Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/357

 VlR(iXIA BIOGRAPHY

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called out A|)ril 22, 1861, and encamped at Denbys Church in Norfolk county to picket the beach with Doyle's Cavalry from Ocean View to Sewell's Point After a few weeks' active service, its numbers being insufficient for mustering into the Confederate service, it disbanded, and the Jackson Grays were recruited and mustered into the Confederate army, July 12, 1861.

His first service was at Fort Nelson, heavy artillery, Portsmouth, Virginia ; from thence to rifled gun battery at Sewell's Point, Nor- folk county, Virginia. Captain William H. Stewart, Jackson Grays, commanding this battery, was engaged March 8, 1862, with the United States frigate "Minnesota," and with United States fleet bombarding Se- well's Point, May 8, 1862. On the evacu- ation of Norfolk he was ordered to Peters- burg, his company assigned to the Sixty- first Regiment Virginia Infantry, as Com- pany A, and he was elected major of this regiment. He was in the engagement at Rappahannock Railroad Bridge, November 7, 1862; at Fredericksburg, December 11, 12 and 13, 1862; at McCarty's Farm or Chancellorsville, May i, 1863; at Chancel- lorsville. May 2 and 3. 1863 ; at Hagers- town, commanding brigade picket line, July 6 to II, 1863; at Culpeper or Brandy Sta- tion, August I, 1863; at Mine Run, Decem- ber 2, 1863; at Wilderness, May 6, 1864; at Shady Grove, May 8, 1864; at Spottsyl- vania Court House, wounded. May 12, 1864; promoted to lieutenant-colonel ; at North Anna River, commanding regiment, May 21 to 2},, 1864; at Hanover Court House, com- manding regiment, ]\Iay 28 and 29, 1864; at Atlee's Station, commanding regiment, June I, 1864; at Cold Harbor, commanding regi- ment, June I, 2 and 3, 1864; at Turkey Ridge, commanding regiment, skirmishing, June 4 to 13, 1864; at Frazier's Farm, com- manding regiment, skirmishing, June 13, 1864; at Willcox Farm (Petersburg), com- manding regiment, June 22, 1864; at Gurley House, commanding regiment, June 2}^, 1864; at Reams Station, commanding regi- ment, June 2"]. 1864; at Crater, command- ing regiment, July 30, 1864; at Davis' Farm, Petersburg and W. R. R., August 19, 1864; at Reams Station, commanding regiment, August 25, 1864; at Burgess Mill, command- ing regiment, August 29, 1864; at Hicksford, commanding regiment, December 9 and 10, 1864; at Hatcher's Run, commanding regi-

ment, I'eljruary 6, 1865 ; at Petersburg evac- uation ( Ilermuda Hundred line) April i, 1865 ; at Amelia Court House, April 5, 1865; at Cumberland Church, commanding divis- ion. Picket line, April 7, 1865; and surrend- ered at A])pomattox Court House, April 8, 9 and 10, 1865, and paroled.

The war over, he engaged in farming on his father's farm, the elder Stewart dying soon after his son's return from the front, and there remained until 1870, when he moved to Portsmouth, studied law, and was admitted to the bar on October 3, 1871. This city has since been his residence and place of professional practice, and he had not long been there located when, in 1875, he was elected commonwealth attorney of Norfolk county, his first term beginning May 2^, and on May 22, 1879, he was re- elected and entered up a second four years' term. One of the most noted cases that came to trial during his continuance in office was that regarding the property division be- tween the county of Norfolk and the city of Norfolk, which was decided in favor of the county, enabling the supervisors to re- lieve the county citizens of the levy for one year. He was elected member of Virginia Legislature and represented Portsmouth city during session 1903-04; was elected commonwealth's attorney of city of Ports- mouth in 1907 and served one term. Jour-v nalism for a time claimed his attention, and he was Portsmouth city editor of the "Nor- folk Landmark," from its establishment by James Barron Hope, until April i. 1876, also filling the position of editor of the "Daily Times," of Portsmouth, \"irginia, for two years, resigning March 6, 1880. In the pro- motion of street railway enterprises he was prominent, having been vice-president and director of the Portsmouth Street Railway Company, and vice-president and director of the Port-Norfolk Electric Railway from its organization until April, 1897. when he re- signed. Colonel Stewart w^as a member of the Virginia Society, Sons of the American Revolution, a member and past commander of Stonewall Camp. Confederate \'eterans, Portsmouth. \'irginia, and he was grand commander of the Grand Camp of the Con- federate Veterans of \'irginia during 1906 and 1907. He was a vestryman of Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church, and a mem- ber of the board of trustees of the Ports- mouth Orphan Asylum. Colonel Stewart