West Point military academy in 1850, and was graduated in 1854, in the class with J. E. B. Stuart, O. O. Howard, Custis Lee, Fender and Pegram. He served with the Fourth U. S. artillery and held the rank of first-lieutenant and regimental quartermaster when he resigned in 1861. He was appointed a captain in the South Carolina organization, and then commissioned captain in the regular army of the Confederate States and assigned to duty as aide-de-camp to General Beauregard. With Colonel Chestnut, a brother aide, he bore the summons to Major Anderson for the surrender of Fort Sumter, and gave the subsequent notice of the opening of bombardment. After the surrender of Sumter he was called to Virginia in command of the light battery of Hampton s Legion, and there began a career as an artillery officer of the Confederate States army that was active and distinguished and of such prominence as to be recognized by rapid promotion, to major, lieutenant-colonel, colonel, and brigadier-general, November 6, 1862. He served with General Johnston in the Peninsular campaign, and at Seven Pines, and under General R. E. Lee s command at Savage Station and Malvern Hill. At the battle of Second Manassas, in command of the reserve artillery, his participation in the fighting was so gallant, judicious and effective that Pres ident Davis declared: " I have reason to believe at the great conflict on the field of Manassas he (Colonel Lee) served to turn the tide of battle and consummate the victory." Holding the same command at Sharpsburg, he encountered a destructive infantry and artillery fire, and won new honors by his intrepidity and skill. Just after the latter battle General R. E. Lee was asked by President Davis to select his most efficient and accomplished artillery officer for duty on the Mississippi, and Colonel Lee, after being permitted to name his successor as commander of the reserve artillery of the army of Northern Virginia, was ordered to report at Richmond. The situation on the Mississippi river demanded the most
