Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-08-21

FUN dOVERNOR.
Colonel Fred. w. M. Holiday was
born in Winchester on the 22d day of
February, 1927. After receiving a good
preparatory education he entered Yale
College, and was graduated with distin.
guished honers. He read law for few
months at Winchester, and then became
a student at the University of Virginia.
Colonel Holiday graduated in law,
moral philosophy, and political economy
at the University of Virginia, and was
final orator of the Jefferson Society, all
in oae session-a thing never accomplish
ed by any student since, so far as we
have heard. Soon after, upon coming
to the bar, he was elected prosecuting
attorney OF all the courts of Frederick
county and Winchester. Devoting him.
self to his profession and literary pur,
suits, he still found time to serve his
party as a canvasser in several presi-
DENTAL campaigns prior to the war, al
ways declining political office.
HIS WAR RECORD.
At the first sound of the late conflict
he threw down everything and went
with the first troops to Harper's Ferry,
and was appointed aid to General Car
son, who was then in command. Re
turning to Winchester for short time
to arrange his official business, he ac-
cepted the captaincy of splendid COM
pany which had assembled and marched
down from the mountains of Frederick
and Hampshire and rendered him the
command. He served for while upon
the border, and then Joined the thirty
third Virginia regiment, Col. A. G.
Cummings (Stonewall brigade). After
accepting the command of this company
and thoroughly organizing it, he was
offered by General T. J. Jackson posi-
ton upon his staff, but declined on ac-
count Of his company.
THE ARMLEsS SLEEVE.
At the reorganization of the army in
the spring of 1862 he was elected field
officer, and after going through the bat
ties of Mcdowell, Winchester and Port
Republic, and around Richmond, he
lost his arm at Cedar Mount, never hav-
ing missed a battle nor been absent a
day from his command. Several times
he attempted to return to the field, but
was prevented by his wound. Since the
war he has been compelled to have a
painful operation performed. Being
unable to undergo,service in the field he
was elected to the Confederate Congress
from the Winchester district, and serv-
ed until the end of the war. General
Jackson reposed so much confidence in
him that he proposed to recommend
him for promotion to a brigadiersbip,
but understood from his surgeons that
he was unfit for service in the field.
Being unable to return to the field.
Col. Holiday became a candidate for
the Confederate Congress, and was cleo
ted over Hon. A. R. Boteler.
NOT AN OFFICE SEEKER.
After the war Col. Holiday returned
to his home, and whilst following his
profession has taken the deepest interest
in public affairs, speaking in all the
campaigns and forwarding the politi-
cal interests Of Virginia whenever occa-
sion offered. One thing to be specially
noted, however, is that he has persis.
tently declined public office. He has
frequently been solicited by his friends
to be candidate for Congress, or ac.
cept other political preferment, but has
uniformly declined. His address before
the alumni of the University of Virgins
was a masterpiece, and is so recognize
by men of culture wherever it has beer
read. He delivered an address by invi
tation of the citizens of Winchester anC
vicinity, upon the "Life and Service o
General Lee" after his death, which
was regarded as one of the most schol
arly productions of the occasion.
HIS SERVICES.
The Winctster friend to whom we ar
Indebted for these facts says:
Ills services to the party in this Stat
during the last presidential election ar
we'll known. His canvass has been com
pared for brilliancy and effectiveness t.
that of Governor Wise during the Know
Nothing campaign, and without an,
disparagement to that brilliant man
he gave his time and money freely, an