Confederate Military History/Volume 3/Biographical/P

by Clement Anselm Evans

General Richard L. Page, distinguished in the naval and military history of the Confederate States, was born in Clarke county, Va., in 1807. The worthy Virginia family to which he belongs is descended from John Page, an immigrant from England in early days, one of whose descendants, John Page, wedded Jane Byrd of Westover. Their son, Mann Page, was father to William Byrd Page, born at North End, Gloucester county, in 1768, who was a farmer by occupation, and died at Fairfield, Clarke county, in 1812. He married Ann Lee, who was born at Leesylvania, Prince William county, in 1776, and died at Washington, D. C. She was a daughter of Henry Lee, and sister of Gen. Henry Lee, the famous cavalry officer, known as "Light Horse Harry," father of Gen. Robert E. Lee. Another brother, Charles Lee, was attorney-general of the United States in Washington's administration. Richard L. Page, son of William Byrd and Ann Page, became a midshipman in the United States navy March 12, 1824, being first assigned to the sloop-of-war John Adams, of the West Indies squadron, Commodore Porter, making two short cruises. In 1825 he was ordered to the frigate Brandywine to convey General La Fayette to France under Commodore Morris. In the Mediterranean he was transferred to the frigate Constitution. He returned to the United States in 1828 in the Constitution, after which he was ordered to the frigate Constellation, Commodore Wadsworth, and was detached from her at New York to prepare for his examination. From 1830 to 1834 he was attached to the sloop-of-war Concord as passed midshipman and sailing master, which ship, after conveying John Randolph as minister to Russia, joined the squadron in the Mediterranean. March 26, 1834, he

was commissioned lieutenant and ordered to the Enterprise on the Brazil station, was then transferred to the Ontario, afterward served as executive officer of the schooner Enterprise on the East India station, was transferred to the sloop-of-war Peacock, and returned to the United States in her the fall of 1837, having circumnavigated the globe, when he was given two years' leave of absence to visit Europe. Subsequent duty was as ordnance officer in the Norfolk navy yard, then to the frigate Macedonia in the West Indies for two cruises of one year each, with Commodores Wilkinson and Shubrick; next two years at the Norfolk naval rendezvous; then as executive officer of the sloop-of-war Fairfield of the Mediterranean squadron in 1844 and 1845. Returning in the Fairfield to the United States, he was ordered to the receiving battleship Pennsylvania at Norfolk in 1845. He was executive officer, and for two years lieutenant commanding the frigate Independence, flagship of Commodore Shubrick, during the Mexican war. Returning home in 1849, he was ordered on ordnance duty at Norfolk navy yard. In 1852-54, in command of the United States brig Perry, he served with the African squadron, and following that cruise became executive officer at the Norfolk navy yard, and a member of the Retiring board. He was promoted commander September 14, 1855. As assistant inspector of ordnance he remained at Norfolk until the spring of 1857, when he was given command of the sloop-of-war Germantown and attached to the East India squadron, returning to the United States in her in 1859. At the outbreak of the war of the Confederacy he was on duty at Norfolk as ordnance officer, to which he had been recalled a year previous. As soon as Virginia seceded he resigned his rank and office, and was appointed aide-de-camp on the staff of Governor Letcher of Virginia, with special duties in the organization of a State navy. He superintended the erection of the fortifications at the mouth of the James river, and those on the Nansemond river and Pagan creek. On June 10, 1861, he entered the navy of the Confederate States, with a commission as commander. Until the evacuation of Norfolk he served as ordnance officer at the navy yard, and during the actions of the Virginia in Hampton Roads he served as a volunteer in firing the 11-inch gun at Sewell's point against the Federal vessels. With the

	Brig.-Gen. W. H. Payne		Brig.-Gen. C. C. Wharton.
Brig.-Gen. Richard B. Garnett.		Brig.-Gen. John M. Jones.		Brig.-Gen. Robert S. Garnett.
Maj.-Gen. Fitzhugh Lee.		Maj.-Gen. Jas. L. Kemper.		Brig.-Gen. D. B. Harris.
	Brig.-Gen. A. L. Long.		Brig-Gen. Wm. E. Starke.

machinery and mechanics removed from Norfolk at its evacuation, Commander Page, having been promoted to captain, established the ordnance and construction depot at Charlotte, N. C., which he managed with such efficiency that the works became indispensable to the Southern Confederacy. In this important duty he was engaged for about two years, except the period of his assignment to the command of the naval forces at Savannah, and with Commodore Tattnall on the gunboat Savannah at the naval battle of Port Royal. March 1, 1864, he was commissioned brigadier-general in the provisional army and assigned to the command of the outer defenses of Mobile bay. He established his headquarters at Fort Morgan, where, on August 8th, he was summoned to surrender by Farragut's flag lieutenant and General Granger's chief of staff. Although he had but about 400 effective men and twenty-six serviceable guns to oppose 10,000 troops and over 200 guns of the attacking forces, he gallantly replied that he would defend the post to the last extremity. During the succeeding two weeks the enemy was busy advancing his lines on the land side, meantime keeping up a desultory fire day and night, and on the morning of August 22d a furious bombardment began. The heavy guns on Mobile point were trained at a distance of only 250 yards, and the enemy's navy took station at convenient points, the ironclads at close range, and an incessant fire followed. During twelve hours 3,000 shells were thrown into the fort. But General Page and his heroic men kept up the fight with all their power; the citadel of the fort took fire at 9 o'clock at night; the walls of the fort were repeatedly breached, and the best guns disabled. Serving the guns that were left and spiking those dismounted, fighting the fire which was threatening the magazine, and throwing into the cisterns all powder not immediately needed, the garrison fought all night in a storm of shot and shell, until, with no means of defense, they were compelled to capitulate on the following morning, August 23d, with all the honors of war. The defense of Fort Morgan under the command of General Page is one of the most celebrated instances of heroism in the history of the war. After the capitulation, General Page was held as a prisoner of war until September, 1865. Since that date he has resided at Norfolk, where he now enjoys the esteem and honor due his long and distinguished public services. For nearly seven years of this time he served with marked efficiency as superintendent of the public schools of Norfolk. In 1841 he married Miss Alexina Taylor, of Norfolk, Va.

 

Brigadier-General Elisha Franklin Paxton, who fell at Chancellorsville while leading the Stonewall brigade, was a native of Rockbridge county, Va., of Scotch-Irish and English descent. His grandfather, William Paxton, commanded a company from Rockbridge at the siege of Yorktown in 1781. His father, Elisha Paxton, served in the war of 1812. General Paxton was educated and graduated at Washington college, Va., and at Yale college, and in 1849, at the head of his class in the university of Virginia, was graduated in law. This profession he practiced with much success at Lexington until 1860, when failing eyesight compelled him to seek other occupation. He was engaged in farming near Lexington when the political campaign of 1860 was in progress, and his ardent temperament and strong convictions did not permit him to remain an indifferent spectator of the important events of that year. After the election he advocated the immediate secession of Virginia, and when that action was finally decided upon he sustained his words by deeds of self-sacrifice. He was first lieutenant of the Rockbridge rifles, the first of ten companies to go from that county, and left his home April 18, 1861, for Harper's Ferry. His company was attached to the First Virginia brigade, under Gen. Thomas J. Jackson, and at the first battle of Manassas, it formed a part of the Fourth Virginia regiment. In that memorable fight Lieutenant Paxton attracted attention by the conspicuous gallantry which ever afterward distinguished him as a soldier. Subsequently his company was assigned to the Twenty-seventh infantry, of which he was promoted major in October, 1861. In the following spring he became a member of General Jackson's staff, and later was appointed adjutant-general and chief of staff, Jackson's corps, army of Northern Virginia. On September 27, 1862, Jackson, having well tested his courage and ability, manifested great confidence in him by recommending the volunteer soldier for promotion to brigadier-general and assignment to command of the Stonewall brigade. The appointment was made by President Davis, and General Paxton took charge of the brigade November 15, 1862. His letters show that owing to a deep sense of the responsibilities of the rank and a modest estimate of his own qualifications, he accepted the command with much reluctance; but his subsequent record vindicated Jackson's judgment. He commanded the brigade in but two great battles, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. At the former engagement he handled his troops with skill and promptness, and during part of the 13th occupied the front line of the division of General Taliaferro, by whom he was particularly mentioned in official report. On May 2, 1863, during Jackson's flank movement he was stationed to guard an important point, the Germanna junction, from which he was called to the main line the following night, after Jackson had fallen and the command had devolved upon Stuart. Early in the morning of Sunday, May 3d, the attack was renewed with irresistible vigor, and Paxton led his men through the dense woods against the Federal position. Dismounting, he marched on foot in the front line of his brigade until they came within the enemy's fire, when he was instantly killed by a shot through the breast. Dr. R. L. Dabney relates that when the news of General Paxton's death was conveyed to General Jackson, then on his deathbed, the great commander showed much emotion, "and spoke in serious and tender strain of the genius and virtues of that officer." His loss was mentioned with appreciative reference to his ability and courage in the official report of General Lee. At the time of his death he was thirty-five years of age. His remains now lie within a few feet of his chief in Lexington cemetery.

 

Brigadier-General William Henry Fitzhugh Payne, a distinguished cavalry commander of the army of Northern Virginia, was born at Clifton, the homestead of his family in Virginia, January 27, 1830. His family, prominently associated with the history of the Old Dominion, was founded in America by John Payne, who with his brother William came to the colony in 1620. Fourth in descent from John Payne was Capt. William Payne, who was born in 1755 at Wakefield, Westmoreland county, the birthplace of George Washington. He did an extensive business as a merchant at Falmouth and Fredericksburg, served three years in the Continental army, including the battles of Guilford Court House and Yorktown, and died at Clifton in 1837. By his second marriage, to Marian Morson, of Scottish descent, he had one son, Arthur A. M. Payne, born at Clifton in 1804, who was a prominent man, and widely known as a breeder of fine horses, among them Passenger. He married Mary Conway Mason Fitzhugh, daughter of Judge Nicholas Fitzhugh, of the District of Columbia, and granddaughter of Augustine Washington. The eldest of their six children is General Payne, who has well sustained the ancestral reputation of worthy citizenship, and faithful service, both in civil and military life, in the best interests of the community and the commonwealth. After completing his education in the university of Virginia and preparing himself for the practice of law, he formed a partnership for professional work with Samuel Chilton, at Warrenton. In 1856, at the age of twenty-six years, the ability he had demonstrated warranted his election to the office of commonwealth's attorney, which he continued to fill with satisfaction to the public until 1869, except during the period he passed in the military service. He was among the first to answer the call of the State immediately after the passage of the ordinance of secession, and as a private participated in the occupation of Harper's Ferry. Soon after his arrival there he was promoted to a captaincy in the Black Horse cavalry, a rank which he held from April 26th to September 17, 1861, when he was promoted major and assigned to the Fourth Virginia cavalry. With this command he participated in the early operations of the Peninsular campaign. In the battle of May 5th at Williamsburg, Colonel Robertson being sick and Lieutenant-Colonel Wickham having been wounded on the previous day, he commanded the regiment in a fierce fight on the Telegraph road, and received, as stated in General Stuart's report, "a very severe, and I fear, mortal wound in the face." His capture followed and he was held as a prisoner of war two or three months. As soon as exchanged, though not yet fully recovered, he returned to duty early in September, 1862, and being promoted lieutenant-colonel, was assigned to the temporary command of the Second North Carolina regiment of cavalry, with which he held Warrenton, Va., with about 3,000 wounded Confederate soldiers, also capturing a number of Federal prisoners. In November he was ordered into hospital at Lynchburg, but on his application was given command of the troops at that post. In February, 1863, he was able to rejoin the Fourth regiment, and held command, in the absence of Colonel Wickham, until March 20th, when he was again given command of the Second North Carolina. The gallant Col. Sol Williams, the regular commander, returned to his men on June 8th, but on the next day, in the battle of Brandy Station, lost his life, and Payne continued to lead the regiment, and in that capacity took part in Stuart's Pennsylvania raid. When Stuart was confronted by Kilpatrick, Payne with his regiment was thrown against the rear of Farnsworth's brigade at Hanover, Pa. So gallant was the charge that one Federal regiment was scattered, and Kilpatrick's command might have been routed had adequate support been at hand. But here Colonel Payne's horse was killed under him, and he himself, with a severe saber cut in the side, again fell into the hands of the enemy. After a long imprisonment at Johnson's island, Ohio, he was exchanged, and being promoted brigadier-general, commanded a brigade of three cavalry regiments, the Fifth, Sixth and Fifteenth Virginia, in Early's campaign in the Shenandoah valley, including the battles of Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek. He was next transferred to Richmond and remained there during the siege, in the final operations commanding a brigade composed of the Fifth, Sixth and Eighth Virginia cavalry and Thirty-sixth Virginia battalion, in Munford's division. At the battle of Five Forks, April 1st, he was again badly wounded, and was sent to Richmond to rejoin the army. During the evacuation he failed to reach his corps and took refuge near his old home, where he was captured on the night of Lincoln's assassination. Carried into Washington the next day, he narrowly escaped violence at the hands of the populace, blindly enraged by the terrible crime of the night before. He again suffered prison life at Johnson's island, after the actual close of the war. Since the return of peace he has devoted himself to the practice of law, also serving in the legislature of Virginia in the session of 1879-80. He was married in May, 1852, to Mary Elizabeth Winston Payne, daughter of Col. W. Winter Payne, who represented the Sumter district of Alabama in Congress in 1841-48. Ten children were born to this union, of whom eight survive.

 

Major-General John Pegram was born in Virginia, January 24, 1832. He was appointed a cadet from Virginia in the United States military academy, and was graduated in 1854, with promotion to brevet second lieutenant of dragoons. He served on frontier duty, first at Fort Tejou, Cal., and afterward at Fort Riley, Kan., where he was commissioned second lieutenant of dragoons, and at Forts Lookout and Randall, Dak. His duties in the west were relieved for a time in 1857, by assignment as assistant instructor of cavalry. Promoted first lieutenant of the Second dragoons, he became adjutant of that regiment, and resumed his frontier service until 1858, when he was given leave of absence for two years for a tour of Europe. On his return he continued in the United States army until May 10, 1861, when he resigned. He was commissioned captain, corps of cavalry, C. S. A., and was promoted rapidly to higher grades. As lieutenant-colonel he participated in the operations of General Garnett's command about Beverly, W. Va., in the summer of 1861, and when confronted by the Federal forces in overwhelming numbers under McClellan and Rosecrans, Pegram was intrusted by Garnett with the command of one of the two bodies in which he divided his forces. A rear attack by Rosecrans compelled him to withdraw after a gallant fight, from Rich mountain, and two days later he was compelled to surrender with half his command. After his return to the army he was assigned to the staff of General Bragg at Tupelo, Miss., as chief of engineers, July, 1862, and later became chief of staff of Gen. E. Kirby Smith, in command in east Tennessee. In that capacity he participated in the Kentucky campaign and the battle of Richmond, where his services were gratefully recognized in the report of the general commanding. In November he was promoted brigadier-general and assigned to the command of a cavalry brigade of Tennesseeans in Smith's army. With his brigade he participated in the battle of Murfreesboro, and subsequently was upon outpost duty and various active operations until the battle of Chickamauga, where he commanded a division of Forrest's cavalry corps. Subsequently he was transferred to the army of Northern Virginia and the infantry service, being given command of a brigade in Early's division of the Second corps, composed of the Thirteenth, Thirty-first, Forty-ninth, Fifty-second and Fifty-eighth Virginia regiments. With this gallant body of veterans he was in the campaign from the Rapidan to the James, and was particularly distinguished during the second day of the fight in the Wilderness, when his brigade repelled the persistent assaults of the Federals, determined to turn the flank of Ewell's corps. In command of Early's division he took part in the campaign against Sheridan in the Shenandoah valley in the fall of 1864, and after the return of these forces to the Petersburg lines he was promoted major-general and continued in command of the division, a part of Gordon's corps, throughout the winter. On February 6, 1865, he moved from camp to reconnoiter and was attacked by the enemy in heavy force on Hatcher's run. His men were pressed back in spite of a brave resistance until reinforced by the division of C. A. Evans, when the enemy was in turn forced to retire. After meeting a second check the Confederates reformed and charged again, driving the Federals, and in this moment of success General Pegram fell mortally wounded. His death occurred on the same day.

 

Brigadier-General William Nelson Pendleton, of Virginia, like Bishop Polk, of the Western army, entered the service of the Confederacy from the service of the church. He was born at Lexington, Va., December 23, 1809, and was appointed to the United States military academy in 1826, where he formed a close friendship with R. E. Lee and Jefferson Davis. He was graduated in 1830 and began service in the garrison at Augusta, Ga., with the rank of second lieutenant of artillery. Subsequently he served one year as assistant professor of mathematics at West Point, and with the artillery at Fort Hamilton, until 1833, when he resigned and became professor of mathematics in Bristol college, Pa., later becoming connected with the faculty of Delaware college. In 1837 he became a clergyman in the Episcopal church, in which he continued with distinction during the remainder of his life, receiving the degree of doctor of divinity. During the period of 1861-65, however, his talents were given to the defense of Virginia and the Confederacy. He entered the service as captain of a Lexington company, and in a few weeks was commissioned captain, corps of artillery, C. S. A. He served in command of the Rockbridge artillery until a short time before the battle of First Manassas, when he was promoted colonel and made chief of artillery of the army under Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. Arriving on the field of Manassas with Johnston's command, he promptly brought his artillery into action in support of the Confederate left, where the battle was raging the hottest, and rendered effective service. It is told that he paused before his first order to fire to say with solemn reverence, "Lord, have mercy on their souls." From this time he continued in command of the artillery under Johnston, with promotion to the rank of brigadier-general, and after Lee took charge of the army of Northern Virginia, he served under him in the same capacity until the close of the war. Before the Pennsylvania campaign he had given the artillery an excellent organization, and under his direction it rendered telling service in the great artillery duels at Gettysburg. Through the remainder of the struggle he did his duty with devotion, and in the final retreat from Petersburg brought off his guns, making gallant stands against the enemy at Rice's Station and Farmville. During the night of April 8th, part of his command, under General Walker, was captured. On the 9th the artillery took part in a spirited attack upon the enemy, but hostilities were soon arrested, and he, with General Longstreet and General Gordon, represented the Confederate army in arranging the details of the surrender. Meanwhile, General Pendleton had continued to hold his ministerial charge at Lexington, and while on military duty had exercised his spiritual privileges. After the war he resumed his post at Lexington, where General Lee was a vestry-man of his parish. He represented Virginia in the general convention of his church, both before and after the war, and received the degree of doctor of divinity in 1868. His only son, Col. "Sandie" Pendleton, was a member of Stonewall Jackson's staff, and fell mortally wounded at the battle of Winchester, in September, 1864. General Pendleton passed away January 15, 1883.

 

Major-General George Edward Pickett was born at Richmond, Va., January 25, 1825, son of a planter of Henrico county. He was graduated at the United States military academy in the class of 1846, which included George B. McClellan, J. L. Reno, Thomas J. Jackson, George Stoneman, Dabney H. Maury, D. R. Jones, C. M. Wilcox, S. B. Maxey and others who attained prominence in the war of the Confederacy. Going into the war with Mexico he was promoted second lieutenant, Second infantry; was transferred to the Seventh and finally to the Eighth infantry, and participating in all the important engagements of Scott's army, was brevetted first lieutenant for gallantry at Contreras and Churubusco; earned the brevet of captain at Chapultepec, and finally took part in the capture of the Mexican capital. He subsequently served with the Eighth infantry on frontier duty in Texas until 1855, when he was promoted captain Ninth infantry, and given a year's assignment to Fortress Monroe. He was afterward on duty in Washington territory, until the spring of 1861. In 1856 he occupied San Juan island with sixty men, and forbade the landing of British troops, winning the thanks of the territorial legislature for his gallant and firm discharge of duty, and the commendation of General Harney for "cool judgment, ability and gallantry." His loyalty and firmness saved the rights of the United States until the title to the island was confirmed by international arbitration, and "Fort Pickett" guarded one end of the island until the British finally retired. His first commission in the Confederate service was as major of artillery, regular army. On July 23, 1861, as colonel in the provisional army, he was assigned to temporary command on the lower Rappahannock, with headquarters at Fredericksburg, and on February 28, 1862, being promoted to brigadier-general, he was ordered to report to General Longstreet. Commanding a brigade of Longstreet's corps, he won commendation for "using his forces with great effect, ability and his usual gallantry," at Williamsburg. On the second day of the battle of Seven Pines he was particularly distinguished for his good generalship during an attack by Hooker's command. An order to withdraw was received, which was obeyed by the other brigade commanders after the repulse of the first attack; but "Pickett, the true soldier," as Longstreet writes, "knowing that the order was not intended for such an emergency, stood and resisted the attack," holding his ground against odds of ten to one for several hours longer. The enemy attempted to creep up quietly and capture the Virginians, but they met him with a fearful fire that drove him back to the bushes, which ended the battle. At Gaines' Mill, fighting on the right with Longstreet, his brigade broke Porter's line just west of the Watts house, attacking with such vigor as almost to gain possession of the Federal reserve artillery. In this assault Pickett fell severely wounded, and he was for some time absent from his brave command, which under his leadership had won the title of "the gamecock brigade." In October, 1862, he was promoted to major-general and assigned to a division of Longstreet's corps, composed of his old brigade under Garnett, and the brigades of Armistead, Kemper and Corse, all Virginians, and Micah Jenkins' South Carolina brigade. Though there were five or six other Virginia brigades, in other divisions, this was distinctively "the Virginia division" of the army, and comprised all the Virginia brigades in Longstreet's corps except Mahone's. He held the center of the line at Fredericksburg, and after that battle was sent with his division to Richmond, which was supposed to be threatened by the Federal movements. He was reinforced by Hood's division, and General Longstreet, in command, operated against Suffolk. Pickett went into the Gettysburg campaign with three brigades, Garnett's, Kemper's and Armistead's, and Dearing's artillery. He reached the battlefield with his men on the forenoon of the third day of battle, and was selected to make the attack upon the Federal center on Cemetery hill, Heth's division under Pettigrew to form the left of the line, which should be supported by Pender's division under Trimble. The attack was to be made after the enemy's artillery had been weakened by the massed fire of the Confederate artillery, which began at 2 o'clock. After a terrific artillery battle there was a lull in the Federal fire, and the Confederate ammunition being near exhaustion, General Alexander sent a note to Pickett: "For God's sake, come quick. The eighteen guns are gone; come quick, or my ammunition won't let me support you properly." Pickett handed the note to Longstreet, who had strongly objected to the proposed assault with the forces available. To Pickett's question, "General, shall I advance?" Longstreet said nothing, but nodded his head. Pickett then accepted the duty with apparent confidence and "rode gaily to his command," before going into the fight writing on the envelope of a letter to his betrothed: "If Old Pete's nod means death, then good-bye and God bless you, little one." The story of the charge has been often eloquently related. The Federal artillery was supplied with ammunition in time to work havoc in the Confederate ranks—the shattered lines closed up and gained the summit of the ridge and planted the stars and bars in the Federal lines—and disappeared in a tornado of fire. Very few came back unhurt. In September, 1863, Pickett was assigned to command of the department of North Carolina, embracing Petersburg and Southern Virginia. He made a demonstration against New Bern in the latter part of January, 1864. In May he joined Lee on the North Anna, and from that time commanded his old division, Armistead's, Pickett's, Corse's and Kemper's brigades, now under Barton, Hunton, Corse and Terry, until the close of hostilities. On June 16th, Lee arrived at Drewry's bluff with Pickett's division, and witnessed the gallant recapture of the Confederate lines from Butler. He wrote to Longstreet: "We tried very hard to keep Pickett's men from capturing the breastworks of the enemy, but could not do it." He remained before Bermuda Hundred until March, 1865, when he was sent to Lynchburg to oppose Sheridan's raid, and then marched with Longstreet north of Richmond in an attempt to intercept the Federal cavalryman, whom he finally met on March 31st and April 1st at Dinwiddie Court House and Five Forks. In these hard-fought battles Pickett commanded the infantry, Fitzhugh Lee the cavalry, and as Longstreet writes: "His execution was all that a skillful commander could apply. Though taken by surprise, there was no panic in any part of the command. Brigade after brigade changed front to the left and received the overwhelming battle as it rolled on, until crushed back in the next. In generalship, Pickett was not a bit below the 'gay rider.'" Reinforced too late to avoid defeat, he rallied and checked the cavalry pursuit at Amazon creek, preventing worse disaster. Here again, as at Gettysburg, he had been fated to make the decisive fight, with insufficient forces, and the inevitable followed. He marched with his division from Petersburg, escaped from the disaster at Rice's Station with 600 men of his splendid division, and finally was surrendered April 9, 1865, with the last of the army of Northern Virginia. Subsequently he engaged in business at Richmond, but did not survive the first decade following the war, dying at Norfolk, July 30, 1875.

 

Brigadier-General Roger Atkinson Pryor was born near Petersburg, Va., July 19, 1828, and was graduated at Hampden-Sidney college in 1845, the university of Virginia in 1848. Subsequently he prepared for the legal profession, and was admitted to the bar, but relinquished the practice on account of delicate health, and entered journalism. After an association with the Washington Union he became editor of the Richmond Enquirer in 1853, and rapidly attained prominence. In 1855, at the age of twenty-seven years, he was sent to Greece by President Pierce, as special commissioner for the adjustment of certain difficulties with that government. On his return he established a political journal at Richmond, called The South, in which he presented with great vigor the most radical opposition to encroachments upon the local rights and industrial methods of the South. He was elected to Congress in 1859, to fill a vacancy, and was re-elected in 1860. While in Congress his aggressiveness and passionate oratory gave him national prominence, and led to several duels. He took a prominent part in the proceedings of the Charleston Democratic convention in 1860, and after the presidential election ardently advocated the formation of the Southern Confederacy and the union with it of Virginia. Repairing to Charleston, S. C., he became a member of the volunteer staff of General Beauregard, and with his comrade, A. R. Chisholm, accompanied Aide-de-camps James Chestnut and Stephen D. Lee in the visit to Fort Sumter April 12th, notifying Major Anderson that fire would be opened on the fort. Thence they went by boat to Fort Johnson, where Capt. George S. James was ordered to open the fire. James, who was a great admirer of Pryor, offered the honor to him, as General Lee relates, but he replied, with much the same emotion as had characterized Anderson's receipt of the notice of bombardment, "I could not fire the first gun of the war." From their boat midway between Johnson and Sumter, he witnessed the opening of the bombardment. After the flag on Sumter was shot down he was sent with Lee to offer assistance in subduing the fire in the fort, and discovered that Colonel Wigfall had made arrangements for surrender. Soon afterward he was assigned as colonel to the command of the Third Virginia regiment, stationed at Portsmouth and vicinity, and later in the year was elected a member of the First Confederate congress, in which he served with prominence as a member of the military committee. Continuing in military command, he moved his regiment to Yorktown in March, 1862, and engaged in battle at Yorktown and Williamsburg, after which he was promoted brigadier-general. In this rank he participated in the battle of Seven Pines, and was particularly distinguished, his men fighting bravely and with heavy loss, in the victories won at Gaines' Mill and Frayser's Farm. With Longstreet's corps he took part in the second battle of Manassas, and shared the distinction won by Anderson's corps at Harper's Ferry and Sharpsburg. In November General Lee requested Pryor to return to Richmond and organize a brigade to operate south of the James river. He rendered valuable services in that field until his resignation, August 26, 1863. In 1864 he was captured by the United States troops and for a time confined at Fort Lafayette. Upon the close of hostilities he urged a policy of quiet acquiescence in the results of the war, but did not long remain in the South, removing to New York city, and embarking in the practice of law, in which he attained great distinction. The degree of LL. D. was conferred upon him by Hampden-Sidney college.