Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/925

Rh county, Va., the son of Buckner D. Ezell, a worthy descendant of one of the oldest families of the State. He was educated at Atlanta, Ga., and professionally at Jefferson medical college, Philadelphia, and the medical department of the university of Virginia, being graduated by the former institution in 1861. In March, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Neblett's heavy artillery. Smith's battalion, which was stationed on the Richmond and Petersburg lines during the war. Soon after his enlistment he was promoted to lieutenant. For some time he was in command of a battery at Drewry's bluff and at Howlett's bluff, and was for a long time engaged in constant artillery fighting. After the evacuation of Richmond he participated in the battle at Sailor's Creek, and was among the many who were captured at that place. For six weeks afterward he was confined in a dungeon at the Old Capitol prison, and thence was transferred to Johnson's island, where he was held until July, 1865. On his return home he resumed the practice of his profession, in which he has since continued. He is widely known as a skillful and successful physician, and is also prominent in his community by reason of his large land holdings and manufacturing interests. He was married, in 1880, to Eva, daughter of Josiah Gregg, of Texas, a kinswoman of the well-known Bishop Gregg and Gen. John Gregg, who fell at Petersburg. They have one child living, Gregg Ezell, born in 1881.

Charles Falger, of Wytheville, a veteran of the Salem artillery, is a native of Prussia, born January 28, 1828. He came to America in 18S4, and was first at Salem on November 3 of that year, where he found employment with Col. A. Hupp. The latter organized the Salem "Flying Artillery," in March, 1861, and Mr. Falger became a member of the company, which was known throughout the war as the Salem artillery or Hupp's battery. The command was first on duty at Craney island, below Norfolk, where, about a year after his enlistment, he was selected as one of the guncrew of the famous ironclad MerrimacVirginia: there was no "ironclad Merrimac." [sic]. He served, as loader of the second gun, in the fight of March 8, when the invincible Confederate ironclad destroyed the United States frigates Congress and Cumberland. Cronin, an English gunner, put the first shot into the doomed Congress, whose brave crew went down, fighting to the last. Falger was also in the fight with the Monitor next day and remained with the MerrimacVirginia [sic] until after it was destroyed. He participated in the gallant fight against the Federal fleet from Drewry's bluff and then returned to his battery, with which he served during the remainder of the war. His battery, with the Second and Third Richmond Howitzers, the Rockbridge and the Powhatan artillery, formed the battalion of Col. J. Thompson Brown, later commanded by Colonel Hardaway, and, during 1862, was in the reserve artillery commanded by General Pendleton. Afterward, in the command of Colonel Crutchfield, it was attached to the Second army corps and fought to the end under Ewell and Gordon. It rendered valuable services on many occasions, including the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and Mine Run, and was present at the surrender at Appomattox, after participating in the defense of Richmond and Petersburg, and surviving the perils of retreat.