Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/714

660 of Stores, and in January, 1865, with 300 men, crossed the mountains in deep snow and bitter cold, and surprised and captured two infantry regiments in their works at Beverly, W. Va. Returning to the vicinity of Petersburg in the spring of 1865, he commanded a division of cavalry during the remainder of the struggle, fighting with honor at Five Forks, and at High Bridge, April 6th, defeating and capturing the entire command of General Read, who fell in combat with General Dearing. On April 7th, Rosser captured General Gregg, and rescued a wagon train near Farmville, and in the last hour of battle at Appomattox, a little after daylight April 9, 1865, charged the Federal cavalry and escaped from the fatal field with his command. Under directions from the secretary of war, he began a reorganization of the scattered troops of the army of Northern Virginia, but was made a prisoner about the time of Johnston's surrender. After the return of peace he was for a time superintendent of the National express company under General Johnston, was assistant engineer in the construction of the Pittsburg & Connellsville railroad, and in the spring of 1870 became connected with the construction of the Northern Pacific railroad. Beginning in an humble capacity he became chief engineer of the eastern division in 1871, and built the main part of the road. Later he was chief engineer of the Canadian Pacific, and located and built the road west of Winnipeg. Since 1886 he has resided near Charlottesville, Va.

Brigadier-General Daniel Ruggles, a native of Massachusetts who tendered his services to Virginia at the beginning of the great war, was born January 31, 1810, and was graduated at the United States military academy in the class of 1833. His military service was rendered mainly with the Fifth infantry in the Northwest until the Florida war of 1839-40, in which he participated with the rank of first lieutenant. He was then stationed in Wisconsin and Michigan until 1845, when he took part in the military occupation of Texas. Going into the Mexican war next year, he took part in the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, and won promotion to captain. In 1847 he served at Vera Cruz, San Antonio and Molino del Rey, and was promoted brevet major for gallantry at Contreras and Churubusco, and brevet