History of Amelia County Virginia United States of America

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Biographies:

Thomas Green, soldier, was born in Amelia county, Va., June 8, 1814; son of Nathan and Mary (Field) Green. He was educated in Tennessee to which state his father removed when Thomas was an infant: and when the Texas struggle for independence took form he emigrated to that state, and took part in the war of 1836-37, and also in the war with Mexico, 1846-47. He was clerk of the supreme court of Texas while not absent on military duty, 1841-61. Tom Green county was named for him. In 1861 he was made a colonel in the Confederate army and took part in the engagements at Valverde, Feb. 21, 1862, Glorietta, March 26-28, 1862, Las Cruces, and in the recapture of Galveston, and of the steamer Harriet Lane by Gen. J.B. Magruder, commanding the district of Texas, Jan. 1, 1863. He was in command of the cavalry in the division of Gen. Richard Taylor, and his troop of cavalry routed Generals Weitzel and Grover at Koch's plantation on Bayou La Fourche, July 13, 1863. This engagement won for him the rank of brigadier-general, and the was placed in command of the cavalry division of the trans-Mississippi department. He commanded a brigade of Texas cavalry in Marmaduke's cavalry division in the Red River campaign, and took part in the engagements at Bayou St. Patrice, April 7, 1863, Mansfield (Sabine Cross-Roads), April 8, and in harassing the retreating Federal army, April 8-12, and he was mortally wounded while firing upon the Federal gunboats from a bluff near Blair's Landing, La., April 12, and died on Blair's Plantation, April 14, 1864.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Joseph Eggleston, representative, was born in Amelia county, Va., Nov. 24, 1754. He was graduated from William and Mary college in 1776 and entered the American army, serving throughout the Revolutionary war and winning especial distinction in the battle of Guilford court-house, March 15, 1781, and the capture of Augusta, Ga., June 5, 1781. He had previously gained promotion to the rank of major, commanding the rear guard in Col. Henry Lee's legion. He served several terms in the Virginia legislature and was a representative in the 5th and 6th congresses, 1797-1801. He died in Amelia county, Va., Feb. 13, 1811.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Laurence Pike Graham, soldier, was born in Amelia county, Va., Jan. 8, 1815; son of William and Ann (Hartley) Graham, and half-brother of William Montrose Graham (1798-1847). He entered the U.S. army as 2d lieutenant, Oct. 13, 1837; was promoted 1st lieutenant, Jan. 1, 1839; captain, Aug. 31, 1843; and major of 2d dragoons, June 14, 1858. He took an active part in the Seminole war in Florida from October, 1837, to June, 1842, and also served in the Mexican war. He was brevetted major, May 9, 1846, for gallant conduct in the engagements at Pale Alto and Resaca de la Palma and in 1848 marched in command of two squadrons of dragoons from Monterey, Mex., to Los Angeles, Cal. He was appointed brigadier-general of volunteers, Aug. 31, 1861; commissioned colonel of the 4th U.S. cavalry, May 9, 1864; brevetted brigadier general, March 13, 1865, and was honorably mustered out of the volunteer army, Aug. 24, 1865, after which he served as president of a general court-martial at St. Louis, Mo., and presided over a board of examiners of invalid officers at Annapolis, Md. After more than thirty years of continuous service he was retired from the regular army at his own request on Dec. 15, 1870.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

William S. Archer, senator, was born in Amelia county, Va., March 5, 1789; son of Maj. John Archer, an officer in the Revolutionary war; and grandson of Col. William Archer, who died on a British prison ship. William S. was educated in the grammar schools of Virginia, graduated from William and Mary college in 1806, was admitted to the bar, and practised in Amelia county, 1810-55. He was a representative in the state legislature, 1812-'19; in the 16th-23d congresses, 1819-'35, and U.S. senator, 1841-'47. He died in Amelia county, Va., March 28, 1855.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Amelia County Virginia

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