Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/749



William Harrison Ackiss, of the Fifteenth Virginia cavalry, was born May 12, 1841, in Princess Anne county, Va. He enlisted in the Princess Anne cavalry in July, 1861, and in January, 1862, was appointed courier for General Mahone. At the evacuation of Norfolk he assisted in spiking the heavy guns, and subsequently as a courier participated in the Seven Days' campaign and the battles of Second Manassas, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. He then returned to his cavalry squadron, now known as Company E, Fifteenth Virginia cavalry regiment, and shared its services until, in the fighting of the Wilderness battles in May, 1864, he was severely wounded. Subsequently he was upon detached duty until the surrender. He was paroled at Norfolk, April 15, 1865. Since then he has resided upon his farm in Princess Anne county. His son, Harrison Seneca Ackiss, clerk of the United States court, for the eastern district of Virginia, was born in that county July 31, 1868, and was graduated at the National business college, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., in 1888. After engaging in business and later in the study of law at Norfolk, he was in April, 1890, appointed deputy clerk of the United States court, in which capacity he served for two years, then receiving from Judge Robert W. Hughes the appointment of clerk of the court. Though but twenty-one years of age when given this responsible position he has performed his duties with such fidelity and capability as to win the commendations of the bar and the public. Meanwhile he has retained a connection with business interests, and as a member of the Light Artillery Blues, takes much interest in military affairs. On November 5, 1893, Mr. Ackiss was married to Lizzie Daughtrey Anderson, daughter of William A. Anderson, of Norfolk, and they have one child—Ella Daughtrey.

James Adams, of Norfolk, a gallant soldier and at the last commander of Company K of the Sixty-first infantry, was born in County Down, Ireland, April 9, 1843, the son of James and Esther (Hawthorne) Adams. His father was a merchant in the native land and passed his life there. When young Adams was fourteen years of age he came to America and after remaining at Chester, Pa., where he went from the city of New York, his landing place, three or four years, removed to Norfolk, where an uncle resided, in the latter part of the year 1860. In the spring of 1862 he entered the military organization known as the Floyd Guards, and was chosen fourth sergeant. This company, under the command of Capt. Maximilian Herbert, was attached to Cahoon's battalion, and served during its first year of duty mainly on picket in the vicinity of Petersburg. In July, 1862, the battalion was disbanded, but Captain Herbert subsequently succeeded in reorganizing his company and