Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/1056

990 two thousand men and forty-four guns. After three days and nights of incessant bombardment the assault was made, in which the enemy lost almost as many as the garrison numbered. The columns of Federal marines were driven back with heavy loss, but meanwhile other columns of the enemy gained a foothold in the fort, and after a bloody and desperate struggle, the remnant of the garrison, driven out upon the peninsula, surrendered at 10 o'clock at night. As General Whiting reported, the gallant resistance of Fort Fisher was entirely due to the "untiring energy, dauntless resolution and brilliant courage of Colonel Lamb, devotedly supported by his men." He was desperately wounded, so that he was upon crutches for seven years afterward. While he was a prisoner, his promotion to brigadier-general of artillery was approved by General Lee. After the war he became a merchant and devoted a fortune to the founding of the present importance of Norfolk as an exporting point for cotton. He was a delegate to the Democratic national convention of 1876, in 1877 was at the head of the Conservative State campaign, in 1880 was an elector on the Hancock ticket, in 1881 supported Governor Cameron, and subsequently has been a prominent leader of the Republican party, becoming the head of the organization, and leading the electoral ticket in 1888. He has declined all official honors save that of mayor of Norfolk, to which he was elected in 1880, 1882 and 1884.

Joseph Benjamin Lambert, of Richmond, who has a gallant record as a member of the First Richmond Howitzers in the service of the Confederate States, is a native of that city, born in 1836. In his sixteenth year, in the month of October, 1861, he enlisted in the Howitzers and served faithfully and efficiently until he received severe wounds in the right arm in the battle of Cold Harbor, in 1864, which put an end to his participation in the war. In the list of encounters with the enemy, in which he took part, are the famous names of Leesburg, Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Frayser's Farm, Savage Station, Malvern Hill, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and the Wilderness. After receiving the injuries in battle which have been mentioned, he returned to Richmond, and, when recovered went to New Orleans, where he was engaged until 1874 in the office of the New Orleans Crescent newspaper. Then returning to Richmond, he embarked in the cigar and tobacco retail trade, in which he is yet occupied.

Captain Levin Winder Lane, of Williamsburg, a veteran of Rosser's cavalry, was born in Matthews county, Va., January 6, 1839, the son of John H. and Ann (Ransom) Lane. He was reared upon the home farm, on the shore of Chesapeake bay, and educated at Matthews academy. In 1859 he began farming for himself in James City county, and in 1860, married Miss Mattie Spenser. He became a member of the James City cavalry in April, 1861, first as a private, and the command was assigned as Company H to the Fifth Virginia cavalry regiment, Col. Thomas H. Rosser commanding. Upon the reorganization he was elected a lieutenant, and, in 1863, he was promoted captain. He participated in all the many engagements and campaigns of his regiment and commanded his company in the important battles of the Wilderness, Yellow Tavern, Trevilian's, Winchester and Cedar Creek, besides many cavalry affairs of less note. He was captured at Hanover Court House in May,