Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/1364

1278 evacuation he bore dispatches to the companies in charge of pontoon trains on the Staunton river, and was with the trains when news arrived of the capitulation at Appomattox. The pontoon escort then separated with orders to individually join the army in North Carolina, but en route Sergeant Wise was advised by Confederate officers to apply for parole at the nearest Federal post, which he did. Mr. Wise is a member of R. E. Lee camp, No. 3, of Alexandria. He is the author of the history of the Seventeenth Virginia regiment, also of a work entitled, "The Johnny Rebs of the Army of Northern Virginia."

George Douglas Wise, an eminent lawyer of Richmond, Va., who was distinguished alike in the military service of the Confederate States and as a representative, since the war, in the Congress of the United States, was born in Accomack county, Va., in 1833. His father, Tully Wise, also a native of Accomack county, was a prosperous planter, who, though educated for the law, never practiced that profession, but was prominent in politics, sat in the legislature and served as auditor of the treasury department of the United States. At the age of twelve years he accompanied his parents to Washington, D. C., where he held for a time the position of page in the House. He subsequently entered the university of Indiana, where he was graduated in 1853. Then taking up the study of law, he was graduated professionally by William and Mary college in 1857. Returning to Washington he continued his studies and was admitted to the bar, but upon the secession of Virginia he abandoned his professional career and returned to Richmond. Thence he proceeded to Montgomery, Ala., then the capital of the Confederate States, and received from President Davis a commission as lieutenant in the regular army. Reporting to Gen. R. E. Lee at Richmond he was sent to Gen. J. E. Johnston, at Harper's Ferry, and by him assigned to the First Kentucky infantry, with which he served in the Virginia campaigns of the following year. He was then temporarily attached to the command of Gen. H. A. Wise, on the James river, near Drewry's Bluff, where he served until after the Seven Days' battles. The remainder of his military career was in the Western army, upon the staff of Maj.-Gen. Carter L. Stevenson, being promoted from lieutenant to captain and finally to inspector-general of the division. He participated in the Virginia battles of Dranesville and Malvern Hill; in the Vicksburg campaign took part in the fight at Baker's Creek and all the engagements at and around the besieged city, and bore to General Johnston the last dispatches sent out by General Pemberton, leaving Vicksburg June 20, 1863. After this he joined the army besieging Chattanooga, and served in the subsequent engagements of Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Dalton, Crow Valley, and Resaca. At the latter severe action he fell with a gunshot wound that disabled him for about three months. Upon his recovery he found the army under Hood, entering upon the Tennessee campaign, and in this he participated, fighting at Columbia, Franklin, Nashville, and all the actions on the retreat to Columbia, Tenn. At the last he rendered efficient service with the forces gathered under General Johnston, and fought at Bentonville, N. C, March 19-21, 1865, afterward joining in the capitulation at Greensboro. Then returning to Richmond he began the practice of law, and at once rose to prominence at the