Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/1162

1086 departed soldier: "No more devoted spirit than his enlisted in the defense of our beloved South, and none has given more incontestable proof that he lovingly and loyally bore in his heart of hearts the memories of the cause that went down in defeat but not dishonor. An intrepid soldier, a courteous gentleman, a faithful friend, an upright and honored citizen, has met the enemy before whose relentless shaft all must sooner or later succumb." Colonel Otey's six brothers all served in the Confederate army: Lieut. Dexter Otey, who died in 1863; Lieut. Van R. Otey, Second Virginia cavalry, died in 1864; Capt. Gaston Otey, of the Otey battery, wounded and died in 1863; Capt. W. H. Otey, adjutant Fifty-sixth regiment, subsequently captain of ordnance; Col. John M. Otey, who served on the staffs of Generals Beauregard, Bragg and Johnston throughout the entire war; and Maj. Peter J. Otey, of whom mention is elsewhere made. A brother-in-law, Maj. John Stewart Walker, organized and equipped the Richmond Life Guards, and in command of the Fifteenth infantry was killed at Malvern Hill. The mother of these seven heroic sons, Mrs. Lucy (Norvell) Otey, organized and managed the Ladies' Confederate hospital at Lynchburg, which reported directly to the surgeon-general and was famous throughout the Confederacy.

Major Peter J. Otey, of Lynchburg, representative in the United States Congress of the Sixth Virginia district, and formerly a distinguished soldier of the army of the Confederate States, was born at Lynchburg, December 22, 1840. He was educated at the Virginia military institute, and during the operations of John Brown at Harper's Ferry in 1859, served with a company of cadets in defense of the State from the attempted insurrection. He was graduated July 1, 1860, and entered upon a career as a civil engineer, finding employment at first under the distinguished Claudius Crozet, upon the Virginia & Kentucky railroad. He was thus engaged when, in April, 1861, the State of Virginia decided to cast her lot with the Confederate States, and promptly enlisted in the military service as a member of the Fifty-first Virginia regiment of infantry. With this gallant command he served, until promoted to major of the Thirtieth Virginia battalion, with which he remained throughout the war. He was under the command of Gen. John B. Floyd, and operated in the Kanawha valley, southwest Virginia, in the summer and fall of 1861, participating in the successful engagement at Carnifix Ferry. Major Otey participated in the campaign in Kentucky and Tennessee as assistant adjutant-general to Gen. John B. Floyd, which culminated at Shiloh. He was with the garrison at Fort Donelson, but with the major part of Floyd's division, escaped before the surrender, after being actively engaged with the enemy. Subsequently returning to the army of Northern Virginia and receiving his commission as major, he participated in the Loring campaign in the Kanawha valley, subsequently in east Tennessee under Longstreet and then with Breckinridge's division in the campaign against Sigel in the valley of Virginia, participating in the battle of New Market, May 15th, when he was wounded in the right arm, and in the defense of Lynchburg against the attack by Hunter. At the famous battle of Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864, he commanded Wharton's brigade, and shared in the honors that during the onset of the fight were achieved by the Confederate forces.