History of Southampton County Virginia United States of America

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William Mahone, senator, was born in Southampton county, Va., Dec. 1, 1826; son of Feilding and Martha (Drew) Mahone. He was graduated at the Virginia Military institute in 1847, became a teacher and subsequently a civil engineer, and was constructor of the Norfolk and Petersburg railroad. He joined the Virginia state troops and took part in the capture of the Norfolk navy yard in April, 1861. He raised the 6th Virginia regiment, was appointed its colonel, was promoted to the command of the 2d brigade, Huger's division, Magruder's command, and took a conspicuous part in the battles of Seven Pines and Malvern Hill. In the Chancellorsville campaign he commanded the 3d brigade, R.H. Anderson's division, 1st corps, Army of Northern Virginia, and he took part in the battle of Petersburg, July 1-3, 1863. At Spottsylvania he commanded Anderson's division, when that officer assumed command of Hill's corps, and he drove Hancock back across the river. At North Anna he drove Warren back, and on the Welden road he again opposed Warren, and his division formed the rear of Longstreet's corps previous to the surrender of Lee. He was promoted major-general in August, 1864. After the surrender he became interested in railroad engineering and was elected president of the Norfolk and Tennessee railroad, which he rebuilt. In 1878 he advocate the nomination of G. C. Walker for governor of Virginia before the Democratic state convention. After the election his views on the question of the payment of the public debt did not meet the approval of the Democratic party, and he organized and became a prominent leader of the Readjuster party, which favored the partial repudiation of the state debt, and secured the control of the state legislature. In 1880 he was elected U.S. senator for the term expiring March 3, 1887, and in the senate acted with the Republican party. He was defeated for re-election in 1886 by J. W. Daniel. He died in Washington, D.C., Oct. 8, 1895.

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

HENRY T. Blow, statesman, was born in Southampton county, Va., July 15, 1817. At the age of thirteen he removed to Missouri, and was graduated from the St. Louis university. He engaged in the wholesale drug business, and as a lead-miner, with financial success. He was an active abolitionist, and after serving some years in the state senate of Missouri he was appointed, in 1861, by President Lincoln, minister-resident at Venezuela. In 1862 he was elected a representative from Missouri to the 38th Congress and was re-elected to the 39th Congress. He was U.S. minister to Brazil under President Grant, 1869-'71, and a member of the commission for governing the District of Columbia, 1874-'75. He died Sept. 11, 1875.

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

George Henry Thomas, soldier, was born in Southampton county, Va., July 31, 1816. He began to study law in 1835, but abandoned it to accept an appointment to the U.S. Military academy, from which he was graduated and promoted 2d lieutenant, 3d artillery, July 1, 1840. He served during the Seminole war in Florida, 1840-42, being brevetted 1st lieutenant, Nov. 6, 1841, for gallantry and good conduct in this war; was on garrison and recruiting service, 1842-45, being promoted 1st lieutenant, April 30, 1844; took part in the war with Mexico, and was brevetted captain, Sept. 23, 1846, for gallant conduct at Monterey, Mex., and major, Feb. 23, 1847, for Buena Vista. He was engaged in the Seminole Indian war, 1849-50; was instructor in artillery and cavalry at the U.S. Military academy, 1851-54, and promoted captain, Dec. 24, 1853. He was on frontier duty in California and Texas, 1854-60; was promoted major of 2d cavalry, May 12, 1855, and was wounded in a skirmish near the Brazos river, Aug. 26, 1860. He was promoted lieutenant colonel in April, 1861, and colonel, May 3, 1861; was transferred to the 5th cavalry, Aug. 3, 1861, and participated in the operations in the Shenandoah valley. He was promoted brigadier-general, U.S.V., Aug. 17, 1861, and placed in command at Camp Dick Robinson, Ky., Sept. 18, 1861: commanded the Federal forces at the battle of Logan's Cross Roads, Ky., Jan. 19-20, 1862; was in command of his brigade in the advance on Nashville, Tenn., February-March, 1862, and subsequently a brigade in Buell's Army of the Ohio, but did not arrive on the battle-field of Shiloh until after the engagement. He commanded the right wing, Army of the Tennessee, under General Grant in the siege of Corinth, Miss., April-May, 1862, being promoted major-general, U.S.V., April 25, 1862, and was in military command of Corinth, June 5-22, 1862. He took part in Buell's operations in North Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky, being in command at Decherd, McMinnville and Nashville, Tenn., August-September, 1862, and was second in command of the Army of the Ohio under General Buell on the advance into Kentucky and in the battle of Perryville, Ky., Oct. 8, 1862. He commanded the centre of the Army of the Cumberland under Gen. William S. Rosecrans at the battle of Stone's river, Tenn., Dec. 31-Jan. 2, 1863; took part in the advance on Tullahoma, June 24-July 4, 1863; in the action of Hoover's Gap, June 26, 1863, and commanded the 14th army corps, Army of the Cumberland, at the battle of Chickamauga, Ga., Sept. 19, 1863. He was engaged in checking the Confederate advance on Chattanooga, Sept. 21, 1863, and placed in command of the Department and Army of the Cumberland, Oct. 19, 1863, being promoted brigadier-general, U.S.A., Oct. 27, 1863. He commanded the Army of the Cumberland in the battle of Missionary Ridge; the invasion of Georgia, May 2-Sept. 7, 1864, including the occupation of Resacs, Ga.; the battles of Dallas, Pine mountain, Kenesaw mountain, and Peach Tree Creek, and the siege and surrender of Atlanta. He was occupied in organizing the defences of Tennessee against the Confederate invasion by General Hood, and in concentrating his scattered forces behind Duck river, where constant skirmishing was kept up for five days. He fell back to Harpeth river, Nov. 29, 1864, and fought the battle of Franklin, Tenn.; was promoted major-general, U.S.A., Dec. 15, 1864, and fought the battle of Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 15-16, 1864, routing the Confederate army and driving them beyond the Tennessee river. For the latter service the thanks of congress were tendered him, March 3, 1865, and on Nov. 2, 1865, the general assembly also voted him their thanks, and a gold medal, bearing the motto: "I will hold the town till we starve." He commanded the headquarters at Nashville, Tenn., June-August, 1866; the military division of the Tennessee embracing the departments of Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi; and the Department of the Tennessee, 1866-67, with headquarters at Nashville and at Louisville, Ky. He was assigned to the command of the 3d military district, comprising Georgia, Florida and Alabama, March 11-15, 1867, and of the Department of the Cumberland, March 16, 1867. He was a member of the board for recommendations for brevets to general officers, March 14-24, 1860. An equestrian statue of General Thomas was unveiled in Washington, D.C., Nov. 19, 1879; His name in Class N, Soldiers and Sailors, received twenty-four votes for a place in the Hail of Fame for Great Americans, New York university, October, 1900, and stood sixth in the class of twenty suggested. He died in San Francisco, Cal., March 28, 1870, and was buried with military honors at Troy, N.Y., April 8, 1870.

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

Seth Wallace Cobb, representative, was born in Southampton county, Va., Dec. 5, 1838; son of Benjamin and Margaret (Wallace) Cobb. His paternal grandfather was Redmond Cobb and his maternal grandfather Samuel Wallace, both natives of Virginia, whose fathers immigrated to Virginia respectively from Wales and Scotland in the 17th century. He served in the Confederate army throughout the civil war, and in 1867 removed to St. Louis, Mo., where he became clerk in a grain commission house. In 1870 he engaged in that business on his own account. He was elected president of the merchant's exchange in 1886 and was an active supporter and president during construction, of the merchant's bridge and terminal scheme. He was elected a representative from the 12th congressional district in the 52nd, 53rd and 54th congresses, refusing re-election to the 55th congress. He served on the committees on accounts, banking and currency, District of Columbia, and ways and means.

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

History of Southampton County Virginia

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