Proceeding directly to New Orleans, he tendered his professional services and was made assistant surgeon of the Fifth Louisiana regiment, a few months later being promoted surgeon. His regiment became a part of the army of Northern Virginia, being assigned to Hays' brigade of Ewell's division, and he shared its service on the field, participating in the discharge of his duties upon the battlefields of Yorktown, Lee's Mill, Williamsburg, Seven Pines, the Seven Days' battles, Cedar Run, Second Manassas, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Winchester, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, the "bloody angle" at Spottsylvania, Hanover Court House, and other minor engagements. At Gettysburg he was thrown from his horse and suffered a dislocation of the shoulder, which disabled him for field service for several months. He was given leave of absence, and while yet carrying his arm in a sling, went to Fredericksburg, and was married on July 22, 1863, to Miss Ella McCarty, a beautiful Virginia girl, of Scotch descent, whom he had met at Jackson's headquarters at church in the preceding April. Then, accompanied by his bride, he went to Richmond, where he was detailed for hospital duty for five months. When able to perform field duty, he rejoined his command at Raccoon Ford, and served with it during the remainder of the war, except when absent on furloughs, occasioned by the illness of his wife and himself. After the close of hostilities he established himself in the medical practice at Fredericksburg, where he has since continued, with a well-deserved allotment of the prosperity and happiness that have fallen to Virginia in the latter days. He is a member of the State medical society and holds the office of marine hospital surgeon at the port of Fredericksburg. Dr. Martin has three children living: Catherine, wife of W. L. Seddon; Rev. Hugh McD., Jr., an Episcopal clergyman at Richmond, Va.; and Anne Gilmer, wife of R. E. Stoffregen.
Colonel Rawley White Martin, of the Fifty-third Virginia infantry, was born in Pittsylvania county in 1835. He was educated at the university of Virginia, and was graduated as doctor of medicine in 1858, at the university of New York. He then engaged in the practice of his profession at Chatham, Va., but was hardly well launched in this career before he turned from it for the patriotic service of his State. He enlisted, April 22, 1861, in the Chatham Grays, a company of which he very soon became first lieutenant. His company was assigned as Company I to the Fifty-third Virginia regiment, and participated in the early engagement at Big Bethel. At the reorganization, in the spring of 1862, he was elected captain. In this rank he was identified with the service of Armistead's brigade in the battles of Seven Pines, and the Seven Days' campaign, Second Manassas, Sharpsburg, Harper's Ferry, Fredericksburg, and the Suffolk campaign. In the spring of 1863 he was promoted major and soon afterward advanced to lieutenant-colonel. He was slightly wounded in the battle of Seven Pines and during the Seven Days' battles. At Malvern Hill the regiment was greatly reduced by casualties and sickness. His company was thrown forward as skirmishers and becoming immediately engaged was supported by the remainder of the regiment, driving back the enemy, but meeting a deadly fire. Fletcher Harwood, color-bearer of Company K, was cut down by a shell, and, as recorded in the
