Confederate Military History/Volume 3/Biographical/C
Brigadier-General John Randolph Chambliss was born at Hicksford, Greenville county, Va., January 23, 1833; was graduated at the United States military academy in 1853, and being promoted to brevet second lieutenant, mounted riflemen, served at the cavalry school at Carlisle, Pa., until the following spring, when he resigned. He then returned to his home at Hicksford, where his father was a wealthy planter, and was engaged in agriculture until the spring of 1861. Meanwhile his military education was called into service by the State, and he held the position of aide-de-camp to the governor, with the rank of major, 1856-61; also commanded as colonel a regiment of Virginia militia, 1858-61, and was brigade inspector for the State two years. His father was a delegate to the convention of 1861, and he himself manifested hearty allegiance to Virginia throughout that momentous period. He was commissioned colonel of the Thirteenth Virginia cavalry regiment in July, 1861, and until the fall of 1862 was under the orders of Gen. D. H. Hill, in the department south of the James river. During the Maryland campaign he was put in command of the forces on the Rappahannock, between Warrenton and Fredericksburg, with his own regiment, the Second North Carolina cavalry, and the Sixty-first Virginia infantry. He performed his duties with such vigilance and activity as to receive the warm commendation of Gen. R. E. Lee. In November he was assigned with his regiment to W. H. F. Lee's cavalry brigade, with the gallant record of which he was identified, as one of the bravest and ablest of its officers, until he gave his life for the cause which he had served with entire fidelity and self-sacrificing devotion. In April, 1864, when the cavalry corps of the Federal army proposed to cross the Rappahannock and cut off Lee's communications with Richmond, Chambliss was particularly prominent in the defeat of the movement by Lee's brigade. At Beverly ford with 50 men he drove two Federal squadrons into the river, capturing a number of prisoners. He and his men were commended both by Generals Lee and Stuart as deserving the highest praise for distinguished bravery. In the famous battle of Brandy Station, June 9, 1863, after W. H. F. Lee was wounded and Col. Sol Williams killed, Chambliss took command of the brigade, and served in that capacity during the fighting about Aldie and Middleburg. Then riding with Stuart into Pennsylvania, he made a brilliant attack upon Kilpatrick at Hanover, driving him through the town and capturing his ambulances and a number of prisoners. His brigade and Fitz Lee's reached Gettysburg late on July 2d, and on the 3d he engaged in the fierce cavalry fight on the left of the Confederate line, between the York pike and Hanover road. Upon the retirement of the army, he aided efficiently in the protection of the Confederate trains. During the Bristoe campaign, still in command of the brigade, he reinforced Lomax at Morton's ford and defeated the enemy; and at Brandy Station the same two brigades fought with the utmost gallantry under their intrepid leaders, Chambliss winning anew the commendation of Stuart. Promoted brigadier-general in December, 1864, he continued in command of the brigade which he had led so long, through the cavalry fighting from the Rapidan to the James, gaining fresh laurels in the defeat of the enemy at Stony creek. Finally, in a cavalry battle on the Charles City road, on the north side of the James, he was killed while leading his men, August 16, 1864. His body was buried with honor by the enemy, and soon afterward delivered to his friends. General Lee wrote that "the loss sustained by the cavalry in the fall of General Chambliss will be felt throughout the army, in which, by his courage, energy and skill, he had won for himself an honorable name."
Brigadier-General Robert Hall Chilton, of Virginia, was born about 1816, and entered the military academy at West Point in 1833, where he was graduated in 1837, and promoted second lieutenant of the First dragoons. He served on frontier duty at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.; in the Osage country, among the Choctaws, in the Indian Territory, and at various other frontier posts, until 1844, when he was sent into Texas, on the expedition to the Falls of the Brazos. Meanwhile he had been promoted first lieutenant, and during the Mexican war he received promotion to captain, and brevet major for gallant and meritorious conduct in the battle of Buena Vista. Subsequently he returned to frontier duty, from which he was transferred in 1854 to the pay department at Washington, with the rank of major. He served in this capacity at New York, Detroit and San Antonio, Tex., until the spring of 1861, when he resigned and entered the Confederate service as lieutenant-colonel in the adjutant-general's department, soon being promoted colonel. When General Lee took command of the army of Northern Virginia, he applied to Gen. Samuel Cooper for a suitable officer for chief of staff, and Colonel Chilton was at once assigned to that important position. General Lee had served with him in Mexico and Texas, and later in the progress of the war took occasion to write General Chilton that he had always been zealous and active in the discharge of his official duties, and never known to be actuated by any other motive than the interests of the service. With promotion to the rank of brigadier-general, and appointment to the position of inspector-general of tho army of Northern Virginia, October 28, 1862, Chilton served in the conspicuous position of chief of staff through all the campaigns and battles of the army of Northern Virginia, from June 1, 1862, until April 1, 1864, when he resigned. After the close of hostilities he made his home at Columbus, Ga., where he became interested in manufacturing and resided until his death, in 1879.
Brigadier-General Philip St. George Cocke was born in Virginia in the year 1808. He was educated at the United States military academy, and graduated in 1832 with the rank of brevet second lieutenant, and was soon assigned as second lieutenant to the artillery then stationed at Charleston, S. C. He served here during the exciting years of 1832-33, becoming adjutant of the Second artillery, July 13, 1833. On April 1, 1834, he resigned, and from that time until the outbreak of the Confederate war lived the life of a planter in Virginia and Mississippi. He devoted his energies and talents to agricultural pursuits, published a book on "Plantation and Farm Instruction," in 1852, and from 1853 to 1856 was president of the Virginia State agricultural society. He was prominent in Virginia councils during the momentous month of April, 1861, and on April 21st, having been appointed brigadier-general in the State service, he was assigned to command of the important frontier military district along the Potomac river. Three days later, from his headquarters at Alexandria, he reported to General Lee, stating that he had but 300 men in sight of an enemy of 10,000 rapidly increasing. Lee commended the policy Cocke had pursued, and advised him to make known that he was not there for attack, but that an invasion of Virginia would be considered an act of war. Cocke made his headquarters at Culpeper, April 27th, and on May 5th Alexandria was evacuated. He was given charge of the mustering of volunteer troops in a large part of the State, with rendezvous at Leesburg, Warrenton, Culpeper, Charlottesburg and Lynchburg, and he issued a proclamation urging rapid enlistment in defense of the State, not for aggression. In the Confederate States service he was given the rank of colonel, and in the army of Beauregard was assigned to command of the Fifth brigade, consisting of the Eighth, Eighteenth, Nineteenth, Twenty-eighth and Forty-ninth Virginia regiments. For ability shown in strategic movements at Blackburn's ford he was officially thanked by Beauregard. On July 20th he was stationed at Ball's ford, on Bull run, and in the Confederate preparations for the battle of the 21st, he was given command also of Evans' brigade and various unassigned companies, including cavalry and artillery. The contemplated advance which he was to make against Centreville was abandoned on account of the Federal flank movement, and while Evans, reinforced by Bee and Bartow, opposed the enemy in that quarter, he sustained the attack in the vicinity of the stone bridge, with his headquarters at the Lewis house, until at 2 p. m., about an hour before the arrival of Elzey, he led his brigade into action on the left with "alacrity and effect." This was his last battle. After eight months' service, during which he was promoted brigadier-general in the provisional army, he returned home, shattered in body and mind, and his life was terminated December 26, 1861.
Brigadier-General Raleigh Edward Colston was born at Paris, France, of Virginia parentage, October 31, 1825. When seventeen years old he came to America with a passport, as a citizen of the United States, issued by Minister Carr, and entering the Virginia military institute, was graduated in 1846. He remained at the institute as a professor until April, 1861, when he marched to Richmond in command of the corps of cadets. In May he was commissioned colonel of the Sixteenth Virginia regiment of infantry, at Norfolk, and was later assigned to command of a brigade and a district on the south side of the James river, with headquarters at Smithfield. He was promoted brigadier-general December 24, 1861. In the spring of 1862 he moved his brigade, composed of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth North Carolina and Third Virginia regiments, to Yorktown, and participated in the defense of that post, and after the retreat to Williamsburg, in the battle there and at Seven Pines. He was then disabled by illness until December, 1862, when he was assigned to command of a brigade in the department of Southern Virginia and North Carolina, and from January to March, 1863, was in command, at Petersburg. After the battle of Fredericksburg he was assigned, at Stonewall Jackson's request, to the Third brigade of Jackson's old division, and previous to the battle of Chancellorsville was given command of the division, which was distinguished for heroism on the 2d and 3d of May, participating, under his command, in the onslaught made in the evening of Saturday, and fighting desperately during the storm of battle which swayed to and fro over the Federal works on Sunday morning. On Sunday afternoon he made an advance toward the United States ford, in which his division, suffered severely. His division lost at Chancellorsville 1,860 men out of about 6,000, including 8 brigade commanders, 3 of whom were killed. General Colston rendered especially valuable services in rallying the men under the terrific fire of the enemy's artillery, after Jackson fell, and again on Sunday morning after the Federal forces had reoccupied their intrenchments. In the latter part of May, on account of the objection of the colonels of North Carolina regiments to service under a Virginia brigade commander, General Lee put a Marylander, George H. Steuart, in command, and General Colston was ordered to report to General Cooper at Richmond. In October he was assigned to command at Savannah, Ga. In April, 1864, he returned to Virginia, and was assigned by General Wise to provisional command at Petersburg. On the night of June 8th-9th the lines were threatened by the Federal cavalry, and the alarm bells called out the home guards, old men and boys, the regular troops having been transferred to Lee's army. Immediately offering his services to General Wise he was ordered to take command on the line of lunettes, which then constituted the major part of the defenses, with the injunction to hold out until Wise could bring up his reserves. Colston joined Major Archer, who had less than 200 at the point attacked, and skillfully directed the desperate defense, holding his position until almost surrounded, when he made an orderly retreat, in which he seized a musket and fought with his men. The time gained by this gallant resistance enabled Graham's battery and Bearing's cavalry to come up in time to rout the Federal column, which was about to occupy the city. In July, General Colston was assigned to command of the post at Lynchburg, where he remained until the surrender. Subsequently he was engaged in lecturing and in the conduct of a military academy at Wilmington, N. C., until 1873, when he entered the military service of the Khedive of Egypt, in which he remained until 1879, meanwhile conducting two important exploring expeditions to the Soudan. During his last expedition he was paralyzed, and was carried hundreds of miles across the desert on a litter. Returning to Virginia he engaged in literary work and lecturing, and from 1882 to 1894 held a position in the war department at Washington. He passed the remainder of his days in the Soldiers' home at Richmond, and died July 29, 1896.
Brigadier-General Montgomery D. Corse was born at Alexandria, D. C., March 14, 1816, and after receiving an academic education entered business with his father at his native city. Taking a prominent part in the organization of local militia at the time of the Texas troubles, he served through the Mexican war as captain of Company B, First regiment Virginia volunteers. Early in 1849 he sailed to California, and during the opening of the gold fields was occupied there in various ways, including service as captain of the Sutter Rifles, of Sacramento city, until 1856, when he returned to Alexandria and formed a partnership with his brother in the banking business. In i860 he organized the "Old Dominion Rifles" at Alexandria, and later in the year became major of the battalion which included the Alexandria Riflemen, Capt. Morton Marye, the Mount Vernon Guard, his own company under Capt. Arthur Herbert, and the Alexandria artillery, Capt. Delaware Kemper. Major Corse served as assistant adjutant-general until the evacuation of Alexandria, and was then assigned with his battalion to the Seventeenth Virginia regiment, of which he was promoted colonel. In Longstreet's, later Kemper's brigade, he took part in the affair at Blackburn's ford and the battles of Manassas, Yorktown, Williamsburg, Seven Pines, and the Seven Days' fighting before Richmond. In the second battle of Manassas he commanded the brigade, and was slightly wounded, but continued on duty; fought at Boonsboro, receiving a second wound; and led the remnant of his regiment, 56 men, in the battle of Sharpsburg. The story of their devotion is told by the fact that but seven remained in the ranks at the end of the fight—Maj. Arthur Herbert, Lieut. Thomas Perry, and five privates. Colonel Corse was severely wounded and for a time lay within the enemy's lines, but was recovered by an advance of the Confederate troops. In October, General Kemper forwarded to the secretary of war two battle-flags captured by the Seventeenth regiment, asking that they be preserved with some honorable mention of the brave men commanded by Colonel Corse, "by whose splendid gallantry the trophies were captured." Upon this communication General Longstreet endorsed: "Colonel Corse is one of the most gallant and worthy officers in this army. He and his regiment have been distinguished in at least ten of the severest battles of the war." R. E. Lee added: "This regiment and its gallant colonel challenge the respect and admiration of their countrymen." November 1, 1862, he was promoted to brigadier-general and assigned to the command of Pickett's old brigade. While in winter quarters he obtained leave of absence and was married to Elizabeth Beverly, but was soon afterward called to Fredericksburg to take command of a new brigade of Virginians for Pickett's division, composed of the Fifteenth, Seventeenth, Thirtieth and Thirty-second regiments, to which the Twenty-ninth was added later. During the Pennsylvania campaign of 1863 he was on duty with his brigade at Hanover Junction. Rejoining the army near Winchester, he moved in advance as Lee fell back toward the Rappahannock, and rendered valuable service in driving the enemy from Chester and Manassas gaps. In the fall and winter of 1863-64 he took his brigade to southwest Virginia and east Tennessee, co-operating with Longstreet; engaged the enemy at Dandridge in January, and then returned to Petersburg. Ordered at once to Kinston, N. C., he took part in the operations against New Bern until called to the defense of Richmond. He and his brigade were distinguished in the defeat of Butler at Drewry's bluff, May 16th. He shared the service of Pickett's division during the siege of Petersburg and Richmond. In the spring of 1865 Corse and his men fought bravely at Dinwiddie Court House and Five Forks, and ended their military career with honor at Sailor's creek. After the surrender by Ewell, General Corse was conveyed to Fort Warren, and there confined until August, 1865. He left Washington on his way to Fort Warren on the day that Lincoln was assassinated, and he and the fourteen generals accompanying him narrowly escaped the violence of a mob at a town in Pennsylvania, on the next morning. Nothing saved them that day but the pluck and determination of the small guard of Union soldiers and officers who had them in charge. After his release from Fort Warren he returned to Alexandria and engaged in the banking business with his two brothers, J. D. and William Corse. He was very seriously injured in the fall of a part of the capitol at Richmond. It is probable that the injuries received on this occasion caused in part the blindness from which he suffered for some years. With the exception of poor eyesight he was in the best of health until about a year before his death, which occurred February 11, 1895, after a short illness.