The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-10-29
SUNDAY, OCTOBER %. 1899.
CAPTAIN THOMAS JEFFERSON
q PAGE, {. :. y.

CAPTAIN Thomas jefferson Page, who
died in Rome. Italy. on Thursday last
October 26th. 1SQ. was the last of his
generation. being the fourteenth child OF
Mann Page ard Elizabeth Nelson, Of Shell
Is. Gloucester county. Virginia The only
survivor OF this generation, though not
Of this particular family, is General Rich
ard L. Page. OF Norfolk. now in his nine
tieth year. but sim sustaining, with erect
vlgor. the dignity which belongs 10 a noble
family.
We have published elsewhere some ac-
,ount Of the public services Of Captain
Thomas jefferson Page, but nowhere has
there yet been expressed, or ever will be-
,he dignity and nobility of his personal
character. A Virgnian Of Virginians, he
very early In life entered the service Of
the United states. and brought TO II
loyalty and capacity which was recognized
IN every sphere In which he vas called
10 act.
As commander Of the water Witch"
which was sent 20 Paraguay. he made
most successful exploration Of the River
La Plata and It's tributaries. and published
an admirable narrative Of the expedi-
ton.
When his state resumed her sovereign
powers and withdrew from the United
States. he Of course went with his people;
and we believe It may be said that no one
bearing MS name was ever known 10 take
sides against Virginia. Other families
OF Virginia bearing equally distinguished
names have furnished members who
fought against her. but we DO not reco-
iect any one OF the name Of Page who
ever took up arms against his mother
State.
His first service TO the Confcderacy was
in his native county. Gloucester. After a
succession OF inconsplcuous duties he was
sent abroad. where tho Judgment Of a
diplomatist and tho herosm Of a sailor
were to be combined. and ne was placed
in command Of the Confederate ram
"stonewan" With what splendid cour-
IKE nc peru llfA llln AANsr NAN lf.NNNn
OF the war between the States amply
testify. At the harbor Of Ferrol Spain.
he sngly dared 20 battle two United
States Tnen-of-war. one OF which carried
three times his own weight Of metal and
the other a greater amount. We do not
wish to eXaggerate the heroism Of Captain
Page. but only u claim for Virginia her
ehare on sea. az well as on land OF the
glory that belongs 10 the Confederate
cause. When such men as Maury, and
Tattnan. and Buchanan. and Barron. and
Mitchell. and Macintosh, and Pegram.
and Page left the United States service
in obedience 10 their duty 10 their native
States. there was a vacuum created
which was never filled, and gave the
opportunity to Faragut, another Southern
man. 10 win the highest honors in the
Federal navy.
II should be remembered that Admiral
semmes had left the United States navy
before the beginning Of the war
Captain Thomas Jefferson Page Is the
last OF these Confederate naval heroes
General IL l.. Page having been trans
ferred 20 the army, and 1t Is beyond US
10 close this living record Of Confederate
naval history with my terms which VIII
appropriately describe the ingenious way
IN witch the Confederate naval officers
overcame methapicai difficulties and he
roicaily met tho Zoe in every quarter OF
the globe
The time VIII come when, "a the galaxy
OF American naval heroes. semnes, end
Buchanan, and Page, and their dauntless
associates WIN have vioce among the
highest.