Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 3.djvu/16

 6 Camp Jackson, but escaped the same night, and returned to Virginia. There he joined at Norfolk Company A, Twelfth Virginia Regiment and subsequently took part in every engagement of Lee's army, except Sharpsburg. being at that time disabled by a wound received at Second Manassas which disabled him for several months. Promoted to second lieutenant in June, 1861, he was appointed regimental adjutant in May, 1862, on the brigade staff January, 1863, made inspector of Davis' Mississippi brigade, February, 1864, appointed adjutant-general of Weisiger's Virginia brigade, October. 1864, and in this capacity surrendered with Mahone's division at Appomattox in April, 1865.

Returning to his native city, Capt. Cameron was local editor of a small daily paper founded by the late A. M. Keiley, which was suppressed by Gen. Canby. He was then city editor of the Petersburg "Index" until 1872, when the "Norfolk Virginian" was founded and put under his editorial management. The following year he purchased the "Index," became its editor, and continued until 1872, when he became associated with the late Baker P. Lee in editing the "Richmond Enquirer." In the reconstruction times, Capt. Cameron was foremost in advocating the conservative policy which resulted in July, 1869, in the election of Gilbert C. Walker as governor, and the redemption of the state from the carpet-baggers. He became involved in a duel with the late Judge Robert W. Hughes, and was badly wounded. In 1876, he was elected mayor of Petersburg, and was twice re-elected. In 1879, he was one of those Democrats who declared in favor of a readjustment of the state debt, and did strenuous battle for his views in the "Richmond Whig," and on the stump, and in 1880 was a Hancock elector on the Readjuster ticket. In the following year he was nominated for governor by the Readjuster convention, against Maj. John W. Daniel, candidate of the regular Democrats whose platform pledged the state to pay the debt as funded. Capt. Cameron was elected by a substantial majority. After his four years of gubernatorial service, he engaged in the practice of law. In 1892, he was appointed agent for the Columbian Exposition in Chicago, was later appointed a member of the Jury of Awards of Liberal Arts, and still later was selected to prepare a history of that great enterprise. He remained in Chicago until 1894, when he returned to Petersburg. In 1896, he supported Palmer and Buckner against William Jennings Bryan and the proposed free-coinage of silver. In 1901, he was elected without opposition to the constitutional convention of Virginia, and in the convention, he was chairman of the committee on the executive department, and member of the committees on the judiciary and on final revision. He ranked as a polished and forceful speaker, and as a well-informed constitutional lawyer. In 1908 he removed to Norfolk, where for seven years he has been editor of the "Norfolk Virginian." Among the products of his pen are a "History of the World's Fair," (1892); "The Columbian Exposition," (1894); and biographical sketches of Lee, Tyler, Wise, and other distinguished Virginians.

On October 2, 1868, William E. Cameron married Louisa Clarinda Egerton, of Petersburg, Virginia. They have had three children.