Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/1229

Rh cavalry under Stuart, Hampton and the Lees in 1864, including the battles of Jack's Shop and Trevilian, and the raid through the Federal lines before Petersburg, capturing 2,500 beef cattle, which were brought in safety to the Confederate army. The Twelfth was one of the regiments of the famous Laurel brigade, led by Ashby, Jones and Rosser, and Professor Rust was one of the men who made its fame. Lieutenant-Colonel Massie, writing of him, says: "It affords me pleasure to state what I know of so gallant a soldier as Prof. Bushrod Rust .   .   .  He was always conspicuously brave and discharged all the duties of a soldier faithfully."

Josiah Ryland, second auditor of the State of Virginia, was born in King and Queen county in 1838. He was reared in his native county and resided there before and after the war until 1884, when he made his home at Richmond and was appointed to a clerkship in the office of the auditor of State. In June, 1892, he was appointed to the office of second auditor, a position in which he has rendered highly satisfactory service. Mr. Ryland was graduated at the Virginia military institute, at Lexington, in 1859, in a class which included Dr. George Ross, now of Richmond, Col. John Lyell, Col. Charles Green, Colonel Wingfield, Col. W. B. Tabb, Colonel Ham, Maj. G. B. Cook, of General Lee's staff, and Col. T. B. Williams. Before the passage of the ordinance of secession Mr. Ryland raised a company in King William county, which was organized and drilled as an artillery company, but on account of the scarcity of guns was sent to Yorktown and placed in charge of a battery at Gloucester point. With this command Mr. Ryland held the rank of first lieutenant, having refused the captaincy in favor of J. R. Bagby, an older man. He acted as drill officer for this company and others for about six months. At the reorganization in 1862, he resigned his rank and enlisted as a private in Lee's Rangers, of Company H of the Ninth Virginia cavalry, with which he served until the close of the war. He participated in the battles of Gaines' Mill, Brandy Station and others, and in the retreat from Richmond and the battle of Appomattox. He was captured at Middleburg, Va., in November, 1862, and was carried to the Old Capitol prison, but was exchanged about a week later. He is a member of both the R. E. Lee and George E. Pickett camps at Richmond.

Major William C. Sanders, of Wytheville, an officer of the Confederate service, was honorably identified with the service of Wythe county soldiers during the war. He was born in that county June 15, 1841, and entered the service in the spring of 1861, as a private in the Wythe Grays, which was assigned to the Fourth infantry regiment, Stonewall brigade. Later he became second lieutenant of a new volunteer company known as the Wythe Minute Men, which was enrolled as Company D, Forty-fifth Virginia regiment, Col. Harry Heth commanding. With this regiment he served in northwest Virginia during 1861. He served as captain of Company D from the reorganization in 1862 until the spring of 1864, when he was promoted to major of the regiment. In this rank he served during the Shenandoah Valley campaign of General Early until in the battle of Piedmont he received a gunshot wound which narrowly missed his heart. While in hospital at Montgomery, White Sulphur Springs, he was