Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 35.
Reverend J. William Jones, Ed.

In Memoriam.

Richard L. Maury,
Ex-Member of the Executive Committee and Life Member.
Wilfred E. Cutshaw,
Member of the Executive Committee.

Since the last meeting of the Executive Committee of the Southern Historical Society, it has lost by death two of its highly valued members, who not only in signal service in the field, in the Army of the Confederate States, but in enkindling reverence for the just cause since, have commended themselves by their example, not alone to us, but world-wide to those who hold truth and fidelity in regard.

Richard Launcelot Maury, Colonel Confederate States Army, born in Fredericksburg, Va., in 1842; died at Richmond, Va., October 14, 1907; son of Commodore Matthew Fontaine Maury, the ‘Pathfinder of the Seas,’ and by double line of that fugitive Huguenot band of exiles for conscience sake, whose influence is so marked in families of their extraction—he promptly gave allegiance to the South, enlisting in ‘F’ Company, of Richmond, Va.; promoted to the rank of lieutenant, he was assigned to the C. S. Navy, and for daring service therein was further promoted to the rank of major of the 24th Virginia Infantry, and surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse with the rank of colonel. Since the war he has been a successful practitioner of law at Richmond, Va. [372]

Wilfred E. Cutshaw, Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery Confederate States Army; born at Harper's Ferry, W. Va., January 25, 1838; died at Richmond, Va., December 19, 1907; of sturdy Scotch and steadfast English blood—his mother being Martha J. Moxley, born in Alexandria, and who died at the age of ninety-two years.

He served with conspicuous valor and efficiency in the C. S. Artillery, losing a leg and receiving other wounds. In September, 1866, he was appointed Assistant Professor of Mathematics in the Virginia Military Institute, a post once held by Major, subsequently, General T. J. Jackson.

In the fall of 1873 he was elected City Engineer of Richmond, Va., and among his recommendations filed was a letter from General Robert E. Lee, in which he pays high tribute to the character, efficiency and attainments of our lamented associate. The admirable work achieved by this ‘man of ideals’ in his thirty-four years of service in building up our beautiful city, is manifest at every point.

Resolved, That in the death of these, our so useful and influential associates, the society experiences a distinct loss, and we feel that their places may scarcely be filled by others animated with greater zeal and constancy.