Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/998

932 affairs, serving as chairman of the Democratic city committee from 1873 to 1893, holding a seat in the city council two terms, and representing Portsmouth in the legislature in 1887-88. On March 1, 1894, having retired from his previous position on account of failing eyesight, he received from President Cleveland the appointment as postmaster of Portsmouth. In this important station he has been zealous in the interests of the public, and has succeeded in putting the office in the front rank of its class in character of administration and improved conveniences. Mr. Herbert was made a Mason in 1869, is a past master and Knight Templar, and is also a member of the Odd Fellows, Royal Arcanum and Heptasophs. He was married. May 25, 1870, to Mary E. Brown, daughter of Benjamin W. Brown, of Portsmouth, and they have four children: Caldor H., J. Pendleton, Richard Ainsworth and Ethel Brown.

Captain James E. Herrell, a gallant veteran of the Seventeenth Virginia infantry, was born in Fauquier county, Va., March 24, 1843. He was educated in the public schools of Marshall, Va., and in 1857 removed to Prince William county, where the remainder of his youth was spent until the spring of 1861. Then, at the age of eighteen years, he enlisted in the Prince William Rifles, which was mustered into the Confederate service as Company F of the Seventeenth regiment. Enlisting as a private, he was made a first lieutenant at the reorganization and in 1864 was promoted captain, the rank he held at the close of the war. His service in the field embraced the entire war, except a period when he was detailed upon conscript duty, from just subsequent to the Seven Days' battles until after the Maryland campaign. Among the noted engagements in which he participated with his command were Blackburn's Ford, Williamsburg, Manassas Gap, Seven Pines, Frayser's Farm, Fredericksburg, Suffolk, Flat Creek Bridge, Drewry's Bluff, Dinwiddie Court House, Five Forks and Sailor's Creek. After the surrender of the army of Northern Virginia he returned to his home in Prince William county and was engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1888, during several years also acting as magistrate. In 1891 he was appointed to the office of deputy sheriff and discharged the duties of that position with ability until 1893, and was then appointed deputy clerk, an office he has since filled. He is an active member of Ewell camp, United Confederate Veterans, and is its present commander. He is also prominent in the Masonic order. In 1867 he was married to Miss Jane S. Hatton, of Richmond, and they have eight children.

James Christian Hill, who rendered distinguished service, with promotion to the rank of major, in the army of Northern Virginia, and since the war has been prominent in public affairs, was born in Charles City county, Va., in 1831. At the age of six years he was taken by his parents to their new home in New Kent county, where he received his education. Removing to Richmond about 1849 he resided there until 1860, when he came to Albemarle county, which has subsequently been his home. On May 9, 1861, he entered the service in Company E of the Forty-sixth Virginia infantry. Joining the ranks as a private, he was soon afterward promoted captain, and in the latter part of 1863 was promoted major, the rank he held during the remainder of his service. His military record was a gallant one, embracing participation in the