Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/1002

936 of that year. His record embraces participation in the early action at the Great Falls of the Potomac, the first battle of Manassas, picket fights at Mason's and Munson's hills before Washington, an engagement with gunboats at Aquia creek, skirmish at Fredericksburg in 1862, the battles of Mechanicsville (where he was wounded in the leg and disabled for the rest of the Peninsular campaign), Cedar Mountain, Warrenton Springs, Second Manassas, Harper's Ferry (where he was again wounded), Sharpsburg, Snicker's Gap, Fredericksburg, Va., Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Hanover Junction, Yellow Tavern (where he was a third time wounded), the campaign against Hunter in the valley, in 1864, Monocacy, Newtown, Gunpowder Bridge, Beltsville, Md., Fort Stevens (before Washington), Rockville, Md., the raid upon and burning of Chambersburg, Pa., demonstration against Cumberland, Md., capture of ironclad train and blockhouse at St. John's Run, and the disastrous surprise by Averell's cavalry at Moorefield, W. Va., in August, 1864. Here he was captured and thence taken to Camp Chase, Ohio, where he was imprisoned until March, 1865. Upon being exchanged he attempted to join Johnston's army, but this being impossible he surrendered at Appomattox. On returning to Washington, he was arrested and confined at Alexandria for three weeks, though he had a parole in his pocket. Since the restoration of peace he has continued to reside at Washington.

Colonel F. W. M. Holliday was before the war one of the most prominent lawyers of Winchester, Va. When Virginia gallantly took her stand against the coercion of sovereign States he promptly laid aside the robes of peace and girded on the sword for the defense of the rights and honor of Virginia. He entered the Thirty-third Virginia as captain of one of the companies. At the First Manassas began his military career, which was peculiarly heroic. In the Valley campaign of 1862 he was among the most valiant of the officers of that little army which, led by the peerless Stonewall Jackson, shed such luster over the Southern cause. During that time he was promoted to the rank of major, in which capacity he served during the Seven Days of battle at Richmond. General Winder, in his report of Gaines' Mill and Malvern Hill, speaks as follows: "Colonel Neff and Maj. F. W. M. Holliday, Thirty-third regiment, and Lieutenants Howard and Garnett of my staff, particularly attracted my admiration by their coolness and untiring efforts to keep the men in their position. Their escape from injury is truly providential." At Cedar mountain, in the front of the battle, he was severely wounded in the arm and amputation was necessary. At the Second Manassas the gallant Colonel Neff lost his life. Major Holliday was then appointed colonel of the regiment and, as soon as his wound was sufficiently healed, he was again at the post of duty. With the same courage that had always distinguished him, he led his men through the great battles in Virginia and Pennsylvania and, in the spring of 1864, was still ready to risk life in defense of the Southern cause. Through the campaign of that year he passed unscathed and was in the service until the death of the young Confederacy at Appomattox. After the war he resumed the practice of law and took a prominent part in the political affairs of his State until he reached the proud position of governor of Virginia.