Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/1044

978 N. B. Webster at Portsmouth, and subsequently the academy of W. R. Gait, where he remained over two years. But it was difficult for Virginia youth at that period to confine their attention to text books, and, on the 8th of March, 1862, the day of the memorable encounter between the Virginia and Monitor, he left school to enter the Confederate service. Joining the Chesapeake cavalry on April 1, 1862, he led the adventurous life of a trooper throughout the remainder of the war, being promoted to sergeant and on occasions commanding his company. He was in the battles of Gaines' Mill, the Seven Days' before Richmond, Culpeper Court House, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House, Brandy Station, where he was wounded by a saber cut on the right hand, Beaver Dam Station, Luray, Winchester and Cedar Creek, Dumfries, Reams' Station, Raccoon Ford, Stevensburg, Trevilian's, Lacy's Spring, participated in Stuart's celebrated raid around the army of Burnside, and was with Stuart at Yellow Tavern, and bore a message from him, shortly before he was killed, to Col. Henry Clay Pate. For a short time Sergeant Keeling served as courier for Gen. Fitzhugh Lee. At the Blackwater river he had a curious experience, being nearly buried alive in a little engagement with Federal gunboats. Stationed on the river bank with five comrades, to observe the Federal movements, they saw three gunboats coming up the river, and with youthful ardor resolved to intrench and open fire on the craft with double barreled shotguns. Unfortunately they made their trench cave-like at one end, and when driven to this bomb-proof by the active fire of the enemy, their shelter collapsed under the cannonade, and it was with difficulty that Keeling and one of his comrades were extricated. They had the satisfaction of learning later, however, that their action had resulted seriously to the Federal forces, five being killed and several wounded. The war over, Mr. Keeling studied law for three years under Alexander Cook of Princess Anne county, and being admitted to the bar in 1868, actively engaged in the practice of his profession in 1872. On June 18, 1875, his success had been so marked that he was appointed judge of the county court of Princess Anne by Gov. James L. Kemper. In this position he was continued by legislative election in the fall of 1875, and again in 1879, 1885 and 1891. After continuous service upon the bench for twenty-one years he resigned in 1896, and removed to Norfolk, to resume the practice of the profession as a member of the bar. His reputation as a judge and wealth of legal acquirements have given him immediate success in this field of work. Judge Keeling is a past district deputy grand master in the Masonic order and maintains a membership in the Pickett-Buchanan camp, of United Confederate Veterans, besides other fraternal connections. He was married very happily in November, 1876, to Miss Annie Whiddon Shepherd, of Princess Anne county.

Captain Kosciusko Kemper, a prominent citizen and ex-mayor of Alexandria, was born at Warrenton, Va., June 18, 1835. He was reared and educated in Virginia, and married in 1859. Having qualified himself for the profession of teaching, he went to Beaufort, S. C., in 1861, to take charge of a female seminary, but soon entered the service of the Confederate States. He was appointed by Governor Pickens first lieutenant of the First South Carolina