Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/1318

1238 on the return from Gettysburg, and report the situation to him. It was a hazardous undertaking, but Private Warfield obeyed the order cheerfully, and in doing so was compelled to ford the Shenandoah river. He met General Pickett two or three miles further on the road, and a brigade was immediately sent under the command of Major Cabell, its senior ofHcer, to the relief of the gallant Seventeenth. They reached that command just before sundown, and the combined forces succeeded in driving the enemy several miles. The importance of Private Warfield's action will be realized when it is understood that the arrival of these reinforcements and the subsequent repulse of the enemy undoubtedly not only saved the Seventeenth regiment from disaster, but also prevented the capture of General Lee's supply train. Mr. Warfield was present at the surrender of Lee at Appomattox, received his parole April 10, 1865, and returned to his home at Alexandria. In company with an intimate friend and comrade, William J. Hall, he soon afterward engaged in the drug business, in which he has ever since continued, the firm of Warfield & Hall being one of the leading and reliable establishments of the city. Mr. Warfield is married and is the father of two sons, both promising young men; Edgar, Jr., being engaged in the drug business, and George E. as bookkeeper in the First national bank of Alexandria. Mr. Warfield is an officer of Robert E. Lee camp. No. 2, and is a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, his father also having fought in the Seventeenth. He is prominent in the Masonic fraternity, being a past master of Andrew Jackson lodge. No. 120; past commander of Old Dominion commandery, K. T., No. II, and past district deputy grand master of district No. I. Mr. Warfield has never sought political honors, but his worth and efficiency have been recognized and he is now a member of the Virginia State board of pharmacy. The estimate of his character may be summarized by saying that he is an excellent type of Southern manhood, the class of men who left their homes and loved ones in the days that "tried men's souls," and went to the field of battle in defense of home and a righteous principle—in short, a type of the best blood of the South.

Major James H. Warner, whose devoted service in the cause of the Confederate States is deserving here of special notice, was born in the year 1827. Soon after his birth his parents moved to Ohio, whence he returned to his native State, and from there entered the United States navy. He served with the rank of chief engineer for several years previous to the war, at the time of the outbreak of which he was attached to the U. S. steamer Richmond, in the Mediterranean, as chief engineer. He was loyal to his State, and resigned his commission. Reporting at Richmond for duty he was appointed a chief engineer in the Confederate States navy, and first assigned to duty at the Pensacola navy yard. A few months later his remarkable executive ability was recognized by appointment to take charge of the naval iron works at Columbus, Ga., the largest shipbuilding plant operated by the government. Here he remained until the invasion by Sherman's army, when all the employes of the works were formed in a battalion under his command, with the rank of major. In this capacity Major Warner served until the close of hostilities. On account