Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/315

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

-'37

of Colonel and Airs. James Green Martin: I. Frances, hern in 1S20; married George 'l\ Old, who was justice of the peace in Norfolk county, Virginia. 2. Marina, born in 1823; married Nehemiah Dartee Fore- man, a man of great wealth and influence, and a classical scholar, son of^ General Fore- man. 3. James Green, a sketch of whom f(.ll\vs\his. 4. Alary, born in 1832; mar- ried \\'illiam II. Barnes, deputy clerk of Norfolk county for many years, and soldier in the civil war under Colonel Martin's command. 5. George Alexander, of whom further.

(IV) Colonel George Alexander Martin, son of Colonel James Green and Maacah (Foreman) Martin, was born in Norfolk county, Virginia, September 3, 1833. His preparatory studies completed, during the terms of 1856-57 he pursued legal studies in the University of Virginia, and immediately after gaining admission to the bar began active work in his profession, continuing so engaged until the outbreak of the civil war. Enlisting in the Confederate States army at the first call, he organized the first new company of his county, which was called St. Bride's light artillery, of which he was elected to the command in June, 1861. He was subseciuently transferred to the Thirty- eighth \"irginia Regiment, Armistead's bri- gade, Pickett's division, and not long after the battle of Drury's Blufif was commis- sioned lieutenant-colonel. Under General Colson he was engaged in the defense of Lynchburg. After the surrender of Gen- eral Lee, and by order of General Colson, he dismissed his command, but with his stafif went to Charlotte, North Carolina, fol- lowing the fortunes of the Confederacy and its executive, President Davis. There were hundreds of detached officers from general down that had gathered around President Davis, and just before the surrender of Gen- eral Johnson they sought in conference what disposition they should make of themselves. Various schemes were discussed, some wish- ing to fight as guerillas, some wishing to surrender with General Johnson, etc. Colo- nel Martin arose and said that he was origi- nally opposed to the secession of the states on the ground of inexpediency, but since it had come he would remain to the end. That it was said by Warwick that place the em- blem of royalty in a bush and he w^ould fight for it, and that if you should place the

eml)lcm of the Confederacy in any section he would fight for it to the death, and he saw no other emblem of that Confederacy than President Davis and that he would follow his fortunes to the end. He with- drew from the conference, follow^ed by about forty young officers, who sought the presi- dent and offered their services to him as a body guard, which was accepted. Colonel Martin was requested to act as commander of the officers and they were to be armed wath Henry rifles. The first given out was by Burton Harrison, "Aide" of President Davis, to Colonel Alartin, and that rifle, with an inscription on it, is now in the museum at Richmond. (leneral Johnson unexpect- edly surrendered and the company was never fully organized, but Colonel Martin, with his friends. General Lawton and Gen- eral Gilmer, follow^ed President Davis to Washington, Georgia, wdiere the Confed- erate government w^as disbanded. Colonel Martin proceeded alone, westward, trying to reach Mexico, but the attempt to reach the latter place was frustrated at Augusta, Georgia, by the vigilance of General Moli- neaux in command of the city. Colonel Martin surrendered the day before Presi- dent Davis was captured and was given transportation to Old Point Comfort by order of General Molineaux, where he ar- rived about two weeks afterwards. Llis war record is one of distinction, telling of devoted service and unswerving devotion to duty, and is one wdiich, placed by the side of that of his father or of his grandfather, suffers not at all from the comparison, de- spite the glory attached to those heroes of other wars.

The return of peace found Colonel Alar- tin once more engaged in professional prac- tice, New York City the place he chose for his work. He gradually built up a practice both large and influential, and attained ex- cellent reputation at the bar, one case that he won attracting the eulogy of the press of the country. He formed numerous con- nections in New York, along social, profes- sional and business lines, and wdiile a resi- dent of the Metropolis was elected to mem- bership in the Seventh Regiment New York National Guard. Weakened health made advisable residence in a less rigorous clim- ate, and relinquishing his New York prac- tice, he returned to the m.ore favorable con- ditions of his native state. Continuing in legal