Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/1066

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CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

plains of Manassas, in the cavalry fight at Buckland, Va., at Spottsylvania Court House, in a skirmish at Guinea's bridge, a skirmish on the Telegraph road in Caroline county, at Old Church, Va., June 10, 1864, at Hawe's shop, near Nance's shop, June 24, 1864, Saponey church, June 28th, Stony Creek station, and on July 29th, in command of his troop in a reconnoissance in force at Malvern Hill, where he was struck by a spent ball over the heart and badly hurt. After this he fought at White House, White Tavern, August 16th, and was slightly wounded in the fight at White Oak causeway, where General Chambers was killed. October 27th he fought at Hatcher's Run, and, in the following spring, was in the battle of Five Forks and at Sailor's Creek, where he commanded the skirmish line on the left of the army. Subsequently he, with other cavalrymen, started southward to join Johnston's army, but did not reach that command before its surrender, and was paroled in Westmoreland county in May. Turning at once to a civil career, he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1866. After practicing in his native county until 1881, he removed to Washington, where he has had a prominent and successful career. He is a member of the Washington association of Confederate veterans and served as commander in 1896.

Major Thomas Lewis, of Roanoke, a gallant soldier of the war of 1861-65, and since then prominent in the Confederate organizations, is a member of an old and worthy Virginia family of Scotch-Irish origin. His grandfather. Gen. Andrew Lewis, of the Continental army, is remembered as particularly distinguished at the battle of Point Pleasant. Mr. Lewis was born in that portion of Botetourt county which is now included in the limits of Roanoke, in the year 1833. He completed his education at the Virginia military institute and took an active part in the militia organization of the State before the war, holding the rank of lieutenant-colonel of the One Hundred and Thirty-eighth regiment. Upon the secession of the State, he promptly engaged in those duties for which his training had particularly qualified him, and, in April, 1861, organized and tendered to the State a company composed of young men of Roanoke county, of which he was elected captain. But, on account of the belief of Governor Letcher, that sufficient troops had already been put in the field, the company was declined and disbanded. He then enlisted as a private in a company, organized and commanded by his former brother militia officer in the One Hundred and Thirty-eighth regiment, Col. Robert S. Allen, which became Company I of the Twenty-eighth Virginia regiment of infantry. Of this command he was appointed sergeant-major, and, six months later, adjutant of the regiment. At the reorganization, in May, 1862, the colonel, Robert T. Preston, having failed of reflection, went to the department of Southwest Virginia to become lieutenant-colonel of a division organized by Gen. John B. Floyd, and Adjutant Lewis accompanied him, receiving the rank of major. In this rank he was detailed for six months on recruiting service for the regiment, and then resigned. Returning to the army of Northern Virginia, he was appointed adjutant of the Thirty-eighth Virginia artillery by Mr. Seddon, secretary of war, and, in that capacity he served during the remainder of the war. Major Lewis participated with gallantry in the battles of Bull Run, First Manas-