Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/863

Rh by the university of Virginia in 1849, by Jefferson medical college, of Philadelphia, in 1850, and by the Pennsylvania hospital and the Philadelphia obstetrical institute in 1851. His professional work was begun at Petersburg in 1851, and it has since been interrupted only by his public and military services. During this exceptionally long and successful career he has been the recipient of many honors from his professional brethren. He is honorary fellow and ex-president of the Virginia medical association, is a fellow of the Southern surgical and gynecological association, a fellow of the Gynecological society of Boston, a member of the American health association and a member-elect of the Victoria institute of Great Britain. In 1855 Dr. Claiborne was elected to the house of delegates of Virginia, and after one term was elected to the State senate for four years. Before the expiration of this term the ordinance of secession was passed by the convention. When the Fourth battalion of Virginia volunteers, composed of the military companies of the city of Petersburg, left the city on the afternoon of Saturday, April 20, 1861, for Norfolk, Dr. Claiborne accompanied them with the rank of captain. In May following he was promoted surgeon, with the rank of major, and assigned to duty with the Twelfth Virginia regiment, Mahone's brigade. In the same month he was re-elected to the State senate, but he remained with his regiment until December, 1861, when he was ordered by the secretary of war to take his seat in the senate. This order he obeyed, but immediately resigned the civil office, and asked further orders as a surgeon. His regimental place having been filled meantime, he was assigned to the duty of organizing and equipping general hospitals. In June, 1864, when Lee's army occupied Petersburg, Dr. Claiborne was the senior surgeon of the post and was assigned to duty as chief executive officer and chief surgeon of all the military hospitals in Petersburg and vicinity. He was wounded during the siege, but continued on duty and accompanied the army to Appomattox, where he was captured on April 9, 1865, by General Deven's command, one hour before the surrender by General Lee. Since that period he has, in addition to his practice, held the positions of health officer of Petersburg, president of the State board of health and surgeon of the Veteran corps, A. P. Hill camp, and has made many valuable contributions to medical literature, including a well-known work entitled, "Clinical Reports from Private Practice." He was married in 1863 to Sarah J. Alston, who died in 1869. In 1887 he married Miss Anna L. Watson. Seven children are living. His oldest son, John Herbert Claiborne, Jr., is a celebrated specialist in the medical profession, with his home at New York city.

William D. Clark, a native of Virginia and veteran of the Confederacy, who is now prominent in mercantile life at Washington, D. C., was born in Albemarle county in 1840, and was there reared and educated. His father was David H. Clark, a native of Virginia. In April, 1861, he went to Harper's Ferry as a member of the Monticello Guards, and became a member of the Nineteenth Virginia infantry regiment, with which he served at the first battle of Manassas, Yorktown, Williamsburg, Gaines' Mill, Frayser's Farm and Malvern Hill. After the battle of Sharpsburg he was transferred to Captain Massie's battery and shared the fighting of