Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/1309

Rh Spencer Vaughan, of Petersburg, who was connected with the Confederate service throughout the war period, was born in Dinwiddie county in 1835, the son of Claiborne and Eliza (Smith) Vaughan. His father, a farmer of that county, was the son of William Vaughan of Welsh descent. At the age of seventeen years Mr. Vaughan came to Petersburg, and finding employment in mercantile pursuits, became a member of the firm of Dickman & Vaughan. In that capacity he was engaged in business at the outbreak of the war. In 1862 he enlisted in Company A of the Ninth Virginia infantry regiment, Armistead's brigade, and was soon detailed on special duty. He was on guard about Petersburg about six months, and subsequently was on duty as a guard of paroled prisoners at Camp Lee. Then being detailed in the quartermaster's department he continued in that capacity until the evacuation of Richmond, when he joined the retreat in charge of a train of one hundred and fifty wagons. He reached Danville with his train and after camping about ten miles beyond that place, returned with three companions, met the Federal forces at Burkeville and surrendered and was paroled. Since the war he has been continuously engaged in business at Petersburg, except two years spent at Christiansburg, and of recent years he has given his attention wholly to the lumber trade. He is a member of A. P. Hill camp, and highly regarded by his comrades. In 1868 he was married to Miss Iwanona A. Simmonds, daughter of Dr. James Simmonds, of Lancaster county, Va. They have six children: Rosa, Daisy, Carrie, Inez, Nellie and James Claiborne.

M. J. Vellines, of the city police force of Norfolk, is a native of Isle of Wight county, born February 6, 1845. He is the son of Abraham Vellines, whose father was a native of France, and his wife, Martha Edwards. He was reared upon the home farm in Isle of Wight county until he had reached the age of sixteen when he enlisted, in the early days of the war, as a private in Company E of the Ninth Virginia infantry. The regiment was assigned to support the heavy artillery at Fort Boykin on the James river, until the evacuation of Norfolk, when it was in camp a few days at Dunn's Hill and then moved to Richmond and on to meet McClellan in the Peninsular campaign. About this time Captain Vellines was confined to the hospital about three weeks with sickness, but was able to rejoin his command just before the second battle of Manassas, in which he participated, as well as at Warrenton Springs, and in all the skirmishes of the campaign followed by the fights at Winchester, Fredericksburg and the march into Pennsylvania. On the third day of the historic encounter at Gettysburg, he shared in the famous charge of Pickett's division, of which his regiment formed a part, and fell wounded. He had the misfortune to be taken by the enemy and imprisoned at David's island, but by exchange in the following November, he was permitted to rejoin his regiment, then in North Carolina. Subsequently he participated in the campaign against Butler, and fought at Drewry's Bluff, where a ball wrecked his cartridge box, but fortunately did him no other damage. After this he participated in the battles of Spottsylvania and Cold Harbor, and after a short time in hospital, engaged in a number of skirmishes at Bermuda Hundred, until his command was relieved