Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/996

930 to the command of the company as captain, serving in the latter rank from the fall of 1863 until the surrender at Appomattox. He participated in the Seven Days' fighting before Richmond in 1862, and during the winter of 1862-63 was on the picket line on the Rappahannock river. In the spring of 1863, with Stuart's command, he encountered Stoneman's cavalry at Culpeper Court House, and on June 9th he participated in the battle between Stuart's and Pleasanton's cavalry corps at Brandy station, one of the greatest and most spirited cavalry fights of the war. Here Capt. Thomas Towson, of his company, was killed and Lieutenant Henry was slightly wounded. Soon afterward he rode with Stuart on the great raid around the Federal army through Westminster, Md., and Hanover and Carlisle barracks. Pa., to Gettysburg, and after the return to Virginia of the army he served with his command on picket duty for some time. During the year 1864 he participated in many engagements, including Spottsylvania Court' House, and took part in the pursuit of the Wilson-Kautz raiders and fights at Sappony church and Reams' station. In action near Petersburg he was seriously wounded and disabled for duty for two months. At Five Forks he participated in that last important battle of the war in Virginia, but with the main part of the cavalry he did not surrender at Appomattox, and was subsequently paroled at Ashland, Va. In 1870 Captain Henry became a citizen of Norfolk, where he has since held a notable position among its people, serving at one time as mayor of the city, and for several years as president of the Business men's association, of which he was one of the organizers. Since 1894 he has held the office of assistant postmaster at Norfolk. At the organization of the order of United Confederate Veterans, he took a prominent part, being one of the charter members of Pickett-Buchanan camp, and its commander for two years, with title of colonel. He also assisted in the formation of the grand camp of Virginia, and during the first year of the existence of the order held the position of aide-de-camp, with the rank of brigadier-general, United Confederate Veterans, upon the staff of the general commanding, John B. Gordon. This title of general is now usually accorded to him in civil life, and is honorably borne. Mr. Henry was married in 1864 to Indiana V. Kilby, of Suffolk, a sister of the late Dr. John T. Kilby, who was a captain in the Confederate army.

William Wirt Henry, of Richmond, was born February 14, 1831, at Red Hill, Charlotte county, Va. His father, John Henry, was the youngest son of the illustrious patriot, Patrick Henry, whose wife was Dorothea Spottswood Dandridge, granddaughter of Gov. Alexander Spottswood. His mother was a granddaughter of Col. William Cabell, prominent as a Revolutionary soldier and statesman. William Wirt Henry, named in honor of the biographer of his grandfather, was educated at the university of Virginia in letters, and in law as a student with Judge Hunter H. Marshall, and was admitted to practice in 1853, settling at Charlotte Court House, Va. In 1854 he was married to Lucy Gray, daughter of Col. James Pulliam Marshall, a soldier of the war of 1812. He was not an advocate of secession in 1860-61, but when Virginia allied herself with the Confederacy he gave the highest proof of loyalty to her interests and those of the entire South by volunteering as a private soldier in an artillery company