[
573]
Biographical
[
574]
[
575]
Major-Generals and brigadier-generals, provisional army of the Confederate States, Accredited to Virginia.
Brigadier-General Joseph Reid Anderson, of
Virginia, was a graduate of the United States military academy, class of 1836.
He was appointed to a lieutenancy in the Third artillery.
He served for a time as assistant engineer in the engineer bureau at
Washington, and on July I, 1837, was transferred to the corps of engineers as brevet second lieutenant.
In this line of duty he assisted in the building of
Fort Pulaski, at the entrance of the
Savannah river.
He resigned his commission September 30, 1837, to accept the position of assistant engineer of the
State of Virginia; was chief engineer of the
Valley turnpike company, 1838-41, and subsequently, until the outbreak of war, was head of the firm of
Joseph R. Anderson & Co., proprietors of the Tredegar iron works and cannon foundry at
Richmond.
Entering the Confederate army, he was commissioned brigadier-general in September, 1861, and was assigned to command of the Confederate forces at
Wilmington, N. C. Early in the spring of 1862, he was called to
Virginia, and on April 25, 1862, he was ordered with his brigade to the vicinity of
Fredericksburg, where
General Field was then stationed, and instructed by
General Lee to assume command in that quarter, attack the enemy or confine his field of operations.
Fredericksburg was occupied by
McDowell's Federal troops, and
Anderson commanded the
Confederate force confronting him during the
Peninsula operations under
Johnston.
He was then assigned to a new division formed under
A. P. Hill, and in command of the Third brigade of
Hill's light infantry, he participated in the battles of
Mechanicsville,
Gaines' Mill and Frayser's Farm.
In the latter he was particularly distinguished in the gallant action of his
Georgia brigade, and was seriously wounded.
He resigned July 19, 1862.
Subsequently he gave his attention to the management of the Tredegar iron works.
His death occurred at the
Isle of Shoals, N. H., September 7, 1892.
[
576]
Brigadier-General Lewis Addison Armistead was born at
New Bern, N. C., February 18, 1817, a son of
Gen. Walker Keith Armistead, who, with four brothers, served in the war of 1812.
He was appointed a cadet in the United States military academy in 1834, and on July 10, 1839, he became second .lieutenant in the Sixth United States infantry.
In March, 1844, he was promoted first lieutenant, and in this rank entered the war with
Mexico, in which he was distinguished, receiving the brevet rank of captain for gallantry at
Contreras and
Churubusco, and brevet major for his services at Molino del
Rey. He continued in the army until the beginning of the
Confederate war, serving for some time against the Indians on the border, and being promoted captain in 1855.
He was given the rank of major,
Confederate States army, to date from March 16, 1861, and later in the same year became colonel of the Fifty-seventh Virginia regiment, which he commanded in the neighborhood of
Suffolk and in the defense of the
Blackwater in the following winter.
April 1, 1862, he was promoted brigadier-general, and in this rank he was assigned to the command of a brigade in the division of
Benjamin Huger.
At
Seven Pines, on the first day, he was distinguished for personal bravery, making a heroic stand with a small part of his men against an entire brigade of the enemy until reinforced by
Pickett.
On June 25th, he was stationed about 5 miles from
Richmond, between York River railroad and the
Williamsburg road, where he was engaged in continual skirmishing until the advance to
Malvern hill.
In this latter battle he was ordered by
General Lee to ‘charge with a yell’ upon the enemy's position, after the action of the artillery had been shown to be effective.
‘After bringing on the action in the most gallant manner by repulsing an attack of a heavy body of the enemy's skirmishers,’
General Magruder reported, ‘he skillfully lent support to the contending troops’ in front of his position.
After this campaign he was identified with the excellent record of
R. H. Anderson's and
Pickett's divisions, commanding a brigade consisting of the Ninth, Fourteenth, Thirty-eighth, Fifty-third and Fifty-seventh Virginia regiments.
On September 6th, at the outset of the
Maryland campaign, he was assigned to the duty of provost marshalgeneral of the army, considered by
General Lee at that
[
577]
juncture of the greatest importance, and in that capacity he brought up the rear of the army as it advanced.
He participated in operations of
General McLaws against
Harper's Ferry, and after the retreat was left at
Shepherdstown to guard the ford.
He continued with
Pickett's division throughout its subsequent duty.
Reaching the battlefield of
Gettysburg on the 3d of July, he formed his men in the second line of assault against
Cemetery hill. ‘Conspicuous to all, 50 yards in advance of his brigade, waving his hat in the air,
General Armistead led his men upon the enemy with a steady bearing which inspired all with enthusiasm and courage.
Far in advance of all, he led the attack till he scaled the works of the enemy and fell wounded in their hands, but not until he had driven them from their position and seen his colors planted over their fortifications.’
This was the testimony of
Colonel Aylett, who succeeded to the immediate command of the remnant of the brigade that was led into action.
General Lee wrote in his report, ‘
Brigadier-Generals Armistead,
Barksdale,
Garnett and
Semmes died as they had lived, discharging the highest duties of patriots with devotion that never faltered and courage that shrank from no danger.’
Brigadier-General Turner Ashby, a hero of the
South whose memory is cherished with peculiar tenderness by the people of the Shenandoah valley, was born at
Rose Hill,
Fauquier county, in 1824.
He was a grandson of
Capt. John Ashby, of the revolutionary war. At the time of
John Brown's raid he was captain of a volunteer cavalry company, which he led to the scene of trouble.
On the 16th of April, 1861, he was at
Richmond, with other bold spirits, and took part in the planning of the capture of
Harper's Ferry.
The next morning, the day of the passage of the ordinance of secession, he went to his home to call out his cavalry company.
His brief career from that time was of the most romantic nature, and he speedily became the idol of the volunteer troopers who rallied at
Harper's Ferry in April and May, to recruit
Jackson's forces.
He was assigned to command of the
Confederate post at
Point of Rocks, where his activity and alertness were of great value.
In June he was in command of a troop of
Col. Eppa Hunton's regiment, but obtained permission to rejoin his own regiment,
[
578]
Col. Angus McDonald's legion, and
McDonald recommended him to promotion as lieutenant-colonel, speaking of him at this early date, June 25th, as ‘already known as one of the best partisan leaders in the service.’
Meanwhile
