The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-03

I
marily killed and buried "Jube" de-
nonnced IT as q slander, and when the
society adjourned vigorously assaulted
joe The story Is a ludlcrous one, as
General Early was wont to tell H..
At West Point.
Young Early was graduated I'm 1897. as
! "A second lieutenant Of artillery. and was
soon after ordered to Florida where he
served Tor several months IN the Seminole
| war. There were no railroads in the
west In those days. and the troops were
| returned from Florida on boats across
the Gulf, and up the Mississippi, and its
tributaries. At what was then Ross
terry. now Chattanooga, Lieutenant
Early resigned his commission in the
army. and returned TO his native county
| OF Franklin, Virginia, where he studied
law. and entered upon a successful prac-
uce Of that profession. Although he
] was reserved IN manner. and never sought
| popularity. his force Of character and
| intellect were such that he rapidly Sc
| cured the confidence OF his county peo-
| pie He was appointed commemorative
attorney by the court. and represented
| Franklin county for two terms i'm the
| LEGISLATURE. During the Mexican war he
rendered his services. and was appointed
by Governor Smith, "A major in a Virginia
regiment His regiment did not arrive
IN time 90 participate actively I'm any
Of the principal battles After the ca
pitulaton Of the city Of Mexico General
Early was appointed military Governor
Of Monterey, and discharged the duties
OF this trust for several months. The
exposure Of the service in Mexico brought
on the rheumatism from which his body
was bent, and ever after presented the
pathetic picture which most everybody
In Virginia is so familiar
He returned to the practice Of law in
Franklin county. and under the altered
constitution Of 1850, the office Of Common
wealths attorney was made elective by
the people: he was again chosen to that
position by the popular suffrage.
The Convention of 1861.
In January, 1861, he was elected a mem
Der OF the so-called secession convention,
over a candidate who advocated the dis
ruption Of the Union Having been "A
lifelong Whig Of the most conservative
type, he ranged himself I'm that body
with such men as Ballard Preston. Rob
ert +. Scott, John Janney, and Robert
y. Conrad, IN opposition TO the secession
element. He was the most extreme
Union member Of the body, and the last
to sign the ordinance of secession, enter
ing upon the journal the reasons that
Induced him reluctantly to yield his
objections. on the day the ordinance
passed, the nth Of April, he was ap-
pointed by the Governor "a staunch op-
pOnent Democrat I'm former days Of Cen
eral Early's political views a Colonel
in the Virginia forces. and placed upon
a commission 10 enlist and organize the
Virginia troops.
lie was soon afterwards appointed TO
the same rank in the Confederate service,
uUA fp T.trprblfytr talgra nc
mander Of the Post he mustered into
service the companies organized I'm that
section of the State. When ten Of these
We're mustered I'm he requested TO have
them consolidated into the Twenty-fourth
Virginia regiment. and 10 be assigned TO
his command. This was done. and he at
once reported with his command at Ma
n8ssas
Ia The affair at Blackburn's Ford Of the
18th Of JGly, he commanded brigade as
ranking Colonel. and acted as support |
to Longstreets brigade, without being |
actively engaged on the DIST the brigade
was on the eXtvome right. Late I'm the |
progress Of that doubtful conflict be |
received orders 10 march his brigade to
the scene Of action nine miles distant. /
by rapid marching he reached the scene /
at the very crisis Of the battle, and de-
ploying on the extreme left. outdankcd 1
decided the fate If the day. Despite the
graphic ard familiar narrative Of the
decisive blow being struck by Kirby
Smiths troops arriving at a double
quick at the fateful moment. the indispu-
table truth OF history ia that this credit
belongs mainly 10 Eary's brigade which
went TO the left of Kirby Smiths and
turned the enemys flank, whrieupon the
stampede ensued. In recognition Of his
services on this occasion he was made
In the retreat up the Peninsula. before
Mcclellan. In the spring of 1862 Earlys
brigade rendered conspicuous service. and
at the battle Of williamsburg, he was
severely wounded and incapacitated for
service But after two or three months
OF medical treatment with characteristic
Obstinacy. he reported for duty against
the remonstrance Of his physicians
In the Valley.
When, after the Seven Days battles
around Richmond. Jackson led the adj
vances of the Confederate forces to-
wards the Valley, Early led the advance
Of JacksOn's troops: and at The BATH. of
Mountain. he was I'm the ad-
vance. and bore the brunt of that hotly