born at Staunton, Va., in 1834. From that city he entered the service on April 17, 1861, as second lieutenant of the Staunton artillery. In December, 1862, after he had commanded his battery at Fredericksburg, attached to Ewell's division, he was promoted captain, after which he continued in command until the close of the war. His record of service is a notable one and embraces gallant action at the memorable battles of First Manassas, the Seven Days' fighting before Richmond, Second Manassas, the Milroy fight at Winchester, Harper's Ferry, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Mine Run, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House on the 10th, 12th and 18th of May, 1864, Second Cold Harbor, Chantilly, Deep Bottom, New Market, Berryville, Cedar Run, Sailor's Creek and Appomattox. At Chancellorsville his battery was engaged but he was absent at the time, securing horses for the command. He was wounded at the First Manassas and at Berryville and was struck by a spent ball at Sailor's Creek. After the close of hostilities Captain Garber returned to Staunton for a few months, and then made his permanent home at Richmond, where he has since that time been engaged in the transfer business. He is a member of R. E. Lee camp, Confederate Veterans.
J. Powell Garland, D. D., now presiding elder of the Norfolk district of the Methodist church, whose career well illustrates the chaplaincy of the Confederate army, was born in Amherst county, Va., November 9, 1835. The Powell and Garland families, from which he is descended, are well known and have a worthy part in the history of Virginia. His father, Samuel M. Garland, was an attorney at Amherst Court House, for forty years clerk of the county, a member of the reform convention of 1854, and of the convention of 1861. The latter was the son of Hon. David S. Garland, for several years a member of Congress, whose wife was a daughter of Col. Samuel Meredith, who married a sister of Patrick Henry and assisted that patriot in raising a force to march upon Williamsburg and demand of Governor Dunbar the return of gunpowder, thus precipitating the war of the Revolution. The mother of Dr. Garland, Mildred, was the daughter of James Powell, M. D., of Amherst, a descendant of the early settlers. Dr. Garland was educated at Higginbotham academy, in his native county, and at Emory and Henry college, where he was graduated in 1857, as A. M. He then began the study of law, but, one year later, feeling an irresistible impulse in that direction, he entered the ministry, being licensed to preach and received on trial by the annual conference at Portsmouth, in 1858. He was then in charge, successively, of Appomattox circuit, where his work was blessed by the conversion of about one hundred and fifty souls; Cumberland circuit, and Fincastle. In August, 1862, he resigned his charge and entered the Confederate army as chaplain of the Forty-ninth Virginia regiment. In this capacity he was present at the battles of Chancellorsville, Winchester, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, and other scenes of warfare. Resigning the chaplaincy, in the fall of 1864, on account of failing health, he returned to the ministry of his church and was assigned to the charge of Amherst circuit, whence, after four years, he was appointed to the Ninth street church, Manchester, where he served two years, and then the same term at
