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VIRGIXIA BIOGRAPHY
relative and intimate friend, Dishop Meade,
induced him to study for the Protestant
Episcoi)al ministry. However, journalism
soon reclaimed him, and he gave himself
to the duties of co-editorship on the "Rich-
mond Examiner," in which, from 1861 to
1865, he supported the struggle for south-
ern independence with sustained enthusi-
?.--m and ability. Toward the latter part of
the war, in order to iiromote the sale of his
published books, he sailed for England, but,
while on the voyage, was captured by the
United States officials. He was held a pris-
oner in Fort Warren and Fortress Monroe
for eight months, and was then released on
parole. He now established the "Southern
Opinion," and "The Political Pamphlet,"
reither of which continued over two years.
His literary laurels were chiefly won during
the civil war. when he was undoubtedly the
ablest writer in behalf of the Confederacy.
Moreover, his position in this respect was
somewhat unique, for he was a ruthless de-
nunciator of President Davis. The later
}-ears of his life were passed in Xew York
City and Brooklyn. His publications in-
cluded: "Black Diamonds in the Homes
ol the South" (1859: "Letters of a South-
ern Spy in Washington and Elsewhere"
(1861) ; "Southern History of the War"
(1862-66, published in various forms and at
different dates, in Richmond, Xew York and
I^ondon) ; "Observations in the Xorth,
I'-ight Months in Prison, and on Parole"
(1865) ; "The Lost Cause, a New .Southern
History of the War of the Confederates"
(1866) ; "Lee and His Lieutenants" (18671 :
'The Lost Cause Regained" (1868") ; "Life
of Jeflferson Davis, with the Secret History
01 the Southern Confederacy" (1869) ; "The
Virginia Tourist" (1869). He died at
Lynchburg. \'irginia. December 12, 1892.
Mallet, John William, born at Dublin, Ireland, October 10, 1832, son of Robert Mallet and Ccrdelia \\'atson, his wife, his f.-ither a noted civil engineer and member of the Institute of Civil Engineers and a Pellow of tlie Royal Society, also 1 nell known scientific author. John William Mallet enjoyed exceptional opportunities in his youth, both along educational lines and for general enjoyment, and after preparing at a i)rivatc school taught by Rev. J. P. Sargent, entered the University of Dublin, whence he was graduated A. B. in 1853. He then studied ni the University of Gottingen. Germany, which institution awarded him the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Upon the completion of his work at the latter university he came to the Lnited States, re- ceiving an appointqient as chemist to the geological survey of the state of Alabama and commencing his duties in this capacity in January, 1855. He became professor of chemistry in the University of Alabama in the following year, and occupied this chair until i860, when he accepted a professor- ship in the Medical College oi Alabama, at Mobile. Dr. Mallet abandoned his educa- tional work at the outbreak of the war be- tween the states, and on Xoveniber 16, 1861, took a first lieutenants commission in the Confederate States army, becoming aide-de- camp on the staff of Gen. Robert E. Rodes. He rose through the ranks of captain and ma- jor to that of lieutenant-colonel of artillery, the Confederate States government then util- izing his technical and scientific knowledge in the construction and maintenance of ord- nance laboratories at different places in the
