366 Southern Historical Society Papers.
Burgess, William Marstellar, Luther Kohlhousen, Henry Deahl, and Edward Reed; the other members from Winchester were John and Clayton Williams, Charles and Frank Conrad, Charles W. McVicar, Pent Powell, Raleigh Powell, William McGuire, Philip Boyd, and Deaveraux Bowly.
This battery was always on the front and engaged almost daily in action. January i6th, 1865, the battery was disbanded, owing to the scarcity of rations and forage. It was called to assemble in Lynch- burg April ist, 1865. The names of the sixteen who were on duty at time of the surrender, were Captain Tuck. Carter (Captain James Thomson had been promoted to major), W. R. Lyman, Charles and Frank Conrad, Clayton Williams, Charles W. McVicar, Frank Asberry, Pub Zirkle, Atkinson, Thornton, Dailey, John Hare, Crawford, Louis Morrell, William Thomson, and Pern. Thomson.
Major Thomson left Captain Carter in command and went to the front near Petersburg. April yth, while leading a charge of a squad of Rosser's cavalry at High Bridge, was badly wounded. Rallying the men he charged the second time and was repulsed. Gathering a few he charged the third time and was killed. Captain Jacob Engle, living near Harper's Ferry, saw him shot off his horse. A comrade ran to the body and unbuckled his belt and sabre stained with blood, gave it to Captain Engle with instructions to keep it until he called for it. Captain Engel has it yet to fulfil that trust. John Dean Adams, was near when Major Thomson was killed, of our county.
Major James W. Thomson's remains are buried in the third grave north of Ashby brothers in the Virginia lot in Stonewall cemetery.
Three of his comrades, in June last, members of the Turner Asby Camp, formed themselves into a committee, to raise funds for a monument, suggested by William Lyman, of New Orleans, who was here at General Thomas L. Rosser's reunion, stated at the time to Colonel McVicar that he would give $50, and the following circular was issued to the survivors of Chew's (afterwards Thomson's Battery) Stuart's Horse Artillery, Army Northern Virginia, and the Laurel brigade. It is proposed to erect a monument over the grave of our late captain, Major James W. Thomson. A design has been chosen, and approved by Dr. Pern. Thomson and Colonel R. P. Chew. The monument will be appropriate for an artillery officer, and will cost between $300 and $400. Subscriptions are asked from company and
