Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/1357

Rh department. He remained at Richmond, working in one of the navy yards, until near the close of the war. When Richmond was evacuated, he joined the forces which were contributed to the army by the navy department and marching with the army on the retreat, joined in the surrender at Appomattox, and was paroled with the heroic remnant under the command of Lee. Returning to Portsmouth he resumed his work, and is now esteemed as one of the worthy citizens of that place who have contributed to the growth and welfare of the city. He is a member of the Masonic order, and a Knight Templar, and is a valued comrade of Stonewall camp, United Confederate Veterans.

William G. Williams, of Orange Court House, Va., whose military career was identified with that of the Fifty-eighth Virginia infantry regiment, was born November 8, 1829, at the town where he now resides. He was educated at the university of Virginia and pursued the study of law at William and Mary college, gaining admittance to practice at the bar in the year 1853. He was subsequently engaged in the practice of this profession at Orange Court House until 1857, when he removed to Richmond and engaged in educational work. In October, 1861, he enlisted in the Confederate service as regimental commissary of the Fifty-eighth Virginia infantry, and continued in this capacity during his service, also for some time acting as brigade commissary of Hoffman's brigade, Early's division. In August, 1864, while gathering cattle in Hampshire county, W. Va., he was captured by a party of Federals, and was sent to Camp Chase, Ohio, where he was detained as a prisoner of war until February, 1865. He was then sent to Richmond and paroled, but before he could be exchanged the war came to an end. He was faithful and efficient in his services and is highly deserving of honorable remembrance by Confederates. With the return of peace he resumed his law practice at Orange Court House, and in 1870 he was elected judge of the county court. After ten years' service in this honored position, he resigned and abandoning his professional work, embarked in the coal trade on the West Virginia rivers, a business which occupied his attention until 1883. He then returned to Orange, and engaged in business until 1895, when he retired from his long, active and prosperous career. In 1897 he was honored by election to the Virginia house of delegates by his native county. Judge Williams was married September 10, 1857, to Miss Roberta Hansbrough, and they have four living children: William Clayton, Lewis B., Bessie C. and James S. Williams.

J. T. Williamson, of Norfolk, a veteran of the "Norfolk Juniors," one of the gallant volunteer organizations that sprang to arms at the call of the State in 1861, was born in Princess Anne county in 1830. His ancestors had for many years resided upon a plantation in Princess Anne county and represented one of the oldest and most worthy families of the State. His father was Abel Williamson, his grandfather Caleb Williamson, a soldier of the war of 1812. His mother was Mollie, daughter of Josiah Williamson, of Princess Anne county. When Mr. Williamson was sixteen years of age he went to Norfolk and was apprenticed to the carpenter's craft, with John W. Whitehurst. Four years later he began work for himself, and in 1859 embarked in business as a contractor, which has been his business since that time, except