Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/827

Rh throughout the entire war, sharing in the operations of Kemper's brigade of Pickett's division, Longstreet's corps. He was born at Portsmouth in 1841, the son of James Brownley, who held the position of quartermaster at the Gosport navy yard and died in 1861. On April 20, 1861, he was mustered into the active service as a member of the Marion Rifles, organized about 1856, which was one of the original companies of the Third regiment. Soon after its enlistment the company was reorganized as the Virginia Riflemen, and Mr. Brownley was elected fourth sergeant, a position from which he was subsequently promoted to first sergeant. He served with the company at Camp Pemberton during 1861, and in March, 1862, crossed the James with his regiment to reinforce General Magruder at Yorktown. They had their first encounter with McClellan at Dam No. 2 and subsequently fought at Williamsburg, Mechanicsville, Gaines' Mill, Cold Harbor and Frayser's Farm. Thence they moved to reinforce Jackson and participated in the defeat of Pope's army at Second Manassas, also taking part in the capture of Harper's Ferry and the battle of Sharpsburg. After the battle of Fredericksburg, in which he fought. Sergeant Brownley accompanied his command in the operations of Pickett's division in North Carolina and the vicinity of Suffolk. During the latter campaign he was severely hurt and was in the hospital at Petersburg several weeks. Rejoining his company, he took part in the Pennsylvania campaign and was in the famous assault of Pickett's division upon the Federal lines on Cemetery hill. On the return to Virginia, after participating in the fight at Bristoe Station, he accompanied Pickett's division to North Carolina and took part in the capture of Plymouth and Little Washington, returning to Petersburg in time to defeat Butler at Drewry's Bluff and join General Lee at Cold Harbor. During the remainder of the war he was with his company in almost continuous fighting on the Petersburg lines. Subsequently he followed the business of carpenter and builder at Norfolk, Portsmouth, Baltimore, Philadelphia and other cities, residing mainly at Portsmouth, where he served eight years as a member of the city council. Since his appointment by President Cleveland as quartermaster in the navy yard he has been twice elected to the council, though disqualified to serve by his government position. He has also served in charge of the construction of the magazines.

Major James W. Bruce, of Danville, Va., was born in Albemarle county, February 9, 1834. He is the son of James K. Bruce, a native of Stafford county, who was the son of Charles Bruce, of Scotch descent and a soldier of the war of 1812. James W. was reared upon his father's farm and afterward engaged in mercantile pursuits until March, 1861, when he entered the military service of the State in the quartermaster's department at Richmond. After the ordinance of secession was adopted he was ordered to report to Col. T. J. Jackson at Harper's Ferry, and he served for several months in that district under Jackson and Gen. J. E. Johnston. Subsequently he continued in the quartermaster's department of Jackson's command and in 1862 was commissioned captain and quartermaster. Later he was promoted major in that branch of the service and assigned to the staff of Gen. J. R. Jones, commanding a brigade of Jackson's old division. After the battle of Spottsylvania Court House he was transferred to the staff of Gen.