Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/1268

1188 beach from Ocean View to Sewell's Point, was disbanded. He then re-enlisted as captain of the Jackson Grays, and on March 8, 1862, commanded the rifle battery at Sewell's Point in the naval battle in which the Virginia participated, and on May 8th was engaged with the United States fleet. After the evacuation of Norfolk his command was assigned as Company A to the Sixty-first Virginia infantry, of which he was promoted major at the reorganization, and lieutenant-colonel two years later. He participated in all the important engagements of his command, including the fights at the Rappahannock bridge, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Brandy Station, Mine Run, the Wilderness, Shady Grove, Spottsylvania, commanded the brigade picket line at Hagerstown following Gettysburg, and after his promotion to lieutenant-colonel commanded his regiment until the close of the war, in the battles of North Anna River, Hanover Court House, Atlee's Station, Cold Harbor, Turkey Ridge, Wilcox's Farm, Gurley House, Reams' Station, the Crater, Davis' Farm, Burgess' Mill, Hatcher's Run, Amelia Court House, and finally surrendered at Appomattox Court House. He escaped with two wounds, received at Chancellorsville and Spottsylvania. After the war he resumed the practice of law at Portsmouth, and held the offices of commonwealth attorney and commissioner in chancery. He was also prominently connected with the journalism of the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth. He is the author of an exceedingly graphic account of the desperate battle of the Crater, in which he was a distinguished participant.

Major Robert Stiles, of Richmond, a veteran of the artillery of the army of Northern Virginia, was born in Woodford, Ky., in 1836. Entering Yale college, he was graduated there in 1857, and then embarked upon the profession of law. Becoming a resident of Richmond in the spring of 1861, he enlisted in the Richmond Howitzers immediately after the battle of Manassas of 1861, and served with that command until after Chancellorsville. He was then transferred to the engineer corps, with the rank of second lieutenant, in which capacity he served, in General Early's command, until after the battle of Gettysburg, when he rejoined the artillery as adjutant of Cabell's battalion. In the spring of 1863 he was promoted major of artillery and assigned to duty at Chaffee's bluff, where he served with gallantry and efficiency until the retreat, when he was assigned to command, and was among the forces compelled to capitulate at Sailor's Creek. As a prisoner of war he was sent to Johnson's island, Ohio, and subsequently to Fort Lafayette, and refusing to take the oath, was held until October, 1865. His military service with the army of Northern Virginia included all its battles except the Second Manassas and Sharpsburg, and was distinguished by bravery and devotion. Since the close of the war period he has been engaged in legal practice at Richmond.

Putnam Stith, well known at Norfolk as the manager and superintendent of the Virginia club, was born in Nottoway county, June 22, 1840. He is the son of Putnam Stith, a planter, and directly descended from the founder of the Stith family in Virginia, who was a member of the Jamestown colony in the days of Capt. John Smith. One of his colonial ancestors was the author of the famous "Stith" history of Virginia, now valued so highly