Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-12
COL. WILLIAM BYRD.
rEArH OF TEIs BRILLIANT MEN,
BIER OF THE WINCHESTER BAR.
He WAS A GALLANT CONFEDERATE.
His War Record Was Fine
One, and lie Did Honor 10 an
Hlustrious Namc-skctch of HI.
Life.

WINCHESTER, VA, April il.-(spe-
ciaL)-Colonel William Byrd. the oldest
and one OF the most brilliant members OF
the Winchester Bar died at his residence,
on south Washington street. yesterday
morning. Colonel Byrd had been in bad
health for some time. and his demise
was not unexpected. lie was son of the
late Richard T. Byrd. and came from one
Of the oldest and most distinguished Viz
ginia families. His great-grandfather.
Colonel William Byrd, of Westover,
owned what is now Henrico county, Va,
and in 1893 laid out the cities of Richmond
and Petersburg. believing that they would
eventually become great centres of COM
merce on account OF their physical and
geographical situations He was also one
of the commissioners who fixed the
boundary-line between Virginia and North
Carolina
SEVENTY YEARS OLD.
Colonel Byrd was born in this city
seventy years ago, and passed his youth
here. He graduated successfully from
the Virginia Military Institute. George
town College, and the University Of Vir-
ginia. lie moved to Texas some years
prior to the war, and practiced law at
Austin. He was editor of the Austin
Gazette. the state organ Of the Demo-
cratic party. which was a powerful fac
tor i'm the politics of the Lone Star State.
AT the breaking out Of hostlities he was
appointed Adjutant-General of the state,
organizing troops for the Confederacy
He rose to rank Of Northumberland, and
was afterwards made colonel and COM
manded a brigade i'm Texas under Gene
raj James G.. Walker. who served under
General Dick" Taylor. a son Of Presi-
dent Taylor, and made n brilliant and
enviable record during the four years
struggle. He commanded Fort DeRus-
sey. on the Red river. and made a gallant
stand against the whole power of the
Federal army under General Banks on
April g. 1864. holding the fort with
greatly inferior number of men until the
earthen walls were levelled by the awful
artillery fire of the enemy and until the
Confederates under General James G.
Walker had time to complete dispositions,
which resulted in the defeat OF the Fede-
raj army.
A PRISONER IN NEW ORLEANS.
He was captured and spent six months
I'm prison at New Orleans during the hot
season. He was stricken there with
prison fever. and never fully recovered
from its effects. After the surrender he
returned to Virginia, and practiced law
in this city until three years ago, as the
senior member Of the firm of Byrd q
Huck. when he retired from active life. on
account Of illness and the death Of his
partner. Captain Lewis n. Huck Colonel
Byrd is survived by a wife, who was Miss
Jennie Rivers. of Texas. and eight chill
dren The Misses Byrd are the editors Of
the Winchester Times. one of the oldest
newspapers in the State. His eldest son,
Hon. r. e. Byrd. is a prominent young
lawyer of this city, and has been for a
number Of years prosecuting attorney
for Frederick county. His funeral will
take place tomorrow afternoon at 3
o'clock from Christ Episcopal church, OF
which he was vestryman.