Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/86

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MRGIXIA P.IOGRAPHY

ginia, where he remained until July of 1863. He was now keener than ever to be "at the front" (as the phrase was then, instead of the modern "on the firing line"), when, by an untoward accident, he broke his bridle- arm badly, and was again condemned to inaction, while his brothers were winning ■■glory" in the field. He felt that he must do something, so he took service for a few months in the ■'Nitre and Mining Bureau." donned his gray uniform and was assigned to dut}' in Tuiaski county. Southwest \'ir- ginia.

In May, 1864, he got leave of absence, inmiediately volunteered with the "Second Com])any, Richmond Howitzers," and took \rdvt in the sanguinary engagement of May 18th at Spottsyhania Court House. On the expiration of his leave, he had, of course, to report for duty to his chief in Pulaski, but his arm was now sound again, and after a few months' time he joyfully took service as a simple trooper in Captain Mountjoy's company of Mosby's command. He had not been in the command a month, when he was shot twice and sent back to ■■Carysbrook." P.ut his wounds soon healed, and back he went to Mosby. and from that time to the very end was to be found riding hard by the bridle-rein of that brilliant partisan of- ficer in all his daring raids and desperate hand-to-hand encounters. No more devoted soldier of "the Lost Cause" ever wore his country's gray. He believed in the right- eousness of that cause with all the passion of his mighty heart, steadfastly counting it worthy all the splendid sacrifices made for it by his people, for in it, and through it, a.-^ he clearly discerned, had been developed to. heroic pitch by fire of battle the noblest virtues that Cod has allowed to mortal man.

Unless forbidden by the imperious de- mands of great interests (in which were in- volved, apart from his own, the interests of others), he never in all the years missed a "Re-union" of Lee's veterans. To any one of these veterans in want, his purse was always open, and the writer of these lines happens to know that when, at last, fortune was lavish of her favors, he gave a trusted comrade, with characteristic i)rodigality, carte blanche to relieve the necessities of every indigent Confederate soldier, or widow of such soldier in his county, instructing him to "draw at sight" for whatever amount he deemed pro]-)tr. This comrade expended

liberally thousands of dollars in this noble l)enefaction, which, it is safe to affirm, is here made known for the first time to even the intimate friends of Mr. Bryan. He made but one stipulation — that neither they nor anyone else was to know from whom the money came. It would take pages, indeed, to set down like good deeds which he did by stealth, and of which there is no record save in hearts grateful tri the unknown donor.

Yet strong and unwavering as was his conviction of the absolute righteousness of our contention, with that sanity of vision and breadth of tolerance, which character- ized him in things, great and small, he loy- ally accepted the results of the unequal con- test, and, with broad patriotism, urged by j)en and tongue a thorough reconciliation between the sections. It was mainly be- cause of his belief that the various "patriotic societies" throughout the country were no mean agents in fostering this spirit of recon- ciliation, that he joined "The Society of Colonial Wars" (of which he was made jjresident), "The Society of the Sons of the American Revolution," and became a mem- ber of "The Society of the Cincinnati." Pie also took an active interest in the affairs of the ■'Phi Beta Kappa."

The disastrous end of the war found his father broken in fortune, as was well nigh every man of former affluence in the state. "Car}'sbrook" might be held with rigid economy, but "Eagle Point" had to go. To anticipate a little — that was, indeed, a day of ( what the Romans would term ) "pious happiness" when "Joe" Bryan, having sur- mounted earlier difficulties, was enabled to buy back his boyhood's home, remodeling and refitting its interior with such faultless taste and luxury, as must have compelled a nod of approval (could they know) from departed "grandees," who "rarely hated ease," and had been wont to live "in a man- ner becoming a gentleman of fortune." Just before the end came, a band of Mosby's men had captured a federal paymaster, ple- thoric with "greenbacks." and Joe's share was a goodly "wad" of the same. But when those bold horsemen disbanded. .April 21st (twelve days after the final scene at Appo- mattox Court House), the big-hearted young X^irginian gave every dollar he had in the world to an impecunious comrade eatrer to tret l:)ack to his home in Kentuckv.