Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/1020

954 county, and granddaughter of Robert Rutherford, a member of Congress. She is a distant relative of the late Judge L. Q. C. Lamar. Major Humphreys was born in Jefferson county, now a part of West Virginia, May 2, 1832, received his education from tutors, and on account of delicate health traveled much in youth, spending one winter on the island of Cuba. In 1850 he accompanied a brother-in-law on the overland journey to California, driving a herd of a thousand horses, mules and cattle. Six months after starting and after many encounters with hostile Indians they safely reached the coast, and thence returned by way of Nicaragua and Cuba, arriving home in 1853. He then engaged in the development of some land in his native county until the first call to arms, when he enlisted as a private in Company G of the Second Virginia infantry, under Col. Thomas J. Jackson. The one hundred and ten men of his company were mainly spirited young Southerners who were unaccustomed to hardships, but Jackson soon made veterans of them, and under such training of chivalrous natures it is not surprising that sixty-nine of the company afterward rose to considerable station in the rank of the army. First stationed at Harper's Ferry, the regiment moved with Jackson's brigade to Manassas, and there formed part of the "stone wall" which stood so firmly that McDowell could neither batter it down with artillery nor run over it with infantry. It is conceded that the great Confederate victory of July 21, 1861, was made possible by the stand which Jackson's men made at a critical hour. After this affair and while camped at Centreville, Major Humphreys was severely injured during drill, and disabled several months, and meanwhile General Jackson received orders to move to Winchester and in presence of his brigade was christened "Stonewall," and the men were complimented for their bravery by the war department. During this disability he received his discharge, and returned home until the spring of 1862, when he enlisted as a private in Company B, Captain Wingfield, of the Seventh Virginia cavalry, under General Ashby. He was immediately appointed orderly-sergeant and soon afterward third lieutenant, and at the battle of Jack's Shop, when the captain was killed, he was promoted captain over his ranking lieutenants. At one of the battles at Brandy Station his saber-plate intercepted a bullet and saved his life, though he was disabled some time by the wound that was received. Again, on the Rappahannock, receiving permission to cross the river on a cold, dark night, to capture some of the enemy's horses, he and his detail waded the river and advanced on hands and knees, when a sentry was aroused and a bullet struck Humphreys and apparently killed him. Carried back by his men the cold water of the river revived him. and it was found that a button and a knot in his belt had diverted the deadly force of the missile. On recovering from this injury he was attached to General Stuart's cavalry command, and participated in the subsequent movements of that body during the campaigns of Second Manassas and Gettysburg, and in all their actions up to the battles of the Wilderness. There, in command of the first squadron of the Seventh regiment, of Rosser's or the "Laurel" brigade, Captain Humphreys charged the Veedersville road and drove the enemy steadily until about 4 p. m., when they encountered a regiment and battery intrenched which suddenly delivered a volley which cut his command to