Confederate Military History/Volume 3/Biographical/B
Brigadier-General Seth Maxwell Barton was one of four sons of Thomas Bowerbank Barton, a lawyer of Fredericksburg, Va., all of whom served in the Confederate States army. He was graduated at the United States military academy in 1849, and promoted brevet second lieutenant, Third infantry. After serving a year at Fort Columbus, N. Y., he was promoted second lieutenant, First infantry, and assigned to duty in the Southwest, where he served mainly until 1861, winning promotion to first lieutenant in 1853 and captain in 1857. He was stationed during most of this period at the Texas forts, was adjutant of his regiment, 1855 to 1857, fought against the Comanche Indians in 1857, and in 1861 participated in the march to Fort Leavenworth. After his resignation, which took effect June 11, 1861, he entered the Confederate service, with the rank of captain of infantry, C. S. A., and became lieutenant-colonel of the Third Arkansas regiment, Col. Albert Rust, which constituted part of the command of Gen. Henry R. Jackson, in the West Virginia campaign of 1861. He fortified Camp Bartow, on the Greenbrier, and in command of his regiment participated in the heroic defense of the works in October, at which the enemy met with his first repulse in that region. He subsequently acted as chief engineer of the army during the Bath and Romney expedition, winning special mention by Stonewall Jackson. When Gen. E. Kirby Smith was assigned to the department of East Tennessee, Barton was sent to his assistance, with promotion to brigadier-general. During the Cumberland Gap campaign he commanded the Fourth brigade, consisting of Alabama and Georgia regiments and Anderson's Virginia battery. Subsequently, with Stevenson's division, he took part in the defense of Vicksburg. At the time of Sherman's advance by way of Chickasaw bayou late in December, 1862, he commanded the Confederate center, his troops bravely holding their ground under a severe fire of musketry and artillery, which continued for three days, and repulsing five assaults on the 29th. The siege of Vicksburg followed, and he was surrendered July 4, 1863, but soon afterward exchanged. He was then given command of Armistead's brigade, Pickett's division; was stationed at Kinston, N. C., during the latter part of the year, and was the leader of one of the columns in the demonstration against New Bern about February 1, 1864. On May 10th he participated in the battle of Drewry's Bluff, against Butler, fighting bravely in the midst of his men, and being the first to take possession of the guns from which the enemy were driven. Immediately after this he was relieved from command by Gen. Robert Ransom. His restoration was petitioned for twice by the regimental officers of the brigade, who expressed entire confidence in his skill and bravery. General Ransom himself admitted that the personal gallantry of General Barton could not be questioned. Though feeling that injustice had been done him, he remained in the service, and accepted command of a brigade for the defense of Richmond, comprising artillery and reserve infantry, under Lieutenant-General Ewell. He served at Chaffin's farm until the evacuation of Richmond, and then joined in the retreat of Custis Lee's command, as far as Sailor's creek, where he was captured April 6, 1865. Since the war General Barton has made his home at Fredericksburg, Va.
Brigadier-General Richard L. T. Beale was born at Hickory Hill, Westmoreland county, Va., May 22, 1819, and was educated at Northumberland academy and Dickinson college. Pa. Then taking up the study of law, he was graduated by the law department of the university of Virginia in 1838. Subsequently he was engaged in the practice of his profession and attained prominence in the political field. From 1847 until 1849 he represented his district in Congress, to which he declined re-election. He was a delegate to the State reform convention in 1850, and was elected to the State senate in 1857. Upon the secession of Virginia he enlisted in the cavalry service, and being promoted captain and then major, was put in command at Camp Lee, near Hague, on the lower Potomac, where his intelligence and excellent judgment were of much value. Subsequently he served under Col. W. H. F. Lee, in the Ninth cavalry regiment until Lee was promoted brigadier-general, when he was advanced to the rank of colonel and given command of the regiment. In December, 1862, he attracted attention and much favorable comment by a bold expedition into Rappahannock county, in which the Federal garrison at Leeds was captured, without loss. On April 16, 1863, he won the praise of J. E. B. Stuart for his heroic service in meeting and repelling the threatened raid of Stoneman's cavalry division, and during the renewed movement by Stoneman at the close of the month, he was for a week in almost constant fighting, his regiment everywhere behaving valorously and capturing many prisoners. At the battle of Fleetwood he led the Ninth in the brilliant charge in which Gen. W. H. F. Lee was wounded and Colonel Williams killed. He participated in Stuart's raid through Maryland, fought at Gettysburg, and rendered faithful service in the cavalry affairs during the return to Virginia. During the fight at Culpeper Court House he was in command of W. H. F. Lee's brigade. In March, 1864, having been stationed on the Northern Neck, he made a forced march to intercept Dahlgren and his raiders, and a detachment of his regiment under First Lieut. James Pollard, Company H, successfully ambushed the Federals, and aided by other detachments captured about 175 men and killed Dahlgren. The papers found upon Dahlgren's person, revealing a design to burn Richmond and kill President Davis and cabinet, were forwarded by Colonel Beale, through Fitz Lee, to the government. A correspondence with the Federal authorities followed, in which they disavowed all knowledge of such a design. He participated in command of his regiment in the campaign from the Rapidan to the James, was distinguished in the fighting at Stony creek, and toward Reams' Station, in July, capturing two Federal standards; and in August, upon the death of General Chambliss, was given command of the brigade. February 6, 1865, he was promoted brigadier-general, and in this rank he served during the remainder of the struggle.