VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY
1007
Hampden-Sidney College in the class of
1859-60, graduating with the degrees of A.
B. and A. M. Soon after this the Civil war
began, and he enlisted in the Richmond
Howitzers, where he served until made lieu-
tenant of Martin's battery. With this latter
organization he saw much service. After
serving with General Jenkins on the Black-
water, the company went into winter quar-
ters in the fall of 1863 on the Appomattox
river, near Petersburg, and in the following
May was called upon to resist the attack
made by General Benjamin Butler. At this
time Lieutenant Morton was put in com-
mand of a section of the canoneers and an
infantry company to man Fort Clifton. With
the heavy artillery of that fort, this force
blew up one of the gunboats coming up the
river and thus blocked the way of the others.
For this service the battery was compli-
mented in general orders by General Beau-
regard. \\'ith the latter's army, the battery
moved to the defenses of Richmond, and
was stationed on the south side of the city
to resist Butler while Grant was opposed on
the north by General Lee. In the battle oi
Drewry's Bluf¥, ]\Iartin"s battery covered
the Richmond and Petersburg turnpike on
Beauregard's right. After this it was re-
moved to the Bermuda Hundred line, where
it was under fire of the Federal gunboats.
I'hence it removed to the north side of the
Appomattox river, where it was put in posi-
tion to enfilade Smith's corps, in its assault
on Petersburg, and during this action Gen-
eral Beauregard was present with the bat-
tery directing the fire. The battery was in
almost continual action in the defenses of
Richmond and Petersburg, until the evacu-
ation on the night of April 2. 1865. With
Lee's army it retreated to the vicinity of
Appomattox Court House, and was cut off
from Lee's main body by Sheridan's cavalry,
on the night of April 8. Captain Taylor
Martin and his men considered it a great
compliment that when his battery was
placed in Beauregard's command. General
Lee wrote Beauregard : "You can depend on
Martin's Battery." Lieutenant Morton par-
ticipated in the battles of Ball's BluiT, Seven
Pines, the Seven Days' battle around Rich-
mond, Drewry's BlufT, and in the ten
months' siege of Richmond and Petersburg.
After being cut ofJ from Lee's command at
Appomattox Court House, Lieutenant Mor-
ton, with several companion officers, joined
General Johnston at Greensboro, North
Carolina. When that officer had decided to
surrender to General Sherman, Lieutenant
Morton and companions were informed of
the approach of that event, and the latter
accompanied him to his home, "Gravel Hill,"
in Charlotte, and were among those who did
not surrender. He immediately turned his
attention to peaceful occupations, and was
soon appointed by the Presbyterian Board
of Foreign Missions to go to San Paulo,
Brazil. Here he founded a school as an
adjunct to his mission, and was fourteen
years at the head of this institution. In
1841 he removed to New York City, and
engaged in the promotion of corporations
and various business enterprises, which has
occupied his attention to the present time.
He is still active in the Presbyterian church,
and though a Democrat in political senti-
ment, gives little attention to politics. His
home is at \\'esterh', on Staten Island, New
York, and he is esteemed, especially in the
Virginia colony of New York, and generally
v.herever known, for his scholarship and fine
manly character.
He married. May 11, 1878, i\Iary Brown, of Baltimore, daughter of Harmon and Mar- garet (Wilson) Brown, and a sister of Gen- eial Stewart Brown. Children: i. George Harmon Le Grand, a resident of Westfield, New Jersey, engaged in business in New York City ; his wife is Emma Case, daugh- ter of Colonel Case, of the United States army. 2. Margaretta, wife of Joseph Clough, residing in New York City. 3. Susan, wife of Judge George Stewart Brown, of Baltimore, now one of the gen- eial appraisers of the port of New York. 4. David Holmes, a wholesale dry-goods merchant of New York. 5. Emily, Mrs. Wil- liam N. Macomb, of New York. 6. Wil- liam Stewart, of New York. 7. Mary, un- married. 8. Samuel, recently honorably dis- charged from the Thirteenth United States Infantry, after three years military service in the Philipine Islands.
Frank Vernon Baldwin. Frank A'ernon Baldwin, an active business man of New York and representative of the best blood of ^'irginia, was born January 26, 1866, in Amelia county, that state. The early land grants of Virginia show several pioneers of this name. John Baldwin received six hun- dred acres in Northampton county, March
