Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/973

Rh my regiment, and by his dash and gallantry made some thirty men of Battery M, Second U. S. artillery, surrender to him, with their arms and four caissons, before the support arrived. In the attack on Wilson's raiders, near Reams' Station, on June 28th, he led two others in a charge on a party of eleven of the enemy, headed by Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis of the Third New Jersey cavalry, and two other officers, pressing them so hotly as to cause them to abandon their horses and equipment and seek safety in the bushes. The horses, equipment, etc., of the party were secured by him and brought safely off. During the battles around Richmond, in 1862, he captured the colonel of the Fourth New York infantry and three other officers, all armed cap-a-pie. He was wounded at Shepherdstown and was particularly distinguished at Todd's Tavern, Trevilian's and Nance's Shop." This gallant trooper was also wounded at Warrenton and at Todd's Tavern, and while at home on a brief furlough in 1863, was captured near Salem by General Averell, but, fortunately, made his escape the same night. After Appomattox he was paroled at Lynchburg, where his regiment was disbanded. He then took up the study of law at Salem, was admitted to the bar in 1867, and since then has held a prominent place in the legal profession. He maintains his office at Roanoke and also an office and his residence at Bedford City. In 1880-81 he served in the legislature as a representative of Bedford county, and in 1886 was nominated by the Democratic party to succeed John W. Daniel as representative in Congress after the latter had been elected to the United States Senate.

Colonel George K. Griggs, of Danville, a gallant veteran, who has for nearly twenty years been prominently associated with the management of the Danville & Western railroad, was born in Henry county, Va., September 12, 1839. He is the son of Wesley Griggs, of English descent, and his wife, Susan King, whose mother was Susan Martin, daughter of Gen, Joseph Martin, a famous pioneer and Indian fighter of colonial times. He was educated at the Virginia military institute and was engaged in business when, in April, 1861, Virginia called out her loyal sons to do battle. He entered the service as captain of Company K, Thirty-eighth Virginia infantry, was promoted major July 3, 1863, lieutenant-colonel November 15, 1863, and colonel May 16, 1864. He participated in numerous engagements, among them Williamsburg, Seven Pines (where he was painfully wounded by a ball grazing his forehead), the Seven Days' campaign, including Malvern Hill, Harper's Ferry, Sharpsburg (where he was again slightly wounded), Fredericksburg, the operations about Suffolk, and Gettysburg (where he was shot through the right thigh and disabled for three months). His next battle was at Drewry's Bluff, where he was severely wounded. Major Griggs had taken command on Col. Joseph R. Cabell having been mortally wounded. With his regiment he maintained an advanced position on the Bermuda Hundred line during the greater part of the siege. Here he received a fourth wound, a severe one in the left thigh, which disabled him for several weeks. Subsequently he fought with Pickett at Five Forks and Sailor's Creek, and was surrendered at Appomattox. After the close of hostilities he was variously engaged until 1881, when he became secretary and treasurer of the