cincinnatti; Louisville, Kentucky; and finally Fort Delaware where he remained until February 25, 1865. Records show him to be light complected with hazel eyes and brown hair; 5'9" tall. He returned to Wayne County after taking the oath of allegience.
Following the war he married Margaret Adkins (1850-1878) and had two children, Hurston and Tennessee. After being widowed, he married F.A. Porter, and had two more children; Marietta and Maryland. He is also said to have taken a third wife, Adeline Ross. At age 69, he was listed on the Camp Garnett UCV rosters of 1913-1914. Date of death and final resting place are still under investigation.
On September 6, 1862; Enoch enlisted in Spurlock's Company of Ferguson's Batallion (which had once been part of the 167th Virginia Militia defending Wayne County). But the war forced continual change on command and organization. Within a year, Private Enoch Adkins would find that his unit had become Company E of the 16th Virginia Cavalry in General Albert Jenkin's Brigade. Until the summer of 1863, the 16th Virginia had been involved in skirmishes and actions pretty close to home in Wayne, Cabell, and surrounding counties. In May, Jenkins' forces were in Giles County (where Hezekiah had served from) and "were in a strategic location for what Lee had in mind: an invasion of the North." The path Jenkins' Cavalry would take began June 10th at Front Royal, and would later attack Winchester under General Ewell. By July, the 16th Virginia would be in Pennsylvania alongside the brigades of Chambliss, Hampton, and Fitz Lee under Stuart. At Gettysburg, the cavalry battle would climax at Rummel Farm when the forces of Custer, Janeway, and McIntosh fought the Confederates to an apparrent stalemate, since both sides "held roughly the same ground that they had when the morning's fighting had begun." Elsewhere on the battlefield, Pickett's Charge had not been so lucky and the cavalry was called to shield the retreat of Lee's army.
After many skirmishes on the way back to Virginia, a new year and another reorganization found the 16th Virginia back on its home ground. Wayne Court House, as the town that had once been Trout's Hill was now called, would be the scene of alot of minor action on the way to Droop Mountain. Enoch Adkins, however, would not be with his comrades for that last battle in Pocahontas County come November, for on February 15, 1864 at Laurel Creek not far from his home, Enoch and forty of his comrades would be captured when US Colonel Gallup and 275 soldiers of the 14th Kentucky Infantry "completely surprised the camp of the 16th Virginia cavalry." He was sent to POW camps at MacLean Barracks in Cincinnatti; Louisville, Kentucky; and finally Fort Delaware where he remained until February 25, 1865. Records show him to be light complected with hazel eyes and brown hair; 5'9" tall. He returned to Wayne County after taking the oath of allegience.
Following the war he married Margaret Adkins (1850-1878) and had two children, Hurston and Tennessee. After being widowed, he married F.A. Porter, and had two more children; Marietta and Maryland. He is also said to have taken a third wife, Adeline Ross. At age 69, he was listed on the Camp Garnett UCV rosters of 1913-1914. Date of death and final resting place are still under investigation.
Events
| Birth | 28 Nov 1846 | Wayne County, Virginia |  | ||
| Marriage | Adeline Ross | ||||
| Marriage | F. A. Porter | ||||
| Marriage | Margaret Adkins |
Families
| Spouse | Margaret Adkins (1850 - 1878) |
| Child | Hurston Adkins |
| Child | Tennessee Adkins |
| Spouse | F. A. Porter |
| Child | Marietta Adkins |
| Child | Maryland Adkins |
| Spouse | Adeline Ross |
| Father | Tillman Crockett Adkins (1822 - ) |
| Mother | Surrilda Adkins (1824 - ) |
| Sibling | Dallas Adkins (1845 - 1899) |
| Sibling | Emanuel "Mann" Adkins (1848 - ) |
| Sibling | Naomi "Oma" Adkins (1850 - ) |
| Sibling | George Martin Adkins (1852 - ) |
| Sibling | Emaline Adkins (1852 - 1929) |
| Sibling | Alderson Adkins (1854 - ) |
| Sibling | Hurston Adkins (1855 - 1857) |
| Sibling | Helena Parazade Adkins (1857 - ) |
| Sibling | Emily Adkins (1857 - ) |
| Sibling | General Lee "Hound" Adkins (1858 - ) |
| Sibling | Perry Martin Adkins (1859 - 1944) |
| Sibling | Elizabeth "Lizzie" Adkins (1860 - ) |
Endnotes
1. Ronnie Adkins, "Adkins Land of York to Beech Fork" (3540 South Georgetown Drive Montgomery, AL 36109-2232; (334)-272-3813; ronmar@knology.net), Page 127.