Our forces fit for service, all told, did not amount to over 300. They consisted of a skeleton of one troop of cavalry - Capt Sheets - a part of Col. Monroe's Brigade of Hampshire militia, Capt. Sibert's 8th Star Artillery from New Market, (2 guns) and a part of Col. Mann Spitler's Regiment of Page, Shenandoah and Rockingham militia, under Lt. O. I. Buswell - these whole forces forming Col. Monroe's Brigade and amounting, in all, as before stated, to not over 300 effective men.

The enemy, amounting to at least 7,000 men, on Tuesday the 6th inst, came upon this small band of soldiers, guarding this mountain pass .... The enemy mortally wounded the gallant Capt Aleshire, of Page, killed outright Thomas Loyd of Shenandoah, and shot down at his gun and post of duty, a brave-hearted Irishman belong ton to the gallant 8th Star Artillery.

It is believed that Thomas spelled his name "Loyd" and this is how it appears on his marriage bond. His oldest son, John Harrison Loyd, also used this spelling. The rest of his children used "Lloyd" as the spelling of their surname. In the 1860 census, Thomas is listed as a "Master Blacksmith." Thomas is buried at Solomon's Church Cemetery near Forestville and there is very little information about his life and his record in the Civil War, other than the fact that he was killed at the Battle of Hanging Rock.

Ruth Reedy has been researching Thomas Lloyd for many years. If you have information that might be useful to Ruth, please contact her.

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