[638] take command of the department of East Tennessee. A month later he was transferred to the command of the district of the Gulf. In this region, with, headquarters at Mobile, he continued to serve until the end of the war. During the siege of Atlanta, in command of reserve troops, he operated in defense of the Macon road. In August, 1864, in spite of a gallant struggle, the defenses of Mobile bay were taken, and in March and April, 1865, Maury, with a garrison about 9,000 strong, defended the city against the assaults of Canby's army of 45,000 until, after heavy loss, he retired without molestation to Meridian. But the war was now practically over, and on May 4th, his forces were included in the general capitulation of General Taylor. Subsequently he made his home at Richmond, Va. He has given many valuable contributions to the history of the war period, and in 1868 organized the Southern historical society, the collections of which he opened to the government war records office, securing in return free access to that department by ex-Confederates. In 1878 he was a leader in the movement for the reorganization of the volunteer troops of the nation, and until 1890 served as a member of the executive committee of the National Guard association of the United States. In 1886 he was appointed United States minister to Columbia, a position he held until June 22, 1889. Since then he has been occupied in literary pursuits, being the author of a school history of Virginia, and other works.
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[638] take command of the department of East Tennessee. A month later he was transferred to the command of the district of the Gulf. In this region, with, headquarters at Mobile, he continued to serve until the end of the war. During the siege of Atlanta, in command of reserve troops, he operated in defense of the Macon road. In August, 1864, in spite of a gallant struggle, the defenses of Mobile bay were taken, and in March and April, 1865, Maury, with a garrison about 9,000 strong, defended the city against the assaults of Canby's army of 45,000 until, after heavy loss, he retired without molestation to Meridian. But the war was now practically over, and on May 4th, his forces were included in the general capitulation of General Taylor. Subsequently he made his home at Richmond, Va. He has given many valuable contributions to the history of the war period, and in 1868 organized the Southern historical society, the collections of which he opened to the government war records office, securing in return free access to that department by ex-Confederates. In 1878 he was a leader in the movement for the reorganization of the volunteer troops of the nation, and until 1890 served as a member of the executive committee of the National Guard association of the United States. In 1886 he was appointed United States minister to Columbia, a position he held until June 22, 1889. Since then he has been occupied in literary pursuits, being the author of a school history of Virginia, and other works.
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