Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/865

Rh in 1839, and was graduated at William and Mary college at the age of eighteen years with the degree of A. M. Then embarking upon the study and practice of law, he was admitted to the bar while in the State of Georgia. Returning to Virginia before the crisis of 1861, he entered the Confederate service on April 19th as junior second lieutenant of the Richmond Fayette artillery. Not long afterward he was promoted captain, and he commanded the battery in all its engagements, except three, during the four years' war. The Fayette battery rendered distinguished service on many hard-fought fields, and the history of its service would be that of this subject in the army of Northern Virginia. Among the engagements in which he participated should be mentioned Big Bethel, where he aided in the first of the long series of Federal defeats on Virginia soil, a month's service in the defense of Yorktown, Williamsburg, where in command of his battery he opened the fight, two days at Seven Pines, Mechanicsville, Gaines' Mill, Savage Station, Frayser's Farm, Malvern Hill, Second Manassas, Crampton's Gap, Harper's Ferry, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, then attached to Pickett's division in the siege of Suffolk, where the service of the battery was complimented in general orders, the third day at Gettysburg, Bachelder's Creek, Fort Craig, New Bern, Plymouth (at Forts Gray and Wessel), N. C.; Little Washington, N. C., second attack on New Bern, N. C., three battles at Drewry's bluff under Beauregard, Bermuda Hundred, at Cold Harbor on the first and third days and the general attack at Petersburg on June 15, 16, 17 and 18, 1864. The battery was stationed, under Captain Clopton, at the left of the crater on the Petersburg lines, and participated in the battle following the explosion September 6, 1864, subsequently taking part in the actions at Hatcher's Run and Burgess' Mill, and after a forced night march of forty-two miles, took part in the defense of Fort Harrison, on the north side of the James. Returning to his position on the Petersburg lines, he participated in the action of April 2, 1865, and then being placed on the inner lines, held his position all the next day, unsupported by artillery, against the advance of Grant. After fighting at Sailor's Creek he improved an opportunity to escape from the disaster there with his battery, and rejoining the main army at Farmville, was with Gordon's corps until they reached Appomattox, when he pushed on to Lynchburg and took position on Amherst heights, where he received orders to disband from Gen. Fitzhugh Lee. He was paroled at Ashland, May 2d. After these events he made his home at Manchester, Va., and engaged in the practice of his profession. In 1874 he was elected judge of the city court of Manchester and the county court of Chesterfield, positions he held for six years. In 1886 he was elected county judge of Chesterfield county, where he has gained a wide reputation as a jurist of ability and fairness. He maintains a membership in the Pickett camp of Confederate Veterans at Richmond.

Captain George Moffett Cochran, a prominent lawyer of Staunton, Va., was born in Augusta county, February 26, 1832. His father, George M. Cochran, was an influential citizen, who rendered service to the Confederate cause as a member of the reserve forces at Staunton. His maternal great-grandfather was Col. George Moffett, a hero of the Revolutionary war. Captain Moffett