Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/997

Rh commanded by Capt. Charles Bruce. He served with this battery on the coast of Georgia and North Carolina until the reorganization of the army, when he was honorably discharged, being attorney for the commonwealth of his county. Subsequently he contributed in various ways to the cause of the Confederate government until the close of the struggle for Southern independence. Then continuing his law practice, he removed to Richmond in 1873, and speedily gained prominence at the bar of the supreme court. He was tendered, but declined, the appointment of chancellor of the city at the death of Judge Fitzhugh. He represented the city two terms in the house of delegates, and two in the State senate, with prominence as a debater and a wise political leader. Since that service he has not held office, preferring to devote his leisure to literary work. His contributions to historical literature, principally on colonial subjects, are numerous and valuable, the most famous being that monumental work, "The Life, Letters and Correspondence of Patrick Henry." He has served as president of the Virginia historical society and of the American historical association; as a member of the Peabody board, as a commissioner from Virginia to the centennial celebration of the national government, was one of the orators at the centennial celebration of 1876, and delivered the oration at the centennial of the laying of the cornerstone of the Capitol. He is also prominent in the local work and national councils of the Presbyterian church.

Richard L. Herbert, an active and enterprising citizen of Portsmouth, who served from 1894 as postmaster of the city, was born there July 12, 1846, the son of Francis C. and Mary E. Herbert, both natives of the city. He was educated at the Webster institute until he had reached the age of fifteen years, when, in the latter part of 1862, he determined to join the Confederate forces. With two companions, W. C. Nash and W. H. Morris, he made his way through the lines of the Federals, who then held the city, and started for Wilmington, where they hoped to get aboard a blockade runner. But meeting, at Murphy's station, Capt. John R. White, provost marshal, who advised them to go to Richmond and join the Light Artillery Blues or Grimes' battery, they changed their course, and at Richmond fell into the friendly hands of Capt. John H. Thompson. The latter did not favor the wish of the runaway boys to go to the front, but, on account of their youth, secured them positions in the shops at Richmond, where their work would be as important to the success of the cause. Young Herbert was enlisted in Company A of the naval battalion, but throughout the war he continued in the machine department at Richmond, devoted to the production of war material. During this service he became a thorough machinist and engineer, and when he returned to Portsmouth, after his parole in 1865, he readily found employment. He was connected with the Seaboard & Roanoke railroad until 1868 as machinist, and then until 1870 as locomotive engineer. In the latter year he became an engineer in the fire department of the city of Portsmouth, a position he resigned in 1883 to accept that of general superintendent of the electric light and gas company. This post he held for ten years, during which period the first electric light plant in that region was installed and other important improvements made. During all this time he had taken an active part in municipal and political