Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/857

Rh lieutenant, and, being detailed for duty in Powhatan county, remained there until the close of the war, rendering efficiently the service assigned to him. In the spring of 1864 he embraced an opportunity to engage in the fighting for possession of the Richmond & Danville railroad. He was paroled at the surrender in April, 1865, and then returned to his home in Amelia county, where he occupied himself with farming during the succeeding five years. In 1873 he made his home at Richmond and engaged in the real estate business, which he has carried on since that date with considerable success, and has been honorably identified with the development of the city since the war. In his native county and in the city of his adoption he is highly esteemed as a citizen and business man. For four years he has served the city as a member of the board of aldermen. He is a valued member of R. E. Lee camp, No. 1, of Confederate Veterans.

Captain William W. Chamberlaine, of Norfolk, distinguished in the record of Mahone's brigade, and in the artillery of the army of Northern Virginia, was born at Norfolk, October 16, 1836. His father, Richard H. Chamberlaine, born in the same city June 7, 1807, died July 23, 1879, was a banker and influential citizen. George Chamberlaine, father of the latter, a shipbuilder and soldier of the war of 1812, was the son of George Chamberlaine, of Warrick county, a sea captain and lieutenant in the Virginia navy during the Revolution. The subject of this notice was reared at his native city and educated in the Norfolk military academy and Hampden-Sidney college, in early manhood becoming associated with his father as a partner in the banking business. Before the war he was a member, with the rank of first sergeant, of the military organization known as "Company F," which was the largest in numbers in the city and composed of a notable representation of the best families. It was mustered under arms April 19, 1861, and attached as Company G to the Sixth Virginia regiment of infantry. Sergeant Chamberlaine was then promoted first lieutenant. The company was stationed at Craney island until the evacuation, and there being in charge of a battery of heavy guns acquired a proficiency in the artillery service that influenced Lieutenant Chamberlaine's subsequent career, and made possible some important service on the field of Sharpsburg. The company served as sharpshooters at Drewry's bluff in the fight with the Monitor and its consorts, and lost heavily at Malvern Hill and Second Manassas, fighting also in the skirmishes at King's Schoolhouse and Charles City cross-roads. During the Maryland campaign the command shared in the heroic stand made at Crampton's Gap, and in the forced march from Pleasant valley to join Lee at Sharpsburg. The loss of the company had been so great that, on reaching that field, it consisted only of Lieutenants Robertson and Chamberlaine and Private C. W. Hill, and Mahone's entire brigade hardly reached the dignity of a company in numbers. The command was ordered up on the Hagerstown road to the Piper house, and meeting a heavy fire, Lieutenant Chamberlaine was sent to the rear to report the situation. En route he found a six-pounder gun on the Hagerstown road which had been abandoned, and rallying a few men about him, put the gun in position to defend a stone wall at which the retreating troops were put in line. For some time this gun played