Page:The McClure Family.djvu/96

76 Governor in pursuance of the authority vested in him by the Constitution and Laws of this Commonwealth, doth commission you a Second Lieutenant of Light Infantry in the 98rd Regiment of the 13th Brigade and nth Division of the Virginia Militia to rank as such from the 23rd day of November, 1861.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name as Governor and caused the seal of the Commonwealth to be affixed this 5th day of February, 1862.

JOHN LETCHER."

On the reorganization of the army he was retained as Commissary Sergeant Co. I, in which capacity he served until the close of the war.

Early in 1865 he was made First Lieut., with rank of captain, the office being reserved for either Capt. James Bumgardner or Capt. John Humphreys, prisoners, in case either should be exchanged. The surrender came before he received his commission. He has preserved his parole, which is as follows:

", April 10th, 1865.

"The Bearer, M. T. McClure, Com's'y Serg't of 52nd Va. Regt. of Early's Brigade, a Paroled Prisoner of the Army of Northern Virginia, has permission to go to his home and there remain undisturbed. He is entitled to take with him one private mule.

S. W. PAXTON, Capt.,

Com'd'g 52nd Reg't Va. Infantry."

Pocketing his parole he mounted his little mule with an old blanket for a saddle (his saddle was stolen the night before), and set out for home. Leaving Appomattox in company with Capt. S. W. Paxton and Dr. John Gibson, they spent the first night at Lynchburg, proceeding up the canal they spent the second night at Riverside with the Shields, the third night near Fairfield with Capt. Paxton, reaching home on the afternoon of April 14.

He rented his father's farm, which he later partly