USA > Virginia > Albemarle County > Albemarle County > Memorial history of the John Bowie Strange Camp, United Confederate Veterans, including some account of others who served in the Confederate Armies from Albemarle County > Part 4
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After graduation he went to the city of Norfolk and taught there for a couple of years, organizing a military school and carrying it on with much success. He then came to the county of Albemarle and organized a school at Bloomfield, the old
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Garland place now owned by the estate of J. Tatnall Lea. In his faculty at Bloomfield he had Professor Toy, the great He- braist of Harvard, and L. M. Blackford, afterwards the prin- cipal of the Episcopal High School; also Mr. Tebbs and Mr. English.
He then removed to Charlottesville, and in 1856 started a military school on the Court House Square in a building now demolished. In a short while he moved his school to the far end of Ridge Street and erected a large schoolhouse and out- buildings. Here he conducted a very large and prosperous mili- tary school until the outbreak of the Civil War.
He was elected Colonel of the Nineteenth Virginia Regiment, and re-elected at the reorganization in 1862. He made a superb officer, a fine disciplinarian, of dauntless and almost reckless courage. The Nineteenth under his leadership became noted as one of the most splendid regiments in the Confederate army. He led his men in the battle of Boonesboro, Maryland, and was killed on the 14th day of September, 1862. Colonel Strange was a man of high ability, splendid character and superb courage. One son of Colonel Strange survives him, a resident of Texas.
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL BENNET TAYLOR.
BY THOS. J. RANDOLPH.
Lieutenant-Colonel Bennett Taylor, while not born in Albe- marle County, but in the county of Jefferson, when it was still a part of the Old Dominion, was always identified with its peo- ple, being one of the many descendants of Thomas Jefferson who imbibed that great patriot's beliefs and tenets of freedom and independence. He was a son of the late John C. R. Taylor and Patsy Jefferson Randolph, his wife, the latter being one of the talented daughters of Colonel Jefferson Randolph of Edge- hill, Albemarle County, and Jane Hollins Nicholas, his wife. He was brought up under the same wholesome, enlightened sur- roundings that marked the Virginia gentry of the era that was closed forever by the Civil War.
Bennett Taylor had qualified himself for the practice of the
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law, when the bugle-call to arm in defense of his native State summoned her sons of all classes to enter the ranks of her ar- mies of defense. He enlisted in June, 1861, in a company from Albemarle, Company I, of the famous Nineteenth Virginia In- fantry, being later promoted to the rank of captain. As such he served with gallantry and address during the first two years of the disastrous war, in which the fate of the Confederacy was so uniformly favored by fortune, and the prospects seemed so bright for the winning of that independence and freedom for which his forbears had given their all of talent, thought and property. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel of his regiment just prior to the eventful campaign of Gettys- burg, which was to register the "high-water mark" of his coun- try's hopes.
On those fateful July days in far-off Pennsylvania he proved the mettle of his ancestry and his worthiness to serve at the fore-front of danger with the gallant men who immortalized Southern chivalry and manhood on those serried heights. He was in the midst of Pickett's never-to-be-forgotten charge against Cemetery Ridge on July 3rd, 1863, and in that heroic but fruitless effort was riddled with shot and shell, until his very life was despaired of. But he recovered, in the mercy of Heaven, and lived to finish the brave fight made by his coun- try, serving till the end of the internecine and bloody contest.
Returning after the war to his old Albemarle home, Colonel Taylor lived out his days among his own people, following his profession of attorney-at-law with honor and success, and for several terms being honored by election to the position of Clerk of the Circuit Court.
He was a noble exemplar of the principles of honor, chivalry and unselfish devotion to duty and native land, that made up the crown of glory for Virginia and her people that shall never fade. He departed this life lamented and honored by all who knew him and came within the influence of his manly, upright and unselfish character. He was born on the 15th day of Au- gust, 1836, and died on the 4th day of August, 1898.
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COLONEL CHARLES SCOTT VENABLE.
BY PROF. WM. THORNTON.
The life of Colonel Venable-for under this military title we all knew and spoke of him, except when in love for his high gentlemanhood we called him endearingly Old Ven-Halls easily into three great periods.
COLLEGE STUDENT AND PROFESSOR.
1827-1861.
Born at Longwood, the country home of his family, near Farmville, Virginia, April 19th, 1827, he came of an English stock full of vitality with abounding energy and keen vision of practical affairs. He matriculated in Hampden-Sidney College as a sophomore in 1839, graduated in 1842, and served as tutor in Mathematics until 1845. In the fall of 1845 he entered the University of Virginia for post-graduate study, spending two years there under Courtenay and his colleagues, and later one year at Berlin and Bonn under Encke, Argelander, Lejeune Di- richlet and Dove. He held chairs of Mathematics successively at Hampden-Sidney College (1846-1855) ; at the University of Georgia (1855-1856) ; and at the University of South Carolina (1856-1861).
SOLDIER AND STAFF OFFICER.
1861-1865.
The outbreak of the Civil War found Venable at Columbia, South Carolina, in the very focus of that great political and military movement. He volunteered at once, and as Second Lieutenant of the Congaree Rifles was present at the fall of Fort Sumter (April 13th, 1861). The summer of that year found him in Virginia, fighting as a private at first Manassas (July 21st, 1861) in the South Carolina Governor's Guards, and then patrolling the Potomac as a volunteer aide on the staff of Gen- eral Wade Hampton. Promoted to be Lieutenant of Artillery, he was ordered to Louisiana, and there shared in the ineffectual defense of New Orleans. Later he was under General M. L.
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.
Smith in organizing the fortifications of Vicksburg. During the winter of 1862 the Confederate Congress created the office of "Military Adviser to the President." General Robert E. Lee was selected to fill the position and entered at once upon his du- ties (March 13th, 1862). The staff allowed him was a military secretary with the rank of colonel (Armistead L. Long) and four aides each with the rank of major (Randolph Talcott, Walter H. Taylor, Charles S. Venable and Charles Marshall). Venable was promoted Lieutenant Colonel November 4th, 1864. He served continuously on Lee's staff from 1862 until the sur- render of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox, April 9th, 1865, brought the war to its heroic close.
UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR AND EXECUTIVE.
1865-1900.
The Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia met in August, 1865, and proceeded to reorganize the school upon a peace basis. Colonel Venable was elected Professor of Mathe- matics, and assumed his new duties on October 1st. Thence- · forward his ample training as a geometer and his rare powers of administration were consecrated to the service of the Uni- versity of his native state. Equally eminent as a professor and an executive, beloved and trusted by his colleagues and his stu- dents, wise in council and vigorous in action, he projected his life into the life of the school, and by his leadership largely governed its development. Mainly through his influence and ac- tivity new courses were added in Applied Mathematics, in Ap- plied Chemistry, in Geology, in Natural History and in Prac- tical Astronomy. His efforts were potent in securing the en- dowment funds contributed by the alumni and by Mr. Cor- coran, Mr. Vanderbilt, Mr. Miller, and Mr. McCormick. His old companions in arms heard him gladly, and as members of the State Legislature, voted for larger annuities to the Univer- sity and for modernized plans of educational work. During two periods (1870-1874 and 1886-1888) he served as Chairman of the Faculty, governing earnestly and strictly, yet with such pene- trating and genuine sympathy for the characters and motives of
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young men as to augment and intensify their general love and respect. Only in June, 1896, when thirty rich and crowded years had left their permanent strain on his physical powers, did he ask for release. His last four years were sweetened by the care and affection of an adoring family, by the honour and rever- ence of his troops of friends, by the changeless love of his old students, and by the sacred assurances of a deep and precious religious faith. On August 11th, 1900, with life's earnest and faithful labours nobly ended, he entered into his everlasting rest.
CHARLES C. WERTENBAKER.
BY JOHN S. PATTON.
Charles Christian Wertenbaker was born in Charlottesville in 1835 and died in Waynesboro, Va., April 9th, 1919. He was the son of William Wertenbaker whom Jefferson appointed Li- brarian of the University of Virginia, in which office William Wertenbaker died. His first wife was Mary Ella Poindexter, daughter of the late Dr. James W. Poindexter. The children of that union were: Dr. Charles P. Wertenbaker, who for many years and at the time of his death was a medical expert con- nected with the United States Marine service; Mrs. George M. Saunders of Clermont, South Carolina; Mrs. Henry G. Fergu- son of Waynesboro; and Mrs. Douglas Leftwich, deceased. The second Mrs. Wertenbaker was Fannie Thomas Leftwich. The children of this union were: Dr. William Wertenbaker of Wil- mington, Del .; Colonel L. Wertenbaker, U. S. A .; and Dr. Thomas J. Wertenbaker of Princeton, New Jersey.
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His first military service was as a member of Company A of the Nineteenth Virginia Regiment, known as the Monticello Guard, with which he went to Harper's Ferry in 1859 on ac- count of the John Brown insurrection. He was elected first lieutenant of his company when it entered the Civil War and later was appointed adjutant of his regiment. At the close of the war he returned to Charlottesville and became a manufac- turer of cigars, famous throughout the country for their excel- lence. He was captain of the Monticello Guard for many
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years and until elected colonel of the Third Virginia Regiment of the State militia.
Colonel Wertenbaker was deeply interested in all good social movements and in the work of the Baptist Church, of which he was a devoted member to the end of his life. Few men have had a larger number of attached friends and no one was ever more loyal or generous. He was a typical Virginian, with some of the attractive faults of his class and practically all of the charm that goes to make up the character we have in mind when we use the designation "old Virginia gentleman."
MAJORS.
MAJOR C. H. S. BAXTER.
BY HIS DAUGHTER, MRS. W. G. STRICKLER.
Major C. H. S. Baxter was born in Christiansburg, Mont- gomery County, October 9th, 1839.
He belonged to the Pulaski Guards and at the outbreak of the Civil War was one of the first to enlist in defense of his Country. He entered the war as a private in Company D, Fourth Virginia Infantry, Stonewall Brigade. His devotion to his commander was nothing short of idolatry. He worshipped and revered his name to the day of his death. He was with him in his Valley Campaign, in the First and Second battles of Ma- nassas, at Cedar Mountain, Port Republic, Malvern Hill, Fred- ericksburg, The Wilderness, Harper's Ferry, Winchester, Mid- dletown and Front Royal. He was severely wounded at Cedar Creek, being shot five times. The last time his horse was shot from under him, and in falling crushed his limb, leaving him a cripple for the remainder of his life. At the battle of Monocacy he gave his horse to General John B. Gordon, the latter's horse having been shot from under him. For this act he received, thirty years later, a life-size portrait of General Gordon, and a letter telling of the wonderful courage and devotion of the Southern soldier. He served with great distinction throughout the war, and at its close went to Front Royal, Va., and engaged in the hotel business.
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In 1871 he married Miss V. V. Grant, a near relative of Gen- eral U. S. Grant. He moved to Charlottesville in 1888, and died January 20th, 1917, aged seventy-eight years.
There never lived a braver soldier nor a truer sympathizer, his daily conversation was his beloved South and his thrice loved commander. He has joined him in the great beyond, where there is no more sorrow.
MAJOR WM. N. BERKELEY.
BY F. L. BERKELEY.
William Noland Berkeley, second son of Lewis Berkeley, of Barn Elms, Middlesex County, later of Aldie, Loudoun County, Virginia, and of Frances Callander Noland, his wife, was born at Aldie, February 28th, 1826.
He attended the Episcopal High School and William and Mary College, where he was graduated in 1845, with the de- gree of Bachelor of Arts. After completing the Law course, he passed his examination and was admitted to the bar, but never practiced his profession, devoting himself to the man- agement of his father's business affairs.
Upon the death of his father he inherited the estate at Aldie. He married in 1851, Cynthia White Smith, daughter of Briga- ier-General Thomas A. Smith, U. S. A., by whom he had five children : Lucy Beverley, Cynthia White, Francis Lewis, Mary · Edmonia and Frances Callander, of whom the last mentioned married Rev. H. H. Williams, and now, (1919), lives at "The Grove," in Charlottesville. Francis L. married Ethel Crissey, and now lives on his farm, Rockland, near Red Hill, Albemarle County.
Upon the outbreak of the Civil War, William N. Berkeley was chosen (at the election held for the purpose), Captain of Company C, of the Eighth Virginia Regiment, and his young- est brother, Charles F. Berkeley, First Lieutenant of the same regiment.
This company had been organized sometime before the war and was called "Champe Rifles" (in honor of Sergeant Champe, of Revolutionary fame, and had been commanded by William
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Berkeley's youngest brother, Norborne, who was now promoted to be major of the Eighth, commanded by Colonel Eppa Hunton.
The eldest brother, Edward, had also been chosen captain by his men; and thus the four Berkeley brothers all became offi- cers of that splendid regiment, afterwards known as the "Old Bloody Eighth." In the battle of Gettysburg Captain William Berkeley and two of his brothers, Edward and Norborne, were seriously wounded, and the youngest, Charles, found himself, as the sole surviving officer, in command of sixteen men-all of the gallant Eighth to return from that bloody field.
After the promotion which followed Gettysburg, the officers of the Eighth were: Norborne Berkeley, Colonel; Edward Berkeley, Lieutenant Colonel; William N. Berkeley, Major ; and Charles F. Berkeley, Senior Captain, and it was commonly called "The Berkeley Regiment."
In 1876, Major William N. Berkeley removed to his planta- tion, "Hays," in King William County, and a few years later, to Albemarle County, where he lived until his death in 1907.
MAJOR WILLIAM LYNN COCHRAN.
BY MRS. JOHN M. PRESTON.
Major William Lynn Cochran was born in May, 1838; died September 22nd, 1875. He was the fifth son of John Cochran and Margaret Lynn Lewis, his wife. He was educated in the schools of Albemarle and at the University of Virginia, gradu- ating at the University in both the Academic and Law Depart- ments.
In early youth he was afflicted with "white swelling," which left one leg very much shorter than the other, rendering him unfit for military duty. Being determined to take part in the Confederate service, he entered the Quatermaster's Department, and was commissioned Major. He served during the entire war, being stationed principally in Southwest Virginia with quarters near Dublin.
After the war he settled down to the practice of law in Char- lottesville.
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In 1868, he was elected mayor of the town, which office he held until his death.
He was an active member of the order of Masons, Odd Fel- lows, Knights of Pythias, and of the Monticello Guard.
He never married.
MAJOR JAMES GAVIN FIELD.
BY W. ALLAN PERKINS.
James Gavin Field was born at "Walnut," Culpeper County Virginia, February 24th, 1826, the son of Lewis Yancey and Maria (Duncan). Field, and a descendant of an old English family, his first American ancestors having landed at James- town in 1631.
In his early life he taught school for a short time, and then engaged in the mercantile business at Culpeper under Major Thomas Hill, the father of General Ambrose Powell Hill, C. S. A.
In 1848 he went to Mexico as assistant to Major Henry Hill, chief paymaster of the United States Army in the war with Mexico. At the close of that war he went to California with the army of occupation and while there was chosen secretary of the convention that framed the first constitution of that state in 1850.
In October of the same year he returned to Virginia and com- menced the study of law. He was admitted to the bar in 1852 and continued in active practice until his death. He was Com- monwealth's Attorney for Culpeper County during 1859-61.
At the opening of the war he enlisted in the Culpeper Min- ute Men and accompanied that company to the attack and cap- ture of Harper's Ferry. Soon thereafter he was appointed on the staff of General A. P. Hill, who was then Colonel of the Thirteenth Virginia Regiment, and continued to serve on Gen- eral Hill's staff during the subsequent promotions of the latter, until he became Chief Quartermaster of Hill's corps with the rank of Major, in which position he served until his surrender with General Lee's Army at Appomattox.
Twice he received slight wounds, but at the battle of Slaugh-
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ter's Mountain, August 9th, 1862, he lost a leg. As soon as he was sufficiently recovered he set out for the army, and reached Gettysburg during the third day's fight there. Thereafter he was continually with Hill's corps until Appomattox.
After the close of the war he resumed his law practice at Cul- peper. In 1877 he was appointed by Governor James L. Kem- per Attorney General of the State, to fill the unexpired term of Raleigh T. Daniel, deceased, and at the subsequent election was chosen to fill this office during the term of Governor Holladay.
In 1892 he was nominated by the Omaha Convention as a Peoples Party candidate for vice-president of the United States, on the ticket with James B. Weaver for president, and received twenty-two electoral votes and 1,041,028 popular votes.
His title "General" was acquired from his appointment by Governor Kemper in 1876 to the honorary rank of Major-Gen- eral of Virginia Volunteers (militia), but he always greatly preferred to be addressed as "Major," which title he had earned by active service in the Civil War.
His last years were spent on his farm, "Windsor," in Albe- marle County, where he died on May 12th, 1902. He was buried at Culpeper.
MAJOR HORACE W. JONES.
JUDGE A. D. DABNEY.
Major Horace W. Jones, of the famous Pickett's Division, was born in Fluvanna County, Virginia, July 29th, 1835, of dis- tinguished parentage.
In 1854 he entered the University of Virginia. The next year he began teaching-the career he so long and so well adorned. When the war began he left his teacher's desk for the sterner task, and enlisted as a private in Company D of the famous Albemarle Rifles. His great executive ability and devotion to duty soon earned his commission, and he became regimental and then brigade quartermaster, with the rank of Major, on the staff of General George E. Pickett. In all the engagements of this fighting division, including that immortal charge at
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Gettysburg, Major Jones bore his part well and bravely with his characteristic sublime devotion to duty.
Immediately on laying down his sword at Appomattox, the faithful teacher again took up his book. He started a little school at his farm near Charlottesville. At first there were only six pupils, but as the number increased, he moved into the town, and soon had so large a school as to require help, and he formed a partnership with Mr. W. R. Abbott. Subsequently he moved to Hanover and taught with his equally famous brother, Col- onel Hilleary P. Jones, at the celebrated Hanover Academy. Afterwards "The Major," as he had by then become affection- ately known to all his "boys," returned to Charlottesville and opened the "Jones University School," which he continued with great success until a short while before his death on June 2nd, 1904.
Major Jones left a widow, formerly Miss Sue J. Duke, of that celebrated Albemarle family, and four sons and three daughters.
Few men have left a greater impress for good than Major Jones. Not only did he have the wonderful faculty of impart- ing his great knowledge to hundreds of our young manhood, but better still he left to them the precept of his sternly noble character, molded more perfect by the fires of war for the Lost Cause.
MAJOR ROBERT FRENCH MASON.
BY LACY L. IRVINE.
Major Robert French Mason, son of Maynadier and Vir- ginia (French) Mason, both of whom were members of prom- inent Virginia families, was born at "Clermont," the handsome old estate of his father on Analoston Island, Fairfax County, Virginia. He was a direct descendant of George Mason of Gunston Hall, who was one of the signers of the "Bill of Rights."
The greater part of Major Mason's life after the Civil War, was spent in Charlottesville and in Albemarle County, where he was engaged in various railroad and mining enterprises.
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He married Miss Margaret Kearnes Cooke, of "The Brook," near Rio. To them were born five children: Robert French, George Lee, Maynadier, Virginia (Mrs. Benjamin S. Minor) and Margaret Cook. Surviving are the following, all of whom reside in Washington: Dr. Robert French Mason, George Lee Mason and Mrs. Benjamin S. Minor.
Major Mason possessed the qualities of kindness, generosity and fair dealing, which won for him the highest regard and greatest admiration of a host of friends. As a mere boy he joined the army of the Confederacy, in which he served with dis- tinction for four years as a member of General Fitzhugh Lee's staff. He has to his credit many acts of unusual bravery, and well deserved the name of "Fighting Bob," by which he was known to those with whom he was associated during the war.
MAJOR M. GREEN PEYTON.
BY F. P. DUNNINGTON.
Moses Green Peyton, the son of General Bernard Peyton, of Richmond, Virginia, and Julia Amanda Green, of Culpeper, Virginia, was born July 6th, 1828, at Liberty Hall near Cul- peper. His early life was passed chiefly in Richmond. In 1846 he entered the University, where he received the degrees of A. B. and C. E.
As an engineer he worked under Mr. Wm. Mahone, later General Mahone, in the building of the Norfolk & Western Railroad, and was Chief Engineer at the outbreak of the Civil War.
In the year 1850, he married Martha Champe Carter, daugh- ter of Dr. Charles Carter of Charlottesville, by whom three children, Bernard, Charles and Champe, were born prior to 1861.
At the secession of Virginia, he volunteered and was ap- pointed Lieutenant A. D. C. to Brigadier General R. E. Rhodes. Later he was on the staff of General Rhodes, of General Bryan Grimes and of General John B. Gordon, with whom he was serving at the cessation of hostilities. From the memoirs of General Gordon, we read: "Maj. Peyton was the ranking staff
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officer in the corps, and his fidelity, courage and great efficiency had long been recognized in the field and by the War Depart- ment in Richmond. His never-failing cheerfulness and hope, his words of encouragement and good humor under the most trying circumstances, made him a delightful companion on the march, at the mess, around the campfire, and everywhere."
Throughout the war, he was accompanied by a faithful negro body servant, Humphrey Shelton, who cared for his wants as earnestly after the emancipation as he had while a slave in his master's possession. After the war "Uncle Humphrey" became a trusted servant to the University, where he served faithfully and efficiently for almost fifty years, and was pensioned by the Visitors during the last five years of his life. .
After the surrender, Major Peyton gave assistance to Mr. James Southall in editing "The Weekly Chronicle," a newspa- per in Charlottesville, and in 1868 was elected Proctor and Superintendent of Grounds and Buildings at the University of Virginia, which position he held, with a short interruption, un- til his death in 1897. Quoting from the records of the Visit- ors: "For a period of more than twenty-five years, he was a faithful and trusted officer of the University, giving to the dis- charge of the duties of the office he so ably filled, all the energy and talents with which he was so remarkably endowed."
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