The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-09-13
legerdemain,o as he termed the Lecompton

| legerdemain,'' as he termed the Lecompton
Constitution.
In 1859 he published On elaborate bistori-
cal and constitutional treatise On Territorial
Government, and the admission OF new
States into the Union, In which he upheld
the doctrine OF congressional protection of
slavery in all the Territories.
JOHN BROWN RAID AND SECESSION CONVENTION.
Towards the end OF Mr.. Wise's term as
Governor occurred the seizure Of Harpers
Ferry by John Brown and his followers,
and the execution Of John Brown at Charles
town, December 2, 1859, was one Of the last
acts Of his administration. IS, u,
He was member OF the State Convention
which met at Richmond February 10, 1861,
to consider the relations Of Virginia to the
Federal Government, and one Of the Com
mittee on Federal Relations, to whom the
principal business Of the Convention WIS
referred. Three reports were made by this
committee on March 10th. The majority
report affirmed the doctrine OF State
rights, demanded o fair partition OF
the territories and equal rights therein,
expressed the hope Of restoration OF
the Union, recommended amendments
to the Constitution, recognized the right
Of secession, and advised q conference OF
the border States. Mr.. Wise presented an
other report giving list OF demands re-
quiring both the General Government and
the seeded States to abstain from hostili-
ties in the hope Of peaceable adjustment
Of difficulties. and insisting that the Pre-
sident should only maintain q sufficient
number of men in the forts, arsenals, &C.,
to preserve the public property therein. A
third report advised the immediate seces-
sion Of the State. ..s
On April 10th, the majority report being
under consideration, Mr.. Wise offered an
amendment, which was lost, to the effect
that all the forts, &C., in the limits Of Sc
ceded States ought to be evacuated for pur-
poses of pacifcation. After the passing Of
the Virginia ordinance Of secession, how
ever, he .~s..... -a II
ENTERED HEARTILY INTO THE WAR.
Shortly afterwards he was appointed a
brigadier-Seneral insthe Confederate army,
and ordered to Western Virginia. He oc-
cupied the Kanawha Valley to point with
in few miles OF the mouth of the
river. He next formed a junction with
the army of General Floyd, under
whom he continued to serve in West
ern Virginia until in September, when he
was ordered to report at Richmond. Thence
he was sent to Roanoke Island, N. C., with
instructions to defend it. At the time OF the
attack upon the island by General Burnside
and Commodore Goldsborougb, February
7th, he was sick at Nag's Head, on the main
land, opposite the northeast part OF the
island, but the greater part OF his brigade
(known as Wise Legion) took part in the
action. and his son, Captain o. Jennings
Wise, was among the killed. After General
Wise's recovery he was ordered to report at
Manassas.
AFTER LEAVING NAG'S HEAD.
From Nag's Head the General had to be
carried on his couch pending most serious
illness. He stopped with his command for
few days about mile above the mouth OF
the Albemarle and Chesapeake canal. 1t
was there that under the auspices Of flag
OF truce to General Burnside he recognized
the remains OF his son O. Jennings Wise
| (slain in battle on Roanoke Island at the
head Of the Wise Legion). 1t is to be re-
marked here that these troops under Q. Jen-
nings Wise, about 450 strong, killed and
wounded over 900 Of the enemy, or over
twice their own numbers, before they were
finally surrounded and captured.
During the remainder Of the winter OF
1862 General Wise remained in Richmond
because OF
EXCEEDINGLY FEEBLE HEALTH,
and in attendance upon the investigation
| by the Confederate Congress into the disas-
ter at Roanoke Island. In the very yolumi-
nous report which was made to Congress
on this subject General Wise was not only
freed from any imputation OF blame for that
disaster, but was declared to have done
everything possible to avert it, not only by
timely warning to the Government of the
indcfensible character OF the place, but as
well by persistent efforts and use OF the means
at his control, and the heroic conduct Of his
troops on the field OF battle. Upon the
restoration of General Wise's health he was
placed with his brigade, in 1868, in COM
mand Of the district between the Mattaponi
and James rivers, his brigade consisting,
three regiments Of infantry-the Twenty
sixth, Thirty-fourth, and Forty-sixth Vir-
rinia-one battalion of artillery, and few
companies OF cavalry, with headquarters at
Chaffin's farm. During the period Of his
command over this district there were some
GALLANT ATTACKS UPON THE ENEMY,
including a highly successful reconnaissance
behind Williamsburg, where the .enemy
were in force, and the final recapture OF that
city from the Federals under General Dix's
command. .t,-
From Chafin'S farm, where he was re-
lieyed by General (now HON. Eppa Hun
| ton, he was sent, with his brigade, to
Charleston, S. c., under the command OF
General Beauregard. While in Carolina
his command not only participated in garri-
son duty. but were detached to drive the
enemy, who had effected q lodgment on
Johns Island, in the rear of Charleston,
from that position, Which they succeeded
/ most effectually in doing. They likewise
served gallantly and efficiently In Florida,
where they appeared in two severely-con-
tested battles. ,-,.... i,
From Carolina General Wise returned to
Virginia, and was put in command OF
THE pEFENcEs OF PETERSBURG.
From this point he participated in the
battle of DreWry's Bluff, under command
OF General Whiting, his brigade driving the
enemy gallantly before them, and pursuing
them until withdrawn by General Whiting,
| who feared to uncover Petersburg. At
this point, too, his brigade alone, on the
18th of June, and before General Lees
army had crossed to the south side Of the
James, kept at bay for n whole day the
corps Of General a. J.. Smith, fighting them
inch by inch, with terrible loss Of blood,
till darkness and, better still, Lee had come.
FROM THAT TINE ON HIS HISTORY
was that of General Lees army at Peters
burg, with its horrible monotony OF rags,
and starvation, and blood-ended at last by
lAppomattox, just before: which, however,