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during place in the afifection of the people
of his county and state and so established
himself in their confidence and esteem that
on frequent occasions he was honored by
important and responsible public offices.
Until after passing his fourteenth year he
attended the schools of his native county.
While still a mere boy he began his active
business life by entering a mercantile and
tobacco house, where he remained until he
had almost attained his manhood. He then
became deputy sheriff of Amherst county,
and while holding this position diligently
studied law, being admitted to the l)ar at
Amherst court house, in March, 1849. ^^^
immediately entered upon active practice
o^:" his })rofession, practicing law in Amherst.
Lynchburg and Nelson, and was rapidly
winning his way to the front rank, when the
war between the states broke out. I'^illed
with the ardent patriotism of a true south-
erner. Major Whitehead at once proffered
his services, and throughout the desperate
struggle stood firmly by the cause which he
loved, and contributed in many ways to
the lasting glory of the Confederate arms.
He entered the military service in April,
1861, receiving a commission as lieutenant
of cavalry. He was assigned to the Thir-
tieth Regiment of Virginia volunteers,
which later in the year was enrolled as the
Second Virginia Cavalry Regiment. At the
reorganization in 1862 he was unanimously
elected captain of Company E of this com-
mand, and with this rank he served until
vv'ounded severely at Trevilian Station, June
II, 1864. On account of his resulting dis-
ability he was assigned to duty on the board
of inquiry at Charlottesville, where he
served until the evacuation of Richmond,
in the meantime receiving his commission
as major. His military services included
faithful and gallant duty in many important
battles and campaigns, among them the
battles of First Manassas, Dranesville, ^lid-
dleburg, Fredericksburg. Front Royal, two
battles at Winchester. Barnesville. the fight
in which Ashby fell. Dunkers Church, Port
Republic, the Seven Days before Richmond,
Cedar Mountain, the two engagements at
Harper's Ferry, Stuart's raid in Pennsyl-
vania, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Green-
wood and Funkstown, Todd's Tavern, the
Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House,
Yellow Tavern, Beaver Dam, Ashland,
Hawe's Shop (where he cut his way through
the federal lines with four companies of
his command), Wilson's landing, the raid
from Raccoon l"\)rd, by Stevensburg, Brandy
Station or lieverley's Ford, the Stafford
Raid, with fighting at Hartwood church
and lalmouth. Kelly\ille. Second Manassas,
C'ccoquan River, the raid after Averell,
driving him into West Virginia, and Tre-
\ilian Station. After this arduous service
with the ca\alry of the Army of Northern
Virginia, he was paroled at Amherst
court house, where he resumed the i)ractice
o'" his profession. He had l>een elected
in March, 1865, to the X'irginia senate,
l)ut under the changed conditions could not
take his seat. In 1866 he was elected
commonwealth attorney for this county, but
was removed by the military authority after
about one year's service. In 18O9, being
again elected, he served his term. In 1872 he
was the Democratic candidate for Congress
and was elected by a large majority. In his
term of service in Congress he served his con-
stituency with marked fidelity and ability
and was particularly noted for uprightness
of conduct and the strict })robity of his
convictions in all things political.
Major \\'hitehead was a Democrat of the most uncompromising type, and in number- less campaigns stumped the state m the interests of its nominees. He was a vigor- ous, forceful speaker, and the most eloquent and able orators dreaded to meet him. Some of his meetings with men of state and national reputation are historical. At var- ious times he stumped the state almost from end to end for the Democratic nominees and even in his latter years was willing to under- go almost any fatigue to insure their tri- umph.
While pursuing his profession as a law- yer. Major Whitehead invaded the news- paper field, and also established his reputa- tion for ability as an editor. His first ven- ture was the "Amherst Enterprise," which he conducted until he removed to Lynch- burg in 1876 and took charge of the "News." Subsequently he established the "Lynch- burg Advance" and "Whitehead's Demo- crat." In 1887 he was elected commissioner of agriculture, succeeding Colonel Rand<.)lf)h Harrison. At that time the power to fill that position was vested in the legislature, and although he entered the field late, he was elected almost unanimously, the mem- bers of the legislature recognizing his sigf-
