History of Campbell County Virginia United States of America

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Biographies:

Alexander Mosby Clayton, jurist, was born in Campbell county, Va., Jan. 15, 1801; son of William and Clarissa (Mosby) Clayton, and a descendant of Dr. John Clayton (born in England, 1690, died in Virginia, 1773). He was admitted to the bar in 1823 and practised for a time at Louisa Court House, after which he removed to Clarkesville, Tenn. He was appointed U.S. judge for Arkansas Territory, Dec. 12, 1832, and remained in the office for two years. He removed to Mississippi in 1837 and was there judge of the high court of errors and appeals, 1842-51. In 1853 he was appointed U.S. consul at Havana, but resigned that post and removed to Memphis, Tenn. He remained in Memphis but a short time, returning to his old home "Woodcote" in Mississippi. He was a delegate to the Mississippi secession convention in 1861, and wrote the ordinance of secession reported by the committee and adopted. He was a member of the Confederate provisional congress; district judge of the Mississippi district during the war, and afterward circuit judge until removed by Governor Ames. He was a member and president of the board of trustees of the University of Mississippi, 1844-53, 1857, and 1878-89. He died at his seat, "Woodcote," in Benton county, Miss., Sept. 30, 1889.

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

James Dearing, soldier, was born in Campbell county, Va., April 25, 1840. He was educated at Hanover academy and was appointed a cadet at the U.S. military academy, but left in 1861 to join the army of northern Virginia under General Lee. His first service was as lieutenant in the Washington artillery of New Orleans, La. He was promoted captain in Colonel Latham's N.C. battery, major and commander of Denny's artillery battalion, and colonel of North Carolina cavalry. For gallantry at the capture of Plymouth, N.C., April, 1864, he was promoted brigadier-general. He was conspicuous in the defence of Drewry's Bluff, May 15, 1864. On the retreat from Petersburg to Appomattox, April 5, 1865, he received a mortal wound in an encounter with Col. Theodore Read of General Ord's staff. The two officers, leading opposing forces, were separated by the Appomattox creek at High Bridge, April 6, 1865, and they exchanged pistol shots across the creek until both fell, Colonel Read shot dead and General Dearing mortally wounded. He died at a hotel in Lynchburg, Va., a few days after the surrender of the Confederate army under General Lee, April 9, 1865.

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

Armistead Lindsay Long, soldier, was born in Campbell county, Va., Sept. 8, 1827. He was graduated from the U.S. Military academy, brevetted 2d lieutenant and assigned to the 2d artillery July 1, 1850. He served in garrison at Fort Moultrie, S.C., 185051, was promoted 2d lieutenant June 30, 1851, and was on frontier duty at Fort Defiance, New Mexico, 1852-53, and at Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1853-54. He was promoted 1st lieutenant, July 1, 1854, was in garrison at Fort Henry, Md,, in 1854, and at Barrancas Barracks, Fla., 1854-55. He served on the frontier at Fort Washita, Indian Ty., 1855-56; at Fort Immee, Va., 1856-57; on frontier duty at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., in 1857 and helped to quell the Kansas disturbances, 1857-58. He was at Felt Kearny, Neb., in 1858; at Fort Leavenworth Kan., 1858-60 and at Augusta arsenal, Ga., 1860-61 and surrendered with the garrison to the state authorities in 1861 and was sent north. He engaged in the defence of Washington, D.C., from Feb. 7 to June 10, 1861, and as aide-de-camp to Gen. Edwin V. Sumner, his father-in-law, from May 20, to June 10, 1861, when he resigned from the U.S. army. He was appointed major in the Confederate army in July, 1861; was promoted colonel in April, 1862, and served at the battle of Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863, as a member of the staff and military secretary of Gen. Robert E. Lee. He was promoted brigadier-general in September, 1863, and was chief of artillery to General Ewell in the campaign of the Wilderness and Richmond, 1864, and Appomattox, 1865, where he surrendered. He engaged as a civil engineer, 1866-39, and subsequently devoted his time to farming. He is the author of: Memoirs of Robert E. Lee (1886). He died in Charlottesville, Va., April 29, 1891.

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

History of Campbell County Virginia

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