Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-17
the same excellent order in which they

Association is Captain James 4. Vaughan.
CAPTAIN Vaughan was Dorn AZ
caroline county. and moved 20
Richmond In l47. He enlisted III
the Grays IN 1857. and was with tnein
ON their trip to New York In 1893, When
the Grays were the guest OF the IatnouS
Seventh New York. He went 10 haI n
pers Ferry with the company III IoOs,
when John Brown invaded the state; was
also at charlcstown when the Grays
were part OF the guard when old Brown
was hanged.
In April. 1861, when the Grays went TO
Norfolk. they were only allowed to mus
ter into service 14 men. private
Vaughan, with other members, ieit pc
hind soon raised a second company OF
Grays, which was mustered into service
at Company II, OF the First virginia
Regiment. and went to Manassas, ana
was in the battles OF July 18th and list
In 1862. with some other officers that re-
tired at the reorganization. Captain
Vaughan returned to Richmond, and as
sisted in raising the Twenty-hfth VIZ
glnia Battalion Captain. Francis j.
Boggs: First Lieutenant. John III. Grea-
nor: Second Lieutenant, James 1.
Vaughan.
In slgS2. at the reorganization OF the
army Lieutenant Vaughan. with some
other officers Of the old First, returned
10 Richmond and raised the Twenty-
fifth Virginia Battalion, one OF the com
panies of that battalion having captain
John II. Greanor and First-Lieutenaht
vaughan as its officers. Lieutenant
Vaughan remained with this command
until the surrender, at AppomaLtoX Court
house.
About the first Yankee prisoners that
were captured at the commencement OF
the war were two cavairymen, that were
sent to Richmond in charge OF Lieuten-
ant Vaughan, who delivered them over
to General II. +. Lee in person. General
Lees headquarters at that time were IN
the old State courthouse, that stood in
the Capitol Square. at the head Of Frank
lin street, which was burned down on
the Sd Of April, 1865. One Of these pris-
oners gave Lieutenant Vaughan his re-
volver which Captain Vaughan still has
IN his possession, and has promised 10
give 20 his old ccmrade, Leslie Spence,
and the presentation viii take place at
the banquet on the 18th Of June next
EX-PREsIDENT J. e. PHILLIPS.
In December, 1896, Captain James II.
Phillips was elected president Of the
association; and, with his usual push
and energy, the association reached an
era of great prosperity. Captain Phil
lips's connection with the old Grays has
been so close that the history OF one
IS the history Of the other. He enlisted
in the Grays in 1888. and was one Of
them from the start. When the call
came. on the 2lst OF April. 1861, 10 go TO
the front, the Sixth-COrporal James Il.
Phillips was there. and there he was
until on that sad 9th of April. 1865, he
stood firm at Appomattox Courthouse in
command Of the Grays. having risen from
sixth corporal TO the command OF the
company lie was made sergeant
soon after the war began, and
In March, 1853. was promoted second
lieutenant: and on the death OF the gall
liant Branch. in August 1863 he was
promoted TO first lieutenant, and on the
retirement of Captain Robert Mayo. on
account Of wounds, was placed IN COM
mand of the company. which position he
held until the end came. He was in
every fight, from Seven Pines TO Apo
mattox, that Mahone's Brigade was en-
gagged in.
lie had a brother killed I'm his COM
pany at SpOtsylvania Courthouse, in May
1854 Captain Phillips has always taken
great Interest in the military and is
captain and inspector of the First Bat
talon Of Virginia Artillery. He has
served our city for ten years in the City
Council, and as a Confederate soldier
had no superior, and few equals. His
comrades were devoted TO him, and. as
an officer, his own courage seemed to in
spire his men to deeds of daring. His
devotion to the Lost Cause, and interest
in the "Old Confed" is too well known
TO need mentioning.
A GALLANT TREASURER.
The treasurer Of the association is Colo
mel Z. Leslie Spence The very mention
| Of the Grays calls TO mind the names Of
Bossleux, Phillips. Laughton, and Spence.
| Captain John H. Laughton was the first
secretary Of the association. and the four
above named have always been looked
upon as the moving spirits in everything
pertaining to the welfare and prosperity
| OF the Grays. Colonel Spence enlisted in
the Gravs in 1850, and left with them for
| Norfolk April q. 1861. and followed their
fortunes until at Champion Gap, Md, IN
| September 1862, he was severely wound
ed and was for a long time disabled and
| performed light duty in Richmond. After
rejoinng his command he was again
wounded at Hatchers Rum near Peters
| burg, February G. 1865. He surrendered
| at Appomattox Courthouse April O. 1860
Since the war he has been identified with
| the active military, and with Lee Camp.
| and all other movements for the purpose
| of honoring the Confederate soldier. In
! 1891 he was commander Of r.. l.. Lee
| Camp. Confederate Veterans. When Cap
tain Louis j. Bossieux died In 1856 he
was elected captain Of the Grays In 1851
! business affairs caused him 10 sever his
connection with the Grays. but I'm 1880 he
| was elected TO the command Of Company
| L, OF the First Regiment, and has since
! been constantly in the service.
! He commanded the Grays at the first
| Inauguration Of President Cleveland. and
marched up Broadway in command Of
them at General Y. $. Grants funeral IN
| New York. He was in command when
they were called TO Newport News I'm 1857
to protect the place from the mob that at
one time seemed bent on destroying the
1 town. Captain Spence has been in busi-
ness in this city since 1860. and has a host
| Of friends here. He is still an "unrecon-
! structed rebel" and at all times delights
TO tell Of the fighting qualifications OF
| Johnny Reb," though he seldom re-
counts any Of his own valorous deeds.
Since the war Captain Spence has done
much toward the upbuildng Of Virginia's
| volunteer soldlery.
DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS.
The old Grays' Association has had. and
still has, many of Richmonds best known
citizens on its roll.
ed the Grays In the Mexican war, was
president of the association I'm 1887.
Among the members still identified with
the organization are Phil. Whltlock, John
| r. Laughton John Pitt. Cyrus Bossieux,
r. r. Daniel. Isaac Goddard, NJ T. Phil
lips Hardy Pyle, d. Wilson, Joseph c..
| Dickerson, William Gibson, Lewis Gin
ter. z. H. Kelly, o. r. Kelly. r. b. Nun
ford. George w. Libby. Thomas y.
| O'Keiffe. c. Y. BEDFORD, A. II. Robins,
]. s. Van Horn, John Shanks, Z. Scott
| Gibbs, and J. Pryor Davis And, as they
were in the same regiment, Thomas p.
| Pollard and Alexander w. Archer are