he was reared and apprenticed to the merchant tailor's trade. April 19, 1861, he was mustered into the service of the Confederate States, as a member of the Independent Grays, an excellent company which became Company H of the Sixth Virginia regiment, and was distinguished for faithful service in Mahone's brigade. The Grays were among the first troops sent to Craney island, and there had charge of a section of heavy artillery. At Chancellorsville the company was distinguished in a most gallant charge over the abatis of the enemy in the evening of May 2d, capturing a number of prisoners and the colors of an Ohio regiment. Private Dashiell was with the company from enlistment until the close, reaching home April 17, 1865, just two days short of four years from his enlistment. He participated in all the battles of his command, including Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, Burgess' Mill, Reams' Station, Wilcox Farm, Culpeper Court House and Bristoe Station, and excepting the fight at the Crater, when he was on picket duty, and Fredericksburg and the Maryland campaign of 1862, when he was sick with typhoid fever. He was paroled at Richmond March 15, 1865. Since the war he has resided at Portsmouth, engaged in his business of merchant tailor. In July, 1894, he was elected keeper of the city cemeteries, a position to which he was re-elected in 1895 for three years. He is a member of Stonewall camp, Confederate Veterans, and of the order of Red Men, and is affiliated with the Baptist church. On April 26, 1859, he was married to Maria J. Daughtrey, of Nansemond county, and they have ten children living.
Thomas J. Dashiell, now prominently connected with the transportation business of Portsmouth, was one of the most faithful members of the Old Dominion Guard, distinguished among the military companies which gave renown to that part of Virginia. Before the war the Guard was noted throughout the State, and for a year before 1861 Private Dashiell was associated with its renown as a well-drilled militia company and a part of the Third Virginia regiment. With the company he was called into active service April 20, 1861, and immediately went on duty in protection of the navy yard. Subsequently it was detached from the Third regiment and stationed at Pinner's Point, where it became Company K of the Ninth regiment, and remained until the evacuation. Private Dashiell then served with his company in the movement to Petersburg and Richmond and participated in the battles of Seven Pines and Malvern Hill. He subsequently fought at Second Manassas, Harper's Ferry, Sharpsburg and Fredericksburg. After the latter engagement he was attacked by pneumonia, which confined him in the hospital during the following winter. Rejoining his regiment in May, 1863, he took part in skirmishes near Suffolk and then fought in the Pennsylvania campaign, participating in Pickett's charge at Gettysburg, and being one of the five men of his company who reached the stone wall uninjured. He was captured, and during the succeeding fourteen and a half months was held as a prisoner of war at Point Lookout. After being exchanged he rejoined his command, then in front of Bermuda Hundred, and on March 31st was in the battle of Dinwiddie Court House. In this engagement he was under such a hot fire that underclothing in
