Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/974

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CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

Danville & New River railroad. In 1886 he became superintendent of the road, now known as the Danville & Western. He is a member of Cabell-Graves camp and prominent in the Masonic order. About the time of his enlistment in the army he was married to Sallie Boyd, who died in 1891, leaving seven children: William Edgar, Albert B., J. Henry, Archie W., Anna B., Ernest Lee and Lizzie. In 1894 he married Alice, daughter of Dr. John Boatwright, a surgeon of the Confederate army, and they have one child, Mary Lee.

Major Daniel A. Grimsley, of Culpeper, a gallant officer of the Sixth Virginia cavalry, was born in Rappahannock county, April 3, 1840, the son of Rev. Barnett Grimsley, of the Baptist ministry, one of the most effective pulpit orators of his day. He was educated in his native county and was preparing himself for the profession of law when Virginia made her alliance with the Confederate States. He promptly enlisted, April 17, 1861, as a private in the Rappahannock troop, which became Company B of the Sixth Virginia cavalry, brigade of Gen. J. E. B. Stuart. He was soon promoted orderly-sergeant, was elected first lieutenant in the spring of 1862, promoted captain a week or two later and major in 1863, after which he was in command of his regiment during the remainder of the war, his superior officers being disabled by wounds. He participated in the Valley campaign of 1862, under Jackson, and was particularly distinguished in the cavalry fight at Cedarville on the day of the battle of Front Royal. Four companies of the Sixth regiment, under Colonel Flournoy, in pursuit of the enemy, came up with the First Maryland infantry, U. S. A., Colonel Kenly commanding, supported by artillery and infantry. "Dashing into the midst of them," says General Jackson's report, "Captain Grimsley, of Company B, in the advance, these four companies drove the Federals from their position, who soon, however, reformed in an orchard on the right of the turnpike, when a second gallant and decisive charge being made upon them, the enemy's cavalry was put to flight, the artillery abandoned, and the infantry, now thrown into great confusion, surrendered themselves prisoners of war." In this fight the Rappahannock troop lost eleven killed, thirteen wounded, and seventeen horses. Major Grimsley also participated in the cavalry fighting during the Cedar Mountain and Second Manassas campaign, the raid of Stuart around McClellan's army in Maryland, was with Gen. W. E. Jones' brigade in the Valley campaign and the West Virginia expedition in 1862-63, the battle of Brandy Station, and the Gettysburg campaign, and, during the latter campaigns, shared the fighting of the brigades of Payne and Lomax in Fitzhugh Lee's division. Throughout his career as a soldier Major Grimsley was spared from both wounds and sickness, and there were few therefore more closely identified with the record of his regiment. After the close of hostilities he studied law and began the practice at Culpeper in 1867. He served in the State senate from 1870 to i879, and in 1880 he was appointed judge of the Sixth Virginia judicial circuit to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Judge Shackelford. With the exception of three years, during the "readjuster" regime, he has ever since remained upon the bench, a position in which he is distinguished for learning and impartiality. He is a comrade of A. P. Hill