Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/1027

Rh Jacobs, a Virginian, was born in Orange county in 1815 and died in Madison county in 1890. His mother, Emily Catherine, daughter of James Haney, was born in Spottsylvania county in 1825 and died in 1895. On August 12, 1861, before he had reached his eighteenth birthday, Mr. Jacobs enlisted as a corporal in Company L of the Tenth Virginia regiment. At the end of one year he re-enlisted and was promoted orderly-sergeant, in which rank he served throughout the remainder of the war. His regiment was in the Third brigade of Stonewall Jackson's division until Jackson fell at Chancellorsville, was then in the division of Gen. Edward Johnson until it was shattered at Spottsylvania, and subsequently was assigned to Gordon's division, commanded by Gen. C. A. Evans. Sergeant Jacobs participated in all the engagements of his regiment from McDowell to Appomattox, and on three occasions was slightly wounded. In the official report of the action of the Tenth regiment at Chancellorsville, he is included in a list of fourteen officers and men, nine of whom were killed, who were particularly conspicuous for gallantry and good conduct. For this service he was recommended for the gold medal to be awarded by the Confederate congress, and was chosen for the honor by the unanimous vote of his company. After the surrender at Appomattox, in which he participated, Mr. Jacobs made his home at Norfolk, and found employment with the Virginia railroad, beginning a career in the railroad service which has continued to the present time. For twenty years he was in the service of the Norfolk & Western railroad in various responsible capacities. He is a member of Pickett-Buchanan camp, and holds the office of sergeant-major. He was married September 4, 1872, to Miss Ida Virginia Stevens, of Norfolk, and they have five children living.

Captain Charles F. James, of Danville, Va., was born in Loudoun county, Va., November 13, 1844, son of Robert and Winifred (Simpson) James, natives of the same county. They gave two sons to the Confederate service, the other being Rev. John T. James, of the Methodist church South, now stationed at Staunton, Va. Charles F. was reared on the home farm, and with the preparation obtained in the old field schools entered the Alexandria high school in January, 1861. But this institution was soon closed at the approach of war, and young James returned home and taught school until the following June, when, though under seventeen years of age, he enlisted in a company called the Blue Mountain Boys, afterward known as Company F, Eighth Virginia infantry. He had previously had military experience as member of a company of cavalry called out in 1859 as a guard at the execution of John Brown, and his merits as a soldier soon won him promotion to second lieutenant. After the battle of Gettysburg he was promoted captain of his company, the rank in which he served during the remainder of the war. He participated in the battles of First Manassas, Ball's Bluff, where his regiment earned the title of "The bloody Eighth," Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Gaines' Mill, Frayser's Farm, Second Manassas, Sharpsburg, Drewry's Bluff, Gravelly Run, Sailor's Creek, and numerous minor engagements. He was twice wounded, slightly, at Second Manassas and Gravelly Run, After the close of hostilities he returned home, taught school for a time, studied at Columbian college, Washington, in 1866, and then