The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-11-27
Death or Captain.R. ID. Msnor.
his LIFE AND DISTINGUISHED SERVICE

500 ~ 1hh SiI AMI
The whole community was stsrtled on
the sudden death Of Captain Robert D.
Minor, the Chief Engineer of the James
hWer improvement, at his residence, on
Leigh street near Sixth. On the previous
Gay he was in perfect health and enjoying
nls usual excellent spirits. at night he
LOOK part In the pastimes OF the children at
aJuVenile party given at bis house. About
l o'clock IN the morning he complained Of
a pain In the head, and only IN hour later
he breathed his last. y
captain Minor was born in the town of
fredericksburg, Va, In the year 1926. He
was appointed mdshipman in the United
states Navy from the State OF Missouri in
tDe year lS4l, and made his first cruise in
the OLD frigate Macedonian, bearing the
broad pennant Of Commodore Jesse Will
klDson, nag officer of the Brazil squadron,
In 1919 be was attached to the sioop-of-war
warren, IN the Pacific squadron, under the
command OF Commodore John ID. Sloat.
AT the breaking out of the Mexican war,
in 1916 he was attached to the American
fleet under Commodore Stockton. then
cruising in Mexican waters. After this
war he was promoted to passed-midship-
man, and in 1851 was ordered to the steamer
Vixen, then attached to the Home SQUAD
ron. As passed -midshipman he also served
in the storeship Lexington, of the East
India squadron. In 1857 he was engaged.
in the survey of the harbors and rivers
along our coast. He was then promoted to
lieutenant, and in 1859 was agan~ordered
to the coast of Brazil in the sloop of.war
Preble. t-
At the breaking out Of the late war he,
with many others, promptly resigned his
commission in the United States navy, Of
fered his sword to his native. State, and
ioincd his fortune to the young Confede-
racy. He was appointed to the same reia-
tive rank in the Confederate navy, and took
an active part in its struggles tor freedom.
He acted an honorable part in the memora-
bls naval engagement in Hampton Roads,
being the hao-lieutenant on board the IRON
clad ram Virginia. In this engagement he
was severely wounded in the shoulder
while bearing a flag of truce to save the
crew Of the trigate Congress, then SINKING.
He took an active part in planning and ar
ranging the est Adams raid |" for the re-
lease OF the Confederate prisoners then
confined at Johnson's island. In the latter
part of 1868 be had charge of The naval ord
nance works in this city, and filled the po-
sition with satisfaction to the Government
and credit to himself. He also served for
a time as aid 10 Commodore Mitchell on
James river.
After the war Captain Minor devoted
himself to farming and other pursuits for
q while. But when the scheme for the i'm
provemcnt of the navigation of the James
river had been devised by the City Coun-
Gil he was selected as chief engineer of the
work. His devoted attention, skill, and
efficiency in the management of this work,
soon displayed Itself in the improved con-
GitiOn of the river.
Professionally Captain Minor was fine
officer and good seaman, and won the re-
spect and admiration of his superiors By
his attention and proficiency IN the duties
pertaining to his profession. Socially he
was the life Of the mess table, his genial
humor and af1able manners winning the
affection of all who knew him.
By his death the commercial interest Of
this city has met with serious loss. 1t
will be difficult to find an engineer equally
qualified in knowledge Of the river, it's
characteristics and needs. to succeed him
and the city will never have more faith
full servant.