Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/1203

Rh John J. A. Powell, of Wytheville, now a prominent lawyer, and distinguished in public affairs, enjoyed the honor, in his youth, of service in two military commands of more than ordinary fame, the cadet corps of the Virginia military institute and Mosby's cavalry. He was born near Yellow Tavern, Henrico county, in 1846, and in 1863 entered the military institute, becoming a member of the cadet corps commanded by Colonel Shipp. In May, 1864, the cadets were called out by General Breckinridge to meet the invasion of the valley by General Sigel, and Powell shared the exhausting march of the boys to New Market, where they met the enemy, and after fighting all day in the mud and rain with the pluck and intrepidity of veterans, had the satisfaction of utterly routing the Federals. After the destruction of the college buildings by Hunter's raiders, he was with the cadets at Richmond, studying and fighting in the trenches, until December, 1864, when he enlisted in Company G, Forty-third Virginia cavalry battalion, Col. John S. Mosby commanding. He participated in the adventurous career of this noted command through the winter of 1864 and spring of 1865, until it was finally disbanded at Salem, Fauquier county, where Private Powell heard the farewell address of the daring commander. With the return of peace Mr. Powell busied himself for some time as a farmer, and then undertook the study of law. Gaining admission to the bar he established himself at Wytheville, where he has had a successful career in his profession. Before removing to that place he was a resident of Fluvanna county, which he represented in the Virginia house of delegates during the regular session of 1885-86, and the special session of 1887.

Lieutenant Robert Simmons Powell, M. D., now a prominent physician and land-owner of Brunswick county, had embarked in the profession of medicine a few years before the outbreak of war, but readily abandoned this to enter the military service of Virginia in her hour of need. He became second lieutenant of the company of Capt. T. B. Robinson, which was assigned as Company G to the Twenty-first regiment Virginia infantry, Col. William Gilham. With this command he served in the West Virginia campaign under Loring in the summer and fall of 1861, and in addition to the duties of his rank, devoted his medical training to the amelioration of the suffering soldiers, who were terribly afflicted with measles and typhoid fever owing to the difficulty of obtaining wholesome food and the incessant cold rains. At Valley mountain, while in command of a guard for the ammunition train, he was himself so exposed to the inclement weather that he succumbed to the prevalent sickness and lay for some time in a hut in the mountains. Gen. R. E. Lee finally came to his bedside, and ordered him carried to Camp Lee, where and at Bath island, he lay for some time in hospital. He then, on the advice of the surgeon, sent in his resignation, and when sufficiently recovered took charge of the sick of his home county, under the war regulations. Two brothers of Dr. Powell were in the service: Charles, of the same company, who was wounded at Chancellorsville and captured at Spottsylvania and held as a prisoner of war at Point Lookout and Elmira; and James W., who enlisted in 1864 at the age of seventeen years and served to the end. Dr. Powell