Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 4.djvu/840

800 time wounded at Crampton’s Gap. After the evacuation of Richmond he was captured on the retreat to Appomattox, and sent to Hart s island, Long Island sound, where he was held as a prisoner until July, 1865 Since the close of hostilities he has been active in the pursuits of peace, and has prospered in the occupation of a contractor. By his marriage to Ella Brockett, of Portsmouth, in 1872, he has five children living: Mary L., William B., James E., Robert P., and Linwood. Mr Wilkins is a descendant of an old colonial family. His grandfather, Willis Wilkins, was an officer in the continental army. Lieutenant Bailey P. Williamson, of Raleigh, one of the survivors of the Roanoke island battle, entered the service in April, 1861, from his native county of Mecklenburg, as a private in the cavalry company of Capt. T. F. Goode. After about six months service with this command he was elected first lieutenant of a company of infantry, organized in his home county, and commanded by Capt. R. C. Overbey, which was assigned to the Second North Carolina battalion, Col. Wharton J Green He participated in various skirmishes on the Virginia peninsula with the cavalry, and was with the forces which defended Roanoke island from the assaults of the Federal fleet and army in February, 1862. The Second battalion reached Roanoke island February 8th, after the fight was practically lost, but had a brisk encounter with the enemy before they were surrendered Upon being exchanged, in August, 1862, he rejoined his battalion, but was soon detailed at Raleigh for the manufacture of ordnance stores, etc. Occasionally he was called from this employment for field service. He has had a successful business career since the close of the war, has served three years as chairman of the county board of commissioners, aiding in the inauguration of the new road system, and since 1894 has been president of the Raleigh gas company.

Lieutenant Charles R. Wilson, of Durham, a gallant soldier of the Fifty-sixth regiment, Gen. M. W. Ransom’s brigade, Bushrod Johnson s division, was born in Orange county, March 24, 1838, a son of John W. Wilson and a descendant of one of the colonial families. He was